WO2009117053A2 - Fermeture de distribution avec scellement externe d'orifice - Google Patents

Fermeture de distribution avec scellement externe d'orifice Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009117053A2
WO2009117053A2 PCT/US2009/001388 US2009001388W WO2009117053A2 WO 2009117053 A2 WO2009117053 A2 WO 2009117053A2 US 2009001388 W US2009001388 W US 2009001388W WO 2009117053 A2 WO2009117053 A2 WO 2009117053A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
closure
dispensing
container
cover
spout
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/001388
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2009117053A3 (fr
Inventor
Corinne M Blomdahi
Original Assignee
Seaquist Closures L.L.C.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seaquist Closures L.L.C. filed Critical Seaquist Closures L.L.C.
Priority to CN2009801099524A priority Critical patent/CN101977823A/zh
Priority to BRPI0909414A priority patent/BRPI0909414A2/pt
Priority to EP09721512A priority patent/EP2252526A4/fr
Priority to CA2717928A priority patent/CA2717928A1/fr
Priority to MX2010009613A priority patent/MX2010009613A/es
Priority to AU2009226173A priority patent/AU2009226173A1/en
Publication of WO2009117053A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009117053A2/fr
Publication of WO2009117053A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009117053A3/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/12—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having removable closures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
    • B65D47/2031—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
    • B65D55/06—Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips; Use of seals, e.g. destructible locking pins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0025—Upper closure of the 47-type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
    • B65D2251/0093—Membrane

Definitions

  • This invention relates to container closures for dispensing a fluent substance.
  • the invention is more particularly related to a dispensing closure system that is especially suitable for a hand-held container and that may or may not include a lid that can be opened and closed.
  • Fluent materials including liquids, creams, powders, etc., may be conventionally packaged in a container having a dispensing closure which includes a closure body that is disposed over an open end of the container and that defines one or more dispensing orifices communicating with the container interior.
  • a cap or lid is typically provided for being closed on the body for occluding the body dispensing orifice(s) when the container is not in use. This prevents spillage if the container is dropped or tipped over.
  • the lid may also help keep the contents fresh and may reduce the ingress of contaminants.
  • the inventor of the present invention has discovered a novel closure system for dispensing a fluent substance, including liquid, wherein the closure system includes advantageous features not heretofore taught or contemplated by the prior art.
  • an improved dispensing closure system for a container that has an opening to the container interior where a fluent substance may be stored.
  • the system includes a closure base or body for extending from the container at (and over) the container opening.
  • the closure body has a reduced size dispensing orifice for communicating with the container interior (which interior can be filled with a substance that can be dispensed through the orifice).
  • the closure body also has a peripheral sealing surface around the dispensing orifice.
  • the system further includes a removable member or cover initially occluding the dispensing orifice.
  • the cover includes a seal removably adhered to the peripheral sealing surface.
  • the cover has a tab extending from the seal.
  • the tab has a free end that can be grasped by a user and pulled to remove the seal from the closure body peripheral sealing surface and carry the cover away from the dispensing orifice.
  • the dispensing closure system may also include an optional lid for moving between (1) a closed position on top of the closure body to enclose said dispensing orifice and cover, and (2) an open position away from the dispensing orifice and cover to permit the removal of the cover. If a lid is provided, the closure may also have a hinge connecting the lid with the closure body.
  • the dispensing closure system components can be designed for easily accommodating the assembly of the components during manufacture of the closure system.
  • the dispensing closure system can be provided with a design that accommodates efficient, high quality, large volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate.
  • the dispensing closure system can optionally be designed to accommodate its use with a variety of conventional or special containers having a variety of conventional or special container finishes, including conventional threaded or snap-fit attachment configurations.
