SK49494A3 - Collapsible container - Google Patents

Abstract

A semi-rigid container (1) is shown in figure 1 with a folding portion (7) consisting of a plurality of diamond shaped panels (112) forming a frustoconical shape. The panels (112) are arced relative to the interconnecting frustoconical substrate (111) in the transverse and longitudinal directions so that while the panels (112) resist expansion from internal container pressure they are able to expand transversely to enable folding of the folding portion (7) under a longitudinal collapsing force and to resist expansion from the collapsed state. Other shapes of the panels (112) are also described.

Description

Foldable sealable packaging

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to packages, in particular semi-reinforced collapsible closable packages. The invention relates significantly, but not exclusively, to the use of containers for the storage of gas-saturated solutions and the like.

The term semi-reinforced packaging refers to a packaging material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which will not be deformed or stretched in its content, as in the case of a flexible packaging, although the packaging according to the invention has some flexibility as opposed to a rigid packaging. The term semi-reinforced is used throughout this patent application, including the claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas-saturated solutions, such as carbonated drinks and the like, are usually stored under pressure in airtight containers or the like in order to keep these liquids in a gas-saturated state or at least to limit the extent of gas leakage from the fluid, whether carbon dioxide or other gas. .

When the package is opened, the gases tend to escape from the fluid. The leakage process may be slowed to some extent by resealing the package. However, after re-closing, there is an enlarged upper space into which the gas can escape.

If this upper space can be small even when the volume of the beverage or other liquid is reduced, the extent of leakage or other loss of gas from the solution can, as is well known. To date, a number of collapsible packages have been developed. Some of these collapsible containers are moss-type containers. Such packages have many disadvantages.

First, these containers do not function as pressure vessels, so they cannot be used to store carbonated soft drinks before selling them. When such a container is filled with a carbonated non-alcoholic beverage, the internal pressures exerted on the saturated liquid will draw its wall after the cap is tightened. The package is expanded to inflated to form extensive

9344 upper space causing loss of carbonation. This could also occur with a slight movement and it would not be expected that the packaging would withstand the harsh conditions of transport and the handling methods of packaging containing non-alcoholic beverages when leaving the filling operation.

Secondly, the ability of the moss-type packaging to expand and fold causes a partial folding of the shape of the packaging and reclosing tendency to further expand and subsequently lose carbonation under the influence of the forces exerted by the fluid forming the upper space, in particular, if the packaging is dropped or shaken in any other way. This significantly harms the intended purpose.

Although some moss-type packages show improvement, they do not eliminate the above-mentioned problems completely. In addition, they must be manufactured with relatively strict tolerances and are extremely uncomfortable to use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,361 (Jones et al.) Attempted to overcome the problem of inflatability prior to the need for folding, i.e. after the package was filled. Unfortunately, this can never be achieved in the case of moss-type packaging without the use of any clamping outer device maintaining the necessary shape. Such a device would have to be attached to the package resulting in increased costs. Although such a package could partially resist stretching beyond the fill level, it would not yet resist the very high pressures generated by shaken carbonated soft drinks.

If such an inflation occurred, the shape of the package would initially have been determined by Jones et al. stretched, resulting in irreparable damage to the polymer.

In this context, this type of packaging cannot be practically made of current polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic materials. Also, because of the large surface area of such a package, there would be increased material consumption costs. This type of sealable package would also tend to inflate from the collapsed state.

The ripples applied by Jones et al. are defined by a number of ridges and grooves in which each comb contains planar areas defined by quadrilaterals and acts as a hinge allowing the folding process.

9344

U.S. Pat. 4492313 (Wandering) also does not typically function as the original pressure vessel. Therefore, it cannot also be used for the purpose of storing soft drinks prior to sale. Indeed, craving has advanced to overcome the problem of re-expandable inflation from a partially collapsed state. However, the way in which Touzani achieves this presents another problem. The packaging is folded in a way that can be called in sections and expels the contents in a steep rise, which may not correspond to the free upper space. This folding method also causes the contents to be ejected. In addition, the content handler may apply excessive pressure after tightening the threaded plug (by bending the circles down), resulting in some leakage of the contents when the plug is subsequently released.

United Kingdom Patent Application 781,103 (Trust International Patents) discloses a resealable container for viscous materials such as toothpaste provided with axial side wall undulations. Pressures on the base allow them to move inwardly of the wall when folded in relation to material consumption. U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,211 (Hollingworth), Dutch Patent 294186 (Metal Box), U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,134 (Cooper) and French Patents 2294297 (Normos) and 623181 (Liesse) suggest various other collapsible containers that use a accordion or other type of wall-folding construction. However, these containers are not suitable for soft drinks. The containers of U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,111 and British Patent No. 781,103 are particularly unsuitable because they are more easily exposed to internal pressure which, after filling, could inflate them as a result of the effect of the ripples or punctures they are equipped with.

These packages could easily expand from the collapsed state, especially if they are constructed of a resilient material. The United Kingdom patent 781,103 has a particularly high tendency to re-expand. Each of these packages is folded into seams at the periphery of a circular shape, as best shown in FIG. 8 of U.S. Pat. 4865211. In Dutch patent 294186 and British patent 781,103, a specific focus is made on folding the wall on itself or resting it on an unfolded circular wall before it is folded. The walls of these containers are made of a resilient material such as polyethylene. In case

No. 9344 of British Patent 781,103 is not a liquid but a viscous material. In this way, the walls under the area of action of the folding forces are supported in the sense that the material resists this movement. This facilitates the resilience of the resilient walls to the formation of bulges under the influence of collapsing forces.

Other collapsible containers comprise a proportional portion of the flexible bag that is collapsible to limit the formation of the upper space. While simple bags overlapping collapsible containers can be filled with liquids such as still wine, they cannot be filled with pressurized liquids such as sparkling wine. This is due to the fact that the simple bag has by its characteristics a given tendency to re-inflate after folding if there is pressure within such a package. Therefore, improvements of this type of collapsible package focus on requiring special control means, such as the outer package, the sleeve, and the like, to control folding and keep the collapsed package collapsed. The external control means could increase the costs which must always be taken into account. Examples of such sealable containers are described in the aforementioned Copper and Normos patents.

Various other possible solutions have been proposed with respect to PET-based or other plastic-based packaging, one of the most popular at this time being the petaloid basis of New Zealand Patent 227274 (Continental Technologies, Inc.).

The object of the at least one assembly according to the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned problems in a new way or at least to offer the public a useful choice.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

to mean a substantial case of such a bag

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semi-rigid, sealable container, the side wall of which has a pleated portion having a plurality of panel means, each of which means is arcuate at least transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container. wherein the side wall is designed so that said panel means act together

9344 in order to resist the stretching of said composite part of a composite shape, but with the possibility of folding said composite part under the influence of a longitudinal folding force to gradually fold it into the remaining portion of the package in order to reduce its internal volume.

Other features of the invention will be further elucidated in the following description.

Overview of the figures in the drawing

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an example assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-section of the assembly of FIG. 1 under partial composition conditions.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the assembly of FIG. 1 under full composition conditions.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-section along line X-X in FIG. First

Fig. 5 is a detail of the overhang of the assembly of another example of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of an assembly of another example of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of an assembly of yet another example of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic front view of a panel according to the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the rear side of the panel shown in FIG. 8th

Fig. 10 is a schematic side view of the panel shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9th

Fig. 11 is a schematic side view of folding the control portion of an example of the invention

Fig. 12 is a cross-section along line J-J in FIG. 11th

Fig. 13 is a cross-section along line I-I in FIG. 11th

Fig. 14 is a schematic side view of another possible assembly of the invention.

Fig. 15a, 15b and 15c show yet another assembly according to the invention in its original, partially folded and fully folded state.

Fig. 16 shows schematically yet another assembly according to FIG

9344 of the invention.

Fig. 17 and 18 show schematically possible package base assemblies according to the present invention.

Fig. 19a and 19b show possible alternative panel configurations for other assemblies according to the invention.

Fig. Figs. 20a, 20b and 20c show schematically the effect of dropping in or inverting the cylindrical shell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary assemblies shown in the drawings and the following description in relation to the drawings, this section being made by way of example only, are by no means a limitation of possible modifications of the invention.

In FIG. 1 shows an example of a semi-reinforced closable package. Packaging 1 is a generally elongated soft drink bottle. At one end it has an opening 2 and is provided with a thread 3 for repeated sealing using a screw cap (not shown). In this case, the wrapper 1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), although any other suitable material may be used as long as it has semi-shear properties.

The side wall 4 of the package 1 comprises a flexible part 5. In the case of this example, the flexible part is defined between the dashed lines A and B.

Referring to FIG. 2 and also in FIG. 3, it will be seen how the flexural portion 5 of the side wall 4 of the package 1 gradually folds under the influence of a folding force guided longitudinally and respectively inside the package 1, in particular in this case directed along the longitudinal axis 9 in direction 9, thereby dimensioning the outwardly open the depressions 10 increase as the inner volume of the container 1 decreases.

As the folding operation continues, the flexible portion 5 of the package 1 moves down to a position in the storage portion 12, which in this case is provided with a peripheral portion 13 and a base 14.

Referring now to FIG. 1 in order to assess the folding activity in more detail. The flexible part 5 of this example comprises an activation part 6 and a control part 7.

The activation portion 6 of this example is configured to:

Ί

9344 has alternating areas of weakness and gain, and has a relatively greater tendency to fold under the action of forces in direction 9 than the adjacent control portion 7 and the neck portion 11. In this way, a correspondingly controlled movement of the actuating portion 6 occurs in order to induce the folding operation already explained as a result of the action of the folding force in the direction 9.

In this example according to the invention, the alternating areas of amplification and attenuation in the actuation portion 6 are provided with two adjacent transversely arranged circular sections of the side wall. The lines of attenuation are defined in the gaps of adjacent circular sections. The lines of attenuation may be by varying the angle in section 6 rather than reducing the material thickness by grinding or the like.

The control part 7 is in this case provided with a number of generally elongated polygonal panels 112, each having 4 diamond-shaped sides. The panels 112 are individually arranged to be directed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the package and are positioned side by side so as to provide the side wall 4 generally with the truncated cone shape.

This overall shape of the truncated cone helps the flexible portion 5 of the side wall 4 to fold into position in the storage portion 12, as will now be explained. However, other shapes may also be used, such as cylinders and polygons, which provide similar purpose panel means on the flexible portion 5, such as those designated by reference 112. However, such shapes would affect the space in which the flexible portion 5 can be stored and require appropriate adjustments to the storage designed to be folded. With particular reference to FIG. 2 and 3, it is noted that, disregarding the edge 100 at the periphery of the depression 10 resulting from the formation of a bend that rolls into the package, the circumference of the bending sections of the flexible portion 5 is smaller than the diameter of the sections that will only bend. Accordingly, there is space to accommodate the bent portions in the storage portion 12 after they have been purposely folded.

Referring to FIG. 20 further illustrates this point. If the side wall of the package 500 has a generally cylindrical shape, as seen, as opposed to the truncated cone shape, then attempting to store the package in such a manner would result in an inwardly dropped circle formed from the top wall 499 having a diameter H (see FIG. 20b). it would have to be smaller than its diameter G (see Fig. 20a). This would

9344 caused an axial tension that would prevent it from sinking. There would be no space in the cylinder into which the wall 500 could be folded while maintaining the original G diameter.

L instead of inward folding, and this would lead the cylindrical wall 500, as shown on the walls in the direction, to undulate FIG. 20b, by increasing the diameter if and the like would have to be the folding force in the P direction as opposed to the inward drop. The only way to get the cylinder to behave in this way would be to keep it in the outer frame, or to shape and force it with a plunger piston device that would be stuffed into the cylinder. However, the embossed section would still curl considerably even now due to its inability to receive a reduced diameter (the circumference of a given length does not always have to deform in connection with the reduction in diameter).

Alternatively, it has to be torn or stretched, as is made by reference 498, in relation to the fold, for example as in FIG. 20c, an external device used to affect such behavior.

Therefore, in order to develop such a package which will merely consist of a force guided longitudinally and without the aid of an additional external device, the collapsible section in the absence of the panels of the present invention must be frustoconical or adequately resilient and expandable and contractible, thus, it could not maintain the original dimensions in a new position.

Without such an actuating portion as shown in FIG. 1, even for the truncated cone section, it would be difficult to prove that it can be folded in a controlled manner, especially in the case of an inclined position and a reasonable length of the side wall. Thus, the side wall would not be able to withstand the forces of maximum load and the casing would simply deform and irregularly bend. The force required to initiate a sag at any point of the inclined walls would be considerably greater than the force causing deformation and corrugation of the walls. If part of the wall begins to crimple, then the same crimping continues on the rest of the package as a result of the downward downward pressure.

Referring again to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, as can be appreciated, the person controlling the package will exert a collapsing force in direction 9 and will in fact control the collapsing force only generally in the direction of the arrow 9.

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Thus, there will be variations in the direction of the force exerted. These deviations of the folding forces will cause the folding and folding of the flexible part 5 to be irregularly folded or otherwise reduced, especially if folded very quickly. Irregular folding will result in the side wall 4 bending and curling rather than a gradual folding process that should appear as the desired effect of the folding forces.

The panels 112 of the flexible portion 5 are applied to allow the package to be folded in a predetermined and relatively regular manner.

The panels 112 of the control portion 7 assist in regular folding and reduce the tendency of the side wall to crumple and undulate due to the folding forces. The way this process proceeds is more readily understood when analyzing FIG. 4 and FIG. 5th

The panels 112 of the control portion 7 are shown in a generally domed shape, as can be seen in the end section. An example of this domed shape can be seen in FIG. 4, in which a cross-section along line X-X in FIG. 1. When the panels receive a domed shape as shown with reference to the panel 112 in FIG. 4, the control function performed by the panels 112 during folding is supported.

Only in the position shown in FIG. 4, the panel 112 must be folded. The panel 112 is separated from adjacent panels by means of partition walls 90 and 101, which in this example are shown as relatively narrow non-arcuate sections of the side wall 4 forming a network

111 of the truncated cone substrate shown in FIG. 1. The chord formed between the means of the crossbars 90 and 101 is shown by a dashed line 23.

During folding of the wrapper, in which the side wall 4 will gradually fold inward, the panel 112 will deform by straightening and thereby lose its domed shape. As shown in the drawings, this shape will be greyish. This means that it will be generally similar to the shape of the string 23.

Because the length of the arc of the panel 112 (the length of the arch of the panel

112) is greater than the length of the string 23, the folding will cause a slight increase in the periphery of the depression formed during the folding process. The length of the string between the means of the baffles 90 and 101 on each side of the panel 112 will be increased to the maximum

9344 a length that is equal to the arc length of the panel 112. As the folding continues, the sequentially folded panel 112 will typically return to the overall domed shape it had before straightening and folding.

An enlargement of the circuit is seen in FIG. 5, which illustrates how the perimeter of the recess formed by the side wall 4 and its edge 100 tilts from its normal position corresponding to the overall line of the outside of the package indicated by the dashed line 24 when the downward deflection 26 extends down the wall. The force is transmitted radially in order to increase the circumference of the side wall and is therefore not transmitted down the side wall, which in such a case would result in a ripple thereof. This enlargement of the circumference of the side wall creates space for the side wall sections of the truncated cone so that they can sag from the wall and assume a position within the side wall which is not yet folded. This location feature of the truncated cone section with said panels 112 offers a much lesser waveform resistance formed at the periphery 100 of the recess 10 that moves down the side wall as shown in FIG. 5th

In addition, by forming a network of panels 112 of the side wall 4 of the package according to the present invention, the side wall 4 is divided and folds in sections with a predetermined length of the string. Therefore, the circumference of the deflection forms a polygonal pattern which is defined by joining the strings formed during folding (see Fig. 4). The polygon you create will have a different number of pages depending on the number of panels used and the number of bulges they contain. Therefore, the circumference of the fold section (reference 100 in Fig. 2) will not be circular, as can be found in the patent documents known in the art which have been mentioned above. The polygonal arrangement aids in guiding the folded sections together and together with the ripple creates a latching effect which is further supported by re-forming the domed panels that have spread across the string and to the other side. This latching effect prevents the folded portion from returning to the unfolded position, even under high internal pressure conditions. The corners of the polygon pattern are relatively close to the non-folded side wall area. In the case of domed panels 112, the length of the side of the polygon during folding will be within the length of the string if measured between the sides of the arc before folding

9344 and the arc length of panel 112, as seen in FIG. 4th

By controlling the length of the folded side wall sections, the tendency to curl and crimple is reduced, which could occur during folding. The panels 112 utilize the compensating effect of the deflection 100 as it moves down the packaging, and thus there is a tendency to correct any erroneous deviations from the folding direction of the wrapper caused by the wrapper.

