Abstract:
An apparatus to aid in the filling or refilling of a flexible, collapsible container having a pour spout and a method for using same. The apparatus includes a center frame element having attached to its upper end an upper frame element adapted to receive at least a portion of the pour spout of the container. At its lower end, the center frame element is attached to a lower frame element adapted to cradle a lower portion of the container being filled and to urge the container toward the center frame element as the flexible, collapsible container fills and expands. The apparatus is portable and may be removably mounted to a variety of vertical or horizontal surfaces.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/566,316, filed Apr. 29, 2004. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to portable devices adapted to support a flexible, collapsible container during filling of the container. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Flexible, collapsible containers such as bags or pouches are used for a variety of purposes. Liquid foods such as individual servings of salad dressing may be packaged in a sealed plastic pouch. The user cuts or tears a portion of the pouch to open it and dispense the contents. The emptied pouch may then be discarded. Bags or pouches of this type are not intended to be refilled after use. 
   Various collapsible bags or containers are known which are adapted to be filled with liquid contents, which may be dispensed through annular spouts or fitments. The walls of the bag are typically flexible sheets of a plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or polyester. The contents of the bag are dispensed through the spout or fitment in a wall of the bag. Often the spout has a replaceable cap or closure means thereby permitting the bag to be refilled and resealed after its initial use. The liquid contents can be foods, such as juices or milk, soaps or shampoos, or other liquids, such as photoprocessing solutions or cleaning chemicals. Often the collapsible bags are contained in a rigid support container. An example of this construction is the so-called “bag-in-box” whereby a rigid exterior box structurally supports the interior bag during filling, storage, shipment, and as the bag is being emptied. 
   It is known to use collapsible bags for dispensing liquids without the bag having a structural support such as a box. Flexible plastic containers having a resealable spout for filling the container and dispensing its contents are commonly used for travel, such as for camping. In addition, there are also mop handle assemblies adapted to dispense a liquid wherein the liquid supply reservoir may be a flexible, collapsible bag. 
   Filling a flexible container once the contents have been dispensed can be inconvenient for the user. A flexible, collapsible container typically has no external means of support and does not retain its filled shape when empty. Filling the container may require one person to hold the container while a second person fills it. Alternatively, one person may attempt to hold the container with one hand while keeping the spout in an upright position while directing the filling material into the spout with the other hand. Depending on the size of the container and the weight of the contents, this procedure may induce considerable stress at the point at which the container is being held, typically at the neck of the pour spout. Neither filling process is desireable when the contents of the container are potentially hazardous. 
   Although commercial manufacturing facilities may have equipment adapted to support and fill a collapsible container, a need exists for a convenient means for the end user to support and refill a flexible, collapsible container having a pour spout. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention features a portable apparatus for supporting a flexible, collapsible container having a neck comprising a pour spout during filling or refilling of the container. The apparatus comprises a center frame element, an upper frame element attached to an upper portion of the center frame element, and a lower frame element attached to a lower portion of the center frame element. The upper frame element may be adapted to receive and support at least a portion of the neck of the container, and the lower frame element may be adapted to cradle at least a portion of the lower part of the container thereby helping to relieve stress and strain at the neck of the container due to the weight of the contents. When in use, the apparatus may be freestanding, may hang from an edge such as the rim of a drum, or may be mounted on a surface. 
   The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the figures and the detailed description which follow, and from the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1   a  is a diagram showing a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1   b  is a diagram showing a side view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIG. 2   a  is a diagram depicting a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a diagram depicting a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a side view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting inventive apparatus of  FIG. 1   a  with partially filled flexible container in place. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In one aspect, the present invention provides a portable apparatus for stabilizing the container when filling or refilling a flexible, collapsible container having a spout for dispensing the contents thereof. Exemplary containers may be obtained commercially from, for example, Scholle Corporation, Irvine, Calif. The apparatus of the invention can support and cradle the container, thereby reducing or eliminating stress on portions of the container during the refill process. The apparatus can be adapted to receive containers ranging in size from a few ounces up to 5 gallons or more. The apparatus allows for easy forward loading and unloading of the container. The apparatus is designed to support the container during filling so as to minimize stress on the refill spout and to ensure the refill spout holds its position during the refilling operation. Although other methods of introducing material into the container may be employed, filling of the container using the apparatus of the present invention is conveniently accomplished by gravity feed. As used herein, the term “material” is intended to include flowable granular or powdered solids and liquids. 
   In another aspect, the present invention provides a portable apparatus which may be removably mounted to a generally vertical support surface such as the side of a trash container, janitorial sink, mop bucket, chemical drum, wheelbarrow, wall and the like, thereby making the apparatus convenient for one person to use. 
   In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a portable apparatus which is free-standing and stable in use on a generally horizontal surface and requires no mounting to a support surface. This further increases the convenience of refilling a container. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 1   a , the inventive apparatus  100  generally comprises a structure having an upper frame element  120  adapted to receive and support at least a portion of the container pour spout (not shown), a lower frame element  130  adapted to cradle and support a bottom portion of the container, and a center frame element  110  attached at one end to the upper frame element  120  and attached at the other end to the lower frame element  130 . 
   The upper frame element  120  may be constructed, for example, with a spout support notch  150  which is adapted to receive and support at least one element of the container spout or fixment. For example, if the container spout assembly comprises a flange, spout support notch  150  may be sized so that all or a portion of the flange rests on an edge of the notch  130 . Alternatively, if the container spout assembly comprises a necked-in portion, the notch  130  may be configured to receive the necked-in portion of the spout assembly. 
