Container with unitary bladder and associated dispenser cap

Claim 2

A container comprising: a rigid upper container segment which establishes one portion of a total volumetric capacity for the container; a rigid lower container segment; means for coupling said upper and lower container segments one to another; and a flexible bladder which establishes a remaining portion of the total volumetric container capacity so that said upper container segment and said bladder collectively establish said total volumetric container capacity, said bladder being integrally formed with said upper container segment such that said bladder depends from said upper container segment and is housed within said lower container segment, wherein said upper container segment also defines an access opening to permit access to contents within said upper container segment and bladder; and wherein a dispenser cap is removably attached to said upper container segment overlying said access opening, said dispenser cap including a self-closing dispensing aperture.

Claim 3

A container as in claim 1, wherein said upper container segment defines an external base peripheral surface, and includes an annular flange inwardly radially recessed With respect to said base surface so that said flange is accepted within an upper region of said lower container segment.

Claim 4

A container as in claim 2, wherein said upper container segment is substantially conically shaped.

Claim 5

A container as in claim 3, wherein said upper container segment includes a neck region extending upwardly from said upper container segment, said access opening being defined by said neck region.

Claim 6

A container as in claim 1, wherein said coupling means couples said flange and said upper region of said lower container segment.

Claim 7

A container as in claim 1 wherein said self-closing aperture is provided in a first sealing member and comprises a first sealing means, and wherein an overcap is provided which includes second and third sealing means.

Claim 8

A container as in claim 6 wherein said first sealing member comprises an upwardly extending, flattened tubular portion, and wherein said dispensing aperture is formed by an elongated slit at an upper end of said tubular portion, said slit and said flattened tubular portion defining a pair of resilient, flexible lips.

Claim 9

A container as in claim 6 wherein said overcap is hinged to said cap for movement between open and closed positions, an underside of said overcap having a depending annular skirt portion comprising said second sealing means, said skirt portion engageable with said first sealing member when said overcap is in the closed position.

Claim 10

A container as in claim 6 wherein said first sealing member is constructed of a relatively flexible thermoplastic elastomer or rubber, and remaining cap portions including said overcap are constructed of a relatively rigid polyolefin.

Claim 11

A container and dispensing cap assembly for liquid contents comprising: a container body having a closed end and an open end; a dispenser cap removably attached to said container body at said open end, said dispenser cap including a body portion having first sealing means which comprises a cup-shaped member removably secured within said body portion and including a flexible, resilient member having a flattened tubular portion in which a self-closing aperture is provided in the form of an elongated slit, said flattened tubular member extending upwardly from a lower end of said cup-shaped member; and an overcap hinged to said body portion for movement between open and closed positions, said overcap including second and third sealing means for engaging said first sealing means when said overcap is in the closed position.

Claim 12

A container and dispensing cap assembly for liquid contents comprising: a container body having a closed end and an open end; a dispenser cap removably attached to said container body at said open end, said dispenser cap including a body portion having first sealing means which comprises a cup-shaped member removably secured within said body portion and including a flexible, resilient member having a flattened tubular portion in which a self-closing aperture is provided in the form of an elongated slit, said flattened tubular member extending upwardly from a lower end of said cup-shaped member; and an overcap hinged to said body portion for movement between open and closed positions, said overcap including second and third sealing means for engaging said first sealing means when said overcap is in the closed position.

Claim 13

A container and dispensing cap assembly as in claim 10 wherein said second sealing means comprises an annular skirt portion on an underside of said overcap.

Claim 14

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said container body includes a flexible bladder for holding said liquid contents.

Claim 15

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said flexible bladder is formed integrally with said container body.

Claim 16

A container and dispensing cap assembly as in claim 1 wherein said flattened tubular portion extends away from said closed end and wherein said slit and said flattened tubular portion define a pair of opposed, flexible lips which are adapted to open under fluid pressure to permit dispensing of said contents and to automatically close upon cessation of the fluid pressure.

Claim 17

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said third sealing means comprises a pair or elongated lug members on an underside of said overcap.

Claim 18

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said lug members engage said lips on either side thereof when said overcap is in said closed position.

Claim 19

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said lug members are provided with tapered surfaces which cam said lips into tight sealing engagement.

Claim 20

A container and dispensing cap assembly for storing and dispensing fluid contents, said container comprising a rigid upper portion provided with a neck; a body portion integrally formed with said upper portion and comprising a flexible bladder adapted to hold said contents; and a lower rigid portion vented to permit exposure of said bladder to atmospheric pressure, said bladder preventing discharged fluid contents from being replaced by air, thereby creating at least a partial vacuum within said bladder, said dispensing cap assembly including a removable cap provided with a dispensing aperture formed by a flattened tubular member having an elongated slit therein, said aperture in use being subjected to said partial vacuum to automatically close said aperture.

Claim 21

A container and dispensing cap assembly for storing and dispensing fluid contents, said container comprising a rigid upper portion provided with a neck; a body portion integrally formed with said upper portion and comprising a flexible bladder adapted to hold said contents; and a lower rigid portion vented to permit exposure of said bladder to atmospheric pressure, said bladder preventing discharged fluid contents from being replaced by air, thereby creating at least a partial vacuum within said bladder, said dispensing cap assembly including a removable cap provided with a dispensing aperture formed by a flattened tubular member having an elongated slit therein, said aperture in use being subjected to said partial vacuum to automatically close said aperture.

Claim 22

A dispensing cap for removable attachment to containers of the liquid dispensing type, said cap comprising: a body portion provided with means for receiving a first sealing member, said first sealing member including a generally cup-shaped portion terminating at an upper end thereof in a radially outwardly directed flange, and a flattened tubular portion extending upwardly from said cup-shaped portion but not beyond said radially outwardly directed flange, wherein said flattened tubular portion is provided with an elongated slit at an upper end thereof to form a pair of opposed, flexible lips which define a dispensing aperture; and wherein said body portion is comprised of a relatively rigid plastic material and said first sealing member is comprised of a relatively soft, flexible plastic material.

Claim 23

A dispensing cap for removable attachment to containers of the liquid dispensing type, said cap comprising: a body portion provided with means for receiving a first sealing member, said first sealing member including a generally cup-shaped portion terminating at an upper end thereof in a radially outwardly directed flange, and a flattened tubular portion extending upwardly from said cup-shaped portion but not beyond said radially outwardly directed flange, wherein said flattened tubular portion is provided with an elongated slit at an upper end thereof to form a pair of opposed, flexible lips which define a dispensing aperture; and wherein said body portion is comprised of a relatively rigid plastic material and said first sealing member is comprised of a relatively soft, flexible plastic material.

Claim 24

A dispensing cap as defined in claim 19 wherein said relatively rigid plastic material is a polyolefin.

Claim 25

A dispensing cap as defined in claim 19 wherein said relatively soft, flexible plastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 26

A dispensing cap as defined in claim 19, wherein said body portion includes a plug portion adapted for friction fit engagement within an open end of a container.

Claim 27

A dispensing cap as defined in claim 19, wherein said body portion includes screw threads for engagement with corresponding screw threads provided on an open end of a container.

Claim 28

A dispensing cap as defined in claim 19 and wherein said cap further comprises an overcap hinged to said body portion for movement between open and closed positions, wherein, in said closed position, said overcap overlies said first sealing member.

Claim 29

A dispensing cap as defined in claim 24, wherein said overcap includes a depending skirt which engages said cup-shaped portion of said first sealing member when the overcap is in said closed position.

Claim 30

A dispensing cap as defined in claim 25, wherein said overcap further includes a pair of adjacent, elongated lugs which compress said lips together to seal said aperture when said overcap is said closed position.

Claim 31

A container comprising: a rigid upper container segment which establishes one portion of a total volumetric capacity for the container; a rigid lower container segment; means for coupling said upper and lower container segments one to another; and a flexible bladder which establishes a remaining portion of the total volumetric container capacity so that said upper container segment and said bladder collectively establish said total volumetric container capacity, said bladder being integrally formed with said upper container segment such that said bladder depends from said upper container segment and is housed within said lower container segment, wherein said upper container segment also defines an access opening to permit access to contents within said upper container segment and bladder; a dispenser cap removably attached to said upper container segment overlying said access opening, said dispenser cap including a self-closing dispensing aperture provided in a first sealing member and comprising a first sealing means, and wherein an overcap is provided which includes second and third sealing means, said overcap being hinged to said cap for movement between open and closed positions, an underside of said overcap having a depending annular skirt portion comprising said second sealing means, said skirt portion engageable with said first sealing member when said overcap is in the closed position; and wherein said overcap is further provided with a pair of elongated lugs located radially within said skirt portion and engageable with said first sealing means when said overcap is in the closed position, said lugs comprising said third sealing means.

Claim 32

A container comprising: a rigid upper container segment which establishes one portion of a total volumetric capacity for the container; a rigid lower container segment; means for coupling said upper and lower container segments one to another; and a flexible bladder which establishes a remaining portion of the total volumetric container capacity so that said upper container segment and said bladder collectively establish said total volumetric container capacity, said bladder being integrally formed with said upper container segment such that said bladder depends from said upper container segment and is housed within said lower container segment, wherein said upper container segment also defines an access opening to permit access to contents within said upper container segment and bladder; a dispenser cap removably attached to said upper container segment overlying said access opening, said dispenser cap including a self-closing dispensing aperture provided in a first sealing member and comprising a first sealing means, and wherein an overcap is provided which includes second and third sealing means, said overcap being hinged to said cap for movement between open and closed positions, an underside of said overcap having a depending annular skirt portion comprising said second sealing means, said skirt portion engageable with said first sealing member when said overcap is in the closed position; and wherein said overcap is further provided with a pair of elongated lugs located radially within said skirt portion and engageable with said first sealing means when said overcap is in the closed position, said lugs comprising said third sealing means.

Claim 33

A container and dispensing cap assembly for liquid contents comprising: a container body having a closed end and an open end; a dispenser cap removably attached to said container body at said open end, said dispenser cap including a body portion having first sealing means which includes a self-closing aperture in the form of a pair of opposed flexible lips, an overcap hinged to said body portion for movement between open and closed positions, said overcap including second and third sealing means for engaging said first sealing means when said overcap is in the closed position; wherein said third sealing means comprises a pair of elongated lug members on an underside of said overcap which engage said lips on either side thereof when said overcap is in said closed position.

Claim 34

A container and dispensing cap assembly for liquid contents comprising: a container body having a closed end and an open end; a dispenser cap removably attached to said container body at said open end, said dispenser cap including a body portion having first sealing means which includes a self-closing aperture in the form of a pair of opposed flexible lips, an overcap hinged to said body portion for movement between open and closed positions, said overcap including second and third sealing means for engaging said first sealing means when said overcap is in the closed position; wherein said third sealing means comprises a pair of elongated lug members on an underside of said overcap which engage said lips on either side thereof when said overcap is in said closed position.

Claim 35

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said lug members are provided with tapered surfaces which cam said lips into tight sealing engagement.

Claim 36

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said container body includes a flexible bladder for holding said liquid contents.

Claim 37

A dispensing cap for removable attachment to containers of the liquid dispensing type, said cap comprising: a body portion provided with means for receiving a first sealing member, said first sealing member including a generally cup-shaped portion and a flattened tubular portion extending upwardly from said cup-shaped portion, wherein said flattened tubular portion is provided with an elongated slit at an upper end thereof to form a pair of opposed, flexible lips which define a dispensing aperture; and wherein said body portion is comprised of a relatively rigid plastic material and said first sealing member is comprised of a relatively soft, flexible plastic material; said cap further comprising an overcap hinged to said body portion for movement between open and closed positions, wherein, in said closed position, said overcap overlies said first sealing member, said overcap including a depending skirt which engages said cup-shaped portion of said first sealing member, and a pair of adjacent, elongated lugs which compress said lips together to seal said aperture when said overcap is in said closed position.

Claim 38

A dispensing cap for removable attachment to containers of the liquid dispensing type, said cap comprising: a body portion provided with means for receiving a first sealing member, said first sealing member including a generally cup-shaped portion and a flattened tubular portion extending upwardly from said cup-shaped portion, wherein said flattened tubular portion is provided with an elongated slit at an upper end thereof to form a pair of opposed, flexible lips which define a dispensing aperture; and wherein said body portion is comprised of a relatively rigid plastic material and said first sealing member is comprised of a relatively soft, flexible plastic material; said cap further comprising an overcap hinged to said body portion for movement between open and closed positions, wherein, in said closed position, said overcap overlies said first sealing member, said overcap including a depending skirt which engages said cup-shaped portion of said first sealing member, and a pair of adjacent, elongated lugs which compress said lips together to seal said aperture when said overcap is in said closed position.

Claim 39

A container and dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said flexible bladder is formed integrally with said container body.