Abstract:
The invention relates to a dispensing tube package, comprising a dispensing container ( 20 ) best seen in FIG.  5 , having a threaded neck ( 24 ) and a shoulder with lugs ( 32 ), and, a closure ( 12 ) best seen in FIG.  3 , with a threaded inner skirt ( 42 ), and an outer skirt ( 40 ), with a slot ( 15 ) to receive the shoulder lug to prevent rotation of the closure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a package for dispensing and delivering product. The invention further relates to a child-resistant package. The invention still further relates to a closure for a child-resistant package. The invention still yet further relates to a container for a child-resistant package.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Child-resistant packages have been developed for use in dispensing products deemed potentially harmful to children if imbibed or otherwise exposed. Such packages typically comprise a container and a closure. The closure typically requires mechanical manipulation to unscrew or decouple is from the container. Some common types include push-and-turn and squeeze-and-turn. Such packages have commonly been employed with tubular plastic dispensing containers.  
         [0005]     Some squeeze-and-turn tubular plastic dispensing containers have employed locking lugs on the base or shoulder of a container to engage portions of a closure. Examples of such packages are shown in Great Britain Patent Application 2,030,970 A1 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,335,823; 4,413,743; 5,145,080; 5,988,412; 5,915,576; 6,112,921 and 6,357,615 B1.  
         [0006]     Squeeze-and-turn tubular plastic dispensing containers have heretofore been unavailable in small diameter sizes, i.e., 0.50 to 0.75 inch in base or shoulder diameter. Containers of small diameter are difficult to design because of the relatively small circumference available to achieve mating between lugs and the closure.  
         [0007]     It would be desirable to have a child-resistant package of small diameter size. It would further be desirable to have a child-resistant package of the squeeze-and-turn type. It would further be desirable to have a child-resistant package employing locking lugs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     According to the present invention, there is a dispensing tube package. The package has a dispensing container and a closure engageable and lockable with the dispensing container. The container has a body wall and a head. The head has a neck and a shoulder. The body wall defines a chamber therein. The neck communicates with the body wall via the shoulder. The neck has an orifice therein and a passageway therethrough extending from the orifice to the chamber. One or more lugs extend from the shoulder adjacent the periphery of the shoulder. The neck has a first thread extending therefrom. The first thread has a pitch of about 0.08 to about 0.16 inch and an initial full thread generally in alignment with the lug directional with the longitudinal extension of the neck. The closure has a top end having a generally circumferential outer skirt extending therefrom and a generally circumferential inner skirt extending therefrom. The inner skirt is situated inside the outer skirt. The inner skirt has a second thread extending therefrom at an inner surface. The second thread is rotatably engageable with the first thread of the neck. The outer skirt terminates at a first edge opposite the top end. The inner skirt terminates at a second edge opposite the top end. The outer skirt has a slot therein extending inward from the edge. The slot therein is adapted to receive a portion of the lug therein when the closure is in locking position with the head.  
         [0009]     Further according to the present invention, there is a dispensing container. The dispensing container has a body wall and a head. The head has a neck and a shoulder. The body wall defines a chamber therein. The neck communicates with the body wall via the shoulder. The neck has an orifice therein and a passageway there through extending from the orifice to the chamber. One or more lugs extend from the shoulder adjacent the periphery of the shoulder. The neck has a first thread extending therefrom. The first thread has a pitch of about 0.08 to about 0.16 inch and an initial full thread generally in alignment with the lug directional with the longitudinal extension of the neck.  
         [0010]     Further according to the present invention, there is a closure. The closure has a top end having a generally circumferential outer skirt extending therefrom and a generally circumferential inner skirt extending therefrom. The inner skirt is situated inside the outer skirt. The inner skirt has a second thread extending therefrom at an inner surface. The second thread is rotatably engageable with the first thread of the neck. The outer skirt terminates at a first edge opposite the top end. The inner skirt terminates at a second edge opposite the top end. The outer skirt has a slot therein extending inward from the edge. The slot defines a flat surface adjacent thereto. The flat surface is generally directional with the longitudinal extension of the outer skirt. The slot extends angularly from the edge therein to the flat surface.  
         [0011]     Further according to the invention, there is a dispensing packaging. The package has a dispensing container and a closure. The container has a body wall and a head. The head has a neck and a shoulder. The body wall defines a chamber therein. The neck communicates with the body wall via the shoulder. The neck has an orifice therein and a passageway therethrough extending from the orifice to the chamber. There are two or more lugs extending from the shoulder adjacent the periphery of the shoulder. The neck has two or more intertwining threads extending therefrom and therealong. The threads have a pitch of about 0.15 to about 0.30 inch. Each of the two or more threads have an initial full thread generally in alignment with a lug directional with the longitudinal extension of the neck. The closure is engageable and lockable with the dispensing container. The closure has a top end having a generally circumferential outer skirt extending therefrom and a generally circumferential inner skirt extending therefrom. The inner skirt is situated inside the outer skirt. The inner skirt has two or more intertwining threads extending therefrom and therealong at an inner surface. The two or more intertwining threads are rotatably engageable with the two or more intertwining threads of the neck. The outer skirt terminates at a first edge opposite the top end. The inner skirt terminates at a second edge opposite the top end. The outer skirt has a slot therein extending inward from the edge. The slot therein is adapted to receive a portion of the two or more lugs therein when the closure is in locking position with the head. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a dispensing package according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a closure according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the closure of  FIG. 2  along the line  3 - 3 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the closure of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective partial view of an embodiment of a dispensing container according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of the package of  FIG. 1  along line  8 - 8 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a closeup view of the threads of the closure of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the closure of  FIG. 10  along the line  11 - 11 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a dispensing container according to the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a partial side view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is another partial side view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a top view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of a package formed when the closure of  FIG. 2  is engaged with the dispensing container of  FIG. 12  in the same manner as in  FIG. 1 . The cross-section is viewed from the same reference as line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a dispensing container according to the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is a partial side view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is a partial side view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 20  is top view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 21  is a fragmentary, perspective view of still yet another embodiment of a dispensing container according to the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 22  is a fragmentary, side view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 23  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 21  joined with a closure to form a package.  
         [0035]      FIG. 24  is a fragmentary, side view of the dispensing container of  FIG. 21  joined with a closure to form a package.  
         [0036]      FIG. 25  is a side view of a closure according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0037]     The following are preferred aspects and features of the present invention.  
         [0038]     A preferred slot in the closure can be substantially the same shape as the portion of the lug to be received therein. The slot defines a vertical edge adjacent thereto, and the vertical edge is generally directional with respect to the longitudinal extension of the outer skirt. The slot extends angularly from the edge of the outer skirt therein to the vertical edge.  
         [0039]     A preferred lug defines a flat surface generally directional with the longitudinal extension of the neck. The flat surface is engaged with the vertical edge when the closure is in locking position with the head. In one embodiment, the lug extends from the neck radially outward. The lug is substantially free of contact with the neck. In another embodiment, the lug has a notch therein at an outer portion thereof with the notch bearing a flat surface. In a preferred embodiment, there are two lugs extending from the shoulder with the two lugs being positioned oppositely about the neck. Preferably, the height of the lug is about one-half of the pitch of the thread on the outer surface of the neck.  
         [0040]     In a preferred closure, the outer surface of the outer skirt defines knurls therein extending generally from the bottom edge toward the top end of the closure. The inner surface of the outer skirt has one or more ribs extending from about the middle thereof toward the top end to mechanically strengthen the closure. Most preferably, there are three to six ribs. The shoulder has a more preferred diameter of about 0.5 to about 0.75 inch and a most preferred diameter of about 0.6 inch. The inner and outer skirts are most preferably tapered inward about 0.5° (degrees) with respect to the longitudinal extension of the closure to enhance moldability during injection molding of the closure. The closure preferably has a plug seal extending circumferentially from the top end generally directional to the longitudinal extension of the closure. The plug seal is adapted to fit within and seal the orifice when the closure is in locking position with the head. In lieu of a plug seal, the closure may have a foam layer situated at a central area of an inner surface of the top end thereof. The foam layer would be adapted to fit over and seal the orifice when the closure is in locking position with the head. The shoulder can be sloped or flat in shape. The thread on the neck preferably has a pitch of about 0.1 to about 0.12 inch and most preferably a pitch of about 0.1 inch. In addition to having an initial full thread generally in alignment with a lug directional with the longitudinal extension of the neck, a preferred dispensing container also has a terminal full thread generally in alignment same.  
         [0041]     An embodiment of a dispensing tube package is shown in  FIG. 1  and is generally referenced by the numeral  10 . Package  10  has a dispensing container  20  and a closure  12  engageable and lockable with container  20 . Closure  12  is shown in isolation in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , container  20  has a body wall  16  and a head  22 . Head  22  has a neck  24  and a shoulder  26 . Body wall  16  defines a chamber  28  therein. Neck  24  communicates with body wall  16  via shoulder  26 . Neck  24  has an orifice  28  therein and a passageway  30  therethrough extending from orifice  28  to chamber  28 .  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , lugs  32  and  34  extend from shoulder  26  radially outward from neck  24  to adjacent the periphery of shoulder  26 . Lugs  32  and  34  are situated generally oppositely about neck  24 . Lugs  32  and  34  define flat surfaces  52  and  54  and angled surfaces  56  and  58 , respectively. In lug  32 , angled surface  56  slopes upward from shoulder  26  to intersect with flat surface  52 , which extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  24 . In lug  34 , angled surface  58  slopes upward from shoulder  26  to intersect with flat surface  54 , which extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  24 . Lugs  32  and  34  take the general shape of a triangloid or a wedge.  
         [0043]     Thread  36  extends from an upper portion of neck  24 . Thread  36  has a pitch of about 0.08 to about 0.16 inch. Thread  36  has an initial full thread  60  and a terminal full thread  62  generally in alignment with flat surface  52  of lug  32  directional with the longitudinal extension of neck  24 .  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , closure  12  has a top end  38  having a generally circumferential outer skirt  40  extending therefrom. Closure  12  also has a generally circumferential inner skirt  42  extending therefrom inside outer skirt  40 . Inner skirt  42  has a thread  46  extending from its inner surface. Thread  36  of neck  24  can be screwed into thread  46  of inner skirt  42 . Outer skirt  40  terminates at a first edge  48  opposite top end  38 . Inner skirt  42  terminates at a second edge  50  opposite top end  38 . Outer skirt  40  has a slot  14  and another slot  15  oppositely situated thereabout that extend inwardly therein from first edge  48 . Slot  14  has an angled edge  62  that angles and curves inward into outer skirt  40  and intersects a vertical edge  64  that is generally directional with respect to the longitudinal extension of outer skirt  40 . Slot  15  has an angled edge  66  that angles and curves inward into outer skirt  40  and intersects a vertical edge  68  that is generally directional with respect to the longitudinal extension of outer skirt  40 . Slots  14  and  15  are adapted to receive an outer portion of each of lugs  32  and  34 , respectively, when closure  12  is in locking position with head  22  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . Slots  14  and  15  slide over and/or around the outer portion of lugs  32  and  34  as closure  12  is screwed on container  20 . In locking position, verticle edge  64  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to vertical surface  52  and vertical edge  68  of slot  15  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to vertical surface  54 . Further in locking position, angled edge  62  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to angled surface  56  and a corresponding angled edge (not shown) of slot  15  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to angled surface  58 .  
         [0045]     Closure  12  defines knurls  18  and  19  therein at the outer surface of outer skirt  40  extending from first edge  48  toward top end  38 . Knurls  18  and  19  provide a gripping surface for the fingers (not shown) to squeeze, turn and remove closure  12  from container  20 . When closure  12  is squeezed at knurls  18  and  19 , the portions of outer skirt  40  having slots  14  and  15  therein are forced outward, thereby releasing lugs  32  and  34  from their locking position with slots  14  and  15 .  
         [0046]     An embodiment of a dispensing container is shown in  FIG. 12  and is generally referenced by the numeral  80 . Closure  12  is shown in isolation in  FIG. 2 . Container  80  has a body wall  88  and a head  82 . Head  82  has a neck  84  and a shoulder  86 . Body wall  88  defines a chamber  89  therein. Neck  84  communicates with body wall  88  via shoulder  86 . Neck  84  has an orifice  94  therein and a passageway  98  therethrough extending from orifice  94  to chamber  89 .  
         [0047]     As shown in FIGS.  13  to  16 , lugs  90  and  92  radially extend from shoulder  86  from neck  84  to adjacent the periphery of shoulder  86 . Lugs  90  and  92  are situated generally oppositely about neck  84 . Lugs  90  and  92  define flat surfaces  100  and  102 , normal surfaces  104  and  106  and angled surfaces  108  and  110 , respectively. In lug  90 , angled surface  108  slopes upward from shoulder  86  to generally intersect with flat surface  100 , which extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  84 . Normal surface  104  also extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  84  and is also generally perpendicular with respect to flat surface  108 . In lug  92 , angled surface  110  slopes upward from shoulder  86  to generally intersect with flat surface  102 , which extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  84 . Normal surface  106  also extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  84  and is also generally perpendicular with respect to flat surface  102 . The relative configuration of flat surfaces  100  and  102  and normal surfaces  104  and  106  provides lugs  90  and  92  with a unotched” appearance.  
         [0048]     Thread  96  extends from an upper portion of neck  84 . Thread  96  has a pitch of about 0.08 to about 0.16 inch. Thread  96  has an initial full thread  112  and a terminal full thread  114  generally in alignment with flat surface  100  of lug  90  directional with the longitudinal extension of neck  84 .  
         [0049]     Closure  12  is engageable and lockable with container  80 . Slots  14  and  15  of closure  12  are adapted to receive an outer portion of each of lugs  90  and  92 , respectively, when closure  12  is in locking position with head  82 . Slots  14  and  15  slide over and/or around the outer portion of lugs  90  and  92  as closure  12  is screwed on container  80 . In locking position, verticle edge  64  of closure  12  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to flat surface  100  and vertical edge  68  of slot  15  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to flat surface  102 . Further in locking position, angled edge  62  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to angled surface  108  and a corresponding angled edge (not shown) of slot  15  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to angled surface  110 .  
         [0050]     Another embodiment of a dispensing container is shown in  FIG. 17  and is generally referenced by the numeral  130 . Container  130  has a body wall  138  and a head  132 . Head  132  has a neck  134  and a shoulder  136 . Body wall  138  defines a chamber  139  therein. Neck  134  communicates with body wall  138  via shoulder  136 . Neck  134  has an orifice  144  therein and a passageway  148  therethrough extending from orifice  144  to chamber  139 .  
         [0051]     As shown in FIGS.  18  to  20 , lugs  140  and  142  radially extend from shoulder  136  adjacent the periphery of shoulder  136 . Lugs  140  and  142  generally have the shape of a wedge and are isolated from and non-integral with neck  134 . Lugs  140  and  142  are situated generally oppositely about neck  134 . Lugs  140  and  142  define flat surfaces  150  and  152  and angled surfaces  154  and  156 , respectively. In lug  140 , angled surface  154  slopes upward from shoulder  136  to intersect with flat surface  150 , which extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  134 . In lug  142 , angled surface  156  slopes upward from shoulder  136  to intersect with flat surface  152 , which extends generally directionally with the longitudinal extension of neck  134 .  
         [0052]     Thread  146  extends from an upper portion of neck  134 . Thread  146  has a pitch of about 0.08 to about 0.16 inch. Thread  146  has an initial full thread  158  and a terminal full thread  160  generally in alignment with flat surface  150  of lug  140  directional with the longitudinal extension of neck  134 .  
         [0053]     Closure  12  of  FIG. 2  is engageable and lockable with container  130 . Slots  14  and  15  of closure  12  are adapted to receive an outer portion of each of lugs  140  and  142 , respectively, when closure  12  is in locking position with head  132 . Slots  14  and  15  slide over and/or around the outer portion of lugs  140  and  142  as closure  12  is screwed on container  130 . In locking position, verticle edge  64  of closure  12  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to flat surface  150  and vertical edge  68  of slot  15  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to flat surface  152 . Further in locking position, angled edge  62  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to angled surface  154  and a corresponding angled edge (not shown) of slot  15  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to angled surface  156 .  
         [0054]     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , there is a closure  170  having a top end  172  having a generally circumferential outer skirt  174  extending therefrom. Closure  170  also has a generally circumferential inner skirt  176  extending therefrom inside outer skirt  174 . Inner skirt  176  has a thread  178  extending from its inner surface. The threads of any of the dispensing containers shown herein can be screwed into thread  178 . Outer skirt  174  terminates at a first edge  180  opposite top end  172 . Inner skirt  176  terminates at a second edge  182  opposite top end  172 . Outer skirt  174  has a slot  184  and another slot  186  oppositely situated thereabout that extend inwardly therein from first edge  180 . Slot  184  has an angled edge  188  that angles and curves inward into outer skirt  174  and intersects a vertical edge  192  that is generally directional with respect to the longitudinal extension of outer skirt  174 . Slot  186  has an angled edge  190  that angles and curves inward into outer skirt  174  and intersects a vertical edge  194  that is generally directional with respect to the longitudinal extension of outer skirt  174 . Slots  184  and  186  are adapted to receive an outer portion of and lock with the lugs of any of the dispensing containers shown herein. Slots  184  and  186  slide over and/or around the outer portion of such lugs. In locking position, verticle edges  192  and  194  are generally in abutment with or adjacent to the vertical surface of such lugs. Closure  170  has a plug seal  200  extending circumferentially from top end  172  generally directional to the longitudinal extension of closure  170 . Plug seal  200  is adapted to fit within and seal an orifice of a head of a dispensing container when closure  170  is in locking position therewith.  
         [0055]     An embodiment of a dispensing container is shown in  FIG. 21  and is generally referenced by the numeral  210 . Container  210  has a body wall  218  and a head  212 . Head  212  has a neck  214  and a shoulder  216 . Body wall  218  defines a chamber  219  therein. Neck  214  communicates with body wall  218  via shoulder  216 . Neck  214  has an orifice  224  therein and a passageway  228  therethrough extending from orifice  224  to chamber  219 .  
         [0056]     As shown in FIGS.  21  to  23 , lugs  220  and  222  radially extend from shoulder  216  from neck  214  to adjacent the periphery of shoulder  216 . Lugs  220  and  222  are situated generally oppositely about neck  214 . Lugs  220  and  222  define flat surfaces  230  and  232 , knobs  234  and  236  and inwardly tapered surfaces  238  and  240  and  242  and  244 , respectively. The inwardly tapered surfaces at the outer portion of lugs  220  and  222  function to slow down the Flat surfaces  230  and  232  are generally planar in surface contour and extend from shoulder  216  generally directional with and generally radial to the extension of neck  214 . A preferred height for lugs  220  and  222  is 0.1 inch as measured from shoulder  216  to the top of flat surfaces  230  and  222 . Knobs  234  and  236  extend from shoulder  21  and lugs  220  and  222 , respectively.  
         [0057]     Dispensing tube  210  has a double-lead screw. In other words, there are two intermating threads  225  and  226  that extend from and spirally traverse neck  214 . The threads have a pitch of about 0.15 to about 0.3 inch and preferably about 0.2 inch. Thread  225  has an initial full thread  233  and a terminal full thread  231 . Thread  226  has an initial full thread  234  and a terminal full thread  232 . An important feature of the invention is that initial full threads  233  and  234  are generally in alignment with lugs  220  and  222  directional with the longitudinal extension of neck  214 . Although terminal full threads  231  and  232  are also generally in alignment with lugs  220  and  222  directional with the longitudinal extension of neck  214 , this is not important to the present invention. Other possible dispensing tube embodiments could have multiple-lead screws, such as triple-lead, quadruple lead, and the like.  
         [0058]     Dispensing tube  210  is mated with closure  246  to form dispensing tube package  248 , which is shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . Closure  246  is engageable and lockable with dispensing containers of the present invention, including container  210 . As shown in FIGS.  23  to  25 , closure  246  has oppositely situated slots  250  and  252 , which are adapted to receive an outer portion of each of lugs  220  and  222 , respectively, when closure  246  is in locking position with head  212 . Slots  250  and  252  slide over and/or around the inwardly tapered surfaces of the outer portion of lugs  220  and  222  as closure  246  is screwed on container  210 . The inwardly tapered surfaces at the outer portion of lugs  220  and  222  function to slow down the rotation speed of closure  246  such that lugs  220  and  222  will snap into slots  250  and  252 . The outer portions of lugs  220  and  222  protrude through slots  250  and  252  when closure  246  is in locking position with head  212 . Slots  220  and  222  define oppositely situated vertical edges  254  and  256  (not shown) at their leading edges. When in locking position, vertical edge  254  of closure  246  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to flat surface  230  and vertical edge  256  of slot  222  is generally in abutment with or adjacent to flat surface  232 . Closure  246  has knurles  258  and  260  to aid in squeezing, turning, and removal of same. Knobs  234  and  236  provide a support surface against which the inside surface (not shown) of closure  246  may rest. Apart from the aforementioned recited structure, closure  246  has additional structure corresponding to the other disclosed closure embodiments herein, including, but not limited to inner and outer skirts, mating threads, plug seals, and the like.  
         [0059]     The package, including dispensing container and closure, may be produced by any method known in the art such as extrusion or lamination. In extrusion, plastic tubes are extruded continuously then cut into discrete lengths to form tubular body walls for the inner and outer containers. Tubes of different diameters are used the inner and outer containers. Heads are then heat welded or adhered to the tube lengths of both diameters to form the inner and outer containers. The inner container is inserted into the open end of the outer container and attached to or inserted into the head and/or neck of outer container. A closure, cap or top is applied to the head of the outer container. The open ends of inner and outer containers are typically filled with functional and/or decorative products to be dispensed and then sealed by heat or mechanical means. Overlapping the ends and heat sealing is preferred. In lamination, sheets of plastic material are rolled into tubes and sealed along the sheet edges to form continuous tubes. The continuous tubes are cut into discrete tube lengths and further processed in the same manner as when forming extruded dispensing containers.  
         [0060]     The closure and head may be manufactured according to any method known in the art such as injection molding, compression molding or stamping with a plastic material. Injection molding is preferred.  
         [0061]     The package may be manufactured from any plastic material known in the art. Representative plastic materials include ethylene polymers, propylene polymers, polyesters, and polyamides. Useful ethylene polymers include low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene. A useful propylene polymer is polypropylene. Useful polyesters include polyethylene terephthalate. Preferred plastic materials are low density polyethylene and polypropylene. Different parts of the package may be manufactured from the same or different materials. A preferred plastic material for tube body walls is low density polyethylene. Preferred plastic materials for the head and the closure are high density polyethylene and polypropylene.  
         [0062]     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.