Variable Metered Dose Closure

Abstract

A container comprises: a body having an interior; and a closure. The closure has: a closure main body carried by the body; a stem within the closure main body and having a passageway in communication with the body interior and a port from the passageway; and a platform within the closure main body radially between the stem and the closure main body and adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/191,994, filed Jul. 13, 2015, and entitled “Variable Metered Dose Closure”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to liquid dosing dispensers. More particularly, the disclosure relates to squeeze dispensers having dip tubes for dosing an amount of product. Liquid dosing dispensers have become known for delivering product such as oral rinse or cough medicine. In such a system, the user squeezes the container body driving product up through a dip tube into a dosing chamber. Relaxation of the squeeze allows a drain-back to the design dosing level.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure involves a container comprising: a body having an interior; and a closure. The closure has: a closure main body carried by the body; a stem within the closure main body and having a passageway in communication with the body interior and a port from the passageway; and a platform within the closure main body radially between the stem and the closure main body and adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the closure comprises a rotatable adjuster coupled to the platform for adjusting a height of the platform.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the platform has an external thread (plural threads shown) and the rotatable adjuster has an internal thread (plural threads shown) engaged to the external thread.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the stem extends through the platform and interfits to resist relative rotation.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments: the platform has an internal thread; the stem has an external thread engaged to the internal thread; and the rotatable adjuster is coupled to the platform for transmitting rotation to the platform to adjust the height of the platform via cooperation of the internal thread and the external thread.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, a detent mechanism detents the adjuster in a plurality of orientations.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the container further comprises: a plurality of fill level indicia on one of the adjuster and the closure main body; and a reference indicia on the other of the adjuster and the closure main body operatively associated with the fill level indicia.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments: the body consists essentially of a first molded plastic piece; the closure main body and the stem are formed by a second molded plastic piece; the adjuster consists essentially of a third molded plastic piece; and the platform consists essentially of a fourth molded plastic piece.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the container further comprises a dip tube communicating with the stem.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, a method for using the system comprises: with the platform in a first condition, introducing a first dose of liquid into the dosing chamber through the stem; and discharging the first dose.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the method further comprises: adjusting the platform to a second condition; with the platform in the second condition, introducing a second dose of liquid into the closure through the stem; and discharging the second dose.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the second dose is at least one third greater in volume than the first dose.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the adjusting comprises a screw jack action.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the introducing comprises squeezing the container to push the dose through a dip tube.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a liquid dosing dispenser or bottle.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the bottle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the bottle taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a portion of a dispensing closure of the bottle.

FIG. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the bottle taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view of the bottle with an open lid.

FIG. 6 is a central vertical sectional view of the open lid bottle along the same cut plane to FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view of the dispense enclosure with a platform partially lowered from the FIG. 6 condition.

FIG. 8 is a view of the dispense enclosure with the platform fully lowered from the FIG. 6 condition.

FIG. 9 is a view of a closure main body and lid molding in an open condition.

FIG. 10 is a second view of the molding of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the molding.

FIG. 12 is a central vertical sectional view of the molding taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a central vertical sectional view of the molding taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a view of an adjuster.

FIG. 15 is a second view of the adjuster.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the adjuster.

FIG. 17 is a central vertical sectional view of the adjuster taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the adjuster.

FIG. 19 is a view of a platform.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the platform.

FIG. 21 is a central vertical sectional view of the platform taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the platform.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a container 20 for a dosed liquid product. An exemplary dosed liquid product is an oral rinse such as a mouthwash, an anti-cavity rinse, and the like. The container 20 comprises a body 22 and a closure assembly (closure) 24. As is discussed below, the exemplary closure assembly is a dosing closure, more particularly an adjustable-dose closure. As is discussed further below, the exemplary closure 24 comprises a hinged lid 26 shown in a closed condition with an open condition shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The exemplary lid 26 is formed as a single molded piece along with a main body member 28, with the single piece also including an exemplary living hinge 30.

FIG. 3 shows the body 22 as comprising a sidewall 32 extending generally upward from a bottom or base 34 to a shoulder 36. A neck 38 (FIG. 3A) of the body 22 extends upward to a rim 40 which defines a body opening. The exemplary rim and opening define a central axis 500 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which, in the exemplary embodiment, is a central vertical axis of the neck and closure. As is discussed further below, the neck may bear one or more features 42 for cooperating with features of the closure 24 to retain the closure in an installed condition. The exemplary features 42 comprise a barb (e.g., an annular barb or a segmented barb) on the outer diameter (OD) surface of the neck 38 having an upper ramping surface 44 and a lower stop surface 46. In the installed condition, the stop surface 46 cooperates with a complementary stop surface of the closure 24 to resist axial extraction of the closure.

The exemplary body 22 (FIG. 3) has an interior space 400 which may contain a body of liquid (“product”) 402 (e.g., the aforementioned oral rinse). An exemplary dip tube 50 extends from an upper end 52 to a lower end 54 with an upper end portion captured in the closure 24 (e.g., the closure main body 28) and a lower portion immersed in the liquid 402. As is discussed further below, a squeezing of the body 22 (e.g., via hand compression) may drive the product upward through the dip tube 50 and into an interior of the closure 24 for subsequent dispensing.

The closure 24 (e.g., the main body 28) comprises a stem 60 having a passageway 62 in communication with the dip tube interior. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper portion of the dip tube is received in a lower portion of the stem and secured thereto (e.g., in a press fit relation). At its upper end, the stem has one or more ports 64. When the bottle body is squeezed, product may flow upward through the tube 50 and stem 60 and discharge from the ports 64 into the closure interior. However, as is discussed further below, the exemplary closure includes means for blocking the ports 64 in at least one condition to prevent such discharge. The exemplary means is provided by an adjustable height platform 70 (FIG. 3A) which also provides for adjustability of dose. The platform 70 is adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position. In an exemplary fully raised position, the platform closes and seals the ports 64. From a fully lowered position upward to near the fully raised position, the platform provides for an adjustment of dose volume by adjusting the volume of the portion of the closure interior (chamber) above the platform. More particularly, a portion of the chamber above the platform and below the ports 64 will receive and retain a dose of the product upon squeezing of the bottle. For example, a squeeze may overfill to a level above the lower boundary of the ports 64. However, relaxation of the squeeze will allow the excess to drain, leaving the surface of the product accumulation in the closure at the level of the lower extremity of the ports 64.

Exemplary height adjustment of the platform 70 is provided by relative rotation of the platform and some other member having a threaded engagement thereto. An exemplary relative rotation involves maintaining the platform essentially non-rotating relative to the bottle body while rotating an adjuster 80 (FIG. 3A). The exemplary adjuster 80 has an internal thread 82 (plural threads or multi-lead threads shown) engaged to an external thread 84 (plural threads or multi-lead threads shown) of the platform. The adjuster is rotatable about the axis 500 as is discussed below. The exemplary platform is held against such rotation by an interfitting relationship with the stem. An exemplary interfitting relationship with the stem involves a non-round planform or transverse cross-section of the stem interfitting with a complementary internal cross-section of the platform. In the exemplary embodiment, the stem external cross-section is approximately elliptical (e.g., having a major axis at least 10% longer than a minor axis) received in a complementary central sleeve or boss 90 of the platform. The exemplary platform comprises an outer sidewall 92 bearing the external thread 84 and spaced radially outward of the collar 90. A transverse web 94 joins the boss and outer sidewall 92 and its upper surface provides a lower boundary of the effective dosing volume of the closure. In the exemplary fully raised condition, it is seen that the boss 90 seals/closes the ports 64. Accordingly, the exemplary boss seals circumferentially with a cap portion 96 enclosing the top of the stem.

FIGS. 5-8 show the lid 26 in its open condition. A feature 110 on the lid may cooperate with a feature 112 on the closure main body 28 to allow disengagable locking in the closed condition. The exemplary feature 110 comprises a barb at the lower end of a radially inwardly depressible portion 114 of a lid sidewall 116. The exemplary feature 112 comprises a complementary hole in an upper web (discussed below) of the main body member that may receive the barb allowing the barb to backlock against the underside of the web until the portion 14 is pressed.

