AU713160B2

AU713160B2 - Improved pump tube and pouch

Info

Publication number: AU713160B2
Application number: AU33189/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William C. Christine; Scott A. Roth
Original assignee: Inpaco Corp
Current assignee: Inpaco Corp
Priority date: 1992-12-15
Filing date: 1997-08-06
Publication date: 1999-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-08
Also published as: AU3318997A

Description

P00011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT a a. a.

a a.

a a NAME OF APPLICAI ACTUAL INVENTOR ADDRESS FOR SEF TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NT: INPACO CORPORATION WILLIAM C CHRISTINE; SCOTT A ROTH VICE: Peter Maxwell Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 IMPROVED PUMP TUBE AND POUCH INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED APPLICATION NOS: AU 40,318/93 8 April 1993 The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- The present invention relates generally to a device for holding a liquid product and having a pump tube for dispensing incremental amounts of the product from the device. In particular, the invention relates to a pouch having a pump tube extending from the bottom of the pouch, the pouch and pump tube being installable into a mechanical dispenser which selectively squeezes the pump tube to dispense predetermined incremental amounts of the liquid held within the pouch.

The invention is particularly adapted to hold liquid soap to be installed into a self-dispensing mechanism wherein activation of a push bar 10 or the like dispenses a predetermined amount of liquid soap out of a nozzle arranged at a bottom end of the pump tube. A mechanism for holding the pouch and tube is disclosed in U.S. specification No. 5,242,083 which is incorporated into the present disclosure by reference.

A number of prior art devices are known to holding liquids that include elongate cylindrical portions extending therefrom for squeezing by a ~dispensing mechanism. Such devices are illustrated in U.S. Patent Nos.

4,349,133, 4,463,876, 4,546,904, 4,667,854 and 4,932,562.

In a typical structure, a pouch is provided having a pump tube extending therefrom. A check valve is usually located at a lower end of the pump tube. The check valve comprises four pieces, an upper cap having a valve orifice, a lower cap having a through aperture and a ball fittable over said orifice, and a spring for biasing the ball against said orifice. When the pump tube pressure overcomes the force of the spring, fluid passes through the orifice and out of the aperture.

The check valve is designed to prevent fluid from leaking or dripping from the pump tube. Known check valve structures are not entirely satisfactory due to their complicated structure that makes manufacturing same time consuming. Additionally, the structure in combination with known pump tubes does not always prevent dripping.

An additional problem with known pouch and tube constructions is that the tube cannot be directly sealed to the pouch. Instead, it is necessary to use a coupler to seal the tube to the pouch.

There is therefore a need for an improved pump tube and pouch construction.

According to the invention there is provided a pouch for holding and dispensing incremental amounts of liquid, comprising: 10 a body section for holding a supply of liquid; a pump tube designed to be squeezed by a dispensing device and having a nozzle at an end thereof for passing the incremental amounts of liquid therefrom, the pump tube having at least a portion thereof sealed directly to the body section at a connection region of the body section, the pump tube 15 being in flow communication with an interior of the body section, the portion of the pump tube comprising an elastic first polyolefin material, and the 0. connection region of the body section comprising a second polyolefin material that is compatible so as to be sealable to the first polyolefin material.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved pouch and pump tube structure.

Additionally, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved soap dispenser.

Furthermore, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved pump tube for dispensing fluid.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides a tube/pouch structure wherein the tube can be secured directly to the pouch.

29/09/99 Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved pouch and pump tube structure in which the pump tube does not require a four piece check valve structure.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pouch with a pump tube of the present invention;

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29/09/99 Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the pouch and pump tube as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along lines IIl-Ill of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a pouch/pump tube interface as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the pump tube shown in Fig. 3;

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Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a component of the 10 tube of Fig. Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along lines VII-VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the nozzle shown in Fig. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the pump tube of the present invention; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of an embodiment of a nozzle for installation into the pump tube of Fig. Referring now to the figures, Figure 1 illustrates a pouch 20 for holding liquid. The pouch is defined by a plastic body 26. The body 26 can be constructed of any plastic film, but preferably is constructed from a polyolefin. In a preferred embodiment, the body is constructed from a three layer film having an outer and inner layer of a polyethylene, polypropylene, or blends thereof and a middle layer of a support structure such as polyamide. Figure 2 illustrates the pouch 20 filled into an expanded condition.

Pursuant to the present invention, a pump tube 28 is sealed directly to the body 26. As described in U.S. specification No. 5,242,083 the pouch 20 is loaded into a dispensing mechanism. A device squeezes the pump tube 28 to dispense incremental amounts of liquid through the nozzle Figure 3 illustrates the pump tube 28 in more detail. The pump tube 28 comprises an elongate tube 34 which according to the invention is preferably made of a polypropylene/butyl rubber composition such as that disclosed in U.S Patent No. 4,916,180, the disclosure of which is hereby 10 incorporated by reference. In an embodiment, the composition has been treated with a peroxide curing agent. Preferably, the pump tube comprises to 45 parts by weight thermoplastic polypropylene, 80 to 55 parts by weight butyl terpolymer rubber, 5 to 60 parts by weight oil and 2 to parts by weight of a reinforcing filler. It has been found that the use of this material allows the tube to be directly sealed to the body 26 without fitments or couplers.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the body 26 extends and provides a short film nozzle portion 36 which interfits inside the tube 34 at a top end thereof and is sealed against an inside of the tube 34. Due to the use of compatible polyolefin materials, the body and tube can be sealed together using a swage technique. The tube 34 provides a flange around a top end thereof to fit tightly against the body 26 around the nozzle portion 36. The tube 34, at an opposite end to said flange 40, has a check valve assembly 44 which comprises a reducing section 46 having a central aperture 48 therethrough, a neck region 49 having a tapered aperture 50, and an increasing section 51 having a second aperture 52 therethrough aligned with and communicating to said first aperture 48 via the tapered aperture in the neck region 49. The first aperture 48, the tapered aperture and the second aperture 52 form a venturi shaped pathway.

Surrounding the intersection between the reducing section 46 and the increasing section 51, and located outside of the tapered aperture 50 is a resilient ring 60 which, absent pressure in the pump tube 28, constricts the tapered aperture 50 closed. Upon application of liquid pressure in the pump tube, the tapered aperture 50 is forced open against the resilient force of the ring 60 to stretch open the ring 60 and allow liquid to pass a.O .through the first aperture 48, the tapered aperture 50 and the second aperture 52.

The increasing section 51 extends into a socket section 64. The nozzle assembly 30 fits tightly within the socket section 64. The nozzle assembly 30 provides a fitting flange 68 which abuts an outer surface 69 of the socket section 64 upon full insertion of the nozzle assembly 30 into 15 the socket section 64. The nozzle assembly 30 provides a central through

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aperture 70 for delivery of liquid from the second aperture 52 to a nozzle aperture 72 to be dispensed.

a: Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the pump tube 100. In this embodiment, the pump tube 100 includes a tube 104 that has a flange 106 at a top end thereof and a reducing section 108 at a bottom end which tapers into a dispensing cylinder 110. At an opposite end is located a duck bill check valve 112 illustrated in more detail in Figures 6 and 7.

Surrounding the cylinder section 110 is a receiving socket 114 which provides an annular female socket 116 defined between the socket 114 and the cylinder 110, also illustrated in more detail in Figures 6 and 7. A nozzle assembly 118 having a male engagement plug 122 and a stop flange 124 is inserted into the annular female socket 116 until the stop flange 124 abuts a facing edge 126 of the receiving socket 114. The nozzle section 118 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 8 and 9.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, the pump tube 100 is illustrated in more detail. Inside the receiving socket 114, annular grooves 130, 132 having right triangular profiles are provided. The annular grooves 130, 132 receive annular rings 134, 136 having a right triangle cross section arranged on the nozzle assembly 118 respectively as shown in more detail in Figure 8. The combination of grooves 130, 132 and rings 134, 136 hold •the nozzle assembly 118 into the receiving socket 114.

As illustrated, the duck bill check valve 112 has tapers 139a,b at its leading end in the plane of Figure 6. A slit 140, shown closed, is provided through a bottom wall 141 of the cylinder section 110. When the pressure "°ooo in the cylinder section 110 is raised by the pump tube to a sufficient degree, the slit 140 is spread open and an incremental amount of liquid passes therethrough. Upon retraction of the mechanism which had therebefore squeezed the pump tube, a suction is created in the tube which causes any liquid material still remaining at the nozzle to be sucked back before the slit 140 closes. This "suck back" prevents drips at a nozzle aperture 172 described in Figure 8.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the slit 140 extends only across a partial width of the check valve 112. The check valve is not tapered in the plane of Figure 7. An axial channel 142 is provided in the tube 104. The channel 142 has a barrel section 142a, a funnel section 142b, and a slightly tapered channel section 142c. The tapered channel section 142c terminates at the bottom wall 141.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the nozzle assembly 118 having the male engagement plug 122 with the annular rings 134, 136 and the stop flange 124 arranged therearound. The stop flange 124 is a C-shaped ring surrounding a body portion 143 which is axially continuous with the male engagement plug 122. The stop flange has a notch 145 which can be used for orienting the tube within the dispensing mechanism. The body portion 143 extends into a reduced tubular section 156 which terminates in a finger tab portion 158. The nozzle assembly 118 provides a first central channel 160 which opens into a second reduced conical channel 162 which opens into a third tapered channel 164. The third channel 164 terminates o• •in a closed end wall 166, thus preventing any passage of fluid through the nozzle assembly 118.

Arranged around an outside of the tubular section 156 is a reduced *o diameter section or annular notch 170. By grasping the finger portion 158 breaking the tubular section 156 at the notch 170, the third channel 0 164 is opened, forming the nozzle aperture 172 for use in dispensing liquid therethrough. Thus, for storage of a liquid filled pouch without leaking, the invention provides a sealed nozzle section which can be opened readily to actuate the device.

00 ~Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of the pump tube 184 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a top flange 186 provides a rectangular tab 188 extending on one side radially of the flange 186. This tab is useful in orienting the pump tube 184 within a dispensing apparatus.

At an opposite end of the pump tube 184, a modified socket 190 is used which extends further lengthwise than the previously described socket 114. The modified socket 190 extends to a face 200 which is approximately equal to the extension of the check valve 112. A flange 194, approximately circular, is arranged at this face 200. A notch 196 is provided in the flange 194 which is similar in shape to the notch 145 shown in Figure 9. The notch 196 is rectangular and can be used to orient the pump tube 184 within the dispensing mechanism. A female socket 197 is defined between the check valve 112 and the socket 190.

Figure 11 illustrates another embodiment of a nozzle assembly 204.

In this assembly, a cylindrical housing 206 having an axial channel 208 arranged therein is adapted to be interfit into the female socket 197 as described in Figure 10. As previously described, the notches 130, 132 engage with the ribs 134, 136 to hold the nozzle assembly 204 within the socket 190. The channel 208 tapers in a reducing area 210 into a straight channel 214.

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A cylinder section 218 is connected to the body 206. The cylinder a section 218 is axially penetrated by the channel 214. A flange 220 surrounds the cylinder section 218 at a position along its length. On an a.

opposite side of the flange 220 from the cylinder section 218, is a notch region 226 which is adapted to be broken as described previously with respect to the notch 170 of Figure 8. A cap portion 230 arranged on an opposite side of the notch region 226 from the flange 220 closes the channel 214 preventing any flow therethrough. The cap 230 is connected to a finger tab portion 234. The tab portion 234 is used to break the notch region 226 to open a dispensing aperture 236 for passing liquid therethrough.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pouch for holding and dispensing incremental amounts of liquid, comprising: a body section for holding a supply of liquid; a pump tube designed to be squeezed by a dispensing device and having a nozzle at an end thereof for passing the incremental amounts of liquid therefrom, the pump tube having at least a portion thereof sealed directly to the body section at a connection region of the body section, the pump tube being in flow communication with an interior of the body section, the portion of the pump tube comprising an elastic first polyolefin material, and the connection S• region of the body section comprising a second polyolefin material that is •compatible so as to be sealable to the first polyolefin material. :0

2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the first polyolefin material and the second polyolefin material are not identical. 9999

3. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the pump tube comprises a cylinder having a thickness greater than a film thickness of said body section, the thickness of said pump tube selected to create a structural memory in the pump tube after being squeezed by the dispensing device. Dated this 29 day of September, 1999 INPACO CORPORATION Patent Attorney for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES 29/09/99