CONTAINER HAVING INTEGRATED LIQUID PRODUCT DISPENSERS

Abstract

A container having integrated liquid product dispensers for enabling transport of a plurality of liquid product dispensing receptacles defines a base pouch defining a five solid sided pouch housing with an open top, a fastenable flap attached to the base pouch, and a receptacle fastening system enabled from the interior of the base pouch. The fastenable flap includes an elastic section that extends from the base pouch and which stretches over the open top of the base pouch when the flap is closed and a non-elastic section attachable to front side of the base pouch. A suitable liquid product dispensing receptacle includes a receptacle fastening surface near the bottom of its exterior surface. The receptacle fastening surface and an interior fastening strip inside the base pouch form the receptacle fastening system and enable such a receptacle to be fixed in place in the base pouch in an upright position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to modified containers and, more particularly, to a container that has a plurality of built in liquid product dispensers suitable for products such as hair care products.

Description of the Prior Art

It is well known that many conventional personal or food products, such as hair care products or salad dressing products, are commonly sold and stored in individual receptacles, including bottles or cans. Such receptacles are often manufactured in various sizes so as to enable the provision of quantities suitable for an entire family or a size suited for ease of travel. When it comes to travel size receptacles, a problem which still exists is that when an individual desires to transport a plurality of products in different receptacles, having to account for different receptacles can often be cumbersome and ineffective. Furthermore, each receptacle that is transported increases the risk of a spill or leak from any one of the receptacles.

Thus, there remains a need for a container having integrated liquid product dispensers which would eliminate the need for a user to carry a plurality of discrete receptacles separately. It would be helpful if such a container having integrated liquid product dispensers included a plurality of discrete fastening systems operative to selectively fasten each product dispenser in an upright position in the container. It would be additionally desirable for such a container having integrated liquid product dispensers to include a selectively fastenable top flap that enabled the container to be selectively fixed in a closed position for transport.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a composite container having integrated liquid product dispensers adapted to allow a user to securely transport a plurality of discrete receptacles for mobile use. The primary components in Applicant's container having integrated liquid product dispensers are a base pouch with a receptacle fastening system and a fastenable flap and a heat sealed plastic clamshell container holding a plurality of product dispensers. When in operation, the container having integrated liquid product dispensers enables the transport of liquid products in original packaging while reducing the potential for such products to leak or spill while in transport. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container having integrated liquid product dispensers for enabling transport of a plurality of liquid product dispensing receptacles. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers comprises a base pouch defining a five solid sided pouch housing with an open top, a fastenable flap attached to the base pouch, a receptacle fastening system enabled from the interior of the base pouch, and a heat sealed plastic clamshell container. The fastenable flap includes an elastic section that extends from the base pouch and which stretches over the open top of the base pouch when the flap is closed and a non-elastic section attachable to front side of the base pouch.

A suitable liquid product dispensing receptacle includes a receptacle fastening surface near the bottom of its exterior surface. The receptacle fastening surface and an interior fastening strip inside the base pouch form the receptacle fastening system and enable such a receptacle to be fixed in place in the base pouch in an upright position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container having integrated liquid product dispensers which would eliminate the need for a user to carry a plurality of discrete receptacles separately.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container having integrated liquid product dispensers that includes a plurality of discrete fastening systems operative to selectively fasten each product dispenser in an upright position in the container.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a container having integrated liquid product dispensers that includes a selectively fastenable top flap that enabled the container to be selectively fixed in a closed position for transport.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a container having integrated liquid product dispensers built in accordance with the large embodiment of the present invention having its fastenable flap in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a container having integrated liquid product dispensers built in accordance with the small embodiment of the present invention having its fastenable flap in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a container having integrated liquid product dispensers built in accordance with the present invention having its fastenable flap in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a container having integrated liquid product dispensers built in accordance with the present invention having its fastenable flap in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a liquid product dispenser receptacle configured for use with a container having integrated liquid product dispensers built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of a container having integrated liquid product dispensers built in accordance with the clamshell embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of a heat sealed clamshell container of a container having integrated liquid product dispensers built in accordance with the clamshell embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, a container having integrated liquid product dispensers 10 is shown having a base pouch 11, a fastenable flap 20, and a receptacle fastening system. The base pouch 11 defines a five solid sided pouch housing with an open top 12, and includes a front fastening surface 13 and an interior fastening strip 14. In the preferred embodiment, the base pouch 11 is constructed of clear plastic.

Attached to one of the top edges of the base pouch 11 is the fastenable flap 20. The fastenable flap 20 includes an elastic section 21, a non-elastic section 22, and a flap fastening surface 23. The elastic portion 21 extends from the base pouch 11 and is positioned such that when the flap 20 is moved to its closed position, it stretches over the open top 12 of the base pouch 11, completely covering the open top 12. The non-elastic portion 22 extends from the elastic section 21 and includes the flap fastening surface 23 positioned thereon. The non-elastic portion 22 is shaped and positioned such that when the flap 20 is moved to its closed position, the non-elastic portion 22 extends down the front side of the base pouch 11 with the flap fastening surface 23 aligned with the front fastening surface 13.

It is contemplated that the front fastening surface 13 and flap fastening surface 23 define corresponding fasteners aspects suitable to selectively fasten to one another. In one embodiment, the front fastening surface 13 and flap fastening surface 23 define corresponding surfaces of a hook and loop fastener. In another embodiment, the front fastening surface 13 and flap fastening surface 23 define corresponding components of a snap fastener. According, when the flap 20 is moved to its closed position, aligning the front fastening surface 13 and flap fastening surface 23 the flap 20 can be fixed in place with its elastic section covering the open top 12.

In the preferred embodiment, the elastic portion 21 is constructed out of a flexible fabric material and non-elastic portion 22 is constructed of clear plastic.

A liquid product dispensing receptacle 30 is adapted for use with the container having integrated liquid product dispensers 10 by placing a receptacle fastening surface 31 near the bottom of its exterior surface. The receptacle fastening surface 31 and interior fastening strip 14 define corresponding fasteners aspects suitable to selectively fasten to one another and together, form the receptacle fastening system. In one embodiment, the receptacle fastening surface 31 and interior fastening strip 14 define corresponding surfaces of a hook and loop fastener. According, when the receptacle 30 is placed in the base pouch 11, with its receptacle fastening surface 31 aligned with the interior fastening strip 14, the receptacle 30 can be fixed in place in an upright position.

It is appreciated that in embodiments in which the receptacle fastening surface 31 and interior fastening strip 14 define corresponding surfaces of a hook and loop fastener, any properly sized receptacle can be configured for use with the container having integrated liquid product dispensers 10 by attaching a convention hook and loop fastening material to its exterior surface in position such that it will align with the interior fastening strip 14 when the receptacle 30 is placed in the base pouch 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, in one embodiment, a container having integrated liquid product dispensers 10′ includes a base pouch 11′ adapted for use with the present invention, liquid product dispensing receptacles 30′ adapted for use with the present invention, and a heat sealed plastic clamshell container 40′ in which the receptacles 30′ are disposed for initial transport and storage (i.e. prior to being used by an end user). In such an embodiment, it is contemplated that the rigid and heat sealed nature of the clamshell container 40′ provides added protection from leaks and spills, as well as provides assurance that the set of receptacles 30′ will remain together, while the container having integrated liquid product dispensers 10′ is handled prior to being distributed to end users.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that a base pouch 11′ and/or clamshell container 40′ built in accordance with the present invention may include a cut out section 15′, 41′ positioned to ensure a bar code section 32 on a receptacle 30′ built in accordance with the present invention is unobstructed by the base pouch 11′ and/or clamshell container 40′.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A container having integrated liquid product dispensers, comprising:

a base pouch defining a five solid sided pouch housing with an open top and top edge;

a fastenable flap attached to the top edge of said base pouch, wherein said fastenable flap is selectively movable between an open position in which said open is unobstructed and a closed position in which said open top is covered.

a receptacle fastening system operative to selective fix a target product dispensing receptacle in place in an upright position in said base pouch, wherein said receptacle fastening system includes a first fastener integral with the base pouch and a second fastener integral with the target product dispensing receptacle; and

said first fastener and second fastener defining corresponding fasteners aspects suitable to selectively fasten to one another and together.

2. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 1, wherein said base pouch includes a front fastening surface operative to enable said fastenable flap to be fixed in the closed position.

3. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 2, wherein said fastenable flap includes a flap fastening surface operative to enable said fastenable flap to be fixed in the closed position by attaching to the front fastening surface.

4. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 1, wherein fastenable flap includes a flap fastening surface operative to enable said fastenable flap to be fixed in the closed position.

5. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 1, wherein said first fastener defines an interior fastening strip.

6. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 5, wherein said second fastener defines a receptacle fastening surface.

7. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 6, wherein said interior fastening strip and receptacle fastening surface define corresponding surfaces of a hook and loop fastener.

8. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 1, wherein said second fastener defines a receptacle fastening surface.

9. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 1, wherein said fastenable flap includes an elastic portion.

10. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 1, wherein said fastenable flap includes an elastic portion and a non-elastic portion.

11. The container having integrated liquid product dispensers of claim 1, additionally comprising a clamshell container sized to be fully enclosed the base pouch, wherein said clamshell container includes a plurality of target product dispensing receptacle disposed therein.