Injection moulded containers

Abstract

The present invention provides a rigid, water-soluble container made of an injection moulded poly(vinyl alcohol) and/or a cellulose ether, which container encases a fabric care, surface care or dishwashing composition.

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       27 . A process for the manufacture of a container made entirely or in part of an injection moulded water-soluble polymer, which polymer when dissolved in water is active in detergency, in which container is present a fabric care, surface care or dishwashing composition, which comprises the steps of: 
 melting the polymer(s), injecting the molten polymer(s) into a mould,    removing the rigid water soluble container from the mould and    adding the fabric care, surface care, or dishwashing composition into the container.    
   
   
       28 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein a first polymer and an additional polymer(s) are simultaneously or sequentially injected into the mould.  
   
   
       29 . A process according to  claim 28  wherein the first polymer and the additional polymer(s) are sequentially injected into the mould, in any order, by one of the following techniques: multi-component injection moulding or sandwich injection moulding.  
   
   
       30 . A process according to  claim 29  wherein the first polymer and the additional polymer(s) are sequentially injected into the mould, in any order, injection moulding a polymer or molten polymer mix into a mould, removing the solid polymer and inserting into a second mould and injection moulding a second polymer or polymer mix into the second mould.  
   
   
       31 . A process according to  claim 29  wherein the first polymer and the additional polymer(s) are sequentially injected into the mould, in any order, injection moulding a polymer or molten polymer mix into a part of a mould, injection moulding a second polymer or molten polymer mix into a further part of the mould.  
   
   
       32 . A process according to  claim 29  wherein the first polymer and the additional polymer(s) are simultaneously injection moulded into the mould as a molten mix.  
   
   
       33 . A process according to  claim 27  comprising the additional step of: 
 sealing the container.    
   
   
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       38 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the first and additional polymer(s) are simultaneously or sequentially injection moulded.  
   
   
       39 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the container is made entirely or in part of an injection moulded water-soluble polymer which polymer when dissolved in water is active as a water softener or as a dye transfer inhibitor.  
   
   
       40 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the container is made from a water-soluble receptacle part and is sealed by a water-soluble closure part, preferably in the form of a film or injection-moulded, rigid closure.  
   
   
       41 . A process according to  claim 40  wherein the closure part is a plastics film.  
   
   
       42 . A process according to  claim 40  wherein the closure part comprises a poly(vinyl alcohol) film or closure.  
   
   
       43 . A process according to  claim 40  wherein the receptacle part has side walls which terminate in their upper end in an outward flange to which the closure part is sealingly sealed.  
   
   
       44 . A process according to  claim 40  wherein the receptacle part defines two or more compartments and at least one compartment is made entirely or in part of a water-soluble polymer which when dissolved in water is active in detergency.  
   
   
       45 . A process according to  claim 44  wherein the receptacle part comprises an upstanding wall which separate compartments thereof.  
   
   
       46 . A process according to  claim 44  wherein a first compartment dissolves in water at a different rate than a second compartment.  
   
   
       47 . A process according to  claim 40  wherein the receptacle part comprises an outwardly facing opening into which a tablet is press-fitted.  
   
   
       48 . A process according to  claim 40  wherein the closure part is of a transparent or translucent material.  
   
   
       49 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the container is a plurality of containers which are joined together but are readily seperable from each other for use.  
   
   
       50 . A process according to  claim 49  wherein plurality of container are in an array.  
   
   
       51 . A process according to  claim 49  wherein the array of containers has a line of symmetry extending between capsules, and two parts of the array are folded together about the line of symmetry with the closure parts of the containers in face-to-face contact.  
   
   
       52 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the container is made entirely or in part of: poly(vinyl alcohol), a cellulose derivative, and poly(glycolide), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactide), poly(lactic acid) or a copolymer of any thereof poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(acrylic acid) or an ester thereof or poly(maleic acid) or an ester thereof, or a copolymer of any thereof.  
   
   
       53 . A process according to  claim 52  wherein the container excludes poly(vinyl alcohol)  
   
   
       54 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the container is made of at least two water-soluble injection moulded polymers, a first polymer selected from poly(vinyl alcohol), a cellulose derivative, and poly(glycolide), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactide), poly(lactic acid) or a copolymer of any thereof; and a second water-soluble polymer which polymer when dissolved in water is active in detergency.  
   
   
       55 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the polymer active in polymer active in detergency is selected from selected from at least one of the following; 
 poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(acrylic acid) or an ester thereof or poly(maleic acid) or an ester thereof, or a copolymer of any thereof.    
   
   
       56 . A process according to  claim 44  wherein at least one compartment is made at least partly of a second polymer which is poly(vinyl alcohol), a cellulose derivative, preferably an ether or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, poly(glycolide), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactide), poly(lactic acid) or a copolymer of any thereof.  
   
   
       57 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the container is made entirely or in part of polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
   
   
       58 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the composition comprises a powder, gel, paste or low water liquid formulation.  
   
   
       59 . A process according to  claim 27  wherein the container comprises a tablet formulated for delayed or sustained release of a material.