Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLEXIBLE POUCH AND DISPENSING NOZZLE ASSEMBLY
The present invention relates to an improved sachet/pouch
system, and in particular to a reclosable sachet/pouch
system which would retain the contents therein under
hygienic, microbial contamination free and storage stable
condition after every use of the contents therefrom. The
sachet/pouch system is of particular use as a toothpaste
holder, and has small dimensions and a closure.
It is presently known to provide small packages 1-50gms of
liquid/semi viscous products such as toothpaste, shampoos,
sauces, ketchup's etc. in the form of pouch/sachets.
Such conventional sachets/pouches are basically obtained of
plastic/poylined materials and are sealed from all ends.
For use of the contents from such pouches/sachets, the user
is required to cut open a portion of the pouch/sachet and
thereafter dispense the contents from the opening formed in
the pouch/sachets. However, such conventional
sachets/pouches do not have any reclosable means, and thus
once the pouch/sachet is cut open for application/use the
contents have to be either consumed at the first instance,
or the remainder of the contents haS to be left in
unhygienic conditions, exposed to potential microbial
contamination.
Moreover, in the absence of any effective reclosing means in
such conventional sachets/pouches, lots of the contents are
lost unused through the opening, thereby resulting in loss
of expensive product formulation contained in the
sachet/pouch. Importantly, due to such problems of
reclosing of the cut sachet/pouch, it is not convenient to
use the conventional pouches/sachets as a carry pack once
the sachet/pouch is cut open for its first use.
CONFIRMATION COPY
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Added to the above, cutting and opening of the conventional
sachet/pouch often resulted in an improper opening in the
sachet/pouch, the opening being either too wide resulting in
loss of expensive product formulation, or too narrow causing
problems in dispensing the contents therethrough for use.
Existing toothpaste holders currently on the market tend to
take the form of a laminate sheet which is shaped into a
tubular structure. This process is carried out on large
scale and involves reasonably complicated technical
procedures. The technicalities and cost involved make it
impossible to produce laminate toothpaste holders of small
dimensions efficiently, effectively and at low unit cost.
Conversely, local manufacture is prohibitive due to the cost
of the machinery necessary to manufacture such holders.
An alternative toothpaste holder takes the form of an
aluminum tube. Production processes allow aluminum tubes to
be made with small dimensions suitable for export to
developing and emerging countries. However, such tubes are
only possibly suitable for certain types of toothpaste, and
are not suitable for toothpastes which tend to harden
quickly due to their reactivity with aluminum. In any
event, gas release from gel type pastes has been known to
occur.
It is thus the basic object of the present invention to
provide for an improved sachet/pouch system which would
provide for convenient opening and closing of the
sachet/pouch for repeated use/application of the contents
therein as and when desired, and also to maintain effective,
hygienic, contamination free conditions for the product
stored therein.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved sachet/pouch system for small size packaging of
liquid/semi liquid/viscous products such as dental, hair,
- skin preparations including toothpastes, shampoos, skin
lotions etc. and also for the packaging of sauces, ketchups,
purees etc., but in particular for toothpastes, which would
retain the properties/characteristics of the products stored
therein, even after repeated application/use of the contents
therefrom.
A further aim of the invention is to provide a more
effective and efficient toothpaste holder which is more
suitable for manufacture in, and optionally export to,
developing and emerging countries.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
for an improved sachet/pouch system which would serve as an
effective packaging for making small size packages of say 1-
SOgms. of liquid/semi liquid/viscous products such as
herein described at affordable prices, and which would serve
as an effective hygienic contamination free and storage
stable carry pack for such products.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
an improved sachet/pouch system which would provide for
convenient, controlled and user friendly dispensing of the
product therefrom for use/application purposes.
Thus according to a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an improved sachet/pouch system
comprising;
a sachet/pouch body portion containing liquid/semi liquid
viscous products and obtained of deformable material;
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a nozzle assembly secured to the sachet/pouch body portion
and comprising a nozzle having an opening for communicating
with the inside of said sachet/pouch body portion and means
for opening and closing said opening as and when desired.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a reclosable toothpaste holder comprising two
laminated metalised sheets, a neck and closure means,
wherein edges of the laminated metalised sheets are sealed
to form a sachet, the sachet having a neck inserted into,
and protruding out of, one end of the sachet, wherein the
neck has an aperture defining an opening through which
toothpaste can pass from the sachet and wherein the closure
mean is detachably fixed at the distal end of the neck so as
to close the aperture.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a packaged toothpaste composition comprising a
toothpaste composition, which may be a silica or chalk based
toothpaste composition, packaged in a toothpaste holder or
sachet/pouch as described above. Also contemplated is a
packaged dental or dentifrice composition which is a liquid,
and is packaged in a toothpaste holder or sachet/pouch as
described above.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a sachet/pouch assembly for holding liquid or
viscous compositions such as shampoos, skin creams and
lotions, sauces, ketchups and purees.
In one embodiment of the invention, the closure means can
comprise a plug having a cylindrical elongate member, and
the aperture is sized to receive the cylindrical elongate
member as a friction fit so as to reclose the sachet after
use. In such embodiments, the closure means can
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conveniently be molded integrally with the neck portion,
providing a sealed unit. However when first use of the
holder is made, the closure means is snapped off of the neck
- portion, the contents dispensed, the closure means inverted,
and thereafter the elongate member of the closure portion
can close the neck by means of a friction fit.
In a further embodiment of the above disclosed improved
sachet/pouch system and or toothpaste holder, the nozzle
assembly can be obtained as a single piece, with the means
for opening and closing the nozzle opening being provided in
the form a flip top cap connected to the nozzle.
Alternatively, the nozzle assembly nozzle can comprise of
two pieces comprising of the nozzle and a cap adapted to be
releasably secured onto the nozzle to facilitate opening and
closing of the nozzle opening. The cap can be releasably
secured with respect to the nozzle either by providing co-
operating threads on the external of the nozzle and the
internal of the cap, or the cap may be adapted to releasable
press fit with respect to the nozzle.
This sachet system, for which a convenient use is as a
toothpaste holder, is economical and easy to manufacture
with readily available equipment. The laminate typically
has a thickness in the region of 40-90, preferably 45
microns, this being substantially thinner than the thickness
of a standard toothpaste tube, which is typically around 300
microns. Preferably, the laminate material is a polyester
such as PET, or is a polyolefin such as polypropylene or
polyethylene, but it can be any material that is heat
sealable and provides a suitable barrier to oxygen, water
and flavour loss. A particularly preferred laminate
material comprises 12 micron layer of PET, a 9 micron layer
of aluminum, and a 60 micron layer of low density
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polyethylene, though the materials utilized can preferably
comprise a 5-15 micron layer of PET, a 5-15 micron layer of
aluminium, and a 40-80 micron layer of low density
polyethylene.
However, and depending on the end use of the sachet/pouch
system, the sachet/pouch body portion can be obtained of any
suitable deformable material such as monolayer and/or
multilayer plastic/paper substrate depending upon the
contents to be packed and the end use/application required.
Advantageously, the edges of the laminated metalised sheets
are heat sealed together around their periphery. It is
preferred that the sachet/pouch system is one which does not
have a gusset. In a preferred embodiment, the two laminated
metalised sheets are constituted by a single laminated
metalised sheet folded back on itself; it is therefore not
sealed along one edge. Hence for example where the
sachet/pouch system is a rectangular shape, it is sealed,
preferably heat sealed along three edges.
The nozzle assembly can be obtained of high density
polyethylene, low density polyethylene or similar polymeric
material. Preferably, the nozzle opening can be provided
with a tamper proof seal to evidence its fresh unused
condition. At the time of first use of the contents from
the sachet/pouch, the seal is punctured to create said
nozzle opening which can thereafter be reclosed after every
use by the means for opening and closing of the nozzle
opening.
A further advantage the sachet system according to the
invention has over standard toothpaste tubes is that, due to
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its production process, it can readily be produced either as
single units or in sheets or strings using known techniques,
each sachet being detachable from its neighbour. The
. production equipment is also more readily available, and can
be readily adpated as necessary, and there are various ways
in which the sachets can be efficiently manufactured, for
example by filling each sachet with paste from the neck end
prior to inserting the neck of the closure, or by filing the
sachet from the end opposite to the closure before heat
sealing the edges at that end.
Dentifrices which may be used in packaged compositions of
the present invention may comprise optional, conventional
ingredients such as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers
like starch, sucrose, water or water/alcohol systems etc..
Small amounts of surfactants may also be included, such as
anionic, nonionic, cationic and zwitterionic or amphoteric
surfactants, typically at levels of 1-2%. They may also
preferably comprise particulate abrasive materials such as
silicas, aluminas, calcium carbonates, dicalciumphosphates,
calcium pyrophosphates, hydroxyapatites, trimetaphosphates,
insoluble hexametaphosphates and so on, including
agglomerated particulate abrasive materials, usually in
amounts between 3 and 60o by weight. A preferred embodiment
of packaged composition according to the invention is one in
which the dentifrice is not in the form of a gel.
Furthermore, packaged compositions may comprise humectants
such as glycerol, sorbitol, propyleneglycol, xylitol,
lactitol and so on, usually in amounts ranging from 10-800
by weight.
Binders and thickeners such as sodium carboxymethyl-
cellulose, xanthan gum, gum arabic etc. may also be
included, as well as synthetic polymers such as
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polyacrylates and carboxyvinyl polymers such as Carbopol7,
typically at levels of 0.1-2~.
Flavours such as peppermint and spearmint oils may also be
included, as well as preservatives, opacifying agents,
colouring agents, pH-adjusting agents, sweetening agents aad
so on, usually at levels of 0.5-3%.
Anti-bacterial agents may also be included such as
Triclosan, chlorhexidine, copper-, zinc- and stannous salts
such as zinc citrate, sodium zinc citrate and stannous
pyrophosphate, sanguinarine extract, metronidazole. Further
examples of anti-bacterial agents are quaternary ammonium
compounds such as cetylpyridinium chloride; bis-guanides
such as chlorhexidine digluconate, hexetidine, octenidine,
alexidine; halogenated bisphenolic compounds such as 2, 2'
methylenebis-(4-chloro-6-bromophenol).
Polymeric compounds which can enhance the delivery of active
ingredients such as anti-bacterial agents can also be
included. Examples of such polymers are copolymers of
polyvinylmethylether with malefic anhydride and other similar
delivery enhancing polymers, such as those described in DE-
A-3,942,643 (Colgate).
Furthermore anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen,
flurbiprofen, aspirin, indomethacin etc. may also be
included.
Anti-caries agents such as sodium- and stannous fluoride,
aminefluorides, monosodiumfluorophosphate, casein, plaque
buffers such as urea, calcium lactate, calcium
glycerophosphate, strontium polyacrylates may also be
included. Other optional ingredients include vitamins such
as vitamin C, and plant extracts. Additional desensitising
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agents such as potassium citrate, potassium chloride,
potassium tartrate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium
oxalate, potassium nitrate as well as strontium salts may
also be included.
Buffers and salts to buffer the pH and ionic strength of the
compositions may also be included. Liposomes and other
encapsulates may also be used to improve delivery or
stability of active ingredients.
Furthermore, the packaged oral compositions may comprise
anti-calculus agents such as alkalimetal pyrophosphates,
hypophosphite-containing polymers, organic phosphonates,
phosphocitrates etc.
In addition, the packaged compositions may comprise
functional biomolecules such as bacteriocins, antibodies,
enzymes and so on.
Other optional ingredients that may be included are e.g.
bleaching agents such as peroxy compounds e.g. potassium
peroxydiphosphate, effervescing systems such as sodium
bicarbonate/citric acid systems, colour change systems, and
so on.
The nature of the invention, and its objects and advantages
will be further apparent from the ensuing description made
with relation to non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the
improved sachet/pouch system of the invention as per the
accompanying figures.
Three forms of toothpaste sachet, each of which is
constructed in accordance with the invention, will now be
described in detail, by way of example, with reference to
the drawings, wherein;
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Figure 1 is a side view of the first form of toothpaste
sachet;
Figure 2 is a side view of the first form of sachet
illustrating how a plug is used to reclose the sachet after
use;
Figure 3 is a side view of a second form of toothpaste
sachet;
Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of an improved
sachet/pouch in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 5 is an exploded view of the nozzle assembly used in
the improved sachet/pouch of Figure 4.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a toothpaste
holder comprising two rectangular, laminated metallised
sheets which are heat-sealed at three of their edges la to
form a sachet 1. The sachet 1 is filled with toothpaste
before a plastic neck 2 is inserted into its open end 1b,
which is then sealed around the neck. The neck 2 is formed
with a central aperture 2a so as to define an opening in the
sachet 1 through which the toothpaste can pass. A plug 3 is
detachably fixed to the neck 2, the plug protruding outwards
from the sachet 1. The plug 3 comprises a base 4 and a
cylindrical elongate member 5 protruding outwards therefrom.
The diameter of the cylindrical elongate member 5 is
slightly less than the diameter of the aperture 2a in the
neck 2 of the sachet 1, such that the aperture is able to
receive the cylindrical elongate member as a friction fit
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when the plug 3 is turned upside down, as can be seen in
Figure 2.
The base 4 of the plug 3 is detachable from the neck 2 of
the sachet 1 by a simple breaking motion, thus exposing the
aperture 2a to allow toothpaste to pass. Once the required
amount of toothpaste is passed through the aperture 2a, the
sachet 1 can be resealed by inserting the cylindrical
elongate member 5 of the plug 3 into the aperture. The
cylindrical elongate member 5 has an outwardly-protruding
ridge 6 situation at a predetermined distance from its
distal end, so as to prevent the cylindrical elongate member
from being inserted through the aperture 2a beyond a
predetermined length.
The toothpaste sachet shown in Figure 3 is a modified
version of the sachet Figure 1, so like reference numerals
will be used for like parts, and only the modifications will
be described in detail. Thus, the main modification is to
modify the neck 2 of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 to
provide a threaded aperture 2'a, and to replace the plug 3
by a screw cap 7.
In each of the embodiments, the laminated sheets preferably
are made from a metallised polyesters such as PET, or
polyolefins such as polypropylene or polyethylene, with the
preferred metal being aluminum. However, other known
compounds are also suitable, provided they are capable of
being heat sealed to provide a suitable barrier to water and
oxygen, and also so as to provide a barrier against flavour
loss.
A single laminated metallised sheet, folded back on itself,
can constitute the two laminated metallised sheets. In this
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case only two edges la will need to be heat sealed before
insertion of the neck 2.
The dimensions of the rectangular laminated sheets are small
so as to keep the cost of production of the toothpaste
sachets to a minimum, thereby making the sachets economic
for export to developing and emerging countries.
In another embodiment, figure 4 shows the rectangular shaped
pouch/sachet body portion BP with the nozzle assembly (NA)
secured in a leakproof manner to the sachet/pouch body
portion. The sachet/pouch body portion (BP) is sealed from
all ends as evident from the seal margin (SM) at the sides.
The nozzle opening (NO) (Fig.5) communicates with the inside
of the pouch/sachet body portion containing the liquid/semi
liquid viscous product. Preferably, a seal (S) is provided
at the nozzle opening to evidence the tamperproof unused
condition of the sachet/pouch system. A cap (C) is provided
screwed onto the nozzle to releasably close the nozzle
opening.
For the purpose of first use of the contents from the
improved sachet/pouch, the cap (C) is first unscrewed from
said nozzle and thereafter seal (S) is punctured, and the
required quantity of the contents are dispensed by pressing
on the deformable body portion of the pouch/sachet.
Thereafter, the remainder of the contents of the
pouch/sachet are maintained in a hygienic, microbial
contamination free storage stable condition by replacing of
the cap (C) onto the nozzle. For every subsequent use
thereafter, the cap (C) is unscrewed to allow dispensing of
the product through the nozzle opening, and thereafter again
recapped to close said nozzle opening and retain the
contents under hygienic conditions.
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In the instance however that a seal membrane is not
provided, cap (C) can be simply released from the nozzle and
the contents dispensed through the nozzle opening.
Thereafter, the cap (C) is again screwed onto the nozzle to
store the remaining contents under hygienic, storage stable
conditions for subsequent uses. Thereafter, for every
subsequent use the cap (C) is released from the nozzle, and
the nozzle subsequently recapped as detailed above.
The sachet/pouch body portion can be rectangular as per the
illustrated embodiment discussed in figures 4 and 5, or of
any other suitable geometrical shape and configuration.
Likewise, the nozzle assembly can also have various shapes
and configurations depending upon sachet/pouch get up
desired, the contents therein and the end use/application
desired.
In each of the embodiments, the laminated sheets preferably
are made from metallised polyesters such as PET, or
polyolefins such as polypropylene or polyethylene, with the
preferred metal being aluminium. However, other known
compounds are also suitable, provided they are capable of
being heat sealed to provide a suitable barrier to water and
oxygen, and also so as to provide a barrier against flavour
loss.
It is thus possible by way of the improved sachet/pouch
system of the invention to provide for hygienic microbial
contamination free storage stable pouch/sachet packaging of
liquid semi liquid/viscous products. Importantly, the
pouch/sachet system of the invention would provide for
controlled dispensing of the product therethrough the nozzle
opening, and also provide for convenient closing of the
nozzle opening after every use to thereby ensure hygienic
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contamination free storage of the remaining contents of the
pouch/sachet until its subsequent use is desired.
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