Container and set of preforms for forming a container

• US 9,815,676 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V. (L'Arche Holding SA)
• Original Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V. (L'Arche Holding SA)
• Inventors: Witte, Pieter Gerard, Paauwe, Arie Maarten, Bax, Bart Jan, Blom, Harold Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAINBRIDGE, ANDREW PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US14/416,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20150210523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 222 95, 222105, 222394, 222399, 2224007, 222401, 222388, 2223865, 22215301-15304, 22215309-15314, 53471, 264241, 264248, 264263, 264268, 264516, 264537, 215 121- 122, 215307, 215309, 215385, 425112, 425468, 425577, 425517, 425392, 425110, 425402, 428 357, 428 366, 4285428, 428 3691, 137 125, 137 1512, 137 1518, 137212, 137322-323, 251 895, 251344-345, 251347, 220240, 220677, 22049506, 22049504, 220617-618, 220613, 156 69, 156242, 156 735
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/14 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• 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 2949/3094 preform having at least partially loose components, e.g. at least partially loose layers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1628 using a mould carrier rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the opening and closing axis of the moulding stations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/071 Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/003 Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/001 the layers being loose
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0246 Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/14 Suspension means handles B65D33/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/067 combined with a valve, a tap or a piercer
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/60 Contents and propellant separated
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0462 Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0801 : of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0807 : Openings for emptying, e.g. taped openings
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0835 : with one valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0822 : Pressurised rigid containers, e.g. kegs, figals

Abstract

Container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, preferably at opposite sides of the at least one opening, seen in circumferential direction, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through the at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container.

Claims

1. Container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein the container has been manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, to form the bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is provided to the inner and outer container, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer container, wherein the inner and outer preform are integrally blow moulded to form the bag-in-container type container;

wherein coupling elements are provided at opposite sides of said at least one opening, seen in circumferential direction;

wherein the outer container and inner container have first and second neck regions respectively, wherein the ring is connected to the free ends of the first and second neck regions;

wherein the at least one opening in the neck region of the container is positioned at a level between the free ends of the first and second neck regions.

2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the bag is suspended by a neck region of the bag in the neck region of the outer container, wherein the neck regions both have a free end opposite a body portion of the container, wherein a closure ring is mounted to the free ends of the inner and outer container, wherein an edge of the free end of the neck region of the inner container lies at a level closer to the body portion of the container than an edge of the free end of the neck region of the outer container, such that the ring extends at least partly into the neck region of the outer container, wherein the closure is mounted by welding.

3. Container according to claim 1, wherein the inner container is provided at the neck region with an outward facing flange, which has an edge positioned close to or in abutment with an inner surface of the outer container above the at least one opening, substantially closing off the space between the neck regions of the inner and outer container.

4. Container according to claim 1, wherein the inner container has a free edge opposite a body portion of the container, which free edge is provided with an annular groove open to the side opposite the body portion, and wherein a ring is mounted to the free edge, having a skirt extending into said groove.

5. Container according to claim 1, wherein the ring has been mounted to the inner and outer containers by spin welding.

6. Container according to claim 1, wherein the ring is provided with an opening, opening into the bag or inner container, which opening is closed by a valve.

7. Container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner and outer preform is provided with spacer elements, at least in a transition area between the neck regions and the body portion of the container, preventing close contact between at least part of the inner surface of the outer container and the outer surface of the inner container.

8. Tapping assembly for a beverage, comprising a container according to claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises a connecting device, connected or connectable to the neck portion of the container, wherein the connecting device comprises at least one connecting element for connecting to the at least one opening, wherein the connecting element is connected to a source of pressurised gas.

9. Container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein the container has been manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, to form the bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is provided to the inner and outer container, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer container, wherein the inner and outer preform are integrally blow moulded to form the bag-in-container type container;

wherein the ring is provided with at least one circumferential wall part, wherein teeth are provided on said wall part for engaging a spin welding tool.

10. Set of preforms for forming a container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein the container has been manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, to form the bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is provided to the inner and outer container, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer container, wherein the inner and outer preform are integrally blow moulded to form the bag-in-container type container;

wherein the inner and outer preform are for integrally blow moulding to form the bag-in-container type container, wherein a closure ring is mounted on the inner and outer preform, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer preform;

wherein the outer preform and inner preform have first and second neck regions respectively, wherein the ring is connected to the free ends of the first and second neck regions;

wherein the at least one opening in the neck region is positioned at a level between the free ends of the neck regions of the inner and outer preform to which the ring is connected.

11. Set of preforms for forming a container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adiacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein the container has been manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, to form the bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is provided to the inner and outer container, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer container, wherein the inner and outer preform are integrally blow moulded to form the bag-in-container type container;

wherein the ring is provided with an opening, opening into the inner preform, which is sufficiently large for entering a blow moulding core tool into the inner preform during blow moulding the preforms into a BIC type container and for pressure release past said tool.

12. Set of preforms according to claim 11, wherein said opening has a cross section smaller than the inner cross section of the neck portion of the inner preform.

13. Set of preforms for forming a container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein the container has been manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, to form the bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is provided to the inner and outer container, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer container, wherein the inner and outer preform are integrally blow moulded to form the bag-in-container type container;

wherein a ring is provided with at least one circumferential wall part, wherein teeth are provided on said wall part for engaging a spin welding tool.

14. Method for forming a BIC type container using a set of preforms for forming a container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein the container has been manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, to form the bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is provided to the inner and outer container, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer container, wherein the inner and outer preform are integrally blow moulded to form the bag-in-container type container;

wherein part of a blow moulding tool is inserted into the inner preform through an opening in the ring closing off a space between the inner and outer preform and integrally blow moulding the set of preforms into the container, thereby allowing, at least during blow moulding of the container, pressure equilibration between said space and the environment of the container through said at least one opening in the neck region.

15. Container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein a ring is provided with at least one circumferential wall part, wherein teeth are provided on said wall part for engaging a spin welding tool.

16. Set of preforms for forming a container of a bag-in-container type, comprising an inner preform and an outer preform, wherein a neck region of one of the preforms is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer preform and a part of the inner preform adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements for coupling of a connecting device to a BIC container after blow moulding of the preforms, for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein a ring is provided with at least one circumferential wall part, wherein teeth are provided on said wall part for engaging a spin welding tool.

17. Set of preforms for forming a container of a bag-in-container type, comprising an inner preform and an outer preform, wherein a neck region of one of the preforms is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer preform and a part of the inner preform adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to a BIC container after blow moulding of the preforms, for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container;

wherein the at least one opening is provided in the outer preform.

18. Container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, for coupling of a connecting device to the container for introducing a pressure fluid through said at least one opening into a space between the inner and outer container, wherein the container has been manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, to form the bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is provided to the inner and outer container, at least closing off the space between said inner and outer container, wherein the inner and outer preform are integrally blow moulded to form the bag-in-container type container, wherein the at least one opening is provided in the outer container.