Container with tapered walls for heating or cooling fluids

Claim 1

A flexible container means adapted to be received by a frame means, having a cross member from which extends a pair of substantially parallel arm elements, and in which a liquid may be stored or through which a liquid may be circulated, said container means comprising a pair of walls including two relatively thin, generally flexible sheets of a polymeric material, a top edge, a bottom edge, a centrally located compartment for containing said liquid, an elongated sleeve adjoining each top and bottom edge of said compartment for receiving said arm elements, inlet means for introducing said liquid into said compartment and outlet means for withdrawing said liquid from said compartment, each of said sleeves having an inner edge and an outer edge, the straight-line distance between the outer edges of said sleeves on one side of the container means being greater than the straight-line distance between the outer edges of said sleeves along the opposing side of said container means, said container means further including means for dividing said compartment into a plurality of channels of substantially constant width for the flow of liquid therethrough, said means for dividing being tapered whereby any air bubbles entrapped within said compartment will flow with said liquid and be evacuated from said compartment upon withdrawal of said liquid through said outlet means.