GB2088838A

GB2088838A - Closures for Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2088838A
Application number: GB8132295A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: DRDLIK FRANK
Current assignee: DRDLIK FRANK
Priority date: 1980-10-28
Filing date: 1981-10-27
Publication date: 1982-06-16
Also published as: GB2088838B

Abstract

A screw-on type of bottle cap incorporates a circular, thread receptacle unit for receiving a bottle and, a circular closure disc formed with a hole for communicating the interior of the bottle to a nozzle unit slidably carried on the outer surface of the disc, the nozzle unit being moveable between an extended position in communication with said hole and a retracted position removed from the hole, and being formed with a rack; and a top cap unit including a downwardly depending skirt having a peripheral cut-out through which the nozzle may extend, the top cap being provided with a drive gear meshing with the rack carried on the dispensing unit so that rotation of the top cap slides the nozzle unit between said positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sanitary Dispensing Closure of the Sliding Nozzle Type The present invention relates to improved spouts for a dispensing closure and more particularly, to a novel dispensing closure of the sliding type which is sanitary and convenient to use.

The term "dispensing closures" is commonly employed at the present time to designate closures for containers which are capable of being manipulated so that the contents of a container sealed by one of these closures may be dispensed without removing the particular closure involved from the container. Dispensing closures of this type to which the present invention relates generally comprise a pivotal or rotating cylindrical knuckle with a nozzle extending therefrom and a base such as bottle cap with which it is associated for swiveling movement. In other instances, revolving cap tops have been employed which are operably coupled to a spout so that upon rotation, the spout is moved to a dispensing position and upon revolving in an opposite direction, the spout is retracted to a storage location.

However, difficulties and problems have been encountered with such conventional dispensing closures which stem largely from the fact that the nozzle and the actuator for positioning the nozzle are exposed to the environment which is unsanitary in that the user's fingers may come in contact with the dispensing orifice in the nozzle through which the food product flows. Modern day sanitary requirements mandate that, in no case, shall a dispensing closure used in the course of discharge of food products for human consumption be allowed in the event the public's or users' thumbs or fingers come in contact with the food stuff or products being dispensed.

Therefore, a long standing need has existed to provide a novel dispensing closure of the sliding type which is sanitary and which employs a manual actuator for the nozzle which is physically separated or removed from the dispensing orifice of the nozzle.

Therefore, the users' fingers never come into contact with the nozzle portion or discharge orifice since only finger contact is made with the rotary actuator taking the form of the top cap unit which is in spaced relationship with respect to the discharge orifice.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel dispensing closure means wherein the users' fingers do not come into contact with the dispensing nozzle of the closure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary dispensing closure which incorporates an internal skirt or curtain wall which prevents accumulation of dust, crumbs or airborne fibers in the sliding and activating parts of the closure so that a longer life and smoother operation of the moving parts is provided.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sanitary dispensing closure which is specifically aimed at avoiding any contact with the human thumb or finger with the liquid or semi-liquid food stuffs being dispensed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel rotary closure means which is relatively simple to manufacture and which may be readily assembled and installed without expensive machinery or excessive manpower.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel closure means of the present invention illustrating the nozzle thereof in a dispensing position; Figure 2 is a view similar to the view of Figure 1 illustrating the nozzle in a retracted position and covered by the curtain wall or skirt; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the dispensing unit slidably carried on the receptacle unit; Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the closure means with the nozzle in its retracted position; Figure 5 is a view similar to the view of Figure 4 illustrating the nozzle and the dispensing unit in its operating position for dispensing food stuffs.

Referring to Figure 1 , the novel closure device of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow 10 and is employed in conjunction with a plastic squeeze-type container 11 which normally holds a quantity of liquid or semi-liquid food product. The container 11 includes a neck 1 2 having an external thread which is rotatably engaged with a threaded portion 1 3 of a receptacle unit 14 comprising a portion of the closure means. The novel dispensing closure means includes the receptacle unit 14 having a circular disc 1 5 having a pair of semi-circular wall sections 1 6 and 1 7 carried on the peripheral edge thereof.The opposite opposing ends of the wall 1 6 and 17 define a cutout or opening 1 8 while the opposite opposing ends of the wall portions define a rear cutout identified by numeral 1 9.

With further reference to Figure 3 a dispensing unit is movably carried on the disc 1 5 and includes a discharge nozzle 20 having a dispensing orifice 21 and a toothed rack portion 22. The discharge nozzle 20 is guided by a pair of guides 23 while the rack portion 22 is guided by a pair of guides 24. Both the nozzle portion 20 and the rack portion 22 include outwardly projecting tracks which are slidably engaged with the respective guides so that the dispensing unit will slide in a linear manner back and forth when activated. In one position, when the unit is actuated, the discharge or dispensing nozzle 20 will project outwardly through the opening 1 8 and such a position is shown in Figure 1.When the dispensing unit has been retracted rearwardly, the discharge nozzle is drawn behind the opening 1 8 and this position is the position of the dispensing unit in Figure 2.

With further reference to Figure 3, the discharge or dispensing unit is slidably moved on the disc 1 5 by engagement of a drive or pinion gear carried on the underside of a top cap unit 26.

The gear 25 is fixed to the undersurface of the top cap so that as the cap is rotated, the gear is rotated and the rotational movement is translated into rectilinear movement of the dispensing unit via meshing of the gears. In order to accommodate the outward projection of the dispensing nozzle 20 when the dispensing or discharge unit is in its dispensing position, a circular sidewall 27 which is downwardly depending from the periphery of the cap 26 is provided with an elongated cutout 28 and as shown in Figure 1 , the discharge nozzle 20 is outwardly projecting therefrom.Rotation of the gear 25 on the tooth rack 22 is along the full length of the rack so that the opposite ends of the rack provide limit stops for rotation so that the cap 26 can only be rotated a predetermined number of degrees which permits exposure of the discharge nozzle 20 as shown in Figure 1 at one end and at the other end of travel as shown in Figure 2, the opening 1 8 is closed by the sidewall 27.

As shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5, the travel of the dispensing unit from its retracted position as shown in Figure 4 is illustrated as well as the full advancement of the dispensing unit as shown in Figure 5. It can also be seen in Figure 4 that a passageway 30 is included in the nozzle 20 which communicates interiorly of the container 11 via its neck 1 2 and is provided with a discharge orifice 31 at its opposite end. Therefore, when the dispensing unit is advanced as shown in Figure 5, the passageway 30 is in communication via an opening 32 provided in the disc 1 5 associated with the receptacle unit 14. As shown in Figure 4, the passageway 32 is blocked by a shoulder 33 carried on the nozzle portion 20 so that no flow of bottle 11 contents can pass therethrough.

Figures 4 and 5 also show that the pinion or drive gear 25 includes a nub 34 which is rotatably inserted into a round hole formed in the center of the disc 1 5. In this fashion, the nub 34 operates as an axle and stabilizes rotation when the top cap 26 is rotated. Furthermore, the extreme downward edge of the circular sidewall 27 associated with the top cap 26 includes an inwardly directed circular projection 35 which is nested in a corresponding groove formed in the external surface of the receptable unit 14.

