HOLD-OPEN FOR CONTAINER-IN-CONTAINER DISPENSER

Abstract

A hold-open device for a container-in-container dispenser has an elongate body that is flexible along its length. The elongate body defines a longitudinal internal passage extending along its length and through first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The elongate body defines a plurality of longitudinal external channels extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The hold-open device is to be received in an inner container of the container-in-container dispenser.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a hold-open device for a container-in-container dispenser, and a container-in-container dispenser including a hold-open device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A container-in-container dispenser for dispensing a flowable product includes an outer container, and an inner container received in the outer container (e.g. barrier package, bag-in-can, bag on valve, can-in-can). The inner container contains the flowable product, and the outer container is pressurized. A valve is secured to the inner and outer containers and is in fluid communication with the inner container. When the valve is open, the pressure within the outer container contracts the volume of the inner container, thereby forcing the flowable product within the inner container through the open valve and outside the dispenser. As the inner container collapses (e.g., folds) upon itself, the inner container may form one or more “dead spaces” which are cut off from fluid communication with the valve. Product contained in these “dead spaces” is unable to be dispensed from the dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect, a hold-open device for a pressurized container-in-container dispenser generally comprises an elongate body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending along its length. The elongate body is generally flexible along its length. The elongate body is sized and shaped to be received in an inner container of the container-in-container dispenser. The elongate body including a central longitudinal hub extending along the length of the elongate body. The central hub defining a longitudinal passage extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The elongate body includes longitudinal ribs projecting radially outward from the central longitudinal hub and extending along the length of the elongate body. The longitudinal ribs are spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis to define a plurality of longitudinal channels extending longitudinally along the elongate body.

In another aspect, a hold-open device for a pressurized container-in-container dispenser generally comprises an elongate body sized and shaped to be received in an inner container of the container-in-container dispenser. The elongate body has opposite first and second longitudinal ends, a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending along its length. The elongate body is generally flexible along its length. The elongate body defines a longitudinal internal passage extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The elongate body defines a plurality of longitudinal external channels extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The longitudinal external channels are spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal external channels are open at an outer radial portion of the elongate body.

In yet another aspect, a container-in-container dispenser for dispensing a flowable product generally comprises an outer container having an interior pressurized by a propellant. An inner container is received in interior of the outer container and has an interior containing the flowable product. A valve is secured to the outer and inner containers. The valve is in fluid communication with the interior of the inner container. A hold-open device is received in the interior of the inner container. The hold-open device comprises an elongate body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending along its length. The elongate body is generally flexible along its length. The elongate body defines a longitudinal internal passage extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The elongate body defines a plurality of longitudinal external channels extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The longitudinal external channels are spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal external channels are open at an outer radial portion of the elongate body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of a container-in-container dispenser including a hold-open device received in the dispenser;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container-in-container dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the container-in-container dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the hold-open device;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the hold-open device;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 3 showing the inner container collapsed around the hold-open device; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along the lines 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of a container-in-container dispenser for dispensing a flowable product (e.g., a chemical product or food product) is generally indicated at reference numeral 10. The dispenser 10 includes an outer container 12, and an inner container 14 (FIG. 3) received in the outer container. The outer container 12 is pressurized with a propellant (e.g., gas, liquid) received in the interior of the outer container. An interior of the inner container 14 contains the flowable product. A valve, generally indicated at 16, is secured to the inner and outer containers 12, 14, respectively—such as an upper ends of the inner and outer containers—and is in fluid communication with the inner container. When the valve 16 is open, the pressure within the outer container 12 contracts the inner container 14, thereby forcing the flowable product within the inner container through the open valve and outside the dispenser 10. As explained in more detail below, the dispenser 10 includes a hold-open device 18 received in the inner container 14. The hold-open device 18, in one embodiment, is free-floating in the inner container 14, in that it is not attached to the valve 16 or the inner container, and is free in its entirety from attachment in the inner container. In other embodiments it may be attached to the valve 16 or other portion of the dispenser.

The outer container 12 may be generally rigid to maintain its shape and volume when pressurized with the propellant. For example, the outer container 12 may be formed from a suitable metal or plastic material having a suitable thickness. The illustrated outer container 12 include a curl 20 (i.e. bead) to which the valve 16 and the inner container 14 may be secured, such as by crimping the valve on the curl so that a lip of the inner container is sandwiched between the curl and the valve. The outer container 12 may be of other configurations and designs.

The inner container 14 is suitably collapsible (broadly, deformable) by pressure within the outer container 12 to decrease the internal volume of the inner container to expel the flowable product through the open valve. For example, the inner container 14 may be formed from a suitable metal or flexible plastic material having a suitable thickness. For example, the inner container 14 may be a collapsible pouch or bag. The inner container 14 is suitable formed so that the inner container does not form tears or openings when collapsing. The inner container 14 may be of other configurations and designs.

Referring to FIG. 3, the illustrated valve 16 includes a mounting cup 24, a stem 26, and a seal (e.g., a grommet) 28, attached to the stem and disposed between and interconnecting the stem and the mounting cup. The mounting cup 24 is suitable for attachment to the curl 20 of the outer container 12. In FIG. 3, the valve 26 is in a closed (non-actuated) position. The stem 26 is movable away from a seat portion of the seal 28 to open the valve 16 (e.g., move the valve to an actuated configuration) to allow flowable product in the inner container 14, via pressure in the outer container 12, to flow between the stem and the seat portion and into inlet(s) of the stem. The valve 16 may function as a “vertically actuated” valve, or alternatively, as a “tilt” valve, depending on the actuator used to operate the valve. For example, when used as a vertically actuated valve, an axial force is applied to the stem 26 to unseat the stem from the seat portion of the seal 28. In another example, when used as a tilt valve, a force is applied to the side of stem 26 to rotate or pivot the stem and unseat the stem from the seat portion of the seal 28, as is generally known in the art. The valve 16 may be of other configurations and designs.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the hold-open device 18 includes an elongate body having opposite upper and lower longitudinal ends, a length extending between the upper and lower longitudinal ends, and a longitudinal axis LA extending along the length. The elongate body includes a central hub 32 extending along the body, and a plurality of longitudinal ribs 34 extending radially outward from the hub relative to the longitudinal axis. The hub 32 and the longitudinal ribs 34 extend continuously along the elongate body from the upper longitudinal end to the lower longitudinal end of the elongate body, although in other embodiments they may be discontinuous along the elongate body. The hub 32 defines a longitudinal internal passage 38 extending longitudinally through the hub and through the upper and lower longitudinal ends of the elongate body. The longitudinal ribs 34 are spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis LA to define a plurality of longitudinal external channels 40 extending along the elongate body and through the upper and lower longitudinal ends thereof. The longitudinal external channels 40 are open at outer portions of the channels and closed at inner portions thereof. Broadly, the longitudinal internal passage 38 is defined by an interior surface of the elongate body, and the longitudinal external channels 40 are defined by an exterior surface of the elongate body. As explained in more detail below, the external channels 40 and the internal passage 38 substantially maintain the patency of the inner container 12 to improve the amount of product that is capable of being dispensed from the dispenser 10. It is understood that in other embodiments, longitudinal external channels may be formed in other ways.

The hold-open device 18 (e.g., the elongate body) is suitably flexible along its length so that the body is capable of deflecting (e.g., bending) as the inner container 14 collapses around and contacts the hold-open device. For example, where the inner container 14 is metal, the hold-open device 18 may bend along its length and generally conform to the longitudinal deformation of the inner container. The elongate body is generally non-compressible radially and longitudinally so that the patency of the longitudinal internal passage 38 and the external channels 40 along their respective lengths are maintained as the inner container 14 collapses around and contacts the hold-open device 18. In this way, the hold-open device 18 reduces the “dead spaces” in the inner container 14 as the inner container collapses (e.g., folds upon itself). As shown in FIG. 7, it is likely that the flowable product will enter (e.g., is forced into) one or both of the internal passageway 38 and the external channels 40 as the inner container 14 collapses around the hold-open device. The internal passageway 38 and/or one or more of the external channels 40 maintain fluid communication with the valve 16.

The illustrated hold-open device 18 may be an integrally formed, monolithic, once-piece component. The hold-open device 18 may be formed from a plastic material, such as by extrusion or molding. In one or more embodiments, the hold-open device 18 may be formed from polypropylene, or high density polyethylene, or combinations thereof, or other materials.

The following table illustrates the results of three test runs of container-in-container dispensers, each including a hold-open device as illustrated in the present application. The hold-open device was formed from high density polyethylene by extrusion. Each of the dispensers was tested for the weight of product dispensed and remaining in the dispenser after each container is no longer dispensing product. The below results show that the hold-open device of the present disclosure is capable of dispensing product comparable to a hold-open device that includes a metal spring.

TABLE 1
High Density Polyethylene Plastic
Hold-Open
	Can	Full WT	Dispensed	Remaining
	1	212.26	195.22	17.04
	2	212.15	195.34	16.81
	3	212.73	196.23	16.5

Modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A hold-open device for a pressurized container-in-container dispenser, the hold-open device comprising: an elongate body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending along its length, the elongate body being generally flexible along its length, wherein the elongate body is sized and shaped to be received in an inner container of the container-in-container dispenser and includes a central longitudinal hub extending along the length of the elongate body, the central hub defining a longitudinal passage extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body,longitudinal ribs projecting radially outward from the central longitudinal hub and extending along the length of the elongate body, wherein the longitudinal ribs are spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis to define a plurality of longitudinal channels extending longitudinally along the elongate body.

2. The hold-open device set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongate body is an integrally formed, monolithic, one-piece component.

3. The hold-open device set forth in claim 2, wherein the elongate body is formed from plastic.

4. The hold-open device set forth in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal ribs extending along the entire length of the elongate body.

5. The hold-open device set forth in claim 1, in combination with the pressurized dispenser-in-dispenser, wherein pressurized dispenser-in-dispenser includes an outer container having an interior pressurized by a propellant, an inner container received in interior of the outer container and having an interior containing the flowable product, and a valve secured to the outer and inner containers, wherein the valve is in fluid communication with the interior of the inner container, wherein the hold-open device is received in the interior of the inner container.

6. The hold-open device in combination with the pressurized container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein the inner container is collapsible around the hold-open device when dispensing the flowable product.

7. The hold-open device in combination with the pressurized container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein the inner container comprises deformable metal.

8. The hold-open device in combination with the pressurized container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein the valve includes a mounting cup, a stem, and a seal attached to the stem and disposed between and interconnecting the stem and the mounting cup.

9. The hold-open device set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongate body is generally non-compressible radially and longitudinally.

10. A hold-open device for a pressurized container-in-container dispenser, the hold-open device comprising: an elongate body sized and shaped to be received in an inner container of the container-in-container dispenser, the elongate body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending along its length,wherein the elongate body being generally flexible along its length,wherein the elongate body defines a longitudinal internal passage extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body,wherein the elongate body defines a plurality of longitudinal external channels extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body, the longitudinal external channels being spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal external channels are open at an outer radial portion of the elongate body.

11. The hold-open device set forth in claim 10, wherein the elongate body is an integrally formed, monolithic, one-piece component.

12. The hold-open device set forth in claim 10, wherein the elongate body is generally non-compressible radially and longitudinally.

13. The hold-open device set forth in claim 10, in combination with the pressurized container-in-container dispenser, wherein pressurized dispenser-in-dispenser includes an outer container having an interior pressurized by a propellant, an inner container received in interior of the outer container and having an interior containing the flowable product, and a valve secured to the outer and inner containers, wherein the valve is in fluid communication with the interior of the inner container, wherein the hold-open device is received in the interior of the inner container.

14. The hold-open device in combination with the pressurized container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein the inner container is collapsible around the hold-open device when dispensing the flowable product.

15. The hold-open device in combination with the pressurized container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein the inner container comprises deformable metal.

16. The hold-open device in combination with the pressurized container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein the valve includes a mounting cup, a stem, and a seal attached to the stem and disposed between and interconnecting the stem and the mounting cup.

17. A container-in-container dispenser for dispensing a flowable product, the container-in-container dispenser comprising: an outer container having an interior pressurized by a propellant;an inner container received in interior of the outer container and having an interior containing the flowable product;a valve secured to the outer and inner containers, wherein the valve is in fluid communication with the interior of the inner container; anda hold-open device received in the interior of the inner container, the hold-open device comprising: an elongate body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending along its length,wherein the elongate body being generally flexible along its length,wherein the elongate body defines a longitudinal internal passage extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body,wherein the elongate body defines a plurality of longitudinal external channels extending along the length of the elongate body and through the first and second longitudinal ends of the elongate body, the longitudinal external channels being spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal external channels are open at an outer radial portion of the elongate body.

18. The container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein the elongate body is an integrally formed, monolithic, one-piece component.

19. The container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein the elongate body is generally non-compressible radially and longitudinally.

20. The container-in-container dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein the inner container is collapsible around the hold-open device when dispensing the flowable product.