Composite container and method for manufacturing same ("multi-layer preform")

Abstract

A composite container, comprising a form-retaining outer container and a flexible inner container is presented. The inner container comprises a dispensing opening and can be mounted in a neck of the outer container, and the inner container is further connected to the outer container by an adhesive or weld connection over a portion of its periphery. The adhesive or weld connection can take the form of a ring adhesion or weld extending transversely to a central longitudinal axis of the container, or can cover the entire surface area of a defined portion of the respective inner container and outer container walls, such as, for example, the upper one-half of the container. The adhesion or weld can be substantially permanent, or alternatively, the adhesive or weld connection can be adapted to detach in controlled manner under the influence of pressures occurring in the container. Additionally, a method for manufacturing such a composite container is also presented, including forming a form-retaining outer container pre-form comprising a neck, forming a flexible inner container pre-form comprising a dispensing opening, inserting the inner container pre-form into the outer container pre-form and fixing said inner container pre-form to the neck of the outer-container pre-form. If the two containers are to be connected by adhesive, then prior to inserting the inner container pre-form into the outer container pre-form, a glue or adhesive can be applied either to the outer surface of the inner container pre-form or to the inner surface of the outer container pre-form, defining a portion of the surface area of the inner and outer containers where they will be connected. Once the two pre-forms are assembled, the composite container can be blown to full size under significant pressures, and the inner container becomes connected to the outer container over the defined portion of their periphery (e.g., their upper halves) by the adhesive spreading under such pressure, or by welding, into an air-tight seal In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the remaining portion of the inner container pre-form can be coated with an anti-stick coating prior to insertion into the outer container pre-form, so as to facilitate motion of the remaining portion of the flexible inner container relative to the outer container. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in operation, under pressure supplied by a displacing medium, the non-adhering portion of the inner container moves upwards within the outer container in a piston-like motion so as to dispense a product provided inside it, until it has completely folded on itself so that it its inner wall fully contacts the inner wall of the adhering portion of the inner container.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A composite container, comprising:
 a form-retaining outer container comprising a neck;   a flexible inner container, the inner container comprising a dispensing opening mounted in the neck of the outer container,   wherein the inner container is further connected over a part of its surface area near the dispensing opening to a corresponding surface area of the inside of the outer container near the neck, via an adhesive or weld connection,   wherein there remains a portion of the inner container not connected to the sidewall of the outer container,   and wherein, in operation, in response to an overpressure developed by a displacing medium introduced between the inner container and the outer container, a portion of the inner container that is not connected to the outer container moves towards the dispensing opening and within the portion of the inner container that is connected to the outer container.   
     
     
         29 . The composite container of claim  1 , wherein at least one of:
 the adhesive or weld connection extends substantially over the whole periphery of a defined outer surface area of the inner container nearest the dispensing opening, and   the adhesive or weld connection can withstand pressures occurring in the container.   
     
     
         30 . The composite container of claim  1 , wherein at least one of:
 the adhesive or weld connection takes the form of at least one adhesive strip or weld extending substantially parallel to or at a non-right angle to a longitudinal axis running from the dispensing opening to an opposite bottom of the container;   the adhesive or weld connection is arranged substantially halfway between the dispensing opening and the bottom of the container; and   the adhesive or weld connection covers an area of the inner container between the dispensing opening and substantially halfway between the dispensing opening and the bottom of the container.   
     
     
         31 . The composite container of claim  1 , wherein, in response to the overpressure developed by a displacing medium introduced between the inner container and the outer container, the portion of the inner container not connected to the outer container folds inside itself so that the inner wall of the portion of the inner container not connected to the outer container substantially covers the inner wall of the portion of the inner container that remains connected to the outer container. 
     
     
         32 . The composite container as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the outer surface of the inner container and/or the inner surface of the outer container has a recess. 
     
     
         33 . The composite container of claim  1 , further comprising a secondary inner container provided within the inner container. 
     
     
         34 . The composite container of claim  1 , wherein the inner container and the outer container are each preformed as injection-moulded parts and, after the adhesive or weld connection has been realized, are brought into their final form by blow moulding. 
     
     
         35 . The composite container of claim  1 , wherein at least one of a product and a liquid is provided in the inner container for dispensing. 
     
     
         36 . The composite container of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of a product and a liquid is provided in each of the inner container and in the secondary inner container for dispensing. 
     
     
         37 . A method for manufacturing a composite container, comprising:
 forming a form-retaining outer container comprising a neck,   forming a flexible inner container comprising a dispensing opening,   providing the inner container in the outer container, and   providing an opening in the outer container, arranged to connect to an overpressure source, said opening in fluid communication with a gap between the inner container and the outer container; and   connecting the inner container over a part of its surface area near the dispensing opening to a corresponding inner surface area of the outer container near the neck, via an adhesive or weld connection, leaving a portion of the inner container not connected to the sidewall of the outer container,   wherein said portion of the inner container not connected to the outer container is arranged, under an overpressure, to move towards the dispensing opening and within the portion of the inner container that is connected to the outer container.   
     
     
         38 . The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein at least one of:
 the adhesive or weld connection extends substantially over the whole periphery of a defined outer surface area of the inner container nearest the dispensing opening,   the adhesive or weld connection can withstand pressures occurring in the container, and   at least one adhesive strip, adhesive compound, or weld is arranged between the inner container and the outer container.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein at least one of:
 the adhesive or weld connection takes the form of at least one adhesive strip or weld extending substantially parallel to or at a non-right angle to a longitudinal axis running from the dispensing opening to an opposite bottom of the container;   the adhesive or weld connection is arranged substantially halfway between the dispensing opening and the bottom of the container; and   the adhesive or weld connection covers an area of the inner container between the dispensing opening and substantially halfway between the dispensing opening and the bottom of the container.   the adhesive or weld connection is formed substantially over the whole periphery of the upper surface area of the inner container, and   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein, for an adhesive connection, an adhesive strip or adhesive compound is arranged on the inner container before the inner container is provided within the outer container. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the outer container is formed with an inner surface which has a recess and/or the inner container is formed with an outer surface which has a recess. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein an adhesive strip or adhesive compound is distributed, particularly over the recess, during placing of the inner container into the outer container. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein a secondary inner container is provided within the inner container. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the outer container and the inner container are formed by injection molding. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein after being adhered to each other or welded together, the outer container and the inner container are brought into their final form by blow molding. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising filling the inner container with at least one of a product and a liquid to be dispensed. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising filling each of the inner container and the secondary inner container with at least one of a product and a liquid be dispensed.