Patent Grant
9637289
The field relates to closures, caps, fitments, dispensing apparatuses and the like, that are typically attached to the openings of packages and other portable vessels used for containing and dispensing flowable materials.
Flowable materials contained in packages are sometimes subject to settling, or otherwise require mixing before they can be dispensed or otherwise exhibit the characteristics expected of them. Low viscosity materials (e.g. water), can usually be sufficiently mixed simply by shaking the package vigorously before opening it. However, for viscous materials (e.g. pastes, slurries, etc.), that method is often not effective, so direct stirring of the material is required, typically by inserting a mixing element into the package through its opening. Unfortunately, because viscous materials are often very sticky, a significant amount of that material will likely stick to whatever mixing element is inserted into the package as it is being withdrawn, making it very cumbersome and time consuming to mix the material. What is clearly needed is a closure that both covers the package opening and accommodates the insertion and withdrawal of a desired mixing element, such that when the said mixing element is withdrawn, the closure strips off substantially whatever material residue is sticking to the mixing element, thus preventing it from escaping the vessel.
Disclosed is a closure apparatus embodying a rotatable material stripping element. The apparatus is typically positioned over an opening of a package or other portable vessel containing a material desired to be mixed, and is secured thereto. The closure provides a means to close off the said vessel opening and also comprises a material stripping element that accommodates the insertion and withdrawal of an external mixing element with a predetermined close fit. Whereas, the said mixing element may be inserted through the closure and into the vessel to mix material contained therein, and after the mixing operation is complete, the material stripping element strips off substantially whatever material residue is sticking to the mixing element as it being withdrawn from the vessel and closure, thus preventing it from escaping the vessel.
In at least one embodiment, the closure apparatus rotates as the mixing element is inserted and withdrawn therethrough.
In at least one embodiment, the closure apparatus rotates when the mixing element, inserted therethrough, is rotating, typically when it's mixing material inside the vessel.
In at least one embodiment, the material stripping element portion of the closure apparatus rotates as the mixing element is inserted and withdrawn therefrom, while another portion of the said closure apparatus does not rotate.
In at least one embodiment, the closure apparatus comprises rotatable material stripping element supported, or otherwise held captive by a fitment, typically affixed to a package for containing material desired to be mixed.
In at least one embodiment, the closure apparatus comprises rotatable material stripping element held captive in close communication with the surface of the package containing material desired to be mixed.
In at least one embodiment, the material stripping element portion of the closure apparatus rotates when the mixing element, inserted therethrough, is rotating, while another portion of the said closure apparatus does not rotate.
In at least one embodiment, the closure apparatus accommodates the attachment of a cap or similar means to close off the aperture in the material stripping element when the mixing element is not inserted therethrough.
In at least one embodiment, a cap is integrated into the closure apparatus, such as without out limitation, by means of a living hinge.
In at least one embodiment, the closure apparatus accommodates the attachment of a pour spout or other means to facilitate dispensing of the material from the vessel.
After the closure apparatus 100 is secured to the vessel 101, a mixing element is typically inserted through the aperture 105 in the top surface 106 of the closure 100 and then into the vessel 101. The mixing element is then rotated to mix a material 108 contained in the vessel 101, causing the closure apparatus 100 to also rotate along with it. After the mixing operation is complete, the mixing element is withdrawn from the vessel 101 and back through the aperture 105 in the closure 100 which substantially strips off whatever material 108 residue remains sticking to the mixing element, leaving it inside the said vessel 101. The said closure 100 may also accommodate the attachment of a plug 107, cap or similar means to prevent material 108 contained in the vessel 101 from escaping through the closure aperture 105 when the mixing element is not being employed.
After the closure apparatus 200 is secured to the package 204, a mixing element is typically inserted through the aperture 205 in the top surface 206 of the material stripping element 203 and then into the package 204. The mixing element is then rotated to mix a material (not shown) contained in the package 204, causing the material stripping element 203 to also rotate within the groove 202 of the fitment 201, while still remaining captive therein. After the mixing operation is complete, the mixing element is withdrawn from the package 204 and back through the aperture 205 in the material stripping element 203, which substantially strips off whatever material residue remains sticking to the mixing element, leaving it inside the said package 204. If desired, the closure apparatus 200 may also accommodate the attachment of a spout 207 to direct the flow of material when it is being dispensed, or alternatively, a cap, plug or similar means to prevent the material contained in the package 204 from escaping through the aperture 205 when the mixing element is not being employed. If desired, the aperture 205 in the material stripping element 203 may itself serve as a dispensing orifice, and be configured to create a desired flow pattern of the dispensed material by altering its geometry. For example, a viscous material dispensed through an aperture 205 configured as a narrow slot would likely have the shape of a ribbon. Alternatively, the material stripping element 203 may also comprise one or more other apertures (not shown) for the purpose of dispensing the material from the package 204.
The retaining member 302 may be secured to the package 303 surface by any desired means. For example, it may be mechanically attached thereto with pins 305 or spikes at predetermined locations around its periphery. Alternatively, it may be bonded to the package 303 surface, or attached in any number of other commonly known ways. The material stripping element 301 in at least one embodiment is disc shaped with a least one aperture 306 in its top surface 307 to accommodate the insertion and withdrawal of a desired mixing element (not shown) with a predetermined close fit.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the retaining member 302 may be secured to the package surface 303 as previously described, or in any other desired way that commonly known. However, the material stripping element 301 in this alternative embodiment is held captive by the retaining member 302 itself, rather than being held captive between the package surface 303 and the retaining member 302. For example, the retaining member 302 may be constructed in the shape of a ring having an internal groove that receives and holds the material stripping element 301 captive therein, but with enough free space within the groove to allow the stripping element 301 to rotate freely. Such a configuration would allow the said stripping element 301 and retaining member 302 to be attached to the package surface 303 as a pre-assembled unit, rather than being separately attached or otherwise placed in position.
In any event, after the closure apparatus 300 is secured to the package 303, a mixing element (not shown) is typically inserted through the aperture 306 in the top surface 307 of the material stripping element 301 and then into the package 303. The mixing element is then rotated to mix the material (not shown) inside the package 303, causing the material stripping element 301 to also rotate, yet still remaining captive underneath the retaining member 302, or alternatively within its inner periphery. After the mixing operation is complete, the mixing element is withdrawn from the package 303 and back through the aperture 306 in the material stripping element 301, which substantially strips off whatever material residue remains sticking to the said mixing element, leaving it inside the said package 303. If desired, the closure apparatus 300 may also accommodate the attachment of a cap 308, plug or similar means to prevent the material contained in the package 303 from escaping through the aperture 306 when the mixing element is not being employed. In at least one embodiment the said cap 308 may be affixed to the retaining member 302 by any desired means, such as a living hinge. If desired, a protective cover 309 may also be applied over the aperture 306 of the material stripping element 301, which in at least one embodiment comprises a peelable film, hermetically sealed to the closure 300 or to a desired surface of the package 303, or to both.
The disclosed embodiments of the closure apparatus 100, 200, 300 are able to accommodate employment of a helically shaped mixing element 401 in part because at least a portion of the said closure 100, 200, 300 is constructed to freely rotate during the mixing operation, when the said mixing element 401, inserted therethrough, is rotating, as well as during removal and insertion of the mixing element 401, when it is typically not rotating. Whereas in that instance, the said closure 100, or alternatively the material stripping element 203, 301 portion of the closure 200, 300 will simply rotate around the helical mixing element 401 as it inserted and withdrawn through its aperture 105, 205, 306, thus allowing its predetermined configuration (e.g. a narrow slot) to maintain a close fit with the said mixing element 401 at every incremental position during its insertion and withdrawal.
It shall be appreciated, other embodiments of the closure apparatus 100, 200, 300 may be constructed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and those disclosed herein are exemplary, and not intended to be a limitation. Furthermore, the various features of the exemplary embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and the teachings from one embodiment may be applied to another embodiment.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S. Code §119 of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/009,103 filed on Jun. 6, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1686280 | Keller | Oct 1928 | A |
| 2025378 | Croasdale, Jr. | Dec 1935 | A |
| 2266186 | Fischer | Dec 1941 | A |
| 2484391 | Treiss, Jr. | Oct 1949 | A |
| 20080259723 | Rhodes | Oct 2008 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62009103 | Jun 2014 | US |
