Open mouth bag

Abstract

A rigid mouth bag with a rigid mouth that places no stress on the bag and which leaves no entrapment areas between the bag and the rigid mouth for product inside the rigid mouth bag to egress into. The rigid mouth is formed as a “Y” joint and the bag inserted between the prongs of the joint. The joint is closed and sealed.

1 . A rigid mouthed bag comprising a pouch or the like of flexible material, the pouch being inserted into a “Y” joint of a substantially rigid mouth, which, upon closure of the “Y” joint results in a rigid mouth bag, wherein the pouch or the like is integrally enclosed within the “Y” joint.  
     
     
         2 . A rigid mouthed bag according to  claim 1  wherein no stress is placed on the pouch.  
     
     
         3 . A rigid mouthed bag according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein there are no entrapment areas for product inside the pouch.  
     
     
         4 . A rigid mouthed bag comprising a pouch or the like of flexible material, the pouch being inserted into a “Y” joint of a substantially rigid mouth, the “Y” joint comprising two prongs of substantially equal length, which, upon closure of the Y Joint results in a rigid mouth bag in which the pouch or the like is integrally enclosed within the “Y” joint.  
     
     
         5 . A rigid mouthed bag according to  claim 4  which comprises no entrapment areas.  
     
     
         6 . A rigid mouth bag according to any preceding claim wherein the Y joint is closed mechanically.  
     
     
         7 . A rigid mouth bag according to any one of claims  1 - 6  in which the Y joint is sealed after closing.  
     
     
         8 . A rigid mouth bag according to  claim 7  wherein the sealing method is selected from ultrasonic welding, radio frequency welding, gluing, heat sealing, heat forming.  
     
     
         9 . A rigid mouth bag according to any one of the preceding claims which is comprised of only two pieces: a pouch and a rigid collar.  
     
     
         10 . A rigid mouth bag according to any preceding claim in which the rigid mouth is circular, oval or rectangular in shape.  
     
     
         11 . A rigid mouth bag according to any one of claims  1 - 8  in which the “Y” joint is symmetrical.  
     
     
         12 . A rigid mouth bag according to any one of claims  1 - 8  in which the “Y” joint is asymmetrical.  
     
     
         13 . A rigid mouth bag according to any one of claims  1 - 8  or  12  in which the “Y” joint includes a castellated leg, on one or more angular legs.  
     
     
         14 . A rigid mouth bag constructed from a flexible material, the rigid mouth bag including: 
 a pouch of flexible material having an open mouth; and    a collar, the collar being sealingly connected to the pouch around its open mouth using a “Y” joint method of closure between the mouth and the pouch, thus providing a substantially rigid mouth at the open end of the pouch in which the pouch or the like is integrally enclosed within the “Y” joint.    
     
     
         15 . A rigid mouth bag according to  claim 14  in which no stress is induced in the bag.  
     
     
         16 . A rigid mouth bag according to  claim 14  or  claim 15  in which the “Y” joint comprises two prongs of substantially equal length, which, upon closure of the “Y” joint results in a rigid mouth bag with no product entrapment areas.  
     
     
         17 . A rigid mouth bag comprising a pouch of flexible material and a collar, the pouch being inserted between two prongs of a “Y” joint in the collar, the joint being mechanically closed and sealed such that the pouch or the like is integrally enclosed within the “Y” joint.  
     
     
         18 . A rigid mouth bag according to  claim 17  in which no stress is placed on the pouch.  
     
     
         19 . A rigid mouth bag according to  claim 17  or  claim 18  in which the joint is sealed by ultrasonic welding, radio frequency welding, gluing, heat sealing or heat forming.  
     
     
         20 . A rigid mouth bag according to anyone of claims  17 - 19  in which the inner and/or outer leg of the “Y” joint is castellated.  
     
     
         21 . A rigid mouth bag according to any preceding claim in which the pouch is of a plastics material.  
     
     
         22 . A method of forming a rigid mouthed bag comprising a pouch or the like of flexible material including the steps of: 
 inserting a pouch of flexible material between the two prongs of a “Y” joint in a rigid collar;    closing the prongs of the joint; and    sealing the joint    to thus produce a rigid mouth bag in which the pouch is integral with the closed “Y” joint.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22  in which no stress is induced in the bag.  
     
     
         24 . A method of forming a rigid mouthed bag comprising a pouch or the like of flexible material including the steps of: 
 inserting a pouch of flexible material between two prongs of equal length of the “Y” joint in a rigid collar;    closing the prongs of the joint; and    sealing the joint,    to thus produce a rigid mouth bag in which the pouch is integral with the closed “Y” joint.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24  in which there are no entrapment areas in the bag.