Bulk container having flexible inner container and rigid outer container

A collapsible container is provided in which there is a flange extension (8) from the outlet spout (5) to the lower corner of the container beneath the spout to hold the collapsible container in the corner of the rigid outer container (11) while the container is being filled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a flexible container for fluids. 
2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
Flexible containers for fluids are known in which there is an outer 
substantially rigid container and an inner collapsible container for 
fluids. The inner collapsible container can be filled with fluid and the 
contents can be dispensed without the need for air to enter the inner 
container thereby to avoid oxidation and deterioration of the contents. 
Wine and other fluids are housed in what have become known as bag-in-box 
containers. 
Containers are also known for industrial type application to package larger 
quantities of fluids. For example, bulk containers are used to hold in the 
order of 1000 liters of fluid or paste. In these containers there is often 
a pallet such as a wooden pallet or the like supporting an outer 
substantially cubular rigid container which may be made of metal, timber 
or cardboard for example. The inner collapsible container may be made of 
polymeric film such as polyethylene and may include several layers of film 
to provide strength and oxygen barrier characteristics as required. 
Such containers may include an inlet towards the top through which fluids 
may be passed to the collapsible container and an outlet welded to a side 
wall of the collapsible container and including a spout to extend through 
an opening in a wall of the outer container and to which the contents can 
be dispensed. However, in larger containers of this type it has been found 
that leakage often occurs where the outlet spout is welded to the flexible 
container. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
Analysis of the problem has revealed that substantial forces are created at 
the weld due to the pressure caused by the contents of the flexible 
container particularly during transportation. 
An object of the present invention is to minimize the risk of leakage in 
the manner outlined. 
According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible 
container for fluids. The collapsible container is adapted to be housed in 
an outer substantially rigid container which includes a base for 
supporting the collapsible container, a plurality of side walls to support 
the collapsible container when filled and through one of those side walls 
an outlet opening. The rigid container may be supported on a pallet or the 
like as is known in the art and it may be made of timber, carboard, metal 
or other suitable material. 
The collapsible container of the present invention may be made of any 
suitable film material or laminated films of material as is known in the 
art. A polypropylene or polyethylene film is particularly suitable for 
this purpose. The collapsible container is preferably shaped generally to 
correspond with the shape of the rigid container in which it is to be 
housed so that when full it will extend to and press against the walls of 
the rigid container to be supported thereby. Preferably the collapsible 
container is marginally greater in size than the rigid container to ensure 
that the collapsible container does not need itself to support the weight 
of the contents when in use. 
The collapsible container may include a fluid inlet preferably on its upper 
wall and through which fluid may be passed into the collapsible container. 
The inlet may include an inlet spout to extend through an inlet opening in 
the collapsible container and an inlet flange by which the inlet spout may 
be joined to the collapsible container. An inlet cap may be provided by 
which the inlet spout may be closed or opened. This may include for 
example a screw threaded cap. 
The inlet may be made of any suitable material. A suitable material is 
polyethylene. It is desirable that the material of the inlet spout and the 
material of the collapsible container be compatable for joining, 
preferably by a welding technique as is known in the art. 
The collapsible container of the present invention includes an outlet 
means. The outlet means of the present invention includes an outlet spout 
which may extend through the outlet opening in a wall of the rigid 
container. An outlet flange is provided whereby the outlet means may be 
joined to the collapsible container wall. The outlet flange of the present 
invention includes a substantially rigid flange extension that in use 
extends from the outlet opening to a position substantially adjacent the 
junction of the side wall and the bottom wall of the rigid container. The 
wall of the collapsible container is joined to the outlet flange and 
flange extension at least substantially adjacent the perimeter thereof for 
a purpose more fully discussed below. The flange and flange extension may 
be of any suitable shape and size necessary to extend to the position 
described. It may be provided as a framework or be continuous to provide a 
holding portion or portions adjacent the junction of the side and bottom 
walls in use. It also includes a spacing portion between the holding 
portion and flange to locate the holding portion in that position. 
The film of the collapsible container may extend across the outlet spout in 
a manner known in the art whereby to seal the outlet means until 
specifically opened for dispensing of the fluid contents of the flexible 
container. 
The outlet spout may be provided with an outlet cap which may be screw 
threaded or otherwise affixed thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows an outlet means of the present invention. It includes an 
outlet spout shown generally at 5 including a screw threaded portion 6 to 
which a covering cap 15 (shown in FIG. 3) can be applied. There is shown a 
flange 7 and flange extension 8 affixed to flexible film 9 of a 
collapsible container. The extension 8 may include a holding portion shown 
generally at 8a and a spacing portion 8b. 
Portion 10 extends across the spout opening to provide a seal until the 
apparatus is opened. 
FIGS. 2 and 3 show in cross section the junction bottom and side walls of a 
rigid container with bottom wall 11 and side wall 12 with spout 5 
projecting therefrom. Within the container is shown collapsible container 
9. 
In FIG. 4 flange extension 8 will be noted. Flange extension 8 extends to a 
location 8a adjacent the corner of side wall 12 and bottom wall 11 of the 
rigid container. This pulls the bottom wall 13 of the flexible container 9 
into the corner of the rigid container as shown in FIG. 3. 
This can be compared with the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 where a flange 
extension 8 is omitted. In that arrangement it is common for the flexible 
container 9 to form a wall between the outlet and the bottom wall 11 
without extending into the corner as is shown generally at 14. 
It will be seen then that the invention provides a simple and practical 
means of pulling the flexible container into a position adjacent the 
corner of the side wall and the bottom wall beneath the outlet spout. This 
is very difficult to achieve in the prior art. Before filling the 
collapsible bag is placed loosely in the rigid container with the spout in 
the outer opening. As it is filled the plastic moves to accommodate the 
contents but the weight of the contents forcing down onto the bottom wall 
provides substantial resistance against the bag expanding out evenly into 
the corners of the rigid container. Attempts have been made in the past to 
inflate the flexible container before filling. Even so the tendency is for 
the corners to be shaped generally shown in FIG. 2. 
In locations other than adjacent the outlet spout, forces applied to the 
collapsible container as a result of it being rounded at the corners is of 
little consequence. However, the substantial forces that are generated 
adjacent the spout particularly when the container is transported tends to 
tear the flexible container away from the outlet flange. By use of the 
flange extension of the present invention the flexible container is 
automatically moved into the corner of the side wall and bottom wall 
adjacent the outlet spout so that the forces hereindescribed are not 
generated in that locality. This limits the breaking force of the 
container against the flange and avoids the difficulties herein described. 
It will be appreciated that many variations and modifications may be made 
to the above described construction and arrangement of parts without 
departing from the spirit of the present invention.