KR970010225B1 - Squeezable fluid container - Google Patents

Abstract

None.

Description

[Name of invention]

Compressible Fluid Containers

[Brief Description of Drawings]

1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a fluid container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another schematic view of the fluid container shown in FIG. 1 and shows the deformation of the side margin occurring near the recess when a predetermined fluid discharge pressure is applied to the side wall of the fluid container.

3A is a partial front view of another embodiment of a fluid container of the present invention.

3B is a partial front view of another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

4A-4F are a series of diagrams that briefly illustrate the implementation of the fluid container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

5 is a front view of another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

6 is a front view of another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

7 is a front view of another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

8 is a front view of another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

9 is a front sectional view of yet another embodiment of a fluid container of the present invention.

10 is a front view of another embodiment of a fluid container of the present invention.

11 is a partial front view of another embodiment of a fluid container of the present invention.

12 is a front view of another embodiment of a fluid container of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view briefly showing the implementation of the fluid container shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a side view taken from the 14-14 plane of the embodiment of the fluid container shown in FIG.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals apply to similar parts.

Detailed description of the invention

[Technical Field]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pressureable fluid container, and more particularly, to a compressible fluid container having a flexible sealed top edge clearance and a side edge clearance and wherein the flexible upper edge clearance defines a fluid discharge passageway.

[Background]

Many modern consumers prefer flexible plastic containers over conventional inflexible containers such as glass bottles or metal containers for a variety of reasons.

Glass bottles can often crack, break or break when conditions of use are poor. Metal containers can often be difficult to open. Moreover, many metal containers may have sharp edges or burrs once opened.

Moreover, viscous fluids, such as ketchup and salad sources, may be more easily drained from flexible or plastic containers than glass bottles or metal containers of conventional form. In addition, more residual fluid can be withdrawn from the flexible or compressible plastic container than withdrawal of the fluid contained within the non-flexible container. Moreover, in some storage conditions, the flexible container can be accommodated in a relatively rigid small space that cannot accommodate the general form of the flexible fluid container. Finally, flexible plastic containers are easier to handle as they are smaller in volume than empty of metal containers and most glass containers when empty.

Therefore, in view of the general consumer's preference for flexible plastic fluid containers, a variety of flexible plastic containers have recently been provided that are designed to meet the needs of many specific consumers and provide certain desirable properties.

For example, US Pat. No. 24,251 to Kaplan et al. Discloses a fluid dispensing vessel made of two flexible plastics to contain a predetermined amount of liquid. Such containers are particularly suitable for shipping in a sealed state and also have strips that can be torn along one end to facilitate opening of the container. The strip is torn when a predetermined fluid discharge pressure is applied to the sidewall of the container to discharge the containing liquid from the container. This is described in US Pat. No. 4,717,046 to Brogley.

However, not all flexible plastic fluid containers need to be made of two plastics with their edge margins sealed together, as Kaplan et al. For example, US Pat. No. 2,517,027 to Kaplan et al. Describes a collapsible tubular container for viscous fluids such as pastes.

Another variation of tearing sealing strips is described in US Pat. No. 3,278,085 to Brown, which discloses a odor sachet referred to as resealable. Odor bags, referred to as so-called pouch packs, are deformable and are used to receive, dispense, and hold liquids, half liquids, pastes, and the like.

U.S. Patent No. 3,473,532 to Eisenberg also describes a bag-type flexible plastic fluid container with a self-sealing one-way valve. The feature of automatically retaining fluid contained in flexible plastic containers after the container is opened is an important design feature in US Pat. Nos. 3,815,794 and 3,878,977 to Kaalail and US Pat. It is a consideration.

Originally sealed fluid discharge passages that are open when appropriate pressure is applied to the sidewall of a flexible plastic fluid container are important design considerations in US Pat. No. 3,913,789 to Miller and US Pat. No. 4,537,308 to Hollander II. And originally sealed fluid passages that are openable by other than pressure application to the fluid vessel sidewalls are important design considerations in US Pat. No. 3,917,116 to Mason and US Pat. No. 4,491,245 to Jamieson.

The simplicity of the overall design is a particularly important consideration when trying to reduce the manufacturing costs of each flexible plastic fluid container unit. It is therefore possible to manufacture fluid containers with downward necked fluid outlets, as described in US Pat. Nos. 3,815,794 and 3,878,977 to Kaalil and US Pat. No. 4,163,509 to Amneus. It is desirable in most cases to produce rectangular flexible plastic fluid containers. In fact, such shapes tend to reduce manufacturing costs and materials required per flexible plastic fluid container unit. The flexible plastic fluid containers described in US Pat. No. 24,251 to Kaplan et al. And US Pat. No. 4,491,245 to Jamieson are generally rectangular flexible plastic fluid containers. Unfortunately, in flexible-plastic fluid containers of this type, undesired deformation of the container tends to interfere with desirable fluid discharge.

A flexible plastic fluid container having a flexible sidewall, a closed bottom, a spaced deformable side-edge slack and a deformable top edge slack that define one of the side-edge slack and define a fluid discharge passageway. Thus, applying pressure to the fluid container can deform the upper edge margin defining the fluid discharge passageway. Such modifications are a nuisance for the user because they typically restrict fluid flow through the discharge passage. Moreover, such modifications are based on the shape of the particular fluid passageway, which can substantially reduce the effective fluid discharge rate from the vessel and thus such flow rate reductions render the fluid vessel unusable for its intended use. The present invention solves this kind of problem.

[Overview of invention]

It is an object of the present invention to generally improve a flexible plastic fluid container. In particular, the invention relates to a flexible sidewall that defines a cavity for receiving a releasable fluid, and an outwardly extending deformable form one with a bottom, a pair of deformable side edge margins that are spaced apart and extend outwardly from one another A squeezable container including an upper edge clearance, wherein the fluid connection between the fluid passageway and the fluid cavity is interrupted when the upper edge clearance is deformed in the vicinity of the sinuous fluid passageway, the container comprising at least one of an outwardly extending side edge clearance. It further comprises a strain inducing means defined by one, said strain inducing means being generally in the vicinity of the strain inducing means rather than near the sinuous fluid passage when a predetermined compression pressure is applied across the vessel sidewall to the fluid comprising the cavity. Side edge clearances are effectively deformed to provide fluid communication between the fluid passageway and the fluid cavity It is characterized in that spaced apart by a predetermined distance to the upper edge margin brush to maintain the same.

In a preferred embodiment, the strain inducing means comprises a recess formed by a slack in one or more sides to divide the fluid cavity into two fluid chambers along the longitudinal axis.

The two chambers are fluidly connected to each other. One of the two chambers is located in fluid communication with the fluid passageway at the upper edge margin of the vessel. The cross sectional area of one fluid chamber in fluid communication with the fluid passage is greater than the cross sectional area of the fluid cavity near the recess.

The recess is designed for the upper edge clearance so that fluid connection between the fluid passageway and one oil chamber adjacent thereto is maintained when a predetermined fluid discharge compression pressure application to the component sidewall results in deformation of the article side edge clearance near the recess. Is located. The recess serves to keep the upper clearance of the fluid container in an unfolded upright position so that the passage is not blocked. Without the recess, the upper clearance of the fluid container is deformed or folded as the volume of the container contents decreases. This recess serves to effectively maintain a small chamber on top of the container that can remain fluid filled regardless of the majority of the contents of the fluid container being discharged.

Additional features and advantages of the invention are mentioned in the following description of a number of preferred embodiments of the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of the flexible plastic fluid container 20a of the present invention. The vessel 20a defining the longitudinal axis XX includes a sealed vertical base or bottom 24a, a flexible sidewall 26a, a pair of deformable side edge clearances 28a and 29a spaced apart and sealed. And a deformable sealed upper edge margin 30a integral with the upper ends of the respective side edge margins 28a, 29a.

Another embodiment of the present invention is the fluid container 20b shown in FIG. This fluid container 20b is modified in the form of an envelope similar to the container 20a but with a bottom 24b sealed along the bottom junction 25.

Like the container 20a, the side wall of the fluid container 20b forms a cavity 34 for receiving the dispensable fluid F. This is shown in detail in FIG. 9, which is sectioned along the longitudinal axis X-X. The container 20b has a deformable sealed upper edge clearance 30b that is integral with the deformable side edge clearances 28b, 29b. The fluid discharge passage 32b formed in the upper edge clearance 30b is in communication with the fluid cavity 34.

The side edge clearances 28b, 29b form recesses 38a, 39a that separate the cavity 34 into two fluid chambers 40, 42 along the longitudinal axis X-X. One of the fluid chambers 40, 42, ie the upper fluid chamber 40, is located adjacent to the fluid discharge passage 32b and in communication with the fluid discharge passage 32b. The cross-sectional area (cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis X-X) of the fluid chamber 40 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the fluid cavity 34 near the recesses 38a and 39a.

The recesses 38a and 39a are fluid passages 32a when a predetermined fluid distribution compression pressure application to the vessel sidewalls causes deformation of the container side edge clearances 28b and 29b near the recesses 38a and 39a. And relative to the upper edge margin 30a so as to maintain fluid communication between and adjacent the fluid chamber 40 (see also FIG. 2).

3a and 3b show a fluid container having only one such recess. The single recess 39a is located far from the fluid passage 32a (Figure 3a) or adjacent to the fluid passage 32a (Figure 3b).

According to the present invention, the recess may take various forms. For example, the container side edge clearances 28a, 29a may include hemispherical recesses 38a ', 39a' (see FIG. 5), square or rectangular recesses 38b, 39b (see FIG. 6), Triangular concave portions 38e and 39e (see FIG. 7) and the like.

Further, the portions 38c and 39c defining the recessed portions of the side edge margins 28c and 29c may protrude inward as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the recesses are provided on both side edge margins of the container, the recesses 38a ', 39a' are somewhat different from each other from the upper edge margin 30a with respect to each other in accordance with the present invention. Are spaced apart.

As outlined above, one embodiment of the fluid container 20a of the present invention has a base 24a, which is an embodiment of such a fluid container upright herein. Free standing, referred to as in FIG. 2), may be necessary.

[Industry availability]

4a to 4f briefly describe how the fluid container is manufactured. Starting with a long strip of longitudinally disposed flexible plastic material 44 (FIG. 4A), a transverse crease 46 is formed, and the rear fold 48 extends over the crease 46 and elongates. Opposite ends of the plastic material 44 are formed to be adjacent. Next, the pair of bottom side edge clearances 50 between the pleat 46 and one rear fold 48 are sealed (see also 4c), and then the other side bottom edges The clearance 51 is equally sealed (see also FIG. 40), and thus the bottom is closed. The lower edge 52 of the sealed side edge clearance is also sealed together to provide a free standing foundation (see also FIG. 1). Next, the sides are sealed and the container is filled with the predetermined fluid. Finally, the upper portion is sealed such that the fluid forms an upper edge margin defining the filling passage (see also 4f). In this way a free standing fluid container is formed which is generally wider at the top than at the base (see FIGS. 5-8).

In situations such as where it is advantageous to have the fluid containers packed as closely as possible to each other, it would be desirable to have a fluid container that is generally rectangular in the front projection direction as shown in FIG.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in order to provide additional material towards the lower end to accommodate the shape of the fluid chamber 40 shown in FIG. 12, it is not a rectangular long strip of flexible plastic material, as shown in FIG. It will be appreciated that, as shown in FIG. 13, it is desirable for the regions of the pleats 46 and the back folds 48 to begin with wider strips.

As briefly described above, the fluid container of the present invention does not require a free standing foundation and may have a simple and closed bottom as described in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In fact, the flexible plastic material fluid container of the present invention can be easily made relatively thin (see also FIG. 14) and conveniently fits in the shirt pocket or ladies purse of the consumer.

The envelope-shaped flexible plastic fluid container embodiment of the present invention comprises two flexible plastic sheets 56 sealed to each other along the bottom clearance 58, the side clearances 28d and 29d, and the upper clearance 30d. (See FIGS. 10 and 14). The side clearances 28d and 29d form recesses 38d and 39d. The upper clearance 30d forms a fluid discharge passage 32d. The plastic sheet 56 defines the fluid receiving cavity. The cavity 34 is described in the embodiment of the enveloped fluid container shown in FIG.

The general shape and diameter of the fluid outlet passage will be appreciated by those skilled in the art but is a matter of design choice. For example, the diameter of the fluid discharge passage can be relatively small (see FIG. 9), relatively large (see FIG. 11), or of medium size (see FIG. 10). An end in communication with the upper fluid chamber of the fluid cavity of the fluid outlet passage may be arranged along or spaced apart from the longitudinal axis X-X, as generally shown in FIG. 9 (see FIGS. 10 and 11).

Generally, the upper margin is formed in such a way that the fluid outlet end of the fluid passage is initially sealed. With respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, the originally sealed fluid discharge end 64a is reached when the pressure in the fluid discharge passage 32a (see FIG. 2) reaches a predetermined value when the fluid discharge end 64a is reached. ) Is opened. Such rupturable seals are described in detail in the art, for example in US Pat. No. 4,537,308 to Hollander II.

In other situations, it is also desirable to cut the upper edge margin along cut line 66 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) to open the sealed fluid discharge passageway.

In another situation, it is desirable to form the upper edge clearance 30b in such a way that the upper edge clearance 30b also defines the so-called crack tab 68 in addition to defining the fluid discharge passage 32b. In particular, the upper edge clearance so that the tab 68 can be easily removed from the remainder of the clearance 30b (along the perforation line 70) while opening the fluid discharge end 64b of the fluid discharge passage 32b. A preformed cut line 70 is formed at 30b.

Described and described herein are directed to an improvement in the manner of making a compressible article, such as a fluid container made of a flexible plastic material. Although improvements have been shown in connection with the preferred embodiments, the invention is not so limited. In particular, the foregoing description and examples are illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, structural or mechanically equivalent alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, such substitutions, changes, and modifications are considered to form part of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims (7)

A flexible sidewall 26a and a bottom 24a defining a cavity 34 for receiving the evacuable fluid F, and a pair of deformable side edge clearances 28a, 29a spaced apart and extending outwardly And an outwardly deformable upper edge clearance 30a that defines an sinuous fluid passageway 32a in communication with the fluid cavity 34 and which is one of the side edge clearances 28a and 29a. In the squeezable fluid container 20a, where the upper edge clearance 30a is deformed near the sinuous fluid passageway 32a, the fluid connection between the fluid passageway 32a and the fluid cavity 34 is blocked. And further comprising strain inducing means 38a, 39a defined by at least one of the extending side edge margins 28a, 29a, said strain inducing means being a vessel sidewall 26a in a fluid F comprising a cavity. Usually creep when a certain compression pressure is applied Rather than near one fluid passageway 32a, the one side edge margins 28a, 29a near the strain inducing means 38a, 39a are effectively deformed to maintain fluid communication between the fluid passageway 32a and the fluid cavity 34. A compressible fluid organic material, characterized in that spaced apart from the edge margin (30a) by a predetermined distance. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein the container is a flexible plastic fluid container, the bottom of the fluid container defining a free standing foundation. 2. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformation inducing means comprises recesses (38a, 39a) formed in both side edge margins (28a, 29a) of the container (20a). 4. A fluid container according to claim 3, wherein one recess (38a ') is spaced from the upper edge margin (30a) of the vessel (20a) by a predetermined distance shorter than the other recess (39a'). 2. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformation inducing means comprises a recess (38a, 39a) formed in either of the side edge margins (28a, 29a) of the container (20a). 6. A fluid according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that the recesses 38a, 39a are generally hemispherical 38a, 39a ', square or rectangle 38b, 39b or triangles 38e, 39e. Vessel. 7. The side edge clearances 28c, 29c and portions 38c, 39c immediately adjacent one of the recesses 38a, 39a are similarly inserted into the other of the recesses 38a, 39a. Fluid container, characterized in that.