Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
  • B65D35/02—Body construction
  • B65D35/10—Body construction made by uniting or interconnecting two or more components
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
  • B65D35/02—Body construction
  • B65D35/12—Connections between body and closure-receiving bush
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
  • B65D35/44—Closures
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D65/00—Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form
  • B65D65/38—Packaging materials of special type or form
  • B65D65/40—Applications of laminates for particular packaging purposes

Definitions

• the invention relates to a tube comprising a tube head and a tube skirt extending along a main axis, the tube head comprising:
• plastics are studied in many technical fields.
• the field of cosmetics packaging it has already been envisaged to replace some plastic layers with a paper layer.
• the paper is easily recyclable, the presence of a paper layer improves the recyclability of the laminated material. The thicker the paper layer, the higher the proportion of paper in the laminate and the more recyclable the laminate.
• the neck and the shoulder are made in one piece and the upper end of the skirt containing paper is attached to the shoulder.
• the connecting ring is a separate part from the neck.
• the first annular face and the second annular face of the connecting ring form an angle greater or equal to 90° in an axial section plane.
• an internal face of the shoulder is flat attached against the first annular face of the connecting ring.
• an internal face of the skirt is flat attached against the second annular face of the connecting ring.
• the connecting ring is concealed inside the tube.
• the annular outer section of the shoulder is attached to the first annular face of the connecting ring by ultrasonic welding.
• the upper section of the skirt is attached to the second annular face of the connecting ring by ultrasonic welding.
• the connecting ring is made of plastic material.
• an outer rim of the neck is arranged radially at distance from an outer peripheral edge of the shoulder.
• the laminated material forming the shoulder comprises at least one paper layer comprising cellulose fibers.
• the shoulder and the skirt are made of the same laminated material.
• the cellulose fibers represent at least 70% in mass of the tube, preferably more than 80%.
• the laminated material comprises at least an internal polymeric layer.
• the axial orientation is defined in the direction of the main axis "A" of the tube directed from bottom.
• a radial orientation extends from inside, near the main axis "A”, toward outside in every direction orthogonally from said main axis "A”.
• outer and inner are used to define a face which is respectively far from the main axis "A” or close to the main axis "A".
• flexible laminate as used herein describes a laminate or a container made thereof which can bend or be bent easily and which does not break (unless it is bent too much).
• flexible indicates that if the container is subjected to a force, for example, by being filled with a liquid, or by applying pressure with a finger or a hand, it will change its form without breaking.
• a flexible container can also be a "squeezable" container.
• polymer refers to a large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of many repeated subunits.
• PE polyethylene
• paper layer refers to a layer comprising cellulose fibers. This term includes bleached, unbleached, colored and barrier coated paper. It is preferably a bleached paper which is easier and quicker to recycle.
• the skirt 14 is made by a cylinder of a sheet of extruded or laminated material. An upper end 16 of the skirt 14 is tightly secured to the tube head 12. A lower end 18 of the skirt 14 is tightly closed, for instance by flat welding, to enclose the content of the tube 10.
• the figure 1 shows the skirt 14 after its lower end 18 is welded.
• Figure 2 shows the skirt 14 with its lower end 18 opened, before it is welded and other components assembled.
• the neck 22 extends axially upward from the middle of the shoulder 20, along the main axis "A".
• the neck 22 is made of a rigid plastic material.
• the plastic material is PE, more particularly high density polyethylene (HDPE).
• HDPE high density polyethylene
• the neck 22 is more particularly made in one piece.
• the neck could be made in two or more pieces, comprising for instance a separate closure cap.
• the neck 22 of the tube 10 may also comprise a closure cap 24 here attached to a central part 26 of the neck 22 by a hinge.
• the cap is a part distinct from the neck.
• the central part 26 of the neck 22 is intended to project upward above the shoulder 20.
• the central part 26 comprises a distribution hole 28 from which the content of the tube 10 is intended to be distributed.
• the neck 22 also comprises a peripheric flange 30 visible at figures 2 and 3 .
• the peripheric flange 30 extends radially from the base of the central part 26.
• the peripheric flange 30 is radially delimited by an outer rim 32.
• the outer rim 32 here presents a continuous circular shape.
• the peripheric flange 30 is intended to be concealed under the shoulder 20, inside the tube 10.
• the shoulder 20 is made exclusively of an annular piece of laminated material 34. As showed on figures 2 and 4 , the annular piece forming the shoulder 20 is distinct from the skirt 14.
• the shoulder 20 is for instance made by a piece of laminated material 34 in the shape of a disc having a central orifice 36. The shoulder 20 is then radially delimited by an outer peripheral edge 38 and by an inner edge 40.
• the central orifice 36 is intended to receive the central part 26 of the neck 22, while an annular inner section 42 of the disc is in contact with the upper face of the flange 30 of the neck 22.
• the annular inner section 42 of the shoulder 20 covers externally the flange 30.
• the annular inner section 42 of the shoulder 20 is tightly secured to the flange 30.
• the shoulder 20 extends globally radially with respect to the main axis "A" between the upper end 16 of the tube skirt 14 and the neck 22.
• the shoulder 20 may present a flat shape extending in a radial plane, or it may present a frustoconical shape as showed in the figures.
• the annular inner section 42 of the shoulder 20 is tightly secured to the flange 30 by welding.
• the annular inner section 42 of the shoulder 20 is secured by ultrasonic welding.
• the outer peripheral edge 38 of the shoulder 20 is arranged at the junction with the upper end 16 of the skirt 14.
• the outer rim 32 of the flange 30 is arranged radially at distance from the outer peripheral edge 38 of the shoulder 20. This reduces the amount of plastic material used in the overall composition of the tube 10.
• the radial distance between the outer peripheral edge 38 of the shoulder 20 and the outer rim 32 of the flange 30 is preferably greater or equal to the radial width of the flange 30 between the central part 26 of the neck 22 and its outer rim 32.
• the shoulder 20 and the skirt 14 are not directly attached to each other.
• An annular outer section 44 the shoulder 20 is attached to an upper end section 46 of the skirt 14 by mean of a connecting ring 48. More precisely, the annular outer section 50 of the shoulder 20 is attached to the connecting ring 48 which is itself attached to the upper end section 46 of the skirt 14.
• the connecting ring 48 is a separate part from the neck 22.
• the connecting ring 48 is made of a rigid plastic material.
• the connecting ring 48 may be made in the same plastic material as the neck 22. This allows a good recyclability of the tube.
• the connecting ring 48 is for example made by molding, for instance by injection molding.
• the connecting ring 48 comprises a first annular face 50 onto which a face of the annular outer section 44 of the shoulder 20 is flat attached. It also comprises a second annular face 52 arranged externally around the first annular face 50 and onto which a face of the upper end section 46 of the skirt 14 is flat attached.
• the annular outer section 44 of the shoulder 20 is tightly secured to the first annular face 50 of the connecting ring 48 by welding.
• the annular outer section 44 of the shoulder 20 is secured to the first annular face 50 of the connecting ring 48 by ultrasonic welding.
• the upper end section 46 of the skirt 14 is tightly secured to the second annular face 52 of the connecting ring 48 by welding.
• the upper end section 46 of the skirt 14 is secured to the second annular face 52 of the connecting ring 48 by ultrasonic welding.
• the connecting ring 48 is intended to be concealed inside the tube 10, as showed on figure 3 .
• the first annular face 50 is formed by an upper face of the connecting ring 48.
• the second annular face 52 is formed by an outer peripheral face of the connecting ring 48.
• an internal face of the annular outer section 44 of the shoulder 20 is flat attached against the first annular face 50 of the connecting ring 48.
• an internal face of the upper end section 46 of the skirt 14 is flat attached against the second annular face 52 of the connecting ring 48.
• the connecting ring 48 comprises an annular rib 54 forming a dividing line between the first annular face 50 and the second annular face 52.
• the annular rib 54 protrudes from each first annular face 50 and second annular face 52.
• the annular projection is interposed between the outer peripheral edge 38 of the shoulder 20 and the upper end of the skirt. More particularly, the outer peripheral edge 38 of the shoulder 20 and the upper end of the skirt are in contact with the two opposed faces of the rib 54.
• the rib 54 protrude from the first annular face 50 and from the second annular face 52 by a height which roughly corresponds to the thickness of the laminated material 34 so that the top of the rib 54 is flush with the external face of the shoulder 20 and with the external face of the skirt 14.
• the shoulder 20 and the skirt 14 form an angle " ⁇ " between each other.
• the first annular face 50 and the second annular face 52 of the connecting ring 48 forms an angle " ⁇ " greater or equal to 90° in an axial section.
• the annular rib 54 of the connecting ring 48 also allows to reinforce the solidity of this angle " ⁇ ".
• the radial width of said intermediate section 56 of the shoulder 20 is greater or equal the radial width of the annular inner section 42 in contact with the flange 30.
• the shape integrity of the shoulder 20 is maintained by the laminated material 34 comprising cellulosic fibers.
• the shoulder 20 presents a flat configuration. It is placed over the neck 22 so that the central orifice 36 is in correspondence with the central part 26 of the neck 22, as showed on figure 5 . Then the shoulder 20 is punched against the flange 30 of the neck 22 by an appropriate tool, giving it its frustoconical shape, as illustrated on figure 6 . In this position, the annular inner section 42 of the shoulder 20 is welded with the flange 30. Thus, obtained head 12 is then ready to be assembled with the connecting ring 48.
• the laminated material 34 forming the shoulder comprises at least one paper layer 58 comprising cellulose fibers.
• This paper layer 58 forms a structural layer of the laminated material 34 which confers mechanical strength and proper rigidity to the shoulder 20.
• the laminated material 34 here comprises one paper layer 58.
• the laminated material 34 comprises at least one barrier layer 62.
• the barrier layer 62 can comprise any material suitable for their use in the field of cosmetic packaging.
• the barrier layer 62 comprise aluminum.
• the barrier layer 62 comprise ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).
• the barrier layer can be made of other oxygen and/or water barrier materials such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), silicon dioxide (Six), aluminum oxide (AlOx), nano cellulose coating, etc.
• the laminated material 34 may comprises adhesive layers (not showed) or tie layers, especially to establish contact between the barrier layer 62 and a neighboring layer.
• the adhesive layer can comprise any adhesive suitable for this use, such as EAA (Ethylene Acrylic Acid) or water-based adhesive.
• the cellulosic fibers represent at least 60% in mass of the laminated material 34. More advantageously, the cellulosic fibers represent at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, in mass of the laminated material 34. Such a ratio of paper in the laminated material 34 allows a good recyclability of said laminated material 34.
• the paper layer 58 has a thickness comprised between 100 and 400 ⁇ m.
• the paper layer 58 can comprise one or more paper layers, for instance two paper layers 58A, 58B.
• a paper layer 58 made of at least two paper layers glued together by any appropriate adhesive layer 59.
• Such paper layers 58A, 58B are glued by water based adhesive layers 59.
• Such adhesive layer can be dissolved during repulping process so that paper layers are separated easily and quickly.
• the total thickness of the laminated material 34 is comprised between 300 and 450 ⁇ m. This range of thickness allows good mechanical properties for a laminated material 34 comprising around 84% of cellulosic fibers in mass.
• the total thickness of the paper layer 58 represent more than 50% of the total thickness of the laminated material 34. More advantageously, the total thickness of the paper layer 58 represent more than 70% of the total thickness of the laminated material 34.
• Such a ratio of paper 36 in the laminated material 34 allows a good recyclability of said laminated material 34 while keeping good mechanical properties.
• an external polymeric layer 60A is arranged above said paper layer 58.
• the external polymeric layer 60A is the first layer starting from the external surface of the laminated material 34.
• An intermediate polymeric layer 60B is arranged under said paper layer 58. Under said intermediate polymeric layer 60B, an internal polymeric layer 60C is arranged under said intermediate polymeric layer 60B. A barrier layer 62 is sandwiched between the intermediate polymeric layer 60B and the internal polymeric layer 60C. The internal polymeric layer 60C is intended to be in direct contact with the product contained in the tube 10.
• the skirt 14 is also formed by a laminated material comprising cellulosic fibers.
• the skirt 14 and the shoulder 20 are formed by the same laminated material 34.
• the cellulose fibers represent at least 70% in mass of the tube 10, preferably at least 75%.
• the cellulosic fibers represent between 70 and 75% in mass of the tube 10, including the head 12 taking the cap 24 into account.
• the invention allows to obtain a tube easy to recycle and comprising a very huge ratio by mass of cellulosic fibers. Moreover, the quantity of plastic is minimized to further improve the recyclability of the tube.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Tubes (AREA)

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Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2024
  • 2024-03-28 EP EP24167730.1A patent/EP4624359A1/de active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-03-20 US US19/085,602 patent/US20250304329A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

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