Abstract:
An improved dispensing closure for a powder container includes a first portion having first engagement means and at least a first dispensing outlet in said first bottom surface; a second portion having second engagement means wherein the first and second engagement cooperate to rotationally engage the first and second portions, and at least a second dispensing outlet which is at least as large as the first dispensing outlet; and a tamper evident tab removably attached to the second portion and positioned adjacent the second dispensing outlet.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 61/165,807, filed Apr. 1, 2009. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to the field of molded packaging and, more particularly, to an improved container designed for controlling dispensing of powdered materials. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One aspect of the invention generally pertains to an improved container for a container for loose powder and similar materials. 
         [0004]    Another aspect of the invention pertains to an improved closure for a powder container providing a tamper-evident indicator integrated therein. 
         [0005]    Yet another aspect of the invention pertains to an improved container for powder-type materials with an improved selectively closable sifting mechanism. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the above aspects of the invention, there is provided an improved dispensing closure for a powder container including a first portion having first engagement means and at least a first dispensing outlet in said first bottom surface; a second portion having second engagement means wherein the first and second engagement cooperate to rotationally engage the first and second portions, and at least a second dispensing outlet which is at least as large as the first dispensing outlet; and a tamper evident tab removably attached to the second portion and positioned adjacent the second dispensing outlet. 
         [0007]    These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a container for powdered materials incorporating a closure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a first portion of the closure of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a first cross-sectional view of the first portion of  FIG. 2  taken along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a second cross-sectional view of the first portion of  FIG. 2  taken along the line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a second portion of the closure of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the first portion of  FIG. 5  taken along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the first portion of  FIG. 5  taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a tamper-evident tab of the closure of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the tamper-evident tab of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the tamper-evident tab of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the container of  FIG. 1  with a tamper-evident tab in place and the over cap removed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a top view of a container body of the container in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the container body of the container of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is an isometric view of an over cap of the container in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the over cap of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type of industry application depicted in the figures. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1-15  illustrate an embodiment of a container  100  utilizing an improved powder dispensing closure  200  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The container  100  also includes a container body  110  and an over cap  150 . The container body  110  and over cap  150  can be manufactured from any suitable materials and can take on various sizes and forms. However, for the purposes of the preferred embodiments, the container body  110  and over cap  150  are provided with a circular cross-section. 
         [0026]    As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the container body  110 , in particular, is provided with a circular side wall  112  extending upwardly from a bottom surface  114 . In a preferred embodiment, the side wall  112  is provided with a relatively significant thickness, on the order of 3 mm, in order to provide suitable rigidity to the container body  110  and sufficient working room to incorporate the additional features described below. 
         [0027]    Adjacent the upper end of the side wall  112  and along the interior thereof is a mating groove  116 . The groove  116  is arranged to mate with an external lip  218  of a first portion  210  of the dispensing closure  200 , as will be described in more detail below. The upper end of the side wall  112  terminates in a bi-level manner. At a lower level of the upper end of the side  112 , there is provided an upward facing ridged surface  118 . This ridged surface  118  is arranged to advantageously interact with a similar ridged surface on the dispensing closure  200 , as will described in more detail below. Positioned along the outside perimeter of the ridged surface  118  is an upwardly extending lip  120 . Preferably, the outer surface of the side wall extends smoothly up to the top of the upwardly extending lip  120 , thereby presenting a smooth and uniform appearance when the container  100  is fully assembled. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the closure  200  is primarily comprised of two pieces: a first portion  210  and a second portion  250 . The first  210  and second  250  portions are advantageously arranged to mate with one another in a manner that permits rotational movement of the second portion  250  relative to the first  210 . Further, this relative movement is accomplished without movement of the first portion  210  relative to the container body  110 . 
         [0029]    The first portion  210  of the closure  200  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4  and includes a bottom surface  212  and a continuous circular side wall  214 . The side wall  214  is provided with a downwardly extending rim  216 . This rim  216  extends the side wall  214  slightly lower than the bottom surface  212  of the first portion  210 . A lower external lip  218  is provided along the outside of the downward rim  216 . As briefly referenced above, this lower external lip  218  engages the groove  116  of the container body to secure the first portion  210  of the closure  200  to the container body  110 . For this purpose, the outer diameter of the downward rim  216  is slightly less than the inner diameter of the side wall  112  of the container body  110  to allow the first portion to descend into the container body  110  until the lower external lip  218  fully engages with and seats in the groove  116 . 