Therefore, it can be seen that the novel dispensing closure of the present invention involves a novel means for conducting the passage of liquid or semi-liquid food stuffs for human consumption which prohibits or inhibits the users' thumb or fingers from coming into contact with the dispensing orifice or nozzle. The receptable unit consists of a circular, threaded receptable which attaches directly to a plastic squeeze-type food container by engagement with a similarly threaded neck carried on top of the container. The receptable unit is provided with a circular disc having a round or square hole formed therethrough at a pre-determined location so as to mate with a corresponding duct hole within the dispensing spout On top and along the periphery of the circular disc, there is provided an integrally cast low, thin, segmented curtain wall.Cut-outs are provided in the curtain wall to permit the dispensing unit nozzle to slide back and forth therethrough. Also cast on the circular disc, are 4 wedge-shaped hook protrusions or guides intended to assist in guiding and holding down the dispensing unit which slides therethrough. At mid-center of the circular disc, a shallow, cupped indenture or hole is provided to receive a stubbed pivot protrusion or axle beneath the toothed gearwheel of the top cap unit. Also, a slight, angular indenture is provided running continuously around the face of the threaded receptacle unit to receive and retain a correspondently shaped hook protrusion along the bottom of the vertical lip or sidewall which downwardly depends from the periphery of the top cap unit.

The dispensing unit consists of a square dispensing nozzle or spout which at its inner end, is integrally attached, at a right-angle to the squared end bar of an oblong enclosure. Both elongated, squared, side bars of the enclosure are joined at their outer ends with a square bar to form the complete enclosure. One side is a narrow, rectangular bar of a height to match that of the short end bars. The opposite side bar is also rectangular, but wider and is provided with a tooth or cogged pinion-rack arrangement along its inner face so as to cooperate in conjunction with the teeth of the pinion or gear-wheel located at the center of the underside of the top cap unit.

At the bottom of the dispensing nozzle and the elongated enclosure sides, a slightly protruding anchoring track is provided to assist in holding the dispensing unit by means of the matched wedgeshaped niches along the bottom of the 4 guide protrusions. The entire sliding spout unit snuggly fits to the top surface of the receptacle unit. The dispensing nozzle is formed with the inner passageway or duct which is directed downward at one end to align with the corresponding hole provided through the top of the receptacle unit.

The top cap unit consists of a rotatable round cap, hollowed to create a substantially vertical lip about its periphery. Along the lower edge of the vertical lip, a miniscule, clinching, hook-shaped protrusion is provided which under downward pressure snaps into the slight, angled indenture running around the face of the threaded receptacle unit. At the mid-point of the bottom face of the top cap, and integrally attached to it, there is provided a cogged gear-wheel which includes a stub pivot axle that presses into the shallow, cupped indenture provided at the center of the top of the threaded receptacle unit. At the front, a sufficient portion of the vertical lip is formed with a cutout to permit a controlled rotation of the cap for actuation of the dispensing unit between its forward and retracted positions.

When the discharge nozzle is thrust out, the nozzle results in alignment of the passageway or internal duct for uninterrupted flow of the food stuffs. When the discharge nozzle or dispensing unit is retracted or withdrawn to the closed position, the end of the lip or shoulder moves to completely cover the aperture end of the spout, and totally affects protection of all moving parts.

Claims

1. A squeeze bottle closure comprising a receptacle unit adapted to be removably connected to the neck of a squeeze bottle, a movable dispensing unit carried on the receptacle unit having a nozzle portion between an extended position projecting beyond the receptacle unit and a retracted position within the confines of the receptacle unit and a cap unit rotatably carried on the receptable unit and operably connected to the dispensing unit for moving the dispensing unit between the extended and the retracted positions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. A closure as claimed in Claim 1, in which drive means interconnect the cap unit with the dispensing unit.

3. A closure as claimed in Claim 2, in which the drive means includes a pinion gear rotatably carried between the cap unit, and the receptacle unit and a rack gear carried on the dispensing unit.

4. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which guide means are carried on the receptable unit in slidable relationship with respect to the dispensing means.

5. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, in which a downwardly depending circular sidewall is carried on the cap unit surrounding the dispensing unit and the receptable unit, an upright circular wall is carried on the top of the receptable unit within the sidewall carried on the cap unit and cut-out portions of the sidewall and the wall being operably related to permit passages of the dispensing unit to its extended position and to close off and seal the dispensing unit in its retracted position.

6. A squeeze bottle closure constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.