Device for packaging and dispensing a product having a flexible
pouch and a spout having a product discharging member
The present invent ion relates to the general fie ld of container5 s
for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid product such as, a
cosmet ic product such as a hair product, and more particularly to haircare
product such as hair serum, hair coloring, hair oil, cream hair, or
to product used for washing such as body wash, or to skin care product
10 such as body or face cream, c leansing product or to any product used
for hair-care or skin-care.
More particularly the present invent ion relates to flexible
containers for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid
product.
15 The expression "cosmet ic product" is understood to mean a
product as defined in Art ic le 2 of Regulat ion No. 1223/2009 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009.
Such products are convent iona lly stored in a rigid packaging
having a body compris ing a closed end and an opposite opened end
20 secured to a closure having a spout or nozzle for dispensing the
product. The opened end is generally provided with a thread on which
is screwed said closure. However, such rigid packaging is designed to
contain a large quant ity of product, and is not adequate to provide a
weekly dose of the product for one week time applicat ion.
25 It is known to store weekly dose of a product in a flexible
packaging such as a pouch or sachet made of two laminated sheets
sealed together at their periphery for delimit ing a cavity receiving said
product. The flexible pouch is provided with an opening sealed to a
closure or spout having a nozzle for dispensing the product. The spout
30 generally comprises a screw cap or press-fit cap for closing the nozzle
before or after use.
However, in a humid use environment such as a bathroom, it is
particularly difficult to unscrew or pull the cap from the nozzle for
using the product and to screw or press it back on the nozzle.
3
Furthermore, such spout of a flexible pouch necessitates the use of two
hands for use and for extracting almost all the product contained in the
flexible pouch.
Referenced can be made to document US 2012/0168461-A1
(Diversapack LLC) which describes a rigid container for a flexibl5 e
pouch having a housing, a hinged cap and an aperture through which a
fitment extends. The fitment comprises a fitment base secured to a top
portion of the pouch for distribut ing the product contained in said
pouch. The fitment further comprises an upper part extending from the
10 fitment base and provided with threads on which is screwed a hinged
cap.
However, with such a design, the use of two hands is required
to screw or unscrew the hinged cap from the fitment. The hinged cap
needs to be removed ent irely from the fitment or spout before use,
15 which is not particularly handy in a moist environment such as a
bathroom. Furthermore, it is difficult to remove almost all the product
contained in the flexible pouch.
Referenced can also be made to document GB2448969-A (Alan
Joseph Green) which describes a fluid dispensing container having a
20 holder into which is inserted a bag of fluid for conferring rigidity to
the bag. A closure having a handle is located at one end of the bag.
When the handle is pressed by a finger of the user, the closure is
temporarily opened for dispensing of the fluid contained in the bag.
However, such fluid dispensing container comprises mult iple
25 parts, which increases manufacturing t ime and costs.
The aim of the present invent ion is to overcome the
aforement ioned drawbacks.
One aim of the present invent ion is to provide a weekly-dose
or applicat ion device for packaging and dispensing a product of simple
30 structure, easy to manufacture and of very low manufacturing costs.
Another aim of the present invent ion is to allow discharging a
high amount of the product from the device.
4
The object of the present invent ion is to provide a device for
packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid product comprising a
flexible pouch delimit ing at least one product cavity suitable for
containing said product, and a spout having a base portion fixedly
attached in a sealed manner to an opening of the flexible pouch, sai5 d
base portion compris ing a passageway in communicat ion with said
product cavity of the flexible pouch. The spout may be air tight.
The spout comprises a product discharging or dosing member
connected to the base portion and extending inside the product cavit y
10 of said flexible pouch. The product discharging member acts as a
dispensing pump configured to push the product contained in the
cavity towards the outside of the device through the passageway of the
spout when a pressure is exerted from outside on said product
discharging member by a user.
15 Such spout is of simple design, allowing the discharge of a
high amount of the product contained in the flexible pouch. The
product restitut ion rate is increased compared to the rest itut ion rate of
convent ional spouts. The locat ion of the product discharging member
ins ide the cavity of the flexible pouch allows the flexible pouch to be
20 sealed over the spout, which reduces the whole manufacturing costs of
the device.
Advantageously, the product discharging member comprises
two opposed wings each connected to the base portion of the spout,
each wing being pivotably mounted around a rotational axis wit h
25 respect to the base portion between a first posit ion where the wings
are spaced apart one from another and a second posit ion where the
wings are brought closer together for pushing the product contained in
the product cavity towards the passageway.
The two wings of the product discharging member allow the
30 amount of delivered product to be dosed precisely. Furthermore,
thanks to the two wings, the user may discharge the product with the
use of only one single hand.
5
Each wing is, for example, configured to spring back by
elast icity in the first posit ion aft er use.
Each wing may have a generally incurved shape, which
curvature is inclined towards the outside of the flexible pouch.
In an embodiment, each wing comprises a first portio 5 n
connected to the base portion at the periphery of the passageway, and
extending by a second portion, larger than the first portion and ending
by a free end.
The product discharging member may extend from the base
10 portion, as being made in one part with the base portion.
For example, the rat io between the axial dimensions of the
product discharging member and the product cavit y is comprised
between 0.2 and 0.5, for example 0.25.
In another embodiment, the spout comprises a dispens ing
15 member project ing outside of the flexible pouch and having at least
one dispensing orifice in communicat ion with the passageway of the
base portion.
In an embodiment, the spout further comprises a cap
comprising a sealing stud and pivotably mounted on said dispensing
20 member via at least one hinge between a closed posit ion into which the
sealing stud sealingly engages sa id dispensing orifice and an opened
posit ion of said dispensing orifice.
For example, the cap has a substant ially flat cover portion,
allowing the device to be placed upside down on the cap head so as to
25 aid product movement towards the passageway.
The base port ion, the dispensing member, the cap and the
product discharging member of the spout may be, for example, a single
piece made from moulding of plast ic material.
The base port ion, the dispensing member, the cap and the
30 product extraction member of the spout are a single piece made from
moulding of plast ic material, such as for example polymer material,
for example polypropylene or polyethylene. The pouch is thus sealed
6
on a single piece flip top spout, which reduces manufacturing t ime and
costs since only one mould is required to create the spout.
For example, the base portion and/or the dispensing member of
the spout is of generally elongated shape.
The dispensing member may comprise a dispens ing surfac5 e
onto which comes out the dispensing orifice.
The flexible pouch comprises, for example, a front and a rear
sheet each having a lower edge, an upper edge and two side edges
extending between the upper and lower edges, the side edges of the
10 front sheet being bonded with the side edges of the rear sheet in a
sealed manner except at said opening located at the upper edge of each
sheet.
Advantageously, the spout is made of polymer material, for
example polyethylene, or polypropylene, or a combinat ion of those
15 polymer materials with an elastomer mat erial, such as for example a
thermoplast ic elastomer.
The present invent ion will be better understood from studying
the detailed descript ion of an embodiment considered by way of a nonlimit
ing example and illustrated by the attached drawings in which:
20 - Figure 1 is a front view of a device according to an
embodiment of the present invent ion;
- Figure 2 is a s ide view of a device of Figure 1; and
- Figures 3 and 4 are two perspect ive views of a spout of the
device of Figure 1.
25 Figures 1 to 4 show an example of a device for packaging and
dispensing a product, denoted by the general reference number 10.
The device 10 may be used for packaging cosmet ic products,
for example liquid or semi-liquid cosmet ic product, part icularly a hair
product, such as, hair-care product, for example, hair serum, hair dye,
30 hair oil, cream hair or the any product used for hair. However, it
might be possible to provide the packaging and dispensing of other
types of products. The device 10 is suited for weekly-dose products.
7
The device 10 may also be used for packaging other types of
cosmet ics products such as skin care products, or other types of
products like food products, such as sauce, compote, juice, water or
any liquid or semi-liquid food product.
The device 10 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X’ assume5 d
to be vert ical on the Figures. The device 10 comprises a flexible pouch
12 or sachet comprising two laminated sheets bonded together so as to
form a unitary receptacle or body of the flexible pouch 12 delimit ing a
closed volume or cavity 12a adapted to receive the product. The
10 receptacle is delimit ed by a front and a rear sheet 14, 16. Each sheet
14, 16 is further defined by a lower edge 14a, 16a, an upper edge 14b,
16b and two side edges 14c, 14d; 16c extending between the upper and
lower edges 14a, 14b; 16a, 16b. The side edges of the front sheet 14
are bonded with the side edges of the rear sheet 16 in a sealed manner
15 except at an opening 18 located at the upper edge 14b, 16b of each
sheet 14, 16. The sheets forming the pouch may be a single-layered or
have a mult ilayer structure. Preferably, the sheets are made o f
polyethylene (PE) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The device 10 further comprises an air tight spout 20 or
20 closure fixedly attached in a sealed manner to an inner surface of the
opening 18 of the flexible pouch 12. The air tight spout is configured
to keep the product inside the flexible pouch in a stable condit ion.
As illustrated in details on Figures 3 and 4, the spout 20
comprises a base portion 22 of generally almond elongated shape
25 which outer surface forms a seal-engaging surface welded to the inner
surface of the opening 18 of the flexible pouch 12 by means of heat
seal. The outer surface of the base portion 22 is further provided wit h
a plurality of project ing ridges 24, for example in the number of four.
In an alt ernat ive, the sea l-engaging surface may be smooth, without
30 ribs.
The base portion 22 further comprises a centrally located
cylindrically shaped passageway 26 extending through the centre of
8
the base portion 22, to provide access to the contents of the flexible
pouch 12.
The spout 20 further comprises a dispensing member 28
extending from the base portion 22 and project ing outside of the
flexible pouch 12. The dispensing member 28 is of generally almon5 d
elongated shape having a flat dispensing surface 28a. In an alternat ive,
the dispensing surface may have a dome shape, for easy swipe off o f
the product contained in the flexible pouch 12. The dispensing member
28 comprises a centrally located cylindrically shaped dispens ing
10 orifice 28b in fluidly communicat ion with the passageway 26. The
dispensing orifice 28b comes out on the dispensing surface 28a.
The spout 20 further comprises a cap 30 compris ing a cover
portion 32 and a sealing stud 34 project ing from the cover portion 32,
without extending beyond the cap 30.
15 The cover portion 32 has a shape mat ing with the shape of the
dispensing member 28 and is connected to said dispensing member 28
via a hinge 36 in order to be art iculated in an opened posit ion of use
shown on figures 3 and 4, in which the product contained in the
flexible pouch 12 may flow towards the outside on the dispensing
20 surface of the dispensing member 28, and a closed posit ion, shown on
figures 1 and 2, where the sealing stud 34 of the cap 30 projects into,
and thereby sealingly engages, the dispensing orifice 28b of the
dispensing member 28. The cover portion 32 is substant ially flat
allowing the device to be posit ioned on the cover portion and to the
25 product contained in the pouch to flow by gravity ins ide the
passageway 26 near the dispensing orifice 28b.
In all the embodiments, the hinge may be a “live” hinge
allowing the cap to move on its own in the opened posit ion when the
cap is opened and in the closed posit ion when the cap is pushed
30 towards the dispensing member, or may be a “dead” hinge needing the
cap to be guided by the user.
9
The cover portion 32 further comprises a lip 38 extending from
the dispensing surface 28a when the cap 30 is in the closed posit ion.
The lip 38 facilitates the opening of the cap 30 with one hand.
The spout 20 further comprises a product discharging or dosing
member 40 act ing as a dispensing pump configured to help the user t5 o
discharge a high amount of the product contained in the flexible
pouch, for example an amount higher or equal to 95% of the init ia l
amount located in the pouch before use.
As illustrated, the product discharging member 40 comprise s
10 two opposed wings 42, 44 extending from the lower surface 22a of the
base portion 22 towards the lower edges 14a, 14b; 16a, 16b of the
flexible pouch 12. Each wing 42, 44 comprises a first portion 42a, 44a
connected to the base portion 22 at the periphery of the passageway
26, and extending by a second portion 42b, 44b, larger than the first
15 portion 42a, 44a and ending by a free end 42c, 44c. The rat io between
the axial dimens ions of the product discharging member 40 and the
product cavity 12a is comprised between 0.2 and 0.5, for example
equal to 0.25.
Each wing 42, 44 is configured to be articulated around the
20 connect ion or rotational axis A1, A2 with the base portion between a
first posit ion, as illustrated on the Figures, where the wings 42, 44 are
spaced apart one from another and a second posit ion, where the wings
42, 44 are brought closer together for pushing the product contained in
the flexible pouch towards the passageway 26. In the second posit ion,
25 the free ends 42c, 44c are brought nearer and may come into contact.
The rotational axis A1, A2 between the base portion 22 and the
corresponding wing 42, 44 is located in a plane perpendicular to the
longitudina l axis X-X’.
Each wing 42, 44 have a generally incurved shape, which
30 curvature is inclined towards the outside of the pouch, in order to mate
the sheets of the flexible pouch. In an alternat ive, the wings 42, 44
may be flat or less curved than on the Figures.
10
The first portion 42a, 44a of the wings 42, 44 is configured to
be more flexible than the base portion of the spout, and thus to have a
spring effect when the user pushes the wings towards one another.
The product discharging member 40 is located ins ide the cavit y
12a of the flexible pouch 12, which allows the flexible pouch to b5 e
heat sealed over the spout 20. The single-piece spout 20 can be
manufactured using a single moulding process, without requiring the
need of further assembly steps, thus reducing the whole manufacturing
costs of the device for packaging and dispensing a product.
10 The base portion 22, the dispensing member 28, the cap 30 and
the product discharging member 40 of the spout 20 are a single piec e
made from moulding of plast ic material, such as polymer material, for
example polyethylene (PE) such as, for example, linear low-density
polyethylene (LLDPE), or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or
15 polypropylene (PP), or a combinat ion of those polymer materials wit h
an elastomer material, such as for example a thermoplast ic elastomer
(TPE). Since one mould would be required to design the spout,
manufacturing time and costs are reduced. As an alternat ive, the
product discharging member 40 could be manufactured separately from
20 the base portion 22 and the cap 30 and by mounted on the base portio n
of the spout with art iculat ion axis.
In order to use the device 10, the user just has to flip open the
cap 30 with one single hand for dispensing the product on the
dispensing surface 28a. In order to push the product contained in the
25 cavity 12a of the flexible pouch 12 towards said dispensing surfac e
28a, the user just needs to exert a pressure from the outside on the
product discharging member 40. In other words, the pressure of the
user’s hand is applied on the flexible pouch 12 and then transmitted by
the flexible pouch on the product discharging member 40. There is no
30 direct contact between the hand of the user and the product
discharging member located inside the flexible pouch. The pressur e
applied by the user is thus transmitted to the product discharging
11
member through the flexible pouch at the locat ion of the product
discharging member.
In order to bring the two wings 42, 44 close together, the
pressure is exerted in a substant ially radial direct ion perpendicular to
the longitudina l axis and to the rotational axis of the wings, fo5 r
example with two fingers. Bringing the wings 42, 44 closer together
allows obtaining a pushing of the product towards the passageway 26
of the spout.
After use, the wings 42, 44 return back by elast icit y in the
10 init ia l posit ion and the cap 30 can be hinged in the closed posit io n
also with one single hand.
The diameter of the dispens ing orifice, the angle of curvature
each wings and the distance between said wings have a direct act ion
on the amount of product that can be dispensed.
15 Thanks to the device according to the present invent ion, it is
possible to provide a weekly-dose or applicat ion package for
packaging and dispensing product of simple structure, easy to
manufacture, easy to use with only one hand, and allowing the
extraction of a high amount of the product contained in the flexible
20 pouch. Furthermore, thanks to the invent ion, products of various
viscosit ies may be dispensed in a predetermined quant ity with a
change in the diameter of the dispensing orifice and/or the angle o f
curvature of the wings.
12
CLAIMS
1. Device (10) for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semiliquid
product compris ing a flexible pouch (12) delimit ing at least one
product cavity (12a) suitable for containing said product, and a spout
(20) having a base portion (22) fixedly attached in a sealed manner to
an opening (18) of the flexible pouch (12), said base portion (225 )
comprising a passageway (26) in communicat ion with said product
cavity (12a) of the flexible pouch (12), characterized in that the spout
(20) comprises a product discharging member (40) connected to the
base portion (22) and extending ins ide the product cavit y (12a) of said
10 flexible pouch (12), said product discharging member (40) being
configured to push the product contained in the cavity (12a) towards
the passageway (26) when a pressure is exerted from outside on said
product discharging member (40) by a user.
2. Device according to Claim 1, wherein the said product
15 discharging member (40) comprises two opposed wings (42, 44) each
connected to the base portion (22) of the spout (20), each wing being
pivotably mounted around a rotational axis (A1, A2) with respect to
the base portion (22) between a first position where the wings (42, 44)
are spaced apart one from another and a second posit ion where the
20 wings (42, 44) are brought closer together for pushing the product
contained in the product cavity (12a) towards the passageway (26).
3. Device according to Claim 2, wherein each wing is
configured to spring back in the first position aft er use.
4. Device according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein each wing (42,
25 44) has a generally incurved shape, which curvature is inclined
towards the outside of the flexible pouch.
5. Device according to any of Cla ims 2 to 4, wherein each
wing (42, 44) comprises a first portion (42a, 44a) connected to the
base portion (22) at the periphery of the passageway (26), and
30 extending by a second portion (42b, 44b), larger than the first port ion
(42a, 44a) and ending by a free end (42c, 44c).
13
6. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
the product discharging member (40) extends from the base portion
(22).
7. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
the ratio between the axia l dimensions of the product dischargin5 g
member (40) and the product cavity (12a) is comprised between 0.2
and 0.5.
8. Device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein
the spout (20) comprises a dispensing member (28) project ing outside
10 of the flexible pouch and having at least one dispensing orifice (28b)
in communicat ion with the passageway (26) of the base portion (12).
9. Device according to Claim 8, wherein the spout (20)
comprises a cap (30) compris ing a sealing stud (34) and pivotably
mounted on said dispensing member (28) via at least one hinge (36)
15 between a closed posit ion into which the sea ling stud sealingly
engages said dispens ing orifice and an opened posit ion of said
dispensing orifice.
10. Device according to Claim 9, wherein the base portion
(22), the dispensing member (28), the cap (30) and the product
20 discharging member (40) of the spout (20) being a single piece made
from moulding of plast ic material.