The present invention generally relates to the field of packaging edible materials and more specifically to the field of packaging which allows easy and handy consumption of liquid edible materials by a pump dispenser.
Pump dispensers have become extremely popular for a variety of reasons. Pump dispensers can be utilized in multiple fields such as detergents, perfumes, pharmaceutical products, and the like. In many cases, these products require a high-pressure environment within a main container or the bottle. Such a high-pressure is required to be higher than the pressure at the atmosphere. The pressure differential between the inner pressure and the atmospheric pressure level creates a jet of a gas or liquid released out to the atmosphere. In some cases, the pressure differential between the inner pressure and the atmospheric pressure may be achieved by an airless-pump dispensing the material required to be sprayed out. In such cases, the airless-pump may utilize a spring and an additional sealed container located within the airless pump, wherein the sealed container can comprise a relatively small amount of the material. The airless-pump can utilize the spring to create a high-pressure environment within the additional sealed container and thereby release the material required to be sprayed out, outside to the atmosphere.
In cases which an airless-pump is used, one of the main challenge lies in the fact that the airless-pump is required to reach the material residing within the main container. Furthermore, there is no built-in mechanism which pushes the material residing within the main container towards the pump and causes the airless-pump to be dipped in said material. One of the solution to overcome this challenge may be to attach a long cannula to the air-less pump. The cannula may be designed to reach the bottom of the main container and thereby to be dipped in the material even in cases a small amount of material remains within the main container.
The present invention discloses a Handheld and Collapsible Packaging Container (HPC) attached to a pump dispenser and designed for storage and dispensing of a liquid edible material. The pump dispenser may be connected to the HPC via a container neck attached to the inner sidewalls of the collapsible container, wherein the container neck seals the collapsible container of the HPC. Thus, when pumping the liquid out of the HPC, the pump dispenser may create a vacuum within the collapsible container. The vacuum created by the pump dispenser may be utilized to push the liquid edible material toward the pump and enable emptying of the HPC. In some cases, the pump dispenser of the HPC may be designed to release the liquid edible material in aerosol form. In some other cases, the pump dispenser may be replaced with a pump designed to release the liquid edible material in liquid form. In some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the pump dispenser may comprise a one-way valve designed to prevent the liquid edible material to flow from the pump back to the HPC. In some cases, such a pump may be an airless-pump designed to dispense the liquid edible material without an inner pressure. In some cases, the HPC may be inserted to a wearable coverage designed to protect the collapsible container and facilitate its carrying. The wearable coverage may also allow a person to carry the HPC during outdoor activities.
The present invention discloses a package for liquid materials, comprising a collapsible container for storing said liquid materials, a container neck attached to inner sidewalls of the collapsible container, wherein said container neck seals said collapsible container, a pump dispenser connected to said container neck and configured to reach said liquid material stored within said collapsible container, wherein said pump dispenser is configured to dispense said liquid material by creating a vacuum within said collapsible container.
In some cases, the package further comprises a wearable coverage attached to the container neck, wherein said package for liquid materials is inserted into said wearable coverage. In some cases, the package further comprises a one-way valve connected to the pump dispenser, wherein the one-way valve prevents the liquid material to flow from the pump dispenser to said collapsible container. In some cases, the pump is configured to release the liquid material in a form of an aerosol spray. In some cases, the pump is configured to release the liquid material in a form of a liquid.
In some cases, the container neck is adhered to the collapsible container by adhesives comprising Cyanoacrylates. In some cases, the container neck is adhered to the collapsible container by hot melted adhesives. In some cases, the container neck is adhered to the collapsible container by cold adhesives. In some cases, the container neck is welded to the collapsible container by laser welding. In some cases, the container neck is welded to the collapsible container by heat fusion. In some cases, the container neck is welded to the collapsible container by heat sealing. In some cases, the container neck is welded to the collapsible container by ultrasonic welding.
In some cases, the collapsible container is at a scale of a palm and designed to be held by a hand of a person. In some cases, the container neck comprises a hollow section extending from an inner portion of the container to the top of the neck. In some cases, the pump dispenser slides in the hollow section. In some cases, the pump dispenser further comprises a narrow rod designed to be inserted into the collapsible container and reach the liquid material. In some cases, the pump dispenser further comprises a cap cover designed to be pressed downwards and upwards. In some cases, the cap cover is mounted on bellows member, wherein the liquid material is released from the package when the cap cover is pressed downwards. In some cases, the pump dispenser further comprises a pump tube configured to be inserted into the collapsible container. In some cases, the liquid material is an edible liquid material.
In some cases, the container neck further comprises supporting edges extending upwards from a body of the container neck 505 and designed to limit a lateral movement of the pump. In some cases, the container neck comprises protuberant strips extending from a body of the container neck and designed to be fastened to inner sidewalls of the collapsible container. In some cases, the collapsible container is compounded of films. In some cases, the collapsible container is compounded of films comprising PLA. In some cases, the collapsible container is compounded of films comprising biodegradable material. In some cases, the collapsible container is compounded of films comprising polymers. In some cases, the collapsible container is compounded of films comprising paper. In some cases, the collapsible container is compounded of films comprising metallic ingredients. In some cases, the collapsible container is compounded of films formed with acrylic acid. In some cases, the liquid materials is a cream, or lotion, or emollient, or ointment, or paste.
Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.
In the drawings:
The present invention discloses a Handheld and Collapsible Packaging Container (HPC) for storing and dispensing liquid material. The liquid material may be edible or non-edible. The edible liquid material stored in the HPC can comprise ingredients such as, carbohydrate, protein, oil, vitamins, salts, water, cellulose, medicines, beverage, or a liquid mix of any thereof. The non-edible liquid material stored in the HPC can comprise ingredients such as paint in a liquid form, sun-screen cream, lachrymatory agent, perfume, deodorant, make-up formed as liquid, lotion, cream, emollient, ointment, gel, paste, Ventolin and the like. For simplicity, the description below refers mainly to edible liquid materials.
In some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the pump dispenser 140 may also be designed to move downwards and upwards, and thereby to draw the liquid edible material out from the collapsible container 115. Thus, the pump dispenser 140 can draw up the liquid edible material resides within the collapsible container 115 as a result of pushing the pump dispenser 140 downwards, and then release the liquid edible material out through orifice 130 as a result of loosening the pressure exerted on the pump dispenser 140. The orifice 130 is a portion of the pump dispenser 140. For example, an athlete utilizing an HPC 105 comprises a liquid carbohydrate in a running course. The athlete can bring the orifice 130 close to the mouth, press the pump dispenser 140 downwards via a finger, then loosen the pressure on pump dispenser 140 and thereby to cause the liquid carbohydrate to flow out via the orifice 130 to the athlete's mouth.
In some possible embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the pump dispenser 140 may seal the collapsible container 115 and thereby prevent ingress of air pressed from the outside into the collapsible container 115. Thus, a closed environment with a vacuum may be created while removing the liquid edible material from the collapsible container 115. Such a closed environment may push the liquid edible material towards the pump dispenser 140 each time the user of the HPC 105 extracts liquid from the HPC 105. In some cases, a person may also be able to squeeze the collapsible container 115 and thereby to release additional liquid edible material, contained in the collapsible container 115.
The pump dispenser 305 also comprises a narrow rod 335 designed to be inserted into the collapsible container of the HPC and reach the liquid material stored in said HPC. In some cases, the collapsible container of the HPC may be adhered to the ring member 333 so that the collapsible container may be sealed by the ring member 333. In some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the collapsible container of the HPC may be connected to a rigid neck inserted into the collapsible container and utilized to seal the collapsible container of the HPC. Thus, the rigid neck may be glued or welded to the collapsible container and also glued or welded to the pump dispenser 305.
The pump container 415 can also be inserted into the collapsible container neck 420. The collapsible container neck 420 may be a rigid chassis designed to be inserted into the collapsible container 425. In some cases, the collapsible container neck 420 may be adhered to the inner sidewalls of the collapsible container 425 with an adhesive. In some cases, the adhesive may be hot melt adhesive, for example an adhesive comprising Polyethylene. In some other cases, the collapsible container neck 420 may be adhered to the HPC container via a cold adhesive, for example an adhesive comprising Cyanoacrylates. In some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the collapsible container neck 420 may be welded to the inner sidewalls of the collapsible container 425. Such a welding may be a laser welding, heat fusion, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, and the like. In some cases, the collapsible container 425 may be detached from the collapsible container neck 420. For example, a person utilizing the HPC 405 during an outdoor activity can use and finish the liquid edible material in the collapsible container 425 and detach the collapsible container neck 420 from the collapsible container 425. In some cases, the collapsible container 425 may be thrown to the trash bin after the liquid edible material is used. In some other cases, the collapsible container 425 may be put in a recycle been. In such cases, the collapsible container 425 may be refilled with a liquid edible material and attached to the pump 407.
In some possible embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the collapsible container 425 may be inserted into a portable coverage 430 designed to protect the collapsible container 425. The wearable coverage 430 may also allow a person utilizing the HPC to carry the HPC during outdoor activities. Such outdoor activities may be running, walking, cycling, diving, sky diving, water skiing, rafting, sailing or other sport activities requiring usage of liquid edible material. In some cases, the portable coverage 430 may comprise a concave socket 433 which allows the nozzle 417 to move upwards and downwards as a part of the pumping and releasing the liquid edible material. For example, a user can release aerosol of the liquid edible material by pushing down the airless-pump 410, and allowing the airless-pump 410 to move up. In such cases, the nozzle 417 may move along the concave socket 433.
