Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE I~VENTION
Containers which are made o~ flexible material, so
that they can easily collapse upon draining to a residual
volume which is a very small percentage of the original
filled volume, find particular use in the area of parenteral ..
solution administration. Also, these containers can be put
to any other use, particularly those uses where the venting :~
of air into the container as it is emptied is considered not :-
to be desirable.
In Grosjean U.S. patent Number 3,595,441, a col~
lapsible tubular container of square cross section is dis- :
closed utilizing a relatively rigid shoulder at one end,
and a base at the other, about which the remainder of the
container collapses through the infolding of gussets simi-
lar to those found in a paper bag. ~:
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The container of the Grosjean patent shares the -
characteristic with many other collapsible containers in
that it is difficult to ascertain how much solution has been :~
administered from the container, which is of course important
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to know in the field of administration of parenteral solutions.
Furthermore, the Grosjean container is very complex and is
subject to malfunction, since each gusset includes seven
~; individual fold lines which must all function as intended in
order to obtain the desired folding results. Added to the
total of twenty-eight fold lines in the four gussets are
three fold lines on each of the sides of the container, to
permit the achievement of the inward folding structure, in
the manner of a paper bag having double, opposed bottom ends,
as shown in the drawings of the Grosejean patent.
;! It is sometimes deemed desirable to have a flexible,
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collapsible container which, nevertheless, can stand up on a
-i relatively rigid base while it is full. Furthermore, it is
desirable to provide a structure having fewer fold lines, so
that there is less chance that a failing fold line will
interfere with the collapse of the container. -
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`1 In its broadest form the present invention provides,
-1 in a flexible, collapsible container defining a relatively -
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~', 20 rigid shoulder and neck portion at one end, a relatively rigid
~1 base at the other end, and a flexible, tubular wall between
!~~ the shoulder and base, the improvement comprising, in combin-
ation, the container defining, in its original, unstressed
condition, first and second pairs of oppositely-disposed
gussets defined in the flexible wall and positioned respectively
adjacent the shoulder and the base, the first pair of gussets
I each defining in the wall a recessed, fold line positioned
s adjacent to and generally parallel with the adjacent edge of
the shoulder, the second pair of gussets each defining a
recessed, fold line positioned adjacent to and generally
parallel with the adjacent edge of the base, each gusset portion
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also defining in the walls a pair of lines of folding weakness
which join together in angular relationship to define an apex,
the lines of weakness extending toward respective ends of
their associated recessed, fold line to define a generally
triangular arrangement, whereby, upon collapse of the container
the gussets fold outwardly respectively from the shoulder and
base.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This simpler folding arrangement provides for threè :
fold lines per gusset and only one fold line on each longi-
tudinal edge of the container. Furthermore, the outward
folding of the gussets prevents the entrapment of the last
amounts of the container's contents as it collapses. .
The gussets which are adjacent the base of the :
container of this invention may optionally be smaller or
at least of less triangular elevation than the gussets
adjacent the shoulder portion. Accordingly, the collapse of ~ :-
the .
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container, as the contents are withdrawn, takes place first
directly adjacent to the base, and thereafter progressively
` from the area o the base towards the shoulder, culminating
in the outward collapse of the gussets next to the shoul-
der and inward collapse of the remaining portions of the
container. The container folds up about the inner surfaces
of the shoulder and base to create a very small residual
volume when based upon the original volume of the container.
Because of the progressive tail-to-head collapse
of the conta1ner when held in inverted position, it becomes
feasible to make a reasonably accurate determinati~n of the
amount of contents of the container which have been expended,
which is particularly important when the container is a
parenteral solution administration container or other medi-
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cal liquid container. However, simultaneously with this,
the container of this invention is capable of standing on its
base while full, and also collapsing down to a residual vol-
ume which may be about five percent of its original volume.
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Preferably, the shoulder and base of the container
of this invention are generally oval in shape, but preferably
with truncated ends, the gussets being positioned adjacent
the ends of the major axes of the shoulder and base.
It is also contemplated that, optionally, the cir-
cumference of the tubular wall between the shoulder and base
may increase in the direction of said base so that the
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container exhibits a tapered or frustoconical aspect.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational
view, with parts broken away, of the container of this invention,
shown lying in a mold half used for manufacture of the container
by blow molding.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the container of this
invention from the shoulder end.
Figure 3 is an elevational view of the container of -
this invention, rotated 90 about its longitudinal axis from
the aspect shown in Figure 1, also showing the molds used to ;`
manufacture the container.
Figure 4 is an elevational view of the container of ~
Figures 1 through 3 in the condition of having its contents ~ `
partially withdrawn, and the wall portion adjacent to the
base being folded up.
Figure 5 is an elevational view similar to Figure 4,
showing the essentially completely collapsed container after
virtually all of the contents have been expelled.
Figure 6 is an elevational view similar to Figure 5, -
rotated 90 about the longitudinal axis, also showing the
filled configuration of the container in phantom lines for
comparison.
Figure 7, appearing on the same sheet as Figure 4,
is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the
container of this invention.
Referring to Figures 1 through 3, container 10
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is shown positioned in a blow mold half 12. As shown in
Figure 3, mating mold half 14 is provided to enclose a pari-
son which may then be blow molded to form container 10,
using retractable blowing tube 16 (shown in the retracted
position). Neck mold halves 18, 20, which may be separate,
are also shown. All of the mold halves are mounted on pis-
tons for advancement and retraction as desired to receive
the hot parison, to close around it, and to expel the com-
pleted, blow-molded container 10 in accordance with conven-
tional technology.
Container 10 defines a generally flat, relatively
rigid base 22 from which protrudes a hanger member 24. Hanger
member 24 may be connected to base 22 by a thinned web portion
26 so that hanger member 24 can be easily folded into flat,
parallel relation with base 22 when it is desired to stand
the container up. Hanger member 24 may be integral with con-
tainer 10, or may be separately added after manufacture.
At the other end of the container is defined a
relatively rigid neck portion 28, through which the contents
of the container may be inserted and withdrawn, and a rela-
tively rigid shoulder portion 30.
Tubular Wall 31, which is relatively flexible when
compared with the relatively rigid base 22 and shoulder por-
tion 30, extends between the peripheries of shoulder portion
30 and base 22 to form a sealed, flexible container.
The container of this invention is advantageou~ly
made from materlals having a plastic flexural modulus of at
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least 60,000 according to the test of ASTM-D790 (secant
modulus of elasticity), and preferably no more than about
250,000, for example medium and high density polyethylene,
polypropylene, or copolymers thereof.
In accordance with this invention, opposed pairs
of gusset portions are provided in tubular wall 31 adjacent
both base 22 and shoulder 30. Gussets 32, adjacent base 22,
are defined during the blow molding operation by appropriate
channels and elevations defined in mold halves 12, 14. In-
cluded in each gusset 32 is a recessed, folded line 34
positioned adjacent to and in generally longitudinal relation
to the adjacent truncated edge 36 of the generally oval base.
Each gusset portion 32 also defines in the wall 31
a pair of lines of folding weakness 38 which join together in
angular relationship to define an outwardly pointing apex 40,
which also points away from base 22. The lines of weakness
38 extend toward respective ends of their associated recessed,
folded line 34 to define a generally triangular arrangement.
Recessed line 34 may be formed by a projection 4~
in each mold half 12, 14 (Figure 1). Portion 36 of base 22,
as well as lines of weakness 38, may be defined by mold
halves 12, 14, using grooves defined in the mold halves, as
particularly shown with respect to edge portion 36 in Figure .
1. These groove portions may preferably define, in cross
section, arcs in the mold halves having a circumferential
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length which is from forty to sixty percent greater than
the direct width of such grooves. The result of this is that,
as the plastic material of the container expands into the
grooves in the mold, a thinning effect takes place so that
S the minimum wall thickness within the lines of folding
weakness is preferably from about forty to seventy percent
of the thickness of the container wall adjacent the lines
of folding weakness. Accordingly, the folding characteris-
tic of the container is focused, and the lines of folding
weakness provide improved ease of folding when subjected to
a low suction pressure, as may be encountered when the con-
tents of the container are expelled through a parenteral
solution administration set.
The gussets 43 adjacent shoulder 30 also define a
recessed, folded line 42 which is in generally longitudinal
relation with the adjacent edge 44 of shoulder 30.
Lines of folding weakness 46 are defi~d in each
gusset 43, and join together in angular relatior.ship to de-
fine an outwardly pointing apex 48, which also points away
from shoulder 30. The lines of weakness 46 extend toward re-
spective ends of their associated, recessed folded line 42
to also define a generally triangular arrangement.
Recessed, folded line 42 may be formed by a projection
50 in mold halves 12, 14, as shown in Figure 1, while trun-
cated edge 44 of generally oval shoulder 30 may be formed
by a groove in the mold halves as shown, with the result that
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the shoulder tips 44 are thinned in the manner of oval base
edges 36 and form a line of flexing weakness. Lines of weak-
ness 46 may also be formed by grooves in the mold halves,
and thus thin as they expand into the grooves, forming the
lines of flexing weakness.
If desired, longitudinal line of folding weakness 52
may also be formed in container 10, if desired, by a longi-
tudinally positioned groove in the mold, into which the parison
can expand and accordingly thin, as previously described for
other lines of folding weakness.
As shown in Figure 3, gussets 32 define a roughly
~- triangular shape with a pair of curved legs 38, the eleva-
tion 53 of the triangular gusset 32 being less than the ele-
vation 55 of gusset 43, for example from three fourths to one
~ 15 half the length of elevation 55. Similarly, the length of
J line 34 may be less, for example, from three fourths to one
, half the corresponding length of line 42. Alternatively how-
ever, it is also contemplated that the various gussets may be
of equal size, or that gussets 32 may even be larger than gus-
~sets 42. The relative sizes and dimensions of base 22 and
shoulder 30 may also be varied as desired.
Referring to Figure 4, it is shown how the con-
tainer of this invetnion can preferentially collapse at its
upper end in its position of use, which end is base 22.
Container 10 is shown to be hanging from its hanger 24, with
a conventional closure 54 having been attached by heat or
solvent sealing, or any other desired technique, to the neck
portion 28. A conventional parenteral solution set 56 has
penetrated one of the ports of closure 54, which may provide
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a sterile seal to the container until punctured for draining
of the liquid inside of the container.
As the liquid is drained, the walls of the con-
tainer fold inwardly about lines of weakness 58 extending
about the edges of base 22 between gussets 32, which may
also be made by appropriate grooves in molds 12, 14 for
thinning of lines 58. Simultaneously therewith, the walls
of the container which define gussets 32 fold outwardly (see
the full lines of Figure 6), with this action being per-
mitted by the interaction of lines 38, 34 and 36, so that
the container folds simultaneously inwardly and outwardly
about base 22. As the container collapses, it is possible
for the collapse to proceed progressively down the length
of the container, so that the amount of liquid expended can
be determined with quick examination.
As the container completes its emptying, lines of
weakness 60, which may also be formed by appropriate grooves
in mold halves 12, 14, permit both walls of the container
to collapse inwardly about the inner surface of shoulder 30
as shown, for example, in Figure 5, to reduce the residual
volume of the container. Simultaneously, gussets 43 fold
outwardly, to facilitate the collapse with a reduced number
of fold lines, as shown in the full lines of Figure 6.
As the container collapses, it shortens in length,
as the walls adjacent the ends collapse inwardly and outwardly.
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Accordingly, a container is provided which is
capable of collapsing to a residual volume of about five
percent or less of the original volume with only a gentl~
suction pressure exerted, for example, by the suction head
of a column of parenteral solution in a set extending from
the container to the patient. This remarkable advantage can
be obtained even though the container is made out of a rela-
tively stiff material, for example, polypropylene or copoly-
mers of polyethylene and polypropylene, having an overall
wall thickness at the collapsible tubular wall 31 of, pre-
ferably, about 0.01 to 0.018 inch, and having a wall thickness
at shoulder 30 and base 22 of preferably about 0.02 to 0.03
inch. The lines of weakness may preferably be approximately
forty to seventy percent thinner than the adjacent walls,
for example 0.0~5 to 0.007 inch at the thinnest. The thick-
ness of the wall may be thinner adjacent the base 22 than
adjacent the shoulder 30 to facilitate preferential collapse
at the base area.
Referring to Figure 7, a modified container in ac-
cordance with this invention is shown which is identical with
the previous embodiment in all characteristics except as
otherwise described herein.
The container 62 comprises, as before, a neck por-
tion 63, a relatively stiff shoulder portion 64, and relatively
stiff base 66, which may be slightly concave in shape, in
part to accomodate the folded hanger member 68, which can
fold flat into the concave recess of base 68 along thinned
line of weakness 70.
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A chief distinction of container 62 from the prior
embodiment of container 10 is that the tubular wall 72 ex-
- tending from the shoulder to the base is generally uniform
in cross-sectional circumference, and not of the increasing
circumference from shoulder to base, as in the previous em-
bodiment.
Gussets 74, 76 are provided, in which the altitude
of generally triangular gussets 74 may once again be different
from the altitude of the generally triangular gussets 76.
The initial collapse of the container generally takes
place in the region of gussets 74 and base 66, followed by
' the progressive collapse from the base end toward the shoul-
der end, and the ultimate outward folding of gussets 76 and
inward folding of line of weakness 78, to provide a collapsed
container of a configuration essentially similar to the pre-
vious embodiment.
It is also contemplated that, as before, the rela-
tive dimensions of base 66 and shoulder portion 64 may be
varied. For example, the width of shoulder portion 64, i.e.
the minor axis of its generally oval shape, may be greater
than the width of base 66. The respective lengths of shoul-
der portion 64 and base 66 may be identical or different, as
desired.
The above has been offered for illustrative purposes
only and is not for the purpose of limiting the invention of
this application, which is as defined in the claims below.
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