Pouch container for measuring and dispensing liquids

Abstract

A flexible pouch container is formed by heat sealing adjacent sheets of a thermal plastic material to form a main storage reservoir and a dispensing and measuring reservoir, and a filling passage between the two reservoirs. A rigid support tube may be inserted in the filling passage. A dispensing spout is heat welded into a marginal edge of the pouch container in communication with the measuring reservoir so that, by applying hand pressure to the main reservoir, and with the measuring reservoir vented, a controlled, measured amount of liquid is transferred to the measuring reservoir which may then be dispensed through the spout.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. application No. 60/310,476 entitled “Pouch Container for Measuring and Dispensing Liquids”, filed Aug. 7, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to dispensing containers for liquids; and more particularly, to a dispensing container in the form of a closed pouch formed from flexible sheet materials and including a provision for measuring a quantity of liquid intended to be dispensed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There are a number of prior containers for measuring and then dispensing the measured quantity of a liquid. Examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,843 and 4,106,673. Many prior art measuring dispensing containers are formed of a more rigid plastic material which, although side walls may be squeezed to reduce the interior volume of the container, are nevertheless not truly flexible in the sense of a pouch container. Pouch containers are widely used in storing and dispensing liquids, for example, in the field of industrial and commercial cleaning chemicals, as well as for granular and liquid insecticides, pesticides, and other industrial and commercial chemicals required to be dispensed in limited or predetermined quantities.

[0004] Such prior dispensers, however, do not fulfill all of the desired functions for use in the field of commercial and industrial cleaning chemicals. In this particular industry, it is desired to have a container which is not necessarily openable to pour out the entire volume of the stored liquid, but which does contain a dispensing spout for dispensing a smaller measured quantity of the liquid. This avoids spilling or dispensing volumes of chemicals larger than intended, which is desirable in some instances of application such as waste management or pest or insect control, which may be officially regulated. At the same time, it is desired to have the container be flexible so that it can be used in existing proportioning system for cleaning chemicals and mounted in a convenient manner in proportioning or automatic metering systems.

[0005] Further, it is desirable that such containers be capable of being set in an upright or self-supporting position to avoid spillage, even though they are flexible, and to have an inexpensive, yet convenient and readily accessible means for comfortably, safely and reliably transporting the container by hand, through the use of a handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention includes a pouch which is formed of adjacent or overlying sheets of a heat-sealable thermoplastic material, particularly a heavy, yet flexible multiple-ply plastic sheet material resistant to tearing, cutting, piercing and chemical attack, yet which readily receives printed material, such as instructions and other labeling information.

[0007] The original pouch container is formed by heat-sealing first and second overlapping side sheets together with a bottom sheet along all edges, except for a filling aperture. Provision is also made for a dispensing spout. Internally, the adjacent side sheets of the container are also welded to form a filling or transfer conduit and a measuring reservoir. The filling conduit or passage communicates the bottom portion of the main liquid storage chamber or reservoir with the top of the measuring reservoir. A rigid tube may be inserted in the filling passage to maintain the passage open.

[0008] The bottom of the container includes a gusset which has its lower edges sealed to the adjacent side sheets or walls respectively of the pouch during manufacturing. The ends of the gusset are welded to the lower edges of the side plies so that the bottom gusset forms a bottom wall which may be spread for supporting the container and its contents on a flat surface when the main storage reservoir is filled with liquid. The weight of the stored liquid forces the side walls apart since they are flexible, and it also weighs down upon the gusset to form a stable, weighted bottom for support. As the bottom wall opens under the weight of the stored liquid, it become flat when placed on a flat surface, thereby creating a stable support surface under the weight of the liquid. Thus, the pouch and its contents are capable of being stored upright or placed upright for immediate use.

[0009] After the desired amount of liquid is admitted into the main liquid reservoir through the filling aperture, the filling aperture is sealed off so that the entire pouch is closed except for a dispensing spout covered with a removable cap. The spout communicates directly with the graduated measuring reservoir.

[0010] The present invention may include, preferably along a marginal edge adjacent the filling tube, a number of cutouts, one of which may be round to provide a mounting hole, and another is in the form of an opening for fingers to provide a handle for carrying the container and its contents.

[0011] When used manually, the storage pouch may be placed on a horizontal surface or mounted on a hook or hanger with the dispensing spout closed. When it is desired to dispense a measured quantity, the cap is opened slightly to permit trapped air to pass through the cap and vent the measuring reservoir. The sides of the main liquid reservoir are pressed together by hand. This forces the liquid in the main storage reservoir under pressure through the filling passage and tube and into the measuring reservoir. When the desired quantity of measured liquid is in the measuring reservoir, the hand pressure is released, and the liquid in the filling passage and tube falls back down to the main reservoir under gravity.

[0012] The quantity of liquid transferred to the measuring reservoir remains there temporarily; and it is dispensed by removing the cap entirely and pouring the measured quantity from the measuring reservoir through the dispensing spout. Many applications do not require great accuracy of measurement, but having the filling passage located on a side of the measuring reservoir which is remote from the dispensing spout increases dispensing accuracy, as will be understood.

[0013] Among the advantages of the present invention are its flexibility in use, its ability to be modified economically for a large range of storage quantities, measuring quantities, and applications, and its economical, convenient, accurate and reliable measuring and dispensing of quantities for the intended use, which does not require great accuracy. Further, the container cannot be re-used, and this may have a significant advantage in applications where re-use of the container is restricted or undesirable. The flexible nature of the container wall materials reduces the bulk upon disposal after use.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing wherein identical reference numerals refer to like parts and the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a first embodiment of a dispensing container incorporating the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 shown before the main storage reservoir is sealed and showing the opening for filling the main storage reservoir with liquid;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but with the upper portion of the container above sight line 3-3 of FIG. 2 cut away;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the measuring reservoir enlarged after a measured quantity has been transferred to the measuring reservoir;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a lower fragmentary, perspective view of the inventive container showing the bottom of the container expanded;

[0020] FIG. 6 is an elevational side view of a second embodiment of a dispensing container incorporating the present invention, with a support tube extending through the filling passage to prevent its collapse;

[0021] FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the container of FIG. 6 before the main storage reservoir is sealed; and

[0022] FIG. 8 is an upper, right side perspective view of the container of FIG. 6 taken through the sight line 8-8 of FIG. 6 and showing the support tube extending slightly above the cut-away upper edge of the side sheets forming the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a dispensing container shown in an upright position is generally designated 10. The container 10 is made from two overlying plies of flexible thermoplastic sheet material 11, 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and a third sheet or gusset 14 forming a bottom wall (FIG. 5) which are heat welded together in the areas described below. The weld areas of the final container include a continuous marginal weld, except for a dispensing spout as will be described. The marginal weld includes a right side margin 15, bottom margins 16 (in side panel 11), 17 (in the other side panel 12, see FIG. 5), and a narrower left side margin 18. Dashed line is used to illustrate the edges of the heat welds forming the sealed margins. A suitable material for side plies 11, 17 which is commercially available is a multi-ply plastic having an outer layer of 40 gauge clear polyester (capable of being printed), an intermediate layer of 100 gauge biax nylon for strength, and an inner layer of 6 mil nylon coax for resistance to chemicals. As used herein, the term “flexible” when applied to the layers or sheets of thermoplastic material means that they collapse when a single sheet or layer is placed in a verticle position. That is, a single layer has no beam strength when placed in a horizontal place.

[0024] The bottom 14 of the container 10, which may be of the same three-ply sheet material, forms a gusset having one edge sealed at 16 to the bottom of the side ply 11, and the opposing edge sealed at 17 to the bottom of the other side ply 12. The left and right ends of the bottom wall 14 are sealed respectively to the lower corner portions of the marginal welds 15, 16, 17 and 18 so that a continuous, liquid-proof pouch is provided with, originally, an upper fill opening designated 19 in FIG. 2 which is not sealed originally, as indicated in FIG. 2, so as to permit the desired fluid to be placed in the pouch before it is closed. Continuing on with the sealed or welded marginal portions, the upper left portion of the top margin of the container is welded at 21 and 22. The welded upper marginal portions 21, 22 are separated to provide an opening which receives and is heat welded (or attached by other suitable means) to a conventional mount fitting 23 of a threaded dispenser or pour spout 24, on which is received a removable internally threaded cap 25. Alternatively, a “pushpull” sealable pour spout may be used.

[0025] Continuing on with the heat weld of the adjacent side sheets 11, 12, it extends from the top weld portion 22 downwardly forming a strip 26, then laterally in the strip 27. The portion 27 is then continuous with a generally upright weld strip 29 which, together with the marginal edge weld 15 defines a space forming filling passage 31. The weld strip 29 includes an upper segment 30 which terminates at its upper end short of the top weld portion 21 and at its lower end just above the bottom marginal weld 16 which forms the bottom of the main storage reservoir 33. An inlet opening 32 communicates the elongated filling passage 31 with the bottom of the main storage reservoir 33. The filling tube 31 thus communicates the bottom of the main storage reservoir 33 via inlet opening 32 with the top of a measuring reservoir 35. The measuring reservoir 35 is thus formed by the weld strips 26, 27 and the upper portion 30 of weld strip 29, together with the adjoining portions of the side sheets 11, 12.

[0026] Once the desired quantity of liquid is introduced into the main storage reservoir 33 through the opening 19 and inlet portion 34, the opening 19 is then welded closed as indicated by the inclined marginal 37 (FIG. 1), thus providing, in combination with the capped spout 24 and welded areas 18, 16, 15, 21 and 22, a closed, sealed envelope or pouch container having flexible side walls and a gusseted bottom wall for storing liquid so that the weight of the liquid bears down on the bottom wall 14, spreading apart the bottom edges of the side panels 11, 12, and forcing the bottom wall 14 to rest flat against any underlying support surface to form a stable support for the container and its contents.

[0027] A cutout 39 may be formed in the right marginal weld portion 15 to define a space for the insertion of two or three fingers of a hand, and provide a carrying handle for a user. In addition, a smaller, round aperture 40 may be formed in the marginal edge 15 for hanging the pouch either for storage, display or transportation, or for mounting the pouch in an automatic metering or proportioning system, if desired. The side wall of the measuring reservoir 35 may be graduated with horizontal printed markers indicating volume, as illustrated by the horizontal lines 47 in FIG. 1.

[0028] The operation of the system is explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 which show the bottom half of the container 10 with the main storage reservoir 33 filled with liquid. As seen in FIG. 3, the measuring reservoir 35, formed by the welded portions 26, 27 and the upper portion 30 of weld strip 29 is comparatively flat since it contains no liquid originally. Moreover, the liquid in the main reservoir 33 does not travel up the filling passage 31 when the cap 25 is in place and the storage container is mounted by means of the holes 37 or placed in an upright position.

[0029] To pass a desired quantity of liquid from the main storage reservoir 33 into the metering reservoir 35, the user loosens cap 25 (FIG. 1) slightly without removing it to vent the measuring reservoir 35 to escape. While holding the container in one hand by handle 39, the user then applies pressure with opposing fingers and thumb of the other hand to the sides of the main storage reservoir 33. This pressure causes the main storage reservoir to reduce in volume and forces liquid through the inlet opening 32, and up the fill or delivery passage 31, and over the upper portion 30 of weld strip 29 (which acts like a weir) and into the measuring reservoir 35.

[0030] When the desired liquid quantity is transmitted into the measuring reservoir 35, the hand pressure on the main storage reservoir 33 is relaxed and the liquid level in the fill passage 31 drops. The cap 25 is then fully removed, and the measured quantity of liquid is dispensed through the open spout 24. It will be observed that by pouring the measured quantity away from the user's hand holding the handle formed by cutout 39, the liquid in the main storage reservoir 33 is unable to travel up the fill passage 31. This insures that the amount of liquid dispensed is that which was placed in the measuring reservoir. If even greater accuracy is required in the measurement, the user may use his or her finger and thumb to squeeze the fill passage closed after measuring and during dispensing.

[0031] Turning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8, similar elements which have been disclosed in connection with the first embodiment will be identified with like reference numerals preceded by a “1”. Thus, the second embodiment includes first and second sheets of thermal plastic material 111, 112 which are heat sealed together to form a right marginal heat weld strip 115, a bottom marginal weld strip 116 (together with a second bottom marginal edge not seen in FIGS. 6-8 but similar to the previously described marginal heat sealed strip 117 (FIG. 5) form in connection with a bottom wall similar to that shown at 14 in FIG. 5, not shown in the second embodiment for simplicity. Continuing, the second embodiment includes a left marginal weld 118 and a top marginal weld 121. The top marginal weld 121 extends completely from the right side to the left side of the pouch container and is separated from the upper edge of the left marginal heat weld 118 to receive the mount fitting 23 of the spout 24 which may be identical to that shown in the first embodiment. As with the first embodiment, the side plies 111, 112 are welded to the mount 23 of the spout 24. A similar handle aperture 139 may be formed in the right side marginal weld 115 as seen in FIG. 6.

[0032] A horizontal strip of heat weld 127 defines the bottom of a measuring reservoir 135. A second heat weld strip 130 extends from the right edge of the heat weld strip 127 upwardly and toward the spout 24, but spaced from the top marginal heat weld 121 as seen in FIG. 6, to receive a curved upper end 141, of a straw-like support tube 142. The bottom of support tube 142 is designated 145. A second inclined marginal heat weld strip 138, parallel to the weld strip 130 is spaced from the strip 130 to receive and secure the tubular support member 142 which extends downwardly into the main storage reservoir 133 formed by the marginal heat weld 115, 116, 118 and the right hand portion of the top heat weld strip 121. The upper portion of the support tube 142 is curved, as mentioned, as at 141 to define a discharge end 146 for delivering fluid from the main storage reservoir 133 into the measuring reservoir 135.

