GB2150124A - Fluid dispensing closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A re-usable screw action fluid dispensing two part closure comprising a cylindrical collar and an outer cap 11 in which unscrewing the cap moves it axially relative to the cylindrical collar to open a fluid dispensing orifice, the orifice being fully opened without the cap having been completely removed from the bottle B, characterized in that axial movement of the cap relative to the collar is limited by cooperation of rim 12 within a recess defined between radially inwardly projecting shoulder 14 and the inner wall 15 of the cylindrical collar. When the closure is fitted onto the bottle neck, the collar is prevented by friction or other means from subsequently moving axially within the neck. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid dispensing closure The invention relates to fluid dispensing closures.

The invention is specifically concerned with a re-usable screw-action fluid dispensing twopart closure. Such closures are known as a general class and are characterised by the following combination of features: (a) A cylindrical collar (one "part") terminates the externally screw-threaded neck of a bottle or other container, and an outer cap (the other "part") fits over the neck to cooperate with the external screw-threads thereof.

(b) Screwing the cap shut moves it axially towards and against the end of the collar to define an adequately fluid-tight seal; whilst unscrewing the cap reverses that movement to open a fluid-dispensing orifice in the cap, and (c) the orifice can be fully opened for fluid dispensing without the cap having to unscrew completely from the bottle neck.

A closure embodying the present invention has these three known features and is further characterised by the following additional two features: (d) when the cap rotates, an upturned circular rim on the underside of the cap rotates coaxially within a co-operatingly circular recess inside said end of the collar, and the recess is of greater axial extent than the rim to allow the required relative axial movement of collar and cap; and (e) the collar and cap are each manufactured separately from the bottle and are so shaped, and have sufficient relative resilience, that the said turned rim on the cap can be snap-fitted into its accommodating recess in the collar, and the cap will then be retained on the collar to form an integral assembly ready for fitting on to the bottle neck.

When that assembly is first fitted on to the neck a screwed fully home, the collar is prevented by friction or other means from subsequently moving axially within the neck; and the interengagement between the upturned rim and its recess thereafter prevents the cap from unscrewing completely from the neck.

One closure embodying the invention is shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings. It will now be described with reference to those drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the closure fitted on to a bottle neck and screwed shut; Figure 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; Figure 3, drawn to an enlarged scale, shows the closure again screwed shut and in section; and Figure 4, drawn to the same scale as Fig. 3 and again in section, shows the closure open for fluid dispending.

A cap 11 is circular-cylindrical and fits on to the neck of a bottle 1 2. The cap and the bottle are both moulded from plastics material, which is resilient, and the bottle 1 2 is not shown in any detail. The external shape of the cap 11 is similarly unimportant to the present invention, and the finger indented shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is by way of example only.

A circular rim 1 2 is formed on the underside of the cap 11. The rim 1 2 is upturned, ie. it is spaced axially along the cap from the cap-end 1 3 and it projects radially from its spacing boss.

The rim 1 2 snap fits into a similarly circular recess defined between the radially inwardly projecting shoulder 1 4 and the inner wall 1 5 of a circular cylindrical collar. The collar, like the cap 11, is moulded from resilient plastics material. It exhibits a centre boss 1 6 supported on four webs 1 7 each equally angularly spaced about the boss and all slim enough to define between them a fluid passage from one end 1 8 of the collar to the other end thereof.

A circular cylindrical boss 1 9 projects from the under-side of the cap-end 1 3. Another circular cylindrical boss 21 projects from the same side of the cap-end, is larger in diameter than the boss 19, and internally screwthreaded to co-operate with the external threads 22 formed around the neck of the bottle B.The bosses 19, 21, and the collar, are so sized and shaped that when the snapfitted assembly of collar and cap is first fitted on to the bottle neck and then screwed fully home, then (as Fig. 3 shows) the boss 1 9 defines with the collar centre 1 6 an adequately fluid-tight seal; the collar itself is driven into the neck of the bottle and a circular ridge 23 on the collar snap fits into a preformed similarly circular groove on the internal wall of the bottle neck; and the fluid passage past the webs 1 7 is closed off.

The interengagement between ridge 23 and the groove in the bottle neck prevents the collar from any subsequent axial movement.

For practical purposes the collar is also a fluidtight fit radially within the bottle neck. Thereafter, when the cap 11 is unscrewed, the passage past the webs 1 7 will be re-opened and (as Fig. 4 shows) the shoulder 1 4 limits the upward axial travel of the rim 1 2-and hence of the cap as a whole to define a fully open state of the fluid passage past the webs 1 7 whilst preventing the cap 11 from unscrewing completely from the neck of the bottle.

A closure embodying the invention could be used to dispense powders. The term "fluid" is to be interpreted accordingly.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fluid dispensing closure The invention relates to fluid dispensing closures. The invention is specifically concerned with a re-usable screw-action fluid dispensing twopart closure. Such closures are known as a general class and are characterised by the following combination of features: (a) A cylindrical collar (one "part") terminates the externally screw-threaded neck of a bottle or other container, and an outer cap (the other "part") fits over the neck to cooperate with the external screw-threads thereof. (b) Screwing the cap shut moves it axially towards and against the end of the collar to define an adequately fluid-tight seal; whilst unscrewing the cap reverses that movement to open a fluid-dispensing orifice in the cap, and (c) the orifice can be fully opened for fluid dispensing without the cap having to unscrew completely from the bottle neck. A closure embodying the present invention has these three known features and is further characterised by the following additional two features: (d) when the cap rotates, an upturned circular rim on the underside of the cap rotates coaxially within a co-operatingly circular recess inside said end of the collar, and the recess is of greater axial extent than the rim to allow the required relative axial movement of collar and cap; and (e) the collar and cap are each manufactured separately from the bottle and are so shaped, and have sufficient relative resilience, that the said turned rim on the cap can be snap-fitted into its accommodating recess in the collar, and the cap will then be retained on the collar to form an integral assembly ready for fitting on to the bottle neck. When that assembly is first fitted on to the neck a screwed fully home, the collar is prevented by friction or other means from subsequently moving axially within the neck; and the interengagement between the upturned rim and its recess thereafter prevents the cap from unscrewing completely from the neck. One closure embodying the invention is shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings. It will now be described with reference to those drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the closure fitted on to a bottle neck and screwed shut; Figure 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; Figure 3, drawn to an enlarged scale, shows the closure again screwed shut and in section; and Figure 4, drawn to the same scale as Fig. 3 and again in section, shows the closure open for fluid dispending. A cap 11 is circular-cylindrical and fits on to the neck of a bottle 1 2. The cap and the bottle are both moulded from plastics material, which is resilient, and the bottle 1 2 is not shown in any detail. The external shape of the cap 11 is similarly unimportant to the present invention, and the finger indented shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is by way of example only. A circular rim 1 2 is formed on the underside of the cap 11. The rim 1 2 is upturned, ie. it is spaced axially along the cap from the cap-end 1 3 and it projects radially from its spacing boss. The rim 1 2 snap fits into a similarly circular recess defined between the radially inwardly projecting shoulder 1 4 and the inner wall 1 5 of a circular cylindrical collar. The collar, like the cap 11, is moulded from resilient plastics material. It exhibits a centre boss 1 6 supported on four webs 1 7 each equally angularly spaced about the boss and all slim enough to define between them a fluid passage from one end 1 8 of the collar to the other end thereof. A circular cylindrical boss 1 9 projects from the under-side of the cap-end 1 3. Another circular cylindrical boss 21 projects from the same side of the cap-end, is larger in diameter than the boss 19, and internally screwthreaded to co-operate with the external threads 22 formed around the neck of the bottle B.The bosses 19, 21, and the collar, are so sized and shaped that when the snapfitted assembly of collar and cap is first fitted on to the bottle neck and then screwed fully home, then (as Fig. 3 shows) the boss 1 9 defines with the collar centre 1 6 an adequately fluid-tight seal; the collar itself is driven into the neck of the bottle and a circular ridge 23 on the collar snap fits into a preformed similarly circular groove on the internal wall of the bottle neck; and the fluid passage past the webs 1 7 is closed off. The interengagement between ridge 23 and the groove in the bottle neck prevents the collar from any subsequent axial movement. For practical purposes the collar is also a fluidtight fit radially within the bottle neck. Thereafter, when the cap 11 is unscrewed, the passage past the webs 1 7 will be re-opened and (as Fig. 4 shows) the shoulder 1 4 limits the upward axial travel of the rim 1 2-and hence of the cap as a whole to define a fully open state of the fluid passage past the webs 1 7 whilst preventing the cap 11 from unscrewing completely from the neck of the bottle. A closure embodying the invention could be used to dispense powders. The term "fluid" is to be interpreted accordingly. CLAIMS

1. A reusable screw-action fluid-dispensing two-part closure (as defined herein) characterised in that (a) when the cap rotates, an upturned circular rim on the underside of the cap rotates coaxially within a co-operatingly circular recess inside said end of the collar, and the recess is of greater axial extent than the rim to allow the required relative axial movement of collar and cap; and (b) the collar and cap are each initially formed separately from the bottle and are so shaped, and have sufficient relative resilience, that the said upturned rim on the cap can be snap-fitted into its accommodating recess in the collar, and the cap will then be retained on the collar to form an integral assembly for fitting on to the bottle neck.

2. A closure according to Claim 1 and in which the collar exhibits a ridge around its outer surface and the ridge, in use, snaps into and co-operates with a groove formed around the inside of the bottle neck to prevent the collar from subsequently moving axially within the neck.

3. A closure substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

4. A bottle or other container fitted with a closure in accordance with any of the preceding Claims.