Patent Publication Number: US-6341721-B1

Title: Container closure

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to a self-sealing, dispensing closure of a type comprising a shell attachable to a container, a cover moveable toward and away from the shell, and a valve connected to the cover, via a stem extending through an outlet defined by the shell, so as to be conjointly moveable with the cover. When the outlet is closed by the valve, contents of the container cannot flow through the outlet, to a mouth defined by the cover. When the outlet is opened, contents can flow through the outlet, toward the mouth. This invention provides a novel mechanism to bias the valve so as to close the outlet without resort to a separate spring component or like element. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     So-called dispensing closures have found increasingly widespread applications on containers for water, fruit juices, isotonic “sport” drinks, and the like. Commonly, such a closure includes a manually operable valve arrangement, which permits the contents of the container to be dispensed as desired. In one common construction, a valve element is pulled outwardly, away from the container, for opening and is pushed inwardly for closing. As will be appreciated, a self-closing or self-sealing closure facilitates convenient use. 
     An early example of a generally similar closure of the type noted above is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,210,206 to Fisher; in this patent, a metal dome having spring legs is provided, which biases a valve so as to close an outlet. A later example of a generally similar closure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,777 to Weinstein; in this patent, metal spring members of different configurations are provided, which in each instance bias a valve so as to close an outlet. 
     A closure of related interest is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,501 to Ostrowsky; in this patent spring members are formed unitarily on a polymeric component of a closure. Other closures of related interest are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,656 to Kessler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,120 to Stebick et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,369 to Yurkewicz et al. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a self-sealing, dispensing closure for a container, which may contain water, a fruit juice, a an isotonic “sports” drink, or any of a wide variety of other potable or non-potable liquids, either carbonated or non-carbonated, or which may contain any of a wide variety of other fluent contents. The present closure comprises a shell attachable to the container, a cover moveable toward and away from the shell, and a valve connected to the cover, via a stem, so as to be conjointly moveable with the cover. Preferably, the shell, the cover, and the valve including the stem are molded from a polymeric material, such as polypropylene, and are assembled to provide the closure. Notably, the present inclosure includes a unitary spring arrangement, which provides for self-sealing without resort to a separate spring arrangement or like element. 
     The shell defines an outlet, through which the stem extends, and the cover defines a mouth. The valve is adapted to close the outlet, so as to prevent communication between the outlet and the mouth, when the cover is moved away from the shell sufficiently to move the valve to a closing position. The valve is adapted to open the outlet, so as to permit communication between the outlet and the mouth, when the cover is moved sufficiently toward the shell to move the valve from the closing position. 
     According to this invention, the shell has a biasing surface, which converges toward the line of movement. Notably, the cover has a resilient skirt, which engages the biasing surface so as to bias the cover away from the shell and so as to bias the valve toward the closing position. The resilient skirt permits the cover to move toward the shell and the valve to move away from the closing position. Advantageously, therefore, no separate metal or other spring members are required. Preferably, the biasing surface is an external surface, which is a surface of revolution, such as a conical surface or another converging or diverging surface. Preferably, the biasing surface converges toward the line of movement, away from the outlet, toward the cover. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the closure defines an axis, along which the cover is moveable toward and away from the shell and along which the valve is moveable conjointly with the cover, with the stem extending axially through the outlet. The shell has a generally conical surface, which is the biasing surface and which is coaxial with the axis defined by the closure. The cover has a resilient skirt, which is coaxial therewith and which engages the generally conical surface so as to bias the cover away from the shell and so as to bias the valve toward the closing position but so as to permit the cover to move toward the shell and so as to permit the valve to move away from the closing position. In the preferred embodiment, the generally conical surface of the shell is an external surface, which is continuous around the axis defined by the closure, but the resilient skirt is discontinuous therearound and comprises plural segments. 
     This invention provides a locking arrangement that prevents opening of the closure unless the cover is positioned in a predetermined orientation relative to the shell. Specifically, if the shell and the cover are arranged to permit relative rotation of the shell and the cover about the axis defined by the closure, the shell and the cover may have formations coactive to prevent the cover from being moved toward the shell and, thus, to prevent the valve from being moved away from the closing position at certain, but not all, positions of relative rotation of the shell and the cover. Those formations may comprise an annular array of spaced teeth, which are provided on the shell, and an annular array of spaced teeth, which are provided on the cover, which engage the teeth provided on the shell in those positions wherein the cover is prevented from moving toward the shell and the valve is prevented from moving away from the closing position. However, the teeth provided on the cover fit between the teeth provided on the shell so as to permit opening, when the cover and the shell are positioned otherwise. 
