JPH03212397A - Funnel equipped with hole boring apparatus for flowable product package - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make a funnel applicable in common to containers with various pouring holes differing in size by providing an upper part and a tubular part as components and a piercing device and simplify the manner of handling. CONSTITUTION: A funnel 10 with a piercing device comprises an upper part 11 and a tubular part 12 and a piercing device 15 projects from a cup-shaped upper part 11. An outward extension 21 used for hanging and serving as a holder, when the funnel with the piercing device is not in use, is attached to the neck of a bottle or the like and supports it in refilling. A protective cap 22, when the tunnel is not in use, is used to cover the piercing device 15. The piercing device 15 is composed of hollow tubes 17 having free ends consisting of radiating members 18 which converge at a piercing point 19. The funnel 10 has a means of stabilizing hold 23 at a free edge part in the upper part 11.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a funnel with a perforation for fluid products such as liquids, and more particularly, to a funnel for fluid products such as liquids, etc. This relates to a funnel for refilling liquids into containers in a clean manner.

[Conventional technology]

Many flowable products, especially liquids, are typically packaged in plastic containers, which are discarded once their contents have been used. Containers are designed to be easy to handle depending on the purpose of the liquid product they contain, so they are easy to handle from an economical and environmental standpoint.
It would be desirable to find ways to reuse these containers by refilling them with liquid products that come in inexpensive, simple, disposable packaging.

It is now common practice to refill textile softener containers. Fabric softener containers are usually bottles with necks, and some have caps to prevent dripping, but refill packages are made of soft plastic-like bags.

Although many improvements have been made in the way liquids are removed from bags, transferring liquids from bags to empty containers remains a tedious task.

In addition, concentrated softeners are now available on the market that save on packaging materials and can be diluted to the desired concentration by adding water when refilling from a small package into a large reusable container.

One means of refilling a container with a flowable product in another package is a funnel. However, even if a funnel is used, transferring liquid from a soft plastic bag is a cumbersome task. Considering the inherent nature of packaging such that refill packages are discarded immediately once the contents are taken out, it is necessary to keep costs low even if improvements are made to the method of removing liquid from the bag.

There are many tools on the market for opening packages, such as spouts and pouring devices, that are not designed to facilitate the evacuation of the contents. Most devices consist of a perforator that pierces the spout of the package, and when the perforator is inserted into the sealed package, the contents flow through the perforator through an open hole. More complex devices are equipped with a second perforator, which allows air to enter as the product is ejected through the hole, and if the product is liquid, allows it to flow out smoothly without gurgling. However, it is clear that this type of device is completely unsuitable when refilling is desired in such a way that the hole drilled in the package is located within the container.

In view of the above, the main object of the present invention is to provide a perforated funnel for flowable product packaging.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a funnel with a perforator that can be used commonly for refilling various containers having different sizes of pouring spouts (filling spouts).

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a perforated funnel that can be kept at a convenient location in a container to be filled and that is easy to handle during refilling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a funnel with a perforator that can stably hold a refill package during a refill operation.

[Summary of the invention]

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a funnel that includes a perforator and one or more locations for setting the funnel onto a container to be filled. In addition, means are provided for attaching a funnel to the container and supporting it during filling, and means for holding the refill package steady during operation.

〔Example〕

Referring to the drawing details, a preferred embodiment of a perforated funnel for fluid product packaging according to the present invention is depicted, with identical parts being numbered the same.

As is clear from FIG. 1, the perforated funnel (10) consists of a cup-shaped upper part (11) and a tubular part (12). A perforation (15) projects from the cup-shaped upper part (11).

The hanging/holding extension part (21) is an embodiment showing the characteristics of the present invention, and is attached to the bottle neck etc. when the funnel with perforator is not in use, and supports it during refilling.

The protective cap (22) covers the perforation (
15) It is something to be put on from above.

The cross-sectional view in Figure 2 shows how the perforation (15) is connected to the tubular part (
12) is attached to the inner wall. or,
It can be seen that the perforation (15) has a hollow tubular part (17) with a free end consisting of a radial element (18) converging at the perforation point (19). Funnel with perforator (
1o) is set in the pouring spout (filling spout) of the container by its mounting surfaces (13, 14). An embodiment of the retaining member (23) of the refill package is also shown.

The plan view of FIG. 3 shows the inside of the funnel upper part (11), the upper end of the funnel tube (12), the support member (16), the upper end of the tubular part (17) of the perforation part (15), and the perforation point (19). The radial members (18) are shown converging at ).

