Flexible bag having a dispenser assembly

Abstract

A container comprising a flexible bag and a dispenser apparatus. The flexible bag has walls and seals which cooperate to define a cavity. A spout is coupled to the walls and provides fluid communication with the cavity. The spout has an elongated opening terminating at an outer edge. The dispenser assembly has a cap member with a base and an outer rim hermetically sealed to the elongated opening proximate the outer edge. The cap member further has an elongated outlet extending from the base. The elongated outlet has an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface is in fluid communication with the elongated outlet. A hose member has a first end and a second end opposite of the first end. An inner elongated passage is defined by the hose member which terminates proximate the second end. The hose member is formed from a polymer which is saturated, such as an SEBS material. The first end of the hose member is stretched over at least a portion of the outer surface of the elongated outlet of the cap member and biased thereagainst.

1 . A container comprising:
 a flexible bag having at least two walls and seals which cooperate to define a cavity, and a spout coupled to at least one of the two walls, the spout providing fluid communication with the cavity defined by the at least two walls and the seals, the spout having an elongated opening terminating at an outer edge;   a dispenser assembly having a cap member having a base with an outer rim hermetically sealed to the elongated opening proximate the outer edge, the cap member further having an elongated outlet extending from the base, the elongated outlet having an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface is in fluid communication with the elongated outlet, and a hose member having a first end and a second end opposite of the first end, a inner elongated passage is defined by the hose member which terminates proximate the second end, the hose member is formed from a polymer which is saturated, the first end thereof is stretched over at least a portion of the outer surface of the elongated outlet of the cap member and biased thereagainst.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the hose member comprises a styrene ethylene butylene styrene material. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the hose member further comprises at least one of a that low density polyethylene (LDPE), co-polymers (such as ethyl vinyl acetate, polyolefin elastomers (POE) and/or polyolefin plastomers (POP), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), homo or copolymer polypropylene (h or cPP), mineral oil, and stabilization additives, wherein the styrene ethylene butylene styrene material comprises at least 10% of the overall material. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein a flowable material is positioned within the cavity, the flowable material comprises a dairy material. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the hose member comprises an extruded member, the second end of which is crimped after extrusion. 
   
   
       6 . A container comprising:
 a flexible bag having at least two walls and seals which cooperate to define a cavity, and a spout coupled to at least one of the two walls, the spout providing fluid communication with the cavity defined by the at least two walls and the seals, the spout having an elongated opening terminating at an outer edge;   a dispenser assembly having a cap member having a base with an outer rim hermetically sealed to the elongated opening proximate the outer edge, the cap member further having an elongated outlet extending from the base, the elongated outlet having an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface is in fluid communication with the elongated outlet, and a hose member having a first end and a second end opposite of the first end, a inner elongated passage is defined by the hose member which terminates proximate the second end, the hose member including means for minimizing the degradation of the hose material due to irradiation thereof, and the hose member is stretched over at least a portion of the outer surface of the elongated outlet of the cap member and biased thereagainst.   
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the degradation minimizing means includes the forming of the hose member of at least 10% of styrene ethylene butylene styrene. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the degradation minimizing means comprises a saturated polymer comprising at least 10% of the material of the hose member. 
   
   
       9 . A method of forming a container comprising:
 providing a flexible bag defining a cavity and having a spout providing ingress into the cavity;   providing a dispenser assembly having a cap member hermetically sealed to the spout and a hose member coupled to the cap member and providing fluid communication with the cavity, wherein a second end of the hose member is crimped;   irradiating the flexible bag and dispenser assembly; and   minimizing the degradation of the hose material due to irradiation.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of minimizing further comprises the step of providing a hose member having at least 10% of a styrene ethylene butylene styrene material. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of minimizing further comprises the step of providing a hose member having at least 10% of a saturated polymer.