Small volume container
AssigneeClic Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsJohn S. Kanderka, Dean Vincent Borschneck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single-use storage and dispensing container is provided for use with small volumes of consumer products. The container is generally sleeve-like, sealed at both ends to contain the flowable material, and is scored or otherwise includes a break point for rupture by a user to dispense the container contents. Application of a threshold pressure to the container by the user will cause the container to rupture at the break point, dispensing flowable material therefrom. The container is suitable for one-handed use. Various cross sectional shapes of the sleeve are possible.
Claims16
A method for storing and dispensing a flowable material without bimanual synergy, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a sleeve of triangular shape from a single sheet of material;
- sealing the longitudinal edges of the sheet to form a longitudinal seam along one edge of the sleeve;
- sealing a first end of the sleeve to form a flattened base;
- filling the sleeve with a flowable material;
- sealing a second end to contain the flowable material within the sleeve;
- providing a score on the sleeve, the score proximal to the first end and the score rupturable to provide an opening upon application of more than a predetermined threshold force by a user to the longitudinal seam of the sleeve in a pressure application region of the sleeve between the score and the first end, wherein the threshold force is between 1 and 100 Newtons,
- wherein the distance between the first end and the score is sufficient for the user to place one of the user's thumbs thereon but is no greater than the distance between the center of the sleeve and the first end, so that the sleeve can be grasped in the fist of a single hand with the score being above the fist,
- wherein the sleeve is configured such that, with the user grasping the sleeve in the fist with the score being above the fist and the fist providing an opposing force to that provided by the thumb of the user, the force solely of the user's thumb, when applied to the pressure application region of the sleeve, is sufficient to cleanly rupture the sleeve at the score,
- and wherein the sleeve is made of material having suitable rigidity to resist bending during application of the threshold force.
A method for storing and dispensing a flowable material without bimanual synergy, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sleeve with a tubular structure;
- sealing the longitudinal edges of the sleeve to form a longitudinal seam along one edge of the sleeve;
- sealing a first end of the sleeve;
- filling the sleeve with a flowable material;
- sealing a second end to contain the flowable material within the sleeve;
- providing a score on the sleeve, wherein the score lies on a common plane, the score proximal to the first end and the score rupturable to provide an opening upon application of more than a predetermined threshold force by a user against the first end, wherein the threshold force is between 1 and 100 Newtons,
- wherein the distance between the first end and the score is sufficient for the user to place one of the user's thumbs thereon but is no greater than the distance between the center of the sleeve and the first end, so that the sleeve can be grasped in the fist of a single hand with the score being above the fist,
- wherein the sleeve is configured such that, with the user grasping the sleeve in the fist with the score being above the fist, the force solely of the user's thumb, when applied to a pressure application region of the sleeve, is sufficient to cleanly rupture the sleeve at the score,
- and wherein the sleeve is made of material having suitable rigidity to resist bending during application of the threshold force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.