U.S. patent application number 12/553711 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-14 for flexible liquid container.
This patent application is currently assigned to PAKERMAN S.A.. Invention is credited to Eric Risgalla.
Application Number | 20100008602 12/553711 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33132415 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100008602 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Risgalla; Eric |
January 14, 2010 |
Flexible Liquid Container
Abstract
A flexible container for holding a liquid includes two walls
made of a flexible material, the free overlaying edges of the walls
being assembled together by a weld or an adhesive seam so as to
define an inner sealed volume of the container. The two walls also
define a spout designed to protrude outwards from a peripheral
portion of the container, and an outflow channel connects the spout
with the inner volume of the container. One or several obstacles
are formed by welding or bonding together the two walls in the
inner volume, substantially opposite from and in the vicinity of,
the channel leading to the spout in such a manner as to limit the
section of the passage available for the liquid between the inner
volume and the outflow channel. One narrowed passage is left open
in such a manner that a portion of the surface including the spout
is deflected. This portion of the surface is substantially defined
by the obstacle(s) and by folds directed substantially transverse
with respect to the obstacles.
Inventors: |
Risgalla; Eric; (Geneva,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS LLP
300 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET, SUITE 2700
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
PAKERMAN S.A.
Geneva
CH
|
Family ID: |
33132415 |
Appl. No.: |
12/553711 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10551618 |
Sep 30, 2005 |
|
|
|
PCT/IB04/00736 |
Mar 12, 2004 |
|
|
|
12553711 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/44 ; 222/107;
222/541.9; 383/204; 383/47; 383/906 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5822 20130101;
B65D 75/5866 20130101; Y10S 383/906 20130101; B65D 2575/586
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/44 ; 383/47;
383/204; 383/906; 222/107; 222/541.9 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/36 20060101
B65D033/36; B65D 33/38 20060101 B65D033/38; B65D 30/10 20060101
B65D030/10; B65D 65/32 20060101 B65D065/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 4, 2003 |
CH |
CH 0564/03 |
Dec 16, 2003 |
CH |
2003 2147/03 |
Claims
1. A flexible container for containing a liquid, including two
overlaying walls of flexible material welded or bonded along a
peripheral seam so as to define an inner sealed volume, said
container comprising an outwardly protruding spout and an outflow
channel connecting said spout with said inner sealed volume of said
container, wherein one or several obstacles formed by welding or
bonding together a portion of said two overlaying walls is or are
located in said inner sealed volume substantially opposite and in
the vicinity of the outflow channel thereby leaving open at least
one restricted passage between the inner sealed volume and the
outflow channel, the obstacle or obstacles extending between two
ends and creating two folds, one extending from each of said ends,
directed substantially transversally with respect to said obstacles
and traversing the peripheral seam, the position of the one or
several obstacles relative to the spout and the peripheral seam
being such that a portion of the overlying walls including the
spout and bounded by the obstacle or the obstacles and by the folds
deflects or arches when liquid is present in the inner sealed
volume.
2. A flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle
defines two said restricted passages at two opposite sides of the
outflow channel of the spout.
3. A flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the spout has
a generally straight shape and extends substantially
perpendicularly to a peripheral portion of the container to which
it is affixed.
4. A flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the spout
includes a groove for tearing off a portion of the spout.
5. A flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the walls of
the container are made from a single sheet of flexible material,
which is folded over to overlay said two walls.
6. A flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the walls of
the container are made from two separate sheets of flexible
material.
7. A flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle
has an elongated shape and extends between two ends overlapping the
peripheral seam on either side of the spout.
8. A flexible container according to claim 7, wherein the obstacle
overlaps said peripheral seam on either side of the spout by an
amount that is less than 5% of the overall length of the peripheral
seam.
9. A flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle
extends substantially parallel to portions of the peripheral seam
located on either side of the spout.
10. A flexible container according to claim 1, comprising at least
two said obstacles spaced apart by a narrow passage facing the
outflow channel of the spout.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Utility
Application Ser. No. 10/551,618, filed Sep. 30, 2005 entitled
"FLEXIBLE LIQUID CONTAINER", now U.S. Ser. No. 12/883,771; which in
turn claims priority from PCT Application Number PCT/IB04/00736;
which claims priority from Swiss National Applications 0564/03
filed Apr. 1, 2003 and 0214703 filed Dec. 16, 2003; the disclosures
of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
[0002] The present invention relates to a flexible container for a
liquid, provided with a self-sealing pouring spout.
[0003] Flexible containers for holding a beverage or some other
liquid offer several advantages over rigid containers and, more
particularly: their low cost of manufacture, the use of a minimal
amount of material and a small bulk after use. However, once opened
and if no rigid pouring spout is provided, either separate or
welded/bonded to the flexible sheets of the container, they cannot
be easily closed once opened and they tend to allow the liquid to
escape. Once the container is opened, the user must hold the
container to prevent the liquid from being involuntarily spilled
and he cannot leave it to stand on a table or on some other
surface, unless it is completely empty.
[0004] Various flexible containers with a self-sealing spout have
been suggested for overcoming this problem. Generally, either an
increase in the resistance to the flow of the liquid is suggested
by providing the containers with long thin channels in fluid
communication with the spout developing a high resistance to flow,
as described in the GB patent 769 810 and the U.S. Pat. No.
4,988,016, or a narrowing or some other obstacle in the vicinity of
the spout developing a strong resistance to the flow of the liquid,
such as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,178.
[0005] In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,016 and in the GB patent 769 810,
the self-sealing effect depends mainly on the elasticity
characteristics of the material of which the container is made, on
the dimensions of the spout as well as on the characteristics of
the liquid. In those systems which rely on a strong local
resistance, such as those described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,178,
the self-sealing effect is strongly dependant upon the dimensions
of the passage as well as on the characteristics of the liquid and
in particular on its surface tension. In all the prior solutions,
the self-sealing effect is strongly dependant on the
characteristics of the liquid and/or on the properties of the
material of the flexible container and a given spout geometry can
often be used only for a specific liquid, owing to the fact that
the self-sealing effect is affected by variations in the dimensions
of the channel or of the restriction. Another important
disadvantage of these systems is that, in order to achieve a
reliable self-sealing effect, it is necessary to have a high
resistance in the outflow channel which limits strongly the flow
rate and necessitates that a considerable compressive force be
applied by the user to empty the container. Furthermore, after a
first use of the container, the self-sealing effect tends to
subside, which results in involuntary leaks.
[0006] The same holds true for the container described in the
patent application WO 98/01361 which discloses the use of spouts
which are shaped differently depending on the liquid held in the
container.
[0007] Other known sealing means rely on the formation of folds
after use by the user, such as described in the U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,278,085, 5,228,782 and 6,244,468. These solutions have the
drawback of not providing a self-sealing effect and of requiring an
intervention by the user.
[0008] Accordingly, an objective of the invention is to provide a
flexible container for a liquid, with a self-sealing spout, which
is improved by comparison with those already known.
[0009] Preferably, the self-sealing effect depends only little on
the properties of the liquid held in the container, it is reliable
and it allows an outflow without requiring an excessive pressure by
the user.
[0010] Preferably, the pouring spout of the container has a form,
which is simple and easily manufactured, using a minimal amount of
material and at a minimal cost.
[0011] In order to achieve the objectives of the invention, a
flexible container is provided, which has the characteristic
features set out in claim 1. Specific embodiments are described in
the dependant claims.
[0012] A specific embodiment is described hereafter, with reference
to the appended drawing, including figures, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top view of the container according to the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view of the container of the previous
figure placed on a flat surface;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the same container placed on a flat
surface;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of a container according to a second
embodiment of the invention; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top view of a container according to another
embodiment of the invention; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the container according to
FIG. 6.
[0020] The container 1 illustrated in the figures is made from two
sheets 10, 11 of a flexible material, which have the same shape and
the same dimensions, and which are fixed together by a weld seam or
an adhesive seam 12 running along the periphery of the container 1.
In addition to running along the periphery of the container proper,
the assemblage seam provided as a weld seam 12 also surrounds a
spout 13, protruding from a portion of the periphery of the
container. Thus, the spout 13 is made from the same sheets of
flexible material as those forming the container 1 and it includes
an outflow channel 130 opening inside the flexible container 1.
Furthermore, the spout 13 can include a weakening groove 131, which
makes it possible to tear off a portion thereof, thus opening the
spout 13 and the channel 130.
[0021] Inside the flexible container 1, in the vicinity of the
location where the channel 130 opens inside the flexible container,
the two flexible sheets 10 and 11, made from a polymer or from some
other flexible material, are welded or bonded together in such a
manner as to form an obstacle 14 located facing the outflow
channel. The welded obstacle 14 has an elongated shape and extends
between two ends 15 which overlap the peripheral weld 12 on both
sides of the outflow channel, while leaving free two passages 140,
141 in the direction of the channel 130. The length L of the
overlap is relatively small, compared with the overall length of
the peripheral weld 12 and it corresponds, preferably, to less than
10% thereof. Preferably, the longitudinal obstacle runs
substantially parallel to the portions of the peripheral weld 12 on
the two sides of the outflow channel and approximately
perpendicularly to the general direction of the protruding
spout.
[0022] When the container 1 is filled via a filling spout (not
illustrated) and sealed permanently after the filling, the large
central parts of the two walls 10 and 11 forming the container 1
move away from each other as the container swells, as can be seen
in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0023] When the container 1 is filled and the walls 10 and 11 are,
accordingly, pushed away from each other, two folds are formed on
each one of the walls 10 and 11, extending transversally with
respect to the narrowed passages 140 and 141, approximately along
the axes 142 and 143 shown in FIG. 1. The deformation of the walls
10 and 11 in the vicinity of the ends of the obstacle 14--namely of
two portions of each wall 10 and 11, which adjoin the two sides of
the narrowed passages 140 and 141 and which are prevented from
moving away from each other--creates a fold approximately along the
axes 142 and 143.
[0024] The folds 142, 143, as well as the generally elongated
obstacle 15, define along approximately the dotted nip line 144,
shown in FIG. 1, with the section 12a of the seam extending between
the fold lines 142, 143 a portion of the surface, which tends to
curve (deflect) as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The deflection of
the area 145 including the spout, between the folds 142, 143,
results in the two flexible sheets in this area being urged against
each other and thus forming a valve which prevents the flow of
liquid through the passages 140, 141 and via the orifice of the
protruding spout 130.
[0025] When the flexible container is laid on a flat surface as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and a vertical force F.sub.v is
applied approximately on the large central part of the upper wall
10, the folds 142, 143 and the deflection of the central deflection
area 145 tend to reinforce, thus increasing the tightness of the
valve.
[0026] This reinforcement of the folds 142, 143 in the vicinity of
the passages 140, 141, as well as the increase in the deflection of
the area 143 which increases with the application of a force Fv
which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flexible
sheets are extremely advantageous, since they prevent effectively
the escape of liquid when the flexible container is laid in its
natural position on a surface which is substantially flat, even
when another object, which increases the pressure in the container,
is placed on top of the container.
[0027] It is to be noted, that the deflection of the area 145 is
non symmetrical, since the area 145 is deflected on one side or on
the other side of the container. The deflection is a consequence of
the particular geometry of the obstacle 15 which is either welded
or bonded, and of its position with respect to the protruding spout
portion 130 and the seam portion 12a, which, together, determine
the formation of the folds 142, 143. In particular, the folds 142
and 143, as well as the obstacle 15, define a nip line 144 between
the two flexible sheets. This line is not straight, but has a
generally curved shape of which the ends cut across the peripheral
seam. This nip line about the protruding spout, which is not
straight, makes it possible to cause the deflection of the spout
area 145.
[0028] In order to enable the liquid to flow via the spout 13, the
user simply needs to exert a certain pressure on the container, in
particular by pressing the container at least partly along a
direction F.sub.h, which is substantially perpendicular to the
plane of the weld of the obstacle 14, thus opening the lips closing
the narrowed passage or passages 140, 141. The interruption of this
compressive action closes the narrowed passages and closes the
container.
[0029] The exertion of a compressive force on the container in the
direction F.sub.H, i. e. substantially perpendicularly to the plane
of the weld of the obstacle results in a decrease of the deflection
and of the effect of the folds 142, 143, accompanied by an
increased pressure of the liquid in the container which opens
slightly the lips of the sheets at the entrance to the passages
141, 140, to enable an outflow of the liquid. In fact, when a
compressive force F.sub.H is applied approximately on the lateral
sections 12b of the seam, which is accompanied by an increase of
the pressure inside the container, a pulling force F.sub.T and a
torque F.sub.R act on the portion of the seam in the vicinity of
the spout which tends to flatten, i. e. to reduce the deflection of
the spout area 145.
[0030] The figures show a container 1 having a substantially
circular shape; it is however understood, that this container can
assume any shape adapted to its use. In the case of a container of
a design having one side with a straight edge, the container can be
formed from a single sheet of a flexible material folded over along
this straight edge, with the remaining edges being welded together
to form the container. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
a container according to the invention is shown wherein the walls
10', 11' of the container are made from a single sheet of flexible
material which is folded (along 12') to form two overlying walls
10', 11'.
[0031] Also, a given flexible packaging can contain any type of
liquid, the only limitation being the chemical compatibility of the
liquid with the material forming the container.
[0032] The figures show a container 1 having a substantially
circular shape; it is however understood, that this container can
assume any shape adapted to its use. In the case of a container of
a design having one side with a straight edge, the container can be
formed from a single sheet of a flexible material folded over along
this straight edge, with the remaining edges being welded together
to form the container.
[0033] Furthermore, the embodiment of the flexible container
illustrated and described has an obstacle 14 defining two narrowed
passages 140 and 141. One could also have one end of the obstacle
14 in contact with the neighbouring portion of the weld 12, thus
leaving only one narrowed passage, with a single fold being then
formed on the walls 10 and 11 upon the filling of the
container.
[0034] In another embodiment, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 4
and 5, the container has a shape, which is substantially
rectangular, and the spout 13 is positioned in a corner of the
rectangle to protrude in a direction along an oblique axis
approximately along the median line between the edges of the
adjoining rectangle. In this embodiment, a welded obstacle 14' is
arranged facing the spout as in the previous embodiments, except
that this obstacle is provided with a central passage 146. In this
embodiment, the deflection of the spout area 145 defined by the nip
line 144 is substantially the same as in the case of the embodiment
described previously. However, because of the rectangular shape of
the container and of the position of the spout in a corner thereof,
a compressive force applied by the user to the central part of
opposite edges 12b of the container creates a pulling force and a
torque which are less pronounced on the spout area 145 by
comparison with the embodiment described previously. However, owing
to the rectangular shape of the container and of the position of
the spout in one corner thereof, a compressive force exerted by the
user upon the central part of the opposite edges 12b of the
container generates a pulling force and a torque which are less
pronounced on the spout area 145 than in the embodiment described
previously.
[0035] In the case of such elongated shapes in which the
compressive force is exerted on the container at a relatively long
distance from the spout and where the spout is in a non symmetrical
position of the container with respect to the compressive forces
applied to the container, the central passage 146 provided in the
welded obstacle makes it possible to initiate and facilitate the
flow of liquid in the passage of the spout.
* * * * *