Patent · US Expired

Moisture responsive stiffening members for flexible containers

US4524458A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
9References
10Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 25, 1983
Grant dateJun 18, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 25, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65D2231/004
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Flexible plastic bags used for the bulk storage and dispensing of fluids are often blocked from dispensing all the contents and/or entrap part of the contents in folds of the plastic as they shrink during dispensing. The invention is for a tongue or dip tube that is attached to the inner wall of the plastic bag near the location of the dispensing aperture. The tongue is formed of a laminate of two dissimilar materials, one non-hygroscopic and the other being hygroscopic, so that upon introduction of moisture into the bag, the hygroscopic layer will expand and the normally flat tongue will curl to form a thick tube that both prevents collapse of the bag and prevents closure of the dispensing aperture by the opposite wall of the bag.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.