DISPOSABLE TRAVEL POUCH

Abstract

A disposable travel pouch, a method of making a disposable travel pouch and a method of using a disposable travel pouch. The pouch is sized to accept a quantity of fluent materials such that even when full does not exceed permissible maximums under governmental commercial airline passenger regulations. The construction of the pouch is such that it has sufficient flexibility to allow a substantial entirety of the fluent material contained within to be dispensed by squeezing. A filling structure and a dispensing structure cooperate to allow ease of both filling and dispensing operations, while also allowing a user to switch between a relatively large diameter spout in the filling structure and a relatively small diameter spout in the dispensing structure. The filling structure may be integrally-formed with a body of the pouch while the dispensing structure is separately attachable. An additional closure may be included with the dispensing structure.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a pouch for storing flowable substances during travel, and more particularly to portable travel pouch that can be filled, dispensed from and then disposed after a single use.

Travel bottles used by commercial airline passengers must be configured to comply with governmental air travel rules. For example, in the United States of America, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits carry-on versions of these containers to those capable of holding no more than 100 milliliters (roughly 3.4 ounces) of fluid, semi-solid or other flowable substances. Moreover, the TSA requires that these containers must fit into a separate quart-sized resealable bag.

While there are numerous such containers on the market, travel bottles currently suffer from various disadvantages. Their configuration is cumbersome and inconvenient for a traveler who wants to take shampoo, lotion or related liquids on a commercial flight. In one example, they are made to be reused through refilling. These travel bottles have a single screw-cap that is used for both dispensing and filling the latter of which is compromised by having a single relatively small opening, often no more than about 15 millimeters in diameter. Moreover, known travel bottles are hard or made of silicone with rigidly-defined dimensions to further promote such reusability. In the case of viscous fluids, this can result in significant waste, as there is a tendency for at least some of the product to adhere to the inner wall of the non-collapsible bottle. In addition, these rigidly-defined dimensions are resistant to the amount of pressure being placed on the container making it difficult for the user to control how much product is dispensed. In another example, container configurations where multiple caps are used are part of a larger liquid container system that emphasizes refillable, reusable attributes. These configurations are expensive, and require repeated cleaning and related maintenance in order to keep them operable. Furthermore, these travel bottles have a tendency to leak during flight due to an expanding void between the screw cap and hard plastic or silicone of the container.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a disposable travel pouch is disclosed. The pouch includes a squeezable body, a filling structure and a dispensing structure. The squeezable body has an internal volumetric region that can contain no more than about 100 milliliters of a flowable substance. The filling structure is secured to the squeezable body and includes a port defined therein that permits the introduction of a fluid into the volumetric region. The dispensing structure is secured to the squeezable body through the filling structure and includes a port that permits the removal of the fluid that has been placed within the volumetric region. The port of the dispensing structure is smaller than the port of the filling structure.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of making a disposable travel pouch is disclosed. The method includes forming a squeezable body to define a volumetric region therein that is configured to contain no more than about 100 milliliters of a flowable substance, securing a filling structure to the squeezable body and providing a dispensing structure that is configured to be secured to the squeezable body through the filling structure. In this way, a port defined in the filling structure establishes fluid communication with the volumetric region, while—when connected—the dispensing structure with a port defined therein permits the removal of a fluid contained within the volumetric region. The filling structure port is larger than the dispensing structure port.

According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a disposable travel pouch is disclosed. The method includes attaching a filling structure to squeezable body such that a volumetric region defined within the squeezable body is configured to contain no more than about 100 milliliters of a flowable substance. The volumetric region is fluidly coupled to the filling structure through a port defined in the filling structure to establish fluid communication between them. The method additionally includes providing a selectively attachable dispensing structure that defines a port therein such that upon attaching the dispensing structure to the filling structure, a flowpath formed between them permits the removal of a fluid contained within the volumetric region. The disposable travel pouch is configured such that the filling structure port is larger than the dispensing structure port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present disclosure can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of a disposable travel pouch in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts a lower perspective view of the filling structure and dispensing structure of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state;

FIG. 3 depicts an upper perspective view of the filling structure and dispensing structure of FIG. 2, now in an assembled state;

FIG. 4 depicts the filling structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 in isolation;

FIG. 5A depicts an upper perspective view of the dispensing structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 in isolation and in an open position;

FIG. 5B depicts a lower perspective view of the dispensing structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 in isolation and in an open position;

FIG. 6 depicts a lower perspective view of the dispensing structure and filling structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 in an assembled state and in an open position; and

FIG. 7 depicts an exploded view of a disposable travel pouch in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present disclosure, a small, clear disposable pouch that has sufficient flexibility to allow a substantial entirety of a liquid or other fluid material contained therein to be dispensed by squeezing, while also allowing a user to switch between a relatively large diameter filling structure in the spout and a relatively small dispensing structure, is disclosed. In one non-limiting form, the spout of the filling structure has a roughly 22 millimeter diameter, while the dispensing structure has a roughly 5 millimeter diameter. An example of a pouch according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1, with an integrally-formed filling structure and separately attachable dispensing structure with an additional closure.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a disposable travel pouch 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The disposable travel pouch 10 includes a body 20, filling structure 30 and dispensing structure 40. In one form, one or more of the body 20, filling structure 30 and dispensing structure 40 are made from a plastic material such as a polypropylene-based material, a silicone-based material or a polyethylene-based material.

In one form, an internal volumetric region V is capable of holding up to 100 milliliters of liquid or other fluid or fluent material, such as paste and other viscous materials, powders, granules or the like. In one particular form, the construction of the body 20 is such that it can be deformed (such as to change the size of the volumetric region V) by squeezing. Within the present context, body 20 is deemed to be squeezable when a pressure (for example, radial, axial or the like, such as applied by gripping or related hand movements) applied to the body 20 results in its deformation in order to produce a reduction in the volumetric capacity of the body 20 to contain the flowable substance disposed therein. In one form, such squeezability is elastic in nature such that upon removal of the pressure, the body 20 substantially returns to its as-designed (that is to say, undeformed) shape, while in another form, such squeezability is plastic in nature such that upon removal of the pressure, the body 20 remains deformed with an attendant reduction in the size of the volumetric region V. The squeezable nature of the construction of the body 20 imparts flexibility to the travel pouch 10 which in turn allows it to be flattened in a manner similar to a tube of toothpaste in order to avoid waste of the product contained inside.

In one form, the body 20 is formed by joining two generally planar sheets 21, 22 of the plastic-based material that have a thickness of between about 3 and 8 mils (i.e., between about 0.003 inches and 0.008 inches). By such construction, the two sheets 21, 22 may be joined around the majority of their peripheries to define fluid-tight sealed edges 23. In one form, such joining may be performed by heat sealing (as long as at least one of the sheets is made from a thermoplastic material), while in another form, such joining may be performed by ultrasonic welding, and yet another may include the use of hot melt adhesive deposited between the adjacently-facing sheets 21, 22. With heat sealing, direct contact of a heated die with at least one of the sheets 21, 22 causes a welding-like melting action to allow contact that turns to sealing upon cooling and curing of the previously-heated sheet 21, 22. With ultrasonic welding, the sheets 21, 22 (when made from a thermoplastic-based material) are held together in a facingly-adjacent relationship while high-frequency acoustic vibrations are applied in order to form a solid-state weld. In fact, ultrasonic welding is beneficial in that it can be performed in a sanitary manner to form a hermetic seal for the soft plastics that make up sheets 21, 22. With hot melt adhesive, discreet beads or strips may be locally applied at the point of joining (such as at the sealed edges 23), or can be applied to one of the sheets 21, 22 prior to joining, cooled and then heated for reactivation when the two sheets 21, 22 are to be joined. In one form, the sealed edges 23 formed about the periphery of the two sheets 21, 22 make up a permanent attachment. Within the present context, an attachment between two separate components (such as the generally planar sheets 21, 22) to form an assembly (such as the sealed edges 23 and related squeezable body 20) is understood to be permanent in situations where the adhesion, affixing or related coupling between two adjoining surfaces of such components is such that in the process of separating the components at the point of attachment, damage incurred by one or both of the components or the assembly is such that either are incapable of performing the task for which they were designed, or at least are severely curtailed.

The filling structure 30 is secured to the squeezable body 20 and includes a filling port 31 that permits the introduction of a fluid into the volumetric region V of the squeezable body 20, the filling port 31 defining a fluid filling cross-sectional area. As shown, the fluid filling cross-sectional area is axisymmetric and defined by a first diameter D1, although it will be appreciated that other non-axisymmetric shapes may be provided as well, and that all such variants are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. In one form, the filling structure 30 is secured to the squeezable body 20 through an attachment between them at an upper sealed edge 24 through a sandwich-like fit between the generally planar sheets 21, 22. As with the fit between the generally planar sheets 21, 22 around the remaining sealed edges 23, such attachment may be permanent through heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, hot melt adhesive or other known techniques as a way to ensure a fluid-tight fit. In one form, the width of the upper sealed edge 24 is greater than the remaining portion of the sealed edges 23 in order to provide a wider contact area between the outer surface of the lower portion 34 of the filling structure 30 and the inner surface of the portion of the upper sealed edge 24 of the squeezable body 20 that surrounds the lower portion 34. The connection formed between the squeezable body 20 and the filling structure 30 is such that a peripheral flange 32 that is formed approximately half way between a bottom-most edge defined by the lower portion 34 and a top-most edge defined by an upper portion 35 provides some measure of structural rigidity to the disposable travel pouch 10 as well as a secure mounting location for the dispensing structure 40. A helical thread 33 is formed on the outer surface of the filling structure 30 about an axis defined by flow dimension (i.e., flowpath) F. As with the sealed edges 23 discussed above, the connection formed between the squeezable body 20 and the filling structure 30 can form a permanent attachment. By such construction, the squeezable body 20 and the filling structure 30 can assume an integrally-formed construction even though prior to being joined the respective components are separate.

The dispensing structure 40 is selectively secured to the squeezable body 20 through the filling structure 30, and includes a dispensing port 41 that permits the removal of the fluid contained within the volumetric region V of the squeezable body 20, the dispensing port 41 defining a fluid dispensing cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the filling port 31. As with the fluid dispensing cross-sectional area of the filling structure 30, the fluid dispensing cross-sectional area is axisymmetric and defined by a second diameter D2, although it will be appreciated that other non-axisymmetric shapes may be provided as well, and that all such variants are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. In one form, the dispensing structure 40 is formed as part of a removable screw cap that additionally includes a lid 42 so that together they may be selectively secured to the filling structure 30. A helical thread 43 (as shown in conjunction with FIG. 2) is formed on the inner surface of the dispensing structure 40 about the same flow dimension (i.e., flowpath) F axis to cooperate with the helical thread 33 of the filling structure 30 to allow a screw-on fit between the filling structure 30 and the dispensing structure 40. When the dispensing structure 40 is secured to the filling structure 30 and the body 20, the dispensing port 41 and the filling port 31 are substantially aligned along the flow dimension (i.e., flowpath) F. As with the filling structure 30, the dispensing structure 40 has a bottom-most edge defined by a lower portion 44 and a top-most edge defined by an upper portion 45 from which the lid 42 may be secured by a hinge 46 to allow selective closure of the dispensing structure 40.

Referring next to FIG. 2, a notional alignment of the filling structure 30 and the dispensing structure 40 is shown prior to being joined through threaded connecting. In one form, the threads 43 formed on the internal surface of the dispensing structure 40 can cooperate with complementary-shaped threads 33 on the external surface of the filling structure 30 to form the screwed-on attachment (that is to say, a screw-based threaded contact) between the filling structure 30 and the dispensing structure 40. In one form, the length of the dispensing structure 40 is such that it can be screwed onto the filling structure 30 until such time as the lower portion 44 with its bottom edge abuts the filling structure 30 with its upper portion 35 and corresponding edge, thereby forming a secure stop. As can be seen, the portion of the flow dimension F that passes through the lower portion 34 of the filling structure 30 may encounter a non-axisymmetric shape (shown presently as an ogive, but to be understood to define any shape that promotes a secure, fluid-tight fit between the body 20 and the filling structure 30). In another form, this same portion of the flow dimension F that passes through the lower portion 34 may define an axisymmetric cross sectional area.

Referring next to FIGS. 3, 5A and 5B, the cooperation between the lid 42 and the remainder of the dispensing structure 40 through hinge 44 is shown. As shown, at least two additional features promote enhanced closure as a way to provide a leak-free (i.e., fluid-tight) fit. One of these a plug 47 that is mounted on (or formed integrally with) an inner surface of the lid 42 to extend along the flow dimension F when the lid 42 is engaged. The plug 47 may be sized and shaped such that when the lid 42 is placed in a closed position (that is to say, when it is rotated about its hinge 46 to form a secure (and optional locked) fit against the adjoining surface of the housing that defines the dispensing structure 40), the plug 47 fits snugly within the dispensing port 41 in order to form a fluid-tight fit. Another of these features is in the form of a snap-fit lock formed by interlocking peripheral rings 48, 49 to promote secure cap closure. In one form, these may be in the form of a ledge (shown as 49) and a radially-inward projecting ring (shown as 48) that defines a slight overlapping (i.e., interference) fit between them. As can be seen with particularity in FIG. 5A, in one form the plug 47 may include an accentuated distal end in order to promote a slight interference with the dispensing port 41. In one form, sealing between the two may be enhanced by making the accentuated distal end out of a resiliently deformable material, such as silicone or the like.

Referring next to FIGS. 4 and 6, a top perspective view of the filling structure 30 (FIG. 4) and a lower perspective view of the filling structure 30 coupled to the dispensing structure 40 (FIG. 6) highlights the difference in the shape of the flowpath defined along the flow dimension F where the non-axisymmetric shape adjacent the lower portion 34 switches to the axisymmetric shape adjacent the upper portion 35. In one form, a transition from the non-axisymmetric shape to the axisymmetric shape can take place in an abrupt, step-like fashion, while in another, the transition may take placed gradually, such as by a taper. As can be seen, the size of the opening that makes up the filling port 31 that is formed adjacent the upper portion 35 is relatively large. In this way, it allows a user that is adding a fluent material to do so with a lesser degree of pouring precision than that required if the filling port 31 were smaller, such as if it were the same size as the dispensing port 41. This in turn simplifies the fluent material-adding task for the user.

Referring next to FIG. 7, a variation of the disposable travel pouch 10 of FIG. 1 is shown. As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the body 20 is formed by joining two generally planar sheets 21, 22 of the plastic-based material to define fluid-tight sealed edges 23. In the variant depicted in FIG. 7, a lowermost sealed edge 23A defines an accentuated surface area and includes at least one aperture 23B defined therein. In one form, the accentuated surface area may be generally triangular as shown, although it will be appreciated that other geometric shapes such as rectangular, semicircular or the like may also be provided, as well as irregular shapes, should the need arise. In one form, the material that makes up the body 20, generally planar sheets 21, 22 and sealed edges 23 is of a high-tear-strength (that is to say, it has a high degree of notch toughness) plastic such as polyurethane, although reinforced versions of other materials (such as silicone-based ones as previous-discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1) may also be used in situations where weight concerns may dictate that such increased tear-strength is needed.

A string 50 may be threaded through the aperture 23B in order to provide the travel pouch 10 the ability to function as a hanging assembly such that it can be attached to a hook, shower caddy or other wall-mounted device. In one form, the string 50 may be about four feet in total length, although shorter or longer lengths are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

It is noted that one or more of the following claims utilize the term “wherein” as a transitional phrase. For the purposes of defining features discussed in the present disclosure, it is noted that this term is introduced in the claims as an open-ended transitional phrase that is used to introduce a recitation of a series of characteristics of the structure and should be interpreted in like manner as the more commonly used open-ended preamble term “comprising.”

