Apparatus and method for generating pressures for a disposable container
First Claim
1. A self-generating pressure applying means which is inserted into a container means having material contained therein so as to apply a pressure on the material so that it may be readily dispensed from the container means comprising:
- an expandable pouch means for applying pressure to material in a container comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship and having a length and a width with said length having a greater linear extent than said width;
said expandable pouch means having a plurality of linearly extending edge portions;
permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween;
compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least three compartments in said expandable pouch means;
said compartment forming means comprising lengthwise extending strips, having end portions joining said sealed edge portions, of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets so that all of said compartments are completely closed;
said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto;
gas pressure generating means in one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that, as portions of the material are dispensed from said container, portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and a first next adjacent compartment so that said one compartment and said first next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment;
at least a second next adjacent compartment;
gas pressure generating means in said first next adjacent compartment cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said material is dispensed from said container means to apply pressure to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment so that said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a larger combined compartment;
said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprising first and second reactive components of a chemical gas generating system;
said gas pressure generating means in all of the other compartments comprises said first of said two reactive components;
said expandable pouch means being located within a container having a gas pressure generating beverage container therein;
said first reactive component of said two component chemical gas generating system in said one compartment comprises a liquid;
wherein said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprises;
at least said first reactive component being confined within an enclosure having rupturable means so that said enclosure may be ruptured allowing said first reactive component to react with said second reactive component to commence generating a gas;
said enclosure comprising a rigid container having at least one open end located in said first compartment;
a flexible membrane covering said open end and in sealed engagement therewith so as to contain a quantity of said first reactive component in said container;
membrane rupturing means in said container and located next to said open end so as to pierce said flexible membrane when said flexible membrane is forced into said container by pressure forces generated within said container so as to release said liquid first component into said first compartment.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable pouch for applying a pressure to a material to be dispensed from a container wherein two sheets of a fluid impervious material are permanently joined together at their edges and divided into a plurality of compartments by semi-permanent peelable strips. One of the compartments is divided into sub-compartments with fluid communication being provided between two sub-compartments. One of a two component chemical gas generating system is located in each of the two sub-compartments so that when the pouch is inverted, the chemicals combine to start generating gas to force open the peelable strips.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A self-generating pressure applying means which is inserted into a container means having material contained therein so as to apply a pressure on the material so that it may be readily dispensed from the container means comprising:
-
an expandable pouch means for applying pressure to material in a container comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship and having a length and a width with said length having a greater linear extent than said width; said expandable pouch means having a plurality of linearly extending edge portions; permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween; compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least three compartments in said expandable pouch means; said compartment forming means comprising lengthwise extending strips, having end portions joining said sealed edge portions, of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets so that all of said compartments are completely closed; said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto; gas pressure generating means in one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that, as portions of the material are dispensed from said container, portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and a first next adjacent compartment so that said one compartment and said first next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment; at least a second next adjacent compartment; gas pressure generating means in said first next adjacent compartment cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said material is dispensed from said container means to apply pressure to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment so that said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a larger combined compartment; said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprising first and second reactive components of a chemical gas generating system; said gas pressure generating means in all of the other compartments comprises said first of said two reactive components; said expandable pouch means being located within a container having a gas pressure generating beverage container therein; said first reactive component of said two component chemical gas generating system in said one compartment comprises a liquid; wherein said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprises; at least said first reactive component being confined within an enclosure having rupturable means so that said enclosure may be ruptured allowing said first reactive component to react with said second reactive component to commence generating a gas; said enclosure comprising a rigid container having at least one open end located in said first compartment; a flexible membrane covering said open end and in sealed engagement therewith so as to contain a quantity of said first reactive component in said container; membrane rupturing means in said container and located next to said open end so as to pierce said flexible membrane when said flexible membrane is forced into said container by pressure forces generated within said container so as to release said liquid first component into said first compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A self-generating pressure applying means which is inserted into a container means having material contained therein so as to apply a pressure on the material so that it may be readily dispensed from the container means comprising:
-
an expandable pouch means for applying pressure to material in a container comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship and having a length and a width said length having a greater linear extent than said width; said expandable pouch means having a plurality of linearly extending edge portions; permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween; compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least three compartments in said expandable pouch means; said compartment forming means comprising lengthwise extending strips, having end portions joining said sealed edge portions, of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets so that all of said compartments are completely closed; said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto; gas pressure generating means in one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that, as portions of the material are dispensed from said container, portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to separate said semipermanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and a first next adjacent compartment so that said one compartment and said first next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment; at least a second next adjacent compartment; gas pressure generating means in said first next adjacent compartment cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said material is dispensed from said container means to apply pressure to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment so that said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a larger combined compartment; said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprising first and second reactive components of a chemical gas generating system; said gas pressure generating means in all of the other compartments comprises said first of said two reactive components; wherein said gas generating means in said one compartment comprises; lengthwise extending strips of a semipermanent peelable sealing means for dividing said one first compartment into at least first, second and third completely enclosed sub-compartments; said first reactive component of said chemical gas generating system contained within said first sub-compartment; said second reactive component of said chemical gas generating system contained within said second sub-compartment next adjacent to said first sub-compartment so that when said lengthwise strip between said first and second sub-compartments is ruptured, said first and second reactive components will begin to react to produce a gas pressure therein; and a quantity of said second reactive component, in an amount sufficient to fully expand said expandable pouch means, in said third sub-compartment next adjacent to said second sub-compartment to react with unreacted portions of said first reactive component when said first and second reactive components in said combined first and second sub-compartments have reacted to produce sufficient gases to provide a pressure to rupture said lengthwise strip between said second and third sub-compartments to continue the generation of gas. - View Dependent Claims (4)
-
-
5. A self-generating pressure applying means which is inserted into a container means having material contained therein so as to apply a pressure on the material so that it may be readily dispensed from the container means comprising:
-
an expandable pouch means for applying pressure to material in a container comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship and having a length and a width with said length having a greater linear extent than said width; said expandable pouch means having a plurality of linearly extending edge portions; permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween; compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least three compartments in said expandable pouch means; said compartment forming means comprising lengthwise extending strips, having end portions joining said sealed edge portions, of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets so that all of said compartments are completely closed; said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto; gas pressure generating means in one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that, as portions of the material are dispensed from said container, portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to separate said semipermanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and a first next adjacent compartment so that said one compartment and said first next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment; at least a second next adjacent compartment; gas pressure generating means in said first next adjacent compartment cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said material is dispensed from said container means to apply pressure to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment so that said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a larger combined compartment; said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprising first and second reactive components of a chemical gas generating system; said gas pressure generating means in all of the other compartments comprises said first of said two reactive components; wherein said gas generating means in said one compartment, when said expandable pouch means is in a vertical position so as to have a top end and a bottom end, comprises; lengthwise extending strips of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets for dividing said first compartment into at least first, second and third sub-compartments wherein said third sub-compartment is larger than either of said first and second sub-compartments; a quantity of said first reactive component in liquid form located in said first sub-compartment. a quantity of said second reactive component in liquid form located in said third sub-compartment; and fluid permeable means between said second sub-compartment and said third sub-compartment and located closer to said top end than to said bottom end for permitting fluid flow therebetween so that when said lengthwise extending strip of semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said first and second sub-compartments is ruptured, said first reactive component will flow into said second sub-compartment and when said expandable pouch means is inverted, said first reactive component will be able to contact said second reactive component in said third sub-compartment and react therewith to generate said gas. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
- 8. said opening being located at the top end of said lengthwise extending strip of semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said second sub-compartment and said third sub-compartment next adjacent to a portion of said permanently sealed edge portion so that said expandable pouch means must be inverted to allow contact to be made between reactive components in said second sub-compartment and said third sub-compartment.
