Patent Application
20110297705
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to re-closable dispensing containers for flowable material, particularly non-liquids and semi-liquids such as tooth paste, creams, glue, condiments such as mayonnaise, catsup, and other materials of like consistency. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel cap structure useful with flowable material containers.
When dispensing flowable material, such as tooth paste, for example from a collapsible container, the collapse of the container builds up pressure within the container which forces contents of the container out of the container through some form of exit portal in the container and positions the expelled contents for recovery of the contents by a user. When this mode of dispensing the contents from the container involves a non-liquid or semi-liquid flowable material, as opposed to a liquid material, cessation of pressure applied to collapse the container commonly results in delayed or continued expulsion of such contents after the user has released application of pressure applied for collapsing the container and has recovered the desired quantity of the container contents. This delayed delivery of container contents through the exit portal of the container provides a residue of contents proximate the exit portal which tends to dry over time with concomitant build up of an undesirable accumulation of container contents about the exit portal. Such accumulation of container contents not only is visually distasteful, it tends to be pushed from the exit portal by advancing container contents during a subsequent dispensing event. Due to the tenacity with which the dried accumulation adheres to the exit portal, excessive expulsion pressure often is needed to dislodge the dried accumulated contents. This action also often results in an even more undesired quantity of contents being expelled from the container during such subsequent use event by the user. In addition to this wasteful dispensing of the unwanted or unneeded container contents, the dried and hardened accumulated contents become an undesired part of such subsequently recovered container contents, even to the point of requiring disposal of such subsequently recovered contents and then repeating the dispensing and recovery action to acquire the desired quantity of “fresh” container contents. The common collapsible tubular container for tooth paste is one example of a prior container which exhibits this undesirable feature. In this instance, sanitation of the dispensed residual contents also may become a problem.
In one embodiment, the process invention comprises a novel exit portal for a container designed to dispense individual quantities of a flowable material, such as for example a paste material, from the container at selectable spaced apart times. One embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be used with a container which includes a conventional threaded tubular dispensing nozzle associated with, (commonly integral with), and projecting from one end of the container. In one embodiment of the present invention, a substantially conical inner cap having an internally threaded open base and of a first color is provided. The internal threads of the inner cap are adapted to be threadably mounted on the external threads of the neck portion of the nozzle such that the inner cap may be tightened on the nozzle to secure the inner cap in place during repeated events of dispensing of flowable material out of the container over the anticipated life of the container. When so threaded on the nozzle neck, the distal end of the nozzle opens into the interior of the inner cap to develop a passageway for flow of container contents from the container through the nozzle, and into the interior of the inner cap. Further, the inner cap includes an aperture through the wall of the inner cap which provides for the outflow of container contents from the reservoir through the aperture.
The inner cap has applied thereover an outer cap of a contrasting color to the color of the inner cap. The outer cap snugly fits over and covers the outer surface of the inner cap while providing for rotation of the outer cap relative to the inner cap without permitting material physical separation of these caps from one another. In one embodiment, the outer cap is affixed to the inner cap by a rotationally slidable snap fit of the outer cap onto a peripheral groove defined on the exterior of the inner cap, thereby permitting rotation of the outer cap relative to the inner cap.
The presence of the outer cap in covering relationship to the inner cap functions to establish opening and closure of the aperture through the inner cap. To this end, the outer cap also includes an aperture through the wall of the outer cap, such aperture being of like or similar size and geometry as the aperture in the wall of the inner cap, so that when such aperture of the outer cap is in register with the aperture of the inner cap, outflow of the contents of the container along an exit passageway including the nozzle, the inner cap passageway, and the registered apertures of the inner and outer caps to the exterior of the outer cap may occur. Closure of the aperture through the inner cap is affected by rotating the outer cap such that the apertures of the caps are out of register. Control over dispensing of the contents of the container is therefore effected by rotation of the outer cap into and out of register with the aperture of the inner cap. In one embodiment, the physical fit of the outer cap on the inner cap is selected to provide sliding physical engagement of the inner surface of the outer cap with the outer surface of the inner cap, thereby minimizing or fully eliminating any tendency of outflowing contents of the container from flowing between the contiguous surfaces of the inner and outer caps, and thereby precluding build up of container contents between the matching surfaces of the inner and outer caps at all times, irrespective of whether the apertures of the inner and outer caps are in register (open) or out of register (closed).
In certain embodiments, the rotation of the outer cap is limited in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions by a stop lug affixed to one of the inner and outer caps and which rides within a curved slot defined in the other of the inner and outer caps. Positioning of such stop lug and slot is chosen such that when the outer cap is rotated a distance sufficient to move the aperture of the outer cap out of register with the aperture in the inner cap, one end of the slot engages the stop to halt further rotation of the outer cap in the same direction. In similar manner, the opposite end of the slot is located such that when the outer cap is rotated to bring the aperture of the outer cap into register with the aperture of the inner cap, this opposite end of the slot engages the stop lug to halt further rotation of the outer cap beyond such registration. In certain embodiments, a user may look into the aperture of the outer cap and note the appearance of the contrasting color of the inner cap, thereby indicating that the aperture of the inner cap is closed.
In certain embodiments, the outer circumference of the perimetral flange of the outer cap is of a geometry providing an aid for grasping and rotation of the outer cap. In one embodiment, the diametral dimension of cross section of the outer cap is chosen to provide for fitting of the dispensing end of the container snugly within an outer shipping container, thereby stabilizing the position of the container within such shipping container.
A reclosable dispensing container cap for flowable material containers incorporating various features of the present invention is disclosed herein and illustrated generally in the Figures. The reclosable dispensing container cap, or “reclosable cap,” is designed to dispense individual quantities of a flowable material, such as for example a paste material, from the container at selectable spaced apart times employing application of internal pressure within the container and against the container contents.
With initial reference to
Referring to
In the several Figures there is depicted an aperture 42 through the wall of the inner cap 28 proximate the apex 36 which provides for flow communication between the interior of the container 10, through the tubular portion of the nozzle 12, through the aperture 42 of the inner cap 28 to an exterior of the inner cap 28. Thus, when the aperture 42 of the inner cap 28 is uncovered, collapse of the container 10 may force contents 16 of the container 10 through the nozzle 12 and the reservoir 38 into and through the aperture 42 of the inner cap 28.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the inner cap 28 is substantially surrounded and covered by an outer cap 44 which exhibits an inner surface 46 of a geometry which permits the inner surface 46 of the outer cap 44 to snugly, slidably fit in covering relationship to the outer surface 48 of the inner cap 28 without generating material physical separation of these contiguous surfaces of the two caps 28, 44. In the depicted embodiment, such outer cap 44 further includes a bottom peripheral flange 50 proximate the base 52 of the outer cap 44 which overlies and slidably engages a corresponding peripheral flange 54 on the inner cap 28.
A circumferential lip 56 provided on the inner surface 46 of the outer cap 44 proximate a junction 58 of the flange 50 with the base 52 of the outer cap 44 is snap fitted into a corresponding circumferential groove 62 in an outer surface 48 of the inner cap 28, thereby ensuring continued snug engagement of the outer cap 44 on the inner cap 28 while simultaneously providing for rotation of the outer cap 44 relative to the inner cap 28.
As depicted in
In the illustrated embodiment, the degree of rotation of the outer cap 44 and its aperture 66 is bidirectionally limited. In the depicted embodiment, the peripheral flange 54 of the inner cap 28 is provided with an upstanding stop lug 74 in position to be slidably received within a slot 76 defined in the overlying flange 50 of the outer cap 44. As seen in
Referring to
When the dispensed contents of the container 10 are recovered by a user, the outer cap 44 may be rotated relative to the fixed inner cap 28 to relocate the aperture 66 of the outer cap 44 out of register with the aperture 42 of the inner cap 28, thereby closing the exit passageway 72. In several embodiments, a visual indicator is provided to indicate whether the exit passageway 72 is open or closed. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the inner cap 28 is colored a color 82 which contrasts the coloring of both the container contents 16 and the outer cap 44. In this embodiment, upon movement of the aperture 66 of the outer cap 44 out of register with the aperture 42 of the inner cap 28, the aperture 66 of the outer cap 44 may be cleared of dispensed container contents to the extent that the user may look into the aperture 66 of the outer cap 44 and see the contrasting color 82 of the inner cap 28, thereby providing a visual indication that the exit passageway 72 is closed.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the scalloped perimetral flange 50 of the outer cap 44 is maximized to enhance the ability of a user to grasp such scalloped flange 50 for retrieving the container 10 from a shipping or storage holder and subsequently grasping of the flange 50 of the outer cap 44 for rotation of such outer cap 44 in the course of aligning the apertures 42, 66 of the inner and outer caps 28, 44 for dispensing of the container contents 16, and thereafter counter rotating the outer cap 44 to close the exit passageway 72 against further flowable materials from exiting the container 10. This maximized size feature of the present embodiment is especially useful where the user suffers from loss of grasping strength due to stroke, Parkison's Disease, tremors, or other like ailments. Still further, the present enlarged scalloped flange 50 on the outer cap 44 eliminates the frustrations associated with prior art small caps such as dropping the cap onto the floor or into a sink drain. This latter advantage is enhanced by reason of the snap fit of the outer cap 44 onto the inner cap 28 whereby the rotation of the outer cap 44 relative to the inner cap 28 when opening and closing the exit passageway 72 for the contents of the container 10 is easily accomplished and without concern for inadvertent removal of the outer cap 44 from the inner cap 28.
In the illustrated embodiment, the inner cap 28a is surrounded and covered by a substantially conical outer cap 44a. An apex portion 96 of the outer cap 44a defines an inner spherical surface 98 having a geometry which permits the inner spherical surface 98 of the outer cap 44a to snugly, slidably fit in covering relationship to the spherical upper portion 88 of the inner cap 28a without generating material physical separation of these contiguous surfaces of the two caps 28a, 44a. The apex portion 96 of the outer cap 44a further defines an aperture 66 through its wall at an altitude corresponding to that altitude of the inner cap 28a along which the aperture 42 of the inner cap 28a is located, such that rotation of the outer cap 44a relative to the inner cap 28a provides for selective location of the aperture 66 of the outer cap 44a in registration with the aperture 42 of the inner cap 28a, thereby completing the formation of an overall exit flow passageway 72 for container contents 16 from the interior of the container 10 to the exterior of the outer cap 44a.
A lower boundary of the inner spherical surface 98 of the outer cap 44a terminates to define a circumferential inner lip 56a to allow the outer cap 44a to be snap fitted into a corresponding circumferential groove 62a defined by the intersection between the upper portion 88 and central portion 90 of the inner cap 28a, thereby ensuring continued snug engagement of the outer cap 44a on the inner cap 28a while simultaneously providing for rotation of the outer cap 44a relative to the inner cap 28a. In the depicted embodiment, a lower peripheral edge 100 of the outer cap 44a extends downwardly and outwardly to the outer perimeter 102 of the peripheral flange 54 of the inner cap 28a, such that the outer cap 44a overlies and slidably engages the peripheral flange 54 of the inner cap 28a.
In the depicted embodiment, the inner cap 28a is provided with a central flange 104 surrounding an intersection between the central portion 90 and the lower portion 92 of the inner cap 28a. The central flange 104 defines a channel 76a which is adapted to slidably receive and engage an internally protruding stop lug 74a defined along an interior surface 46a of the outer cap 44a. As seen in
Referring again to
Referring to
It will be understood that the reclosable dispensing container cap for flowable material may be combined with a container to produce a reclosable dispensing container for flowable material without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment of
From the foregoing description, it will be understood by one of skillin the art that a reclosable dispensing container cap for flowable material is disclosed. The reclosable dispensing container cap for flowable material provides a clean and reliable means of opening and sealing a flowable material container for dispensing of flowable contents within the container. While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
