Patent Application
20060060612
The invention relates to a container used to dispense a liquid media and, more specifically, to an end cap employed on a container that dispenses liquid or slurried product, such as condiments and sauces.
Sauces, pastes or liquid media historically have been dispensed from packages that typically have a hole or slit opening which produces poor repeatability, inaccurate flow, and unsanitary conditions. With these dispensers, the liquid product will drool (i.e., unwanted material drips or oozes out of the dispenser). The drooling causes a mess, causes waste, and allows exposure of the liquid product such that it can be easily contaminated.
The present invention relates to a container for storing and dispensing a liquid or slurry (generally referred to herein as “liquid”). The container includes an end cap attached to a container body. The end cap includes at least one valve orifice disposed through the end cap. The at least one valve orifice includes a cut-out and a flap attached to the end cap. The flap can be integrally formed with the end cap. The flap includes a preloaded hinge attached to the end cap at an outboard edge of the flap. The hinge can be integrally formed with the end cap and can be at location other than the outboard edge of the flap. When the flap is in a first position, it is in contact with an edge adjacent the respective orifice cut-out. When pressure is exerted on the liquid, the flap is displaced to a second position enabling flow of the liquid media through the cut-out.
For purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings various forms that are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and constructions particularly shown.
With reference to the drawings, where like numerals identify like elements, there is shown in
Container 10 comprises an end cap 12 attached to a container body 14. As used herein, “attached to” means “secured to,” “coupled with,” “engaged with,” “integral with,” or some other similar attachment means. As illustrated, container 10 further comprises a plunger 18 for use in exerting pressure on a liquid media 20.
Container 10 can house fluids, slurries, other flowable media and the like. Preferably, container 10 is used to house liquid food products such as condiments (e.g., ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and the like), sauces (barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, and the like), and dressings (e.g., salad dressing). While liquid food products are the preferred liquid media, it will be appreciated that the teachings herein are applicable to any liquid media container that dispenses a liquid or slurried product, e.g., ketchup, caulking, adhesives, toothpaste, and the like.
Container 10 can be a rigid container, a flexible package, a squeezable pouch, or some other container capable of housing fluids, slurries, and the like.
While container 10 is shown to include a cylindrical container body 14, a circular end cap 12, and a circular plunger 18, this combination is merely illustrative. For example, the container body can have a variety of cross-sectional shapes (including square, ellipse, polygon), provided that the end cap and the pressurizing device (if included) have a complimentary shape.
Alternatively, the end cap can be integral with the container body i.e., the container body and the end cap are in fact one piece. In such an embodiment, the integral fabrication of end cap 12 with container body 14 provides the fluid tight seal such that rim 13 and J-shaped orientation of edge 16 are not necessary.
End cap 12 comprises at least one valve orifice 22. The at least one valve orifice comprises a cut-out 24 and a flap or tab 26. Although cut-out 24 is shown as a square, the invention is not so limited. Cut-outs of the invention can be in the shape of a circle, a rectangle, a hexagon, an octagon, or any other geometric or non-geometric shapes.
As illustrated, end cap 12 comprises three valve orifices 22 spaced equally apart (i.e., at 120-degree intervals from one another). It is contemplated that less than three valve orifices can be used and that more than three valve orifices can be used on an end cap of the invention. It is also contemplated that the valve orifices do not have to be equally spaced from one another.
Flap 26 comprises a preloaded hinge attached to end cap 12. As illustrated, preloaded hinge 28 is integrally formed with end cap 12 at an outboard edge of flap 26. Alternatively, the preloaded hinge 28 can be engaged with, and not integral with, end cap 12. Also alternatively, hinge 28 can be attached to end cap 12 at a location other than the outboard edge of flap 26, e.g., hinge 28 can be located away from the edges or in the middle of flap 26.
As shown in
To preload hinge 28, flap 26 is pressed or fit through cut-out 24 and released. Once released, hinge 28 acts as a spring causing flap 26 to engage outside edge 32 such that flap 26 is in first position B. A low modulus of elasticity (i.e., high flexibility) for the material making up flap 26 enables the spring to be formed about hinge 28. With the flexible material, flap 26 can rotate about hinge 28 so as to move from position A to first position B. However, the modulus of elasticity can not be too low, otherwise flap 26 would permanently deform preventing a snap-back hinge action. The strength of hinge 28 preferably is greater than the forces created by the static weight of a liquid material when that material substantially encompasses the entire container. That is, flap 26 should remain in first position B when container 10 is fully loaded with liquid media 20.
In
As illustrated, pressure P1, exerted over the flap area, overcomes the preloaded spring force of hinge 28 so that flap 26 rotates about hinge 28 and moves from first position B to second position C. This movement allows liquid media 20 to flow through cut-out 24. When plunger 18 stops acting on liquid media 20 the pressure is reduced. As the pressure reduces, flap 26 rotates back toward first position B. When the pressure reduces below the preloaded spring force of hinge 28, flap 26 contacts edge 32 (i.e., completely returns to first position B) and the flow of liquid media 20 through cut-out 24 ceases. Consequently, flap 26 is entirely responsive, i.e., opens and shuts, to the pressure P1 developed inside container 10. In essence, flap 26 and hinge 28 act as a preloaded check valve to control flow of liquid media 20 in response to pressure variations in container body 14.
Because the purpose of flap 26 is to block flow of liquid media 20, the shape of flap 26 should substantially correspond to the shape of cut-out 24 such that it blocks flow. For example, if cut-out 24 is substantially square-shaped, then flap 26 can be a slightly larger square, a rectangle, or any other geometric or non-geometric figure that contacts outside edge 32 and prevents flow of liquid media 20 when in first position B. As used herein, substantially square includes shapes that have rounded corners, shapes with four sides that are not exactly equal in length, shapes that have corners that do not form perfect 90-degree angles, and so on.
If the shape of flap 26 is non-polygonal (i.e., not a square, rectangle, etc.) then hinge 28 can be linear or non-linear. For example, a flap that is substantially circular can have a hinge that corresponds to the radius of the circle or alternatively, the flap can have one linear edge corresponding to the location of the hinge with the remainder of the flap substantially forming a circle.
The container body and the end cap can be made from the same material. For example, both the container body and the end cap can be made from a plastic or thermoplastic material such as polyethylene (e.g., high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene), polypropylene, and the like. Alternatively, the container body and the end cap can be made from different materials. For example, the container body can be made from a paper product such as layered cardboard and the end cap can be made from a plastic or thermoplastic material.
Materials for the container body and the end cap should be selected based on factors such as the end use of the liquid media to be stored in the container. For example, for liquid food products, the container body and the end cap preferably are constructed of inert materials so that the food products are not contaminated by the material of the container body and the end cap. Beyond sanitary concerns, the weight of the liquid material is also a factor in selecting the material for the end cap and/or flap. As the weight of the liquid media increases, so to should the modulus of elasticity of the material used for, at a minimum, the flap. The increased weight of the liquid media could cause the flap to displace from the first position (and thus allow liquid media to flow through the cut-out) if the material is not properly selected.
The desired rigidity of the container is another factor to be considered in selecting the material for the container body and the end cap. If the liquid media is to be dispensed by means of external forces on the container body (e.g., squeezable pouches), the material used for the container body must be capable of deforming without losing its fluid retention properties. In such an embodiment the end cap can also be deformable or it can be rigid.
The viscosity of the liquid media is a factor to be considered in selecting the material for the flap and/or end cap. The greater the viscosity of the liquid media, the greater the amount of pressure required to dispense the liquid media. Consequently, as the viscosity of the liquid media increases, so to should the modulus of elasticity of the material used.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced in various alternate forms and configurations. The previously detailed description of the disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of clarity of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be implied there from.
