EP1421013A1

EP1421013A1 - Triangular-tetrahedron container with spout assembly

Info

Publication number: EP1421013A1
Application number: EP02751888A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jung-Min Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-03
Filing date: 2002-08-03
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Also published as: EP1421013A4; US20040188460A1; CN100422061C; JP2004537481A; WO2003013978A1; CN1545471A

Abstract

A triangular-tetrahedron container with a spout assembly is disclosed. The triangular-tetrahedron container includes four triangular surfaces. The surfaces are grouped in first and second pairs. The surfaces of each pair are disposed facing each other. Bases of facing triangular surfaces of the first fair are sealed by a first sealing portion formed in a horizontal direction. Bases of facing triangular surfaces of the second fair are sealed by a second sealing portion formed in a vertical direction. The spout assembly is provided on a predetermined portion of the triangular-tetrahedron container.

Description

TRIANGULAR-TETRAHEDRON CONTAINER WITH SPOUT

ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a triangular-tetrahedron

container with a spout assembly that can contains liquid such as juice,

milk or other beverages so as to be packaged, transported and sold in

the market.

Particularly, the present invention relates to a

triangular-tetrahedron container that is provided with a spout assembly

enabling a user to easily dispense and suck the contents contained in the

container.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, beverages such as cola, juice, mineral water and other

drinkable liquid are contained in a variety of containers to be packaged,

transported and sold in the markets.

As such containers, a cylindrical container such as pet bottles

and cans, a square -hexahedron container, and a triangular-tetrahedron containers have been well known and widely used.

In recent years, due to its outstanding self-standing ability and

aesthetic sense, the triangular-tetrahedron containers have been widely

used as a beverage container for storing a small amount of liquid.

Such conventional triangular-tetrahedron containers are shown

in FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1 shows a typical triangular-tetrahedron container. The

container includes opposite first and second sealing portions 3 and 3'

that are disposed perpendicularly to each other, thereby defining the

triangular-tetrahedron body. To open such a triangular-tetrahedron

container, a corner of one of the first and second sealing portions 3 and

3' is cut-away so as to dispense and suck the contents. To make it

easy to cut-away, a cutting line 2 is formed around the corner.

However, it is troublesome to use a special cutting tool wherever a user

intends to open the container.

FIG. 2 shows a container similar to that of FIG. 1. A thin film 4 is

attached on a surface of the container 1 so that a straw can be inserted

into the container through the thin film. This structure requires an

additional process for attaching the thin film 4 and a straw attached on an outer surface of the container 1.

A container 6 depicted in FIGS. 3a and 3b is designed to be

assembled enclosing a pump dispenser main body 5. The container 6 is

provided with a spout. This has a limitation it can be used only for a

refill type pump dispenser main body 5. Particularly, when the

container 6 self-stands without the main body 5, the contents may

overflow through the spout 7.

FIG. 4 shows another conventional container provided with an

easy opening structure 8 so as for a user to easily drink the contents.

However, when the user intends to suck the beverage, a straw is still

required.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in an effort to

solve the above-described problems of the prior art. It is an objective

of the present invention to provide a triangular-tetrahedron container

that is provided with a spout assembly enabling a user to easily dispense

and suck the contents contained in the container.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a triangular-tetrahedron container provided with a spout assembly that is

mounted so as to preventing the contents from overflowing.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides

a triangular-tetrahedron container for storing fluid comprising a first

pair of triangular surfaces disposed facing each other, bases of which

being horizontally sealed by a first sealing end; a second pair of

triangular surfaces disposed facing each other, base of which being

sealed by a second sealing end in a direction perpendicular to the first

sealing end; and a spout assembly for dispensing and sucking the fluid

contained in the container, the spout assembly being mounted on a

predetermined portion of the container.

According to one embodiment, the spout assembly is fixed on one

of the first and second sealing ends.

According to another embodiment, the spout assembly is fixed in

the vicinity of an angular point opposing a base of one of the triangular

surfaces.

According to still another embodiment, the spout assembly is

fixed on a corner of the first and second sealing ends.

Preferably, the spout assembly is enclosed by a protecting cover provided with a cutting-line.

Preferably, the spout assembly is fixed on the second sealing end

during a process of sealing the second sealing end after the first sealing

end is sealed and the fluid is filled into the container through the second

sealing end before the sealing end is sealed.

Alternatively, the spout assembly may be fixed on the first

sealing end during a course of sealing the first sealing end and the fluid

is filled in the container through the second sealing end before the

second sealing end is sealed.

Alternatively, the fluid may be filled in the container through the

spout assembly after the spout assembly is fixed on the first sealing end

during the course of sealing the first sealing end and the second sealing

end is sealed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 4 are views of conventional triangular-tetrahedron

container;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a triangular-tetrahedron

container with a spout assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a triangular-tetrahedron

container with a spout assembly according to a second preferred

embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a triangular-tetrahedron

container with a spout assembly according to a third preferred

embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a triangular-tetrahedron

container with a spout assembly according to a fourth preferred

embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a spout assembly that can be

employed to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be

described more in detail hereinafter in conjunction with the

accompanying drawings.

The present invention is described through a couple of

embodiment and like reference Nos. are assigned to like parts throughout the drawings for the description convenience.

In addition, material used for a container of the present invention

is formed of a multi-layer film laminated with at least two materials

selected from the group consisting of paper, synthetic resin, and

aluminum foil.

FIG. 5 shows a triangular-tetrahedron container according to a

first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the inventive container 100 is a

triangular-tetrahedron container including four triangular surfaces

102A, 102B, 102C and 102D.

The container 100 having opposite first and second sealing ends

105 and 105'.

Describing more in detail, the first sealing end 105 is formed

along a horizontal straight line to seal bases of the corresponding

triangular surfaces 102A and 102C. That is, the first sealing end 105 is

formed along a horizontal straight line connecting angular points of the

bases of the triangular surfaces 102A and 102C. The first sealing end

105' is formed along a straight line perpendicular to the horizontal

straight line to seal bases of the corresponding triangular surfaces 102B and 102D. That is, the first sealing end 105 is formed along a horizontal

straight line connecting angular points of the bases of the triangular

surfaces 102B and 102D.

As a feature of the present invention, a spout assembly 107 for

dispensing and sucking contents container in the container is mounted

on a predetermined position of one of the first and second sealing ends

105 and 105'.

Considering the filling process of the contents, after the spout

assembly 107 is located on one of the first, and second sealing ends 105

and 105', the rest of the first and second sealing ends 105 and 105' may

be maintained without being sealed so that the contents can be filled in

the container through the rest of the first and second sealing ends 105

and 105'.

Alternatively, after one of the sealing ends 105 and 105' is sealed,

the contents are filled in the container through the rest of the sealing

ends, after which the spout 107 can be mounted on the rest sealing end

during the course of sealing the rest sealing end.

Alternatively, after one of the sealing ends 105 and 105' is sealed,

the rest is sealed together with the spout assembly 107, after which the contents are filled in the container through the spout assembly 107, and

then a cap of the spout assembly is assembled on the spout assembly

107.

Any types of the spout assembly can be used for the present

invention as far as it can dispense and suck the contents. One example

of the spout assembly is shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in the drawing, the user contacts the lip contacting

portion 206 of the spout assembly to suck the contents through a

pouring hole 207. In addition, to dispense the contents to another cup

or container, when the user upsets the container 100 and depresses the

surfaces 102A-102D, the contents pours through the pouring hole 207

provided with a spouting guide 209.

FIG. 6 shows a triangular-tetrahedron container with a spout

assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the spout assembly 107 is disposed on a

portion in the vicinity of an angular point opposing a base of one of the

triangular surfaces.

The filling process can be performed by a variety of methods as

described in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a triangular-tetrahedron container with a spout

assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the spout assembly 107' is formed on a

corner of the sealing ends 105 and 105' after the corner is cut-away.

The spout assembly 107' is enclosed by a protecting cover 109 so as to

prevent the spout assembly 107 from being contaminated.

In addition, the spout assembly 107' of this embodiment is

designed such that a cap is integrally formed so that it can be broken

away by twisting force to open the spout assembly.

Likewise, the filling process can be performed by a variety of

methods as described in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a triangular-tetrahedron container with a spout

assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the spout assembly 107 is mounted on one of

the triangular surfaces in the vicinity of the base.

Likewise, the filling process can be performed by a variety of

methods as described in the first embodiment.

As described above, the present invention provides users with

more convenient container, which is a triangular-tetrahedron structure having a stable self-standing ability and an outstanding aesthetic aspect,

as a spout assembly enabling the user to dispense and suck the contents

contained in the container is provided on the container.

In addition, since the spout assembly is located slanting on one

side of the container, the contents in the container do not overflow even

when the cap of the spout assembly is opened.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have

been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood

that many variations and/or modifications of the basic inventive

concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the present

art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as

defined in the appended claims.

INDUSTRICAL APPLICABILITY

As is well known from the above-described embodiments, the

container of the present invention can be used for storing beverages

such as milk and juice so that the user can suck or dispense the

beverages. The container can be also used for storing industrial fluid

such as detergent and oil as it is designed to easily pour the contents without spilling them.

Claims

1. A triangular-tetrahedron container for storing fluid

comprising^;

a first pair of triangular surfaces disposed facing each other,

bases of which being horizontally sealed by a first sealing end;

a second pair of triangular surfaces disposed facing each other,

base of which being sealed by a second sealing end in a direction

perpendicular to the first sealing end; and

a spout assembly for dispensing and sucking the fluid contained

in the container, the spout assembly being mounted on a predetermined

portion of the container.

2. A triangular-tetrahedron container of claim 1 wherein the

spout assembly is fixed on one of the first and second sealing ends.

3. A triangular-tetrahedron container of claim 1 wherein the

spout assembly is fixed in the vicinity of an angular point opposing a

base of one of the triangular surfaces.

4. A triangular-tetrahedron container of claim 1 wherein the

spout assembly is fixed on a corner of the first and second sealing ends.

5. A triangular- tetrahedron container of claim 1 wherein the spout assembly is enclosed by a protecting cover provided with a

cutting-line.

6. A triangular-tetrahedron container of claim 4 wherein the

spout assembly is enclosed by a protecting cover provided with a

cutting-line.

7. A triangular-tetrahedron container of claim 1 wherein the

spout assembly is fixed on the second sealing end during a process of

sealing the second sealing end after the first sealing end is sealed and

the fluid is filled into the container through the second sealing end

before the sealing end is sealed.

8. A triangular-tetrahedron container of claim 1 wherein the

spout assembly is fixed on the first sealing end during a course of

sealing the first sealing end and the fluid is filled in the container through

the second sealing end before the second sealing end is sealed.

9. A triangular-tetrahedron container of claim 1 wherein the fluid

is filled in the container through the spout assembly after the spout

assembly is fixed on the first sealing end during the course of sealing

the first sealing end and the second sealing end is sealed.