     The teeth provided on the cover may engage the teeth provided on the shell, in interference fits, in those positions wherein the cover is prevented from moving toward the shell and the valve is prevented from moving away from the closing position. Such interfering engagement between the teeth provided on the cover and the teeth provided on the shell acts to urge the valve into self-sealing engagement with a valve seat, in the closing position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure defining an axis, comprising a shell, a cover, and a valve, as described above, and constituting a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation of the closure, as seen from one side. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure, as taken along a diametrical plane. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional detail of the closure, as shown in FIG. 3 except that the closure has been rotated slightly about its axis. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the valve, as seen from an upper vantage. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shell, as seen from an upper vantage. 
     FIG. 7 is an upper plan of the shell. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cover, as seen from an upper vantage. 
     FIG. 9 is an upper plan of the cover. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cover, as taken along a diametrical plane. 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective detail of two coactive teeth on the shell and on the cover respectively. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     In FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , a self-sealing, dispensing closure  10  is shown, which defines an axis and which comprises a shell  20 , a cover  30 , and a valve  40 , as a preferred embodiment of this invention. The shell  20 , the cover  30 , and the valve  40  are molded from a polymeric material, such as polypropylene, and are assembled to provide the closure  10 . The closure  10  is designed for a container (not shown) which may contain water, a fruit juice, an isotonic “sports” drink, or any of a wide variety of other potable or non-potable liquids, either carbonated or non-carbonated, or which may contain any of a wide variety of other fluent contents. The closure  10  is suited particularly for a so-called “hot fill” beverage, which is introduced into the associated container at an elevated temperature, whereby a partial vacuum is created within the container-closure package upon cooling. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3,  4 ,  6 , and  7 , the shell  20  has an internal thread  22 , which is adapted to coact with a external thread on a neck of such a container, whereby the shell  20  is attachable to the container. Rather than the internal thread  22 , the shell  20  may have internal formations (not shown) enabling the shell  20  to be snap-fitted onto a neck of such a container or may be otherwise attachable to such a container. As shown in FIG. 3, the shell  20  mounts an optional, annular seal  24 , which is made of a polymeric material suitable for such a seal and which is adapted to be axially compressed between the shell  20  and the neck of such a container, when the shell  20  is attached. The seal  24  may be a separate element, which is fitted to the container-closure package, or may be integrally formed with the shell  20 , as by co-extrusion molding. 
     The shell  20  has an annular rib  50 , which is coaxial with the axis defined by the closure  10  and which has an annular groove  52 , an inner, cylindrical surface  54 , an outer, generally frusto-conical surface  56 , and an annular sealing surface  58  facing away from the annular groove  52 . When the closure  10  is attached to such a container, the annular groove  52  opens away from the container and the inner, cylindrical surface  54  defines an outlet  60 , through which contents of the container are dispensable when the outlet  60  is opened. Moreover, the outer, frusto-conical surface  56  converges away from the container, toward the axis defined by the closure  10 , and the annular sealing surface  58  faces the container. 
     The cover  30  defines a mouth  70 , which in the illustrated embodiment is spaced radially from the axis defined by the closure  10  and is shaped so as to permit a user to drink liquid contents dispensed through the outlet  60 , when the outlet  60  is opened. Alternatively, the cover  30  may have an upstanding spout or mouth piece (not shown) defining such a mouth, which spout or mouth piece may be axially aligned or offset from the closure axis, and which spout or mouth piece may be unitarily molded or separately molded and integrally attached. The cover  30  has a stem-receiving aperture  72 , which is centered at the axis defined by the closure  10 . The cover  30  has an annular sealing fin  74 , which fits into the annular groove  52  of the annular rib  50  of the shell  20  so as to bear snugly against an inner wall  76  of-the annular groove  52 , so as to seal against leakage between the shell  20  and the cover  30 , and so as to guide axial movement of the cover  30  toward and away from the shell  20 . 
     The valve  40 , which is generally disc-shaped, is connected to the cover  30 , via a tubular stem  42  extending axially through the outlet  60  and having a distal end  44 , which is adapted to be snap-fittable into the stem-receiving aperture  72  of the cover  30 . The valve  40  and the tubular stem  42  are molded unitarily. The distal end  44  of the tubular stem  42  is snap-fitted into the stem-fitting aperture  72  of the cover  30  and may be permanently bonded, as by ultrasonic bonding or by solvent bonding, to the cover  30 . Thus, the valve  40  is moveable conjointly with the cover  30 , along the axis defined by the closure  10 . As shown in FIG. 3, the valve  40  has an annular sealing surface  46 , to which an annular seal  48  may be affixed. The annular seal  48 , which is made of a polymeric material suitable for such a seal, conforms generally to the annular sealing surface  58  of the shell  20 . The annular sealing surface  58  serves as a valve seat. Rather than being affixed to the valve  40 , the annular seal  48  may be alternatively affixed to the annular sealing surface  58  of the shell  20 . 
     The valve  40  is adapted to close the outlet  60 , so as to prevent communication between the outlet  60  and the mouth  70 , when the cover  30  is moved axially away from the shell  20  sufficiently to move the valve  40  to a closing position. When the valve  40  is moved to the sealing position, the annular seal  48  being compressed axially between the annular sealing surface  46  of the valve  40  and the annular sealing surface  58  of the shell  20 . The valve  40  is adapted to open the outlet  60 , so as to permit communication between the outlet  60  and the mouth  70 , when the cover  30  is moved axially toward the shell  20  to move the valve  40  from the closing position toward a limiting positions in which the cover  30  bears against the shell  20  so as not to be further moveable toward the shell  20 . 
     Notably, the cover  30  has a resilient skirt  80 , which is coaxial with the axis defined by the closure  10 . Being discontinuous in the presently preferred, illustrated embodiment, the resilient skirt  80  comprises plural segments  82 , each engaging the frusto-conical surface  56  of the annular rib  50  of the shell  20 . Being resilient, these segments  82  wipe against the frusto-conical surface  50  and are flexed outwardly so as to bias the cover  30  away from the shell  20  and so as to bias valve  40  toward the closing position, but so as to permit the cover  30  to move toward the shell  20  and so as to permit the valve  40  to move away from the closing position. Advantageously, therefore, no separate metal or other spring members are required. Presently, it is contemplated for the resilient skirt  80  to be configured to create a spring force on the order of five pounds, in opposition to movement of the cover  30  for opening of the closure  10 . 
     As shown, the shell  20  and the cover  30  are arranged to permit relative rotation of the shell  20  and the cover  30  about the axis defined by the closure  10 , the valve  40  being rotatable with the cover  30 . The shell  20  has an annular array of spaced teeth  100 . The cover  30  has an annular array of spaced teeth  110 , which engage the shell teeth  100  in certain positions of relative rotation, so as to prevent the cover  30  from moving toward the shell  20  and so as to prevent the valve  40  from moving away from the closing position, but which fit between the shell teeth  100  otherwise. Such engaging teeth  100 ,  110 , resist axial top-loading of a container-closure package including the closure  10 , as in shipping and handling. 
     Preferably, in those positions of relative rotation, the cover teeth  110  engage the shell teeth  100  in interference fits, so as to prevent unintended rotation of the cover  30  relative to the shell  20 . Such interfering engagement acts to urge the valve  40  into sealing engagement with the annular sealing surface  58  of the shell  20 . Sealing is thus desirably enhanced. 
     Such enhanced sealing can be particularly desirable when a closure embodying this invention is used on a container for a “hot fill” beverage, since the closure can be configured to provide necessary sealing even under a partial vacuum, which can exist within the container after cooling. In such an arrangement, the biasing force created by the resilient skirt needs only to be sufficient to seal against leakage after disengagement of the interfering teeth on the shell of the closure and the cover of the closure. Easier opening, by virtue of a relatively lesser sealing spring force is thus facilitated. As will be appreciated, a closure embodying this invention may be configured for use on a container for a carbonated beverage, which creates gas pressure within the container. Since gas pressure within the container urges the valve of the closure to its closed position, a relatively lower biasing force from the resilient skirt of the closure can suffice. 
     Optionally, the closure  10  may include an arrangement for retaining the cover  30  in its open position relative to the shell  20 , in opposition to the biasing force provided by the resilient skirt  80 . As shown in FIG. 11, in which one of the shell teeth  100  and one of the cover teeth  110  are shown fragmentarily, each of the shell teeth  100  may have a circumferentially extending recess  102  and each of the cover teeth  110  may have a circumferentially extending lug  112 , which is adapted to fit into the circumferentially extending recess  102  of one of the shell teeth  100 , upon slight rotation of the cover  30  relative to the shell  20  after the cover  30  has been pressed axially toward the cover so as to move the valve  40  from the closing position and so as to open the outlet  60 , whereby to interlock the shell  20  and the cover  30  releasably. 
     Optionally, the valve  40  may have a sharpened formation (not shown) facing the container, which sharpened formation is useful to puncture a foil seal (not shown) provided on the neck of the container, when the cover  30  has been pressed axially toward the cover so as to move the valve  40  from the closing position. 
     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It will be understood that no limitations with respect to the specific embodiment illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications that fall within the scope of the claims.