WO1997013123A1

WO1997013123A1 - Measure dispensing closure assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1997013123A1
Application number: PCT/GR1996/000022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Kalabakas
Original assignee: Peter Kalabakas
Priority date: 1995-09-29
Filing date: 1996-09-17
Publication date: 1997-04-10
Also published as: BR9603935A; AU6940396A

Abstract

A dispensing closure assembly for a container of flowable material, usually a liquid, is provided. The closure has an upper measuring chamber formed in a body and in communication with the interior of a container in use when the container is in an inverted discharge orientation so as to receive a quantity of flowable material. A holding reservoir is formed below the measuring chamber and receives a measured quantity of material when the container is moved from its inverted, discharge orientation to an upright orientation. The holding reservoir has a generally closable outlet for dispensing the measure of material therein when the container is once more moved to its discharge orientation.

Description

MEASURE DISPENSING CLOSURE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a measure dispensing closure assembly adapted for use in combination with the access aperture communicating with the interior of a container usually for liquids, but possibly also for flowable sub-divided solid substances wherein a predetermined measure of the material stored in the container is dispensed when the container is tilted to pour the measure out.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are numerous applications in which, in particular liquids, are stored in containers, often bottles, and are consumed by pouring small amounts of the liquid from the container periodically as and when required. The quantity of such liquids dispensed each time an amount is poured out often differs widely unless it is measured, for example by pouring it firstly into a measuring cap or cup, and then discharging it from the cap or cup into its destination container.

In the case where no measuring is carried out, the amount actually dispensed may be too little, in which case the desired objective is not achieved, or may be too much, in which case there is wastage. If a measuring cup or cap is in fact employed, then this must be washed in order to avoid a messy situation and the amount of material washed off is usually wasted in any event.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of this invention to provide a dispensing closure assembly with a built-in measure dispensing feature which may, if required, be adapted to dispense one of two or more different measures of the liquid. Whilst this specification will refer to liquid hereinafter, it is to be understood that the same principles can be applied to flowable sub-divided solid materials in many instances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a dispensing closure assembly for a container, the closure assembly having a body with a spigot or socket formation for sealing association with a discharge aperture of a container to form, in effect, a closure for the discharge opening; a measuring compartment formed within the body and communicating by way of a passage with the interior of a container such that, in use, the measuring compartment receives flowable material when the container is inclined in an inverted dispensing orientation; a holding reservoir formed beneath the measuring compartment in an upright orientation and having a transfer passage communicating with the measuring compartment such that a measured quantity of material flows from the measuring compartment to the holding reservoir when a container is moved from the dispensing to the upright orientation; and an outlet from the holding reservoir for dispensing a measured quantity of material from the holding reservoir when the container is moved from the upright to a dispensing orientation.

Further features of the invention provide for the outlet from the holding reservoir to be located towards one diametrical side of the closure assembly in which case the inlet to the measuring compartment is located towards a diametrically opposed position; for the outlet from the holding reservoir to be provided with a closure movable between an open and a closed position; for the communication between the measuring chamber and holding reservoir to be by way of a transfer passage closable by means of a web movable in unison with the closure for the outlet from the holding reservoir; and for the measuring chamber and holding reservoir to be separated from each other by a dividing wall extending transverse to the axis of the closure.

A still further feature of the invention provides for the quantity of material measured by the measuring compartment to be selectable between two or three, or even more, different measures of material.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, four different embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

FIG.1 is a schematic sectional elevation illustrating the simplest form of the invention;

FIG.2 is a similar view, but illustrating an embodiment in which the measured quantity of liquid is within a continuous range of quantities;

FIG.3 is a similar view of a further embodiment of the invention whereby two different selectable measures of liquid can be dispensed using the closure assembly;

FIG.4 is a similar view of a still further embodiment of the invention in which selectable measures of liquid can be dispensed; and,

FIG.5 is a schematic plan view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 , there is illustrated a closure assembly generally indicated by numeral (1) and having a socket (2) defined by a skirt which is tubular in shape. A dividing wall (3) forms a closure to the assembly and has a tubular communicating passage (4) located to one side (5) and communicating between the interior of the socket and extending a predetermined height within the tubular cap body (6).

An outlet passage (7) communicating with the lower region of the interior of the body (6) communicates with the uppermost end (8) of the closure and a sealing snap cap (9) is provided for the open end of the outlet passage (7).

The outlet passage is defined by a downwardly extending wall (10) which then extends transversely as indicated by numeral (11) to divide the interior of the body (6) into a lower portion which forms the holding reservoir (12) and aπ upper portion which defines the measuring chamber (13). The wall (11) terminates short of the periphery of the body (6) to define a transfer passage (14).

In use, the closure assembly described above is fitted to a discharge aperture from, for example, a bottle, and suitable seal (15) is provided to ensure that no leaks occur.

The arrangement is such that when the bottle is rotated to a normal downwardly inclined discharge orientation, liquid will flow from the bottle into the measuring chamber (13) until such time as the open end of the tubular passage (4) is covered with liquid. At this stage the bottle is rotated to aπ upright position and a measured quantity of fluid flows from the measuring chamber (13) into the holding reservoir (12) with excess returning down the passage (4) to the interior of the bottle. It will be understood that this quantity of liquid which reaches the holding reservoir (12) will always be the same and the actual measure can be selected by suitable design of the closure assembly.

The next time that the bottle is rotated to a normal discharge position, with the snap cap (9) of the outlet passage (7) in an open condition, this measure of liquid will be discharged from the container by way of the cap. Simultaneously, the measuring chamber will refill and the cycle will be repeated each time a measure of the liquid is required. Turning now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, a measuring chamber (16) and a holding reservoir (17) are formed similarly in a body (18) to that described above. However, in this case, the axial position of the tubular passage (19) communicating between the socket (20) and the measuring chamber is adjustable by means of an externally operable screw threaded arrangement -(21) having a finger grip (22) whereby it can be rotated. Once more, this tube is located towards the side of the closure assembly opposite the outlet passage (23).

In this case, the transfer passage (24) is closable by means of a web (25) of material movable in unison with an axially movable closure (26) for the outlet (23).

In use, the closure assembly described above is operated similarly to that described with reference to Figure 1, except for the fact that transfer of the measure of liquid from the measuring chamber (16) to the holding reservoir (17) only takes place when the closure (26) is snapped into its closed position and the web (25) of material moves to open the transfer passage (24).

It will be seen that when the closure (26) is raised, the web (25) will close the transfer passage (24) so as to retain the measure of liquid in the measuring chamber until the closure (26) is closed.

It will be understood that by adjusting the vertical position of the tubular passage (19) the measure of liquid can be varied within a reasonably wide range.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the measuring chamber (27) and holding reservoir (28) are formed similarly to that described with respect to Figure 1 , except for the fact that the transfer passage (29) between the measuring chamber and interior (30) of a container is by way of an aperture in the wall opposite the outlet (31) and this wall has an additional discharge opening (32) with a normally closed closure (33) located at a predetermined height above the bottom (34) of the retaining reservoir. The closure (32) is normally urged into its closed position by way of a resilient web (35) of plastic material and the closure (32) is attached by way of a slidable operating member (36) to an upper finger tab (37). The arrangement is such that the finger tab (37) may be raised in order to move the closure (33) away from the additional opening (32).

In this case, the lower edge (38) of the communicating passage (29) determines the full level of the holding reservoir, but a smaller selectable quantity can be chosen by raising the operating member (36) and allowing the liquid in the holding reservoir to fall to the lower edge of the passage (32).

It will be seen from Figure 3 that in this case the connection to a container neck (39) is by way of a skirt (40) encircling the body (41) at a position upward of all the apertures (29) and (32).

Finally, referring to Figure 4, a closure assembly has a body (42) similar to that described with reference to Figure 3, but with a simple dividing wall (43) dividing the interior of the measuring chamber and the holding reservoir into two. Each reservoir has its own outlet (44) and own sealing cap (45). The communicating passage (46) supplies liquid to the measuring compartment (47) and when the container is moved from a dispensing orientation to an upright orientation this measured quantity flows into the two holding reservoirs and it becomes divided by the upper edge (48) of the dividing wall (43).

When it is desired to dispense one quantity, the one outlet can be opened; when it is required to dispense a second quantity, the other outlet can be opened; and a third quantity can be dispensed by opening both outlets.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

Claim 1 has been narrowed in scope by including the subject matter of original claim 8 in order to avoid prior art brought to Applicant's attention in the International Search Report. The scope of protection claimed is now limited to the situation were two or more different quantities of liquid can be dispensed by the closure assembly.

The other amendments are consequential on the inclusion of the limiting feature of original claim 8 in new ciaim 1.