Abstract:
A toggle-action dispensing closure for a container is provided for manipulation between a closed, non-dispensing orientation and an open, dispensing orientation. The closure includes an actuator pivotally mounted along a tilting axis on a body secured to the container. The actuator is tiltable by applying force to the actuator on one side of the tilting axis so as to move the actuator from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. The actuator includes a striker rib extending downwardly at a position between an edge of the actuator and the tilting axis. The body includes a deck defining a dispensing aperture and supporting a post. The post extends vertically to underlie the actuator, preventing tilting of the actuator unless a sufficient opening force is exerted on the actuator to cause the striker rib to shear, or permanently deform, the post. One embodiment includes an angled fracture control surface at the bottom of the post to ensure that the initial minimum required force to shear the post is within a desired range.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a toggle-action dispensing closure for a container, wherein the closure can be manipulated between a closed orientation and an open, dispensing orientation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART 
     Designs have been proposed for containers used with flowable substances wherein a closure is provided for being attached to the container mouth and wherein the closure includes a toggle-action actuator, flip-up spout, or nozzle assembly for dispensing the container contents. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,346,100; 5,058,775; 4,962,869; 4,776,501; 4,645,086 and 3,516,581. 
     The toggle-action closures, such as those disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,346,100, 5,058,775, 4,962,869, and 4,776,501, require that the operator push down on a top, rear portion of the closure in order to pivot the actuator of the closure to the dispensing orientation. 
     When the actuator is pivoted to the dispensing position, a discharge passage in the actuator is in communication with the container contents, and the container contents can flow out through the actuator. Typically, such toggle-action closures are provided on squeezable containers fabricated from a thermoplastic material providing a inwardly deformable, resilient wall structure. When the container wall structure is squeezed, the contents within the container are forced upwardly and out through the open dispensing closure. 
     During shipping and handling, a toggle-action closure may be accidentally bumped or impacted in a way that causes the closure to pivot to the dispensing orientation. It is then possible for the contents to be discharged. If the container is lying on its side, the contents can leak out of the accidentally opened closure. If the container is in a carton, the carton may be subjected to rough handling causing the wall of the container to be temporarily squeezed inwardly and causing an unwanted discharge of a portion of the container contents through the open closure. 
     In order to prevent or substantially minimize the potential for leakage or spillage of container contents during shipping and handling of containers provided with toggle-action closures, the closure of the type disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,869 was developed. This closure has effectively solved a long-felt need to prevent inadvertent discharge through toggle-action closures during shipping and handling. 
     The closure disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,869 provides a unique structure which prevents or greatly inhibits the opening of the toggle-action actuator during shipping and handling. In particular, the closure body is provided with an upstanding abutment or resistance post under a rear portion of the toggle-action actuator. The actuator includes a shearing wall for confronting the abutment post when the actuator is initially closed in the non-dispensing position. When a moderate force is applied to the rear of the actuator, the actuator will not tilt upwardly to the open position because the shearing wall engages the abutment. 
     The abutment is designed to withstand the forces typically encountered during shipping and handling. However, the abutment is designed to be sheared off when the actuator is subjected to at least a predetermined force greater than the forces typically encountered during shipping and handling. When the consumer uses the closure for the first time, the consumer must apply, to the rear of the actuator, a force at least equal to the predetermined force so as to cause the shearing wall to shear off the abutment. Thereafter, the consumer can subsequently open the actuator by applying a much lower force. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,100 describes a toggle-action dispensing closure provided for manipulation between a closed, non-dispensing orientation and an open, dispensing orientation. The closure includes an actuator mounted on a body secured to the container. The body has an angular control surface at the base of an abutment which is broken by a shearing wall of the actuator. The control surface influences the fracture of the abutment from the control surface through the abutment. With this surface, the fracture is more likely to occur within a predetermined narrow range of forces applied to the actuator. 
     The above-discussed designs disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,962,869 and 5,346,100 function very well and satisfy the objectives of preventing or inhibiting leakage during shipping and handling. However, the present inventor has recognized that the precise magnitude of the force required to shear off the abutment is not easily determinable, and the required shear force may vary somewhat from closure to closure. The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide an improved design in which the required shear force is even more predictable and controllable and which, for some applications, could also optionally accommodate adjustment of the design parameters to provide an abutment that would predictably shear off when subjected to a smaller shear force than required for conventional designs. 
     The toggle-action dispensing closure of the present invention includes a closure body mounted to, or formed with, a container, and a pivotable actuator engaged to the closure body. 
     The closure body can be adapted for engaging the container over the opening to the container. The body defines a discharge aperture communicating with the container opening. 
     The actuator is pivotally mounted on the body on a tilting axis for occluding flow from the container through the discharge aperture when the actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position. The actuator permits flow from the container when sufficient force is applied to the actuator to pivot or tilt the actuator to an open, dispensing position. 
     The invention provides an improved actuation-prevention abutment extending from the closure body and a recessed striker rib extending from the actuator which together prevent pivoting of the actuator to open the closure unless a sufficient force is exerted on the actuator to force the striker rib to move an otherwise interfering portion of the abutment. 
     The movable abutment prevents, or reduces the likelihood of, an inadvertent, premature opening or actuation of the closure to the dispensing position during shipping and handling. 
     Before the closure can be opened for the first time by the consumer, the abutment is moved, such as by a portion thereof being bent or sheared off by the striker rib. 
     The actuator striker rib extends downwardly toward the body and is in close proximity to the movable abutment when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position. The abutment prevents the complete tilting of the actuator to the dispensing position in response to the actuator being subjected to a tilting force less than a predetermined force. However, when the actuator is subjected to at least the predetermined force, the striker rib moves the abutment to a noninterfering position with respect to the actuator so that, thereafter, the actuator can be tilted to the dispensing position in response to the application of a force less than the predetermined force. The movable abutment is “movable” in that a portion can either be sheared from the body or permanently bent over with respect to the body. 
     The striker rib is located within a periphery of the actuator, recessed inwardly of a rear wall of the actuator. The movable abutment is also located recessed inwardly from a rear wall of the body, and located inwardly from the striker rib when the actuator is in a closed position, before the initial opening of the closure. By using an inwardly located striker rib instead of a shearing wall located at a rear of the actuator, a lever mechanical advantage is achieved. A tilting force exerted on a rear edge of the actuator at a first distance from the tilting axis of the actuator is multiplied at the striker rib, which is located at a second, shorter distance from the tilting axis. 
     In the embodiment wherein the movable abutment is sheared by the striker rib, in order to control the manner in which, and the force at which, the abutment is sheared, the body has a control surface at the base of the abutment. The control surface is obliquely angled and extends out from the front and rear surface of the abutment, and preferably also extends laterally from the sides of the abutment. The control surface controls the direction of fracture of the abutment. With this surface, fracture is more likely to occur within a predetermined narrow range of forces applied to the abutment via a force on the actuator. 
     The toggle-action dispensing closure of the present invention is adapted to be mounted over or formed on, the opening of a container, especially a container of the type having a generally flexible wall portion which can be squeezed to assist in dispensing the contents from the container. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a closure of the present invention, shown in a non-dispensing, closed condition prior to installation on a container; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of the closure shown in a non-dispensing, closed condition; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a body part of the closure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the body part shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom, side perspective view of an actuator part of the closure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a front, bottom perspective view of the actuator part of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken from FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of the actuator shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the actuator shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the closure as illustrated in FIG. 3, but in an initial stage of being opened; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the closure as illustrated in FIG. 11, but in a final stage of being opened to the full open condition; 
     FIG. 13 is a rear view of the closure in the full open condition as illustrated in FIG. 12; and 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of the closure in the full open condition as illustrated in FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only one specific form as an example of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment so described, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims. 
     For ease of description, the closure of this invention is described in an upright position, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will be understood, however, that the closure of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the position described. 
     FIGS. 1 through 3 show an embodiment of the dispensing closure structure of the present invention. In this embodiment, a closure is illustrated in a closed, non-dispensing condition wherein the closure is represented generally by reference numeral  20 . The closure  20  is adapted to be mounted on a container (not illustrated) which may have a conventional open mouth defined by a neck (not illustrated) or other suitable structure. Alternatively, at least part of the closure could be formed unitarily with a container. In either case, the container would advantageously be of the type having a generally flexible wall portion which can be squeezed to assist in dispensing the contents from the container. 
     The closure  20  includes a closure base or body  24  for securement to the container. As seen in FIG. 3, the body  24  includes a generally cylindrical, upper wall  26  and a generally cylindrical, lower wall  27 . A generally transverse closure wall or deck  28  (FIGS. 3 and 4) extends across the body  24  between the upper wall  26  and lower wall  27 . 
     The lower, cylindrical wall  27  of the closure body  24  is adapted to engage the outer periphery of the top of the container neck (not illustrated) around the container mouth, as with snap fit elements  29 . Other suitable engaging means (e.g., threads) may be provided to secure the closure body  24  to the container. Alternatively, in some applications, the closure body  24  could be non-releasably attached to, or formed unitarily with, the container. 
     An annular plug seal  30  may be provided for engaging an interior edge of the container neck at the container mouth to effect a tight seal. Other known seals such as a “crabs claw” seal can also be used instead of the plug seal. 
     The closure body  24  includes a discharge passage  40  through the deck  28  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ). In the preferred embodiment, the passage  40  is formed by a discharge tube  42  projecting upwardly from the deck  28 , wherein a discharge aperture  43  is formed at an end of the tube  42 . The discharge aperture  43  may be defined by a slightly convex sealing bead around the inner periphery of the upper end of the tube  42 . The tube  42  communicates fluid through the deck  28  from the container interior at the lower end of the tube  42 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cylindrical, upper wall  26  of the closure body  24  extends upwardly above, and around, the deck  28 . A rear portion of the wall  26  above the deck  28  defines a fingerwell or finger recess area  44  in the form of a cutout or notch from the top edge  26   a  of the wall  26 . 
     The closure body  24  receives a generally disc-like nozzle assembly or actuator  60  (FIGS. 3,  6 ,  7 ,  9 ,  10 ). The actuator  60  includes a transverse top wall  62  and a peripheral flange  64 . At each of two diametrically opposed portions of the flange  64 , there is a projecting, hemispherical protuberance or pivot member  66  (FIGS.  6  and  7 ). 
     The pivot members  66  cooperate with the closure body upper wall  26  to mount the actuator  60  for pivoting movement within the closure body  24 . To this end, the inner surface of the closure body wall  26  defines two hemispherical recesses  68  (one shown in FIG. 4) for mating each with one of the pivot members  66 , to provide a snap-action engagement of each pivot member  66  and respective recess  68 . Also, the body  24  provides a group of three spaced-apart side columns  67   a,    67   b,    67   c  on each side, adjacent recess  68 , which each have an arcuate top surface  67   d,  and which, as a group may be characterized as defining an arcuate top support surface. The actuator  60  includes side cams  69   a,    69   b  which slide on the surfaces  67   d  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ). The surfaces  67   d  support the actuator  60  during the pivoting movement of the actuator  60  about a tilting axis T (FIGS. 9 and 10) defined by the pivot members  66  and receiving recesses  68 . 
     The top edge  26   a  of the wall  26 , above each recess  68 , may be provided with a chamfer  68   a  (FIG. 4) for facilitating assembly. When the body  24  and actuator  60  are assembled, the actuator pivot members  66  and body recesses  68  function as mounting means so that the actuator  60  can be pivoted or tilted about the tilting axis T (by pushing downwardly on the rear portion of the actuator  60 ) until the forward end is exposed above the closure body wall  26  as illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 14. 
     The actuator  60  includes a structure on the bottom surface of the top wall  62  which functions—depending upon the orientation of the actuator  60 —to either permit dispensing of flowable material from the body discharge tube  42  or occlude the tube passage  40  so as to prevent flow out of the discharge tube  42 . In particular, the actuator  60  includes a forwardly extending nozzle or channel  70  which merges with, and opens into, a stepped, cylindrical sealing wall  79  (FIGS. 3,  6 ,  7  and  12 ). 
     The wall  79  surrounds and seals the upper periphery of the discharge tube  42  when the actuator  60  is in the closed position as illustrated in FIG.  3 . In particular, the wall  79  forms a seal around the outer periphery of the discharge tube  42  as indicated by reference number  80  at the front of the tube  42  and as indicated by the reference numeral  84  at the rear of the tube  42 . 
     Preferably, a sealing plug  86  (FIGS. 3 and 6) projects downwardly from the bottom of the actuator top wall  62 . The sealing plug  86  has a generally cylindrical or annular configuration and is adapted to enter into the discharge aperture  43  at the top of the discharge tube  42  to sealingly occlude the discharge passage  40  when the actuator is in the closed position as illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     On the other hand, when the rear of the actuator  60  is pushed down to tilt the actuator to the dispensing position, as illustrated progressively in FIGS. 3,  11 , and  12 , the front portion of the sealing plug  86  is tilted away from the top of the discharge tube  42  to permit flow of the material out of the discharge aperture  43  of the tube  42  and through the dispensing nozzle  70 . When the actuator  60  is tilted completely to the full open dispensing position as illustrated in FIG. 12, the wall  79  still continues to seal the outer periphery of the upper end of the discharge tube  42  so that the container contents, while being dispensed into the nozzle  70 , cannot leak out around the top of the discharge tube  42 . 
     The actuator  60  can be pivoted to the open position by applying a downwardly directed force at a location on the top of the actuator  60 . To this end, a rear portion of the actuator top wall  62  is recessed within a concave surface or finger well  90  (FIGS. 2 and 3) for receiving the end of a thumb or finger. 
     A lug  98  (FIGS. 2,  3  and  6 ) projects rearwardly from the outer, vertical surface of the actuator peripheral flange  64  at the rear of the actuator  60 . As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 11, the closure body cylindrical, upper wall  26  defines an edge  26   b  which underlies an engagement surface, such as an angled bottom surface  98   a  of the lug  98 , on the back of the actuator  60 . When the actuator  60  is forcibly tilted to the dispensing position (FIG.  11 ), the lug resiliently displaces the edge  26   b  rearwardly, to pass thereby. 
     The lug  98  serves to provide a resilient catch for the actuator  60  in the closed position which must be overcome by a slight force as it is being pivoted to the open position. The lug  98  clears the surface  26   b  when it is completely open (FIG.  12 ). The actuator  60  can be returned to the closed position by pushing down on the front part of the actuator. The actuator flange  64  and/or the closure body finger recess rear wall portion  44  are sufficiently resilient to permit the bottom surface  98   a  of the lug  98  to move past, and snap above, the surface  26   b  when the actuator returns to its closed condition (FIG.  3 ). 
     In accordance with the present invention, a permanently deformable and/or severable abutment  109  (FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 ), is provided to prevent accidental, first time movement of the actuator  60  to the open, dispensing orientation shown in FIG.  12 . This provides a closure which is resistant to inadvertent actuation during shipping and handling, prior to first use by a consumer. 
     The abutment  109  includes a post  110  and a base  120 . The post  110  is located between the tilting axis T of the actuator  60  and a rear edge  29  of the body deck  28 , and projects upwardly from the base  120  (FIGS.  3  and  5 ). The base  120  extends upwardly from the body deck  28 . The post  110 , in the illustrated preferred embodiment, has a generally rectangular transverse cross-section, four planar sides, and a substantially semicylindrical top. The top is preferably defined by a small, flat, planar surface that merges on either side with an arcuate surface which is preferably partially cylindrical. As shown in FIG. 5, for a closure with an outside diameter of about 1.25 inches, the post  110  has a preferred thickness dimension t of about 0.05 inches, and a preferred width dimension w of about 0.06 inches (FIG.  5 ). As shown in FIG. 11, the post  110  extends a preferred distance m of about 0.14 inches between a lowest point of contact c by the striker rib and the base  120 . The base  120  can have a planar front face  121  that extends upwardly at a forward side a distance h of about 0.015 inches from the deck  28 . The base can have a lateral dimension j of about 0.070 inches and a lengthwise dimension k of about 0.080 inches (FIG.  5 ). 
     The post  110  has a front surface  131  facing inwardly toward the center of the closure. One side of the post  110  faces rearwardly and is defined by a generally planar, engaging surface  136 . The base  120  has an inclined, generally rectangular top surface which defines a fracture control surface  134 . The surface  134  extends from a position rearwardly of the engagement surface  136  of the post  110  to a position forwardly of the front surface  131  of the post  110 . The fracture control surface  134  extends laterally (“lateral” direction being parallel to the tilting axis T) beyond side surfaces of the post  110  (FIG.  5 ). 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the fracture control surface  134  sloping down forwardly and oriented at an oblique angle B relative to the longitudinal axis (vertical axis as oriented in FIG. 3) of the closure. In the preferred embodiment, the angle of the fracture control surface  134  is about 60 degrees. In the preferred embodiment, wherein the post  110  has the engaging surface  136  which is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closure, the angle defined between the engaging surface  136  and the fracture control surface  134  is also about 60 degrees. Although the preferred embodiment incorporates a planar fracture control surface, other shapes could be employed. 
     A striker rib  140  (FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 ) extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the actuator  60 . It is arranged to be positioned behind the post  110  when the actuator is in the closed position shown in FIG.  3 . The striker rib  140 , as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, includes an engagement plate  140   a  which is reinforced by a backing rib  140   b,  forming a T-shaped profile taken in a horizontal plane (FIG.  10 ). The engagement plate  140   a  is preferably slightly concave or curved to help retain the post  110  in contact with a central portion of the engagement plate  140   a  during forced movement of the post  110  by the striker rib  140 , i.e., to prevent the post from bending laterally and slipping behind the striker rib. 
     The interaction between the edge  26   b  of the closure body finger recess  44  and the actuator lug  98  tends to retain the actuator in the closed, non-dispensing position of FIG.  3 . However, when a sufficient force is applied to the top, rear portion of the actuator  60 , the striker rib  140  moves part way down behind the post  110  and then engages the post rear surface  136  as illustrated in FIG.  11 . 
     At this position, forces to which the actuator  60  may be subjected during shipping and handling are typically insufficient to deform or shear the post  110 . Thus, the actuator  60  cannot be tilted to any significant extent away from the closed, non-dispensing position when the actuator is subjected only to such forces. 
     When a consumer subsequently wishes to use the closure for the first time, the consumer initially applies a substantially greater force to the actuator finger well  90 . A force equal to, or greater than, a predetermined force will drive the striker rib  140  against the surface  136  of the post  110  with a force sufficient to sever the post  110  from the base  120 . 
     To assist in severing the post  110 , the striker rib  140  is arranged to have its engagement plate  140   a  at a distance d 1  from the tilting axis T (FIG.  3 ), which is less than a distance d 2  between the tilting axis T and a rear edge R of the finger well  90 . Thus, pressing the actuator in the region adjacent the edge R provides a lever-mechanical advantage to multiply the force that the striker rib exerts on the post  110 . For the closure with the outside diameter of 1.25 inches, and the post  110  dimensions of t being about 0.05 inches, w being about 0.060 inches, and m being about 0.14 inches, the distance d 1  is preferably about 0.32 inches and the dimension d 2  is preferably about 0.49 inches. The distance d 1  is therefore about 65% of the distance d 2 . 
     The post  110  is severed as a result of a fracture which is initiated at the convergence of the angled fracture control surface  134  with the engaging surface  136  of the post  110 . This location defines a first stress riser, and the fracture begins along the convergence of the two surfaces and then propagates through the cross-section of the post  110 . A notch can be formed at this location to assist in propagating the fracture. The fracture tends to be directed along a path which is a continuation of the angled fracture control surface  134 . The fracture should terminate at a second stress raiser located at the intersection of the front surface  131  of the post  110  and the fracture control surface. However, it has been found that the fracture, in many cases, may extend in a somewhat uneven manner at an angle that may be less than the angle of the control surface  134 . That is, the angle of the fracture surface may be closer to a horizontal orientation. 
     In any event, the fracture tends to occur within a more narrow range of forces applied to the top of the actuator  60  due to the control surface  134 . 
     The deck  28  is reinforced by a circular boss  28   a  (FIG. 5) located beneath a rear edge region of the base  120 . The boss  28   a  prevents tearing of the deck  28 , and consequent leaking, at what would otherwise be a stress riser connection between the base  120  and the deck  28 . This helps to ensure that fracture occurs along the fracture control surface  134 . 
     Once the post  110  has been sheared off, the actuator can be subsequently closed and then reopened as necessary. The subsequent reopening of the actuator requires considerably less force than is required to initially shear off the post  110 . The force required for subsequent actuation need only be great enough to overcome the interfering engagement between the lug  98  and edge  26   b  of the body wall  26  (as well as any other snap fit interference features that may be employed to provide a small retention force on the actuator in the closed position). 
     Although the preferred embodiment post  110  is designed to be sheared from the base  120  during initial opening of the closure, the invention also encompasses a design wherein the post  110  is bent over, preferably permanently, rather than sheared off, during initial opening of the closure. In this alternate embodiment, the post would be sufficiently permanently deformed to allow subsequent opening of the closure without interference between the post and the actuator. 
     The closure of the present invention can be readily molded from thermoplastic materials, such as polypropylene, and easily assembled to provide a stream-lined product. The closure provides a desirable toggle-action dispensing operation. 
     It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.