US5259844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible container
Assignee: Nestec SA
•
Filing: 1992-04-30
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Granted: 1993-11-09
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Expires: 2012-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A container is provided for housing a fluid comprising a pair of flexible plastic walls, one of the plastic walls defining a front face and one of the plastic walls defining a back face. The plastic walls are secured together around a periphery thereof by a peripheral seal thereby defining an interior. An access member is located at an end of the container for allowing one to access a fluid contained within the interior. A fill port is located on a front face for allowing access to the interior of the container so that the interior can receive a fluid. The back and front face are sealed along a seal line located within the interior of the container in juxtaposition to the fill port. In an embodiment, the peripheral seal has a substantially Ω shape. A method for filling a container with fluid is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold C. Bilstad
- 👤 Jerre T. Kachmar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J1/00; A61J1/05; A61J1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A container for housing a fluid comprising: a pair of flexible plastic walls, one of the plastic walls defining a front face and one of the plastic walls defining a back face, the plastic walls being secured together around a periphery thereof by a peripheral seal thereby defining an interior; an access member located at an end of the container for allowing one to access a fluid contained within the interior; a fill port located on a front face for allowing access to the interior so that the interior can receive a fluid; and the back and front face being sealed along a seal line located within the interior substantially within the peripheral seal, in juxtaposition to the fill port and so constructed and arranged to reduce stress on a seal between the fill port and the back face of the container after the container has received fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A container for housing a fluid comprising: a pair of flexible plastic walls, one of the plastic walls defining a front face and one of the plastic walls defining a back face, the plastic walls being secured together around a periphery thereof by a peripheral seal thereby defining an interior; an access member located at an end of the container for allowing one to access a fluid contained within the interior; a fill port located on a front face for allowing access to the interior so that the interior can receive a fluid; and the back and front face being sealed along a seal line located within the interior substantially within the peripheral seal, in juxtaposition to the fill port and so constructed and arranged to reduce stress on a seal between the fill port and the back face of the container after the container has received fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container of claim 1 wherein the fill port includes a sealing diaphragm that is ruptured to provide access to the interior of the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The container of claim 1 wherein the seal line extends from a top of the peripheral seal in two lines to opposite sides of the peripheral seal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The container of claim 1 wherein the peripheral seal line has a substantially Ω shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The container of claim 1 wherein the seal line is defined, at least in part, by a pair of legs extending from opposite sides of the peripheral seal, the legs defining an opening therebetween allowing fluid to flow from the fill port into a majority of the interior of the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of claim 5 including a further seal line located between the legs and dividing the opening into at least two openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container of claim 5 wherein one of the pair of legs has a substantially L shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 1 wherein the seal line is created by heat sealing a portion of the front face to the back face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
177 words
A container for housing a fluid comprising: a pair of flexible plastic walls, one of the plastic walls defining a front face and one of said plastic walls defining a back face, the plastic walls being secured together around a periphery thereof by a peripheral seal that defines an interior; an access member located at an end of the container for allowing one to access a fluid contained within the interior; a fill port located on a front face for allowing access to the interior so as to allow a fluid to be fed into the interior of the container, the fill port being sealable to the back face to create a circular seal around the fill port after the container receives fluid; and a seal line between the back and front face extending through a portion of the interior and from a top end of the peripheral seal to a first and a second side of the peripheral seal on each side of the fill port and substantially surrounding the circular seal when it is created.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
177 words
A container for housing a fluid comprising: a pair of flexible plastic walls, one of the plastic walls defining a front face and one of said plastic walls defining a back face, the plastic walls being secured together around a periphery thereof by a peripheral seal that defines an interior; an access member located at an end of the container for allowing one to access a fluid contained within the interior; a fill port located on a front face for allowing access to the interior so as to allow a fluid to be fed into the interior of the container, the fill port being sealable to the back face to create a circular seal around the fill port after the container receives fluid; and a seal line between the back and front face extending through a portion of the interior and from a top end of the peripheral seal to a first and a second side of the peripheral seal on each side of the fill port and substantially surrounding the circular seal when it is created.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container of claim 9 wherein the fill port includes a sealing diaphragm that is ruptured to provide access to the interior of the container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The container of claim 9 wherein the peripheral seal has a substantially Ω shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The container of claim 9 wherein the seal line is defined, at least in part, by a pair of legs extending from a top of the peripheral seal, the legs defining an opening therebetween allowing fluid to flow from the fill port into a majority of the interior of the container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of claim 12 including a further seal line located between the legs and dividing the opening into at least two openings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 9 wherein the seal line is created by heat sealing a portion of the front face to the back face.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 9 wherein the seal line includes, in part, portions that extend perpendicularly from the top end of the peripheral seal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The container of claim 9 wherein the seal line includes, in part, portions that extend at an angle from the top end of the peripheral seal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 9 wherein the seal line includes, in part, portions that extend parallel to the top end of the peripheral seal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
166 words
A container for housing a fluid comprising: a pair of flexible plastic walls, one of the plastic walls defining a front face and one of the plastic walls defining a back face, the plastic walls being secured together around a periphery thereof by a peripheral seal thereby defining an interior; an access member for allowing one to access a fluid contained within the interior; a fill port located on a front face for allowing access to the interior so that the interior can receive a fluid; and the back and front face being sealed along a seal line located within the interior in juxtaposition to the fill port and so constructed and arranged to reduce stress on a seal between the fill port and the back face of the container after the container has received fluid, the seal line is defined, at least in part, by a pair of legs extending from opposite sides of the peripheral seal, the legs defining at least one opening therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
166 words
A container for housing a fluid comprising: a pair of flexible plastic walls, one of the plastic walls defining a front face and one of the plastic walls defining a back face, the plastic walls being secured together around a periphery thereof by a peripheral seal thereby defining an interior; an access member for allowing one to access a fluid contained within the interior; a fill port located on a front face for allowing access to the interior so that the interior can receive a fluid; and the back and front face being sealed along a seal line located within the interior in juxtaposition to the fill port and so constructed and arranged to reduce stress on a seal between the fill port and the back face of the container after the container has received fluid, the seal line is defined, at least in part, by a pair of legs extending from opposite sides of the peripheral seal, the legs defining at least one opening therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container of claim 18 wherein the fill port includes a sealing diaphragm that is ruptured to provide access to the interior of the container.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The container of claim 18 wherein the peripheral seal line has a substantially Ω shape.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-08 | 1997-05-10 | 1997-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-08 | 2001-05-10 | 2001-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-08 | 2005-05-10 | 2005-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |