JPH0232961A - Assembly of vessel and dispensing-closure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make a material being dispensed from a container while the cap of a container stays at a fixed position by letting a plug means engage with an opening of a passage to form a seal against fluids, and forming the passage to allow free flow of the fluid from interior of the container to orifice when a cover means is open at the dispensing position. CONSTITUTION: An escape region 68 extends to the whole periphery of a plug 64 so as to allow it to be inserted smoothly into a dispense orifice 44 in order to make seal against the fluid in the passage 46 more perfect at the position where the closure is closed, namely a non-dispensing position, and further gives pliability to the plug 64. The length of the front wall 53 is determined so that it can completely cover the dispensing orifice 44 when closure is at the closed position. This is convenient for users to operate because the passage 46 opens by merely pushing up the edge portion 54 of the cover 48. The material can then be dispensed from the container 10 by tilting it and squeezing its both elastic sides.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container and dispense closure assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dispense closure for containers, wherein the dispense closure is made of resilient plastic and accommodates dispenser means integral with the cap for closing the container. The dispenser means can be easily opened and closed so that material can be dispensed from the container while the cap of the container is held in a fixed position on the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dispense closures for containers are well known in which the contents of the container can be ejected by opening the closure while the container cap is in place. These dispensing closures are becoming increasingly interesting for dispensing a variety of products, such as relatively viscous products, including hand creams, lotions, and the like. An important feature of this dispense closure is that it opens easily and closes tightly with no leakage around the opening. The dispensing closure must also be attractive to consumers and relatively inexpensive to make. Many side-dispense closure designs do not provide a complete seal when closed or have channels that allow product to leak when opened.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,439,985 discloses a dispensing closure having a body consisting of a dispensing passageway extending through the body and a hinged cover that can be manually opened or closed at the dispensing end of the dispensing passageway. Disclosed. The portion of the body carrying the dispensing passageway has a lip that receives a portion of the cover of the closure when the cover is in the closed position. This cover has a pivot bin for closure.
fixed to the body. This pivot bin allows the cover to be opened and closed like a shell. It is disclosed that the hinged cover is held in any set position, i.e. in the closed or open position, by means of a gusset between the pivot bin and the cover. In the closure body, there is a recess at one end of the cover. Since this cover is spaced apart from the discharge end of the dispensing passageway, when the cover is lifted to the open position, the rear end of the cover is recessed and cannot prevent upward movement of the cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,581 discloses a toggle type side dispense closure.

These closures have been sold for several years.

Although the closure provides a perfect seal in the closed position, leakage can be a problem in the open position. For example, surface 37b
and 22b cooperate to form a seal when the cap toggle device is opened.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,028 discloses a one-piece plastic dispense cap that can be attached to a bottle by a snap fit, threads, or the like. The cap is provided with a pivotable closure portion attached to the cap by a hinge. This swingable closure covers a dispense orifice located at the top of the body of the cap. The closure has teeth that allow a user to push the closure spaced apart from the cap body to dispense material from the dispensing orifice. On the side wall at the inner end of the closure is a "button" (indicated by number 19 in Figure 2).
The button fits into the dispense orifice to form an air and fluid tight seal between the closure and the cap body when the closure is in the closed position.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,804,760 discloses a dispense closure for a container outlet. The closure surrounds the outlet with top, front and side walls. The closure is connected to the outlet with a pivot bin mounted at the rear of the outlet. At the end opposite the outlet opening, the closure has a protruding lip that can be engaged by the user's thumb to raise the closure and open the outlet opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,971 discloses a container with a swirl spout. The swirl spout is located in a recess in the top of the vessel and has a dispense orifice therein. Swivel the spout upwards to expose the dispense orifice. The side wall of the outlet sink has a projection along its lower edge which cooperates with a triangular shaped portion in the wall of the sink housing. This triangular section limits the pivoting movement of the outlet. When pivoted to a certain position, a projection on the spout engages the triangular end of the housing wall to prevent movement of the discharge spout beyond that position.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,878,976 discloses a cap for a tube-type dispenser. The cap has a recessed portion having a dispense orifice therein and an oscillating closure member surrounding the dispense orifice. The swinging closure member is retained by a snap fit in the recess between the boss on the side wall of the closure and the recess in the recessed side wall of the cap.

