초록 ▼

A container for a flexible bag of liquid that supports the bag during transportation, storage and use in dispensing of the liquid. The container is made from two generally similar pans that form lower and upper parts of the container. Each pan includes a plurality of generally similar multiple proje

A container for a flexible bag of liquid that supports the bag during transportation, storage and use in dispensing of the liquid. The container is made from two generally similar pans that form lower and upper parts of the container. Each pan includes a plurality of generally similar multiple projections that function to support the container on a surface as well as in a stable stacked formation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus usable to form substantially identical lower and upper parts of a container for a flexible bag of liquid, the apparatus comprising: an inner surface configured to support the flexible bag of liquid when the apparatus is used as a lower part, the inner surface including side walls ext

1. An apparatus usable to form substantially identical lower and upper parts of a container for a flexible bag of liquid, the apparatus comprising: an inner surface configured to support the flexible bag of liquid when the apparatus is used as a lower part, the inner surface including side walls extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and configured to support the flexible bag of liquid, and first and second contoured end projections extending directly upwardly from the inner surface and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface, the first and second contoured end projections confronting each other along the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and being configured to support opposite ends of the flexible bag with each of the first and second contoured end projections being spaced inwardly from the respective side walls;an outer surface; andprojections extending outward from the outer surface and adapted to support the apparatus on a support surface when the apparatus is used as a lower part of a first container, and when the apparatus is used as an upper part of the first container, the projections face away from the support surface and facilitate alignment with a second container in a stacked formation on the support surface, the projections on the first container adapted to extend between projections on the second container to provide a more stable stacked formation. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the projections on the first container are adapted to prevent the second container from sliding with respect to the first container in a first direction. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the projections comprise a plurality of substantially parallel ribs. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the projections comprise: legs extending outward from the outer surface and adapted to support the apparatus on a support surface when the apparatus used as a lower part; andnotches associated with respective ones of the legs, the notches adapted to face the support surface when the apparatus is used as a lower part, and the notches adapted to face away from the support surface and facilitate alignment of the second container in the stacked formation when the apparatus is used as an upper part. 5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising other projections extending outward from the outer surface, and when the apparatus is used as an upper part of the first container, the other projections face away from the support surface and facilitate alignment with the second container in the stacked formation on the support surface, the other projections adapted to prevent the second container from sliding with respect to the first container in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support surface comprises a generally horizontal surface and the second container being generally horizontally offset from the first container in the stacked formation. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support surface comprises an inclined surface and the projections are adapted to prevent the second container from sliding downward with respect to the first container in an angular direction generally parallel to the inclined surface. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the projections permit the second container to be stacked generally vertically on the first container being supported on the inclined surface. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a flexible part formed from a flexible sheet material. 10. An apparatus usable to form substantially identical lower and upper parts of a container for a flexible bag of liquid, the apparatus comprising: an inner surface configured to support the flexible bag of liquid when the apparatus is used as a lower part, the inner surface including side walls extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and configured to support the flexible bag of liquid, and first and second contoured end projections extending directly upwardly from the inner surface and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface, the first and second contoured end projections confronting each other along the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and being configured to support opposite ends of the flexible bag with each of the first and second contoured end projections being spaced inwardly from the respective side walls;an outer surface;opposed first and second lateral edges;a first pair of spaced-apart legs adjacent the first lateral edge and a second pair of spaced-apart legs adjacent the second lateral edge, the legs having respective notches, the legs and respective notches extending outward from the outer surface and adapted to support the apparatus on a surface when the apparatus is used as a lower part of a container, and when the apparatus is used as an upper part of the container, the legs and notches face away from the surface and facilitate alignment with the container in a stacked formation, the legs and respective notches adapted to prevent the container from moving in a first direction with respect to the stacked formation; andfour projections extending outward from the outer surface adjacent respective ones of the legs to further facilitate alignment of the container in the stacked formation and adapted to prevent the container from moving in a second direction with respect to the stacked formation. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of slots and associated holes located on the first and second lateral edges and adapted to receive handles for lifting the container. 12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of other holes located on the first and second lateral edges and adapted to receive connectors for securing the lower and upper parts of the container together. 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second contoured shape is different from the first contoured shape. 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the inner surface further comprises a generally flat surface between the first contoured shape and the second contoured shape. 15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the inner surface further comprises ribs extending lengthwise between the first contoured shape and the second contoured shape. 16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the inner surface further comprises a cavity adjacent one end of the apparatus adapted to receive tubing extending from a dispensing end of the flexible bag of liquid. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a space between the first and second lateral edges and adjacent the cavity, the space adapted to permit the tubing to extend externally from the apparatus. 18. A container for supporting a flexible bag of liquid comprising: a lower part comprising a lower outer surface and first projections extending downward from the lower outer surface and adapted to support the lower part on a surface, a lower inner surface including side walls extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and configured to support the flexible bag of liquid, and first and second contoured end projections extending directly upwardly from the inner surface and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface, the first and second contoured end projections confronting each other along the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and being configured to support opposite ends of the flexible bag with each of the first and second contoured end projections being spaced inwardly from the respective side walls; andan upper part configured to be placed over the lower part to form an interior space adapted to contain the flexible bag of liquid, the upper part comprising an upper outer surface and second projections extending upward from the upper outer surface, the second projections being substantially the same size, shape and relative location as the first projections, and the second projections adapted to be located adjacent to, and facilitate alignment with, first projections of another container in a stacked formation. 19. The container of claim 18 further comprising at least one handle extending through the lower part and the upper part for lifting the container. 20. The container of claim 19 wherein the handle comprises structure for securing the lower part and the upper part together. 21. The container of claim 18 further comprising at least one connector extending through the lower part and the upper part for securing the lower part to the upper part. 22. The container of claim 18 further comprising structure connected to each of the lower and the upper parts for aligning the lower and upper parts of a container in a juxtaposed relationship. 23. The container of claim 18 wherein each of the lower part and the upper part further comprise an inner surface and an outer surface, and the lower part and the upper part are stackable, with the outer surface of the upper part being placed in juxtaposition with the inner surface of the lower part. 24. The container of 18 wherein the upper part is substantially similar in size and shape to the lower part.