WO2010121800A1

WO2010121800A1 - Flexible collapsible pouch

Info

Publication number: WO2010121800A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/002446
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Nicholas Moor
Original assignee: Elan Vital (Uk) Ltd
Priority date: 2009-04-22
Filing date: 2010-04-21
Publication date: 2010-10-28
Also published as: GB0906910D0; GB2469659A

Abstract

A collapsible fluid container useful as a baby bottle consists of a collapsible pouch attached at one side to a holder which is attached at the other side to a delivery system such as a teat and a collar and the teat may be inverted or collapsed within the collar and retained in place by a cover. The holder is preferably provided with ribs to which the mouth of the pouch may be sealed.

Description

FLEXIBLE COLLAPSIBLE POUCH

The present invention relates to fluid receptacles which may be used to retain fluids particularly drinks containers and especially drinks containers that are disposable.

The invention is particularly concerned with bottles for babies and small children and more particularly with disposable baby bottles.

PCT Publication WO 2005/107680 provides a fluid container which can be flat packed when empty, can be provided pre-sterilised, can be readily filled and which is disposable after use and provides a flat packed evacuated and/or folded container comprising a flexible bag or pouch hermetically attached to a sealed cover and further provided on removal of the cover with an opening to enable filling of the container, the opening contains a non-return valve. The container may be provided with a removable cover sealing system comprising a ring pull or thin film seal and/or a fluid delivery tube through which material can be expelled from the container such as through the drinking of the contents. The container may also be provided with a cap or a Nd.

The container of WO 2005/107680 may be sterilised prior to flat packing and may also be enclosed in a hermetically sealed bag or envelope to reduce the risk of contamination prior to use. The bag or envelope may conveniently be made of material that provides protection for the container and any contents against ultra violet radiation.

The present invention relates to collapsible fluid containers and improvements in or relating to the fluid containers such as those described in WO 2005/107680 comprising a pouch that is hermetically sealed to a holder which in turn enables the pouch to be sealed and also provides a system for the delivery of the contents of the container when in use. Such as for example the teat of a baby bottle.

Many containers are employed for containing precise amounts of liquid and are provided with volume markings to enable the desired volume of material to be introduced. An example is the need to prepare a baby feed from a specified amount of powdered material dissolved in a certain amount of a liquid (such as water) to provide a feed of the required concentration for the baby. One difficulty with the use of collapsible flexible containers such as those described in WO 2005/107680 is that when they are readied for filling the flexible material may retain some indents or kinks incurred during storage in the collapsed state. This in turn can lead to under or over filling and a failure to achieve the desired concentration of the material within the container.

In one embodiment the invention therefore provides a flexible collapsible pouch provided with one or more volume markings having an opening that can be sealed to a holder the distal end of the pouch providing a tab that can be held to smooth out the pouch and enable accurate filling of the pouch to the appropriate volume marking.

The tab may be an integral part of the pouch and may be formed as part of a seal that forms the base of the pouch. Alternatively the tab may be an additional component such as a clip attached to the distal end of the pouch which may be applied during the manufacture of the pouch. In one embodiment the pouch may be formed from two pieces of material that are welded to each other and the tab can be formed by folding the materials over each other one or more times and sealing the folds to each other during the production of the weld at the base of the pouch. Similarly if the pouch is formed by cutting and sealing a continuous tube the tab can be formed by folding the tube upon itself as it is welded.

A preferred container of the present invention consists of the flexible pouch and a holder to which the pouch can be hermetically sealed. In a preferred embodiment the pouch is hermetically attached to the rim of the holder. The open mouth of the pouch is preferably welded to the extremity of the holder to provide a hermetic seal and the holder is preferably designed to ensure that the part which welds to the pouch guaranties an effective seal. For example ribs may be provided around the extremity of the holder so that the pouch can be secured, preferably welded, to the ribs so providing a series of barriers each of which ensures a hermetic seal. For example, two or more ribs may be provided around the neck of the holder that extends into the mouth of the pouch and the pouch may be sealed to the ribs. It has been found that the provision of three or four ribs is particularly suitable.