-
9. A self-pressurizing dispensing container means for liquids of the type having a container means, a liquid dispensing means mounted on the container means, a liquid within the container means and a self-generating pressure applying means within the container means for applying pressure on the liquid comprising:
-
a hollow plastic container means made of one piece of integrally molded plastic material for holding a liquid to be selectively dispensed therefrom when located in a dispensing position; liquid dispensing means mounted on said container means for dispensing liquid from said container means; said container means having an elongated central generally cylindrical wall portion, an integral generally hemispherical closed first end wall portion, and an integral generally hemispherical second end wall portion having a central longitudinally extending neck portion with a relatively large diameter central opening of sufficient size for filling said container means with a liquid and for inserting said pressure applying means and having means for securing said dispensing means thereto to provide a sealing relationship therewith and having a longitudinal axis extending through said central opening; support means fixedly attached to said container means supporting and maintaining said container means in said dispensing position; self-generating pressure applying means in said container means for applying pressure to said liquid in said container means comprising; an expandable pouch means for applying said pressure comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship and having a length and a width with said length having a greater linear extent than said width; said expandable pouch means having a plurality of linearly extending edge portions; permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween; compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least three compartments in said expandable pouch means; said compartment forming means comprising lengthwise extending strips, having end portions joining said sealed edge portions, of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets; said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto; gas pressure generating means in one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that the portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and a first next adjacent compartment so that said one compartment and said first next adjacent compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment; at least a second next adjacent compartment; gas pressure generating means in said first next adjacent compartment cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said beverage is dispensed from said container means to apply pressure to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said combined compartment and said at least a second next adjacent compartment so that said combined compartment and said at least next adjacent second compartment are joined together to form a larger combined compartment; said expandable pouch means being located within said container means so that said lengthwise extending strips of said semi-permanent peelable sealing means extend generally in the same direction as said longitudinal axis of said container means; and said one compartment and thereafter each of said combined compartments of said expandable pouch being located next adjacent to the upper longitudinally extending portion of said container means when in its dispensing position.
-
-
16. A self-generating pressure applying means which is adapted to be inserted into a container means having material contained therein so as to apply a pressure on the material so that it may be readily dispensed from the container means comprising:
-
an expandable pouch means for applying pressure to material in a container comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship; said expandable pouch means being located in a vertical direction in said container means so as to have a top end and a bottom end; said expandable pouch means having a plurality of edge portions; permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween; compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least one compartment and at least another compartment in said expandable pouch means; said compartment forming means comprising at least one strip of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means, having end portions joining said permanently sealed edge portions, for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets so that all of said compartments are completely closed; said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto; gas pressure generating means in one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that, as portions of the material are dispensed from said container, portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to the material in said container means and to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and said another compartment so that said one compartment and said another compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment; gas pressure generating means in said another compartment cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said material is dispensed from said container means so as to continue to apply pressure to said material in said container means; said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprises; a chemical gas generating system comprising at least two reactive components; strips of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets for dividing said one compartment into at least first, second and third sub-compartments; a quantity of a first reactive component of said chemical gas generating system in liquid form located in said first sub-compartment; a quantity of a second reactive component of said chemical gas generating system in liquid form located in said third sub-compartment; and fluid permeable means between said second sub-compartment and said third sub-compartment and located closer to said top end than to said bottom end of said expandable pouch means for permitting fluid flow therebetween so that when said strip of semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said first and second sub-compartments is ruptured, said first component will flow into said second sub-compartment and when said expandable pouch means is inverted, said first reactive component will be able to contact said second reactive component in said third sub-compartment and react therewith to generate said gas.
-
-
20. A self-generating pressure applying means which is adjusted to be inserted into a container means having material contained therein so as to apply a pressure on the material so that it may be readily dispensed from the container means comprising:
-
an expandable pouch means for applying pressure to material in a container comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship; said expandable pouch means being located in a vertical direction in said container means so as to have a top end and a bottom end; said expandable pouch means having a plurality of edge portions; permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween; compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least one compartment and at least another compartment in said expandable pouch means; said compartment forming means comprising at least one strip of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means, having end portions joining said permanently sealed edge portions, for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets so that all of said compartments are completely closed; said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto; gas pressure generating means in said one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that, as portions of the material are dispensed from said container, portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to the material in said container means and to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and said another compartment so that said one compartment and said another compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment; gas pressure generating means in said another compartment cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said material is dispensed from said container means so as to continue to apply pressure to said material in said container means; said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprises; a chemical gas generating system comprising at least two reactive components; strips of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets for dividing said one compartment into at least a first and a second sub-compartments; a quantity of a first reactive component of said chemical gas generating system in liquid form located in said first subcompartment; a quantity of a second reactive component of said chemical gas generating system in liquid form located in said second sub-compartment; and fluid permeable means between said first sub-compartment and said second sub-compartment and located closer to said top end than to said bottom end of said expandable pouch means for permitting fluid flow therebetween so that, when said expandable pouch means is inverted, said first reactive component will be able to contact said second reactive component in said second sub-compartment and react therewith to generate said gas.
-
-
24. A self-generating pressure applying means which is adapted to be inserted into a container means having material contained therein so as to apply pressure on the material so that it may be readily dispensed from the container means comprising:
-
an expandable pouch means for applying pressure to material in a container comprising at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material in superposed relationship; said expandable pouch means being located in a vertical direction in said container means so as to have a top end and a bottom end; said expandable pouch means having a plurality of edge portions; permanent sealing means for joining said superposed flat sheets along said edge portions so as to form an enclosed space therebetween; compartment forming means between said superposed flat sheets for forming at least one compartment and at least three other compartments in said expandable pouch means; said compartment forming means comprising strips of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means, having end portions joining said permanently sealed edge portions, for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets so that all of said compartments are completely closed; said semi-permanent peelable sealing means permitting separation of said superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets in response to pressure applied thereto; gas pressure generating means in one of said compartments to increase the gas pressure in said one compartment so that, as portions of the material are dispensed from said container, portions of said superposed flat sheets forming said one compartment are forced apart to apply pressure to the material in said container means and to separate said semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and said another compartment so that said one compartment and said another compartment are joined together to form a combined compartment; gas pressure generating means in said other compartments cooperating with said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment to continue the generation of gas pressure to force apart the portions of said superposed sheets forming said combined compartment as said material is dispensed from said container means so as to continue to apply pressure to said material in said container means; said gas pressure generating means in said one compartment comprises; a chemical gas generating system comprising at least two reactive components; strips of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means for securing together superposed portions of said superposed flat sheets for dividing said one compartment into at least a first and a second sub-compartments; a quantity of a first reactive component of said chemical gas generating system in liquid form located in said first subcompartment; a quantity of a second reactive component of said chemical gas generating system in liquid form located in said second sub-compartment; and fluid permeable means between said first sub-compartment and said second sub-compartment and located closer to said top end than to said bottom end for permitting fluid flow therebetween so that, when said expandable pouch means is inverted, said first reactive component will be able to contact said second reactive component in said second sub-compartment and react therewith to generate said gas; and
wherein;the first and third other compartments each having a quantity of said first reactive component contained therein in amount sufficient to continue the generation of gas; and the second other compartment having a quantity of said second reactive component contained therein in an amount sufficient to continue the generation of gas. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
25. A method for applying pressure to a material in a container comprising:
-
holding a container so that at least one portion thereof extends generally in a vertical direction so as to have a top end and a bottom end; flowing a quantity of a fluid material into said container through an opening in said top end thereof; forming an expandable pouch from at least two relatively flat sheets of a gas and liquid impermeable material by placing said at least two relatively flat sheets in superposed relationship and permanently sealing together the edge portions thereof; forming at least one enclosed compartment and at least another enclosed compartment in said expandable pouch by joining together superposed portions of said at least two relatively flat sheets with a strip of a semi-permanent peelable sealing means so that said superposed portions may be separated by internal pressures applied thereto; dividing said at least one compartment into at least first, second and third sub-compartments using strips of a semi-permanent sealing means so that said first sub-compartment is completely enclosed; forming at least one fluid permeable passageway between said second sub-compartment and said third sub-compartment; holding said expandable pouch so that at least one portion thereof extends in a vertical direction so that said expandable pouch has a top end and a bottom end; inserting a quantity of a first reactive component of a chemical gas generating system comprising at least two reactive components into said first sub-compartment and a quantity of the second reactive component into said third sub-compartment; inserting a quantity of said first reactive component into said at least another compartment; rupturing said linearly extending strip of semi-permanent peelable sealing means between said first and second sub-compartments so that at least a portion of said quantity of said first reactive component flows into said second sub-compartment; inserting said expandable pouch into said container through said opening so that the vertical direction of said expandable pouch corresponds to the vertical direction of said container; securing a dispensing means to said opening so that said fluid in said container can be removed only through said dispensing means; manipulating said container so that said first reactive component in said second sub-compartment and said second reactive component in said third sub-compartment contact each other through said fluid permeable passageway and begin said chemical reaction to generate said gas to expand said one compartment to exert pressure on said fluid material in said container; and continuing said chemical reaction to generate said gas as said fluid material is dispensed from said container to apply pressure to said superposed sheets to separate said linearly extending strip of semipermanent peelable sealing means between said one compartment and said another compartment to continue the generation of said gas.
-
Specification