AU2013100904A4 - Means for improving the reuseability of a container - Google Patents

Abstract

An insert for a container, where the insert includes a product storage chamber and a neck member integrally connected with the product storage chamber. The neck member is adapted to engage with the container and includes an opening through which a product may be dispensed. C !~ Sr 3 Nt A 5) Ft~~j~y __ ___ 171 I *1 / } I ( t 1 I f

Description

2 MEANS FOR IMPROVING THE REUSEABILITY OF A CONTAINER The present invention relates generally to a means of improving the reusability of a 5 container or other form of packaging. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved means of recycling a container or other form of packaging. BACKGROUND In Australia, for example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations 10 provide that a container contaminated with residues of prescribed industrial waste (P1W) is, itself, considered a prescribed industrial waste. Approximately 2200 tonnes of drums and 2000 tonnes of waste containers and bags containing residual PlW were sent to landfill in 2004. This represents a considerable proportion of the total waste disposed annually to the landfills licensed to receive those wastes. Some containers 15 are also used as vessels for transport and disposal of solid P1W to landfill, although the quantity of these filled or partially filled containers is not included in the aforementioned proportion of total waste disposed annually in landfills. With a view of reducing the amount of such waste contributing to landfill, environmental 20 protection agencies (such as EPA Victoria) have proposed to create a statutory classification for prescribed industrial waste containers, such as plastic or steel containers, so that these wastes must be reused, recycled or recovered for energy. The proposed classification is intended to support the use of currently available management options, in accordance with the waste management hierarchy. This 25 classification will require reuse, recycling or energy recovery instead of disposal or containment and is intended to support consistent and sustainable management of these waste streams. P1W, including containers with PlW residues, can arise from commercial, industrial or 30 trade activities or from a laboratory of hospital. They include wastes that are potentially hazardous to people or the environment and wastes which may affect amenity (e.g., by odour). P1W needs to be carefully managed and closely regulated because of their potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment. 35 Examples of containers that may comprise a PlW residue would be known to those skilled in the art and include large containers. such as large steel drums (e.g., of 205 litre capacity), polyethylene drums (e.g., of 200 litre capacity) and intermediate bulk 3 containers (e.g., of 1000 litre capacity). Also included are small containers, such as plastic or steel paint containers and small containers holding automotive fluids and the like. 5 Invariably, after use, there will always be a level of PIW contaminating the container, particularly where the PIW is a viscous fluid (e.g., automotive fluids). Such containers are typically assessed for levels of residual PlW contamination to determine whether it exceeds the maximum residual volume specified by the relevant guidelines. Where containers are contaminated with an amount of residual P1W that exceed the maximum 10 residual volume specified by the relevant guidelines, or if they contain solidified PiW, the containers are typically sent to landfill sites. This is common practice for both large and small containers. If the residual PIW in the container is less than the maximum residual volume specified 15 by the relevant guidelines, the container is reconditioned for reuse (e.g., resale). However, the physical condition of the container will vary and is an important determinant in assessing reuse opportunities. The quality and type of residual P1W is also a key factor in determining if the container is suitable for reconditioning. For instance, many reconditioners are not licensed to accept containers containing certain 20 contaminants and residual P1W of volumes higher that those specified in their EPA licence. Higher volumes of residual PIW can also translate into higher costs associated with the disposal of the residual PIW before the container is fit for reconditioning. 25 Where the container is essentially free of PlW, though is in a physical condition unsuitable for reconditioning, the container can be sent for recycling. Many rigid containers are made of valuable and readily recyclable materials, such as steels and/or plastics, materials for which there are well-established recycling industries. However, to be recycled, the container must be free of residual PlW contamination, a task made 30 particularly difficult by the nature of many types of P1W, including viscous automotive fluids and the like. Typically, residual PIW removal from large containers is currently achieved by either (i) automated washing using a series of washing steps with a suitable detergent, (ii) a 35 series of high temperature solvent and/or caustic based solution pressure rinses or (iii) for steel containers, passing the inverted containers through an incinerator in order to remove dried, solidified and highly viscous/resinous PlW, Residual PIW removal from 4 intermediate bulk containers is currently achieved using manual or automated pressurised rinsing and low-grade detergents. Where the removal of solidified or highly viscous/resinous wastes is more difficult, the intermediate bulk containers are generally put through this cleaning process and sent for recycling or reused for less sensitive 5 purposes. Residual P1W removal from smaller containers is typically achieved by manual or automated triple rinsing using high-pressure rinsing technology to reduce water consumption and to remove more difficult residual P1W. However, existing cleaning processes are cumbersome, time-consuming and considerably expensive. Moreover, the detergents used in the cleaning process, upon subsequent disposal, can 10 have a significant impact of the environment, as well as a potential impact on human health. For particularly difficult residual P1W, additional processing may be required in which further residual PlW is removed by manually scraping of the container, followed by 15 triple rinsing. However, further processing certainly adds to the recycling costs and is generally avoided to the detriment of increased landfill. The present invention overcomes, or at least alleviates, some of the aforementioned problems of the art by providing a means of improving the reusability of a container by 20 minimizing or preventing the contamination of the container by a material carried therein that does not require the use of a cleaning process as currently employed in the art. For the purpose of brevity, the following description of the present invention will be made in the context of containers used to carry viscous or resinous fluids, such as automotive oils and the like. However, the skilled person would appreciate that the 25 present invention may have utility in any situation where it is desirable to reduce the level of contamination in a container by a material carried therein. The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present 30 invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 35 In a first aspect, the present invention provides an insert for a container, the insert including a product storage chamber and a neck member, wherein the neck member is 5 integrally connected with the product storage chamber, wherein the neck member is adapted to engage with the container and wherein the neck member includes an opening through which a product may be dispensed. 5 In one embodiment of the present invention, the neck member may comprise a flange adapted to engage the container at an opening therein. In another embodiment of the present invention, the neck member may comprise a rotation limiting means for limiting the rotation of the neck member relative to the container upon engagement. 10 Because the insert includes a product storage chamber, it can be manufactured, filled with a desired product and sealed apart from the container, and subsequently assembled with any one of a variety of containers. Engagement of the neck member with a selected container can be accomplished with 15 little or no modification of the neck member, the flange or an opening of the container. For instance, the shape or dimensions of the flange, or the opening of the container, may be modified to accommodate the engagement of the neck member with the selected container at an opening therein without otherwise modifying the components of the insert, Furthermore, a permanent or reversible engagement of the insert to the 20 container can be accomplished with a press-fit or snap-fit engagement that avoids the necessity for bonding or welding with adhesives or heat application. The engagement may also be configured to permit selective engagement and disengagement of the insert with the container to allow a manufacturer, distributor or consumer to change the insert as desired. This provides an advantage in that the insert of the present invention 25 may be discarded after use (e.g., after its contents have been removed), allowing the container to be reused without the necessity of removing contaminating product residue from the container. The neck member may also comprise annular threads or other engaging means for 30 engaging with the container. The neck member may also comprise an annular flange extending outwardly from the neck member, wherein the flange is dimensioned and adapted to allow the assembly of the insert to the container with a press-fit or snap-fit engagement. 35 The neck member may also comprise threads or other engaging means for receiving a cap. The cap can be cooperatively threaded or otherwise adapted to be received on the neck member such that the passage from the first end to the second end of the 6 neck member that provides access through the neck member can be selectively opened and closed. The rotation limiting means may also be provided to limit rotation of the insert relative 5 to the container upon engagement thereto. This, in turn, limits the insert from rotating relative to the container when the user fastens a cap to the neck member by way of the threads or other engaging means. Rotation of the insert relative to the container could otherwise cause the product storage chamber to twist and deform within the container. This, in turn, could affect the volume available for product storage, as well as the ease 10 of withdrawing the product from and/or replacing the product into the storage chamber. Accordingly, in another embodiment of the present invention, the rotation limiting means can play an important role in maintaining the functionality of the package. The insert of the present invention may also be provided with means for creating a 15 vacuum in the product storage chamber, such that the vacuum may cause the product storage chamber to collapse a predetermined amount each time an amount of product is withdrawn from the product storage chamber. The material from which the product storage chamber is generally selected from one of 20 a number of materials that are know to the skilled person as being compatible with a product or products to be stored therein. They may include a rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, high