Container with filter

Abstract

A container is disclosed that includes a pre-formed tear line defining a dispensing aperture that tears with appropriate mechanical manipulation, to form a dispensing aperture with the container portion corresponding to the dispensing aperture being bent inside the container; and a filter attached to the inside of the container and located at least partly adjacent the dispensing aperture such that the filter allows egress of fluid through the dispensing aperture whilst preventing ingress of contaminants. In one embodiment, the filter comprises a safety portion which makes it impossible for the filter to fall through the dispensing aperture. In another embodiment, the filter is resilient and deforms during the bending of the container portion corresponding to the dispensing aperture, and subsequently returns to its initial configuration; and wherein the filter includes at least two limbs which may deform independently so to assist the filter in returning to its initial configuration.

1 . A container comprising a portion with a pre-formed tear line corresponding to a dispensing aperture and which will tear with appropriate mechanical manipulation, thereby forming a dispensing aperture such that the container portion corresponding to the dispensing aperture is bent inside the container; and a filter attached to the inside of the container and located at least partly adjacent the dispensing aperture such that the filter allows egress of fluid from the container through the dispensing aperture whilst preventing ingress of at least some contaminants, wherein the filter comprising a safety portion of a size and/or shape which, should the filter become detached from the inside of the container, makes it impossible for the filter to fall through the dispensing aperture of the container. 
   
   
       2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the safety portion has at least two perpendicular dimensions which exceed any dimension of the dispensing aperture. 
   
   
       3 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the safety portion coincides with the portion of the filter attached to the container. 
   
   
       4 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the filter is composed of a contiguous layer of resilient material including the safety portion. 
   
   
       5 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least part of the profile of safety portion corresponds to the shape of the container. 
   
   
       6 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the filter is resilient so as to first deform during forming of the dispensing aperture from an initial configuration adjacent the dispensing aperture to accommodate the initial bending inside the container of the container portion corresponding to the dispensing aperture, and subsequently to return to its initial configuration. 
   
   
       7 . A container comprising a portion with a pre-formed tear line corresponding to a dispensing aperture and which will tear with appropriate mechanical manipulation, thereby forming a dispensing aperture such that the container portion corresponding to the dispensing aperture is bent inside the container; and a filter attached to the inside of the container and located at least partly adjacent the dispensing aperture such that the filter allows egress of fluid from the container through the dispensing aperture whilst preventing ingress of at least some contaminants, wherein the filter is resilient so as to first deform during forming of the dispensing aperture from an initial configuration adjacent the dispensing aperture to accommodate the initial bending inside the container of the container portion corresponding to the dispensing aperture, and subsequently to return to its initial configuration; and wherein the filter comprises at least two limbs which may deform, at least to some extent, independently so to assist the filter in returning to its initial configuration. 
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein the initial configuration of the filter is planar. 
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 8  wherein, during forming of the dispensing aperture, one limb deforms more than another limb from the plane defined by the initial configuration of the filter. 
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein at least one limb does not allow egress of fluid through that limb. 
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein at least two limbs define a channel adjacent the dispensing aperture and through which fluid may egress from the container. 
   
   
       12 . A filter of a container according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       13 . A filter of a container according to  claim 7 .