Abstract:
A closure includes a flip-top member including an elongated flange, a base member including a curved flange extending from the base member, and a hinge to connect the flip-top member and the base member. The base member has an opening therein. A portion of the elongated member is configured to reside within the opening when the closure is in a closed position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/866,511, filed Nov. 20, 2006, entitled “Non-Drip Spout,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A non-drip spout is provided, more specifically, the present specification describes a non-drip spout for a container which contains fluids or liquids but which is also capable of holding powders or other materials which are capable of being poured through a spout. 
         [0003]    The pouring spouts of liquid containers are normally intended to provide a smooth flow of liquid through the spout and also to minimize dripping from the spout at the end of the pouring operation. The drips that form on a spout after pouring are undesirable for numerous reasons including wetting and staining of the exterior of the spout and the container, and often result in wetting or staining of the surface on which the container rests. 
         [0004]    Conventional spout closures tend to improperly dispense liquid food products when poured from them so as to create a build up of excess dried material around the spout subsequent to pouring of a liquid food product. As a result, the liquid product tends to drip from an orifice of the spout onto the closure and also potentially drip down the bottle or container on which the closure is mounted. In the event the liquid food product is dripped onto the closure, the flip-top lid portion provided can become stuck to the base by the product upon becoming dried and thus become difficult to open. In addition, if the product is permitted to drip down the bottle, it can become difficult for a consumer to handle the bottle. 
         [0005]    Numerous attempts have been made to provide a dripless spout, and it has been generally realized that providing the spout with a thin or sharply cut off lip may enhance the “dripless” characteristics of the spout. This is recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,170 to Ray, which describes a teapot formed of ceramic material or glass. The spout opening of the teapot is bordered on the sides and bottom by a spout which extends outwardly and curves downwardly. The spout decreases in cross-section towards its extremity and terminates in a relatively sharply defined U-shaped lip undercut or relieved at its backside. U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,062 to Teetor discloses a pouring vessel provided with a droplet retaining structure which retains the droplet normally formed when pouring on a drip retaining lip. The lip is located at the outside of the sidewall at the front of the vessel and slightly below a pouring portion of the sidewall. The lip defines a small recess or pocket between the lip and a pouring portion of the sidewall. The front portion of the lip has a sharp upper edge with a generally vertical outer face and a very restricted horizontal surface. The lip defines a recess of restricted volume whereby the retaining forces, such as surface tension, and cohesive and adhesive forces over the liquid, temporarily retain the last drop of liquid in the recess. This drop then flows through a vertical slot in the pouring portion of the vessel and runs back into the vessel. 
         [0006]    Also known is a dripless spout, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,040 to Wiley, which discloses a dripless spout which can be formed integrally with a liquid container or can be adapted for attachment to a liquid container. In this conventional spout, a dripless spout includes a service having a lid over which a liquid to be poured may flow, and a channel is formed in the surface which extends over at least a portion of the surface of a lip. At the end of a pouring operation, any droplets of liquid remaining on the surface occupy the channel and are held therein. The spout is formed of a relatively thin material and may be provided in the form of a spring clip for fitting to a liquid container or may be formed integrally with the liquid container. As can be appreciated from a review of this invention, the lid does not utilize a flip-top cap portion and thus remains open subsequent to a pouring operation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a non-drip spout with a functional closure that can easily dispense liquid food products, for example, without creating a mess on the closure or on the bottle/container on which the closure is mounted. 
         [0008]    The non-drip spout is shaped in such a manner as to catch and hold back any remaining drops of liquid product after the product has been dispensed. The size of the orifice permits a smooth and consistent pouring so as to inhibit glugging of the liquid during dispensing which, in turn, could affect the flow of the fluid and cause the liquid to drip over an edge of the spout due to the ebb and flow of fluid from the spout. These fluctuations in flow are to be avoided if, for example, a measured amount of fluid is to be dispensed. 
         [0009]    The closure includes a one-piece system with a hinged lid or flip-top portion. Thus, the closure does not require a separate insert or an adjoining piece such as a lid that is detachable from the base of the closure. 
         [0010]    The spout of the one piece flip-top closure functions as a non-drip feature when extract type products are dispensed. The external and internal vertical angle of the spout, the spout curvature shape, and the shape of the upper lip section allows for the non-drip pour feature of the spout. The upper lip section extends outward and horizontally from the spout edge. The radius at which the upper lip meets the spout edge and the length of the lip is important for the non-drip feature to properly function. The shape and size of the orifice allows for a smooth, non-glugging pouring operation which also contributes to the product flow supporting a non-drip pouring function. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the inventions described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A more complete appreciation of the inventions and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings and their exemplary depictions do not in any way limit the scope of the inventions embraced by this specification. The scope of the inventions embraced by the specification and drawings are defined by the words of the accompanying claims. 
           [0013]    A more complete understanding of the inventions can be drawn from attached  FIGS. 1-22  wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a top and right front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a non-drip spout; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 1 , the left side elevational view being a mirror image of the side view shown; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top and right rear perspective view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a top and right front perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a non-drip spout shown in an open condition; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a left side elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 8 , the right side elevational view being a mirror image of the side view shown; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a rear elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a left side elevational view of a portion of another exemplary embodiment of a non-drip spout; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a top, front, and right side perspective view of a portion of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a top, front, and left side perspective view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 14 , the top, front, and right side elevational view being a mirror image of the side view shown; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a top and right front perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a non-drip spout shown in an open condition; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a front elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a left side elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 17 , the right side elevational view being a mirror image of the side view shown; 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a top plan view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a rear elevational view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 17 ; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is a bottom plan view of the non-drip spout shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]    Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. Unless otherwise noted, any directional terms such as “above,” “below,” and “outside” refer to directions with respect to the closure in accordance with the present invention, when the closure is in an upright position. The terminology includes the words noted above as well as derivatives thereof and additional words of similar import. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the non-drip spout is in the form of a closure  1  having a flip-top portion  2  and base  3 . For opening of the flip-top portion  2 , a tab  5  is provided along one side portion of the flip-top portion  2  in proximity with a planar recess  4  formed in the base  3 . The base  3  has a threaded portion for being screwed onto the top of a bottle or container having threads that cooperate therewith. The base  3  has a ribbed side portion  6  for ease in screwing or unscrewing of the closure  1  from the bottle or container. An integrally molded hinge member  7  is provided at the rear portion of the closure  1  and serves to interconnect the flip-top portion  2  with the base  3  in a flexible manner so as to permit opening of the flip-top portion  2 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , an elongated opening  8 , which can be substantially elliptically shaped, is provided. The major axis of the elongated opening  8  extends in a direction from the hinge member  7  to the tab  5 . This elongation forms an elongated opening  8  having an inner edge  9  with a cross-sectional area of from substantially one-eighth to one-third of the cross-sectional area of the base  3 . The opening  8  of this size permits smooth pouring and does not cause a glugging action or an interruption of flow of fluid from the container when passing through the non-drip spout. 
         [0038]    As shown, the base  3 , the flip-top portion  2 , and the hinge member  7  are integrally molded. The closure  1  can be made from a single mold, for example a side action mold, resulting in efficient manufacture thereof as a unitary piece. The unitary piece can be made of polypropylene, for example, a copolymer or a homopolymer. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 8-13 , the closure  1  also includes an uprightly-extending curved flange  12  and an elliptically-shaped elongated flange  10  provided on the base  3  and flip-top member  2 , respectively. The base  3  is provided with a recessed surface  14  which extends down to a substantially horizontal edge  18  which cooperates with the flange  10  upon closing the closure  1 . Flip-top portion  2  is also provided with a rim  20  which mates with a recessed rim  24  provided in the upper portion of the base  3  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . An opening  16  is also of sufficient diameter so as to permit passage of the flange  10  therethrough for engagement with the recessed surface  14  as mentioned above. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 14-16  illustrate an additional embodiment wherein the curved flange  12  has been modified so as to have an extended end edge portion in the form of a front lip. As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the curved flange  12  has a curvature radius R of 0.030″±0.005″. The angle of elevation α of the front wall of curved flange  12  with respect to the horizontal top surface of base  3  is preferably 85°±5°. The radius r of the front lip of the curved flange  12  is 0.020″±0.005″. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 17-22 , which illustrates another embodiment, the closure  101  includes an uprightly-extending, substantially circular, curved flange  112  provided on the base  103 , which includes a concave shaped upper rim portion  122  as shown in  FIG. 18  and a substantially circular-shaped elongated flange  110  provided on the flip-top member  102 . The curved flange  112  can have the same curvature radius R, angle of elevation α, and radius r as the embodiment of the curved flange  12  described with respect to  FIGS. 14-16 . The combination of the angle of elevation α, the curvature radius R, and the concave shaped upper rim portion  122  particularly contribute to the non-drip property of the closure  101 . 
         [0042]    The base  103  is also provided with a recessed surface  118  which extends down to a substantially horizontal edge  114  which cooperates with the flange  110  to prevent any material from passing through an opening  116  in the base  103  upon closing the flip-top member  102 . Flip-top member  102  is also provided with a rim  120  which mates with a recessed rim  124  provided in the upper portion of the base  103  as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . The arc formed by the curved flange  112 , as shown in  FIG. 20 , is in the range of 120°-180°. The substantially circular opening  116  is provided in the base  103  and is of sufficient diameter to permit passage of the flange  110  therethrough for engagement with a horizontal edge  114 . Hinge member  107  is also provided, along with a tab member  105 , on the flip-top member  102 . A planar recess  104  is provided and a substantially circular opening  108  is formed in the base  103 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , the upper edge of the curved flange  112  is provided with a concave shaped upper rim portion  122  which is approximately 0.025 inches less in height than the lateral edges shown in this view, which corresponds to approximately 15% of the height of the curved flange  112  from the base  103 . 
         [0043]    The resulting non-drip spout thus is relatively easy to manufacture and provides distinct advantages over conventional spouts. 
         [0044]    Thus, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the invention, as well as other claims. The disclosure, including any readily discernible variants of the teachings herein, define, in part, the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventive subject matter is dedicated to the public.