WO2012052701A1

WO2012052701A1 - Closure having a drip minimising lid

Info

Publication number: WO2012052701A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/001394
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claude Benoit-Gonin; Philippe Bardet
Original assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland Gmbh; Greenwood, Matthew, David
Priority date: 2010-10-22
Filing date: 2011-09-26
Publication date: 2012-04-26
Also published as: EP2630053A1; EP2630053B1; GB201017913D0; ES2534366T3

Abstract

A dispensing closure (10) for a flowable product is provided. The closure (10) includes a lid (20) with a wall (80) the interior of which may collect product in use. The lid has a trap (85) for catching collected product. The product subsequently flows down the wall and can be released.

Description

CLOSURE HAVING A DRIP MINIMISING LID

The present invention relates generally to a closure and particularly to a dispensing closure for a flowable product.

There are many examples of closures which are adapted to dispense a flowable product and which include a lid for closing a container to protect the product. In many cases, before use of the product it is preferable to shake or otherwise agitate the product to mix contents which may have settled over time. In such cases the product often flows into the lid. When the lid is subsequently opened Ihere may be a residual amount of product which remains in the lid and can flow down the wall of the lid. With the Dd in an open position and/or during a closing operation fluid may flow down the wall and out of the lid onto the exterior of the closure and/or the container rather than flowing back into the container. This is undesirable, particularly in cases where the product is sticky or oily.

The present invention seeks to address the problems with known dispensing closures. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure for a flowable product, the closure including a lid having a wall the interior of which may collect product in use. in which the lid comprises a trap for catching collected product which subsequently flows down the wall. The present Invention therefore provides a means of preventing product which may find itself in the lid from leaving the lid at least until such time as the product can exit back into an associated container so that it does not flow onto undesirable areas of the closure and/or the container. The lid wall may comprise a interior sealing skirt. In many cases it will be an interior sealing skirt which is exposed to a flowable product and the provision of a trap for this part of the lid can have particular benefits. The trap may releasably catch product. Although it is possible for the trap to collect and retain product indef nitely, it may be preferable for there to be provided a way of releasing collected product, particularly when the lid is returned to a closed position and the product can flow back into a container.

The trap may comprise a projecting lip. Such a lip may serve as a trough, channel or the like which can temporarily collect product flowing down the wall. Such a lip may be inclined, curved or otherwise shaped to trap or otherwise impede the flow of product off the waU until such time as is desirable. The lip may include one or more gaps for releasing product. The gaps can be provided at one or more positions which result in product release at a desirable position.

The trap may be a trough or the like. The trough may have an opening so that product can flow into the trough and then is directed along it to the opening for release. The trap may therefore be provided as a trough which collects product and subsequently directs it to a slot/gap for return to a container.

The closure may further comprise a base and the lid may be connected to the base, for example by a hinge, in embodiments in which the lid is articulated to a base the gap in the lid trap or other point of trapped product release may be generally opposite the hinge. Th© base rnay comprise a dispensing spout and in such embodiments the lid may comprise an interior sealing skirt which seals infernally and/or externally of the sealing spout. The base may be connectable to a metal container or can. Alternatively or additionally the base may be connectable to a plastics container using suitable surface formations such as screw threads or snap beads,

The present invention also provides a closure as described herein in combination with a container.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a section of a dispensing closure formed according to an embodiment of the present invention and shown in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a section of the closure of Figure 1 shown in a partially open position;

Figure 3 is a section of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment;

Figure 4 is a section of the closure of Figure 3 shown in a partially open position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the closure of Figure 4; Rgure 6 is a section of a closure formed according to a further embodiment;

Figure 7 is a section of the closure of Figure 6 shown in a partially open position;

Rgure 8 is a section of the closure of Figures 6 and 7 shown in an position; and W

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the underside of the lid of the closures shown in figures 6†o8.

5 Referring first to figures ) and 2 there is shown a closure generally indicated 10 comprising a base 15 and a lid 20.

The base 15 comprises a central dispensing cylinder 25 including a dispensing spout 30 extending around one side of the cylinder and terminating with a curved pouring lip 35. 10 The other end of the cylinder 25 extends into a container 40 and engages on one side of a curled flange 45. A deck 50 projects radially outwardly from the side of the cylinder 25. An annular sealing waO 55 depends from the deck 50 and extends around the cylinder 25 spaced therefrom by an amount so that it engages on the other s'de of the curled flange 45 to secure the closure 10 on the container 40. A further annular wail 15 60 depends from the periphery of the deck 50 radially outside the wall 55 and spaced therefrom.

Opposite the spout 30 the base 15 is connected to the lid 20 by a hinge 65. The lid 10 comprises a top plate 70 and a sidewall 75 which depends from the peiiphery of the

20 top plate 70. An annular sealing skirt 80 depends from the interior of the top plate 70. in the closed position shown in figure 1 the skirt 80 fits into and seals the dispensing cylinder 25. The free end of the skirt 80 is provided with a lip or ledge 85 which projects radially inwardly, in this embodiment approximately orthogonally to the skirt 80. The ledge 85 extends around the majority of the skirt 80 with the exception of a gap 90

25 which is positioned approximately opposite the hinge 65.

In use, if the container 40 Is shaken, product may enter the closure 10 and flow into the

Interior where it will contact the dispensing cylinder 25, skirt 80 and plate 70. Product which flows across the plate 70 and down the skirt 80 will encounter the ledge 85. If the closure is in the closed position shown in Rgure 1 this fluid will flow over the ledge 85 and back into the container; and some of the fluid will flow straight through the gap 90. However, if f he closure 10 is opened either partially or fully whilst product remains on the skirt 80, it will collect in the trap formed by the ledge 85 which will prevent it from dipping from the end of the skirt and out of the closure. In such circumstances, when the closure 10 is reclosed any trapped product will flow over the lip and back, into the container.

The upper surface 85A of the ledge 85 is downwardly inclined with respect to the top plate 70. This means that any fluid which collects will tend to run off the ledge when the lid is in the closed position shown in Rgure 1.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 6 there is shown a closure 1 10 formed according to an alternative embodiment. The closure 1 10 is very similar to the closure 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The major difference is that the free end of the skirt 180 is inclined, in this embodiment being shorter adjacent the hinge and longer diametrically opposite the hinge.

In this embodiment instead of the ledge, the free end of the skirt 180 is provided with an upturned [towards the top plate 170) flap 185 which forms a fluid trap. The material making up the flap 185 is a continuous annulus except that it includes an arcuate slot 190 diametrically opposite the hinge as shown best in Figure 6.

Use of the closure 1 10 is very similar to the closure 10 in that any fluid running down the interior of the skirt 80 will collect in the trough formed by the flap 185. In the closed position shown in Figure 3, product will be caused to flow towards the slot 1 0 due to the inclination of the free end of the skirt 180. As the closure is opened as shown in

Rgure 4 or as rt returns to the closed position fluid win collect in the trap formed by the fiap 185. Fluid in the trap will flow towards the top plate 1 0 if the closure is moved to the fuily opened position shown in Rgure 5 but then will return into the trap as the closure is closed. Subsequently trapped fluid will flow through the trap and out of the slot 190. Refening now to Figures 7 to 9 there is shown a closure 210 formed according to an alternative embodiment.

The closure 210 is very similar to the closure 110 except that the trap is formed by a curved lip 285 rather than a straight flap 185. In this embodiment the lip 285 is formed as an arcuate flap which extends the majority ot the way around the free end of the skirt 280 except for a gap 290 diametrically opposite the hinge 265. In this embodiment the top plate 270 is formed from a separate part which fits within the skirt 275.

Functioning of the closure 210 is generally the same as the closures 10. 1 10.

A CLOSURE

There are many examples of closures which are adapted to dispense a flowable product and which include a lid for closing a container to protect the product. In many cases, before use of the product it is preferable to shake or otherwise agitate the product to mix contents which may have settled over time. In such cases the product often flows into the lid. When the lid is subsequently opened there may be a residual amount of product which remains in the lid and can flow down the wall of the lid. With the lid in an open position and/or during a closing operation fluid may flow down the wall and out of the lid onto the exterior of the closure and/or the container rather than flowing back into the container. This is undesirable, particularly in cases where the product is sticky or oily.

The present invention seeks to address the problems with known dispensing closures. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure for a flowable product, the closure including a lid having a wall the interior of which may collect product in use, in which the lid comprises a trap for catching collected product which subsequently flows down the wall. The present invention therefore provides a means of preventing product which may find itself in the lid from leaving the lid at least until such time as the product can exit back into an associated container so that it does not flow onto undesirable areas of the closure and/or the container.

r~ r: The lid wall may comprise a interior sealing skirt. In many cases it will be an interior sealing skirt which is exposed to a flowable product and the provision of a trap for this part of the lid can have particular benefits. The trap may releasably catch product. Although it is possible for the trap to collect and retain product indefinitely, it may be preferable for there to be provided a way of releasing collected product, particularly when the lid is returned to a closed position and the product can flow back into a container. The trap may comprise a projecting lip. Such a lip may serve as a trough, channel or the like which can temporarily collect product flowing down the wall. Such a lip may be inclined, curved or otherwise shaped to trap or otherwise impede the flow of product off the wall until such time as is desirable. The lip may include one or more gaps for releasing product. The gaps can be provided at one or more positions which result in product release at a desirable position.

The closure may further comprise a base and the lid may be connected to the base, for example by a hinge. In embodiments in which the lid is articulated to a base the gap in the lid trap or other point of trapped product release may be generally opposite the hinge.

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The base may comprise a dispensing spout and in such embodiments the lid may comprise an interior sealing skirt which seals internally and/or externally of the sealing spout.

The base may be connectable to a metal container or can. Alternatively or additionally the base may be connectable to a plastics container using suitable surface formations such as screw threads or snap beads.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the closure of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section of a closure formed according to a further embodiment;

Figure 8 is a section of the closure of Figures 6 and 7 shown in an position; and

3 Figure 9 is a perspective view of the underside of the lid of the closures shown in Figures 6 to 8.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a closure generally indicated 10 comprising a base 15 and a lid 20.

The base 1 5 comprises a central dispensing cylinder 25 including a dispensing spout 30 extending around one side of the cylinder and terminating with a curved pouring lip 35. The other end of the cylinder 25 extends into a container 40 and engages on one side of a curled flange 45. A deck 50 projects radially outwardly from the side of the cylinder 25. An annular sealing wall 55 depends from the deck 50 and extends around the cylinder 25 spaced therefrom by an amount so that it engages on the other side of the curled flange 45 to secure the closure 10 on the container 40. A further annular wall 60 depends from the periphery of the deck 50 radially outside the wall 55 and spaced therefrom.

Opposite the spout 30 the base 15 is connected to the lid 20 by a hinge 65. The lid 10 comprises a top plate 70 and a sidewall 75 which depends from the periphery of the top plate 70. An annular sealing skirt 80 depends from the interior of the top plate 70. In the closed position shown in Figure 1 the skirt 80 fits into and seals the dispensing cylinder 25. The free end of the skirt 80 is provided with a lip or ledge 85 which projects radially inwardly, in this embodiment approximately orthogonally to the skirt 80. The ledge 85 extends around the majority of the skirt 80 with the exception of a gap 90 which is positioned approximately opposite the hinge 65.

In use, if the container 40 is shaken, product may enter the closure 10 and flow into the interior where it will contact the dispensing cylinder 25, skirt 80 and plate 70. Product which flows across the plate 70 and down the skirt 80 will encounter the ledge 85. If the

4 closure is in the closed position shown in Figure 1 this fluid will flow over the ledge 85 and back into the container; and some of the fluid will flow straight through the gap 90. However, if the closure 10 is opened either partially or fully whilst product remains on the skirt 80, it will collect in the trap formed by the ledge 85 which will prevent it from dripping from the end of the skirt and out of the closure. In such circumstances, when the closure 10 is reclosed any trapped product will flow over the lip and back. into the container.

The upper surface 85A of the ledge 85 is downwardly inclined with respect to the top plate 70. This means that any fluid which collects will tend to run off the ledge when the lid is in the closed position shown in Figure 1 .

In this embodiment, instead of the ledge, the free end of the skirt 180 is provided with an upturned (towards the top plate 170) flap 185 which forms a fluid trap. The material making up the flap 185 is a continuous annulus except that it includes an arcuate slot 190 diametrically opposite the hinge as shown best in Figure 6.

Use of the closure 1 10 is very similar to the closure 10 in that any fluid running down the interior of the skirt 80 will collect in the trough formed by the flap 185. In the closed position shown in Figure 3, product will be caused to flow towards the slot 190 due to the inclination of the free end of the skirt 180. As the closure is opened as shown in

Figure 4 or as it returns to the closed position fluid will collect in the trap formed by the flap 185. Fluid in the trap will flow towards the top plate 1 70 if the closure is moved to

5 the fully opened position shown in Figure 5 but then will return into the trap as the closure is closed. Subsequently trapped fluid will flow through the trap and out of the slot 190. Referring now to Figures 7 to 9 there is shown a closure 210 formed according to an alternative embodiment.

The closure 210 is very similar to the closure 1 10 except that the trap is formed by a curved lip 285 rather than a straight flap 185. In this embodiment the lip 285 is formed as an arcuate flap which extends the majority of the way around the free end of the skirt 280 except for a gap 290 diametrically opposite the hinge 265. In this embodiment the top plate 270 is formed from a separate part which fits within the skirt 275.

Functioning of the closure 210 is generally the same as the closures 10, 1 10.

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Claims

1. A dispensing closure for a flowable product, the closure including a lid having a wall the interior of which may collect product in use, in which the lid comprises a trap for catching collected product which subsequently flows down the wall.

2. A closure as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the lid wall comprises an interior sealing skirt. 3. A closure as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the trap releasably catches product.

4. A closure as claimed in Claim 3, in which the trap releases product when the lid is in the closed position.

5. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the trap comprises a trough.

6. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the trap comprises a projecting lip.

7. A closure as claimed in Claim 6, in which the lip is inclined.

8. A closure as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the lip includes one or more gaps for releasing product.

9. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closure further comprises a base.

10. A closure as claimed in Claim 9, in which the lid is connected to the base.

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1 1 . A closure as claimed in Claim 10, in which the lid is hingedly connected to the base. 12. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 1 1 , in which the base comprises a dispensing spout.

13. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 12, in which the base is connectable to a metal container.

14. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 13, in which the base is connectable to a plastics container.

15. A closure as claimed in Claim 1 1 when dependent on any of Claims 5 to 7, in which the lip has a gap generally opposite the hinge.

16. A closure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

A closure as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a container.

8 CLAIMS

1. A dispensing closure for a flowable product, the closure including a lid having a wall the interior of which may collect product in use, in which the lid comprises a trap for catching collected product which subsequently flows down the waD.

2. A closure as claimed In Claim 1 , in which the lid wall comprises an interior sealing skirt.

3. A closure as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the trap releasably catches product.

4. A closure as claimed in Claim 3, in which the trap releases product when the id is in the closed position.

7. A closure as claimed in Claim 6, in which the lip is inclined.

10. A closure as claimed in Claim 9, in which the lid is connected to the base.

7 U. A closure as claimed in Claim 10, in which the Dd is hingedly connected to the base.

12. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 9 to I I , in which the base comprises a dispensing spout.

14. A closure as claimed in any of Cloims 9 to 13, in which the base is connectable to a plastics container.

15. A closure as claimed in Claim 11 when dependent on any of Claims 5 to 7, in which the lip has a gap generally opposite the hinge.

17. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a container.

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