US4387749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filler sleeve for use in conjunction with a bag adapted to contain a granular product
Assignee: Stone Container Corp
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Filing: 1981-09-08
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Granted: 1983-06-14
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Expires: 2001-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A filler sleeve is disclosed for use in conjunction with a bag adapted to contain a powder, fibrous, flake or granular product. More specifically, a filler sleeve is disclosed comprised of an elongated tubular member which is connected to the top end of the bag. The tubular member includes an open end which is contiguous with a filler opening provided in the top end of the bag. The opposed end of the tubular member is heat sealed or locked by folding. A longitudinally extending slit is provided in the tubular member disposed on the bottom surface thereof. In use, when the bag is filled by introducing the product by air flow or by gravity, through a filler nozzle which is inserted into the filler opening and into the tubular member, the product is deflected downwardly into the bag thereby inhibiting the likelihood of blowout of the side panels. Preferably, the tubular member is formed from a stretchable material such as polyethylene, so that during the filling of the bag the flow of the product stretches the material. By this arrangement, when the filling is completed, and the bag is inverted, the side edges of the slit, which have been stretched, overlap and the weight of the product functions to maintain the overlapping relationship thereby preventing the unwanted escape of the product from the bag.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick A. Donisi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D31/00; B65D31/14; B65D31/142; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7879; Y10T137/788; Y10T137/7882
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A filler sleeve for use in conjunction with a bag adapted to contain a granular-type product, said bag having an elongated tubular configuration including top and bottom ends, with the bottom end of said bag being closed and with the top end thereof including a filler opening, said filler sleeve comprising: an elongated tubular member disposed within said bag and connected to said top end thereof, said tubular member having an open end contiguous with said filler opening in said top end of said bag and with the opposed end of said tubular member being closed, said tubular member further including a slit, disposed on the bottom surface of said tubular member, opposed to the top end of said bag, whereby when said bag is filled by introducing said product, through said filler opening, into said tubular member under pressure, said tubular member permits the deflection of the product downwardly into said bag through said slit, and wherein when the filling of said bag is completed, it may be inverted such that the weight of said product on said tubular member functions to close said slit thereby preventing the unwanted escape of said product from said bag.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A filler sleeve for use in conjunction with a bag adapted to contain a granular-type product, said bag having an elongated tubular configuration including top and bottom ends, with the bottom end of said bag being closed and with the top end thereof including a filler opening, said filler sleeve comprising: an elongated tubular member disposed within said bag and connected to said top end thereof, said tubular member having an open end contiguous with said filler opening in said top end of said bag and with the opposed end of said tubular member being closed, said tubular member further including a slit, disposed on the bottom surface of said tubular member, opposed to the top end of said bag, whereby when said bag is filled by introducing said product, through said filler opening, into said tubular member under pressure, said tubular member permits the deflection of the product downwardly into said bag through said slit, and wherein when the filling of said bag is completed, it may be inverted such that the weight of said product on said tubular member functions to close said slit thereby preventing the unwanted escape of said product from said bag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein said slit in said tubular member extends parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, from said closed end to a point intermediate the length thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein said tubular member is formed from a stretchable material such that during the pressurized filling of said bag, said material stretches whereby when said filling is completed and said bag is inverted, the portions of said tubular member defining said slit overlap to prevent the unwanted escape of said product from said bag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 3 wherein said tubular member is formed from polyethylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 4 wherein the thickness of the polyethylene, forming said tubular member, is about 0.0015 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 1 further including a reinforcing backing member adhesively connected to the top surface of said tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 6 wherein said reinforcing backing member is further connected to the inner top surface of said bag.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 6 wherein the end of said reinforcing backing member, adjacent said closed end of said tubular member, is folded into a dual ply configuration along with said tubular member, whereby said closed end of said tubular member is structurally reinforced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 8 wherein the side edges of said reinforcing backing paper, adjacent the side edges of said tubular member, are folded into a dual ply configuration to provide added reinforcement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
242 words
A filler sleeve for use in conjunction with a bag adapted to contain a granular-type product, said bag having an elongated tubular configuration including top and bottom ends, with the bottom end of said bag being closed and with the top end thereof including a filler opening, said filler sleeve comprising: and elongated tubular member formed from a stretchable material, said tubular member being disposed within said bag and connected to the top end thereof, said tubular member having an open end contiguous with said filler opening in said top end of said bag, and with the opposed end of said tubular member being closed, said tubular member further including a longitudinally extending slit running from said closed end of said tubular member to a point intermediate the length thereof, said slit being disposed on the bottom surface of said tubular member opposed to the top end of said bag, whereby when said bag is filled by introducing said products, through said filler opening into said tubular member under pressure, said tubular member stretches, and simultaneously permits the deflection of the product downwardly into said bag through said slit, and wherein when the filling of said bag is completed, the bag may be inverted such that the portions of said tubular member defining said slit overlap and the weight of said product on said tubular member functions to securely close said slit thereby preventing unwanted escape of said product from said bag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
242 words
A filler sleeve for use in conjunction with a bag adapted to contain a granular-type product, said bag having an elongated tubular configuration including top and bottom ends, with the bottom end of said bag being closed and with the top end thereof including a filler opening, said filler sleeve comprising: and elongated tubular member formed from a stretchable material, said tubular member being disposed within said bag and connected to the top end thereof, said tubular member having an open end contiguous with said filler opening in said top end of said bag, and with the opposed end of said tubular member being closed, said tubular member further including a longitudinally extending slit running from said closed end of said tubular member to a point intermediate the length thereof, said slit being disposed on the bottom surface of said tubular member opposed to the top end of said bag, whereby when said bag is filled by introducing said products, through said filler opening into said tubular member under pressure, said tubular member stretches, and simultaneously permits the deflection of the product downwardly into said bag through said slit, and wherein when the filling of said bag is completed, the bag may be inverted such that the portions of said tubular member defining said slit overlap and the weight of said product on said tubular member functions to securely close said slit thereby preventing unwanted escape of said product from said bag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 10 wherein said tubular member is formed from polyethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 10 further including a reinforcing backing member adhesively connected to the top surface of said tubular member, said reinforcing backing member being further connected to the inner top surface of said bag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 12 wherein the end of said reinforcing backing member, adjacent said closed end of said tubular member, is folded into a dual ply configuration along with said tubular member whereby said closed end of said tubular member is structurally reinforced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A filler sleeve as recited in claim 13 wherein the side edges of reinforcing backing paper, adjacent the side edges of said tubular member, are folded into a dual ply configuration to provide added reinforcement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3517682A
Cited
US4091986A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |