CONTAINER FOR POURABLE MATERIAL

CONTENANT POUR MATIERE FLUIDE

Description

CA 02624201 2008-04-09
CONTAINER FOR POURABLE MATERIAL
Invention Background
Increased environmental awareness by the consuming public has created a
substantial commercial incentive for retailers to adopt environmentally
friendly
practices. One such practice is the reduction of packaging-related waste.
Specifically, retailers are now seeking to stock their shelves with products
having
packaging that is bio-degradable, recyclable or generally reduced in volume
from
traditional packaging. To wit, the wine industry has begun to see a plethora
of
brands sold in Tetra-Pak containers, a paper-based package that is recyclable.
Summary of the Invention
One of the most promising packaging types to achieve the goal of reducing
waste is the flexible stand-up pouch. Long used to package goods such as pet
food and gardening products, the stand-up pouch has in recent years begun to
appear in grocery store food aisles for such products as chips, cookies, and
croutons.
It has been discovered that the stand-up flexible pouch may be used for high
value liquid consumables such as wine (although the scope of this invention
extends far beyond that one category, to any pourable liquid, and even to
pourable solids). The benefits to the consumer for this type of package
include
that it is shatter-proof, quick-cooling, light weight and has a far lower
impact on
the environment than standard glass bottles.
There are, however, difficulties that can arise when using this type of
packaging
for wine. First, the aesthetics of the package may be detrimental to the image
of
the wine brand, since the flexible stand up pouch may seem less attractive to
consumers than a bottle. Second, the stand up pouch, because of its flexible
nature, can be harder than a bottle to grip firmly, and the use of a pouch may

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result in more frequent spillage. Third, the stand up pouch is typically
uninsulated, and may thus allow the wine to lose its chill more quickly than a
bottle would.
The invention is designed to take advantage of the benefits associated with
using
the stand up flexible pouch as a wine container (or container for other
pourable
liquids or solids), while mitigating the difficulties described above.
The invention combines a flexible pouch with a rigid exterior shell to form a
liquid
or granular product dispensing system. The flexible pouch, filled with
product, is
inserted into the ridge shell prior to dispensing. The two elements-flexible
interior pouch and rigid exterior carafe-are preferably effectively bonded to
each
other through a unique locking mechanism. The invention overcomes the
consumers' aesthetic hurdle of accepting the flexible pouch as a viable,
everyday
package alternative to traditional glass packaging by adding an attractive
exterior
carafe and a functional locking mechanism that make daily use simple.
Invention Description
Figure 1 shows the rigid exterior shell, which takes the form of carafe 5. The
carafe 5 has a removable bottom 12 which, when removed, creates an access
opening 13 at the bottom of carafe 5. It will be appreciated, however, that
other
forms of access opening to the carafe are comprehended by the invention.
Figure 1 further shows flexible pouch 6, having spout fitment 10 (see Figure
3),
through which liquid in the pouch is poured, and cap 11, which is used to
close
the pouch.
In the preferred embodiment, the pouch is inserted into carafe 5 through the
opening 13, so that the fitment 10 extends out through the top of carafe 5.
Bottom piece 12 is then re-attached to the carafe. The result is an attractive
container, holding within it wine contained in the pouch 6. The wine (or other

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pourable material) can be easily poured, as the carafe 5 is rigid enough to be
easily gripped. Furthermore, the carafe is preferably made of a material that
is
sufficiently insulating to allow the wine (or other material) within the pouch
6 to
retain its chill, or preferred temperature, for an appropriate period of time.
The shape of the carafe 5 can vary according to circumstances. Handles can be
formed in the walls of carafe 5 or attached thereto for ease of gripping and
pouring. The volume of carafe, and its shape, can also be varied according to
the shape and volume of pouch 6.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 show one possible method for securing the pouch 6 within
the
carafe 5. In this embodiment, the carafe includes, as its top end, a locking
mechanism 8 having a fitment-receiving opening 14 and a locking space 15. The
fitment 10 is inserted upward through the space 14, and then pushed forward
into
the space 15. Groove 7 mates with tongue 16, which tongue 16 is positioned on
locking mechanism 8. Then, slider 2 slides onto locking mechanism 8 to further
hold the fitment 10 and cap 11 in place. Once firmly attached to carafe 5, via
fitment 10, pourable material can be poured from the pouch 6 by tipping carafe
5.
Figures 5-9 show another mechanism and method for attaching pouch 6 to
carafe 5. After pouch 6 is inserted from the bottom of carafe 5 at opening 13,
the
pouch neck 41 is inserted up through the top of carafe 5 and sandwiched
between the locking area on carafe 42 and the locking detail on slide lock 43.
Once the pouch is in place, the slide lock is moved into the locked position.
The
slide lock moves along channels in the carafe locking area 44 to open and
close
the mechanism. The slide lock is held in a locked position by a friction lock
detail
45 moulded into the channels on the carafe lock area 44. To ensure that the
pouch has been installed on the proper orientation, a detail 46 is moulded
onto
the pouch neck 41 with a corresponding detail on the carafe lock area 44. The
result is that if the pouch is improperly oriented, the locking will not take
place.

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It will be appreciated that other methods and mechanisms for attaching pouch 6
to carafe 5 are comprehended by the invention. What is important is that they
be
attached so that the user can pour from the pouch by tipping the carafe.
The carafe 5 may be made of any of the following materials or substrates: high
index plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, PET plastic, ceramic, glass, wood,
rubber, silver-plated steel, gold-plated steel. Other suitable materials are
also
contemplated by the invention.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that substitutions and
modifications to the above can be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention.

Representative Drawing