AU2002241435B2

AU2002241435B2 - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: AU2002241435B2
Application number: AU2002241435A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ake Rosen
Original assignee: Eco Lean Research and Development AS
Current assignee: Eco Lean Research and Development AS
Priority date: 2001-03-20
Filing date: 2002-03-15
Publication date: 2004-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-15
Also published as: PL363909A1; EP1370475A1; CA2440267A1; SE0100985D0; WO2002074653A1; MXPA03008489A; CN1498185A; JP2004528236A; KR20030094290A; BR0208159A; CN100434345C; RU2003130737A; SE0100985L; US20040131286A1

Description

la PORTION CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a collapsible portion-type container for liquid contents.

BACKGROUND ART A container of the type described by way of introduction is known from, for instance, WO9941155. This document describes a container of a collapsible type which comprises three wall portions, two forming opposite sides walls and the third forming a bottom wall. The walls which are made of a plastic material with or without a filler are flexible and joined with each other to form a compartment whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls.

The container comprises a duct means through which the container in the first place is filled but which can also be used as pouring means when consuming the contents of the container. The container further comprises a carrying means arranged along a first side. The container has its greatest rigidity in the plane that is formed of the connecting portion interconnecting the side wall portions included in the container. In the other directions, the container has a limited degree of rigidity. Such a container functions best for foodstuffs which in consumption are portioned out in another drinking vessel. Moreover the container is especially intended for volumes up to a few litres.

The above discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved, durable container which is intended for use as a portion container and from which the contents can be consumed directly without an aid.

W:\Tresse\Pats\2002241435 Speci.doc 2 It would further be desirable to provide a container which is easy to open without an external aid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect the present invention provides a collapsible portion-type container for liquid contents, including: a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls, said walls being joined along a connecting portion. and a duct means which is formed integrally with two side walls of said walls and which forms a connection between the compartment and the surroundings, wherein the duct means in the filled and unopened state of the container has an end which faces away from the compartment and which is sealed and openable by manual separation of an end portion arranged at said end, and stiffeners are arranged along and integrated with said connecting portion which stiffeners give the container stability in two mutually perpendicular planes which in turn are parallel with a longitudinal axis of the container said stiffeners being adapted to be used by a user for holding the container when separating said end portion from the container in order to open the same.

According to the invention, a container is provided, which can easily be opened by, for instance, tearing off the end portion of the duct means, after which this is expanded by the contents of the container and forms a wide opening with an open connection between the compartment and the surroundings.

The stiffeners arranged in the connecting portion give the container, in spite of its flexible walls, stability and rigidity in a first plane which is made up by the stiffeners and the centre axis of the container as well as in a second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane and parallel with the centre axis of the container. As a result, the stability of the container will be less dependent on its W:\Tresse\Pats\2002241435 Speci.doc 2a degree of filling. The stability provided by the stiffeners thus contributes to allowing W:\Tresse\Pats\2002241435 Specidoc WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 3 the container to be held like a bottle and be moved to the user's mouth without the duct means or the side walls being upset or folded.

Moreover, the stiffeners contribute to providing a container which is convenient to hold. For instance, the container can be held by the user using the stiffeners while drinking. If the container and its contents, for instance, are heated in a microwave oven, the stiffeners provide a gripping surface which is not in direct contact with the hot side wall portions. The small thickness of the material in combination with the large surface of the stiffeners also results in heat being rapidly extracted. Moreover, the stiffeners can be used to hold the container without having to squeeze its compartment while the end portion is being separated. This prevents unintentional spillage.

The pliable and flexible walls make it easy to finally empty the container like a tube, by way of example a tube of toothpaste. This is advantageous if the container is used for a product with high viscosity, such as sauce, yoghurt and soup.

The flexible walls make the container most durable, which allows the user to carry it in its unopened state in a bag or pocket.

In a preferred embodiment, the end portion is separated by being torn off. Tearing is an advantageous method since no aid is required to open the container.

This very simple opening method also allows the container to be formed in one piece, and of one and the same material.

In order to facilitate the opening process and afford a good grip, the end portion is preferably formed like a tab. Moreover the tab increases the tearing moment that is formed during the tearing motion.

In order to further facilitate the opening process, the end portion should comprise an initiation. The initiation can be arranged, for instance, by a locally heat- WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 4 affected zone, which causes material embrittlement, or by a local reduction of the wall thickness caused by, by way of example, an enlarged physical pressure. The tab in combination with the initiation significantly facilitates the opening process so that both children and adults can easily open the container.

It is also possible to arrange an opening means in the duct means in connection with the end portion. The opening means can consist of, for instance, a tear strip integrated in the wall portion or knurls on the insides of the walls. A plug or the like can also be arranged in the opening means.

In a preferred embodiment, the stiffeners are arranged on both sides of the compartment. This promotes the symmetry of the container while at the same time the container will be easier to handle in a hot state by holding surfaces being provided on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the container.

In another preferred embodiment, the stiffeners are integrated with the connecting portion. In terms of production this is very advantageous since the stiffeners can be formed by quite simply increasing the surface of the connecting portion in the sections of the container where stiffening is desirable. The material of the stiffeners is thus the same as in the rest of the container, which facilitates the handling of material as well as the disposal of garbage.

In order to make the container easier to hold, it is advantageous to provide the stiffener with an embossment.

Also the end portion and its tab can be provided with an embossment.

In another preferred embodiment, the container is made of a material containing a filler of mineral material and a binder of polyolefin material. The mineral material should preferably be chalk (calcium carbonate).

This combination of materials results in a container WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 which is inexpensive to produce, environment-friendly and easily decomposable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a currently preferred embodiment.

Figs 1 and 2 are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the container in a filled, unopened state.

Figs 3 and 4 are perspective views of the container in a filled, opened state.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a container in which the front side wall is removed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI in Fig. Fig. 7 shows the position of the planes in which the container has its greatest rigidity.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Figs 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a filled, unopened state. The container 1 is particularly well suited for liquid foodstuffs-such as milk, fruit juice, water and for products of a higher viscosity, such as sauces, soups and yoghurt.

The container 1 is mainly intended as a portion container which in its opened state serves as a drinking vessel. To make the container comfortable to use, the volume of the container should be less than 0.75 litre and more preferred less than 0.5 litre. The container allows aseptic manufacture and filling.

The container 1 is of a collapsible type, i.e. compressible or foldable, and comprises three flexible walls, of which two constitute opposite side walls 2 and one is a bottom wall 3. The walls 2, 3 can be made of a plastic material or preferably a material containing a filler of mineral material and a binder of polyolefin WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 6 material. The filler advantageously consists of chalk.

The walls 2, 3 are joined with each other to form a compartment 4 whose volume depends on the relative position of the walls 2, 3. The three walls 2, 3 are joined by welding along a connecting portion 5 in a manner that will be described below, to form a closed container. It will be appreciated that methods of joining other than welding can be applied.

With reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the construction of the container 1 is illustrated. The Figures show the side walls 2, the bottom wall 3 and the design of the connecting portion 5 that joins the side walls 2 and the bottom wall 3 with each other. The connecting portion thus extends along the circumference of essentially the entire container 1, but to facilitate the description, it is divided into a number of connected partial portions, which will be described in more detail below.

In the bottom area 6 of the container 1, the side walls 2 are joined with the bottom wall 3, on the one hand via a bottom-connecting portion 7 along which each side wall 2 is connected with the bottom wall 3 and, on the other hand, via two lower connecting portions 8 along which all three walls 2, 3 are joined with each other in a common weld joint 9.

The remaining part of the connecting portion 5 along the long sides of the container 1 is below referred to as lateral connecting portions 24 which extend from the lower connecting portions 8 up towards the duct means 11 of the container. The upper part of the lateral connecting portions 24 comprises stiffeners 17. Preferably the stiffeners 17 consist of a part of the lateral connecting portions 24, but can also be integrated as a separate part thereof. The stiffeners 17 will be described in more detail below.

The compartment 4 of the container 1 is thus defined by the side walls 2 and the bottom wall 3. The connecting WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 7 portion 5 forms boundary lines 10 facing the compartment 4.

Referring once more to Figs 1 and 2, the container 1 further comprises a duct means 11, which preferably is arranged at a distance from the bottom area 6 and opposite thereto. The duct means 11 is used both to fill and to empty the container 1. The duct means 11 is preferably formed integrally with the side walls 2 and, more specifically, is made of a wall portion of each side wall 2.

The first end 12 of the duct means 11 communicates with the compartment 4 of the container 1 and a second end 13 is sealed by an end portion 14 which constitutes part of the connecting portion 5. The end portion 14 forms a tabshaped gripping means, which will be referred to below as a tab The transition between the end portion 14 and the duct means 11, in alignment with the lower edge of the tab 15, comprises an initiation 16 for opening the container 1. The initiation 16 is preferably arranged along the lower edge of the tab 15 and transversely of the area of the container that is to be opened, i.e. in this case the duct means 11. The initiation 16 is preferably formed in connection with the forming of the connecting portion This can take place, for instance, by increasing the supply of heat to cause a local structural change of the material and/or by increasing the welding pressure to cause a local reduction of-the material thickness. The local reduction in material thickness can also be arranged by applying a local enlarged physical pressure.

The reduced material thickness causes the requisite embrittlement that is necessary for the material to be separated by, for instance, being torn off. When tearing off the tab 15, the break in the initiation 16 thus takes place. The pressure induced embrittlement is a property which is specific to materials containing a mineral-based filler in combination with a binder of polyolefin material. In conventional plastic materials, WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 8 no such embrittlement takes place. However, the initiation 16 is not allowed to extend through the entire material thickness. Two opposing wall portions in the initiation 16 are in fact not allowed to adhere to each other since in that case there will be no open duct forming a connection between the compartment 4 and its surroundings when the tab 15 is torn off. Moreover pores or holes are not allowed to arise in the initiation 16 since the contents and asepsis of the container 1 may be affected. The initiation 16, however, must be so pronounced that the container 1 can be opened by children as well as adults without using a tool.

The tab 15 should have a shape so as to make an angle in the transition between the tab 15 and the duct means 11. This angle forms a natural start initiation when the tab 15 is to be torn off.

The tab 15 contributes to giving a good grip, and the grip can be additionally improved by the tab 15 being provided with an embossment (not shown).

It is also possible to form the inner surfaces of the duct means with knurls so that the surfaces can be pulled apart like a bag (not shown).

For increased stability of the container 1, the upper part of the lateral connecting portions 24 is given a somewhat greater width and, thus, a larger surface.

These portions form the previously mentioned stiffeners 17 which serve two purposes, i.e. giving the container 1 stability and rigidity and facilitating the holding of the container 1. The stiffeners 17 are formed in connection with the connecting portion 5, which preferably takes place by welding.

With reference to Fig.. 7 there is formed in the inventive container 1 a plane 18 which is made up by a longitudinal axis 19 of the container 1 and by the lateral connecting portions 24. The axis 19 preferably is the centre axis in the longitudinal direction of the container 1. The plane 18 is thus parallel with and WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 9 intersects the lateral connecting portions 24 on both sides of the compartment 4. The lateral connecting portion 24 and the stiffeners 17 arranged in this portion give the container 1 rigidity and stability in the plane 18 and also in a second plane 20 which is perpendicular to the plane 18 and parallel with the longitudinal axis 19 of the container, which preferably coincides with its centre axis. Also the construction of the bottom wall 3 contributes to the rigidity and stability of the container 1. These factors make it possible to drink directly from the container 1 without the side walls 2 or the duct means 11 being folded or upset. Furthermore, stability and rigidity will be less dependent on the degree of filling of the container 1. It is thus possible to drink or hold the container 1 independently of how the duct means 11 is angled to the user's mouth or a cup. Further no aids in the form of e.g. straws are required.

The stiffeners 17 can have different extents depending on, for instance, the desired stability of the container 1. It is most preferred to arrange the stiffeners 17 along the entire length of the container 1.

In order to further reinforce the grip and the stability, respectively, the stiffeners 17 can in connection with the welding operation be formed with an embossment (not shown). It is also possible to add an external reinforcement to the stiffeners (not shown). Further the stiffeners can be formed with one or more openings to form, for instance, lifting lugs (not shown).

The connecting portion 5 and the boundary line can also be used to give the container 1 an aesthetically pleasing appearance. An example of this is to let the boundary line 10 follow the contour of a bottle or illustrate a trademark that is associated with the contents of the container 1.

With reference to Figs 3-4, a container 1 is illustrated in an open state. To open the container, the user holds the stiffeners 17, after which the flap 15 and, WO 02/074653 PCT/SE02/00488 thus, the end portion 14 is torn off along the initiation 16. The contents of the container 1 in combination with the flexibility of the side walls 2 result in the opening 22 of the duct 11 being expanded and forming an open connection between the compartment 4 and the surroundings.

Thus the container 1 forms a type of bottle or drinking vessel from which the contents can be consumed immediately without an aid in the form of e.g. a straw.

The container 1 is aseptic even from production and can be provided with a provisional seal that is broken in connection with filling, after which it is sealed once more. As a result, the asepsis can be maintained.

When producing the container 1, the forming of the stiffeners 17 preferably takes place simultaneously with the forming of the connecting portion 5. The joining of the wall portions 2 included in the connecting portion and thus also in the stiffeners 17 preferably takes place by welding.

In the description above, the container has been produced in such manner that the duct means forms a bottleneck. This is a preferred embodiment, but it will be appreciated that the duct means and, thus, the upper portion of the container can also be given such a width that the container, with its function maintained, serves as a cup.

It will be appreciated that the present invention has only been described with reference to a preferred, non-restricting embodiment. Several modifications and variations are feasible and the invention is thus defined exclusively by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible portion-type container for liquid contents, including: a compartment which is defined by flexible walls and whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls, said walls being joined along a connecting portion, and a duct means which is formed integrally with two side walls of said walls and which forms a connection between the compartment and the surroundings, wherein the duct means in the filled and unopened state of the container has an end which faces away from the compartment and which is sealed and openable by manual separation of an end portion arranged at said end, and stiffeners are arranged along and integrated with said connecting portion which stiffeners give the container stability in two mutually perpendicular planes which in turn are parallel with a longitudinal axis of the container, said stiffeners being adapted to be used by a user for holding the container when separating said end portion from the container in order to open the same.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the end portion is removed by being torn off.

3. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the end portion forms a tab.

4. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the end portion includes an initiation.

A container as claimed in claim 4, in which the initiation includes a locally heat-affected zone.

6. A container as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the initiation includes a local reduction of the wall thickness. W:\Tresse\Pats\2002241435 Speci.doc 12

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the end portion includes an opening means arranged in the side wall.

8. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the duct means is arranged concentrically round the longitudinal axis of the container.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the stiffeners are arranged on both sides of the compartment.

A container as claimed in claim 9, in which the stiffeners include embossments.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10, in which the stiffeners include an external reinforcement.

12. A container as clamed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the stiffeners are provided with through going openings.

13. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is made of a material containing a filler of mineral material and a binder of polyolefin material.

14. A container as claimed in claim 13, in which the mineral material consists of chalk (calcium carbonate). A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED: 14 April 2004 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: ECO LEAN RESA "4lN4 W:\Tresse\Pats\2002241435 Speci.doc