GB2192618A - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container which may be semi- or completely flexible is provided with an orifice 8 in one wall and a stopper 3 located within the container interior when said orifice is open, the stopper being connected to or an integral part of the same or another wall of the container, at least part of the container being flexible to permit push-fitting of the stopper into sealing engagement with the orifice 8. The container is made by moulding or machining, or may be assembled by bonding together individual sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to containers This invention concerns improvements in or relating to containers. More particularly, the invention is concerned with containers for receiving liquid or particulate solid matter and which include a sealable orifice.

Many different types of container are known and there are a variety of methods to open and close the orifice in a container and the existing methods have certain disadvantages.

Within the field of, e.g. containers for liquid consumable products, it is known to use a push-fitting cap which is generally secured to the container at its exterior surface to prevent unintentional loss. For those containers of this type utilizing detachable caps there is a risk of loss or inadvertent contact with an undesirable surface such as a floor. For those push-fit caps which- are connected to the container, the presence of the cap can obstruct the main purpose of the container which is to store and retrieve the contents.

It is also known to seal such containers utilizing corks, screw caps and hinged tabs. All of these are applied to the container from its outside. Such containers need to be rigid to provide an easy seal of its orifice by a screw cap or cork and the like. These closure devices often require separate manufacture from the container and can provide a trap for dirt and the like. These types of closure are unsuitable for soft or flexible packets, which packets are advantageous in a number of respects.

It is from a consideration of the shortcomings of existing containers and stoppers therefor that has led to the development of the present invention.

According to this invention there is provided a container having an orifice and a stopper therefor, the stopper located within the container interior when said orifice is open, the stopper being connected to or an integral part of a wall of the container, at least part of the container being flexible to permit push-fitting of the stopper into sealing engagement with the orifice.

In one embodimept of the invention the stopper is separate from but connected to a wall of the container which includes the orifice. In another embodiment of the invention the stopper is located on a wall of the container disposed opposite the orifice. In such embodiment it is preferred that the stopper is an integrally formed part of that wall.

The whole container may be substantially flexible and the container and/or stopper may conveniently be formed by a suitable moulding process. Containers may be fabricated in accordance with the invention from a plurality of separate individual segments. The segments can be secured together to form the,final container.

Conveniently the container and/or stopper may be made of plastics material or elastomeric material such as flexible latex material which may be self-curing.

Preferably the orifice in the container wall is reinforced by suitable means. The orifice may include an outwardly projecting extension either as an integrally formed part or as an accessory which may be inserted into the container orifice for loading or unloading the contents of the container.

Included within the scope of this invention are sealed containers which contain liquid and/or solid material. The material may be a consumable foodstuff product or the material may be non-edible as the case may be.

in general, the stopper may be positioned opposite the orifice but is located at the interior of the container. By appropriate formation of the container walls a convenient-to-use stopper and orifice arrangement is provided which requires only simple push-fit pressure to close or open the orifice.

The present invention may thus provide advantages over existing container/stopper arrangements such as (i) no external cap is provided which may be lost or provide an obstruction whilst the orifice is unsealed, and (ii) the entire container may be made of flexible substance and therefore containers such as closeable soft bags, pipes, tubes and the like which may save storage space cam be formed. Such containers may find application for packaging particuiate matter such as rice.

In order that the invention may be illustrated and readily carried into effect, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1-4 are views of a container according to the invention, Figure 5 is a view of a modified container, Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the stopper is connected to but not integral with a container wall, Figure 7 shows one form of moulding block suitable for forming a container, Figure 8 is a view of a container produced by the moulding block of Figure 7, Figure 9 shows an embodiment of a container made from a plurality of segments, Figure 10 shows a modification to the orifice rim, and Figure 11 shows an accessory unit for insertion within the container orifice.

Referring firstly to Figures 1-4 of the draw ings, a flexible container 1 is made of suitable material such as self-curing latex material. In a wall 2 of the container a stopper 3 is integrally formed, the stopper having a protruding rim 4. In the wall 7 of the container in which the orifice 8 is located, a reinforced rim 5 is provided around the said orifice. A full de scription of methods for forming the stopper and reinforcement is provided hereafter.

The container interior is designated 6 and in this region the stored material (not shown) may be provided. As shown particularly in Figure 2, when the orifice 8 is unsealed by the stopper 3 the said stopper 3 is provided within the interior region of the container.

Also in this Figure the reinforced rim 5 is provided with an integral extension 9. This formation 9 may assist in the application of pressure to the stopper and orifice so as to assist closure and opening thereof.

Alternatively, the extension 9 may be in the form of projecting tabs to improve the shape of the orifice rim, make it less obtrusive and assist leverage of the stopper 3 out of engagement with the orifice 8.

As shown in Figure 4, the stopper 3 may protrude above the external surface of the container when the orifice is sealed. The flexible container may be placed in to the position shown in Figure 3 for loading or unloading contents into or out of the container through the open orifice 8. The absence of an external closure device provides unobstructed access to the interior thereof.

As shown more clearly in Figure 5, the container is modified by the incorporation of a ring formation 21 enabling the container to be carried, for example, on a hook 10. The ring 21 may be an integral part of the container or it may be formed separately and subsequently adhered to or moulded onto the container.

This may provide a convenient method for supporting flexible containers in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, an embodiment of container is shown in which the stopper 3 is connected to the reinforced rim 5 on the same wall as the orifice 8. The connection is by means flexible tabs 11 with sufficient space being provided between the tabs/stopper and orifice to permit entry and exit of material contained within this container. As shown in dotted lines, the container may be of generally rectangular configuration although many alternative shapes are possible, especially where flexible material is used.

Figure 7 shows a form of moulding block 12 suitable for making a container according.

to the invention. The block 12 includes a portion 13 in which the material used may form the integral stopper 3 and portion 14 for forming the rim whereby the rim is made of thicker material than its surrounding wall. Figure 8 shows one form of container that may be made using the moulding block of Figure 7.

The container 1 is substantially rectangular or box-shaped, the orifice 8 being disposed immediately opposite the internal, integral stopper (not shown or referenced).

Figure 9 of the drawings shows a plurality of segments for connection together to form a container and stopper according to the invention. This container is essentially made of two halves 7 and 2 respectively, the first half 7 incorporating orifice 8 and rim 5, the second part 2 including an aperture 17 into which the stopper assembly 16 is secured. The said stopper assembly includes integrally formed stopper 3 and ring formation 21 and the periphery of this item may be cemented to the perimeter of the aperture 17. Also shown is an insertable extension 15 for the rim 5. Such an arrangement may improve the degree of control over the rigidity of hook, stopper and orifice.

Referring to Figure 10 of the drawings, the orifice 5 is modified to include a profiled form 18 of cross-section complementary to the protruding rim 4 of the stopper 3. As an alternative arrangement applicable in this and other embodiments, the stopper 3 may include a peripheral recess in place of rim 4, in which recess complementary rib provided on the rim may be secured, Such an arrangement is optional and not illustrated.

Referring to Figure 11 of the drawings, an attachment 19 is provided having a protruding rim 20 for insertion within the orifice 8. The cross-section of the rim section 5 may correspond to that shown in Figure 10. The accessory 19 may function as a funnel for improving filling of the container and release of contents therefrom.

In a further modification of the container which is not illustrated, the rim is provided with an integrally formed lip projecting outwardly from the container and for assisting pouring of liquids and the like.

In general, the stopper and/or container may be formed by a suitable moulding process such as by (a) dip moulding, (b) compression moulding with thermosetting plastic and a multi-cavity mould, (c) injection moulding or, alternatively, by machining a suitable block of material. If the stopper and other parts of the container are made separately, such as by using segments as shown in Figure 9, then those individual segments can be sealed together using, for example, solvent or dope cement or monomeric/ polymerisable cement.

Any of these cements may be applied to the respective peripheral surface using a dip method by dipping the peripheral joint into cement, applying the part to its final position and allowing the cement to set. Alternativeiy, such cement may be applied by capillary method wherein cement is applied to the respective peripheral surface using, for example, an eye dropper, brush or hypodermic needle to the exterior surface whereby capillary action allows the cement to spread across the surface to be joined.

It is desirable in most embodiments of the invention to incorporate some form of thickening within the rim surrounding the orifice. Suitable reinforcement may be provided by, for example, using an excess of material at the site of the rim, increasing the density and/or thickness of the material at the site of the rim, including a relatively hard ring within the construction of the rim or introducing other strengthening means at the time of forming the rim.

Containers according to the invention can be fabricated from a number of different materials and one suitable self-curing latex is a transparent pre-vulcanised dipping compound sold by Dunlop under the reference AL330. Other suitable dontainers could be fabricated by using a commercial plastisol , being a mixture of vinyl dispersion and plasticizer. There are many commercially available resins for vinyl dispersions and plasticizers and these will be familiar to those skilled in the art.

Containers made in accordance with the invention may be flexible, reusable, sealable and externaily capless. The containers seal from within the inside without risk of losing the closure member. Since the container may be fabricated into a bag, this uses little extra space over and above the contents and therefore in addition to space-saving advantages the containers can provide ease of packing for, e.g., picnics, hikers and campers. Dry foodstuffs may be conveniently stored within flexible containers and such containers, by virtue of their flexibility, may be more convenient to use by the elderly and infirm.

Claims (12)

1. Container having an orifice and an stopper therefor, the stopper located within the container interior when said orifice is open, the stopper being connected to or an integral part of a wall of the container, at least part of the container being flexible to permit pushfitting of the stopper into sealing engagement with the orifice.

2. Container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper is separate from but connected to that wall of the container which includes the orifice.

3. Container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper is located on a wall of the container disposed opposite the orifice.

4. Container as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the stopper is an integrally formed part of the container wall.

5. Container as claimed in any preceding claim, which is substantially or completely flexible.

6. Container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container and/or stopper is/are formed by a moulding process.

7. Container as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from a plurality of separate segments.

8. Container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container and/or stopper is/are made from plastics or elastomeric material.

9. Container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the orifice is reinforced

10. Container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the orifice includes an outwardly projecting extension.

11. Container substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.

12. Container as claimed in any preceding claim, which is sealed by said stopper and contains liquid and/or solid material.