WO2003004069A1

WO2003004069A1 - Pouch-type container

Info

Publication number: WO2003004069A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2002/000111
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clifford Thomas Augustyn; Donald Macfarlane
Original assignee: Kohler Packaging Limited, Kohler Flexible Packaging Cape Division
Priority date: 2001-07-06
Filing date: 2002-07-05
Publication date: 2003-01-16

Abstract

The invention provides a pouch-type container (10) comprising a tubular structure, and a base panel (12) secured towards the one end of the tubular structure, and venting means (15) in the tubular structure for releasing a fragrance from the interior of the tubular structure, is disclosed.

Description

POUCH-TYPE CONTAINER

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a flexible pouch-type container particularly, but not

exclusively, suitable for use in emitting fragrances such as air fresheners.

Description of Prior Art

Various air freshener dispensing containers exist. Some common types consist of an air freshener block wrapped in a non-permeable plastic material, which is then placed into a small printed carton with perforated tear away parts. To activate the air freshener, the carton is opened, the gel/block unwrapped, the perforated part

torn away, and the air freshener block placed back into the carton. The fragrance

is thus free to be released through the torn-away perforated section of the carton.

Another type of dispensing container consists of a moulded non-permeable plastic

receptacle with a screw-on lid. The screw-on lid has punched out slots through

which the fragrance is dispelled. The air freshener is placed in the plastic

receptacle, a non-permeable peelable film is sealed across the receptacle and then the lid is screwed on. To activate the fragrance, the lid is removed, the non-

permeable film is peeled away and the lid is replaced. The fragrance then dispels

through the slots in the lid.

Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel type of air freshener

container which is simple in construction and which is economical to produce. It is

a further object to provide a container which is flexible and self-standing or

alternatively able to be suspended.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to the invention, such a container comprises a pouch-type structure

comprising a pair of side wall panels which are joined together at their longitudinal

edges to form a tubular structure, and a base panel secured towards the one end of

the tubular structure, and venting means in the tubular structure for releasing

fragrances, aromas or the like from the interior of the tubular structure. In one arrangement the end of the tubular structure opposed to the base panel could

be sealed by means of a transverse weld or adhesive line or the like. In one

arrangement wherein the container is adapted to be reloaded, the end of the tubular

structure opposed to the base panel could be capable of being opened and resealed

by means of a slide fastener, tongue and groove-type fastener or the like.

Further according to the invention, the venting means could be in the nature of a

closure structure having a plurality of apertures, slots or the like therethrough, the

closure engaging an annular outwardly directed flange formation which

circumscribes an aperture in a side wall of the container, such flange formation

being secured to the side wall. Preferably, the venting means will be capable of

being sealed temporarily, for example by means of a peelable barrier film enclosing

the flange or the closure.

In a preferred arrangement in accordance with the invention, the container will be

of a polymer material. Thus the side walls and the base could for example be

constructed from laminated material or co-extruded multiplayer material. The

construction of the lammate/co-extrusion will preferably have a sealant layer of polyethylene, ionomer, polypropylene or acid co-polymer. Other layers may be

added by dry bond lamination, extrusion lamination or co-extrusion to provide the

necessary barrier properties required to contain the fragrance of material in the bag,

until use.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order more clearly to illustrate the invention an embodiment thereof is described

hereunder purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings

wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container in accordance with the

invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a container in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic end elevation of the container in Figure 1 in an

unfilled state; Figure 4 is a schematic end elevation of the container in Figure 1 in an

expanded filled state;

Figure 5 is an schematic exploded perspective view of the vent means

forming part of the container in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view of various panels forming

part of the container in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Drawings

Referring to the drawings, a container 10 which is particularly suitable for storing

and dispensing air freshener deodorizer or aromas and fragrances in gel, paste,

solidified, pot-pourri or the like form comprises a pair of side panels 11 which are

secured to one anotlier along their longitudinal edges 11a to define a generally

tubular structure, a base panel 12 which is secured to, and encloses one end, of the

tubular structure. The base panel 12 will preferably be of an elliptical or oval

configuration as shown in Figure 6 so that a free standing arrangement is provided. It is envisaged that the base panel 12 will fold inwardly between the side wall

panels 11 when the container 10 is in a stored configuration prior to packaging,

Figure 3. Once the container has been loaded so that the side walls 11 are

separated from one another, the base 12 will provide a platform for supporting the

container 10 as a free standing unit, Figure 4.

The end of the tubular structure remote from the base panel 12 can be sealed by

heat weldmg the two side walls together, not shown, or preferably by means of a

slide member and a tongue and grove type closure 13 of the type illustrated. Such

a closure will enable the contents of the container 10 to be refreshed, recharged or

renewed as required. The end of the tubular structure in question could be

permanently sealed by means of a weld line 20, adhesive line or the like beyond the

sliding closure with such weld line 20 being adapted to be separated from the

container 10 along a tear line 21.

It is a feature of the invention that vent means 14 will be provided for releasing

fragrances, aromas, deodorants, etc. , and the like from the interior of the container.

10 In the arrangement illustrated, such vent means 14 comprises an annular outwardly directed flange formation 15 which is secured to one side wall panel 11

of the container 10, and which circumscribes an aperture 16 in such side wall 11.

The flange formation 15 is adapted to receive a closure member 17 which defines a

plurality of apertures 18, slots or the like, for releasing the fragrances etc. It is

envisaged that the apertures and slots will be relatively small so that material in the

container will be trapped therein by the closure.

In order to seal the container 10 prior to use, the aperture 16 in the side wall 11

may be sealed by means of a peelable barrier film 19 or the like. Alternatively, the

apertures and slots 18 in the closure 17 could be sealed by such film 19, not shown.

The material of the container 10 of the invention will preferably be a multi-layer

polymer material. Thus the side walls and the base could for example be

constructed from laminated material or co-extruded multi-layer material. The

construction of the laminate/co-extrusion will preferably have a sealant layer of

polyethylene, ionomer, polypropylene or acid co-polymer. Other layers may be

added by dry bond lamination, extrusion lamination or co-extrusion to provide the necessary barrier properties required to contain the fragrance of material in the bag,

until use.

Such barrier properties could for example be provided by the following:

Metallised Polyester

PVDC Coated Polyester

Polyamide

Polyamide/EVOH/Polyamide Co-extrusions

- Silca oxide or Aluminium Oxide-coated films

Barrier co-extrusion

The container 10 of the invention achieves a free-standing characteristic by having

the folded "V" shape base panel or gusset 12 welded in a transverse direction

between the side walls panels 11.

For filling purposes the container 10 can be supplied with the end thereof opposite

the base 12 in an open state and through which the air freshener may be loaded. After filling the open end will be sealed (heat- welded) along the weld line 20.

Regarding construction the aperture 16 may be punched into the one side wall 11

onto which a plastic flange 15 is then welded. The non-permeable peelable film 1

is preferably heat sealed across the orifice of the flange 15. One or more "V" tear

notches 21 may be punched adjacent the outer weld 20 for easy tear removal of the

top seal 20 which was performed after filling the container 10. This in turn allows

opening and closing of the container 10 using the resealable slide fastener 13

provided at the top of the container 10 at the end opposite the base 12. This feature

allows for re-fillable types of air freshener to be added and the container 10 which

can then be resealed without the need of heat sealing equipment.

A punched aperture 22 posited between the fastener 13 and the top extremity of the

container 10 allows for the container 10 to be suspended from a peg or the like, not

shown as an alternative to standing on the base 12.

Doubtless variations in detail of the invention are possible, without departing from

the principles and spirit of this disclosure.

Claims

Claims:

1. A pouch-type container comprising a tubular structure, and a base panel

secured towards one end of the tubular structure, and venting means in the

tubular structure for releasing a fragrance from the interior of the tubular structure.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1 where in the tubular structure

comprises a pair of opposed side wall panels which are joined together at their longitudinal edges.

3. The container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the end of the tubular

structure opposed to the base panel is sealed by means of a transverse weld or an adhesive line.

4. The container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the end of the tubular

structure opposed to the base panel is capable of being opened and resealed

so that the container can be reloaded.

5. The container as claimed in claim 4 wherein the end of the tubular structure

opposed to the base panel is capable of being opened and resealed by means

of a slide fastener or tongue and groove-type fastener.

6. A container as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the base panel folds inwardly between the side wall panels to allow the container to assume a collapsed configuration wherein the side panels overlie one another.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the base panel is of an oval shape in plan and is joined to the side wall panels along an arcuate path to enable the tubular structure to be opened to assume a

cylindrical shape at its base to be self standing.

8. The container as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the venting

means is a closure structure having a plurality of apertures, the closure engaging an annular outwardly directed flange formation which

circumscribes an aperture in a panel of the container, such flange formation

extending from the panel.

9. The container as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the

container is comprised of a polymer material.

10. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the container is constructed from

laminated material or co-extruded multilayer material.

11. A container as claimed in claim 7 wherein the construction of the

laminate/co-extrusion has a sealant layer of polyethylene, ionomer, polypropylene or acid co-polymer.

12. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein layers

have been added to a panel by dry bond lamination, extrusion lamination or

co-extrusion to provide the necessary barrier properties required to contain the fragrance of material in the bag, until use.

13. A container substantially as described herein with reference to the

accompanying figures.