The partial sectional view of FIG. 4 shows the perforated funnel according to the invention in use, attached to a container, with the container's pouring spout (filling spout), here the neck of the bottle, being depicted. It is. As can be seen, the mounting surface (13) of the perforated funnel (10) fits into the tip of the neck (24) of the container. The perforation part (15) is the refill package (2
5). The product (26) passes from the perforation (15) through the funnel tube (12) to the pouring spout (filling spout) of the container (
29).

The perspective view in FIG. 5 shows how a perforated funnel (IIG) according to the invention, with some modifications, can be used in containers with differently shaped spouts (129a, 129b). This shows that. A flat circular rim (127) is attached to the cup-shaped upper part (111) of the funnel, and the refill package (125) is attached to the perforated part (111).
5) can remain on the rim after being drilled in the bottom (128). The size of the extension part (121) can be adjusted so that it can be placed over the neck of the container where the spout (filling spout) (129a, 129b) is located. Container spout (
The filling port (129) is equipped with a general drip prevention cap (130). The protective cap (122) has been removed from the perforation (115).

The partial perspective view in Figure 6 shows the funnel with perforator shown in Figure 5 (
110) is shown as being kept on the side of the container by the extension part (121) when not in use.

- The preferred embodiment of the perforated funnel described with reference to the accompanying drawings includes means for attaching the perforated funnel to the container when not in use and means for stabilizing the refill package during refilling operations. However, less complex perforated funnels that do not include these means are also within the scope of the invention.

Although the refill package shown in the drawings is a laminated plastic bag, any refill package can be used as long as it can be made with holes in any desired location using the funnel perforator according to the present invention. Also good. For example, it may be a paper box container with or without a liner as long as it has a weak point that can be easily punctured.

Although the refill product described in the preferred embodiment is a liquid,
The perforated funnel according to the invention works equally well with any fluid product.

The perforated funnel described in the preferred embodiment is preferably formed from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, or recycled plastic, although other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art may be used. . The drilled funnel may also be formed from individual parts made of different materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, recycled plastic, metal, etc. The perforated part in the drawing is formed of a hollow tube with a free end made of radial members that converge at the perforated point, but the free end of the perforated part does not need to have an opening, and may not be hollow. It's okay.

At this time, the refill product passes along the outside of the perforation, passes through the funnel tube, and flows into the container.

It is extremely convenient if at least the funnel tube is made of a transparent material so that the flow of liquid can be seen from the outside.

Although the preferred embodiment describes a funnel with a perforator that is normally placed in the uncorked neck of a bottle, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the tubular portion of the funnel may be sized to accommodate a spout as shown in FIG. Can be adapted to any spout (filling spout), including bottle necks with A funnel with a perforator according to the invention, in which various parts including the bottom of the top of the funnel can be used to set the funnel in a container to be filled, and a spout (filling spout) of various shapes with or without an insert part. can be shared.

The funnel in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings has a generally circular top. Of course, the shape of the upper part of the funnel may be modified to any shape as long as it can function as a funnel.

Many modifications can be made to this invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some of these examples are as mentioned above.

The scope of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims, and is not limited to the structure and contents described in the embodiments and drawings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the perforated funnel for fluid product packaging of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the funnel with perforator of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 shows the funnel of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a perforated funnel according to the invention, with different spouts (filling The funnel is shown ready to be placed in one of two types of containers (partial view) with a mouth), and the refill package (partial view) is shown with a hole punched by the perforation part during installation. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the perforated funnel according to the invention being attached to the curved portion of the lower neck of the container. to, ito... funnel, 11,111... upper part 12.112... tubular part, 13.14.113.1
14... Attachment part 17... Hollow tube, 15,1
15... Perforation part, 18, 118... Radial member,
19.119... Perforation point, 21, 121... Extended portion, 22.122... Protective member, 23, 127.
・Stability holding means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A funnel (10, 110) comprising an upper part (11, 111) and a tubular part (12, 112), and comprising a perforated part (15, 115). 2. The funnel is attached to the attachment part (13, 14, 113, 11
4).
Funnel as described in section. 3. The perforation part (15, 115) has the perforation point (19, 11
Funnel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists of a hollow tube (17) with a free end consisting of radial elements (18, 118) converging at 9). 4. The perforation part (15, 115) is the perforation point (19, 11
9) A funnel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists of a tube having a non-open free end converging at 9). 5. The upper part (11, 111) of the funnel (10, 110)
Funnel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is provided with stabilization means (23, 127) on its free edge. 6. Any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a protective member (22, 122) is provided on the funnel so as to cover the perforation (15, 115). The funnel described in paragraph 1. 7. The funnel has an extension part (21, 12) for hanging/holding.
Claim 1 characterized in that it comprises 1).
The funnel described in any one of paragraphs 6 to 6. 8. The funnel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least the funnel tube is made of a transparent material.