CZ285039B6 - Container closure and the container provided with such closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure comprises means for perfuming the upper space (3a) of the container (1) formed by the body of compressible absorbent material to retain the perfume delivered to the upper space (3a) of the container (1). At least a portion of the compressible absorbent body is constructed and adapted to form a seal of the closure against the container opening (1) and is thus, when the closure is attached, protected from the product contained in the container (1). The perfume method comprises closing the container (1) with a closure comprising a perfume impregnated body of compressible absorbent material, wherein at least a portion of the compressible absorbent body forms a seal of the closure against the container opening (1). Putting the closure on the opening of the container (1) causes the perfume to be dispensed from the absorbent body into the upper space (3a) of the container (1) and at least a portion of the absorbent body protects the product stored in the container (1) when the closure on the container opening (1) is attached. ). ŕ

Description

A closure and a container provided with this closure

Technical field

The invention relates to a closure for a container opening, wherein the closure comprises means for perfuming the upper space of the container, comprising a body of compressible absorbent material for storing perfume introduced into the upper space of the container. The invention also relates to a container provided with this closure. Such containers are particularly suitable for storing and transporting liquid detergent compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A problem with high-performance liquid detergent compounds or concentrated liquid detergent compounds is that the structural nature of the liquid tends to absorb the perfume contained therein. Although the perfume can penetrate the fabric during washing, it is not recognizable simply by smelling the container. This is disadvantageous because this technique is commonly used by consumers to select a detergent or to ensure that the detergent will have an acceptable odor.

Another problem arises when perfume levels are kept to a minimum when using the contents of the container. This may cause the contents to have an undesirable odor due to insufficient perfume coverage, which may be discouraging for the consumer and discard the composition including perfume in the first place.

Several attempts have been made to perfume the top of the detergent container. For example, EP-A-0004463 discloses a cardboard box for a granular solid detergent, wherein the cardboard is impregnated with perfume to create a fragrance in the upper space of the box. The use of cardboard is completely unsuitable for liquid products and impregnation of perfume into the plastic container material would lead to the absorption of more volatile perfume components and could damage its other components.

An alternative design is disclosed in US-A-4475663. In this case, the perfume is impregnated in an absorbent disc carrier which is mounted on the inner wall of the container in such a position that it does not come into direct contact with the product stored in the container. A similar design can be found in US-A-3955706 according to which the spongy carrier has a recessed block of solid evaporating material therein for air refreshment, and the carrier is attached to the inner wall of the container, i.e., the reservoir or container, near its top. , beyond any content. These techniques are unsuitable for use with liquids filled into a 40 bottle that destroy or modify the effect of the perfume. In addition, attempting to store such a perfume-saturated carrier out of liquid by placing it in the container closure would be incompatible with the closures used to measure the contents of the container, since the liquid would come into contact with the perfume and impair its action.

Thus, the main problem with the above proposals is that the perfume can interact with the contents of the container and no measures are taken to prevent this.

US-A-4540721 describes the use of an oil-based perfume to form an aqueous emulsion with a polymer that can be emulsified or dissolved in water. The emulsion is dried to retain the perfume in the polymer matrix, and the matrix is then applied inside the top of the container to scent the interior of the container as the perfume is dispersed from the protective matrix. This method is very expensive and complicated and also interferes with perfume.

EP-A-0258991 discloses the above problem for granular contents, such as solid bleaching agents, and proposes the use of a container closure, with a perfumed disc or liner formed by melting the fragrance oil with the polymer from which the liner is made. The perfumed liner is protected from contact with the bleaching granules by means of a perforated cover. The perforation is small enough to prevent bleaching agent particles from entering the perfumed liner. Again, this solution to the problem is expensive and complicated, not suitable for use with liquid products, and the manufacture of the liner is likely to degrade the perfume.

A similar container closure design to EP-A-0258991 is described in US-A-4287995, but here the closure is used for a container for storing air-degradable food products, thus aiming to remove oxygen from the interior of the container once the container cap is fitted. To achieve this, the closure comprises a block of oxygen-absorbing material that is separated from the interior of the container by a water-impermeable membrane, but gas-permeable. The closure also includes an air seal surrounding the oxygen absorbing mass to completely isolate the interior of the container from the atmosphere when the closure is fitted. Again, this design is complicated and expensive and is addressed to a problem completely opposite to ensuring the presence of evaporating material in the upper space of the container.

Moreover, the problem associated with all known designs is that all of these designs allow for a simple diffusion of perfume vaporized from any means used to keep the perfumed material isolated from the contents of the container. Relying on such diffusion is disadvantageous, as this means that the refill of the top space of the container with vaporized perfume may itself be slow, which is not suitable for containers that are required to be perfumed upon repeated, especially frequent, opening. This also means that the degree of perfuming of the top space of the container may be inappropriate in the case of necessarily low levels of perfume.

It is therefore an essential object of the present invention to provide a container closure comprising means for perfuming the top of the container, at least a portion of which is adequately isolated from the product deposited in the container and designed and adapted to release perfume into the top of the container with sufficient speed and at a reasonable degree with the container .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure for a container opening wherein the closure comprises means for perfuming the upper space of the container formed of a body of compressible absorbent material for storing perfume introduced into the upper space of the container. sealing the cap against the container opening to protect it from the product stored in the container when the cap is closed and the perfume is released by compressing the body into the upper space.

Preferably, the body is in the form of a resilient absorbent pad that is disposed in the portion of the closure adjacent the mouth of the container when the closure is in place.

Preferably, the body is formed from a perfume-impregnated plastic foam. The foam is preferably polyurethane foam.

In a preferred embodiment, at least the front surface of the body which is exposed to the interior of the container is covered with a membrane impermeable to the product placed in the container.

-2GB 285039 B6

Preferably, the body is in the form of a ring whose face is covered with a membrane. Particularly preferably, the two faces of the ring are covered with a membrane. The membrane is preferably made of polyethylene.

In a preferred embodiment, the body is positioned around a portion of the closure that forms a metering cup for the product dispensed from the container.

Preferably, the body is in the form of a disc.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a closure container comprising means for perfuming the top of the container formed of a body of compressible absorbent material for storing perfume introduced into the top of the container, wherein at least a portion of the compressible absorbent body is formed as a seal against the opening of the container to protect it from the product stored in the container when closing the closure and expelling the perfume by compressing the body into the upper space.

The term closure as used herein is intended to denote any form of closure for a container opening, particularly for various second lids, including screw caps, push-button lids, collapsible lids with retractable spout and the like. The invention is also applicable to any type of container, although sponge-shaped containers such as bottles are particularly suitable. However, other types of containers, such as kegs or cardboard boxes, are also applicable according to the invention. The invention is not limited to use for containers containing liquids, although this may be advantageous. Solid products are usable in the same way as liquid products.

Also in this description, the term upper space generally describes a region of the inner space of a container that is above the level of any product contained in the container. It should be understood, however, that the term also encompasses situations in which what is defined as the upper space is a closed cavity formed under the closure lid, for example by means of a labyrinth or partition, which does not necessarily extend up to the level of the product placed in the container.

According to the invention, at least a portion of the perfuming means of the closure is protected from contact with the product placed in the container while the closure is mounted, by at least a portion of the perfuming means forming a sealing element that seals the opening of the container thereby preventing leakage of perfume into the atmosphere. This means that you hold the perfume at least until the container is first opened, which in some cases can only occur after a long storage period.

An essential advantage of the invention when used as a sealing member of at least a portion of a body of compressible, perfume-impregnated absorbent material is that as the closure is fitted to the container opening to seal it, the absorbent body is compressed to expel a small amount of perfume absorbed from the body space container. This mini-injection occurs each time the container is closed with a closure, and after each such closure, the top of the container is quickly provided with a dose of perfume sufficient to provide the desired aesthetic effect upon reopening the container, even after a very short period of time. By actively dispensing with this mini-injection, instead of just scattering the perfume-impregnated absorbent body, a sufficient perfume content is achieved in the upper space of the container, even when the overall perfume level in the perfuming composition is required to be low.

Preferably, the body of compressible absorbent material is formed in the form of a resilient absorbent pad that is disposed in that portion of the closure that abuts the opening of the container when the closure is fitted. The liner is preferably shaped to fit with the opening of the container so that it performs its sealing function when the closure is fitted. Since many containers, especially bottles, have circular openings, the liner is preferably in the form of a circular or annular disc.

-3 CZ 285039 B6

Where an insert in the form of a circular disc is used, the disc will generally be located in the base of the closure cap and preferably be secured by suitable fastening means, for example by means of glue or one or more retaining lugs, arms and the like.

The use of an insert in the form of a ring is particularly suitable for closure caps that serve as a dispensing or measuring means for the product taken from the container. Such closure caps may, for example, comprise a cup-shaped main body whose open end protrudes into the interior of the container when the closure is mounted on the container and between the open and closed ends of the lid radially outward and the open end with an extension or flange containing the necessary securing means such as threads or means for sliding or rivet bearing, wherein the perfume-impregnated flexible liner is disposed within this extension or flange and thereby abuts against the walls of the container opening when the closure is fitted.

In preferred embodiments, the liner is made of an open-cell foam, preferably a perfume polyurethane foam. The impregnation method may be quite conventional, for example, the perfume may be incorporated during the foam phase of the napkin production, or impregnated by simply soaking the napkin in the perfume. The compressible, preferably resiliently compressible nature of the foam insert allows a small amount of perfume to be delivered to the top of the container each time the insert is compressed when the container is closed. This ensures that a certain amount of fresh perfume is released into the upper space each time the closure is fitted, which can be easily detected by the consumer when the container is reopened.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the compressible absorbent pad is provided with a membrane which is impermeable to the product stored in the container and which is preferably impermeable to water. However, it is desirable that the membrane be permeable to perfume vapor. It is preferred that any surface, edge, or side of the liner that is exposed to the interior of the container with the cap on the opening of the container fitted, be coated with the membrane to prevent or minimize the degradation of the perfume by the product in the container. Advantageously, and in particular in the case of inserts in the form of circular or annular disks, at least the surface of the disk facing the interior of the container is provided with such a membrane. Particularly preferably, both faces of such inserts are covered in this way, since this creates the most effective barrier between the contents of the container and the perfume impregnated foam.

The use of a foam matrix as at least a major portion of a compressible, absorbent body solves the problem of stably dispensing perfume into the top space of a perfume container, suffering from many known designs. In particular, the use of high-temperature melting processes or the need for special perfuming means to achieve modified release from the polymer matrix can thus be avoided. Thus, the perfume used may contain volatile or heat-sensitive components, thereby widening the selection of perfumes available for use in the invention. Thus, for example, it is possible to use a different perfume in the upper space of the container than that used in the product. This allows the top of the container to be perfumed in a manner that is particularly pleasing to the consumer, while obscuring any odor escaping from the product, and the product may contain less volatile perfumes that are more suitable for the purpose for which the product is intended. For example, the perfume may be particularly suitable for fabrics in the case of fabric cleaning liquids. The use of a perfumed liner also permits the use of lower levels of more volatile perfume ingredients, as the perfume is dispensed directly and immediately to the area where it is needed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

-4GB 285039 B6

Overview of the drawings

Giant. 1 illustrates a typical container provided with a lid closure that is useful in preferred embodiments of the invention;

Giant. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cap closure according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Giant. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cap closure according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Giant. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention;

Giant. 5 is a gas chromatograph illustrating upper vapor analysis of a conventional sealed container of commercially available detergent liquid;

Giant. 6 is a gas chromatograph showing vapor analysis in the upper compartment of a container of the same detergent liquid closed by a perfume-capped lid of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detergent container 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a bottle made of a water impermeable plastic such as polyethylene. A handle 2 is formed into this container 1 and the container 1 is closed by a screw cap 4.

Giant. 2 shows a cross-section of a screw cap 4 of a first embodiment of the invention which serves as a metering / metering means for measuring the desired volume of a liquid detergent composition to be poured from a container. The screw cap 4 is in the form of a cup 5 with calibration marks 6. An annular flange 7 is formed annularly around the cup 5, which comprises an annular insert 8 which forms a perfuming means for dispensing perfume into the upper space 3a (see FIG. 1).

The annular insert 8 is shown in enlarged view in FIG. 4. It consists of an inner layer of open-cell polyurethane foam 9 which is sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene 10. The polyurethane foam 9 is impregnated with perfume oil which has been absorbed into the foam structure, e.g. after foam formation. The amount of perfume oil impregnated into the polyurethane foam 9 may be dependent on various parameters, such as the perfume's own potential, the volatility of the perfume oil, the level of perfume vapor required in the top space of the container, and the temperature at which the container will normally be stored and / or used. . Thus, a suitable amount of perfume will generally be selected based on experience and / or trial and error on parts of the article.

Giant. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a cap that is not designed for use as a measuring means. In this embodiment, the annular insert 11 (which, in this embodiment, may even be in the form of a disc) is disposed within the threaded flange 12, outside the flange and downwardly forming an outer cover 13 which is designed for aesthetic appeal and for example, provided on its outer surface with gripping means. The annular insert 11 of this embodiment may be structurally identical to the annular insert 8 of the embodiment of Fig. 2, but, as already mentioned, this is not necessarily necessary.

In use, when the closure is fitted to the opening of the container as the liner is compressed to close against the opening of the container, low pressure releases a dose of perfume into the upper space of the container. At the same time, once the closure is fitted, since at least a portion of the liner (and at least a substantial portion thereof) forms a sealing member against the walls of the container opening, the perfume inside the porous foam structure of the liner is effectively isolated from the top space of the container and the product stored in the container. This separation of perfume-impregnated foam is enabled or optimized by polyethylene membranes on the foam layer of the liner.

-5GB 285039 B6

This sealing action is particularly important in preventing leakage of more volatile perfume components. This effect can easily be seen from a comparison of Figures 5 and 6, which show gas chromatographs of analyzes of perfume concentration in the upper space of the container over time, with Figure 5 showing a graph for a conventional sealed container and Figure 6 showing a sealed graph according to the invention. Both containers contained the same perfumed detergent liquid commercially available under the trademark SKIP MICRO. The peaks designated 1-8 in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 correspond to the different individual perfume main components.

Comparing the two chromatograms it can be seen that the intensity of the perfume in the upper space of the container is much greater in the case of embodiments of the invention, especially over longer periods of time.

This demonstrates that the use of an insert according to the invention provides the desired advantages outlined above.

Claims (11)

PATENT CLAIMS A closure (4) for a container opening (1), wherein the closure (4) comprises means for perfuming the upper space (3a) of the container (1) formed by a body (8, 11) of compressible absorbent material for storing perfume introduced into the upper space (3a) of a container (1), characterized in that at least a portion of the compressible, absorbent body (8, 11) is formed as a seal of the closure (4) against the opening of the container (1) to protect it from the product (3b) stored in the container ( 1) upon closing the cap (4) and excreting the perfume by pressing the body (8) into the upper space (3a). A closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (8) is in the form of a resilient absorbent pad which is located in a portion of the closure (4) adjacent the mouth of the container (1) when the closure (4) is in place. The closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (8) is made of open-pored plastic foam (9) impregnated with perfume. A closure according to claim 3, characterized in that the foam (9) is a polyurethane foam. A closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the front surface of the body (8) which is exposed to the interior space (3a) of the container (1) is covered with a product impermeable membrane (10) located in the container (1). ). A closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (8) is in the form of a ring, the front surface of which is covered by a membrane (10). The closure according to claim 6, characterized in that both faces of the ring are covered with a membrane (10). A closure according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the membrane (10) is made of polyethylene. -6GB 285039 B6 A closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (8) is disposed around a part of the closure (4) which forms a measuring cup (5) for the product dispensed from the container (1). 5 A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the body (8) is in the form of a disc. A container with a closure (4) comprising means for perfuming the upper space (3a) of the container (1) formed by a body (8, 11) of a compressible, absorbent material for storing 10 perfume introduced into the upper space (3a) of the container (1). ), characterized in that at least a portion of the compressible absorbent body (8, 11) is formed as a seal of the closure (4) against the opening of the container (1) to protect it from the product (3b) stored in the container (1) when closing the closure ( 4) and excretion of perfume by compressing the body (8) into the upper space (3a).