Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/16—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means
  • B65D83/20—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means operated by manual action, e.g. button-type actuator or actuator caps
  • B65D83/205—Actuator caps, or peripheral actuator skirts, attachable to the aerosol container
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
  • B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
  • B65D47/2031—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure

Definitions

• Toothpastes and other viscous materials have long been packaged in squeezable tubes. While generally easy to use, such tubes can be difficult to completely empty, necessitating squeezing the tube from the bottom or folding the tube over to force the remainder of the material out. Despite such efforts, which can be annoying, much material can be left in the tube, wasting product and money. In addition, a crumpled toothpaste tube is aesthetically unpleasing. Another dispensing problem is in shaping the dispensed product for proper positioning. Squeeze tubes of toothpaste, for example, typically dispense the toothpaste in a cylindrical shape which causes the toothpaste to fall off the brush and provides much more toothpaste than needed. The use of a screw cap, which must be removed prior to use and reattached afterwards, can also be annoying.
• the dispensing cap includes a flap 15 resiliently hinged within the product passageway.
• the flap acts as a check valve which is forced open by discharging product on actuation.
• the restoring force of the flap returns it to its normally closed position, preventing the entrance of air into the container.
• the discharge duct of the actuator cap has a normally closed slit in its terminus.
• the pressure of the product being dispensed opens the slit on actuation.
• Such a cap is intended for dispensing fluids or foaming materials.
• a dispenser for viscous, liquid or other material stored within a pressurized or manually pressurized container includes a means for engaging the container and a means for engaging the valve stem of the container.
• the dispenser further includes a discharge duct for allowing product to exit the dispenser, which duct is defined by a stationary portion and a resilient portion.
• the resilient portion has a normally closed position bearing against an inside surface of the stationary portion, sealing the discharge duct at its terminus, from the atmosphere.
• the resilient portion of the discharge duct is capable of being moved from its normally closed position by the pressure of the dispensing material during actuation of the container valve, allowing material to be dispensed.
• the resilient portion returns to its normally closed position when the valve is no longer actuated, cleanly cutting off the dispensed product.
• the discharge duct is now sealed, preventing the product still in the duct from drying.
• the resilient portion is preferably an insert which comprises a base portion which is friction fit within the duct means for conveying material and a leaf spring depending from the base portion.
• the front edge of the leaf spring bears against the top, stationary portion of the discharge duct.
• a passage in the base portion allows dispensing product to pass through the base, against the leaf spring, forcing the leaf spring open.
• An insert for sealing a terminus of a discharge duct of a dispenser comprising a base portion adapted to fit within and seal the discharge duct of the cap.
• the base portion has a rearward wall, a forward wall and a top surface.
• the rearward and forward walls have a first and second opening, respectively, and the base portion has a passage extending from the first opening to the second opening, through the base portion, to allow for the passage of product.
• An upwardly protruding leaf spring portion depends from the forward wall below the second opening. The leaf spring portion is pivotable adjacent to the forward wall by the pressure of dispensing product.
• the leaf spring portion has a front edge extending beyond the top surface of the body portion. This causes the leaf spring portion to be flexed on insertion into the discharge duct, increasing the sealing force exerted by the leaf spring portion against an inside surface of the discharge duct of the container cap.
• the contour of the leaf spring portion matches the contour of the inside surface of the discharge duct at the point of engagement.
• a dispenser for pressurized or manually pressurized containers having a valve stem comprises a circular outer wall and a means for engaging the container depending from the circular outer wall.
• the circular outer wall has a slot defining a lever portion.
• the slot has two adjacent portions and a connecting portion continuous with the two adjacent portions.
• the two adjacent portions define a hinge region in the circular outer wall about which the lever portion can rotate.
• the lever portion further comprises a tubular section defining a product-passageway with a first and second end. There is a means for engaging the valve stem of the container at the first end of the tubular section, such that product can enter the product passageway through the means for engaging.
• the hinge region is preferably in about the same horizontal plane as the top of the valve stem.
• the adjacent portions are preferably generally parallel and the connecting portion is preferably generally semi-circular.
• Figure 1 is a side, cross-sectional view of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention in its normally closed position, on a container (partially shown) ;
• Figure IA is a cross-sectional view along line 1A-1A of Figure 1;
• Figure IB is an enlarged view of the discharge duct portion of Figure 1;
• Figure 2 is a bottom view of the dispenser along line 2-2 of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the discharge duct of the present invention, with the discharge valve removed;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the discharge valve of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the discharge valve of Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the bottom of the discharge valve of Figure 4;
• Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the discharge valve of Figure 4;
• Figure 8 is a front view of the discharge duct of the dispenser of Figure 1 in its normally closed position
• Figure 9 is a top view of the dispenser of Figure 1;
• Figure 10 is a side view of the dispenser of Figure 1, modified to receive an overcap;
• Figure 11 is a perspective view of the discharge duct with the discharge valve removed, of another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 12 is a side view of the discharge valve for use in the embodiment of Figure 11;
• Figure 13 is a rear perspective view of the discharge valve of Figure 12.
• Figure 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the dispenser of Figure 1 in use dispensing toothpaste.
• FIG 1 is a cross-sectional side view a dispenser of the present invention, such as dispensing actuator cap 10, mounted on a pressurized container 12 (shown in part) .
• the cap 10 comprises a generally circular closed outer side wall 14 which generally encircles the outer container bead 16 of the necked-in container 12.
• a circular inner wall portion 18 engages the mounting cup 20 of the container 12.
• Figure 2 is a bottom view o-f the cap-10, along line 2-2, showing the circular outer wall 14 and circular inner wall portion 18.
• the circular inner wall portion 18 has an arcuate recess 22 along the lower end of its inside surface, as shown in Figure 1.
• the arcuate recess 22 snaps over and engages the mounting cup 20, securing the cap 10 to the container 12.
• the cap 10 can therefore be used on containers with a broad range of tolerances.
• the cap 10 may also be used with necked-in-containers, such as container 12, which do not have an 5 outer container bead to engage. If desired, however, the cap may be designed to engage a protruding container bead by adding an annular recess (not shown) to the inner surface of the outer circular wall 14 which may snap onto the outer container bead 16, similar to the annular recess 22 at the end of the circular inner wall portion 18.
• the container 12 includes an outlet means, such as a valve stem 24 which protrudes from the valve (not shown) situated in the mounting cup 20.
• the valve is preferably actuated by vertical displacement of the valve stem 24, but a tilt actuated valve could be used as well.
• the container 12 can dispense in an upright or upside down orientation.
• the cap 10 of the present invention has a product passage 26 preferably defined by an essentially vertical tube portion 28 and an angled tube portion 30.
• the bottom end 28a of the vertical tube portion 28 is adapted to receive the valve stem 24.
• the angle of the angled tube portion 30 can be between about 20°-60° and is preferably between about 30°-40° from the vertical tube portion 30, which is a convenient angle for dispensing toothpaste. For other applications, other angles may be preferred.
• the angled tube portion 30 has a top, stationary portion 32 and a bottom portion 34.
• the top portion 32 preferably extends beyond the bottom portion 34.
• the top portion 32 has downwardly depending side walls 32a and 32b which engage the bottom portion 34. (See Figures IA and 3)
• the terminus of the angled tube portion 30 preferably has a rectangular contour, although other contours, such as a cylindrical contour, may be provided as well.
• the angled tube portion 30 is adapted to receive a resilient discharge valve generally designated as 36 which, in conjunction with the top portion 32, defines the normally closed discharge duct portion of the product passage 26.
• the bottom portion 34 preferably has a shelf portion 38 for receiving and positioning the discharge valve 36 in the angled tube portion 30.
• Figure IB is an enlarged view of the discharge duct portion of the cap 10 of Figure 1, better showing the components discussed above.
• the discharge valve 36 has a ba ⁇ e portion 42 with a shape matching the contour of the shelf 38 and the top portion 32 of the angled tube portion 30. In the preferred embodiment, it is rectangular.
• the horizontal dimension "LI" and the vertical dimension "L2" of the base portion 42 are preferably slightly larger than the corresponding dimensions of the region defined by the shelf portion 38 and the top portion 32 such that the base portion will be held in position through a friction fit.
• the base portion 42 completely seals the product passageway 26 except for a passage 50, which allows for product passage on actuation, as described further, below.
• the insert can be secured within the angled tube portion 30 through matching protrusions and indents on the mating side walls of the two parts, or other attaching means, such as glue.
• Ribs 43 can be provided to improve the seal between the side walls 41 and bottom 45 of the base 42 and the corresponding surfaces of the top portion 32, as shown in Figures 4-7.
• the base portion 42 has a rearward first wall 44 And a forward second wall 46, also as shown in Figures 4-7.
• the wall 44 will in part bear against the back wall 38a of the shelf 38, as shown in Figures l and lb.
• the base portion 42 also preferably includes an extension 48 depending downwardly from the bottom of the base portion 42, proximate the second wall 46. This extension 48 acts as a stop which prevents insertion of the discharge valve 36 too far into the angled tube portion 30 of the cap 10.
• the passage 50 is preferably in the top surface of the base portion 42, and extends through the base portion 42 from the first wall 44 to the second wall 46, to allow for the passage of dispensed product.
• Figure IA is a cross-sectional view along line 1A-1A in Figure 1 of the discharge duct of the cap 10 showing the lateral groove 50.
• a resilient leaf spring portion 52 of the discharge valve-36 extends upward at an angle from a portion of the second wall 46 below the passage 50. It preferably extends from the lower portion of the second wall 46 of the base 42.
• the front portion 54 (shown in Figures 4-7) of the leaf spring 52 bears against the inside surface of the top portion 32 of the angled tube portion 30 with sufficient force to seal this surface, closing the discharge passage 26, as shown in Figures 1 and lb.
• the leaf spring portion 52 preferably includes a pair of surfaces 56a and 56b which depend downwardly from the side edges of the leaf spring 52, perpendicular to the top surface of the leaf spring 52, as shown in Figures 6-7, for example.
• These surfaces 56a and 56b are preferably tapered towards the front portion 54 and provide a seal with the side walls 32a and 32b of the top portion 32. This further improves the air tightness of the discharge duct of the cap 10, preventing material left within the discharge passage between uses from drying. These surfaces 56a and 56b also prevent product from dispensing over the sides of the leaf spring portion 52, ensuring that the product can be dispensed in a controlled, neat manner. In addition, the surfaces 56a and 56b may be connected to the wall 46 through wall portions 57. The leaf spring 52 itself is generally not deflected enough for the sides of the spring 52 to clear the side walls 32a, 32b of the top portion 32, also preventing dispensing of product from the sides.
• the length of the leaf spring portion 52 and its angle with respect to the base 42 can be varied such that the top of the front edge 54 extends above the top of the base 42, as shown in Figure 5. This is preferred because when the discharge valve 36 is inserted into the angled tube portion 30 of the cap, the leaf spring portion 52 will be forced backward by the top portion 32. This provides initial stress on the leaf spring portion 52 which increases the force with which the front edge 54 bears against the inside surface of the top portion 32, improving the seal along this surface. It also increases the restoring force of the leaf spring 52 during product dispensing, improving the closure of the valve when the container is no longer actuated. An angle of 20-30° from horizontal is preferred for dispensing toothpaste.
• the wall portions 57 also reinforce the leaf spring 52, thereby increasing its restoring force. Varying the thickness of the leaf spring portion 52 of the discharge valve 36, will also vary the restoring force. Further reinforcement, such as ribbing (not shown) extending from the front portion 54 of the leaf spring 52 toward the second wall 46 of the base 42 of the discharge valve 36, can increase the restoring force as well.
• the bottom portion 34 of the angled tube portion 30 is integral with the outer circular side wall 14.
• the side wall 14 has a slot 62 comprising two adjacent portions 62a which are preferably generally parallel to each other.
• a connecting slot portion 62b which is preferably semi-circular, connects the adjacent portions 62a.
• Slot 62 defines a lever portion 80, as shown in Figures 9-10.
• the portion of the wall within the adjacent slot portions 62a forms a hinge region 68 for the lever portion 80, enabling actuation of the container, as is described below.
• the lever portion 80 of the cap 10 has an actuator means, pad 66, for receiving an operator's finger.
• the actuator pad 66 is proximate the top of the first portion 28 of the discharge passage 26. This location provides sufficient leverage for easy actuation by a user's finger.
• the hinge portion 68 defined by the adjacent slot portion 62a is preferably in approximately the same horizontal plane 90 as the top of the valve stem 24, as shown in Figure 1. This minimizes the distance the actuator pad must be depressed to actuate the valve of the container. Behind the actuator pad 66 is a depending wall 72 which defines at least part of the connecting portion of the slot 62b. The member 72 closes off the interior of the cap 10, protecting the valve stem 24. It also gives the cap a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and prevents foreign-matter from collecting beneath the cap 10.
• Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of the dispenser of present invention, modified for use with an overcap 90.
• a shoulder 92 is provided in the circular outer wall 14 to support the overcap 90.
• the overcap 90 is secured to the dispenser 10 through a friction fit, as is known in the art.
• Figures 11-13 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention with a modification to the discharge duct of the angled tube portion 30 and discharge valve 36, which limits movement of the leaf spring portion 52 on discharge of product.
• the inside surfaces of the side walls 32a, 32b of the angled tube portion 30 each include a groove 33 for receiving the portions 52a, 52b.
• the leaf spring portion 52 of the discharge valve 36 includes side portions 52a, 52b, which extend beyond the side walls 41.
• the width of the grooves 33 limits the distance the leaf spring will be allowed to open for discharge, effecting the rate at which product can be discharged.
• the location of grooves 33 will therefore depend on the product. It has been found that thi ⁇ embodiment provides enhanced sealing between the leaf spring 52 and the side walls of the discharge duct. Because of this, it allows for decreased manufacturing tolerances, easing molding and manufacturability.
• the dispen ⁇ ing cap 10 and di ⁇ charge valve 36 are preferably made of a commercially available plastic, such as an olefin.
• the plastic should be resilient, suitable for molding and chemically resistant to the material to be dispensed from the container.
• Polypropylene and polyethylene are preferred because they are inexpensive, enable high cycle times during molding, and are chemically resi ⁇ tant to commonly di ⁇ pen ⁇ ed product ⁇ .
• the pla ⁇ tic can be filled, such as with talc or glas ⁇ , for added strength and resilience.
• a preferred polypropylene for the cap 10 and discharge valve 36 is Pro-fax (TM) PD-701N, a high flow nucleated homopolymer resin from HIMONT Incorporated, which meets FDA regulations for food contact.
• the material chosen for the discharge valve must have sufficient resilience for the leaf spring portion 52 of the discharge valve 36 to maintain its normally closed position sealing the product passage 26 and to return to its normally closed position when toothpaste is not being dispen ⁇ ed.
• the cap 10 and discharge valve 36 need not be of the same material.
• a le ⁇ rigid material may be more suitable.
• Arrow “C” in Figure 14 ⁇ hows the direction of flow from the container (not shown) into and through the dispensing cap 10.
• the toothpaste proceeds through the groove 50 of the base 42 of the discharge valve 36, against the u leaf spring portion 52 of the valve.
• the pres ⁇ ure of the di ⁇ pensing material wedges the leaf spring 52 open, allowing the product to exit the discharge region of the cap 10 in a thin, smooth, rectangular layer, as shown in Figure 14.
• the u ⁇ er can ⁇ ee the product a ⁇ it i ⁇ dispensed, providing for more accurate placement on a toothbrush.
• the toothpaste can thus be easily and neatly placed in the shape of a thin rectangular ribbon on a toothbrush.
• the user releases the actuator pad 66, closing the container valve.
• the restoring force of the valve stem 24 and the hinge region 68 return the lever portion 80 of the cap 10 to its starting po ⁇ ition. Since the toothpa ⁇ te in the product passage 26 is no longer under the pres ⁇ ure of the container, it exerts little force against the leaf spring 52.
• the restoring force of the leaf spring 52 returns it to its normally closed position bearing against the in ⁇ ide ⁇ urface of the top portion 32 of the angled tube portion 30, a ⁇ shown in Figure 1.
• the leaf spring 52 cleanly cuts the band of toothpaste, forcing the toothpaste beneath it back behind the leaf ⁇ pring ⁇ o that there i ⁇ little or no re ⁇ idual toothpa ⁇ te on any exterior ⁇ urface of the di ⁇ charge duct of the cap 10.
• the front portion 54 and ⁇ ide ⁇ urface ⁇ 56a and 56b provide an airtight seal along three surface ⁇ of the di ⁇ charge pa ⁇ sage 26, preventing the toothpaste remaining within the product passage from drying. It is therefore fresh for the next use and will not clog the product pas ⁇ age.
• top portion 32 be the stationary part of the discharge region. This positions the discharge valve 36 beneath the top portion 32, which protects the exposed portion of the valve 36 and i ⁇ more ae ⁇ thetically appealing.
• the shape of the front portion 54 preferably matches the shape of the inside surface of the top portion 32 where the front edge 54 bears against it.
• both surface ⁇ be ⁇ traight, re ⁇ ulting in a thin rectangular layer which can be neatly placed on a toothbru ⁇ h on actuation.
• the front edge 54 and corresponding surface of the top portion 32 could be curved, or be of some other decorative shape. The product dispen ⁇ ed will then take on the shape of the matching surfaces. If the front portion 54 of the leaf spring is curved, a supporting rib could be provided.
• the di ⁇ pen ⁇ ing cap and insert are preferably molded separately by injection molding or other conventional molding processes, as is known in the art. Separate molding enables the discharge valve 36 to be formed such that the leaf spring portion 52 extends above the top of the base 42, as described above, enabling its in ⁇ ertion under stress and increasing the force with which it bears against the inside surface of the top portion 32. It also allows for the use of different materials for the discharge valve 36 and the cap 10.
• the di ⁇ penser of the present invention has been described in use with a pres ⁇ urized container. Any of the known barrier package systems, such as those using a piston or those referred to a ⁇ a bag-in-can, may also be used. See, for example, San Rafael, Michael L. , "Alternative Sy ⁇ tem ⁇ Pu ⁇ h For Market Share," Spray Technology & Marketing, Augu ⁇ t 1992, pp. 37-44, for a discus ⁇ ion of ⁇ uch systems. As stated above, the dispen ⁇ er of the present invention can also be u ⁇ ed with manually pressurized containers, including pump type-dispen ⁇ ing systems.
• the dispenser of the present invention need not be a cap, but may be an integral, discharge portion of a container.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 1994
  • 1994-01-27 WO PCT/US1994/001039 patent/WO1994016971A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-01-27 CA CA 2133194 patent/CA2133194A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-01-27 EP EP94907365A patent/EP0633860A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-01-27 AU AU60982/94A patent/AU6098294A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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