[0033] Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown the pouch partially formed with the two side plies 111, 112 not heat sealed along the upper marginal edge so as to provide a fill opening 119 so that the liquid can be dispensed in the direction of the arrow 149 into the main storage reservoir 133 before the support tube 142 is assembled to the container, and the upper marginal edge then 121 heat sealed to close the container.

[0034] As seen in FIG. 8, the support tube 142 extends between the heat weld strips 130, 138, thereby holding the adjacent portions of the side plies 111, 112 separate from one another. The inclusion of the tubular support member 142 has been found effective to keep open the fill tube formed by the heat weld strips 130, 138, and the configuration shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, with the tubular support member 142 extending to the bottom of the main storage reservoir 133, facilitates greater use of the liquid stored in the main reservoir 133 until it is almost completely empty. The top of the weld strips 130, 138 are spaced below the upper marginal weld 121 in FIG. 6 to form an opening or passage 141 which permits the fluid in the main reservoir 133 to be poured directly out the pour spout 24, if desired, to empty the contents or when accurate measurement of a pour quantity is unnecessary or desired.

[0035] It can thus be seen that a convenient, economical, yet useful and reliable storage container for liquids includes a convenient measuring apparatus in a flexible pouch having only a single, re-sealable opening after the main storage reservoir has been sealed following the filling of the main storage reservoir with the desired liquid.

[0036] Having thus disclosed in detail two illustrated embodiments of the invention, persons skilled in the art will be able to modify certain of the structure which have been disclosed and to substitute similar elements for those described while continuing to practice the principle of the invention; and it is, therefore, intended that all such modifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

A closed pouch container including first and second plies of heat sealable flexible plastic sheet material sealed together in marginal areas and in inner areas internally of said marginal areas to define a main reservoir adjacent a bottom of said pouch container when said container is in an upright position, and a dispensing reservoir adjacent a top of said container in said upright position, said first and second plies being further sealed to define an elongated tubular passage separating said storage reservoir and said dispensing reservoir; a quantity of liquid cleaning chemical in said storage reservoir; and a resealable dispenser spout sealed to said plies of said container and in fluid communication with said dispensing reservoir whereby when said dispenser spout is opened, air in said dispensing reservoir is vented and pressure may be applied to said flexible pouch adjacent said main reservoir to transfer will force a quantity of said liquid from said main reservoir through said tubular passage to said dispensing reservoir from which said transferred quantity of liquid may be dispensed under gravity from said dispensing reservoir through said dispenser.

2. The article of claim 1 further comprising a tubular support member received in said passage for preventing said passage from collapsing under normal use conditions.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said tubular support member includes a bottom defining an opening located adjacent the bottom of said main reservoir, said tubular support member extending upwardly adjacent a top of said dispensing reservoir and thence extending into said dispensing reservoir.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein said tubular support comprises a straw-like member curved adjacent said top of said dispensing reservoir to direct liquid transferred from said main reservoir downwardly into said dispensing reservoir.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein said dispenser spout comprises a threaded spout sealed to said first and second plies of said container, and a cap threaded by received on said spout for sealing said spout, said spout located adjacent one side of said container, said plies being heat sealed to form a marginal strip on a side of said container opposite said one side thereof, said marginal strip defining an opening forming a carrying handle, whereby said cap may be loosened to vent the interior of said dispensing reservoir and then a measured quantity of said liquid transferred to said dispensing reservoir by squeezing said main reservoir, and cap may be removed to dispense said measured quantity to said one side of said container while said container is supported on said opposing side thereof.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein said inner areas of heat sealed plies include a first weld strip partially defining said dispensing reservoir and a second weld strip extending generally parallel to and spaced from said first weld strip to define a passage, said article further comprising a rigid tubular support received in said passage and providing fluid communication between a bottom of said main reservoir and an upper portion of said dispensing reservoir.

7. The article of claim 5 further comprising a third ply of heat sealable plastic sheet material sealed to bottom margins of said first and second plies to provide a bottom wall for said main reservoir wherein said bottom wall rests flat on a horizontal surface on which said article is placed.

8. The article of claim 6 wherein said first and second weld strips extend in a generally upright direction when said article is upright and an upper edge of each of said first and second weld strips is spaced from a top marginal weld of said container by a distance sufficient to permit any liquid remaining in said main reservoir to be transferred directly to be dispensed when said container is inverted.