Packaging having a flexible inner bag and a rigid outer casing

Details Packaging having a flexible inner bag and a rigid outer casing Packaging having a flexible inner bag and a rigid outer casing

2000-03-20

2001-09-11

Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)

Receptacles

Freight containers

Including inner bag liner

C220S495060

Reexamination Certificate

active

06286700

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to containers and in particular to containers for carrying fluids/pourable goods such as liquids and pourable powders, and also methods of assembling such containers.
So-called intermediate bulk containers may include a rigid outer box like-structure made of, for instance plastics material. They are generally only suitable for carrying a single commodity due to the difficulty in cleaning their interiors so that a different material may be transported. Accordingly, such containers typically are used to transport materials from one destination to another and then are returned empty.
GB-A-2172663 discloses a liquid container comprising an inner flexible bag and an outer relatively rigid casing. The inner bag and the casing both have first connected together openings and second connected together openings, the inner bag being filled via the first openings and emptied via the second openings.
There is a need for a container which may be used for different materials and/or used repeatedly for the same material and which is hygienic in the sense that the material which is transported on a particular journey can not contaminate material, whether the same or different, transported in a different journey.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for the transport of material comprising an outer container having first and second container openings therein, and a container liner having first and second liner openings therein, said first liner opening being sufficiently small to be passed through said second container opening and being adapted for connection to said first container opening and said second liner opening being adapted for attachment to said second container opening.
Preferably, said outer container is rigid and ideally is constructed of plastics, even more ideally the container has a volumetric capacity in the region of 1 cubic meter. Further support may optionally be provided by means of an external metal cage.
Preferably, the outer container first opening is located at an upper region of said container, ideally in a top surface thereof and ideally is associated with a cap member. More preferably the second opening is located in a side-wall, and ideally is located adjacent the base of said container.
Preferably, the second opening is shaped so as to provide a stepped region with which a port member can engage. Additionally associated with said second opening there is provided a valve means for controlling the voiding of the liner contents.
Preferably, said liner is constructed of flexible materials such as plastics sheeting and is in the form of a bag. Ideally, each of said first and said second liner openings are associated with rigid port members, the dimensions of the port members being such that they may be passed through the openings of the outer container.
Preferably, each port member comprises a relatively short tube which is welded at one end to an integral flange of a main body of the liner and is provided with a groove at an opposite end. Ideally at least one of said port members is provided with a hygienic seal in the form of a thin membrane. Even more ideally, associated with said port member there is provided an attachment means for attaching a rope/string/thread/cord thereto. Said attachment means comprising a split ring located within the groove of the port member.
Ideally the container and/or liner is/are reusable.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling a container as hereinbefore described comprising:
(i) attaching a rope/string/thread/cord to the liner opening;
(ii) placing the liner in the outer container and drawing the rope/string/thread/cord out of the second opening of the outer container so as to expose said liner opening;
(iii) locating a split ring in a groove located in said liner opening;
(iv) pushing said liner opening back towards the interior of the outer container so as to engage said liner opening in said second outer container opening; and
(v) attaching a valve to said liner opening and filling the liner with pourable goods.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4960227 (1990-10-01), Coleman
patent: 5005726 (1991-04-01), Robbins
patent: 5050775 (1991-09-01), Marquardt
patent: 5069359 (1991-12-01), Liebel
patent: 5154307 (1992-10-01), Hauk
patent: 5897012 (1999-04-01), Sortwell
patent: 5979685 (1999-11-01), Schutz
patent: 2 172 663 A (1986-09-01), None
patent: WO 92/16432 (1992-10-01), None

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