Abstract: A dispensing closure system, a package including the same, a method of making the package on a form-fill-seal machine and a method of dispensing flowable products from the package are disclosed. The package includes an openable port in a wall in communication with the package's interior. The closure system comprises a fitment having a hollow body member, a resilient valve, and retainer assembly. The body member is secured to the package's wall and encircles the openable port. The valve is held in the body member by the retainer assembly, which comprises a retaining ring and a cap integrally connected to each other by a frangible connection. The cap includes a handle which may be pulled to break the frangible connection to remove the cap and thereby expose the valve for a dispensing probe to be extended therethrough to dispense the product.

Abstract: A package, a fitment and method for dispensing a flowable material is disclosed. The package includes a hollow body formed of a flexible material and a fitment secured thereto. The fitment includes an outer gland and a plunger and overlies a frangible penetration zone in the hollow body of the package. The outer gland includes a passageway extending through it. The plunger has a cylindrical wall defining a hollow interior and a free end disposed within the passageway of the gland. The plunger is arranged to be moved along the passageway, so that its free end penetrates through the penetration zone into the interior of the package to provide an exit port for the material. The free end of the plunger also serves to hold portions of the walls of the package away from the exit port to prevent blockage thereof.

Abstract: A package system for dispensing a flowable material into a conduit of a dispensing apparatus. The package system includes a package and a connector. The package, e.g., a bag-in-box, comprises a hollow bag and a tap fitment for enabling the contents of the bag to flow out when the fitment is open. The connector includes an automatic shut off valve and is arranged to be fixedly secured to the conduit of the dispensing apparatus and releasably secured to the fitment. The valve is arranged to enable the flow of flowable material from the package into the conduit when the fitment is open, while preventing any of that material from flowing out of the conduit when the connector is disconnected from the fitment.

Abstract: A package for dispensing a flowable material is disclosed. The package includes an interior chamber for holding the flowable material, a coupling insert located within the chamber and a piercing member. The piercing member includes a dispensing tube and is arranged to pierce through the package to communicate with the chamber and thereafter to snap-connect to the coupling insert. The contents of the package can then be dispensed from the package via the dispensing tube. The coupling insert is arranged to be moved to any desired position within the chamber. The package's wall may be constructed, e.g., be transparent and/or include target indicia thereon, to facilitate the positioning of the coupling insert at the desired position.

Abstract: A one-way valve and a flexible package including the valve are disclosed. The valve basically comprises a base member, a flexible septum and a stake. The base member is mounted on a wall of the package and includes a valve seat and at least one inlet port. The septum is formed of a resilient material and is connected to the base member by the stake, with a first portion of the septum contiguous with the stake fixed in position with respect to the base member and a second portion of the septum engaging the valve seat and covering and sealing the at least one inlet port. The septum is arranged to flex off of the valve seat to unseal the at least one inlet port when the pressure of gas at the at least one inlet port reaches a threshold.

Abstract: A package including a fitment for holding a liquid therein to dispense the liquid and the fitment itself. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a piercing member for piercing through the bag to provide access to the interior of the bag and a compressible bulb having a reservoir in it. The dispensing valve also includes an inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The bulb is arranged to be compressed and then released to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir. The bulb can then be compressed again to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir through the outlet valve to the outlet.

Abstract: A package for enabling the dispensing (metering of) a flowable material by use of dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The package is a flexible bag or pouch having an internal cavity in which the flowable material is disposed and a fitment through which the flowable material is metered. The fitment is arranged to receive a probe of the dispensing apparatus and includes a first valve to prevent the flowable material from exiting through the fitment until the fitment is connected to the probe. The probe includes a second valve which opens when the probe is connected to the fitment and which closes when the probe is disconnected from the fitment. The disconnection of the probe from the fitment causes the first valve to close. The fitment also includes an anti-blocking member which prevents the walls of the package from collapsing to block the fitment when the flowable material is metered out.

Abstract: A dispensing closure system, a package including the same, a method of making the package on a form-fill-seal machine and a method of dispensing flowable products from the package are disclosed. The package includes an openable port in a wall in communication with the package's interior. The closure system comprises a fitment having a hollow body member, a resilient valve, and retainer assembly. The body member is secured to the package's wall and encircles the openable port. The valve is held in the body member by the retainer assembly, which comprises a retaining ring and a cap integrally connected to each other by a frangible connection. The cap includes a handle which may be pulled to break the frangible connection to remove the cap and thereby expose the valve for a dispensing probe to be extended therethrough to dispense the product.

Abstract: A package for enabling the dispensing a flowable material therefrom by use of dispensing apparatus, e.g., a soft drink making machine. The package is in the form of a flexible bag having wall portions defining an internal cavity and a fitment secured to at least one wall portion. The fitment is arranged to receive a probe of the dispensing apparatus to pump the contents of the package through the fitment. The fitment includes an anti-blocking member which prevents the walls of the package from collapsing to block the fitment when the contents of the package are pumped out. The fitment also includes a valve which is normally closed and which opens upon the creation of negative pressure within the fitment as occasioned by the operation of the pumping mechanism.

Abstract: A package system for dispensing a flowable material into a conduit of a dispensing apparatus. The package system includes a package and a connector. The package, e.g., a bag-in-box, comprises a hollow bag and a tap fitment for enabling the contents of the bag to flow out when the fitment is open. The connector includes an automatic shut off valve and is arranged to be fixedly secured to the conduit of the dispensing apparatus and releasably secured to the fitment. The valve is arranged to enable the flow of flowable material from the package into the conduit when the fitment is open, while preventing any of that material from flowing out of the conduit when the connector is disconnected from the fitment.

Abstract: A package, a fitment and method for dispensing a flowable material is disclosed. The package includes a hollow body formed of a flexible material and a fitment secured thereto. The fitment includes an outer gland and a plunger and overlies a frangible penetration zone in the hollow body of the package. The outer gland includes a passageway extending through it. The plunger has a cylindrical wall defining a hollow interior and a free end disposed within the passageway of the gland. The plunger is arranged to be moved along the passageway, so that its free end penetrates through the penetration zone into the interior of the package to provide an exit port for the material. The free end of the plunger also serves to hold portions of the walls of the package away from the exit port to prevent blockage thereof.

Abstract: A package including a fitment for holding a liquid therein to dispense the liquid and the fitment itself. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a piercing member for piercing through the bag to provide access to the interior of the bag and a compressible bulb having a reservoir in it. The dispensing valve also includes an inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The bulb is arranged to be compressed and then released to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir. The bulb can then be compressed again to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir through the outlet valve to the outlet.

Abstract: A package for dispensing a flowable material is disclosed. The package includes an interior chamber for holding the flowable material, a coupling insert located within the chamber and a piercing member. The piercing member includes a dispensing tube and is arranged to pierce through the package to communicate with the chamber and thereafter to snap-connect to the coupling insert. The contents of the package can then be dispensed from the package via the dispensing tube. The coupling insert is arranged to be moved to any desired position within the chamber. The package's wall may be constructed, e.g., be transparent and/or include target indicia thereon, to facilitate the positioning of the coupling insert at the desired position.

Abstract: A fitment for package holding a liquid and a package including such a fitment. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a compressible bulb and a piercing member which when actuated pierces through the bag to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir in the bulb. The bulb can then be compressed to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir. The dispensing valve also includes a inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The fitment may include a pair of barriers to enable it to be sterilized before being secured to the bag form an aseptic package.

Abstract: A fitment for package holding a liquid and a package including such a fitment. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a compressible bulb and a piercing member which when actuated pierces through the bag to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir in the bulb. The bulb can then be compressed to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir. The dispensing valve also includes a inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The fitment may include a pair of barriers to enable it to be sterilized before being secured to the bag form an aseptic package.

Abstract: A one-way valve and a flexible package including the valve are disclosed. The valve basically comprises a base member, a flexible septum and a stake. The base member is mounted on a wall of the package and includes a valve seat and at least one inlet port. The septum is formed of a resilient material and is connected to the base member by the stake, with a first portion of the septum contiguous with the stake fixed in position with respect to the base member and a second portion of the septum engaging the valve seat and covering and sealing the at least one inlet port. The septum is arranged to flex off of the valve seat to unseal the at least one inlet port when the pressure of gas at the at least one inlet port reaches a threshold.

Abstract: A fitment for package holding a liquid and a package including such a fitment. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a compressible bulb and a piercing member which when actuated pierces through the bag to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir in the bulb. The bulb can then be compressed to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir. The dispensing valve also includes a inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The fitment may include a pair of barriers to enable it to be sterilized before being secured to the bag form an aseptic package.

Abstract: Flexible packages for holding and selectively dispensing flowable materials therefrom. Each package is formed of a flexible material and includes an extendable fitment mounted in a wall portion of the package. The extendable fitment includes a movable mounting member, e.g., an evertable member or a slidable member, and a spout or tap mounted thereon. The spout/tap is arranged to be moved from a retracted position wherein at least a portion of it is located within the package to an extended position wherein at least a portion of it is located outside of the package. The spout/tap is arranged to selectively dispense the flowable material from the package it is in its extended position.

Abstract: A fitment for package holding a liquid and a package including such a fitment. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a compressible bulb and a piercing member which when actuated pierces through the bag to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir in the bulb. The bulb can then be compressed to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir. The dispensing valve also includes a inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The fitment may include a pair of barriers to enable it to be sterilized before being secured to the bag form an aseptic package.

Abstract: Flexible packages for holding and selectively dispensing a liquid therefrom and methods of making those packages. Each package is formed of a flexible material and includes a tap fitment having a generally boat shaped base section sealed between contiguous portions of the package. The fitment includes a valve to enable liquid within the package to be dispensed. The flexible package is arranged to be located within an outer carton, with a portion of the fitment extending out of the carton. The packages can be made on an automated form, fill and seal machine or can be made of precursor packages on an automated fill and seal machine.