Squeezable Dispensing Container

Abstract

A container containing an extrudable fluid material content, the container having a wall made of an elastomer material, an extrusion nozzle for the fluid material, being elastically deformable inwardly to extrude the fluid material, being sufficiently resilient to return to its original shape and volume on removal of said external pressure, and being sufficiently robust that it can retain its shape whilst resting on a hard surface. A preferred product contains toothpaste and is substantially spherical.

1 . A product comprising: 
 a container containing an extrudable viscous fluid material content,    the container being bounded by a container wall made at least partly of an elastomer material,    the container having an extrusion nozzle through which the extrudable viscous fluid material content can be dispensed for use,    the container wall being elastically deformable inwardly by applied external hand pressure to thereby reduce the internal volume of the container,    the container wall being sufficiently resilient to return to its original shape and volume on removal of said external pressure,    the container wall being sufficiently robust that it can retain its shape whilst resting on a hard surface without deformation under the weight of the container wall and the said contents.    
   
   
       2 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the extrudable viscous fluid material content is a dentifrice composition.  
   
   
       3 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the extrusion nozzle comprises a part integrally made with the container wall.  
   
   
       4 . A product according to  claim 4  wherein the container wall is formed with an integral tubular conduit extending outwardly from the container wall, communicating between the interior and the exterior of the container and along which the content can be extruded toward an exit opening at the distal end of the conduit.  
   
   
       5 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the container wall and/or nozzle are provided with engagement means to enable a closure to be connected thereto.  
   
   
       6 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the container wall is multi-layered comprising an inner layer in contact with the content and a relatively outer layer.  
   
   
       7 . A product according to  claim 6  wherein the container wall is made by co-extrusion blow moulding, in which two or more materials are simultaneously extruded to form a tubular parison, which is then blown into the final container shape.  
   
   
       8 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the elastomer material of the container wall is a thermoplastic elastomer material.  
   
   
       9 . A product according to  claim 8  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer material is a compound based on a styrenic block copolymer and selected from Thermolast-K™, Thermolast-K™ TC7CHT, Thermolast-K™ TA8AAC, Thermolast-K™ 8692-97, Thermolast-K™ 8548-20, Thermolast-K™ 8706-34, PTS Thermoflex 75 and Evoprene™.  
   
   
       10 . A product according to  claim 8  wherein the thermoplastic elastomer material is a thermoplastic vulcanisate selected from Sarlink™ and Santoprene™.  
   
   
       11 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the elastomer material has a modulus of elasticity less than 500 Mpa.  
   
   
       12 . A product according to  claim 11  wherein the elastomer material has a modulus of elasticity less than 300 Mpa.  
   
   
       13 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the elastomer material has a hardness between about 30 Shore A to 75 Shore D, inclusive.  
   
   
       14 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the container is substantially spherical or ellipsoidal.  
   
   
       15 . A product according to  claim 14  wherein the container has X:Y:Z axis dimension ratios in the range 1-1.5:1-1.5:1-1.5.  
   
   
       16 . A product according to  claim 14  wherein the container is substantially ellipsoidal with major:minor:minor axis dimension ratios in the range 2-1.5:1-1.5:1-1.5.  
   
   
       17 . A product according to  claim 1  with a substantially spherical or ellipsoidal shape to enclose ca. 75-150 ml, and a wall thickness of 1-3 mm.  
   
   
       18 . A product according to  claim 1  wherein the container wall is integrally formed into plural feet to facilitate the product resting stable on a flat surface.