Patent Description:
As direct to consumer e-commerce sales continue to grow, liquid spray and pump products, which would normally be purchased off the shelf at brick and mortar stores, are now being shipped as individual sale units without secondary packaging or protection. Bulk shipping of these products from the manufacturer to distributors has generally not encountered significant leak problems since multiple containers or bottles are packaged in specially designed boxes to accommodate their unique shapes. E-commerce retailers remove individual units from the bulk packaging and attempt to ship the individual containers to the consumer in less expensive and less protective packaging. Individual shipments are more prone to rough handling, movement within the retailer packaging and thus more prone to closure breakage and container leakage. Many e-commerce retailers have resorted to placing such items into bags in order to contain leaks if and when they occur. However, the bags only prevent other items in the shipment from being ruined. They do not directly address the underlying problem of leak prevention. Accordingly, there is an existing need for dispensing closures which include features for preventing leaks during both bulk shipment and/or individual shipment, prior to receipt of the product by the end consumer. In <CIT> a vented closure assembly is disclosed which includes a closure body, a closure cap, and a living hinge connecting the closure cap to the closure body. During shipment a dispensing fitment is removed and the closure cap fully closed to fully seal the closure and container. In use, the operator opens the cap and assembles a dispensing fitment within the closure.

Consumers continually drive the need for novel dispensing devices which provide easier use, more functionality, better ergonomics and better dispensing options for a variety of liquid or fluid products for various uses. Accordingly, there is always a need for improved dispensing options.

According to a first aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a lower closure portion for use in a dispensing closure system comprising a container; a dispensing head; and an upper closure portion receiving the dispensing head; the lower closure portion including: an outer skirt comprising an inwardly threaded interior portion for threadedly engaging a neck of a container; an inwardly threaded portion on an annular recess for threadedly mating with an annular neck extending from an upper closure portion such that the lower closure portion is axially movable relative to the upper closure portion when assembled therewith and upon rotation thereof; the lower closure portion further comprising an axial flow conduit; a vent conduit adjacent to the flow conduit; and a seal disposed on an upper surface of said lower closure portion over the flow conduit and the vent conduit for obstructing the axial flow conduit and for creating a seal for use during shipping of a dispenser comprising the lower closure portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a dispensing closure system comprising the lower closure portion according to the preceding paragraph, a dispensing head; an upper closure portion receiving the dispensing head; and a container having a neck to which the outer skirt of the lower closure portion is threadedly engaged.

Optionally, said dispensing closure system further comprises a peripheral spacing strip removably secured to said upper closure portion; and a tubular piercing probe having an upper portion received in the dispensing head and a lower portion extending through the upper closure portion, said lower portion including piercing elements disposed in alignment with the flow conduit and the vent conduit, said piercing elements being spaced from the seal when the upper closure portion is in an inactive shipping position and piercing said seal to open said flow conduit and said vent conduit when said spacing strip is removed and said upper closure portion is axially moved from said inactive shipping position to an active dispensing position.

Optionally, said dispensing head is rotatably received with said upper closure portion.

Optionally, the peripheral spacing strip engages said lower closure portion.

According to a further aspect if the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a dispensing closure system comprising:.

Optionally, said upper closure portion includes an outwardly threaded neck.

Optionally, said throat of said dispensing head is rotatably received with said upper closure portion.

Optionally, the lower closure portion is seated within the container neck, the outer skirt of the lower closure portion engages with the neck of the container and said spacing strip engages the lower closure portion.

Other embodiments may also include alternate types of dispensing heads depending on the product type.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:.

Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the device and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in the present disclosure, like-numbered components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment each feature of each like-numbered component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Further, to the extent that directional terms like top, bottom, up, or down are used, they are not intended to limit the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize that these terms are merely relative to the system and device being discussed and are not universal.

According to certain exemplary embodiments of the invention as described herein, the present disclosure generally provides a two-part dispensing closure system including features for preventing leaks during the shipment and handling of individual e-commerce sales.

Referring to <FIG>, and according to some embodiments of the invention, a dispensing closure system <NUM> comprises a dispensing head <NUM>, an upper closure portion <NUM>, a lower closure portion <NUM>, an internal seal <NUM> to prevent leaks during e-commerce shipment of individual units and a piercing probe <NUM>. The closure system <NUM> is mounted on the neck <NUM> of a container <NUM> which contains a liquid product for dispensing.

