Single use dispenser package

A single use dispenser package is configured and sized for storing and dispensing a single serving of a liquid or viscous product. An elongated stem on one end of the dispenser package is provided, having an aperture adaptable for dispensing a variety of products, ranging from liquid to considerably viscous products. To prevent inadvertent emission of the product, and in order to keep the opening of the dispenser package closed and sanitary prior to use, a portion of the relevant end of the dispenser package is folded over on itself and sealed with a food grade adhesive. The food grade adhesive seal may be easily broken by the user for dispensing the liquid or viscous product. The single use dispenser packages are tube-shaped to allow for easy squeezing and emission of the product out of the aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to product dispensers and, more particularly, a single use dispenser package for dispensing products such as toothpaste, shampoo, liquid cosmetics, medicinal liquids and creams, and food items.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Single use and single serving products have been in use for a several years and provide a level of flexibility and convenience for users. While a number of single use products are widely used in the food industry, such as packets of ketchup, mustard and other condiments, relatively few single use products are widely used in other product markets, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, and liquid cosmetics.

An example of a single use product delivery package in the above-identified product markets is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,883 to Pieri, which discloses a toothpaste dispenser for monitoring a child's toothpaste usage that includes an elongated strip having a plurality of one time use sachets, each including a quantity of toothpaste suitable for a single use. While the dispenser disclosed in the '883 patent is useful for its intended purpose, it does not provide for clean and easy emission of a product, which makes the dispenser rather unusable.

Another example of a single use product delivery package is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,731 to Lyon et al. The '731 patent provides a single use glue dispensing package including one end having a perforated edge for tearing off, thereby allowing the glue to be removed therefrom. Requiring perforated edges to be torn off can result in an amount of the contained product being inadvertently emitted, however, as the user must grip the opposite side of the glue dispensing package when tearing off the perforated edge. Such a delivery package would be highly ineffectual for containing liquid products.

Therefore, there remains a need for a single use dispenser package that provides easy and sanitary delivery of a product and which is adaptable for dispensing both liquid and viscous products.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a single use dispenser package that is adaptable for dispensing both liquid and viscous products.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single use dispenser package that allows for sanitary dispensing of a product, wherein delivery of the product does not require the package to physically contact the receptacle receiving the product.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single use dispenser package that is easy to use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single use dispenser package that can be easily opened prior to dispensing the product and will not result in inadvertent emission of the liquid or viscous product contained therein.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a single use dispenser package that is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a single use dispenser package that includes measuring markings for readily identifying the quantity of liquid or viscous product contained therein.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a single use dispenser package that is configured and sized for dispensing a single serving of a liquid or viscous product. Each single use dispenser package is formed of polypropylene, a well known packaging material. An elongated stem on one end of the dispenser package is provided, having an aperture adaptable for dispensing a variety of products, ranging from liquid to considerably viscous products. To prevent inadvertent emission of the product, and in order to keep the opening of the dispenser package closed and sanitary prior to use, a portion of the relevant end of the dispenser package is folded over on itself and sealed with a food grade adhesive. The food grade adhesive seal may be easily broken by the user for dispensing the liquid or viscous product. The single use dispenser packages are tube-shaped to allow for easy squeezing and emission of the product out of the aperture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the several views of the drawings, and initiallyFIGS. 1-3, the single use dispenser package for storing and dispensing liquid and viscous products is shown and is generally indicated as10.

A single use dispenser package10is formed of polypropylene in a tube-shaped form, as seen inFIGS. 1-3. Each single use dispenser package10is sized and configured for containing a measured quantity amounting to a single serving of a liquid or viscous product12that may be emitted via an aperture14located on an elongated stem16in communication with the container18of the dispenser package10. The liquid or viscous product12is stored in an interior chamber19and emitted therefrom by squeezing the container18of the dispenser package10, thereby forcing the product12stored within the interior chamber19into the interior channel21extending between the interior chamber19and the aperture14. The aperture14preferably extends the entire width of the elongated stem16for easy and sanitary emission of the product12.

In a preferred embodiment, the elongated stem16of the dispenser package10is folded over on itself, preferably two times as illustrated inFIG. 3, thereby pinching closed the interior channel21and preventing the liquid or viscous product12from being inadvertently emitted through the aperture14. A food grade adhesive20is applied to portions of the elongated stem16of the of the dispenser package10to releasably seal the folded segments of the elongated stem16, thereby ensuring the product12will not be emitted via the aperture14prior to its intended use. The seal produced by the food grade adhesive20requires little force to be broken by the user for dispensing the liquid or viscous product12.

In a preferred embodiment of the dispenser package10, a measuring marker22or a sequence of measuring markings22is included on the main body18, wherein the product12is visible through the main body18, making the amount of product12readily identifiable to a user. Such measuring markings22would be particularly desirable where the dispenser package10contains an amount of liquid or viscous medicine.

Referring toFIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the single use dispenser package10is shown, wherein the elongated stem16is not foldable and includes a cap, such as a breakaway cap23, for preventing inadvertent emission of the product12. The breakaway cap23requires little force from a user to be removed to reveal the aperture14for dispensing of the product12. Other caps, such as a screw-on cap (not pictured) may be used as well.

As shown inFIG. 5, the aperture14is sized and positioned to allow the product12to be emitted from the dispenser package10without requiring that the dispenser package10come into contact with the object intended to receive the product12, such as a toothbrush, as illustrated inFIG. 5. The small size of the interior channel21and aperture14relative to the interior chamber19makes squeezing the product12out of the aperture14easy and does not require that the user's fingers get close to the product12or aperture14. The small size of the interior channel21and aperture14relative to the interior chamber19further makes the dispenser package10useful for containing a range of products, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, medicinal liquids and creams, and food items.

A single use cartridge24having a removable top26is provided for storing a single use dispenser package10, as seen inFIG. 6. A cartridge28is provided for storing multiple dispenser packages10, as shown inFIG. 7, wherein the dispenser packages10are accessible via an opening30on the cartridge28. A sliding door32may be opened and closed for providing and restricting access to the opening30, respectively. Referring toFIG. 8, a preferred method of packaging the single use dispenser packages10is shown, wherein multiple single use cartridges24may be packaged alongside cartridges28for convenient accessibility.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims and as interpreted under the Doctrine of Equivalence.