초록 ▼

Hollow articles such as plastic bottles and tubes having a portion of the sidewall including latching bellows, are formed with modified inner and outer fold rings to reduce the angular flexure between unfolded and folded (latched) bellow walls. The bellow walls are modified by reducing the slope of

Hollow articles such as plastic bottles and tubes having a portion of the sidewall including latching bellows, are formed with modified inner and outer fold rings to reduce the angular flexure between unfolded and folded (latched) bellow walls. The bellow walls are modified by reducing the slope of the walls as they approach the inner fold rings to thereby reduce the unfolded (unflexed) angle between the walls at the inner fold rings. The modified geometry permits better utilization of high density linear polymer plastics by lessening or preventing the “crystalline”fracturing and lamination at the inner fold ring with the first latching of the bellows. The bottle material is therefore no longer weakened at the inner fold ring. The modified geometry also permits use of low density polymer plastics and rubber for latching bellows with thicknesses and geometries that otherwise would tend to eventually spring back rather than latch. Also disclosed are dispensers incorporating combinations of latching and non-latching bellows with a raised base.

대표청구항 ▼

A container comprising a top and bottom, a sidewall joining the top to the bottom, said sidewall comprising a plurality of substantially circular bellows, a portion of said circular bellows non-latching upon collapse with the balance of said circular bellows latchable upon collapse wherein the sidew

A container comprising a top and bottom, a sidewall joining the top to the bottom, said sidewall comprising a plurality of substantially circular bellows, a portion of said circular bellows non-latching upon collapse with the balance of said circular bellows latchable upon collapse wherein the sidewalls of the bellows are substantially conical sections, the adjacent sidewalls of both the latching and non-latching bellows having angles therebetween substantially equal, inner and outer fold rings join adjacent bellow sidewalls, the inner fold rings of the latching bellows having the angle between the pairs of adjacent bellow sidewalls at the inner fold rings substantially less than the angles between the bulk of the bellow sidewalls of the same pairs to provide collapse at the inner fold ring.