초록 ▼

A package including a fitment for dispensing a liquid from a flexible bag is disclosed. The fitment is secured to the bag and includes a compressible bulb and a piercing member that are coupled together. The fitment is configured such that when the bulb is first actuated, e.g., pressed, it causes th

A package including a fitment for dispensing a liquid from a flexible bag is disclosed. The fitment is secured to the bag and includes a compressible bulb and a piercing member that are coupled together. The fitment is configured such that when the bulb is first actuated, e.g., pressed, it causes the piercing member to pierce through the wall of the bag so that the contents of the bag can be dispensed through an outlet port of the fitment. In one embodiment of the fitment a portion of the piercing member is permanently located within the bag after first use and a valve is provided to open and close the outlet port thereafter. In another and more preferred embodiment the piercing member is extended into and out of the bag to dispense the contents of the bag through the outlet port, without necessitating use of a separate valve to open and close that port.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fitment for package holding a liquid therein, said fitment being configured for selectively dispensing a quantity of the liquid from the package, the package comprising a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is disposed and a wall contiguous with the hollow interior, said a

1. A fitment for package holding a liquid therein, said fitment being configured for selectively dispensing a quantity of the liquid from the package, the package comprising a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is disposed and a wall contiguous with the hollow interior, said a fitment comprising; a body having a portion configured for securement to the wall of the bag, a passageway, and an outlet in communication with said passageway;an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released;a plunger coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved through said passageway in one direction to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved through said passageway in a second direction to a retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator;a valve coupled to said actuator and configured to be in either an open state or a closed state, said valve being in said open state when said actuator is depressed and being in said closed state when said actuator is released; anda piercing member comprising a hollow member coupled to said plunger and located in said passageway, said plunger when moved to said extended position causing said piercing member to pierce through the wall of the bag, said piercing member being configured such that after said piercing member pierces through the wall of the bag a portion of said piercing member is permanently disposed within the hollow interior of the bag with another portion of said piercing member being permanently disposed outside of the bag, said valve when in said open state enabling the liquid within the hollow interior of the bag to flow out of the bag through said piercing member and said passageway to said outlet. 2. The fitment of claim 1 wherein said valve comprises a movable valve member and a valve seat, said moveable valve member being mounted on said plunger and movable therewith into and out of engagement with said valve seat. 3. The fitment of claim 1 wherein said piercing member comprises a tubular proximally located section and pointed distally located section. 4. The fitment of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 5. A package for holding and dispensing a quantity of a liquid therefrom, said package comprising: a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is located and a wall contiguous with said hollow interior; anda dispensing fitment comprising:a body having a portion configured for securement to the wall of the bag, a passageway, and an outlet in communication with said passageway;an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released;a plunger coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved through said passageway in one direction to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved through said passageway in a second direction to a retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator;a valve coupled to said actuator and configured to be in either an open state or a closed state, said valve being in said open state when said actuator is depressed and being in said closed state when said actuator is released; anda piercing member comprising a hollow member coupled to said plunger and located in said passageway, said plunger when moved to said extended position causing said piercing member to pierce through the wall of the bag, said piercing member being configured such that after said piercing member pierces through the wall of the bag a portion of said piercing member is permanently disposed within the hollow interior of the bag with another portion of said piercing member being permanently disposed outside of the bag, said valve when in said open state enabling the liquid within the hollow interior of the bag to flow out of the bag through said piercing member and said passageway to said outlet. 6. The package of claim 5 wherein said valve comprises a movable valve member and a valve seat, said moveable valve member being mounted on said plunger and movable therewith into and out of engagement with said valve seat. 7. The package of claim 5 wherein said piercing member comprises a tubular proximally located section and pointed distally located section. 8. The package of claim 5 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 9. A fitment for package holding a liquid therein, said fitment being configured for selectively dispensing a quantity of the liquid from the package, the package comprising a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is disposed and a wall contiguous with the hollow interior, said a fitment comprising: a body having a portion configured for securement to the wall of the bag, a passageway, and an outlet port in communication with said passageway;an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released; anda piercing member comprising a hollow cylindrical section having an outer surface and being coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved in one direction through said passageway and through said wall of said bag to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved in a second and opposite direction back through said wall of said bag and through said passageway to a fully retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator, one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprising at least one seal, said outer surface of said piercing member and said at least one seal forming a fluid tight interface therebetween, said piercing member including a portion blocking said outlet port when said piercing member is in said fully retracted position, and unblocking said outlet portion when said piercing member is moved to said extended position, thereby enabling the liquid within the hollow interior of the bag to flow out of the bag through said hollow cylindrical section of said piercing member and said passageway to said outlet. 10. The fitment of claim 9 wherein said one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprises said passageway. 11. The fitment of claim 10 wherein said at least one seal comprises a circumferential seal. 12. The fitment of claim 11 wherein said at least one seal comprises two circumferential seals, one of said circumferential seals being located on one side of said outlet port between said outlet port and said portion of said body configured for securement to the wall of the bag, and the other of said circumferential seals being located on an opposite side of said outlet port between said outlet port and said actuator. 13. The fitment of claim 9 wherein said piercing member comprises a leading piercing tip and plural secondary piercing tips located proximally of said leading piercing tip, said leading piercing tip being configured to pierce through the wall of the bag when said piercing member is first moved to said extended position, whereupon said secondary piercing tips pierce through the wall of the bag to create cross-sections flaps at the portion of the wall of the bag that is pierced by the piercing member, the flaps created by said secondary piercing tips being foldable to facilitate subsequent extensions of said piercing tip to said extended position and to provide an enhanced fluid path through the pierced wall of the package. 14. The fitment of claim 13 wherein said piercing member comprises portions for holding said flaps in a folded state enhancing the fluid path through the pierced wall of the package upon subsequent movements of said piercing member to said extended position after the initial movement of said piercing member to said extended position. 15. The fitment of claim 12 wherein said piercing member comprises a leading piercing tip and plural secondary piercing tips located proximally of said leading piercing tip, said leading piercing tip being configured to pierce through the wall of the bag when said piercing member is first moved to said extended position, whereupon said secondary piercing tips pierce through the wall of the bag to create cross-sections flaps at the portion of the wall of the bag that is pierced by the piercing member, the flaps created by said secondary piercing tips being foldable to facilitate subsequent extensions of said piercing tip to said extended position. 16. The fitment of claim 9 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 17. A package for holding and dispensing a quantity of a liquid therefrom, said package comprising; a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is located and a wall contiguous with said hollow interior; anda dispensing fitment comprising: a body having a portion configured for securement to the wall of the bag, a passageway, and an outlet port in communication with said passageway;an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released; anda piercing member comprising a hollow cylindrical section having an outer surface and being coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved in one direction through said passageway and through said wall of said bag to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved in a second and opposite direction back through said wall of said bag and through said passageway to a fully retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator, one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprising at least one seal, said outer surface of said piercing member and said at least one seal forming a fluid tight interface therebetween, said piercing member including a portion blocking said outlet port when said piercing member is in said fully retracted position, and unblocking said outlet portion when said piercing member is moved to said extended position, thereby enabling the liquid within the hollow interior of the bag to flow out of the bag through said hollow cylindrical section of said piercing member and said passageway to said outlet. 18. The package of claim 17 wherein said one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprises said passageway. 19. The package of claim 18 wherein said at least one seal comprises a circumferential seal. 20. The package of claim 19 wherein said at least one seal comprises two circumferential seals, one of said circumferential seals being located on one side of said outlet port between said outlet port and said portion of said body configured for securement to the wall of the bag, and the other of said circumferential seals being located on an opposite side of said outlet port between said outlet port and said actuator. 21. The package of claim 17 wherein said piercing member comprises a leading piercing tip and plural secondary piercing tips located proximally of said leading piercing tip, said leading piercing tip being configured to pierce through the wall of the bag when said piercing member is first moved to said extended position, whereupon said secondary piercing tips pierce through the wall of the bag to create cross-sections flaps at the portion of the wall of the bag that is pierced by the piercing member, the flaps created by said secondary piercing tips being foldable to facilitate subsequent extensions of said piercing tip to said extended position and to provide an enhanced fluid path through the pierced wall of the package. 22. The package of claim 21 wherein said piercing member comprises portions for holding said flaps in a folded state enhancing the fluid path through the pierced wall of the package upon subsequent movements of said piercing member to said extended position after the initial movement of said piercing member to said extended position. 23. The package of claim 20 wherein said piercing member comprises a leading piercing tip and plural secondary piercing tips located proximally of said leading piercing tip, said leading piercing tip being configured to pierce through the wall of the bag when said piercing member is first moved to said extended position, whereupon said secondary piercing tips pierce through the wall of the bag to create cross-sections flaps at the portion of the wall of the bag that is pierced by the piercing member, the flaps created by said secondary piercing tips being foldable to facilitate subsequent extensions of said piercing tip to said extended position. 24. The package of claim 17 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 25. The package of claim 23 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 26. A package for holding and dispensing a quantity of a liquid therefrom, said package comprising; a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is located;a dispensing fitment comprising a body having a portion configured for securement to the wall of the bag, a passageway, and an outlet port in communication with said passageway, an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released, and a piercing member, said piercing member comprising a hollow cylindrical section having an outer surface and being coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved in a first direction through said passageway to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved in a second and opposite direction through said passageway to a fully retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator, one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprising at least one seal, said outer surface of said piercing member and said at least one seal forming a fluid tight interface therebetween, said piercing member including a portion blocking said outlet port when said piercing member is in said fully retracted position, and unblocking said outlet portion when said piercing member is moved to said extended position; anda wall interposed between said fitment and the interior of said bag, said wall being configured to be pierced by said piercing member when said piercing member is moved to said extended position thereby enabling the liquid within the hollow interior of the bag to flow out of the bag through said hollow cylindrical section of said piercing member and said passageway to said outlet. 27. The package of claim 26 wherein said one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprises said passageway. 28. The package of claim 27 wherein said at least one seal comprises a circumferential seal. 29. The package of claim 26 wherein said piercing member comprises a leading piercing tip and plural secondary piercing tips located proximally of said leading piercing tip, said leading piercing tip being configured to pierce through said wall when said piercing member is first moved to said extended position, whereupon said secondary piercing tips pierce through said wall to create cross-sections flaps at the portion of said wall that is pierced by said piercing member. 30. The package of claim 26 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 31. A package for holding and dispensing a quantity of a liquid therefrom, said package comprising; a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is located;a wall isolating the interior of said bag from the ambient surroundings; anda dispensing fitment, said dispensing fitment comprising: a body having a portion configured for securement to said bag, a passageway, and an outlet port in communication with said passageway;an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released; anda piercing member comprising a hollow cylindrical section having an outer surface and being coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved in one direction through said passageway and through said wall to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved in a second and opposite direction back through said wall and through said passageway to a fully retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator, one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprising at least one seal, said outer surface of said piercing member and said at least one seal forming a fluid tight interface therebetween, said piercing member including a portion blocking said outlet port when said piercing member is in said fully retracted position, and unblocking said outlet portion when said piercing member is moved to said extended position, thereby enabling the liquid within the hollow interior of the bag to flow out of the bag through said hollow cylindrical section of said piercing member and said passageway to said outlet. 32. The package of claim 31 wherein said one of said passageway and said outer surface of said piercing member comprises said passageway. 33. The package of claim 32 wherein said at least one seal comprises a circumferential seal. 34. The package of claim 33 wherein said at least one seal comprises two circumferential seals, one of said circumferential seals being located on one side of said outlet port between said outlet port and said portion of said body configured for securement to said wall, and the other of said circumferential seals being located on an opposite side of said outlet port between said outlet port and said actuator. 35. The package of claim 31 wherein said piercing member comprises a leading piercing tip and plural secondary piercing tips located proximally of said leading piercing tip, said leading piercing tip being configured to pierce through said wall when said piercing member is first moved to said extended position, whereupon said secondary piercing tips pierce through said wall to create cross-sections flaps at the portion of said wall of that is pierced by the piercing member, the flaps created by said secondary piercing tips being foldable to facilitate subsequent extensions of said piercing tip to said extended position and to provide an enhanced fluid path through said wall. 36. The package of claim 35 wherein said piercing member comprises portions for holding said flaps in a folded state enhancing the fluid path through said wall upon subsequent movements of said piercing member to said extended position after the initial movement of said piercing member to said extended position. 37. The package of claim 34 wherein said piercing member comprises a leading piercing tip and plural secondary piercing tips located proximally of said leading piercing tip, said leading piercing tip being configured to pierce through said wall when said piercing member is first moved to said extended position, whereupon said secondary piercing tips pierce through said wall to create cross-sections flaps at the portion of said wall that is pierced by the piercing member, the flaps created by said secondary piercing tips being foldable to facilitate subsequent extensions of said piercing tip to said extended position. 38. The package of claim 31 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 39. The package of claim 37 wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material.