Apparatus for filling and refilling a flexible container
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorJohn J. Dyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus to aid in the filling or refilling of a flexible, collapsible container having a pour spout and a method for using same. The apparatus includes a center frame element having attached to its upper end an upper frame element adapted to receive at least a portion of the pour spout of the container. At its lower end, the center frame element is attached to a lower frame element adapted to cradle a lower portion of the container being filled and to urge the container toward the center frame element as the flexible, collapsible container fills and expands. The apparatus is portable and may be removably mounted to a variety of vertical or horizontal surfaces.
Claims17
An apparatus for stabilizing the filling or refilling of a flexible, collapsible container having a spout for dispensing the contents thereof, the apparatus comprising:
- a clamping device for removably clamping said apparatus to a surface other than the flexible, collapsible container;
- a center frame element having a first end and a second end;
- an upper frame element attached to the first end of the center frame element and adapted to receive at least a portion of the spout;
- and
- a lower frame element attached to the second end of the center frame element, the lower frame element having a first segment extending from the center frame element and a lip extending from the first segment upwardly and away relative to the second end of the center frame element and wherein the lip and the upper frame element are not substantially parallel.
A method of filling a flexible, collapsible container comprising:
- (a) providing a flexible, collapsible container having a spout;
- (b) providing an apparatus comprising
- (i) a center frame element having a first end and a second end;
- (ii) an upper frame element attached to the first end of the center frame element and adapted to receive at least a portion of the spout;
- and
- (iii) a lower frame element attached to the second end of the center frame element, the lower frame element having a first segment and a lip extending therefrom, wherein the lip and upper frame element are not substantially parallel;
- and
- (iv) a clamping device;
- (c) removably clamping the clamping device to a surface other than the flexible, collapsible container;
- (d) providing a material for filling the container;
- (e) engaging at least a portion of a neck portion of the container with said upper frame element;
- (f) positioning at least a portion of the container onto the lower frame element;
- and
- (g) causing material to enter the container through the spout.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.