Transportation and storage system for bagged fluids

Abstract

A transport system for a fluid which comprises a fluid containing bag, an overwrap bag which encloses the fluid containing bag, and a box which encloses the overwrap bag.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 720,787 filed Oct. 31, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This disclosure generally relates to a system for transporting and storing bagged fluids, particularly potable fluids.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]The packaging of liquids in flexible bags is well known. Because the materials used to make inexpensive flexible bags for the packaging of fluids are generally susceptible to breakage, tearing, puncture, or other forms of mechanical breach of the physical integrity of the bag, it is also known to assemble liquid-filled bags within protective packaging for transport and / or dispensing. These protective packaging devices can be made in a number of ways such as from heavy-weight paper (e.g., cardboard), heavy plastic, or other carriers.[0006]Some assemblies e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a bagged fluid assembly that includes an inner liquid-filled bag, protective packaging, and an outer carrier. The inner bag is flexible and easy to puncture. The protective packaging maintains a sterile environment, prevents fluid leaching, and provides resistance to small particle transfer. The outer carrier is a strong box that can withstand deformation and maintain its shape under stress. The bagged fluid assembly can also be easily stacked. The technical effects of this invention are improved protection and preservation of the fluid, as well as improved durability and portability of the assembly.

Problems solved by technology

Because the materials used to make inexpensive flexible bags for the packaging of fluids are generally susceptible to breakage, tearing, puncture, or other forms of mechanical breach of the physical integrity of the bag, it is also known to assemble liquid-filled bags within protective packaging for transport and / or dispensing.

One reason for this arrangement is because the various parts cannot effectively operate on their own.

For example, a distinguishing characteristic of these assemblies is that the paperboard from which the box is usually made is not a material sufficient for maintaining the sterility of the outer surface of the inner, liquid-filled bag, and therefore the assembly is used only in cases where sterility is not needed.

A second problem with placing bags of potable fluid in boxes is that a taste of the box can leach into the plastic of the bag and can transfer to the fluid.

For this reason, many assemblies utilize expensive specialty bags.

While a flexible plastic bag can generally constrain fluid in the bag, it does not necessarily prevent very small particles from passing therethrough.

The problem of taste transmission can be compounded if the box is wet or otherwise exposed to fluids that can result in particles from the box coming into more direct contact with the material of the bag.

In such situations, the bag, by its nature to provide for appropriate spiked access, can be particularly susceptible to this type of assimilation.

However, for potable water, which has very little taste, the taste issue can become significant.

A further problem with a bag-in-a-box is that of transportation.

This also allows for the bag to be damaged should the box be struck or crushed as if the fluid-filled bag completely fills the box (e.g. the fluid volume is virtually identical to the volume of the box) a penetrating hit against the box could result in an unintended penetration of the bag.

In the situation, however, where the fluid filled bag is smaller than the box, the bag can move around in the box and this can result in friction damage to the bag.

Such damage, in the worst case scenario, can result in a weak point being developed in the bag and eventual failure of the bag to constrain the fluid.

Even outside of this catastrophic failure, friction can exacerbate taste transfer, can result in the bag being more difficult to handle, and can potentially harm sterility of the surface of the bag, making a sterile penetration for purposes of spiked dispensing difficult.

In this patent, however, the protective packaging is a set of independent sheets of material—panels applied to the curved planar surfaces of the liquid-filled bag which are depicted as being peeled off of the liquid-filled bag like the peel of a banana is peeled off of the fruit and while providing some sterility, these cannot provide any structural benefits and are susceptible to being torn off inadvertently.

While these systems solve some of the problems discussed previously, they fail in a number of crucial areas.

For one, structures which utilize only bags are often difficult to stack and transport, even if the bag structure is relatively rigid, due to the structure not having linear sides.

Further, bag systems also can suffer from friction damage as the two bag structure can often freely move, the outer panels can be pulled loose in certain transportation scenarios, and the bags are not easily labeled and identified.

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