GB2104496A - Container closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure is disclosed for attachment to a container mouth, the closure comprising a body having a passage for communication with the mouth, the passage being defined at least in part by a hollow spigot 7 having a cylindrical outer wall, a port 15 formed in the wall, a closure element 17 including a nozzle 23 at least in part defining a dispensing duct therein, the closure element being sleeved over the spigot and rotatable coaxially about the wall between a dispensing and a closed position, thereby to bring the duct into dispensing register with the port for dispensing through the exit of the nozzle when in the dispensing position and to move the duct out of register with the port, thereby to close the passage when in the closed position. Rotation of the closure element may be achieved by a lever 21, or by a cam follower integral with the closure element engaging cam flanges on a rotatable cap applied to the closure and having an aperture through which the nozzle may extend. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure including rotatable closure element The present invention relates to closures and has been developed primarily for use with collapsible dispensing tubes or other containers. Although the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to this field of use, it will be appreciated that it is not limited to this particular application. It may, for example, also be applied to other forms of container such as cans or drums.

With known tube closures difficulties are encountered in resealing the tube after use. Contents frequently adhere to the container neck and closure causing an unsightly build up of deposits which interfere with the closure and often result in contamination of the product. Screw closures also require two handed operation, which is awkward with products such as toothpaste or glue, where one hand is generally occupied with a brush or other tool.

Hinged, snap-locking closures have been used but these also leave deposits adjacent the tube or container neck. Furthermore, the hinged closure interferes with dispensing, is difficult to construct and relies on the flexing of a plastics hinge which is then subject to fatigue failure. These closures are also difficult to assemble onto the container during automatic processing.

Pressure activated, automatic resealing closures have also been proposed but these have been found to be expensive to construct and unsatisfactory in service.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure which will eliminate or at least substantially reduce many of the foregoing difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided a closure cap for attachment to a container mouth, said closure cap comprising a body having a passage for communication with said mouth, said passage being defined at least in part by a hollow spigot having a cylindrical outer wall, a port formed in said wall, a closure element including a nozzle at least in part defining a dispensing duct therein, said closure element being sleeved over said spigot and rotatable coaxially about said wall between a dispensing and a closed position, thereby to bring said duct into dispensing register with said port for dispensing through the exit of said nozzle when in said dispensing position and to move said duct out of register with said port, thereby to close said passage when in said closed position.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa sectional side elevation of one embodiment of a closure according to the invention, shown in the closed position. The view shows the closure attached to the mouth of a dispensing tube and is taken on line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the closure, similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the closure in the open or dispensing position, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the closure, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, further illustrating the closed position.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of the closure similar to Figure 3 but taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2 and further illustrating the open or dispensing position.

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation corresponding to Figure 1 but illustrating a modification suitable for use with laminated tubes.

Figure 6is a sectional side elevation similar to Figures 1 and 5 but illustrating a further modification of the invention for use with laminated tubes.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the closure in the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a sectional plan view of another embodiment of a closure according to the invention, in this case actuated by a rotatable cap. The closure is shown in the closed position but with the cap removed.

Figure 11 is a sectional side elevation of the closure taken on line 11-11 of Figure 10 with the cap in place.

Figure 12 is a sectional plan view of the closure, similar to Figure 10 but illustrating the closure in the open or dispensing position.

Figure 13 is a sectional side elevation of the closure taken on line 13-13 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a sectional plan view similar to Figure 12 but without the cap, illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 15 is a sectional side elevation taken on line 15-15 of Figure 14 with the cap included.

Figure 16 is a sectional plan view of yet another embodiment of the invention similar to Figure 12, with the closure illustrated in the open position.

Figure 17 is a sectional plan view of the closure of Figure 16 but illustrating the closed position.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 9 of the drawings, the closure 1 includes a body 2 adapted for attachment to an extruded aluminium dispensing tube, can or other container 3. The body 2 is preferably formed of a resilient plastics material and engages the tube end 4 by means of a chamfered lower edge 5 and a peripheral groove 6 formed in the outer wall 7 of an off-set dispensing passage 8. The groove 6 engages an off-set opening 9, formed in the tube end 10 defining the mouth of the container, thereby bringing the passage 8 into communication with the interior of the tube 3. The passage 8 extends upwardly beyond the exterior face 11 of the body 2 in the form of a projecting spigot 12, having a cylindrical outer wall 13 surrounded at its proximal end buy a peripheral groove 14.A portion of the spigot wall 13 is cut away to provide an exit port 15 to the passage 8. In side elevation the exit port 15 to the passage 8. In side elevation the exit port 15 may be rectangular, circular, or any suitable shape.

A closure element 16 is snap-lockingly engaged with the spigot 12 by means of a sleeve 17 which closely surrounds the spigot and engages the peripheral groove 14 by means of a corresponding ridge 18. The upper wall 19 of the closure element seals the adjacent open end 20 of the spigot. A sealing lip and groove combination may be respectively provided on the spigot end and the closure if required.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the closure element 16 is rotatable about the spigot axis between the two positions illustrated by these Figures.

A lever 21 and finger grip 22 is provided for ease of movement. Extending from the sleeve 17 is a dispensing nozzle 23 which communicates with the interior of the sleeve via a dispensing duct 24. When the closure is in the closed position as illustrated in Figure 1, the sleeve 17 seals the passage 8 because the passage exit port 15 is out of register with the duct 24 in the closure element 16. However, when the closure element is rotated into the open or dispensing position illustrated in Figure 4, the duct 24 is brought into dispensing register with the port 15 and the tube contents can be dispensed through the nozzle exit 46.

When in the closed position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the nozzle exit 26 is sealed against a corresponding arcuate wall 25 formed in the body 2.

In this way, any material remaining within the nozzle does not contaminate the closure and is preserved for use when next required.

In the closed position, the nozzle 23 comes into contact with a wall 26 which provides a stop defining the fully closed position. The fully open position, illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 is defined by the opposite side of the same wall 26 against which the lever 21 bears when the nozzle 23 is fully extended.

In the dispensing position, the nozzle extends outwardly, away from the tube for ease of dispensing. In the closed position it is sealed wholly within the closure body so as not to protrude beyond it.

If required, the body may be provided with a raised portion 27 extending upwardly from the exterior face 11 so that the tube may stand upright on its closure in an inverted position.

The nozzle exit 46 may be of any desired shape for ease of application or decoration. For example, it may provide for the extrusion of a thin film of a product such as glue or for a decoratively sectioned food product.

In a modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, the body 2 is provided with a skirt portion 28 adapted for attachment to a plastics or laminated plastics layer 30 may be moulded or clipped into the closure body as shown in Figure 5 to prevent chemical migration of certain types of product into the plastics material of the closure. This is particularly useful where a plastics closure is applied to a metallic tube or can.

The layer 30 may also be an aluminium insert.

In a further modification, illustrated in Figure 6, a plastics or laminated plastics layer 31 is applied to the exterior face 11 of the closure and joined by a butt or overlap joint 32 to a plastic tube 29 attached to the closure skirt 28.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 10 to 13 of the drawings, where correspond ing reference numerals have been used for ease of description. In this embodiment it will be observed that a third component in the form of a rotatable cap 33 is sleeved over a projecting wall 34 extending partly around the closure body 2. The cap 33 is provided with a circumferential ridge 35 which engages in snap fitting relationship with a corresponding groove 36 in the wall 34.

As best shown in Figure 10 in which the cap 33 is omitted, the wall 34 extends from one end 37 to an opposite end 38 blending with the arcuate wall 25.

As shown in Figure 12, the wall end 37 defines the stop against which the nozzle 23 bears in the fully open position.

The cap 33 includes a cut-away portion 39, as shown in Figure 12, extending between opposite edges 40 and 41. Exending downwardly and inwardly from the cap 33 are a pair of parallel cam flanges 42 and 43. These flanges engage with a pin 44 projecting upwardly from the lever 45. It will be apparent that anti-clockwise rotation of the cap 33 when viewed in Figures 10 and 11 will cause the lever 45 to move in a corresponding direction, although over less of an angular distance than the cap. Anti-clockwise rotation of the cap 33 thereby moves the closure element from the closed configuration of Figures 10 and 11 to the open configuration of Figures 12 and 13. It will be observed that the cut-away portion of the cap enables the nozzle 23 to project beyond the periphery of the closure body 2 as shown in Figures 12 and 13.As shown in Figures 11 and 13, the end 20 of the spigot 12 is closed in order to reduce the number of seals required.

The embodiment provides a more aesthetically pleasing closure than that of the earlier drawings, although it is equally applicable to all of the applications previously mentioned. Furthermore, when in the closed position, all interior components of the closure are substantially totally enclosed by the cap.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a further embodiment in which the nozzle is inclined to provide angled dispensing. Again, corresponding reference numerals have been used so that the construction and operation of the closure will be apparent from the foregoing description. The nozzle may be arranged at any convenient angle.

Yet another embodiment is illustrated in Figures 16 and 17. This arrangement provides for the sealing of the nozzle exit 46 against a resilient sealing flap 47 in the closed position shown in Figure 17. The flap 47 is connected to the body wall 34 at its proximal end 48 and hinges at this point and over the adjacent heel portion 49. As shown in Figure 16 the flap is resiliently biased away from the nozzle exit 46 and rests against the wall end 38 in the open position. As the nozzle 23 moves towards the closed position it engages a tongue 50 projecting into its path from a position at or adjacent the proximal end of the flap.

Further movement of the nozzle hinges the flap into the closed position of Figure 17 where an inwardly directed sealing lip 51 aids in closing the nozzle exit 46.

This embodiment not only protects product remaining in the nozzle after dispensing, but it also assists in retaining excess product which might otherwise be wiped off the closure nozzle to contaminate the closure. Since the distal end 52 of the flap is spaced from the nozzle exit except in the fully closed position, excess material is not wiped from the nozzle but is gradually brought against the flap and then forced back into the nozzle at the final moment of closure.

The sealing flap is preferably employed with the rotatable cap embodiment illustrated in Figures 11, 12 and 13, where the upper and lower edges of the flap are freely spaced from the underside of the cap and the floor of the body respectively. However, the sealing flap may also be applied to the earlier embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 where it replaces the arcuate wall 25.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (16)

1. A closure cap for attachment to a container mouth, said closure cap comprising a body having a passage for communication with said mouth, said passage being defined at least in part by a hollow spigot having a cylindrical outer wall, a port formed in said wall, a closure element including a nozzle at least in part defining a dispensing duct therein, said closure element being sleeved over said spigot and rotatable coaxially about said wall between a dispensing and a closed position, thereby to bring said duct into dispensing register with said port for dispensing through the exit of said nozzle when in said dispensing position and to move said duct out of register with said port, thereby to close said passage when in said closed position.

2. A closure cap according to Claim 1 including a rotatable cap mounted on said body and extending over said spigot, said cap and spigot having respective axes spaced one from the other, said cap and said closure element having mutually interengagable camming formations such that rotation of said cap moves said element between said dispensing and closed positions.

3. A closure cap according to Claim 2 wherein said cap is snap lockingly engaged with said body and provided with a cut-away portion such that rotation of said cap causes said nozzle to project beyond said cap when in said dispensing position and to be retracted within said cap when in said closed position.

4. A closure cap according to Claim 3 wherein said closure element is snap lockingly engaged with said spigot.

5. A closure cap according to Claim 3 wherein the discharge end of said duct sealingly engages with a wall on said body when in said closed position.

6. A closure cap according to Claim 3 wherein said formations comprise a pair of parallel cam flanges projecting downwardly from said cap and a pin projecting upwardly between said flanges from the distal end of a lever extending from said closure element.

7. A closure cap according to Claim 3 wherein said body includes an upstanding cylindrical wall extending partly around said body and said cap is closely engaged with said wall, said wall having opposite ends defining an opening through which said nozzle may protrude.

8. A closure cap according to Claim 7 wherein said dispensing position is defined by said nozzle coming into contact with a stop defined by one of said opposite ends of said cylindrical wall.

9. A closure cap according to Claim 1 wherein said body includes a skirt portion for attachment to a laminated dispensing tube.

10. A closure cap according to Claim 1 wherein said closure element is snap lockingly engaged with said spigot.

11. A closure cap according to Claim 1 wherein said closure element includes a lever for facilitating finger engagement.

12. A closure cap according to Claim 1 or Claim 3 wherein said body includes a resilient sealing flap for sealing said nozzle exit when in said closed position.

13. A closure cap according to Claim 12 wherein the proximal end of said flap is resiliently hingedly connected to said body and said flap is resiliently biased away from said nozzle exit such that its distal end is spaced from said exit except in said closed position.

14. A closure cap according to Claim 13 wherein said flap includes a tongue at or adjacent said proximal end, said tongue projecting into the path of said nozzle such that said nozzle engages said tongue when nearing said closed position thereby to hinge said flap into sealing engagement with said nozzle exit.

15. A closure cap according to Claim 14 wherein said flap includes an inwardly directed sealing lip to aid in sealing said nozzle exit.

16. A closure cap substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.