CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR HOLDING FLEXIBLE BAGS CONTAINER PRODUCT

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for holding a flexible bag containing product. A container includes a bottom wall, a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall, a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall, a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall, a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls, and an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall. The first height (h) is less than the second height (H). A method of instructing a user to hold a flexible bag containing a product includes the steps of procuring the container for holding a flexible bag containing a product and instructing a user to place a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is in an upright position. A method for storing a flexible bag container a food product includes the steps of procuring the container and placing a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is positioned upon the bottom wall of the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to the Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/082,661 filed July 22, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus and methods for holding and/or storing flexible bags that contain a product. More particularly, apparatus and methods for holding a flexible bag of coffee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As evidenced by the ever-ending supply of new containers, storage devices, and storage systems for the home, there remains a continued need for improved containers and systems for holding and storing items and/or products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a container for holding a flexible bag containing product includes a bottom wall, a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall, a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall, a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall, a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls, and an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall. The first height (h) is less than the second height (H).

In another embodiment, a method of instructing a user to hold a flexible bag containing a product includes the steps of procuring the container for holding a flexible bag containing a product and instructing a user to place a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is in an upright position.

In yet another embodiment, a method for storing a flexible bag container a food product includes the steps of procuring a container that comprises a bottom wall, a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall, a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall, a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall, a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls, and an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall; and placing a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is positioned upon the bottom wall of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be best further described in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container for holding a flexible coffee bag;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left elevational view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a right elevational view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a container for holding a flexible coffee bag, wherein a flexible coffee bag is positioned within the container; and

FIG. 9 is a side wall elevational view of the container of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An apparatus and method for holding a flexible bag of coffee is disclosed herein. Referring to FIGS. 1-9, one embodiment of a container 10 for holding a flexible bag 1 containing product is shown. For illustration purposes, and not limitation, the following embodiments of the container 10 will be described with reference to a flexible bag 1 for holding coffee. In general, a container 10 for holding a flexible coffee bag may comprise a right side wall 11, a left side wall 13, a front side wall 12, a back side wall 14, a bottom wall 17, a reservoir 16, and an opening 15 at an end of the container opposite bottom wall 17. The right side wall 11, left side wall 13, front side wall 12, back side wall 14, and bottom wall 17 may form a substantially rectangular shape and may also form a reservoir 16 internal to the right side wall 11, left side wall 13, front side wall 12, back side wall 14 and bottom wall 17. The corners formed by the attachment of the right side wall 11, left side wall 13, front side wall 12, back side wall 14, and bottom wall 17 may be right angles or angles of varying radii. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, back side wall 14 has a height (H) and front side wall has a height (h). The height (h) of the front side wall 12 and the height (H) of the back side wall 14 may comprise any height and have may have a front side wall height to back side wall height ratio (h:H). For example, the height (h) of the front side wall 12 may be equal to the height (H) of the back side wall 14 such that the ratio of the front side height to back side height (h:H) is equal to 1 (1:1). As another example, the height (h) of the front side wall 12 may be less than the height (H) of the back side wall 14 such that the height ratio (h:H) may be less than 1 such as, for example, 9/10 (9:10), 8/10 (8:10), 3/4 (3:4), 2/3 (2:3), 1/2 (1:2), or any other ratio less than one. Although three examples are described herein, it is understood that the heights and height ratio may be any number of various heights and height ratios. Although not shown, the height (H) of the back side wall 14 may be less than the height (h) of the front side wall 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the height (h) of the front side wall 12 is less than the height (H) of the back side wall 14 such that the container 10 has a front side wall to back side wall height ratio of 2/3 (2:3). Right and left side walls 11 and 13, respectively, may have top angular sides 18 that angle upwardly from front side wall 12 to back side wall 14, forming opening 15 into an angular opening. Opening 15 permits a flexible coffee bag 1 to be placed within reservoir 16 upon bottom wall 17 and may also rest against an inside surface of one or more of the side walls 11, 12, 13, or 14, holding coffee bag 1 upright inside container 10 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Referring back to FIG. 4, the top angular sides 18 of the right and left side walls 11 and 13, respectively, may comprise a portion that extends horizontally a distance from back side wall 14 before it begins to angle downwardly toward front side wall 12. However, this is optional.

Bottom wall 17 may further comprise a angular bottom wall 19 which connects the bottom wall 17 to the back side wall 14 as shown in FIG. 4. Angular bottom wall 19 may be oriented at an angle relative to an imaginary horizontal plane or relative to the substantially horizontal bottom wall 17. The angle formed by the angular bottom wall 19 relative to the imaginary horizontal plane and/or bottom wall 17 may be of varying degrees.

Container 10 may also comprise feet 15 mounted to bottom wall 17 and/or angular bottom wall 19. Feet 15 may comprise any size, shape, design, and/or material. As one example, feet 15 may be fabricated from a variety of materials, including but not limited to rubber, plastics, polymers, elastomers, composites, combinations thereof, or any suitable material known to those with ordinary skill in the art. Referring to FIG. 7, container 10 is depicted in a bottom plan view showing the bottom wall 17, angular bottom wall 19, and feet 15. The rubber feet 15 may be mounted to the left and right edges of the bottom wall 17 and may also be mounted to angular bottom wall 19.

In another example, feet 15 is fabricated from the same material (e.g., polymer) as the container is, but then covered with an elastomer or rubber material. In yet another example, container 10 may be a swivel base (not shown) such that container 10 may swivel relative to the swivel base any number of rotational degrees about a vertical axis (e.g., 0 degrees to 360 degrees). It is understood that container 10 may not include feet 15 or a swivel base, and thus the bottom wall 17 may rest directly on a surface such as a countertop.

Container 10 provides a user with a method for holding a flexible bag of coffee in an upright position within reservoir 16. As shown in FIG. 8, bag 1 may include a label 30 such that when the bag is positioned within the reservoir 16 of container 10 the label is visible from outside the container due to the decreased height (h) of the front side wall 12. As such, a user may quickly read the label and identify what type of product is contained within the bag 1, what brand the product is, and other general information. It is also understood that back side wall 14 may comprise a decreased height (H) in order to facilitate the viewing of package information, including but not limited to labels, advertising, ingredients and/or nutritional information and/or instructions. Although not shown, the container 10 may also comprise a cutout or window imbedded into the front side wall 12, left side wall 13, right side 11, and/or in the back side wall 14 adjacent the label 30 and/or any other packaging information, including but not limited to labels, advertising, ingredients and/or nutritional information and/or instructions in order to facilitate the viewing of such label and/or other package information.

Moreover, container 10 may be positioned upon a countertop or similar surface, thus providing a place to hold a flexible coffee bag and/or flexible bag of product in an upright position on the countertop or similar surface. Without container 10, one would be forced to either set the bag on its flexible bottom wall, which generally causes the bag to tip over onto one of its sides, or set that bag directly onto one of its sides at the onset. When resting on one of its sides, the coffee bag takes up more precious counter space and is sloppy looking, plus increases the opportunity for coffee to spill out from the opening of the flexible coffee bag. It is also understood that one may place several containers 10, each for holding one or more of the same or different products in a neat, efficient, and orderly manner. For example, a first container may hold a flexible bag of a first coffee flavor, a second container may hold a second flexible bag of a second coffee flavor, a third container may hold a third flexible bag of a third coffee flavor or a tea, and so on.

The container for holding a flexible coffee bag 10 may sit on a countertop and may serve to hold a flexible bag of coffee in an upright position. The container 10 may comprise a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastics, polymers, metals, composites, or combinations thereof, and may be manufactured in a variety of sizes to accommodate flexible bags of coffee in varying dimensions.

The embodiments shown and described herein are for illustration purposes only, and not limitation. It is understood that container 10 is not limited to the shape, dimensions, configurations, disclosed herein, but may be manufactured in multiple variations of sizes, shapes, and materials such that it may accommodate various sizes and shapes of flexible coffee bags.

Any conventional manufacturing process may be used to fabricate container 10, including but not limited to plastic injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding, combinations thereof, or any other known method.

Claims

1. A container for holding a flexible bag containing product, the container comprising:

a bottom wall;

a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall;

a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall;

a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls;

a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall;

a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls; and

an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall;

wherein the first height (h) is less than the second height (H).

2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a flexible bag containing product disposed within the reservoir in an upright position.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the flexible bag container product is a flexible bag container coffee.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising one or more feet disposed along the bottom wall.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the feet comprise a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastics, polymers, elastomers, composites, and combinations thereof.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall further comprises an angular bottom wall that connects the bottom wall to the second side wall.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the bottom wall and angular bottom wall comprise one or more feet disposed thereon.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first height to the second height (h:H) is less than 1.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the ratio of the first height to the second height (h:H) is equal to or less than about 2/3.

10. A container for holding a flexible coffee bag, the container comprising:

a bottom wall;

a first side wall connected to the bottom wall;

a second side wall connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first side wall;

a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls;

a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall;

a reservoir having an opening opposite the bottom wall formed by the bottom, first, second, third and fourth side walls; and

a flexible bag containing coffee disposed within the reservoir in an upright position upon the bottom wall.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the first side wall has a first height (h) and the second side wall has a second height (H) such that the first height is less the second height (H).

12. The container of claim 11, wherein a ratio of the first height (h) to second height (H) (h:H) is less than 9/10.

13. The container of claim 10, wherein the container is sized such that it may be positioned upon a countertop.

14. A method for holding a flexible bag containing product, the method comprising placing a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container of claim 1 such that the flexible bag is positioned upon the bottom wall in an upright position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the flexible bag is positioned within the reservoir such that a front label of the flexible bag is aligned with the first side, thereby visible to an observer from outside the container.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the flexible bag container a product is a flexible bag container coffee.

17. A method of instructing a user to hold a flexible bag containing a product, the method comprising:

procuring the container of claim 1; and

instructing a user to place a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is in an upright position.

18. A method for storing a flexible bag container a food product, the method comprising:

procuring a container comprising: a bottom wall, a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall, a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall, a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall, a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls, and an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall;

placing a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is positioned upon the bottom wall of the container.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning the container holding the flexible bag of product on a countertop.

20. The method of claim 18, orienting the flexible bag within the container such that a front label may be visible from outside the container.