Many modern consumers prefer flexible plastic containers over traditional inflexible containers such as glass bottles or metal containers for a variety of reasons.

Glass bottles can crack, chip, break or explode — often at most inconvenient times. Metal containers can, at times, be difficult to open. Many metal containers, moreover, once open, can have sharp edges or burrs.

Certain viscous fluids, such as ketchup and certain salad dressings, furthermore, can often more readily be poured from flexible or plastic containers than from glass bottles or metal containers of comparable general shape. Also, many consumers are generally able to extract a greater percentage of fluid residue from a flexible or squeezable plastic container than would be possible were the fluid contained in certain inflexible containers of comparable volume. In certain storage situations, moreover, flexible containers can be squeezed into relatively tight nooks or crannies which would not otherwise accommodate an inflexible fluid container of comparable general shape. Finally, because flexible plastic containers, when empty, are generally more readily compactible than certain metal and most glass containers, relative ease of fluid container disposal can, at times, be an important consumer consideration in deciding which brand of a particular fluid product to purchase.

Thus, in light of a general preference by consumers for flexible plastic fluid containers, a variety of flexible plastic containers, designed to meet a number of specific

consumer demands and to provide certain desirable features, have of late come into being.

U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 24,251 to Kaplan et al., for example, discloses a fluid-dispensing container, made from two sheets of flexible plastic material, for containing desired amounts of liquid. Such a container is said to be particularly adapted for shipment in sealed condition, and is further said to be provided with a tearable strip along one end thereof to facilitate opening of the container. Such a strip, when so torn, can thus be utilized for purposes of dispensing the contained liquid from its container, as desired, upon application of a predetermined fluid-dispensing pressure to the sidewalls of the container. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,046 to Brogli. However, not all flexible plastic fluid containers need to made from two sheets of plastic, sealed together at their edge margins, as Kaplan et al. disclose. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,027 to Rado, for example, there is disclosed a collapsible tube-like container for certain viscous fluids such as pastes.

Another version of a tear-away, sealing strip is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,085 to Brown, which patent discloses a sachet container which is said to be "re- sealable". The sachet, also referred to as a so-called "pouch pack", is deformable and is generally utilized to contain, dispense and retain certain liquids, semi-liquids, pastes, and the like.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,532 to Eisenberg, moreover, a bag-type of flexible plastic fluid container having a self- closing one-way valve is disclosed. Certain features which provide automatic retention of fluid contained by a lexible plastic container, after such container has been opened, are important design considerations in each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,815,794 and 3,878,977, both to Carlisle, U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,107 to Nishimura et al., each of U.S. Pat. Nos.

4,163,509 and 4,312,689, both to Amneus, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,257 to Herzig.

Originally-sealed fluid-discharge passageways which are openable upon application of moderate pressure to the

sidewalls of the lexible-plastic fluid container are important design considerations in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,789 to Miller and U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,308 to Hollander, Jr.; and originally-sealed fluid passageways, openable other than by application of such pressure to the sidewalls of the fluid container, are important design considerations of the flexible plastic fluid containers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,116 to Mason and U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,245 to Jamison. Simplicity of overall design can also be an important consideration, particularly when it is desirable to reduce manufacturing cost of each flexible plastic fluid container unit. Thus, while it is possible to manufacture fluid containers having necked-down fluid-discharge portions, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,815,794 and 3,878,977, both to Carlisle, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,509 to Amneus, it is in most situations desirable to produce flexible-plastic fluid containers that are generally rectangular in shape. Indeed, such a shape tends to reduce material waste and production cost per flexible-plastic fluid container unit. The flexible-plastic fluid containers disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 24,251 to Kaplan et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,245 to Jamison disclose flexible-plastic fluid containers that are generally rectangular in shape. Unfortunately, in flexible-plastic fluid containers of this type, undesired container deformation tends to interfere with desired fluid- discharge.

For example, in certain flexible plastic fluid containers — such as those having flexible sidewalls, a closed bottom, spaced-apart deformable side-edge margins, and a deformable upper-edge margin which is unitary with each of the side-edge margins and which defines a fluid-discharge passageway — deformation of that portion of the upper-edge margin defining the fluid-discharge passageway can occur upon application of pressure to the fluid container. Such deformation typically restricts fluid flow through the discharge passageway and thus is a matter of annoyance to the user. Moreover, and based upon the configuration of the particular fluid passageway, such deformation can at times substantially reduce the effective fluid-discharge rate from

— 4. — the container, whereby such fluid rate reduction renders the fluid container unacceptable for its intended use. The present invention solves just this sort of a problem.

Summary Disclosure of Invention The present invention is generally directed to an improvement in certain types of flexible-plastic fluid containers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improvement in a squeezable container including flexible sidewalls defining a cavity for containing a dispensible fluid, a bottom, a pair of spaced-apart outwardly-extending deformable side-edge margins, and an outwardly-extending deformable upper-edge margin which is unitary with the side-edge margins and which defines a fluid passageway of generally serpentine configuration in communication with the fluid cavity, wherein deformation of the upper-edge margin in the vicinity of the generally serpentine fluid passageway tends to block fluid communication between the fluid passageway and the fluid cavity, characterized in that the container further includes deformation-causing means defined by at least one of the outwardly-extending side-edge margins and so spaced from the upper-edge margin by a predetermined distance as to be effective for causing deformation to occur in the one side- edge margin that is in the vicinity of the deformation- causing means, rather than in the vicinity of the generally serpentine fluid passageway, upon application of a predetermined squeezing pressure to the cavity-contained fluid via the container sidewalls, whereby fluid communication between the generally serpentine fluid passageway and the fluid cavity is maintained upon application of the predetermined squeezing pressure to the cavity-contained fluid via the container sidewalls.

In the preferred embodiment, the deformation causing means comprises an indent, defined by at least one of the side-edge margins, for dividing the fluid cavity into two fluid chambers along the longitudinal axis.

The two chambers are in fluid communication with each other. One of the two fluid chambers is located adjacent to, and is in fluid communication with, the fluid passageway in

— o _ — the upper edge margin of the ^' container. The transverse cross-sectional area of the one fluid chamber, which is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the fluid cavity in the vicinity of the indent.

The indent is so located relative to the upper-edge margin such that fluid communication between the fluid passageway and the one fluid chamber adjacent thereto is maintained when application of a predetermined fluid- discharging squeezing pressure on the article sidewalls causes deformation of the article side-edge margin in the vicinity of the indent.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are discussed in the following description of a number of preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is another perspective view of the fluid container shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating side-margin deformation which occurs in the vicinity of the indents when a predetermined fluid-discharging pressure is applied to the sidewalls of the fluid container.

FIGURE 3a is a partially-fragmented frontal view of another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

FIGURE 3b is a partially-fragmented frontal view of yet another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention. FIGURES 4a through 4f are a series of drawings, briefly illustrating how that embodiment of the fluid container which is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is made.

FIGURE 5 is a frontal view of yet another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention. FIGURE 6 is a frontal view of still another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a frontal view of yet another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

— o —

FIGURE 8 is a frontal view of still another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a frontal view, in section, of yet another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention. FIGURE 10 is a frontal view of still another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

FIGURE 11 is a partially-fragmented frontal view of yet another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention. FIGURE 12 is a frontal view of still another embodiment of the fluid container of the present invention.

FIGURE 13 is a drawing, briefly illustrating how that embodiment of the fluid container which is shown in FIGURE 12 is made. FIGURE 14 is a side view, taken from the plane 14-14, of that embodiment of the fluid container which is shown in FIGURE 10.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts. Best Mode For Carrying Out the Invention

Referring initially to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown one embodiment of the flexible-plastic fluid container 20a of the present invention. Such container 20a, which defines a longitudinal axis X-X, comprises an upstanding sealed base or bottom 24a, flexible sidewalls 26a, a pair of sealed spaced- apart deformable side-edge margins 28a and 29a, and a sealed deformable upper-edge margin 30a which is unitary with an upper-edge portion of each of the side-edge margins 28a and 29a. The upper-edge margin 30a defines a fluid passageway 32a.

Another embodiment of the invention is the fluid container 20b shown in FIGURE 9. This fluid container 20b is similar to container 20a but is modified in the form of an envelope having a bottom 24b which is sealed along a bottom seam 25.

Like container 20a, the sidewalls of the fluid container 20b define a cavity 34 for containing a dispensable fluid F. This is best seen by referring to FIGURE 9 which is presented in section along longitudinal axis X-X. Container 20b has a

sealed deformable upper-edge margin 30b which is unitary with the deformable side-edge margins 28b and 29b. The fluid passageway 32b formed in the upper-edge margin 30b communicates with the fluid cavity 34. (See FIGURE 9.) The side-edge margins 28b and 29b define indents 38a and 39a for dividing the cavity .34 into two fluid chambers 40 and 42 along the longitudinal axis X-X. (FIGURE 9.) One of the fluid chambers 40 and 42, namely upper fluid chamber 40, is located adjacent to and is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway 32b. The cross-sectional area of the one fluid chamber 40 (such cross-sectional area being transverse to the longitudinal axis X-X) is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the fluid cavity 34 in the vicinity of the indents 38a and 39a. The indents 38a and 39a are so located relative to the upper-edge margin 30a such that fluid communication between the fluid passageway 32a and the one fluid chamber 40 adjacent thereto is maintained when application of a predetermined fluid-dispensing squeezing pressure upon the container sidewalls causes deformation of the container side- edge margins 28b and 29b in the vicinity of the indents 38a and 39a. (See FIGURE 2.)

FIGURES 3a and 3b show that the fluid container need only have one such indent. The single indent 39a can be in distal relation to the fluid passageway 32a (FIGURE 3a) or the single indent 39a can be located adjacent to the fluid passageway 32a (FIGURE 3b) .

The indent or indents can take a variety of shapes, in accordance with the present invention. For example, the container side-edge margins 28a and 29a can define generally hemispherical-shaped indents 38' and 39' (FIGURE 5), square- shaped or rectangular-shaped indents 38b and 39b (FIGURE 6) , triangular-shaped indents 38e and 39e (FIGURE 7) , etc.

Moreover, portions of the side-edge margins 28c and 29c defining the indents 38c and 39c can project inwardly as is shown in FIGURE 8.

As shown in FIGURE 5, where indents are provided in botii container side-edge margins, the indents 38a' and 39a' can be spaced somewhat differently from the upper-edge margin 39a,

relative to each other, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

As was briefly mentioned above, one embodiment of the fluid container 20a of the present invention has a base 24a which enables such embodiment of the fluid container to be free-standing, also referred to herein as "upstanding". (See FIGURES 1 and 2.)

Industrial Applicability Reference is next invited to FIGURES 4a through 4f for purposes of briefly discussing how such a fluid container is made. Starting with an elongated strip of flexible plastic material 44 (FIGURE 4a) , oriented longitudinally, a transverse crease 46 is formed, and back-folds 48 so formed as to straddle the crease 46 and bring the opposite end portions of the elongated plastic material 44 into close proximity (FIGURE 4b) . Next, one pair of lower, side-edge margins 50 between the crease 46 and one back-fold 48 is sealed (FIGURE 4c) ; then the other pair of lower, side-edge margins 51 is similarly sealed (FIGURE 4d) , thereby closing the bottom. Lower edge portions 52 of the thus-sealed side- edge margins are further sealed together so as to provide a free-standing base (FIGURE 1) . Next, the sides are sealed; and the container is filled with a predetermined dispensable fluid. Finally, the top is sealed, forming an upper-edge margin which defines the fluid-discharge passageway. (FIGURE 4f.) In this manner, a free-standing fluid container, generally wider at the top than at the base, can thus be formed. (Please refer to FIGURES 5 through 8.)

In certain situations, as in those cases where it would be advantageous to have the fluid containers be as closely packable to each other as possible, it will be desirable to have a fluid container which is generally rectangular in projected frontal view, as is shown in FIGURE 12. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that it will accordingly be desirable to start out not with a generally rectangular elongated strip of flexible plastic material, as is shown in FIGURE 4a, but rather with a strip that is generally wider in the vicinity of the crease 46 and back-folds 48, as is shown in FIGURE 13.

— —

As was briefly mentioned above, the fluid container of the present invention need not have a free-standing base; but rather, can have a simple, closed bottom, as those embodiments presented in FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate. Indeed, for convenience, the flexible-plastic fluid container of the present invention can readily be constructed so as to be relatively thin (FIGURE 14) , so as to conveniently fit in a consumer's shirt pocket or lady's purse.

One such envelope-like flexible-plastic fluid container embodiment of the present invention comprises two flexible- plastic sheets 56 sealed together along their bottom margin 58, side margins 28d and 29d, and upper margin 30d. (Please refer to FIGURES 10 and 14.) The side margins 28d and 29d define the indents 38d and 39d. The upper margin 30d defines the fluid-discharge passageway 32d. The plastic sheets 56 define a fluid-containing cavity. One such cavity 34 is illustrated in the envelope-type of fluid container embodiment that is shown in FIGURE 11.

The general shape and diameter of the fluid-discharge passageway is a matter of design choice, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, the diameter of the fluid-discharge passageway can be relatively small (FIGURE 9) , can be relatively large (FIGURE 11) or can be of intermediate diameter (FIGURE 10) . That end portion of the fluid-discharge passageway which communicates with the upper fluid chamber of the fluid cavity, moreover, can be arranged generally along the longitudinal axis X-X, as is shown in FIGURE 9, or can be generally spaced therefrom (see, e.g., FIGURES 10 and 11.) Generally, the upper margin is formed in a manner such that the fluid-discharging end of the fluid passageway is initially sealed. Referring initially to FIGURES 1 and 2, for example, the fluid-discharging end 64a, originally sealed, is so formed as to be rupturable when pressure in the fluid-discharge passageway 32a (FIGURE 2) reaches a predetermined value. In particular, upon achieving such a pressure in the fluid-discharge passageway 32a, the fluid- discharging end 64a opens. Such rupturable seals are well

known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,308 to Hollander, Jr.

Still, in other situations, it is desirable to cut the upper-edge margin 30d along an indicated cut line 66 (see, e.g., FIGURES 10 and 11) to open the sealed luid-discharge passageway.

Yet, in still other situations, it is desirable to so form the upper-edge margin 30b such that the margin 30b not only defines the fluid-discharge passageway 32b but also defines a so-called "tear-away" tab 68. In particular, such an edge margin 30b further preferably defines a preformed score line 70, so formed in the upper-edge margin 30b as to enable the tab 68 to readily be removable from the remainder of the margin 30b (along the score line 70) while opening the fluid-discharging end 64b of the fluid-discharge passageway 32b. (Please refer to FIGURE 9.)

What has been illustrated and described herein is an improvement in certain types of squeezable articles of manufacture such as fluid containers made of flexible-plastic material. While the improvements have been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. In particular, the foregoing specification and embodiments are intended to be illustrative and are not to be taken as limiting. Thus, alternatives, such as structural or mechanical equivalents, and other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, such alternatives, changes and modifications are to be considered as forming a part of the present invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.