Tube

Abstract

A tube or other container for storing and dispensing a product such as toothpaste, a lotion, a cream, etc., includes one or more recesses. Initially, each recess ( 30 ) is in a concave position relative to an exterior of the sealed tube. Due to outgassing or other factors, pressure within an interior of the sealed tube may increase. During the pressure increase, the one or more recesses ( 30 ) deflect from the initial concave position toward a convex position relative to the exterior of the tube, thereby effectively increasing a volume of the interior of the tube and maintaining pressure within the tube at a more desirable level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube for storing and dispensing a product, comprising:
 a tube shoulder;   a tube body attached to the tube shoulder; and   at least one recess in at least one of the tube body and the tube shoulder, wherein:
 the at least one recess is in a concave position relative to an exterior of the tube; 
 the tube is configured to store the product within an interior of the tube; and 
 the at least one recess is configured to deflect from the concave position toward a convex position relative to the exterior of the tube during an increase in pressure within the interior of the tube. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess further comprises a plurality of recesses in the tube shoulder. 
     
     
         3 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess further comprises a plurality of recesses in the tube body. 
     
     
         4 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the tube body and the tube shoulder is thinner at the at least one recess than at non-recess locations. 
     
     
         5 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is configured to articulate at a joint where the at least one recess intersects a wall of the at least one of the tube body and the tube shoulder. 
     
     
         6 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess further comprises at least one of a plurality of radially symmetrical dimples and a plurality of bilaterally symmetrical recesses. 
     
     
         7 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tube has a first volume when the at least one recess is in the concave position;   the tube has a second volume when the at least one recess is in the convex position; and   the second volume is from 5% to 40% greater than the first volume.   
     
     
         8 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is a fluid product that outgases. 
     
     
         9 . The tube according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluid product is a toothpaste comprising hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         10 . The tube according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a product within the tube;   an exit nozzle having an opening therein for dispensing the product from the tube; and   a factory seal that covers the opening and seals the product within the tube.   
     
     
         11 . A container for storing and dispensing a product, comprising:
 a container shoulder;   a container body attached to the container shoulder; and   at least one recess in at least one of the container body and the container shoulder, wherein:
 the at least one recess is in a concave position relative to an exterior of the container; 
 the container is configured to store the product within an interior of the container; and 
   the at least one recess is configured to deflect from the concave position toward a convex position relative to the exterior of the container during an increase in pressure within the interior of the container.   
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one recess is configured to articulate at a joint where the at least one recess intersects a wall of the at least one of the container body and the container shoulder. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a product within the container;   an exit nozzle having an opening therein for dispensing the product from the container; and   a factory seal that covers the opening and seals the product within the container.   
     
     
         14 . A method for accommodating an increasing pressure within a factory-sealed tube, comprising:
 placing a product within an interior of a tube comprising a tube body attached to a tube shoulder and at least one recess in at least one of the tube body and the tube shoulder wherein, subsequent to placing the product within the tube, the at least one recess is in a concave position relative to an exterior of the tube;   sealing the product within the interior of the tube using a factory seal; and   with the product sealed within the interior of the tube by the factory seal, deflecting the at least one recess from the concave position toward a convex position relative to the exterior of the tube during an increase in pressure within the interior of the tube.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflecting of the at least one recess further comprises deflecting at least one recess in the tube shoulder. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflecting of the at least one recess further comprises deflecting at least one recess in the tube body. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflecting of the at least one recess further comprises articulating a joint where the at least one recess intersects a wall of the at least one of the tube body and the tube shoulder. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising increasing a volume within the interior of the tube by from 5% to 40% during the deflecting of the at least one recess. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising performing the deflecting of the at least one recess as a result of outgassing of the product within the interior of the factory-sealed tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising performing the deflecting of the at least one recess at an internal tube pressure of less than 35 pounds per square inch (psi).