MXPA97007212A - Drainage medium for ventilac systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package containing a liquid product, characterized in that said product has a viscosity of at least 5 cps measured when using a Brookfield viscosity meter at 60 rpm, spindle 3 and at 20 ° C, said packing allows the ventilation of said product by means of ventilation means, said ventilation means allows the passage of gases between the inside and the outside of said package when the pressure inside said package differs from the ambient pressure, said ventilation means being permeable to gases but impermeable to said product and said ventilation means comprising an outer surface, said package comprises a means that allows said product to drain the distance of said external surface of said ventilation means, once said product has made contact with said external surface of said product. said means of ventilation

Description

HEDIÓ DRAINAGE FOR VENTILATION SYSTEMS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a package or lid for a package that allows liquid, viscous products to be vented. This packing or lid improves the drainage of the product away from a means of ventilation of said package or lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The problem of packing deformation in response to pressure differences that exist between the inside of a closed package and the ambient pressure is well known in the packaging industry. Such packing deformation may not be recoverable for certain packaging materials, such as some plastics or metals. Narrow-walled, partially flexible gaskets, often made of three sensitive materials, are the subject in particular to the problem. There are a number of possible factors that can lead to the existence of pressure differences between the inside and the outside of the package mentioned above. The contents of the package may, for example, be chemically unstable or may be subjected to reaction with yases that may exist in the main packaging space, or alternatively, in certain specific circumstances, may react with the packaging material itself. Any chemical reaction that involves the liquid contents can lead to the production of gases, and thus to an overpressure in the packing, or to the absorption of any gas in the main space thus causing pressure under the packing. The pressure differences between the pressure inside the container and the ambient atmospheric pressure can also occur when the temperature during filling and sealing of the container is significantly different from the external temperature during shipping, transport and storage. Another possibility of a pressure difference can be caused by a different ambient pressure during the filling of the container with another ambient pressure in a different geographical location. The prior art has proposed several solutions using valve systems that avoid pressure differences between the interior and exterior of the package). The proposed solutions also refer to several ventilation covers that allow the pressure generated inside the package to be released by means of gas exhaust. For example, F -A-2 259 026, US-4 136 796 and DE-fl-2 509 258 describe self-venting closures comprising a gas permeable membrane that covers a hole to the outside. Said membranes are made of a material that is impermeable to liquids, but permeable to gases. Therefore, the gaskets may comprise openings to release gas to the outside without losing their squeezing to oscage. Another example is EP-O-593 840 which discloses containers for containing * pressurizing liquids, said container being made of an oplastic material comprising a network of multi-channels. Fs + a network of my crocanales is permeable to gases, but not to liquids. e discovered that if the liquid product makes contact with these membranes, said membranes may lose at least part of their gas permeability. Also, liquid products that are viscous or have some affinity for these membranes will not drain from said membrane to the package. Therefore, if said membranes make contact with said products, their operation of ventilation is substantially lost for any part of said membrane covered by the product that has not escaped from said membrane. In this way, it can happen that the packaging loses ventilation capacity. This loss of ventilation capacity results in a pressure difference in the outside and inside of the package that can deform the package. Said product may splash on said membrane as the filled package is shaken during shipment and transport of the package. It was discovered that the amount of splashes that normally occur during shipping and transport with enough to completely interrupt the ventilation capacity of such packaging. It was further discovered that other ventilation systems, such as valves, can also suffer with a similar disadvantage.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a package (10) for a liquid product, or a lid (10) for said package that allows ventilation of said product by means of ventilation (20), and that allows the Ventilation draining said product away from the medium ventilation cuve once said product makes contact with said means of ventilation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a package (10) for a liquid product, or a lid (10) for said package. Said product has a viscosity of at least 5 cps measured when using a roam-field viscosity meter at 60 rpm, spindle 3 and 20 ° C. Said packaging or lid also allows the ventilation of said product by means of ventilation (20). Said ventilation means allows the passage of gases between the inside and the outside of said packing when the pressure inside said packing differs from the ambient pressure. Said ventilation medium is also permeable to gases, but impermeable to said product. Said ventilation means comprises an external surface (22). Said package or lid comprises means (30) that allows said product to drain away from said external surface of said ventilation means, once said product makes contact with said external surface of said ventilation means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figures 1a and 1b are cross-sectional views of a package or a lid (partially shown) of the prior art comprising a means of ventilation. Figure 2a shows a cross-sectional view and Figure 2b shows its front cross-sectional view of a package (partially shown) or of a lid in a mode that improves the drainage of the product away from the ventilation means in accordance with the present invention n. Figures 2c to 2f show cross-sectional views of a package (partially shown) or a lid in other embodiments in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2g illustrates a side elevation view of a package (partially shown) and its corresponding lid in a mode according to the present invention. Figures 3a to 3f show front and side views in cross section of a possible drainage means in accordance with the present invention complementary to the embodiments of figures 2. Figures 4a to 4d illustrate side views in cross section of a drainage means possible according to the present invention when the ventilation means is placed horizontally in a package or a lid. Figures 5a and 5b show side views and bottom cross-sectional views of another possible drainage means in accordance with the present invention when the ventilation means is disposed hopperly in a package or a lid. Figures 6a and 6b illustrate side views in transverse section of another possible drainage means in accordance with the present invention when the ventilation means is placed hopontally in a package or a lid. Figures 7a to d show side views and bottom cross-sectional views of ot or possible drainage means in accordance with the present invention when the vent means is horizontally positioned in a package or a lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, "vertical" is a position that is inclined perpendicularly to the plane on which said package rests in its upright position, for example, said venting means or another can be located on a side wall of said package or top. By "horizontal" is meant a parallel position (without inclination) to the plane where said package rests in its vertical position, for example, said ventilation means or another can be located parallel to the upper wall of said package or lid. An "inclined position" is an intermediate position between the horizontal and vertical position. In the following, the drawings may refer to a portion of a package as well as a lid as well as to any structure attached to said package. In fact, the present invention can be split from a lid only, wherein said lid can then be coupled to any packing filled with liquid gasifying products. A cap of the type with external / internal thread or jump on the outside / inside, or a fin, push / pull or turret lid closures can be a means of coupling between said lid and said packing. In the following, figure 2a will be described first as a package, then as a cover. In case Figure 2a shows a cross-sectional view of a package, the package (10) (shown only partially) comprises a hollow body (11). Figure 2b is the corresponding cross-sectional front view of said package. Said hollow body may comprise an upper wall (17), a side wall (18) and a lower wall (not shown in figure 2a). Said hollow body is capable of containing any liquid product. Preferably, said hollow body is flexible to a degree that it can deform in response to the pressure differences that arise between the interior of said package and the ambient pressure. The present invention also encompasses bags made of thin plastic material, for example. Otherwise, suitable forms of such packaging may include essentially cylindrical, cylindrical tapered, oval, square, rectangular- or flat-oval. Said hollow body should be suitable for containment with exhaust tightness of liquid products having a viscosity of at least 5 cps, wherein the viscosity is measured using a Brookfield viscosity meter, spindle 3, 60 rpm at 20 ° C. In the following, the liquid products also include pastes, creams, gels, emulsions and suspensions. Such products may include, for example, household products such as laundry or dishwashing detergents, hard or domestic surface cleaners, shampoos, bleaches, personal care / beauty products, creams and toothpastes. In accordance with the present invention, said hollow body is capable of containing liquid products that generate pressure within said package. For example, these products can be liquid laundry products comprising a bleach, in particular per-oxygen bleach. Preferably said product has a viscosity between 200 cps and 5000 cps, more preferably at 800 cps and 1800 cps, most preferred between 1300 cps and 1600 cps, where this viscosity is measured using a viscosity meter Brook iel, spindle 3, 60 rpm at 20s0. In case Figure 2a represents a cross-sectional view of a lid, the lid (10) comprises an upper wall (17) and a side wall (18). As indicated above, Figure 2b is the corresponding cross-sectional front view of said package. Said lid can be coupled in an exhaust-tight manner to the package described above. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said package or cap (10) may comprise a spigot. Preferably, said packing or lid is made of plastic, metal, paper, or combinations of these materials such as layers, laminates or co-extrudates. The materials can also be recirculated. Preferred materials for said hollow body include petal plastics such as polyethylene (high or low density), polyvinyl chloride, polyester, full-poly terephthalate (-PET), extrudable PET, polypropylene, polycarbonate and nylon. These plastics can be used individually or combined as co-extrudates, layers or laminates. Another essential feature of such packaging or apa (10) comprises a ventilation means (20). Said ventilation means is able to equalize the pressure inside said package at the external atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, said ventilation means is able to avoid overpressure as well as low pressure inside said package. In fact, said means of ventilation allows the escape of gases released from the product contained from the inside to the outside of said package, or vice versa. Said vent means is located in the upper portion * of said package on the level of said contained product, when said package is in its straight position. In fact, gases that cause overpressure or ba under pressure typically accumulate in the upper region of the package. Therefore, the passage of gases to the outside or inside is facilitated. Preferably, said ventilation means comprises at least one hole (21) and an external surface (22). Said hole connects the inside of said package with the outside. Specifically, said orifice (21) allows the passage of gases from the interior to the exterior of said package, or vice versa, so that the pressure inside said package remains identical to the external atmospheric pressure or at a pressure of at least the pressure at which the significant bottle deformation occurs. The dimension of said orifice must be adequate for said passage of gases. Preferably, said hole is circular and has a diameter of at least 0.5 mm, preferably between 1 rnm to 3 rnm. The number of holes can be chosen by one skilled in the art to allow a sufficient amount of gas flow. Said outer surface (22) is located around said hole between the contents of said hollow body (11) and said hole (21) inside said hollow body (11). Said external surface is impermeable to liquids, but permeable to gases. Therefore, said external surface is capable of providing a liquid impervious barrier, at the same allowing gas ventilation. Said external surface may be impermeable to liquid up to pressure differences of 1 barium between the inside and the outside of said hollow body, preferably up to pressure differences of 500 inhans. Said outer surface may be a flat surface, at least when viewed macroscopically. Said outer surface may also comprise a microsatellite network which is permeable to gases, but not to liquids, as described in EP-fi-593 840. Said outer surface can be corroded macroscopically, as a zigzag surface, in which case said outer surface is defined by several planes of different inclination with respect to the horizontal direction, connected to each other. Preferably, said outer surface is made of a membrane (22). In the following the words "external surface" are equivalent to "membrane". Preferably, said membrane is made of any material capable of being formed into a thin layer that can be used to cover said hole (21). This membrane must be permeable to gas flow, also in response to small pressure differences. Preferably, said membrane must allow gas flow with pressure differences as low as 50 horsepower, very preferred as low as 5 mbar. The thickness of said membrane is a matter of choice, but should preferably be in the region of 0.2 mm to 2 mm. Said membrane can essentially comprise any material that can be formed into thin layers such as plastics, paper or metal having micropores. The materials for said membrane include plastic or plastic films. The size of the microporous membranes of said membrane must be such as to allow the passage of gases at low pressure differences and at the same it must provide a high level of impermeability to liquid. Preferably, the micro-pores will be in the range of 0.1 μrn to 5 μn, rnuy preferred in re 0.2 μm to 1 μm. Preferably, said membrane has a round shape. But other forms can be contemplated, such as rectangular, triangular or other, to adapt it in a package or cover and / or to improve the aesthetics of the packaging or lid. The preferred microporous plastic films for this application are: non-woven plastic films, especially the nonwoven spunbonded polyethylene film material sold under the trademark TYVEK by the Du Pont Company, which TYVEK, Style , it is flurorcarbon treated to obtain high fluid permeability; - a mold of acrylic copolymer in a nonwoven support (nylon or PET) with a hydrophobic capacity of post-treatment of fluro-monomer, sold under the trademark, VERSAPOR, by Gelman Sciences Company, 600, South Uagner-Road, ñnn ñrgor, My 48106, US, which is very favorite. The pink film material of said membrane (22) can be treated to reduce its surface energy and therefore to improve the exhaust clogging of said film material. The reduction of the surface energy of said film material is necessary in particular to improve the exhaust squeeze when said package (10) contains products comprising components of surfactant agent. Preferably in this case, the specific surface energy of said film material should be less than that of the product containing surfactant to obtain substantially complete impermeability to the contents of the product. The fluorocarbon treatment, which involves attaching a fluorocarbon material, on a micro scale, to the surface of the film material is a specific example of a treatment that provides such reduced surface energy. In fact, the flowering treatment reduces the susceptibility of the microporous film material of said honeycomb to the humectant by the liquid components of the product. However, when used to treat said microporous film material of said membrane in accordance with the present invention, this fluorocarbon treatment must not compromise the gas permeability of said membrane. For example, a fluorocarbon material for use in the fluorocarbon fraction according to the present invention is sold under the trademark COTHBAN, by the 3M Company. Said membrane (22) may be applied and located within said hollow body (11) between the contents and said orifice (21) in any manner while maintaining its liquid impermeability and gas permeability in accordance with the present invention. Therefore, the application means may include-the use of adhesives, or heat sealing said membrane in the area around said orifice or the use of mechanical means such as hot stamping or embossing, or the insertion of said membrane during the molding of said package. As mentioned before, the means of application employed should not significantly compromise the ventilation capacity of the membrane. For this reason, it is preferred that any used adhesive is also permeable to gases, or does not fill the pores of the membrane. The membrane (22a) can also be adjusted in a housing. The accommodations whose dimensions are compatible in particular for use in a package or lid in accordance with the present invention are available commercially from GVS, Via Ro a 50, 40069, Zola Predosa (BO), Italy. In a highly preferred embodiment, the manufacture of said housing and the adjustment of said membrane (22) in said housing can be achieved by an "insert molding operation", wherein: - a membrane bed is fed into an apparatus; the membrane sheet is advantageously fed from a roll of membrane material; in said apparatus, at least one membrane is cut from said sheet and is placed in a mold where r.e will form said housing; then, the housing is substantially molded around said membrane in a manner that secures said membrane in said housing. As to "substantially around-" it is meant that once complete, this step must generate a housing with its fitted membrane, where both surfaces of the membrane have access to air, but said membrane is held tightly in the housing. Hoses can also be manufactured by heat sealing or gluing said membrane (22) in said housing.

In addition, the housings can be manufactured by mechanically holding the membrane between two separate pieces where said pieces are held together. As explained above, the ventilation function of said ventilation means (20) can be substantially reduced when the contained liquid product makes contact with said external surface (22) or said membrane (22a). As explained above, said external surface or membrane is the part most exposed to said means of ventilation towards the contained product. The contact between said product and said membrane inside a package can occur mainly through splashes during the shipping and transport with agitation of said package. As used herein, "splash" means a brief and non-continuous contact of a liquid substance on a surface when said liquid is agitated within the package. The splash of the contained liquid product occurs mainly during shipping and transport when the risk of agitation of said packaging is higher. It was discovered that these membranes can lose their gas permeability when the liquid product contacted with said membrane (22a). In fact, it was discovered that the liquid product or part of said product can not be drained sufficiently away from said membrane. In this way, said membrane can be covered by the product, that is, its ventilation operation is reduced by any part of said membrane covered by the product that has not been dripped. Accordingly, the ventilation capacity of the package is reduced or effectively lost. This is the case in particular for liquid products that are viscous, or that have some affinity for the membrane. It was found that the products having viscosities of at least 5 cps when measured using a Brookfield viscosity meter at 60 rpm, spindle 3 and 20 ° C show poor drainage away from said membrane. Other examples are liquids that exhibit shear thinning, non-Newtonian flow behavior, or liquids that have a low surface energy (<30 dmas / cm2). For example, liquids comprising surfactants typically exhibit a flow behavior that is not Newtonian. As used herein, a product of shear thinning is a product having a high viscosity when the shear force is low, vice versa its viscosity is low when the shear force is high. Accordingly, a shear thinning product (which is not from Newton) exhibits poor drainage away from said membrane. This is due to the flow characteristics of the product observed during drainage, and the shear rate of the product directly adjacent to the membrane is low. Accordingly, the final layer or product adjacent to the membrane exhibits an intrinsically high viscosity. Therefore, the drainage of the final layer or product away from the membrane is prevented. The contact between said contained liquid product and said outer surface (22) or membrane (22a) occurs mainly during the shipping and transport of the package. In fact, said liquid product splashes in said membrane inside said package when said package is agitated. It was discovered that the amount of splashes that normally occur during shipping and transport are sufficient to completely interrupt the ventilation capacity of said packaging. Another means by which the product can make contact with the membrane is during an inverted storage of the package. It was found that other ventilation systems, such as valves, may also suffer from a similar disadvantage. Therefore, the present invention provides a package for a liquid product, or a lid for said package that allows the drainage of said splashed product into a remote area. of said membr-ana. It was found that the package or lid in accordance with the present invention allows sufficient ventilation of said product to prevent sigmficant deformation of the package and without substantial loss of ventilation capacity. A possible way to remove the splashed product from the membrane is to scrape the surface of the membrane splashed by said product. It was discovered that the ventilation capacity of said membrane was recovered sufficiently to prevent significant deformation of the bottle once said product was removed from the surface of said membrane. The scraping of said surface can be achieved with a device that have the shape of a shovel, for example. Although this solution solves the problem of the present invention, it has two main disadvantages. First, the scraping action must be carried out either manually by the user, which is inappropriate, or by a mechanical movement device within the package, which can be complex and expensive. Second, the action of scraping said product sprinkled with said membrane can damage said membrane. In fact, especially the impermeability of said membrane to liquids can easily be lost through scraping. Therefore, the present invention further provides a package or a lid wherein said splashed product can be drained away from said membrane automatically without any scraping of said membrane. The figure shows a horizontal external surface (22) or horizontal membrane (22a) that has been sprinkled by a viscous product. This is because the viscosity of the product is sufficiently high, first, so that the gravity is insufficient in itself to allow said product to drain away from said membrane, second, as another possible reason, the hydrophobic nature of the membrane is insufficient to reject the product away from said membrane. The drainage of said splashed product (5) away from said membrane can also be prevented when the membrane is completely surrounded by a region of the packing, as shown in Figure Ib. This region may exist as part of a housing of said membrane, part of the package or part of said lid. This region can prevent drainage of the splashed product away from the membrane. This is because the capillary forces exerted by said region on said splashed product, the viscosity of the product and the surface tension of said product are sufficient to retain the splashed product within said region around said membrane. A means (30) that is capable of solving the case illustrated in Figure 1 is placing said external surface (22) or said membrane (22a) substantially vertical or inclined in said package or lid (10), as shown in the figure 2a (front view and side view in cross section). Preferably, said ventilation means, comprising said membrane and said hole (21), is located in the side wall (18) of said packing or lid. Accordingly, said ventilation means is placed on the side wall (18) in the upper portion of said package or cover, so that said ventilation means is at least above the level of the contained liquid product. This substantially vertical or inclined configuration of said ventilation means improves the drainage of the product of said airflow by allowing said ventilation means to ventilate. In fact, the force of gravity is able to act on said splashed product forcing said product to drain towards the lower edge (20a) of said vent means away from said outer surface or membrane. As defined below, "attractive forces" are those forces acting on said splashed product and retaining said product on said external surface. It was found that the component of the forces of attraction parallel to said external surface is smaller than the corresponding component of the force of gravity. Therefore, said splashed product is forced towards said lower edge (20a) away from said outer surface. It was found that at least said outer surface (22) or said membrane (22a) must be positioned substantially vertical or inclined to improve drainage. S give examples in Figure 2c and Figure 2d. The hole (21) is in the upper wall- (17). Said outer surface or membrane covers said hole in such a manner to always expose the surfaces substantially vertical or inclined towards the contents of said packing or lid when said package rests in its vertical position. The inclined membranes (22a) can also be achieved in the housings (6), as illustrated in Figure 2e and Figure 2f. In these cases, said membrane can be adjusted either to the side wall (figure 2e, 18a) or to the end of said housing (figure 2f), these being the positions most exposed to said contained product. The same adjustment methods as those described above can be applied. Preferably, said housing (6) is coupled with the wall (19) to said packing or lid. The housing can be positioned by itself to said top wall (17) or to said side wall (18) of said package or lid (10). Another way of obtaining inclined membranes according to the present invention can be obtained by a ventilation means that is part of a lid, and said lid (10a) engages an inclined neck (10b) of a container or bottle (10c), as illustrated in figure? g. It was discovered that the drainage of a vertical or inclined venting medium or membrane can be further enhanced by a means that increases the difference in surface energy between said outer surface (22) (or said membrane (22a)), and the packing region which surrounds said external surface (or said membrane) .. The membrane has a surface energy more than the product to ensure the exhaust squeeze of said product. As a consequence, said product is rejected away from said membrane (22a). Therefore, the drainage of said product away from said membrane can be improved by ensuring that the region of the packing surrounding said external surface of said membrane has a higher surface energy than that of the product. This is because said product will preferably humidify the surfaces of the region in the package that exhibit a higher surface energy than that of the product. Conversely, said product is rejected away from the packing regions that have a lower surface energy than the product. Therefore, by ensuring that the region of the packing surrounding said outer surface (22) has a higher surface energy than said product, it improves the drainage of said product. The increase in surface energy of the region surrounding said outer surface (22) or said membrane (22a) can be achieved in various ways. First, the membrane can be surrounded by a peripheral wall (32), as shown in Figure 2a, said peripheral wall (32) being made of a material that has more affinity with said product than said membrane ( 22). For example, the surface energy can be increased by having the peripheral surface made of a material that is more hydrophilic than said outer or membranous surface. Said peripheral walls can be inserted into the package as a separate piece of plastic, or they can be applied as part of a surface coating, or they can be injected during the manufacture of the package in the region surrounding said membrane. Second, the package or lid for said package containing the membrane may itself be made of a material that has more affinity with said product than said membrane. Third, the region in a housing surrounding said membrane may also be made of a material such as, for example, as shown in Figure 2d. Preferably, said region surrounding said membrane extends from and connects to at least said honeycomb (22a). Most preferred, said peripheral surface is a parallel extension of said outer surface or said membrane. Another means that improves the drainage of the product away from said external surface (22) or said membrane (22a) as shown in the figure or when said membrane is inside a housing, as illustrated in Figure Ib, is a reduction of the capillary force of attraction between said product and the region surrounding said membrane, and therefore allowing the force of gravity to drain said product away from said membrane. Another means, which improves the drainage of said splashed product away from said membrane, is an increase in the shear rate acting on said product. Accordingly, this medium allows to reduce the viscosity of "the products" which have a flow behavior that is not Newtonian, and therefore increase the flow capacity of said product. These means can be applied to external surfaces or horizontal or non-horizontal membranes of said ventilation means with or without said peripheral surface. A possible way of solving the case in Figure 1, which also solves the case shown in Figure Ib, is to place a drainage means (35) near the ventilation region or near said membrane (22a). Preferably, said drainage means is located partially around said membran and / or peripheral surface (32). Preferably, said drainage means is located at the lower edge of said membrane and / or peripheral surface when said package or lid is in its vertical position. The drainage means (35) according to the present invention has to satisfy certain restrictions so that it does not interfere with the other functions of a package. First, said drainage means must not interfere with the air flow of the product through the ventilation system, that is, it must not interrupt the ventilation of the package by itself. Second, said drainage means should not interfere with the dispensing "I read product from inside the package. Said drainage means (35) will be further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples with the aid of figures 3. Figure 3a illustrates a side view and a view frontal or cross-section of a ventilation means placed substantially vertically on said joint; (partially shown) or cover (10), preferably on said side wall (18). Said ventilation means comprises an orifice (21) and the external surface (22) or membrane (22a).

Said means < The drainage comprises a wick (31) extending from said venting means downwardly of said packing or lid. Preferably, said wick is fixed to the lower edge of said outer surface or membrane and / or said peripheral surface (32). Alternatively, said wick may be part of or attached to said package or cover near the location of said membrane, or part of or attached to the spout of said package or cap in which said wick is in close proximity to said container. membrane and / or peripheral surface at least at its lower edge. Preferably, said wick is located within a droplet diameter to said membrane and / or peripheral surface, very preferred between 1 rnn and 6 rnm to said membrane and / or peripheral surface. The contact of said wick (31) with said membrane (22) and / or with said peripheral surface (32), is critical for the present invention. In fact, without being limited to the theory, it is believed that first said wick is capable of reducing the capillary force, since said wick forms a geometry that is asymmetric on the surface of the vent or membrane. This asymmetry in the surface of said membrane has the effect that the liquid can drain away from the surface of said membrane without being blocked by the capillary force. Second, the geometry of said wick (31) causes the product to drain away from said membrane increasing the shear rate at least locally at that position (s) where said wick contacts said membrane. This means that a flowing product exhibiting shear thinning, flow behavior that is not reduced viscosity. Therefore, said wick further improves the drainage of this type of product away from said means of ventilation. To further improve the drainage, it is believed that said wick (31) is able to attract said product from around said membrane, if the wick has a higher surface energy "said product or said outer surface or membrane. This can be achieved with a wick made of a material that is hydrophilic than said membrane. In fact, the hydrophilic capacity of said wick must be such as to attract the product further away from said membrane by an increased surface energy balance, as explained above for said peripheral surface (32). Accordingly, due to this attraction, said drained liquid is able to flow away from said membrane. At the same time, this allows another liquid, even in said membrane, to flow over said membrane in said wick. The liquid that binds in said wick then drains from said wick and accumulates at the point 35a where it finally reaches such a weight in order to fall down from said package. The shape of the surface of said wick (31) may vary, as shown in Figures 3a to 3e. The surface may be of a triangular, rectangular or round shape. For example, in Figure 3a said wick is of angular-thin rect shape. As illustrated in Figures 3b and 3c, said wick may also be in a blade shape. Specifically, said blade may have a triangular or rectangular shape and optionally a round periphery. The person skilled in the art can choose the appropriate shape and dimension of said drainage means to adapt it in a package or lid and / or to improve the aesthetics of the package or lid. Another possibility is to tilt said outer surface (22) and / or membrane (22a) in said package or lid (10) with respect to the vertical direction, as shown in figures 3d and 3e. Preferably, the angle of inclination α of said membrane with respect to the vertical direction is preferably between 10 ° and 90 °, most preferred between 30 ° and 70 °. As illustrated in Figure 3f, said wick (31) can also be inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Said wick? Ue <; Je inclined also with respect to said outer surface. Preferably, the angle of inclination ß of said wick with respect to said vertical direction is preferably between 10 ° and 90 °, very preferred between 30 ° and 70 °. Most preferred, said wick tilts away < Said membrane, since the angle or smaller in said membrane and said wick is greater than 90 °. In fact, it was discovered that this geometry between said membrane and said wick also allows the drainage away from said membrane .. It was discovered that said drainage means (35) substantially improves drainage away from an external surface (22) or membrane (22a) not inclined or horizontal, that is to say a ventilation means being positioned hopzontally in the upper wall (17) of said package or lid, as shown in Figure 4a. Said drainage means may once again comprise a wick (31) that starts from the lower edge of said membrane and extends from said ventilation means downwardly inside said package or