Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
--. W O 93/10014 2 1 2 2 9 9 ~ PCT/US92~09553
Resilient squeeze bottle with an inner receptacle which
inverts upon emptying
BACKGROU~ OF THE INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to inner receptacles for use
with resilient squeeze bottle packages; and more particularly, to
such inner receptacles which include a flexible product bag which
inverts upon emptying.
2. Descri~tlon of the Prior Art
A wide variety of packages are known which include an outer
squeeze bottle and an inner flexible product bag. Generally, the
outer squeeze bottle includes a resilient side wall portion which
when co~pressed, forces product from the bag through a dispensing
passage. The dispens~ng passage generally includes a valve which
prevents air from~entering the~product bag when the outer squeeze
bottle is released. The squeeze bottle also generally includes a
second valve which enables air to re-enter the outer squeeze bottle
1nto the space located between the inner flexible product bag and
outer squeeze bottle. Consequently, the inner product bag collapses
as product is dispensed. One~problem with such packages is that the
inner flexible bag has a tendency to collapse pre-maturely; trapping
product within the inner flexible bag so it cannot be dispensed.
One method to ensure that product is not trapped inside the
inner flexible bag is to provide a mechanism for causing the bag to
invert about its midpoint. United States Patent 2,608,320, issued to
Harrison on August 26, 1952, discloses such a package which provides
for bag inversion. This package requires that a thinner, flexible,
lowçF-bag portion be sealed to an upper, thicker, rigid, bag portion
around the entire cu.~ed circumferent~al surface of the bag in an air
tight manner. However, complete sealing along such a curved surface
is d~fficult to accomplish; particularly when utilizing heat sealing.
In add~tion, the rigid top portion is not resilient such that it is
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2122996
squeezable. Thus, the user is only able to sqhe-~e the bottom
portion of the packa3e.
Commonly assigned United States Patent 4,842,165 which
issued on June 27, 1989 to Van Coney discloses a package which
includes an inner receptacle having a flexible product bag. The bag
of the inner receptacle is secured to the interior surface of the
side wall of the outer squeeze bottle about ~ts midpoint to provide
bag inversion. In. the illustrated e~bodimænts of the Van Coney
invention the inner receptacle is secured by attachment of its
outermost surface to the innermost surface of the squeeze bottle;
p,ero~ably by means of adhesive or by heat sealing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVF~ION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention an
inner receptacle is provided which is adapted for use with a
resilient squeeze bottle. The inner receptacle includes a flexible
bag which inverts upon itself substantially about its midpoint. The
inner receptacle includes a full length flexible bag which is adapted
to house a viscous product and has a discharge passage through a
rigid fitment in the upper end of the flexible bag. The flexible bag
has a top half above, and a bottom half below, the approximate
midpoint of the bag. Also included is a resiliently deformable
support frame means for maintaining the top half of the flexible bag
in substantially its original, filled shape between dispensing
operations without tttachment of the receptacle to the squeeze bottle
near the midpoint of the flexible bag, so that as the flexible bag is
emptied the bottom half of the flexible bag inverts inside the top
half of the flexible bag to permit substantially all of the product
within the flexible bag to be dispense~.
ln accordance with another aspect of the present invention
an inner receptacle is prov~ded which is similar to that discussed
~above. However, the support frame is lnsufficiently resilient in
itself to return to ~ts original shape after being deformed during a
d~spensing operation. The shape and size of the support frame is
substantlally tdentical to the ad~acent inter~or surface of the
resil~ent squeeze bottle such that the squeeze bottle helps return
the support frame to its original shape.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIHGS
'~hile the specification concludes with claims whichparticularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is
believed the present invention will be better understood from the
following description of p~ere..ed embodiments taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like .ere~ence numerals
identify identical ele~ents and wherein;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a particularly prefel.eJ
e~bodi~ment of an inner receptacle of the present invention wherein
the support frame is located inside the flexible bag;
Figure 2 is a cross-sect~onal view of the receptacle of
Figure 1, taken along ltne 2-2 of Ftgure l;
Ft,gure 3 ts a perspect~,ve view of a blank of flexible fil~
mZaterial being folded to fo~n~ the flexible bag of the embod,iment of
Figure l;
Figure 4 is an exploded pe~spective view of the receptacle
of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second p.er~ .eJ
e~bodiment of an inner receptacle of the present invention wherein
the support frame is located outside the flexible bag;
tigure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle of
: Figure 5, taken along line 6-6 of Ftgure 5;
Figure 7 is a cross-secttonal view similar to Figures 2 and
6 of a third p\ Ore, . ed embodiment of an inner receptacle of the
present invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a resi,lîent squeeze
bottle package wherein the receptacte of Figure 1 or the ~eceptacle
of Figure 5 may be utilized;
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the pack.age of Figure
8, taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8 and housing the receptacle of
Figure l;
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view slmilar to Figure 9
showing only the receptacle and the inner sleeve;
Figure 11 i,s a cross-secttonal view taken along line 11-11
of Figure 10 illustrattng the thin f~,lm vent valve;
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2122996 4
Figure 12 is a perspective view of another squeeze bottle
pack?.gE wherein the receptacle of Figure 7 may be utilized; and
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the pack?ge of
Figure 10 taken along line 13-13 and housing the receptacle of Figure
7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRE~Eh~Eu F~BODIMENT
In a particularly p~efel.~d embodiment shown in Figure 1,
the present invention provides a receptacle, indicated generally as
20, which is adapted for use with a squeeze bottle 25 (seen in Figure
8) and which includes a flexible bag 22 which inverts about its
midpoint without requiring attach~ent at or near its ~idpoint to the
side walls of the squeeze bottle 25. The general operational theory
and structure of a package which includes a resilient squeeze bottle
and an inner receptacle including a flexible bag which inverts upon
emptying is disclosed in United States Patent 4,842,165, issued to
Van Coney on June 27, 1989; the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated herein by ~ef~ence.
Referring to Figure 2, the receptacle 20 of the present
invention generally includes a closure 24, a support frame 26 and a
thin walled flexible bag 22 adapted to house a viscous product. An
important feature of`this invention is that the flexible bag 22 is a
.
full length thin walled flex1ble bag 22. As used herein to describe
the flexibte bag 22, the ten~ ~full length~ is intended to connote
that the flexible bag 22 has a top half above, and a bottom half
below, the approximate ~idpolnt of the flexible bag 22 without any
inten~ediate transverse seals; and it is the botto~ half which
inverts inside the top half as product empties from the receptacle
20. The top half of the flexible bag 22 is maintained in
substantialty its original, fitted shape between dispensing
operations by the support fra~e 26 w1thout attach~ent of the
rece~acle 20 to the squeeze bottle 25 near the midpoint of the
receptacte 20, as d~scussed hereinafter.
The illustrated bag 22 is an oval flexible bag formed from
a sheet of flat flexible mater1al, as seen in Figure 3. The
particular sheet ~aterial selected for the flexible bag 22 will, of
course, be dependent upon various factors, including the viscous
WO93/10014 212299G PCI/US92/09553
product to be dispensed, the expected shelf life~ the anticipated
strength needs, and the type of sealing operations to be employed.
~xamples of materials include, a flat flexible sheet of polyethylene
having a thickness of about 0.002 inches, and a flat flexible sheet
of ethylene vinyl alcohol having a thickness of about 0.001 inch.
One particularly p~ ~r~" ~d flat flex~ble sheet material (especially
for products requiring receptacles 20 with various barrier p~cpe.~ies
such as dent~frices) is a multi-layered laminate film including the
following layers, listed in the order of outer layer to inner layer:
1. Linear low density polyethylene--about 0.0005 inch;
2. Metalized aluminum coating--thickness incapable of
measurement by conventional means;
3. ~hite adhesive (such as may be purchased from Morton of
Providence, R.I. as AD112),--about 1.5 pounds/432,000
square inches;
4. Polyethylene terephalate--about 0.00036 inch;
5. Clear adhesive (such as may be purchased from Horton of
Providence, R.I. as AD100)--about 1.5 pounds/432,000 square
inches; and
6. Linear low density polyethylene--about O.0005 inch.
Cont~nuing with Figure 3, a centrally located aperture 28
is cut into the flexible sheet and the flexible sheet is folded as
indicated into an ~ type configuration along fold lines 32, 33 and
34. Once folded flat, the sheet mater1al is then sealed along the
side areas, 35 and 36, to form side seams and to provide the flexible
bag 22 with a gusset at the top end around the aperture 28. Although
the side seams are preferably heat sealed, sealing can be effected in
other ways, e.g., utilizing adhesives. In any event, sealing the
seams of the flexible bag 22 in this flat configuration makes sealing
easy and reliable because pressure may be evenly applied to the
entire seal area simultaneously. In the typical manufacturing
~sitq-~ion, many flexible bags 22 would likely be for~ed and sealed
concurrently from a single large sheet of flexible material and then
the flexible bags 22 would be cut apart.
Returning to Figure 2, the flexible bag 22 includes a rigid
fitment 38 which provides a dispensing passage ~0 through which
product ~a~ be dispensed. As used herein to describe the fitment 38,
w o 93/10014 212 2 9 9 ~ PCT/US92/04~53
the term ~rigid~ is merely intended to convey that the fitment 38,
either independently or in combination with other components of the
package 30 to which the fitment 38 is attached (e.g., the s~uee~e
bottle, the support frame, or both), must be able to withstand the
tendency of the fitment 38 to collapse as pressure is exerted on the
receptacle 20 during normal dispensing.
The illustrated rigid fitment 38 has an annular flange 42
(seen best in Fig~re 4). The annular flange 42 has a flat upper
surface which is sealingly`attached to the flexible material of the
bag 22 around the centrally located aperture 28. Once again, heat
sealing is p~eft~ed and the sealing operation is made easy and
reliable by sealing to the flat upper surface of the flange 42 of the
rigid fitment 38. Thus, all of the sealing operations of the
flexible bag 22 may be perfon~ed on surfaces which enable the uniform
application of sealing pressure.
Once the rigid fitment 38 is attached, the flexible bag 22
may be filled with product through the bottom end of the flexible bag
22 which has not yet been sealed. The bottom end of the flexible bag
22 may then be sealed (after filling) by twisting together the
flexible material near the bottom end and applying heat to form a
heat seal 44, thereby sealing the bottom end of the flexible bag 22.
Externally, the rigid fitment 38 of this embodiment is
shaped as a nozzle and includes screw threads 46. As seen in Figure
9, these screw threads 46 cooperate with screw threads 48 on a
closure 50 to enable repeated opening and resealing of the receptacle
20. Although screw threads 48 are preferred, any suitable means for
repeatedly sealing a closure 50 on the rigid fitment may be utilized;
e.g., a snap-fit arrangement or a flip-top cap. The screw-on cap 50
may be provided as a part of the receptacle 20. Alternatively, the
screw-on cap 50 may be part of the reusable portions of a refillable
p~ck~sE 30. In the latter alternative, the receptacle 20 may be
~init~ fly sealed (e.g., during shipment) by another separate means
for sealing the dispensing passage 40. For example, as seen in
Figure I, a thin film material 24 may be attached to the end of the
rigid fitment 38 to seal the dispensing passage 40. This thin film
material 24 is p~efe~ably larger than the dispensing passage 40 such
that a grasping tab is provided.
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WO 93/10014 2 1 2 ~ 9 9 6 PC~/US92/09553
Internally, (returning to Figure 2~ the rigid fitment 38
includes a circumferential recessed g~oove 51 in the side of the
dispensing passage 40. This recessed y~oove 51 serves to hold a
suckback valve 52. Refe~ing to Figure 4, the suckhack valve 52 is
made up of two components; an orifice plate 52a and a flapper plate
52b. The flapper plate 52b includes an outer annular portion 53 and
an inner d~sk portion 55. The inner disk portion 55 is attached to
the outer annular portion 53 via two resilient members 57 spaced
radially from each other. ~The flapper plate 52b can be made, for
example, of polyethylene and could have a thickness of 0.023 inch, a
disk portion 55 diameter of about 0.5 inch, an annular portion 53
about 0.62 inch wide and spaced about 0.06 inch away fro~ the dtsk
portion SS, and the radial connecting members 57 could have a width
of 0.04 inch and be spaced from each other about 25 degrees.
The illustrated orifice plate 52a is simply a circular
plate having an orifice therein so that the plate 52a appears as an
annular ring. The orifice in the orifice plate 52a is of slightly
smaller diameter than the diameter of the disk portion 55. For the
.~
dimensions given above, the orifice may have a diameter of about
0.475 inch. ~hen the flapper plate 52b is super~acent the orifice
plate 52a the ~uckback valve 52 is formed. These two parts 52a and
52b are placed inside the rigid fitment 38 where they snap fit into
the c~rcumferenttal recessed ~c~ve 51 seen in Figure 2.
Of course, the suckback valve need not be in that portton
of the dispensing passage 40 which passes through the rigid fitment
38. In another embodiment (not seen), the rigid fitment may be a
simple annular ring surrounding a dispensing passage. The fitment
may be used merely to attach the flexible bag to the squeeze bottle.
Thus, the receptacle may be provided without a nozzle and/or a
su~h?ck valve. These parts (i.e., the nozzle and/or the su~ ck
valve~ may be provided as part of a reusable package. Therefore, the
sUck ~c~ valve need not be in that portion of the dispensing passage
~nside the rigid fitment; it only needs to be located somewhere in
the dispensing passage.
In the illustrated embodlment, the support frame 26 and the
orifice plate 52a are a single integral piece wherein the support
fra~e 26 depends from the orifice plate 52a. Many alternative
; ~
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212299S 8
configurations are possible, howe~er. For example, (not seen) the
support frame and the rigid fitment could be molded as a single
integral plece with the support frame depending from the underside of
the annular flange of the rigid fitment. In other alternatives, (not
seen) the support frame may be a completely separate piece attached
to, e.g., the rigid fitment and/or the orifice plate.
Referring to Figure 8, the resiliently deformable support
frame 26 is adapted.to maintain substantially the entire upper half
of the flexible bag 22 in substantially its original, filled shape
between dispensing operations without attachment of the receptacle 20
to the squeeze bottle 25 near the midpo~nt of the flexible bag 22.
During a dispensing operation, the support frame 26 is readily
deformable so that the squeeze bottle 25 ~ay be squeezed either
ad~acent the top port~on or the bottom portion of the flexible bag
22, or both. In fact, it is h~ghly p)~fE~d that the support frame
26 does not add appreciably to the squeezing force necessary to
dispense a product. ~hen the squeezing force is released the support
fra~e 26 is resilient enough to return to its original shape
(possibly with help from the squeeze bottle 25 as discussed
hereinafter).
In addition, (at least for oval configurations) the support
frame 26 is preferably s~zed and configured such that its outer most
shape and slze cc~sponds substantially to the inner shape and size
of the resilient squeeze bottle 25. In other words, the exterior
surfaces of the support frame 26 are located in substantially
contact~ng relation ~e~ther directly or indirectly v~a the flexible
bag) w~th the ~nterior surface of the resilient squeeze bottle 25.
Although substantially contacting, an airtight seal is not
necessarily formed between the support frame 26 and the inner surface
of the side wall of the s~uee~e bottle 25 at the midpoint. In fact,
it may be desirable in some instances to ensure an airtight seal is
.
not f~rmed. This may be accomplished by providing recessed portions
~ (not seen) in the support frame.
; It has been found that this substantially contacting
configuration ~s pl~E-.~d because the s~uee~e bottle 25 and support
fra~e 26 are defor~ed as product is dispensed. As the resilient
;squeeze bottle 25 returns to ~ts original shape, the squeeze bottle
.
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25 helps push the resilient support frame 26 back to its original
shape when the two parts are in substantially contacting relation (at
least when squeeze bottles with oval cross-sections are used).
Consequently, the stiffness of the support frame 26 may be
significantly reduced which makes squeezing easier; particularly in
the upper half of the squeeze bottle 25.
Returning to Figure 4, the illustrated support frame 26 is
generally oval and is made of a single integral part which includes
at least two longitudinal members 60. Ilo;:~ve~, the support frame 26
utilizes four longitudinal members 60, and at least four longitudinal
~e~bers 60 are p~ Ore. .ed. The distal ends of these longitudinal
members 60 are attached to and equally sp~ed around a lower annular
ring 62. The middle of these long~tudlnal me~bers 60 are attached to
and equally spaced around an inten~ediate annular ring 63. The upper
ends of the longitud~nal me~bers 60 are attached to each other via a
cylindrical wall 64. Thus, the support frame 26 of this embodiment
forms a bird cage configuration. As indicated above, many possible
configurations are poss~ble at the upper end of the longitudinal
members 60; provided, the upper ends do not block the flow of product
out through the dispensing passage 40.
Returning to Figure 2, the support frame 26 of this
embodiment is located inside the flexible bag 22 which eliminates the
necessity of attaching the support frame 26 to the flexible bag 22.
The elim~nat~on of this step can provide significant manufacturing
and cost benefits. However, given different flexible bag 22
characteristics it may be desirable in some instances to at least
tack the flexible bag 22 to the support frame 26. Even in these
~nstances, this configuration (i.e., support frame 26 inside the
flexible bag 22) offers advantages. For example, heat or sonic
energy can be supplied from the outside to bond the flexible bag 22
to the support frame 26, rather than need~ng to be supplied from the
tnshd~'of the flex~ble bag 22.
The inner receptacle 20 also includes a shoulder portion
68. The shoulder portion ~s attached to the flexible bag 22 and
rigld fitment 38. The shoulder portion 68 pro~ides a transtt~on from
the rigid fitment 38 to the expanded flexible bag 22. More
importantly, the shoulder port~on 68 of this e~bod~ment includes a
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WO 93/100~4 2 1 2 2 9 9 ~ PCI'/US92/09';53
downwardly facing ledge 70. This ledge 70 prov~des a means for
cooperating with the s~ueP7e bottle 25 (seen in Figure 9) to
sealingly retain the receptacle 20 ~n the squeeze bottle 25.
Preferably, this means provides for releasable sealing so that the
~eceptacle 20 may be used with a reusable squeeze bottle 25 as
discussed more fully hereinafter.
F~gures 5 and 6 illustrate a second p~ere~ed embodiment of
an inner receptacle.of the present invention, ind1cated generally as
120. Th~s ~nner receptacle~l20 is very sim1lar to the receptacle 20
of Figures 1 and 2. However, unlike the previous e~bodiment, the
support frame 126 is located outs~de the flex~ble bag 122 and is
integrally formed w~th the shoulder plece 168. The support frame 126
~s attached to the outslde of the bag 122 suffictently to prevent the
top half of the flex~ble bag 122 from collapslng. Otherwise,
portions of the top half of the flex1ble bag 122 may pull away from
the support frame 126 such that complete bag 122 inversion is
prevented. Thus, the flex1ble bag 122 1s pr~fe~bly attached to the
support frame 126 along all long1tud~nal members 160 and around all
rlngs 162 and 164. Any su~table attachment means ~ay be employed to
attach the flexible bag 122 to the support fra~e 126. For example,
double s~ded adhes~ve tape, tape wrapped externally around the
support frame 126 and the flex1ble bag 122, hot melt adhesive, or
heat seallng may be used. In any case, the attachment means ~ust be
suff~c~ently strong that the M exlble bag 122 wlll not separate from
the support frame 126 dur~ng normal use so that bag 122 invers~on is
prevented.
Referr~ng to Figure 7, another pr~fe..ed ~nner receptacle
of the present tnvention, indicated generally as 220, is illustrated.
The flex~ble bag 222 is substant~ally the same as the flexible bag 22
previously d~scussed. The r~gid f~tment 238, however, includes
additijonal externally located threads 272 which cooperate w~th
~thre~a~rs 27~ on a collar 276 (seen in F~gure 13) to seal~ngly attach
the r~gld fltment 238 to the squeeze bottle 225 (also seen in F~gure
13) at lts top end. Thus, the addlt~onal threads 272 provlde a means
for cooperit~ng w~th the squeeze bottle 225 to repeatedly seal the
top end of the receptacle 220 ln the squeeze bottle 225. ~efE.ably,
th~s ~eans provldes for releasable sealing so that the receptacle 220
--~ w o 93/10014 2 1 2 2 9 ~ ~ PCT/US92/09553
may be used in a reusab~e squeeze bottle 225. More preferably, the
means are screw threads 272 which provide a reliable resealing
mechanism. However, means other than screw threads 272 may be used,
e.g., a snap-fit arrangement.
Although receptacles of this invention offer advantages in
all contexts, these receptacles are particularly suitable for use as
a refill receptacle in a reusable resilient squeeze bottle pack~ge of
the present invention. Although the inner receptacles discussed
previously herein, 20, 120,~and 220, preferably utilize the support
frame as described above, other means to maintain the top half of the
flexible bag in substantially its fully expanded position such that
the flexible bag inverts upon emptying may be utilized.
A particularly p-ere~ .ed oval reusable resilient squeeze
- bottle package, indicated generally as 30, which may utilize the
receptacle 20 of Figures I and 2, or the receptacle 12~ of Figures 5
and 6 is illustrated in Figures 8 through 11. For simplicity, this
package 30 is discussed and illustrated herein utilizing the
receptacle 20 of Figures 1 and 2.
Referring to tigure 9, this particularly preferred reusable
squeeze bottle 25 enables replacement of the receptacle 20 while
having only one closure member (i.e., end plate 80) which must be
man~pulated by the user. This single closure member 80, located at
the bottom of the squeeze bottle 25 is all that is needed to seal the
receptacle 20 at the bottom 3ng the top within the reusable squeeze
bottle 25.
The package 30 generally includes an outer sleeve 82, an
inner sleeve 84 and an inner receptacle 20. To install the inner
receptacle 20 into the s~uee~e bottle 25, the receptacle 20 is first
placed inside the inner sleeve 84, as seen in Figure 10~ The inner
sleeve 84 is a hollow oval tubular section which has substantially
the same external cross-sectional dimensions as the internal
cross-séctional dimensions of the outer sleeve 82. The top edge of
the inner sleeve 84 supports the receptacle 20 v~a the ledge 70 of
the shoulder portlon 68. The inner sleeve 84 of this embodiment also
includes a thin film valve 86.
; Referring to Figure 11, the thin film valve 86 is a valve
formed by partially adhering a thin film 86a over an aperture or
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12
apertures 86b. In this embodiment, three apertures 86b aligned in a
straight line are provided with a thin film 86a adl.e~ed to the bottom
wall 87 of the inner sleeve 84 in two opposing crescent patterns 89.
For the illustrated embodiment, the three apertures may have a
diameter of 0.04 inch each and be separated from each other by about
0.06 inch (edge-to-edge). The apertures 86b may be overlayed by a
0.0005 inch thick f~lm 86a of ethylene vinyl acetate centered over
the apertures 86a and adhered to the end plate 80 in the opposing
crescent pattern 89 having about 0.5 inch diameter and separated by
about 0.15 inch.
Returning to Figure 10, the threaded end plate 80 also
includes apertures 88 which provide communication between the
atmosphere and the thin film valve 86. The threaded end plate 80 is
circular and attached to the oval inner sleeve 84 by a socket 89 and
post 90 configuration. This allows the end plate 80 to be turned
relative to the. inner sleeve 84. A raised grasping ridge 92 is
provided on the end plate 80 to facilitate grasping and turning
thereof.
Alternatively, the inner sleeve 84 may be provided with
apertures similar to those found in the end plate 80, or the inner
sleeve 84 may have other openings (not seen). For example, it may be
desirable to provide the inner sleeve 84 as a bird cage structure
(not seen) similar to the support frame 26 to make the squeeze bottle
25 easier to squeeze. In this alternative, the thin film valve 86
could be located in the end plate 80, thereby sealing the receptacle
20 within the squeeze bottle 25.
Returning to Figure 9, the inner sleeve 84 holding the
receptacle 20 is placed inside the outer sleeve 82. The outer sleeve
82 has an upper frustroconical surface 94 located therein near its
top end and screw threads 96 located near the bottom end. As the end
plate 80 is tightened, the shoulder portion 68 is forced against the
frustra~conical surface 94. This provides an airtight seal between
the upper edge of the inner sleeve 84 and the ledge 70 of the
shoulder portion 68. Thus, the receptacle 20 is sealed inside the
inner sleeve 8~.
The utilization of screw threads 96 on the end plate 80
offer several advantages and are thus, p.~erE~ed. For example, the
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WO g3/10014 2 1 2 2 9 9 6 PCr/US92/09sS3
13
utilization of screw threads 96 enables repeated effective sealing of
the package 30. In addition, screw threads are preferred in this
embodiment bec~use they enable sealing of the receptacle 20 inside
the squeeze bottle 25 at the top end without tolerances as tight as
they may otherwise be on the length of the inner sleeve 84.
A p.~efe~ed oval reusable resilient squeeze bottle 225
which utilizes the receptacle of Figure 7 is illustrated in Figures
12 and 13. This r~usable embodiment utilizes a collar 276 to seal
the top end of the receptacle 220 to the squeeze bottle 225. The
receptacle 220 is dropped into the squeeze bottle 225 from the bottom
end. This allows the secondary threads 272 to protrude through the
top end of the squeeze bottle 225. The collar 276 is then screwed
onto the threads 272, sealing the top end of the receptacle 220 to
the top end of the squeeze bottle 225. The end plate 280 is screwed
onto the bottom end of the squeeze bottle 225 until it forms a seal
at the bottom end against the inner surface of the squeeze bottle
225. The end plate 280 ~ncludes a thin film valve 286 similar to
that of the inner sleeve of Figure 11.
All of these res~lient squeeze bottle packages work
essentially the same. For simplicity, the general operation of these
packages will be discussed wtth regard to the package of Figures 12
and 13. After removal of the cap 250 the resilient side wall of the
squeeze bottle 225 is squeezed. This squeezing causes the thin fflm
valve 286 to close. Air in the space between the receptacle 220 and
the squeèze bottle 225 is compressed; the flexible bag 222 is
compressed; and the support frame 226 is compressed. Th~s causes
product wlthin the flexible bag 222 to force the disk portion 55 of
the flapper plate 52b off of its resting place on the or~fice plate
52a; tha(e~y opening the suc~h1c~ valve 252. Product passes out of
the package 230 through the dispensing passage 240.
As the squeezing hrce is released, the side wall of the
~squee2~bottle 225 returns to its origlnal shape and product flows
back into the dispensing passage 240 until the suc~h~k valve 252
closes. Simultaneously, as the side wall of the squeeze bottle 225
returns to lts original shape ~t helps push the support frame 226
back to its original shape. Consequently, the top half of the bag
222 returns to lts original shape and the bottom half of the flexible
.~ ~
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wo g3,l0014 2 1 2 2 9 9 ~ PCr/US92/0~53
14
bag 222 begins collapsing. Air is allowed to enter the space between
the receptacle 220 and the squee~e bottle 225 through the thin film
valve 286. Successive dispensing operations result in the bottom
half of the flexible bag 222 inverting inside the top half of the
flexible bag 222. The inversion enables substantially all of the
product within the flexible bag 222 to be dispensed.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention
have been shown and described, modification may be made to the
receptacles without departi~ng from the teachings of the present
invention. Accordingly, the present invention comprises all
embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.
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