# US 10,118,750 B2 · Pouring device for a container with an inner bag and method of using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,750 B2 - Document ID: US10118750B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/251,393 - Filed: 2016-08-30 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-30 - Applicants: Talal T. Al-Housseiny - Inventors: Talal T. Al-Housseiny - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118750B2 ## CPC - B65D 77/065: {Spouts, pouring necks or discharging tubes fixed to or integral with the flexible container} - B65D 47/06: with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages (with slidable spouts B65D47/26) - B65D 77/068: {Spouts formed separately from the container} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A pouring device for pouring material from an inner bag placed within a container and method of using same are disclosed. The pouring device is movable between open and closed configurations. An embodiment provides a pouring device that includes a main body and at least one mounting part. The main body includes at least two walls and at least one attachment part, which is attached to the inner bag. The walls extend angularly away from each other to form a conduit allowing material to flow from the inner bag through an opening of the container to an exterior of the container, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. Embodiments foster a pouring solution with the mounting part conveniently mounted to the container and which remains mounted when the container is stowed. This allows the pouring device to be ready for future use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pouring device for pouring material from an inner bag placed within a container to an exterior of the container via an opening of the container, the pouring device being movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration different from the closed configuration, the pouring device comprising: a main body comprising: at least two walls hingedly coupled to each other via at least two hinges, wherein the at least two walls move via the at least two hinges when the pouring device is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, wherein a perimeter of a conduit is substantially defined by the at least two walls when the pouring device is in the open configuration, and wherein the material from the inner bag is capable of flowing through the conduit to the exterior of the container via the opening of the container when the pouring device is in the open configuration; and at least one attachment part, wherein at least a portion of each attachment part is configured to be attached to a portion of the inner bag via an attachment mechanism, when the pouring device is in the open and closed configurations; and at least one mounting part connected to the main body, wherein at least a portion of each mounting part is configured to be attached to a portion of the container via at least one mounting mechanism or to be placed against the portion of the container, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the at least two walls extend angularly away from each other via the at least two hinges, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment part comprises a plurality of attachment portions hingedly coupled via at least one attachment hinge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned at least partly along at least a portion of a width of the at least one attachment part, and wherein the portion of the inner bag is laterally adjacent to a portion of a seal area of the inner bag. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned on an exterior surface of the at least a portion of the at least one attachment part, and wherein the portion of the inner bag comprises an interior surface of the inner bag. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned on an interior surface of the at least a portion of the at least one attachment part, and wherein the portion of the inner bag comprises an exterior surface of the inner bag. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned at least partly along at least a portion of a width of the at least one attachment part, wherein the portion of the inner bag is a terminal edge of the inner bag, and wherein the terminal edge is an edge of the inner bag not exposed to an interior space of the inner bag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting mechanism is positioned on an upper surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an interior surface of the container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting mechanism is positioned on a lower surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting mechanism is positioned on a side surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part, and wherein the portion of the container comprises at least a portion of an edge of the opening of the container or another opening different than the opening of the container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part is configured to be placed against the portion of the container, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an interior surface of the container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part is configured to be placed against the portion of the container, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein a side surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part is configured to be placed against the portion of the container, and wherein the portion of the container comprises at least a portion of an edge of the opening of the container or another opening different than the opening of the container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the pouring device is biased towards the closed configuration or is biased towards the open configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the at least two walls face each other and lie substantially in a single plane, when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the pouring device is capable of being moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration by applying inward pressure on opposing exterior surfaces of the main body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a releasable fastening mechanism attached to a first portion of the main body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The pouring device of claim 17, wherein the closed configuration of the pouring device is maintained by releasably fastening, via the releasable fastening mechanism, the first portion of the main body to a second portion of the main body or to an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The pouring device of claim 17, wherein the open configuration of the pouring device is maintained by releasably fastening, via the releasable fastening mechanism, the first portion of the main body to an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least two walls and at least a portion of the at least one mounting part are capable of passing through the opening of the container, when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the main body defines a shape when the pouring device is in the open configuration, and wherein the opening of the container accommodates the shape defined by the main body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the opening of the container is formed by at least partly removing a section of the container, and wherein at least a portion of the at least partly removed section of the container is capable of closing the conduit, when the pouring device is in the open configuration, thereby preventing the material from flowing through the conduit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a sealing mechanism, and wherein the inner bag is closed via sealing of the sealing mechanism when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The pouring device of claim 23, wherein the inner bag is opened via unsealing of the sealing mechanism when the pouring device is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The pouring device of claim 23, wherein the pouring device is biased towards the open configuration, and wherein the sealing mechanism maintains the closed configuration of the pouring device when the sealing mechanism is sealed. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises at least one extension part that extends from at least one of the at least two walls or the at least one attachment part, and wherein the at least one extension part is configured to extend into the inner bag. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The pouring device of claim 26, wherein the at least one extension part comprises a plurality of extension portions connected via at least one extension hinge. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a closing mechanism, and wherein the closing mechanism substantially closes the conduit, when the pouring device is in the open configuration, thereby substantially preventing the material from flowing through the conduit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The pouring device of claim 28, wherein the closing mechanism is positioned at a distance from the conduit, when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The pouring device of claim 28, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a closing hinge, and wherein the closing mechanism is folded along the closing hinge, when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The pouring device of claim 28, wherein the closing mechanism is an extendable and retractable closing mechanism, and wherein the closing mechanism is capable of extending angularly away from the conduit and is capable of retracting angularly towards the conduit, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a closing mechanism positioned at an exit aperture of the conduit to maintain substantial closure of the conduit via the closing mechanism, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises at least one lip part, and wherein the at least one lip part extends from at least one of the at least two walls or the at least one attachment part, to the exterior of the container, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The pouring device of claim 33, wherein the at least one lip part comprises a plurality of lip portions connected via at least one lip hinge. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The pouring device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of lip portions face each other and lie substantially in a single plane, when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The pouring device of claim 33, wherein the at least one lip part is connected to the at least one of the at least two walls via at least one wall-lip hinge, such that the at least one lip part is capable of extending angularly away from the conduit and retracting angularly towards the conduit via the at least one wall-lip hinge. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The pouring device of claim 36, wherein the at least one lip part is biased towards being extended, towards being retracted, or towards both being extended and being retracted. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The pouring device of claim 36, wherein the at least one lip part, when retracted, substantially closes the conduit when the pouring device is in the open configuration, thereby substantially preventing the material from flowing through the conduit. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The pouring device of claim 36, wherein the at least one lip part either remains retracted via mechanical interconnection of the at least one lip part with a slit of the container or with a slit of another portion of the main body. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The pouring device of claim 36, wherein the main body further comprises a releasable fastening mechanism attached to the at least one lip part. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The pouring device of claim 40, wherein the at least one lip part remains extended by releasably fastening, via the releasable fastening mechanism, the at least one lip part to an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The pouring device of claim 40, wherein the at least one lip part comprises a first lip portion and a second lip portion, wherein the at least one lip part remains retracted by releasably fastening, via the releasable fastening mechanism, the first lip portion to the second lip portion, at least one of the two walls, the at least one attachment part, or an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 43 A method of using a pouring device for pouring material from an inner bag placed within a container to an exterior of the container via an opening of the container, the pouring device being movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration different from the closed configuration, the method comprising: providing a pouring device comprising: a main body comprising: at least two walls hingedly coupled to each other via at least two hinges, wherein the at least two walls move via the at least two hinges when the pouring device is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, and wherein a perimeter of a conduit is substantially defined by the at least two walls when the pouring device is in the open configuration; and at least one attachment part, wherein at least a portion of each attachment part is configured to be attached to a portion of the inner bag via an attachment mechanism, when the pouring device is in the open and closed configurations; and at least one mounting part connected to the main body; and attaching at least a portion of each mounting part to a portion of the container via at least one mounting mechanism or placing the at least a portion of each mounting part against the portion of the container, when the pouring device is in the open configuration; wherein the material from the inner bag capable of flowing through the conduit to the exterior of the container via the opening of the container, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the method further comprises attaching the at least a portion of each attachment part to the portion of the inner bag via the attachment mechanism, when the pouring device is in the open and closed configurations. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned at least partly along at least a portion of a width of the at least one attachment part, and wherein the portion of the inner bag is laterally adjacent to a portion of a seal area of the inner bag. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned on an exterior surface of the at least a portion of the at least one attachment part, and wherein the portion of the inner bag comprises an interior surface of the inner bag. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned on an interior surface of the at least a portion of the at least one attachment part, and wherein the portion of the inner bag comprises an exterior surface of the inner bag. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned at least partly along at least a portion of a width of the at least one attachment part, wherein the portion of the inner bag is a terminal edge of the inner bag, and wherein the terminal edge is an edge of the inner bag not exposed to an interior space of the inner bag. ### Claim 49 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one mounting mechanism is positioned on an upper surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an interior surface of the container. ### Claim 50 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one mounting mechanism is positioned on a lower surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 51 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one mounting mechanism is positioned on a side surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part, and wherein the portion of the container comprises at least a portion of an edge of the opening of the container or another opening different than the opening of the container. ### Claim 52 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising placing an upper surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part against the portion of the container, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an interior surface of the container. ### Claim 53 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising placing a lower surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part against the portion of the container, and wherein the portion of the container comprises an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 54 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising placing a side surface of at least a portion of the at least one mounting part against the portion of the container, and wherein the portion of the container comprises at least a portion of an edge of the opening of the container or another opening different than the opening of the container. ### Claim 55 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the at least two walls extend angularly away from each other via the at least two hinges, and wherein the method further comprises moving the pouring device from the closed configuration to the open configuration using the at least two hinges. ### Claim 56 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one attachment part comprises a plurality of attachment portions hingedly coupled via at least one attachment hinge, and wherein the method further comprises moving the pouring device from the closed configuration to the open configuration using the at least one attachment hinge. ### Claim 57 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising applying inward pressure on opposing exterior surfaces of the main body to move the pouring device from the closed configuration to the open configuration. ### Claim 58 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the main body further comprises a releasable fastening mechanism attached to a first portion of the main body. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The method of claim 58, further comprising maintaining the closed configuration of the pouring device by releasably fastening, via the releasable fastening mechanism, the first portion of the main body to a second portion of the main body or to an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 60 (depends on 58) The method of claim 58, further comprising maintaining the open configuration of the pouring device by releasably fastening, via the releasable fastening mechanism, the first portion of the main body to an exterior surface of the container. ### Claim 61 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising passing at least a portion of the at least two walls and at least a portion of the at least one mounting part through the opening of the container, when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 62 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the main body defines a shape when the pouring device is in the open configuration, and wherein the method further comprises inserting the main body having the shape into at least a portion of the opening of the container whereby the shape of the main body is maintained by the at least a portion of the opening of the container. ### Claim 63 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising forming the opening of the container by at least partly removing a section of the container. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The method of claim 63, further comprising closing the conduit via replacing at least a portion of the at least partly removed section of the container, when the pouring device is in the open configuration, thereby preventing the material from flowing through the conduit. ### Claim 65 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the main body further comprises a sealing mechanism, and wherein the method further comprises closing the inner bag via sealing of the sealing mechanism when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) The method of claim 65, further comprising opening the inner bag via unsealing of the sealing mechanism when the pouring device is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration. ### Claim 67 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the main body further comprises at least one extension part that extends from at least one of the at least two walls or the at least one attachment part, and wherein the method further comprises extending the at least one extension part into the inner bag to facilitate the flow of the material through the conduit or to provide rigidity to the inner bag. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The method of claim 67, wherein the at least one extension part comprises a plurality of extension portions connected via at least one extension hinge, and wherein the method further comprises moving the pouring device from the closed configuration to the open configuration using the at least one extension hinge. ### Claim 69 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the main body further comprises a closing mechanism, and wherein the method further comprises substantially closing the conduit via the closing mechanism, when the pouring device is in the open configuration, thereby substantially preventing the material from flowing through the conduit. ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) The method of claim 69, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a closing hinge, and wherein the method further comprises folding the closing mechanism along the closing hinge, when the pouring device is in the closed configuration. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) The method of claim 70, further comprising unfolding the folded closing mechanism when the pouring device is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration. ### Claim 72 (depends on 69) The method of claim 69, wherein the closing mechanism is an extendable and retractable closing mechanism, and wherein the method further comprises extending the closing mechanism angularly away from the conduit and retracting the closing mechanism angularly towards the conduit, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 73 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the main body further comprises a closing mechanism, and wherein the method further comprises positioning the closing mechanism at an exit aperture of the conduit to maintain substantial closure of the conduit via the closing mechanism, when the pouring device is in the open configuration. ### Claim 74 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the main body further comprises at least one lip part extending from at least one of the at least two walls or the at least one attachment part, and wherein the method further comprises passing the at least one lip part through the opening of the container to the exterior of the container. ### Claim 75 (depends on 74) The method of claim 74, wherein the at least one lip part comprises a plurality of lip portions connected via at least one lip hinge, and wherein the method further comprises moving the pouring device from the closed configuration to the open configuration using the at least one lip hinge. ### Claim 76 (depends on 74) The method of claim 74, wherein the at least one lip part is connected to the at least one of the at least two walls via at least one wall-lip hinge, and wherein the method further comprises extending the at least one lip part angularly away from the conduit and retracting the at least one lip part angularly towards the conduit via the at least one wall-lip hinge. ### Claim 77 (depends on 76) The method of claim 76, further comprising substantially closing the conduit via the at least one lip part, when retracted, when the pouring device is in the open configuration, thereby substantially preventing the material from flowing through the conduit. ### Claim 78 (depends on 76) The method of claim 76, further comprising mechanically interconnecting the at least one lip part with a slit of the container or with a slit of another portion of the main body to maintain retraction of the at least one lip part. ### Claim 79 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment part is connected to the at least two walls. ### Claim 80 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment part is connected to the at least two walls via at least one attachment-wall hinge. ### Claim 81 (depends on 28) The pouring device of claim 28, wherein the closing mechanism is connected to the at least two walls. ### Claim 82 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one attachment part is connected to the at least two walls. ### Claim 83 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one attachment part is connected to the at least two walls via at least one attachment-wall hinge. ### Claim 84 (depends on 1) The pouring device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two hinges is a wall hinge. ### Claim 85 (depends on 3) The pouring device of claim 3, wherein one of the at least one attachment hinge is one of the at least two hinges. ### Claim 86 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the at least two hinges is a wall hinge. ### Claim 87 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56, wherein one of the at least one attachment hinge is one of the at least two hinges.