U.S. patent application number 09/843319 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for outer container housing a collapsible inner container.
Invention is credited to Hewlitt, Timothy, Kelsey, Steven, Maskell, William, O'Brien, Jerard.
Application Number | 20020066735 09/843319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8172933 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066735 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hewlitt, Timothy ; et
al. |
June 6, 2002 |
Outer container housing a collapsible inner container
Abstract
In at least one embodiment, a device is provided comprising a
rigid or semi-rigid outer container, said outer container at least
partially housing a removable and reusable at least partially
collapsible inner container, said inner container having a sealable
outlet therein. A process is also provided for the refilling,
transport and storage of products, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container is transported to a point of
sale or dispense, filled or refilled with product, and transported
to a point of use. Optionally, the reusable at least partially
collapsible inner container is housed in a rigid or semi-rigid
outer container for subsequent use.
Inventors: |
Hewlitt, Timothy; (London,
GB) ; Kelsey, Steven; (London, GB) ; Maskell,
William; (London, GB) ; O'Brien, Jerard;
(London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Yukiko Iwata
Shell Oil Company
Legal - Intellectual Property
P.O. Box 2463
Houston
TX
77252-2463
US
|
Family ID: |
8172933 |
Appl. No.: |
09/843319 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/495.03 ;
220/495.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 30/80 20150501;
B65D 77/06 20130101; Y02W 30/807 20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/495.03 ;
220/495.06 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/16; B65D
025/14; B65D 035/14; B65D 090/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2000 |
EP |
00303414.7 |
Claims
1. A device comprising a rigid or semi-rigid outer container, said
outer container at least partially housing a removable and reusable
at least partially collapsible inner container, said inner
container having a sealable outlet therein.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises a collapsible bag
or sachet.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises pleated, fluted or
folded peripheral side walls.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises an expandable
elastomeric material.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises a rigid or
semi-rigid upper portion.
6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises a rigid or
semi-rigid upper portion.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the upper portion is
attached to peripheral collapsible side walls of the reusable at
least partially collapsible inner container by heat sealing,
ultrasonic sealing or the use of adhesives.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container is at least partially housed
securely in the outer container by means on the upper portion of
the reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
engageable with means on the outer container.
9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container is at least partially housed
securely in the outer container by means on the upper portion of
the reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
engageable with means on the outer container.
10. The device according to claim 3, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container is at least partially housed
securely in the outer container by means on the upper portion of
the reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
engageable with means on the outer container.
11. The device according to claim 4, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container is at least partially housed
securely in the outer container by means on the upper portion of
the reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
engageable with means on the outer container.
12. The device according to claim 5, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container is at least partially housed
securely in the outer container by means on the upper portion of
the reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
engageable with means on the outer container.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises one or more fill
apertures and one or more dispense apertures, said fill apertures
being remotely positioned on the container in relation to the
dispense aperture.
14. The device according to claim 4, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises one or more fill
apertures and one or more dispense apertures, said fill apertures
being remotely positioned on the container in relation to the
dispense aperture.
15. The device according to claim 5, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises one or more fill
apertures and one or more dispense apertures, said fill apertures
being remotely positioned on the container in relation to the
dispense aperture.
16. The device according to claim 8, wherein the reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container comprises one or more fill
apertures and one or more dispense apertures, said fill apertures
being remotely positioned on the container in relation to the
dispense aperture.
17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is adapted
to store and transport foodstuffs, beverages, household products,
automotive products, or combination thereof.
18. A process for the refilling, transport and storage of products,
comprising: (a) removing a reusable at least partially collapsible
inner container from a rigid or semi-rigid outer container, said
inner container either has not previously contained any product or
has been at least partially emptied of product; (b) transporting
said reusable at least partially collapsible inner container to a
point of sale or dispense; (c) filling said reusable at least
partially collapsible inner container with one or more products;
(d) transporting said reusable at least partially collapsible inner
container to a point of use; and optionally (e) housing said
reusable at least partially collapsible inner container in a rigid
or semi-rigid outer container for subsequent use.
19. The process according to claim 18, wherein filling said inner
container comprises filling one or more fill apertures that are
remote from a dispense aperture.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to the foreign application
filed on Apr. 25, 2000, in Europe and having a serial number of
00303414.7.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an outer rigid or
semi-rigid container at least partially housing an at least
partially collapsible inner container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Containers for the purchase, transportation and dispensing
of products are well known in the art and are in widespread
use.
[0004] Such containers are available in a wide variety of shapes
and forms. They may be assembled from a wide variety of components,
and may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials.
[0005] Containers may generally be divided into two distinct
classes.
[0006] The first class is non-reusable containers, that is to say,
where the container is employed as a single use component and is
disposed of when emptied of its contents.
[0007] The second class is reusable containers, that is to say,
where the container is returned to the point of sale or dispense to
be refilled once emptied of its contents. This process may be
repeated many times, and the container may be refilled with
contents different to those previously in the container.
[0008] It is usual with reusable containers that the entire
container including all its components is returned to the point of
sale or dispense for refill.
[0009] That is to say, the user or a third party has to transport
the empty container in its entirety back to the point of sale or
dispense for refilling.
[0010] Typically, a reusable container is designed to contain,
transport and dispense a product according to the product
properties and intended use.
[0011] A reusable container typically has features that enable the
container to survive the process of return and reuse.
[0012] Typically, reusable containers are designed with the minimal
use of materials and components in order to provide a minimal
cost.
[0013] An alternative method is the use of two different container
types designed to enable refilling at the point of use.
[0014] The first container is designed to optimise the performance
of the container in use in its usual environment, for example, a
home or a place of work.
[0015] The second container is designed to provide a safe and
secure means of supplying the first container with a means of
refilling.
[0016] The nature of the second container is optimised for
transportation and product protection. Such a container is
non-reusable.
[0017] The second container is typically designed to use the least
amount of material, for example, a sachet or carton, and to use the
least number of components available within the state of the art,
in order to constrain cost.
[0018] Although this method has some advantages in that it is easy
to implement within the constraints of the current distribution and
retail system, the use of non-reusable refill packs is less
environmentally friendly and also makes the inherent cost of this
method higher than the refill method described above.
[0019] This additional cost constrains the resources available to
allow the first container to be fully optimised for its role at the
point of use.
[0020] Product is supplied as a concentrate in many cases, in order
to reduce the amount of material required for the second container.
This concentrate is then manually reconstituted in the first
container by the user at the point of use. Such a method may limit
the product homogenisation, and may adversely affect product
quality and performance.
[0021] Containers of the nature described above have a number of
inherent problems.
[0022] Any container that is designed to be discarded after one use
is inherently expensive in resource and commercial terms compared
to a container which is capable of being reused.
[0023] A reusable container retains the original shape, size and
proportions of the filled pack when empty, requiring the user or a
third party to transport a relatively bulky item. This discourages
many users from adopting such a system.
[0024] A reusable container cannot be fully optimised for the
dispensing or dosing of product or its handling by the user at the
point of use as its design is constrained by the need to meet the
requirements of the return and refill cycle. Typically a compromise
between the conflicting requirements is achieved.
[0025] The design of refill containers to enable refilling to take
place at the point of use is constrained by the need to control the
cost penalty inherent in the method and typically results in
minimal designs that do not optimise the ease of use necessary for
such a system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] According to the present invention there is provided a
device comprising a rigid or semi-rigid outer container, said outer
container at least partially housing a removable and reusable at
least partially collapsible inner container, said inner container
having a sealable outlet therein. Preferably, the outlet of the
inner container is not wholly surrounded by the opening of the
outer container.
[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a process for the refilling, transport and storage of
products, wherein
[0028] a) a reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
is removed from a rigid or semi-rigid outer container which inner
container either has not previously contained any product or has
been at least partially emptied of product;
[0029] b) said reusable at least partially collapsible inner
container is transported to a point of sale or dispense;
[0030] c) said reusable at least partially collapsible inner
container is filled or refilled with product;
[0031] d) said reusable at least partially collapsible inner
container is transported to a point of use; and optionally
[0032] e) said reusable at least partially collapsible inner
container is housed in a rigid or semi-rigid outer container for
subsequent use.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the process of the present
invention in step b), said reusable at least partially collapsible
inner container may be transported to the point of sale or dispense
in an at least partially collapsed condition.
[0034] By "collapsible" in the present invention, is meant any
action that results in a reduction in size and volume of the
reusable collapsible inner container.
[0035] It will be appreciated that in the context of the present
invention by "reusable" is meant an inner container that may be
removed and subsequently refitted into the outer container in the
same way that it was originally housed, that is to say, such that
the inner container may be refitted into the outer container in an
at least partially filled state, and that upon refitting said inner
container is still capable of being used for its original
purpose.
[0036] The rigid or semi-rigid outer container improves the
handling of the reusable collapsible inner container when at the
point of use.
[0037] The rigid or semi-rigid outer container can be made in any
material and in any shape or configuration, providing that it can
house the reusable collapsible inner container. Suitable materials
include plastics materials, by way of example, Polyethylene
Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), High
Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and barrier
laminates such as PET/NYLON/PET and PP/BAREX.RTM./PP etc.
(BAREX.RTM. is a trade mark of BP Amoco plc), wood, metals such as
aluminum and iron, metal alloys, ceramics and glass.
[0038] The design of the rigid or semi-rigid outer container may
include any dispensing, dosing or application feature or device
providing the means to dispense the product in a wide variety of
ways.
[0039] The design of the rigid or semi-rigid outer container may
include provision for multiple dispense points and manual or
powered dispensing.
[0040] The design of the rigid or semi-rigid outer container may
include provision for ease of handling in use, such as and by way
of example only, handles integral to the container design or as an
additional component or components; flexible members or components
such as straps, webbing, collars; additional grip points around the
neck or base to allow the user access to multiple handling points;
methods such as straps or clips, whereby the container may be
"worn" by the user or hung from convenient location points to
enable the container to be used on the move or in locations where
there are no appropriate surfaces for storage.
[0041] The design of the rigid or semi-rigid outer container may be
of any scale or size that is relevant to the product or the product
use.
[0042] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may be made from any material, and in any shape or configuration,
providing it can be housed within the rigid or semi-rigid outer
container.
[0043] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may be manufactured by employing any technique commonly used in the
art.
[0044] In one embodiment of the present invention, said reusable at
least partially collapsible inner container is manufactured from a
plastics material. As such, said reusable at least partially
collapsible inner container may be manufactured by any conventional
process for the forming of plastics materials.
[0045] Suitable plastics include any appropriate to the
requirements of the product including, by way of example, PET, PP,
PE, HDPE, PVC, and barrier laminates such as PET/NYLON/PET and
PP/BAREX.RTM./PP.
[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said
reusable at least partially collapsible inner container may be
manufactured by an extrusion or injection blow-molding process.
[0047] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
generally has a bottom wall, peripheral collapsible side walls, and
an upper portion comprising one or more dispensing points. The
terms "bottom", "side" and "upper" are used to identify those
positions of the container when it is in its normal orientation in
use.
[0048] It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, that for
convenience said bottom wall and/or upper portion may also be of a
collapsible nature.
[0049] The upper portion may be an integral part of the reusable at
least partially collapsible inner container, or it may be securely
sealed to the peripheral collapsible side walls of the at least
partially collapsible inner container by any technique commonly
used in the art. Suitable techniques include heat sealing,
ultrasonic sealing and the use of adhesives.
[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the upper portion may contain a
positioning guide to aid filling at the point of sale or dispense.
Examples of suitable positioning guides include grooves and
shoulders.
[0051] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may include any device or mechanism for refilling providing that it
achieves intended and accurate filling of the container.
[0052] The structure of the reusable inner container can be
collapsed by any suitable means, including powered means through
the action of a mechanism or motor and methods utilising a stored
reservoir of energy such as, and by way of example, an elastic
membrane or a spring or a battery, from an external or internal
source.
[0053] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may be collapsed manually by the user or a third party.
[0054] It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the
nature of said reusable at least partially collapsible inner
container is not limited in the present invention.
[0055] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may be of any form commonly used in the art that allows a reduction
in the size and volume of said container.
[0056] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may comprise pleated, fluted or folded peripheral side walls that
improve the degree to which the container may be made to collapse
by providing a controlled means of collapse.
[0057] For example, said side walls may comprise vertically spaced
steps or shoulders, which facilitate axial collapse and subsequent
concentric folding of one or more portions of the side wall to
provide a collapsed inner container with at least two "layers" of
side walls. Said side walls may be formed to give smooth, tapered
or even straight peripheral side walls.
[0058] Alternative methods include those wherein the reusable
collapsible inner container comprises peripheral collapsible side
walls in the form of a longitudinal compressible helical
thread.
[0059] In one embodiment, the reusable at least partially
collapsible inner container may comprise a collapsible bag or
sachet.
[0060] In a further embodiment, the reusable at least partially
collapsible inner container may comprise an expandable elastomeric
material. Said expandable elastomeric material will automatically
distend upon filling, and will be impermeable to the product
contained therein. In a preferred embodiment, said expandable
elastomeric material will contract upon dispense of the product
therein. Thus, it is possible to avoid the necessity for machine or
manual collapse of the reusable collapsible intermediate container
after use. The expandable elastomeric material may be housed in a
flexibility limiting support to restrict the amount of distension
possible, for example by using an outer netting bag.
[0061] It is within the skill of the person skilled in the art to
select a suitable elastomeric material according to their precise
requirements.
[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the reusable collapsible inner
container comprises a rigid or semi-rigid upper portion. Said upper
portion may conveniently comprise means for refilling and/or
dispensing of product contained within said reusable collapsible
inner container. Said upper portion may conveniently comprise means
for transport of the reusable collapsible inner container, of any
nature commonly used in the art, for example a handle or strap.
[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
reusable collapsible inner container may comprise one or more fill
apertures and one or more dispense apertures, said fill apertures
being remotely positioned on the container in relation to the
dispense apertures.
[0064] By "remote" in the present invention is meant at a location
independent of the dispense aperture.
