U.S. patent application number 15/128577 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-21 for novel device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Marcus BLACHFORD, Neil Blundred, George Cave, Peter Kay, James Regester, Simon Ritchie. Invention is credited to Marcus BLACHFORD, Neil Blundred, George Cave, Peter Kay, James Regester, Simon Ritchie.
Application Number | 20180170623 15/128577 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50737521 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180170623 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BLACHFORD; Marcus ; et
al. |
June 21, 2018 |
NOVEL DEVICE
Abstract
A dispensing container for extrudable fluid materials having a
collapsible tubular body with a dispensing nozzle at one end and
the opposite end being closed with an end wall member biased to
fold about a fold axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of
the tubular body, wherein the end wall member either comprises a
wall part of which two surfaces enclose a concave angle between
them and being foldable about a fold axis in the direction of the
length of the valley or the end wall member bulges convexly in a
generally conical shape.
Inventors: |
BLACHFORD; Marcus;
(Warwickshire, GB) ; Blundred; Neil;
(Warwickshire, GB) ; Cave; George; (Warwickshire,
GB) ; Kay; Peter; (Warwickshire, GB) ;
Regester; James; (Warwickshire, GB) ; Ritchie;
Simon; (Weybridge, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BLACHFORD; Marcus
Blundred; Neil
Cave; George
Kay; Peter
Regester; James
Ritchie; Simon |
Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Weybridge |
|
GB
GB
GB
GB
GB
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
50737521 |
Appl. No.: |
15/128577 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
March 25, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/056341 |
371 Date: |
September 23, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 35/10 20130101;
B65D 35/44 20130101; B65D 35/24 20130101; B65D 35/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/10 20060101
B65D035/10; B65D 35/28 20060101 B65D035/28 |
Claims
1. A dispensing container for extrudable fluid materials which
comprises; a collapsible tubular body made of a flexible material
and having longitudinally opposite ends, and being constructed such
that transverse inward pressure causes the tubular body to collapse
in the direction of the pressure and the side surfaces of the
tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread
transversely outwardly, a first end of the tubular body being
provided with a dispensing nozzle; and the longitudinally opposite
second end of the tubular body being closed with an end wall member
sealingly connected to the tubular body and that is biased to fold
about a fold axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the
tubular body under the transverse pressure, characterized in that:
either the end wall member comprises a wall part which has a wall
surface comprising two side surfaces enclosing a concave angle
between them on the side facing the first end thereby forming a
valley surface between them on the side facing the first end and
being foldable about a fold axis extending in the direction of the
length of the valley in a direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction; or the end wall member comprises a wall part which
bulges convexly in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body,
either toward the first end or away from the first end of the
tubular body, in a generally conical or pyramidal shape.
2. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the end wall
member comprises a wall part which has a wall surface comprising
two side surfaces enclosing a concave angle between them thereby
forming a valley surface between them and being foldable about a
fold axis extending in the direction of the length of the valley in
a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.
3. A dispensing container according to claim 2 wherein the wall
surface is symmetrical about a plane extending longitudinally along
the interior of the tubular body and in which the fold axis lies,
and which longitudinally bisects the interior of the tubular
body.
4. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the concave
angle between the side surfaces is in the range 45-160.degree..
5. A dispensing container according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the
wall surface comprises a saddle surface.
6. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the end wall
member comprises a wall part which bulges convexly in the
longitudinal direction of the tubular body, either toward the first
end, or away from the first end of the tubular body, in a generally
conical shape.
7. A dispensing container according to claim 6 wherein the wall
part bulges convexly in the longitudinal direction of the tubular
body toward the first end in a conical shape.
8. A dispensing container according to claim 1 claim 5, 6 or 7
wherein the wall part includes a bias in the material of the wall
member aligned in the transverse direction.
9. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the end wall
member comprises a plug part configured to fit within the second
end of the tubular body.
10. A dispensing container according to claim 9 wherein the plug
part comprises a skirt part descending from the end wall member in
the longitudinal direction toward the second end, and having an
external cross section corresponding to the internal cross section
of the tubular body.
11. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the end
wall member comprises a wall part connected to a rim part
constructed to be fixed to the second end of the tubular body.
12. A dispensing container according to claim 11 wherein the rim
part is connected to a skirt part of the end wall member.
13. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the tubular
body tapers, being narrower in its cross sectional dimension
adjacent the second end than adjacent the first end.
14. A dispensing container according to claim 13 wherein the cross
section shape of the tubular body varies along the length of the
tubular body and the variation accommodates the taper of the
tubular body.
15. A dispensing container according to claim 14 wherein the
tubular body has a portion of its length adjacent the first end of
circular cross section and a portion of its length adjacent to the
second end of oval cross section and transitions smoothly in cross
section from circular section adjacent the first end to oval in
cross section adjacent the second end.
16. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein an internal
support is provided within the tubular body in the vicinity of the
nozzle to resiliently support the tubular body.
17. A dispensing container according to claim 16 wherein the
support comprises a resilient biasing member located within the
tubular body and exerting its bias against inward collapse of the
tubular body.
18. A dispensing container according to claim 17 wherein the
resilient biasing member comprises a ring of a resilient material
with an outer surface profile corresponding to the internal profile
of the tubular body.
19. A dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein the
internal support member is made integrally with a nozzle insert of
a plastics material.
20. A dispensing container according to claim 19 wherein the nozzle
insert and the support member are linked integrally by one or more
linking member extending longitudinally along the tubular body.
21. A dispensing container according to claim 20 wherein two
linking members are located adjacent opposite sides of the tubular
body in line with the fold axis of the wall member.
22. A process for making a dispensing container for extrudable
fluid materials as claimed in claim 1, the process comprising;
providing a tubular body which is collapsible under pressure
applied transverse to its longitudinal direction, made of a
flexible material and having longitudinally opposite open ends;
closing one end of the tubular body with the wall member;
introducing an extrudable fluid material into the tubular body from
the opposite open end of the tubular body; providing the open end
of the tubular body with the dispensing nozzle and a closure for
the nozzle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to collapsible containers for
containing and dispensing viscous fluid materials.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known to provide viscous fluid materials such as
toothpastes, food products, adhesives etc. in collapsible tubular
containers made of a flexible material such as metal foil or
plastics material, which may be laminated, with a nozzle and an
opposite closed end, and which can be squeezed by a user to extrude
the fluid material out through the nozzle.
[0003] Generally such tubular containers are made as follows. A
tubular, usually cylindrical, portion of the flexible material
having two opposed open ends is provided. A separate nozzle insert
comprising the nozzle, normally fitted with a closure, and a wider
shoulder part having a cross section which mates with an open end
of the tubular portion is provided, and the shoulder part is mated
and attached, usually by welding, to the open end of the tubular
portion. The tubular portion is then filled with the viscous fluid
material via the opposite open end. Then that open end is closed,
usually by bringing the flexible material together at that open end
and then welding the flexible material together to thereby close
that end.
[0004] A problem with such tubular containers is in extracting
substantially all of the viscous fluid material contents from the
container. Usually the user of such a container is advised to begin
squeezing the tube from the closed end opposite to the nozzle and
to progressively collapse the tubular container along the tubular
length of the container. As the user approaches the shoulder part,
which is normally relatively rigid to enable it to support the
nozzle, this rigidity prevents the user from completely collapsing
the flexible material and inevitably some fluid material remains
trapped in the tubular container.
[0005] Various solutions to this problem of squeezing as much as
possible of the fluid material contents out of such tubes have been
proposed. EP-A-1597 162 and US-A-2002/0148854 disclose collapsible
tubes containing an insert which gradually moves along the inside
of the tube and follows the fluid content as it is squeezed out of
the tube. US-A-2007/0205217 discloses a collapsible tube
incorporating a malleable metal insert that helps prevent the tube
returning elastically to its original shape after content has been
squeezed out. WO-A-92/09494 discloses a square-sectioned tube the
side walls of which are biased by longitudinal creases to collapse
inwardly on sideways pressure, and which has one end closed by an
end cap the deformation of which is facilitated by creases, and a
square sectioned but apparently otherwise conventional separate
nozzle portion comprising the nozzle and a wider shoulder portion
at its opposite end. EP-A-0408929, JP-A-11/292090, JP-A-2010-1081,
US-A-2013/256310 and WO-A-97/25156 disclose collapsible containers
with gable-shaped ends opposite the end provided with their
dispensing nozzle to encourage complete collapse of the tube.
[0006] It is an object of this invention to address the problem of
providing a collapsible tubular container from which more of its
extrudable fluid content can be squeezed out than is the case with
conventional tubular containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to this invention a dispensing container for
extrudable fluid materials comprises;
[0008] a collapsible tubular body made of a flexible material and
having longitudinally opposite ends, and being constructed such
that transverse inward pressure causes the tubular body to collapse
in the direction of the pressure and the side surfaces of the
tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread
transversely outwardly;
[0009] a first end of the tubular body being provided with a
dispensing nozzle;
[0010] the longitudinally opposite second end of the tubular body
being closed with an end wall member sealingly connected to the
tubular body and that is biased to fold about a fold axis
transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body under
the transverse pressure.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a part cutaway longitudinal sectional view of a
dispensing container of this invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the dispensing container of
FIG. 1 rotated through 90.degree. about the longitudinal axis of
the tubular body.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the dispensing container as
shown in FIG. 2 after the tubular body has been squeezed by lateral
pressure in the direction of the arrows.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows cross sections of the dispensing container.
[0015] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged perspective view of the wall member
of the dispensing container of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of another
dispensing container of this invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the nozzle insert of the
dispensing container of FIG. 6.
[0018] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the end wall member of
the dispensing container of FIG. 6.
[0019] FIGS. 9 and 10 show longitudinal sections through the end
wall member of FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 11 shows a perspective part sectioned view of the rim
part of the dispensing container of FIG. 6.
