Abstract:
A container and dispenser having a litterless closure comprising a body member having an interior region for containing a material to be dispensed, a frangible portion integral with the body member, the frangible portion adapted to rupturably open a portion of the body member to the interior region and a connector member having first and second portions, the connector member first portion engaged to the body member and engaged at the connector member second portion to the frangible portion whereby the frangible portion remains secured to said body member upon opening of the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to containers and dispensers, and in particular, single use containers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many consumer products are packaged to provide single use dispensing of the product. In other words, the package is not adapted to be resealed once it is opened. Applicable products for use in connection with such containers include but are not limited to nutritional foods in the form of high carbohydrate gels for athletes, toothpaste, shampoo, cosmetics and the like. 
     Typically, a single use container and dispenser is constructed from a laminate comprising two sheets sealed along a perimeter edge to form an interior region containing the product. To dispense the product, an opening is made into the package by sufficiently tearing along an edge of the package. The laminate sheets may be constructed from a material that is easily torn or otherwise adapted to be torn along defined regions of the package. Once opened, the container is squeezed to cause the product to be dispensed. 
     One problem associated with such containers is litter. That is, because the packages are designed or configured to cause the opening to occur along a desired corner or end region of the package, the corner or end region is often separated from the main package body when opening the package. Since many of the products dispensed from single use containers are consumed by athletes while running, kayaking, cycling or the like, the separated corner or end region is often misplaced or otherwise lost thereby creating a litter problem. 
     Accordingly, a need has existed in the art for a container and dispenser of the single use type that eliminates the above noted problems associated with the prior art. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container and dispenser of the single use type that will maintain the package in a single piece following opening of the package. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a laminate type of packaging provided with a connector that reduces the likelihood of litter while also functioning as a support member for display of the product while on sale. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new container and dispenser of the single use type that is economically incorporated into the package manufacturing process. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a laminate type dispenser and container that includes a connector constructed from the same materials as the laminate sheets comprising the package. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a container and dispenser of the laminate type that is readily adapted into a variety of shapes and designs. 
     These and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed specification of the preferred embodiments taken together with the drawings and the claims. 
     In summary the present invention is directed to a container and dispenser having a litterless closure comprising a body member having an interior region for containing a material to be dispensed, a frangible portion integral with the body member, the frangible portion adapted to rupturably open a portion of the body member to the interior region and a connector member having first and second portions, the connector member first portion engaged to the body member and engaged at the connector member second portion to the frangible portion whereby the frangible portion remains secured to said body member upon opening of the container. 
     The present invention is also directed to a material container and dispenser comprising a body member having at least a front panel and a rear panel, the panels secured therebetween about respective perimeter edges to provide a sealed interior region for containing a material to be dispensed and a connector member having a first end and a second end, the connector member first end engaged to a first region of the body member and engaged at the second end to a second region of the body member whereby upon opening of the body member between the first region and the second region, the regions remain interconnected and liter is reduced. 
     The present invention is also directed to a material container and dispenser comprising means for containing a material to be dispensed, means for opening said containing means for purposes of dispensing material therein and means for maintaining an interconnection between the containing means and the opening means following opening of the container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the material container and dispenser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the material container and dispenser shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the material container and dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the material container and dispenser shown in FIGS. 1-3 upon opening of the container and including an arrow indicating the manner in which and end region of the container removed; 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the container an dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the container and dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the container and dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the container and dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the container and dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the container and dispenser of the present invention; and, 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the container and dispenser shown in FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning to FIGS. 1 through 3, the container and dispenser A according to the present invention is shown and comprises a main body member  2  shown to have the general outline of a bottle. It is understood the shape of the container according to the present invention is not limited to any particular shape, as will be further explained below, but may be modified depending upon the end use of the container. 
     The body portion  2  is shown to comprise a front panel  4  and rear panel  6  secured along respective perimeter edges  8  and  10 . Container A is shown to include a bottom portion  12  as is known in the art, however the container may be formed without a separate bottom. Generally speaking, the above construction is commonly known as laminated packaging. Other types of non-laminate packaging are within the scope of the present invention provided the container and dispenser is of the single use type. That is, the container is not resealable once it is opened. 
     The construction materials from which the front panel  4  and rear panel  6  as well as other structure forming the package are made may be selected from any material known in the art with respect to laminate type packaging and the present invention is not limited to any particular type of construction material. In the usual case, the selected material is sufficient to create a secure, leakage-free package for the product yet have a tensile strength such that the package may be readily opened upon grasping of an edge of the container and pulling adjacent edge portions in opposite directions. 
     As is apparent, the manner in which the opening is made may vary according to the present invention. For example, the opening may be formed along a discrete line of separation disposed on the package during manufacturing. In the typical case, the panel forming the laminate is provided with a rupturable separation line caused by mechanically altering the sheet after forming or when the panel is extruded. 
     Returning to FIGS. 1 through 3 and as noted earlier, the front panel  4  and the rear panel  6  are joined along respective perimeter edges  8  and  10  to form an interior region (not shown) within the container for holding a material to be dispensed. Body portion  2  is shown to include an end portion  14  having notches  16  extending in the adjacent perimeter edges for purposes of providing a region of the package that may be torn to create an opening. 
     It is within the scope of the present invention to provide the opening region along any portion of a container. The opening portion as set forth in FIGS. 1 through 3 is provided along end portion  14  for purposes of simulating a conventional bottle. 
     A connector member  18  is provided and includes a first end  20  shown to be integral with the perimeter edge of body portion  2  and a connector member second end  22  shown to be integral with the edge of end portion  14  and adjacent notches  16 . An opening or passageway  24  extends between the connector member  18  and the perimeter edge of the body portion  2 . 
     As is apparent, connector member  18  may be formed into the respective panels during manufacture of container and dispenser and may be formed from the same construction materials as the panels. In the alternative, the connector may be a separate piece secured to or otherwise laminated to the perimeter edges  8  and  10  of the packaging. The connector may be reinforced with fibers or other strengthening material to prevent tearing during opening of the container and dispenser. 
     Turning to FIG. 4, the container and dispenser A is shown in an opened position with the end portion  14  remaining attached to the body portion  2 . More particularly, the user will cause a tear to occur about notches  16  and across end portion  14  so that an opening  25  is made into container and dispenser A allowing material to be dispensed from the contain and dispenser. 
     As indicated by arrow  26 , a separated portion  28  is lifted apart from end portion  14  and main body portion  2  exposing an opening  25  through which the material is dispensed (not shown). The separated portion  28  remains attached to body portion  2  by connector member  18 . In this way, the separated portion may be disposed of with body portion  2  and not cause litter. 
     As noted above, container A may be adapted for opening many different ways and the present invention is not limited to any specific embodiment. For example, the container and dispenser may be provided with a frangible region having score lines or other rupturable surface features that allow the package to open along a defined region of the package. A reinforced tab may be incorporated into the laminate sheet or otherwise attached which causes a uniform opening to be formed into the package when the tab is pulled along the surface of the package. One of ordinary skill in the art of the packaging industry would readily ascertain the type of opening required for a particular application and modify the container and dispenser accordingly. The present invention is especially adapted for use in association with single use type containers and dispensers whereby a portion of the container or dispenser may be torn off and separated from the main body of the container. 
     Turning to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. The container and dispenser B includes a connector member  48  extending continuously along a perimeter edge of body portion  36  from a first end  30  adjacent opening region  32  of container B to a second end  34  adjacent perimeter edge of the body portion  36 . Connector  48  is shown to include reinforcing material embedded within the material forming the connector strip to enhance the tensile strength of the connector. Accordingly, the connector cannot be torn as the package is opened. A dotted line  40  indicates the region of the package along which a tear is made to open the package and, as noted earlier, the line  40  may comprise score lines or other readily rupturable structure that will permit the package to be opened along a defined region. As is apparent in this embodiment, no separation exists between the connector member  48  and the perimeter edge for any portion of the main body portion of the container B. As noted earlier, the connector member  48  may be constructed from a material that is reinforced or otherwise modified to provide a higher tensile strength than the remaining portions of the container and dispenser to ensure a user does not tear through the connector member during opening of the package. 
     Turning to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby a container C is provided having the above noted laminate construction and includes a main body portion  50  having an opening region  52  integral with the main body portion  50  and notch  54  positioned adjacent the opening region for providing a starting point for opening the container as in the previous embodiments. Dotted line  54  indicates the region along which the opening is formed. A connector member  56  is shown having a first end  56  and a second end  58 . The first end  58  of connector member  56  is secured to opening region  52  and includes a passageway  62  extending between the connector member  56  and a perimeter edge of the main body portion  50 . As is apparent, the user will cause the frangible or rupturable region indicated at line  64  to be torn thereby allowing the material within the container to be dispensed. At the same time, opening region  52  remain attached to the main body portion  50  by the connector  56 . 
     Turning to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby a container D is provided having a main body portion  66 , an opening region  68 , a notch  70  and a connector member  72  having a first end  74  and an opposite second end  76  forming a passageway  78  extending between the connector member  56  and the perimeter edge of the main body portion  66 . Dotted line  80  is provided to indicate the direction along which the opening region  68  of the container D is torn to create an opening for dispensing of the product. After opening of the container D, the opening region will remain attached to the main body portion  66  by the connector member  72 . 
     FIG. 8 is directed to an alternative embodiment of the present invention whereby container and dispenser E includes a main body portion  82  having an opening region  84  located at a top end portion of the container and includes a notch  86  adjacent the frangible region identified by dotted line  96  along which an opening may be formed. A connecting member  88  is provided, the connecting member  88  having a first end  90  secured to the opening region  84  and a second end  92  secured to the main body portion  82  along a perimeter edge. An optional passageway  94  is shown extending between the main body portion and the connecting member  88 . To open the container and dispenser E, an opening is made along dotted line  96  and the product is dispensed. The opening region is severed from the main body portion adjacent the dotted line  96  but remains attached due to the connecting member  88 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. Container and dispenser F comprises a main body portion  98  having an opening region  100  located at an upper portion of the container. Notch  102  provides and edge for allowing the user to cause an opening to be made in the package along a line  112  extending across the opening region. Connecting member  104  includes a first end  106  attached to opening region  100  and a second end  108  attached and integral main body portion  98 . A passageway  110  is shown to extend between the connecting member  104  and the main body portion  108 . Dotted line  112  indicates the frangible region along which a tear can be made to cause the package to be opened and in a manner as set forth above. As is apparent, following opening, the connecting member  104  will retain a connection between the opening region and the main body portion. The embodiment of FIG. 9 also provides the advantage of allowing the package to be supported upon a display rack or the like whereby the aperture or passageway  110  is centrally disposed along the upper region of the package. 
     Turning to FIGS. 10 and 11 a container G is shown having a main body portion  98  and an opening region  116  at one end of the body portion. A notch  118  is provided to assist in forming an opening in package as with the embodiments noted above. The opening will extend along a frangible region or rupturable region indicated by dotted line  128 . A connecting member  120  is provided having a first end  122  and a second end  124  attached to the opening region  116  and main body portion  115  respectively. A passageway  126  extends between the connecting member  120  and the main body portion  114 . The package is opened by causing a tear to be formed along dotted line  128  with connector  120  maintaining the opening region in a secured relation to the main body portion  114 . 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or limits of the claims appended hereto.