EP3122644B1 - Spenderbehälter für extrudbare flüssige materialien und verfahren zur herstellung desselben - Google Patents

Spenderbehälter für extrudbare flüssige materialien und verfahren zur herstellung desselben Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3122644B1
EP3122644B1 EP15711785.4A EP15711785A EP3122644B1 EP 3122644 B1 EP3122644 B1 EP 3122644B1 EP 15711785 A EP15711785 A EP 15711785A EP 3122644 B1 EP3122644 B1 EP 3122644B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tubular body
dispensing container
container according
nozzle
wall member
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP15711785.4A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3122644A2 (de
Inventor
Marcus Blachford
Neil BLUNDRED
George Cave
Peter Kay
James Regester
Simon Ritchie
Clive Southernwood
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.)
Glaxo Group Ltd
Original Assignee
Glaxo Group Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Glaxo Group Ltd filed Critical Glaxo Group Ltd
Publication of EP3122644A2 publication Critical patent/EP3122644A2/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3122644B1 publication Critical patent/EP3122644B1/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
    • B65D35/02—Body construction
    • B65D35/10—Body construction made by uniting or interconnecting two or more components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
    • B65D35/24—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
    • B65D35/24—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices
    • B65D35/28—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices for expelling contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
    • B65D35/44—Closures

Definitions

  • This invention relates to collapsible containers for containing and dispensing viscous fluid materials.
  • tubular containers are made as follows.
  • a tubular, usually cylindrical, portion of the flexible material having two opposed open ends is provided.
  • a separate nozzle insert comprising the nozzle, normally fitted with a closure, and a wider shoulder part having a cross section which mates with an open end of the tubular portion is provided, and the shoulder part is mated and attached, usually by welding, to the open end of the tubular portion.
  • the tubular portion is then filled with the viscous fluid material via the opposite open end. Then that open end is closed, usually by bringing the flexible material together at that open end and then welding the flexible material together to thereby close that end.
  • a problem with such tubular containers is in extracting substantially all of the viscous fluid material contents from the container.
  • the user of such a container is advised to begin squeezing the tube from the closed end opposite to the nozzle and to progressively collapse the tubular container along the tubular length of the container.
  • the shoulder part which is normally relatively rigid to enable it to support the nozzle, this rigidity prevents the user from completely collapsing the flexible material and inevitably some fluid material remains trapped in the tubular container.
  • EP-A-1 597 162 and US-A-2002/0148854 disclose collapsible tubes containing an insert which gradually moves along the inside of the tube and follows the fluid content as it is squeezed out of the tube.
  • US-A-2007/0205217 discloses a collapsible tube incorporating a malleable metal insert that helps prevent the tube returning elastically to its original shape after content has been squeezed out.
  • WO-A-92/09494 discloses a square-sectioned tube the side walls of which are biased by longitudinal creases to collapse inwardly on sideways pressure, and which has one end closed by an end cap the deformation of which is facilitated by creases, and a square sectioned but apparently otherwise conventional separate nozzle portion comprising the nozzle and a wider shoulder portion at its opposite end.
  • EP-A-0408929 , JP-A-11/292090 , JP-A-2010-1081 , US-A-2013/256310 and WO-A-97/25156 disclose collapsible containers with gable-shaped ends opposite the end provided with their dispensing nozzle to encourage complete collapse of the tube.
  • US 2001/0042757A1 discloses a cartridge for a fluid dispensing apparatus comprising a film shell having a tubular shape; and a film bottom member.
  • WO 92/09494 discloses a collapsible container for extrudable viscous fluids.
  • EP 1 588 834 A2 discloses a method of manufacturing a packaging tube having a polygonal cross-section.
  • US 3,288,334 discloses a dispenser with collapsible container and pump.
  • G 89 04 938.1 discloses a container for liquids, pastes, and the like, with four side-surfaces, which meet at four side-edges, and with a bottom surface.
  • FR 752 936 A discloses a tube having arranged in its interior one or more endless, unsplit rings of an elastic material which respond to the momentary deformation of the tube when it is desired to express the tube's contents, but which, when the pressure on the tube is removed, return to their initial shape.
  • DE 661 169 discloses a metal tube provided with a sprung insert which applies continuous pressure to the inner surface of the flexible tube wall in order to return the tube wall to its original shape when the finger-pressure, under which the desired amount of the tube contents has been expressed, is released.
  • US 2004/0173558 discloses a bottle for a flowable adhesive.
  • US 2,596,592 discloses a dispensing container of the prior art. It is an object of this invention to address the problem of providing a collapsible tubular container from which more of its extrudable fluid content can be squeezed out than is the case with conventional tubular containers.
  • a dispensing container for extrudable fluid materials comprises; a collapsible tubular body made of a flexible material and having longitudinally opposite ends, and being constructed such that transverse inward pressure causes the tubular body to collapse in the direction of the pressure and the side surfaces of the tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread transversely outwardly; a first end of the tubular body being provided with a dispensing nozzle; the longitudinally opposite second end of the tubular body being closed with an end wall member sealingly connected to the tubular body and that is biased to fold about a fold axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body under the transverse pressure.
