A dispensing package for dispensing liquids

Abstract: A dispensing package for dispensing liquid comprising an injection blow molded container (10) having a flexible body and a neck (11) comprising an outer wall (12) and an inner wall (13). The inner wall (13) defines a dispensing opening. A closure (15) has a transverse wall (16), a peripheral skirt (17) and a peripheral foot (21) for engaging a flat surface. Interengaging means between the closure (15) and the outer wall (12) hold the transverse wall (16) in sealing engagement with the inner wall (13) of the neck for closing the dispensing opening. The closure is movable axially relative to the container (10) between a first position sealingly engaging the neck (11) of the container and a second position wherein fluid is permitted to flow to an outlet (O, O') so that when the wall (W) of the container is flexed a portion of the contents is dispensed. In one form, the outlet (O) is in the skirt (17). In another form, the outlet is in the transverse wall (16).

Description: This invention relates to fluid dispensing packages and particularly to dispensing packages for metering quantities of a fluid when a wall of the container is flexed thereby dispensing a predetermined portion of the contents. It has heretofore been suggested that fluid dispensing packages be provided wherein a quantity of fluid is dispensed upon flexing a portion of the container. Such a construction is disclosed in United States Patents 4,324,349, 4,516,697 and 4,635,828, as well as French Patents 1,389,996 and 2, 442,195. As shown for example in US 4,516,697, the structure of such a dispenser requires extra parts and is rather complicated. Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a fluid dispensing package of this type which is simpler in construction, does not require extra parts and can be readily manufactured. As claimed, the invention proposes a dispensing package for dispensing liquid, comprising a container including a flexible body and a neck having wall means defining a dispensing opening, a plastic closure having an outlet opening, first means for holding the closure in sealing engagement with the neck for closing the dispensing opening and second means for providing a seal between the closure and the wall means of the neck; said closure is movable axially between a first position sealingly engaging the neck of the container and a second position wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the dispensing opening and to said outlet opening in the closure so that when the flexible body of the container is thereafter compressed a quantity of the contents is dispensed through the outlet opening in the closure; according to the invention the container is an injection blow molded container and said wall means of the neck comprises an outer wall and an integral inner wall defining a space between said outer wall and said integral inner wall; said space is closed at one end nearest the container and open at the other end, and said inner wall defines said dispensing opening; said plastic closure has a transverse wall, a peripheral skirt and a peripheral foot for engaging a flat surface or the like; said first means is interengaging means located between the closure and said outer wall of said neck for holding said transverse wall in sealing engagement with said inner wall of the neck for closing the dispensing opening and said second means provides a seal between the skirt of the closure and said outer surface of said outer wall of said neck. In one form the outlet is in the skirt. In another form, the outlet is in the transverse wall. Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a fluid dispensing package embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on a enlarged scale showing the package, the parts arranged for fluid dispensing. Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the relative position of the parts ready for dispensing. Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the dispensing package during dispensing. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of fluid dispensing package. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a another modified form of fluid dispensing package. Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views of the package shown in Fig. 6 showing the parts in different operative position. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of an another modified form of fluid dispensing package. Referring to Figs. 1-4, the fluid dispensing package embodying the invention comprises an injection blow molded plastic container 10 having an integral finish or a neck 11 that is formed by injection molding so that it comprises an integral outer wall 12 and an integral inner wall 13 joined by a connecting portion 14. The side wall W of the container 10 is flexible for dispensing the contents by external fluid pressure, as presently described. The inner wall 13 has an axial length slightly shorter than the outer wall 12 and defines a dispensing opening. A closure 15, made of plastic, comprises a transverse wall 16 and a peripheral skirt 17. The skirt 17 has internal grooves 18 adapted to engage external ring 19 on the outer surface of the outer wall 12 to interengage the closure 15 with the container 10 during storing and handling. The closure 15 further includes an annular flexible lip 20 that extends radially outwardly toward the skirt 17 for sealingly engaging the upper surface of the inner wall 13 and thereby sealing the liquid contents L in the container 10. The closure 15 further includes an integral base for engaging a flat surface to hold the package in inverted position. Base 21 comprises an inclined annular wall 22 and a base engaging rib or flange 23. The closure 15 further includes a laterally extending tube 30 defining an opening O. The closure 15 further shows annular flexible lip 24 which extends radially inward from skirt 17 for sealingly engaging the outer wall 12 and thereby cooperates with external ring 19 and internal grooves 18 to seal the chamber formed by closure 17 and container 10 when the closure 15 is in the second or open position. In a first position shown in Fig. 2, the closure sealingly engages the neck 11 through the flexible lip 20 engaging the free end of the inner wall 13. The closure 15 can be moved to the second position as shown in Fig. 3. When the wall W of the container is flexed a portion of the contents L is dispensed through the opening in the neck to the opening O in the skirt. In the modified form of package shown in Fig. 5, the inner wall 12a is formed as a separate fitment that is provided with a thread 31 on the inner surface thereof engaging a complementary thread 32 on the outer surface of the inner wall 12a. Wall 12a includes circumferentially spaced unsymmetrical external teeth 33 which cooperate with circumferential complimenting external lugs 34 at the upper end of skirt 17. This forms a one-way ratchet locking the element 12a against rotation relative to skirt 17. In all other respects, the structure is as shown in Figs. 1-4. The fluid dispensing package shown in Figs. 7-9 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1-4 except that the closure includes an integral cylindrical wall 41 and outlet opening O' is provided in the transverse wall 16 and includes a tube 40 that extends upwardly into the space between the outer 12 and inner wall 13 of the neck of the container. In the first position shown in Fig. 7, the closure sealing engages the neck through the flexible lip 20 engaging the free end of the inner wall. The closure can then be moved to the second position as shown in Fig. 8. When the wall W of the container is flexed, a portion of the contents is dispensed through the opening O in the transverse wall 16 as shown in Fig. 9. In the form shown in Fig. 10, the closure 15a is provided separately from the base or foot. The base 41a comprises a cylinder secured to a shoulder on the bottle 10 by adhesive or the like. Otherwise , the closure functions in the same manner as that described in connection with Figs. 7-9. It can thus be seen that there has been provided a free standing fluid dispensing package of this type which is simpler in construction, does not require extra parts and can be readily manufactured.

Claims: A dispensing package for dispensing liquid, comprising a container including a flexible body (10) and a neck (11) having wall means defining a dispensing opening, a plastic closure (15) having an outlet opening (0), first means (18, 19, 20) for holding the closure in sealing engagement with the neck (11) for closing the dispensing opening and second means for providing a seal between the closure (15) and the wall means of the neck (11), said closure being movable axially between a first position sealingly engaging the neck of the container and a second position wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the dispensing opening and to said outlet opening (O) in the closure so that when the flexible body of the container is thereafter compressed a quantity of the contents is dispensed through the outlet opening in the closure, characterized by the fact that the container is an injection blow molder container, by the fact that said wall means of the neck (11) comprises an outer wall (12) and an integral inner wall (13) defining a space between said outer wall (12) and said integral inner wall (13), said space being closed at one end nearest the container and open at the other end, said inner wall (13) defining said dispensing opening, by the fact that said plastic closure (15) has a transverse wall (16), a peripheral skirt (17) and a peripheral foot (23) for engaging a flat surface or the like, by the fact that said first means is interengaging means (18, 19, 20) located between the closure (15) and said outer wall (12) of said neck (11) for holding said transverse wall (16) in sealing engagement with said inner wall (13) of the neck for closing the dispensing opening and said second means (18, 19) provides a seal between the skirt (17) of the closure (15) and said outer surface of said outer wall (12) of said neck (11). Dispensing package according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said neck (11) is an integral neck further comprising an integral outer wall (12). Dispensing package according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said outer wall of said container is formed as a separate plastic part (12a) and includes auxiliary interengaging means (33,34) between said outer wall of the container and said closure (15) for preventing relative rotation in at least one direction. Dispensing package according to claim 3, characterized by the fact chat said interengaging means comprises threads (31,32) on the inner surface of the part (12a) and on the outer surface of the inner wall of the container. Dispensing package according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that it includes a base (21) which supports the container in inverted free standing relation to a flat surface. Dispensing package according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that means for sealing said closure to said neck comprises an annular lip (20) on said transverse wall (16) of said closure engaging the inner wall of the neck of the container. Dispensing package according to one of the claims 1 through 6, characterized by the fact that it includes sealing means (24) between said skirt of said closure and said outer wall of said container. Dispensing package according to one of the claims 1 through 7, characterized by the fact that said outlet opening (O) is in said skirt (17) of said closure. Dispensing package according to one of the claims 1 through 7, characterized by the fact that said outlet opening (O') is in the transverse wall of said closure and extends axially into said space between said outer wall and said inner wall of said neck of said container.

Inventors: KRALL THOMAS J, KRALL, THOMAS J.
Applicants: OWENS ILLINOIS PLASTIC PROD, OWENS-ILLINOIS PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B67D5
IPC codes: A47K5, B65D83, B67D7