EP0752376A1 - Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0752376A1
EP0752376A1 EP95870081A EP95870081A EP0752376A1 EP 0752376 A1 EP0752376 A1 EP 0752376A1 EP 95870081 A EP95870081 A EP 95870081A EP 95870081 A EP95870081 A EP 95870081A EP 0752376 A1 EP0752376 A1 EP 0752376A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
membrane
product
cap
venting
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
EP95870081A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0752376B1 (de
Inventor
Kirk Wallace Lake
Neil John Rogers
Marcel Vandebroek
Bruno Van Den Branden
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
Priority to DE1995619159 priority Critical patent/DE69519159T2/de
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP19950870081 priority patent/EP0752376B1/de
Priority to ES95870081T priority patent/ES2151588T3/es
Priority to US08/981,370 priority patent/US6196409B1/en
Priority to BR9609730A priority patent/BR9609730A/pt
Priority to CN96196752A priority patent/CN1195330A/zh
Priority to MX9800195A priority patent/MX9800195A/es
Priority to PCT/US1996/011275 priority patent/WO1997002191A1/en
Priority to JP9505298A priority patent/JPH11508860A/ja
Priority to AU64826/96A priority patent/AU6482696A/en
Priority to CA 2226163 priority patent/CA2226163A1/en
Publication of EP0752376A1 publication Critical patent/EP0752376A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0752376B1 publication Critical patent/EP0752376B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D77/00Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/22Details
    • B65D77/225Pressure relief-valves incorporated in a container wall, e.g. valves comprising at least one elastic element
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D51/00Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • B65D51/1605Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby the interior of the container is maintained in permanent gaseous communication with the exterior
    • B65D51/1616Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby the interior of the container is maintained in permanent gaseous communication with the exterior by means of a filter

