Tube

Abstract

A tube or other container for storing and dispensing a product such as toothpaste, a lotion, a cream, etc., includes one or more creases. Initially, each crease can be in a contracted position, where the tube has a first volume when the crease is in the contracted position. Due to outgassing of the product and/or other factors, pressure may increase within the sealed tube. In response to the pressure increase, the one or more creases can deflect from the contracted position to an expanded position, where the tube has a second, increased volume when the crease is in the expanded position. Deflection of the one or more creases effectively increases the volume of the interior of the tube, and maintains pressure within the tube at a desirable level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube for storing and dispensing a product, comprising:
 a tube body; and   at least one crease in the tube body, wherein:
 the tube is configured to store the product within an interior of the tube; 
 the at least one crease in the tube body is configured to deflect from a contracted position to an expanded position in response to an increase in pressure within the interior of the tube; 
 the tube comprises a first volume when the at least one crease is in the contracted position; 
 the tube comprises a second volume when the at least one crease is in the expanded position; and 
 the second volume is greater than the first volume. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tube body comprises at least a first edge and a second edge;   the at least one crease comprises a first pleat in the first edge and a second pleat in the second edge; and   the tube body is configured to increase from a first circumference when the first pleat and the second pleat are in the contracted position to a second circumference when the first pleat and the second pleat are in the expanded position, where the second circumference is greater than the first circumference.   
     
     
         3 . The tube according to  claim 2 , wherein the second circumference is from 5% to 40% greater than the first circumference. 
     
     
         4 . The tube according to  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the at least one crease further comprises a first crease, and
 wherein:
 the first crease extends laterally across a width of the tube body; 
 the tube body folds back on itself at the first crease; and 
 the first crease is configured to unfold the tube body in a longitudinal direction from the contracted position to the expanded position in response to the increase in pressure within the interior of the tube. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The tube according to  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the at least one crease further comprises a first crease and a second crease, and wherein:
 the second crease extends laterally across a width of the tube body; 
 the tube body folds back on itself at the first crease and the second crease to form an “S”-shaped expansion fold; and 
 the first crease and the second crease are configured to extend in a longitudinal direction from the contracted position to the expanded position in response to the increase in pressure within the interior of the tube. 
 
     
     
         6 . The tube according to  claims 1 ,  2 ,  4 , or  5 , wherein the at least one crease further comprises:
 a plurality of creases extending laterally across the tube wherein, in the contracted position, the plurality of creases are folded in a serpentine configuration; and   the plurality of creases are configured to unfold and straighten from the contracted position to the expanded position.   
     
     
         7 . The tube according to one of  claims 1 ,  2 , or  4 - 6 , further comprising:
 a first interior surface; and   a second interior surface facing the first interior surface, wherein:
 the first interior surface and the second interior surface are adhered together in the contracted position at the at least one crease; and 
 the first interior surface and the second interior surface are configured to release from each other in response to the increase in pressure such that the first interior surface and the second interior surface are not adhered together in the expanded position. 
   
     
     
         8 . The tube according to  claim 7 , further comprising an adhesive that coats at least one of the first interior surface and the second interior surface and adheres the first interior surface and the second interior surface together. 
     
     
         9 . The tube according to one of  claims 1 ,  2 , or  4 - 7 , wherein the at least one crease further comprises an expanding shoulder that encircles the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The tube according to one of  claims 1 ,  2 , or  4 - 9 , wherein the tube has a first length in the contracted position and a second length in the expanded position, wherein the second length is greater than the first length. 
     
     
         11 . The tube according to one of  claims 1 ,  2 , or  4 - 10 , wherein the tube has a first volume in the contracted position and a second volume in the expanded position, wherein the second volume is from 5% to 40% greater than the first volume. 
     
     
         12 . A container for storing and dispensing a product, comprising:
 a container body; and   at least one crease in the container body, wherein:
 the container is configured to store the product within an interior of the container; 
 the at least one crease in the container body is configured to deflect from a contracted position to an expanded position in response to an increase in pressure within the interior of the container; 
 the container comprises a first volume when the at least one crease is in the contracted position; 
 the container comprises a second volume when the at least one crease is in the expanded position; and 
 the second volume is greater than the first volume. 
   
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the container has a first volume in the contracted position and a second volume in the expanded position, wherein the second volume is from 5% to 40% greater than the first volume. 
     
     
         14 . A method for accommodating an increasing pressure within a factory-sealed tube, comprising:
 placing a product within an interior of a tube comprising a tube body and at least one crease in the tube body wherein, subsequent to placing the product within the tube, the at least one crease is in a contracted position;   sealing the product within the interior of the tube using a factory seal; and   with the product sealed within the interior of the tube by the factory seal, deflecting the at least one crease from the contracted position to an expanded position during an increase in pressure within the interior of the tube.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflecting of the at least one crease further comprises:
 deflecting a first pleat in a first edge of the tube from the contracted position to the expanded position;   deflecting a second pleat in a second edge of the tube that is opposite the first edge from the contracted position to the expanded position; and   increasing the tube body from a first circumference when the first pleat and the second pleat are in the contracted position to a second circumference when the first pleat and the second pleat are in the expanded position, where the second circumference is greater than the first circumference.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  or  15 , wherein the deflecting of the at least one crease further comprises unfolding the tube body in a longitudinal direction from the contracted position to the expanded position in response to the increase in pressure within the interior of the tube. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to one of  claims 14 - 16 , wherein the deflecting of the at least one recess further comprises:
 unfolding a first crease that extends laterally across a width of the tube body; and   unfolding a second crease that extends laterally across the width of the tube body, wherein:   in the contracted position, the tube folds back on itself at the first crease and the second crease to form an “S”-shaped expansion fold; and   during the unfolding of the first crease and the unfolding of the second crease, the tube extends in a longitudinal direction from the contracted position to the expanded position.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to one of  claims 14 - 17 , wherein the at least one crease comprises a plurality of creases extending laterally across the tube and the method further comprises unfolding the plurality of creases from a serpentine configuration to a straightened configuration during the deflecting of the at least one crease from the contracted position to the expanded position. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to one of  claims 14 - 18 , further comprising breaking an adhesive bond between a first interior surface of the tube and a second interior surface of the tube during the deflecting of the at least one crease from the contracted position to the expanded position. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to one of  claims 14 - 19 , further comprising:
 depositing an adhesive on at least one of the first interior surface of the tube and the second interior of the tube; and   adhering the first interior surface and the second interior surface together using the adhesive to form the adhesive bond.