Container systems with lids for unit dose detergent compositions

Abstract

A container system includes a tub including a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall and side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall. A bottom extends between the front wall, back wall and side walls. A mouth structure includes a fastening feature configured for connecting to a lid. The mouth structure has an opening therethrough that provides access to a containing volume of the tub. A shoulder extends inwardly from the side walls to the mouth structure. A plurality of unitized doses of a detergent composition is located within the containing volume of the tub. A lid is connected to tub using the fastening feature. The lid has an open position for allowing user access to the containing volume and a closed position for preventing user access to the containing volume. A flexible membrane may be connected to the underside of the lid

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container system comprising:
 a. a tub comprising:
 a front wall; 
 a back wall opposite the front wall; 
 side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall; 
 a bottom extending between the front wall, back wall and side walls; 
 a mouth structure connected to the front, back, and side walls, the mouth structure including a fastening feature configured for connecting to a lid and having an opening there through that provides access to a containing volume of the tub; and 
 a shoulder extending inwardly from the side walls to the mouth structure; 
   a plurality of unitized doses of a detergent composition within the containing volume of the tub;   b. a lid connected to the tub using the fastening feature, the lid having an open position for allowing user access to the containing volume and a closed position for preventing user access to the containing volume; and   c. a flexible membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane is connected to the underside of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a lid receiving portion and the flexible membrane is connected to the lid receiving portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one side wall is curved from the shoulder to the bottom and the side wall has a vertically oriented flat portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the tub includes a handle structure formed integrally with the tub. 
     
     
         6 . The container system of  claim 5 , wherein the handle structure includes an inwardly extending portion extending inwardly from the rear wall toward the front wall of the tub and an outwardly extending portion that extends outwardly toward one of the side walls of the tub. 
     
     
         7 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises:
 a tub connecting portion including an engaging feature configured to engage the fastening feature of the mouth structure; and   a lid closure portion configured for movement relative to the tub connecting portion between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         8 . The container system of  claim 7 , wherein the lid closure portion is hingedly connected to the tub connecting portion such that the lid closure portion moves between the open position and the closed position while remaining connected to the tub connecting portion. 
     
     
         9 . The container system of  claim 8 , wherein the lid further comprises a latching system configured to latch the lid closure portion to the tub connecting portion with the lid closure portion in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises at least two portions having an opening there through that provides access to the containing volume of the tub. 
     
     
         11 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises polypropylene.