Patent ID: 6126315
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: B65D,Y10S

Abstract:
A container comprising:a spout;a bottom; anda body extending between the bottom and the spout, the body including (1) a front wall, (2) a rear wall opposing the front wall, and (3) a pair of deformable gussets extending between confronting edges of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the body includes a liquid holding portion and a neck extending from the liquid holding portion to the spout, and each gusset is substantially V-shaped in cross-section;wherein, during a pouring operation in which a liquid content is poured from the container, the gussets are deformed under the influence of the liquid content, such that the front wall and the rear wall are forced apart from each other;wherein the liquid holding portion has a square cross-section when the gusset are deformed from the V-shape to a linear shape as a result of the liquid content in the liquid holding portion;wherein the liquid holding portion has a height ranging from substantially 1.1 to 3 times as long as one side of the square cross-section, such that the container maintains a self-upstanding posture;wherein a distance between the front wall and the rear wall at the liquid holding portion is substantially 10 to 14 times as long as the distance between the front wall and the rear wall at the neck when the liquid content is retained in the liquid holding portion, thereby forming an acute top angle at a top edge of the spout in the self upstanding posture, such that after the pouring operation and after the container is positioned in an upstanding posture, the gussets elastically restore, without influence from an external force so that the front wall abuts the rear wall to automatically close the spout; andwherein the gussets are formed from a material with greater flexibility than the front and the rear walls.