The container neck 505 also comprise a hollow cylindrical section 525 via which the pump dispenser is inserted into the collapsible container. In some cases, the pump container 415 may be threaded into the cylindrical section 525 in order to reach the liquid edible material residing in the collapsible container. In some cases, a screw thread may be formed in the inner side of the cylindrical section 525. Thus, the pump container may have a corresponding screw thread to allow screwing the pump to the container neck 505. The container neck 505 also comprises supporting edges 515 and 520 extending upwards from the body of the container neck 505. The supporting edges 515 and 520 may be designed to limit the lateral movement of the pump head and maintain the pump head direction to facilitate the person using the HPC to dispense the liquid material to his/her mouth. In some cases, a person utilizes the HPC may also use the supporting partitions 515, and 520 to grip the HPC with the finger. For example, a person can utilize the thumb and the middle finger to grip the HPC by the supporting partitions 515, and 520, in a gesture like a pinch gesture. A person griping the HPC by the fingers may also be able to utilize the index finger to press the pump head downwards.
In some possible embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the collapsible container 610 may be configured to be detachable from the container neck 605. Such configuration may be achieved by an adhesive or welding process designed to allow a person to detach the collapsible container 610 from the container neck 605. For example, a person can utilize the liquid material residing in the collapsible container 610 and then tear the collapsible container 610 from the container neck 605.
The pump 720 may be configured to create a vacuum during the emptying process of the collapsible container 725 and thereby to cause the collapsible container 725 to collapse after each time the pump 720 draws the liquid from the collapsible container 725. The vacuum created by the pump 720 may be utilized to push the liquid material toward the pump 720 and thereby enable emptying of the collapsible container 725.
The HPC 705 further comprises a pump tube 720 residing in the collapsed container 725. The pump tube 720 may be configured to create a vacuum during the emptying process of the collapsed container 725 and thereby to cause the collapsed container 725 to collapse. The vacuum created by the pump tube 720 may utilized to push the liquid edible material toward the pump 720 and thereby allow an emptying collapsed container 725.
In some cases, a person utilizing the disclosed subject matter may be able to squeeze the collapsed container 725 at the upper portion which is closer to the dispenser 715. Such a squeezing may exert pressure on the liquid edible material 730 and thereby push the liquid edible material 730 down to the portion of the collapsed container 725 elongating beneath the pump 720. In some cases, such a squeezing may allow a person to consume the liquid edible material 730 remaining in some portions of the collapsed container 725 which the suction of the pump may not reach. For example, in case some amount of a liquid material 730 exists in an upper portion of the collapsed container 725 close to the dispenser 715, a person may decide to use the fingers and palm and squeeze the liquid material 730 downwards in such a manner which pushes the liquid edible material 730 to other portion of the collapsed container 725 which the suction of the pump can be reached. Then, the person can utilize the dispenser 715 to release the pushed liquid material 730 outwards.
The HPC 805 may also be configured to release the liquid material by the pump dispenser 820 designed to draw the liquid edible material and then to release the liquid edible material out via orifice 825. In some cases, once a portion of the liquid edible material is released out via orifice 825, the pressure within the collapsed container 810 exerted from inside of the collapsed container 810 may reduce. In such cases, the equilibrium point may change, and the outside pressure exerted on the collapsed container 810 from the outside may be larger than the pressure within the collapsed container 810 exerted from inside of the collapsed container 810. Thus, the collapsed container 810 may continue to collapse until a new equilibrium point is achieved.
In possible embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the collapsible container may be formed of lamented films of impermeable material. Such an impermeable material can prevent the ingress of another material, such as gases, flavors or aromas, water vapors, oil, light, and the like, into the collapsible container. For example, according to a possible aspect of the present invention, the HPC can comprise some laminated films such as: A film made of Biaxially-oriented Polyethylene terephthalate, a film made of polyethylene, a film made of Ethylene vinyl alcohol, a film made of aluminum, a film made Polyethylene terephthalate coated with a thin layer of metal, a film made of plastic, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the laminated films may not block the ingress of Oxygen. In some cases, some of the laminated films may be adhered, one to each-other by a high solids and high performance solvent-based laminating adhesives.
The collapsible container may be compounded from polyesters such as polyethylene, Polyethylene terephthalate, Ethylene vinyl alcohol, Polylactic acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoate, and the like. In some cases, the collapsible container may be compounded from films formed of paper, transparent polyester films, films comprising photopolymers, films comprising biodegradable material such as biodegradable polymer, and the like. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the container may comprise acrylate polymer films, or in some cases, methyl acrylate films, or in some cases, polychlorotrifluoroethylene films, or in some cases, vinylidene chloride methyl acrylate copolymer films, or in some cases, acrylonitrile methyl acrylate copolymer films. In some other cases, the collapsible container may also comprise metallic ingredients such as aluminum. In possible embodiments of the disclosed subject matter the collapsible container may nondurable for a disposable usage. For example, a person utilizes the HPC during an outdoor activity can use and finish the liquid edible material in the collapsible container and then, throw HPC to the trash bin, or in some cases to the recycle bin.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but only by the claims that follow.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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250680 | Feb 2017 | IL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IL2018/050153 | 2/11/2018 | WO | 00 |