Patent Publication Number: US-2009236343-A1

Title: Device for a Bag of Liquid

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is in the field of liquid containers and in particular for a bag containing a liquid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bags containing liquids present a problem. When the bag is closed the liquid is contained but when the bag is opened and some of the contents remain inside, the bag needs support to avoid spillage. 
     Different kinds of containers have been revealed to solve this problem. This invention reveals yet another novel solution. 
     The types of liquids held in bags are somewhat limited probably because of this problem of containing and controlling any remaining liquid in the bag after the initial use. If a practical invention is revealed that solves the problem with bagged liquids many more manufactures who today use more costly water-proof cartons or rigid plastic containers may change to using bags to market their products. 
     One commonly used consumer product that is suitable to market in bags and the contents are usually not finished after the first use, is milk. Some countries like England and Canada are trying to re-introduce the milk bag for environmental reasons. There is some resistance from the public. An efficient holder for such bags would increase the chances of success of such environmental projects. This invention is not limited to milk bags and could apply to a bag of any kind of liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention but not to limit the invention to these descriptions only. 
     A container is used for holding a bag containing liquid for pouring out the liquid from inside the bag. 
     The container includes a lower portion to hold a bag of liquid and a lid portion that fits onto and closes on top of the lower portion. 
     At least a part of the upper rim of the lower portion of the container is undulated, with alternate protrusions and indentations. 
     On the lid there are also undulating alternate protrusions and indentations facing downward towards the upper rim of the lower portion in such a manner that the protrusions of the rim and the protrusions of the lid touch each other when the lid is closed. Similarly the indentations are opposite each other when the lid is closed thereby leaving a space for the liquid in the bag to pour out through that space even when the lid is closed. 
     There is a slit across the length of the protrusions and indentations of the rim and of the lid that allows a blade to pass through the two slits. The direction of the blade length would be at about 90° to the direction of the length of the slits. The blade could be attached to the lid in such a manner that the blade can be moved freely back and forth in the two slits when the lid is closed. 
     A new bag of liquid is placed in the container with one upper corner of the bag gripped between the protrusions of the rim and the protrusions of the lid. The extreme end of the corner of the bag could extend beyond the gripping protrusions. The blade in the two slits is pulled through the slit in order to cut off the corner of the bag. The extreme end of the corner could then be removed leaving the open portion of the bag held between the touching protrusions. 
     The contents of the bag are poured out through the indentations even when the lid is closed. Magnets could be used to keep the lid in the closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain by way of example only, the principles of the invention: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic depiction of the holder of a bag of liquid. 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged schematic depiction of the protrusions of the bag holder. 
         FIG. 1C  is an enlarged schematic depiction of the protrusions of the bag holder in plan view. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic depiction of a bag of liquid held by the protrusions of the bag holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments than those discussed above and described in more detail below, and its several details are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forth below are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
       FIG. 1A  shows the bag container  100 . A bag of liquid is placed in the bag container  100  in such a way that one upper corner of the bag protrudes over the protrusions  102 . The protrusions  102  and  108  are opposite the spout  104  of the bag container  100 . 
     When the lid  106  of the bag container  100  is closed, the upper protrusions  108  and lower protrusions  102  touch and thereby grip the corner of the bag of liquid. 
     There is a slit  112  splitting through the length of the protrusions  102  and through the indentations between the protrusions  102 . There is a slit  113  that runs parallel with slit  112  and splits through the length of the protrusions  108  and through the indentations between the protrusions  108 . The slit  112  splits through the thickness of the lid  106 , through the upper protrusions  108  and lower protrusions  102 . 
     The blade  114  is pulled though the slit  112  and  113  from one side to the other in order to cut off the corner of the bag of liquid. The cut-off extremity corner piece can be pulled away leaving the open corner of the bag facing the spout  104 . 
     After the corner has been cut off the bag, the protrusions  102  and  108  continue to grip the open corner of the bag of liquid while the lid  106  is closed. Magnets  116  could be used to help the lid  106  remain closed. When the bag container  100  is inclined in the direction of the spout  104 , the liquid in the bag pours between the upper indentations  118  and the lower indentations  120  and down the spout  104 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows an enlarged sectional view of rectangular protrusions and indentations. The protrusions  108  facing down from the lid  FIG. 1   106  are opposite the protrusions  102  facing up from the rim of the container  100 . The indentations  118  facing down from the lid  FIG. 1   106  are opposite the indentations  120  facing up from the edge of the container  100 . 
     After the bag corner has been cut off, the open edge of the bag is gripped by the protrusions  102  and  108 . When the container  100  is tilted the liquid in the bag can exit through the indentations  118  and  120 . 
       FIG. 1C  shows the plan view of the protrusions and indentations. In plan view the height differences between the protrusions and indentations can not be seen. The slit  150  is the space through which the cutting blade  152  moves to cut off the corner  154  of the bag. Once cut, the extremity or pointed portion of the corner  154  is pulled away leaving exposed the indentations through which liquid may exit from the bag. 
       FIG. 2  shows a milk bag  120  with a top corner  122  gripped between the protrusions  124  before the corner  122  has been cut off.