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container, or a cap for a container, which comprises a venting means.
  • This container or cap further comprises a means which avoids a substantial decrease of the venting capacity of said venting means.
  • the content of the container may, for example, be chemically unstable or may be subject to reaction with gases which may exist in the head space of the container, or alternatively, in certain specific circumstances, may react with the container material itself. Any chemical reactions involving the liquid contents may lead to either production of gases, and hence to overpressure in the container, or to the absorption of any head space gases thereby causing underpressure in the container.
  • Pressure differences between the pressure inside the container and the ambient atmospheric pressure may also occur when the temperature during the filling and sealing of the container is significantly different from external temperature during shipment, transportation and storage. Another possibility of a pressure difference may be caused by a different ambient pressure at the filling of the container from another ambient pressure at a different geographical location.
  • FR-A-2 259 026, US-4 136 796 and DE-A-2 509 258 disclose self-venting closures comprising a gas-permeable membrane covering an orifice to the exterior. Said membranes are made of a material which is impermeable to liquids, but permeable to gases. Therefore, containers may comprise apertures to release gas to the exterior without losing their leak-tightness.
  • EP-A-593 840 discloses containers for containing liquids which generate pressure, said container being made of a thermoplastic material comprising a network of micro-channels. This network of microchannels is permeable to gases, but not to liquids.
  • phase separation an important parameter which influences the draining away of said product from said membrane is that the product which has contacted said membrane may undergo phase separation. Specifically, we found that for certain type of products draining may be improved when phase separation is enhanced. On the contrary, we further found that phase separation induced on other different products substantially reduces the draining away from said venting means, and consequently reduces venting capacity of said venting means. Therefore, phase separation of the splashed product through said membrane is an important parameter which determines the venting capacity of said venting means.
  • the present invention provides a container (10) for a liquid product, or a cap (10) for such a container, said container or cap enabling the venting of said product by a venting means (20).
  • Said venting means allows the passage of gases between the interior and the exterior of said container when the pressure inside said container differs from the ambient pressure.
  • Said venting means is permeable to gases, but impermeable to said product.
  • Said container or cap contains a liquid product of the first group of liquid products, and said container or cap comprises a control means (30) which limits the phase separation of said product contacted onto said membrane.
  • the present invention further provides another embodiment of a container (10) for a liquid product, or a cap (10) for such a container, said container or cap enabling the venting of said product by a venting means (20), which on the contrary contains a liquid product of the second group of liquid products, and said container or cap comprises a control means (30) which enhances the phase separation of said product contacted onto said venting means.
  • Figures 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate cross sectional side views of a container (partially shown) or of a cap comprising a venting means.
  • Figures 2a to 2c show the sequence of a test made to confirm the findings of the present invention.
  • Figures 2d and 2f are diagrams showing the results of the test with different levels of phase separation.
  • Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the viscosity as a function of the shear rate of a typical composition having a shear-thinning, non-newtonian flow behaviour compared to the viscosity of the phase separated portions of said composition.
  • drawings may refer to a portion of a container as well as a cap as well as any structure, like a lid, attached to said container.
  • the present invention may be part of a cap only, whereby said cap may be then engaged to any container filled with gasifying liquid products.
  • a cap of the screw-on/in or snap-on/in type, or a flip-top, push-pull or turret cap closures may be engagement means between said cap and said container.
  • Figure 1a shows a cross sectional side view of a container, the container (10) (only partially shown) comprises a hollow body (11).
  • Said hollow body may comprise a top wall (17), a side wall (18) and a bottom wall (not shown in Figure 1a).
  • Said hollow body is able to contain any liquid products.
  • said hollow body is flexible to an extent that it may deform in response to pressure differences arising between the inside of said container and the ambient pressure.
  • Pouches made of thin plastic material, for example are also encompassed by the present invention.
  • suitable shapes of said container may include essentially cylindrical, tapered cylindrical, oval, square, rectangular or flat-oval.
  • the cap (10) comprises a top wall (17) and a side wall (18). Said cap can be engaged in a leak tight manner to the container described before.
  • said container or cap (10) may comprise a spout.
  • said container or cap is made of plastic, metal, paper, or combinations of these materials as layers, laminates or co-extrudates. The materials may be also recycled.
  • said container or cap (10) comprises a venting means (20).
  • Said venting means is able to equalize the pressure inside said container to the external atmospheric pressure. Consequently, said venting means is able to avoid overpressure as well as underpressure inside said container. Indeed, said venting means allows the escape of gases released from the contained product from the inside to the outside of said container, or vice versa.
  • Said venting means is located in the upper portion of said container above the level of said contained product, when said container is in its upright position. Indeed, the gases causing the overpressure or underpressure accumulate in the upper region of the container. Therefore, the passage of gases to the exterior or interior is facilitated.
  • said venting means comprises at least an orifice (21) and a membrane (22).
  • Said orifice connects the interior of said container with the exterior.
  • said orifice (21) allows the passage of gases from the interior to the exterior of said container, or vice versa, such that pressure inside said container is either maintained identical to the external atmospheric pressure or at a pressure at least below the pressure at which significant bottle deformation occurs.
  • Said orifice may be located on said top wall or said side wall.
  • said orifice is part of a separate part of said hollow body (11) of said container, whereby said part can be attached onto said hollow body. The dimension of said orifice should be suitable for said passage of gases.
  • Said membrane (22) covers said orifice and is located between the content of said hollow body (11) and said orifice (21) in the interior or exterior of said hollow body (11).
  • Said membrane is impermeable to liquids, but permeable to gases. Therefore, said membrane is able to provide a liquid impermeable barrier, while allowing gas venting.
  • said membrane may be liquid impermeable up to pressures differences of 1 bar between the inside and the outside of said hollow body, preferably up to pressures differences of 500 mbar.
  • Said membrane may be a planar surface, at least when viewed macroscopically.
  • Said membrane may also comprise a network of microchannels which is permeable to gases, but not to liquids, as described in EP-A-593 840.
  • Said membrane may be corrugated macroscopically, like a zigzagged surface, in which case said membrane is defined by several planes of different inclination with respect to the horizontal direction, connected to each other.
  • said membrane (22) is any material capable of being formed into a thin layer which may be used to cover said orifice (21).
  • Said membrane must be permeable to gas flow, also in response to small pressure differences.
  • said membrane should allow gas flow with pressure differences as low as 50 mbar, more preferably as low as 5 mbar.
  • the thickness of said membrane is a matter of choice, but preferably would be in the region of 0.2 mm to 2 mm.
  • Said membrane can comprise essentially any material which may be formed into thin layers such as plastics, paper or metal having micropores. Preferred materials for said membrane include microporous plastic films.
  • the size of the micropores of said membrane should be such so as to allow the passage of gases at low pressure differences and at the same time to provide a high level of liquid impermeability.
  • the micropores will be in the range of 0.1 ⁇ m to 5 ⁇ m, more preferably between 0.2 ⁇ m to 1 ⁇ m.
  • said membrane has a rounded shape. But other shapes, such as rectangular, triangular or else, may be also foreseen to adapt it in a container or cap and/or improve the aesthetics of the container or cap itself.
  • Preferred microporous plastic films for this application are:
  • the microporous film material of said membrane (22) may be treated to reduce its surface energy and therefore to improve the impermeability to liquids of said film material.
  • the lowering of the surface energy of said film material is particularly necessary to improve its impermeability when said container (10) contains products comprising surfactant components.
  • the specific surface energy of said film material should be lower than that of the surfactant-containing product to achieve a substantially complete impermeability to the product contents.
  • Fluorocarbon treatment which involves fixation of a fluorocarbon material, on a micro scale, to the surface of the film material is a specific example of a treatment which provides such reduced surface energy.
  • the fluorination treatment reduces the susceptibility of the microporous film material of said membrane to wetting by the liquid product contents.
  • this fluorocarbon treatment should not compromise the gas permeability of said membrane.
  • a possible fluorocarbon material for use in the fluorocarbon treatment according to the present invention is sold under the trade name SCOTCHBAN, by the 3M Company.
  • Said membrane (22) may be applied and located inside or outside said hollow body (11) between the content and said orifice (21) in any way maintaining its liquid-impermeability and gas-permeability according to the present invention.
  • the means of application may therefore include the use of adhesives, or heat-sealing of said membrane onto the area around said orifice or mechanical means such as clamping or hot-stamping, or insertion of said membrane during molding of said container.
  • the application means employed should not significantly compromise the venting ability of the membrane. For this reason, it is preferred that any adhesive used is also permeable to gases, or does not fill up the pores of the membrane.
  • the membrane (22) may be also fitted in a homing.
  • Housings whose dimensions are particularly compatible for use in a container or a cap according to the present invention are commercially available from GVS, Via Roma 50, 40069, Zola Predosa (BO), Italy.
  • the manufacture of said housing and the fitting of said membrane (22) in said housing can be achieved by an "insert molding operation", where:
  • Housings may also be manufactured by heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or gluing said membrane (22) into said housing. Furthermore, housings may be manufactured by mechanically holding the membrane between two separate pieces whereby said pieces are clipped together.
  • venting performance of said venting means (20) may be substantially reduced when the contained liquid product contacts said membrane (22).
  • said membrane is the most exposed part of said venting means towards the contained product.
  • the contacting between said product and said membrane inside a container may mainly occur through splashes during shipment and transportation with agitation of said container.
  • plaqueing means a non-continuous and brief contact of a liquid substance upon a surface when said liquid is agitated within the container. The splashing of the contained liquid product occurs mainly during shipment and transportation, when the risk of agitation of said container is higher.
  • liquid products which are viscous, or which have some affinity for the membrane are viscous, or which have some affinity for the membrane.
  • products having viscosities of at least 5 cps when measured using a Brookfield viscosity meter at 60 rpm, spindle 3 and 20° Celsius demonstrate poor drainage away from said membrane.
  • Other examples are liquids exhibiting shear thinning, non-newtonian flow behaviour or liquids having a low surface energy ( ⁇ 30 dyne/cm 2 ).
  • liquids comprising surfactants exhibit typically a shear-thinning flow behaviour.
  • a "shear thinning" product is a product which presents a high viscosity when the shear rate is low, and vice versa its viscosity is low when the shear rate is high.
  • a shear thinning product exhibits poor drainage away from said membrane. We believe that, due to the product flow characteristics observed during drainage, the shear rate of product directly adjacent to the membrane is low. Consequently, the final layer of product adjacent to the membrane exhibits an intrinsically high viscosity. Therefore, the drainage of the final layer of product away from the membrane is impeded.
  • the contacting between said contained liquid product and said membrane (22) occurs mainly during shipment and transportation of the container. Indeed, said liquid product splashes onto said membrane within said container when said container is agitated. We found that the amount of splashes normally occurring during shipment and transportation are sufficient to completely interrupt the venting capacity of said container. Another means by which product may contact with the membrane is during an upside down storage of the container. We further found that other venting systems, like valves for example, may also suffer from a similar disadvantage. Consequently, the present invention provides a container for a liquid product, or a cap for such a container which improves the drainage of said splashed product away from said membrane.
  • a possible way to remove the splashed product from the membrane is to scrape the surface of the membrane splashed by said product.
  • the venting capacity of said membrane recovered sufficiently to prevent significant bottle deformation once said splashed product was scraped from the surface of said membrane.
  • the scraping of said surface may be achieved with a device having the form of a shovel, for example.
  • this solution solves the problem of the present invention, it has two major disadvantages. Firstly, the scraping action has to be carried out either manually by the user, which is inappropriate, or by a mechanical moving device within the container, which may be complex and expensive. Secondly, the action of scraping said splashed product from said membrane may damage said membrane. Indeed, especially the impermeability of said membrane to liquids may be easily lost through scraping.
  • the co-pending European Patent Application No.95104281.1 provides a container or a cap in which said splashed product is enabled or compelled to drain away from said membrane automatically without any scraping of said membrane.
  • This means may comprise the positioning of said venting means in an inclined or vertical plane with respect to the supporting plane upon which said container stands in its upright position. This is shown, for example, in Figure 1b, whereby said membrane (22) is vertical.
  • said means comprises a draining means (23) extending from and connected to said venting means, as illustrated in Figure 1c.
  • Said draining means is preferably inclined or vertical with respect to the supporting plane upon which said container stands in its upright position.
  • liquid product is a composition which comprises at least a liquid phase having a viscosity of at least 5 cps when measured using a Brookfield viscosity meter at 60 rpm, spindle 3 and 20° Celsius.
  • Phase separation means that said liquid product separates into at least two distinct portions of matter, whereby said matters may be in liquid state, gaseous state, dry solid state or mixture thereof.
  • the first group comprises liquid products which have at least one phase separated portion of matter having an increased viscosity with respect to the viscosity of the liquid product before its phase separation.
  • the second group comprises liquid products which have all phase separated portions of matter of decreased viscosity with respect to the viscosity of the liquid product before its phase separation.
  • the first group comprises liquid products having a substantially newtonian flow behaviour, compared to the second group which comprises liquid products having a substantially shear-thinning, non-newtonian flow behaviour.
  • a product having a newtonian flow behaviour is a product of substantially constant viscosity over a wide range of shear rate.
  • a product having shear thinning, non-newtonian flow behaviour is shown, for example, in Figure 3, whereby the curve connecting the filled squares is before phase separation, and the line connecting the empty squares is after phase separation.
  • first liquid product a phase separation of a liquid product of the said first group (hereinafter called “first liquid product”) on said membrane (22) should be at least limited or completely avoided.
  • first liquid product a phase separation of a liquid product of the said first group (hereinafter called “first liquid product”) on said membrane (22)
  • second liquid product a phase separation of a liquid product of said second group (hereinafter called “second liquid product”) on said membrane should be encouraged.
  • the portions which are phase separated from said second liquid product have a lower viscosity in respect to said second liquid product. Therefore, these portions of said second liquid product drain more easily away from said from membrane avoiding to cover and to reduce the venting capacity of said membrane.
  • Examples of a first liquid products are non-emulsified liquid products, like the following composition used for the treatment of laundry in hand washing and/or in washing machine.
  • minors are optional ingredients of the compositions or products such as stabilisers, chelating agents, radical scavengers, surfactants, bleach activators, builders, soil suspenders, dye transfer agents, solvents, brighteners, perfumes, foam suppressors and dyes.
  • second liquid products examples include shear-thinning, non-newtonian emulsions. These emulsions are described, for example, in the co-pending European patent application No. 92870188.7, in which a hydrophobic liquid ingredient is emulsified in the composition by using a specific non-ionic surfactant mixture. Following are other specific examples of second liquid products:
  • the portions which are phase separated from a second liquid product do not gel onto said membrane.
  • the separated portions have individual viscosities which are lower in comparison with the viscosity of initial second liquid product.
  • the viscosity of said second liquid product of Example II is typically between 1200 cps and 1800 cps measured using a Brookfield viscosity-meter at 50 rpm, spindle 3 at 20°C.
  • the viscosities of the corresponding phase separated portions are typically smaller than 100 cps measured using the same test parameters as before.
  • said phase separated portions exhibit less non-newtonian behaviour than the initial composition of Example II. Consequently, the separated phases are more able to drain away from said membrane, thus allowing venting through said membrane.
  • Example III whose viscosity before phase separation is typically between 1000 cps and 1400 cps measured using a Brookfield viscosity-meter at 50 rpm, spindle 3 at 20°C.
  • phase separation of the first and second liquid product at the membrane may be achieved by two distinct mechanisms: evaporation and/or hydrophobicity. These two mechanisms may be also combined with each other to achieve an enhanced effect. If certain components within said liquid product evaporate through said membrane (22) and said orifice (21), said liquid product phase separates. Indeed, without being bound by any theory, we believe that the porous material of said membrane connected to said orifice allows certain components to evaporate through said membrane, thus breaking down said liquid product in physically distinct portions of matter onto said membrane. The evaporation is enhanced by maximizing the open area of said membrane (22). Said open area of said membrane is the amount of area of said membrane exposed to the exterior of said container or cap.
  • said open area may depend on the dimension and the number of orifices (21) which connect said membrane to the exterior of said container or cap. Therefore, a maximized open area increases the evaporation of certain components of said liquid product, and consequently enhances the phase separation of said liquid product.
  • a membrane of the type Versapor® V800R closes one open end of a cylindrical tube (41).
  • said membrane comprises an inner surface (42) directed towards the inside of said cylindrical tube, whereas the opposite outer surface (43) is completely exposed to the outside of said cylindrical tube being also the open area of said membrane.
  • the open area of said outer surface (43) may be reduced by covering said outer surface with a polyethylene film comprising a pin hole.
  • This membrane undergoes repeated splashes (Fig. 2a) with a liquid product (44), whereby said liquid product stays on said inner surface for 1 minute. Afterwards, said splashed liquid product is let to drain away from said membrane for 24 hours by turning said inner surface upside down. Finally, the venting pressure is measured after 24 hours drainage using a bubble point method. This whole process has been repeated three times.
  • the "bubble point method”, mentioned above, comprises the following steps:
  • Figure 2d represents the venting pressure after one, two and three splashes of a first liquid product as exemplified in Example I.
  • said venting pressure increases with every splash (empty squares). This means that the venting capacity of said membrane is decreased when said first liquid product contacts said membrane.
