Collapsible container and dispenser employing a collapsible container

1. A collapsible container for receipt in a dispenser housing that provides means for the dispensing of product from the collapsible container, the collapsible container comprising:

a front face formed of a shape-retaining material that resists deformation;

a collapsible backing secured to said front face to define a container volume, wherein said collapsible backing includes fold lines and said collapsible backing collapses along said fold lines as said container volume decreases; and

product retained within said container volume, wherein the container volume is sealed such that the removal of a portion of said product from said container volume causes said container volume to decrease, and, as said container volume decreases due to the removal of product, (a) said collapsible backing collapses by vacuum toward said front face and (b) said front face retains its shape due to being formed from said shape-retaining material.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein said front face includes perimeter and a frame defined around at least a portion of said perimeter, and said frame includes a plurality of frame supports.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein said collapsible backing is made of a flexible film.

4. A collapsible container for receipt in a dispenser housing that provides means for the dispensing of product from the collapsible container, the collapsible container comprising:

a front face formed of a shape-retaining material that resists deformation;

a collapsible backing secured to said front face to define a container volume,

wherein said collapsible backing includes:

a rear wall opposite said front face;

right and left side walls interconnecting said front face and said rear wall;

a bottom wall interconnecting with said front face, rear wall, right side wall and left side wall;

a top wall interconnecting with said front face, rear wall, right side wall and left side wall, said front face, rear wall, right side wall, left side wall, top wall and bottom wall defining a container volume holding product;

a rear wall upper fold line extending across said rear wall, said rear wall upper fold line separating said rear wall into an upper facet between said rear wall upper fold line and said top wall and a central facet between said rear wall upper fold line and said bottom wall, wherein the removal of product from said container causes said container volume to decrease, and, as said container volume decreases, said container folds along said rear wall upper fold line such that said upper facet folds down toward said central facet and said front wall is devoid of a fold line that mimics the structure and function of said rear wall upper fold line such that the folding at said rear wall upper fold line is not simulated at said front wall and said front wall retains its shape; and

product retained within said container volume, wherein the container volume is sealed such that the removal of a portion of said product from said container volume causes said container volume to decrease, and, as said container volume decreases due to the removal of product, (a) said collapsible backing collapses by vacuum toward said front face and (b) said front face retains its shape due to being formed from said shape-retaining material.

5. The container of claim 1 , wherein, as additional portions of said product are removed from said container volume and the container approaches the empty configuration, at least a portion of said collapsible backing comes into close proximity to said front face.

6. The container of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of said front face is transparent or translucent.

7. A collapsible container for receipt in a dispenser housing that provides means for the dispensing of product from the collapsible container, the collapsible container comprising:

a front face having a perimeter, wherein at least a portion of said front face is transparent or translucent;

a frame defined around at least a portion of said perimeter of said front face adapted to engage the dispenser housing to retain the front face in position in the housing;

a collapsible backing secured to said front face to define a container volume; and

product retained within said container volume, wherein the container volume is sealed such that the removal of a portion of said product from said container volume causes said container volume to decrease, and, as said container volume decreases, said collapsible backing collapses by vacuum toward said front face, and, as additional portions of said product are removed from said container volume and the container approaches an empty configuration, at least a portion of said collapsible backing comes into close proximity to said front face, wherein said collapsible backing has an interior surface, and indicia is provided on said interior surface such that said indicia is visible through said transparent or translucent portion of said front face when said interior surface approaches near or contacts said front face.

8. A dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a volume for receipt of a collapsible container, said housing including;

a front wall having a sight window allowing for viewing of at least a portion of the interior of the housing, and

tensioning mounts; and

a collapsible container retained within said housing, said container being collapsible from a filled configuration to a substantially empty configuration during dispensing of the contents therein, the container comprising:

a front face having a perimeter, positioned in close proximity to said sight window of said housing,

a frame defined around at least a portion of said perimeter of said front face,

frame supports in said frame;

a collapsible backing secured to said front face to define a container volume, said collapsible backing including:

a rear wall separated from said front face a top wall, a bottom wall, a left sidewall and a right side wall, wherein said rear wall is opposite said front face, and said left side wall and said right side wall interconnect said front face with said rear wall and interconnect said top wall with the bottom wall, said bottom wall and said top wall each interconnect with said front face, said rear wall, said left side wall and said right side wall, wherein said bottom wall, said top wall, said left side wall and said right side wall are all formed with steps that are weaker than the rear wall; and

product retained within said container volume, wherein a dose of product is dispensed from said container volume upon actuation of the dispenser, wherein the container is sealed such that the dispensing of a dose of product from said container volume causes said container volume to decrease, wherein said rear wall is thicker than said bottom wall, said top wall, said left side wall and said right side wall, such that said bottom wall, said top wall, said left side wall and said right side wall are all weaker than said rear wall, and, as said container volume decreases, said bottom wall, said top wall, said left side wall and said right side wall each collapses in on itself, telescoping at said steps, while said rear wall tends to retain its shape and is thus drawn toward the front face, said collapsible backing collapsing by vacuum toward said front face, said front face being held in place by the interaction of said tensioning mounts and said frame supports such that said front face retains its shape and is retained in place as said collapsible backing collapses toward said front face such that said front face remains in close proximity to said sight window.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 , wherein said front face includes graphics or text.

10. The dispenser of claim 8 , further comprising a pump, said pump being actuated upon actuation of the dispenser, and actuation of said pump dispenses a dose of said product from said container volume.