Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PACK FOR FREE-FLOWING OR PASTY PRODUCTS
The invention relates to a pack, particularly for free-flowing or pasty
products, with a
body, the circumference of which is at least approximately constant or
decreases
slightly along at least almost its entire length, with a removal opening and a
filling
opening.
The products in such packs are generally squeezed out and thus removed with
the help
of a plunger. The problem with such packs is, however, that they cannot be
stacked in
their unfilled and / or emptied state and therefore take up a very great deal
of space.
The purpose of the invention is to propose a pack of the kind outlined above
that is
stackable.
In the solution to this problem proposed by the invention, the body is tapered
in one
section by at least one pleat or similar shaping.
Several identical packs can be stacked inside each other as a result.
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It has also proved to be very advantageous in this context if the body is
designed to
taper conically over its length.
Particularly space-saving stacking is guaranteed in this way.
In accordance with a further development of the invention, it is extremely
advantageous if the body is folded into a meander shape.
This guarantees that the material is distributed evenly around the
circumference of the
body.
In this context, it has proved to be very advantageous if the meander-shaped
pleating is
only provided in the conically tapered section of the body.
The body is given its conical form by the meander-shaped pleating.
In another very advantageous development of the invention, the body is
designed to be
very conical in the area of one of its ends.
A removal opening resembling a piping bag is created by doing this.
In a further very advantageous development of the invention, a collar or
similar
element that projects outwards is provided at one end of the pack.
This collar can be used to secure the pack in a removal device. It also makes
sure that
staclced packs can be separated from each other.
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In another very advantageous development of the invention, the pack is open at
one
end and is designed to permit closure by a lid.
The pack can be filled particularly easily and quickly through this opening.
The
contents of the pack can in addition be pressed out through the removal
opening by this
lid.
In this context it has proved to be very advantageous if the lid is sealed on.
It is also very advantageous if the lid is glued on.
Both of these alternatives guarantee a verifiable tamper-evident pack closure.
It has proved to be very advantageous if the lid is fitted on or in the body.
The pack is closed tightly by the lid in both cases.
It is also extremely advantageous if the lid has a predetermined rupture line.
The lid or part of the lid can be separated from the body along this
predetermined
rupture line and can if necessary be pressed into the body with the help of a
plunger.
It has also proved to be very advantageous if the lid is pressed into the
space created by
the body when the pack is being emptied.
The contents of the pack can be pressed out through the removal opening with
this lid,
as a result of which a tamper-evident feature is produced.
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In a further very advantageous development, the removal opening is closed by
sealing
and / or gluing.
This makes sure that the product is not able to escape from the pack
inadvertently.
It has also proved to be very advantageous if the removal opening is designed
to have a
specific shape, such as the approximate shape of a star.
This improves removal of the product, while the latter is given an attractive
appearance
after removal as a result.
It is also extremely advantageous if the removal opening is defined by a
predetermined
rupture line.
This means that the removal opening can be exposed by removing the closure.
It has also proved to be very advantageous if the removal opening is designed
to
project.
A projecting removal opening can, for example, be opened with a knife.
In another advantageous development of the invention, the removal opening is
closed
by a closure.
Then the removal opening can be opened particularly easily.
It is very advantageous in this context if the closure is glued or sealed on.
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Sealing or gluing is a reliable and inexpensive method of fastening.
In a further advantageous development of the invention, the closure is
designed in the
form of a label.
A label can communicate information, i.e. include details about the contents,
in
addition to its function as a closure.
In a very advantageous further development of the invention, the body is
produced
from a plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene.
It is very advantageous in this context if the body is manufactured by the
injection
moulding process.
Plastics can be processed very effectively by the injection moulding process.
It is also very advantageous if the body is produced by thermoforming.
Thermoforming is a standard process for producing plastic containers with thin
walls
in particular.
It is, however, also very advantageous if in accordance with the invention the
body is
wound from paper and is closed along a longitudinal seam.
Paper that may be coated with plastic too represents an alternative to packs
made
exclusively of plastic.
One embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings.
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6
Fig. 1 is a view of a pack in accordance with the invention,
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same pack and
Fig. 3 is a picture of this pack.
1 in Fig. 1 is a pack that is designed to hold free-flowing and pasty goods,
such as soft
ice cream or similar products, with a body 2. At one of its ends, the body 2
has a
closable filling opening 3, which can be closed by a lid 4. The lid 4 is
secured in
position against the inside wall of the body 2. A different method for
fastening the lid 4
is, however, also conceivable. The body 2 is closed at its other end. A
removal opening
6 that has a star-shaped rim 7 is provided in the wall 5 of this end. This rim
7 can have
a different outline instead. The removal opening is closed with a closure 8 in
the form
of a label, although other closures can be used instead. The closure 8 is
sealed on, but
it can be glued or fastened by some other means too. It is also conceivable
that the
removal opening is designed to project. Part of the projecting removal opening
is then
cut off to open the pack. In a section 9 shortly before the end wall 5, the
body 2 tapers
sharply towards this wall. The body 2 has a collar 10 that projects outwards
in the area
of the filling opening 3.
The body tapers slightly conically between the collar 10 and the section 9.
The tapered
shape makes it possible to stack several unfilled and / or emptied packs 1
inside each
other.
The pack 1 is emptied with the help of a plunger that is not illustrated, by
pressing the
lid 4 into the space defined by the body with the plunger. The plunger has the
same
diameter as the filling opening 3.
The body 2 meanders in the area where it tapers conically between the collar
10 and
the section 9, the deviations of the meanders 11 from a circle becoming larger
as the
tapering increases. The circumference of the body remains constant over the
entire
tapered area as a result.
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When the plunger is pressed into the tapered area, the plunger widens the
taper until
the cross section corresponds to that of the plunger. Depending on the
material used for
the body 2, this widening is reversible, i.e. the body returns to its original
shape as
soon as the plunger is removed from the body 2.
The body 2 is configured to meander in the section 9 that tapers sharply too.
When the
body 2 is widened, the section 9 is pulled in the direction of the plunger and
is at least
at approximately right angles to the rest of the body 2 when the plunger has
been
pressed in completely. This makes sure that none of the product is left in the
pack 1.
It is, however, also conceivable that the circumference of the body 2
decreases slightly
from the filling opening in the direction of the removal opening 6. When the
plunger is
pressed into the pack 1, the body 2 is then widened.
It is also conceivable that the lid 4 itself is designed to be a plunger and
is pressed into
the pack 1.
In combination with a slightly decreasing body circumference, it is then
guaranteed
that the plunger which has been pressed into the pack 1 cannot be removed from
the
same any longer. The pack can thus be used exactly once and therefore has a
particularly effective tamper-evident feature.
The emptied pack 1 and the unfilled pack 1 can be stacked inside each other,
provided
that the plunger is removed again. The collar 10 stops the packs 1 from
sliding inside
each other to such an extent that they are difficult to separate from one
another again.
Stacking the packs 1 reduces the volume of the packs 1 that has to be handled
when
several packs have been inserted inside each other.
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The body 2 can be produced from plastic, particularly polypropylene or
polyethylene,
paper or a similar material.