   The lower frame element  130  is generally disposed below the upper frame element  120 . The lower frame element  130  is also disposed in sufficient proximity to the upper frame element  120  so that a bottom portion of the container to be filled rests on the lower frame element  130  thereby permitting the lower frame element  130  to provide support to the container as it is filling with liquid or other material. Such support helps relieve stress and strain at the neck portion of the container as the weight of the container increases. 
   The lower frame element  130  may include a lip  135  which is disposed somewhat upwardly and away from the center frame support  110  of the apparatus  100 . During filling of the container and the expected change in position of the flexible container walls as filling proceeds, the lip  135  urges the container toward the rear portion of the apparatus  100  to prevent the container from falling off the lower frame element  130  and creating strain at the neck of the container. 
   The center frame element  110  connects the upper ( 120 ) and lower ( 130 ) frame elements and provides structural support for the apparatus. 
     FIG. 1   b , being a side view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1   a , shows more clearly the clamping means, which, in this embodiment, is defined by a portion of the lower frame element  130  adjacent the clamp bracket  140 , which is movably attached to a portion of the lower frame element  130  by means of, for example, the thumbscrews  142  ( 142  in  FIG. 1   a ). The clamping means may be used to secure the apparatus  100  to a generally vertical surface such as the side of a trash container, sink, bucket, wheelbarrow, wall and the like. Optional set screw  144  may be used to help stabilize the apparatus  100  when clamped onto the vertical surface. 
   An advantage of the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  is the height of the upper frame element  120  relative to the position of the clamping means. In some cases, it may be ergonomically favorable for the user to handle the refillable container at about arm or shoulder level. The lower positioning of the clamping means depicted in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  tends to position the top of the refillable container (not shown) substantially higher than the top of the clamping means. This could be beneficial to the user when, for example, the master container, that is, the container holding the bulk of the material to be used for filling the flexible, collapsible container, resides in an elevated location such as on an upper shelf. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , permits the apparatus  200  to be mounted to a generally vertical surface at a lower level than the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Referring, for example, to  FIG. 2   b , when a container is positioned in the apparatus  200  for refilling, and when the apparatus is attached to a generally vertical surface, the clamping means defined by the clamp bracket  240 , a portion of the center frame element  210  and the upper frame element extension  225  permits the neck of the container to be filled (not shown) to be adjacent the top of the apparatus  200 . 
   In a modification of the embodiment of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the clamp bracket  240  and the thumbscrews  242  could be eliminated and the upper frame element extension  225  could be bent in a downwardly direction to form a hook or U-shaped element which would then be useful for hanging the apparatus from an edge, for example, on a container such as a metal 55-gallon metal drum, to enable refilling of a container from a drum pump. 
   Whereas previous figures have depicted unitary or integral construction of the upper, center and lower frame elements such as might be achieved by a molding or stamping manufacturing process,  FIG. 3  depicts yet another embodiment of the present invention in which the upper frame element  320 , center frame element  310  and lower frame element  330  are manufactured as separate pieces and assembled together by known means such as welds, rivets, bolts, screws, adhesive and the like. In this embodiment, a support leg  360 , similarly attached to a portion of the lower frame element  330 , is provided to act in concert with the lower frame element  330  and the lower frame element lip  335  to stabilize the apparatus  300  on a generally horizontal surface as a free-standing device. The support leg  360  may be attached to a different part of the apparatus  300  such as a portion of the upper frame element  320  or the center frame element  310  as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art of designing and/or manufacturing such devices. The support leg  360  may also be provided with an optional support foot  365  to increase the stability of the apparatus  300  on a surface. 
     FIG. 4  depicts a partially filled flexible container supported by the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b . In this example, bag, pouch or other flexible container  480  has a neck portion defined by a pour spout  482  and an annular flange  484  coaxial with the pour spout and disposed between the spout and the body of the bag  480 . The user of the apparatus, that is, the person refilling the bag, slides the neck portion of the bag into the spout support notch ( 150  in  FIG. 1   a ) so that the flange  484  rests on the upper frame element  420 . The lower portion of the bag  480  rests on and is cradled by the lower frame element  430  and the lower frame element  435 . With the bag now in place in the apparatus, the user may use both hands to pour or otherwise dispense liquid or other material into the bag. 
     FIG. 5  depicts additional optional features which may be associated with the use of an apparatus of the present invention. 
   For example, a funnel  590  or other filler spout or tube may be attached or located adjacent to a portion of upper frame element  520  to assist in filling the container. A drip cup  592  may be adapted to receive the dispensing end of the funnel or other filler spout or tube and disposed on or adjacent the upper frame element  520  to prevent residual material from dripping onto the work surface after a filling operation has been completed. 
   One or more mounting holes  594  or slots may be disposed in the center frame element or lower frame element, for example, to enable mounting of the inventive apparatus to a vertical surface. One or more mounting slots  596  or holes may be disposed in the support foot or lower frame element, for example, to enable mounting of the inventive apparatus to a horizontal surface. Optional mounting to a vertical or horizontal surface may also be achieved with various adhesive materials such as double-sided tape and hook and loop fasteners. 
   The clamp bracket  540  may be adapted to include a support foot  565 . 
   One or more portions of the apparatus, such as the center frame element  510 , for example, may be formed with curvature to better conform to a particular mounting surface. 
   The frame elements may be made of metal such as aluminum, brass, steel, titanium; engineering plastics such as nylon, and polypropylene; wood, and other materials with suitable modulus or rigidity to support the apparatus and the filled container. 
   The upper frame element  120  in  FIG. 1   a  or the spout support notch  150  may comprise interchangeable portions to enable the apparatus readily to accommodate containers of differing capacities or spout neck structures. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures and methods described in this application, but only by the structures and methods described by the language of the claims and the equivalents thereof.