Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
CONTAINER
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[00011 This application is filed as a divisional application resulting
from
applicant's Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,905,117, filed 14 March
2014,
and which has been submitted as the Canadian national phase application
corresponding to International Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/029242, filed
14
March 2014.
BACKGROUND
[0001a] A container may be used to dispense a material. For example, a
tooth
paste tube container may be used to dispense tooth paste. Some tooth paste
containers
are made using three separate components. For example, the tooth paste
container
includes a tube portion, an upper portion and a cap. In addition, these parts
are
separately made and then assembled together. For example, the tube portion is
made,
then the upper portion is made, such as by molding, and then the upper portion
is
attached to the tube portion, such as by sonic welding. Finally, a cap is
molded and
then attached to the upper portion, such as by threads. This process involves
several
separate parts which are separately formed and then assembled in several
steps. There
is a need for a container which has less parts and which is less expensive to
manufacture.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[00021 The invention provides a container which includes a body
portion, an
upper end portion, and a cap portion. In one embodiment, the body portion may
be a
tube portion. The body portion, the end portion and the cap portion may be
molded as
one piece. The cap portion may be attached to the body portion with a hinge.
The
hinge may be a living hinge.
[00031 The body portion may have a side wall. The side wall may have a
thickness which allows the user to squeeze the side wall and dispense the
product
which is stored within the container.
[0004] The upper end portion may be used to dispense the contents of
the
container. The end portion may include an opening. The container may include a
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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valve. The valve will seal the opening. The valve may include an opening which
allows the product to be dispensed. The valve may be attached to the
container. In one
embodiment, the valve may be attached to the end portion.
[0005] The valve may be attached using a retention feature. In other
embodiments, the valve may be attached using an adhesive or fusion such as
sonic
welding.
[0006] The container may include a valve retaining ring. The retaining
ring
may engage the retention feature. The valve may be located between the
retaining ring
and the end portion. In one embodiment, the retaining ring is a part which is
separate
from the valve. In another embodiment, the valve may be molded onto the
retaining
ring.
[0007] After the valve is assembled to the upper end portion, the
container is
filled with a product, such as, a liquid beverage enhancer. The lower end
portion is
then closed. In one embodiment, the lower end portion may be closed by using a
heat
seal. The heat seal may seal one portion of the side wall against another
portion of the
side wall. The heat seal may be sealed and trimmed to have various shapes.
[0007a] In one aspect the present invention resides in a container for
dispensing
a product comprising an upper end portion, a body portion, the body portion
extends
away from the upper end portion, a cap portion, the cap portion is attached
with a
hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the body portion,
the
upper end portion and the cap portion are one piece, and a valve.
[0007b] In one aspect the present invention resides in a method of
making a
container for dispensing a product comprising: providing a container including
an
upper end portion, a lower end portion, a body portion, and a cap portion; the
body
portion extends away from the upper end portion; the cap portion is attached
with a
hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the body portion,
upper
end portion, and the cap portion are one piece; inserting a valve into the
container;
filling the container with the product; and closing the lower end portion.
[0007c] In one aspect the present invention resides in a container for
dispensing
a product comprising an upper end portion, a body portion, the body portion
extends
away from the upper end portion, a cap portion, the cap portion is attached
with a
hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the body portion
includes
a side wall, the container includes a lower end portion, the side wall has a
first
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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thickness near the upper end portion, the side wall has a second thickness
near the
lower end portion, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness,
and a valve.
[0007d] In one aspect the present invention resides in a container for
dispensing
a product comprising an upper end portion, a body portion, the body portion
extends
away from the upper end portion, a cap portion, the cap portion is attached
with a
hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the tube portion
includes a
side wall, the container includes a lower end portion, the side wall has a
thickness, the
thickness of the side wall tapers near the upper end portion toward the lower
end
portion and a valve.
[0007e] In one aspect the present invention resides in a container for
dispensing a
product comprising: an upper end portion, the upper end portion includes an
opening,
the upper end portion includes a first attachment portion, a lower end
portion, a body
portion, the body portion extends away from the upper end portion, the body
portion
includes a side wall, a base portion, the base portion includes a second
attachment
portion, the second attachment portion of the base portion is attached to the
first
attachment portion of the upper end portion, a plug seal, the plug seal
connected to the
upper end portion, the plug seal covers the opening of the upper end portion,
the plug
seal includes a valve, the plug seal includes a retaining ring, the retaining
ring creates
a liquid seal with the upper end portion, the valve is attached to the
retaining ring, the
valve includes a valve opening, the valve opening opens when a product is
being
dispensed from the container, the valve opening closes when a product is not
being
dispensed from the container.
[0007f] In one aspect the present invention resides in a method of making
a
container for dispensing a product comprising: providing a container including
an
upper end portion, the upper end portion includes an opening, the upper end
portion
includes a first attachment portion, a lower end portion, a body portion, the
body
portion extends away from the upper end portion, the body portion includes a
side
wall, a base portion, the base portion includes a second attachment portion,
the second
attachment portion of the base portion is attached to the first attachment
portion of the
upper end portion, a plug seal; inserting the plug seal into the upper end
portion, the
plug seal covers the opening of the upper end portion, the plug seal includes
a valve,
the plug seal includes a retaining ring, the retaining ring creates a liquid
seal with the
upper end portion, the valve is attached to the retaining ring, the valve
includes a
valve opening, the valve opening opens when a product is being dispensed from
the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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container, the valve opening closes when a product is not being dispensed from
the
container; filling the container with the product; and closing the lower end
portion.
[0007g] In one aspect the present invention resides in a container for
dispensing a
product comprising an upper end portion, a body portion, the body portion
extends
away from the upper end portion, a cap portion, the cap portion is attached
with a
hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the body portion
includes
a side wall, the container includes a lower end portion, the side wall has a
first
thickness near the upper end portion, the side wall has a second thickness
near the
lower end portion, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness,
the body
portion, the upper end portion and the cap portion are one piece, and a valve,
the
upper end portion includes an opening, the valve is located over the opening.
[0007h] In one aspect the present invention resides in a container for
dispensing a
product comprising an upper end portion, a body portion, the body portion
extends
away from the upper end portion, a cap portion, the cap portion is attached
with a
hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the body portion
includes
a side wall, the container includes a lower end portion, the side wall has a
thickness,
the thickness of the side wall tapers near the upper end portion toward the
lower end
portion, the body portion, the upper end portion and the cap portion are one
piece and
a valve, the upper end portion includes an opening, the valve is located over
the
opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container.
[0009] Fig. 2 is a side view of the container in Fig. 1.
[0010] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
[0011] Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the end in Fig. 3.
[0012] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4 with a first
embodiment of
a valve.
[0013] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a valve.
[0014] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 6.
[0015] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a valve retaining ring.
[0016] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the valve and retaining ring
assembled
onto the container.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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[0017] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the valve in Fig. 9 in the
open position.
[0018] Fig. 11 is a perspective of a third embodiment of a valve.
[0019] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 11.
[0020] Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a valve and retaining ring
assembled
onto the container.
[0021] Fig. 14 is a front view of the container with a closed end.
[0022] Fig. 15 is a side view of the container with a closed end.
[0023] Fig. 16 is a rear view of the container showing a first
embodiment of a
hinge.
[0024] Fig. 17 is a rear view of the container showing a second
embodiment of a
hinge.
[0025] Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view with the cap portion in a
closed position.
[0026] Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
[0027] Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
[0028] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a base portion and a cap
portion from
Fig. 20.
[0029] Fig. 22 is a top perspective view of the plug seal.
[0030] Fig. 23 is a bottom perspective view of the plug seal.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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[0031] Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the plug seal.
[0032] Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
[0033] Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
[0034] Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
[0035] Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a base portion and a cap
portion from Fig. 27.
[0036] Fig. 29 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
[0037] Fig. 30 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
[0038] Fig. 31 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the container 100 includes a body
portion 102, an upper
end portion 104, and a cap portion 106. The body portion 102, the end portion
104 and the
cap portion 106 may be molded as one piece. For example, the body portion 102,
the end
portion 104 and the cap portion 106 may be molded on an injection molding
machine. In one
embodiment, the body portion, the upper end portion and the cap portion may be
made of
polypropylene. In other embodiments, the body portion, the upper end portion
and the cap
portion may be made of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene,
or high
density polyethylene. In one embodiment, the body portion may be a tube
portion.
[0040] The cap portion 106 is attached to the body portion 102 with a hinge
108. The
hinge 108 may be a living hinge. In one embodiment, the hinge may be a three
part hinge as
shown in Fig. 16. In another embodiment, the hinge may be a butterfly hinge as
shown in
Fig. 17.
[0041] Referring to Fig. 3, the body portion 102 may have a side wall. In
one
embodiment, the side wall 110 may have a thickness 112 which allows the user
to squeeze
the side wall and dispense the product which is stored within the container.
In one
embodiment, the side wall 110 may be deflected with the application of a force
in the range
of about 3 to about 15 pounds to cause the valve to actuate and to dispense a
stream of liquid.
[0042] In one embodiment, the side wall 110 is thicker near the upper end
portion 104
and thinner near the lower end portion 114. In one embodiment, the thickness
at location 116
may be 0.03 inches (0.076 cm), the thickness at location 118 may be 0.025
inches (0.064 cm),
and the thickness at location 120 may be 0.014 inches (0.036 cm).
[0043] In one embodiment, the thickness of the side wall may taper from the
upper end
portion 104 to the lower end portion 114. In one embodiment, the outside
surface 122 of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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body portion may have an angle 124 with respect to the vertical axis in the
range from about
1/32 (0.031) of a degree to about 1/4 (0.25) of a degree. In one example, the
angle 124 may
be 0.195 of a degree. In one embodiment, the inside surface 126 of the body
portion may
have an angle 128 with respect to the vertical axis in the range from about
1/32 (0.031) of a
degree to about 1/4 (0.25) of a degree. In one example, the angle 128 may be
1/16 (0.0625)
of a degree. The taper may facilitate the removal of the body container from
the mold.
[00441 The body portion may include a location feature. In one embodiment,
the location
feature may be a notch 129 as shown in Fig. 3. The notch may be used to
position the
container in the proper position to receive a label. The assembly equipment
may include a
portion which would engage the notch to locate the container in a specific
position. A label
may be placed onto the container while the container is held in position. By
holding the
container in a specific position, the label may be placed in the proper
orientation relative to
the container. The proper orientation may be beneficial when the container has
a specific
orientation, such as, when the container is not symmetrical or when the hinge
or other feature
is in a specific location. For example, in one embodiment, the container is
not symmetrical
and the hinge is in a specific location as in Figs. 14 and 15.
[00451 In other embodiments, other location features may be used. For
example, the
body portion may include an upwardly extending portion, such as a tab. The tab
may engage
a portion of the assembly equipment.
[0046] In another embodiment, the assembly equipment may use a sensor, such
as an
optical sensor or a displacement sensor, which can sense the location of a
feature on the
container, such as the hinge or the lift tab.
[00471. The upper end portion 104 may be used to dispense the contents of the
container.
The end portion 104 may include an opening 130. Referring to Fig. 5, the
container 100 may
include a valve 132. The valve 132 will seal the opening 130 and allow the
contents to be
dispensed from the container.
[0048] Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the end portion 104 may include a
retention feature.
The retention feature 134 may be used to hold the valve 132 onto the end
portion 104. In one
embodiment, the retention feature 134 may be a protrusion 136. In one
embodiment, the
protrusion 136 may extend inwardly toward the center of the body portion. The
end portion
may include one, two, three, four or more protrusions. In one embodiment, the
end portion
may include four protrusions 136. The retention feature 134 will engage the
valve 132 in
order to hold the valve 132 onto the container.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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[00491 In one embodiment, the retention feature 134 may be located on an
inner surface
of the end portion. For example, referring to Fig. 4, the retention feature
may be located on a
wall 138. The wall 138 may extend downwardly.
[0050] Referring to Fig. 4, the wall 138 may include a notch 140. In one
embodiment,
the notch is U-shaped. In other embodiments, the notch may be other shapes,
such as, V-
shaped, square, or rectangular. The wall 138 may have one, two, three, four or
more notches.
In one embodiment, the wall 138 has four notches 140. In one embodiment, the
notch 140
may be located between a first protrusion 136 and a second protrusion 136. In
an
embodiment which includes more than two protrusions 136, a notch 140 may be
located
between each adjacent pair of protrusions. For example, in an embodiment which
includes
four protrusions 136, a first notch 140 may be located between the first
protrusion and the
second protrusion, a second notch may be located between the second protrusion
and the
third protrusion, a third notch may be located between the third protrusion
and the fourth
protrusion, and a fourth notch may be located between the fourth protrusion
and the first
protrusion.
[0051] The notch 140 may facilitate the insertion of the valve. The notch
140 may allow
the retention feature 134 to deflect so that the valve may be inserted. In
addition, the notch
may facilitate the removal of the container from a molding machine.
[0052) Referring to Fig. 5, the valve 132 may be made of a flexible
material. In one
embodiment, the valve may be made of silicone. In other embodiments, the valve
may be
made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The valve 132 may include an opening 142
which allows
the contents to be dispensed. In one embodiment, the opening 142 may be a slit
144. In a
second embodiment, the opening May be two slits. The first slit may cross the
second slit at
an angle. In one embodiment, the angle may be 90,degrees. In other
embodiments, the angle
may be between 1 degree and 89 degrees.
[0053] The valve 132 may be attached to the container. Referring to Fig. 5,
in one
embodiment, the valve 132 may be attached to the end portion 104. The valve
132 may be
attached using the retention feature 134. In other embodiments, the valve may
be attached
using an adhesive, fusion (such as sonic welding) or deformation of the
container (such as, by
crimping with or without heating). In another embodiment, the valve 132 may be
used with a
retaining ring as discussed below.
[0054] Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a second embodiment of a valve is shown.
The valve
146 may include an opening 148. The opening 148 may be any one of the openings
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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discussed above for valve 132. Referring to Fig. 7, the valve 146 may include
an outer
portion 150, an intermediate portion 152, and an inner portion 154. When
pressure is applied
to the exterior of the container, the interior pressure of the container will
cause the
intermediate portion 152 and the inner portion 154 to deflect outwards as
shown in Fig. 10
and allow the contents to exit the opening 148. When the pressure is removed,
the
intermediate portion 152 and the inner portion 154 return to the positions
shown in Fig. 9.
The valve 146 may be attached using the retention feature 134. In other
embodiments, the
valve may be attached using an adhesive, fusion (such as sonic welding) or
deformation of
the container (such as, by crimping with or without heating). In another
embodiment, the
valve 146 may be used with a retaining ring 158 as discussed below.
[0055] The container 100 may include a valve retaining ring. Referring to
Figs. 8 and 9,
the retaining ring 158 may engage the retention feature 134. The valve 146 may
be located
between the retaining ring 158 and the end portion 104. In one embodiment, the
retaining
ring 158 is a part which is separate from the valve 146. The retaining ring
158 may be made
of a material which is harder than the valve 146. For example, the valve may
be made of
silicone and the retaining ring may be made of polypropylene. In other
embodiments, the
valve may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer. In other embodiments, the ring
may be
made of nylon, or polyamide. In one embodiment, the valve 146 may be inserted
into the
container and then the retaining ring 158 may be inserted into the container.
The retaining
ring 158 may then engage the retention feature 134. In another embodiment, the
valve may
be molded onto the retaining ring as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
[0056] Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, a third embodiment of a valve is
shown. The valve
160 may be molded onto a retaining ring 162. The retaining ring 162 may be
made of a
material which is harder than the valve 160. For example, the valve may be
made of silicone
and the retaining ring may be made of polypropylene. In other embodiments, the
valve may
be made of a thermoplastic elastomer. In other embodiments, the ring may be
made of nylon,
or polyamide. Referring to Fig. 13, the valve 160 may be attached using the
retention feature
134. In one embodiment, the valve 160 and retaining ring 162 may be inserted
into the
container. The retaining ring 162 may then engage the retention feature 134.
Referring to
Fig. 12, the valve 160 may include an opening 164. The opening 164 may be any
one of the
openings discussed above for valve 132. The valve 160 may include an outer
portion 166, an
intermediate portion 168, and an inner portion 170. When pressure is applied
to the exterior
of the container, the interior pressure of the container will cause the
intermediate portion 168
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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and the inner portion 170 to deflect outwards and allow the product to exit
the opening 164.
When the pressure is removed, the intermediate portion 168 and the inner
portion 170 return
to the positions shown in Fig. 12.
[0057] Referring to Fig. 12, the retaining ring 162 may be larger than
valve 160. For
example, the outer perimeter 172 of the retaining ring 162 may be greater than
the outer
perimeter 174 of the valve 160. Thus, in situations which require a large
outer perimeter 172
for the retaining ring 162, the size of the outer perimeter 172 can be
increased but the size of
the valve 160 can remain the same. Therefore, the manufacturer can increase or
decrease the
outer perimeter 172 of the retaining ring to fit in several different sizes
and types of
containers without having to change the size of the valve 160. In addition,
the manufacturer
could also increase or decrease the thickness 176 of the retaining ring 162 in
order to fit in
several different sizes and types of containers without having to change the
size of the valve
160.
[0058] The outer perimeter 172 of the outer portion 166 of the valve may be
increased or
decreased in order to fit several different sizes and types of containers
without having to
change the size of the moving portions of the valve 160. In one embodiment,
the moving
portions of the valve 160 are the intermediate portion 168 and the inner
portion 170. For
example, referring to Fig. 13, the outer perimeter 174 of the outer portion
166 has been
decreased as compared to Fig. 12 without changing the size of the intermediate
portion 168
and the inner portion 170.
[0059] In another embodiment, the size of the moving parts of the valve can
be increased
or decreased. For example, the size of the intermediate portion 168 and the
inner portion 170
of the valve 160 may need to increase in order to accommodate a more viscous
fluid. In
addition, the size of the inner opening 178 of the retaining ring 162 can be
increased or
decreased to accommodate the increase or decrease of the intermediate portion
168 and the
inner portion 170 of the valve, but the outer periphery 172 of the retaining
ring 162 can
remain the same. Therefore, if the manufacturer decides to change the
viscosity of the fluid
in the container, the manufacturer can increase or decrease the size of
intermediate portion
168 and inner portion 170 of the valve, but the manufacturer can use the same
container since
the outer periphery 172 of the retaining ring 162 remains the same. In some
situations the
size of the outer portion 166 of the valve may change in size.
[0060] After the valve is assembled to the upper end portion 104, the
container 100 is
filled with a product. The product may be a liquid beverage enhancer. In other
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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embodiments, the product may be sweeteners or nutraceuticals. The product may
have a
viscosity in the first range of about 1 to about 250 centipoise at room
temperature, a second
range of about 1 to about 90 centipoise at room temperature, and a third range
of about 1 to
about 50 centipoise at room temperature,
[0061] After the container is filled with a product, the lower end portion
114 is then
closed. Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, in one embodiment, the lower end portion
114 may be
closed by using a heat seal 182. The heat seal 182 may seal one portion of the
side wall 110
against another portion of the side wall 110. The heat seal 182 may be sealed
and trimmed to
have various shapes. For example, the heat seal may be trimmed to be straight,
wavy, with
an opening for hanging, a trademarked shape, trademarked opening, a
decoration, or an
opening for a lanyard. In other embodiments, the lower end portion 114 may be
closed with
a plug or cap which may be attached to the end portion 114 with an adhesive,
fusion (such as
sonic welding) or deformation of the container (such as, by crimping with or
without
heating).
[0062] In one embodiment, the container may have product information.
Referring to
Figs. 14 and 15, in one embodiment, the product information may be a label
184. The label
184 may be applied with an adhesive. In other embodiments, the label may be
applied with
shrink wrap.
[0063] In other embodiments, the product information may be placed on the
container
using other techniques. For example, the product information may be printed
onto the
container. In another example, the product information may be embossed onto
the container.
In a third example, the product information may be applied by in-mold
labeling.
[0064] In one embodiment, the container may include a tamper evident
feature. In one
example, the tamper evident feature may be a band 186. The band 186 may be
applied over a
portion of the body and a portion of the cap. If a person breaks the band to
open the cap, then
a subsequent person would know that the container was previously opened. In
one
embodiment, the band may be applied by heat shrinking. In other embodiments,
the band
may be applied with an adhesive.
[0065] In another embodiment, the label may extend over a portion of the
cap and the
label may provide a tamper evident feature. Thus, the band may not be needed.
[0066] Fig. 16 shows a first embodiment of a hinge. The hinge 108 may be a
three part
hinge. The hinge 108 may include a center portion 274, a first outer portion
275, and a
second outer portion 276. The center portion 274 may include a hinge 277. The
first outer
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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portion 275 may include an upper hinge 278 and a lower hinge 279. The second
outer
portion 276 may include an upper hinge 280 and a lower hinge 281. The center
portion 274
and the first outer portion 275 may be separated by a first space 282. The
center portion 274
and the second outer portion 276 may be separated by a second space 283. When
the cap
portion is opened, the upper hinges 278, 280, the lower hinges 279,281 and the
hinge 277
may bend. In addition, when the cap is opened, the outer portions 275, 276 may
bend.
[0067] Fig. 17 shows a second embodiment of a hinge. The hinge 284 may be
a butterfly
hinge. The hinge 284 may include a center portion 286, a first outer portion
288, and a
second outer portion 290. The center portion 286 may include a hinge 291. The
first outer
portion 288 may include an upper hinge 293 and a lower hinge 294. The second
outer
portion 290 may include an upper hinge 295 and a lower hinge 296. When the cap
portion is
opened, the upper hinges 293, 295, the lower hinges 294, 296, and hinge 291
may bend. In
addition, when the cap is opened, the outer portions 288, 290 maly bend.
[0068] In other embodiments, the container may have other hinges, such as,
a one part
hinge, or a two part hinge.
[0069] Referring to Fig. 1, the cap 106 may include an annular wall 297.
The annular
wall 297 may include a rib 298. The cap 106 may also include a projection 299.
Referring to
Fig. 18, when the cap 106 is closed, the cap 106 may engage the end portion
104. The end
portion 104 may have a ridge 205. The ridge 205 may engage the rib 298 in
order to
maintain the cap 106 in a closed position. The engagement may also provide an
audible
indication that the cap is in the closed position. The projection 299 extends
downward
toward the valve 146. The projection 299 may limit the outward deflection of
the valve 146
and may not allow the opening 148 to open. Thus, the projection 299 may
prevent the
product from exiting the valve 146 when the cap 106 is in the closed position.
[0070] The container may be designed to hold a specific amount of the
product. In a first
embodiment, the container can hold no less than 2 ml and no more than 100 ml.
In a second
embodiment, the container can hold no less than 2 ml and no more than 50 ml.
In a third
= embodiment, the container can hold no less than 2 ml and no more than 36
ml. In a fourth
embodiment, the container can hold no less than 2 ml and no more than 24 ml.
In a fifth
embodiment, the container can hold no less than 2 ml and no more than 12 ml.
In a sixth
embodiment, the container alit hold no less than 2 ml and no more than 8 ml.
In a seventh
embodiment, the container can hold no less than 2 ml and no more than 4 ml.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
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[0071] In another embodiment, the body portion may be attached to the upper
end
portion. In one embodiment, referring to Fig. 19, the body portion 302 may be
attached to
the upper end portion 304 with fusion, such as, sonic welding. In other
embodiments, the
body portion may be attached to the upper end portion with an adhesive, or
with heat. In one
embodiment, the upper end portion 304 may include a cap portion 306. The cap
portion 306
may be attached with a hinge 308. The hinge 308 may be one of the hinges noted
herein.
[0072] Referring to Fig. 20, another embodiment of a container is shown.
The container
400 may include a body portion 402, an upper end portion 404, and a plug seal
405. In one
embodiment, the container 400 may include a cap portion 406, a base portion
407, and a
hinge portion 408. The hinge portion 408 may be one of the hinges noted
herein. In this
embodiment, the base portion 407 may be attached to the end portion 404 with
threads. In
this embodiment, the body portion 402 may be a tube and the lower end portion
414 may be
closed as noted herein.
[0073] Referring to Fig. 21, the cap portion 406, a base portion 407, and a
hinge portion
408 are shown. The base portion 407 includes threads 409. The threads 409 may
engage
threads 411 on the end portion 404. The plug seal 405 is also shown inserted
into the base
portion 407.
[0074] Referring to Figs. 22-24, the plug seal 405 is shown. The plug seal
405 may
include a valve 460 and a retaining ring 462. The valve 460 may be molded onto
the
retaining ring 462. The valve 460 may be made of materials which are noted
above for valve
160. The retaining ring 462 may be made of materials which are noted above for
the
retaining ring 162.
[00751 Referring to Fig. 24, the valve 460 may include an outer portion
466, an
intermediate portion 468, and an inner portion 470. The intermediate portion
468 and the
inner portion 470 may be the same as the intermediate portion 168 and the
inner portion 170.
In addition, the intermediate portion 468 and the inner portion 470 may
operate in the same
manner as the intermediate portion 168 and the inner portion 170. The
retaining ring 462
may have an annular wall 472 which extends downwards. The wall 472 engages the
interior
of the container. In one embodiment, the wall 472 makes a sealing engagement
with the
container. For example, the wall 472 may make a sealing engagement with the
end portion
404.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
14
[0076] Referring to Fig. 25, another embodiment of a container is shown.
The container 500
is the same as container 400 except that the container 500 is a bottle with a
closed lower end
portion 514.
[0077] Referring to Fig. 26, another embodiment of a container is shown.
The container 600
is the same as container 500 except that the container 600 has a body portion
with a different
shape. The container 600 may be a bottle with a closed lower end portion 614
or the container
600 may be a tube with a closed lower end portion 614.
[0078] Referring to Fig. 27, another embodiment of a container is shown.
The container 700
is the same as container 400 except that the container 700 has a snap
attachment to connect the
base portion 707 to the end portion 704. The end portion 704 includes one or
more protrusions
711 which engage one or more protrusions 713 on the base portion 707.
[0079] Referring to Fig. 28, the cap portion 706, a base portion 707, and a
hinge portion 708
are shown. The base portion 707 includes the one or more protrusions 713. The
plug seal 705 is
also shown inserted into the base portion 707.
[0080] Referring to Fig. 29, another embodiment of a container is shown.
The container 800
is the same as container 700 except that the container 800 is a bottle with a
closed lower end
portion 814.
[0081] Referring to Fig. 30, another embodiment of a container is shown.
The container 900
is the same as container 400 except that the container 900 has a seal 906. The
seal may be a
plastic seal, a foil seal, a plastic seal with a paper backing, a foil seal
with a paper backing, or
other type of seal.
[0082] Referring to Fig. 31, another embodiment of a container is shown.
The container
1000 is the same as container 900 except that the container 1000 is a bottle
with a closed lower
end portion 1014.
[0083]
[0084]
[0085] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and "at least one" and
similar referents in
the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the
following
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
15
claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless
otherwise
indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term "at
least one"
followed by a list of one or more items (for example, "at least one of A and
B") is to be
construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any
combination of two
or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or
clearly
contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and
"containing"
are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not
limited to,") unless
otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to
serve as a
shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling
within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated
into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described
herein can be
performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly
contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary
language (e.g., "such
as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention
and does not pose a
limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language
in the
specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as
essential to the
practice of the invention.
[0086] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein,
including the best
mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of
those preferred
embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon
reading the
foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such
variations as
appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced
otherwise than as
specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as
permitted by
applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in
all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated
herein or
otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-28