  • the present invention provides a dispensing container for extrudable fluid materials which comprises; a collapsible tubular body made of a flexible material and having longitudinally opposite ends, and being constructed such that transverse inward pressure causes the tubular body to collapse in the direction of the pressure and the side surfaces of the tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread transversely outwardly; a first end of the tubular body being provided with a dispensing nozzle; and the longitudinally opposite second end of the tubular body being closed with an end wall member sealingly connected to the tubular body and that is biased to fold about a fold axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body under the transverse pressure, wherein:
  • the collapsible tubular body may be made of any of the conventional materials from which collapsible tubes are made, for example malleable metal, plastics materials and laminates.
  • the collapsible tubular body preferably tapers, being narrower in its cross sectional dimension adjacent the first end than adjacent the second end.
  • the tubular body may have any convenient cross section, for example circular, oval, polygonal e.g. rectangular (including square) lozenge shape (e.g. rectangular shape with rounded ends), diamond shaped etc.
  • the tubular body When the tubular body is subjected to transverse inward pressure this causes the tubular body to collapse in the direction of the pressure and the side surfaces of the tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread transversely outwardly.
  • a tubular body which is initially of a circular cross section will under such pressure firstly become of oval cross section before ultimately becoming substantially flat.
  • the tubular body may incorporate creases or corners to encourage deformation in a preferred direction.
  • These polygonal shapes may optionally have rounded corners.
  • cross sections of the tubular body which have corners, e.g. polygonal, rectangular or diamond shapes, preferentially deform at these corners, so that compressive pressure is preferably applied at opposite corners.
  • the cross section shape of the tubular body may vary along the length of the tubular body and such a variation may facilitate accommodation of the abovementioned taper of the tubular body.
  • the tubular body may have a portion of its length adjacent the first (nozzle) end of oval cross section and a portion of its length adjacent to the second (closed) end of circular cross section and may transition smoothly in cross section from an oval cross section adjacent the first end to circular cross section adjacent the second end to.
  • the tubular body is constructed to be collapsed under the applied transverse pressure in the direction of the minor axis of the oval section.
  • Such a taper of the tubular body may be provided by folded in, e.g. crimped, portions of the material of the tubular body longitudinally along the side surfaces of the tubular body, e.g. adjacent the first end, which thereby reduce the cross section of the tubular body.
  • the second end of the tubular body is closed with an end wall member which extends transversely across the cross section of the tubular body and is biased to fold about a fold axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body under the transverse pressure.
  • the end wall member may have any convenient shape in section across the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, typically corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the tubular body adjacent to the second end, e.g. circular, oval, rounded cornered rectangular (including square) lozenge shape (e.g. diamond shape with rounded corners or rectangular with rounded ends) as mentioned above.
  • the end wall member may be biased to fold such that, on folding, the convex side of the fold points toward the first end, or alternatively points away from the first end.
  • the former may be neater in appearance and may assist in propelling the fluid material content of the tubular body toward the nozzle.
  • the end wall member may be biased to fold by means of various constructions.
  • the end wall member comprises a wall part which has a wall surface comprising two side surfaces enclosing a concave angle between them on the side facing the first end thereby forming a valley surface between them on the side facing the first end and being foldable about a fold axis extending in the direction of the length of the valley in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.
  • Such a wall surface is preferably symmetrical about a plane extending longitudinally along the interior of the tubular body and in which the fold axis lies, and which longitudinally bisects the interior of the tubular body.
  • Each side surface preferably occupies up to 50%, typically 40-50%, of the width of the end wall member.
  • Each side surface may be planar e.g. aligned at a proportion, preferably half, of the concave angle, so that the valley surface may be substantially "V" sectioned, or may be concave or convex curved so that for example the valley surface may be semi-circular, semi-oval or "U" shaped.
  • the concave angle between the side surfaces may be acute or obtuse, and may typically be 45-160°, preferably 80-100.
  • the wall surface comprising two side surfaces enclosing a concave angle between them thereby forming a valley surface between them may comprise a saddle surface, for example a hyperbolic paraboloid.
  • the end wall member comprises a wall part which bulges convexly in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body, either toward the first end, or away from the first end of the tubular body, in a generally conical shape.
  • cylindrical as used herein includes shapes having a circular or distorted circular e.g. oval cross section and which rise to an apex in the longitudinal direction. Such shapes include conical, hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, and ogival (pointed arch).
  • polygonal as used herein includes shapes having a polygonal cross section and which rise to an apex in the longitudinal direction.
  • Polygonal includes square (including rectangular), hexagonal, octagonal etc., and which may have rounded corners.
  • Preferably such a pyramidal section has an even number of sides.
  • the bulge of the conical or pyramidal shape provides the bias and defines the way in which the end wall member folds.
  • a wall part may also include a bias such as a crease in the material of the wall member aligned in the transverse direction.
  • a crease is perpendicular to the direction in which the transverse pressure is intended to be applied, aligned analogously as above.
  • the end wall member may be made of a plastics material, preferably a plastically-deformable plastics material, to thereby encourage the wall member to remain in its inwardly folded configuration after it has been inwardly folded and resist any resilient return of the inwardly collapsed tubular body from its collapsed shape.
