Flexible Liquid Container

Abstract

A flexible container for holding a liquid includes two walls made of a flexible material, the free overlaying edges of the walls being assembled together by a weld or an adhesive seam so as to define an inner sealed volume of the container. The two walls also define a spout designed to protrude outwards from a peripheral portion of the container, and an outflow channel connects the spout with the inner volume of the container. One or several obstacles are formed by welding or bonding together the two walls in the inner volume, substantially opposite from and in the vicinity of, the channel leading to the spout in such a manner as to limit the section of the passage available for the liquid between the inner volume and the outflow channel. One narrowed passage is left open in such a manner that a portion of the surface including the spout is deflected. This portion of the surface is substantially defined by the obstacle(s) and by folds directed substantially transverse with respect to the obstacles.

1 . A flexible container for containing a liquid, including two overlaying walls of flexible material welded or bonded along a peripheral seam so as to define an inner sealed volume, said container comprising an outwardly protruding spout and an outflow channel connecting said spout with said inner sealed volume of said container, wherein one or several obstacles formed by welding or bonding together a portion of said two overlaying walls is or are located in said inner sealed volume substantially opposite and in the vicinity of the outflow channel thereby leaving open at least one restricted passage between the inner sealed volume and the outflow channel, the obstacle or obstacles extending between two ends and creating two folds, one extending from each of said ends, directed substantially transversally with respect to said obstacles and traversing the peripheral seam, the position of the one or several obstacles relative to the spout and the peripheral seam being such that a portion of the overlying walls including the spout and bounded by the obstacle or the obstacles and by the folds deflects or arches when liquid is present in the inner sealed volume. 
   
   
       2 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle defines two said restricted passages at two opposite sides of the outflow channel of the spout. 
   
   
       3 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the spout has a generally straight shape and extends substantially perpendicularly to a peripheral portion of the container to which it is affixed. 
   
   
       4 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the spout includes a groove for tearing off a portion of the spout. 
   
   
       5 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the walls of the container are made from a single sheet of flexible material, which is folded over to overlay said two walls. 
   
   
       6 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the walls of the container are made from two separate sheets of flexible material. 
   
   
       7 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle has an elongated shape and extends between two ends overlapping the peripheral seam on either side of the spout. 
   
   
       8 . A flexible container according to  claim 7 , wherein the obstacle overlaps said peripheral seam on either side of the spout by an amount that is less than 5% of the overall length of the peripheral seam. 
   
   
       9 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle extends substantially parallel to portions of the peripheral seam located on either side of the spout. 
   
   
       10 . A flexible container according to  claim 1 , comprising at least two said obstacles spaced apart by a narrow passage facing the outflow channel of the spout.