U.S. patent number RE48,027 [Application Number 16/195,325] was granted by the patent office on 2020-06-02 for environmentally friendly liquid container and method of manufacture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Double Double D, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Double Double D, LLC. Invention is credited to Jim F. Warner.
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United States Patent |
RE48,027 |
Warner |
June 2, 2020 |
Environmentally friendly liquid container and method of
manufacture
Abstract
A container for liquids comprising a first portion forming an
approximate half container portion; a second portion forming an
approximate half container portion, the first and second portions
having a generally convex exterior shape with flange portions along
perimeters thereof; a liquid impermeable barrier film being
disposed on a concave interior portion of each of the first and
second portions and extending onto the flange portions; the first
and second portions being sealed together at the flange portions to
form a liquid impermeable container; and there being provided a
location on the container for the disposition of a closure device
to allow contents of the container, once filled, to be removed.
Inventors: |
Warner; Jim F. (Chicago,
IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Double Double D, LLC |
Burlington |
KY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Double Double D, LLC
(Burlington, KY)
|
Family
ID: |
70804019 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/195,325 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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12641731 |
Dec 18, 2009 |
8701905 |
|
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|
61162444 |
Mar 23, 2009 |
|
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|
61139204 |
Dec 19, 2008 |
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Reissue of: |
14252138 |
Apr 14, 2014 |
9090372 |
Jul 28, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
1/0215 (20130101); B65D 75/322 (20130101); B65D
41/06 (20130101); B65D 25/14 (20130101); B65D
41/06 (20130101); B65D 85/72 (20130101); B65D
39/088 (20130101); B65D 25/14 (20130101); B65D
13/04 (20130101); B65D 65/466 (20130101); B65D
85/72 (20130101); B65D 65/466 (20130101); B65D
39/088 (20130101); B65D 75/322 (20130101); B65D
75/5811 (20130101); B65D 1/0215 (20130101); B65D
13/04 (20130101); B65D 75/5811 (20130101); Y10S
229/935 (20130101); B65D 2575/586 (20130101); Y02W
30/80 (20150501); B65D 2565/386 (20130101); B65D
2565/386 (20130101); Y02W 30/80 (20150501); Y10S
229/933 (20130101); B29L 2031/7158 (20130101); B65D
2575/586 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
1/02 (20060101); B65D 65/46 (20060101); B65D
25/14 (20060101); B65D 75/58 (20060101); B65D
85/72 (20060101); B65D 39/08 (20060101); B65D
41/06 (20060101); B65D 75/32 (20060101); B65D
6/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;215/334
;220/288,304,678,679 ;229/117.27 ;428/421.1,34.2,34.3
;493/93,95,96,100 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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WO |
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WO |
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WO2010054334 |
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May 2010 |
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WO |
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WO2010071815 |
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Jun 2010 |
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WO |
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Other References
Dave Sattler "Find a Brand for this Paper Water Bottle"
Ecopreneurist, Dec. 9, 2008 (Dec. 9, 2008), XP002674688, Retrieved
from the Internet: URL:
http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/12/09/find-aa-brand-for-this-paper-wat-
er-bottle/ [retrieved on Apr. 20, 2012]. cited by applicant .
Miller, Ken and Warner, Jim; "The Consumer Trust Crisis: How
package structure can help build brand confidence", Brandpackaging
Magazine, pp. 13, 14, 16, Apr. 2005. cited by applicant .
Extended Supplementary European Search Report from Appln. No.
09833840.3 dated Jun. 22, 2012. cited by applicant .
Inventorspot.com, Dec. 2008, Forget Plastic! The Brilliant
Invention of the 360 Paper Water Bottle [online], Copyright
2006-2020 [retrieved on Feb. 9, 2010]. Retrieved from the internet:
URL:
http:/inventorspot.com/articles/forget_plastic_brilliant_invention_360_pa-
per_water_bottle_20997. cited by applicant .
International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the
International Searching Authority, or the Declaration from
PCT/US2009/068766 dated Mar. 5, 2010, 11 pages. cited by applicant
.
Patent Examination Report No. 1, Australian Appl No. 2009327426,
dated Aug. 10, 2012, 6 pages. cited by applicant .
Canadian Office Action, Canadian Appl. No. 2,747,515 dated Nov. 6,
2012, 11 pages. cited by applicant .
Official Action dated Dec. 18, 2009, Application No.
2011147470/12(071158), PCT Appl US2009/068766, 7 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Doerrler; William C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/641,731 filed Dec. 18, 2009, which claims priority to
Provisional Application No. 61/162,444 filed Mar. 23, 2009 and
61/139,204 filed Dec. 19, 2008, which are all hereby incorporated
by reference in their entireties.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An environmentally friendly container for liquids comprising: a
first environmentally friendly outer shell portion and a second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, wherein the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion form an outer layer of
the environmentally friendly container, wherein the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion are constructed of an
environmentally friendly material; a barrier film piece that is
disposed on a concave inner portion of the first environmentally
friendly outer shell portion and the second environmentally
friendly outer shell portion to define a liquid reservoir; and a
closure device formed from the first environmentally friendly outer
shell portion, the second environmentally friendly outer shell
portion, and the barrier film piece, wherein the closure device is
configured for reattachment to the environmentally friendly
container to prevent loss of a liquid from the liquid reservoir,
wherein the first environmentally friendly outer shell portion, the
second environmentally friendly outer shell portion, and the
barrier film piece each extend to and contact a thread forming
component of a closure fitment of the closure device of the
environmentally friendly container to define a rim portion of the
environmentally friendly container, wherein the closure device
comprises a screw cap, wherein the screw cap is constructed of the
environmentally friendly material that includes a sealing liner for
sealing to the closure fitment provided on the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion.
2. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1, wherein the
barrier film piece comprises at least one of the following: a
polymer film, a polymer foil laminate, and a liquid barrier
material.
3. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1, wherein the
first environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion are constructed of at
least one of the following: agricultural processing materials,
post-consumer waste, and composite materials.
4. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1, wherein the
sealing liner comprises thread portions to engage the closure
fitment.
5. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1, wherein the
sealing liner bends at a right angle vertically along a side of the
screw cap so that thread portions of the screw cap engage the
closure fitment.
6. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1, further
comprising a corset for strengthening a structural characteristic
of the environmentally friendly container, wherein the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, and the barrier film
piece are constructed with dimensions such that without the corset,
a desired shape of the environmentally friendly container could not
be maintained.
7. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1, further
comprising a window on at least one of the following: the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, wherein the window
provides a view to contents being stored within the environmentally
friendly container.
8. An environmentally friendly container for liquids comprising: a
first biodegradable outer shell portion and a second biodegradable
outer shell portion, wherein the first biodegradable outer shell
portion and the second biodegradable outer shell portion form an
outer layer of the environmentally friendly container; a barrier
film piece disposed on a concave inner portion of the first
biodegradable outer shell portion and the second biodegradable
outer shell portion respectively, wherein the barrier film piece is
constructed of a pre-sealed liquid container and defines a liquid
reservoir; and a closure device formed from the first biodegradable
outer shell portion, the second biodegradable outer shell portion,
and the barrier film piece, wherein the closure device is
configured for reattachment to the environmentally friendly
container to prevent loss of a liquid from the liquid reservoir,
wherein the first biodegradable outer shell portion, the second
biodegradable outer shell portion, and the barrier film piece each
extend to and contact a thread forming component of a closure
fitment of the closure device to define a rim portion of the
environmentally friendly container, wherein the closure device
comprises a screw cap, wherein the screw cap is constructed of a
biodegradable material that includes a sealing liner for sealing to
the closure fitment provided on the first biodegradable outer shell
portion and the second biodegradable outer shell portion.
9. The environmentally friendly container of claim 8, wherein the
barrier film piece comprises at least one of the following: a
polymer film, a polymer foil laminate, and a liquid barrier
material, and wherein the first biodegradable outer shell portion
and the second biodegradable outer shell portion are constructed of
at least one of the following: agricultural processing materials,
post-consumer waste, and composite materials.
10. The environmentally friendly container of claim 8, wherein the
screw cap comprises a plurality of indents to hold the sealing
liner in place.
11. The environmentally friendly container of claim 8, wherein the
sealing liner comprises thread portions to engage threads on the
closure fitment.
12. The environmentally friendly container of claim 11, wherein the
sealing liner bends at a substantially right angle vertically along
the side of the screw cap so that the thread portions engage the
closure fitment.
13. The environmentally friendly container of claim 8, wherein the
barrier film piece is blow molded to an interior portion of the
outer layer.
14. The environmentally friendly container of claim 8, further
comprising a corset for strengthening a structural characteristic
of the environmentally friendly container, wherein the first
biodegradable outer shell portion, the second biodegradable outer
shell portion, and the barrier film piece are constructed with
dimensions such that without the corset, a desired shape of the
environmentally friendly container could not be maintained.
15. An environmentally friendly container for liquids comprising: a
first environmentally friendly outer shell portion and a second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, wherein the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion form an outer layer of
the environmentally friendly container, wherein the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion are constructed of an
environmentally friendly material; a barrier film piece that is
disposed on a concave inner portion of the first environmentally
friendly outer shell portion and the second environmentally
friendly outer shell portion respectively, wherein the barrier film
piece creates a liquid reservoir for holding a liquid, wherein the
barrier film piece .[.create.]. .Iadd.creates .Iaddend.a sealing
tube for receiving the liquid; and a closure device formed from the
first environmentally friendly outer shell portion, the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, and the barrier film
piece, wherein the closure device is configured for reattachment to
the environmentally friendly container to prevent loss of the
liquid from the liquid reservoir, wherein the first environmentally
friendly outer shell portion and the second environmentally
friendly outer shell portion each extend and contact a thread
forming component of a closure fitment of the closure device of the
environmentally friendly container to define a rim portion of the
environmentally friendly container when the closure device is
attached to the environmentally friendly container, wherein the
closure device comprises a screw cap, wherein the screw cap is
constructed of the environmentally friendly material.
16. The environmentally friendly container of claim 15, wherein the
first environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion are fused together by
at least one of the following: heating, radio frequency heating,
inductive heating, pressure sealing, bonding, and adhering.
17. The environmentally friendly container of claim 15, wherein the
barrier film piece is blow molded to an interior portion of the
outer layer, wherein the environmentally friendly container
comprises an opening having a screw thread for receiving the screw
cap.
18. The environmentally friendly container of claim 15, further
comprising a window on at least one of the following: the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion and the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, wherein the window
provides a view to contents being stored within the environmentally
friendly container.
19. The environmentally friendly container of claim 15, further
comprising a corset for strengthening a structural characteristic
of the environmentally friendly container, wherein the first
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, the second
environmentally friendly outer shell portion, and the barrier film
piece are constructed with dimensions such that without the corset,
a desired shape of the environmentally friendly container could not
be maintained.
20. The environmentally friendly container of claim 15, wherein the
sealing liner bends at a right angle vertically along a side of the
screw cap so that thread portions of the screw cap engage the
closure fitment.
.Iadd.21. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1,
further comprising a portal disposed on a base portion of the
environmentally friendly container that is accessed to introduce
fluid into the container and sealed after introduction of the
liquid into the container is complete. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The environmentally friendly container of claim 1,
wherein the environmentally friendly container is self-bundled with
at least one other container. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The environmentally friendly container of claim 22,
wherein the container is coupled to the at least one other
container along side portions, which are suitably perforated to
allow the environmentally friendly container to be separated from
the at least one other container. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The environmentally friendly container or claim 1,
further comprising a sealing tube constructed of a similar material
as the barrier film piece, wherein the sealing tube is removed
after receiving liquid for the environmentally friendly container.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present invention relates to containers and in particular, to
an environmentally/ecologically friendly container or bottle for
liquids.
2. Technical Background
Landfills are filled with plastic bottles that may take years to
degrade or which are non-biodegradable. This is because many
plastics are not recyclable or they are not properly recycled. Many
that are recyclable never reach recycling centers. A beverage
company would find it desirable to use ecologically safe containers
not only because of the ecological benefits in reusing materials,
but because it would reinforce their public esteem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an ecologically friendly container
that is made of ecologically friendly materials may include
agricultural processing materials, such as forms of bamboo, banana
leaves, hay, grasses, cornstalks, etc. Some embodiments may include
post-consumer waste, such as newsprint, packaging, other forms of
paper products, etc. Some embodiments include composite materials,
such as from landfill and/or municipal reclaim centers, including
architectural wood, building materials, manufacturing byproducts,
etc. One or more other ecologically friendly materials may be used,
depending on the particular embodiment.
The design of the container addresses the containment of liquids,
for example water or other liquids. The product according to the
invention challenges the norms of production, shipping, filling,
visible material, shelf impression, labeling, multi-packing,
structural integrity, opening and resealing of the closure and
ultimately its disposition. The package utilizes sustainable sheet
stock of bamboo, palm leaves, etc. and/or other ecologically
friendly material (such as described above) that is pressed into
two halves to encapsulate a micro-thin PLA film that provides a
liquid/ oxygen barrier. The formed material provides the form,
graphical substrate and/or embellishment surface and structural
integrity. In one embodiment, the containers may be shipped partly
inverted and pop open upon filling through a fill portal at the
base. In another embodiment, the container is filled from a
conventional screw cap or other conventional closure device, but
which closure device is also made preferably of ecologically
friendly materials. The barrier material also acts as the means to
fuse the two container halves together.
In a first embodiment, a top component is torn off to access the
liquid. To reseal, the removed component peels apart to expose a
sanitary plug that acts as a closure for the container and the
remaining part is tethered to a finger loop to eliminate litter.
The invention changes the total experience of drinking water or
other liquid from the way the container looks, feels, and functions
to the way it ends its usage.
In a second embodiment, a conventional screw cap is employed,
preferably made of the same ecologically friendly material as the
container itself, but otherwise the container has similar
advantages as the first embodiment.
In one embodiment, the container is filled through a portal at the
base which is thereafter removed and sealed. In yet another
embodiment, the container is filled with a novel screw cap closure
device. The screw cap is preferably made of predominantly
ecologically friendly materials.
In one embodiment of the container, the container is made from two
body halves and the film barrier comprises two film sheets that are
positioned adjacent the respective body halves of the container or
through the use of an applied natural liquid barrier material and
are disposed or affixed to concave inner portion of the resources
body halves (before or after assembly). The entire assembly of the
two body halves sandwiching the two barrier films or natural liquid
barrier material is then sealed according to the methods described
herein.
In another embodiment, a pre-sealed fill pouch made of the barrier
material is sandwiched between the two container body halves and
then sealed by a suitable sealing method. In this embodiment, since
the fill pouch is already sealed, only a light intermittent seal of
the two body halves to the film pouch is necessary, although a
continuous seal could also be used.
According to one embodiment, the barrier film sections or fill
pouch or natural liquid barrier material may be maintained in place
during assembly to the container halves by, for example, an
electrostatic charge placed on the film or container halves to
create a liquid reservoir for the environmentally friendly
container to prevent loss of liquid. In some embodiments, the
barrier film may be created from a pre-sealed liquid container,
which may be blow molded to the environmentally friendly
container.
In the further embodiment having a screw cap, in order to minimize
the content of polymeric material, the screw cap is preferably made
of an environmentally friendly material, such as a biodegradable
material, compostable material, recyclable material, such as paper
or another ecological friendly material, a polymer liner or natural
liquid barrier material is inserted into the screw cap which
includes integral thread bearing portions which are moved into
position when the liner is inserted into the screw cap. The screw
cap may be constructed of the environmentally friendly material
that includes a sealing liner for sealing to the closure fitment
provided on the first environmentally friendly outer shell portion
and the second environmentally friendly outer shell portion. The
environmentally friendly material may include biodegradable
materials, compostable materials, recyclable materials and/or other
materials that may be reused, recycled, composted, or degraded in
natural conditions within a predetermined amount of time (such as
100 years).
A sealed in threaded closure fitment either made of ecologically
friendly materials or a polymeric component is also attached and
sealed to the barrier film comprising the film pouch contained
within the container to seal thereto and includes mating threaded
elements to receive the thread bearing components of the liner.
The container according to the present invention is preferably used
as a single serve container. An important aspect is that the design
of the container enables the self-bundling of multiple containers
to negate the use of a separate six- pack carrier. A shipping and
merchandiser is also provided that uses an all natural structural
board with vertical ends that drastically reduces the material used
in pallettizing and enables self-merchandising.
Graphical brand communication media can be applied directly to the
material, for example, by embossing or direct printing of natural
dies and inks or application of labels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in greater detail in the following
detailed description with reference to the drawings in which:
FIGS. 1A, B, C and D show a first embodiment and in particular,
FIG. 1A shows a sectional view along the lines BB of FIG. 1B; FIG.
1B shows a front, partially phantom view; FIG. 1C shows a left side
view; and FIG. 1D shows a perspective view;
FIGS. 2A-2D show a second embodiment in which FIG. 2A shows a
sectional view along the lines BB of FIG. 2B; FIG. 2B shows a front
partially phantom view; FIG. 2C shows a left side view; and FIG. 2D
shows a perspective view;
FIGS. 3A, B and C show perspective views of the first embodiment
showing, respectively, how the sealing enclosure is removed,
showing how the sealing enclosure is split into two portions and
how part of the sealing enclosure can be used to reseal the
container and the other part is tethered to the cap;
FIG. 4A shows a six-pack of the first embodiment; FIG. 4B shows the
six-pack from another perspective; and FIG. 4C shows the container
halves prior to filling;
FIGS. 5A and B show how the six-packs can be shipped and
merchandised via a shipper and merchandiser;
FIGS. 6A and B show the first embodiment of the container in a
perspective view and plural ones of the container.
FIG. 7A shows a plan view of a variation of the first embodiment of
the ecologically friendly container;
FIG. 7B shows a sectional view of the container along line B-B of
FIG. 7A;
FIG. 7C shows a perspective view of the container;
FIG. 8A shows the construction method for the container of FIG.
7;
FIG. 8B shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 8A after
assembly;
FIG. 8C shows the container in an inverted position showing the
filling tube;
FIG. 8D shows the inverted container with the filling tube
removed
FIG. 9A shows a further embodiment of the container;
FIG. 9B shows a sectional view of the container of FIG. 9A
FIG. 9C is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 9A;
FIG. 10A shows the construction method for the container of FIG.
9;
FIG. 10B shows the container of FIG. 10A in a perspective view;
FIG. 10C shows the inverted container of FIG. 10B with the
filling;
FIG. 10D shows the inverted container after the filling tube has
been attached and the container sealed;
FIG. 11A shows a further embodiment of the container of the
invention with a screw cap;
FIG. 11B shows the container of FIG. 11A in a sectional view along
lines A-A of FIG. 11A;
FIG. 11C shows the cap for the container together with the liner
which is inserted into the cap;
FIG. 11D is an exploded view showing the top of the container
showing the sealed in threaded closure fitment and the cap;
FIG. 11E is a detailed view of the screw cap on the container;
FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a closure device for an
environmentally friendly container; and
FIG. 13 is a detailed view of a blow molded barrier film piece for
an environmentally friendly container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1A, B, C and D show a first
embodiment of the invention. The invention comprises a container 10
that is made of an ecologically sensitive material such as bamboo,
palm leaves or another paper product or any other ecologically
considerate material, such as those described above. The container
10 comprises sections 10A and 10B. A barrier film 12 such as a
micro-thin polymer/PLA/foil and/or laminate barrier sheet, polymer
film, a polymer foil laminate, a liquid barrier material, or
another suitable environmentally friendly plastic or other natural
liquid barrier material is disposed on each container half on what
will be the inside of the container. The two halves are bonded
together at a joint 14, preferably by the barrier film 12. A
closure device 16 is formed from two portions of the sections 10A
and 10B which interlock together at the top of the container. The
sealing portion of the closure device 16 comprises two portions 16A
and 16B which interlock as shown. These two portions 16A and 16B
are not fused together or are fused together only along the joint
14A where the barrier material is joined. Each container half 10A
and 10B includes lateral side surfaces or flanges 10C and 10D which
are sealed to each other along the joint 14 by the barrier film 12.
This can be performed by suitable techniques depending on the film
that is used such as by employing heat, pressure, radio frequency
energy, bondable natural materials, inductive heating or an
ecologically sensitive glue. The flanges 10C, 10D are maintained,
i.e., not removed, in order to save energy during the manufacturing
process and so as not to require a waste collection system, and the
flanges increase container holding strength and integrity.
The closure device 16 is integrally formed with the sections 10A
and 10B and includes a frangible connection 16D. The frangible
connection, as will be explained later, allows the sealing portion
to be removed by tearing from the sections 10A and 10B.
Preferably the container 10 includes a base portion 10E that allows
the container to stand upright.
FIG. 3 shows how the sealing portion of the closure device 16 is
removed from the sections 10A and 10B. As shown, sealing portion of
the closure device 16 is removed by applying a force while holding
the container. This allows the sealing portion of the closure
device 16 to tear away from the sections 10A and 10B at the
frangible connection 16D as shown in FIG. 3A and also rupture the
barrier film 12, exposing the contents of the container.
Thereafter, the two portions 16A and 16B can be separated from each
other. The portion 16B can then be used by inserting the sanitary
convex projection 16F (nested in portion 16A) into the opening 16G
of the container as shown in FIG. 3C. The other portion 16A can be
tethered through a perforated finger loop opening 16H to secure
portion 16A to avoid litter. The portion 16B includes a sanitary
convex projection 16F which plugs into the opening 16G of the
container 10. A notched opening 16K is provided in the portion 16A
to enable it to be secured via the perforated finger loop opening
16H to the perforated finger loop opening 16H.
FIGS. 4A and B show a six-pack embodiment of the container. The
containers are connected together along .[.the threaded closure
fitment 20.]. .Iadd.side portions 21 .Iaddend.which are suitably
perforated to allow the containers to be separated from each other.
Portions 22 are provided integral with the containers to hold them
together in the six-pack. The portions 22 are made of the same
materials as the containers and thus are ecologically sensitive and
recyclable.
As described above, preferably when the unfilled containers are
shipped from the manufacturers, the sections 10A and 10B are
disposed such that the two halves nest as shown as in FIG. 4C
either already assembled or separated and then assembled. When the
container is filled, the inverted half pops open either in a
manufacturing facility or by a consumer at a municipal water source
or retail venue kiosk. Turning again to FIG. 1, the container is
filled through a port 24 provided at the base of the container
which is sealed, preferably with the same barrier film 12 when the
container is filled.
FIGS. 5A and B show a combined shipper and merchandiser for the
six-pack containers. FIG. 5 shows four six-packs contained in the
shipper and merchandiser 30. According to this embodiment, the
shipper and merchandiser 30 includes support stanchion portion 31,
top 32 and bottom portion 33. The portions 31 and 32 are removed
from the bottom portion 33 when it is desired to display the
containers at the point of sale, as shown in FIG. 5B.
FIG. 6 shows the unopened container according to the first
embodiment in a perspective (6A) and in plural front views (6B).
The containers can take various colors, can be embossed as shown
and/or labels can be applied. Preferably, the graphical brand
communication coincides with the natural properties of the
materials used, such as bamboo, for example, by embossing, direct
printing of natural dies and inks or alternatively, with the
application of applied labels. With respect to the shipper and
merchandiser 30, as shown in FIG. 5, the shipper/merchandising
components can be made of all natural structural board that reduces
the material used in palletizing through the creation of vertical
support stanchions such as support stanchion portion 31. The
vertical stanchions, such as support stanchion portion 31 snap off
to enable self-merchandising as shown in FIG. 5B.
As shown in the six-pack of FIG. 4, the design enables the
self-bundling of multiple containers to negate the use of a
separate six-pack carrier.
As described, the embodiment in FIG. 1 is filled through a bottom
port and has a novel sealing portion of the closure device 16.
FIG. 2 shows an alternate container 40 similar to the first design
in that it is made of halves 40A and 40B with a barrier film 42
that enables the two halves to be sealed along the joint line 44.
However, the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 employs a screw cap
closure 46. A polymer liner 47 is employed to provide the requisite
seal. Preferably, the screw cap closure 46 is made of an
environmentally friendly material and preferably the same material
as halves 40A and 40B.
It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the first
biodegradable outer shell portion, the second biodegradable outer
shell portion, and the barrier film piece each extend to and
contact a thread forming component of a closure fitment of the
closure device to define a rim portion of the environmentally
friendly container. In some embodiments, a subset of these
components may define this rim portion.
Turning to FIGS. 7A, B and C, a variation of the first embodiment
of the container is shown. The invention comprises a container 10
which is made of an ecologically sensitive material such as bamboo,
palm leaf or another paper product or any other ecologically
considerate material, such as those described above. The container
comprises sections 10A and 10B (see FIG. 8A). The container halves
are suitably pressed, stamped, molded or otherwise formed out of
the material to form a container when joined together. With
reference to FIGS. 8A, a pouch formed from the barrier film 12
comprising, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, barrier film
portions 12A and 12B are provided for providing a sealed pouch
inside the sections 10A and 10B. The pouch formed from the barrier
film 12 may be made of a micro-thin polymer/PLA/foil and/or
laminate barrier sheet or another suitable environmentally friendly
degradable plastic or other natural liquid barrier material.
During assembly, as shown in FIG. 8A, the barrier film portions 12A
and 12B are disposed adjacent the respective sections 10A, 10B.
According to one assembly method, the barrier film portions 12A and
12B may be adhered to the respective sections 10A and 10B by an
electrostatic charge applied to the barrier film portion or the
container portions, or both. Alternatively, an environmentally
friendly adhesive can be used or a temporary attachment means can
be used.
In order to allow the film to expand to the shape of the container
halves, preferably folded in expansion bellows 13 are provided in
the film.
Once the portions 10A, 12A, 12B and 10B are positioned as shown and
clamped together, a suitable sealing/joining method, for example,
RF Welding, induction welding, hot sealing or an adhesive is used
to seal the barrier film portions 12A and 12B to each other and to
their respective sections 10A and 10B, thereby forming a sealed
container as shown in FIG. 8B. The container sections have flat
side surfaces, such as flanges 10C and 10D where the
sealing/joining is performed.
The two container halves and barrier sealed portions are bonded
together along a joint line shown at 14 in FIG. 7A. In a preferable
bonding method, the sealing of the barrier film halves to each
other also joins the barrier films to the container halves.
A closure device 16 is formed from the two portions of the sections
10A and 10B which interlock together at the top of the container.
The sealing portion of the closure device 16 comprises two portions
16A and 16B which interlock as shown. These two portions 16A and
16B are not required to be fused together. Each container half 10A
and 10B includes the lateral side surfaces, such as flanges 10C and
10D which are sealed to each other along the joint 14 by the
barrier film 12. Other techniques for sealing/joining include
inductive heating, radio frequency welding, other heat joining
techniques or the use of ecologically sensitive adhesives.
The closure device 16 is integrally formed with the sections 10A
and 10B and includes a frangible connection 16D. The frangible
connection allows the sealing portion of the closure device 16 to
be removed by tearing from the sections 10A and 10B.
The container 10 includes a base portion 10E that allows the
container to stand upright.
The container also includes a sealing tube 10F. The sealing tube is
comprised of respective portions 10FA and 10FB of the barrier film
portions 12A and 12B that are sealed to each other. The container
is filled via the fill tube, such as sealing tube 1OF as shown in
FIG. 8C. After the container is filled with the liquid, the sealing
tube 1OF is removed and the barrier film portions at the cut off
fill tube are sealed by any suitable technique including the
techniques described above.
In use, the closure device 16 is removed from the sections 10A and
10B by tearing, allowing the contents to be dispensed. The convex
shape of the closure device 16 can be employed to reseal the
container. The shape of the convex portion is designed to snap into
the opened container to allow its temporary sealing. Once the
contents have been consumed, the closure device 16 can be inserted
into the opening 10G across the ear 10H attaching it via the
opening 101 having a slot 10J so that the container with its
closure can be disposed of as a unit.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show yet a further embodiment. In this embodiment,
which is similar, the pouch may be pre-sealed, as shown in FIG.
10A. The two halves of the pouch can be pre-sealed by any suitable
means including the means discussed with respect to the first
embodiment. Folded in expansion bellows 13 may be formed in the
pouch to allow for expansion when the fluid is dispensed into the
pouch and to allow the pouch to assume the interior shape of the
container.
In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, since the pouch is
pre-sealed during or before the assembly process, the pouch need
only be intermittently glued or adhered to the sections 10A or 10B,
as shown by sealing areas on the joint 14A in FIG. 9A.
Alternatively, a continuous seal like the seal of the joint 14 of
FIG. 7 can be employed. The container is filled and sealed
similarly to the container of FIG. 8 as shown in FIGS. 10C and
10D.
FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention which is
applicable to either of the assembly methods shown in FIG. 8 or
FIG. 10. The embodiment of FIG. 11 employs a more conventional
screw-type cap made of unconventional materials, however. The
container 10, which is formed in ways similar to the containers of
FIGS. 7 to 10, employs a sealed and threaded closure fitment 20
shown in FIG. 11D. This threaded closure fitment 20 is sealed to a
screw thread of the barrier film 12 to provide a seal. The threaded
closure fitment 20 includes thread components 20A formed along its
perimeter. The threaded closure fitment 20 can be made of a
polymeric material or alternatively, any other suitable material,
preferably a bio-degradable material. A cap 300 preferably formed
of paper or other environmentally friendly material includes a
plurality of indents 32, preferably four, which are provided to
trap a liner 400 (see FIG. 11C), which is formed as a spider
element with thread-forming components 420. The liner 400 may be
made of a sealing polymer and preferably of an environmentally
friendly material. The liner 400 is pressed into the cap 300, such
that the thread-forming components 420 are bent substantially at a
right angle and captured between the indents 32 to trap the liner
in place. The thread-forming components 420 each have a respective
projection 42A which form the mating screw components to engage the
thread components 20A of the threaded closure fitment 20. This is
shown in FIG. 11B and in the detail of FIG. 11E.
FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a closure device 102 for an
environmentally friendly container 100. As illustrated, the
environmentally friendly container 100 may include an opening 101
that includes a threaded exterior for receiving a closure device
102. The closure device 102 may be any type of closure device that
is capable of pairing with the opening 101 to maintain a volume of
liquid within the environmentally friendly container 100. As
discussed above, the closure device 102 may be configured as a
screw cap or other device. In FIG. 12, the closure device 102 is
also coupled with a sealing film 104 that is placed within an
interior portion of the closure device 102 to provide a liquid
tight seal with the opening 101 of the environmentally friendly
container 100. The sealing film 104 may include one or more threads
106 that further provide matching threads to removably attach with
the opening 101 of the environmentally friendly container 100. The
threads 106 may be shaped as illustrated in FIG. 12 and/or may take
other configurations, depending on the size and shape of the
closure device 102 and the threads of the opening 101. As
illustrated in FIG. 12 however, is that the threads 106 are
configured to engage with the treads of the opening 101 for
providing the liquid tight seal between the sealing film 104 and
the opening 101 of the environmentally friendly container 100.
FIG. 13 is a detailed view of a blow molded barrier film piece for
an environmentally friendly container 100. As illustrated, the
environmentally friendly container 100 may be constructed of a
first environmentally friendly outer shell portion 100a, and a
second environmentally friendly outer shell portion 100b. The two
environmentally friendly outer shell portions 100a, 100b may be put
together around a single barrier film piece, depicted in FIG. 13 as
a preform 202 that may take the shape of a cylinder or other
similar shape. The preform may be constructed of a super
lightweight material and may be inserted between the two
environmentally friendly outer shell portions 100a, 100b (before or
after the two environmentally friendly outer shell portions 100a,
100b have been sealed together). In the depiction of FIG. 13, the
two environmentally friendly outer shell portions 100a, 100b may be
inserted into a housing tool as the housing tool closes, the
preform 202 is inserted. As the housing tool closes, the preform
202 is heated and stretch to a concave inner portion or interior
surface of the two environmentally friendly outer shell portions
100a, 100b. Air is forced into the preform 202, thereby expanding
the preform to the interior surface of the two environmentally
friendly outer shell portions 100a, 100b. The closing of the two
environmentally friendly outer shell portions 100a, 100b activates
on the edges to seal the two environmentally friendly outer shell
portions 100a, 100b together.
It should also be understood that in some embodiments, the two
environmentally friendly outer shell portions (in any of the
embodiments) and the barrier film piece may be constructed as very
thin materials. Accordingly, some of these embodiments may be so
thin (or have other dimensions) as to not be able to maintain a
desired or predetermined shape of the environmentally friendly
container 100 and/or withstand outward forces from the liquid
contents of the environmentally friendly container. As such, some
embodiments of this disclosure may be configured with a corset on a
portion of the environmentally container. The corset may be an
additional material and/or layer that wraps around the perimeter of
the barrier film piece and/or the two environmentally friendly
outer shell portions to provide the desired structural stability
and/or prevent leakages or other malfunctions with the container.
In some embodiments, the corset may configured as a material that
extends longitudinally (from top to bottom) of the environmentally
friendly container 100 instead of circumferentially. Regardless,
these embodiments allow for super thin materials to be used in the
construction of the environmentally friendly bottle, while still
provide desired shape or desired structure characteristic.
Additionally, some embodiments may be configured with a window on
the first environmentally friendly outer shell portion and/or the
second environmentally friendly outer shell portion. In such
embodiments, the window may provide a view to contents being stored
within the environmentally friendly container. The window may be
translucent and/or partially translucent to provide this desired
function.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to
particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and
modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled
in the art. Therefore the present invention should be limited not
by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended
claims.
* * * * *
References