WO2008091149A1

WO2008091149A1 - Assembly of a container and a casing at least partially enclosing the container

Info

Publication number: WO2008091149A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/050042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Hoek; Lucas Karel Johannes Van Den Broek; Roeland Johannes Thomas Van Den Broek; Jacobus Gerardus Petrus Hermanus Johannes Janssen; Sidney Zweers
Original assignee: Intertaste Bv
Current assignee: Intertaste Bv
Priority date: 2007-01-24
Filing date: 2008-01-24
Publication date: 2008-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-24
Also published as: NL2000453C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly of a container (1) and a casing (20) at least partially enclosing the container, the container of which is adapted to contain a liquid product for dispensing, in particular a food product, comprising: a deformable container body (2) manufactured from film material (4, 5), and a form-retaining dispensing spout (G) which is connected gastightly to the deformable container body (2) and has a passage opening (7) which provides access to the interior of the deformable container body, and coupling means (8) located on the outer side of the dispensing spout (6) for coupling the dispensing spout to the casing, and the casing (20) of which is at least partially manufactured from a deformable material which in an unloaded situation reverts to an original form.

Description

Assembly of a container and a casing at least partially enclosing the container

The present invention relates to an assembly of a container and a casing at least partially enclosing the container, wherein the container is adapted to contain a liquid product for dispensing, in particular a food product, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

For the dosed dispensing of liquid products, in particular viscous food products, there are a large number of different systems, such as (squeeze) bottles, tubes, piping bags and so forth. A problem of the existing dispensing systems lies in the fact, among others, that the packaging used is only once-only usable or that the packaging used must be intensively cleaned after use. This results in a relatively large consumption of packaging material or to relatively expensive cleaning, wherein the quality of the cleaning is difficult to guarantee.

The American patent US 5,377,875 describes a container for a liquid product for dispensing comprising a deformable container body and a dispensing spout connected to the container body. A passage opening is provided in the dispensing spout for the purpose of providing access to the interior of the container. The dispensing spout is provided on the outside with coupling means for coupling of the container to a casing enclosing the container. The coupling of the casing and the container comprises, among other parts, a valve for admitting air to the space between the jacket and the flexible product container. After dispensing of the product air can thus flow by means of a valve into the intermediate space between the casing and the container by exerting pressure on the casing and then releasing this pressure on the casing. On a subsequent occasion that product is dispensed from the container by exerting pressure on the casing, this latter therefore need be compressed to lesser extent than if this admittance of air had not been made possible.

The present invention has for its object the to provide simplified, and thus efficient, means for dosed dispensing of liquid products, in particular food products, from a deformable container body manufactured at least partially from film material, this container body being enclosed by a deformable casing. The present invention provides for this purpose an assembly as according to claim 1. The "connection of the dispensing spout to the casing" is here understood to mean the possible opening, which can also be referred to as passage or recess, which remains clear between the coupled dispensing spout and casing. Because this air resistance does not depend on the direction in which it is oriented, i.e. directed inward in the case of an underpressure in the casing and directed outward in the case of an overpressure in the casing, there is no mechanism provided (such as for instance one or more flaps or valves) which enhances inflow or outflow of air in the intermediate space between the deformable container body and the casing in one of the two directions. It is precisely such complex measures which are found in the dispensers of the prior art type stated in the preamble.

