WO2007049235A2

WO2007049235A2 - Container fitment comprising a dispensing orifice, and method of making the same

Info

Publication number: WO2007049235A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/053932
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mary Ruth Leyendecker; Marta Goyenechea-Mateos; Guy Hubert Stephane Sylvain Culeron; Kristi Marie Cetti
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 2005-10-25
Filing date: 2006-10-25
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Also published as: CA2627622A1; WO2007049235A3

Abstract

A container fitment (1) having a dispensing orifice (15), containers with such a dispensing orifice, and a method of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the container fitment is used to dispense shear- thinning structured liquids and may include a dispensing orifice in a shape other than a circle having an opening area from about 32 mm2 to about 65mm2. The container fitment may include a dispensing ring (2) located on the top panel (8) around the dispensing orifice. The container fitment may also include an openable closure cap (27) joined to the container fitment.

Description

CONTAINER FITMENT COMPRISING A DISPENSING ORIFICE, AND METHOD

OF MAKING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container fitment, specifically a container fitment comprising a dispensing orifice, containers with such a dispensing orifice, and a method of making the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Non-pressurized containers have traditionally been equipped with a dispensing orifice situated somewhere on the container. To dispense a product from a non- pressurized container, the user simply turns the container upside down and lets gravity do the work. However, in order to dispense a dose of a shear-thinning structured liquid product (such as some automatic dishwashing and/or laundry compositions), the user must provide at least some shearing force, which is generally initiated by squeezing the inverted container. The contents are then "squeezed" out of the container until the desired amount is dispensed, for example, until a receiving receptacle is filled.

In dispensing shear-thinning structured liquid products or compositions, a balance must be achieved between providing an adequate dispensing orifice diameter (e.g., to result in an effective dosing of the shear-thinning structured liquid product) and providing a suitable flow rate once dispensing is initiated. Impacting the dosing regime is the negative perception of product quality that is elicited by the user when the dispensing orifice provides for either too restricted a flow (e.g. user perceives that the product is too thick) or too large a flow (e.g. user perceives that the product is too thin and watery).

If the diameter of the dispensing orifice is too small, then only a limited amount of product is dispensed (often less than the optimal dosage) as it is squeezed out the dispensing orifice. If less than the optimal dosage is delivered to a receiving receptacle (such as the dispensing cup in an automatic dishwashing machine or to a washing machine), then incomplete cleaning of a soiled article may occur.

As the diameter of the dispensing orifice increases, the dispensing flow rate increases. While this is desirable up to a certain point, too large a diameter and the user may actually lose control of the amount being dispensed — causing the user to overfill the receiving receptacle. Too large a diameter makes it difficult for the user to stop the dispensing flow with adequate control of the amount and direction of the flow. This often creates an unwanted mess. Another problem with the use of large diameter dispensing orifices is that during dispensing, the user may perceive the shear-thinning structured liquid product to be too thin and watery. Marketing tests have shown that a thin or watery product is perceived as being of lesser quality than that of a thicker product.

Thus, the size of the dispensing orifice is directly related to the user's perception of product quality. Therefore, the search for an improved container fitment has continued.

It has been found that, in certain embodiments, the design of a container fitment containing a dispensing orifice, and optionally a dispensing ring, having an opening with a opening area between about 32 mm² and about 65 mm² provides adequate control of the dispensing of a shear-thinning structured liquid without the negative appearance of the product being too thin or watery. These areas are equivalent to circles with diameters of about 6.4 mm and about 9 mm, respectively. In one embodiment, the surface area of the opening is 55.4 mm², or an area equivalent to a circle with a diameter of about 8.4 mm. It has also been found that if the container is provided with a dispensing orifice that has a non-circular configuration (for example, a plan view configuration having a portion with at least one smaller radius of curvature, which may be in the form of at least one point), pouring the product from a side of the orifice that comprises a portion with the smaller radius of curvature, reduces the messiness associated with cessation of the dispensing flow. The small radius or point helps the user "cut off the dispensing flow of the product, especially at the end of the dosing operation, where most messiness is observed. Thus, when dispensing a shear- thinning liquid product, the container fitment may provide a user with an overall improvement and experience in dispensing. Such a container fitment could also be used with most any type of composition, including non-shear thinning liquids or powders in any type of suitable containers (e.g., single- and multiple-compartment containers). Thus, any suitable composition may be dispensed from any suitable container using the container fitment described herein. Suitable compositions include, but are not limited to: pastes, creams, gels, liquids, liquigels, powders, and granules. Although the examples herein typically relate to dispensing of structured automatic dishwasher and laundry products and compositions, this type of container fitment could be useful for a wide range of applications, including but not limited to hand dish- washing products, skin care and personal care products, and food products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a container fitment comprising an annular ring and a top panel is provided. The annular ring comprises upper and lower terminal ends and an outer and inner side wall. The inner side wall may comprises an attaching means for attaching the container fitment to the neck of a container opening. The top panel may comprise a sealing means for sealing the container fitment to the opening on the neck of the container. The top panel may be positioned on the upper terminal end in a generally normal position to the terminal ends of the annular ring. The top panel may have a dispensing orifice located therein. The dispensing orifice may be non-circular in shape and may have an opening with any suitable opening area including, but not limited to from about 32 mm² to about 65 mm². The container fitment may further comprise a dispensing ring located on the top panel around the dispensing orifice.

In another aspect of the invention, an article of manufacture is provided. The article of manufacture comprises a kit comprising a container fitment, a container comprising a composition to be dispensed, and instructions for using the container fitment to dispense the composition. In another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing the container fitment described herein, is provided. The method may comprise the step of forming a one-piece container fitment using plastic injection molding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one non-limiting embodiment of a container fitment having a dispensing orifice in the shape of a rhombus (e.g. four-sided diamond) thereon.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container fitment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross- sectional view of the container fitment taken along line 3-3 of

FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partially fragmented cross-sectional view of the dispensing ring taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another non-limiting embodiment of a container fitment having a dispensing orifice in the shape of a "Marquis" diamond.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another non-limiting embodiment of a container fitment having a dispensing orifice in the shape of an ellipse (e.g., a North American-type football) thereon.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the container fitment of FIG. 1 and shows the mounting of the container fitment on a container. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the container fitment of FIG. 1 with a flip top lid joined to the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container fitment comprising a dispensing orifice, containers with such a dispensing orifice, and a method of making the same.

FIG. 1 shows one non-limiting embodiment of a container fitment 1 having a dispensing orifice 15 therein. FIG. 7 shows the mounting of the container fitment 1 on a container. The container fitment 1 may be joined to any suitable container by any suitable attaching means. Suitable attaching means include, but are not limited to: a snap lug arrangement, a screw threaded type arrangement, or combinations thereof. The container fitment 1 may attach to right side up containers, as well as upside down containers. Alternatively, the container fitment 1 may be an integral part of the container itself.

The container fitment 1 comprises an annular ring 3, a dispensing orifice 15, and an optional dispensing ring 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the annular ring 3 may have a circular plan view shape so that it is suitable for joining the container fitment 1 to the spout of a container which has a similar plan view shape. The annular ring 3 has upper and lower terminal ends 10 and 16, respectively, a top panel 8 positioned on the upper terminal end

10 in a generally normal position to the terminal ends. The top panel 8 has the dispensing orifice 15 located therein. The annular ring 3 further comprises side walls, which have surfaces, such as an outer surface (or "outer side wall") 9 and an inner surface (or "inner side wall") 25 (the latter being shown in FIG. 3). The lower terminal end 16 and an upper terminal end 10 define bottom and top, respectively, of the outer side wall 9. An optional transition portion (or "ring transition portion") 18 may be positioned between the top panel 8 and the annular ring 3. The transition portion may be joined to the top panel 8 and the annular ring 3 and may have its boundaries defined by the upper terminal end 10 of the outer wall 9 and the periphery 19 of the top panel 8. The optional transition element 18 may have sides that are flat, curved, or rounded in shape. The term "joined", as used in this specification, encompasses configurations in which an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element; configurations in which the element is indirectly secured to the other element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element; and configurations in which one element is integral with another element, i.e., one element is essentially part of the other element.

The dispensing orifice 15 may be in any suitable location on the top panel 8. The dispensing orifice 15 and/or the optional dispensing ring 2, when present, may be spaced any suitable distance from each other. In some embodiments, they may be located adjacent to one another. For example, the dispensing orifice 15 and/or the dispensing ring 2 may be centrally positioned on the top panel 8 such that an unobstructed passageway is created between the container opening and the dispensing orifice 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing ring 2 may be immediately adjacent to and concentric with the periphery of the dispensing orifice 15, or coterminous with the periphery of the dispensing orifice 15 such that the dispensing ring 2 surrounds the dispensing orifice 15.

The optional dispensing ring 2 extends upwardly from the top surface of the top panel 8. The dispensing ring 2 comprises side walls which have an outer surface 4, an inner surface 5, and optionally, beveled edges 6. The dispensing ring 2 may comprise a structure having the same general shape as the dispensing orifice 15, or it may have a different shape from that of the dispensing orifice 15.

The side walls of the dispensing ring 2 may have any suitable width or thickness

(the width or thickness of the side walls being the distance between the inner and outer surfaces). It may be desirable for the width of the side walls to be relatively small (that is, the side walls are relatively thin or narrow) so that when the contents of the container are dispensed out of the dispensing opening, the contents will not spread out or pool on the top of the side walls causing mes sines s in dispensing and difficulty in cutting off the dispensing flow. The width of the side walls may, therefore, be less than or equal to the height of the side walls. The width of the side walls may be of a uniform thickness around the periphery of the dispensing ring 2, or the width of the side walls may vary around the periphery of the dispensing ring 2. However, as discussed above, it may be desirable for the width of the side walls to be relatively small at the location or locations on the side walls from which the product is dispensed, such as at one of the points or vertices described below. At such locations, for example, it may be desirable for the width for the side walls to be less than or equal to any of the following dimensions: about 5 mm, 4 mm, 3 mm, 2 mm, or 1 mm. As shown in FIG. 1, the width of the side walls may have a minimum dimension when the inner and outer surfaces taper up to an edge at the top of the side walls.

The side walls of the dispensing ring 2 may form any suitable angle with the surface of the top panel including, but not limited to, a right angle (90°), or any angles that are in 5 degree increments of a right angle inwardly or outwardly relative to the dispensing orifice 15. The inner surface 5 of the side walls defines a passageway or channel, which may be generally similar (or equal) in size, shape, or configuration to the size, shape, or configuration of the dispensing orifice 15. A passageway or channel may be formed by the marriage of the dispensing ring 2 and the dispensing orifice which will provide direct fluid communication between the contents of the container and the dispensing orifice 15 during dispensing with little or no obstruction to the flow of the contents of the container from the container opening through the passageway or channel.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container fitment shown in FIG. 1. The dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 may be provided in any suitable size, shape, or configuration so as to aid in the control of the dispensing of the contents of a container. It has been found that if the container is provided with a dispensing orifice and/or dispensing ring that has a non-circular configuration (for example, a plan view configuration having a portion with at least one smaller radius of curvature, or at least one point), pouring the product from a side of the orifice that comprises the portion with the smaller radius of curvature, reduces the messiness associated with cessation of the dispensing flow. The term "point", as used herein, includes both sharp points and rounded points. In cases where the container fitment defines a dispensing orifice having a configuration with a point thereon, this point may be a vertex formed by the intersection of two segments of the bounding portions of the container fitment which form an angle therebetween. The term "vertex", as used herein, includes both sharp points and rounded vertexes. The angle formed by such segments can be any suitable type of angle including right angles, acute, and obtuse angles, and can range from greater than 0 degrees to less than 180 degrees.

Examples of a suitable geometrical shape for the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 include, but are not limited to: an annulus, an arbelos, an astroid, a paracycle, a cubocycloid, a circular sector, a circular segment, a cone, a crescent, a deltoid, an ellipse, a lune, an oval, a parallelogram, a penrose tile, a polydrafter, a polygon, a pyramid, a quadrilateral, a rectangle, a reuleaux polygon, a rhombus, a rotor, a ribbon, a salinon, a semicircle, a smoothed octagon, a square, a super ellipse, a trapezium, a trapezoid, a triangle, a triquetra, a ying-yang, and combinations thereof. When the dispensing ring 2 is specified as having a particular shape, it may be desirable for the inner surface of the side walls, the outer surface of the side walls, or both to have such a shape when viewed from the top of the container fitment 1, such as in FIG. 2. In addition, in some embodiments, it is desirable for the outer surface 4 of the side walls to form the outermost portion of the dispensing ring 2, and there to be no additional enclosure(s) around the dispensing ring 2.

