Patent Application
20070289936
The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:
Closure shell 28 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the disclosure includes a base 32 to which a lid 34 is coupled by a hinge 36. Hinge 36 may comprise one or more hinge elements. The specific hinge 36 illustrated in the drawings is a snap hinge of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,477, although other hinge constructions can be employed. Base 32 in the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure includes a deck 38 from which an inner wall 40 depends. Inner wall 40 has suitable internal beads or, more preferably, thread segments 42 for securement to external beads or thread segments 44 (FIGS. 1 and 11-13) on container neck finish 24 to secure the closure to the container. An outer peripheral skirt 46 extends from deck 38 and may be contoured (e.g., circular, oval, etc.) in coordination with the contour of container 26 to which closure 22 is to be secured. A recess 48 may be provided in deck 38 extending from hinge 36 to a position on base 32 opposite from the hinge. A thumb recess 50 in skirt 46 opens onto the end of deck recess 48 opposite from hinge 36. Lid 34 has an internal rib 52 that cooperates with a rib or channel 54 in recess 50 for locking lid 34 in the closed position. A dispensing opening 56 is provided in deck recess 48. Dispensing opening 56 preferably is coaxial with inner skirt 40, although this need not necessarily be the case. In the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a dispensing valve 58 is mounted within dispensing opening 56. Provision of dispensing valve 58 is preferred but not necessary. Dispensing valve 58, when provided, maybe mounted in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,487, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/874,036 and/or U.S. application Ser. No. 11/076,376. To the extent thus far described, exemplary closure 22 is similar to that disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/190,443, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Deck 38 has a pair of recessed shoulders 60,62 on laterally opposed sides of deck recess 48. These shoulders 60, 62 preferably are disposed beneath the level of deck 38 and preferably are substantially coplanar. At least one external channel 64 extends axially along the external surface of skirt 46 from each recessed shoulder 60, 62. In the exemplary embodiment, there are two angularly spaced channels 64 extending from each recessed shoulder 62. Channels 64 thus are angularly spaced from each other around peripheral skirt 46. Such angular spacing maybe may be equal spacing, or may be unequal spacing in view of the wedge-shape of lid 34 and deck recess 48. Channels 64 preferably extend throughout the entire length of skirt 46. (?) Each shoulder 60, 62 preferably has at least one through-opening 66, and most preferably at least two through-openings 66. Each channel 64 has a peg 68 that preferably is disposed adjacent to the free edge of skirt 46 at a position spaced from associated recessed shoulder 60 or 62. Each peg 68 includes a leg 70 (
External feature 30 comprises opposed plate portions 74,76 molded onto recessed shoulders 60, 62 respectively. Each plate portion 74, 76 has legs 78 that extends into corresponding shoulder openings 66 to help retain portions 74, 76 on recessed shoulders 60, 62. Openings 66 may be conical, enlarging away from shoulders 60, 62 to enhance this retention function. External feature 30 further includes ribs 80 that are molded into and extend along channels 64 from plate portions 74, 76. Ribs 80 thus are angularly spaced from each other around the circumference of closure skirt 46. Ribs 80 have rounded outer surfaces (see
Container 26 (
There thus have been disclosed a dispensing closure, a closure and container package, and a method of making a dispensing closure, which fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with an exemplary presently preferred embodiment, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing disclosure. For example, the external feature molded onto the closure shell preferably facilitates stacking of packages in the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure as described. However, the external feature molded onto the closure shell could be provided for other purposes as well, such as for ornamental purposes. Furthermore, in applications where the closure is intended to be removed frequently from the container neck finish, the external feature molded onto the closure shell can facilitate gripping of the closure. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