The diamond-shaped domed panels 112 shown in this example of the invention support and control the folding operation of the control portion 7.

A web of bars 90, 101 that extends between the domes of the diamond shapes of the panels 112 forming the bonded substrate

111. adds strength to the control portion 7 to withstand any expansion even when subjected to double axial pressure. When the container 1 is used for storing gas-saturated beverages and the like, simple elongated control panel panels that have been applied in prior art container types could cause wall flexibility, resulting in inflation by pressure in the contained liquid. This could create an upper space with the consequent loss of carbonation.

The network of crossbars 90, 101 interconnecting the diamond-shaped panels 112 is tensioned in both directions after the cap is screwed onto the package and internal pressure is applied. The webs of the crossbars 90 and 101 rest on a substrate or substrate having the shape of a truly truncated cone. That is, the shape, dimensions and / or depth of the interconnecting net or substrate 111 between the panels may be varied in relation to the desired properties of the resulting package. The force applied to the diamond-shaped panel 112 attempts to induce movement in both directions. However, since this force is the same in each direction, the diamond shape cannot change. Since each panel 112 has a fixed size, the control portion 7 cannot be enlarged.

However, there is no force in any direction when the plug is unscrewed. That is, if the plug is unscrewed, the person handling the package may, for example, apply pressure in the direction 9 shown in FIG. 1 (the package is folded down). Because the force is directed in only one direction, the diamond shape of the panels 112 can be forced to remain at rest on the vertical and allow the domed panels 112 to begin to affect the circumference by supplying otherwise excess material. In this sense, circumferential is achieved

9344 increases the deflection 100 as well as folding control in the manner already explained.

The panels 112 also exert a further decisive influence on the behavior of the sealable container 1 used as a collapsible fluid container under pressure. Moreover, the lowered section of the control part is protected from being forced to return to its original position. The curved convexity of the diamond-shaped panels 112 in the lowered position increases again and tends to block if a force is applied to expand the package 1 from its collapsed shape. The pressure increase could be caused, for example, by the fall of the wrapper 1. The sagging section cannot fold back, but tends to remain in place by the effect of a bowing function that has been folded. This allows the package to maintain its integrity as a pressure vessel, even in a partially collapsed state.

In practice, polygons with varying number of sides can be used in the folded section. They may also have combined shapes, although there would be no particular advantage over a diamond-shaped panel network. Polygons with more or less sides could apply different arching solutions. Other geometric shapes could also be applied without departing from the scope of the invention.

The number of cams applied to the panels could also be varied depending on the extent of the specified string management, which affects the balance of the folding. If the basic requirement is a curvature in the transverse or hoop direction, in most cases a curvature also exists in the longitudinal direction.

Turning to FIG. 19a, we find that the bending section 600 of the wrapper of one of the possible assemblies is delimited by a number of triangular panels 601 that are arched such that the top of the arch is located at their centers. In FIG. 19b, the bending section 602 of another assembly is provided with circular panels 603 which are also arched such that the apex of the arch is located at their center.

Referring now to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, we will see that the base 14 is formed to form a cavity 28. The cavity 28 is formed with respect to those portions of the throat 11 that adjoin the flexible portion 5, so that when the casing 1 is completely folded and folded 100 on the side wall has at least the largest dimension, the cavity 28 is completely surrounded by a portion of the neck 11.

In this sense, as seen in FIG. 3 defines the edge 29

9344 of the neck portion 11 in this example, an area that is at least equal to or preferably larger in plan view than the area delimited by the edge 30 of the cavity 28. And in the shown folded position, the edge portions 29 are circumferentially spaced outside the edge 30 to assist flow during folding the fluid contained in the cavity 28 into the throat 11 and the aperture 2 before sagging on the side wall 4.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an alternative arrangement of the flexible portion can be seen. In FIG. 6, the flexible part 15 is provided with an activation part 16 and a control part 17. The control part 17 in this case comprises hexagonal panels 22.

The activation portion 16 is also shown in the embodiment with hexagonal panels 22. The panels 22 forming the activation portion 16. if necessary, they may be smaller or larger than the panels forming the control portion 17 and may be aligned with respect to the location of the panels of the control portion 17.

For beverages that are not saturated with carbon dioxide, and in particular any requirements for hot filling, it may be important to apply a solution allowing some degree of shrinkage after filling. By rearranging the panel-to-panel network, generally indicated by reference 599 (reference 111 in FIG. 1), the ability of the control portion to control the pressure (which would not be necessary in the case of beverages without carbonation) can be avoided in exchange for shrinkage.

This could be achieved, for example, by removing the transverse interconnecting sections 598 from the baffle network and allowing the vaulting of each hexagonal panel 22 to tie in the longitudinal direction. Again, many variations could be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention. All formations would fold in the form of a polygon, as already mentioned.

This removal or alteration of the transverse or other interconnection sections between the panels 22 could be utilized in any assembly according to the invention described herein.

It will be understood that other suitable arrangements will be employed in other assemblies of the present invention in order to activate and control deflection on the flexible portion. For example, in at least one other assembly according to the invention which is provided with panels, the individual panels may extend over

9344, the control portion and the actuation portion substantially across the entire flexible portion of the package. An example of this type is shown in FIG. 7th

In FIG. 7, a sealable container 200 comprising a neck portion 201, a flexible portion 202 disposed between lines G and H, and a storage portion 203 can be seen.

The immediate continuity region of the neck 201 and the flexible portion 202 is provided with a recess 204 to assist in handling the package 200.

The flexible portion 202 is provided with an activation portion 205 and a control portion 206. The storage portion 203 includes a peripheral portion 207 and a base 208.

As can be seen, the flexible portion 202 comprises a plurality of diamond-shaped panels 209 that are domed at least in a transverse direction, all of the panels being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the package 202 and positioned side by side to form the folding portion 202 substantially in truncated cone shape.

In this example of the invention, the panels 199 have different functions in the region of the neck 201 and in the storage portion 203. These panels 199 do not participate in the folding, but on the contrary provide strength to the neck 201 and the storage portion 203 and support the resistance of said parts of the package to corrugation or other deformation under the influence of axially guided folding forces. There is only a slight camber at the neck 201 and the storage portion 203 as compared to the camber of the panels 30.

Other alternative assemblies of the invention may employ small domed panels around the recess 204. These panels may assist the resilience of the recess to plastic extrusion of material under the influence of very high pressure, since this region is not usually as strong as other regions of the package due to the double axial orientation nature. in production. Also other methods may be applied to strengthen the recess 204 without departing from the scope of the invention, such as adding a solid outer retaining ring made of a suitable material to be placed around the recesses 204.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved base portion of a closable beverage container.

During production using a double axial orientation, the orientation of the polymer molecules is less on the top and bottom of the bottle

9344 and therefore it is necessary to manufacture these areas to have a greater thickness, but usually minimizes the need to maintain pressure). A bottle-shaped, base-shaped solution bottle (due to the better capability of having this rounded solution, however, could not stand upright and hence the need for a base type dish having a flat bottom. This can be made by injection molding PET or more commonly used high density polypropylene.

Especially in the United States, considerable attention was paid to the design of the base, which would not use a separate bowl. In this context, Continental Bevarage Containers Inc. designed a base having 4 to 5 punches to form the legs on which the bottle can stand. This design is referred to as a petaloid base, the drawbacks of which are that a greater amount of material is required, while the melt blowing machines require greater pressures during application and molding.

The following drawback is the different thickness of the material in many areas around the base. These differences in thickness result in a whole complex of drawbacks in tensioning the networks formed.

In addition, a drawback is that the unstretched central region having a greater thickness becomes the primary point of bursting under pressure, and that is why this region is the most common failure site of the bottle. The reason for this is that the intense pressure acts to expand the surface in question outwardly.

A further drawback of this method of structural design of the base is that the package cannot stand upright in a stable position on the surface of the type of grate that is most common in refrigeration units. This discourages both traders and customers.

Aim some of the appropriate choices.

Referring again to FIG. 7, the base 208 in this example is shaped to form a cavity 211 substantially similar to that already described with respect to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, in order to promote the collection and removal of the remaining contents of the package to the opening 210. In order for the base 208 to withstand the internal pressures of beverages typically saturated with the gas in question, the package is mainly made of PET or the like. or at least provide

9344 relatively deep inwardly entering bottom, the term inwardly entering bottom being used to denote a cavity especially in the case of champagne bottles.

