GB2181105A

GB2181105A - Squeeze-to-use container

Info

Publication number: GB2181105A
Application number: GB08623642A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Hillary Powell; Richard William Seymour
Original assignee: Unilever PLC
Current assignee: Unilever PLC
Priority date: 1985-10-04
Filing date: 1986-10-02
Publication date: 1987-04-15
Also published as: IT8653887V0; DE8626533U1; IT208123Z2; FR2588247B1; GB8524601D0; JPS6260508U; ZA867450B; FR2588247A1; GB8623642D0; GB2181105B; BR6601763U

Abstract

To enable simplified construction for a squeeze to use container 10 of the kind having an indication of the pressure zones 20 where the container walls 13 are to be squeezed to expel a controlled volume 25 of the contents 24 through a restricted opening 17, the invention provides that the controlled volume is determined by both the size of the restricted opening and the rigidity of the container walls. In one preferred form, a tactile indication 22 (Fig. 1) of the pressure zones is provided in recesses 21 in positions of walls made of plastics, where rigidity of the walls is greater than their overall minimum, so that under normal hand pressure, the walls are deformed partially but not sufficiently for them to touch internally. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Squeeze to use container This invention relates to a squeeze to use container of the kind having an indication of the pressure zones where the container walls are to be squeezed to expel a controlled volume of any contents through a restricted opening therein.

Such squeeze to use containers are commonly made of plastics material and are to used to contain and dispense a wide variety of liquid products. It has long been recognised that the quantity of liquid dispensed from such containers varies widely at each use since for a given container the quantity dispensed will vary according to where the container is squeezed and the pressure and the pressure applied. Whilst this can be largely immaterial with certain liquid products the desirability of providing controlled dosages from such bottles becomes increasingly important as the cost of the liquid increased and also where the effectiveness of the liquid depends upon a correct dosage. To this end a number of containers have been proposed, having an indication of where the container is to be squeezed and a device to provide a controlled dosage at each use.Unfortunately, such devices can add considerably to the packaginhg costs and represent an unacceptable increase in the overall costs of the packaged liquid. For example, such containers are described in UK Patent Specifications 512,815 and 1,168,181.

However, these depend on a stop mechanism, provided inside the container, to limit the maximum deformation of the container walls and so determine the volume of liquid expelled.

The latter form of construction is particularly unsuitable for plastic containers made as a single moulding.

We have now found that the construction of the container can be considerably simplified if the controlled volume is determined by both the size of the restricted opening and the rigidity of the container walls.

It is especially preferred that the rigidity of the walls is such that under normal hand pressure, the walls are deformed partially but not sufficiently for them to touch internally. The required rigidity is most easily provided for when the walls are made of a plastics material.

Preferably the pressure zones are disposed at positions on the container where the rigidity of the container is greater than the minimum rigidity of the container walls.

To ensure that squeezing occurs where the wall rigidity is that required to produce the desired volume control (in combination with the size of the opening), it is very desirable to provide a tactile indication of the pressure zones to which pressure is to be applied.

With containers of generally regular shape, these positions may be nearer the edge than the centre of the wall, i.e. off-centre. The pressure zones are preferably indicated by a pair of raised surfaces. They preferably also provide a contrasting feel to the body of the package, rough compared with smooth for example. Thus where the walls of the container are smooth the raised surfaces may be formed with a series of ribs.

The raised surfaces are preferably disposed in recesses in the walls of the container and may be so as to remain generally flush with and not to protrude beyond the overall planes of the walls.

The container of the present invention is most suited to controlling the dispensed volume of a liquid which is more viscous than water. Such viscous liquids include liquid detergent products, especially those commonly used for hand dishwashing.

The invention will now be described by way of the following specific detailed embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a bottle according to the present invention, with cap removed therefrom, in perspective view.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view along the line ll-ll of a bottle of the kind shown in Fig. 1 but with the cap in place and the walls squeezed as in use.

The bottle 10 made from a mouldable polymeric material for example polyolefine eg blow-moulded polyethylene is generally flat in shape and provided with an offset neck 11 which is threaded externally at 12 to receive a cap 15, furnished with a complementary internal thread, a small bore dispenser nozzle 17 and a complementary snap-fit lid 19.

A pair of pressure zones 20 is juxtaposed on the major wall 13 of each side of the bottle, adjacent an edge where the bottle wall is less flexible that in the centre. Each pressure zone 20 stands proud, within a generally thumb-shaped zone 21 recessed progressively into the wall of the container to the pressure zone at its far end, leaving the contact surface of the pressure zone generally flush with the surface of the container wall. The pressure zones thus constitute juxtaposed squeeze buttons recessed off-centre in the major walls of the bottle.

The contact surface of the pressure zone is formed with ribs 22 to make a contract in feel with the smooth surface of the container wall, making then easier to find.

With the cap fitted, liquid such as a liquid detergent product 24 or other relatively viscous liquid may be dispensed from the inverted bottle through the nozzle in comparatively uniform doses 25 by temporary normal hand pressure on the conact zones. As shown in Fig. 2, the amount of deformation of the walls under normal hand pressure does not cause the walls to touch internally.

One particular bottle of the form depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 and having the required wall rigidity and size of opening is described below. However, in the light of the present disclosure, variation of parameters to achieve the same effect in use will now be within the ordinary competence of those skilled in the art.

The particular bottle is blow-moulded from high density polyethylene. The diameter of the restricted opening in nozzle 17 is 1.5mm. Referring to the designations shown in The drawings, the major dimensions are as follows: Dimension mm a 83 b 31 c (min-max) 30-36 d 133 The thickness of major wall 13 is 1.15mm and that of minor wall 14 at right angles thereto is 0.7mm.

Controlled tests were performed using the particular bottle described above and a conventional, generally cylindrical bottle of the type often used for dispensing detergent liquids for hand dishwashing. Such conventional bottles have no indication of where they are to be squeezed but in use they are naturally held and squeezed in the most deformable region, generally midway along the major wall. In the tests, both bottles were filled with a regular liquid detergent product, more viscous than water, and untutored subjects were instructed to dispense a series of small doses from each. Statistical analysis of the results demonstrated that significantly more uniform doeses were expelled from the particular bottle according to the invention than from the conventional bottle.

Claims

1. A squeeze to use container having an indication of the pressure zones where the container walls are to be squeezed to expel a controlled volume of any contents through a restricted opening therein, characterised in that the controlled volume is determined by both the size of said opening and the rigidity of said walls.

2. A container according to claim 1, further characterised in that the pressure zones are located where the rigidity of the walls is such that under normal hand pressure, the walls are deformed partially but not sufficiently for them to touch internally.

3. A container according to claim 2, further characterised in that the walls are made of a plastics material.

4. A container according to any of claims 1-3, further characterised in that the pressure zones are disposed at positions on the container where the rigidity of the container is greater than the maximum rigidity of the container walls.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, further characterised by having a tactile indication of the pressure zones.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, further characterised in that the pressure zones are indicated by a pair of raised surfaces.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, further characterised in that the pressure zones are disposed in recesses in the walls of the container.

8. A container as according to any preceding claim, further characterised by comprising a generally flat bottle wherein the pressure zones are located off-centre in respective major walls of the bottle.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, when filled with a liquid more viscous than water.

10. A container according to claim 9, when the liquid comprises a detergent composition.