GB2053850A - Dispensers for pasty products - Google Patents

Dispensers for pasty products Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2053850A
GB2053850A GB7923217A GB7923217A GB2053850A GB 2053850 A GB2053850 A GB 2053850A GB 7923217 A GB7923217 A GB 7923217A GB 7923217 A GB7923217 A GB 7923217A GB 2053850 A GB2053850 A GB 2053850A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
nozzle
valve member
container
cap
prong
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB7923217A
Other versions
GB2053850B (en
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.)
Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA
Original Assignee
Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA
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 Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA filed Critical Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA
Priority to GB7923217A priority Critical patent/GB2053850B/en
Publication of GB2053850A publication Critical patent/GB2053850A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2053850B publication Critical patent/GB2053850B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F11/00—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it
    • G01F11/28—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with stationary measuring chambers having constant volume during measurement
    • G01F11/30—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with stationary measuring chambers having constant volume during measurement with supply and discharge valves of the lift or plug-lift type
    • G01F11/32—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with stationary measuring chambers having constant volume during measurement with supply and discharge valves of the lift or plug-lift type for liquid or semiliquid
    • 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
    • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
    • B65D35/24—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices
    • B65D35/40—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices for metering discharge

Abstract

A metering arrangement for a dispensing container such as a toothpaste tube comprises a valve member 7, 8, 9 having a limited travel within the outlet nozzle 3; a head 7 initially allows flow but is then moved by the flow itself to a position in which it blocks off the nozzle. The valve member is lightly held by claws 11 in the blocking-off position and can be reset by means of a prong 12 or 13 on the cap 6, which may be reversible. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensers for pasty products This invention relates to containers for dispensing pasty products. It is of particular use in connection with flexible-walled containers, like toothpaste tubes, for dispensing toothpaste, cosmetic creams, polish, and indeed any materials, of a viscous or pasty nature.
The conventional way of dispensing from such tubes is simply to squeeze the tube until the desired amount of the pasty material has emerged from its nozzle; it is accepted that this can often be wasteful because it is very easy to dispense more than intended, yet hitherto there has been no way of positively controlling the amount. Proposals have been made for mounting a tube or bottle in an external structure, for example the widely-used so-called 'optic' (Registered Trade Mark) used in bars to meter out a predetermined quantity. The aim of the present invention, by contrast, is to provide a simple way, incorporated in the container itself, for metering out a pre-determined quantity of the contents at each operation.
According to the invention, a dispensing container has an outlet nozzle with an orifice at its outlet end and an obtruding valve member captive in the region of the nozzle and with limited freedom to slide axially, its travel being sufficient, in the direction towards the interior of the container, to allow the contents to pass at first around the valve member, in its innermost end position, and into the nozzle, but the member being simultaneously advanced by the flow to a position in which it cuts off further flow.
Thus with the valve member occupying this innermost position, when the container is squeezed or otherwise acted on to urge the contents towards the nozzle, the valve member is advanced towards the nozzle, pushing the product within the nozzle out through the orifice, but then cutting off the nozzle and preventing further flow.
The container is preferably used in conjunction with a cap incorporating a prong which, when the cap is replaced on the nozzle after use, projects through the orifice and pushes the valve member at least largely back to its innermost position. As the member moves back, fresh product is sucked around and past it to fill the nozzle, ready for another dispensing operation.
The valve member may be in the form of a disc fitting loosely in the mouth of the nozzle and having an axial stem with radially projecting fingers at its other end to guide the member and prevent it tilting.
Claws on the inside wall of the container around the inner end of the nozzle form a cage to retain the member in its advanced (cutting-off) position until positively retracted by the probe.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is section through the upper end of a flexible-walled container incorporating the invention, complete with cap, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the valve member alone.
Figure 1 shows the upper end of a basically conventional toothpaste tube 1 with a frusto-concial shoulder portion 2 leading to a cylindrical nozzle 3 having an outlet orifice 4. An external screw thread 5 provides for engagement by a cap 6. The tube contains a pasty product.
Slidable at the mouth of the nozzle 3 we provide a valve member comprising a disc 7 joined to a stem 8 which carries three radial fingers 9 that slide within the nozzle to prevent the valve member tilting. A bead 10 around the inner end of the nozzle limits the inward travel (i.e. travel towards the interior of the container) to the position shown.
When the tube 1 is squeezed, some of the product flows past the disc portion 7 of the valve member but at the same time the product acts on the lower face of the valve member to displace it towards the nozzle and when it engages the bead 10 all further flow is cut off. Projecting from the inside of the shoulder portion 2 are claws 11 which are suffciently resilient to allow the disc portion 7 to snap past them, but then they hold it lightly against the bead 10.
Thus the quantity of product dispensed will be limited substantially to the volume represented roughly by the internal cross-section of the nozzle multiplied by the travel of the valve member.
To re-set the valve member, the cap 6 carries a prong 12 so that as the cap is replaced on the nozzle the prong projects through the orifice 4 and pushes the valve member out of the grip of the claws 11 and back to its starting position.
When the cap is subsequently removed for a fresh dispensing operation, the withdrawal of the prong 12 will cause a stight suction, moving the valve memberawayfrom its starting position and reducing the subsequent travel when the tube is squeezed.
However, for a given product, of given viscosity, the quantity dispensed at each operation will remain substantially constant.
In the example shown the cap 5 has a second prong 13 on its upper face, protected bya shroud 14.
This allows the user, by inverting the cap and inserting this prong into the orifice, to re-set the valve member and then dispense a second metered quantity without having to screw the cap back onto the nozzle first.
The uses to which the invention may be put are not limited. For example it enables toothpaste to be dispensed by blind persons, or rectal creams or shampoos can be dispensed without waste by a person not in a position to observe the tube during a dispensing operation. Equally it may be used for dispensing glues, such as two-part resins which have to be mixed together in measured proportions.
It may also be used with rigid containers of the kind having a piston to displace the contents.
1. A dispensing container for pasty products having an outlet nozzle with an orifice at its outlet end and an obtruding valve member captive in the region of the interior of the nozzle and with limited freedom to slide axially within the nozzle, the travel of the valve member in the direction of the interior of
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Dispensers for pasty products This invention relates to containers for dispensing pasty products. It is of particular use in connection with flexible-walled containers, like toothpaste tubes, for dispensing toothpaste, cosmetic creams, polish, and indeed any materials, of a viscous or pasty nature. The conventional way of dispensing from such tubes is simply to squeeze the tube until the desired amount of the pasty material has emerged from its nozzle; it is accepted that this can often be wasteful because it is very easy to dispense more than intended, yet hitherto there has been no way of positively controlling the amount. Proposals have been made for mounting a tube or bottle in an external structure, for example the widely-used so-called 'optic' (Registered Trade Mark) used in bars to meter out a predetermined quantity. The aim of the present invention, by contrast, is to provide a simple way, incorporated in the container itself, for metering out a pre-determined quantity of the contents at each operation. According to the invention, a dispensing container has an outlet nozzle with an orifice at its outlet end and an obtruding valve member captive in the region of the nozzle and with limited freedom to slide axially, its travel being sufficient, in the direction towards the interior of the container, to allow the contents to pass at first around the valve member, in its innermost end position, and into the nozzle, but the member being simultaneously advanced by the flow to a position in which it cuts off further flow. Thus with the valve member occupying this innermost position, when the container is squeezed or otherwise acted on to urge the contents towards the nozzle, the valve member is advanced towards the nozzle, pushing the product within the nozzle out through the orifice, but then cutting off the nozzle and preventing further flow. The container is preferably used in conjunction with a cap incorporating a prong which, when the cap is replaced on the nozzle after use, projects through the orifice and pushes the valve member at least largely back to its innermost position. As the member moves back, fresh product is sucked around and past it to fill the nozzle, ready for another dispensing operation. The valve member may be in the form of a disc fitting loosely in the mouth of the nozzle and having an axial stem with radially projecting fingers at its other end to guide the member and prevent it tilting. Claws on the inside wall of the container around the inner end of the nozzle form a cage to retain the member in its advanced (cutting-off) position until positively retracted by the probe. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is section through the upper end of a flexible-walled container incorporating the invention, complete with cap, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the valve member alone. Figure 1 shows the upper end of a basically conventional toothpaste tube 1 with a frusto-concial shoulder portion 2 leading to a cylindrical nozzle 3 having an outlet orifice 4. An external screw thread 5 provides for engagement by a cap 6. The tube contains a pasty product. Slidable at the mouth of the nozzle 3 we provide a valve member comprising a disc 7 joined to a stem 8 which carries three radial fingers 9 that slide within the nozzle to prevent the valve member tilting. A bead 10 around the inner end of the nozzle limits the inward travel (i.e. travel towards the interior of the container) to the position shown. When the tube 1 is squeezed, some of the product flows past the disc portion 7 of the valve member but at the same time the product acts on the lower face of the valve member to displace it towards the nozzle and when it engages the bead 10 all further flow is cut off. Projecting from the inside of the shoulder portion 2 are claws 11 which are suffciently resilient to allow the disc portion 7 to snap past them, but then they hold it lightly against the bead 10. Thus the quantity of product dispensed will be limited substantially to the volume represented roughly by the internal cross-section of the nozzle multiplied by the travel of the valve member. To re-set the valve member, the cap 6 carries a prong 12 so that as the cap is replaced on the nozzle the prong projects through the orifice 4 and pushes the valve member out of the grip of the claws 11 and back to its starting position. When the cap is subsequently removed for a fresh dispensing operation, the withdrawal of the prong 12 will cause a stight suction, moving the valve memberawayfrom its starting position and reducing the subsequent travel when the tube is squeezed. However, for a given product, of given viscosity, the quantity dispensed at each operation will remain substantially constant. In the example shown the cap 5 has a second prong 13 on its upper face, protected bya shroud 14. This allows the user, by inverting the cap and inserting this prong into the orifice, to re-set the valve member and then dispense a second metered quantity without having to screw the cap back onto the nozzle first. The uses to which the invention may be put are not limited. For example it enables toothpaste to be dispensed by blind persons, or rectal creams or shampoos can be dispensed without waste by a person not in a position to observe the tube during a dispensing operation. Equally it may be used for dispensing glues, such as two-part resins which have to be mixed together in measured proportions. It may also be used with rigid containers of the kind having a piston to displace the contents. CLAIMS
1. A dispensing container for pasty products having an outlet nozzle with an orifice at its outlet end and an obtruding valve member captive in the region of the interior of the nozzle and with limited freedom to slide axially within the nozzle, the travel of the valve member in the direction of the interior of the container being sufficient to allow the contents of the container to pass at first around the valve member, in its innermost end position, but the member being simultaneously advanced by the flow to a position in which it obtrudes the nozzle and cuts off further flow.
2. A container according to Claim 1 in which the interior of the nozzle is cylindrical, the adjacent region of the container at the inner end of the nozzle being of greater cross-section than the nozzle, and the valve member comprises a one-piece body made up of a non-obtruding guide portion which slides within the nozzle and an obtruding disc portion which, in the innermost end position of the valve member, lies within the interior of the container and in the outermost end position of the valve member substantially closes off the inner end of the nozzle.
3. A container according to Claim 2 in which there is an inwardly projecting bead at the inner end of the interior of the nozzle, co-operating with the guide portion ofthevalve memberto define the innermost end position of that member.
4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 including resilient detent means on the interior of the container, restraining the valve member in its outer end position in which it obtrudes the nozzle.
5. A container according to Claim 4, as dependent upon Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the detent means comprise resilient claws engaging the disc portion of the valve member in the outer end position of the latter.
6. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 having flexible walls.
7. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 in association with a cap which fits onto the nozzle to close off the nozzle and which carries a prong which, when the cap is applied to the nozzle, engages the valve member, if the latter is advanced, and pushes the valve member towards its innermost end position.
8. A container and cap according to Claim 7 in which the cap is a screw cap, co-operating with an external screw thread on the container, and the cap also carries a second prong positioned to allow the cap to be applied to the container so that the second prong enters the nozzle and engages the valve member and pushes it towards its inner most position but without the cap having to be screwed onto the container.
9. Adispensing containerforpasty products substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A dispensing container according to Claim 9 in association with a cap substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB7923217A 1979-07-04 1979-07-04 Dispensers for pasty products Expired GB2053850B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7923217A GB2053850B (en) 1979-07-04 1979-07-04 Dispensers for pasty products

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7923217A GB2053850B (en) 1979-07-04 1979-07-04 Dispensers for pasty products

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2053850A true GB2053850A (en) 1981-02-11
GB2053850B GB2053850B (en) 1983-10-05

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7923217A Expired GB2053850B (en) 1979-07-04 1979-07-04 Dispensers for pasty products

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0274070A1 (en) * 1986-12-24 1988-07-13 AHK Alkohol Handelskontor GmbH &amp; Co. KG Measuring device for a bottle neck, for dispensing pasty or viscous matter
US5190193A (en) * 1991-11-29 1993-03-02 Scudday James D Container closure

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0274070A1 (en) * 1986-12-24 1988-07-13 AHK Alkohol Handelskontor GmbH &amp; Co. KG Measuring device for a bottle neck, for dispensing pasty or viscous matter
US5190193A (en) * 1991-11-29 1993-03-02 Scudday James D Container closure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2053850B (en) 1983-10-05

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee