Flexible pleated container structure

Claim 1

A blow-molded, flexible dispensing container suitable for storing and dispensing products that are subject to oxidative-type deterioration comprising: a. an at least partially pleated container wall structure of plastic material, said wall structure being flexible in one of its axial and radial directions and substantially rigid in the other one of said directions and having incorporated therein oxygen and water vapor barrier material in an amount sufficient to make the entire wall structure essentially impervious to oxygen and water vapor, said wall structure comprising a plurality of integrally connected superimposed layers, at least one of said layers having incorporated therein said oxygen and water vapor barrier material, said wall structure being slightly thinner at and near the extremities of the pleats than at the remaining portions of the pleats, the amount of oxygen and water vapor barrier material at said thinner portions being substantially the same than the amount incorporated in the remaining wall portions of the pleats; and b. a dispensing spout structure connected to said wall structure and communicating with the interior of the container, said dispensing spout structure also being essentially impervious to oxygen and water vapor and being normally closed, said spout structure having pressure responsive discharge means which automatically open upon flexing of said wall structure to permit discharge of product therethrough, said discharge means automatically closing again when flexing of said wall structure is discontinued.