Bag-in-a-box

Abstract

This invention relates to a bag-in-a-box device and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a bag-in-a-box device for assisting with the complete emptying of the contents within a bag-in-a-box packaging. The bag-in-a-box consist of a box having a bag (3) therein for storing a liquid in the bag, a dispensing device (4) attached to the bag for dispensing the liquid from the bag, and a support (5) for supporting the bag in an operatively upright position inside the bag.

Description

[0001] BAG-IN-A-BOX

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to a bag-in-a-box device and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a bag-in-a-box device for assisting with the complete emptying of the contents within a bag-in-a-box packaging.

[0004] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0005] Bag-in-box packaging is designed for storing and dispensing liquids like wine.

[0006] It consists of three main components: a rigid outer box, an airtight inner bag that holds the liquid, and a dispensing mechanism attached to the bag, such as a tap or spout, for dispensing the liquid.

[0007] Some bag-in-box packages feature a reinforced cardboard or plastic handle for easy transport.

[0008] The system relies on gravity and air pressure to dispense the liquid. As the liquid is released, the bag collapses, preventing air exposure and preserving the remaining contents. One drawback is the difficulty in fully emptying the bag, as the tap is typically positioned above the last bit of liquid, creating a vacuum that impedes flow. Users often need to squeeze or tilt the box to extract the remaining liquid. Blowing air into the open tap will assist in breaking the vacuum in the bag which can also help dispense the last bit of liquid.

[0009] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is an object of this invention to provide a bag-in-a-box device which, at least partially, alleviates the above-mentioned difficulty.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In accordance with this invention there is provided a bag-in-a-box comprising, a box having a bag therein for storing a liquid in the bag, a dispensing device attached to the bag for dispensing the liquid from the bag, and a support for supporting the bag in an operatively upright position inside the bag.

[0013] There is provided for a bag end of the support to be attached to an operatively upper end of the bag and a handle end of the support to be located outside the box.

[0014] There is further provided for the bag end of the support to have an attachment means attached to an operatively upper end of the bag. There is even further provided for the attachment means to be a number of fingers extending from a base, the fingers attached to the upper end of the bag with an attachment surface of the finger attached to the bag.

[0015] The attachment surface of the finger may be a flat surface.

[0016] There is provided for the fingers to be two bifurcated fingers extending from the base.

[0017] There is further provided for the fingers to attach and extend past the top of the bag, downwards a side of the bag.

[0018] The attachment means may extend past the top of the bag downwards the side of the bag and terminates past half the height of the bag.

[0019] There is provided for the handle end of the support to extend through an aperture in an operatively upper wall of the box.

[0020] There is further provided for an operatively upper end of the handle end of the support to be located outside the upper wall of the box and includes a finger receiving aperture therein.

[0021] The handle end of the support may include retainer formations.

[0022] The retainer formations include inner and outer retainer formations. There is provided for the inner retainer formations to be located underneath part of an inner surface of the upper wall of the box to prevent the support from moving out of the box.

[0023] There is further provided for the outer retainer formations to be located over part of an outer surface of the upper wall of the box to prevent the support from moving into the box.

[0024] There is even further provided for the retainer formations to form an integral part of the handle end of the support.

[0025] The bag end of the support and the handle end of the support may engage through engagement means.

[0026] The bag end of the support may be integrally formed with the handle end of the support.

[0027] There is provided for the support to be formed from a blank cut out of flat sheet material or produced using injection molding.

[0028] There is further provided for the blank cut out to have a common central mirror line about which the blank is folded back onto itself to form two supports attached at the central line.

[0029] There is even further provided for the dispensing device to be a tap. In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a bag- in-a-box device comprising, a box having a bag therein for storing a liquid in the bag, a dispensing device attached to the bag for dispensing the liquid from the bag, and a bag support inside the box and at an operatively lower end thereof.

[0030] There is provided for the bag support to locate below an operatively rear, lower section the bag, in order to elevate the rear, lower section relative to a front, lower section of the bag.

[0031] There is further provided for the bag support to be an inclined surface.

[0032] The inclined surface may be an operatively bottom side of the box.

[0033] There is provided for the inclined surface to be an inclined surface of a wedge.

[0034] There is further provided for the wedge to be a rectangular in top view with a cut-away section at its thinner end to receive a part of the dispensing device in the cut-away section.

[0035] The upper surface of the wedge may be concave.

