Abstract:
A wide-dispersal package cap includes a rim and a domed portion formed within the rim and mounted thereto. The domed portion includes a plurality of orifices each having an internal opening and an external opening relative to a thickness of the domed portion. The orifices are formed spaced apart from one another through the domed portion at an angle, such that the external opening of a particular orifice is off-set from the corresponding internal opening, to thereby enhance wide-dispersal of contents of a package to which the cap is attached.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application relies upon and claims benefit, under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/678,868, filed May 7, 2005. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to the field of molded packaging and, more particularly, to a package cap designed for wide dispersal of liquid, powdered, granulated, or similar products.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0003]     Previously, packages for dispersal of products such as powders, liquids or granules, such as granules of fertilizer or salt, for example, have included a variety of mechanisms such as spouts, punch-out holes, twist tops with openings, or simply complete removal of the package cap for pour-out of the package contents. These package cap mechanisms permit pouring or sprinkling of contents in a stream or very limited diameter area, i.e. effectively limited to the diameter of the cap opening(s) and offer some amount of control for applications requiring controlled spread. However, there has not been known any satisfactory cap for such a package that permits facile yet wide-spread dispersal of the package contents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     One aspect of the invention generally pertains to a cap for a package, the cap having a pattern and shape of outlet holes suitable for wide-spread dispersal of the package contents.  
         [0005]     Another aspect of the invention pertains to a wide-dispersal cap with a flip top closure.  
         [0006]     Yet another aspect of the invention pertains to a one-piece molded cap have an integrated flip top closure and a pattern of bi-level orifices.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, in keeping with the above goals and advantages, the invention is, briefly, a wide-dispersal package cap including a rim and a domed portion formed within the rim and mounted thereto. The domed portion includes a plurality of orifices each having an internal opening and an external opening relative to a thickness of the domed portion. The orifices are formed spaced apart from one another through the domed portion at an angle, such that the external opening of a particular orifice is off-set from the corresponding internal opening, to thereby enhance wide-dispersal of contents of a package to which the cap is attached.  
         [0008]     The above-mentioned aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the wide-dispersal package cap of the present invention in closed position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the wide-dispersal package cap of  FIG. 1A  in semi-open position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the wide-dispersal package cap of  FIG. 1A  in open position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the wide-dispersal package cap of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the wide-dispersal package cap of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the wide-dispersal package cap of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the wide-dispersal package cap of  FIG. 2  with the flip top closure in the closed position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a wide-dispersal package cap according to another embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged schematic view of the front portion of the cap of  FIG. 6 , taken at circle  6 A.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the domed orifice portion of another embodiment of the present invention, showing some examples of suitable dimensions.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a domed orifice portion of a wide-dispersal package cap of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged top plan view of the domed orifice portion of  FIG. 7 , partially cut away, illustrating the offset hole structure.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged side elevational view of the domed orifice portion of  FIG. 7 , partially cut away, illustrating the offset hole structure.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type of industry application depicted in the figures. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 1A-10  illustrate a one-piece wide-dispersal package cap  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cap  10  can be manufactured using any suitable production method and raw materials. However, in the preferred embodiment, the cap is a single molded piece manufactured from a material such as high density polyethylene, polyethylene, or polypropylene. Those of skill in the art will recognize that a number of different materials are suitable for constructing the cap  10 .  
         [0025]     Cap  10  includes a rim  12  that provides structure, such as a snap-fit, press-fit or threaded engagement for connecting the cap  10  to a package (not shown), such as for example, a bottle, jar or other hand-held container. In alternative embodiments, the cap  10  can be molded with the associated package in a known manner. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-6A  the walls of rim  12  are generally vertical, that is, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cap. Rim  12  is preferably circular in shape, as shown in the disclosed embodiment, and includes a slight recess or depression  14 . The recess  14  provides a thumb grip to aid in opening the preferred flip top closure  16 . At a point on rim  12 , approximately opposite recess  14 , a living hinge  18  is provided to integrally connect the rim  12  and the flip top closure  16 . While this is the preferred method of connecting a top closure to rim  12 , other known structures can be conceived that will suffice and are in keeping with the invention. For example, the closure can be provided as a piece independent from but connectable to the rim.  
         [0026]     In the embodiment shown, in  FIGS. 6 and 6 A, a series of triangular cut-outs or serrations  20  runs along the annular inner side of the wall of the rim  12 . These serrations  20  create additional friction and interference at the intersection of the rim  12  and the associated package to inhibit rotation of the cap  10  relative to the package, for child safety purposes.  
         [0027]     As can be seen in  FIG. 5  and the enlargement of  FIG. 6A , the flip top closure  16  has a diameter roughly equivalent to that of the rim  12 . However, the recess  14  in the rim  12  allows the perimeter of flip top closure  16  to slightly overhang the rim  12  at the location of the recess  1 . 4 , thereby providing a small are of the surface upon which to exert an upward force against flip top closure  16  for opening, to expose the domed portion  28  there beneath.  
         [0028]     Rim  12  includes an outer annular surface  22 . Surface  22  includes a projecting ring  24  having a roughly rectangular cross sectional shape. Other cross-sectional shapes may be used in alternate embodiments. The flip top closure  16  is provided with a correspondingly shaped annular recess  26  that engages the projecting ring  24  of the rim  12  when closure  16  is in the closed position, thereby creating multiple sealing surfaces ( FIG. 6A ). In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the rim  12  and flip top closure  16  include another projecting ring/recess combination immediately inside of the first ring  24 /recess  26  combination to provide additional detenting engagement and sealing surfaces  40 .  
         [0029]     A valve seal  27  is formed beneath the underside (the container facing side) of the rim&#39;s outer surface  22 . In a preferred embodiment, valve seal  27  as shown has a triangular cross-sectional shape. However, other cross-sectional shapes may be used. The most beneficial shape for valve seal  27  may be driven by the characteristics of the neck of the package to which the cap  10  is attached. Valve seal  27  captures the neck of the attached package between seal  27  and the interior vertical surface of rim  12  to create a seal between cap  10  and package.  
         [0030]     Substantially centrally of rim  12 , there is a domed portion  28  which curves outwardly toward and into closure  16  when the cap is closed. Dome  28  can be molded to rim  12  as a single piece or conceivably provided as a separate piece from the rim. Domed portion  28  has a plurality of spaced apart through-holes, or orifices  30 . Each of the orifices  30  is formed with a bi-level design, as show in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , with a first (lower) level  32  and a second (upper) level  34 . First level  32  and second level  34  remain in communication but are slightly offset from one another. In particular, the second, or upper, level  34  is shifted slightly off vertical toward the periphery of the domed portion  28 . In other words, orifices  30  are each formed as a tunnel through domed portion  28  so that the two open ends of each tunnel are necessarily offset from one another, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , for example. This offset causes the contents of the package to move in an outward direction (radially from the axis of the package) as the contents pass through cap orifices  30 . This outward radial movement results in an increased width of the resulting product dispersal pattern. The combination of the bi-level orifices  30  with the dome shape of portion  28  of cap  10  further widens the resulting product distribution pattern when the container contents are dispersed from the package. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the offset between a pair of upper and lower orifice openings is approximately 0.120″. However, multiple offset ranges are contemplated within the scope of this invention. It is important to provide a sufficient overlap between first level  32  and second level  34  to maintain a suitable flow rate of material. In the example shown in  FIG. 10  this overlap dimension is 0.050″. The offset and overlap dimensions will vary depending on the product being dispensed (i.e., particle size for powdered and granulated materials and viscosity for liquid materials will be important considerations) and the desired dispersal pattern.  
         [0031]     At the approximate center of the domed portion  28  is a vent hole  36 . Vent hole  36  is isolated from the orifices  30  on the interior of the cap by a connected or integral vent tube  38 . Vent tube  38  is open at its bottom end (internally directed) and mates with an extension tube (not shown) that leads to the bottom interior area of the associated package. This venting structure is arranged to allow air to enter the inverted package to replace the volume of the product dispensed from the package, thus facilitating product flow from the package. Product is not dispensed through vent hole  36  because the preferably cylindrical side wall of the vent tube  38  prevents flow from inside the package of contents to vent hole  36 . Thus package product is dispersed only via orifices  30 .  
         [0032]     The preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in the best mode known to the inventors. However, as various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.