Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/42—Details
  • A47L15/44—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
  • A47L15/4445—Detachable 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
  • B65D35/02—Body construction
  • B65D35/04—Body construction made in one piece
  • B65D35/08—Body construction made in one piece from plastics material
• • 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
  • B65D35/22—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 two or more compartments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/0055—Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
  • B65D83/0061—Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents the contents of a flexible bag being expelled by the contracting forces inherent in the bag or a sleeve fitting snugly around the bag
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
  • D06F39/022—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents in a liquid state
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/42—Details
  • A47L15/44—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
  • A47L15/4418—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants in the form of liquids

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a deformable container, in particular a deformable container suitable for dispensing dishwasher machine cleaner in an automatic dishwasher.
• Dishwasher machine cleaner formulations typically include, but are not limited to: water; acidifiers such as citric acid; builders such as HEDP; non-ionic surfactants; and hydrotropes such as sodium cumenesulphonate. Further information on dishwasher machine cleaner formulations is contained within WO 2007/060439, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
• WO 2009/095638 describes an existing container for use in dispensing dishwasher machine cleaner in an automatic dishwasher.
• the container therein disclosed has a wax closure at one end. When the container is placed in the dishwasher with the wax closure facing down and the dishwasher then operated, heat generated inside the dishwasher causes the wax plug to melt allowing dishwasher cleaner inside the container to be dispensed.
• a deformable container defining an interior volume for a fluid, and comprising an outlet fluidly connected to the interior volume, and a first seal at the outlet;
• the present invention thus provides a deformable container with few components, and which is easy and cheap to manufacture. Since the size of the container is reduced during use, this also makes the container easier to dispose of once used.
• the deformable container is adaptable for use in any heated environment where fluid requires dispensing at a predetermined temperature.
• the predetermined temperature is between 50°C - 75°C, more preferably 65°C - 75°C.
• the first seal is operable to open, and the size of the interior volume is operable to partially reduce, at a first predetermined temperature; and the size of the interior volume is operable to further reduce at a second predetermined temperature which is higher than the first predetermined temperature.
• the first predetermined temperature may be between 50°C - 55°C, and the second predetermined temperature between 65°C - 75°C.
• the container further comprises a frangible seal at the outlet.
• the frangible seal is operable to be snapped off or torn off by the user just prior to the container being placed in a heated environment.
• the first seal is linear, rather than curved, to improve the flow of fluid through the seal.
• the container further comprises a plurality of corrugated channels which do not substantially reduce in size when the container reaches the predetermined temperature.
• the plurality of corrugated channels are located downstream of the first seal.
• the container may comprise a rib which is not substantially deformable when the container reaches the predetermined temperature.
• the rib extends around a circumference of the interior volume. The rib helps to retain the structure of the deformable container at the predetermined temperature, and works with the deformable portions from the container to help guide fluid out of the container when it is deformed.
• the container may comprise an interior volume comprising substantially no sharp edges in a region that is distal to the outlet and that is adjacent the rib.
• the amount of permissible sharpness in these edges will depend on the size of the container. Preferably however, such edges should have a radius of curvature of at least 3mm.
• the container comprises a region proximal to the outlet which defines a concave indentation for assisting with the removal of fluid from the container when the container reaches the predetermined temperature, wherein the concave indentation defines a flow path for the fluid to the outlet which decreases in cross-section towards the outlet.
• the interior volume from the container may comprise a plurality of smaller volumes which are fluidly isolated from each other prior to the container reaching the predetermined temperature. This arrangement allows, for example, two incompatible liquids which require separation from each other prior to use, to be kept separated until the point when the container is deformed.
• the interior volume is less than or equal to 300ml prior to the container reaching the predetermined temperature.
• the size of the interior volume is preferably operable to reduce by between 70% - 90% when the container reaches the predetermined temperature.
• the reduction in the size of the interior volume may be achieved by a portion of the container which expands into the interior volume when the container is at the
• the reduction in the size of the interior volume is achieved by the portion of the container being made of a material comprising, or consisting of, a shape-memory material, such as a shape-memory alloy or a shape- memory polymer.
• a shape-memory material such as a shape-memory alloy or a shape- memory polymer.
• An example of a suitable shape-memory polymer is PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
• the first seal may comprise a filleted/chamfered edge which is exposed to the interior volume for assisting with the opening of the first seal when the container is heated to the predetermined temperature.
• any fluid in the interior volume of the container is able to exert a peeling force on the filleted/chamfered edge to help peel the first seal open.
• the container is for application of a liquid detergent to the interior of an automatic dishwasher.
• the liquid detergent is preferably a dishwasher machine cleaner.
• the container comprises an attachment means for attaching the container to the interior of an automatic dishwasher.
• the attachment means is preferably located on the rib.
• the interior volume contains a dishwasher machine cleaner formulation.
• a deformable container according to the first aspect in an automatic dishwasher.
• a method for dispensing a fluid from a deformable container defining an interior volume containing the fluid, and comprising an outlet fluidly connected to the interior volume, and a first seal at the outlet comprising the steps of:
• the seal opens, and the size of the interior volume partially reduces, at a first predetermined temperature; and the size of the interior volume further reduces at a second predetermined temperature which is higher than the first predetermined temperature.
• the first predetermined temperature may be between 50°C - 55°C
• the second predetermined temperature may be between 65°C - 75°C.
• a deformable container defining an interior volume for a fluid, and comprising an outlet fluidly connected to the interior volume, and a first seal at the outlet, the method comprising the steps of:
• the plurality of sequential heated dies comprises a first set of heated dies and a second set of heated dies; and preferably the method comprises the steps of:
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 2A shows a bottom view of the container of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 2B shows a front side view of the container of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 2C shows a top view of the container of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 2D shows a side end view of the container of Figure 1 .
• Figure 3A shows a first stage of operation of the container shown in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3B shows a second stage of operation of the container shown in Figure 1 ; and Figure 3C shows a third stage of operation of the container shown in Figure 1 .
• Figure 4A shows an image of a container similar to the container shown in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4B shows an image of the container of Figure 4A after having been used in an automatic dishwasher;
• Figure 4C shows an image of the container of Figure 4B after having been used in an automatic dishwasher and whilst still inside the tray of an automatic dishwasher.
• Figure 5 shows a table illustrating the effectiveness of various differently shaped containers when heated.
• Figure 6 shows a cross-section view of a different container in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 7 shows a front view of a container having a curved weak seal and a close up view of the curved weak seal.
• Figure 8 shows an image of a weak seal of a container similar to the container shown in Figure 7.
• Figure 9 shows a side end view of the container and the fluid-actuated seal of the container.
• a container 10 for dispensing a fluid is predominately made of a shaped memory-polymer, such as PET, and defines an interior volume 15 for holding a fluid, such as dishwasher machine cleaner.
• the interior volume is divided into a first and second smaller region 20;25.
• Each of the two smaller regions is fluidly connected to a plurality of parallel corrugated channels 30 located at the top of the container.
• the channels 30 act as an outlet for the fluid to escape from the container as will be described, and do not reduce in size when heated.
• a frangible seal 35 which is operable, in use, to be snapped off or torn off by the user along a fault line 40 extending substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugated channels 30.
• a fluid-actuated seal 45 Located between the bottom end of the plurality of channels 30 and the interior volume 15 is a fluid-actuated seal 45.
• the fluid actuated seal 45 extends across the entire width of the parallel corrugated channels 30 and preferably extends in a linear direction 46 which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugated channels 30.
• the fluid-actuated seal has a width, defined by the distance between the corrugated channels 30 and the interior volume 15, between 1 mm and 3mm, for example 1.5mm to 2.5mm, for example 1 .8mm to 2.2mm.
• the seal width may be 1 .5mm, 1.7mm, 1 .9mm, 2.1 mm, 2.3mm, 2.5mm and/or 2.6mm.
• the fluid-actuated seal may have a uniform width or the width of the fluid-actuated seal may vary, for example the fluid- actuated seal may have an area with a smaller seal width to provide a non-uniform seal strength.
• the fluid-actuated seal 45 comprises a curved contour.
• the weak seal comprises a first curved contour 47 located between the plurality of channels 30 and the interior volume 15 of the first smaller region 20 and a second curved contour 48 located between the plurality of channels 30 and the interior volume 15 of the second smaller region 25.
• the first curved contour 47 directs the fluid towards a first apex 47a and the second curved contour 48 directs the fluid towards a second apex 48a so that the internal pressure is greater and the seal starts to open at this point.
• the apex of first and second curved contours 47;48 comprises a discontinuity in the curvature i.e.
• the apex 47a;48a defines a single point.
• the width of the seal is non-uniform.
• the width of the seal is less close to the apex of the curve.
• the reduction in the width of the seal weakens the seal at this point relative to the wider seal.
• the narrower weaker seal requires a lower pressure to open compared to the wider seal.
• the seal width gradually declines away from the apex of the curve.
• the width of the seal may be 3mm away from the apex and 2mm at the apex of the curved contours 47;48.
• the fluid-actuated seal may also have a chamfered edge. As illustrated in Figure 9 the fluid-actuated seal 45 may have a chamfered edge 51 located adjacent to the first and second smaller region 20;25. The chamfered edge gradually increases the seal pressure from the outer edge between the interior volume 15 to the centre of the seal 45 and therefore reduces the initial peeling force so that fluid pressure required to open the fluid- actuated seal is reduced.
• Each of the first and second smaller region 20;25 comprises a front side wall 50 and a rear side wall 55 which are deformable when heated to a predetermined temperature.
• a strengthening rib 60 which does not substantially deform when heated to this
• predetermined temperature which preferably has a greater thickness than the front side wall 50 and the rear side wall 55, extends around the side and top portions of the interior volume 15 to provide rigidity to the container 10 at the predetermined temperature.
• a partitioning rib 65 having similar properties to the strengthening rib 60, extends from the fluid-actuated seal 45 to the bottom of the container 10 to isolate the first smaller region 20 from the second smaller region 25.
• a fluid port 80 is provided at the top of each the first and second smaller region 20;25 to allow fluid to be inserted therein during the forming process of the container 10 as will be described.
• the container 10 is also provided with attachment means, shown in Figure 1 as hook shaped portions 71 in the strengthening rib 60, for allowing the container 10 to be attached in an upright position to an object, although more preferably between the supports of a dishwasher tray when the container 10 is located in an inverted position inside a dishwasher, as will be described. Operation of the container 10 shown in Figure 1 and Figures 2A-2D is described with reference to Figures 3A-3C, and also Figures 4A-4C. Initially, a user grips the container and snaps off the frangible seal 35 along the fault line 40 (see Figure 3B). Although not shown in the Figures, rather than being snapped off, the frangible seal 35 may take the form of a tear-off strip which tears along the fault line 40. Once the frangible seal 35 is removed, this exposes the plurality of parallel corrugated channels 30. The exposed top surface from these channels 30 forms the outlet 70 through which fluid can escape from the container 10.
• attachment means shown in Figure 1 as hook shaped portions 71 in the strengthening rib 60,
• the container 10 is then inverted and placed between the supports of a dishwasher tray, as shown in Figure 3C, and such that the hook shaped portions 71 engage against the bottom of the dishwasher tray (see Figure 4C).
• fluid contained in the first and second smaller region 20;25 is prevented from passing to the outlet 70 via the corrugated channels 30 by the fluid-actuated seal 45, which at this stage remains closed.
• the dishwasher is then operated with the container 10 located inside.
• the heat generated within the dishwasher causes the deformable container to heat up.
• the front side wall 50 and the rear side wall 55 of the container deform slightly inwardly.
• the initial deformation of these side walls 50;55 causes the size of the first and second smaller region 20;25 to reduce, which increases the pressure of the fluid contained within these regions 20;25.
• the increased pressure of the fluid exerts a pressure on the fluid-actuated seal 45 which forces it to peel open, allowing an initial portion of the fluid from the container 10 to pass through the channels 30 and out the outlet 70 into the dishwasher.
• the increase in temperature causes further inward deformation of the front side wall 50 and the rear side wall 55 of the container 10 such that the container is deformed into a flattened state as shown in the images of Figure 4B and Figure 4C.
• any fluid in the interior volume is forced by the flattened side walls 50;55 through the fluid-actuated seal 45 and out of the outlet 70.
• the interior volume of the container is around 10%-30% of its original size as shown in Figure 4A.
• the hook shaped portions 71 in the strengthening rib 60 which engage against the bottom of the dishwasher tray, help keep the container in its inverted position, even when it is deformed. This is important since fluid escape from the container is optimized when the container is in an inverted position as shown in Figure 4C, rather than in a flat position.
• the hook shaped portions 71 when engaged against the bottom of the dishwasher tray also keep the container straight in use and prevent it from folding like a book onto itself when it deforms. Such folding is disadvantageous since it reduces the amount of fluid which can escape from the first and second smaller regions 20;25.
• the hook shaped portions 71 also prevent the container 10, once emptied and deformed, from being displaced inside the dishwasher by the pressurized water jets emitted from the rotating spray arm of the dishwasher.
• the extent to which fluid is forced out from the first and second smaller region 20;25 depends on the shape of the first and second smaller region 20;25, and the extent to which the front side wall 50 and the rear side wall 55, which are made of a shaped-memory polymer, inwardly deform when they are heated to the predetermined temperature.
• the regions of the front side wall 50 and the rear side wall 55 which are away from the outlet 70 and which are proximal to the strengthening rib 60 and the partitioning ribs 65 should comprise no sharp edges, since these sharp edges when deformed can create narrow capillaries which retain fluid inside the first and second smaller region 20;25, even after these regions 20;25 have deformed.
• the regions of the front side wall 50 and the rear side wall 55 which are proximal to the strengthening rib 60 and the partitioning ribs 65 comprise a fillet 90.
• each of the front side wall 50 and the rear side wall 55 may comprise a concave indentation 75 in a region proximal to the channels 30 and the outlet 70 which decreases in cross-section towards the outlet, and which does not deform when heated.
• Figures 4A-4C show this most clearly, where it can be seen that the concave indentations 75 have the same shape both before and after the container 10 has been heated and deformed in an automatic dishwasher.
• Figure 5 shows various differently shaped deformable containers before and after use inside an automatic dishwasher operated at 65°C. As can be seen in Figure 5, the pillow shaped container having the concave indentations 75 and the fillet 90 is the most effective of the shown containers at expelling fluid.
• the deformable container shown in the Figures has been described as being suitable for dispensing dishwasher machine cleaner in an automatic dishwasher, it will be appreciated that the container may be modified for use in any situation where a fluid requires dispensing in an environment only when the temperature of the environment reaches a predetermined level.
• a fluid requires dispensing in an environment only when the temperature of the environment reaches a predetermined level.
• One such situation includes dispensing detergent inside a washing machine.
• shape-memory polymer for the deformable portions of the container 10 will depend on the intended application for the container 10.
• the deformable portions of the container 10 are preferably predominately made of a shape-memory polymer which has a glass transition temperature (TG) in the region of the operating temperature inside a dishwasher.
• TG glass transition temperature
• the selected shape-memory polymer should have a glass transition temperature of between 50°C - 75°C.
• PET is one such suitable shape-memory polymer.
• manufacture of the container 10 is achieved by heating the container above its glass transition temperature and then shaping the container in these conditions, for instance in a thermoforming process or a stretch blow moulding process, into a stressed shape.
• the portions of the container that are stressed in the forming process are the portions of the container that are intended to be deformed in use of the container. These portions include the front side wall 50 and a rear side wall 55; but not the partitioning rib 65, the strengthening rib 60, or the concave indentations 75.
• the container 10 When the container 10 is subsequently heated above its glass transition temperature in use, e.g. inside a dishwasher, the container 10 is allowed to revert to a shape which is less stressed. This less stressed shape corresponds to the shape of the container when it is inwardly deformed.
• the forming process used to create the container 10 can be performed in a number of different ways, as required, to allow for fluid to be inserted into of each the first and second smaller region 20;25.
• the container 10 is formed by passing two adjacent sheets of material through a series of sequential heated dies, wherein each heated die operates to partly shape the sheets of material into the shape of the container 10.
• the adjacent sheets of material are passed through a first set of heated dies such that the sheets form the container 10 but without its fluid ports 80 sealed. From this partly-formed state, the partly-formed container is placed in an upright position and fluid is then inserted into each of the first and second smaller regions 20;25 via the unsealed fluid ports 80.
• the partly-formed container is passed through a further set of heated dies to seal the fluid ports 80 such to seal the fluid inside the first and second smaller regions 20;25, and such to create the container 10.
• these faces are textured, such as corrugated.
• the die faces deform these portions of material such they share a greater area of contact compared with if they were formed using non-textured die faces. This additional contact area improves the sealing properties of the strengthening rib 60 and the partitioning rib 65.
• the container herein described may be made of two isolated regions 20;25, the interior volume may be separated into any number of such regions (including only one) depending on the number of partitioning ribs 65 (if any) used.
• the size of the container 10 and its interior volume 15 may also vary depending on the intended application for the container 10.
• the interior volume may ideally hold no more than 300ml, preferably no more than 250ml, and further preferably no more than 200ml, of dishwasher machine cleaner.
• the dimensions of the container may also vary depending on the intended application for the container 10.
• the maximum height of the container may be approximately 135mm, the maximum width of the container approximately 150mm, and the maximum depth of the container approximately 35mm.
• the container 100 may be provided with a rigid outer housing 102 in which is located a resilient container 104 defining an interior volume for a fluid to be dispensed.
• a fluid-actuated seal 145 which may be similar to the fluid-actuated seal 45 described in Figures 1 and Figures 2A-2D, provides an outlet for the fluid from the resilient container 104.
• a heat-transfer fluid 103 (such as air), which expands when heated, is located between the rigid outer housing 102 and the resilient container 104.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

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• 2016
  • 2016-04-22 GB GB1607034.4A patent/GB2549531B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-04-21 EP EP17720723.0A patent/EP3445906A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-04-21 WO PCT/EP2017/059552 patent/WO2017182652A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2017-04-21 AU AU2017253494A patent/AU2017253494A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-04-21 CN CN201780031621.8A patent/CN109196159B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2017-04-21 US US16/095,301 patent/US20190092533A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-04-21 RU RU2018140980A patent/RU2729141C2/ru active
  • 2017-04-21 CA CA3021621A patent/CA3021621A1/en not_active Abandoned

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