US3173579A - Disposable type dispensing container package - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1965 R, J. CURIE ETAL 3,173,579

DISPOSABLE TYPE DISPENSING CONTAINER PACKAGE Filed March 4, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ROBERT J. CURI E ROBERT S. HAMILTON BY MAHONEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO ATTORNEYS March 16, 1965 R. J. CURIE ETAL 3,173,579

DISPOSABLE TYPE DISPENSING CONTAINER PACKAGE Filed March 4, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT J.CURIE BY ROBERT s. HAMILTON HG .7 MAHONEY, MILLER a RA BO ATTORNEYS Mardl 1965 R. .1. CURIE ETAL DISPOSABLE TYPE DISPENSING CONTAINER PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 4, 1964 BY MAHONE N O T wUP 1W M E B O R 1 II F ,glI/LLERQRAMBO ATTORNEYS March 16, 1965 R, J. CURIE ETAL 3,173,579

DISPOSABLE TYPE DISPENSING CONTAINER PACKAGE Filed March 4, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I9 F 7 III I I I I I I I I I I I I s I 2| 2Ia 2| I l f l I 27 I \211) 37 n Q64 e 22 22d- -I,, 22C zwtg zzf 27 1 27 I I I .21 :1

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INVENTORS ROBERT J.CURIE Y ROBERT S. HAMILTON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,173,579 DISPOSABLE TYPE DISPENSING CONTAINER PACKAGE Robert .I. Curie and Robert S. Hamilton, Columbus, Ohio,

assignors to The Corrugated Container Company,

Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 4, 15964, Ser. No. 349,391 20 Claims. (tCl. 222-105) This invention relates to a disposable type dispensing container package. It has to do, more particularly, with a dispensing container package which can be filled with a fluid and from which the fluid may be dispensed. It is particularly adaptable to the containing and dispensing of liquids, such as milk or water, in a completely sanitary manner.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 272,321, filed April 11, 1963.

The package described herein is adapted to be filled with milk or other liquid by a dealer and supplied to a domestic consumer who can place it on a support, such as a refrigerator shelf or table, and dispense desired amounts therefrom at intervals with ease and in a sanitary manner. The package is so constructed that substantially all the liquid can be dispensed therefrom, without tipping of the package, and when completely empty, the package can be discarded since it is relatively inexpensive.

More specifically, the present invention deals with a container package which includes an outer protective supporting and confining package shell, usually in the form of a box of corrugated board, paperboard, or the like, and an inner sanitary flexible liner or inner container, usually in the form of a collapsible plastic bag, which is enclosed within and protected by the outer shell. The

outer shell is usually supplied to the dealer in the liquid as a box in knockdown form and when it is to be used, it is set up as a complete box with open closure flaps at its upper end so that it can receive and retain the liner. The liner is usually supplied to the dealer in flat condition as a liquid-tight collapsed bag and is expanded into the interior of the open box as it is filled after being positioned therein. After the bag is properly filled, the closure flaps of the box are sealed in place to completely enclose and protect the bag.

The bag is provided with a suitably positioned opening which is used both as a filling and dispensing opening and which is adapted to have a closure and dispensing valve associated therewith after filling. Usually the bag opening is at the upper end of the box during filling and after filling the closure and dispensing valve is mounted in cooperation with the opening. The box is so constructed that the closure and dispensing valve is located and held at the upper end or" the box by an inner closure flap and is covered by an outer closure flap which engages the valve to lock it in closed position. In this condition, the filled sealed package is supplied by the dealer to the consumer. For dispensing, the outer closure flap is provided with a removable pull-out section or tab which, when removed, permits access to the dispensing valve so that it can be pulled outwardly and then actuated for the dispensing operation when the package is inverted to position the valve at a lower corner. Furthermore, removal of the tab permits positioning the dis pensing valve at the adjacent corner of the box in such a manner that substantially all of the liquid in the bag will drain through the dispensing valve when open and when that corner is lowermost so that it will not be necessary to tip the package. This precludes a substantial portion of the liquid remaining in the bag which would be wasted.

In the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiice ment of this invention is illustrated and in these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view, partly broken away, of the closed and sealed package of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the flexible container or bag of the package.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing the valve closure in opened position.

FIGURE 4 is a similar view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 but showing the valve closure in closed position. 7

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 1, showing the closure valve held in locked closed position within the sealed box.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 11 showing the closure valve in dispensing position extended from the unsealed box.

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 10 showing the closure valve in the same extended position shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tear-out tab or section being removed from the end of the box to expose the closure valve.

FIGURE 9 is a similar view showing the closure valve pulled outwardly at the end of the box.

FIGURE 10 is a similar view but showing the closure valve locked in its final extended dispensing position at one corner of the box.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 but showing the box turned to dispensing position.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the blank used for making the box.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the two main units of the container package of this invention are illustrated therein and comprise the box 15 which is shown in set-up and sealed condition with its upper closure flaps closed and sealed, and the bag 16 which is shown within the box in the relationship it will have thereto when filled. The bag 15 is provided with a valve and closure unit 17 as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The box 15 may be of suitable sheet material, such as corrugated fiberboard, solid fiberboard, paperboard, or similar material, and its details are shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 to 12. The box may bemade from a suitable blank 19, as shown in FIGURE 12, which is scored and slit to provide the side walls 21, 22, 23, and 24, having the attached upper closure flaps 21a, 22a, 23a, and 24a, and the attached lower closure flaps 21b, 22b, 23b, and 24b. The various closure flaps are hinged to the respective side walls and are separated from each other at the slits 25. The outer edge of the wall 24 has hinged thereto an attaching flange 26. The dash lines 27 in FIGURE 12 indicate various scored fold lines between the various walls and flaps whereas the dot and dash lines 28 indicate perforated or otherwise weakened tear lines.

Thus, the closure flap 21a is provided with a keyholeshaped perforated tear line at the slit 25 between. it and the closure flap 22a to provide a tear-out section or tab 210. The wider end of the keyhole tab 210 has formed therein a. smaller removable tab 21d of semicircular form. The closure flap 22a, adjacent the flap 21a, is provided with a notch or slot 220 which starts at the fold line 27 between the flap 22a and the side wall 22 and extends into the flap 22a a substantial distance. Also, at this fold line is a tear line 28 which forms a tear-tab of T-form in the side wall 22 at its upper edge, the tear tab 22d being of greater extent than the width of the opening 22c and extending into the upper edge of will also be noted that a'score line 27 extends in opposite directions from each side of the notch 22c, intermediate its extent intothe flap 22a, to the respective side edges of the flap 22a.

When thebox is set up, the blank is folded along the various fold lines 27 between the vertical wall-s 21, 22, 23, and 24 and the fold line between the wall 24 and the attaching flange 26; The flange 26 is overlapped with the outer surface of the adjacent wall 21 and is glued or otherwise secured in place. By positioning the flange 26 outside the wall 21 a continuous smooth surface is providcd around the interior of the box so that the bag 16 will not be cut. The bottom flaps 21b, 22b, 23b, and 24b, are folded inwardly into overlapping relationship with the flaps 21b and 23b-lowermost-and may be secured in that position by means of gluing or by a piece of adhesive tape ,(not shown) The upper flaps 21a, 22a, 23a, and 24a are folded inwardly into overlapping relationship with the flaps 22a and 24a innermost and projecting toward each other, with the narrow flap 23a turned inwardly over the flaps 22a or 24a, and with the wide flap 21a turned inwardly and overlapping the flap 23a. A piece of adhesive tape 29 along the edge of the flap 21a holds it down.

The bag 16 is made of suitable flexible plastic such as a transparent polyethylene film. It is formed fluid-tight, preferably from a double thickness of a tubular section of the film, and is shown in flat or collapsed condition with the straight, folded side edges 31 and 32. The upper and lower edges of the bag are also straight and are provided with the sealed seams 33 and 34 which may be of the heat-sealed type. of the bag adjacent the upper edge 33 has the closure and neck unit 17 sealed in an opening formed in that Wall. The flexible bag 16 will be made of a suitable size so that it can be positioned within the relatively rigid box 15 and when expanded, will conform substantially to the shape of the box but there will be a surplus of material of the bag adjacent the closure and neck unit 17 for a purpose to be described later.

The construction of the closure and valve unit 17 and the manner in which 'it is sealed to the wall 35 of the bag 16 may be as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The unit 17 is provided with an annular collar 36 which has an integrahperipheral attaching flange 37 at its inner edge. The flange 37 is disposed within the wall 35 and in contact with the wall and is provided with a flat, an-

4 the stem is open and on its exterior surface it carries an annular stop shoulder 46 which will cooperate with the shoulder 43 to limit outward movement of the valve stem 40. However, at its outermost position, a dispensing opening 47 in the stem is beyond the guide 42 as indicated in FIGURE 3. When pushed inwardly, as in FIGURE 4, the opening 47 is closed by .the guide 42. The button 45 is preferably provided with an embossed arrow 48'pointing radially toward thefside of the stem hav- One of the flat, double walls 35 axially outwardly of the stop' flange 39.

nular groove 37a in its outer surface in which the double 1 thereon and projecting radially therefrom. This flange is spaced axially outwardly from the parallel locating and stop flange surface 41 which is formed at the junction of the collar 36 and guide extension 38. Thus, an annular radially outwardly opening locking space or groove 42a is provided. The outer end of the extension 38 is reduced further to provide a guide sleeve or collar portion 42 which snugly receives the stem 40 that is slidably and rotatably mounted therein. An annular stop shoulder 43 is provided at the inner extent of the portion 42;

The stem 40 is of hollow tubular form and'is movable readily. in the guide 42 by means of a button 45 integrally for-med on its outer end which can be readily engaged by the fingers in pushing or pulling the stern in the guide 42 or in rotating it therein. The; inner end of ing the opening 47. The stem 40 is provided at its outer extremity adjacent the button 45 with an outwardly flared surface 49 which is gradually increased axially outwardly of the stem in diameter. It increases beyond the internal diameter of the guide 42 so that when it is pushed inwardly thereinto it will gradually wedge more tightly therein and produce a tight seal. Since the valve material is somewhat flexible, this wedging action will be permitted.

The bag 16 will be filled with the liquid and be positioned in the box 15. The bag may be filled, through the valve stem 40, in the manner disclosed in the copending application of Curie et at, Ser. No. 320,199, filed October 30, 1963. When filled, the upper closure flaps are swung inwardly and the tape 29 is applied, as previously indicated, to hold allthe upper closure flaps in sealed position; The box with the filled bag therein will then appear as in FIGURE I.

At'this time, as indicated in FIGURE 5, the neck or collar extension 38 will be positioned in the inner end of the slot or notch opening 22c in the flap 22a which will be positioned inwardly adjacent the bag 16. The flap 22:: will be located in the locking space 42a between the stop flanges 39 and 41 and the tubular extension 38 will be positioned between the "opposed tabs 22 When the bag 16 is initially positioned in, the box '15, the button 45 on the valve stem 40 and also the stop flange 39 on the guide sleeve 38 can beslipped up through an enlargement of the slot or notch 22c formed by bend ing'back the opposed tabs 22f,this being necessary since the button and the flange 39 each is of greater width than the slot or notch 220. It will benoted that the button 45' is partly circular'and partly angular and is spaced The outer closure 'flap 21a will bear against the button 45, holding the valve stem. in its inner position within the valve guide 42 with the dispensing opening 47 covered. At the same time, the entire valve or closure unit will be pushed inwardly with .sufiicient force to, bend the flap 22a. at the score hinge line 27 extending'from each side of the notch 220. The valve or closure unit will not normally push on through the notch 220 because the stop flange 39 on tubular extension 28, is ,of greater: diameter or widththan the widthof the notch 22c and will extend over' the tabs 22 sufficiently to prevent inward bending there of. Thus, the flexible flap 22a and flexible bag 16 will" permit suflicient inward movement of the dispensing valve" and closure unit 17 to permit the outerclosur'e flap 21a to'be sealed in its final flat position and the valv' button 45 will be directly below the removable tab 21c in @511? tact therewith. However, it will be noted from FIGURE 5 that the hinge line 27 permits upward tilting of the inner free portion of the flap 22 so that the bag end can extend'up to the outer flap 21a at the side opposite the location of the valve stem 40, thus obtaining maximum capacity of the bag 16.

To dispense fromthe package, the steps indicated in FIGURES 8 to 11 are followed. The, tear-out tab or section 210 is removed from the flap 21a as indicated in FIGURE 8 exposing thevalve button 45. To do this,

22c and will notpull outwardly therethrough.-v T the 5 inverted, T-shaped tab 22a in the adjacent edge of the side wall 22 is bent outwardly to provide an undercut flange receiving slot 22e which communicates with the outer end of the notch 220, as shown in FIGURE 10. As previously indicated, there is sufiicient surplus material in the bag adjacent the neck, that the valve or closure unit can now be moved outwardly in the notch 220 until the flange 37 is moved out into the slot 22a. The slot 22a has an upper portion which communicates with the outer end of the notch 22c and is slightly wider than the notch and a lower or undercut portion which is much wider. The upper portion receives the neck 36 and the lower portion receives the flange 37 and the respective portions of the slot 22s are just slightly smaller than the cooperating portions as and 37 which they receive so that such cooperating portions will be gripped and held in place.

The larger inner portion of the keyhole slot 21c, provided by removal of the tab 210, facilitates access to the valve button 45. The narrower outer end of this keyhole slot lies over the outer end of the notch 22c in alignment therewith for receiving, and gripping the tubular valve guide extension 38 as also does the associated aligning end of the notch 22c. The wider inner end and the narrower outer end of the keyhole slot 225 are connected by a converging connecting portion. Thus, there are two layers of box wall material extending into the annular groove 42 to support the valve unit 1'7 from axial movement. The removed sub-tab 21d, as shown in FIGURES 6, 7, 10, and 11, is preferably positioned in the narrow part of the keyhole slot 21c over the notch 22c, being wider than the notch, and beneath the stop flange 39. This will give greater stability to the valve unit 17.

Thus, the valve unit 17 will be locked at the corner of the box where the side wall 22 meets the flap 22a, as indicated in FIGURE 7. Furthermore, as shown in FIG- URE 6, when locked in this position and the box is rested on its side wall 22, the inner surface of the wall 22 and the corresponding lower side of the tubular valve stem 40 are at substantially the same level or in substantially the same plane. Therefore, if the stem is turned so that the dispensing opening 49 is at its lower side, as indicated by the arrow 48 pointing downwardly, and is pulled outwardly to move the opening outwardly beyond the guide sleeve portion 42, substantially all liquid can be dispensed from the bag 16. The stem 40 may he slid in and out relative to the guide 42 to dispense the liquid in desired amounts at intervals and this can be done with the fingers of one hand since the valve is locked and is prevented from moving bodily in and out of the box.

It will be apparent from the above that this invention provides an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box. The outer box has a first wall formed by overlapping inner and outer laminations and a second wall at an angle thereto. The inner container has a dispensing outlet with a cooperating closure and valve unit disposed in cooperation with the first wall of the box which includes a valve guide body having an attaching flange attached to the inner flexible container. The guide body is provided with axially spaced radially outwardly projecting stop portions or stop flanges. Mounted in the valve guide body for axial sliding and rotation about its axis 15 a valve member. The valve guide body is positioned in a retaining opening in an inner lamination of the first wall so that the valve member will extend upwardly therefrom, being located axially therein by the axially spaced stop flanges. This valve member includes a slidable stern which is engaged by a tear-out tab in the outer lamination of the first wall so as to lock the valve stem in closed position. When the tear-out tab is removed this valve is exposed and can be moved outwardly in the opening in the inner lamination which extends to the second angularly disposed Wall. This latter wall has a tear-out or punch-out tab which will produce a flange-receiving slot that will receive the attaching flange of the valve guide body so as to position the valve at the corner between the two walls of the box. If desirable, the slot can be formed previously and the tear-out strip can be eliminated since the slot is relatively small and its presence would not detract substantially from the protection of the inner container. This slot is of inverted T or undercut form and communicates with the valve body-receiving opening. The undercut slot receives the attaching flange and will prevent displacement into the communicating neck-receiving opening. The valve stem is hollow and in the locked dispensing position of the valve, one side of the stem will be in alignment with the second wall. The valve stem has a dispensing opening and the stem is both slidable and turnable to expose the opening for dispensing and to position it in substantially the same plane as the second box wall. This will make it possible to dispense substantially all the contents of the inner container when the box is rested on the second wall. Thus, the package provides suitable means for supplying the liquid to the consumer and means for dispensing it quickly, easily, and economically without waste, from a fixed position such as a shelf in a refrigerator upon which it may be positioned.

The dispensing valve itself is of novel form and facilitates the dispensing operation. In closed position of the valve, the stem is wedged in the guide into effective sealing position so there will be no leakage from the bag. However, a pull on the button on the end of the stem will readily pull the stem from its wedged locked position. The non-circular shape of the valve button will permit rotation of the stern readily so that the dispensing opening can always be positioned at the lower side of the hollow stem, the position of this opening being indicated by the arrow on the valve button.

Accordin to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles or" this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A dispensing container package comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having a first wall formed by overlapping inner and outer laminations and a second wall at an angle thereto, said inner container having a dispensing outlet with a cooperating valve unit which are disposed in cooperation with the first wall of the box, said valve unit comprising an annular collar having an attaching flange attached in position at said dispensing outlet of the inner container and a guide sleeve projecting from said collar, said sleeve having a pair of axially spaced stop flanges axially outwardly of said collar, said valve including a hollow stem slidable in said sleeve from closed to open dispensing position, an inner lamination of the first Wall having a guide-sleeve receiving opening in which the sleeve is positioned with the inner of said flanges extending under the inner lamination at the opening and with the said collar being spaced inwardly of said lamination, the outer of said flanges extending over the inner lamination at the opening, said valve stem having a dispensing opening movable by sliding the stem between closed position within said guide and opened dispensing position outwardly of the guide, said stern having its outer end engaged by an outer lamination to normally lock the stem in closed position, said outer lamination having a tear-out tab of keyhole form to expose the valve stem, said guide-sleeve receiving opening communicating with an undercut slot formed in said second wall which is adapted to receive said collar when it is moved with the valve relative to said opening outwardly thereinto, the keyhole slot produced by tearing out the keyhole tab having a narrow end aligning with ing and snugly engaging said collar, to lock the valve' stem in position with its one side substantially in the same plane as said second wall to permit drainage of substantially all the liquid from the inner container.

2. A package according to claim 1 in which saidsecond wall has a tab portion formed therein and connected to the wall by means including tear portions which permit forming of the said undercut slot by pushing out on said tab portion. V

3. A package according to claim 2 in which the inner lamination is provided with a weakened line extending across the lamination in both-directions from said neckreceivingopening to facilitate inward flexing of said lamination when the outer lamination engages said valve stem.

4. A package according to claim 3 in'which the valve stemthas a button on its upper end, and yieldable tabs on said inner lamination at said opening to permit upward passage of said outer flange and the button in inserting the guide sleeve portion in said opening.

5. A dispensing container comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having a wall structure comprising inner and outer laminations with the inner lamination being inwardly yieldable relative to the outer lamination, said inner flexible container having a dispensing valve mounted thereon disposed adjacent to and in cooperation with said laminated wall structure, said valve including a tubular guide portion and having axially spaced inner and outer stop portions projecting Blaterally outwardly from said valve with a valve locking :space between said axially spaced stop portions, and a stem of tubular form through which the contents of the inner container may be dispensed slidably mounted in said guide portion for movement between an inner nondispensing position and an outer dispensing position, said inner lamination having a slot of a width less than the total lateral extent of each-of the inner and outer stop portions through which said tubular guide portion axially projects so that he material of the inner lamination'at the edges of the slot will project into said locking space thereby locking said valve guideportion in said first lamination normally to prevent axial movement through said slot, said outer lamination also having a slot overlying the slot of the inner lamination, said slot insaid outer lamination being normally closed by atab which is displaceable to expose said slot to permit pulling of said valve stem axially outwardly therethrough into dispensing position,.said valve stem normally contacting said outer lamination atsaid tab to cause said inner lamination to yield inwardly so as to lock the stem in inward nondispensing position. a

6. A'dispensing container comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having a wall structure comprising inner and outer laminations with the inner lamination being inwardly yieldable relative to the outer lamination, said inner flexible container having a dispensing valve mounted thereon. disposed adjacent to and in cooperation with said laminated wallistructure,

spaced inner and outer stop portions projecting'laterally outwardly therefrom with a locking space between said axially spaced stopportions, and a stem of tubular form through which the contents of the inner container may be I said valve including a tubular guide portion having axially 7 total lateral extent of each of the inner and outer stop 1 portions but. having a communicating enlargement of greater width than the extent of said outer stop portion so a 8 as to permit movement of said outer stop portion axially outwardly through said enlargement of said slot and then movement of said tubular valve guide portion-laterally into the narrower part of said slot so that the material of the inner lamination at the edges of the slot will project into said locking space thereby locking said valve guide portion in said first lamination normally to prevent axial movement through said slot, said outer lamination also having 'a slot with a narrower portion substantially aligned with the narrowerv portion of the-inner slot and with a communicating enlargement, said narrower portion of the outer lamination slot being of less width than the total lateral extent of said outer stop portion and said enlargement of the outer lamination slot being of a width greater than the lateral extent of said outer stop portion to permit passage of the outer stop portion through said outer slot enlargement and then lateral movement of said tubular valve guide portion into the aligning narrower portions of both slots to cause the material of the laminations at the edges of the narrower portions of both slots to be positioned in said locking space to prevent axial movement of said valve guide portion relative to said laminations upon movement of said stern, said outer slot in said outer lamination being normally closed by a tab which is displaceable to'expose said slot, said valve stem normally contacting said outer lamination at said tab to cause'said inner laminationto yield inwardly so as to lock thestem in inward nondispensing position.

7. A dispensing container comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having a wall structurecomprising inner and outer laminations with the inner lamination being inwardly yieldable relative to the outer lamination, said inner flexible container having a dispensng valve mounted thereon disposed adjacent to and in cooperation with said laminated wall structure, said valve including a tubular guide portion having axially spaced inner and outer stop portions projecting laterally outwardly therefrom with a valve locking space between said axially spaced stop portions, anda stem through which the contents of the inner container may be dispensed slidably mounted for axial movement in said guide portion between an inner nondispensing position and an outer dispensing position, said inner lamination having a slot with a narrower portion of a width less than the total, lateral extent of each of the inner and outer stop portions but having a communicating enlargement of greater width than the extent of said stop portions so as to permit movement of said outer stop portion axially outwardly through said enlargement of said slot and then movement of said tubularvalve guide portion laterally into the narrower part of saidslot so that the material of the inner lamination at the edges of the slot will project into said locking space thereby locking said valve guide portion in said first lamination to prevent axial movement through said slot, said outer lamination also having a slot with a narrower portion substantially aligned with the narrower portion of the inner slot and with a communicting enlargement, said narrower portion of the outer lamination slot being of less width than the total lateralextent of each of said inner and outer stop portions and said enlargement of the outer lamination slot being of a width greater than the lateral extent of said outer stop portion to permit passage of the outer stop portion'throughsaid outer slot enlargement and then lateralmovement of said tubular vvalve normally engage said lamination and will cause said inner lamination'to yield inwardly when the valve guide por- 9 tion is positioned only in said inner lamination slot so as to lock the stem ininward nondispensing position.

8. A dispensing container according to claim 6 in which said slot in said second lamination is provided by displacing therefrom a tab of keyhole form which is provided with a narrower portion and an enlargement corresponding to the respective portions of the slot.

9. A dispensing container according to claim 6 in which said inner lamination is aflap hinged to an adjacent wall of the box for inward yielding and having the valvereceiving slot formed therein and is provided with a score line extending across the flap at said slot and transversely thereof to facilitate inward yielding thereof.

10. A dispensing container package comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having a first wall formed by overlapping inner and outer laminations and a second Wall at an angle thereto, said inner container having a dispensing outlet with a cooperating closure unit which are disposed in cooperation with the first wall of the box, said closure unit comprising a neck having an attaching flange attached in position at said dispensing outlet of the inner container and a dispensing valve mounted on said neck, said valve including a stern movable from closed to open dispensing position, an inner lamination of the first wall having a neck-receiving opening in which the neck is positioned with the flange extending under the inner lamination at the opening, said valve having a portion extending over the inner lamination at the opening, said valve including a slidable stern having a dispensing opening movable by the stern between closed and dispensing positions, said stem having its outer end engaged by an outer lamination to normally lock the stem in closed position, said outer lamination having a tear out tab to expose the valve stem, said neck-receiving opening communicating with an undercut slot formed in said second wall which is adapted to receive said closure flange when it is moved with the valve relative to said opening outwardly thereinto, said slot communicating with said opening and the undercut portion receiving and snugly engaging said flange, to lock the valve stem in position with its one side substantially in the same plane as said second wall to permit drainage of substantially all the liquid from the inner container.

11. A package according to claim 10 in which said second Wall has a strip formed therein and connected to the wall by means including tear portions which permit forming of the said undercut slot by pushing out on said strip.

12. A package according to claim 11 in which the inner lamination is provided with a weakened line extending across the inner lamination in both directions from said neck-receiving opening to facilitate inward flexing of said inner lamination when the outer lamination engages said valve stem.

13. A dispensing container package comprising an out er protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box,, said box having a first wall formed by overlapping inner and outer laminations and a second wall at an angle thereto, said inner container having an opening with a cooperating closure unit disposed in cooperation with the first wall of the box, said closure unit having a flange in position at said opening of the inner container and a dispensing valve mounted thereon, said valve being movable between closed position and open dispensing position, an inner lamination of the first wall having a closure unit receiving opening in which the unit is positioned with portions above and below said inner lamination adjacent the opening, said closure unit receiving opening communicating with an undercut slot formed in said second wall which is adapted to receive said closure flange when it is moved with the closure unit relative to said receiving opening outwardly thereinto, said slot communicating with said receiving opening and the undercut portion thereof re- It) ceiving and snugly engaging said' flange to lock the valve in position with a dispensing passage thereof substantially in the same plane as saidsecond wall to permit dispensing of substantially all the liquid from said inner container and to permit one-hand operation of the valve.

14. A dispensing container package comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having a firstwall and a second wall at an angle thereto, said inner container having an opening with a cooperating closure unit, said closure unit having a flange in position at said opening of the inner container and a dispensing valve carried thereby, said valve being operable to re tain or dispense liquid from said inner container opening, said first wall having a closure unit receiving opening in which the unit is positioned with portions above and below said first wall adjacent the receiving opening, said closure unit receiving opening communicating with an undercut slot provided in said second wall which is adapted to receive said closure flange when it is. moved with the closure unit relative 'tosaid receiving opening outwardly thereinto, said slot communicating with said receiving opening and the undercut portion thereof receiving and snugly engaging said flange to lock the valve in position with a dispensing passage thereof substantially in the same plane as said second wall.

15. A dispensing container package comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having first and second wall surfaces disposed relatively at an angle with a closure unit receiving opening formed therein, said inner container having a closure unit, said closure unit including a dispensing valve having a valve guide sleeve and a valve stem slidably mounted in said sleeve with a passage in said stern, said closure unit extending through said opening and having axially spaced inner and outer shoulders located inwardly and outwardly of said opening, said first and second Wall surfaces having first and second portions of said opening formed in the respective surfaces which communicate with each other, said closure unit extending axially through the first portion of the opening and being prevented from moving axially therethrough by said axially spaced shoulders but being movable laterally, upon lateral movement of said stern, in said opening so that said inner shoulder moves into cooperation with the second portion of the opening to prevent axial outward movement of said closure unit upon pulling of the stem outwardly of the sleeve to dispense the contents of the inner flexible container and to permit positioning of said passage in said stem substantially in alignment with said second wall surface to permit discharge of all the contents of the inner flexible container through said stem.

16. A dispensing container package according to claim 15 in which said valve stem has an outer end projecting from said sleeve, said box being provided with an additional wall surface located outwardly of said first wall surface and engaging said outer end of the valve stem to normally lock it in closed position when the closure unit is in the first portion of said opening.

17. A dispensing container according to claim 16 in which said first and second wall surfaces are joined at a fold joint and are relatively foldable into angular relationship at said joint, said inner shoulder on said closure unit being in the form of an annular peripheral flange.

18. A dispensing container according to claim 17 in which the first and second wall surfaces are provided in flaps folded at the fold joint into substantially right angular relationship, the flange being movable upon lateral movement of said closure unit to extend outwardly through said second portion of said opening.

19. A dispensing container package comprising an outer protective box and an inner flexible container disposed within and protected by the outer box, said box having a first wall formed by overlapping inner and outer flaps l1 and a second wall joined substantially at a right angle thereto, said inner container having a closure unit disposed in cooperation. with the first wall of the box, said closure unit including a dispensing valve having a valve guide sleeve and a valve stem slidably mounted in said sleeve with a passage in said stern, said stem having an outer end projecting from said' sleeve, said closure unit having an inner annular flange thereon and an outer annular projection thereon which'are spaced axially of the unit, an inner flap of said first wall having an opening formed therein which extends outwardly to an opening in said second wall, which communicates therewithwhere the two walls join, said opening in the second wall being in the form of an undercut slot, saidclosure unit being positioned in said opening with said flange inwardly of the inner fiap and with said annular projection outwardly of the flap with the closure unit projecting axially therethrough and with the flange and projection preventing axial displacement thereof through the opening, and an outer flap of said first wall engaging the outer end of said valve stem to lock it in nondispensing position, said c1osure unit being movable laterally in said first opening, after said outer flap is disengaged from the valve stem,

to move said 'flange outwardly into said undercut, slot so as to positionsaid passage substantially in alignment with said'second wall andto lock said valve in dispensing position. V

20. A, dispensing container according to claim 19 in which said inner flap is a single flap having the closure unit receiving opening formed therein and is provided with a score line extending across the flap at said opening tofacilitate inward flexing thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER PACKAGE COMPRISING AN OUTER PROTECTIVE BOX AND AN INNER FLEXIBLE CONTAINER DISPOSED WITHIN AND PROTECTED BY THE OUTER BOX, SAID BOX HAVING A FIRST WALL FORMED BY OVERLAPPING INNER AND OUTER LAMINATIONS AND A SECOND WALL AT AN ANGLE THEREO, SAID INNER CONTAINER HAVING A DISPENSING OUTLET WITH A COOPERATING VALVE UNIT WHICH ARE DISPOSED IN COOPERATION WITH THE FIRST WALL OF THE BOX, SAID VALVE UNIT COMPRISING AN ANNULAR COLLAR HAVING AN ATTACHING FLANGE ATTACHED IN POSITION AT SAID DISPENSING OUTLET OF THE INNER CONTAINER AND A GUIDE SLEEVE PROJECTING FROM SAID COLLER, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A PAIR OF AXIALLY SPACED STOP FLANGES AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID COLLAR, SAID VALVE INCLUDING A HOLLOW STEM SLIDABLE IN SAID SLEEVE FROM CLOSED TO OPEN DISPENSING POSITION AN INNER LAMINATION OF THE FIRST WALL HAVING A GUIDE-SLEEVE RECEIVING OPENING IN WHICH THE SLEEVE IS POSITIONED WITH THE INNER OF SAID FLANGES EXTENDING UNDER THE INNER LAMINATION AT THE OPENING AND WITH THE SAID COLLAR BEING SPACED INWARDLY OF SAID LAMINATION, THE OUTER OF SAID FLANGES EXTENDING OVER THE INNER LAMINATION AT THE OPENING, SAID VALVE STEM HAVING A DISPENSING OPENING MOVABLE BY SLIDING THE STEM BETWEEN CLOSED POSITION WITHIN SAID GUIDE AND OPENED DISPENSING POSITION OUTWARDLY OF THE GUIDE, SAID STEM HAVING ITS OUTER END ENGAGED BY AN OUTER LAMINATION TO NORMALLY LOCK THE STEM IN CLOSED POSITION, SAID OUTER LAMINATION HAVING A TEAR-OUT TAB OF KEYHOLE FORM TO EXPOSE THE VALVE STEM, SAID GUIDE-SLEEVE RECEIVING OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH AN UNDERCUT SLOT FORMED IN SAID SECOND WALL WHICH IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID COLLER WHENE IT IS MOVED WITH THE VALVE RELATIVE TO SAID OPENING OUTWARDLY THEREINTO, THE KEYHOLE SLOT PRODUCED BY TEARING OUT THE KEYHOLE TAB HAVING A NARROW END ALIGNING WITH SAID GUIDE-SLEEVE RECEIVING OPENING, SAID SLOT COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPENING AND THE UNDERCUT PORTION RECEIVING AND SNUGLY ENGAGING SAID COLLAR, TO LOCK THE VALVE STEM IN POSITION WITH ITS ONE SIDE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SAME PLANE AS SAID SECOND WALL TO PERMIT DRAINAGE OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALL THE LIQUID FROM THE INNER CONTAINER.

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