Collapsible solution container having rectangular shoulder

In a molded, collapsible solution container, which container defines a chamber-defining body portion wall having an integral neck portion and a shoulder portion at one end thereof, and defining, in its normal, unstressed state, a transverse cross-section which tapers from said shoulder portion progressively along a major portion of its length to a flat, sealed end portion at the end of the container opposite to said one end, said container also defining a pair of opposed gusset portions adjacent said shoulder portion at opposite ends thereof, said gusset portions including lines of flexing weakness to facilitate collapse of said container adjacent said shoulder portion as the contents thereof are withdrawn, said gusset portions each defining three sides in triangular relation, one of said sides of each of said gusset portions being parallel and adjacent to an opposed shoulder edge, the improvement comprising, in combination:

• said shoulder portion being rectangular in shape, the wall circumferences of said transverse cross-sections progressively decreasing along said container from adjacent said shoulder portion toward said opposite end, one of the sides of each of the gusset portions being identical with one of two opposed shoulder edges, said opposed shoulder edges each comprising an angled, relatively sharp-cornered edge, said shoulder portion also defining a second opposed pair of shoulder edges extending between said gusset portions, said second pair of shoulder edges defining the shape of a relatively enlarged, generally cylindrical section.

In a molded, collapsible solution container, which container defines a chamber-defining body portion wall having an integral neck portion and a shoulder portion at one end thereof and defining, in its normal, unstressed state, a transverse cross-section which tapers from said shoulder portion progressively along a major portion of its length to a flat, sealed end portion at the end of the container opposite said one end, said container also defining a pair of opposed gusset portions adjacent said shoulder portion at opposite ends thereof, said gusset portions including lines of flexing weakness to facilitate collapse of said container adjacent said shoulder portion as the contents thereof are withdrawn, said gusset portions each defining three sides in triangular relationship, the improvement comprising, in combination:

• one of said sides of each gusset portion being positioned at one of a first pair of opposed shoulder edges, and defining an apex opposed to said one side, said shoulder portion being rectangular in shape and defining a second pair of opposed shoulder edges in generally normal relation to the first pair of opposed shoulder edges, and a pair of opposed lines of flexing weakness defined in said collapsible container and exhibiting an arcuate cross-section, said opposed lines of flexing weakness being positioned on each side of said container in parallel relation to said second pair of shoulder edges and longitudinally spaced from said shoulder edges in the direction of the flat, sealed end portion by a distance essentially equal to the longitudinal distance of each apex from the shoulder, said opposed lines of flexing weakness occupying only a central portion of the container wall, being laterally spaced from each apex.

In a molded, collapsible solution container, which container defines a chamber-defining body portion wall having an integral neck portion and a shoulder portion at one end thereof and defining, in its normal, unstressed state, a transverse cross section which tapers from said shoulder portion progressively along a major portion of its length to a flat, sealed end portion at the end of the container opposite said one end, said container also defining a pair of opposed gusset portions adjacent said shoulder portion at opposite ends thereof, said gusset portions including lines of flexing weakness to facilitate collapse of said container adjacent said shoulder portion as the contents thereof are withdrawn, said gusset portions each defining three sides in triangular relationship, the improvement comprising, in combination:

• one of said sides of each gusset portion being positioned at one of a first pair of opposed shoulder edges, each gusset portion defining an apex opposed to said one side, said shoulder portion being rectangular in shape and defining a second pair of opposed shoulder edges in generally normal relation to said first pair of opposed shoulder edges, and a pair of opposed lines of flexing weakness defined in said collapsible solution container and exhibiting an arcuate cross-section which extends inwardly of said container, said opposed lines of flexing weakness being positioned on each side of said container in parallel relation to said second pair of shoulder edges, being laterally spaced from the apexes of said gussets and longitudinally spaced from said shoulder edges in the direction of the flat, sealed end portion by a distance essentially equal to the longitudinal distance of each apex from the shoulder, said parallel lines of flexing weakness being of essentially equal length to the second pair of shoulder edges.

In a molded, collapsible solution container which container defines chamber-defining body portion wall having an integral neck portion and a shoulder portion at one end thereof defining, in its normal, unstressed state, a transverse cross-section which tapers from said shoulder portion progressively along a major portion of its length to a flat, sealed end portion at the end of the container opposite to said one end, said container also defining a pair of opposed gusset portions adjacent said shoulder portion at opposite ends thereof, said gusset portions including lines of flexing weakness to facilitate collapse of said container adjacent said shoulder portion as the contents thereof are withdrawn, said gusset portions each defining three sides in triangular relation, the improvement comprising, in combination:

• one of said sides of each gusset portion being positioned at one of a first pair of opposed shoulder edges, each gusset portion defining an apex opposed to said one side, said shoulder portion being rectangular in shape and defining a second pair of opposed shoulder edges in generally normal relation to said first pair of opposed shoulder edges, and a pair of opposed lines of flexing weakness defined in said collapsible solution container and exhibiting an arcuate cross-section which extends inwardly of said container, said opposed lines of flexing weakness being positioned on each side of the container in parallel relation to said second pair of shoulder edges, being laterally spaced from the apexes of said gussets, and longitudinally spaced from said shoulder edges in the direction of the flat, sealed end portion by a distance essentially equal to the longitudinal distance of each apex from the shoulder, said parallel lines of flexing weakness being of essentially equal length to the second pair of shoulder edges to define respectively between each parallel line of flexing weakness and each of the second shoulder edges a pair of essentially rectangular areas between them, and in which, adjacent each side of said rectangular area, there is defined between said rectangular area and a side of each gusset a triangular area which is essentially equal in shape and size to a half-triangular portion of the adjacent gusset, the first pair of opposed shoulder edges defining an angled surface to form a relatively sharp corner, while the second pair of opposed shoulder edges is of relatively enlarged, generally cylindrical section construction and in which the lines of flexing weakness of said gusset portions which connect with the apex define relatively enlarged, generally cylindrical sections, the transverse cross-sections of said container along the majority of its length beginning adjacent said gusset portions exhibiting mutually perpendicular major and minor transverse axes, said major axes being parallel to said second shoulder edges and longer than the minor axes, and two pairs of outwardly angled wall portions, each pair of wall portions defining a generally acute-angled apex connection together and positioned on said major axis, the transverse cross-sections of said container along a majority of its length also exhibiting generally planar central areas adjacent said minor transverse axes, and further in which the outwardly-angled wall portions each define a concave wall section on each side of each acutely-angled apex.