JP4938841B2 - Preferentially expandable / collapseable containers and packages therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for use in a package. The container may be disposed inside of another container and a visible from outside of the package system. The container, may expand to appear full, or to touch the inside of the outer container in which it is disposed. This arrangement provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance if the container is visible from outside the package and/or for transmission of dynamic shock load.

Description

  The present invention relates to a package for containing a product therein, and more particularly to a pressurizable package for dispensing a product therefrom.

  Packages that contain products are well known in the art. Such a package may have a dispensing nozzle or dispensing orifice to allow the product to be dispensed from the package. The dispensing nozzle or dispensing orifice may be dispensed near the top of the package, but other configurations and locations are known in the art.

  Starting forces for dispensing products from the package include gaseous propellants, pumps (both manual and motorized), gravity feed systems, elastic bladders, and the like. Packages using propellants are particularly common because they allow continuous dispensing by touching a button. Similarly, the elastic bag may be filled with the product to a pressure above atmospheric pressure. In both cases, product distribution occurs due to the pressure difference between the product and the environment.

  Products contained in and dispensed from packages include almost any type of gaseous, liquid, or starchy material that is compatible with the packaging material and suitable for the intended application. Non-limiting and representative products include, but are not limited to, air treatment agents such as fragrances, drugs, air cleaners, insect repellents, cosmetics, cleaners and the like.

  In addition, it may be desirable to have two or more products in the same package. The product may be separated until mixed during the dispensing process at the point of use. For example, enzymes and bleaching agents may be separated until the point of use to prevent inappropriate interaction during packaging and loss of effectiveness.

  It may be desirable to make the product visible before being dispensed from the package. For example, this may allow the user to see how much is left before the product is consumed and / or may simply be aesthetically pleasing.

  However, there are challenges in packaging where the product can be viewed before dispensing. As the product is consumed, the flexible packaging may be aesthetically undesirable and lead to a less desirable package. This problem is complicated in the case of packaging that holds multiple products separately. There continues to be a search for packages that are functional, aesthetically pleasing and / or economical to manufacture.

  The present invention includes containers that expand and / or collapse in response to additions or removals inside or outside such containers. The container expands and / or collapses in a generally predetermined geometry or manner, depending on the structure of the container. All patents and other documents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is a package 10 comprising a plurality of containers. One or more containers may be disposed within each other such that the outer container 12 has one or more containers therein.

  If the package 10 has two containers, this arrangement is such that the package 10 has an outer container 12 and an inner container 16 disposed therein. If the package 10 has three containers 12, 14, 16, this arrangement results in the package 10 having an outer container 12, an intermediate container 14 disposed therein, and an inner container disposed within the intermediate container 14. 16. In such an arrangement, the intermediate container 14 is disposed between the outer container 12 and the inner container 16.

  The plurality of containers 12, 14, 16 keep the different materials contained therein substantially isolated until dispensed at the point of use. The material may be mixed during or after the dispensing process. The materials may include one or more products intended for one or more end uses, one or more propellants, air, water, etc. together or separately.

  The product (s) may include any dispensable material and may be dispensed using the package 10 described and claimed herein in gaseous, liquid, and starchy particles Including substances. All that is required is that the product viscosity be low enough to dispense the product from the package 10 having the desired pressure and dispensing characteristics.

  The containers 12, 14, 16 may have a common discharge part. The drain may be a dispensing orifice, a drain tube, an opening, or other dispensing device known in the art. For illustrative and illustrative purposes, consider a nozzle. The nozzle 20 is normally pressed from a closed position or otherwise moved to provide a flow path to the environment of the material placed in the container. For example, one suitable type of nozzle 20 is a normally closed spray orifice. Alternatively, a trigger, a cam, or the like may be used to open a flow path that distributes the product placed inside one container to the environment. Suitable nozzles 20 are U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,515 issued to Ewald, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,170 issued to Popp-Ginsbach, Mueller. U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,539, U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,911 issued to Ellion et al., And U.S. Pat. No. 5,839, issued to Losenno et al. No. 623.

  If desired, one or more of the containers may have a dip tube. The dip tube may be used to move the product from the bottom of the container to the discharge.

  Considering the package 10 in more detail, one or more of the containers 12, 14, 16 may be translucent or transparent. Translucent means that light can pass through the wall of the container enough to allow the viewer to recognize the presence of the product in the container. Transparent means that light can pass through the wall of the container and the image seen on the other side of the wall. In either case, having transparent containers 12, 14, 16 or translucent containers 12, 14, 16 allows the product or containers 14, 16 therein to be visible from the outside of the package 10.

  In one embodiment according to the present invention, the outer container 12 is transparent or translucent. This makes the intermediate container 14 or the inner container 16 therein visible from the outside of the package 10. Further, any material dispensed into the outer container 12 is also visible from the outside of the package 10.

  The outer container 12 may be rigid. Rigid means that the shape or size of the containers 12, 14, 16 does not change substantially in response to normal use forces or consumption of the contents of the package 10. The rigid outer container 12 allows the package 10 to be conveniently transported, stored, displayed, placed on a table, and the like. In addition, the rigid outer container 12 provides protection in the event that the package 10 is dropped or otherwise disturbed. Suitable materials for the outer container 12 include any wall thickness suitable for the intended pressurization, plastic, glass, combinations thereof, and the like.

  Inner container 16 and / or intermediate container 14 (if present) may likewise be transparent or translucent. A transparent or translucent intermediate container 14 allows the product therein as well as any inner container 16 to be visible from the outside of the package 10. Similarly, a transparent or translucent inner container 16 allows the product therein to be seen from the outside of the package 10. Of course, if a dip tube is present, it will be used inside any transparent or translucent container 12, 14, 16 if any container 12, 14 outside the container 14, 16 is also transparent or translucent. It will be obvious that it is visible. The dip tube, valve assembly and / or valve cup 24 (if present) may also be transparent / translucent.

  Suitable materials for use with the package 10 of the present invention include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene naphthylate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polyamides (PA), and / or polyethylene terephthalate ( PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC); and polystyrene (PS), but are not limited thereto.

  Transparent containers 12, 14, 16 according to the present invention may have a transparency of greater than 25%, greater than 30%, greater than 40%, or greater than 50% in the visible portion of the spectrum, approximately 410-800 nm. Alternatively, the absorbency of the containers 12, 14, 16 may be measured as less than 0.6 or by having a permeability of more than 25%, where the transmittance is (1 / (10exp (absorbency ))) Equal to x100%. For the purposes of the present invention, each container 12, 14, 16 is considered transparent / translucent as long as a certain wavelength in the visible light range has a transmission of more than 25%.

  Transparent and translucent are meant to encompass a completely transparent or translucent inner container 16, intermediate container 14, and / or outer container 12. The terms transparent and translucent also encompass inner container 16, intermediate container 14, and / or outer container 12 having transparent and / or translucent areas. Transparent or translucent areas may be compartments of their containers, for example, top half, bottom part, etc., windows or portals, and stripes alternating with opaque areas. May be.

  Inner container 16 and / or intermediate container 14 may be rigid or flexible. Flexible means that the container 12, 14, 16 changes its shape or size during general use, either by the force applied by the user or the consumption of the contents. For example, the flexible containers 12, 14, 16 may have a smaller volume as content is dispensed therefrom. Where flexible containers 12, 14, 16 are desired, suitable materials include elastomers, natural or synthetic rubbers, polyolefins with the understanding that transparency / translucency is provided at least in part as desired. , Polyesters, nylons, etc., or mixtures / combinations thereof.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the inner container 16, the outer container 12, and the intermediate container 14 (if present) may have a common drain. The common drain may include a flange 22 juxtaposed with the opening. The opening may be a substantially planar opening and may be disposed on the outer container 12, or the opening may be non-planar and primarily disposed on the inner container 16 and / or the intermediate container 14. May be.

  The product may be placed or inserted into the inner container 16, the intermediate container 14, and / or the outer container 12 using a volumetric flow system. One suitable volumetric flow system is a volumetric piston. A volumetric piston has a linear displacement. The linear displacement will insert the product from the chamber and move the product from the chamber into the desired containers 14, 16 under pressure, as is known in the art.

  The inner container 16 may have a flow path that is coaxially arranged in the flow path of the flow path of the intermediate container 14 in whole or in part. The coaxial flow path may extend from the flange 22 to a point juxtaposed with the swirl chamber and may include a conduit extending from each of the containers. The outer conduit may completely or partially circumscribe the inner conduit along all or part of the common length.

  The swirl chamber is an area located upstream of the nozzle 20. The swirl chamber may have a volume sufficient to allow intermixing of materials from the inner container and the intermediate container 14. The material in the swirl chamber may mix due to the peripheral velocity component and then exit through the nozzle 20.

  The following discussion refers to a package 10 having a valve cup 24 that is used in conjunction with the outer container 12. However, the present invention is not limited to that. The valve cup 24 may be used in conjunction with the inner container 16 or the intermediate container 14. The valve cup 24 may be used to secure the valve assembly to the outer container 12.

  The valve assembly may include a movable mandrel or plug that opens a flow path for dispensing product from the corresponding container. Typically, a metal valve cup 24 is used for the pressurized package 10 and a plastic valve cup 24 is used for the non-pressurized package 10. However, the metal valve cup 24 is more expensive than a similar plastic valve cup 24 and requires plastic deformation of the metal flange 22 to attach to the outer container 12. This process requires dedicated assembly machinery and may require excessive assembly time and excessive stress on the neck 26 of the outer container 12.

  If a plastic valve cup 24 is utilized, the assembly procedure can be simplified. The valve cup 24 can be inserted into or outside the neck 26 of the outer container 12. The valve cup 24 may be joined to the container neck 26 in any suitable liquid or vapor tight manner that can sufficiently withstand the pressure inside or outside the container. In order to join the neck portion 26 and the valve cup 24, press fitting, interference fitting, or clearance fitting may be used. Joining may also be accomplished by friction welding, solvent welding, high frequency welding, adhesives, or combinations thereof. If desired, such materials or components may be disposed between the valve cup 24 and the neck 26 as long as the intermediate material or component provides a suitable seal.

  Joining may also be accomplished by having a protrusion on one of the neck 26 and valve cup 24 to provide a snap fit that holds the components together. In one embodiment, the protrusion may comprise a plurality of flanges 22 disposed in succession on the inner or outer surface of the container neck 26, valve, or combination thereof. In one embodiment, one or more of the flanges 22 may include an annular ring. A plurality of flanges 22 such as an annular ring may be arranged in succession.

  The container neck 26 may be of any suitable size, geometry, and / or cross section. Thus, although a round cross section is shown, the invention is not so limited. The neck 26 may be parallel to the main axis of the package 10, perpendicular, or at any angle therebetween. Further, the neck 26 may be concentric or eccentric with respect to the main axis of the package 10. The neck 26 has an opening dimension 32. Opening dimension 32 extends from the center of package 10 to the center of the wall forming neck 26.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the container may further have a joint length 30. The joint length 30 is a distance that may be obtained parallel to the neck 26, and over that distance, the neck 26 and the valve cup 24 may be joined together to form a seal. In one embodiment, the neck 26 may include protrusions 36 and the valve cup 24 may include a channel 34 that receives such protrusions 36.

  Alternatively, the neck 26 may include a channel 34 and the valve cup 24 may include a protrusion 36 that is received within the channel 34. In any embodiment, the length that the protrusion 36 is received in the channel 34 may coincide with the junction length 30. Although FIG. 6 shows a particular arrangement of the inner and outer walls of the valve cup 24, the channels 34, and the protrusions 36, the present invention is not so limited. This geometric shape may be replaced so as to be inverted with respect to the main axis of the package 10.

  The joining length 30 may be determined according to the opening size 32. If the neck 26 is not circular, the opening dimension 32 is obtained as the maximum opening dimension 32 at the neck 26 of the package 10. To provide a suitable seal against internal and external pressurization of the containers 12, 14, 16, the package 10 has at least 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, or 2.5, A ratio of the joining length 30 and the opening dimension 32 may be provided.

  This configuration provides the benefit that less total material may be used when used with plastic containers and / or plastic valve cups 24. For example, utilizing the current system of the prior art required additional material to form the crimp. The crimping process utilized a metal outer container 12 and may be difficult to form. However, the ratios described above may be advantageous when utilizing the plastic container and / or plastic valve cup 24 of the present invention.

  A gasket 38 may be disposed in the channel 34 if desired. The gasket 38 may be attached to the inner surface of the channel 34 or to the inside or outside of the protrusion 36 received within the channel 34. The gasket 38 may comprise any soft material, such as rubber, PET, polyethylene, urethane, suitable for sealing against the desired pressure. Of course, a plurality of gaskets 38 may be utilized in succession and placed over any combination of protrusion 36 and channel 34 surfaces.

  If desired, the gasket (s) 38 may be integral with the plastic valve cup 24 or the plastic neck 26 of the container. The gasket (s) 38 may be molded into the shape of the valve cup 24 or neck 26 as part of the manufacturing process. Alternatively, the valve cup 24 and / or the container neck 26 may be made of a soft and flexible material so as to eliminate the need for the gasket 38.

  In yet another embodiment, the inner container 16 or intermediate container 14 (if present) may be provided with a gasket 38 or may eliminate the need for it. Such a configuration may utilize a flexible inner container 16 or intermediate container 14 (if present). Flexible means that the material of the containers 14, 16 can be adapted to the shape and surface of the outer container 12. If desired, the inner container 16 or the intermediate container 14 may be sealed against the valve cup 24, valve housing, dip tube, or neck 26 of the outer container 12.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of inner containers 16 may be arranged in parallel if desired. This configuration allows for an approximately equal volume and thus an approximately equal amount of material utilized and dispensed simultaneously. However, the plurality of inner containers 16 arranged in parallel may be the same or different in shape, volume, position in the outer container 12, color, transparency / translucency / opacity, flow rate, and May contain the same or different materials and / or propellants. Similarly, the inner container 16 and the intermediate container 14 may be the same or different in shape, color, transparency / translucency / opacity, flow rate, and contain the same or different materials and / or propellants. Also good.

  Of course, two inner containers 16 are shown for illustrative purposes, but the invention is not so limited. If desired, three or more inner containers 16 may be utilized. Furthermore, one or more of the inner containers 16 arranged in parallel with the other inner containers 16 may be arranged inside the intermediate container 14. Such a configuration provides a combined system of one or more intermediate containers 14 that are arranged in parallel with other intermediate containers 14 and each have one or more inner containers 16 therein.

  When a plurality of inner containers 16 are arranged in parallel, the inner containers 16 may be discharged into a common flow path. The flow path may be annular as shown or may be an inverted “T” or “Y” shape with one leg and two branches in fluid communication with each other. . Each branch of the flow path is in fluid communication with one of the inner containers 16. The leg of the flow path is in fluid communication with the swirl chamber or another downstream section of the flow path.

  Referring to FIG. 4, inner container 16 and / or intermediate container 14 may have a weakened area 40 that preferentially collapses as the container depletes its contents. The weakened area 40 may include thinner / thicker wall thicknesses, hinge lines, areas of containers having different materials with lower / higher stiffness, and / or areas having a geometry that promotes desired collapse. Good. Such preferential collapse helps to ensure that the contents of the container can be completely consumed, and can also provide an aesthetically desirable appearance when the volume of the container shrinks.

  The weakened area 40 may comprise ribs that act as hinge lines. The ribs may be oriented generally longitudinally and disposed substantially parallel to the main axis of the package 10. This configuration allows for their diameter or other cross-sectional area to decrease as material is dispensed from the inner container 16 and / or the intermediate container 14. Alternatively, the rib / hinge line may be oriented substantially parallel to the cross section of the container and substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the package 10. Alternatively, the rib / hinge line may be oriented diagonally. Of course, combinations of the above geometric shapes may be utilized as well.

  Of course, the weakened area 40 may be of multiple orientations extending in different directions. The weakened areas 40 may be circumferentially spaced evenly or unevenly around the container and may be of the same or different vulnerability, size, longitudinal position, radial position, circumferential position, etc. It may be. Any configuration that provides the desired collapse of the container may be suitable.

  5A-5B, inner container 16 and / or intermediate container 14 (if present) may define a major axis. The main axis is a generally longitudinally oriented direction along the major dimensions of the inner container 16, the intermediate container 14, the outer container 12, or the package 10. Inner container 16, intermediate container 14, and / or outer container 12 may each define a proximal end 44 juxtaposed with the drain and a distal end 46 remote therefrom.

  The distal end 46 of the inner container 16 and / or the intermediate container 14 may be inverted on itself to provide the inversion portion 42. The inversion part 42 is recessed and extends in the opposite direction toward the proximal end 44 of each container. The reversing portion 42 may generally be less rigid than the remaining portions of the containers 14, 16, particularly in a direction parallel to the main axis.

  In another embodiment, the intermediate container 14 and / or inner container 16 may be nested upon pressurization and / or filling. This causes the containers 14, 16 to expand in the longitudinal direction as desired.

  When the material is placed in a container having an inversion portion 42, the inversion portion 42 may expand in a direction away from the proximal end 44, parallel to the major axis. After expanding parallel to the main axis, the container may expand radially relative to the main axis. As the material is removed therefrom, the container may collapse in the reverse order. Such expansion utilizes a material having sufficient barrier properties for the inner container 16 and / or the intermediate container 14, each of which expands / collapses such as when the material is inserted into and out of the container. It can occur when taking out.

  This configuration may provide the benefit that the distal end 46 of the inner container 16 or intermediate container 14 (if present) may contact the inner surface of the outer container 12. Such contact occurs at the distal end 46 of the outer container 12, the periphery (obtained in the circumferential direction), or both. Such contact provides the benefit that dynamic loads are transferred from the outer container 12 through contact to the inner container 16 and / or intermediate container (s) 14 when the package 10 falls. This may reduce the chance of accidental rupture when the package 10 falls.

  If desired, the inner container 16 and / or the intermediate container 14 may be more rigid or otherwise more resistant to pressure at the proximal end 44 of the container 14,16. This provides the benefit that more uniform collapse of the containers 14, 16 may occur as the contents are dispensed. Such an increase in resistance to pressure, including external pressure, may be achieved by having a stiffer material, increased section modulus, increased wall thickness, and the like. The increased resistance to collapse may be provided as a slope that increases as the proximal end 44 of the container 14, 16 approaches or as one or more processes function.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, the outer container 12 and / or the intermediate container 14 may contain a propellant. The propellant may be used to dispense or otherwise discharge the contents from one or more intermediate containers 14 and inner container 16. Suitable propellants include compressible propellants that have the benefit of being inert, including but not limited to nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air, nitrous oxide, argon, and the like. Suitable propellants include condensable propellants that include, but are not limited to, fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and the like and have the benefit of a constant pressure during dispensing.

  If a condensable propellant is desired, the volume of the outer container 12 may be evacuated. This vacuum minimizes the pressure from the condensable propellant and prevents the pressure from becoming too high during use of the package 10.

  If a condensable or compressible propellant is desired, the propellant may be placed in the container as a solid state of a substance such as a capsule, granule or the like. As the solid dispenses material from the package 10, the solid may burst due to the pressure drop that occurs during dispensing.

  In addition, or alternatively, the propellant may sublime to provide the desired pressure within the outer container 12. Exemplary propellants include dry ice and acid / base combinations that generate gas. In general, propellant cold fillers may be utilized. If a cold filler is desired, the bottom of each of the containers 12, 14, 16 may be reinforced as needed. If desired, the cold propellant may be housed in a cup for aesthetic purposes.

  The package 10 may be loaded with products as follows, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the order in which the illustrated steps are performed is flexible. First, an outer container 12 is provided. The outer container 12 may be filled with a propellant at atmospheric pressure. An intermediate container 14 is inserted into the outer container 12 if desired. The intermediate container 14 is joined to the outer container 12 in a liquid tight relationship that can sufficiently withstand the pressurization of the package 10 prior to dispensing and during storage, transport, and handling.

  The product to be dispensed and / or propellant charge may then be inserted into the intermediate container 14. The charge material may be inserted into the intermediate container 14 under pressure to expand the container. Expansion of the intermediate container 14 reduces the effective volume between the intermediate container 14 and the outer container 12. Such a decrease in the effective volume pressurizes the propellant in the outer container 12. The propellant may be held at atmospheric pressure, at a higher pressure, or even at a lower pressure. Such pressurization of the propellant makes the propellant useful for dispensing product from the intermediate container 14. This operation allows the container to be filled without the need for a common inlet in the art.

  If desired, this process may be repeated for inner container 16. Of course, it will be appreciated that the product and / or propellant may be contained in any possible combination of inner container 16, outer container 12, and intermediate container 14. Accordingly, the outer container 12 may contain the product, and the inner container 16 and / or the intermediate container 14 may contain the product and / or propellant. Conversely, the intermediate container 14 may contain the product and the inner and / or outer container 12 may contain the product and / or propellant.

  Although a round package 10 is shown having a major axis oriented generally vertically, the present invention is not so limited. Package 10 may be of any desired cross-section or orientation and size oriented horizontally. The cross section may be constant or indefinite. The size and geometry should simply be suitable for the intended use of the material contained in the package 10. Similarly, the illustrated package 10 has a dispensing opening juxtaposed with the top of the package 10. Again, the present invention is not so limited. The dispensing opening may be juxtaposed with the bottom of the package 10, for example, as is convenient for a gravity drainage system, or may be located at any intermediate position.

1 is a vertical elevation view of a package according to the invention. FIG. 1 is a package similar to that shown in FIG. 1, having an inner container with an inversion with a longitudinal hinge line and an intermediate container with an inversion with a circumferential hinge line, FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of a package having hinge lines that are uniformly spaced on the right side of the reversing part and hinge lines that are non-uniformly spaced on the left side of the reversing part. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment having two inner containers arranged in parallel, one of the inner containers having an asymmetric inversion. FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a typical inner or intermediate container with a weakened area. FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the distal end of the container of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of an alternative embodiment of the distal end of the container. FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragment schematic view of a typical attachment of a valve cup according to the present invention.

Claims (7)

An outer container;
An inner container disposed therein,
An intermediate container disposed between the outer container and the inner container;
The inner container and the intermediate container are visible from the outside of the package;
Further, the package includes a common discharge portion from the intermediate container and the inner container, and the first material disposed in the inner container and the second material disposed in the intermediate container include the first material It can be isolated from each other until both the material and the second material are dispensed simultaneously, each of the inner container and the intermediate container being pre-determined when the product is removed therefrom. Crushed in the pattern ,
At least one of the inner container and the intermediate container has a main axis therethrough;
Each of the inner container and the intermediate container has a proximal end connectable to the outer container and a distal end away therefrom, and at least one of the distal ends of the inner container or the intermediate container is When the material is added to the container, the distal end expands parallel to the main axis so as to move away from the proximal end, and the material is discharged when the material is discharged. proximal end to said Rukoto which have a reversing part retracting parallel to the main shaft so as to approach to the proximal end, the package.   The package of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner container and the intermediate container is pleated.   Package according to claim 2, characterized in that at least some of the pleated parts are spaced apart at unequal intervals.   The package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the inner container and the intermediate container includes a relatively high rigidity area and a relatively low rigidity area.   The at least one of the inner container and the intermediate container has a relatively high rigidity first area, a relatively low rigidity second area, and an intermediate rigidity between the first area and the second area. 5. A container according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises three areas of a third area having:   The inner container has a first wall thickness near the proximal end and a second wall thickness near the distal end, wherein the first thickness is the first thickness. 6. Package according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by being greater than two thicknesses. When the material is inserted, at least one of the inner container and the intermediate container first expands parallel to the longitudinal axis and then expands radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

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