Dispensing package

Abstract

A dispensing package for holding and dispensing food products, such as yogurts, frozen confections, custards, and the like, comprises a unitary, one-piece package body preferably comprising thermo-formed polymeric material which is liquid impermeable. The package body includes a seamless sidewall having a generally elongated, downwardly and inwardly tapering configuration. A lower portion of the sidewall is inwardly deformable so that inward deformation urges product within the package upwardly through the open mouth of the package for dispensing the product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing package, comprising:
 a unitary, one-piece package body including a sidewall having a generally elongated, downwardly and inwardly tapering configuration, said sidewall of said package body having a closed lower end at the bottom of said sidewall, with an upper end of said sidewall terminating at an open mouth, opposite said closed lower end, for dispensing product from within said package,   said package body comprising thermo-formed polymeric material which is liquid impermeable,   said sidewall of side package body being seamless, and including an upper, generally cylindrical portion, and a frusto-conical, inwardly deformable lower portion, so that by inward deformation of said lower portion of said sidewall, product within said package is urged upwardly through upper portion of said sidewall and through said open mouth for dispensing the product.   
     
     
         2 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said package body includes an overturned edge portion at the upper end of said sidewall.   
     
     
         3 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein
 said overturned edge portion of said sidewall defines an annular, generally upwardly-facing surface to facilitate sealing of said package by application of a closing element to said surface.   
     
     
         4 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein
 said sidewall of said package body defines an annular step at a lower edge of said upper portion of said sidewall, which annular step is spaced from the upper end of said sidewall, said annular step being engageable with an upper end of a sidewall of a like package to facilitate nested stacking of plural ones of said packages.   
     
     
         5 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein
 said closed lower end of said sidewall of said package body comprises a non-planar, deformable tip portion, said tip portion having an inwardly tapering configuration, with at least a portion having a generally elliptical cross-section, so that the tip portion presents opposed, generally flattened surfaces which can be deformed toward each other by pinching said tip portion for forcing product upwardly from within said tip portion.   
     
     
         6 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein
 said dispensing package has a height, and has a diameter at said upper portion of said sidewall, wherein the ratio of said height to said diameter is in a range from about 2.5:1 to about 5:1.   
     
     
         7 . A dispensing package, comprising
 a unitary, one-piece package body including a sidewall having a generally elongated, downwardly and inwardly tapering configuration, said sidewall of said package body having a closed lower end at the bottom of said sidewall, with an upper end of said sidewall terminating at an open mouth, opposite said closed lower end, for dispensing product from within said package,   said package body comprising thermo-formed polymeric material which is liquid impermeable,   said sidewall of side package body being seamless, and including an upper portion, and downwardly and inwardly tapering lower portion which is inwardly deformable, so that by inward deformation of said lower portion of said sidewall, product within said package is urged upwardly through upper portion of said sidewall and through said open mouth for dispensing the product,   said sidewall including at least a portion having a generally elliptical cross-section, which presents opposed surfaces which can be deformed toward each other by pinching for forcing product upwardly through the open mouth for dispensing the product.   
     
     
         8 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein
 said sidewall of said package body defines an annular step at a lower edge of said upper portion of said sidewall, which annular step is spaced from the upper end of said sidewall.   
     
     
         9 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein
 said lower portion of said sidewall has a generally elliptical cross-section.   
     
     
         10 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein
 said upper portion of said sidewall has a generally elliptical cross-section.   
     
     
         11 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein
 said lower portion of said sidewall presents opposed, generally flattened surfaces which taper downwardly toward each other, and which can deformed inwardly by pinching to force product upwardly and out of a said package.   
     
     
         12 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein
 said upper portion of said sidewall is generally cylindrical.   
     
     
         13 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein
 said upper portion of said sidewall is generally cylindrical, and said lower portion of said sidewall is generally frusto-conical.   
     
     
         14 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein
 said upper sidewall portion has a wall thickness greater than said lower sidewall portion.   
     
     
         15 . A dispensing package in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein
 said closed lower end of said sidewall of said package body comprises a non-planar, deformable tip portion, said tip portion having an inwardly tapering configuration, with at least a portion having a generally elliptical cross-section, so that the tip portion presents opposed, generally flattened surfaces which can be deformed toward each other by pinching said tip portion for forcing product upwardly from with said tip portion.