WO2005049435A1

WO2005049435A1 - Improved container

Info

Publication number: WO2005049435A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/012759
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abhay Arun Bhagwat; Soumya Chakraborti
Original assignee: Unilever Plc; Unilever Nv; Hindustan Lever Limited
Priority date: 2003-11-18
Filing date: 2004-11-10
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: GB0408709D0

Abstract

A dispensing system for liquids or semi-viscous liquids comprising: a container body for containing the liquid having a cap member (CM) at the top, the cap member having a discharge outlet (OT) co-operating with a substantially tubular vertically disposed liquid carrier (TM) inside the container; at least one vertically and selectively disposed bellow means (CB) between the top of the main container body and the cap member, the cap member being adapted to be pressed downwards to compress the bellow means to thereby create a positive pressure on the liquid content in the container and force the same through the tubular liquid carrier for discharge through the discharge outlet; a non-return valve member (BV) selectively disposed on the tubular liquid carrier adapted to arrest the drain out of the liquid entering a reservoir region between the tubular carrier portion ahead of the valve and the discharge outlet; the cap member at the top having a one way air inlet means (AV) to favour entry of air into the container to maintain desired air pressure inside upon release of the cap from its pressed down position and release of the bellow means.

Description

IMPROVED CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a dispenser, and in particular to a simple and cost-effective dispensing system for liquids, semi-viscous fluids such as a liquid soap and the like. The dispensing system is adapted for simple and user friendly discharge of appropriate quantity of the contents such as liquid soap for use/application.

It is known to have dispensers for liquids, semi-viscous liquids and the like to favour selective dispensing of such products during use/application. Usually the toiletries industry package liquid products in containers equipped with such dispensers for the convenience of the customer in dispensing the product.

Use of pressure cans for the purpose is known which require high internal pressures, and also usually eject the contents at a rapid rate as a spray' . However, there has been a continuing need for pump-type dispensing device which could draw up the' liquid by a pumping action without requiring such high internal pressures, thus avoiding dangers which such pressures involve, and permitting the use of constructional material other than metal for such purpose.

US 3162333 discloses multi-part plastic pump for liquids adapted for incorporation in a container top dispenser. However, this involves complexities in manufacture, and essentially requires a spring based selectively formed body member/cap which is again complex and cost-extensive. US 3255933 discloses a dispenser container, and relates more particularly to a dispensing container which provides controlled dispensing of liquid from the container in the form of a fine spray. The dispenser involves the use of collapsible bellows specifically positioned laterally at the side of the container to facilitate the squeezing action of the container to favour the liquid discharge.

US 4216882 discloses yet further manually actuable fluid dispenser comprising a plastic bottle container which includes an upstanding bottle neck portion having a flexible bellow formed integrally on one side thereof, operable by a reciprocal trigger member which engages the bellows through a trigger spring for exerting a sustained but limited force on the bellows and reaction force on the trigger member over extensive trigger actuation travel and speed. This device also specifically requires a side bellow at the neck in combination with a spring to achieve control over the squeezing action.

US 4159790 discloses yet another dispensing container comprising a compressible bottle having a neck portion, a cap attached to the neck portion, the cap having an inlet extending through the cap, a first one way valve disposed in the inlet and operable to permit flow of air through the inlet into the bottle, the cap having an outlet extending to the cap, a second one way valve disposed in the outlet and operable to permit flow of liquid from the bottle through the outlet, the cap having a protrusion extending in the neck portion of the bottle, the outlet extending to the protrusion, a tube connected to the protrusion and extending towards the bottom portion of the bottle and a flexible bag having a neck portion fixed to the tube, the bag being disposed in the bottle and being adapted to retain the liquid therein, the tube having opening means to facilitate flow of the liquid into the tube. This dispenser is also developed to essentially have a squeezable body, and also involving spring loaded valves at the outlet which add to the complexity and cost.

US 5894960 discloses a non-aerosol fluid dispenser which includes a pump defining a fluid chamber associated with the fluid path extending between the container and the fluid outlet. The pump cooperates with a collapsible bellow section, which is basically used for sucking liquid up during its relaxation and subsequent dispensation during compression.

US 2003/0075567 Al relates to a delivery pump for liquid filled containers such as for dispensing products such as soaps, detergents etc. As would be apparent from the disclosure, the system involves a complex pump mechanism with piston means and liquid suction and compression chambers .

US 5,328,060 describes a dispenser having a bellows portion disposed within the container which contains the liquid to be dispensed.

Other containers which have bellows-type portions include JP 8243450, FR 2630712, and US 4146154. It would be clearly apparent from the above that the liquid/semi-viscous liquid discharge devices/systems presently available are mostly adapted for discharge of only simple liquids such as aerosol sprays by providing self and/or bellow pump based side collapsible body to actuate the discharge. However, such discharge mechanism involving the side collapsible containers/bellows essentially requires the user to use the hands to grip the device. In the process of such handling the hands can get dirty, thus affecting the desired hygiene, or make it difficult for the user to use the dispenser.

Moreover, in the case of such squeeze type containers there can be problems of proper activation of the pressurized discharge of the contents, since in the case of improper body designing the required release of the contents may be difficult, or retaining of the original shape of the compressed body on release of the squeeze action may be problematic, which can again lead to complications and/or malfunction of the discharge mechanism.

Another well-known class of devices for dispensing controlled quantities of liquids are so-called ^positive displacement pumps', wherein a device (i.e. the pump) comprising a fixed chamber with an internally moving piston is assembled onto a bottle containing the liquid. Upwards movement of the piston relative to the chamber creates a suction (negative pressure) that draws the liquid up from the bottle via a dip-tube provided to transmit the suction to the liquid via its immersed lower end. Having thus filled the chamber, downward movement of the piston then expels the liquid through an internal passage to the discharge spout which is typically configured as a part of the pump assembly. A combination of two non-return valves (both in the liquid passage) facilitates selective sealing that enables repeated operation without priming every time. A spring (either metallic or plastic) ensures the return of the piston to its uppermost position, so that the cycle can be repeated by pressing the piston down.

The above pumps are intricate, have a number of precision parts, and require a large amount of plastic/metal - which together make these significantly expensive. Moreover, the functionality is limited, in that liquid cannot be expelled by squeezing the bottle.

The discharge devices presently available which do not essentially require the body squeeze to operate are on the other hand usually complex, and essentially involve discharge pumps with piston means and/or spring based valve systems with or without additional bellows to facilitate the operation.

It is thus the basic object of the present invention to be able to provide for a discharge system for liquid as well as semi-viscous liquids such as soaps, detergents and the like which would not require the complex piston cylinder pumping mechanism usually used for such semi-viscous discharge system, and would be simple and convenient both to manufacture and to the user. Another object of the present invention is directed to be able to provide for a discharge system for liquids and semi- viscous fluids which can be simply and easily operated by use of the fingers, and without the need for gripping of the entire body/container, thereby maintaining hygiene and convenience for the user.

Another object of the invention is to be able to provide a simple piston-less dispensing system for liquids and semi viscous fluids involving simple bellow means and non-return values, by way of a selective disposition in a container and cap which could avoid the need for complex pump and/or spring mechanism to achieve the discharge.

Another object of the present invention is to be able to provide for a discharge system which would avoid the limitations of the conventional dispensing containers as discussed earlier, and also favour possible providing of a refillable system of liquid/semi-viscous products involving such dispenser at cost effective rates.

Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing system for liquid/semi- viscous liquid comprising: a container body for containing the liquid having a cap member at the top, said cap member having a discharge outlet cooperating with a substantially tubular vertically disposed liquid carrier inside the container; at least one vertically and selectively disposed bellow means between the top of the main container body and the cap member, said cap member adapted to be pressed downwards to compress said bellow means to thereby create a positive pressure on the liquid content in the container and force the same through the tubular liquid carrier for discharge through the discharge outlet; a non-return valve member selectively disposed in said tubular liquid carrier adapted to arrest the drain out of the liquid entering a reservoir region between the tubular carrier portion ahead of the valve and the discharge outlet; said cap member at the top having a one-way air inlet means to favour entry of air into the container to maintain desired air pressure inside upon release of the cap from its pressed down position and release of the bellow means .

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, the dispensing device comprises: a container body for containing a liquid having a cap member at the top, said cap member having a discharge outlet co-operating with a tubular substantially vertically disposed liquid carrier inside the container; a neck-like vertically disposed bellow means contiguous to said container body co-operatively and selectively disposed with respect to the cap member, said cap member adapted to be pressed downwards to compress said bellow means to thereby create a positive pressure on the liquid content in the container and force the same through the tubular liquid carrier for discharge through the discharge outlet; a non-return valve member selectively disposed in said tubular liquid carrier adapted to arrest the drain out of the liquid entering a reservoir region there between the tubular carrier portion ahead of the valve and the discharge outlet; said cap member at the top having a one-way air inlet means to favour entry of air into the container to maintain desired air pressure inside upon release of the cap from its pressed down position and release of the bellow means.

In accordance with a further preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser system comprising: a container body for containing a liquid having a cap member at the top, said cap member having a discharge outlet cooperating with a tubular substantially vertically disposed liquid carrier inside the container; a neck like vertically disposed bellow means contiguous to said cap member selectively and cooperatively disposed with respect to the container top, said cap member adapted to be pressed downwards to compress said bellow means to thereby create a positive pressure on the liquid content in the container and force the same through the tubular liquid carrier for discharge through the discharge outlet; a non-return valve member selectively disposed in said tubular liquid carrier adapted to arrest the drain out of the liquid entering a reservoir region between the tubular carrier portion ahead of the valve and the discharge outlet; said cap member at the top having a one way air inlet means to favour entry of air into the container to maintain desired air pressure inside upon release of the cap from its pressed down position and release the bellow means .

In the above system of the invention the container body and the cap can be releasably secured ensuring airtight closure of the container/dispenser.

In accordance with yet another preferred aspect of the present invention, the bellow means and the tubular liquid carrier having the non-return valve are integrally formed with the cap also having the air inlet valve. In such a case, the container body having the liquid content such as soap liquid can be provided in a refillable form which can simply be releasably secured to the cap and replaced by the user with a fresh one as and when the contents are exhausted.

In the above dispenser system of the invention by way of the selective disposition of the bellow means at the top between the container main body and the cap in combination with the simple non-return valve for air entry on the top of the cap and a ball valve acting under gravity without any spring means in the tubular liquid carrier member inside the container enables a selective positive pressure in the liquid while pressing down of the cap, which positive pressure co-operates to force the liquid through the tubular liquid carrier beyond the ball valves into the reservoir to finally exit through the outlet. Importantly, the above selective arrangement and the disposition of the gravity based ball valve in the tubular liquid carrier member enables maintaining of the undischarged liquid remaining in the tubular member ahead of the ball valve in the reservoir without falling back into the container. This facilitates on one hand to hold the liquid filled in the reservoir against gravity to ensure consistent dispensing and without requiring priming every time the bellows are compressed by the user for discharge.

It is also found by way of the invention that for effective dispensing the effective volume of the reservoir that is the portion of the tubular liquid carrier ahead of the ball valve and up to the discharge outlet of the cap should be selectively determined preferably equal to the target dispensing volume.

Moreover, it is found that the diameter of the tube carrying the liquid content to the outlet is also preferably selectively provided to facilitate dispensing while depressing of the cap and avoiding drain back of the contents into the bottle during the interval between releasing the cap (i.e. bellows expanding and low pressure creating on the bottle) and the ball valve falling back into the seat by gravity. This provides for selective balance between volumetric efficiency and pressure drop in case of non-Newtonian fluids such as liquid soaps.

Importantly also the position of the ball valve is selected such as to achieve minimum head of soap above the ball valve. Preferably the position of the ball valve is regulated such that it can allow a free lift of a maximum of 15mm from the seat when the liquid soap rises in the tube.

The details of the invention its objects and advantages are explained hereunder in greater detail in relation to non- limiting exemplary illustrations as per the accompanying figures, in which: - Figure 1 illustrates in detail in sectional view the dispenser system in accordance with the present invention.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the dispenser system comprises a main container body (MC) for containing the liquid to be dispensed, which can be a semi-viscous such as liquid soap. In the embodiment of figure 1 above, the container body (MC) is shown to have an integral contiguous neck portion, which is obtained in the form of collapsible bellows (CB) , the upper end of which is adapted to be operatively releasably connected to a cap means (CM) . As further shown in the figure, the cap means (CM) is provided with a substantially horizontally disposed outlet (OT) which is operatively connected to a dip tube liquid carrier means (TM) which extends into the container to be at least partly extending into the liquid content of the container.

As would be apparent in accordance with the invention, the simplicity in the dispenser system is achieved by way of a selective combination of the collapsible bellow means (CB) at the top of the container which is adapted to be compressed by pressing of the cap means (CM) , to thereby create a positive pressure in the liquid content inside the container. Importantly, to favour advantageous and selective discharge of the contents of the liquid and to taking advantage of such positive pressure on the liquid, the system is so adapted such that such positive force further exerts the liquid content through the dip tube means (TM) to be forced through the non-return valve means to reach the reservoir (R) defined by the portion of the liquid carrier ahead of the valve and the outlet of the cap (OT) . Importantly, in order to avoid re-entry of the liquid content entering the reservoir (R) of the dip tube means (TM) back into the container, selectively a gravity based non-return ball valve (BV) is provided. Importantly, the disposition of the ball valve (BV) and the reservoir (R) volume is preferably selected to provide for an effective volume of the liquid ahead of the ball valve corresponding to the desired target dispensing on every application, such as for example about 2ml .

Importantly also, the ball valve and the reservoir portion ahead facing the outlet are adapted to hold the liquid filled in the outlet pipe against gravity to ensure consistent dispensing, without requiring priming every time the bellows are compressed. The pressure compensation inside the container by release of the bellows is attained by allowing air into the container through the one way air valve (AV) at the top of the cap.

The working of the dispensing system in accordance with the invention is further discussed hereunder. When the cap means (CM) is pressed, the collapsible bellow means (CB) which are operatively connected get compressed, reducing the effective volume inside the container, and also in the process increasing the pressure therein.

Importantly, the disposition of the bellow means just under the cap facilitates on one hand simple and easy application of the dispenser by the user by simple pressing of the cap by use of fingers only from the top, without the need to grip the whole container, and on the other hand to create a positive pressure inside the container to force the liquid through the dip tube means for the discharge. Importantly, such combination of the bellow of the top in operative connection with the cap would favour pressurized discharge of the liquid contents through the dip tube, avoiding the need for any additional pumps or complex valve or spring means or to create suction of the liquid along the dip tube.

The thus achieved positive pressure inside the container therefore force the liquid to rise inside the tubular liquid carrier and into the reservoir, lifting the ball valve (BV) from its seat to finally favour discharge of the content through the outlet.

When the cap is released, the bellows relax and expand, creating a low pressure inside the bottle, whereby the ball valve in the dip tube falls back into the valve seat and prevents re-entry of the liquid content from the reservoir into the container. This takes care of maintaining the unused quantity of the liquid in the reservoir without drain back into the container, and avoids the need for continued priming for subsequent application/discharge.

Apart from the gravity based ball valve disposition in the dip tube which facilitates the above discharge as well as the retention in the reservoir of the liquid content, due to low pressure inside the bottle on release of the cap upon relaxing of the bellows, the air valve in the cap opens up to allow air into the bottle to bring the pressure back to atmospheric level.

Until the time the liquid soap in the reservoir fills up to the tip of the outlet, the pressurizing of the cap and it's release is carried out to ensure effective discharge of the contents. For subsequent operations, no further priming is necessary.

Depending upon the liquid soap formulation to be discharged, the dimensions such as diameter of the dip tube, the disposition of the ball valve in the dip tube and the specifications of the bellow are selected.

It is thus possible by way of the above discharge system of the invention to provide for a discharge mechanism for liquids and semi-viscous fluids such as liquid soaps and the like, which would enable selective discharge of contents from the container without involving the complex and cost extensive piston-cylinder assembly to create vacuum or for suction of the liquid for the discharge operation. Importantly, the invention selectively and advantageously combines the disposition of collapsible bellows and cooperating air inlet valve on top of the cap, as well as a dip tube having a selective disposition of gravity based ball valve which together favour a simple-to-use discharge system which apart from being cost-effective, is supposed to favour maintaining desired hygiene conditions for such devices and the users.

The system therefore on the one hand takes care of provision of a simple and cost effective discharge unit which would avoid the complexities of involving piston pump or spring loaded valves for selective discharge of the contents from the liquid container, and on the other hand would meet consumer demands of a simple to use and attractive dispenser.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for liquids or semi-viscous liquids comprising: a container body for containing the liquid having a cap member at the top, the cap member having a discharge outlet co-operating with a substantially tubular vertically disposed liquid carrier inside the container; at least one vertically and selectively disposed bellow means between the top of the main container body and the cap member, the cap member being adapted to be pressed downwards to compress the bellow means to thereby create a positive pressure on the liquid content in the container and force the same through the tubular liquid carrier for discharge through the discharge outlet; a non-return valve member selectively disposed on the tubular liquid carrier adapted to arrest the drain out of the liquid entering a reservoir region between the tubular carrier portion ahead of the valve and the discharge outlet; the cap member at the top having a one way air inlet means to favour entry of air into the container to maintain desired air pressure inside upon release of the cap from its pressed down position and release of the bellow means. . A dispensing system comprising : a container body for containing a liquid having a cap member at the top, the cap member having a discharge outlet co-operating with a tubular substantially vertically disposed liquid carrier inside the container; a neck-like vertically disposed bellow means contiguous to the container body co-operatively and selectively disposed with respect to the cap member, the cap member adapted to be pressed downwards to compress the bellow means to thereby create a positive pressure on the liquid content in the container and force the same through the tubular liquid carrier for discharge through the discharge outlet; a non-return valve member selectively disposed in the tubular liquid carrier adapted to arrest the drain out of the liquid entering a reservoir region between the tubular carrier portion ahead of the valve and the discharge outlet; the cap member at the top having a one-way air inlet means to favour entry of air into the container to maintain desired air pressure inside upon release of the cap from it's pressed down position and release of the bellow means.

3. A dispensing system comprising: a container body for containing a liquid having a cap member at the top, the cap member having a discharge outlet co-operating with a tubular substantially vertically disposed liquid carrier inside the container; a neck-like vertically disposed bellow means contiguous to the cap member selectively and co-operatively disposed with respect to the container top, the cap member adapted to be pressed downwards to compress the bellow means to thereby create a positive pressure on the liquid content in the container, and force the same through the tubular liquid carrier for discharge through, the discharge outlet; a non-return valve member selectively disposed in the tubular liquid carrier adapted to arrest the drain out of the liquid entering a reservoir region between the tubular carrier portion ahead of the valve and the discharge outlet; the cap member at the top having a one way air inlet means to favour entry of air into the container to maintain desired air pressure inside upon release of the cap from its pressed down position and release the bellow means.

4. A dispensing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the container body and the cap are releasably secured ensuring airtight closure of the container/ dispenser.

5. A dispensing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the bellow means and the tubular liquid carrier having the non-return valve are integrally formed with the cap also having the air inlet valve.

6. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the container body having the liquid content is provided in a refillable form, adapted to be releasably secured to the cap by the user.

7. A dispensing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising a selective disposition of the bellow means at the top therebetween the container main body and the cap in combination with the non-return valve for air entry on the top of the cap and a ball valve acting under gravity without any spring means in the tubular liquid carrier member inside the container adapted to generate required positive pressure in the liquid during downward motion of the cap to force the liquid through the tubular liquid carrier beyond the ball valves into the reservoir for possible discharge through the outlet.

8. A dispensing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the selective disposition of the gravity based ball valve in the tubular liquid carrier member is based on the desired volume of the reservoir and the amount of the content to be discharged during downward discharge motion of the cap.

9. A dispensing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the effective volume and configuration of the tubular liquid carrier ahead of the ball valve and up to the discharge outlet of the cap is determined to preferably be equal to the target dispensing volume.

10. A dispensing system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 9 wherein the diameter of the tube carrying the liquid content to the outlet is selectively adapted to facilitate dispensing while depressing of the cap and avoiding drain back of the contents into the bottle during the interval between releasing the cap and the ball valve falling back into the seat by gravity.

11. A dispensing system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 10 wherein the ball value is adapted and disposed such as to allow a free lift of a maximum of about 15 mm from the seat when the liquid soap rises in the tube.

12. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 11 wherein the discharge outlet is operatively connected to the substantially vertically disposed liquid carrier through a substantially horizontal discharge flow path..

13. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 12 wherein the cap is provided with means to facilitate the discharge motion to generate the positive pressure on the liquid content inside.

14. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the collapsible bellow is selected of defined specifications depending upon the content to be discharged and the positive pressure to be generated.

15. A dispensing system for liquid/semi-viscous liquid substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.