Collapsible bag for dispensing liquids, method of manufacturing, and method of use thereof

Abstract

A collapsible container having at least two opposed flexible walls, an opening through which liquid can be removed, and a flange around the opening. The inner surface of each of the two sidewalls and the internal surface of the spout flange preferably have depressions and raised areas between the depressions. Typically, the depressions are not continuous and the raised areas are continuous. The depressions of one wall or flange cooperate with the depressions on the opposed wall to form liquid flow pathways when the wall or flange contacts the opposed wall. The liquid flow pathways allow liquid to pass therethrough instead of being blocked by the contact between a wall or flange and the opposed wall. A method of use and a method of making the bag are also disclosed.

1 . A collapsible container for dispensing liquids comprising:
 at least first and second opposed flexible walls;   an opening in the container through which liquid can be withdrawn from the container; and   the first and second walls having inner surfaces with spaced apart discontinuous depressions and raised areas between discontinuous depressions, the discontinuous depressions of the first wall cooperating with the discontinuous depressions of the second wall to form liquid flow paths when the first wall contacts the second wall, the liquid flow paths allowing liquid to pass therethrough towards the opening.   
   
   
       2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the depressions are discontinuous. 
   
   
       3 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the raised areas are continuous. 
   
   
       4 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the first and second walls contact each other when the container is evacuated. 
   
   
       5 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein each of the liquid flow paths comprises a plurality of depressions from the first wall and a plurality of depressions from the second wall. 
   
   
       6 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the depressions on the first or second walls have a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, hexahedral, conical and frustoconical. 
   
   
       7 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the depressions on the first wall have substantially the same shape as the depressions on the second wall, but differ by at least one of size and orientation. 
   
   
       8 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the depressions on the first wall have substantially different shapes as the depressions on the second wall. 
   
   
       9 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the opening further comprises a flange for attachment of a spout, the flange having at least first and second opposed surfaces, the first flange surface flush to the inner surface of the first wall. 
   
   
       10 . The collapsible container of  claim 9  wherein the second flange surface has liquid flow pathways. 
   
   
       11 . The collapsible container of  claim 9  wherein the second surface of the flange has spaced apart depressions and continuous raised areas between depressions, the depressions of the second surface forming liquid flow paths with the depressions of the second wall when the second surface contacts the second wall. 
   
   
       12 . A collapsible container comprising:
 at least first and second opposed walls; and   an opening in the container through which liquid can be withdrawn from the container;   the first and second walls having inner surfaces with spaced apart depressions and raised areas between depressions, the depressions of the first wall cooperating with the depressions of the second wall to form liquid flow paths when the first wall contacts the second wall, the liquid flow paths allowing liquid to pass therethrough;   wherein at least one of the first and second walls lacks liquid flow pathways on the interior surface thereof.   
   
   
       13 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the depressions are discontinuous. 
   
   
       14 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein both walls lack liquid flow pathways on the interior surface thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the first and second walls contact each other when the container is empty. 
   
   
       16 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein each of the liquid flow paths comprises a plurality of depressions from the first wall and a plurality of depressions from the second wall. 
   
   
       17 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the depressions on the first or second walls have a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, hexahedral, conical and frustroconical. 
   
   
       18 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the depressions on the first wall have substantially the same shape as the depressions on the second wall, but differ by at least one of size and orientation. 
   
   
       19 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the depressions on the first wall have substantially different shapes from the depressions on the second wall. 
   
   
       20 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the opening further comprises a flange for attachment of a spout, the flange having at least first and second opposed surfaces, the first flange surface flush to the inner surface of the first wall. 
   
   
       21 . The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein the second flange surface has liquid flow pathways. 
   
   
       22 . The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein the second surface of the flange has spaced apart depressions and continuous raised areas between depressions, the depressions of the second surface forming liquid flow paths with the depressions of the second wall when the second surface contacts the second wall. 
   
   
       23 . A method of evacuating liquid from a collapsible container comprising:
 providing a container comprising at least first and second flexible walls, the container containing a liquid;   removing liquid from the container;   allowing the first and second walls to move inwardly during removal of liquid and to contact each other; the first and second walls having inner surfaces with spaced apart depressions and raised areas between depressions, the depressions of the first wall cooperating with the depressions of the second wall to form liquid flow paths when the first wall contacts the second wall; and   allowing the liquid to pass through the liquid flow paths towards the opening.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising making discontinuous depressions on the first and second walls. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising making continuous raised areas on the first and second walls. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein each of the liquid flow paths comprises a plurality of depressions from the first wall and a plurality of depressions from the second wall. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising making depressions having a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, hexahedral, conical and frustroconical on the first and second sheets. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 providing a hole in the first sheet; and   attaching a flange around the hole for attachment of a spout, the flange having at least first and second opposed surfaces, the first flange surface flush to the inner surface of the first wall.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising providing liquid flow pathways on the second flange surface. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising providing spaced apart depressions and continuous raised areas between depressions on the second surface of the flange; and
 causing the second surface to contact the second wall forming liquid flow pathways from depressions of the second surface and depressions of the second wall.   
   
   
       31 . A method of forming a collapsible container with flow pathways comprising:
 providing first and second flexible sheet portions having spaced apart depressions and raised areas between depressions;   orienting one sheet portion over the other sheet portion to form liquid flow paths comprising a plurality of depressions from the first sheet and a plurality of depressions from the second sheet; and   attaching the first and second sheets together along peripheral portions.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising forming discontinuous depressions on the first and second sheet portions. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising making continuous raised areas on the first and second sheet portions. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising making depressions having a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, hexahedral, conical and frustroconical on the first and second sheet portions. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 providing a flange for attachment of a spout, the flange, having at least first and second opposed surfaces, and   attaching the flange to the inner surface of the first sheet portion along the first flange surface.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising providing liquid flow pathways on the second flange surface. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising providing spaced apart depressions and continuous raised areas between depressions on the second surface of the flange, the depressions of the second surface forming liquid flow pathways with the depressions of the second sheet portion when the second surface contacts the second sheet portion. 
   
   
       38 . A collapsible container for dispensing liquids comprising:
 at least first and second opposed flexible walls;   an opening in the container through which liquid can be withdrawn from the container, the opening comprising a flange for attachment of a spout, the flange having at least first and second opposed surfaces, the first flange surface flush to the inner surface of the first wall;   the second wall having an inner surface with spaced apart depressions and raised areas between depressions; and   the second surface of the flange having spaced apart depressions and raised areas between depressions, the depressions of the second surface cooperating with the depressions of the second wall to form liquid flow paths when the second surface contacts the second wall, the liquid flow paths allowing liquid to pass therethrough.   
   
   
       39 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein the depressions are discontinuous. 
   
   
       40 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein the raised areas are continuous. 
   
   
       41 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein the second wall and second surface contact each other when the container is evacuated. 
   
   
       42 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein each of the liquid flow paths comprises a plurality of depressions from the second wall and a plurality of depressions from the second surface. 
   
   
       43 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein the depressions on the second wall or second surface have a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, hexahedral, conical and frustoconical. 
   
   
       44 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein the depressions on the second wall have substantially the same shape as the depressions on the second surface, but differ by at least one of size and orientation. 
   
   
       45 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein the depressions on the second wall have substantially different shapes from the depressions on the second surface. 
   
   
       46 . The collapsible container of  claim 38  wherein the first wall has an inner surface with spaced apart depressions and raised areas between depressions, the depressions of the first wall forming liquid flow paths with the depressions of the second wall when the first surface contacts the second wall. 
   
   
       47 . The collapsible container of  claim 46  wherein each of the liquid flow paths comprises a plurality of depressions from the second wall and a plurality of depressions from the first wall.