Patent Application
20180170624
The disclosure relates in general to a cap assembly, and more particularly, to a self sealing bag in box cap assembly. Such a cap assembly is used in association with the dispensing of flowable material from a bag.
Self sealing bags have become increasingly useful, especially in the food packaging industry. One current system utilizes a flexible bag having a spout to which a Sentry cap available from Scholle Corporation is affixed. A separate hose is provided which has at a first end a probe and at a second end a connector available from Erie Plastics with a flexible membrane. One such membrane is available from LMS of Illinois. The probe is inserted into the opening of the Sentry cap and the other end is affixed to a distribution hose so that flowable material can be withdrawn from the flexible bag through the Sentry Cap and to the distribution hose. One such system is shown in
Among other drawbacks, such a system requires many separate components which increase the cost of use of such a system. Additionally, with such a system, many connections are utilized, each of which is susceptible to failure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved self sealing bag in box system with an improved cap assembly.
These objects as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.
The disclosure is directed to a cap assembly wherein the cap assembly comprises a body, a sealing membrane and a retaining ring. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface. A spout engagement channel is positioned on the bottom surface. An opening is provided through the body and includes a recessed circumferential channel and a membrane engaging flange positioned proximate the recessed circumferential channel.
The sealing membrane covers the opening and includes a body engaging flange and a pierceable surface. The sealing membrane is positioned upon the membrane engaging flange so that the body engaging flange and the membrane engaging flange are in overlying engagement.
The retaining ring includes a tab, a sealing membrane engagement surface and an inner wall structure opposite the sealing membrane engagement surface. The retaining ring is positioned with the sealing membrane engagement surface in overlying engagement with the sealing membrane. Extension of the tab into the recessed circumferential channel of the body releasably maintains said overlying engagement and biases the retaining ring against the membrane. The inner wall structure of the retaining ring extends radially inward beyond the membrane engaging flange of the sealing membrane, to in turn, protect the membrane.
In a preferred embodiment, the cap assembly further includes a cap which is removably coupled to the body. The cap is configured to preclude access to the opening and the sealing membrane when the cap assembly is in operable engagement with a bag.
In another preferred embodiment, the inner wall structure of the retaining ring includes an inwardly sloped surface.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the inwardly sloped surface is inclined at an acute angle.
Preferably, the recessed circumferential groove is spaced apart from a top surface of the cap.
In a preferred embodiment, the opening further includes an upper inwardly sloping wall portion positioned above the recessed circumferential channel. In certain embodiments, a lower inwardly sloping wall portion can be positioned below the membrane.
The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification and is not intended to be limited to the embodiment illustrated.
It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.
Referring now to the Figures, and in particular to
An exemplary spout 14 is shown in
An exemplary cap assembly 16 is shown in each of
The top surface includes circumferential cap sealing flange 56. The circumferential cap sealing flange 56 is typically employed when cap 46 is utilized. The cap 46 includes a similar sealing flange 56′ which together with the cap sealing flange 56 provides a hermetic seal when engaged. In embodiments wherein a membrane seal is utilized, the sealing flange 56 can be omitted, and the membrane seal can be sealed against the circumferential sealing surface 57 which is outboard of the location of the cap sealing flange.
The bottom surface 52 of the body 40 further includes spout engagement channel 58 which is configured to engage and retain a spout, such as spout 14 of the container 10. Generally, the seal is hermetic and results from the elastic deformation of each of the spout and the channel 58. The channel 58 is defined by inner circumferential flange 60 and outer circumferential flange 62 which are concentrically positioned with respect to the opening and with respect to each other. It will be understood that in many embodiments, the inner circumferential flange 60 forms the outer wall of the opening 54. In other embodiments, the outer wall of the opening may comprise a separate structure that is spaced apart from (but preferably concentric with) the circumferential flanges 60, 62.
Opening 54 is shown in
The sealing membrane 42 is shown in
In the embodiment shown, the pierceable surface comprises a silicone material which is flexible and which includes a predetermined number of slits extending therethrough. The slits are configured such that when a probe or tube is extended through the opening, and through the pierceable surface, the engagement surfaces of the slits sealingly engage against the outside of the probe or tube. Once removed, the slits re-engage each other to form a seal and to preclude passage of fluid through the opening. In certain embodiments, the pierceable surface may comprise a plurality of specifically positioned and configured slits that interact with each other. In other embodiments, the slits comprise a plurality of partially cut slits that are then torn or “completed” upon insertion of a probe or tube the first time (i.e., scored slits, or partially formed slits).
Retaining ring 44 comprises a hoop-like structure which has body engaging tab 80, sealing membrane engagement surface 82 and inner wall structure 84. The tab 80 is shown as comprising a projection extending outwardly about the outside perimeter of the retaining ring.
The tab 80 is configured to be insertable and restrainable within the recessed channel 67. With the tab inserted within the channel 67, the body engagement flange 70 of the sealing membrane 42 becomes compressed so as to form a fluid-tight seal between the base surface 76 of the sealing membrane 42 and the membrane engagement flange 66 of opening 54. In particular, the ring presses against the membrane so that its base surface presses against the membrane engaging flange and the ring surface 77 engages the seal membrane engagement surface 82. The natural resilience of the sealing membrane allows for the sealed engagement against the ring and the body. Typically, the seal membrane engagement surface includes a surface area which engages a similarly configured surface area on the membrane itself. The surface area of engagement is such that a significant seal can be created therebetween.
The inner wall structure 84 is configured to preclude damage to the membrane proximate the engagement of the membrane with the membrane engagement flange 66. Typically, the bags associated with the present cap assembly, when full, may have a weight of, for example 25 pounds or the like. As such, when dropped onto a probe-type dispenser that is designed to extend through the membrane, damage to the membrane is of heightened concern. It has been found that the potential for damage to the membrane is greatly reduced with the presently configured inner wall structure 84. The inner wall structure 84 includes a inwardly sloping protective flange 86 that extends over a portion of the membrane and extends radially inwardly beyond the inward projection of the membrane engagement flange 66.
In such a configuration, a downwardly projecting probe may hit the inner wall structure 84 which will direct the probe inwardly toward the membrane. As the probe is directed to the membrane, the engagement of the probe with the membrane occurs at a point that is spaced apart from the membrane engagement flange 66 and thus, an additional measure of give is observed. The inwardly sloping angle is configured to slope inwardly at an acute angle of approximately 20° to 50°, however, the invention is not limited thereto.
As set forth in
The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/797,567 filed Jul. 13, 2015, entitled “Self Sealing Bag In Box Cap Assembly” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/902,925 filed May 27, 2013, entitled “Self Sealing Bag In Box Cap Assembly” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/589,368 filed Oct. 22, 2009, entitled “Self Sealing Bag in Box Cap Assembly,” which claims priority from U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/196,969, filed Oct. 22, 2008, entitled “Self Sealing Bag in Box Cap Assembly”, the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61196969 | Oct 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14797567 | Jul 2015 | US |
| Child | 15846868 | US | |
| Parent | 13902925 | May 2013 | US |
| Child | 14797567 | US | |
| Parent | 12589368 | Oct 2009 | US |
| Child | 13902925 | US |