[0021] FIG. 12 shows assembly and filling of the dispensing
container of FIGS. 1 to 5.
[0022] FIG. 13 shows an alternative construction of the end wall
member of the dispensing container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides a
dispensing container for extrudable fluid materials which
comprises;
[0024] a collapsible tubular body made of a flexible material and
having longitudinally opposite ends, and being constructed such
that transverse inward pressure causes the tubular body to collapse
in the direction of the pressure and the side surfaces of the
tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread
transversely outwardly;
[0025] a first end of the tubular body being provided with a
dispensing nozzle;
[0026] and the longitudinally opposite second end of the tubular
body being closed with an end wall member sealingly connected to
the tubular body and that is biased to fold about a fold axis
transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body under
the transverse pressure, wherein:
[0027] either the end wall member comprises a wall part which has a
wall surface comprising two side surfaces enclosing a concave angle
between them on the side facing the first end thereby forming a
valley surface between them on the side facing the first end and
being foldable about a fold axis extending in the direction of the
length of the valley in a direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction;
[0028] or the end wall member comprises a wall part which bulges
convexly in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body, either
toward the first end or away from the first end of the tubular
body, in a generally conical or pyramidal shape.
[0029] The collapsible tubular body may be made of any of the
conventional materials from which collapsible tubes are made, for
example malleable metal, plastics materials and laminates.
[0030] The collapsible tubular body preferably tapers, being
narrower in its cross sectional dimension adjacent the first end
than adjacent the second end.
[0031] The tubular body may have any convenient cross section, for
example circular, oval, polygonal e.g. rectangular (including
square) lozenge shape (e.g. rectangular shape with rounded ends),
diamond shaped etc. When the tubular body is subjected to
transverse inward pressure this causes the tubular body to collapse
in the direction of the pressure and the side surfaces of the
tubular body perpendicular to the direction of pressure to spread
transversely outwardly. For example a tubular body which is
initially of a circular cross section will under such pressure
firstly become of oval cross section before ultimately becoming
substantially flat.
[0032] The tubular body may incorporate creases or corners to
encourage deformation in a preferred direction. These polygonal
shapes may optionally have rounded corners. For example cross
sections of the tubular body which have corners, e.g. polygonal,
rectangular or diamond shapes, preferentially deform at these
corners, so that compressive pressure is preferably applied at
opposite corners.
[0033] The cross section shape of the tubular body may vary along
the length of the tubular body and such a variation may facilitate
accommodation of the abovementioned taper of the tubular body.
[0034] For example the tubular body may have a portion of its
length adjacent the first (nozzle) end of oval cross section and a
portion of its length adjacent to the second (closed) end of
circular cross section and may transition smoothly in cross section
from an oval cross section adjacent the first end to circular cross
section adjacent the second end to. In such a construction
preferably the tubular body is constructed to be collapsed under
the applied transverse pressure in the direction of the minor axis
of the oval section.
[0035] Such a taper of the tubular body may be provided by folded
in, e.g. crimped, portions of the material of the tubular body
longitudinally along the side surfaces of the tubular body, e.g.
adjacent the first end, which thereby reduce the cross section of
the tubular body.
[0036] The second end of the tubular body is closed with an end
wall member which extends transversely across the cross section of
the tubular body and is biased to fold about a fold axis transverse
to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body under the
transverse pressure.
[0037] The end wall member may have any convenient shape in section
across the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, typically
corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the tubular body
adjacent to the second end, e.g. circular, oval, rounded cornered
rectangular (including square) lozenge shape (e.g. diamond shape
with rounded corners or rectangular with rounded ends) as mentioned
above.
[0038] The end wall member may be biased to fold such that, on
folding, the convex side of the fold points toward the first end,
or alternatively points away from the first end. The former may be
neater in appearance and may assist in propelling the fluid
material content of the tubular body toward the nozzle.
[0039] The end wall member may be biased to fold by means of
various constructions.
[0040] In a preferred embodiment the end wall member comprises a
wall part which has a wall surface comprising two side surfaces
enclosing a concave angle between them on the side facing the first
end thereby forming a valley surface between them on the side
facing the first end and being foldable about a fold axis extending
in the direction of the length of the valley in a direction
transverse to the longitudinal direction.
[0041] Such a wall surface is preferably symmetrical about a plane
extending longitudinally along the interior of the tubular body and
in which the fold axis lies, and which longitudinally bisects the
interior of the tubular body.
[0042] Each side surface preferably occupies up to 50%, typically
40-50%, of the width of the end wall member. Each side surface may
be planar e.g. aligned at a proportion, preferably half, of the
concave angle, so that the valley surface may be substantially "V"
sectioned, or may be concave or convex curved so that for example
the valley surface may be semi-circular, semi-oval or "U"
shaped.
