GB2353335A

GB2353335A - Container discharging system

Info

Publication number: GB2353335A
Application number: GB9919380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-17
Filing date: 1999-08-17
Publication date: 2001-02-21
Also published as: GB9919380D0; GB2353335A8

Abstract

Contents of a container, such as packaged food products, are discharged by the withdrawal of a piston 3 which is housed within the container. The piston 3 may be enclosed between two end walls of the container, or alternatively one of the end walls 4 may act as the piston. The piston is withdrawn by a handle attached to the piston. The handle may comprise a plunger shaft 1 which extends into the container through a seal (7,8 Figs 3a,3b) and which is locked by a catch (6, Figs 2a,2b) onto the piston; or it may comprise a tie 9 connected between the piston 3 and a tie handle 10 which may form a lid of the container; or it may comprise a handle 12 enclosed within the container and which springs out upon removal of the container lid 11. The handle may be hollow to provide an air passage to prevent a vacuum forming at the base of the container as the piston is withdrawn.

Description

2353335 1 Container Discharging System 2 This system is intended to allow

consumers to discharge liquid, viscous, sticky, 3 semi-solid or solid substances from their containers more efficienfly and without 4 the need for separate equipment such as a spoon or a scoop.

One of the most common fields where such a system would be advantageous is

6 in the food industry. Products such as soup, sauce, yoghurt, baked beans, pet 7 food, anything of that nature, which are stiff and sticky are often packaged in tin 8 cans, glass jars, plastic jars or tetra packs. The consistency of such products 9 often make it difficult for the consumer to remove them from their containers. If the product is too stiff to simply pour or shake from the container a utensil or I I tool is often used to scoop it out. Using a tool can be inconvenient and is not very 12 efficient at removing all of the product from the container thus some product is 13 wasted.

14 This system uses a mechanism which is provided with the container to discharge the product. The mechanism may then be disposed of along with the container.

16 Apart from the food and pet food industries the system could be used to 17 discharge adhesives, paint, cosmetics and other such products.

18 There now follows some embodiments of various aspects of the invention, by 19 way of example only.

Figures I a, I b, I c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b and 8c show various 21 embodiments in perspective, cut-away views.

22 Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 5 show various embodiments in section through the 23 base of the container.

24 Referring to figure Ia. Figure Ia shows a cut away view of the container and mechanism before any of the contained product has been discharged. Note the 26 plunger shaft I and plunger handle 2 are in their fully home position. The piston 27 plate 3 is seated at the base of the container in close proximity to the container 28 base 4.

29 Referring to figures I b, 2a and 2b. In order to discharge the product from inside of the container the plunger handle 2 and plunger shaft I assembly is fully 31 withdrawn. In this position a catch 6 automatically locks the plunger shaft I to 32 the piston plate 3. Figure 2a shows the plunger shaft I and catch 6 before the 2 1 plunger shaft 1 has been completely withdrawn. Figure 2b shows the catch 6 2 locked after the plunger shaft 1 has been completely withdrawn, 3 Referring to figure I c. With the piston plate 3 locked to the plunger shaft 1 and 4 plunger handle 2 the piston plate 3 can be pushed along the length of the 5 container body 5 discharging the product. 6 Referring to figures 3a and 3b. In order to prevent leakage of the product from 7 the container the plunger shaft 1 must be sealed. Figure 3a. shows a diaphragm 8 seal 7 which contacts or is bonded to the container body 5 and the plunger shaft 9 1. Figure 3b shows a radial seal 8 which contacts or is bonded to the container 10 base 4 and the plunger shaft 1. 11 Referring to figures 4a, 4b, 4c and 5. A similar system for discharging product to 12 that described above is shown by figures 4a, 4b and 4c. The essential ditTerence 13 is that, in this instance, there is no separate piston plate 3. When the plunger 14 shaft 1 and plunger handle 2 assembly is fully withdrawn it locks to the base is plate 4 via catch 6, as shown by figure 5. With the base plate 4 locked to the 16 plunger shaft 1 and plunger handle 2 the base plate 4 can be pushed along the 17 length of the container body 5 discharging the product. 18 Referring to figures 6a, 6b and 6c. An alternative configuration for the 19 discharging system is to have a tie 9 connected between the piston plate 3 to a tie 20 handle 10. In this case to discharge the product from the container the tie handle 21 10 is pulled which pulls the piston plate 3 along the length of the container body 22 5. The tie handle 10 could be incorporated into the lid of the container, it could 23 form the lid of the container or it could be a separate entity to-the container. By 24 making the tie 9 hollow in section air rnay pass along it which prevents the 25 formation of a vacuum at the base of the product as it is withdrawn. This allows 26 for smoother withdrawal. 27 Referring to figures 7a, 7b and 7c. A similar system to that described by figures 28 6a, 6b and 6c is shown by figures 7a, 7b and 7c. The essential difference is that. 29 in this instance, there is no separate piston plate 3. The tie 9 is connected 30 between the tie handle 10 and the container base 4. To discharge the product 31 from the container the tie handle 10 is pulled which pulls the container base 4 32 along the length of the container body 5. The tie handle 10 could be incorporated 33 into the lid of the container, it could form the lid of the container or it could be a 34 separate entity to the container. 35 Referring to figures 8a, 8b and 8c. A similar system to those shown by diagrams 36 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c is shown by figures 8a, 81b and 8c. A piston plate 3 and 37 piston handle 12 is contained within the container. Removal of the container lid 38 11 allows the piston handle 12 to spring out allowing the user good access and 39 grip. The piston plate:3 is then withdrawn from the container body 5 3 discharging the product. By making the piston handle 12 hollow in section or by 2 providing a cavity between the piston handle 12 and the container body 5 air may 3 pass which prevents the formation of a vacuum at the base of the product as it is 4 withdrawn. This allows for smoother withdrawal.

Components List 6 1 Plunger Shaft 7 2 Plunger Handle g 3 Piston Plate 9 4 Container Base 5 Container Body 11 6 Catch 12 7 Diaphragm Seal 13 8 Radial Seal 14 9 Piston Tie Is 10 Tie Handle 16 11 Container Lid 17 12 Piston Handle 4-

Claims

Claims

1 A container comprising of a mechanism which when operated discharges the contents of the container. 2 A container as claimed in Clairn 1 houses a piston which when withdrawn discharges the contents of the container. 3 A container as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein a handle to facilitate the withdrawal of a piston is made accessible after the removal of part of the container wall, base or lid. 4 A container as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the piston and the handle which facilitates the withdrawal of the piston is located between the contained product and the wall or walls of the container. 5 A container as claimed in any above claim wherein the mechanism for discharging the product is completely enclosed by the walls of the container such that no components pass from the outside to the inside of the container. 6 A container as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3 and Claim 4 wherein components passing through the wall or walls of the container are sealed with a bonded seal. 7 A container as claimed by any above claim whenn the section of the container wall which is removed to open the container forms the handle with which to withdraw the piston. 8 A container as claimed in any above claim wherein Ihe element which dispAlaces the contained product also forms one or more end cap or end caps of the container. 9 A container as claimed in any above claim wherein a cavity or hollow section is provided to prevent the formation of a vacuum at the base of product during discharge. 10 A container substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 8