Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support frames are provided with vents to facilitate equalization of the pressure inside the product volume to the pressure of the environment outside of the containers. The vents enable rapid recovery of the structural support from a deformed state, which occurs when a fluent product is dispensed, to an undeformed state. For this purpose, the vents comprise vent paths between the environment outside of the containers and the product volume. The vents may further comprise a non-wetting material surrounding the entrance and exit of the vent path and/or microtexturing or a spacer to maintain space for air flow in the vent path.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: Various containers are provided that have a product volume and one or more standoff structures coupled to the product volume. The standoff structures are configured to protect the product volume. The standoff structures may, for example, prevent damage (e.g., denting, rupture, scuffing, etc.) to the product volume, such as to indicia or information disposed on the product volume, that occurs when, for example, the container is dropped, falls, is placed into contact with another object, or is placed into a confined structure.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support frames are provided with vents to facilitate equalization of the pressure inside the product volume to the pressure of the environment outside of the containers. The vents enable rapid recovery of the structural support from a deformed state, which occurs when a fluent product is dispensed, to an undeformed state. For this purpose, the vents comprise vent paths between the environment outside of the containers and the product volume. The vents may further comprise a non-wetting material surrounding the entrance and exit of the vent path and/or microtexturing or a spacer to maintain space for air flow in the vent path.

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.

Abstract: A character having a plurality of attributes is created by a network user while within a character-enabled network site. Each attribute is defined by at least one of either audio data and/or visual image data and is selected by the user from a plurality of attributes presented to the user through a user interface. The combination of attributes define a persona for the character. At least one of either an audio presentation and/or a visual image presentation is provided to the user interface. The presentations presented are selected from a plurality of presentations based on the character's persona. Data related to character attributes are stored in a database. One or more of the presentations presented to the user may be interactive, in that it allows for the user to make choices. In response to a user's interaction with the interactive presentation, additional audio presentation and/or a visual image presentation is provided to the user interface.