BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a condiment dispensing container shown with the dispensing spout in an extended configuration.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the dispensing end of the container shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the dispensing spout in a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged side sectional view of the container of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a view of two container ends showing the container ends nested with the spouts being in a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing a different spout configuration.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 7 but with the spout in a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container of FIG. 7 shown with the spout in a collapsed configuration and an overwrap membrane attached to the dispensing end of the container.
Like numbers throughout the various Figures designate like or similar parts and/or construction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention differing from the first embodiment in the construction of the dispensing spout.
The reference numeral 1 designates generally a dispensing container having a sidewall 2 and opposite end wall closures 3 and 5. The walls 2, 3 and 5 define a storage chamber 6 adapted for storing condiment 7 or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall 2 is generally cylindrical both internally and externally however, it is to be understood that other cross sectional shapes can be utilized. The chamber 6 has a longitudinal axis 9 that is generally parallel to the external and internal surfaces of the sidewall 2. The sidewall 2 may be formed by extrusion, injection molding or may be convolutely wrapped and sealed to form an overlapping side seam 11. Preferably, the sidewall 2 is made of a polymeric material such as low or high density polyethylene or polypropylene having a thickness on the order of about 0.02 to about 0.05 inches to be self supporting. The material and thickness of the sidewall are such as to provide resilient deformability wherein once deformed, the material properties will return the sidewall 2 substantially to its pre-deformed shape. Alternatively, the walls 2, 5 may be integral and thin enough to be non-self supporting and in the form of a bag.
The closure 5 can be include a generally planar transversely extending wall 12 suitably attached to the sidewall 2 at one of the opposite ends 14, 15 of the sidewall 2. The closure 5 as shown, is formed separately from the sidewall 2 and is attached thereto as for example by rolling an end portion 17 inwardly and upwardly as seen in FIG. 5 to engage opposite sides of a skirt 18 depending from the panel 12. Attachment can be mechanical, adhesive, heat sealing or the like or combinations thereof. It is to be noted, that the sidewall 2 and the bottom closure 5 may be integrally formed as by injection molding, vacuum forming, blow molding or the like.
In a preferred embodiment, the end 14 has a configuration similar to the end 15 to permit stacking of one container 1 on top of another container 1. The transverse cross sectional shape of the container 1 is preferably round and the sidewall 2 is preferably generally cylindrical. Preferably, the closure 5 is molded of a polymeric material for example, low or high density polyethylene or polypropylene and can be formed as by thermoforming, injection molding or the like. Closure 5 is preferably resiliently deformable and has a thickness on the order of about 0.02 to about 0.05 inches.
As best seen in FIGS. 2, 5, the container 1 includes a closure 3. The closure 3 has a dispensing spout 20. As shown, the closure 3 has a generally transverse wall 23 that is movable between an extended position, FIG. 5 and a collapsed position, FIG. 4. The inner and outer surfaces 24, 25 are generally concentric over a majority portion of the surface area of the wall 23. When the wall 23 is in the collapsed configuration, FIG. 4, the inside surface 24 is convex and the exterior surface 25 is concave. When the wall 23 is in its extended position, FIG. 2, the wall 24 is concave and the surface 25 is convex. An outer peripheral margin portion 27 is provided that is generally annular in shape when the transverse cross-section of the sidewall 2 is generally circular. By having the margin portion 27 generally planar, the principal flexing of the more central portion 28 of the wall 23 is between the zones 29 and 30 when the wall 23 is moved between extended and collapsed configurations. In operation, only one movement is needed, to move the spout 20 from collapsed to extended. The angle A (extended) and A′ (collapsed) as measured between a line generally tangent to the interior or exterior surface portion 24, 25 and the plane of the joinder of the wall 23 to the skirt 34 is preferably between about 20° and about 40°. It has been found that and angle A of approximately 30° works well providing both over center locking and adequate extension of the spout 20. In the illustrated structure, the closure 3 is provided with a wall portion 35 to join the spout 20 to the wall portion 28. The wall portion 35, as seen in FIGS. 2, 4, is generally frustoconical providing a pocket or recess 37 to help stacking or nesting of closures 3 both for storage, shipping and when the closures 5 are on a filling line to complete the container 1. The angle B of the wall 34 which is measured from a line generally tangential to the outer surface 34 and a line parallel to a plane defined by edge 40 is greater than the angle A and is preferably on the order of 45° to about 60°. The angle B is sufficiently different from the angles A, A′ to provide preferential deformation of the wall portion 28 over deformation of the wall portion 34 to effect extension and collapse of the wall 23.
The closure 3 is provided with the spout 20. The spout 20 as shown extends from the wall portion 34 and has a flow passage 41 generally centrally located within the spout 20. The cross sectional size and the length of the passage 41 are sufficient to provide neutral to negative capillary action between the surface defining the flow passage 41 and the condiment 7 contained within the container 1. It has been found that a generally cylindrical flow passage having a diameter in the range of between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 has been found acceptable for prevention of leakage and appropriate dispensing of condiment without the requirement of excessive force applied to the sidewall 2 to effect pressure on the condiment 7 in the chamber 6. The passage 41 is also configured to normally prevent discharge of the contents of the container 1 when it is stored in a spout down orientation without increasing pressure in the chamber 6. The passage 41 is shown as generally cylindrical but may be other shapes. At least a portion of the passage 41 is sized to provide neutral to negative capillary action between at least a portion of the interior of the spout 20 and the condiment. The spout 20 has a wall thickness T along a length L sufficient to prevent its collapse when gripped by a user who is moving the spout 20 from its collapsed configuration in FIG. 4 to its extended configuration as seen in FIG. 2. Pinching of the flow passage 41 can result in excessive pressure differential between the interior of the container 1 and the exterior to make movement between the extended and collapsed configurations difficult. The distal end 44 of the spout 20, when the spout 20 is in its extended position preferably is at an elevation H of at least about ½ inch to about 1½ inches and preferably about 1 inch above the free end 15 of the sidewall 2. In a preferred embodiment, the major cross sectional dimension of the sidewall 2 on the outside, is in the range of between about 2 inches and about 4 inches and preferably between about 2½ inches and about 3½ inches which would be the diameter in the event the sidewall 2 has a circular transverse cross sectional shape. The material chosen to make the closure 3 and the thickness of the wall section 28 is such as to provide a self sustaining or self supporting over center lock arrangement that will retain the wall member 23 either in its extended position or its collapsed configuration by the configuration of and material properties of the wall member 23. The thickness of the wall section 28 and the angle A and the material properties of the wall portion 28 are selected such that the force needed to move the spout 20 from its collapsed condition to its extended condition is in the range of between about 1 lb. and about 5 lbs. and preferably between about 2 lbs. and about 3 lbs. of force. This presents an acceptable range of gripping force required by user to grip the spout 20 to provide enough friction to effect the movement from the collapsed condition to the extended condition and to provide resilient self retention of the spout 20 in either its collapsed condition or its extended condition. Movement of the spout 20 is in a direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 9. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the spout 20 and the longitudinal axis 9 are coaxial. Preferably, the spout 20 is valveless and is movable manually by a user.
In the illustrated structure, the closure 3 is formed as a part separate from the sidewall 2. It can be formed for example by injection molding and is preferably of a polymeric material for example low or high density polyethylene or polypropylene. As seen, the closure 5 has a skirt 34 that has a portion extending above and below the margin portion 27. The exterior 38 of the skirt 34 is sized and shaped to fit snuggly within the sidewall 2 and to be secured thereto. Any suitable form of securement can be used, e.g., adhesive bonding, heat sealing or the like. An outward extending annular flare 36 may be provided to ensure a snug fit between the skirt 34 and the interior surface of the sidewall 2. A tapered lead in 39 may also be provided. It is to be noted too, that the closure 3 may be molded as an integral part of the sidewall 2. It is preferred that when the closure 3 is formed, it is formed with the wall portion 23 being in the collapsed condition. Preferably, one or the other of the closures 3, 5 is formed as a separate part to allow for ease of depositing the condiment 7 into the chamber 6 for filling. In the illustrated structure, the closure 3 is secured to the sidewall 2 by folding the upper portion of the sidewall 2 over at 15 to form a reverse bend and securing the upper margin portion 50 to an upper portion 52 of the skirt 34. As seen, a groove 53 can be provided in the upper portion 52 of the skirt 34 to provide a generally flush fit of the exterior surface of the portion 50 with the surface 54.
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. The reference numerals used to described the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 are utilized in FIGS. 7-9 where the parts are similar or the same. The principle difference between the container 1 and container 60 is the spout 61 of end closure 62. The spout 61 in FIGS. 7-9 is generally frustoconical on the exterior having at least one outwardly projecting reinforcing rib 63 on the exterior surface. The rib or ribs 63 can provide both assistance in moving the spout 61 from a collapsed configuration, FIG. 9, to the extended configuration, FIG. 7. The interior shape of the spout 61 can be similar to the exterior shape of the spout 61 to provide room for stacking of containers 60 or end closures 62.
As seen in FIG. 9, the container 60 may be provided with a secondary membrane closure 67 to extend over the closure 5 to provide tamper evidence and sealing of the contents of the container 60. The closure 67 may be clear polymeric material for example a heat shrinkable polymer and may be heat sealed or adhesively secured to the upper end of the container 1. The membrane closure 67 as shown in FIG. 9 as being secured to the container 60 but it is to be understood that it may also be secured similarly to the container 1. The closure 67 may engage the free end of the spout 20 or 61 to seal the flow passage in which event, the spout free end 44 is preferably slightly above flush.
Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings.
Patent Application
20070278255
