Patent Publication Number: US-6341720-B1

Title: Tri-closure dispensing top

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a dispensing top for a container holding particulate material such as spices and other foodstuffs. More particularly, this invention relates to a dispensing top formed of a single piece of thermoplastic and having dispensing ports for pouring, sifting and spooning functions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For many years, suppliers of food product have sought to provide consumers with convenient and simple to use packaging. The packaging protects and stores the product, and also helps to sell the product to consumers. Particulate or granular food product, such as spices, salt, and sugar are packaged in various containers. In seeking to help consumers, manufacturers have developed packaging systems that have a container with a dispensing top. Some dispensing tops have movable closures that cover openings in the tops. Most of these tops are fitted with one or more dispensing ports for pouring, sifting or spooning food product. Few dispensing tops provide all three dispensing options. 
     Examples of dispensing tops having three dispensing ports include U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,107 to Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,981 to Nobakht, and U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2,135,981A by Swett et al. However, none of the foregoing has a pouring spout to guide the flow of product, none are formed of a single piece of material, and none have living hinges. U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,980 to Lindstrom discloses a three closure top. There is, however, no pouring spout and no living hinges are used. All United States patents referred herein shall be deemed incorporated by reference for all purposes as to their entire contents. 
     Smith discloses a rotary type closure having two-piece a rotatable selector cap mounted over a sealing disk. The sealing disk has openings for three different dispensing modes: pour, sift or spoon, while the selector cap has a single opening. The dispensing mode is determined by rotating the selector cap with respect to the sealing disk to expose the desired dispensing opening. The pour opening does not have a pivotally positionable spout to control the flow of product. 
     Nobakht and Swett et al. disclose a separable two-piece flap type closure top having a cover and a sealing member attached to the cover in fixed relationship thereto. The cover has three dispensing ports and the sealing member has three closure flaps corresponding to each port. None of the dispensing ports has a pouring spout or living hinges. 
     Rotary type closures have a rotatable rotor mounted over a base. The base has one or more openings through which product can be dispensed. The rotor has one or more openings that are registrable with the openings in the base when the rotor is rotated. Because the rotor openings do not have closure flaps, the container is closed by rotating the rotor until the rotor openings are out of alignment with the base openings. Thus, the rotor must have at least one area in which the web does not have any openings and, therefore, can block the openings in the base. 
     Thus, there exists a need for an easy-to-manufacture, one piece dispensing top having three dispensing ports for pouring, sifting and spooning product; and a spout integrally formed with the top. The present invention fulfills this need, and thus enables a manufacturer to reduce costs and provide users with multiple dispensing options. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a one-piece single web dispensing top includes three separate dispensing ports. Each port is designed to dispense particulate material, such as spices, condiments and other food products. One port is configured to allow removal of product with a utensil such as a spoon, one port is configured to be used for pouring product and includes a spout, and a third port is configured for sifting product. The dispensing top is attached to a container, preferably with glue, although other attachment methods may be used, such as a threaded engagement means or a snap-fit method. Each dispensing port includes a closure flap for sealing. All three closure flaps are integrally joined to a raised planar surface of the dispensing top by living hinges. The closure flaps may be retained in the closed position by a friction or snap fit. 
     The present invention advantageously provides for larger dispensing openings than can be realized with conventional rotary type closures. The present invention, by contrast, uses closure flaps to close the container. In addition, the present invention advantageously requires less material than rotary type closures because the present invention requires only one thermoplastic web, not two webs. Yet another advantage of the present invention provides a three-mode dispenser that maximizes the size of the dispensing openings. 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to combine the three primary dispensing options: pour, sift and spoon, into a single piece dispensing top. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing container that can be used with a variety of containers and a variety of particulate or granular products. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiple function dispensing top in which each dispensing opening has its own cover. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof, presented in connection with the following drawings in which like reference numerals identifying the elements throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tri-closure dispensing top of the present invention showing all three closure flaps in the open position; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tri-closure dispensing top of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is partial a cross-sectional view of the tri-closure dispensing top of FIG. 1 showing the pour spout in the open position; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tri-closure dispensing top of FIG. 1 showing the pour spout in the closed position; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-4 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, a tri-closure dispensing top  10  for dispensing particulate material, such as spices, condiments and other food products. Dispensing top  10  is single molded assembly and is adapted for attachment to a container C either by glue, mated threads, or interference fit or other attachment methods. 
     Dispensing top  10  comprises three distinct dispensing ports—a spoon port, a pour port, and a sift port each of which will be described herein. The spoon port includes a large single opening  24  for dispensing product from the container with a spoon or similar utensil. The pouring port includes a smaller opening  26  for pouring product from the container. The sift port includes multiple smaller sift holes  28  for sifting product from the container. The three distinct dispensing ports allow the user to select one or more dispensing modes: spoon, pour or sift, depending on the amount and type of product being dispensed. Thus, a wide array of foodstuffs and dispensing applications can be accommodated with this one dispensing top  10 . 
     Dispensing top  10  also comprises an integral cover panel or web  12  shaped to correspond generally to the shape of an open top end of container C, and an annular skirt  14  depending therefrom. Annular skirt  14  may have threads formed on its interior surface for threaded engagement with a container. Alternatively, dispensing top  10  may be attached to container C with adhesive, interference fit, or other suitable attachment methods. 
     Cover panel  12  has, on its upper surface, a land portion  18  that is surrounded by an annular peripheral shoulder  20 . Shoulder  20  includes a surface that is substantially parallel to the upper surface of raised land portion  18 . Shoulder  20  enables stacking of multiple container bodies in a stable upright manner when the container bottom has a mating rim that is adapted to sit on the shoulder. 
     The three dispensing ports are arranged about the periphery of land portion  18 . The dispensing ports are disposed on radial axes extending with respect to the center of the cover panel. If desired, the dispensing ports can be located in sequential 120-degree segments around land portion  18 . When closed, all of the closures of the dispensing ports are flush with the surface of land portion  18 . 
     The spoon port has a large spoon flap closure  30  integrally joined to land portion  18  by a living hinge  32 . Hinge  32  is formed by a thin layer of material extending along the line of the attachment between spoon flap  30  and land portion  18 . The spoon flap closure includes a free edge that, along with living hinge  32 , defines an outer boundary. A sealing lip  34  extends along the undersurface of spoon flap  30 , spaced inwardly from the edge of flap  30  and is configured to fit tightly inside spoon opening  24  and abut against the curved wall of the opening when spoon flap  30  is in the closed position. 
     The pouring port is provided with a pivotally disposed spout  36  having a cover piece or closure flap  38  integrally joined to land portion  18  by a living hinge  40  Similar to spoon flap hinge  32 , pour spout hinge  40  is formed by a thin wall of material extending along the line of attachment between closure flap  38  and land portion  18 . 
     As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the length of pour spout  36  measured from hinge  40  to end  42  of closure flap  38  is slightly greater than the length of pour opening  26 . This elongated length of closure  38  is advantageous because when spout  36  is in the closed position the need of the flap closure extends beyond recessed edge  44  of the pour opening thereby completely covering and extending slightly beyond pour opening  26 . 
     Pouring spout  36  also includes a pair of sidewalls  46  that help to guide or funnel product from container C while pouring. Sidewalls  46  extend in parallel from opposing edges of the closure flap  38 . Referring to FIG. 3, when pour spout  36  is in a fully opened position, flap closure  38  is substantially 90 degrees with respect to land portion  18 . Sidewalls  46  form a substantial quarter circle by extending upwardly from living hinge  40  towards but not all the way to spout end  42  and by extending outwardly from living hinge  40  toward the pour opening recessed edge  44 . 
     When pour spout  36  is pivoted about living hinge  40 , sidewalls  46  move in a sweeping motion within pour opening  26  and move relative to land portion  18 . This sweeping motion substantially keeps product within pour opening  26  when opening or closing pour spout  36 . It should be recognized that the underside surface of flap  38  adjoining the interior surfaces of sidewalls  46  form a pathway, shoot, or an extended pouring surface for the particulate product to exit container C. This advantageously provides the user with the ability to control the direction of the flow of product, instead of pouring product from a mere opening without a guide as in some conventional dispensing tops. In addition, the sidewalls help keep the dispensing top cleaner than those without guides. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the sidewalls  46  have bosses  47  extending outwardly from the sidewalls away from living hinge  40  to act as a stop for the movement of pour spout  36 . Bosses  47  preferably limit the travel of pour spout  36  to approximately 90 degrees measured relative to land portion  18 . Also extending between bosses  47  and sidewalls  46  is a rigid bar. Thus, when sidewalls  46  are squeezed toward one another, the rigid bar provides additional rigidity to keep the sidewalls apart. For example, a person may grasp sidewalls  46  between their index finger and thumb so as to create a squeezing force, the rigid bar prevents the squeezing force from collapsing the sidewalls toward one another and from touching each other. Additionally, when pour spout  36  is substantially opened to a 90 degree angle, the rigid bar engages the under surface of recessed edge  44  to assist bosses  47  in limiting pour spout  36  travel. 
     Pour spout  36  also includes a lock. Detents  48  are located along the periphery of sidewalls  46  near top edge  42  of closure flap  38 . Detents  48  engage the underside of recessed edge  44  of pour opening  26 . Referring to FIG. 4, the engagement provides for a locking snap fit for sealing opening  26  when pour spout  36  is in a closed position. The resiliency of the plastic material is advantageously employed to provide the snap fit engagement. This lock advantageous reduces the possibility of the spout opening due to pressure extended against it by the particulate or granular product should the container fall or be shaken, particularly during transport operations. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, dispensing top  10  includes a hemispherical depression portion  49  in land portion  18  for enabling easy lifting of pour spout  36 . Depression portion  49  is sufficiently sized to allow a user to place the tip of a finger under top edge  42  of pour spout  36  so as to lift up closure flap  38  prior to pouring product from container C. Depression portion  49  is advantageously located within the interior of land portion  18  near the center of dispensing top  10 . The interior location provides for pour spout  36  to be lifted and pivoted towards the direction of annular skirt  14 . A substantial portion of the outer periphery  27  of depression portion  49  is preferably shaped in a circular arrangement. If desired, other shapes such as a square or oval, may be used. In the exemplary embodiment, the diameter of depression portion  49  is preferably 0.508 inches, but may range between 0.500 to 0.515 inches in a container top of approximately 3.224 inches diameter. Of course, the proportioned sizes of the depression versus the container top will vary depending on overall size. In general, the depth of depression portion  49  relative to the top surface of land portion  18  is sufficiently sized for a tip of a finger of a user. 
     The sift port comprises a plurality of relatively smaller sift holes or openings  28  for sifting or shaking granular product from container C. A sift closure flap  52  is integrally joined to land portion  18  by a living hinge  54 . The hinge  54  is formed by a thin layer of wall material extending along the line of attachment between the sift flap  52  and the land portion  18 . A plurality of plugs  56  extend from the undersurface of sift flap  52  and are sized and shaped to fit snugly inside the corresponding sift holes  28  when sift flap  52  is in the closed position, thereby sealing off the sifting port and locking sift flap  52  in the closed position. Sift openings  28  are arranged in a pattern or an array. In the embodiment shown, the pattern is a four by five array of openings  28 . This is preferably a quantity of 20 sift holes  28  in the second port. Plugs  56  are arranged in an array adapted to match the array of the sift holes. One skilled in the art may use any appropriate pattern of sift holes  28  for sifting. 
     The design of the dispensing ports enables the visually impaired user to readily determine the selected mode of dispensing. The top surface of sift flap  52  includes a tactile feature for a user. The top surface includes a raised texture  59  of the same pattern as sift openings  28  and plugs  56 . Raised texture  59  provides a designation to a user that the dispensing port is for sifting or shaking. The tactile feature of raised texture  59  advantageously helps visually impaired users to readily determine the second port. Depression portion  49  additionally indicates that the pour spout or pouring mode is selected for use. Conventional dispensing tops only have letters or symbols that can not be read by the visually impaired, such as a blind user. 
     Dispensing top  10  also includes small beam members (not shown) on the underside of land portion  18 . The beam members provide additional rigidity to land portion  18 . The beam members extend the diameter of the land portion  18  and intersect at the center of the land portion  18 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, three beam members are employed. The beam members are created during the molding process of dispensing top  10 . 
     All three closure flaps are connected to land portion  18  of dispensing top  10  by living hinges. All three flaps are integrally formed with dispensing top  10  during one molding process. Preferably, each flap is molded in the open position as shown in FIG.  1 . Pour spout  36  preferably is molded in the fully upright or open position. Dispensing top  10  is preferably made of a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or a polypropylene blend, although other moldable materials may be used. 
     Container C preferably is cylindrical with a circular or other cross-sectional shape, such as triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, or even irregular. Container C is preferably constructed from wound paper or cardboard and includes a sealed bottom end. The bottom end is preferably made of metal with a rim to match the shape and size of the dispensing top. The bottom end is preferably sized so that its rim can be seated on the shoulder formed on the dispensing top to enable stable vertical stacking. 
     Pour spout  36 , and flaps  30 ,  52  are designed to be manually opened and closed. To use the dispensing top  10 , the user opens one of the closures to expose the desired opening while the other closure remains in the closed position. For example, to pour product from container C, the user raises pour spout  36  to a fully upright position, and tilts container C at the desired angle. The product is then discharged from the interior of container C into spout  36 . To seal or close spout  36 , the user pushes closure flap  38  downward in a sweeping motion until it completely covers pour opening  26  and detents  48  engage the underside of raised land portion  18 . If the user desires to sift product into, say, a bowl, he lifts sift flap  52  from sift openings  28 , and gently shakes a desired amount of product into the bowl. When finished, the user simply returns sift flap  52  to the closed position. To spoon product from dispensing top  10 , the user lifts spoon flap  30  to expose spoon opening  28 . Next the user uses a spoon or other utensil to remove the desired amount of product from container C. 
     It will be appreciated that the present design maximizes the size of the dispensing openings because no web space need be used to block or cover openings in a second underlying web as in conventional rotating dispensing tops. The dispensing port areas comprise 35% to 70% of the dispensing top surface area, and preferably from 40% to 60%. Thus, the size of the openings may be adjusted in proportion to the overall size of the web. 
     There is shown in FIG. 5, a first alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which container C has a rectangular cross section and a tri-closure dispensing top  70  is configured accordingly. Dispensing top  70  includes a spoon opening  72 , a spoon closure flap  74 , a pour spout  76 , and a sift flap  78 . Dispensing top  70  is similar in structure to dispensing top  10  except for the spoon closure flap  74  and the spoon opening  72 . To maximize the size of the spoon opening  72 , the spoon opening  72  and the spoon closure flap  74  are also rectangular. 
     There is shown in FIG. 6, a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, a tri-closure dispensing top  10 ′ configured accordingly. Dispensing top  10 ′ is similar to dispensing top  10 , except for the structure of spoon opening  24 ′. The area defined by spoon opening  24 ′ is at least as half as large as the total web area. Thus, flap  30 ′ and sealing lip  34 ′ is sized accordingly. Living hinge  32 ′ is generally the diameter of dispensing top  10 ′. The size of the spoon opening  24 ′, however, may be controlled depending on the manufacturing efficiencies employed. 
     Thus there has been described a single piece dispensing top that can be used for pouring, sifting and spooning product. The dispensing top is easy to manufacture and reduces assembly. The present invention requires less material to manufacture than most conventional dispensing tops, including rotary type tops. The present invention also maximizes the size of the dispensing ports. While these particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is recognized the various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the herein-described invention shall be limited solely by the claims appended hereto.