Patent Publication Number: US-6988642-B2

Title: Tamper-evident dispenser bottle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to dispenser bottles and more particularly to dispenser bottles for flowable material, such as powder, that have a sifter and a cap with apertures therein which are opened and closed by rotating the cap relative to the sifter. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional bottles for holding talcum powder, foot powder, baby powder, etc. have a rotatable cap with apertures and an internal sifter with apertures. In an opened position, the apertures in the cap align with the apertures in the sifter and permit the powder to be dispensed. In a closed position, the cap apertures are rotated away from alignment with the sifter apertures such that the powder is retained in the bottle. The opened and closed positions of the conventional powder bottle cap are determined by stop lugs provided on the neck of the bottle and internal stop lugs provided on the cap. Although these known powder caps effectively retain the product when it is not in use, such caps lack tamper-evident and child-resistant features. 
   Various foodstuff products, such as milk, employ tamper-evident caps that provide consumers with a readily-recognizable assurance that the product has not been altered. Tamper-evident caps typically utilize a tear strip having internal teeth that mate with teeth provided on or near the neck of the bottle, such that the cap of the bottle cannot be rotated to remove the cap until the tear strip is removed. 
   Child-resistant press-and-twist caps for securing threaded lids to a threaded bottle neck are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, and in other applications, e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,921 to Robinson. The Robinson &#39;921 patent discloses a cap with depressable panels which abut against stops provided proximate to the neck of the bottle when closed. When the panels are depressed, they move out of alignment with the stop, allowing the lid to be unthreaded from the bottle neck. The closure disclosed in Robinson &#39;921 is not tamper evident and would not be suitable for a powder dispenser bottle, in that the closure is threaded and removable, rather than rotationally limited between an opened and closed position. The closure of Robinson &#39;921 does not have dispensing apertures. 
   It would be desirable to have a sifter-type dispenser bottle having an opened and a closed position, and thus suitable for dispensing flowable material such as powder which is tamper-resistant and/or child resistant. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The problems and disadvantages associated with conventional dispenser bottles are overcome by the present invention which includes a dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material having a bottle portion with an outlet through which the flowable material passes when dispensed from the dispenser bottle. A cap covers the outlet and has a cap hole therein. The cap is rotatable relative to the outlet between an opened position wherein the cap hole is aligned with the outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough, to a closed position wherein the cap hole is out of alignment with the outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough. Means, such as retainer beads are provided for retaining the cap covering the outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position. A cap lock is attached to at least one of the cap and/or the bottle portion. The cap lock has a locked position preventing the rotation of the cap relative to the outlet and an unlocked position wherein the cap is unconstrained by the cap lock from rotating relative to the outlet. 
   In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material has a bottle portion with an outlet therein. A sifter having a generally cylindrical side wall, an open end and a dispensing end with a sifter opening therein is rotatably coupled to the bottle at the open end in communication with the outlet. A cap is coaxially and rotatably coupled to the sifter on the dispensing end, the cap having a cap hole therein and being rotatable relative to the sifter between an opened position wherein the cap hole is aligned with the sifter opening and a closed position wherein the cap hole is not aligned with the sifter opening. 
   In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, a closure for selectively dispensing a flowable material through an outlet in the neck of a bottle having a stop disposed on an outer surface thereof proximate the neck has a cap covering the outlet. The cap has an occluder plate with a cap hole therein and a peripheral wall depending at substantially right angles from the occluder plate. The peripheral wall slidably coaxially embraces the neck, with the cap being rotatable relative to the outlet between an opened position wherein the cap hole is aligned with the outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein said cap hole is out of alignment with the outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough, said cap having a squeeze tab depending therefrom, said squeeze tab having a relaxed position and a depressed position, said squeeze tab abutting the rotation stop in the relaxed position to prevent rotation of said cap from said closed position, said squeeze tab clearing the rotation stop when in the depressed condition allowing said squeeze tab and said cap to rotate past said rotation stop to said opened position. Means for retaining the cap covering the outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position are provided. 
   In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material includes a bottle portion with a neck defining an outlet through which the flowable material passes when dispensed from the dispenser bottle. An arcuate rail is disposed on the bottle portion proximate the neck with a spacing therebetween defining an arcuate track. A stop rail extends from the arcuate rail toward the neck. A cap covers the outlet and has an occluder plate with a cap hole therein and a peripheral wall depending at substantially right angles from the occluder plate, the peripheral wall slidably coaxially embracing the neck. The cap is rotatable relative to the outlet between an opened position wherein the cap hole is aligned with the outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein the cap hole is out of alignment with the outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough. The cap has a squeeze tab depending therefrom with a relaxed position and a depressed position. The squeeze tab abuts against the arcuate rail when in the relaxed condition preventing rotation of the cap. In the depressed condition, the squeeze tab enters the arcuate track between the arcuate rail and the neck enabling the cap to be rotated to the opened position. The stop rail limits the rotation of the cap when the squeeze tab abuts the stop rail. Means are provided for retaining the cap covering the outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position. 
   In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material has a bottle portion with a neck defining an outlet through which the flowable material passes when dispensed from the dispenser bottle. The bottle has a rotation stop extending from an outer surface thereof proximate the neck. A cap covers the outlet, having an occluder plate with a cap hole therein and a peripheral wall depending at substantially right angles from the occluder plate. The peripheral wall slidably coaxially embraces the neck and the cap is rotatable relative to the outlet between an opened position wherein the cap hole is aligned with the outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein the cap hole is out of alignment with the outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough. The cap has a squeeze tab depending therefrom with a relaxed position and a depressed position. The squeeze tab abuts the rotation stop in the relaxed position to prevent rotation of the cap from the closed position. The squeeze tab clears the rotation stop when in the depressed condition, allowing the squeeze tab and the cap to rotate past the rotation stop to the opened position. Means are provided for retaining the cap covering the outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position. 
   A sixth embodiment of the present invention includes a closure for selectively dispensing a flowable material through an outlet in a bottle. The closure has a sifter portion with a generally cylindrical side wall, an open end and a dispensing end with a sifter opening therein. The sifter is rotatably coupled to the bottle at the open end in communication with the outlet thereof. A cap is coaxially and rotatably coupled to the sifter on the dispensing end. The cap has a cap hole therein and is rotatable relative to the sifter portion between an opened position wherein the cap hole is aligned with the sifter opening and a closed position wherein the cap hole is not aligned with the sifter opening. 
   The dispenser bottle of the present invention not only effectively stores and dispenses flowable material such as powder, but it also may provide consumer desirable child-resistant and/or tamper-evident security features. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispenser bottle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the dispenser bottle of  FIGS. 1 and 2  without a cap; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the cap of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 2 , taken along section lines V—V and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
       FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic top view of the dispenser bottle shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5  in a closed position; 
       FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic top view of the dispenser bottle shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6  in an open position; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a dispenser bottle in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 8 , taken along section lines IX—IX and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the dispenser bottle shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  with the tamper-evident locking strip removed; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser bottle shown in  FIG. 10  taken along section line XI—XI and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the dispenser bottle of  FIGS. 8 through 11  with the cap removed; 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a dispenser bottle in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 14  with the locking strip removed; 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 15  taken along section lines XVI—XVI and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of a sifter cap utilized in the dispenser bottle of  FIGS. 14 through 16 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a top view of the sifter cap shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the sifter cap shown in  FIG. 18  taken along section line XIX—XIX and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
       FIG. 20  is a top view of a cap for the dispenser bottle shown in  FIGS. 14 through 19 , but with an alternative pull tab; 
       FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of the cap of dispenser bottle of  FIG. 20 , taken along section line XXI—XXI and looking in the direction of the arrows; 
       FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of the neck portion of the dispenser bottle shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 23  is a diagrammatic view of the dispenser bottle of  FIGS. 14 through 22  with the cap in a closed position; 
       FIG. 24  is a diagrammatic view of the dispenser bottle of  FIGS. 14 through 23  with the cap in an open position; 
       FIG. 25  is a diagrammatic view of a dispenser bottle in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 26  is an exploded, perspective view of a dispenser bottle in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 27  is a side view of the dispenser bottle of  FIG. 26  without a cap. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show a dispenser bottle  10  having a bottle portion  12  and a cap  14 . The cap  14  has an occluder plate  13 , a plurality of cap holes  16  through which the contents  15  of the dispenser bottle  10 , e.g., baby powder, is dispensed. The shape of the occluder plate  13  may be substantially planar in shape or alternatively may be curved. A tamper-evident lock ring  18  is provided at an edge of a depending peripheral wall  19  proximate to the bottle portion  12  and retains the cap  14  in a predetermined angular position relative to the bottle portion  12 , i.e., in a closed position, keeping the contents  15  within the bottle portion  12 . The lock ring  18  has a pull tab  20  to assist a user in removing the lock ring  18  which is preferably attached to the cap  14  via a thin, frangible, plastic junction that tears when the pull tab  20  is pulled. 
     FIG. 2  shows sifter  22  having an occluder plate  23  with a plurality of sifter holes  24 , each surrounded by a peripheral seal ring  26 . A plurality of teeth  28  project from the bottom of the occluder plate  23  spaced by tooth spaces  30 . The sifter  22  is positioned in the bottle neck  32  with the tooth spaces  30  receiving sifter alignment beads  34  which project inwardly from the bottle neck  32 . The sifter holes  24  are distributed on the surface of the occluder plate  23  such that they have the same distribution pattern as the cap holes  16 . This permits the cap holes  16  to align with the sifter holes  24  when the cap  14  is rotated into an open position. Conversely, when the cap holes  16  are rotated out of alignment with the sifter holes  24 , the bottle  10  is closed. The seal rings  26  aid in sealing the sifter holes  24  against the cap  14  when the cap  14  is in a closed position.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show that the bottle neck  32  is provided with a cap retainer bead  36 , a plurality of stop lugs  38  and a plurality of ratchet lugs  40 . The cap retainer bead  36  retains the cap  14  in snap-fit relationship to the bottle portion  12 , namely, by interacting with cap bead  44 . A pivot bead  46  extending downwardly from the cap  14  is received within a mating pivot indentation  47  provided in the sifter  22 . The lock ring  18  has a plurality of inwardly projecting locking teeth  48  that engage the ratchet lugs  40  provided on the bottle neck  32 , preventing the cap  14  from being turned relative to the bottle portion  12  when the lock ring  18  is in place. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  show that the ratchet lugs  40  ramp outwardly from an exterior surface  33  of the bottle neck  32 , such that the cap  14  may be rotated to a closed position (clockwise) even with the tamper evident lock ring  18  conjoined with the cap  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking teeth  48  of the lock ring  18  are complementary in shape to the ratchet lugs  40  and interdigitate therewith when the cap  14  is on the bottle portion  12 . The ratchet lugs  40  prevent the lock ring  18  from being rotated in the counterclockwise (opening) direction. (As is clear to one of normal skill in the art, the opening and closing directions could be opposite to those recited herein, viz., clockwise to open and counterclockwise to close. Further, the lock ring  18  could be mounted to the bottle portion  12  proximate the neck  32  and the ratchet lugs  40  provided on the cap  14 .)  FIG. 4  also shows the plurality of stop lugs  38  disposed around the periphery of the bottle neck  32 . As noted above, the stop lugs  38  limit the clockwise and counterclockwise motion of the cap  14  to a selected total number of degrees of displacement, e.g., 22.5 degrees, with the extremes of this range of motion corresponding to the opened and closed positions. 
     FIG. 5  shows that the cap  14  has a plurality of cap lugs  42  which are spaced around the interior periphery of the cap  14 . The cap lugs  42  interact with (abut against) the stop lugs  38  on the neck  32  to limit the range of rotational motion of the cap  14  between the opened and closed positions. 
     FIG. 6  shows the cap  14  installed upon the bottle portion  12  in a closed position with the lock ring  18  in place. Half of the cap lugs  42  are rotated against and abut the stop lugs  38  on the bottle neck  32  in a clockwise direction. In this position, the sifter holes  24  are out of alignment with the cap holes  16 . The locking teeth  48  engage the ratchet lugs  40 , preventing the cap  14  from being rotated in a counterclockwise direction. 
     FIG. 7  shows the cap  14  in place on the bottle portion  12  but with the lock ring  18  removed and the cap  14  rotated counterclockwise such that the cap holes  16  align with the sifter holes  24 . Comparing  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 6 , it can be appreciated that the cap lugs  42  have been rotated counterclockwise such that they encounter the stop lugs  38  from the counterclockwise direction. There are eight cap lugs  42  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  and four stop lugs  38 . As can be appreciated, of each sequential pair of cap lugs  42  positioned between sequential stop lugs  38 , a first abuts a stop lug  38  in the clockwise direction when the cap  14  is closed and a second abuts a stop lug  38  in a counterclockwise direction when the cap  14  is open. As would be known by one of normal skill in the art to which this invention pertains, a different number of stop lugs  38  and cap lugs  42  could be used to achieve the functionality described above, i.e., to establish a limited range of motion to provide for opened and closed positions. 
   Elements illustrated in  FIGS. 1  to  7  which correspond in form and function to elements described below with respect to  FIGS. 8  to  25  have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by 100, 200 and 300, respectively. 
     FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, viz., dispenser bottle  110  having bottle portion  112  and cap  114 . The cap  114  has finger indentations  152  which tactilely provide a signal to the user of the bottle  110  to place opposing fingers in the finger indentations  152 . The finger indentations  152  are associated with a pair of squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  (see  FIG. 9 ) positioned at opposing orientations on the cap  114 . The squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  are defined by slits  156  in an outer peripheral skirt  155  depending from occluder plate  113 . A tamper-evident lock ring  118  prevents the cap  114  from being rotated. In addition, the lock ring  118  prevents the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  from being depressed, as they are integrally formed with the lock ring  118 , i.e., joined at a frangible junction  157 . 
     FIGS. 9-13  show that the cap  114  is retained on the bottle portion  112  by a cap retainer bead  136  which interacts with a cap bead  144  on peripheral wall  119  of the cap  114 . As in the previous embodiment, the dispenser bottle  110  employs a sifter of the same type as sifter  22  shown in FIG.  2 . The sifter  22  has been deleted from the drawings of  FIGS. 8 through 14  for ease of illustration, but would occupy the same position as was shown and described relative to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , viz., in the bottle neck  132  aligned by sifter alignment beads  134 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  show the dispenser bottle  110  after the lock ring  118  has been removed. When in place, the lock ring  118  engages with ratchet teeth  149   a ,  149   b  provided on stops  158   a ,  158   b , (see  FIGS. 10 ,  12  and  13 ). Removal of the lock ring  118  also permits the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  to be depressed relative to the remainder of the cap  114  due to the slits  156 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the rest position, the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  are in abutting relationship to rotation stops  158   a ,  158   b  such that the cap  114  cannot be rotated in the counterclockwise (opening) direction without depressing the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b . Only stop  158   a  is visible in FIG.  11 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate the position of stops  158   a ,  158   b  on the bottle portion  112  proximate to the bottle neck  132 . Each stop  158   a ,  158   b  has ratchet teeth  149   a ,  149   b , respectively, that engage the lock ring  118 .  FIG. 13  diagrammatically illustrates the opened (depressed) and closed (relaxed) position of the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  (dotted lines representing open position). In the closed position, the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  abut stops  158   a ,  158   b  preventing counterclockwise rotation. In the opened position, the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  have been depressed inwardly such that they clear the stops  158   a ,  158   b , permitting counterclockwise rotation and the alignment of the cap holes  116  with the sifter holes  124 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  for the previous embodiment. Since the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  are positioned between the stops  158   a ,  158   b  and the bottle neck  132 , the stops  158   a ,  158   b  are clearly visible in front of the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b , when the dispenser bottle  110  is viewed from the side, providing a visual indicator that the dispenser bottle  110  is open. This visual indicator can be enhanced by utilizing contrasting colors for the stops  158   a ,  158   b  and the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b . The cap lugs  142  (see  FIG. 11 ) and stop lugs  138  (see  FIG. 12 ) interact in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . 
   The present invention, as described and shown in relation to  FIGS. 8 through 14  provides a dispenser bottle  110  that has a tamper-evident lock ring  118  that prevents the bottle  110  from being opened prior to removal of the lock ring  118 . Further, after the lock ring  118  has been removed from the dispenser bottle  110 , the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  must be depressed and the cap  114  simultaneously turned to open the bottle  10 . The degree of manual dexterity required to open the bottle  110  is therefore increased over that required to open a conventional sifter-type dispenser bottle. While there is no guarantee that a child, such as a toddler or even a baby, would not have the manual dexterity to operate the squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  and open the dispenser bottle  110 , these features do provide a barrier for opening that is likely to require more dexterity and time for the operator to overcome, thereby increasing the opportunity for an adult to intervene. Furthermore, the overlapping squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  and stops  158   a ,  158   b  provide a visual indicator that the bottle is opened, preventing an open bottle  110  from being stored on the shelf, leading to contamination of the bottle  110  by moisture and/or inadvertently spilling the contents of the bottle  110  due to tipping the bottle  110  over, e.g., while it is stored on a shelf. 
     FIG. 14  shows yet another embodiment of the present invention viz., dispenser bottle  210  utilizing cap  214  and bottle portion  212 . A rotatable sifter cap  264  (See  FIGS. 18-20 ) is inserted between the cap  214  and the bottle portion  212 . The rotatable sifter cap  264  snaps onto the bottle neck  232  and is rotatable at all times relative to the bottle portion  212 . When a locking ring  218  is in place on the cap  214 , the cap  214  with occluder plate  213  and peripheral wall  219  is conjoined to the rotatable sifter cap  264 , such that they rotate on the bottle neck  232  as a unit. A different type of pull tab  221  is illustrated in  FIG. 14  for aiding in removal of the lock ring  218 . The rotatable sifter cap  264  has finger grip pads  266  for enhancing the grip on the rotatable sifter cap  264  to aid in turning the cap  214  relative to the rotatable sifter cap  264 , as more fully described below. 
     FIG. 15  shows the dispenser bottle  210  with the lock ring  218  removed from the cap  214 . A plurality of locking teeth  249   a ,  249   b  (only  249   a  visible in  FIG. 15 ) are provided on the rotatable sifter cap  264  that engage with mating locking teeth  248  (see  FIG. 21 ) provided on the tamper evident lock ring  218 . When the locking ring  218  is in place on the cap  214 , the cap  214  cannot be rotated relative the rotatable sifter cap  264 . When the lock ring  218  is removed from the cap  214 , the cap  214  can then be rotated relative to the rotatable sifter cap  264 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 16 , the cap  214  is retained on the rotatable sifter cap  264  by a cap bead  244  that clips over a cap retainer bead  268  present on the rotatable sifter cap  264 . A guide flange  270  inserts within an upper portion of the neck  232  and a sifter retainer bead  236  retains rotatable sifter cap  264  in association with the bottle portion  212  by interacting with sifter bead  271  which clips thereover. A crab claw swipe  272  (see  FIG. 19 ) is provided on the rotatable sifter cap  264  proximate guide flange  270  such that it seals against the upper edge  235  (see  FIG. 22 ) of the bottle neck  232 . The rotatable sifter cap  264  has a plurality of sifter holes  224  in the sifter occluder plate  223  and the cap  214  has a plurality of cap holes  216  in the occluder plate  213 . As before, the dispenser bottle  210  is opened and closed depending upon the relative alignment or misalignment of the cap holes  216  and sifter holes  224 . 
     FIGS. 17 and 18  show the rotatable sifter cap  264  having a plurality of stop lugs  238  that function in conjunction with cap lugs  242  (see  FIG. 21 ) for limiting the motion of cap  214  relative to the rotatable sifter cap  264 . More particularly, the stop lugs  238  and cap lugs  242  establish an opened position and a closed position for the cap  214  relative to the rotatable sifter cap  264 . Detents  274   a ,  274   b  are provided on substantially cylindrical side wall  275  of the rotatable sifter cap  264  to frictionally interact with the cap lugs  242  to provide a surmountable resistance that may be overcome to change from the opened state to the closed state and vice versa, as described further below. As an alternative, the detents  274   a ,  274   b  could be formed as part of the cap  214  and interact with stop lugs  238  to provide a surmountable resistance to a change of position of the cap  214 . The detents  274   a ,  274   b  may be provided with a more gradual slope in either the clockwise or counterclockwise directions to make it easier to close than to open the dispenser bottle  210  or vice versa. In  FIG. 18 , the locking teeth  249   a ,  249   b  provided on the rotatable sifter cap  264  are visible, as are the sifter holes  224  and pivot indentation  247 . 
     FIG. 19  shows the crab claw swipe  272  extending in an downwardly direction from the rotatable sifter cap  264  proximate guide flange  270 . 
     FIGS. 20 and 21  show the cap  214 , which is generally of the same form and function as caps  14 ,  114  of the preceding embodiments and utilizes cap lugs  242  for limiting the motion of the cap  214  relative to the rotatable sifter cap  264 . Locking ring  218  is attached to peripheral wall  219  of the cap  214  by a thin, frangible junction. The cap  214  and locking ring  218  are preferably monolithically formed from a polymer material such as a polyolefin, e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene. 
     FIGS. 21 and 22  show a pull tab  225  which has a pair of gripping beads  227   a ,  227   b.    
     FIG. 22  shows the sifter retainer bead  236  which retains the rotatable sifter cap  264  on the bottle neck  232 . 
     FIG. 23  shows the cap  214  on the bottle portion  212  in a closed position. This open position may be maintained by the presence of the lock ring  218  (see  FIG. 21 ) or may be maintained by one or more detents  274   a ,  274   b . In a closed position, the cap holes  216  are out of alignment with the sifter holes  224  and the cap lugs  242  are rotated in a counterclockwise direction such that they abut associated stop lugs  238  provided on the bottle neck  232 . In order to rotate the cap  214  to the open position, the detents  274   a ,  274   b  provided on the bottle neck  232  must be overridden by the cap lugs  242 . For example, the cap lug  242   a  in  FIG. 24  is positioned between stop lug  238   a  and detent  274   a  in the closed position. In order to be rotated in a clockwise direction, the cap lug  242   a  would encounter the detent  274   a  with relatively little clockwise rotation and would have to override the detent  274   a  to proceed to an open position, that is, with the cap lug  242   b  abutting stop lug  238   b , as shown in FIG.  24 . The open state is shown in  FIG. 24  wherein the cap  214  is in an open position, such that the cap holes  216  align with the sifter holes  224 . Cap lug  242   a  has passed detent  274   a  and cap lug  242   b  abuts stop lug  238   b.    
     FIG. 25  shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention wherein a squeeze tab  354  depending from a cap (not shown but having a configuration and operation substantially like cap  114  of  FIGS. 8 through 11 ) fits upon a bottle portion  312  and bottle neck  332 . More particularly, stop  358  has an “L”-shape with an arcuate rail  376  and a radial stop rail  378 . In a closed position, the undeflected squeeze tab  354  abuts against the arcuate rail  376  in the counterclockwise direction (in this instance, the opening direction) and/or against an outer peripheral wall  380 . The outer peripheral wall  380  has an inwardly directed radial abutment  382  and the squeeze tab  354  is provided with an abutment extension  384 . The radial abutment  382  and the abutment extension  384  prevent the squeeze tab  354  from being rotated in a clockwise direction, in both the deflected and undeflected states. Alternatively, the clockwise rotation of the squeeze tab can be limited by stop lugs like those described above, e.g.,  238 ,  242 . When the squeeze tab  354  is deflected inwardly, the squeeze tab  354  may be rotated counterclockwise into the blind slot/track  386  formed by the arcuate rail  376  the radial stop rail  378  and the neck  332 . Once in the slot  386 , the radial stop rail  378  and/or the abutment extension  384  prevents the squeeze tab  354  (and associated cap—not shown) from rotating further, thereby stopping the cap (like cap  114 ) in an open position. As before, the directions associated with opening and closing can be reversed from that described above. Another squeeze tab  354  and slot  386  may be formed opposite to the one shown, if desired. 
     FIGS. 26 and 27  show a dispenser bottle  410  having a similar configuration and features as those shown in the dispenser bottle  110  shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , with the exception that no separate sifter  22  ( FIG. 2 ) is utilized. Instead, the bottle neck  432  is castellated with a plurality of radially oriented vents  488  on an inner peripheral surface thereof. A sealing flange  490  may be provided for aiding in creating a powder tight seal with the cap occluder plate  413 . A plurality of generally rectangularly shaped cap holes  416  penetrate the occluder plate  413 . Powder may be dispensed from the bottle  412  when the cap  414  is rotated to a position wherein the cap holes  416  are aligned with the vents  488 . The bottle  410  is closed by rotating the cap holes  416  out of alignment with the vents  488 . In this manner, the castellated neck  432  functions as a sifter, e.g.,  22 . As before, a lock ring  418  engages a plurality of ratchet lugs  440  to retain the cap  414  in a closed position prior to use and indicates to the consumer that the cap  414  has not been opened. Stop lugs  440  interact with cap lugs  442  to limit cap rotation between the opened and closed positions. The cap  414  is retained on the bottle neck  432  (while at the same time permitting rotation of the cap  414  relative to the bottle  412 ) by cap retainer bead  436  and cap bead  444 . It should be noted that the cap retainer bead and/or the cap bead can be continuous or discontinuous as indicated by the slots or discontinuities  436   s  shown in FIG.  27 . The features of the cap  414  and bottle neck  432  shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27  could be used in conjunction with the features of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 8-13 ,  14 - 24  and  25 , thus eliminating the sifter from each of these embodiments. For example, the rotatable sifter cap  264  shown in  FIG. 18  may be altered by removing the occluder plate  223  and replacing it with the vents  488  shown in FIG.  26  and utilizing a cap  414  like that shown in FIG.  26 . Alternatively, the cap  414  of  FIG. 26  may be provided with the skirt  155  and squeeze tabs  154   a ,  154   b  of the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-13  to interact with a rotation stop  158   a ,  158   b  disposed on the bottle  412  proximate the neck  432 . 
   It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, all such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.