The exemplary dispensing head <NUM> is illustrated as a spray-type trigger dispenser head with a depending throat portion <NUM> that is snap received with the upper closure portion <NUM>. The throat portion <NUM> has an axially centered flow path <NUM> to the trigger piston chamber <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the lower edge of the throat portion includes an outwardly turned flange <NUM> which is snap received beneath corresponding ridges <NUM> projecting inwardly from an outer skirt <NUM> of the upper closure portion <NUM>. This mounting arrangement allows the dispensing head <NUM> to rotate relative to the upper closure portion <NUM> for filling line handling and torqueing of the closure <NUM> onto the bottle <NUM> while maintaining dispensing head orientation relative to the bottle or container <NUM>.

The lower closure portion <NUM> has an outer skirt <NUM> which is threadedly received with the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM> and it further includes an axial flow conduit <NUM> and a vent conduit <NUM> adjacent to the flow conduit <NUM>. A gasket <NUM> may be received between the lower closure portion <NUM> and the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM> to form a better seal with the container <NUM>. A dip tube <NUM> extends from a dip tube port <NUM> on the bottom of the flow conduit <NUM>. An annular neck <NUM> extending from the upper closure portion <NUM> is threadedly mated with a corresponding annular recess <NUM> in the lower closure portion <NUM> and is axially movable relative to lower closure portion <NUM> upon rotation thereof. In this regard, the upper closure portion <NUM> is movable between an extended shipping position (See <FIG>) and a contracted dispensing position (See <FIG>) which will be described further herein.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, to create a seal during shipping, the seal <NUM> is disposed on an upper surface of the lower closure portion <NUM> over both the flow conduit <NUM> and the vent conduit <NUM>. The seal <NUM> may be a foil seal or other suitable type seal which is capable of being pierced and thereafter not obstructing the flow path once pierced. The vent conduit <NUM> is preferably located within a concentric annular recess <NUM> immediately adjacent to the axial flow conduit <NUM> and the seal <NUM> extends over both the central flow conduit <NUM> and the annular recess <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, to prevent movement of the upper closure relative to the lower closure during shipment and handling, a peripheral spacing strip <NUM> is removably secured to a lower lip of the outer skirt <NUM> on the upper closure portion <NUM>. The removable spacing strip <NUM> is attached by a weakened tear line <NUM> and includes a pull tab <NUM> for grasping and pulling or tearing the strip <NUM> for removal. In the described embodiment, the spacing strip <NUM> engages the top deck of the lower closure <NUM> (See <FIG>) and prevents relative downward movement thereof.

The tubular piercing probe <NUM> has an upper portion <NUM> received in the flow path <NUM> of the dispensing head <NUM> and a lower portion <NUM> extending axially through the upper closure portion <NUM>. The lower portion <NUM> includes piercing elements <NUM> in alignment with the flow conduit <NUM> and the vent conduit <NUM> for piercing thereof.

Still referring to <FIG>, in use, the piercing elements <NUM> are spaced from the seal <NUM> when the upper closure portion <NUM> is in the inactive extended shipping position (<FIG>). However, when the spacing strip <NUM> is removed and the upper closure portion <NUM> is rotated relative to the lower closure portion <NUM> and axially moved from the inactive shipping position to the active dispensing position (<FIG>) the piercing elements <NUM> move downwardly and pierce the foil seal <NUM> to open the flow conduit <NUM> and the vent conduit <NUM> and allow liquid from the container <NUM> to travel through the piercing probe <NUM> into the dispensing head <NUM> (See arrow in <FIG>).

In some embodiments, the skirt <NUM> of the lower closure portion <NUM> may be secured to the container neck <NUM> by a bayonet connection.

In some embodiments, the spray dispensing head may have an offset flow conduit. Referring to <FIG>, another exemplary embodiment is generally indicated at <NUM> and includes a dispensing head <NUM>, an upper closure portion <NUM>, a lower closure portion <NUM>, an internal seal <NUM> and a piercing probe <NUM>.

The dispensing head <NUM> includes an offset flow conduit <NUM>. It is a feature of the present embodiments that the piercing probe is located coaxial to the flow conduit in the lower dispensing closure so that upon rotation, the piercing elements are axially moved to pierce the seal in the required locations. In order to allow rotation of dispensing head <NUM> with an offset flow conduit <NUM> relative to the upper closure portion <NUM> and rotation of the upper closure portion <NUM> relative to the lower closure portion <NUM>, the piercing probe <NUM> is separated into two discrete components 210A,210B (See <FIG>). The lower piercing component 210A provides the axially oriented piercing elements <NUM> while the upper component <NUM> provides the offset stem portion <NUM> extending upwardly for receipt into the flow conduit <NUM>. Otherwise, the upper and lower closure portions <NUM>,<NUM> are the same as described hereinabove.

