Patent Publication Number: US-6991126-B2

Title: Dispensing closure for a container that holds pourable material

Description:
This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 371 as a national stage of international application PCT/EP02/10603, which was filed Sep. 20, 2002. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a dispensing closure for containers which contain free-flowing substances, in particular for drinks containers. 
   Numerous designs of dispensing closures of this type are known from the prior art and are used for drinks containers made from various materials, in particular from glass and plastics. 
   In particular in recent years, increased demands have been imposed on drinks containers of this type and associated dispensing closures for different intended applications and uses. To allow the drinks containers to be carried along without problems and to allow the dispensing closures to be actuated easily and ergonomically, in particular in the outdoors or during sporting pursuits, e.g. when running, riding a bicycle, and also, for example, when driving a motor vehicle, various solutions and materials have been used. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing closure for containers which contain free-flowing substances, in particular for the abovementioned drinks containers, which on the one hand can be operated and handled easily and without problems and also allows comfortable removal of the free-flowing substance, and on the other hand is of a design which offers a high degree of reliability even with frequent use and possibly careless handling, allows the container to be reliably sealed in the long term in particular in a closed state and, furthermore, has no adverse effect on the removal process, in particular the pleasure associated with drinking. 
   This object is achieved by a dispensing closure for containers which contain free-flowing substances, in particular for drinks containers, comprising a closure body having a cover, from the outer edge of which projects a casing which can be secured to the container over an outlet opening thereof, a passage opening in the top side of the closure body, which opening is in communication with the outlet opening of the container, a closure element, which is connected to the closure body and can be moved between a position in which it closes off the passage opening of the closure body and a position in which it opens up the passage opening of the closure body, a flexible dispensing tube, the passage opening of the closure body being designed in such a way that it can accommodate the elastic dispensing tube for the free-flowing substance, which can be sealed by being pinched shut when the closure element moves out of the open position into the closed position, and in which the closure element is provided with a pinch member, the closure body is provided with a mating holder, in such a manner that when the closure element is being closed, the flexible dispensing tube can be moved on to the mating holder by the pinch member in order to pinch shut the flexible dispensing tube in a sealing manner, the pinch member is arranged on the underside of a head plate of the closure element, and the mating holder is arranged on the top side of the closure body, the pinch member and the mating holder, in the closing position of the closure element, are arranged in such a way that the distance between them in the area into which the flexible dispensing tube is forced by the closure element closing corresponds to at most the thickness of the flexible dispensing tube which has been sealed by pinching, such that the pinch member, in the closed position of the closure element, pinches the flexible dispensing tube shut on the mating holder in a sealing manner, the closure element forms a flap lid which is articulatedly mounted integrally on the closure body by a hinge, and in which the cover of the closure body is designed as a flexible tube holder with a radially outer annular shoulder and a radially inner dome-like elevation, the diameter of the dome-like elevation being stepped over the height of this elevation, and the dome-like elevation having, at its outer end, an outlet opening for an outer section of the length of the flexible dispensing tube, the internal and external diameters of a section of the length of the flexible dispensing tube which is arranged inside the stepped flexible tube holder are matched to the steps in the internal diameter of the flexible tube holder, a first step is provided by cylindrical widening of the flexible tube holder below its outlet opening, the lower end of this first step of the flexible tube holder forms an inner, annular stop face, which at the same time delimits an annular groove inside a second step, the diameter of which is widened with respect to the first step, the widening of the second step below the annular groove is of frustoconical configuration and, at the lower end, merges into the horizontally positioned annular shoulder which faces the edge of the container opening and from the outer edge of which the securing casing of the closure body extends toward the container, the flexible dispensing tube has a widened diameter at a distance below the outlet opening of the axially stepped flexible tube holder and at the lower end of this widening has an annular shoulder, by means of which the flexible dispensing tube bears against the annular stop face of the flexible tube holder, the annular shoulder of the flexible dispensing tube is widened by an annular bead which engages into the annular groove of the second step of the flexible tube holder, the flexible dispensing tube has a cylindrical section of its length extending from its annular shoulder to an inner edge of the annular shoulder of the cover and has a disk-like widening which substantially covers the underside of the annular shoulder of the cover, an underside of a head plate of the closure element is provided with a pinch member which, when the closure element is being closed, can be fitted over the flexible tube holder which forms the mating holder, in such a manner that when the closure element is being closed the flexible dispensing tube can, by means of this pinch member, be bent over the edge of the passage opening of the flexible tube holder and can be sealed by being pinched shut. 
   The advantageous design of the dispensing closure according to the invention, and in particular the provision of a flexible dispensing tube for the free-flowing substance, which leads through a passage opening in the closure body, allows comfortable and pleasant removal of the substance, in particular a liquid, from the container, while ensuring that, for example even when undertaking sporting pursuits and in the event of vibrations which may be induced by such pursuits, the substance is dispensed reliably and is not shaken up. 
   Safe and reliable securing of the flexible dispensing tube to the flexible tube holder and therefore to the closure body of the container is made possible in particular by the way in which the design of the flexible dispensing tube, on the one hand, and the flexible tube holder, on the other hand, are matched to one another in accordance with the invention, yet at the same time it is still ensured that the flexible dispensing tube has a certain freedom of movement or flexibility in particular in its upper region, which in particular facilitates handling without the sealing properties of the dispensing closure being adversely affected. Furthermore, the design is configured in such a way that on the one hand the dispensing closure can be produced easily and therefore at low cost, and on the other hand it is possible for the individual elements of the dispensing closure to be dismantled, for example in order to be cleaned, and also they can be reassembled repeatedly and without problems even by an unskilled person and without tools, without the functionality of the dispensing closure, in particular its sealing properties, being adversely affected. 
   The hinge used is preferably an integral hinge, in particular what is known as a “dead center hinge”, which, when the closure element is moved beyond a certain opening angle or dead center position, automatically snaps into the position which opens up the closure body on account of forces exerted by the dead center hinge, and vice versa. This allows particularly simple and comfortable operation of the dispensing closure. 
   In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dispensing closure is designed in such a way that the pinch member is designed substantially in the form of a continuous curve with different radii, the radii being selected in such a way that the pinch member, in the closed position of the closure element, bears, by means of its side which faces the hinge, against that side of the flexible tube holder which faces the hinge, whereas that side of the pinch member which is remote from the hinge, in the closed position of the closure element, opposite that side of the flexible tube holder which is remote from the hinge, forms, together with the flexible tube holder, a free space for accommodating the bent-over, free end of the flexible dispensing tube. 
   An advantageous configuration of the pinch member of this nature on the one hand ensures that, while the closure element is closing, the flexible dispensing tube which projects above the passage opening in the closure body is always bent over in a controlled, identical way, and on the other hand in the closed position of the closure element, closing off the closure body, the dispensing closure ensures a reliable seal with respect to the container which contains the free-flowing substance. 
   Further advantageous embodiments of the dispensing closure according to the invention are characterized in that a substantially cylindrical through-channel in the flexible dispensing tube is widened in steps toward its inner end, matching the stepped contour of the flexible tube holder, with the flexible dispensing tube preferably consisting of a soft material, in particular silicone. 
   Furthermore, it is preferable for the dispensing closure according to the invention additionally to have a sleeve element which covers at least part of the flexible tube holder. This is advantageous in particular in the case of dispensing closures which are used for drinking bottles, since this provides the user with a more pleasant feeling when he is drinking. A sleeve element of this type preferably consists of a similar material to the flexible dispensing tube, if appropriate also from a slightly harder material. Examples of preferred materials for the sleeve element include silicone or rubber, without the invention being particularly restricted to any specific material. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and further advantages and features of the dispensing closure according to the invention will become still clearer from the appended drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional illustration through a first embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the invention (without flexible dispensing tube), with a closure element in an open position; 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional illustration through a second embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the invention, with a closure element in an open position; 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional illustration through the embodiment of the dispensing closure according to the invention shown in  FIG. 2 , with the closure element in a closed position; 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the open dispensing closure from  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a cross section through a first embodiment of a dispensing closure  10  according to the invention for containers which contain free-flowing substances, having a closure body  100  and a closure element  200  designed as a lid. Closure body  100  and closure element  200  are connected integrally to one another by means of a hinge  290 , which in this embodiment is designed as an integral hinge, so that the closure element  200  can be pivoted out of the position in which it opens up the closure body as shown in  FIG. 1  into the position in which it closes off the closure body, by being pivoted through 180° about an axis formed by the integral hinge  290 . 
   To provide a clearer illustration of the individual elements, in particular the closure body  100 , the flexible dispensing tube ( 300 , cf.  FIG. 2 ) provided for this embodiment is not shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the flexible dispensing tube which is to be used in the embodiment of the dispensing closure shown in  FIG. 1  corresponds to the flexible dispensing tube as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   On its top side, the closure body  100  has a cover  120 , from the radially outer edge of which a casing  110  extends downward. The casing  110  is of substantially cylindrical design and has an internal screw thread  112 , so that it can be secured on a container (not shown) by being screwed on to a corresponding mating thread on the container. 
   As an alternative to the screw connection, it is also possible to provide other means for securing the closure body to a container, for example snap-action connections. It is also possible for the dispensing closure to be formed directly, integrally with a corresponding container. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a sealing lip  114 , which is designed in the form of a ring which is inclined downward slightly with respect to the horizontal, is provided in the upper region of the casing  110  of the closure body  100 , in the vicinity of the outer edge of the cover  120  of the closure body  100 , so that this sealing lip  114 , when the closure element  100  is being screwed on to the container, presses onto a top side of the container opening and forms a seal against it. 
   In the embodiment shown here, the sealing lip  114  is formed integrally with the closure body but consists of a soft material, in this case silicone, unlike the hard plastic from which the closure body  100  and also the closure element  200  of the dispensing closure  10  are made. However, at this point it should be noted that in another embodiment the sealing lip may be made from the same material as the closure body, which simplifies the production process. 
   On its top side, the closure body  100  is provided with the cover  120 , which has a substantially horizontal annular shoulder  122 , from which a radially inner central stub  124  extends in the manner of a dome and in stepped form outward beyond the annular shoulder. The diameter of the dome-like stub  124  is stepped over the height of the stub, and the stub  124  has an outlet opening  126  at its outer end. 
   The dome-like stub  124  substantially comprises a first (or upper) step  128 , which, with respect to the cover  120 , lies above a second (or lower) step  134 . Each of the steps  128 ,  134  is substantially cylindrical in form, with the two steps  128 ,  134  having similar heights, but the first step  128  having a smaller diameter. 
   The transitions between the first step  128  and the second step  134  and between the second step  134  and the annular shoulder  122  on the outer side are rounded, so that there are no sharp edges. 
   Above the first step  128  there is a termination rim  136  which is angled off radially inward and in its top region runs virtually horizontally. This termination rim  136  surrounds the passage opening  126 , in such a manner that the passage opening  126  has an internal diameter which corresponds to the external diameter of an upper region of a flexible dispensing tube ( FIG. 2 ). 
   The inner region of the dome-like stub  124  of the cover  120  is stepped in terms of its internal diameter. Below the internal diameter of the passage opening  126 , which is the smallest internal diameter within the dome-like stub  124 , the internal diameters of the dome-like stub  124  widen out downward or inward, i.e. toward the container. After the first widening of the internal diameter immediately below the termination rim  136 , the inner region extends substantially cylindrically over the entire axial extent of the first step and widens out further approximately at the height of the transition region between the first step  128  and the second step  134 . 
   The lower end of the first step  128  of the flexible tube holder  180 , in the inner region, forms an annular stop face  130 , which at the same time delimits an annular groove  132  in the upper region within the second step  134 . The inner region of the second step  134  below the annular groove  132  has a frustoconical profile and widens out downward, merging at its bottom end into the lower side of the horizontally positioned annular shoulder  122  of the cover  120 . 
   Furthermore, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has a sleeve element  150  which consists of silicone, extends substantially over the entire outer region of the dome-like stub  124  of the cover  120  and follows the contour of the dome-like stub  124 . 
   The closure element  200  is substantially designed in the form of a lid and comprises a head plate  210  and a side region  220  which extends from the head plate, the side region  220  substantially being designed in such a way that, in a closed position of the closure element  200 , it is substantially flush with the casing  110  of the closure body  100 . 
   Furthermore, on its opposite side from the hinge  290 , the closure element  200  has a groove  260  for receiving a quality assurance element  160 , the groove  260  (in the lower region in the position of the closure element  200  shown in  FIG. 1 , and therefore in the upper region in the closed position) being recessed inward, so that the quality assurance element  160  can be pressed into this recessed region in order to break the seal. The groove  260  for the quality assurance element  160  is delimited by a lug  262  and a protuberance  264  in its upper and lower regions. 
   On the inner side of the head plate  210  of the closure element  200  there is a pinch member  280  which is designed substantially in the form of a curve, but with a varying radius. The way in which the pinch member  280  functions, and also its precise configuration, will become clear in particular in conjunction with  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , which are explained below. 
     FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the dispensing closure according to the invention, which is very similar to the first embodiment. Therefore, identical and similar elements are provided with identical reference numerals, and for a detailed description reference is made in particular to the description given in connection with  FIG. 1 . 
   As can be seen from a comparison with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the casing  110  of the closure body  100  is of shorter design, so that it does not extend as far beyond the area of the opening of an associated container. 
   The dome-like stub  124  of the cover  120  is identical to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , but does not have a sleeve element ( 150 ,  FIG. 1 ) for covering the dome-like elevation  124 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a flexible dispensing tube  300  is fitted into the flexible tube holder formed from the cover  120  and from the annular shoulder  122  and the dome-like stub  124 . At this point, it should be noted once again that an identical flexible dispensing tube  300  can also be used in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   The flexible dispensing tube  300 , which consists of silicone, is matched to the inner contour of the cover  120  and likewise has a stepped diameter over its height. The flexible dispensing tube  300  substantially comprises three segments, a first or outer section  310  of its length, a second section  320  of its length and a third section  340  of its length, with the diameter of the first or outer section  310  of its length being smaller than the diameter of the second section  320  of its length, which is in turn smaller than the diameter of the third section  340  of its length. 
   Between the first or outer section  310  of its length and the second section  320  of its length, there is an inclined, frustoconical transition  312 , which at its lower end has a protruding bead  314  directly above the second section  320  of its length. The external diameter of the bead  314  corresponds to the internal diameter of the first step  128  ( FIG. 1 ) of the cover  120 . The external diameter of the bead  314  may also be slightly larger than the internal diameter of the first step  128  ( FIG. 1 ), so that an increased seal is achieved by the compression of the bead  314 . 
   The external diameter of the second length section  320  is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the first step  128  ( FIG. 1 ) of the cover  120 , so that increased flexibility of the flexible dispensing tube  300  is made possible, with the bead  314  ensuring both an additional sealing action and a guiding function for the flexible dispensing tube  300  in the flexible tube holder  122 ,  124 . 
   Between the second length section  320  and the third length section  340  there is an annular shoulder  330  with an annular bead  332 , which engages in the annular groove  132  in the dome-like stub  124 , so that reliable anchoring and securing of the flexible dispensing tube  300  in the flexible tube holder  122 ,  124  is ensured. 
   The third length section  340 , below the annular bead  332 , extends substantially cylindrically downward, with an external diameter which is slightly smaller than the external diameter of the annular bead  132 , and merges at its lower end into a disk-like widening  350  which engages around the underside of the annular shoulder  122  of the cover  120 , so that accurate positioning and securing, and also sealing, of the flexible dispensing tube  300  in the closure body  100  is ensured. 
   The closure element  200  is substantially identical to the closure element  200  shown in  FIG. 1 , but additionally has an elongate positioning element  490  which is arranged on the inner side of the side region  220  of the closure element  200 . At the end of the closing operation and in the closing position of the closure element  200 , this positioning element  490  interacts with a mating positioning element ( 190 ,  FIG. 4 ), which is arranged on the closure body  100  in the form of a projection, so that reliable and accurate positioning of the closure element  200  on the closure body  100  is assisted during the closing motion. 
     FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of the dispensing closure according to the invention, the closure body  100  and the closure element  200  being identical to those of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 ; only the flexible dispensing tube  300  varies slightly with respect to the flexible dispensing tube  300  shown in  FIG. 2 . Therefore, for a more detailed description and explanation of  FIG. 3 , reference is made to the description given in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this case too, identical or similar components are provided with identical reference numerals. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the closure element  200  is in the closed position. It can be seen that the outer section  310  of the length of the flexible dispensing tube  300  has been bent substantially in the closing direction, i.e. away from the integral hinge  290 , in  FIG. 3  downward and to the left, around the dome-like elevation  124 , in particular around the termination rim  136 . Consequently, the flexible dispensing tube  300  is held and pressed together by the pinch member  280 , on one side, and in particular the first step  128  of the dome-like stub  124 , so that the outer section  310  of the length of the flexible dispensing tube  300  is sealed shut at this location. The first step  128 , and in particular the transition region between the first step  128  and the second step  134 , therefore serve as mating element  180  for the pinch member  280 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the transition region between the first step  128  and the second step  134  of the dome-like stub  124  is designed in such a way that the outer section  310  of the length of the flexible dispensing tube  300  can be bent without strong kinks being formed, which could damage the flexible dispensing tube  300 . 
   The pinch member  280  and the dome-like stub  124  are designed in such a way that, in the closed position of the closure element  200  shown in  FIG. 3 , at the position at which the outer section  310  of the length of the flexible dispensing tube  300  comes to lie, a distance which corresponds to at most the thickness of the flexible dispensing tube which has been sealed shut by pinching, and in this case is slightly less than twice the wall thickness of the outer section  310  of the length of the flexible dispensing tube  300 , remains in the radial direction between the first step  128  of the dome-like elevation  124  and the corresponding, opposite region of the pinch member  280 , so that a reliable seal is ensured as a result of the walls of the flexible dispensing tube  300  being compressed. 
   Furthermore, the region or the pinch member  280  which faces the hinge  290 , i.e. the right-hand region in  FIG. 3 , ends directly at the dome-like stub  124  and bears tightly against the outer region of the first step  128 . This in particular results in accurate positioning, but at the same time also in a sealing effect and a stabilizing effect. 
   The flexible dispensing tube  300  shown in  FIG. 3 , unlike the flexible dispensing tube  300  shown in  FIG. 2 , does not have an annular bead  314 , but rather runs substantially freely in the inner region of the first step  128  of the dome-like stub  124 . Also, the flexible dispensing tube  300  does not have a transition region between the outer section  310  of its length and the second section  320  of its length. The second section  320  of its length directly adjoins the first section  310  of its length and runs substantially frustoconically until it reaches the angular shoulder  330 . This results in increased flexibility of the flexible dispensing tube  300 . 
   In addition, a sealing element  370 —in this case in the form of a sealing ring—is arranged at the flexible dispensing tube  300 , more specifically at the underside of the disk-like widening  350 . Furthermore, there is a diaphragm  380 , which is only diagrammatically indicated. The sealing element  370  does not form part of the invention and may optionally be used or omitted, for example depending on the product employed. 
     FIG. 4  shows a plan view of an embodiment of a dispensing closure  10  according to the invention illustrating the shape of the pinch member  280 . The pinch member  280  is designed substantially in the form of a curve, having a smaller diameter over an angular region of approx. 90° in the region  282  which faces the hinge  290 , so that, as has been described in connection with  FIG. 3 , in the closed position of the closure element  200  it bears directly against the dome-like stub  124  of the closure body  100 , whereas in its region  284  which is remote from the hinge, over the remaining angular region of approx. 270°, it has a larger diameter, so that the outer section  310  of the length of the flexible dispensing tube  300  ( FIG. 3 ) can be pinched in a sealed manner between this region  284  and the dome-like stub  124  in the closed position of the closure element  200 . 
   Of course, it is possible to deviate from the proposed angular division of the regions  282  and  294 , for example to reduce the size of the angular region  284  which is remote from the hinge  290 . 
   Furthermore,  FIG. 4  shows the positioning element  490  arranged on the closure element  200  and the mating positioning element  190  arranged on the closure body  100 , these two elements engaging with one another when the closure element  200  is closed, so that positioning of the closure element  200  on the closure body  100  is assisted. In addition, a further positioning element  94 ′ and a further mating positioning element  190 ′ are provided in  FIG. 4 , arranged on the circumference of the closure body  100  and of the closure element  200 , substantially opposite one another. 
   The features which have been disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings may be of importance both individually and in any desired combination for realizing the various configurations of the invention.