Transportation and Storage System for Bagged Fluids CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS)

[001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to United States Utility Application No. 13/793,228, filed March 1 1, 2013, and claims the benefit of and priority to United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/720,787 filed October 31, 2012. The entire disclosure of the above documents is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention.

[002] This disclosure generally relates to a system for transporting and storing bagged fluids, particularly potable fluids.

2. Description of Related Art.

[003] The packaging of liquids in flexible bags is well known. Because the materials used to make inexpensive flexible bags for the packaging of fluids are generally susceptible to breakage, tearing, puncture, or other forms of mechanical breach of the physical integrity of the bag, it is also known to assemble liquid-filled bags within protective packaging for transport and/or dispensing. These protective packaging devices can be made in a number of ways such as from heavy-weight paper (e.g., cardboard), heavy plastic, or other carriers.

[004] Some assemblies exist which are designed for the containment of potable liquids for consumption, i.e., beverages, for which the protective packaging is integrated with the liquid- filled bag. These beverage assemblies can come in two major forms. Some are designed to provide for flexible, more disposable, covers while others are more rigid and can provide for additional storage and beneficial effects. Common examples of more rigid protective covers are provided by the so-called bag-in-a-box containers, in which an inner flexible liner, i.e., a liquid-filled bag, is attached to or placed in a cardboard box that provides the necessary support for easy dispensing of the liquid. In effect, while the bag provides the liquid containment, the box, which is unable to hold fluid generally, provides rigidity to the composite assembly to keep it from flexing and moving around.

[005] In these assemblies the liquid-filled bag is generally not intended to be removed from the box at any time prior to or during use, and generally is attached to the box in some semipermanent manner, such as through use of an adhesive, to keep the assembly together. One reason for this arrangement is because the various parts cannot effectively operate on their own. For example, a distinguishing characteristic of these assemblies is that the paperboard from which the box is usually made is not a material sufficient for maintaining the sterility of the outer surface of the inner, liquid-filled bag, and therefore the assembly is used only in cases where sterility is not needed. Further, dispensing valves and the like are often constructed as an integral part of the assembly and therefore require both parts be present to function correctly.

[006] A second problem with placing bags of potable fluid in boxes is that a taste of the box can leach into the plastic of the bag and can transfer to the fluid. For this reason, many assemblies utilize expensive specialty bags. While a flexible plastic bag can generally constrain fluid in the bag, it does not necessarily prevent very small particles from passing therethrough. The problem of taste transmission can be compounded if the box is wet or otherwise exposed to fluids that can result in particles from the box coming into more direct contact with the material of the bag.

[007] Thin plastic bags, however, are particularly advantageous for applications where the bag material needs to be quite thin and flexible to allow for penetration of a spike-based dispensing mechanism to be used in dispensing the fluid from the bag; that is, systems where the dispensing mechanism is not built into the bag or box. In such situations, the bag, by its nature to provide for appropriate spiked access, can be particularly susceptible to this type of assimilation. In many cases, this is not a problem, the bag is very large and the material inside the bag has a particularly strong taste (e.g. mustard) which can easily counteract any perceived taste difference due to storage. However, for potable water, which has very little taste, the taste issue can become significant.

[008] A further problem with a bag-in-a-box is that of transportation. The general reason for placing a bag in a box is to provide for easier storage (as the boxes can be stacked more readily and can have a more rigid structure) and easier transportation (as the rigidity of the box can make it easier to carry by hand, in vehicles, or using other traditional conveyances). However, unless the bag is built into and adhered to the box, the bag will rarely rigidly fill the box as the box is usually a little bit larger than the bag in order to make it relatively easy to place the bag in the box. This also allows for the bag to be damaged should the box be struck or crushed as if the fluid-filled bag completely fills the box (e.g. the fluid volume is virtually identical to the volume of the box) a penetrating hit against the box could result in an unintended penetration of the bag.

[009] In the situation, however, where the fluid filled bag is smaller than the box, the bag can move around in the box and this can result in friction damage to the bag. Such damage, in the worst case scenario, can result in a weak point being developed in the bag and eventual failure of the bag to constrain the fluid. Even outside of this catastrophic failure, friction can exacerbate taste transfer, can result in the bag being more difficult to handle, and can potentially harm sterility of the surface of the bag, making a sterile penetration for purposes of spiked dispensing difficult.

[010] To attempt to deal with this problem, U.S. Patent No. 6,098,844, is directed to a water dispensing system that includes a puncturable water-filled bag, with a protective packaging directly attached to the liquid-filled bag. This protective packaging is intended to be removed prior to use of the liquid-filled bag. In this patent, however, the protective packaging is a set of independent sheets of material— panels applied to the curved planar surfaces of the liquid- filled bag which are depicted as being peeled off of the liquid-filled bag like the peel of a banana is peeled off of the fruit and while providing some sterility, these cannot provide any structural benefits and are susceptible to being torn off inadvertently.

[Oi l] US Patent Publication No.: 2007/0154119 also provides for a puncturable water bag with protective plastic overwrap packaging, but this packaging is specifically designed to provide strength to the bag combination to allow it to be used without need to include any other support. Thus, a pure bag system can provide for additional rigidity to the assembly by helping to force a shape and rigidity to the underlying bag.

[012] While these systems solve some of the problems discussed previously, they fail in a number of crucial areas. For one, structures which utilize only bags are often difficult to stack and transport, even if the bag structure is relatively rigid, due to the structure not having linear sides. Further, bag systems also can suffer from friction damage as the two bag structure can often freely move, the outer panels can be pulled loose in certain transportation scenarios, and the bags are not easily labeled and identified.

SUMMARY

[013] Because of these and other problems in the art, there is described herein, a transport system for a fluid which comprises a fluid containing bag, an overwrap bag which encloses the fluid containing bag, and a box which encloses the overwrap bag. In an embodiment, the fluid containing bag is vacuum sealed about the fluid containing bag while in an alternative embodiment the fluid containing bag is placed loosely in the overwrap bag. The two different embodiments can be used to provide for slightly different features for the assembly depending on the intended use.

[014] Accordingly, described herein is a bagged fluid assembly comprising: an inner liquid- filled bag; a protective packaging, the protective packaging being sealed about the liquid- filled bag to create a bag assembly and providing protection from mechanical failure; and an outer carrier, the bag assembly being placed inside the outer carrier.

[015] In one embodiment of the bagged fluid assembly, the protective packaging is pliable and not materially damaged by deformation. Further, in one embodiment of the bagged fluid assembly, the protective packaging is a second bag. In another embodiment, the protective packaging is made of a strong and durable material. In still another embodiment, the protective packaging is comprised of two pieces bonded together.

[016] In another embodiment, the inner bag is flexible and readily-puncturable.

[017] In one embodiment of the bagged fluid assembly, the protective packaging is vacuum sealed to the inner liquid-filled bag, causing the inner liquid-filled bag and the protective packaging to behave as a singular unit. In one embodiment of this bagged fluid assembly, the pressure of trapped air between the protective packaging and the inner liquid-filled bag is reduced to be within the range of about 0-0.8 atm.

[018] In one embodiment, the protective packaging maintains a sterile environment within the space it encloses once it is sealed. In another embodiment, the protective packaging prevents fluid leaching. Further, in another embodiment, the protective packaging provides increased resistance to small particle transfer through its surface.

[019] In another embodiment, the outer carrier is a box. In one embodiment, the outer box will have improved resistance to deformation. In still another embodiment, the outer box is capable of maintaining its shape under stress. Finally, in another embodiment, the bagged fluid assembly can be easily stacked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fluid bag in an overwrap bag placed in a box.

[021] FIG. 2 shows the fluid bag in the overwrap bag of FIG. 1 removed from the box.

[022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fluid bag in an overwrap

bag placed in a box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[023] This disclosure is intended to teach by way of example and not by way of limitation.

[024] The FIGS depict views of two embodiments of a bagged fluid assembly (10). An element of the assembly shown in these FIGS, is an inner, flexible and relatively readily- puncturable liquid-filled bag (1 1). The liquid-filled bag (1 1) has been formed, in these embodiments, from a tube of material sealed along two sides. The tube is then sealed at the bottom to form a pouch, filled, and then sealed along the top. In an embodiment, this liquid- filled bag (11) may be produced (i.e., formed, filled, and sealed) under sterile conditions or otherwise sterilized after production, such that either or both of the liquid (21) contained therein is sterile and the outer surface of the liquid-filled bag (11) is sterile. In other embodiments, other methods of producing, and other configurations, shapes, and sizes for a flexible, relatively readily-puncturable, inner, liquid-filled bag (1 1) are used; the liquid-filled bag (11) is not necessarily produced from a tube, and could be similarly formed from a sheet, or formed using other methods or material configurations.

[025] In an embodiment, the liquid-filled bag (11) is designed to be used with one of various independent dispensing apparatuses to dispense the liquid to a user or consumer thereof. Specifically, it is designed for use with a bag spiking system where the valve and other dispensing apparatus is separate from the bag structure and is positioned to penetrate the outer wall of the bag (1 1) when dispensing is desired. In an embodiment designed for dispensing a fluid from the liquid-filled bag (11) through such a dispensing apparatus, the liquid-filled bag (1 1) is engineered to be readily punctured by and seal about a spike. One such embodiment of a dispensing mechanism which may be used to dispense from such a bag (11) is shown in United States Patent No.: 8, 177,096 the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. [026] The embodiment of the assembly (10), shown assembled in FIG. 1 and partially separated in FIG. 2 comprises a protective packaging (31) (also termed an overwrap or outer bag) sealed about the liquid-filled bag (11). In the embodiment shown, the protective packaging (31) is in the form of a second bag (31) of similar design to the first (11) and is designed to loosely contain the bag (11). This bag (31), however, as opposed to bag (11) is made of a relatively strong durable (i.e., not readily puncturable or tearable) material. Thus, it is not designed to be readily spiked.

[027] Further, in the embodiment of FIGS 1 and 2, the outer bag (31) is generally larger than the inner bag (11) and includes some trapped air (or another gas) inside its internal volume (39). Thus, the inner bag (11) can move relative to the outer bag (31) by sliding, rolling, or otherwise traversing the inner surface of the outer bag (31). While it is possible that the inner bag (11), in an embodiment, could be suspended inside the outer bag (31) in a way that inhibits them from contacting each other (e.g. through the use of pressurized air), this is generally not desirable as such suspension is not required and can result in a dramatically increased size.

[028] The protective packaging (131) of FIG. 3 is slightly different, in this embodiment the packaging (131) is formed from two pieces that have been bonded together in the manner of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. : 2007/01541 19, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. When complete, the peripheral seal completely joins the two pieces about their periphery or near thereto and completely encloses an internal volume, i.e., the space occupied by the inner liquid- filled bag (11) and any interstitial space between the liquid-filled bag (1 1) and the protective packaging (131).

[029] In an embodiment, prior to completing the peripheral seal, any interstitial space is essentially evacuated, causing the collapse of the protective packaging (131) about the liquid- filled bag (1 1), and decreasing the interstitial space to a very small and essentially unoccupied volume. The peripheral seal, which bonds the first and second pieces of the protective packaging (131), is completed while the interstitial space is held at a reduced pressure (i.e., the protective packaging (131) is vacuum sealed about the liquid-filled bag (1 1)). Once the peripheral seal is complete, the characteristics of the material of the protective packaging (131) and the peripheral seal allow the reduced pressure in the interstitial space to be maintained for a relatively long period of time. In alternate embodiments the pressure in the interstitial space is reduced to be within the range of about 0-0.8 atm, or more preferably about 0-0.5 atm, about 0-0.2 atm, or about 0-0.1 atm. This results in the two bags (11) and (131) essentially behaving as a singular unit.

[030] Generally, in both the above embodiments, the protective packaging (31) and (131) is pliable and is not materially damaged by deformation. It may be made of the same material as that of the liquid-filled bag (1 1), or of a different material, preferably a more durable, less readily-puncturable material. The protective packaging (31) and (131) is generally capable of maintaining a sterile environment within the space it encloses once it is sealed and may also provide increased resistance to small particle transfer through its surface, resistance to UV or other types of light, and/or tensile strength. Additionally, the protective packaging (31) and (131) will generally provide protection from mechanical failure of its integrity caused by physical stress, such as may occur during transportation of the bag assembly (30) (the bag assembly comprising the inner bag (1 1) and either the outer bag (31) or the outer bag (131)) to a location where the liquid will be dispensed, including such physical stresses as compression forces, whether such forces are distributed across a surface or applied at a point, sheer forces, and abrasive forces.

[031] The protection against mechanical failure provided to the liquid- filled bag (1 1) by the protective packaging (31) and (131) may be as a result of various factors, including the material from which the protective packaging (31) or (131) is made, as well as other attributes of that material, including such attributes as its thickness. In an embodiment the protective packaging (31) or (131) is made of the same material as the liquid-filled bag (1 1) but may be significantly thicker. In an alternate embodiment, the material used to construct the protective packaging (31) or (131) is a different material and may have a thickness greater than that of the material used to construct the liquid-filled bag (11), about the same, or less depending on its material properties. In an embodiment where the protective packaging (31) or (131) material is thicker than the liquid-filled bag (11) material, the greater thickness of the protective packaging (31) or (131) material will generally aid in providing resistance to mechanical failure.

[032] In yet another alternate embodiment, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the protective packaging (131) is made of more than one piece of material bonded together. The various pieces of the protective packaging (31) or (131) need not be of the same composition or thickness. For example one piece may be molded into shape from a flat sheet of material. In that case, the molding process may reduce the thickness of the material so that for the lower piece to have comparable thickness to another piece after the first piece has been molded requires that first piece, prior to molding, be of greater thickness than the second piece.

[033] In an embodiment, the protective packaging (31) and (131) is made from a different material than is used to make the liquid-filled bag (1 1), such material having been chosen for constructing the protective packaging (31) and (131) because of its inherent ability to resist mechanical failure, to protect the liquid-filled bag (11) from mechanical failure, to provide for a moisture or particulate barrier, or for the friction coefficient of its surface. For example, the material used for either the protective packaging (31) or (131) or the liquid-filled bag (1 1) may be any appropriate plastic material, especially an organic polymer material. Specific examples of organic polymer materials that may be used for either the liquid-filled bag (1 1) or the protective packaging (31) or (131) include polyolefins generally, and specifically include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly-vinylidene dichloride, polyethylene vinyl alcohol, nylon, and copolymers of any of these polymers. Other polymers as well as other suitable pliable materials may be used to construct the liquid-filled bag (1 1) and the protective packaging (31) or (131). In an embodiment, the liquid-filled bag (1 1) is constructed of a copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene, and the protective packaging (31) or (131) is constructed from a polymer comprising nylon. The protective packaging (31) or (131) is therefore significantly stronger and thicker than the material of the fluid filled bag (1 1).

[034] Further, the outer bag (31) or (131) may be designed to prevent fluid leaching through the bag. It is well known to those of ordinary skill that certain plastics, over time, can absorb fluids into them if they remain in contact therewith. This can cause contaminants in those liquids to be transferred through the material of the bag. In the case of a water filled bag (1 1), this can result in transfer of a contaminant exterior to the bag (1 1) slowly being leached into the water inside the bag (1 1). When bags are placed in a box (331), the likelihood of such leaching is increased due to mechanical interaction between the bag and the box (331) and with the possibility that the box (331) will get wet and absorb such fluid, allowing it to evaporate slowly compared to fluid which was simply placed on the protective packaging (31) and (131) increasing the exposure time to the contaminant.

[035] With regard to the seals in each of the liquid-filled bag (1 1) and the protective packaging (31) or (131), any method of sealing can be used, so long as the seal is sufficient to perform the task necessary for the seal, i.e., respectively, to keep the liquid in the liquid-filled bag (1 1), and to maintain the protective packaging (31) or (131) about the liquid-filled bag (11). For example, such a seal could be made using an adhesive applied between two joined surfaces. Another method of sealing is a heat induced weld. [036] In the preferred embodiment, the seals withstand typical forces applied against the seal during manufacture and distribution. With respect to any seal made on the liquid-filled bag (11), the seal should also withstand typical forces applied during use, for example, the forces that may be applied to puncture the liquid-filled bag (1 1) for purposes of dispensing the liquid. With respect to the seal on the protective packaging (31) or (131), this seal may be readily broken by an end-user or consumer desiring access to the liquid-filled bag (11) within the protective packaging (31) or (131). That is, in an embodiment, the peripheral seal on the protective packaging (31) or (131) is sufficiently strong to keep the liquid-filled bag (1 1) sealed within the protective packaging (31) or (131) under typical conditions of transport and storage, but will break, allowing access to the liquid-filled bag (11), under a reasonable force specifically applied against a seal by an unaided individual person. In a preferred embodiment, the engineering choices with respect to both the material used to make the protective packaging (31) and (131) and the strength of the seals are such that a seal breaks under the specifically applied force of an individual attempting to access the liquid-filled bag (11), such seal breakage occurring prior to mechanical failure of the protective packaging material.

[037] In an alternative embodiment, the seals of the outer bags (31) and (131) may be designed to resist unaided attempts at separation and puncturing. As the outer bags (31) and (131) are generally designed to be protective, the seals may not be readily breakable. Instead, the design may be such that the user has to utilize a knife or other tool to penetrate the outer wall of the bag (31) or (131) and/or any seals.

[038] For the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the vacuum sealing process described above provides the assembly with features not otherwise provided individually by the elements of the assembly. Due to the vacuum sealing, which results in a reduced pressure in the interstitial space, the protective packaging (131) is held tightly by the external air pressure to the liquid- filled bag (11), as shown in the FIGS, placing substantially all the protective packaging' s (131) internal area into contact with the liquid- filled bag (11) . In addition to enhancing the qualities of the protective packaging (131) that mitigate against breakage, the vacuum sealing process aids in maintaining the sterility of the liquid-filled bag (11), particularly on the outer surface of the liquid-filled bag (1 1).

[039] One advantage of the vacuum sealing is that the liquid-filled bag (11) and the protective packaging (131) behave essentially as a unitary packaging even though they are not actually bound together, e.g., not primarily bound by adhesive forces such as may result from use of an adhesive between the inner, liquid-filled bag (1 1) and the protective packaging (131). Such unitary behavior aids in transport by, for example, making the bag assembly (30) easier to grasp, lift, and carry, as opposed to an assembly in which the protective packaging (131) is not held tightly to the inner, liquid-filled bag (11). If the protective packaging (131) and the liquid-filled bag (11) are not held together, the liquid-filled bag (11) then would be able to slop about within the internal volume of the protective packaging (131) which can result in a mass shift during stops and starts of transportation.

[040] However, this rigid connection can also provide some problems. Specifically, as the two bags (1 1) and (131) are in close proximity, a single penetrating hit which can penetrate the structure of bag (131) can generally also penetrate the structure of bag (1 1). Thus, this type of design can be subject to certain types of damage unless the bag (131) is sufficiently strong. Thus the bag (131) generally has to be made quite a bit heavier than bag (1 1) and/or bag (31). In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner bag (11) is designed to move within the outer bag (31) and as such a penetration of the outer bag (31) will often not penetrate the inner bag (1 1) as it will simply shift away from the penetrating object. Further, as the bag assembly (30) when vacuum sealed behaves more as a unitary object, transmission through both layers is substantially easier than in a looser connection. [041] Another advantage of the vacuum sealing of the assembly is the added strength provided to the protective layer by virtue of the liquid-filled bag (11) material essentially acting in concert with the protective packaging (131) material. When the assembly is vacuum sealed, the protective packaging (131) is pressed and held against the liquid-filled bag (1 1) by the external air pressure. Thus held together, the two materials (whether the same or different) respond to certain physical stress stimuli essentially as a unitary, multi- layered material. This de facto multilayered material (though not actually a single multilayered material) is more protective toward mechanical failure than either material alone. So, while obtaining the added protection against mechanical failure that is otherwise observed in assemblies in which the protective layer is bonded to the liquid-filled bag (11), this assembly is generally smaller to manufacture and can provides easier access to the more readily puncturable inner, liquid-filled bag (11).

[042] While the above has discussed an arrangement of the inner bag (1 1) inside an outer bag (31) or (131) to form the bag assembly (30), the assembly (10) generally comprises a third major structure which is a more rigid, and generally more linearly constructed outer carrier (331). This carrier (331) in the depicted embodiments is a box (331) generally in the form of parallelepiped which may be constructed of a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, cardboard or other papers, plastics, metals, or other relatively rigid materials. The box (331) provides for some additional benefits to the bagged assembly (30) alone.

[043] Specifically, as the box (331) is generally capable of maintaining its shape, even under stress, the box (331) can allow for the assemblies (10) to be more easily stacked. Further, as is understood by those of ordinary skill, a box (331) has improved resistance to deformation due to the shape of corners and the stress distribution of its surfaces. Thus, a box (331) can often resist compressive forces to a greater extent than a bag assembly (30) can, even if the bag assembly (30) is filled with a more viscous fluid. A box (331) can also often absorb a much greater amount of frictional damage without loss of integrity than a flexible bag assembly (30) can.

[044] However, along with these advantages, the placement of a two bag assembly (30) in a box (331) can also result in concerns. For one, when a bag is placed in a box (331), it is often subjected to mechanical damage that it otherwise would not be. For example, if a bag is placed directly on a transportation surface and tied down, the bag will generally not move and therefore is not subject to frictional forces. However, if an external box (331) including the bag is so secured, the bag may still be able to move inside the box (331), which can result in friction and mechanical damage in the form of chaffing. Similarly, the close proximity of the box material to the bag can result in an easier transfer of external fluid, which may be able to pass through the material of the bag to reach the internal fluid.

[045] As should be apparent, many of the problems of a single bag in a box also exist from a bag assembly (30) when the inner bag (1 1) is in close proximity to its protective outer bag (131) (the design of FIG. 3). Specifically, as there is no air-gap between the two bags, the fluid can go directly from one material to the other and frictional damage can work through the structure of one bag and immediately begin acting on the other.

[046] To deal with these potential concerns, the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, provides that the bag assembly (30) is formed of bags (1 1) and (31) which are not vacuum sealed. Instead, the outer bag (31) is sealed about the inner bag (1 1) purposefully leaving a trapped air space around it. As the protective outer bag (31) is sealed, this bag (31) effectively also contains fluid (specifically air or another gas) which is sealed therein. This reduces fluid transfer from external both bags, through the material of both bags over the structure of FIG. 3 as there are additional transitions required.

[047] Still further, as the air or gas is trapped within the outer bag (31), the outer bag (31) will generally provide a cushioning structure for the inner bag (1 1). In the first instance, while the inner bag (11) can clearly move internal to the outer bag (31), there is generally a dramatically reduced likelihood of mechanical damage in such interaction as both the external surface of the inner bag (1 1) and the internal surface of the outer bag (31) will generally be smoother than an external surface of the box (331) would be. Similarly, should the outer bag (31) be punctured, the inner bag (1 1) will generally not be punctured as it can deflect away from the point of puncturing and even once partially deflated, the outer bag (31) can still provide the same frictional benefit.

[048] In effect, the advantage of the embodiment of FIGS 1 and 2 is that the bag assembly (30) (of bags (11) and (31)) has pieces that operate independently of each other and therefore damage to one is generally not transferred to the other. However, in this embodiment, the combination is only as strong as the weaker of its two parts. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the bag assembly (30) (of bags (1 1) and (131)) has pieces that operate together which provides a joint structure as strong or stronger as the sum of the parts, but allows for the more ready transfer of damaging action on one to the other. Thus, the two types of bag assemblies (30) can provide different features and generally will be selected based on the expected use and damage the bag assembly (30) will encounter with the best chosen for each scenario.

[049] Placing the selected two bag structure in a box provides for additional benefits to the bag assembly (30) as well as mitigating some of each assembly's (30) weaknesses. In the first instance, even when the bags are vacuum sealed together, stacking and carrying of the bag assembly (30) can be difficult. Specifically, most transportation infrastructure is built to handle rigid shapes. While generally quite rigid, the bag-in-bag structure is still flexible and can be hard to transport. Providing a box (331) can provide for it to be carried in a more standard fashion.

[050] Further, as discussed above, a plastic to plastic surface connection will generally be quite smooth. Thus, two multi-bag structures placed together will generally readily slide relative to each other. A box, on the other hand, can inhibit such motion by having a rougher external surface making it easier to transport the assembly (10) on certain inherently unstable vehicles (such as bicycles or motorcycles).

[051] The box (331) also provides for benefits that mitigate some of the weaknesses of the specific bag assembly (30). For example, with the bag assembly (30) of FIG. 3, allowing the bag assembly to have some movement relative to the box (331), such as by having an open top as shown, allows the bag assembly (30), as a whole, to move away from a damaging penetration reducing the likelihood of such penetration puncturing the assembly (30). Similarly, using the bag assembly (30) of FIGS. 1 and 2, the box (331) imposes rigidity on the assembly and provides an outer protective cover that may be stronger than both the internal bag components providing additional protection.

[052] While the invention has been disclosed in connection with certain preferred embodiments, the elements, connections, and dimensions of the preferred embodiments should not be understood as limitations on all embodiments. Modifications and variations of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and other embodiments should be understood to be encompassed in the present disclosure as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.