Patent Grant
8893912
This application is a U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/NL2011/050610, filed 6 Sep. 2011, which claims the benefit of NL 2005329, filed 8 Sep 2010.
The invention relates to a closure device that allows to dispense a product from a product container, for example from a bottle or a collapsible pouch.
Closure devices are known comprising a base having a body with a connector portion adapted to mount the closure device on a product container, e.g. by screwing the closure device on the neck of a container or heat- or induction sealing the base to a collapsible pouch.
In known devices the base has a product channel, wherein a rupturable seal is present that spans across the product channel and so occludes the product channel. Examples are shown in WO01/36289. In these examples the closure device includes a protective overcap that is removable by the user upon first opening of the container. Typically an overcap is removable prior to when use of the container is initiated. The overcap is often discarded but may be re-used if desired.
The present invention aims to provide an improved closure device, or at least provide an alternative to existing closure devices.
The present invention aims to provide a closure device having a reliable barrier function as long as the product container has not been opened, e.g. shielding the product against ingress of air. The present inventions aims to provide such a closure device with a simple and intuitive user-handling of the closure device.
The present invention achieves one or more of the objects above by providing a closure device for dispensing a product from a product container, the closure device comprising a base having a body with a connector portion adapted to mount the closure device on a product container, the base comprising a product channel in the body of base and a rupturable seal occluding the product channel and forming a lower seal of the closure device, the closure device further comprising a rotary part that is rotatably journalled on the base, wherein the rotary part has a product passage in communication with the product channel in the base, an upper sealing arrangement arranged on the rotary part of the forming an upper seal of the closure device that is remote from the lower seal and seals the product passage of the rotary part, a lower seal rupturing member that is movable in a rupturing motion relative to the base to rupture the rupturable lower seal, motion transfer means adapted so as to effect the rupturing motion of the lower seal rupturing member upon suitable rotary actuation of the rotary part, a protective overcap that is removable by the user, wherein the upper sealing arrangement is in closed condition prior to first time removal of the overcap, wherein the overcap is connected to the base and is adapted to be rotated by the user with respect to the base in order to remove the overcap from the base, wherein the overcap engages on the rotary part so as to cause rotary motion of the rotary part upon removal of the overcap, so the lower seal rupturing member effects the rupturing motion to rupture the rupturable lower seal and thereby open the product channel by user removal of the overcap.
The rotary part is rotatable with respect to the base, and the motion transfer means cause the lower seal rupturing member to perform its rupturing operation as the rotary part is rotated. This rotation is effect as the user removes the overcap from the closure device for the first time by a rotational motion, which is a simple, intuitive motion to perform by the user. So during the process of removing the overcap the user —basically without being aware thereof —also causes the rupturing of the lower seal. In a practical embodiment said lower seal, as well as the rupturing member, may be invisible for the user, so that the user is not even aware of the presence of such a lower seal.
The rupturing of the lower seal may involve the cutting, piercing, tearing or similar of the rupturable seal or combinations thereof.
As the upper sealing arrangement remains closed during the removal of the overcap, the risk of spillage is limited or absent.
This closure device has the benefit of the additional barrier effect provided by the lower rupturable seal, e.g. when said lower seal includes one or more metal layers, e.g. as a foil, without burdening the user with an extra activity to rupture the lower seal.
Also the closure device has the benefit of the overcap, which is well known to consumers and provides a hygienic cover over the dispensing portion of the closure device, e.g. against dust or other contamination.
The overcap may, in a possible embodiment, provide a full hermetic sealing with respect to the base, so that there is no communication between the space inside the overcap and the environment prior to removal of the cap. This is e.g. desirable for aseptic closures.
The overcap is preferable embodied with a tamper-evident feature, e.g. a tamper-evident band, to evidence the first time removal of the overcap.
The overcap may be tethered to the base, e.g. to avoid loss of the overcap or to prevent that users improperly discard the overcap.
Preferably the overcap is provided with visual signs to indicate to the user that the cap should be rotated to remove it from the base, e.g. by thread formations being visible in the overcap and/or one or more indicative arrows on the overcap.
Preferably the overcap is at least partly transparent to allow the user to see the rotary part and/or upper sealing arrangement of the closure device.
The upper sealing arrangement can be embodied as desired for the dispensing of the product.
In a possible embodiment the upper sealing arrangement is a self-closing sealing arrangement, e.g. a duck-bill or slit valve as are known in the art.
In another embodiment the upper sealing arrangement comprises an underpressure actuated valve, that opens when an underpressure is established at an outlet of the closure device. An example is e.g. disclosed by Smartseal AS in WO2006028378.
In another embodiment the upper sealing arrangement comprises a push-pull bidon-type valve as is known in the art.
In another embodiment the upper sealing arrangement is embodied as a teat, e.g. when the closure device is secured to or to be secured to a package containing pre-prepared infant feed, e.g. formula milk.
In another embodiment the upper sealing arrangement comprises a flip-top cap.
In another embodiment the upper sealing arrangement comprises a screw cap.
The motion transfer means cause the rotational motion of the rotary part—which is entrained by the rotating overcap during the first time removal thereof from the base—to be transferred into a rupturing motion of the rupturing member relative to the base. For example the rupturing motion may be a telescopic motion or a helical motion of the rupturing member.
In a helical motion embodiment of the rupturing motion the closure device has rotation-to-helical motion transfer means which are adapted to entrain the rupturing member with the rotary motion of the rotary part and at the same time cause the rupturing member to move in an axial direction towards the lower seal so that the rupturing member engages on the lower seal and causes the rupturing thereof. For example such helical motion can be effected with the rupturing member and the base having cooperating threads, the rupturing member for example being coupled to the rotary part by one or more lugs engaging in one or more corresponding axial slots. Other arrangements that allow to entrain the rupturing member with the rotation of the rotary part whilst also causing or allowing axial motion of the rupturing member will be readily apparent for the skilled person, e.g. the one part having one or more axial members protruding into or through one or more corresponding openings in the other part.
In a telescopic motion embodiment the rupturing member is envisaged to perform a linear motion, e.g. at rights angles to the lower seal, e.g. similar to a punch device. In an embodiment thereof the closure device may comprise cooperating linear guide members on the body of the base on the one hand and on the lower seal rupturing member on the other hand. For example the base has one or more linear grooves, preferably at right angles to a foil type lower seal, and the rupturing member one or more bosses protruding into a groove to form a linear guide. Other linear guide arrangements are also possible. The rotary motion of the rotary part upon first time removal of the overcap is transferred to the linearly guided rupturing member by any suitable rotation-to-linear motion transfer means. This may e.g. include cooperating screw threads on the rotary part and the rupturing member, but may, e.g. in a variant comprise one or more inclined faces, e.g. the end of teeth, on the rotary part and one or more complementary inclined faces on the linearly guided rupturing member so that upon first time removal of the overcap the resulting rotation of the rotary part causes the rupturing member to be pressed towards the lower seal and cause its rupture.
The rupture caused by the operation of the rupturing member may be in the form of a closed contour incision through the lower seal, so that a central portion of the lower seal is fully released from surrounding portion of the lower seal. The cut may also be a partial cut, so that a central portion of the lower seal remains attached to a surrounding portion of the lower seal, as a flap.
The overcap and the rotary part may be provided with one or more meshing portions, e.g. one or more teeth on the one part meshing with one or more corresponding formations on the other part.
As an alternative for a meshing of one or more coupling members of the rotary part with one or more coupling members of the overcap one can also envisage other forms of coupling to establish that the rotary part is entrained with the overcap in it's unscrewing for the first time removal.
For example the overcap and rotary part may be provided mating, form-locking sections that are non-cylindrical, e.g. oval.
In another embodiment the overcap and rotary part may be connected by a temporary and breakable connection, e.g. obtained by one or more welding spots, by an adhesive, or by one or more breakable (plastic) connector members placed between the overcap and the rotary part or integrated with one or both of these components. This breakable connection then temporarily interconnects the two components, has sufficient strength to entrain the rotary part, and then is allowed to break if the overcap is completely removed.
In another example the two components are friction fitted onto each other, the friction being sufficient to cause the mentioned entraining of the rotary part with the overcap rotation, and the frictional coupling being ended if the overcap is completely removed. In another example provision is made for one or more resilient members formed on either the overcap or the rotary part, said resilient members being adapted to provide a temporary connection between these parts and releasing once the rotary part has been sufficiently rotated to cause the rupture of the lower seal. E.g. the rotary part has one or more resilient lips engaging on the overcap during the opening process.
Further examples and preferred features of the inventive closure device are mentioned in the subclaims and in the description with reference to the drawings.
The present invention also relates to a container, e.g. a collapsible pouch, provided with a closure device.
It is noted that the rupturable barrier may be mounted at the underside of the base when the closure device is pre-assembled. This e.g. allows to provide an aseptic closure device, wherein the internal passages for the product are hermetically sealed from the environment.
