Container for liquid with a dosing mechanism

A container, preferably a flexible packaging, including a base wall, a front face wall, a rear face wall, at least a first sealing for joining the front and rear face walls, at least a second sealing for joining the front face wall and the rear face wall with the base wall to form a sealed enclosure; the container has an outlet opening and includes a plurality of inner seals for joining the front face wall with the rear face wall for delimiting a dosing chamber, in fluid communication with the outlet opening, and a storage chamber, in communication with the dosing chamber.

This application is the National Phase of International Application PCT/IB2016/057412 filed Dec. 7, 2016 which designated the U.S.

This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102016000007774 filed Jan. 26, 2016, which application is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a container and in particular a container for a refill of a liquid product, for example soap; for convenience, express reference is hereinafter made to liquid detergent for washing machines, but without thereby limiting the scope of the invention.

BACKGROUND ART

The liquid detergents for washing machines are generally packed in rigid plastic bottles equipped with a relative cap.

The cap usually acts also as a doser for the detergent in order to obtain the correct dosage for introduction in the washing machine.

These bottles are usually made of plastic materials, are bulky and the relative disposal is sometimes problematic; the overall size of the bottles also implies the need for considerable space in the sale displays.

In order to limit the proliferation and the consumption of these containers the concept has been developed of “refills”.

The so-called “refills”, as mentioned above, comprise a container, generally in the form of a flexible and deformable bag, also referred to in the trade as a “pouch” or “flexible packaging”, in which liquid detergent is inserted in a quantity suitable to constitute a refill for the bottle and designed to be poured into the bottle once the product inside it has finished.

In this way, the bottle may be repeatedly reused, allowing a considerable saving of plastic, also from an environmental sustainability point of view.

The bags, made, in short, from layered film, are generally provided with a spout, from which the product is free to escape, equipped with a normal screw cap.

Since they are effectively more practical to use, even and above all due to the reduced overall size of the bags, the refills are often used for directly filling the drawer of the washing machine.

A limitation of these bags derives from the fact that, without a corresponding bottle or at least a cap/doser, the product inside them cannot be conveniently dosed and, in the event of direct use, this determines further drawbacks.

On the one hand, if a quantity of product is used which is less than that recommended, the result of the washing could be poorer than expected whilst, on the other hand, if more than necessary is used, there is an excessive consumption of detergent.

In this context, the main aim of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the containers for refills.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to provide a container for a refill which can also be directly used in daily use without the need for further dosers.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a container for refills which allows the dosing of the detergent inside it.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a container for refills which is inexpensive and relatively not bulky.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a container for refills which is more effective in environmental terms and from a cost saving point of view.

The technical purpose indicated and at least the aims specified are substantially achieved by a container according to the present disclosure.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral1denotes a container according to this invention.

The container1is of the ‘pouch’ or ‘flexible packing’ or ‘bag’ type which is substantially known and described only insofar as necessary for understanding of this invention.

In short, the container1is preferably made of layered film, for example, a triple layer film, which is suitably sealed.

The container1is preferably intended for containing a refill of a liquid product such as, for example, detergent for washing machines to which explicit reference is made hereinafter.

In general, the container1may contain any product, such as, for example, bleach, windscreen washer liquid, food liquids such as pulped tomatoes, concentrated broth, products in powder, seeds.

In the embodiments illustrated by way of example, the container1comprises a base wall2, a front face wall3and a rear face wall4.

The base wall2is preferably of the concertina type and extends between the walls3and4in a lower portion of the container1.

The container1has an outlet opening5preferably equipped with a corresponding spout6provided with a corresponding the cap7.

In the embodiments illustrated, the outlet opening5is located on the side opposite the base wall2along a direction Y of vertical extension of the container1.

The container1has at least one sealing8for joining the wall3with the wall4.

More specifically, the sealing8comprises an upper branch9, a first lateral branch10and a second lateral branch11, that is to say, it is composed of an upper sealing9, a sealing10and a lateral sealing11.

The outlet opening5is, for example, located between the first lateral branch10and the upper branch9with the spout6held and joined to the walls3and4in a substantially known manner.

On the opposite side relative to the spout6, considering a transversal direction X of extension of the container1, the container is provided with a gripping handle12.

In the embodiment illustrated, the handle12is, for example, obtained by means of a hole13which passes through the walls3and4, suitably joined together in the zone of the handle12.

The container1has a pair of base sealings14joining the front walls3,4to the base wall2.

The walls2,3and4joined to each other by the sealings8and14define a sealed enclosure15.

The container1comprises means for joining, for example, as explained in more detail below, of the sealings, of the front face wall3with the face wall4for separating, inside the enclosure15, a chamber16for dosing detergent, in fluid communication with the opening5, and a chamber17for storage of the product in communication with the chamber16.

The joining means define barriers to the product packaged in the container1in such a way as to define preferential paths for the product once it is poured outside the container1through the outlet opening5.

The dosing chamber16is preferably made at the opening5and in direct communication, that is to say, without the interposing of conduits or the like, with the spout6. In other words, the spout6is directly connected to the chamber16.

The chamber16is sized in such a way as to contain a predetermined dose of the product packaged in the container1.

For example, in the case of detergent, the chamber16contains preferably between 70 and 85 ml of product according to its concentration.

On the basis of the material with which the container1is made and having fixed the dose which must be contained in the dosing chamber16the dimensions of the chamber16are determined.

The above-mentioned joining means comprise means for pouring the product inserted in the enclosure15, from the storage chamber17to the dosing chamber16.

Basically, in use, as will be explained below, the pouring means allow a user to pour a quantity of product from the storage chamber17to the dosing chamber16in such a way as to obtain a predetermined dose of the product, corresponding to that substantially contained in the chamber16.

In a preferred embodiment, the wall3and/or the wall4are at least partly transparent at the dosing chamber16in such a way as to allow a view of the product poured, in the manner described below, in the chamber16.

In an embodiment not illustrated, a transparent portion of the wall3and/or4at the chamber16is provided with a graduated scale.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 4, in one embodiment the above-mentioned joining means also define, inside the enclosure15, a chamber or conduit18for passage between the storage chamber17and the dosing chamber16.

According to an embodiment, the conduit18extends partly along the direction X and partly along the direction Y.

In practice, the storage chamber17is in communication with the dosing chamber16by means of the conduit18.

In the embodiments illustrated, the joining means19comprise a sealing between the front face wall3and the rear face wall4.

The sealing19comprises a plurality of branches or stretches which separate the dosing chamber16from the storage chamber17and from the passage chamber18and which separate the passage conduit18from the storage chamber17.

In practice, the sealing19and the sealing10delimit the dosing chamber16and the sealing19and the sealings9and11delimit the conduit18.

The above-mentioned pouring means comprise a first opening20between the storage chamber17and the passage chamber18and a second opening21between the passage chamber18and the dosing chamber16.

In other words, the conduit18has an inlet20, through which the product may enter the conduit18from the storage chamber17, and an outlet21through which the product may flow from the conduit18to the dosing chamber16.

In one embodiment, the sealing19comprises a first branch or stretch22for delimiting the dosing chamber16extending preferably between the lateral branch10and the upper branch9of the sealing8around the opening5.

As illustrated, the opening21is located along the branch22.

The stretch22starts from the stretch10of the sealing8and extends towards the upper branch9from which it is separated by the presence of the outlet21.

Preferably, the opening21is positioned at a height, measured along the direction Y, substantially corresponding to the height of the spout6.

In the embodiment illustrated by way of example inFIGS. 1 and 2, the branch22is composed of two straight segments suitably set at an angle.

In the embodiment illustrated by way of example inFIGS. 3 and 4, the branch22is composed of a curved stretch starting from the sealing10and by a stretch parallel to the main axis Y which projects from the curved stretch towards the sealing9.

The sealing19comprises a second branch23extending from the branch22on the opposite side relative to the chamber16, that is, towards the branch11of the sealing8. The branch23separates, in practice, the chamber or conduit18for passage from the storage chamber17.

In one embodiment, the opening20is defined between the branch23and the branch11of the sealing8.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the branch22and the branch23of the sealing19define a Y-shaped structure of which the branch22defines the prongs.

The outlet opening5is preferably located between the prongs of the Y-shaped structure which therefore surround the outlet opening5.

The prongs of the “Y” extend preferably one in the direction X and the other in the direction Y.

In alternative embodiments not illustrated, the branches22and23are curved, in the form of an arc of a circle, made up of segments which are circular or have any other shape or direction.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4the branch23extends starting from the opening21, that is to say, from a free end of the branch22, in the direction X.

The branches22and23are preferably made as a single continuous sealing and indicated in order to better describe this solution.

The branch23has, in the example illustrated, a horizontal stretch according to the direction X and a vertical stretch according to the direction Y.

In use, starting from the vertical position ofFIGS. 1 and 2, in order to fill the chamber16with part of the product contained in the chamber17, it is necessary rotate the container1, for example anticlockwise, until the chamber18is at a lower height, along the direction Y, relative to the chamber17.

The detergent flows through the opening20from the chamber17in the conduit18; if necessary, the pouring may be facilitated by applying repeated pressure on the container1, in such a way as to pump the product in the chamber18whilst also keeping the container1vertical.

Once the chamber18is filled, by a second rotation, the product may be poured in the chamber16bringing the latter to a lower height, along the direction Y, relative to the chamber18.

The product flows in the chamber16through the opening21, if necessary facilitated by a pumping action, until it fills the chamber16which, as mentioned, is designed to contain a predetermined dose of product.

Once the chamber16is filled, repositioning the container1in the configuration ofFIGS. 1 and 2provides the desired dose in the chamber16and the rest of the product in the storage chamber17.

Starting from this configuration, it is possible to pour the dose from the chamber16to the outside of the container1through the spout6without other product reaching the opening5.

The chamber18constitutes an antechamber which separates the contents of the bag, that is to say, the product in the storage chamber17from the dosing chamber16.

The chamber18defines a “non-return” device for the product such that, on the one hand, the product poured in the chamber16cannot return in the chamber17and, in a parallel fashion, other product, in addition to the that already present in the chamber16, cannot reach the opening5during discharge of the detergent through the spout6.

In use, with a container1in accordance with the embodiments ofFIGS. 3 and 4, the product can be supplied from the chamber17to the chamber16through the conduit18by repeatedly squashing the container1.

Alternatively, the product may be poured in the chamber16by rotating the container, in such a way that the product flows along the conduit18.

Once the product is in the chamber16it may no longer accidentally return backwards due to the presence of the conduit18.

The conduit18constitutes a sort of antechamber which separates the contents of the bag, that is to say, the product in the storage chamber17from the dosing chamber16.

The conduit18defines a “non-return” device for the product such that, on the one hand, the product poured in the chamber16cannot return in the chamber17and, in a parallel fashion, other product, in addition to the that already present in the chamber16, cannot reach the opening5during discharge of the detergent through the spout6.

FIGS. 3 and 4show further embodiments of the container according to this invention.

Generally speaking, the container1is of the type previously described and the reference numerals are the same.

As illustrated, the above-mentioned joining means comprise a sealing24for separating the dosing chamber16from the storage chamber17.

The sealing24is made between the front face wall3and the rear face wall4and extends preferably between the upper branch9and the lateral branch10around the opening5.

In the embodiments illustrated by way of example, the sealing24comprises a first segment24aparallel to the direction X and a second segment24bparallel to the direction Y.

In alternative embodiments, as schematically illustrated inFIG. 6with a dashed line, the segment24ais inclined relative to the direction X for imparting greater stability to the container1.

The above-mentioned pouring means comprise a valve, schematically illustrated with a corresponding block25, positioned along the sealing24between the wall3and the wall4.

The dosing chamber16and the storage chamber17are separated by the sealing24and in communication through the valve25.

The valve25can be operated mechanically by means of an external pressure, exerted from the outside of the container1, for example against the walls3and4at the valve25.

In one embodiment, the valve25is preferably of the type which is normally closed and which can be opened by the above-mentioned external pressure.

In one embodiment, the valve25is preferably of the type which is normally open and which can be opened by the above-mentioned external pressure.

In the latter case, the valve25is preferably in the form of an opening which the pressure on the walls3,4closes by moving the walls3,4in contact with each other.

In the embodiment illustrated by way of an example inFIG. 6, the valve25is located to the height of the outlet opening5along the direction Y.

In the example embodiment illustrated by way of an example inFIG. 4, the valve25is aligned with the outlet opening5along the direction Y.

Considering the embodiment ofFIG. 6, in order to fill the chamber16in use it is necessary to rotate the container1, for example, in an anticlockwise direction, to carry the product to the valve25.

If the valve25is normally open the product will pour normally in the chamber16whilst if the valve is normally closed it will be necessary to apply a pressure on it to allow the pouring of the product from the chamber17to the chamber16.

Once the chamber16is filled, the product may be poured from the container1through the spout6; if the valve25is of the type normally open it is necessary to keep it closed, for example by pressure, to prevent additional product entering the chamber16.

The container ofFIG. 7has an operation substantially similar to the container ofFIG. 6, with modification of the rotations of the container1determined by the different positioning of the valve25relative to the embodiment ofFIG. 6.

A preferred embodiment of the container1illustrated inFIG. 5comprises a one-way valve26.

The above-mentioned joining means comprise a sealing27for separating the dosing chamber16from the storage chamber17.

The sealing27is made between the front face wall3and the rear face wall4and extends preferably between the upper branch9and the lateral branch10around the opening5.

In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, the sealing27comprises a first segment27aparallel to the direction X and a second segment27bparallel to the direction Y.

The valve26is inserted along the sealing27and allows the passage of the product exclusively from the storage chamber17to the dosing chamber16and not vice versa.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated by way of example, the valve26comprises an opening28, along the sealing27a, delimited by a pair of guide sealings29; the sealings29extend from the sealing27atowards the chamber16.

The valve26comprises a non-return sealing30aligned with the opening28according to the direction Y; the sealing30is preferably in the shape of an arc with the concavity facing the opening28.

The sealing30delimits, with the sealings29, a conduit18for passage of the product which flows from the opening28, corresponding to the above-mentioned opening20, to two outlets21through which the product reaches the dosing chamber16.

In use, to obtain a dose of product ready to be poured it is possible to fill the chamber16from the chamber17through the valve26.

By turning over the container1with the cap closed, the valve26allows the passage of the product from the chamber17to the chamber16.

The sealing30prevents a return of the product from the chamber16to the chamber17when the container1is in the position illustrated inFIG. 5.

Once the chamber16is filled, the product contained in it may be poured outside the enclosure15by the spout6.

FIG. 8shows a further embodiment of the container according to this invention.

As illustrated, the above-mentioned joining means comprise a sealing31for separating the dosing chamber16from the storage chamber17. The chamber16is, in practice, in the form of a channel.

The sealing31is made between the front face wall3and the rear face wall4and extends preferably starting from the branch9along the direction Y.

The pouring means comprise an opening32made between the wall3and the wall4along the sealing31; preferably, the opening32is located close to the base wall2.

The dosing chamber16and the storage chamber17are separated by the sealing31and in communication through the opening32.

In use, by positioning the outlet opening5at the bottom, considering the direction Y, the filling of the chamber16and the formation of the corresponding dose is obtained; once the cap7is opened, only the escape of the product present in the chamber16is substantially obtained.

In general, the container contains both the product and air which guarantees the mobility of the product between the separate chambers.

Advantageously, both the quantity of product and the quantity of air inside the bag can be conveniently dosed as a function of the above-mentioned mobility needs.

The invention as described above brings important advantages.

The additional sealings, as well as those necessary for defining the structure of the bag, allow the product to be confined in predetermined zones in such a way that it can be dosed.

The forming of a dosing chamber from which to extract the product allows a direct use of the refill, without the need for bottles or caps or additional dosers.

The flexible packaging provided with a dosing chamber allows an optimum use of the product packaged inside it.

The defining of the preferential chambers by means of additional sealings does not entail, substantially, any increase in cost relative to a traditional “pouch”, in particular due to the fact that the quantity of material used in the making of the container remains substantially unchanged.