Patent Application
20120211520
The present invention generally relates to collapsible containers. In particular embodiments, the present invention relates to a collapsible container for use in a liquid dispenser. In a specific embodiment the present invention generally relates to a collapsible container useful in a wall-mounted dispenser, wherein a pump communicates with the collapsible container and the container collapses as product is removed from the container by operation of the pump.
Collapsible containers are well know and used in a variety of environments. The collapsible container disclosed herein will be useful in any environment wherein it is desired that a container collapse as product is removed from the container. However, when disclosing aspects of the collapsible container herein, the liquid dispensing arts are focused upon. Notably, in particular embodiments, the present application focuses upon collapsible containers employed in liquid dispensers that most commonly dispense hand-treatment products such as soaps, hand sanitizers, and lotions. Nevertheless, it should again be stressed that the collapsible containers herein can be employed in a multitude of environments because the containers taught herein collapse upon the removal of product, regardless of the particular product therein or the particular environment in which they are employed.
Collapsible containers for liquid dispensers range in complexity from simple film-type plastic bags, such as those in the well-known bag-in-a-box type dispensers (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,952), to more rigid yet collapsible structures such as that shown U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,678. The containers are sealed such that the removal of product from the container causes the container volume to decrease by the volume of the product removed. Typically, a pump is sealed to the container, and the actuation of the pump causes product to be removed from the container. In such environments, the collapsing of the container presents a number of advantages.
First, when the available product is dispensed from the container, the container is fully collapsed and thus takes up less space in any rubbish bin and landfill. Second, when the inlet to the pump is positioned within the volume of the container, the collapsing of the container can result in a more efficient evacuation of the container volume, as the collapsing of the container will force product within the container toward the pump inlet. In particular embodiments, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,678, the collapsing of the container can also serve to urge product in the container toward a sight window in a dispenser housing so that the depletion of the product within the container can be more readily monitored through that sight windows. The use of sight windows in dispenser housings, particularly wall-mounted dispensers for hand-treatment products, is well known. Finally, by providing containers that collapse in a predictable manner, it is possible to ensure that the container does not change shape in such a manner that it bulges, kinks or twists within the dispenser and undesirably contacts the internal structures of the dispenser housing. When containers bulge, kink or twist in this manner they can undesirably place stresses on the structures of the dispenser housing.
Some prior art provides for more controlled collapsing of containers through the use of fold lines formed in the container walls. Such include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,288 and 5,556,005, wherein fold lines are provided so as to create container that collapses to form an I-beam structure. Though the controlled collapse is desirable, it has been found that the I-beam structure is disadvantageous, and the art will benefit from better designed collapsing structures such as those taught herein.
While the prior art does provide for different types of collapsible containers, the present invention seeks to improve the art by providing a collapsible container with specific fold lines and structures so as to collapse in a repeatable and desired manner.
This invention provides a container collapsible from a filled configuration to a substantially empty configuration during dispensing of the contents therein. The container includes a front wall, a rear wall, right and left side walls interconnecting the front wall and rear wall, a bottom wall interconnecting with the front wall, rear wall, right side wall and left side wall, and a top wall interconnecting with the front wall, rear wall, right side wall and left side wall, the walls serving to define a container volume holding product. A first right side wall fold line in the right side wall extends in a general diagonal direction downwardly and away from the rear wall from a first end proximate the intersection of the top wall and the rear wall to a second end positioned within the surface area defined by the right side wall. A first left side wall fold line in the left side wall extends in a general diagonal direction downwardly and away from the rear wall from a first end proximate the intersection of the top wall and the rear wall to a second end positioned within the surface area defined by the left side wall. A rear wall fold line extends across the rear wall, the rear wall fold line separating the rear wall into a first facet between the rear wall fold line and the top wall and a second facet between the rear wall fold line and the bottom wall, wherein the container is sealed such that the removal of the product from the container causes the container volume to decrease, and, as the container volume decreases, the container folds along the first right side wall fold line, the first left side wall fold line and the rear wall fold line such that the first facet folds down toward the second facet, and the front wall is devoid of a fold line that mimics the structure and function of the rear wall fold line such that the folding at the rear wall fold line is not simulated at the front wall, the front wall remaining more distinctly flat and non-folded as compared to the rear wall that folds about the rear wall fold line.
In other embodiments, the container as above further includes a second right side wall fold line in the right side wall extending in a general diagonal direction downwardly and away from the front wall from a first end proximate the intersection of the top wall and the front wall to a second end positioned within the right side wall. Similarly, this embodiment further includes a second left side wall fold line in the left side wall extending in a general diagonal direction downwardly and away from the front wall from a first end proximate the intersection of the top wall and the front wall to a second end positioned within the left side wall. In yet other embodiments, the second end of the first right side wall fold line and the second end of the second right side wall fold line meet at a point such that the first and second right side wall fold lines define a V-shaped facet in the right side wall, and, similarly, the second end of the first left side wall fold line and the second end of the second left side wall fold line meet at a point such that the first and second left side wall fold lines define a V-shaped facet in the left side wall, the V-shaped facet in the left side wall mirroring the V-shaped facet in the right side wall. In yet other embodiments, the rear wall fold line extends across the rear wall at a position vertically aligned with the second end of the first side wall fold line.
A collapsible container in accordance with the present invention is shown in
The container 10 includes a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, a left side wall 20, a right side wall 22, a top wall 24 and a bottom wall 26. The left and right side walls 20, 22 interconnect the front wall 16 with the rear wall 18 and the bottom wall 26 with the top wall 24. Similarly, the top wall 24 interconnects with the front wall 16, the rear wall 18, the left side wall 20 and the right side wall 22, as does the bottom wall 26. The transitions between the various walls may be slightly rounded or angled, as seen in the figures, for example at the transition 28 between the rear wall 18 and the top wall 24.
It should be appreciated that all of the terms respecting the orientation of various walls (front, rear, left, right, top, bottom) are all relative and do not in any way limit the present invention. Indeed, in some embodiments, the container 10 may be oriented such that the bottom wall 26 is actually a top wall. However, in a particular embodiment in which the collapsible container of this invention is employed in an inverted orientation, as shown in
The various aforementioned walls, and, in some instances, the neck 14, define a container volume for holding product to be dispensed. When the collapsible container 10 is sealed such that there is no venting of the container and air cannot enter the container to replace removed product, the removal of product causes the container 10 to collapse. More particularly, the left side wall 20 includes a first left side wall fold line 30 that extends in a general diagonal direction downwardly (in the orientation shown) and away from the rear wall 18 from a first end 31, proximate the intersection of the top wall 24 and the rear wall 18, to a second end 32 positioned within the surface area defined by the left side wall 20. In particular embodiments, such as that shown, the second end 32 terminates at the horizontal center of the left side wall 20. Similarly, the right side wall 22 includes a first right side fold line 34 that extends in a general diagonal direction downwardly and away from the rear wall 18 from a first end 35 proximate the intersection of the top wall 24 and the rear wall 18 to a second end 36 positioned within the surface area defined by the right side wall 22. In particular embodiments, this first right side wall fold line 34 extends to a second end 36 that terminates at the horizontal center of the right side wall 22.
These and other “fold lines” disclosed herein are defined by slight detents formed in the surface of the various walls in which they are positioned. In other embodiments, they may be formed by creases pre-formed into the wall surfaces. In particular embodiments, they are detents that extend in the direction in which the fold line moves during collapse, as perhaps best seen at fold line 38 in
Though other materials will be found useful in accordance with this invention and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, in particular embodiments the collapsible container is formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is blow molded from a perform to inflate against a mold that provides the final shape of the container. In such a PET, blow molded embodiment, the aforementioned detents that provide the fold lines are formed in the mold so as to be imparted to the container upon forming the container.
The rear wall 18 includes a rear wall fold line 38 that extends across the rear wall 18 to separate the rear wall 18 into a first facet 40 and a second facet 42. In particular embodiments, the rear wall fold line 38 extends horizontally across the rear wall at a position vertically aligned with the second end 32 of the first left side wall fold line 30. In other embodiments, the rear wall fold line 38 is also vertically aligned with the second end 36 of the first right side wall fold line 34. Indeed, in particular embodiments, the first left side wall fold line 30 and the first right side wall fold line 34 are positioned in their respective side walls so as to be mirror images of one another, and the rear wall fold line 38 extends across the rear wall 18 at a positioned vertically aligned with both the second end 32 and the second end 36. The rear wall fold line 38 separates the rear wall 18 into a first facet 40, extending above the rear wall fold line 38 and a second facet 42 extending below the rear wall fold line 38. In particular embodiments, the first facet 40 is defined between the rear wall fold line 38 and the top wall 24, and the second facet 42 is defined between the rear wall fold line 38 and the bottom wall 26.
In a particular embodiment that is more simplified than the specific embodiment shown, the container 10 is provided with the aforementioned first left side wall fold line 30, first right side wall fold line 34 and rear wall fold line 38, and, when the container is sealed such that the removal of product causes the container volume to decrease, the container folds along the first right side wall fold line 34, the first left side wall fold line 30 and the rear wall fold line 38 such that the first facet 40 folds down toward the second facet 42, resulting a more controlled collapsing of the container. The more controlled collapsing is realized because the container tends to collapse along the aforementioned fold lines 30, 34, 38, and thus collapse in a repeatable manner, and portions of the container tend to remain more substantially flat as compared to collapsible containers of the prior art. Additionally, the front wall 16 is devoid of any fold line that would mimic the structure and function of the rear wall fold line 38, and, as a result of such structure, the folding at the rear wall fold line 38 is not simulated at the front wall 16. Instead, the front wall 16 remains more distinctly flat and non-folded as compared to the rear wall 18, which folds about the rear wall fold line 38. The top wall 24 also remains substantially flat in one or more embodiments, the top wall 24 pivoting downwardly at a pivot point proximate the joining of the top wall 24 and the front wall 16, as the first facet 40 folds down toward the second facet 42. In the present example, the first facet 40 and second facet 42 tend to remain more substantially flat during the collapsing of the container, which further tends to keep the top wall 24 substantially flat. Without the fold lines the container would instead warp and collapse in a more random manner without substantially flat facets.
