US 6,673,301 B2 · Extrusion blow-molded squeezable tube-shaped container and method for making same

Abstract

A squeezable tube-shaped plastic container (10, 100) having a one-piece construction formed by extrusion blow-molding techniques. The container (10, 100) has a retractable end wall (26, 126) which is positionable into an outwardly projecting position and an inverted position. The end wall (26, 126), as blown, is in the outwardly projecting position and is thereafter inverted so that a tamper indicating covering (28, 128) can be attached to the end (14, 114) of the container (10, 100) thereby sealing the end wall (26, 126). The inverted end wall (26, 126) permits the container (10, 100) to be free standing on the standing ring (20, 120). In use, the flexible sidewall (12, 112) of the container (10, 100) is squeezed to snap the end wall (26, 126) from the inverted position to an outwardly projecting position to enable ready access to a dispensing opening (32, 132) on the end wall (26, 126). An efficient and cost effective method for forming the container (10, 100) and an intermediate article (44) formed during the method are also disclosed.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method of making a plastic squeezable tube-shaped container (10, 100), comprising the steps of:

extrusion blow molding in a blow mold (38, 40) a plastic intermediate body (44) having a flexible tubular sidewall (12, 112) with a standing ring (20, 120) and an end wall (26, 126) at a first end (14, 114) thereof, said end wall (26, 126), as formed, projecting outwardly from said first end (26, 126) of said sidewall (12, 112);
and
inverting said as formed outwardly projecting end wall (26, 126) of said intermediate body (44) about said standing ring (20, 120) to an inverted position so that said end wall (26, 126) extends entirely within said sidewall (12, 112) below an imaginary plane (P, PA) extending through said standing ring (20, 120);
wherein, during said blow molding step, a hinged interconnection (34, 134) is formed between said standing ring (20, 120) and said end wall (26, 126) that permits said end wall (26, 126) to snap from said inverted position to an outwardly projecting position relative to said sidewall (12, 112) during a dispensing operation.

1 more element

A method of making a plastic squeezable tube-shaped container (10, 100), comprising the steps of:

extrusion blow molding in a blow mold (38, 40) a plastic intermediate body (44) having a flexible tubular sidewall (12, 112) with a standing ring (20, 120) and an end wall (26, 126) at a first end (14, 114) thereof, said end wall (26, 126), as formed, projecting outwardly from said first end (14, 114) of said sidewall (12, 112);
after said extrusion blow molding step, inverting said as formed outwardly projecting end wall (26, 126) of said intermediate body (44) about said standing ring (20, 120) to an inverted position so that said end wall (26, 126) extends entirely within said sidewall (12, 112) below a plane (P, PA) extending through said standing ring (20, 120);
trimming a second end (16) of said sidewall (12, 112) of said intermediate body (44) located opposite from said end wall (26, 126) such that said second end (16) is open;
filling said intermediate body (44) via said open second end (16) after said inverting step;
and
sealing said second end (16) with a seam (18) after said filling step to create a filled squeezable plastic tube-shaped container (10, 100);
whereby one of a closure and integrally formed tab is removable from said end wall to create a dispensing opening in the filled squeezable plastic tube-shaped container.

4 more elements

A squeezable plastic tube-shaped container (10, 100), comprising:

a flexible plastic extrusion blow molded sidewall (12, 112) having a dispensing end (14, 114) defined by a peripheral circular standing ring (20, 120) and an opposite filling end (16) sealed closed by a seam (18);
and
an end wall (26, 126) blow molded integrally with said sidewall (12, 112), extending from said standing ring (20, 120), and closing said dispensing end (14, 114), said end wall (26, 126) being positionable in a storage position such that said end wall (26, 126) is concave and extends inwardly within said sidewall (12, 112) completely below an imaginary plane (P, PA) extending through said standing ring (20, 120), and being positionable in a dispensing position such that said end wall (26, 126) extends outwardly of said sidewall (12, 112) above said imaginary plane (P, PA) extending through said standing ring (20, 120).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Extrusion blow-molded squeezable tube-shaped container and method for making same

Life of this patent

Extrusion blow-molded squeezable tube-shaped container and method for making same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28