Abstract:
A dispensing closure for a container comprising a closure body adapted to be mounted on the container. The closure body has a dispensing orifice and a sealing cap. A pair of adjacently spaced living hinges connect the sealing cap to the closure body for movement between an open and a closed position. The closure body and sealing cap have sealing elements that provide a complete peripheral seal between the sealing cap and the closure body when in the closed position. The sealing cap has a camming lug located between the living hinges, and contacting the sealing elements on the closure body without impairing the integrity of the sealing elements, and further provides a snap-action to the movement of the sealing cap from the open to the closed position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/509,523, filed Oct. 9, 2003, and earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/587,518, filed Jul. 13, 2004. These documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Dispensing containers are used in a variety of industries for the dispensing of various liquid products. For example, in the beauty industry, products such as shampoo, conditioner, creams and lotions are all packaged in flexible containers having a dispensing closure mounted thereon. Such dispensing containers are also used in the food industry for various condiments, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and syrups.  
         [0003]     One important aspect to the mounting of a dispensing closure in the food industry is sealing of the closure immediately after filling. After filling, containers for products, such as syrup, are often subjected to warm water baths to wash away excess product, dust, and the like, and may be further subjected to cooling baths to cool product that is filled while hot. For example, chocolate syrup is filled into the containers at a temperature of about 180° F. After filling, the dispensing closure is mounted onto the container while the product is still hot, and the container is run through a warm bath to wash of excess product that may have spilled onto the outside of the container. The container can thereafter be run through a cooling bath to cool the container to a suitable temperature for further processing. After filling of the container and mounting of the dispensing closure, it is imperative to keep the interior head space of the dispensing closure clean so as to present an aseptic and sterile appearance to the end consumer when opened. In the past, it had been found that rinsing water often infiltrated the seal of the cap on the closure leaving behind residue inside the cap.  
         [0004]     To remedy the problem several manufacturers have provided drain openings around the periphery of the cap so that the water can drain out quickly after rinsing. However, this promotes the infiltration of water into the head space, and can actually result in increased levels of residue inside the cap.  
         [0005]     Other manufacturers have attempted to keep the water out by providing a complete seal around the cap. However, there has always been a weak spot in the seal in the vicinity of the cap hinge. It is generally known that as the volume of air inside the head space of the cap begins to cool, the air volume shrinks, and creates a small vacuum that tends to draw water inwardly into the interior of the cap.  
         [0006]     Another aspect to mounting of dispensing closures is alignment of the dispensing spout with respect to the shape of the container onto which the dispensing closure is mounted. It has been an engineering challenge to provide dispensing closures having a spout that aligns perfectly with the container shape when mounted in a robotic filling line environment. One remedy to the alignment issue has been to place the dispensing orifice at the exact center of the dispensing closure. However, this forces changes in the hinge structure of the cap thus creating external alignment issues with respect to the orientation of the hinges.  
         [0007]     It is thus imperative to provide a dispensing closure with a complete peripheral seal around the outer circumference so that no water can infiltrate into the head space of the cap during processing, particularly during cooling, and to provide a dispensing closure that is universally oriented with respect to the shape of the plastic container onto which it is mounted.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The closure of the present invention obviates such problems in an efficient, low-cost fashion through use of a molded single-piece plastic construction with integrally molded living hinges and dual complete peripheral seals. By incorporating a sealing bead on a sealing cap and a sealing bead on an annular sealing surface of the closure body, the sealing beads prevent the infiltration of water into the sealing cap during the manufacturing process and thus provides an aseptic and sterile appearance to the end consumer when opened. The sealing beads also have the added benefit of providing an audible and tactile click operation to the dispensing closure, informing consumers that the dispensing closure is fully closed and sealed.  
         [0009]     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing closure that has a snap-action sealing cap. This feature also being seen as desirable by consumers.  
         [0010]     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing closure that does not have to be orientated during assembly onto the container to align the hinges of the sealing cap or to orient the dispensing orifice in a particular direction. This invention accomplishes both goals through use of a low-profile hinge structure that mates to the closure body during manufacturing and has a centrally placed dispensing orifice obviating the need for expensive equipment to align and position the dispensing closures prior to or during assembly onto containers.  
