PACKAGING ASSEMBLY
A packaging assembly (10) having a container (100) and a transition piece (200), which comprises a spout (201) with a circumferentially integral opening (204) and a vent (209) located adjacent to the base end (202) of the spout (201). The spout (201) and the vent (209) have a particular ratio in terms of cross-sectional area. The packaging assembly (10) provides a controlled dispensing of a liquid detergent composition, particularly viscous liquid detergent compositions.
The present invention relates to a packaging assembly. The present invention also relates to a liquid detergent product comprising a packaging assembly and a liquid detergent composition contained within the packaging assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONLiquid detergents have been increasingly preferred by users over solid detergents, mainly due to their improved water solubility during a washing cycle. Moreover, viscous liquid detergents (e.g., a liquid detergent composition with a viscosity of 500 centipoise (“cps”) when poured out of a container) are desired as they tend to connote a premium product. However, such viscous liquid detergents pose challenges to packaging due to the increased difficulty in dispensing them out of the packaging along with the increased viscosity. For example, the flow rate of the liquid detergent may become too slow to be acceptable by users, or the liquid detergent may form bulks which then block the opening of the packaging.
Traditionally, the dispensing issue associated with viscous liquid detergents is solved by providing a container having a spout with a longitudinal slot or trough that runs along the length of the spout, i.e., the spout per se is not circumferentially integral. Admittedly such a slotted opening avoids an unacceptable slow flow rate or the formation of bulks. However, a liquid detergent may flow out of such a slotted spout too fast, thereby causing undesirable turbulence. Moreover, a fast flow rate of the liquid detergent causes insufficient ventilation, i.e., not sufficient air could ventilate into the container at the same time when the liquid detergent is dispensed out of the container. Therefore, the flow may undesirably stop or at least have discontinuous flow during dispensing due to the significantly decreased air pressure in the container. Also, the prior art discloses the combination of a vent with such a spout. But in the art the size and position of the vent are not aligned well with the spout such that the ventilation function of the vent is not consistently reliable, i.e., during dispensing a liquid detergent may flow out of the vent too.
Thus, there is a need for a packaging assembly that provides a controlled dispensing of a liquid detergent composition, particularly viscous liquid detergent compositions, from the packaging assembly, i.e., a desired flow of the liquid detergent composition such as a proper flow rate, continuous flow, sufficient ventilation, or no turbulence.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a transition piece that accommodates to a wide variety of containers, as well as a packaging assembly comprising the transition piece that allows the combination of a variety of containers and caps whilst maintaining a low variation of cap opening torques.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a packaging assembly that allows a residual liquid composition to flow back from its opening to container utterly and efficiently after dispensing, thereby preventing it from accumulating and drying.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a packaging assembly having several components that serve, independently or in combination with each other, as a visual reminder to users of the most efficient way in dispensing a liquid detergent composition contained in the packaging assembly.
It is even yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a packaging assembly comprising a transition piece and a dispensing cap, which allows for a precise dosing of a liquid composition, particularly concentrated liquid compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the present invention is directed to a packaging assembly, comprising:
a) a container comprising an orifice and an opposing bottom surface, the bottom surface defining a longitudinal axis perpendicular thereto, wherein the longitudinal axis passes through the orifice; and
b) a transition piece engaged to the orifice, comprising:
-
- i) a spout having a base end proximate to the orifice and an opposing pouring end having a circumferentially integral opening; and
- ii) a vent located adjacent to the base end,
- wherein the spout and the vent are in fluid communication with the orifice, and the vent has a cross-sectional area that is about 1/20 to about ⅓ of the cross-sectional area of the spout opening.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a liquid detergent product comprising the packaging assembly and a liquid detergent composition contained within the packaging assembly, wherein the liquid detergent composition has a viscosity value of about 200 to about 3,000 cps, preferably of about 300 to about 2,000 cps, more preferably of about 500 to about 1,000 cps, at a shear rate of 20/sec and a temperature of 21° C.
