Bottles and jars – Multilayer barrier structure – Coating or lamination
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-06-19
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Bottles and jars
Multilayer barrier structure
Coating or lamination
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247603
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the dispensing performance of containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to dispensing apparatuses and methods for increasing the removal of a product being dispensed from a container.
Many consumer household products, such as food, cleaning or bathing products, are stored and dispensed from a container. When dispensed, some products easily flow from the container and thus leave little, if any, residual product in the container.
However, some viscous products are sticky and thick by nature and thus do not freely flow from the container, particularly where the container has a narrow mouth or opening. For example, these products may include bathing products, such as shampoos and conditioners, food products, such as mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, and cleaning products, such as dishwasher detergents. Due to the viscous nature of these products, an appreciable amount of the product cannot be dispensed by normal use and thus remains unused as it is disposed along with the paid for product.
To address this problem, some have attempted to modify the shape of the container to facilitate dispensing performance. For example, some have designed the container to have a gently sloping shoulder to improve dispensing performance. Whereas, others have designed valve or nozzle assemblies for pumping the product from such a container. However, such prior attempts to address the outage problem have focused on either redesigning of the container or using additional apparatuses, which are thus costly to the manufacturer and ultimately the consumer.
Alternatively, the consumer may take matters into his or her own hands by leaving the container up-turned or shake and hit the container to further dispense the product. However, the dispensing of the product through the outlet, particularly as the container becomes progressively more empty, can take, or seem to take, a significant and frequently frustrating amount of time. In addition, if the container is vigorously shaken or hit, the dispensing product is less easily controlled as it exits the container, thus creating the potential for the product to be unexpectedly spilled onto a counter top, a floor or even an end user.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved apparatus to increase the dispensing of relatively viscous liquids from a container, such as plastic containers with narrow outlets. Such a device should allow the product to flow essentially uninhibited from the container, thereby maximizing the amount of product that may be dispensed under normal consumer use. As a result of an increase in product removal, namely the product outage, consumer satisfaction will likely increase because less product will go to waste.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a unique dispensing apparatus and method for increasing the removal of product being dispensed from its container. To increase product removal, the present invention employs a coating that is applied to the inner wall of the container. The product then contacts the coating instead of the bare container wall surface. In doing so, the product slips with the coating as it flows from the container during normal use, thereby increasing product removal because less product is capable of adhering to the bare container walls. Accordingly, greater product removal maximizes the amount of product being used by the consumer through normal use prior to the disposal of the container.
Pursuant to the present invention, the dispensing apparatus for increasing product removal includes a container having an outlet and a wall; the wall having a wall inner surface. The wall inner surface defines a chamber housing a coating and a product. The coating substantially covers the wall inner surface, thereby defining a coating surface. The product is in contact with at least a portion of the coating surface.
A variety of suitable coatings may be used to facilitate product removal. In an embodiment, the coating is natural oil or mineral oil. The natural oils are esters of glycerol and a variety of fatty acids; whereas, the mineral oils are hydrocarbon-based compounds. For example, olive oil or soybean oil are specific examples of suitable natural oils.
The container may be made from a variety of different materials. For example, the container can be made from plastic, metal or glass.
The present invention also provides a dispensing method for increasing product removal. In an embodiment, the dispensing method includes providing a container having an outlet and a wall having a wall inner surface defining a chamber. Next, an amount of coating is applied to the wall inner surface. The coating substantially covers the wall inner surface thereby defining a coating surface. Next, an amount of product is placed into the chamber. In doing so, the product contacts at least a portion of the coating surface. Since the product contacts the coating surface instead of the wall inner surface, the product slips with and/or across the coating surface as the product is dispensed from the opening thereby increasing product removal.
The coating may be applied to the container wall with a variety of different application techniques. In an embodiment, the coating is applied to the wall inner surface with the use of a gravitational force acting on the coating. In another embodiment, the coating is radially sprayed onto the wall inner surface. In still another embodiment, the coating is applied to the wall inner surface by a centrifugal force acting on the coating. In a further embodiment, coating may be deposited locally on the bottom center of the container, just before the container is filled with product. As the product fills from the centerline of the container outwards, it spreads the coating (i.e. oil) between itself and the container wall surface.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved dispensing apparatus and method for increasing product removal that is effective during normal product use.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be adapted for use with a variety of different consumer household products, such as bathing, cleaning and food products.
Still further, another advantage of the present invention is that it may be adapted for use with containers of varying shapes and sizes.
Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is that is provides a relatively simple apparatus, compared to prior apparatuses, for increasing product removal from a container.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it utilizes coatings that are safe in food products since the coatings themselves are food products.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4393106 (1983-07-01), Maruhashi et al.
patent: 4451512 (1984-05-01), Yazaki et al.
patent: 5378510 (1995-01-01), Thomas et al.
Farrell Christopher J.
Plewa Joseph
Continental Plastic Containers, Inc.
Derakshani Philippe
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
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