US Pat. No. 3,265,256 discloses a swingable sink structure as an accessory to a container. The outlet is oscillated by the extractor shaft between a dispensing position and a non-dispensing position. The spout has a passageway extending therethrough, which may or may not coincide with the dispense opening of the container depending on the location of the spout. The spout has a ridge attached to its lower end which serves to secure the spout in its upper position when the spout is pivoted to its upper position. Additionally, the spout is provided with two ribs projecting from either side that secure the spout in a non-dispensing position when the spout is lowered. This rib is fastened by a protrusion in the sink base.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,238 discloses a safety dispensing closure in the form of a swingable spout. The sink has a groove running along the side wall. This groove cooperates with detent means on the closure body. When the detent means engages the groove in the spout, the spout is held in the closed position.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,797,869 discloses a bottle having a metering chamber and a stopper plug.

One side of the stopper plug is an inclined surface which acts as a passage when the material to be dispensed enters the metering chamber. When the material is then dispensed from the metering chamber, the stopper plug is rotated so that the inclined surface of the plug also serves as a passage wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the prior art of dispense closures discloses various types of dispense closures having side dispense closures that can be opened and closed while holding the closure cap in place on a container. However, all dispense closures have one or more controversial or undesirable characteristics. This controversial or undesirable feature is the relatively complex construction and therefore the high cost. The limitation is that it can only be used for products with a moderate viscosity. It is difficult to attract consumers, and it is difficult to satisfy them. There is a possibility of leakage at the dispensing position. Additionally, prior art closures tend to adhere to viscous products around the opening, resulting in an unsightly appearance.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container that is simple in structure and use, and
An assembly with a dispensing closure is provided, by means of which it is possible to dispense various products of different consistency contained in a preferably elastic container.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the present invention employs the following configuration. It comprises a container having a neck with an opening communicating with the container, a side wall, a shoulder between and connected to the neck and side wall, and a dispense closure that fits over the neck of the container. The dispense closure includes a cap portion including means for enclosing an opening in the neck of the container and means for attaching the dispense closure to the neck of the container to form a fluid-tight seal; and an integral dispenser means.

The dispenser means is provided with a recess area provided on the top surface of the cap portion, the recess being open at one end;
It is dimensioned to accommodate the passageway and dispense orifice. The passageway connects the database orifice to the interior of the vessel and has an opening therein. The dispenser means further includes cover means comprising a top surface, side walls and a front wall surrounding said passageway. The cover means further includes plug means extending downwardly from and connected to the underside of the top surface of the cover means. The plug means engages the opening of the passageway to form a fluid-tight seal when the cover means is in the closed and non-dispensing position and the plug means is adapted to engage the opening of the passageway to form a fluid-tight seal when the cover means is in the open and dispensing position. constructed and arranged to define a passageway for free fluid flow from the interior of the orifice to the orifice.

The cover means has a living hinge connecting the cover means to the cap portion.

The present invention seeks to provide a dispense closure for containers in which the dispenser means of the dispense closure is an integral part of the container cap. The dispenser means can be easily opened and closed to dispense material from the container while the container cap remains in place on the container.

In order to achieve this objective, the present invention employs the following configuration. The dispense closure comprises a cap portion having means for enclosing the container and for attaching the dispense closure to the container to form a fluid-tight seal, and dispenser means integral with the cap portion. The dispenser means has a recessed area on the top surface of the cap portion.

This recessed area is open at one end, allowing passage and dispensing
It is sized to accommodate the orifice. The passageway connects the dispense orifice to the interior of the container. The passage has an opening therein. The dispenser means further includes cover means. The cover means has a top surface, side walls and a front wall surrounding the passageway, and further has plug means extending downwardly from and connected to the underside of the top surface of the cover means. When the cover means is in the closed, non-dispensing position, plug means engages the opening L1 in the passageway to form a fluid-tight seal, and when the cover means is in the open, non-dispensing position, the plug means is connected to the orifice from the interior of the container. It is constructed and arranged to form a passageway through which fluid flows freely. The cover means has a living hinge connecting the cover means to the cap portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the accompanying drawings, a container/dispense closure assembly consists of a container 10 and a dispense closure 30. FIG. 3-5, the container 10 has a side wall 12
, a shoulder portion 14, and a neck 16. In FIG. 3, the neck 16 shown in this embodiment is off to one side of the container. The enlarged portion 18 of this neck 16 slopes upwardly and inwardly to form an annular link 2 at the lower edge of this slope.
form 0. 3 and 5, the container begins near shoulder 14 and closes to dispense closure 3.
A small recess 22 is provided in the wall extending upwardly from the point of connection between the container 10 and the container 10. This indentation corresponds to the thickness of the non-protruding wall of the dispense closure. Also, in FIG. 3, three vertical ribs 24 are formed approximately at the junction of the side wall of the container and the neck. The ribs assist in attaching the dispense closure to the container in place. The riff will be explained later. Preferably, the container is made of a resilient material, such as injection molded plastic.

The term dispensing closure, as used herein, refers to a container lid and dispenser means integral therewith. In FIG. 4.5.6 the lid consists of an outer annular skirt 32 with discontinuous projection means 4. The protrusion means 34 engages an annular link 20 on the outer surface of the neck 16 of the container 10. Inner annular skirt 36 is spaced inwardly from skirt 32, but skirt 3
The length is shorter than 2. Skirt 36 extends downwardly to reach portion 18 of neck 16. Together, the skirts 32, 36 serve to position the dispense closure on the container with a snap-fit action. The dispense closure further includes a skirt 38. Skirt 38 is
From the top of the dispense closure? ! J10 extends downwardly beyond the shoulder 14 and joins the side wall 12 of the container at the beginning of the recess 22. Skirt 38 is positioned on container 10 by vertical ribs 24 on container 10.

When positioned on the container, the dispense closure 30 completely seals the interior of the container from the outside. However, the container lid has an indentation 42 in its top surface 40. This recess 42 extends beyond the opening in neck 16 and is generally coextensive. Only one end of the recess 42 is open and the other end is closed. One end is in the outer wall enclosure of the dispense closure. Due to the offset position of the neck 16, the open end of the recess 42 is located on one side of the container. This position is more convenient for dispensing the product. The size of the recess 42 is determined by the size of the dispenser at this open end.
It is sized to receive an orifice 44, a passageway 46 extending between the orifice 44 and the interior of the container, and a cover 48. The cover 48 has an upper surface 50 and a side wall 5 extending downward.
2, and a front wall 53. A sidewall 52 of cover 48 surrounds passageway 46 and dispense orifice 44 and disconnects communication between orifice 44 and passageway 46.

A passageway 46 leading to the dispense orifice 44 extends upwardly from the interior region of the inner annular skirt 36 . The skirt 36 fits over the neck 16 of the container.

When the passageway 46 reaches a level above the top of the annular skirt 36, it turns approximately 90 degrees and communicates with the dispense orifice 44. The cover 48 includes the side wall 52.
Fitting snugly within recess 42, when in the closed or non-dispensing position, the top of cover 48 is flush with the top surface of the dispense closure and surrounds dispense orifice 44 and passageway 46. cover 48
is attached to one end of the closure with a living hinge 56. The front wall 53 of the cover 48 is preferably provided with teeth or fingers at 54. This allows the user to raise the cover and open the cover upwardly around the hinge 56 to expose the dispense orifice 44. Preferably, upward movement of cover 48 is limited by two projections 60. One protrusion 60 is provided on each side wall 52 of the cover 48. The projections 60 are shown in FIG. 6 to cooperate with projections 62 projecting from each side wall of the recess 42.

Furthermore, the cover 48 has a plug 64. Plug 64 extends downwardly from the inner surface of cover 48 into orifice 4 .
4 through an aperture 47 in the upper outer surface 43 of the closure to a dispensing passageway 46 communicating upwardly from the inside of the annular skirt 32 of the closure. That is, the plug 64 projects into the passageway 46 where the passageway 46 turns approximately 90 degrees and communicates with the dispense orifice 44. When cover 48 is in the closed position, plug 64
breaks communication between passageway 46 and dispense orifice 44. Therefore, any movement of material from container 10 to dispense orifice 44 is stopped. The bottom surface 64a of the plug 64 is preferably inclined. This allows the bottom surface of the plug 64 to form a smooth bend in the passageway 64 when the cover 48 is in the raised or open position and the plug 64 is located at the top of the passageway 46 to facilitate dispensing. material can be transferred circularly from the plug 64 to the dispense orifice 44. Additionally, the respective diameters of plug 64 and aperture 47 are sized to provide a tight but slipping fit that closes aperture 47 when cover 48 is in the raised or open position. Also, the restriction on upward movement due to the interaction of projections 60 and 62 and the length of plug 64 ensure closure of opening 47. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the sunken area 68 is shown as
It is preferable to provide it at a location where 0 is connected. This sunken area 68 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This barbed area 68 allows plug 64 to be inserted completely into dispense orifice 44 without resistance to provide a more complete fluid-tight seal of passageway 46 when the closure is in the closed or non-dispensing position. It extends circumferentially and further provides flexibility to the plug 64. When the closure is in the closed position, the front wall 53 is connected to the dispense orifice 4.
Decide on the length so that it can completely cover 4. The front wall 53 does not form a sealing means, but does ensure that it covers the orifice 44 and prevents the user from noticing any dry material that may adhere to the orifice 44 after the dispensing operation.

