CA1258661A

CA1258661A - Follower device for dispensing package

Info

Publication number: CA1258661A
Application number: CA000466646A
Authority: CA
Inventors: James L. Drobish
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1983-10-31
Filing date: 1984-10-30
Publication date: 1989-08-22
Also published as: GB8427191D0; JPH0217651Y2; MX162236A; ES290199U; GB2149019B; ES293629U; EG16842A; GR80773B; JPS60104268U; JPH0217650Y2; ES293629Y; EP0140445A3; PH21931A; EP0140445A2; JPH0173375U; GB2149019A; MY102024A; ES290199Y

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A dispenser for a product is described which incorporates a follower piston slidably mounted therewithin. The dispenser includes an axially extending bore of a tubular container body for housing a product to be dispensed and having an upper end from which the product is dispensed and an open lower end. The follower piston is slidably mounted within the lower end of the-bore of the container body to support the product thereabove.
The piston is constructed of resilient material and comprises a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall. The sidewall further comprises at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of the bore, and is adapted to virtually resiliently extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on the face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of the peripheral contact band. The peripheral contact band is dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a pre-determined normal force against the inner surfaces of the bore in static condition.

Description

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FOLLOWER DEVi ~E FOF~
DISPENSING PACKAGE

TECHNICAL FIEL~) This invention relates to a dispensing package for a prod-uct, and, more particularly, to a dispensing package which includes a follower piston slidably mounted within the package designed to establish a minimum predetermined amount of frictional resistance to axiai displacement within the package, and more easily moved upwardly than downwardly by axial forces therein.
BACKGROUND A~T
Much work has been directed to dispensing packages for liquids and other fluent masses. Swedish Patent No. 197,61B, which issued to IC. H. Lundberg on January 21, 1965, from an application filed June 21, 1961, for example, discloses a receptacle for paste-like or liquid material comprising a transparent tube equipped on one end with a tapering flexible hollow head having a slit opening therethrough. In one version of the receptacle described by Lundberg, the transparent tube i5 equipped with a plunger provided with a number of ring-shaped flanges extending obliquely from the plunger in a backward direction relative to the hollow head. In use, a portion of the hollow head is manually squeezed together thereby reducing the volume within the head and discharging material through the slit. Upon release of the squeezing force, the slit closes as the hollow head returns to its original volume, thus creating a slight underpressure within the receptacle and thereby moving ~he plunger in a direction toward the hol low head .
A container adapted to hold semi-solid or fluent masses and embodying dispensing features for controlling the discharge of such masses is disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,088,636, which issued to Walter B. Spatz on May 7, 1963. The Spatz '636 dispenser describes a container having a pliant plastic head capable of ' ~' s~

decreasing ~he effective volume within the container, a self-closing discharge opening, and a one-way follower device. In-ward deflection of the pliant head decreases the volurne within the f dispenser and effects an opening of the discharge outlet, thus allowing the fluent material to pass therethrough. A one-way latch mechanism is attached to the central rear portion of the follower and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced latch fingers which extend laterally in an outward and rearward direc-tion and function to engage the inner wall of the container to prevent rearward motion of the follower device within ehe contain-er. Upon release of the pressure on the head, the lips of the discharge outlet are closed and the head resiliently returns to its original configuration, thus creating a partial vacuum within the container and allowing atmospheric pressure to act on the one-way follower device pressing it forwardly within the container.
U.S. Patent 3,768,705, which issued to Walter B. Spatz on October 30, 1973, is also directed to a dispenser for fluent mass and shows a one-way follower slidingly mounted within a pliant elastic container behind the fluen~ material contained ther2in. A
butterfly check-valve is disposed in the outlet of the elastic container and opens to ailow dispensing in response to squeezi7)g of the container at any point. Subsequent to the removal of a squeezing force on the elastic container, the outlet check-valve closes, thus preventing air from entering the container as the pliant container walls return to their original position, thereby creating a negative pressure within the container. The follower comprises a one-way latch device similar to that described in the Spatz '636 patent having rearwardly disposed latch fingers which prevent movernent of the follower in the rearward direction. As in Spatz '636 ambient air at atrnospheric pressure moves the follower forwardly within the container as the result of the - vacuum created after a dispensing operation.
A pump-action dispensing pack3ge for liquids and paste-like products is taught in U.S. Patent 4~301,948, which issued to ~s~
Joachim Czech and Hans Si~ghart on November 24, 1981.
This dispenser features a container closed at its lower end by a slidable piston and provided at its upper end with a head member which includes a variable-volume pump chamber. The pump chamber itself is isolated from the bulk of the product in ~he container by a first check valve adapted to open only towards the pump chamber, and is isolated from an extended outlet passage by a second check valve adapted to open only towards the outlet.
Exterior manual pressure exerted on the pump head piston decreases the volume in the pump chamber and ~orces product through the second check valve and outlet, thereby dispensing a portion of the product. Upon removal of said force, the pump chamber returns to its original volume thereby creating a partial vacuum within the pump chamber and causing the second check valve to close and the first check valve to open, thus permitting product from the container to enter the pump chamber and replace the mass of product which had been dispensed.
Despite all o~ the prior work done in this area, as evidenced by the above-cited patents, there remain problems of complexity of the dispensers, assembly of the parts, reliability of function, and excessive cost.
The packages of the prior art require complex valving structures~ and/or multi-part follower devices, and/or correspondingly complex assembly operations, and still are not always reliable in operation. Such shortcomings result in dispensers which are messy, inconvenient, and expensive.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of an aspect of this invention to obviate the above described problems.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an economical and reliable dispensing package requiring a minimum of parts and assembly operations.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a manually operated elevator-type piston for products including solids (i.e. stick or cream dispensers).

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It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing package with a one-piece integrally formed follower piston which can be func~ionally designed in r lation to the other parts of said package to optimize the functional characteris-tics and convenience thereof.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a pump dispensing package which features added convenience without added cost in relation to other conventionally known dispensing packages.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubul~r container body having an upper end from which the product is dispensed and an open lower end. The dispenser includes a ~ollower piston slidably mounted within the lower end of the tubular container body to retain the product within. The follower piston comprises a face portion adapted to contact the product within the container body, and a depending sidewall which is formed with at least one integral paripheral contact band con~orming to the shape o~ the cross section of the bore. The sidewall is adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in respon~e to axial forces exerted on the face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversaly proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of the peripheral contact band. The follower piston is hollow with the interior surfaces of its ~ace and sidewall exposed to atmospheric pressure, and the contact band of the ~ollower piston is dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore of the container body which exerts a predetermined normal force against the sidewalls o~ the bore when the follower piston is in static condition.
Other a~pects of this invention are as follows:

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An improved dispenser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end ~rom ~hich product i~ dispensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within said lower end of the bore of said body to support said product thereabove, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall which has at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore, said sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension oE said peripheral contact band, said piston baing hollow with the interior surfaces o~ said face and said ~idewall exposed to atmospheric pressure, and said contact band dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of downward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually expand the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby increasing said normal force and proportionally increasin~ piston resistance to rearward displacemant within said dispensex, sand application of upward axial force on said piston ~ace tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby reducing said normal force and proportionally reducing piston resistance to upward displacement therein and permitting said follower piston to move upwardly within said dispenser while maintaining a seal 35 with the inner surfaces of said bore.
An improved dispenser ~or a product, wherein the pxoduct is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end from which product is dispensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted B

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within said lower end o~ the bore of said body to support said product thereabove, said piston being construct~d of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product, a depending friction ring which establishes a predetermined frictional r~sistance to displacement of said piston within said bore in static condition, and a peripherally attached sidPwall which has at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the lo cross section of said bore, said contact band dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, said piston sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such chang~ in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band and having at least one thin-wall, reentrant, bellows-like concavity formed thereabout, said bellows-like concavity further comprising an outwardly convex continuous depending sidewall, said depending sidewall being attached about its upper periphary to said face portion and about its lower periphery to said ~riction ring and having said peripheral contact band formed intermediate said face portion and said friction ring, and said piston being hollow with the interior sur~aces of said face and said piston sidewall exposed to atmospheric pressure, whereby application of downward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually expand the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby increasing said normal force and proportionally increasing piston resistance to rearward displacement within said dispenser, and application of upward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby reducing said normal force and proportionally reducing piston resistance to upward displacement therein and permitting said follower piston to move upwardly within said ~ .

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dispenser while maintaining a seal with the inner ~urfaces of said bore.
An improved disp~nser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially axtending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end from which product is dispensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slid~bly mounted within said lower end of the bore of said body to suppoxt said product thereabove, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall, the interior surfaces of said face and said sidewall being exposed to ambient air, said sidewall being formed with at least one thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity thereabout, tha upper and lower extremes of said concavity each being connected to an integral peripheral contact band conforming -to the shape of the cross section of the bore, said sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axi.al forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact bands, said contact bands being dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of downward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually expand the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby increasing said normal force and proportionally increasing piston resistance to rearward displacement within said dispenser, and application of upward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually dacrease the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby reducing said normal force and proportionally reducing piston resistance to upward displacement therein and permitting said follower to move upwardly within said dispenser while maintaining a seal with the inner surfaces of said bore.

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An improved dispenser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end from which product is d~spensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within said lower ~nd of the bore of said body to support said product thereabove, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product, a friction ring 1.0 dimensioned to provide an interference fit within said bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, and a peripherally attached sidewall further comprising at l~ast two oppositely disposed helical strips depending from the lower periphery of said face portion and attached at their lower ends to the upper periphery of said friction ring, said helical strips conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore thereby establishing at least two peripheral contact bands, said sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension o~ said peripheral contact bands, said piston being hollow with the interior surfaces of said face and said sidewall exposed to atmospheric pressure.
An improved pump-type dispenser for a fluid product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end which communicates with a discharge passageway and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within the bore of said body and sealing the same against escape of product from said lower end, said piston being constructed of r~silient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall, said sidewall further comprising at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape o~ the cross section of said bore and being adapted to l~S8~1 virtually rPsiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said periphsral contact band, said piston being hollow and the interior surfaces of said face and side sidewall being exposed to atmospheric pressure, said contact band being dimensioned to provide an inkerference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of pumping pressure to said product tends to virtually expand the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby increasing said normal force to prevent movement of said piston toward the open end of the bore and reduction of pressure within the product to below atmospheric tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby reducing said normal force and permitting ambient ~ir pressure to move said piston toward the upper end of the bore until equilibrium i5 reached, said piston maintaining its seal within said bore as it moves upwardly therewi~hin.
A pump-type dispenser for a fluid product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore o~ a tubular container body having an upper end which communicates with a discharge passageway and an open low~r end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within the bore of said body and sealing the same against escape of product from said lower end, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product, a depending friction ring which establishes a predetermined frictional resistance to displacement o~ said piston within said bore in static condition, and a peripherally attached sidewall further comprising at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming ko the shape of the cross section of said bore and having at least one thin~walled, reentrant/
bellows-like concavity formed thereabout, said piston sidewall being adapted tv virtually resiliently B

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longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension o~ said peripheral contact band, said piston being hollow and the interior surfaces of said face and said piston sidewall being exposed to atmospheric pressure, said bellows-like concavity further comprising an outwardly convex continuous depending sidewall, said depending sidewall being attached about its upper periphery to said face portion and about its lower periphery to said friction ring and having said peripheral contact band formed intermediate said face portion and said friction ring, said contact band being dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surface o~ said bore in static condition, whereby application of pumping pressure to said product increases said normal force to prevent movement of said piston toward the open end of the bore and reduction of pressure within the product to below atmospheric reduces said normal ~orce and permits ambient air pressure to move said piston toward the upper end o the bore unt.il equilibrium is reachad, said piston maintaining its seal within said bore as it moves upwardly therewithin.
An improved pump-type dispensar for a fluid product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end which communicates with a discharge passageway and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within the bore of said body and sealing the same against escape o~ product from said lower end, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall, said piston being hollow and the interior surfaces of said face and said sidewall being exposed to ambient air, said sidewall being formed with at least one thin walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity thereabout, the upper and lower extremes of said 3L~

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concavity each being connected to an int~gral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of tha bore, said contact bands being dimensioned to provide an inter~erence fit within the S bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of pumping pressure to said product tends to virtually expand the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby increasing said normal force to prevent movement of said piston toward the open end of the bore and reduction o~ pressure within the product to below atmospheric tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby reducing said normal force and permitting ambient air pressure to move said piston toward the upper end of the bore until equilibrium is reached, sai~
piston maintaining its seal within said bore as it moves upwardly therewithin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed that the same will be better understood from the ~25~

foilowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a pre-ferred embodiment of a dispenser incorporating the follower device of the present invention;
r Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dispenser of Figure t taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the dispenser follower piston of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the follower piston of the present invention;
- Figure 5 is a perspective view including a partially broken away section of yet another embodiment of the follower piston of the present invention;
- 15 Figure 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a dispenser incorporating the follower device of the present invention;
Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of said second preferred embodiment of Figure 4 taken along the line 6-6;
and r. Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a third embodi-ment of a dispenser incorporating the follower device of the present invention.
DETAILEl:) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
_ Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indi-cate the same elements throughout the views, Figures 1 through 3 illustrate in detail a pump-type package 10 which includes a !~ container body 50, a self-sealing dispensing nozzle 30, a resilient - top 20, and a follower piston 70. The product, not shown, to be !~ 30 dispensed fills the package 10 interior, and can generally be any . ~ flowable substance or liquid.
- The container body 50 is constructed of any substantially rigid material (such as metal, paperboard, plastic, or composite structures combining two or more of these materials) and comprises a tubular portion 51 open at both ends with an upper recessed exterior portion 52 having a snap-fitment groove 54 formed therein. The tubular portion 51 preferably has a circular - axial bore therethrough, but the inner cross section of such bore can be of any desired shape (such as square, rectangular, or oval ) . A circuiar bore is preferred, however, because it is difficult to establish a seal around a piston having a different configu ration .
While absolute rigidity of tubular portion 51 is not essential, substantial rigidity i5 preferred because the volume of fluid product dispensed from the package will be affected during any particular dispensing operation by changes of volume permitted by - non-rigid structures and, moreover, rigidity helps insure sub-stantially parallel inner wall surfaces for proper sealing with the follower piston 70, which will be discussed in greater detail - below. Plastic (e.g., polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, or poly-ethylene terephthalate) is a preferred material for tubular portion 51 as it provides expediency and ease in the manufacturing process .
Formed about the bottom outer periphery of container body 5D is an integral base 60 extending downwardly and outwardly from the outer surfaces of tubular portion 51, the lower distal surfaces of which are coplanar with and outwardly spaced from the lowermost end of tubular portion 51.
Resilient top 20 is preferably constructed of a resilient material (e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, poly-acrylonitrile, elastomers, cr polymer composites), and has a - `- roundecl top section 21 with a smooth outer finish. Rounded top section 21 is preferably formed with a thickness in the range of approximately .43-.51 mm (.017-.020 inches) and with a radius of : curvature of approximately 50 mm (2.0 inches) when used with a ~_ container body S0 having an outside diameter of approximately 41.3 mm (1.625 inches). Actual thicknesses may vary widely, however, depending on factors such as materials used, container s~

diameter, etc. Depending from the outer periphery of top section 21 is skirt 22 having a snap-fitment rib 25 formed about its lower inner periphery. The depending skirt 22 and its snap-fitment rib 25 are sized so as to permit the resilient top 20 to be snapped into locking relation with the recessed portion 52 and its snap-fitment groove 54. As will be seen, the seal along the connection of resilient top 20 and container body 50 should be substantially fluid-tight at the dispenser operating pressures for proper opera-tion of the subject dispensing package . The described snap/ lock 1 û connection arrangement is shown only as an example, as the con-tainer body 50 and resilient top 20 can be molded as one piece, obviating the need for such a seal, or attached by a plethora of alternative methods such as by threads, spin-welding or adhe-sives .
A dispensing passageway 23 is formed through the depending skirt 22 and extends radially outwardly through the interior of tubular protuberance 28. (;ircumscribing and radially spaced from the outer surfaces of protuberance 28 is an outwardly extending circumscribing retaining wall 26. Both the protu-berance 28 and the circumscribing retaining wall 26 are concen-trically aligned about a common central axis which is substantially ~, perpendicular to the central axis of container body 50. Tubular - protuberance 28 and the circumscrit>ing retaining wall 26 are con-nec~ed at their proximal ends by the outlet base ring 24. Formed about the inner periphery of the distal edge of the retaining wall 26 is retention rib 27, which extends inwardly to~Nards the outer J surface of protuberance 28.
I -_ The self-sealing nozzle 30 can comprise any check valve which permits extrusion of product outwardly under pressure and provides for clean cut-off and sealing on release of pressure.
The particular embodiment shown is preferably injection molded of silicone rubber (e.g. Silastic R MDX 4-4526 available from Dow-Corning of Midland, Michigan), although a wide variety of ma-terials and ~orming procedures can be used. The nozzle 30 is ~258~

shown in Figure 1 as comprising four leaves or flutes 31, however, it is contemplated that aiternate nozzles with varying structures and number of leaves can be successfully utilized to provide a check valve and a sel f-sealing closure for the dis-pensing package. As can best be seen in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2, the nozzle 30 interior is ~ormed with a generally cylindrical open inlet end 32 and an outlet end which terminates in interconnecting closed slits 33 intermediate the individual flutes 31. Nozzle 30 is preferably formed with wall thicknesses of approximately .76 mm (.03 inches) in its cylindrical open end 32 and . 51 mm (, 02 inches~ in its flutes 31 . An attachment flange 34 is integrally formed at the bottom edge of open end 32 and extends outwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of nozzle 30. It is preferred that nozzle 30 be ~, 15 molded with the flutes 31 closed at their distal end, and there-after cutting the slits 33 as desired to insure that such slits 33 will have the capability to fully close. The ability to close is important because noz~le 30 must be capable of preventing flow of fluid into the dispenser package.
Nozzle 30 is mounted onto dispensing package 10 by tele-scoping its cylindrical open end 32 over protuberance 28, and is positively held in place by a retaining ring 40 which slides over O the exterior of no7zle 30 and is snapped past the inwardly extending retention rib 27 of the retaining wall 26. Retaining ring 40 is preferably made of polypropylene or polyethylene, but can be made of any relatively rigid material. The dimensions of - sealing ring 40 and the location of the rib 27 are such 3S to ~ ~ insure that upon its application the sealing ring 40 will be biased against flange 34, thereby establishing a tight seal of flange 34 against the outlet base ring 24. The manner of attachment of --. nozzle 30 to the package is not critical, however, and can be accomplished by a variety of ways known or conceivable by those skili~d in the art, such as by adhesives, spin-welding, or other mechanical arrangements. It rnight also be desirable to attach .~æ~6~

nozzle 30 internally adjacent the discharge passageway (e.g.
within an extended outlet channel~.
A one-piece follower piston 70 preferably made of poly-propylene or polyethylene ~although any resilient material will S sufFice) is slidingly mounted within the container body 51 of - dispensing package 10, as shown in Figure 2. In the embodiment- shown, piston 70 exhibits a convex face 76 integrally attachedabout its lower outer periphery to a depending sidewall including the thin-walled, bellows-like concavities or corrugated segments 10 73. The convex face 76 can have a radius of curvature of about 38 mm ( 1 . 5 inches~ for use in container body 50 having an inside diameter of approximately 41.3 mm ~1.625 inches), however, as will be shown, the curvature of face 76 is subject to modification in any particular execution. Each individual concavity ~or bel-15 lows) 73 is made up of one upwardly facing frusto-conically shaped wall section 74 and one downwardly facing frusto-conically shaped wall section 75, said sections being hingedly connected at their intersection 72. The individual concavities 73 are connected to one another at their upper and lower extremes by integral 20 contact bands 78, and the uppermost bellows is similarly con-nected to the lower outer periphery of the piston face 76 along a separate peripheral contact band 78. As can be seen in the cross-sectional view olF Figure 3, piston 70 i5 hnllow and the inner surfaces of piston face 76 and the depending sidewall and its 25 concavities 73 are exposed to ambient air as a result of the open bottom of piston 70.
The term "bellows-like" ts used herein to connote any thin-(_ walled corrugated or accordion-like structure integrally formed as part of the çontinuous sidewall of a piston, which takes the 30 struc~ural form of a resilient peripheral, reentrant section of the sidewall and permits the piston sidewall to longitudinally extend . or contract in response to axial pressure forces exerted on the piston face, with such change in length resulting in inversely proportional change in lateral dimension of at least one peripheral _, _ .~. .

:~hS86~1 - 1 o-contact band formed in the sidewali. For example, the resilient concavities 73 of piston 70 permit piston 70 to be longitudinally - compressed in response to downward pressure exerted on piston -- face 76 and, in an unrestricted environment, this results in a 5 proportional expansion of the outer diameters of contact bands 78.
- Piston 70 is hollow and its open bottom pern its the longitudinal extension or contraction of the piston sidewall without inter-- ference of air which might otherwise be trapped within the piston (i.e. axial forces act upon the opposing surfaces of piston face 10 76).
A piston exhibiting a bellows-like concavity with only a single peripheral contact band is illustrated by piston 170 in the cross sectional Yiew of Figure 4. Piston 170 includes a sub-stantially rigid piston face 176, a depending sidewall 183, a 15 friction ring 181, and a peripheral contact band 178 formed in the - sidewall, intermediate face 176 and friction ring 181. The convex conformation of sidewall 183 creates the resilient, reentrant sections 173 which permit the piston sidewall 183 to longitudinally extend or contract in an unrestricted environment, with such 20 change in length resulting in inversely proportional change in lateral dimension of the peripheral contact band 178. Friction ring 181 establishes a predetermined amount of frictional i - resistance to movement of piston 170 within the bore of a disp-enser to allow axial forces to act upon piston face 176, thereby 25 longitudinally extending or contracting the piston sidewall 183 (as will be discussed in more detail below). Any means for establish-ing a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of tubular portion 51 li.e. frictional resistance to movement) could be incorporated in place of friction ring 181. Piston 170 also 30 demonstrates that the peripheral contact bands of pistons made in -- accordance with the present invention need not exhibit structural -- characteristics identifiably separable from the sidewall structure itself, as the contact bands 178 of piston 170 are defined as the radially largest continuous dimension of sidewall 183. It may be ., ~S8~

preferred in some executions to form contact band 178 of piston ~70 as an outwardly extending rib-like structure (not shown~ to f improve its sealing capabilities with the inner surfaces of the bore of a dispenser.
', 5 Referring again to Figures 1-3, the peripheral contact bands 78 of piston 70 conform to the shape of the inner cross section of tubular portion 51, and are dir.~ensioned to provide an interference fit within tubular portion 51 which exerts a - predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of the bore thereby establishing a predetermined amount of frictional resistance to both upward and downward displacement of the piston 70 within the container body 50. Because actual lateral expansion of the contact bands 78 is prevented by the substan-tially rigid inner wall surfaces of the bore of tubular portion 51, ~: 15 axial compressive force (ss~ch as caused by pressure applied tothe upper surface of face portion 76) is transmitted to the bellows-like concavities 73 and converted into increased normal force of contact bands 78 pressing against the inner wall surfaces of tubular portion 51, thereby increasing the frictional resistance of piston 70 to downward displacement within cor,tainer body 50.
Correspondingly, an axial extensive Force applied ~o piston 70 - (such as caused by pressure actins in the lower surface of faceportion 7S) would produce or tend to ~produce a proportional - decrease of the outer diameters of contact bands 78, thereby reducing the normal force exerted by contact bands 78 against the tubular portion 51 and correspondingly reducing the frictional resistance of piston 70 to upward displacement.
Although the bellows-like concavities 73 of piston 70 shown in Figures 2, 3, 7 and 8 exh;bit a saw-tooth or squarely-defined .- . 30 conformation, other bellows-like configurations can also be uti-lized. For example, the bellows-like concavities 73 could be .- Formed with rounded intersections 72 and/or rounded contact bands 78 as opposed to the sharp configurations shown. Such a , . , ~51~;61 rounded contact band is illustrated at 178 of the piston 170 shown in Figure 4.
The operational function of piston 170 of Figure 4 cor-responds to that described above with respect to piston 70. The friction ring 181 and the contact band 178 of piston 170 conform to the shape of the inner cross section of a dispenser bore, such as tubular portion 51, and are dimensioned to provide an inter-ferenc~ fit within tubular portion 51 to establish normal forces against the inner surfaces thereof, thereby creating a pre-determined amount of frictional resistance to both upward and downward displacement of piston 170 therewithin -- a function corresponding to that of contact bands 78 of piston 70. The outer periphery 180 of piston face 176 may also be dimensioned to - establish a seal and/or a predetermined amount of frictional resistance to axial displacement with the inner surfaces of tubular portion 51. Axial compressive force exerted on the upper surface of piston face 176 is transmitted to the bellows-like concavities 173 formed in sidewall 183, and because fr;ction ring 181 frictionally resists downward displacement, such transmitted forces tend to collapse the thin-walled sidewall 183 outwardly, resulting In an increased radial dimension of contact band 17%.
Because the tubular portion 51 prevents any actual radial dimensional expansion, such dimensional change is virtual and actually results in increase normal force of contact band 178 against the inner wall surfaces of tubular portion 51, thereby increasing the frictional resistance of piston 170 to downward displacement. Correspondingly, an axial extensive force applied to piston 170 would tend to longitudinally extend sid~wall 183 -~ tending to reduce the radial dimensions of contact band 178 ~( 30 thereby reducing the normal forces and the resulting frictional - resistance to upward displacement of piston 170.
The overall length of follower piston 70 of Figure 3 depends -- at least in part on the size and number of individual concavities 73 present. An individual concavity 73 is described by its ~z~
~13-included angle 77 and its pitch H, as shown in Figure 3.
Included angle 77 further comprises a downward facing angle c and an upward facing angle e. Preferably angle 77 is in the t range of from about 30 to about 120 and the angles ~ and B are approximateiy equal. The pitch H is the distance measured between the centers of two successive contact bands 78, as indicated in Figure 3. As will be described in more detail later, the frictional resistance to displacement of the follower piston 70 can ~e varied to suit any particular functional need by changing the included angle 77 of some or all of the individual concavities 73 in a particular piston. The pitch H can also be adjusted in a particular execution to vary the overall leng~h of the piston 70, however, techniques of molding the piston may limit how far pitch H may be reduced (with any particular sidewall thickness of a piston) while maintaining good structural definition of the indi-vidual beilows or concavities.
The piston 70 is formed as shown with four complete indi-vidual concavities 73, having an included angle 77 of about 60, with ~ and ~ each being about 30. It has been found that a 20 pitch of at least about 3.2 mm (.125 inches3 is preferred to obtain good definition of the individual concavities 73 in an extru-sion blow-molding forming process. While a smaller pitch H can be successfully formed, a pitch smaller than about 4.5 mm tends to negatively affect the total variability in lateral dimensions of 25 concavities 73 and, thus, negatively affect piston per~ormance.
It is preferred that pitch H equal at least 10~ of the outside diameter of piston 70. It has also been found necessary for the piston 70 to be of sufficient length to resist axial misalignment ~~ within the container during its operable life. What is sufficient, - 30 of course, will vary with the diameter of the package. For exampie, if the inner diameter or bore of tubular portion 51 of - the described embodiment is approximately 41.3 mm (1.625 inches), it has been found that an approximate length L of piston contact ( length L is rneasured between the uppermost and :i2rj~

lowermost contact bands 78, as shown in Figure 3) of at least 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) is preferred to prevent axial misaiignment of the piston 70 within the container. A piston having an included angle 77 of 60, with ~ and ~ each being equal to 30, and s having a pitch of 4.5 mm (.175 inches), requires approximately three bellows 73 to obtain a length of 12.7 mm ~0.5 inches).
Likewise, piston 170, as illustrated in Figure 4, should also be of sufficient length to resist axial misalignment within the container.
The overall length of piston 170 is determined most importantly by 10 the length of the convex sidewal 1 183, and a piston length L' of at least 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) is preferred for use within a tubular bore 51 having an inside diameter of approximately 41.3 mm (1.625 inches).
Pistons 70 and 170 can be made of a wide range of resilient 15 materials (e.g., polymers having a flexural modulus in the range of 700 to 28,000 l~g/cm or 10,000 to 400,000 psi3 exhibi~ing strength which is capable of maintaining substantial stability under successive loade~d and unloaded conditions over extended periods of time. Thermoplasti~ materials are preferred for their 20 lower cost and ease of forming.
In order to establish a predetermined amount of frictional resistance of piston 70 to both upward and downward displacement within container body 50, piston 70 is preferably formed with an ` ~ outside diameter of its contact bands 78 approximately .25 mm 25 ~.010 inches) larger than the inside diameter (bore) of the tubular portion 51. Such intentionally oversized dimensions provide an interference fit which develops internal forces wi~hin ~_ the resilient piston 70 having a predetermined component acting norrnal to the bore of the tubular portion 51 along the contact 30 bands 78, thereby establishing a predetermined frictional resis-tance to displacement. The predetermined minimum frictional -- resistance to displacement of said piston 70 also can be measur-ably controlled by parameters other than varying the amount of engineered interference between the parts. For example, varying :~2~i8~
- 1 5~

piston material, material softness ~durometer) and wall thickness also affect frictional resistance to displacement. Because each contact band 78 adds an increment of frictional resistance to the total frictional resistance of piston 70, the number of contact 5bands 78 is also a factor. The correct number of contact bands can vary widely depending on the particular frictional require-ments for proper dispensing operation of the required package, (i.e., the piston must withstand downward dispensing pressure without substantial downward displacement, yet allow atmospheric 10pressure to move it forward following such dispensing operation) and sealing requirements within the package. While any parti-cular piston must have at least one contact band 78, a plurality of contact bands 7~ (e.g. three or four) is preferred to establish suffkient friction and redundant seals within a broad spectrum of 15packages.
Corresponding interference fits of friction ring 1 81, contact band 178, and the outer periphery 180 of piston face 176 within tubular portion 51 can likewise be utilized to establish the pre-determined amount of frictional resistance to axial displacement of 20piston 170 within container body 50. In a preferred embodiment, friction ring 181 and contact band 178 are formed with an outside diameter approxirlately 0 . 38 mm ( . 015 inches) largar than the inside diameter of tubular portion 51, while the outer periphery 180 of piston face 176 is formed approximately 0 .13 mm ~ . 005 25inches) larger.
- Figure 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of a piston made in accordance with the teachings of the presént invention.
Particularly, piston 270 illustrates that the peripherally attached - sidewall of a piston made in accordance with the present invention 30need not necessarily be ~ormed with a thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity formed thereabout in order to be capable of virtually resiliently longitudinally extending or contracting in response to axial forces exerted on its face portion, with such change in langth resulting in an inversely proportional virtual 5~

change in lateral dimension of its peripheral contact band. It is contemplated that the sidewall of a piston made in accordance with the present invention can comprise any structure having at least one integral peripheral contact band which conforms to the shape 5 of the cross section of the bore and which is adapted to exhibit the described longitudinal and lateral dimensional changes in response to axial forces exerted on the face portion of the piston.
Foilower piston 270 can be formed of any resiiient material, as described with respect to piston 70, and comprises the relatively thin but rigid flat face 276, a depending sidewall 283, and friction ring 281. Depending sidewall 283 is formed of four interconnected helical strips 278 depending from the iower outer periphery of face 276 and attached at their lower portions to the upper outer periphery of friction ring 281. The piston of Figure 5 features two right-handed and two left-handed helical strips 278, each making one complete helical revolution as it spirals from face 276 to fric~ion 281. Helical strips 278 form a crisscrossing arrangement and are connected to one another at their inter-sections 285, resulting in a web-like or perforated continuous structure making up sidewall 283. Helical strips 278 also function as peripheral contact bands which conform to the shape of the ,' cross section of the bore of a dispenser, and are preferably '~ dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaoes of the bore in static condition. Friction ring 281 is also dimensioned to establish a predetermined amount of frictional resistance to movement of piston 270 within the bore of 3 dispenser to allow axial forces to act upon the piston face 276, thereby - longitudinally extending or contracting the piston sidewall 283.Outer periphery 280 of piston 276 is likewise dimensioned to establish a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of the dispenser bore, and also establishes a seal with the bore to retain product thereabove.

:l~S~

The fric-tional resistance to movement established by friction rin~ 281 allows axial forces acting upon piston face 276 to longi-tudinally extend or contract siclewall 283. The individual helical strips 278 naturally tend to expand laterally when compressed longitudinally and inversely contract laterally upon longitudinal extension. The interconnection of a pair of oppositely disposed r (i.e. one left-handed and one right-handedl helical strips 278 insures such lateral dimension change in response to longitudinal stress by preventing the individuai strips from twisting (as they would do in an unrestrained environment to relieve such longi-tudinal stress). While it has been found that at least two oppositely disposed helical strips 278 appears to be preferred to prevent such twisting action it is contemplated ~hat any number of helical strips 278 could be successfully utilized and that their interconnecting pattern spacing etc. could be varied as des i red .
Piston 270 illustrates that a peripheraliy attached sidewall adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on the face portion of a piston made in accordance with the present invention with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportisnai change in lateral dimension of the peripheral contact band(s) can be formed in a -_ variety of ways. One way of forming a sidewall exhibiting such characteristics is to perForate a cylindrical tube-like sidewall in such a pattern (e.g. such as to form the helicalldiamond pattern shown in Figure 5) as to impart the desired functional character-istics .
-~- The package 10 is preferably initially partially assembled in --~ the manner described omitting the follower piston. The partially 30 assembled package 10 is then inverted and bottom-filled with product leaving sufficient unfilled space in the open end oF the bore of container body 50 for piston 70 (or piston 170 piston -- 270 or any other piston made in accordance with the present invention) to thereafter be inserted within container body 50.

:l~S~

Following insertion of piston 70, a container bottom cover (not shown) might be placed over the open end of container body 50 for aesthetic reasons, however, such a cover rn~lst not prevent the maintanence of ambient air pressure within the hollow rear 5 portion of piston 70 which could interfere with the operation of package 10. The method of filling package 10 is not critical, and any appropriate process can be utilized.
In operation, the rounded section 21 of resilient top 20 is manua~ly depressed, thereby decreasing the volume within the 10 dispensing package and resulting in a pressure rise in the pro-duct therein. Pressure changes within the dispensing package are transferred through the mass of fluid product housed therein and exerted on the piston face 76. The force generated by the pressure exerted llpon face 76 is transferred therethrough to the 15 appended sidewall and because piston 70 has been designed to exhibit a certain minimum frictional resistance to backward dis-placement within the dispensing package, the force tends to virtually compress the corrugated segments (concavities) 73 therebelow. The term "virtual" is used herein to signify that the 20 various parts of piston 70, which when loaded or unloaded in an unrestricted environment would actually con-press or expand, exhibit only minuscule compression or expansion in the physically restricted environment of container body 50. Virtual expansion or compression, therefore, i5 used to describe what is in reality 25 the transfer of loads and forces by the structure of piston 70.
It is observed that the sidewalls of the pistons described above include structural elements (e.g. concavities 73, or helical strips 278~ which are non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the piston and which deflect longitudinally in response to axial forces 30 imposed thereon, with such deflection tending to cause inversely proportional lateral dimensional changes in such sidewalls.
Virtual axial compression of corrugated segments (concavities) 73 causes piston 70 sidewall to virtually expand its lateral dimension at contact bands 78. Due to its convex nature, 12~;8ti6~

piston face 76 augments the piston's virtual lateral dimension ~3rowth in response to the increased pressure in the product by f itself ~ending to radially expand its effective diameter. Piston face 76, however, is preferably a substantially rigid structure because to the extent it deforms upon loading, it will reduce the volume dispensed. One way of insuring substantial rigidity of face 76 is to increase the thickness of its structure. In a pre-ferred execution, the wall thickness of face 76 is approximately 1.65 mr~ (.065 inches), while the appended sidewall and the bello~s (concavities) 73 have a wall thickness of approximately .64 mm (.025 inches). Corresponding wall thicknesses can be successfully utilized in the face 176 and sidewall 183 of piston 170.
The tendency of piston 70 to expand its lateral dimension in response to increased pressure within the dispensing package 10 results in greatly increased normal forces exerted by the piston along its con~act bands 7B against the inner surfaces of the bore of tubular portion 51 and proportionally increased piston 70 resistance to rearward displacement within the dispensing package 10. Such increased resistance to displacement allows the pressure - to increase within the dispensing package as the resilient ~op 20 is further depressed. Internal pressure increases until it exceeds the threshold pressure required.to commence dispensing through nozzle 30. In the described embodiment, such threshold 25 pressure will be the sum of the pressure drop required to extrude the fluid product housed in the container through the relatively small passageway 23 (which in a preferred embodiment -~ is approxir!lately 6.4 rnm or .25 inches in diameter), plus the pressure required to open the flutes 31 of nozzle 30, plus the -_ 30 pressure required to push said product through the flutes 31 once opened. The dispensing pressure for any particular dispensing package can therefore be predetermined and controlled ---- by varying the dispensing passageway size andlor the functional properties of the nozzle, while taking into consideration the :~2513~
~20-viscosity of the product to be dispensed. The dispensing pressure required in the described embodiment is approximately 0.11 Kg/cm~ ~1.5 pounds per square inch (psig)] when a fluid product of 300,000 cp (Brookfield) viscosity is housed therein.
When the pressure within the dispensing package 10 reaches the threshold dispensing pressure at the dispensing passageway 23, product will be dispensed and such dispensing will continue until the pressure in the dispenser falls below that threshold pressure. Upon reiease of the force depressing top 20, pressure within the dispensing package begins to drop as the resilient top 20 returns toward its original position. When such internal pressure approaches atmospheric pressure, the nozzle 3û will tend to resiliently close due to the elastic memory of its material. As the resilient top 20 continues to move toward its original position, a partial vacuum is established within the dispensing package 10.
Such negative pressure causes atmospheric pressure to act upon the exterior surfaces of the leaves 31 of nozzle 30, sealing the slits 33 and thus closing the no~zle in a substantially fluid-tight condition. The partial vacuum within the package 10, therefore, - 20 obtains no substantial relief through the nozzle 30 or through the seals created between the contact bands 78 and the inner wall surfaces of tubular portion 51, which are capable of preventing t the entry of ambient air into the dispensing package. In a preferred embodi~ent, the .25 mm ~.010 inches) of interference fit between the piston 70 and the inner diameter of tubuiar por-tion 51 insures an adequate redund3nt seal with the five (5) contac~ bands 78. Other means of providing a fluid-tight seal of said piston 70 within the container body 50 could be equally successfully employed.
The imbalance of pressure which acts upon the ,oiston face -- 76 ( i . e . the vacuum acting on the upper surface and atmospheric pressure on the lower surface) imposes an effective upward force thereon, virtually stretching (or increasing pitch tl) the suc-cessive individual corrugated segments 73 in an upward direction, ~5~

thereby tending to decrease the effective diameter of such indi-viclual corrugated segments 73 and of the piston 70. This ten-dency lessens the norrnal force exerted by the corrugated seg-ments 73 at their contact bands 78 against the bore of the tubular portion 51, which proportionally decreases the piston's frictional resistance to movement within the dispensing package and facili-tates its upward displacement therein. Piston 70 is displaced upwardly a distance generally corresponding to the amount of fluid -product dispensed, acting to relieve the partial vacuum created by the recovery of resilient top 20, at which point equil-ibrium is reached by achieving a rough balance involving the opposing pressures and the system's resistance to further piston movement. The dispensing package 10 is now ready for another dispensing operation.
The operation of dispensing package 10 in conjunction with piston 1~0 (or piston 270) would be substantially identical to that described above wi~h regard to piston 70, with axial pressure forces acting on piston face 176 (or face 276) and being trans-ferred irlto virtual lateral dimensional expansion or contraction of contact band 178 (or helical strips 278). The frictional resistance established by friction ring 181 of piston 170 (or similarly ring - 281 of piston 270), however, will remain substantially constant throughout operation of the dispenser.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternate and equally preferred embodiment of the subject dispensing package. Particularly, those drawings illustrate a dispensing package 100 cornprising the container body 150 for housing a mass of fluid product to be ;~ dispensed, a resilient dispensing top 120, a self-sealing dispens-'-~ ing noz~le 30, a follower piston 70' and an overcap 65. As with dispensing package 10, pistons 70, 170 or 270 can be readily substituted for piston 70' with equal success in package 100. As is apparent from the drawings, container body 150 is substantially similar to container body S0 as described above. The tubular portion 151, recessed portion 152, snap-fitment groove 154, and ~S86~j~

base 160 correspond exactly to parts 51, 52, 54 and 60, respect-ively, of the first described embodiment. A support wall 155 extends inwardly from the upper inner surfaces of the bore of tubular portion 151 and partially closes thc uppermost end of container body 150. A piurality of piston stops 161 are integrally ,~ form~d in spaced relation about the lowermost inner periphery of container body 150, and comprise generally rectangular protuber--- ances extending inwardly a relatively short distance toward the central axis of container ~ody 150. Piston stops 161 are shown simply as an example of means for initially insuring the retention of piston 70' within the container body 150 during shipping and initial use. Similar means could also be incorporated into the ~, dispensing package 10 as described above. Overcap 65 is of generally cup-like shape and comprises a substantially flat cir-cular top portion 67, a depending sidewall 68, and snap-fitment groove 66 formed about the lower inner periphery of sidewall 6~.
The resilient dispensing top 120 is an integral structure and comprises a rigid button top 121, a depending cylindrical button wall 191, rounded base 191a, concentric diaphragm 192, a sub-stantially rigid shoulder area 193, and the rigid skirt 122.
Dispensing top 120 is preferably molded of resilient material (e.g.
polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, elastomers, or polymer composites) having a thickness of between .38 and ,51 mm (.015-.02û inohes) in its concentric diaphragm 192, and slightly thicker in the balance of its structure. The thickened areas are designed to remain substantially rigid throughout a dispensing operation while the thinner diaphragm 192 deflects thereby varying the volume of package 100. As shown in Figure 7, snap-fitment rib 125 is formed on the lower inner periphery of depending skirt 122 to form a fluid-tight snap fitment with upper recessed portion 152 and the snap-fitment groove 154 of container body 150. This snap-fitment arrange-ment, as well as the corresponding arrangement described in the first embodiment above, are provided only as examples as other ~s~

connecting means could alternatively be utilized, or the resilient dispensing top 120 and container body 150 could be unitarily molded, thus obviating a need for connection means.
A dispensing passageway 123 is formed through the cylin-drical button wall 191 and comprises an outwardly extending tubular section 128, a circumscribing retaining wall 126, and a retention rib 127 extending inwardly about the inner surfaces of the retaining wall 126. Again, such arrangement is provided as an example for mounting the dispensing nozzle 30 onto dispensing o package 100, however, many other methods for such attachment are available or conceivable by one skilled in the art. The self-sealing nozzle 30 is identical to nozzle 30 as described in the previous embodiment above.
Piston 70' is essentially identical to piston 70 as described t 5 above, except that the face portion of piston 70' has been modi-fied to nest with the conformation of the inner surfaces of the upper portions of package 100. A substantially circular disk portion 91 having a frusto-conical upper face 92 extends upwardly from the piston face 76' and is attached thereto about its lower outer periphery. Extending upwardly from the central area of flat portion 92 is the pro~uberance 93 having a flat top surface 94. The disk surface 91 is dimensioned to slide past the inner surfaces of the support wall 155 and allow piston 70' to move upwardly within container body 150 until the piston face 76' meets the lower surfaces of support wall 155. Protuberance 93 will likewise telescope upwardly within dispensing top 120 and insure that most of the contained product wili be dispensed. Modifying piston faces in this manner is one way of minimi~ing product - waste in product dispensers.
Snap-fitment rib 1 29a extending outwardly from the peri-phery of skirt 122, and stop flange 1 29b similarly extending from the outer distal edge of skirt 122 are included as an example of means for attaching overcap 65 to the dispensing package l O0 .
Snap-fitment groove 66 of overcap 65 lockingly interac~s with rib -~2586Gl 1 29a when overcap 65 is telescoped over dispensing top 120 into closed position.
The operation of dispensing package 100 is identical to that described above with regard to the dispensing system 10, with the exception of the manner in which the volume of the package is to be varied. The resilient top 20 of dispensing package 10 and the resilient dispensing top 120 of dispensing package 100 are provided only as examples of means for varying the volume of the subject disper,sing package. It is contemplated that many alternate structures for accomplishing such volume variation are available or conceivable by those skilied in the art. Particular executions of such volume varying means can be designed to optimize the required force and/or stroke length necessary to provide a predetermined amount of volume variance within a specific dispenser. For example, such means might be designed to require a relatively large amount of axial displacement (stroke length) of a relatively small surface area to provide a pre-determined volume variance while requiring relatively less axial force to produce the required dispensing pressure. This advantage can facilitate the dispenser's use by s~all children.
The volume varying means can therefore be a valuable tool in optimizing the functional characteristics of 3 dispensing package to correspond to customized usage and/or convenience consider ations .
Again, package 100 is preferably partially assembled without piston 70' (or 70, or 170, or 270, etc. ) for bottom filling the product as described above with regard to package 10. Following such bottom filling, piston 70' is inserted into container body 150 such that the lowermost contact band 78 ~or if piston 17û is used, the friction ring 181) is snapped past the piston stops 161. In operation, downward manual force is imposed upon the button top 121 thereby axially depressing said button top 121 and the rigid - cylindrical button wall 191 and causing inward deflection of the concentric diaphragm 192, as indicated by the dotted lines of 1'~5~

