EP0689998A1 - Récipient rechargeable - Google Patents

Récipient rechargeable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0689998A1
EP0689998A1 EP94870109A EP94870109A EP0689998A1 EP 0689998 A1 EP0689998 A1 EP 0689998A1 EP 94870109 A EP94870109 A EP 94870109A EP 94870109 A EP94870109 A EP 94870109A EP 0689998 A1 EP0689998 A1 EP 0689998A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
refilling
opening
lid
measuring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP94870109A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0689998B1 (fr
Inventor
Joseph Fernand Deflander
Alan David Blake
Henri Cornette
Roger Joannes Van Roy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP19940870109 priority Critical patent/EP0689998B1/fr
Publication of EP0689998A1 publication Critical patent/EP0689998A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0689998B1 publication Critical patent/EP0689998B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/046—Closures with swivelling dispensing devices
    • 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
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/12—Cans, casks, barrels, or drums
    • B65D1/20—Cans, casks, barrels, or drums characterised by location or arrangement of filling or discharge apertures
    • 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
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/38—Devices for discharging 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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to containers comprising a pouring spout.
  • the containers of the present invention are refillable.
  • Liquid laundry detergents are mainly delivered in plastic bottles. But also granular laundry detergents in plastic containers are used as an alternative to paperboard cartons. These plastic containers are more resistant to possible mechanical damages and protect the content from any penetration of humidity and fluids from the outside. But for environmental reasons, such plastic containers are preferably sold as refillable containers, which can be refilled from, typically, refill bags.
  • the refilling of containers with laundry detergents which are presently on the market comprising a lid is achieved by detaching completely said lid from the container. Indeed, the pouring spout is too small to be used as a refilling opening.
  • Such plastic containers can contain liquid or granular laundry detergents and the contained detergent can be directly poured into a measuring and/or dispensing device or directly into the dispensing container of a washing machine through a pouring spout.
  • these measuring and/or dispensing devices are inside the container together with the contained granular detergent, said container having a lid.
  • This direct contact between the hands and the granular detergent may result in sticking of granules on said hand, which obliges hand-washing by the user.
  • this simple solution is not possible with a contained liquid detergent, where it is necessary to keep these devices always floating on said liquid detergent. Otherwise, it is very messy to get these devices from the bottom of a liquid filled container.
  • the lid has to be detached from the container to reach said devices inside. Therefore the spillage described above is even more probable and worse with a full container.
  • Another problem is the storing of the measuring and/or dispensing device between uses. Keeping it outside the container, for example on top of said container or nearby, has the risk that this device may get stained, contaminated or even lost. To avoid this, the only possibility available to the user is to put it inside the container again. But therefore the lid has to be detached again from the container with the disadvantages discussed before. It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a container which not only delivers but also is able to hold a measuring and/or dispensing device after every use and is always reached by the user without detaching the lid from the container.
  • the present invention provides a container comprising a pouring spout and a refilling opening.
  • Said container contains liquid or granular laundry detergent and includes a measuring and/or dispensing device for said detergent.
  • Said pouring spout allows a controlled pouring from the inside to the outside of said container.
  • Said refilling opening allows easy refilling of said container.
  • Said device is located in said refilling opening.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the container in an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a top view of the refilling opening of the container represented in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 shows a partial cross sectional view of a lid engaged in the container in another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figures 4a and 4b illustrate possible engagement systems between the measuring and/or dispensing device and the refilling opening.
  • the container (10) comprises a side wall (15) defining a hollow body (16) with a base wall (18) and a top wall (19) parallel to said base wall.
  • the shape of said container may be rounded or polygonal.
  • the container (10) of the present invention comprises a pouring spout (14) and a refilling opening (12) on said top wall (19).
  • the top view of said container (10) with said refilling opening (12) is shown in Figure 2.
  • Said container contains liquid or granular laundry detergent and includes a measuring and/or dispensing device (Fig. 3, 30) for said detergent. Therefore, the container (10) according to the present invention has not a detachable lid as an essential feature. Indeed, the refilling can be accomplished through said refilling opening (12).
  • the container (10) comprises also a handle (22).
  • This handle may be a separate part permanently attached to the hollow body (16) of the container. But preferably said handle (22) is an integral part of said body (16).
  • the base wall (18) may be adapted to receive the top wall (19) of another container to allow a stable stacking of a container over another. This means that said base wall has the reversed features of the top wall. For example, if the top wall is convex shaped and has securing ribs, the base wall is consequently substantially of the same dimension as the top wall, is concave shaped and has grooves corresponding to the securing ribs of said top wall.
  • said container comprises at least a transparent part which allows to look through into the container. Therefore, it is easy for the user to control the remaining amount of content in said container.
  • This transparent part may be of any shape and dimension. Also the location of this part is not critical to the present invention. It is also possible that said container is completely transparent.
  • the container (10) is made of a plastic material.
  • the plastic material may be chosen by any person skilled in the art. Preferably, adequate materials are chosen to be sufficiently resistant to external mechanical forces against damage or breakage. This may be achieved also with flexible plastic materials which are able to absorb the external forces acting on said material without permanent deformation or damage. Using flexible materials, parts like the handle or the base wall may be reinforced in respect to other parts to ensure a sure handling and stable standing and stacking. Therefore, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride are suitable plastic materials for the container. Blow molding is the preferred manufacturing process of these containers.
  • the container (10') may also comprise a detachable lid (40) in place of the top wall (19) as shown in Figure 3.
  • this lid comprises the refilling opening (12) on the top wall (41) of said lid.
  • Said lid (40) closes tightly the container.
  • the upper end lip (45) of said container (10') is adapted to engage said lid in a leakage tight manner.
  • the upper end lip (45) of said container engages tightly the side wall (46) of said lid (40).
  • said lid (40) comprises an opening lip (47) opposite to the pouring spout (14), which cooperates with an undercut portion (48) on the container (10') right under said opening lip.
  • the attachment between the lid (40) and the container (10') may be chosen by any person skilled in the art. Said attachment has to ensure leakage tightness and to prevent sitting of granular substances.
  • Plastic materials are preferably used for the lid. For example, polypropylene is a suitable material.
  • the manufacturing process is preferably injection molding.
  • An essential feature of the present invention is the pouring spout (Fig. 3, 14). Any person skilled in the art may choose the type of pouring spout. Said spout-should allow an easy and controlled pouring of the contained substance from the inside to the outside of said container.
  • a hinged spout is preferred. This particular hinged spout, as it will be called in the following, is shown in the open position in Figure 3. Said spout is connected along one side (24) to said lid (40). In the following the same description applies also to said container (10) with said hollow body (16). This spout (24) is closed by pushing the part (25) into the corresponding hole (26) in said lid (40) or body (16), the side (24) acting as a hinge.
  • the spout (14) is blocked therein through a locking mechanism between said part (25) and the side wall delimiting the hole (26). Exerting a small force in the opposite direction of the closing direction, the part (25) gets unlocked from said locking mechanism, obtaining again the open pouring spout.
  • the main advantage of the pouring spout (14) described in more detail before resides in the fact that said spout does not remain in a protruding position when unused. Therefore, this type of spout occupies the minimum of space, since it is retractable within said lid (40) or said hollow body (16) when said spout is unused. Specifically, saving space has great logistic advantages during storage and transportation of the container (10). Nevertheless, the form of the pouring spout and the locking systems of said spout within said lid or hollow body are various and may be chosen by any person skilled in the art.
  • the location of the pouring spout (14) may be various. Said spout can be on the side wall (15) or on the top wall (19) of the container (10). If the container comprises a lid (40), said spout may be on the side wall (46) or on the top wall (41) of the lid (40). If the container comprises a handle, said spout is always positioned opposite to said handle. This opposed positioning spout-handle gives a better control of the amount dispensed through said pouring spout. Therefore the dispensing is made handier. The spout is made either of the same material of said container (if said spout is part of said container) or of the material of the lid (if said spout is part of said lid).
  • the top wall (19) or (41) comprises the refilling opening (12). Any person skilled in the art may choose the exact location on said top wall (19) or (41) and its shape.
  • a top view of said top wall is shown in Figure 2.
  • the dimension of this opening is big enough to allow an easy refilling of the container. Indeed, said opening may be as wide as the top wall.
  • the refilling opening may also be situated on a different plane, preferably under the main plane of said top, as schematically shown in Figure 3. In this manner, the refilling opening is protected from another stacked container onto said top wall (19) or (41) improving also the stability of the stacking.
  • This refilling opening may also continue in the interior of the container with a funnel. Said funnel conveys the refilling into said container in an improved manner.
  • the refilling opening (12) facilitates the refilling also of the container (10') with the lid (40). Indeed, it is not necessary anymore to detach the lid (40) from said container (10') for refilling.
  • the refilling without the need of detachment of the lid has several advantages.
  • the disengagement of the lid from the container may be uncontrolled with a consequent spillage from the inside of the container. Therefore the detachment of the lid for refilling is messy and not easy.
  • repeated disengagement of the lid from the container may result in the weakening of the tight closure between these two parts especially when it is a snapping closure. This means that with every refilling the container loses more and more its leakage tightness. A premature change of the container may be necessary. Otherwise, a non tight container leaks unused detergent from between the lid and the container especially during the pouring action.
  • the closure between lid and container can be made tighter, since the user is not supposed to disengage the lid from the container.
  • Detergents especially so called "compact" detergents, are supplemented with measuring and/or dispensing devices.
  • a lesser amount of compact detergent is needed. Therefore it is important to measure out the exact quantity of detergent necessary for a wash cycle first in a measuring device before putting this measured quantity in a dispenser of a washing machine for example.
  • For other types of detergent it is more important to completely dispense the detergent directly in the washing machine together with the laundry with a dispensing device.
  • a combination of measuring and dispensing devices is also possible. Such devices are commercially available and have been extensively described in the art. Therefore the problem arises how to supplement this measuring and/or dispensing device together with the container filled with laundry detergent.
  • the refilling opening (12) holds or engages said device (30), as schematically illustrated in Figure 3.
  • the holding and engaging said device is also possible when the refilling opening comprises a funnel, if this funnel is consequently adapted to the form of said device.
  • Possible engagements between said device and the opening are various.
  • a preferred execution features cooperating snapping or threading mechanisms between said measuring and/or dispensing device and said refilling opening as shown in Figure 4a.
  • said measuring and/or dispensing device comprises protruding parts which lie on the edge (31) of said refilling opening (12) when said device is engaged in said opening as shown in Figure 4b. Said edge may also be made flexible to nest said device in a tight manner by pushing said device into said refilling opening.
  • Said device (30) can be therefore used as the only cap reversibly closing said refilling opening (12) in a leakage-tight or sift-proof manner.
  • the refilling opening (12) with or without said measuring and dispensing device is reversibly closeable by a separate cap (Fig. 3, 50).
  • a separate cap Fig. 3, 50.
  • the container (10) or (10') stays closed, even when said device is being used, especially when said device is used as a dispensing device in the washing machine.
  • Said cap also protects said device from being damaged or lost during transportation.
  • the engagement system between said refilling opening and said cap may be the same as described previously for the engagement system between said measuring and/or dispensing device, i.e. threading, snapping or other tight engagement systems.
  • Said cap closes the container of the present invention, with or without the measuring and dispensing device engaged in said refilling opening, in a leakage-tight or sift-proof manner.
  • Said cap comprises a top wall and a side wall.
  • said cap comprises gripping means to facilitate the handling of said cap by the user.
  • gripping means are located on the external surface of the side wall comprising ribs perpendicular to the top wall.
  • the present invention may be used in the following way :
  • the container according to the present invention is stackable, if provided with means which ensure a stable stacking.
  • these means may be ribs on the top wall (19) or (41) engaging corresponding grooves in the bottom of a stacked container.
  • Other means are available to any person skilled in the art.
  • the refilling opening (12) is located on a lower plane in respect to the rest of the top wall (19). This allows to better avoid that the measuring and/or dispensing device (30) and the cap (50) engaged in said refilling opening (12) may impede a stable stacking of another identical container.
  • the container of the present invention preferably contains liquid or granular detergent.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
EP19940870109 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Récipient rechargeable Expired - Lifetime EP0689998B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19940870109 EP0689998B1 (fr) 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Récipient rechargeable

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19940870109 EP0689998B1 (fr) 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Récipient rechargeable

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0689998A1 true EP0689998A1 (fr) 1996-01-03
EP0689998B1 EP0689998B1 (fr) 1998-11-04

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Family Applications (1)

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EP19940870109 Expired - Lifetime EP0689998B1 (fr) 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Récipient rechargeable

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2754787A1 (fr) * 1996-10-18 1998-04-24 Combes Guy Bouchon d'obturation d'orifice de conteneur comprenant un bec verseur integre
WO2006053035A1 (fr) * 2004-11-12 2006-05-18 Graham Packaging Company, L.P. Dispositif de fermeture de verseur

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1546080A (fr) * 1966-11-29 1968-11-15 Henkel & Cie Gmbh Réservoir en résine synthétique, avec verseur séparé et gobelet mesureur
EP0106676A2 (fr) * 1982-10-14 1984-04-25 ENICHEM AGRICOLTURA S.p.A. Recipient pour fertiliseur liquide
EP0456570A2 (fr) * 1990-05-09 1991-11-13 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fermeture de faible hauteur pour une utilisation en combinaison avec un récipient
EP0585919A1 (fr) * 1992-09-02 1994-03-09 JOH. A. BENCKISER GmbH Récipient à réemplissage

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1546080A (fr) * 1966-11-29 1968-11-15 Henkel & Cie Gmbh Réservoir en résine synthétique, avec verseur séparé et gobelet mesureur
EP0106676A2 (fr) * 1982-10-14 1984-04-25 ENICHEM AGRICOLTURA S.p.A. Recipient pour fertiliseur liquide
EP0456570A2 (fr) * 1990-05-09 1991-11-13 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fermeture de faible hauteur pour une utilisation en combinaison avec un récipient
EP0585919A1 (fr) * 1992-09-02 1994-03-09 JOH. A. BENCKISER GmbH Récipient à réemplissage

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2754787A1 (fr) * 1996-10-18 1998-04-24 Combes Guy Bouchon d'obturation d'orifice de conteneur comprenant un bec verseur integre
WO2006053035A1 (fr) * 2004-11-12 2006-05-18 Graham Packaging Company, L.P. Dispositif de fermeture de verseur

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0689998B1 (fr) 1998-11-04

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