AU2011201453A1 - Closure cap arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

C:\NRPeb\DCC\CAB\3561323_ .DOC-29/0312011 A closure cap arrangement (10) suitable for use with a container (80) comprising a mouth (82) through which contents within the container (80) can be discharged, the mouth (82) having an inner surface (83) and an outer surface (84), the closure cap arrangement (10) comprising a dispensing part (12) which is adapted to be fitted to the container mouth (82) in a press fit in an installed position and a cover part (42) which in one position can be fitted to the container so as to overlie the dispensing part (12).

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title Closure cap arrangement The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: P/00/01 1 5102 C:\NRPor1hl\DCCCAB\3561321_LDOC-29/03/20 Il CLOSURE CAP ARRANGEMENT Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates generally to closures for containers and more particularly to closures for dispensing the contents of the container. The closures are particularly suitable for dispensing flowable materials such as for example powders, spices, granulated materials in general and the like. 10 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect there is provided a closure cap arrangement suitable for use with a container comprising a mouth through which contents within the container can be discharged, the mouth having an inner surface and an outer surface, the closure cap 15 arrangement comprising a dispensing part which is adapted to be fitted to the container mouth in a press fit in an installed position and a cover part which in one position can be fitted to the container so as to overlie the dispensing part. The expression "press fit" is meant to include an interference fit between two parts 20 achieved by friction after the two parts are fitted together. The closure cap arrangement may further include a tamper evident element associated with the cover part. In one form the tamper evident element may comprise a band frangibly secured to the cover part. The dispensing part may comprise an end wall 25 and an annular skirt depending therefrom, the skirt being adapted to be fitted to the mouth of the container in a press fit when in the installed position. The skirt may provide a press fit to the inner surface of the mouth of the container. The dispensing part may further include first and second dispensing zones in the 30 end wall each having associated therewith a flap hingedly connected to the end wall for movement between open and closed positions. The first dispensing zone may comprise an C:\NRPrOl\DCC\CAB\3361323_.DOC-29/03/2011 -2 aperture in the end wall preferably sized to accommodate access by a spoon, scoop or other implement. The second dispensing zone may comprise a plurality of apertures in the end wall of smaller dimension than the aperture of the first dispensing zone so as to permit use in a shake mode whereby inversion and shaking of the container enables the material 5 within the container to be dispersed through the aperture. The dispensing zones may be disposed on opposite sides of a web extending across the end wall cover flap being hingedly connected to the web. The cover part may include a skirt and it and the container mouth may have 10 cooperating threaded sections for releasably securing the cover part to the container mouth. Each of the parts may be formed from any suitable material and in one form are of plastics material such as polyethylene. Brief Description of the Drawings 15 Example embodiments will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in those drawings: Figure 1 is an illustration of a container with a closure cap arrangement according 20 to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a further illustration of the container and closure cap arrangement shown in Figure 1; 25 Figure 3 is a sectional view of the container and closure cap arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a more detailed sectional view to that shown in Figure 3; 30 Figure 5 is an illustration of one form of closure cap arrangement of the invention; C:NRLPonbl\CCAB\3 561323_1.DOC-29/03/2011 -3 Figure 6 is an illustration from the underside of one of the components of the closure cap arrangement shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a further illustration of one of the closure cap arrangement shown in 5 Figure 5; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the component shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is an illustration of another form of a component of a closure cap 10 arrangement; Figure 10 is a further illustration of the component shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a side elevation of the component shown in Figure 10; 15 Figure 12 is an illustration of a further closure cap arrangement; Figure 13 is an illustration of one of the components of the arrangement shown in Figure 12; and 20 Figure 14 is an illustration of another of the components shown in Figure 12. Detailed Description of the Drawings 25 Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown a closure cap arrangement 10 and a container 80. The container 80 includes a container body 81 having a mouth 82 through which the contents of the container can be discharged. The mouth has a free edge 86 an inner surface 83 and an outer surface 84. A threaded section 85 is provided on the outer surface 84 together with a peripheral flange 87. 30 C:\NRPorthl\DCC\CAB\3561323_I.DOC-29103/20|| -4 The closure cap arrangement 10 comprises a dispensing part 12 and a cover part 42. The dispensing part 12 comprises an end wall 14 with a skirt 16 depending therefrom. First and second dispensing zones 17 and 18 are provided in the end wall 14. First dispensing zone 17 comprises an aperture 19 and the second dispensing zone 18 comprises 5 a plurality of apertures 20. Each dispensing zone 17 and 18 has associated therewith a cover flap 21 and 22 arranged for pivotal movement via hinges 23 and 24. Each flap has a catch 26, 28 associated therewith which is adapted to hold the respective flap in a closed position. Each flap is also provided with a lifting lug 30 and 32 for moving the flap from the closed to open position. Each cover flap 21 and 22 has a straight side which is hinged 10 at 23 and 24 and a curved side, the flaps when closed overlying respective dispensing zones 17 and 18. Aperture 19 is sized to accommodate a spoon or the like and apertures 20 enable the dispensing to be in a shake mode as discussed earlier. The cover part 42 comprises an end wall 44 and a skirt 46 depending therefrom. 15 The skirt 46 has a thread 47 on an inner surface 48 thereof which cooperates with a thread on the mouth of the container. The cover part further includes a tamper evident member 50 in the form of a band 52 connected to the free end section portion of the skirt 46 by frangible sections 49. The band 52 has a series of ribs or scallops 54 on the inner surface thereof. When the closure cap is attached to the container mouth the ribs or scallops 54 20 locate below flange 47. Thus when the cap is removed the ribs or scallops 54 engage against the flange 47 so that further movement causes the frangible sections to break away thereby separating the band from the closure skirt. Figures 5 to 8 illustrate one form of closure cap arrangement and Figures 9 to 11 25 illustrate a slightly modified form of the dispensing component. In Figures 9 to 11 the outer surface of the skirt has a series of peripheral ribs 56 thereon which assist in providing the press fit with the inner surface of the mouth of the container. Figures 12 to 14 illustrate a further embodiment of closure cap where like parts 30 have been identified with the same numerals as used earlier. In this particular embodiment the cover part 42 is simply pushed on to the container mouth which has a peripheral bead C:\NRPorbl\DCC'CAB\3561323I.DOC-29/031201 1 -5 on its outer surface. The tamper evident band passes over the bead and cannot readily return. As such to remove the cover part the bead 52 must be broken from the skirt 46 and thereafter the cover part can be removed from the container. 5 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 10 Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A closure cap arrangement suitable for use with a container comprising a mouth through which contents within the container can be discharged, the mouth having an inner surface and an outer surface, the closure cap arrangement comprising a dispensing part which is adapted to be fitted to the container mouth in a press fit in an installed position and a cover part which in one position can be fitted to the container so as to overlie the dispensing part.

2. A closure cap arrangement according to claim 1 further including a tamper evident element associated with the cover part.

3. A closure cap arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the dispensing part comprises an end wall and an annular skirt depending therefrom, the skirt being adapted to be fitted to the mouth of the container in a press fit when in the installed position.

4. A closure cap arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the skirt provides a press fit to the inner surface of the mouth of the container.

5. A closure cap arrangement according to claims 2, 3 or 4 wherever the tamper evident element comprises a band frangibly connected to the skirt.

6. A closure cap arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the dispensing part further includes first and second dispensing zones in the end wall each having associated therewith a flap hingedly connected to the end wall for movement between open and closed positions.

7. A closure cap arrangement wherein the first dispensing zone comprises an aperture in the end wall and the second dispensing zone comprises a plurality of apertures in the end wall of smaller dimension than the aperture of the first dispensing zone. C:\NRPorbl\DCCCAB\3561323I.DOC-290320 11 -7

8. A closure cap arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the dispensing zones are disposed on opposite sides of a web extending across the end wall cover flap being hingedly connected to the web.

9. A closure cap arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the skirt and the container mouth have cooperating threaded sections for releasably securing the cover part to the container mouth.