WO2017126981A1

WO2017126981A1 - Closure for a container

Info

Publication number: WO2017126981A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2017/050004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Andrew Cathro
Original assignee: Top Smith Limited
Priority date: 2016-01-22
Filing date: 2017-01-20
Publication date: 2017-07-27
Also published as: CN205661828U; AU2017208698A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure for a container, such as a bottle, the closure having a body with a neck defining a mouth leading to an interior space within the body of the container, wherein the neck has an outer surface with a screw thread and an inner surface with one or more protrusions extending into the mouth, and the closure has a matching screw thread to cooperate with the threaded neck and close the container. The closure is arranged to dispense material from a receptacle in the closure into the interior space within the body of the container as the closure is being rotated in a releasing direction about the neck of the container.

Description

CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure for a container, such as a bottle, and, in particular, a closure for a container having a body with a neck defining a mouth leading to an interior space within the body of the container, wherein the neck has an outer surface with a screw thread and an inner surface with one or more protrusions extending into the mouth, and the closure has a matching screw thread to cooperate with the threaded neck and close the container.

[0002] The invention has been developed primarily for use as a closure arranged to dispense material from a receptacle in the closure into the interior space within the body of the container as the closure is being rotated in a releasing direction about the neck of the container.

[0003] As used throughout this specification, the term "material" is intended to refer to any substance or combination of two or more substances in a dispensable form which includes, but is not limited to, a powder, liquid, pill, capsule or tablet.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0004] In the beverage industry, ready-to-drink (RTD) bottled beverages are popular with consumers because they are sold in prepared form, ready for consumption. This is in contrast with packaged beverages sold in forms that require preparation, for example, powdered milk.

[0005] Powdered milk has a significantly longer shelf-life than liquid milk. It is therefore advantageous to transport powdered milk rather than liquid milk to a marketplace for sale and purchase, particularly where the product is exported overseas.

[0006] Various attempts have been made to develop a bottle closure which, as the closure is released from the bottle, dispenses a soluble powdered or granulated beverage additive into the bottle so as to create a ready-to-drink bottled beverage. U.S. Patent No. 4,195,730, issued to Hunt, describes a bottle closure having a piercing element for rupturing a compartment made of a frangible material, such as a thin metallic foil, in order to dispense the contents of the compartment into the interior space of the bottle while the closure is unscrewed. Although this closure can lengthen the shelf-life of a product, it suffers from the disadvantage that the beverage can be contaminated with torn pieces of the ruptured compartment. Aluminium foil can tear very easily and it only takes a small piece of foil in the beverage to have a profoundly negative impact on the consumer's enjoyment of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to one broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure for a container having a body with a neck defining a mouth leading to an interior space within the body of the container, the neck having an outer surface with a screw thread and an inner surface with one or more protrusions extending into the mouth, the closure comprising: a threaded cap member which is rotatable in a securing direction and a releasing direction about the neck of the container, the cap member including a receptacle arranged to project into the interior space of the container when the closure is positioned on the neck of the container, the receptacle providing for the storage of a material to be dispensed into the interior space of the container, the receptacle having a proximal end located on an inner surface of the cap member and extending to a distal end that terminates in a rim surrounding a dispensing opening, the receptacle configured such that, when the closure is positioned on the neck of the container, a first portion of the rim extends further into the interior space of the container than a second portion of the rim; a detachable cover for sealing the dispensing opening and, when sealed, retaining the material within the receptacle; and a sleeve member rotatably mounted around the receptacle, the sleeve member having one or more projections for mutual engagement in a ratchet-like manner with the one or more protrusions located on the inner surface of the neck of the container, the one or more projections being adapted to: (i) when the cap member is rotated in the securing direction, ride over the one or more protrusions to permit relative rotation between the sleeve member and the container and allow the sleeve member to rotate with the cap member in the securing direction; and (ii) when the cap member is rotated in the releasing direction, engage with the one or more protrusions to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve member and the container and stop the sleeve member from rotating with the cap member in the releasing direction; the sleeve member also having an abutment surface adapted to dislodge the cover from the dispensing opening during rotation of the cap member in the releasing direction and thereby permit a material stored within the receptacle to be dispensed into the interior space of the container.

[0008] Preferably, the closure further includes a tether connecting the cover to the sleeve member. More preferably, the tether and the dislodged cover are arranged to together form a stirrer for mixing any contents within the interior space of the container with the dispensed material.

[0009] The receptacle may be tubular in shape with a circular cross-section and a hollow interior for the storage of the material to be dispensed into the interior space of the container.

[0010] The distal end of the receptacle may be bevelled and the rim surrounding the dispensing opening may be sloped.

[0011] In one embodiment, the sleeve member may comprise an elongate, hollow cylinder with two open ends, a proximal end and a distal end. In this embodiment, the sleeve member may include a distally extending tab containing the abutment surface. The one or more projections may be located at the proximal end of the cylinder and extend outwardly from the cylinder.

[0012] The one or more projections may be one or more ratchet teeth.

[0013] The material to be dispensed may be a soluble powdered or granulated beverage additive. In one embodiment, the material to be dispensed is powdered milk.

[0014] The closure may be secured to the container. Alternatively, the closure may be separate from and for use with the container.

[0015] The container may be a bottle or ajar.

[0016] According to another broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a container comprising a body with a neck defining a mouth leading to an interior space within the body of the container, the neck having an outer surface with a screw thread and an inner surface with one or more protrusions extending into the mouth, and a closure as described above securable to the neck of the container.

[0017] The container may be a bottle or ajar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] An embodiment of the closure for a container will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view, from above, of a bottle.

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view, from above, of the cap member of the closure.

[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view, from below, of the cap member shown in Figure 2.

[0022] Figure 4 is a first side view of the cap member shown in Figure 2.

[0023] Figure 5 is a second side view of the cap member shown in Figure 2.

[0024] Figure 6 is a third side view of the cap member shown in Figure 2.

[0025] Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

[0026] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the sleeve member of the closure.

[0027] Figure 9 is a side view of the sleeve member shown in Figure 8.

[0028] Figure 10 is a plan view of the sleeve member shown in Figure 8.

[0029] Figure 11 is a side view of a second embodiment of the sleeve member having an alternatively shaped tab. [0030] Figure 12 is another side view of the sleeve member shown in Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Referring to the drawings, the invention is a closure for a container, such as, a bottle 10 or jar. The closure is arranged to, as the closure is being rotated in a releasing direction about the neck 11 of the bottle 10, dispense a material (not shown) from a receptacle 12 in the closure into an interior space 13 within the body of the bottle 10. One application for the closure is in the beverage industry where the material dispensed from the receptacle 12 may be a soluble powdered or granulated beverage additive, for example, powdered milk. However, it will be appreciated that the dispensed material will vary depending upon the application of the closure and that the closure has applications in a wide range of industries.

[0032] An example of a container suitable for use with the closure is the bottle 10 shown in Figure 1. The bottle 10 may be a conventional bottle with the addition of one or more generally wedge-shaped protrusions 14 to an inner surface of the neck 11 of the bottle. The protrusion or each protrusion 14 extends a short distance into the mouth of the bottle 10 so as to mutually engage with one or more projections 15 located on a sleeve member 16 of the closure when the closure is positioned on the neck 11 of the bottle. The bottle 10 shown in Figure 1 has four spaced-apart protrusions 14 on the inner surface of the neck 11 (only two of which are visible in the drawing with another two protrusions located in opposite positions). However, the number and exact locations of the protrusions 14 on the inner surface of the neck 11 can vary depending upon design constraints. The one or more protrusions 14 may be integrally formed with the bottle 10 and be made of the same material, for example, a recyclable health-grade plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0033] The outer surface of the neck 11 has a conventional right-handed helical screw thread 17 and the closure has a corresponding internal helical screw thread 18. Accordingly, the closure is secured to the neck 11 of the bottle 10 when the closure is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from above (hereinafter referred to as the "securing direction") and is released from the neck of the bottle when the closure is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from above (hereinafter referred to as the "releasing direction"). [0034] The closure of the described embodiment comprises three main components: (i) a threaded cap member 19 having a receptacle 12 for the storage of a material to be dispensed into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10 through a dispensing opening 20; (ii) a detachable cover 21 for the dispensing opening; and (iii) a sleeve member 16 rotatably mounted around the receptacle and having an abutment surface 22 adapted to dislodge the cover from the dispensing opening during rotation of the cap member in the releasing direction. The components of the closure may be made of any suitable non-frangible material, for example, a health-grade plastic, and be made by any suitable manufacturing process, for example, injection moulding. Each of the components will now be described in detail.