[0043] The concave angle between the side surfaces may be acute or
obtuse, and may typically be 45-160.degree., preferably 80-100. The
wall surface comprising two side surfaces enclosing a concave angle
between them thereby forming a valley surface between them may
comprise a saddle surface, for example a hyperbolic paraboloid.
[0044] In another embodiment the end wall member comprises a wall
part which bulges convexly in the longitudinal direction of the
tubular body, either toward the first end, or away from the first
end of the tubular body, in a generally conical shape.
[0045] The term "conical" as used herein includes shapes having a
circular or distorted circular e.g. oval cross section and which
rise to an apex in the longitudinal direction. Such shapes include
conical, hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, and ogival (pointed
arch).
[0046] The term "pyramidal" as used herein includes shapes having a
polygonal cross section and which rise to an apex in the
longitudinal direction. Polygonal includes square (including
rectangular), hexagonal, octagonal etc., and which may have rounded
corners. Preferably such a pyramidal section has an even number of
sides.
[0047] In this embodiment the bulge of the conical or pyramidal
shape provides the bias and defines the way in which the end wall
member folds. Such a wall part may also include a bias such as a
crease in the material of the wall member aligned in the transverse
direction. Preferably such a crease is perpendicular to the
direction in which the transverse pressure is intended to be
applied, aligned analogously as above.
[0048] The end wall member may be made of a plastics material,
preferably a plastically-deformable plastics material, to thereby
encourage the wall member to remain in its inwardly folded
configuration after it has been inwardly folded and resist any
resilient return of the inwardly collapsed tubular body from its
collapsed shape. However the plastics material of such a wall
member may be resilient, but preferably insufficiently resilient to
cause or allow any significant return of the collapsed tubular body
toward its pre-collapsed configuration.
[0049] The end wall member may be made integrally with the tubular
body and thereby integrally sealingly connected to the tubular
body.
[0050] Preferably the end wall member is made and provided
separately from the tubular body and is sealingly connected to the
second end of the tubular body e.g. by welding, adhesive etc. For
this latter purpose the end wall member may comprise a plug part
configured to fit within the second end of the tubular body. Such a
plug part may for example comprise a skirt part descending from the
end wall member in the longitudinal direction toward the second
end, and having an outer cross section corresponding to the
internal cross section of the tubular body so that the skirt part
is a snug fit within the second end of the tubular body.
[0051] A suitable construction of such an end wall member may
comprise a wall part connected to a rim part constructed to be
fixed to the second end of the tubular body. For example such a rim
part may be connected to a skirt part of the end wall member.
Preferably the rim part is integrally made with the end wall
member, e.g. with such a skirt part. Such a rim part may for
example be shaped and dimensioned to engage with the second end of
the tubular body, e.g. having a cross section corresponding to the
second end of the tubular body. For example for a circular or oval
cross sectioned tubular member the rim part may be in the form of a
circular or oval ring. If the cross section of the tubular body is
of other shapes then the rim part may be a correspondingly shaped
ring. Such a ring may have a longitudinal section which is
symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction. The rim part may be connected to the end rim of the
tubular body by conventional methods, e.g. by welding.
[0052] Such a rim part may be substantially planar in the direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body and
may consequently be able to function as a convenient base upon
which the dispensing container may be stood in an upright
orientation with the nozzle uppermost.
[0053] In the art of making collapsible tubes, e.g. for toothpaste,
as mentioned above it is well known to provide a separate nozzle
portion comprising the nozzle and a wider shoulder portion having a
cross section which mates with an open end of the tubular body, and
the shoulder portion is attached, usually by welding, to the open
first end of the tubular portion. An analogous procedure may be
used to fix the end wall member into the open end of the tubular
body. In the field of manufacturing collapsible tubes the machines
for attaching nozzles to tubular bodies is generally constructed to
handle circular-sectioned tubular bodies.
[0054] The opposite first end of the tubular body is provided with
a dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle may be a conventional
nozzle of the above-mentioned type in the form of a separate nozzle
insert comprising the nozzle and a shoulder part which mates with
one of the open ends of the tubular portion, and which is attached,
typically by welding, to the open end of the tubular body. However
such shoulder parts can be considerably rigid against squeezing
pressure applied in the direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction of the tube and can consequently hinder complete
expulsion of the contents of the tube by means of such
squeezing.
[0055] To address this problem the tubular body may be tapered
toward the first end and the first end may be integrally formed
into a tubular nozzle portion of narrower cross section than the
portion of the tubular body toward the opposite second end closed
with the wall member. Such a nozzle portion may have a widest cross
section dimension which is 50% or less than a cross sectional
dimension of the tubular body toward the second end.
[0056] In an embodiment a nozzle insert, suitably made of a rigid
plastics material such as polypropylene, is engaged with this
tubular nozzle portion. Such a nozzle insert may for example
comprise a generally tubular e.g. cylindrically tubular member.
Such a nozzle insert may be engaged with the nozzle portion by
crimping the flexible material of the tubular body in the region of
the nozzle insert around the outer surface of the nozzle insert
e.g. in the manner of a mandrel.
[0057] Crimping is a known technique in which the material of the
tubular body is compressed around and into contact with an insert
which is more rigid than the material of the tubular body, and the
material of the tubular body is bonded to the nozzle insert e.g. by
heat or ultrasonic welding, adhesive or other conventional
means.
[0058] Alternatively the nozzle insert may be first formed e.g. by
moulding around a mandrel, and the nozzle insert may then be
engaged with the nozzle portion. The engagement of such a nozzle
insert with the nozzle portion may be by conventional means, e.g.
frictional engagement and/or by welding the material of the tubular
body at the nozzle portion and the nozzle insert together e.g.
ultrasonically.
[0059] In another embodiment the first end of the tubular body may
be crimped around a separately provided nozzle insert.
[0060] Such a crimped first end of the tubular body may have
various shapes. For example such a crimped first end may have an
edge which is aligned substantially perpendicular to, or slightly
curved, relative to the longitudinal direction. Such an edge may be
easiest to manufacture but during extrusion of content from the
tubular body some residual content of the tubular body may become
trapped in corners adjacent to such an edge. Alternatively for
example such a crimped first end may have an edge which is of a
rounded or tapering shape e.g. generally triangular narrowing in
the longitudinal direction. Such an edge can facilitate
manipulation of the contents of the tubular body toward the nozzle,
but may require more complex tooling to manufacture.
[0061] There can be a problem particularly when the nozzle is
provided by means of the above-mentioned first end of the tubular
body crimped around a separately provided nozzle insert in that as
the tubular body collapses under compressive pressure, due to the
deformation of the tube a dimple can form restricting flow to the
nozzle and potentially weakening the tube.
[0062] To address this problem, in a preferred embodiment an
internal support may be provided within the tubular body in the
vicinity of the nozzle to resiliently support the tubular body
against such dimpling. Such a support may for example be provided
within 25% of the length of the tubular body from the first end
toward the second end. Such a support may comprise a resilient
biasing member located within the tubular body and exerting its
bias against inward collapse of the tubular body. For example the
resilient biasing member may comprise a ring of a resilient
material, typically a plastics material such as polypropylene, with
an outer surface profile corresponding to the adjacent internal
profile of the tubular body. In the above-mentioned tubular body
which has an oval cross section adjacent to the nozzle such a ring
may have a corresponding oval outer profile.
[0063] Preferably such a support is made integrally with a nozzle
insert of a plastics material. For example a plastics material
nozzle insert and a support member may be linked integrally by one
or more linking member extending longitudinally along the tubular
body. For example two such linking members may for example be
located adjacent opposite sides of the tubular body in line with
the fold axis of the wall member.
[0064] The nozzle, e.g. such a nozzle insert may be provided with a
closure, e.g. a conventional screw or snap fit closure, which may
be made integrally with the nozzle insert.
[0065] The dispensing container of this invention is suitable for
many different kinds of extrudable fluid materials, an example of
such materials being oral healthcare products such as toothpastes.
Typically for such uses the volume of the tubular body may be ca.
25-150 ml, and suitable cross sectional dimensions for such a
tubular body are 15-50 mm. Normally the dispensing container of
this invention will be provided to users containing such an
extrudable fluid material.
[0066] The dispensing container of this invention can provide a
squeezable tube with an improvement in emptying of its contents on
squeezing provided by the collapsible construction of the tubular
body. The dispensing container of the invention can also provide a
tubular container which is visually distinctive from many
conventional dispensing tubes.
[0067] The novel dispensing container of this invention may be made
and filled with an extrudable fluid material by a novel process,
being a further aspect of this invention.
[0068] According to this further aspect of the invention a process
for making a dispensing container for an extrudable fluid material
comprises;
[0069] providing a tubular body made of a flexible material which
is collapsible under pressure applied transverse to its
longitudinal direction such that side surfaces of the tubular body
perpendicular to the direction of pressure spread transversely
outwardly, and having longitudinally opposite open ends;
[0070] closing one end of the tubular body with a wall member as
described herein;
[0071] introducing an extrudable fluid material into the tubular
body from the opposite open end of the tubular body;
[0072] providing the open end of the tubular body with a dispensing
nozzle and a closure for the nozzle as described herein.
[0073] Preferred embodiments of the tubular body, the wall member,
the nozzle and closure are as described herein with reference to
the dispensing container.
[0074] In a preferred embodiment of the process, a suitable length
of a tube of flexible material is provided, typically sufficient to
provide a tubular body of volume ca. 25-150 ml, and having two
opposite open ends. The wall member is then connected to one of the
open ends of the tube, typically by welding, e.g. ultrasonic
welding. Suitably if the wall member comprises a wall part
connected to a rim part as described herein the rim part may be
connected to the end rim of the tubular body by such a method.
[0075] With the previously open end of the tubular body closed by
the end wall member the tubular body may be supported in a vertical
orientation with the closed end downward, and the tubular body may
then have the extrudable fluid material such as toothpaste
introduced downwardly into it. This may be done using an automated
filling line as is conventionally used for toothpaste. An advantage
of this invention is that it facilitates the use of conventional
tube filling equipment with minimal requirement for
modification.
