Elastomeric dispensing container
DCFirst Claim
1. An elastomeric dispensing container for a fluid comprising:
- a flexible and resilient receptacle composed of an elastomeric material defining a chamber therein;
opposite upper and lower ends of the receptacle with the receptacle having a central, longitudinal axis extending between the opposite ends thereof and a predetermined axial length of the receptacle between the opposite ends,an integral gasket of the receptacle extending radially from an opening formed at the receptacle lower end;
a receptacle neck extending up from the receptacle lower end for providing communications between the chamber and the opening, wherein the integral gasket and the receptacle are fabricated as a single piece from the elastomeric material,a discrete sleeve composed of a substantially rigid material and having opposite upper and lower ends, with the sleeve being disposed concentrically about the receptacle neck having a sleeve neck with a lower face at the sleeve lower end and which is disposed adjacent to the integral gasket,a cap having a lid covering the receptacle opening and the integral gasket with a dispensing orifice formed therein and a cap neck extending from the lid disposed concentrically about the sleeve neck, the cap having open and closed positions,engaging means formed on the sleeve neck and the cap neck providing removable attachment therebetween wherein the engaging means secures the integral gasket in a compressed and substantially fluid-tight state between the lid and the sleeve lower face; and
a wall portion of the receptacle that is configured to be resiliently deformable and which has a predetermined, non-deformed configuration, the wall portion extending about the chamber and upwardly from the sleeve upper end to the receptacle upper end so that the entirety of the receptacle exposed above the substantially rigid sleeve is available to be compressed to pressurize fluid in the chamber for expelling the fluid from the receptacle chamber through the cap orifice with the cap in the open position and to allow air to be drawn into the receptacle chamber as the wall portion resiliently returns to the predetermined, non-deformed configuration thereof.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
An elastomeric dispensing container for a fluid includes an elastomeric receptacle defining a chamber therein and having an integrally formed gasket extending radially from an opening formed on a lower end and a receptacle neck providing communications between the chamber and the opening, a relatively rigid sleeve disposed concentrically about the receptacle neck having a sleeve neck with a lower face adjacent to the integral gasket, a cap having a lid covering the receptacle opening and the integral gasket with a dispensing orifice formed therein and a cap neck extending from the lid disposed concentrically about the sleeve neck, and engaging means formed on the sleeve neck and the cap neck providing removable attachment therebetween wherein the engaging means secures the integral gasket in a compressed and substantially fluid-tight state between the lid and the sleeve lower face.
39 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An elastomeric dispensing container for a fluid comprising:
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a flexible and resilient receptacle composed of an elastomeric material defining a chamber therein; opposite upper and lower ends of the receptacle with the receptacle having a central, longitudinal axis extending between the opposite ends thereof and a predetermined axial length of the receptacle between the opposite ends, an integral gasket of the receptacle extending radially from an opening formed at the receptacle lower end; a receptacle neck extending up from the receptacle lower end for providing communications between the chamber and the opening, wherein the integral gasket and the receptacle are fabricated as a single piece from the elastomeric material, a discrete sleeve composed of a substantially rigid material and having opposite upper and lower ends, with the sleeve being disposed concentrically about the receptacle neck having a sleeve neck with a lower face at the sleeve lower end and which is disposed adjacent to the integral gasket, a cap having a lid covering the receptacle opening and the integral gasket with a dispensing orifice formed therein and a cap neck extending from the lid disposed concentrically about the sleeve neck, the cap having open and closed positions, engaging means formed on the sleeve neck and the cap neck providing removable attachment therebetween wherein the engaging means secures the integral gasket in a compressed and substantially fluid-tight state between the lid and the sleeve lower face; and a wall portion of the receptacle that is configured to be resiliently deformable and which has a predetermined, non-deformed configuration, the wall portion extending about the chamber and upwardly from the sleeve upper end to the receptacle upper end so that the entirety of the receptacle exposed above the substantially rigid sleeve is available to be compressed to pressurize fluid in the chamber for expelling the fluid from the receptacle chamber through the cap orifice with the cap in the open position and to allow air to be drawn into the receptacle chamber as the wall portion resiliently returns to the predetermined, non-deformed configuration thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A squeeze container for holding fluids to be squeezed out therefrom, the squeeze container comprising:
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a receptacle in which fluid is to be received and having upper and lower ends; an opening of the receptacle at the lower end thereof; an integral radially extending gasket of the receptacle at the receptacle lower end extending about the receptacle opening; a substantially rigid sleeve extending around the receptacle adjacent the lower end thereof; a lower end of the sleeve having the gasket protruding therefrom; a resiliently deformable wall portion of the receptacle extending from the substantially rigid sleeve to the receptacle upper end for being squeezed to pressurize fluid in the receptacle; a dispensing cap having a lid configured to be connected to the sleeve to extend across the receptacle opening; a valve of the dispensing cap lid arranged so that with the cap connected to the sleeve the valve is aligned with the receptacle opening to allow fluid in the receptacle to be dispensed through the valve in response to squeezing of the receptacle wall portion; a cover of the cap pivotally connected to the cap lid and having a sealing portion arranged and configured to cooperate with the valve to keep fluid in the receptacle with the cover pivoted to a closed position; a flat bottom surface of the cover that allows the container to stand on a flat surface with the cover pivoted to the closed position and the sealing portion keeping fluid in the receptacle; a detent between the cover and the lid to releasably keep the cover in the closed position; and a protruding lip of the cover configured for being engaged by a user to apply force to the cover sufficient to overcome the detent to pivot the cover to an open position to allow fluid in the receptacle to be dispensed through the valve in response to squeezing of the receptacle wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A squeeze container for holding fluids to be squeezed out therefrom, the squeeze container comprising:
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a receptacle for containing fluids therein and having upper and lower ends and longitudinal axis extending therebetween; an opening of the receptacle at the lower end thereof; a substantially rigid sleeve extending around the receptacle adjacent the lower end thereof; a resiliently deformable wall portion of the receptacle extending from the substantially rigid sleeve to the receptacle upper end for being squeezed to pressurize fluid in the receptacle; an outer, smooth annular surface of the receptacle adjacent the lower end thereof; an inner, smooth annular surface of the sleeve sized to have a close and rotationally free fit about the receptacle outer, smooth annular surface to allow the sleeve to be rotated about the receptacle without axial travel therealong; multiple indicia on one of the receptacle and the sleeve with each indicium being different and corresponding to different fluids that may be contained in the receptacle; an indicator on the other of the receptacle and the sleeve arranged so that rotation of the sleeve about the receptacle allows a user to align the indicator with a selected one of the multiple indicia corresponding to the fluid contained in the receptacle; a cap removably connected to the sleeve and having a valve that allows fluid in the receptacle to be dispensed therethrough in response to squeezing of the receptacle wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification