Integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container having interface vents opening to the atmosphere at location adjacent to a bag's mouth; preform for making it; and process for producing the preform and bag-in-container

• US 8,931,651 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
• Original Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
• Inventors: Van Hove, Sarah, Peirsman, Daniel, Verpoorten, Rudi
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Sue A
• Application Number:
  US12/450,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20100237035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,461 Days
• Field of Search: 215/12.1, 215/902, 220/62.21, 220/745, 222/105, 222/386.5, 222/95, 222/107
• 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 2035/0822 using IR radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/023 using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 1 step blow moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/222 only parts of the preforms or parisons are layered
• 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 2949/077 characterised by the neck
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0773 Threads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/08 Preforms made of several individual parts, e.g. by welding or gluing parts together
• 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 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: B29C 49/22 : using multilayered preforms or parisons
• 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: B29K 2101/12 : Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 : Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 : Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/712 : Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418
• 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) and preform (1) for making it. The bag-in-container (2) has an inner layer (21) forming the bag and an outer layer (22) forming the container, and a mouth (5) fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further has at least one interface vent (3) fluidly connecting the interface (14) between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the at least one vent (3) runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers (21) (22) and opens to the atmosphere at a location (4) adjacent to, and oriented coaxially with the bag-in-container'"'"'s mouth (5). Processes for manufacturing a preform and a bag-in-container as defined above are defined too.

Claims

1. An integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container comprising:

an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere, said container having at least one interface vent fluidly connecting an interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere,

said at least one vent runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers and opens to the atmosphere at a location adjacent to and oriented approximately coaxially with said mouth.

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

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

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

5. The bag-in-container according to claim 4, wherein the inner and outer layers consist of different materials.

6. The bag-in-container according to claim 4, wherein the inner and outer layers consist of the same material.

7. 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.

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