EP0701947A1 - Package having a liquid flow regulating deflector - Google Patents

Abstract

The prismatic packaging box (1b) for liquid or powder products is made of a cardboard/polymer material and has a pourer (2b). Internal deflectors formed from the same material as the packaging, partially partition the interior of the packaging in order, by means of hydrodynamic braking , to regulate the flow of the product during filling or use. The box is inclined at an angle ( alpha ) to the horizontal for emptying the product (12) into a container (13). The operator's hand (18) clamps the box in the central zone near to a stiffening deflector (5) which is connected to the internal side walls by thermo-welded legs (6). This deflector only partially partitions the inside of the box and plays the role of controlling flow of the product and increasing the resistance of the box. There are orifices (11s,11t) for the passage of air. Deflectors in the packaging control the flow of the product during both filling and emptying.

Description

The present invention relates to a new type of packaging for food or non-food products, produced in liquid form or capable of flowing in a similar manner to a liquid, and products belonging more particularly to the field of mass consumption, these packaging (generally for use unique) being likely to be used manually by physical persons (adults or children).

This invention therefore applies in particular both to the packaging of edible liquids of the milk type, various drinks or vegetable oils for example, as to the packaging of non-alimentary liquids of the motor oil type, liquid product for dishwasher, liquid unblocker, etc. ; it also applies to the packaging of products comprising powder, granules or aggregates, food (flours, sugars, flakes, etc.) or non-food (detergents for example) likely to flow in a similar manner to a liquid.

This invention is capable of being applied to any type of packaging, bottles, boxes, cans, and whatever its constituent material (polymer, glass, metal, paper or cardboard, textile, fiber, vegetable material, or complex produced at from some of these materials).

Traditionally used packaging is either rigid, flexible or semi-rigid. Although many advances have been made in the field of packaging for liquid products or for products behaving as such, the latter still have a certain number of drawbacks relating in particular to their use (mainly: difficulty in controlling the flow of the product out of the package) or disposal at the end of their life. In fact, for economic, practical (transport, compacting after use) or ecological (in particular, destruction of packaging) reasons, it would be desirable for the wall thicknesses of the packaging to be extremely small; research relating to the constituent materials generally goes, and for these reasons, in the direction of a greater mechanical resistance of the materials (with sometimes integration in the packaging of a line of breakage or compaction, as in certain plastic bottles of mineral water for example) and with often use of multilayer materials, integration of "barrier layers" etc., but the technical limits are unfortunately quickly reached; in addition, the ecological imperatives linked to the destruction or recycling of packaging after use reduce the possible choices of the materials constituting the packaging. In Consequently, the requirements specific to each packaging: chemical and mechanical resistance to the product it contains and to the ambient air (humidity, ultraviolet, etc.), maintenance of the hygiene or quality characteristics of the product contained even after partial use, sufficient mechanical strength to allow its automatic but above all manual handling and in particular by inexperienced or clumsy hands (children or the elderly for example) and to allow the product to flow with the least anarchic flow possible despite the pressures exerted by the hand of the user, make the packaging still require a large amount of constituent material and remain quite expensive either because of this amount of constituent material, or because of the additional devices which have proved necessary. In particular, any packaging which contains a certain quantity of product must have a minimum of "hold" in itself (this is besides, in addition to aesthetic considerations, one of the reasons why flexible packaging only occupies a minority share in the wide range of packaging). This minimum resistance imposes a minimum thickness of material constituting the packaging, and therefore a non-negligible, even high cost, as well as a mass which is also non-negligible (mass which adds nothing to the product consumed, but which 'it will be necessary to transport, and mass of material which will have to be destroyed sooner or later without pollution or recycle, often costly).

The "minimum hold" has therefore often become a "minimum hold" and insufficient, and it is not uncommon to see packaging of the type: box of milk or fruit juice, for example, "make the belly" under the load of the objects placed on it, or when we want to use this type of box, the fact of holding it in the hand implying a pressure of the fingers on the walls, we do, after opening and almost without fail, "squirt" the product in an uncontrolled way out of the packaging.

In the same way, bottles of drinks (lemonade or sodas for example) with very thin polymer walls crush very easily on hand and the liquid spills as much on the table as in the glass.

In addition, packaging designers do not currently seem to be able to optimize the outlet section after opening; the ideal would be to have a fast but regular flow and easily controllable, whereas we have today most often, that is to say an approximately regular flow but too weak (this being carried out generally by means of baffles or d '' partial shutters installed in, or in the vicinity of, the outlet orifice), i.e. a correct flow in quantity but very irregular and difficult to control (outlet port sufficiently cleared, but no real means of flow regulation).

In addition, in terms of packaging creation, and to reduce the proportion (in terms of mass and cost in particular) of the packaging in relation to the packaged product, the designers are moving not only towards the thinnest possible packaging walls, but also to the largest possible individual containers (examples: bottles of 1.5 to 2 liters or more instead of the classic 1 liter or 1/4 gallon bottles which have been used for a long time).

In addition to the mass that the user must manually handle in the case of these large containers, and by the very fact in particular of the mass of the assembly, the use is delicate and, very often, the product contained flows in a manner even more irregular and jerky and overflows or splashes its receptacle or the immediate environment.

The larger the mass, the more the user squeezes the box, the can or the bottle so as not to escape it, and the more he tends to make the product "squirt", in an uncontrolled manner. The air entering the packaging at this time, also irregularly, further increases the anarchic nature of the flow of the product. To try to alleviate these problems, more and more packaging designers provide handles integrated or not in the packaging, but this constitutes only a partial help which is far from solving all the problems and which creates d 'others (more material and more cost for packaging, larger external volume, handle often placed too close to the neck, etc.).

• la maîtrise et la régularité de l'écoulement d'un produit hors de son emballage, malgré une manutention manuelle pouvant être malhabile,
• le coût le plus faible pour l'emballage,
• et d'autres considérations additionnelles mais importantes concernant ledit emballage (attrait esthétique, compactage possible, considérations écologiques, impératifs pour le distributeur, etc.), mais il est de fait que tous ces dispositifs ne respectent qu'imparfaitement ou que partiellement cet ensemble de critères.

In addition, there are also devices for adjusting or closing the outlet opening of the packaging (for example: small sliding plastic shutter or lockable with one or more clips on certain boxes of milk or fruit juice for example ) but they are generally external to the packaging, or grafted on or in the outlet, they are expensive and they do not really solve the problem of regularity of flow of the product to be consumed continuously, they limit or reduce this flow . In fact, the most used are those that simply play the role of shutter (flap with a clip or screw cap, for example), always useful for closing the packaging after partial use. A certain number of other devices have been imagined and described or produced with the aim of reconciling, with the fundamental functions of a package (containing, transporting a product and keeping it in acceptable hygienic standards, even after partial use ):

• control and regularity of the flow of a product out of its packaging, despite manual handling which can be clumsy,
• the lowest cost for packaging,
• and other additional but important considerations concerning said packaging (aesthetic appeal, possible compaction, ecological considerations, imperatives for the distributor, etc.), but it is a fact that all of these devices only partially or partially comply with this set of criteria.

Indeed, in addition to the handles or shutter devices for the outlet orifice mentioned above, these devices can be grouped in particular into three classes:
• Class "flow limitation by partial obturation in, or linked to, the outlet or the neck"

In addition to fin devices of the "jet-breaker" type, well known elsewhere in sink or sink taps for example, a device for partially closing the orifice or outlet channel is described in document US.A .4,881,666 (RS TULLMAN); the partial closure, the purpose of which here is to slow the exit of the liquid, is carried out by means of grid (s) or fins fixed on the, or at the base of, or inside the neck of the bottle described in this document . If the reduction in flow is real due to pressure drops, there is not sufficient and real flow regulation; moreover, the fact of having all these partitions near the outlet orifice is contrary to good compliance with hygiene or product conservation standards; in fact, air and bacteria can easily lodge in all "dead" areas (corners, corners, etc.) and are liable to rapidly degrade the quality of the product (as soon as the contents of the bottle are not not used all at once).

Another well-known device, which now equips a large number of cardboard boxes, milk, fruit juice or various drinks, consists of a shutter which can be locked by one or more plastic clips generally doubled below by a tab (it -Even in plastic or metal), tab that is pressed most often to create the opening of the box, the shutter being fixed by one or more clips, allowing to close the box after partial use. As said before, the shutter has a certain interest, however the tongue, which remains attached to this "neck" added and which, in some cases, creates, depending on the position it takes after pressing, some interesting braking of the flow liquid through the neck when you are in the pouring phase, does not really regulate this flow of liquid; in addition and on the contrary, depending on its position, it can cause the liquid to leave insufficiently, deflected, or anarchic with respect to a normal direction of flow; in particular the liquid can "run" partially along the outside of the box which does not allow to respect the hygienic conditions that one is entitled to expect from a packaging; moreover, when this tongue is pressed, the user often makes the liquid squirt, or else puts it in physical contact with one of his fingers or any object having served for this insertion, which, again , does not guarantee sufficient hygiene.

So, even if this closure device corresponds to real progress in terms of the possibility of closing the box after partial use, it does not provide all that can be expected in terms of regularity of flow or 'product hygiene; in addition, because of its "added" and relatively complex nature, it corresponds to a non-negligible additional cost and its aesthetic nature or consistency with the packaging is very questionable.
• Class "air inlets"

It is well known that whenever the section of the outlet orifice of a package is small compared to the size of the package or the volume of product contained (which is the case most frequently encountered for reasons of necessary limitation of flow rate or accuracy of pouring), the evacuation of the liquid during pouring creates, for rigid or semi-rigid packaging, a vacuum in the packaging, and the necessary air intake resulting, if it is not foreseen, itself creates anarchic disturbances in the flow.

• des dispositifs permettant de créer un petit orifice supplémentaire, avec ou sans bouchon, généralement en partie "haute" de l'emballage, permettant à l'air de passer de l'extérieur à l'intérieur de l'emballage,
• des dispositifs consistant en un petit tuyau placé près du, ou dans le, goulot ou orifice de sortie et permettant de faire communiquer l'intérieur de l'emballage avec l'atmosphère extérieure au cours de l'opération de versement,
• des dispositifs analogues mais intégrés à l'emballage lui-même ;

   ainsi, dans le document US.A.48384644 (M. BRIGGS) un cloisonnement est prévu lors de la fabrication de l'emballage, ce cloisonnement permet de constituer un petit canal ou tuyau de passage d'air reliant le goulot de remplissage ou d'évacuation du produit à l'intérieur même de l'emballage afin que l'air puisse entrer sans problème au cours de l'opération de versement du liquide.To remedy this, numerous devices have been imagined and described or produced; these are generally:

• devices making it possible to create a small additional orifice, with or without a plug, generally in the "upper" part of the packaging, allowing air to pass from the outside to the inside of the packaging,
• devices consisting of a small pipe placed near or in the outlet neck or outlet and allowing the interior of the packaging to communicate with the outside atmosphere during the pouring operation,
• similar devices but integrated into the packaging itself;

thus, in document US.A.48384644 (M. BRIGGS) a partitioning is provided during the manufacture of the packaging, this partitioning makes it possible to constitute a small channel or air passage pipe connecting the filler neck or d evacuation of the product inside the packaging in order to that air can enter without problem during the liquid pouring operation.

This device, like those of the same family mentioned above, of course improves the regularity of the liquid outlet flow; however, if the wall of the package is thin and if the package is tightened a little too irregularly by a clumsy hand, it will not prevent an uncontrolled exit of the product (squirt under pressure of the hand), or, if the packaging is too inclined, the flow will be immediately (and precisely thanks to the air intake) very high, which is not necessarily sought by the user.
• Class "dosage" or "separation / mixing" of products

Always with the aim of reconciling the different imperatives of packaging (fundamental functions, more flow, cost, attractiveness) and more particularly with the aim of improving or optimizing the use of packaging, it has been imagined and describes or makes various means integrated into the packaging for dosing the product, separating certain constituents or accelerating the flow of the product (in particular powders or granules).

Thus, in the document DE.A 3409632 (G. MENSHEN GmbH), there is described a packaging provided with a handle and a metering system comprising in particular a partition integrated into the packaging, a partition which acts as a baffle that the liquid must bypass and go along to arrive in the metering device proper which is integrated into the outlet orifice. The use of this type of packaging which requires a discontinuous cycle: "payment / adjustment" does not in particular resolve the general problem of the necessary regulation of the flow rate of continuous output of the liquid from a packaging (especially for mass consumption) .

We find a partition for similar purpose described in the document FR.A.2370 649 (J. GUATTARI and AL.) With partitions placed in the general direction of flow of the product, partitions which play a baffle role, that the product must bypass and go along at each "pouring / straightening" cycle in order to be dosed before evacuation.

Again, this is a discontinuous cycle, rather intended for powders, which does not in particular resolve the problem of continuous flow regulation of a liquid product leaving the outlet orifice of its packaging.

In document FR.A.1462362 (A. ALONZO), another type of partitioning / separation is described. It shows a kind of longitudinal partition (approximately parallel to the general axis of the packaging) partition intended to keep two separate powdery products inside even from the packaging. The mixing takes place during the pouring of the product which is accelerated compared to the usual powder flow rates, which is, in this case, the desired objective.
However, the flow regulation problem which arises for most consumer packagings cannot be resolved by the means described here.
There are also devices for separating liquids within a package, such as that described in document US.A. 1955 853 (L. LAWSON et AL.). The separation is here carried out by means of a flexible or semi-rigid cup connected to an external rod, but this device with reduced applications does not in particular resolve the general problem of flow of a product out of its packaging; moreover it is bulky and can cause sealing problems.
In another document, reference EP.A.0 368 757 (Company ALIZOL), there is described a flexible packaging provided with internal stiffener (s), but if these allow the packaging to stand on its base, even when the product it contains is partially or totally consumed, they do not really give the described packaging sufficient strength to withstand pressures exerted by the hands of more or less clumsy user (s) ( s), and the liquid product is likely to spur inconsiderately out of said packaging. To limit or reduce this problem, provision is made in this document for the creation of a separate chamber obtained by means of a transverse weld and allowing a metering of the product. But here again, it is a discontinuous cycle (pouring / straightening or manual pouring / compression) which does not make it possible in particular to settle the general problem of continuous flow of a product out of its packaging.

The present invention aims to remedy all of these drawbacks in a very sensitive manner. It is based for this on the phenomenon of hydrodynamic brake created by a deflector placed in a flow, and which, applied judiciously to the field of packaging of preferably consumer products gives results and benefits quite surprising and interesting.

The hydrodynamic brake phenomenon created by a deflector placed in a flow is well known in the field of fluid mechanics (or mechanics of products behaving like a fluid), it implies the fact that there is a flow of fluid with a general direction of flow and a deflector which comes, by the disturbance which it creates in the flow, to play a role of brake and regulator in this flow (the more the deflector is in a position transverse to this flow or the larger its section relative to the flow section of the fluid, the more important the "braking" and the "regulation").

This is due on the one hand to the internal friction of the fluid generated by the disturbance created by the deflector but also and above all by the physical phenomenon of depression (Δp) which is created immediately behind the deflector, dynamic depression created by the speed fluid.

The vacuum zone "retains" the fluid and the faster the fluid tends to go, the greater the dynamic depression at the rear of the deflector and therefore the more the fluid is "retained", which has the general physical effect, a excellent flow control.

Conversely, if the fluid flows a priori slowly, the dynamic depression, which is linked to the speed, will therefore be very low (Δp low) and therefore will practically not slow the flow.

It is therefore seen that, thanks to the deflector, if the fluid tends to go quickly, it is "retained" by the dynamic depression thus created, and therefore slowed down, and if the fluid flows slowly, it is not found practically slower; one thus obtains a flow rate fairly close to a constant flow rate whatever the initial velocities that are impelled to the fluid.

The "hydrodynamic brake" which we evoke here is well known in mechanics or fluid dynamics, and the present invention consists, fundamentally, but with a certain number of technical options described below, in the installation of a deflector inside a package in an approximately transverse position relative to the general direction of internal flow of the liquid when it is desired to use or consume it, which in particular makes it possible to regulate said flow. Thus, if one suddenly inclines for example a can of milk or any drink provided transversely, inside, with a deflector according to the invention, one impulses, as usual, a high speed to the fluid, but this- this will be immediately and automatically braked and therefore regulated thanks to internal friction and to the vacuum which is instantly created at the rear of the deflector and which retains the fluid. If the milk can does not have this type of deflector, a strong tilt or pressure on the can makes the liquid spurt out of the packaging with great speed.

To this end, the packaging concerned by the present invention therefore comprises at least one deflector situated inside the general volume overall delimited by said packaging, this (s) deflector (s) being made up of material elements of type tongue, lattice, walls, and partitioning partially and transversely with respect to the general direction of flow of the product, the interior of the volume of the packaging so in particular, thanks to the phenomenon of depression and internal turbulence of the product and the air around its faces and therefore thanks to the hydrodynamic brake phenomenon which it constitutes during the flow of the product which one wants to use or consume, to regulate said flow whatever the skillful or unskillful manner and the pressure manual tightening shown by the user.

This deflector is made either of the same material as that of the packaging, or of another material (polymer, metal, glass, paper, cardboard, textile, plant material or complex of these materials) and it is preferably rigid or semi -rigid. In the (very frequent) case of polymer packaging produced by the extrusion-blowing technique, obtaining this or these deflector (s) may advantageously be made from the same material as that constituting the packaging and simultaneously with the operation of obtaining the packaging (a simple modification of the mold is sufficient), which is particularly economical and does not create any significant additional cost.

The deflector is placed inside the packaging and is preferably not in direct contact with the neck or the outlet of the product so that the phenomenon of depression which occurs downstream of the deflector (s) plays its role fully too close to the outlet, and therefore atmospheric pressure, would be harmful for good flow regularity; moreover, it could, if it were too close to the outlet orifice, become too easily loaded with bacteria in the event of partial use of the product contained in the packaging, which would harm the hygienic preservation of the product. In addition, one of the advantages resulting from the installation of this or these deflector (s) inside the packaging itself and not in direct contact with the outlet orifice is that the disturbances liable to be occur during the flow of liquid occur at the internal passage section left free by the deflector or just downstream of the deflector, and no longer in the vicinity of the outlet; when the liquid arrives at the outlet, its flow has already been "broken", "calmed" and regulated by the deflector (s) (analogy with one or more dams on a river). It is fixed by gluing, welding or stapling for example, or can be formed by a variation in the shape of the packaging (in this case it can also play the role of a thermal diffuser contributing to the faster warming up of a drink contained by it for example, or it can easily be combined with a handle also integrated in the packaging); it is advantageously located in half of the volume of the package comprising the orifice or the outlets of the product contained, and the total sealing surface of the deflector (s) is preferably greater than sixty percent of the transverse section of the packaging (transverse is understood along a plane perpendicular to the general axis of the packaging which is most often the general axis of flow of the product).

It may consist of one or more transverse internal tongue (s) rigid (s), semi-rigid (s) or flexible (s) or even a trellis partially partitioning the interior of the volume. packaging; the main passage area left free by the deflector thus formed will preferably be at the bottom when the packaging is tilted for product flow, so as not to "trap" product upstream of the deflector and thus be able to empty easily and completely packaging; moreover and preferably, at least one hole or a small passage section in the upper part will be provided so that the air, which has otherwise entered the interior of the packaging during the pouring of the product, can pass into upper part from one side to the other of the deflector thus helping to regulate the filling or flow rate. Advantageously, the outlet opening of the packaging allowing the product to flow will be of fairly large section, the deflector guaranteeing a non-excessive flow, this fairly large opening facilitating the entry of air into the packaging, air inlet which is obviously necessary due to the outlet of the product. Depending on the fluidity of the product contained in the packaging, the optimal shape and inclination of the internal deflector (s) will be determined as well as the internal passage section left free by the deflector and the opening section for product flow out of the packaging. Tests have shown that the best results are generally obtained with an inclination of the deflector between minus sixty degrees and plus sixty degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the general axis of the package when the latter was, (as the more often), in the same direction as the general axis of internal flow of the fluid. In addition, as regards the internal passage section left free by the deflector (s), it will very advantageously be less than the product outlet section, which allows outside air to enter the packaging. during the pouring of the product without additional specific device and without significantly disturbing the regularity of flow of the product.

The deflector may consist of two tabs each linked to a wall of the package, these two walls facing each other, and the two tabs not touching, or only touching partially, thus leaving a passage section between them for the product to be sold. In all cases, the partition effect partially retains the product during its flow and almost regulates automatically this flow regardless of the movements printed on the packaging by the hand of the user during the flow of the product.

This or these tab (s) can or (can) constitute in its or (their) general shape a complete partition, it (s) will be (or will be) in this case provided (s) through holes of sufficient size to allow the flow of the product on the one hand and advantageously the passage of air from one face to the other on the other hand. It (s) can or can also constitute an incomplete partition, but it (s) preferably constitutes (s) as said above a filling greater than sixty percent of the general internal section of the packaging, or even greater than eighty percent (the greater the fluidity of the product, the more the deflector must have a large seal).

In the case where a deflector is linked to the two internal side walls of the packaging which face each other, or to more than forty percent of the internal perimeter in the case of a circular section, it prevents their separation under the action of the dead weight of the product or under the action of the various masses likely to be placed on the packaging containing the product. It thus prevents the phenomenon of "belly" and the risks of bursting observed on the packaging as soon as they are a little too thin or too weak taking into account the loads which they have to support and thus confers thus is a better safety to packaging, or a possibility of reducing the thickness of the walls of the packaging with identical security.

It should be noted that packaging with an integrated handle generally has a narrowing of the section to the right of the area where the handle begins, but this is generally only five to thirty percent of the general section of the packaging and is not really a sufficient deflector.

The deflector device according to the invention can be generally planar, ribbed, or itself comprise several bosses, walls, fins or holes of various shapes (cut holes, conical holes, stamped or others). It will be adapted to the best of the flow of the product according to the general shape and size of the packaging and according to the nature of the packaged product. It should be noted that for containers for repetitive use (type: gourd, teapot, shaker, vinegar, etc.) partitioning devices of the type: sieve, perforated plate or fins which are placed inside of the container, but they are designed and arranged in such a way that they act as a filter or stop for large solid particles (ice cubes, leaves, coffee grounds, etc.) or possibly a role of agitator or d homogenization of the contained liquid, but they are not applied packaging (generally single use) and they do not play the role of deflector or deflector / stiffener as described here.

In some cases, the deflector may be of variable geometry or orientation in order to perfect the flow regulation as a function of the quantity of product remaining in the packaging, or in order possibly to constitute a second closure, inside the same packaging which has the advantage of being able to close the packaging internally when the product is partially consumed, this by trapping less air above and therefore better preserving the initial quality of the product contained.

In a preferred form of the invention, the deflector is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material and it constitutes at least one transverse stiffener of the packaging in an area close to the place where the user's hand grasps the packaging to dispose of the product. This stiffener thus contributes to the holding of the packaging not only thanks to its tensile strength, but also to its compressive strength. To this end, it may be either sufficiently rigid in itself (sufficient thickness and resistance of its material), or rigidified by any suitable means (ribs, frames, etc.) and thus constitute a spacer or element for stiffening the packaging. The very big advantage of the deflector / stiffener thus formed is, in addition to the advantages of regularity of flow mentioned above, that it makes it possible to further thin the walls of the packaging concerned in a large proportion. Indeed, a packaging with very thin walls, or even a completely flexible packaging, can, thanks to the internal rigid deflector / stiffener, as described here, combine, on the one hand, sufficient resistance to the crushing pressure exerted by the hand of the user or by the shocks and pressures due to transport or storage in particular, and on the other hand a perfect regularity of flow and a possibility of easy compaction before filling or after use.

It is thus possible to produce rigid or semi-rigid packaging with very thinned walls therefore very economical (walls a few hundredths of a millimeter thick instead of several tenths of a millimeter encountered most often at present), lighter, less polluting for the environment, and likely to be compacted very easily before filling or after use (a simple manual compression of the packaging around the deflector (s) makes it possible to immediately obtain a compacted packaging in the form of a wafer, which is very advantageous for reduce the volume of household waste). In the case of packaging by rotational molding or extrusion blow molding, the skilled person can in a single operation easily obtain the rigid deflectors and the thin wall thicknesses of the package where they are desired by varying the mold temperatures and / or the metal wall thicknesses of the mold. Furthermore, in the case of the usual prismatic boxes made of complex materials of the cardboard / metal / polymer type used either for the packaging of dairy products (milk, cream, etc.), or for fruit juices or other drinks, on the one hand, we very often observe the phenomenon of "belly" due to the proper mass of the packaged product or of what is placed on the packaging, as mentioned above, or on the contrary a phenomenon of "hollow" in right of the handle often reported in the middle of the pack of six boxes (which limits the number of boxes per unit of grouping) and on the other hand a certain difficulty in opening these boxes without knife or scissors taking into account the thickness of the material cardboard / metal / polymer complex used, thickness precisely necessary and often insufficient to ensure the mechanical strength of the assembly. There is also an outflow of the product, often anarchic given the pressure exerted by the hand on the central part or the "belly" of the box, pressure which contributes to make the product squirt irregularly out of the packaging.

The present invention overcomes all these drawbacks in this case; indeed, the fact of providing inside the box and, preferably linked to the internal walls, a semi-rigid or rigid deflector for example, makes it possible to avoid both the phenomenon of "belly" and that of "hollow" and therefore to thin the walls, therefore to facilitate the simply manual tearing (without cutting tool) of the folded part which then traditionally serves as a pouring spout, and this deflector also allows, of course, to regulate in a large proportion the flow. This type of packaging then becomes almost perfect in use.

One can also also constitute almost completely flexible packaging provided only with one or more deflectors / stiffeners which allows, in addition to the advantages of manual strength and regularity of flow added to a significant reduction in cost (very thin thickness for the flexible part), a significant reduction in the empty volume of the packaging, before initial filling or after use (saving in volume at the manufacturing level or at the level of disposal in household waste bins). Thus boxes, cans or bottles according to the invention may consist of a completely flexible envelope comprising one or more internal transverse deflectors / stiffeners. In the case where the flexible material of the envelope is an elastomer, the advantages (the unbreakable nature, automatic adaptation of the volume of the container to the residual volume of the product, etc.) are numerous but the cost of an elastomer generally being greater than the cost of one conventional thermoplastic material, it will sometimes be advantageous to design the packaging as being reusable (sufficient wall thickness, etc.).

In the case of a flexible envelope (thermoplastic, textile or elastomeric) and in a preferred form of the invention, filling under pressure of the product in the box, the can or the bottle contributes to ensuring the mechanical strength of the assembly thanks to the tensile prestress exerted by the pressure in the flexible walls. In this case, the deflector (s) / stiffener (s) makes it possible in particular to prevent the product from spurting suddenly out of the packaging at the opening of the neck or of the outlet orifice, which would almost certainly happen if this type of packaging were not provided with deflector (s) / stiffener (s) (this, in particular, explains that we find very few flexible or elastomeric packaging on the market despite their advantages, moreover); the deflector / stiffener overcomes this drawback. In addition, the flexible packaging thus formed can, after partial use, also retract in section and come, if the deflector / stiffener is sufficiently large and of adequate position and shape, tighten around the entire free periphery of the deflector (s) (s) / stiffener (s) which ensures a fairly good sealing seal above the remaining product, thereby ensuring better conservation of said product.

In order to mechanically reinforce the flexible packaging, it is possible to combine the internal deflector / stiffener and the longitudinal reinforcements external to the packaging itself.

• Figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe d'un écoulement de liquide régulé par un déflecteur ;
• Figure 2 est une vue de face d'une bouteille classique ;
• Figure 3 est une vue de face d'une bouteille plastique comportant une poignée intégrée ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'une boîte habituellement en matériau complexe carton/métal/polymère présentant un phénomène de "ventre" dû à la masse de liquide qu'elle contient ;
• Figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un bidon métallique contenant habituellement de l'huile pour moteurs ;
• Figure 6 à Figure 11 sont des vues en perspective de déflecteurs selon l'invention ;
• Figure 12 est une vue de face d'une bouteille munie de deux déflecteurs selon l'invention ;
• Figures 12bis et 12ter sont des vues respectivement en coupe et de face d'une bouteille munie de deux déflecteurs plus une armature creuse de liaison ;
• Figure 13 et Figure 14 sont des vues en perspective de bouteilles souples équipées de déflecteurs selon l'invention ;
• Figure 15 est une vue en coupe d'une boîte munie de deux déflecteurs et présentant des variations d'épaisseur de parois ;
• Figures 16, 17 et 17bis sont des vues en coupe verticale par un plan axial de boîtes équipées de bec verseur et de déflecteurs selon l'invention ;
• Figure 18 est une vue en coupe d'un bidon métallique utilisé habituellement pour de l'huile pour moteurs ;
• Figure 19 est une vue de face d'une boîte semi-rigide en matériau complexe carton/métal/polymère équipée d'un déflecteur, ouverte et inclinée pour consommation du liquide qu'elle contient ;

In general, whether for flexible, semi-rigid or rigid packaging, it will be possible, given the advantages provided by the invention, to go much more easily towards larger containers, which will further improve the mass or cost ratio: packaged product / packaging.

• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid flow regulated by a deflector;
• Figure 2 is a front view of a conventional bottle;
• Figure 3 is a front view of a plastic bottle having an integrated handle;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a box usually made of cardboard / metal / polymer complex material having a phenomenon of "belly" due to the mass of liquid it contains;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a metal can usually containing engine oil;
• Figure 6 to Figure 11 are perspective views of deflectors according to the invention;
• Figure 12 is a front view of a bottle provided with two deflectors according to the invention;
• Figures 12bis and 12ter are respectively sectional and front views of a bottle provided with two deflectors plus a hollow connecting frame;
• Figure 13 and Figure 14 are perspective views of flexible bottles equipped with deflectors according to the invention;
• Figure 15 is a sectional view of a box provided with two deflectors and having variations in wall thickness;
• Figures 16, 17 and 17bis are views in vertical section through an axial plane of boxes fitted with spouts and deflectors according to the invention;
• Figure 18 is a sectional view of a metal can usually used for engine oil;
• Figure 19 is a front view of a semi-rigid box of complex cardboard / metal / polymer material equipped with a deflector, open and inclined for consumption of the liquid it contains;

Figure 1 shows schematically in section a liquid (26) flowing upstream of a deflector (27) in a tube (25). The liquid (26) which is driven at a certain speed passes into the passage zone (30) left free by the deflector (27) and flows into the zone (29), its general flow rate being regulated by means of the losses of loads caused by the deflector (27) and thanks to the dynamic depression (directly linked to the speed of the liquid) which is created in the zone (28) immediately downstream of the deflector (27), depression which "retains" the liquid in function of its own speed and therefore helps regulate its said speed.

FIG. 2 represents a front view of a conventional bottle with rigid or semi-rigid walls (1) equipped with a neck (2).

FIG. 3 represents in section along a vertical plane passing through the axis AA a conventional container made of polymer capable of containing a liquid, a container generally obtained by extrusion blow molding and provided with an integrated handle (3). we note that the zone (4) corresponds to a narrowing of the general section of the container perpendicular to the axis AA which does not exceed thirty percent of said section and which, as such, does not really play a role deflector to control the flow of liquid.

Figure 4 shows in perspective a classic milk can with folds (2b), one of which can serve as a spout after unfolding and cutting or tearing, which box here is full of milk and which shows a phenomenon of "belly" in the central part of the walls (lb).

FIG. 5 shows in perspective a can of engine oil with metal walls here (1c), a canister provided with a neck (2c) itself equipped with a flexible polymer tube (2d) intended to facilitate the pouring of the in the engine, but device which does not regulate the phenomenon of uncontrolled flow of oil due to the mass of oil laden above the neck during the engine oil pouring operation and due to the "jerk" entry of air into the container.

FIG. 6 represents a deflector (5) which may be metallic, plastic, cardboard or the like, of generally planar shape, provided with two fins (6) intended to facilitate its fixing inside the packaging that it relates to.

Figure 7 is a representation of a deflector of the type described in Figure 6 but comprising a rear fin (6a) for fixing instead of side fins and further comprising transverse ribs (5a) intended to play a role on the regularity of flow of the product, but also to allow, in the case of flexible folding of the ribs, an extension or a retraction of the deflector thanks to the small cords (6u) and (6v) whose free end can be brought back to l outside of the package.

Figure 8 is a representation of a deflector of the type described in Figure 6 but having a rear fin (6a) for fixing instead of lateral fins and having a hollow rib (7) playing a role both of stiffening deflector and air passage. This deflector further comprises a hole of the "stamped" type (8).

Figure 9 is a representation of a deflector of the type described in Figure 6 but having a main face (5c) provided with through holes (9) and (9a) for the product and holes (10) for the air passage.

FIG. 10 shows a deflector of the type described in FIG. 6 but comprising a main face (5d) curved along a radius (R) to give it better transverse rigidity and to facilitate regularity of flow.

FIG. 11 represents a deflector capable of being integrated into a packaging of circular section (bottle for example). It has here a flat main face (5th) bordered by a circular fin (6b), the main face (5th) being truncated here along the straight line (11) to allow in particular the passage to liquid and air.

FIG. 12 represents a polymer bottle (polyethylene, terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, etc.) obtained here by the conventional extrusion-blowing process; in addition to its neck (2) provided with a conventional thread, the wall (1) has been shaped in the mold around two tongues which have thus made it possible to constitute the two deflectors (5f) and (5g) each with double wall, shaped so that they respectively leave the passage sections (11f and 11g) for the liquid in one direction, and for the air in the other direction during the evacuation of the liquid.

FIGS. 12bis and 12ter represent a bottle of the type described in FIG. 12 but with deflectors inclined in the other direction relative to the plane perpendicular to the general axis of the bottle, and with, in addition, reinforcement links respectively ( 19f) for the deflector (5f) and (19g) for the deflector (5g).
The purpose of these reinforcement links coming from molding during the extrusion-blowing operation is to "mechanically" bridge "the two faces of each deflector so that the bottle does not" open "around the end lines (20f) or (20g) but also these linkages being hollow and having a passage opening of a few square millimeters in section, they allow the air to circulate in a controlled manner in the upper part (when the bottle is inclined for pouring the liquid ), which regulates its passage above the level of the liquid and thereby contributes to regulating the rate of exit of the liquid during pouring.

FIG. 13 represents a perspective view of a fine and completely flexible bottle (here constituted by a transparent envelope) of the polyvinyl chloride type for example, flexible envelope which has been heat sealed (by means of a high-frequency generator by example) around a rigid assembly made of injected thermoplastic (polypropylene or polyethylene, rigid polyvinyl chloride, etc.) rigid assembly itself consisting of a rigid neck (2d) provided with an external thread to receive a plastic plug screwable, neck which is extended by three frames (2e, 2f, 2g) conforming to the general profile of the bottle and which rigidly connect lower two deflectors which are themselves rigid (5h and 5i), these deflectors having a limit (11h) for (5h) and (11i) more important for (5i) allowing the liquid to circulate in a controlled way when the bottle contains liquid and that it is inclined for a payment of liquid e outside, deflectors each provided at the top (during the pouring operation) with an orifice (10h) for (5h) and (10i) for (5i) for regulated passage of the air which introduces itself into the bottle when the liquid is drained. The deflectors (5h) and (5i) have a general truncated elliptical shape, the elliptical shape (5'h) or (5'i) being chosen to cooperate with the internal cylindrical shape of the flexible envelope (1d) and with l inclination of the deflectors with respect to the plane perpendicular to the general axis of the bottle. The flexible envelope (1d) is moreover welded or glued in a leaktight manner to the base of the neck (2d) and is fixed in a conventional manner (welding or bonding) inside a rigid bowl (2h) ( well-known base system). The advantages of such a bottle are numerous because the presence of the deflectors makes it possible to immediately view the manual holding area of the bottle, their rigidity makes it possible not to crush the bottle at the pressure of the hand, the deflectors ensure a flow regular and the more the bottle empties, the less it occupies volume, which facilitates its elimination after use.

FIG. 14 shows another type of bottle here consisting of a rigid external frame of injected thermoplastic, itself comprising eight vertical telescopic tie rods (14) forming a body with two octagonal rings (15a) and (15b) with a rigid neck ( 2i) by means of the rigid truncated cone (16), external rigid frame into which an envelope (1e) of elastomer (of the natural rubber, butadiene, neoprene, silicone, nitrile or other type) has been introduced, the envelope fixed so waterproof (here bonding more tightening by means of the inner ring (2j), to the rigid neck (2i), and envelope itself waterproof and which here comprises a flexible deflector (5j) of the same basic material as that of the envelope (1e), roughly planar deflector, of truncated elliptical shape, adhesive on the non-rectilinear part of its contour inside the wall (1e) by vulcanization or by thermobonding for example).
This bottle is obviously "unbreakable" for its waterproof part, and, the constituent material of (1e) and its thickness having been judiciously chosen, it allows, thanks to a filling under pressure, to contain the desired quantity of liquid (like a balloon that we would inflate) while then reducing volume during the use of the liquid, which, in addition to the gains in volume in intermediate storage or household waste, avoids having too much air trapped above the liquid like what exists when a classic partially emptied bottle is stored, which generally greatly affects the quality of the remaining liquid (degasification, oxidation, etc.). Here in this case, as the liquid consumption and the reduction in volume of the envelope (1e) can be easily compressed the telescopic tie rods (14) to adapt them to the strict length required . This elastic envelope solution is possible here without there being any "spurting" on the outside. as soon as the bottle is opened thanks to the deflector (5d) which prevents any rapid movement of liquid, this guarantee being increased by a judicious choice of the elasticity and the mechanical strength of the envelope (1e).
The telescopic nature of the tie rods (14) can be replaced by a breakable or fragile nature of the external rigid frame, in order to reduce the volume after use.

Figure 15 is a sectional view of a box with an outlet neck (2am) and two deflector (5p) and (5r). This box was obtained by the rotational molding or extrusion-blowing technique which allowed it to be obtained quickly in a single operation and which allowed it to be given two different thicknesses: one, classic (of five at ten tenths of a millimeter) this at the level of the deflectors (5p) and (5r), and of the corresponding peripheral zone (1ae), and the other, much weaker (less than two tenths of a millimeter) for all the rest of the box (1am). It is understood that, when the liquid is consumed, it will be very easy to compact this box around its deflectors (5p) and (5r) which will have previously provided the rigidity necessary for transport or use.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a prismatic packaging box of injected-blown polymer comprising a pouring spout (2a) and a deflector (5k) combined with an integrated handle (3).

FIG. 17 is a front view of a prismatic packaging box of injected-blown polymer comprising a pouring spout (2a) and a deflector (51) coming from molding.

FIG. 17bis is a sectional view of a cardboard packaging box provided with a pouring spout (2a) and a deflector consisting of a rectangular cardboard sheet folded so as to constitute two faces (5m) and ( 5n) and a triangle in profile view after fixing by gluing the tabs (6b) and (6c) on an internal face of the box.

Figure 18 is a sectional view of a metal can of motor vehicle oil provided with a neck (2c) and a deflector (5) fixed by spot welding with its side tabs (6) to the inside the container.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a prismatic packaging box (1b) made of complex cardboard / metal / polymer material provided with a pouring spout (2b), box inclined at an angle "alpha" with the horizontal level in order to drain the liquid (12) into the container (13).

The operator's hand (18) naturally squeezes the box in the central area near the deflector / stiffener (5) linked to the internal side walls of the box by means of heat-sealed tabs (6). This deflector / stiffener (5) does not does not completely partition the inside of the box; it leaves the passage orifices (11s) and (11t) for the air and the liquid (12), and it plays a role both in regulating the flow rate and in increasing the resistance of the box.

Claims (18)

1 - Packaging device for products, food or not, liquids or behaving as such, packaging capable of being used manually by physical persons, adults or children, characterized in that it comprises at least one deflector located at the inside the general volume overall, all delimited by itself, and deflector (s) not in direct contact with the neck or the outlet device, this (s) deflector (s) being made up of material elements of the type of tabs, mesh, walls, of polymer, metal, glass, paper, cardboard, textile, plant material or complex of these materials, the constituent material of the deflector (s) may be identical to that of the packaging concerned or not , and this (these) deflector (s), partitioning partially and transversely with respect to the general direction of flow of the product, the interior of the volume of the packaging so in particular, thanks to the hydrodynamic brake phenomenon that it ( s) const itue (nt) during filling, handling, or flow of the product that we want to use or consume and which is contained in said packaging, to regulate the flow or movements of the product. 2 - A packaging device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is linked to two zones of the wall or walls of the packaging which face each other and is sufficiently resistant to traction to avoid or limit the spacing of these zones under the action of the mass or pressure of the product contained or under the action of the various external forces and pressures which the packaging undergoes during its filling, storage, transport or its use. 3 - Packaging device according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is sufficiently rigid in itself or stiffened accordingly to give the packaging compressive strength, transversely by relative to the general axis of the packaging, or possibly partially longitudinally relative to this general axis, significantly increased compared to the inherent resistance of the packaging not equipped with deflector. 4 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is an integral part of the packaging and came directly from making, folding or molding. 5 - A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the passage section left free by the deflector (s) inside the packaging is less than the section of the opening of the device for removing the product from the packaging. 6 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that it comprises walls of reduced thickness combined with at least one deflector sufficiently rigid to play a role of transverse stiffener of the packaging, this allowing in particular an easy compacting of the packaging before filling or after use, as well as an easier opening of the packaging. 7 - A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that at least one of the deflectors (5k) is associated with a handle (3) for gripping the packaging. 8 - A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that at least one of the deflectors consists of two material walls which face each other leaving between them a passage interval for the air and the packaged product. 9 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that at least one of the deflectors comprises at least one orifice (3), (7), (10), (10h), (10i ), (19f), (19g) passage for the air which enters the packaging during the flow of the product for filling or use. 10 - A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is attached by gluing, welding, stapling on at least one of the walls of the packaging. 11 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is located in half of the volume of the packaging comprising the orifice or the orifices for the flow of content product. 12 - A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is inclined at an angle between minus sixty degrees and plus sixty degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the general axis of the packaging. 13 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least the deflector (s) closes (s) the cross section of the packaging (relative to the general axis of packaging), more than sixty percent of its surface. 14 - A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is at variable geometry, this being controlled from the outside by means of wire, lever, zipper or handle. 15 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is of variable orientation, the latter being controlled from the outside by means of wire, lever, zipper or handle. 16 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors with variable geometry or orientation is such that it can, thanks to an external control of the wire, cord type , lever, zipper or handle, completely seal the internal passage section of the packaging, thus delimiting a reduced volume in which the product not yet consumed will be stored or can be transported in better conditions (less degassing, less air above, less movement possible, etc.). 17 - Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors (5h), (5i) plays a role of transverse stiffener and is integrated into a flexible envelope (1d ) made of flexible polymer and / or textile, envelope capable of shrinking on the deflector thus ensuring an approximate internal seal. 18 - A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors (5d) is associated with a flexible envelope (1e) made of elastomer, the whole being able to be placed at inside a rigid frame (14), (16), (2i), (15a), (15b) telescopic or not, the flexible envelope being defined so as to retract by itself as and measurement of the use of the product initially contained in the packaging thus constituted.

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