Abstract:
A self-piercing closure for a container includes a laminar closing member, a closure body, and a piercing member for piercing a closing member. After piercing of the closing member, a self-closing valve of the closure dispenses flowable media from the container. In some examples, the piercing member is formed separately from the closure body, and is attachable to the closure body. The closure body may include a deformable region, and deformation of the deformable region may allow the closure body to move from a first position to a second position. Movement of the closure body from the first position to the second position may activate the piercing means.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/643,946, “SELF-PIERCING CLOSURE WITH A SELF-CLOSING VALVE,” filed Oct. 26, 2012, which is the U.S. National Phase application corresponding to International PCT Application Serial No. PCT/GB2011/000648, “SELF-PIERCING CLOSURE WITH A SELF-CLOSING VALVE,” filed Apr. 26, 2011, which claims priority to Great Britain Application No. 1009427.4, filed Jun. 4, 2010, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a closure and particularly to a self-piercing closure suitable for use in conjunction with a container of the type having a laminar closing member such as a foil panel which must be breached in order to gain access to the contents of the container. 
         [0003]    Containers which are used for holding and dispensing food products, such as ketchup, often have foil membranes affixed over the mouth of the container. 
         [0004]    It is known to provide self-piercing closures which include some means of breaching a laminar closing member, such as a cutting or piercing member which forms part of the closure and is suitable to cut or pierce the closing member. For example, EP1234778 describes a closure which pierces and cuts a panel out of the closing member and also lifts and retains it in the closure. However, existing closures do not have the ability to regulate and control the flow of product subsequently leaving the container through the breached closing member. 
         [0005]    The present invention seeks to address the above problems with known self-piercing closures. 
         [0006]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-piercing closure for a container of a type having a laminar closing member, the closure comprising a closure body and having piercing means for piercing a closing member in use, the closure further comprising a self-closing valve for dispensing flowable media from a container following piercing of the closing member is use. 
         [0007]    The first aspect of the present invention therefore combines a valve into a self-piercing closure arrangement so that once the laminar closing member is breached the flow of product from the container is under the control of the self-closing valve which has benefits including smooth product flow and prevention of leakage. 
         [0008]    The term “piercing means” is intended to cover any mechanism for penetrating the laminar closure member including cutting, piercing, slicing, tearing, punching and the like. 
         [0009]    The closure may comprise a piercing member for providing the piercing means. The piercing member may be provided as an integral part of the closure body or may be provided as a separate component which is attachable to the closure body. 
         [0010]    The piercing member may be formed separately from and be attachable to the closure body. For example the member may be formed as a separate insert which can be clipped or otherwise connected into the body, for example from ‘underneath’. In some embodiments the member is formed as an annular cutting wheel which snap-fits into the body and carries a plurality of cutting teeth projecting at one end. 
         [0011]    The piercing member may therefore service the dual functions of clipping the valve into place and carrying cutting/piercing means. 
         [0012]    The piercing member may retain or help to retain the self-closing valve in the closure. For example, the self-closing valve may be assembled into the main closure body and then the piercing member is fitted into the closure body in such a way that it retains the self-closing valve. 
         [0013]    The piercing member may comprise engagement means for attaching to the body. For example the member and body may be provided with co-operating snap-fit engagement means (such as snap beads). 
         [0014]    The closure may be movable from a first position to a second position to activate the piercing means. For example, a push button or a bistable support part may be used. 
         [0015]    The closure body may comprise a deformable region for allowing it to move from the first to the second position as it is activated. The deformable region may be thinned to assist movement. The deformation may be achieved by a ‘rolling’ action in which part of the body turns in on itself, for example moving from an L-shape to a U-shape. 
         [0016]    The closure may be formed in the second position and moved to the first position prior to activation. For example, if the closure is moulded from a thermoplastics material it can be moulded in the ‘activated’ position and then moved to the non-activated initial position before it has cooled. This sets the ‘memory’ of the material to the activated position so that in use it moves more easily away from the unpierced, rest position back to the activated position. 
         [0017]    The closure may comprise a base and a lid, which may be connected together by a hinge such as a snap hinge. Such flip-top closures are increasingly common. 
         [0018]    The piercing means may be carried on or by the base and similarly the self-closing valve may be carried on or by the base. 
         [0019]    According to a second aspect there is provided a self-piercing closure for a container of the type having a laminar closing member, the closure comprising a closure body and having a piercing member for piercing a closing member in use, in which the piercing member comprises a depending skirt, and in which the closure further comprising a self-closing valve sub-assembly having a retaining member which retains a self-closing valve, the sub-assembly being located within the piercing member, whereby flowable media can be dispensed from a container through the self-closing valve following piercing of the closing member in use. 
         [0020]    Once piercing been carried out the user can then squeeze the container and force the product through the valve and an associated spout or orifice situated in the closure. 
         [0021]    As in the first aspect of the present invention, the term “piercing” is intended to cover any mechanism for penetrating the laminar closure member including cutting, piercing, slicing, tearing, punching and the like. The piercing member may therefore, for example, comprise cutting, piercing, slicing, breaking, rupturing, bursting or splitting means. 
         [0022]    The closure body may be movable from a first position to a second position to activate the piercing member in use. 
         [0023]    The body may include a spout movable from a raised, unactivated position to a depressed, activated position to move the closure from the first to the second position. 
         [0024]    The closure body may comprise a deformable region for allowing it to move from the first to the second position. The deformable region may form part of the body or may be formed separately from the body and be integrated therein, for example, using a sequential moulding process. 
         [0025]    The closure may be formed in the second position or in a position intermediate the first and second positions, and is moved to the first position prior to activation of the piercing member in use. 
         [0026]    The closure may be movable from a first position to a second position to activate the piercing means. For example, a push button or a bistable support part, panel, sleeve or the like may be used. 
         [0027]    The deformable region may be thinned to assist movement. The deformation may be achieved by a ‘rolling’ action in which part of the body turns in on itself, for example moving from an L-shape to a U-shape. 
         [0028]    The closure may be formed in the second position or in a position intermediate the first and second positions, and then moved to the first position prior to activation. For example, if the closure is moulded from a thermoplastics material it can be moulded in the ‘activated’ position and then moved to the non-activated initial position before it has cooled. This sets the ‘memory’ of the material to the activated position so that in use it moves more easily away from the unpierced, rest position back to the activated position. 
         [0029]    As in the first aspect of the present invention, the closure according to the second aspect may comprise a base and a lid. The base and lid may be connected together by a hinge. The piercing member may be provided on or by the base. 
         [0030]    The self-closing valve sub-assembly of the second aspect of the present invention may be formed separately from the closure and also from the container. 
         [0031]    The retaining member of the self-closing valve sub-assembly may comprise a body for receiving a self-closing valve, the body being receivable into the piercing member with the valve retained. 
         [0032]    The valve may be retained in the retaining member by being crimped in place. Alternatively or additionally, for example, the valve may be retained in the retaining member by being glued in place. 
         [0033]    The retaining member body may have a crimping flange capable of being bent from an uncrimped position to a crimped position to retain the valve in the device. The crimping flange may comprise an upstanding wall. 
         [0034]    The retaining member may comprise a circular upstanding wall and the crimping flange may comprise a circumferentially upstanding wall. 
         [0035]    The crimping flange may be adapted to engage a flange of a valve. 
         [0036]    The retaining member may comprise a bead for snap-fitting the sub-assembly into the piercing member. 
         [0037]    The retaining member may be formed as a retaining ring. 
         [0038]    The retaining member may be formed as a single-piece article. 
         [0039]    The sub-assembly may be retained within the closure by means of a mechanical and/or a chemical fit. Alternatively or additionally the sub-assembly may be snap-fittable into the closure. For example the retaining member and/or closure body may comprise a bead for snap-fitting the device into the closure. 
         [0040]    The retaining member may comprise a sloping surface for receiving a self-closing valve flange. 
         [0041]    The retaining member may be formed as a retaining ring. The retaining member may, for example, be formed as a single-piece article. 
         [0042]    The valve may be a non-laminar self-closing valve. 
         [0043]    In one example, the valve may be formed from a thermoplastic vulcanisate (TPV) material. 
         [0044]    In another example, the valve may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. 
         [0045]    In yet another example, the valve may be formed from a rubber material, such as nitryl rubber. 
         [0046]    Combinations of different materials are possible. Bi-injected valves are possible. 
         [0047]    The self-closing valve may comprise a flange, and the rigidity of the flange may be increased by the device. 
         [0048]    The closure body may comprise an outer skirt and an inner skirt. The piercing member may be provided within the inner skirt. For example the piercing member may be formed as a piercing skirt. 
         [0049]    The inner skirt may include formations for engaging a container neck, such as a screw thread and/or a snap bead. 
         [0050]    The second aspect of the present invention also provides a method of forming a self-piercing closure such as a closure in accordance with the second aspect described herein, the method comprising the steps of: forming the closure body in the second position or in a position intermediate the first and second positions; and moving the closure body to the first position. 
         [0051]    The method may further comprise the step of fitting a self-closing valve sub-assembly into the body. 
         [0052]    The body is moulded from a thermoplastics material. The body may be moulded in the activated position and then moved to the unactivated position before it has cooled. 
         [0053]    The second aspect of the present invention combines a valve into a self-piercing closure arrangement so that once the laminar closing member is breached the flow of product from the container is under the control of the self-closing valve which has benefits including smooth product flow and prevention of leakage. 
         [0054]    The piercing member may be provided as an integral part of the closure body or may be provided as a separate component which is attachable to the closure body. In some embodiments the piercing member is bi-injection moulded with the remainder of the body. 
         [0055]    The piercing member may be formed separately from and be attachable to the closure body. For example the member may be formed as a separate insert which can be clipped or otherwise connected into the body. 
         [0056]    As in the first aspect of the present invention, the closure according to the second aspect of the present invention may be formed so that the closure does not have to be removed in order to pierce the closing member. Further, as in the first aspect of the present invention, the closure according to the second aspect of the present invention may comprise a base and a lid, which may be connected together by a hinge such as a snap hinge. 
         [0057]    In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the piercing means may be carried on or by the base and similarly the self-closing valve may be carried on or by the base. 
         [0058]    Valves according to either aspect of the present invention may be formed from silicon or a silicon-based material. 
         [0059]    The second aspect of the present invention also provides a closure fitted with a self-closing valve assembly as described herein. 
         [0060]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a container having a closure as described herein (e.g., a closure in accordance with either the first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention). 
         [0061]    The first and second aspects of the present invention also provides for a method of forming a closure comprising a body having a piercing member and a self-closing valve (e.g., a closure in accordance with either the first aspect or second aspect of the present invention described above), the method comprising the steps of: forming the closure in a depressed, activated position, and moving the closure from the activated position to a raised, unactivated position prior to activation of the closure, wherein, after the closure is attached to a container having a laminar closing member, the piercing member pierces the closing member in the activated position of the closure. The step of forming the closure may comprise moulding the body from a thermoplastics material. Further, the step of forming the closure in the activated position may comprise moulding the body in the activated position, and the step of moving the closure from the activated position to the unactivated position may comprise moving the closure from the activated position to the unactivated position before it has cooled. In the context of the second aspect of the present invention, the method may further comprise the step of fitting a self-closing valve sub-assembly into the body. 
         [0062]    Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together. Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0063]    The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0064]      FIG. 1  is a section of a closure formed according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0065]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a piercing member forming part of the closure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0066]      FIG. 3  is a section of a closure formed according to an alternative configuration of the first embodiment; 
           [0067]      FIG. 4  is a perspective underplan view of part of the closure of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0068]      FIG. 5  shows a section of part of the closure of  FIGS. 3 and 4  with a bistable neck region shown in a second, activated position; 
           [0069]      FIG. 6  is a section of the closure part of  FIG. 5  with the neck region shown in a first, unactivated position; 
           [0070]      FIG. 7  is a section of a closure formed according to a second embodiment of the present invention and shown in an as-moulded position; 
           [0071]      FIG. 8  is a section illustrating the piercing mechanism of the closure of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0072]      FIG. 9  shows a closure formed according to an alternative configuration of the second embodiment; 
           [0073]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a retaining member suitable for use with the closures of  FIGS. 7 to 9 ; 
           [0074]      FIG. 11  is a section of the member of  FIG. 10  shown fitted with a valve and prior to retention; 
           [0075]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the sub-assembly of  FIG. 11  following retention of the valve in the member; and 
           [0076]      FIG. 13  is a section of the sub-assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0077]    Referring first to  FIG. 1  there is shown a closure generally indicated at  10 . The closure  10  comprises a body including a generally cylindrical base  20  and a lid  30  connected to each other by a hinge  40 . 
         [0078]    The closure  10  is shown fitted to a container neck  50  which at its open end is sealed by a laminar foil panel  60  which in this embodiment has been heat sealed into position. 
         [0079]    The base  20  comprises a cylindrical sidewall  21  which includes internal screwthread formations  29  for engaging corresponding external screwthread formations  51  on the container neck  50 . 
         [0080]    At the end of the sidewall adjacent the lid  30 , a platform  22  extends radially inwardly. From the inner edge of the platform  22  an upstanding collar or neck  23  is provided which forms a chimney-like spout. At the opposite end of the collar  23  to the platform  22  a sealing portion  24  extends radially inwardly and defines at its centre an aperture  25 . Approximately half way along the portion  24  an annular sealing leg  26  depends and terminates with a sealing bead  27 . The portion  24  terminates with a wedge-shape portion  28  which includes a downwardly depending section. 
         [0081]    A self-closing valve  70  is provided. The valve  70  is of standard construction and briefly comprises a generally triangular section support ring  71 , a J-shape connecting wall  72  and a generally disc-shape concave valve head  73 . 
         [0082]    The valve  70  is fitted into the base  20  so that the ring  71  abuts against the portion  28  and the opposingly inclined surfaces allow for a stable interaction. 
         [0083]    Referring now also to  FIG. 2  a piercing member  80  is provided. 
         [0084]    The member  80  is generally annular and comprises a retention band  81  from which depends a cutting region comprising a plurality of teeth  82  and a single arcuate blade  83 . At the end of the band  81  opposite the teeth  82  a bead  84  projects radially inwardly. Extending parallel to the band  81  on the opposite side of the teeth  82  is a retention jaw  85 . In use, with the self-closing valve assembled into the base, the member  80  is snap fitted on to the base so that the bead  84  clips over the bead  27 . At the same time, the jaw  85  engages the ring  71  so that it is held firmly between the portion  28  and the jaw  85 . For this purpose the jaw  85  includes an inclined surface oppositely inclined to that side of the ring  71 . 
         [0085]    The lid  30  comprises a generally disc-shape top plate  31  from which depends a cylindrical sidewall  32 . A cylindrical bead  33  depends from the underside of the top plate  31  and is positioned to engage around the neck  23  to provide at least an initial seal. 
         [0086]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4  a closure  110  formed according to an alternative embodiment is shown. The closure  110  is very similar to the closure  10 , and includes a self-closing valve  170  and a piercing member  180 . In this embodiment a heat sealable liner  160  is provided and fits into the base  120  under a platform  122 . In use the closure  110  is fitted onto a container neck (not shown) and induction is used to seal the liner onto the neck. Subsequently the piercing process is as described below. 
         [0087]    In  FIGS. 5 and 6  the closure body of  FIGS. 3 and 4  is shown with the liner, valve and piercing member removed for clarity.  FIG. 5  shows the closure in an as-moulded condition in which a neck  123  is depressed and represents an activated position.  FIG. 6  shows the closure in a resting or unactivated position which in use would be how the closure would be provided on a product. 
         [0088]    By moulding the closure in the activated position it can be pushed out before final cooling to the unactivated position, but the ‘memory’ of the material will be set to the activated position. This makes subsequent movement from the unactivated to the activated position much easier. 
         [0089]    In the activated position the neck  123  adopts a generally U-shape configuration and in the unactivated position it adopts a generally L-shape configuration. 
         [0090]    In use the neck  123  is pushed down, which carries with it the piercing member  180  and the valve  170 . The piercing member will pierce the seal, allowing product from a container to flow through the valve. 
         [0091]    In some embodiments it may be necessary for a degree of relative rotation of the closure with respect to the panel to be employed in order to result in a satisfactory breaching of the panel. 
         [0092]    Referring now to  FIG. 7  there is shown a closure generally indicated at  215 . The closure  215  comprises a body including a generally cylindrical base  220 . 
         [0093]    The closure  215  is fittable to a container neck (not shown) which at its open end is sealed by a laminar foil panel. 
         [0094]    The base  220  comprises a top deck  221  from which depends a generally cylindrical outer sidewall  222  and a generally cylindrical inner sidewall  223  which includes internal screwthread formations  224  for engaging corresponding external screwthread formations on the container neck. 
         [0095]    At the centre of the top deck  221  a deformable spout  225  is provided. At the centre of the spout  225  a piercing member  235  is provided. 
         [0096]      FIG. 7  shows the closure in a post-moulding state, in which the spout  225  is in a fully depressed position and forms an inclined annulus. 
         [0097]    The piercing member  235  comprises an annular piercing skirt  236  which depends from the spout and the free end of which is inclined to form a cutting blade  237 . A retention bead  240  is formed on the inner surface of the piercing skirt  236 . 
         [0098]    At the end of the skirt opposite the blade a claw-like annulus  238  extends radially inwards and defines a dispensing orifice  239  at its centre. 
         [0099]    In addition, a self-closing valve sub-assembly  250  is fitted into the piercing member  235 , further details of which are given below. 
         [0100]    By moulding the closure in the activated, or as in this embodiment in a position intermediate the activated and unactivated positions, it can be moved before final cooling to the unactivated position, but the ‘memory’ of the material will be set to the activated position. This makes subsequent movement from the unactivated to the activated position much easier. 
         [0101]      FIG. 8  shows both the raised, unactivated (which in use would be how the closure would be provided on a product) and depressed, activated positions of the closure. For illustrative purposes, parts of the closure in the depressed, activated position are labelled with prime symbols after each reference numeral (e.g.,  225 ′,  237 ′,  322 ′,  250 ′, and  235 ′), whereas parts of the closure in the raised, unactivated position are labelled with double prime symbols after each reference numeral (e.g.,  225 ″,  235 ″). In use, the spout  225  is pushed down, carrying with it the piercing member  235  and the valve sub-assembly  250 . The piercing member blade  237  will pierce the seal, allowing product from a container to flow through the valve  322 . 
         [0102]    In this embodiment, in the activated position the spout wall  225 ′ is inclined towards the body and in the unactivated position the spout wall  225 ″ is inclined away from the body. 
         [0103]    In some embodiments it may be necessary for a degree of relative rotation of the closure with respect to the panel to be employed in order to result in a satisfactory breaching of the panel. 
         [0104]      FIG. 9  shows a closure  2115  including a flexible spout  2125  formed according to an alternative embodiment. The spout  2125  is shown in its moulded (down) position prior to pre-setting. In this configuration the spout has a generally corrugated form with two annular folds  2126 ,  2127 . To pre-set the closure the spout is pushed up to an unactivated position. In other embodiments (not shown) annular folds are alternatively or additionally present in the spout wall in activated, unactivated or intermediate positions. For the sake of brevity, features of  FIG. 9  corresponding to features already described above with respect to  FIGS. 7 and 8  will not be described again (e.g., base  2120 , outer sidewall  2122 , inner sidewall  2123 , internal screwthread formations  2124 , piercing skirt  2136 , cutting blade  2137 , retention bead  2140 , claw-like annulus  2138 , dispensing orifice  2139 , piercing member  2135 , etc.) 
         [0105]      FIG. 9  also shows a lid  2130  (only part of which is shown) connected to a base  2120  by a hinge  2145 . The lid  2130  comprises a generally disc-shape top plate  2131  from which depends a cylindrical sidewall  2132 . 
         [0106]    Referring now to  FIG. 10  there is shown a retaining member  321 , which shall be referred to hereinafter as a retaining ring  321 . The ring  321  consists of a moulded single-piece article/body with a so-called “chimney” in the form of a circular wall  210 . This chimney  210  provides a surface for assembly machinery to handle the retaining ring  321 . At the outer radial end of the chimney wall  210  another circular wall  212 , which has the same rotational axis as chimney  210 , extends upwards. This end of the wall  210  also includes an inner ring that forms a seat. 
         [0107]    Along the circumference of the radially outer surface of wall  212  is a projection in the form of an external sealing bead  213 . At the end of wall  212  is a crimping flange  214  which in its uncrimped condition is an upstanding wall. 
         [0108]    A flexible self-closing valve  322  may have the features shown in  FIG. 11 . For instance, such a valve  322  may have a head portion  323 , which is thicker towards the edge than the centre and which has at least one slit  324  therein. The head portion may be concave with respect to a container (not shown) to which the closure is attached. This may pre-stress the valve so that it self-closes more easily. 
         [0109]    A side-wall or connecting wall portion  326  connects the head portion  323  with a flange  328 . Flange  328  is typically shaped such that it has a relatively substantial size in the form of a rim. It is this flange  328  which rests on the inner ring and sits in the seat of the retaining ring  321  when it is located correctly. This forms a self-closing valve sub-assembly  250  that can easily be manipulated. 
         [0110]    In this embodiment, to crimp the valve  322  in place, the crimping flange  214  is bent over from the position shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  until it sandwiches the flange  328  between itself ( 214 ) and the sloping surface  211  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0111]    Although in this embodiment the crimping flange  214  is shown as being bent over by 90 degrees radially inwards it should be understood that the angle through which it need be bent is not fixed and may be another angle. 
         [0112]    The sub-assembly  250  can be fitted into a closure. In some embodiments, for example, the assembly  250  is fitted into a movable section of closure (such a spout section) and then moved together with that section to cause a liner to be pierced. In the case of the closure of  FIGS. 7 to 9 , for example, the sub-assembly  250  is fitted into the piercing member  235  by engagement of the beads  213 ,  240 , with the upper part of the assembly fitting up into and being retained by the claw-like annulus  238 . 
         [0113]    Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.