GB2300410A - Expansible containers - Google Patents

Description

1 2300410 1 Expansible Containers This invention relates to expansible

containers which are intended to be sold containing only concentrated ingredients and very little air, if any, and which are able to be expanded after purchase by urLsealing the container to admit first air, followed by the water or other liquid for mixing with the ingredients.

In their 'as---,old' condition, the containers are basically in a flattened or collapsed condition. After the container has been unsealed, a tab or haridle may be pulled to cause the walls of the container to unfold arid cone to an expanded state in which they form a chamber of significant volusw and of substantiallY-triangular cross-section.

GB patent 1 307 464 (Toppan) discloses a container of this general shape, in the form of a folded sheet of cardboard having a sheet of plastics film bonded to its borders so that when the sheet is opened about its fold line, it forms a hollow triangular prism with the film. ThiS known container rray then have liquid introduced into it for transport, display and dispensing. When empty, the sheet and film may be folded flat. The Toppan container is not intended to hold ingredients in its collapsed condition.

The container of the present invention alms is intended to enclose a small volume when it is flattened, so as to house a small quantity of concentrated irLgredients sealed from the atmosphere. The container wjtY, 2 the ingredients is intended to be sold as such. When the ingredients are to be used, the seal is broken arid the container expanded to asswrk- a shape similar to the Toppan prism, permitting a liquid solute or diluent to be added to the ingredients for mixing with them before the mixture is dispensed or drunk from the container. To permit the container of this invention to function as an upright cup or jug, it has three hinged walls of stiff material able to withstand hydrostatic forces when full, and a sealed end of film material bonded to the walls and able to function as the base of the container when in its expanded state.

one of the walls has a median hinge axis, so that wfien this wall is folded inwardly to its flattened position, it comes to lie between the two other walls to define with them a small-volume chamber for the concentrated i ngr ed i ents.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the one wall is able to be kept in its flattened, unfolded, position by means of a latch iTY-chanism preventing the container from moving out of its expanded state once attained.

Accordingly the present invention Provides an expansible container as claimed in the accompanying claim.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

3 Figure I is an isonetric view of one form of container of the preserit invention in its minimum-volume or 'as-sold' condition; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the container after air has been allowed to enter its interior and it has been partially expanded; Figure 3 is a view of the container shomi in Figures 1 and 2 in its fullyexpanded condition; Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 2, of the container shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 3, of the container of Figure 4 in its fully-expanded condition; Figure 7 is an isomeetric view of a skeleton used in one or iiK)re enbodirrients of the presnt invention, in its fully-open position; Figure 8 is a plan view of the skeleton of Figure 7 in its developed state, that is prior to being folded out of its flat position; Figure 9 is a diagranuatic cross-section of the container of Fig. 8 along the plane IX-IX; 4 Figure 10 is a plan view of the developed form of a member intended to act as a handle for the container when in its fully-open position; Figure 11 is a plan view of a membrane intended to be attached to the skeleton of Figure 8 to form the complete container; Figure 12 is a plan view, on a larger scale than the preceding figures, of a pull tab in its developed state, that is before being attached to the container; Figure 133 is ari isometric view of the tab of Figure 12 in position on a container and after it has been pulled by the intending user to allow air to enter the interior of the container; Figure 14 is an isometric view of the container of Figure 13 after it has been moved to its fully-open position with the cornponent which previonsly encircled the tab proper functioning as a 'pull'; Figure 15 is a plan view of a third ent)odiment of the invention in its developed state, in which there is only one membrane and in which a different arrangetment is nade for initially opening the container to permit the ingress of air; Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view along the line XVI - M of Fig. 15; Figures 17 and 17A are cross-sectional views along the line MI - MI -)f Fig. 15, and a fracpentary view on a larger scale of the encircled part of Fig. 17, respectively; Figure 18 is an elevation of an additional member to be bonded to the component shown in Fig. 17; Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view along the line XIX - XIX of Fig. 18; Figure 20 is a side elevation of the container of Fig. 15 in an interirw-- dictte position before it attains its as-sold condition; Figure 21 is a view of the container shown in Fig. 22 in its as-sold cond i t 1 oi i; Figure 2,12 is an end elevation of the container of Fig. ú11; Figure 23 is an isometric view of the container of Figs. 15 to 22 shown in its expanded condition, from a viewpoint below and to one side of the membrane forming its base; Figure 24 is a side elevation of an alternative tongue which can be bonded to the container of Fig. 15 to form a handle by which the container may be used as a jug; Figure 25 is a side elevation of another alternative to the handle or latching arr-,xngern---nt shown in earlier Figs, and is shown as a collap- sible 6 handle in an intermediate state; Figure 26 is a cross-section along the line XXVI M1 of Fig. 25; Figure 27 is a view of the handle shown in Fig. 25 in its fully-erected f orm; Figure 28 is a cross-section along the line XXVIII - XXVIII of Fig. 27; Figure 29 is a cross-section along the line XM-MX of Fig. 15 howing how the laminated sheet making up the container is pre-weakened along specified lines to aid in the respective border being removed from ther_. container when it is to be opened; Figure 30 is a view similar to Fig. 29 showing an operation following that shown in Fig. 29 to weaken the border strip further before two laminated Aeets are bonded together; Figure 31 is an isometric view of the handle of Fig. 24 by which the folded wall can be pulled into its flat state; Figure 32 is a view similar to Fig. 31 stiowing another form of handle, and Figure 33 is art isometric view of the container when fitted with the handle shown in Figs. 25 to 28.

7 In the accompanying drawings and description, those coiTponents which are the saitte in different figures are given the same references.

As shown niore clearly in Figure 3, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a basic skeleton 2 of relatively-stiff material having bonded to it a membrane 4 of flexible film. The skeleton 2 takes the form basically of two outer walls 6 of stiff and fluid-impern-eable material integral with a central wall 12 having a median line of fold. The walls 6 come into contact with each other along a conrwn border 8, normally being held in contact by the outer membrane. Wheze it covers the walls 6, the membrane may have advertising and/or explanatory matter printed or otherwise applied to it, or such material may be applied to the wrapping of a pack of, --ay, five or more containers of the present invention when in their' collapsed condition. Prior to the membzane 4 having its borders bonded to its respective internal borders and those of skeleton 2, a quantity of a dry powder or other solid (or even a paste or concentrated liquid) is inserted into the interior of the chamber defined by the skeleton 2 and membrane 4. These contents of the container as sold are also referred to herein as bting the 'ingredients' (of the desired drink or other mixture to be dispensed from the container).

By means which do not form part of the subject-matter of this invention, and which therefore are not described in any further detail in this specification, after the ingredients have been inserted in the container, the air in its interior may be sucked out of the container without extracting any of the ingredients, and the bonding of membrane A to the

8 skeleton completed to form what is known as a 'vacuum-packed' container, as shown is Fig. 1. The borders of the two walls 6 are able to be moved about their border 8 to a position in which they are in contact with each other, because the ingredients are able to be accoated in 'blisters' formed in the walls. As the ingredients can be distributed evenly in the blisters, the container is able to become substantiallY flat, that is without any significwit lumps. Thus the flattened container ney be stacked with several similar containers to form a stack substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped. This enables as many containers as desired to be sold in a pack, or for a stack to be inserted in a machine for dispensing each container separately.

As shown in Fig 3, the skeleton 2 is preferably provided with integral mans for latching it in the fully-open position once the wall 12 has become substantially planar, to make the container of triangular transverse cross-section. This is preferably done by forming the skeleton 2 with a latch member 10 which is capable of being folded to a flattened condition and which, when the container is moved to its fully-expanded condition. forms a type of toggle joint which prevents the,all 12 froin leaving its fully-flattened position it is forced to attain when the container is at its maximum volume.

That embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4-6 is similar to the previous eirboelirnent, with the exception that a hc-uidle 16 is intended to project from the folding wall of the container when in its fully-open position. Ah shown in Fig 6, one of the substantial ly-tr i angular portions 9 18 of the membrane 4 has in it an opening 20 which is closed by a separate tab (not shown) which is secured to the periphery of the opening 20 so as to seal it. That part of tab 17 (Fig. 4) wbich projects from the collapsed container way be grasped by an intending user and pulled away from the membrane 4 to allow air to enter the interior of the coritainer through the opening 20.

Ass shown in Figures 5 and 6, the wall 12 of the skeleton, or a rectangular area of the membrane which is bonded to it, has a handle 16 bonded to it. The developed form of the handle 16 is as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. The handle has two end flanges 24 wfilch are hinged about the rest of the handle and which are intended to be bonded to panel 12 or area 19 of the meiibrane so that they lie one on each side of the line of fold. The portion of the handle between the flanges 24 is itself folded 3o as tu enable the handle and panel 12 to come into a common flattened position in wtich their combined thicknesses is virtually little more than the thickness of the individual plies of material. In similar fashion to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the skeleton of Figures 4-6 my be provided with a latch 10 fur holding it in its fully- upen position.

Although the two eirbodiments of the present invention are shown in Figs. 1 to 6 as being of the same size, in practice the second embodiment would typically be significantly larger, so that whereas the embodiment of Figure 1 might form a container of cup size, the second embodiment is intended to be more in the nature of a jug, being intended to dispense several cups-full of a drink after the original powder has been dissolved.

Figure 7 is a view of a latch 10 forming part of the skeleton, which is made from a single sheet of embossed plastics material, such as laminated layers of polyviny1chloride and polyethylene. Fig. 8 is a view of the skeleton 2 of Fig. 7 in its developed form. The skeleton 2 has its walls 6 and 12 embossed with blisters 26 to give its respective major faces stiffness and to provide space for the Intended ingredients. Three contiguous cuts are made through the thickness of the skeleton 2 to form a rectangular tongue 28. The end face 30 of this tongue is intended to come into latching engagement with the valley between two ribs 32 to hold the tongue in place against the respective wall 6 of the skeleton to prevent it from moving to a position in which the centre wall 12 of the skeleton may be moved out of its flattened condition.

In accordance with the present invention, and as shown in Fiy. 11, the container of the present invention uses a flexible membrane of fluidimpermeable film, such as of laminated layers of polyester and polyethylene, which permits the walls 6 to be moved about their common border 8 between the fully-flattened and the fully-open conditions. Ira the former condition, the membrane 4 acts to stop the unintended inyress of air into the interior of the container, thus retaining it in its flattened condition and preserving the contents of the container from degradation by atmospheric moisture etc. In its developed form, the membrane has a central area 22 intended to be bonded to the folding wall 12 of the skeleton; two side walls 26 each intended to have its borders bonded to wall 6 in a fluid-tight mamer, and two triangular portions 18, 11 in one of which is provided an opening (not shown in Fig. 11, but shown as 4 opening 20 in Fig. 6). The rectangles 19 shown in broken lines in Fig. 11 represent those areas to which flanges 24 of a handle 16 are bonded in the jug embodiment of Figures 4-6.

In the embodiment of Figures 13 and 14, an oppning 20 is provided in a different part. of one of the triangular comporients; 18 of the membr-ane, 4. This opening is overlain by a tab 14 such as is shown in Fig. 12. Aii end flange 32 of tab 14 is bonded to the diaphia(jrn 4, or to the equivalent panel 34 of skeleton 2, and is folded and otherwise positioned so that part 15 of tab 14 is bonded to the peripheries of opening 20 to keep the interior of the container fluid-tight. Part 17 of tab 14 circumscribing part 15 projects slightly from between the edges of the walls 6 when the container in its as-sold condition, such as is shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When the projecting paxt of the tab is gripped and rotated so as to separate the borders of the tab from the seal portion thereof, the seal is partly Lifted from the underlying surfaces of flap 18 of the ntembrane so as to break the vacuum and allow air to enter through opening 20. Further folding movement of the tab brings part 17 thereof to lie in the position shown in Fig 14, in which it conies to function as a pull by means of which the wall 12 can be pulled out of its folded position into its flattened position. Once the two parts 15 and 17 of the tab have beconve. fully detached from each other, as shown in Fig 14, the user may grip the seal portion 15 and remove it completely from opening 20 to allow a liquid solvent, diluent or vehicle to be introduced into the interior of the container.

12 In that version of the invention shown in Fig. 15, the sheet of plastics itiaterial 2 forming the three walls of the container has a coimm borde!r 34. The opposite border 36 is narrower, and has a strip of plastics film 38 bonded to it to form a skirt 40 which is folded over as shown inure clearly in Fig. 17A. Like the sheet material 2, the film 38 my also be laminated such that only its inner surfaces may be easily welded to themselves and to sheet 2.

The wall 12 at the centre of the sheet has a tongue 42 cut out of it. Bonded to the inside surface of the wall 12 is a shaped piece 44 (Fig. 18) of stiff plastics film, with the bonded areas 46 being indicated in hatch lines. One of these areas defines a hollow rectangle forming a Muldtight seal around the tongue 42. An end strip 48 of piece 44 acts as a resilient flap forming the latch which co6perates with the channel formed by the rib 50 to act as a strut when the container is to be expanded to its triangular prismatic shape, in order to retain the wall 12 in its flat position. All three walls 6 and 12. and the piece 44, have portions thereof formed with 'blisters' 52 to impart stiffness to the respective wall, or part thereof, in the case of the folding wall 12, and to accomi)odate the intended ingredients.

The sheet 2 is folded about the various hinge lines to bring both transverse borders 54 into contact with each other before they are bonded together, as by heat welds in areas 56 (Fig. 20). In order to bring the part ially-f urmed container into its flattened shape shown in Fig. 20, the centre wall 12 is folded inwardly to cause the wall to conte to lie between 13 the outer walls 6. When in this position, the areas constituting the border 34 are bonded together by any suitable means, such as heat welds in areas 58. Before this step, and as shown in Fig. 29, one of the plies c)f the sheet naterial 2 is partly cut through to form a line of weakness. The respective border of the sheet is then werked, as shown in Fig. 30, to extend the cut into the material of the other ply. The border is then moved back. to its original planar position before two s imi lar ly- treated borders are bonded together so that the two adjacent lines of weakriess coiribine to forIT, a plane of weakness.

The skirt 40 also has parts of its contacting surfaces bonded together in areas 60 before the spare material outside these areas is removed by cutting. The remaining film material is able to adopt a rough triangular shape when the container is expanded, in order to keep the respective triangular end of the container sealed. The container is kept in this flattened shape by means of the weld 58 and a small blob 62 of a suitable adhesive, or alternatively a strip of adhesive tape. At some stage before this final shape is achieved, the skirt 40 is pushed or folded between the walls 6 arid the desired quantity of dry powder, paste or syrup forming the ingredients is inserted into the interior of the container, coining to rest in the chairibers provided by the blisters 52.

When the container is to be opened, the border 34 is removed by working it about its plane of weakness, preferably starting from the end at..iich there are four layers of wall material bonded together, until the partial cuts extend through the thicknesi; of all the bonded layers to perntit the 14 border to becoine detached. This allows the previous lycontact i ng but unbonded wall surfaces to separate from each other, and air to enter the container. The contacting surfaces of folding wall 12 are separated from each other by overcoming the grip of the adhesive blob 62. The tonque 12 nay then be pulled to take the fold out of wall 12 and cause it te become flat. In accordance with a preferred feature of this invention, thi5 moverreent is effective to bring a latch mechanism into play to secure the wall 12 in it-- flat position, to prevent it from leaving this position.

The triangular muth formed by the freshly-exposed upper end surfaces of the i-alls thus allows any suitable solvent, diluent or vehicle to be introduced into the container to become mixed with the original concentrated ingredients to form a desired drink, solution or paste. ThiS may then be poured or otherwise dispensed from the container, or the containtr may be used as a cup.

Fig. 23 shows diagrawatically how the flap 48 of the latch comes into engagement with rib 50 to form a strut preventing the wall 12 from moving out of its flat position.

Fig. 24 is an elevation of wall 12 showing how part of it may be cut into the shape of a handle 66, with the piece 44 of plastics being shaped to retaining the mechanical integrity and fluid-tight seal of the wall.

Figs. 25 to 28 show the use of an external latch on the wall 12. The latch is made cf four sheets 68 hinged together, with a central tongue 70.

Two of the sheets are bonded to wall 12, with all four sheets and tongue becoming flattened together when the wall is folded inwardly. When the wall its. to be straightened, the projecting sheets are pulled outwardly to adopt the triangular shape of Fig. 28. In so doing, tabs 72 on the Longue 70 stick through the hinge axis of the outer sheets 68 and become latched to them so that the tonque now acts as a tie retaining the wall in its fully-open position.

Figs. 29 and 30 show how the line of weakness of the border 34 is formed by an incomplete cut 74 through one of the plies of the laminated sheet as described above.

Figs. 31 and 32 show different form> of handle used in conjunction with a latch (Fig. 18), while Fig. 33 is an isometric view of the container with the handle of Figs. 25 to 28 in its erected position in wfilch the handle acts also as the latch.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an expansible container of simple construction which occupies minimum volume in its assold condition containing a small quantity of concentrated ingredients, and which can readily be expanded by the user to permit water or other liquid to be added to the contents of the container after it has been allowed to move to its fully-open position, to allow subsequent drinking or decanting of the resultant solution or paste.

It will bt: appreciated that the container nay be used to sell any dry or 16 liquid it-aterial, typically in powdered form when it is solid, so as to allow the container to reach the desired flattened position in which it is transported, displayed and sold. In some forms of the invention, air may be removed from the interior of the container after the ingredients have been added and before the final bonds are wade. The obvious constraint is that the material of the walls and of the membrane 4, and any other rrhaterials exposed to the interior of the container, should be inert to the contents of the container, in either their dry or their wet form.

17

Claims (4)

Clairi.c

1. An expansible container adapted to be moved from a flattened, minimumvolurne state containing concentrated ingredients, to an expanded state in which it is of substantially triangular cross-section, and it has an opening in one end through which a liquid solvent, diluent or vehicle may be added to its contents, the container having three walls of relativelystiff material hinged together, with one of the walls having a nedian hinge axis intended to be positioned between the other two walls when the container is in its flattened state, and at least one membrane attached to the contiguous end portions of the three walls to render the respective end of the container fluid-tight.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, in which a membrane is attached to each end of the container, and in which one of the two membranes has in it an opening kept fluid-tight by means of a removable seal.

A container as claimed in Claim 1, in which, in iL; flattened state, the container has the contiguous end portions of the three walls bonded together in a fluid-tight manner, the bonded portions being separable froin the rest of the container to allow it to move to its expanded state, with the fresh end portions forming a triangular mouth.

4. A container a.,,-> claimed in any preceding claim, in which the one wall has attached to it part of a latch adapted to move from a flattencJ 18 unlatched state to a latched state in which it is effective to retain ttw one wall in the flat position it assumes when the container is in its expanded state.

A coritainer as claimed in claim 4, in which the latch part i positioned internally of the container.

6 A container as claimed in claim 5, in which the latch part take,- the form of a tongue of resilient material of which the end comes to rest in an internal channel formed in one of the other walls when the container attains its expanded state, to form a strut holding the one wall flat.

7 A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one of the other walls has its major surface displaced outwardly from a planar surface in which its borders lie, to form a blister whereby when the borders ure iii contact with a planar surface, the wall form with that surface a Lhwiber of small volume.