JP2011527272A - Container insert to reduce headspace - Google Patents

Abstract

  An insert adapted to be inserted into an opening of a container, having an opening protruding axially and outwardly of the insert, said opening being a channel through which a liquid flow can flow An insert for a container having an inner wall surface that defines a surface and having at least one chamber extending into the liquid product of the container when the insert is inserted into the container.

Description

  The present invention generally relates to inserts for liquid containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a nozzle insert that reduces headspace in a container.

  When a liquid composition is packaged in a consumer package, air is typically trapped at the top of the container before it can be sealed. Air trapped in the upper part of the container (headspace) results in bubbles when the container is sealed, which is the composition in the bottle when the bottle rotates or changes direction. Separate things. If a particular design is applied to the liquid composition in the container, the bubbles can damage the design during transport. Headspace can generally be reduced by “filling” the container with a sufficient amount of composition to prevent air from remaining at the top of the container. However, this technique is difficult to automate and therefore typically must be done manually. In addition, “filling up” often results in an overflow of the liquid composition, which is costly and jeopardizes the overall quality of the packaged liquid product.

  A known method for eliminating headspace is to vent the liquid container. One technique is to use a piece of rubber, a metal spring, and / or a flexible film (typically used to lift and open the vent orifice of the seal when the internal pressure reaches a predetermined threshold. With pressure system, including vinyl chloride). The method of opening the vents is highly dependent on the type of liquid that escapes air in order to be operable. This also limits design options and prevents optimal dispensing of the liquid composition. Another technique is to provide an elaborate opening in the seal, which allows gas to exit the system but minimizes liquid outflow. A third system, sometimes referred to as a pin orifice system, utilizes one or more small orifices in a rubber, metal, or plastic diaphragm, which makes the material permeable to gas. Yet another system, commonly referred to as a positive displacement pump, or piston system, utilizes a mechanism that pushes the composition to the top of the container by raising the piston or pump. However, none of the methods described above effectively eliminate headspace from the container.

  Generally, these methods utilize a vent seal at the top of the container neck. Such an arrangement requires the gas to be manually evacuated after filling by squeezing a pump or container that forces the gas to pass through the vent material. These methods are prone to incomplete discharge of gas and often result in backflow of gas into the container. In particular, when gas is discharged by compression of a flexible container, some gas tends to move back into the container when the container is returned to an uncompressed position.

  Thus, there remains a need for inserts that reduce headspace during packaging. There is also a need to allow consumers to easily dispense the contents of a package from the same vent seal.

  An insert adapted to be inserted into an opening of a container, having an opening protruding axially and outwardly of the insert, said opening being a channel through which a liquid flow can flow The present invention provides for an insert for a container having an inner wall surface that defines a surface and having at least one chamber that extends into the liquid product of the container when the insert is inserted into the container. Meet the needs of

  While the invention will be described in conjunction with the specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternative, modified, and equivalent embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the summary of the invention given above, and together with the “DETAILED DESCRIPTION” shown below, serve to explain the invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an insert described herein. The top view of an insert. The cross-sectional view according to the arrow BB of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view according to the arrow AA in FIG. 3. The cross-sectional view of the container which fitted the insert according to the arrow BB of FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the container and insert according to FIG. The cross-sectional view of the container which fitted the insert according to the arrow AA of FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the container and insert according to FIG.

  While the specification concludes with claims that particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description.

  The term “headspace” as used herein refers to the gap between the opening of the dispensing orifice of the container and the liquid composition in the container. When the headspace is reduced to substantially zero, there is substantially no air gap between the liquid composition and the opening of the dispensing orifice. Thus, bubbles that are typically present due to the headspace are substantially eliminated.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insert 1 adapted to be inserted into an opening of a container. The insert 1 further includes an annular flange 2 in its upper portion 5 to prevent the insert 1 from falling into the reservoir of the container after being inserted into the opening of the container. In another embodiment, the flange 2 can be replaced by a screw thread or another securing means. The insert 1 is formed of an elastic material and receives the transferred liquid composition flowing through the channel 4 of the opening 3 when inserted into a container containing the liquid composition before the insert 1 is applied. At least one chamber, but preferably at least two chambers 6 and 7. Opening 3 includes a generally cylindrical opening extending upwardly toward the dispensing orifice of the container. The opening 3 is generally centered with respect to the vertical axis of the insert. Accordingly, the opening 3 and the annular flange 2 have two concentric appearances.

  FIG. 2 shows a view of the insert 1 from above, showing the upper part 5 including the annular flange 2, the chambers 6, 7 and the opening 3. The opening 3 may further include a restrictor 17 to better control the distribution of the liquid product. The restrictor 17 may be suitable depending on the physical characteristics of the liquid product in the container. In the absence of the restrictor 17, the more viscous liquid composition may tend to “spout” from the dispensing orifice of the container. The cylindrical shape of the opening 3 should extend downward along the inner wall of the chamber and form a recess along the surface of the wall.

  FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the insert 1 along the line BB in FIG. The chamber wall 11 is generally flat toward the edge, bends inwardly about the central axis, and forms a concave indentation 10 that extends coaxially toward the opening of the opening 3 and extends upward. The flat part 9 of the chamber maximizes the volume of the chamber 6, while the concave recess 10 helps the liquid product to be guided upward towards the channel 4 of the opening 3. The outer surface 8 of the chamber wall 11 is generally cylindrical, which maximizes the volume and does not interfere with mounting the insert 1 in a container having a cylindrical orifice. Of course, the general shape of the insert 1 may be varied based on the orifice shape of the container.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the insert 1 along the line AA in FIG. Chambers 6 and 7 according to FIGS. 5-6 function as reservoirs and are designed to be filled with a liquid product when inserted into a liquid container. As shown, the insert 1 may comprise two chambers 6, 7 that terminate in the structure of the opening 3 and have a gap 12 therebetween. The presence of the gap 12 between each chamber 6 and 7 allows the length of the channel 4 to be minimized and improves the flow of liquid product into the channel 4. Furthermore, as the liquid product in the container decreases throughout the use cycle, liquid collects toward the neck of the container when the container is turned upside down. By providing a gap 12 between the chambers 6 and 7, liquid product near the neck of the container is more likely to flow through the gap 12 into the channel 4, thereby reducing waste of liquid product.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 are suitable for containing a liquid product and are inserted here into the dispensing orifice 18 of the container 16 over the line BB in FIG. 2 and the line AA in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a container 16 having FIGS. 5A and 6A provide detailed views of the insert 1 and container 16 combination according to FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. As previously described herein, when filling a container 16 with a liquid product in a production line, the liquid product typically does not fill the neck 13 of the container 16 and bubbles form in the liquid composition when sealed. And remains in the composition after sealing. In order to eliminate this headspace, the insert 1 is placed in the dispensing orifice 18 of the container 16. As chambers 6 and 7 are inserted, the liquid product in container 16 is moved by chambers 6 and 7 and the liquid product is forced upward through channel 4 of insert 1. Surplus from the transferred liquid product collects in chambers 6 and 7. The cap 23 of the container 16 may be designed to seal the chambers 6 and 7 of the insert 1 at the interfaces 20 and 21. The cap 23 may further include a lid 22 with a plug 19 that forms a resealable interface for dispensing a liquid product.

  As previously described herein, the insert 1 of the present invention reduces headspace in a container that contains a liquid composition. It is particularly important to reduce headspace in a liquid composition when the pattern or design of the liquid composition is considered important. Such products include liquid personal care products that exhibit a pattern or design, including multiphase skin care products, shampoos, conditioners, and body soaps. Further, in order for such a liquid product pattern or design to be visually recognized, the container should be made of at least partially transparent material. Suitable materials include glass and plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate.

  The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” shall mean “about 40 mm”.

  All documents cited in “Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” are incorporated herein by reference in the relevant part, but any citation of any document admits that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. It should not be interpreted as a thing. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition given to that term in this document shall apply And

  While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims (11)

An insert adapted to be inserted into a dispensing orifice of a container,
An opening projecting axially and outwardly along the vertical axis of the insert, the opening defining a channel through which a liquid flow can flow;
The insert having at least one chamber that extends into the liquid product of the container when the insert is inserted into the container.   The insert according to claim 1, comprising two chambers with a gap in between, the gap terminating in the channel.   The insert according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is a flexible container.   4. The insert according to claim 3, wherein the container is transparent or translucent.   The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate.   The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid composition exhibits a pattern or design.   The liquid composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid composition is a multiphase personal care composition.   The insert according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the container further comprises a cap.   The insert of claim 8, wherein the cap comprises a plug.   The insert according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cap comprises an interface, the interface sealing the chamber. A method for reducing headspace,
(A) inserting the insert according to any one of claims 1 to 10 into the container containing a liquid product;
(B) moving the liquid product until the liquid composition flows through the channel into the chamber;
(C) A method of reducing the head space according to the step of sealing the container.

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