[0036] There is provided for the wedge to have holes therethrough to reduce the weight thereof. There is further provided for the dispensing device to be a tap

[0037] In accordance with a third aspect of this invention there is provided a tap comprising a tap body, a first flow path extending from a tap inlet to a tap outlet, a tubular ring extending around the tap body, a second flow path extending from a breather opening in through the tubular ring and back through the breather opening, attachment means for sealing the tap in a hole at a bottom side of a bag containing a liquid so that the tap inlet locates inside the bag, an actuator slidingly movable over the tap body between a closed position in which the actuator covers the tap outlet

[0038] The tap outlet is in an operatively lower side of the first flow path.

[0039] The breather opening is in an operatively lower side of the second flow path.

[0040] The tap outlet and breather opening aligns.

[0041] The actuator is a complimentary tubular section that is slidingly movable over the tap body to selectively close or open the tap outlet.

[0042] The actuator has partial screw thread protrusion on its inside, engaged in a partial screw thread slot on an outer surface of the tap body.

[0043] These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

[0045] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bag-in-a-box device in use in a bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0046] Figure 2 shows a side view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 1 in the bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0047] Figure 3 shows a second side view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 1 in the bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0048] Figure 4 shows a top view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 1 in the bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0049] Figure 5 shows the support of the bag-in-a-box device of figures 1 to 4, separately, before attachment thereof, in the bag- in-a-box packaging;

[0050] Figure 6 shows a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the bag-in-a-box device inserted inside a bag-in-a-box packaging; Figure 7 shows a front perspective view of the bag-in-a-box devise of figure 6 in use in a bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0051] Figure 8 shows a side view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 6 in use in the bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0052] Figure 9 shows a front perspective view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 6, separately, before attachment thereof, in the bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0053] Figure 10 shows a side view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 6, separately, before attachment thereof, in the bag-in-a- box packaging;

[0054] Figure 11 shows a bottom perspective view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 6, separately, before attachment thereof, in the bag-in-a-box packaging;

[0055] Figure 12 shows a top view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 6 separately, before attachment thereof, in the bag-in-a- box packaging;

[0056] Figure 13 shows a front perspective view of the bag-in-a-box device of figure 6 in a stacked position; Figure 14 shows a front perspective view of a tap in a third embodiment of a bag-in-a-box device;

[0057] Figure 15 shows a bottom perspective view of the tap in figure 14;

[0058] Figure 16 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the length of the tap of figure 14 in an open position when the wine bag is fully-filled with wine;

[0059] Figure 17 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the width of the tap of figure 16;

[0060] Figure 18 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the length of the tap of figure 14 in an open position when the wine bag is half-filled with wine; and

[0061] Figure 19 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the width of the tap of figure 18.

[0062] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] With reference to the drawings, a bag-in-a-box device is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 . In the first embodiment, a wine bag 3 filled with wine is held upright by a support 5 inside a wine box 2.

[0064] The wine box 2 is a rectangular, upright box positioned on its end. There is a rectangular slit 9 centrally in the top side of the wine box 2 parallel with a wide side of the wine box 2. Additionally, a hole is cut out in a lower bottom of a sidewall of the wine box 2 to form a dispensing opening.

[0065] The wine bag 3 is an elongate pouch or bladder with a tap 4 sealingly attached at a bottom side of the wine bag 3. The wine bag 3 is positioned inside the wine box 2 so that the tap 4 protrudes through the dispensing opening.

[0066] The support 5 consists of two sides that are mirror images of each other. It is formed from a blank cut out of flat sheet material. The two sides are cut from the sheet material with upper sides thereof on a common central line 12 along which the sides are folded towards each other.

[0067] The support 5 consists of a bag end 5a attached to an upper end of the bag 3 and a handle end 5b located outside the box 2.

[0068] The bag end 5a is attached to an upper end of the bag 3 through two flat bifurcating fingers 7 attached and extending past the top of the bag 3, downwards a side of the bag 3. The handle end 5b extends through the rectangular slit 9 centrally in the top side of the wine box 2 and is located outside the wine box 2. It is rectangularly shaped and contains a centrally positioned, rounded-rectangular opening.

[0069] The handle end 5b contains two retainer formations.

[0070] A first retainer formation is an inner retainer 11a located underneath part of an inner surface of the upper wall of the wine box 2. The inner retainer 11a consists of two rectangular arms extending from the centre of the handle end 5b.

[0071] A second retainer formation is an outer retainer 11 b located over part of an outer surface of the upper wall of the wine box 2. The outer retainer 11 b constitutes an undercut portion of the handle end 5b, forming a functional flap.

[0072] The retainer formations form an integral part of the handle end 5b.

[0073] In use, the support is folded along the common central line to form two mirror image sides.

[0074] The wine bag is positioned between the bifurcated fingers of the first and second sides of the support. The bifurcated fingers are attached to the sides of the wine bag on the outer surfaces thereof. The attachment can be through double-sided tape, or the bifurcated fingers can be glued to the surface of the wine bag. The wine bag with the attached support is positioned inside the wine box so that the tap protrudes through the opening in the lower bottom side of the wine box. The handle end of the support protrudes through the slit in the top side of the wine box.

[0075] The outer retainer formation extends against the outer top side of the box to prevent the support and bag from falling towards the bottom of the box. The inner retainer formation extends underneath part of the inner surface of the upper wall of the wine box to prevent the support end from moving out of the wine box.

[0076] As the wine level drops, the support keeps the wine bag in an upright position and prevent it from crumpling in the bottom of the wine box. The retainer formations in the handle end of the support prevent the handle from sliding into and out of the wine box through the slit. The handle end of the support also serves as a carrying mechanism for the wine box.

[0077] In a second embodiment, a wine bag 3 filled with wine is positioned at an angle on top of a bag support 14 inside a wine box 2. The bag support 14 locates below a rear, lower section of the wine bag 3.

[0078] The bag support 14 is an inclined surface of a wedge. The wedge is rectangular in top view with a cut-away section at its thinner end. The thinner end of the wedge receives a part of a tap 4 extending from the wine bag 3. An upper surface of the wedge is concave and has holes therethrough.

[0079] The wedge has centrally located complimentary male and female formations and are stackable on top of each other.

[0080] In use, the bag support is placed inside the wine box at the bottom thereof. The bag support is orientated so that the cut-away section at the thin end is aligned with the opening inside the wine box.

[0081] The wine bag is placed inside the wine box on top of the bag support so that a part of the tap is in the cut-away section and the remainder of the tap protrudes through the opening in a lower end of the side of the wine box.

[0082] All points on the inclined surface are higher or at the same height of the tap outlet, thus ensuring that all liquid runs to the tap inlet, ensuring that all liquid in the bag runs towards the tap outlet under force of gravity.

[0083] In a third embodiment, a tap 4 of a bag-in-a-box packaging facilitates proper dispensing of liquid in the bag.

[0084] The tap 4 has an elongate tubular tap body 15. A first flow path 16 extends between a tap inlet 17 and a tap outlet 18 of the tap body 15. The tap outlet 18 is in an operatively lower side of the first flow path 16. A tubular ring 19 extends around the elongate tubular tap body 15. A second flow path 20 extends from a breather opening 21 , in through the tubular ring 19, and through the tap inlet 17 into the wine bag. The breather opening 21 is in an operatively lower side of the tubular ring 19 and aligns with the tap outlet 18.

[0085] An actuator 22 has a complimentary tubular section that is slidingly movable over the tap body 15, to selectively close or open the tap outlet 18 and breather opening 21 .

[0086] The actuator 22 has a partial screw thread protrusion on its inside, engaged in a partial screw thread slot on an outer surface of a tubular body of the tap.

[0087] The rotation of the actuator 22 about its access thus causes rotational movement of the actuator 22 along the tap body between a closed position and an open position.

[0088] In use, the tap is sealingly connected to the wine bag containing the wine through an attachment means so that the tap inlet locates inside the wine bag.

[0089] To ensure that wine inside the wine bag is dispensed from the wine bag, the actuator is rotated to expose the tap outlet. When the wine bag is full of wine, the exposed tap outlet allows wine to move into the first flow path and second flow path. This causes wine to flow from inside the bag through the tap inlet and out through the tap outlet.

[0090] As the level of wine in the wine bag reduces, the exposed breather opening allows air to flow back into the second flow path. The flow of air into the second flow path breaks the vacuum inside the wine bag which allows the wine to flow more easily through the first flow path. Wine then only flows through the first flow path.

[0091] It is envisaged that the bag-in-a-box device described herein would be convenient to use as it would assist to completely empty the liquid from the bag or more completely that what is the case with prior art bag-in-a-box packaging.

[0092] The support keeps the bag in an upright position and prevent it from crumpling in the bottom of the box. The retainer formations holds the support in position relative to the wine box by preventing the support from sliding into or out of the wine box through the slit. The handle end of the support also serves as a carrying mechanism for the box.

[0093] The support and bag support ensures that liquid does not gather below the tap. The user will not have to resort to various techniques like squeezing, shaking, or propping up the wine box at an angle to coax the last bit of liquid out. The breather opening in the tap will break the vacuum that hinders the flow of the liquid. The user will not have to open the tap and blow air into the bag.

[0094] The bag-in-a-box device is cost effective to manufacture and easy to implement. The user does not have to perform any additional assembly procedures.

[0095] Due to the design of the bag-in-a-box device, no additional production procedures will be necessary. It can be easily incorporated into the existing production process.

[0096] In an alternative embodiment, or additionally, the inclined bag support can be an inner bottom wall of the box. Instead of inserting an inclined bag support inside the wine box, an inner wall of the wine box can perform the same function.

[0097] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A bag-in-a-box comprising, a box having a bag therein for storing a liquid in the bag, a dispensing device attached to the bag for dispensing the liquid from the bag, and a support for supporting the bag in an operatively upright position inside the bag.

2. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 1 in which a bag end of the support is attached to an operatively upper end of the bag and a handle end of the support is located outside the box.

3. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 2 in which the bag end of the support has an attachment means attached to an operatively upper end of the bag.

4. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 3 in which the attachment means are a number of fingers extending from a base, the fingers are attached to the upper end of the bag with an attachment surface of the finger attached to the bag.

5. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 4 in which the attachment surface of the finger is a flat surface.

6. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 in which the fingers are two bifurcated fingers extending from the base.

7. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 in which the fingers are attached and extend past the top of the bag, downwards a side of the bag.

8. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 7 in which the attachment means extends past the top of the bag downwards the side of the bag and terminates past half the height of the bag.

9. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 in which the handle end of the support extends through an aperture in an operatively upper wall of the box.

10. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 9 in which an operatively upper end of the handle end of the support is located outside the upper wall of the box and includes a finger receiving aperture therein.

11. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of claims 9 or 10 in which the handle end of the support includes retainer formations.

12. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 10 in which the retainer formations include inner and outer retainer formations.

13. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in claim 11 in which the inner retainer formations are located underneath part of an inner surface of the upper wall of the box to prevent the support from moving out of the box.

14. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of claims 11 or 12 in which the outer retainer formations are located over part of an outer surface of the upper wall of the box to prevent the support from moving into the box.

15. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 in which the retainer formation forms an integral part of the handle end of the support.

16. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the bag end of the support and the handle end of the support engages through engagement means.

17. A bag-in-a-box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the bag end of the support is integrally formed with the handle end of the support.

18. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the support is formed from a blank cut out of flat sheet material or is produced using injection molding.

19. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the blank cut out has a common central mirror line about which the blank is folded back onto itself to form two supports attached at the central line.

20. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in claim 1 in which the dispensing device is a tap.21 . A bag-in-a-box device comprising, a box having a bag therein for storing a liquid in the bag, a dispensing device attached to the bag for dispensing the liquid from the bag, and a bag support inside the box and at an operatively lower end thereof.

22. A bag in a box as claimed in claim 21 in which the bag support locates below an operatively rear, lower section the bag, to elevate the rear, lower section relative to a front, lower section of the bag.

23. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of claims 21 or 22 in which the bag support is an inclined surface.

24. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in claim 24 in which the inclined surface is an operatively bottom side of the box.

25. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of claims 23 or 24 in which the inclined surface is an inclined surface of a wedge.

26. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in claim 25 in which the wedge is rectangular in top view with a cut-away section at its thinner end to receive a part of the dispensing device in the cut-away section.

27. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of claims 25 or 26 in which an upper surface of the wedge is concave.

28. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of claims 15 to 27 in which the wedge has holes therethrough to reduce the weight thereof.

29. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in claim 19 in which the dispensing device is a tap.

30. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the tap comprises a tap body, a first flow path extending from a tap inlet to a tap outlet, a tubular ring extending around the tap body, a second flow path extending from a breather opening in through the tubular ring and back through the breather opening, attachment means for sealing the tap in a hole at a bottom side of a bag containing a liquid so that the tap inlet locates inside the bag, an actuator slidingly movable over the tap body between a closed position in which the actuator covers the tap outlet and an open position in which the actuator exposes the outlet opening.

31. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in claim 30 in which the tap outlet is in an operatively lower side of the first flow path.

32. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of claims 30 or 31 in which the breather opening is in an operatively lower side of the second flow path.

33. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of claims 30 to 32 in which the tap outlet and breather opening aligns.

34. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed claim 30 in which the actuator is a complimentary tubular section that is slidingly movable over the tap body to selectively close or open the tap outlet.

35. A bag-in-a-box device as claimed in any of claims 30 or 34 in which the actuator has partial screw thread protrusion on its inside, engaged in a partial screw thread slot on an outer surface of the tap body.

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