Container

Abstract

The invention provides a container (10) for the packaging of a fluent product (P) which off-gases, the container comprising: a container body (11) for receiving and storing product and a removable lid (12) for closing the container body; in which the lid is provided with a venting assembly (20, 23a, 23b, 24) extending into the container body; in which the venting assembly has a closed position which is effective to close the container body and a venting position permitting the venting of gas from the container body; whereby, when the container body is partially filled with a fluent product which off-gases, the venting assembly moves to the venting position in response to excessive pressure from accumulated gas, and reverts to the closed position upon release of the excessive pressure, thus effecting periodic venting of the container body; and whereby the spatial arrangement of the venting assembly within the container body provides for venting of the container body independently of the orientation of the container, while retaining the product within the container body. The container is especially suitable for the packaging of viscous or semisolid products which incorporate an oxidizing agent, such as creams or gels for the bleaching or coloring of hair.

Claims

1. A container for the packaging of a fluent product which off-gases, the container comprising: a container body for receiving and storing product, the container body comprising a container base, a mouth, and a container wall extending from the base, the wall having an upper portion defining the mouth of the container body and bearing a threaded surface and a removable lid for closing the container body, the removable lid comprising a too portion and a depending skirt portion; the depending skirt portion bearing a threaded surface configured for engagement with a corresponding threaded surface of the mouth of the container body; wherein the removable lid is provided with a venting assembly extending into the container body, the venting assembly having a closed position which is effective to close the container body and a venting position permitting the venting of gas from the container body, the venting assembly comprising: a hollow venting tube provided on an inner surface of the too portion of the lid and configured such that it extends into the interior of the container body when then lid is engaged with the body, the hollow venting tube having an upper end in sealed contact with the inner surface of the top portion of the lid and a lower end bearing one or more apertures for the intake of accumulated gas; a venting tube liner of resilient flexible materials having a disc shaped portion with a circumferential edge adapted for engagement with an inner surface of the lid; and at least one tubular portion extending from the disc shaped portion and configured such that it shrouds the hollow venting tube when the venting tube liner is engaged with the lid; wherein the venting tube liner is movable from a closed position, covering the one or more apertures in the hollow venting tube and effective to close the container body, to a venting position exposing the one or more apertures in the hollow venting tube and permitting venting of gas from the container body whereby when the container body is partially filled with a fluent product which off-gases, the venting tube liner moves to the venting position in response to excessive pressure from accumulated gas, and reverts to the closed position upon release of the excessive pressure, thus effecting periodic venting of the container body; and whereby the spatial arrangement of the hollow venting tube within the container body provides for venting of the container body independently of the orientation of the container, whilst retaining the product within the container body.

2. The container according to claim 1, in which the container wall surrounds and encloses an interior volume of the container body, and includes a peripheral section disposed at least a minimum radius r from a first axis within the interior volume and a pair of end sections disposed generally transverse to the first axis and joined peripherally to the peripheral sections; and the venting assembly extends along the first axis; the end sections of the container wall each being separated from the one or more apertures of the hollow venting tube along the first axis by a distance h; such that when the interior volume is partially filled with product, the product has a depth of less than h when the first axis is disposed vertically and less than r when the first axis is disposed horizontally.

3. The container according to claim 1, in which the container wall surrounds and encloses an interior volume of the container body having a geometric centre that is generally equidistant from opposite points of the container wall, and the venting assembly is disposed centrally in three dimensions within the interior volume; such that when the interior volume is partially filled with product, the one or more apertures of the hollow venting tube remain in the head space of the product regardless of the orientation of the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A specific embodiment of a container according to the invention will now be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a container according to the invention in the closed position, and

(3) FIG. 1b represents a schematic cross-sectional view of the same container in the venting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(4) Referring to FIG. 1a, generally cylindrical container 10 comprises a plastic container body 11 and a removable plastic lid 12 for closing the container body 11.

(5) The container body 11 comprises a container base 13 with a slightly concave surface and a container wall 14 extending from the container base 13 and surrounding and enclosing an interior volume of the container body 11. The interior volume of the container body 11 has a geometric centre that is generally equidistant from opposite points of the container wall 14. The container wall 14 has an annular upper portion 15 defining the mouth of the container body 11 and bearing a threaded surface 16.

(6) The removable lid 12 comprises a top portion 17 and a depending skirt portion 18 bearing a threaded surface 19 configured for engagement with corresponding threaded surface 16 on the mouth of the container body 11.

(7) The top portion 17 of removable lid 12 has an inner surface 17a provided with a hollow venting tube 20. The hollow venting tube 20 has an upper end 21 in sealed contact with inner surface 17a and a lower end 22 bearing vent slots 23a, 23b. Hollow venting tube 20 is disposed centrally in three dimensions within the interior volume of container body 11.

(8) Hollow venting tube 20 is shrouded by resilient flexible plastic liner 24. Liner 24 has a disc shaped portion 25 with a circumferential edge 26 adapted for engagement with inner surface 17a and a tubular portion 27 extending from disc shaped portion 25.

(9) In the closed position as shown in FIG. 1a, tubular portion 27 of venting tube liner 24 covers vent slots 23a, 23b in hollow venting tube 20.

(10) In the venting position as shown in FIG. 1b, tubular portion 27 of venting tube liner 24 exposes vent slots 23a, 23b in hollow venting tube 20.

(11) In use, the interior volume of the container body 11 is partially filled with a fluent product P which off-gases, with vent slots 23a, 23b of hollow venting tube 20 positioned in the head space H of the product P.

(12) As pressure from accumulated gas builds in the head space H, liner 24 flexes into the venting position. Eventually, exposure of vent slots 23a, 23b enables accumulated gas to exit container body 11 via a passageway between threaded surfaces 16 and 19. Liner 24 reverts to the closed position upon release of the excessive pressure, thus effecting periodic venting of the container body.