CA1109025A - Preassembled ball-type dispensing package - Google Patents

Preassembled ball-type dispensing package

Info

Publication number
CA1109025A
CA1109025A CA317,374A CA317374A CA1109025A CA 1109025 A CA1109025 A CA 1109025A CA 317374 A CA317374 A CA 317374A CA 1109025 A CA1109025 A CA 1109025A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fitment
container
ball
closure
annular
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA317,374A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul W. Harbauer
Richard D. Lohrman
George V. Mumford
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
OI Glass Inc
Original Assignee
Owens Illinois Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Owens Illinois Inc filed Critical Owens Illinois Inc
Priority to CA317,374A priority Critical patent/CA1109025A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1109025A publication Critical patent/CA1109025A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Abstract

Form 233 PREASSEMBLED BALL-TYPE DISPENSING PACKAGE
P.W. Harbauer, R.D. Lohrman, G.V. Mumford, Inventors ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved, preassembled ball-type dispensing pack-age combination for cosmetics and the like. A ball is held in place in a fitment which is adapted to be attached to the finish portion of a container for the product to be dispensed.
The ball is allowed to move freely within the fitment to fa-cilitate uniform dispensing and application of the contents of the container. The total package is completed by a clo-sure which engages threads on the exterior of the finish por-tion of the container. The fitment and closure include en-gaging portions which are adapted to retain the fitment in a preassembled position within the closure for shipping and handling. However, when the combination closure, fitment and ball are placed in engagement with the container finish portion, the retentive engagement between the fitment and the closure may be overcome to allow the fitment and ball to remain on the container when the closure is removed.

Description

18 BACKGROUND OF THE INVE~TIO~
19 This invention generally relates to ball-type ap- `
plicators. More specifically, this invention relates to a 21 complete ball-type applicator package, including a closure, 22 a fitment, a ball and a container for the product to be dis-28 pensed. Particularly, this invention relates to an improved 24 package, wherein the fitment and closure include mating por-26 tions which retain the fitment and ball within the closure in 26 a preassembled condition for shipping and handling prior to 27 application of these components to the container.
28 The ball-type applicator is well known in the art 29 for dispensing of cosmetics of various types, particularly liquid deodorants and perfumes. Examples of pertinent prior ~-r ~ ~ ~gQ~5 2 1 art patents include U.S. Patents 2,975,466 and 4,002,411.
2 Each of these patents teaches the general combination of a 8 closure, fitment and ball as applied to the finish portion 4 of a container neck. However, in each of these patents, the 6 fitment and ball are secured to the container neck prior to 6 the application of the closure. Thus, the fitment and ball 7 are handled separately from the closure during shipping and 8 assembly to the container. Ball-type applicator packages, g such as those disclosed in these patents, require rather dif-ficult and costly handling, shipping and assembly procedures 11 due to the number of separate pieces. For example, the ball 12 is first inserted into the fitment, the fitment is then snapped 18 into engagement with the container, and the closure is then 14 threaded into engagement with the container. Each of these 16 steps requiresseparate items of assembly equipment.

It is therefore an object of this invention to over-18 come the disadvantages associated with the prior art ball-type 19 dispensing packages by providing an improved package of this type.
21 The improved package of this invention incorporates 22 engaging portions on both the fitment and the closure which 28 are adapted to retain the fitment in preassembled position-24 within the closure for shipping and handling. Thus, a ball, which is held within the fitment, and the fitment may be pre-z6 assembled within the closure to be shipped as a single unit.
27 This combination may then be applied as a single unit to the 28 container neck, at which time the fitment is adapted to engage 29 the container neck to secure the fitment and ball in engage-ment with the container. The engagement force between the 9~zs fitment and the container neck is greater than that between the fitment and the closure, so that the closure may be removed from and reapplied to the container without dislodging the fitment or ball from assembly with the container.
Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, an improved pre-assembled ball applicator dispensing package is provided which comprises, in combination:
a container which has a neck portion defining an opening at one end thereof for dispensing the contents thereof, the neck portion including at least one external thread and a circumferential groove formed above the thread;
an annular ball-retaining fitment of a resilient material which has a generally circular bottom diaphragm fitting within the opening of the container neck and including at least one aperture for dispensing the contents of the container, an annular ball-retaining socket which extends upwardly from the bottom diaphragm in an arcuate configuration, an annular shoulder which extends outwardly from the ball-retaining socket, and an annular container-engaging skirt : which extends downwardly from the should spaced radially outwardly from the bottom diaphragm, the container-engaging skirt including an inwardly directed bead for engagement with the circumferential groove on the container neck and an outwardly directed flange;
a dispensing ball which has a major portion inserted within the annular ball-retaining socket of the fitment so as to be in communication with the dispensing aperture and having a minor portion extending beyond the extremity of the annular ball-retaining socket to define a dispensing surface; and a closure member which has at least one internal thread for engagement with the thread on the neck of the container, the closure member including an inwardly directed annular fitment-retaining bead adapted to engage the outwardly directed flange on the container-engaging annular skirt of the fitment to retain the fitment and ball within the closure prior to assembly with the container, and the engagement between inwardly directed annular bead on the fitment and the circumferential groove on the container neck being sufficient to overcome the engagement between the annular fitment-retaining bead on the closure and out-wardly directed flange on the fitment to thereby allow removal of the closure from threaded engagement with the container neck while the fitment remains in ~-3-~9~Z~

engagement with the container neck.

Other objects, features and advantages of this in-vention will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description of the invention and the drawings illus-trating a preferred embodiment thereof.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional, side elevation view of the unique fitment, ball and closure combination of the present invention in its preassembled configuration;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional, side elevation view of the complete dispensing package of this invention as applied to the neck portion of a container;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional, side elevation view of the package of this invention, showing the closure removed from engagement with the finish portion of the container neck.

DET~ILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF A PREFERRED EMBODIME~T

As can be seen in FIG. 1~ the combination package of this invention includes a closure 10, a fitment 12, and a ball 14. The closure 10 includes a circular top panel 16 and an annular skirt 18 depending downwardly from the outer peri-phery of the top panel 16. The interior portion of the clo-sure skirt 18 includes a plurality of threads 20 located near the lower extremity thereof and an enlarged fitment-retaining bead 22. The interior of the closure skirt 18 also includes a fitment-contacting annular shoulder 24. The interior sur-face of the top panel 16 of the closure lO includes an annular ball-contacting ring 2 6 which is adapted to contact the upper -3a-~;'c,rM 2j~ ~
3~ 5 1 surface o~ the ball 14 upon application of the closure 10 2 to a container.
3 The fitment 12 includes a generally circular bot-
4 tom panel or diaphragm 28 which incorporates one or more pro-6 duct-dispensing apertures 30 therein. An annular ball-retain-6 ing socket 32 extends upwardly from the bottom diaphragm 28 7 in an arcuate configuration. The fitment 12 further incorpor-ates an annular shoulder portion 34 extending outwardly from g said ball-retaining socket 32 and which is adapted to be engaged by the shoulder portion 24 on the closure 10. This engagement 11 between shoulders 24 and 34 aids in positioning the fitment and 12 ball within the closure. An annular container~engaging skirt 13 36 extends downwardly from the shoulder 34 and is spaced radially 14 outwardly from the diaphragm 28. The fitment 12 is sized and shaped so that the ball 14 is held within the ball-retaining 16 socket 32 and rests against the bottom diaphragm 28. However, l7 the ball 14 must be permitted to rotate freely within the fit-18 ment 12 and must have a minor portion extending beyond the 19 fitment for application purposes. The lower extremity of the downwardly extending skirt 36 on the fitment 12 includes an 21 inwardly directed annular bead 37 and an outwardly directed 22 flange 38, which is adapted to cooperate with the fitment-re-23 taining bead 22 on the closure 10 to hold the fitment 12 within 24 the closure 10. It should be noted that the fitment-retaining 2b bead 22 on the closure 10 may be an extension of the threads 26 20 which would cooperate with the flange 38. Thus, to assemble 27 the components of FIG. 1, the ball 14 is positioned within 28 the fitment 12, and this combination is then inserted within 29 the closure 10 to the position where the flange bead 38 on the skirt 36 resides between the fitment retaining bead 22 9~ZS ~
~orr~ ?~ _5_ and the shoulder 24 on the closure skirt 18. Therefore, for 2 shipping, handling and assembly to a container, these three 8 componen-ts may be handled as a single, preassembled unit.
FIG. 2 shows the package components of FIG. 1 as 6 they are assembled to a container, which is indicated gener-6 ally by the numeral 40. The container 40 ter~inates at its 7 upper extremity in an annular neck 42, which includes a 8 finish portion 44 which defines the periphery of an open mouth 9 46 through which the contents of the container 40 may be dis-lo pensed. The outer surface of the container neck finish 44 11 includes one or more threads 48 which are adapted to matingly 12 engage the threads 20 on the closure 10. An annular recess 18 50 iS also formed on the outer surface of the container neck 14 finish 44 to receive the inwardly directed annular bead 37 on 16 the downwardly extending skirt 36 on the fitment 12. Thus, 6 when the combination of the elements of FIG 1 is assembled into 17 engagement with the container 40, the closure 10 is rotated 18 downwardly into threaded engagement with the finish portion 19 44 of the container neck 42. Simultaneously, the downwardly extending skirt 36 of fitment 12 snaps over the upper portion 21 of the finish 44, so that its inwardly directed annular bead 22 37 resides within the annular recess 50. The engagement be-P8 tween this annular skirt 34 and the container neck is sufficiently 24 strong such that when it is desired to remove the closure from 26 the container, the fitment retaining bead 22 on the closure 26 10 will slide over the outwardly directed flange 38 on the 27 fitment 12 without dislodging the fitment from engagement 28 with the container neck. The removal of the closure 10 can 29 be seen in FIG. 3. Once the closure has been removed, the 80 package is in condition for dispensing of the product from ~Lg)9V;~S
~ >rm is~

1 the container. The product may then pass from the container 2 40 through the apertures 30 in the fitment 12 into contact 8 with the lower surface of the ball 14. As the ball 14 is 4 rotated within the fitment 12, the product which has been 6 picked up by the ball 14 may then be applied to the surface 6 desired, such as the skin of the user. It should be noted 7 further that the engagement of the shoulders 24 and 34 on the 8 closure and fitment, respectively, prevents over-tightening g of the closure and potential damage to the ball. It should lo be noted that the diaphragm 28 is in an unstressed position 11 in FIGS. 1 and 3, but is flexed slightly in FIG. 2 as the clo-12 sure is threaded into engagement with the container. In the 13 FIG. 2 position, a seal is created between the ball and the 14 ball-retaining socket.
16 It should be seen then, that thr ~ h the use of re-16 taining projections on the closure and fitment, this inven-7 tion provides a ball-type applicator package wherein pre-18 assembly of the closure fitment and ball is facilitated for 19 easier handling, shipping and assembly. However, the package 20 Of this invention incorporates adequate retention means be-21 tween the fitment and the container neck such that the en-22 gagement between the fitment and the closure may be overcome 23 . when it is desired to remove and reapply the closure portion 24 Of the package.

~ .

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An improved pre-assembled ball applicator dispensing package comprising, in combination:
a container having a neck portion defining an opening at one end thereof for dispensing the contents thereof, said neck portion including at least one external thread and a circumferential groove formed above said thread;
an annular ball-retaining fitment of a resilient material having a generally circular bottom diaphragm fiting within the opening of said container neck and including at least one aperture for dispensing the contents of said container, an annular ball-retaining socket extending upwardly from said bottom diaphragm in an arcuate configuration, an annular shoulder extending outwardly from said ball-retaining socket, and an annular container-engaging skirt extending downwardly from said shoulder spaced radially outwardly from said bottom diaphragm, said container-engaging skirt including an inwardly directed bead for engagement with said cir-cumferential groove on said container neck and an outwardly directed flange;
a dispensing ball having a major portion inserted within said annular ball-retaining socket of said fitment so as to be in communication with said dispensing aperture and having a minor portion extending beyond the extremity of said annular ball-retaining socket to define a dispensing surface; and a closure member having at least one internal thread for engagement with the thread on the neck of the container, said closure member including an inwardly directed annular fitment-retaining bead adapted to engage the outwardly directed flange on said container-engaging annular skirt of the fitment to retain said fitment and ball within the closure prior to assembly with said container, and the engagement between the inwardly directed annular bead on the fitment and the circumferential groove on the container neck being sufficient to overcome the engagement between the annular fitment-retaining bead on the closure and the outwardly directed flange on the fitment to thereby allow removal of the closure from threaded engagement with said container neck while said fitment remains in engagement with the container neck.
CA317,374A 1978-12-05 1978-12-05 Preassembled ball-type dispensing package Expired CA1109025A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA317,374A CA1109025A (en) 1978-12-05 1978-12-05 Preassembled ball-type dispensing package

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA317,374A CA1109025A (en) 1978-12-05 1978-12-05 Preassembled ball-type dispensing package

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1109025A true CA1109025A (en) 1981-09-15

Family

ID=4113073

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA317,374A Expired CA1109025A (en) 1978-12-05 1978-12-05 Preassembled ball-type dispensing package

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1109025A (en)

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