Abstract:
A package for dispensing a viscous product includes a container having an end wall, a resilient sidewall, and a finish to which a skirt of a dispensing closure is attached. The closure includes a base wall having a discharge opening and an adjacent vent opening. A valve body extends from the base wall and includes a through passage aligned with the vent opening. A check valve is disposed within the valve body, and a tube includes a first end attached to the valve body and extends from the fixed end toward the end wall of the container, and terminates in an open second end adjacent to the end wall of the container. The check valve functions when the container is squeezed to prevent air passage out the vent opening, and functions when the container is released to permit air passage through the vent opening and the tube.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention is directed to dispensing packages for fluid products such as a viscous liquid product, and more particularly to a squeeze tottle package wherein the viscous liquid product is dispensed by squeezing a sidewall of a squeeze tottle container.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Squeeze container packages are widely known and used for containing and dispensing a wide variety of fluent and viscous liquid products, such as body lotions. Squeeze container packages typically include a squeeze container having a flat base adapted for resting the container in an “upright” orientation that is substantially opposite of the dispensing orientation in which the squeeze container is actually used. A sidewall of the container extends from the base wall and terminates in a finish portion that has an opening and that is adapted to receive a dispensing closure of desired shape. In the upright orientation and with the closure in a closed position to seal the package, the viscous product rests on the base within the container and air is trapped in the head space between the viscous product and the closed closure. To dispense the viscous product, the squeeze container package is first inverted from its upright position wherein the viscous product and the air exchange places, such that the viscous product flows toward the opening of the container under the force of gravity, thereby displacing the air to a position between the viscous product and the base of the container. A user opens the closure and squeezes the sidewall of the container to reduce the interior volume of the package, thereby forcing the viscous product out of the closure. When finished dispensing, the user releases pressure from the sidewall and reorients the package in the upright position such that the remaining viscous product flows back toward the base of the container and “make up” air is permitted to vent through the discharge opening and into the container, thereby normalizing the atmospheric pressure in the container to permit the sidewall to recover its original shape. Thereafter, the closure is closed until the next use. The fresh air is termed “make up” air because it makes up or compensates for the displacement and lost volume of the viscous product. One disadvantage with such a dispensing package is that it is not continuously ready for immediate dispensing of the viscous product and first must be inverted to induce the viscous product to flow toward the opening.  
         [0003]     In contrast to such squeeze container packages, squeeze tottle packages are becoming increasingly popular for dispensing viscous products such as liquid soap and shampoo. Squeeze tottle packages are sleekly styled dispensing packages that include a squeeze tottle, which typically does not include a flat base but instead includes a rounded end wall that is incapable of supporting the package in an upright position. A sidewall of the tottle extends from the end wall and terminates in a finish portion that has an opening and that is adapted to receive a dispensing closure. The closure includes a flat end adapted for resting the package in an orientation that is substantially the same as its intended dispensing orientation—in contrast to the upright resting orientation of a squeeze container package. In its normal dispensing orientation, and with the closure in a closed position to seal the tottle package, the viscous product rests in the finish portion of the tottle and the dispensing closure, and a head of air is trapped between the viscous product and the end wall of the tottle. One advantage of such a dispensing package is that the viscous product contained therein is always immediately adjacent the discharge opening and is thus continuously ready for quick dispensing without having to invert the package. To dispense the viscous product, a user opens the closure and squeezes the sidewall of the squeeze tottle to reduce the interior volume thereof, thereby forcing the viscous product out of the dispensing opening. When finished dispensing, the user releases pressure from the sidewall, closes the closure, and rests the squeeze tottle package on the flat base of the closure until the next use.  
         [0004]     Unfortunately, however, the typical squeeze tottle package does not readily permit a fresh supply of make up air to vent into the container between uses, especially where the viscous product is a thick fluid such as shampoo. This inability to vent leads to at least two disadvantages. First, the lack of a fresh supply of air yields an attendant vacuum condition within the interior of the tottle such that the sidewall of the tottle cannot recover its original shape and, thus, exhibits a relatively unattractive distorted appearance. Second, because the sidewall is fixed in its collapsed state, it is difficult to further collapse the sidewall so as to expel more viscous product from the tottle. One solution to these problems is to provide the tottle with a relatively thicker and more rigid sidewall to increase the hoop strength and resiliency thereof to overcome the resistance to venting imposed by the viscous product. Unfortunately, this solution involves added material expense and limits the material selection options of the container designer. Another solution to these problems is to burden the user to invert the squeeze tottle package after each use so as to permit the package to vent a fresh charge of air therein, vis-à-vis the typical function of the squeeze bottle package described above. Unfortunately, this solution defeats one of the advantages of using the tottle-type package.  
         [0005]     A package for dispensing a viscous product in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a container and a closure adapted for attachment thereto. The container includes an end wall, a sidewall of flexible resilient construction extending forward from the end wall and terminating in a finish to which the closure is attached. The closure includes a base wall and at least one skirt extending therefrom for securement to the finish of the container. The base wall includes a product discharge opening and a vent opening adjacent to the discharge opening. A valve body extends from the base wall and includes a through passage in communication with the vent opening in the base wall. A check valve is disposed within the valve body, and a tube includes an end attached to the valve body. The tube extends from the end toward the end wall of the container and terminates in an opposite end adjacent to the end wall of the container. The check valve functions when the container is squeezed to prevent air passage through the tube, the valve body and the vent opening. The check valve further functions when the container is released to permit air to pass through the vent opening, the valve body and the tube into the package.  
         [0006]     In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of dispensing a fluid product from a squeeze tottle package, wherein a tottle container is provided in which the fluid product is contained, and further wherein a tottle closure is provided on the tottle container. A vent opening in at least one of the tottle closure and the tottle container is fluidically communicated to a location adjacent the end wall of the tottle container. Air is permitted to vent through the vent opening into the tottle container, and air and the fluid product are prevented from escaping out the vent opening. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The invention, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a squeeze dispensing package according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary sectional view of the squeeze dispensing package of  FIG. 1  taken substantially along line  2 - 2  thereof;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the portion of the closure, valve and vent tube of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion of a closure, valve and vent tube of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the vent tube of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a squeeze dispensing package  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The squeeze dispensing package  10  is, more specifically, a squeeze tottle package including a tottle container  12  and a tottle dispensing closure  14  attached thereto, wherein the tottle closure  14  includes a flat surface  15  for resting the package  10  thereon. The tottle container  12  may be composed of a light weight flexible resilient material, such as soft-touch polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE) or the like, and may be produced by any desired method including blow molding a preform, blow molding an extruded parison or the like. The container  12  includes a rounded end wall  16  and a sidewall  18  extending longitudinally forward from the end wall  16 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the side wall  18  terminates in a finish portion  20  that includes a transverse end  22  defining an opening  24  of the container  12 . The finish portion  20  also includes first and second radially outwardly extending annular beads  26 ,  28  for engaging the tottle closure  14 .  
         [0014]     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the exemplary dispensing closure  14  is a dual-skirt design that is popular with tottle packages so that the outer profile of the closure  14  blends with the outer profile of the container  12 . The closure  14  may be composed of any desired polymer or copolymer including PP, LP, polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the like, and may be produced by any desired process including injection molding or the like. The closure  14  includes a base wall  30  having a circumferentially continuous exterior skirt  32  and a circumferentially continuous interior skirt  34  extending from the base wall  30 . The skirts  32 ,  34  include first and second radially inwardly extending helical thread segments or annular beads  36 ,  38  for engaging the corresponding external thread segments or beads  26 ,  28  of the container  12  so as to retain the closure  14  to the container  12 . The closure  14  further includes an annular skirt seal  40  extending from the base wall  30  into an internal interference fit with the opening  24  of the container  12 . A discharge opening  42  is provided in the base wall  30  and is surrounded by an annular valve seat  44 . A closure lid or flap  46  is shown in an open position and is flexibly hinged to the base wall  30  at one side thereof by a hinge  48 . As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the closure flap  46  includes a valve  50  for sealing against the annular valve seat  44  of the base wall  30  so as to seal the discharge opening  42  when the closure flap  46  is closed. Also, the back of the closure flap  46  partially defines the flat surface  15  of the tottle closure  14  when closed.  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the base wall  30  also includes a vent opening  52  therethrough and an annular collar-shaped wall or valve body  54  extending inwardly therefrom. A vent tube  56  includes a first end  58  disposed within the valve body  54 , and a check valve in the form of a disk valve  60  is disposed between the vent tube  56  and the base wall  30 . The vent tube  56  extends from the valve body  54 , through a supply of viscous liquid  62 , and terminates in a second end  64  adjacent the end wall  16  of the container  12  in an air space  66  between the viscous liquid  62  and the end wall  16 . As used herein, the term viscous means any liquid that is higher in viscosity than water, and more specifically is representative of any of a number of viscous personal care or food products such as shampoo, moisturizing lotion, mustard, ketchup, and the like. To minimize clogging of any viscous liquid within the vent tube  56 , the second end  64  of the vent tube  56  is provided with a closed transverse end  68  and one or more lateral vent openings  70  through the side of the vent tube  56 . The vent tube  56  may be composed of any desired material, such as PP, LDPE, PC, PET or the like, and may be produced by injection molding or the like. The disk valve  60  may be produced from any desired material, such as silicone or the like, and may be injection molded, cut from sheet or bar stock, or the like.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are enlarged views of the valving arrangement.  FIG. 3  illustrates the assembly of the freely located disk valve  60  within the confines of the valve body  54  and the first end  58  of the vent tube  56  within the confines of the valve body  54 . The disk valve  60  is inserted into the valve body  54  until it rests on the base wall  30  of the closure  14 , and the disk valve  60  has an outer diameter  72  that is sized to be slightly smaller than a first inner diameter  74  of the valve body  54  so as to provide a loose fit therebetween for permitting incoming make up air to pass therebetween. The first end  58  of the vent tube  56  includes an outer diameter  76  that is slightly larger than a second inner diameter  78  of the valve body  54 , such that a sealing interference fit is established when the vent tube  56  is inserted into the valve body  54 . The valve body  54  also includes an interior shoulder portion  80  for controlling the location of an open transverse end  82  of the vent tube  56  with respect to the base wall  30 , such that the disk valve  60  is free to float longitudinally between the base wall  30  and the open transverse end  82  of the vent tube  56 , as better shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  illustrates that a space  84  is provided between the open transverse end  82  of the vent tube  56  and the base wall  30  that is large enough to accommodate longitudinal displacement of the disk valve  60  therebetween.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates reliefs or V-notches  86  formed in the open transverse end  82  at the first end  58  of the vent tube  56 . At the opposite second end  64 , the vent opening  70  is shown as a circular hole provided adjacent the closed transverse end  68  of the vent tube  56 .  
         [0018]     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that air may flow into the vent opening  52  of the base wall  30  of the closure  14  so as to displace the disk valve  60  flat against the open transverse end  82  of the vent tube  56 . Accordingly, the disk valve  60  is provided with a predetermined thickness so as to be rigid and not to conform into the V-notches  86 . Moreover, it can be appreciated that the flow of air can continue around the outer diameter  72  of the disk valve  60  within the first inner diameter  74  of the valve body  54 , and between the flat disk valve  60  and the V-notches  86  into the vent tube  56 , through the vent tube  56  toward the opposite end  64  thereof, and out the outlet vent opening  70 .  
         [0019]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the advantageous functionality of the structure just previously described with respect to  FIG. 4 . With the present invention, it is now possible to vent make up air into the interior of the squeeze tottle package  10  while the package  10  is in its normal dispensing orientation as shown. In the normal dispensing orientation, the viscous product  62  rests on the finish portion  20  of the tottle container  12  and on the closure  14 , and a head of air is trapped in the air space  66  between the viscous product  62  and the end wall  16  of the tottle container  12 . As mentioned previously, an advantage of such a dispensing package  10  is that the viscous product  62  contained therein is immediately adjacent the discharge opening  42  and is thus continuously ready for quick dispensing without having to invert the package  10 . To dispense the viscous product  62 , a user squeezes the sidewall  18  of the squeeze tottle  12  to reduce the interior volume thereof, thereby compressing the head of air in the air space  66  to force the viscous product  62  out of the discharge opening  42 . After each dispensing cycle, the user releases pressure from the sidewall  18  of the container  12 , thereby partially enabling the resilient sidewall  18  to flex outwardly toward its original shape under the inherent resilient “memory” of the container  12 . This creates a vacuum in the air space  66  that tends to lift the disc valve  60  off of the vent opening  52  and that draw a fresh charge of make up air through the vent opening  52 , past the check valve  60 , through the vent tube  56 , and into the tottle container  12  in the air space  66  behind the viscous product  62 . Thereafter, the user can close the closure flap  46  of the closure  14 , and rest the squeeze tottle package  10  on the flat base  15  of the closure  14  until the next use. In this way, the air space  66  is permitted to fill with make up air after each dispensing cycle so that the inherent resiliency of the container sidewall  18  will return the container  12  to its freestanding original shape.  
         [0020]     There have thus been described a package and method for dispensing a viscous product that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The present invention has been disclosed in conjunction with presently preferred embodiments thereof, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations will readily suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. Directional words such as upright, inverted, top, bottom, upper, lower, radial, circumferential, and the like are employed by way of description and not limitation. Indeed, the invention is intended to embrace all modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.