lid. Said drainage means will be further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples with the help of figures 4 to 7. The same forms of said drainage means can be applied as described in figures 3 to the horizontal ventilation means. In addition, several wicks (31) can be placed in different configurations around "I read perimeter of said external surface (22) or membrane (22a), as illustrated in Figures 4a to 4d. For example, wicks in the shape of a rectangle or a bow can be placed individually or in groups of two or more. The individual wick «Figures 4a and 4b can partially enclose the perimeter (23) of the membrane. A wick that completely encloses the entire perimeter of said means may also be contemplated. Two or more wicks can divide said perimeter in a regular manner, as shown in Figures 4a and 4d. It is also possible to tilt these wicks (31) with respect to the vertical direction, as illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b. Another possibility is to have wicks in the form of slides, as illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b. Figure 6a represents an individual wick in the form of a slide that rotates down inside said package or lid, like a spiral. Figure 6b shows the possibility of having more than one wick in the form of slides. Each wick rotates down opposite one from the other. In figures 7a to 76 there are other possible shapes of said wick at least partially surrounding the membrane, as shown in the corresponding bottom views. Specifically, forms such as a shovel (figure 7a), a triangle (figure 7b) or a polygon (figures 7c and 7d). The person skilled in the art can choose the appropriate shape and dimension of said drainage means to adapt it in a package or lid and / or to improve the aesthetics of the package or lid. Preferably, said drainage means is made of plastic, metal, paper or combinations of these materials such as layers, sheets or co-extrudates. The materials can also be recirculated. Preferred materials for said drainage means include all materials that have a greater hydrophilic capacity with respect to said membrane (22) once again to increase the balance of the surface energy as explained above. Such materials are, for example, plastics such as polyethylene (high density or ba), polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (= PET), extrudable PET, polypropylene, polycarbonate and nylon. These policies can be used individually or combined as co-exudate < Jos, layers or laminar. The possibility is to make the hydrophobic materials more hydrophilic using additives for the overall material or appropriate surface coatings. The drainage means (35) can be inserted into packages using a variety of means. They can be inserted into the lid during the molding of the package or lid (10). Also, they can be manufactured as part of a housing (6) containing said membrane (22a). In addition, they can be inserted as a separate item in the package after the packaging has been manufactured. The fixing means of said separate piece can be obtained using an adhesive or a welding operation. Also, this separate piece can be obtained by using a mechanical support device, i.e. the draining means can be made as part of a co-acting part or a mechanical support device for the membrane. For example, said means "drainage can be incorporated into a fastener that holds the membrane in place. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for allowing ventilation by said ventilating means (20) compressed in a package for a Liquid product, or a lid for said package, wherein this method allows said product drain away from said ventilation means. The method according to the present invention is especially valuable for products having a viscosity or exhibiting shear thinning, flow behavior "th is not from Newton, or for products having a surface energy ba a (< 30 dynes / cm2) as described above. Said method is capable of reducing the capillary attraction force, and therefore allows the force of gravity to act on said product. Said method according to the present invention also provides a means to at least locally increase the shear rate acting on said product during drainage of said product from said external surface (22) or membrane (22a). Said method further provides a means for increasing the surface energy of said outer surface or membrane and the region surrounding said outer surface or said membrane. All these methods can be combined together in a suitable manner to improve the drainage of said product away from said external surface of said membrane.

Claims (17)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A package (10) for a liquid product, or a lid (10) for said packing, said product having a viscosity of at least 5 cps measured when using a viscosity meter of Broo field at 60 rpm, spindle 3 at 20 ° C, said packing or lid that allows the ventilation of said product by means of ventilation means (20), said "ventilation" means that allows the passage of gases between the interior and the exterior. When the pressure of said packing differs from the ambient pressure, said ventilation medium being permeable to gases, but impermeable to said product, also characterizes said gasket or lid for said product "comprising a medium (30) that allows said product to drain away from said external surface of said ventilation means, once said product has made contact with said external surface of said ventilation means.

2. A package or lid according to the preceding claims, character "Jo" in addition because said means (30) comprises a reduction of the force of capillary attraction between "product liho and the region surrounding said environment" Je ventilation ( 20), and therefore allows the force of gravity acting on said product to be sufficient to cause < That said product drains away from said external surface (22) of said ventilation means.

3. A package or lid according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said means (30) comprises at least a local increase in the shear rate acting on said product during the drainage of said product. said external surface (22) of said ventilation means (20), and therefore reduces the viscosity of products that have shear thinning, flow properties that are not Newt on.

4. A package or lid according to any of the preceding claims, character also because said means (30) compresses an increase "Jel balance of surface energy between said external surface (22) of said means of Ventilation (20) and the region surrounding said external surface of said ventilation means to improve the drainage of the projected duct at a distance of said outer surface of said ventilation means.

5. A package or lid according to claim 4, further characterized in that said means (30) comprises a material that has more affinity with said product than said external surface (22) of said ventilation means.

6. A package or lid according to any of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said means of ventilation (20) comprises a peripheral surface (32), said peripheral surface extending "Jesde and it is connected to at least said external surface (22) of said venting means, said peripheral surface being a parallel extension of said extruded surface of said ventilation means, and said peripheral surface being more hydrophilic. That said external surface of said ventilation means.

7. A package or lid according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said means (30) comprises the placement "said venting means (20) and / or an external surface (22) of said means of ventilation in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

8. A package or lid according to claim 7, further characterized in that said means (30) comprises a substantially vertical placement of said ventilation means (20) and / or said external surface (22) of said ventilation means .

9. A package or lid according to any of claims 7 and 8, further characterized in that the angle "inclination a of said ventilation means and / or said external surface of said ventilation means is between 10 ° and 90 °".

10. A package or lid (10) according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said drainage means (35) extends from and is in contact with at least said outer surface of said rne <.; -? or ventilation, and < - The drainage medium extends in an inclined direction with respect to the horizontal direction.

11. A package or cover (10) according to claim 10, further characterized in that said drainage means (35) is inclined in a substantially vertical manner with respect to the external surface of said venting means. .

12. A package or lid according to any of claims 10 and 11, further characterized in that the angle "Je slope ß of said drainage means (35) with respect to the horizontal direction is between 10 ° and 90 °.

13. A package or lid according to any of claims 10 to 12, further characterized in that said drainage means (35) is made of a material that is more hydrophilic than said external surface (22) of said ventilation means ( twenty).

14. A package or lid according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said ventilation means (20) comprises an orifice (21) connecting the interior to the exterior of said package, and a membrane (23) that covers said orifice or a portion thereof that allows the passage of gases, but prevents the passage of liquid products.

15. - A package or lid in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said product has a viscosity between 200 cps and 5000 cps measured when using a "je viscosity" meter Je Brool * field at 60 rpm, spindle 3 and ? n ° C.

16. A package or lid according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said product comprises bleach.

17. A package or lid according to claim 16, further characterized in that said product comprises peroxy bleach.