In some embodiments, the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 may comprise any shape that is non-circular, and has a point thereon (i.e. two edges coming together to make a point). Suitable point-containing shapes include, but are not limited to: a 4-sided diamond (rhombus), a "Marquis" diamond shape, a North American football (ellipse) shape, triangle, rectangle, square, and combinations thereof. Point-containing shapes, such as the 4-sided diamond shapes, allow the contents of the container, especially for liquids and gels, to be "cut off at the end of the dosing, so that even when the contents appear to be coming out faster, the consumer does not experience increased messiness (e.g., dripping from the bottle) when the dosing is ceased. This added control provides a means to reduce the perception of a poor quality product (e.g., too "thin and watery"). The point-containing shape is also believed to provide a "cutting edge" which helps promote the perception that the product is "pulled back" into the container at the end of the dosing. In cases where the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 have more than one portion with a point, the product can be poured from any side of the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 having a portion with a point.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-8, the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 are in the configuration of a four-sided diamond. The diamond- shaped configuration has a major axis running in its longer dimension, and a minor axis running in its shorter dimension. The minor axis runs along section line 3-3 in FIG. 2. The major axis runs perpendicular thereto through the center of the dispensing orifice 15. The dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 define acute angles at the ends of its major axis. These acute angles are the portions on the peripheries of the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 with the smallest radius of curvature. The dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 define obtuse angles at the ends of their minor axis.

As shown in plan view in FIG. 2, the configurations of the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 in this embodiment are radially asymmetrical. That is, the configurations of the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 are not symmetrical in all directions about a central axis. More specifically, the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 are asymmetrical about an axis that is oriented perpendicular to the top panel 8 that passes through the intersection of the major and minor axes. In other embodiments, however, the configuration of one of the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring may, in fact, be radially symmetrical.

In addition, as shown in the non-limiting embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, it may also be desirable for at least one of the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 to have a configuration such that their peripheries have no right angles. In addition, in some embodiments, at least one of the dispensing orifice 15 and dispensing ring 2 may have a configuration that is non-rectangular.

The container fitment 1 may also have a dispensing opening 15 that has a substantially fixed opening size and shape both prior to use and during use. In other words, it may be desirable for the dispensing opening 15 to have generally the same shape both when the container is at rest and when the contents of the container are being dispensed therefrom. In such a case, the size and shape of such a dispensing opening 15 may change slightly, but dispensing opening 15, for instance, would not change from a circular shape to another shape (e.g., a star-shaped configuration) during dispensing. It is also desirable for the container fitment 1 to be used on a container that contains the types of compositions described herein (e.g., pastes, creams, gels, liquids, liquigels, powders, and granules, etc.), and that the container does not contain sheet-like material, such as wet wipes, tissues, or the like. When the container contains shear-thinning liquid products of compositions, it may be desirable for such compositions to have a viscosity in the range of from about 12,000 to about 24,000 Cps. The viscosity is measured with a TA Instrument Rheometer AR-2000 obtained from TA Instruments of New Castle, DE, U.S.A. according to the procedure in the manufacturer's instructions. The rheometer is equipped with a 40mm 2° steel cone, and viscosity is measured at 25° C. The procedure utilizes various steps, including equilibration, continuous ramps and peak holds. The system is set to run an up curve for 1S^~1 continuous ramp, hold and then continuous ramp down at 1S^~1 shear rate, followed by a repeat of the process at shear rate of 150 S^'^with an equilibration step between the two shear rates changes. Apparent viscosities in Cps at 1S^~1 are automatically calculated from the readings using factors provided with the AR-2000 rheometer.

Any suitable opening size for the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 may be chosen to aid in the proper dosing of a receiving receptacle. Many shear-thinning structured liquids are currently dosed from a container with a small, round, singular hole or orifice (e.g. often less than about 30 mm²). This often provides the perception of too thick a product. In certain non-limting embodiments, suitable opening areas for the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 opening include from about 32 mm to about 65 mm², or from about any of the following to about 65 mm²: 35 mm², 40 mm², 45 mm², 50 mm², 55 mm², or from about 60 mm² to about 65 mm². In another non- limiting embodiment, the opening area of the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 opening may be equal to about 55.4 mm², which corresponds to the area of a circle having a diameter of 8.4 mm.

FIG. 3 is a cross- sectional view of the container fitment taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 the inner structure of the container fitment 1 is shown. The annular ring 3 comprises an inner side wall 25 and an optional sealing surface 24. The optional sealing surface 24 serves to form a seal between the fitment 1 and the portion of the neck of the container that surrounds the spout opening. The inner side wall 25 may comprise a suitable attaching means, such as snap lug arrangement or a screw threaded type arrangement for attaching the container fitment 15 to the neck of a container.

The optional sealing surface 24 may be located on the inner surface of the top panel 8. The optional sealing surface 24 may be an integral part of the inner surface of the top panel 8. The sealing surface 24, when present, may comprise a compressible, flexible and/or deformable material such that when the portion of the neck of the container that surrounds the spout opening is compressed against the deformable material it forms a tight seal when the container fitment 1 is fully attached to the neck of the container by any suitable attaching means. The seal may be a leak proof seal.

In the embodiment shown, the optional attaching means of the container fitment 1 comprises a thickened portion 26 (or snap bead) located on the inner side wall 25, adjacent to the lower terminal end 16. The thickened portion 26 may comprise a compressible, flexible and/or deformable material. When the container fitment is attached to the neck of the container by a suitable attaching means, the thickened portion is pressed against the neck of the container to hold the fitment 1 onto the container.

In addition to (or alternatively, instead of) the optional attaching means 26, the inner side wall 25 may comprise a threaded region 17 located adjacent to the terminal end 16 of the container fitment 1. The inner side wall 25 may be partially threaded having only a few threads, or may it may be fully threaded depending on the need (e.g. to resist the disengagement of the container fitment 1 from the container when a shear force is applied to the container by the user). FIG. 4 shows a portion of the dispensing ring 2 in greater detail. The side walls of the dispensing ring 2 have inner and outer surfaces, each of which has a lower edge and an upper edge. The lower edge and the upper edge of the outer surface 4 of the side wall define the bottom and top, respectively, of the outer surface 4 of the side wall. The bottom and top of the inner surface 5 of the side wall is defined by its lower edge 11 and its upper edge 12. The top portion 23 of the dispensing ring 2 is defined by its inside edge 13 and outside edge 7. The upper edge 21 of the outer surface 4 of the side wall and the inner edge 7 of the top portion 23 may define an optional transition portion 22 between the outer surface 4 of the side wall and the top portion 23 of the dispensing ring 2. The outer edge 13 of the top portion 23 and upper edge 12 of the inner surface 5 of the side wall may define an optional beveled edge 6 between the inner surface 5 of the side wall and the top portion 23 of the dispensing ring 2. The optional beveled edge 6, when viewed from the side, may be flat or rectilinear, or it may be curvilinear.

The angle, a, between the surfaces of the beveled edge 6, when present, and the outer surface 4 of the side wall may comprise any suitable acute angle. Suitable acute angles include, but are not limited to: less than about 90, 60, 45, 44, 42, 40, 38, 36, 34,

32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, or 10 degrees. In one non-limiting embodiment, the acute angle is formed between the surfaces of the beveled edge 6 and the outer surface

4 of the side wall and comprises an angle from about 10 degrees to less than 45 degrees, or alternatively, from about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees.

The container fitment 1 may be made of any suitable material. Suitable materials include plastics. Suitable plastics include, but are not limited to: firm or rigid plastic materials, rubbery or flexible plastic materials, and combinations thereof. The container fitment may be provided as a one-piece article or a composite article. In one non-limiting embodiment, the container fitment may be made entirely of an elastically deformable or rubbery plastic material. In another non-limiting example, the majority of the container fitment itself may be made of an elastically deformable plastic material, but in this event it may be necessary to make certain that the portion where the attaching means is formed less deformable or substantially non-deformable. One solution is to utilize multiple- plastic injection molding systems, methods, and techniques, known in the art, to provide a single-piece container fitment having both flexible plastic components, and firm, deformable plastic components, or alternatively more rigid, less deformable, or substantially non-deformable plastic components. Another solution to such an arrangement would be, for example, to prepare separately the attaching means (such as, a snap lug arrangement or a screw threaded type arrangement) and/or the dispensing ring of a more rigid or deformable, yet firm plastic material, or alternatively a non-deformable plastic material, and to associate it with an elastically plastic deformable article to form the container fitment by well known processes. In this case, the dispensing orifice may be melted, pressed, or cut out of the dispensing ring, if necessary.

Numerous other embodiments of the container fitment and container are possible. For example, FIG. 5 shows another non-limiting embodiment of a container fitment 1 having a dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 in the shape of a "Marquis" diamond.

FIG. 6 shows another non-limiting embodiment of a container fitment 1 having a dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 in the shape of a North American football.

FIG. 7 shows the container fitment 1 mounted on a container. As shown in FIG. 7, the container has a shoulder portion, and is closed at the top, except for the presence of a spout. The container fitment 1 is mounted on the end of the spout (that is, on the end of the neck of the container). The dispensing orifice 15 and the dispensing ring 2 have a similar plan view configuration. Both the dispensing orifice 15 and the dispensing ring 2 are smaller than the opening of the spout. If desired, the fitment 1 may fit onto the container so that its dispensing orifice 15 is oriented with the portion with the smaller radius of curvature being oriented in a direction that consumers typically tip the container to dispense the contents therefrom. This may, for example, be either parallel to one of longer sides of the container, or perpendicular to one of the longer sides of the container.

The container fitment 1 may also be provided as an integral part of a closure cap and/or sealing system for the container. For example as shown in FIG. 8, the container fitment 1 can be part of a flip cap or child resistant cap. When the container fitment 1 is part of a closure cap, it may be desirable for the dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 to be in a particular orientation relative to the cap, especially when the cap has a fixed position on the container.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 8, the dispensing opening 15 in the top panel 8 has at least a portion 29 with a smaller radius of curvature than another portion of the dispensing opening. The portion with the smaller radius of curvature 29 is configured for pouring therefrom. The portion with the smaller radius of curvature 29 (and the major axis of the dispensing opening 15 and dispensing ring 2) is oriented in a pouring direction (or first direction) 30. An openable closure cap 27 is joined to at least one of said annular ring 3 and the top panel 8 at a location that lies in a direction (or second direction) 32 that is generally opposed to the first pouring direction 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the closure cap 27 opens in a direction 32 that is 180° opposite to the direction 30 in which the product will be poured.

In other embodiments, the closure cap 27 need not open in a direction that is exactly 180° opposite to the direction in which the product will be poured. In such other embodiments, the closure cap 27 may open in a direction that forms any suitable angle relative to the direction 30 in which the product will be poured. It should also be understood that in any embodiments where the dispensing opening 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 has more than one portion with a smaller radius of curvature, point, or vertex, it is also possible to pour the product out of such other portions. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible for the product to be dispensed from the sides 34 of the dispensing ring 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the dispensing ring 2 may be engageable with a closure cap such as a flip-cap 27 having a male member 28 located on the inside surface thereof. In such an embodiment, the dispensing ring 2 acts as the female member to accept the male portion 28 of the closure cap when tightly engaged (e.g. closed). The engagement thus provides a sealing means for sealing the contents of the container from the environment and from leaking when in transport, storage, or not in use. The container fitment 1 may also provide an access means whereby the container fitment may not be opened and exposure to the internal contents of the container achieved without exerting sufficient force to a portion of the container fitment. Thus, although the container fitment may not necessarily be child proof, the force required to remove it may provide some degree of resistance to child tampering and/or undesirable access to the contents of the container by children. The design and the shape of the container fitment and/or dispensing orifice and/or optional dispensing ring thereon may vary according to the desired visual appearance of the finished shape of the container with which it is associated.

The container fitment 1 may be packaged along with the container as an article of manufacture comprising a kit. The kit may include the container fitment described herein, a container having a composition stored therein, and instructions on the use of the container fitment to dispense of the contents of the container. The container may have a single compartment or multiple compartments.

