Apparatus for containing and dispensing fluids under pressure and method of manufacturing same

An apparatus for containing and dispensing fluid under pressure comprising:

• (a) a flexible container defining an inner region for containing the fluid under pressure and capable of being folded in its empty condition and expanded at least in substantially radial outward directions when filled with the fluid under pressure, said container being constructed of a material which is substantially inert with respect to the fluid to be contained therein;
• (b) a sleeve disposed radially outwardly of an surrounding said flexible container in its folded condition, said sleeve having a generally fabric-like configuration and being generally resilient at least in radial directions so as to be capable of being expanded at least in generally radial directions when said flexible container is filled with the fluid under pressure;
• (c) a resilient tubular member positioned radially outwardly of said sleeve, said resilient member extending at least over the length of said sleeve and being expandable at least in radial directions when said flexible container is filled with the fluid under pressure;
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• (d) valve means connected to said flexible container and adapted to substantially prevent evacuation of said flexible container under normal conditions, said valve means being capable of selectively providing communication between said inner region of said flexible container and the outside atmosphere thereby to permit selective amounts of the pressurized fluid to exit said flexible container due to the generally radially inward forces provided by said resilient member in its generally expanded condition.

An apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) a flexible container defining an inner region for containing the liquid under pressure and capable of being folded in its empty condition and expanded at least in substantially radial outward directions when filled with the liquid under pressure, said flexible container being constructed of a material which is substantially non-permeable and substantially inert at least with respect to the liquid to be contained therein;
• (b) a generally elongated, tubular sleeve disposed radially outwardly of and surrounding said flexible container, said sleeve being constructed predominantly of textile yarns at least in longitudinal directions and having resilient yarn-like members in circumferential directions at spaced positions along its length such that said sleeve is generally resilient when expanded at least in substantially radial outward directions when said flexible container is filled with the liquid under pressure;
• (c) a generally elongated, resilient tubular member positioned radially outwardly of said predominantly textile sleeve, said tubular member extending at least over the length of said predominantly textile sleeve and being expandable at least in radial directions when said flexible container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that frictional interaction between said predominantly textile sleeve and said resilient tubular member at least in longitudinal directions prevents substantial elongation of said resilient tubular member when said flexible container is filled with the liquid under pressure but permits expansion of said resilient tubular member in radially outward directions substantially uniformly along its length;
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• (d) valve means connected to said flexible container and adapted to substantially prevent evacuation of said flexible container under normal conditions and capable of selectively providing communication between said inner region of said flexible container and the outside atmosphere thereby to permit selective amounts of said pressurized liquid to exit said flexible container due to the generally radially inward forces provided by said resilient tubular member in its generally expanded condition.

An apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) a non-elastomeric, substantially non-permeable flexible container defining an inner region for containing the liquid under pressure and capable of being folded in its empty condition and expanded at least in substantially radial outward directions when filled with the liquid under pressure, said flexible container being constructed of a material which is substantially chemically and physically inert with respect to the liquid to be contained therein;
• (b) a generally elongated, tubular sleeve disposed radially outwardly of and surrounding said flexible container, said sleeve being constructed predominantly of textile yarns at least in longitudinal directions and having resilient yarn-like members in circumferential directions at spaced positions along its length such that said sleeve is generally resilient when expanded at least in substantially radial outward directions when said flexible container is filled with the liquid under pressure;
• (c) a generally elongated, resilient tubular member positioned radially outwardly of said predominantly textile sleeve, said tubular member extending at least over the length of said predominantly textile sleeve and being expandable at least in radial directions when said flexible container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that frictional interaction between said predominantly textile sleeve and said resilient tubular member at least in longitudinal directions prevents substantial elongation of said resilient tubular member when said flexible container is filled with the liquid under pressure but permits expansion of said resilient tubular member in radially outward directions substantially uniformly along its length;
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• (d) valve means connected to said flexible container and adapted to substantially prevent evacuation of said flexible container under normal conditions and capable of selectively providing communication between said inner region of said flexible container and the outside atmosphere thereby to permit selective amounts of said pressurized liquid to exit said flexible container due to the generally radially inward forces provided by said resilient tubular member in its generally expanded condition.

An apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening at one end thereof;
• (b) a non-elastomeric flexible container integrally formed of a blow molded generally homogeneous plastic composition and having a plurality of longitudinally extending creases, said blow molded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid under pressure and capable of being folded inwardly along said creases about a longitudinal axis thereof in its empty condition and expanded at least in substantially radially outward directions when filled with the liquid under pressure, said blow molded container being substantially chemically and physically inert and substantially non-permeable with respect to the liquid contained therein;
• (c) a generally elongated, tubular textile sleeve disposed radially outwardly of and surrounding said blow molded container, said textile sleeve being generally resilient at least in radial directions and having resilient yarn-like members in circumferential directions along its length such that said textile sleeve is capable of being expanded in substantially radial directions when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure, said textile sleeve being knitted of nylon fiber yarns;
• (d) a resilient generally tubular member positioned radially outwardly of said textile sleeve, said resilient tubular member extending at least over the length of said textile sleeve and being expandable in radial directions when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure, said resilient tubular member frictionally interacting with said nylon yarns of said textile sleeve when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that said resilient tubular member expands generally uniformly in substantially radial directions along its length;
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• (e) valve means connected to said blow molded container, said valve means further being secured to one end of said container housing at the opening thereof when said blow molded container, textile sleeve and resilient tubular member are assembled and positioned therein, said valve means being adapted to substantially prevent evacuation of said blow molded container under normal conditions and capable of selectively providing communication between said inner region of said blow molded container and the outside atmosphere thereby to permit selective amounts of said pressurized liquid to become dispersed and to exit said blow molded container due to the generally radially inward forces provided by said resilient tubular member in its generally expanded condition.

An apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening at one end thereof;
• (b) a flexible cylindrical container integrally formed of a blow molded generally homogeneous elastic plastic composition and having a central longitudinal axis, said blow molded container having a neck portion and a plurality of longitudinally extending creases disposed below said neck portion generally equidistantly from said central longitudinal axis, said blow molded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid under pressure and being folded inwardly along said creases only about said central longitudinal axis in its empty condition and expanded only in substantially radially outward directions when filled with the liquid under pressure, said blow molded container being substantially chemically and physically inert with respect to the liquid contained therein, said configuration and structure of said blow molded container being such that said blow molded container is expanded only in substantially radial directions when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure;
• (c) a resilient generally tubular member positioned radially outwardly of said blow molded container, said resilient tubular member extending at least over the length of said blow molded container and being expandable in radial directions when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure, said resilient tubular member frictionally interacting with said blow molded container when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that said resilient tubular member and said flexible cylindrical container each expands generally uniformly only in directions substantially radially outwardly of said longitudinal axis along its length;
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• (d) valve means connected solely to said neck portion and extending into said inner region no further than said neck portion of said blow molded container, said valve means further being secured to one end of said container housing at the opening thereof when said blow molded container and resilient tubular member are assembled and positioned therein, said valve means being adapted to substantially prevent evacuation of said blow molded container under normal conditions and capable of selectively providing communication between said inner region of said blow molded container and the outside atmosphere thereby to permit selective amounts of said pressurized liquid to become dispersed and to exit said blow molded container due to the generally radially inward forces provided by said resilient tubular member in its generally expanded condition.

An apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening at one end thereof;
• (b) a non-elastomeric flexible container integrally formed of a plastic composition including at least two different plastics blow molded as a co-extruded double wall construction composed of at least two separate layers and having a plurality of longitudinally extending creases, said co-extruded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid under pressure and capable of being folded inwardly along said creases about a longitudinal axis thereof in its empty condition and expanded at least in substantially radially outward directions when filled with the liquid under pressure, said co-extruded container being substantially chemically and physically inert with respect to the liquid contained therein;
• (c) a generally elongated, tubular textile sleeve disposed radially outwardly of and surrounding said extruded container, said textile sleeve being generally resilient at least in radial directions and having resilient yarn-like members in circumferential directions along its length such that said textile sleeve is capable of being expanded in substantially radial directions when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure, said textile sleeve being knitted of nylon fiber yarns;
• (d) a resilient generally tubular member positioned radially outwardly of said textile sleeve, said resilient tubular member extending at least over the length of said textile sleeve and being expandable in radial directions when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure, said resilient tubular member frictionally interacting with said nylon yarns of said textile sleeve when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that said resilient tubular member expands generally uniformly in substantially radial directions along its length;
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• (e) valve means connected to said co-extruded container, said valve means further being secured to one end of said container housing at the opening thereof when said co-extruded container, textile sleeve and resilient tubular member are assembled and positioned therein, said valve means being adapted to substantially prevent evacuation of said co-extruded container under normal conditions and capable of selectively providing communication between said inner region of said extruded container and the outside atmosphere thereby to permit selective amounts of said pressurized liquid to become dispersed and to exit said extruded container due to the generally radially inward forces provided by said resilient tubular member in its generally expanded condition.

An apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) a container housing having an opening at one end thereof;
• (b) a flexible cylindrical container integrally formed of an elastic plastic composition including at least two different plastics blow molded as a co-extruded double wall construction composed of at least two separate layers and having a central longitudinal axis, said co-extruded container having a neck portion and a plurality of longitudinally extending creases disposed below said neck portion generally equidistantly from said central longitudinal axis, said co-extruded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid under pressure and being folded inwardly along said creases only about said central longitudinal axis in its empty condition and expanded only in substantially radially outward directions when filled with the liquid under pressure, said co-extruded container being substantially chemically and physically inert with respect to the liquid contained therein, said configuration and structure of said co-extruded container being such that said co-extruded container is expanded only in substantially radial directions when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure;
• (c) a resilient generally tubular member positioned radially outwardly of said co-extruded container, said resilient tubular member extending at least over the length of said co-extruded container and being expandable in radial directions when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure, said resilient tubular member frictionally interacting with said co-extruded container when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that said resilient tubular member and said flexible cylindrical container each expands generally uniformly only in directions substantially radially outwardly of said central longitudinal axis along its length;
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• (d) valve means connected solely to said neck portion and extending into said inner region no further than said neck portion of said co-extruded container, said valve means further being secured to one end of said container housing at the opening thereof when said co-extruded container and resilient tubular member are assembled and positioned therein, said valve means being adapted to substantially prevent evacuation of said co-extruded container under normal conditions and capable of selectively providing communication between said inner region of said co-extruded container and the outside atmosphere thereby to permit selective amounts of said pressurized liquid to become dispersed and to exit said co-extruded container due to the generally radially inward forces provided by said resilient tubular member in its generally expanded condition.

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) molding a moldable material into an elongated flexible container defining an inner region for containing the liquid and having at least one aperture;
• (b) creating a plurality of creases extending along the longitudinal axis of said flexible container so as to permit said molded container to be folded inwardly along said creases;
• (c) positioning valve means within said aperture and attaching said flexible container to said valve means so as to form a substantially sealed molded container defining an inner region for containing liquid;
• (d) folding said flexible container inwardly along said creases along a longitudinal axis extending through said valve means;
• (e) positioning an elongated tubular sleeve radially outwardly of, and surrounding said folded flexible container, said sleeve having a generally fabric-like configuration and having generally resilient properties at least in radial directions;
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• (f) positioning a resilient tubular member outwardly of and surrounding said sleeve, said resilient member extending at least over the length of said sleeve and capable of being expanded at least in radial directions as said flexible container means is filled with the liquid medium under pressure so as to provide sufficient potential energy within said resilient member such that selectively actuating said valve means provides communication between the inner region of said flexible container and the outside atmosphere while said resilient tubular member causes expulsion of said liquid from the inner region of said flexible container through the valve means to the outside atmosphere.

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) blow molding a non-elastomeric flexible container integrally formed of a generally homogenous plastic composition said blow molded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid and having at least one aperture;
• (b) creating a plurality of creases extending along the longitudinal axis of said blow molded container so as to permit said blow molded container to be folded inwardly along said creases;
• (c) positioning valve means within said aperture and attaching said blow molded container to said valve means so as to form a substantially sealed blow molded container defining an inner region for containing liquid;
• (d) folding said flexible container inwardly along said creases along a longitudinal axis extending through said valve means;
• (e) positioning an elongated tubular sleeve radially outwardly of, and surrounding said folded flexible container, said sleeve having a generally fabric-like configuration and having generally resilient properties at least in radial directions;
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• (f) positioning a resilient tubular member outwardly of and surrounding said sleeve, said resilient member extending at least over the length of said sleeve and capable of being expanded at least in radial directions as said flexible molded container means is filled with the liquid medium under pressure so as to provide sufficient potential energy within said resilient member such that selectively actuating said valve means provides communication between the inner region of said blow molded container and the outside atmosphere while said expanded resilient tubular member causes expulsion of said liquid from the inner region of said blow molded container through the valve means to the outside atmosphere.

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) blow molding an elongated flexible cylindrical container integrally formed of a generally homogeneous elastic plastic composition and having a central longitudinal axis, said blow molded container having a neck portion, said blow molded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid and having at least one aperture, said blow molded container being substantially chemically and physically inert with respect to the liquid contained therein, said configuration and structure of said blow molded container being such that said blow molded container is expanded only in substantially radial directions when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure;
• (b) creating a plurality of creases extending along the longitudinal axis of said flexible container and disposed below said neck portion generally equidistantly from said central longitudinal axis so as to permit said blow molded container to be folded inwardly only along said creases;
• (c) positioning valve means within said aperture and attaching said blow molded container to said valve means so as to form a substantially sealed blow molded container defining an inner region for containing liquid, said valve means connected solely to said neck portion and extending into said inner region no further than said neck portion of said blow molded container;
• (d) folding said flexible container inwardly along said creases only along said central longitudinal axis extending through said valve means;
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• (e) positioning a resilient tubular member outwardly of and surrounding said blow molded container, said resilient member extending at least over the length of said blow molded container and being expanded in radial directions as said blow molded container is filled with the liquid medium under pressure so as to provide sufficient potential energy within said resilient member such that selectively actuating said valve means provides communication between the inner region of said blow molded container and the outside atmosphere while said expanded resilient tubular member causes expulsion of said liquid from the inner region of said blow molded container through the valve means to the outside atmosphere, said resilient tubular member frictionally interacting with said blow molded container when said blow molded container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that said resilient tubular member and said flexible cylindrical container each expands generally uniformly only in directions substantially radially outwardly of said longitudinal axis along its length.

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) blow molding a non-elastomeric flexible container integrally formed of a plastic composition including at least two different plastics blow molded as a double wall construction composed of at least two separate layers, said co-extruded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid and having at least one aperture;
• (b) creating a plurality of creases extending along the longitudinal axis of said co-extruded container so as to permit said co-extruded container to be folded inwardly along said creases;
• (c) positioning valve means within said aperture and attaching said co-extruded container to said valve means so as to form a substantially sealed co-extruded container defining an inner region for containing liquid;
• (d) folding said co-extruded container inwardly along said creases along a longitudinal axis extending through said valve means;
• (e) positioning an elongated tubular sleeve radially outwardly of, and surrounding said folded co-extruded container, said sleeve having a generally fabric-like configuration and having generally resilient properties at least in radial directions;
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• (f) positioning a resilient tubular member outwardly of and surrounding said sleeve, said resilient member extending at least over the length of said sleeve and capable of being expanded at least in radial directions as said co-extruded container means is filled with the liquid medium under pressure so as to provide sufficient potential energy within said resilient member such that selectively actuating said valve means provides communication between the inner region of said co-extruded container and the outside atmosphere while said expanded resilient tubular member causes expulsion of said liquid from the inner region of said co-extruded container through the valve means to the outside atmosphere.

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing and dispensing a liquid under pressure comprising:

• (a) blow-molding a flexible container integrally formed of an elastic plastic composition including at least two different plastics blow molded as a double wall construction composed of at least two separate layers and having a central longitudinal axis and a neck portion, said co-extruded container defining an inner region for containing the liquid and having at least one aperture, said co-extruded container being substantially chemically and physically inert with respect to the liquid contained therein, said configuration and structure of said co-extruded container being such that said co-extruded container is expanded only in substantially radial directions when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure;
• (b) creating a plurality of creases extending along the longitudinal axis of said co-extruded container and disposed below said neck portion generally equidistantly from said central longitudinal axis so as to permit said co-extruded container to be folded inwardly only along said creases;
• (c) positioning valve means within said aperture and attaching said co-extruded container to said valve means so as to form a substantially sealed co-extruded container defining an inner region for containing liquids, said valve means connected solely to said neck portion and extending into said inner region no further than said neck portion of said co-extruded container;
• (d) folding said co-extruded container inwardly along said creases only along said central longitudinal axis extending through said valve means;
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• (e) positioning a resilient tubular member outwardly of and surrounding said co-extruded container, said resilient member extending at least over the length of said co-extruded container and being expanded in radial directions as said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid medium under pressure so as to provide sufficient potential energy within said resilient member such that selectively actuating said valve means provides communication between the inner region of said co-extruded container and the outside atmosphere while said expanded resilient tubular member causes expulsion of said liquid from the inner region of said co-extruded container through the valve means to the outside atmosphere, said resilient tubular member frictionally interacting with said co-extruded container when said co-extruded container is filled with the liquid under pressure such that said resilient tubular member and said co-extruded container each expands generally uniformly only in directions substantially radially outwardly of said central longitudinal axis along its length.