Spout for ensuring evacuation of a flexible container

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a spout having an evacuation structure for a flexible container. The evacuation structure ensures that the walls of the flexible container do not block the spout of the container during evacuation of fluid from inside the container. The evacuation structure additionally pivots away from the spout during the filling of the container so that the evacuation structure does not impede the fluid entering the container during filling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a spout and a container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an evacuation structure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an evacuation structure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an evacuation structure according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of an evacuation structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

FIG. 1 shows a spout 10 in fluid communication with a flexible container 12 of the present invention. The spout 10 comprises a base 14, a passageway 18, and an evacuation structure 26. The base 14 is connected to one of a plurality of walls 16 of the flexible container 12. The spout 10 is generally centrally disposed on the base 14, the spout 10 extending in a perpendicular direction from the base 14. The passageway 18 within the spout 10 allows for fluid communication with the inside of the flexible container 20. The passageway 18 has a top end 22 and a bottom end 24. The passageway 18 is substantially perpendicular to the base 14. The evacuation structure 26 is connected to the bottom end 24 of the passageway 18 by a pivotal or flexible connection 30. The evacuation structure 26 as shown in FIG. 2 is substantially parallel to the base 14 of the spout 10.

Initially, the flexible container 12 is filled with fluid through the spout 10. The pivotal connection 30 of the evacuation structure 26 allows it to flex away from the spout 10 when the flexible container 12 is filled with fluid. This is shown by the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3. Thus, the pivoting of the evacuation structure 26 ensures the evacuation structure 26 will not obstruct the flow of the fluid, inhibiting the filling of the flexible container 12. In addition, because the evacuation structure 26 is flexibly movable, it will not break off under the force of the fluid during filling.

During evacuation of the fluid, the evacuation structure 26 will pivot back towards the spout 10, ensuring that the walls 16 of the flexible container 12 will not inhibit the fluid from evacuating. The flow of the evacuating fluid will cause the evacuation structure 26 to return to its original position or close enough to the spout 10 so the evacuation structure 26 will prohibit the walls 16 of the flexible container 12 from blocking the spout 10 during evacuation.

Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the pivotal connection 30 will have memory. After filling and before evacuation of the flexible container 12, the memory of the pivotal connection 30 will cause the evacuation structure 26 to pivot back towards the spout 10.

The evacuation structure 26 will prohibit the walls 16 of the flexible container 12 from entering the passageway 18 when the flexible container 12 is evacuated. The evacuation structure 26 ensures that the fluid is not blocked from entering the spout 10 during evacuation by the walls 16 of the flexible container 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, the evacuation structure 26 comprises at least one crosshair 28. At least one end of one crosshair 28 is pivotally connected 30 to the bottom end 24 of the passageway 18.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the evacuation structure 26 comprises at least two crosshairs 28. The crosshairs 28 overlapping one another so that both can be pivoted away from the spout 10.

The crosshairs 28 could have a circular cross-sectional area, a rectangular cross-sectional area, or a variety of other shapes. The crosshairs 28 extend across the bottom of the passageway 24 so that each end of the crosshairs 28 is proximate the spout 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the evacuation structure 26 comprises two members 28 which are substantially perpendicular to each other and are connected at the point where they overlap. One end of one member 28 is pivotally connected 30 to the bottom end 24 of the passageway 18 of the spout 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, in another embodiment of the present invention, the evacuation structure 26 comprises at least two members 28. The members 28 are substantially parallel to one another. The parallel members 28 can have substantially the same length as one another, or the members 28 can have varying lengths.

As shown in FIG. 5, in another embodiment of the present invention, the evacuation structure 26 is a substantially flat permeable plate 32. The permeable plate 32 has a periphery 34, and at least one point on the periphery 34 is pivotally connected 30 to the bottom end 24 of the passageway 18 of the spout 10. It should be understood that the permeable plate 32 could have a concave or convex shape to it.

It should be appreciated that a number of other embodiments of the present invention would perform the same functions of the present invention. The present invention provides an evacuation structure 26 that will prohibit the walls 16 of the flexible container 12 from entering the passageway 18 during evacuation, thereby inhibiting the fluid evacuation. The present invention also provides an evacuation structure 26 which will not impede the filling of the flexible containers 12.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. A spout connected in fluid communication to a flexible container, the spout comprising: a base being connected to one of a plurality of walls of the flexible container, wherein the spout is generally centrally disposed on base, and the spout extends in a perpendicular direction from the base;a passageway within the spout in fluid communication with the inside of the flexible container, the passageway having a top end and a bottom end, the passageway being substantially perpendicular to the base; and,an evacuation structure pivotally connected to the bottom end of the passageway, substantially parallel to the base, the evacuation structure pivoting away from the spout when the flexible container is filled through the spout with fluid, and the evacuation structure pivoting back towards the spout during evacuation of the fluid, ensuring that the walls of the flexible container do not prohibit the fluid from evacuating.

2. The spout of claim 1, wherein the pivotal connection has a memory such that after filling, the memory causes the evacuation structure to pivot back towards the spout.

3. The spout of claim 1, wherein the evacuation structure prohibits the walls of the flexible container from entering the passageway when the flexible container is evacuated.

4. The spout of claim 1, wherein the evacuation structure comprises at least one crosshair, the crosshair having two members, and at least one end of one member is pivotally connected to the bottom end of the passageway.

5. The spout of claim 4 wherein the evacuation structure comprises at least two crosshairs, the crosshairs overlapping with one another.

6. The spout of claim 1, wherein the evacuation structure is a substantially flat permeable plate, the permeable plate having a periphery, at least one point on the periphery being pivotally connected to the bottom end of the passageway.

7. A spout connected in fluid communication to a flexible container, the spout comprising: a base being connected to the flexible container, wherein the spout is generally centrally disposed on the base, and the spout extends in a perpendicular direction from the base;a passageway allowing for fluid communication with the flexible container, the passageway having a top end and a bottom end, the passageway being substantially perpendicular to the base; and,an evacuation assistance structure pivotally connected to the bottom end of the passageway, generally parallel to the base, the evacuation structure pivoting away from the spout when the flexible container is filled through the spout with fluid, the pivotal connection having a memory such that after filling, the memory causes the evacuation structure to pivot back towards the spout after filling.

8. The spout of claim 7, wherein the evacuation structure prohibits the walls of the flexible container from entering the passageway when the flexible container is evacuated.