The instructions may provide for using the container fitment to dispense a shear- thinning structured liquid composition from the container. Such instructions may include one or more of the following steps: (a) the user may hold the container between his thumb and fingers in the upright position; (b) the user may turn the container upside down and exert an effective amount of force (e.g. by squeezing) to shear the shear- thinning structured liquid so that it dispenses from the container into a receiving receptacle; (c) as the shear-thinning structured liquid begins to flow through the dispensing orifice 15 and/or optional dispensing ring 2, the user may utilize one or more portions thereof with a smaller radius of curvature, such as the points of a point- containing shaped dispensing orifice 15 and/or dispensing ring 2 shape (e.g. the four-sided diamond) to control the direction of the flow into the receiving receptacle; and (d) when the receiving receptacle begins to fill to the proper dosage volume, the user may move the container to the upright position, thereby engaging the cutting edge of the dispensing orifice 15 and/or optional dispensing ring 2 so that the dispensing flow or stream of the product is cut off, which may help to reduce messiness (e.g. associated with unwanted drippings) once flow of shear- thinning structured liquid ceases.

The disclosure of all patents, patent applications (and any patents which issue thereon, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications), and publications mentioned throughout this description are hereby incorporated by reference herein. It is expressly not admitted, however, that any of the documents incorporated by reference herein teach or disclose the present invention.

It should be understood that every maximum numerical limitation given throughout this specification would include every lower numerical limitation, as if such lower numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation given throughout this specification will include every higher numerical limitation, as if such higher numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every numerical range given throughout this specification will include every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range, as if such narrower numerical ranges were all expressly written herein.

While particular embodiments of the subject invention have been described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications of the subject invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, while the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims which should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A container fitment comprising:

a) an annular ring having upper and lower terminal ends, and a side wall having inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface of said side wall being configured for joining said container fitment to at least a portion of the neck of a container body, which portion of a container has a mouth defining a dispensing opening; b) a top panel being positioned on said upper terminal end of said annular ring in a generally normal position to said upper terminal end, said top panel having a dispensing orifice located therein, said dispensing orifice having a periphery defined by adjacent portions of said top panel, said container fitment characterized in that said dispensing orifice is non-circular, radially asymmetrical, and non- rectangular in shape, and being smaller than the dispensing opening in the neck of said container, said portions of said top panel defining the periphery of said dispensing orifice have at least one portion thereof which come together at a vertex, said portion with a vertex defining a region for pouring from said container fitment, said portion with the vertex being oriented in a first pouring direction; and c) an openable closure cap joined to at least one of said annular ring and said top panel at a location that is oriented in a second direction that is opposed to said first pouring direction.

2. The container fitment of Claim 1 further comprising a dispensing ring located on said top panel around said dispensing orifice, said dispensing ring having side walls that extend upwardly from the surface of the top panel, said side walls having an inner surface, an outer surface, upper and lower terminal ends, and a top, wherein the upper terminal end of said dispensing ring defines a dispensing ring orifice.

3. The container fitment of Claim 2 wherein said side walls of said dispensing ring are disposed immediately adjacent to and outside of said dispensing orifice.

4. The container fitment of Claims 2 or 3 wherein said side walls of said dispensing ring, when viewed from the top of said container fitment, have generally the same shape as the dispensing orifice.

5. The container fitment of Claims 2, 3, or 4 wherein the thickness of said side walls of said dispensing ring is relatively uniform around said dispensing orifice.

6. A container fitment according to any of Claims 2-5 wherein at least one of said dispensing opening and said dispensing ring orifice defines an opening which is non-circular in shape and has a opening area from 32 mm to 65 mm .

7. A container fitment according to any of Claims 2-6 wherein said dispensing orifice and/or said dispensing ring have a shape selected from the group consisting of an annulus, an arbelos, an astroid, a paracycle, a cubocycloid, a circular sector, a circular segment, a cone, a crescent, a cube, a deltoid, an ellipse, a lune, an oval, a parallelogram, a penrose tile, a polydrafter, a polygon, a pyramid, a quadrilateral, a reuleaux polygon, a rhombus, a rotor, a ribbon, a salinon, a semicircle, a smoothed octagon, a square, a super ellipse, a trapezium, a trapezoid, a triangle, a triquetra, a yin-yang, and combinations thereof.

8. A container fitment according to any of the preceding claims wherein said portions of said top panel which come together at a vertex define an acute angle therebetween.

9. A container fitment according to Claim 8 wherein said dispensing orifice and/or said dispensing ring have a shape in the form of a rhombus or four-side diamond.

10. A container comprising: a) a container body having a neck terminating in an opening; and a container fitment according to any of the preceding claims located on the neck of said container body.