U.S. patent application number 13/976712 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for package.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kao Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Michiaki Fujita, Shinichi Inaba, Motoaki Moriya, Hirokatsu Sugawara. Invention is credited to Michiaki Fujita, Shinichi Inaba, Motoaki Moriya, Hirokatsu Sugawara.
Application Number | 20130319970 13/976712 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46383083 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130319970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sugawara; Hirokatsu ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
PACKAGE
Abstract
Provided is a package having a synthetic-resin stretch blow
molded container (11) for storing a content containing a
surfactant, a plug (18) attached to a mouth/neck part (15) of the
stretch blow molded container (11), and an outer bag (12) for
encasing the entire stretch blow molded container (11) with a space
around the periphery of the container, wherein the package can be
displayed with the container (11) standing unaided. The stretch
blow molded container (11) is formed including a bottom part (14)
having a standing arrangement part (13), a mouth/neck part (15),
and a body part (16) between the bottom part (14) and the
mouth/neck part (15), and a decoration is appended to the outer bag
(12). Concerning the stretch blow molded container (11) and the
outer bag (12), a value A (A=W/V.sup.2/3), which is obtained by
dividing the resin amount W (g) by 2/3 th power of the container
capacity V (mL), is 0.13 to 0.25, and the capacity of the container
(11) is 1000 mL or less.
Inventors: |
Sugawara; Hirokatsu; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Moriya; Motoaki; (Tokyo, JP) ; Inaba;
Shinichi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Fujita; Michiaki;
(Funabashi-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sugawara; Hirokatsu
Moriya; Motoaki
Inaba; Shinichi
Fujita; Michiaki |
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo
Funabashi-shi |
|
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kao Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
46383083 |
Appl. No.: |
13/976712 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 27, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2011/080172 |
371 Date: |
August 12, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/003 20130101;
B65D 71/502 20130101; B65D 1/32 20130101; B65D 81/3205 20130101;
B65D 77/0406 20130101; B65D 47/06 20130101; B65D 1/0207 20130101;
B65D 47/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/373 |
International
Class: |
B65D 77/04 20060101
B65D077/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 27, 2010 |
JP |
2010-289331 |
Mar 25, 2011 |
JP |
2011-067210 |
Claims
1: A package comprising a synthetic-resin stretch blow molded
container for storing a content comprising a surfactant, a plug
attached to a mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded container,
and an outer bag for encasing the entire stretch blow molded
container with a space around the periphery of the container; and
the package can be displayed with the container standing unaided;
wherein the stretch blow molded container comprises a bottom part
having a standing arrangement part, the mouth/neck part for pouring
out the content, and a body part between the bottom part and the
mouth/neck part, and a decoration is appended to the outer bag.
2: The package according to claim 1, wherein, concerning the blow
molded container and the outer bag, a value A (A=W/V.sup.2/3),
which is obtained by dividing the resin amount W (g) by 2/3 th
power of the container capacity V (mL), is 0.13 to 0.25, and the
capacity of the container is 1000 mL or less.
3: The package according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant
concentration of the content is 15 to 80 wt %.
4: The package according to claim 2, wherein the stretch blow
molded container is a single-layer container that has been stretch
blow molded.
5: The package according to claim 4, wherein the stretch blow
molded container comprises a polyolefin resin.
6: The package according to claim 5, wherein a pour cap attached to
a refilled container comprises an inner cylindrical wall disposed
along the internal peripheral surface of the mouth/neck part of the
container main body, a bottom surface wall connected to the bottom
end of the inner cylindrical wall, and a pour spout standing
upright from the bottom surface wall; and the plug attached to the
mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded container is opened by
the insertion of the tip of the spout.
7: A package comprising a synthetic-resin stretch blow molded
container for storing a content comprising a surfactant, a plug
attached to a mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded container,
and an outer bag for encasing the entire stretch blow molded
container with a space around the periphery of the container; and
the package can be displayed with the container standing unaided;
wherein the stretch blow molded container comprises a bottom part
having a standing arrangement part, the mouth/neck part for pouring
out the content, and a body part between the bottom part and the
mouth/neck part, a wall thickness of the body part is 50 to 150
.mu.m, a total wall thickness of the body part and the outer bag is
100 to 180 .mu.m, and a decoration is appended to the outer
bag.
8: The package according to claim 7, wherein, concerning the blow
molded container and the outer bag, a value A (A=W/V.sup.2/3),
which is obtained by dividing the resin amount W (g) by 2/3 th
power of the container capacity V (mL), is 0.13 to 0.25, and the
capacity of the container is 1000 mL or less.
9: The package according to claim 8, wherein the stretch blow
molded container is a single-layer container that has been stretch
blow molded.
10: The package according to claim 9, wherein the stretch blow
molded container is a single-layer container comprising a
polyolefin resin.
11: The package according to claim 10, wherein the polyolefin resin
is polyethylene or polypropylene.
12: The package according to claim 11, wherein the total wall
thickness of the body part and the outer bag is 110 to 170
.mu.m.
13: The package according to claim 12, wherein the wall thickness
of the body part is 70 to 130 .mu.m, and the total wall thickness
of the body part and the outer bag is 110 to 170 .mu.m.
14: The package according to claim 13, wherein hammering is used
for a fitting section between the mouth/neck part and the plug.
15: The package according to claim 14, wherein a pour cap attached
to a refilled container comprises an inner cylindrical wall
disposed along the internal peripheral surface of the mouth/neck
part of the container main body, a bottom surface wall connected to
the bottom end of the inner cylindrical wall, and a pour spout
standing upright from the bottom surface wall; and the plug
attached to the mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded
container is opened by the insertion of the tip of the spout.
16: A package comprising a synthetic-resin stretch blow molded
container for storing a content comprising a surfactant, a plug
attached to a mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded container,
and an outer bag for encasing the entire stretch blow molded
container with a space around the periphery of the container; and
the package can be displayed with the container standing unaided;
wherein the stretch blow molded container comprises a bottom part
having a standing arrangement part, the mouth/neck part for pouring
out the content, and a body part between the bottom part and the
mouth/neck part, and a decoration is appended to the outer bag,
concerning the blow molded container and the outer bag, a value A
(A=W/V.sup.2/3), which is obtained by dividing the resin amount W
(g) by 2/3 th power of the container capacity V (mL), is 0.13 to
0.25, and the capacity of the container is 1000 mL or less, the
stretch blow molded container is a bottle container composed of
polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate and having a wall
thickness of 80 to 120 .mu.m, and the outer bag is an outer bag
having an oxygen transmission rate of less than 1100
mL/m.sup.2dayatm and a layer thickness of 70 .mu.m or less.
17: The package according to claim 16, wherein the surfactant
concentration of the content is 15 to 85 wt %.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a package composed of a
stretch blow molded container made of a synthetic resin for storing
contents, and an outer bag encasing the stretch blow molded
container.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Recently, for synthetic-resin containers that store various
liquids and other contents, various thin-walled containers have
been developed which are intended to have less environmental impact
and which use less resin (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
Refillable containers that employ a standing pouch or the like are
often used as containers for storing various detergents,
foodstuffs, and the like. The stored contents are refilled or
replenished in a refilled container having a pouring part that
employs a pour nozzle or the like, whereby the refillable container
can be used over a long period of time without discarding an
expensive refilled container each time (see Patent Literature 2,
for example).
[0003] The thinner the walls of the body part of the
synthetic-resin container for storing contents, the lesser the
shape-retaining rigidity, the lower the strength, and the greater
difficulty involved in affixing labels or other decoration for
advertising or providing descriptions to the external peripheral
surface of the container. Though reinforcing ribs may be provided
to the body part of the container, for example, to improve
shape-retaining rigidity and strength (see Patent Literature 3, for
example), there is a limit to the thinning of the body part formed
as being thin-walled.
[0004] In cases in which a solution having a surfactant as a
primary component is stored as a content in the container, for
example, the temperature of the content decreases below the
temperature at the time of filling, the head space or liquid volume
is reduced or oxygen in the air remaining inside is absorbed by the
content, and when the interior of the container reaches negative
pressure, the container easily deforms inward, and the outward
appearance is severely compromised.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0005] Patent Literature 1: JP 2007-308598 A [0006] Patent
Literature 2: JP 2010-132339 A [0007] Patent Literature 3: JP
2006-16076 A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a package (a refillable
package) composed of a stretch blow molded container made of a
synthetic resin for storing a content containing a surfactant, a
plug attached to a mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded
container, and an outer bag encasing the entire stretch blow molded
container with a space around the periphery of the container,
wherein the package can be displayed while the container stands
unaided. The stretch blow molded container is formed including a
bottom part having a standing arrangement part, a mouth/neck part
for pouring out the content, and a body part between the bottom
part and the mouth/neck part, and the outer bag is decorated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for describing the
configuration of a package according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sensor main bodies and
the plug.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for describing the
conditions in which liquid detergent stored in the stretch blow
molded container is refilled in a refilled container.
[0012] FIG. 4(a) is an enlarged perspective view of the plug.
[0013] FIG. 4(b) is an enlarged side view of the plug.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view for describing the
conditions in which liquid detergent stored in the stretch blow
molded container is refilled in a refilled container.
[0015] FIG. 6(a) is an explanatory drawing of a test for piercing
the package.
[0016] FIG. 6(b) is an explanatory drawing of a test for piercing
the package.
[0017] FIG. 6(c) is a chart showing the results of evaluating the
degree of depressurized deformation.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view for describing the
configuration of a pour cap having a pour spout.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view for describing the
conditions in which a plug member is prevented from being attached
to the pour spout in an incorrect direction.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view for describing the
conditions in which the plug member is positioned and attached
correctly in the pour spout.
[0021] FIG. 10(a) is a top view of a plug according to another
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 10(b) is a side cross-sectional view of a plug
according to another embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view for describing the
conditions in which a plug according to another embodiment is
attached to the pour spout.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0024] A standing pouch used in conventional practice is a bag
formed by sticking together multilayered resin films, and while the
standing pouch has excellent characteristics such as thermal fusion
sealing, airtightness, and aroma retention, characteristics such as
oil resistance and chemical resistance are insufficient. When a
liquid detergent or a liquid containing a surfactant or the like
such as a softener is accommodated and a long period of time
passes, components such as the surfactant permeate through a
sealant film and deteriorate the adhesive. There is a risk that a
substrate film and the sealant film will thereby peel off, the
outward appearance will be compromised by wrinkles between the
films, and further peeling will occur, causing falling strength to
decrease and the accommodated content to leak out. Because the
resin films have a multilayered structure, when the capacity is
1000 mL or less, for example, the percentage of the resin amount
relative to the capacity increases, and the effect of reducing the
resin amount is reduced. Furthermore, due to an easily-elongated
resin film being bonded to an elongation-resistant resin film, when
the films are pierced by something pointed at the tip such as a
needle, the films tear readily without elongating much overall.
Specifically, it is believed that the load imposed by piercing is
not readily distributed.
[0025] The present invention relates to a package wherein even if
the container has a capacity of e.g., 1000 mL or less, the
container can be formed with less resin while the percentage of the
resin amount relative to capacity remains low, and compromising of
the outward appearance, decreasing of strength, and compromising of
the stability of the accommodated content can be effectively
avoided by reducing the resin amount.
[0026] The inventors had the idea that by using a two-layer
structure including a molded container and an outer bag encasing
the molded container as a form of a marketable product for
refilling content and by suitably allotting functions to both the
molded container and the outer bag, the percentage of the resin
amount relative to the capacity can be effectively reduced even if
the capacity is, e.g., 1000 mL or less, while avoiding compromising
of the outward appearance of the commercial product, decreasing of
strength, and compromising of the stability of the content
accommodated in the container.
[0027] The present invention relates to a package (a refillable
package) having a stretch blow molded container made of a synthetic
resin for storing a content containing a surfactant, a plug
attached to a mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded container,
and an outer bag encasing the entire stretch blow molded container
with a space around the periphery of the container, wherein the
package can be displayed while the container stands unaided. The
stretch blow molded container is formed including a bottom part
having a standing arrangement part, a mouth/neck part for pouring
out the content, and a body part between the bottom part and the
mouth/neck part, and the outer bag is decorated.
[0028] A package 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 1 is commercialized such that a
refillable container 11 is encased by an outer bag 12, the
refillable container being a stretch blow molded container for
filling and storing a solution containing a surfactant as a
content, an example of the solution being a refillable liquid
detergent having a surfactant concentration of 15 wt % or more and
80 wt % or less. The refillable container 11 is stood unaided and
displayed in a store together with the outer bag 12. Because the
refillable container 11 constituting the package 10 of the present
embodiment is a stretch blow molded container, there is no
interlayer peeling and falling strength is superior to that of a
standing pouch, even when the surfactant concentration of the
liquid detergent accommodated as the content is 15 wt % or greater.
The effect of ensuring that falling strength is not compromised is
more pronounced particularly when the surfactant concentration is
50 wt % or greater. At 85 wt % or less, the content is expected to
inspissate, and 80 wt % or less is a practical range.
[0029] A user who has purchased the package 10 of the present
embodiment can take the refillable container 11 out of the outer
bag 12 and refill the liquid detergent into a refilled container 30
having a pouring part 31 that employs a pour nozzle or the like
(see FIGS. 3 and 5), and after refilling the liquid detergent into
the refilled container 30, the user can put the emptied refillable
container 11 into the outer bag 12 and discard the two. Due to the
use of the package 10 of the present embodiment, the discardable
refillable container 11 and outer bag 12 can be formed with walls
as thin as possible, effectively reducing the environmental impact,
sufficient surface area can be ensured for decorations such as an
advertisement or a product description, and the refillable
container 11 can be displayed without compromising the outward
appearance.
[0030] Specifically, the package 10 of the present embodiment is a
refillable package having a refillable container 11 which is a
synthetic-resin stretch blow molded container for storing a content
(a liquid detergent) containing a surfactant, a plug 18 attached to
a mouth/neck part 15 of the refillable container 11, and an outer
bag 12 for encasing the entire refillable container 11 with a space
around the periphery of the container; and the package is a product
that can be displayed with the refillable container 11 standing
unaided. Having the outer bag 12 encase the entire periphery of the
refillable container 11 with a space around the periphery of the
container means that the refillable container 11 in the outer bag
12 is housed in a state allowing some slack without being squeezed
by the outer bag 12. The refillable container 11, which is a
stretch blow molded container, is formed including a bottom part 14
having a standing arrangement part 13, a mouth/neck part 15 for
pouring out the content, and a body part 16 between the bottom part
14 and the mouth/neck part 15. A decoration is appended to the
outer bag 12. The wall thickness of the body part 16 of the
refillable container 11, which is a stretch blow molded container,
is 50 to 150 .mu.m. Considering the balance between shrinkage
deformability and strength of the container, the wall thickness of
the body part 16 of the refillable container 11 is preferably 70 to
130 .mu.m, and more preferably 80 to 120 .mu.m. Furthermore, the
wall thickness of the body part 16 of the refillable container 11,
including the thickness of the outer bag 12, is preferably 100 to
180 .mu.m, and considering the balance between shrinkage
deformability and strength of the container, this wall thickness is
more preferably 110 to 170 .mu.m, and even more preferably 120 to
160 .mu.m.
[0031] In the present embodiment, due to the body part 16 of the
refillable container 11 being formed as thin-walled, the refillable
container 11 is formed so that when the body part 16 is inverted
such that the mouth/neck part 15 is disposed at the bottom, for
example, the body part 16 is flexible enough to allow the liquid
detergent filled and stored in the interior to be poured out to a
certain extent while the body part 16 itself is shrunk-deformed
without air being displaced through the pour hole (see FIG. 5).
[0032] In the present embodiment, the refillable container 11
constituting the package 10 together with the outer bag 12 is a
stretch blow molded container, including the bottom part 14, the
body part 16, a shoulder part 17, and the mouth/neck part 15 molded
integrally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For the blow molded
container 11 and the outer bag 12, a value A (A=W/.sup.V2/3), which
is obtained by dividing the resin amount W (g) (the sum total of
the resin amount of the blow molded container 11 and the resin
amount of the outer bag 12, excluding the resin amount of the plug
18) by 2/3 th power of the container capacity V (mL) (the filled
capacity of the container 11), is 0.13 to 0.25, and the capacity of
the container 11 is 1000 mL or less. Due to the value A, which is
the resin amount W (g) divided by 2/3 th power of the container
capacity V (mL), being 0.13 to 0.25, even when the capacity of the
container 11 is 1000 mL or less, the percentage of the resin amount
relative to the capacity can be kept low with the resin amount
reduced in the entire two-layered package 10 including the
container 11 and the outer bag 12, and the package 10 can be formed
with the resin amount effectively reduced.
[0033] To ensure satisfactory moldability of the refillable
container 11 and satisfactory shrinkage deformability of the body
part 16 during refilling, the value A (A=W/V.sup.2/3) obtained by
dividing the resin amount W (g) by 2/3 th power of the container
capacity V (mL) is preferably 0.13 to 0.25. Furthermore, to achieve
satisfactory stability of molding and a satisfactory degree of
collapse in the body part 16 during shrinkage, the A value is
preferably 0.13 to 0.18.
[0034] The resin amount W of the entire package 10 excluding the
plug 18 is preferably 3 to 25 g, and is more preferably 4.5 to 18
g. The filled capacity V of the container 11 is preferably 1000 mL
or less. Considering handling and inverted stability, the filled
capacity V of the container 11 is preferably 100 to 800 mL, and
more preferably 200 to 600 ml.
[0035] In the present embodiment, the synthetic resin for forming
the refillable container 11 is preferably a polyolefin resin such
as polypropylene or polyethylene, a polyester resin such as
polyethylene terephthalate, or a bio-based material such as
polylactic acid. The refillable container 11 is preferably a
single-layer container stretch blow molded from a single-layer
synthetic resin composed of a single material. Forming the
refillable container 11 from a single-layer synthetic resin
composed of a single material reduces the environmental impact
during manufacturing and enables the bio-based material to be
substituted, and also exhibits operative effects such as those
described hereinafter. The refillable container 11 can also be a
stretch blow molded multi-layered container.
[0036] Having the stretch blow molded container 11 be
single-layered means that the polymer layer constituting the
container 11 is one layer. For example, a container having a vapor
deposition layer vapor-deposited on the surface of a single polymer
layer would be such a stretch blow molded single-layer
container.
[0037] The bottom part 14 of the refillable container 11 is a
portion having a wall thickness slightly greater than that of the
body part 16, i.e. about 80 to 500 .mu.m. In the present
embodiment, the bottom surface 14a of the bottom part 14 includes a
portion formed into a flat surface, for example, thereby
constituting the standing arrangement part 13. Due to the bottom
part 14 of the container 11 having the standing arrangement part 13
which has thicker walls than the body part 16, when the weight of
the liquid detergent filled in the refillable container 11 causes
the bottom surface 14a to be pressed onto an arrangement surface
while sandwiching the outer bag 12, the shape-retaining rigidity
makes it possible to maintain the arrangement on a stable
arrangement surface.
[0038] In the present embodiment, a bottom part peripheral wall
14b, which extends while expanding in diameter at an incline above
the bottom surface 14a of the bottom part 14, is gradually reduced
in wall thickness and connected to the body part 16 which has a
wall thickness of 50 to 150 .mu.m. It is preferable to use
hammering rather than screwing for the fitting section between the
mouth/neck part 15 and the plug 18, because the resin amount can be
reduced.
[0039] In the present embodiment, the body part 16 of the
refillable container 11 is a cylindrical portion between the bottom
part 14 and the shoulder part 17, the diameter being about 40 to
150 mm and the height being about 60 to 250 mm. The body part 14
has a wall thickness of 50 to 150 .mu.m, preferably has a wall
thickness of 60 to 130 .mu.m, and more preferably has a wall
thickness of 70 to 120 .mu.m. When the walls of the body part 14
are too thin, issues with quality arise, such as diminished
upright-standing capability, falling-resistant strength, and
stability during refilling. When the walls are too thick, air must
be replaced through the pour hole during refilling, pulsation
occurs when the air replacement is not smooth, and inconveniences
arise such as longer replacement time, higher costs, and more
garbage when the container is discarded. Due to the wall thickness
of the body part 14 being 50 to 150 .mu.m, stability during
refilling is preserved and the container deforms without air being
replaced, whereby refilling is possible in a short amount of time.
Also due to the wall thickness of the body part 14 being 50 to 150
.mu.m, the body part 16 has a level of flexibility such that during
an inverted state in which the mouth/neck part 15 is disposed at
the bottom, for example, the liquid detergent filled and stored in
the refillable container 11 can be poured out to a certain extent
while the body part 16 itself is shrunk-deformed, without air
needing to be replaced through the pour hole (see FIG. 5).
[0040] In the present embodiment, because the refillable container
11 is a stretch blow molded container made of a synthetic resin,
compared with a standing pouch formed by sticking multi-layered
resin films together, there is virtually no interlayer peeling due
to the effect of liquid detergent containing a surfactant
accommodated in the interior, and characteristics such as falling
strength can thereby be improved.
[0041] Because the refillable container 11 is a stretch blow molded
container, the piercing resistance of the package 10 can be
improved over that of a standing pouch composed of multi-layered
resin films. In the case of multi-layered resin films, a printing
substrate layer that resists elongation in the multi-layered
structure has high rigidity, while a sealant layer which elongates
readily compared to the printing substrate layer has low rigidity.
When the package is pierced, the sealant layer follows the printing
substrate layer, whereby it is difficult for the load to escape,
and the multi-layered resin films as a whole resist elongation and
tear readily. In the case of the package 10 including the
refillable container 11, which is a stretch blow molded container
such as the one of the present application, the elongation of the
container 11 when pierced allows the load to escape readily,
whereby tearing is less likely than in a standing pouch. This is
particularly effective when the refillable container 11 is formed
from a single layer of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene
terephthalate, or the like. Furthermore, because the outer casing
is constituted of a bag, the outer bag 12 causes a more pronounced
effect to be added by the distribution of the load, and piercing
resistance can therefore be more effectively improved.
[0042] Particularly, by making the refillable container 11 into a
stretch blow molded single-layer container, the effects of the
liquid detergent containing the surfactant accommodated in the
interior do not cause any interlayer peeling in which the bonded
layers of the multi-layered resin films peel. A possible situation
in which piercing strength is needed is a case such as when there
is a risk of the refillable container 11 of the package 10 being
pierced by a sharp obstacle when being displayed or transported.
Another possible case is when a consumer has purchased the package
10 or taken the package 10 home and the consumer carries the
package 10 together with an object having a tapered tip, and there
is a risk of the refillable container 11 tearing due to being
pierced by the tapering-tipped object. The piercing strength can be
evaluated by the elongation rate of the package 10, because when
the package 10 is pierced and the refillable container 11 actually
tears, the film constituting the package 10 elongates and the force
thereby escapes.
[0043] In the present invention, the surfactant included in the
content accommodated in the stretch blow molded container (the
refillable container) 11 can be one or more selected from the
following: an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a cationic
conveying unit, and a bipolar surfactant.
[0044] The effects of the present invention can be expected to be
greater when the concentration of the surfactant is 15 to 80 wt %,
and the effects are even more pronounced particularly when the
concentration of the surfactant exceeds 50 wt %.
[0045] Concerning the type of surfactant, the effects of the
present invention are better observed when the stored content
contains a surfactant having either an ethylene oxide group or an
ethylene oxide group/propylene oxide group in the molecules. Of
these, the effects of the present invention are better observed
when the stored content contains either an anionic surfactant
exemplified by a polyoxyethylene (average additional mole number of
1 to 10) alkyether ester sulfate salt or a polyoxyethylene (average
additional mole number of 1 to 10) alkyether acetate salt, or a
nonionic surfactant represented by the general formulae (A1) and
(A2) below.
[0046] Furthermore, the effects of the present invention are better
observed when the stored content contains either 0.01 to 2 wt % of
a fragrance of hydrocarbon typified by limonene, or 1 to 10 wt % of
a water-soluble solvent represented by the general formula (B)
below.
[0047] Possible examples of a typical anionic surfactant include
alkyl benzene sulfonate having a C8-18 alkyl group or an alkenyl
group, an alkane sulfonate, an .alpha.-olefin sulfonate, an alkyl
ester sulfate salt, a polyoxyethylene (average number of added
moles: 1 to 10) alkyl ether ester sulfate salt, a polyoxyethylene
(average number of added moles: 1 to 10) alkyl ether acetate salt,
and the like.
[0048] Possible examples of a typical nonionic surfactant include
an alkyl polyglycoside (average number of added moles: 1 to 10) or
an alkyl polyglyceryl ether (average number of added moles: 1 to
10) having a C8-18 alkyl group or alkenyl group of the general
formula (A) below.
[Chem. 1]
R.sup.1-T-[(R.sup.2O).sub.a--R.sup.3].sub.b General Formula (A)
R.sup.1: C8-18 alkyl or alkenyl group R.sup.2: 2 or 3 alkylene
groups R.sup.3: C1-3 alkyl group or hydrogen a: 1 to 100;
preferably 5 to 40 T: --O--, --COO--, --CON--, or --N--; when T is
--O-- or --COO--, b is 1, and when T is --CON-- or --N--, b is 1 or
2.
[0049] The following compounds are given as specific examples.
[Chem. 2]
R.sup.1--O--(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.c--H (A1)
[0050] wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning previously described, and C
is 1 to 100 and preferably 5 to 40.
R.sup.1--O--(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.d(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.e--H
(A2)
[0051] wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning previously described, d and
e are each independently 1 to 20, the ethylene oxide and propylene
oxide may be random or block adducts, and the order in which they
are added is arbitrary.
##STR00001##
[0052] wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning previously described, f and
g are each independently 0 to 40 and preferably 0 to 20, f+g is 1
to 20, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently a hydrogen atom
or alkyl groups with a carbon number of 1 to 3.
[0053] Possible examples of a typical cationic surfactant are a
monoalkyl trimethyl ammonium salt, a monoalkyl dimethyl benzyl
ammonium salt, a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salt, or the like having
a C8-18 alkyl group or alkenyl group.
[0054] Possible examples of a typical bipolar surfactant include
alkyl dimethyl amino oxide, alkyl amide dimethyl amino oxide, alkyl
amide propyl carboxy betaine, alkyl hydroxy sulfobentaine, alkyl
sulfobentaine, or the like having a C8-18 alkyl group or alkenyl
group.
[0055] The higher the hydrophobicity (lyophilicity), the more
readily interlayer peeling occurs in a standing pouch composed of
multi-layered resin films. Therefore, the present invention is
believed to have a strong effect on eliminating peeling of the
bonding layers which is caused by permeation of the surfactant.
[0056] A fragrance or solvent can also be used as the content
containing a surfactant. Possible specific examples of the
fragrance include one or more selected from the following:
hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, esters, carbonates, aldehydes,
ketones, acetals, ethers, nitriles, carbons, lactones, and other
natural essential oils or natural extracts. Specifically, the
fragrance can be limonene, linalool, guaiacol, linalyl acetate,
n-hexyl salicylate, methyl jasmonate, methyl anthranilate,
n-octanol, rose ketone, acetaldehyde ethyl phenyl propyl acetol,
rose oxide, geranyl nitrile, benzenecarboxylic acid,
.gamma.-decalactone, orange, or the like.
[0057] Possible specific examples of the solvent include monovalent
C2-5 alcohols, polyvalent C4-12 alcohols, and compounds expressed
by the general formulae (B) and (C) below.
[Chem. 3]
R.sup.6--O--(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.h(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.1--R.sup.7
(B)
[0058] wherein R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are independently a hydrogen
atom, C1-8 alkyl group, phenyl group, or benzyl group, excluding
cases in which R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are both hydrogen atoms; and h
is 0 to 10 and i is 0 to 10, excluding cases in which h and i are
both 0.
R.sup.8OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH (C)
[0059] wherein R.sup.8 is a C1-8 alkyl group.
[0060] The more hydrophobic (lyophilic) the fragrance and solvent,
the more readily interlayer peeling occurs in a standing pouch
composed of multi-layered resin films. Therefore, the present
invention is believed to have a strong effect of eliminating
peeling of the bonding layers which is caused by permeation of the
fragrance or solvent. It is also believed that adding a decoration
to the outer bag causes light to not directly reach the surface of
the stretch blow molded container and can suppress increases in
surface temperature, and there is therefore a strong effect of
protecting the content and a strong effect of preventing leakage of
the fragrance component.
[0061] In the present embodiment, the shoulder part 17 of the
refillable container 11, which is connected to the top of the body
part 16, is a portion having a dome shape constituting the top end
portion of the refillable container 11. Integrally provided to the
shoulder part 17 is a cylindrical mouth/neck part 15, which
protrudes upward from the top end center portion of the shoulder
part 17. The portion of the shoulder part 17 adjacent to the body
part 16 has a wall thickness of about 50 to 300 .mu.m, which is
equal to or greater than the wall thickness of the body part 16.
This portion is formed with a wall thickness that deforms easily
similar to the body part 16, and the wall thickness gradually
increases toward the top end center portion. Due to the
shape-retaining rigidity of the portion approaching the mouth/neck
part 15 where the wall thickness increases, the shoulder part 17
supports the mouth/neck part 15 in a stable state.
[0062] In the present invention, it is not absolutely necessary to
interpose a thick-walled shoulder part 17 between the body part 16
and the mouth/neck part 15, and a thin-walled body part can be
directly joined to the proximal end portion of the mouth/neck
part.
[0063] Due to the mouth/neck part 15 of the refillable container 11
being formed with thick walls, the shape-retaining rigidity makes
it difficult to deform the mouth/neck part by force of hand, and
the top end is opened as a pour hole 15a. The plug 18 for sealing
is fitted in and attached to the mouth/neck part 15 so as to cover
the pour hole 15a. The mouth/neck part 15 is also provided with a
nozzle hooking part 15b for the sake of operability and other
factors when the plug 18 is capped.
[0064] The plug 18 is a plug member made of a synthetic resin
molded separately from the refillable container 11, preferably by
injection molding. In the present embodiment, a refilled container
60, into which the liquid detergent is refilled or replenished by
the refillable container 11, is a container in which the mouth/neck
part has a conventionally known pour cap 19 provided with a spout
as a pouring part 23, as shown in FIG. 3. In the plug 18, a ceiling
plate 25 for closing off the pour hole 15a of the refillable
container 11 has a thin-walled part 28 which can be torn by the
spout 23 provided to the refilled container 60, as shown in FIGS.
4(a) and 4(b).
[0065] Specifically, the plug 18 is composed of the ceiling plate
25, and an annular skirt part 26 extending downward from the
peripheral edge of the ceiling plate 25. An interlocking rib, for
example, is provided to the internal peripheral surface of the
annular skirt part 26. The interlocking rib fastens to an
interlocking ridge part provided to the external peripheral surface
of the mouth/neck part 15 of the refillable container 11, whereby
the plug 18 is fitted in and attached to the mouth/neck part 15 of
the refillable container 11 so as to not be easily taken out.
[0066] The ceiling plate 25 of the plug 18 is also provided with a
positioning guide wall 27 which stands upright from the top surface
of the ceiling plate, the purpose of which is to position the
mouth/neck part 15 and plug 18 of the refillable container 11 in
the pour cap 19 of the refilled container 60 when the liquid
detergent is refilled. The positioning guide wall 27 is formed
including a peripheral wall part 27a having an inner peripheral
shape that runs along the outer peripheral shape of the spout 23 of
the pour cap 19, and an insertion part 27b inserted and interlocked
into an opening 23a (see FIG. 3) of the spout 23.
[0067] The ceiling plate 25 of the portion of the peripheral wall
part 27a that runs along the inner proximal end is provided with a
thin-walled part 28 composed of a half-cut line, a half-cut groove,
a tip-guiding slanted groove (something tapered so as to guide the
tip of the spout 23 so that stress is locally concentrated), or the
like, whereby the ceiling plate 25 can be torn by the spout 23 when
the refillable container 11 is inverted and the spout 23 is
inserted into the mouth/neck part 15 (see FIG. 3). When the liquid
detergent is refilled, the ceiling plate 25 is torn along the
thin-walled part 28 by the spout 25, whereby the interior of the
refillable container 11 and the interior of the refilled container
50 can be easily interconnected.
[0068] The pour cap 19 of the spout 23, as described hereinafter,
is a conventionally known component, configured including an
attachment skirt part 20 fitted over the external peripheral
portion of the mouth/neck part of a container main body 61 of the
refilled container 60, an inner cylinder wall 21 disposed along the
internal peripheral surface of the mouth/neck part of the container
main body 61, and a bottom surface wall 22 connected to the bottom
end of the inner cylinder wall 21 (see FIG. 7). The spout 23 has a
U-shaped or substantially U-shaped cross section in which the
opening 23a is in the side opposite the tilt direction when the
content solution is poured out, and the spout 23 is separated from
the inner cylinder wall 21 and stood upright from the bottom
surface wall 22. A pour hole 24 is opened and formed in the inner
area of the spout 23 in the bottom surface wall 22.
[0069] The tip of the spout 11 preferably has a shape which becomes
convex or concave toward the center, in which one or two convex
parts are formed. The contact surface area between the plug 18 and
the thin-walled part 28 can thereby be reduced, and the thin-walled
part 28 can therefore be easily torn by concentrating stress in one
part of the thin-walled part 28. Even if the shape of the tip is
flat, the same effect can be achieved by thinning the wall of the
tip. Furthermore, although the tip shape of the spout 23 has an
effect on tearing force, the tip shape would not make tearing
impossible, and other shapes may therefore be used.
[0070] The plug 18 may be in the form of a screw cap or a pull
ring. The liquid detergent can also be refilled through usage
whereby the plug 18 is taken out and the liquid detergent is poured
from the pour hole 15a of the mouth/neck part 15. The refillable
container 11 of the present embodiment has excellent operability in
the mouth and the form is highly stable, and the liquid detergent
can therefore be replaced in a stable manner.
[0071] The outer bag 12, which encases the entire refillable
container 11, has thinner walls than the body part 16 of the
refillable container 11, and is composed of a synthetic-resin sheet
material having a thickness of 20 to 140 .mu.m, for example. In the
present embodiment, the synthetic resin for forming the outer bag
12 encasing the entire refillable container 11 is preferably a
stacked film formed from a resin selected from the following: a
polyolefin resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, a polyester
resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, or a polyamide resin such
as nylon, for example. In the present embodiment, the resin amount
W, which is the combined total of the resin amount of the
refillable container 11 and the resin amount of the outer bag 12,
is less than the resin amount of a standing pouch having the same
capacity (filled capacity) as the container capacity V (filled
capacity) of the refillable container 11.
[0072] The outer bag 12 encasing the entire refillable container 11
may be formed from a single-layer film such as polypropylene
varnished with a heat seal. In this case, different environmental
impacts can be reduced. A resin that has undergone vapor deposition
may also be used in order to increase oxygen barrier
properties.
[0073] Furthermore, the outer bag 12 is formed by joining
predetermined locations of a synthetic-resin sheet material cut
into predetermined sizes and shape by heat-sealing or applying an
adhesive, and is formed as a bag capable of accommodating an entire
container 11 one size larger than the refillable container 11, with
a space around the periphery of the container, as shown in FIG. 1.
In the present embodiment, the outer bag 12 is preferably formed so
as to be capable of encasing the refillable container refillable
container 11 in a stable state with an excellent outward
appearance. Such a form having an excellent outward appearance can
be a form in which, for example, a substantially square-shaped
bottom surface part 12a is disposed below the bottom surface 14a of
the refillable container 11a, from the peripheral edges of the
bottom surface part 12a, a pair of front and back front surfaces
12b and a pair of left and right side surfaces 12c join at the top,
the pair of left and right side surfaces 12c are folded in at the
tops, and the top edges of the pair of front and back front
surfaces 12b are joined together as a belt-enclosed seal part 12d.
Thereby, the top parts of the pair of front and back front surfaces
12b are shaped as curved surfaces, and the entire refillable
container 11 can be encased by the outer bag 12.
[0074] Due to the outer bag 12 being provided as covering the
entire refillable container 11, a decorated surface having a large
surface area for an advertisement or a description can be included
using the front surfaces 12b and/or side surfaces 12c of the outer
bag 12. Because the entire refillable container 11 is encased by
the outer bag 12 with a space around the periphery, even if the
temperature of the liquid detergent stored in the refillable
container 11 decreases below the temperature during filling and
reduces capacity, the oxygen in the air remaining in the interior
is absorbed by the liquid detergent, and the interior of the
container 11 deforms from negative pressure; the deformation of the
container 11 does not extend to the outer bag 12, and the excellent
outward appearance of the outer bag 12 can be easily preserved.
Furthermore, because the refillable container 11 is enclosed in the
outer bag 12, the refillable container 11 can therefore be
effectively prevented from being tampered with until the container
is used, and light can be blocked from reaching the refillable
container 11 by the outer bag 12. Furthermore, even if the
refillable container 11 is soiled during refilling, the container
can be put in the outer bag 12 and discarded, and the outer bag 12
can therefore be effectively reused as a discarding bag.
[0075] Due to the outer bag 12 being provided as covering the
entire refillable container 11, the outer bag can supplement the
functions of the thin-walled refillable container 11, and problems
such as strength decreasing in the finished product of the package
10 and compromised stability of the content accommodated in the
refillable container 11 can be effectively avoided. Specifically,
because the package 10 has a two-layered structure in which the
entire refillable container 11 is covered by the one-size-larger
outer bag 12, an air layer in the gap between the refillable
container 11 and the outer bag 12 functions as a cushion, for
example, whereby impact during falling can be lightened. When a
needle pierces through the outer side of the package 10, for
example, the load of piercing is temporarily borne by the outer
bag, whereby the load can be further borne in a dispersed state by
the container 11, and piercing resistance can therefore be more
effectively improved along with the load distribution by elongation
during piercing due to the excellent ductility of the
container.
[0076] Furthermore, because the outer bag 12 covering the
refillable container 11 does not contact the content containing a
surfactant and does not cause interlayer peeling, the functions of
the refillable container 11 can be supplemented by suitably
providing the outer bag 12 with a layer that contributes to the
stability of the content, such as an aluminum vapor deposition
layer or an alumina vapor deposition layer. Problems such as
discoloration, changes in viscosity, and color fading, for example,
can thereby be avoided, and content stability can be effectively
improved.
[0077] With a standing pouch composed of a multi-layered resin
film, content stability can be improved by stacking vapor
deposition layers, but the surfactant, the solution, the fragrance,
and other components in the content that have permeated are blocked
by the vapor deposition surface, whereby lamination strength
decreases and interlayer peeling therefore readily occurs. With the
package 10 of the present application, there is an air layer in the
gap between the refillable container 11 and the outer bag 12,
whereby the surfactant, the solution, the fragrance, and other
components are prevented from permeating to the vapor deposition
surface. Therefore, no problems such as decreased falling strength
due to interlayer peeling are brought about by the use of vapor
deposition layers, and content stability can be improved.
[0078] Therefore, with the package 10 of the present embodiment,
even if the refillable container 11 encased by the outer bag 12 has
a capacity of 1000 mL or less, for example, the resin amount can be
effectively reduced with the percentage of the resin amount kept
low relative to the capacity, reducing the resin amount makes it
possible to easily avoid problems such as compromising the outward
appearance of the finished product, reducing strength, and
compromising the stability of the accommodated product, and the
environmental impact can thereby be effectively reduced.
[0079] The package 10 of the present embodiment having the
configuration described above can be displayed in a stable upright
state, with the bottom surface 14a of the refillable container 11
and the bottom surface part 12a of the outer bag 12 arranged on a
display shelf of a store, for example. A hanging hole can also be
formed in the belt-enclosed seal part 12d of the outer bag 12, for
example, and the package can be displayed in a hanging state.
[0080] A user who has purchased the package 10 of the present
embodiment takes the refillable container 11 out of the outer bag
12, and refills the filled and stored liquid detergent in a
detergent container as the refilled container 60. The act of
refilling is easily performed by inverting the refillable container
11 (see FIG. 3), and interconnecting the refillable container 11
and the refilled container 60 by inserting the spout 23 into the
mouth/neck part 15 and tearing the ceiling plate 25 of the plug
18.
[0081] In the refillable container 11 of the present embodiment,
because the wall thickness of the body part 16 is 50 to 150 .mu.m,
in the inverted state in which the outer bag 12 is disposed at the
bottom as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid detergent filled and stored
in the interior can be poured out to a certain extent while the
body part 16 is shrunk-deformed, without air being replaced via the
pour hole 15a. A certain amount of liquid detergent is thereby
easily replaced even if the hand is taken away, for example, and
the ease of use of the refillable container 11 can be improved.
After the body part 16 itself has shrunk-deformed, the liquid
detergent remaining in the container 11 can be refilled in the
refilled container 60 by air replacement via the pour hole 15a, or
by pressure-deforming the body part 16 by hand, for example.
[0082] Therefore, with the package 10 of the present embodiment,
the body part 16 can be made flexible such that when the
synthetic-resin refillable container 11 is inverted with the
mouth/neck part 15 disposed at the bottom, for example, the liquid
filled and stored in the interior can be poured out to a certain
extent while the body part 16 itself is shrunk-deformed without air
being replaced via the pour hole 15a, and the package can be
displayed with an effective decoration added without compromising
the outward appearance.
[0083] With the package 10 of the present embodiment, forming both
the refillable container 11 and the outer bag 12 into thin walls
makes it possible to further reduce the resin amount used, and
thereby more effectively reduce the environmental impact, in
comparison to conventionally known thin-walled bottle containers or
standing pouches.
[0084] With the package 10 of the present embodiment, in addition
to the operational effects described above, the following unique
operational effects are also exhibited.
a) Even if the content is a liquid detergent containing a
surfactant and the content creates negative pressure inside the
refillable container 11 by absorbing the oxygen in the air
remaining inside the container 11, and causing the container to
readily deform, this does not make the package any less saleable
because the deformation of the container 11 is not seen due to the
container 11 being covered by the outer bag 12. b) Due to being
formed by a single-layer synthetic resin composed of a single
material, the refillable container 11 has no bonding layers;
therefore, there is no interlayer peeling in the container 11, and
no loss of strength resulting from interlayer peeling.
Specifically, there is no peeling of bonding layers resulting from
permeation of the surfactant, and loss of strength in the
refillable container 11 can be prevented. c) Because the entire
refillable container 11 is encased by the outer bag 12, temperature
increases near the surface of the refillable container 11 caused by
direct light exposure can be prevented by endowing the outer bag 12
with light-blocking properties, and the stability of the liquid
detergent as the content can be guaranteed. Because light-blocking
properties are guaranteed in the outer bag 12, there is no need to
print on the entire surface as is the case with a standing pouch,
and the inside refillable container 11, which is a stretch blow
molded container, can be formed to as to be transparent or
semitransparent. When the refillable container 11 is transparent or
semitransparent, the content can be made visible, and the ease of
refilling when the container is refilled can therefore be improved.
d) Combining the refillable container 11 and the outer bag 12 makes
it possible, with a small resin amount, to implement an appropriate
barrier design for the barrier properties of the container 11 such
as gas barrier properties. e) Because the entire refillable
container 11 is encased by the outer bag 12, the refillable
container 11 cannot be touched directly by hands or the like, which
is effective for preventing the container from being altered in the
store. f) Due to the entire refillable container 11 being encased
by the outer bag 12 with a space around the periphery of the
container, there is an air layer between the refillable container
11 and the outer bag 11, and impact from external disturbances can
therefore be softened. g) Because the refillable container 11 has
appropriate shape-retaining rigidity due to the mouth/neck part 15
for attaching the plug 18 being formed with thick walls, and
because the body part 16 easily deforms to an extent such that the
body part can be easily swollen by water pressure from a water
service faucet, for example, after the liquid detergent has been
refilled, for example, the interior of the container 11 can easily
be washed by holding the mouth/neck part 15 and pouring in the
service water through the pour hole 15a. h) Due to the capacity of
the refillable container 11 being 1000 mL or less, the container
can be given a design that has improved handling during
refilling.
[0085] The present invention is not limited to the above
embodiments, and can be varied in many ways. For example, the
content stored in the refillable container, which is a stretch blow
molded container, for example, does not need to be a liquid
detergent, and may be other various types of content containing a
surfactant. The refillable container is also not limited to
something that is used by pouring out liquid while the body part
itself is shrunk-deformed, without air being replaced via the pour
hole. The refillable container may also be used with other methods.
Furthermore, the outer bag is not limited to the forms described
above, and the container can be covered in other various forms that
would encase the entire container while maintaining space. The
outer bag may be made of something other than a synthetic resin,
such as paper, for example.
[0086] Pertaining to the embodiment described above, the present
invention also discloses the following packages.
<1> A package having a synthetic-resin stretch blow molded
container for storing a content containing a surfactant, a plug
attached to a mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded container,
and an outer bag for encasing the entire stretch blow molded
container with a space around the periphery of the container; and
the package can be displayed with the container standing unaided;
wherein
[0087] the stretch blow molded container is formed including a
bottom part having a standing arrangement part, a mouth/neck part
for pouring out the content, and a body part between the bottom
part and the mouth/neck part, a decoration being appended to the
outer bag; and
[0088] the surfactant contained in the content stored in the
stretch blow molded container is a surfactant containing an EO
group or an EOPO group.
<2> A package having a synthetic-resin stretch blow molded
container for storing a content containing a surfactant, a plug
attached to a mouth/neck part of the stretch blow molded container,
and an outer bag for encasing the entire stretch blow molded
container with a space around the periphery of the container; and
the package can be displayed with the container standing unaided;
wherein
[0089] the stretch blow molded container is formed including a
bottom part having a standing arrangement part, a mouth/neck part
for pouring out the content, and a body part between the bottom
part and the mouth/neck part, a decoration being appended to the
outer bag; and
[0090] the stretch blow molded container is a bottle container
composed of polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate and having
a wall thickness of 80 to 120 .mu.m.
<3> The package according to <2>, wherein the plug is a
press-fitted type of hollow plug composed of polypropylene.
<4> The package according to <2> or <3>, wherein
the outer bag is made of stacked films that have a decoration
appended by printing and that can be heat sealed, having an oxygen
transmission rate of less than 1100 mL/m.sup.2dayatm and a layer
thickness of 70 .mu.m or less.
EXAMPLES
[0091] The package of the present invention is described below in
further detail through examples and comparative examples, but the
present invention is not limited to these examples.
[0092] The refillable packages of the examples are refillable
packages 1 to 12 having the same configuration as the package of
the above embodiment wherein the value A (A=W/V.sup.2/3), which is
obtained by dividing the resin amount W (g) by 2/3 th power of the
container capacity V (mL), is suitably varied, the packages also
having two-layered structures configured as shown in table 1. For
the refillable packages 1 to 12, "content stability," "piercing
strength (rate of elongation of the refillable packages)," and
"shrinking deformation" were evaluated by the evaluation methods
below. Standing pouches 1 to 3, having the same capacity as the
containers of the refillable packages 1 to 12 and having the
configurations shown in table 1, were used as standing pouches for
the comparative examples. For the standing pouches 1 to 3, "content
stability" and "piercing strength (rate of elongation of the
packages)" were evaluated by the evaluation methods below.
[0093] For piercing strength, which is the strength against
piercing of the container and is one indicator of the strength of
the container, the rate of elongation of the container is important
because force escapes due to the elongation of the film when the
container is pierced and actually torn. In the examples and the
comparative examples, these piercing strengths were evaluated by
the elongation rates of the refillable packages or the standing
pouches.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Content stability Piercing strength Stretch
blow Total resin liquid of refillable Shrinkage A molded amount W
collective liquid viscosity color package deformation Form value
container Outer bag [g] evaluation discoloration change fading
(elongation rate) [mmHg] Refillable 0.10 OPP OPP 30 5.2 X X 2.0
.largecircle. 0.3 .DELTA. 68 .largecircle. 122 .largecircle. 10
package 1 Refillable 0.12 OPP OPP 30 6.2 X X 2.0 .largecircle. 0.3
.DELTA. 69 .largecircle. 92 .largecircle. 10 package 2 Refillable
0.13 OPP PET 12/LLDPE 30 6.4 .largecircle. .DELTA. 1.8
.largecircle. 0.3 .DELTA. 69 .largecircle. 107 .largecircle. 10
package 3 Refillable 0.13 OPP PET 12/Al vapor 6.5 .largecircle.
.largecircle. 1.2 .largecircle. 0.1 .largecircle. 95 .largecircle.
93 .largecircle. 10 package 4 deposition LLDPE 30 Standing 0.14 --
ONy 15/LLDPE 150 9 .DELTA. .DELTA. 1.6 .DELTA. 0.9 .DELTA. 70 X 58
-- pouch 1 Refillable 0.14 OPP PET 12/LLDPE 30 7.4 .largecircle.
.DELTA. 1.8 .largecircle. 0.3 .DELTA. 72 .largecircle. 108
.largecircle. 10 package 5 Refillable 0.15 OPP PET 12/Al vapor 7.5
.largecircle. .largecircle. 1.2 .largecircle. 0.1 .largecircle. 95
.largecircle. 96 .largecircle. 10 package 6 deposition LLDPE 30
Refillable 0.17 OPP Al vapor 8.8 .largecircle. .largecircle. 1.2
.largecircle. 0.1 .DELTA. 72 .largecircle. 138 .largecircle. 10
package 7 deposition PET 12/LLDPE 40 Standing 0.17 -- PET 12/ONy 11
.DELTA. .DELTA. 1.4 .DELTA. 0.6 .DELTA. 71 X 65 -- pouch 2 15/LLDPE
150 Standing 0.18 -- ONy 15/Al 11.5 .largecircle. .largecircle. 0.1
.largecircle. 0.3 .largecircle. 96 X 56 -- pouch 3 vapor deposition
PET 12/LLDPE 150 Refillable 0.22 PET PET 12/LLDPE 30 15.1
.largecircle. .largecircle. 0.8 .DELTA. 0.9 .DELTA. 70
.largecircle. 123 .largecircle. 35 package 8 Refillable 0.22 PET
PET 12/Al 15.3 .largecircle. .largecircle. 0.8 .largecircle. 0.4
.largecircle. 95 .largecircle. 150 .largecircle. 35 package9 vapor
deposition LLDPE 30 Refillable 0.25 PET Al vapor 17.2 .largecircle.
.largecircle. 0.8 .largecircle. 0.4 .DELTA. 73 .largecircle. 132
.largecircle. 35 package 10 deposition PET 12/LLDPE 40 Refillable
0.32 PET PET 12/LLDPE 30 14.4 .largecircle. .largecircle. 0.5
.DELTA. 0.5 .DELTA. 74 .DELTA. 77 X 75 package 11 Refillable 0.32
PET PET 12/Al vapor 14.5 .largecircle. .largecircle. 0.5
.largecircle. 0.3 .largecircle. 95 .DELTA. 76 X 75 package 12
deposition LLDPE 30
[Evaluation of Content Stability]
[0094] The content stability was evaluated by being comprehensively
determined from the evaluation results of the hue change (liquid
discoloration) of the content, the weight reduction rate (viscosity
change), and fading of the liquid color (liquid color fading). The
evaluated sample (content) was a synthetic liquid detergent
containing a surfactant which constituted 60% or more of the total
percentage of the content.
[0095] Hue change was evaluated by measuring deterioration of the
content by temperature, oxygen, and the like through an
accelerating test of keeping the content at 50.degree. C. (no
humidity management) for 20 days. The hue change was measured by a
color-difference meter at room temperature, the evaluation was made
using an initial b* value before the preservation and a difference
.DELTA.b* value after keeping, cases of the .DELTA.b* value being
".DELTA.b*<1.4" were determined as "O," cases of
"1.4.ltoreq..DELTA.b*.ltoreq.1.9" were determined as ".DELTA.," and
cases of ".DELTA.b*>1.9" were determined as x. The measurement
method involved transferring the content after the preservation to
a glass bottle and measuring the content in this state with a
color-difference meter (the measurement time was 1 second, the
observation conditions were approximately a color matching function
of a CIE2.degree. field of vision, and the observation light source
was a C light source/6774 k (equivalent to daylight including blue
sky)). The evaluation results of the hue change (the liquid
discoloration) are shown together with the .DELTA.b* value in table
1.
[0096] The weight reduction weight that affected content viscosity
was evaluated through an accelerating test of keeping the content
at 40.degree. C. and a relative humidity of 20% for one month. With
the weight reduction rate r [wt %] referring to the percentage of
the weight ratio between the weight before preservation and
reduction amount obtained from the weight of the content before
preservation and the weight after preservation, cases of "r<0.5"
were determined as "O," cases of "0.5.ltoreq.r.ltoreq.1" were
determined as ".DELTA.," and cases of "r>1" were determined as
"x." The evaluation results of the weight reduction rate (viscosity
change" are shown together with the weight reduction rate r [wt %]
in table 1.
[0097] The fading of the liquid color was evaluated by the average
of the pigment residual rate found from the change in light
absorbance of post-test content, according to a fade test (for 24
hours at an irradiance of 60 W/m.sup.2 (300? 400 nm), a black panel
temperature of 65.degree. C., an internal tank temperature of
40.degree. C., a relative humidity of 75%, and a cumulative
irradiance of 10 MJ/m.sup.2) using a cumulative illuminance of 10
MJ/m.sup.2 (over a period of about two weeks in summer) from a
sunlight exposure test and a xenon fade meter. For the pigment
residual rate, the percentage of the ratio between initial light
absorbance before preservation and the light absorbance after
preservation was designated as the pigment residual rate C [%],
cases of "C>80" were determined as "O," cases of
"50.ltoreq.C.ltoreq.80" were determined as ".DELTA.," and cases of
"C<50" were determined as "x." The evaluation results of the
fading of the liquid color (the liquid color fading) are shown
together with the pigment residual rate C [%] in table 1.
[0098] For the collective evaluation of content stability, in the
above-described evaluation results of the hue change (liquid
discoloration), the weight reduction rate (the viscosity change),
and the fading of the liquid color (the liquid color fading), cases
of one or more "O" were determined as "O," cases of one or more "x"
were determined as "x" (cases of the "O" and "x" together are "x"),
and cases of three or more ".DELTA." were determined as
".DELTA.."
[Evaluation of Piercing Strength]
[0099] The elongation rate according to a piercing test was
evaluated as follows through the test method shown in FIGS. 6(a)
and 6(b). In the case of the refillable packages 1 to 12, samples
were created by filling the refillable containers with water,
attaching the plug, and inserting and sealing the outer bag. In the
case of the standing pouches 1 to 3, samples were created by
filling the pouches with water and sealing. Water was filled so
that the refillable containers and the standing pouches had the
same void rate. These samples filled with water were used for
measurement after being kept for one day or more at 20.degree.
C.
[0100] A tool 73 equipped with a piercing needle 72 is installed on
an installation board 71 at the top of a measurement apparatus 70.
Both ends of a sample 74 are fixed using tape 75 or the like to a
rising stand 76 so that the body part of the sample 74 hangs out.
The position is adjusted so that the center (the middle) of the
body part of the sample 74 contacts the tip of the piercing needle
72, and the sample 74 is installed/fixed in place. The piercing
needle 72 is a metal needle in which the tip has a semicircular
cross section measuring 1 mm in diameter. The rising speed of the
rising stand 76 was 50 mm/min. The pierced elongation rate of the
samples 74 was calculated by measuring the rising stroke of the
rising stand 76, from the contact of the tip of the piercing needle
72 with the samples 74 until the samples 74 were torn. The pierced
elongation rate was a value obtained by dividing the stroke amount
[mm] by the thickness [mm] of the sample 74. Quality was determined
by a relative evaluation of the measurement results. Cases of the
elongation rate s being "s>90" was determined as "O," cases of
"75.ltoreq.s.ltoreq.90" was determined as ".DELTA.," and cases of
"s<75" was determined as "X." The evaluation results of piercing
strength are shown together with the elongation rate s in table
1.
[Evaluation of Shrinkage Deformability]
[0101] Concerning the shrinkage deformability of the refillable
containers, the containers naturally collapse readily when the
inside and outside pressure difference .DELTA.P of the container is
60 mmHg or less, and cases of ".DELTA.P<60 mmHg" were therefore
evaluated as "O" while cases of ".DELTA.P>60 mmHg" were
evaluated as "x." The inside and outside pressure difference
.DELTA.P is measured by filling the container with water to 90% of
the filled capacity, affixing a cap with a syringe connected to a
pressure sensor, and pulling out the syringe. When the syringe has
been pulled out, the pressure difference rises. Immediately before
the container deforms, the pressure difference reaches a peak value
and decreases. The shrinkage deformability of the containers were
evaluated using the peak value of the pressure difference at this
time as .DELTA.P. The evaluation results of shrinkage deformability
are shown together with the inside and outside pressure differences
.DELTA.P in table 1.
[0102] According to the evaluation results of table 1, the packages
3 to 10 in particular have an A value range of 0.13 to 0.25,
whereby it is established that these packages have excellent
content stability, piercing strength, and shrinkage
deformability.
[Preservation Evaluation when Concentration of Surfactant is
Varied]
[0103] A preservation evaluation test was conducted by the
following method, wherein the test specimens were six refillable
packages having the same configuration as the package of the above
embodiment, and the value A (A=W/V.sup.2/3) obtained by dividing
the resin amount W (g) by 2/3 th power of the container capacity V
(mL) was A=0.13, A=0.15, A=0.22, A=0.32, A=0.57, and A=0.78.
[0104] In the preservation evaluation test, the refillable
containers of the test specimens which were stretch blow molded
containers were filled with samples of a content solution in which
the surfactant concentrations C were 10 wt %, 29 wt %, 37 wt %, 45
wt %, 50 wt %, 63 wt %, and 74 wt %. The refillable containers
filled with the samples were put into outer bags, kept at
20.degree. C. for one month, then returned to room temperature, and
the amount of deformations in the body parts at the time were
measured. The difference between the body part width of the
refillable containers before preservation and the body part width
of the refillable container after preservation was divided by the
body part width of the refillable containers before preservation,
and the percentage of this value was used as a degree of reduced
pressure deformation to conduct a preservation evaluation of the
time that the surfactant concentration was varied. For example,
when the body part width of the refillable container before
preservation was 60 mm and the degree of reduced pressure
deformation was 5%, the deformation was 3 mm. The evaluation
results are shown in FIG. 6(c). In FIG. 6(c), areas of a
deformation amount of 5% or more are, in terms of outward
appearance, areas where deformation of the refillable container is
conspicuous.
[0105] According to the evaluation results shown in FIG. 6(c), it
is established that when the surfactant concentration C of the
content solution accommodated in the refillable container is 50 wt
% or more, and when the next surfactant concentration C is 15 to 50
wt %, the outward appearance of the refillable container is readily
compromised, and the operational effects of the present invention
are therefore effectively exhibited by covering the refillable
container with an outer bag.
[0106] A refillable container that uses a standing pouch or the
like is formed from a highly pliant or flexible soft packaging
material, and the container readily deforms during the act of
refilling and readily becomes very unstable. Because of this,
refillable containers that can preferably be refilled in a
hands-free manner have been developed as refillable containers for
refilling a content into a refilled container in which a pour cap
having a spout is attached to a mouth/neck part, for example (see
Japanese Patent Publication No. 4352671, for example).
[0107] In the hands-free refillable container disclosed in Japanese
Patent Publication No. 4352671, a transition cap having a female
thread part threaded with a male thread part provided to the
external peripheral portion of a pour cap of a refilled container
is fitted to the mouth/neck part of the refillable container, and
the transition cap is designed to seal the refillable container by
an inner lid provided with a score formed therein, which is a
perforation (a score). When the content is refilled, the female
thread part of the transition cap is threaded with the male thread
part of the pour cap, the seal is opened by tearing the inner lid
of the transition cap by the pour spout of the pour cap, and the
refillable container is communicated with the refilled container.
Thereby, the content in the refillable container flows down into
the refilled container without leaking out the exterior, because of
the airtight bond with the mouth/neck part of the container
achieved by the threading of the female thread part of the
transition cap and the male thread part of the pour cap.
[0108] In the hands-free refillable container of Japanese Patent
Publication No. 4352671, because the inside diameter of the female
thread part of the transition cap must be greater than the outside
diameter of the male thread part of the pour cap, the cap is
excessively larger than the main body part of the refillable
container, and the bonded portion is sealed closed by the threading
of the female thread part of the transition cap and the male thread
part of the pour cap, whereby air is not readily replaced in the
interior of the container and it is difficult to refill the
container smoothly. To ensure air is readily replaced in the
interior of the container, a plurality of mechanisms for air
replacement must be provided to the refilled container or the pour
cap.
[0109] Mouth plugs for refillable containers have been developed
wherein a pour spout of a refilled container is inserted into a
cylindrical spout part provided encircling a seal plate, whereby
the seal plate is torn by the pour spout, a gap is maintained
between a spout part and the pour spout of the refilled container,
and air is replaced easily (see JP 2010-235151 A and JP 2010-235152
A, for example).
[0110] However, in the mouth plugs for refillable containers of JP
2010-235151 A and JP 2010-235152 A, the refillable container
readily becomes unstable when the act of refilling is performed,
because a gap of equivalent width is preserved substantially around
the entire periphery of the pour spout, between the cylindrical
spout part and the pour spout of the refilled container having a U
shaped or substantially U shaped cross section in a certain part.
After the tearing of the inner side of the spout part of the
refillable container, when the seal plate is inserted too far into
the pour spout of the refilled container, air replacement becomes
difficult, and reverse air flow causes the liquid to spill
readily.
[0111] Another invention of the present application relates to a
plug member (a plug) for a refillable container, whereby a
refillable container can be positioned in a stable manner on a
refilled container in which a pour cap having a pour spout is
attached to the mouth/neck part of a container main body, and a
content of the refillable container can be made to flow down
smoothly and refill the container through a simple configuration
without the need for complex mechanisms for air replacement.
[0112] Another invention of the present application is a plug
member (a plug) fitted covering a refilling outflow mouth of the
refillable container, the plug member being for refilling a content
into a refilled container in which a cap having a pour spout is
attached to a mouth/neck part of a container main body. The plug
member is composed of a ceiling plate and an annular skirt part
extending downward from the internal periphery of the ceiling
plate, and the plug member is fitted covering the refilling outflow
mouth of the refillable container via the annular skirt part. An
insertion guide wall is provided to the ceiling plate and stood
upright from the top surface thereof, and the insertion guide wall
is formed including a peripheral wall part, a part of which is an
inner peripheral shape that runs along the outer peripheral shape
of the cross-sectional shape of the pour spout. In the ceiling
plate of the portion running along the inner proximal end part of
the peripheral wall part, a thin-walled part is formed for inducing
tearing of the ceiling plate by the pour spout, and the insertion
guide wall or a ceiling plate on the inner side of the insertion
guide wall is provided with a flow channel adjusting wall part
inserted into and disposed in the opening of the pour spout. When
the refilling outflow mouth is opened by inserting the pour spout
into the inner portion of the insertion guide wall and tearing the
ceiling plate, the internal peripheral surface of the peripheral
wall part is tightly fitted to the external peripheral surface of
the cross-sectional shape of the pour spout, and the refillable
container is positioned so as to maintain the area directly below
the flow channel adjusting wall part as an air-bleeding
opening.
[0113] A plug member (plug) 18 for a refillable container according
to another invention of the present application is fitted to the
mouth/neck part 15 of a thin-walled bottle-shaped container, for
example, as the refillable container 11, and the plug member covers
a refilling outflow mouth 15a (see FIG. 2) at the tip of the
mouth/neck part 15, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4(a), and 4(b)
described above. The refillable container 11 is formed including a
bottom part 14 having a standing arrangement part 13, a mouth/neck
part 15 for pouring out the content, and a body part 16 having thin
walls of about 50 to 150 .mu.m between the bottom part 14 and the
mouth/neck part 15. The body part 16 is provided with flexibility
such that in an inverted state in which the mouth/neck part 15 is
disposed at the bottom, for example, liquid which is the content
filled into and accommodated in the interior is poured out to a
certain extent while the body part 16 itself is shrunk-deformed
without air being displaced through the refilling outflow mouth
15a. The refillable container 11 is thereby a bottle container
capable of being refilled with a certain amount of content even in
a hands-free manner, for example (see FIG. 5).
[0114] In the refillable container 11 of the present embodiment,
the pour cap 19 having the pour spout 23 is attached to the
mouth/neck part of the container main body 61, the refillable
container is for refilling or replenishing a liquid detergent into
the refilled container 60 for a liquid detergent, for example, and
the refillable container contains the liquid detergent as the
content, as shown in FIG. 3. The plug member 18 for a refillable
container, which is also the plug member described above, has a
function that allows the liquid detergent accommodated in the
refillable container 11 to flow through the pour cap 19 of the
refilled container 60 having the spout 23, into the refilled
container 60 via an inner pouring channel of the spout 23 through a
simple configuration without spilling out from the pour cap 19,
while air is being replaced.
[0115] Specifically, the pour cap 19 having the spout 23 is a
conventionally known component configured including the attachment
skirt part 20 which is fitted covering the external peripheral
portion of the mouth/neck part of the container main body 61 of the
refilled container 60, the inner cylinder wall 21 disposed along
the internal peripheral surface of the mouth/neck part of the
container main body 61, and the bottom surface wall 22 connected to
the bottom end of the inner cylinder wall 21, as shown in FIGS. 3
and 7. The spout 23 has a U-shaped or substantially U-shaped cross
section in which the opening 23a is in the side opposite the tilt
direction X (see FIG. 3) when the liquid detergent is poured out,
and the spout 23 is separated from the inner cylinder wall 21 and
stood upright from the bottom surface wall 22. Therefore, when the
liquid detergent is poured through the pour cap 19 into the
refilled container 60, the liquid detergent readily accumulates
above the bottom surface wall 22 in the outer periphery of the
spout 23 before reaching the inner pour hole 24 of the spout 23.
Particularly, when the liquid detergent is highly viscous, there is
a risk that closing the opening 23a and impeding air replacement
will cause the liquid detergent to overcome the inner cylinder wall
21 of the pour cap 19 and spill out to the outside.
[0116] Because of this, the plug member 18 for a refillable
container of the present embodiment is employed when the liquid
detergent as the content is refilled or replenished, and the plug
member 18 is employed to make it possible to limit the refilling
outflow channel, which extends from the refillable container 11 to
the refilled container 60, to a portion inside the spout 23; to
make it possible to effectively prevent the liquid detergent from
spilling out of the pour cap 19; to allow air to be replaced easily
with the interior of the refilled container 60; and to allow the
liquid detergent to flow smoothly into the refilled container
60.
[0117] The plug member 18 for a refillable container of the present
embodiment is a plug member for refilling liquid detergent, for
example, as a content into the refilled container 60 in which the
pour cap 19 is attached to the mouth/neck part of the refilled
container 60, and the plug member 18 is fitted covering the
refilling outflow mouth 15a of the refillable container 11; wherein
the pour cap 19 is a conventionally known component having an inner
cylinder wall 21 disposed along the internal peripheral surface of
the mouth/neck part of the refilled container 60, a bottom surface
wall 22 connected to the bottom end of the inner cylinder wall 21,
and a spout 23 standing upright from the bottom surface wall 22, as
described above; the spout 23 has a U-shaped or substantially
U-shaped cross section in which an opening 23a is in the side
opposite the tilt direction X when the liquid detergent is poured
out, and the spout 23 is separated from the inner cylinder wall 21
and stood upright from the bottom surface wall 22; and a pour hole
24 is opened and formed in an inner side area of the spout 23 in
the bottom surface wall 22 (see FIG. 7).
[0118] As shown in FIGS. 2, 4(a), and 4(b), the plug member 18 for
a refillable container is composed of a ceiling plate 25, and an
annular skirt part 26 extending downward from the peripheral edge
of the ceiling plate 25, wherein the plug member 18 is fitted
covering the refilling outflow mouth 15a of the refillable
container 11 via the annular skirt part 26. The ceiling plate 25 is
provided with an insertion guide wall 27 which stands upright from
the top surface of the ceiling plate. The insertion guide wall 27
is formed including a peripheral wall part 27a having a U shaped or
substantially U shaped inner periphery that runs along the outer
peripheral shape of the U shaped or substantially U shaped cross
section of the spout 23, and a flow channel adjusting wall part 27b
inserted into and disposed in an opening 23a of the spout 23. The
ceiling plate 25 of the portion running along the inner proximal
end part of the peripheral wall part 27a is provided with a
thin-walled part 28 for inducing tearing of the ceiling plate 25 by
the spout 23.
[0119] The insertion guide wall 27 is provided with a stopper part
30 which disposes the insertion guide wall 27 in the middle portion
of the spout 23 by interlocking with the external peripheral
portion of the spout 23, and which maintains an air-bleeding
opening 29 (see FIG. 9) through the opening 23a of the spout 23
between the bottom surface wall 22 of the pour cap 19 and the
insertion guide wall 27. When the refilling outflow mouth 15a is
opened by inserting the spout 23 into the inner portion of the
insertion guide wall 27 and tearing the ceiling plate 25 (see FIG.
9), the internal peripheral surface of the peripheral wall part 27a
is tightly fitted in the external peripheral surface of the U
shaped or substantially U shaped cross section of the pour spout
23, and the refillable container 11 is positioned so as to maintain
the air-bleeding opening 29 (see FIG. 9).
[0120] In the present embodiment, the stopper part 30 of the
insertion guide wall 27 is composed of a contact wall part 27c,
which is interposed between the peripheral wall part 27a and the
flow channel adjusting wall part 27b, and which is provided so as
to close off the open portion of the U shaped or substantially U
shaped inner periphery of the peripheral wall part 27a, together
with the flow channel adjusting wall part 27b. The contact wall
part 27c is designed so as to dispose the insertion guide wall 27
in the middle portion of the spout 23 (see FIG. 9) by contacting
and interlocking with contact reinforcing ribs 32 from above, the
contact reinforcing ribs 32 extending from the external peripheral
surface of rib stands 31 (see FIG. 7) which curve and extend inward
from the side edges of the opening 23a in the bottom part of the
spout 23.
[0121] In the present embodiment, the refillable container 11 is
formed by stretch blow molding using a synthetic resin such as
polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyethylene terephthalate, for
example, and is configured including a bottom part 14 having a
standing arrangement part 13, a mouth/neck part 15 having a
refilling outflow mouth 15a for pouring out a liquid detergent, and
a body part 16 between the bottom part 14 and the mouth/neck part
15 having a wall thickness of about 50 to 150 .mu.m, as shown in
FIG. 2. The refillable container 11 has a shoulder part 33 having a
dome shape connected to the top of the body part 16 and
constituting the top end portion of the refillable container 11,
and the cylindrical mouth/neck part 15 is provided integrally,
protruding upward from the top end center portion of the shoulder
part 33.
[0122] Due to being formed with thick walls, the mouth/neck part 15
of the refillable container 11 has shape-retaining rigidity such
that it is difficult to deform the mouth/neck part 15 by force of
hand, and the top end of the mouth/neck part 15 is opened as a
refilling outflow mouth 15a. The plug member 18 for a refillable
container of the present embodiment is fitted with and attached to
the mouth/neck part 15 so as to cover the refilling outflow mouth
15a. For the sake of characteristics of the plug member 18 such as
operability during capping, the mouth/neck part 15 is provided with
a nozzle hooking part 15b.
[0123] In the present embodiment, the refillable container 11 is
designed to be made commercially available in a state of being
covered by a synthetic-resin outer bag encasing the entire
refillable container 11 with a space in between, and is designed to
be displayed in a store or the like with a decoration such as an
advertisement or a description appended to the outer bag.
[0124] In the present embodiment, the plug member 18 for a
refillable container is a metal molded article that uses a
synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, for example,
and is composed of a discoid ceiling plate 25, and a flat and
cylindrical annular skirt part 26 extending downward integrally
from the peripheral edge of the ceiling plate 25, as shown in FIGS.
2, 4(a), and 4(b). Interlocking ribs, for example, are provided to
the internal peripheral surface of the annular skirt part 26, and
the ribs are fastened to interlocking ridges, for example, provided
in the external peripheral surface of the mouth/neck part 15 of the
refillable container 11, whereby the plug member 18 for a
refillable container is fitted with and attached to the mouth/neck
part 15 of the refillable container 11 so as to not be easily
removable.
[0125] The ceiling plate 25 of the plug member 18 for a refillable
container is provided with an insertion guide wall 27 which stands
perpendicularly upright from the top surface of the ceiling plate
25 at a height of about 5 to 20 mm, for example, and which is for
positioning the mouth/neck part 15 and the plug member of the
refillable container 11 in the pour cap 19 of the refilled
container 60 when the liquid detergent is refilled. In the present
embodiment, the insertion guide wall 27 is composed of a peripheral
wall part 27a having a U shaped or substantially U shaped internal
periphery that running along the U shaped or substantially U shaped
external periphery of the spout 23 of the pour cap 19, a flow
channel adjusting wall part 27b inserted into and disposed in the
opening 23a of the spout 23 and preferably having a T shaped or
substantially T shaped cross section, and a contact wall part 27c
provided as interposed between the peripheral wall part 27a and the
flow channel adjusting wall part 27b.
[0126] The insertion guide wall 27 is provided as an annular wall
to which these components are connected, having a shape running
along the cross-sectional shape of the bottom part which has rib
stands 31 of the spout 18.
[0127] In the present embodiment, a thin-walled part 28 is formed
in the ceiling plate 25 of the portion running along the inner
proximal end part of the peripheral wall part 27a. When the spout
23 is inserted into the inner side of the insertion guide wall 27
in the correct direction, the ceiling plate 25 is induced so as to
tear along the thin-walled part 28 formed in the inner proximal end
part of the peripheral wall part 27a, and the external peripheral
surface of the spout 23 can be tightly fitted with the internal
peripheral surface of the peripheral wall part 27a. In the present
embodiment, the thin-walled part 28 is provided to a portion
running along the inner proximal end part of the peripheral wall
part 27a and the inner proximal end part of the flow channel
adjusting wall part 27b, which serves as the portion at least
running along the inner proximal end part of the peripheral wall
part 27a, excluding the inner proximal end part of the contact wall
part 27c. Thereby, when inserting the spout 23 tears an inner
ceiling plate 25a, which is the ceiling plate 25 of the portion
established by the insertion guide wall 27, the inner ceiling plate
25a causes the portions that bond with the contact wall part 27c on
both sides of the flow channel adjusting wall part 27b to function
as hinges, and the tearing direction is regulated so that the inner
ceiling plate 25a turns about these bonding portions as a turning
center. The inner ceiling plate 25a is thereby disposed so as to
overlap the opening 23 in the upper side surface of the pour spout
18 (see FIG. 9). The flow rate of the liquid detergent flowing into
the refilled container 60 via the refilling outflow channel on the
inner side of the spout 23 from the refillable container 11 can
also thereby be easily adjusted. Providing one or more concave or
convex cut starting parts 28a to a position in the thin-walled part
28 where the tip of the spout 23 comes in contact during refilling
makes it possible to open the plug even more easily.
[0128] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, on the external
peripheral surface of the contact wall part 27c to either side of
the flow channel adjusting wall part 27b of the insertion guide
wall 27, insertion direction guiding ribs 34 are provided extending
vertically in positions corresponding to the contact reinforcing
ribs 32 protruding in the external peripheral surface of the rib
stands 31 of the spout 23. Providing the insertion direction
guiding ribs 34 to the contact wall part 27c of the insertion guide
wall 27 enables the direction of insertion into the spout 23 to be
more easily understood, by leading the insertion direction guiding
ribs 34 so as to align positions with the contact reinforcing ribs
32. The insertion direction guiding ribs 34 can also be provided to
the annular skirt part 26 of the plug member 18 or the attachment
skirt part 20 of the pour cap 19.
[0129] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the insertion guide
wall 27 is formed so that the top end surface thereof is a curved
surface slightly recessed into a concave shape when viewed from the
side, as shown in FIG. 4(b). Due to the top end surface of the
insertion guide wall 27 being a curved surface that is concave when
viewed from the side, when the plug member 18 for a refillable
container is used while having been inserted into the spout 23 of
the pour cap 19, the tip of the spout 23 can easily be led to the
inner side of the insertion guide wall 27.
[0130] With the plug member (plug) 18 for a refillable container of
the present embodiment having the configuration described above,
the refillable container 11 can be positioned in a stable manner in
the refilled container 60 in which the pour cap 19 having the spout
23 is attached in the mouth/neck part of the container main body
61, and the content of the refillable container 11 can be made to
flow smoothly downward to refill the container by a simple
configuration without the need for complex mechanisms for air
replacement.
[0131] Specifically, according to the present embodiment, the plug
member 18 for a refillable container is provided with an insertion
guide wall 27 which stands upright from the top surface of the
ceiling plate 25, and the insertion guide wall 27 is formed
including a peripheral wall part 27a having a U shaped or
substantially U shaped internal periphery running along the
external peripheral shape of the U shaped or substantially U shaped
cross section of the spout 23, and a flow channel adjusting wall
part 27b inserted into and disposed in the opening 23 of the pour
spout 18. A thin-walled part 28 for inducing tearing of the ceiling
plate 25 by the spout 23 is provided to the ceiling plate 25 of the
portion running along the inner proximal end part of the peripheral
wall part 27a. Thereby, even if the spout 23 is inserted into the
inner side of the insertion guide wall 27 at an incorrect
direction, the flow channel adjusting wall part 27b comes in
contact with the spout 23 as shown in FIG. 8, whereby the ceiling
plate 25 can be effectively inhibited from being torn in a state in
which the external peripheral surface of the spout 23 is not
running along the internal peripheral surface of the insertion
guide wall 27. If the spout 23 is inserted into the insertion guide
wall 27 in the correct direction, the external peripheral surface
of the spout 23 is tightly fitted to the internal peripheral
surface of the peripheral wall part 27a and the flow channel
adjusting wall part 27b engages with the opening 23a of the spout
23, whereby the refillable container 11 can be positioned in and
attached to the refilled container 60 in a stable manner.
[0132] Because the peripheral wall part 27a of the insertion guide
wall 27 has a U shaped or substantially U shaped internal periphery
running along the U shaped or substantially U shaped external
periphery of the spout 23, when the spout 23 is inserted while the
ceiling plate 25 is torn via the thin-walled part 28, the internal
peripheral surface of the peripheral wall part 27a is naturally led
so as to fit tightly with the internal peripheral surface of the
spout 23, and the internal peripheral surface of the peripheral
wall part 27a fits tightly with the external peripheral surface of
the spout 23. Thereby, the open shape of the refilling outflow
mouth 15a which is opened to the inner side of the insertion guide
wall 27 by the tearing of the inner ceiling plate 25a, and the
pouring mouth 24 of the inner area of the spout 23 which is
disposed facing the refilling outflow channel on the inner side of
the spout 23 and the refilling outflow mouth 15a, are aligned
linearly with substantially the same open shape. Thereby, the
refilling outflow channel extending from the refillable container
11 to the refilled container 16 can be limited to the inner side
portion of the spout 23, the flow rate can be suppressed, and
spilling of the liquid detergent as the content out of the pour cap
19 can be effectively avoided. There is also no need for the
peripheral wall part 27a of the insertion guide wall 27 to be U
shaped or substantially U shaped, and if there is no unsteadiness
or large clearance between the spout 23 and the insertion guide
wall 27, the flow rate can be adjusted by the flow channel
adjusting wall part 27b even with an arc of a semicircle or less,
for example, and spilling can therefore be prevented.
[0133] Furthermore, the opening 23a in the topside surface of the
spout 23 is closed by the inner ceiling plate 25a which turns about
the hinge as shown in FIG. 9, whereby the amount of liquid
detergent refilled can be adjusted, the locations of contact with
the spout 23 can be increased, and the orientation of the container
during refilling can be made more stable.
[0134] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the
insertion guide wall 27 is provided with a stopper part 30 composed
of a contact wall part 27c for interlocking with the external
peripheral portion of the spout 23, and thereby disposing the
insertion guide wall 27 in the middle portion of the spout 23 and
maintaining the air-bleeding opening 29. Thereby, the liquid
detergent can be easily and smoothly refilled or replenished with
air being replaced in the interior of the refilled container 16 via
the air-bleeding opening 29 held by the stopper part 30.
[0135] Therefore, according to the plug member 18 for a refillable
container of the present embodiment, due to a simple configuration
using the existing structure of the spout 23 of the pour cap 19,
the act of refilling (including the act of replenishing) the liquid
detergent as the content can be performed efficiently in a stable
manner while the body part 16 itself of the refillable container 11
is shrunk-deformed, even in a hands-free manner such as is shown in
FIG. 5, for example, without making the plug member 18 excessively
large in comparison to the size of the refillable container 11 and
without providing complex mechanisms for air replacement to the
refilled container 60 or the pour cap 19.
[0136] FIGS. 10(a), 10(b), and 11 describe a plug member 40 for a
refillable container according to another embodiment. The plug
member 40 for a refillable container of the present embodiment,
which is substantially similar to the plug member 18 for a
refillable container of the above embodiment, is composed of a
ceiling plate 45 and an annular skirt part 46 extending downward
from the peripheral edge of the ceiling plate 45, wherein the plug
member 40 is fitted covering the refilling outflow mouth 15a of the
refillable container 11 via the annular skirt part 46. The ceiling
plate 45 is provided with an insertion guide wall 47 which stands
upright from the top surface of the ceiling plate. The insertion
guide wall 47 is formed including a peripheral wall part 47a having
a U shaped or substantially U shaped inner periphery that partially
runs along the outer peripheral shape of the U shaped or
substantially U shaped cross section of the spout 23. The ceiling
plate 45 of the portion running along the inner proximal end part
of the peripheral wall part 47a is provided with a thin-walled part
48 for inducing tearing of the ceiling plate 45 by the pour spout
18.
[0137] In the plug member 40 of the present other embodiment, the
ceiling plate 45a on the inner side of the insertion guide wall 47
is provided with a flow channel adjusting wall part 43 inserted
into and disposed in the open part 23a of the spout 23. Formed in
the insertion guide wall 47 is a stopper part 50 for interlocking
with the external peripheral portion of the spout 23 and thereby
disposing the insertion guide wall 47 in the middle portion of the
spout 23 and maintaining an air-bleeding opening in the form of the
opening 23a of the spout 23, the stopper part 50 being formed by a
contact wall part 47c provided so as to close off the open portion
of the U shaped or substantially U shaped internal periphery of the
peripheral wall part 47a.
[0138] Furthermore, the thin-walled part 48 is provided to a
portion running along the inner proximal end part of the peripheral
wall part 47a, excluding the inner proximal end part of the contact
wall part 47c, whereby the inner proximal end part of the contact
wall part 47c can be made to function as a hinge 49. Providing one
or more concave or convex cut starting parts 48a to a position in
the thin-walled part 48 where the tip of the spout 23 comes in
contact during refilling makes it possible to open the plug even
more easily.
[0139] In the plug member 40 of the present other embodiment, the
spout 23 is inserted into the inner side portion of the insertion
guide wall 47 to tear the ceiling plate 45a along the thin-walled
part 48 as shown in FIG. 11, whereby the internal peripheral
surface of the peripheral wall part 47a is tightly fitted to the
external peripheral surface of the U shaped or substantially U
shaped cross section of the spout 23 when the refilling outflow
mouth 15a is opened. The ceiling plate 45a turns about the hinge
49, whereby the flow channel adjusting wall part 43 provided to the
ceiling plate 45a proceeds to engage with the opening 23 of the
spout 23 (see the dotted lines of FIG. 11). It is thereby possible
for the refillable container 11 to be positioned in and attached to
the refilled container 60 in a stable manner. By joining at a
hinge, the parts close the flow channel and impurities do not enter
the refilled container 60.
[0140] With the plug member 40 for a refillable container of the
present other embodiment as well, the same operational effects as
the plug member 18 for a refillable container of the above
embodiment are achieved.
[0141] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above, and can be altered in various ways. For example, a
refillable container to which a plug member for a refillable
container is fitted does not absolutely need to be a thin-walled
bottle-shaped container, and may be another container such as a
standing pouch. The plug member can be fitted covering another
refilling outflow mouth other than the mouth/neck part. The ceiling
plate and annular skirt part do not absolutely need to be discoid
or flat and cylindrical, and may also have other flat shapes such
as ellipses, squares, or polygons. Furthermore, the stopper part
for maintaining an air-bleeding opening between the bottom surface
wall of the pour cap and the insertion guide wall can have another
structure capable of disposing the insertion guide wall in the
middle portion of the pour spout. Furthermore, the flow channel
adjusting wall part does not absolutely need to have a T shaped or
substantially T shaped cross section, and may have various other
cross-sectional shapes, such as a rectangular or arcuate shape, as
a shape that can be inserted into and disposed in the opening of
the pour spout. The spout 23 does not need to have the rib stands
31 or the contact reinforcing ribs 32, and the plug member for a
refillable container can also be disposed in the middle of the
spout 23 due to the insertion guide wall coming in contact with the
external periphery of the spout 23.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0142] According to the package of the present invention, even if
the container has a capacity of 1000 mL or less, for example, the
package can be formed with the resin amount effectively reduced
while the percentage of the resin amount relative to the capacity
remains small, reducing the resin amount makes it possible to
easily avoid compromising of the outward appearance of the finished
product, loss of strength, and compromising of stability of the
accommodated content, whereby the environmental impact can be
reduced.
[0143] With the package of the present invention, the stretch blow
molded container can be a single-layer container, whereby the walls
of the container can be further thinned and environmental impact
can be reduced without causing a loss of strength of the container
due to peeling of the bonding layers. Because there is no
interlayer peeling, a satisfactory outward appearance can be
preserved.
* * * * *