[0076] The upper open end of the tubular body may then be formed
into a shape which tapers toward the upper end of the tubular body,
typically by folding in, e.g. crimping, portions of the material of
the tubular body longitudinally along the side surfaces of the
tubular body, to thereby reduce the cross section of the tubular
body and to integrally form the upper open end of the tubular body
into a tubular nozzle portion of narrower cross section than the
portion of the tubular body lower down the tubular body.
[0077] At the same time as such a tubular nozzle portion is formed,
a nozzle insert may be engaged with the nozzle portion by crimping
the flexible material of the tubular body in the region of the
nozzle insert around the outer surface of the nozzle insert. This
may be done by positioning the nozzle insert within the tubular
body at its open end, then forming the tubular body into the
tapered shape and forming the nozzle portion around the nozzle
insert. Alternatively the tubular nozzle portion may be first made,
e.g. by moulding the material of the tubular body around a mandrel,
then inserting the nozzle insert.
[0078] Alternatively and preferably the open end of the tubular
body is crimped around a separately provided nozzle insert as
described above, preferably a nozzle insert made integrally with a
support part as described herein. For example the support part of
such an integral nozzle insert and support part member may be
inserted into the open end of the tubular body to its intended
distance so the nozzle insert is in position in the first end of
the tubular body, which is then crimped around it.
[0079] A friction fit of the nozzle insert within the nozzle
portion may be sufficient to retain the nozzle insert in the nozzle
portion, or alternatively and preferably the material of the nozzle
portion and the nozzle insert may then be welded together e.g.
ultrasonically.
[0080] This process is in some aspects the opposite of that
normally used to manufacture such dispensing containers. In
conventional processes a tubular body is positioned with its lower
end closed with a separate nozzle portion comprising a nozzle and a
wider shoulder portion having a cross section which mates with one
of the open ends of the tubular portion, the nozzle being closed by
a closure e.g. a foil closure, the extrudable fluid material is
introduced into the tubular body by the upper open end, then this
upper open end is closed by squeezing the open end together and
crimping, and if necessary welding the crimped end closed.
Therefore advantageously the process of the present invention can
conveniently be performed with relatively little modification to a
conventional automatic tube-filling line.
[0081] The invention will now be described by way of example only
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 1 a dispensing container for extrudable
fluid materials is shown overall 10, and comprises a collapsible
tubular body 11 which has longitudinally opposite first 11A and
second 11B ends. The outer appearance of the tubular body toward
the first end 11A is shown, and the second end 11B is shown in a
cutaway sectional view. The tubular body 11 tapers with smoothly
curved sides toward the first end 11A which as seen in FIG. 1 is of
a rounded shape. Cross sections of the tubular body 11 at
successive points A-A, B-B and C-C along its length are shown in
FIG. 4, and show how the body 11 is circular in cross section near
to the second end 11B, and transitions smoothly to an oval cross
section toward the first end 11A. The cross section at C-C shows
how the cross section of the tubular body is adapted to the taper
and the oval cross section by folded in, e.g. crimped, portions 12
of the material of the tubular body 11 longitudinally along the
side surfaces of the tapering portion of the tubular body 11.
[0083] It will be apparent from FIGS. 1-4 how cross sections of the
tubular body 11 having other shapes e.g. rounded rectangular etc.
may be used.
[0084] The tubular body 11 is made of a flexible material such as a
plastics material laminate and it is seen that inward pressure
transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 11
would cause the tubular body 11 to collapse in the direction of the
pressure as seen in FIG. 3, and for the side surfaces of the
tubular body 11 perpendicular to the direction of pressure to
spread transversely outwardly (not shown) in a generally
conventional manner. As indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4
the tubular body 11 is intended to have such transverse pressure
applied to it in the direction of the short axis of the oval cross
section at B-B. This is likely to be self evident to the user, but
the tubular body can be marked to indicate this to the user. The
volume of the tubular body 11 is ca. 25-150 ml, the cross sectional
diameter at A-A is 15-50 mm, and appropriate cross sectional
dimensions at other points B-B and C-C will be apparent from
this.
[0085] The first end 11A of the tubular body 11 tapers as shown in
the cross sections at B-B and C-C and is integrally formed into a
cylindrical tubular nozzle portion 14. A nozzle insert 15 made of a
plastics material such as polypropylene is engaged with the tubular
nozzle portion 14. The nozzle insert 15 comprises a generally
cylindrically tubular member, and is engaged with the nozzle
portion 14 by crimping the flexible material of the tubular body 11
in the region of the nozzle insert 15 around the outer surface of
the nozzle insert 15, and optionally welding the material of the
nozzle portion 14 and the nozzle insert 15 together e.g.
ultrasonically. The nozzle insert 15 is provided with an integral
conventional hinged snap fit closure 16.
[0086] The end 11B of the tubular body 11, i.e. the second end, is
closed with a wall member 20 shown in FIG. 5 separate from the
tubular body 11 in a perspective view.
[0087] The wall member 20 is made of a plastics material such as
polypropylene. As more clearly seen in FIG. 5 the wall member 20
comprises a ring-shaped rim part 21 constructed to be fixed to the
second end 11B of the tubular body 11. The rim part 21 is circular
in plan and is shaped and dimensioned such that it can be fitted
into the second end 11B of the tubular body 11 and may be connected
into the second end 11B of the tubular body 11 as seen in FIGS. 1
and 2 by for example crimping the material of the tubular body 11
as shown at 13 and welding. Other suitable constructions of rim
part 21 will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The lower
surface of rim part 21 as shown in the drawings is planar in the
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the
tubular body 11, and as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 provides a convenient
base upon which the dispensing container 10 may be stood in an
upright orientation.
[0088] Integral with the rim part 21 is a wall part 22 of a
generally conical shape bulging inwardly into the tubular body 11
in the longitudinal direction toward the first end. The wall part
22 is biased by a crease 23 in the material of the wall part 23
aligned in the transverse direction perpendicular to the direction
in which the transverse pressure is intended to be applied, i.e. in
the direction of the long axis of the oval cross section B-B shown
in FIG. 4.
[0089] It will be apparent from FIG. 5 how the rim part 21 and wall
part 22 may be constructed in other shapes, for example with the
rim part 21 of a rectangular shape with rounded corners and the
wall part of a corresponding pyramidal shape.
[0090] Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, FIG. 6 shows the overall
construction 60 of another embodiment of a dispensing container of
this invention in a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 7 shows its
nozzle insert 70 in perspective view and FIG. 8 shows its end wall
member 80 in perspective view and in two longitudinal sections.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 6 a dispensing container for extrudable
fluid materials is shown overall 60, and comprises a collapsible
tubular body 61 analogous to that 11 of FIGS. 1-5, with
longitudinally opposite first 61A and second 61B ends. As before
the tubular body 60 tapers from a circular section at its second
end 61B to an oval section at its first end 61A, the change in
sectional shape being accommodated by folded in, e.g. crimped,
portions (not shown) as above. The tubular body 61 is made of a
flexible material such as a plastics material laminate such that
inward pressure transverse to the longitudinal direction of the
tubular body 61 would cause the tubular body 61 to collapse. The
volume of the tubular body 11 is ca. 25-150 ml.
[0092] Fixed into the tubular body 61 at the first end 61A by means
of a known crimping process is a nozzle insert 70 shown in
perspective view in FIG. 7. Nozzle insert 70 comprises a nozzle 71.
Made integrally with nozzle 71 is a support member which comprises
a resilient biasing member 72 comprising a ring of a resilient
plastics material such as polypropylene, with an outer surface
profile corresponding to the adjacent internal profile of the
tubular body, i.e. oval. When located within the tubular body 61
the biasing member 72 exerts its bias against inward collapse of
the tubular body 61. The biasing member 72 is linked integrally to
nozzle 71 by two linking members 73 extending longitudinally along
the interior of the tubular body 61 and connected to nozzle 71 by
shoulders 74. Nozzle 71 may be provided with a closure 75.
[0093] When present in the tubular body 61 as seen in FIG. 6 the
nozzle insert 70 is oriented such that the members 73 are at
opposite ends of the major axis of the oval section of the tubular
body 61 at its first end 61A and when present in the first end of
the tubular body 61 the biasing member 72 is positioned about
15-20% of the length of the tubular body 61 from the first end 61A
toward the second end 61B. Overall the nozzle insert 70 is of a
generally flat shape.
[0094] Fitted into second end 61B of the tubular body 61 is an end
wall member 80 shown in perspective view in FIG. 8 and respectively
in FIGS. 9 and 10 in longitudinal sections normal to each other
about lines A-A and V-V shown in FIG. 8. The end wall member 80 is
made of flexible plastics material and comprises a wall surface 81
and an integral skirt part 82 descending longitudinally from the
wall surface 81 and dimensioned to fit closely in a plug manner
into the second end 61B of the tubular body 61 which is of circular
section. As seen in FIG. 8 the wall surface 81 comprises two side
surfaces 81A, 81B enclosing a concave angle .alpha. of ca.
90.degree. between them facing the first end 61A thereby forming a
valley surface facing the first end 61A with a valley length
direction V-V between them. The end wall member 80 is foldable
about a fold axis extending in the direction V-V, and the view of
the end wall member 80 in FIG. 6 is in this direction V-V. The two
side surfaces 81A, 81B are symmetrical about a plane which bisects
the angle .alpha., and each side surface 81A, 81B occupies
approximately half of the width of the end wall member 80. Along
the direction V-V the wall surface 81 descends longitudinally to
meet the skirt part 82 symmetrically on either side from its mid
point to thereby comprise a saddle surface.
[0095] At its lower end 83 the skirt part 82 of the end wall member
is integrally made with a rim part 90 shaped and dimensioned to
engage with and to be welded to the second end 61B of the tubular
body 61 by conventional methods. As above, the rim part 90 is
substantially planar in the direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction of the tubular body 61 so as to function as
a convenient base upon which the dispensing container 60 may be
stood in an upright orientation. As seen in FIG. 6 the rim part 90
has a longitudinal section which is symmetrical about a plane
perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, comprising a middle
part 91 of a generally semi-circular section, with upper and lower
sections 92, 93 each comprising a generally cylindrical part
immediately respectively above and below the middle part 91, the
upper part 92 being shaped to engage with and be connected to the
tubular body 61.
[0096] FIG. 11 shows an alternative construction of the rim part 90
having a longitudinal section similar to that of FIG. 6 but made
separately from the end wall member 80 and attachable e.g. by
welding or other conventional means to the skirt part 82 of the end
wall member 80.
[0097] The dispensing container 10, 60 of FIGS. 1-10 operates as
follows. The container 10, 60 is initially provided containing an
extrudable fluid material (not shown) such as a toothpaste. The
closure 16, 72 is opened, and the tubular body 11, 61 is squeezed
laterally, e.g. as shown in FIG. 3 in the direction of the short
axis of the oval section at B-B. This causes the tubular body 11,
61 to collapse in a conventional manner, causes its sides
perpendicular to the squeezing direction to spread outwards, and
causes the fluid material content to be extruded from nozzle 15,
71. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 the biasing member 73 prevents
the tubular body 61 from dimpling under this squeezing.
[0098] As the tubular body 11, 61 collapses inwardly the wall
member 20, 80 folds respectively about the crease 23 and the fold
axis along direction V-V, which enables the wall member 20, 80 to
fold substantially flat, e.g. as seen in FIG. 3. The relatively
narrow cross section of the nozzle insert 15, 71 at the first end
11A, 61A enables the tubular body 11, 61 to flatten substantially
along its entire length. The biasing member 72 also flattens under
the sideways pressure. This can significantly increase the amount
of fluid material content which can be squeezed out of the tubular
body 11, 61 relative to conventional tubes.
[0099] Referring to FIG. 12, this shows how a dispensing container
as described above may be manufactured. Although the dispensing
container of FIGS. 1-5 is illustrated the method of manufacture of
the dispensing container 60 of FIG. 6 is analogous.
[0100] In FIG. 12A a length of a tube of flexible material 112 is
provided, typically sufficient to provide a tubular body 11 as
described above of volume ca. 25-150 ml, and having two opposite
open ends 112A, 112B.
[0101] In FIG. 12B one end 112B of the tube 112 which is intended
to form the second end 11B, 61B of the tubular body 11, 61 has been
closed with a wall member 20 as described above. The end wall
member 20 has been inserted into the open end 112B and its rim part
21 connected to the open end 112B by crimping the material of the
tube 112 around the rim part 21 of the end wall member 20 and
welding the material and the end wall member together.
[0102] In FIG. 12C, the tube 112 is supported in an upright
orientation with the opposite open end 112A, which is intended to
form the first end 11A, 61A of the tubular body 11, 61, uppermost
and an extrudable fluid material 92 has been introduced into the
tube 112 through the opposite open end 112A of the tube 112. This
may be done on a conventional automatic filling line in a manner
analogous to the way in which conventional tubes with their lower
open end closed with a conventional shoulder and nozzle are filled
with fluid material.
[0103] In FIG. 12D a nozzle insert 15 with its closure 16 is
positioned in the open end 112A of the tube 112.
[0104] In FIG. 12E a portion of the tube 112 adjacent to the end
112A of the tube 112 has been formed into a tapered shape and a
nozzle portion 14 has been formed around the nozzle insert 15 by
crimping portions 12 of the material of the tube 112 along the side
surfaces of the tapering portion of the tube 112 to thereby reduce
the cross section of the tube and form the oval section shown in
FIG. 4, and to mould the material of the tube 112 around the nozzle
insert 15. This may create a tight friction fit between the
material of the nozzle portion 14 and the nozzle insert 15, and/or
the material of the nozzle portion 14 and the nozzle insert 15 may
be welded together e.g. thermally, ultrasonically or by
adhesive.
[0105] Referring to FIG. 13, this shows an alternative construction
of the second end 11B of a tubular body 11. Parts corresponding to
FIGS. 1-6 are numbered correspondingly, but in FIG. 13 it is seen
that the wall part 22 is in the shape of a shallow cone which
bulges convexly in a direction away from the longitudinally
opposite first end (not shown) of tubular body 11. When,
analogously to FIG. 3, transverse pressure is applied to the
tubular body 11 and the end wall member folds flat about crease 23,
the apex of the conical shaped wall part 22 will move in a
direction away from the first end (not shown).
[0106] Analogously other alternative shapes of the rim part 21 and
the wall part 22 will be apparent based on FIG. 13.
* * * * *