Flow-limiting device and container for unitary products

Abstract

A flow-limiting device that controls the distribution of unitary products from a container for holding said unitary products includes at least one dispensing opening, a body made of a polymeric material with an entry side, a dispensing side and a peripheral side extending in an axial direction of the body. The peripheral side has a lower and an upper axial end, the entry side has at least in part, a concave shape when viewed onto the entry side with at least one guiding surface. The dispensing side has at least in part, a concave shape when viewed onto the dispensing side. The dispensing opening is at an axial position between and spaced from the axial positions of the lower and upper axial end, wherein the entry side and/or the dispensing side include a plurality of elevated regions, which are arranged to define the concave shape.

Claims

1. A flow-limiting device that controls distribution of unitary products from a container which holds said unitary products, the flow-limiting device comprising: a body made of a polymeric material comprising an entry side, a dispensing side and a peripheral side, the peripheral side having a lower axial end and an upper axial end; and at least one dispensing opening; the entry side having, at least in part, a concave shape when viewed onto the entry side with at least one guiding surface; the dispensing side having, at least in part, a concave shape when viewed onto the dispensing side; the at least one dispensing opening being at an axial position between and spaced from an axial position of the lower axial end and an axial position of the upper axial end of the peripheral side; wherein at least one among the entry side and the dispensing side comprises a plurality of elevated regions and recessed regions between the elevated regions, wherein the plurality of elevated regions define the concave shape of the at least one among the entry side and the dispensing side.

2. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dispensing opening comprises a hole having a shape that is dimensioned to a shape of the unitary product so that only one unitary product at a time can pass through the at least one dispensing opening.

3. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dispensing opening comprises elongate holes or elliptical holes, wherein longitudinal axes thereof form an angle with each other.

4. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises a thermoplastic material and an active gas treatment material or gas treatment composition embedded in a polymer matrix of the thermoplastic material.

5. The flow-limiting device according to claim 4, wherein the gas treatment material comprises an oxygen scavenger.

6. The flow-limiting device according to claim 4, wherein the gas treatment material comprises a sorbent material.

7. The flow limiting device according to claim 4 wherein the gas treatment material comprises a desiccant material or desiccant composition.

8. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elevated regions comprise a plurality of radial ribs.

9. The flow-limiting device according to claim 8, further comprising intersecting ribs.

10. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, further comprising an annular flange located at a circumference of the dispensing side, wherein the annular flange extends radially outwards from the upper axial end of the peripheral side.

11. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, further comprising axial ribs extending in a longitudinal direction of the flow-limiting device at a circumference thereof.

12. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elevated regions comprise at least one circumferential rib arranged concentrically with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flow limiting device.

13. The flow-limiting device according to claim 12, further comprising intersecting ribs.

14. The flow-limiting device of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal axes form an angle with each other between 80 and 100.

15. The flow limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elevated regions form ribs.

16. The flow limiting device of claim 1 wherein the at least one dispensing opening is an elongate hole or elliptical hole.

17. A container for storing unitary products, in its interior, the container comprising: the flow-limiting device according to claim 1; a container body with a container opening; and a removable or openable cap for closing the container opening; wherein the flow-limiting device is arranged in the interior of the container and close to the container opening; and the at least one dispensing opening of the flow-limiting device is dimensioned to allow passage of one unitary product at a time.

18. The container according to claim 17, wherein the flow-limiting device is snap-fit into the container, and establishes a form-fit connection in the container.

19. The container according to claim 17, further comprising an opening surrounded by a wall, and the flow-limiting device further comprising an annular flange at the upper axial end of the peripheral side of the body, wherein the annular flange covers at least a part of the wall around a neck portion of the container.

20. The container according to claim 17, further comprising a neck portion, which comprises the container opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, some specific embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an elevational view of an inventive flow-limiting device fitted into a wall around the opening region of a container;

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b are views showing the entry side and dispensing side, respectively of an embodiment of a flow-limiting device according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view onto the entry side of a flow-limiting device according to the invention;

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b show another embodiment of a flow-limiting device according to the invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a view of a container with a neck into which a flow-limiting device according to the invention is fitted.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) Throughout the description below of preferred embodiments of the invention, the same elements will be indicated by the same reference numerals.

(8) When reference is made to geometrical relationships like upper or lower, a container with the flow-limiting device according to the invention is considered to stand on a flat surface so that the opening of the container faces in an upward direction.

(9) If a container of a different shape and with a dispensing opening which is angularly arranged with respect to a vertical direction should be used, the terminology can be adapted accordingly.

(10) FIG. 1 schematically shows a flow-limiting device 10 which is fitted into a container 12. The container 12 is only partially shown. In the example as shown in FIG. 1, it has an annular wall 14 surrounding a container opening. The container 12 as such can either have a cylindrical shape with the wall 14 extending upwards from a bottom wall of the container. It is also possible to provide a container 12 with a neck portion resembling the common shape of a bottle. In such a case, the wall 14 forms part of the neck portion of the container.

(11) The flow-limiting device 10 is fitted into the container 12 by means of a force-fit. The flow-limiting device 10 has an entry side 16 and a dispensing side 18. Further, the body of the flow-limiting device has a peripheral wall 20 in the shape of an annular ring. The peripheral wall 20 extends between the lower axial end 22 and the upper axial end 24. At the upper axial end 24, the flow-limiting device is integrally formed with an annular flange 26 which is shaped so that, once the flow-limiting device has been fitted into the container 12, it comes to rest on the annular upper surface 28 of the wall 14 and defines the mounting position of the flow-limiting device relative to the container 12.

(12) In the example as shown in FIG. 1, the flow-limiting device 10 is further provided with axial ribs 30 which are evenly distributed around the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 20 of the body. The axial ribs 30 are integrally formed with the body of the flow-limiting device. In the mounted state, the axial ribs 30 and/or the neck of the container become elastically deformed and create a force-fit between the flow-limiting device 10 and the container 12. In the example as shown in FIG. 1, the axial ribs 30 start close to the upper axial end of the peripheral side 20 but do not extend up to the lower axial end 22. However, it is also possible to provide the axial ribs 30 such that they extend in axial direction up to the lower axial end 22 of the peripheral side 20.

(13) The container is further provided with a removable or openable cap for closing the container opening. Such a cap can be a standard cap which can be screwed onto the container opening. The cap can also be attached to the container by the mean of a retaining ring that is snapped onto the container opening. To this end, one or more beads 32 are integrally formed with the wall 14 of the container.

(14) The flow-limiting device 10 is made of a suitable plastic material which is preferably selected from the group comprising radical or linear high and low density polyethylenes, copolymers of ethylene such as for example ethylene vinyl acetates, ethylene ethyl acrylates, ethylene butyl acrylates, ethylene maleic anhydrides, ethylene alpha olefines, regard-less of the methods of polymerisation or modification by grafting, homo polypropylene and copolymers, polybutene-1, polyisobutylene. Polyolefines are preferably selected to make the flow-limiting device 10 for cost reasons and because they are easy to use.

(15) Other polymer materials can be considered however such as polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chlorides, polystyrenes, copolymers of styrene, derivatives of cellulose, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyoxymethylenes, polyethylene terephthalates, polybutylene terephthalates, copolyesters, polyphenylene oxides, polymethyl methacrylates, copolymers of acrylate, fluoride polymers, polyphenylene sulphides, polyarylsulphones, polyaryletherketones, polyetherimides, polyimides, thermoplastic elastomers, polyurethanes, phenol resins, melamine resins, urea resins, epoxy resins and unsaturated polyester resins.

(16) Biodegradable polymer materials, with for example a starch base, are also possible such as polylactic acids (PLA).

(17) Combinations of these polymers can be used, if desired. The polymer used to produce the body of the flow-limiting device 10 can also contain one or more additives such as elastomers, fibers, expanding agents, additives such as stabilizers and colorants, sliding agents, demolding agents, adhesion agents or reinforced catching agents and/or any others according to the requirements of usage.

(18) The flow-limiting device 10 can also be made from injectable materials made in such a way that they are capable of absorbing various different pollutants such as humidity, oxygen, odour and other possible pollutants. The thermoplastic materials are thus themselves formulated with additives belonging to a group of humidity absorbers, oxygen scavengers, odour absorbers and/or emitters of volatile olfactory organic compounds. The formulated thermoplastic materials must however retain a certain degree of resilience.

(19) Suitable dehydrating agents are selected from a group comprising silica gels, dehydrating clays, activated alumina, calcium oxide, barium oxide, natural or synthetic zeolites, molecular or similar sieves, or deliquescent salts such as magnesium sulfide, calcium chloride, aluminum chloride, lithium chloride, calcium bromide, zink chloride or the like. Preferably the dehydrating agent is a molecular sieve and/or a silica gel.

(20) A suitable oxygen collecting agent is selected from a group comprising metal powders having a reducing capacity, in particular iron, zink, tin powders, metal oxides still having the ability to oxidize, in particular ferrous oxide, as well as compounds of iron such as carbides, carbonyls, hydroxides, used alone or in the presence of an activator such as hydroxides, carbonates, sulfites, thiosulfates, phosphates, organic acid salts, or hydrogen salts of alkaline metals or alkaline earth metals, activated carbon, activated alumina or activated clays.

(21) Other agents for collecting oxygen can also be chosen from specific reactive polymers such as those described for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,616 and WO 99/48963. These specific reactive polymers can be mixed with a thermoplastic polymer used to produce the flow-limiting device according to the present invention.

(22) The amount of treatment agent introduced into the thermoplastic polymer to produce the flow-limiting device according to the present invention expressed in percentage by weight can advantageously vary from 5% to 75% of the thermoplastic material used to produce the flow-limiting device, when the treatment agent is a reaction and/or adsorption agent.

(23) FIGS. 2a and 2b show a flow-limiting device according to FIG. 1. The flow-limiting device has a wall 34 which is concave at the dispensing side 18 of the flow-limiting device 10 and which is provided with a centrally arranged dispensing opening 36.

(24) At the entry side 16, there is no continuous wall. The entry side 16 comprises a plurality of radial ribs 38 which preferably are evenly distributed over the circumference of the flow-limiting device. Further, there are circumferential ribs 40a and 40b which are concentrically arranged and intersect the radial ribs 38. More particularly, the circumferential rib 40a merges into the peripheral wall 20. The ends of the radial ribs 38 and circumferential ribs 40a, 40b facing the interior of the container are elevated surfaces which together form a concave shape of the entry side 16 when viewed onto the entry side 16. The radial ribs 38 and circumferential ribs 40a, 40b form a web of elevated surfaces which are arranged so as to impart a sufficient stability to the thin-walled flow-limiting device 10 and such that the loose products stored inside a container used with the flow-limiting device 10 cannot become stuck between the ribs of the container.

(25) The elevated surfaces of the ribs 38, 40a, 40b form a guiding surface which directs the products to be dispensed towards the dispensing opening 36 when the container (not shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b) with the flow-limiting device 10 fitted therein is placed in an upside down position.

(26) Finally, the entry side of the flow-limiting device according to FIGS. 2a and 2b is provided with a flat surface region 42 around the dispensing openings 36a, 36b (which are shown in FIG. 3).

(27) FIG. 3 shows a plan view onto the entry side of a flow-limiting device according to FIGS. 2a and 2b. As can be best seen in the plan view of FIG. 3, the dispensing opening 36 consists of two elliptical openings 36a, 36b, the shapes of which are shown by way of dotted lines. The longitudinal axes of the elliptical dispensing openings 36a and 36b are arranged at an angle of 90. However, it should be noted that it is also possible to provide one single elliptical or elongated hole as the dispensing opening, or a plurality of dispensing openings, the longitudinal axes of which are arranged the different angle relative to each other or which are not arranged so as to intersect each other.

(28) The intersecting radial ribs and circumferential rib form elevated portions delimiting recessed portions 44. The recessed portions are shaped such that a unitary product intended to be dispensed with the flow-limiting device 10 cannot become stuck therein.

(29) The flow-limiting device of the embodiment according to FIGS. 4a, 4b is provided with a flat annular wall 46 with a dispensing opening 36 therein. Both the concave shapes of the entry side 16 and dispensing side 18 are formed by means of radial ribs 38a, 38b. The radial ribs 38a on the entry side 16 have a curved shape so as to form a concave overall shape. Also in this example, the elevated top surfaces of the radial ribs 38a act as guiding surfaces 48 which, in the appropriate orientation of the container with the flow-limiting device 10 fitted thereon, serve to guide the unitary products to be dispensed towards the dispensing opening 36.

(30) On the dispensing side 18 of the flow-limiting device 10 according to FIG. 4b, the radial ribs 38b form a generally straight guiding surface 50 so that the plurality of straight guiding surfaces 50 of the radial ribs 38b form the skeleton of a funnel shape. Such a shape is also considered to be covered by the term concave. Upon correct orientation of the flow-limiting device, a product which was inadvertently dispensed will be redirected towards the dispensing opening and back into the interior of the container.

(31) In order to show that different geometrical variations can be applied, there is a flat surface 42 surrounding the dispensing opening 36 on the entry side 16, whereas, on the dispensing side 18, the radial ribs 38b extend up to the rim of the dispensing opening 36.

(32) In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, a bow 52 is provided which is integrally formed with the flow-limiting devices. The bow 52 is a narrow, blade-like element which is placed on the entry side of the flow-limiting device and at some distance from the opening 36. The bow has the function to limit the flow of unitary products if a user who wants to dispense a product turns the container with the flow-limiting device into an upside-down position. In such a position, the products could freely fall into the dispensing opening 36. When the flow-limiting device in a container is turned into an upside-down position, the bow is arranged such that it crosses the cross sectional area of the opening 36.

(33) Further, a plurality of flow breaking elements 54 are shown which start on the entry side 16 of the flow-limiting device and extend into the free cross-sectional area of the opening 36. The flow breaking elements 54 are distributed around the rim of the dispensing opening and have the function to limit the flow of unitary products towards and through the dispensing opening. This promotes the desired dispensing of the unitary products one by one.

(34) It should be noted that the provision of the bow 52 and the flow breaking elements 54 is shown and described only in the context of the embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b. However, it should be noted that one or both of these elements can be additionally provided in any of the other embodiments.

(35) The container as shown in FIG. 5 has a neck and the flow-limiting device 10 inserted therein. Once the cap (not shown) closing the neck portion of the container has been removed from the container opening, the container has to be turned over so that it comes into a bottom-up position. In such a position, one unitary product will be directed by means of the guiding surface on the entry side of the container towards the dispensing opening and will be dispensed. In case that more than one product was dispensed, the bottle can be put back into the upright position as shown in FIG. 5, whereupon the product will slide down the guiding surface on the dispensing side and will drop through the dispensing opening back into the interior of the container. After this, the container can be closed again by means of the cap.

(36) The flow-limiting device according to the invention is easy to use because single pieces of the product can be conveniently returned into the container. It is of a lightweight construction and provides a high surface area which, in case of adding an active agent to the polymer matrix of the plastic material of the flow-limiting device, will also lead to a high effectiveness of the desired material exchange in order to create or maintain a desired atmosphere within the container.