CA2059169A1

CA2059169A1 - Container for dispensing viscous liquids

Info

Publication number: CA2059169A1
Application number: CA 2059169
Authority: CA
Inventors: Pierre Fonsny; Germaine Zocchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1991-01-11
Filing date: 1992-01-10
Publication date: 1992-07-12

Abstract

CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING VISCOUS LIQUIDS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A container for dispensing viscous fluids comprising a container body having a neck provided with an outlet opening. A hollow handle having parts spaced from the container body communicates with the interior of the container body. One-way valves are provided in the handle for admitting air separate from said outlet opening to replace liquids dispensed from the container. A tube or conduit may alternatively separately communicate the interior of the container to the atmosphere. The tube or conduit is mounted in the hollow handle.

Description

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iBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I FIELD OF THE INVENTION

i This invention relates to container construction and, more particularly, to improvements in container construction for enhanced pourability for viscous fluids.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Containers, preferably made of molded plastic having handles integrally molded therewith, are widely employed. These containers include hollow handles ¦ which communicate wi~h the interior of the container.
Various viscous liquid products, especially I for household use, have been packaged in molded plastic ¦ containers. Some of these products require controlled dispensability and, therefore, the containers have restricted outlet openings to prevent rapid pouring of il I even viscous liquids. Little or~ o provision for il introducing air into containers of less than five liter capacity have been devised. This results in extremely slow and difficult pouring.
Hollow handle containers have come into use I for packaging household products as, for example, ¦¦ detergents, waxes and polishes, fabric softeners and the like, some of which are viscous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to employ the handle of a container to permit and facilitate entrance of air into the container to replace the product being poured to eliminate difficulty of pouring with the ensuing possibility of spilling the product on the hands, clothes or even into the eyes of the user.
In one embodiment of the invention, a one-way valYe is provided in the hollow handle for introducing air into the container.
Another form of the invention includes a valve which is automatically opened as the container is lifted for pouring.
An additional form of the invention employs a pipe or tube for connecting the hollow handle to the mouth of the container separate from the product flow.

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In yet another form of the invention a baffle or insert is provided in the hollow handle for ~I communication of the hollow handle with the outlet opening.

¦l BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

¦I Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a ¦, container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention employing a one-way valve with the cap being shown exploded from the container;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the one-way valve in the handle;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified valve arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view j illustrating an embodiment employing a pipe or tube for intr ducing air into the hollow handle and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail view of a further embodiment including an insert or baffle in the hollow handle for forming a channel for introducing air into the container.

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DETAILED DESC~IP~ION OF ThE I~VE~TION

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a molded plastic container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention.
The container 10 includes a main body 11 and is of the type having a bottom 12, side walls 14 and a restricted neck portion 16 providing a restricted outlet opening 18. A conventional closure cap 20 is provided.
Integrally molded with the side walls 14 is a hollow handle 22. The hollow handle 22 is so molded to define a space 24 between the handle 22 and the walls 14.
The outer surface 26 of handle 22 lies flush with walls 14 and the lower portion of the handle 22 communicates with the main portion 28 of the container 10 as at 30 while the upper portion of the handle communicates with the upper portion 32 of the container 10 adjacent the neck 16 as at 34.
The space 24 is shaped to facilitate insertion of the fingers and palm of a hand therein.
Disposed conveniently on the lower portion of the upwardly and inwardly extending part 36 is a one-way valve 38 which is easily selectively engageable by the thumb on the hand graspIng the handle.

The one-way valve 38 is of a normally closed type and which, when pressed, communicates the hollow interior of handle 22 to the atmosphere. This permits flow of air from the handle into the container 10 to replace liquid being poured out of the restricted opening 18, thus enhancing and providing a better controlled flow of liquid.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown another embodiment of the invention. The container 110 is provided with walls 114, a neck 116 and a restricted outlet opening 118. The container 110 also is provided with a hollow handle 122 similarly constructed as the handles in Figs. 1 and 2 and there is provided the finger and palm receiving opening 124. In this e0bodiment of the invention a normally closed one-way valve is provided at 140. The valve 140 has an actuator member in the form of a small plate which the fingers and/or the palm of a hand would normally engage when holding the container 110. The plate has an irregularly shaped member which passes through and normally closes an opening in the handle 122, but, when actuated by the fingers and palm, permits air to enter the hollow handle 122 and thence communicate with the interior of the container 110 and replace liquid poured from the container llO, '~l3~

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.I In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, t he container 210 has the same walls 214, neck 216 and restricted opening 218. In the handle 222 there is provided a tube or pipe 250 which has its own opening 252 in the neck 216 of the container 210 and also communicates with the interior 254 of the handle 222 and thus permits air to replace liquid poured through the opening 218.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 includes a similar container 310 having walls 314, as well as a neck 316 provided with a restricted opening 318.
¦ Within the handle 322, there is a plate or plate-like baffle 360 which forms a conduit 362 and which l conduit 362 has its own separate opening 364 formed in the j~ neck 316. Thus, air is permitted to pass through the opening 364 into the conduit 362 and thence through hollow handle 322 when liquid is poured out of opening 318 thus replacing liquid in the container 310 with atmospheric air.

Claims

1. A container for dispensing viscous liquids comprising a main body having a neck and restricted opening at the neck, said container having a hollow handle communicating with said body, and means in said handle for selectively permitting air to flow through said handle to replace liquid dispensed from said container.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said hollow handle is spaced from said body to form a hand-receiving space.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said hollow handle has inner and outer surfaces, said means comprising a one-way valve on the outer surface of said handle.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein said means is a one-way valve on said handle.

5. A container according to claim 2, wherein said means includes a one-way valve on said handle, said one-way valve including a plate outwardly of said handle engageable with the fingers and palm of a hand to open said one-way valve, said one-way valve being normally closed.

6. A container according to claim 1, including a further opening in said neck and means in said handle communicating with said further opening and with said body.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said hollow handle is spaced from said body to form a hand-receiving space, including a further opening in said neck and means in said handle communicating with said further opening and with said body.

8. A container as set forth in claim 7, wherein said last recited means is a baffle forming a conduit.

9, A container as in claim 7, wherein said last recited means is a tube.

10. A container for dispensing viscous liquids comprising a main body having a neck and restricted opening at the neck, said container having a hollow handle communicating with said body, and means in said handle for selectively permitting air to flow through said handle to replace liquid dispensed from said container and a cap fitting over said neck for closing.

11. A container for dispensing viscous liquids comprising a main body having a neck and restricted opening at the neck, said container having a hollow handle communicating with said body, and means in said handle for selectively permitting air to flow through said handle to replace liquid dispensed from said container, at least part of said hollow handle being spaced from said body to form a hand-receiving space, including a further opening in said neck and means in said handle communicating with said further opening and with said body and a cap for engagement with said neck for covering both said openings.