EP2809588B1

EP2809588B1 - A dispensing closure

Info

Publication number: EP2809588B1
Application number: EP13702776.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jeremy Clive MARTIN; Peter PARGEN
Original assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
Current assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
Priority date: 2012-02-03
Filing date: 2013-01-25
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-25
Also published as: CN104144861B; HK1202508A1; CN104144861A; EP2809588A1; WO2013113640A1; GB201201977D0

Description

The present invention relates generally to a closure and particularly to a closure and particularly to a dispensing closure for a container.
The design of dispensing closures often involves consideration of conflicting requirements. For example, the ability to be able to produce in high volumes by moulding may place certain restrictions on the shape of a closure or the functions it can perform.
FR 2 803 828 discloses a prior art dispensing closure having the features of the preamble of appended claim 1.
The present invention seeks to provide increased flexibility in product design whilst retaining functionality and efficiency of manufacture.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure having a top cap comprising a base and a lid, the lid being attached to the base by a hinge, the base is connectable to a container, the closure further comprising a shroud member with which the top cap can be docked to determine at least in part of the profile of the closure, characterised in that the shroud member includes a rebate into which part of the hing is movable.
The top cap may be formed as a single piece. For example the cap may consist of a base integrally formed with a lid.
The profile of the shroud may be matched with a container to which the closure is to be connected. In this way there are fewer restrictions on the shape of the top cap.
The shroud member may be formed as a skirt, for example a generally cylindrical body with a circular or ellipsoidal section.
The profile of the closure may comprise or includes a reverse taper.
The base may include a dispensing spout, which may be integrally formed.
The shroud may include an opening for receiving the top cap. The closure may be assembled by docking the top cap into the shroud, for example by lowering it in from above or by pushing it up from below.
The closure may consist of two parts, for example a one-piece top cap and a one-piece shroud.
The shroud includes a rebate into which part of the hinge is movable. The shroud does not therefore interfere with the opening and closing of the top cap.
The shroud member may include a curved container interface line and a top cap interface line, the lines being substantially parallel to each other.
Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying dependent claims.
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 side elevation of a closure formed according to the present invention shown connected to a container;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the closure of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the closure of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is are a relevation of the closure of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the closure of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the closure of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the closure of Figure 6 with a top cap shown in an open position;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a shroud member forming part of the closure of Figures 1 to 7;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the shroud member of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a top cap forming part of the closure of Figures 1 to 7 and shown in an open position;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the top cap of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the closure of the Figures 1 to 7 illustrating its assembly;
Figure 13 is a rear perspective view of the illustration of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a section of the closure of Figure 6;
Figure 15 is a section of the closure of Figure 7;
Figure 16 is a section of the top cap of Figure 10 and 11 shown fitted to a container in the absence of the shroud member; and
Figure 17 is a section of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment.

Referring first to Figure 1 there is shown a dispense closure generally indicated 10 and shown connected to a container 20.
Referring also to Figures 2 to 15 the closure 10 comprises a top cap 30 and a shroud member 35.
The top cap 30 comprises a base 40 and a lid 45.
The base comprises a generally arch-shape top deck 50 in which is formed a dispensing spout 55 surrounded by a channel 56. An annular outer skirt 60 depends from the deck 50 and includes a pair of diametrically opposed U-shape cut-outs 61. The interior of the skirt 60 carries a retention bead 62 at its free end. The bead 62 does not extend across the cut-outs 61. An annular inner skirt 65 depends from the top deck 50, radially inward of the outer skirt 60.
The lid 45 comprises a top plate 70 which has a shape corresponding to the top deck 50. An annular sealing skirt 71 depends from the top plate 70. The top plate 70 is also provided with a peripheral curved side wall 72 with a central peak 73.
The base 50 and lid 45 are provided with corresponding linear rear sides 46, 51. The sides 46, 51 are joined by a hinge assembly consisting of two, fixed outer hinge elements 47, 52 carried on blocks 48, 49 and a central, moving hinge element 53. The elements 46, 51 are fixed, living hinges. The element 53 is a generally L-shape rigid link connected respectively to the lid and base by film hinges 54A, 54B.
The shroud member 35 comprises a generally cylindrical body including an ellipsoidal side wall 36. The majority of the side wall 36 is open with the exception of a rear deck 37 which carries a recess 38 including a rebate 39 the purpose of which is described in more detail below. In section D the majority of the side wall 36 is generally linear, with the exception of the "rear" in the region of the deck 37 which is curved and outwardly flared.
In this embodiment the top cap 30 is formed as a single piece, with the base and lid integrally formed and the shroud 35 formed a separate, single piece. The top cap 30 is shaped so as to be received within the opening defined by the shroud side wall 36. The top cap 30 is received into the shroud 35 so that the hinge blocks 48, 49 snap in to the recess 38. The periphery of the base top deck 50 also fits tightly in to the side wall 36. The assembly features are concealed in the closure.
Once assembled the closure 10 can be applied to a container 20. The closure 10 is applied so that the base outer wall 60 fits around a container neck 21 and the inner skirt 65 is pushed into the bore of the neck 21. In Figure 16 this is shown in more detail and with the shroud 36 removed for clarity. The skirt bead 21 snap fits underneath the corresponding retention bead 22 provided on the neck 21 to hold the closure 10 firmly in position. It would be noted that the shroud 35, in this embodiment, plays no role in retaining the closure of the container, merely resting in a channel 23 on the container neck shoulder 24.
In use, the closure is opened and closed by flipping the lid 45 with respect to the base 50. As shown best in Figures 14 and 15, when the lid 45 is flipped from the closed to the open position the hinge element 53 moves rearwardly in to the rebate 39.
In the closed position the lid 45 fits on to the base 40. The sealing skirt 71 fits around the spout 55 and in to the channel 56. The lid top plate 70 and consequently the side wall 72 are slightly larger than the base deck and consequently the free end of the side wall 72 fits around the periphery of the deck.
Because in this embodiment the shroud member 35 does not carry any working components as such, its shape is not constrained by conventional manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, all of the parts which need to interact with each other when the closure is closed are on the same part, which gives better control.
Profile matching can be more easily achieved because the shroud can match the contours of an associated container. For example, the curvature of the side wall 36 can easily be matched so as to continue a curve from the container 20 as shown in Figure 1. In addition, the parting line 70 between the top cap lid and base is curved and at least part of that curvature can be replicated at the free end of the shroud 35 so that the interface 75 between the shroud and the container 20 can be matched, in this case parallel to at least part of the interface between the top cap and the shroud (which in this embodiment is also the parting line 70).
In Figure 17 a closure 110 formed according to an alternative embodiment is shown.
The closure 110 is very similar to the closure 10. The main differences concern the orifice shape and drainback angle, the general development of the snap features and the seal design. The profile of the two individual components, the profile of the assembled component, and the overall mechanics of assembly are substantially the same (although could be different in other embodiments).
In Figure 17 the following features are referenced:

1. Liquid drain-back angle
2. Retention features
3. Snap ring slots
4. Bore seal design
5. Interlocking gate well
6. Spout shape
7. Seal design

In this embodiment the closure is designed and adapted for use in household/laundry applications. Other embodiments may be adapted for different uses.
Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A dispensing closure (10) having a top cap (30) comprising a base (40) and a lid (45), the lid being attached to the base by a hinge (47, 52, 53), the base is connectable to a container, the closure further comprising a shroud member(35) with which the top cap can be docked to determine at least in part of the profile of the closure, characterised in that the shroud member includes a rebate (39) into which part (53) of the hinge is movable.
A closure (10) as claimed in claim 1, in which the profile of the shroud member (35) is matched to a container (20) to which the closure is to be connected.
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim in which the shroud member (35) is formed asa skirt.
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the shroud member(35) is generally ellipsoidal or circular in plan.
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim in which the profile of the closure comprises or includes a reverse taper.
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the base (40) includes a dispensing spout (55).
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the shroud member(35) includes an opening for receiving the top cap.
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closure consists of two parts: a one-piece top cap (30); and a one-piece shroud member(35).
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the shroud member(35) includes a curved container interface line (75) and a top cap interface line (70), the lines being substantially parallel to each other.
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hinge comprises two, fixed outer hinge elements (47, 52) and a central, moving hinge element (53).
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the shroud member includes a reardeck (37) in which the rebate (39) is formed.
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the base includes a recess (38) and the top cap includes hinge blocks (48, 49) which snap in to the recess.
A closure (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the interface (75) between the shroud member (35) and a container (20) is curved and is matched.
A detergent dispensing closure comprising a closure as claimed in any preceding claim.
A closure as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a container.