GB2073156A

GB2073156A - Dispensing Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2073156A
Application number: GB8011021A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FERRY PICKERING SALES Ltd
Current assignee: FERRY PICKERING SALES Ltd
Priority date: 1980-04-02
Filing date: 1980-04-02
Publication date: 1981-10-14

Abstract

A dispensing container for powders comprises a paper tube 1 having a dispensing plug closure 4 of one-piece plastics construction with in dispensing apertures 6 formed therein. Sealing for the purposes of transit, or resealing after use, is achieved by a paperboard cover disc 5 held as an interference fit in a recessed top portion 7 of the plug. A coating 8 of felt, flock or formed plastics material on the undersurface of the cover disc provides a powder seal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing Containers The invention relates to dispensing containers for powders, such as talcum powder. Such powders are generally dispensed from paper tube containers which have a paperboard base and a two-piece plastics dispensing plug. Of the two parts of the dispensing plug, the upper is provided with a finger grip enabling it to be turned to bring dispensing apertures in the two parts into register. The dispensing plug must, however, be specially designed to provide a yood powder seal, to prevent the accumulation of powder between the two parts of the dispensing plug as the container is repeatedly opened and closed, and to prevent spillage in transit.

This invention provides a dispensing container for powders comprising a paper tube closed at its base and having at its top as a dispensing closure 8 onepiece plastics plug with an array of dispensing apertures therein, and over the plug a paperboard cover disc held as an interference fit in a recessed top of the plug, wherein the underside of the cover disc is provided with a coating of felt, flock or foamed plastics material to form a powder seal in conjunction with the top of the plug.

The advantages of such a construction are that because the dispensing closure is a one-piece moulding, the amount of plastics material used is less that in the prior proposed containers discussed above. This is economically and environmentally advantageous. The dispensing container of the invention is thus of simple construction, and yet it is surprising that it provides as good and reliabie a powder seal as many complex and expensive containers currently available. There are also other advantages. The cover disc can easily be printed, thus providing additional scope for advertizing or point-ofsale data or for instructions as to use. Also it can be made tamper-proof by ensuring that a hinged portion of the cover disc must be raised before the dispensing apertures are exposed. Creasing of the hinged portion indicates that the container has been opened.

Advantageously the plastic's closure plugs are shaped so that they interengage with the tops of identical containers, making the containers stackable.

It is surprising that an adequate powder seal can be obtained simpiy by providing over the dispensing zone, a cover disc the underneath surface of which is coated with felt, flock or foamed plastics material. This provides the powder seal in conjunction with the top surface of the dispensing closure. The coating may be over the whole of the cover disc or over only that part which is to be in register with the dispensing apertures of the dispensing closure in use.The cover disc is a press-fit into a recessed top portion of the dispensing closure, and therefore preferably incorporates a hinged lug portion that can be lifted to expose the apertured portion of the dispensing closure or to provide > rippin, means to permit the cover disc to be removed entirely to expose the apertured portion of the dispensing closure. The lug position thugs may project from the periphery of the cover disc or may be. o centa portion of the cover disc that has been defined by cutting.

The paper tube of the container according to the invention may for example be of convolute double wound construction. This iends h:seiF to the provision of at least one transparent or translucent window in the wall of the paper tube, allowing the contents of the container to be seen from the outside. Our copending Patent Application No 8001382 describes and claims a method of producing containers having such windows, wherein each window is provided by a transparent or translucent film spanning aligned apertures in the two plies of the convolute wound wall of the tube and anchored, between the plies.

Drawings Figure 1 is an axial section through a container according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the container of Figue 1; ancl Figure 3 is a plan view from above oF another container according to the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 , the container comprises a wound paper tube 1 the bottom of which is closed in conventional manner by a paperboard disc 2 resting against a brim roll 3.

Alternatively the tube 1 could be a double convolute tube the bottom a which is closed, also in conventional manner, by a drawn card base glued into position with the bottom edge of the tube folded and glued around a peripheral flange of the base.

The top of the tube i is closed by a dispensing closure 4 and a cover disc 6. The dispensing closure 4 is injection-moulded in one piece from plastics material and has an array 6 of dispensing apertures formed therein as part of the moulding process. The position of the apertures in the array is more clearly seen From Figui'e 2, although these would in this plan view be covered by the cover disc 5.

The cover dise 5 is an intençerence fit in a recessedtop portion 7 of the dispensing closure 4 and its under-surFace is coated with a layer 8 of flock. When the cover dise 5 is pressed into position as shown in Figure 1 the flock cooperates with the upper recessed surface Q the dispensing closure 4 to provide an extrmely eFfective powder seal.

Access to the dispensing apertures is achieved by lifting a lug 9 which is hinged at 10 to ie remainder of the cover disc 5. Either the powder can be dispensed through the aperture in the cover disc 5 obtained by lifting the lug 9 or, if desired, the entire cover disc can be removed by gripping the lug 9 and lifting upwardly. It is less important to achieve a wholly reliable powder seal when the container has been used and is to be re-sealed, but quite acceptable re-sealing can be obtained simply by pressing the cover disc back into position.

Figure 3 shows a slightly modified embodiment in which the same or ananlogous parts are given the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 3 the array 6 of apertures is positioned centrally of the dispensing closure 4 so that only a central portion of the cover disc 5 need be coated with a flock layer 8.

The symmetry of the arrangement ensures that there are no problems in maintaining the dispensing apertures and the flocked area in register.

Figure 3 also shows how the lug 9 can be formed extending from the edge of the dic 5 rather than as an internally formed lug.

Claims

1. A dispensing container for powders comprising a paper tube closed at its base and having at its top as a dispensing closure a one piece plastics plug with an array of dispensing apertures therein, and over the plug a paperboard cover disc held as an interference fit in a recessed top of the plug, wherein the underside of the cover disc is provided with a coating of felt, flock or foamed plastics material to form a powder seal in conjunction with the top of the plug.

2. A dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the coating on the underside of the cover disc is of flock.

3. A dispensing container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the coating on the underside of the cover disc extends over the whole of the lower surface of the cover disc.

4. A dispensing container according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover disc is provided with a lug portion hinged to the remainder of the disc to permit the cover disc to be lifted bodily away from the recessed top of the plug to expose the dispensing apertures.

5. A dispensing container according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover disc is provided with a hinged portion that can be lifted to expose the dispensing apertures without removing the cover disc entirely from the recessed top of the plug.

6. A dispensing container substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.