| JP2006263464 | LIQUID COSMETIC CASE |
| WO/1993/020441 | AUTOMATED CONTINUOUS AND RANDOM ACCESS ANALYTICAL SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS THEREOF |
| WO/1989/007078 | EXTRUSION MEMBER |
HURKMANS, Petrus Lambertus Wilhelmus (Meidoornstraat 20, NR Someren, NL-5712, NL)
MAAS, Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph (Grebbe 24, KV Someren, NL-5711, NL)
HURKMANS, Petrus Lambertus Wilhelmus (Meidoornstraat 20, NR Someren, NL-5712, NL)
| Claims 1. Method for dispensing a product from a flexible inner container which is received in a relatively stiffer outer container, wherein during dispensing of the product ambient air is drawn into an intermediate space between the inner container and the outer container through at least one aerating opening, characterized in that the indrawn ambient air is trapped in the intermediate space after dispensing of the product. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that during dispensing of the product the at least one aerating opening is left clear by an underpressure in the intermediate space and is closed after dispensing of the product. 3. Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that after dispensing of the product the at least one aerating opening is closed by removal of the underpressure. 4. Method as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that after dispensing of the product the at least one aerating opening is closed by a resilience. 5. Device for dispensing a product, comprising: - a flexible inner container in which the product is received, - a relatively stiffer outer container in which the flexible inner container is received, wherein an intermediate space is formed between the inner container and the outer container, and - at least one aerating opening formed in the outer container for drawing ambient air into the intermediate space, characterized by means for trapping the indrawn ambient air in the intermediate space. 6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the trapping means comprise a valve which co-acts with the at least one aerating opening and which is adapted during dispensing of the product to leave clear the at least one aerating opening due to an underpressure in the intermediate space, and to close it after dispensing of the product. 7. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the valve is a one-way valve which is adapted to be opened by the underpressure in the intermediate space and to be closed by the removal of the underpressure after the product has been dispensed. 8. Device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized by means for biasing the valve to its closed position. 9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the valve comprises a valve member and the biasing means are integrated with the valve member, which is resiliently deformable . 10. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the inner container and the outer container have concentric dispensing openings, and the at least one aerating opening is formed substantially diametrically opposite the dispensing openings. |
The invention relates to a method for dispensing a product from a flexible inner container which is received in a relatively stiffer outer container, wherein during dispensing of the product ambient air is drawn into an intermediate space between the inner container and the outer container through at least one aerating opening. Such a method is known.
For products which should preferably not come into contact with the environment, such as particularly food products, medicinal products and the like, use is increasingly being made of packagings which consist of a flexible inner container, in which the product is received, and an outer container which is relatively stiffer and makes it possible to handle the packaging. When product is dispensed from the flexible inner container, the content thereof is not replenished with ambient air, but the inner container contracts under the influence of the underpressure occurring therein. In order to prevent an underpressure thereby also occurring in the outer container, which would also result in this outer container contracting or at least beginning to rimple, ambient air is simultaneously admitted into the outer container by one or more aerating openings. The outer container hereby thus retains its original form. A problem in dispensing of products from such packagings is that the inner container will be drawn downward under the influence of gravitational force when the packaging remains unused for a time after dispensing. When product is then once again dispensed, there is a risk of the inner container contracting in the vicinity of its dispensing opening, whereby the product flow to this opening would be blocked.
The invention now has for its object to modify a method of the above described type such that this problem no longer occurs, or at least to a lesser degree. According to the invention this is achieved in such a method in that the indrawn ambient air is trapped in the intermediate space after dispensing of the product. In this way the inner container is supported and fixed by the trapped air, thereby preventing it from sinking downward.
Preferably applied variants of the method according to the invention are described in subclaims 2 to 4.
The invention also relates to a device with which this method can be performed. A known device for dispensing a product comprises a flexible inner container in which the product is received, a relatively stiffer outer container in which the flexible inner container is received, wherein an intermediate space is formed between the inner container and the outer container, and at least one aerating opening formed in the outer container for drawing ambient air into the intermediate space. The invention now provides a dispensing device of the above described type, which is provided with means for trapping the indrawn ambient air in the intermediate space. These trapping means in turn ensure that the inner container is supported and fixed by the indrawn and trapped air.
The trapping means preferably comprise a valve which co-acts with the at least one aerating opening and which is adapted during dispensing of the product to leave clear the at least one aerating opening due to an underpressure in the intermediate space, and to close it after dispensing of the product. The indrawn can thus be retained in the intermediate space in simple manner.
A structurally simple device is obtained when the valve is a one-way valve which is adapted to be opened by the underpressure in the intermediate space and to be closed by the removal of the underpressure after the product has been dispensed.
In order to allow the escape of as little air as possible the dispensing device can advantageously be provided with means for biasing the valve to its closed position. This can be achieved in simple manner when the valve comprises a valve member and the biasing means are integrated with the valve member, which is resiliently deformable.
In order to ensure the most uniform possible aeration it is recommended that the inner container and the outer container have concentric dispensing openings, and the at least one aerating opening is formed substantially diametrically opposite the dispensing openings.
The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of a number of examples, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding components are designated with reference numerals increased by 100 at a time, and in which:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a prior art dispensing device during dispensing of a product from the inner container,
Fig. 2 is a view corresponding with fig. 1 of the dispensing device after dispensing of the product,
Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to fig. 1 and 2 of the dispensing device when product is once again dispensed from the inner container,
Fig. 4-6 show views corresponding to fig. 1-3 of a dispensing device according to the invention,
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view with exploded parts of an embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention applied in practice,
Fig. 8 and 9 show cross-sections of the lower part of the dispensing device of fig. 7 during dispensing of product, when the valve leaves clear the aerating opening, and thereafter, when the valve closes the aerating opening, and Fig. 10-14 show schematic cross-sections through alternative embodiments of the dispensing device according to the invention.
A known device 1 for dispensing a product P comprises a flexible inner container 2, in which the product P is received, and a relatively stiffer outer container 3 in which flexible inner container 2 is received (fig. 1) . Outer container 3 here takes the form of a bottle, while inner container 2 forms a bag. An intermediate space 4 is formed between inner container 2 and outer container 3. An aerating opening 5 is formed in outer container 3, in the shown example in neck 6 of the bottle.
Arranged on this neck 6 is a pump 7 with which the product P can be pumped out of inner container 2. Neck 6 of outer container 3 bounds an opening 8 in which a dispensing opening 9 of inner container 2 is received, which is fixed to neck 6, for instance by clamping, snapping, glueing or welding. Dispensing opening 9 of inner container 2 and opening 8 of outer container 3 are thus concentric.
When product P is pumped out of inner container 2 the volume of inner container 2 decreases because no ambient air is admitted. An underpressure is thus created in inner container 2, whereby inner container 2 contracts. The contracted inner container 2' is shown in the figure with broken lines. An underpressure is hereby created in intermediate space 4, whereby ambient air A is drawn in via aerating opening 5. The pressure in intermediate space 4 thus becomes equal once again to the ambient pressure and deformation of outer container 3 is thus prevented.
Once dispensing of product P from inner container 2 has ended, inner container 2 will sink downward under the influence of the weight of the product P remaining therein, as shown with broken lines in figure 2.
When product P is now dispensed again from inner container 2 by operating pump 7, inner container 2 will contract still further. As a result of the pressure distribution in inner container 2 this will take place first in the immediate vicinity of pump 7, i.e. close to dispensing opening 9, as shown with broken lines in figure 3. Inner container 2' is in fact hereby squeezed shut, whereby dispensing of product P is made more difficult or even impossible. This eventually results in a part of product P remaining behind in inner container 2 and not being used.
A dispensing device 101 according to the invention likewise comprises a flexible inner container 102, a relatively stiffer outer container 103, an intermediate space 104 and an aerating opening 105 for drawing ambient air A into intermediate space 104 (fig. 4) . Inner container 102 and outer container 103 are here each manufactured from plastic, for instance PET for outer container 103 and PET or PP for inner container 102. It is however also possible to envisage other plastics. In the shown example this aerating opening 105 is formed diametrically opposite dispensing opening 109 of inner container 102 and opening 108 in neck 106 of outer container 103. Once again arranged on this neck 106 is a pump 107 with which the product P can be pumped out of inner container 102.
According to the invention the dispensing device is further provided with means 110 for trapping the indrawn ambient air A in intermediate space 104. These trapping means 110 here comprise a valve 111 which co-acts with aerating opening 105. This valve 111 is adapted to leave aerating opening 105 clear during dispensing of product P and to close it again after dispensing of product P.
Valve 111 is embodied for this purpose as a one-way valve in the shown example. Leaving clear the aerating opening 105 takes place here under the influence of the underpressure in intermediate space 104, whereby one-way valve 111 is opened. It is possible to have reclosing of aerating opening 105 controlled solely by the removal of the underpressure in intermediate space 104 when pump 107 is no longer operated. In addition, it is possible to envisage re-closing of aerating opening 105 also being brought about by a resilience, with which valve 111 is biased to its closed position. Valve 111 is thus closed more quickly as soon as dispensing of product P has ended, although it will on the other hand take slightly longer before it is opened when pump 107 is operated, since the underpressure must then first overcome the biasing force.
When product P is pumped out of inner container 102 according to the invention, the volume of inner container 102 decreases and an underpressure is created therein, whereby inner container 102 contracts. The contracted inner container 102' is again shown in figure 4 with broken lines. An underpressure is hereby created in intermediate space 104, whereby valve 111 leaves the aerating opening clear and ambient air A can be drawn in. The pressure in intermediate space 104 and the ambient pressure are thus equalized again and deformation of outer container 103 is prevented.
Once dispensing of product P from inner container 102 has ended, the underpressure in inner container 102 and in intermediate space 104 will drop away, whereby valve 111 will close aerating opening 105 (fig. 5) . The indrawn air A is hereby trapped in intermediate space 104. In contrast to the situation in the prior art dispensing device 1, the inner container 102 cannot therefore sink downward under the influence of the weight of the product P remaining therein, but is supported by the trapped air A and retains its relatively wide form following the contour of outer container 103.
When product P is now dispensed again from inner container 102 by operation of pump 107, inner container 102 will once again contract further. This once again creates an underpressure in intermediate space 104, so that valve 111 again leaves aerating opening 105 clear and ambient air A can be drawn in (fig. 6) . Because inner container 102 retains its form and lies closely against the wall of outer container 103, the contraction of inner container 102 will take place mainly at the position to which ambient air A can easily flow. The contraction is thus concentrated between aerating opening 105 and the side of inner container 102 remote from dispensing opening 109, and the danger of inner container 102 being squeezed shut in the vicinity of dispensing opening 109 is minimized. The dispensing of product P can thus take place unobstructed so that no product P will eventually remain in inner container 102. All the content of inner container 102 can thus be used.
Dispensing device 101 according to the invention is hereby suitable for applications for which in the past use has been made of tubes, since these can also be completely emptied. Relative to a tube the dispensing device according to the invention has the advantage that no air can come into contact with product P, so that the quality thereof remains constant. In a practical application of dispensing device 201 the inner container 202 and outer container 203 are preformed by injection moulding and subsequently inflated to their final form (fig. 7) . Inner container 202 herein has a protruding part 212 which protrudes through aerating opening 205 and onto which a fixing element 213 is welded or glued. Inner container 202 is hereby also fixed with its side remote from dispensing opening 209 into outer container 203 because fixing element 213 is larger than aerating opening 205. In the shown example a base 216 is otherwise also mounted on outer container 203, whereby dispensing device 201 can be placed on a surface in stable manner despite its convex underside.
Valve 211 is formed in this example by a housing 214 which is fixed, for instance welded or glued, to the outer container around aerating opening 205, and a valve member 215 received therein. This valve member 215 has two resiliently deformable lips which can be moved apart under the influence of an underpressure in intermediate space 204 in order to admit ambient air A (fig. 8) , but which as a result of their resilience come to lie against each other again when the underpressure is removed. Also when outer container 203 is picked up and thereby squeezed slightly, the pressure occurring therein in intermediate space 204 ensures that valve member 215 remains closed (fig. 9 ) . Figures 10-14 show schematically several other possible configurations of the dispensing device according to the invention.
The embodiment of figure 10 corresponds to that of figures 4-6, wherein inner container 102 is only connected to outer container 103 at the position of its dispensing opening 109. Figure 11 shows a similar dispensing device 301, wherein a rigid tube 317 is however also received in inner container 102. This tube 317 serves to reduce still further the danger of inner container 302 being squeezed shut in the vicinity of dispensing opening 309.
The embodiment of figure 12 in turn corresponds to that of figures 7-9, wherein inner container 202 is also connected to outer container 203 on its side lying diametrically opposite dispensing opening 209. Dispensing device 401 of figure 13 corresponds to that of figure 12, but is again provided with a tube 417. In contrast to the embodiment of figure 11, this tube 417 need not be rigid because inner container 402 is after all also connected to outer container 403 at the position of aerating opening 405.
Finally, figure 14 shows another variant of dispensing device 501, wherein inner container 502 is fixed along its upper half to outer container 503 by means of glueing or welding. In this embodiment the lower part of inner container 502 will gradually be drawn into the upper part during dispensing of product P, and so as it were be folded double, so that inner container 502 can be fully emptied.
Although the invention has been elucidated above on the basis of a number of embodiments, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited thereto but can be varied in many ways within the scope of the following claims.