KR19990029123A - Dispensing Container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispensing container which can be easily operated by an infant as well as an infant with a small hand. The container includes an open end, a closed end and a body. The body has a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, an upper portion adjacent to the open end, a lower portion adjacent to the closed end, and a central portion between the upper and lower portions. The dispensing vessel also includes a first recessed portion on the front side of the body and a second recessed portion on the back side of the body, the recessed portion being adjacent to the closed end and the side of the container. The first recess defines a first panel on the front of the vessel and the second recess defines a second panel on the rear of the vessel. The container also includes a neck defining an opening of the container, the neck having an end adapted to properly install the closure.

Description

Distribution container

The present invention relates to the field of dispensing vessels. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved form of container suitable for use in adults and infants.

Most of the dispensing containers in use today are sized for use by adults. Young children are much smaller in size. Thus, young children are difficult to handle and effectively dispense products from containers designed for use by adults. Conversely, it is difficult for adults to use dispensing containers designed specifically for use by small children.

Another problem associated with conventional containers is that the containers are designed to dispense products by adults. In other words, the amount of force needed to discharge the product from the container should be about the same as the strength of an adult's hand. Older and weaker people than children and adults have less power available to distribute products. Therefore, it is desirable for the container to be less laborious to dispense so that the container can be preferred by those who lack hand strength.

In conventional containers for toiletries, products are often packaged for storage in an upright direction, ie in the upright direction where the closed end of the container is below the open end, as if the container were positioned when filled with the product to enter therein. Such products are often stored in an upright batch, but the products are often dispensed from the container in the reverse direction. The container typically has a large amount of product that is not properly dispensed because it contacts a certain stagnate, ie container wall. This stagnation is noticeable in containers where the product is stored in one direction and used in the opposite direction. This problem also stands out in the case of viscous products such as shampoos.

Another problem with conventional containers is that they slide out of the hand, especially when the hands are wet. This is especially a problem for toiletries containers commonly used in bathrooms by small children, such as shampoos and body wash products.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing container designed to fit the hands of both adults as well as young children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which requires a minimum of force for dispensing a product from the container so that it is easy to use by a person who lacks hand force.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container having a design feature which prevents the container from slipping from the user's hand, especially when the user's hand is wet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container suitable for storage in an inverted shape so as to minimize the congestion of the container contents, especially when used for storing viscous liquid products.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a container that is ergonomically effective for use by children and adults while having a surface that allows for easy labeling of the container.

According to the present invention, there is provided a dispensing container comprising an open end, a closed end, and a body, including only these and making them an essential component. The body has a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, an upper portion adjacent to the open end, a lower portion adjacent to the closed end, and a center portion between the upper portion and the lower portion. The dispensing vessel of the present invention also includes a first recess on the front of the body and a second recess on the back of the body, the recess being adjacent to the closed end and the side of the container. The first recess forms a first panel on the front side of the container and the second recess forms a second panel on the back side of the container. The container also includes a neck defining an opening in the container, the neck having an end suitable for installing a closure.

Another object of the present invention relates to a dispensing container comprising an open end, a closed end and a body, including only these elements, which are essential elements thereof. The main body has a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, an upper portion adjacent to the open end, a lower portion adjacent to the closed end, and a central portion between the upper portion and the lower middle. The dispensing vessel of the present invention also includes a first recess on the front of the body and a second recess on the back of the body, the recess being adjacent to the closed end and the side of the container. The first recesses form a first panel on the front side of the container and the second recesses form a second panel on the back side of the container. The container also includes a neck defining an opening in the container, the neck having an end suitable for installing a closure. The container also includes a closure.

Another feature of the invention relates to a container that is capable of dispensing a liquid. The container containing the elastic polymer material,

a. An open end, a closed end and a body;

b. A first recess on the front of the main body and a second recess on the rear of the main body,

c. A neck forming an opening in the container,

d. Additionally includes a closure for dispensing the liquid, and includes only these, or makes them an essential component,

The main body has a front part, a rear part, a first side and a second side, an upper part adjacent to the open end, a lower part adjacent to the closed end, and a middle part between the upper part and the lower part, and the concave part is adjacent to the closed end and the side part. The first recess forms a first panel on the front side of the container and the second recess forms a second panel on the back side of the container, the neck having an end suitable for installing the closure, wherein:

1. The upper body portion is approximately circular in cross section and has a circumference between about 4.7 and about 6.0 inches,

2. The upper body portion has a length of at least about 0.2 inches;

3. The central body part is oval in cross section, and the circumference increases from the upper body part to the lower body part,

4. The lower body part is approximately elliptical in cross section and the circumference decreases from the central body part to the closed end,

5. The panel has a long dimension in the direction of the closed end of the container at the open end and a short dimension in the second side of the container at the first side, the panel is curved in short dimension and is approximately straight in the longitudinal direction.

The container of the present invention has one or more characteristic advantages. The container is not only designed to fit in the hands of both children and adults, but also requires minimal force to dispense the product from the container. In addition, the container is designed to prevent the user's hand from slipping, the container includes a surface that minimizes the congestion of the contents contained therein, and facilitates labeling operation.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following description, and various advantages will be clearly understood with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

1A is a front view showing a preferred structure of the container of the present invention.

1B is a side view of the container of FIG. 1A;

1C is a front view of the container of FIG. 1A showing section lines A-A to F-F.

2A-2F are cross-sectional views of the FIG. 1C container in cross sections A-A-F-F, respectively.

3a and 3b are front views of the container of the present invention with finger gripping means;

4 shows a variant embodiment of the container of FIG.

5A, 5B and 5C are front, side and back views, respectively, of the FIG. 1A container fitted with a liquid dispensing closure;

FIG. 6A is a front view of the FIG. 1A container with a modified liquid closure fitted; FIG.

6B is a front view of the container of FIG. 6A in the opposite direction.

7 is a front view of the FIG. 1A container with a closure including an aerosol pump dispenser.

8 is a front view of another example of the container of the present invention having a neck end adapted to dispense powder.

9 shows the FIG. 8 container with the closure fitted;

10A is a top view of the neck end of the FIG. 8 container;

10B and 10C are plan views of the closure of the FIG. 9 container showing the closure in the open and closed positions, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a graph of the volume (ml) of liquid discharged versus the force (lbs) required to release liquid from a container with a device capable of controlling the amount of release of the invention.

12A and 12B are front and side views, respectively, of a container used for a commercial cosmetic package for infants;

Figure 13 is a side view of the container of the present invention in an inverted position supported by a support located in the recess of the container but not in contact with the panel of the container.

14 shows a palm-sized container of the present invention held in place for dispensing product from the container.

15A shows another embodiment of the container of the present invention having a closure including a valve and a lid in an open position.

FIG. 15B shows the FIG. 15B container with lid in a closed position. FIG.

16A and 16B show the closure of the container in FIGS. 15A and 15B in cross section with the lid in the open and closed positions, respectively.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: open end 2: closed end

3: neck 6: container

20 opening 22 body

71, 72: first and second supports

As used herein, the term upright direction is intended to mean that the closed end of the container is below the open end of the container when the container is positioned with the product to be filled therein. Conversely, the term reversal direction shall mean that the closed end of the container is located above the open end. Likewise, the term lateral direction shall mean that the container is in a direction intermediate between the upright and reverse directions. The description of this orientation is merely used to describe the orientation of the vessel for convenience and does not mean the orientation of the vessel during storage and dispensing of product from the vessel. As described below, various container embodiments of the present invention may be used in either an upright or reverse direction.

The basic form of the invention is shown in the upright vessel in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, where the vessel is used at 6 throughout the specification. The container 6 comprises an open end 1 and a closed end 2. The closed end of the container 6 preferably has a surface 21 which keeps the container 6 standing when placed on a flat surface in the upright direction. The open end 1 of the container 6 comprises a neck 3 forming an opening 20 of the container. The neck includes a neck end 4 adapted to engage with a container closure (not shown). While any other end known in the art can be used with the container of the present invention, the neck end shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a threaded end. By way of example, other suitable ends may include, but are not limited to, press-fit ends, snap-on ends, snap and turn ends, or, for example, The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology. Oriented threaded ends, such as disclosed in John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1986).

The open end 1 of the container 6 also includes a shoulder 5 connecting the neck 3 to the body 22 of the container. The body 22 of the container comprises an upper body portion 7 adjacent to the open end 1, which is preferably circular in cross section. The upper body portion 7 of the vessel 6 is preferably from about 4.7 inches to about 6.0 inches, preferably from 5.0 inches to 5.7 inches, as measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 23 of the vessel 6. Have circumference The upper body portion 7 preferably has a substantially constant circumference with respect to the length below the longitudinal axis of the at least 0.2 inch container 6.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the upper body portion 7 leads to a central body portion 8 located adjacently below the upper body portion 7 along the longitudinal axis 23. In transitioning from the upper body portion 7 to the central body portion 8, the container 6 continues to grow circumferentially and begins to be considered an oval or elliptical cross-section. As it goes down the longitudinal axis of the container 6, the circumference of the container continues to increase up to the area of the maximum circumference 9, and then preferably the circumference of the container 6 continues to decrease. The region of the maximum circumference indicates the transition from the central body portion 8 to the lower body portion 10 of the container 6 adjacent its closed end 2.

The longitudinal length of the upper body portion 7, the center body portion 8 and the lower body portion 10 vary depending on the desired use of the container 6, but the ratio of the length of the center body portion to the upper body portion is From about 1.2: 1 to about 6: 1, preferably from 1.75: 1 to 5: 1. The ratio of the lower body portion to the upper body portion is preferably from about 1: 1 to about 3: 1, preferably from about 1.2: 1 to about 2.5: 1.

The cross-sectional shape and the circumference change of the container 6 along the longitudinal direction are shown in FIGS. 2A-2F. Each of these figures shows an approximate cross-sectional shape of the vessel 6 along the cutting lines A-A to F-F shown in each FIG. 1C. The inventors found that the change in the circumferential direction of the container along the longitudinal axis of the upper body part 7 can be conveniently carried and used by larger children and adults, which has the ergonomic advantage when used by small children. I found out what I did not expect.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the body portion 22 of the container 6 includes a front face 11, a back face 12, a first side 13 and a second side 14. The front face 11 of the container comprises a first recess 15 and the back face of the container comprises a second recess 16. The recess is adjacent to the closed end 2, the first side 13 and the second side 4 of the container. The first concave portion 15 and the second concave portion 16 form a first panel 17 and a second panel 18 of the front and rear sides of the container, respectively. Each recess has an evacuation 19 as shown in FIG. 1B. The depth of the recess 15 is, for example, the distance perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from the protruding line 21, which projects from the closed end 2 of the container 6 to the panel 17 of the container. As shown in FIG. 13, the recess of the container 6 when the container is in the reverse direction and the first support 71 tangentially located in the recess 15 of the front 11 of the container 6. It is of sufficient depth to be squeezed by the second support 72 located in the recess 16 on the rear face 12, and the support does not actually contact the panel of the container. The inventors have found that the depth of these recesses is sometimes used to store and dispense shampoo when the container is being handled in either the reverse or lateral direction, in particular for body cleansers and shampoos used in cleansing toiletries such as showers or baths, It was surprisingly found that when the container is wet, it provides an anti-slip feature to the container.

The depth of the recess may be any desired thickness and may depend, for example, on the desired end use of the container and the contents stored therein. The depth of the recess is preferably changed at different positions on the vessel, more preferably at the position closest to the closed end 2 of the vessel and gradually decreases in the longitudinal direction towards the open end 2 and the first side ( 13) and second side 14. Preferably the depth of the recess is in the range of about 2.0 mm to 3.4 mm, more preferably in the range of 2.5 mm to 2.9 mm. While this depth is taken as providing a container having effective anti-slip properties, it will be appreciated that other recess depths may be made to meet particular needs and are within the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the recess is not adjacent to the open end of the container and thus a U-shaped outer frame is provided in the panel. Since there is no recess near the open end 1, the user of the container is the user's hand over the entire length of the first and second panels from the bottom of the panel closest to the closed end 2 of the container to the open end 1 of the container. This allows it to slide freely so that the part of the container with the circumference that best matches the size of the user's hand can be found.

It is contemplated that the dimensions and structural features of the container of the present invention exemplified above allow the container of the present invention to be easily gripped and handled by both adults and infants in an ergonomic manner. As will be described later, these dimensions and features are considered to take into account consumer preferences for the handleability of the container of the present invention over conventional containers.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the panels 17, 18 are concave with respect to the sides 13, 14 and the closed end 2 of the container. The size, shape and geometry of the container varies depending on the desired end use of the container, but the first panel 17 and the second panel 18 are the same size, shape and geometry. The panel has elongate dimensions in the direction from the open end 1 of the container to the closed end 2, ie in a direction approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis 23 of the container, and from the first side to the second side of the container. , Short, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal side 23. The length of the panel is defined as the distance from the point of the recess 15 closest to the bottom of the container 24, ie from the point 30 to the top 29 of the upper body part 7 of the container.

Panels 17 and 18 have surfaces 27 and 28 that are approximately flat or curved. If the panel surface is curved, the curves only extend in a single dimension, with approximately straight lines in the other direction being preferred. For example, the container of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B has panels 17 and 18 that are curved in short dimensions but approximately straight in long dimensions. Preferably, the panels are approximately straight in these elongated dimensions over a distance of at least about 50% of the longitudinal length, more preferably a distance of at least about 65% of the longitudinal length, based on the longitudinal length of the panel. The inventors have found that the geometrical shape of such panels is particularly desirable to label or decorate the container in the panel area by printing or adhering the label with adhesive on the back of the container. In the case of printing, the absence of curvature of two-dimensional dimensions with respect to the entire part of the panel ensures the contact of the printing roll with the part of the panel. Likewise, in the case of labeling by adhesive, the absence of two-dimensional curvature over the entire portion of the panel allows the adhesive label to be attached to the panel without twisting the label.

3A, 3B illustrate a modification of the container of the present invention having a lateral projection 25 or recess 26 optionally raised on its side to provide a means for improving the grip of a user's finger around the container. For example. Optionally, combinations of both protrusions and recesses of the invention may be included. Although only the side, protrusions and circular recesses are described in FIGS. 3A and 3B, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the container may be molded into any shape, size and amount of the container to improve the grip of the protrusions, recesses and container users. It will be appreciated that other grip enhancing means such as rubber or polymer sections may be possessed.

4 shows another embodiment of the container of FIGS. 1A and 1B, where the entering volume of the container of FIG. 4 is about half of the entering volume of the container of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the container 6 of the present invention is fitted with a closure 39 to contain and dispense a product contained therein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of the closure suitable for use in the present invention depends on several factors, such as the form of the product in the container, the desired form in which the product is dispensed, and the degree of convenience provided to the consumer. It will be easy to understand.

Any form of closure known in the art can be used as the container of the present invention and includes, but is not limited to, those disclosed in The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1986. .

In the case of a container used for storing and dispensing liquids, the simplest form of closure may be a monolithic conventional cap that may be separated from the container for dispensing the product therefrom, but may be separated from the container for dispensing the product therefrom. Preference is given to the use of enclosed closures.

Samples of the container 6 engaged with the closure 39 for dispensing a liquid product are described in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C in which the container of FIGS. 1A, 1B is engaged with a commercially hinged closure. Other suitable closures are known in the industry, except as defined in 1), 2) and 3) below. 1) Including a lid and a body which can be completely separated from the body of the closed body. 2) with leads slidably connected to the body of the closure. 3) No lead, such as the flip-spout type and push-pull type of the closure, as disclosed in Wiley as an example.

The closure 39 includes a body portion 31 and a lead portion 32 hingedly connected to the body portion via the hinge 33. Body portion 31 includes an orifice (not shown) through which product can be dispensed. The lead portion 32 includes a pin on its lower portion (not shown) sized to closely fit into the orifice of the body portion 31. When the lid portion 32 is in its closed position, the pin is in contact with the body portion 31 to seal the container and therefore the distribution of its contents is prevented. The body portion 31 is provided with any recess 34 to easily allow opening of the closure by placing a finger in the recess 34 below a portion of the lid 35 and then applying a force to the lower side of the lid. It may include.

The closure 39 has a base 36 adjacent the upper body portion of the container and an upper portion 37 far from the base 36. The closure 39 has a substantially uniform circular circumference from its base 36 to its upper portion 37 which is substantially equal to the circumference of the upper body portion of the container.

Other novel features of the invention are shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. Preferably, the closure 39 has an upper surface 38 which permits storage of the container in the operating direction. When the contents of the container are removed, storage of the container in the operating direction rather leaves the contents of the container for collection at the open end of the container and then at its closed end, thereby substantially dispensing the entire contents of the container and in fact more The problem of hold up can be eliminated for viscous contents. Preferably, both the closed end of the container and the upper end of the container have a surface capable of storing the container in either the upper or operating direction.

Another embodiment of the container of the present invention is shown in the upper and operating directions in FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively. The closure 40 has a base 41 adjacent the upper body portion of the container and an upper portion 42 away from the base 41. The base 41 has a circular circumference substantially the same as the circumference of the upper body portion 7 of the container. The closure 40 is tapered so that the circumference of the closure body increases from the base 41 of the container to the top 42. The container is referred to herein as a reverse taper container. The degree of taper may vary depending on the good end use of the container and the good aesthetic effect. The closure 40 has an upper surface 43 that permits storage of the container in the operating direction. The large circumference at the top of the tapered closure provides additional stability to the container when it is stored in the operating direction. The closure 40 has an upper surface 43 that permits storage of the container in the operating direction. The large circumference at the top of the tapered closure provides additional stability to the container when it is stored in the operating direction.

In another preferred embodiment, the closure used in the vessel of the invention may comprise a valve as described in FIG. 15A. The described examples of suitable valves for use in the vessels of the invention are not limited to those disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,439,143, US Pat. No. 4,749,108 and US Pat. No. 4,846,810, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In general, the valve is designed to open to a pressure above a certain threshold, so that the product is released from the container and the product is released from the container to close to a pressure below the threshold pressure. When the vessel contents appear at the maximum head pressure, ie when the vessel is fully filled, the minimum value of the limit pressure of the valve is indicated as the need for the valve to contain the contents of the vessel. The head pressure of the container contents depends on the shape of the container and the density of the content. In particular, the actual minimum limit pressure is somewhat higher than the head pressure to accommodate the micro-pressure changes that occur in the container as it is treated when release of the contents is undesirable. When the container is compressed by its intended user the maximum value of the threshold pressure is dictated by the need to have the valve open. In the container of the invention, the valve can be operated not only by an adult but also by a child and / or an elderly person with relatively weak hand forces.

With a container made of an elastic body, the application of a compressive force to the outside of the container can release the product from the container by providing a pressure inside the container where the limit pressure is exceeded. Discontinuity and sufficient reduction of the pressing force can reduce the pressure inside the vessel below the threshold pressure, thereby closing the valve and releasing the product from the vessel. This feature is particularly important for the action in which the container is frequently used in the operating direction.

15A and 15B show a container of the present invention having a closure 85 that includes a lid 84 and a valve 80. The lid 84 is hinged to the elongate member 86 via a hinge 83. The lid 84 includes a stopper 82 on the bottom surface mating with the protruding orifice ring 81 of the closure 85. When in use and in the position ready to dispense the product, the lid 84 is in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 15A. During storage and transportation, the lid 84 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 15B. When in the closed position, the stopper 82 on the bottom surface of the lid 84 is mated with the protruding orifice ring 81, thereby preventing the valve 80 from reversing and preventing the discharge of the product. The closure 85 has a circumference at the bottom 88 adjacent the upper body portion of the vessel that is approximately equal to the circumference of the upper body portion of the vessel. The closure 85 is tapered and the circumference at the top 87 is greater than the circumference at the bottom 88. The larger circumference at the top 87 of the closure 85 provides the container with additional stability upon storage in the reverse direction.

The valve uses methods known in the art including, but not limited to, securing the valve to the closure by mechanical means, for example by the use of a retaining ring that snaps in place relative to the body of the closure. Through the closure body. Such closures are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,377,877, which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the valve and the closure body are integrally formed, for example, by multi-injection or co-injection molding of the closure material and the separating material comprising the valve. Co-injection methods are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,523,045 and Modern Plastics Encyclopedia McGraw-Hill, New York, 1990, which are incorporated herein by reference.

6B is shown in the reversed direction of the container of FIG. 6A. In general, the container is shown in the form of an exclamation mark in the reverse direction. The container dimensions allow a small child to conveniently and comfortably grip the container near its upper body portion 7, while a large adult can comfortably hold the container in its central body portion 8 or its lower body portion 10. It is supposed to be able to grip. The container 6 holds the back of the container in the palm of the hand so that the thumb and other fingers can be in contact with the sides of the container and at least partially in contact with the front of the container so that an adult with an average sized hand is at its maximum wide point. (9) is the size and shape to catch.

