Improved specialist pouch

Abstract

 There is provided a method of mixing powdered or granular solid material (2) with a liquid (4) using a mixing bag (1). The bag (1) includes a mouth and an opening (5) with a non-return valve. In the method the bag is partly filled with a mixture of the powdered or granular material (2) through the mouth, the mouth is then closed, the liquid (4) is added through the non-return valve and the bag manipulated to mix the liquid (4) with the solid material (2). Suitably the non-return valve comprises a tubular insert (8) sealed into the bag.

Description

[0001] This invention is concerned with the provision of an improved form of mixing bag and with the provision of a method of mixing using the mixing bag. The inven­tion is especially, though not exclusively, directed or intended for use by do it yourself (DIY) enthusiasts. The mixing bag and the methods of use are particularly helpful in mixing a powder or granular material e.g. cement with a liquid e.g. water. For this purpose it is usual to make a cement mix on the ground with a hand shovel or to use some form of mechanical mixer.

[0002] The present invention provides a cleaner and more efficient way of mixing products such as cements, mortars, plasters and so on. Our new bag mixing method is more efficient, cleaner and more convenient than traditional methods. The bag has been designed to facilitate the initial mixing of solid materials and then allows li­quid to be added e.g. through a special non-return valve without having to reopen the bag. The consistency of the mix can be judged at any time during mixing by use of a transparent or translucent bag material. It is an advan­tage of this invention that the mixed materials do not need to be transferred to another suitable container for transporting to the point of use because that step can be undertaken with the mix in the mixing bag.

[0003] Another point to be considered is that sometimes wet or damp sand or other material may be used so that the water content of the mix can be very variable and this can be easily regulated by using the new bag to pro­duce either a sloppy mix or a still dryish mix according to requirements. Consistency can be judged at any time very accurately by inspection through clear bag material. Although we have referred particularly to cement mixes it will be understood that this is one example only and that the bag and the method have a much wider application e.g. to food mixes and so on.

[0004] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is now directed to the accompanying drawings given by way of example.

[0005] In the drawings

Fig 1 shows a bag being partly filled with mixture,

Fig 2 shows the mouth of the bag closed after filling,

Fig 3 shows the bag being rolled,

Fig 4 shows liquid being fed into the bag,

Fig 5 shows the bag in an inverted position,

Fig 6 shows a modified form of bag using inserted material along one side

Fig 7, 8 and 9 are further views of the bag shown in Fig. 6, and Fig 10 shows another modified form of bag

[0006] As shown in Fig. 1 a bag 1 is partly filled with a mixture 2 of solids e.g. sand and cement or a cake or pudding mix. A tie 3, preferably of the quick release type, is then applied as shown in Fig. 2 to seal the bag 1. To thoroughly mix the mixture 2 the bag is then rolled over in different directions as shown in Fig. 3. Liquid 4 is then added through a suitable form of non-return valve or closable opening 5, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0007] Finally mixing of the solids with the liquid can then be effected by further rolling of the bag 1 as shown in Fig. 3, and extra liquid can be added if necessary through the valve or opening 5 to obtain the required consistency. If at any time too much liquid has been added then the securing means 3 can be released and more solid material can be added through the mouth of the bag.

[0008] It will be understood that the bag 1 is preferably made from a heavy gauge clear flexible plastics material. A suitable non-return valve may be in the form of a tubular insert of the same or a similar material sealed into the bag 1 in any suitable place e.g. at the bottom 6 of the bag as shown in Fig. 5 which is drawn in an inverted position. The tube may be sealed in position by using a piece of inserted interference material so that the bag 1 is sealed to the tube while leaving the tube itself open to allow the passage of liquid through the tube to the inside of the bag 1. Naturally other types of non-return valve can be used or produced specifically to allow the bag with a non-return valve to be made fully automatically on a suitable machine, see Figs 6, 7, 8 and 9 which show one method. Figs. 6 and 7 show a completed bag 1 with inserted folded material 8 sealed in position. Fig. 8 shows a step in the manufacture of the bag 1 with the plastics material folded over at 7 and the folded material 8 inserted between the open side edges 9 of the plastics material.

[0009] The inserted folded material 8 allows the edges 9 to be sealed together by seals 12. Fig. 9 shows how the water valve aperture can be made automatically by using an inserted seal interference member 11. The interference material is automatically inserted by the machine between folded material 8 prior to making seals 12. In effect the water valve aperture 5 is produced by stopping the folded material 8 sealing together in the aperture area 5 but allowing the folded material 8 to seal to the outer material along edge 9. When the folded material is in position as shown e.g. in Fig. 6 and 7 the folded material 8 forms a tubular compartment within the bag extending down one side. Solid material can be fed into the bag through the opening as shown in Fig. 1 and later on the liquid is fed in through the valve or opening 5 into the tubular compartment, holes 10 being provided in the folded material insert, but not in the bag material, to allow the liquid to pass into the main part of the bag. The holes 10 are shown e.g. in Fig. 6 to indicate that the bag material is transparent.

[0010] References above to the use of a non-return valve are intended to indicate a valve of the type described in our previous Patent No 2096570 in which the valve consists of a tube of flexible plastics material which opens to allow liquid to flow into the bag but which seals itself automatically afterwards due to the sides of the tube lying flat against one another.

[0011] The use of the method of manufacture described in relation to Figs 6 and 9 enables the bags to be made easily in a continuous manufacturing process similar to that described in our previous patent using an inserted interference member to prevent the entrance tube 5 being sealed up.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 10 the bag 1 may have a fold or gusset 13 along one side to allow the bag to open out when it is filled and the inserted folded material 8 may be disposed along the opposite side of the bag which is heat sealed along the edge 12. In this construction cuts 14 may be used instead of the holes 10.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a homogeneous mixture of powdered or granular solid material and then adding liquid to the mixture using a bag of flexible material including a mouth and an opening with a non-return valve including the steps of partly filling the bag with a mixture of powdered or granular material through the mouth, closing the mouth of the bag e.g. by tying, rolling the bag to homogenise the mixture, adding liquid through the non-­return valve and rolling the bag again to mix the liquid with the solid material

2. A bag for use in the method claimed in Claim 1 comprising a flexible envelope made of heavy gauge flexible plastics material with a non-return valve in the form of a tubular insert sealed into the bag e.g. at the bottom.

3. A bag according to Claim 2 wherein the tubular insert is sealed in position by using a piece of inserted interference material so that the bag is sealed to the tube while leaving itself open to allow the passage of liquid through the tube to the inside of the bag.

4. A bag according to Claim 2 wherein the bag is made by folding over plastics material so that the edges are adjacent to one another and additional folded material is inserted between the adjacent edges of the folded over plastics material, the bag then being sealed along the edge by making a seal (12) leaving a valve aperture (5) so that the additional inserted folded material forms a tubular compartment within the bag extending down one side, holes (10) being provided in the tube, but not in the bag itself, to allow liquid to pass into the main part of the bag when liquid is fed in through the valve aperture.

5. A bag according to Claim 4 modified in that cuts are provided instead of holes and a gusset 13 is provided along the edge opposite to the tube formed by the inserted folded material.

Drawing