NZ544869A

NZ544869A - Closure for collapsible container

Info

Publication number: NZ544869A
Application number: NZ544869A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Scott Lindsay Brown
Original assignee: Scott Lindsay Brown
Priority date: 2003-06-30
Filing date: 2004-06-25
Publication date: 2009-05-31
Also published as: EP1648795A1; JP2007537931A; US20070007233A1; EP1648795A4; WO2005000702A1

Abstract

A closure (1) for a collapsible fluid container (2, 3) is disclosed. The closure includes an outer cap (4) having at least one vent opening, an inner float seal (5), an edge seal (6) and a shoulder seal. In use, the closure is attached to the container, and if the container is forcibly collapsed, air is driven between the top edge (7) of the neck (8) of the container and the underside of the edge seal, then between the edge seal and top surface (9) of the outer cap to escape through the vent opening(s) (14) to outside the closure; further depression of the container forces material within the container to urge a bowl (10) of the inner float seal upwards, forcing the edge seal against the outer cap, preventing the material from escaping; releasing the container creates a vacuum effect which draws the inner float seal toward the container and the shoulder seal to seal against the top edge of the neck of the container, so then the outer cap can be tightened on the container, holding the shoulder seal against the top edge of the neck and the edge seal against the outer cap, forming a double seal.

Description

544869 CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Field of Invention This invention relates to closures for collapsible containers.

Background Art In my Australian patent no. 738438, 1 have described a collapsible container having an internal closure valve. As the container is emptied of its contents, the side walls of the container are able to collapse 10 reducing the volume of the container, the closure valve providing a seal between the remaining contents and the spout of the container.

The present invention has similar objectives to the invention described by my Australian patent no. 738438 and is primarily aimed at reducing the costs of such containers.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

Disclosure of Invention 2C According to the present invention, there is provided closure means for a collapsible liquid container having an externally threaded spout, said closure means comprising: (a) a cap having air bleed means; (b) a valve located within the spout said valve haying a 25 peripheral flange adapted to be seated between the top edge of the threaded spout and the cap, and a semispherical diaphragm dome which extends into the spout, the arrangement and construction being such that as the liquid content of the container is reduced, headspace air within the container can be evacuated via the air bleed means.

The bleed means may delude an air passage situated on the inner wall of the cap and an aperture or apertures in the top or side walls of the cap which vent the interiors of the container to atmosphere. 544869 2 PCT/A U 2004/000841 The spout includes a peripheral internally directed ledge.

The valve may be moulded in a material such as silicone or similar.

The cap may be moulded in plastics.

The container may be moulded in plastics.

The container may be formed from a laminate including a paperboard.

The closure means may include a biasing spring positioned , between the base of the dome and the cap.

Brief Description of the Drawings Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional drawing of the spout of a flexible container showing closure means according to the present invention, and 15 Figure 2 is a side view of a flexible bottle container showing the closure means of the present invention detached, and Figure 3 is a side view of a box-type container showing the closure means of the present invention attached thereto.

Figures 4. 5. 6 and 7 are sectional drawings of a further possible 2 0 form of the present invention.

With respect to the drawings, the present invention provides a closure means generally indicated by arrow 1 for fixture to a collapsible liquid container 2, 3.

The closure means comprises a cap 4 having an air bleed 2 5 facility and a valve generally indicated by arrow 5.

The valve is provided with a peripheral flange 6 which is adapted to be seated between the top edge 7 of a threaded spout 8 of the container and |he top wall 9 of the cap 4, and semi-spherical dome 10 which extends into the spout.

An air bleed facility is provided by an interaction between the cap 4 and the valve 5.

The cap 4 is provided with an internal thread 11 to match the 544869 3 PCT/A U 2004/000841 external thread 12 of the container.

The internal walls of the cap are provided with a plurality of flutes 13 each of the flutes leading to apertures 14 in the top wail of the flutes.

As the contents of the containers are used and it is desired to 5 reduce the evacuated air from the headspace of the container, the cap and diaphragm are replaced and axial pressure is applied to the container forcing the ledge of the diaphragm to lift and air is evacuated via the apertures in the manner illustrated by figure 1.

The cap is set to "venf at one half turn from the fully sealed position thus allowing the valve clearance from the cap and the bottle.

As the fluid in the container reaches the valve its buoyancy locks it against the cap creating an air lock and stopping further evacuation of air or moisture.

Recoil from the collapsing container creates reverse suction that forces the valve back onto the top edge of the spout of the bottle, thus creating the hydraulic lock required to prevent re-inflation of the bottle.

A final permanent seal is created by twisting the cap until it is fully closed. Indicia on the cap and bottle can be provided which indicate both sealed and venting positions.

The venting path of air from the headspace is indicated by the directional arrows to the right hand side of figure 1.

Evacuated air passes over the top edge 7 of the spout 8 of the container around the flange 6 and is vented via apertures 14 in the top wall 9 of the cap.

A supplementary air vent (not shown) may be provided in the side wall of the cap to reduce the chances of a person's eyes being splashed by liquid durin^ihe venting process.

The closure means can be used on any form of collapsible container.

Figure 2 of the drawing^ illustrates a container 2 similar to that described by my Australian patent no. 738438.

Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates a box-type container 3 544869 4 PCT/A U2004/000841 similar to the well known Tetra-pak™.

With respect to figures 4, 5 and 6 of the present invention according to a further aspect of the present invention, the closure may include a biasing spring 15 positioned between the base 16 of thedome 10 and the 5 underside of the cap 4.

The spring 15 may be fabricated from stainless steel or food grade plastics and regulates the flow of air and liquid.

Figure 4 of the drawings shows the cap in a "compression* position. As a container 2 is compressed, air passes by the seal of the 10 buoyancy valve and escapes via the bleeder holes in the top of the cap in a similar manner to that described in relation to figure 1. When fluid in the container 2 reaches.the valve 5, it causes it to rise and block the flow of air via the bleeder holes as is the situation illustrated by figure 5. Once this happens, the container can no longer be compressed. When the container is 15 released (figure 6) recoil from the concertina in the container draws the valve on to the container neck creating a hydraulic lock. With the valve in this position, the container cannot reinflate.- The cap is then tightened (figure 7) to create a permanent seal.

The spring 15 can be secured by upper and lower saddles 17, 20 18 formed in the dome and cap respectively.

The closure means of the present invention provides an economic, secure and simply operated device for venting collapsible containers to reduce headspaces.

Aspects of the present invention have been described byway of 25 example only and modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

SCOTT LINDSAY BROWN

Claims

1. 07/04 2009 13:58 FAX 0755710442 CULLEN & CO @004 544869 Received at IPONZ on 7 April 2009 5 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1, A collapsible container with a neck and an opening in the neck and closure therefore, the closure including, a) an outer cap wi th a top wall and depending skirt to receive the neck of the 5 container and at least one vent opening therein; and b) an inner float seal located within the outer cap, the inner float seal including a downwardly extending bowl extending across the opening, an edge seal to seal the inner float seal to the outer cap and a shoulder seal located on the downwardly extending bowl spaced inwardly from the edge 10 seal and to seal the inner float seal to the opening, the inner float seal attached to the outer cap, hut movable in relation thereto; wherein, in use, the closure is attached to the container and the container is forcibly collapsed, driving any air within the container out between the edge seal and the outer cap to escape through the at least one vent opening to 15 outside the closure, further depression of the container forcing the material within the container to urge the bowl upwardly and the edge seal against the outer cap preventing the material from escaping, releasing the container creating a vacuum effect which draws the inner float seal toward the container and the shoulder seal to seal against the opening whereupon the outer cap can 20 be tightened to the container, holding the shoulder seal against the opening and the edge seal against the outer cap, forming a double seal.

2. A closure for a collapsible container having a neck with an opening, the closure including, a) an outer cap with a top wall and depending skirt to receive the neck of 2 5 the container and at least one vent opening therein; and b) an inner float seal located within the outer cap, the inner float seal including a downwardly extending bowl extending across the opening, an edge seal to seal the inner float seal to the outer cap and a shoulder seal located on the bowl to seal the inner float sea) to the opening, 3 0 spaced inwardly from the edge seal, the inner float sea) attached to the outer cap, but movable in relation thereto; wherein, in use, the closure is attached to the container and the container is 07/04 2009 13:58 FAX 0755710442 CULLEN & CO @005 544869 Received at IPONZ on 7 April 2009 6 forcibly collapsed, driving any air within the container out between the edge seal and the outer cap to escape through the at least one vent opening to outside the closure, further depression of the container forcing the material within the container to urge the bowl upwardly and the edge seal against the 5 outer cap preventing the material from escaping, releasing the container creating a vacuum effect which draws the inner float seal toward the container and the shoulder seal to seal against the opening whereupon the outer cap can be tightened to the container, holding the shoulder seal against the opening and the edge seal against the outer cap, forming a double seal. 10

3. A closure according to claim 2 further including biasing means to bias the inner float seal into the container when the closure is attached to the container,

4. A closure as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3wherein the bowl is semi spherical, cone, disk or spherical in shape to seal off flow of mate-rid within the container when all air is evacuated from the container. 15

5. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein ihe edge seal is resilient to provide a seal upon an inner surface of the outer cap.

6. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the depending skirt of the outer cap includes an internal thread to match an external thread provided on a neck portion of the container. 2 0 1.

7.A closure as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the outer cap is provided with at least one opening functioning as an air bleed facility when the container is collapsed.

8. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein a plurality of flutes is provided on an inner wall of the outer cap to prevent escape of material from 2 5 the container,

9. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 further including indicia on the outer cap to indicate venting and sealing positions of the closure.

10. A container and closure according to claim 1 further including indicia on the outer cap and corresponding indicia on the container to indicate venting and 3 0 sealing positions of the closure when the indicia are aligned,

11. A closure as claimed in claim 3 having a seat for positioning of the biasing means.