Dispenser system for flexible bags

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a dispenser including a container including a containment portion and a handle portion, the handle portion containing an actuating device to selectively actuate a pump; the containment portion defining a chamber, wherein the chamber may include at least a first interior side, and wherein the first interior side comprises at least a first zone comprising a first tackiness characteristic and a second zone comprising a second tackiness characteristic, such that the first tackiness characteristic exceeds the second tackiness characteristic.

Description

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 544,247 filed Oct. 6, 2011 titled “Dispensing System for Flexible Bags”: U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 545,990 filed Oct. 11, 2011 titled “Dispensing System for Flexible Bags”: U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 556,763 filed Nov. 7, 2011 titled “Film for Flexible Bags”; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 709,018 filed Oct. 2, 2012 titled “Film for Flexible Bags” the complete subject matter of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention generally relates dispensers. More particularly, embodiments relate to a dispenser that uses flexible bags and containers containing product that prevent weeping of the product.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The ability to dispense a controlled quantity of a condiment, such as ketchup, mustard, relish, salad dressings, hot wings sauce, spaghetti sauce, tarta...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a dispenser that has a flexible bag for dispensing a product. It includes a weakened area that can be torn open along a tear strip, making it easy to open. The dispenser has a housing with a tacky portion for securely attaching the bag to a surface. It also has a handle, a piston, and an end cap that prevents the product from leaking back into the chamber during dispensing. The invention allows for easy opening and dispensing of the product, while also preventing any residual pressure or weeping of the product after dispensing.

Problems solved by technology

While tin cans offer good shelf life performance, tin cans contribute to waste of product that clings to the side of cans.

Further, tin cans are heavy to ship, store, and are heavy and voluminous for disposal.

Additionally, tin cans require can openers to open—retrieving the opener reduces operational speed, and the opener may be difficult to locate, further reducing efficiency.

Opening tin cans may also result in sharp edges that may tear garbage bags and pose a laceration risk.

However, gallon jugs contribute to waste in the same fashion as tin cans, and share many of the negative attributes of tin cans.

Caulk cartridge type cans leave less product in the canister, but require priming of each can and may also generate significant wasted product.

For example, a 25-ounce cartridge delivering a one-ounce payload may waste 4% of the product due to priming.

However, caulk cartridge type cans may not be hermetically sealed, may be more expensive and may take up more room in a landfill.

Devices that use gravity actuated rollers or gears are complicated to manufacture and may involve manipulating the rollers in non-intuitive ways.

Other devices that utilize more complex means for releasing condiment from the bags require that the bags incorporate specially designed fittings, including tubes and couplings, which increase the cost and complexity of the packaging and add to product waste during cleanup.

Yet other devices use motorized pumps that require electricity and possibly pressurized gases to operate, which adds to the cost and size of the dispensers, increasing manufacturing costs and adding complexity during cleaning.

Further, pumps may result in undesired splatter, which both wastes product, as well as work effort to clean the splatter.

If a pump in the front of the store splatters, customers may become unhappy.

Motorized devices often require long tubes that contribute to waste of the condiment and complicate clean up.

Furthermore, existing types of dispensers have a single outlet for the condiment, which reduces efficiency at workstations where multiple outlets can be accommodated.

Additionally, tubes reduce the range of movement and freedom of motion of the applicator device.

Additionally, devices using pressurized gas rely on the gas, and in event of gas malfunction, or lack of gas supply, the device is non-functional.

Other devices utilize fitments that require significant expense, and contribute to waste if the fitment is improperly fitted.

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