Dispensing of the liquid product from the container can take place in relatively simple manner when this latter is placed at least partially in the casing. The casing makes it possible to determine the form of the assembly which, with the correct design, will simplify grasping among other things. The casing can also be embodied such that the assembly can be placed in a desired position before and after actual dispensing of the product. By exerting pressure on the casing this pressure will also be exerted at least partially on the container. It is possible by means of the thus exerted pressure to press a part of the content of the container out through the dispensing spout. In the case of a fully filled container this is possible irrespective of the orientation of the casing but, if the container is already partly empty, i.e. as will be further elucidated hereinbelow partially filled with air, the casing will have to be oriented such that the dispensing spout is directed downward. The pressure exerted on the casing will cause an external pressure to be exerted on the flexible part of the container. If this pressure is sufficiently great (subject to the situational conditions such as the viscosity of the liquid product and the throughflow area in the passage of the dispensing spout), product is pressed out of the dispensing spout. The dispensing of the product will cease when the pressure is reduced. It is thus possible to distribute precisely controllable portions of liquid product from the assembly of container and casing. Once dispensing has ended and pressure is no longer being exerted on the casing, the casing will once again return to its original shape (i.e. the shape the casing had before pressure was exerted). During this return to the original shape an underpressure will be created in the casing, as a result of which air will be drawn in. Provided the dispensing spout connects sufficiently well to the casing, at least a part of the indrawn air will be drawn through the dispensing spout into the container. By way of elucidation: a limited leakage flow of air into the space between the casing and the container is not an obstacle to good operation. If the passage between the dispensing spout and the casing is sufficiently obstructed (this also to include gas exchange being completely impossible), when pressure is once again exerted on the casing the pressure on the air possibly present in the intermediate space will after all also increase, this pressure once again being transmitted to the flexible part of the container.

The terms "overpressure" and "underpressure" must be understood to mean the difference in air pressure between the pressure in the container and the ambient pressure (air pressure). It is noted that an assembly wherein the dispensing spout connects in a wholly airtight manner to the container also complies with the measures of the present invention; this is because the air resistance in both directions is then wholly obstructed, and so just as great in both directions. A small leakage flow will however always occur in practice between the connection of the dispensing spout and the container.

As a rule the air resistance of the connection of the dispensing spout to the container will be greater than the air resistance of the opened passage opening in the dispensing spout. It can also be stated more restrictively that the air resistance of the connection of the dispensing spout to the container will preferably be greater than the resistance the product for dispensing encounters when leaving the opened passage opening in the dispensing spout. A limited leakage flow between the casing and the dispensing spout of the container can thus be obtained which still allows for comfortable use of the assembly. This would be for instance a leakage flow of less than 25%, or more preferably less than 20%, of the volume flow of the product for dispensing. In the dispensing of 1 S ml mayonnaise at a relatively high pressure (great squeezing force) a leakage flow of for instance 3 ml air is thus acceptable, while in the dispensing of 3 ml tabasco (which is more fluid than mayonnaise) with a smaller squeezing force a leakage flow of 0.5 ml is acceptable.

It is also noted in this context that the casing can also have other passage openings. An example hereof is a casing assembled from multiple parts, wherein leakage flows can also occur between these casing parts. At the above stated leakage flow of less than 25%, or 20%, of the volume flow of the product for dispensing, all leakage flows from the casing to the environment must be added together. This means that the leakage flow between the casing and the dispensing spout of the container plus the other leakage flows from the casing must together preferably be less than 25%, or 20%, of the volume flow of the product for dispensing.

The product for dispensing is thus held by a flexible "bag" with a connecting form- retaining dispensing spout (nozzle). The container separately of the casing is particularly suitable for holding the product for dispensing after production of the product and during storage and transport of the product to a final location of use. The demands made of the container during the stages preceding the actual dispensing are essentially limited to preserving the quality of the product and conserving the product as well as possible. An advantage during these stages is the limited volume which the filled containers (the "bags") take up separately of the casing; they contain little or no "empty" space. An additional advantage is that they can be stacked in very compact manner as a result of the considerable deformability (flexibility).

Other demands are made of the container at a subsequent stage of use. It then becomes possible to join the container together with a casing which simplifies the actual dispensing; for this purpose the dispensing spout is provided on the outer side with coupling means such that coupling of the container to a casing becomes possible. There follows a further description of the dispensing of the liquid product from the container.

During dispensing the passage opening of the dispensing spout is opened such that it can allow passage of the liquid product. Preferably however, the passage opening is sealed prior to the dispensing stage, for instance by an optionally once-only usable closure. The closure prevents unwanted outflow (leakage) of the product from the container during transport and storage. A once-only usable closure can for instance be formed by a spout part releasable from the dispensing spout, such as a top segment of the dispensing spout which can be detached (breaking, cutting, clipping and so on) in order to thus leave clear a passage through the dispensing spout.

An alternative possibility for a once-only usable closure is formed by a sealing film adherable to the form-retaining dispensing spout. Such a sealing film can for instance be connected to the dispensing spout by means of an adhesive or melted connection, and can consist of a metal or plastic film. A reusable closure can for instance be embodied as a releasable cap and/or as a valve construction which opens only under the influence of pressure exerted by the liquid product, and which closes again when the pressure falls away. The advantage of a re-closing dispensing spout is that deterioration of the quality of the liquid product can thus be reduced.

Yet another option is that the dispensing spout is provided with a closure which opens only when a determined pressure difference is exceeded. An example of such a closure is also known commercially under the name "Seaquist valve".

The at least partially defoπnable container body can be manufactured from a film material, for instance a plastic film material such as PE. The film material can take a single-layer or multilayer form as desired; in order to obtain a good conserving effect a metal layer can for instance be provided in the film material, or it is also possible on the other hand to opt to apply a transparent film, precisely in order to be able to view the content. It is also desirable that the film material is flexibly defoπnable such that dispensing is possible by exerting external pressure on the container and, as already indicated above, a compact stacking of filled and non-filled containers is also advantageous as a result of the flexible film. It is also noted that the film does not have to be everywhere identical; the container can for instance consist of a plurality of sealed film parts consisting as desired of identical material or of different types of material. It is also possible to print or otherwise provide the film material, optionally locally, with an additional coating.

The container can be at least partially filled with a viscous product, more particularly a viscous food product, which has to be dispensed in manageable portions. Non-limitative examples of liquid products suitable for dispensing with the assembly according to the present invention are for instance paint and mastic, although particularly envisaged is the dispensing of food products such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, chilli sauce, other savoury sauces, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, other sweet sauces, liquid seasoning mixtures, cream cheese, butter, oil and so forth. It is desirable that the casing is provided with holding means co-acting with the dispensing spout for the purpose of positioning the dispensing spout relative to the casing. The dispensing spout will thus be connected in a more or less fixed position to the casing. It will thus also be possible to place the dispensing spout in a desired orientation by positioning a casing grasped by the user. A further advantage of the holding means is that they can ensure that the passage between the dispensing spout and the casing is obstructed such that no gas exchange, or no rapid gas exchange, is possible between the intermediate space and the environment without a considerable pressure difference being necessary for this purpose. As the outer casing returns to the initial shape, air is drawn into the container through the dispensing spout. Such an assembly can take a structurally very simple form in a manner such that the casing is reusable without herein having to be cleaned intensively; this is because the casing does not come into contact with the liquid product. Only the container will be contaminated with liquid product after use; this can optionally be cleaned for reuse or can also be used once-only in economic manner because of the relatively limited use of material. An advantage as already mentioned above is moreover that the bulky casing does not have to be constantly displaced; it can be refilled at the dispensing location (for instance a catering establishment or in a domestic situation), this being logistically advantageous.

For the purpose of inserting the container into the casing and removing a used container from the casing, the container is preferably provided with a releasable and reconnectable wall part The reconnectable wall part (in the form of for instance a cover) can connect to the remaining part of the casing with for instance a screw connection, a bayonet fitting, a snap connection or in other manner.

The casing can be manufactured in simple manner from a plastic, such as for instance PVC, PE or PP. It is further advantageous if the casing is provided on the side remote from the form-retaining dispensing spout with a support surface for the purpose of supporting the casing on a support surface, wherein the dispensing spout is then in a more or less vertically upward directed position in order to thus prevent undesirable leakage of the product from the container under the influence of the force of gravity.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container as component of the assembly according to the present invention, figure 2 shows a perspective view of a casing as component of an assembly according to the present invention, figure 3 shows a perspective sectional view of an assembly of the components as shown in figures 1 and 2, and figure 4 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment variant of a container for use in an assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a container 1 which, for the sake of clarity, is in inflated state. Container 1 is provided with a container body 2 assembled from two film parts 4, 5 connecting at edges 3. It is noted that a container can of course also be manufactured from a single film part or more than two film parts 4, S. Connecting gastightly to container body 2 is a dispensing spout 6 which is provided with a passage 7 for a food product to be dispensed by container 1. The outer side of dispensing spout 6 is provided with a profile edge 8 for fixing of dispensing spout 6. Container 1 can also be provided as desired with a cap 9, shown in detached position in this figure, for optionally reclosing the passage 7 in dispensing spout 6.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a reusable casing 20 consisting of two parts. A casing base 21 is provided with a flat bottom part 22 with which the casing 20 can be placed stably on a surface. Connecting releasably to casing base 21 is a casing cap 23 in which a central passage opening 24 is arranged for partial passage of a dispensing spout 6 as shown in figure 1. It is noted that passage opening 24 is situated on the side of casing 20 remote from bottom part 22. Casing cap 23 can be placed stably on casing base 21 using a clamp fitting.

Figure 3 shows an assembly 30 of container 1 as shown in figure 1 and casing 20 as shown in figure 2. This figure shows that profile edge 8 of dispensing spout 6 is accommodated close-fittingly in a receiving part 25 of casing cap 23 (which defines passage opening 24), such a releasable connecting construction also being referred to as a snap connection. In the shown situation assembly 30 is suitable for dispensing a viscous food product 31 by reversing the assembly (directing the dispensing spout 6 downward) and then exerting external pressure on casing base 21. Once sufficient food product 31 has been dispensed, the pressure on casing base 21 can be reduced until air is drawn in through dispensing spout 6. Assembly 30 can now be returned to the original position (as shown) wherein dispensing spout 6 is directed upward.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment variant of a container 40 provided with a balloon-like container body 41 to which an imprint 42 is applied. Connecting onto balloon-like container body 41 is a form-retaining plastic dispensing spout 43 which is provided externally with a screw thread 44 for connecting dispensing spout 43 and a casing suitable for this purpose. Dispensing spout 43 is provided with a narrowed passage 45 which is sealed by means of a once-only usable sealing film 46 with grip tab 47.

Claims

1. Assembly of a container and a casing at least partially enclosing the container, the container of which is adapted to contain a liquid product for dispensing, in particular a food product, comprising: a defoπnable container body manufactured from film material, and a form-retaining dispensing spout which is connected gastightly to the deformable container body and has a passage opening which provides access to the interior of the deformable container body, and coupling means located on the outer side of the dispensing spout for coupling the dispensing spout to the casing, and the casing of which is at least partially manufactured from a deformable material which in an unloaded situation reverts to an original form, characterized in that the air resistance of the connection of the dispensing spout to the casing is as great at a determined overpressure in the casing as at a corresponding underpressure in the casing.

2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the air resistance of the connection of the dispensing spout to the casing is greater than the air resistance of the opened passage opening in the dispensing spout.

3. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the air resistance of the connection of the dispensing spout to the container is greater than the resistance the product for dispensing encounters from the opened passage opening in the dispensing spout.

4. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the air resistance of the connection of the dispensing spout to the container is great such that the volume of the leakage flow between the dispensing spout and the casing amounts to less than 25% of the volume flow of the product for dispensing.

5. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the assembly is provided with a closure connecting to the passage opening of the dispensing spout.

6. Assembly as claimed in claim S, characterized in that the closure is formed by a spout part releasable from the dispensing spout

7. Assembly as claimed in claim S, characterized in that the closure is formed by a sealing film adherable to the dispensing spout.

8. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container body is manufactured from a plastic film.

9. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container is at least partially filled with a viscous product.

10. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the casing encloses the container such that the dispensing spout protrudes at least outside the casing.

11. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the casing is provided with holding means co-acting with the dispensing spout for the purpose of positioning the dispensing spout relative to the casing.

12. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container and the casing connect to each other such that gas exchange between the environment and an intermediate space between the casing and the container is possible in obstructed manner.

13. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the casing is provided with a releasable and recoπnectable wall part.

14. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the casing is manufactured from plastic.

15. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the dispensing spout is provided with a reusable closure.

16. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the casing is provided on the side remote from the form-retaining dispensing spout with a support surface.