WO2015001480A1

WO2015001480A1 - Flexible container

Info

Publication number: WO2015001480A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/062761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Derek Martin Fay
Original assignee: Maverick International (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-01
Filing date: 2014-07-01
Publication date: 2015-01-08

Abstract

The invention discloses a flexible container, which includes a stand-up pouch with a gusset formation provided at its base; a base wall surrounding the gusset, the base wall being adapted to support the pouch in an upright "standing" position; and at least one suction cup joined to the base wall being adapted to support the container body against a vertical surface in an upside down position. The stand-up pouch may include an access opening near its upper end, being opposite to the base, for extraction or exhaustion of the contents of the pouch.

Description

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible container.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible container having attachment means for supporting the container against a vertical surface.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Flexible containers of the stand-up pouch variety are becoming increasingly widely used as replacement or refill packs for household goods, such as liquid soap and powdered coffee. This already assists in the reducing of household waste because the stand-up pouches are made of lightweight material whereas the original containers in which the initial goods are bought are normally made from high quality thick and sturdy plastics. However, even such quality containers wear overt time and eventually need replacing.

Also, the pouring over of the refill contents from the refill pack into the original container can be cumbersome. Many people have difficulty in doing so without spilling some of the product. This is particularly caused due to the refill packs having soft sidewalls and thus the refill pack cannot be properly gripped or becomes dislodged from a person's grip as the pack collapses during the pouring action.

It would therefore be beneficial if the lightweight material refill pack could be used as the original container in which the household goods are sold to thereby eliminate the need for pouring over the contents therefrom. However, the same gripping problem is experienced by users during daily use when pouring out the contents.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a flexible container, which will assist in overcoming these problems. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a flexible container includes a stand-up pouch with a gusset formation provided at its base; a base wall surrounding the gusset, the base wall being adapted to support the pouch in an upright "standing" position; and at least one suction cup joined to the base wall being adapted to support the container body against a vertical surface in an upside down position.

The stand-up pouch may have an access opening near its upper end, being opposite to the base, for extraction or exhaustion of the contents of the pouch.

Also according to the invention a flexible container includes a container body defining a chamber; the body being formed by first and second panels being peripherally joined to each other with a gusset formation being provided along one part between the first and second panels; a first peripheral extension from the first panel extending beyond the gusset formation; a second peripheral extension from the second panel extending beyond the gusset formation; wherein the first and second peripheral extensions form a base on which the container body can stand in an upright position; and attachment means joined to the first peripheral extension and being adapted to support the container body in an inverted position.

The first and second panels and the gusset formation may be heat welded together along their outer perimeters.

The first and second peripheral extensions may be joined together to form an annular base extending around the gusset formation.

The attachment means may be adapted to support the container body against a vertical surface in an upside down position.

The attachment means may include at least one suction cup.

The first panel may, in use, constitute a back panel of the container body. The flexible container may include an access opening near its upper end in its upright position, being opposite to the base, for extraction or exhaustion of the chamber contents.

The access opening may be provided in the top edge of the container body.

The access opening may be provided in a chamfered corner of the container body.

The access opening may be provided in either the first or second panels near to the top edge of the container body.

The access opening may be closed by a removable cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1 : A side view of a first embodiment of a flexible container according to the invention;

Figure 2: An end view seen along arrow II in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3: An end view of a suction cup shown in exploded view;

Figure 4: A side view of a second embodiment of a flexible container according to the invention; and

Figure 5: A side view of a third embodiment of a flexible container according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a flexible container in accordance with the invention, being generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The container 10 is in the form of a stand-up pouch having a front panel 12 and a rear panel 14, with a gusset 16 between these panels to provide a base. The panels 12, 14 and gusset 16 are sealed together in conventional manner, such as by heat welding as is common in the industry. The location and extent of the heat welding is indicated by the areas indicated by cross-hashing in Figure 1 and extends along the vertical edges 18, 20 of the panels 12, 14 and around the gusset 16 in a concave curved formation 22.

The dashed line 24 indicates the internal edge of the folded gusset, which lies between the panels 12, 14 when the container 10 is in a collapsed state. When the container 10 is filled with product, the panels 12, 14 flex outwardly and the gusset is flattened to form the gusset 16 on which the container 10 is able to stand in a conventional stand-up pouch manner.

The top edge 26 of the container 10 can be permanently sealed by heat welding similar to that applied to the vertical edges 18, 20 or it can be closed by a re-sealable zipper formation to allow access to the chamber 28 formed within the container 10. An angular chamfer 30 is provided at one corner of the container 10 into which is sealed a boat gland 32 forming an outlet onto which a conventional cap 34 is attached. As shown in Figure 1 , the chamfer 30 can be provided at a 45° angle, but alternatively the chamfer 30 can be provided at any other angle.

Towards the lower ends of the panels 12, 14 where they are adjoined to the gusset 16, there is shown a number of linear columnar formations 36 that decrease in height as they are provided closer to the centre of the panel 12. These formations 36 are parts of the panels 12, 14 that are not welded to the gusset 16 so as to avoid possible deformation of the panels 12, 14 due to the welding process. The formations 36 are however covered by the panels 12, 14 and the gusset 16.

Two suction cups 38, 40 are joined to the rear panel 14 of the container 10 in the vicinity of the gusset 16. The first suction cup 38 is provided near to the vertical edge 18, while the second suction cup 40 is provided near to the vertical edge 20. The suction cups 38, 40 are attached to the rear panel 14 by cutting a passage (not shown in the drawings) through the rear panel 14 in the lower area where it adjoins the gusset 16. Preferably the passage will be cut through one of the columnar formations 36.

The suction cup 38 is shown in side view in Figure 3 and includes a concave cup part 42 with a central boss 44 into which is cut a slot 46. A pin 48 having a pin head 50 and a pin needle 52 is used to join the suction cup 38 to the rear panel 14, whereby the pin needle is passed through the passage in the rear panel 14.

Figures 4 and 5 show alternative embodiments of containers, respectively indicated by numerals 60 and 70, which are substantially similar to the container 10 and that can be used with the invention. For this reason similar parts will be indicated using the same reference numerals.

The container 60 has its boat gland 32 and cap 34 provided in the top edge 26.

The container 70 does not have a boat gland 32 but rather has an outlet opening 72 provided in the front panel 12. This is particularly useful if the contents of the container 70 have a towel-like character. The container 70 further has a zipper formation 74 to enable a rolled up towel log to be inserted into the container 70.

In use, the containers 10, 60, 70 will be retailed in the form of stand-up pouches whereby they are displayed on the shelves of a retail store in an upright position standing on the base formed by the gusset 16. The suction cups 38, 40 will be on the rear panel 14 of the container 10 and will thus be hidden from view without detracting from the visual aesthetic appearance of the pouch and without blocking any of the marketing or advertising space on the front panel 12.

When to be used at home, the purchaser can invert the container 10 so that the outlet is at the operative bottom of the container 10 and then attach it to a suitable vertical surface, such as a tiled wall of glass shower cubicle, using the suction cups 38, 40. This avoids the needs for the person to grip the container by hand to pour out its contents. The person merely needs to open the outlet to permit a sufficient volume of contents to be dispensed under gravity. The flexible nature of the panels 12, 14 and gusset 16 permits the container 10 to collapse as the contents are dispensed and this reduces the need to compress the container to dispense the contents.

When the contents are depleted, the container 10 can be removed from the vertical surface and discarded.

It is considered that the container 10 will be particularly useful for high viscosity fluids, such as liquid soaps, shampoos and conditioners.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1 . A flexible container, which includes

(a) a stand-up pouch with a gusset formation provided at its base;

(b) a base wall surrounding the gusset, the base wall being adapted to support the pouch in an upright "standing" position; and

(c) at least one suction cup joined to the base wall being adapted to support the container body against a vertical surface in an upside down position.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 , in which the stand-up pouch includes an access opening near its upper end, being opposite to the base, for extraction or exhaustion of the contents of the pouch.

3. A flexible container, which includes

(a) a container body defining a chamber; the body being formed by first and second panels being peripherally joined to each other with a gusset formation being provided along one part between the first and second panels;

(b) a first peripheral extension from the first panel extending beyond the gusset formation;

(c) a second peripheral extension from the second panel extending beyond the gusset formation; wherein the first and second peripheral extensions form a base on which the container body can stand in an upright position; and

(d) attachment means joined to the first peripheral extension and being adapted to support the container body in an inverted position.

4. A container as claimed in claim, 3, in which the first and second panels and the gusset formation are heat welded together along their outer perimeters.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the first and second peripheral extensions are joined together to form an annular base extending around the gusset formation.

6. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, in which the attachment means are adapted to support the container body against a vertical surface in an upside down position.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, in which the attachment means include at least one suction cup.

8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, in which the first panel, in use, constitutes a back panel of the container body.

9. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, in which the flexible container includes an access opening near its upper end in its upright position, being opposite to the base, for extraction or exhaustion of the chamber contents.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9, in which the access opening is provided in the top edge of the container body.

1 1 . A container as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, in which the access opening is provided in a chamfered corner of the container body.

12. A container as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 1 1 , in which the access opening is provided in either the first or second panels near to the top edge of the container body.

13. A container as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, in which the access opening is closed by a removable cap.

14. A flexible container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.