KR101092252B1 - Preferentially expandable/collapsable container and package therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for use in a package. The container may be disposed inside of another container and a visible from outside of the package system. The container, may expand to appear full, or to touch the inside of the outer container in which it is disposed. This arrangement provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance if the container is visible from outside the package and/or for transmission of dynamic shock load.

Description

Preferentially expandable / collapseable containers and packages therefor {PREFERENTIALLY EXPANDABLE / COLLAPSABLE CONTAINER AND PACKAGE THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to a package for receiving a product therein, and more particularly to a pressurizable package for dispensing a product therefrom.

Packages for receiving products are well known in the art. Such a package may have a dispensing nozzle or dispensing orifice to enable product to be dispensed from the package. Dispensing nozzles or dispensing orifices may be disposed near the top of the package, although other configurations and locations are also known in the art.

Motive forces for distributing product from the package include gas propellants, pumps (both manual and electrical), gravity feed systems, elastic bladder and the like. Packages using propellants are particularly popular because such packages allow for continuous distribution upon touch of a button. Likewise, the elastic bag can be filled with the product at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. In either case, product distribution occurs due to the pressure difference between the product and the surroundings.

The product contained within and to be dispensed from the package includes almost any arbitrary gas, liquid or powder material that is compatible with the package material and suitable for the intended use. Nonlimiting exemplary products include, but are not limited to, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, air treating agents such as air fresheners, insect repellents, cosmetics, detergents, and the like.

Moreover, it may be desirable to have two or more products in the same package. The product may remain separate until combined during the dispensing process at the point of use. For example, enzymes and bleaches can be separated up to the point of use, preventing unnecessary interactions and loss of efficacy during packaging.

It may be desirable to be able to see the product before dispensing from the package. For example, this may allow a user to see how much product remains before exhaustion, and / or may simply be aesthetically pleasing.

However, packaging that makes the product visible before dispensing presents a challenge. As the product is depleted, flexible packaging can take aesthetically undesirable forms and lead to less desirable packages. The challenge is exacerbated when packaging a plurality of but separate products that are retained. Research continues on functional, aesthetically pleasing, and / or economical packaging.

The present invention includes such containers that expand and / or collapse in response to additions or removals within or outside the containers. The container inflates / collapses in a predetermined geometric shape or manner due to the construction of the container. All patents and other documents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

1 is a vertical front view of a package according to the invention.

FIG. 2 has an inner container with an inversion with a longitudinal hinge line and a central container with an invert with a circumferential hinge line, the inverting parts being evenly spaced at the right side of the inversions. A vertical cross-sectional view of a variant embodiment of a package similar to that shown in FIG.

3 is a vertical sectional view of an alternative embodiment with two inner containers arranged in parallel, with one inner container having an asymmetric inversion;

4 is a side view of an exemplary inner container or central container having a weakened region.

5A is an enlarged partial view of the distal end of the container of FIG. 4.

5B is a partial view of an alternative embodiment of the distal end of the container.

6 is a schematic enlarged partial view of an attachment for an exemplary valve cup according to the present invention;

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is a package 10 including a plurality of containers. One or more containers are disposed within each other to provide an outer container 12 having one or more containers therein.

If the package 10 has two containers, this arrangement provides a package 10 having an outer container 12 and an inner container 16 disposed therein. If the package 10 has three containers 12, 14, 16, this arrangement results in an outer container 12 having a central container 14 disposed therein and an inner container 16 disposed in the central container 14. It provides a package 10 having a). In such an arrangement, the central container 14 is disposed between the outer container 12 and the inner container 16.

The plurality of containers 12, 14, 16 keep substantially different materials contained therein until the materials are dispensed at the point of use. During or after the dispensing process the materials may be mixed. The materials may include one or more products, one or more propellants, air, water, and the like, jointly or individually intended for one or more end uses.

The product (s) can include any dispensable material and include gas, liquid and powder particulate materials that can be dispensed using the package 10 described and claimed herein. All that is needed is that the product viscosity should be low enough so that the product to be dispensed from the package 10 has the desired pressure and dispensing properties.

The vessels 12, 14, 16 may have a common discharge. The ejector may be a dispensing orifice, drain, hole or other dispensing device as is known in the art. Nozzles will be discussed for purposes of illustration and description. The nozzle 20 may be pressurized or otherwise displaced from the closed position in the normal state of the nozzle to provide a flow path to the surrounding environment for the material disposed in the container. For example, one suitable type of nozzle 20 is a spray orifice closed under normal conditions. Alternatively, triggers, cams, etc. can be used to open the flow path that allows products disposed within one container to be dispensed into the environment. Suitable nozzles 20 are U.S. Pat. , US Pat. No. 5,497,911 to Elloion et al. And US Pat. No. 5,839,623 to Losenno et al.

If desired, one or more of the containers may have a dip tube. The dip tube can be used to convey product from the bottom of the container to the discharger.

Looking at the package 10 in more detail, one or more of the containers 12, 14, 16 may be translucent or transparent. Translucent means that light can pass through the walls of the container enough to allow the viewer to discern the presence of the product inside. Transparent means that light can pass through the wall of the container and the image can be discerned on the other side of the wall. In either case, with transparent containers 12, 14, 16 or translucent containers 12, 14, 16, the interior product or containers 14, 16 can be seen from the outside of the package 10.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the outer container 12 is transparent or translucent. This allows the central container 14 or the inner container 16 therein to be visible from the outside of the package 10. Moreover, any material disposed within the outer container 12 can likewise be seen from the outside of the package 10.

The outer container 12 can be rigid. Hard means that the containers 12, 14, 16 do not substantially change shape or size in response to normal use of the package 10 or exhaustion of the contents. The rigid outer container 12 allows for convenient transportation, storage, display, placement on the tabletop, etc. of the package 10. Moreover, the rigid outer container 12 provides protection in case the package 10 is dropped or otherwise disturbed. Suitable materials for the outer container 12 include any wall thickness of plastic, glass, combinations thereof, and the like suitable for the intended pressurization.

The inner container 16 and / or the central container 14 may likewise be transparent or translucent if present. The transparent or translucent central container 14 allows any inner container 16 as well as the product therein to be visible from the outside of the package 10. Similarly, the transparent or translucent inner container 16 allows the product inside to be visible from the outside of the package 10. Of course, if any container 12, 14 outside of the container 14, 16 is likewise transparent or translucent, it can be seen in any transparent or translucent container 12, 14, 16 if a dip tube is present. It will be clear. The dip tube, valve assembly, and / or valve cup 24, if present, may also be transparent / translucent.

Suitable materials for use in the package 10 of the present invention are polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA) and / or polyethylene tere Phthalate (PET), polyvinylchloride (PVC); And polystyrene (PS).

Transparent containers 12, 14, 16 according to the present invention may have a transmission of greater than 25%, greater than 30%, greater than 40%, or greater than 50% in the visible portion of the spectrum of approximately 410-800 nm. Alternatively, the absorbance of the vessels 12, 14, 16 can be measured as less than 0.6, or as having a transmission greater than 25%, where the percent transmission is (1 / (10 exp (absorption))) x 100%. For the purposes of the present invention, each container 12, 14, 16 is considered to be transparent / translucent, so long as one wavelength in the visible range has a transmission of more than 25%.

By transparent and translucent is meant to include the inner container 16, the central container 14 and / or the outer container 12 which are entirely transparent or translucent. The terms transparent and translucent also include inner container 16, central container 14 and / or outer container 12 having transparent and / or translucent regions. The transparent or translucent areas can be sections of these containers, such as top half, bottom segments, can be windows or portals, can be striped by alternating opaque areas, and the like. have.

The inner container 16 and / or the central container 14 may be rigid or flexible. By flexible it is meant that the container 12, 14, 16 changes shape or size during normal use due to the depletion of the force or contents applied by the user. For example, flexible container 12, 14, 16 may take a smaller volume due to the content dispensed therefrom. Where flexible containers 12, 14, 16 are required, suitable materials will be provided at least in part as required for transparency / translucency, with elastomers, natural or synthetic rubbers, polyolefins, polyesters, nylons, and the like. Or mixtures / combinations thereof.

2, the inner container 16, outer container 12 and central container 14 may have a common discharger if present. The common ejector may include a flange 22 juxtaposed with an opening. The opening may be a generally planar opening and disposed on the outer container 12, or the opening may be non-planar and mainly disposed on the inner container 16 and / or the central container 14.

The product may be placed or inserted into the inner container 16, the central container 14 and / or the outer container 12 using a positive displacement system. One suitable volumetric system is a volumetric piston. The volume piston has a linear displacement. Linear displacement inserts the product from the chamber into the desired vessel 14, 16 while discharging the product from the chamber under pressure, as is known in the art.

The inner container 16 may have a flow path that is disposed fully or partially coaxially within the flow path of the central container 14. The coaxial flow path may extend from the flange 22 to the point of juxtaposition with the swirl chamber and may include conduits extending from each vessel. The outer conduit completely or partially surrounds the inner conduit along all or part of a common length.

The vortex chamber is an area disposed upstream of the nozzle 20. The vortex chamber may have a volume sufficient to allow mixing of the materials from the inner vessel and the central vessel 14. The materials in the vortex chamber may be mixed and then exit through the nozzle 20 with a circumferential velocity component.

The discussion below relates to a package 10 having a valve cup 24 for use with an outer container 12. However, the present invention is not so limited. The valve cup 24 may be used with the inner container 16 or the central container 14. The valve cup 24 may be used to secure the valve assembly to the outer container 12.

The valve assembly may include a movable stem or plug that opens the flow path for dispensing the product from the corresponding container. Typically, metal valve cup 24 is used for pressurized package 10 and plastic valve cup 24 is used for unpressurized package 10. However, the metal valve cup 24 is more expensive than the comparable plastic valve cup 24 and requires plastic deformation of the metal flange 22 for attachment to the outer container 12. Such a process requires a special assembly machine and may require excessive assembly time and stress in the neck 26 of the outer container 12.

If a plastic valve cup 24 is used, the assembly procedure can be simplified. The valve cup 24 may be inserted into or out of the neck 26 of the outer container 12. The valve cup 24 may be coupled to the vessel neck 26 in any suitable fluid or vapor seal manner sufficient to withstand the internal or external pressurization of the vessel. Press fits, interference fits, and clearance fits may be used to join the neck 26 and the valve cup 24. Bonding may also be accomplished by friction welding, solvent welding, high frequency welding, adhesives, or a combination thereof. If desired, such intermediate material or component may be disposed between valve cup 24 and neck 26 as long as the intermediate material or component provides a suitable seal.

Coupling may also be accomplished by having a protrusion on one of the neck 26 and the valve cup 24 to provide a snap fit for holding these components together. In one embodiment, the protrusion may include a plurality of flanges 22 disposed in series on the inner or outer surface of the vessel neck 26, the valve or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, one or more of the flanges 22 may include an annular ring. A plurality of flanges 22, such as an annular ring, can be arranged in series.

The neck 26 of the container may have any suitable size, geometry and / or cross section. Thus, although a circular cross section is shown, the invention is not so limited. The neck 26 may be parallel to, perpendicular to, or at any angle between the major axes of the package 10. In addition, the neck 26 may be concentric or eccentric with respect to the major axis of the package 10. The neck 26 has an opening dimension 32. The opening dimension 32 extends from the center of the package 10 to the center of the wall forming the neck 26.

Referring to FIG. 6, the container may further have a bond length 30. The engagement length 30 is a distance that can be taken parallel to the neck 26, over which the neck 26 and the valve cup 24 are joined together to form a seal. In one embodiment, the neck 26 may include a protrusion 36, and the valve cup 24 may include a channel 34 for receiving such a protrusion 36.

Alternatively, the neck 26 may include a channel 34, and the valve cup 24 may include a protrusion 36 for receiving within the channel 34. In either embodiment, the length at which the protrusion 36 is received in the channel 34 may correspond to the engagement length 30. 6 illustrates a specific arrangement of the inner and outer walls of the valve cup 24, the channels 34 and the projections 36, but the invention is not so limited. This geometry can be changed to be inverted relative to the major axis of the package 10.

The engagement length 30 may be in accordance with the opening dimension 32. If the neck 26 is not circular, the opening dimension 32 is taken as the maximum opening dimension 32 at that neck 26 of the package 10. In order to provide adequate sealing against internal and external pressurization of the containers 12, 14, 16, the package 10 has a ratio of the engagement length 30 to the opening dimension 32 of at least 1, 1.25, 1.5, It can be 1.75, 2 or 2.5.

This arrangement provides the advantage that when used with the plastic container and / or plastic valve cup 24, the total material used may be less. For example, using current systems of the prior art required additional materials to form crimps. Since the crimping process uses a metal outer container 12, formation can be difficult. However, when using the plastic container and / or plastic valve cup 24 of the present invention, the above mentioned ratio may be advantageous.

If desired, a gasket 38 may be disposed in the channel 34. Gasket 38 may be attached to the interior surface of channel 34 or may be attached to the interior or exterior of protrusion 36 received within channel 34. Gasket 38 may include any soft material, such as rubber, PET, polyethylene, urethane, or the like, suitable for sealing against the required pressurization. Of course, a plurality of gaskets 38 may be used in series and disposed on any combination of the surfaces of the protrusion 36 and the channel 34.

If desired, the gasket (s) 38 may be integral with the plastic valve cup 24 or the plastic neck 26 of the container. Gasket (s) 38 may be molded into valve cup 24 or neck 26 as part of a manufacturing process. Alternatively, the valve cup 24 and / or neck 26 of the container may be made of a soft, flexible material that eliminates the need for the gasket 38.

In another embodiment, inner container 16 or central container 14 may provide or eliminate the need for gasket 38 if present. Such an arrangement may utilize a central container 14 or inner container 16 that is flexible if present. By flexibility it is meant that the material of the containers 14, 16 can be adapted to the shape and surface of the outer container 12. If desired, the inner container 16 or central container 14 may be sealed against the valve cup 24, the valve housing, the dip tube, or against the neck 26 of the outer container 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, if necessary, a plurality of inner containers 16 may be arranged in parallel. This arrangement allows for substantially equal volumes, thus allowing substantially equal amounts of material to be used and distributed simultaneously. However, the plurality of inner containers 16 arranged in parallel may have the same or different shape, volume, position, color, transparency / translucency / opacity, flow rate within the outer container 12, and the same or different materials And / or propellant. Likewise, inner container 16 and central container 14 may have the same or different shape, color, transparency / translucent / opacity, flow rate, and may contain the same or different materials and / or propellants.

Of course, two inner containers 16 are shown for illustrative purposes, but the invention is not so limited. Three or more inner containers 16 may be used as desired. Moreover, one or more of the inner containers 16 arranged in parallel with the other inner containers 16 may be disposed inside the central container 14. Such an arrangement provides a composite system of one or more central containers 14 arranged parallel to the other central containers 14, each having one or more internal containers 16 therein.

If the plurality of inner containers 16 are arranged in parallel, the inner containers 16 can discharge in a common flow path. The flow path may be annular as shown, or may be inverted "T" or "Y" type with one leg and two branches in fluid communication with each other. Each branch of the flow path is in fluid communication with one of the inner containers 16. The legs of the flow path are in fluid communication with the vortex chamber or other downstream region of the flow path.

Referring to FIG. 4, the inner container 16, and / or the central container 14 may have a vulnerable area 40, which provides preferential collapse of the container upon exhaustion of its contents. . Vulnerable areas 40 are areas of containers with smaller / larger wall thicknesses, hinge lines, different materials with smaller / greater stiffness, and / or areas with geometric shapes that promote desired collapse. It may include. Such preferential collapse can help to completely deplete the contents of the container, and can also provide an aesthetically desirable appearance as the volume of the container shrinks.

Vulnerable areas 40 may include ribs that act as hinge lines. The ribs are generally longitudinally oriented and can be disposed substantially parallel to the major axis of the package 10. This arrangement allows the diameter or other cross sectional area of the inner container 16 and / or the central container 14 to be reduced as the material is dispensed therefrom. Alternatively, the ribs / hinge lines may be oriented generally parallel to the cross section of the container and generally perpendicular to the major axis of the package 10. Alternatively, the ribs / hinge lines can be oriented on the diagonal. Of course, a combination of the above geometric shapes may also be used.

Of course, the fragile regions 40 may have a plurality of orientations extending in different directions. Vulnerable areas 40 may be spaced circumferentially evenly or unevenly around the container and may have the same or different fragility, size, longitudinal position, radial position, circumferential position, and the like. Any configuration that provides the required collapse of the container may be suitable.

5A-5B, inner container 16 and / or central container 14, if present, may form a major axis. The major axis is a generally longitudinally oriented direction along the main dimensions of the inner container 16, the central container 14, the outer container 12 or the package 10. Each of the inner container 16, the central container 14, and / or the outer container 12 may form a proximal end 44 and a distal end 46 away from it that are juxtaposed with the ejector.

The distal end 46 of the inner vessel 16 and / or the central vessel 14 may itself be inverted to provide an inversion 42. The inverted portion 42 extends concave backwards towards the proximal end 44 of each container. The inverted portion 42 may have a generally smaller rigidity than the rest of the vessels 14, 16, in particular in a direction parallel to the main axis.

In other embodiments, the central vessel 14 and / or the inner vessel 16 may be telescoping upon pressurization and / or filling. This provides for the expansion of the container 14, 16 in the longitudinal direction as required.

When material is placed in a container having an inverted portion 42, the inverted portion 42 can expand away from the proximal end 44 parallel to the major axis. After expanding parallel to the main axis, the container may expand radially with respect to the main axis. Upon removal of the material therefrom, the container may collapse in the reverse order. Such expansion allows a material having sufficient barrier properties to be used in the inner container 16 and / or the central container 14, and the expansion / collapse of such a container may occur upon insertion and removal of the material into the container, respectively. To be.

This arrangement may provide the advantage that the distal end 46 of the inner container 16 or the central container 14, if present, may contact the inner surface of the outer container 12. Such contact may occur at the distal end 46 of the outer container 12, at the periphery (taken circumferentially), or both. Such contact provides the advantage that when the package 10 is dropped, a dynamic load is transferred from the outer container 12 to the inner and / or central container (s) 14, 16 via the contact. This may reduce the likelihood of accidental destruction of the package 10 when falling.

If desired, the inner vessel 16 and / or the central vessel 14 may be more rigid at the proximal end 44 of the vessels 14, 16 or otherwise more resistant to pressure. This provides the advantage that more uniform collapse of the containers 14, 16 can occur as the contents are dispensed therefrom. Such increased resistance to pressure, including external pressure, can be achieved by having a more rigid material, increased section modulus, increased wall thickness, and the like. Increased collapse resistance can be provided as a gradient, or as one or more step functions, increasing as the proximal ends 44 of the containers 14, 16 are approached.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the outer container 12 and / or the central container 14 may contain a propellant. Propellants may be used to dispense or otherwise drain the contents from one or more central containers 14 and internal containers 16. Suitable propellants include, but are not limited to, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air, nitrous oxide, argon, and the like, and compressible propellants having inert advantages. Suitable propellants include, but are not limited to, fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and the like, and condensable propellants that have the advantage of constant pressure during distribution.

If a condensable propellant is desired, a vacuum can be applied to the volume of the outer vessel 12. This vacuum minimizes the pressure from the condensable propellant, preventing the pressure from becoming too large during use of the package 10.

If a condensable or compressible propellant is desired, the propellant may be placed in the container as a solid state material such as capsules, granules and the like. This solid may break upon dispensing of the material from the package 10 due to a decrease in pressure that occurs during dispensing.

Additionally or alternatively, the propellant may be sublimated to provide the required pressure in the outer container 12. Exemplary propellants include dry ice and acid / base combinations that generate gas. In general, cryogenic filling of propellants may be used. If cryogenic filling is desired, the bottom of each container 12, 14, 16 can be reinforced as needed. If desired, the cryogenic propellant can be contained in the cup for aesthetic purposes.

Package 10 may be filled with a product as follows, but one skilled in the art will recognize that there is flexibility in the order in which the exemplary steps are performed. First, an outer container 12 is provided. Outer vessel 12 may be filled with propellant at atmospheric pressure. The central container 14 is inserted into the outer container 12 if necessary. The central container 14 is coupled to the outer container 12 in a fluid sealing relationship sufficient to withstand the expected pressurization of the package 10 before dispensing and during storage, transportation and handling.

Fills of product and / or propellant to be dispensed can then be inserted into the central container 14. The filling can be inserted into the central vessel 14 under pressure to expand it. Expansion of the central vessel 14 reduces the available volume between the central vessel 14 and the outer vessel 12. Such a reduction in the available volume pressurizes the propellant in the outer container 12. Propellants can be maintained at atmospheric pressure, above atmospheric pressure, or even below atmospheric pressure. Pressurization of such propellant makes the propellant useful in dispensing the product from the central container 14. This operation allows for filling of the container without the need for a bung hole as is customary in the art.

If desired, this process can be repeated for the inner container 16. Of course, it will be appreciated that the product and / or propellant may be contained in any practical combination of inner container 16, outer container 12 and central container 14. Thus, the outer container 12 can receive the product and the inner container 16 and / or the central container 14 can contain the product and / or propellant. Conversely, the central container 14 may receive the product and the inner and / or outer container 12 may receive the product and / or propellant.

Although a package 10 of round cross section with a generally vertically oriented major axis is shown, the invention is not so limited. Package 10 may be oriented horizontally and may have any desired cross section or orientation and size. The cross section may be constant or variable. The size and geometry should only be suitable for the intended use of the material contained within the package 10. Likewise, the package 10 shown has a dispensing opening juxtaposed on top of the package 10. Again, the present invention is not so limited. The dispensing opening may be juxtaposed at the bottom of the package 10, for example, as would be convenient for the gravity discharging system, or may be disposed in any intermediate position.

Claims (18)

As a package, An outer container; An inner container disposed inside the outer container; A central container disposed between the outer container and the inner container; And A common discharger from said central container and said inner container, The inner container and the central container are visible from outside the package, The first material disposed in the inner container and the second material disposed in the central container may be isolated from each other until distribution of all of the materials occurs simultaneously, Each of the inner container and the central container collapse into a predetermined shape by the structure of the container upon removal of a product therefrom. The package of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner container or the central container is pleated. The package of claim 2, wherein the corrugated inner container or the corrugated central container has a major axis and the corrugations are generally parallel to the major axis. 4. The package of claim 3, wherein the corrugations are not evenly spaced about the major axis. A container disposed in a package according to claim 1 for containing a material, a propellant or a combination thereof, The first material disposed in the container may be received until dispensing occurs, The vessel has a major axis and expands in the direction of the major axis when placing material in the container, An ejector from said container for dispensing material, The container collapses into a predetermined shape by the structure of the container upon removal of material therefrom. The container of claim 5, wherein the container includes regions having relatively large stiffness and relatively small stiffness. 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the container has a proximal end that is engageable with the outer container and a distal end therefrom, the distal end of the container having an inverted inversion in itself, whereby the inverted portion of the material into the container. And upon expansion, expand parallel to the major axis. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the inversion comprises ribs disposed substantially parallel to the major axis. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the inversion comprises ribs oriented generally perpendicular to the major axis and circumferentially relative to the major axis. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the container comprises a first region having a relatively large stiffness, a second region having a relatively small stiffness, and a stiffness intermediate the stiffness of the first region with the stiffness of the second region. A container comprising three zones of three zones. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the container expands parallel to the major axis first upon insertion of material into it and then expands radially outward with respect to the major axis. The method of claim 1, An outer container containing a first material, a propellant or a combination thereof, the outer container having an inner surface and an outer surface; An inner container disposed within the outer container and containing a second material, propellant or combination thereof, the inner container being visible from outside the package, the inner container being in the structure of the container upon removal of material therefrom; Collapsed into a predetermined shape by which the inner container contacts the inner surface of the outer container when the inner container has material therein; And And an ejector from at least one of the inner container and the outer container to dispense material. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, having a major axis, the outer container having a first end juxtaposed with the ejector and a second end lying along the main axis away therefrom, wherein the inner container contacts the inner surface at the second end. That, the package. 13. The package of claim 12, wherein the inner container includes a perimeter and the perimeter contacts the inner surface of the outer container. The package of claim 13, wherein the inner container includes a perimeter and the perimeter contacts the inner surface of the outer container. The package of claim 13, wherein the inner container shrinks in a direction parallel to the major axis upon removal of material therefrom. 6. The container of claim 5, wherein the inner container has a perimeter, a proximal end, and a distal end therefrom, wherein the perimeter of the inner container is more resistant to external pressurization at the proximal end than at the distal end. 18. The container of claim 17, wherein the inner container has a first wall thickness near the proximal end and a second wall thickness near the distal end, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.

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