A tube or other container for storing and dispensing a product such as toothpaste, a lotion, a cream, etc., includes one or more creases. Initially, each crease can be in a contracted position, where the tube has a first volume when the crease is in the contracted position. Due to outgassing of the product and/or other factors, pressure may increase within the sealed tube. In response to the pressure increase, the one or more creases can deflect from the contracted position to an expanded position, where the tube has a second, increased volume when the crease is in the expanded position. Deflection of the one or more creases effectively increases the volume of the interior of the tube, and maintains pressure within the tube at a desirable level.

A tube or other container for storing and dispensing a product such as toothpaste, a lotion, a cream, etc., includes one or more creases. Initially, each crease can be in a contracted position, where the tube has a first volume when the crease is in the contracted position. Due to outgassing of the product and/or other factors, pressure may increase within the sealed tube. In response to the pressure increase, the one or more creases can deflect from the contracted position to an expanded position, where the tube has a second, increased volume when the crease is in the expanded position. Deflection of the one or more creases effectively increases the volume of the interior of the tube, and maintains pressure within the tube at a desirable level.

A package closure (10) comprising a neck (18) provided with an opening, and a cap (19) for closing the opening, wherein the neck (18) comprises a connecting portion (20) for connection to a package (32), and a sealing portion (21) projecting radially inwards from the connecting portion (20) to interact with the cap (19) to form a seal between them. Before opening thereof the cap (19) is connected to the sealing portion (21) through a notch (23), wherein the cap (19) is removable from at least a part of the sealing portion (21) by tearing along the notch (23). The cap (19) is provided with a sealing part (24) projecting from an interior side of the cap (19) to interact with the sealing portion (21) of the neck (18), so that the package closure (10) is resealable. The invention also relates to a device and a method for producing a package closure.

In accordance with the present inventive concept, there is provided a method for sealing a flexible package of collapsible type. The method comprises providing a first seal extending transverse a filling channel of the flexible package and providing a second seal extending transverse a filling channel of the flexible package. Said second seal overlaps said first seal such that a combined seal is provided comprising a top portion formed solely by a first sealing unit, an intermediate portion formed by the first and a second sealing unit, and a bottom portion formed solely by the second sealing unit. The method further comprises setting operating parameters comprising a time parameter, a temperature parameter and a pressure parameter for providing said first seal and for providing said second seal such that a sealing characteristic below a threshold value is obtained in said top portion and said bottom portion and such that a sealing characteristic equal to or above the threshold value is obtained in said intermediate portion.

In accordance with the present inventive concept, there is provided a method for sealing a flexible package of collapsible type. The method comprises providing a first seal extending transverse a filling channel of the flexible package and providing a second seal extending transverse a filling channel of the flexible package. Said second seal overlaps said first seal such that a combined seal is provided comprising a top portion formed solely by a first sealing unit, an intermediate portion formed by the first and a second sealing unit, and a bottom portion formed solely by the second sealing unit. The method further comprises setting operating parameters comprising a time parameter, a temperature parameter and a pressure parameter for providing said first seal and for providing said second seal such that a sealing characteristic below a threshold value is obtained in said top portion and said bottom portion and such that a sealing characteristic equal to or above the threshold value is obtained in said intermediate portion.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods provided herein are useful for dispensing a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid. In some embodiments, a bottle having a closure cap includes a flip top, a base, and a disk, where the base and disk define a mixing chamber configured to facilitate mixing of any serum or liquid separated from the fluid back therein. In some configurations, the base has a central opening through which the fluid exits and an internal shaft with a non-planar end surface opposite the central opening. In some configurations, the non-planar end surface and the disk define channels between the mixing chamber and the internal shaft. In some embodiments, the disk includes a central opening, a plurality of partial annular openings through a planar surface of the disk, and projections extending into the mixing chamber.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods provided herein are useful for dispensing a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid. In some embodiments, a bottle having a closure cap includes a flip top, a base, and a disk, where the base and disk define a mixing chamber configured to facilitate mixing of any serum or liquid separated from the fluid back therein. In some configurations, the base has a central opening through which the fluid exits and an internal shaft with a non-planar end surface opposite the central opening. In some configurations, the non-planar end surface and the disk define channels between the mixing chamber and the internal shaft. In some embodiments, the disk includes a central opening, a plurality of partial annular openings through a planar surface of the disk, and projections extending into the mixing chamber.

A handheld antiseptic dispensing applicator device having a reservoir for storing an antiseptic agent, the reservoir being coupled to an applicator pad, and a defeatable membrane or barrier being interposed between the reservoir and the applicator pad. Embodiments of the device comprise a squeezable reservoir, wherein the internal hydraulic pressure of the squeezable reservoir is increased via user applied forces to thereby defeat the membrane releasing the antiseptic agent contained therein which is then absorbed by the applicator pad. The defeatable barrier or membrane is also removable or may be defeated in connection with other mechanisms according to various embodiments.

A handheld antiseptic dispensing applicator device having a reservoir for storing an antiseptic agent, the reservoir being coupled to an applicator pad, and a defeatable membrane or barrier being interposed between the reservoir and the applicator pad. Embodiments of the device comprise a squeezable reservoir, wherein the internal hydraulic pressure of the squeezable reservoir is increased via user applied forces to thereby defeat the membrane releasing the antiseptic agent contained therein which is then absorbed by the applicator pad. The defeatable barrier or membrane is also removable or may be defeated in connection with other mechanisms according to various embodiments.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods provided herein are useful for dispensing a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid. In some embodiments, a bottle having a closure cap includes a flip top, a base, and a disk, where the base and disk define a mixing chamber configured to facilitate mixing of any serum or liquid separated from the fluid back therein. In some configurations, the base has a central opening through which the fluid exits and an internal shaft with a non-planar end surface opposite the central opening. In some configurations, the non-planar end surface and the disk define channels between the mixing chamber and the internal shaft. In some embodiments, the disk includes a central opening, a plurality of partial annular openings through a planar surface of the disk, and projections extending into the mixing chamber.