WO2001025108A1

WO2001025108A1 - Dispensing closure

Info

Publication number: WO2001025108A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/003716
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Jonathon Townley Whitaker; Christopher Paul Ramsey
Original assignee: CarnaudMetalbox PLC; Metal Box PLC; Crown Cork and Seal Technologies Corp
Current assignee: Crown Packaging UK Ltd; Crown Packaging Technology Inc
Priority date: 1999-10-01
Filing date: 2000-09-27
Publication date: 2001-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2002-04-01
Also published as: EP1194345A1; DE60006533D1; DE60006533T2; AU7536000A; ATE254076T1; GB9923141D0; EP1194345B1

Abstract

A dispensing closure comprising a closure body (3), having a dispensing aperture (33), and a cover (4) held captive on the closure body and adapted to open and close the dispensing aperture. The cover is composed of three portions. The first portion is anchored to the closure body and is arranged to pivot about its anchor (47). The second portion (44) is also attached to the closure body and is constrained for movement on the body between first and second limiting positions. Finally, the third, intermediate portion of the cover, is disposed between the first and second portions and is adapted to open and close the dispensing aperture on movement of the second portion between its limiting positions. The closure is arranged to allow easy opening and closing using only one hand.

Description

DISPENSING CLOSURE

The present invention relates to dispensing closures and in particular to improvement of so-called "push-pull" dispensing closures. In such closures, a dispensing orifice in the closure body is sealed by a cover piece, which is held captive on the closure body. The cover piece can be moved between raised and lowered positions to open and close the dispensing orifice.

A conventional push-pull closure comprises a closure body, having dispensing orifices arranged around the periphery of an upstanding peg or plug, and a cover arranged for axial movement on the closure body between a raised and lowered position. The cover has a central dispensing aperture, which is blocked and sealed by the upstanding peg when the cover is in its lowered position. When the cover is moved to its raised position, the dispensing aperture in the cover is lifted clear of the peg and the contents of the container can be dispensed through the dispensing orifices in the closure body, around the peg and out through the aperture in the cover. The cover is usually designed for simple sliding movement between two stops on the closure body. Alternatively, the cover may have a screw thread engagement with the closure body so that it can be raised and lowered by rotational movement . A disadvantage of this prior art design is that it is difficult to open and close with one-hand. Push-pull closures are often used for products such as sports drinks and therefore, one-handed operation of the closure is desirable. Accordingly, the invention provides a dispensing closure having a body with a dispensing aperture and a cover, held captive on the body, characterised in that the cover comprises a first portion, anchored swingingly on the body, a second portion, spaced from the first portion and constrained other than by the first portion for movement on the body between first and second limiting positions, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second portions and adapted to open and close the dispensing aperture on movement of the second portion.

The closure according to the invention is simple to open and close using only one hand. A user holds the container to which the closure is attached in one hand and uses a thumb or forefinger on the same hand to move the second portion of the cover between its limiting positions. As the second portion moves, the cover tilts about the anchored first portion thereby opening or closing the dispensing aperture in the body. The intermediate portion of the cover is preferably flexible so that it can deform as the second portion of the cover is moved between the limiting positions. This allows the intermediate portion of the cover to bow away from the body, thereby opening the dispensing aperture in the body. This flexibility may be provided by the natural resilience of the material or alternatively, the cover may be articulated. For example, where, the cover is made from a relatively stiff material, hinges may be provided on either side of the dispensing aperture to allow the cover to deform as it swings about the anchored portion.

The advantage of articulating the cover is that the movement of the intermediate portion of the cover is more easily controlled by suitable arrangement of the articulations .

Preferably, the second portion of the cover is arranged to slide across the surface of the closure body. The slide arrangement may control both the movement of the second portion of the cover between its limiting positions, whilst keeping the second portion attached to the body. Suitable slide arrangements are well known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the second portion of the cover slides linearly to simplify construction of the slide arrangement and simplify the movement of the intermediate portion of the cover relative to the body. Both the cover and the closure have dispensing orifices, which are preferably connected by a sealed dispensing passageway. The passageway is adapted to move as the intermediate portion of the cover moves, whilst retaining the fluid seal. In a suitable arrangement, the opposed surfaces of the cover and the body have collars, which engage with each other to form a seal. The collars are arranged around the periphery of the dispensing apertures and are adapted to compensate for both linear movement and the tilting movement caused by the cover tilting about the first, anchored portion when the second portion is moved between its limiting positions. The collars may have sufficient natural resilience to compensate for these movements and have a suitable sealing bead arrangement to ensure a fluid tight seal. Alternatively, one or both of the collars may have a spherical surface so that the linear and tilting movements are compensated for in a similar manner to a conventional ball joint.

Occlusion of the dispensing aperture may be simply achieved using the peg arrangement discussed in relation to known push-pull closures. A peg or plug is provided extending from either the cover or the body and arranged to block the dispensing aperture in the other of the cover or body. Considering a peg extending from the surface of the body and arranged to plug the dispensing aperture in the cover, the dispensing aperture in the body may either be provided offset from the peg or alternatively, around the periphery of the peg. In the latter case, the dispensing aperture may be provided as a number of segments forming an annular dispensing aperture. Obviously this arrangement could be reversed and the peg could extend from the cover with the dispensing orifice in the cover offset from or surrounding the peg. However, the former arrangement is preferred as the aperture in the cover is sealed by the peg and therefore prevents any dirt or contaminants from entering the dispensing passageway.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the closure according to the invention, in its closed configuration, applied to a container.

Figure 2 shows a side section view of the closure shown in figure 1, in its closed configuration. Figure 3 shows a side section view of the closure shown in figures 1 and 2 in its open, dispensing configuration.

Figure 1 shows the closure 1^~ attached to a container 2. The closure 1 comprises a closure body 3, adapted to connect with and seal the container 2, and a cover 4. The cover 4 is adapted to close and seal a dispensing passageway 5, when the closure is in its closed configuration. The cover 4 has a finger portion 44, which the user slides across the closure body 3, to open the container/closure package. The closure is designed for simple one-handed operation. For example, to open the closure 1, a user holds the container 2 in one hand and, using a thumb or forefinger on the same hand, pushes the cover 4 towards the dispensing passageway 5. The finger portion 44 slides across closure body 3 and bends the cover 4 about a hinge portion 48, thereby opening the dispensing aperture 5. The opening and closing mechanism of the closure will be more clearly understood by reference to figures 2 and 3.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, the closure body 3 includes a sealing projection 31, which engages with and seals against the neck portion of the container 2. The closure body 3 is attached to the container 2 in a conventional manner. For example, the closure body 3 may have formations (not shown) , which are adapted to engage with complimentary projections 21 on the container. Alternatively, the closure body 3 and neck portion of the container 2 may have complimentary screw threads. The dispensing portion of the closure body 3 comprises an upstanding peg 32 surrounded by a number of dispensing orifices 33 which may take the form of segments of an annular orifice. A sealing collar 34 is provided around the outside periphery of the dispensing orifices 33. The cover 4 comprises an orifice 41, which is arranged to co-operate with, and be sealed by, the peg 32, and a sealing collar 43 arranged to form a fluid tight seal with the sealing collar 34 on the closure body 3. Together, the sealing collars 34, 43 define a sealed dispensing passageway between the orifice 33 in the closure body 3 and the orifice 41 in the cover 4.

One end of the cover 4 is anchored to the closure body 3. The body 3 has a slot (defined by side walls 35 and 35'), which is designed to accommodate a projection 47 at one end of the cover 4. The projection 47 is constrained within the slot 35 and is prevented from moving linearly relative to the closure body 3. However, the portion of the cover 4 adjacent to the anchored projection 47 is able to tilt or swing outwardly from the closure body 3. A finger portion 44 is defined at the other end of the cover 4, on the opposite side of the dispensing orifice 41 to the projection 47. This finger portion 44 of the cover 4 is adapted to slide across the surface of the closure body 4 using a conventional sliding mechanism. The sliding mechanism has not been shown in figures 2 and 3 for reasons of clarity. However, suitable sliding mechanisms will be readily apparent. For example, a co-operating groove and projection or a slide rail arrangement may be provided between the finger portion 44 of the cover 4 and the adjacent external surface of the closure body 3. The fully open and closed positions of the closure are controlled by limiting the extent of movement of the finger portion 44. Suitable stop arrangements 36, 45 and 37, 46 are provided to define the limits of this movement .

When the closure 1 is in its closed configuration (as shown in figure 2) the peg 32 seals the orifice 41 in the cover 4 preventing the contents of the container from being dispensed. A suitably designed snap bead arrangement may be provided on the collars 34, 43 to hold the closure m its closed configuration, ensuring a fluid tight seal between the peg 32 and the orifice 41 m the cover. The stepped regions 37 and 46, on the body 3 and finger portion 44 respectively, engage to prevent further movement of the finger portion 44 in the closing direction (as shown m figure 2) .

To open the closure, a user pushes the finger portion 44, preferably using the thumb of the hand holding the container 2, and slides the finger portion 44 transversely along the side of the closure body 3 until further movement is prevented by another stop arrangement. This stop arrangement comprises a pin 45, which extends radially inwardly from the finger portion 44 into a slot 36 in the closure body 3. When the closure is in its fully open configuration, the pin 45 engages with the end wall of the slot 36 thereby preventing further sliding movement of the finger portion 44 in the opening direction (as shown in figure 3) . As the finger portion 44 slides along the closure body 3, the cover 4 flexes around hinge portions 48 and 49 and the cover orifice 41 is raised and tilted clear of the peg 32, opening a dispensing passageway from the inside of the container 2. It will be apparent from figure 3 that as the cover 4 is lifted and tilted about the anchored projection 47, the sealing collars 34, 43 have to slide and tilt relative to one another whilst maintaining a fluid seal .

By restricting the movement of part of the closure cover, a dispensing closure can be adapted for easy one- handed operation. Other methods for closing the dispensing aperture rather than using the peg arrangement shown in the figures will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure having a body with a dispensing aperture and a cover, held captive on the body characterised in that the cover comprises a first portion, anchored swingingly on the body, a second portion, spaced from the first portion and constrained other than by the first portion for movement on the body between first and second limiting positions, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second portions and adapted to open and close the dispensing aperture on movement of the second portion.

2. A dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein at least the intermediate portion of the cover is flexible and deforms as the second portion is moved between its limiting positions.

3. A dispensing closure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cover is articulated to enable the cover to deform as the second portion is moved between its limiting positions.

4. A dispensing closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion of the cover is adapted to slide along the body.

5. A dispensing closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion of the cover also comprises a dispensing aperture which makes a fluid connection with the dispensing aperture in the body via a dispensing passageway.

A dispensing closure according to claim 5, wherein the dispensing passageway is defined by mutually engaging collars extending from the adjacent surfaces of the closure body and the cover, the collars adapted to move relative to one another whilst maintaining a fluid tight seal around the dispensing passageway.

A dispensing closure according claim 5 or claim 6, wherein one of the body or the cover further comprises a plug, located within the dispensing passageway, the plug adapted to close the dispensing aperture in the other of the cover or the body when the second portion of the cover is in its first limiting position and to leave a flow path through . the dispensing passageway when the second portion of the cover is in its second limiting position.