DISPENSING POUCH ASSEMBLIES

Abstract

A dispensing pouch assembly includes a pouch defining an volume and forming a circular opening into the volume, the circular opening having a wall and an inwardly protruding retaining lip thereon with sealing faces on the bottom and top surfaces thereof. A nozzle assembly removably engaged with the pouch includes a nozzle having a port extending from a top to a bottom end. A radial flange extends from the bottom end and includes a peripheral portion engaging the bottom surface of the retaining lip. A gasket encircles the nozzle with a peripheral portion of the lower face thereof engaging the top surface of the retaining lip. A retaining collar engaged with the nozzle urges the gasket and the radial flange, respectively, against the retaining lip sealing faces in a fluid-tight fit, permitting exit of flowable contents in the volume only through the port. Optionally, a cap fits on the nozzle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to containers for flowable contents, and in particular to dispensing pouch assemblies having a pouch and a removable nozzle assembly.

BACKGROUND

Storage and dispensing of flowable substances, including food products such as baby food, condiments, beverages, etc cosmetic and hygienic products, and so forth, presents several challenges, and existing containers are not satisfactory for a full range of uses for various reasons. For example, such products are typically sold in containers that are unsuited for portability, such as due to size, rigidity and/or fragility of the container, and so forth. Moreover, many of such containers are effective for only a single use and then must be disposed, such as due to design characteristics that make such containers either difficult to open (such as for refilling), or clean, or both.

Baby food, for example, is a product tor which portable, reusable storage is often desired, as infants tend to require feeding on their own schedules. However, baby food is typically sold in glass or rigid plastic containers, which can be difficult to pack, such as in a purse or baby bag, in a manner to ensure that the container doesn't break from impact with other objects. Baby food jars additionally require the use of a spoon or other utensil that also needs to be packed. Some portable solutions include plastic storage bags, which are susceptible to popping open or otherwise rupturing, or travel-size containers, which tend to be difficult to fully clean—either by their configuration, or from being fabricated from materials that are not suited to withstand, for example, dishwasher conditions—and thus can present sanitary concerns.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of a dispensing pouch assembly, such as consisting of a distensible pouch and a removable nozzle assembly, are disclosed herein. Such a dispensing pouch assembly may facilitate portable storage and dispensing of flowable substances such as baby food, and so forth, and provide a reusable storage.container that is easily-cleaned.

Some example embodiments may include a flexible, distensible pouch having a pair of opposed panels defining an interior volume, with the top edges thereof forming a circular opening defined by a peripheral wall and an inwardly-protruding retaining lip. In such embodiments, a nozzle assembly includes a nozzle having a bottom end with a radial flange disposed in the circular opening, the flange including a peripheral upper edge portion engaged with a bottom sealing face of the retaining lip in a fluid tightfit. The nozzle assembly further includes a gasket encircling the nozzle having a lower face engaged with a top sealing face of the retaining lip, also in a fluid-tight fit. A retaining collar engaged with the nozzle urges the gasket and the radial flange, respectively, against the first and second sealing faces of the gasket.

In such embodiments, the nozzle assembly may be selectively removable from the pouch, such as by distending the circular opening to release the radial flange. In such embodiments, the nozzle assembly may be adapted to prevent distension of the circular opening while the gasket and radial flange are engaged with the gasket. In such embodiments, removal of the retaining collar permits disengagement or removal of the gasket, thereby permitting distension of the circular opening to release the nozzle.

In some embodiments, the circular opening has a wide-mouth diameter, such as sized to receive a standard soup spoon, for example for ease of access to the interior volume, for washing, refilling, removing contents, etc. In such embodiments, the ratio of the diameter of the port at the top end of the nozzle to the diameter of the circular opening is within range of 1:4 to 1:10, such as approximately 1:6 to 1:8.

The concepts, features, methods, and component configurations briefly described above are clarified with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of an example embodiment of a dispensing pouch assembly constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, including a nozzle assembly engaged with a pouch.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view in partial cutaway, illustrating various components of the nozzle assembly, and other interior structure, of the dispensing pouch assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional side view of the dispensing pouch assembly of FIG. 1, showing one manner in which the circular opening of the pouch may be distended, such as to facilitate removal of the nozzle.

FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional side view of another example embodiment of a nozzle assembly constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an oblique view of an example embodiment of a cap suitable for use with the example nozzle assembly embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an oblique view of another example embodiment of a cap suitable for use with the example nozzle assembly embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a non-exclusive, example embodiment of a dispensing pouch assembly 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 to include a pouch 12 and a nozzle assembly 14. Although other configurations are possible and within the scope of this disclosure, pouch 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown to be formed of a pair of opposed panels 20 connected at the respective bottom and opposing side edges 22, 24 thereof to define an interior volume (generally indicated at 26). At the top end 30 of the pouch 12, a peripheral wall 32 from which extends an inwardly-protruding retaining lip 34 defines a circular opening 36 into the interior volume. As discussed in greater detail below, retaining lip 34 includes top and bottom surfaces 40, 42 adapted to form sealing faces with the nozzle assembly 14. The pouch 12 is also shown to include opposing shoulders 44 disposed to either side of the circular opening 36 that extend to the side edges 24 of the panels 20.

The pouch 12 is constructed of a flexible, distensible material, such as silicone, which may allow the opposed panels 20 to flex away from each other, such as when accommodating contents placed in the interior volume. In this manner, the resilience of the panels 20 may effectively enlarge the interior volume only when needed, resulting in a more compact shape when empty. Optionally, the resilience of the material or materials from which the pouch is formed may when the panels 20 are distended outward, impart a slight to moderate inward pressure on contents in the interior volume, which may reduce the amount of pressure a user would otherwise need to apply to the exterior of the pouch 12 in order to dispense contents therein, such as through the circular opening 36 or the nozzle assembly 14 positioned in the circular opening.

Nozzle assembly 14 is shown to include a nozzle 50 having a top end 52, a bottom end 54, and an interior port 56 formed therethrough. A radial flange 58 extends outward from the bottom end 54, and has a peripheral upper edge portion 60 shown to engage the bottom surface 42 (and more particularly, a first sealing face formed thereby) of the retaining lip 34 of the pouch 12. A gasket 70 encircles nozzle 50 and includes a top face 72 and a stepped bottom face 74, an interior portion of which abuts the radial flange 58 of the nozzle, and a peripheral portion of which, indicated at 76, engages the top surface 40 (and more particularly, a second sealing face formed thereby) of the retaining lip 34 of the pouch 12. In other words, the radial flange of the nozzle 50 and the peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the gasket 70 sandwich the retaining lip 34 of the pouch, forming a fluid-tight seal therewith. In some embodiments, the stepped cross-section of the gasket 70 accommodates the thickness of the ip 34, and/or may facilitate limited compression of the lip such as due to opposing forces from the radial flange 58 and/or the peripheral portion 76 of the gasket 70, as explained in further detail below.

A retaining collar 80 is engaged in an interference fit with the nozzle 50, such as by means of an interior threaded surface 82 of the retaining collar 80 in rotational engagement with a corresponding exterior threaded surface 84 of the nozzle 50. So configured, the rotational interference fit allows the retaining collar 80 to be selectively translated toward or away from the radial flange 58, and thus may allow both removal of the retaining collar 80 from the nozzle 50, and tightening against the gasket 70 to bias the gasket downward against while biasing the radial flange 58 upward against the lower surface 42 of the retaining lip 34. However, other means of providing an interference fit are possible, such as a twist-lock, a friction fit, and so forth.

The various components of the nozzle assembly 14 may be fabricated from any suitable material or materials, such as one or more suitably rigid plastics, harder rubber or elastomeric materials, and so forth. For example, the nozzle 50, in prototype embodiments, is generally formed from PVC, the gasket 70 from a suitable rubber, etc.

The retaining collar 80 is thus adapted to urge the gasket 70 and radial flange 58, respectively, against the sealing faces of the upper and lower surfaces 40, 42 of lip 34, thereby restricting exit of flowable contents disposed in the interior volume 26 to the interior port 56 of nozzle 50.

So configured, the nozzle assembly 14 is selectively removable from the pouch 12, such as by distending the circular opening 36. FIG. 3 shows an example method of removing the nozzle 50 from the pouch 12. First, the peripheral wall 32 may be pulled away from the radial flange 58, as indicated by arrow A. Distending the circular opening 36 in this manner allows the radial flange 58 to be moved out of a position in which the peripheral upper edge portion 60 thereof is retained by the retaining lip 34, permitting the nozzle 50 to be removed from the circular opening 36, as indicated by arrow B.

