Container for liquid

Abstract

A credit card shaped container for a liquid, such as eye drops, saline solution, or a sanitizer. The container has a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid. A conduit supplies liquid in the chamber to a dispensing orifice at an end portion of the body. A cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice prevents the liquid from being dispensed until the cap is removed and pressure applied to the flexible plastic body. The cap may be hingedly attached to the body, or completely detachable from the body. The cap typically snaps over the orifice and seals the conduit closed. The container may further comprise an integral contact lens case.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for a liquid, comprising:
 a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid;   a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice provided at an end portion of the body; and   a cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body; said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is narrower at the inner chamber than at the dispensing orifice. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is filled with the liquid through an open edge of the body that is then heat sealed to enclose the liquid in the inner chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is filled through a neck at the dispensing orifice. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 4 , further comprising a pin inserted into the neck after filling the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the orifice is located within a cone-shaped corner portion of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap snaps over the orifice and seals the conduit closed. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap is hingedly attached to the body. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container dispenses one drop of the liquid at a time. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of eye drops, saline solution, and a sanitizer. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least two adjacent tapered edges. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the capacity of the container is from about 0.005 to about 0.45 fluid ounces. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising an integral contact lens case. 
     
     
         14 . A container for a liquid, comprising:
 a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid;   a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice located within a cone-shaped end corner portion of the body, said conduit being narrower at the inner chamber than at the dispensing orifice; and   a cap hingedly attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body; said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm.   
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 14 , wherein the cap snaps over the orifice and seals the conduit closed. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 15 , further comprising two adjacent tapered edges opposite the corner of the body where the cap is located. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 16 , wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of eye drops, saline solution, and a sanitizer. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 17 , wherein the capacity of the container is from about 0.005 to about 0.45 fluid ounces. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 18 , further comprising an integral contact lens case. 
     
     
         20 . A method for making a container for a liquid, comprising:
 (a) providing a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an open edge providing access to inner chamber capable of storing the liquid, a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice provided at an end portion of the body, and a cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body, said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm;   (b) filling the container with the liquid through the open edge of the body; and   (c) heat sealing the open edge of the body to enclose the liquid in the inner chamber.