The packaging assembly of the present invention provides a controlled dispensing of a liquid detergent composition from the packaging assembly. It has been surprisingly found that, by providing a spout having an opening that is circumferentially integral (i.e., without a longitudinal slot that runs along a partial or the entire length of the spout, in contrast to the spouts having a slot in the art), in combination with a particularly sized vent located at a particular position relative to the opening, the packaging assembly herein addresses the issue associated with ventilation, thereby allowing for a desired, steady flow of the liquid detergent composition. Moreover, by locating the vent adjacent to the base end of the spout, i.e., separate from the spout opening, the liquid composition route (i.e., the spout opening) does not compete with the air route (i.e., the vent), thereby reducing the turbulence while dispensing.
DEFINITIONSAs used herein, the term “liquid detergent composition” means a liquid composition relating to cleaning or treating: fabrics, hard or soft surfaces, hair, or any other surfaces in the area of fabric care, home care, and hair care. Examples of the detergent compositions include, but are not limited to: laundry detergent, laundry detergent additive, fabric softener, carpet cleaner, floor cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, sink cleaner, dishwashing detergent, air care, car care, shaving cream, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, and the like. Preferably, the liquid detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition, a liquid fabric softener composition, a liquid dishwashing detergent composition, or a liquid hard surface cleaning composition, more preferably is a liquid laundry detergent composition or a liquid fabric softener composition, even more preferably is a liquid laundry detergent composition. The liquid detergent composition may be either aqueous or non-aqueous, and may be anisotropic, isotropic, or combinations thereof.
As used herein, the term “container” refers to packaging suitable for containing compositions, particularly liquid compositions. Non-limiting examples of containers include a bottle, a tottle, a jar, a cup, and the like.
As used herein, when a composition is “substantially free” of a specific ingredient, it is meant that the composition comprises less than a trace amount, alternatively less than 0.1%, alternatively less than 0.01%, alternatively less than 0.001%, by weight of the composition, of the specific ingredient.
As used herein, the articles including “a” and “an” when used in a claim, are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include”, “includes”, “including”, “contain”, “contains”, and “containing” are meant to be non-limiting, i.e., other steps and other ingredients which do not affect the end of result can be added. The above terms encompass the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.
Packaging AssemblyThe container 100 herein can be of any suitable size known in the art. In one embodiment, the container is configured to have an internal volume of from 250 mL to 8,000 mL, alternatively from 500 mL to 3,000 mL, alternatively from 800 mL to 2,000 mL.
The packaging assembly 10 comprises a transition piece 200 that can be engaged to the orifice 101 of the container 100, as shown in
Preferably the spout opening 204 herein is relatively small. In one embodiment, the spout opening 204 has a cross-sectional area of 20 mm2 to 400 mm2, more preferably of 50 mm2 to 300 mm2, even more preferably of 100 mm2 to 200 mm2. Such a relatively small spout opening 204 enables a steady flow of a liquid composition from the container 100. By contrast, the container spouts having a relatively big opening in the art typically cause severe turbulence during dispensing.
The spout opening 204 has a particular ratio relative to the vent 209 in terms of cross-sectional area. Specifically, the vent 209 has a cross-sectional area that is 1/20 to ⅓, preferably 1/15 to ¼, more preferably 1/10 to ⅕, of the cross-sectional area of the spout opening 204. The minimum dimension of a vent 209 is generally interlinked with the liquid composition contained within the container 100, particularly with the viscosity of the composition. The vent 209 is preferably not so tiny that it could be easily blocked by the liquid composition while dispensing. In one embodiment, the vent 209 has a cross-sectional area of 2 mm2 to 50 mm2, preferably of 10 mm2 to 40 mm2, more preferably of 20 mm2 to 30 mm2. The spout 201 may comprise multiple vents 209. In the multiple-vent execution, the multiple vents 209 should have a total cross-sectional area that satisfies the ratio requirement relative to the spout opening 204. These multiple vents 209 could be arranged either separately or side-by-side, but preferably side-by-side adjacent to the base end 202 of the spout 201.
Referring now to
The spout opening 204 can be either slanted or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, but preferably slanted. As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the spout opening 204, especially at or proximate to the first apex 207, is sharp so that the flow of a liquid composition being poured from the container 100 can be abruptly stopped in a manner avoiding or reducing residue of the composition that stays on the exterior surface 206 or that flows back into the container 100 through the vent 209, thereby maintaining cleanliness of the packaging assembly 10 during usage. The sharpness of the spout opening 204 is preferably characterized by a chamfered edge (not shown in the drawings) of the spout opening 204. Such a chamfered edge is preferably straight at angle of 30° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis.
The vent 209 and the spout opening 204 are preferably generally aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis. As shown in
The spout 201 can be of any suitable length measured from the base end 202 to the spout opening 204 along the longitudinal axis, depending on factors such as the viscosity of the liquid detergent composition contained within the container 100, the sizes of the spout opening 204 and the vent 209. In one embodiment, the spout has a length of 20 mm to 80 mm, alternatively from 20 mm to 60 mm, alternatively from 20 mm to 40 mm, alternatively from 40 mm to 60 mm, measured from the base end 202 to the spout opening 204 along the longitudinal axis. Moreover, along the longitudinal axis the spout 201 can be of the same or different cross-sectional areas that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, but preferably is tapered (i.e., the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axis becomes progressively narrower) towards the spout opening 204, as illustrated in
Both the spout opening 204 and the vent 209 can be of any suitable geometric shape, either symmetrical or asymmetrical. In one embodiment, the spout opening 204 has a shape selected from elliptical, round, semi-circled, triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, or hexagonal. Preferably the spout opening 204 has an elliptical shape, as shown in
As shown in
Similar to the spout opening 204, the channel 210 can be either slanted or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, but preferably is slanted. As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the transition piece 200 comprises a double sealing system: a first sealing means 220 configured to seal the transition piece 200 with the container 100; and a second sealing means 221 configured to seal the transition piece 200 with a cap 300. The first sealing means 220 and the second sealing means 221 can be located at any suitable positions of the transition piece 200. Accordingly, the container 100 comprises a corresponding container sealing means 103 disposed on the container peripheral wall 104 proximate to the orifice 101 as shown in
Each pair of sealing means (namely, the first sealing means 220 and its corresponding container sealing means 103, and the second sealing means 221 and its corresponding cap sealing means 304) can be of any suitable sealing technologies in the art, such as interlocking corresponding threads, or a lug and groove combination. Preferably, each pair of sealing means comprises interlocking corresponding threads helically disposed on the shroud fastener surface 218 and the container 100, or on the shroud interior surface 214 and the cap 300, as shown in
In one preferred embodiment, the shroud 213 further comprises an auxiliary sealing means in addition to the first and second sealing means 220, 221. The auxiliary sealing means is preferably configured to enhance the connection of the transition piece 200 with the container 100 or the cap 300. The auxiliary sealing means can be disposed at any suitable position of the shroud 213, but preferably above the first sealing means 220. The auxiliary sealing means can be of any suitable sealing technologies in the art, such as a bending surface of any sort. The bending surface can be a bending ring, which connects with the opposing surface in a continuous manner imposing a minimum pressure in all its length, or alternatively be a seal aligning the surfaces of the two opposing parts to be sealed in a parallel manner. An example of the bending ring is known as a plug seal 222 (i.e., an obstruction protruded from the shroud 213, which bends when sealed with a corresponding sealing means), as shown in
In one embodiment, the shroud exterior surface 215 has a set of linear indentations 216, as can be seen in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the cap 300 is a dispensing cap, i.e., a user first dispenses a liquid detergent composition from the container 100 to the dispensing cap and then dispenses the composition from the dispensing cap to a washing machine or a washing basin. The cap 300 preferably has an internal volume of 10 mL to 250 mL, preferably 30 mL to 150 mL, more preferably 50 mL to 100 mL. The internal volume of the cap 300 can be depending on factors such as the internal volume of the container 100 and/or the concentration of the liquid detergent composition contained within the container 100. For example, when the liquid detergent composition within the container 100 is highly concentrated and requires only a small amount to be dosed during a washing cycle, the internal volume of the cap 300 may be small, e.g., 40 mL. In the present invention, it has been surprisingly found that the dispensing cap 300, in combination with the spout 201 that has a circumferentially integral opening 204, enables a precise, quick dosing of a liquid detergent composition, particularly of concentrated liquid detergent compositions. At least a portion of the cap 300, preferably the entire cap 300, can be transparent or translucent or opaque, but preferably is transparent, thereby allowing for a precise dosing of users. Preferably, the cap 300 is marked with one or more volumetric indicia, such as indicium at 15 mL, 50 mL, and 65 mL.
As seen from
The cap 300 can be of any suitable height. Preferably the cap 300 has a height with relevant to the length of the spout 201, particularly a height longer than the length of the spout 201. In one embodiment, the cap 300 has a height of 20 mm to 100 mm, preferably from 30 mm to 80 mm, more preferably from 40 mm to 70 mm, measured along the longitudinal axis when free standing, i.e., when the cap 300 stands on its base 302. Preferably the spout 201 has a length of 20 mm to 80 mm measured from the base end 202 to the spout opening 204 along the longitudinal axis, and the height of the cap 300 is longer, preferably slightly longer than the length of the spout 201.
The cap opening 301 can be of any geometric shape, but preferably is aligned with the void 219 of the transition piece 200 in terms of shape, and more preferably is of a round shape. The cap opening 301 preferably has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of the spout opening 204, thereby ensuring the spout 201 to be inserted into the cap 300 and enclosed when the cap 300 is sealingly engaged to the transition piece 200. In one embodiment, the spout opening 204 has a cross-sectional area that is less than 50%, preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, of the cross-sectional area of the cap opening 301, thus enabling a desired flow of a liquid composition from the transition piece 200 to the cap 100.
The cap opening 301 can have a weir (not shown in the drawings) configured to provide a more precise delivery of a liquid detergent composition by constricting the flow of the composition from the cap 300. The weir can be of any common shapes suitable for weirs, including a V shape, a semicircular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a multilevel weir having discontinuous function describing the hydraulic radius, or any other such shape that constricts flow of liquid detergent compositions.
The cap base 302 serves as a stand when the cap 300 is filled with a liquid composition, i.e., the cap 300 is upside down from the embodiment as shown in
The cap 300 can be of any suitable shape, such as an obconic shape, a cylindrical shape, a spherical shape, a cubic shape, a cuboid shape. The cap 300 preferably has an obconic shape or a cylindrical shape, more preferably has an obconic shape as shown in
The packaging assembly 10 of the present invention can further comprise a handle 400. The handle 400 can be either a through handle (i.e., a completely open space through which fingers and/or thumb can be inserted) or a non-through handle (i.e., certain portion of a container depresses to form a grip without a completely open space). Such a non-through handle is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 2013/0270280A1. Preferably, the handle 400 is a through handle, as shown in
The handle 400 can be located at any suitable position of the container 100, e.g., at the top of the container 100, at the bottom of the container 100, at a side of the container 100. Preferably the handle 400 is located at a side of the container 100, but bilaterally symmetrical along the longitudinal section. In one embodiment, the handle 400 and the vent 209 are generally aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis, preferably are aligned such that: the handle 400 and the vent 209 are within an angle of 0.25π radians, preferably within an angle of 0.1π radians of each other around the longitudinal axis. Likewise, in the execution of a slanted spout opening 204, the handle 400 and the spout opening 204 are aligned such that: the handle 400 and the first apex 207 are of an angle from 0.75π to 1π radians, preferably of an angle from 0.9π to 1π radians of each other around the longitudinal axis. Since both the handle 400 and the vent 209 have a cross-sectional area (i.e., are not a single point but includes multiple points), by definition if any point on the handle 400 or the vent 209 satisfies the above angle requirements, then the relevant objects (the handle 400, the vent 209, and the first apex 207) are of the defined angle. Such a side located handle 400 enables the packaging assembly 10 to provide a clear visual reminder to users of the most efficient way in dispensing a liquid composition contained in the packaging assembly 10, namely, tilting the packaging assembly 10 by lifting the side of the container 100 having the handle 400. Moreover, by aligning the handle 400 with the vent 209 and the slanted spout opening 204, the packaging assembly 10 ensures an immediate, steady flow of a liquid composition from the container 100 once a user intentionally dispenses the composition in accordance with the visual reminder served by the slanted spout opening 204.
Each component of the packaging assembly 10 of the present invention can be made of any suitable material, such as glass, metal, polymer, and the like, but preferably is made of polymer. In particular, the container 100, the transition piece 200, and the cap 300 can be made of the same or different materials. Preferably, each of them is independently made of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyamides (PA) polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and a combination thereof.
Each component of the packaging assembly 10 of the present invention can be made by any suitable process known in the art, depending on factors like the material of the component or the property criteria required for the component. Non-limiting examples of processes include: extrusion blow molding (EBM), injection molding (IM), injection blow molding (IBM), and injection stretch blow molding (ISBM), thermoforming, compression molding, compression blow molding, injection and blow (I&B). In one embodiment, the container 100 is made by EBM, the transition piece 200 is made by IM, and the cap 300 is made by ISBM.
Preferably the portion of the transition piece 200 that is expected to be in contact with a liquid composition (e.g., the spout interior surface 205, the vent 209, the channel 210), is relatively smooth, and more preferably is produced industrially in a smooth manner. In one embodiment, the mold for producing the transition piece 200 has a suitable mold finish, preferably has a VDI 3400 finish standard of 12 to 35, preferably 20 to 28, more preferably 22 to 26. The term “mold finish” herein refers to the surface texture and/or smoothness of the surface of a mold. VDI 3400 finish standard is a widely accepted standard in the industry for defining the polishing standard on mold finish. VDI 3400 finish standard includes a scale of 0 to 45 for mold finish, and as the number increases, the surface of the indicated mold is rougher. The preferred mold finish enables a transition piece 200 that has reduced friction with a liquid composition and thus less turbulence during dispensing, as well as less residuals after the dispensing. Likewise, the portions of the cap 300 and the container 100 that are expected to be in contact with a liquid composition (e.g., their interior surfaces) are preferably smooth and produced in a relatively smooth mold finish.
Liquid Detergent CompositionThe packaging assembly of the present invention can contain any common liquid detergent compositions and accommodate to a variety of composition viscosities. In one preferred embodiment, the liquid detergent composition has a certain viscosity so as to be dispensed form the packaging assembly properly. Preferably, the liquid detergent composition has a viscosity value of 200 to 3,000 cps, more preferably 300 to 2,000 cps, even more preferably of 500 to 1,000 cps, at a shear rate of 20/sec and a temperature of 21° C. The viscosity at a shear rate of 20/sec is also referred to as a “pouring viscosity” since the shear rate of dispensing a liquid composition from a container is around 20/sec. In addition, it is worth noting that typically a liquid composition having a pouring viscosity of above 200 cps is referred to as a “viscous liquid composition”.
Different from the pouring viscosity, a “resting viscosity” characterizes the viscosity of a liquid composition when resting, i.e., at a shear rate of around 1/sec. The value of the resting viscosity of a liquid composition may be the same or different from that of the pouring viscosity of the composition, depending on ingredients constituting the composition. In one embodiment, the liquid detergent composition herein has a viscosity value of 500 to 6,000 cps, preferably of 800 to 3,000 cps, more preferably of 1,500 to 2,500 cps, at a shear rate of 1/sec and a temperature of 21° C.
The liquid detergent composition herein may comprise one or more ingredients. Suitable materials include but are not limited to: anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, fatty acids, builders, rheology modifiers, chelating agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, dispersants, enzymes, and enzyme stabilizers, catalytic materials, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids, polymeric dispersing agents, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, brighteners, suds suppressors, dyes, photobleaches, structure elasticizing agents, fabric softeners, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, solvents, hueing agents, anti-microbial agents, perfume oils, perfume microcapsules, and/or pigments. In addition to the disclosure below, suitable examples of such other adjuncts and levels of use are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,282, 6,306,812, and 6,326,348. The precise nature of these ingredients and the levels thereof in the liquid detergent composition will depend on factors like the specific type of the composition and the nature of the cleaning operation for which it is to be used.
In one embodiment, the liquid detergent composition comprises an anionic surfactant. Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants include: linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), preferably C10-C16 LAS; C10-C20 primary, branched-chain and random alkyl sulfates (AS); C10-C18 secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfates; sulphated fatty alcohol ethoxylate (AES), preferably C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy sulfates (AExS) wherein preferably x is from 1-30, more preferably x is 1-3; C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy carboxylates preferably comprising 1-5 ethoxy units; mid-chain branched alkyl sulfates as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,303 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,443; mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxy sulfates as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,181 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,303; modified alkylbenzene sulfonate (MLAS) as discussed in WO 99/05243, WO 99/05242, and WO 99/05244; methyl ester sulfonate (MES); and alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS). Preferably, the composition comprises an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of LAS, AES, AS, and a combination thereof, more preferably selected from the group consisting of LAS, AES, and a combination thereof. The total level of the anionic surfactant(s) may be from 5% to 95%, alternatively from 8% to 70%, alternatively from 10% to 50%, alternatively from 12% to 40%, alternatively from 15% to 30%, by weight of the liquid detergent composition.
In one preferred embodiment, the liquid detergent composition of the present invention comprises a rheology modifier (also referred to as a “structurant” in certain situations), which functions to adjust the viscosity of the composition so as to be more applicable to the packaging assembly. The rheology modifier herein can be any known ingredient that is capable of adjusting rheology to a liquid composition, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2006/0205631A1, 2005/0203213A1, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,294,611, 6,855,680. Preferably the rheology modifier is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-containing crystalline material, polyacrylate, polysaccharide, polycarboxylate, amine oxide, alkali metal salt, alkaline earth metal salt, ammonium salt, alkanolammonium salt, C12-C20 fatty alcohol, di-benzylidene polyol acetal derivative (DBPA), di-amido gallant, a cationic polymer comprising a first structural unit derived from methacrylamide and a second structural unit derived from diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and a combination thereof.
Preferably, the rheology modifier is a hydroxy-containing crystalline material generally characterized as crystalline, hydroxyl-containing fatty acids, fatty esters and fatty waxes, such as castor oil and castor oil derivatives. More preferably the rheology modifier is a hydrogenated castor oil (HCO).
The rheology modifier can be present at any suitable level in the liquid detergent composition. Preferably, the rheology modifier is present from 0.05% to 5%, preferably from 0.08% to 3%, more preferably from 0.1% to 1%, by weight of the composition, in the composition.
Liquid Detergent ProductAnother aspect of the present invention is directed to a liquid detergent product comprising the packaging assembly and the liquid detergent composition as discussed above. Preferably, the liquid detergent composition is able to be flowed out of the packaging assembly at a desired flow rate, preferably at a flow rate of 10 mL/s to 40 mL/s, alternatively of 15 mL/s to 38 mL/s, alternatively of 20 mL/s to about 35 mL/s.
Preferably, the packaging assembly herein is designed as to dispense a liquid detergent composition with a certain viscosity value (pouring viscosity) from the packaging assembly at the most desirable flow rate. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that generally the lower the viscosity of the liquid detergent composition, the faster the flow rate, the longer the spout, and the bigger the vent. On the contrary, the higher the viscosity of the liquid detergent composition, the slower the flow rate, the shorter the spout, and the smaller the vent. In other words, the liquid detergent product of the present invention is configured to match a liquid detergent composition having a certain viscosity value with a packaging assembly having a suitable design.
In one embodiment, the liquid detergent composition has a viscosity value of 300 to 800 cps at a shear rate of 20/sec and a temperature of 21° C. (i.e., a relatively low pouring viscosity), the spout has a length of 40 mm to 60 mm measured from the base end to the spout opening along the longitudinal axis, and the vent has a cross-sectional area of 25 mm2 to 50 mm2, wherein the liquid detergent composition is able to be flowed out of the packaging assembly at a flow rate of 30 mL/s to 40 mL/s.
Alternatively, the liquid detergent composition has a viscosity value of 800 to 3,000 cps at a shear rate of 20/sec and a temperature of 21° C. (i.e., a relatively high pouring viscosity), the spout has a length of 30 mm to 40 mm measured from the base end to the spout opening along the longitudinal axis, and the vent has a cross-sectional area of 15 mm2 to 25 mm2, wherein the liquid detergent composition is able to be flowed out of the packaging assembly at a flow rate of 15 mL/s to 30 mL/s.
Method for Determining of Viscosity for Liquid CompositionsUnless otherwise specified, the viscosity is measured using an AR G2 rheometer (TA Instrument Ltd.), with a truncated cone spindle having an angle of 1° 59′24″ and a gap of 49 microns. The shear rate increases from 1 s−1 to 500 s−1, and the rheology is read when the measurement achieves <5% variation at each shear rate. All the measurements are done at 21° C.
EXAMPLESThe Examples herein are meant to exemplify the present invention but are not used to limit or otherwise define the scope of the present invention. Examples 1A-1B are packaging assemblies according to the present invention, Examples 3A-3D are liquid laundry detergent composition examples according to the present invention, and Examples 2A-2B are comparative examples of certain packaging assemblies in the art.
Example 1A is the packaging assembly as shown in
The packaging assembly of Example 1B comprises the same container and cap as Example 1A, but has a slightly different transition piece. The 3rd transition piece (from left) as illustrated in
In Example 1, the container is made by EBM, the transition pieces are made by IM, and the cap is made by ISBM.
Comparative Examples 2A-2B Packaging Assemblies in the ArtThe packaging assemblies of Comparative Examples 2A-2B comprise the same container and cap as Example 1, but have different transition pieces, as shown in
The following liquid laundry detergent compositions shown in Table 1 are made comprising the listed ingredients in the listed proportions (weight %).
Preparation of the Liquid Laundry Detergent Compositions of Examples 3A-3D
The liquid detergent compositions of Examples 3A-3D are prepared by the following steps:
a) mixing a combination of NaOH and water in a batch container by applying a shear of 200 rpm;
b) adding citric acid (if any), boric acid (if any), C11-C13 LAS, and NaOH into the batch container, keeping on mixing by applying a shear of 200 rpm;
c) cooling down the temperature of the combination obtained in step b) to 25° C.;
d) adding C12-14AE1-3S, Na-DTPA, Neodol®25-7, C12-C18 fatty acid, 1,2 propanediol (if any), monoethanolamine, C6-C15 dimethyl amine oxide (if any), and calcium chloride (if any), sodium cumene sulphonate (if any), silicone emulsion (if any), sodium polyacrylate (if any) into the batch container, mixing by applying a shear of 250 rpm until the combination is homogeneously mixed, and adjusting pH to 8;
e) adding brightener (if any), protease (if any), amylase (if any), dye (if any), and perfume oil (if any) into the batch container, mixing by applying a shear of 250 rpm; and
f) adding hydrogenated castor oil (if any) into the batch container, thus forming a liquid laundry detergent composition,
wherein each ingredient in the composition is present in the level as specified for Examples 3A-3C in Table 1.
Comparative Data of Examples 1-2 on Flow Rate of Dispensing
Comparative experiments of assessing the flow rates of the liquid laundry detergent compositions of Examples 3A-3C by dispensing them from the packaging assemblies of Examples 1A-1B and Examples 2A-2B, respectively, are conducted. Specifically, the containers are full of a liquid laundry detergent composition. The liquid laundry detergent composition is dispensed from the container (particularly from each transition piece) to the cap. During dispensing the container is tilted at an angle of about 30° relative to the longitudinal axis.
The flow rates of the dispensing, as well as the viscosity of the compositions, are shown in Table 2. The viscosity is measured at a shear rate of 20/sec and a temperature of 21° C., according to the method for determining of viscosity for liquid compositions as described hereinabove.
As shown in Table 2, the packaging assemblies according to the present invention (Examples 1A and 1B) demonstrate desired flow rates (e.g., a flow rate of 10 mL/s to 40 mL/s) across all tested liquid laundry detergent compositions. By contrast, the packaging assembly of Comparative Example 2A provides a dispensing flow rate that is too fast, thereby causing undesired turbulence during the dispensing. And the packaging assembly of Comparative Example 2B shows an unacceptable slow flow rate.
Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages, ratios, and proportions are calculated based on weight of the total composition. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius (° C.) unless otherwise indicated. All component or composition levels are in reference to the active level of that component or composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residual solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially available sources.
It should be understood that every maximum numerical limitation given throughout this specification includes every lower numerical limitation, as if such lower numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation given throughout this specification will include every higher numerical limitation, as if such higher numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every numerical range given throughout this specification will include every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range, as if such narrower numerical ranges were all expressly written herein.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A packaging assembly, comprising:
- a) a container comprising an orifice and an opposing bottom surface, said bottom surface defining a longitudinal axis perpendicular thereto, wherein said longitudinal axis passes through said orifice; and
- b) a transition piece engaged to said orifice, comprising: i) a spout having a base end proximate to said orifice and an opposing pouring end having a circumferentially integral opening; and ii) a vent located adjacent to said base end,
- wherein said spout and said vent are in fluid communication with said orifice, and said vent has a cross-sectional area that is about 1/20 to about ⅓ of the cross-sectional area of said spout opening.
2. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spout opening has a cross-sectional area of about 20 mm2 to about 400 mm2.
3. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein said transition piece further comprises an annular channel surrounding said base end and a radially protruding shroud surrounding said channel, wherein said vent is located in said channel.
4. The packaging assembly according to claim 3, wherein said channel is slanted, comprising a second apex and a second nadir circumferentially opposing along said channel, wherein said vent is located at said second nadir, wherein said channel is of an angle from about 5° to about 85° relative to the longitudinal axis.
5. The packaging assembly according to claim 3, wherein said shroud comprises an exterior surface, an interior surface opposing to said exterior surface, a shoulder therebetween, and a fastener surface on the underside of said exterior surface, wherein said shroud exterior surface has a set of linear indentations, said shroud fastener surface has a first sealing means configured to seal said transition piece with said container, and said shroud interior surface has a second sealing means configured to seal said transition piece with a cap.
6. The packaging assembly according to claim 5, wherein said shroud further comprises a plug seal disposed on the underside of said shroud shoulder.
7. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein said container is bilaterally symmetrical along a longitudinal section comprising the longitudinal axis, wherein both said spout and said vent are bilaterally symmetrical along the longitudinal section and oppositely offset from the longitudinal axis within the longitudinal section.
8. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spout opening has a shape selected from elliptical, round, semi-circled, triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, or hexagonal.
9. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, said spout opening is slanted, comprising a first apex and a first nadir circumferentially opposing along said spout opening, wherein said spout opening is of an angle from about 15° to about 85° relative to the longitudinal axis, and said spout is tapered towards said spout opening and tilted towards said first apex.
10. The packaging assembly according to claim 9, wherein said vent and said spout opening are aligned such that: said vent and said first nadir are within an angle of about 0.25π radians of each other around the longitudinal axis, and said vent and said first apex are of an angle from about 0.75π to about 1π radians of each other around the longitudinal axis.
11. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: c) a cap removably sealingly engaged to said transition piece, configured to enclose said spout, wherein said cap is in fluid communication with said spout when sealingly engaged to said transition piece.
12. The packaging assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cap is a dispensing cap and has an interval volume of about 10 mL to about 250 mL, and said cap is at least partially transparent and marked with one or more volumetric indicia.
13. The packaging assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cap has a height of about 20 mm to about 100 mm measured along the longitudinal axis when free standing, said spout has a length of about 20 mm to about 80 mm measured from said base end to said spout opening along the longitudinal axis, and the height of said cap is longer than the length of said spout.
14. The packaging assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cap comprises a cap opening, wherein said spout opening has a cross-sectional area that is less than 50% of the cross-sectional area of said cap opening.
15. The packaging assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cap has an obconic shape when sealingly engaged to said transition piece.
16. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a handle, wherein said handle is aligned with said vent such that said handle and said vent are within an angle of about 0.25π radians of each other around the longitudinal axis.
17. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the packaging assembly comprises multiple vents located side-by-side adjacent to said base end, and said multiple vents have a total cross-sectional area that is about 1/20 to about ⅓ of the cross-sectional area of said spout opening.
18. A liquid detergent product comprising the packaging assembly according to claim 1, and a liquid detergent composition contained within the packaging assembly, wherein the liquid detergent composition has a viscosity value of 200 to 3,000 centipoise (“cps”) at a shear rate of 20/sec and a temperature of 21° C., and the liquid detergent composition is able to be flowed out of the packaging assembly at a flow rate of 10 mL/s to about 40 mL/s.
19. The liquid detergent product according to claim 18, wherein the liquid detergent composition comprises a rheology modifier selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-containing crystalline material, polyacrylate, polysaccharide, polycarboxylate, amine oxide, alkali metal salt, alkaline earth metal salt, ammonium salt, alkanolammonium salt, C12-C20 fatty alcohol, di-benzylidene polyol acetal derivative, di-amido gallant, a cationic polymer comprising a first structural unit derived from methacrylamide and a second structural unit derived from diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and a combination thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2015
Publication Date: Oct 22, 2015
Inventors: Thierry Christian Francis DAGNELIE (Waterloo), Vincent Hubert M DE WILDE (Kessel-lo), Chris VAN DEN WOUWER (Mortsel), Francisco Miguel de Tavares Duarte NOGUEIRA (Dendermonde), Robb Eric OLSEN (Cincinnati, OH), Jie XI (Beijing), Mengdi ZHANG (Beijing)
Application Number: 14/689,513