Figure 7, Such axial displacement of the resil ient top 1 Z0 results in a volume reduction within the dispensing systern 100 and causes pressure within said systern to rise. As described in f relation to the first e nbodiment, the follower piston 70' resists rearward displacement in response to such rising pressure and fluid product will be dispensed through the dispensing passage-way 123 when the internal pressure reaches the necessary level.
It has been found that in some designs of the volume varying means, such as the resilient dispensing top 1~0, excessive down-ward force imposed thereon can cause irreversible deformation of said means. For example, excessive downward force upon the button top 121 of the embodiment 100 might cause excessive strain or catastrophic Failure at the rounded base 191a of the wall 191 or in the vicinity of the peripheral shoulder 193, which could render the entire dispensing system inoperable. One way to prevent such failure is to design into the dispensing system means for positively limiting the axial travei of the volur:~e varying means.
An example of such a positive limitation means is illustrated in Figure 7, which shows the support wall 155. Proper positioning of such limitation means can also serve to meter individual doses dispensed in single dispensîng operations.
It has been found that pistons can be designed to exhibit a desired degree of preferential resistance to axial displacement in either an upward or downward direction. In the embodiments described above, piston 70 features a structure of interconnected corrugated concavities or bellows 73 which tend to increase said piston's resistance to do~nward displacement in response to --- increased pressure within the dispensing package -and which tend ~- to decrease said piston's resistance to upward displacement in 30 response to vacuum (or negative pressure) within the package.
Piston 70, as described, therefore will show a preference to upward axial rnovement. The magnitude and character of a piston's preference may be adjusted in several ways, for example varying the included angle 77 and/or the individual angles and ~s~

~. While the preferred range for included angle 77 is between 30 and 120, theoretically the included angle of any particular bellows 73 could range from 0 to 180. It has been found, howe\,er, that with large angles there is little tendency for lateral 5 dimensional expansion of the individual bellows with virtual axial compression thereof and, therefore, little resulting preferential frictional resistance to displacement. When angles and/or 3 are nearer the minimum value of 0 (for example 15), a bellows-collapsing force will result in a very limited degree of virtual 10 lateral dimensional expansion of the individual bellows, but higher normal forces exerted against the inner container walls, resulting in a piston with less laterai dimensional variability and higher frictional resistance to displacement under load. Increasin~ the ske of the angles results in ~nore laterally variant piston - 15 diameters (i.e., more tolerant to a designed interference between the piston and the inner wall surfaces of a container in spite of container inner dimension differences), but less preferential frictional resistance ( i . e., less increase in the normal forces exerted against the inner container walls for a given load on the 20 piston) to displacement. Once included angle 77 is increased beyond 120, however, both tolerance and preferential friçtional resistance begin to decrease. Included angles of individual bellows may therefore be adjusted to c~eate a follower piston having a desired latitude of interferenc~ within a container, exact 25 optimal tolerance, and frictional resistance for any individual disp~nsing package. Greater piston tolerance can be very bene-ficial in compensating for manufacturing variations of container - and piston dimensions common to high speed mass-production . ` situations. Therefore, the trade-off of less preferential frictional 30 resistance for greater piston tolerance can be balanced as the circumstances dictate. Although the angles cL and ~ are described in the embodiments as being approximately equal, this need not be the case. It has been found that only one of the angles ~ or must be small (e.g. 15) to achieve ~ZS~

higher preferential resistance under load, while the other angle can be large. Such a combination could be useful in facilitating the molding proced-lres of a piston having small pitch and a small r angle c~ or B, as less intricate mold conformations would be requ i red .
In the embodiments described, the piston ~ce 76 is shown having a convex surface with a preferred radius of curvatur~ of about 38 mm (1.50 inches) and being located adjacent the upper-most bellows 73. Another way in which piston performance may be tuned to a particular dispensing need is by varying the shape and location of the face 7S. For example, a flat piston face could be horizontally affixed centraliy within a bellows piston, leaving both ends of said piston open. Such a piston would have no preference to displacement within a package. Slight preference to displacement in the upward direction could be accomplished by locating said flat piston face closer ~o the upper end of said piston. If piston face 76, as described herein, were upwardly concave as opposed to convex, instead of augmenting the ten-dency of the uppermost beilows to virtually radially expand in response to downward pressure, it would tend to radially expand in response to upward pressure, thsreby slightly increasing frictional resistance to upward displacement and improving the seal at the upperrnost contact band 78 of the piston. Such a concave shape might be desirable to insure air-tight seals of

2~ contained fluid products which are sensitive to air. Likewise with other pistons made in accordance with this disclosure, the piston face can assume a variety of shapes and thicknesses according to specific functional characteristics desired. For example, an upwardly convex face 176 of piston 170 might preferably be of thinner thickness so that it can more easily virtually radially expand in response to downward axial pressure, thereby augmenting the seai between the outer periphery 180 and the inner surfaces of tubular portion 51. Piston faces can be corr-espondingly shaped with various concave or convex diameters, or with mixed combinations of flat, concave and convex ~Z5~

conformations to precisely control piston performance characteris-tics. Custom-shaped piston faces can also be utilized to aliow the piston to nest with the conformation of the upper portions of a f pump dispenser to insure that substantially all the containedproduct will be dispensed, thereby reducing product waste (e.g.
piston 70' of Figure 7).
It has also been found that to prudently r!~atch the pre-determined frictional resistance of the piston within the container, the volume (and pressure) varying capabilities of the volume varying means, the piston face configuration and the pressure requirements for clispensing, the viscosity and lubricity of the fluid product to be dispensed must be considered. Viscosity can substantially affect the pressure drop across the dispensing conduit and may also be key in determining the number and type of sealing means required for said piston to effectively operate and protect said fluid within the dispensing package. For - example, an upwardly concave piston face 16 would probably be desirable to insure a fluid-tight seal of fluid products sensitive to air which have relatively low viscosities, whereas, an upwardiy convex or flat face might be sufficient with a fluid of relatively high viscosity. It has been observed that higher viscosity fluids - tend to augment the reliability of the piston seals. Lubricity of a contained fluid and the inherent coefficient of friction of ehe particular materials chosen for the follower piston and the con-tainer body logically tend to have a direct effect on friction values within the dispensing system, and such effects must be considered in the design requirements of each particular exe-cution .
Pistons, as described herein, also have applicability as follower devices in any product dispenser which houses the product in an axially extending bore wherein the piston can be slidably mounted. For example, piston 70 could be utilized in a solid product dispenser, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of Figure 8, wherein piston 70 is slidably mounted in the lower 36~

end of the axial bore of the dispenser lO00 supporting the solid product P thereabove, and wherein piston 70 is to be manually pushed upwardly within the axial bore îo dispense the product.
Dispenser lO00 is shown with cylindrical conformation, although 5 various shapes of the outer and inner sur~aces could be utilized.
Dispenser 1 ûO0 is also shown with a snap-on cap 1065 in closed position; however, cap 1065 is shown only as an example of closure means for such a dispens~r. This dispenser execution would- be especially advantageous for use with solid products such lû as stick type deodorants which are to be rubbed onto axilla surfaces, in use, because piston 70 would resist backward displacement within the axial bore in response to the axial compressive force created by such rubbing during the dispensing operation, Various modifications and uses of the described invention in addition to those discussed above will be apparent to those ski!led in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considared in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and 20 operation described and shown in the specification and drawings.

~5

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An improved dispenser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end from which product is dispensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within said lower end of the bore of said body to support said product thereabove, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall which has at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore, said sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band, said piston being hollow with the interior surfaces of said face and said sidewall exposed to atmospheric pressure, and said contact band dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of downward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually expand the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby increasing said normal force and proportionally increasing piston resistance to rearward displacement within said dispenser, and application of upward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby reducing said normal force and proportionally reducing piston resistance to upward displacement therein and permitting said follower piston to move upwardly within said dispenser while maintaining a seal with the inner surfaces of said bore.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said follower piston sidewall further comprises at least one thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity formed thereabout.

3. An improved dispenser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end from which product is dispensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within said lower end of the bore of said body to support said product thereabove, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product, a depending friction ring which establishes a predetermined frictional resistance to displacement of said piston within said bore in static condition, and a peripherally attached sidewall which has at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore, said contact band dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, said piston sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band and having at least one thin-wall, reentrant, bellows-like concavity formed thereabout, said bellows-like concavity further comprising an outwardly convex continuous depending sidewall, said depending sidewall being attached about its upper periphery to said face portion and about its lower periphery to said friction ring and having said peripheral contact band formed intermediate said face portion and said friction ring, and said piston being hollow with the interior surfaces of said face and said piston sidewall exposed to atmospheric pressure, whereby application of downward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually expand the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby increasing said normal force and proportionally increasing piston resistance to rearward displacement within said dispenser, and application of upward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby reducing said normal force and proportionally reducing piston resistance to upward displacement therein and permitting said follower piston to move upwardly within said dispenser while maintaining a seal with the inner surfaces of said bore.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein said contact band of said follower piston is located at the radially largest continuous outside dimension of said outwardly convex sidewall.

5. An improved dispenser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end from which product is dispensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within said lower end of the bore of said body to support said product thereabove, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall, the interior surfaces of said face and said sidewall being exposed to ambient air, said sidewall being formed with at least one thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity thereabout, the upper and lower extremes of said concavity each being connected to an integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of the bore, said sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact bands, said contact bands being dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of downward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually expand the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby increasing said normal force and proportionally increasing piston resistance to rearward displacement within said dispenser, and application of upward axial force on said piston face tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby reducing said normal force and proportionally reducing piston resistance to upward displacement therein and permitting said follower to move upwardly within said dispenser while maintaining a seal with the inner surfaces of said bore.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said follower piston sidewall is formed with a plurality of said thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavities integrally connected in seriatim by peripheral contact bands at their upper and lower extremes thereby forming a thin-walled accordion-like structure which resiliently permits said depending sidewall to be virtually longitudinally strained by axial forces, said virtual longitudinal strain resulting in inversely proportional virtual radial dimensional strain of said peripheral contact bands.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said face portion of said follower piston is connected about its outer periphery to the upper extreme of the uppermost bellows-like concavity by the uppermost integral peripheral contact band.

8. The dispenser of claims 4, 6 or 7 wherein the product-contacting side of said face portion of said follower piston is substantially convex.

9. The dispenser of claims 4, 6 or 7 wherein the product-contacting side of said face portion of said follower piston is substantially concave.

10. The dispenser of claims 4, 6 or 7 wherein the product-contacting side of said face portion of said follower piston is substantially flat.

11. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said reentrant, bellows-like concavities have included angles of between about 30° and about 120°.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said reentrant, bellows-like concavities each have a pitch of at least about 3.2 mm (0.125 inches).

13. An improved dispenser for a product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end from which product is dispensed and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within said lower end of the bore of said body to support said product thereabove, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product, a friction ring dimensioned to provide an interference fit within said bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, and a peripherally attached sidewall further comprising at least two oppositely disposed helical strips depending from the lower periphery of said face portion and attached at their lower ends to the upper periphery of said friction ring, said helical strips conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore thereby establishing at least two peripheral contact bands, said sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in an inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact bands, said piston being hollow with the interior surfaces of said face and said sidewall exposed to atmospheric pressure.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said follower piston further comprises two right-handed and two left-handed helical strips depending from the lower periphery of said face portion and attached at their lower ends to the upper periphery of said friction ring, each of said helical strips formed as one full helical revolution, said helical strips being connected to one another at their helical intersections thereby forming a perforated sidewall.

15. An improved pump-type dispenser for a fluid product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end which communicates with a discharge passageway and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within the bore of said body and sealing the same against escape of product from said lower end, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall, said sidewall further comprising at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore and being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band, said piston being hollow and the interior surfaces of said face and side sidewall being exposed to atmospheric pressure, said contact band being dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of pumping pressure to said product tends to virtually expand the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby increasing said normal force to prevent movement of said piston toward the open end of the bore and reduction of pressure within the product to below atmospheric tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band thereby reducing said normal force and permitting ambient air pressure to move said piston toward the upper end of the bore until equilibrium is reached, said piston maintaining its seal within said bore as it moves upwardly therewithin.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said follower piston sidewall further comprises at least one thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity formed thereabout.

17. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said follower piston further comprises a depending friction ring dimensioned to provide an interference fit within said bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, and wherein said sidewall further comprises at least two oppositely disposed helical strips depending from the lower periphery of said face portion and attached at their lower ends to the upper periphery of said friction ring, said helical strips conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore thereby establishing at least two peripheral contact bands.

18. A pump-type dispenser for a fluid product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end which communicates with a discharge passageway and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within the bore of said body and sealing the same against escape of product from said lower end, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product, a depending friction ring which establishes a predetermined frictional resistance to displacement of said piston within said bore in static condition, and a peripherally attached sidewall further comprising at least one integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of said bore and having at least one thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity formed thereabout, said piston sidewall being adapted to virtually resiliently longitudinally extend or contract in response to axial forces exerted on said face portion with such change in length resulting in inversely proportional virtual change in lateral dimension of said peripheral contact band, said piston being hollow and the interior surfaces of said face and said piston sidewall being exposed to atmospheric pressure, said bellows-like concavity further comprising an outwardly convex continuous depending sidewall, said depending sidewall being attached about its upper periphery to said face portion and about its lower periphery to said friction ring and having said peripheral contact band formed intermediate said face portion and said friction ring, said contact band being dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surface of said bore in static condition, whereby application of pumping pressure to said product increases said normal force to prevent movement of said piston toward the open end of the bore and reduction of pressure within the product to below atmospheric reduces said normal force and permits ambient air pressure to move said piston toward the upper end of the bore until equilibrium is reached, said piston maintaining its seal within said bore as it moves upwardly therewithin.

19. An improved pump-type dispenser for a fluid product, wherein the product is housed in an axially extending bore of a tubular container body having an upper end which communicates with a discharge passageway and an open lower end, said dispenser comprising a follower piston slidably mounted within the bore of said body and sealing the same against escape of product from said lower end, said piston being constructed of resilient material and comprising a face portion adapted to contact the product and a peripherally attached sidewall, said piston being hollow and the interior surfaces of said face and said sidewall being exposed to ambient air, said sidewall being formed with at least one thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavity thereabout, the upper and lower extremes of said concavity each being connected to an integral peripheral contact band conforming to the shape of the cross section of the bore, said contact bands being dimensioned to provide an interference fit within the bore which exerts a predetermined normal force against the inner surfaces of said bore in static condition, whereby application of pumping pressure to said product tends to virtually expand the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby increasing said normal force to prevent movement of said piston toward the open end of the bore and reduction of pressure within the product to below atmospheric tends to virtually decrease the lateral dimensions of said peripheral contact bands thereby reducing said normal force and permitting ambient air pressure to move said piston toward the upper end of the bore until equilibrium is reached, said piston maintaining its seal within said bore as it moves upwardly therewithin.

20. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the peripherally attached sidewall of said follower piston is formed with a plurality of said thin-walled, reentrant, bellows-like concavities integrally connected by said contact bands at their upper and lower extremes thereby forming a thin-walled accordion-like structure which resiliently permits said sidewall to be virtually longitudinally strained by said pumping pressure, said virtual longitudinal strain resulting in inversely proportional virtual lateral dimension strain of said peripheral contact bands, whereby virtual lateral expansion of said contact bands results in increased normal force exerted by said contact bands against the inner surfaces of said bore, and virtual lateral compression of said contact bands results in decreased normal force exerted thereby.

210 The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the product-contacting side of said face portion of said follower piston is substantially convex.

22. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the product-contacting side of said face portion of said follower piston is substantially concave.

23. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the product-contacting side of said face portion of said follower piston is substantially flat.

24. The dispenser of claim 21 wherein the face portion of said follower piston is connected about its outer periphery to the upper extreme of the uppermost bellows-like concavity by the uppermost integral peripheral contact band.

25. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein said reentrant, bellows-like concavities have included angles of between about 30° and about 120°.

26. The dispenser of claim 25, wherein said reentrant, bellows-like concavities each have a pitch of at least about 3.2 mm (0.125 inches).