In another embodiment, the container of the present invention may include a closure adapted to dispense the liquid in the form of a spray or aerosol. One example of the aerosol dispensing vessel of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7, where the vessels of FIGS. 1A and 1B are fitted with a conventional closure body 50 that includes an aerosol pump. The closure makes the container easy to attach and at least partially grips the container in the knurled color. The product contained therein is dispensed out of the orifice 53 from the container by depressing the pump plunger 52.

As disclosed in The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1986, in the art, including but not limited to squeegee spray or atomizer spray bulbs operated by squeezing containers. Other known spray means may be used with the container of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the product, such as a liquid surfactant article, may be dispensed from the container in bubbles by entrainment of air into the liquid when dispensed. For example, US Pat. No. 5,271,530, US Pat. No. 5,570,819, US Pat. No. 4,022,351, US Pat. No. 5,037,006, US Pat. No. 5,364,031 and US Pat. No. 5,462,208 disclose foams for dispensing nozzles and pumps. And these patents are incorporated herein by reference. Foam is usually forced out of the container including the nozzle and the pump by squeezing the container or operating the pump.

Another embodiment is directed to a container having a neck end capable of dispensing a powdered solid, such as a sweat belt powder, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10A, 10B and 10C. The neck end 60 of the container includes a groove 61 and a flat surface 62 in communication with the empty volume of the container. The closure 63 is paired with the neck end 60 in the form of a snap fit. The closure 63 preferably has one or more holes 64 in a pattern consistent with the pattern of the channels 61 at the neck end 60. The closure can freely rotate at least a portion of the rotation when in contact with the neck end. The open position for dispensing powder from the container is shown in FIG. 10B, where the aperture 64 of the closure 63 is aligned with the channel 61 of the neck end 60. Likewise, FIG. 10C shows the closed position of the closed body, which is rotated 30 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 10B.

The container of the present invention may be made of any material that is inert and can be formed into the required form with the material contained therein. Preferred materials generally include certain elastomeric materials used in container manufacturing techniques, but are not limited to polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride based resins, polyethylene terephthalates, or copolymers or mixtures thereof. Copolymer used therein means a particular plymer having two or more homogeneous components.

Different grades of polyethylene, including low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene or copolymers or mixtures thereof, are frequently compatible with cosmetic products and are good materials for the containers of the present invention. Low density polyethylene yields a bottle that is relatively easy to compress, and high density polyethylene bottles are relatively hard. In the case of liquid products dispensed by squeezing the container, 50:50 mixing of low density and high density polyethylene is good. In the case of powder by which the preferred dispensing method is by shaking the container, a rigid container produced from high density polyethylene is preferred.

The thickness of the outer wall, i.e. the panel, the first side, the second side, etc., may be of a particular good thickness which may vary within the container and may depend on the contents stored therein and the use of the good end of the container. Preferably, the wall is about 16.09-80.45 kilometers (about 10-50 miles), preferably about 48.27-64.36 kilometers (about 30-40 miles). The thickness is good when providing a radical resilient container, and other wall thicknesses may be products to meet specific needs without departing from the claims of the present invention.

The container of the present invention can be formed by certain conventional techniques known in the industry for producing a container, and is not limited to extension blow molding, injection blow molding, stretch blow molding, and the like. Details of this process are disclosed, for example, in The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1986. Extended blow molding is an optional process.

One notable feature of the container of the present invention is that it is comfortably suitable for the hands of both adults and small children. Another notable feature is that the container of the present invention uses a relatively small hand force to dispense the product, and therefore is good for adults and children who lack hand. Another notable feature, in particular, the container of the present invention is designed to prevent slipping from the user's hand when the hand is wet. Another notable feature of the container of the present invention is that it has a surface that is relatively easy for printing and labeling.

The invention disclosed herein may be practiced in the absence of certain components, materials, or in particular steps not disclosed herein. The examples described below illustrate the nature of the invention and how it can be practiced. However, the invention is not limited to the details.

Yes

Test method used in the example

1) Dispensing force test: The force for dispensing contents from a container or dispensing force is a thin (0.003mm) flexible sensor strip that can be installed on a variety of surfaces that have little or no effect on the test example, and the sensor recognizes the data. Measurements are made using uniform force tester equipment (parallel port input / output versions) manufactured by force imaging technology with both hardware and software (uniform sensor system version 5) that interfaces to a personal computer.

A sensor strip with an appropriate force range (typically 0-10 lbs) is a panel of sample vessels with sensors installed in a location typically in contact with the vessel while the user's fingers normally dispense product from the vessel as shown in FIG. It is installed on one. For adult sized hands, the thumb is normally in contact with the panel at a point between about 70 to 80 percent of the panel length closest to the closed end 2 of the container. The software is set to record data mode with a time duration between 1.25 and 1.75 seconds. The container is held in the user's hand with a thumb on one side of the container and the other finger on the opposite side of the container. With the thumb on the sensor, the container is held in a vertical position with the dispensing orifice downward across the beaker located on the model PE 600 Metler electronic balance. The vessel is then manually compressed with sufficient force to open the valve and dispense the standard quality of the product contained therein (3-6 g). The maximum force required to open the valve and dispense each of the product quality is output by a computer program. The force values along the weight of the dispensed product are manually scheduled by the operator.

After the balance is reset to zero, the sequence is repeated until the container is empty of all products. The data collected by the operator is then used to display a graph showing the force required to open the valve as a function of the amount of accumulation of product dispensed from the container.

Example 1: Distribution force measurement

The force required for dispensing the product from the container of the present invention and the various commercially available containers shown in Table 1 below is measured according to the dispensing force tester described above. Each vessel in Table 1 is fitted with a closure including a silicone dispense valve available from Seaquist closure, Mukwonago, Wisconsin.

Form of courage Legend number product Tare size (mL) Product source One Lever 2000 Body Wash 354 Lever broth 2 Vaseline Century Care Moisture Body Wash 177 Cheese Borough Bones 3 Baby Magic Moisture Baby Beth 200 Menen 4 Soft Soap Slow Antimicrobial Baby Wash 354 Conservation Palm Morib 5 Inventive vessel as shown in FIG. 4 100 6 Inventive vessel as shown in FIGS. 1, 6a, 6b 200

To resolve certain inconsistencies arising from dispensing other viscous products, water is suitable for the packed and purchased contents of all containers. The result of the force measuring device is shown in FIG.

It is shown in FIG. 11 that the container of the present invention requires the lowest amount of force to dispense the product against the other container tested. The container of the present invention is expected to be the easiest for dispensing the product by someone with a small hand force, such as a small child or an adult.

Consumer survey test

Consumer survey tests at home were conducted on the container of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C. The consumer asked to compare the prior art containers shown in Figs. 12A and 12B which are commercially available as the container of the present invention versus the container for children's toiletries. Courage was assessed by 100 housewives and children aged 6 to 10 years. The container was evaluated for ease of handling by asking participants to evaluate the container in the following categories:

1. Very easy for children to handle

2. Easy to handle by children

3. Not easy to handle and not difficult

4. Difficult to handle by children

5. Very difficult for children to handle

Container Handling The rate at which the container was found to be very easy or easy to handle Conventional Vessel (FIGS. 12A and 12B) Container of the Invention (FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C) Mother 84 94 child 82 93

As such, the data in Table 2 indicate that both mothers and children found the container of the present invention much easier to handle than the conventional container of FIGS. 12A and 12B. It is believed that the dimensions and structural features of the container of the present invention exemplified above allow the container of the present invention to be easily gripped and handled by both adults and infants in an ergonomically desirable manner. It is believed that these dimensions and features take into account consumer preferences in handling of the container of the present invention over conventional containers.

Specificity of the Container of the Invention

The question was asked to evaluate the specificity of the design of the container of the present invention as compared to the conventional container of FIGS. 12A and 12B. The subject asked to evaluate the following courage:

1. Extremely new and different

2. Very new and different

3. Somewhat new and different

4. Slightly new and different

5. Not new or different at all

The results of this specificity measurement are shown below:

Specificity of the container Percentage of children who find courage extremely new and different or very new and different Conventional Vessel (FIGS. 12A and 12B) Container of the Invention (FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C) child 39 55

Thus, the child has found that the container of the present invention is much more unique than the conventional container.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that there may be variations to the invention without departing from the concept disclosed herein. Such modifications are considered to be included in the following claims unless these claims by these languages specifically say otherwise.

Claims (13)

a. An open end, a closed end and a body; b. A first recessed portion on the front side of the main body and a second recessed portion on the rear side of the main body; c. A neck defining an opening in the container, The main body has a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, an upper portion adjacent to the open end, a lower portion adjacent to the closed end, and a central portion intermediate the upper portion and the lower portion, the recessed portion being Adjacent to the closed end and the side, the first recess defines a first panel on the front side of the container, the second recess defines a second panel on the back side of the container, and the neck defines a closure. Dispensing vessel having one end for proper installation. The dispensing container of claim 1, wherein the lower body portion is approximately elliptical in cross section and the circumference decreases from the central body portion to the closed end. The dispensing container of claim 1, wherein the closed end has a surface that allows the container to remain upright in an upright direction. 2. The recess of claim 1 wherein the recess has a depth sufficient to hold the vessel in a position reversed by the first and second supports, wherein the first support is located in the recess on the front of the vessel and the second A dispensing vessel in which the support is located in a recess on the back side of the vessel and the first and second supports do not contact the panel of the vessel. 2. The panel of claim 1, wherein the panel has a long dimension in the direction of the closed end of the container at the open end and a short dimension in the second side of the container at the first side, and the panel is curved in the short dimension and elongated direction. Approximately straight dispensing vessel a. An open end, a closed end and a body; b. A first recessed portion on the front side of the main body and a second recessed portion on the rear side of the main body; c. A neck forming an opening in the container; d. Includes a closure, The main body has a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, an upper portion adjacent to the open end, a lower portion adjacent to the closed end, and a central portion intermediate the upper portion and the lower portion, the recessed portion being Adjacent to the closed end and the side, the first recess defines a first panel on the front side of the container, the second recess defines a second panel on the back side of the container, and the neck defines a closure. Dispensing vessel having one end for proper installation. 7. The recess of claim 6 wherein the recess has a depth sufficient to hold the vessel in a position reversed by the first support and the second support, wherein the first support is located in the recess on the front of the vessel and the second A dispensing vessel in which the support is located in a recess on the back side of the vessel and the first and second supports do not contact the panel of the vessel. 7. The panel of claim 6, wherein the panel has a long dimension in the direction of the closed end of the container at the open end and a short dimension in the second side of the container at the first side, the panel is curved at the short dimension and in the long direction. Roughly straight dispensing vessel. 7. The dispensing vessel of claim 6, wherein the closure comprises a valve, the valve having a threshold pressure below which liquid is not dispensed from the vessel. 7. The dispensing container of claim 6, wherein the closure has a surface that enables the container to remain intact when the container is in the reversed direction. 7. The dispensing container of claim 6, wherein said closed end and said closure have a surface that allows the container to remain in line in an upright or inverted direction. 7. The closure of claim 6, wherein the closure has a base and an upper portion, the base of the closure is adjacent to an upper portion of the body of the container, and the closure is approximately equal to the circumference of the body upper portion of the container. A distribution vessel having a substantially circular circumference at the base of the closure, the circumference of the closure increasing in size from the base of the closure to the top of the closure. A container made to be capable of dispensing a liquid, comprising an elastomeric material, a. An open end, a closed end and a body; b. A first recess on the front of the main body and a second recess on the rear of the main body, c. A neck forming an opening in the container; d. Additionally comprising a closure adapted to dispense the liquid, The main body has a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, an upper portion adjacent to the open end, a lower portion adjacent to the closed end, and a central portion intermediate the upper portion and the lower portion, the recessed portion being Adjacent to the closed end and the side, the first concave portion forms a first panel on the front of the container, the second concave portion forms a second panel on the rear surface of the container, and the neck can suitably install the closure. To have one end, 1. The upper body portion is approximately circular in cross section and has a circumference between about 4.7 and 6.0 inches, 2. The upper body portion has a length of at least about 0.2 inches; 3. The central body portion is roughly an elliptical cross section and the circumference increases from the upper body portion to the lower body portion, 4. The lower body portion is approximately oval in cross section and the circumference decreases from the central body portion to the closed end, 5. The panel has a long dimension in the direction of the closed end of the container at the open end and a short dimension in the second side of the container at the first side, the panel is curved at the short dimension and is approximately straight in the long direction. .