US2857080A - Flexible containers - Google Patents

Description

Oct; 21, 1958 N. M. ELIAS v2,357,080

' FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS' v med June 1o. 1955 Y s sheets-sheet 1v y FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS FiledvvJune 1o.v 1955 f A` g ls sheets-sheet 2 "Z .nf/@garza Af. Ziff Unite States Patent G FLEXIBLE CGNTAINERS Nathaniel M. Elias, New York, N. Y. Application June 10, 1955, Serial No. 514,569

13 Claims. (Cl. 222-213) This invention relates to containers and closures, and particularly combined safety containers and automatic closures therefor.

The main object of my invention is to provide simple, convenient and novel means for opening and also closing containers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a special safety container that has closure means easily opened by a person aware of the proper manner of opening the container, but di'cult for both children and adults to open when ignorant of such manipulation.

It is in fact an object with a view to safety to provide such a container and automatic closure that will unfailingly effect closing of the container when it has been opened properly, and perhaps negligently left about in reach of children.

An important object of this invention is to produce a combined container and closure, wherein a portion of or upon the container is capable of being withdrawn from the closure proper in order to open the container,

instead of withdrawing the closure from the container as is done conventionally.

An ancillary object is therefore to have a container and corresponding closure with at least a portion of or upon this container capable of distortion or actual movement to open the closure.

Another object of the invention is so to combine the closure with the container that the closure at all times remains associated with the container whether it is open or closed.

A further ancillary object is to have at least one form of the invention so made that the closure is directly connected to the container while the latter is made of ilexible plastic to be distortable sufficiently to withdraw the mouth of the container from the closure and thereby expose the container mouth in open condition.

It is a practical object of the invention to have both a container and a captive closure which are each susceptible of considerable variation in construction and form while retaining the principles of the invention.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in greater detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the containerin use;

Figure 4 is another vertical section as takenon line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section of a modifica-I tion of the container of Figures 1 through 4;

Figure 6 illustrates the upper portion of a rigid type container showing a modification of the closure over that associated with the containers of Figures l through 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section of the same container and closure showing the latter in open condition; Figure 8 is a partial section of another modification of' the closure of Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 9 is also la partial section showing a further Figure 13 is a similar vertical section of the same con-l tainer when in open condition;

Figure 14 is a sectional view of the container assembly of Figures 12 and 13 when the container is held in the hand for distorting it and thus opening the mouth thereof;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a further modification of the container and closure shown in Figure l', with a portion broken away to better disclose detail;

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view of the containerr illustrated in Figure 15 as taken on line 16-16 therein;

Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the same container in actual use;

Figure 18 is a longitudinal section, partly broken away, of the container of Figure 17 as taken on line 18-18 in the latter View; i ,Y

Figure 19 is a partial transverse section of the con-` tainer as taken on line 19-19 in Figure 16; and

Figure 2O is a fragmentary vertical section of the. same container .as taken on line 20--20 in said Figure 16.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals,y

indicate the same or like parts and features.

Bottles, cans and containers of all sorts and shapes for pills, tablets, powder and liquids are, of course well known, and all these have more or less conventional closures, such as corks, caps, Stoppers and covers. Some containers are exible, being made -of ilexible and even elastic plastics, but have caps, covers or Stoppers like other containers. These plastic containers are capable of being distorted or squeezed for various purposes, mainlyv to expel some of their contents for immediate use in somey form or manner. In all such containers, it is usually never possible to open the same without using both hands, and sometimes vthis procedure is quite difficult, although it should not be. Moreover, Vwhen such a container has actually beenfopened, there is danger involved if the stopper is forgotten and not promptly replaced and the container electively closed. Much more might bestated in this direction, but it is evident that the whole subject presents a problem that calls for solution.

l Upon considering this pr-oblem, it has occurred to me that a container should be provided with a stopper thatl is captivethereto, and capable of having vthe same suiciently spaced away from the container temporarily to present a discharge opening for contents yof the container' I would also propose thatther container should be so constructed and the closure soto be dispensed at will.

related to it that the container ora portion thereof or thereon be capable of being sul'liciently `withdrawn from contact with the closure that a proper opening will ap-y pear between the container portion and the closure to allow abstraction,ofpartvof the contents ouf` thecontainer.;

Patented O ct. ,21, l1,958

or filling with intended tablets, pellets, pills or even liquid, if desired. As a result, I have succeeded in producing a combined safety container and automatic closurev therefor, as will now be described `in detail in the following.

Hence, in they practice of my invention, and referring alsoagain to the drawings, atypical medical container, generally indicated at 15, also commonly referred to as a squeeze bottle or container, is preferably made of more or less exible and'y even elastic plastic, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polybutene or other similar materials, plasticized or unplastic-` ized. The flexibility of the container may be predetermined by making the top and bottom relatively thick and therefore stii, while making the sides thinner. However, this container includes the thickened bottom 16, the top 17 With a mouth 1S having a frusto-conical form, front and back panels 19 and 20, and the two relatively narrower sides 21 and 22. The mouth 13 is fittedv with a closure disk 23 of frusto-conical form that isrremovable from the container, as well as replaceable thereon in a novel manner.

Within the container thus far described isa rod 24 of rigid material such as glass, rigid plastic, wood or any suitable material that will notv change in length, this rod being cemented, force fitted orotherwise secured to the bottom: 16 at one end and at the other end similarly secured to theclosure disk from the inside thereof. The length of the rod is calculated` toV be exactly proper to retainy the disc 23 tightly tted into mouth 18 when the container is at rest.

On the other hand, it is self evident that ifany-'force is applied .in some manner to the container that will cause distortion ofthe same, the rod 24 will remain unaltered irl-length, but the top 17 with itsmouth 18 will be caused to approach the bottom 16 in greater or lesser degree, according to the amount of distortion that occurs in the walls of the' container. Suchdistortion will cause the mouthlS as well as top 17 to withdraw from original position, and obviously, the mouth will come short of making its. normal contact with the closure disk 23 which will then be suspended in midair above the mouth. Thus, if asshown in Figure 3, the fingers 25',` 260i the hand are used'` to compress sides 21 and 22 of container 15, the top 17, and'vwith itthemouth 18is `withdrawn from contact with closure disk 23 so as to present a gap or opening 27 between the disk and mouth, allowing a lozenge or tablet 28 to drop out of the container from the supply 29 within, as especiallyshown in Figure 4. In thisl view, it is made clear that the top: and mouth are withdrawn from original position indicated in broken lines at 30, leaving the disk 23 at the end of rod 24 a short distance above the mouthas long asisides Zit-and 22 are compressed by the fingers and the container as a whole distorted in shape. When the desired pellet, tabletor lozenge has been obtained, mere release of the container from distorting compression will allow the side panels and other portions of the container to resume original regular shape, again bringing top 17 away from the bottom and mouth 18 up against the disk 23, closing the mouth eectively without exercise of caution or any care on the part of the user. Thus, the closing of the container is altogether an automatic loperation that requires no attention whatever, and is an important safety feature if it is left about within reach of children.

Of course, if desired, this container could be square, oblong, oval or round in cross section, for the effect would' be the same, the manual pressure on the sides tainer 31 having either a generally square, oblong, oval or round cross vsectional outline as seen from the top 32, but having no flat front, back or side panels; instead, this container has its body portion formed of a bellows structure with successive convolutions 33, 33 that allow the container to be distorted in substantially only one way. The top 32 has a dispensing mouth 34, while the bottom 35 has the rod 36 integral therewith but at its upper end secured to closure disk 37. In normal expanded condition, assuming that the container is made of a plastic similar to that shownkin Figures 1 through 4, the top occupies the position'indicated at 3S in broken lines, with the mouth 34 in effective closing contact with disk 37.

As already intimated, the only manner in which this container is distortabl'e is by compression of the top 32 manually, so that the disk 37 is thereby retained in isolated position above dispensing mouth 34 when the latter is thus withdrawn from it. As soon as pressure is released from the container top, it springs back to its upper position 38 and causes mouth 34 to close withdisk 37.

Before proceeding to describe modifications of the closure structure, it may be mentioned that the container can also be otherwise modified-withy respect to the dispensing mouth and location of the closure disk. This isparticularly illustrated in Figures l2, 13 andl 14, wherein the container is rather squat as shown at 39, having a relatively short but thin and liexible bounding wall 40, the top 41 andbottom 42, and a-dispensing. mouth 43 in the top. The whole is preferably made ofthe mentioned plastics, if desired, while within is located the rod 44 connected at one end to the bottom 42 and at the other end to a closure disk 45 Within mouth 43. Here,the disk is inverted with respect'to the disk -of Figures 1 through 5, and likewise, the mouth converges from Within toward its outer edge. The pressure ofa pair of lingers upon the side wall of this `container will distort not only the' bounding Wall itself, but also the top and bottom into the positions indicated in broken lines at 46 and 47 in'Figure 14, withdrawing the disk from the mouth inward, so as to' present an opening indicated at 48 for egress of at least a portion ofthe contentsduring compression and' distortion of this container. When the 'latter is then released, it is obvious that the top 41 and bottom 42 again return toward each other and bring mouth 43 back into active contact with disk 45 and thus closing the container automatically. It islay practical feature to have the disk' rein forced at 49fand the bottom'v similarly reinforced at 50 to receive the ends of rod 44 so that it will be permanently retained in assembled relation to thedisk and bottom, whether cemented in place or the two 'parts molded upon the ends of the'v rod in' thedi'es forming the container and closure disk'.

Thek container thus far note'dis flexiblel s-o as to be capable of distortion under pressure, and although the rod has beensho'wn asl secured to the bottom and the dispensing; mouth located upon yth'etop, itis evident that the mouthr could be located on the' side or actually on the bottom, whileV the rod could be secured to any other portionl upon the interior of the container, so' long as a differential movement between the closure disk and mouth is obtained when the container is manually distorted.

However, the invention may be practiced when using rigid containers instead of yielding or flexible containers, as illustrated in Figures 6 through' l1, showing' threemodiiications of the' closure details'. For example,.in 'Figures 6 and 7, thecontainer 51 may be' a rigid glass blottleor the like with'the neckI 52 and dispensing'mouth 53;v This mouthl is boundedby'the'usualfflangelor lip 54 surrounded by a hollowv cap 55 fit-ting loosely about the lip'and-hav'in'g a bottom flange 56 retaining the cap in association with the bottleneck 52;l This-ca'p-hs aJtpSTWith the'di'spensing opening or mouth proper SS-fitt'ed with a-'closurev disk 59 secured uponthe vupper' end of a vertical branch of the horizontal bottom arm 61 preferably madevl of '5 coils of a compression spring 62integrally connected to the horizontal arm 61. This spring serves the two purposes of resiliently raising the cap until its bottom ange at 56 engages beneath lip 54 of the bottle 51, and the dispensing opening proper 58 likewise being raised into closing engagement with disk 59.

If the fingers are used to depress the cap 55 without also touching disk 59 just referred to, the spring 62 will be compressed as best seen in Figure 7, and the cap brought down about it so that disk 59 is held above the resulting opening lor mouth 58, allowing the contents of the bottle to be poured out when the bottle is tipped to a proper dispensing position. Arm 61 and upright branch 60 prevent the closure disk from following the cap in its downward movement, and for this reason the disk is retained in its normal raised position, but when the cap 55 is released, it will again be raised into original position wherein the dispensing opening or mouth 58 again is in closing contact with the disk, as mentioned. The cap may naturally be made of rigid plastic or metal, as it is not required to be resilient. Then, again, in this case, the normal mouth 53 of the bottle is not to be considered the dispensing opening or mouth for the purpose of the invention, but rather the opening 58 in the cap co-operating with the disk 59.

A modification of this general type is shown in Figure 8, in which the bottle or container 57 is the same as before, which is also true of cap 55 with its lower flange 56, top 57 and dispensing opening 58. However, in this form, the .spring 63 is independent and rests alone on the top 53 of the bottle neck 64, and the closure disk 65 is secured to the upper end of a short rod 66 extending upward through the neck from a transverse anchoring pin or bar 67 extending into the opposite sides of this neck to prevent l-oss of the same from the bottle. This cross bar or pin 67 may be integral with the rod, and both rod and pin'as well as disk 65 may be formed integrally of a single piece of metal as a unitary article, if desired. The pin may extend entirely through the neck wall as shown at 63, for example, but it may also be slightly shorter so as to extend only partly into the oppo-site walls. In any event, this form operates in the same manner as that shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In Figures 9 and 10, the container 69 may be of rigid plastic or metal, or even glass, and hasl an upper opening 70 bounded by a top ange 71 extending radially `outward with a deep groove 72 resulting beneath it. Into this groove extends the bottom ange 73 of a bellows shaped collapsible cap 74 ma-de of such plastic as already referred to in connection with the flexible containers of Figures 1 to 5. The top 75 of this cap has a dispensing opening 76 and a closing disk 77 secured upon the upper end of a rigid elbow arm 78 fixed to the inside of the neck 79 of this cap immediately above the top flange 71 of the container. Normally, the disk closes opening 76, but when top 75 is manually depressed, this top with its opening recede from the disk as shown in Figure l and present an opening 80 between mouth 76 and the disk `77. When the cap is released from manual pressure, it again expands upward to bring opening 76 into closing contact with the closing disk as in Figure 9. In this case, the more or less rigid supporting arm 78 is -secured to the cap itself, below the depressable portion,

Another modification is shown in Figure l1, the con tainer 81 having the opening 82 bounded by wide ange 83 above groove 84 in which is fitted the bottom flange 85 of a depressable plastic cap 86. This cap resembles cap 74, but it hasno arm connected to any interior portion of it. The top 87 has the dispensing opening 88 fitted with the closure disk 89 supported on the upper end of the integral short rod 90 that extends down into opening 82 of the container. In this opening there is fixed a transverse cross pin 91 integral with the container itself at that point, and this cross pin is integral with the lower end of rod 90 which holds disk 8,9 aloft when man- Si. ual pressure depresses the top 87 of the cap and presents an opening between the disk and dispensing opening 88 to allow egress `of uid or tablets from -container 81. Release of the cap obviously allows it to close with disk 89. The operation is like that of the form shown in Figures 9 and l0.

A different modification isv shown in Figures 15 to 20, wherein the container 92 may be rectangular in form as in the case of container 15 in Figure 1, for example, but in this form, the closure member 93 is preferably hinged at 94 to the top 95 of the container. Closure member 93 may be made of similar plastic to that composing the container or at least its top 95 and therefore integral at its connected inner end 94 with this top. The free end 96 of the closure member is flanked on both sides by a pair of side ribs 97, 97 that rise integrally on top 95 and gradually increase in height toward this free end but beyond the latter are united by a transverse end rib 98 which internally forms a seat 99 to receive the end 96 thereon in closed condition of the container. In fact, as shown in Figures 16, 19 and 20, the seat not only forms part of end rib 9S but is extended at 100, 100 along the inner sides of side ribs to form a continuous seat at both sides and the outer end of closure member or ap 93.

The mentioned closure or flap is so connected and arranged that normally, it is biased downward into closed position as best seen in Figures 15 and 16. Within the container is located the upright post or rod 101 embedded at its lower end in the boss 102 integral with the bottom 103, while at the upper end, this rod terminates in a head 104 that serves a special purpose. Upon the underside of closure member or flap 93 are fixed a pair of integral parallel ribs 105, 105 with bottom flanges 106, 106 having a space 107 between them into which rod 101 projects in such fashion as to locate its head 104 between these ribs above their flange 106. Rod 101 is thus connected by one end to the container bottom and by the head on the other end to the closure member, although the slot 107 permits a certain sliding movement of the head between ribs 105 without disengaging the head 104 from its captive relation of flanges 106.

Assuming that the side panels or walls 108, 108 and narrow end walls 109, 109 of the container 92 are made of flexible plastic as in the case of container 15 of Figuse l, when the fingers 25 and 26 are applied to end walls 109 as best seen in Figures 17 and 18, these walls will become partially collapsed, and side Walls 108 will become distorted as Well, bulging outward. The immediate result will be that the top 95 and bottom 103 are drawn toward each other, this top moving from its yoriginal position indicated at 110 in broken lines to that shown in full lines (Figure 18). As rod 101 ldoes not change in form or length, its head 104 pushes up closure member 93 to swing it open and present a dispensing opening 111 through which a tablet 28 may be dispensed from an interior supply 29. In this form of container and closure, the top 95 and bottom 103 may be made of exible plastic, but thicker than walls 108, 10,9, if desired, or may be made of rigid material if preferred, as it sufces to have the side and end walls flexible. Naturally, when the fingers are released, the walls immediately spr-ing back into shape and rod 101 pulls the closure member 93 down again on its seat. This closure member can well be made of'rigid material hinged by a strip of flexible material such as leather, rubber or exible plastic to the container top, if so desired, for the result in operation will be the same.

In the various forms of the invention illustrated `and described, the possibilities are by no means exhausted, but they form non-limiting examples, and throughout the same principles hold. In each form, the dispensing mouth orA 7 intliecontainer or portion upon the container. The choice of mater-ials and the" actual form of the container are left to the best judgment of' those skilled in the art with" a View to applying the' principles of the invention in practical manner and form.

I have described what I believe to be the bestv embodiments of my invention. 1 do not wish, however, to be confined tothe embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety container of a deformable material such as a plastic or the like, including a substantially thick walled unyielding bottom portion and relatively thin deformable side walls and a top, said top having a dispensing opening, a closure member being larger in diameter than said dispensing opening and tapered to effect a tight seal with said dispensing opening, means conriectin'g the closure member upon the interior thereof with said' bottom portions of the container in order to retain the' closure member permanently associated with the container, said thin walled portions of said container being deformable for effecting temporary separation of the portion of the container having the opening from the closure member in order to allow dispensing a portion of the contents of said container from said opening at will.

2. A combined safety container and automatic closure therefor according to claim l, wherein the container is made of plastic of the class consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride poly butene and the like in order to be capable of temporary distortion under manual pressure.

3. A combined safety container and automatic closure therefor according to claim l, wherein the container is made of an elastic plastic capable of temporary distortion under manual pressure in order to cause the portion of the container having the opening to separate from and isolate the closure member for dispensing contents 0f the container from said `opening lat will.

4. A combined safety container and automatic closure therefor according to claim 2, wherein the means interconnecting the interior portion of the closure member with the container includes a rod of substantially stable length connected at one end to the container and at the other end to said closure member.

5. combined safety container and automatic closure therefor according to claim 3, wherein the means connecting the interior portion of the closure member with the container includes a rod of substantially stable length connected at one end to the container and at the other end to said closure member.

6. A combined safety container and automatic closure therefor, including a container made of substantially resilient material and having opposite sides capable of being distorted temporarily under manual compression and of resuming its original shape upon release from such compression, -a substantially thick-walled unyielding portion connecting said sides the container having a dispensing opening portion therein connected to said sides, a closure member removably fitting the opening, and a rod of substantially stable dimensions connected within said container to said unyielding portion thereof at one end of said rod and at the other end thereof connected to the interior portion of said closure member, whereby,

portion of' said closure member and connected to a portion within said opening,- and resilient means allowing manual depression of the' portion having said dispensing opening `and restoring said portion with its opening to original closing position' with respect'to said closure member when released from such manual depression.

8. A' safety container and automatic closure therefor, including the combination of a container proper having a portion with a dispensing opening therein, a closure member releasably fitting the dispensing opening, means for permanently retaining the portion having the dispensing opening associated with said container, resilient means allowing manual depression of the portion having the opening therein in order to effect separation of said closure member and said opening 'and for restoring said portion and its opening to original position wherein the closure member closes said opening, and unyielding means interconnecting the interior portion of said closure member and a portion within said dispensing opening.

9. A safety container and automatic closure therefor according to claim S, wherein the resilient means includes a compression spring and the unyielding means consists of a substantially upright rigid member secured directly to the closure member, and wherein the portion within said dispensing opening to which the unyielding means is connected is an arm integral with said spring.

l0. A safety container and automatic closure therefor according to claim 8, wherein the resilient means includes a compression spring and the unyielding means consists of a substantially upright member directly secured to the closure member, and wherein the portion within the dispensing opening to which the unyielding means is connected is a cross piece fixed in a portion of the container and to which the upright member is integrally attached.

ll. A combined safety container and automatic closure therefor including a container having a portion thereon with a dispensing opening, a closure member movably connected to the container adjacent to the dispensing opening in effective relation to close said opening in one position and to expose said opening for dispensing contents of said container in another position of said closure member, the container having means for 4causing the portion thereof provided with the dispensing open ing to approach or recede from that part of said container remote from said dispensing opening at will, means normally biasing the closure member into closed position, and means for opening said closure member while connected to said container when the portion having the dispensing opening is caused to approach said part of said container remote from said dispensing opening.

l2. A combined safety container and automatic closure therefor according to claim ll, wherein the closure member is hinged to the container and the latter has flexible walls causing the portion with the dispensing opening to approach the respectively remote part of said container when said walls are compressed and distorted, and wherein the iast mentioned means includes an elongated member connected at one end within said container to said remote part thereof and at the other end to an interiorv portion of said closure member.

13. A combined safety container and automatic closure therefor, including a container made of substantially resilient material and having opposed side portions capable of `being distorted temporarily under manual cornpression `and of resuming its original shape upon release from such compression, said container having a bottom wall of substantial thickness and of substantially set configuration, the container having a dispensing opening portion therein connected to said sides, a closure member removably fitting the opening, and a rod of substantially stable dimensions connected within said container to said bottom at one end of said rod and at the other end thereof connected to the interior portion of said closure memberrwhereby, compression of the opposed side por tions of the container will urge said closure away from said dispensing opening portion inwardly of the container and thereby open said closure for dispensing material therethrough.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 v 4 Yarwood Aug. 15, 1916 Brassard Aug. 28, 1917 Fulton May 8, 1928 Parker Mar. 13, 1934 Klein July 16, 1935 Grammer etal Oct. 22, 1935 Reutter June 30, 1936 Crook Feb. 1, 1938 Bink Mar. 9, 1948 Parziale et al June 9, 1953

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