U.S. patent number RE36,410 [Application Number 08/706,044] was granted by the patent office on 1999-11-30 for insertable barrier bag or liner for a narrow neck dispensing container and method of filling such a barrier bag of liner.
Invention is credited to Philip Meshberg.
United States Patent |
RE36,410 |
Meshberg |
November 30, 1999 |
Insertable barrier bag or liner for a narrow neck dispensing
container and method of filling such a barrier bag of liner
Abstract
A dispensing container including a interior barrier bag is
disclosed, along with a method for filling the barrier bag with a
material to be dispensed. The dispensing structure includes a
non-vented pump and a dip tube structure, and a mechanism for
venting the interior of the container to the atmosphere and for
venting the interior of the barrier bag during filling. During
assembly and filling, the barrier bag is wrapped or collapsed
around the dip tube structure, so that the dip tube structure and
the barrier bag can be easily inserted into a conventional
container. After insertion, the barrier bag is inflated (with
either an air blast or the introduction of the dispensed product)
and filled with product. After filling a pump structure can be
attached to the container. The method and apparatus allow a barrier
bag device to be used on conventionally-designed container
structures. The method and apparatus are particularly useful with
containers which are made up at least partially of recycled
materials.
Inventors: |
Meshberg; Philip (Palm Beach,
FL) |
Family
ID: |
21865712 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/706,044 |
Filed: |
August 30, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
032585 |
Mar 17, 1993 |
05343901 |
Sep 6, 1994 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/2; 141/18;
222/105; 222/481.5; 222/464.1; 222/382 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
11/0037 (20130101); B05B 11/0043 (20130101); B05B
15/30 (20180201); B05B 11/0097 (20130101); B05B
11/0038 (20180801) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
11/00 (20060101); B65B 001/04 (); B65D
037/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/95,105,183,383.1,382,481.5,211,209,321.1,321.7,321.9,464.1
;141/2,10,18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0193054 |
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Sep 1986 |
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EP |
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0473994 |
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Mar 1992 |
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EP |
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0499538 |
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Aug 1992 |
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EP |
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2655315 |
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Jun 1991 |
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FR |
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2 685 285 |
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Jun 1993 |
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FR |
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2710 984 |
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Sep 1978 |
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DE |
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2 155117 |
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Sep 1985 |
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GB |
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8202034 |
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Jun 1982 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Shaver; Kevin P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kenyon & Kenyon
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of providing a dispensing container comprising the
steps of:
(a) providing a container;
(b) inserting a sealed barrier structure into an interior of said
container, said barrier structure being collapsed around a dip tube
structure extending substantially within the barrier structure,
said dip tube structure being connected to a retaining structure
including a vent providing fluid communication between the interior
of said container and the atmosphere;
(c) expanding said barrier structure to substantially fill the
interior of said container;
(d) filling said barrier structure with a product to be dispensed
through said dip tube structure; and
(e) attaching a pump structure to said container in fluid
communication with said dip tube structure.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the step of inserting a sealed barrier structure into an interior
of said container includes said barrier bag structure being wrapped
around said dip tube structure.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the step of inserting a sealed barrier structure into an interior
of said container includes said barrier bag structure being
statically adhere to said dip tube structure.
4. A method of providing a dispensing container comprising the
steps of:
(a) providing a container;
(b) inserting a sealed barrier structure into an interior of said
container, said barrier structure being collapsed around a dip tube
structure extending substantially within the barrier structure,
said dip tube structure being connected to a retaining structure
including a vent providing fluid communication between the interior
of said container and the atmosphere;
(c) filling said barrier structure with a product to be dispensed
through said dip tube structure, thereby expanding said barrier
structure to substantially fill the interior of said container;
and
(d) attaching a pump structure to said container in fluid
communication with said dip tube structure.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein:
the step of inserting a sealed barrier structure into an interior
of said container includes said barrier bag structure being wrapped
around said dip tube structure.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein:
the step of inserting a sealed barrier structure into an interior
of said container includes said barrier bag structure being
statically adhered to said dip tube structure.
7. A barrier structure for holding a product to be dispensed,
comprising:
(a) a fitment structure including an axially inner end, said
fitment structure including a venting path on a radially outer
surface of said fitment structure, said fitment structure further
comprising a second venting path on a radially inner surface of
said axially inner end;
(b) a flexible bag structure sealingly secured to said axially
inner end of said fitment; and
(c) a dip tube structure connected to said axially inner end of
said fitment .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.and extending axially within
an interior of said flexible bag structure.
8. An interior product container for use in a dispenser having an
outer container structure including a neck portion, comprising:
(a) a fitment structure including an axially inner end, said
fitment structure being engageable with said neck portion, said
fitment structure including a first vent for providing fluid
communication between an interior of said container structure and
the atmosphere when said product container is inserted within said
container structure;
(b) a flexible bag structure sealingly secured to said axially
inner end of said fitment; and
(c) a dip tube structure connected to said axially inner end of
said fitment and extending axially within an interior of said
flexible bag structure, wherein
said fitment structure comprises a second vent for providing fluid
communication between the interior of said flexible bag structure
and the atmosphere during a filling process wherein product fills
said flexible bag structure through said dip tube structure.
9. A dispensing apparatus comprising:
(a) a container;
(b) a sealed barrier structure within an interior of said
container;
(c) a retaining structure, said retaining structure including a
vent providing fluid communication between the interior of said
container and the atmosphere;
(d) a dip tube structure extending within an interior of said
barrier structure, said barrier structure being sealed around said
dip tube structure, said dip tube structure being connected to said
retaining structure; and
(e) a pump structure connected to said retaining structure and in
fluid communication with said dip tube structure,
wherein said barrier structure is initially collapsed against said
dip tube structure when not filled with a product to be dispensed,
and wherein said barrier structure expands to substantially fill
the interior of said container when filled with said product to be
dispensed.
10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
said container comprises a neck portion, and wherein said retaining
structure is retained within said neck portion. .Iadd.
11. A barrier structure for holding a product to be dispensed,
comprising:
(a) a fitment including an axially inner end, said fitment
comprising a venting path on a radially outer surface of said
fitment, said fitment further comprising a second venting path on a
radially inner surface of said fitment;
(b) a flexible bag structure sealingly secured to said
fitment..Iaddend..Iadd.12. The barrier structure of claim 11,
wherein:
said second venting path is on a radially inner surface of said
axially inner end..Iaddend..Iadd.13. A dispensing apparatus for
holding a product to be dispensed, comprising:
(a) a container;
(b) a fitment including an axially inner end, said fitment
comprising a venting path on a radially outer surface of said
fitment, said fitment further comprising a second venting path on a
radially inner surface of said fitment;
(c) a flexible bag structure sealingly secured to said
fitment..Iaddend..Iadd.14. The dispensing apparatus of claim 13,
wherein:
said second venting path is on a radially inner surface of said
axially inner end..Iaddend..Iadd.15. A method of filling a
dispensing container comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a container;
(b) inserting a sealed barrier structure into an interior of said
container, said barrier structure comprising a flexible bag and a
fitment, said flexible bag being sealed to said fitment, said
fitment comprising a venting path on a radially outer surface of
said fitment and a second venting path on a radially inner surface
of said fitment;
(c) filling said flexible bag with a product to be dispensed, said
step of filling said flexible bag comprising the steps of venting
air from an interior of said flexible bag through said second
venting path and venting air from an interior of said container
through said venting
path..Iaddend..Iadd.16. The method of claim 15, further comprising
the step of:
attaching a pump structure to said container after said step of
filling said flexible bag..Iaddend..Iadd.17. The method of claim
15, further comprising the step of:
expanding said flexible bag to substantially fill an interior of
said container to said step of filling said flexible bag..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispenser including a dispensing
pump and a dispensing container. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a dispensing container which includes a
barrier bag for protecting the dispensed contents from
contamination within the container.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is generally known to provide a barrier bag within a dispensing
device to protect the contents contained within the dispenser from
any other materials which may be in the container. For example,
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,009,830; 4,020,978; 4,457,455; 4,457,454;
4,696,415; 5,004,123; 5,012,956; 5,020,691; 5,115,944; 5,135,137;
5,137,179; 5,143,294; 5,156,295; 5,156,299; 5,156,300 and 5,176,294
each show dispensing devices wherein a barrier bag is used to
surround and seal the dispensed contents within the dispensing
container. Often, the barrier bag is used to prevent contact
between a pressurized gas used to propel the contents out, e.g. in
an aerosol device, and the contents themselves. In other prior art
devices, the barrier bag is used to prevent contact between the
dispensed contents and air which may be contained within the
container.
In the prior art devices containing a barrier bag, it is often
necessary to use a special fitting on the upper portion of the
container to allow for the insertion and filling of the barrier
bag. This special fitting makes prior art barrier bag systems
incompatible with standard dispensing containers, an also requires
additional assembly steps. Furthermore, the prior art devices
containing barrier bags are not constructed to be used with
conventional non-vented pumps which include a vented container
structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an insertable barrier bag or
liner, that can be automatically inserted through the neck of a
conventionally-shaped plastic bottle or container. The present
invention includes structure for venting air from the interior of
the barrier bag while the bag is being filled with product, as well
as structure for venting air in the space between the interior
walls of the container and the exterior wall of the barrier
bag.
The venting structures of the present invention are provided in a
fitting which is designed to fit within the neck of a container or
bottle. The fitting is designed so that a bag made of a bar
material can be sealed on an outer surface of the fitting to
provide a leakproof seal of the barrier bag to the fitting. The
barrier bag is affixed in a position so that it clears the neck of
the container when the fitting is inserted into the bottle or
container, allowing the full expansion of the bag within the walls
of the container.
The fitting is designed to receive a dip tube with a diameter which
permits the barrier bag to be wrapped around the dip tube before
insertion in the bottle or container. The barrier bag remains
wrapped around the dip tube by its own adhesion properties, static
adhesion, or through use of an adhesive, and can therefore be
easily and automatically inserted into the container through the
neck of the container prior to a filling operation. Because the dip
tube is part of the attached to the fitting structure and barrier
bag when they are inserted into the container, a dip tube structure
need not be attached to the pump structure when it is connected to
the container.
The fact that the barrier bag is wrapped around the dip tube before
filling is an advantageous feature of the present invention,
because it minimizes the amount of air trapped in the barrier bag,
allowing filling of the barrier bag at maximum speed. The present
invention is therefore advantageous because it allows easy assembly
and filling of a dispensing container with an interior barrier bag
and may be used on any conventionally shaped dispensing container
or bottle used in conjunction with a conventional non-vented pump.
The present invention includes an easy to manufacture structure for
venting the container interior. The present invention is easy to
insert into a container, and easy to fill once inserted into the
container, without the use of complicated assembly or filling
equipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention, with
the barrier bag in an expanded state;
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional bottom view of the barrier bag and
fitment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3a and 3b show cross-sectional views of the fitment of the
present invention;
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention, with
the barrier bag wrapped around the dip tube.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present dispensing device. A
dispenser 1 includes a dispensing container 2. Dispensing container
2 may be of a conventional form which includes a relatively wide
body portion 3 and a relatively narrow neck portion 4. Neck portion
4 can include threads for engagement with threads on a cap (not
shown), or a cap could be crimped or attached by any known means to
neck portion 4.
Inserted within container is a dip tube 6 for conveying a dispensed
product from the container to a pump structure 7. Dip tube 6 is
connected to a fitment 11 via a dip tube retaining portion 8 which
retains the dip tube 6 and a barrier bag 9 in the container 2. As
shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of barrier bag 9 is sealed
(through conventional means, e.g., ultrasonic welding or adhesives)
to fitment 11 via the dip tube retaining portion 8, so as to seal
the interior of barrier bag 9 from the interior of container 2.
FIG. 2 shows the barrier bag 9 in a flattened condition, for
example when it is first attached to the fitment 11.
Barrier bag 9 is constructed of a thin sheet of a barrier film
(e.g. foil or a polymeric material) which is bonded around the
edges to form a sealed structure. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the
upper edges of the film which makes up the barrier bag 9 are bonded
together at their radially outer ends, and as described above the
radially inner portions of the upper edges of the film are bonded
to the fitment 11 so that the bag is sealed to the fitment 11. The
radially outer and lower edges of the film are bonded together to
form a sealed barrier bag 9.
FIGS. 2, 3a and 3b show the particular structure of the fitment of
the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 2, dip tube retaining
portion 8 includes an outer surface upon which the barrier bag 9 is
bonded to form a seal. A second vent structure 14 passes through
the interior of the dip tube retaining portion 8 between the dip
tube 6 and the dip tube retaining portion 8. As will be described
below, this second vent structure 14 allows air to be vented out of
the dip tube 6 and barrier bag 9 during filling. A vent structure
10 on the outer surface of fitment 11 allows the interior of the
container 2 to be vented to the atmosphere to maintain atmospheric
pressure on the exterior of the barrier bag 9. Fitment 11 includes
a flange 5 to allow engagement of the fitment 11 with the neck 4 of
container 2.
FIG. 4 shows the barrier bag 9 and fitment 11 in their
configuration immediately after insertion into container 2. In
order to allow easy insertion of the bag 9 into a conventional
container 2, the bag is initially wrapped around the dip tube 6 so
as to exhibit a low cross-sectional profile. The barrier bag 9 can
be retained in a position wrapped around the dip tube 6 through its
own adhesive properties (as with some thermoplastics), through
static adherence, or through the use of a low shear-strength
adhesive on the exterior of the barrier bag 9. Although the barrier
bag 9 is preferably wrapped around the dip tube 6, the barrier bag
could also be collapsed around the dip tube in any other equivalent
manner, including using a pleated barrier bag 9 which is collapsed
in an "accordion" manner around the dip tube 6.
After the dip tube 6, barrier bag 9, and fitment 11 structures are
inserted as a unit into the container 2, the barrier bag can be
inflated to the shape shown in FIG. 1. Inflation can be accomplish
by an air blast directed from above down the dip tube 6, or can
occur during filling of the barrier bag 9 with a product to be
dispensed. To fill the barrier bag 9 with a product to be
dispensed, a filling nozzle 12 (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4) is
inserted into the interior of fitment 11 to engage the top 7 of dip
tube 6, and product is dispensed down the dip tube 6 and into the
interior of the barrier bag 9 until the barrier bag 9 is filled
with product. A vent structure 10, consisting of a groove
channelled into the exterior of the fitment 11, is used during
filling to vent air in the interior of the container 2 which is
displaced during filling of the barrier bag 9. A second vent
structure 14 is used to vent air initially contained within the dip
tube 6 and barrier bag 9 to the atmosphere as this air is displaced
by product during filling of the barrier bag 9.
After barrier bag 9 is filled with product, a conventional pump
structure 7 (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1) is inserted into
fitment 11 and attached by any known conventional mechanism. The
upper end 7 of dip tube 6 projects upwardly into fitment 11 so that
it can be inserted directly into the inlet to pump 13. Pump
structure 13 can include any form of conventional dispensing
actuator/dispensing nozzle structure. Thus, as is known in the art,
an actuator on the pump 13 is actuated, product will be drawn into
the pump 13 and dispensed out a nozzle on actuator. During the
return stroke of the pump, product is drawn into the interior of
pump 13 through dip tube 6; the atmospheric pressure which exists
in the container 2 interior--by way of the venting structure
10--allows fluid to be drawn into the pump 13 and the barrier bag 9
to gradually collapse around dip tube 6. Eventually, the barrier
bag 9 will completely collapse around dip tube 6 as product is
dispensed, so that removal of the dip tube 6, barrier bag 9 and
fitment 11 can be easily accomplished through neck 4 of container
2. The container then can be refilled using the process described
above, using a new barrier bag 9/dip tube 6/fitment 11.
As will be readily understood, the barrier bag 9, retaining
structure 8 and container could have a variety of shapes, depending
upon the particular application. Furthermore, the vent structures
10 and 14 could be located in a variety of locations on the
disclosed structure, as long as they provide the recited functions
above. It will be understood that multiple variations of the
disclosed structure are contemplated within the scope of the claims
below.
* * * * *