It is noted that terms like “preferably”, “generally” and “typically” are not utilized in the present disclosure to limit the scope of the claims or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the disclosed structures or functions. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Likewise, it is noted that the terms “substantially” and “approximately” and their variants are utilized to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other representation. As such, use of these terms represents the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Thus it is intended that the specification cover the modifications and variations of the various described embodiments provided such modification and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A disposable travel pouch comprising: a squeezable body defining a volumetric region therein that is configured to contain no more than about 100 milliliters of a flowable substance;a filling structure secured to the squeezable body and comprising a port that permits the introduction of a fluid into the volumetric region; anda dispensing structure secured to the squeezable body through the filling structure, the dispensing structure comprising a port that permits the removal of the fluid contained within the volumetric region, wherein the filling structure port is larger than the dispensing structure port.

2. The disposable travel pouch of claim 1, wherein the dispensing structure port and at least the portion of the filling structure port that is adjacent the dispensing structure port define a substantially axisymmetric cross-sectional area profile.

3. The disposable travel pouch of claim 2, wherein the filling structure port defines a diameter of between 20 millimeters and 25 millimeters, while the dispensing structure defines a diameter of less than 10 millimeters.

4. The disposable travel pouch of claim 3, wherein the filling structure port defines a diameter of 22 millimeters, while the dispensing structure defines a diameter of 5 millimeters.

5. The disposable travel pouch of claim 2, wherein the portion of the filling structure port that is adjacent the dispensing structure port defines a substantially axisymmetric cross-sectional area profile while the portion of the filling structure port that is adjacent the volumetric region defines a substantially non-axisymmetric cross-sectional area profile.

6. The disposable travel pouch of claim 1, wherein the dispensing structure is formed as part of a cap that is removably affixed to the filling structure.

7. The disposable travel pouch of claim 6, wherein the cap forms a threaded connection with the filling structure.

8. The disposable travel pouch of claim 7, wherein the cap further comprises a hingedly connected lid that when engaged with the dispensing structure substantially closes the dispensing structure port.

9. The disposable travel pouch of claim 8, wherein the hingedly connected lid further comprises a closure that extends into the dispensing structure port when the hingedly connected lid is in a closed position.

10. The disposable travel pouch of claim 1, wherein a region that defines where the filling structure is secured to the squeezable body comprises a permanent attachment to define a fluid-tight fit between them.

11. The disposable travel pouch of claim 1, wherein at least one of the squeezable body, filling structure and dispensing structure is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene-based material, a silicone-based material, a polyethylene-based material and combinations thereof.

12. The disposable travel pouch of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fluid-tight sealed edges is sized to define an aperture therein, the aperture sized to accept a string therethrough.

13. A method of making a disposable travel pouch, the method comprising: forming a squeezable body to define a volumetric region therein that is configured to contain no more than about 100 milliliters of a flowable substance;securing a filling structure to the squeezable body such that a port defined in the filling structure establishes fluid communication with the volumetric region; andproviding a dispensing structure that is configured to be secured to the squeezable body through the filling structure, the dispensing structure defining a port therein that permits the removal of a fluid contained within the volumetric region, wherein the filling structure port is larger than the dispensing structure port.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the dispensing structure is removably secured to the filling structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the dispensing structure and the filling structure defined a threaded connection between them.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the forming is achieved through a method selected from the group consisting of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, hot melt adhesive and combinations thereof.

17. A method of forming a disposable travel pouch, the method comprising: attaching a filling structure to squeezable body such that a volumetric region defined by the squeezable body that is configured to contain no more than about 100 milliliters of a flowable substance is fluidly coupled to the filling structure through a port defined in the filling structure establishes fluid communication with the volumetric region; andproviding a selectively attachable dispensing structure that defines a port therein such that upon attaching the dispensing structure to the filling structure, a flowpath formed between them permits the removal of a fluid contained within the volumetric region, wherein the filling structure port is larger than the dispensing structure port.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein selective attachment of the filling structure and the dispensing structure is through a screw-based threaded contact between them.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising joining a plurality of sheets of a plastic-based material to one another in order to form the squeezable body.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: defining an aperture within at least one fluid-tight sealed edge of the squeezable body; andconnecting the squeezable body to a string through the aperture.