It is preferred that the mouth of the pouch is welded to the ribs and that at least the internal surface of the pouch and the ribs are of materials that soften at the same temperature so that a weld can be formed between the ribs and the pouch without damaging the remainder of the holder. It is further preferred that one or more sacrificial elements be provided at the extremity of the ribs which melts and blends into the material of the pouch to form the seal. The sacrificial element may extend parallel to the axis of the holder across the ribs. In a preferred embodiment two sacrificial elements are provided at diametrically opposite locations on the ribs which in a preferred form are cast in an oval shape around the neck of the holder. The side walls of the pouch may then be welded to the holder via the sacrificial elements at these diametrically opposed locations and the mouth of the pouch welded to the ribs. The thickness of the ribs and any sacrificial elements should be selected so that the time required for them to soften at the welding temperature is similar to or the same as the time required for the inner surface of the mouth of the pouch to soften and form the weld and is not so long as to melt the body of the holder. It is preferred that the ribs, the sacrificial element and the inner surface of the pouch are of polypropylene.

The holder also provides the means for the introduction of material into the pouch and the delivery system for the contents of the pouch. In a preferred embodiment where the container is a baby bottle the holder is designed to releasably engage with a delivery teat system so that the empty container may be provided with the delivery teat in place, the teat system may be removed to allow material to be introduced into the pouch, the teat system may then be replaced so that the filled container is then ready for use.

The teat system preferably comprises the teat itself and a collar adapted to allow the teat system to be releasably attached to the holder. The teat and the collar may be integrally moulded and where they are of different materials they may be overmoulded. Generally however they are separate enabling the teat to be replaced while retaining the collar. The collar preferably is made from injection moulded from medical grade polypropylene and the teat being flexible is preferably medically acceptable elastomeric material such as Kraton rubber. A liquid light seal must be formed between the collar and the teat and accordingly where they are separate components it is preferred that the skirt be provided with a skirt providing an internal circular rib and the base of the teat is provided with a channel that will engage with the circular rib when the teat is passed through the central orifice of the collar.

The invention therefore further provides a collar for attachment of a delivery system to the holder of a collapsible container comprising an external surface and an intermediate inner threaded surface and an inner circular rib of smaller diameter than the inner threaded surface. Alternatively the collar and the holder may be shaped so that the collar can be attached to the holder by a snap fit. The invention further provides a teat system comprising a collar as described in combination with a teat wherein the base of the teat is provided with a circular channel corresponding to the location of the circular rib in the collar and the circular rib provided by the base of the teat is located within the channel. In a further embodiment the external surface of the collar is provided with means such as indentations to help in its rotation to remove it from or secure it to the threaded holder.

In a particularly convenient design the top of the holder is threaded and the teat is provided attached to a threaded collar so that it can be attached to and removed from the holder.

In a further optional embodiment the holder is provided with wings extending outwardly from a position between the ribbed neck of the holder that is attached to the mouth of the bag or pouch and the threaded section that is attached to the collar or teat system. These wings enable the container to be held around the neck of the holder below the wings providing protection from spillage of materials being introduced into the bottle and reducing the risk of contamination of the delivery system during use by contact with the human hand.

As a further embodiment the invention provides a holder for a collapsible container comprising a ribbed lower neck portion adapted to be sealed to the mouth of a pouch a threaded upper portion adapted to be releasably engaged to a delivery system and provided with wings between the ribbed neck portion and the upper threaded portion. In a further embodiment sacrificial elements are provided across the ribs to enable the pouch to be sealed to the holder. The ribs are preferably circular or oval and two sacrificial elements are provided at diametrically opposite positions preferably at the two apexes of the oval when the ribs are oval shaped. In a further preferment the holder is integrally moulded, preferably by injection moulding and is made from medical grade polypropylene.

Prior to filling the container it is important to retain a seal to prevent ingress of undesirable materials into the pouch. This may be accomplished by the provision of a removable seal within the holder below the teat. A ring pull is an example of a removable seal that may be employed. Alternatively, or in addition the seal may be provided by the delivery system and where this is a teat system the seal may be provided either by collapsing the teat within the holder or by enabling the teat to be inverted within the collar so that prior to filling it projects into the pouch and after removal to allow the pouch to be filled it can be replaced to stand proud from the container in the delivery position.

In a further embodiment the invention provides a container comprising a flexible pouch as previously described hermetically sealed to a holder as previously described. In a further embodiment a cover may be provided to protect the delivery system from contamination prior to use of the container and to recover the container if some of the contents remain. Where the delivery system comprises a teat and a collar the cover can be designed to be a removable fit within the internal circumference of the collar. The removable fit may be a snap fit or screw threaded. In the embodiment where the teat is compressed within the holder the application of the cover can force the teat to collapse and the underside of the cover may be shaped to provide protection for the teat. The cover may also be provided with a tab to aid its removal from the container. It is preferred that when a cover is employed it is made from medical grade polypropylene.

In a further embodiment the invention comprises a container comprising a pouch as previously described attached to a holder as previously described the holder being attached to a delivery system as previously described; in a preferred embodiment the delivery system is the teat system as previously described. Optionally in this embodiment the container is further provided with a removable cap.

The container of the present invention may be sterilized and flat packed and can be supplied in singly or in multiple packs.

The flexible pouch may be of any size according to the use to which the container is to be put. For example where the container is to be used as a drinking bottle for young children or babies the volume of the pouch when in use is at least 1 ml, preferably between 50 and 300 ml dependant upon the age of the child or baby. It is preferred, particularly with babies that the exact capacity of the pouch is in relationship with the amount of the feed required. For other uses and situations the capacity may vary. The pouch may be provided with an indicator for the volume of the contents. The pouch may be made of any flexible material which should be chosen according to the use to which the container is to be put and the conditions to which it is to be subjected. It is preferred that the pouch be made of a thermoplastic material such as a polymer film for example of polyolefines such as polyethylene or polypropylene or polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene being preferred. The film may be laminar and in a preferred embodiment it is a laminate of polypropylene and nylon with the polypropylene as the inner surface layer for weldability and the nylon being the outer layer to increase the strength of the pouch. The external surface of the pouch is preferably printable and it may be provided with surface coatings if required for the use to which the container is to be put. It is preferable that the pouch is transparent and that the contents can be seen, the pouch may also be provided with writing or illustration according to the use to which the contents are to be put. It is also preferred that the pouch can withstand temperatures up to 100⁰C and it may be provided with an indicator showing the temperature of the contents. In a preferred embodiment all the components of the container are able to withstand temperatures up to and above 100^°C to allow sterilisation.

The circumference of the pouch at its open-end must be such that it can be fitted around the perimeter of the lower neck of the holder and can be held tightly to the perimeter of the holder. Where the pouch is attached to the holder by welding it is preferred that the inner surface of the pouch and the holder, particularly any ribs and any sacrificial elements provided on the holder be made of similar materials and it is particularly preferred that both are made of polypropylene. A resin or adhesive may be used in some configurations of the present invention due to material selection but it is not preferred.

The holder may also be of any suitable material according to the use to which the container is to be put. The holder should however be sufficiently rigid to provide strength and integrity to the container when it contains the particular liquid for which it is designed.

It is preferred that the holder be of a thermoplastic material and is preferably prepared by injection moulding. In particular we have found that polypropylene, ethylene/propylene copolymer rubbers or polyamides are particularly useful materials from which the holder can be made.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention where the container is used for baby feeding the delivery system is a teat system comprising the teat and a collar for attachment of the teat to the holder system. The teat is preferably of a flexible material such as synthetic rubber particularly a silicone rubber or a thermoplastic rubber such as the styrene isoprene block copolymers sold under the trade name Kraton. The teat is preferably collapsed within the holder of the container and may be released to its useable position by removal of a cover placed over the teat. The teat may be recollapsed within the cover by replacing the cover. In this way the remaining contents of the container may be secured if a feed does not use all the contents. In this way it is possible to recollapse the teat without touching it thus retaining a substantially sterile environment.

In a further embodiment the underside of the cover is provided with ribs and a cavity to facilitate the compression of the teat as the cover is applied. As a further preferment a stop is provided to ensure that the cover is engaged with the holder to the desired extent and is prevented from over engagement which could result in damage to the teat. In a further embodiment small protrusions are provided around the inner ring of the holder so that an audible click is produced as the container is assembled to indicate that the components are fully engaged.

In a further embodiment the container may be used with a bottle holder and/or warmer. This may also be flat packed and made of readily disposable material such as cardboard. The holder or warmer being such that the filled container may be mounted within the holder for security purposes and/or for warming the contents. One or more of such containers may be supplied together with a package of one or several flat packed containers of the invention.

Accordingly, prior to use, the container may be assembled, the bag or pouch evacuated and/or folded or rolled up so that the container lies flat to provide a compact, space saving, ready for use container. It may also be flat packed. When the container is to be used as a drinking vessel particularly for young children and babies it may be sterilised prior to flat packing. In a further embodiment and as part of the vacuum packaging aspect of this invention the assembled container may be vacuum packed in for example a thermoplastic film such as a polyethylene or a polypropylene film in order to preserve the sterility of the container and optionally to provide protection against ultra violet rays using barrier protection laminar films.

The ready for use containers may therefore be supplied in a flat packed space saving mode and they may be pre-sterilised and with their sterility protected. The ready for use containers may be supplied in packages of several containers for example as a six or eight container package useful for picnics or holidays.

In use the container may be removed from the packaging and the desired contents introduced into the container by removal of the cover and the delivery system. The container with its contents may then be transported during, for example, travel such as for picnics and the like. Once the contents have been consumed the container may be disposed of preferably for recycle or it can be re-used.

The containers of the present invention therefore have the following benefits particularly when used as drinking containers for children and babies. Use of the pre-sterilised container replaces the current laborious sterilising process and the associated apparatus that is required. The containers are small and compact and space saving. The filled containers can be subjected to microwave heating, warming by water, or they can be deep frozen, for storing expressed milk as one example. In a particular embodiment at least part of the container particularly the pouch can be made of a material that will change colour when the contents reach a desired temperature. The tactile soft feeling of the flexible pouch containing a drinkable liquid can provide enjoyment to the drinker, particularly a young child. Additionally, the holder can be shaped to allow the user to hold the container.

In a further embodiment of the invention ingredients such as powder, syrup, paste, cordial, dried food, liquid and/or granules particularly powdered milk or drink flavourings can be provided within the container prior to flat packing so that it may be necessary to add only water to obtain the desired drink or food.

The walls of the pouch should be flexible and inelastic. Flexibility means that the material at its thickness of use is able to recover its original shape and form from compression, concertina, flat pack, fanfold, stack, bend or twist and, in a preferred embodiment can be smoothed out by pulling the tab at the distal end to eliminate indents and kinks. This flexibility simultaneously maintains the integrity of the contents. Inelasticity ensures that the receptacle cannot be expanded beyond its desired volume.

The container is conveniently made by mass production methods. Conveniently the container is made in several pieces, the pouch, the holder, optionally a tamperproof clip, the fluid delivery system such as the collar and the teat and optionally a cover (that may contain a plug) and then assembled. A vacuum can be created within the receptacle, the receptacle is then sterilised and vacuum packed to avoid contamination prior to use. Alternatively, if pre-measured ingredients are to be put into the container prior to distribution such as milk powder or ready made formula, then the pouch may be left open and not sealed until the container has been pre filled.

We prefer that the side walls of the pouch are either extruded and seamless or are made from two pieces of thin film welded together, we also prefer that they have a thickness of from 25 μm to 150 μm, more preferably 40 μm to 1 10 μm most preferably of approximately 100 μm. The pouch is sealed at its distal end and the distal end may be thicker to provide the tab previously described. These wall thicknesses ensure the collapsible, resurrectible and flexible nature of the pouch and the tab at the end enables the resurrection of the pouch from the collapsed state. We have also found that at this thickness the walls are strong enough and are non-elastic on filling. We prefer the holder to be rigid to allow the optional use of a tamperproof clip, the rigidity allows the clip to apply pressure around the top of the receptacle when attached and it is desirable that the top does not flex under the tension created by the clip. We prefer a cylindrical shape at certain points, but oval and/or tapered are equally desirable. Where ribs are provided on the neck of the holder it is preferred that they have an oval shape. The holder should be able to be held by the human hand which helps to allow the pouch to be resurrected and smoothed when pulled at the distal end preferably by the tab to convert it from the collapsed state to provide the space to receive the fluid and maintain a consistent volume.

If a preferred container of the present invention is not already pre-filled with liquid, preparation of the drink can be achieved as follows. Upon rotation of the collar which contains a collapsed mouth piece (which in this example is a teat), the collar may be removed from the holder to expose a filling orifice in the holder. A seal if present may be removed. The pouch may then be filled to the desired or pre-measured level with chosen liquid which may include other pre-mixed contents. Typically, by way of example, for feeding a baby the bag would have a measured amount of milk powder inside with boiled water to be added as the liquid. After filling the delivery system typically the teat system would be replaced and rotated to secure it to the holder. A seal will be created once the delivery system is in the correct position which can be indicated to the user by an audible click. With the fluid delivery tube/lid mechanism still in the sealed position, the contents may then be shaken, stirred, mixed and/or simply left in desired conditions until consumption of contents is required. When consumption is required the cover may be removed so that the mouthpiece resurrects itself to the shape ready for use. After use, a seal may be re-established by positioning the cover over the mouthpiece and applying downward pressure. Additionally, the delivery system once secured into position forms a seal which is strong enough to prevent leakage. If the contents of the container need to be warmed or cooled the shape of the holder can allow the filled pouch to be immersed in water without the water touching the delivery system or the cover again preserving the sterility of the mouthpiece and contents in particular if the holder has wings they can be used to hold the pouch in a bath of cooling or heating fluid. It is preferable when changing the temperature of the contents of the container to have the delivery system of the container in the sealed position.

It is preferred that no resins or adhesives are used in the assembly or manufacture of the container ensuring that the integrity of the contents of the container is maintained. A vacuum can be created within the container, then sterilised and vacuum packed to avoid contamination prior to use.

The containers may be used or purchased empty or they may be used or purchased with substances/fluids inside. Either way, use or purchase maybe individual, multiples of the same or combinations of different arrangements of fluid containers and/or attachments.

The fluid containers provide a flexible combination of flat-packed, sterile, inexpensive, versatile, pre-measured form of packaging that can be used in single or multiple systems or procedures that improves and maintains efficiency, quality and the integrity of the contents anywhere and at anytime. The receptacles when filled are also resistant to breakage upon impact.

The collapsible fluid container, as one example of many, can be used to ease the preparation and consumption of drinks such as coffee or tea for users who are traveling.

In this instance the delivery system will be appropriate for adult consumption. The containers may be purchased over the counter or from vending machines and the flat packed fluid container can optionally hold mixtures of pre-measured types of coffees, milks and sugars which can have hot or boiling water added by pouring manually or injecting from a machine. With the delivery system and the cap sealing the contents the container may be shaken to mix the contents. Any form of fluid delivery tube may be used.

The mouthpiece may provide permanent access to the contents (coffee) inside or with a simple twist or downward pressure the seal can be reversed to release the contents.

Spillage will not be an issue and due to the flexible nature of the side walls, the container can fit into many spaces by molding its shape to fit.

In instances that require extreme heat resistance such as boiling water, the holder shape can be shaped to prevent injury to the user in a manner similar to that of an insulating sleeve used for paper cups.

Although the containers of the present invention have been described primarily in relation to bottles for babies and young children they may be used in a variety of other uses where space saving, single use and disposability are required. For example they may be used to provide liquids such as drinks in military operations, in travel such as in space travel or aircraft, in sporting activities and recreational activities such as walking and mountaineering. A further example of the collapsible fluid containers use is for the transport, storage and consumption of medicines to be taken orally and in veterinary applications where a pre-measured amount of material may be placed in the sterilized container which may then be flat packed and easily stored and transported prior to use.

The container is also capable of storing oils, paints and the like. Using the correct delivery tube such as a brush attachment or sponge, for example, the user can apply pressure by squeezing the flexible pouch or bag with the filled contents which can be applied to the desired surface. The volumetric flow can be controlled by the amount of pressure on the bag and the size of the delivery opening created. Additionally, using the appropriate fluid delivery tube, liquid can fill the flat packed container and either be disposed of or taken away for sampling, for example urine samples for analysis.

The present invention is illustrated but in no way limited by reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a container according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the container shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows an alternative version to that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows the container of Figure 1 with the pouch in a collapsed state.

Figure 5 shows the collapsed containment of Figure 4 with the cap removed.

Figure 6 shows the resurrected but unfilled container.

Figure 1 shows a container comprising a pouch (1 ) attached to a holder (2), the section of the pouch attached to the ribs of the holder is not shown in order to show the location of the ribs (3), (4), (5) and (6) of the holder (2). The pouch is provided with a thicker tab (7) at the distal end to enable it to be pulled and flattened out from the collapsed state. The holder (2) has a neck portion (8) around which are provided four ribs (3), (4), (5) and (6) to which the mouth of the pouch is welded. A collar (9) is attached to the top of the holder by means not shown and the collar is provided with indentations (10), (11) to enable it to be screwed on and off the holder. A teat (not shown) is compressed within the collar (9) and the neck of the holder and is held in place by a cover (12) which is provided with a tab (13) to enable removal. The holder is provided with wings (14) and (15) extending around the neck of the holder to enable the container to be held below the wings during fill and use to provide protection and reduce the risk of contamination of the teat.

Figure 2 is a side view of the container illustrated in Figure 1 and the same numerals are used for the same components as shown in Figure 1. Comparison of Figure 2 and Figure 1 shows how the ribs (3), (4), (5) and (6) are oval shaped protruding further from the neck of the holder at the position where they are attached to the seams of the pouch (16) and (17) (see Figure 1). Figure 3 shows a container similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that the teat (18) is inverted and projects through the holder into the pouch rather than being collapsed within the collar and the holder.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a container such as shown in Figure 1 with the pouch (1) in a collapsed form and Figure 5 shows the container of Figure 4 with the cover removed and the teat (18) visible.

Figure 6 shows the container shown in Figure 5 with the pouch (1) resurrected so that it can be filled by removal of the collar and the teat to expose the filling orifice of the holder.

Claims

1. A flexible collapsible pouch provided with one or more volume markings having an opening that can be sealed to a holder the distal end of the pouch providing a tab that can be held to smooth out the pouch and enable accurate filling of the pouch to the appropriate volume marking.

2. A pouch according to Claim 1 in which the tab is formed as part of a seal that forms the base of the pouch.

3. A pouch according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the tab is an additional component attached to the distal end of the pouch.

4. A container comprising a pouch according to any of the preceding claims and a holder to which the pouch is hermetically sealed.

5. A container according to Claim 4 in which the pouch is hermetically attached to the external rim of the holder.

6. A container according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which ribs are provided around the extremity of the holder and the pouch is secured, preferably welded, to the ribs.

7. A container according to Claim 6 in which the ribs and the interior surface of the pouch are of materials that soften at the same temperature.

8. A container according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which one or more sacrificial elements are provided at the extremity of the ribs which melt to form the seal with the pouch.

9. A container according to Claim 8 in which the sacrificial element extends parallel to the axis of the holder across the ribs.

10. A container according to any of Claims 4 to 9 in which the thickness of the ribs and any sacrificial elements are selected so that the time required for them to soften at the welding temperature is similar to or the same as the time required for the inner surface of the mouth of the pouch to soften and form the weld.

11. A container according to any of Claims 6 to 10 in which the holder is connected to a delivery system.

12. A container according to any of Claims 11 comprising a baby bottle and the delivery system is a teat system.

13. A container according to Claim 12 in which the teat system comprises a teat and a collar adapted to allow the teat system to be releasably attached to the holder.

14. A collar for attachment of a delivery system to the holder of a collapsible container comprising an external surface and an intermediate inner threaded surface and an inner circular rib of smaller diameter than the inner threaded surface.

15. A teat system comprising a collar according to Claim 14 in combination with a teat wherein the base of the teat is provided with a circular channel corresponding to the location of the circular rib in the collar and the circular rib provided by the base of the teat is located within the channel.

16. A holder for a collapsible container comprising a ribbed lower neck portion adapted to be sealed to the mouth of a pouch and a threaded upper portion adapted to be releasably engaged to a delivery system.

17. A holder according to Claim 16 provided with wings between the ribbed neck portion and the upper threaded portion.

18. A holder according to Claim 16 or Claim 17 in which sacrificial elements are provided across the ribs.

19. A holder according to any of Claims 16 to 18 in which the ribs are circular or oval and two sacrificial elements are provided at diametrically opposite positions.

20. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 13 in which a cover is provided to protect the delivery system.

21. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 13 and 20 which is sterilized and flat packed.

2. A pack of several containers according to Claim 21.