Integrallly blow-moulded bag-in-container having a bag anchoring point; process for the production thereof; and tool thereof

• US 8,925,748 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
• Original Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
• Inventors: Peirsman, Daniel, Verpoorten, Rudi, Van Hove, Sarah
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Sue A
• Application Number:
  US12/450,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 215/12.1, 215/902, 220/626, 220/495.04
• US Class Current: 215/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/08 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/14 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/023 using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 1 step blow moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/072 having variable wall thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/073 having variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0773 Threads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3008 at neck portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3012 at flange portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3016 at body portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/302 at bottom portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3026 having two or more components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3032 having components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3034 having two or more components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3086 Interaction between two or more components, e.g. type of or lack of bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3092 by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1684 Injecting parison-like articles B29C45/1625, B29C45/1643 and B29C45/1646 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/071 Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/065 : HDPE, i.e. high density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/086 : EVOH, i.e. ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/046 : PLA, i.e. polylactic acid or polylactide
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/02 : Linings or internal coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 : Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/902 : Vent

Abstract

The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container (2) obtainable by blow-moulding an injection moulded multi-layer preform (1). The bag-in-container (2) includes an inner layer (21) forming the bag and an outer layer (22) forming the container, and a single opening (5), the mouth, fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag (21) to the atmosphere. The container further includes at least one interface vent (3) fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the bag (21) is anchored to the outer layer (22) at at least one point (7) remote from the single opening (5) and interface vent (3). The invention also relates to a process and a mould for the production of the blow-moulded bag-in-container (2).

Claims

1. An integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container obtainable by blow-moulding an injection moulded multi-layer preform, said bag-in-container comprising:

an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container;

a single opening, the mouth, surrounded by a lip and fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere; and

at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein said bag-in-container allows controlled delamination of the inner bag from the outer container upon injection through said at least one interface vent of a pressurized gas at the interface between inner and outer layers, and wherein the bag is mechanically anchored to the outer layer at at least one point remote from said single opening and interface vent, wherein anchoring between the inner bag and the outer layer is formed during blow-moulding only.

2. The bag-in-container according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring point is obtained by locally enhanced chemical or physical adhesion between the inner and outer layers.

3. The bag-in-container according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring point is obtained by locally enhanced mechanical adhesion between the inner and outer layers.

4. The bag-in-container according to claim 3, wherein mechanical adhesion is locally enhanced by a protrusion formed by both inner and outer layers.

5. The bag-in-container according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer layers are different materials.

6. The bag-in-container according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer layers are the same material.

7. The bag-in-container according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer layer are a material selected from PET, PEN, PTT, PA, PP, PE, HDPE, EVOH, PGAc, PLA, and copolymers or blends thereof.

8. The bag-in-container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vent is in the shape of a wedge with the broad side at the level of the opening thereof and getting thinner as it penetrates deeper into the bag-in-container, until the inner and outer layers meet to form an interface.

9. The bag-in-container according to claim 1, wherein more than one vent is distributed around the lip of the bag-in-container'"'"'s mouth.