Patent Application
20100127021
The present invention relates generally to container closures for dispensing a fluent substance, which may include personal care products or the like, and more particularly to a dispensing closure system especially suitable for a hand-held container, which includes a lid moveable between closed and open positions, with push-button actuation of the closure facilitating convenient, one-hand use by consumers.
Fluent materials, including liquids, creams, powders, etc., may be conventionally packaged in a container having a dispensing closure which includes a covering body that is provided over an open end of the container, and that defines one or more dispensing orifices communicating with the interior of the container. A cap or lid is typically provided secured to the covering body for occluding the one or more dispensing orifices when the container is not in use. The provision of an integral hinge maintains the moveable lid in association with the closure body, facilitating convenient use.
In order to further facilitate convenient use by consumers, the present closure system includes an arrangement for push-button operation for effecting opening movement of the lid thereof, with the arrangement desirably facilitating one-hand use by consumers, while at the same time facilitating assembly of the closure component to facilitate cost-effective manufacturing.
The present invention is directed to a dispensing closure assembly, which includes an integrally hinged lid member for opening and closing of a dispensing orifice of the closure. Convenient push-button operation is provided by a laterally-movable slider element of the assembly. Mounting of the slider element on the associated closure base, i.e., “top-mounting” of the slider element, facilitates efficient, cost-effective manufacture and use of the present closure arrangement. Camming surfaces of the slider element are configured to provide the desired degree of vertical opening movement of the closure lid attendant to horizontal movement of the slider element.
In accordance with the present invention, a dispensing closure system for a container having an opening includes a closure base for extending from the container at the opening thereof. The container base includes a dispensing orifice for communicating with the interior of the container.
The present closure system further includes a lid for movement between a closed position on top of the base to occlude the dispensing orifice, and an open position, away from the dispensing orifice, to permit dispensing of a substance from within the container. The system includes a hinge for moveably connecting the lid to the closure base, with these components of the present system preferably being integrally formed as a one-piece component from suitable polymeric material.
In accordance with the present invention, the present closure system further includes an element, which is generally ring-shaped in a preferred embodiment. The slider element is mounted on an upper surface of the closure base for generally lateral movement with respect thereto from an unactuated position, to an actuated position. The slider element includes a pair of camming surfaces engageable with the lid in the closed position thereof, when the slider element is in its unactuated position. The slider element is moveable generally laterally of the closure base from the unactuated position toward the actuated position thereof, to thereby cause the camming surfaces to act at generally opposite sides of the dispensing orifice, to thereby urge the lid upwardly out of its closed position toward the open position thereof. By this action, dispensing of the fluent substance within the container through the orifice is permitted.
By this arrangement of camming surfaces, at generally laterally opposite sides of the dispensing orifice, forces generated by actuation of the slider element are generally concentrated in the region of the orifice, and desirably act in close association with that portion of the lid which occludes the orifice. The desired degree of vertical movement of the closure lid is thus created attendant to horizontal of lateral movement of the slider element The typical interference or snap-fit between the lid and the closure base at the dispensing orifice is thus effectively and conveniently disengaged by lateral movement of the slider element.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the slider element includes a button portion configured for manipulation by consumers to move the slider element laterally of the closure base from the unactuated to actuated position thereof. Convenient, one-hand manipulation and opening of the closure system is thus facilitated.
In order to further facilitate opening movement of the closure lid attendant to lateral movement of the slider element, the slider element further preferably includes a pusher portion, positioned distally of the button portion, for engagement with the lid. By this arrangement, lateral movement of the slider element from its unactuated position toward its actuated position moves the pusher portion into engagement with the lid, to thereby urge the lid toward its open position.
In one illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the camming surfaces of the slider element extend angularly from respective opposite sides of the button portion. In other disclosed embodiments, the camming surfaces have a generally partially frustoconical configuration. In one of these embodiments, the button portion of the slider element is contiguous with the camming surfaces, and also has a generally partially frustoconical configuration. In an alternate embodiment, the button portion extends generally laterally between the partially frustoconical camming surfaces.
In the preferred form, the pusher portion of the slider element defines an inwardly facing stop surface, engageable with the closure base, to thereby limit movement of the slider element from its actuated position to its unactuated position.
In two embodiments, the lid of the closure system defines an opening within which the button portion of the slider is complementarily positioned when the slider element is in its unactuated position, and the lid is in its closed position.
By these various arrangements, an aesthetically pleasing closure system construction is provided, while at the same time facilitating convenient one-hand, push-button actuation by consumers.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, the specification and the accompanying drawings disclose specific embodiments of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments so described. However, the scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.
For ease of description, many of the figures illustrated in the invention show the dispensing closure system as including a separate, removable, dispensing closure in the typical configuration that the closure would have at the top of an associated 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 orientation described.
The dispensing closure system of this invention is suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special fluent substance dispensing systems, including packages, articles, and other dispensing equipment or apparatus, the details of which, although not fully illustrated or described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of such fluent substance dispensing systems. Such a fluent substance dispensing system, or portion thereof, with which the inventive dispensing closure system cooperates is hereinafter simply referred to as a “container”. Particulars of such a container are not intended to limit the present invention. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that novel and non-obvious inventive aspects are embodied in the described exemplary dispensing closure system alone.
With reference to
The closure 20 can be used to dispense substances, including, but not limited to liquids, suspensions, mixtures, etc. (such as, for example, 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, agricultural, medical treatment, military operations, etc.).
The associated container 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. Such 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. For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to employ a generally rigid container, and to pressurize the container interior at selected times with 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.
It is presently contemplated that many applications employing the closure 20 will be conveniently realized by molding at least some of the components or portions of the closure 20 from suitable thermoplastic material or materials. In the illustrated embodiments, the components of the closure can be molded from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. The closure components may be molded from different materials. The materials may have the same or different colors and textures.
Securement of the closure 20 to an associated container can be effected by the provision of a depending skirt 30 of the closure base, which extends downwardly from the closure deck 24. The closure skirt may be provided with one or more suitable retention elements, such as retention beads 32 (
In accordance with the present invention, the closure 20 includes a moveable lid 40 moveably mounted on the closure base 22 for movement toward and away from closure deck 24, with the lid 40 configured for occluding the dispensing orifice 28 of the closure base. The specific configuration of the closure lid can vary in keeping with the principles disclosed herein, with the lid generally including a top wall portion 42 (
Movement of the lid 40 between closed and open positions with respect to the closure base 22 is facilitated by the provision of a hinge 50 (
In accordance with the present invention, the present closure is configured for convenient, push-button operation by the provision of a slider element 56 mounted on an upper surface of the closure base 22 for reciprocable, generally lateral sliding movement with respect thereto from an unactuated position (
In accordance with the present invention, the slider element 56 includes a pair of camming surfaces positioned to act at generally laterally opposite sides of the dispensing orifice 28, to thereby facilitate convenient disengagement of the sealing collar 46 of the lid 40 from sealing cooperation with the closure spout 26. In this illustrated embodiment, the slider element 56 includes a pair of camming surfaces 58 which are positioned at generally opposite sides of the dispensing orifice 28, generally adjacent to respective opposite sides of the closure spout 26. The camming surfaces 58 are configured to respectively engage and coact with a pair of camming elements 60 (
Convenient manipulation of the slider element 56 is facilitated by the provision of button portion 62, which extends generally laterally between the camming surfaces 58. In this illustrated embodiment, the camming surfaces 58, and the button portion 62, are contiguous, and each have a generally partially frustoconical configuration, which partially frustoconical configurations can be provided in a generally complementary form to the upper portion of closure spout 26 (see
In order to enhance reliable movement of the lid from its closed position to its open position, through the center position of hinge 50, attendant to push-button actuation of the slider element 56, the slider element is further preferably provided with a pusher portion 66 (
In the preferred form, the pusher portion 66 defines an inwardly facing stop surface 68 (
With reference now to
Thus,
The closure base includes an annular skirt 130 which depends from the closure deck 124 of the closure base, with the skirt provided with at least one suitable retention element 132 (
The closure 120 further includes a moveable lid 140, configured for movement away from and toward closure base 122, between open and closed positions, respectively. The lid 140 includes a top wall portion 142 (
As in the previous embodiment, a hinge 150 (
In accordance with the present invention, push-button actuation of the moveable lid 140 is effected by the provision of a laterally moveable, top-mounted slider element 156 (
To this end, the slider element 156 is generally ring-shaped, and fits about the closure spout 126 of the closure base 122, and includes a pair of camming surfaces 158 positioned on respective opposite sides of the closure spout 126. By this arrangement, the camming surfaces 158 are positioned to act generally at laterally opposite sides of the dispensing orifice 128 to urge the associated lid 140 out of its closed position toward its open position. This permits dispensing of a fluent substance from within the container through the dispensing orifice.
In order to provide the desired cooperate engagement between camming surfaces 158 and the closure lid 140, the closure lid preferably includes a pair of camming elements 160 (
Convenient manipulation of the slider element 156 is facilitated by the provision of button portion 162 which extends laterally generally between the camming surfaces 158. In this embodiment, the closure lid 140 defines an opening 164 within which the button portion 162 is complementarily positioned when the slider element 156 is in its unactuated position, and the lid 140 is in its closed position, as illustrated in
In order to urge the closure lid 140 to its fully open position after initial lateral movement of slider element 156 urges camming surfaces 158 into cooperation with camming elements 160, the slider element 156 preferably includes a pusher portion 156 positioned distally of button portion 162. Pusher portion 156 is configured for cooperative engagement with the elastically deformable link 150B of the lid 140, and acts to move the lid to its fully open position after disengagement of sealing collar 146 from the closure spout 126 of closure base 122.
Manipulation of closure lid 140 from its open position toward its closed position, for closing the dispensing orifice 128, causes the deformable link 150B to engage the pusher portion 166 of the slider element thereby laterally pushing the slider element from its actuated position back to its initial unactuated position. The pusher portion 166 preferably includes an inwardly facing stop surface 168 for cooperative engagement with the lower portion of the spout 126 of the closure base 122 to thereby limit movement of the slider element from its actuated position to its unactuated, initial position (
A further embodiment of the present dispensing closure system is illustrated in
Accordingly, dispensing closure 220 includes a closure base 222 configured for securement to an associated container. The closure base 222 includes a generally horizontal closure deck 224, with a closure spout 226 extending generally upwardly from the closure deck. The closure spout 226 defines a dispensing orifice 228 through which a fluent substance from the associated container can flow during dispensing operation of the closure.
The closure base 222 further includes a generally annular skirt 230 which depends from the closure deck 224. As illustrated, the skirt 230 may include at least one retention element 232, such as for cooperative engagement with an external retention element of an associated container. The closure base 222 includes an internal plug seal 234 having a hollow, generally cylindrical configuration, positioned inwardly of the skirt 230, for cooperative engagement with the mouth of an associated container.
In accordance with the present invention, the dispensing closure 220 includes a lid 240 which is moveable with respect to the closure base 222 between open and closed positions, by movement away from and toward the closure deck 224 of the closure base. The closure lid 240 includes a top wall portion 242 (
In accordance with the present invention, the dispensing closure 220 includes a laterally moveable, top-mounted slider element 256, positioned on top of closure deck 224 for generally lateral sliding movement with respect to the closure base 222. The slider element 256 is generally ring-shaped, and includes a pair of camming surfaces 258 positioned to act generally at laterally opposite sides of the dispensing orifice 228 to urge the lid 240 out of its closed position toward its open position. The slider element 256 includes a button portion 262 which extends generally between the camming surfaces 258. In this embodiment, the camming surfaces 258 extend angularly from respective opposite sides of the button portion 262.
In order to promote opening movement of the lid 240 to its fully open position, the slider element 256 preferably includes a pusher portion 266 (
During manipulation of the lid 240 from its open position toward its closed position, the link 250B of the lid coacts with the pusher portion 266 to laterally move the slider element 256 from its actuated position to its unactuated position. Attendant to this movement, a stop surface 268 of the pusher portion is engageable with the lower portion of the spout 226 on the closure base 222 to limit movement of the slider element toward its unactuated position.
As will be appreciated, from the description of the embodiments of the present invention, versatile and cost-effective use of the present closure system is promoted. As noted, top-mounting of the slider element on the associated closure base facilitates assembly. A suitable snap-fit arrangement can be provided whereby the slider element can be snapped onto, and maintained on, the closure base attendant to lateral actuation. Such an optional snap-fit arrangement is not illustrated and is not a necessary element of the present invention.
By virtue of top-mounting of the slider element, the present closure can be configured to include a single wall or skirt depending from the deck portion of the closure base, thus providing a design requiring less polymeric material. The skirt of the closure can have threads or retention beads to facilitate assembly with an associated container, with a single wall closure structure thus being possible.
The configuration of the slider element by which the button portion is exposed and visible facilitates convenient, one-hand manipulation by consumers. Application of force to the button portion by a consumer causes the slider element to travel in a lateral or horizontal motion along the deck of the closure base, thereby actuating the cam elements of the closure lid, preferably located generally near the center of this component, at laterally opposite sides of the dispensing orifice of the closure. Engagement of the camming surfaces with the camming elements acts to disengage the sealing system of the closure from the dispensing orifice.
Once the sealing system is disengaged, the slider element continues to press on the elastically deformable link of the hinge of the closure. In this fashion, the hinge bias eventually takes over and the cover opens completely. If desired, friction ribs (not illustrated) can be provided on the slider element to keep the slider element in its actuated position. Additionally, a return spring (not illustrated), such as by a resiliently deformable integral spring element on the slider element, can be added to urge the slider element to its initial, unactuated position, while the associated lid remains in its open position. Alternatively, if such a return spring is not employed, then the slider element is maintained in its actuated position while the lid is in its open position, and subsequent closing movement of the lid by the consumer forces the slider element back into its pre-actuated or unactuated position.
As will be appreciated from the above description, disposition of the camming surfaces of the slider element in a close, operative association with the sealing arrangement for the dispensing orifice facilitates direction of the opening force, provided by lateral movement of the slider element, upwardly at the lid where the lid sealingly engages the dispensing orifice. Convenient and effective opening movement of the lid is thus provided. As will be appreciated, consumers may conveniently grasp the associated container with one hand, manipulate the button portion of the slider element to open the closure lid with the thumb or a finger of that hand, and thereafter conveniently dispense the container contents. Closing of the lid can also be conveniently effected.
It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous other variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.
