NZ228941A - Collapsible container for flowable substances; rigid walls pivot about common edge - Google Patents

Description

22 8 9 4 1 Priority Oate{s): Complete Specification Filed: ...£ Class: ...&L j Publication Dote: I P.O. Journal, No: 1.2xLhJ .

Patents form No 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER FOR FLOWABLE SUBSTANCES WWE RESEAL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership of the State o£ Delaware, USA with a place of business at 425 East 58th Street, New York, New York. 10022, USA do hereby declare the invention for which tfwe pray that a Patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 22 8 9 4 1 The present invention is directed to a collapsible container for dispensing a flovable substance.

In U.S. patent 3,506,163 to Rauh et al., a collapsible container is disclosed for dispensing a variety of materials ranging from toilet articles to food stuffs. The material may be highly viscous, though a liquid or fluid substance can be dispensed.

In U.S. patent 3,494,509 to McGuire, a variable volume reservoir is disclosed having a principal use in fuel supply systems. The container is made up of a pair of spaced panels into.connected by a bellows-like structure so that the panels move toward one another as the reservoir collapses.

One of the problems faced in packaging has been to provide a collapsible container from which the contents can be completely dispensed while providing effective labelling surfaces. In the packaging of flowable substances, providing a container which can be efficiently shipped and stored provides a difficult task. Flexible containers usually are not collapsible, or if they are, it is difficult to return them to the condition for filling with the substance to be dispensed. Generally, the containers have been of a rounded or arcuate cross section. In shipment, such containers require considerable space and can be shipped economically only over relatively short distances. For the same reason that shipping 2 22 89 4 1 provides a problem, storage of the containers is also difficult.

Depending on the substance to be dispensed, it may be important to maintain the container contents in a sterile condition. Moreover, if the contents are relatively expensive, the capability of dispensing the entire contents is significant. 8UMHARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a container for dispensing flowable substances which can be collapsed for affording economic shipment and storage. Furthermore, the container provides surfaces which can be effectively and efficiently labelled.

In accordance with the present invention, a container is formed of a pair of generally rigid walls interconnected by collapsible walls. The collapsible walls can be arranged in an extended condition when the container is filled and into a collapsed condition when the container contents are completely dispensed.

In one embodiment, the collapsible walls form a base with the rigid walls projecting upwardly from the base. To ship the containers, the rigid walls are displaced toward one another so that the container forms a generally flat collapsed ? 2 8 9 < 1 fun it. The container has an opening through which it can be filled and from vhich the material can be dispensed. The rigid walls can be planar or provided with a gradually curved configuration. The surface of the rigid walls provides an excellent base for labelling.

When the container is filled, the base has its maximum area and, as the material is dispensed, the area of the base becomes smaller. The rigid walls provide stability so that as the material in the container is dispensed, the base continues to form an adequate support.

During shipment, „:e collapsed container can be shipped taking up a minimum volume. This feature assures not only economical shipping, but also storage of the containers until they are ready to be used.

The containers can be provided in a variety of shapes so that in the filled condition, they can be stored in a compact manner without any wasted space. Accordingly, in the collapsed or filled condition, the containers can be effective] r packaged.

In the collapsed or expanded condition, the container has at least one fixed dimension. Depending on the shape of the container, when expanded, it can have two fixed dimensions. r*•> ■ ;:S» 'H ;228941 ;In one preferred embodiment of the container in the expanded condition, the cross-section of the container transversely of its height or parallel with its base is generally triangular. The collapsible walls located between the two rigid walls collapse in a bellows-like manner so that in the collapsed condition, the base flattens, forming a narrow rectangular shape. ;The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention. ;Figure 1 is an elevational view of a container embodying the present invention; ;Figure 2 is an elevational view of the container shown in Figure 1, rotated through 90', and with a dispensing spout; ;DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ;In the drawings: ;5 ;22 6 9 4 1 ;Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, however, illustrating the container in the flattened collapsed condition and without the dispensing spout; ;^ Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container taken generally in the s>ne direction as Figure 2; and ;Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container taken in the opposite direction to Figure 2. ;DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ;In the drawing, a collapsible container 1 is shown. The container has a base 2 for supporting it when placed on a support surface. The container is formed of a pair of substantially planar side walls 3, interconnected at the base and along the height of the side walls by collapsible walls 4. The side walls 3 are joined along corresponding edges by a connecting web 5. Note the perspective views in Figs. 4 and 5. ;In Figure 1, a spout 6 is shown schematically and an alternate arrangement of the spout 6' is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 3, the spout is removed. The container can be in the expanded condition shown in Figure 2, or . in the collapsed flattened condition, as shown in Figure 3. An opening 7 is located in the top of the container for filling it with a flowable substance and when a spout is attached for forming a dispensing outlet from the container. ;6 ;To dispense the contents the rigid side walls 3 are pressed toward one another and the contents flow out through the spout 6. Depending on the type of material being dispensed, ;the spout may provide a seal which permits outflow of the contents without any inflow of air when the dispensing operation is completed. ;For the dispensation of sterile substances, a valve such as disclosed in U.S. Patent specification 4846810 can be used. ;The surfaces of the walls 3 are planar or flat, however, it would be possible to provide the walls with a generally flattened curvature for receiving labels or the like. ;Generally speaking, the side walls are interconnected by ths web 5 so that they can pivot relative to one another from the expanded condition shown in Figure 2 to the collapsed or flattened condition in Figure 3. The location of the web along the height or at the top of the walls depends on the desired configuration of the container. ;The container can be formed of a variety of plastics material such as polyethylene. ;The collapsible walls -i have a bellows-like shape and extend between and interconnect the walls 3. The collapsible walls 4, relative to the dispensing spout, afford an arrangement permitting complete dispensation of all of the substance within the container. ;In Figure 2, in Us expanded condition, the be Hows-like walls defining the bottom of the container are arranged so that the adjacent surfaces within the container are in divergent relationship. When the container is empty either before or after it is filled, the rigid walls pivot inwardly toward one another from the position shown in Figure 2 into the completely flattened condition shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the bottom portion of the walls 4 ar<3 shown collapsed into the flattened condition shown between the rigid walls 3. ;The container -;an be formed in a blow-molding operation without the dispensing spout so that the container can, in the completely flattened condition, be packed in boxes and shipped any required distance. When the containers are ready to be used, they can be filled with a flowable substance and the dispensing spout 6, 6* attached. A person skilled in the art uould readily appreciate that the over-all configuration of the container can be varied both for functional and aesthetic reasons. 8 While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles as defined in the following claims".— '4y.

HI: 728941

Claims (7)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container for dispensing a flowable substance and being dispiaceable between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition comprising wall means forming an enclosed space for holding the flowable substance, said wall means including a pair of generally rigid walls having bordering edges, collapsible walls interconnecting a part of said bordering edges of said rigid walls, and a web connecting the remainder of said bordering edges of said rigid walls; in the expanded condition of said container said rigid walls are in gradually diverging relationship extending from said web and said web affords pivotable movement of said rigid walls for placing said container in the collapsed condition, said collapsible walls being dispiaceable between the expanded condition and the collapsed condition, and in the collapsed condition said rigid walls are disposed adjacent to one another around said bordering edges and said container is in a flattened shape, and a part of said collapsible walls form a base for said container with said rigid walls and said web extends upwardly from the base. 10

2. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ri-jid walls are planar and have a generally triangular shape with one of the bordering edges of each of said rigid walls extending along the base of said container, and another bordering edge of e,.ch of said rigid walls being connected to said web.

3. A container, as set forth in claim 1, whereir said collapsible walls have a bellows-like configuration.

4. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container has an opening for filling the flowable substance into the container and for dispensing the flowable substance, and a dispensing spout removably attachable to said opening.

5. A container for dispensing flowable substances comprising a base, a pair of generally rigid walls extending along said base, wall means forming sain base and interconnecting said rigid walls and, in combination therewith, forming an enclosed space for the substance to be dispensed, said wall means being dispiaceable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition with said rigid walls being in generally parallel relation in the collapsed condition, said wall means including a web extending upwardly from said base and interconnecting said saici rigid walls so that said rigid walls are pivotable relative to one another between the collapsed and expanded condition, and said rigid walls being in diverging relation in the expanded condition. 11

6. A dispenser for flowable substances including a container with an outlet for the flowable substance, said container being collapsible and expandable between a flattened condition and an expanded condition, said container including a pair of rigid side walls, means interconnecting said rigid side walls for movement between the expanded and collapsed conditions, said means including a base for supporting said dispenser on a surface with said rigid side walls extending upwardly from the base in tha supported condition and a web extending upwardly from said base and pivotally interconnecting a side of each of said rigid walls, said rigid side walls extending in gradually diverging relation away from said web in the expanded condition, said web permitting said rigid walls to pivot toward one another iron; tne expanded condition to tine rlattened condition.

7. A container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said web extends upwardly from said base to an upper end of each of said rigid walls. WEST-WALKER, McCACE per: ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT