Dispensing container with nipple dispensing head
View Patent ↗A dispensing container fillable with a liquid includes a squeezable reservoir for holding the liquid prior to dispensing; a nipple dispensing head which is integral with the squeezable reservoir and having a distal end and a proximal end; an outlet at the distal end of the nipple dispensing head for dispensing the liquid from the container; a passage interconnecting the squeezable reservoir and the outlet; and a stop disposed near the proximal end of the nipple dispensing head to prevent over-insertion of the dispensing head into a user's mouth when the container is used to dispense the liquid to the user. Containers that are filled with liquid and a method of making the containers are also described.
1. A dispensing container fillable with a liquid, the container comprising:
a squeezable reservoir for holding the liquid prior to dispensing;
a nipple dispensing head which is integral with the squeezable reservoir and having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a first cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is smaller at the nipple dispensing head's proximal end than at least one point nearer the nipple dispensing head's distal end, a second cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is smaller at the nipple dispensing head's distal end than at least one point nearer the nipple dispensing head's proximal end, and a third cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area and wherein the third cross-sectional area is larger than each of the first and second cross-sectional areas and wherein the nipple dispensing head has a diameter at its widest point of from about 0.6 cm to about 2.54 cm;
an outlet at the distal end of the dispensing head for dispensing the liquid from the container;
a passage interconnecting the squeezable reservoir and the outlet; and
a stop disposed near the proximal end of the dispensing head to prevent over-insertion of the dispensing head into a user's mouth when the container is used to dispense the liquid to the user, wherein a cross-sectional area of the stop is larger than the first cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head.
2. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the squeezable reservoir has an outer surface having a traction aid thereon, whereby the traction aids improve the grip of the container by the user.
3. The dispensing container according to claim 2 , wherein the traction aid comprises at least one of ribs, grooves, a roughened area, or a checkered area.
4. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the nipple dispensing head has a cross-sectional shape that is round or oval.
5. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the nipple dispensing head from the distal end to the proximal end is between about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) and 2 inches (5 cm).
6. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the nipple dispensing head from the distal end to the proximal end is between about 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) to about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm).
7. The dispensing container according to claim 4 , wherein the cross-section of the nipple dispensing head is oval and the nipple dispensing head is of a length of about 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) from the distal end to the proximal end.
8. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises a single channel interconnecting the squeezable reservoir and the outlet.
9. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet is closed by a breakable seal which is unitary with the dispensing container and which reveals the outlet when the seal is broken.
10. The dispensing container according to claim 9 , wherein the breakable seal is integral with a tab which is designed for gripping between the thumb and forefinger for the purpose of breaking the seal.
11. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the stop is located at the proximal end of the nipple dispensing head and extends outwardly from the nipple dispensing head at an angle of from about 30° to about 90° from the longitudinal axis of the nipple dispensing head.
12. The dispensing container according to claim 11 , wherein the stop extends outwardly from the nipple dispensing head a distance sufficient to prevent or retard the continued insertion of the dispensing container into the mouth of an infant past the stop.
13. The dispensing container according to claim 1 , further comprising a substantially flat tail disposed from the reservoir opposite the nipple dispensing head and in a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing head.
14. A dispensing container having a liquid therein, the container comprising:
a squeezable reservoir containing the liquid;
a nipple dispensing head which is integral with the squeezable reservoir and having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a first cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is smaller at the nipple dispensing head's proximal end than at least one point nearer the nipple dispensing head's distal end, a second cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is smaller at the nipple dispensing head's distal end than at least one point nearer the nipple dispensing head's proximal end, and a third cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area and wherein the third cross-sectional area is larger than each of the first and second cross-sectional areas and wherein the nipple dispensing head has a diameter at its widest point of from about 0.6 cm to about 2.54 cm;
an outlet at the distal end of the dispensing head for dispensing the liquid from the container;
a passage interconnecting the squeezable reservoir and the outlet; and
a stop disposed near the proximal end of the dispensing head to prevent over-insertion of the dispensing head into a user's mouth when the container is used to dispense the liquid to the user, wherein a cross-sectional area of the stop is larger than the first cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head.
15. The dispensing container according to claim 14 , wherein the nipple dispensing head has a cross-sectional shape that is round or oval.
16. The dispensing container according to claim 15 , wherein the dispensing container is unitary.
17. The dispensing container according to claim 15 , wherein the cross-section of the nipple dispensing head is oval and is of a length of about 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) from the distal end to the proximal end.
18. The dispensing container according to claim 14 , wherein the outlet is closed by a breakable seal which is unitary with the dispensing container and which reveals the outlet when the seal is broken.
19. The dispensing container according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid comprises at least one material that is selected from vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, or prescription drugs.
20. The dispensing container according to claim 14 , wherein the dispensing container is formed from a polymer which is sufficiently transparent or translucent that the amount of liquid in the reservoir can be determined visually.
21. The dispensing container according to claim 14 , wherein the dispensing container is color-coded to identify a property of the liquid in the reservoir.
22. The dispensing container according to claim 14 , wherein the dispensing container is formed from a single piece of polymer.
23. A method of making a dispensing container having a liquid therein, the method comprising:
extruding a polymer into a blow mold;
closing the mold;
forming a dispensing container comprising a squeezable reservoir for holding the liquid prior to dispensing;
a nipple dispensing head which is integral with the squeezable reservoir and having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a first cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is smaller at the nipple dispensing head's proximal end than at least one point nearer the nipple dispensing head's distal end, a second cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is smaller at the nipple dispensing head's distal end than at least one point nearer the nipple dispensing head's proximal end, and a third cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head is between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area and wherein the third cross-sectional area is larger than each of the first and second cross-sectional areas and wherein the nipple dispensing head has a diameter at its widest point of from about 0.6 cm to about 2.54 cm;
an outlet at the distal end of the dispensing head for dispensing the liquid from the container;
a passage interconnecting the squeezable reservoir and the outlet; and
a stop disposed near the proximal end of the dispensing head to prevent over-insertion of the dispensing head into a user's mouth when the container is used to dispense the liquid to the user, wherein a cross-sectional area of the stop is larger than the first cross-sectional area of the nipple dispensing head;
adding the liquid to the dispensing container;
sealing the dispensing container; and
removing the sealed dispensing container from the mold.
24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the polymer comprises a material that is selected from at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer, cyclic olefin copolymer, cyclic olefin polymer, liquid crystal polymer, polyethylene terephthalate, anhydride modified polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyacrylic, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, a fluoropolymer, a thermoplastic polyester, nylon, or a mixture thereof.
25. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the polymer comprises a material that is selected from at least one of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, oriented polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate copolymer, anhydride modified ethylene vinyl acetate, anhydride modified low density polyethylene, anhydride modified linear low density polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, crystalline nylon, amorphous nylon, MXD6, or mixtures thereof.
26. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the polymer is extruded into the blow mold in the form of a parison.
27. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the parison is optionally formed from a single polymer, a blend of two or more polymers, or a multilayer structure comprising two or more layers of the same or different polymers.
28. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the step of closing the mold forms a breakable seal that covers the outlet, wherein the seal is optionally attached to an integral tab.
29. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the step of sealing the container comprises forming a substantially flat tail disposed from the reservoir opposite the dispensing head and in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the dispensing head.
30. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the thickness of the wall of the squeezable reservoir is from about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm.
31. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising the step of adding a head-space gas to the reservoir.