  • the outer surface (43) of said membrane is covered by said polyethylene film, no substantial increase in venting pressure can be observed (filled squares).
  • the venting capacity of this protected membrane is substantially held intact. This means that by limiting the open area of said outer surface (43) the venting capacity through said membrane is not jeopardized. Therefore, the drainage away of the first liquid product from said inner surface is encouraged when the evaporation through said membrane is limited. We found that this is true for any liquid product being within said group of first liquid products as defined above.
  • Figure 2e represents the venting pressure after one, two and three splashes of a second liquid product as exemplified by the composition of Example II.
  • the outer surface (43) is entirely exposed to the outside of said tube (41), no substantial increase in venting pressure can be observed (empty squares).
  • the venting capacity of this protected membrane is substantially held intact.
  • the outer surface (43) of said membrane is covered by said polyethylene film, said venting pressure increases with every splash (filled squares). This means that the venting capacity of said membrane is decreased when said second liquid product contacts said membrane.
  • an essential feature of the present invention is a control means (30) which controls the phase separation of said product on said membrane (22).
  • This control means can either increase or decrease the phase separation on said membrane.
  • said control means should limit or impede phase separation of said first liquid product on said membrane by reducing the open area of said membrane.
  • said control means is provided by limiting the total size of said orifice (21). Indeed, the size of said orifice itself determines said open area.
  • the size of said orifice, and therefore of said open area may be reduced by further attaching a lid onto said orifice. Indeed, said lid, which at least partially covers said orifice, is able to reduce the open area of said membrane.
  • Said lid may be a separate or integral part of said container or cap (10).
  • said control means (30) is covering said membrane with a polyethylene film comprising a pin hole at least on the surface of said membrane nearest to said orifice.
  • the size of said pin hole should be such that phase separation of said first product on said membrane is limited or avoided.
  • the size of said open area of said membrane when said container contains liquid products of said first group is limited as a maximum to about 30% of the surface of said membrane nearest to said orifice, more preferably said open area is less than 20% of the surface of said membrane nearest to said orifice.
  • another control means is the distance between said membrane and said orifice.
  • a greater distance between said membrane and said orifice reduces the phase separation of said first product on said membrane with respect to a membrane which has a smaller distance from said orifice.
  • a membrane not directly exposed to said orifice also exhibits a reduced phase separation of said first liquid product.
  • the overlapping walls (31, 31') over said membrane with a free passage (32) may be a way to reduce the exposure of said membrane to said orifice.
  • said control means (30) should enhance the phase separation of said splashed product on said membrane. Therefore, a control means is exposing completely a surface of said membrane to the outside of said container.
  • the size of said orifice is maximized for said second liquid product to enlarge said open area. Therefore, at least a partial evaporation, and consequently a phase separation of said splashed product is enhanced on said membrane. As said before, this enhances the draining away of said splashed product from said membrane.
  • the maximum size of said orifice is limited by the dimension of said container or cap.
  • the size of said open area when said container contains liquid products of said second group is at least 30 % of the surface of said membrane nearest to said orifice, more preferably at least 50 % of the surface of said membrane nearest to said orifice.
  • a control means (30) which exposes said membrane (22) to the air flow outside said container or cap.
  • This may be achieved, for example, by having said membrane located above said top wall (17) of said container or cap. In this case, at least part of said membrane extends above said top wall through said orifice (21).
  • Said cover may then further comprise at least an orifice to get the air flow through the inside of said cover to said membrane. We found that this air flow further enhances the phase separation of said second liquid product on said membrane.
  • An alternative control means (30) for said second group liquids to control the phase separation on said membrane is a hydrophobic membrane.
  • a hydrophobic membrane is a membrane (22) as described above having at least one surface directed towards the liquid product inside said container which is more hydrophobic than said liquid product.
  • Said hydrophobic membrane may have all the external surfaces being hydrophobic. Indeed, we found that said hydrophobic membrane may encourage phase separation of said splashed liquid product onto said hydrophobic membrane.
  • the inner surface (42) repels these different components differently, thus encouraging phase separation. This is especially true for the thin layer of liquid product which remains on the inner membrane surface after gross liquid product drainage has occurred.
  • hydrophobic membrane may be used in combination with the evaporation to encourage the draining away of said splashed product from said membrane.
EP19950870081 1995-07-05 1995-07-05 Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung Expired - Lifetime EP0752376B1 (de)

Priority Applications (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19950870081 EP0752376B1 (de) 1995-07-05 1995-07-05 Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung
ES95870081T ES2151588T3 (es) 1995-07-05 1995-07-05 Contenedor o tapa con medio de ventilacion.
DE1995619159 DE69519159T2 (de) 1995-07-05 1995-07-05 Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung
BR9609730A BR9609730A (pt) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 Meio de escapamento aperfeiçoado
CN96196752A CN1195330A (zh) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 改进的通气装置
MX9800195A MX9800195A (es) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 Metodos de ventilacion mejorados.
US08/981,370 US6196409B1 (en) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 Venting means
PCT/US1996/011275 WO1997002191A1 (en) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 Improved venting means
JP9505298A JPH11508860A (ja) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 改良通気手段
AU64826/96A AU6482696A (en) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 Improved venting means
CA 2226163 CA2226163A1 (en) 1995-07-05 1996-07-03 Improved venting means

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19950870081 EP0752376B1 (de) 1995-07-05 1995-07-05 Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0752376A1 true EP0752376A1 (de) 1997-01-08
EP0752376B1 EP0752376B1 (de) 2000-10-18

Family

ID=8222141

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19950870081 Expired - Lifetime EP0752376B1 (de) 1995-07-05 1995-07-05 Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0752376B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH11508860A (de)
CN (1) CN1195330A (de)
AU (1) AU6482696A (de)
BR (1) BR9609730A (de)
CA (1) CA2226163A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69519159T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2151588T3 (de)
MX (1) MX9800195A (de)
WO (1) WO1997002191A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8267272B2 (en) 2008-07-03 2012-09-18 Avery Dennison Corporation Vented container and method of manufacturing

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7086610B2 (en) * 2004-06-24 2006-08-08 Johnsondiversey, Inc. Vented dispenser
DE102010044333B3 (de) * 2010-09-03 2011-12-29 Carl Freudenberg Kg Verschlusselement mit Druckausgleichselement

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1146972A (en) * 1965-03-04 1969-03-26 Porous Plastics Ltd Improvements relating to removable closure members for containers
FR2259026A1 (de) 1974-01-24 1975-08-22 Riedel De Haen Ag
DE2509258A1 (de) 1975-03-04 1976-09-16 Elbatainer Kunststoff Druckausgleichs-schraubkappe
US4136796A (en) 1974-04-11 1979-01-30 Greif Bros. Corporation Vented closure
EP0002155A1 (de) * 1977-11-17 1979-05-30 SOCIETE ANONYME DES IMPRIMERIE ET PAPETERIE DE L'EST Société dite: Entlüftungsventil für das Füllen von Säcken mit fluidisierten pulverförmigen Produkten
EP0024310A1 (de) * 1979-08-16 1981-03-04 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verpackungsbehälter mit Überdruckventil
EP0286287A1 (de) * 1987-04-07 1988-10-12 Japan Gore-Tex, Inc. Kappe für Behältnisse, die zur Lagerung von leichtflüchtigen Flüssigkeiten gebraucht werden
EP0593840A1 (de) 1992-10-23 1994-04-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Verfahren zur Herstellung von Materialien mit einem Netz von Mikrokanälen
US5358872A (en) * 1993-08-12 1994-10-25 Becton, Dickinson And Company Vessel and closure assembly
EP0629559A1 (de) * 1993-06-18 1994-12-21 Benno Nussbaumer Mehrteiliger Verschlussstopfen aus Kunststoff für Flaschen mit Wein oder weinhaltigen Getränken
EP0693840A1 (de) 1994-07-18 1996-01-24 Digital Equipment Corporation Verkehrssteuerungssystem mit verteilter Rate-Brechnung und verbindungsweiser Flusssteuerung

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3071276A (en) * 1960-08-23 1963-01-01 Owens Illinois Glass Co Vented closure
US4315579A (en) * 1979-12-17 1982-02-16 Martin Jr Timothy J Venting and filtering mechanism for milk tank vent
US4396583A (en) * 1981-08-14 1983-08-02 American Optical Corporation Device for single solution contact lens sterilization
US4637919A (en) * 1984-11-05 1987-01-20 Ryder International Corporation Lens disinfecting appliance with improved venting feature
US4765499A (en) * 1987-12-29 1988-08-23 Von Reis Charles Filter cap
US5395006A (en) * 1993-04-29 1995-03-07 Verma; Kuldeep Fermentation vessels and closures therefor

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1146972A (en) * 1965-03-04 1969-03-26 Porous Plastics Ltd Improvements relating to removable closure members for containers
FR2259026A1 (de) 1974-01-24 1975-08-22 Riedel De Haen Ag
US4136796A (en) 1974-04-11 1979-01-30 Greif Bros. Corporation Vented closure
DE2509258A1 (de) 1975-03-04 1976-09-16 Elbatainer Kunststoff Druckausgleichs-schraubkappe
EP0002155A1 (de) * 1977-11-17 1979-05-30 SOCIETE ANONYME DES IMPRIMERIE ET PAPETERIE DE L'EST Société dite: Entlüftungsventil für das Füllen von Säcken mit fluidisierten pulverförmigen Produkten
EP0024310A1 (de) * 1979-08-16 1981-03-04 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verpackungsbehälter mit Überdruckventil
EP0286287A1 (de) * 1987-04-07 1988-10-12 Japan Gore-Tex, Inc. Kappe für Behältnisse, die zur Lagerung von leichtflüchtigen Flüssigkeiten gebraucht werden
EP0593840A1 (de) 1992-10-23 1994-04-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Verfahren zur Herstellung von Materialien mit einem Netz von Mikrokanälen
EP0629559A1 (de) * 1993-06-18 1994-12-21 Benno Nussbaumer Mehrteiliger Verschlussstopfen aus Kunststoff für Flaschen mit Wein oder weinhaltigen Getränken
US5358872A (en) * 1993-08-12 1994-10-25 Becton, Dickinson And Company Vessel and closure assembly
EP0693840A1 (de) 1994-07-18 1996-01-24 Digital Equipment Corporation Verkehrssteuerungssystem mit verteilter Rate-Brechnung und verbindungsweiser Flusssteuerung

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8267272B2 (en) 2008-07-03 2012-09-18 Avery Dennison Corporation Vented container and method of manufacturing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69519159D1 (de) 2000-11-23
CN1195330A (zh) 1998-10-07
ES2151588T3 (es) 2001-01-01
MX9800195A (es) 1998-04-30
AU6482696A (en) 1997-02-05
WO1997002191A1 (en) 1997-01-23
JPH11508860A (ja) 1999-08-03
EP0752376B1 (de) 2000-10-18
CA2226163A1 (en) 1997-01-23
BR9609730A (pt) 1999-03-16
DE69519159T2 (de) 2001-05-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6196409B1 (en) Venting means
EP0729901B1 (de) Packung oder Kappe mit einem, mit einer Flüssigkeitsabzugsvorrichtung versehenen, Entlüftungssystem
US5901867A (en) Ventable cap
US4756436A (en) Oxygen scavenger container used for cap
CA2162247C (en) Container for fluids
GB2288391A (en) Container gas venting means
US6548134B1 (en) Vented container containing a liquid product with particulate solids
EP0752376B1 (de) Behälter oder Kappe mit Be- oder Entlüftungsvorrichtung
EP0816247B1 (de) Ein belüfteter Behälter,der eine Flüssigkeit mit Feststoffartikeln enthält
EP0807063A1 (de) Schutzvorrichtung für entlüftungssysteme
MXPA98000195A (en) Best ventilation methods
AU3234499A (en) Protecting means for venting systems
CA2163306C (en) Container
MXPA97007212A (en) Drainage medium for ventilac systems
MXPA97006058A (en) Protective medium for ventilac systems
GB2051017A (en) Stopper for a container
CN1179136A (zh) 通气系统的排除装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19970524

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19980218

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19980218

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69519159

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20001123

ET Fr: translation filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: ING. C. GREGORJ S.P.A.

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2151588

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20030612

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20030702

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20030723

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20030731

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040705

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040706

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050201

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040705

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050331

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050705

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20040706