Abstract:
A dispensing cap device for a container is described, with an integral measuring mechanism for dispensing a predetermined quantity of the contents of the container. The dispensing cap device dispenses a predetermined quantity of powder or similar material each time the mechanism is actuated. A dispensing cycle may include placing the container in an inverted position; filling a dose chamber in a shuttle drawer by aligning the dose chamber with a filling aperture in the cap body; and, applying force to an end of the shuttle drawer so that the dose chamber is aligned with a dispensing aperture.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This application relates to a device for dispensing material, and more specifically to a cap for a container, the cap being suitable for dispensing a known quantity of material.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Various products for consumer and industrial use are stored in containers such as jars or similar shaped containers made of glass, metal or plastic. The contents are often intended to be dispensed in standard measures, which may be called a dose. For consumer products, a typical dose may be a teaspoon or a tablespoon. While these doses have precise definitions, the size of actual tableware, and whether the dose is a level teaspoon or a heaping tablespoon leads to large variations in the quantity of material removed from the container, depending on the person performing the dispensing operation and the specific implement used. Apart from lack of uniformity, the use of tableware for dispensing such products may be inconvenient as the implement may not be conveniently available. There have been attempts at designing individual dose dispensing devices for containers, but the lack of adoption of such devices may be attributable to the cost, awkwardness in using the device and the like. The container is usually stored in an upright position and must be inverted for use.  
         [0003]     A simple, convenient, means of dispensing materials is needed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A dispensing cap device (or closure) for a container is described, with an integral measuring mechanism for dispensing a predetermined quantity of the contents of the container. The dispensing cap device measures or “doses” a predetermined quantity of powder or similar material each time the mechanism is actuated. The components of the device include a cap body, a shuttle drawer, and a return spring. The cap body serves to captivate the cap device to a container and has a slide channel. The slide channel defines a path of motion for a shuttle drawer, such that the shuttle drawer can travel linearly inside the cap body, in a direction parallel to the plane of the container opening. The slide channel surfaces are sized and dimensioned such the shuttle drawer mates slidably to the cap body with minimal clearance except in the desired direction of motion. Sliding surfaces may be crowned in one direction; that the surfaces need not be planar, but may be cylindrical sections or the like.  
         [0005]     The slide channel is open on one end to permit the shuttle drawer to project from a side surface of the cap body in one state. The device may be actuated by applying a force to the portion of the shuttle drawer projecting from the cap body so as to urge the shuttle drawer into the cap body. When the exposed end of the shuttle drawer is actuated by the user, the shuttle drawer slides into the cap body against the force of the return spring. (In an alternative, the shuttle drawer may be retained in an inserted position against the spring force, and released by the user actuation.  
         [0006]     The cap body has a first surface facing the interior of the container and a second surface facing the exterior. A filling aperture is disposed in a first surface of the cap body and a dispensing-aperture is disposed in a second surface of the cap body. A dose chamber is disposed in the shuttle drawer such that it extends from the surface of the shuttle drawer mating with the first surface and the surface of the shuttle drawer mating with the second surface, and defines a volume corresponding to desired dose The filling aperture and the dispensing aperture are spaced apart from each other so that the dose chamber in the shuttle drawer can be positioned separately opposite the fill hole and the dispense hole by a sliding motion of the shuttle drawer. The filling and dispensing apertures are sized and dimensioned so that the dose chamber can communicate with at most only one of the apertures for any position of the shuttle drawer.  
         [0007]     The range of travel of the shuttle drawer may limited such that, for example, the “out” position corresponds to alignment of the dose chamber with the filling aperture, and the “in” position corresponds to alignment of the dose chamber with the dispensing aperture. In an embodiment, a return spring urges the shuttle drawer toward resting in the “out” position when no user force is applied to the exposed portion of the shuttle drawer.  
         [0008]     The dose chamber is configured so that one of the surfaces thereof, extending between opposing mating surfaces of the shuttle drawer has an arcuate shape, with a radius of curvature commensurate with that of the opening of the container body. The opposing surface may have arcuate shape having a similar radius of curvature. The distance between the opposing surfaces is determined so that, when the dose chamber is full of material, the volume of material corresponds to the intended dose to be dispensed.  
         [0009]     A dispensing cycle may include the steps of: placing the container in an inverted position (that is, with the container opening lower than the contents of the container); filling the dose chamber by aligning the dose chamber with the filling aperture in the cap body; transitioning the dose chamber from alignment with the filling aperture to a position intermediate between the filling and dispensing apertures by applying force to an end of the shuttle drawer; dispensing by aligning the dose chamber with the dispensing aperture; returning the shuttle drawer to an initial position.  
         [0010]     The cap device can be removeably attached to the container with threads, a bayonet mount, a snap-fit bead, or other conventional means, or permanently attached to the container by sonic welding, bonding, a snap-lock bead, or other conventional means. The material to be dispensed may be a powder but could also be granular, pelletized, balls, micro-spheres or similar flowable non-liquid material. The cap body and the shuttle drawer may each be injection molded as single components. The material to be dispensed may be fed by gravity as described above, but could be fed by other means such as pneumatic pressure, centrifugal pressure, or buoyancy. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of the dispensing cap;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are perspective cross-sectional views of the dispensing cap, showing the relative position of the components in three operating states of the dispensing drawer;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  shows the relationship of an arcuate dose chamber to the material container opening for three operating states of the dispensing drawer;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows cross sections and plan views of the dispensing cap with respect to a container and material to be dispensed during a dispensing cycle;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a first example of a latching mechanism;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second example of a latching mechanism; and,  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third example of a latching mechanism. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     The examples described herein may be better understood with reference to the drawings, but these examples are not intended to be of a limiting nature. Like numbered elements in the same or different drawings perform equivalent functions.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a dispensing cap  1 . In this example, the cap  1  is intended to be secured to a container (not shown) having a circular opening in one end, such as a jar for containing iced tea mix, powdered milk or the like. The orientation of the cap  1  in  FIG. 1A  is consistent with the jar being inverted so that the opening in the jar is below the remainder of the jar. This is inverted from a typical storage position where the cap is up.  FIG. 1B  is a view of the dispensing cap  1  in an upright position. The dispensing cap  1  is comprised of two moldable components, a cap body  100  and a drawer  50 , and may have a spring  70  inserted therebetween.  
         [0020]     Screw threads  10  may be used to engage with corresponding structures on the jar so as to retain the dispensing cap on the jar as is conventional. In a similar manner, snap on caps, permanently affixed caps and the like are also equally satisfactory, the choice being related to the type of product being dispensed and costs.  
         [0021]     A first planar surface  20  of the cap is similar to the cap top in conventional caps and closes the end of the cylindrical structure  12  supporting the screw threads  10 . A filling aperture  30  is formed in a portion of the first surface  20 , and may have a beveled edge  32  so as to facilitate introducing material from the container into the filling aperture  30  when the jar is in an inverted position.  
         [0022]     The cylindrical structure  12  continues beyond the first surface  20  to from an extension  14 , which is seen to be continuous with the surface  12  on the outside of the cap body  100 . A second planar surface  22  is disposed parallel to the first surface  20 . A dispensing aperture  40  is formed in the second surface  22 .  
         [0023]     In an aspect, the second surface  22  may be slightly recessed into the cylindrical structure  12 , so that when the dispensing cap  1  is attached to a jar and placed on a flat surface in the inverted state, only the rim of the cylindrical structure  14 , protruding in a direction distal to the container, would be in contact with the flat surface.  
         [0024]     A shuttle drawer  50  is assembled so as to be a part of the dispensing cap  1 . The cylindrical mating structure  12 ,  14  has an aperture  16  sized and dimensioned so as to accept the shuttle drawer  50 . As shown, the shuttle drawer has linear sides and generally arcuate ends  54  and  56  so as to be compatible with the shape of the remainder of the cap body  100 . However the ends may have other shapes. Mating structures inside of the cap body  100  guide the shuttle drawer  50  into the aperture  55  so that the shuttle drawer  50  translates parallel to the first and second planar surfaces  20 ,  22 .  
         [0025]     A dose chamber  60  extends from a first surface  58  of the shuttle drawer  50  to a second surface  59  of the shuttle drawer  50 . The plan view shape of the dose chamber  60  corresponds to that of the filling aperture  30  and the dispensing aperture  40  in the cap body  100 . The dose chamber has interior side walls to isolate the dose chamber  60  from the remainder of the shuttle drawer  50 .  
         [0026]     In an aspect, a spring  70  is fitted between an end of the shuttle drawer  50  and an interior surface of the cylindrical portion  14  of the cap body  100 . The spring  70  is disposed so as to urge the shuttle drawer  50  out of the cap body  100  through the aperture  40  in the side of the cylindrical wall  14 . In operation, the shuttle drawer  50  is prevented from becoming detached from the cap body  100  by a retaining arrangement. In this example, a slot  80  is formed in the second surface  22  of the cap body  100  and a tab  81  is disposed on second surface  59  of the shuttle drawer  50  and arranged such that the tab  81  engages the slot  80  when the shuttle drawer  50  and the cap body  100  are assembled with the spring  70  disposed therebetween. Alternatively the slot  80  may be provided on the second surface of the shuttle drawer  50  and the tab  81  may be provided in an interior surface of the second surface  22 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 2 A and 2  B are perspective cross-sectional views of the dispensing cap  1  shown in  FIG. 1 , along a line A-A, which is representative of the cross-sectional orientation.  FIG. 2 A  corresponds to the inverted position of the container and  FIG. 2 B  corresponds to the upright position of the container.  
         [0028]     As in  FIG. 1 , the dispensing cap  1  is shown in three states, open, transition and closed. In the example shown, the open state corresponds to an alignment of the filling aperture  30  in the first surface  20  of the cap body  100  with the dose chamber  60  in the shuttle drawer  50 . The end of the dose container  60  having an aperture in the second surface  59  of the shuttle drawer  50  is disposed such that the end is facing the second surface  22  of the cap body  100  and the contents of the dose chamber  60  cannot exit from the dispensing cap  1 . However, the contents of the container can enter the dose chamber  60  through the filling aperture  30 , such that the dose chamber is filled with material from the container.  
         [0029]     When pressure is applied to the end surface  56  of the shuttle drawer, shuttle drawer  50  is urged against the resistance of spring  70  so that the shuttle drawer  50  slides partially into the cap body  100 . In transition state, the dose chamber  60  is positioned such that the ends of the dose chamber  60  are disposed such that each end is closed off by one of the first surface  20  or the second surface  22  of the cap body  100 . In this state, any material that has entered the dose chamber  60  in the open state is now retained such that in can neither return to the container nor exit from the cap body  100  to the exterior.  
         [0030]     Continued application of pressure to the end surface  56  further compresses spring  70  so that the end surface  56  of the shuttle drawer  50  is approximately flush with the cylindrical portion  14  of the cap body  100 . In this state, the dose chamber  60  is disposed opposite the dispensing aperture  40  in the second surface of the cap body  100 , and any material that is within the dose chamber  60  falls out of the dispensing cap  1  due to gravitational acceleration.  
         [0031]     In this example, the shuttle drawer  50  will return to an open state when pressure is removed from the end surface  56  of he shuttle drawer  50 . Providing that the container remains in the inverted state, material from the container will again enter the dose chamber  60  and the dispensing sequence can be repeated.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2 B  shows the same sequence of operations as viewed from the outside of the dispensing cap  1 . In the upright state, although the motion of the shuttle drawer  50  is the same as described with respect to  FIG. 2 A , no material will enter the dose chamber  60  as the container is upright and the dispensing cap  1  is higher than the contents of the container.  
         [0033]     The spring  70  may be a coil spring as shown, a leaf spring, a longitudinally compressible tube, a foam material or the like, being capable of resiliently resisting applied force. Materials such as plastics or metals or a combination thereof may be used. When a spring having a slim form factor is used, a mandrill  72  may be provided to guide the spring  70  for all or part of the compression cycle so as to avoid column buckling. The length of the mandrill will depend on the spring properties.  
         [0034]     The longitudinal separation between the filling aperture  30  and the dispensing aperture  40  may be greater than the longitudinal width of the dose chamber  60  so that, during the transition state, there is no opening through which material can either enter of leave the dose chamber  60 .  
         [0035]     The shape of the dose chamber  60  may be selected to meet requirements for a specific quantity of material to be dispensed, and therefore the volume of the dose chamber  60  is determined to contain the desired quantity of material. When used with containers with a circular opening, as is typical of many product packages, the plan view shape of the dose container  60  may be selected so as to effectively use the area of the aperture of the container. An arcuate shape, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  may be effective in achieving a high efficiency in the use of the container aperture.  FIG. 3  is a plan view of a cross-section of the dispensing cap  100  showing only components pertinent to the aspect of the shape of the dose chamber  60 .  
         [0036]     Dashed lines in  FIG. 3  show the cross section of the container aperture  200  on which the dispensing cap  1  is disposed, for example by screwing the dispensing cap  1  to the container using screw threads  10  which engage with corresponding structures on the container. A dose chamber  60  having at least a first arcuate side  61 , corresponding in radius approximately to that of the container opening  200  may also have a second arcuate side  62  of the same or similar radius disposed opposite. The remaining sides  63  are straight, or may be any shape consistent with the shuttle drawer  50  being able to slide linearly with respect to the cap body  100 . The dose chamber  60  is shown in positions corresponding to a closed state  60   c , a transition state  60   t  and an open state  60   o . The arcuate shape of the first side  61  permits the dose chamber  60  to come close to congruence with a portion of the container opening  200  when in the open position, and leaves room for the spring  70  when in the closed position. The radius or shape of the second side  62  may be adjusted to maximize the area of the apertures  30 ,  40  of the dose chamber  60 , consistent with the requirements for housing the spring  70 . For a given material dose quantity, maximizing the plan view area of the dose chamber  60  may lead to smaller dimension between the first surface  20  and the second surface  22 , thus reducing a dimension of the dispensing cap  1 . The radius of the arcuate sides  61 ,  62  may not be equal and may depend on the amount of material to be dispensed and compatibility with the remainder of the structure. The radius may be selected between approximately twice the radius of the container and half of the radius of the container.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a series of plan views and corresponding cross-sectional views of the dispensing cap  1 , showing the various states. Stippling indicates loose material. In the inverted state, the container (not shown in the plan view) is above dispensing cap  1 , and material in the container, shown by the stippling, fills the space between the cylindrical wall  12  and the first surface  20 . In the open state (A-A), the dose chamber  60  is disposed opposite the filling hole  30  in the first surface  20  so that material from the container may enter and fill the dose chamber  60 . When pressure is applied to the end piece  56  so that the shuttle drawer  50  is urged into the main cap body  100 , the dose chamber  60  becomes closed off at both the upper and lower ends, and no more material can enter. Material cannot leave either. When further pressure is applied and the shuttle drawer  50  continues to slide into the cap body  100 , an opening in an end of the dose chamber  60  becomes positioned opposite the dispensing aperture  40 , and the material falls out of the dose chamber  60 . For clarity, this is shown in two steps at sections C-C and D-D. In practice, the material begins falling out of the dose chamber  60  during the process where the dose chamber  60  moves into position opposite the dispensing aperture  40 , so that the situation of cross-section D-D represents the state where the material has been dispensed. At this juncture, the dose chamber  60  is empty of the material.  
         [0038]     In the example shown, providing that the container remains in the inverted state when the pressure on surface  56  is removed, the dose chamber  60  will return to the open state and be refilled. If the container is placed in an upright position, the material will either not fill the dose chamber  60 , or will flow back out of the dose chamber  60  into the container.  
         [0039]     In another example, the positions of the filling aperture  30  and the dispensing aperture  40  may be interchanged in a longitudinal direction. In this situation, the filling opening  30  is positioned near the center of the container  200  aperture and the dispensing opening  40  is positioned near the periphery of the container aperture  200 , while each remaining on corresponding surface as in the first example. The effect of interchanging the positions is that the dose chamber  60  is filled in the closed state and the material is dispensed in the open state.  
         [0040]     Restraining the shuttle drawer  50  in a closed position may be desirable for some storage applications. A number of structures may be used to restrain the shuttle drawer  50  in a closed position with respect to the cap body  100 , and they may be used in the first and second examples. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a tab  82  may be provided on the surface  59 . A corresponding hole  84  may be provided in the second surface  22  and disposed such that the tab  82  engages the hole  84  when the shuttle drawer  50  is in the closed position. The tab  82  may be on a portion of the surface  59  which has been relieved in part so that the tab is on a flexible portion  85  of the surface  22 . When the tab  82  is depressed by a finger of the user, it is urged below the outer surface of the second surface  22  and permits the shuttle drawer  50  to slide freely into an open position, being urged to do so by the spring  70  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ). When used in conjunction with the dispensing cap  1  of the first example, the shuttle drawer  50  moves into the open position and may be filled by the contents of the container. The shuttle drawer  50  may then be moved into the closed position to dispense the material from the dose chamber  60 . In another aspect, the location of the hole  84  is disposed further from the aperture  40  and the shuttle drawer  50  may be restrained only when the shuttle drawer has been pushed into a position further interior to the cap body  100 . This provides the user with the alternative of not engaging the locking mechanism if, for example, multiple doses are to be dispensed.  
         [0041]     The hole  84  may be provided at a location along the length of the slot  80 , such as at the end of the slot distal from the aperture  40 , and may be combined with the tab  81 .  
         [0042]     Other locking mechanisms may be used. For example,  FIG. 6  shows a ring  75 , the ring  75  being rotatably secured to the cap body  100  so that the ring  75  may be moved either clockwise or counterclockwise for at least some angular distance. The method of attachment of the ring  75  to the cap body  100  may be by means of interlocking grooves, screw threads, or the like. Rotation by more than 360 degrees may not be required. The ring  75  has an aperture  76  having a dimension in the circumferential direction that is greater than that of the shuttle draw surface  56 , and a dimension and disposition in the height direction such that the aperture has a dimension and disposition in the height direction such that the shuttle drawer  50  may pass through the aperture for at least one rotational position of the ring  75 . As shown, the aperture is in the form of a “U”, however, a substantially rectangular opening may be used.  
         [0043]     A further example of a locking mechanism is shown in  FIG. 7 , where a bail is rotatably attached to the cap body  100  at journals  77 , the journals being on opposite ends of a diameter of the cap body  100 . The bail  78  may be positioned so that it is opposite the aperture  55  in the cap body  100 , through which the slide drawer  50  may protrude. In this state, the slide drawer  50  may be positioned in any of the states previously described for dispensing material. In another state, the bail  78  is positioned such that the slide drawer  50  is captivated by the bail  78  and the drawer is retained in a closed position with respect to the cap body  100 .  
         [0044]     Additional locking mechanisms may include various slide mechanisms in the surface  12  of the cap body  100  which may permit a tab to be positioned at the end  56  of the slide drawer  50  in a locked position, and moved vertically towards the container so that the movement of the slide drawer  50  is no longer impeded and the slide drawer  50  may be in an open position.  
         [0045]     Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above it should be understood to the ordinary skilled person in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments, but rather that various changes or modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, their structural equivalents and equivalent structures.