Sampling and Pour Bag

Abstract

A sampling and pour bag includes a bag body with an interior for receiving a liquid through a sealable opening in the bag body. The bag body includes a severable spout section located at a side edge of the bag body that can be severed to open a pour spout for dispensing liquid from the interior of the bag body.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sampling and pour bag comprising:
 (a) a bag body comprising a first end, a second end, a first side edge extending between the first end and the second end, and a second side edge extending between the first end and the second end, the bag body defining an interior for receiving a liquid;   (b) a sealable opening configured to receive the liquid into the interior and to seal the liquid in the interior; and   (c) the bag body further comprising a severable spout section located at the first side edge of the bag body between the first and second ends of the bag body, the severance of the spout section opening a pour spout for dispensing the liquid from the interior of the bag body, the severable spout section having a first spout side edge and a second spout side edge, the second spout side edge positioned inward relative to the first spout side edge and the first side edge of the bag body.   
     
     
         2 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 1  wherein a separation extends inwardly from the first side edge of the bag body and along the second spout side edge. 
     
     
         3 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 2  wherein the bag body comprises at least one seal extending around the separation. 
     
     
         4 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 2  wherein the separation comprises a recess, a slit, or a perforation. 
     
     
         5 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 4  wherein the first end, second end, first side edge, and second side edge of the bag body define a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 2  wherein the bag body comprises a first planar member and a second planar member, wherein a first heat seal extends along the first side edge of the bag body, sealing the first and second planar members together; wherein a second heat seal extends along the second side edge of the bag body, sealing the first and second planar members together; and wherein a third heat seal extends around the separation, sealing the first and second planar members together. 
     
     
         7 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 1  wherein the second spout side edge is approximately parallel to the first spout side edge and to the first side edge of the bag body. 
     
     
         8 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 1  wherein the second spout side edge is straight and extends approximately parallel to the first pout side edge and the first side edge of the bag body. 
     
     
         9 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 1  wherein the bag is sterile, wherein the sealable opening further comprises a separable closure at the first end of the bag body. 
     
     
         10 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 9  wherein the separable closure comprises a roll and bend closure. 
     
     
         11 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 1  wherein the bag body further comprises a dam wall located between the first end of the bag body and the severable spout section, wherein the interior of the bag body comprises an over-pour region between the dam wall and the first end of the bag body, wherein the dam wall is configured to prevent direct flow of liquid from the over-pour region to the severable spout section. 
     
     
         12 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 11  wherein a separation extends between the dam wall and the severable spout section. 
     
     
         13 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 12  wherein the separation extends between the dam wall and the second spout side edge. 
     
     
         14 . A sampling and pour bag comprising:
 (a) a bag body comprising a first end, a second, a first side edge extending between the first end and the second end, and a second side edge extending between the first end and the second end, the bag body defining an interior for receiving a liquid;   (b) a sealable opening configured to receive the liquid into the interior and to seal the liquid in the interior, the sealable opening comprising a roll and bend closure located at the first end of the bag body; and   (c) the bag body further comprising a severable spout section located at the first side edge of the bag body between the first and second ends of the bag body, the severance of the spout section opening a pour spout for dispensing the liquid from the interior of the bag body.   
     
     
         15 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 14  wherein the sampling and pour bag is configurable between a first state and a second state;
 wherein in the first state the roll and bend closure extends over the severable spout section; and 
 wherein in the second state the roll and bend closure is rolled and bent to expose the severable spout section. 
 
     
     
         16 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 15  wherein, when in the second state, the roll and bend closure does not extend over the severable spout section. 
     
     
         17 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 15  wherein, when in the second state, the roll and bend closure is rolled down and bent to expose the severable spout section. 
     
     
         18 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 15  wherein the severable spout section comprises a first spout side edge and a second spout side edge, the second spout side edge positioned inward relative to the first spout side edge and the first side edge of the bag body. 
     
     
         19 . The sampling and pour bag of  claim 18  wherein a separation extends inwardly from the first side edge of the bag body and along the second spout side edge. 
     
     
         20 . A method of pouring a sample from a bag, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a liquid sample in a sealed sampling and pour bag, the sampling and pour bag comprising:
 (i) a bag body comprising a first end, a second, a first side edge extending between the first end and the second end, and a second side edge extending between the first end and the second end, the bag body defining an interior holding the liquid; 
 (ii) a sealed opening; and 
 (iii) a severable spout section located at the first side edge of the bag body between the first and second ends of the bag body, the severable spout section having a first spout side edge and a second spout side edge, the second spout side edge positioned inward relative to the first spout side edge and the first side edge of the bag body; 
   (b) severing the severable spout section; and   (c) pouring the liquid from the interior out through the severed spout section.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein severing the severable spout section comprises cutting a portion of the severable spout section from the first side edge of the bag body to the second spout side edge. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein a separation extends inwardly from the first side edge of the bag body and along the second spout side edge. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the bag body comprises at least one seal extending around the separation. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the at least one seal or at least one second seal extends along the first side edge of the bag body. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein severing the severable spout section comprises cutting across the at least one seal or the at least one second seal extending along the first side edge of the bag body and cutting at least partially across the at least one seal extending around the separation. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the second spout side edge is approximately parallel to the first spout side edge and to the first side edge of the bag body. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the bag body further comprises a dam wall located between the first end of the bag body and the severable spout section, wherein the interior of the bag body comprises an over-pour region between the dam wall and the first end of the bag body, wherein the dam wall is configured to prevent direct flow of liquid from the over-pour region to the severable spout section.