Similarly, illustrated in <FIG> is another exemplary embodiment generally indicated at <NUM> and including a dispensing head <NUM>, an upper closure portion <NUM>, a lower closure portion <NUM>, an internal seal <NUM> and a piercing probe <NUM>.

This embodiment has a slightly different spray head configuration <NUM>, but also including an offset flow path <NUM> through the throat. The upper and lower piercing components 310A,310B are similar to those previously described (210A,201B).

Referring now to <FIG>, another exemplary embodiment is illustrated and generally indicated at <NUM>. This embodiment <NUM> also includes a dispensing head <NUM>, upper closure portion <NUM>, lower closure portion <NUM>, seal <NUM> and piercing probe <NUM> as previously described. The current embodiment <NUM> however, has a lower height profile and takes advantage of a narrower spacing strip <NUM> between the upper closure portion <NUM> and the lower closure portion <NUM>. The lower profile also requires slightly shorter piercing elements <NUM> on the piercing probe <NUM>, but it otherwise structurally and functionally the same as embodiment <NUM> described hereinabove.

In some embodiments not according to the claims, the lower closure portion is seated within the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM> and the outer skirt of the upper closure portion is threaded for mounting directly onto the container neck. Referring to <FIG>, an embodiment in this configuration is generally indicated at <NUM>. The dispensing closure system <NUM> includes a dispensing head <NUM>, a lower closure portion <NUM> received and seated within the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>, an upper closure portion <NUM> having an outer skirt <NUM> that is somewhat elongated or extended, a seal <NUM> and a coaxial piercing probe <NUM>. In contrast with the previous embodiments, the tear away spacing strip <NUM> on the bottom of the skirt <NUM> engages a shoulder portion <NUM> of the container <NUM>, rather than the lower closure portion, to prevent rotation and movement of the upper closure portion <NUM> as previously described.

As best seen in <FIG>, the lower closure portion <NUM> has an axial flow conduit <NUM> as well as vent conduits <NUM> which are located within corresponding recesses <NUM> concentrically surrounding the flow conduit <NUM>. The seal <NUM> is disposed over the entire upper surface of the lower closure portion <NUM> to seal both the flow conduit <NUM> and the venting conduits <NUM>. The piercing probe <NUM> has a central axial piercing element 552A for the flow conduit <NUM> and aligned concentric elements 552B for the recesses <NUM> (better seen in <FIG>).

In use, the piercing elements 552A,552B are spaced from the seal <NUM> when the upper closure portion <NUM> is in the inactive extended shipping position (<FIG>). However, when the spacing strip <NUM> is removed and the upper closure portion <NUM> is rotated (on the container neck <NUM>) and axially moved from the inactive shipping position to the active dispensing position (<FIG>) the piercing elements 552A,552B move downwardly and pierce the foil seal <NUM> to open the flow conduit <NUM> and the vent conduits <NUM> and allow liquid from the container <NUM> to travel through the piercing probe <NUM> into the dispensing head <NUM> (See arrow in <FIG>).

In another exemplary embodiment, not according to the claims, indicated at <NUM> and illustrated in <FIG>, a closure system <NUM> comprises a spray dispensing head <NUM>, a closure ring <NUM> receiving the dispensing head <NUM>, a cup-shaped bottle adapter <NUM> having an axial flow conduit <NUM> and a vent conduit <NUM> adjacent to the flow conduit <NUM>, a reversible tubular flow adapter <NUM>, and a user-removable seal <NUM>.

The bottle adapter <NUM> is received and supported within the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM> and a dip tube <NUM> extends from a dip tube port <NUM> on the bottom wall of the adapter <NUM>. The vent conduit <NUM> may be in the bottom wall as well, adjacent to the flow conduit <NUM>.

The reversible tubular flow adapter <NUM> has a stem portion <NUM> at a first end and an annular concentric seat portion <NUM> at a second end. The flow adapter <NUM> provides two different functions depending on its deployed configuration.

