RECIPIENT TO DISPENSE OR RECEIVE A PRODUCT FOR IN SITU MIXING

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of LU101902 filed Jul. 6, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to the area of recipients adapted to dispense a product such as a liquid or a powder in a container containing a liquid product; and/or of recipients adapted to contain a liquid product and to receive a product such as a liquid or a powder from a cartridge. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a recipient which can be used with a container and/or a cartridge allowing a solution to be prepared in situ.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Food or non-food formulations in the form of powder or fluid are very widespread. Said formulations must be stored and prepared under strict conditions of hygiene or safety.

Formulations in the form of powder or fluid can be arranged in packaging separated from the contents in which they will subsequently be diluted or dispersed. For example, the formulation can be arranged in sealed packaging, said packaging being opened to release the powder or the fluid into a container such as a bottle. Said handling is generally carried out by the end-user and implies a risk of contamination of the water or the formulation.

Devices or containers comprising an independent reservoir for storing a formulation are known.

US2005/161348 describes a capsule that comprises a lower cap with a security strip which inserts removably into the mouth of a bottle. The upper part of the lower cap is open and provided with a neck which couples with an upper cap, also having a security strip. A reservoir is comprised within the upper cap and has a breakable bottom; the reservoir also internally comprises a cutter. The upper cap can move axially downwards with respect to the neck and the bottle, while it is prevented from moving upwards. The capsule also includes an anchoring between the reservoir and the neck of the capsule when the reservoir is inserted in the neck. The process comprises a stage of filling the bottle with fizzy water, a stage of hermetically closing the bottle with a capsule containing substances to be added to the fizzy water, and a stage of introducing the substances into the fizzy water before consuming the drink.

US2011/0226770 describes a closure which is closed at its outer end and allows a fluid product to be distributed in a bottle. Problems may arise when the recipient needs to cooperate with the neck of the container, in particular when the neck of the containers show different formats, such as different diameters or different lengths.

Both EP2785305 and WO2018/138186 describe a recipient which is suitable to cooperate with the neck of a container to allow a product contained in the recipient to flow out into said container. In WO2018/138186, the recipient includes at least one reservoir; moveable sealing means to close the opening of the reservoir, and a socket wherein the moveable sealing means comprises at least one ring configured to cooperate with the neck of the container to allow the moveable sealing means to slide along the lower wall of the reservoir when the neck of the container exerts a pressure on said ring causing the opening of the one or more flaps. The moveable sealing means with one or more rings allows the recipient to adapt to the neck of containers showing different formats, such as different diameters or different lengths. In that purpose, at least one ring of the moveable sealing means comprises holding lugs configured to cooperate with an internal relief of the socket to maintain the moveable sealing means in position inside the socket, closing the opening of the reservoir.

The known recipients are interesting but there is still a need for more flexibility and adaptability in the shape and volume of the reservoir.

There is still a need for a device which is suitable to be mounted on a container to allow a solution to be prepared in situ by mixing a product contained in the device, for example, a fluid or a powder, with a liquid contained in the container and that shows flexibility in the choice of the reservoir so that it can be adapted to reservoirs of different diameters, different volumes, different constituting materials or different shapes while keeping good performance in the seal of the assembly. There is also a need for containers that can be used with simple and cost-effective cartridges. There is still a need for a recipient that can be used with containers that show different formats, such as different diameters or different lengths. There is still a need for a recipient that is easy and cheap to produce. There is still a need for a device that solves, at least in part, one or several of the aforesaid problems of the known devices.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, the disclosure provides for a recipient; said recipient comprising:

- a reservoir, the reservoir having a bottom wall comprising an opening;
- a central element arranged at the opening of the reservoir;
- a socket arranged to surround the central element;
  
  the recipient is remarkable in that both the socket and the central element show a lower end and an upper end, and are connected by their respective upper ends by means of a disc with a central aperture, wherein the assembly comprising the socket, the central element and the disc is forming a ring that comes into one piece; in that at least a part of the bottom wall of the reservoir is arranged to face the disc and in that the reservoir is irreversibly fixed to the ring.

From the definition given, it is understood that the disclosure provides a recipient that is easy to cost-effectively produce. The recipient body comprises a reservoir and a ring that are irreversibly fixed to each other so that the seal of the assembly is preserved. The recipient is remarkable in that it provides in a single piece a reservoir and means to cooperate with a container or a cartridge for in situ mixing. Further advantages and technical effects are found in the following embodiments that may be combined in any suitable manner.

For example, the disc has an upper face and at least a part of the bottom wall of the reservoir arranged to face the disc is irreversibly fixed to the ring by gluing or welding on the upper face of the disc.

For example, the ring and at least the bottom wall of the reservoir come into one piece.

For example, the ring and the reservoir come into one piece and the recipient is a blow molded article selected from an injection blow molded article or an injection stretch blow molded article; with preference, at least a part of the bottom wall of the reservoir is irreversibly fixed to the upper face of the disc by welding and/or the recipient shows a weld line on its outer surface.

For example, the ring shows one or more holding reliefs; with preference, the one or more holding reliefs are selected from one or more flats on the outer surface of the socket; one or more grooves or ribs extending along the length of the socket and placed on the outer surface of the socket; one or more lugs on the inner surface of the tube when the central element is a tube; one or more grooves or ribs extending along the length of the tube and placed on the inner surface of the tube when the central element is a tube; one or more notches in the thickness of the lower end of the socket and/or in the thickness of the lower end of the tube when the central element is a tube, a crenellation of the lower end of the socket and/or of the lower end of the tube when the central element is a tube.

The presence of the one or more holding reliefs is advantageous to the unscrewing and demolding with ejection of the article automatically and industrially, in particular when the article is a blow molded article selected from an injection blow molded article or an injection stretch blow molded article, wherein the socket shows an internal relief being internal thread.

For example, at least a part of the reservoir is made of a material different from the material constituting the ring; with preference, the reservoir is made of a material different from the material constituting the ring and/or at least the part of the reservoir is made of one or more material selected from plastic material, metal, wood, glass, cardboard and paper.

For example, the central element is a tube and the lower end of the tube shows a beveled or twisted shape so that the tube shows a variation in length.

For example, the reservoir is dimensioned to have a width greater than the diameter of the opening; with preference, the width of the reservoir is at least 1.1 times greater than the diameter of the opening; preferably at least 1.5.

For example, the ring and/or at least a part of the reservoir is made of plastic material being a thermoplastic material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide and any mixture thereof, or is made of plastic material being one or more polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate.

For example, the ring and/or at least a part of the reservoir is made of a plastic material comprising at least 30 wt. % of post-consumer resin based on the total weight of the plastic material; with preference, at least 50 wt. %; or at least 60 wt. %; or is entirely made of post-consumer resin.

For example, the inner surface of the socket is smooth, or the socket shows an internal relief; with preference, the internal relief of the socket is an internal thread or is one or more lugs. The internal thread can be continuous or discontinuous.

For example, the disc has a lower face arranged internally to the ring and the lower face of the disc shows one or more securing means, or a sealing washer is fixed to the lower face of the disc.

For example, the central element is a tube, and the recipient further comprises sealing means arranged to close the tube at its lower end so that the product contained in the recipient is stored in both the reservoir and the tube.

For example, the recipient is a cartridge which is suitable to cooperate with the neck of a container to allow a product contained in the recipient to flow out into said container; the recipient is remarkable in that the central element is a tube and the recipient further comprises moveable sealing means arranged to close the tube at its lower end, the moveable sealing means comprising a cylindrical body with a higher and a lower aperture, and one or more flaps closing the lower aperture of the cylindrical body, wherein said cylindrical body is dimensioned to surround the tube and to slide along it between a closing and an opening position, wherein in the opening position the one or more flaps are opened by the pressure exerted by the tube on said flaps; with preference, one or more flaps are linked to the cylindrical body.

For example, the socket shows an internal relief and the moveable sealing means comprises at least one collar arranged on the external side of the cylindrical body and configured to cooperate with the neck of the container to allow the moveable sealing means to slide along the tube by a pressure exerted on said collar by the neck of the container causing the opening of the one or more flaps and at least one collar of the moveable sealing means comprises holding lugs configured to cooperate with the internal relief of the socket to maintain the moveable sealing means in position inside the socket, closing the tube.

For example, the movable sealing means comprises two collars distributed along the cylindrical body to show a lower collar and an upper collar wherein the lower collar is the one arranged to cooperate with the neck of the container and/or wherein the upper collar of the moveable sealing means comprises holding lugs configured to cooperate with an internal thread of the socket to maintain the moveable sealing means in position inside the socket, closing the tube.

For example; the socket shows a lower aperture dimensioned to receive the neck of the container, wherein the lower aperture has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the one or more collars of the movable sealing means.

For example, the lower end of the tube shows a beveled or twisted shape so that the tube shows a variation in length.

For example, the moveable sealing means comprise one flap or a plurality of flaps, each flap having at least one side in common with an adjacent flap and whose distal end forms a junction point or a junction line to said plurality of flaps and the lower end of the tube is arranged to exert a pressure on the proximal end on the flaps to open them when the moveable sealing means slide along the tube.

For example, the moveable sealing means comprise a single flap, wherein the flap is connected to the cylindrical body or to a collar by a frangible zone defining a perimeter of rupture, suitable to be ruptured by a pressure exerted by the lower end of the tube to open it when the moveable means slide along said tube, wherein the assembly formed by the flap and one or more of the cylindrical body and one or more collars come into one piece; and wherein the frangible zone is a portion of the flap having a reduced thickness; with preference, the flap is further connected to a collar by at least one hinge in a form of a leg showing an extra thickness portion.

For example, the recipient is a container which is suitable to cooperate with the neck of a cartridge; remarkable in that the central element is a blade suitable to cut the sealing means of the cartridge to allow a product contained in the cartridge to flow out into said container; with preference, the blade is selected from a pick, a bevel or a tube with a beveled or twisted shape

For example, the recipient is a container which is suitable to cooperate with the neck of a cartridge; remarkable in that the central element is a spur suitable to push the sealing means of the cartridge to allow a product contained in the cartridge to flow out into said container.

According to a second aspect, the disclosure provides for a preform to produce by injection blow molding or by injection stretch blow molding a recipient according to the first aspect, the preform comprising a longitudinal body having a base at one longitudinal end and at an opposite end adjoining a neck section provided with a pouring aperture; the preform being remarkable in that the neck section is a ring comprising a central element and a socket surrounding the central element wherein both the socket and the central element show a lower end and an upper end, and are connected by their respective upper ends by means of a disc with a central aperture; wherein the diameter of the longitudinal body is smaller than the diameter of the neck section so that the neck section shows a shoulder at the base of the longitudinal body; and wherein the socket of the ring of the neck section of the preform is smooth or shows an internal relief; with preference, the internal relief of the socket is an internal thread or is one or more lugs and/or the outer surface of the central element is facing at least one internal relief of the socket. The internal thread can be continuous or discontinuous.

For example, the preform is further remarkable in that the ring shows one or more holding reliefs; with preference, the one or more holding reliefs are selected from one or more flats on the outer surface of the socket; one or more grooves or ribs extending along the length of the socket and placed on the outer surface of the socket; one or more lugs on the inner surface of the tube when the central element is a tube; one or more grooves or ribs extending along the length of the tube and placed on the inner surface of the tube when the central element is a tube; one or more notches in the thickness of the lower end of the socket and/or in the thickness of the lower end of the tube when the central element is a tube; a crenellation of the lower end of the socket and/or of the lower end of the tube when the central element is a tube. The presence of the one or more holding reliefs molded in the preform is advantageous to the unscrewing and demolding with ejection of the article automatically and industrially at a later stage of the process injection blow molding or injection stretch blow molding.

According to a third aspect, the disclosure provides for the use of a recipient according to the first aspect to hold a non-food product selected from a care product, a cleaning product or a cosmetic product.

According to a fourth aspect, the disclosure provides for a process of injection blow molding or injection stretch blow molding of an article; the process comprising a step of injection molding of a preform on a core pin followed by a step of blow molding or stretch blow molding of said preform to form an article; the process is remarkable in that the article is a recipient according to the first aspect, wherein the socket shows an internal relief being an internal thread; and in that the step of blow molding or stretch blow molding of the preform is followed by a step of unscrewing the article from the core pin performed before a step of ejection of said article. With preference, the preform is according to the second aspect.

For example, the ring shows one or more holding reliefs.

According to a fifth aspect, the disclosure provides for a set comprising a cartridge and a container wherein the container or the cartridge is a recipient according the first aspect; with preference, the cartridge and the container are pre-assembled and the set further comprises a tamper evident removable seal or tear away band on the periphery of the cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be clearer after reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings provided, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a monobloc recipient according to the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates the preform that may be used to produce a monobloc recipient.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of holding reliefs that may be shown by a recipient according to the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of holding reliefs that may be shown by a recipient according to the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of holding reliefs that may be shown by a recipient according to the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates the injection blow-molding process.

FIG. 7 illustrates the welding of the lower wall of the reservoir to the disc of the ring during the blow molding step.

FIG. 8 is a representation of the outside of the recipient.

FIG. 9 shows a recipient according to the disclosure wherein the ring and the reservoir are separated parts.

FIG. 10 is an upper view of an example of moveable sealing means.

FIG. 11 is a lower view of an example of moveable sealing means.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a monobloc recipient according to the disclosure comprising moveable sealing means in their closed position.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a monobloc recipient according to the disclosure comprising moveable sealing means in their opened position.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a monobloc recipient according to the disclosure acting as a container and cooperating with a cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a set according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the term “comprise” is synonymous with “include” and is not limiting in that it allows the presence of other elements in the recipient or the movable sealing means. It is understood that the term “comprise” includes the wording “consist of”. Similarly, the terms “inferior”, “superior”, “lower”, “higher” and “upper” will be understood in relation to the general orientation of the recipient when used to dispense a product in a container. Thus, “lower” will mean greater ground proximity than “higher” or “upper” along the vertical axis. In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 14. On FIG. 1, a recipient 1 according to the disclosure is depicted, said recipient 1 is suitable to cooperate with the neck of a container (see FIGS. 12 and 13) to allow a product contained in the recipient 1 to flow out into said container. On FIG. 14, a recipient 1 according to the disclosure is depicted, said recipient 1 is suitable to cooperate with the neck 63 of a cartridge 59 to allow a product contained in the reservoir 61 of the cartridge 59 to flow out into a reservoir 3 of the recipient 1.

On FIG. 1 the recipient 1 is depicted without sealing means. The recipient 1 comprises a reservoir 3 which is suitable to contain said product, the reservoir having a bottom wall 5 comprising an opening 7; a central element being a tube 9 arranged at the opening 7 of the reservoir 3; a socket 11 arranged to surround the tube 9.

According to the disclosure the central element (9, 57) can be selected from a tube 9 and/or a blade 57. On FIGS. 1 to 7, 9, 12 and 13, the central element is depicted as a tube 9. The central element (9,57) is advantageously selected to be a tube 9 when the recipient 1 is a cartridge which is suitable to cooperate with the neck of a container to allow a product contained in the recipient to flow out into said container. On FIG. 14, the central element (9, 57) is depicted as a blade 57. The central element (9, 57) is advantageously selected to be a blade 57 when the recipient 1 is a container which is suitable to cooperate with the neck 63 of a cartridge 59 to allow a product contained in the cartridge 59 to flow out into the reservoir 3 of said recipient 1.

According to the disclosure, both the socket 11 and the central element (9; 57) show a lower end and an upper end and are connected by their respective upper ends by means of a disc 13 with a central aperture, so that the disc is arranged at their upper ends. The assembly comprising the socket 11, the central element (9; 57) and the disc 13 is forming a ring 15 that comes into one piece.

For example, the ring 15 can be produced by moulding a plastic material. In the recipient 1 of the disclosure, at least a part of the bottom wall 5 of the reservoir is arranged to face the disc 13 and the reservoir 3 is irreversibly fixed to the ring 15.

Since the reservoir is facing, by means of at least a part of its bottom wall, the disc of the ring the recipient shows two layers at the interface between the ring and the reservoir. These layers can be separated or joined for example by gluing or welding. The presence of these two layers allows more flexibility in the conception of the reservoir and therefore it allows the reservoir to have any targeted dimension or shape. This allows also more flexibility in the choice of the material used to produce the reservoir as it will be seen in detail below.

In a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the ring 15 and the whole reservoir 3 come into one piece. In other words, the socket 11, the central element (9; 57), the disc 13 and the reservoir 3 come into one piece. However, it is also possible that the ring 15 and at least the bottom wall 5 of the reservoir 3 come into one piece. This is, for example, the case when the top of the reservoir is closed by a removable cover (not illustrated).

When the ring 15 and the whole reservoir 3 come into one piece, the recipient is said to be monobloc since it is built into a single piece except for the sealing means. For example, the recipient 1 is an injection blow molded article or an injection stretch blow molded article. The opening 7 of the reservoir which is placed in continuity with the central element (9; 57) is therefore also used to fill the reservoir.

In an embodiment (not illustrated) the socket shows an inner smooth surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates the blow molding process used to produce the recipient 1 of the disclosure wherein a preform 17 has been produced by molding or injection molding and then blown to form the reservoir of the recipient. In FIG. 2, the shape of the reservoir formed by blowing is represented in dotted lines. The preform 17 comprises a longitudinal body 19 having a base at one longitudinal end and an opposite end adjoining a neck section 21 provided with a pouring aperture. The preform 17 according to the disclosure is remarkable in that the neck section 21 is a ring 15 comprising a central element 9 and a socket 11 surrounding the central element 9 wherein both the socket 11 and the central element 9 show a lower end and an upper end, and are connected by their respective upper ends by means of a disc 13 with a central aperture. For example, the diameter of the longitudinal body 19 is smaller than the diameter of the neck section 21 so that the neck section shows a shoulder 23 at the base of the longitudinal body 19.

It is understood that the ring 15 of the neck section 21 of the preform 17 is the same as the ring 15 of the recipient 1 according to the disclosure. Thus, features describing the ring 15 of the neck section 21 of the preform 17 are also features describing the ring 15 of the recipient. For example, stating that the inner surface of the socket of the ring is smooth means that the socket of the ring of the neck section of the preform shows an inner smooth surface, and as a consequence, the socket of the ring of the recipient formed from the preform also shows an inner smooth surface. For example, stating that the socket 11 of the ring 15 shows an internal relief means that the socket 11 of the ring 15 of the neck section 21 of the preform 17 shows an internal relief 25, and as a consequence, the socket 11 of the ring 15 of the recipient 1 formed from the preform 17 also shows an internal relief 25. The indication that the socket 11 of the ring 15 shows an internal relief 25 is valid when the recipient 1 is a blow-molded article selected from an injection blow molded article or an injection stretch blow molded article but is also valid by default when the recipient 1 is an article produced by a different process unless specific indication to the contrary.

For example, the socket 11 of the ring 15 shows an internal relief 25; with preference, the internal relief 25 of the socket 11 is an internal thread or is one or more lugs. For example, the outer surface of the central element (9; 57) is facing at least one internal relief 25 of the socket 11. For example, the length of the socket 11 is greater or equal to the length of the central element (9; 57). For example, the disc 13, the socket 11 and the tube 9 are arranged concentrically. For example, the internal thread is continuous or is discontinuous.

Wherein, the socket 11 of the ring 15 of the neck section is showing an internal relief 25 and the recipient is an injection blow molded article or an injection stretch blow molded article, the ring 15 of the preform 17, and by consequence, the ring 15 of the recipient will preferably show one or more holding reliefs (27, 29, 31) configured to avoid the rotation of the recipient relative to a core pin of the injection blow molding apparatus or the injection stretch blow molding apparatus. The presence of the holding reliefs (27, 29, 31) ease unscrewing and demolding of the new recipient, according to the disclosure, during the production of the recipient by an injection blow molding process as it will be discussed below.

For example, the one or more holding reliefs (27, 29, 31), as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, are selected from one or more flats 31 on the outer surface of the socket 11; one or more grooves or ribs extending along the length of the socket 11 and placed on the outer surface of the socket 11; one or more lugs on the inner surface of the tube 9 when the central element is a tube 9; one or more grooves or ribs 27 extending along the length of the tube 9 and placed on the inner surface of the tube 9 when the central element is a tube; one or more notches 29 in the thickness of the lower end of the socket 11 and/or in the thickness of the lower end of the tube 9 when the central element is a tube, a crenellation of the lower end of the socket 11 and/or of the lower end of the tube 9 when the central element is a tube.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of holding reliefs according to the disclosure wherein one or more ribs 27 are extending along the length of the tube 9 and placed on the inner surface of the tube 9. FIG. 4 illustrates another example of holding reliefs according to the disclosure wherein one or more notches 29 are formed in the thickness of the lower end of the socket 11. FIG. 5 illustrates another example of holding reliefs according to the disclosure wherein at least one flat 31 is present on the outer surface of the socket 11.

In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the bottom wall 5 of the reservoir arranged to face the disc 13 is irreversibly fixed to the upper face of the disc 13 by welding during the injection blow molding process. Injection blow molding and injection stretch blow molding are well-known techniques to the person skilled in the art that will not be described in detail here.

It is nevertheless stated that the preform 17 of FIG. 2 is, in a first time, injection molded onto a core pin in an injection station. To this end, the apparatus preferably comprises an extruder and screw assembly that melt the polymer. The polymer is, for example, a thermoplastic material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide and any mixture thereof, or is a plastic material being one or more polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate. The molten polymer is fed into a hot runner manifold where it is injected through nozzles to a cavity mold surrounding a core pin. The cavity mold forms the external shape of the preform 17 and the core pin the internal shape. The ring 15 is formed at the injection stage as the neck section of the preform 17. The reservoir is not yet formed but come into one piece with the ring 15 as an attached thick tube of polymer, similar in appearance to a test tube.

Then, the preform mold opens and the core pin is brought with the preform 17 to a blow molding station, for example by rotating, in order to be inflated. The preform 17 is clamped into a blow mold that forms the external shape of the reservoir. For example; the diameter of the longitudinal body 19 is smaller than the diameter of the neck section so that the neck section shows a shoulder 23 at the base of the longitudinal body 19. The neck section 21 can be inserted in the blow mold or not. It is preferable that the neck section 21 is inserted at least in part in the blow mold.

In case it is not inserted into the blow mold the final recipient will have at least a part of the bottom wall 5 of the reservoir arranged to face the disc and the reservoir is irreversibly fixed to the ring 15 by means of the central element (9; 57).

During the blowing step due to the pressure exerted on the inner surface of the longitudinal body by compressed air, the longitudinal body inflates to form a reservoir 3 wherein the bottom wall 5 is placed to face the disc 13 as illustrated on FIG. 6, as an intermediate position. Then further pressure exerted by the compressed air resulting in the bottom wall 5 to be pressed against the upper face of the disc 13 of the ring 15 and welded to it. As a result of the welding of the bottom wall of the reservoir 3 on the ring 15, the recipient 1 shows a weld line 33 on its outer surface as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The injection blow molded article or an injection stretch blow molded article is then ejected. In such a case, the person skilled in the art would have an advantage to eject the article before it has completely cooled. The ejection of the article can be made by force by pushing the article to detach it from the core pin. However, in order to preserve the internal relief 25 of the socket 11 when it is an internal thread, the ejection is made in two steps. In the first step, the recipient is unscrewed from the base of core pin on that shows the complementary relief used to mold said internal relief 25 of the socket 11. Then, in a subsequent step, the recipient is pushed to be ejected from the core pin.

In order to allow the unscrewing of the recipient during the production process, and to allow it to be performed on an industrial way, the ring 15 of the recipient will preferably show one or more holding reliefs (27, 29, 31) configured to avoid the rotation of the recipient relative to the core pin of the injection blow molding apparatus or the injection stretch blow molding apparatus on which the ring was molded.

The presence of the one or more holding reliefs (27, 29, 31) is therefore advantageous to the unscrewing and demolding with ejection of the article automatically and industrially.

For example, the reservoir 3 is dimensioned to have a width greater than the diameter of the opening 7 or the tube 9; with preference, the width of the reservoir 3 is at least 1.1 times greater than the diameter of the opening 7 or the tube 9, more preferably, at least 1.2 times greater; more preferably at least 1.5 times greater, even more preferably at least 1.8 times greater, most preferably at least 2.0 times greater; or at least 2.5 times greater.

When the recipient 1 is a blow-molded article selected from an injection blow molded article or an injection stretch blow molded article, the ring 15 and the reservoir come into one piece and are preferably made from the same material.

The disclosure encompasses also embodiments wherein the reservoir 3 or at least a part of the reservoir 3 is made of a material different from the material constituting the ring 15. For example, the ring or the assembly of the ring and the bottom wall of the reservoir is molded and then welded or glued to the reservoir.

In an example not illustrated, the reservoir is made of two parts wherein a first part comprising at least the bottom wall comes into one piece with the ring. The recipient may comprise a second opening on the top of the reservoir. The second opening of the reservoir can be closed by a removable cover. The cover can cooperate with the upper walls of the reservoir by fixing means known to the person skilled in the art, for example, a system of notches, or tapping, or threading or soldering.

For example, the reservoir or at least a part of the reservoir is made of one or more material selected from plastic material, metal, wood, glass, cardboard and paper. In such a case, as illustrated of FIG. 9, the disc 13 has an upper face and at least a part of the bottom wall 5 of the reservoir arranged to face the disc 13 is irreversibly fixed to the ring 15 by gluing or welding on the upper face of the disc 13.

For example, the ring 15 is made of a plastic material being a thermoplastic material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide and any mixture thereof, or is a plastic material being one or more polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate; and the reservoir 3 or at least a part of the reservoir 3 is made of one or more material selected from plastic material, metal, wood, glass, cardboard and paper; wherein the plastic material is a thermoplastic material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide and any mixture thereof, or is a plastic material being one or more polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate.

For example, the ring 15 and/or the reservoir 3 is made of a plastic material comprising at least 30 wt. % of post-consumer resin based on the total weight of the plastic material; with preference, at least 40 wt. %; or at least 50 wt. %; or at least 60 wt. %; or is entirely made of post-consumer resin (i.e. 100 wt. %). For example, wherein the post-consumer resin is a blend of recycled polypropylene and recycled polyethylene, wherein the content of the recycled polyethylene is ranging from 2 to 20 wt. % relative to the total weight of the post-consumer resin. For example, wherein the post-consumer resin is a blend of recycled polypropylene and recycled polyethylene, wherein the content of the recycled polypropylene is ranging from 2 to 20 wt. % relative to the total weight of the post-consumer resin.

For example, the ring 15 is made of a plastic material, the reservoir 3 is made of one or more material selected from plastic material, metal and glass, and the ring 15 is welded to the reservoir.

For example, the ring 15 is made of a plastic material, the reservoir 3 is made of one or more material selected from plastic material, metal, wood, glass, cardboard and paper; and the ring 15 is glued to the reservoir.

For example, as illustrated on FIG. 9, the ring 15 and the reservoir 3 are separated parts that are welded or glued together; and the reservoir 3 comprises a bottleneck 35 at its opening 7; wherein the bottleneck 35 is inserted into the tube 9 of the ring 15.

In an example not illustrated, the ring and the reservoir are separated parts that are welded or glued together; and the reservoir is devoid of a bottleneck at its opening; wherein the tube is arranged at the opening to allow the product contained into the reservoir to flow into the tube.

For example, the central aperture of the disc 13 has a diameter equal to or greater than the opening 7 of the reservoir 3; and/or the central aperture of the disc 13 has a diameter equal or lower than the internal diameter of the tube 9.

For example, the length of the socket 11 is greater or equal to the length of the central element (9; 57); and/or the disc, the socket 11 and the central element (9; 57) are arranged concentrically; and/or the socket 11 shows an internal relief 25 which faces the central element (9; 57); with preference, the internal relief 25 of the socket 11 is an internal thread or one or more lugs.

Wherein the central element (9; 57) is a tube 9, the recipient 1 of the disclosure may further comprise sealing means 37 arranged to close the tube 9 at its lower end. In such configuration illustrated on FIG. 12, the product contained in the recipient 1 can flow into the tube 9 but not outside the recipient 1 when the recipient 1 is sealed. Thus, the product contained in the recipient 1 is stored in both the reservoir 3 and the tube 9.

When said recipient 1 is arranged on the neck 51 of a container, it allows the fluid product or the powder to flow out into said container. The container is preferably filled with a liquid, thus the product and the liquid form a solution. For example, the recipient 1 comprises means 25 to be screwed on the neck of the container allowing the possibility to safely shake the assembly formed by the recipient 1 and the container to mix the product and the liquid. These means are preferably the internal relief of the socket. The user can later have access to the solution by removing the recipient 1 from the neck of the container.

The product flows out from the reservoir 3 into the interior of the container as a result of gravity as illustrated by an arrow on FIG. 13. As an alternative to this, the reservoir can be a flexible material which is suitable to be compressed to force the product to flow out from the reservoir into the container, for example through a valve produced in a resilient material.

For example, to allow the user to safely shake the container and the recipient 1, the ring 15 will comprise securing means 39 that preferably cooperate with the sealing means 37 for that purpose. For example, the disc 13 has a lower face arranged internally to the ring 15 and the lower face of the disc 13 shows one or more reliefs or a sealing washer is fixed to the lower face of the disc. When the lower face of the disc 13 shows one or more relief 39 the said relief may have an additional function of reducing the travel of the sealing means 37 on the tube 9.

An example of suitable movable sealing means 37 for closing the reservoir 3 is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The movable sealing means 37 comprises at least one or a plurality of movable flaps 41. In the example illustrated on FIGS. 10 and 11, the movable sealing means 37 comprises a single flap 41. In a preferred manner, said movable sealing means 37 can control the closing and the opening of the reservoir in a reversible and reproducible manner.

In a disposable version of the present recipient, the movable means are no longer able to serve to close the reservoir again once the one or more flaps have been opened.

Thus, the recipient 1 may comprise moveable sealing means 37 to close the opening of the reservoir by closing the tube 9 of the ring 15. The moveable sealing means 37 comprise a cylindrical body 43 and one or more flaps 41 closing off the lower aperture of the cylindrical body 43. The cylindrical body 43 is dimensioned to surround the tube 9 of the ring 15 and to slide along it between a closing and an opening position. In the closing position, the one or more flaps 41 close the lower aperture of the tube 9. In the opening position, the one or more flaps 41 are opened by the pressure exerted by the lower end of the tube 9 on said flaps, and the lower end of the tube 9 passes through the cylindrical body 43 of the movable sealing means 37. The moveable sealing 37 means further comprise at least one collar (45, 47) configured to cooperate with the neck of the container to allow the moveable sealing means 37 to slide along the tube 9 by the pressure exerted on said collar by the neck of the container thereby causing the opening of the one or more flaps 41. For example, the movable sealing means 37 come into one piece, i.e. the cylindrical body 43, the one or more flaps 41 and the least one collar (45, 47) come into one piece. The movable sealing means 37 can be made of a plastic material being a thermoplastic material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide and any mixture thereof, or a plastic material being one or more polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate. For example, the movable sealing means 37 are made of a plastic material comprising at least 30 wt. % of post-consumer resin based on the total weight of the plastic material; with preference, at least 40 wt. %; or at least 50 wt. %; or at least 60 wt. %; or can be entirely made of post-consumer resin (i.e. 100 wt. %).

As depicted on FIGS. 10 and 11, the movable sealing means 37 may comprise two collars (45, 47) distributed along the cylindrical body 43 to show a lower collar 45 and an upper collar 47, wherein the lower collar 45 is the one arranged to cooperate with the neck 51 of the container.

In an embodiment, not represented, the moveable sealing means comprise clipping means cooperating with complementary clipping means on the socket to be maintained in position for closing the opening of the reservoir. In such a case, it is understood that the clipping means are broken when pressure is exerted on the collar of the movable sealing means to allow it to slide along the tube to open the one or more flaps. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the movable sealing means have only one collar.

In an embodiment, the recipient 1, the socket 11 shows a lower aperture dimensioned to receive the neck 51 of the container. As it can be seen on FIGS. 12 and 13, the lower aperture of the socket 11 has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the collar or at least one of the collars (45, 47), of the movable sealing means 37. When the socket 11 comprises an internal thread 25, the internal diameter of the socket 11 is reduced by said internal thread. When the movable sealing means comprises only one collar, this collar has an external diameter lower than the internal diameter of the socket 11. In such a case, the collar, which is the collar configured to cooperate with the neck of the container, preferably further shows holding lugs 49 configured to cooperate with an internal thread of the socket 11, or with clipping means inside the socket 11, to maintain the moveable sealing means in position inside the socket 11, closing the opening of the reservoir.

When the movable sealing means comprise two collars (45, 47) at least the lower collar 45 has an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the socket 11. Preferably both the upper and the lower collars (45, 47) have an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the socket 11. This allows the moveable sealing means 37 to move inside the socket 11.

When the movable sealing means comprise two collars (45, 47), the upper collar 47 preferably comprises holding lugs 49 configured to cooperate with an internal thread 25 of the socket 11 to maintain the moveable sealing means 37 in position inside the socket 11, closing the tube 9. Preferably, the holding lugs 49 are laid on the top of the internal thread 25 of the socket 11 in order not to be retained by the thread 25 when the movable sealing means is sliding along the tube 9. In such an embodiment, it is understood that the recipient 1 can be screwed on the neck 51 of the container, the internal thread of the socket 11 cooperating with the external thread 53 of the neck 51 of the container.

In a variant (not represented), the upper collar of the movable sealing means comprises holding lugs configured to cooperate with one or more internal lugs (i.e. clipping means) inside the socket to maintain the moveable sealing means in position inside the socket, closing the opening of the reservoir. In a variant (not represented), the upper collar of the movable sealing means comprises one or more hoops configured to cooperate with one or more lugs (i.e. clipping means) inside the socket to maintain the moveable sealing means in position inside the socket, closing the opening of the reservoir. In such an embodiment, it is understood that the recipient can be pressed on the neck of the container to be opened. Preferably the collar or one of the collars that is configured to cooperate with the neck of the container has an outer diameter of at least twice the diameter of the opening of the reservoir to allow the recipient to be opened by cooperation with necks of different diameters.

In both cases, the neck 51 is put in contact with the lower collar 45 of the movable sealing means 37 and the screwing or the pressing of the recipient 1 causes the entry of the neck 51 deeper into the recipient 1 thereby exerting a pressure on the lower collar 45 of the movable sealing means 37. The moveable sealing means 37 is forced to slide along the tube 9 causing the lower end of the tube 9 to pass through the moveable sealing means 37, by the rupture of weakened lines forming a frangible zone on the one or more flaps 41.

Optionally, to assist the rupture of the weakened lines forming frangible zone on the one or more flaps 41, the tube 9 shows a beveled or twisted shape so that its periphery, that is intended to come into contact with the one or more flaps 41, shows a variation in length.

As stated earlier, the moveable sealing means 37 may comprise a single flap or a plurality of flaps 41. In an embodiment (not represented), the moveable sealing means comprises a plurality of flaps each flap having at least one side in common with an adjacent flap and whose distal ends form a point or line of junction to said plurality of flaps and the tube will exert a pressure on the proximal end of the flaps to open them when the movable sealing means slide along said lower wall. The lower end of the tube is in contact with the proximal end of the flaps to activate the opening of the movable sealing means. Weakened lines are arranged on the sides of the flaps and break under the effect of the pressure. The flaps will carry out a rotational movement with respect to their initial positions so that once the flaps have been opened, the flaps will be arranged parallel to the tube.

In a preferred embodiment illustrated on FIGS. 10 to 13, the movable sealing means 37 comprise a single flap 41. The flap 41 is connected to the lower collar 45 by a frangible zone defining a perimeter of rupture suitable to be ruptured by a pressure exerted by the lower end of the tube to open it when the sealing means 37 slide along said tube 9. For example, at least the flap 41 and the lower collar 45 are made of the same material and come into one piece, the frangible zone is obtained by reducing the thickness of the wall of the flap 41. Preferably, the flap 41 is further connected to the lower collar 45 by at least one hinge 55 in the form of a leg showing a thickness portion.

In a preferred manner, even after the opening of the movable sealing means 37, the one or more flaps remain connected to the lower collar 45 of the movable sealing means 37 through their proximal end when the movable sealing means 37 comprises a plurality of flap and through the hinge 55 when the movable sealing means comprises a single flap 41, as illustrated on FIG. 13. Thus, no fragments can contaminate the solution in the container.

FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of a recipient 1 according to the disclosure, in its closed position, i.e. before the opening of the movable sealing means 37. FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of a recipient 1 according to the disclosure in its opened position, i.e. after the opening of the movable sealing means 37. The displacement of the tube 9 through the movable sealing means 37 has allowed the frangible zone arranged in the periphery of the flap 41 to break. The flap 41 cooperates with the lower end of tube 9 to be open. The hinge 55 of the flap 55 nevertheless remains connected to the lower collar 45 of the movable sealing means 37.

The variants discussed in the present application are particularly adapted to applications in both the food or non-food area.

The recipient 1 of the present disclosure provides the advantage of allowing the preparation in situ of liquid composition (solution or dispersion) under the best conditions of hygiene. The reservoir can contain, apart from pharmaceutical components and food complements, food quality products suitable to be consumed in the liquid form by mixing the said product with a liquid contained in the container. As an alternative to this, the product contained in the reservoir can be non-food, for example, a care product, a cleaning product or a cosmetic product. In said case, the tightness of the recipient 1, and particularly of the movable sealing means, allows the product to be conserved shielded from the atmosphere and the deterioration is therefore avoided. If the product contained in the reservoir is in concentrated form, thus presenting a risk for the user, the present disclosure will allow the preparation of a diluted solution without risk of contact. The diluted solution formed could be used without any particular precaution.

FIG. 14 shows the recipient 1 being a container which is suitable to cooperate with the neck 63 of a cartridge 59. The cartridge 59 is in the form of a small bottle with a reservoir 61 and a neck with an external thread 65. The neck 63 of the cartridge 59 is closed by sealing means 67 such as an operculum in plastic and/or metal. The central element is a blade 57 suitable to cut the sealing means of the cartridge 59 to allow a product contained in the cartridge 59 to flow out into the reservoir 3 of said recipient 1. It is understood that the cartridge 59 can be screwed on the ring 15 of the recipient, the internal thread of the socket 11 cooperating with the external thread 65 of the neck 63 of the cartridge 59. The screwing movement allows the blade 57 to puncture and cut the sealing means 57.

For example, the blade 57 is selected from a pick, a bevel or a tube with a beveled or twisted shape. On FIG. 14, the blade 57 is depicted as a bevel.

In an example not illustrated, the recipient is a container which is suitable to cooperate with the neck of a cartridge. The cartridge is in the form of a small bottle with a reservoir and a neck with an external thread. The neck of the cartridge is closed by sealing means. The central element is a spur suitable to push the sealing means of the cartridge into the cartridge to allow a product contained in the cartridge to flow out into the reservoir of said recipient. It is understood that the cartridge can be screwed on the ring of the recipient, the internal thread of the socket cooperating with the external thread of the neck of the cartridge. The screwing movement allows the spur to push the sealing means into the cartridge in order to open them.

On FIG. 15 an example of a set 69 comprising a cartridge and a container is illustrated. In the set, the cartridge and the container are pre-assembled or not. In the embodiment illustrated, the cartridge and the container are pre-assembled in that the internal thread or relief 25 of the socket 11 is already engaged with the external thread 53 or relief of the neck 51 of the container 71. The set can comprise a tamper evident removable seal 75 or not. It is preferred that when the cartridge and the container are pre-assembled, the set comprises a tamper evident removable seal 75. The set 69 comprises a cartridge that is a recipient 1 according to the present disclosure pre-assembled with a container 71. However, in an embodiment not illustrated, the set may comprise a container that is a recipient according to the present disclosure pre-assembled with a cartridge.

For example, the recipient 1 comprise sealing means 37 arranged to close the tube 9 at its lower end, and the container comprises sealing means 73 such as an operculum in plastic and/or metal. For example, the set is pre-assembled so that the tube 9 and/or the sealing means 37 arranged to close the tube 9 partially enter into the neck of the container 71 without damaging its sealing means 73. With preference, the set 69 further comprises a tamper evident removable seal 75 or tear away band on the periphery of the cartridge. More preferably the tamper evident removable seal 75 or tear away band are arranged to maintain a space between the cartridge and the container such as a bottle. In an embodiment, the tamper evident removable seal 75 is partially inserted between the socket and the container.

Once the tamper evident removable seal 75 is removed the cartridge 1 can be screwed on the neck of the container 71, the internal thread or relief 25 of the socket 11 cooperating with the external thread 53 or relief of the neck 51 of the container 71. The screwing movement allows the opening of the movable sealing means 37. In an embodiment not illustrated, the cartridge is pushed toward the container.

The displacement of the tube 9 through the movable sealing means 37 has allowed the frangible zone arranged in the periphery of the flap 41 to break. The flap 41 cooperates with the lower end of tube 9 to be open. The flap 41 and the lower end of tube 99 will also cut the sealing means 73 of the container. The product contained in the cartridge 1 can therefore flow out into the container 71.

RECIPIENT TO DISPENSE OR RECEIVE A PRODUCT FOR IN SITU MIXING

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