Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/0055—Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2231/00—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents
  • B65D2231/001—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents the container being a bag
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
  • Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
  • Y02W30/80—Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging

Definitions

• the present invention relates to inner receptacles for use with resilient squeeze bottle packages; and more particularly, to such inner receptacles which include a flexible product bag which inverts upon emptying.
• a wide variety of packages are known which include an outer squeeze bottle and an inner flexible product bag.
• the outer squeeze bottle includes a resilient side wall portion which when compressed, forces product from the bag through a dispensing passage.
• the dispensing passage generally includes a valve which prevents air from entering the product bag when the outer squeeze bottle is released.
• the squeeze bottle also generally includes a second valve which enables air to re-enter the outer squeeze bottle into the space located between the inner flexible product bag and outer squeeze bottle. Consequently, the inner product bag collapses as product is dispensed.
• One problem with such packages is that the inner flexible bag has a tendency to collapse pre-maturely; trapping product within the inner flexible bag so it cannot be dispensed.
• an inner receptacle which is adapted for use with a resilient squeeze bottle.
• the inner receptacle includes a flexible bag which inverts upon itself substantially about its midpoint.
• the inner receptacle includes a full length flexible bag which is adapted to house a viscous product and has a discharge passage through a rigid fitment in the upper end of the flexible bag.
• the flexible bag has a top half above, and a bottom half below, the approximate midpoint of the bag.
• a resiliently deformable support frame means for maintaining the top half of the flexible bag in substantially its original, filled shape between dispensing operations without attachment of the receptacle to the squeeze bottle near the midpoint of the flexible bag, so that as the f exible bag is emptied the bottom half of the flexible bag inverts inside the top half of the flexible bag to permit substantially all of the product within the flexible bag to be dispensed.
• an inner receptacle which is similar to that discussed above.
• the support frame is insufficiently resilient in itself to return to its original shape after being deformed during a dispensing operation.
• the shape and size of the support frame is substantially identical to the adjacent interior surface of the resilient squeeze bottle such that the squeeze bottle helps return the support frame to its original shape.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a particularly preferred embodiment of an inner receptacle of the present invention wherein the support frame is located inside the flexible bag;
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle of Figure 1, taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a blank of flexible film material being folded to form the flexible bag of the embodiment of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of an inner receptacle of the present invention wherein the support frame is located outside the flexible bag;
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle of Figure 5, taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figures 2 and 6 of a third preferred embodiment of an inner receptacle of the present invention.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of a resilient squeeze bottle package wherein the receptacle of Figure 1 or the receptacle of Figure 5 may be utilized;
• Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the package of Figure 8, taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8 and housing the receptacle of Figure 1;
• Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 9 showing only the receptacle and the inner sleeve;
• Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Figure 10 illustrating the thin film vent valve
• Figure 12 is a perspective view of another squeeze bottle package wherein the receptacle of Figure 7 may be utilized;
• Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the package of Figure 10 taken along line 13-13 and housing the receptacle of Figure 7.
• the present invention provides a receptacle, indicated generally as 20, which is adapted for use with a squeeze bottle 25 (seen in Figure 8) and which includes a flexible bag 22 which inverts about its midpoint without requiring attachment at or near its midpoint to the side walls of the squeeze bottle 25.
• a receptacle indicated generally as 20
• a squeeze bottle 25 squeeze bottle 25
• a flexible bag 22 which inverts about its midpoint without requiring attachment at or near its midpoint to the side walls of the squeeze bottle 25.
• the receptacle 20 of the present invention generally includes a closure 24, a support frame 26 and a thin walled flexible bag 22 adapted to house a viscous product.
• the flexible bag 22 is a full length thin walled flexible bag 22.
• the term "full length” is intended to connote that the flexible bag 22 has a top half above, and a bottom half below, the approximate midpoint of the flexible bag 22 without any intermediate transverse seals; and it is the bottom half which inverts inside the top half as product empties from the receptacle 20.
• the top half of the flexible bag 22 is maintained in substantially its original, filled shape between dispensing operations by the support frame 26 without attachment of the receptacle 20 to the squeeze bottle 25 near the midpoint of the receptacle 20, as discussed hereinafter.
• the illustrated bag 22 is an oval flexible bag formed from a sheet of flat flexible material, as seen in Figure 3.
• the particular sheet material selected for the flexible bag 22 will, of course, be dependent upon various factors, including the viscous product to be dispensed, the expected shelf life, the anticipated strength needs, and the type of sealing operations to be employed. Examples of materials include, a flat flexible sheet of polyethylene having a thickness of about 0.002 inches, and a flat flexible sheet of ethylene vinyl alcohol having a thickness of about 0.001 inch.
• One particularly preferred flat flexible sheet material (especially for products requiring receptacles 20 with various barrier properties such as dentifrices) is a multi-layered laminate film including the following layers, listed in the order of outer layer to inner layer:
• Linear low density polyethylene about 0.0005 inch
• White adhesive (such as may be purchased from Morton of Buffalo, R.I. as AD112);--about 1.5 pounds/432,000 square inches;
• Clear adhesive (such as may be purchased from Morton of Buffalo, R.I. as AD100)--about 1.5 pounds/432,000 square inches;
• the flexible bag 22 includes a rigid fitment 38 which provides a dispensing passage 40 through which product may be dispensed.
• the term "rigid” is merely intended to convey that the fitment 38, either independently or in combination with other components of the package 30 to which the fitment 38 is attached (e.g., the squeeze bottle, the support frame, or both), must be able to withstand the tendency of the fitment 38 to collapse as pressure is exerted on the receptacle 20 during normal dispensing.
• the illustrated rigid fitment 38 has an annular flange 42 (seen best in Figure 4).
• the annular flange 42 has a flat upper surface which is sea ingly attached to the flexible material of the bag 22 around the centrally located aperture 28.
• heat sealing is preferred and the sealing operation is made easy and reliable by sealing to the flat upper surface of the flange 42 of the rigid fitment 38.
• all of the sealing operations of the flexible bag 22 may be performed on surfaces which enable the uniform application of sealing pressure.
• the flexible bag 22 may be filled with product through the bottom end of the flexible bag 22 which has not yet been sealed.
• the bottom end of the flexib e bag 22 may then be sealed (after filling) by twisting together the flexible material near the bottom end and applying heat to form a heat seal 44, thereby sealing the bottom end of the flexible bag 22.
• the rigid fitment 38 of this embodiment is shaped as a nozzle and includes screw threads 46. As seen in Figure 9, these screw threads 46 cooperate with screw threads 48 on a closure 50 to enable repeated opening and resealing of the receptacle 20.
• screw threads 48 are preferred, any suitable means for repeatedly sealing a closure 50 on the rigid fitment may be utilized; e.g., a snap-fit arrangement or a flip-top cap.
• the screw-on cap 50 may be provided as a part of the receptacle 20. Alternatively, the screw-on cap 50 may be part of the reusable portions of a refillable package 30.
• the receptacle 20 may be initially sealed (e.g., during shipment) by another separate means for sealing the dispensing passage 40.
• a thin film material 24 may be attached to the end of the rigid fitment 38 to seal the dispensing passage 40.
• This thin film material 24 is preferably larger than the dispensing passage 40 such that a grasping tab is provided.
• the rigid fitment 38 includes a circumferential recessed groove 51 in the side of the dispensing passage 40. This recessed groove 51 serves to hold a suckback valve 52.
• the suckback valve 52 is made up of two components; an orifice plate 52a and a flapper plate 52b.
• the flapper plate 52b includes an outer annular portion 53 and an inner disk portion 55.
• the inner disk portion 55 is attached to the outer annular portion 53 via two resilient members 57 spaced radially from each other.
