Patent Application
20140261854
The present invention in general relates to liquid containers and in particular to a bag in box (BiB) dispensing container for holding and dispensing chemical liquids and vehicle fuels with a two position valve and extension hose.
Bag-in-box or BiB is a type of container for the storage and transportation of liquids. Bag-in-Box includes of a strong bladder (or plastic bag), usually made of several layers of metallized film or other plastics, seated inside a corrugated fiberboard box. The bag is supplied to the ‘filler’ as an empty pre made bag. The ‘filler’ then generally removes the tap, fills the bag and replaces the tap. The bags are available as singles for semi-automatic machines or as web bags, where the bags have perforations between each one. Webs of bags are used on automated filling systems where the bag is separated on line either before the bag is automatically filled or after.
Bag-in-Box technology is an economical and environmentally friendly delivery container for supplying liquids. BiB packaging is tamper evident and is made of recyclable materials. BiB packaging offers up to five times less waste than rigid containers, and empty packages collapse fully, saving space upon disposal. BiB packaging offers transport and storage advantages with an average forty percent improvement in storage, pallet space, and transport vehicle utilization.
The BiB has many commercial applications including the supply of syrup to soft drink fountains and to dispense bulk supplied condiments such as ketchup or mustard in the foodservice industry. BiB technology is also used to deliver chemicals, fuels, and automotive chemicals and fluids.
Despite the advantages offered by BiB containers and packaging, the dispensing and pouring of liquids into vehicle fluid or fuel tanks and system receptacles is often ergonomically stressful with undue loads being put on the arms and back of the user. Delivery of fluids to a vehicle poses unique problems of positioning a box in a precarious position on a vehicle and holding the box in position during fluid delivery.
Thus, there exists a need for BiB containers and packaging that offers improved delivery of liquids into tanks and fluid system while reducing ergonomic stresses on the user.
A bag-in-box dispensing system includes a box with a facing. A bag having a spout is placed with the box. A removable extension hose and a connector having snap wings for securing the extension hose to the spout is also provided.
A bag-in-box dispensing system is also provided that includes a box with a facing configured with a removable flap. A bag with a spout containing a liquid inside said box is positioned within the box and a spout retracted under the removable flap. A removable extension hose is placed in the interior of the box for direct coupling to the spout or via a connector.
A process of filling a vehicle diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) includes the positioning of the box on a platform such that the box maintains a placement without additional human contact and proximal to the vehicle DEF tank. A proximal end of the removable extension hose is coupled to the spout and a distal end of the hose extends into the vehicle DEF tank. A binary valve associated with the spout is opened to allow the DEF to gravity feed into the vehicle DEF tank from the bag, which is not vented, within the box.
The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention has utility as a bag-in-box (BiB) dispensing system for fluids, fuels, and chemicals for filling storage tanks and other vehicle systems such as hydraulic systems. Embodiments of the inventive BiB dispensing system improve the ergonomics of filling storage tanks and other vehicle systems by reducing stressful loads being put on the arms and back of a user that are common with traditional filling jugs and containers. Embodiments of the inventive BiB dispensing system incorporate a two position on-off spout with a snap on or screw on extension hose that allows the BiB containing the liquid to be dispensed to be positioned on a surface above the tank or vehicle system to be filled, thereby freeing the user from holding the BiB while fluids are being dispensed. The extension hose allows the fluids to be dispensed directly into a tank or system receptacle without wasteful spillage, and without the user having to hold the inventive BiB dispensing system and experience stress on their body.
With reference to the attached figures, an inventive BiB dispensing system is depicted generally at 10 in
In operation in the context of filling a vehicle DEF tank with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) as the liquid, a process of usage includes the positioning of the box on a platform such that the box maintains a placement without additional human contact and proximal to the vehicle DEF tank. Avoidance of box balancing over a DEF tank opening or funnel per the prior art provided ergonomic advantages to an inventive process. A proximal end of the removable extension hose is coupled to the spout and a distal end of the hose extends into the vehicle DEF tank. A binary valve associated with the spout is opened to allow the DEF to gravity feed into the vehicle DEF tank from the non-vented bag within the box. The valve is then closed or the bag fully drained into the vehicle DEF tank. It is appreciated that a stable platform illustratively includes a truck step or a wheeled stand separate from the vehicle containing the vehicle DEF tank.
The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.
