Bag-in-box container including a pre-positioned, secured dispensing spout

In one embodiment, a bag-in-box container includes a fluid containment bag including a pliable body and a dispensing spout that extends from the body, the spout including a neck and a collar that extends outward from the neck, a carton in which the bag is positioned, the spout of the bag being recessed within an interior space of the carton, and a locking member placed in contact with the neck that secures the spout in a predetermined position within the carton interior space.

BACKGROUND

Ink is often supplied to large scale printers using plastic containers. For example, the printer may comprise a rack upon which one or more cylindrical plastic ink bottles can be supported.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are bag-in-box containers that include a pre-positioned, secured dispensing spout. In some embodiments, a bag-in-box container comprises a fluid containment bag having an integrated dispensing spout, a carton in which the bag is disposed, and a support tray and clip that together securely support the dispensing spout in a desired location within the container. In some embodiments, the bag-in-box container can be used to contain and supply ink for a printer.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the views,FIG. 1illustrates a fluid containment bag10used to construct a bag-in-box container (seeFIGS. 5A-5Gbelow). As shown inFIG. 1, the bag10comprises a generally box-shaped bag body12that is adapted to hold a liquid, such as printer ink. The body12is constructed of a flexible, pliable material, such as a laminated plastic material. Due to the pliability of the body12, the body can collapse as liquid is dispensed from the bag10.

As is also shown inFIG. 1, the fluid containment bag10further comprises a dispensing spout14that is integrated with the bag body12and that extends upward from a top surface15of the body. As indicated in the figure, the dispensing spout14is offset from the center of the top surface15so as to be positioned adjacent a particular side of the body12. The dispensing spout14is sized and configured to couple with a connector of a supply tube (not shown), such as a printer supply tube. The dispensing spout14is generally cylindrical and is formed of a rigid material, such as a rigid plastic, so to facilitate secure coupling of the supply tube connector. Provided along a neck16of the spout14is an outwardly extending external flange or collar18that is positioned outside of the bag body12and an outwardly extending internal flange or collar19that is positioned within the bag body. As described below, the collars18,19together facilitate securing of the spout14in a predetermined position within the bag-in-box container.

Turning toFIG. 2, illustrated is a carton panel20that is used to form a carton or box of the bag-in-box container. In some embodiments, the panel20is formed from a sheet of corrugated fiberboard, commonly referred to as “cardboard.” By way of example, the panel20is approximately 3/16 inches thick. The panel20comprises an elongated rectangular body22that comprises multiple fold lines24,26, and28along which the body can be folded to form the carton. Provided at one lateral edge32of the body22is a securing flap34that can be attached, for example using glue, to the opposite edge36of the body when the carton is constructed. Extending from a bottom edge30of the body22are base flaps38that are used to form the bottom of the carton. Once the securing flap34has been attached to the edge36of the carton, the base flaps38can be attached to each other, for example using glue, to form a carton having an open top (see carton98inFIG. 5C).

Extending from a top end39of the body22are first and second minor flaps40and42, and first and second major flaps44and46, each of which can be folded relative to the body along fold lines47. As their names suggest, the minor flaps40,42are smaller in size (i.e., length) than the major flaps44,46. As shown inFIG. 2, each major flap44,46is provided with perforations that enable tearing of the panel20. In the illustrated embodiment, the first major flap44comprises two independent perforation lines48and the second major flap46comprises a continuous perforation line50. As described below, the perforation lines48enable a sub-flap52to be folded inward along fold line49into the carton to provide a handle for the bag-in-box container, while the perforation line50enables removal of a sub-panel54to provide access to the delivery spout14when the fluid containment bag10is disposed within the carton.

FIG. 3is a plan view of a support tray60, which is also used to form the bag-in-box container. In some embodiments, the tray60is, like the carton panel20, formed from a sheet of corrugated fiberboard. By way of example, the support tray60is approximately 3/16 inches thick. The support tray60comprises a rectangular body62that forms the majority of the panel. Provided within the body62is a circular opening64that is sized and positioned to enable passage of the dispensing spout14when the bag-in-box container is constructed. The opening64is offset in similar manner as the spout14such that the opening aligns with the spout during such construction.

Extending from opposed first and second edges66and68(which define fold lines) of the body62are first and second minor flaps70and72. Extending from opposed third and fourth edges74and76(which also define fold lines) of the body62are first and second major flaps78and80. Again, the minor flaps70,72are smaller in size (i.e., length) than the major flaps78,80. As shown inFIG. 3, the first major flap78comprises a base portion82and elongated arms84that extend from lateral edges of the base portion, while the second major flap80comprises first and second portions81and83(separated by a fold line85) that together form a rectangle. As is further shown inFIG. 3, the flaps70,72,78, and80together define four rounded corners86of the support tray60.

FIG. 4is a plan view of a locking member90used to lock the bag dispensing spout14in a desired location within the bag-in-box container. The locking member90can be formed from a sheet of polymeric material, such as a sheet of corrugated polypropylene or a sheet of high-density polyethylene. By way of example, the locking member90is approximately ⅛ inches thick. As shown inFIG. 4, the locking member90is generally rectangular except for a notch92provided along an edge94of the member. As described below, the notch92is sized and configured to receive the neck16of the dispensing spout14to enable seating of the locking member90on top of the support tray60and below the external collar18of the spout14. The notch92includes a rounded surface96that has a radius of curvature slightly larger than the outer radius of curvature of the neck16of the spout14. The rounded surface96ensures that the spout14can be securely held in place by the support tray60and locking member90.

Construction of a bag-in-box container using the components illustrated inFIGS. 1-4is described in the following with reference toFIGS. 5A-5G. Beginning withFIG. 5A, the support tray60is applied to the fluid containment bag10. In particular, the support tray60is placed on top of the top surface15of the filled bag10with the dispensing spout14of the bag extending through the opening64provided within in the body62of the tray. Next, with reference toFIG. 5B, the locking member90is slid between the external collar18of the spout14and the top surface of the tray60. In particular, the locking member90is positioned such that the rounded surface96of the notch92abuts the neck16of the spout. Once in that position, the locking member90and as well as the tray60are positioned between the two collars18,19of the spout14.

Referring next toFIG. 5C, each of the flaps70,72,78, and80of the support tray60are folded upward along the edges (fold lines)66,68,74, and76of the tray body62such that each flap forms an approximately 90 degree angle with the tray body. When the first major flap78is placed in that orientation, the locking member90is urged into contact with the bag dispensing spout14. Because the locking member90and the support tray60are positioned or “sandwiched” between the spout collars18,19, the spout14is locked in place relative to the tray in the orientation shown inFIG. 5C. That orientation facilitates interfacing with the bag-in-box by the user. Therefore, the spout14is pre-positioned for use in dispensing a liquid, such as ink.

With further reference toFIG. 5C, the fluid dispensing bag10, together with its attached support tray60and locking member90, can be placed within a carton98that has been formed from the carton panel20described in relation toFIG. 2above.FIG. 5Dillustrates the carton98after the bag10has been placed inside the carton98. As indicated inFIG. 5D, each of the flaps of the support tray60and each remaining flap of the carton98extend upward at this point.

Turning next toFIG. 5E, the minor flaps40and42of the carton98are folded inward and the major flaps44and46of the carton are folded outward. As can be appreciated fromFIG. 5E, the fluid dispensing spout14is now recessed within an interior space100of the carton98so that it is protected against damage that could otherwise be inflicted upon it during transit. As can also be appreciated fromFIG. 5E, the support tray60completely overlies the bag body12so that the user cannot see or touch the bag body once the bag-in-box has been constructed.

At this point, glue102is applied to the top surfaces of the flaps40,42,44, and46. Next, the arms84of the first major flap78of the support tray60are folded down onto the minor flaps40and42of the carton98, and the second major flap46of the carton is folded down onto the arms, as indicated inFIG. 5F. Because of the glue102that had been applied to the flaps40,42, and46, each of the arms84is now firmly attached to the second major flap46and one of the minor flaps40and42, thereby providing substantial structural integrity and rigidity to the carton98.

With reference next toFIG. 5G, the second portion83of the second major flap80of the support tray60is folded down onto the minor flaps40and42of the carton98, and the first major flap44of the carton is folded down onto the second portion of the second major flap of the support tray, thereby forming a completed bag-in-box container104. Because of the glue102that had been applied to the flaps40,42, and44, the second major flap80is now firmly attached to the first major flap44and both minor flaps40and42, which provides further structural integrity and rigidity to the carton98.

Once construction of the bag-in-box container104has been completed, a user, such as the purchaser, may pop in the sub-flap52about the fold line49to form a “handle” (not shown) with which the container can be carried. When the user is prepared to use the container104to supply liquid, such as ink, the user can then remove the sub-panel54of the carton98to gain access to the interior space100and the dispensing spout14, which has been secured in place within the carton by the support tray60and the locking member90. Again, because of the orientation of the support tray60and the locking member90relative to the spout collars18,19, the spout14is firmly held in its predetermined position within the carton98, thereby enabling convenient coupling of a delivery tube connector to the spout.

In the above disclosure, spatial terms, such as top, bottom, above, and below, are used to facilitate description of the disclosed inventions. It is to be understood that those terms refer to the inventions in the orientations shown in the figures only. Accordingly, such spatial terms may not apply when the inventions are placed in other orientations.