EP2630053B1

EP2630053B1 - Closure having a drip minimising lid

Info

Publication number: EP2630053B1
Application number: EP11776224.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claude Benoit-Gonin; Philippe Bardet
Original assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
Current assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
Priority date: 2010-10-22
Filing date: 2011-09-26
Publication date: 2015-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-26
Also published as: EP2630053A1; WO2012052701A1; GB201017913D0; ES2534366T3

Description

The present invention relates generally to a closure and particularly to a dispensing closure for a flowable product.
There are many examples of closures which are adapted to dispense a flowable product and which include a lid for closing a container to protect the product, for example WO2009/120261 . CH619413 discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1. In many cases, before use of the product it is preferable to shake or otherwise agitate the product to mix contents which may have settled over time. In such cases the product often flows into the lid. When the lid is subsequently opened there may be a residual amount of product which remains in the lid and can flow down the wall of the lid. With the lid in an open position and/or during a closing operation fluid may flow down the wall and out of the lid onto the exterior of the closure and/or the container rather than flowing back into the container. This is undesirable, particularly in cases where the product is sticky or oily.
The present invention seeks to address the problems with known dispensing closures.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure according to claim 1.
The present invention therefore provides a means of preventing product which may find itself in the lid from leaving the lid at least until such time as the product can exit back into an associated container so that it does not flow onto undesirable areas of the closure and/or the container.
The trap may releasably catch product. Although it is possible for the trap to collect and retain product indefinitely, it may be preferable for there to be provided a way of releasing collected product, particularly when the lid is returned to a closed position and the product can flow back into a container.
The trap is a trough or the like. The trough has an opening so that product can flow into the trough and then is directed along it to the opening for release. The trough collects product and subsequently directs it to a slot/gap for return to a container.
The trough may comprise a projecting lip. Such a lip can temporarily collect product flowing down the wall. Such a lip may be inclined, curved or otherwise shaped to trap or otherwise impede the flow of product off the wall until such time as is desirable.
The lip may include one or more gaps for releasing product. The gaps can be provided at one or more positions which result in product release at a desirable position.
The closure may further comprise a base and the lid may be connected to the base, for example by a hinge. In embodiments in which the lid is articulated to a base the gap in the lid trap or other point of trapped product release may be generally opposite the hinge.
The base may comprise a dispensing spout and in such embodiments the interior sealing skirt seals internally and/or externally the spout.
The base may be connectable to a metal container or can. Alternatively or additionally the base may be connectable to a plastics container using suitable surface formations such as screw threads or snap beads.
The present invention also provides a closure as described herein in combination with a container.
The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a section of a dispensing closure shown in a closed position;
Figure 2 is a section of the closure of Figure 1 shown in a partially open position;
Figure 3 is a section of a closure formed according to an embodiment;
Figure 4 is a section of the closure of Figure 3 shown in a partially open position;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the closure of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a section of a closure formed according to a further embodiment;
Figure 7 is a section of the closure of Figure 6 shown in a partially open position;
Figure 8 is a section of the closure of Figures 6 and 7 shown in an position; and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the underside of the lid of the closures shown in Figures 6 to 8.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a closure, not according to the invention as claimed, generally indicated 10 comprising a base 15 and a lid 20.
The base 15 comprises a central dispensing cylinder 25 including a dispensing spout 30 extending around one side of the cylinder and terminating with a curved pouring lip 35. The other end of the cylinder 25 extends into a container 40 and engages on one side of a curled flange 45. A deck 50 projects radially outwardly from the side of the cylinder 25. An annular sealing wall 55 depends from the deck 50 and extends around the cylinder 25 spaced therefrom by an amount so that it engages on the other side of the curled flange 45 to secure the closure 10 on the container 40. A further annular wall 60 depends from the periphery of the deck 50 radially outside the wall 55 and spaced therefrom.
Opposite the spout 30 the base 15 is connected to the lid 20 by a hinge 65. The lid 10 comprises a top plate 70 and a sidewall 75 which depends from the periphery of the top plate 70. An annular sealing skirt 80 depends from the interior of the top plate 70. In the closed position shown in Figure 1 the skirt 80 fits into and seals the dispensing cylinder 25. The free end of the skirt 80 is provided with a lip or ledge 85 which projects radially inwardly, in this embodiment approximately orthogonally to the skirt 80. The ledge 85 extends around the majority of the skirt 80 with the exception of a gap 90 which is positioned approximately opposite the hinge 65.
In use, if the container 40 is shaken, product may enter the closure 10 and flow into the interior where it will contact the dispensing cylinder 25, skirt 80 and plate 70. Product which flows across the plate 70 and down the skirt 80 will encounter the ledge 85. If the closure is in the closed position shown in Figure 1 this fluid will flow over the ledge 85 and back into the container; and some of the fluid will flow straight through the gap 90. However, if the closure 10 is opened either partially or fully whilst product remains on the skirt 80, it will collect in the trap formed by the ledge 85 which will prevent it from dripping from the end of the skirt and out of the closure. In such circumstances, when the closure 10 is reclosed any trapped product will flow over the lip and back into the container.
The upper surface 85A of the ledge 85 is downwardly inclined with respect to the top plate 70. This means that any fluid which collects will tend to run off the ledge when the lid is in the closed position shown in Figure 1.
Referring now to Figures 3 to 6 there is shown a closure 110 formed according to an embodiment of the present invention. The closure 110 is very similar to the closure 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The major difference is that the free end of the skirt 180 is inclined, in this embodiment being shorter adjacent the hinge and longer diametrically opposite the hinge.
In this embodiment, instead of the ledge, the free end of the skirt 180 is provided with an upturned (towards the top plate 170) flap 185 which forms a fluid trap. The material making up the flap 185 is a continuous annulus except that it includes an arcuate slot 190 diametrically opposite the hinge as shown best in Figure 6.
Use of the closure 110 is very similar to the closure 10 in that any fluid running down the interior of the skirt A80 will collect in the trough formed by the flap 185. In the closed position shown in Figure 3, product will be caused to flow towards the slot 190 due to the inclination of the free end of the skirt 180. As the closure is opened as shown in Figure 4 or as it returns to the closed position fluid will collect in the trap formed by the flap 185. Fluid in the trap will flow towards the top plate 170 if the closure is moved to the fully opened position shown in Figure 5 but then will return into the trap as the closure is closed. Subsequently trapped fluid will flow through the trap and out of the slot 190.
Referring now to Figures 7 to 9 there is shown a closure 210 formed according to an alternative embodiment.
The closure 210 is very similar to the closure 110 except that the trap is formed by a curved lip 285 rather than a straight flap 185. In this embodiment the lip 285 is formed as an arcuate flap which extends the majority of the way around the free end of the skirt 280 except for a gap 290 diametrically opposite the hinge 265. In this embodiment the top plate 270 is formed from a separate part which fits within the skirt 275.
Functioning of the closure 210 is generally the same as the closures 10, 110.