As such, with reference to FIG. 2, the nozzle assembly 50 can be seen to prevent distension of the circular opening 36 while the gasket 70 and radial flange 58 (or, more particularly, while the peripheral portion 76 of the gasket 70 and the peripheral upper edge portion 60 of the radial flange 58) are engaged with the lip 34 (or, more particularly, with the sealing faces of the upper and lower surfaces 40, 42 of the lip 34), such as due to the friction and/or compression fit achieved thereby. In other words, in the illustrated configuration, capturing the retaining lip 34 between components of the nozzle assembly 14 prevents removal thereof from the pouch 12, until the retaining tip is released therefrom. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the engagement of the gasket 70 and radial flange 58 may be selectively tightened or otherwise adjusted by means of the retaining collar 80, which also provides an example manner by which the nozzle assembly may be disassembled, such as to facilitate removal of the nozzle 50 from the pouch 12 as described above. In particular, retaining collar 80 may be unthreaded or otherwise removed from nozzle 50, allowing removal of the gasket 70, and subsequent removal of the nozzle 50 as shown in FIG. 3.

Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing pouch assembly 10 is shown to include a cap 90 removably engaged with the nozzle. The cap may be adapted to achieve a fluid tight fit with the top end 52 of the nozzle 50, such as to prevent unintended exit of flowable contents in the pouch 12 through the interior port 56 while the cap is engaged.

Cap 90, in FIG. 2, is shown to include an inner wall 92 configured to engage the nozzle 52 in a friction fit. However, this configuration is not required to embodiments. For example, FIG. 4 shows an alter alternative configuration of a nozzle assembly, indicated as 114 to indicate correspondence with nozzle assembly 14. Following this convention, other elements and features of nozzle assembly 114 are indicated by 3-digit reference numbers (such as pouch 112, panel 120) to represent correspondence with elements and features discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1-3 and indicated with corresponding 2-digit reference numbers (such as pouch 12, panel etc.). The correspondence generally indicates, but does not required, similar properties and characteristics to the elements and components discussed above, except where discussed otherwise.

For example, in FIG. 4, nozzle assembly 114 captures retaining lip 176 of pouch 112 by means of nozzle 150 and gasket 170 held by retaining collar 180. However, cap 190 engages nozzle 150 in a threaded fit, by means of a threaded inner wall 192 of cap 190 engaging a correspondingly threaded top end 152 of nozzle 150. Such a mechanical interfit may provide a measure of security against inadvertent dislodging of the cap from the nozzle, such as due to an impact force to the cap, forces applied to the pouch urging contents disposed within toward the nozzle, and so forth.

In FIG. 1, cap 90 is shown to include an exterior surface 94 having a simple ribbed texture, but it is within the scope of this disclosure that the configuration of the cap and/or exterior surface thereof may be shaped or textured to facilitate removal.

For example, FIG. 5 shows an example variant configuration as cap 290, which is shaped to have an array of flanges or ribs 202 protruding radially from a substantially cylindrical inner portion 204. FIG. 6 shows another example variant configuration as cap 390, which is shown to have a substantially spherical shape, and an exterior surface 394 featuring an arrangement of nubs 306. Such variations may facilitate removal of the cap, such as enabling a user to hold the pouch and remove the cap easily or even one-handedly or in other words with the fingers of the same hand that is holding the pouch. Optionally, such example variant configurations (and/or others) may make the cap more “child-friendly.” Alternatively, other cap configurations may be configured to be more “child-proof,” and so forth.

So configured, the example dispensing pouch assemblies discussed above may be used in a fairly straightforward manner, for storage and dispensing of flowable contents. To fill the pouch 12, the nozzle assembly 14 is removed as discussed above with reference to FIG. 3, and the flowable contents are placed in the pouch 12, such as by spooning, scooping, pouring, etc., generally with the pouch in an upright position. The comparatively wide mouth of the pouch may facilitate this process, and the flexibility of the material(s) from which the pouch is fabricated may distend to accommodate the volume. To attach the nozzle assembly 14, the process described above with respect to its removal is reversed; that is, the circular opening 36 may be distended in order to insert the nozzle 50 so that the radial flange 58 is partially captured by the retaining lip 34.

In some embodiments, the configuration of the nozzle assembly 14 may allow the radial flange 58 to be inserted while the nozzle assembly 12 is loosely assembled (for example, with the gasket 70 encircling the nozzle 50 and the retaining collar 80 only partially threaded on to the nozzle 50), in which case after insertion the retaining collar 80 may be threaded downward toward the gasket 70 to tighten the gasket and radial flange against the sealing faces of the retaining lip 34. However, a user may find it easier to disassemble the nozzle assembly 14 be ore inserting the radial flange 58, then reassemble the nozzle assembly once the radial flange is inserted, for the same result.

Once the nozzle assembly is attached, the radial flange and gasket engage the sealing faces of the retaining lip in a fluid-tight fit, restricting exit of flowable contents to the interior port 56 of the nozzle 50. The flowable contents may be dispensed through the nozzle by squeezing or otherwise applying pressure to the exterior of the pouch 12, or exit may be prevented by attaching cap 90.

After use, the pouch 12 may be emptied and/or cleaned of residual contents by re noving the nozzle assembly as described above, and rinsing and/or washing the interior of the pouch. Again, the comparatively wide mouth of the pouch may facilitate this process, such as by allowing a cleaning brush into the interior volume, and so forth. in some configurations, the pouch may be sufficiently flexible and resilient, and properly dimensioned, to be able to be turned inside-out, exposing the interior surface thereof, such as for easier hand-washing or even cleaning in a dishwasher. One or more components of the nozzle assembly 14 may also be washed, however, the aforementioned configuration prevents the gasket and retaining collar to come into contact with the contents of the pouch while in use.

Although not required to all embodiments, FIG. 1 shows a straw 98 having an exterior diameter dimensioned to sit within the interior port 56 of the nozzle 50 in a friction fit, and a length sized to extend downward into the interior volume 26 toward the bottom edge 22 of the pouch. So positioned, the straw 98 may facilitate dispensing of flowable contents within the interior volume regardless of the physical orientation of the pouch 12. The straw 98 is of simple construction, fabricated from a suitable material such as any of a variety of plastics, and may be provided in a commercial embodiment as an optional component that the user may decide whether or not to utilize, when using the dispensing pouch assembly 10.

As rioted above, the construction and configuration of pouch 12 is not particularly limited. As shown, pouch 12 is formed in one piece, from a flexible material such as silicone, but it is within the scope of this disclosure that the pouch may be of composite construction and/or fabricated from other materials. Also, the dimensions, relative dimensional ratios, angles, and other physical characteristics of the pouch may vary from as shown. Pouch 12 is shown to be of a “wide-mouth” configuration, such as to facilitate emptying, cleaning, refilling, and so forth, and may thus include a circular opening 36 dimensioned to receive, for example, a standard soup spoon. Thus, “wide-mouth” may indicate that the circular opening is dimensioned to accommodate such objects. In terms of actual measurernents, the circular opening may have a diameter in the range of 1-3 inches. In prototype embodiments, a circular opening approximately 2 inches in diameter is used.

However, other dimensions or dimensional ranges are possible. “Wide-mouth” may also indicate that the size of the circular opening is comparatively much larger than that of the interior port 56 of the nozzle 50. For example, the diameter of the interior port in prototype embodiments is approximately ¼″ to ⅜″ inches, resulting in a diameter ratio of the nozzle to that of the circular opening of about 1:5.5 to 1:8. However, this ratio may range from 1:4 to 1:10 in other embodiments consistent with this disclosure, or other ranges may be used, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Although the aforementioned discussion and drawings show various configurations of a dispensing pouch assembly that includes a pouch 12 and a nozzle 14 configured to be removably engaged with the opening of the pouch, in some embodiments, only a nozzle assembly 14 may be provided for use with a container having a circular opening defined by a peripheral wall and an inwardly-protruding lip disposed thereon. For example, such a nozzle assembly 14 may be sold as a replacement nozzle assembly for a dispensing pouch assembly. Optionally, such a nozzle assembly may be provided as a retrofit for another size or style of container, such as a bottle, a jar, another pouch, and so forth, or essentially any tape of container with the above-described manner of circular opening. The nozzle assembly in such embodiments may be configured as shown in FIGS. 1-4; that is, having a nozzle 50, a gasket 70, and a retaining collar 80, with the components dimensioned to provide a fluid-tight seal with the inwardly-protruding lip of the container, thereby permitting exit of contents in the container volume only through the port of the nozzle 50.

Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles acid illustrated examples and embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dispensing pouch assembly, comprising: a flexible and distensible pouch having a pair of opposed panels connected at the respective bottom and opposing side edges thereof to define an interior volume, with the top edges of the panels forming a circular opening into the interior volume and opposing shoulders disposed to either side of the circular opening and extending to the side edges of the panels, with the circular opening defined by a peripheral wall and an inwardly-protruding retaining lip disposed at the top end thereof, the retaining lip having a first sealing face on the bottom surface thereof and a second sealing face on the top surface thereof;a nozzle assembly including: a nozzle having a top end, a bottom end, and an interior port formed therethrough, the bottom end having a radial flange disposed in the circular opening with a peripheral upper edge portion of the radial flange engaged with the first sealing face in a fluid-tight fit;a gasket encircling the nozzle and having an upper and a lower face, with a peripheral portion of the lower face engaged with the second sealing face in a fluid-tight fit; anda retaining collar engaged in an interference fit with the nozzle adapted to urge the gasket and the radial flange, respectively, against the first and second sealing faces;wherein the nozzle assembly is adapted to permit exit of flowable contents disposed in the interior volume only through the port.

2. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly is selectively removable from the pouch.

3. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 2, wherein the nozzle assembly is selectively removable from the pouch by means of distending the circular opening to release the radial flange therefrom.

4. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 3, wherein the nozzle assembly is adapted to prevent distension of the circular opening while the gasket and radial flange are engaged with the first and second sealing faces.

5. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 1, wherein the interference fit of the retaining collar with the nozzle is adapted to permit selective adjustment of the position of the retaining collar on the nozzle.

6. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 5, wherein the nozzle includes exterior threads and the retaining collar includes corresponding interior threads, and wherein the interference fit is accomplished by rotational engagement of the respective threads.

7. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 5, wherein the interference fit of the retaining collar with the nozzle is adapted to permit selective removal of the retaining collar from the nozzle.

8. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 1, further including a cap removably engageable with the nozzle and adapted, when engaged with the nozzle, to prevent exit of flowable contents through the port.

9. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 8, wherein cap is engageable with the nozzle in a friction fit.

10. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 8, wherein cap is engageable with the nozzle in a threaded fit.

11. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 8, wherein one or more of the cap configuration and the cap exterior surface is shaped or textured to facilitate removal.

12. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 1, further including a straw removably engageablewith at least the bottom portion of the port and adapted, when engaged therewith, to extend toward the bottom edges of the interior volume of the pouch.

13. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 1 wherein the pouch is formed in one piece.

14. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 1, wherein pouch is formed from silicone.

15. The dispensing pouch asseMbly of claim 1, wherein the circular opening has a diameter sized to accommodate a standard soup spoon.

16. The dispensing pouch assembly of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the diameter of port at the top end of the nozzle to the diameter of the circular opening is within a range of 1:4 to 1:10.

17. The dispensing pouch assembly of clam 16, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the port at the top end of the nozzle to the diameter of the circular opening is within a range of 1:6 to 1:8.

18. A nozzle assembly for use with a container having a circular opening defined by a peripheral wall and an inwardly-protruding retaining lip disposed thereon, the nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle having a top end, a bottom end, and a port formed therethrough, the bottom end having a radial flange configured to he disposed within the circular opening with a peripheral upper edge portion of the radial flange engaged with a bottom surface of the retaining lip;a gasket encircling the nozzle and having an upper and a lower face, with a peripheral portion of the lower face configured to engage a top surface of the retaining lip;a retaining collar threadedly engaged in a rotational interference fit with the nozzle adapted to urge the gasket and the radial flange, respectively, against the bottom and top surfaces of the retaining lip;wherein the nozzle assembly is adapted to permit exit of contents disposed in the container volume only through the port.

19. The nozzle assembly of claim 18, wherein the radial flange and gasket are adapted to engage the bottom and top surfaces of the retaining lip, respectively, in a fluid-tight fit.

20. A dispensing pouch assembly, comprising: a flexible and distensible pouch defining an interior volume and a circular opening into the interior volume, the circular opening having a first diameter and including an inwardly-protruding retaining lip having upper and lower surfaces;a nozzle defining an interior port extending from a bottom end to a top end thereof, the interior port having a second diameter, and the bottom end having a radial flange extending from the port to engage the lower surface of the retaining lip;a gasket encircling the nozzle and having an upper face and a lower face, with the lower face engaged with the top surface of the retaining lip;a retaining collar threadedly engaged in a rotational interference fit with the exterior surface of the nozzle, the retaining collar abutting the upper face of the gasket, the rotational interference fit adapted to bias the gasket downward while biasing the radial flange upward against the lower surface of the retaining lip;wherein the ratio of the second diameter to the first diameter is within a range of 1:6 to 1:8: