CA2624201A1 - Container for pourable material - Google Patents

Description

CONTAINER FOR POURABLE MATERIAL
Invention Background Increased environmental awareness by the consuming public has created a substantial commercial incentive for retailers to adopt environmentally friendly practices. One such practice is the reduction of packaging-related waste.
Specifically, retailers are now seeking to stock their shelves with products having packaging that is bio-degradable, recyclable or generally reduced in volume from traditional packaging. To wit, the wine industry has begun to see a plethora of brands sold in Tetra-Pak containers, a paper-based package that is recyclable.
Summary of the Invention One of the most promising packaging types to achieve the goal of reducing waste is the flexible stand-up pouch. Long used to package goods such as pet food and gardening products, the stand-up pouch has in recent years begun to appear in grocery store food aisles for such products as chips, cookies, and croutons.

It has been discovered that the stand-up flexible pouch may be used for high value liquid consumables such as wine (although the scope of this invention extends far beyond that one category, to any pourable liquid, and even to pourable solids). The benefits to the consumer for this type of package include that it is shatter-proof, quick-cooling, light weight and has a far lower impact on the environment than standard glass bottles.

There are, however, difficulties that can arise when using this type of packaging for wine. First, the aesthetics of the package may be detrimental to the image of the wine brand, since the flexible stand up pouch may seem less attractive to consumers than a bottle. Second, the stand up pouch, because of its flexible nature, can be harder than a bottle to grip firmly, and the use of a pouch may

2 result in more frequent spillage. Third, the stand up pouch is typically uninsulated, and may thus allow the wine to lose its chill more quickly than a bottle would.

The invention is designed to take advantage of the benefits associated with using the stand up flexible pouch as a wine container (or container for other pourable liquids or solids), while mitigating the difficulties described above.

The invention combines a flexible pouch with a rigid exterior shell to form a liquid or granular product dispensing system. The flexible pouch, filled with product, is inserted into the ridge shell prior to dispensing. The two elements-flexible interior pouch and rigid exterior carafe-are preferably effectively bonded to each other through a unique locking mechanism. The invention overcomes the consumers' aesthetic hurdle of accepting the flexible pouch as a viable, everyday package alternative to traditional glass packaging by adding an attractive exterior carafe and a functional locking mechanism that make daily use simple.

Invention Description Figure 1 shows the rigid exterior shell, which takes the form of carafe 5. The carafe 5 has a removable bottom 12 which, when removed, creates an access opening 13 at the bottom of carafe 5. It will be appreciated, however, that other forms of access opening to the carafe are comprehended by the invention.

Figure 1 further shows flexible pouch 6, having spout fitment 10 (see Figure

3), through which liquid in the pouch is poured, and cap 11, which is used to close the pouch.

In the preferred embodiment, the pouch is inserted into carafe 5 through the opening 13, so that the fitment 10 extends out through the top of carafe 5.
Bottom piece 12 is then re-attached to the carafe. The result is an attractive container, holding within it wine contained in the pouch 6. The wine (or other pourable material) can be easily poured, as the carafe 5 is rigid enough to be easily gripped. Furthermore, the carafe is preferably made of a material that is sufficiently insulating to allow the wine (or other material) within the pouch 6 to retain its chill, or preferred temperature, for an appropriate period of time.

The shape of the carafe 5 can vary according to circumstances. Handles can be formed in the walls of carafe 5 or attached thereto for ease of gripping and pouring. The volume of carafe, and its shape, can also be varied according to the shape and volume of pouch 6.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show one possible method for securing the pouch 6 within the carafe 5. In this embodiment, the carafe includes, as its top end, a locking mechanism 8 having a fitment-receiving opening 14 and a locking space 15. The fitment 10 is inserted upward through the space 14, and then pushed forward into the space 15. Groove 7 mates with tongue 16, which tongue 16 is positioned on locking mechanism 8. Then, slider 2 slides onto locking mechanism 8 to further hold the fitment 10 and cap 11 in place. Once firmly attached to carafe 5, via fitment 10, pourable material can be poured from the pouch 6 by tipping carafe 5.
Figures 5-9 show another mechanism and method for attaching pouch 6 to carafe 5. After pouch 6 is inserted from the bottom of carafe 5 at opening 13, the pouch neck 41 is inserted up through the top of carafe 5 and sandwiched between the locking area on carafe 42 and the locking detail on slide lock 43.
Once the pouch is in place, the slide lock is moved into the locked position.
The slide lock moves along channels in the carafe locking area 44 to open and close the mechanism. The slide lock is held in a locked position by a friction lock detail 45 moulded into the channels on the carafe lock area 44. To ensure that the pouch has been installed on the proper orientation, a detail 46 is moulded onto the pouch neck 41 with a corresponding detail on the carafe lock area 44. The result is that if the pouch is improperly oriented, the locking will not take place.

4 It will be appreciated that other methods and mechanisms for attaching pouch 6 to carafe 5 are comprehended by the invention. What is important is that they be attached so that the user can pour from the pouch by tipping the carafe.

The carafe 5 may be made of any of the following materials or substrates: high index plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, PET plastic, ceramic, glass, wood, rubber, silver-plated steel, gold-plated steel. Other suitable materials are also contemplated by the invention.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that substitutions and modifications to the above can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims