CN103201180A

CN103201180A - A set of containers with closures

Info

Publication number: CN103201180A
Application number: CN201280003620XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·L·德索托-伯特; T·M·戴; R·E·纽法斯; R·D·塞特费尔德; C-C·黄; M·A·赫瑞拉; S-Y·麦康维尔; A·帕甘; B·D·安德烈斯; C·A·沃拉-普瑞利
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Ltd
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Ltd; Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2011-01-14
Filing date: 2012-01-13
Publication date: 2013-07-10
Also published as: EP2663500A1; MX2013005284A; WO2012097251A1; JP2014501668A; US20120181272A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an array of products comprising a plurality of different containers (300) having a similar container to closure interface (308) across at least one brand and different volumetric sizes wherein at least one of said containers (300) comprises more than one undercut and comprising a plurality of different closures (307) comprising at least one common component.

Description

Container group with closure member

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of product array that comprises a plurality of different vessels, described a plurality of different vessels have similar container to the closure member interface at least one brand and different volume sizes, and at least one in the wherein said container comprises more than a undercutting.Particularly, described a plurality of containers are connected with a plurality of different closure members, and described closure member comprises at least one universal component.

Background technology

Develop the multiple package that is used for household products, personal care product and other products, comprised allocation packet piece installing or container.Have the container of pleasing people's aesthetic appearance for the customer and have the closure member design fully integrated with the design of container.This has expressed following message: the integration of these two parts is exquisite compositions.This is very important for producing the closure member that the customer can use intuitively.An example of the container/closure system of high degree of integration is following container/closure system: wherein the geometric configuration of container is wrapped in closure member on every side to produce shoulder.This geometric configuration also can be known as the container with recessed neck.This groove geometry is used for different purposes: give the outward appearance of container and closure member total integrated, give the container that is in inverted orientation stability, and make the function of closure member for customer's intuitive more.

Current, most of closure members make completeization of geometric configuration of container, thereby require the geometric configuration of the size of closure member and container proportional.In the present invention, the size of closure member has been minimized, thereby the multiple beneficial effect is provided.One of beneficial effect is that the weight with closure member is decreased to the minimum that can obtain the required resin of desired closure member function.This is a kind of beneficial effect for environment, because the industrial current perfect polypropylene recycling stream that do not have.Comprise the closure member that reduces weight from overall wrapper by having, this allows container to have the recyclable usability of improvement.The overall cost that this has also reduced closure member comprises the cost that is associated with resin, processing, mould, the selection of injection molding (IM) press and other aspects.Another beneficial effect that minimizes the closure member size is, closure member has become the not too crucial part of this design, thereby inducing people that identical closure member is used in the different container design in the brand to a greater extent, even making it possible to all different brands/moulding series is all used identical closure member.This has promoted optimization and efficient, has further reduced cost then.This makes that also the profile of this shape can bi-directional scaling, and does not use the change of supplementary features such as step, bigger radius or other geometric forms and angle to be adapted to closure member.

Another beneficial effect that minimizes the closure member size is that it can be incorporated in the container shapes.When container was in its inverted orientation, the design of integration allowed to use container top surface to increase stability and do not need bigger closure member.This also helps to produce differentiation between these forms (such as shampoo and conditioner), thereby helps the customer to identify the product that they seek.Therefore the scale that this has promoted container design and exploitation becomes an advantage.Another advantage is that having recessed closure member provides higher levels of injury protection, because recessed closure member is subjected to the protection of groove geometry.Another beneficial effect with recessed neck (wherein container pack is around closure member) is that it makes it possible to all different sizes are used identical closure member, still has the outward appearance of integration simultaneously between container and closure member.Another beneficial effect of the present invention is to use identical closure member to all containers made from different molding technologies.The non-limitative example of molding technology comprises extrusion blow molded (EBM), injection blow molding (IBM) and injection drawing blow (ISBM).This has promoted scale and has further reduced cost.

When the container on the observation market, common way is to use different closure members for each container design.This is for different brands and even be especially tangible for the different volumes size of same brand.Usually use different closure member shape and design for different brands, in order to give every kind of brand himself conformability.When the different vessels volume size in the described scope in the same brand of observation, company is chosen as every kind of different closure member of size initiative usually in order to make the geometric configuration of closure member can mate the geometric configuration of container.This allows to obtain the outward appearance of more integrating of whole package, and wherein closure member makes completeization of profile of container.To the increase in demand of formulating multiple closure member cost because it has increased number, the developmental work amount of required mfg. moulding die, and reduced the generation of potential scale, described scale otherwise can reduce cost.Usually, bigger container also uses bigger closure member, has therefore further increased to be derived from raw MAT'L, processing, mould selection and otherwise cost.In some cases, notice that some companies all use identical closure member to different container brands or to different volume sizes, yet these containers need have extremely similarly geometric configuration, and wherein container cooperates with closure member so that the outward appearance that can obtain to integrate.It is extremely similar to this means that the volume of a container size need be for the container that uses identical closure member, thereby the scope of the container dimensional that can share general application closures is construed as limiting.In some cases, when in bigger volume size scope, sharing closure member, need utilize feature such as the step on the container, bigger radius, the variation of dimension scale or the geometric configuration that other geometric forms change to force container coupling closure member.For example, will reach the restriction of container height often, and in order further to increase the internal volume of container, may need to revise width and the degree of depth of container, this causes different containers/closure member interface and container dimensional ratio.This is not desired, because it forces the overall shape of container to exceed initial design conformability.As previously mentioned, not only expectation can not influence their design conformability to the container of far-ranging different volumes size and to the different brand identical closure members of use, allow simultaneously to produce fully integrated profile, and on market, also do not observe this situation.

For the above reasons, utilize the scale that has increased them with a kind of closure member evenly for different container brands and volume size, this causes the cost that reduces usually.Closure member can by one, two, three or even more parts constitute.The number of the common component in the closure member is more high, and the scale that then produces is just more high, and therefore cost per unit is also just more low usually.For this reason, a kind of beneficial effect of the present invention provides a kind of alerting ability, wherein shares identical parts producing identical closure member for closure member, after connect following closure member, wherein only change has taken place in parts, etc.

Summary of the invention

The invention describes a kind of product array that comprises different vessels, described different vessels shares similar container to the closure member interface and can be used at least one brand and the different volume size that connects with different closure member, and described closure member shares at least one general application closures parts.In the described container at least one comprises in its geometric configuration more than a undercutting.

Description of drawings

Figure 1A is the axonometric drawing such as grade of the container of far-ranging volume size, has wherein shared identical closure member;

Figure 1B is the top view of the container of far-ranging volume size, has wherein shared identical closure member;

Fig. 1 C is the lateral plan of the container of far-ranging volume size, has wherein shared identical closure member;

Fig. 1 D is the exploded drawings of the closure member of Figure 1A-1C, has drawn for Fig. 2 C and the shared closure member parts of 2D;

Fig. 2 A is the axonometric drawing that waits of container, and described container has the shape different with one or more container shapes among Figure 1A-1C, and wherein those shown in this container and Figure 1A-1C have shared at least one closure member parts;

Fig. 2 B is the lateral plan of container shown in Fig. 2 A;

Fig. 2 C is the decomposition view of the closure member of Fig. 2 A and 2B, has drawn the closure member parts that share for Figure 1A-1C;

Fig. 2 D is the decomposition view of the closure member of Fig. 2 A and 2B, has drawn the closure member parts that share for Figure 1A-1C.

The specific embodiment

For the present invention, suitable groove be following those, when described closure member connected with described goods, described groove allowed the part of goods to be wrapped in around at least a portion of closure member.This type of groove can allow closure member to keep flushing basically summit in the outmost surface of described goods when being connected to described goods.So-called " at least a portion of closure member " in this article refers to when described closure member is connected to described goods, described part extends to form at least 45 ° around the periphery of closure member, preferably at least 60 °, the angle between 60 ° and 360 ° more preferably, described angle is to obtain from the center of closure member and the x-y plane.

As used herein, term " integration " refers to: (i) at least a portion of described closure member keeps flushing basically at least one surface in these goods, the preferably outside face of described shoulder; And (ii) at least one shoulder of described goods is wrapped in around at least a portion of described closure member, preferably forms at least one concave surface.The advantage of this type of configuration is the desired profile of customer.

As used herein, term " undercutting " refers to following physical geometry, when described mould when linear direction is opened, its obstruction is taken out goods from mould, described linear direction intersects at least a portion of described geometric configuration.

As used herein, term " the different separable figure of non-functional " refers to convey a message and be used between different brands distinguishing the label of product to the customer.Term " non-functional " is used to refer to this label and does not carry out any other function except the function that gets the message across to the customer.Term " separable " indication is before final assembly set is finished, and container can separate at certain point with label, and container only is not construed as limiting, and wherein label can remove after being assembled.

As used herein, term " scale " refers to by reducing to design the economic beneficial effect that obtains with development time and resource and the capital investment that customer's acceptance, the feature that is designed beautifully etc. is not had a negative impact and obtains by direct repeated application.

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of different vessels, and described a plurality of different vessels have general or similar 306 pairs of closure members of container, 307 interfaces 308.These containers are contained the different volume size in certain scope and be can be used in different brands.Product array 300 comprises at least one container 306, and described container comprises in its geometric configuration more than a undercutting.These undercutting can be positioned in the nearside of the neck geometric configuration of container 306.Product array 300 also can comprise a plurality of closure members, and each closure member includes at least one

parts

301 or 302, and described parts all are to share or general for whole array 300.When being assembled, the aperture of closure member airtight container.Product in the container can be liquid or solid, and can be identical or different for described different container.In a non-limitative example of one embodiment of the present of invention, the scope of volume size can cover the scope of 300mL at least.In another embodiment, this scope can be extended to 1000mL at least, and even is extended in another embodiment to the volume size that covers in the 1200mL scope at least.Container in the array can be identical or different color, and can be used for single brand, two brands or the brand of more number more.307 pairs of containers of closure member, 306 interfaces 308 can be similarly for whole array, make closure member be attached to container securely, seem that simultaneously it belongs to container/closure combination part seemingly, yet this is not construed as limiting, and wherein the interface on the package need be accurately identical for whole array.In one embodiment of the invention, color, additive and the resin that is used for preparing the parts (they are for whole array and share or general) of the closure member in container and the array can be selected from following nonrestrictive group: identical, partly identical, diverse and their mixing.

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of closure members, and wherein closure member comprises at least two universal components 301,302.These parts can be functional and for necessary so that can operate closure member, and in them some only are used for decorative purpose and purpose attractive in appearance.

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of different closure members, and wherein closure member comprises at least one

universal component

301 or 302 that is selected from cover and engine.

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of closure members, and wherein closure member comprises at least two universal components 301,302, and these universal components can be known as cover and engine.In another embodiment, engine can be known as the parts of the closure member that is attached to container, and cover can be known as the parts that are connected to engine and the closure member of outermost shape attractive in appearance is provided for complete closure member.Can use an example as next embodiment, wherein closure member only is made of cover and engine components; Yet only the invention is not restricted to two parts and multi-part more, they need not to identical for whole array.

In one embodiment of the invention, a kind of product array, wherein two or more in these containers comprise the different separable figure of non-functional.Define as preamble, these figures only are used for passing on about being encapsulated in product in the container and the information of its promotion usage to the customer, and provide between the various forms and the differentiation between the different brands.

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of containers, and wherein these containers comprise different container shapes.Use different container shapes to allow container is used for different volume size and brands, keep their design brand conformability simultaneously.In a non-limitative example, one embodiment of the present of invention comprise container, and wherein container has different absolute dimensions, and their overall shape is not correlated with, and make them can be used in different brands.In another non-limitative example, one embodiment of the present of invention comprise container, and wherein container has different absolute dimensions, keep their overall aspect ratio simultaneously, make them can be used in identical brand.

In another embodiment of the present invention, product array comprises a plurality of containers, and wherein container comprises identical container shapes, and wherein said absolute dimension is identical for whole array.Container in the array can share identical color, resin, figure and additive, or has the modification in these.

In one embodiment of the invention, the closure member in the product array can comprise different actuating mechanisms.Non-limitative example is selected from and opens, turns on, pressing cover/triggering is opened, push-and-pull, screw top, slip, threaded cap and their mixing.Can select concrete actuating mechanism based on brand conformability and desired consumer experience.The example of an embodiment will be the container 305 that is connected with closure member 304, and described closure member is by operating with respect to parts 303 of 302 rotating closed of another parts of closure member.

In one embodiment of the invention, one or more containers in the product array comprise geometric configuration, wherein can be selected from recessed, protruding, linear, nonlinear, linear and nonlinear mixing or their mixing around the interface between the geometric configuration of the closure member of the neck of container and container.Can limit the concrete shape of interface geometry with the shape of coupling closure member, therefore allow between closure member and container, to produce the outward appearance of integrating.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the container of making by the present invention 305 comprises the nonlinear geometry shape around the neck of container and closure member 304 interfaces 308 of container.The curvature at interface 308 allows container 305 to be wrapped in closure member 304 on every side so that can have the fully integrated desired feature that is designed beautifully.The part that is wrapped in closure member 304 container 305 on every side can be known as the shoulder 309 of container.

In one embodiment of the invention, the container of making by the present invention 305 comprises shoulder 309 geometric configuratioies, the sidepiece that wherein has the shoulder wall at the interface 308 that comprises closure member 308 has the positive drafting angle of spending less than 10, and in another embodiment, drafting angle can be further reduced to less than 8 the degree, and preferably drafting angle in addition be further reduced to 5 the degree or littler.In case closure member 304 is assembled, these shoulder 309 surfaces just produce interface 308 between container 305 and closure member 304.The positive drafting angles that have less than 10 degree are very important, and this is for two major causes:

1) customer's acceptance-drafting angle is more little, and is then after closure member 304 is assembled, between closure member 304 and container 305 that the space or the gap that exist is just more little.Big gap is to be wherein can water accumulation and the zone of product by consumers' perceptions usually, thereby it is dirty and messy to make that Overall Group's component is perceived as.In addition, it is not fully integrated to closure member 304 and container 305 that big gap can also make consumers' perceptions, thereby makes overall wrapper be revealed as relatively poor design.When this gap surpass 7.4mm from shoulder surface to closure member apart from the time, the customer also perceives the inside that product is flowed and intercepts.

2) for all multiple container dimensionals repeated application closure member-have low drafting angle in the vertical shoulder interface walls of container to make it possible to use and have closure member 307 straight or low vertical drafting angle potentially.If closure member has low vertical drafting angle, then it not only can be for the container of the shoulder with this side that covers closure member, and can be used in the container with different shoulder designs or the container that does not even have shoulder 310, wherein the periphery of closure member is partly or fully to expose.Have and use the alerting ability of identical closure member to produce scale to all different container designs, this has reduced cost and logistics complexity usually.

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of closure members, wherein when being assembled, closure member be with container body integrate so that completeization of profile of the main body of their cell therefors.In another embodiment of the present invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of closure members, wherein when being assembled, closure member be with array 300 in shoulder 311 parts of geometric configuration of container integrate.This makes that the profile of main body of their cell therefors can completeization.

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 comprises a plurality of containers, and wherein container comprises bottle.These bottles can be used for multiple field.The non-limitative example in this type of field is: beauty care items, such as the container that is used for bath agent, shampoo and conditioner; Family and/or household products are such as being used for washer solvent or other containers that is used for cleaning and/or nurses one's health the cleaning formulation of fabric and/or hard surface; Oral care product is such as the container that is used for collutory; Etc..

In one embodiment of the invention, product array 300 is put on market with the generic brand name, and wherein said a plurality of volume of a container sizes can change, and still relates to identical brand simultaneously.As a non-limitative example of one embodiment of the present of invention, this array can comprise the container of placing with make progress orientation, inverted orientation or hybrid orientation.Product in the container can be different because of container.

In one embodiment of the invention, a kind of product array, three or more the different separable figures that comprise non-functional in wherein said a plurality of containers.The described different different brand different products interior with being encapsulated in container of diagrammatic representation.

In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one in the container in the array can have following physical geometry, and described physical geometry produces that at least one is non-linear or more than a linear undercutting.In one embodiment, the linear undercutting part that can have this morphology makes this surface be in the identical plane.In one embodiment of the invention, non-linear undercutting can be limited by the part of this morphology and make this surface be present in a plurality of planes.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of closure members are made of sustainable material.Closure member can be made or only be made by selected parts with sustainable material fully.This can allow to utilize the closure member that has more recycling character.In the spendable material some are: PCR, HDPE, LDPE, bamboo wood, regenerable resin comprises PLA (poly(lactic acid)), PHA (polyhydroxy-alkanoates) and biological polyolefin (biological PE, biological PP, biological PET), and wherein parent material is plant or living beings rather than oil; But recirculation and resin recyclable utilization comprise PP PCR (after the consumption abrasive) again and PIR (after industrial abrasive) again, and their are for shifting the resin from the waste material that otherwise will reprocess and/or re-use; Natural stuffing comprises mineral (for example CaCO3), timber, paper pulp, paper wood, bamboo wood, grass, mestha, reed and other natural plants, and they are crushed, cutting, broken or wear into powder in order to be included in the plastics; Regenerable resin comprises PLA (poly(lactic acid)), PHA (polyhydroxy-alkanoates) and biological polyolefin (biological PE, biological PP, biological PET), and wherein parent material is plant or living beings rather than oil; But recirculation and resin recyclable utilization comprise PP PCR (after the consumption abrasive) again and PIR (after industrial abrasive) again, and their are for shifting the resin from the waste material that otherwise will reprocess and/or re-use; Natural stuffing comprises mineral (for example CaCO3), timber, paper pulp, paper wood, bamboo wood, grass, mestha, reed and other natural plants, and they are crushed, cutting, broken or wear into powder in order to be included in the plastics; But the miscellaneous material of some recirculation can be used as filler, comprises discarded currency (for example U.S. dollar).

But these sustainable materials can comprise by non-petroleum source, resin that can biodegradable poly-mer recirculation and the biopolymer that their compound is made.Some that can be used in the potential source biomolecule poly-mer of present patent application are: bamboo wood, paper wood, grass etc.The optional polyethylene of deriving from biology of non-petroleum source, biologically-derived polypropylene, biologically-derived polyester and their compound.Some or all contained colorants in the described sustainable material, antistatic additive, UV inhibitor or other a small amount of additive are to change outward appearance or performance.

In another embodiment of the present invention, closure member can comprise and can improve the material that is selected from following functional performance: the stability on sealing, ergonomics feature, the storage surface, the vision help to the user, container durability, be haptic signal and audible signal and their mixing of user's customization.As the example of another embodiment, closure member can partly be molded as with soft material.This type of soft material can provide haptic configuration, and improves the sealing property of closure member.The example of the soft material that can use when the injection closure member comprises: thermoplastic elastomer; TPE, comprise styrene (SEBS and SBS) base and alkene (TPO PP elastic body) base; Thermal plastic urethane TPU; The rubber MPR of melt-processable; Thermoplastic Vulcanizate TPV; With polyvinylchloride and their compound.In one embodiment of the invention, described similar soft material can be that the customer likes, in the sense of touch of opening and have during closed closure member softness.

Dimension disclosed herein and value are not intended to be understood that strictly to be limited to described exact value.On the contrary, except as otherwise noted, each such dimension is intended to represent described value and centers on the scope that is equal on this value function.For example, disclosed dimension " 40mm " is intended to expression " about 40mm ".

The All Files of quoting in the detailed Description Of The Invention is all incorporated this paper into way of reference in relevant portion; Quoting of any file all is not intended to be understood to be approval to about prior art of the present invention.When any implication of same term in any implication of term in the literature or definition and the document of incorporating into way of reference or define when conflicting, will be as the criterion with implication or the definition of giving that term in the literature.

Although casehistory and described particular of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that and can make many other change and modification under the situation that does not break away from the spirit and scope of the invention.Therefore, the claims of enclosing are intended to contain all these changes and modification in the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. product array that comprises a plurality of different vessels, described a plurality of different vessels have similar container to the closure member interface at least one brand and different volume sizes, and at least one in the wherein said container comprises more than a undercutting.

2. product array according to claim 1 utilizes a plurality of different closure members, and described a plurality of different closure members comprise at least one universal component.

3. product array according to claim 1, the wherein said nearside that is positioned in the neck of described container more than a undercutting.

4. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of different closure members comprise and are selected from engine or obducent at least one universal component.

5. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of closure members comprise at least two universal components.

6. product array according to claim 5, wherein said a plurality of closure members comprise at least two universal components, wherein said universal component comprises identical engine and identical cover.

7. product array according to claim 1, two or more in the wherein said container comprise the different separable figure of non-functional.

8. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of containers have different container shapes.

9. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of containers have identical container shapes.

10. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of closure members comprise and are selected from following actuating mechanism: open, turn on, pressing cover/triggering is opened, push-and-pull, screw top, slip, threaded cap and their mixing.

11. product array according to claim 1, wherein said similar container comprises around the geometric configuration of the described container at the closure member interface of the neck of container and described container the closure member interface, described geometric configuration is selected from recessed, protruding, linear, nonlinear, linear and nonlinear mixing or their mixing.

12. product array according to claim 11, the part of wherein said universal container comprise around the nonlinear geometry shape at the closure member interface of the neck of described container and described container.

13. product array according to claim 1, wherein said universal container comprises geometric configuration, and the vertical side that wherein has the described shoulder at the interface that comprises closure member has the positive drafting angle of spending less than 10.

14. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of closure members make completeization of profile of the main body of described a plurality of containers.

15. product array according to claim 14, wherein said a plurality of closure members be integrate with the described shoulder geometric configuration of container and make completeization of container profile.

16. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of containers comprise bottle.

17. product array according to claim 1, wherein said product array is put on market with the generic brand name.

18. product array according to claim 1, three or more the different separable figures that comprise non-functional in wherein said a plurality of containers.

19. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of closure members are made of sustainable material.

20. product array according to claim 19, but wherein said sustainable material is selected from by non-petroleum source, resin that can biodegradable poly-mer recirculation and the biopolymer that their compound is made.

21. product array according to claim 20, wherein said non-petroleum source are selected from biologically-derived polyethylene, biologically-derived polypropylene, biologically-derived polyester and their compound.

22. product array according to claim 1, wherein said a plurality of closure members are made of the material that improvement is selected from following functional performance: the stability on sealing, ergonomics feature, the storage surface, the vision help to the user, container durability, customize haptic signal and audible signal and their mixing for described user.