Claims

A dispensing closure (110, 210) for a flowable product, the closure including a lid (120, 220) having a top plate (170, 270) and an interior sealing skirt (180, 280) depending from said top plate (170,270), the interior of which skirt may collect product in use, wherein the lid comprises a trap for catching collected product which subsequently flows down the said skirt interior, characterised in that the trap comprises a trough (185, 285) at the free end of said skirt (180, 280) which is upturned towards the top plate for impeding the flow of product off the said skirt interior, the trough comprising an opening (190, 290) such that product can flow into the trough and then is directed along it to the opening for release.
A closure as claimed in Claim 1, in which the trough is an upturned flap (185).
A closure as claimed in Claim 1, in which the trough is a curved lip (285).
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the trap releases product when the lid is in the closed position.
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the top plate (170, 270) is formed from a separate part which fits within the skirt (180, 280).
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the opening comprises one or more gaps for releasing product.
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the opening comprises a slot (190) for releasing product.
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closure further comprises a base(115, 215).
A closure as claimed in Claim 8, in which the lid is connected to the base.
A closure as claimed in Claim 9, in which the lid is connected to the base by a hinge (165, 265).
A closure as claimed in Claim 10, in which the opening is generally opposite the hinge.
A closure as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 11, in which the base comprises a dispensing spout (130, 230).
A closure as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 12, in which the base is connectable to a metal and/or a plastics container (140, 240).
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the free end of the interior sealing skirt (180, 280) is inclined.
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a container.