Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 92/00228 Pcr/css1/01oss
~ ~ ~n ~ 2 7
D~SPE~'SI~'G P.~C~AGE
n~lS invelltion rc]2tcs to a dispensing pacl;~re. Pac~;anes of the invention mavtypicallv bc uscd to store alld dispense substanccs sucll ~s toolhpaste or fluellt food
products.
:
Conventionall~, loothpaste is pac};ared in a four p~rt pac~;aging s~stem. nle
toothp2ste tube itself is macie up of three componcn~s. namelv the tube bodv, a
sllouldc. ~.lich is fi.~ed to Ihe tub~ bod!. and.a Ihre~ded cap for se:~linr off the
IhreaLled dispellsil~g spout of the shoulder. The assclllbled and filled tube is Ihen . ......
placcd in ~ rectangul~r cardboard C2rl0n ~.hich f~cili~atcs s~c~;ing and slïelf
prcsenl~lion.
Il is believed Ihal Ihe convellliollal four-parl pac~;a_ing s!~slem used for tooihpaste
is e.~tremelv uneconomic~ lthough thev m;l!~ llave less parts than the four-parttoothp~ste tube pac~;aging s~stem. boltled food product pacl;ares are also
considcred to be uneconomical.
SUBSlr~TU~E ~ ET
': , ' . : .
.
- : . ~ .: ' ':
'
~,
WO 92/00228 PCI/GB91/OtO55
-- 2
2~8~d27
According to the present invention there is provided a dispensing package
comprising a container portion for accommodating a fluent product which is to bedispensed an outlet portion ~hich includes an outlet cornmunicaIing with the
container portion through ~-hich disperlsing of the product can ta~;e place and a
closure for releasably closing the outlet characterised in that the container portion
outlet portion and closure ~re mouldcd in one piece in plastics material.
The term f~uent material is intended to cover ~]1 materials irrespective of their - -- -
viscosity ~ hich can flo~v undcr cravi.y or ~vhich can be caused to flo~v by squeezing
~hem out of a collapsible con~ainer. As such the term embraces ithout lirnitation
highly viscous products such as toothpaste and less viscous products such ~s free-
flowing liquids.
In somc versions of the invention the containcr portion is adaptcd to be squeezcd
for expulsion of its contents throu~h the outlet. In other vcrsions of the invention
Ihe containcr portion is of rigid construction and Ihe contents Ihereof are dispensed
under ~ra-i~v ~.hen Ihe closurc is non-operative.
In onc e:1ibodin1cnt of tlie h~vention. the vutlet portion is hhlred to thc container
portion at a live hin~-e. The closure in this casc ma! be hinocd to the outlet portion
at an integral hinge. . ~lternativelv the closure is hint-ed to thc container porlion by
an integral hinge. In the latter case the closure is convenientJv hinged to the
container portion bv an inlegral hinge located on the opposite side of the container
portion from the live hin e at ~ hich the outlet ?ortion is hinged to the container
porlion.
ll~erc mav be t~vo outlet portions each hinged to the container porlion. an~ a single
closure hinged to the outlet pOrlionS for c!osing the outlets of both outlet porlions
simultaneouslv.
S~ S~ rU s E
WO 92/00228 PCr/GB91/01055
-- 3
2~ 27
A particularly preferred dispensing pac};age of the invention has a finger- or thumb-
depressible panel hinged to the outlet portion and connected to the closure,
depression of the panel causing the closure to move from a closed position in wl~ich
it closes the out~ct *om the outlet portion to an open position in which it opens the
outlet to permit the fluent product to be di5pensed from the container portion
through ~he outlet.
Typically, the panel forms part of the outlet portion and is hinged to the remainder
of the oullct portion at a live hinge, the panel being hinged to the closure at a live
hinge. The live hinges bet~een the panel and the outlct portion and bet~,een thepanel and the closure are con~eniently arranged so that, upon depression of the
panel, the panel pivots relative to the outlet portion in one direction and the
closure pi~ots relative to the panel in the opposite direction.
In this en,bodiment, the closure is joined to the outlet portion by integr~l
membranes ~ hich dcfine the sides of the oullet ~-hen the panel is depressed andthe closure n~o~es to its open position.
l~le en7bodimcnt just sumnulrised ma~ have a rem.ovahle cap for Ihe pac~;a~ e. the
C2p co-cring the outlet portion al1d closure. l~he cap ma!~ be formed in one piece
ith tl1e pacl;age, or it ma-~ be formed as a moulding separate from the pack2ge.In either c; se it is preferred that cap is connected to the package by a tear-off
tamper evident strip.
In all cases. the preferred dispcnsinP package has a container portion of elongate
shape \vilh the outlet portion. outlet and closure pro~ided at one end of the
container portion, the container portion being fillable \~ i~h the fluent product
through the opposite end thereof.
SUB~3TITUTE !~HEET
,
WO 92/00228 PCIICB91/01055
-- 4
2 ~ ~ i) 1 2
For stac~;ing convenience, it is preferred that the container portion has opposing flat
sur-faces on which the pacl;age can be stacked. It is a]so preferred that the pac~age
is shaped to nest snugly in side-by-s;de relationship with otl~er sirrlilar packages
when the packages are alternately reversed.
~n applications contemplated by the invention, the container portion accommodates
toothpaste or an edible food product;
The illvcntion will now be described in more detail, b- wav of e.~ample oniv, wilh
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
~igure 1 sho~vs a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;
Figurc 2 shou~s ~ top vicw Or thc en1bo(ii1llent of ~igure 1;
Figulc 3 shows the container of l~igures I and ~ with Ihe outlet pvrtion
clipped in place;
l~igurc 1 shous an enlar~ed fragmel1ta.~ ~ieu vf part vs the
embodilnent of l:igTures I to ;:
Figure 5 sho~s a side view of ~ second embodil1lent of the invel1tion;
Figurc 6 shows a top view of a thir(i embodimcnt of the invel1tion;
I;igurc 7 shows a side view of a fourth emDo(iimel1t of the in~-ention;
I;igure 8 sho~vs a pictorial view of a fifth e;r.Dodhnent of the invention;
S~ S~;EET
: .
W O 92/00228 PC~r/GB91/01055
-- 5
2~'3127
~igure 9 shows a partly cut-away view of the embodiment of Figure 8,
with an optional cap fitted in place;
~igures 10 ~nd 11
show ~ie-vs of the fifth embodiment of the invention in use; .
Figures 12 and 13
show ~rie~vs of the end of the container of Figures ~ to 11
before ~nd ~fler filling and sealing;
'"' ' ,
Figure 14 sho~l,s a diagramm3tic side view of the dispensing end of a
further embodiment;
Figurc 15 sl)o~-s a diagramma~ic plall ie\v of ~he dispensing end secn in Figure 14;
F igurc 16 ~ho~-s ~ diagrammalic pl~n view of a dispensing packageincorpora~ing the dispcnsing e!ld see!l in Figures 1 l and 15;
Figure 17 sho~.s a di~gr2n~ alic side vicw of Ihe dispensillg pacl;;lge
seen in Figure 16;
Figurc lS sho\-sa di~gramm2lic pl3n view of anolller dispensing pac}i2ge
incorporalillg the dispensing end seen in Figurcs 1~ and 15:
Figurc 19 shows a diaor~mm2~ic side vie~. of Ihe dispcnsing pac}ia_e
seen in Figure lS: ~lnd
SU~ S~EET
WO 92/00228 pcr/GBsl/ol
-- 6
igure 20 illustrates in a pl.~n view how dispensing pac~;ages of the kindseen in Figures 1~ and 19 can be stacked side-by-side.
Figures 1 to 4 show a package having a squeezable container portion 10 an outletportion 11 and a closure element all moulded in pne piece in plastics material.
In this embodiment the closure element is constituted by a lid 12. The outlet
portion 11 is hinged at a live hinge 13 to the contamer portion 10 while the lid 12
is secured to the outlet portion 11 by an integrally moulded nip hinge 14. The hinge
14 is of a kno~n construction and is such that it allo~vs repeated moYements of the
lid 12 relative to the outlet portion 11.
The outlet portion ll includes an outlet aperture 9 through ~.hich dispensing can
ta~;e pl~ce from the pacl~age once it is assembled and filled.
In order to assemble the pac~;age from the one-picce moulded product shown in
~igure l the outlet portion 11 is S~UI~g ~bout the hingc 13 to the position sho~n
in Fi~-ure 3. Referring to 3 igure l it ~-ill be scen Ihat the operativclv lo~cr edge
of thc oullct pOrTiOn 11 is formed ~ h an a3lilular form;llion Ic ~n l that there is
a corresponding formation 16 on the outer suriace o- I~.e container portlon 10 near
to its upper edge. nle formation Ic is al~le to clip past the formation 16 underapplication of the appropriate force. The shape of the formations lS and 16 thenpre~ents reverse movement of the outlet portion 11 relative to the container portion
10. Thus the outkl portion is locl~ed to the container portion 10 once the I~igure
3 situation is reached.
llle lid3 1~ mav no~ be hingcd repeatedl~ re!asive to lhe outlet portion 11 to close
and open the outlet aperture 9 as rcquired. ll~e lid includes an internallv projectinV
formation ~hich is shaped ~nd positioned to plug the outlet aperture 9 ~hen the
E ~ SUE~T
WO 92/00228 pcl/Gs91/
-- 7
~ ~ ~ J `12 ~
lid is hinged to the closed position.
In th;s case, the intention is that the lid 12 should remain permanently attached to
the outlet portion 11. Ho~vever, in an alter~ative arrangement, the hinge 14 mayconsist of a weak strip of flexible plastics material which can be severed once the
package is assembled. The lid in tllis case then becomcs a separate item for closing
and opening the package.
.
Figure S shows part of a second embodiment of the invention. The package in thiscase comprises a squcezable container portion 10 to which is moulded an outlet
portion 11 and a closure elcmcnt constituted by a lid 12. The difference bet~veen
this embodiment and that of Figures 1 to 4 is the fact that the lid 12 is attacl1ed
directly to the containcr portion 10 rather than to the outlet portion 11. An
integrallv moulded clongate hinge ~0. in this case extending from the container
portion 10, allows opening and closing of the lid 1~ on the out]et portion 11.
As in the firct embodimenl. the outlet por: on 11 cal1 be ~nchored, in the bro~;en
line position. rclaiive to the container portion 10, ~-!ith the lid thcn being movable
repeatedly bet~-een its open and closed positions. Alternativelv, the hin-c '0 mav
be severahle to yicld a loosc lid 12 for closing ~nd opening the pac~;ag~e.
~igure 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this case there is a body21 composed of t~vo container portions "' to whicl1 t~l.o outlet portions 23 can be
anchored in the same manner as in the I:igure 5 embodiment. The outlet porlions
23 are both hinged to the bodv ~1 but thev are separate from one another. A single
closure element in the form of a lid '~ is hin~ed to both outlet portiol1s ~3 for
closing the outlet apertures in both outlet portions. The Figure 6 embodiment issuitable for pac};aging and dispensing t~-o different fluent components.
SUBS~lTUrE ~'.~ET
WO 92/00228 PCT~/GB91/0105
-- 8
2 ~ 7
Figure 7 shows a side vie~l~ of a tourth embodimenl of 1he invcntion. This version
is vely simi~ar to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 and li}~e parts are labelled with
li~;e numeraJs.
The I;igure 7 embodiment also has a squeezable container portion 10 an outlet
portion 11 and a closure element constituted by a lid 12. The outlet portion 11 is
not hinged to the container portion 10. Instead it is in~egral]y moulded to the
container portion 10 to form ~vith the container ponion l0 a continuous tube Thelid 12 is securcd to the tube bv an integrally moulded flip hinge 14.
The outlet aperture 9 in the outlet portion 11 of eacl~ of ~he embodimenls described
above is provided internally ~ith a suitablv shapcd nozzle or spout 26 through ~vhich
the contents of the container may be dispensed.
The embodimcnts of Figures I to 6 are ~illed from the ~op as indicated by the arro~v
A in l:i~ures I and 5. Once the squeezable container portion 10 (or portions ~2 in
the case of l~i~ ure 6) is (or arc) full. the oullet porlion 1 l (or outlet portions 23 in
the case of l~i~-ure 6) is (or arej folded o-er and anchored in place.
The shape of Ihe conlainer portions of these embodime.lls is preferablv c!ih~drical
so that the con1ainer may stand upright on a base ~0. In each case. the e.~lernal
surfacc of the pac~iage as described is printed ~ith the appropriate ad~ertising and
brand indicia so that no separate cardboard or other carton is required.
The pac~ae depicted in Fi_ure 7 is filled from the bottom ~s indicated bv the
arrow B. Once the container porlion l0 is full. its lo~l er end m2v be sealed in a
con~entional mallner by eilhcr he~t sealing or ~lueinc The seam may be in~ardlv
fo]ded or trimrned so that Ihe pacl;a~e has a llat bottom on ~-hich it can sland on
a shop shelf or the li};e the necessarv brand and other indicia once again being
SUE~STITU~E S.~ET
WO 92/00228 PCl/GB91/oloSS
~3~
applied to lhe package to avoid the necessity for a separate carton. ~Iternatively,
the container portion 10 may be at least partially rect~ngu]ar in cross-section so that
it can be staclced in a prone orientation on a shelf. Sirnilarly, the earlier
embodiments may be at least partially rectangular in cross-section for prone
stac}ctng.
In each of Figures 1 to 7, filling may tal~e place through an irLitially open side of the
container portion 10, ralher than through an cnd. In this casc, the-side is sealed
closed after filling.
It will be appreciated that with the lid 12 opcn in the embodiments of Figurcs I to
7, the contents of the container portion 10 can be dispensed by a squeezin_ action
applied thereto.
A fifth embodi~nent of the in~ention is sho~vn in l~i~urcs S to ]3. lllis embodiment
also colnprises a squeezable consainer portion 10, an outlet portion 11 and a closure
elemcllt 12. ~o\~.e~er~ in Ihis ~ersion of the Conlainer l~.e closure elemen~ 1~ is not
constitulcd by a lid as in lhe pre~iolls embo(iimellls. but b~ a pi~olal panel formed
in a wail of lhc oullel porlion 11,
The outlet portion 11 is made of more rigid material than the squeezable body 10,
and the pi~otal panel is made of more rig~id material than the outlet portion 11. As
in the pre~ious embodilllenls the portions 10 and 11 and the closure elelnent are
all moulded to_ether in one piece,
The pi~otal panel 12 is shaped to form t~o substantially planar sections 'S and 30.
The first section 2~ and a second ~ectioll 30 are sli~htly angled relati~e ~o one
another, The panel 12 is adap~ed lo pi~ot under pressure from a fincer or Ihumb
aboul an a.~iis Y-Y to open an outlel aperture 3~ lhrough ~.hich Ihe conten~s of the
Sl,'EST~rl_lTE S'!-'EET
WO 92/00228 PCI/GB91/01055
-- 1 0
2 ~ 3 $~ 7
contailler may be dispensed upon squeezing of the container portion 10.
The construction of the panel 12 and the outlet portion 11 to allow the panel topivot is as follo~vs:
The periphery 34 of thc section 28 is joined to the wall of the outlet ponion 11while the periphery 36 of the scction 30 is not joined to the outlet portion at all.
The periphery 34 is bounded by a wea~;ened zone 3~ indicated by dotted lines in
--FigL~re 8. This weakened zone allows~the-wall~of tlle outlet portion 11 to deform
when pressure is applied ~o the section 28 of the paneJ. The panel pivots about the
axis Y-Y to rotate the section 30 a~vay from the outlet portion 11 to open the
aperturc 32.
~ILernati-elv if a ~eakcned zone is not providcd the ~valls of the outlct portion 11
may be reinforced at a point ~0 in Fi~3re 8 and the rigidity of the material of the
rest of outlet portion 11 is chosen such tll~t somc dcformation of the ~vall of the
outlet portion may occur ~hen prèssure is applied to thc panel ~2.
Olhcr fealures of Ihis cmbodilmcllt are no~v c.~plaine~ ith rctcrence to ~ re 9.n~e container can be providcd ~-ith a C;lp ~ hich may also be part of the one-
piece moulding. The cap ~' c.~tcllds over the outlet ponion 11 and is joincd to the
container porlion 10 by means of a tamper evidenl tear-otf strip S0 having a finger
engagc~ble tab 5~. The strip S0 can be torn off and thro~vn a~vav ~hen the package
is firsl opened.
~s illustrated in Figure 9 the c. p ~2 and the conlainer portion 10 ha~e
inlercnaaging clip formations ~ I bv means of ~vhicll the cap can be clipped to the
remainder of the pacli~ge ~ftcr the lamper e~ident strip has bcen removed.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET
.
~:
WO 92/00228 pcr/Gs91/olo5s
1 1
2 7
As an alternative to this arrangement the cap 42 can be connccted to the container
portion 10 by a live hinge sirnilar to the hinge 13 described in relation to the first
embodiment. In this case after the one-piece moulding step the cap is hinged over
the outlet portion 11 and is anchored to the container portion 10 in the same
manner as the outlet portion is anchored to the container portion 10 in the
embodiments of Figures 1 to 6. The cap itself includes a tamper evtdent tear-offstrip which when torn off enables a part of the cap to be removed to e.Ypose theoutlet portion 11 and pivotal panel 12.
. . . _ , . .
In yet another alternalive the cap 42 can be moulded apart from the package
consisting of the container portion 10 outlet portion l1 and panel 12. In this case
the cap may then be anchored to the package possibly in the same manner as the
outlet portion 11 is anchored to the container portion 10 in the earlier
embodimcnls. The cap ~vill then include a tamper evidel1t tcar-off strip that
operates in the manner describcd in the preceding paragraph.
The squcezable container pOr1ion 10 is pro~ided ~ith a?propriatcl~ sized contours
4~ formcd in the ~a]l thereof to facilitate ripping b~ Ihe hand of a user. rne
sec;ion S of 1he panel l~ is pro~ided ~ h rid~es ~ to ~id Ihe user in pivolin_ the
panel.
This embodiment of the invcntion is filled from the end 4S in the dircction of the
arro~ C ~s illustrated in Figure 9. T~o ~ic~s of the end 'S are sho~n in Figures1 ' and 13 ~vhich show respeclivelv the end of Ihe COnlainer before and after filling.
Once the bod~ 10 has been filled. the ed~-es 9 of bodv are heat sealed tol-ether to
form a seam at 50.
SUPsTlTu~E ~'r~
.
,
WO 92/00228 PCr/GB91/01055
-- 1 2
2~8~ 7
It will be appreciated that there are several ways of sealing the end 4~ of the
container. For instance, the initially open end may be provided ~vith hinge flaps
sirrlilar to those used in cardboard cartons. After filling, the flaps are hinged
together as appropriate and the resulting f~at end is sealed ultrasonically or with
appropriate adhesives.
It is preferred in the embodiment of Figures 8 to 13 that the container portion 10
of the package have the illustrated rectangular cross-section to facilitate stacking,
in the prone orientation, on a shop shelf. Once a_ain, the appropriate brand andother indicia are printed directly onto the surfaces of the container portion so that
no e.Ytra carton is required.
It ~vill be appreciated that printing of brand or other indicia onto the flat surfaces
of a rectangular pac~;age may require repetiti-e prinling steps for the various
sur~aces. ~t is proposed to overcome this e.~;lra ~or~; bv inserting a round mandrel
inlo the open end of the conlainer portion 10, before filling, to deform the
container portion temporari]v to a round cross-section. The round cylindrical shape
can then be counter-rotated relalive to a rotarv printing head ~-hich will. in one
operation. applv printing ri_llt aroulld the surface of ll.e container portion. The
plas;ics used for the pac~;ag~e has memorv characleristics so that~ after the mandrel
has bcen ~-ithdrawn, the container portion revcrts to its original rectangul~r cross-
~cctional shape, with each surface printed as required.
In another embodiment of the hlvelltion (not illustrated), the pac~a~e has a
squeez~ble cont~iner portion, an outlet portion and a closure~ but in this case the
closure is constituted bv the closure of a one-~-a~ al~ e pro-ided intePrallv in or on
Ihe outlet portion. The desin is such that the closure mo-es to an open position~
to allow a dispensing operation to ta~;e place~ under the effects of increased internal
pressurc when Ihe container portion is squeezed. ~Vhen the squeezinC~ force is
SU~ST~ TE ~HFET
' : '
,
"
,:
WO 92/00228 PCI lGs91 /Ol 05
1 3
2 7
removed, the closure moves back automatically to its original pO5itiO1l closing the
outlet aperture i,~ the outlet portion. Thus in this case, all that is required to
dispcnse the contents of the containcr portion is a squeezing action applied to the
container portion. In each of the other embodiments described above, the user must
first open the closure before dispensing can tal;e place.
Figures 14 and 15 respectively illustrate plan and side views of the disper~ing end
of another embodiment which has many sirnilarities to that of Figures 8 to 13. As
in the case of Figures S to 13,-lhc dispensing pac~;age in I;igurcs 14 and 15 has a
squeezable container portion 10, an outlet portion 11 and a closure for the outlet
in thc out~et portion.
In Figures 14 and 15 there is a panel 60 hinged to the outlet portion 11 at a live
hinge 62. llle panel 60 is providcd wilh raised ribs 6 l gi-ing it more rigiditv than
the rcmainder of the outlet porlion 11. The panel 60 is hinged, at a live hinge 65,
to a closure 12 ha-~in$ a Ihic};ened centr.~l region pi~oted to the outlet portion 11
at pivot points 66. The side edges 68 of the closure 1~ are joined ~o the remainder
of ~he outlet p()rtion 11 1)~ thin. inlegral rr.embranes.
~ s will .-p?e2r clelrl! frolll Fi~re 1~, fillger or ;~.umb pres~urc on Ihe panel 60
causcs this pancl and the closure 12 to mo~e to the bro~;en line positions, enab!ing
the contcnts of the of thc containcr portion 10 to be dispensed upon squeezing of
the container portion, as indicated b! the reference numeral 72. ll~us it will be
aypreciated in this case that. ~ie~-ed as in Figure I c, the panel 60 pi~ots
anticloc~ ise about the li~e hinge 6~ ~,hile Ille closure 1~ pi~ots cloc~.ise about the
pi~ot points 66.
SUE5TITUTI~ SHEET
,
' . :. ~
O 92/00228 pcr/GB91/olo5
-- 1 4
2r~3~427
The dispensing end as illus~rated in Figures 14 and 15 can be incorporated in a
design as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 hich respectively show side and plan
views of a package of the invention. In this case a separately moulded cap 74 isclipped to Ihe package to cover the dispensing end. The cap 74 is of round
cylindr;cal shape and has a flat end 76 upon which the package with the cap in
place can stand upright on a shel
In another version of this embodiment of-the irlvention the cap 74 is not a separate
moulding but is formed in one piece wilh Lhe packa_e itse~f as described ~bove in
relation to Figure 9. In either event the cap when clipped in position may provide
a tear-off tamper evident strip sirnilar to that seen in Figure 9.
In Figures 16 and 17 the container portion 10 is filled from the bottom \.hich is
then sealed closed at a seam 7S.
Figures 18 to 0 respecti~elvisho~-~ plan and side vie~vs of ~noll-er slightly modified
~ersion in ~-hich ~he ~ispensing end is the same as in Figures 1~ and l;. In this
case the c~p 7~ hether formed inte_rallv ~-ith the pac~;2t-e or as a sep2rate
lnouldi~ . has a tapering ~hape in p]an view. In addition. opyosite si~es of thecontainer portion 10 and cap are formed with flats S0 thal ellable the p2c};agesith their caps 74 in place to be stac~ied prone on top of one another. As
illussrated by Figure 20 the tapering shape of the cap 7~ together with the shape
of the seamed bottom end ~ enable pac~;a_es with their caps in place. to nest
compactly alongside one another. This compactness of the nested arrangement
obviously has advantages as far as pac~;aging in bo:~es or the li~;e and
transportation. are concerned.
SUE~STtTUTE SHEET
::
WO 92/00228 - 1 5 - PCr/GB91/0105~
~3~7
In each of the embodirnents described abo~ e, the container portion 10 is of
deformable construction to permit dispensing of its contents by application of asqueezing force. This pac3cage will be suitable for dispensing fluent materials which
are viscous, such as toothpaste. Where the package is to be used ~vith less viscous,
free-flowing materials, such as cooking oil, liquid condiments or the like, the
container portion may be rigid in nature and the contents thereof dispensed under
gravity when the closure is opened. This killd of system would not apply in the case
of a package of the kind described above having a one-way valve, since the valveis opened by increased in~ernal pressu-re caused by a squeezing action. - ~ -~ ~
SUE3STlTUTE S~iEET
