Patent Publication Number: US-2006016836-A1

Title: Shaped spouts for flip-top closures

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention generally relates to a flip-top type dispensing closure of the type that has a hinged reclosable lid that may be swung open to reveal a dispensing orifice for the closure. More specifically, this invention relates to dispensing spouts for such closures.  
      2. Description of the Related Technology  
      Various beverages, foods, medicines and the like are delivered to the public in bottles or other containers that are provided with resealable closures. Such closures provide a benefit to the consumer in that the containers can be tightly sealed and resealed after opening, which prolongs the shelf life of the product and maintains freshness. One popular type of resealable closure is the flip-top closure that typically includes a main body portion that is adapted to be secured to a container and a lid member that is hingedly mounted to the main body portion. An orifice is typically defined in the main body portion and a mating plug is provided on the lid member for sealing the orifice when the closure is in the closed position.  
      When dispensing viscous liquid materials such as dishwasher detergent, recurring issues to consumers and design professionals in this area of technology include deposition of dried or caked product around the dispensing orifice and pourability of the product as it is pushed out of the closure by squeezing the container. In addition, aesthetics and potential brand identity play an important role in closure technology.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the invention to provide an improved flip-top type closure for a container that improves pourability and control of the material as it is being dispensed from the closure, and that provides the potential for improved aesthetics and an element of brand identity for the product manufacturer.  
      In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a closure for a container that is constructed according to a first aspect of the invention includes a main body portion that is constructed and arranged to be secured to a container, the main body portion having an upper deck portion defining an upper surface and a dispensing spout projecting upwardly from the upper surface, the main body portion further having a dispensing orifice defined in the dispensing spout, and wherein the dispensing spout is constructed and arranged to have a noncircular shape when viewed in plan; a lid portion that is hingedly mounted to the main body portion, the lid portion having a plug member that is shaped and sized to selectively plug the dispensing orifice, the lid portion further being movable between a first, open position wherein material may be dispensed from the container through the dispensing orifice and a second, closed position wherein the orifice is blocked by said plug member.  
      A closure for a container according to a second aspect of the invention includes a main body portion that is constructed and arranged to be secured to a container, the main body portion having an upper deck portion defining an upper surface and a dispensing spout projecting upwardly from the upper surface, the main body portion further having a dispensing orifice defined in the dispensing spout, the dispensing spout further having a raised peripheral rim and at least one downwardly sloping surface between the peripheral rim and the dispensing orifice; a lid portion that is hingedly mounted to the main body portion, the lid portion having a plug member that is shaped and sized to selectively plug the dispensing orifice, the lid portion further being movable between a first, open position wherein material may be dispensed from the container through the dispensing orifice and a second, closed position wherein the orifice is blocked by the plug member.  
      These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a closure that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in  FIG. 2 , showing the closure in a closed position;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a third embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the closure constructed according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to an eighth embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a ninth embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a tenth embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a eleventh embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 15  is a top plan view of a closure constructed according to a twelfth embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
      Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to  FIG. 1 , a flip top type closure  10  that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a main body portion  12  that is adapted to be secured to a container. In this preferred embodiment, main body portion  12  includes a downwardly depending internal skirt  14  having internal threading  16  defined thereon, so main body portion  12  may be screwed onto a container.  
      As is best shown in  FIG. 1 , main body portion  12  includes an upper deck portion  18  having an upper surface  20  that in the preferred embodiment of the invention is substantially flat and smooth. A dispensing spout  22  extends upwardly from the upper surface  20  and has a dispensing orifice  24  defined therein that preferably is shaped so as to be substantially circular in transverse cross-section. Dispensing spout  22  preferably is elevated at its highest point with respect to the upper surface  20  of the upper deck portion  18  by a distance that is within a range of about 20 percent to about 80 percent of the vertical distance between the upper surface  20  and the underside of a lid member  26  when the lid member  26  is in the closed position.  
      Dispensing spout  22  is advantageously provided with a noncircular shape when viewed in plan. Dispensing spout  22  preferably has a surface area circumscribed by its outer periphery that is within a range of about 10 percent to about 65 percent of the total surface area of the upper surface  20  of the upper deck portion  18 .  
      Lid member  26  is hingedly attached to the main body portion  12  by a hinge  28 . Preferably, the entire closure  10 , including the main body portion  16 , lid member  26  and hinge  28  is unitary in structure, being molded out of a single piece of polymeric material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. A downwardly depending plug member  30  extends from an underside of lid member  26  and is sized and shaped to be received within the orifice  24  in order to seal the orifice  24  when the closure  10  is in the closed position, as is illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      Dispensing spout  22  includes a raised peripheral rim  33  that extends around the periphery of the dispensing spout  22 . At least one downwardly sloping surface  32  is defined by the dispensing spout  22  between the raised peripheral rim  33  and orifice  24 . In the preferred embodiment, downwardly sloping surface  32  is preferably concave and smooth, and has a varying radius of curvature permitting a smooth, continuously curved transition between the entrance to the orifice  24  and the noncircular outer profile of the raised rim  33  and the outer periphery of the dispensing spout  22 . A conical shape is considered to be concave for purposes of this document.  
      Alternatively, dispensing spout  22  could be provided with a substantially flat upper surface in which the orifice  24  is centrally defined.  
      In the embodiment of the invention that is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , dispensing spout  22  has a diamond shape when viewed in plan as in  FIG. 1 . As a consequence of this diamond shape, which is oriented in the preferred embodiment so that the long axis of the diamond is parallel with the plane of rotation of the lid member  26  with respect to the main body portion  16  during opening and closing of the closure  10 , a pair of primary pouring spouts  34  and secondary pouring spouts  36  are defined at the corners of the diamond shape. Primary and secondary pouring spouts  34 ,  36  will permit a consumer to more easily control the flow of product from the closure  10  during use. For example, if the product being dispensed is dishwasher detergent, pouring spouts  34 ,  36  will enable the consumer to precisely control the direction of the dishwasher detergent as it flows from the closure  10 .  
       FIG. 5  depicts a closure  38  that is constructed according to a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, dispensing spout  40  is shaped as an oval. In a third embodiment of the invention that is depicted in  FIG. 6  closure  42  is characterized by a dispensing spout  44  that has a triangular shape. In a fourth embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7  closure  46  is provided with a diamond shaped dispensing spout  48  that is oriented transversely with respect to the plane of rotation of the lid member  26 . In a fifth embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , closure  50  is characterized by a rectangular shaped dispensing spout  52 . In a sixth embodiment of the invention that is shown in  FIG. 9  closure  54  is provided with an oblong shaped dispensing spout  56 . In a seventh embodiment of the invention that is shown in  FIG. 10 , closure  58  has a moon shaped dispensing spout  60 . In an eighth embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 11  closure  62  has a dispensing spout  64  that is shaped like a lightning bolt. In a ninth embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in  FIG. 12 , closure  66  is provided with a star shaped dispensing spout  68 . A tenth embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 13 . In this embodiment, closure  70  is provided with an arrow shaped dispensing spout  72 .  FIG. 14  depicts an eleventh embodiment of the invention or a closure  74  has an oval shaped dispensing spout  76 .  FIG. 15  depicts a 12th embodiment of the invention where closure  80  is provided with a hexagonal shaped dispensing spout  76 . It is to be understood that these embodiments are exemplary only, and that literally an infinite number of possibilities are present when determining the shape of the dispensing spout according to the invention. Shaping the dispensing spout provides the product manufacturer with a number of possible design advantages and marketing and branding opportunities.  
      It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.