Collapsible Fluid Cartridge With Elastic Membrane

Abstract

A fluid cartridge is disclosed. The fluid cartridge includes a flexible bag body to store a fluid, a nozzle to discharge the fluid and a membrane inside the bag body to assist in the collapse of the bag body during discharging of the fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid cartridge comprising:
 a flexible bag body to store a fluid;   a nozzle to discharge the fluid; and   an elastic membrane inside the bag body to assist in the collapse of the bag body during discharging of the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the bag body comprises sidewalls having creases. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the membrane assists in the collapse of the bag by pulling in the sidewall creases. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 3  wherein the membrane exerts an elastic force in a perpendicular direction to the sidewall creases to aid in collapsing of the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 4  wherein the membrane exerts a maximum elastic force when the bag body is full. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 5  wherein the membrane exerts a minimum elastic force when the bag body is empty. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the membrane is fused into the sidewall creases. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the membrane comprises:
 a plurality of vertical bands; and 
 a plurality of horizontal bands. 
 
     
     
         9 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 8  wherein the horizontal bands hold the vertical bands in place. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 8  wherein an angle between horizontal bands and the vertical bands is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 8  wherein an angle between horizontal bands and the vertical bands is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 8  wherein the vertical bands are fused perpendicular to a line of the sidewall creases to permit folding. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 8  wherein the vertical bands are elastic. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the membrane comprises circular cutouts. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the circular cutouts have a horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the membrane is comprised of an elastic permeable material.