Claims
- 1. A disposable liquid containing and dispensing package, comprising:
- a flexible bag comprising an upper and a lower bag wall;
- said upper and lower bag walls comprising a periphery and a middle portion;
- said upper bag wall comprising a spout positioned within said middle portion of said upper bag wall;
- said spout comprising a first side and a second side; and
- a dip strip attached to said upper bag wall on said first side of and spaced apart from said spout and attached to said middle portion of said upper bag wall on said second side of and spaced apart from said spout.
- 2. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip is attached to said upper bag wall at a predetermined distance from said spout.
- 3. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip is further attached to said periphery of said upper bag wall on said second side of said spout.
- 4. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip is attached to said periphery of said upper bag wall on said first side of said spout.
- 5. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip is attached to said middle portion of said upper bag wall on said first side of said spout.
- 6. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip is attached to said periphery of said upper bag wall on said first side of said spout and wherein said dip strip is further attached to said periphery of said upper bag wall on said second side of said spout.
- 7. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip is attached to said upper bag wall at a plurality of contact points.
- 8. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip comprises a flat base and a central ribbed portion.
- 9. The package of claim 8, wherein said central ribbed portion comprises essentially parallel ribs so as to provide a plurality of liquid passages.
- 10. The package of claim 8, wherein said central ribbed portion faces said upper bag wall.
- 11. The package of claim 8, wherein said dip strip further comprises a pair of flat ends.
- 12. The package of claim 11, wherein said flat ends comprise said flat base with said central ribbed portion removed.
- 13. The package of claim 11, wherein said flat ends are sealed between said bag walls at said periphery.
- 14. The package of claim 8, wherein said flat base of said dip strip is attached to said upper bag wall at one or more contact points.
- 15. The package of claim 14, wherein said one or more contact points comprise a pair of upper contact points.
- 16. The package of claim 14, wherein said one or more contact points comprise a pair of center contact points.
- 17. The package of claim 14, wherein said one or more contact points comprise a pair of lower contact points.
- 18. The package of claim 14, wherein said one or more contact points comprise a plurality of contact points and wherein said plurality of contact points are spaced apart from one another so as to allow fluid to pass between said plurality of said contact points to said dip strip.
- 19. The package of claim 1, wherein said bag walls and said dip strip comprise a plastic material.
- 20. The package of claim 19, wherein said dip strip is attached to said middle portion of said upper bag wall at one or more contact points.
- 21. The package of claim 20, wherein said contact points each comprise an area of fused plastic material.
- 22. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip comprises at least one elongated liquid passage thereon such that said elongated liquid passage is in liquid communication with said spout as said bag progressively collapses against said dip strip.
- 23. The package of claim 1, wherein said spout is located adjacent to said periphery at one end of said bag.
- 24. The package of claim 1, wherein said dip strip is extruded.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
Application Ser. No. 09/041,609, filed Mar. 13, 1998, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Maintaining a Fluid Pouch", is attached hereto as Exhibit A. This application is assigned to The Coca-Cola Company, the assignee of the present application. This application discloses a disposable liquid containing and dispensing package and also a method and an apparatus for its manufacture. This application is incorporated herein by reference. If this application is allowed, then Appendix A will be cancelled and reference to the allowed subject matter will be substituted as provided by MPEP .sctn.608.01 (p). If this application is not allowed or is abandoned, then such subject matter will be incorporated in the specification of this application by amendment.
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
(3) Photograph of a BIB bag manufactured in New Zealand by the Liquipac division of AEP. No Date. |