Accordion bottle

Abstract

A dispensing device includes a housing at least partially surrounding a compressible container. The container includes a first tab member received by a first tab receiver in a wall of the housing. The dispensing device dispenses material through an open end of the container in response to a compressive force moving an opposing end of the container towards the open end. As the container is compressed, the first tab member exits the first tab receiver and enters a second tab receiver, which is located closer to the dispensing end of the housing than the first tab receiver. The first tab member remains in the second tab receiver after the compressive force has been removed.

1 . A dispensing device comprising:
 a container enclosing a fluid containing space, the container having a closed compression end and a dispensing end defining an opening, wherein the compression end is movable towards the dispensing end in response to an applied compressive force;   a housing receiving the container in an at least partially enclosing relation, the housing having a dispensing end receiving the dispensing end of the container and providing fluid communication between the fluid containing space of the container and the space external to the container, and the housing having a compression end defining an opening exposing the compression end of the container;   a plurality of openings in the housing, wherein the opening are arranged in one or more rows; and   a compression plate received by the compression end of the housing and including a plurality of tab members adapted to mate with corresponding plurality of openings in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression end of the container includes an external recess and a corresponding internal projection extending inwardly into the internal volume of the container in a direction towards the dispensing end of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing device of  claim 2 , wherein the compression plate includes at least one rib extending into the external recess of the compression end. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the container defines a generally cylindrical shape having a generally cylindrical wall spaced radially from a centrally located longitudinal axis, and wherein the generally cylindrical wall defines one or more pleats. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises an organic polymer material. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines at least one generally cylindrical wall spaced radially from a centrally located longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the housing further defines an opening running longitudinally in the generally cylindrical wall, the longitudinal opening being continuous with a compression end edge of the generally cylindrical wall, wherein the longitudinal opening is so dimensioned as to receive a portion of a human thumb. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprise a flange member disposed about the dispensing end of the housing and adapted to receive one or more human fingers. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings define at least two longitudinally oriented rows. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of openings define generally opposing rows. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the tab members define a shape having an advancing side and a backstop side. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing device of  claim 10 , wherein the tab members are adapted to advance from the compression end of the housing toward the dispensing end of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression plate contacts the compression end of the container and is adapted to apply a compressive force to the compression end. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing device of  claim 12 , wherein the compression plate defines an outwardly facing side directed away from the container, the outwardly facing side defining a contour adapted to receive a portion of a human thumb. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle disposed at the dispensing end of the container and in fluid communication with the fluid containing space. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle is an integral portion of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle is attached to the container by a means selected from one or more of a threaded portion, a press fit, a snap fit, or a weld. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing device, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical bellows-type container enclosing a fluid containing space, the container having a closed compression end and a dispensing end defining an opening, wherein the compression end is movable toward the dispensing end in response to an applied compressive force;   a generally cylindrical housing having a dispensing end and a compression end and defining at least one wall radially spaced from a centrally located longitudinal axis, the wall defining a lateral opening that is continuous with a compression end edge of the wall and adapted to receive a portion of a human thumb, the housing receiving the container in a partially enclosing relation, the dispensing end of the housing comprising a flange member adapted to receive one or more human fingers, and the dispensing end of the housing receiving the dispensing end of the container and providing fluid communication between the fluid containing space of the container and the space external to the container, and the compression end of the housing defining an opening exposing the compression end of the container;   a plurality of openings in the housing, the openings being arranged in two opposing longitudinal rows; and   a compression plate received by the compression end of the housing and including a pair of opposing tab members adapted to mate with corresponding openings of the housing, wherein the tab members define a shape having an advancing side and a backstop side, wherein the tab members are adapted to advance from the compression end of the housing toward the dispensing end of the housing, wherein the compression plate contacts the compression end of the container and is adapted to apply a compressive force thereto, and wherein the compression plate defines a face on an outwardly facing side directed away from the container, the outwardly facing side defining a contour adapted to receive a portion of a human thumb.   
     
     
         18 . A dispensing assembly comprising:
 a container including an internal volume defined by a resilient wall connecting a dispensing end to a compression end, the container including a first tab member near the compression end extending outwardly from the container, wherein the compression end includes an internal projection extending into the internal volume of the container towards the dispensing end of the container;   a housing including an interior defined by a wall connecting a dispensing end to a receiving end, wherein the wall includes a plurality of tab receivers arranged substantially in a row extending along the longitudinal length of the housing, wherein the housing at least partially surrounds the container, wherein the first tab member of the container enters a first tab receiver in the wall of the housing to maintain the container within the interior of the housing;   wherein the container dispenses material through the open end when the internal volume is at least partially reduced due to a compressive force moving the compression end towards the dispensing end, wherein the first tab member exits the first tab receiver and enters a second tab receiver, which is located closer to the dispensing end of the housing than the first tab receiver;   wherein the first tab member remains in the second tab receiver when the compressive force is removed maintaining the partially reduced internal volume of the container.   
     
     
         19 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the container has a plurality of compression states varying from substantially uncompressed to substantially fully compressed, and wherein the plurality of tab receivers correspond to varying states of compression from the substantially uncompressed state to the substantially fully compressed state. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first tab receiver defines the substantially uncompressed state, a last tab receiver defines the substantially fully compressed state, and the second tab receiver defines an intermediate state of compression between the substantially uncompressed state and the substantially fully compressed state. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a dispensing device comprising the steps of:
 forming a container with an internal volume defined by a resilient wall connecting a dispensing end to a compression end, the compression end including an outwardly extending projection;   repositioning the outwardly extending projection to form an inwardly extending projection, the inwardly extending projection extending into the internal volume of the container towards the dispensing end of the container;   inserting the container into a housing, the housing including a containing end, an open end, and a wall having a plurality of openings extending at least partially between the containing end and the open end, the containing end of the housing limiting the movement of the dispensing end of the container;   inserting a compression plate into the housing, the compression plate contacting the compression end of the container, the compression plate including projections which extend into the openings in the wall of the housing maintaining the position of the compression plate within the container.