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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       4 . A rigid, water-soluble container 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.  
   
   
       5 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 4  wherein the first and additional polymer(s) are simultaneously or sequentially injection moulded.  
   
   
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       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 rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 4  which has two or more compartments.  
   
   
       39 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 4  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.  
   
   
       40 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 39  wherein the closure part comprises a poly(vinyl alcohol) film or closure.  
   
   
       41 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 39  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.  
   
   
       42 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 39  wherein the closure part is a plastics film.  
   
   
       43 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 39  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.  
   
   
       44 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 43  wherein the receptacle part comprises an upstanding wall which separates compartments thereof.  
   
   
       45 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 38  wherein a first compartment is made entirely or in part of a polymer which when dissolved in water is active in detergency.  
   
   
       46 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 18  wherein a first compartment dissolves in water at a different rate than a second compartment.  
   
   
       47 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 39  wherein the receptacle part comprises an outwardly facing opening into which a tablet is press-fitted.  
   
   
       48 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 39  wherein the closure part is a transparent or translucent material.  
   
   
       49 . An array of rigid, water-soluble washing containers according to  claim 4  which are joined together but are readily separable from each other for use.  
   
   
       50 . An array according to  claim 49  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.  
   
   
       51 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 4  in which container is present a fabric care, surface care or dishwashing composition.  
   
   
       52 . A rigid, water-soluble container as claimed in  claim 4  which comprises a polymer which when dissolved in water is active as a water softener or as a dye transfer inhibitor.  
   
   
       53 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 4  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.  
   
   
       54 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 43  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 rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 54  wherein the second polymer is poly(vinyl alcohol).  
   
   
       56 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 4  wherein the composition comprises a powder, gel, paste or low water liquid formulation.  
   
   
       57 . A rigid, water-soluble container according to  claim 4  wherein the container comprises a tablet formulated for delayed and/or sustained release of a material.