WO2005039992A1

WO2005039992A1 - Container of flexible and flaccid material

Info

Publication number: WO2005039992A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/009575
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ramon Figols Gamiz
Original assignee: Volpak, S.A.
Priority date: 2003-09-30
Filing date: 2004-08-27
Publication date: 2005-05-06
Also published as: ES2255362A1; ES2255362B1

Abstract

Container formed from a flexible flaccid sheet-like material (1), particularly applicable for containing formless products or products lacking consistency, comprising a hermetically sealed cavity (2), which is formed from a base (3), at least one side wall (4) and an upper closed portion (5), wherein a product dispensing outlet (6) may be arranged. The container is provided with holding and lifting means (7), formed from at least one sheet of markedly rigid material (8), partially fixed to one of the side edges (9), said sheet comprising an area of attachment (10) to the container wall and at least one free folding wing (11), joined to the area of attachment by a portion acting as a hinge (12).

Description

D E S C R . P T 1 O N

"Container of flexible and flaccid material"

Technical field of the invention The present invention relates to a container formed from a flexible flaccid sheet-like material, being especially applicable for containing formless products or products lacking consistency, said container comprising a hermetically sealed cavity, designed to enclose the product contained in the container and which is formed from a base, at least one side wall and an upper closed portion, which may have a product dispensing outlet.

Background of the Invention Containers formed from flexible materials which contain liquids or formless substances therein are widely known. For example, drink containers, cosmetic products and/or products for clinical use, granulated food, etc, etc. They are generally formed so that they comprise a base and side walls, which together form a hermetic cavity. The container can stand upright when it is full of the product it contains. The liquid or formless substance is dispensed by cutting the upper part of the container or using a cap, in general, also arranged on the upper part of the container. The containers of this type have the advantage that they adapt to the form or content of the liquid or substance they comprise, they are easier to transport and better use is made of the space where they are displayed or stored. Nevertheless, containers formed from flexible materials have some drawbacks due to their flaccid constitution, which makes them difficult to handle. One of said drawbacks is that the containers lose stability as the product is consumed, so that they only stand upright when they are full of the product contained. Another of the drawbacks is that they are awkward to hold as they lose shape when they are lightly squeezed. Furthermore, the opening operation thereof involves the involuntary spilling of the product contained due to the fact that, when the container is held or squeezed, it loses shape, the product spilling very easily out of the opening. To overcome some of said problems, there are containers provided with stiffening elements, such as rigid-polymer wire or rods, which are adhered to the flexible material which forms the container. Another way of avoiding the container from bending or twisting as its content is emptied, consists of performing non-linear welding between the flexible sheets which form the container, or on the sheet if it is a container manufactured from a folded flexible sheet. An embodiment of this type is disclosed in patent US 5,971,613 of Bell, but, in this case, it does not resolve the problem of being able to easily handle the container without the content spilling out due to picking it up or holding it. The container of flexible flaccid material object of the present invention provides solutions for the problems raised, being a container which is easy to handle and provided with sufficient rigidity.

Explanation of the invention The container object of the invention, formed from a flexible flaccid sheet-like material, is characterized in that it is provided with holding and lifting means formed from at least one sheet of sheet of markedly rigid material, partially fixed to one of the side edges which join the base to the closed upper part, said sheet comprising an area of attachment to the container wall and at least one free folding wing, joined to the area of attachment by a portion acting as a hinge, so that the wing lies against the side wall, in its folded position, or expanded, separated from the side wall, in its lifting or holding position. According to another characteristic of the invention, each free folding wing is provided with grasping means. The container is characterized in that, on each free wing, the grasping means are formed from a cavity or opening which facilitates the user grasping the container with his/her hand. According to another characteristic of the invention, the container comprises two free wings joined to the same area of attachment.

Brief Description of the Drawings The attached drawings illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, containers of flexible flaccid material according to the invention, being able to observe their characteristics and advantages therein, as well as facilitating the understanding of the invention. In said drawings: Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention, provided with a rigid sheet in folded position; Fig. 2 is also a perspective view of the of the container of Fig. 1 , but with the sheet expanded. Fig. 3 shows a rear perspective view of a container according to the invention, Fig.4 is also a perspective view of the rear part of the container, according to another embodiment, Fig. 5 represents the container of Fig. 4 in the process of being used, and . Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the container according to the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings As can be observed in the attached drawings, a container formed from a flexible material 1, particularly applicable for containing formless products or products with little consistency such as liquids, creams, granulated foodstuffs, etc., comprises a hermetically sealed cavity 2, which, in turn, is formed from a base 3 and at least one side wall 4 and an upper closed portion 5, being able to have, in said upper portion 5, a dispensing outlet 6 of the product contained in the container 1. Generally, this type of containers are made from a flexible sheet which, appropriately folded, forms a single body in the form of a bag. To guarantee the sealing, the side walls 4 and/or upper portion 5 are heat-sealed. The flexible sheetlike material used to form the container 1 is usually a sheet of paper or plastic which is impermeable to liquids. Said container 1 is provided with holding and lifting means 7, which are formed from a sheet of markedly rigid material 8. The sheet 8 is partially fixed to one of the side edges 9 of the container 1 , which joins the base 3 to the upper closed portion 5, said sheet 8 comprising an area of attachment 10 to the container wall and at least one free folding wing 11 , which is joined to the area of attachment 10 by a portion acting as a hinge 12. The material from which the sheet of markedly rigid material 8 is formed is preferably cardboard or any other slightly flexible material but with greater rigidity than the flexible material of the container 1. The container 1 represented in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a free folding wing 11 , whilst the embodiments represented in Figs. 4 to 6, consist of containers 1 provided with two free folding wings 11 which are joined to the same area of attachment 10. Evidently, the embodiments with multiple free folding wings 11 , joined to the same area of attachment 10 are also object of the invention. In Figs. 1 , 3 and 4, the free wings 11 lie against the side walls 4, in their folded position. This position facilitates the transport and storage ofthe containers 1. If it only comprises a single free wing 11, in its folded position, the container of flexible flaccid material 1 stands upright when full of product. On the contrary, the container 1 can stand up even when it is empty if the free folding wing 11 extends from the side wall 4, describing a rotary movement in relation to the x-axis, parallel to the area of attachment 10. To facilitate the support of the containers provided with a single free wing 11 when they are empty, the sheet of markedly rigid material 8 also comprises an area of attachment 10, which is provided with a prolongation 15 which is partially fixed to the lower part 16 of the side wall 4. Alternatively, if the container 1 is provided with holding and lifting means 7 formed from two or more free wings 1 , even when they lie against the side walls 4 in their folded position, the container 1 stands upright with or without formless product therein. This embodiment corresponds to that represented in Fig. 4. Each free wing 11 is provided with grasping means 13. In Figs. 2, 5 and 6, said wings 11 are represented in their expanded position, enabling the container 1 to be held in an comfortable, practical way. In all the embodiments represented, the grasping means 13 are formed from an orifice 14 which permits the user's hand to pass through it, as can be seen in Fig. 5. Although not shown, the grasping means 13 formed from more than one cavity or orifice are also object of the invention. To dispense the product, a dispensing outlet 6 has been provided, preferably arranged at an angle determined by the upper closed portion 5 and one of the side edges 9. As represented in Figs. 1 to 5, the product dispensing outlet 6 has an opening 17 and a cap 18. Alternatively, and in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 6, the product dispensing outlet 6 is formed from a cut line 19, generally consisting of a partial weakening or splitting of the flexible sheet of the container 1. Preferably, the cut line 19 is also arranged on one of the angles defined by the upper closed portion 5 and one of the side edges 9. Due to the presence of a sheet of markedly rigid material 8, the container formed from a flexible flaccid sheet-like material 1 object of the present invention, is a container provided with stability when completely or partially full and when empty. The sheet 8 and the base 3 give stability and rigidity to the unit even when the container 1 is not in use, this stabilizing and stiffening effect being accentuated in those embodiments which comprise areas of attachment to the container wall 10 provided with prolongations 15 partially fixed to the lower part 16 of the side wall 4. Another positive and advantageous aspect of the container 1 , object of the present invention, is that the user can handle it without squeezing the side walls 4, avoiding, in this way, the involuntary spilling of the formless product contained.

Claims

C L A I S

1.- Container formed from flexible flaccid sheet-like material (1), particularly applicable for containing formless products or products lacking consistency, said container comprising a hermetically sealed cavity (2), designed to enclose the product contained in the container and which is formed from a base (3), at least one side wall (4) and by an upper closed portion (5), wherein a product dispensing outlet (6) may be arranged, characterized in that it is provided with holding and lifting means (7), formed from at least one markedly rigid sheet of material (8), partially fixed to one of the side edges (9) which join the base to the upper closed part, said sheet comprising an area of attachment (10) to the container wall and at least one free folding wing (11), joined to the area of attachment by means of a portion acting as a hinge (12), so that the wing can lie against the side wall, in its folded position, or is expanded, separated from the side wall, in its lifting or holding position.

2.- Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each free, folding wing (11) is provided with grasping means (13).

3.- Container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, on each free wing (11), the grasping means (13) are formed from a cavity or orifice (14) which enable the user to grasp the container with his/her hand.

4.- Container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two free folding wings (11) joined to the same area of attachment (10).