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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       26 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers 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 containers are joined together but are readily separable from each other for use, which method comprises: 
 forming an array of receptacle parts, each receptacle part being connected to adjacent receptacle parts, but being separable from them by a snap or tear action;    charging the receptacle parts with fabric care, surface care or dishwashing composition;    and sealingly securing a sheet of a water-soluble polymer over the top of the array to form the closure parts for all the receptacle parts of the array.    
   
   
       27 . A process for the manufacture of a container as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises 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.    
   
   
       34 . A rigid, water-soluble container made entirely or in part of an injection moulded water-soluble polymer, in which container is present a fabric care, surface care or dishwashing composition and has bound to the inside or outside of the container or encased within the container a second water-soluble polymer which polymer when dissolved in water is active in detergency.  
   
   
       35 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 34  wherein the second polymer is polyvinylpyrolidine, polyacrylic acid or an ester thereof, polymaleic acid or an ester thereof, or a copolymer of any thereof.  
   
   
       36 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 34  wherein the second polymer is in the form of a shaped article.  
   
   
       37 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 34  wherein the container is made entirely or in part of poly (vinyl alcohol).  
   
   
       38 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the containers are 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.  
   
   
       39 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 38  wherein the containers are made entirely or in part of an injection moulded water-soluble polymer which polymer which polymer is poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(acrylic acid) or an ester thereof or poly(maleic acid) or an ester thereof, or a copolymer of any thereof  
   
   
       40 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the containers are 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.  
   
   
       41 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 40  wherein the first and additional polymer(s) are simultaneously or sequentially injection moulded.  
   
   
       42 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the containers have two or more compartments.  
   
   
       43 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the containers comprise a polymer 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.  
   
   
       44 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the containers are 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.  
   
   
       45 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 44  wherein the closure part comprises a poly(vinyl alcohol) film or closure.  
   
   
       46 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 44  wherein the closure part is a plastics film.  
   
   
       47 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 44  wherein the receptacle part has side walls which terminate at their upper end in an outward flange, to which the closure part is sealingly secured.  
   
   
       48 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the composition of the containers comprises a powder, gel, paste or low water liquid formulation.  
   
   
       49 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the composition comprises a tablet formulated for delayed and/or sustained release of a material.  
   
   
       50 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 44  wherein the receptacle part comprises an upstanding wall which separates compartments thereof.  
   
   
       51 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 44  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.  
   
   
       52 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 51  wherein the 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.  
   
   
       53 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 42  wherein a first compartment is made entirely or in part of a polymer which when dissolved in water is active in detergency.  
   
   
       54 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 51  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.  
   
   
       55 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 54  wherein the second polymer is poly(vinyl alcohol).  
   
   
       56 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 42  wherein a first compartment dissolves in water at a different rate than a second compartment.  
   
   
       57 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 44  wherein the receptacle part comprises an outwardly facing opening into which a tablet is press-fitted.  
   
   
       58 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 44  wherein the closure part is a transparent or translucent material.  
   
   
       59 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  made entirely of polyvinylpyrrolidine, or in part made of polyvinylpyrolidine.  
   
   
       60 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the array has a line of symmetry extending between capsules, and the two halves of the array are folded together about the line of symmetry, with the closure parts in face-to-face contact.  
   
   
       61 . A process for the manufacture of an array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 26  wherein the polymer is not poly(vinyl alcohol).