Abstract:
A dispensing closure has an integral measuring device and spoon applicator. The closure has an internal thread on a skirt for fitting onto a container finish The closure has a tubular measuring device depending from the base wall within the radial confines of the skirt and ending at a spoon applicator for ease of oral administration.

Description:
[0001]     The field of this invention relates to a measuring and dispensing closure for a container.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many liquids, such as cough syrups and other liquid medications, need to be administered at a proper dosage for most beneficial effect. As such, a spoon or other measuring device, such as an eyedropper, is often required. Eyedroppers are suitable for small doses such as a few drops. Measuring spoons are also commonly used. Specialized measuring spoons, often called dosing spoons, have been developed which have a tube like handle that, when stood upright, can receive and measure liquid. The open end has a spoon shaped extension to provide easy oral administration of the liquid as the spoon is tipped downwardly while containing liquid.  
         [0003]     In order to reduce the dispensing of unmeasured amounts of medication, pharmaceutical companies have attempted to provide a measuring spoon, dosing spoon or measuring cup such that the delivery applicator and the measuring device are in the same implement that accompanies the bottle of medication. However, in spite of previous attempts of pharmaceutical manufacturers to assure that the measuring spoon or cup on top of the bottle closure stays with the medicine bottle, the measuring cup or spoon commonly became separated or misplaced. The person in need of medication is then tempted to take an unmeasured amount straight from the bottle.  
         [0004]     Previous dosing devices integrated with the closure have either been unwieldy for oral administration of the medicine or became messy by unwanted dripping of medicine as the devices exit the bottle from a position submerged in the medicine within the bottle.  
         [0005]     What is needed is a measuring device and dispensing spoon combination that is integrated with a closure for a container. What is also needed is a measuring and dispensing device that has a spoon section for ease of oral administration and provides for automatic wiping of the spoon as it exits the bottle to reduce undesirable dripping.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a measuring and dispensing closure has a base wall with a skirt for securing the closure to a container finish, a closed wall extending from the base wall within the skirt and defining with the base wall an interior cavity with an open distal end, and an arcuate wall integrally extending from an edge of the closed wall for dispensing product from the interior cavity.  
         [0007]     Preferably, the skirt has an internal thread for securing to a container finish. The arcuate wall is desirably coaxially centered about the center of rotation of the base wall. The arcuate wall also has a radius of curvature at least as great as the radius of the container finish opening. In an exemplary preferred embodiment, the arcuate wall is tapered toward a distal end to form a spoon shaped applicator. In the exemplary preferred embodiment, the base wall is flat or has another appropriate shape to allow the measuring and dispensing closure to be self-standing in a stable position.  
         [0008]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a one-piece integrally molded plastic member has a closure, a measuring section and an application section. Preferably, the closure has a base wall with a skirt for securing the closure to a container finish, and an annular wall extending from said base wall within and spaced from the skirt. The annular wall has a closed end at the base wall and an open end spaced from the base wall to form an interior cavity for the measuring section. An open arcuate wall section extends from the annular wall and axially away from the base wall to forming the applicator section for dispensing product from the interior cavity. Preferably, the applicator section is spoon shaped and has an exterior wall section axially spaced from internal sliding engagement with a container finish when the closure is received to the container finish. The exterior wall section is positioned under the container finish to abut and be wiped by the container finish as the spoon section is pulled vertically upward through the finish opening from within the bottle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary and segmented view of one embodiment according to the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  shown in  FIG. 2  of the closure, measuring device and spoon member; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view taken along lines  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a container such as a medicine bottle  10  has a cylindrical finish  12  with one or more external threads or thread segments  13 . The finish  12  has an opening or mouth  24  defined by an interior wall surface  26  with a dimensioned radius. The finish  12  seats a dispensing closure  14  that has an integral finish closure shell  16 , a measurement device  28  and a spoon shaped applicator  36 . Closure  14  has its shell  16  formed by a base wall  18  and an internally threaded skirt  20  with internal threads or thread segments  21 . The exterior surface of skirt  20  may have serrations  22  for enhancing a hand grip thereon. The skirt  20  and finish  12  may also incorporate a known and suitable child resistant mechanism (not shown). The base wall  18  may have a conventional internal seal lip (not shown) if desired to abut and seal with the end of finish  12 . The base wall  12  preferably is flat to allow the dispensing closure  14  to be self standing when in an upside down position from that shown in the Figures. The top surface of the base wall  18  may have other shaped configuration to provide for a self standing stable position. The closure  14  may be made from a commercially available plastic in common use for closures approved for food and medicinal items.  
         [0014]     A measuring device  28  extends from the base wall  18 , and protrudes through the opening  24  in finish  12  and into the bottle  10 . The measuring device  28  preferably is cylindrical in shape, with a closed cylindrical wall  29  defining a cavity  31  therein that is capable of retaining liquid when in an upright position. Measuring indicia  30  preferably are marked on the interior or exterior side of wall  29 . The indicia may be printed thereon, or embossed or debossed therein.  
         [0015]     A spoon shaped applicator  36  has an arcuate wall section  38  that rigidly and axially extends from the cylindrical wall  29 . The arcuate wall section  38  is approximately 180° span, which forms a wide opening from cavity  31  onto the spoon shaped application  36 . The arcuate wall has its radial center coaligned with the center rotational axis  41  of the base wall. The applicator  36  also has a tapered edge  40  with a reduced arcuate span to provide the spoon shape and allow ease of oral administration of liquid. The wall  38  is laterally displaced from the wall  29  to form a step section  42  where the arcuate span is approximately 180°. The step section  42  extends laterally a sufficient distance that the wall  38  is positioned under finish  12  such that, when the skirt is unthreaded from the finish  12  and the closure assembly  14  is lifted up, the backside of wall  38  will be wiped by the interior wall  26 . The spoon is desirably shaped such that its radius is the same or slightly greater than the radius of internal wall  26 , such that the entire backside—i.e. exterior section of wall  38 —can be wiped as it is pulled out of the opening  24 . The wall  38  may flex during the wiping action to conform to the radius of the opening  26  and assure a complete wipe of the back side of wall  38  which greatly reduces any dripping from the spoon shaped applicator  36 .  
         [0016]     Once the bottle is opened and the closure  14  is pulled out, the spoon shaped applicator  36  may be tipped or canted upward to receive the liquid as it is poured from the bottle and help direct the liquid into the now upright interior cavity  31  up to the desired or appropriate measuring indicator  30  to provide a proper dosage.  
         [0017]     After the measuring operation is complete, the member  14  may store the liquid in the cavity  31 , and may be placed on a table or other flat surface and be stationary with support from the flat base wall  12 . Upon application to the recipient, the spoon shaped applicator  36  is then tipped downwardly into the mouth of the recipient whereby the liquid is drained from the cavity  31  over the spoon wall  38  and its tapered section  40  to be administered to the recipient.  
         [0018]     The closure  14  can be easily washed and then threaded back onto the bottle. The finish  12  extends into the annular gap  34  formed between the skirt  20  and cylindrical wall  29  on the closure is fastened onto finish  12  to close the bottle  10 .  
         [0019]     In this fashion, a medicine bottle has a readily stored measuring device and spoon applicator that is stored in the bottle and is integral with the closure to assure that it is always available with the medicine.  
         [0020]     Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.