Shipping container having a controllably stretchable liner

Abstract

A shipping container comprising a rigid outer container and an inner flexible liner assembly. The rigid outer container defines a cavity. The inner flexible liner assembly is in the cavity and includes a liner and a spout. The liner has a plurality of walls defining an inner cavity, and, the walls including a spout surrounding region. The spout is positioned such that the spout surrounding region extends thereabout. The spout provides fluid communication with the inner cavity of the liner. The spout includes a one way valve which facilitates the ingress of flowable material while precluding the egress of material. Upon filling of the liner with a flowable material, the spout surrounding region is structurally configured for controllable stretching to accommodate the flowable material. A liner for use in a shipping container as well as a method of filling such a liner is disclosed.

1 . A shipping container comprising:
 a rigid outer container having a base, a plurality of sidewalls and an upper opening configured to define a cavity;   an inner flexible liner assembly positioned within the cavity of the rigid outer container comprising,
 a liner having a plurality of walls generally complementing the cavity of the rigid outer container, the liner defines an inner cavity, the walls of the liner include a spout surrounding region, 
 a spout positioned such that the spout surrounding region extends thereabout, the spout providing fluid communication with the inner cavity of the liner, the spout including a one way valve which facilitates the ingress of flowable material while precluding the egress of material. 
   whereupon filling of the liner with a flowable material, the spout surrounding region structurally configured for controllable stretching by the flowable material, to, in turn, facilitate flowable material in excess of a capacity of the cavity of the liner prior to filling.   
   
   
       2 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the walls of the liner further include a sidewall abutting region extending from the spout surrounding region and a base abutting region extending from the sidewall abutting region, the sidewall abutting region corresponding to the sidewalls of the rigid outer container and the base abutting region corresponding to the base of the rigid outer container. 
   
   
       3 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the spout further includes a base flange which is secured to the liner, the one way valve member includes a material flap which is attached to the spout by way of a weld, wherein a portion of the material flap is positionable in abutment with a lower surface of the base flange, to, in turn, seal the spout from egress of flowable material. 
   
   
       4 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the spout surrounding region is structurally configured for stretching between 5% and 15% in any direction. 
   
   
       5 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the spout surrounding region is substantially free of each of creases and folds upon the stretching thereof. 
   
   
       6 . A liner assembly for a shipping container, wherein the liner is positionable within an outer rigid container and fillable with a flowable material, comprising:
 a liner having a plurality of walls generally complementing the cavity of the rigid outer container, the liner defines an inner cavity, the walls of the liner include a spout surrounding region,   a spout positioned such that the spout surrounding region extends thereabout, the spout providing fluid communication with the inner cavity of the liner, the spout including a one way valve which facilitates the ingress of flowable material while precluding the egress of material.   whereupon filling of the liner with a flowable material, the spout surrounding region structurally configured for controllable stretching by the flowable material, to, in turn, facilitate flowable material in excess of a capacity of the cavity of the liner prior to filling.   
   
   
       7 . The shipping container of  claim 6  wherein the spout further includes a base flange which is secured to the liner, the one way valve member includes a material flap which is attached to the spout by way of a weld, wherein a portion of the material flap is positionable in abutment with a lower surface of the base flange, to, in turn, seal the spout from egress of flowable material. 
   
   
       8 . The liner assembly of  claim 6  wherein the spout surrounding region is structurally configured for stretching between 5% and 15% in any direction. 
   
   
       9 . The liner assembly of  claim 6  wherein the spout surrounding region is substantially free of each of creases and folds upon the stretching thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The liner assembly of  claim 6  further comprising means for controlling the stretching of at least one sub-region of the spout surrounding region. 
   
   
       11 . A method of filling a shipping container comprising:
 providing a rigid outer container;   placing a flexible liner assembly within a cavity defined by the rigid outer container, the liner including walls defining a spout surrounding region and a spout;   filling the flexible liner with a flowable material through the spout; and   stretching the spout surrounding region with the flowable material during filling thereof by a flowable material.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of precluding the egress of flowable material through the spout at least during the step of stretching the spout surrounding region. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of precluding the stretching of any regions other than the spout surrounding region of the liner. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of stretching further comprises the step of stretching the spout surrounding region until the spout surrounding region is substantially free from creases and folds. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of stretching further comprises the step of stretching the spout surrounding region between 5% and 15% in at least one direction. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of stretching increases a volume of the liner by at least 5%.