[0065] It will be appreciated that within the scope of the present
invention, "remote" is also intended to encompass a situation
wherein the fill aperture is located in the closure of the dispense
aperture, i.e. whilst the fill aperture shares a common path to the
interior of the container, the dispense aperture cannot be
considered identical to that of the fill aperture.
[0066] The degree of reduction in size and volume of the reusable
collapsible inner container in its collapsed condition is not
limited in the present invention, however the reduction in volume
is conveniently greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and
more preferably greater than 80%, based on the volume of the
reusable collapsible inner container in its non-collapsed
condition.
[0067] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may comprise any number, combination and orientation of fill and/or
dispense apertures that meet the needs of the product, its intended
use or its method of use.
[0068] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may provide any means to communicate to the user the identity of
the product it contains, and information about that product's state
by means of, and by way of example, a transparent window, a gauge
or a valve point for sampling.
[0069] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may be conveniently used for transporting liquids or solids from
the point of sale or dispense to the point of use, whereupon said
container is at least partially housed in a rigid or semi-rigid
outer container of the kind described above.
[0070] The reusable collapsible inner container may provide any
suitable means to at least partially house it securely within the
rigid or semi-rigid outer container.
[0071] For example, the reusable at least partially collapsible
inner container may be housed securely by virtue of a continuous
flange or at least two individual connection points in the form of
tabs, clips, fasteners and/or catches, present on the reusable at
least partially collapsible inner container and/or the rigid or
semi-rigid outer container.
[0072] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may be refilled at a dispense or vending point and carried by a
flexible handle. The collapsible nature of said inner container
improves its portability when empty.
[0073] The reusable at least partially collapsible inner container
may made more portable by the action of closing the sealable means
on said inner container in order to hold the at least partially
collapsed inner container by a vacuum.
[0074] Outer and inner containers according to the present
invention may be conveniently used to store and transport a wide
variety of materials such as foodstuffs, beverages, household
products such as detergents, and automotive products such as
lubricants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0075] The present invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be
noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only some
embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered
limiting of its scope, because the invention may admit to other
equally effective embodiments.
[0076] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section through a reusable
collapsible container in a non-collapsed condition;
[0077] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section through a reusable
collapsible container in a collapsed condition;
[0078] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section through a rigid outer
container housing a reusable collapsible inner container; and
[0079] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a reusable collapsible
container about to be housed in a rigid outer container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0080] FIGS. 1-4 have similar elements that are similarly numbered
and will be described in conjunction with each other. A reusable
collapsible inner container 1 comprises a collapsible bag 2 having
side walls 3 attached to a rigid upper portion 4. Said upper
portion comprises a positioning guide 5, which is so designed to
cooperate with suitable means in a dispensing apparatus so as to
ensure that it is correctly positioned in said apparatus whilst
being filled with product at the point of dispense. Said upper
portion 4 further comprises a sealable outlet in the form of a
spout 6 with a drip-trap 7, and covered by a double-walled lid 8.
Said lid cooperates with said spout 6 so as to ensure that there is
no leakage of product from said inner container, and is removable
so that product may be dispensed from said container at the point
of use. Said upper portion 4 further comprises a remote fill
aperture 9 in the form of a reed valve. The reusable collapsible
inner container further comprises a flexible carrying handle 10.
The upper portion 4 is attached to the collapsible bag 2 by
suitable means such as an ultrasonic seal 11. The upper portion 4
further comprises means in the form of a latch 12 which is
engageable with means in the form of an upper rim 13 of a rigid
outer container 14, to enable secure attachment to said rigid outer
container 14.
[0081] The collapsible bag 2 may be compressed, essentially by
folding it at a number of locations, such that it is substantially
accommodated by the upper portion 4. The collapsible bag 2 may be
optionally held in a collapsed form by a vacuum upon replacement of
lid 8.
[0082] The reusable collapsible inner container 1 is positioned in
the outer container 14 by being moved vertically downward into the
outer container 14 until the latch 12 engages to secure the upper
portion 4 to an upper rim 13 of said outer container 14. The
complete assembly of the inner container 1 and outer container 14
is then ready for use whereby product contained in said inner
container 1 may be dispensed by opening said spout 6 by removing
the lid 8 and grasping a handle 15.
[0083] While the foregoing is directed to various embodiments of
the present invention, other and further embodiments may be devised
without departing from the basic scope thereof. For example, the
various methods and embodiments of the invention can be included in
combination with each other to produce variations of the disclosed
methods and embodiments. Also, the directions such as "top,"
"bottom," "left," "right," "upper," "lower," and other directions
and orientations are described herein for clarity in reference to
the figures and are not to be limiting of the actual device or
system or use of the device or system. The device or system may be
used in a number of directions and orientations. Further, the order
of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise
specifically limited. The various steps described herein can be
combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps,
and/or split into multiple steps.
* * * * *