         [0011]     Other advantages and features of the present advantage will become apparent in the drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first dispensing closure, constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention, applied to a container;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the dispensing closure, on an enlarged scale, such view showing the dispensing closure in its as-molded condition;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the dispensing closure of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dispensing closure with the sealing cap pivoted to its vertically oriented, opened position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the camming lug on the sealing cap that cooperates with a rigid wall on the closure body, such view being taken on an enlarged scale;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the dispensing closure showing the hinges that join the sealing cap to the closure body;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the dispensing closure showing the gripping surfaces that allow the user to open the dispensing closure;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the dispensing spout, i.e. orifice has been moved to the central axis of the closure;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view with the cap in the open position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view with the cap in the closed position; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the closure with the cap in the open position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective of a third and most preferred embodiment of the invention showing the cap in its as-molded condition;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is another perspective view thereof showing the cap in an intermediate position with the hinge arm locked onto the body of the cap;  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a bottom plan view thereof;  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a left side plan view thereof;  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view thereof;  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is another cross-sectional view thereof;  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged cross-section view showing the sealing cap in the closure position and the two lines of peripheral sealing between the sealing cap flange and the annular sealing surface;  
         [0031]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 21  is another perspective view of the fourth embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a first embodiment of a dispensing closure constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. The dispensing closure is generally identified at  10 , and is shown secured to the upper end of the neck of container  12 . Container  12  may assume the form of a plastic bottle, which may be tilted, and squeezed, to discharge its contents through closure  10 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows dispensing closure  10  in its as-molded condition, prior to its securement to container  12 . Closure  10  comprises sealing cap  14 , a closure body  16 , and a pair of hinges  18 ,  20  that join the sealing cap to the closure body. Sealing cap  14  is pivoted along the center line  22  of the hinges relative to closure body  16 .  
         [0035]     Sealing cap  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , includes an annular flange  24 , a camming lug  26  located on flange  24  in proximity to closure body  16 , and a depending peg  28 . Camming lug  26  is curved, when viewed from above, and follows the contour of flange  24 . Flange  24 , remote from camming lug  26 , is reduced in thickness to form gripping surface  30 .  
         [0036]     Closure body  16  includes a smooth upper wall  32  interrupted by dispensing orifice  34 ; the dispensing orifice communicates with the interior of the closure body. An annular sealing surface  36  is located below upper wall  32 , and encircles closure body  16 , and skirt  38  below the upper wall  32 . Horizontal ledge  40  is formed between annular sealing surface  36  and skirt  38 . An indentation  42  is formed in the exterior surface of skirt  38  at a location remote from hinges  18 ,  20 , and in alignment with camming lug  26 .  
         [0037]     Locator ring  44  depends below upper wall  32  into the interior of closure body  16 , and internal threads  46  are arranged in helical fashion around the interior of skirt  38 . Ring  44  engages the end of the neck of container  12  to which dispensing closure  10  is applied, while threads  46  cooperate with complementary threads, or lugs, on the neck of the container  12  to secure dispensing closure  10  in fixed position.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show a dispensing closure, which is a unitary molding, in its as-molded condition, as it exits the mold. However, prior to use, in order to properly orient the molecular structure of the molded plastic in the area of living hinges  18 ,  20 , sealing cap  14  is pivoted 180 degrees to its closed position. The sealing cap  14  as in  FIGS. 6 and 7  indicates the position into which sealing cap  14  is pivoted to achieve the desired molecular orientation. Hinges  18 ,  20  are thin, resilient plastic members that are deformed repeatedly over the useful life of the dispensing closure, so that sturdy, durable hinges are necessary for successful operation.  
         [0039]     Camming lug  26  as shown in  FIG. 5 , extends beyond flange  24 . Consequently, when sealing cap  14  is pivoted to the upright position (shown in  FIG. 4 ), camming lug  26  engages, and slides along annular sealing surface  36  on closure body  16 . The interference between camming lug  26  and annular sealing surface  36  stresses hinges  18 ,  20 , and aligns the molecular structure of the plastic within the hinges. Edge  48  of camming lug  26  is rounded so that the camming lug does not gouge annular sealing surface  36 , an important consideration since sealing cap  14  is pivoted to its closed position shortly after removal from the mold. Rounded edge  48  also enhances the snap-action of sealing cap  14 .  
         [0040]     Camming lug  26  is strategically located between spaced hinges  18 ,  20 , for effectively stressing same within their elastic limits. The hinges may be strengthened, if warranted, by the addition of reinforcing ribs  50 ,  52 . The ribs are visible in  FIG. 3 , and conform to the contour of the exterior edges of the hinges. The gap between sealing cap  14  and closure body  16 , that is spanned by hinges  18 ,  20 , is also visible.  
         [0041]     Hinges  18  and  20  are each integrally formed with a holder. Holder  54  for hinge  18  is shown in  FIG. 5 , and a similar holder (not shown) is formed with hinge  20 . In order to impart a limited degree of resiliency to holder  19 , an arcuate recess  56  is removed from skirt  38  in the vicinity of the hinges and camming lug  26 . The size and shape of segment  56  is shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0042]     Recess  56  imparts resiliency to holder  54  for hinge  18 , and does the same for the holder for hinge  20 . The limited resiliency of the holders for hinges  18 ,  20  permits some relaxation of the close tolerances associated with dispensing closures, without sacrificing desirable operational characteristics.  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , recess  56  receives camming lug  26  when sealing cap  14  is swung into sealing engagement with closure body  16 . Flange  24  of sealing cap  14  contacts ledge  40  to form a snug seal about the circumference of ledge  40 . The inner surface of flange  24  contacts annular sealing surface  36  to further enhance the efficiency of the sealing action, which keeps water and/or other fluids from reaching the interior of the closed dispenser closure. Additionally, dispensing closure  10 , when closed, assumes a compact, or low, profile.  
         [0044]      FIG. 7  shows gripping surface  30  on sealing cap  14  in relationship to indentation  42  on skirt  38  of closure body  16 . Surface  30  and indentation  42  cooperate to allow the user of the cap to insert his finger beneath sealing cap  14  and manually lift same. After the sealing cap is pivoted partially toward its vertical, or opened position, camming lug  26 , in concert with hinges  18 ,  20  imparts a snap-action to the sealing cap. Sealing cap  14  is retained in its vertical position by camming lug  26  pressing against annular sealing surface  36  on the closure body, in opposition to the forces imparted by hinges  18  and  20 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0045]     Closure  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-7  and as described in the foregoing specification, realizes several advantages over known dispensing closures. To illustrate, the significant sealing area defined between flange  24  and ledge  40 , as well as the back-up seal between the surface of annular sealing surface  36  and flange  24 , allows the closure to be used on food products, such as ketchup, syrups, and the like. After filling, containers, for such products, such as flexible plastic bottles, are subjected to warm water baths to wash away excess product, dust, and the like. Such warm water baths have occasionally left droplets of water behind—an unsightly proposition that offends the ultimate user and may even pose a minor health hazard. Closure  10 , as presently configured, obviates such problem in an efficient, lowcost fashion.  
         [0046]     Furthermore, the use of pair of spaced hinges  18 ,  20 , has materially increased the resistance of closure  10  to twisting forces. Such forces come into play as automated capping machinery applies torque to the closure to screw same onto the neck of a container or if consumers twist the closure to remove it from the neck of the container.  
         [0047]     Hinges  18  and  20  are folded when sealing cap  14  is engaged, in sealing relationship, with closure body  16 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the folded hinges project outwardly a small distance from the closure body, and do not interfere with the sealing engagement of flange  24  and ledge  40 , and/or with the interior surface of flange  24  and annular sealing surface  36 . Also, closure  10  is aesthetically pleasing, with a slightly curved upper wall  32  on closure body  16 , such wall being unbroken except for dispensing orifice  34 . The manner in which camming lug  26  fits into recess  56  when sealing cap  14  is closed, is also pleasing to the eye, and precludes accumulation of excess food product, and/or dire, after discharge from container  12 .  
         [0048]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an alternative closure generally indicated at  100  comprises a sealing cap  114  and a closure body  116  connected by hinge  118 . The closure  100  generally has a taller configuration and the dispensing orifice  134  is centered on the closure body  116 . the dispensing orifice  134  is composed a narrower upper channel  134   a  and a wider lower channel  134   b  to employ fluid dynamic principles to minimize spillage of the contents after the consumer dispenses the desired amount of product.  
         [0049]     Sealing cap  114  is pivoted about the hinge between an open and closed configuration. Closure body  116  is provided with deck  132  and dispensing orifice  134  centrally located and extending upwardly from deck  132 . Extending about the full circumference of the deck is sealing surface  136 . Located inwardly of this sealing surface is rib  152  and recess  154 .  
         [0050]     The structure of the sealing cap can also be seen in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9 . As can be seen, the sealing cap  114  is provided with a plug  128  that cooperates with dispensing orifice  134 . Extending from the sealing cap is a peripheral skirt that cooperates with the sealing surface  136 . Extension  156  extends from the underside of the sealing cap  114  and whose function will be described later. As can be seen, the closure has threads  146  for attaching the closure to the neck of a bottle.  
         [0051]      FIG. 10  shows an enclosed configuration of the closure. Clearly seen is the plug  128  in engagement with the dispensing orifice  134 . Also, the seal between the skirt of the sealing cap and the annular sealing surface  136  is completely seen, including the seal immediately adjacent the hinge. The seal between the skirt and annular sealing surface  136  extends about the entire periphery of the deck. As can be seen in this figure as well, is the placement of the extension  156  into the recess  154 . As can be seen, while closing the sealing cap, rib  152  and extension  156  come into direct contact, providing a camming action when the sealing cap is opened and closed.  
         [0052]      FIG. 11  shows the bottom side of the closure. As can be seen, the bottom of recess  154  does not interfere with the dispensing of contents through dispensing orifice  134  or the engagement of threads  146  onto a container.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 12-19  illustrates a third and most preferred embodiment of the invention that combines all of the valued features of the earlier described embodiments, such as low profile hinge structure, symmetrical outer body structure, centrally positioned dispensing orifice, and complete peripheral seals. Similar to the embodiment in  FIGS. 8-11 , the dispensing orifice  234  is centrally aligned along the central axis of the closure body  216 . However, the hinge structure  218  is modified so as to blend into the peripheral skirt  238  of the closure body  216 , obviating the need to orient the closure  200  when mounted on a container  12 .  
         [0054]     The closure is generally indicated at  200  and comprises a sealing cap  214  and a closure body  216  integrally connected by a hinge structure  218  having two living hinges  218   a  and  218   b.    
         [0055]     The closure sealing cap  214  includes an upper wall  223 , annular flange wall  224  depending downwardly from the upper wall  223 , and a central sealing bead  226  depending downwardly from the center of the upper wall  223 .  
         [0056]     The closure body  216  has an upper wall  232  including a centrally positioned dispensing orifice  234 , an annular sealing surface  236 , an upper peripheral skirt  238   a  and a lower peripheral skirt  238   b.    
         [0057]     The sealing cap  214  is connected to the closure body  216  by a hinge structure  218  that is specifically designed to form a low profile when snapped into position. The living hinge  218  includes a hinge body  219  having a body hinge  218   a  adjacent to the closure body  216  and a sealing cap hinge  218   b  adjacent to the sealing cap  214 . The hinge body  219  and the upper peripheral skirt  238   a  of the closure body  216  are provided with interfitting mating formations  220  and  222  that snap together when the hinge body  219  is rotated about the body hinge  218   a . More specifically, the formations  220  and  222  comprise two hook-shaped tabs  220  in the surface of the upper peripheral flange  238   a  and two complimentary receiving tabs  222  on the hinge body  219 . However, other similar configurations are possible. The intention of the hinge structure  218  is to provide a low profile, substantially flush engagement when snapped into position. In the as molded configuration, the closure body  216 , hinge structure  218 , and sealing cap  214  are laid out flat (See  FIGS. 12, 14 ,  15 , and  18 ). Upon removal from the mold, the hinge body  219  is pivoted about the body hinge  218   a  so that the sealing cap hinge  218   b  is positioned in proximity to the upper wall  232  of the closure body  216 , with the sealing cap oriented 90 degrees relative to the upper wall of the closure body (see  FIG. 13 ).  
         [0058]     The sealing cap hinge  218   b  has a similar configuration to the hinge tab structure  26  shown in  FIG. 4 , and is movable between an open position ( FIG. 13 ) and a closed position (not fully shown). When the sealing cap  214  is moved into the fully closed position the sealing bead  226  encircles and engages the outer walls of the dispensing orifice  234  to seal the dispensing orifice  234  at the opening.  
         [0059]     Referring back to  FIG. 12 , the dispensing closure  200  is shown in its as-molded condition. Therefore hinges  218   a ,  218   b  are formed in a 90 degree open configuration and contrary to industry practice of forming living hinges in a 180 degree open or flat configuration.  
         [0060]     To provide a complete peripheral seal around the upper wall  232 , i.e. to prevent water from infiltrating onto the upper wall  232 , the lower edge of the flange wall  224  of the sealing cap  214  includes a continuous peripheral sealing bead  240 . When the sealing cap  214  is moved to the closed position, the sealing bead  240  engages the entire circumference of the annular sealing surface  236  to form a continuous primary seal around the circumference of the closure  200 . In addition, to form a secondary sealing line, the outer peripheral edge of the upper wall  232  includes a peripheral sealing bead  242  that engages the inner wall of the sealing cap flange  224  when the sealing cap  214  is moved to the closed position.  
         [0061]     In particular, please refer to  FIG. 19 , which shows the sealing configuration in better detail.  
         [0062]     Referring now to  FIGS. 15 and 18 , depending from the inside surface of the upper wall  232  and surrounding the dispensing orifice  234  is a flow modulator  250 . The flow modulator  250  has two spaced-apart flow walls  252 ,  254  that are configured to face each other and form a channel  256 . The flow walls  252 ,  254  have two restriction edges  252   a ,  254   b  that taper inwardly towards one another to form two relief openings  258  that are generally V-shaped. The function of the flow modulator  250  is to provide added restriction to the flow of a viscous fluid through the dispensing orifice and to prevent spillage of the fluid onto the outside surface of the upper wall  232 .  
         [0063]      FIGS. 20 and 21  show an alternative embodiment for the configuration of the instant invention at  300 . In particular, the interfitting mating formations comprise a T-shaped tab  320  located on the upper peripheral flange  338   a , and a complimentary slot  322  located on the hinge body  319 .  
         [0064]     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other versions are possible to those with ordinary skill in the art. For example, other means could be used to attach the closure to the container other than screw threads, such as a snap-rim. Also, other arrangements of the interfitting mating formations could be used to anchor the hinge body to the upper peripheral skirt. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.