US20090236343A1 - Device for a Bag of Liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for bags containing liquids to assist storage and use of bag. The opened bag is held upright with the aid of gripping protrusions and the container can be inclined to pour out liquid from the bag. The container includes a blade for cutting open the bag of liquid.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention is in the field of liquid containers and in particular for a bag containing a liquid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Bags containing liquids present a problem. When the bag is closed the liquid is contained but when the bag is opened and some of the contents remain inside, the bag needs support to avoid spillage.
• Different kinds of containers have been revealed to solve this problem. This invention reveals yet another novel solution.
• The types of liquids held in bags are somewhat limited probably because of this problem of containing and controlling any remaining liquid in the bag after the initial use. If a practical invention is revealed that solves the problem with bagged liquids many more manufactures who today use more costly water-proof cartons or rigid plastic containers may change to using bags to market their products.
• One commonly used consumer product that is suitable to market in bags and the contents are usually not finished after the first use, is milk. Some countries like England and Canada are trying to re-introduce the milk bag for environmental reasons. There is some resistance from the public. An efficient holder for such bags would increase the chances of success of such environmental projects. This invention is not limited to milk bags and could apply to a bag of any kind of liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention but not to limit the invention to these descriptions only.
• A container is used for holding a bag containing liquid for pouring out the liquid from inside the bag.
• The container includes a lower portion to hold a bag of liquid and a lid portion that fits onto and closes on top of the lower portion.
• At least a part of the upper rim of the lower portion of the container is undulated, with alternate protrusions and indentations.
• On the lid there are also undulating alternate protrusions and indentations facing downward towards the upper rim of the lower portion in such a manner that the protrusions of the rim and the protrusions of the lid touch each other when the lid is closed. Similarly the indentations are opposite each other when the lid is closed thereby leaving a space for the liquid in the bag to pour out through that space even when the lid is closed.
• There is a slit across the length of the protrusions and indentations of the rim and of the lid that allows a blade to pass through the two slits. The direction of the blade length would be at about 90° to the direction of the length of the slits. The blade could be attached to the lid in such a manner that the blade can be moved freely back and forth in the two slits when the lid is closed.
• A new bag of liquid is placed in the container with one upper corner of the bag gripped between the protrusions of the rim and the protrusions of the lid. The extreme end of the corner of the bag could extend beyond the gripping protrusions. The blade in the two slits is pulled through the slit in order to cut off the corner of the bag. The extreme end of the corner could then be removed leaving the open portion of the bag held between the touching protrusions.
• The contents of the bag are poured out through the indentations even when the lid is closed. Magnets could be used to keep the lid in the closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain by way of example only, the principles of the invention:
• FIG. 1A is a schematic depiction of the holder of a bag of liquid.
• FIG. 1B is an enlarged schematic depiction of the protrusions of the bag holder.
• FIG. 1C is an enlarged schematic depiction of the protrusions of the bag holder in plan view.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a bag of liquid held by the protrusions of the bag holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments than those discussed above and described in more detail below, and its several details are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention.
• Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forth below are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
• FIG. 1A shows thebag container100. A bag of liquid is placed in thebag container100 in such a way that one upper corner of the bag protrudes over theprotrusions102. Theprotrusions102 and108 are opposite thespout104 of thebag container100.
• When thelid106 of thebag container100 is closed, theupper protrusions108 andlower protrusions102 touch and thereby grip the corner of the bag of liquid.
• There is aslit112 splitting through the length of theprotrusions102 and through the indentations between theprotrusions102. There is aslit113 that runs parallel withslit112 and splits through the length of theprotrusions108 and through the indentations between theprotrusions108. Theslit112 splits through the thickness of thelid106, through theupper protrusions108 andlower protrusions102.
• Theblade114 is pulled though theslit112 and113 from one side to the other in order to cut off the corner of the bag of liquid. The cut-off extremity corner piece can be pulled away leaving the open corner of the bag facing thespout104.
• After the corner has been cut off the bag, theprotrusions102 and108 continue to grip the open corner of the bag of liquid while thelid106 is closed.Magnets116 could be used to help thelid106 remain closed. When thebag container100 is inclined in the direction of thespout104, the liquid in the bag pours between theupper indentations118 and thelower indentations120 and down thespout104.
• FIG. 1B shows an enlarged sectional view of rectangular protrusions and indentations. Theprotrusions108 facing down from the lidFIG. 1106 are opposite theprotrusions102 facing up from the rim of thecontainer100. Theindentations118 facing down from the lidFIG. 1106 are opposite theindentations120 facing up from the edge of thecontainer100.
• After the bag corner has been cut off, the open edge of the bag is gripped by theprotrusions102 and108. When thecontainer100 is tilted the liquid in the bag can exit through theindentations118 and120.
• FIG. 1C shows the plan view of the protrusions and indentations. In plan view the height differences between the protrusions and indentations can not be seen. Theslit150 is the space through which thecutting blade152 moves to cut off thecorner154 of the bag. Once cut, the extremity or pointed portion of thecorner154 is pulled away leaving exposed the indentations through which liquid may exit from the bag.
• FIG. 2 shows amilk bag120 with atop corner122 gripped between theprotrusions124 before thecorner122 has been cut off.

Claims (2)

1. A container for a bag of liquid comprising;

a. an upper rim of the said container with undulating protrusions and indentations adjacent to the pouring spout of the said container,

b. a lid pivotally hinged onto the said container with undulating protrusions and indentations positioned on the said lid in synchronization with the said protrusions and indentations of the upper rim whereby the said protrusions of the said lid touch the said protrusions of the said upper rim when the said lid is closed,

c. a slit dividing the length of the said upper rim protrusions and indentations,

d. a slit dividing the length of the said lid protrusions and indentations positioned such that when the said lid is closed the said slit in the said upper rim and the said slit in the said lid coincide to form one joint slit, and

e. a blade attached to the said lid in such a manner that the said blade can be moved freely back and fort in the said joint slit when the said lid is closed.

2. A container for a bag of liquid comprising;

a. an upper rim of the said container with undulating protrusions and indentations adjacent to the pouring spout of the said container, and

b. a lid pivotally hinged onto the said container with undulating protrusions and indentations positioned on the said lid in synchronization with the said protrusions and indentations of the upper rim whereby the said protrusions of the said lid touch the said protrusions of the said upper rim when the said lid is closed.

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