Patent Publication Number: US-11390433-B2

Title: Container

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Containers include a body that defines an internal volume and an opening that provides a path of fluid communication between the internal volume and an exterior of the body. A consumer product is introduced (e.g., poured) into the internal volume through the opening. Once the consumer product is in the internal volume, a lid is screwed onto the body proximate to the opening. Some lids completely seal the opening in the body. Other lids have a smaller opening formed therethrough (e.g., a nozzle) that provides a path of fluid communication through which the consumer product may be dispensed from the internal volume. In the embodiment where the lid includes the smaller opening, the lid may have a cap coupled thereto that pivots between an open position and a closed position. The cap seals the smaller opening in the lid when in the closed position. 
     Users oftentimes find it a nuisance to have to unscrew the lid from the body to refill the internal volume. In addition, the consumer product may leak from the internal volume if the lid is not screwed tightly to the body. What is desirable is an improved container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A container is disclosed. The container includes a body defining an internal volume and a first opening that provides a path of fluid communication between the internal volume and an exterior of the body. A nozzle piece is positioned at least partially within the opening in the body. The nozzle piece defines a second opening that is smaller than the first opening in the body. A cap piece is integral with the body. The cap piece is configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position via a hinge that is positioned between the body and the cap piece. Fluid flow is permitted through the second opening in the nozzle piece when the cap piece is in the open position, and the cap piece prevents fluid flow through the second opening in the nozzle piece when the cap piece is in the closed position. 
     A preform is also disclosed. The preform includes a body defining an internal volume and a first opening that provides a path of fluid communication between the internal volume and an exterior of the body. A nozzle piece is configured to be positioned at least partially within the opening in the body. The nozzle piece defines a second opening that is smaller than the first opening in the body. A cap piece is integral with the body. The cap piece is configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position via a hinge that is positioned between the body and the cap piece. Fluid flow is permitted through the second opening in the nozzle piece when the cap piece is in the open position, and the cap piece prevents fluid flow through the second opening in the nozzle piece when the cap piece is in the closed position. 
     In another embodiment, the container includes a body defining an internal volume and a first opening that provides a path of fluid communication between the internal volume and an exterior of the body. The container also includes a cap piece that is configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position. The container also includes a nozzle piece that is configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position. The nozzle piece defines a second opening that is smaller than the first opening in the body. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an example of a container that is consistent with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a front view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a side view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of an example of a method for using the container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of another example of a container. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the container shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart of a method for using the container shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view of another example of a container. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a front view of the container shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  depicts a flowchart of a method for using the container shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         FIG. 11  depicts a perspective view of yet another example of a container. 
         FIG. 12  depicts a side view of an example of a preform that may be used to form the body of the container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
       FIGS. 1-3  depict a perspective view, a front view, and a side view of an example of a container  100 . The container  100  may include a body  110  that defines an internal volume. The body  100  may define an opening  112  that provides a path of fluid communication between the internal volume and an exterior of the body  110 . 
     The container  100  may also include a nozzle piece  120 . The nozzle piece  120  may be inserted at least partially into the body  110  (e.g., into the opening  112  in the body  110 ). The nozzle piece  120  may be coupled to the inner surface of the body  110  via a threaded engagement, a friction fit, a snap fit, an adhesive, or the like. For example, an exterior (e.g., radial) surface of the nozzle piece  120  may have threads that are configured to engage corresponding threads on the interior (e.g., radial) surface of the opening  112  of the body  110 . In another example, the exterior surface of the nozzle piece  120  may include a (e.g., radial) protrusion that is configured to snap into a (e.g., radial) groove formed in the inner surface of the opening  112  of the body  110 . 
     The nozzle piece  120  may include a substantially planar outer surface  122  and a substantially planar inner surface (not shown). An opening  126  may be formed through the nozzle piece  120  providing a path of fluid communication between the outer surface  122  and the inner surface. The opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120  may be aligned with the opening  112  in the body  110  when the nozzle piece  120  is inserted into and/or coupled with the body  110 . The opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120  may have a smaller cross-sectional area (e.g., diameter) than the opening  112  in the body  110 . As such, the nozzle piece  120  may provide a restricted flow path between the internal volume and the exterior of the body  110 . A hollow protrusion  128  may extend upward from the outer surface  122  of the nozzle piece  120  and/or downward from the inner surface of the nozzle piece  120 . The protrusion  128  may be substantially cylindrical and have the opening  126  extending therethrough. 
     The container  100  may also include a cap piece  130 . The cap piece  130  may be coupled to or integral with the body  110 . More particularly, the cap piece  130  may be coupled to or integral with the body  110  via a hinge  132 . The hinge  132  may enable the cap piece  130  to pivot between an open position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a closed position with respect to the body  110 . In the open position, fluid is permitted to flow through the opening  112  in the body  110  and/or the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 . In the closed position, the cap piece  130  may plug or otherwise close the opening  112  in the body  110  and/or the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 . More particularly, a protrusion  138  may extend from an inner surface  134  of the cap piece  130 , and the protrusion  138  may plug the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120  when the cap piece  130  is in the closed position. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method  400  for using the container  100 . The method  400  may begin by introducing (e.g., pouring or injecting) a consumer product into the internal volume of the body  110  through the opening  112  in the body  110 , as at  402 . The consumer product may be or include toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, household cleaning products, food products (e.g., ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, etc.), or the like. The method  400  may also include inserting the nozzle piece  120  at least partially into the body  110  after the consumer product is introduced into the internal volume, as at  404 . Inserting the nozzle piece  120  at least partially into the body  110  may include inserting the nozzle piece  120  into the opening  112  in the body  110  and coupling the nozzle piece  120  to the inner surface of the body  110  (e.g., an inner surface of the opening  112 ). The method  400  may also include actuating the cap piece  130  into the closed position, as at  406 . The cap piece  130  may remain in the closed position while access to the consumer product is not needed, for example, when the container  100  is being transported to a store, when the container  100  is on a shelf at the store, when the container  100  is being transported to a user&#39;s home, etc. The nozzle piece  120  may be inserted into and/or coupled with the body  110  before the cap piece  130  is actuated into the closed position (as described above) or after the cap piece  130  is actuated back into the open position. 
     The method  400  may also include actuating the cap piece  130  into the open position, as at  408 . The method  400  may also include dispensing at least a portion of the consumer product through the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 , as at  410 . The method  400  may also include removing the nozzle piece  120  from the body  110 , as at  412 , and introducing additional consumer product into the internal volume of the body  110  through the opening  112  in the body  110 , as at  414 . In such embodiments, a consumer may refill the container  100  with the consumer product, and then reinsert the nozzle piece  120 , as at  404 . 
     Although the foregoing description uses reference number  120  to refer to the nozzle piece and reference number  130  to refer to the cap piece, in another embodiment, reference number  120  may refer to the cap piece, and reference number  130  may refer to the nozzle piece. In this embodiment, the cap piece may be inserted at least partially into the body  110  and/or coupled with the body  110  when the container is not being used to dispense the consumer product. When the user wants to dispense the consumer product, the consumer may remove the cap piece and actuate (e.g., rotate around the hinge  132 ) the nozzle piece into the closed position to align the opening in the nozzle piece with the opening in the body  110 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a perspective view and a side view of another example of a container  500 . The container  500  may be similar in some respects to the container  100 , and the same reference numbers are used where appropriate. For example, the container  500  may include the body  110 , the nozzle piece  120 , and the cap piece  130 . The nozzle piece  120  may be coupled to or integral with the cap piece  130  via a hinge  121 . The hinge  121  may enable the nozzle piece  120  to pivot between a first position (as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) and a second position with respect to the cap piece  130 . In the first position, the nozzle piece  120  may be clear of (i.e., not inserted into) the cap piece  130 . In the second position, the nozzle piece  120  may folded at least partially into and/or on top of the cap piece  130 . More particularly, the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120  may receive the protrusion  138  of the cap piece  130 . 
     The cap piece  130  may be coupled to or integral with the body  110  via a hinge  132 . The hinge  132  may enable the cap piece  130  to pivot between an open position (as shown in FIGS.  5  and  6 ) and a closed position with respect to the body  110 . In the open position, the cap piece  130  may be clear of (i.e., not inserted into) the body  110 . In the closed position, the cap piece  130  may be inserted at least partially into the opening  112  of the body  110  to prevent any fluid from flowing through the opening  112  in the body  110 . The cap piece  130  may be configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position independent of the position of the nozzle piece  120 . 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the nozzle piece  120  may pivot in a first direction, and the cap piece  130  may pivot in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In another embodiment (not shown), the nozzle piece  120  and the cap piece  130  may pivot in the same direction. In at least one embodiment, the body  110 , the nozzle piece  120 , the hinge  121 , the cap piece  130 , and the hinge  132  may be a single, integral component. For example, the body  110 , the nozzle piece  120 , the hinge  121 , the cap piece  130 , and the hinge  132  may be blow-molded. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart of an example of a method  700  for using the container  500 . The method  700  may begin by introducing (e.g., pouring) a consumer product into the internal volume of the body  110  through the opening  112  in the body  110 , as at  702 . The method  700  may also include pivoting the nozzle piece  120  into the second position (e.g., at least partially into the cap piece  130 ), as at  704 . The method  700  may also include pivoting the cap piece  130  into the closed position, as at  706 . The nozzle piece  120  may move together with the cap piece  130  at least partially into the opening  112  of the body  110  when the cap piece  130  pivots into the closed position. The method  700  may also include pivoting the cap piece  130  into the open position, as at  708 . 
     The hinge  121  between the nozzle piece  120  and the cap piece  130  may break, allowing the nozzle piece  120  to separate from the cap piece  130  either before the nozzle piece  120  is pivoted into the cap piece  130 , when the nozzle piece  120  is pivoted into the cap piece  130 , when the cap piece  130  pivots into the closed position, or when the cap piece  130  pivots back into the open position. As a result, the nozzle piece  120  may remain positioned within the opening  112  in the body  110  when the cap piece  130  pivots back into the open position. The method  700  may also include dispensing at least a portion of the consumer product through the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 , as at  710 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  depict a perspective view and a side view of another example of a container  800 . The container  800  may be similar in some respects to the containers  100  and  500 , and the same reference numbers are used where appropriate. For example, the container  800  may include the body  110 , the nozzle piece  120 , and the cap piece  130 . The nozzle piece  120  may be coupled to or integral with the body  110  via the hinge  121 . The hinge  121  may enable the nozzle piece  120  to pivot between an open position (as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) and a closed position with respect to the body  110 . In the open position, the nozzle piece  120  is clear of (i.e., not inserted into) the body  110 , and the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120  is misaligned with the opening  112  in the body  110 . In the closed position, the nozzle piece  120  is inserted at least partially into the opening  112  of the body  110 , and the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120  is aligned with the opening  112  in the body  110 . The nozzle piece  120  may be configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position independent of the position of the cap piece  130 . 
