EP3976493A1

EP3976493A1 - Closure

Info

Publication number: EP3976493A1
Application number: EP20730402.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrick Schmidt; Rainer Schawo
Original assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
Current assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
Priority date: 2019-05-26
Filing date: 2020-05-26
Publication date: 2022-04-06
Also published as: GB201907445D0; WO2020239790A1

Abstract

A dispensing closure comprising an actuator disc and a base is provided. The disc is pivotably mounted on the base and is pivotable between a closed position which prevents fluid product dispensing and an open position which allows product fluid dispensing. The disc includes opposed trunnions and the base includes a side wall providing opposed gudgeons for pivotably receiving the trunnions. The gudgeons project inwardly from the sidewall.

Description

CLOSURE

This invention relates generally to a dispensing closure for a container and particularly, although not exclusively, to a disc top dispensing closure.

In known closures of this type, which are typically formed from injection moulded plastics, a spout is formed as part of a disc-like lid which is pivotably connected to a closure cap or base for rocking or tilting movement between open and closed positions. Such container and closure combinations may contain and dispense products in the form of, for example, particulates, pastes, creams, liquids, granules, or aerosols.

Usually, as shown in Figure I , the “eyes” or gudgeons in the base which receive trunnions/pips on the lid are located within the body side skirt (i.e. they are formed as depressions/cavities/material thinnings) and create sink marks. In addition, more material is used in the base side skirt above the disc eyes, since otherwise a gap would be present between the disc and the side skirt.

The present invention seeks to provide improvements in or relating to disc top type closures.

An aspect of the present invention provides a dispensing closure comprising an actuator disc and a base, the disc is pivotally mounted on the base and is pivotable between a closed position which prevents fluid product dispensing and an open position which allows product fluid dispensing, the disc includes opposed trunnions and the base includes a side wall providing opposed gudgeons for pivotably receiving the trunnions, in which the gudgeons project inwardly from the sidewall.

A further aspect provides a disc top dispensing closure comprising an actuator disc and a base, the disc is pivotally mounted on the base and is pivotable between a closed position which prevents fluid product dispensing and an open position which allows product fluid dispensing from as associated container in use, the disc includes opposed pins and the base includes a side wall providing opposed bearing eyes for pivotably

I receiving the pins, in which the bearing eyes are formed as extension from the sidewall and do not cavitate the sidewall.

In some aspects and embodiments the objective of the present invention is to relocate the disc eyes from the side skirt towards the disc.

Hence, in order to improve the side skirt surface and reduce the required material the dislocation of the disc eyes have been made.

In some embodiments the disc and/or base have a polished surface.

Some embodiments relate to closures having a polished surface (the TE disc for e.g. has rips with masks the shrink marks) e.g. hand pumps as well as closures where material savings is crucial and design needs to be high end.

The closure comprises a transport lock for preventing the disc moving from the closed to the open position. The transport lock may comprise a lock member that is movable from a locked position to an unlocked position.

The disc may include a frontal dispensing outlet.

The base and the disc may be formed from different materials.

The base may be non-removably attachable to a container. For example a snap bead or the like may be provided.

The base may, for example, be generally cylindrical or generally oval.

The disc may comprise a top plate and a depending sidewall.

In some embodiments the sidewall includes a gap/notch/recess into which the transport lock can be pressed to move it to its unlocked position. The disc may comprise a recess for assisting movement to the open position.

The base may comprise a sidewall notch. This can be used, for example, to facilitate pressing down of the lid.

The closure may comprise tamper-evident means for indicating if the disc has moved from an initially closed position to the open position. In some embodiments a transport lock also functions as tamper-evident means e.g. if it moves to and remains in the unlocked position. In other embodiments additional tamper-evident feature/s may be provided.

The base may comprise tamper-evident means for indicating if the base has been removed from a container, for example a drop band.

Forming the components from different materials allows, for example, different properties to be provided such as colour, transparency, strength and friction.

The base and disc materials may both be thermoplastic polymers.

In some embodiments the materials may be the same type of material, for example the base and disc may both be formed from a polypropylene-based material. Other materials, such as polyethylene may be used. In some embodiments different polymers classes may be used.

In some embodiments one of the base and disc may be formed from a copolymer polypropylene and the other may be formed from a homopolymer polypropylene. In one embodiment, for example, the base is formed from a homopolymer polypropylene and the disc is formed from a copolymer polypropylene.

In some embodiments the resin selected is a homopolymer for the body and a copolymer for the disc. The base and/or the disc may additionally include an interference member. The member may be provided to prevent tilting of the actuator disc until a sufficient predetermined opening force is applied. This can be useful, for example, to prevent accidental opening of the closure.

For example the disc may include an interference member for engaging the base when disc is moved to the open position.

In some embodiments the interference member is a friction rib.

The closure may comprise a tamper-evident member for indicating if the disc has moved from an initially closed position to the open position.

In some embodiments the tamper-evident member must be activated to allow the disc to move to the open position in addition to disengagement of a transport lock. For example the member may prevent movement of the disc from the initially closed to the open position, and therefore must first be deactivated (e.g. by moving or removing it). In other embodiments the tamper-evident member may be activated by movement of the disc to the open position. In other words the act of moving the disc from the initially closed to the open position automatically activates the tamper evidence.

In some embodiments the tamper-evident member is at least partly removed in use. For example the member may be completely removed in use.

The member may include a pull tab to assist with partial/complete removal.

At least part of the tamper-evident member may remain on the closure after first opening. For example part of the member may remain on the lid and/or base.

The tamper-evident member may be a strip or band. The tamper-evident member may be frangibly connected to the disc in the initially closed position, for example by one or more frangible bridges. Alternatively or additionally the tamper-evident member may be frangibly connected to the base in the initially closed position, for example by one or more frangible bridges.

The base may be non-removably attachable to a container. In other embodiments the base is removably attached, for example by screw thread engagement.

The base may comprise tamper-indicating means for indicating if it has been removed from a container.

The tamper-evident member may be formed integrally with the disc and/or the base, for example by injection moulding of a plastics material.

The tamper-evident member may be at least partly removable and the member may include a pull tab or the like to facilitate removal by a user.

The base may be generally cylindrical, for example with a generally circular, oval, ellipsoidal or polygonal section.

The disc may comprise a recess for assisting movement to the open position.

The base may comprise a recess for assisting movement to the open position.

The present invention also provides an actuator disc suitable for use as part of a closure as described herein.

A further aspect provides a disc top closure comprising a body, a spout is formed as part of a disc-like lid which is pivotably connected to a closure cap or base for rocking or tilting movement between open and closed positions, the lid comprises lateral pins received in bearings provided on or by the base, in which the bearings are displaced/re-located/dislocated the side skirt towards the disc. Some embodiments relate to a disc-top or toggle-action style dispensing closure. The closure comprises a base and a lid (or actuator disc) pivotably mounted to the base.

The base may be mountable on a container neck (not shown) for example by screw thread, ratchet, lugs, bayonet or snap bead engagement.

In order to improve the base side skirt surface and reduce the required material the dislocation of the disc eyes/gudgeons in the base for receiving trunnions on the lid may be provided. The trunnions may be formed in recesses in the lid sidewall.

Base part - bearing eye may be formed by an upturned generally parabolic arch shape projection/rib that projects inwardly from the interior surface of the base.

The design, which may be open at the bottom may not generate an undercut in the area of the bearing eyes. As a result, no complex sliders may be required in the tool.

The storage area for the disc, designed in this way, may enable an even wall thickness on the base part. This may allow a continuous contour to be maintained (® stringent design).

Thin wall thickness of the base part bearing eyes may be possible. Reduced sink marks (visible from the outside) may be possible.

Bearing eyes with an integrated lead-in chamfer may be provided. In some embodiments this is not visible when installed. (® improved optics).

The support / supports for the disc guide elements may be provided. These may not touch the outer wall of the base part. This can mean no sink marks from the outside. (® improved optics).

Separate internal generally parabolic guide elements may be provided on the underside of the disc top plate for simple tool design. The elements may rest/turn on the support on the top deck of the base. In some embodiments, due to the recesses the bearing journals/trunnions do not protrude from the basic contour of the disc (inside). This may provide advantages in feeding.

A bearing journal area may be favourable for mould separation in terms of tools (® less visible mould separation lines).

In some embodiments a continuous contour course can be maintained (® stringent design) on the lid.

Greater storage depth may be possible (® better disc hold or difficult disassembly).

The present invention also provides a closure as described herein in combination with a container.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Examples of aspects and embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, front, rear, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention or its connection to a closure.

Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein. Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles“a,”“an,” and“the” are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or“including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Disc Closure

Figure I - prior art Usually the disc eyes are located within the body side skirt and create ugly sink marks indicated by the arrows. In addition, more material is used in the side skirt above the disc eyes, since otherwise a gap would be present between the disc and the side skirt. Figure 2 and 3

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 there is shown a disc-top or toggle-action style dispensing closure generally indicated 10. The closure comprises a generally cylindrical base 15 and a lid 20 (or actuator disc) pivotably mounted to the base 15. In this embodiment the material from which the base and lid is made is generally the same (although the colour may be different). In other embodiments the material from which the base and lid are formed may be different e.g. different types of a polymeric material such as polypropylene. The base is mountable on a container neck (not shown) for example by screw thread, ratchet, lugs, bayonet or snap bead engagement.

In order to improve the base side skirt 25 surface and reduce the required material the dislocation of the disc eyes/gudgeons 30 in the base for receiving trunnions 35 on the lid have been made, as described in more detail below. The trunnions 35 are also formed in recesses 40 in the lid sidewall 45.

Figures 4 and 5 Base part - bearing eye formed by an upturned generally parabolic arch shape projection/rib that projects inwardly from the interior surface of the base.

The design, which is open at the bottom (see the arrow pointing to the gap 180 in Figure 5), does not generate an undercut in the area of the bearing eyes.

As a result, no complex sliders are required in the tool.

Figures 6 and 7 Base part - bearing eye

The storage area for the disc, designed in this way, enables an even wall thickness on the base part.

This allows a continuous contour to be maintained (® stringent design)

Figures 8 and 9 Base part - bearing eye

Thin wall thickness of the bearing eyes possible. Reduced sink marks (visible from the outside).

Bearing eye 1 30 with integrated lead-in chamfer. This is not visible when installed. (® improved optics).

Figure 10

Base part - bearing eye

The support / supports 150 for the disc guide elements does not touch the outer wall of the base part.

This means no sink marks from the outside. (® improved optics).

Figure

Disc Separate internal generally parabolic guide elements 160 are provided on the underside of the disc top plate 165 for simple tool design. The elements 160 rest/turn on the support 150 on the top deck 170 of the base. Figure 12

Disc

Due to the recesses the bearing journals/trunnions 1 35 do not protrude from the basic contour of the disc (inside). Advantages in feeding.

Bearing journal area favourable for mould separation in terms of tools (® less visible mould separation lines). Figure 1 3

Disc

Continuous contour course can be maintained (® stringent design).

Figure 14

Disc The trunnion 1 35 is engaged in/under the gudgeon. The guide 160 rests on the support 150.

Greater storage depth possible (® better disc hold or difficult disassembly). Figure 15 shows a closure 2 10 formed according to a further embodiment. The closure includes a transport lock 290 which must be pushed/pressed inwards to disengage it from above a sidewall notch 295 in order to allow the lid to be pressed. 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.

Claims

I . A dispensing closure comprising an actuator disc and a base, the disc is pivotally mounted on the base and is pivotable between a closed position which prevents fluid product dispensing and an open position which allows product fluid dispensing, the disc includes opposed trunnions and the base includes a side wall providing opposed gudgeons for pivotably receiving the trunnions, in which the gudgeons project inwardly from the sidewall.

2. A disc top dispensing closure comprising an actuator disc and a base, the disc is pivotally mounted on the base and is pivotable between a closed position which prevents fluid product dispensing and an open position which allows product fluid dispensing from as associated container in use, the disc includes opposed pins and the base includes a side wall providing opposed bearing eyes for pivotably receiving the pins, in which the bearing eyes are formed as extension from the sidewall and do not cavitate the sidewall.

3. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the disc and/or base have a polished surface.

4. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closure comprises a transport lock for preventing the disc moving from the closed to the open position.

5. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a container.