E-Z FILL BAG

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a dispensable product can include a flexible inner container and an outer container. The inner container can have a cavity configured to receive a dispensable product, a top end defining or configured to define a sealable opening in fluid communication with the cavity, and a closed bottom end that defines one or more corners. The outer container can have a cavity configured to receive the inner container, a top end that is open or is configured to be opened, and a closed bottom. The inner container can be sized such that, when the top end of the outer container is open, the inner container is disposable within the cavity of the outer container such that the corner(s) are disposed within the cavity of the outer container and the top end of the inner container is foldable over the top end of the outer container

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a dispensable product, the apparatus comprising: a flexible inner container having: a cavity configured to receive a dispensable product; a top end defining or configured to define a sealable opening in fluid communication with the cavity; and a closed bottom end that defines one or more corners; and an outer container having: a cavity configured to receive the inner container; a top end that is open or is configured to be opened; and a closed bottom end; wherein a precursor to the dispensable product is disposed within one of the cavity of the inner container and the cavity of the outer container; and wherein the inner container is sized such that, when the top end of the outer container is open, the inner container is disposable within the cavity of the outer container such that: the one or more corners are disposed within the cavity of the outer container; and the top end of the inner container is cuffable over the top end of the outer container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the inner container is configured to hold substantially all of the dispensable product.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume of the cavity defined by the inner container is at least 5% larger than the volume of the precursor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top end of the inner container comprises a zip seal or a press seal configured to seal the opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner container is disposed within the outer container and the precursor is disposed within the cavity of the inner container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein less than or equal to 10% of the precursor is liquid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensable product is cupcake batter, cake batter, cookie dough, pastry filling, or icing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closed bottom end of the inner container defines a single corner.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, where in the outer container is more rigid than the inner container.

10. A method of dispensing a dispensable product, the method comprising: cuffing a top end of a flexible inner container over a top end of an outer container, wherein: the inner container has a cavity, an opening defined by the top end, and a closed bottom end that defines one or more corners; and the inner container is received in a cavity defined by the outer container such that the one or more corners of the inner container are disposed within the cavity of the outer container; transferring the dispensable product to the cavity of the inner container via the opening; removing the inner container from the outer container; sealing the opening of the inner container; opening at least one of the one or more corners of the inner container; and dispensing the dispensable product through the opened corner(s).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the dispensable product is cupcake batter, cake batter, cookie dough, pastry filling, or icing.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein sealing the opening of the inner container comprises zipping a zip seal of the inner container, closing a press seal of the inner container, and/or twisting the top end of the inner container.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein transferring the dispensable product is performed such that at least 95% of the dispensable product, by weight, is transferred to the cavity of the inner container before removing the inner container from the outer container.

14. The method of claim 10, comprising: removing a precursor to the dispensable product from the cavity of the outer container; and forming the dispensable product from at least the precursor such that the dispensable product comprises the precursor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein transferring the dispensable product is performed such that at least 90% of the precursor, by weight, is transferred to the cavity of the inner container before removing the inner container from the outer container.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transferring the dispensable product is performed such that at least 95% of the precursor, by weight, is transferred to the inner container before removing the inner container from the outer container.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein less than or equal to 10% of the precursor, by weight, is liquid.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein opening at least one of the corner(s) comprises cutting, tearing, and/or slicing the at least one corner.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the bottom end of the inner container defines a single corner.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the outer container is more rigid than the inner container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation. For the sake of brevity and clarity, every feature of a given structure is not always labeled in every figure in which that structure appears. Identical reference numbers do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference number may be used to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similar functionality, as may non-identical reference numbers. Each of the figures is drawn to scale, meaning the sizes of the elements depicted in the figure are accurate relative to each other for at least the embodiment depicted in the figure.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present apparatuses that includes an outer container that can house a flexible inner container capable of dispensing a dispensable product. As shown, the outer container is closed.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 when the outer container is opened and part of the inner container is disposed within a cavity of the outer container.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows the inner container of the apparatus of FIG. 1. As shown, the inner container has a closed bottom end that defines a single corner and a top end that defines an opening that is sealable with a zip tab.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 when the top end of the inner container is cuffed over the top end of the outer container.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows the inner container of the apparatus of FIG. 1 when the inner container is sealed. As shown, the inner container is dispensing a dispensable product.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows another flexible inner container that can be used in some of the present apparatuses, the bottom end of the inner container defining two corners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, shown is an embodiment 10 of the present apparatuses for dispensing a dispensable product. Apparatus 10 can comprise an outer container 14 and a flexible inner container 18 (e.g., a bag). Outer container 14 can have a top end 22 that is open or configured to be open, a closed bottom end 26, and a cavity 30 configured to receive inner container 18. For example, inner container 18 can be disposed in cavity 30 and top end 22 can be closed (FIG. 1) and thereafter opened (FIG. 2) such that the inner container can be removed from and/or disposed in the cavity; in other embodiments, however, the inner container can be disposed outside of the outer container (e.g., attached to the exterior thereof) and transferred to the cavity to receive a dispensable product (described in further detail below).

[0028] Referring additionally to FIG. 3, inner container 18 can be configured to hold a dispensable product and/or a precursor to the dispensable product. For example, inner container 18 can have a cavity 34, a top end 38 that defines or is configured to define a sealable opening 42 in fluid communication with the cavity (e.g., such that a dispensable product can be transferred into the cavity via the opening), and a closed bottom end 46 that defines one or more corners 50. To illustrate, inner container 18 can have a sealing mechanism 54 that can be engaged and disengaged to open (e.g., unseal) and close (e.g., seal) opening 42, respectively. Sealing mechanism 54 can comprise any suitable mechanism, such as, for example, a zip tab, a press seal, and/or the like. Additionally or alternatively, inner container 18 can be configured to twist such that opening 42 is sealed. The thickness of inner container 18 can be chosen by the manufacturer based on the designated dispensable product (e.g., a thicker material for cookie dough than for cake batter).

[0029] Apparatus 10 can comprise a precursor to a dispensable product. As shown, the precursor can be used to make cake batter; in other embodiments, however, the precursor can be used to make any other suitable dispensable product, such as, for example, a cupcake batter, cookie dough, pastry filling, and/or icing, and can be a dry mix, e.g., such that less than or equal to 10%, by weight, of the precursor is liquid. The precursor can be disposed within one of cavity 30 of outer container 14 (e.g., such that the precursor is contained in the cavity of the outer container, optionally in a separate container within the cavity, but not in cavity 34 of inner container 18) and the cavity of the inner container. In use, the precursor can be removed and used to form the dispensable product (e.g., by adding other ingredients to the precursor and mixing the precursor and ingredients); in other embodiments, however, apparatus 10 can comprise the dispensable product, which can be disposed in cavity 30 or cavity 34. In some embodiments, outer container 14 can contain at least two precursors, at least two dispensable products, or at least one precursor and at least one dispensable product (e.g., cupcake mix and icing).

[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, apparatus 10 can be configured to facilitate transfer of the dispensable product to cavity 34 of inner container 18 such that the inner container can be used to dispense the product. Inner container 18 can be sized such that, when top end 22 of outer container 14 is open, the inner container is disposable within cavity 30 of the outer container such that corner(s) 50 are disposed in cavity 30 and top end 38 of the inner container is cuffable over the top end of the outer container by folding the top end of the inner container over the top end of the outer container (e.g., like a cuffed sleeve). Outer container 14 can be more rigid than inner container 18 (e.g., the outer container can be a cardboard box and the inner container can be a plastic bag) such that the outer container can support the inner container as the dispensable product is deposited into cavity 34 and can prevent opening 42 from closing. Such support can mitigate spillage.

[0031] Inner container 18 can have a capacity to hold substantially all of the dispensable product to reduce the need for re-fillings. For example, the volume of the cavity 34 defined by inner container 18 can be at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, or more larger than the volume of the precursor (e.g., such that the inner container can accommodate other ingredients added to the precursor to form the dispensable material).

[0032] Referring additionally to FIG. 5, inner container 18 can be configured to dispense a dispensable product (e.g., 58) disposed in cavity 34 via at least one of corner(s) 50. At least one of corner(s) 50 can be opened (by cutting, tearing, and/or slicing the corner) such that each of the opened corner(s) defines a tip through which the dispensable product can be dispensed in a precise and consistent manner. For example, bottom end 46 can define a single corner 50, which can promote accurate dispensing; however, in other embodiments, the bottom end of the inner container can define multiple corners (FIG. 6). The flexibility of inner container 18 can facilitate dispensing, e.g., pressure can be applied by squeezing the inner container to urge the dispensable product out of opened corner(s) 50. And, the sealability of opening 42 (e.g., via twisting the inner container and/or engaging sealing mechanism 54, as shown) can mitigate spillage as the dispensable product is dispensed.