  • the plastics material of such a wall member may be resilient, but preferably insufficiently resilient to cause or allow any significant return of the collapsed tubular body toward its pre-collapsed configuration.
  • the end wall member may be made integrally with the tubular body and thereby integrally sealingly connected to the tubular body.
  • the end wall member is made and provided separately from the tubular body and is sealingly connected to the second end of the tubular body e.g. by welding, adhesive etc.
  • the end wall member may comprise a plug part configured to fit within the second end of the tubular body.
  • a plug part may for example comprise a skirt part descending from the end wall member in the longitudinal direction toward the second end, and having an outer cross section corresponding to the internal cross section of the tubular body so that the skirt part is a snug fit within the second end of the tubular body.
  • a suitable construction of such an end wall member may comprise a wall part connected to a rim part constructed to be fixed to the second end of the tubular body.
  • a rim part may be connected to a skirt part of the end wall member.
  • the rim part is integrally made with the end wall member, e.g. with such a skirt part.
  • Such a rim part may for example be shaped and dimensioned to engage with the second end of the tubular body, e.g. having a cross section corresponding to the second end of the tubular body.
  • the rim part may be in the form of a circular or oval ring.
  • the rim part may be a correspondingly shaped ring.
  • a ring may have a longitudinal section which is symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
  • the rim part may be connected to the end rim of the tubular body by conventional methods, e.g. by welding.
  • Such a rim part may be substantially planar in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body and may consequently be able to function as a convenient base upon which the dispensing container may be stood in an upright orientation with the nozzle uppermost.
  • collapsible tubes e.g. for toothpaste
  • a separate nozzle portion comprising the nozzle and a wider shoulder portion having a cross section which mates with an open end of the tubular body, and the shoulder portion is attached, usually by welding, to the open first end of the tubular portion.
  • An analogous procedure may be used to fix the end wall member into the open end of the tubular body.
  • the machines for attaching nozzles to tubular bodies is generally constructed to handle circular-sectioned tubular bodies.
  • the opposite first end of the tubular body is provided with a dispensing nozzle.
  • the dispensing nozzle may be a conventional nozzle of the above-mentioned type in the form of a separate nozzle insert comprising the nozzle and a shoulder part which mates with one of the open ends of the tubular portion, and which is attached, typically by welding, to the open end of the tubular body.
  • shoulder parts can be considerably rigid against squeezing pressure applied in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tube and can consequently hinder complete expulsion of the contents of the tube by means of such squeezing.
  • tubular body may be tapered toward the first end and the first end may be integrally formed into a tubular nozzle portion of narrower cross section than the portion of the tubular body toward the opposite second end closed with the wall member.
  • a nozzle portion may have a widest cross section dimension which is 50% or less than a cross sectional dimension of the tubular body toward the second end.
  • a nozzle insert suitably made of a rigid plastics material such as polypropylene, is engaged with this tubular nozzle portion.
  • a nozzle insert may for example comprise a generally tubular e.g. cylindrically tubular member.
  • Such a nozzle insert may be engaged with the nozzle portion by crimping the flexible material of the tubular body in the region of the nozzle insert around the outer surface of the nozzle insert e.g. in the manner of a mandrel.
  • Crimping is a known technique in which the material of the tubular body is compressed around and into contact with an insert which is more rigid than the material of the tubular body, and the material of the tubular body is bonded to the nozzle insert e.g. by heat or ultrasonic welding, adhesive or other conventional means.
  • the nozzle insert may be first formed e.g. by moulding around a mandrel, and the nozzle insert may then be engaged with the nozzle portion.
  • the engagement of such a nozzle insert with the nozzle portion may be by conventional means, e.g. frictional engagement and/or by welding the material of the tubular body at the nozzle portion and the nozzle insert together e.g. ultrasonically.
  • first end of the tubular body may be crimped around a separately provided nozzle insert.
  • Such a crimped first end of the tubular body may have various shapes.
  • a crimped first end may have an edge which is aligned substantially perpendicular to, or slightly curved, relative to the longitudinal direction.
  • Such an edge may be easiest to manufacture but during extrusion of content from the tubular body some residual content of the tubular body may become trapped in corners adjacent to such an edge.
  • a crimped first end may have an edge which is of a rounded or tapering shape e.g. generally triangular narrowing in the longitudinal direction.
  • Such an edge can facilitate manipulation of the contents of the tubular body toward the nozzle, but may require more complex tooling to manufacture.
  • an internal support is provided within the tubular body in the vicinity of the nozzle to resiliently support the tubular body against such dimpling.
  • a support may for example be provided within 25% of the length of the tubular body from the first end toward the second end.
  • Such a support may comprise a resilient biasing member located within the tubular body and exerting its bias against inward collapse of the tubular body.
  • the resilient biasing member may comprise a ring of a resilient material, typically a plastics material such as polypropylene, with an outer surface profile corresponding to the adjacent internal profile of the tubular body.
  • a ring may have a corresponding oval outer profile.
  • the internal support is made integrally with a nozzle insert of a plastics material.
  • a plastics material nozzle insert and a support member may be linked integrally by one or more linking member extending longitudinally along the tubular body.
  • two such linking members may for example be located adjacent opposite sides of the tubular body in line with the fold axis of the wall member.
  • the nozzle e.g. such a nozzle insert may be provided with a closure, e.g. a conventional screw or snap fit closure, which may be made integrally with the nozzle insert.
  • a closure e.g. a conventional screw or snap fit closure
  • the dispensing container of this invention is suitable for many different kinds of extrudable fluid materials, an example of such materials being oral healthcare products such as toothpastes.
  • the volume of the tubular body may be ca. 25 - 150ml, and suitable cross sectional dimensions for such a tubular body are 15 - 50mm.
  • the dispensing container of this invention will be provided to users containing such an extrudable fluid material.
  • the dispensing container of this invention can provide a squeezable tube with an improvement in emptying of its contents on squeezing provided by the collapsible construction of the tubular body.
  • the dispensing container of the invention can also provide a tubular container which is visually distinctive from many conventional dispensing tubes.
  • novel dispensing container of this invention may be made and filled with an extrudable fluid material by a novel process, being a further aspect of this invention.
  • a process for making a dispensing container for an extrudable fluid material comprises; providing a tubular body made of a flexible material which is collapsible under pressure applied transverse to its longitudinal direction such that side surfaces of the tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure spread transversely outwardly, and having longitudinally opposite open ends; closing one end of the tubular body with a wall member as described herein; introducing an extrudable fluid material into the tubular body from the opposite open end of the tubular body; providing the open end of the tubular body with a dispensing nozzle and a closure for the nozzle as described herein.
  • tubular body the wall member, the nozzle and closure are as described herein with reference to the dispensing container.
  • a suitable length of a tube of flexible material is provided, typically sufficient to provide a tubular body of volume ca. 25 - 150ml, and having two opposite open ends.
  • the wall member is then connected to one of the open ends of the tube, typically by welding, e.g. ultrasonic welding.
  • the wall member comprises a wall part connected to a rim part as described herein the rim part may be connected to the end rim of the tubular body by such a method.
  • the tubular body With the previously open end of the tubular body closed by the end wall member the tubular body may be supported in a vertical orientation with the closed end downward, and the tubular body may then have the extrudable fluid material such as toothpaste introduced downwardly into it. This may be done using an automated filling line as is conventionally used for toothpaste.
  • An advantage of this invention is that it facilitates the use of conventional tube filling equipment with minimal requirement for modification.
  • the upper open end of the tubular body may then be formed into a shape which tapers toward the upper end of the tubular body, typically by folding in, e.g. crimping, portions of the material of the tubular body longitudinally along the side surfaces of the tubular body, to thereby reduce the cross section of the tubular body and to integrally form the upper open end of the tubular body into a tubular nozzle portion of narrower cross section than the portion of the tubular body lower down the tubular body.
  • a nozzle insert may be engaged with the nozzle portion by crimping the flexible material of the tubular body in the region of the nozzle insert around the outer surface of the nozzle insert. This may be done by positioning the nozzle insert within the tubular body at its open end, then forming the tubular body into the tapered shape and forming the nozzle portion around the nozzle insert.
  • the tubular nozzle portion may be first made, e.g. by moulding the material of the tubular body around a mandrel, then inserting the nozzle insert.
  • the open end of the tubular body is crimped around a separately provided nozzle insert as described above, preferably a nozzle insert made integrally with a support part as described herein.
  • a nozzle insert made integrally with a support part as described herein.
  • the support part of such an integral nozzle insert and support part member may be inserted into the open end of the tubular body to its intended distance so the nozzle insert is in position in the first end of the tubular body, which is then crimped around it.
  • a friction fit of the nozzle insert within the nozzle portion may be sufficient to retain the nozzle insert in the nozzle portion, or alternatively and preferably the material of the nozzle portion and the nozzle insert may then be welded together e.g. ultrasonically.
  • This process is in some aspects the opposite of that normally used to manufacture such dispensing containers.
  • a tubular body is positioned with its lower end closed with a separate nozzle portion comprising a nozzle and a wider shoulder portion having a cross section which mates with one of the open ends of the tubular portion, the nozzle being closed by a closure e.g. a foil closure, the extrudable fluid material is introduced into the tubular body by the upper open end, then this upper open end is closed by squeezing the open end together and crimping, and if necessary welding the crimped end closed. Therefore advantageously the process of the present invention can conveniently be performed with relatively little modification to a conventional automatic tube-filling line.
  • a dispensing container for extrudable fluid materials is shown overall 10, and comprises a collapsible tubular body 11 which has longitudinally opposite first 11A and second 11B ends.
  • the outer appearance of the tubular body toward the first end 11A is shown, and the second end 11B is shown in a cutaway sectional view.
  • the tubular body 11 tapers with smoothly curved sides toward the first end 11A which as seen in Fig. 1 is of a rounded shape.
  • Cross sections of the tubular body 11 at successive points A-A, B-B and C-C along its length are shown in Fig. 4 , and show how the body 11 is circular in cross section near to the second end 11B, and transitions smoothly to an oval cross section toward the first end 11A.
  • the cross section at C-C shows how the cross section of the tubular body is adapted to the taper and the oval cross section by folded in, e.g. crimped, portions 12 of the material of the tubular body 11 longitudinally along the side surfaces of the tapering portion of the tubular body 11.
  • the tubular body 11 is made of a flexible material such as a plastics material laminate and it is seen that inward pressure transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 11 would cause the tubular body 11 to collapse in the direction of the pressure as seen in Fig. 3 , and for the side surfaces of the tubular body 11 perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread transversely outwardly (not shown) in a generally conventional manner. As indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4 the tubular body 11 is intended to have such transverse pressure applied to it in the direction of the short axis of the oval cross section at B - B. This is likely to be self evident to the user, but the tubular body can be marked to indicate this to the user.
  • the volume of the tubular body 11 is ca. 25 - 150ml, the cross sectional diameter at A - A is 15 - 50mm, and appropriate cross sectional dimensions at other points B-B and C-C will be apparent from this.
  • the first end 11A of the tubular body 11 tapers as shown in the cross sections at B-B and C-C and is integrally formed into a cylindrical tubular nozzle portion 14.
  • a nozzle insert 15 made of a plastics material such as polypropylene is engaged with the tubular nozzle portion 14.
  • the nozzle insert 15 comprises a generally cylindrically tubular member, and is engaged with the nozzle portion 14 by crimping the flexible material of the tubular body 11 in the region of the nozzle insert 15 around the outer surface of the nozzle insert 15, and optionally welding the material of the nozzle portion 14 and the nozzle insert 15 together e.g. ultrasonically.
  • the nozzle insert 15 is provided with an integral conventional hinged snap fit closure 16.
  • the end 11B of the tubular body 11, i.e. the second end, is closed with a wall member 20 shown in Fig. 5 separate from the tubular body 11 in a perspective view.
  • the wall member 20 is made of a plastics material such as polypropylene. As more clearly seen in Fig. 5 the wall member 20 comprises a ring-shaped rim part 21 constructed to be fixed to the second end 11B of the tubular body 11.
  • the rim part 21 is circular in plan and is shaped and dimensioned such that it can be fitted into the second end 11B of the tubular body 11 and may be connected into the second end 11B of the tubular body 11 as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 by for example crimping the material of the tubular body 11 as shown at 13 and welding.
  • Other suitable constructions of rim part 21 will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • rim part 21 as shown in the drawings is planar in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 11, and as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 provides a convenient base upon which the dispensing container 10 may be stood in an upright orientation.
  • the wall part 22 is biased by a crease 23 in the material of the wall part 23 aligned in the transverse direction perpendicular to the direction in which the transverse pressure is intended to be applied, i.e. in the direction of the long axis of the oval cross section B - B shown in Fig. 4 .
  • rim part 21 and wall part 22 may be constructed in other shapes, for example with the rim part 21 of a rectangular shape with rounded corners and the wall part of a corresponding pyramidal shape.
  • Fig. 6 shows the overall construction 60 of another embodiment of a dispensing container of this invention in a longitudinal sectional view
  • Fig. 7 shows its nozzle insert 70 in perspective view
  • Fig. 8 shows its end wall member 80 in perspective view and in two longitudinal sections.
  • a dispensing container for extrudable fluid materials is shown overall 60, and comprises a collapsible tubular body 61 analogous to that 11 of Figs. 1 - 5 , with longitudinally opposite first 61A and second 61B ends.
  • the tubular body 60 tapers from a circular section at its second end 61B to an oval section at its first end 61A, the change in sectional shape being accommodated by folded in, e.g. crimped, portions (not shown) as above.
  • the tubular body 61 is made of a flexible material such as a plastics material laminate such that inward pressure transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 61 would cause the tubular body 61 to collapse.
  • the volume of the tubular body 11 is ca. 25 - 150ml.
  • Nozzle insert 70 Fixed into the tubular body 61 at the first end 61A by means of a known crimping process is a nozzle insert 70 shown in perspective view in Fig. 7 .
  • Nozzle insert 70 comprises a nozzle 71.
  • a support member which comprises a resilient biasing member 72 comprising a ring of a resilient plastics material such as polypropylene, with an outer surface profile corresponding to the adjacent internal profile of the tubular body, i.e. oval.
  • the biasing member 72 exerts its bias against inward collapse of the tubular body 61.
  • the biasing member 72 is linked integrally to nozzle 71 by two linking members 73 extending longitudinally along the interior of the tubular body 61 and connected to nozzle 71 by shoulders 74.
  • Nozzle 71 may be provided with a closure 75.
  • the nozzle insert 70 When present in the tubular body 61 as seen in Fig. 6 the nozzle insert 70 is oriented such that the members 73 are at opposite ends of the major axis of the oval section of the tubular body 61 at its first end 61A and when present in the first end of the tubular body 61 the biasing member 72 is positioned about 15-20% of the length of the tubular body 61 from the first end 61A toward the second end 61B. Overall the nozzle insert 70 is of a generally flat shape.
  • an end wall member 80 Fitted into second end 61B of the tubular body 61 is an end wall member 80 shown in perspective view in Fig. 8 and respectively in Figs. 9 and 10 in longitudinal sections normal to each other about lines A - A and V - V shown in Fig. 8 .
  • the end wall member 80 is made of flexible plastics material and comprises a wall surface 81 and an integral skirt part 82 descending longitudinally from the wall surface 81 and dimensioned to fit closely in a plug manner into the second end 61B of the tubular body 61 which is of circular section.
  • the wall surface 81 comprises two side surfaces 81A, 81B enclosing a concave angle ⁇ of ca.
  • the end wall member 80 is foldable about a fold axis extending in the direction V - V, and the view of the end wall member 80 in Fig. 6 is in this direction V - V.
  • the two side surfaces 81A, 81B are symmetrical about a plane which bisects the angle a, and each side surface 81A, 81B occupies approximately half of the width of the end wall member 80.
  • the wall surface 81 descends longitudinally to meet the skirt part 82 symmetrically on either side from its mid point to thereby comprise a saddle surface.
  • the skirt part 82 of the end wall member is integrally made with a rim part 90 shaped and dimensioned to engage with and to be welded to the second end 61B of the tubular body 61 by conventional methods.
  • the rim part 90 is substantially planar in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 61 so as to function as a convenient base upon which the dispensing container 60 may be stood in an upright orientation. As seen in Fig.
  • the rim part 90 has a longitudinal section which is symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, comprising a middle part 91 of a generally semi-circular section, with upper and lower sections 92, 93 each comprising a generally cylindrical part immediately respectively above and below the middle part 91, the upper part 92 being shaped to engage with and be connected to the tubular body 61.
  • Fig. 11 shows an alternative construction of the rim part 90 having a longitudinal section similar to that of Fig. 6 but made separately from the end wall member 80 and attachable e.g. by welding or other conventional means to the skirt part 82 of the end wall member 80.
  • the dispensing container 10, 60 of Figs. 1-10 operates as follows.
  • the container 10, 60 is initially provided containing an extrudable fluid material (not shown) such as a toothpaste.
  • the closure 16, 72 is opened, and the tubular body 11, 61 is squeezed laterally, e.g. as shown in Fig. 3 in the direction of the short axis of the oval section at B - B.
  • This causes the tubular body 11, 61 to collapse in a conventional manner, causes its sides perpendicular to the squeezing direction to spread outwards, and causes the fluid material content to be extruded from nozzle 15, 71.
  • the biasing member 73 prevents the tubular body 61 from dimpling under this squeezing.
  • 61 collapses inwardly the wall member 20, 80 folds respectively about the crease 23 and the fold axis along direction V - V, which enables the wall member 20, 80 to fold substantially flat, e.g. as seen in Fig. 3 .
  • the relatively narrow cross section of the nozzle insert 15, 71 at the first end 11A, 61A enables the tubular body 11, 61 to flatten substantially along its entire length.
  • the biasing member 72 also flattens under the sideways pressure. This can significantly increase the amount of fluid material content which can be squeezed out of the tubular body 11, 61 relative to conventional tubes.
  • FIG. 12 this shows how a dispensing container as described above may be manufactured.
  • the dispensing container of Figs. 1-5 is illustrated the method of manufacture of the dispensing container 60 of Fig. 6 is analogous.
  • a length of a tube of flexible material 112 is provided, typically sufficient to provide a tubular body 11 as described above of volume ca. 25 - 150ml, and having two opposite open ends 112A, 112B.
  • Fig. 12B one end 112B of the tube 112 which is intended to form the second end 11B, 61B of the tubular body 11, 61 has been closed with a wall member 20 as described above.
  • the end wall member 20 has been inserted into the open end 112B and its rim part 21 connected to the open end 112B by crimping the material of the tube 112 around the rim part 21 of the end wall member 20 and welding the material and the end wall member together.
  • the tube 112 is supported in an upright orientation with the opposite open end 112A, which is intended to form the first end 11A, 61A of the tubular body 11, 61, uppermost and an extrudable fluid material 92 has been introduced into the tube 112 through the opposite open end 112A of the tube 112.
  • This may be done on a conventional automatic filling line in a manner analogous to the way in which conventional tubes with their lower open end closed with a conventional shoulder and nozzle are filled with fluid material.
  • a nozzle insert 15 with its closure 16 is positioned in the open end 112A of the tube 112.
  • a portion of the tube 112 adjacent to the end 112A of the tube 112 has been formed into a tapered shape and a nozzle portion 14 has been formed around the nozzle insert 15 by crimping portions 12 of the material of the tube 112 along the side surfaces of the tapering portion of the tube 112 to thereby reduce the cross section of the tube and form the oval section shown in Fig. 4 , and to mould the material of the tube 112 around the nozzle insert 15.
  • This may create a tight friction fit between the material of the nozzle portion 14 and the nozzle insert 15, and/or the material of the nozzle portion 14 and the nozzle insert 15 may be welded together e.g. thermally, ultrasonically or by adhesive.
  • FIG. 13 shows an alternative construction of the second end 11B of a tubular body 11.
  • Parts corresponding to Figs. 1-6 are numbered correspondingly, but in Fig. 13 it is seen that the wall part 22 is in the shape of a shallow cone which bulges convexly in a direction away from the longitudinally opposite first end (not shown) of tubular body 11.
  • transverse pressure is applied to the tubular body 11 and the end wall member folds flat about crease 23, the apex of the conical shaped wall part 22 will move in a direction away from the first end (not shown).

Landscapes

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

Claims (20)

  1. Spenderbehälter (10, 60) für extrudierbare Fluidmaterialien, der aufweist:
    einen faltbaren rohrförmigen Körper (11, 61), der aus einem flexiblen Material hergestellt ist und in Längsrichtung gegenüberliegende Enden (11A, 11B, 61A, 61B) aufweist und so aufgebaut ist, dass ein nach innen wirkender Querdruck verursacht, dass der rohrförmige Körper (11, 61) in Richtung des Drucks gefaltet wird und sich die Seitenflächen des rohrförmigen Körpers senkrecht zu der Richtung des Drucks in Querrichtung nach außen ausbreiten, wobei ein erstes Ende (11A, 61A) des rohrförmigen Körpers mit einer Abgabedüse (15, 71) versehen ist, und das in Längsrichtung gegenüberliegende zweite Ende (11B, 61B) des rohrförmigen Körpers mit einem Endwandelement (20, 80) verschlossen ist, das dichtend mit dem rohrförmigen Körper (11, 61) verbunden ist und das vorgespannt ist, um sich unter dem Querdruck um eine Faltachse quer zu der Längsrichtung des rohrförmigen Körpers zu falten, wobei:
    entweder das Endwandelement (80) einen Wandteil aufweist, der eine Wandfläche (81) mit zwei Seitenflächen aufweist, die einen konkaven Winkel zwischen sich auf der Seite einschließen, die dem ersten Ende zugewandt ist, wodurch zwischen ihnen eine Talfläche auf der Seite ausgebildet wird, die dem ersten Ende zugewandt ist, und die um eine Faltachse faltbar sind, die sich in der Richtung der Länge des Tals in einer Richtung quer zu der Längsrichtung erstreckt;
    oder das Endwandelement (20) einen Wandteil (22) aufweist, der sich in der Längsrichtung des rohrförmigen Körpers (11) entweder in Richtung des ersten Endes (11A) oder weg von dem ersten Ende (11A) des rohrförmigen Körpers in einer im Wesentlichen konischen Form oder Pyramidenform konvex wölbt;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in dem rohrförmigen Körper (11, 61) in der Umgebung der Düse eine interne Unterstützung vorgesehen ist, um den rohrförmigen Körper elastisch zu unterstützen und das interne Stützelement integral mit einem Düseneinsatz (15, 70) aus einem Kunststoffmaterial hergestellt ist.
  2. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das Endwandelement (80) einen Wandteil aufweist, der eine Wandfläche (81) mit zwei Seitenflächen aufweist, die einen konkaven Winkel zwischen sich einschließen, wodurch eine Talfläche zwischen ihnen ausgebildet ist, und die um eine Faltachse faltbar ist, die sich in Richtung der Länge des Tals in einer Richtung quer zu der Längsrichtung erstreckt.
  3. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Wandfläche (81) symmetrisch um eine Ebene ist, die sich in Längsrichtung entlang des Inneren des rohrförmigen Körpers (61) erstreckt und in der die Faltachse liegt und die das Innere des rohrförmigen Körpers (61) in Längsrichtung halbiert.
  4. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, bei dem der konkave Winkel (α) zwischen den Seitenflächen in einem Bereich von 45-160° ist.
  5. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 2, 3 oder 4, bei dem die Wandfläche (81) eine Sattelfläche aufweist.
  6. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das Endwandelement (20) einen Wandteil (22) aufweist, der sich in der Längsrichtung des rohrförmigen Körpers (11) entweder in Richtung des ersten Endes (11A) oder weg von dem ersten Ende (11A) des rohrförmigen Körpers (11) in einer im Allgemeinen konischen Form konvex wölbt.
  7. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 6, bei dem sich der Wandteil (22) in der Längsrichtung des rohrförmigen Körpers (11) in Richtung des ersten Endes (11A) in einer konischen Form konvex wölbt.
  8. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 5, 6 oder 7, bei dem der Wandteil (22) eine Vorspannung in dem Material des Wandelements aufweist, die in Querrichtung ausgerichtet ist.
  9. Spenderbehälter nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das Endwandelement (20, 80) ein Stopfenteil aufweist, das eingerichtet ist, in das zweite Ende des rohrförmigen Körpers zu passen.
  10. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 9, bei dem das Stopfenteil einen Schürzenteil (82) aufweist, der von dem Endwandelement (81) in der Längsrichtung in Richtung des zweiten Endes (61B) nach unten verläuft und einen äußeren Querschnitt aufweist, der dem inneren Querschnitt des rohrförmigen Körpers (61) entspricht.
  11. Spenderbehälter nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das Ende (20, 80) einen Wandteil (22) aufweist, der mit einem Randteil (21, 90) verbunden ist, welcher aufgebaut ist, um an dem zweiten Ende (11B, 61B) des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) befestigt zu sein.
  12. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 11, bei dem der Randteil (21, 90) mit einem Schürzenteil (82) des Endwandelements verbunden ist.
  13. Spenderbehälter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12, bei dem sich der rohrförmige Körper (11, 61) verjüngt, wobei seine Querschnittsabmessung angrenzend an das erste Ende (11A, 61A) enger ist als angrenzend an das zweite Ende (11A, 11B).
  14. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 13, bei dem die Querschnittsform des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) entlang der Länge des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) variiert und die Variation die Verjüngung des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) aufnimmt.
  15. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 14, bei dem der rohrförmige Körper (11, 61) einen Abschnitt seiner Länge angrenzend an das erste Ende (11A, 61A) mit einem kreisförmigen Querschnitt und einen Abschnitt seiner Länge angrenzend an das zweite Ende (11B, 61B) mit einem ovalen Querschnitt aufweist und der Querschnitt gleichmäßig von einem kreisförmigen Querschnitt angrenzend an das erste Ende (11A, 61A) zu einem ovalen Querschnitt angrenzend an das zweite Ende (11B, 61B) übergeht.
  16. Spenderbehälter nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die interne Unterstützung ein elastisches Vorspannelement (72) aufweist, das in dem rohrförmigen Körper (11, 61) angeordnet ist und seine Vorspannung gegen ein nach innen Falten des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) ausübt.
  17. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 16, bei dem das elastische Vorspannelement (72) einen Ring aus einem elastischen Material mit einem äußeren Flächenprofil aufweist, das mit dem internen Profil des rohrförmigen Körpers korrespondiert.
  18. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 16 oder 17, bei dem der Düseneinsatz (15, 70) und das Stützelement integral durch ein oder mehrere Verbindungselemente (73) verbunden sind, die sich in Längsrichtung entlang des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) erstrecken.
  19. Spenderbehälter nach Anspruch 18, bei dem zwei Verbindungselemente (73) angrenzend an gegenüberliegenden Seiten des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) in einer Linie mit der Faltachse des Wandelements (20, 80) angeordnet sind.
  20. Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Spenderbehälters für extrudierbare Fluidmaterialien nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 19, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:
    Bereitstellen eines rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61), der unter zu seiner Längsrichtung quer aufgebrachtem Druck zusammenfaltbar ist, aus einem flexiblen Material hergestellt ist und in Längsrichtung gegenüberliegende offene Enden (11A, 11B, 61A, 61B) aufweist;
    Verschließen eines Endes (11B, 61B) des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) mit dem Wandelement (20, 80);
    Einführen eines extrudierbaren Fluidmaterials von dem gegenüberliegenden offenen Ende (11A, 61A) des rohrförmigen Körpers (11, 61) in den rohrförmigen Körper (11, 61);
    Bereitstellen des offenen Endes (11A, 61A) von dem rohrförmigen Körper (11, 61) mit der Abgabedüse (71) und einem Verschluss (16, 75) für die Düse (71).
EP15711785.4A 2014-03-27 2015-03-25 Spenderbehälter für extrudbare flüssige materialien und verfahren zur herstellung desselben Not-in-force EP3122644B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201405509A GB201405509D0 (en) 2014-03-27 2014-03-27 Novel Device
PCT/EP2015/056341 WO2015144744A2 (en) 2014-03-27 2015-03-25 Novel device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3122644A2 EP3122644A2 (de) 2017-02-01
EP3122644B1 true EP3122644B1 (de) 2018-03-21

Family

ID=50737521

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15711785.4A Not-in-force EP3122644B1 (de) 2014-03-27 2015-03-25 Spenderbehälter für extrudbare flüssige materialien und verfahren zur herstellung desselben

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20180170623A1 (de)
EP (1) EP3122644B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2017508683A (de)
GB (1) GB201405509D0 (de)
WO (1) WO2015144744A2 (de)

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE661169C (de) * 1938-06-13 Marabuwerke A G Metalltube mit einer federnden Einlage
FR752936A (fr) * 1932-07-11 1933-10-03 Perfectionnement aux tubes à pâte ou autres produits analogues
US2557121A (en) * 1948-04-22 1951-06-19 Fyr Fyter Co Collapsible tube and a protective jacket therefor
US2596592A (en) * 1950-07-19 1952-05-13 Leonard A Parker Self-closing paste tube
GB888401A (en) * 1958-05-23 1962-01-31 S E B Establishment Improvements in or relating to containers and methods of filling containers
US3288334A (en) * 1965-05-28 1966-11-29 Calmar Inc Disppenser with collapsible container and pump
DE8904938U1 (de) * 1989-04-19 1990-08-16 Magnoni, Giordano, Modena, It
GB9025463D0 (en) * 1990-11-22 1991-01-09 Lingner & Fischer Gmbh Container
JP2001328652A (ja) * 2000-05-19 2001-11-27 Hosokawa Yoko Co Ltd 吐出ガン用カートリッジおよび吐出ガン用カートリッジ組立体並びに吐出ガン用カートリッジの製造方法
US20040173558A1 (en) * 2003-03-06 2004-09-09 Fang-Pin Chen Bottles for flowable adhesive
GB0408778D0 (en) * 2004-04-20 2004-05-26 Telcon Packaging Ltd Improvements in packaging

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3122644A2 (de) 2017-02-01
WO2015144744A2 (en) 2015-10-01
US20180170623A1 (en) 2018-06-21
GB201405509D0 (en) 2014-05-14
WO2015144744A3 (en) 2015-11-19
JP2017508683A (ja) 2017-03-30

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