JP2010534598A - Container insert for zero headspace - Google Patents

Abstract

  A container (3) that is a suitable container for containing a liquid composition and includes an insert (1) located at the neck (2) of the container (3), the container (3) being a liquid composition Container (3) with zero head space below this insert (1) when filled with objects.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to containers having zero headspace. More specifically, the present invention relates to an insert that achieves zero headspace in a container.

  When a liquid composition is packaged in a consumer package, air is typically trapped at the top of the container before it can be sealed. Air trapped in the upper part of the container (headspace) results in bubbles, which cause the composition in the bottle to separate when the bottle is rotated or turned. If a specific design is created in the liquid composition in the container, the air bubbles can damage the design during shipping. Headspace can generally be reduced by “filling” the container with a sufficient amount of composition to prevent air from remaining at the top of the container. However, this technique is difficult to automate and therefore typically must be done manually. In addition, “filling up” often results in overflow of the liquid composition, which is expensive and jeopardizes the overall quality of the liquid product in the container.

  A known method for eliminating headspace is to vent the liquid container. One technique is to use a piece of rubber, a metal spring, and / or a flexible film (typically used to lift and open the vent opening in the seal when the internal pressure reaches a predetermined threshold. Includes pressure systems, including vinyl chloride). The method of opening the vents is highly dependent on the type of liquid that escapes air in order to be operable. This also limits design options and prevents optimal dispensing of the liquid composition. Another technique is to provide an elaborate passage in the seal, which allows gas to exit the system but minimizes liquid outflow. A third system, sometimes referred to as a pin orifice system, utilizes one or more small openings in rubber, metal, or plastic diaphragm, which makes the material permeable to gas. Yet another system, commonly referred to as a positive displacement pump, or piston system, utilizes a mechanism that pushes the composition to the top of the container by raising the piston or pump. However, none of the methods described above effectively eliminate headspace from the container.

  In general, the above-described methods require the gas to be manually evacuated after filling by squeezing a pump or container that forces the gas to pass through the vent material. These methods are vulnerable to incomplete discharge of gas and often result in backflow of gas into the container. In particular, when gas is discharged by compression of a flexible container, some gas tends to move back into the container when the container is returned to an uncompressed position.

  Thus, there remains a need for a seal that creates a zero head space during packaging and at the same time prevents reintroduction of gas into the container. There is also a need to allow the consumer to easily dispense the package contents from the same seal.

  The present invention fulfills the aforementioned needs by providing a container that is suitable for containing a liquid composition and that includes an insert located at the neck of the container, the container being filled with the liquid composition. The zero headspace exists below this insert.

  While the invention will be described in conjunction with the specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternative, modified, and equivalent embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the summary of the invention given above, and together with the “DETAILED DESCRIPTION” shown below, serve to explain the invention.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a container including a liquid composition and an insert described herein. The expanded perspective view of the valve | bulb utilized as an insert of the container in this specification. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the valve illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a side view of the valve illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a container containing a liquid composition according to a dispensing assembly described herein. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the top of the container including the liquid composition and insertion of a valve according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the top of a container containing a liquid composition, illustrating the movement of the liquid composition through a valve when inserted into the neck of the container. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the top of a container containing a liquid composition illustrating the substantial balance on both sides of the face of the valve after insertion.

  While the specification concludes with claims that particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description.

  The term “insert” as used herein allows a liquid composition to pass under conditions of a sufficient pressure differential and can be fixed inside a container suitable for the liquid composition. Refers to mechanism. A valve is a type of insert.

  The term “valve” as used herein refers to a liquid, gas, or other substance through a passage, pipe, inlet, outlet, etc. that is activated when a sufficient pressure differential is exerted thereon. Means a device for interrupting or controlling the flow.

  The term “substantially equilibrated” as used herein means that the pressure acting on both sides of the surface is approximately equal or equal. Under substantially equilibrium conditions, the valves herein remain sealed. The absence of a pressure difference creates a substantial equilibrium.

  The term “pressure difference” as used herein means the pressure acting on one side of the insert herein such that the insert is activated and thereby becomes permeable.

  The term “zero head space” as used herein refers to the space within the container between the lower surface of the insert and the upper surface of the liquid composition located below the insert. In achieving zero headspace, there is no space between the (lower) bottom surface of the insert and the liquid composition.

  In one embodiment, the insert utilized to achieve zero headspace is the valve 1, which is designed to be effectively inserted into the neck 2 of the container 3. The valve 1 is typically connected or sealed to the inner wall 16 of the neck 2 by a retaining ring 5. The valve 1 generally comprises a flexible, resilient material that can open and dispense fluid when a pressure differential is applied, and is substantially free of liquid and gas in the relative absence of a pressure differential. Is impermeable. The valve 1 can be made from a thermoplastic elastomer based on materials such as thermoplastic propylene, ethylene, urethane, styrene, and their halogenated counterparts. Similar valves are described in US Pat. No. 5,439,143 and US Reissue Patent 39,520. Additional valves are commercially available from sources such as Liquid Molding Systems of Crystal Lake, Illinois.

  One type of valve 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, includes a flexible central surface 6, which has a concave shape (when viewed from the outside) and intersects two mutually perpendicularly. A distribution slit 7 of approximately the same length is defined. The intersecting slits 7 define four generally fan-shaped flaps 8 in the concave central surface 6. The flap 8 is responsive to a sufficiently large and increasing container pressure (pressure difference) that can be achieved by squeezing the flexible container 3 or when inserting the valve 1 into the neck 2 of the container 3. And open outward from the intersection of the slits 7.

  The valve 1 includes a skirt 10 (FIG. 4) that extends outward from the central surface 6 of the valve 1. There is a thin, annular flange 11 at the outer (upper) end of the skirt 10 that extends circumferentially from the skirt 10 in an angular orientation. The thin flange 11 ends with a large, much thicker peripheral flange 12, which generally has a V-shaped cross section.

  The lower surface of the peripheral flange 12 is coupled to the retaining ring 5, which extends upward to form a cylinder 13, which typically has a slightly longer length than the neck 2 of the container 3. The cylinder 13 includes an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 15. The outer wall 15 of the cylinder 13 may include matching means for sealing the outer wall 15 of the cylinder 13 to the matching surface of the inner wall 16 of the neck 2 of the container 3. The matching means may include a thread, a clamping mechanism, a clip mechanism, an adhesive, or other means known in the art for creating a seal.

  As noted above, when gas is present in a package containing a liquid composition, the gas pocket at the top of the package is often the composition either chemically, aesthetically, or both. Break up. As a suspension or gas capsule, other gases may be present in the liquid composition, but the gas pocket at the top of the package may move through the liquid composition during transport, which causes the above-mentioned splitting. Let This problem is solved by a zero headspace insert.

  In one embodiment, zero headspace is achieved by filling the container 3 with a liquid composition 17 to a height 18 above the shoulder 19 of the container 3, as represented in FIG. Upon filling, the container typically has a volume of gas 9 (air) that remains on top of the container 3, typically on the shoulder 19 and in the neck 2. The valve 1 is inserted into the neck 2 and replaces the liquid composition 17. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the valve 1 descends to the neck 2 and replaces the liquid composition 17 inside the container 3 until the valve 1 is flipped upward and opened. The liquid composition 17 flows through the valve opening 4 and accumulates on the valve 1, generally in the neck 2 of the container 3. The valve 1 then returns to its sealed position as represented in FIG. 8 when the valve 1 reaches substantial equilibrium. After the valve 1 is inserted and secured to the neck 2 by the fitting means described above, a cap (not shown) is then applied to the container 3 as a seal by various means known in the art. Also good.

  The zero headspace insert described above prevents gas above the valve 1 from entering the liquid composition 17 in the container 3 and splitting. This is particularly useful to prevent damage to the liquid composition including the pattern or design due to rotation of the container 3 and movement of bubbles throughout the liquid composition 17. Of course, preservation of such patterns and designs is particularly relevant for liquid compositions packaged in transparent containers. Therefore, in one embodiment, the container 3 is a transparent or translucent container.

  In use, in order to release the liquid composition 17 from the container 3, the valve 1 must be removable or the container 3 may be flexible. Thus, in one embodiment, the valve 1 is removable by removable fitting means such as the thread described above. For personal care compositions, or other less viscous liquid compositions, a compressible container may significantly improve the ease of release of the liquid composition. Thus, in another embodiment, the container 3 is made primarily from a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Such materials can be made as transparent, opaque, or translucent containers. As mentioned above, the compression of the flexible container 3 creates a pressure difference sufficient to release the liquid composition 17 through the valve 1 without removing it.

  The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

  All documents cited in “Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” are incorporated herein by reference in their relevant parts and any citation of any document shall be recognized as prior art to the present invention. Should not be interpreted. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this specification contradicts any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or The definition shall apply.

  While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, all changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims (8)

  A container that is suitable for containing a liquid composition and that includes an insert located at the neck of the container, wherein the container is filled with the liquid composition and has a zero below the insert. A container with headspace.   The insert of claim 1, wherein the insert is a valve.   The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is a flexible container.   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container is transparent or translucent.   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, or poly (ethylene terephthalate).   The liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein the liquid composition exhibits a pattern or a design.   The liquid composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid composition is a multiphase personal care composition. a. Filling the container with a liquid composition to a height above the shoulder of the container;
b. Inserting into the container to replace the liquid composition until the liquid composition flows through a valve due to a pressure difference;
c. Sealing the valve in a substantially equilibrium state;
How to achieve zero headspace.

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