[0033] Some of the present methods of dispensing a dispensable product (e.g., 58) comprise a step of cuffing a top end (e.g., 38) of a flexible inner container (e.g., 18) over a top end (e.g., 22) of an outer container (e.g., 14). The upper and inner containers can be any of those described above (e.g., the inner container can have a cavity (e.g., 34), an opening (e.g., 42) defined by the top end, and a closed bottom end (e.g., 46) that defines one or more corners (e.g., 50)), and the top end of the inner container can be cuffed while the inner container is received in a cavity (e.g., 30) defined by the outer container such that the corner(s) are disposed within the cavity of the outer container.

[0034] Some methods comprise forming the dispensable product from at least a precursor such that the dispensable product comprises the precursor. The precursor can be disposed in the cavity of the outer container or the cavity of the inner container (e.g., before the top end of the inner container is cuffed over the top end of the outer container), and can be removed therefrom to form the dispensable product. The precursor can be any of the precursors described above. (e.g., such that the dispensable product is cupcake batter, cake batter, cookie dough, pastry filling, and/or icing). In other embodiments, however, the dispensable product need not be formed (e.g., can already be formed). Other dispensable products can include drywall mud and the like.

[0035] Some methods comprise a step of transferring the dispensable product to the cavity of the inner container via the opening and removing the inner container from the outer container. The dispensable product can be transferred to the inner container in any suitable mannersuch as, for example, by pouring and/or scoopingusing any suitable utensil, such as, for example, a scoop, spoon, spatula, spreader, and/or scraper. Transferring the dispensable product can be performed such that, by weight, greater than or equal to any one of, or between any two of, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or more (e.g., at least 95%) of the dispensable product, and/or greater than or equal to any one of, or between any two of, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or more (e.g., at least 90% or 95%) of the precursor is transferred to the cavity of the inner container before removing the inner container from the outer container.

[0036] Some methods comprise sealing the opening of the inner container (e.g., by zipping a zip seal of the inner container, closing a press seal of the inner container, and/or twisting the top end of the inner container) and opening at least one of the one or more corners of the inner container. Opening at least one of the corner(s) can comprise cutting, tearing, and/or slicing the at least one corner.

[0037] Some methods comprise a step of dispensing the dispensable product through the opened corner(s). The dispensable product can be dispensed at least by exerting pressure on the inner container.

[0038] The above specification and examples provide a complete description of the structure and use of illustrative embodiments. Although certain embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of this invention. As such, the various illustrative embodiments of the methods and systems are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, they include all modifications and alternatives falling within the scope of the claims, and embodiments other than the one shown may include some or all of the features of the depicted embodiment. For example, elements may be omitted or combined as a unitary structure, and/or connections may be substituted. Further, where appropriate, aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other examples described to form further examples having comparable or different properties and/or functions, and addressing the same or different problems. Similarly, it will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments.

[0039] The claims are not intended to include, and should not be interpreted to include, means-plus- or step-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase(s) means for or step for, respectively.

EXAMPLES

[0040] The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Example 1

[0041] A box contained (1) an inner container, which was a large, flexible bag, (2) cupcake mix in a separate bag, and (3) instructions regarding how to bake the cupcakes and use the inner container to dispense batter from the inner container. The inner container had press tabs to seal the bag at the top end thereof and one corner at the bottom end thereof to that was used as a dispensing tip.

[0042] The box was opened, the dry cupcake mix was taken out of the bag and combined with one cup of water, half a cup of vegetable oil, and three eggs to in a bowl to create cupcake batter. The top end of the inner container was cuffed over the top end of the box while the inner container was received in the cavity of the box such that the box held the inner container open, and the cupcake batter was transferred to the inner container by pouring the cupcake batter therein. The transfer of the cupcake batter took 15 seconds. The inner container was sealed by pressing the press seal, and the tip was created by cutting the corner at the bottom of the inner container. The top end of the inner container was twisted to exert pressure on the cupcake batter, which was dispensed through the opened corner and into 24 cupcake tins. The dispensing of the cupcake batter into the cupcake tins took 50 seconds.

[0043] The inner container did not have to be refilled to fill the 24 cupcake tins. Additionally, the cupcake batter was dispensed evenly to yield consistent cupcake sizes and baking times. Spillage was minimalexcess batter did not spill over or drip to the sides of the tins or the counters.