Flexible bag dispensing container with vents

Abstract

A flexible bag dispenser includes a port configured to transfer a liquid material, a seal that seals the flexible bag dispenser so as to prevent the liquid material from discharging through the seal, and at least one vent configured to permit gases entrapped in an interior space of the flexible bag dispenser to discharge therethrough to the exterior of the flexible bag dispenser. An inner surface defining the vent may be tapered. An inner edge of the seal may be tapered toward the first end of the flexible bag dispensing container. The vent may be defined by a malleable tube disposed in the seal or by a bleeder valve. A method of forming a flexible bag dispenser according to one example includes sealing a flexible bag of the flexible bag dispenser and forming at least one vent in the seal.

1 . A flexible bag dispensing container, comprising:
 a first end that defines a port configured to transfer a liquid material between an interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container and an exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a second end that is spaced from the first end;   a flexible wall that extends between the first end and the second end and that defines the interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a seal that is defined at the second end and that seals the second end so as to prevent the liquid material from discharging through the seal; and   at least one vent configured to permit gases entrapped in the interior space to discharge therethrough to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, wherein an inner surface that defines the at least one vent is tapered as the at least one vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent is configured to permit the entrapped gases to discharge therethrough without permitting the liquid material to discharge therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent is configured to be sealed closed after permitting the entrapped gases to discharge therethrough to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent extends through the seal. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent defines an inlet at the interior space and an outlet at the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, the inlet of the at least one vent having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the outlet of the at least one vent such that the at least one vent is tapered outwardly as the at least one vent extends from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the seal includes a first corner at a first side of the flexible bag dispensing container and a second corner at a second side of the flexible bag dispensing container that is spaced from the first side thereof; and   the at least one vent includes a first vent and a second vent, the first vent positioned at the first corner of the seal and the second vent positioned at the second corner of the seal.   
     
     
         7 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a first corner at a first side of the flexible bag dispensing container and a second corner at a second side of the flexible bag dispensing container that is spaced from the first side thereof, and wherein the at least one vent is positioned between the first and second corners. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 7 , wherein an inner edge of the seal at the interior space tapers away from the first end of the flexible bag dispensing container as the inner edge extends toward the first and second corners of the seal. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 7 , wherein an inner edge of the seal at the interior space tapers toward the first end of the flexible bag dispensing container as the inner edge extends toward the first and second corners of the seal. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 7 , wherein the seal includes a midpoint that is positioned midway between the first and second corners of the seal, and the vent is positioned closer to the first corner of the seal than the midpoint. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 7 , wherein:
 an inner edge of the seal at the interior space is curved toward the first end as the inner edge extends toward the first and second corners of the seal; and   the at least one vent is positioned substantially centrally between the first and second corners of the seal.   
     
     
         12 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 7 , wherein:
 an inner edge of the seal at the interior space is tapered toward the first end as the inner edge extends toward the first and second corners of the seal; and   the at least one vent is positioned substantially centrally between the first and second corners of the seal.   
     
     
         13 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 7 , wherein the seal has an outer edge that extends between the first and second corners and an extension that extends beyond the outer edge along a direction that extends from the interior space to the exterior, and wherein the at least one vent extends through the extension. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a side seal extending along a direction that extends from the second end toward the first end, the at least one vent defined in the side seal. (Original) A flexible bag dispensing container comprising:
 a first end that defines a port configured to transfer a liquid material between an interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container and an exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a second end that is spaced from the first end;   a flexible wall that extends between the first end and the second end and that defines the interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a seal that is defined at the second end and that seals the second end so as to prevent the liquid material from discharging through the seal; and   a malleable tube disposed in the seal and defining at least one vent that is configured to permit gases entrapped in the interior space to discharge therethrough to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container.   
     
     
         16 . The flexible bag dispensing container of claim  15 , wherein the tube is made of a material that is configured to be crimped so as to sealingly close the vent. 
     
     
         17 . A flexible bag dispensing container comprising:
 a first end that defines a port configured to transfer a liquid material between an interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container and an exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a second end that is spaced from the first end;   a flexible wall that extends between the first end and the second end and that defines the interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a seal that is defined at the second end and that seals the second end so as to prevent the liquid material from discharging through the seal; and   a bleeder valve that defines at least one vent that is configured to permit gases entrapped in the interior space to discharge therethrough to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container.   
     
     
         18 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 17 , wherein the bleeder valve is configured such that when a predetermined pressure point is reached, at least a portion of the bleeder valve moves into sealing engagement with the second end of the flexible bag dispensing container to prevent the entrapped gases from discharging therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 17 , further comprising a sleeve that at least partially surrounds the flexible wall of the flexible bag dispensing container. 
     
     
         20 . A flexible bag dispensing container, comprising:
 a first end that defines a port configured to transfer a liquid material between an interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container and an exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a second end that is spaced from the first end;   a flexible wall that extends between the first end and the second end and that defines the interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a seal that is defined at the second end and that seals the second end so as to prevent the liquid material from discharging through the seal, the seal having an inner edge at the interior space; and   at least one vent configured to permit gases entrapped in the interior space to discharge therethrough to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, wherein at least a portion of the inner edge of the seal tapers toward the first end as the portion extends away from the at least one vent.   
     
     
         21 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 20 , wherein the portion of the inner edge of the seal tapers so as to be curved toward the first end as the inner edge extends away from the at least one vent. 
     
     
         22 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 20 , wherein the portion of the inner edge of the seal tapers so as to be angled toward the first end as the inner edge extends away from the at least one vent. 
     
     
         23 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one vent is positioned substantially centrally at a midpoint of the seal. 
     
     
         24 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 20 , wherein the portion of the inner edge of the seal tapers toward the first end as the portion extends in opposite directions away from the at least one vent. 
     
     
         25 . A method of forming a flexible bag dispensing container having a first end, a second end spaced from the first end, and a flexible wall that extends between the first end and the second end and that defines an interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container configured to hold a liquid material therein, the first end defining a port, the method comprising:
 sealing the second end of the flexible bag so as to prevent the liquid material from discharging through the seal, the seal having an inner edge at the interior space; and   forming at least one vent that is configured to permit gases entrapped in the interior space to discharge through the at least one vent to an exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container,   wherein the forming step includes at least one of the following substeps:   (a) forming the at least one vent such that an inner surface that defines the at least one vent is tapered as the at least one vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container;   (b) disposing a malleable tube in the seal such that the malleable tube defines the at least one vent;   (c) forming the at least one vent in the form of a bleeder valve;   (d) forming the at least one vent as first and second vents, the first vent defining a first centerline as the first vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container and the second vent defining a second centerline as the second vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, the first and second centerlines being substantially parallel to one another; or   (e) forming the seal such that at least a portion of the inner edge of the seal tapers toward the first end as the portion extends away from the at least one vent.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the forming step includes sub step (a) and the at least one vent is defined in the seal. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the forming step includes substep (a) and the seal comprises a side seal extending along a direction that extends from the second end toward the first end, the at least one vent defined in the side seal. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the forming step includes substep (b) and further comprises crimping the malleable tube so as to sealingly close the vent after the entrapped gases are discharged therethrough. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the forming step includes substep (c) the method further comprising, when a predetermined pressure point is reached, moving at least a portion of the bleeder valve into sealing engagement with the second end of the flexible bag dispensing container to prevent the entrapped gases from discharging through an interface between the seal and the bleeder valve. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the forming step includes substep (d) and the portion of the inner edge of the seal tapers toward the first end as the portion extends in opposite directions away from the at least one vent. 
     
     
         31 . A flexible bag dispensing container, comprising:
 a first end that defines a port configured to transfer a liquid material between an interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container and an exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a second end that is spaced from the first end;   a flexible wall that extends between the first end and the second end and that defines the interior space of the flexible bag dispensing container;   a seal that is defined at the second end and that seals the second end so as to prevent the liquid material from discharging through the seal; and   first and second vents, each of the first and second vents configured to permit gases entrapped in the interior space to discharge therethrough to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, wherein the first vent defines a first centerline as the first vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container and the second vent defines a second centerline as the second vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, the first and second centerlines being substantially parallel to one another.   
     
     
         32 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 31 , wherein:
 an inner surface that defines the first vent is tapered as the first vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container; and   an inner surface that defines the second vent is tapered as the second vent extends in a direction from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container.   
     
     
         33 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first vent defines an inlet at the interior space and an outlet at the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, the inlet of the first vent having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the outlet of the first vent such that the first vent is tapered outwardly as the first vent extends from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container; and   the second vent defines an inlet at the interior space and an outlet at the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container, the inlet of the second vent having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the outlet of the second vent such that the second vent is tapered outwardly as the second vent extends from the interior space to the exterior of the flexible bag dispensing container.   
     
     
         34 . The flexible bag dispensing container of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the seal includes a first corner at a first side of the flexible bag dispensing container and a second corner at a second side of the flexible bag dispensing container that is spaced from the first side thereof;   the first vent is positioned at the first corner of the seal; and   the second vent is positioned at the second corner of the seal.