WO2000055060A1

WO2000055060A1 - Beverage container with integral straw

Info

Publication number: WO2000055060A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/000283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Consolaro; Angelo Consolaro
Original assignee: Brevetti Angela S.R.L.
Priority date: 1999-03-16
Filing date: 2000-03-16
Publication date: 2000-09-21
Also published as: AU3183800A; ITBO990123A0; ITBO990123A1; IT1310345B1

Abstract

A mono-component set of thermoplastic container with articulated straw carried out by blowing, filling and sealing operations includes: a container (1); a straw (2) in flow communication with this container (1) and having a first section (3), an articulation (4), a second section (5) movable from an operator and a third section (6), fixed with the second section (5); and a closure element (7), provided on the end of the third section (6). In a second embodiment, the set further includes a cap (13) covering the third section (6) of the straw (2) and fit to also guarantee the covering after the fruition of the product packaged in the container (1).

Description

BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH INTEGRAL STRAW

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to the packaging of liquids and particularly refers to a mono- component set of thermoplastic container with articulated straw carried out with blow, fill and seal operations.

BACKGROUND ART

Such making technique is known with the term of "blow-fill-seal", according to which the container is first of all blown, subsequently filled with the liquid to be contained and finally tightly sealed, all that with a unique moulding and filling operation.

Containers of this type are mainly used for the packaging of pharmaceutical and sanitary products and they are made with thermoplastic material (for instance polyethylene).

Containers with straw are known, having a straw glued along the external surface of the container. In such case, during the use, the straw is detached from the container and inserted into the container through the fracture of an opening protected by an aluminum film, so that its free end contacts the liquid packaged in the container.

The main disadvantage of such kind of containers is given by the fact that the liquid contained must be drank in a single drink, in fact the straw cannot be placed on the container after opening or otherwise preserved. A further disadvantage is given by the fact that the straw, glued on the container, sometimes is lost due to the detachment from the same container during the different phases between the container packaging and the use thereof. A disadvantage is given by the fact that containers and straws are made with different materials and detached after usage. Such circumstance is strongly disadvantageous for the used material recycling, because the containers and the straws are generally made of different materials and the straws are not recyclable, due to their small sizes that make difficult their finding after use.

They are also known containers so-called "limp" made with semi-stiff materials and shaped as pouch at which base is integrally connected a channel in flow communication with the inside of the container so that to be considered and used as "straw" for the fruition of the liquid packaged into the relative container.

The main disadvantage of these last containers is due to the fact that they are not self- supporting and the connected channel -straw is not stiff and therefore there are problems of use: often the deformation of such containers and/or of the straw in correspondence of the liquid fruition cause the accidental and casual tipping in the zone surrounding the straw.

DISCLOSURE OF THE -INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to propose a container of liquid drinkable by means a straw integral to the same container so that to be easily available in correspondence of the fruition of the packaged liquid.

A further object is to propose a thermoplastic container and a straw such as to realize a set of mono-component allowing an easy recycling.

Other object is to propose a set with a relatively low cost of realization due to the employment of a single moulding operation for making the container and the associate straw. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention features are highlighted in the following with particular reference to the attached draw sheets in which: - figure 1 A shows a frontal, top and lateral perspective view of a first embodiment of the set of container-straw with the straw in vertical rest position, provided with a closure element; figure IB shows a view of the container of figure 1A, with the straw in a use angled position and with the closure element represented in exploded view; - figure 2A shows a frontal view of the first embodiment of the set of container-straw with the straw in vertical rest position; figure 2B shows a lateral view of the set of figure 2A, with the straw represented both with a continuous lining (vertical rest position) and with a section lining (angled using position); - figure 2C shows a top view of the set of figure 2A; figure 3A shows a frontal, top and lateral perspective view of a second embodiment of the set of container-straw with the straw in vertical rest position provided with the closure element and having an additional cap, this latter drawn with section lining; figure 3B shows a frontal, top and lateral perspective view of the set of figure 3A, with the straw in angled using position, and with the closure element and the additional cap represented with exploded view;

- figure 4A shows a frontal view of the set of figure 3A with the straw in vertical rest position; figure 4B shows a lateral view of the set of figure 3A, with the straw represented both with a continuous lining (vertical rest position) and with a section lining (angled using position);

- figure 4C shows a top view of the set of figure 3A, with the straw in vertical rest position.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In figures 1A and IB the set according to the invention is shown m perspective views and comprises a container 1 made in thermoplastic mateπal and provided with a straw, wholly indicated with numeral 2. The straw 2 comprises in particular: a first section 3, coming out from the base of the container 1 and in flow communication with this latter; an articulation 4, a second section 5 removable from the side wall of the container 1 by the operator and fit for assume a vertical rest position and several angled using positions; a third section 6, fixed to the second section 5 and having a great thickness in comparison with this latter; and finally a closure element 7, made on the distal end of the third section 6 to whose free end is made the mouth of the straw 2 The thickness difference between the second section 5 of the straw 2 and the third section 6 is advantageous, because it allows a better straw picking by the user mouth allowing therefore a better aspiration of the liquid packaged m the container.

The closure element 7 is fixed to the third straw section 6 through a tear-off welding, not illustrated in the figures. Such tear-off welding is made after forming the closure element 7 and it must be considered as a thin film to be broken, duπng usage, by the closure rotation.

The figures 1A and IB illustrate in particular an advantageous closure 7 shape, comprising a circular base 9 for joining the third straw section 6 and a rectangular fin 10, fit to be handled and rotated.

Near to the articulation 4, the container 1 is conformed for making a first recess zone 8. This first zone 8 is advantageous, because it allows a better and more easy oπentation of the straw duπng the use.

Near to the closure element 7, the container 1 has a second recess zone 12 , whose presence is advantageous since it allows an easy realization of the closure element 7, whose fin 10 can, for instance, be positioned also perpendicularly to the side walls of the container facing thereof, and its easy gπppmg and handling by the operator

The container 1 is finally advantageously provided with a cap 11 fully formed and joined in correspondence of the container moulding. A variant provides that the cap 11 is detachable and therefore the container is closable again after its first use.

The use operations, shown in the figures from 1A to 2B, include the operator taking of the container 1, and then the straw picking in correspondence of the third section 6 and the subsequent detachment of this latter from the side wall of the container 1 due to the articulation 4, in the position illustrated with a section lining of figure 2B. The operator therefore by means of the closure rotation, opens the straw mouth in order to suck therefrom the liquid packaged into the same container.

After have drunk the liquid, the user can close again the straw 2 mouth by pressing the closure element 7 against the straw mouth.

It is advantageous to highlight that the straw 2 can be initially fixed to the side wall of the container 2, for instance through a thin membrane of thermoplastic material expressly provided during its realization.

Now referring to the figures 3 A and 3B, showing perspective views of a second embodiment of the set according to the invention.

Particularly, with respect to the preferred embodiment, a cap 13 is provided, in order to prevent the contamination of the food liquid with the external environment (contamination that, for instance, could provoke the oxidation of the liquid) after removing the closure element 7 and during a not using condition by the operator.

Such cap 13, in exploded view in figure 3B, has a circular base 14 provided with blocking means 19 essentially constituted by a tooth 15 fixed to the cap 13 and a vertical rib 16, made on the side wall of the container 1 joined thereto, through a tear-off welding. The straw 2 so is a kind of guarantee seal for the container.

Therefore the operator, must remove the straw 2 from the container body 1 so braking the tear-off welding joining the πb 16 and must rotate the cap 13 in order to detach the closure element 7 that remains hooked inside the cap 13, m which is complementaπly inserted, and therefore to free the pouπng mouth of the straw 2

It is often necessary to apply a vertical pressure, from up to down, onto the cap 13 while this latter is rotated in order to disengage the tooth 15 from a prominence made in the πb 16 m correspondence of the welding zone of the tooth 15 to this prominence.

The cap 13 is represented with a section lining in figure 3 A, m order to make visible his content previously the set use by an operator

This second embodiment further advantageously is provided with a couple of fins 17, disposed on the second section 5 of the straw and such to limit the downward movement of the cap 13 onto the straw after its insertion by an operator after its use. In such a way it is prevented that the internal side of the upper surface of the cap 13 contacts the straw mouth

The function of the fins 17 can be amplified through a nosing 18 on the base of the third straw section 6.

Besides, one of the fins 17 is peπpherally "welded" to the container side wall, or better to the vertical πb 16, through a thermoplastic mateπal film suitably left in correspondence of the thermoforming operation and breakable when the straw 2 is moved away from the container.

The further figures from 4A to 4C allow a better appreciation of what above mentioned with reference to the figures 3 A and 3B

It is also advantageous to underline that the container 1, being of thermoforming plastic, even if sufficiently stiff, can be "squeezed' and therefore it can be easy understood that the fruition of the contained liquid is greatly facilitate The liquids preferably packaged into said set and drinkable are mostly alimentary liquids such as milk, fruit juices, etc.

The main advantage of the present invention is to furnish a container for liquid drinkable by means of a straw integral to the same container so that to be easily available in correspondence of the fruition of the packaged liquid.

An further advantage is to furnish a thermoplastic container and a straw fit to realize a mono-component set allowing an easy recycling of the whole container and of every its accessory.

Another advantage is to realize a set whose production costs are extremely reduced by virtue of a single moulding operation for making the container and the joined straw.

Claims

1) Mono-component set of thermoplastic container with articulated straw carried out by means of blow-fill-seal operations, with the set being characterized in that includes: - a container (1);

- a straw (2) in flow communication with said container (1), having a first straw section (3), an articulation (4), a second section (5) of straw detachable from said container (1) and destined to assume a rest position and a plurality of angled using positions and a third straw section (6), fixed with said second section (5) of the straw (2);

- a closure element (7), carried out on the third section (6) end of the straw (2).

2) Mono-component set according to the claim 1 characterized in that after forming the closure element (7) and previously to its first use, a tear-off welding is made between said closure element (7) and said third section (6) of the straw (2),with said tear-off welding broken during usage, by rotating the closure element (7).

3) Mono-component set according to the claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said third section (6) of the straw (2) has a thickness greater than the thickness of said second section (5) of the straw (2).

4) Mono-component set according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said container (1) is provided with a first recess zone (8), displaced near to said articulation (4).

5) Mono-component set according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the container (1) is provided with a second recess zone (12), laying near to the closure element (7).

6) Mono-component set according to any of the preceding claims characterized from the fact that said closure element (7) comprises a circular base (9) joining the third section (6) of the straw (2) and a rectangular fin (10), with this latter destined to be handled and rotated.

7) Mono-component set according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the container (1) has a cap (11).

8) Mono-component set according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said straw (5) is fixed to said container (1) by means of a thermoplastic material film, breakable in correspondence of the straw use.

9) Mono-component set according to claim 1 , characterized in that further includes a cap (13) detachably covering said third section (6) of the straw (2), in order to preserve the its mouth from every contamination before and after the first fruition of said liquid packaged in said container (1).

10) Mono-component set according to claim 9, characterized in that said cap (13) has a circular base (14) provided with blocking means (19) of said cap (13) to said container (2).

11) Closure element according to claim 10, characterized in that said blocking means (19) are essentially constituted by a vertical rib (16) made on the side wall of said container (2) with which is engaged a tooth (15) in order to avoid the slipping of the cap (13) before the first use of said set.

12) Closure element according to claim 1 1 characterized in that said straw (2) is initially joined, through a tear off welding, to said rib (16) in order to maintain said cap (13) fixed to the straw (2) due to the engagement of said tooth (15) with said rib (16), so making a guarantee seal.

13) Closure element according to claim 9 characterized in that further includes at least a fin (17) fixed to the second section (5) of said straw (2) and in such a way to limit the descent of said cap (13) onto the straw (2) after its insertion onto this latter after the first fruition.

14) Closure element according to claim 12, characterized in that said at least fin (17) is peripherally joined to the side wall of the container (1) through a tear-off welding in correspondence of the removal of the straw (2) from the container (1).

15) Closure element according to claim 9, characterized in that between said second section (5) and said third section (6) of the straw (2) is further included a nosing (18) fit to stop the descent of said cap (13) put on said straw (2) so that the inside wall of this latter does not contact the mouth of said straw (2).