[0035] The cap member 19 of the closure, shown in Figures 2 to 7, comprises a disc 23 having upper and lower opposed surfaces and an annular skirt 24 extending downwardly from the periphery of the lower surface. The skirt 24 has inner and outer opposed surfaces. As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the inner surface of the skirt 24 has a thread 18 for cooperative engagement with the thread 17 formed on the neck 11 of the bottle 10. Conveniently, as shown in Figures 2 to 6, the outer surface of the skirt 24 has a series of outwardly projecting ribs or knurls 25 to assist a user in gripping and rotating the closure in the securing direction or the releasing direction.

[0036] The cap member 19 includes an elongate receptacle 12 arranged to project into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10 when the closure is positioned on the neck 11 of the bottle. The receptacle 12 provides for the storage of a material to be dispensed into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10. In the described embodiment, the material to be dispensed is a soluble powdered or granulated beverage additive, such as powdered milk. However, the material to be dispensed could be any other suitable material. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the receptacle 12 has a proximal end 26 located on an inner surface of the cap member 19 and extending to a distal end 27 that terminates in a rim 28 surrounding a circular dispensing opening 20 to allow the material stored within the receptacle to pass through the dispensing opening and into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10. As shown in Figures 3 and 7, in the described embodiment, the receptacle 12 is tubular in shape with a circular cross-section and a hollow interior 29 for the storage of the material to be dispensed into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10. However, the receptacle 12 could be any other suitable shape, for example, a hollow cone or spheroid. [0037] The outer surface of the receptacle 12 comprises a splined or corrugated surface. In the described embodiment, the outer surface of the receptacle 12 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, straight- sided splines 30 equally spaced around the outer surface of the receptacle. The splines 30 or corrugations are in contact with the sleeve member 16 and are arranged to rotate the sleeve member in the same direction as the cap member 19. However, in use, the sleeve member 16 is only permitted to rotate in the same direction as the cap member 19 when the cap member is rotated in the securing direction. When the cap member 19 is rotated in the releasing direction, the sleeve member 16 is held stationary by the engagement between projections 15 on the sleeve member and the protrusions 14 on the neck 11 of the bottle 10.

[0038] The receptacle 12 is configured such that the rim 28 of the dispensing opening 20 is not level but rather, as shown in Figure 6, a first portion 31 of the rim will, when the closure is positioned on the neck 11 of the bottle 10, extend further into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10 than a second portion 32 of the rim. This configuration is such that, as the cap member 19 is rotated in the releasing direction and the sleeve member 16 is held stationary, an abutment surface 22 on the sleeve member will come into contact with the cover 21 on the dispensing opening 20 of the receptacle 12 and dislodge the cover from the dispensing opening. As best shown in Figure 6, in the described embodiment, the distal end 27 of the receptacle is bevelled and the rim 28 surrounding the dispensing opening 20 is sloped. However, the distal end 27 of the receptacle 12 may alternatively be stepped or otherwise shaped so that a first portion 31 of the rim 28 extends further into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10 than a second portion 32 of the rim.

[0039] The detachable cover 21 is arranged to seal the dispensing opening 20 and, when sealed, retains the material within the receptacle 12. In the described embodiment, the cover 21 is circular in shape and is connected to the sleeve member 16 by a flexible tether 33 so as to prevent the dislodged cover from becoming a separate entity within the interior space 13 of the bottle 10. Advantageously, the tether 33 and the dislodged cover 21 are arranged to together form a stirrer for mixing any contents within the interior space of the bottle 10 with the dispensed material. [0040] The sleeve member 16, shown in Figures 8 to 12, is rotatably mounted around the receptacle 12 of the cap member 19. The sleeve member 16 of the described embodiment comprises an elongate, hollow cylinder 34 of circular cross-section with two open ends, a proximal end 35 and a distal end 36.

[0041] At the proximal end 35 of the cylinder 34 and extending outwardly from the cylinder are one or more projections 15 for mutual engagement in a ratchet-like manner with the one or more protrusions 14 located on the inner surface of the neck 11 of the bottle 10. In one embodiment, the projection or each projection 15 is a ratchet tooth which has been partially cut and bent outwards from the body of the cylinder 34. As shown in Figure 10, in the described embodiment, there are seven such ratchet teeth spaced-apart around the proximal end 35 of the cylinder 34. However, the number and exact locations of the projections 15 on the sleeve member 16 can vary depending upon design constraints.

[0042] The bottle 10 is stationary during the act of securing the closure to or releasing the closure from the neck 11 of the bottle, while the sleeve member 16 is arranged to rotate in the same direction as the cap member 19. The one or more projections 15 on the sleeve member 16 are adapted to: (i) when the cap member 19 is rotated in the securing direction, ride over the one or more protrusions 14 on the neck 11 of the bottle 10 to permit relative rotation between the sleeve member and the bottle and allow the sleeve member to rotate with the cap member in the securing direction; and (ii) when the cap member is rotated in the releasing direction, engage with the one or more protrusions on the neck of the bottle to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve member and the bottle and stop the sleeve member from rotating with the cap member in the releasing direction. Accordingly, the sleeve member 16 rotates with the cap member 19 when the cap member is rotated in the securing direction. However, the sleeve member 16 is stationary when the cap member 19 is rotated in the releasing direction.

[0043] The sleeve member 16 also has an abutment surface 22 adapted to dislodge the cover 21 from the dispensing opening 20 during rotation of the cap member 19 in the releasing direction and thereby cause a material stored within the receptacle 12 to be dispensed into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10. The sleeve member 16 may include a distally extending, elongate tab 37 with inner and outer opposed surfaces and an edge surface between them. In a first embodiment of the sleeve member 16 shown in Figures 8 to 10, a portion of the edge surface of the tab 37 comprises the abutment surface 22. In a second embodiment of the sleeve member 16 shown in Figures 11 and 12, the inner surface of the tab 37 is flared and a portion of the flared inner surface comprises the abutment surface 22. In both embodiments, the tab 37 has a curvature which follows the curvature of the cylinder 34.

[0044] As discussed above, the sleeve member 16 is arranged to rotate with the cap member 19 when the cap member is rotated in the securing direction. This ensures that the abutment surface 22 on the tab 37 of the sleeve member 16 will not come into contact with the cover 21 on the dispensing opening 20 while the closure is being secured to the neck 11 of the bottle 10 and, thus, there can be no unintentional dislodgment of the cover. However, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, as a precaution against such unintentional dislodgment, the cap member 19 has a contact element 38 arranged to engage with the tab 37 so that the sleeve member 16 is caused to rotate with the cap member when the cap member is rotated in the securing direction. The contact element 38 may be an outwardly extending tag or wedge-shaped projection.

[0045] Steps which may be taken by a bottler or bottling company in order to fill the receptacle 12 and secure the closure onto the neck 11 of the bottle 10 are set out below. First, the sleeve member 16 is pushed onto the receptacle 12 of the cap member 19 and is positioned so that the abutment surface 22 on the tab 37 is adjacent the first (downward) portion 31 of the rim 28 of the dispensing opening 20 rather than the second (upward) portion 32 of the rim. Secondly, the receptacle 12 is filled through the dispensing opening 20 with the material (e.g. strawberry flavoured powdered milk) to be dispensed into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10. Thirdly, the dispensing opening 20 is sealed with the detachable cover 21 in order to retain the material within the receptacle 12. Fourthly, the cap member 19 is rotated about the neck 11 of the bottle 10 in the securing direction. The sleeve member 16 rotates together with the cap member 19 in the securing direction. Accordingly, the abutment surface 22 on the tab 37 does not make contact with the cover 21 on the dispensing opening 20 and the cover remains on the dispensing opening.

[0046] In order for the material stored in the receptacle 12 to be dispensed into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10 the user, who is likely to also be the purchaser of the bottle, simply rotates the cap member 19 in the releasing position. The sleeve member 16 is held stationary by the engagement between the projections 15 on the sleeve member and the protrusions 14 on the neck 11 of the bottle 10. The abutment surface 22 on the tab 37 of the sleeve member 16 then makes contact with the cover 21 on the dispensing opening 20 of the receptacle 12, dislodging the cover from the dispensing opening and thereby permitting the material stored within the receptacle to be dispensed into the interior space 13 of the bottle 10. The stirrer formed by the dislodged cover 21 and the flexible tether 33 assists with the mixing of the dispensed material into any contents of the bottle 10, particularly when the bottle is shaken. For example, in one application of the invention, dispensed milk powder is mixed into approximately 200 to 250 millilitres of potable water contained within the interior space 13 of the bottle 10 so as to create a ready-to-drink milk beverage.

[0047] Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to a described embodiment, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in this specification.

[0048] The terms comprise, comprises, comprising or comprised, if and when used herein, should be interpreted non-exclusively, that is, as conveying "consisting of or including".

Claims

CLAIMS we claim is:

A closure for a container having a body with a neck defining a mouth leading to an interior space within the body of the container, the neck having an outer surface with a screw thread and an inner surface with one or more protrusions extending into the mouth, the closure comprising:

a threaded cap member which is rotatable in a securing direction and a releasing direction about the neck of the container, the cap member including a receptacle arranged to project into the interior space of the container when the closure is positioned on the neck of the container, the receptacle providing for the storage of a material to be dispensed into the interior space of the container, the receptacle having a proximal end located on an inner surface of the cap member and extending to a distal end that terminates in a rim surrounding a dispensing opening, the receptacle configured such that, when the closure is positioned on the neck of the container, a first portion of the rim extends further into the interior space of the container than a second portion of the rim;

a detachable cover for sealing the dispensing opening and, when sealed, retaining the material within the receptacle; and

a sleeve member rotatably mounted around the receptacle, the sleeve member having one or more projections for mutual engagement in a ratchet-like manner with the one or more protrusions located on the inner surface of the neck of the container, the one or more projections being adapted to:

(i) when the cap member is rotated in the securing direction, ride over the one or more protrusions to permit relative rotation between the sleeve member and the container and allow the sleeve member to rotate with the cap member in the securing direction; and

(ii) when the cap member is rotated in the releasing direction, engage with the one or more protrusions to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve member and the container and stop the sleeve member from rotating with the cap member in the releasing direction; the sleeve member also having an abutment surface adapted to dislodge the cover from the dispensing opening during rotation of the cap member in the releasing direction and thereby permit a material stored within the receptacle to be dispensed into the interior space of the container.

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure further includes a tether connecting the cover to the sleeve member.

3. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the tether and the dislodged cover are arranged to together form a stirrer for mixing any contents within the interior space of the container with the dispensed material.

4. The closure according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the receptacle is tubular in shape with a circular cross-section and a hollow interior for the storage of the material to be dispensed into the interior space of the container.

5. The closure according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the distal end of the receptacle is bevelled and the rim surrounding the dispensing opening is sloped.

6. The closure according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the sleeve member comprises an elongate, hollow cylinder with two open ends, a proximal end and a distal end.

7. The closure according to claim 6, wherein the sleeve member includes a distally extending tab containing the abutment surface.

8. The closure according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the one or more projections are located at the proximal end of the cylinder and extend outwardly from the cylinder.

9. The closure according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the one or more projections are one or more ratchet teeth.

10. The closure according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the material to be dispensed is a soluble powdered or granulated beverage additive.

11. The closure according to claim 10, wherein the material to be dispensed is powdered milk.

12. The closure according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein the closure is secured to the container.

13. The closure according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein the closure is separate from and for use with the container.

14. The closure according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein the container is a bottle or a jar.

15. A container comprising a body with a neck defining a mouth leading to an interior space within the body of the container, the neck having an outer surface with a screw thread and an inner surface with one or more protrusions extending into the mouth, and a closure according to any one of claims 1-14 securable to the neck of the container.

16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the container is a bottle or ajar.

17. A closure substantially as herein described or exemplified, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. A container and a closure substantially as herein described or exemplified, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.