  • the dispensing closure system could also be incorporated in a unitary container/closure (e.g., a tube with unitary top and bottom ends and a dispensing orifice in one of the ends), or in a closure that is bonded (e.g., with thermal welding or adhesive) to a container.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a first embodiment of a closure system of the present invention in the form of a first embodiment of a separate dispensing closure according to a preferred use of the invention, and the closure is shown installed on a container with the closure lid closed;
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, isometric view similar to FIG. 1 , but in FIG. 2 the closure is shown with the lid in an opened condition and with the cover sealed to the spout over the dispensing orifice;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 3-3 in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, isometric view similar to FIG. 2, but FIG. 4 shows the cover lifted off of the spout to open the orifice;
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but in FIG. 5 the closure is shown prior to sealing the cover to the spout, prior to closing the lid, and prior to installing the closure on a container;
  • FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a roll, reel, or spool of a ribbon or strip product from which the dispensing orifice cover can be cut or stamped;
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view of the leading end of a portion of the strip product shown in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view of a leading end portion of the strip product shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 further shows circular disks that can be punched or cut in the strip to provide the circular cover shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4;
  • FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a separate dispensing closure according to a preferred use of the invention, and the closure is shown in a closed condition prior to installation on a container;
  • FIG. 10 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 9, but in FIG. 10 the closure is shown with the lid in an as-molded, opened condition and with the cover sealed to the spout over the dispensing orifice;
  • FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 11-1 1 in FIG. 10;
  • FIG. 12 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 10, but FIG. 12 shows the cover lifted off of the spout to open the orifice;
  • FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 1, but in FIG. 13 the closure components are shown in an exploded relationship.
  • dispensing closure system As including a separate, removable, dispensing closure in the typical orientation that the closure would have at the top of a container when the container is stored upright on its base, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will be understood, however, that the closure system of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the orientations described.
  • a preferred first embodiment of a dispensing closure system of the present invention is illustrated in the figures and is designated generally therein by reference number 20 in FIG. 1.
  • the closure system 20 is provided in the form of a first embodiment of a separate dispensing closure 20 which is adapted to be mounted or installed on a container 22 that would typically contain a fluent substance.
  • the container 22 includes a neck 26 (FIG. 2) extending upwardly from a main hollow body portion of the container.
  • the neck 26 defines an opening 27 (FIG. 3) to the container interior.
  • the container neck 26, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, has an external, male thread 29 for engaging the dispensing closure system 20.
  • the main body portion of the container 22 may have any suitable configuration, and the upwardly projecting neck 26 may have a different cross-sectional size and/or shape than the container main body portion. (Alternatively, the container 22 need not have a neck 26, per se. Instead, the container 22 may consist of only a main body with an opening.) Although the container 22, per se, does not form a part of the broadest aspects of the present invention, per se, it will be appreciated that at least a portion of the dispensing closure system 20 of the present invention optionally may be provided as a unitary portion, or extension, of the top of the container 22.
  • the dispensing closure system could also be incorporated in a unitary container/closure (e.g., a tube with unitary top and bottom ends and a dispensing orifice in one of the ends), or in a closure that is bonded (e.g., with thermal welding or adhesive) to a container.
  • the dispensing closure system 20 is a completely separate article or unit (e.g., a dispensing closure 20), and is adapted to be removably, or non-removably, installed either on a previously manufactured container 22 that has an opening 27 to the container interior.
  • the dispensing closure system or dispensing closure 20 will be more simply referred to as the closure 20.
  • the illustrated embodiment of the closure 20 is adapted to be used with a container 22 having an opening 27 to provide access to the container interior and to a product (i.e., a material in the form of a fluent substance) contained therein.
  • the closure 20 can be used to dispense substances, including, but not limited to, liquids, suspensions, mixtures, etc. (such as, for example, a food or beverage product, a personal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product, or other compositions of matter (e.g., compositions for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture, medical treatment, military operations, etc.)).
  • the container 22 with which the closure 20 may be used would typically be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can be grasped by the user and squeezed or compressed to increase the internal pressure within the container so as to force the product out of the container and through the opened closure.
  • a flexible container wall typically has sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the container wall returns to its normal, unstressed shape.
  • Such a squeezable container is preferred in many applications but may not be necessary or preferred in other applications.
  • a generally rigid container including, but not limited to, a glass container
  • a piston or other pressurizing system or to reduce the exterior ambient pressure around the exterior of the closure so as to suck the material out through the open closure.
  • the presently most preferred form of the closure 20 includes two basic components: (1) a unitary molded body or base 30, and (2) a removable seal member or cover 31.
  • the closure 20 may also include a lid 32 and a hinge 34 connecting the lid 32 to the closure body 30.
  • the lid 32 is provided to be closed over, and cover, the upper part of the closure body 30.
  • the lid 32 can be moved to expose the upper part of the closure body 30 to accommodate dispensing of the fluent product from the container 20.
  • the lid 32 is movable between (1) a closed position over the body 30 (as shown in FIG. 1), and (2) an open position (as show in FIG. 2).
  • the lid 32 is hinged to the body 30 so as to accommodate pivoting movement of the lid 32 between the closed position and the open position.
  • the hinge 34 may be of any suitable type.
  • a hinge 31 that may advantageously be used is the snap-action type described in U.S. Patent No. 6,321,923.
  • Other types of hinges could be used.
  • the hinge could be omitted altogether, and the lid 32 need not be connected to the body 30 at all.
  • it may be desirable to omit the lid 32 entirely. It is presently contemplated that many applications employing the closure body 30 and lid 32 will conveniently be realized by molding from a suitable thermoplastic material or materials.
  • the closure body and Hd could be molded from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene.
  • the closure body and lid may be molded from a different material or materials. The materials may have the same or different colors and textures. - - ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL AND MANUFACTURING DETAILS
  • the body 30 includes a deck 40 and a skirt 42 which extends downwardly from the closure body deck 40.
  • the outer edge of the deck 40 includes two latch beads 41 —one on each side.
  • the upper edge of the skirt 42 defines a peripheral shoulder 43, and the exterior surface of the skirt 42 includes vertical grooves 44.
  • the interior of the skirt 42 defines an internal, female thread 46 for threadingly engaging the container neck external, male thread 29 (FIG. 3) when the dispensing closure body 30 is installed on the container neck 26.
  • closure body skirt 42 could be provided with some other container connecting means, such as a snap-fit bead or groove (not illustrated) for engaging a container neck groove or bead (not illustrated), respectively.
  • closure body skirt 42 could instead be permanently attached to the container 22 by means of induction melting, ultrasonic melting, gluing, or the like, depending on materials used for the closure body 30 and container 22.
  • the closure body 30 could be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container 22.
  • an annular "crab's claw,” flexible, seal member 47 is provided to extend downwardly from the underside of the closure body deck 40 to seal against the upwardly facing annular surface of the container neck 26.
  • Other seal designs could be employed, including a conventional "V” seal, a conventional "plug” seal, or some other such conventional or special seal, depending upon the particular application.
  • the closure body skirt 42 may have any suitable configuration for accommodating an upwardly projecting neck 26 of the container 22 or for accommodating any other portion of a container received within the particular configuration of the closure body skirt 42 ⁇ even if a container does not have a neck, per se.
  • the main part of the container 22 may have a different cross-sectional shape than the container neck 26 and closure body skirt 42.
  • the closure body skit 42 may be adapted for mounting to other types of fluent substance handling container systems.
  • the container neck receiving passage in the closure body skirt 42 has a generally cylindrical configuration, but includes the inwardly projecting thread 46.
  • the closure body skirt 42 may have other configurations.
  • the closure body skirt 42 might have a prism or polygon configuration adapted to be mounted to the top of a container neck having a polygon configuration.
  • prism or polygon configurations would not accommodate the use of a threaded attachment, but other means of attachment could be provided, such as a snap-fit bead and groove arrangement, adhesive, or the like.
  • the closure body 30 has a reduced size, generally cylindrical, dispensing orifice 50 defined in a generally cylindrical spout 52 which projects upwardly from the deck 40 of the closure body 30.
  • the dispensing orifice 50 establishes communication between the exterior and the interior of the closure body 30 (and the orifice 50 can thereby establish communication with the interior of the container 22 to which the body 30 is attached).
  • the orifice 50 provides a flow passage or discharge passage through which the contents of the container 22 can be discharged when the lid 32 is open and the cover 31 is removed.
  • the top of the spout 52 has an upwardly facing, peripheral sealing surface 54 around the orifice 50.
  • the upper, outer edge of the spout 52 has a chamfer or frustoconical surface 56 which slants downwardly and outwardly from the outer edge of the peripheral sealing surface 54. In other applications (not illustrated), the chamfer surface 56 may be omitted).
  • the exterior of the spout 52 between the lower edge of the frustoconical surface 56 and the deck 40 defines a generally cylindrical surface 58.
  • the cylindrical surface 58 may be characterized as extending below both the spout annular surface 54 and the frustoconical surface 56.
  • the orifice 50 (and/or spout 52) could be non-cylindrical.
  • the lid 32 includes a top wall or cross wall 60 and a peripheral wall 62 which, when the lid 32 is closed top of the closure body deck 40, has a downwardly projecting orientation and defines a downwardly facing end surface 63 for fitting on the closure body annular shoulder 41.
  • the lid 32 also has a generally annular sleeve 64 which projects from the transverse wall 60 on the underside of the lid 32.
  • the sleeve 64 also preferably includes an annular seal bead 68 (FIGS. 2-5).
  • lid sleeve 64 and/or closure body spout 52 there is sufficient resiliency in the lid sleeve 64 and/or closure body spout 52 so as to accommodate the closing of the lid 32 onto the body 30 as shown in FIG. 1 wherein the lid sleeve seal bead 68 can be positioned on the spout cylindrical surface 58 to provide a substantially leak-tight seal.
  • the sealing engagement between the closure body spout 52 and the closed lid sleeve 64 provides some resistance to subsequent opening of the lid 32.
  • An additional resistance to lid opening is also preferably provided by other co-acting features in the lid 32 and body 30.
  • each interior side of the lid flange 62 has an inwardly projecting latch bead 76 (FIG. 2).
  • latch beads 76 When the lid 32 is closed, the lid latch beads 76 are forced past the closure body latch beads 41.
  • the upwardly facing surface of each lid latch bead 76 is below, and is adapted to engage, the downwardly facing surface of an overlying closure body latch bead 41.
  • the closure body 32 and/or the lid flange 62 are sufficiently flexible to accommodate temporary, elastic deformation as the beads 41 and 76 move past each other during the opening and closing actions.
  • Other conventional or special latch designs could be used instead.
  • a finger-receiving surface or thumb-receiving surface 80 may optionally be provided at the front of the closure lid 32. To open the lid 32, the user initially pushes with a thumb or finger upwardly on the lid surface 80.
  • the end consumer or other user of a fluent substance product in a package consisting of a container with a closure of the present invention would initially open the closure 20 by lifting the lid 32 to expose the spout 52 with the cover 31 initially sealed thereto. If the closure was of a type that did not have a lid, than the user would first encounter the closure with the cover 31 exposed to view but initially sealed on the top of the spout 52.
  • the cover 31 includes a base portion or seal 80 and a tab 82 extending from the seal 80.
  • the tab 82 has a free end 84 that can be grasped by the user and pulled to remove the seal 80 from the closure body peripheral sealing surface 54 and carry the cover 31 away from the dispensing orifice 50 to expose the dispensing orifice 50 (see Fig. 4).
  • the seal 80 is a generally circular disc having an exterior diameter equal to or less than the exterior diameter of the annular sealing surface 54.
  • the tab 82 has a generally semi-circular configuration.
  • the peripheral margin of the underside of the cover seal 80 (which overlies, and is attached to, the spout peripheral sealing surface 54) is attached by heat sealing or heat bonding to the spout annular sealing surface 54.
  • Other forms of attachment could be used, such as adhesive or the like.
  • the spout annular sealing surface 54 (which is in contact with the underside of the peripheral portion of the cover seal 80) preferably has a width or land dimension of about 0.060 inch. This has been found to provide a sufficiently large contact surface to which the seal 80 can be bonded with satisfactory integrity for the typical consumer application and which allows the consumer to subsequently pull the cover 31 off of the spout 52.
  • the cover 31 is made from a roll stock product marketed under the designation "unipac Lift 'n' Peel TM LP-E" by Unipac Company (an ITW company), having an office at 125 Edward Street, Aurora, Ontario, Canada L4G 1 W3.
  • a roll stock product is designated generally by the reference number 90 and is shown with an outwardly extending, unrolled portion, ribbon, or strip 92.
  • the strip 92 includes a base or seal portion 8OA extending across the width of the strip, and also includes a tab portion 82 A.
  • the tab portion 82 A extends from the center of the width of the strip 92 along a bend line or hinge line 94.
  • the above-discussed Unipac roll stock product includes a base sealable layer, a polyester layer, an aluminum foil layer, a polyolefin foam layer, a polyester tab, a polymer adhesive layer, and a polyester film layer.
  • the base sealable layer in conjunction with the aluminum foil layer, provides the strip product with the capability for being heat sealed by conventional induction heat sealing equipment.
  • the sealable layer provided on the bottom of the strip product is adapted to seal to various substrates, including polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyester, and ABS.
  • This product is a "tabbed inner seal" providing the advantage to a cap manufacturer of permitting the use of a conventional punch and die set for use when lining caps.
  • individual covers 31 can be cut or punched from the strip 92 to form the circular configuration of each cover 31 and to create the semi-circular tab 82.
  • the closure manufacturer molds the closure body (as well as a lid if the closure includes a lid) and maintains the closure in an open configuration (Fig. 4) so as to be able to receive one of the covers 31 stamped from the roll stock strip 92.
  • Suitable conventional liner placement equipment and induction sealing unit equipment can be employed to place the cover 31 on the closure spout 52 and then thermally bond the cover seal 80 (Fig. 3) to the peripheral sealing surface 54 of the closure body spout 52.
  • Such liner punch equipment, liner placement equipment, and induction sealing unit equipment may be of any suitable conventional or special type, the details of which form no part of the present invention.
  • the manufacturer of the closure cuts or stamps each cover 31 from the roll stock strip 92 so that the cover 31 has a size such that when the cover 31 is applied to the spout 52 over the orifice 50, no peripheral portion of the cover 31 extends outwardly (laterally) beyond the edge of the sealing surface on the top of the spout.
  • This provides a clean, aesthetically pleasing assembly.
  • the cover 31 could have a shape other than circular.
  • the closure need not have a spout 52, per se.
  • the annular sealing surface could instead be defined directly on a portion of the closure body deck 40.
  • the closure manufacturer can provide the completed closure 20 in a closed condition to the product filler.
  • a product filler is typically a company that fills a bottle or other container with a fluent substance product, and thereafter installs a closure on the filled container.
  • a closure manufacturer provides each closure to the filler with a liner stuffed into the inside of the closure below the closure body deck (i.e., below the dispensing orifice in the deck).
  • the filler must then install the closure (with the liner under the closed body deck) on the container to compress the liner between the underside of the closure body deck and the top of the container.
  • the filler must convey the package through induction sealing equipment so that the liner is heat-sealed to the top of the container under the closure body deck.
  • the present invention permits the closure manufacturer to supply a completed, closed closure to the filler with the orifice already covered with a heat- bonded cover or seal so that the filler does not have to procure and use heat-sealing equipment.
  • the present invention also allows for the use of a much smaller diameter, heat- sealed cover or seal compared to a typical conventional liner that is provided under the closure body deck and which must extend across the entire larger opening of the container on which the closure is installed.
  • a conventional, larger diameter liner sealed by induction sealing equipment after installation of the closure on the container can slow down the filling lines.
  • the use of a smaller diameter cover applied by the closure manufacturer to a smaller spout (or other orifice-defining region) on a closure enables the filler to run its filling line at a higher speed.
  • the present invention provides the end use consumer or user with the advantage of not having to initially remove a closure from a container to expose a seal liner on the container top in order to remove that seal liner.
  • the closure does not have to be removed, and the end use consumer can conveniently remove the sealing cover from the top of the closure spout by readily lifting up on the tab.
  • the present invention employs a sealable cover which can be much smaller than a conventional liner that extends completely across the entire top of a container, there can be a significant difference in material cost, and thus the present invention system may have a lower cost than such a conventional container top liner system.
  • FIGS. 9-13 A second embodiment of a closure system of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9-13.
  • the second embodiment of the system includes a separate dispensing closure 2OA which is adapted to be installed on the neck of a container (not illustrated).
  • the container may be of any suitable configuration.
  • One suitable kind of container is the container 22 illustrated in FIG. 3 and described above with reference to the first embodiment of the closure 20.
  • the closure 2OA includes a unitary base or body 3OA, a removable seal member or cover 3 IA, and a lid 32A connected by a hinge 34A to the body 30A.
  • the closure 2OA also includes a valve 36 A, and a valve retainer 38A visible in FIGS. 11 and 13.
  • the second embodiment closure body 30A is similar to the first embodiment closure body 30 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5. However, the second embodiment closure body 30A has a spout 52A (FIG. 13) which is located in the center of the generally circular closure body 30A, rather than toward the front of the closure body where the first embodiment closure spout 52 is located (compare to FIGS. 2 and 10).
  • the second embodiment closure body spout 52A projects upwardly from a deck 4OA of the closure body 30A and defines a dispensing orifice 50A (FIG. 13) to provide a flow passage or discharge passage through which the contents can flow from a container (not illustrated) to which the closure 2OA is attached.
  • the closure body 30A defines a female thread 46 A for threadingly engaging a mating male thread of a container.
  • the top of the spout 52 A has an upwardly facing, peripheral sealing surface 54A around the orifice 50A.
  • the upper, outer edge of the spout 52A has a curved surface 56A (FIG. 13) which slants outwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the peripheral sealing surface 54 A.
  • the spout 52 A has an exterior surface between the upper curved surface 56 A and the closure body deck 4OA, and that exterior surface defines a generally cylindrical surface 58A (FIG. 13).
  • the spout defines a generally frustoconical surface 59A (FIG.
  • the second embodiment closure lid 32A has generally the same structure as described above for the first embodiment closure lid 32 illustrated in FIG. 5, except that the second embodiment closure lid 32A has an annular sleeve 64 A located in the center of the lid 32A (rather than near the front edge) for fitting over, and sealing against, the spout 52A when the lid 32A is closed.
  • the valve 36A is adapted to be mounted in the closure spout 52A as shown in FIG. 11.
  • the preferred form of the valve 36A is a pressure-actuatable, flexible, slit- type valve which is retained on the inside of the spout 52 A by means of the retaining ring 38A as described in detail hereinafter.
  • the valve 36A is preferably molded as a unitary structure from material which is flexible, pliable, elastic, and resilient. This can include elastomers, such as a synthetic, thermosetting polymer, including silicone rubber, such as the silicone rubber sold by Dow Corning Corp. in the United States of America under the trade designation D. C. 99-595-HC.
  • valve 36A could also be molded from other thermosetting materials or from other elastomeric materials, or from thermoplastic polymers or thermoplastic elastomers, including those based upon materials such as thermoplastic propylene, ethylene, urethane, and styrene, including their halogenated counterparts.
  • the valve 36A has the configuration and operating .characteristics of a commercially available valve design substantially as disclosed in the U.S. Patent No. 5,676,289 with reference to the valve 46 disclosed in the U.S. Patent No. 5,676,289. The operation of such a type of valve is further described with reference to the similar valve that is designated by reference number 3d in the U.S. Patent No. 5,409,144. The descriptions of those two patents are incorporated herein by reference thereto to the extent pertinent and to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
  • the valve 36A is flexible and changes configuration between (1) a closed, rest position (as shown closed in an upright position in FIGS. 1 1 and 13), and (2) an active, open position (not shown).
  • the valve 36A includes a flexible, central portion or head 160A (FIG. 13).
  • the head 160A When the valve 36A is not actuated, the head 160A has a concave configuration (when viewed from the exterior of the closure spout 52A).
  • the head 160A preferably has two, mutually perpendicular, planar, intersecting, dispensing slits (not visible) of equal length which together define a normally closed dispensing orifice.
  • the intersecting slits define four, generally sector-shaped, equally sized flaps or petals in the concave, central head 160A. The flaps open outwardly from the intersection point of the slits in response to an increasing pressure differential across the valve 36A when the pressure differential is of sufficient magnitude—in the well-known manner described in the U.S. Patent No
  • the valve 36A includes a skirt or sleeve 164A which extends from the valve head 160A.
  • the sleeve 164 A extends in a reverse angled orientation (when the valve 36A is in the unactuated, rest condition) and merges with an enlarged, much thicker, peripheral flange 170 A which has a generally dovetail-shaped, transverse cross section (as viewed in FIG. 13).
  • the top surface of the dovetail valve flange 170A has the same frustoconical configuration and angle as the spout frustoconical surface or seat 59A.
  • the other surface (i.e., bottom surface) of the valve flange 170A is engaged and clamped by the retaining ring 38A (FIGS. 11 and 13).
  • the retaining ring 38A includes an outwardly or upwardly facing, frustoconical, annular clamping surface 172A (FIG. 13) for engaging the axially inner surface (i.e., bottom surface) of the valve flange 170A at an angle which matches the angle of the adjacent, inner surface of the dovetail configuration of the valve flange 170A.
  • the peripheral portion of the retaining ring 38 A includes an outwardly projecting flange 178A (FIG. 13) for snap-fit engagement with the annular bead 142A (FIG. 13) that projects radially inwardly on the inside of the spout 52A.
  • the valve 36A can be inserted into the open bottom end of the spout 52A along with the retaining ring 38A.
  • the valve 36A is initially mounted on the retainer ring clamping surface 172 A.
  • the retaining ring 38A can be pushed past the spout bead 142 A because there is sufficient flexibility in the retaining ring 38A and/or spout 52A to accommodate temporary, elastic deformation of the components as the retaining ring flange 178 A passes over, and beyond, the spout bead 142 A to create a snap-fit engagement that compresses or clamps the valve flange 17OA against the spout frustoconical surface 59 A.
  • the cover 3 IA has the same structure and function as does the cover 31 described above for the first embodiment of the closure 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-8.
  • the second embodiment closure cover 3 IA has a base portion or seal 8OA and a tab 82 A extending from the seal 80A (FIG. 12).
  • the tab 82 A can be grasped by the user and pulled to remove the seal 80 from the closure body peripheral sealing surface 54A and carry the cover 3 IA away from the dispensing orifice 50A to expose the dispensing orifice 50A (FIG. 12).
  • the detailed configuration, structure, and manner of making and applying the cover 31 A to the second embodiment of the closure 2OA are identical to what has been described above for the first embodiment closure cover 31 illustrated in FIGS. 1-8.
  • the second embodiment of the closure 2OA could be modified by omitting altogether the Hd 32A and hinge 34A.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un système de fermeture de distribution (20, 20A) pour un conteneur (22) qui a une ouverture (27) vers l'intérieur du conteneur. Le système comprend un corps de fermeture (30, 30A) avec un orifice de distribution (50, 50A) entouré par une surface d'étanchéité annulaire (54, 54A). Un couvercle amovible (31, 31A) comprend un joint d'étanchéité (80, 80A) qui est fixé à la surface d'étanchéité annulaire (54, 54A) et s'étend en travers de l'orifice (50, 50A) pour occlure l'orifice (50, 50A). Le couvercle (31, 31A) comprend également une patte (82, 82A) ayant une extrémité libre (84) qui peut être saisie par l'utilisateur et tirée pour retirer le joint d'étanchéité (80, 80A) de la surface d'étanchéité (54, 54A) et éloigner le couvercle (31, 31A) de l'orifice (50, 50A).
PCT/US2009/001388 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 Fermeture de distribution avec scellement externe d'orifice WO2009117053A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN2009801099524A CN101977823A (zh) 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 具有孔口外部密封的分配闭合件
BRPI0909414A BRPI0909414A2 (pt) 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 fechamento dispensador com vedação de orifício externo
EP09721512A EP2252526A4 (fr) 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 Fermeture de distribution avec scellement externe d'orifice
CA2717928A CA2717928A1 (fr) 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 Fermeture de distribution avec scellement externe d'orifice
MX2010009613A MX2010009613A (es) 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 Tapon dispensador con orificio y sello externo para el orificio.
AU2009226173A AU2009226173A1 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 Dispensing closure with orifice external seal

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/077,664 2008-03-20
US12/077,664 US20090236339A1 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-20 Dispensing closure with orifice external seal

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009117053A2 true WO2009117053A2 (fr) 2009-09-24
WO2009117053A3 WO2009117053A3 (fr) 2010-01-07

Family

ID=41087857

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/001388 WO2009117053A2 (fr) 2008-03-20 2009-03-04 Fermeture de distribution avec scellement externe d'orifice

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US20090236339A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2252526A4 (fr)
CN (1) CN101977823A (fr)
AR (1) AR071023A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2009226173A1 (fr)
BR (1) BRPI0909414A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2717928A1 (fr)
MX (1) MX2010009613A (fr)
RU (1) RU2010142892A (fr)
WO (1) WO2009117053A2 (fr)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2252526A2 (fr) 2010-11-24
RU2010142892A (ru) 2012-04-27
CN101977823A (zh) 2011-02-16
EP2252526A4 (fr) 2012-05-02
WO2009117053A3 (fr) 2010-01-07
MX2010009613A (es) 2010-09-30
US20090236339A1 (en) 2009-09-24
BRPI0909414A2 (pt) 2017-10-24
AR071023A1 (es) 2010-05-19
CA2717928A1 (fr) 2009-09-24
AU2009226173A1 (en) 2009-09-24

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