WO2005075517A2

WO2005075517A2 - Easy-open closure

Info

Publication number: WO2005075517A2
Application number: PCT/EP2005/050020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emanuel Shenkar; James L Martin; Miles Wan
Original assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.; Crown Packaging Uk Plc
Priority date: 2004-01-30
Filing date: 2005-01-04
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Also published as: US20050167297A1; WO2005075517A3

Abstract

An improved easy open closure for a container that is particularly adapted for use by the disabled includes a plunger member (30) having a passage defined therein that is constructed and arranged to be depressed with respect to a main body portion (16) of the closure in order to breach a seal (28) in order to place the passage in communication with the contents of the container. Structure (50) may be provided for preventing access to or movement of the plunger member until opening of the closure is desired.

Description

[001] EASY-OPEN CLOSURE

[002] This invention relates broadly to the field of pa aging technology. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved closure for a oontainer that is particularly adapted for use by the disabled and the elderly.

[003] Conventional mating closure caps and bottle finish structures for carbonated beverage containers typically utilise a screw type or threaded arrangement between the closure cap and the finish portion. These types of screw caps are mass produced by injection or compression moulding and have achieved commercial success mainly in the soft drink industry, where they are applied robotically to the finish portions of filled soft drink bottles on rapidly moving filling lines.

[004] One type of closure that is particularly popular in the packaging of bottled water and sports drinks has a built-in pouring spout that makes it easy to drink directly from the bottle after opening. It is typical for such closures to incorporate a valve element that is actuated by pulling a movable member upwardly in order to permit the contents of the container to be dispensed.

[005] Unfortunately, it requires a feir amount of dexterity and physical strength to operate such closures. This makes it difficult for the disabled to use such closures. A need exists to provide an easy open closure for a oontainer that is more suited for use by the disabled than our conventional easy open closures.

[006] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an easy open closure for a container that is more suited for use by the disabled then are conventional easy open closures.

[007] In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, an easy open closure for a oontainer that is constructed according to one aspect of the invention includes a main body portion that is adapted to be secured to a oontainer, the main body portion having sealing structure that is positioned to prevent fluid from the container from escaping from the container through the main body portion; and a plunger member mounted for movement within the main body portion, the plunger member having a pouring opening and a passage defined therein that is in communication with both the pouring opening and a space within the main body portion that is defined in part by said sealing structure, and wherein the plunger member is movable between a first position and a second position wherein the sealing structure is breached, thereby permitting fluid from the ωntainer to flow through the passage to the pouring opening.

[008] Further embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims attached hereto.

[009] The present invention and its advantages will be better understood by referring, by way of example, to the following detailed description and the attached Figures, in which;

[010] FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a closure that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in a first operative position;

[011] FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the closure that is depicted in FIGURE 1, showing a second operative position;

[012] FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary isometric view depicting one component of the closure that is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

[013] FIGURE 4 is an isometric view depicting another oomponent of the closure that is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

[014] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to FIGURE 1, an easy open closure 10 is constructed and arranged to be mounted on to a container 12 in order to seal an opening 14 of the oontainer 12. Easy open closure 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a main body portion 16 having an outer surface 18 that is shaped and si:edto seal against the 'structure of the oontainer 12 that defines the opening 14. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved as an interference fit between the main body portion 18 and the container 12. Alternatively, there oould be a screw type connection between the main body portion 16 and the container 12 or the two components oould be fused or moulded together and still be within the scope of the invention.

[015] Referring briefly to FIGURE 3, which provides a fragmentary perspective view of the main body portion 16, it will be seen that sealing structure 20 is provided within the main body portion 16 for sealing the opening 14 of the oontainer 12 when the closure 10 is mounted to the container 12. In the illustrated embodiment, sealing structure 20 is embodied as a moulded panel 22 that is integrally moulded with the rest of the main body portion 16 and that provides a barrier that will stop fluid from within the oontainer 12 from entering the space that is defined within the interior of main body portion 16. One or more areas of weakness may be provided in the sealing structure 20. In the illustrated embodiment, an area of weakness is created by an arcuate score 24 that is defined in the lower surfaoe of the moulded panel 22 at a location that is near the juncture of the moulded panel 22 and a circumferential outer wall of the main body portion 16 that defines the outer surface 18. The space that is defined within the interior of the main body portion 16 is delimited by a relatively smooth cylindrically shaped inner surface 25 that has a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 26 defined therein. An annular recess 28 is defined in an upper end of the main body portion 16 immediately above the cylindrically shaped inner wall 25. Annular recess 28 is characterised by having a relatively flat upper surfee 29 that is moulded so as to be as smooth as possible.

[016] Referring again to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that a plunger member 30 is mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the main body portion 16 of the closure 10. In FIGURE 1, plunger member 30 is shown in a first operative position with respect to the main body portion 16 that is characterised by the flat upper surface 44 of the plunger member 30 being substantially elevated with respect to the flat upper surface 29 of the annular recess 28 of the main body portion 16. As is perhaps best shown in FIGURE 4, plunger member 30 has a pouring opening 32 defined in the upper surfee 44 thereof that is in oommunication with an internal passage defined by walls 34 that in turn is in communication with a space that is defined on a lower end of the plunger member 30. A force concentration member 36 is provided on the lower end of the plunger member 30 for exerting force on the sealing structure 20 when the plunger is depressed, as will be described in greater detail below. Force concentration member 36 is preferably embodied as a tapered projection 38 terminating in a pressure tip 40 that is adapted to bear against moulded panel 22 in area adjacent to the soore 24 when the plunger member 30 is depressed. As m be seen in FIGURE 4, the relatively flat upper surface 44 of the plunger member 30 is relatively smooth and expansive, making it is easy as possible for a disabled person to exert downward pressure on the upper surface 44 when it is desired to open the easy open closure 10. To this end, relatively flat upper surfee 44 preferably has a surfee area of at least 0.5 square inches (3.2 square centimetres) and more preferably a surfee area of at least 0.75 square inches (4.8 square centimetres). Flat upper surfee 44 is preferably substantially circular in shape and has a circumferential outer rim 46 and a relatively flat lower surfee 48 that is moulded to be as smooth as possible so as to create a good seal against the upper surfee 29 of the annular recess 28 when the plunger member 30 has been completely depressed.

[017] In order to open the easy open closure 10, a disabled person will first diseng^e releasable protective structure 50 that is provided to prevent accidental depression of the plunger member 30. In the preferred embodiment, releasable protective structure 50 is embodied as a ωver member 52, having an oversiasd thumb tab 54, that is hingedly mounted to the main body portion 16 by a hinge member 56. Preferably, ωver member 52 and binge member 56 are integrally moulded together with the main body portion 16. Accordingly, a disabled consumer will engage the oversia≥d thumb tab 54 and lift the ωver member 52 to the position in which it is shown in FIGURE 1. The disabled ωnsumer will then press down on the flat upper surface 44 of the plunger member 30, thereby forcing the pressure tip 40 a^inst the moulded panel 22 in the area of the score 24. This will cause rupture of the moulded panel 22, and the moulded panel 22 will ωntinue to tear along the soore line 24 until the plunger member 30 is completely depressed so that the underside 48 of the plunger member 30 is sealed together in contact with the flat surfee 29 and the outer rim 46 of the plunger member 30 is seated within the annular reoess 28 of the main body portion 16, as is illustrated in FIGURE 2. In this position, the seωnd openings 42 that are defined in the distal end of the foroe concentration member 36 will be positioned beneath the ruptured moulded panel 22 into the container 12, thereby ensuring reliable ωmmunication between the passageway 34 and the interior of the container 12. The disabled ωnsumer will then be able to pour or drink directly from the closure 10. The closure 10 may then be resealed to some extent by closing the ωver member 52. '^5y It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous charasteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, sias and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

[001] An easy open closure (10) for a ωntainer (12), ωmprising: a main body portion (16) that is adapted to be secured to a ωntainer (12), said main body portion having sealing means (20) that is positioned to prevent fluid from the ωntainer from escaping from the ωntainer through said main body portion; a plunger member (30) mounted for movement within said main body portion, said plunger member having a pouring opening (32) and a passage defined therein that is in ωmmunication with both said pouring opening and a space within said main body portion that is defined in part by said sealing means, and wherein said plunger member is movable between a first position and a seωnd position wherein said sealing means is breached, thereby permitting fluid from the ωntainer to flow through said passage to said pouring opening.

[002] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means (20) is integrally moulded with said main body portion, and wherein said sealing means has a pre- weakened area (24) defined therein that is adapted to be contacted by said plunger member when said plunger member is moved from said first position to said seωnd position.

[003] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to any preceding claim, wherein said plunger member (30) comprises a force concentration member (36) for exerting pressure on said sealing means (20) when said plunger member is moved from said first position to said seωnd position.

[004] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to claim 3, wherein said force concentration member (36) comprises a tapered projection (38) that is constructed and arranged to pierce said sealing means (20) when said plunger member is moved from said first position to said seωnd position.

[005] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to either claim 3 or 4, wherein said passage is defined in part within said foroe concentration member (36).

[006] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to any of claims 3 to 5, further ωmprising a seωnd opening (42) defined at a distal end of said force concentration member (36), said seωnd opening being in ωmmunication with said passage, and wherein said distal end of said force concentration member is configured to extend beyond said sealing means into said ωntainer when said plunger member is in said seωnd position.

[007] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to any preceding claim, wherein said plunger member has a relatively flat upper surface (44), whereby a ωnsumer who is physically handicapped will be more likely to be able to depress said plunger member in order to move said plunger member from said first position to said seωnd position.

[008] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to any preosding claim, wherein said plunger member (30) is constructed and arranged to seal against said main body portion (16) so that no fluid from the ωntainer may escape through the closure when the plunger is in the seωnd position other than through said passage in said pouring opening (32).

[009] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to any preceding claim, wherein said closure is moulded from a plastic material.

[010] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to any preceding claim, further ωmprising releasable protective means (50) for selectively preventing depression of said plunger from said first position to said seωnd position, and wherein said releasable protective means ωmprises a ωver member (52) that is adapted to be fitted on to said main body portion (16).

[011] An easy open closure for a ωntainer according to claim 10, wherein said ωver member is bingedly mounted (56) to said main body portion (16).