In a shipping configuration (<FIG>), the stem portion <NUM> is received into the axial flow conduit <NUM> of the bottle adapter <NUM> with the seat portion <NUM> sitting within the of the bottle adapter <NUM>. The removable seal <NUM> is adhered around the peripheral upper lip <NUM> of the bottle adapter <NUM> to create a seal and prevent leaks through either the flow conduit <NUM> or the vent conduit <NUM>. The seal <NUM> may include a transversely oriented pull tab to facilitate removal by the consumer. The closure ring <NUM> captures the bottle adapter <NUM> within the container neck <NUM> until it reaches the end consumer. Once received, the user removes (unscrews) the closure ring <NUM>, removes (peels away) the seal <NUM>, removes the flow adapter <NUM> and reverses the flow adapter configuration to mount the seat portion end <NUM> onto the flow conduit <NUM> (See <FIG>). The closure ring <NUM> and dispenser head <NUM> are reattached with the stem portion <NUM> of the flow adapter <NUM> now extending up into the flow conduit <NUM> of the dispenser head <NUM> for normal use. A gasket ring <NUM> may be received between the closure ring <NUM> and the bottle adapter <NUM>. The gasket ring <NUM> includes a central opening <NUM> through which the flow adapter <NUM> extends and operates to stabilize the axial orientation of the flow adapter <NUM> and flow conduit <NUM> in the deployed dispensing configuration.

In some embodiments, the thread paths in the upper and lower closures may include molded stops to provide temporary physical stops during initial capping. Referring to <FIG>, an embodiment, not according to the claims, in this configuration is generally indicated at <NUM>. The dispensing closure system <NUM> includes a pump-style dispensing head <NUM>, a lower closure portion <NUM> received on the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>, and an upper closure portion <NUM> having an outer skirt <NUM>.

The skirt of the lower closure <NUM> is inwardly threaded to engage with the container neck <NUM> and also outwardly threaded to receive the outer skirt <NUM> of the upper closure <NUM>. The lower closure <NUM> includes an axial flow conduit <NUM> with a dip tube port <NUM> and dip tube <NUM>. A seal <NUM> is received over the axial flow conduit <NUM>.

The upper closure <NUM> includes a coaxial piercing probe <NUM> which is configured to mate with and be received within the axial flow conduit <NUM> when fully deployed.

In contrast with the previous embodiments, the thread paths of the upper and lower closures <NUM>, <NUM> include molded stops or nubs <NUM> which provide temporary physical stops for rotation of the upper closure <NUM> relative to the lower closure <NUM> during initial capping (stops <NUM> only shown on lower closure <NUM>).

When initially capped, stops <NUM> engage and position the piercing probe <NUM> spaced above the seal <NUM>. However, when the consumer receives the product, the consumer can force further rotation of the upper closure portion <NUM> (and dispensing head <NUM>), beyond the stops <NUM>, from the inactive shipping position to an active dispensing position. The piercing probe <NUM> moves downwardly into the flow conduit <NUM> and pierces the foil seal <NUM> to open the flow conduit <NUM> and allow product from the container <NUM> to travel through the piercing probe <NUM> into the dispensing head <NUM>. The lower closure <NUM> may also include a venting passage.

The exemplary embodiments as illustrated depict both a spray-type dispensing head for liquids as well as a pump-style dispensing head. It should be understood that some embodiments of the invention may include other pump dispensers, pump engines and/or other dispenser heads for dispensing shampoos, soaps, lotions, gels and other viscous and non-viscous flowable products. Any container holding a liquid or flowable product would benefit from the present technology.

It should be noted each of the components of the exemplary embodiments may be molded from polymers, plastics, urethanes or otherwise formed from suitable materials as desired and may formed by any suitable manufacturing techniques available in the industry.

It can therefore be seen that the present disclosure provides for a novel dispensing closure system for liquid products which reduces leaks during shipment and handling of individual container units in e-commerce distribution systems. The internal shipping seal and closure locking systems provide two separate protections for preventing leaks from occurring during such e-commerce shipments.

Claim 1:
A lower closure portion (<NUM>) for use in a dispensing closure system comprising a container; a dispensing head; and an upper closure portion receiving the dispensing head;
the lower closure portion (<NUM>) including:
an outer skirt (<NUM>) comprising an inwardly threaded interior portion for threadedly engaging a neck of a container;
an inwardly threaded portion on an annular recess (<NUM>) for threadedly mating with an annular neck (<NUM>) extending from an upper closure portion (<NUM>) such that the lower closure portion (<NUM>) is axially movable relative to the upper closure portion (<NUM>) when assembled therewith and upon rotation thereof;
the lower closure portion (<NUM>) further comprising an axial flow conduit (<NUM>);
a vent conduit (<NUM>) adjacent to the flow conduit (<NUM>); and
a seal disposed on an upper surface of said lower closure portion over the flow conduit (<NUM>) and the vent conduit (<NUM>) for obstructing the axial flow conduit (<NUM>) and for creating a seal for use during shipping of a dispenser comprising the lower closure portion (<NUM>).