Background of the Invention Hand held fluent dispensing containers are now in widespread use for dispensing edible fluent substances, for example, fruit juices, mineral water, condiments, and the like, and also non-edible fluent substances, for example, cleaning substances, cosmetics, and the like.

A first type of hand held fluent dispensing containers are fluent dispensing containers with a tearable sealing, and a molded plastic re-sealable closure for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of a container's contents. Conventional fluent dispensing containers of this type are illustrated and described in inter alia US Patent 4,126, 263 to Martensson, US Patent 4,828, 138 to Andersson, US 4,913, 294 to Giacomelli, US Patent 4,915, 290 to Robichaud et al. , US Patent 4,925, 034 to Robichaud et al., US Patent 4,930, 683 to Farber, US Patent 4,934, 590 to Robichaud et al. , US Patent 4,944, 408 to Rausing, US Patent 5,101, 999 to Robichaud et al., US Patent 5,158, 633 to Rausing, US Patent 5,287, 983 to Reil et al. , US Patent 5,364, 019 to Bjorck et al, US Patent 5,484, 101 to Hedberg, US Patent 5,632, 440 to Tragardh et al. , US Patent 5, 636, 784 to Huser, US Patent 5,639, 018 to Tokarski, US Patent 5,755, 359 to Joensson, US Patent 5,806, 757 to Per et al. , US Patent 5,823, 420 to Tokarski et al., and US Patent 5,875, 958 to Weiteder.

A second type of hand held fluent dispensing containers are hand squeezable plastic bottles with a toggle cap assembly for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of a bottle's contents.

Conventional fluent dispensing containers of this type are illustrated and described in inter alia US Patent 4,747, 518 to Laauwe, US Patent 4, 506, 809 to Corsette, US Patent 5,931, 352 to Dirr, and US Patent 6,006, 952 to Lucas :

A third type of hand held fluent dispensing containers are collapsible plastic bottles for carbonated beverages to reduce their volumes to prevent the vaporization of dissolved carbonic dioxide into carbonic acid gas to the detriment of their contents'taste. Conventional collapsible plastic bottles are illustrated and described in inter alia US Patent 3,939, 887 to Scarnato, US Patents 4,492, 313 and 5,002, 193 to Touzani, US Patent 5,310, 068 to Saghri, US Patent 5,370, 250 to Gilbert, US Patent 5,584, 413 to Jung, US Patent 5,573, 129 to Nagata, et al. , and US Patent 5,758, 789 to Shin, et al..

A fourth type of hand held fluent dispensing containers are dual container dispensers having a pair of separable, side-by-side interlockable, hand squeezable plastic containers each having a closure associated therewith for enabling the dispensing of its contents on its being manually squeezed. Conventional dual container dispensers are illustrated and described in inter alia US Patent 4,148, 417 to Simmons, US Patent 4,196, 808 to Pardo, US Patent 4,984, 715 to Green, US Patent 5, 158, 191 to Douglas, et al., US Patent 5,316, 159 to Douglas, et al. , US Patent 5,613, 623 to Hildebrandt, US Patent 5,803, 268 to Levy, et al., and US Patent 5,954, 213 to Gerhard, et al..

Summary of the Invention The invention is directed to hand held fluent dispensing containers for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of a container's contents.

The invention is directed toward a molded plastic re-sealable closure for use with a fluent dispensing container having a tearable sealing. The closure has a rupturing member and a cover on whose initial opening to a generally upright position, the rupturing member tears the sealing to form a generally rectangular fluent exit aperture, and secures the torn away material remote from the fluent exit aperture to prevent it from blocking same during subsequent re-openings and re-sealings of the closure. Thus, the closure facilitates the hygienic single step

opening of otherwise conventional fluent dispensing containers, and subsequent trouble free dispensing of their contents.

The invention is also directed toward a screw cap assembly also for use with a fluent dispensing container having a tearable sealing. The screw cap assembly has a puncturing member and a cap on whose initial unscrewing, the puncturing member is urged axially downwards whereupon the puncturing member punctures the sealing to form a generally circular fluent exit aperture, and is fixedly secured with respect to the container to prevent it from blocking the fluent exit aperture during subsequent re-openings and re-sealings of the cap.

The invention is further directed to a toggle cap assembly for use with a hand squeezable open topped plastic bottle, the toggle assembly including a latchable arrangement disposable from a sealing position for preventing the dispensing of a bottle's contents to a flow communication position for enabling the dispensing of a bottle's contents on squeezing the bottle thereby enabling a user to both hold the bottle and open it with the same hand, and vice versa, on applying a force against an exposed surface of the latchable arrangement in the direction of the bottle's interior.

The invention is still further directed to a collapsible plastic bottle with one or more axially collapsible portions each capable of assuming only two possible states: either a fully axially extended state or a fully axially compacted state.

The invention is yet still further directed to a dual container dispenser having a pair of end surfaces each having a re-sealable closure of one of the two containers for enabling the dispensing of its contents upon being squeezed. A dispenser's containers are intended to be separated and used independently from one another but a user may invert the dispenser to dispense the contents of one or the other of its two containers.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a molded plastic re-sealable closure for use with a fluent dispensing container for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of its contents; Fig. 2A is a longitudinal cross section view of the closure of Figure 1 in its initially closed state; Fig. 2B is a longitudinal cross section view of the closure of Figure 1 in its initially partially opened state for forming a fluent exit aperture; Fig. 2C is a longitudinal cross section view of the closure of Figure 1 in its fully opened state; Fig. 2D is a close-up view of the area denoted A in Figure 2C; Fig. 2E is a longitudinal cross section view of the closure of Figure 1 in its re-sealed state; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a molded plastic re-sealable closure in accordance with the present invention ; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of a screw cap assembly in accordance with the present invention for use with a fluent dispensing container for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of its contents; Fig. 5A is a cross section view of the screw cap assembly of Figure 4 in its initially sealed state; Fig. 5B is a cross section view of the screw cap assembly of Figure 5 in its partially initially unscrewed state for forming a fluent exit aperture; Fig. 5C is a cross section view of the screw cap assembly of Figure 5 in its fully unscrewed state ;

Fig. 5D is a cross section view of the screw cap assembly of Figure 5 in its re-sealed state ; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of a screw cap assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a hand squeezable plastic bottle including a first preferred embodiment of a toggle cap assembly in accordance with the present invention for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of its contents; Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the toggle cap assembly of Figure 7; Fig. 9A is a longitudinal cross section view of the toggle cap assembly of Figure 7 in its sealed state for preventing the dispensing of the bottle's contents; Fig. 9B is a longitudinal cross section view of the toggle cap assembly of Figure 7 in its open state for enabling the dispensing of the bottle's contents; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a hand squeezable plastic bottle including a second preferred embodiment of a toggle cap assembly in accordance with the present invention for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of its contents; Fig. 11 is an exploded view of the toggle cap assembly of Figure 10; Fig. 12A is a cross section view of the toggle cap assembly of Figure 10 in its sealed state for preventing dispensing of the bottle's contents; Fig. 12B is a longitudinal cross section view of the toggle cap assembly of Figure 10 in its open state for enabling dispensing of the bottle's contents; Fig. 13 is a side view of a collapsible plastic bottle in accordance with the present invention with an upper collapsible portion in its fully axially compacted state and a lower collapsible portion in its fully axially extended state; Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the application of a twist action for compacting the upper collapsible portion of the bottle of Figure 13; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a dual container dispenser including two separable, side-by-side interlockable, hand squeezable plastic containers in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the dispenser of Figure 15 with its two containers separated from one another.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figures 1 and 2 show the construction and operation of a molded plastic re-sealable closure 1 for initially forming a generally rectangular fluid exit aperture 2 in a tearable sealing 3 of a fluent dispensing container 4, and thereafter capable of being selectively and repeatedly re-opened and re-sealed for respectively enabling and preventing the dispensing of the container's contents, for example, fruit juices, and the like. The fluent dispensing container 4 may be formed from a wide range of materials, for example, cardboard based laminates, plastic sheet material, metal sheet material, and the like. The closure 1 is adapted to be'sealingly adhered to cover the sealing 3 which may be formed from the same material as the rest of the container 4 or from a different-material. In certain cases, the sealing 3 can be of the same material as the rest of the container but of a thinner thickness, or may be formed with perforations, a scoreline, and the like, for facilitating the formation of the fluid exit aperture 2.

The closure 1 includes a frame member 6 having an upright wall 7 defining a generally rectangular aperture 8 for exposing the sealing 3. The frame member 6 has a leading end 6A formed with a pouring spout 9 for pouring the container's contents, and a trailing end 6B. The frame member 6 has a pair of frangible runners 11A and 11B (not shown) disposed toward the frame member's leading end 6A for floatingly supporting a substantially flat tearing member 12 initially overlying the aperture 8. The tearing member 12 is formed with a scoop 13 having a leading serrated edge 14 towards the frame member's leading end 6A, and a widthwise rib 16 with a pair of opposite lug members 17A and 17B towards the frame member's trailing end 6B. The frame member 6 is formed with a pair of opposite rails 18A and 18B for guiding the rearward displacement of the tearing member 12 during an initial opening of the closure 1.

A cover 19 is hingedly connected to the frame member's trailing end 6B, and is selectively disposable between a horizontal sealing position (see Figure 2A) for initially and repeatedly re-sealing the aperture 8, and a generally upright open position (see Figure 2C) for enabling the container's contents to be dispensed via the fluent exit aperture 2 once formed. The cover 19 is formed with a so-called double sealing rim 21 including an outer rim 22 and an inner rim 23 for sealingly receiving the frame member's upright wall 7 therebetween. The inner rim's leading end 23A is formed with cut-aways 24A and 24B for accommodating the opposite ends of the scoop 13 in the cover's sealing position.

The inner rim's trailing end 23B is formed with a pair of beveled supports 26A and 26B respectively having recesses 27A and 27B (not shown) for pivotably receiving the rib's lug members 17A and 17B in a snap-fit manner on assembly of the closure 1. The rib 16 is formed with a central arresting projection 28 for lockingly being received in an arresting recess 29 (constituting an arresting member) formed in the cover's underside on its initial opening to its upright open position, thereby preventing the forward displacement of the tearing member 12 during subsequent re-openings of the cover 19 which may potentially obstruct the fluid exit aperture 2 (see Figures 2C and 2D).

The operation of the closure 1 is as follows: In its initially sealed state, the tearing member 12 overlies the sealing 3 (see Figure 2A), and the lug members 17A and 17B are pivotingly received in the supports 26A and 26B. On initially partially opening the cover 19, the runners 11A and 11B are snapped broken, and the scoop 13 is drawn beneath the rails 18A and 18B. Further opening of the cover 19 causes the scoop's serrated edge 14 to tear the sealing 3 (see Figure 2B). Still further opening of the cover 19 causes the scoop 13 to urge the torn away sealing 3 rearwards towards the frame member's trailing end 6B, thereby fully forming the fluid exit aperture 2 (see Figure 2C). On fully opening of the cover to its generally upright open position, the arresting projection 28 lockingly interengages with the arresting recess 29 (see Figure 2D), thereby fixing the position of the tearing member 12 with

respect to the cover 19 such that on re-closing the cover 19, the tearing member 12 is biased away from the fluid exit aperture 2 and prevents the sealing 3 from blocking the fluid exit aperture 2 (see Figure 2E). Thereafter, the cover 19 can be freely selectively and repeatedly re-opened and re-sealed for dispensing purposes.

Figure 3 shows a molded plastic closure 31 similar in construction and operation to the closure 1 but differing therefrom insofar as its tearing member 12 is hingedly connected to the cover 19 towards the frame member's trailing end 6B. Also, the tearing member 12 is urged past an arresting protrusion 32 protruding laterally inwards from the frame member 7 on the initial opening of the cover 19 to its upright open position, thereby preventing the forward displacement of the tearing member 12 during subsequent re-openings of the cover 19.

Figures 4 and 5 show the construction and operation of a screw cap assembly 41 similar to the closure 1 but differing therefrom insofar as it is adapted to initially form a generally circular fluent exit aperture 42 in a tearable sealing 43 of a fluent dispensing container 44, and thereafter capable of being selectively and repeatedly re-opened and re-sealed for respectively enabling and preventing the dispensing of the container's contents, for example, fruit juices, and the like. The screw cap assembly 41 includes a base 46 having an upright sleeve 47 with a longitudinal axis 48 (see Figure SA), and an external screw thread 49 on which a cap 51 is initially and re-sealingly screw threadable thereon.

On its initial unscrewing from the base 46, the cap 51 has a downwardly spiraling abutment surface 52 for urging a tubular puncturing member 53 slidingly disposable within the sleeve 47 inwards towards the container's interior. The puncturing member 53 has a puncturing tip 54 co-axial with the sleeve's longitudinal axis 48 (see Figure 5A) and initially overlying the-sealing 43, and six cutting blades 56 radiating outwards from the puncturing tip 54. The puncturing member 53 has a pair of radially protruding lugs 57 for being slidingly received in vertical grooves 58 formed in-the inside surface of the

upright sleeve 47 for guiding its downward displacement. The grooves 58 are sealed at their upper ends to stop upward displacement of the puncturing member 53 within the upright sleeve 47. The puncturing member 53 is formed with an annular flange 59 for preventing its outward displacement pursuant to the formation of the fluent exit aperture 42.

The operation of the screw cap assembly 41 is as follows: In its initial state, the puncturing tip 54 overlies the sealing 43 (see Figure 5A). On initially partially unscrewing the cap 51, the abutment surface 52 urges the puncturing member 53 inwards towards the container's interior, thereby causing its puncturing tip 54 to puncture the sealing 43 at a point co-axial with the sleeve's longitudinal axis 48 (see Figure 5B). On fully unscrewing the cap 51, the puncturing member 53 is sufficiently urged inwards that the cutting blades 56 cut a generally circular fluent exit aperture 42 in the sealing 43, and the flange 59 is urged inwards beyond the fluent exit aperture's rim (see Figure 5C).

Thereafter, the cap 51 can be freely screwed on and off the base 46 for dispensing purposes (see Figure 5D).

Figure 6 shows a screw cap assembly 61 similar in construction and operation to the screw cap assembly 41 but differing therefrom insofar as the cap 51 and the puncturing member 53 have a reverse screw arrangement 62 for urging the puncturing member 53 inwards towards the container's interior for puncturing the sealing 43 to form the fluent exit aperture 42 on the cap's initial unscrewing.

Figures 7-9 show the construction and operation of a toggle cap assembly 71 for selectively and repeatedly enabling and preventing the dispensing of the contents of a hand squeezable plastic bottle 72. The toggle cap assembly 71 includes a cap 73 screw threadable onto the bottle 72, the cap 74 tapering to a spout 74, and formed with air vents 75. An annular latchable flow control diaphragm 76 sealingly extends between the bottle's interior surface and a tubular dispensing member 77 having an open end 77A in continuous flow communication with the bottle's interior on mounting the toggle cap assembly 71

on the bottle 72, and a sealed end 77B with a multitude of radially directed fluent exit apertures 78 disposed theretoward. The dispensing member 77 is reciprocable between a retracted position (see Figure 9A) and a protruding position (see Figure 9B) with respect to the spout's rim 74A correspondingly preventing and enabling dispensing of the bottle's contents via the fluent exit apertures 78. The flow control diaphragm 76 is selectively and repeatedly latchable between a sealing position and a flow communication position correspondingly urging the dispensing member 77 between its retracted position and its protruding position.

The operation of the toggle cap assembly 71 is as follows : In its initially sealed state, the flow control diaphragm 76 is in its sealing position and the dispensing member 77 is in its retracted position (see Figure 9A). On squeezing the bottle 72 denoted by arrows A, the prevailing fluid pressure denoted by the arrows B therein increases to urge the flow control diaphragm 76 to its flow communication position which in turn urges the dispensing member 77 to its protruding position (see Figure 9B). To re-seal the bottle 72, a force denoted C is applied against the dispensing member's sealed end 77B in the direction of the bottle's interior.

Figures 10-12 show a toggle cap assembly 81 similar in construction and operation to the toggle cap assembly 71 except that in this case a spout 82 is a discrete component sealingly secured in an annular recess 83 formed in a cap 84 integrally formed with the flow control diaphragm 76 and the dispensing member 77.

Figures 13 and 14 show the construction and use of a collapsible plastic bottle 91 having an uppermost non-collapsible portion 92, an upper collapsible portion 93 in its fully axially compacted state, a middle non-collapsible portion 94, a lower collapsible portion 96 in its fully axially extended state, and a lowermost non-collapsible portion 97. The collapsible portions 93 and 96 have six spiral ribs 98 extending between their adjacent non-collapsible portions 92 and 94, and 94 and 97, respectively, by virtue of which the non-collapsible

portions 92,94, and 97 assume fluted appearances and each collapsible portion 93 and 96 has only two possible states: a fully axially extended state and a fully axially compacted state. The instantaneous transformation of a collapsible portion between its two possible states is by application of a twist action thereto as shown in Figure 14. Each spiral rib 98 has a leading surface 98A facing the bottle's opening 91A and a trailing surface 98B facing away therefrom, the leading surfaces 98A have a width Dl slightly wider than the width D2 of the trailing surfaces 98B, namely, D1>D2. This design facilitates the compaction of a collapsible portion since it requires a weaker twist action that the twist action required to extend a collapsible portion.

Figures 15 and 16 show the construction and use of a dual container dispenser 101 having a substantially ellipsoidal-like shape with a longitudinal axis 102, and a pair of flat end surfaces 103A and 103B on either one of which it can freely stand upright. The dispenser 101 is constituted by a pair of separable, side-by-side interlockable, hand squeezable plastic containers 104A and 104B respectively having bottom surfaces 106A and 106B on which they can freely stand upright, top surfaces 107A and 107B and inside surfaces 108A and 108B.

The top surfaces 107A and 107B are respectively provided with selectively and repeatedly re-sealable closures 109A and 109B for enabling the dispensing of their contents, for example, a shampoo, a liquid soap, and the like. The inside surface 108B is provided with a recess 111A adjacent its bottom surface 106B for snap-fittingly receiving therein a lug 111B (not shown) formed on the inside surface 108A adjacent the top surface 107A. Similarly, the inside surface 108A is provided with a recess 112A (not shown) adjacent its bottom surface 106A for snap fittingly receive a lug 112B formed on the inside surface 108B adjacent the top surface 107B. The containers 104A and 104B are intended to be separated and used independently from one another but a user may invert the dispenser 101 to dispense the contents of one or the other of its two containers 104A and 104B.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention can be made within the scope of the appended claims.