In other embodiments, the collapsible container 10 further includes a second left side wall fold line 44 in the left side wall 20 that extends (in the orientation shown) in a general diagonal direction downwardly and away from the front wall 16 from a first end 45 proximate the intersection of the top wall 24 and the front wall 16 to a second end 46 positioned within the left side wall 20. In other embodiments, such as the embodiment specifically shown, this second left side wall fold line 44 extends to a horizontal center of the left side wall 20 such that it intersects with the first left side wall fold line 30 and creates a general V-shape with the first left side wall fold line 30. That is, the first left side wall fold line 30 and the second left side wall fold line 44 meet at a point and define a V-shaped facet 47 in the left side wall 20, the V-shaped facet 47 being defined between the first and second left side wall fold lines 30, 44 and the top wall 24.
Similarly, in particular embodiments, the collapsible container 10 further includes a second right side wall fold line 48 in the right side wall 22 that extends (in the orientation shown) in a general diagonal direction downwardly and away from the front wall 16 from a first end 49 proximate the intersection of the top wall 24 and the front wall 16 to a second end 50 positioned within the right side wall 22. In other embodiments, such as the embodiment specifically shown, this second right side wall fold line 48 extends to a horizontal center of the right side wall 22 such that it intersects with the first right side wall fold line 34 and creates a general V shape with the first right side wall fold line 34. That is, the first right side wall fold line 34 and the second right side wall fold line 48 meet at a point and define a V-shaped facet 51 in the right side wall 22, the V-shaped facet 51 being defined between the first and second right side wall fold lines 34, 48 and the top wall 24.
In yet other embodiments, such as that specifically shown in
As can be seen in
With continued reference to
In particular embodiments as disclosed above, the front wall 24 does not include a fold line that would mimic the folding experienced at the rear wall 18. In other embodiments, the front wall 24 is completely devoid of fold lines. Referring back to
In the particular embodiment shown, a lug 69 is formed extending from the bottom wall 68, the bottom wall 26 and the neck 14. This lug 69 strengthens the container 10 at the transition between the front wall 16 and the bottom wall 26 and the neck 14 such that it strengthens the front wall 14 against buckling and folding at the area proximate the bottom wall 26 and the transition to the neck 14.
In particular embodiments, such as that shown, the walls 62-68 extend generally orthogonal to the front wall 16, and the window face extends generally parallel to (and forms part of) the front wall 16. The window face 70 is provided for a purpose that will be described in more detail below, and it should be appreciated that embodiments of this invention need not have a window face 70. Without a window face 70, the front wall 16 could instead include geometries such as ribs or other protrusions to cause the front wall 16 to resist collapsing toward the rear wall 18. In other embodiments, it may be desirable to permit the collapsing of the front wall 16, and, thus no such geometries need be employed. In the particular embodiment shown, however, the front wall 16 is intended to resist collapsing, and, in addition to the walls 62-68, other vertical geometries 72 and horizontal geometries 74 are employed to reinforce the front wall 16. The various geometries reinforce the front wall 16 so that it resists buckling and collapsing to a greater extent than the side walls and rear wall containing no reinforcing geometries and instead containing purposefully placed fold lines. Some advantages of this structure are specifically noted below.
As seen in
A container and pump combination has been disclosed with respect to
This reinforcement of the front wall 16 is particularly advantageous when the collapsible container is transparent at the front wall 16 and the front wall 202 of the dispenser housing 200 is provided with a sight window 204. Keeping the front wall 16 of the container 10 close to the sight window 204 helps ensure that users of or service personnel for the dispenser 300 can readily view the level of the product in the container 10. Additionally, as the container 10 collapses, with the front wall 16 remaining significantly flat and in close proximity to the sight window 204, the container appears to the user viewing the contents through the sight window 204 to be fuller than would be appreciated if the side view could be seen by the user. Because the front wall 16 does not significantly collapse or buckle until the container 10 is closer to being empty, the collapsing of the side and rear walls forces product to appear at a high level on the front wall 16. This is advantageous because studies have shown that end users consider a dispenser with a fuller container and/or a container that does not appear to be buckled or collapsed to be more hygienic and desirable to use. In the specific embodiment shown, the front wall 16 includes a window face 70 that is generally aligned with and shaped similarly to the site window 204. The walls 62-68 defining the window face 70 prevent the front wall 16 and window face 70 from buckling and collapsing, and thus provide the benefits mentioned above.
In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present invention significantly advances the art by providing a collapsible container that is structurally and functionally improved in a number of ways. While particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby inasmuch as variations on the invention herein will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the invention shall be appreciated from the claims that follow.
