TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a dispensing closure and particularly to a double shell dispensing closure with a stopping mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the closure according to one embodiment with the container partially broken away;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the cap body of the closure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cap body of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the cap body and fitment according to one embodiment with portions partially broken away;
FIG. 5A is a partial sectional side view of the mold cavity with the inner and outer mold core elements completely received within the mold cavity after a closure has been formed therein;
FIG. 5B is a partial sectional view of the mold cavity with the inner core element being rotated and backed out of the mold cavity and closure, and the outer core element being partially removed from the mold cavity;
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cap body of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the fitment of an embodiment of the closure;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the fitment of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the fitment of FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the container finish according to one embodiment of the closure of FIG. 3;
FIG. 11 is a side view of container finish of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a top view of the container finish of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is another side view of the container finish of FIG. 10;
FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the closure and container finish with portions of the closure partially broken away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in the FIGS. 1-14, one embodiment of a double shell closure is provided having a dispensing feature with a stopping mechanism which facilitates the dispensing of the contents of a tube, bottle or similar container, but prevents removal of the closure from the container. Closure 10 may be formed of any material well known in the art, such as polypropylene and polyethylene. As shown in FIG. 1, the closure 10 may include a cap body 50, a fitment 40 and a container finish 80. The cap body 50 is threadably attached to the container finish 80, so that the cap body 50 may threadably rotate axially along the neck portion 82 of the container finish 80. In this manner, the cap body 50 may be rotated from a closed position to an open position in order to access the contents of the container (not shown) upon which the container finish 80 is disposed. The fitment 40 is positioned within closure 10 so that the opening 67 in the spout portion 66 of the cap body 50 is sealed by the post 44 of the fitment 40, when the cap body 50 is in the closed position. The embodiment also provides a stopping mechanism by which the rotation of cap body 50 about container finish 80 is limited. This stopping mechanism prevents the threadable removal of the cap body 50 from the container finish 80.
As shown in FIG. 2, the cap body 50 includes an outer shell or wall 60 depending from a top wall 58 from which projects a spout portion 66. Spout portion 66 includes an opening 67 from which the contents of a container (not shown) may be dispensed. As shown in FIG. 3, cap body 50 includes an inner shell or wall 70, in addition to outer wall 60. Outer wall 60 may be substantially conical or any other appropriate shape. Inner wall 70 is substantially annular and may include at least one thread 72 projecting from an inner surface 71 thereof. The stopping mechanism includes at least one drop lug 20 reverse tapered and projecting down from an outside surface 73 of inner wall 70 and may pass through a lower portion or termination edge 74 of inner wall 70. A top end 20a of drop lug 20 merges or tapers into outside surface 73 of inner wall 70. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, reverse taper drop lug 20 is generally wedge-shaped, although other tapered shapes are contemplated within the scope of the invention. In one embodiment, outside surface 73 of inner wall 70 includes two reverse tapered drop lugs 20 and 24 projecting downwardly therefrom. As shown in FIG. 6, drop lugs 20 and 24 are diametrically disposed from inner wall 70. However, drop lugs 20, 24 may be disposed in any alignment in which the rotation of cap body 50 is usefully limited. However, when drop lug 20 meets lug stop 90 or 92 on container finish 80 as discussed herein below, the shape of drop lug 20 and the extent of its attachment to inner wall 70 should be sufficient to oppose twisting force applied by the user. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, reverse tapered drop lug 20 is formed so as to resist deformation as rotational pressure is applied to cap body 50. Drop lug 20 engages lug stop 90 on container finish 80, when the closure 10 is rotated counterclockwise, so as to prevent rotation of cap body 50, as described herein below. As shown in FIG. 3, reverse tapered drop lug 20 is reverse tapered from inner wall 70 allowing for a larger profile P at terminating or bottom end 20b of the drop lug. Drop lug top end 20a merges into outside surface 73 of inner wall 70. The larger profile P at bottom end 20b creates an abutment surface 23 which has an increased surface area adapted to resist deformation as the rotational pressure increases once contact between the drop lug and lug stop begins. Deformation of drop lug 20 is also minimized by the gradual increase in profile P of the drop lug when reverse tapering from narrow to wide in the direction away from inner wall 70 for a length L. The extent of the reverse tapered connection between drop lug 20 and inner wall 70, including the overall width W and length L of the drop lug 20 and a larger profile P at bottom end 20b, imparts to drop lug 20 sufficient rigidity to resist deformation as rotating pressure is applied to cap body 50. Any number of dimensioning of width W, length L, and profile P for drop lug 20 having a reverse taper may be used and still fall within the spirit of an embodiment of the invention.
With the formation of the reverse taper drop lug 20 from inner wall 70, bottom end 20b becomes an impediment to the extraction of outer core element 101 of a mold cavity 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, cap body 50 with reverse tapered drop lug 20 may be formed in mold cavity 100 with the use of an inner core element 102, outer core element 101, a stripper ring 103, and unitary mold 104. As shown in FIG. 5A, mold cavity 100 has inner core 102 and outer core 101 elements completely received within unitary mold 104 after a double shell closure or cap body 50 with reverse taper drop lug 20 has been formed therein. Bottom end 20b of the reverse taper drop lug 20 precludes the axial removal of outer core element 101 from within cap body 50 in mold cavity's 100 closed configuration of FIG. 5A. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the movable inner core 102 element may be axially withdrawn and rotated at a preselected amount while outer core 101 in cooperating relation with stripper ring 103 prevent cap body 50 from turning out of the mold cavity. Coinciding with the axial withdrawal and rotation of inner core 102, the unitary mold 104 is withdrawn in opposing direction of the withdrawal of the inner core until the inner core is substantially free of inner wall 70 of cap body 50 and the cap body is free of the unitary mold. Also illustrated in FIG. 5B, outer core element 101 may be axially withdrawn from cap body 50 after inner core 102 is rotated and backed out of the cap body. After inner core 102 is withdrawn from cap body 50, bottom end 20b of reverse taper drop lug 20 is no longer an impediment for the axial withdrawal of outer core 101 as a result of inner wall 70 comprising of a flex mechanism F. This flex mechanism F is adapted to allow inner wall 70 and reverse taper drop lug 20 to flex inwardly, allowing for outer core element 101 to be extracted. As outer core 101 is axially withdrawn from cap body 50, outer core 101 has an extremity 101a which passes into the plane of the newly formed cap body 50 flexing inwardly reverse taper drop lug 20 and/or inner wall 70. Outer core 101 continues to flex inner wall 70 and drop lug 20 with reverse taper inward until outer core element passes out of contact with the inner wall and reverse tapered drop lug. Stripper ring 103 works in cooperating relation with outer core 101 to remove cap body 50 from the outer core. Stripper ring 103 performs the function of stripping cap body 50 from outer core 101. Note that cap body 50 is substantially withdrawn from unitary mold 104 before the stripping ring 103 is actuated to enable the molded cap to fall from mold cavity 100. Flex mechanism F may be created at least in part by the newly created closure article being in a substantially malleable condition and/or the minimized wall thickness of inner wall 70 and reverse tapered drop lug 20.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, outer wall 60 may include at least one child-resistant lock 61 formed thereon. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, cap body 50 includes two child-resistant locks 61 and 63 diametrically aligned along outer wall 60. Cap body 50 also includes a top wall 58 from which both inner wall 70 and outer wall 60 generally depend from. Top wall 58 includes an opening 62 disposed therein. A spout portion 66 projects from top wall 58 and is coaxially aligned with opening 62. Indeed, inner wall 70 and outer wall 60 are also coaxially aligned with opening 62. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, cap body 50 includes a skirt 64 depending from top wall 58 flush with opening 62. Skirt 64 is provided within cap body 50 so as to operably engage an annular wall 42 of fitment 40, as shown in FIG. 4. In one embodiment, skirt 64 includes a skirt sealing bead 65 which engages annular wall 42. By this engagement, the contents of the container (not shown), to which the closure 10 is attached, are prevented from contacting inner wall 70.
As shown in FIG. 4, cap body 50 and fitment 40 cooperate to provide a double sealing mechanism, which includes the top wall sealing bead 51, flange 43, annular wall 42 and skirt sealing bead 65. A first seal is provided by the engagement of skirt sealing bead 65 contacting annular wall 42, as shown in FIG. 4. Skirt sealing bead 65 is disposed so as to sealably engage annular wall 42 throughout the range of axial rotation through which the cap body 50 may rotate. The first seal formed by skirt sealing bead 65 and annular wall 42 prevents the contents of the container (not shown) from leaking past skirt 64. A second seal is formed by the engagement of top wall sealing bead 51 and flange 43, as shown in FIG. 4. This second seal is forced only when the cap body 50 is in a generally closed position, since top wall 58 must be adjacent to flange 43 in order for top wall sealing bead 51 to engage flange 43. The second seal provides leakage protection that is in addition to the protection offered by the first seal, which is maintained throughout all the various orientations of closure 10. In addition to the sealing mechanism provided by the cooperation of cap body 50 and fitment 40, a third seal is provided by the cooperation between fitment 40 and container finish 80. More particularly, when fitment 40 is disposed in the opening 84 of the container finish 80, fitment sealing bead 49 engages the upper surface 88 of neck portion 82, thereby forming the third seal. This third seal prevents the contents of the container (not shown) from leaking through opening 84 and past fitment 40. As illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, annular wall 42 is connected to post 44 by three equally spaced supports 46. The contents of the container (not shown) pass between supports 46 when exiting the container.
Although fitment 40 is shown in detail in the FIGS. 7-9, it is merely representative of fitments in general, and it is to be understood that there are many variations of fitments that may be used with an embodiment of the invention.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, outer wall 60 may include a thumb pad 68 disposed on an outer surface thereof. In one embodiment, outer wall 60 is formed of an appropriate polymeric material and thickness as to make it deformable. A cap body 50 including a deformable outer wall 60 may include two thumb pads 68 diametrically aligned thereon. Outer wall 60 may be deformable by the application of pressure by the user to the points on the outer wall 60 where the thumb pads 68 are disposed so as to cause outer wall 60 to deform inwardly at those points, while also deforming outwardly at points approximately 90° away from those points. In such an embodiment, child-resistant locks 61 and 63 are disposed approximately 90° away from thumb pads 68 along outer wall 60, so that, when outer wall 60 is deformed as described above, child-resistant locks 61 and 63 are moved away from child-resistant stops 81 and 83, shown in FIGS. 10-13, disposed on container finish 80, and allows counterclockwise rotation until subsequent abutment of drop lug 20 with reverse taper engages lug stop 90 on container finish 80.
As shown in FIGS. 10-14, the container finish 80 includes a neck portion 82 with an opening 84 therein, whereby the contents of the container (not shown) may be accessed. The neck portion 82 includes at least one thread 86 disposed thereon. The container finish 80 also includes at least one lug stop 90 disposed thereon. In one embodiment, the container finish 80 includes two lug stops 90 and 92 formed on a shoulder portion 94 of the container finish. Lug stop 90 is diametrically aligned with lug stop 92 along the outer surface of neck portion 82. However, depending on the desired range of rotation of the cap body 50 about the container finish 80, the container finish 80 according to one embodiment may include one or more lug stops that are disposed at various points around the container finish 80. As discussed herein below, the lug stops 90 and 92 engage reversed taper drop lugs 20 and 24 in order to limit the range of rotation of the cap body 50 about the container finish 80.
Container finish 80 also may include at least one child-resistant stop 81 and/or 83. In one embodiment, container finish 80 includes two child-resistant stops 81 and 83 diametrically aligned around the neck portion 82 and integrally formed with lug stops 90 and 92, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. However, another embodiment of closure 10 may also encompass child-resistant stops that are not aligned nor integrally formed with lug stops 90 and 92. Child-resistant stops 81 and 83 cooperate with child-resistant locks 61 and 63 so as to limit the user's ability to open the closure 10, as discussed herein below. Child-resistant stops 81 and 83 differ from lug stops 90 and 92 in their size and positioning. More particularly, child-resistant stops 81 and 83 are smaller than lug stops 90 and 92 and are positioned radially beyond lug stops 90 and 92. The size and positioning of child-resistant stops 81 and 83 facilitate the proper opening of the closure 10 and allow for the lug stops 90 and 92 to engage drop lugs 20 and 24 even when outer wall 60 is being deformed so as to avoid the engagement of child-resistant stops 81 and 83 by child-resistant locks 61 and 63. As shown in FIG. 12, each of the lug stops 90 and 92 and child-resistant stops 81 and 83 may include a generally flat side and a generally rounded side. More particularly, each of lug stops 90 and 92 may include a flat side or stop surface 93, as well as a rounded side or cam surface 95. Likewise, each of the child-resistant stops 81 and 83 may also include a flat or stop surface 97, as well as a rounded or cam surface 99. The stop surfaces 93 of lug stops 90 may engage drop lugs 20 and 24 so as to stop the axial rotation of cap body 50 about neck portion 82, as illustrated in FIG. 14. However, when cam surfaces 95 of lug stops 90 and 92 engage drop lugs 20 and 24, the rounded surfaces of cam surfaces 95 allow the drop lugs 20 and 24 to slide over lug stops 90 and 92, so as to allow for the initial attachment of cap body 50 to container finish 80. Likewise, the stop surfaces 97 of child-resistant stops 81 and 83 engage child-resistant locks 61 and 63 on outer wall 60 of cap body 50, so as to prevent opening of the closure 10. Whereas, the cam surfaces 99 of child-resistant stops 81 and 83, when engaged, allow for the child-resistant locks 61 and 63 to slide over the child-resistant stops 81 and 83.
As shown in FIG. 6, drop lugs 20 and 24 are disposed approximately 90° away from each of child-resistant locks 61 and 63, so that cap body 50 may be threadably rotated only approximately 90° about the container finish 80 before either a drop lug or a child-resistant lock engages a lug stop or a child-resistant stop. In this manner, the range of rotation of the cap body 50 about the container finish 50 is limited to approximately 90°. However, an embodiment may include lugs, locks, and stops that are aligned differently so as to provide a varied range of rotation.
Although container finish 80 is shown in detail in the FIGS. 10-13, it is merely representative of containers and container finishes in general, and it is to be understood that there are many variations of container finishes that may be used with an embodiment of the invention.
In use, the closure 10 provides for the dispensing of the contents of a container (not shown). When closure 10 is assembled, fitment 40 is disposed over the opening 84 in the neck portion 82 of container finish 80. Cap body 50 is positioned over fitment 40 so that post 44 extends through spout portion 66 and seal 65 engages a surface of annular wall 42 of fitment 40. Cap body 50 is threadably attached to container finish 80 by the cooperation of at least one thread 72, on the inner surface 71 of inner wall 70, with at least one thread 86 on neck portion 82. Each of the drop lugs 20 and 24 and the child-resistant locks 61 and 63 are disposed between lug stops 90 and 92 and child-resistant stops 81 and 83. In the closed position, cap body 50 is threaded axially down over neck portion 82, such that post 44 of fitment 40 extends upward through each of opening 62, spout portion 66 and opening 67, thereby sealing opening 67 and the closure 10. When closure 10 is opened, the user applies inward pressure to the outer wall 60 at the thumb pads 68, thereby deforming the outer wall 60. The child-resistant locks 61 and 63 are disposed on the portions of the outer wall that deflect outward, when pressure is applied by the user. While this pressure is being applied, the user may then axially rotate the cap body 50, so that the cap body 50 moves upward from neck portion 82 and fitment 20. As the cap body 50 rotates axially, child-resistant locks 61 and 63 rotate past child-resistant stops 81 and 83 without engaging them, since the outer wall 60 is deformed outwardly at those points where the child-resistant locks are located. If the outer wall 60 was not deformed as the axial rotation was occurring, then child-resistant locks 61 and 63 would engage child-resistant stops 81 and 83, thereby preventing the opening of the closure 10. Nevertheless, as the child-resistant locks 61 and 63 on the deformed cap body 50 move past the child-resistant stops 81 and 83, the cap body 50 continues to rotate axially until one or both drop plugs 20 and 24 engage one or both stops 90 and 92. Once drop lugs 20 and 24 engage stops 90 and 92, further axial rotation of cap body 50 is prevented. At the point of engagement of drop lugs 20 and 24 with stops 90 and 92, closure 10 is open, but cap body 50 is still attached to container finish 80. In this manner, the dispensing closure 10 may dispense the contents of a container to which the closure 10 is attached without removing the cap body 50 from the container finish 80.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, drop lugs 20, 24 with a reverse taper maximize a lever mechanism LM to deform outer wall. When closure 10 is opened, as described above, the user applies inward pressure to outer wall 60 at thumb pads 68, thereby deforming the outer wall. The child-resistant locks 61 and 63 are disposed on the portions of outer wall 60 that deflect outward, when pressure is applied by the user. While this pressure is being applied, the cap body 50 is rotated axially to allow child-resistant locks 61, 63 to rotate past child-resistant stops 81 and 83 without engaging them. A cavity 30 exists generally at a merging or pivot area 32 between inner 70 and outer 60 walls. Reverse taper drop lug 20 allows for cavity 30 between inner 70 and outer 60 walls to remain substantially congruent. Cavity 30 is substantially at a constant depth in relation to terminating end 74 of inner wall 70. The reverse taper of drop lug 20 does not substantially bridge cavity 30 between inner 70 and outer 60 walls or substantially affect the depth of the cavity relative to the terminating end 74. If the area of cavity 30 between the reverse taper of drop lug 20 was substantially reduced, the lever mechanism LM would be minimized due to the shortened depth the lever mechanism of outer wall 70 could pivot about. Lever mechanism LM allows for the user to apply minimized inward pressure upon the thumb pads 68 in order to maximize the deformation mechanism of outer wall 70. In this manner if thumb pad 68 and reverse tapered drop lug 20 are to some extent aligned in each corresponding inner 70 and outer 60 walls, the leverage gained by the substantially congruent cavity 30 increases the performance of the outer wall's deformation to allow child-resistant locks 61, 63 to rotate past child-resistant stops 81 and 83 without engaging them. The user gains the benefit of reducing the pressure applied to the lever mechanism LM necessary to deform outer wall 70 to gain the necessary clearance of the child-resistant locks 61, 63 to rotate past the child-resistant stops 81 and 83.
The reverse taper of drop lug 20 minimizes plastic sink marks or cosmetic imperfections that form on the periphery of outer wall 60. As a result of the reverse taper of drop lug 20, a lesser amount of material mass from the drop lug is in substantial proximity or adjoined with outer wall 70. With a lesser amount of material mass from drop lug 20 in substantial proximity with outer wall 70 during the molding process, the radiant heat is lessened and substantially minimizes cosmetic imperfections or sink marks on the periphery of outer wall.
It is understood that while certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
Patent Grant
7648051
