Abstract:
A container for dispensing liquids comprises a body member and a closure including a cap in the form of a plastic molding having an outlet and a control valve within the cap for controlling the dispensing of liquid through the outlet, the control valve being in the form of a one piece plastic molding having a diaphragm portion and a nose portion, the nose portion of the valve normally sealing the outlet but being displaceable therefrom on distortion of the diaphragm portion resulting from pressurization of the interior of the body member, the cap further including a one-way valve which, on pressurization of the interior of the body member, is closed to seal the interior of the cap from the atmosphere, and, on release of pressure from the interior of the body member, opens to interconnect the interior of the cap with the atmosphere to facilitate return of the body member to its normal rest condition.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers for dispensing pastes, gels, creams and other products hereinafter referred to as liquids. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is often desirable to be able to dispense controlled quantities of liquid from an elongate container, tube or the like through an outlet in the cap of the container at an angle to the direction of flow of liquid from the container to the cap, rather than through an outlet in the top of the container, and in a wiping action directly onto the skin, for example the arm or leg, for subsequent rubbing into the skin for treatment purposes. 
     Such a wiping action is most conveniently achieved by using a container having a relatively long neck and a narrower cap to provide an ergonomic profile to the container. 
     However, the number of such containers available with such angled side outlets is limited, while those that are currently available suffer from a number of disadvantages, not the least of which are that the dispensing mechanisms thereof are of relatively complex construction and are expensive to manufacture. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,638 discloses a container having a nozzle provided with an outlet which dispenses the contents of the associated container in a direction perpendicular to the direction of feed of the content of the container to the nozzle and under the control of a flexible diaphragm. However, the nozzle incorporates a tortuous series of channels/passageways for the flow of fluid to the outlet, while the diaphragm is integral with, or connected to, a piston of complex configuration urged by a spring into a normal rest position sealing the outlet. Clearly such an arrangement is expensive to manufacture and requires careful manual assembly, while it has also been found to suffer from hygiene problems. 
     Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,311, CH 225084 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,170,588 all of which disclose containers with outlets in the sides thereof, but all of which are also of relatively complex construction, difficult to manufacture and difficult to assemble, and to U.S. Pat. No. 3,008,611 disclosing a metal container which, on inversion and squeezing, dispenses liquid through an outlet in the cap under the control of a valve element comprising a one-piece plastic extrusion, the container further including a one-way valve in the form of a vented rubber gasket to facilitate restoration of the sides of the container subsequent to dispensing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It would be desirable to be able to provide a container capable of controlled dispensing of liquid, particularly but not exclusively from a side outlet therein, and of a simpler, more hygienic construction and more economically manufactured than heretofore, preferably suitable for automated assembly to enable efficient high volume production. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a container comprising a body member for containing liquid and a neck at one end thereof through which liquid flows on pressurization of the interior of the body member, and a closure for the body member including a cap located on the neck of the body member and having an outlet therein for dispensing therethrough liquid flowing through the neck of the body member, a control valve located within the cap for controlling the dispensing of liquid flowing from the body member to the outlet from the cap, the control valve being a one piece plastic moulding including a diaphragm portion and a nose portion extending from one side of said diaphragm portion, and having a rest position in which the nose portion engages in, to seal, the outlet from the cap, and a one-way valve in the flow path of liquid from the body member to the outlet and communicating with the atmosphere, said one-way valve having a closed position sealing the interior of the container from the atmosphere and an open position interconnecting the interior of the container with the atmosphere, the arrangement being such that, on pressurization of the interior of the body member, liquid from the body member flows through the neck of the body member into the cap to close the one-way valve and to engage with the one side of the diaphragm portion of the control valve to distort said diaphragm portion whereby the nose portion of the control valve is displaced from the outlet and liquid is dispensed therethrough, and, on subsequent release of pressure from the interior of the body member, the control valve returns, under the influence of its inherent resiliency and atmospheric pressure, to its rest position with the nose portion thereof seating in, to seal, the outlet, and the one-way valve opens to facilitate re-pressurization of the interior of the body member, characterized in that the cap includes an annular seating for the control valve projecting inwardly of the cap and being of hollow, open-ended generally cylindrical shape the bore through which interconnects the interior of the cap with the atmosphere, the control valve being mounted on the seating with the diaphragm portion thereof sealing the inner end of the seating and whereby the other side of the diaphragm portion remote from the nose portion is subjected to atmospheric pressure. 
     It will be appreciated that, with such an arrangement, the closure for the body member can be of extremely simple construction and can comprise a minimal number of individual components which can be readily manufactured by plastic moulding techniques, and, where appropriate, automatically assembled, the provision of the one-way valve ensuring quick and efficient return of the body member to its normal rest condition. 
     The control valve may be overmoulded on the inner end of the seating. 
     The annular seating may be integrally moulded with the cap. 
     Alternatively the annular seating may be separate from, and be a push-fit into, the cap. 
     The separate seating may have integrally formed therewith a secondary seating adapted to receive therein the one-way valve such as to locate said one-way valve in the flow path of liquid from the interior of the body member to the outlet from the cap. 
     The separate seating may be interconnected with the cap by means of a reduced-thickness hinge. 
     The one-way valve may be mounted in the cap or in the neck of the body member. 
     The outlet may be formed in a plate portion movable relative to the remainder of the cap between a normal position completing the cap and a displaced position providing access to the interior of the cap and to the control valve. 
     The plate portion may be integrally moulded with the remainder of the cap and movable relative thereto by means of a hinge, or may be separate from the remainder of the cap and a snap fit into an associated operative position in the remainder of the cap. 
     It will be appreciated that the provision of the annular seating open to the atmosphere and the movable plate portion combine to enable ready, automated assembly of the container, in that the control valve can be inserted into the cap through the open plate portion, positioned on the seating, and the plate portion subsequently closed to completed the closure. 
     Furthermore, the provision of the apertured seating and the movable plate portion as disclosed permits ready overmoulding of the control valve on the seating, in that the opposed metal inserts or dies for forming the valve can be inserted one through the seating and the other through the open plate portion whereby the control valve can be formed on the seating. 
     The closure may include a plug member adapted to be a friction fit within the cap to engage the other side of the diaphragm portion of the control valve remote from the nose portion and to retain the nose portion in its rest position engaging in, to seal, the outlet, such an arrangement serving to prevent inadvertent dispensing from the container. 
     Conveniently, the plug member is integrally moulded with the cap and is pivotal relative thereto about a reduced thickness hinge between an operative position engaging the diaphragm portion of the valve and a released position displaced from the control valve. 
     The closure may be integrally moulded with the body member to form a continuation of the neck of said body member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are vertical sections through part of a first container according to the invention the closure for which includes a plate portion, with the plate portion in its normal position and its displaced position respectively; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 are vertical sections through part of a second container according to the invention, prior to assembly and subsequent to assembly respectively of the associated closure; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical section through a closure for a third container according to the invention which includes a plate portion, the plate portion being in its displaced position; 
     FIG. 5 a  shows the control valve and one-way valve of the closure of FIG. 5 in perspective, and 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are vertical sections through a fourth container according to the invention with the closure in a closed and an open position respectively. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown part of a container comprising a body portion or reservoir  2  of a flexible plastics material, and including a reduced-diameter, externally threaded neck  4 . 
     A closure for the body member  2  is indicated generally at  6  and includes a hollow cap  8  moulded from a semi-rigid plastic material such as polythene or polyethylene. The cap  8  has an internally threaded skirt  10  at its lower regions for co-operation with the thread on the neck  4  to locate the closure  6  on the body member, although this location could be effected by means of a snap fit between the components or by the closure  6  being integrally moulded with the body member  2 . 
     The upper regions of the cap  8  are of reduced diameter and include an outlet  12  in a sidewall thereof. More particularly, the outlet  12  is formed in a plate portion  14  forming part of the sidewall of the cap  8  but being mounted to the remainder of the cap  8  by means of a reduced thickness hinge  16  whereby the plate portion  14  can be pivoted between a normal operative position shown in FIG. 1 in which it is a sealing snap fit in a corresponding aperture  18  formed in the cap  8 , and an open position shown in FIG. 2 displaced from said aperture  18  and providing access to the interior of the cap  8 . Alternatively the plate portion  14  may be separate from the remainder of the cap  8  and not connected thereto by a hinge or other means. 
     Integrally moulded in the cap  8  opposite the outlet  12  is a hollow, open-ended cylindrical primary seating  20  which extends radially into the upper regions of the cap  8 , the central axis of the seating  20  being perpendicular to the central axis of the neck  4  of the body member  2 , said central axis of the seating  20  passing through the outlet  12 , the hollow bore through the seating  20  interconnecting the interior of the cap  8  with the atmosphere. 
     The closure  6  further includes a control valve indicated generally at  22  and comprising an annular skirt portion  24  one end of which is closed by a circular diaphragm portion  26  on the surface of which remote from the skirt portion  24  is formed a central nose portion  28 . The valve  22  is integrally moulded from a soft thermoplastic material, or an elastomer or a silicone rubber with the skirt portion  24  being sealingly located on the seating  20  whereby the diaphragm portion  26  defines a barrier between the interior of the cap  8  and the atmosphere. The skirt portion  24  may be a friction fit on the seating  20  or may be moulded thereto to be integral with the cap  8 . 
     In the rest position of the valve  22 , the nose portion  28  thereof is urged into, to seal, the outlet  18 , with atmospheric pressure being applied to the surface of the diaphragm portion  26  remote from the nose portion  28 . 
     Also integrally moulded in the cap  8  below the primary seating  20  is a secondary seating  30  of generally hollow cylindrical shape extending into the cap  8  and forming a continuation of an aperture  32  provided in the wall of the cap  8 . An annular step or ridge  34  is formed internally of the aperture  32  for reasons which will become apparent. 
     A one-way valve of moulded plastics material is indicated generally at  36  and is located within the seating  30  and aperture  32 , the valve  36  comprising a plate portion  38  the diameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the seating  30  but greater than the internal diameter of the step  34 , a head portion  40  in the form of an arrow being provided to one side of the plate portion  38 , and a tail portion  42 , which may be of cruciform transverse section, extending from the other side of the plate portion  38 . 
     The valve  36  is positioned in the cap  8  by pressing the head portion  40  of the valve through the step  34  from the inside of the cap, the arms thereof then co-operating with the external face of the step  34  to prevent removal of the valve  36  once inserted, and the valve  36  being movable axially of the seating  30  between a first position in which the plate portion  38  seats on the internal face of the step  34  to seal the aperture  32 , and a second position in which the arms of the head portion  40  seat on the external face of the step  34  to open the aperture  32  and interconnect the interior of the cap  8  with the atmosphere. 
     In order to dispense the content of the container, the body portion  2  thereof is squeezed to pressurise the interior of the container. This increase in pressure forces the content of the container through the neck  4  into the closure  6  and into forcible engagement with the surface of the diaphragm portion  26  carrying the nose portion  28 . 
     The diaphragm portion  26  is thus displaced to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 whereby the nose portion  28  is displaced from the outlet  12 , and the content of the container is dispensed through said outlet  12 . 
     Conveniently this dispensing is accompanied by a downward movement of the container with the outlet  12  against the skin of a user whereby the liquid, for example moisturising cream or sun-tanning cream, is deposited on the skin of the user for subsequent rubbing therein. 
     The pressure of liquid within the closure  6  also acts on the valve  36 , and in particular on the plate portion  38 , which is urged into its first position sealing the aperture  32  and maintaining pressure within the closure  6 . 
     On release of the squeezing pressure from the body member  2 , and by virtue of its inherent resiliency and the application of atmospheric pressure on the surface of the diaphragm portion  26  remote from the nose portion  28 , the control valve returns to the normal rest position seating in and sealing the outlet  12 , thereby terminating dispensing of the content from the container. 
     The reduction in pressure within the body member  2  results in the valve  36  being moved, under the influence of atmospheric pressure on the plate portion  38 , to its second or open position whereby the interior of the closure  6  and the body member  2  are interconnected with the atmosphere by way of the aperture  32 . Thus the speed of return of the body member  2  to its normal rest condition on release of the squeezing pressure therefrom is improved as a result of air flowing into the container through the aperture  32 . 
     It will be appreciated that the described container is of relatively simple and therefore inexpensive construction, and is particularly suited to automated assembly. The provision of the hollow seating  20  and the movable plate portion  14  enables the control valve  22  to be overmoulded to the seating  20 , the opposed relevant metal shapers or inserts being capable of insertion through the seating  20  and the aperture  18 . The control valve  22  may exclude the skirt portion  24 , with the peripheral regions of the diaphragm portion  28  being overmoulded on the seating  20 . 
     Additionally, the provision of the hinged plate portion  14  enables ready access to the interior of the closure  6  whereby the control valve  22  and one-way valve  36  can be located in their operative positions on the seatings  20 , 30  through the aperture  18 , again facilitating automated assembly. 
     The provision of the outlet  12  in the side of the closure  6 , as distinct from the end thereof, makes the container of the invention particularly suited to the application of the content thereof to the skin with the aforementioned wiping action, such application ensuring all the dispensed liquid is deposited on the skin with the wiping action serving to remove all liquid from the exterior of the outlet and ensuring cleanliness and improved hygiene compared with equivalent containers. The outlet  12  may, however, be in the end of the closure  6 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention particularly suited to narrow-necked containers, the control valve  22  does not include a skirt portion  24  and the closure does not include the seating  20 , the peripheral edge regions of the diaphragm portion  26  being secured directly to the cap  8 . More particularly the edge regions of the diaphragm portion  26  of the valve  22  may be overmoulded to the bounding edge of the circular aperture formed in the sidewall of the cap  8  opposite the outlet  12 , with the other side of the diaphragm portion  26  exposed to the atmosphere. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of the invention in which the seatings  20 , 30  are formed separately from the cap  8  and comprise a unitary insert  44  which, together with the control valve  22  and one-way valve  36  mounted thereon, is a snap-fit into a corresponding aperture in the sidewall of the cap  8  opposite the outlet  12 . 
     It will be appreciated that the arrangement of FIGS. 3 and 4 is also particularly suited to automated assembly, while the control valve  22  can be separate from or overmoulded to the seating  20 . The pivotal plate portion has been dispensed with, the outlet  12  being formed directly in the cap  8 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 5 a  show part of a container similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 other than in the configuration of the one-way valve. 
     More particularly, the one-way valve comprises a flexible plastics cap  46  adapted to seat over the hollow cylindrical seating  30  and having a normal rest position as shown in FIG. 5 in which the end wall of the cap  46  seals the bore through the seating  30 . 
     A pair of diametrically opposed holes  48  are formed in the cap  46 , while the control valve  22  and the one-way valve  46  are integrally moulded as shown in FIG. 5 a,  the moulding further including a retaining pin member  50  the increased-diameter head of which is a friction fit in an associated aperture within the cap  8  to locate the assembly within the cap  8 , and flexible connecting strips  52  between the cap  46  and the valve  22 , and between the cap  46  and the member  50 . 
     The arrangement is such that, when the pressure within the container  2  falls below atmospheric pressure, as will occur on release of the squeezing pressure from the body member  2 , the cap  46  is urged inwardly under atmospheric pressure to disengage from the end of the seating  30 . This movement of the cap  46 , which is controlled by the flexible strips  52 , interconnects the bore in the seating  30  with the holes  48  in the cap whereby air can flow into the interior of the container to assist return of the body member  2  to its normal rest condition. 
     Inadvertent dispensing from the container, for example during travelling, may be prevented in any one of a number of different ways. For example, the closure  6  may be provided with a plug, such as that referenced P in FIG. 5, which is a tight friction fit in the volume defined by the seating  20  and the surface of the diaphragm portion  26  remote from the nose portion  28 , said plug engaging said surface of the diaphragm portion  26  to prevent deflection of the diaphragm portion  26  until the plug  32  is removed from the volume. Conveniently the plug  32  is integrally moulded with the cap  8  and is connected thereto by a reduced thickness hinge to enable movement of the plug  32  into and out of its operative position in engagement with the valve  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a still further embodiment of the invention in which components equivalent to those of the earlier embodiments are similarly referenced. 
     The container is a so-called volume dispenser and includes a bellows-like section  52  compression of which controls the volume of liquid dispensed from the body member  2  of the container through the outlet  12 . 
     More particularly, the neck  4  of the body member  2  feeds into a chamber  54 , which may be integrally formed with the neck  41  an end wall  56  of said chamber  54  incorporating the seating  30  and one-way valve  36 . An aperture  58  is formed in the sidewall  60  of the chamber  54 . 
     The container includes a cap  62  of plastics material mounted on the body member  2  to be rotatable relative to the body member  2  between a closed position shown in FIG.  6  and an open position shown in FIG.  7 . The cap  62  includes a passageway  64  therein which feeds from a position adjacent the chamber  54  to a volume surrounding the control valve  22  and including the surface of the diaphragm portion  26  of the valve  22  carrying the nose portion  28 . The other surface of the diaphragm portion  26  is open to atmosphere by way of an aperture  66  in the seating  20 . The cap  62  further includes a plate  68  which is a non-sealing fit thereon for cosmetic purposes. 
     In order to dispense liquid from the container, the cap  62  is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 7 to align the passageway  64  with the aperture  58  in the sidewall  60  of the chamber  54 . The bellows-like section  52  is then compressed and liquid is dispensed from the container through the outlet  12  in the manner detailed above in respect of the preceding embodiments. 
     On release of pressure from the body member, the bellows-like section  52  returns to its normal extended condition, facilitated by the intake of air through the one-way valve  36 , while the control valve  22  returns to its normal rest condition facilitated by atmospheric pressure through the aperture  66 . 
     Clearly the precise construction of the containers could differ from those described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the container may include a number of outlets  12  and a corresponding number of control valves  22 , each outlet having a number of bristles associated therewith externally of the cap whereby the content of the container can be applied in the manner of a brush, while the configuration of the control valve, in particular the nose portion  28  thereof, may be altered. In all embodiments of the invention, it is preferred that, in its normal rest position, the nose portion of the valve extends right through the outlet whereby no liquid can remain in said outlet after use of the container. The end of the nose portion of the valve may also extend right through the outlet even in the open position of the valve, whereby liquid dispensed through the outlet, for example nail varnish, may be applied by the end of the nose portion. 
     The one-way valve  36  may be mounted in the neck  4  of the body member  2  rather than in the cap  8 , while the insert  44  may be interconnected with the cap  8  by means of a reduced-thickness hinge. 
     Thus there is described a container of relatively simple construction capable of economic production and automated assembly that provides the consumer with numerous advantages compared with currently available products. 
     In particular, the container of the invention enables the consumer to dispense smooth, measured quantities either in small doses or large doses and regardless of the viscosity of the liquid. 
     The sizes of the outlets and the valves can readily be altered to suit different products and the dispensing requirements of the consumer, and can accommodate a wide range of products from highly viscous pastes right through to water, while rapid return of the squeezed container to its normal rest condition is ensured.