Easy to empty flexible containers

Abstract

Various containers are provided that include a resiliently deformable product volume and a dispenser configured to dispense fluent product from the product volume. When no dispensing force is applied to the product volume, the product volume has an undeformed state and a first interior volume. When a dispensing force is applied to the product volume, the product volume is resiliently deformable to a deformed state in which the product volume is reduced to a second interior volume less than the first interior volume, and the dispenser can dispense at least some of the fluent product from the product volume. When the dispensing force is released, the product volume fully restores itself to the undeformed state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-supporting, flexible, non-durable container, comprising:
 a product volume made of a flexible material and defined by one or more walls, the product volume being filled with a fluent product;   wherein when no dispensing force is applied to the one or more walls, the product volume has an undeformed state and a first interior volume; and   a dispenser in fluid communication with an interior of the product volume and configured to dispense the fluent product from the product volume;   wherein:   when a dispensing force is applied to the one or more walls, the product volume is resiliently deformable to a deformed state in which the product volume is reduced to a second interior volume less than the first interior volume, and the dispenser can dispense at least some of the fluent product from the product volume, and   the product volume fully restores to the undeformed state when the dispensing force is released.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one structural support member defined in the one or more walls. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one structural support frame. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing force reduces the product volume by about 10% to about 40%, and wherein the container is configured to self restore to the undeformed state when the dispensing force is released. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing force reduces the product volume by about 40% to about 70%, and wherein the container is configured to self restore to the undeformed state when the dispensing force is released. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container allows air to enter the product volume after the dispensing force is released to enable the product volume to self restore to the undeformed state. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the air enters the container through a valve. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the air enters the container through a vent. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein between about 90 to about 100% of the fluent product contained in the initial volume can be evacuated from the container using manual force. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second internal volume can be between about 10% to about 100% less than the first internal volume when the product volume is in the deformed state, and the product volume can return to substantially 100% of the first internal volume when the dispensing force is released. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second internal volume can be between about 50% to about 100% less than the first internal volume when the product is in the deformed state, and the product volume can return to substantially 100% of the first internal volume when the dispending force is released. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is disposed on any location on a bottom of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient material disposed within the product volume and configured to restore the product volume to the undeformed state when the dispensing force is released. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a release coating disposed on the interior of the product volume. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the fluent product has a viscosity in a range from 0.0003 Pa*s to 0.001 Pa*s. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the fluent product has a viscosity in a range from 0.001 Pa*s to 1 Pa*s. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the fluent product has a viscosity in a range from 1 Pa*s to 250 Pa*s. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the fluent product has a viscosity in a range from 250 Pa*s to 100,000 Pa*s. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , which is a stand-up container. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , which is a disposable container.