CA1307124C - Single-use multicompartment container, production and application, especially for washing linen - Google Patents
Single-use multicompartment container, production and application, especially for washing linenInfo
- Publication number
- CA1307124C CA1307124C CA000562358A CA562358A CA1307124C CA 1307124 C CA1307124 C CA 1307124C CA 000562358 A CA000562358 A CA 000562358A CA 562358 A CA562358 A CA 562358A CA 1307124 C CA1307124 C CA 1307124C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- inner compartment
- container
- opening
- outer enclosure
- compartment
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
Single-use multicompartment container, production and application, especially for washing linen Inventors: José ARNAU-MUNOZ
Henri CORNETTE
The container comprises an outer enclosure (1) and an inner compartment (4) containing a liquid (16) such as a peroxidic additive. The remaining volume of the container is intended to receive a liquid detergent (15). An orifice (11) permits the release of the liquid (16) and that of the liquid (15) takes place through the holes (7). This single-use container is advantageous for the machine washing of linen. For storage and for sale, a hood crowns its upper part. With the hood re-moved (as shown), the container may be inserted into the drum of the machine.
FIGURE 12.
Single-use multicompartment container, production and application, especially for washing linen Inventors: José ARNAU-MUNOZ
Henri CORNETTE
The container comprises an outer enclosure (1) and an inner compartment (4) containing a liquid (16) such as a peroxidic additive. The remaining volume of the container is intended to receive a liquid detergent (15). An orifice (11) permits the release of the liquid (16) and that of the liquid (15) takes place through the holes (7). This single-use container is advantageous for the machine washing of linen. For storage and for sale, a hood crowns its upper part. With the hood re-moved (as shown), the container may be inserted into the drum of the machine.
FIGURE 12.
Description
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The present invention belongs to the field of packaging and relates more particularly to a single-use container for packaging substances which do not exhibit satisfactory compatibility ~hen brought together~ Such containers are capable of receiving many applications in a wide variety of technical fields, for example the washing, cleaning or rinsing of the most diverse ar-ticles. A high~y preferred application of the con-tainer according to the invention is that of the machine washing of linen. Furthermore, another subject of the invention ;s the process for producing a container of this kind.
There is a growing technological need for means of packaging capable of combining substances whose compatibility raises difficulties ~hen they are brought into contact. This is particularly the case with liquid products such as washing aids. Although it is Possible to package the constituents of a powdered ~ashing aid in the same container, it is not permissible in praceice to formulate li~uid ~ashing a;ds beforehand ~hen the formulations of the latter contain, at the same time as the remaining active constituents, constituents capable of releasing active oxygen, that is to say peroxidic const tuents, of the perborate or organic peroxyacid type. It is kno~n, however, that the presence of active oxygen at the time of ~ashing i5 wholly desirable for obta-ning the optimum effectiveness. In the case of liquid washing aid~ attempts are therefore made to pro-duce formulations containing the same basic combinations as those in the granular or powdered detergents, but practical ;mpossibilities then stand in the way because it is known that when traditional active compounds and peroxidic compounds are incorporated together ~ithin a licluid ~ash;ng a;d, the latter compounds rapidly lose their effectiveness. Thus, it has been found that after storage periods of the order of two weeks the active , - \
The present invention belongs to the field of packaging and relates more particularly to a single-use container for packaging substances which do not exhibit satisfactory compatibility ~hen brought together~ Such containers are capable of receiving many applications in a wide variety of technical fields, for example the washing, cleaning or rinsing of the most diverse ar-ticles. A high~y preferred application of the con-tainer according to the invention is that of the machine washing of linen. Furthermore, another subject of the invention ;s the process for producing a container of this kind.
There is a growing technological need for means of packaging capable of combining substances whose compatibility raises difficulties ~hen they are brought into contact. This is particularly the case with liquid products such as washing aids. Although it is Possible to package the constituents of a powdered ~ashing aid in the same container, it is not permissible in praceice to formulate li~uid ~ashing a;ds beforehand ~hen the formulations of the latter contain, at the same time as the remaining active constituents, constituents capable of releasing active oxygen, that is to say peroxidic const tuents, of the perborate or organic peroxyacid type. It is kno~n, however, that the presence of active oxygen at the time of ~ashing i5 wholly desirable for obta-ning the optimum effectiveness. In the case of liquid washing aid~ attempts are therefore made to pro-duce formulations containing the same basic combinations as those in the granular or powdered detergents, but practical ;mpossibilities then stand in the way because it is known that when traditional active compounds and peroxidic compounds are incorporated together ~ithin a licluid ~ash;ng a;d, the latter compounds rapidly lose their effectiveness. Thus, it has been found that after storage periods of the order of two weeks the active , - \
- 2 ~ ~IL3~7~2a~
oxygen of these compounds has been practically comPlete-ly released, thus becoming unavailable at the time ot use in the wash bath.
Formulation and packaging problems of this kind are well known to the specialist. ~y way of reference to illustrate the state of the art there may be mentioned the European Patent Application published under no.
0,132,726~ wnich describes a package in the form of a sachet containing a substance as well as another sachet of smaller size containing another substance which is incompatible with ~he first. The material of which the outer sachet is made is water-permeable, as is that of the inner sachet, but the materials are chosen to permit the diffusion of the substances which they contain at different temperatures, and this permits the packaging to be adapted to practical needs, for e~amPle of wash-ing. The teaching of this prior document thus consists in p-esenting in the same packaging individual sachets which can contain liquid substances, whiLe choosing the sach-ets so that they release the substances they contain atdifferent temperatures. Such packaging containers are single-use and comprise a plurality of compartments, the bas;c concept resulting in a use, necessarily spaced out in time, of the substances present in each of ~he indi-vidual sachets. Furthermore, it is essential that thelatter be soluble in water or have individual properties in order to allow ~ater to pass through at a specific temperature. This is why the outer sachet is made from a sheet of open-pore polyurethane foam, whereas the in-ner sachet is made of polyvinyl alcohol.
The subject of the invention is a single-use multicompartment container which enables the contents of each of the compartments to be delivered simul-taneously at the time of use, this being ~one indepen-dently of the temperature of the surroundings. Simi~ar-ly, the materials of uhich the walls of the compartments are made are of no critical importance and, in contrast to the teaching of the abovement;oned European Patent ~L3~7~Z4 Application 0,132,726, these walls are impervious to water, the contents of each of the compartments being discharyed through orifices which are provided beforehand.
It will also be recalled that, in the field of machine washing of linen, the Applicant Company is already the owner or titleholder of a number of patent applications ~7hich may be mentioned by way of references to illustrate the state of the art.
Canadian Patent No. 1,2~3,855, issued February 9, 1988, for "Process for washlng linen in a maclline with a liquid detergent and device for its application"
relates particularly to a device, generally reloadable, which is firstly filled with liquid detergent and is then placed in the drum of the machine with the linen to be washed. The detergent contained in the device diffuses gradually into the washing medium and into the linen placed in the machine. In one embodiment, the device comprises a filling orifice and vents for the gradual release of the liquid within the linen being washed.
Canadian Patent No. 1,234,296, issued March 22, 1988, for "Device ~or was~ing in a machine with a liquid detergent and process employing the said device"
relates to a device of the above type which is more particularly characterized in that it is of substantially spherical shape. A certain number of orifices allow the liquid to diffuse.
Continuing its work, the Applicant Company has now developed a container which, on the one hand, is single-use and, on the other hand, provides a solution to the technical problems briefly referred to above for packaging substances which do not exhibit satisfactory compatibility when they are brought together. A particularly advantageous application of the container according to the invention is the packaging of liquid washing aid formulations containing peroxidic constituents, that is to say constituents intended to release active oxygen during the washing.
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The subject of the invention is therefore a single~use container for packaginy su~stances which do not exhibit satisfactory compatibility when brouyht toyether, the said container comprising several compartments allocated respectively to these substances, characterized in that it comprises:
(a) a generally rigid outer enclosure of overall spherical shape defining a compartment and having an opening, said compartment being adapted to hold a liquid; and (b) an expandable inner compartment generally within said outer enclosure and having an orifice disposed peripherally to said inner compartment and said compartment defined by said outer enclosure, the mouth of said orifice being encircled by an annular flange having a plurality of holes therein which access the interior of said outer enclosure, said annular flange adjoining the edges of said opening, said inner compartment being adapted to hold a liquid and having an unexpanded position and an expanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment allows passage of said inner compartment through said opening when said inner compartment is in the unexpanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment being greater than said opening when said inner compartment is in the expanded position.
Within the meaning of the present description, the expression of "of overall spherical shape", which is ~L307~24 employed to define the outer enclosure of the container, should not be understood as characterizing solely a sphere or a virtual sphere. This e~Pression includes other surfaces rf revolution of the ovoid tyPe~ ~hose S curvatures are such that the container does not cause any damage to the linen in a machine washing operation cluring which the container is placed in the drum.
The inner compartment, for its part, may be bounded by a wall of any shape but, bearing in mind the preferred technology employed for its manufacture and described hereinafter, it is general~y a surface of re-vùlution, of the spherical or ovoid type.
It is advantageous for the outer enclosure to have corrugations intended to give it some rigidity, as ~15 is known in the field of plastics, particularly when the latter are fabricated by a blowing method.
According to another preferred characteristic, the inner compartment incorporates bellows, which make it look like a kind of melon.
2û The materials of which the outer enclosure and the inner compartment are made may be identical or dif-ferent. It is preferable that these materials should be chosen so that the outer enclosure and the inner com-partment have d;fferent rigidities, for example that the inner compartment should be made of a material of higher rigidity than that of the outer enclosure and vice ver-sa. Thus, while the materials chosen for the two com-ponents belong to the same category of plastics, it is advantageous that the materials corresponding to the two 3û components should differ in their rigidity.
The plastics which can be employed are those which can be fabricated using the blowing or injection blow-moulding technology but, given that the container is des;gned for a single use, the walls corresponding to the outer enclosure and the inner compartmen~ should be made as thin as poss;ble, so that the total weight of the conta;ner should also be as low as possible. ~all thicknesses of the order of 0.3 to 1 mm are su;table.
, . .. . . .
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The preferrecl materials are chosen from oolypropylenes, polycarbonates and Polyethylenes, or combinat;ons of these materials, with or ~ithout adjuvants.
From another aspect, another subiect of the in-S vention is a process for producing the container suchas defined above, by the general technology of blo~ing or injection blo~-moulding of plastics, characterized in tha~ it comprises the follo~ing series of steps:
(1) the body of the outer enclosure with its cir-cular opening and its flat bottom is fabricated,t2) the said enclosure is filled with the desired quantity of the first substance, (3) an insert equipped ~ith a plastic sheath is in-serted through the saicl opening un~il the upper part of the sheath, of annular shape, comes to bear substantial-A ly on the edges of the opening in the enclosure, (4) the sheath is used to fabricate th~ inner com-partment of the container, (S) holes are Pierced in the annular region formed in the upper part of the inner compartment, (6) the inner compartment is filled ~ith the desired quantity of the second substance, and (7) the upper part of the container is cro~ned ~ith the hood.
The process described above may involve numerous alternative forms ~hich differ in some of their steps or in the series of the said steps.
Thus, according to a first alternative form, an-other subject of the invention is a process for produc-33 ing the containers such as defined above, comprising the follo~ing series of steps:
t1a) the body of the outer enclosure ~ith its circu-lar opening and its flat bottom is fabricated, (2a) an insert equipped ~ith a plastic sheath is in-serted through the said opening until the upper part ofthe sheath, of annular shape, comes to bear substantial-ly on the edges of the oPening in the enclosure, (3a) the sheath is used to fabr;cate the inner ,, ~" _ 7 _ ~3 compartment of the container, (4a) holes are pierced in the annular region formed in the uPper part of the inner comPartment, (Sa) the body of the enclosure is filled ~ith the de-sired quantity of the first substance by introducing the latter through the holes produced in step (~a), t6a) the inner compartment is filled with the desired quantity of the second substance, the latter being in-troduced through the circular opening in the said com-partment, and(7a) the upper part of the container is cro~ned witn the hood.
In the abovementioned first alternative form it is clear that the order of steps (5a) and (6a) may be reversed.
A In a second alternative form, which corresponds to a particularly advantageous way of practical im-Plementation, the process of the invention comprises the following steps:
20 (1b) the body of the outer enclosure with its circu-lar opening and its flat bottom is fabricated, (2b) an insert equipped with a plastic sheath whose upper part of annular shaPe has holes made beforehand is inserted through the said opening until the said upper 25 part comes to bear substantially on the edges of the opening in the enclosure, (3b) the sheath is used to fabricate the inner com-partment of the container, (4b) and (5b) the body of the enclosure and the inner 30 compartment are filled with the respective desired quantities of the first and second substance, and (6b) the upper part of the conta;ner is crowned with the hood.
In this second alternative form, just as in the 35 first, the steps (4b) and (Sb) may be in any order.
~hatever the ~ay of implementing the process of the invent;on, the fabrication of the inner compartment may be performed in a number of ways.
, - 8 ~ )71Z9L
According to the first way in steP (3) or (Za) or (2b) an insert is introduced which is equiPped ~ith a sheath of supple plastic the interior of ~hich is evacuated to shrink it so as to enable it to pass easily S through the circular opening in the outer enclosure produced in steP (1) or (la) or (1b) after which the vacuum inside the sheath is broken ~hen the uPper part of the latter bears on the edges of the said opening and the sheath is used to fabricate the inner compart-ment using blo~ing (or injection blo~-moulding) technology.
According to the second way in steo (3) or (2a) or (2b) an insert is introduced which is equiPPed with a plastic sheath whose rigidity and transverse size allow it to pass through the circular opening in the 1S outer enclosure produced in step (1) or (1a) or (1b) after which the sheath is used to fabr;cate the inner compartment directly using blo~ing (or injection blow-moulding~ technology. This second way is advantageous because it makes it Possible to do a~ay ~ith the steps of evacuating the sheath and subsequently breaking the vacuum before the blowing oPeration.
The process according to the invention and its alternative forms make it possible to produce a con-tainer ~hich is prefilled ~ith substances uhich are not mutualLy compatible the said container being for single use.
In practice the process is carried out auto-matically by starting ~ith the use of sheets of plastic enabling a plurality of outer enclosures for example s~x enclosures distributed symmetrically around a centra~
axis to be made in a single operation. The mechanica~
strength of the unit is ~hen improved and the handling operations are easier by virtue of the fact that the outer enclosures are all integrally connected to a sheet remaining plate-shaped overall.
If a plurality of outer enclosures is employed it is obviously necessary to employ a corresponding _ 9 _ ~3~7~
number of inserts and of sheaths ;ntended to form inner compartments by means of a blowing operation.
As mentioned earlier, it is preferable to emPloy corrugated moulds in the blowing operations, in orcler to proriuce more rigid outer enclosures. It is also advan-tageous that the plastic sheath intended to form the in-ner compartment should incrrporate folds or bellows en-abling the inner compartment to be increased in capa-city.
A container of ~he abovementioned type, or Dro-duced using the process just described, makes it pos-sible to package substances which are not sufficientlY
comDatible with each other to permit storage conditions wh~ch correspond to practical needs. As an examPle, a sensitive additive for a liquid washing aid may be in-A troduced into the inner compartment, for example anadditive based on peroxidic compounds, while the remain-der of the formulation of the liquid washing aid is placed in the outer enclosure outside this inner com-partment.
The description given above is essentia~ly ~hatof the construction of a container having two com-partments but, needless to say, the same fabrication technology may be employed to produce successive inner compartments. It suffices to provide the approPriate number of inserts with plastic sheaths in order to pro-duce each comPartment. The characteristic which is com-mon to all these compar~ments is that they have holes, or vents, which are organized so that uhen the hood covering the whole is removed, the respective contents of these compart0ents can flow freely.
To simplify matters, no indication has been given in the process described above of the consecutive steps which may become necessary if the work is done with sheets or plates permitting the simultaneous fabri-cation of a plurality of containers. It goes without saying, in fact, that once each of the individual con-tainers has been crowned with its hood, it needs to be . . .. . .
~307~
separated from its support plate, for example by being punched out, and this may also result in the need to remove the parts of the cut pla~e which remain integrally attached to the outer wall of the containers. An operation of this kind can be carried out using a flame. Lastly, the containers may be grouped together for packaging in cardboard boxes.
The specialist will understand that the containers according to the invention are capable of finding all kinds of applications which require the use of substances which are poorly compatible or incompatible with each other, and which need to be delivered simultaneously in a washing, rinsing, cleaning or similar operation. A particularly advantageous application consists in using such containers in a machine linen-washing process described in the abovementioned Canadian Patents 1,243,855 and 1,234,296. The container according to the invention then acts as a dispensing and distributing device in accordance with the teaching of these patent applications. For example, in the case of a container with two compartments, the inner compartment contains an additive based on peroxidic compounds, while the other compartment contains the remainder of the formulation of the liquid detergent. Once the hood crowning the container has been removed, the container is placed in the drum of the machine with the linen to be washed. The detergent and the additive which are held therein diffuse gradually into the washing medium and into the linen which is in the machine, and this takes place simultaneously, by virtue of the gradual outflow of the detergent and of the additive. Optimum results for the washing of linen are thus produced.
Bearing in mind that the container according to the invention is intended to be used once, it is generally incapable of being reused and, in particular, at the end of a machine washing cycle, once the active products (washing aid and additive) have completely left L30~
their respective compartments, the whole container is generally deformed, but its constituent parts never-theless remain integrally attached to each other, and this makes it possible, on the one hand, not to damage S the linen and, on the other hand, not to produce bits capable of blocking the pipework~ Thus, once the washing of the linen is finished, the container is recovered from the drum of the machine, generally in a collapsed shape.
The invention will be illustrated further, with-out being limited in any manner, by the description which follows and uhich is made ~ith reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a container according to the in-vention, seen from the front and part;ally sectioned;
Fig. 2 is an axial section of the container of Figure 1;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the container of Figure 1;
Fig. 4 is a section of the container of Figure 1 along the plane of the line IV-IV, with the protective hood removed;
Fig. 5 sho~s the protective hood in axial sec-tion;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the inner compart-ment of the container of Figure 1.
Figures 7 to 1Z illustrate the successive steps of a process for producing a single-use container ac-cording to the invention.
For ease of descri3tion, the container accord-ing to the invention has first been shown in Figures l to 6 without reference being made to the substances ~hich it contains. ~he production of a complete container is illustrated in Figures 7 to 12, with Figure 12, in parti-cular, shouing a single-use container according to the ;nvention, ~ith two compartments, whose protective hood has been removed.
As illustrated in Figures l to 6, the container , ... .
~ z ~3~7~A
comPrises an outer enclosure (1) of overall spherical shape and with a flat bottom (3)~ with a circular open-ing (2) diametrically opPosed to the bottom (3). This circular opening (2) is bounded by an annular surface t2a) lying in a plane substantially parallel to that of the bottom (3~. This enclosure may have a thickness of, for example, 0.5 mm and may be made of Polyethylene~
polypropylene, polycarbonate or a combination of such polymers, with or ~ithout adjuvants. To make the ~all (1) sufficiently rigid, corrugations (1a), which can be seen on the left half of Figure 1 and on Figure 3, have been provided on its outer periphery.
The container also comprises an inner comPart-ment, inclicated generally by reference (~) and situated wholly inside the outer enclosure (1). This compartment is illustrated on the right-hand side of Figure 1, and in Figures 2 to 4 and ~. It has a ~all forming bellows (12) (Figure 6~. In the upper part of the inner compart-ment (4) (as viewed on the figures), a cylindrical ~all (5) is arranged and this extends firstly vertically and then horizontally to come to bear (flange (5a)) on the annular edge (2a) of the opening (2) of the outer enclos-ure (1). The inner compartment (4) is therefore open near the top via an orifice (11) of circular cross-section. Also, holes (7) (these holes are si~ in numberin the example sho~n) are distributed uniformly around the central orifice (11).
The container is closed by a protective stopper which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and S. This stopper has a cylindrical projection (10) ~hich fits in-to the orifice (11) of the inner compartment (4). This projection (10) is connected to a wall ~8) ~hich is ap-plied onto the annu!ar flange (Sa), in order to close the holes ~7) made in the latter. Lastly, the stopper ends ;n a small tongue (9) enabling it to be manipula~ed.
The materials of which the inner compartment (4) is made are chosen from the same polymers as those of the outer enclosure (1) but it is preferable that they ~` - 13 - ~3~Z4 should have different rigidity characteristics ~hen com-pared with these.
~hen the container is emPty, its average ~eight is of the order of 8 to 15 9.
A description will no~ be given, ~ith reference to Figures 7 to 12, of a process for producing a single-use container arranged according to the invention.
To avoid increasing the number of figures, not all of the stages of the pracess have been illustrated in the dra~ings. For examp~e, Figure 7 shows the body (1) of the outer enclosure, ~hich is Droduced by blowing or injection blow-moulding, with its toP spening (2) bounded by the annular rim (Za) and its flat bottom (3).
The same Figure 7 shows a liquid product (15) which has been introduced into the enclosure (1) once the latter has been produced. The product (15) is, for example, a liquid detergent formulation not containing an additive of the type of peroxidic csmpounds. The volume of the enclosure (1) and the quantity of liquid product (15) are calculated relative to each other, bearing in mind that the container is des;gned to receive a single dose ~ith a vie~ to a subsequent operation of uashing linen.
The quantity of liquid (15~ must therefore be sufficient to fulfil this function, the volume of the enclosure (1) being si~ed so as to per~it the other steps of the ~ro-cess to follow in succession, as will be described. De-terminations of this kind are ~ithin the reach of the spec;alist and need not be described in further detail.
Figure 8 illustrates the beginning of the in-stallation of an insert bearing a plastic sheath (13).The cross-section of the sheath (13) is smaller than the diameter of the opening (2); to make the insertion Pos-sible, vacuum or suction may be applied, or not applied, to the interior of the sheath (13) through the upper opening (11). The sheath (13) preferably includes a bellows structure (12). In its upper part, the sheath (13) is connected to a cylindrical poreion (5) to ~hich is attached a wall (5a) in the form of a flange, in the - 14 - ~3071Z4 middle of which is the orifice (11).
F;gure ~ illustrates the progress of insertion of the sheath (13) into the enclosure (1). It can be seen that the flange (Sa) is si2ed so as to cover vir-S tually the whole of the opening (2), until the arrange-ment shown in Figure 10 is reached, ~here it can be seen that the flange (Sa) comes to bear on the annular rim (2a) of the enclosure (1). When this situation is reached, the vacuum which may have been applied to the interior of the sheath (13) is broken. This interrup-tion of suction may take place ~hen the flange (5a) is actualLy bearing on the annular edge (2a), but it is also possible, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, for the suction to be cut off as soon as the cylindrical part (5) has moved past the opening (Z) of the outer enclo-A sure (1), so that the blowing oPeration can begin insidethe sheath (13) as soon as the situation illustrated in figure 10 is reached.
This leads to the situation shown in Figure 11, ~here the sheath (13) has given rise to the inner com-partment (4) in its final form. This same Figure 11 shows the consecutive oPeration ~hich consists in fill-ing the inner compartment (4) with a liquid (16) which is introduced through the orifice (11). In the example, already chosen, of a liquid detergent for machine ~ash-ing of linen, this product (16) may be an additive of the peroxidic type.
The operation illustrated in Figure 12 is that of the piercing of holes (7) in the flange (Sa) situated in the upper part of the inner compartment (4). Six holes (7), for example, are Pierced to produce an inner compartment such as illustrated in Figure 6.
Lastly, the uPPer part of the container is crowned vith a hood of the type shown in Figure S.
Thus, the final product is a single-use con-~ainer, ~;th 3 double comPartment, an inner compartment (4) in which there is an additive of the peroxidic type, and a second cùmpartment, outside the compartment ~4), "` ~3071~4 which is held in the outer enclosure (1) and contains the liquid detergent formulation.
Before washing linen in a machine, the hood is removed, so that the container is then available in the form illustrated in Figure 12. In accordance with the teaching of the abovementioned Canadian Patents 1,243,855 and 1~234,296.
this container may be placed as such in the drum of a machine for washing linen, so that the liquid detergent (15) can flow out through the holes (7), while the contents (16) of the inner compartment (4) simultaneously pass through the orifice (11). The technical problem which is posed is thus solved by a container which makes it possible to introduce simulta-neously two products which have been packaged separately in order to avoid any detrimental interaction when the products involved are not sufficiently compatible. Such the case with peroxidic additives and liquid washing aids.
The preceding description has been given only by way of illustration. It is obvious that the teaching of the present invention may be applied in order to produce containers incorporating more than two compartments. It then suffices to insert other compartments inside the inner compartment (4), using the same method as that illustrated in Figures 7 to 12.
Similarly, containers of overall spherical shape have been shown in the drawings, since the latter is that most suitable for use in the drums of machines for washing linen.
Nevertheless, it would be completely possible for the containers to have a different shape, this shape being one of revolution, bearing in mind the use of a blowing process. In all cases, the walls bounding the various compartments of the container are impervious to the aqueous medium and to the liquid products usually employed in washing, cleaning or rinsing processes. In fact, the concept of the container according to the invention is based on a directed distribution through the openings with which the compartments ~ 6 ~ ~3 are respectively provided.
It ~ill also be noted that the ororess of manu-facture illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 may be modified in accordance with the alternative forms mentioned earlier.
S For examDle, the filling of ~he container may be per-formed once the inner compartment has been fabricated~
Furthermore, the holes (7) may be made beforehand in the upper flange (5a) of the plastic sheath (13)~
It will also be noted that the inner compartment may be formed by mechanical means and not by blowing.
The sheath ~13) is then designed in the form of a component with bellows having sufficient rigidity to al-low it to be introduced through the opening (2) in the enclosure ~1). The inner compartment is then formed by inserting into the sheath (13) a tool, for e~amPle tulio-shaped, capable of being actuated to constitute extending parts capable of pushing the sheath back, the latter then assuming its final shape by virtue of the presence of the bello~s.
, . . . .
oxygen of these compounds has been practically comPlete-ly released, thus becoming unavailable at the time ot use in the wash bath.
Formulation and packaging problems of this kind are well known to the specialist. ~y way of reference to illustrate the state of the art there may be mentioned the European Patent Application published under no.
0,132,726~ wnich describes a package in the form of a sachet containing a substance as well as another sachet of smaller size containing another substance which is incompatible with ~he first. The material of which the outer sachet is made is water-permeable, as is that of the inner sachet, but the materials are chosen to permit the diffusion of the substances which they contain at different temperatures, and this permits the packaging to be adapted to practical needs, for e~amPle of wash-ing. The teaching of this prior document thus consists in p-esenting in the same packaging individual sachets which can contain liquid substances, whiLe choosing the sach-ets so that they release the substances they contain atdifferent temperatures. Such packaging containers are single-use and comprise a plurality of compartments, the bas;c concept resulting in a use, necessarily spaced out in time, of the substances present in each of ~he indi-vidual sachets. Furthermore, it is essential that thelatter be soluble in water or have individual properties in order to allow ~ater to pass through at a specific temperature. This is why the outer sachet is made from a sheet of open-pore polyurethane foam, whereas the in-ner sachet is made of polyvinyl alcohol.
The subject of the invention is a single-use multicompartment container which enables the contents of each of the compartments to be delivered simul-taneously at the time of use, this being ~one indepen-dently of the temperature of the surroundings. Simi~ar-ly, the materials of uhich the walls of the compartments are made are of no critical importance and, in contrast to the teaching of the abovement;oned European Patent ~L3~7~Z4 Application 0,132,726, these walls are impervious to water, the contents of each of the compartments being discharyed through orifices which are provided beforehand.
It will also be recalled that, in the field of machine washing of linen, the Applicant Company is already the owner or titleholder of a number of patent applications ~7hich may be mentioned by way of references to illustrate the state of the art.
Canadian Patent No. 1,2~3,855, issued February 9, 1988, for "Process for washlng linen in a maclline with a liquid detergent and device for its application"
relates particularly to a device, generally reloadable, which is firstly filled with liquid detergent and is then placed in the drum of the machine with the linen to be washed. The detergent contained in the device diffuses gradually into the washing medium and into the linen placed in the machine. In one embodiment, the device comprises a filling orifice and vents for the gradual release of the liquid within the linen being washed.
Canadian Patent No. 1,234,296, issued March 22, 1988, for "Device ~or was~ing in a machine with a liquid detergent and process employing the said device"
relates to a device of the above type which is more particularly characterized in that it is of substantially spherical shape. A certain number of orifices allow the liquid to diffuse.
Continuing its work, the Applicant Company has now developed a container which, on the one hand, is single-use and, on the other hand, provides a solution to the technical problems briefly referred to above for packaging substances which do not exhibit satisfactory compatibility when they are brought together. A particularly advantageous application of the container according to the invention is the packaging of liquid washing aid formulations containing peroxidic constituents, that is to say constituents intended to release active oxygen during the washing.
o~
The subject of the invention is therefore a single~use container for packaginy su~stances which do not exhibit satisfactory compatibility when brouyht toyether, the said container comprising several compartments allocated respectively to these substances, characterized in that it comprises:
(a) a generally rigid outer enclosure of overall spherical shape defining a compartment and having an opening, said compartment being adapted to hold a liquid; and (b) an expandable inner compartment generally within said outer enclosure and having an orifice disposed peripherally to said inner compartment and said compartment defined by said outer enclosure, the mouth of said orifice being encircled by an annular flange having a plurality of holes therein which access the interior of said outer enclosure, said annular flange adjoining the edges of said opening, said inner compartment being adapted to hold a liquid and having an unexpanded position and an expanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment allows passage of said inner compartment through said opening when said inner compartment is in the unexpanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment being greater than said opening when said inner compartment is in the expanded position.
Within the meaning of the present description, the expression of "of overall spherical shape", which is ~L307~24 employed to define the outer enclosure of the container, should not be understood as characterizing solely a sphere or a virtual sphere. This e~Pression includes other surfaces rf revolution of the ovoid tyPe~ ~hose S curvatures are such that the container does not cause any damage to the linen in a machine washing operation cluring which the container is placed in the drum.
The inner compartment, for its part, may be bounded by a wall of any shape but, bearing in mind the preferred technology employed for its manufacture and described hereinafter, it is general~y a surface of re-vùlution, of the spherical or ovoid type.
It is advantageous for the outer enclosure to have corrugations intended to give it some rigidity, as ~15 is known in the field of plastics, particularly when the latter are fabricated by a blowing method.
According to another preferred characteristic, the inner compartment incorporates bellows, which make it look like a kind of melon.
2û The materials of which the outer enclosure and the inner compartment are made may be identical or dif-ferent. It is preferable that these materials should be chosen so that the outer enclosure and the inner com-partment have d;fferent rigidities, for example that the inner compartment should be made of a material of higher rigidity than that of the outer enclosure and vice ver-sa. Thus, while the materials chosen for the two com-ponents belong to the same category of plastics, it is advantageous that the materials corresponding to the two 3û components should differ in their rigidity.
The plastics which can be employed are those which can be fabricated using the blowing or injection blow-moulding technology but, given that the container is des;gned for a single use, the walls corresponding to the outer enclosure and the inner compartmen~ should be made as thin as poss;ble, so that the total weight of the conta;ner should also be as low as possible. ~all thicknesses of the order of 0.3 to 1 mm are su;table.
, . .. . . .
- 6 - ~3~
The preferrecl materials are chosen from oolypropylenes, polycarbonates and Polyethylenes, or combinat;ons of these materials, with or ~ithout adjuvants.
From another aspect, another subiect of the in-S vention is a process for producing the container suchas defined above, by the general technology of blo~ing or injection blo~-moulding of plastics, characterized in tha~ it comprises the follo~ing series of steps:
(1) the body of the outer enclosure with its cir-cular opening and its flat bottom is fabricated,t2) the said enclosure is filled with the desired quantity of the first substance, (3) an insert equipped ~ith a plastic sheath is in-serted through the saicl opening un~il the upper part of the sheath, of annular shape, comes to bear substantial-A ly on the edges of the opening in the enclosure, (4) the sheath is used to fabricate th~ inner com-partment of the container, (S) holes are Pierced in the annular region formed in the upper part of the inner compartment, (6) the inner compartment is filled ~ith the desired quantity of the second substance, and (7) the upper part of the container is cro~ned ~ith the hood.
The process described above may involve numerous alternative forms ~hich differ in some of their steps or in the series of the said steps.
Thus, according to a first alternative form, an-other subject of the invention is a process for produc-33 ing the containers such as defined above, comprising the follo~ing series of steps:
t1a) the body of the outer enclosure ~ith its circu-lar opening and its flat bottom is fabricated, (2a) an insert equipped ~ith a plastic sheath is in-serted through the said opening until the upper part ofthe sheath, of annular shape, comes to bear substantial-ly on the edges of the oPening in the enclosure, (3a) the sheath is used to fabr;cate the inner ,, ~" _ 7 _ ~3 compartment of the container, (4a) holes are pierced in the annular region formed in the uPper part of the inner comPartment, (Sa) the body of the enclosure is filled ~ith the de-sired quantity of the first substance by introducing the latter through the holes produced in step (~a), t6a) the inner compartment is filled with the desired quantity of the second substance, the latter being in-troduced through the circular opening in the said com-partment, and(7a) the upper part of the container is cro~ned witn the hood.
In the abovementioned first alternative form it is clear that the order of steps (5a) and (6a) may be reversed.
A In a second alternative form, which corresponds to a particularly advantageous way of practical im-Plementation, the process of the invention comprises the following steps:
20 (1b) the body of the outer enclosure with its circu-lar opening and its flat bottom is fabricated, (2b) an insert equipped with a plastic sheath whose upper part of annular shaPe has holes made beforehand is inserted through the said opening until the said upper 25 part comes to bear substantially on the edges of the opening in the enclosure, (3b) the sheath is used to fabricate the inner com-partment of the container, (4b) and (5b) the body of the enclosure and the inner 30 compartment are filled with the respective desired quantities of the first and second substance, and (6b) the upper part of the conta;ner is crowned with the hood.
In this second alternative form, just as in the 35 first, the steps (4b) and (Sb) may be in any order.
~hatever the ~ay of implementing the process of the invent;on, the fabrication of the inner compartment may be performed in a number of ways.
, - 8 ~ )71Z9L
According to the first way in steP (3) or (Za) or (2b) an insert is introduced which is equiPped ~ith a sheath of supple plastic the interior of ~hich is evacuated to shrink it so as to enable it to pass easily S through the circular opening in the outer enclosure produced in steP (1) or (la) or (1b) after which the vacuum inside the sheath is broken ~hen the uPper part of the latter bears on the edges of the said opening and the sheath is used to fabricate the inner compart-ment using blo~ing (or injection blo~-moulding) technology.
According to the second way in steo (3) or (2a) or (2b) an insert is introduced which is equiPPed with a plastic sheath whose rigidity and transverse size allow it to pass through the circular opening in the 1S outer enclosure produced in step (1) or (1a) or (1b) after which the sheath is used to fabr;cate the inner compartment directly using blo~ing (or injection blow-moulding~ technology. This second way is advantageous because it makes it Possible to do a~ay ~ith the steps of evacuating the sheath and subsequently breaking the vacuum before the blowing oPeration.
The process according to the invention and its alternative forms make it possible to produce a con-tainer ~hich is prefilled ~ith substances uhich are not mutualLy compatible the said container being for single use.
In practice the process is carried out auto-matically by starting ~ith the use of sheets of plastic enabling a plurality of outer enclosures for example s~x enclosures distributed symmetrically around a centra~
axis to be made in a single operation. The mechanica~
strength of the unit is ~hen improved and the handling operations are easier by virtue of the fact that the outer enclosures are all integrally connected to a sheet remaining plate-shaped overall.
If a plurality of outer enclosures is employed it is obviously necessary to employ a corresponding _ 9 _ ~3~7~
number of inserts and of sheaths ;ntended to form inner compartments by means of a blowing operation.
As mentioned earlier, it is preferable to emPloy corrugated moulds in the blowing operations, in orcler to proriuce more rigid outer enclosures. It is also advan-tageous that the plastic sheath intended to form the in-ner compartment should incrrporate folds or bellows en-abling the inner compartment to be increased in capa-city.
A container of ~he abovementioned type, or Dro-duced using the process just described, makes it pos-sible to package substances which are not sufficientlY
comDatible with each other to permit storage conditions wh~ch correspond to practical needs. As an examPle, a sensitive additive for a liquid washing aid may be in-A troduced into the inner compartment, for example anadditive based on peroxidic compounds, while the remain-der of the formulation of the liquid washing aid is placed in the outer enclosure outside this inner com-partment.
The description given above is essentia~ly ~hatof the construction of a container having two com-partments but, needless to say, the same fabrication technology may be employed to produce successive inner compartments. It suffices to provide the approPriate number of inserts with plastic sheaths in order to pro-duce each comPartment. The characteristic which is com-mon to all these compar~ments is that they have holes, or vents, which are organized so that uhen the hood covering the whole is removed, the respective contents of these compart0ents can flow freely.
To simplify matters, no indication has been given in the process described above of the consecutive steps which may become necessary if the work is done with sheets or plates permitting the simultaneous fabri-cation of a plurality of containers. It goes without saying, in fact, that once each of the individual con-tainers has been crowned with its hood, it needs to be . . .. . .
~307~
separated from its support plate, for example by being punched out, and this may also result in the need to remove the parts of the cut pla~e which remain integrally attached to the outer wall of the containers. An operation of this kind can be carried out using a flame. Lastly, the containers may be grouped together for packaging in cardboard boxes.
The specialist will understand that the containers according to the invention are capable of finding all kinds of applications which require the use of substances which are poorly compatible or incompatible with each other, and which need to be delivered simultaneously in a washing, rinsing, cleaning or similar operation. A particularly advantageous application consists in using such containers in a machine linen-washing process described in the abovementioned Canadian Patents 1,243,855 and 1,234,296. The container according to the invention then acts as a dispensing and distributing device in accordance with the teaching of these patent applications. For example, in the case of a container with two compartments, the inner compartment contains an additive based on peroxidic compounds, while the other compartment contains the remainder of the formulation of the liquid detergent. Once the hood crowning the container has been removed, the container is placed in the drum of the machine with the linen to be washed. The detergent and the additive which are held therein diffuse gradually into the washing medium and into the linen which is in the machine, and this takes place simultaneously, by virtue of the gradual outflow of the detergent and of the additive. Optimum results for the washing of linen are thus produced.
Bearing in mind that the container according to the invention is intended to be used once, it is generally incapable of being reused and, in particular, at the end of a machine washing cycle, once the active products (washing aid and additive) have completely left L30~
their respective compartments, the whole container is generally deformed, but its constituent parts never-theless remain integrally attached to each other, and this makes it possible, on the one hand, not to damage S the linen and, on the other hand, not to produce bits capable of blocking the pipework~ Thus, once the washing of the linen is finished, the container is recovered from the drum of the machine, generally in a collapsed shape.
The invention will be illustrated further, with-out being limited in any manner, by the description which follows and uhich is made ~ith reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a container according to the in-vention, seen from the front and part;ally sectioned;
Fig. 2 is an axial section of the container of Figure 1;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the container of Figure 1;
Fig. 4 is a section of the container of Figure 1 along the plane of the line IV-IV, with the protective hood removed;
Fig. 5 sho~s the protective hood in axial sec-tion;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the inner compart-ment of the container of Figure 1.
Figures 7 to 1Z illustrate the successive steps of a process for producing a single-use container ac-cording to the invention.
For ease of descri3tion, the container accord-ing to the invention has first been shown in Figures l to 6 without reference being made to the substances ~hich it contains. ~he production of a complete container is illustrated in Figures 7 to 12, with Figure 12, in parti-cular, shouing a single-use container according to the ;nvention, ~ith two compartments, whose protective hood has been removed.
As illustrated in Figures l to 6, the container , ... .
~ z ~3~7~A
comPrises an outer enclosure (1) of overall spherical shape and with a flat bottom (3)~ with a circular open-ing (2) diametrically opPosed to the bottom (3). This circular opening (2) is bounded by an annular surface t2a) lying in a plane substantially parallel to that of the bottom (3~. This enclosure may have a thickness of, for example, 0.5 mm and may be made of Polyethylene~
polypropylene, polycarbonate or a combination of such polymers, with or ~ithout adjuvants. To make the ~all (1) sufficiently rigid, corrugations (1a), which can be seen on the left half of Figure 1 and on Figure 3, have been provided on its outer periphery.
The container also comprises an inner comPart-ment, inclicated generally by reference (~) and situated wholly inside the outer enclosure (1). This compartment is illustrated on the right-hand side of Figure 1, and in Figures 2 to 4 and ~. It has a ~all forming bellows (12) (Figure 6~. In the upper part of the inner compart-ment (4) (as viewed on the figures), a cylindrical ~all (5) is arranged and this extends firstly vertically and then horizontally to come to bear (flange (5a)) on the annular edge (2a) of the opening (2) of the outer enclos-ure (1). The inner compartment (4) is therefore open near the top via an orifice (11) of circular cross-section. Also, holes (7) (these holes are si~ in numberin the example sho~n) are distributed uniformly around the central orifice (11).
The container is closed by a protective stopper which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and S. This stopper has a cylindrical projection (10) ~hich fits in-to the orifice (11) of the inner compartment (4). This projection (10) is connected to a wall ~8) ~hich is ap-plied onto the annu!ar flange (Sa), in order to close the holes ~7) made in the latter. Lastly, the stopper ends ;n a small tongue (9) enabling it to be manipula~ed.
The materials of which the inner compartment (4) is made are chosen from the same polymers as those of the outer enclosure (1) but it is preferable that they ~` - 13 - ~3~Z4 should have different rigidity characteristics ~hen com-pared with these.
~hen the container is emPty, its average ~eight is of the order of 8 to 15 9.
A description will no~ be given, ~ith reference to Figures 7 to 12, of a process for producing a single-use container arranged according to the invention.
To avoid increasing the number of figures, not all of the stages of the pracess have been illustrated in the dra~ings. For examp~e, Figure 7 shows the body (1) of the outer enclosure, ~hich is Droduced by blowing or injection blow-moulding, with its toP spening (2) bounded by the annular rim (Za) and its flat bottom (3).
The same Figure 7 shows a liquid product (15) which has been introduced into the enclosure (1) once the latter has been produced. The product (15) is, for example, a liquid detergent formulation not containing an additive of the type of peroxidic csmpounds. The volume of the enclosure (1) and the quantity of liquid product (15) are calculated relative to each other, bearing in mind that the container is des;gned to receive a single dose ~ith a vie~ to a subsequent operation of uashing linen.
The quantity of liquid (15~ must therefore be sufficient to fulfil this function, the volume of the enclosure (1) being si~ed so as to per~it the other steps of the ~ro-cess to follow in succession, as will be described. De-terminations of this kind are ~ithin the reach of the spec;alist and need not be described in further detail.
Figure 8 illustrates the beginning of the in-stallation of an insert bearing a plastic sheath (13).The cross-section of the sheath (13) is smaller than the diameter of the opening (2); to make the insertion Pos-sible, vacuum or suction may be applied, or not applied, to the interior of the sheath (13) through the upper opening (11). The sheath (13) preferably includes a bellows structure (12). In its upper part, the sheath (13) is connected to a cylindrical poreion (5) to ~hich is attached a wall (5a) in the form of a flange, in the - 14 - ~3071Z4 middle of which is the orifice (11).
F;gure ~ illustrates the progress of insertion of the sheath (13) into the enclosure (1). It can be seen that the flange (Sa) is si2ed so as to cover vir-S tually the whole of the opening (2), until the arrange-ment shown in Figure 10 is reached, ~here it can be seen that the flange (Sa) comes to bear on the annular rim (2a) of the enclosure (1). When this situation is reached, the vacuum which may have been applied to the interior of the sheath (13) is broken. This interrup-tion of suction may take place ~hen the flange (5a) is actualLy bearing on the annular edge (2a), but it is also possible, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, for the suction to be cut off as soon as the cylindrical part (5) has moved past the opening (Z) of the outer enclo-A sure (1), so that the blowing oPeration can begin insidethe sheath (13) as soon as the situation illustrated in figure 10 is reached.
This leads to the situation shown in Figure 11, ~here the sheath (13) has given rise to the inner com-partment (4) in its final form. This same Figure 11 shows the consecutive oPeration ~hich consists in fill-ing the inner compartment (4) with a liquid (16) which is introduced through the orifice (11). In the example, already chosen, of a liquid detergent for machine ~ash-ing of linen, this product (16) may be an additive of the peroxidic type.
The operation illustrated in Figure 12 is that of the piercing of holes (7) in the flange (Sa) situated in the upper part of the inner compartment (4). Six holes (7), for example, are Pierced to produce an inner compartment such as illustrated in Figure 6.
Lastly, the uPPer part of the container is crowned vith a hood of the type shown in Figure S.
Thus, the final product is a single-use con-~ainer, ~;th 3 double comPartment, an inner compartment (4) in which there is an additive of the peroxidic type, and a second cùmpartment, outside the compartment ~4), "` ~3071~4 which is held in the outer enclosure (1) and contains the liquid detergent formulation.
Before washing linen in a machine, the hood is removed, so that the container is then available in the form illustrated in Figure 12. In accordance with the teaching of the abovementioned Canadian Patents 1,243,855 and 1~234,296.
this container may be placed as such in the drum of a machine for washing linen, so that the liquid detergent (15) can flow out through the holes (7), while the contents (16) of the inner compartment (4) simultaneously pass through the orifice (11). The technical problem which is posed is thus solved by a container which makes it possible to introduce simulta-neously two products which have been packaged separately in order to avoid any detrimental interaction when the products involved are not sufficiently compatible. Such the case with peroxidic additives and liquid washing aids.
The preceding description has been given only by way of illustration. It is obvious that the teaching of the present invention may be applied in order to produce containers incorporating more than two compartments. It then suffices to insert other compartments inside the inner compartment (4), using the same method as that illustrated in Figures 7 to 12.
Similarly, containers of overall spherical shape have been shown in the drawings, since the latter is that most suitable for use in the drums of machines for washing linen.
Nevertheless, it would be completely possible for the containers to have a different shape, this shape being one of revolution, bearing in mind the use of a blowing process. In all cases, the walls bounding the various compartments of the container are impervious to the aqueous medium and to the liquid products usually employed in washing, cleaning or rinsing processes. In fact, the concept of the container according to the invention is based on a directed distribution through the openings with which the compartments ~ 6 ~ ~3 are respectively provided.
It ~ill also be noted that the ororess of manu-facture illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 may be modified in accordance with the alternative forms mentioned earlier.
S For examDle, the filling of ~he container may be per-formed once the inner compartment has been fabricated~
Furthermore, the holes (7) may be made beforehand in the upper flange (5a) of the plastic sheath (13)~
It will also be noted that the inner compartment may be formed by mechanical means and not by blowing.
The sheath ~13) is then designed in the form of a component with bellows having sufficient rigidity to al-low it to be introduced through the opening (2) in the enclosure ~1). The inner compartment is then formed by inserting into the sheath (13) a tool, for e~amPle tulio-shaped, capable of being actuated to constitute extending parts capable of pushing the sheath back, the latter then assuming its final shape by virtue of the presence of the bello~s.
, . . . .
Claims (15)
1. Single-use container for packaging substances which do not exhibit satisfactory compatibility when brought together, said container comprising:
(a) a generally rigid outer enclosure of overall spherical shape defining a compartment and having an opening, said compartment being adapted to hold a liquid; and (b) an expandable inner compartment generally within said outer enclosure and having an orifice disposed peripherally to said inner compartment and said compartment defined by said outer enclosure, the mouth of said orifice being encircled by an annular flange having a plurality of holes therein which access the interior of said outer enclosure, said annular flange adjoining the edges of said opening, said inner compartment being adapted to hold a liquid and having an unexpanded position and an expanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment allows passage of said inner compartment through said opening when said inner compartment is in the unexpanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment being greater than said opening when said inner compartment is in the expanded position.
(a) a generally rigid outer enclosure of overall spherical shape defining a compartment and having an opening, said compartment being adapted to hold a liquid; and (b) an expandable inner compartment generally within said outer enclosure and having an orifice disposed peripherally to said inner compartment and said compartment defined by said outer enclosure, the mouth of said orifice being encircled by an annular flange having a plurality of holes therein which access the interior of said outer enclosure, said annular flange adjoining the edges of said opening, said inner compartment being adapted to hold a liquid and having an unexpanded position and an expanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment allows passage of said inner compartment through said opening when said inner compartment is in the unexpanded position, the transverse dimension of said inner compartment being greater than said opening when said inner compartment is in the expanded position.
2. container according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer enclosure further comprises corrugations adapted to add rigidity.
3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner compartment further comprises bellows which are axially aligned to permit the transverse dimension of said inner compartment to extend as said inner compartment changes from the unexpanded position to the expanded position.
4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the materials of the outer enclosure and the inner compartment are selected from the group of polymers consisting of polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polycarbonates and combinations thereof.
5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer enclosure and the inner compartment have different rigidities.
6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall thicknesses of the enclosure and of the compartment are of the order of about 0.3 to 1 mm.
7. Container according to claim 1 characterized in that said container has a plurality of inner compartments.
8. Process for producing a container according to claim 1, said process comprising:
(1) fabricating the body of an outer enclosure having an opening;
(2) filling said outer enclosure with a desired quantity of a first substance;
(3) Inserting a plastic sheath through said opening until the upper part of the sheath, having a flange of annular shape encircling the mouth of an orifice, comes to bear on the edges of the opening of the outer enclosure;
(4) fabricating an inner compartment of the container from said sheath;
(5) piercing at least one hole in the annular flange of the upper part of the inner compartment;
(6) filling the inner part with a desired quantity of a second substance.
(1) fabricating the body of an outer enclosure having an opening;
(2) filling said outer enclosure with a desired quantity of a first substance;
(3) Inserting a plastic sheath through said opening until the upper part of the sheath, having a flange of annular shape encircling the mouth of an orifice, comes to bear on the edges of the opening of the outer enclosure;
(4) fabricating an inner compartment of the container from said sheath;
(5) piercing at least one hole in the annular flange of the upper part of the inner compartment;
(6) filling the inner part with a desired quantity of a second substance.
9. Process according to claim 8, further comprising evacuating said insert while inserting said insert through said opening.
10. Process for producing a container according to claim 1, said process comprising:
(1a) fabricating the body of an outer enclosure having an opening;
(2a) inserting a plastic sheath through said opening until the upper part of the sheath, having a flange of annular shape encircling the mouth of an orifice, comes to bear substantially on the edges of the opening of the enclosure;
(3a) fabricating an inner compartment of the container from said sheath;
(4a) piercing at least one hole in the annular flange of the upper part of the inner compartment;
(5a) filling the outer enclosure with a desired quantity of a first substance by introducing the latter through said hole; and (6a) filling the inner compartment with a desired quantity of a second substance through said orifice encircled by said flange.
(1a) fabricating the body of an outer enclosure having an opening;
(2a) inserting a plastic sheath through said opening until the upper part of the sheath, having a flange of annular shape encircling the mouth of an orifice, comes to bear substantially on the edges of the opening of the enclosure;
(3a) fabricating an inner compartment of the container from said sheath;
(4a) piercing at least one hole in the annular flange of the upper part of the inner compartment;
(5a) filling the outer enclosure with a desired quantity of a first substance by introducing the latter through said hole; and (6a) filling the inner compartment with a desired quantity of a second substance through said orifice encircled by said flange.
11. Process according to claim 10, characterized in that steps (5a) and (6a) are in any order.
12. Process according to claim 10, further comprising evacuating said insert while inserting said insert through said opening.
13. Process for producing a container according to claim 1, said process comprising:
(1b) fabricating an outer enclosure, said enclosure having a circular opening and a flat bottom;
(2b) inserting a plastic sheath having an upper part of annular shape with at least one hole through said opening until the upper part of said insert comes to bear substantially on the edges of the opening in the enclosure;
(3b) fabricating the inner compartment of the container from said sheath;
(4b) filling the outer enclosure with a desired quantity of a first substance; and (5b) filling the inner compartment with a desired quantity of a second substance.
(1b) fabricating an outer enclosure, said enclosure having a circular opening and a flat bottom;
(2b) inserting a plastic sheath having an upper part of annular shape with at least one hole through said opening until the upper part of said insert comes to bear substantially on the edges of the opening in the enclosure;
(3b) fabricating the inner compartment of the container from said sheath;
(4b) filling the outer enclosure with a desired quantity of a first substance; and (5b) filling the inner compartment with a desired quantity of a second substance.
14. Process according to claim 13, characterized in that steps (4b) and (5b) are in any order.
15. Process according to claim 13, further comprising evacuating said insert while inserting said insert through said opening.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR87-04168 | 1987-03-25 | ||
| FR8704168A FR2617138B1 (en) | 1987-03-25 | 1987-03-25 | MULTI-COMPARTMENT CONTAINER FOR SINGLE USE, OBTAINING AND APPLYING, PARTICULARLY FOR WASHING LAUNDRY |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1307124C true CA1307124C (en) | 1992-09-08 |
Family
ID=9349425
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000562358A Expired - Fee Related CA1307124C (en) | 1987-03-25 | 1988-03-24 | Single-use multicompartment container, production and application, especially for washing linen |
Country Status (12)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4874107A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0288345B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE97455T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU619736B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1307124C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3885644T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK167387B1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2045158T3 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2617138B1 (en) |
| IE (1) | IE62183B1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX167920B (en) |
| TR (1) | TR23877A (en) |
Families Citing this family (27)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3823709C2 (en) * | 1987-07-23 | 1999-04-01 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Container for the controlled dispensing of a liquid medium |
| US5005726A (en) * | 1988-12-22 | 1991-04-09 | Robbins Edward S | Composite container assemblies |
| DE3844035A1 (en) * | 1988-12-27 | 1990-07-05 | Eickmann Karl | Detergent (washing-agent) container |
| US5487486A (en) * | 1992-07-27 | 1996-01-30 | Meneo; David M. | Beverage container with ice compartment filled by inverted scooping |
| AU7502996A (en) * | 1995-11-08 | 1997-05-29 | American Ink Jet Corporation | Refilling ink jet cartridges |
| US5918487A (en) * | 1996-09-26 | 1999-07-06 | North American Plastic Technologies, Inc. | Sealed container for the laundry solution |
| EP0872544A1 (en) | 1997-04-14 | 1998-10-21 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Dry effervescent granules and granular compositions comprising the same |
| USD420908S (en) * | 1999-01-20 | 2000-02-22 | Toni Ann Sumner | Dual spout container |
| US6685331B1 (en) * | 1999-11-12 | 2004-02-03 | Edward T. Rockwell | Chemiluminescent device |
| WO2001082250A2 (en) * | 2000-04-25 | 2001-11-01 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | Process for the customisation of consumer products |
| MXPA02010510A (en) * | 2000-04-25 | 2003-05-14 | Shell Int Research | Product delivery system. |
| AU2001258368A1 (en) | 2000-04-25 | 2001-11-07 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | Process and machine for mixing liquids |
| DE10027951A1 (en) * | 2000-06-08 | 2002-01-03 | Henkel Kgaa | Dosing container for a liquid detergent additive |
| US6565012B1 (en) * | 2000-08-29 | 2003-05-20 | Zaragozazaragoza, Inc. | Air freshener |
| DE102005027659A1 (en) * | 2005-06-15 | 2006-12-28 | Henkel Kgaa | Scenting device for washing machines or dishwashers |
| ES2355194T3 (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2011-03-23 | Eurokeg B.V. | CONTAINER FOR FLUIDS, INSERT AND FILLING METHOD OF A CONTAINER. |
| EP2107106A1 (en) * | 2008-04-02 | 2009-10-07 | The Procter and Gamble Company | A kit of parts comprising a solid laundry detergent composition and a dosing device |
| EP2258629B1 (en) | 2009-06-05 | 2013-09-18 | Eurokeg B.V. | Container for a pressurized beverage, in particular beer, and method of filling a container with a pressurized beverage |
| IT1395307B1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2012-09-05 | Braidotti | SHELL FOR BALL TO BE USED IN MACHINES FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING WHICH WASHING MACHINES OR DISHWASHER |
| US8499960B2 (en) * | 2010-12-08 | 2013-08-06 | Carrie Paterson | Integral container having concentric compartments for multiple distinct fluids |
| BR112014013731A2 (en) | 2011-12-06 | 2017-06-13 | Gecko Tanks Pty Ltd | truck body |
| US8991659B2 (en) | 2012-08-30 | 2015-03-31 | John Dey | Compartmentalized laundry caddy for dispensing dosed volumes |
| US20140096489A1 (en) * | 2012-10-10 | 2014-04-10 | Diane L. Parry | Flexible ball for transporting laundry |
| EP2956382B1 (en) | 2013-02-15 | 2018-11-14 | BiiP cvba | Device for packaging and dispensing edible articles |
| US9399367B2 (en) | 2013-08-15 | 2016-07-26 | Arrow International, Inc. | Marker with decorative fluid sleeve |
| EP2899308A1 (en) * | 2014-01-24 | 2015-07-29 | BiiP cvba | Device and process for dosing and dispensing a detergent composition |
| EP4311873A1 (en) * | 2022-07-26 | 2024-01-31 | Henkel AG & Co. KGaA | Dosing system with spherical casing for a washing machine |
Family Cites Families (27)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2205147A (en) * | 1938-04-18 | 1940-06-18 | George R Baird | Mixing device |
| US2321998A (en) * | 1942-04-04 | 1943-06-15 | Eastman Kodak Co | Two-compartment container |
| US2412833A (en) * | 1945-03-10 | 1946-12-17 | Prager Martin | Bottle closure device |
| US2661870A (en) * | 1948-09-28 | 1953-12-08 | Alfred G Huenergardt | Multiple liquid dispensing container |
| US2944704A (en) * | 1957-04-24 | 1960-07-12 | Lever Brothers Ltd | Striping dispenser |
| US2939610A (en) * | 1957-10-03 | 1960-06-07 | Johnson & Johnson | Dispensing device |
| US3070275A (en) * | 1960-05-02 | 1962-12-25 | Poster Packaging Inc | Reusable container |
| US3052371A (en) * | 1960-06-29 | 1962-09-04 | Henri M Van Bemmelen | Container |
| US3163544A (en) * | 1962-03-06 | 1964-12-29 | Emery I Valyi | Container |
| US3217931A (en) * | 1962-07-31 | 1965-11-16 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Multicompartment dispensing of different fluent materials |
| US3289887A (en) * | 1962-07-31 | 1966-12-06 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Dispensing of reactive cleansing materials |
| US3200995A (en) * | 1962-08-30 | 1965-08-17 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Multicompartment dispensing package |
| FR1369260A (en) * | 1962-09-18 | 1964-08-07 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Improvement of distributor packaging |
| US3135428A (en) * | 1963-02-18 | 1964-06-02 | Gallo John | Dispensing device |
| US3504384A (en) * | 1963-10-23 | 1970-04-07 | Russell Research Ltd | Toilet bowl cleaning and disinfecting device |
| US3467269A (en) * | 1967-09-26 | 1969-09-16 | Harry A Newton | Compartmented glass bottles |
| US3741383A (en) * | 1972-04-10 | 1973-06-26 | J Wittwer | Display bottle having frangible inner compartment |
| US3850346A (en) * | 1972-04-10 | 1974-11-26 | Cambridge Res & Dev Group | Hand squeezable, plural chambered, liquid dispenser |
| US4022351A (en) * | 1975-04-03 | 1977-05-10 | Hershel Earl Wright | Foam dispenser |
| US4089437A (en) * | 1976-06-18 | 1978-05-16 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Collapsible co-dispensing tubular container |
| DE2939116A1 (en) * | 1979-09-27 | 1981-04-16 | Henkel KGaA, 4000 Düsseldorf | Storage and mixing unit for flowable components - consists of outer sleeve and inserted compressible inner sleeve with separate outlets to mixer |
| US4330066A (en) * | 1980-11-21 | 1982-05-18 | Robert Berliner | Receptacle with collapsible internal container |
| DE3326249A1 (en) * | 1983-07-21 | 1985-01-31 | Henkel Kgaa | WASHING, DISHWASHER OR DETERGENT PACKAGING |
| IT1218468B (en) * | 1984-04-18 | 1990-04-19 | Procter & Gamble | WASHING MACHINE DEVICE WITH A LIQUID DETERGENT |
| FR2563250B1 (en) * | 1984-04-18 | 1986-12-26 | Procter & Gamble France | METHOD FOR WASHING LAUNDRY IN A MACHINE WITH A LIQUID DETERGENT, AND DEVICE FOR ITS APPLICATION |
| DE8416538U1 (en) * | 1984-05-30 | 1984-07-19 | Bayer Ag, 5090 Leverkusen | Combination container for two liquids |
| US4678103A (en) * | 1986-03-27 | 1987-07-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Plural-chambered dispensing device exhibiting constant proportional co-dispensing and method for making same |
-
1987
- 1987-03-25 FR FR8704168A patent/FR2617138B1/en not_active Expired
-
1988
- 1988-03-21 TR TR88/0211A patent/TR23877A/en unknown
- 1988-03-24 EP EP88400724A patent/EP0288345B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-03-24 AT AT88400724T patent/ATE97455T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-03-24 IE IE89088A patent/IE62183B1/en unknown
- 1988-03-24 AU AU13549/88A patent/AU619736B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1988-03-24 CA CA000562358A patent/CA1307124C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-03-24 DE DE88400724T patent/DE3885644T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-03-24 ES ES88400724T patent/ES2045158T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-03-25 DK DK165688A patent/DK167387B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-03-25 US US07/173,490 patent/US4874107A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-03-25 MX MX010897A patent/MX167920B/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU1354988A (en) | 1988-09-29 |
| ES2045158T3 (en) | 1994-01-16 |
| FR2617138A1 (en) | 1988-12-30 |
| ATE97455T1 (en) | 1993-12-15 |
| EP0288345B1 (en) | 1993-11-18 |
| DK165688A (en) | 1989-09-26 |
| FR2617138B1 (en) | 1989-11-03 |
| DK167387B1 (en) | 1993-10-25 |
| DE3885644T2 (en) | 1994-04-28 |
| US4874107A (en) | 1989-10-17 |
| EP0288345A1 (en) | 1988-10-26 |
| DE3885644D1 (en) | 1993-12-23 |
| AU619736B2 (en) | 1992-02-06 |
| DK165688D0 (en) | 1988-03-25 |
| IE62183B1 (en) | 1994-12-28 |
| IE880890L (en) | 1988-09-25 |
| TR23877A (en) | 1990-10-16 |
| MX167920B (en) | 1993-04-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |