WO1992000228A2

WO1992000228A2 - Dispensing package

Info

Publication number: WO1992000228A2
Application number: PCT/GB1991/001055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clive Henry Gay
Original assignee: Clive Henry Gay
Priority date: 1990-06-29
Filing date: 1991-06-28
Publication date: 1992-01-09
Also published as: WO1992000228A3; ZA915060B; AU8093791A; GB9014557D0; CA2086427A1

Abstract

The dispensing package comprises a container portion (10) for accommodating a fluent product which is to be dispensed, and an outlet portion (12) which includes an outlet (9) communicating with the container portion. In use, dispensing of the product takes place through the outlet. A closure (12) is provided for releasably closing the outlet. The characteristic feature of the package is the fact that these components are formed as a one piece moulding. In one preferred application, the container portion accommodates toothpaste.

Description

DISPENSING PACKAGE

THIS invention relates to a dispensing package. Packages of the invention may typically be used to store and dispense substances such as toothpaste or fluent food products.

Conventionally, toothpaste is packaged in a four part packaging system. The toothpaste tube itself is made up of three components, namely the tube body, a shoulder which is fixed to the tube body, and a threaded cap for sealing off the threaded dispensing spout of the shoulder. The assembled and filled tube is then placed in a rectangular cardboard carton which facilitates stacking and shelf presentation.

It is believed that the conventional four-part packaging system used for toothpaste is extremely uneconomical. Although they may have less parts than the four-part toothpaste tube packaging system, bottled food product packages are also considered to be uneconomical.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET According to the present invention, there is provided a dispensing package comprising a container portion for accommodating a fluent product which is to be dispensed, an outlet portion which includes an outlet communicating with the container portion through which dispensing of the product can take place, and a closure for releasably closing the outlet, characterised in that the container portion,- outlet portion and closure are moulded in one piece in plastics material.

The term "fluent material" is intended to cover all materials, irrespective of their viscosity, which can flow under gravity or which can be caused to flow by squeezing them out of a collapsible container. As such, the term embraces, without limitation, highly viscous products such as toothpaste and less viscous products such as free- flowing liquids.

In some versions of the invention, the container portion is adapted to be squeezed for expulsion of its contents through the outlet. In other versions of the invention, the container portion is of rigid construction and the contents thereof are dispensed under gravity when the closure is non-operative.

In one embodiment of the invention, the outlet portion is hinged to the container portion at a live hinge. The closure in this case may be hinged to the outlet portion at an integral hinge. Alternatively, the closure is hinged to the container portion by an integral hinge. In the latter case, the closure is conveniently hinged to the container portion by an integral hinge located on the opposite side of the container portion from the live hinge at which the outlet portion is hinged to the container portion.

There may be two outlet portions each hinged to the container portion, and a single closure hinged to the outlet portions for closing the outlets of both outlet portions simultaneously.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET A particularly preferred dispensing package of the invention has a finger- or thumb- depressible panel hinged to the outlet portion and connected to the closure, depression of the panel causing the closure to move from a closed position in which it closes the outlet from the outlet portion to an open position in which it opens the outlet to permit the fluent product to be dispensed from the container portion through the outlet.

Typically, the panel forms part of the outlet portion and is hinged to the remainder of the outlet portion at a live hinge, the panel being hinged to the closure at a live hinge. The live hinges between the panel and the outlet portion and between the panel and the closure are conveniently arranged so that, upon depression of the panel, the panel pivots relative to the outlet portion in one direction and the closure pivots relative to the panel in the opposite direction.

In this embodiment, the closure is joined to the outlet portion by integral membranes which define the sides of the outlet when the panel is depressed and the closure moves to its open position.

The embodiment just summarised may have a removable cap for the package, the cap covering the outlet portion and closure. The cap may be formed in one piece with the package, or it may be formed as a moulding separate from the package. In either case it is preferred that cap is connected to the package by a tear-off tamper evident strip.

In all cases, the preferred dispensing package has a container portion of elongate shape with the outlet portion, outlet and closure provided at one end of the container portion, the container portion being fillable with the fluent product through the opposite end thereof.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET For stacking convenience, it is preferred that the container portion has opposing flat surfaces on which the package can be stacked. It is also preferred that the package is shaped to nest snugly in side-by-side relationship with other similar packages when the packages are alternately reversed.

In applications contemplated by the invention, the container portion accommodates . toothpaste or an edible food product.

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

Figure 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows the container of Figures 1 and 2 with the outlet portion clipped in place;

Figure 4 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3:

Figure 5 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a top view of a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 shows a pictorial view of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Figure 9 shows a partly cut-away view of the embodiment of Figure 8, with an optional cap fitted in place;

Figures 10 and 11 show views of the fifth embodiment of the invention in use;

Figures 12 and 13 show views of the end of the container of Figures 8 to 11 before and after filling and sealing;

Figure 14 shows a diagrammatic side view of the dispensing end of a further embodiment;

Figure 15 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the dispensing end seen in

Figure 14;

Figure 16 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a dispensing package incorporating the dispensing end seen in Figures 14 and 15;

Figure 17 shows a diagrammatic side view of the dispensing package seen in Figure 16;

Figure 18 shows a diagrammatic plan view of another dispensing package incorporating the dispensing end seen in Figures 14 and 15;

Figure 19 shows a diagrammatic side view of the dispensing package seen in Figure IS; and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET - 6 -

Figure 20 illustrates, in a plan view, how dispensing packages of the kind seen in Figures 18 and 19 can be stacked side-by-side.

Figures 1 to 4 show a package having a squeezable container portion 10, an outlet portion 11 and a closure element all moulded in one piece in plastics material. .

In this embodiment the closure element is constituted by a lid 12. The outlet portion 11 is hinged at a live hinge 13 to the container portion 10 while the lid 12 is secured to the outlet portion 11 by an integrally moulded flip hinge 14. The hinge 14 is of a known construction and is such that it allows repeated movements of the lid 12 relative to the outlet portion 11.

The outlet portion 11 includes an outlet aperture 9 through which dispensing can take place from the package once it is assembled and filled.

In order to assemble the package from the one-piece moulded product shown in Figure 1, the outlet portion 11 is swung about the hinge 13 to the position shown in Figure 3. Referring to Figure 4, it w ill be seen that the operatively lower edge of the outlet portion 11 is formed with an annular formation 15 and that there is a corresponding formation 16 on the outer surface of the container portion 10 near to its upper edge. The formation 15 is able to clip past the formation 16 under application of the appropriate force. The shape of the formations 15 and 16 then prevents reverse movement of the outlet portion 11 relative to the container portion 10. Thus the outlet portion is locked to the container portion 10 once the Figure 3 situation is reached.

The lid 12 may now be hinged repeatedly relative to the outlet portion 11 to close and open the outlet aperture 9 as required. The lid includes an internally projecting formation which is shaped and positioned to plug the outlet aperture 9 when the

eiJEΞTTTUTE SHEET lid is hinged to the closed position.

In this case, the intention is that the lid 12 should remain permanently attached to the outlet portion 11. However, in an alternative arrangement, the hinge 14 may consist of a weak strip of flexible plastics material which can be severed once the package is assembled. The lid in this case then becomes a separate item for closing and opening the package.

Figure 5 shows part of a second embodiment of the invention. The package in this case comprises a squeezable container portion 10 to which is moulded an outlet portion 11 and a closure element constituted by a lid 12. The difference between this embodiment and that of Figures 1 to 4 is the fact that the lid 12 is attached directly to the container portion 10 rather than to the outlet portion 11. An integrally moulded elongate hinge 20, in this case extending from the container portion 10, allows opening and closing of the lid 12 on the outlet portion 11.

As in the first embodiment, the outlet portion 11 can be anchored, in the broken line position, relative to the container portion 10, with the lid then being movable repeatedly between its open and closed positions. Alternatively, the hinge 20 may be severable to yield a loose lid 12 for closing and opening the package.

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this case there is a body 21 composed of two container portions 22 to which two outlet portions 23 can be anchored in the same manner as in the Figure 5 embodiment. The outlet portions 23 are both hinged to the body 21 but they are separate from one another. A single closure element in the form of a lid 24 is hinged to both outlet portions 23 for closing the outlet apertures in both outlet portions. The Figure 6 embodiment is suitable for packaging and dispensing two different fluent components.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Figure 7 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention. This version is very similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 and like parts are labelled with like numerals.

The Figure 7 embodiment also has a squeezable container portion 10, an outlet portion 11 and a closure element constituted by a lid 12. The outlet portion 11 is not hinged to the container portion 10. Instead, it is integrally moulded to the container portion 10 to form, with the container portion 10, a continuous tube. The lid 12 is secured to the rube by an integrally moulded flip hinge 14.

The outlet aperture 9 in the outlet portion 11 of each of the embodiments described above is provided internally with a suitably shaped nozzle or spout 26 through which the contents of the container may be dispensed.

The embodiments of Figures 1 to 6 are filled from the top as indicated by the arrow A in Figures 1 and 5. Once the squeezable container portion 10 (or portions 22 in the case of Figure 6) is (or are) full, the outlet portion 11 (or outlet portions 23 in the case of Figure 6) is (or are)^'folded over and anchored in place.

The shape of the container portions of these embodiments is preferably cy lindrical so that the container may stand upright on a base 50. In each case, the external surface of the package as described is printed with the appropriate advertising and brand indicia so that no separate cardboard or other carton is required.

The package depicted in Figure 7 is filled from the bottom, as indicated by the arrow B. Once the container portion 10 is full, its lower end may be sealed in a conventional manner by either heat sealing or glueing. The seam may be inwardly folded or trimmed so that the package has a flat bottom on which it can stand on a shop shelf or the like, the necessary brand and other indicia once again being

SUBSTITUTE SHEET applied to the package to avoid the necessity for a separate carton. Alternatively, the container portion 10 may be at least partially rectangular in cross-section so that it can be stacked in a prone orientation on a shelf. Similarly, the earlier embodiments may be at least partially rectangular in cross-section for prone stacking.

In each of Figures 1 to 7, filling may take place through an initially open side of the container portion 10, rather than through an end. In this case, the side is sealed closed after filling.

It will be appreciated that with the lid 12 open in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7, the contents of the container portion 10 can be dispensed by a squeezing action applied thereto.

A fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 8 to 13. This embodiment also comprises a squeezable container portion 10, an outlet portion 11 and a closure element 12. However, in this version of the container the closure element 12 is not constituted by a lid as in the previous embodiments, but by a pivotal panel formed in a wall of the outlet portion 11.

The outlet portion 11 is made of more rigid material than the squeezable body 10, and the pivotal panel is made of more rigid material than the outlet portion 11. As in the previous embodiments the portions 10 and 11 and the closure element are all moulded together in one piece.

The pivotal panel 12 is shaped to form two substantially planar sections 2S and 30. The first section 28 and a second section 30 are slightly angled relative to one another. The panel 12 is adapted to pivot under pressure from a finger or thumb about an axis Y-Y to open an outlet aperture 32 through which the contents of the

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container may be dispensed upon squeezing of the container portion 10.

The construction of the panel 12 and the outlet portion 11 to allow the panel to pivot is as follows:

The periphery 34 of the section 28 is joined to the wall of the outlet portion 11 while the periphery 36 of the section 30 is not joined to the outlet portion at all. The periphery 34 is bounded by a weakened zone 38, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8. This weakened zone allows the wall of the outlet portion 11 to deform when pressure is applied to the section 28 of the panel. The panel pivots about the axis Y-Y to rotate the section 30 away from the outlet portion 11 to open the aperture 32.

Alternatively, if a weakened zone is not provided, the walls of the outlet portion 11 may be reinforced at a point 40 in Figure 8, and the rigidity of the material of the rest of outlet portion 11 is chosen such that some deformation of the wall of the outlet portion may occur when pressure is applied to the panel 12.

Other features of this embodiment are now explained w ith reference to Figure 9. The container can be provided with a cap 42 which may also be part of the one- piece moulding. The cap 42 extends over the outlet portion 11 and is joined to the container portion 10 by means of a tamper evident tear-off strip 50 having a finger engageable tab 52. The strip 50 can be torn off and thrown away when the package is first opened.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the cap 42 and the container portion 10 have intereπgaging clip formations 54 by means of which the cap can be clipped to the remainder of the package after the tamper evident strip has been removed.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET As an alternative to this arrangement, the cap 42 can be connected to the container portion 10 by a live hinge similar to the hinge 13 described in relation to the first embodiment. In this case, after the one-piece moulding step, the cap is hinged over the outlet portion 11 and is anchored to the container portion 10 in the same manner as the outlet portion is anchored to the container portion 10 in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 6. The cap itself includes a tamper evident tear-off strip which, when torn off, enables a part of the cap to be removed to expose the outlet portion 11 and pivotal panel 12.

In yet another alternative, the cap 42 can be moulded apart from the package consisting of the container portion 10, outlet portion 11 and panel 12. In this case, the cap may then be anchored to the package, possibly in the same manner as the outlet portion 11 is anchored to the container portion 10 in the earlier embodiments. The cap will then include a tamper evident, tear-off strip that operates in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.

The squeezable container portion 10 is provided with appropriately sized contours 44 formed in the wall thereof to facilitate gripping by the hand of a user. The section 28 of the panel 12 is provided with ridges 46 to aid the user in pivoting the panel.

This embodiment of the invention is filled from the end 48 in the direction of the arrow C as illustrated in Figure 9. Two views of the end 48 are shown in Figures 12 and 13 which show respectively the end of the container before and after filling. Once the body 10 has been filled, the edges 49 of body are heat sealed together to form a seam at 50.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET - 1 2 -

It will be appreciated that there are several ways of sealing the end 48 of the container. For instance, the initially open end may be provided with hinge flaps similar to those used in cardboard cartons. After filling, the flaps are hinged together as appropriate and the resulting flat end is sealed ultrasonically or with appropriate adhesives.

It is preferred in the embodiment of Figures 8 to^" 13 that the container portion 10 of the package have the illustrated rectangular cross-section to facilitate stacking, in the prone orientation, on a shop shelf. Once again, the appropriate brand and other indicia are printed directly onto the surfaces of the container portion so that no extra carton is required.

It will be appreciated that printing of brand or other indicia onto the flat surfaces of a rectangular package may require repetitive printing steps for the various surfaces. It is proposed to overcome this extra work by inserting a round mandrel into the open end of the container portion 10, before filling, to deform the container portion temporarily to a round cross-section. The round cylindrical shape can then be counter-rotated relative to a rotary printing head which will, in one operation, apply printing right around the surface of the container portion. The plastics used for the package has memory characteristics so that, after the mandrel has been withdrawn, the container portion reverts to its original rectangular cross- sectional shape, with each surface printed as required.

In another embodiment of the invention (not illustrated), the package has a squeezable container portion, an outlet portion and a closure, but in this case the closure is constituted by the closure of a one-way valve provided integrally in or on the outlet portion. The design is such that the closure moves to an open position, to allow a dispensing operation to take place, under the effects of increased internal pressure when the container portion is squeezed. When the squeezing force is

SUBSTITUTE SHEET removed, the closure moves back automatically to its original position closing the outlet aperture in the outlet portion. Thus in this case, all that is required to dispense the contents of the container portion is a squeezing action applied to the container portion. In each of the other embodiments described above, the user must first open the closure before dispensing can take place.

Figures 14 and 15 respectively illustrate plan and side views of the dispensing end of another embodiment which has many similarities to that of Figures 8 to 13. As in the case of Figures 8 to 13, the dispensing package in Figures 14 and 15 has a squeezable container portion 10, an outlet portion 11 and a closure for the outlet in the outlet portion.

In Figures 14 and 15 there is a panel 60 hinged to the outlet portion 11 at a live hinge 62. The panel 60 is provided with raised ribs 64 giving it more rigidity than the remainder of the outlet portion 11. The panel 60 is hinged, at a live hinge 65, to a closure 12 having a thickened central region pivoted to the outlet portion 11 at pivot points 66. The side edges 68 of the closure 12 are joined to the remainder of the outlet portion 11 by thin, integral membranes.

As will appear clearly from Figure 15, finger-or thumb pressure on the panel 60 causes this panel and the closure 12 to move to the broken line positions, enabling the contents of the of the container portion 10 to be dispensed upon squeezing of the container portion, as indicated by the reference numeral 72. Thus it will be appreciated in this case that, viewed as in Figure 15, the panel 60 pivots anticlockwise about the live hinge 62 while the closure 12 pivots clockwise about the pivot points 66.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET The dispensing end, as illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, can be incorporated in a design as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 which respectively show side and plan views of a package of the invention. In this case, a separately moulded cap 74 is clipped to the package to cover the dispensing end. The cap 74 is of round cylindrical shape and has a flat end 76 upon which the package, with the cap in place, can stand upright on a shelf.

In another version of this embodiment of the invention, the cap 74 is not a separate moulding, but is formed in one piece with the package itself, as described above in relation to Figure 9. In either event, the cap when clipped in position may provide a tear-off tamper evident strip similar to that seen in Figure 9.

In Figures 16 and 17, the container portion 10 is filled from the bottom, which is then sealed closed at a seam 78.

Figures 18 to 20 respectively show plan and side views of another slightly modified version in which the dispensing end is the same as in Figures 14 and 15. In this case, the cap 74, whether formed integrally with the package or as a separate moulding, has a tapering shape in plan view. In addition, opposite sides of the container portion 10 and cap are formed with flats SO that enable the packages, with their caps 74 in place, to be stacked prone on top of one another. As illustrated by Figure 20, the tapering shape of the cap 74, together with the shape of the seamed bottom end 82, enable packages, with their caps in place, to nest compactly alongside one another. This compactness of the nested arrangement obviously has advantages as far as packaging in boxes or the like, and transportation, are concerned.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET In each of the embodiments described above, the container portion 10 is of deformable construction to permit dispensing of its contents by application of a squeezing force. This package will be suitable for dispensing fluent materials which are viscous, such as toothpaste. Where the package is to be used with less viscous, free-flowing materials, such as cooking oil, liquid condiments or the like, the container portion may be rigid in nature and the contents thereof dispensed under gravity when the closure is opened. This kind of system would not apply in the case of a package of the kind described above having a one-way valve, since the valve is opened by increased internal pressure caused by a squeezing action.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

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1.

A dispensing package comprising a container portion for accommodating a fluent product which is to be dispensed, an outlet portion which includes an outlet communicating with the container portion through which dispensing of the product can take place, and a closure for releasably closing the outlet, characterised in that the container portion, outlet portion and closure are moulded in one piece in plastics material.

2.

A dispensing package according to claim 1 wherein the outlet portion is hinged to the container portion at a live hinge.

A dispensing package according to claim 2 wherein the closure is hinged to the outlet portion at an integral hinge.

4.

A dispensing package according to claim 2 wherein the closure is hinged to the container portion by an integral hinge.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 5.

A dispensing package according to claim 4 wherein the closure is hinged to the container portion by an integral hinge located on the opposite side of the container portion from the live hinge at which the outlet portion is hinged to the container portion.

6.

A dispensing package according to claim 3 and comprising two outlet portions each hinged to the container portion, and a single closure hinged to the outlet portions for closing the outlets of both outlet portions simultaneously.

7.

A dispensing package according to claim 1 and comprising a finger- or thumb- depressible panel hinged to the outlet portion and connected to the closure, depression of the panel causing the closure to move from a closed position in which it closes the outlet from the outlet portion to an open position in which it opens the outlet to permit the fluent product to be dispensed from the container portion through the outlet.

8.

A dispensing package according to claim 7 wherein the panel forms part of the outlet portion and is hinged to the remainder of the outlet portion at a live hinge.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 9.

A dispensing package according to claim 8 wherein the panel is hinged to the closure at a live hinge.

10.

A dispensing package according to claim 9 wherein the live hinges between the panel and the outlet portion and between the panel and the closure are arranged so that, upon depression of the panel, the panel pivots relative to the outlet portion in one direction and the closure pivots relative to the panel in the opposite direction.

11.

A dispensing package according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the panel and the closure are inclined with respect to one another.

12.

A dispensing package according to any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the closure is joined to the outlet portion by integral membranes which define the sides of the outlet when the panel is depressed and the closure moves to its open position.

13.

A dispensing package according to any one of claims 7 to 12 and comprising a removable cap for the package, the cap covering the outlet portion and closure.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 14.

A dispensing package according to claim 13 wherein the cap is formed in one piece with the package.

15.

A dispensing package according to claim 13 wherein the cap is formed as a moulding separate from the package.

16.

A dispensing package according to any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the cap is connected to the package by a tear-off tamper evident strip.

17.

A dispensing package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container portion is of elongate shape and the outlet portion, outlet and closure are provided at one end of the container portion, the container portion being fillable with the fluent product through the opposite end thereof.

18.

A dispensing package according to claim 17 w herein the opposite end of the container portion, through which the container portion is filled, is seamed closed when filled.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 19.

A dispensing package according to claim 18 wherein the container portion has opposing flat surfaces on which the package can be stacked.

20.

A dispensing package according to claim 19 wherein the package is shaped to nest snugly in side-by-side relationship with other similar packages when the packages are alternately reversed.

21.

A dispensing package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container portion accommodates toothpaste.

22.

A dispensing package according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wh ^erein the container portion accommodates an edible food product.

23.

A dispensing package substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the illustrated embodiments.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET