BOX FOR BAG-IN-BOX PACKAGE WITH SPOUT LOCATION ASSIST PORT
A box for receiving a bag having a spout may comprise a first member comprising a spout access tab and a second member comprising a spout location assist tab spaced apart from the spout access tab. Alternatively, a box may comprise a tray comprising a first removable portion, a lid adaptable to be fastened to the tray, the lid comprising a second removable portion, at least one of the tray and the lid comprising a third removable portion, wherein the first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port. Other alternative embodiments and methods are also disclosed.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/756,455, filed on Jan. 5, 2006.
FIELDThis application relates generally to a box, and more particularly to a box adaptable for housing a flexible, collapsible bag in which liquids and other flowable substances may be contained.
BACKGROUNDPaperboard boxes have long been used by manufacturers in the packaging and shipping of various products. One example is the use of paperboard boxes in the packaging and delivery of fluids, semi-solids, and other flowable substances contained in a flexible, collapsible bag. The combination of such a flexible, collapsible bag inside a paperboard box is commonly known as a “bag-in-box” package. The bag, which typically has a closeable spout for dispensing the flowable contents either directly or through other dispensing equipment, provides a fluid-tight container for the contents, and the paperboard box provides structural rigidity and guards against puncture of the bag during shipping and handling. The box typically has a spout opening, which may be formed by removing a perforated portion of the box, for example, and the spout may be positioned through the spout opening in order to dispense the contents from the bag. At the time of packaging, the bag is usually placed inside the box such that the spout is located close to the spout opening of the box. However, during loading, shipping, and handling, the spout frequently becomes distanced from the spout opening in the box, which makes it difficult for the user to locate the spout and insert the spout into the spout opening. Thus, it would be a significant advancement in the art to provide a bag-in-box package for which the spout is readily accessible by a user despite migration of the spout inside the box during loading, shipping, and handling.
SUMMARYA box for receiving a bag having a spout may comprise a first member comprising a spout access tab and a second member comprising a spout location assist tab spaced apart from the spout access tab. Alternatively, a box may comprise a tray comprising a first removable portion, a lid adaptable to be fastened to the tray, the lid comprising a second removable portion, at least one of the tray and the lid comprising a third removable portion, wherein the first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port. Another alternative box may comprise first, second, and third removable portions that may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port, wherein the first and second removable portions share a first edge, and the second and third removable portions share a second edge. Another alternative box may comprise a first member having a first removable portion, a second member having a second removable portion, the first and second removable portions being at least partially overlapping, at least one of the first and second removable portions being bounded by an edge of the box, the first and second removable portions being removable to form an opening through which a spout of a bag may be manually accessed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Various boxes for bag-in-box packages are described herein. Each of the described boxes is useful for containing a flexible bag that has a spout through which a flowable substance (such as a liquid beverage, for example) may be injected into and dispensed from the bag. Each of the described boxes has one or more removable portions defined by one or more areas of weakening, such as perforations, for example. The removable portions may be removed in order to form one or more openings in the box. The one or more openings allow a user manually to locate the spout inside the box and position the spout in one of the openings so that the flowable substance may be dispensed from the bag, either directly or by connection to other dispensing equipment. Thus, the user may easily access the spout of the bag inside the box even if the spout has migrated in the box during loading, shipping, and handling.
As used herein, the following terms should be understood to have the indicated meanings:
When an item is introduced by “a” or “an,” it should be understood to mean one or more of that item.
“Bag” means a flexible, collapsible container suitable for containing a flowable substance. A bag may be made of any suitable material, whether natural or synthetic, including but not limited to plastic, rubber, or a combination thereof.
“Blank” means a sheet of material adaptable for forming a box or a portion of a box.
“Boundary” means a locus of points that determines a limit of an item.
“Box” means a relatively stiff container having one or more members that is adaptable for receiving a bag. The members of a box may comprise one or more panels, flaps, or other portions. A box may have any desirable shape, including but not limited to square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, circular, cylindrical, oval, elliptical, spherical, irregular, and combinations thereof. A box may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to paperboard, cardboard, fibreboard, containerboard, boxboard, plastic, fiberglass, foam core material, honeycomb core material, fiber reinforced composites, or other materials, including combinations thereof.
“Comprises” means includes but is not limited to.
“Comprising” means including but not limited to.
“Connected” means linked together, either directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate items. Two or more items may be connected in any suitable manner, including but not limited to integral formation and attachment.
“Edge” means a region of material shared by two or more members of a box that are not coplanar. An edge may or may not be the result of a fold. For example, and not by way of limitation, an edge may be formed by a hinge or a molding process.
“Fastened” means attached in any manner, including but not limited to attachment by one or more stitches, staples, brads, rivets, nails, screws, glue, adhesive, welding, melting, fusing, tape, or a combination thereof
“Flap” means a portion of a box that may be folded and fastened to another portion of the box. A flap may be fastened to a panel, another flap, or some other portion of a box.
“Flowable substance” means any substance that may be caused to flow, including but not limited to a liquid, gas, semi-solid, slurry, paste, powder, or combination thereof. Examples of flowable substances include but are not limited to water, flavored water, carbonated water, soft drinks, syrups, honey, juices, milk, coffee, tea, beer, wine, liquor, cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, relishes, powdered drink mixes, powdered foods, powdered detergents, liquid chocolate, cereal, grains, spices, pills, tablets, gel tabs, pellets, vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, custard, pudding, and ice cream.
“Having” means including but not limited to,
“Hinged” means connected in a manner to permit rotation.
“Lid” means a portion of a box adaptable for mating with a tray so as to close the open side of the tray.
“Member” means a portion of a box. A member may include but is not limited to a flap or a panel.
“Panel” means a side of a box, regardless of its orientation or position with respect to other portions of the box. A panel may form a top, bottom, front, back, lateral, or other side of a box.
“Perforation” means an area of weakening in a material to facilitate tearing, punching through, or otherwise removing a portion of the material. A perforation may include but is not limited to one or more cuts, holes, slits, scores, indentations, thinned areas, creases, or combinations thereof A perforation may or may not traverse completely through the material, and the removed portion of material facilitated by a perforation may or may not become separated from the remainder of the material. A perforation may be made by cutting, scoring, piercing, punching, crimping, creasing, grinding, filing, melting, burning, chemical etching, or any other suitable method.
“Removable” means, with respect to an item, that the item is adaptable for undergoing a change in location, position, or orientation, which may or may not involve separation from another item or material.
“Slit-score” means a cut extending through only a portion of the thickness of a member.
“Spout” means a conduit through which a flowable substance may flow.
“Spout access port” means an opening in a box through which a spout may be accessed.
“Spout access tab” means a removable portion of a box that facilitates formation of a spout access port.
“Spout location assist port” means an opening in a box that facilitates manual location and positioning of a spout.
“Spout location assist tab” means a removable portion of a box that facilitates formation of a spout location assist port.
“Tray” means a component of a box having an open side.
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In any of the foregoing embodiments, a bag-in-box package may be formed by placing a bag having a spout into a box as described herein before the box is closed. The bag may be filled or partially filled with a flowable substance through the spout and then the spout may be closed. After the bag is filled, the box may be closed with the filled bag inside. The bag-in-box package thus formed may then be shipped to a user. The user may easily access the spout by removing one or more removable portions as described herein to form a spout location assist port and a spout access port, which may be separate or combined, manually locating the spout through the spout location assist port, and manually placing the spout in the spout access port. The user may thus readily access the spout even if the spout has migrated in the box during loading, shipping, and handling. The flowable substance in the bag may then be dispensed from the spout, either directly or through other dispensing equipment.
Although the foregoing specific details describe certain embodiments of this invention, persons reasonably skilled in the art will recognize that various changes may be made in the details of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and considering the doctrine of equivalents. Therefore, it should be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described herein.
Claims
1. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a first member comprising a spout access tab; and
- a second member comprising a spout location assist tab;
- said spout location assist tab being spaced apart from said spout access tab.
2. The box of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first member and said second member comprises a flap.
3. The box of claim 2 wherein said flap comprises a first flap and a second flap, wherein said first flap and said second flap at least partially overlap each other.
4. The box of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first member and said second member comprises a panel.
5. The box of claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a first flap and a second flap at least partially overlapping said first flap; and
- said second member comprises a panel.
6. The box of claim 5 wherein said box comprises a lid and a tray;
- said lid comprises said first flap and said panel; and
- said tray comprises said second flap.
7. The box of claim 1 wherein at least one of said spout access tab and said spout location assist tab comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, elliptical, pear-shaped, circular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and irregular.
8. The box of claim 1 wherein at least one of said spout access tab and said spout location assist tab comprises at least one perforation.
9. The box of claim 1 wherein at least one of said spout access tab and said spout location assist tab comprises at least one hinged portion.
10. The box of claim 1 wherein a single blank comprises said first member and said second member.
11. The box of claim 1 wherein said box comprises a lid and a tray.
12. The box of claim 11 wherein said lid is fastened to said tray.
13. The box of claim 1 wherein said first member and said second member share an edge.
14. The box of claim 1 further comprising a bag disposed in said box, said bag having a spout, said spout being adaptable for manual location through a spout location assist port formable by removal of said spout location assist tab, said spout being adaptable for placement in a spout access port formable by removal of said spout access tab.
15. The box of claim 14 further comprising a flowable substance disposed in said bag.
16. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a tray comprising a first removable portion;
- a lid adaptable to be fastened to said tray;
- said lid comprising a second removable portion;
- at least one of said tray and said lid comprising a third removable portion;
- wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port.
17. The box of claim 16 wherein at least two of said first, second, and third removable portions at least partially overlap one another.
18. The box of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions is provided on a flap.
19. The box of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions is provided on a panel.
20. The box of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions comprises at least one perforation.
21. The box of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first second, and third removable portions comprises at least one hinged portion.
22. The box of claim 16 wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, elliptical, pear-shaped, circular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and irregular.
23. The box of claim 16 wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port spans at least one edge.
24. The box of claim 23 wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port spans at least one edge on each of said tray and said lid.
25. The box of claim 16 further comprising a bag disposed in said box;
- said bag having a spout;
- said combined spout access port and spout location assist port permitting manual location and placement of said spout.
26. The box of claim 25 further comprising a flowable substance disposed in said bag.
27. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a first member comprising a first removable portion;
- a second member comprising a second removable portion;
- a third member comprising a third removable portion;
- wherein said first and second removable portions share a first edge;
- wherein said second and third removable portions share a second edge;
- wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port.
28. The box of claim 27 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third members comprises a flap.
29. The box of claim 27 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third members comprises a panel.
30. The box of claim 27 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions comprises at least one perforation.
31. The box of claim 27 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions comprises at least one hinged portion.
32. The box of claim 27 wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, elliptical, pear-shaped, circular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and irregular.
33. The box of claim 27 further comprising a bag disposed in said box;
- said bag having a spout;
- wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port facilitates manual location of said spout within said box and placement of said spout in said combined spout access port and spout location assist port.
34. The box of claim 33 further comprising a flowable substance disposed in said bag.
35. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a first member comprising a spout access tab; and
- a second member connected to said first member, said second member comprising a spout location assist tab;
- said spout location assist tab being spaced apart from said spout access tab.
36. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a first member comprising a first perforation adaptable for forming a first opening; and
- a second member connected to said first member, said second member comprising a second perforation adaptable for forming a second opening;
- said second opening being spaced apart from said first opening.
37. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a tray comprising a first flap having a first perforation defining a first removable portion;
- a lid comprising a second flap having a second perforation defining a second removable portion, and a panel having a third perforation defining a third removable portion spaced apart from said second removable portion;
- said panel and said second flap being connected by an edge;
- said lid being adaptable for mating with said tray such that said second removable portion partially overlaps said first removable portion;
- wherein said third removable portion may be removed to form a first opening adaptable for manually locating the spout; and
- wherein said first and second removable portions may be removed to form a second opening adaptable for receiving the spout.
38. A pair of blanks for forming a lid and a tray for a box, comprising:
- a first blank comprising a first panel and a first plurality of flaps connected to said first panel;
- said first plurality of flaps being foldable and fastenable to form a tray;
- one of said first plurality of flaps having a first removable portion;
- a second blank comprising a second panel and a second plurality of flaps connected to said second panel;
- said second plurality of flaps being foldable and fastenable to form a lid;
- one of said second plurality of flaps having a second removable portion;
- said second panel having a third removable portion;
- said lid being adaptable for mating with said tray such that said second removable portion at least partially overlaps said first removable portion.
39. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout said box comprising:
- a first means for forming a spout location assist port in a first member;
- a second means for forming a spout access port in a second member;
- said second member being connected to said first member;
- said spout access port being spaced apart from said spout location assist port.
40. The box of claim 39 further comprising a third means for containing a flowable substance disposed in said box.
41. The box of claim 40 wherein said third means comprises a fourth means for dispensing said flowable substance.
42. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a first means for forming a tray;
- a second means for forming a lid;
- said lid being adaptable for mating with said tray; and
- a third means for forming a combined spout access port and spout location assist port in said tray and said lid.
43. A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising:
- a first member, a second member, and a third member;
- a first means for connecting said first and second members;
- a second means for connecting said second and third members; and
- a third means for forming a combined spout access port and spout location assist port in said first, second, and third members.
44. A method of making a bag-in-box package comprising:
- placing a bag inside a box;
- said bag having a spout;
- said box having a first removable portion adaptable for forming a spout location assist port and a second removable portion adaptable for forming a spout access port spaced apart from said spout location assist port; and
- at least partially filling said bag with a flowable substance.
45. The method of claim 44 wherein said box comprises a single blank.
46. The method of claim 44 wherein said box comprises more than one blank.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein said box comprises a lid and a tray.
48. The method of claim 44 wherein an edge is disposed between said first and second removable portions.
49. The method of claim 44 further comprising closing said spout.
50. The method of claim 44 further comprising closing said box.
51. A method of making a bag-in-box package comprising:
- providing a box comprising a lid and a tray, said tray comprising a first removable portion; said lid comprising a second removable portion; at least one of said tray and said lid comprising a third removable portion; wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port;
- placing a bag inside said box, said bag having a spout; and
- at least partially filling said bag with a flowable substance.
52. The method of claim 51 wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port spans at least one edge.
53. The method of claim 51 further comprising closing said spout.
54. The method of claim 51 further comprising closing said box.
55. A method of making a bag-in-box package comprising:
- providing a box comprising a first member comprising a first removable portion; a second member comprising a second removable portion; a third member comprising a third removable portion; wherein said first and second removable portions share a first edge; wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port; placing a bag inside said box, said bag having a spout; and at least partially filling said bag with a flowable substance.
56. The method of claim 55 further comprising closing said spout.
57. The method of claim 55 further comprising closing said box.
58. A box comprising:
- a first member having a first removable portion;
- a second member having a second removable portion;
- said first and second removable portions being at least partially overlapping;
- an edge that at least partially defines a boundary for at least one of said first and second removable portions;
- said first and second removable portions being removable to form an opening through which a spout of a bag may be manually accessed.
59. The box of claim 58 wherein said edge comprises at least one perforation.
60. The box of claim 58 wherein said edge comprises at least one slit-score.
61. The box of claim 58 wherein at least a portion of said boundary comprises at least one perforation.
62. The box of claim 58 wherein at least a portion of said boundary comprises at least one slit-score.
63. The box of claim 58 wherein at least a portion of said boundary comprises at least one hinged portion.
64. The box of claim 58 further comprising a third removable portion the removal of which facilitates manual grasping and removal of at least one of said first and second removable portions.
65. A box comprising:
- a panel;
- a first flap connected to said panel at an edge;
- said first flap comprising a first removable portion having a boundary defined by said edge;
- a second flap having a second removable portion and a third removable portion;
- said first flap being attached to said second flap such that said first removable portion at least partially overlaps said second removable portion;
- said third removable portion being removable to permit manual grasping and removal of at least one of said first and second removable portions;
- said first, second, and third removable portions being removable to form an opening adaptable for receiving a spout of a bag.
66. The box of claim 65 wherein said boundary comprises at least one perforation.
67. The box of claim 65 wherein said boundary comprises at least one slit-score.
68. The box of claim 67 wherein said at least one slit-score traverses an interior surface of said box.
69. The box of claim 67 wherein said at least one slit-score traverses an exterior surface of said box.
70. The box of claim 65 wherein said boundary comprises at least one hinged portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 5, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 19, 2007
Inventor: Vito Biundo (Webster Groves, MO)
Application Number: 11/620,571
International Classification: B65D 5/56 (20060101); B65D 17/00 (20060101); B65D 43/08 (20060101);