Abstract:
A hermetically sealed container having a nozzle that defines a dispensing orifice closed by a unitary but removable cap. Accumulation of container contents in the cap is minimized by a constriction in the nozzle situated at least 0.1 inches from the dispensing orifice.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to hermetically sealed thermoplastic ampoules or containers and, more particularly, to an improved, non-dripping opening and optionally reclosable, dispensing nozzle therefor. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Hermetically sealed thermoplastic containers or ampoules of the type disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,865 to Weiler et al. are well known in the art and are characterized in that a removable cap or closure is delineated by a frangible web and is adapted to be twisted off from a dispensing nozzle to allow the fluid contents to be dispensed through the nozzle. However, because some of the ampoule contents has a tendency to become trapped and suspended in the cap, the contents sometimes drips or is splashed about the container when the cap is twisted off the nozzle. 
   The present invention is directed to a hermetically sealed container incorporating a nozzle closure configured to eliminate the retention therein of any portion of the container contents, thus effectively eliminating any dripping or splashing upon removal of the cap. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The hermetically sealed container of the present invention has a dispensing nozzle with a dispensing orifice thereof sealed by a unitary but removable hollow cap. A constriction is provided in the nozzle downstream from the dispensing aperture and avoids product accumulation in the cap. The constriction is characterized in that the length thereof is less than the length of the nozzle portions upstream and downstream from the constriction. 
   The ratio of the nozzle inside diameter to the constriction inside diameter is in the range of about 4:1 to about 15:1, respectively, depending in part on the viscosity of the product contents to be dispensed. The constriction is spaced from the dispensing orifice by at least about 0.1 inches. The length of the constriction is also dependent in part on the viscosity of the product to be dispensed, and is at least equal to one inside diameter of the constriction. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the constriction is in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.06 inches, and the inside diameter of the nozzle in the range of about 0.125 to about 0.25 inches. For constrictions having an inside diameter in the foregoing range, the constriction is about 0.06 to about 0.1 inches long. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the appended drawings and the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an ampoule or container incorporating the nozzle of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the ampoule of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the nozzle and cap portions of the ampoule of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of yet a further embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the ampoule of FIGS. partly in section  1  and  2 , with the cap secured over the nozzle after initial removal. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described herein below in detail are preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments. 
   For ease of description, the container of the present invention is described herein below with reference to the container in its usual vertical upright orientation and terms such as upper, lower, vertical, horizontal, etc., will be used herein with reference to this usual position. 
   Moreover, it is understood that the FIGS. herein do not necessarily show details of the container or the nozzle thereof that are known in the art and that will be recognized by those skilled in the art as such. The detailed descriptions of these elements of the container and nozzle are not necessary to an understanding of the invention. Accordingly, such elements are herein represented only to the degree necessary to aid in an understanding of the features of the present invention. 
   An article in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1–3  in the form of a molded thermoplastic container or ampoule  10  which may be fabricated by the well-known blow/fill/seal technique such as, for example, the technique shown and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,763 to Weiler. 
   The molded thermoplastic material can be a conventional molding grade thermoplastic material such as high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like, compatible with the contemplated container contents. It is understood, of course, that containers or ampoules embodying the nozzle of the present invention can have a wide variety of shapes and capacities. 
   The container  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a body portion  12  defining a reservoir configured to house a liquid contents  14 , a neck portion  16  unitary with the body portion  12 , a unitary nozzle  18  extending in a direction away from the neck portion  16  and terminating at upper end in a dispensing opening or orifice  20  ( FIG. 3 ). Nozzle  18  is provided with a constricted wall portion or constriction  42  between upstream nozzle portion  26  and downstream nozzle portion  36 . A hollow, removable twist-off cap or closure  22  occludes the orifice  20  and is unitary with the nozzle  18 . The orifice  20  is delineated from the cap  22  by a frangible web  24  ( FIG. 3 ). Preferably cap  22  is configured so that it can seat on the distal end portion of nozzle  18  after initial removal so as to provide a reclosure feature. 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 3 , the hollow cap or closure  22  includes a dome  29  defined by a circumferentially extending wall  33  which, in turn, defines a hollow interior cap portion  35  and a generally horizontal circumferentially extending base wall  37  unitary with frangible web  24  that circumscribes orifice  20 . A grip tab  41  extends unitarily upwardly from the top of the dome shaped wall  33  for facilitate twist-off of cap  22  when the contents  14  of container  10  is to be dispensed. 
   The nozzle  18  comprises an upstream portion  26  extending upwardly from the container neck portion  16 , a constriction  42 , and downstream portion  36 . The downstream portion  36  terminates at the frangible web  24 . Constriction  42  is defined by cylindrical wall portion  32 . 
   The nozzle portions  26  and  36 , respectively, together define an interior fluid ingress passageway or chamber  38  in fluid flow communication with the fluid passageway defined by the neck portion  16  which, in turn, is in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir defined by the container body portion  12 . 
   The cylindrical wall portion  32  defines constriction  42  which is in fluid flow communication with the fluid ingress passageway  38 . 
   Length L 1  of the downstream portion  36  and thus the upper chamber  44  is preferably greater than the inside diameter D 1  of the constriction  42 . Preferably, the length L 1  is at least is about 0.1 inches (about 2.54 mm) while the constriction  42  has a width D 1  of about 0.01 to about 0.06 inches (about 0.254 mm to about 1.524 mm). The constriction  42  has a length L 2  of about 0.06 to about 0.1 inches (about 1.524 mm to about 2.54 mm) depending upon the viscosity of the product contained in the ampoule  10 . The interior fluid ingress passageway  38  of upstream nozzle portion  26  preferably has an inside diameter of about 0.125 to about 0.25 inches (about 3.17 mm to about 6.35 mm). Likewise, the interior fluid egress passageway  44  defined by downstream nozzle portion  36  has an inside diameter of about 0.125 to about 0.25 inches (about 3.17 mm to about 6.35 mm). The length of each of the nozzle portions  26  and  36 , respectively, is about twice the length of the wall portion  32  that defines constriction  42 . 
   Although not shown in any of the FIGS. as a result of the normal handling of the ampoule  10 , a portion of the product within the container body  12  may travel through the nozzle  18  and be retained within the cap  22 . 
   However, in accordance with the present invention, the generally “hourglass” configuration of nozzle  18  and, more particularly, the configuration, size, and placement of the plurality of the nozzle walls defining the same causes any liquid which travels into the nozzle  18  is kept from accumulating in cap  22 . The absence of any liquid in the hollow portion  35  of cap  22  eliminates or at least substantially minimizes any splashing of the container contents upon rupture of the frangible web  24  while opening the container. 
     FIG. 4  depicts an alternate nozzle embodiment  118  including a lower interior nozzle chamber or passageway  138  defined by upstream nozzle portion  126  extending unitarily convergingly upwardly from the ampoule neck portion (not shown) and terminating in a second frusto-conically shaped downstream nozzle portion  136  converging upwardly and unitarily inwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the nozzle portion  126 . A third cylindrical circumferential nozzle portion  132  defines constriction  142  is situated therebetween. Upper interior nozzle chamber or passageway  144  defined by downstream nozzle portion  136  which extends unitarily divergingly upwardly from the upper end of the cylindrical wall portion  132  at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the wall portion  132  and terminates at the frangible web (not shown) that delineates a removable cap. 
     FIG. 5  depicts a yet further nozzle embodiment  218  which includes constriction  242  defined by arched nozzle arched portion  272 . Upstream interior nozzle passageway or chamber  238  is defined by upstream nozzle portion  226  which extends upwardly from the ampoule neck portion (not shown), and downstream interior nozzle passageway or chamber  244  is defined by downstream nozzle portion  236  which extends upwardly from the constriction  242  inwardly concavely shaped or arched nozzle portion  232  and terminating in the frangible web (not shown). 
     FIG. 6  depicts the container  10  of  FIGS. 1–3  after the cap  22  has been twisted off nozzle  18  at the frangible web  24  and then subsequently seated over the nozzle  18  to reclose orifice  20 . The overcap  22  is removably sealed and secured over the nozzle  18  in a relationship wherein the free circumferential edge  46  of the horizontal base wall  33  of the cap  22  is in abutting frictional sealing engagement with the outer surface of the wall  36  that defines the nozzle  18 . As such, the base wall  33  of cap  22  provides a liquid tight seal between the nozzle  18  and the cap  22 . 
   The foregoing description of the invention is illustrative. Numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.