HK1103384A - One piece squeezable container - Google Patents

Description

One-piece squeezable Container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a one-piece squeezable container for refrigerated and frozen products wherein consumption of the product does not require the use of a spoon.

Background

There are already packages on the market with flexible bags that can be squeezed in order to consume the products contained therein. A problem with such containers, in particular for apple preserves, is that the package itself comprises a bag with one or two bellows (bellow) and on the outlet side a fitment with a closure system which is completely part of the package and is welded onto the package neck. Such containers comprise two parts that must be sealed together. This is a drawback because the production costs are high, firstly due to the two parts and secondly due to the more complex production line of the containers.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to obtain a squeezable container comprising only one part. The container of the invention is particularly useful for refrigerated and frozen products, from liquid to pasty texture, but can also be used for dispensing any pasty emulsion, for example in the cosmetic field.

The invention relates to a one-piece squeezable container for chilled and frozen products comprising a body formed by a wall having at its larger section a dimension d1 and a neck with an internal diameter d2, the thickness of the wall being between 30 and 500 microns, and a closing means, said body being made of semi-crystalline PET, wherein the ratio of the volume of the container body to the grams of PET of the body is between 20 and 100. The volume unit is ml.

According to the invention, the above-mentioned ratios refer to a product which can be filled to 20 to 100 ml per gram of PET. By body we understand a container without a neck. Regarding the ratio of the weight of the wall to the weight of the bottom, this ratio is 31.5 g: 10.5g (3) for bottles on the market, for example 150 cl bottles, 12.2: 3.3(3.5) for 50 cl bottles and 25.70: 6.80(3.78) for 1 l bottles.

Semi-crystalline PET in the present context means PET with a crystallinity between 10% and 60%. More preferably, the crystallinity is between 20% and 40%.

The plastic used to form the walls is PET (polyethylene terephthalate). It has been noted that stretching of PET has no negative effect on the water resistance of the containers obtained and that thicknesses of about 30 microns and less ensure good safety of the containers themselves and of the substances contained, while maintaining good squeezability.

In order to guarantee the flexibility required for the above-mentioned deformation and sufficient mechanical strength, the container according to the invention is also characterized in that the thickness of the wall forming the body of the container is between 30 and 500 microns, preferably between 50 and 200 microns, depending on the product to be contained. The thickness of the wall depends on the viscosity of the product to be contained. For paste products the thickness is preferably in the range of 30 to 100 microns, whereas for liquids the thickness is more preferably in the range of 300 to 500 microns.

As already mentioned, it is also possible to provide small thicker wall areas or portions on the body of the container, in particular near the neck and/or the bottom, in order to locally increase the strength of these portions and to allow a good consumption. Such reinforcement is particularly advantageous for filling of the containers or for improving their stability during storage.

When a container of very small volume is used, for example about 0.6 cl, the amount of plastic material is about 1.5-2.5 g. Such containers are capable of withstanding longitudinal loads of greater than about 100 kilograms. The containers are loaded longitudinally or transversely, meaning that the given weight does not destroy the integrity of the package, i.e. does not cause a risk of damaging the containers.

The container has an overall shape that is oval or substantially oval and is designed to facilitate consumption by a consumer squeezing or sucking on the product with finger pressure. This technique also allows any shape where the sides of the top or bottom are curved with significantly different dimensions. As a basic design, a strawberry shape with a narrow portion and/or an inverted (strawberry) shape can be used for the package.

According to the invention, preferably, the body of the container has substantially the shape of the fruit or vegetable it contains. The use of colored plastics significantly enhances the appearance and similarity of the fruit.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the container according to the invention has a circular or substantially circular cross section.

The container according to the invention is characterized in that the body has a bottom comprising a flat or substantially flat portion. This part can be made using all the methods customary in the field of synthetic container manufacture (flat bottom with or without reinforcing ribs, petaloid bottom, etc.).

According to one embodiment, the container may have feet at the bottom which are integral with said body. Three legs provide a good solution for the package to stay upright when filled with product and closed, but should be designed to have good squeezability when opened.

In a preferred feature of the invention, the ratio of d2 to d1 is between 1: 3 and 1: 10.

The refrigerated product is selected from the group consisting of a milk-based product, a fruit-based product and a vegetable-based product. More particularly, the refrigerated product is selected from the group consisting of yoghurt, fresh cheese, cream dessert, fruit preserves, jams and any other pasty or semi-liquid product.

The frozen product is selected from the group consisting of ice cream, frozen vegetables, frozen fruit preserves, frozen fruit purees, and any other frozen product.

According to another feature, any type of product of the cosmetic or perfumery field can also be packaged.

The volume of the container is not critical. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the container has a volume of between 5 and 250 ml.

The object of the present invention is to obtain a container that is easy to squeeze, so that the consumer can think of eating the product inside at any time and place without a spoon: and (6) consuming. The product in the container preferably has a viscosity of between 2000 and 50000 centipoises. Although the container itself has a thin inner wall, the container has high resistance to longitudinal and/or transverse loads when the product is enclosed inside, and thus has good resistance to transportation.

According to a feature of the invention, the container comprises a bulge simulating a fruit seed. Trademarks or company logos may also be placed on these protrusions.

The closure means may be a lid or a sealing membrane. These devices are particularly suitable for consumer consumption as they provide good hygienic protection to the area where the consumer places their lips. The lid can be used for any diameter neck opening, thus allowing the product to have larger pieces (from pulp to fruit pieces below 25 mm). To avoid the cap being swallowed by a child, a sealing membrane is preferably used for the neck of smaller diameter, for example in the region of 10 mm.

The method of manufacturing the container according to the present invention is a stretch blow molding method.

In this embodiment, the body is obtained by blow-moulding a PET preform having a higher stretch coefficient than a standard pre-stretch. Compared to the blowing of plastic bottles at blowing pressures between 30 and 40 bar, blowing at pressures 3 or 4 times lower is sufficient according to the process of the invention. This reduces the production costs and the costs of the machines used. As regards the stretch coefficient, it depends on the volume of the finished container. For example, for a container having a volume of less than 100 cl, the stretch coefficient is between 100 and 300 cm. For a container having a volume of 500 to 1000 cl, the stretch coefficient is between 500 and 700 cm. For containers having a volume of 2000 cl or more, the stretch coefficient is about 1000 cm and above.

Drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic radial side view of one embodiment of a container of the present invention;

figure 2 is a schematic radial side view of a second embodiment of the container of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the first embodiment described and illustrated, the container 3 for refrigerated dairy products, such as yoghurt, is mainly constituted by a body 1 and a neck 2 and has the shape of a strawberry. In this example, the container was filled with strawberry yogurt. The wall 4 of the container has a thickness of 70 microns and is made of PET. The closure of the container is a membrane 5. The volume of the container was 60 ml. In this embodiment, the ratio of the inner diameter d2 of the neck to the diameter d1 at the larger cross-section is 1: 4.5. The outside of the container has a bulge 6 simulating a strawberry seed. The container has a very good squeezability and allows for a sufficient emptying of the pasty product. The use is very convenient.

The second embodiment is also a strawberry like that of fig. 1, but inverted. The container 10 for refrigerated dairy products, such as yoghurt, is mainly constituted by a body 11 and a neck 12 and has the shape of a strawberry. In this example, the container was filled with strawberry yogurt. The wall 14 of the container has a thickness of 70 microns and is made of PET. The closure of the container is a membrane 15. The volume of the container was 60 ml. In this embodiment, the ratio of the inner diameter d2 of the neck to the diameter d1 at the larger cross-section is 1: 4.5. The outside of the container has a bulge 6 simulating a strawberry seed. The container has a very good squeezability and allows for a sufficient emptying of the product. The use is very convenient.

Claims (10)

1. A one-piece squeezable container for chilled or frozen products comprising a body formed by a wall having a thickness comprised between 30 and 500 microns and a neck with a dimension d1 at its larger section and an internal diameter d2, the body being made of semi-crystalline PET, and closing means, wherein the ratio of the volume of the container body to the grams of PET of the body is comprised between 20 and 100.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body has substantially the shape of the fruit or vegetable it contains.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall of the body has a thickness of between 50 and 200 microns.

4. Container according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the ratio of d2 to d1 is between 1: 3 and 1: 10.

5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the chilled product is selected from milk-based products, fruit-based products and vegetable-based products.

6. Container according to claim 5, wherein the refrigerated product is selected from yoghurt, fresh cheese, cream dessert, fruit preserves, jams and any other pasty or semi-liquid like product.

7. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the frozen product is selected from the group consisting of ice cream, frozen vegetables, frozen fruit preserves, frozen fruit purees and any other frozen product.

8. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the body has a volume of between 5 and 250 ml.

9. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the product is a product having a viscosity between 2000 and 50000 centipoises.

10. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it has a high resistance to longitudinal and/or transverse loads when closed, and thus a good resistance to transport.