The base 208 of this example provides an improvement over the previous solutions in that, unlike the feet (as in the case of a petaloid base), it applies a thick circumferential ring on which the bottle rests. This fully fitting ring allows for greater stability when the bottle is placed on an incomplete surface, such as the usual racks in refrigeration units.

Fig. 8 to 13 show enlarged details of examples of diamond shaped panels 209 as shown in FIG. 7. It can be seen that panels 301, 302 and 303 can be designed to form a tapered composite panel 300 at one end. As a partial view of FIG. 9 and the cross-section of FIG. 10 show that the panels 301 and 303 are arched in both the transverse and longitudinal directions, controlling the folding described above. In FIG. 11 to 13, the diamond-shaped control panel panels 305 are shown. These panels 305 are domed and form part of the truncated cone assembly required for the sequential folding procedure.

In FIG. 14, another assembly according to the invention is shown which is indicated as a whole with an arrow 478. This assembly differs from the previous assemblies in that the diamond-shaped panels are replaced by a number of hexagonal panels 475 forming a flexible portion 472. The activation portion 476 is provided with a number of concentric weakening lines whose angles can be changed toward the neck portion 477. Base 474 it is provided with an inside diameter that is equal to or smaller than the edge of the neck section 477. The hexagonal panels 475 are aligned so as to be coaxial in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the package 478. Each panel 475 will be arched at least transversely to allow folding axially than the result of the action of the boring forces, but at the same time resisted circumferential expansion under the influence of internal pressure.

Turning now to FIG. 15a, b, c, the following assembly is generally indicated by an arrow 492. It can be seen that the assembly has a downwardly directed, frustoconical shaped portion 488, which is defined by a network of diamond-shaped panels 420. Such an arrangement of the upwardly bent control part

9344

488 allows for more complete emptying of the package during folding. No air can remain between the folding walls, as is usual in the case of vertical designs. Said network of domed panels 420 resists the stretching forces and keeps the flexible portion 488 in position. Of course, the dimensions of these panels 420 may be different. They may be wider on some packages than on others, and may even be of different sizes on the same package. Once the plug is released, the web 488 is no longer affected by the fluid pressure. Such a force would normally seek to induce the movement of each individual panel 420 of network 488 in both the horizontal and vertical directions. However, since this force is the same in both directions when the plug is tightened, the diamond-shaped panel 488 cannot move. When the plug is loose, there is no force in either direction. In this case, when the plug is released, the person handling the package may, at its discretion, apply pressure in one direction (downward as shown in Fig. 15b to fold the package). Since the force is guided in only one direction, the panels 420 of the network 488 may be forced to release vertically, but these panels 420 begin to affect the circuit 487 by supplying excess material. This circumferential overlap of the deflection 487 is achieved as it moves through the base 490 and thereby also controls the folding process of the package in the manner already described above.

in accordance with this and other assemblies, other versions of the invention may employ more than one flexible control portion.

Referring to FIG. 16, in the case of this assembly, the wrapper 800 has a flexible portion 802 provided with diamond-shaped domed panels 801, generally forming a truncated cone tapering upwardly as opposed to the downwardly tapering of the preceding FIGS. 15th

Returning to the package base of the present invention, we will find further improvements in that the distribution of material throughout the inwardly facing surface 480 of the base is more evenly base 483. FIG. 17 is formed to form a bent circle on the central pillar 481 of a relatively unstretched material around the cavity 479. By positioning the unstretched material in such a shape, the ability to

9344 resistance to pressure and thus to rupture. Not only does its own support come under pressure, but also pushing down to the bottom becomes a virtually impossible phenomenon for this type of packaging, as opposed to frequent deformation of the basic champagne-style bottles made of such thin material that use a convex dome facing inwards .

Alternative embodiments of the base of the present invention may be provided with arched panels arranged to withstand the folding forces as already described with reference to the example of the present invention shown in FIG. 17. Moreover, the arched casings of this area increase the ability to withstand higher pressure levels. Similarly, domed panels help to fold the material in one direction when facing in the direction of the panels that tend to fold. by applying them to the central pillar 481 of FIG. 17, there is a significant reduction in any tendency for the base to be forced to lower and fold folded under pressure.

Fig. 18 depicts another example of a base 483 applying such arched panels 486 around the hollow pillar 486 of the cavity 484 to increase pressure resistance. A further arrangement of the panels can also be applied without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Still other alternative embodiments of the present invention may utilize the inverting folding movement instead of the reverse downward folding process. The package of the present invention could have a flexible portion provided with an invert actuation portion and an invert control portion. Diamond-shaped panels or otherwise shaped in such assemblies would point inwardly and not outwardly.

It will be understood that the present invention, in its various assemblies, provides a package having different portions provided with the ability to adapt to different loads and whose folding is accomplished by bending the middle portion and not by pushing one end inward.

in this sense, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved package equipped with controlled gradual bending of its sidewalls so that they are folded together, and in addition, in preferred embodiments, the package is provided with a base capable of withstanding higher pressures and providing increased stability.

Where references have been made to specific portions or compounds of the invention having known equivalents, these equivalents have been used herein or have been individually explained.

While the present invention has been explained by way of example and with reference to possible assemblies, it is understood that modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (13)

PATENT R 0 ίξ Ύ '‘ A semi-rigid sealable container (1), characterized in that its side wall (4) has a folding portion (5, 15) provided with a plurality of panel means (112), each of said panel means (112) being at least transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the package (1), the side wall (4) being provided. for said panel means (112) to act together to resist folding of the part (5, 15) from the collapsed state and to provide strength against the longitudinally acting folding force (y) while allowing the foldable foldable portion (5, 15) to be gradually folded the folding portion (5, 15) thus conditionally folds with respect to the remaining portion of the package (1) in connection with the reduction of the internal volume of the package (1). Semi-reinforced closable container according to claim 1, characterized in that said folding 15 / has a generally frustoconical shape. z n a part / 5, The semi-rigid feature of the present foldable wrapper means a sealable wrapper according to the fact that (112) the cover (1) is also arched and resists the flexible parts (5, 15) (1). of claim 1 or claim 2, said panel in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inflation mentioned by the pressure inside The semi-reinforced closable package according to claim 1, characterized in that said individual panel means (112) have a polygonal shape and their axes of continuity are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the package. Semi-reinforced closable package (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that each panel means (112) has a diamond shape, its main axis being oriented completely parallel to the longitudinal axis of the package (1). • Semi-rigid closable container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said foldable flexible portion (5, 15) is positioned so as to be separated from the neck region fYLf and the base base region (14). Semi-reinforced closable package (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the explained truncated cone shape tapers inwardly towards the neck portion (11) of the package (1) such that the neck portion (11) moves due to said folding force. to the base base area (14). Semi-reinforced sealable container (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner diameter (29) of said neck section (11) is generally equal to or greater than the inner diameter (30) of said base region (23), so that under explained conditions In the composition, the remaining contents of the base region (28) can be discharged into said neck portion (11). The semi-rigid closable container (492) of claim 2, wherein the truncated cone shape (488) tapers inwardly toward the container base region (490) so that when the container (492) is folded, the region (490) the base moves inwardly of the folded flexible portion (420) to the neck portion of the package (492). Semi-reinforced closable package (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said folding flexible portion (5, 15) comprises an activation portion (6, 16) having one or more zones to facilitate folding itself. Semi-rigid closable container (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said folding portion (15) comprises at least a first zone (16) having an overall smaller circumference with respect to the transverse direction explained than any other zone in the folding flexible zone. parts / 15 /. The semi-rigid closable package (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the actuating portion (16) is provided with said panel means (22). Ί3. The semi-rigid closable package (1) of claim 5, wherein the triangular panels (601) positioned together form said diamond shape. The semi-rigid closable container (1) of claim 1, wherein each of the panel means (603) has a substantially circular shape. The semi-rigid closable container (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a base region (208, 483) having a hollow, substantially deep central portion (211, 485), and a circular portion formed therebetween that forms a stable support of the container (200) standing on a certain surface. The semi-rigid closable package (200, 800) of claim 15, wherein said deep hollow portion (485) comprises a plurality of domed panels (486) to prevent otherwise possible bending of said area (483) under the effect of pressure exerted in the inside the package (200, 800).