density polyethylene or combinations thereof. The product storage chamber may be made from a flexible material or a substantially 25 inflexible material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the product storage chamber is made from a flexible material. This has the advantage of ease of storage and transport as it may be collapsed to a manageable size prior to its insertion into a selected container. Use of a flexible material also has the advantage in that it can be discarded after use (i.e., once it has been substantially emptied of product or products) 30 in a collapsible form, thus taking up less space in landfill. A further advantage of having a product storage chamber made from a flexible material is that, upon being filled with a product or products, it can be expanded and deformed in situ (i.e., once inserted into the selected container) to approximate the shape and 35 dimension of the inner chamber of the selected container. Conversely, once the product storage chamber has been substantially emptied of product, the flexible storage chamber can be collapsed and removed through an opening in the container 7 without causing irreparable damage to the container. This has an advantage in that the container can be continuously reused without having the inner chamber of the container contaminated by product residue. 5 Further, where the product storage chamber is made from a flexible material, the neck member may be adapted to engage with an opening on the container that is smaller than the largest cross sectional area of the container. Prior to or upon engagement of the neck member with the container, the flexible product storage chamber can be inserted into a selected container through a relatively small opening. This also has the 10 advantage over a product storage chamber made from a substantially inflexible material, which may only be inserted into a selected container where the largest cross sectional area of the product storage chamber is smaller than or equal to the largest cross-sectional area of the selected container. 15 In another embodiment of the present invention, the neck member is attached to and forms an impervious seal with the product storage chamber. It may also be desirable that the material from which the product storage chamber is made provides a barrier that is impervious to contamination of the product or products therein from external sources. 20 In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container including an insert according to the present invention, as herein described. In one embodiment, the insert may be integrally formed with the container, After use (e.g., after the contents of the product storage chamber have been removed), the insert and/or the product 25 storage chamber can be removed from the container by any means available, including, but not limited to, cutting the insert and/or product storage chamber away from the container. In a certain embodiment of the present invention, the container is adapted so as to allow for the separation of the insert from the container. For example, the container may be provided with a weakened portion between the neck member of 30 the insert and the container, such that the insert can be separated from the container, for example, by twisting the neck member relative to the container. The weakened portion may include a thinned area relative to the adjacent portions of the container and neck member. The weakened portion may also include a plurality of perforations (e.g., annular perforations). 35 In a certain embodiment of the present invention, the product storage chamber is adapted to house a viscous and/or resinous fluid therein, including, but not limited to, a 8 prescribed industrial waste, as would be familiar to those skilled in the art. The viscous and/or resinous fluid may be a petroleum product (e.g., automotive oil, grease and the like). In certain embodiments, the container is a cylindrical container (e.g., a drum). 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a selected container (A) and an insert (B) chosen for the purposes of illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional, side elevation of a selected container 10 chosen for the purposes of illustrating another embodiment of the present invention, showing the insert of Figure 1 B engaged with the container of Figure 1A at its opening. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional, side elevation of neck members engaged with a selected container at its opening, as chosen for the purposes of illustrating other embodiments of the present invention, 15 Figure 4A shows a cross-sectional, side elevation of an insert, chosen for the purposes of illustrating another embodiment of the present invention, engaged with a selected container. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional, side elevation of the insert represented in Figure 4A, shown here as disengaged from the selected container, Figure 5 shows a series of cross-sectional, side elevations of the assembly of 20 an insert into a selected container, chosen for the purposes of illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional, side elevation of the insert of Figure 5 engaged with the selected container in a relaxed (A) and deformed (B) position, chosen for the purposes of illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. 25 Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional, side elevation of a insert engaged via its neck member to a plastic container (A) and a cardboard carton (B), chosen for the purposes of illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional, side elevation of an insert integrally formed with a container, chosen for the purposes of illustrating another embodiment of the 30 present invention.

9 As shown herein, except in Figure 81, the dotted lines represent an interrupted view of a feature in the drawings and are intended to illustrate that the particular feature can be of any suitable size and shape. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Specific embodiments to those previously stated of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description which is to be read as an illustrative example of the present invention with reference to the 10 accompanying drawings. Attention is directed to Figure 1A, showing a selected container (1) having an opening (2) through which a product, such as a viscous and/or resinous fluid, may be dispensed. Figure 18 is an interrupted perspective view of an insert showing a neck member (3) including threads (4) on an external surface of the neck member (3), an 15 opening (5) through which the product may pass and a flexible product storage chamber (6). In Figure 2, the insert of Figure 1B (7) is shown here engaged with the selected container of Figure 1A (1) at its opening (2) via its neck member (3). The insert includes a flexible product storage chamber (6) extending into the inner chamber 20 (8) of the container (1). It would be understood by the skilled person that the neck member may engage with the opening of the container by providing a neck member whose shape is adapted to receive and engage with the opening of the container in a relatively secure manner so as to minimize unnecessary slippage of the neck member away from the opening of the container. Where a more secure engagement is 25 required, the neck member and/or the opening of the container may include annular threads. In this respect, attention is directed to Figure 3, showing three varying embodiments of the present invention with the aim of providing a more secure engagement between the neck member (7) and the opening of the container (22). In a 30 first example, as illustrated in Figure 3A, the neck member (7) includes inwardly extending threads (9) engaged with opposing and outwardly extending threads (10). In a second example, as illustrated in Figure 3B, the neck member (7) includes inwardly extending threads (9) engaged with the opposing and outwardly extending threads (10) of the selected container at its opening, whilst the neck member (7) further includes 10 outwardly extending threads (11) that can be adapted to engage with inwardly extending threads of a cap. In a third example, as illustrated in Figure 3C, the neck member (7) includes outwardly extending threads (12) engaged with the opposing and inwardly extending threads (13) of the selected container at its opening. 5 Whilst the neck member of the insert may engage with an opening of a selected container, the opening of the neck member itself may define the opening in the selected container through which a product may be dispensed. In this respect, attention is drawn to Figure 4, showing an insert including a neck member (27) extending across the width of the selected container (21) and a product storage 10 chamber (26) extending into the inner chamber of the container (21). As can be seen in Figures 4A and 4B, the neck member (27) includes an opening (25) having a smaller width than the opening of the selected container and through which a product may be dispensed. Another advantage of the insert of the present invention is the ease with 15 which it can be inserted into a selected container. As illustrated in Figure 5, the insert (14) may be supplied in a manner in which the substantially flexible product storage chamber (6) is in an inverted position (Figure 5A). During assembly, the neck member (37) is engaged with the opening of the selected container (31), as shown in Figure 5B. The product storage chamber (36) can then be inserted by the user into the inner 20 -chamber (38) of the selected container (31), thereby reverting to its normal (i.e., "in use") position, as shown in Figure 5B. Once inserted, the product storage chamber can be filled with a suitable product, such as a viscous and/or resinous fluid. With reference to Figure 6, where the product storage chamber (46) is suitably flexible, the act of filling the product storage chamber (46) with a product (460) (e.g., a 25 viscous and/or resinous fluid) ensures that it can expand and deform towards the inner surface of the selected container (41), as shown in Figure 68. Another advantage of the insert of the present invention is that the neck member may be adapted to engage with an existing opening of a selected container. For this reason, the insert can be adapted to engage with existing containers, whether 30 large or small, as long as the neck member is constructed so as to engage with the existing opening of the container. Containers most suited for use with an insert in accordance with the present invention include commercial containers (e.g., barrels or drums) that are used to house automotive fluids and the like. However, the insert according to the present invention 35 may also be used in containers that are used domestically, such as plastic bottles 11 housing washing detergent, disinfectant and the like. Attention is drawn to Figure 7A, showing an insert engaged via its neck member (57) to a plastic container (16), having a substantially flexible product storage chamber (56) inserted within the inner chamber of the plastic container (16). 5 Another advantage of the insert of the present invention is that it can provide further structural support to a selected container. For instance, during use, the product storage chamber of the insert that houses a product may absorb some of the mechanical load presented by the weight and volume of the product housed therein. In doing so, the selected container can be manufactured from a material of slightly lesser 10 strength and/or durability, thus potentially reducing the costs of manufacturing the container. For instance, a plastic container that is currently used to carry liquid detergent and the like can be suitably substituted for a cardboard container fitted with an insert in accordance with the present invention. In this respect, attention is drawn to Figure 7B, showing an insert engaged with a cardboard carton (17) via a neck member 15 (57) at its opening, the substantially flexible product storage chamber shown here inserted into the inner chamber (58) of the carton (17). After use, the insert can be removed and the cardboard container can be recycled via existing paper recycling methods or, alternatively, another insert can be placed into the container and refilled with any given product. 20 In another embodiment of the present invention, the insert may be integrally formed with the container. With reference to Figure 8, the selected container (61) can be provided with annular perforations (18) that allow the separation of the insert (67) from the container (61), for example, by twisting the neck member (63) relative to the container (61). 25 It is to be understood that various other modifications and/or alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as outlined herein. For instance, the skilled person would know that the scale of the features described herein may be altered without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is 30 included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention before the priority date of each claim of this application.

12 Finally it is to be understood that various other modifications and/or alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as outlined herein. Future patent applications may be filed on the basis of or claiming priority from 5 the present application. It is to be understood that the following provisional claims are provided by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of what may be claimed in any such future application. Features may be added to or omitted from the provisional claims at a later date so as to further define or re-define the invention or inventions. 10

Claims (19)

1. An insert for a container, the insert including: 5 a. a product storage chamber; and b. a neck member integrally connected with the product storage chamber; wherein the neck member is adapted to engage with the container and includes an opening through which a product may be dispensed. 10

2. The insert according to claim 1, wherein the neck member includes a flange adapted to engage the container at an opening therein.

3. The insert according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the neck member includes a rotation limiting means adapted to limit rotation of the neck member 15 relative to the container.

4. The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the neck member is adapted to provide a press-fit or snap-fit engagement of the neck member with the container. 20

5. The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the neck member includes an annular thread adapted to engage with a cooperative annular thread on a surface of the container. 25

6. The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the neck member includes an engaging means for receiving and engaging a cap.

7. The insert according to claim 6, wherein the engaging means is an annular thread adapted to engage with a cooperative annular thread of the cap. 30

8. The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the insert further includes a means for creating a vacuum in the product storage chamber.

9. The insert according to claim 8, wherein the insert further includes a means for 35 creating a vacuum in the product storage chamber is adapted to cause the product storage chamber to collapse a predetermined amount each time an amount of product is withdrawn from the product storage chamber. 14

10. The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the product storage chamber is substantially flexible. 5

11. The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the product storage chamber is made from a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, high density polyethylene or combinations thereof.

12. A container including an insert according to any one of claims 1 to 11. 10

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the insert is integrally formed with the container.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the insert is separated from the 15 container by a weakened portion that is adapted to allow separation of the insert from the container.

15. The container according to claim 15, wherein the weakened portion is defined by a plurality of perforations. 20

16. The container according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the product storage chamber is adapted to house a viscous and/or resinous fluid therein.

17. The container according to claim 16, wherein the viscous and/or resinous fluid 25 is a prescribed industrial waste.

18. The container according to claim 17, wherein the prescribed industrial waste is a petroleum product. 30

19. The container according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the container is a drum.