Container

Abstract

The container includes a body portion, an upper end portion, and a cap portion. The body portion, the end portion and the cap portion may be molded as one piece. The cap portion may be attached to the body portion with a hinge. The body portion may have a side wall which allows the user to squeeze the side wall and dispense the product which is stored within the container. The container may include a valve. The valve may include an opening which allows the contents to be dispensed. The valve may be attached using a retention feature, a retaining ring, an adhesive and/or fusion. The retaining ring may engage the retention feature. After the valve is assembled to the container, the container is filled with a product and the lower end portion may be closed by using a heat seal.

1 . A container for dispensing a product comprising
 an upper end portion,   a body portion, the body portion extends away from the upper end portion, the body portion includes a side wall, the container includes a lower end portion, the side wall has a first thickness near the upper end portion, the side wall has a second thickness near the lower end portion, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness,   a cap portion, the cap portion is attached with a hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the cap portion has an open position and a closed position;   a valve, the cap portion covers the valve when the cap portion is in the closed position, the cap portion uncovers the valve when the cap portion is in the open position;   and the body portion, the upper end portion and the cap portion are one piece.   
     
     
         2 . The container as in  claim 1  wherein the upper end portion includes an opening, the valve is located over the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The container as in  claim 1  wherein the container includes a retention feature to hold the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The container as in  claim 3  wherein the retention feature is a protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The container as in  claim 1  wherein the lower end portion is closed. 
     
     
         6 . The container as in  claim 6  wherein the lower end portion is closed by a heat seal. 
     
     
         7 . The container as in  claim 1  wherein the container includes a valve retaining ring, the retaining ring holds the valve onto the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container as in  claim 7  wherein the retaining ring is separate from the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The container as in  claim 7  wherein the valve is molded onto the retaining ring. 
     
     
         10 . The container as in  claim 7  wherein the container includes a retention feature, the retention feature engages the retaining ring. 
     
     
         11 . A container for dispensing a product comprising
 an upper end portion,   a body portion, the body portion extends away from the upper end portion, the body portion includes a side wall, the container includes a lower end portion, the lower end portion includes a notch,   a cap portion, the cap portion is attached with a hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the cap portion has an open position and a closed position;   a valve, the cap portion covers the valve when the cap portion is in the closed position, the cap portion uncovers the valve when the cap portion is in the open position;   and the body portion, the upper end portion and the cap portion are one piece.   
     
     
         12 . The container as in  claim 11  wherein the side wall has a first thickness near the upper end portion, the side wall has a second thickness near the lower end portion, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. 
     
     
         13 . The container as in  claim 11  wherein the upper end portion includes an opening, the valve is located over the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The container as in  claim 11  wherein the container includes a retention feature to hold the valve. 
     
     
         15 . The container as in  claim 11  wherein the container includes a valve retaining ring, the retaining ring holds the valve onto the container. 
     
     
         16 . A container for dispensing a product comprising
 an upper end portion,   a body portion, the body portion extends away from the upper end portion, the body portion includes a side wall, the container includes a lower end portion,   a cap portion, the cap portion is attached with a hinge to one of the body portion and the upper end portion, the cap portion has an open position and a closed position;   a tamper evident feature, the tamper evident feature is positioned over the cap portion, the tamper evident feature indicates the first instance when the cap is moved from the closed portion to the open portion;   a valve, the cap portion covers the valve when the cap portion is in the closed position, the cap portion uncovers the valve when the cap portion is in the open position;   and the body portion, the upper end portion and the cap portion are one piece.   
     
     
         17 . The container as in  claim 16  wherein the tamper evident feature is a band. 
     
     
         18 . The container as in  claim 16  wherein the container includes a retention feature to hold the valve. 
     
     
         19 . The container as in  claim 16  wherein the container includes a valve retaining ring, the retaining ring holds the valve onto the container. 
     
     
         20 . The container as in  claim 16  wherein the lower end portion is closed by a heat seal.