Bag-in-bottle package comprising a resilient squeeze bottle and a disposable inner receptacle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bag-in-bottle packages which include a resilient squeeze bottle and and inner receptacles incorporating a flexible bag for housing a viscous product, and more
5 particularly, to such inner receptacles which include a flexible product bag which inverts upon emptying.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wide variety of packages are known which include an outer squeeze bottle and an inner flexible product bag. Generally, the
10 outer squeeze bottle includes a resilient side wall portion which when compressed, forces product from the bag through a dispensing passage. The dispensing passage generally includes a valve which prevents air from entering the product bag when the outer squeeze bottle is released. The squeeze bottle also generally includes a
15 second valve which enables air to re-enter the outer squeeze bottle into the space located between the inner flexible product bag and outer squeeze bottle. Consequently, the inner product bag collapses as product is dispensed. One problem with such packages is that the inner flexible bag has a tendency to collapse pre-maturely; trapping
20 product within the inner flexible bag so it cannot be dispensed.
One method to ensure that product is not trapped inside the inner flexible bag is to provide a mechanism for causing the bag to invert about its midpoint. United States Patent 2,608,320, issued to Harrison on August 26, 1952, discloses such a package which provides
25 for bag inversion. This package requires that a thinner, flexible,
lower bag portion be sealed to an upper, thicker, rigid, bag portio around the entire curved circumferential surface of the bag in an ai tight manner. However, complete sealing along such a curved surfac is difficult to accomplish; particularly when utilizing heat sealing In addition, the rigid top portion is not resilient such that it i squeezable. Thus, the user is only able to squeeze the botto portion of the package.
Commonly assigned United States Patent 4,842,165 whic issued on June 27, 1989 to Van Coney discloses a package whic includes an inner receptacle having a flexible product bag. The ba of the inner receptacle is secured to the interior surface of th side wall of the outer squeeze bottle about its midpoint to provid bag inversion. In the illustrated embodiments of the Van Cone invention the inner receptacle is secured by attachment of it outermost surface to the innermost surface of the squeeze bottle preferably by means of adhesive or by heat sealing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention squeeze bottle package is provided which includes a reusable oute squeeze bottle and a replaceable inner receptacle. The inne receptacle includes a flexible bag which has a dispensing passage. In addition, the flexible bag is adapted to house a viscous produc and the inner receptacle is adapted to cause the flexible bag t invert upon itself substantially about its midpoint. The squeez bottle package includes an outer squeeze bottle which has resiliently deformable side wall, an opening at the top end of the squeeze bottle adapted to accommodate the dispensing passage of the inner receptacle, and an opening at the bottom end of the squeeze bottle adapted to permit the insertion of the entire inner receptacle therethrough. Also, included is a sealing closure means for repeatedly sealing the inner receptacle within the outer squeeze bottle such that the dispensing passage of the inner receptacle provides communication with the opening at the top end of the outer squeeze bottle to permit the product to be dispensed therethrough. A vent valve is provided which is located in the outer squeeze bottle. The vent valve is adapted, when the inner receptacle is sealed
therein, to substantially prevent air located between the inne receptacle and the squeeze bottle from exiting the package when squeezing force is applied to the resilient side wall so that produc is dispensed form the package through the discharge passage. I addition, the vent valve is adapted to permit air to enter the spac between the inner receptacle and the squeeze bottle upon release o the squeezing force.
In accordance with another aspect of the present inventio a squeeze bottle package is provided which is similar to the squeez bottle package discussed above. However, the sealing closure mean is a single sealing closure means. This single sealing closure mean repeatedly seals the top end of the inner receptacle within the oute squeeze bottle such that the dispensing passage of the inne receptacle provides communication with the opening at the top end o the outer squeeze bottle to permit the product to be dispense therethrough. In addition, this single sealing closure mean simultaneously repeatedly seals the bottom end of the outer squeez bottle.
In accordance with another aspect of the present inventio a squeeze bottle package is provided which is also similar to th squeeze bottle packages discussed. However, instead of a singl sealing closure means, a top closure means and a separate botto closure means are provided. The top closure means repeatedly seal the top end of the inner receptacle to the top end of the oute squeeze bottle such that the dispensing passage of the inne receptacle provides communication with the opening at the top end o the outer squeeze bottle to permit product to be dispense therethrough. The separate bottom closure means repeatedly seals th bottom end of the outer squeeze bottle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims whic particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it i believed the present invention will be better understood from th following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunctio with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numeral identify identical elements and wherein;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a particularly preferr embodiment of an inner receptacle the support frame is located insi the flexible bag;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle Figure 1, taken along line 1-1 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a blank of flexible fil material being folded to form the flexible bag of the embodiment Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the receptacl of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second preferred inne receptacle of the present invention wherein the support frame i located outside the flexible bag;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle o Figure 5, taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figures 2 an 6 of a third preferred embodiment of an inner receptacle of th present invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a particularly preferre resilient squeeze bottle package of the present invention wherein th receptacle of Figure 1 or the receptacle of Figure 5 may be utilized
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the package of Figur
8, taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8 and housing the receptacle o
Figure 1; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure showing only the receptacle and the inner sleeve;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-1 of Figure 10 illustrating the thin film vent valve;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of another preferre squeeze bottle package of the present invention wherein th receptacle of Figure 7 may be utilized; and
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the package o Figure 10 taken along line 13-13 and housing the receptacle of Figur 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The particularly preferred inner receptacle shown in Figur 1, and indicated generally as 20, is adapted for use with a squeez bottle 25 (seen in Figure 8) of the present invention. The inne receptacle includes a flexible bag 22 which inverts about it midpoint without requiring attachment at or near its midpoint to th side walls of the squeeze bottle 25. The general operational theo and structure of a package which includes a resilient squeeze bottl and an inner receptacle including a flexible bag which inverts upo emptying is disclosed in United States Patent 4,842,165, issued t Van Coney on June 27, 1989; the disclosure of which is here incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to Figure 2, the receptacle 20 generally includ a closure 24, a support frame 26 and a thin walled flexible bag adapted to house a viscous product. The flexible bag 22 i preferably a full length thin walled flexible bag 22. As used herei to describe the flexible bag 22, the term "full length" is intend to connote that the flexible bag 22 has a top half above, and bottom half below, the approximate midpoint of the flexible bag without any intermediate transverse seals; and it is the bottom hal which inverts inside the top half as product empties from th receptacle 20. The top half of the flexible bag 22 is maintained i substantially its original, filled shape between dispensi operations by the support frame 26 without attachment of t receptacle 20 to the squeeze bottle 25 near the midpoint of t receptacle 20 as discussed hereinafter.
The illustrated bag 22 is an oval flexible bag formed fr a sheet of flat flexible material, as seen in Figure 3. T particular sheet material selected for the flexible bag 22 will, course, be dependent upon various factors, including the visco product to be dispensed, the expected shelf life, the anticipat strength needs, and the type of sealing operations to be employe Examples of materials include, a flat flexible sheet of polyethyle having a thickness of about 0.002 inches, and a flat flexible she of ethylene vinyl alcohol having a thickness of about 0.001 inc One particularly preferred flat flexible sheet material (especiall for products requiring receptacles 20 with various barrier properti
such as dentifrices) is a multi-layered laminate film including th following layers, listed in the order of outer layer to inner layer:
1. Linear low density polyethylene—about 0.0005 inch;
2. Metalized aluminum coating—thickness incapable o measurement by conventional means;
3. White adhesive (such as may be purchased from Morton o Providence, R.I. as AD112);--about 1.5 pounds/432,00 square inches;
4. Polyethylene terephalate—about 0.00036 inch; 5. Clear adhesive (such as may be purchased from Morton o Providence, R.I. as AD100)— bout 1.5 pounds/432,000 squar inches; and 6. Linear low density polyethylene—about 0.0005 inch.
Continuing with Figure 3, a centrally located aperture 2 is cut into the flexible sheet and the flexible sheet is folded a indicated into an "W-type configuration along fold lines 32, 33 an
34. Once folded flat, the sheet material is then sealed along th side areas, 35 and 36, to form side seams and to provide the flexibl bag 22 with a gusset at the top end around the aperture 28. Although the side seams are preferably heat sealed, sealing can be effected in other ways, e.g., utilizing adhesives. In any event, sealing the seams of the flexible bag 22 in this flat configuration makes sealing easy and reliable because pressure may be evenly applied to the entire seal area simultaneously. In the typical manufacturing situation, many flexible bags 22 would likely be formed and sealed concurrently from a single large sheet of flexible material and then the flexible bags 22 would be cut apart.
Returning to Figure 1, the flexible bag 22 includes a rigid fitment 38 which provides a dispensing passage 40 through which product may be dispensed. As used herein to describe the fitment 38, the term "rigid" is merely intended to convey that the fitment 38, either independently or in combination with other components of the package 30 to which the fitment 38 is attached (e.g., the squeeze bottle, the support frame, or both), must be able to withstand the tendency of the fitment 38 to collapse as pressure is exerted on the receptacle 20 during normal dispensing.
The illustrated rigid fitment 38 has an annular flange 4 (seen best in Figure 4). The annular flange 42 has a flat uppe surface which is sealingly attached to the flexible material of th bag 22 around the centrally located aperture 28. Once again, hea sealing is preferred and the sealing operation is made easy an reliable by sealing to the flat upper surface of the flange 42 of th rigid fitment 38. Thus, all of the sealing operations of th flexible bag 22 may be performed on surfaces which enable the unifor application of sealing pressure. Once the rigid fitment 38 is attached, the flexible bag 2 may be filled with product through the bottom end of the flexible ba 22 which has not yet been sealed. The bottom end of the flexible ba 22 may then be sealed (after filling) by twisting together th flexible material near the bottom end and applying heat to form heat seal 44, thereby sealing the bottom end of the flexible bag 22.
Externally, the rigid fitment 38 of this embodiment i shaped as a nozzle and includes screw threads 46. As seen in Figur
9, these screw threads 46 cooperate with screw threads 48 on closure 50 to enable repeated opening and resealing of the receptacl 20. Although screw threads 48 are preferred, any suitable means fo repeatedly sealing a closure 50 on the rigid fitment may be utilized e.g., a snap-fit arrangement or a flip-top cap. The screw-on cap 5 may be provided as a part of the receptacle 20. Alternatively, th screw-on cap 50 may be part of the reusable portions of a refillabl package 30. In the latter alternative, the receptacle 20 may b initially sealed (e.g., during shipment) by another separate mean for sealing the dispensing passage 40. For example, as seen i Figure 1, a thin film material 24 may be attached to the end of th rijjid fitment 38 to seal the dispensing passage 40. This thin fil material 24 is preferably larger than the dispensing passage 40 suc that a grasping tab is provided.
Internally, (returning to Figure 2) the rigid fitment 3 includes a circumferential recessed groove 51 in the side of th dispensing passage 40. This recessed groove 51 serves to hold suckback valve 52. Referring to Figure 4, the suckback valve 52 i made up of two components; an orifice plate 52a and a flapper plat 52b. The flapper plate 52b includes an outer annular portion 53 an
an inner disk portion 55. The inner disk portion 55 is attached t the outer annular portion 53 via two resilient members 57 space radially from each other. The flapper plate 52b can be made, fo example, of polyethylene and could have a thickness of 0.023 inch, disk portion 55 diameter of about 0.5 inch, an annular portion 5 about 0.62 inch wide and spaced about 0.06 inch away from the dis portion 55, and the radial connecting members 57 could have a widt of 0.04 inch and be spaced from each other about 25 degrees.
The illustrated orifice plate 52a is simply a circula pl te having an orifice therein so that the plate 52a appears as an annular ring. The orifice in the orifice plate 52a is of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the disk portion 55. For the dimensions given above, the orifice may have a diameter of about 0.475 inch. When the flapper plate 52b is superjacent the orifice plate 52a the suckback valve 52 is formed. These two parts 52a and 52b are placed inside the rigid fitment 38 where they snap fit into the circumferential recessed groove 51 seen in Figure 2.
Of course, the suckback valve need not be in that portion of the dispensing passage 40 which passes through the rigid fitment 38. In another embodiment (not seen), the rigid fitment may be a simple annular ring surrounding a dispensing passage. The fitment may be used merely to attach the flexible bag to the squeeze bottle. Thus, the receptacle may be provided without a nozzle and/or a suckback valve. These parts (i.e., the nozzle and/or the suckback valve) may be provided as part of a reusable package. Therefore, the suckback valve need not be in that portion of the dispensing passage inside the rigid fitment; it only needs to be located somewhere in the dispensing passage.
In the illustrated embodiment, the support frame 26 and the orifice plate 52a are a single integral piece wherein the support frame 26 depends from the orifice plate 52a. Many alternative configurations are possible, however. For example, (not seen) the support frame and the rigid fitment could be molded as a single integral piece with the support frame depending from the underside of the annular flange of the rigid fitment. In other alternatives, (not seen) the support frame may be a completely separate piece attached to, e.g., the rigid fitment and/or the orifice plate.
Referring to Figure 8, the resiliently deformable suppo frame 26 is adapted to maintain substantially the entire upper hal of the flexible bag 22 in substantially its original, filled sha between dispensing operations without attachment of the receptacle to the squeeze bottle 25 near the midpoint of the flexible bag 2 During a dispensing operation, the support frame 26 is readil deformable so that the squeeze bottle 25 may be squeezed eith adjacent the top portion or the bottom portion of the flexible b 22, or both. In fact, it is highly preferred that the support fra 26 does not add appreciably to the squeezing force necessary dispense a product. When the squeezing force is released the suppo frame 26 is resilient enough to return to its original sha (possibly with help from the squeeze bottle 25 as discuss hereinafter). In addition, (at least for oval configurations) the suppo frame 26 is preferably sized and configured such that its outer mo shape and size corresponds substantially to the inner shape and si of the resilient squeeze bottle 25. In other words, the exteri surfaces of the support frame 26 are located in substantial contacting relation (either directly or indirectly via the flexibl bag) with the interior surface of the resilient squeeze bottle 2 Although substantially contacting, an airtight seal is n necessarily formed between the support frame 26 and the inner surfa of the side wall of the squeeze bottle 25 at the midpoint. In fac it may be desirable in some instances to ensure an airtight seal not formed. This may be accomplished by providing recessed portio (not seen) in the support frame.
It has been found that this substantially contacti configuration is preferred because the squeeze bottle 25 and suppo frame 26 are deformed as product is dispensed. As the resilie squeeze bottle 25 returns to its original shape, the squeeze bott 25 helps push the resilient support frame 26 back to its origin shape when the two parts are in substantially contacting relation ( least when squeeze bottles with oval cross-sections are used Consequently, the stiffness of the support frame 26 may significantly reduced which makes squeezing easier; particularly the upper half of the squeeze bottle 25.
Returning to Figure 4, the illustrated support frame 26 i generally oval and is made of a single integral part which include at least two longitudinal members 60. However, the support frame 2 utilizes four longitudinal members 60, and at least four longitudinal members 60 are preferred. The distal ends of these longitudinal members 60 are attached to and equally spaced around a lower annula ring 62. The middle of these longitudinal members 60 are attached to and equally spaced around an intermediate annular ring 63. The uppe ends of the longitudinal members 60 are attached to each other via a cylindrical wall 64. Thus, the support frame 26 of this embodiment forms a bird cage configuration. As indicated above, many possible configurations are possible at the upper end of the longitudinal members 60; provided, the upper ends do not block the flow of product out through the dispensing passage 40. Returning to Figure 2, the support frame 26 of this embodiment is located inside the flexible bag 22 which eliminates the necessity of attaching the support frame 26 to the flexible bag 22. The elimination of this step can provide significant manufacturing and cost benefits. However, given different flexible bag 22 characteristics it may be desirable in some instances to at least tack the flexible bag 22 to the support frame 26. Even in these instances, this configuration (i.e., support frame 26 inside the flexible bag 22) offers advantages. For example, heat or sonic energy can be supplied from the outside to bond the flexible bag 22 to the support frame 26, rather than needing to be supplied from the inside of the flexible bag 22.
The inner receptacle 20 also includes a shoulder portion 68. The shoulder portion is attached to the flexible bag 22 and rigid fitment 38. The shoulder portion 68 provides a transition from the rigid fitment 38 to the expanded flexible bag 22. More importantly, the shoulder portion 68 of this embodiment includes a downwardly facing ledge 70. This ledge 70 provides a means for cooperating with the squeeze bottle 25 (seen in Figure 9) to sealingly retain the receptacle 20 in the squeeze bottle 25. Preferably, this means provides for releasable sealing so that the receptacle 20 may be used with a reusable squeeze bottle 25 as discussed more fully hereinafter.
. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another preferred inne receptacle, indicated generally as 120. This inner receptacle 120 i very similar to the receptacle 20 of Figures 1 and 2. However unlike the previous embodiment, the support frame 126 is locate outside the flexible bag 122 and is integrally formed with th shoulder piece 168. The support frame 126 is attached to the outsid of the bag 122 sufficiently to prevent the top half of the flexibl bag 122 from collapsing. Otherwise, portions of the top half of th flexible bag 122 may pull away from the support frame 126 such tha complete bag 122 inversion is prevented. Thus, the flexible bag 12 is preferably attached to the support frame 126 along al longitudinal members 160 and around all rings 162 and 164. An suitable attachment means may be employed to attach the flexible ba 122 to the support frame 126. For example, double sided adhesiv tape, tape wrapped externally around the support frame 126 and th flexible bag 122, hot melt adhesive, or heat sealing may be used. I any case, the attachment means must be sufficiently strong that th flexible bag 122 will not separate from the support frame 126 durin normal use so that bag 122 inversion is prevented. Referring to Figure 7, another preferred embodiment of a inner receptacle, indicated generally as 220, is illustrated. Th flexible bag 222 is substantially the same as the flexible bag 2 previously discussed. The rigid fitment 238, however, include additional externally located threads 272 which cooperate wit threads 274 on a collar 276 (seen in Figure 13) to sealingly attac the rigid fitment 238 to the squeeze bottle 225 (also seen in Figur 13) at its top end. Thus, the additional threads 272 provide a mean for cooperating with the squeeze bottle 225 to repeatedly seal th top end of the receptacle 220 in the squeeze bottle 225. Preferably this means provides for releasable sealing so that the receptacle 22 may be used in a reusable squeeze bottle 225. More preferably, th means are screw threads 272 which provide a reliable resealin mechanism. However, means other than screw threads 272 may be used e.g., a snap-fit arrangement. Although receptacles of this invention offer advantages i all contexts, these receptacles are particularly suitable for use a refill receptacle in a reusable resilient squeeze bottle package
the present invention. Although the inner receptacles discusse previously herein, 20, 120, and 220, preferably utilize the suppor frame as described above, other means to maintain the top half of th flexible bag in substantially its fully expanded position such tha the flexible bag inverts upon emptying may be utilized.
A particularly preferred oval reusable resilient squeez bottle package of the present invention, indicated generally as 30 which may utilize the receptacle 20 of Figures 1 and 2, or th receptacle 120 of Figures 5 and 6 is illustrated in Figures 8 throug 11. For simplicity, this package 30 is discussed and illustrate herein utilizing the receptacle 20 of Figures 1 and 2.
Referring to Figure 9, this particul rly preferred reusabl squeeze bottle 25 enables replacement of the receptacle 20 whil having only one closure member (i.e., end plate 80) which must b manipulated by the user. This single closure member 80, located a the bottom of the squeeze bottle 25 is all that is needed to seal th receptacle 20 at the bottom and the top within the reusable squeez bottle 25.
The package 30 generally includes an outer sleeve 82, a inner sleeve 84 and an inner receptacle 20. To install the inne receptacle 20 into the squeeze bottle 25, the receptacle 20 is firs placed inside the inner sleeve 84, as seen in Figure 10. The inne sleeve 84 is a hollow oval tubular section which has substantiall the same external cross-sectional dimensions as the internal cross-sectional dimensions of the outer sleeve 82. The top edge o the inner sleeve 84 supports the receptacle 20 via the ledge 70 o the shoulder portion 68. The inner sleeve 84 of this embodiment also includes a thin film valve 86.
Referring to Figure 11, the thin film valve 86 is a valve formed by partially adhering a thin film 86a over an aperture or apertures 86b. In this embodiment, three apertures 86b aligned in a straight line are provided with a thin film 86a adhered to the bottom wall 87 of the inner sleeve 84 in two opposing crescent patterns 89. For the illustrated embodiment, the three apertures may have a diameter of 0.04 inch each and be separated from each other by about 0.06 inch (edge-to-edge). The apertures 86b may be overlayed by a 0.0005 inch thick film 86a of ethylene vinyl acetate centered over
the apertures 86a and adhered to the end plate 80 in the opposin crescent pattern 89 having about 0.5 inch diameter and separated b about 0.15 inch.
Returning to Figure 10, the threaded end plate 80 als includes apertures 88 which provide communication between th atmosphere and the thin film valve 86. The threaded end plate 80 i circular and attached to the oval inner sleeve 84 by a socket 89 an post 90 configuration. This allows the end plate 80 to be turne relative to the inner sleeve 84. A raised grasping ridge 92 i provided on the end plate 80 to facilitate grasping and turnin thereof.
Alternatively, the inner sleeve 84 may be provided wit apertures similar to those found in the end plate 80, or the inne sleeve 84 may have other openings (not seen). For example, it may b desirable to provide the inner sleeve 84 as a bird cage structur (not seen) similar to the support frame 26 to make the squeeze bottl 25 easier to squeeze. In this alternative, the thin film valve 8 could be located in the end plate 80, thereby sealing the receptacl 20 within the squeeze bottle 25. Returning to Figure 9, the inner sleeve 84 holding th receptacle 20 is placed inside the outer sleeve 82. The outer sleev 82 has an upper frustroconical surface 94 located therein near it top end and screw threads 96 located near the bottom end. As the en plate 80 is tightened, the shoulder portion 68 is forced against th frustroconical surface 94. This provides an airtight seal betwee the upper edge of the inner sleeve 84 and the ledge 70 of th shoulder portion 68. Thus, the receptacle 20 is sealed inside th inner sleeve 84.
The utilization of screw threads 96 on the end plate 8 offer several advantages and are thus, preferred. For example, th utilization of screw threads 96 enables repeated effective sealing o the package 30. In addition, screw threads are preferred in thi embodiment because they enable sealing of the receptacle 20 insid the squeeze bottle 25 at the top end without tolerances as tight a they may otherwise be on the length of the inner sleeve 84.
A preferred oval reusable resilient squeeze bottle packag 230 of the present invention which utilizes the receptacle of Figur
7 is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. This reusable embodime utilizes a collar 276 to seal the top end of the receptacle 220 the squeeze bottle 225. The receptacle 220 is dropped into th squeeze bottle 225 from the bottom end. This allows the seconda threads 272 to protrude through the top end of the squeeze bottl 225. The collar 276 is then screwed onto the threads 272, sealin the top end of the receptacle 220 to the top end of the squeez bottle 225. The end plate 280 is screwed onto the bottom end of th squeeze bottle 225 until it forms a seal at the bottom end agains the inner surface of the squeeze bottle 225. The end plate 28 includes a thin film valve 286 similar to that of the inner sleeve o Figure 11.
All of the resilient squeeze bottle packages of the presen invention work essentially the same. For simplicity, the genera operation of these packages will be discussed with regard to th package of Figures 12 and 13. After removal of the cap 250 th resilient side wall of the squeeze bottle 225 is squeezed. Thi squeezing causes the thin film valve 286 to close. Air in the spac between the receptacle 220 and the squeeze bottle 225 is compressed the flexible bag 222 is compressed; and the support frame 226 i compressed. This causes product within the flexible bag 222 to forc the disk portion 55 of the flapper plate 52b off of its resting plac on the orifice plate 52a; thereby opening the suckback valve 252
Product passes out of the package 230 through the dispensing passag 240.
As the squeezing force is released, the side wall of th squeeze bottle 225 returns to its original shape and product flow back into the dispensing passage 240 until the suckback valve 25 closes. Simultaneously, as the side wall of the squeeze bottle 22 returns to its original shape it helps push the support frame 22 back to its original shape. Consequently, the top half of the ba 222 returns to its original shape and the bottom half of the flexibl bag 222 begins collapsing. Air is allowed to enter the space betwee the receptacle 220 and the squeeze bottle 225 through the thin fil valve 286. Successive dispensing operations result in the botto half of the flexible bag 222 inverting inside the top half of th
flexible bag 222. The inversion enables substantially all of t product within the flexible bag 222 to be dispensed.
Although particular embodiments of the present inventi have been shown and described, modification may be made to t receptacles without departing from the teachings of the prese invention. Accordingly, the present invention comprises al embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.