Patent Publication Number: US-6041975-A

Title: Dispensing package for viscous liquid product

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/604,588 filed Feb. 21, 1996. 
    
    
     This invention relates to dispensing packages for liquid product and particularly to a dispensing package comprising a novel flexible plastic container and a novel valve assembly for dispensing liquid product from the plastic container. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the dispensing of viscous products from flexible plastic containers it is common to use a threaded closure with a valve therein which is manually operable to open and close the opening of the finish on which the closure is threaded. The closure includes an inner skirt on which the threads are formed for engagement with the threads on the finish and an outer skirt having the configuration of the container. A valving arrangement is provided in the closure. In one type of closure for a threaded container, a toggle valve arrangement is provided as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,581 wherein a toggle valve is pivoted between a closed position cutting off flow from the container and an open position providing communication to the exterior of the closure. 
     In another type of closure that is used with a threaded container, a valve arrangement includes a valve which has a concave surface on the threaded portion of the closure which is engaged by a convex surface on a portion that is pivoted thereon between open and closed positions as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,165. 
     In still another form of arrangement used in condiment packages, a portion of the closure is pivoted to permit flow of condiment out of a number of openings as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,033,688, 1,033,689, 2,361,958, 3,303,971, 3,383,019 and 5,192,005. In another type of package as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,325, a plastic top is provided with a monoblock body with a substantially T-shaped recess portion on to which a cap is positioned with one portion of the cap releasably attached and another portion is T-shaped to close a non-centralized circular spout on the container. Such dispensing packages have various disadvantages which in some instances include the cost of manufacturing and the cost of materials. 
     Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a dispensing package wherein the plastic container is modified to receive a valve system that requires less plastic material; which permits increasing the number of cavities in a mold; which is easier to mold; which cost is lower in cost; wherein functionality of the valve system is maintained; and which lessens the waste space permitting more product to be provided in the volume of the package and reduces the space of the package facilitating storage cost and utilization of shelf space. 
     In accordance with the invention, the dispensing package comprises a plastic container having a surface recessed in portion of the container and an opening in the recessed portion of the container. The container has a flexible portion which can be squeezed for dispensing the product through the opening. A valve system is snapped in overlying position to the opening and includes a valve member movable manually from a closed position to an open dispensing position. In one form, the valve system comprises a fitment snapped into position and a toggle valve pivoted on the fitment. The toggle valve includes an opening which in one position is closed and in another position is open to provide communication with the opening in the container so that the product can be dispensed by squeezing the container. The toggle valve has a discharge passage through which the liquid product flows to the exterior of the toggle valve. In another form, the toggle valve is pivoted directly in the recess on the plastic container. In another form, the valve system consists of a fitment having an opening and a valve member hinged to the fitment and movable into position opening and closing the opening in the fitment. In another form, the valve system comprises a valve member which engages a complementary surface on the opening of the container and is movable between closed position and open position. 
     The recess on a portion of the plastic container is preferably on the upper surface of the container and extends transversely of the upper surface. The recess may extend partially across the upper surface of the container or completely across the upper surface of the container. In some forms, the plastic container has a modified upper surface to minimize accumulation of liquid product adjacent the outlet opening of the container. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing package embodying the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the dispensing package. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1 showing the open dispensing position. 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the closed position. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a fitment forming a part of the package. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the valve forming part of the package. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a modified form of package. 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modified form of package. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of valve assembly. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view showing the valve assembly of FIG. 9 in position on a container. 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11--11 in FIG. 10. 
     FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a modified dispensing package. 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 13--13 in FIG. 12. 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional of a further modified form of package. 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a further modified form of package. 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 16--16 in FIG. 15. 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a farther modified form of the valve assembly. 
     FIG. 18A is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 18A--18A in FIG. 17. 
     FIG. 18B is a view similar to that of FIG. 18A showing the slit diaphragm valve in the open position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the dispensing package 20 embodying the invention comprises a hollow plastic container 22 and a valve assembly 24. The container 22 has opposed flexible walls 26 and is herein shown as being generally oval in cross section which has a long axis and a short axis. The container 22 further includes an inwardly extending recess 28 that extends transversely between the walls 26 and defines top wall portions 30. Recess 28 includes a base wall 29 and side walls 31 extending upwardly from base wall 29. Valve assembly 24 is positioned in the recess 28 and in the closed position has a top wall which is in the same plane as the top wall portions 30. The container 22 includes a finish 32 defining an opening 33 in the bottom wall 29 of the recess 28 which has an annular bead 34 thereon. 
     Valve assembly 24 comprises a plastic fitment 36 and a plastic valve member 38. Fitment 36 comprises a transverse wall 40 extending between side walls 42 and end walls 44. Transverse wall 40 has an opening 46 therethrough which overlies a portion of the opening 33 of the finish 32 of the container 22 and is smaller than the opening in the finish 32. The underside of transverse wall 40 is formed with an annular plug seal 49 and an interrupted annular bead 50 which cooperates with the finish 32 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Transverse wall 40 also includes an upwardly extending integral cylindrical wall 52. 
     The container fitment and valve member are made of plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC or PET or other organic polymers or copolymers. 
     Valve member 38 comprises a generally flat top wall 54, downwardly extending side walls 56 and end walls 58, 60. Side walls 56 are provided with outwardly extending bosses 62 which snap into openings or depressions 64 in the inside surface of side walls 42 of the fitment to provide limited pivoting or toggle action of the valve member 38 relative to the fitment 36. Valve member 38 is further provided with an annular plug seal 66 and partial annular seal 68 on its underside that cooperates with cylindrical portion 52 of the fitment 36 in a manner substantially similar to U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,581 incorporated herein by reference. Valve member 38 also includes a dispensing passage 70 which extends from the area of the cylindrical wall 52 to the end wall 60. When the valve member is in open position as shown in FIG. 3 and the flexible walls 26 of the container are squeezed, the liquid contents pass through the opening 33 in the finish 32 and thereafter through the opening 53 defined by the cylindrical wall 52 to the passage 70 and outwardly to the exterior. In this position the wall 68 directs the contents toward the passage 70. When the valve member 38 is in closed position as shown in FIG. 4, the opening 53 of the cylindrical wall 52 is sealed. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, in this modified form of dispensing package, the valve assembly 24a consists of the valve member 36a which is mounted directly on the side walls 31a of recess 28a of the container 22a and cooperates and seals against an upwardly extending cylindrical wall 32a in the base of the recess 28a. The underside of valve member 36a is identical to that in FIG. 6. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, in this modified form of dispensing package, the valve assembly 24b is substantially identical to that shown in FIGS. 1-6 except that it is positioned in a recess 28b extending along the long axis of the container 22b and extends from one end of the oval configuration and terminates before reaching the other end. Valve member 38b is pivoted to the fitment (not shown) about an axis parallel to the axis of the top of the container and is depressed on the left as viewed in FIG. 8 to open the discharge passage (not shown) so that the product can be dispensed. 
     In the modified form of package shown in FIGS. 9-11, the valve assembly 24c comprises a fitment 36c which is substantially identical to fitment 36. A valve member 38c is connected by an integral hinge 72 to the fitment 36c and has a plug seal 74 on the underside thereof engaging the opening 52c defined by the cylindrical wall 52c on the fitment 36c. In this form, the recess 28c extends transversely of the container which is generally rectangular in cross section and has a long axis and a short axis. A slit diaphragm valve 90 (FIGS. 17-18B) of resilient elastomeric material may be mounted on or inserted in opening 52c such that when the container is squeezed, the liquid product will be dispensed. In such an arrangement, valve member 38c would function as an overcap to prevent dispensing during normal handling and transporting and the plug seal may not be necessary. Such slitted fitments are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos 1,206,661, 1,242,654, 1,825,553, 2,175,052. 
     In addition, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the container has inwardly extending recesses 76 which extend inwardly to the depth of the base wall 29c. This reduces the space above the base wall and minimizes accumulation of viscous product at the corners of the container. 
     In the modified form of package shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the valve assembly 24d is provided in a recess 29d that extends along the axis of a container having a rectangular cross section for only a portion of the long axis. Otherwise, the assembly 24d is like that shown in FIGS. 1-6. 
     In a modified form of package shown in FIG. 14, valve assembly 24e is such that a segmented annular portion 78 extends downwardly from the fitment 36e through the opening 33e in the finish 32e. Each segment 78 includes a bead 80 that snaps below the finish to hold the fitment 36e in position. 
     In the modified form of dispensing package shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the valve assembly 24f comprises a fitment 36f which snaps in position through the opening 33 in a manner like that shown in FIG. 14. The fitment 36f includes a concave surface 82 which is engaged by a convex portion 84 on the valve member 38f to bring a dispensing passage 70f into and out of position with an opening 86 in the fitment 36f by a toggle action. The valve member 38f is pivoted to the fitment 36f by engagement of bosses 62f with openings 64f in the fitment. The valve member 38f may be pushed inwardly to open as shown in FIG. 15 or may be provided with a projection at the other end to lift the valve member 38f to open position as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,928, incorporated herein by reference. 
     It can thus been seen that there have been provided dispensing packages which require less plastic material; permit portions thereof made in molds having a larger number of cavities; which have all portions easier to mold; and which provide proper control of the viscous product being dispensed; and which reduce the space needed for providing the necessary volume of package.