Patent Application
20100006573
The present invention relates generally to an insert for liquid containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a nozzle insert which reduces headspace within the container.
As liquid compositions are packaged into consumer ready packages, air is commonly trapped at the top of the container before it can be sealed. The air trapped at the top of the container (headspace) results in an air bubble when the container is sealed, which disrupts the composition within the bottle if the bottle is rotated or its orientation is changed. In instances where a specific design is created within the liquid composition in the container, the air bubble can cause damage to the design during shipping. Headspace can generally be reduced by “topping off” the container with a sufficient amount of the composition as to prevent air from remaining at the top of the container. However, this technique is difficult to automate, and therefore must typically be performed by hand. Additionally, “topping off” often results in overflow of the liquid composition, which becomes costly and risks overall quality of the packaged liquid product.
A known method for eliminating headspace is to vent liquid-filled containers. One technique involves a pressure system comprising pieces of rubber, metal springs, and/or soft films (typically vinyl chloride) being used to lift and open vent orifices in a closure when internal pressure reaches a given threshold value. The venting method is heavily dependent on the type of liquid composition being vented in order to be operable. It also limits design options and prevents optimal dispensing of the liquid composition. Another technique is to provide elaborate apertures in a closure whereby gases may leave the system but liquid losses are minimized. A third system, which may be called the pinorifice system, employs one or more tiny orifices in rubber, metal or plastic diaphragms which render the material permeable to gases. Yet another system, commonly called a positive displacement pump, or piston system, employs a mechanism which pushes a composition to the top of a container via a rising piston or pump. However, none of the aforementioned methods effectively eliminates headspace from a container.
Generally, these methods employ a venting closure at the top of the neck of the container. Such a configuration requires manual expulsion of gases after filling, by way of a pump or compression of the container, which forces gases through the venting material. These methods are vulnerable to incomplete expulsion of gases and often result in backflow of gases into the container. Particularly, where gases are expelled by compression of a flexible container, when the container is allowed to return to its uncompressed position, some gas is likely to migrate back into the container.
Therefore, a need still exists for an insert which reduces headspace during packaging. A need also exists to allow easy dispensing, from the same venting closure, of the contents of the package by a consumer.
The present invention meets the aforementioned needs by providing an insert for a container comprising an insert which is adapted to be inserted into the opening of a container, and having an aperture, projecting axially outwardly thereof, said aperture presenting an inner wall surface defining a channel through which a stream of liquid may flow, and said insert having at least one chamber which extends into the liquid product of said container when the insert is inserted into said container.
While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.
While the specification concludes with claims that particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description.
The term “headspace” as used herein, refers to the space between the opening of the container's dispensing orifice and the liquid composition in the container. Upon reducing headspace to substantially zero, there is essentially no space between the liquid composition and the opening of the dispensing orifice. Therefore, the air bubble typically present due to head space is substantially eliminated.
As mentioned hereinbefore, the insert 1 of the present invention reduces headspace in containers which contain liquid compositions. It is particularly important to reduce headspace in liquid compositions where the pattern or design of the liquid composition is considered to be important. Such products include liquid personal care products which exhibit a pattern or design, including multi-phase skin care products, shampoos, conditioners, and body washes. Additionally, in order for the pattern or design of such liquid products to be visually appreciated, the container should be formed, at least partially, from a transparent material. Suitable materials include glass and plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or poly(ethylene terephthalate).
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
