Liquid media breakaway package

Abstract

A container/package for dispensing a liquid media which is environmentally advantageous for recycling and waste disposal purposes. The liquid media package having a tubular body, an end cap on the tubular body for containing the liquid media, and a mechanism for inducing stress, such a score line in the tubular body, responsive to pressure developed by a pressure generating device to cause failure and separation of at least a portion of tubular body. More specifically, a first pressure is developed to dispense liquid media through the orifices in the end cap. A second pressure, higher than the first pressure, is subsequently developed for effecting failure of the tubular body at the point of induced stress. The package may be fabricated from two materials, where at least one of which is recyclable.

1 . A liquid media package facilitating the recycling/waste disposal of one or more materials employed in its manufacture and adapted for use in combination with a pressure generating device, the package comprising: 
 a tubular body;    an end cap connected to the tubular body, the tubular body and end cap containing a liquid media, the end cap having at least one orifice for dispensing the liquid media therethrough; and    a mechanism responsive to pressure developed internally of the tubular body by the pressure generating device for causing failure and separation of the tubular body.    
   
   
       2 . The liquid media package according to  claim 1  further comprising a piston disposed within an internal bore of the tubular body, the piston engaging with the pressure generating device to cause a first pressure for dispensing the liquid media through the orifice and for developing a second pressure, higher than the first pressure, for effecting failure.  
   
   
       3 . The liquid media package according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular body and end cap are each fabricated from the same material and the mechanism for causing failure is disposed at a point on the tubular body.  
   
   
       4 . The liquid media package according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular body and end cap are fabricated from different materials.  
   
   
       5 . The liquid media package according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism for causing failure is a score line disposed about a circumference of the tubular body.  
   
   
       6 . The liquid media package according to  claim 5  wherein the score line is disposed about an internal circumferential surface of the tubular body.  
   
   
       7 . The liquid media package according to  claim 6  wherein the score line is disposed about an external circumferential surface of the tubular body.  
   
   
       8 . The liquid media package according to  claim 6  wherein the score line is disposed about both internal and external circumferential surfaces of the tubular body.  
   
   
       9 . The liquid media package according to  claim 1  wherein each the orifice includes a cutout defining a multi-sided flap, the flap defining a hinge for resiliently opening and closing the flap relative to an opposing edge of the cutout.  
   
   
       10 . The liquid media package according to  claim 9  wherein each the flap is preloaded to a closed position against the opposing edge and displaced to an open position in response to a first pressure created within the tubular body on the retained liquid media.  
   
   
       11 . A liquid media package facilitating the recycling/waste disposal of one or more materials employed in its manufacture, and adapted for use in combination with a pressure generating device, the liquid media package comprising: 
 a tubular portion fabricated from a first material;    an end portion fabricated from a second material;    the tubular or end portion defining an orifice for dispensing a liquid media therethrough, and at least one of the first or second materials being recyclable; and    a score line disposed within either the first and second materials for inducing stress, the score line responsive to internal pressure developed by the pressure generating device to cause failure of the material and separation of the tubular body from the end portion.    
   
   
       12 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  further comprising an internal piston acting on the liquid media, the plunger assembly developing a first pressure for dispensing the liquid media through the orifice and a second pressure, higher than the first pressure, for effecting failure at the point of induced stress on the score line.  
   
   
       13 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  wherein the first and second materials are the same.  
   
   
       14 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  wherein the first and second materials are different materials.  
   
   
       15 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  wherein the score line disposed around the circumference of the tubular body.  
   
   
       16 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  wherein the score line is disposed about an internal circumferential surface of the tubular body.  
   
   
       17 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  wherein the score line is disposed about an external circumferential surface of the tubular body.  
   
   
       18 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  wherein the score line is disposed about both internal and external circumferential surfaces of the tubular body.  
   
   
       19 . The liquid media package according to  claim 11  wherein each of the orifices includes a cutout defining a multi-sided flap, the flap defining a hinge for resiliently opening and closing the flap relative to an opposing edge of the cutout.  
   
   
       20 . The liquid media package according to  claim 19  wherein each the flap is preloaded to a closed position against the opposing edge and displaced to an open position in response to a first pressure which is less than the pressure that causes failure along the score line.