NL1034419C2 - High-viscous product e.g. thick sauce, dispensing container, has bottle and plastic bag formed by two-component injection molding, and elongate member inserted into plastic bag through dispensing opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has a stiff bottle (2) and a readily deformable plastic bag (4) provided with dispensing openings (3, 5), where the stiff bottle and the deformable plastic bag are formed by two-component injection molding. The readily deformable plastic bag is filled with a product to be dispensed. A pin-like fixing element (10) is connected to the deformable plastic bag. A pump is connected to the dispensing opening of the stiff bottle. An elongate member is inserted into the plastic bag through the respective dispensing opening. An independent claim is also included for a method of manufacturing a container.

Description

k

HOLDER WITH DEFORMABLE INNER HOLDER AND BRAND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEM

The invention relates to a container for a product to be dispensed, comprising a relatively rigid outer container which has at least one dispensing opening, and an inner container that can be filled with the product and which can also be filled with a dispenser, opening and is connected to the outer container at least in the vicinity of the dispensing opening. Such a holder is known, for example from applicant's own previous patent WO 2007/039158.

This known container, which consists of an outer container or bottle of PET and a deformable inner container or bag of, for example, PP, contained therein is intended in particular for dispensing highly viscous products, such as relatively thick sauces, ice cream and the like. For this purpose this container 15 is used in combination with a dispensing device which comprises a hand pump with which a displacement medium can be forced under pressure into the space between the bottle and the bag. Such a dispensing device is described in the applicant's earlier patent WO 2007/039167. The container is received in the horizontal position in this dispensing device, the pump being connected to the space between the bottle and the bag. By operating the pump, the product is then forced to the dispensing opening of the container, whereafter the product can be dispensed from the container by opening a valve.

The known container has the disadvantage that too much product remains in the container in practice. It is not possible to build up sufficient pressure with the pump to squeeze all the product out of the inner container and thus empty the container completely. This appears to be caused by the deformation 1034419 2 of the inner container, which is as it were "crumpled" and thereby forms cavities bounded by folds, in which the product is confined.

The invention now has for its object to provide a holder of the type described above, wherein this problem does not occur - or at least to a lesser extent.

According to a first aspect of the invention this is achieved with such a holder in that the inner holder is further connected to the outer holder at at least one location remote from the dispensing opening. By forming such an additional connection between the inner container and the outer container, the inner container is retained at some distance from the dispensing opening. Thus, the "crumbling" of the inner container is prevented, and thus no - or in any case fewer - cavities are formed in which the product is confined. The inner container can thus be almost completely emptied.

Preferred embodiments of this first variant of the invention are described in the subclaims 2 to 11.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a holder of the type described in the preamble is provided, which is furthermore provided with an elongate member of the inner holder counteracting, extending from the dispensing opening into the inner container. Such an anti-collapsing member is also an effective means against "crumbling" of the inner container. The anti-collapsing member must be designed in such a way that it does not increase the flow resistance in the inner container too much. Otherwise, the presence of the anti-collapse device itself would constitute an obstacle to the outflow of the product from the container.

3

Preferred variants of this second embodiment of the container according to the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims 13 to 18.

The invention also relates to an outer container, an inner container and an anti-collapse member which are apparently intended for use in a container as described above.

The invention further relates to a method for forming such a container. From the aforementioned older document WO 2007/039158 a method is already known which comprises the steps of forming a relatively rigid outer container which has at least one dispensing opening, forming a deformable inner container to be filled with the product, which also has a dispensing opening, and arranging the inner container in the outer container and connecting the inner container and the outer container to each other at least in the vicinity of the dispensing openings.

The method according to the invention now differs from this known method in that the inner container is further connected to the outer container at at least one location remote from the dispensing opening.

Preferred variants of this method are described in the subclaims 23 to 40.

In addition or instead, the method according to the invention is distinguished in that an elongate member is introduced into the inner container from the dispensing opening to prevent the inner container from collapsing.

Further variants of this method form the subject matter of the subclaims 42 and 43.

The invention is now elucidated on the basis of a number of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which corresponding parts are 4 s.

indicated by reference numerals that are each time increased by '100', and in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a semi-finished product of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention, 5 after the two-component injection molding thereof,

FIG. 2 is a section through the container of FIG. 1 after it has been inflated to its final shape,

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a bottom part of the container of FIG. 2, opposite the dispensing opening, after space has been created between the inner container and the outer container by pressing the fastening element inwards,

FIG. 4 and 5 are detailed views showing how a connecting member is connected to the bottom part of the holder,

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing how a displacement medium, for example air, can flow through the connecting member to the space between the inner container and the outer container, FIG. 7 to 10 are cross-sections of the holder with the connecting member and a dosing head on the dispensing opening, during different stages of dispensing a product from the holder,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an anti-collapse member that can be received in the inner container,

FIG. 12 is a section through the holder provided with the anti-collapse member of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a section through the holder of FIG. 12 in a plane perpendicular to the plane of that figure, FIG. 14 to 17 are views corresponding to Figs. 7 to 10 of dispensing a product from the container of Figs. 12 and 13,

V

5

FIG. 18 and 19 show respectively a perspective view and a cross-section of a semi-finished product of an outer container according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 20 and 21 are views corresponding to Figs. 18 and 19 of a separately formed semi-finished product of an inner container,

FIG. 22 shows a section through two semi-finished products of 10 intermediate layers that have already been partially pushed together,

FIG. 23 shows in cross-section how the semi-finished products of the outer container, the intermediate layers and the inner container are pushed together, and

FIG. 24 is a sectional view showing the various semi-finished products in assembled condition.

A container 1 for a product to be dispensed, for example ice cream, comprises a relatively rigid outer container 2 which has a dispensing opening 3 (Fig. 2). In the example shown, the outer container 2 is made of a hard plastic type such as PET. The holder 1 further comprises a deformable inner holder 4 received in the outer holder 2, in which the product is finally received. This inner container 4, which can for instance be made of a plastic type such as PP, is also provided with a dispensing opening 5, and is in any case connected to the outer container 2 at the location of the dispensing openings 3, 5. In the example shown, the inner holder 4 is integrally formed with the outer holder 2, so that it is connected to the outer holder 2 over its entire surface. The inner container 4 and the outer container 2 are herein formed by two-component injection molding as a relatively thick-walled, substantially tubular semi-finished product (Fig. 1), which is easy to handle, transport and store. This semi-finished product is eventually heated and 6 inflated to the final, relatively thin-walled shape at the location where the container 1 must be filled with the product.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the inner container 4 is further connected to the outer container 2 at a location 6 remote from the dispensing openings 3, 5. In the example shown, it concerns a mechanical connection, more particularly a snap or clamp connection, and the connection location 6 is diametrically opposite the dispensing openings 3, 5 of the outer and inner container 2, 4. The outer container 2 has at the location of the connecting location 6 in its end wall 7 an opening 8, which is formed in a protruding part 9 of the end wall 7. This protruding part 9 is in fact the injection during injection molding. A fastening element 10 connected to the inner holder 4 protrudes through this opening 8. This fastening element 10 is here integrally formed with the inner holder 4, more in particular with a protruding part 14 thereof, and also forms the injection during injection molding.

In the example shown, the fastening element 10 is pin-shaped, and the fastening is finally effected by converting or distorting an end part 11 thereof such that the dimensions of the end part 11 become larger than the diameter of the opening 8 (fig. 6). In the example shown, the outer container 2 is not connected directly to the inner container 4, but is in fact confined between the inner container 4 and a connecting member 12 to be described in detail below.

Between the inner container 4 and the outer container 2, a space 13 is defined where a displacement medium can be introduced to force the product out of the inner container 4 through the dispensing opening 5. In the example shown, this space 13 is determined at the location of the 7 connecting location 6, and is connected to the environment via the opening 8 in the end wall 7 of the outer container 2. To this end, the fastening element 10 is again partially pushed back into the outer holder 2, whereby a part of the inner holder 4 connected to the fastening element 10 is pulled away from the outer holder 2 and brought away from it (Fig. 3).

Subsequently, at the location of the opening 8, the aforementioned connecting member 12 is connected to the outer container 10 2. This connecting member 12 serves to bring the space 13 into contact with a source of displacement medium (not shown here), for example a hand pump as described in said patent specification WO 2007/039167. The connecting member 12 is thereby connected to the outer holder 2 by means of the fastening element 10, as will be explained below.

In the example shown, the connecting member 12 has the shape of a ring with a flat bottom 15 and a cup-shaped top side 16, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the end wall 7 of the outer container 2 (Fig. 4). This bowl-shaped upper side 16 is connected to the outer container 2 by means of gluing. Furthermore, a connecting piece 12 is formed with a cylindrical receiving space 17, the shape and dimensions of which correspond precisely to those of the protruding part 9 of the end wall 7, so that it seals can be accommodated in space 17 (Fig. 5). An opening 18 is formed in the bottom of the receiving space 17, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the end part 11 of the fastening element 10. This end part 11 is thus sealed through the opening 18.

The pin-shaped fastening element 10 has a stepped design, and has three segments with different diameters, which are separated by two 8 shoulders 19, 20. The upper segment has the same diameter as the opening 8 in the outer container 2, and closes after this opening 2 the injection molding (fig. 1, 2). The middle segment has a slightly smaller diameter, so that after the fastening element 10 is pressed in, an annular passage is defined around the fastening element (Fig. 3). The diameter of this segment is larger than that of the opening 18 in the connecting member 12, so that the shoulder 20 comes to rest on the edge of that opening 18 as a stop (Fig. 5). When the end part 11 is subsequently heated and deformed, the bottom of the receiving space 17 is confined between the shoulder 20 and the end part 11, with which the connecting member 12 is releasably attached to the outer holder 2 (Fig. 6).

Incidentally, the connection member 12 has a connection 21 for a conduit leading to the source of displacement medium, and a valve 22 disposed between this connection 21 and the receiving space 17. This valve 22 leaves the displacement medium only in one direction towards the space 13. through, and prevents the escape of the medium.

After the connecting member 12 is connected to the outer container 2 and the inner container 4 is filled with the product to be dispensed, a dosing head 23 can be attached to the neck around the dispensing opening 3 of the outer container 2. This dispensing head 23 can, for example, be the type described in said patent specification WO 2007/039167, with a spherical cap with dispensing opening 24, and a pivotally connected, also spherical valve 25, which can be operated by a handle 26. The holder 1 is then ready for use (Fig. 7).

In use, the space 13 between the inner container 4 and the outer container 2 is always filled with displacement medium by operating the pump, whereby the product in the inner container 4 is pressurized. The valve 25 is then operated by moving the handle 26, as a result of which the dispensing opening 24 is released and the product thereby flows out of the holder 1. Since the inner container 4 is hermetically sealed from the environment, the outflowing product is not replaced by outside air, and the inner container 4 thus shrinks into each other. As a result, an increasingly larger part of the outer surface of the inner container 4 becomes detached from the inner surface of the outer container 2 (Figs. 8, 9, 10). However, because the rear side of the inner container 4 is mechanically attached to the end wall 7 of the outer container 2, the inner container remains somewhat stretched and tensioned, so that the formation of folds in which product could be trapped is avoided as much as possible. Almost the entire content of the inner container 4 can thus be dispensed.

In an alternative embodiment of the holder 101, in addition to or instead of the attachment of the rear side of the inner holder 104 to the end wall 107 of the outer holder 102, an anti-collapsing member 127 is used to prevent collapsing or crumpling of the inner holder 104 to go. In the example shown, the anti-collapse member 127 is elongated and extends from the dispensing opening 105 into the inner container 104 (Figs. 12, 13). Because here the inner holder 104 is also mechanically connected at its rear side to the outer holder 102, it is sufficient to use an anti-collapse member 127 which extends only slightly over half the distance between the dispensing openings 103, 105 and the end wall 107 extends into the inner holder 104. However, it is also conceivable that use is made of an anti-collapse member which extends substantially to the end wall 107. In that case it is not necessary to attach the inner holder 104 separately to the outer holder 102, because the anti-collapse member then retains the rear side of the inner holder 104 almost at the end wall 107.

In this example, the anti-collapse member 127 has the shape of a tube with a side wall in which a large number of openings 128 is formed. These openings 128 each extend substantially half the circumference of the tube, and are each time staggered in the longitudinal and circumferential direction of the anti-collapse member 127. In fact this results in a kind of ladder construction, with two uprights 129 and a number of semicircular rungs 130 protruding on either side therebetween (Fig. 11). At the top, the uprights 129 are still connected by a continuous ring 131 which is received in the dispensing opening 105 of the inner container 104.

The operation of this embodiment of the holder 101 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. When the space 113 between the inner container 104 and the outer container 102 is filled with displacement medium under pressure, and the valve 125 is operated, the product 20 is dispensed from the inner container 104. The anti-collapse member 127 then ensures - in the example shown in combination with the fastening element 110 - that the inner container 104 does not collapse or crumble, so that it can be almost completely emptied (Figs. 14 to 17). The residual volume is at most equal to the content of the anti-collapsing member 127. Due to the relatively open configuration of the anti-collapsing member 127, this does not impede the outflow of the product. Furthermore, because the surface of the anti-collapse member 127 is relatively small, hardly any product will adhere to this member 127.

In yet another embodiment of the holder 201, the inner holder 204 and the outer holder 202 are formed separately from each other and then assembled and connected. The inner holder 204 and the outer holder 202 are each again formed as relatively thick-walled, substantially tubular, semi-finished products (Figs. 18 to 21), and after being connected to them are inflated to their final, relatively thin-walled form. For connecting the inner holder 204 and the outer holder 202 to each other at the location of the dispensing openings 203, 205, the inner holder is provided with a flanged end edge 232 which can be snapped around a collar 233 of the outer holder 202.

Because the outer holder 202 is formed separately, for example by injection molding, it is possible to arrange the opening 208 therein later by machining, instead of directly casting this opening. A simpler mold can thus be used.

Another advantage of separately forming the inner container 204 and the outer container 202 is that the production process can be optimized for each of these components. Thus, the relatively longer cycle time of injection molding of the outer container 202, which is thicker than the inner container 204, can be compensated by, for example, using a mold with a larger number of injection cavities. The parameters of the production processes can also be optimally matched to the different materials used for the outer container 202 and the inner container 204.

When the inner holder 204 and the outer holder 202 are formed separately, it is also relatively simple to provide additional layers 235, 236 between them. These intermediate layers 235, 236 can also be formed by injection molding and have a shape corresponding to that of the inner holder 204 and the outer holder 202 (Fig. 22). In that case, the intermediate layers 235, 236 are confined between the inner container 204 and the outer container 202 when they are slid into each other and snapped into place (Fig. 23). However, it is also conceivable that one or more of the intermediate layers 235, 236 are formed by a film that is wrapped around the inner container 204 before it is slid into the outer container 202 and clicked into place.

The intermediate layers 235, 236 have a thickness that is approximately equal to or smaller than that of the inner container 204, and are also easily deformable, so that the inner container 204 and the intermediate layers 235, 236 actually behave as a whole. In fact, a multi-layer inner container 204 is thus thus formed (Fig. 24). The space between the inner container 204 and the outer container 202 into which the displacement medium can penetrate is therefore determined in this embodiment between the outer container 202 and the outer intermediate layer 235.

The intermediate layers 235, 236 can serve to improve the barrier properties of the container 201, so that the quality of the product contained therein is guaranteed. The intermediate layers 235, 236 can also serve as reinforcement for the inner container 204, or to improve the chemical resistance. Whether the use of intermediate layers 235, 236 is necessary and which materials should be used for this depends on the nature of the product to be delivered.

Incidentally, the intermediate layers 235, 236 can also be formed as a whole with the inner container 204 by means of co-injection or co-extrusion. Other possibilities for receiving layers between the inner holder 204 and the outer holder 202 are so-called "in-mold labeling", whereby a printed film is first placed in the injection mold before the inner holder 204 is injection-molded, or the so-called "sleeving", wherein after the injection molding a sleeve is provided around the inner holder 204, which is then pulled tightly around it by shrinking. In addition to improving the physical properties of the inner container 204, in particular "in-mold labeling" has the consequence that an attractive container is obtained. Because the outer container 202 will generally be transparent or at least translucent, the appearance of the inner container 204 can be seen from the outside. By "labeling" the inner holder 204 "in mold" an attractive optical effect can be achieved.

Although the invention has been explained above on the basis of a number of examples, it will be clear that it is not limited thereto. For example, the location where the inner container is connected to the outer container could be selected differently, and a different type of connection, for example a weld or glue connection, could also be used. The shape of the outer container and the inner container and the materials used can of course also be varied. Furthermore, the displacement medium could also be introduced into the container at a different location than at the connection location.

The scope of the invention is therefore solely determined by the following claims.

1034419

Claims (42)

1. Holder for a product to be dispensed, comprising a relatively rigid outer container which has at least one dispensing opening, and an inner container which can be filled with the product and which can be filled with the product and which also has a dispensing opening and at least is connected to the outer container in the vicinity of the dispensing opening, characterized in that the inner container is further connected to the outer container at at least one location remote from the dispensing opening. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner container is connected to the outer container at a location that is substantially diametrically opposite the dispensing opening. 3. Holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner holder is connected to the outer holder by clicking or clamping. 4. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the outer holder has an opening at the location of the connecting location, through which a fastening element connected to the inner holder protrudes. 5. Holder as claimed in claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the fixing element is pin-shaped and has a bent end part, the dimensions of which are larger than those of the opening. Holder as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the fixing element is integrally formed with the inner holder. 7. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a space is provided for a displacing medium between the inner holder and the outer holder 30. 1 0 τιi 1 9 8. Container as claimed in claims 4 and 7, characterized in that the space is determined at the location of the connection location and is connected to the environment via the opening. 9. Holder as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the space is limited by a part of the inner holder which is kept at a distance from the outer holder by the fixing element. 10. Holder as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized by a connecting member for a source of displacing medium connected to the outer holder at the location of the opening. 11. Holder as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the connecting member is connected to the outer holder by means of the fixing element. 12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized by an elongated member extending from the dispensing opening in the inner container to counteract the inner container. A container according to claim 12, characterized in that the anti-collapse member extends into the inner container over more than half the distance between the dispensing opening and an opposite end wall of the container. 14. Holder as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the anti-collapse member extends substantially to the end wall. 15. Container as claimed in any of the claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the anti-collapse member has the shape of a tube with a side wall in which at least one opening 30 is formed. 16. Holder as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the anti-collapse member has a number of openings which extend in each case over substantially half the circumference of the tube and which are in each case staggered in the longitudinal and circumferential direction of the member. 17. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the inner holder and / or the outer holder 5 is / are at least partly made of plastic. 18. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the inner holder and / or the outer holder comprises several layers. 19. Outdoor container, apparently intended for use in a container according to one of the preceding claims. Inner container, apparently intended for use in a container according to one of claims 1 to 18. 21. Anti-collapse member, apparently intended for use in a holder according to any one of claims 12 to 18. 22. Method for manufacturing a container for a product to be dispensed, comprising: forming a relatively rigid outer container that has at least one dispensing opening, forming a deformable inner container that can be filled with the product, which has a dispensing opening, and arranging the inner container in the outer container and connecting the inner container and the outer container to each other at least in the vicinity of the dispensing openings, characterized in that the inner container further onto at least one of the location removed from the dispensing opening is connected to the outer container. 23. Method as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the inner container is connected to the outer container at a location which is substantially diametrically opposite the dispensing opening. A method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the inner container is connected to the outer container by clicking or clamping. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the outer container is provided with an opening at the location of the connecting location, through which a fastening element connected to the inner container is inserted. 26. Method as claimed in claims 24 and 25, characterized in that the fastening element is pin-shaped and an end part thereof is inserted after being pushed through the opening, such that its dimensions become larger than those of the opening. 27. Method as claimed in claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the fixing element is formed as a whole with the inner holder. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that the inner container is formed in the outer container. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that the inner container is formed separately from the outer container and is subsequently mounted in and connected to the outer container. 30. Method as claimed in claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the inner container and the outer container are formed as relatively thick-walled, substantially tubular semi-finished products, and after being connected to them are inflated to their final, relatively thin-walled form. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 30, 30, characterized in that the inner container and / or the outer container is / are at least partially manufactured from plastic. A method according to claims 30 and 31, characterized in that the inner container and the outer container are formed by (co-) injection molding. 33. A method according to claims 30 and 31, characterized in that the inner container and the outer container are formed by (co-) extrusion. A method according to any one of claims 31 to 33, characterized in that the inner container and / or the outer container is / are formed from several layers. A method according to any one of claims 20 to 35, characterized in that a space is defined for a displacement medium between the inner container and the outer container. 37. Method as claimed in claims 25 and 36, characterized in that the space is determined at the location of the connection location and is brought into communication with the environment via the opening. 38. A method according to claim 37, characterized in that the space is determined by partially forcing the fastening element back into the outer container, wherein a part of the inner container connected to the fastening element is moved away from the outer container. A method according to claim 37 or 38, characterized in that a connecting member 25 for a source of displacement medium is connected to the outer container at the location of the opening. A method according to claim 39, characterized in that the connecting member is connected to the outer container by means of the fixing element. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 40 or according to the preamble of claim 22, characterized in that an elongate member is introduced into the inner container from the dispensing opening to prevent the inner container from collapsing. A method according to claim 41, characterized in that the anti-collapse member is at least partially made of plastic. A method according to claim 42, characterized in that the anti-collapse member is formed by injection molding or by extrusion. 1034419