     The cap piece  130  may be coupled to or integral with the nozzle piece  120  via the hinge  132 . In at least one embodiment, the body  110 , the nozzle piece  120 , the hinge  121 , the cap piece  130 , and the hinge  132  may be a single, integral component. The hinge  132  may enable the cap piece  130  to pivot between an open position (as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) and a closed position with respect to the nozzle piece  120 . In the open position, fluid is permitted to flow through the opening  112  in the body  110  and/or the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 . In the closed position, the cap piece  130  may plug or otherwise close the opening  112  in the body  110  and/or the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 . More particularly, the protrusion  128  of the nozzle piece  120  may be received within a recess  139  formed in the protrusion  138  of the cap piece  130  to seal the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120  when the cap piece  130  is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the cap piece  130  may be configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position independent of the position of the nozzle piece  120 . In such embodiments, the cap piece  130  may rotate either clockwise or counter clockwise around the hinge  132  from the perspective shown in  FIG. 8 . In another embodiment, the cap piece  130  may only be pivoted between the open position and the closed position when the nozzle piece  120  is in the closed position. In such embodiments, the cap piece  130  must rotate clockwise around the hinge  132  from the perspective shown in  FIG. 8  in order to operate correctly. 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the nozzle piece  120  may pivot in a first direction, and the cap piece  130  may pivot in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In another embodiment (not shown), the nozzle piece  120  and the cap piece  130  may pivot in the same direction. 
       FIG. 10  depicts a flowchart of an example of a method  1000  for using the container  800 . The method  1000  may begin by introducing (e.g., pouring) a consumer product into the internal volume of the body  110  through the opening  112  in the body  110 , as at  1002 . The method  1000  may also include pivoting the nozzle piece  120  into the closed position, as at  1004 . The nozzle piece  120  may be pivoted into the closed position after the consumer product is introduced into the internal volume. The method  1000  may also include pivoting the cap piece  130  into the closed position, as at  1006 . The cap piece  130  may be pivoted into the closed position before or after the nozzle piece  120  is pivoted into the closed position, in various embodiments. The method  1000  may also include pivoting the cap piece  130  into the open position, as at  1008 . The method  900  may also include dispensing at least a portion of the consumer product through the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 , as at  1010 . The method  1000  may also include pivoting the nozzle piece  120  into the open position after at least a portion of the consumer product is dispensed, as at  1012 . The method  1000  may also include introducing additional consumer product into the internal volume of the body  110  through the opening  112  in the body  110  when the nozzle piece  120  is in the open position, as at  1014 . In such embodiments, a consumer may refill the container  800  with more of the consumer product, and then pivot the nozzle piece  120  back into place before dispensing, as at  1004 . 
       FIG. 11  depicts a perspective view of another example of a container  1100 . The container  1000  may be similar in some respects to the containers  100 ,  500 , and  800 , and the same reference numbers are used where appropriate. For example, the container  100  may include the body  110 , the nozzle piece  120 , and the cap piece  130 . The nozzle piece  120  may be inserted at least partially into the body  110  (e.g., into the opening  112  in the body  110 ). The nozzle piece  120  may be coupled to the inner surface of the body  110  via a threaded engagement, a friction fit, a snap fit, an adhesive, or the like. 
     The cap piece  130  may be coupled to or integral with the body  110  and/or the nozzle piece  120  via the hinge  132 . The hinge  132  may enable the cap piece  130  to pivot around the hinge  132  between an open position (as shown in  FIG. 11 ) and a closed position with respect to the nozzle piece  120 . In the open position, fluid is permitted to flow through the opening  112  in the body  110  and/or the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 . In the closed position, the cap piece  130  may plug or otherwise close the opening  112  in the body  110  and/or the opening  126  in the nozzle piece  120 . 
       FIG. 12  depicts a side view of an example of a preform  1200  that may be used to form the body  110  of the container  100 . The preform  1200  may have a thickness from about 0.05 mm to about 5 mm or from about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm. In at least one embodiment, the preform  1200  may include one or more over-molded portions/layers. The preform  1200  may be blow-molded to form the body  110 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the preform  1200  has the nozzle piece  120  and/or the cap piece  130  from  FIG. 5  coupled thereto and/or integral therewith. However, in other embodiments, the preform  1200  may have the nozzle piece  120  and/or the cap piece  130  from  FIG. 1 or 8  coupled thereto and/or integral therewith. The preform  1200  may have the nozzle piece  120  and/or the cap piece  130  integral therewith before the blow-molding takes place. In another embodiment, the nozzle piece  120  and/or the cap piece  130  may be coupled to the body  110  after the preform  1200  is blow-molded into the body  110 .