Preferentially expandable/collapsable container and package therefor

Abstract

A container for use in a package. The container may be disposed inside of another container and a visible from outside of the package system. The container, may expand to appear full, or to touch the inside of the outer container in which it is disposed. This arrangement provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance if the container is visible from outside the package and/or for transmission of dynamic shock load.

1 . A package, said comprising: 
 an outer container;    an inner container disposed therein;    a central container disposed between said outer container and said inner container, said inner container and said central container being visible from outside said package; and    a common discharge from said central container and said inner container, wherein a first material disposed in said inner container and a second material disposed in said central container can be isolated from one another until dispensing of both said materials simultaneously occurs, each of said inner container and said central container collapsing in a predetermined pattern upon removal of product therefrom.    
   
   
       2 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said inner container or said central container is pleated.  
   
   
       3 . A package according to  claim 2  wherein said pleated inner container or said pleated central container has a major axis, said pleats being generally parallel to said major axis.  
   
   
       4 . A package according to  claim 3  wherein pleats are unequally spaced about said major axis.  
   
   
       5 . A container for being disposed in a package, said container comprising: 
 a container for containing a material, a propellant or a combination thereof, wherein a first material disposed in said container can be contained until dispensing occurs, said container having a major axis and expanding in the direction of said major axis upon disposing material in said container; and    a discharge from said container for dispensing of material therefrom, said container collapsing in a predetermined pattern upon removal of material therefrom.    
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 5 , wherein said container comprises regions of relatively greater and relatively lesser stiffness.  
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein said container has a proximal end joinable to said outer container and a distal end remote therefrom, said distal end of said container being inverted upon itself, whereby said inversion expands parallel to said major axis upon the addition of material to said container.  
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein said inversion comprises ribs disposed generally parallel said major axis.  
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein said inversion comprises ribs generally perpendicular to and circumferentially oriented relative to said major axis.  
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 7 , wherein said container comprises three regions, a first region of a relatively greater stiffness, a second region of a relatively lesser stiffness, and a third region having a stiffness intermediate said stiffness of said first region and of said second region.  
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein said container first expands parallel to said longitudinal axis, then radially outward relative to said longitudinal axis upon insertion of material therein.  
   
   
       12 . A package comprising: 
 an outer container for containing a first material, a propellant or a combination thereof, said outer container having an internal surface and an external surface;    an inner container disposed therein and for containing a second material a propellant or a combination thereof, said inner container being visible from outside said package, said inner container collapsing in a predetermined pattern upon removal of material therefrom, said inner container contacting said internal surface of said outer container when said inner container has material therein; and    a discharge from at least one of said inner container and said outer container for dispensing of material therefrom,.    
   
   
       13 . A package according to  claim 12  having a major axis, said outer container having a first end juxtaposed with said discharge and a second end remote therefrom and lying along said major axis, wherein said inner container contacts said internal surface at said second end.  
   
   
       14 . A package according to  claim 12  wherein said inner container comprises a circumference, and said circumference contacts said internal surface of said outer container.  
   
   
       15 . A package according to  claim 13  wherein said inner container comprises a circumference, and said circumference contacts said internal surface of said outer container.  
   
   
       16 . A package according to  claim 13  wherein said inner container retracts in the direction parallel to said major axis upon removal of material therefrom.  
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 5  wherein said inner container has a circumference, a proximal end and a distal end remote therefrom, said circumference of said inner container having more resistance to external pressurization at said proximal end than at said distal end.  
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 17  wherein said inner container has a first wall thickness near said proximal end and a second wall thickness near said distal end, said first thickness being greater than said second thickness.