• the flapper plate 52b can be made, for example, of polyethylene and could have a thickness of 0.023 inch, a disk portion 55 diameter of about 0.5 inch, an annular portion 53 about 0.62 inch wide and spaced about 0.06 inch away from the disk portion 55, and the radial connecting members 57 could have a width of 0.04 inch and be spaced from each other about 25 degrees.
• the illustrated orifice plate 52a is simply a circular plate having an orifice therein so that the plate 52a appears as an annular ring.
• the orifice in the orifice plate 52a is of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the disk portion 55.
• the orifice may have a diameter of about 0.475 inch.
• the suckback valve need not be in that portion of the dispensing passage 40 which passes through the rigid fitment 38.
• the rigid fitment may be a simple annular ring surrounding a dispensing passage. The fitment may be used merely to attach the flexible bag to the squeeze bottle.
• the receptacle may be provided without a nozzle and/or a suckback valve. These parts (i.e., the nozzle and/or the suckback valve) may be provided as part of a reusable package. Therefore, the suckback valve need not be in that portion of the dispensing passage inside the rigid fitment; it only needs to be located somewhere in the dispensing passage.
• the support frame 26 and the orifice plate 52a are a single integral piece wherein the support frame 26 depends from the orifice plate 52a.
• the support frame and the rigid fitment could be molded as a single integral piece with the support frame depending from the underside of the annular flange of the rigid fitment.
• the support frame may be a completely separate piece attached to, e.g., the rigid fitment and/or the orifice plate.
• the resiliently deformable support frame 26 is adapted,to maintain substantially the entire upper half of the flexible bag 22 in substantially its original, filled shape between dispensing operations without attachment of the receptacle 20 to the squeeze bottle 25 near the midpoint of the flexible bag 22.
• the support frame 26 is readily deformable so that the squeeze bottle 25 may be squeezed either adjacent the top portion or the bottom portion of the flexible bag 22, or both.
• the support frame 26 does not add appreciably to the squeezing force necessary to dispense a product.
• the support frame 26 is resilient enough to return to its original shape (possibly with help from the squeeze bottle 25 as discussed hereinafter).
• the support frame 26 is preferably sized and configured such that its outer most shape and size corresponds substantially to the inner shape and size of the resilient squeeze bottle 25.
• the exterior surfaces of the support frame 26 are located in substantially contacting relation (either directly or indirectly via the flexible bag) with the interior surface of the resilient squeeze bottle 25.
• an airtight seal is not necessarily formed between the support frame 26 and the inner surface of the side wall of the squeeze bottle 25 at the midpoint. In fact, it may be desirable in some instances to ensure an airtight seal is not formed. This may be accomplished by providing recessed portions (not seen) in the support frame.
• this substantially contacting configuration is preferred because the squeeze bottle 25 and support frame 26 are deformed as product is dispensed. As the resilient squeeze bottle 25 returns to its original shape, the squeeze bottle 25 helps push the resilient support frame 26 back to its original shape when the two parts are in substantially contacting relation (at least when squeeze bottles with oval cross-sections are used). Consequently, the stiffness of the support frame 26 may be significantly reduced which makes squeezing easier; particularly in the upper half of the squeeze bottle 25.
• the illustrated support frame 26 is generally oval and is made of a single integral part which includes at least two longitudinal members 60.
• the support frame 26 utilizes four longitudinal members 60, and at least four longitudinal members 60 are preferred.
• the distal ends of these longitudinal members 60 are attached to and equally spaced around a lower annular ring 62.
• the middle of these longitudinal members 60 are attached to and equally spaced around an intermediate annular ring 63.
• the upper ends of the longitudinal members 60 are attached to each other via a cylindrical wall 64.
• the support frame 26 of this embodiment forms a bird cage configuration. As indicated above, many possible configurations are possible at the upper end of the longitudinal members 60; provided, the upper ends do not block the flow of product out through the dispensing passage 40.
• the support frame 26 of this embodiment is located inside the flexible bag 22 which eliminates the necessity of attaching the support frame 26 to the flexible bag 22.
• the elimination of this step can provide significant manufacturing and cost benefits.
• this configuration i.e., support frame 26 inside the flexible bag 22
• the inner receptacle 20 also includes a shoulder portion 68.
• the shoulder portion is attached to the flexible bag 22 and rigid fitment 38.
• the shoulder portion 68 provides a transition from the rigid fitment 38 to the expanded flexible bag 22.
• the shoulder portion 68 of this embodiment includes a downwardly facing ledge 70.
• This ledge 70 provides a means for cooperating with the squeeze bottle 25 (seen in Figure 9) to sealingly retain the receptacle 20 in the squeeze bottle 25.
• this means provides for releasable sealing so that the receptacle 20 may be used with a reusable squeeze bottle 25 as discussed more fully hereinafter.
• FIGs 5 and 6 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of an inner receptacle .of the present invention, indicated generally as 120.
• This inner receptacle 120 is very similar to the receptacle 20 of Figures 1 and 2.
• the support frame 126 is located outside the flexible bag 122 and is integrally formed with the shoulder piece 168.
• the support frame 126 is attached to the outside of the bag 122 sufficiently to prevent the top half of the flexible bag 122 from collapsing. Otherwise, portions of the top half of the flexible bag 122 may pull away from the support frame 126 such that complete bag 122 inversion is prevented.
• the flexible bag 122 is preferably attached to the support frame 126 along all longitudinal members 160 and around all rings 162 and 164.
• Any suitable attachment means may be employed to attach the flexible bag 122 to the support frame 126.
• double sided adhesive tape, tape wrapped externally around the support frame 126 and the flexible bag 122, hot melt adhesive, or heat sealing may be used.
• the attachment means must be sufficiently strong that the flexible bag 122 will not separate from the support frame 126 during normal use so that bag 122 inversion is prevented.
• FIG. 7 another preferred inner receptacle of the present invention, indicated generally as 220, is illustrated.
• the flexible bag 222 is substantially the same as the flexible bag 22 previously discussed.
• the additional threads 272 provide a means for cooperating with the squeeze bottle 225 to repeatedly seal the top end of the receptacle 220 in the squeeze bottle 225.
• this means provides for releasable sealing so that the receptacle 220 may be used in a reusable squeeze bottle 225.
• the means are screw threads 272 which provide a reliable resealing mechanism.
• means other than screw threads 272 may be used, e.g., a snap-fit arrangement.
• receptacles of this invention offer advantages in all contexts, these receptacles are particularly suitable for use as a refill receptacle in a reusable resilient squeeze bottle package of the present invention.
• the inner receptacles discussed previously herein, 20, 120, and 220 preferably utilize the support frame as described above, other means to maintain the top half of the flexible bag in substantially its fully expanded position such that the flexible bag inverts upon emptying may be utilized.
• this particularly preferred reusable squeeze bottle 25 enables replacement of the receptacle 20 while having only one closure member (i.e., end plate 80) which must be manipulated by the user.
• This single closure member 80, located at the bottom of the squeeze bottle 25 is all that is needed to seal the receptacle 20 at the bottom and the top within the reusable squeeze bottle 25.
• the package 30 generally includes an outer sleeve 82, an inner sleeve 84 and an inner receptacle 20.
• the receptacle 20 is first placed inside the inner sleeve 84, as seen in Figure 10.
• the inner sleeve 84 is a hollow oval tubular section which has substantially the same external cross-sectional dimensions as the internal cross-sectional dimensions of the outer sleeve 82.
• the top edge of the inner sleeve 84 supports the receptacle 20 via the ledge 70 of the shoulder portion 68.
• the inner sleeve 84 of this embodiment also includes a thin film valve 86.
• the thin film valve 86 is a valve formed by partially adhering a thin film 86a over an aperture or apertures 86b.
• three apertures 86b aligned in a straight line are provided with a thin film 86a adhered to the bottom wall 87 of the inner sleeve 84 in two opposing crescent patterns 89.
• the three apertures may have a diameter of 0.04 inch each and be separated from each other by about 0.06 inch (edge-to-edge).
• the apertures 86b may be overlayed by a 0.0005 inch thick film 86a of ethylene vinyl acetate centered over the apertures 86a and adhered to the end plate 80 in the opposing crescent pattern 89 having about 0.5 inch diameter and separated by about 0.15 inch.
• the threaded end plate 80 also includes apertures 88 which provide communication between the atmosphere and the thin film valve 86.
• the threaded end plate 80 is circular and attached to the oval inner sleeve 84 by a socket 89 and post 90 configuration. This allows the end plate 80 to be turned relative to the- inner sleeve 84.
• a raised grasping ridge 92 is provided on the end plate 80 to facilitate grasping and turning thereof.
• the inner sleeve 84 may be provided with apertures similar to those found in the end plate 80, or the inner sleeve 84 may have other openings (not seen).
• the thin film valve 86 could be located in the end plate 80, thereby sealing the receptacle 20 within the squeeze bottle 25.
• the inner sleeve 84 holding the receptacle 20 is placed inside the outer sleeve 82.
• the outer sleeve 82 has an upper frustroconical surface 94 located therein near its top end and screw threads 96 located near the bottom end.
• the shoulder portion 68 is forced against the frustroconical surface 94. This provides an airtight seal between the upper edge of the inner sleeve 84 and the ledge 70 of the shoulder portion 68.
• the receptacle 20 is sealed inside the inner sleeve 84.
• screw threads 96 on the end plate 80 offer several advantages and are thus, preferred.
• the utilization of screw threads 96 enables repeated effective sealing o the package 30.
• screw threads are preferred in this embodiment because they enable sealing of the receptacle 20 inside the squeeze bottle 25 at the top end without tolerances as tight as they may otherwise be on the length of the inner sleeve 84.
• a preferred oval reusable resilient squeeze bottle 225 which utilizes the receptacle of Figure 7 is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13.
• This reusable embodiment utilizes a collar 276 to seal the top end of the receptacle 220 to the squeeze bottle 225.
• the receptacle 220 is dropped into the squeeze bottle 225 from the bottom end. This allows the secondary threads 272 to protrude through the top end of the squeeze bottle 225.
• the collar 276 is then screwed onto the threads 272, sealing the top end of the receptacle 220 to the top end of the squeeze bottle 225.
• the end plate 280 is screwed onto the bottom end of the squeeze bottle 225 until it forms a seal at the bottom end against the inner surface of the squeeze bottle 225.
• the end plate 280 includes a thin film valve 286 similar to that of the inner sleeve of Figure 11.
• the side wall of the squeeze bottle 225 returns to its original shape and product flows back into the dispensing passage 240 until the suckback valve 252 closes.
• the side wall of the squeeze bottle 225 returns to its original shape it helps push the support frame 226 back to its original shape. Consequently, the top half of the bag 222 returns to its original shape and the bottom half of the flexible bag 222 begins collapsing. Air is allowed to enter the space between the receptacle 220 and the squeeze bottle 225 through the thin film valve 286. Successive dispensing operations result in the bottom half of the flexible bag 222 inverting inside the top half of the flexible bag 222. The inversion enables substantially all of the product within the flexible bag 222 to be dispensed.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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• 1992
  • 1992-11-04 CA CA 2122996 patent/CA2122996A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-11-04 WO PCT/US1992/009553 patent/WO1993010014A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-11-04 AU AU31284/93A patent/AU3128493A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-11-04 JP JP5509324A patent/JPH07501032A/ja active Pending
  • 1992-11-04 EP EP92925095A patent/EP0612298A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-11-18 PT PT864792U patent/PT8647T/pt unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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