         [0030]    The first portion  210  of the closure  200  also includes an outwardly extending flange  220 . A downward-facing ridged surface  222  is provided on the underside of the flange  220 . The outer diameter of the flange  220  is at least greater than the inner diameter of the side wall  112  of the container body. However, in a preferred embodiment, the outer diameter of the flange  220  is also less than the inner diameter of the upwardly extending lip  120  of the container body  112 . This arrangement advantageously results in the resting within the confines of the lip  120  when the first portion  210  of the closure is fully engaged with the container body  110  to help maintain a smooth and consistent exterior appearance. As the lip  218  and groove  116  engage as discussed above, the upward-facing ridged surface  118  of the container body  110  and the downwardly-facing ridged surface  222  of the first portion  210  of the closure  200  engage one another and prevent relative movement of these two pieces. In a further advantageous embodiment, the vertical distance from the bottom of downward-facing ridged surface  222  to the upper surface of the flange  220  on the first portion is approximately equal to the distance from the top of the upwardly-facing ridged surface  118  to the top of the upwardly extending lip  120  of the container body. This arrangement results in the top surfaces of the lip  120  and flange  220  being relatively flush with one another and, again, improving the aesthetic appearance of the overall container. 
         [0031]    Above the flange  220  is a thread wall  224  portion of side wall  214 . The thread wall portion  224  includes an external thread  226  which is adapted to engage the internal thread  156  of the over cap  150 , described below. At the top of the thread wall portion  224 , an upper wall portion  230  extends upwardly therefrom. The upper wall portion  230  is preferably provided with an outer diameter that is less than that of thread wall portion  224 , thus creating a shoulder  228  therebetween. Around the periphery of the upper portion  230 , an upper, external lip  232  extends outwardly. The external lip  232  facilitates engagement of the first portion  210  of the closure  200  with the second portion  250 . 
         [0032]    The bottom surface  212  of the first portion  210  includes at least one, and preferably several, sifting holes  234  extending through the bottom surface  212  in a pattern. The sifting holes  234  allow powder to pass through the first portion  212  from the container body  110 . The bottom surface  212  also includes at least one detent  236  in the upper surface thereof. Advantageously, the detent(s)  236  are the same in number in pattern as the sifting holes  234 . Further, the matching pattern of detents  236  are essentially displaced from the pattern of sifting holes  234  by an angle α measured about the center of the bottom surface  212 , the significance which will be described below. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-15 , angle α is 90°. Finally, the bottom surface  212  includes a guide protrusion  238  extending upwardly from the top thereof. The guide protrusion is further displaced from the pattern of ball detents  236  by an angle β measured about the center of the bottom surface  212 . Angle β should be equal to angle α. In the illustrated embodiment, angle β is 90°. Therefore, the guide protrusion of the illustrated embodiment is positioned 180° from the pattern of sifting holes  234  in the bottom surface  212 . 
         [0033]    The second portion  250  of the closure  200  is illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  and also encompasses a bottom surface  252  and a circular side wall  254 . The side wall  254  includes a lower portion  256  and an upper portion  258 . In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion  258  is slightly wider than the lower portion  256  creating a step  260  between the two. The upper portion  258  also has a downwardly facing collar  262  extending around the periphery thereof. The outer rim  264  of the collar  262  incorporates a lip  266  on its internal side. The external side of the outer rim  264  is provided with a textured surface  268  intended to enhance a user&#39;s ability to grip the collar to rotate the second portion  250  of the closure  200  relative to the first portion  210  when the two are mated. 
         [0034]    The bottom surface  252  of the second portion  250  is provided with a dispensing outlet  270 . In the preferred embodiment, the dispensing outlet  270  is in the general shape of a partial section of a circle. The total area of the dispensing outlet  270  is preferably sufficient to fully encompass the pattern of sifting holes  234  in the first portion  210  of the closure  200 . The under side of the bottom surface  252  is provided with at least one ball protrusion  272 . The ball protrusion(s) are the same in number and pattern as those of the sifting holes  234  and detents  236  and are displaced from the dispensing outlet  270  by an angle θ measured about the center of the bottom surface  252 . Angle θ is preferably equal to angles α and β. In the illustrated embodiment, θ is 90°. 
         [0035]    The bottom surface  252  also includes a semi-circular guide track  274  in the form of a depression in the bottom surface. The guide track  274  traverses an angle τ equal to angles α, β, and θ—in the illustrated case 90°. The beginning of the guide track  274  is positioned 180° from the dispensing outlet  270 , while the end of the guide track  274  is positioned 180° from ball protrusions  272 . 
         [0036]    The first  210  and second  250  portions are engaged by guiding the collar  262  of the second portion  250  over the upper wall portion  230  of the first portion  210  and pushing the collar  262  down onto the upper wall portion  230  until the upper external lip  232  of the first portion  210  engages the internal lip  266  of the second portion  210 . Additional force may be required to snap the internal lip  266  past the external lip  232  to fully seat and engage the two portions  210 ,  250 . Once the two portions  21 ,  250  are fully seated, this arrangement allows the two pieces to move relative to one another. Again, however, as referenced above, the first portion  210  of the closure  200  is prohibited from movement relative to the container body  110  by means of the two, facing ridged surfaces  118 ,  222  on the container body  110  and first portion  210 . 
         [0037]    It will readily be appreciated that the various features of the bottom surfaces,  212 ,  252  of the first and second portions interact with one another as the second portion  250  is rotated relative to the first portion  210 . In particular, this movement and related interaction of features is controlled by the engagement of the guide protrusion  238  with the guide track  274 . More specifically, movement of the guide protrusion  238  with the guide track  274 , and, consequently, movement of the first portion  210  relative to the second portion  250 , is limited to a certain number of degrees. In the preferred embodiment, the angle of movement of the guide protrusion within the guide track is equal to angle τ, which in the illustrated case is 90°. When the guide protrusion  238  is at one end of the guide track  274 , the dispensing outlet  270  is positioned directly over the patter of sifting holes  234  to allow powder to be dispensed from the container body  110 . When the second portion  250  of the closure is rotated, the dispensing outlet  270  is moved to a position in which it rests over a solid portion of the bottom surface  212  of the first portion  210 . In this position, the ball protrusions  272  are moved into alignment with the sifting holes  234 , thereby substantially sealing same to prevent loose powder from escaping the container body  110 . The end effect of this arrangement is that the closure  200 , by virtue of the controlled rotation of the second portion  250  relative to the first portion  210 , has positive open and closed positions. In each of these two positions, the combination of the ball protrusions  272  with either the detents  236  or the sifting holes  234  retains the second portion  250  of the closure in that position relative to the first portion  210  until a user applies sufficient rotational force to remove the ball protrusions  272  from the detents  236  or sifting holes  234 , respectively, an allow rotation of the first portion  250 . 
         [0038]    It should be noted that the side walls  214 ,  254  of the first  210  and second  250  portions, respectively, are provided with dimensions that allow the ball protrusions  272  to engage the top of the bottom surface  212  of the first portion and, more specifically, the detents  236  and sifting holes  234  as the second portion  250  is rotated. 
         [0039]    Advantageously, the closure  200  is also provided with a tamper-evident tab  280 , an embodiment of which is represented in  FIGS. 8-10 . The tamper-evident tab  280  is generally molded initially as part of the second portion  250  of the closure within the space that also represents the dispensing outlet  270 . Thus, the tab  280  is generally co-planar with the bottom surface  252  of the second portion  250 . Therefore, the body  282  of the tamper-evident tab  280  will have a perimeter shape that roughly matches that of the dispensing outlet  270 , as is most clearly shown in  FIG. 11 . However, to facilitate removal of the tab  280 , the body  282  is connected with the remainder of the second portion  250  of the closure  200  by narrow bands of material flashing  288 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are four such bands  288 . These bands  288  are preferably of sufficiently narrowed dimension to allow a user of average strength and dexterity to remove the tab  280  completely and to destroy the bands  288  in the process, thereby preventing reattachment of the tab  280  after initial removal. The nature of the tab  280  that results in the inability to replace it after initial removal is intended to provide evidence that container  100  has been previously opened—and potentially tampered with. 
         [0040]    The tab  280  is provided with a handle  284  to further facilitate removal by providing a ready grip for a user. Further, a series of ball protrusions  286  that match in number and pattern the sifting holes  234  is provided on the underside of the body  282  of the tab  280 . These ball protrusions  286  engage and are seated in the sifting holes  234  when the first  210  and second  250  portions are initially assembled together to seal the holes  234  until the container is purchased and the user desires to use the product within. 
         [0041]    The final step in manufacture of the container  100  is to apply the over cap  150 , shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The over cap is provided with circular side wall  152  emanating downwardly from a top surface  154 . An internal thread  156  is providing on the inside of the circular side wall  152 . The internal thread  156  matches and is intended to engage the external thread  226  on the first portion  210  of the closure  200  in order to secure the over cap  150  to the assembled container body  110  and closure  200 . 
         [0042]    The closure  200 , including the first and second portions thereof, can be manufactured using any suitable production method and raw materials. However, in the preferred embodiment, the closure is a molded from a material such as high density polyethylene, polyethylene, or polypropylene. Those of skill in the art will recognize that a number of different materials are suitable for constructing the closure  200 , including materials that match the material construction of the container body  110  and over cap  150  to further enhance the aesthetic qualities of the overall container  100 . 
         [0043]    The preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in the best mode known to the inventors. However, as various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.