GB1598267A

GB1598267A - Collapsible container structure and method of making same

Info

Publication number: GB1598267A
Application number: GB25913/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-06-20
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-09-16
Also published as: GB1598268A

Description

(54) COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME (71) I, JOSEPH LEWIS ABBOTT, a Citizen of the United States of America, of 109 Primrose Place, Lima, Ohio, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to the art of containers and, more particularly to hand collapsible dispensing containers.

Hand collapsible dispensing containers are provided for a multiplicity of purposes including, for example, the dispensing of cosmetics, shampoos, foods, dentifrices and the like. Such containers include a tubular body of deformable material closed at one end and provided with a closable dispensing head or nozzle at the other end. Extruded metal tubes have been used for such container bodies, but the brittlenes of metal tubes upon repeated use, especially aluminum tubes, and the problems attendant to providing metal tubes with a satisfactory inner coating to protect against corrosion and content contamination, have led to the use of thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, for container body constructions. In connection with plastics such as polyethylene, however, the permeability thereof causes deterioration of certain products.In this respect, for example, the flavor of dentifrices packaged therein deteriorates during storage due to such permeability. Moreover, plastic containers absorb oxygen, and over a period of time, such absorption can decompose the product in the container. In an effort to avoid these problems, laminated constructions have been employed which, generally, include a barrier layer of metal foil intermediate inner and outer layers of a thermoplastic such as polyethylene. (The term "barrier layer" is used herein in accordance with well accepted terminology in the collapsible dispensing container industry i.e. to denote a layer in the body tube laminate which resists oxygen absorption into the product in the container).

While such metal, plastics and laminated collapsible container constructions have enjoyed a certain degree of success over the years there are problems attendant to each, including those mentioned hereinabove, which render the construction thereof undesirably expensive and/or which limit the materials from which the containrs can be made and the use of the containers with respect to products packaged therein. In this respect, the tubular body portion of containers having a laminated body construction are produced by forming a flat laminate to tubular form with overlapping edges and then heat scaling the edges to provide a tube having a longitudinal seam. This, of course, necessitates compatability of the inner and outer layers of the laminate in order to achieve a heat seal therebetween and, further, requires these materials to be thermoplastic for the same reason.Thus, selection of materials is limited as is the use of the container produced due to such limited material selection. In this respect, even though a barrier layer is provided in the laminate, a thin inner layer of plastics material is necessary to protect the contents of the package from the material of the barrier and/or to enable heat sealing of the seam of the tube formed from the laminate.

Moreover, as mentioned above, the inner layer must be a thermoplastics material because of the heat sealing requirement.

Accordingly, while the inner film is made as thin as possible it remains that a certain degree of permeability exists in the completed container. Heretofore, the compatability requirements for heat sealing to produce a tubular container body have made it impossible to employ materials in the laminate which would minimize the permeability problem for the inner layer of the completed container.

With further regard to a tubular container body including a longitudinal seam, the seam creates problems with respect to the provision of indicia on the tubular body. In this respect, longitudinal seaming of the tubular body makes it necessary to pre-print the plastics film defining the outer layer of the laminate by rotogravure printing methods, or to provide for one of the outer layers of laminate to be a pre-printed paper or plastics, in which case the outermost laminate would be a transparent plastics material. Such pre-printing is expensive thus adding to the per unit cost of the completed container and, further, pre-printing necessitates precision in forming the tubular body to avoid misalignment or distortion of the printed indicia longitudinally and laterally of the formed tube.The inclusion of a longitudinal heat sealed seam in the tubular body portion provides an interruption in the otherwise circular outer surface contour of the tube, and, thus, the tube cannot be printed upon after formation thereof by less expensive techniques such as roll printing.

Additionally, the head or nozzle portion of such dispensing containers, having a body portion of either unitary plastics or laminated construction, has heretofore been assembled on the tubular body primarily by heat sealing. This again requires compatability between the plastics material of the head and body to achieve a heat seal and the use of a thermoplastics material for the head as well as the body of the container.

Therefore, the selection of materials for the head is also limited and can possibly further limit use of the container. Still further, the manufacture of such previous container structures is time consuming and expensive, especially as a result of the heat sealing between the head and body components. In this respect, time is required to accurately control heating of the plastics to the fusion temperature necessary for the bond to be obtained, and then considerable time must be allotted for cooling before the body and head can be removed from the mandrel or jig on which the assembly takes place. This limits production rate and, together with special heating, cooling and pressure applying apparatus, results in an undesirably high per unit cost for the container. Such cost renders the container unacceptable in certain product markets in which it would otherwise be desirable and useful.Additionally, heat sealing can cause a loss of structural integrity in the material of the body portion adjacent the head, resulting in unacceptable containers or containers subject to rupture during use.

A wide variety of two piece head assemblies have been devised heretofore for mechanical attachment to a tubular body of paper, metal, plastics or laminated construction. Generally, such two piece assemblies receive an axial portion of the body tube end between the two head pieces so as to clampingly engage the tube end therebetween. While such a mechanical head and body construction avoids the heat sealing problems referred to above, the mechanically joined head assemblies heretofore provided have not been commercially acceptable. Non-acceptance has resulted from such problems as inability to obtain an air tight seal, inability to prevent separation of the body and head assembly under the pressure applied at the joint between the head assembly and the body during use of the container, and low production rate and high production costs caused by structural and/or assembly complexity.With regard to achieving an air tight seal, it will be appreciated that any leakage path in the juncture between the head assembly and body is undesirable both because the contents of the container may be exuded therethrough and/ or contaminated by contact with air entering the interior of the container along such a leakage path. Separation of the container body and head assembly during use of the container is obviously undesirable in that it renders the container useless for its intended dispensing and product storage functions. With regard to assembly time, millions of collapsible dispensing containers are produced each year for use in very competitive markets, and the cost of production and the time required therefor are extremely important considerations in the industry.A number of mechanically assembled dispensing head arrangements heretofore provided have required threaded interengagement of the head members or the application of an adhesive between the body tube and head members, and these assembly steps are time consuming, limit production rate and thus result in a higher production cost than is desirable.

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible dispensing container comprising a tubular body having at least a radially outer portion which is of thermoplastics, and a dispensing head assembly mounted on one end of said body, said head assembly including axially interengaging first and second head members, one of said head members including a dispensing nozzle, said first head member being axially received in said one end of said body and having an outer wall facially engaging the inner surface of said body, said first head member further including a first wall extending radially inwardly from said outer wall and a circular second wall extending axially inwardly of said body from said first wall, said one end of said tubular body including first and second portions respectively extending radially and axially in overlying relationship with said first and second walls of said first head member, said second member including first and second walls respectively parallel to and spaced from said first and second walls of said first head member and cooperating therewith to engage said first and second portions of said one end of said tubular body therebetween, said first and second head members being interengageable to retain said members in assembled relationship and to maintain said first and second walls of said second head member spaced from the respective one of said first and second walls of said first head member, said first and second walls of said second head member having a corner therebetween facing the outer surface of said first and second portions of said one end of said tubular body, said second walls of said first and second head members being radially spaced apart a distance less than the radial thickness of said tubular body, said second portion of said one end of said body being radially compressed between said second walls to a thickness corresponding to the radial space therebetween, and the material of said outer portion of said body extending into said corner between said first and second walls of said second head member.

In a preferred embodiment the tubular body has a laminated construction and includes an inner layer which is defined by a thermosetting plastics materials, preferably an epoxy resin, a barrier layer, for example, of metal foil, and an outermost layer or sheath of thermoplastics material. The outer plastics sheath may be applied by extrusion and allows the container body portion to be produced without a heat sealed seam, and this advantageously allows the tube to be roll printed after it is produced, a much more economical procedure than the preprinting requirements heretofore dictated by the heat sealed seam tube structure.

Additionally, the plastic sheath maintains the barrier layer and inner layer of epoxy in tubular form and avoids the necessity for heat seal bonding compatability between the inner and outer layers. This advantageously increases the materials which can be used for the laminate. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the laminate may include additional layers of paper, plastics and/or foil between the barrier layer and the plastics sheath. Basically, the combination of materials used is limited only by considerations concerning the product to be packaged and the ability to achieve a desired structural integrity between the layers of the laminate. The tubular body is mechanically joined to the two piece head assembly by an interference fit, which minimizes cost of production and further increases the materials available for use in constructing the container.

The head components can be metal or plastics, or a combination thereof, and the plastics materials can be either thermosetting or thermoplastic.

Assembly of the head members is achieved without heat sealing, adhesive bonding or complex mechanical manipulation of the parts such as by screwing and, accordingly, a high production rate is obtained. In this respect, for example, assembly by heating sealing can be achieved at a rate of about 18 to 40 containers per minute, whereas the assembly of body and head components in accordance with the present invention can be achieved at a rate of about 60 to 100 per minute. Thus, production time is considerably reduced as is the cost of equipment to achieve assembly of the body and head, all of which leads to a lower per unit cost with respect to a given container structure.

The foregoing and other preferred features of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description given in conjunction with the written description of preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible dispensing container in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a enlarged cross-sectional view of the head assembly of the container taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the component parts of the head assembly of the container structure shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area of juncture between the body and head components shown in Figure 2;; Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged crosssectional views similar to Figure 4 and illustrating stress relationships in the area of juncture avoided by a container in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is a somewhat schematic illustration showing the manner in which the head components and container body are assembled; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a laminated tubular body construction for a collapsible container in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 10 is an elevation view, partially in section, showing the tubular body portion of Figure 9 clampingly interengaged with a two piece head assembly; Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, a collapsible dispensing container 10 is illustrated in Figure 1 which is comprised of a body portion 12 of deformable material and a head assembly 14 mounted on one end of the body and comprised of first and second head members 16 and 18, respectively. As is well known, such collapsible containers are assembled by mounting the head on one end of a tubular body leaving the opposite end of the body open to receive the product to be packaged therein.The dispensing end of the container thus formed is provided with a cap, not shown, and, after the product has been introduced into the open end of the body, the latter end is laterally crimped and suitably sealed to provide a closed end 20 for the container. The tubular body portion 12 has at least a radially outer portion of thermoplastics material, but can include other suitable material including metal foils, thermoplastics or thermosetting plastics sheets or extruded tubes, and laminates of these materials with or without other suitable materials such as paper. By deformable material, it will be understood that this term refers to the ability to displace the tubular body in a squeezing manner by hand to facilitate dispensing of the contents therefrom.Accordingly, a plastics material or laminated body construction in which the material has a tendency to return to an undistorted contour following such a squeezing action is considered to be deformable, as is a laminated body construction in which a metal foil provides a stiffness allowing permanent deformation of the tubular body. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, body portion 12 is illustrated for simplicity of description as a single layer of thermoplastics material which may, for example, be polyethylene and the tubular construction of which can be provided either by extrusion or by forming a sheet of the plastics material into a seamed tube.

First head member 16 is of circular contour transverse to axis A of the dispensing container and, in the embodiment shown, is made of plastics material, such as urea formaldehyde for example. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, head member 16 includes a dispensing nozzle portion defined by a neck 22 centrally bored to provide an outlet or dispensing passageway 24 opening through the first head member. Neck 22 is provided with external threads 26 to receive an internally threaded cap, not shown, by which the container is closed following use thereof.First head member 16 further includes a skirt portion 28 peripherally surrounding the inner end of neck 22 and projecting radially outwardly therefrom and having a peripheral outer wall 30 which is circular and dimensioned diametrically to be axially slidably received in the open end of tubular body portion 12 prior to completion of the mounting of the head assembly on the body portion, as set forth more fully hereinafter. The axially outer side of skirt portion 28 is provided with a circular recess 32 coaxial with neck 22 and having radially opposed inner and outer recess walls 34 and 36, respectively. The outer surface 28a of skirt portion 28 adjacent the inner end of neck 22 tapers outwardly and axially inwardly with respect to the outer end of neck 22, whereby inner wall 34 of recess 32 has an axial length greater than outer wall 36 of the recess.Recess 32 further includes a radially extending bottom wall 38, and a radially extending planar wall 39 perpendicular to and intersecting outer wall 36 of the recess and outer wall 30 of the skirt portion. Wall 34 is provided with a radially projecting rib 40 which is peripherally continuous about the wall and which serves the purpose set forth hereinafter.

Second head rnember 18 is in the form of a ring which, in the embodiment shown is produced from plastics material, such as polyethylene for example. Head member 18 has a circular inner wall 42 of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of inner wall 34 of recess 32 and having an axial height slightly less than the height of recess wall 34.

Additionally, the ring member has a radially outer circular wall 44 the lower edge 45 of which is rounded or tapered. Wall 44 is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of outer wall 36 of recess 32 for the purpose set forth hereinafter. The ring member further includes a radially extending bottom wall 46 and a radially extending flange portion 48 including a radially extending planar wall 50 perpendicular to outer wall 44 of the ring.

Walls 44 and 50 intersect in a corner 51 extending peripherally of the ring, and wall 44 provides a radial sealing surface radially opposite wall or sealing surface 36 of member 16 for the purpose set forth below. The axially outer or upper surface 52 of the ring has a taper coinciding with that of skirt wall 28a. Circular inner wall 42 is provided with a peripherally continuous recess 54 positioned and dimensioned to receive rib 40 of head member 16 in the manner and for the purpose set forth hereinafter.

Walls 42. 44 and 46 of ring member 18 define a projection adapted to be axially received in recess 32 of head member 16.

When the two head members are assembled, as set forth hereinafter, the lower part of ring wall 42 moves axially past rib 40 on wall 34 of member 16 until recess 54 is axially aligned with the rib. At this time rib 40 is received in recess 54 and thus locks the ring in place against axial separation from head member 16. The relative axial positions of rib 40 and recess 54 on walls 34 and 42 and the radial engagement between walls 34 and 42 establish and maintain the desired spacing between axially opposed walls 39 and 50 and between radially opposed walls 36 and 44 of the two head members. As an alternative to such rib and recess interengagement, the diameter of walls 34 and 42 can be such as to provide an interference fit therebetween to interengage the head members and maintain the opposed walls thereof in the desired spaced relationship.

When the two head members are in assembled relationship, radially opposed walls or sealing surfaces 36 and 44 of the two members are radially spaced apart a distance slightly less than the initial wall thickness of the material of tubular body portion 12. Preferably, axially opposed walls 39 and 50 of the two head membes are axially spaced apart a distance corresponding to the wall thickness of the body material. These dimensional relationships provide clearance spaces between the opposed walls which enable the head assembly to be mounted on the end of tubular body 12 in a manner whereby an axial end portion of the body material is clampingly interengaged between head members 16 and 18 in air tight sealing relationship therewith and against separation of the body tube from the head assembly during use of the container.More particularly in this respect, and as will be appreciated from Figure 2, an axial portion 12a of the end of tubular body portion 12 is folded inwardly to overlie radial wall 39 of member 16 and thence axially inwardly as at 12b to overlie recess wall 36. Since the thickness of the material of tubular body portion 12 is greater than the radial spacing between opposed walls 36 and 44, it will be appreciated that portion 12b is radially compressed therebetween.

Portions 12a and 12b are heated to facilitate the bending thereof, to remove the plastic memory, and for the radial compression of portion 12b to cause the plastic material to flow into corner 51 between walls 44 and 50 of ring member 18, as best seen in Figure 4 of the drawing. Such heating is to a temperature below the fusion temperature for the thermoplastics material and sufficient to enable plastic flow under pressure. The axial spacing between opposed walls 39 and 50 is such as to clampingly engage portion 12a of the body material therebetween without any appreciable reduction in thickness of portion 12a as is provided for by the spacing between radially opposed walls 36 and 44.

The heating of body portions 12a and 12b, the radial compression of portion 12b, and the resulting plastic flow enable achieving the desired air tight seal between the container body and head assembly by tightly and sealingly interengaging wall portion 12b between the radially opposed walls 36 and 44 and by filling the void between the head members defined by corner 51. Moreover, the heating removes the plastic memory and thus enhances structural integrity in the areas of the bends between the outer wall and portion 12a and between portions 12a and 12b of the body material, thus to optimize the retention capability with respect to separation of the body tube and head assembly during use of the container and to optimize structural integrity of the container body against tearing of the body material adjacent the head assembly.These attributes will be better understood and appreciated from the illustrations in Figures 5 and 6 considered in conjunction with Figure 4. In Figures 5 and 6, two piece head assemblies and body tubes are illustrated which, to facilitate the following description, correspond structurally with the component parts shown in Figures 2-4. Accordingly, like numerals are employed to designate corresponding component parts.

Referring first to Figure 5, head members 16 and 18 are dimensioned for radially opposed walls 36 and 44 and axially opposed walls 39 and 50 to be spaced apart a distance corresponding to the thickness of the body tube material. Thus, portions 12a and 12b of the body would be clampingly engaged between the corresponding opposed walls without any appreciable reduction in thickness of the material. If portions 12a and 12b of the body material are not heated, the bending thereof across walls 39 and 36 of body member 16 results in the body material being stretched in the areas of the bends and thus placed under tension in these areas as indicated in Figure 5 by arrows 56. Such bending of the body material and stretching thereof around the corners between walls 30 and 39 and between walls 39 and 36 of body member 16 creates a void in corner 51.

Moreover, such bending and stretching creates an area of weakness across each bend in the body material in the directions indicated by lines 58 and 60 respectively bisecting the angle between walls 30 and 39 and the angle between walls 39 and 36 of body member 16. These structural characteristics and structural relationships enhance establishing a leakage path between the interior and exterior of the container, enhance separation of the body and head assembly either by withdrawal of body portions 12a and 12b due to an inadequate clamping relationship and/or tearing of the body material across the bends thereof in the direction of lines 58 and 60, both of which are undesirable and unacceptable characteristics.

If, as shown in Figure 6, radially opposed walls 36 and 44 are dimensioned to be spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of the body tube material, the foregoing problems are not overcome. In fact, the stress problem is even more pronounced in the bend between body tube portions 12a and 12b as a result of the combined axial stretching and radial compression of portion 12b during assembly of the head components. Moreover, such stretching and compression results in thinning of the material in the area of the corner between walls 36 and 39 of head member 16 to a greater extent than the thinning in the corresponding corner with the structure shown in Figure 5.

Therefore, the tensile stress in the body material between portions 12a and 12b together with such thinness increases the Potential for the material to tear across the bend in the direction of line 60 bisecting the angle between walls 36 and 39. It will be appreciated too that the tearing potential exists in this construction at the bend between body tube 12 and end portion 12a thereof in the direction of line 58 bisecting the corner between walls 30 and 39 of head member 16, and that a void exists in corner 51 to enhance establishing a leakage path between the interior and exterior of the container. While portion 12b may be readily compressed and somewhat thinned with the structure shown in Figure 6, there is no plastic flow.Therefore, the void created by corner 51 together with any other voids which may exist as the result, for example, of scratches on the walls 44 and 50 or foreign particles adhering to these walls are not filled and, accordingly, enhance leakage across the body tube and head joint.

In light of the foregoing description of Figures 5 and 6, it will be appreciated from Figure 4 that heating of the thermoplastics material, radial compression thereof and plastic enables applicant to achieve the desired air tight seal and structural integrity in the joint between the body tube and head assembly. In this respect, heating of the thermoplastics to remove the plastic memory and to enable plastic flow avoids the creation of tensile stress in the bends between the body portions, thus optimizing resistance to tearing of the body material in the areas of the bends and along the lines 58 and 60.Moreover, the plastic flow which enables filling corner 51 also enables filling other voids which may exist as the result of scratches or the like, thus to optimize sealing of the joint between the body tube and head assembly against leakage of air or the contents of the container thereacross.

Moreover, plastic flow of material into corner 51 provides a maximum thickness of the material in the direction of line 60 and thus minimizes the possibility of tearing or rupturing of the material in this area. Still further, filling of the corner 51 increases the retention capability with respect to the body tube material by eliminating an open area into which end portion 12b of the body tube can move unobstructed upon the application of sufficient radial force on portion 12a to cause withdrawal of portions 12a and 12b from between the head members. For example, if a radial force is applied to portion 12a in the structure shown in Figure 6, assuming that the material would not tear along line 60, the void in corner 51 defines a space into which portion 12b can move unobstructed to enhance such withdrawal.It will be appreciated that filling of the corner 51 as shown in Figure 4 creates an obstruction which restrains such withdrawal of the body tube end portions from the head assembly.

The thickness of the material of tubular body portion 12 will of course vary depending on a number of factors including the use to which the dispensing container is to be put, whether the tubular body portion is of unitary or laminated sheet construction, the type or types of material used to construct the body portion, and the like. Likewise, the clearance space between radially opposed walls 36 and 44 between which portion 12b af the material of the tubular body is radially compresed will vary depending on the body material and construction of the tubular body portion. A spacing between walls 36 and 44 which will provide for compression of the body material between the walls to reduce the thickness by about 25% is sufficient to achieve the desired clamping interengagement and sealing relationships between the head assembly and tubular body.

The manner in which head members 16 and 18 are assembled with tubular body portion 12 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4 is schematically shown in Figure 7 of the drawing. In this respect, a mandrel 62 is provided which is suitably supported, by means not shown, for rotation about the axis of the mandrel. The mandrel includes an abutment flange 64 at one end and a stub portion 66 of reduced diameter extending axially from the outer end thereof and providing an end face 68 with the body of the mandrel. Stub portion 66 has a diameter corresponding to that of dispensing passageway 24 in head member 16, and the head member is first introduced onto and supported by stub portion 66 with the inner end of the head member engaging face 68.

Tubular body portion 12 of the container is then introduced onto the mandrel and against flange 64 and has a predetermined axial length which provides for the end thereof adjacent head member 16 to extend axially beyond wall 39 of the head member a distance corresponding to the axial length required to provide material portions 12a and 12b. With these component parts so positioned on the mandrel, the latter is rotated and a suitable heated forming tool 70 is displaced radially inwardly of the mandrel to heat and bend the overlapping portion of tubular body 12 radially inwardly to the broken line position shown in Figure 7. Forming tool 70 can be of Nylon, for example, and is heated to remove the memory of the thermo-plastics material and to facilitate bending and plastic flow thereof as described hereinabove.After the body material is so bent, rotation of the mandrel is stopped and head member 18 is introduced axially onto head member 16 to achieve movement of the projection thereon into recess 32 in head member 16. During advancement of head member 18 onto head member 16, walls 44 and 46 of the ring member and rounded or beveled edge 45 therebetween displace the radially inwardly overhanging portion 12b of the body material axially into recess 32 and radially outwardly against wall 36 thereof to achieve the plastic flow described above. Preferably, a suitable force applying member 72 is employed to achieve seating of ring 18 with respect to recess 32 and the assembly is completed when projection 40 and recess 54 lockingly interengage. Thus, it will be appreciated that the assembly can be achieved quickly and inexpensively.Once the assembly is completed the container can be immediately removed from the mandrel.

In this respect, heating of the plastic is to, a temperature below the fusion temperature of the plastic, whereby there is no heat sealing between the body and head assembly and thus there is no delay required to enable cooling before removal of the assembly from the mandrel. Generally, the cap component for the container assembly will be applied prior to removal of the assembly from the mandrel, whereby the container is ready to be filled and closed upon removal thereof from the mandrel.

Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment of a collapsible container construction. The head assembly in this embodiment includes a first head member 74 and a second head member 76 shown as being of plastics material which, for example. can be of polyethylene and Nylon, respectively. Head member 74 includes a neck portion 78 which is centrally bored to provide a discharge passageway 80 and which has external threads 82 to receive a closure cap. not illustrated. Head member 74 further includes a skirt portion 84 extending radially outwardly of neck portion 78 from the inner end thereof and at an incline axially inwardly with respect to the outer end of the neck portion. The inner side of skirt portion 84 is provided with an annular projection 86 coaxial with passageway 80 and extending axially inwardly from the skirt portion.

More particularly, projection 86 includes radially inner and outer walls 88 and 90, respectively, and a bottom wall 92. Further, the skirt is provided with a radially extending wall 94 extending outwardly from wall 90 of projection 86 and intersecting outer surface 96 of the skirt to define a circular outer edge 98 for the skirt.

Second head member 76 is a ring member having a circular recess coaxial with passageway 80 and opening axially outwardly with respect thereto to receive projection 86. More particularly, the recess is defined by radially inner and outer walls 100 and 102, respectively, and a bottom wall 104 of mating contour with projection wall 92.

Recess wall 100 is of a diameter related to the diameter of inner wall 88 of projection 86 to provide an interference fit therebetween, and recess wall 102 is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of outer wall 90 of the projection. As in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4, the diametrical relationship between walls 90 and 102 provides a radial space or clearance therebetween less than the thickness of the body material. Thus, axial portion 12b of container body 12 is radially compressed between walls 90 and 102 and, being heated as described hereinbove, plastic flow is achieved to fill the corner between walls 90 and 94 of head member 74. In this embodiment, the ring member has a circular outer wall 106 of a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the tubular body portion so as to be axially received in the body portion.A radially extending wall 108 between recess wall 102 and outer wall 106 underlies skirt wall 94, and axial portion 12a of tubular body 12 is clampingly engaged between these axially opposed walls without appreciable reduction in the thickness of portion 12a. The interference fit between recess wall 100 and projection wall 88 interengage the head members against axial separation. If desired, of course, recess wall 100 and projection wall 88 can be provided with a suitable interengaging detent arrangement to axially lock head members 74 and 76 against separation.

It will be appreciated, from the foregoing description of the embodiments of Figures 1-8, that the interengaging relationship between the container body and head assembly is independent of requirements for compatability of materials for purposes of achieving an adhesive or heat seal bond between the tubular body portion and dispensing head. Accordingly, while plastic materials are described in conjunction with the disclosed embodiments, and certain plastic materials are identified as examples.

the component parts of the head assembly can be made from a wide variety of plastic materials of either thermoplastic or thermosetting resins, from metal such as aluminum, or combinations of metal and plastic.

An improved laminated tubular body construction and a preferred combination of materials for such body portion is illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawing. This body construction is particularly suited for use in connection with a dispensing container wherein product permeation and oxygen absorption problems are encountered. Referring now to Figure 9, a tubular body portion 110 for a dispensing container is comprised of a barrier layer 112 of a material suitable for preventing oxygen absorption, such as a metal foil, and an inner layer 114 of a thermosetting plastic, preferably an epoxy resin, bonded to the barrier layer. The barrier layer and the thermosetting plastic layer thereon are provided in sheet form and are formed into a tubular cros-sectional configuration with the opposite side edges thereof circumferentially overlapped as shown in Figure 9.This tubular configuration is then circumferentially encapsulated in an outer layer 116 of suitable thermoplastics material, such as by extrusion.

Barrier layer 112 optimizes protection against oxygen absorption, and inner layer 114 optimizes protection against product permeation. In this respect it is known that thermosetting plastic materials are leas permeable than the thermoplastic materials heretofore employed in such collapsible container bodies. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that a tubular container body construction including just the barrier layer and thermosetting plastic inner layer would provide the desired end results with respect to these problems, and that the overlapping longitudinal edges of the barrier layer and inner layer could be bonded for these two components to alone provide the tubular body portion for a container.In this respect, for example, the barrier layer and inner layer could be formed to the tubular configuration prior to curing of the thermosetting resin, and the overlapping edges could be pressed together and held during the application of heat to cure the resin.

However, it is preferred to encapsulate the barrier layer and inner layer in an outer layer 116 in that the outer layer maintains the barrier layer and inner layer in the tubular form thereof without the necessity of forming a longitudinal structural bond therebetween and, thus, avoids problems encountered in connection with forming the tubular configuration prior to curing the thermosetting resin. Additionally, encapsulation of the barrier and inner layers enables obtaining a circular outer surface 118 for the tubular body of the container which is free of circumferential interruptions in the circular contour such as are encountered in connection with a longitudinal seam in the tubular body portion.This advantageously enables indicia to be applied to the tubular body portion after it is formed and such as by roll printing procedures which cannot be satisfactorily employed with a longitudinally seamed tube. Moreover, the uninterrupted circumferential contour adds to the aesthetic value of a dispensing container produced therewith.

In the preferred tubular body construction shown in Figure 9, barrier layer 112 is aluminum foil having a thickness of about 0.002 inch, epoxy layer 114 has a thickness of about 0.0005 inch, a suitable epoxy resin being that sold by Hanna Chemical Company of Columbus, Ohio under product designation H-11 or H-23, and outer layer 116 is a low density polyethylene having a thickness of about 0.003 inch. With regard to outer layer 116, it will be appreciated that the thickness thereof in the area of the overlap between barrier layer 112 and inner layer 114 will vary from the latter dimension.

With furthur regard to the tubular container body structure shown in Figure 9, it will be appeciated that a preprinted plastic or paper layer can be employed with the construction thereof even though the circular outer surface facilitates printing of the tube after formation thereof. If preprinting is desired, or if an additional lamina is for some other reaon desired between barrier layer 112 and outer layer 116, such a lamina can be bonded to barrier layer 112 prior to formation thereof into the tubular contour to be encapsulated in the outer layer of thermoplastics material. For example, a film of white pigmented polyethylene preprinted to bear desired indicia for the container body can be bonded to the outer surface of barrier layer 112, in which case the outer layer 116 of low density polyethylene could be transparent to render the indicia visible therethrough. Generally, such a preprinted layer would have a thickness of about 0.002 inch.

Figure 10 illustrates laminated tubular body portion 110 in assembled relationship with respect ta a head assembly corresponding to that shown in Figures 2-4 of the drawing. In this respect, an axial portion 1 10a of the tubular body is displaced radially inwardly of head member 16 to overlie radially extending wall 39 thereof, and an axial portion 110b of the body material is displaced axially inwardly of recess 32 in head member 16 to overlie radially outer wall 36 of the recess. Portion 110b is radially compressed between wall 36 of the recess and radially outer wall 44 of the projection on ring member 18. Accordingly, as described hereinabove, it will be appreciated that portion 110b is reduced in thickness and that the material of outer layer 116 of the laminate is plastic flowed into corner 51.

In connection with the assembly shown in Figure 10, it will be appreciated that outer layer 116 of the laminate is of suitable thermoplastic material such as polyethylene to enable plastic flow into corner 51 upon radial compression of body portion 110b. In connection with the assembly method, end portions 110a and 110b are heated to remove the memory of the thermoplastic, to facilitate bending of portions 110a and 110b, and to achieve plastic flow for the purposes set forth hereinabove in connection with the description of the embodiment shown in Figures 2-4. If the laminated body construc tion includes a non-metallic barrier layer as opposed to a metal foil barrier layer, such heating is achieved prior to interengaging the two head members and in the manner described hereinabove in connection with the description of Figure 7 of the drawing.

If, on the other hand, the laminate includes a barrier layer of metal foil, heating for the foregoing purposes is achieved in two sepa rate steps. In this respect, portions 110a and 110b of the body material are heated as herinbeforeedescribed while supported on the assembly mandrel, and the body por tions are displaced radially inwardly across wall 39 of member 16 and thence axially along wall 36 by assembly of ring member 18 on head member 16. Thereafter, the assem bled container is peripherally heated in the area of the joint between the body and head members by a suitable induction heating device schematically represented in Figure 10 by reference numeral 120 and which, in a well known manner, inductively heats the metal foil and thus the thermoplastic layer 116.Such a second heating step assures the desired plastic flow into corner 51 to achieve an airtight seal and which plastic flow might not be achieved to an optimum extent by the first heating step alone. In this respect, the metal foil acts as a heat sink during the preliminary heating operation and thus draws heat from the thermoplastic layer.

During the time required to bend the laminate and join the two head members, such a heat sink effect can reduce the temperature of the plastic sufficiently to reduce the plastic flow necessary to obtain the desired sealing. The second step is also to a temperature below the fusion tempera ture of the plastic and high enough for the plastic to flow under the radial pressure applied to portion 110b of the laminate.

The method of assembling a collapsible dispensing container described above are also described and claimed in the complete specification of our copending Application No. 8014021 (Serial No. 1598268).

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A collapsible dispensing container comprising a tubular body having at least a radially outer portion which is of thermoplastics, and a dispensing head assembly mounted on one end of said body, said head assembly including axially interengaging first and second head members, one of said head members including a dispensing nozzle, said first head member being axially received in said one end of said body and having an outer wall facially engaging the inner surface of said body, said first head member further including a first wall extending radially inwardly from said outer wall and a circular second wall extending axially inwardly of said body from said first wall, said one end of said tubular body including first and second portions respectively extending radially and axially in overlying relationship with said first and second walls of said first head member, said second member including first and second walls respectively parallel to and spaced from said first and second walls of said first head member and cooperating therewith to engage said first and second portions of said one end of said tubular body therebetween, said first and second head members being interengageable to retain said first and second head members in assembled relationship and to maintain said first and second walls of said second head member spaced from the respective one of said first and second walls of said first head member, said first and second walls of said second head member having a corner therebetween facing the outer surface of said first and second portions of said one end of said tubular body, said second walls of said first and second head members being radially spaced apart a distance less than the radial thickness of said tubular body, said second portion of said one end of said body being radially compressed between said second walls to a thickness corresponding to the radial space therebetween, and the material of said outer portion of said body extending into said corner between said first and second walls of said second head member.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said first and second head members include corresponding third walls spaced radially inwardly from the corresponding second wall, and means for lockingly interengaging said first and second head members includes axially interengaging recess and projection means on said third walls.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said first head member includes said dispensing nozzle and has a frustoconical surface surrounding said nozzle and intersecting said third wall of said first member, said second head member being a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

that portion 110b is reduced in thickness and that the material of outer layer 116 of the laminate is plastic flowed into corner 51.

In connection with the assembly shown in Figure 10, it will be appreciated that outer layer 116 of the laminate is of suitable thermoplastic material such as polyethylene to enable plastic flow into corner 51 upon radial compression of body portion 110b. In connection with the assembly method, end portions 110a and 110b are heated to remove the memory of the thermoplastic, to facilitate bending of portions 110a and 110b, and to achieve plastic flow for the purposes set forth hereinabove in connection with the description of the embodiment shown in Figures 2-4. If the laminated body construc tion includes a non-metallic barrier layer as opposed to a metal foil barrier layer, such heating is achieved prior to interengaging the two head members and in the manner described hereinabove in connection with the description of Figure 7 of the drawing.

If, on the other hand, the laminate includes a barrier layer of metal foil, heating for the foregoing purposes is achieved in two sepa rate steps. In this respect, portions 110a and 110b of the body material are heated as herinbeforeedescribed while supported on the assembly mandrel, and the body por tions are displaced radially inwardly across wall 39 of member 16 and thence axially along wall 36 by assembly of ring member 18 on head member 16. Thereafter, the assem bled container is peripherally heated in the area of the joint between the body and head members by a suitable induction heating device schematically represented in Figure

10 by reference numeral 120 and which, in a well known manner, inductively heats the metal foil and thus the thermoplastic layer 116.Such a second heating step assures the desired plastic flow into corner 51 to achieve an airtight seal and which plastic flow might not be achieved to an optimum extent by the first heating step alone. In this respect, the metal foil acts as a heat sink during the preliminary heating operation and thus draws heat from the thermoplastic layer.

During the time required to bend the laminate and join the two head members, such a heat sink effect can reduce the temperature of the plastic sufficiently to reduce the plastic flow necessary to obtain the desired sealing. The second step is also to a temperature below the fusion tempera ture of the plastic and high enough for the plastic to flow under the radial pressure applied to portion 110b of the laminate.

The method of assembling a collapsible dispensing container described above are also described and claimed in the complete specification of our copending Application No. 8014021 (Serial No. 1598268).

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A collapsible dispensing container comprising a tubular body having at least a radially outer portion which is of thermoplastics, and a dispensing head assembly mounted on one end of said body, said head assembly including axially interengaging first and second head members, one of said head members including a dispensing nozzle, said first head member being axially received in said one end of said body and having an outer wall facially engaging the inner surface of said body, said first head member further including a first wall extending radially inwardly from said outer wall and a circular second wall extending axially inwardly of said body from said first wall, said one end of said tubular body including first and second portions respectively extending radially and axially in overlying relationship with said first and second walls of said first head member, said second member including first and second walls respectively parallel to and spaced from said first and second walls of said first head member and cooperating therewith to engage said first and second portions of said one end of said tubular body therebetween, said first and second head members being interengageable to retain said first and second head members in assembled relationship and to maintain said first and second walls of said second head member spaced from the respective one of said first and second walls of said first head member, said first and second walls of said second head member having a corner therebetween facing the outer surface of said first and second portions of said one end of said tubular body, said second walls of said first and second head members being radially spaced apart a distance less than the radial thickness of said tubular body, said second portion of said one end of said body being radially compressed between said second walls to a thickness corresponding to the radial space therebetween, and the material of said outer portion of said body extending into said corner between said first and second walls of said second head member.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said first and second head members include corresponding third walls spaced radially inwardly from the corresponding second wall, and means for lockingly interengaging said first and second head members includes axially interengaging recess and projection means on said third walls.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said first head member includes said dispensing nozzle and has a frustoconical surface surrounding said nozzle and intersecting said third wall of said first member, said second head member being a

ring having a frusto-conical wall having radially inner and outer edges respectively intersecting said third wall and said first wall of said second head member, said frustoconical surfaces being in smooth continuation of each other when said first and second head members are assembled, said third walls having axially outer and inner ends, and said recess and projections means being spaced axially inwardly from said axially outer ends of said third walls.

4. A container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tubular body is of laminated construction and includes a barrier layer, an innermost layer of thermosetting plastics materials, and an outermost layer of thermoplastics material.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said thermosetting plastics material is an epoxy resin.

6. A container according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said barrier is a metal foil.

7. A container according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein said layer of thermoplastics material provides a seamless outer surface.

8. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first head member includes said dispensing nozzle and has a frustoconical surface surrounding said nozzle and an axially extending annular recess providing said second surface of said first member, said second member being a ring received in said recess and providing said second surface of said second member, said ring having a frusto-conical wall forming a smooth continuation with with said frustoconical surface when said first and second members are assembled.

9. A container according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said first head member and said ring member have interengaging detent means to lock said members in assembled relationship.

10. A collapsible dispensing container substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.