It is preferable to make the entire device by injection molding of plastic, so the structure is simple and the appearance is of course eye-catching.

Conveniently, the device is operated by the user by simply pushing up on the end 54 of the cover 48 to open the passageway 46. Material can then be dispensed from the container 10 by tipping the container 10 and pushing on both resilient sides of the container 10. In the less preferred embodiment, where the container is not elastomeric, the material drips from the container due to gravity. After dispensing the appropriate amount of material, the passageway 46 of the container 10 can be made fluid tight by simply pushing down the cover 48. When the plaque 64 closes this closure, the material within the longitudinally extending portion of the passageway 46 is forced back into the container 10, allowing material to leak out through the orifice 44 and closure. Eliminate the.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the foregoing description.
It is not important that the closure or the downwardly extending skirt 38 rests on the neck 16.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The container/dispense closure assembly of the present invention is simple in construction, attractive in appearance, dispenses products of different consistencies by opening the closure, and the closure is easily closed. This creates a fluid seal to prevent product leakage due to leakage or evaporation. This dispense closure is easy for the user to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container/dispensing closure assembly with a portion of the container removed showing the dispense closure in place and in an open or dispensing position. FIG. 2 is a side view of the container and dispense closure with a portion of FIG. 1 omitted; 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1 with the dispense closure removed; FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the container/dispense closure assembly of FIG. 1, with the dispense closure shown in cross-section and in a closed or non-dispensing position; FIG. 5 is a side view of the same container/dispensing closure assembly as FIG. 4, with the dispensing closure shown in cross-section and in the open or dispensing position. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the container/dispense closure assembly taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 2; FIG. (Explanation of symbols of main parts) 10, container 12, side wall 14, shoulder 16, neck 30, dispense closure 42, recess 44, dispense orifice 46, passage 48, cover 56, living hinge 64, plug 68 , nige area

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container having a neck whose opening enters the container, a side wall, a shoulder located between the neck and the side wall and connected to both, and a container that fits into the neck of the container. a container/dispense closure assembly comprising: a means for enclosing an opening in the neck of the container; and a means for enclosing the opening in the neck of the container; and a dispenser means integral with the cap, the dispenser means having a recessed area in the upper surface of the cap and a top surface, side walls and front wall surrounding the passageway. a cover means, the recessed area being open at one end and sized to receive the passageway and the dispense orifice, the passageway connecting the dispense orifice with the interior of the container and having an opening therein; , the cover means further having plug means extending downwardly from and connected to the underside of the upper surface of the cover means, the plug means being in the closed and non-dispensing position. engaging an opening in said passageway to form a fluid-tight seal and forming a passageway for free flow of fluid from an interior of said container to said orifice when said cover means is in an open and dispensing position; A container/dispense closure assembly constructed and arranged in such a manner that said cover means has a living hinge connecting said cover means to said cap portion. 2. The container/dispense closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug means has a barbed area about the plug means connected to the underside of the top surface of the cover means to impart flexibility to the plug means. Three-dimensional. 3. A container/dispense closure assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the end of said plug means remote from the point where said plug means connects to said cover means is beveled. 4. The side walls of the recessed area have projecting means, and the side walls of the cover means have projecting means, both projecting means cooperating to limit upward movement of the cover means. Container/dispense closure assembly. 5. A dispense closure for a container, the dispense closure comprising a cap portion having means for surrounding the container and means for attaching the dispense closure to the container to form a fluid-tight seal, and a dispenser integral with the cap portion. means, the dispenser means having a recessed area on the top surface of the cap portion and a cover means having a top surface, side walls and a front wall surrounding the passageway, the recessed area being open at one end and extending over the passageway. and a dispensing orifice, said passageway connecting said dispensing orifice with an interior of the container and having an opening therein, said cover means further extending downwardly from a lower side of an upper surface of said cover means. and plug means extending from and connected to the underside of the top surface, the plug means engaging the opening of the passageway to form a fluid-tight seal when the cover means is in the closed and non-dispensing position. , constructed and arranged to form a passageway for free fluid flow from the interior of the container to the orifice when the cover means is in the open and dispensing position, the cover means connecting the cover means to the cap portion; A dispensing closure characterized by having a living hinge. 6. The dispensing closure of claim 5, wherein the plug means has a barbed area about the plug means connected to the underside of the top surface of the cover means to impart flexibility to the plug means. 7. A dispense closure according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the end of the plug means remote from the point where it connects to the cover means is beveled. 8. The side walls of the recessed area have projecting means and the side walls of the cover means have projecting means, both projecting means cooperating to limit upward movement of the cover means. Dispense closure.