Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-27
2001-01-23
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3752)
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
C222S185100, C383S009000, C383S041000, C383S063000, C383S066000, C383S067000, C383S107000, C383S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176394
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a collapsible fluid container having a large area resealable opening, preferably elongate and flexible, and a relatively smaller resealable spout.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of collapsible containers is replete with examples of various volume containers and spout configurations. Generally speaking, these containers are intended to hold fluids of various types. A typical example of a prior art container is one wherein two flexible panels are joined at their common periphery and a spout is located in the face of one panel. Alternatively, the spout may be located between the two panels at their common periphery.
While collapsible containers of the prior art advantageously provide volume efficient containment of various fluids, they commonly suffer from numerous disadvantages. These disadvantages include the inability to manually dry the inside of the container, the inability to manually clean the inside of the container, the inability to quickly fill the container, and most noticeably, the inability to insert large objects into the container. While rigid containers having large orifices overcome many of these disadvantages, such containers do not collapse upon the displacement of fluid or for storage purposes. Moreover, if a large spout were to be incorporated with collapsible containers of the prior art, the desirable attributes inherent with collapsible containers (e.g., foldability) would be compromised.
It is therefore desirable to include the benefits of large orifice openings in a collapsible container without compromising the inherent advantages of a collapsible container. The present invention is intended to achieve the object of providing for a large orifice opening while still retaining the desirable features of a collapsible container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to collapsible containers for retaining and dispensing fluids and methods for making the same. A container according to a first embodiment comprises a first panel bonded to all but a segment of an opposing second panel wherein the first and the second panels define an interior chamber and wherein the unbonded segments of the first panel and the second panel define a first opening having a maximum area; a first part of a two-part fluid impervious closure bonded to the first panel segment of the first opening and a second part of the two-part fluid impervious closure bonded to the second panel segment of the first opening; and a spout bonded to at least the first panel to provide fluid communication between the interior chamber and the environment, and to define an orifice having an area less than the maximum area of the first opening. Preferably, the panels are flexible and the two-part closure is elongate and flexible so that compactability is retained. In a preferred embodiment, interlocking fastener strips are used.
The container according to a second embodiment has the first panel entirely defining the first opening: the two-part fluid impervious closure is bonded to first and second edge portions defining a gap in the first panel; the first and second panels are substantially bonded to one another at a common periphery. In either embodiment, the spout can be located at the face of the first panel or at the perimeter portion and between both panels. A feature of either embodiment includes the integration of grommets located in the upper flange portion of the container to facilitate mounting of the container.
By integrating a large area, resealable opening in a collapsible container, the deficiencies of the prior art collapsible containers are avoided. The user of a container according to the present invention can quickly fill the container with fluids or large objects that would not otherwise transverse the spout opening. Moreover, the user has the ability to manually clean and dry the inside of the flexible container. In addition, the mixing of particles or powders is greatly enhanced. Because the preferred container according to the present invention utilizes a flexible and substantially linear two-part closure, the compactability of the container, as previously noted, is not jeopardized.
Depending upon the extent of manufacturing to be undertaken, several methods for manufacturing the collapsible container of the present invention exist. In a first method, the following steps are undertaken to construct the first embodiment of the invention from components: locating a spout between first and second similarly sized and opposed flexible panels, wherein each panel has a peripheral edge portion; bonding all but a segment of the first panel peripheral edge portion to all but a corresponding segment of the second panel peripheral edge portion whereby the spout creates a fluid pathway between the volume defined by the first and second panels and the environment; locating a two-part fluid impervious closure between the unbonded segment of the first panel peripheral edge portion and the unbonded segment of the second panel peripheral edge portion; and bonding the segment of the first panel peripheral edge portion to one part of the two-part closure, and bonding the segment of the second panel peripheral edge portion to the other part of the two part closure.
Alternatively, partially completed collapsible containers can be obtained from another source, and thereafter modified according to the following steps: locating a two-part fluid impervious closure between the unbonded segment of the first panel peripheral edge portion and the unbonded segment of the second panel peripheral edge portion; and bonding these segment of the first panel peripheral edge portion to the first part of the two-part closure, and bonding the segment of the second panel peripheral edge portion to the other part of the two-part closure.
In the preceding two method embodiments, the two-part closure was located at the peripheral edge portions of the two panels. In order to permit convenient insertion of the two-part closure between the two panels, it is necessary to have a certain degree of clearance between closure and the adjacent peripheral bonds between the container's flexible panels. In order to make the container fluid tight, it is necessary to eliminate this clearance after insertion of the closure. In a preferred embodiment, sufficient compression and heat is applied to the opposing panels at their interface with the two-part closure during the panel-to-closure bonding step so that lateral closure material is extruded into the clearance area. If alternative methods for creating the desired bond between the two-part closure and the opposing panels are used, those persons skilled in the art will appreciate the use of packing or filling materials to eliminate the clearance area.
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Getzewich Lee A.
Shimko Thomas M.
Cascade Designs, Inc.
Graybeal Jackson Haley LLP
Kaufman Joseph A.
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