It is also possible that the rupturable seal is mounted between the container body and the base, e.g. between the neck of a container and the base. For example the rupturable seal is first mounted on the container, so as to extend across the container opening, and then the base of the closure device is mounted on the container body. This e.g. allows to fill containers with a product, e.g. a food product, such as a beverage, then seal the opening of the container with the rupturable seal, and then later apply the closure device with its base on the container. For example the step of filling the container and sealing the opening with the rupturable barrier are done under aseptic conditions, and the application of the closure with its base on the container under non-aseptic conditions.
The present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings.
a the rotary part of the closure device of
b the central member of said rotary part in cross-section,
c the central member and the upper sealing arrangement in cross-section,
d the rotary part in cross-section,
With reference to the
In the first and second examples the closure device 1, 101 is designed to be heat- or induction sealed between the opposed film walls of a collapsible pouch (not shown). It will be appreciated that in alternative versions the closure device 1, 101 may be applied to all sorts of product containers, preferably said containers being filled with a flowable product, e.g. a liquid, pasty or powdery product.
The closure devices 1, 101 serve to keep the container sealed as long as no dispensing needs to take place. Once dispensing is desired, the closure device is operated by the user and the closure device serves as dispensing device to dispense the product from the container.
In general the closure devices 1, 101 here comprises a base 2, 102 having a body with a connector portion 2a, 102a adapted to mount the closure device on the product container. As is preferred the base is formed by injection moulding of suitable plastic material. Here, as an example, the connector portion 2a, 102a comprises a central tubular portion 3 with diametrically opposed wing structures 3a. In other exemplary designs the connector portion 2a, 102a may be embodied with a radial flange to attach the base to a wall of the container, e.g. to a film wall of a pouch or a panel of a carton, or embodied to be screwed onto a threaded neck of a container, etc. The skilled person is well aware of such embodiments of the connector portion 2a, 102a.
The base 2, 102 has a product channel 5, 105 therein, here extending through the tubular portion 3, 103 of the base.
A rupturable seal, here embodied as a foil 4, 104, occludes the product channel 5, 105 and forms a lower seal.
As is preferred the rupturable seal 4, 104, is formed at the lower end, effectively the entry opening, of the product channel 5, 105. No product enters the channel 5, 105 until the lower seal is ruptured.
The foil 4, 104 is preferably heat- or induction sealed to the base 2, 102. The foil 4, 104 may include one or multiple layers. The foil 4, 104 may include one or more metal layers, e.g. aluminium, to obtain enhanced barrier properties as is known in the art.
Instead of a foil another rupturable membrane may also be used, e.g. an injection moulded membrane, possibly injection moulded monolithic with the body of base 2, 102.
The rupturable seal may include one or more lines of weakness, this is not preferred.
The protective overcap 10, 110 is at first connected to the base 2, 102 and is adapted to be rotated by the user with respect to the base 2, 102 in order to remove the overcap from the base 2, 102.
Here the base 2, 102 comprises an annular wall portion 11, 111 having an exterior side 11a. The overcap 10, 110 and the exterior side 11a of the annular wall portion 11, 111 have cooperating threads 12, 13, 112 so that the overcap 10, 110 can be unscrewed from the base 2, 102 by the user. Preferably the unscrewing of the overcap 10, 110 requires less than a full turn of the overcap 10, 110 preferably about half a turn. As an alternative the overcap and base may e.g. have cooperating bayonet means.
As is preferred the overcap 10, 110 is provided with a tamper-evident feature, here a tamper-evident band 14, 114 at the lower edge of the cap skirt. In these examples, the band 14, 114 snaps under a retaining rib 15, 115 on the base body. One or more breakable bridges are present in the band 14, 114 and/or between the band and the cap so as to break when the overcap 10, 110 is unscrewed for the first time from the base 2, 102.
The closure device 1, 101 further comprises a rotary part 20, 120 that is rotatably journalled on the base. The rotary part has a product passage 21, 121 that is in open communication with the product channel 5, 105 in the base 2, 102.
An upper sealing arrangement 30, 130 is secured on the rotary part 20, 120 and forms an upper seal of the closure device 1, 101 that is remote from the lower seal 4, 104 and seals the product passage 21, 121 of the rotary part 20, 120 here at the upper end thereof as is preferred.
The upper sealing arrangement 30, 130 is in closed condition prior to first time removal of the overcap 10, 110.
In these examples the upper sealing arrangement 30, 130 is embodied a self-closing, underpressure actuated valve, that opens when an underpressure is established at an outlet of the valve. This valve is embodied according to the disclosure of WO2006028378.
As is preferred the upper sealing arrangement valve 30, 130 here comprises a valve element 31, 131 that is seated in a seat formed by the rotary part 20, 120 when said valve is closed. As is preferred the valve element 31, 131 is moved towards the container interior for opening of the valve, so that excess pressure in the container interior strives to close the valve 30, 130 once the foil 4, 104 has been ruptured.
As is preferred the underpressure actuated valve includes a vacuum chamber 32, 132 in communication with the outlet of the valve 30, 130, such that when underpressure is created at said outlet, notably by someone drinking from the container via the valve, the valve opens.
In this example the vacuum chamber 32, 132 is partly delimited by a flexible annular diaphragm 33, 133, that secured at its periphery to the rotary part 20, 120. Centrally in the diaphragm 33, 133 is a dispensing structure carrying the valve element 31, 131. Here the structure includes two concentric tubular portions 34a, 34b, interconnected at their upper ends, said structure sliding over a tubular portion 23 of the rotary part 20, 120. The inner portion 34b carries the valve element 31, 131 at its lower end. One or more ports are provided for product to enter into the inner tubular portion 34b when the valve 30, 130 is opened.
When someone sucks at the outlet of the valve 30, 130, the underpressure is also created in the chamber 32, 132 as this chamber is in communication with said inlet, e.g. via suitable holes and/or via a gap between the portion 23 and the dispensing structure of the valve 30, 130. The resulting pressure difference between the chamber 32, 132 and the atmospheric pressure acting on the outside of the diaphragm causes the valve to open.
It will be appreciated that the valve shown in the figures is just one example of an upper sealing arrangement, e.g. for use with a beverage container, e.g. a collapsible pouch beverage container, wherein it is envisaged that someone drinks by sucking on the valve 30.
Other possible embodiments for the upper sealing arrangement include a teat for use with babies and infants, e.g. for use with milk formula or another infant beverage or food product.
Other possible embodiments the upper sealing arrangement are for example a duck-bill valve, a slit valve, a flip-top or screw cap, etc.
The upper sealing arrangement may also be embodied to open or be opened when the rotary part is or is to be connected to an object, e.g. an applicator or (motorized) dispenser for the product to be dispensed from the container. e.g. for use in cosmetics (e.g. a brush), body care, laundry, or household products, e.g. detergent, cleaning agent, car wash, etc.
The closure device 1, 101 also comprises a lower seal rupturing member 40, 140, which is movable in a rupturing motion relative to the base 2, 102 to rupture the rupturable lower seal, here embodied as a foil cutter member 40, 140, to cut into the foil 4, 104. As is preferred the member 40, 140 is housed within the base 2, 102 and the rotary member 20, 120.
Motion transfer means are provided so as to effect the rupturing motion of the lower seal rupturing member 40, 140 upon rotary actuation of the rotary part 20, 120, which is in turn caused by the removal of the overcap 10, 110 from the base 2, 102 by the user.
The overcap 10, 110 engages on the rotary part 20, 120 so as to cause rotary motion of the rotary part 20, 120 upon removal by unscrewing of the overcap 10, 110.
In these examples the rotary part 20, 120 is provided with one or more outwardly protruding members or teeth 25, 125. The overcap 10 is provided with one or more inwardly protruding elements or teeth 16, or with a recess receiving a teeth 125, said elements meshing with each other so that the rotation of the cap 10, 110 is followed by the rotary part 20, 120. In the example of
The coupling between the overcap 10, 110 and the rotary part 20, 120 causes the lower seal rupturing member 40, 140 to effect its rupturing motion to rupture the rupturable lower seal 4, 104 and thereby open the product channel. During this process of first time removal of the overcap 110 through rotation thereof the upper sealing arrangement 30, 130 remains in closed condition so that no spillage occurs even though the lower seal 4, 104 is now opened.
In the embodiment of
As is preferred the rotary part 20 has one or more inward lugs 27 extending into one or more axial slots 42 of the member 40, so that the member 40 follows the rotation of part 20 and at the same time is allowed to move axially towards the foil 4.
In the first example, as is preferred, the lower seal rupturing member 40 and the base 2 have cooperating threads 41, 3b to effect the axial component of the helical rupturing motion towards the lower seal 4. As is preferred the base has one or more threads 3b in the product passage 5, most preferably in the region of the tubular portion 3 when present.
As is preferred the lower seal rupturing member 40, 140 has a tubular body with a central bore therein, said body being located partly in the product channel 5, 105 in the base 2, 102 and partly in the product passage in the rotary part 20, 121. The product flows through the lower seal rupturing member 40, 140 upon dispensing of the product.
As is preferred the rotary part 20, 120 is snap fitted onto the base 2, 102. The wall 11, 111, has a snap edge at its upper end of the interior side and the rotary part 20, 120 having a mating snap edge 28.
As is preferred the rotary part 20, 120 is snap fitted onto the base 3, 103. The wall 11, 111, has a snap edge at its upper end of the interior side and the rotary part 20, 120 having a mating snap edge 28.
As is preferred the rotary part 20 here comprises a tubular portion of outer part 20b that extends into a bore of the base, here formed by an annular wall portion 17, that forms a part of the product passage 5. An annular product seal is present between said tubular portion of outer part 20b and the base 2 to prevent undesired leakage of product.
As is preferred the foil cutter member 40, 140 may have one or more cutting teeth 44, 144 to enhance the cutting effect, most preferably in combination with a helical rupturing motion.
A container filled with product and provided with a closure device 1, 101 is initiated for use by the user through unscrewing of the overcap 10, 110 from the base 2, 102. This may be indicated via one or more arrows on the overcap 10, 110 or via the visibility of the threads on the overcap 10 or other features of the cap. The user will grip the overcap 10, 110 and unscrew the cap 10, 110. By doing so, as explained in detail, the user now simultaneously causes the foil 4; 104 (likely to be invisible for the user) to be ruptured under the effect of member 40, 140 that is moved with its one or more teeth into and through the foil 4, 104. The user will presumably not even notice this rupturing at all. Once the cap 10, 110 has been removed, the user will —in this example —be able to drink from the container by sucking on the valve 30, 130. As explained the valve 30, 130 remains closed during the removal of the cap 10, 110, so that the user is not surprised by a rush of product from the container so that spillage is prevented or counteracted.
As explained the valve 30, 130 is an example for the upper sealing arrangement. Other types of upper sealing arrangements are possible as well. It will be appreciated that the rotary part 20, 120 will need little modification to carry another upper sealing arrangement.
In the first example the rotary part comprises a central part 20a as shown in
As is preferred the overcap 10, 110 is at least partly transparent, allowing the user to see inside, e.g. to establish that no contamination has occurred or to view the type of sealing arrangement.
With reference to
In this second exemplary embodiment the rupturing member 140 is linearly guided with respect to the base 102.
The base 102 here has two linear grooves 150 (best seen in
So in this second example the rupturing motion resembles that of a punch, wherein the teeth 144 establish a cut in the seal 104 which may e.g. be a full circle or part thereof.
The rotary motion of the rotary part 120 upon first time removal of the overcap 110 may transferred to the linearly guided rupturing member 140 by any suitable rotation-to-linear transfer mechanism.
In this example there are cooperating screw threads 161, 162 on the rupturing member 140 and the rotary part 120 respectively, so that when the part 120 is rotated upon removal of the overcap 110, the member 140 moves down towards the seal 104.
One may envisage an embodiment wherein the screw threads 161, 162 finally disengage from one another in the overcap removal process.
Instead of meshing screw threads 161, 162 the motion transfer mechanism may also comprise one or more inclined faces, e.g. formed by the ends of a series of teeth in circular arrangement, on the rotary part and one or more complementary inclined faces on the linearly guided rupturing member, e.g. at the top end thereof, so that upon first time removal of the overcap the resulting rotation of the rotary part causes the rupturing member to be pressed towards the lower seal and cause its rupture.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005329 | Sep 2010 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2011/050610 | 9/6/2011 | WO | 00 | 5/16/2013 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012/033405 | 3/15/2012 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5482176 | Maietta et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
| 7971739 | Ammann | Jul 2011 | B2 |
| 20040099686 | Rho | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040251276 | Adams | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20090050648 | Wisniewski | Feb 2009 | A1 |
| 20100215294 | Berman | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20100230410 | Last et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 0304972 | Mar 1989 | EP |
| 2143658 | Jan 2010 | EP |
| 01036289 | May 2001 | WO |
| 2006028378 | Mar 2006 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report completed Oct. 26, 2011 for priority application PCT/NL2011/050610. |
| Search Report and Written Opinion for priority application NL2005329 dated Mar. 16, 2011. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130292380 A1 | Nov 2013 | US |
