WO1992017370A1

WO1992017370A1 - Closure element

Info

Publication number: WO1992017370A1
Application number: PCT/EP1992/000768
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Earle
Original assignee: Kodak Limited; Eastman Kodak Company
Priority date: 1991-04-08
Filing date: 1992-04-02
Publication date: 1992-10-15
Also published as: JPH06500978A; GB9107306D0; CA2106846A1

Abstract

A closure element for a container of fluids. The closure element (20) has a body (23) which is attached to an outlet of the container. The closure element includes a spout (24) which is movable between a position in which it prevents fluid flow through the spout and a position in which it allows such flow. The spout (24) is dimensioned so that it extends beyond the periphery of the body (23) in both its positions to facilitate attachment to a pipe (26).

Description

Closure Element

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a closure element for a container. More particularly it relates to a closure element having a pivotable spout movable between open and closed positions.

BACKGROUND ART Closure elements having a pivotable spout which is movable between open and closed positions are well known. This type of element is conventionally fastened to a neck of a container which stores a fluid of relatively high viscosity such as shampoo. The closure element prevents fluid from being dispensed from the container when it is in the closed position, and enables fluid to be dispensed from the container when it is in the open position. Such closure elements comprise a main body and a pivotable spout which, in the closed position, fits into a recess provided in the main body. In the closed position the spout extends to the periphery of the main body and is profiled to enable a user to grip the spout about a pivot to the open position. Once the closure element is in the open position fluid can be dispensed from the container.

A disadvantage of this type of closure element is that when it is necessary to dispense fluid to a location remote from the container it is necessary to move the container to that remote location, open the spout of the closure element and orient the container in such a way that fluid is dispensed from the container through the spout.

Alternately, a transporting means, such as one end of a flexible pipe, can be coupled to the spout in the open position. The other end of the flexible pipe can be disposed at the remote location so that fluid can be dispensed thereat from the container via the spout and flexible pipe. When the required amount of fluid has been dispensed from the container, the flexible pipe must be removed from the spout to enable the spout to be pivoted to the closed position.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a closure element which overcomes these disadvantages. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure element for a container for fluids, said closure element comprising a movable spout carried by a body member, said spout being movable between a first position preventing fluid flow through said spout and a second position permitting fluid flow through said spout wherein said spout extends beyond the periphery of said body member in said first and said second positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for dispensing a fluid, said apparatus comprising a receptacle having at least one neck which defines an aperture and a closure element according to said one aspect, fastened to the neck of said receptacle.

As the spout of the closure element according to the present invention extends beyond the periphery of the closure element at all times, appropriate transporting means, such as a flexible conduit, can be permanently coupled to the extending part of the spout without affecting the operation of the closure element. The closure element can be manufactured using known technology and comprises only two components and is therefore relatively inexpensive to produce.

A further aspect of the invention provides a closure assembly for a container for fluids, said closure assembly comprising a tubular body member which can be secured to the neck of a said container, a flap member pivotably mounted in said body member and movable between a first position in which it can prevent fluid flow through said body, and a second position in which it permits fluid flow therethrough, and a receptacle into which said body member can locate, said receptacle being so shaped and configured that relative rotation between said body member and said receptacle cause the flap member to move between its first and second positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described now by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a dispensing apparatus incorporating a closure element according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in a closed position.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a dispensing apparatus incorporating a closure element according to the present invention shown in an open position.

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a dispensing apparatus incorporating an alternative form of closure element, and

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure

3 illustrating the operation of the alternative form of closure element.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 and 2 are schematic side views of a closure element 20 coupled to a suitable receptacle 30. The receptacle 30 has a neck 21 defining an aperture to which the closure element 20 is fastened, and is secured to a generally vertical surface 32 by brackets (not shown) in such a way that the neck 21 is downwarldy directed. The closure element 20 comprises a generally cylindrical body 23 which houses a spout movable between a closed position (as shown in Figure 1) and an open position (as shown in Figure 2). The spout of the closure element has a through bore 25 which is in communication with the inside of the receptacle when the spout is in the open position, thereby permitting fluid flow through the spout, and is isolated therefrom in the closed position, thereby preventing fluid flow through the spout. The spout 24 extends beyond the periphery of the body 23 which enables a flexible conduit 26 to be coupled to the spout 24.

Fluid is dispensed from the container when the closure element 20 is in the open position (Figure 2). The closure element 20 is opened by rotating the spout 24 about a pivot 27 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2. When the spout of the closure element is in the open position fluid flows from the container through the bore 25 of spout 24 and the flexible conduit 26 by gravity, and the dispensed fluid can be directed to where it is required by means of the flexible conduit 26.

When the required amount of fluid has been dispensed from the container, the spout 24 is rotated back to the position shown in Figure 1 which stops the flow of fluid from the container.

The aforedescribed closure element has many practical applications. It will usually be fastened to a suitable container for storing fluids and operates to control the amount of fluid dispensed from the container. With a flexible conduit secured to the spout of the closure element, fluid can be dispensed to where it is required with a minimum of effort and substantially no wastage of fluid. Such an apparatus has particular application when hazardous fluids are to be handled, or fluids which deteriorate on contact with air. One such application is in the field of photographic developing which uses fluids that are oxidisable on contact with air. Using the aforedescribed apparatus fluid can be dispensed from the container to a developing tray via the flexible conduit with a minimum exposure to air. An advantage of the present closure element is that it is an extremely simple device for connecting a fluid source to a transporting means. The closure element comprises only two parts - the body and the spout - and is therefore relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It can be readily appreciated that since the closure element according to the present apparatus has only two working positions it can be arranged to be electrically operated.

A second embodiment of a closure element is shown in Figures 3 to 5. The closure element shown generally at (50) comprises a tubular body (51) which locates around the neck (52) of a container (53). The internal wall of the body (51) is stepped at (55) and the step abuts against the rim of the neck (52). An outer peripheral part of the body (51) has a inwardly directed lip (56).

The body carries a circular flap (58) which is pivotally mounted to the body at (59). In section the flap has a poirtion (60) of uniform thickness and a part circumferential portion (61) which is generally wedge-shaped, the apex of the wedge contacting the inner wall of the body (51) . In the closed position of the flap the portion (60) seats against the lip (56).

The body (51) can be received in a receptacle element (70). The receptacle (70) comprises a tubular part (71) having an integrally formed end face (72) which protrudes radially beyond the tubular part (71). The interior of the end face is formed with an axially extending protrusion (74) . The protrusion (74) is located intermediate the axis of the tubular part (71) and the inner surface of the tubular part and is spaced from that inner surface by a distance sufficient to accommodate the lip (56) (see Figure 4) . The interior surface of the tubular part (71) has a circumferential groove which receives an O-ring (75). A conduit (76) extends through the end face (72).

In use the tubular body (51) secured to the neck of a container is located in the tubular part (71) as shown in Figure 4. The O-ring (75) forms a seal between the two elements. In the orientation shown in Figure 4 the protrusion (74) has contacted the portion (60) of the flap and caused the flap to pivot to a position in which the wedge-shaped portion is not in contact with the body (51). Hence the flap is open and fluid can flow either to or from the container via the conduit (76) which is coupled to photographic processing apparatus.

To close the flap (58), e.g. when used chemicals have been returned to the container, the container is rotated through 180° to the position shown in Figure 5. This causes the flap to close and then the body (51) and container can be removed from the receptacle (70) without risk of spillage of liquid from the container.

The body (51) and the flap (58) are formed from a material which allows one to sealingly engage the other. This material can be a polymer such as polypropylene. The closure assembly of the second embodiment has similar advantages to those of the first embodiment. It allows the handling of hazardous fluids with a minimum risk of exposure. The closure has particular application the field of photographic developing.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A closure element for a container for fluids, said closure element comprising a movable spout carried by a body member, said spout being movable between a first position preventing fluid flow through said spout and a second position permitting fluid flow through said spout wherein said spout extends beyond the periphery of said body member in said first and said second positions.

2. An apparatus for dispensing a fluid, said apparatus comprising a receptacle having at least one neck which defines an aperture and a closure element as claimed in claim 1, fastened to the neck of said receptacle.

3. An apparatus for dispensing a fluid as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a flexible conduit connectable to said spout.

4. A closure assembly for a container for fluids, said closure assembly comprising a tubular body member which can be secured to the neck of a said container, a flap member pivotably mounted in said body member and movable between a first position in which it can prevent fluid flow through said body, and a second position in which it permits fluid flow therethrough, and a receptacle into which said body member can locate, said receptacle being so shaped and configured that relative rotation between said body member and said receptacle cause the flap member to move between its first and second positions.

5. A closure assembly according to claim 4, wherein the receptacle comprises a tubular body portion arranged to sealingly receive the tubular body member and an end wall at one end of the tubular portion, said end wall having a formation which is use contacts said flap to effect said opening and closing upon said relative rotation.

6. A closure assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein a conduit extends through said end wall, said conduit permitting fluid to flow to or from said container when said flap is in its open position.

7. An apparatus for dispensing a fluid, said apparatus comprising a receptacle having at least one neck which defines an aperture and a closure assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 6 fastened to the neck of said receptacle.