FIG. 8 shows the platform in a fully lowered condition; FIG. 7 shows the platform in an intermediate condition. It is accordingly seen that as the platform is lowered from its fully raised condition it will eventually disengage from the stem cap 96 partially opening the ports 64. It will shortly thereafter pass by the lower extremity of the ports 64 with further downward motion providing ever-increasing effective dosing volume.

The exemplary stem 60 is formed as a portion of the closure main body 24, extending upward from a lower end 120 at the inner diameter (ID) boundary of a base 122 of the main member 24. A sidewall 124 extends upward from an outer diameter (OD) periphery of the base. The exemplary base 122 comprises a plurality of apertures 130 allowing drain-back of any product that leaks past the platform (e.g., it leaks downwardly between the stem and boss or between the engaged threads of the platform sidewall and adjuster sidewall).

The exemplary main body sidewall 124 is an intermediate sidewall, an upper portion of which is surrounded by an outer sidewall 134. The outer sidewall 134 extends upward from a lower rim 136 to an upper end at the outer diameter (OD) periphery of a transverse annular upper web 138. The exemplary intermediate sidewall upper end also merges with the web 138. In this example, the intermediate sidewall upper end merges slightly radially outboard of an inner periphery 140 defining an aperture of the web. This slight radially outward recessing leaves an inner peripheral portion of the web as a radially inwardly protruding rib which may interfit with and retain the adjuster. FIG. 3 shows this radial inward protrusion 142 received in a complementary radially outwardly open channel 150 in the adjuster.

The exemplary adjuster comprises a sidewall 152 extending from a lower end to a rim 154 to an upper end along a gripping protuberance 156. The exemplary channel 150 (FIG. 18; between an underside 157 of the protuberance 156 and an annular rib or short flange 158) faces outward from the sidewall while the internal thread is along the inner diameter (ID) surface of the sidewall. A transverse web 160 extends across the upper end with a central opening from which an open boss 162 extends upward to a rim 164 defining a dispensing opening (outlet). In operation, the user grips the protuberance 156 with one hand and the bottle body or closure main body with the other hand and relatively rotates about the axis 500. This causes the threaded engagement between the adjuster and platform to drive the platform either upward or downward depending upon the direction of rotation.

To provide visual guidance as to the dose volume, the adjuster and main body may have complementary indicia. For example, one may have indicia representing specific dose volumes whereas the other may bear a simple index such as an arrow. In the exemplary embodiment, the upper surface of the web 160 bears an arrow index 170 (FIG. 5) whereas the main body may bear dose indicia 172. In the exemplary embodiment, the dose indicia are along the upper surface of the annular web 138. The exemplary index 170 is aligned with a circumferential recess 171 in the planform or footprint of the adjuster gripping protuberance. This recess allows exposure of an indicia 172 when in registry with the index 170. Indicia 172 away from the index and recess 171 are at least partially obscured by the gripping protuberance.

Additionally, there may be a detent mechanism to detent the orientation of the adjuster in one or more conditions. Exemplary detenting may be in each of the specific dosing conditions. Alternative detenting may be only in a closed position. The exemplary detent mechanism comprises a channel 180 (FIG. 9) on the inner diameter (ID) surface of the main body intermediate wall which receives outward radial projections 182 (FIG. 15; e.g., depending from the rib 158) of the adjuster.

The exemplary illustrated detenting may include a closed condition associated with a relatively raised position of the platform and a plurality of increasingly larger doses associated with sequentially lowered positions of the platform. Alternative embodiments may lack the closed condition and thus have only dosing conditions. An exemplary variation amongst dosing conditions may involve an increase of at least one third between the lowest non-zero dose and the greatest dose. Alternative ranges may include at least 50% or at least 100% or at least 200%. Exemplary doses are at least 1 ml. One example of four doses is 5 ml, 10, ml, 15 ml, and 20 ml. With the exemplary illustrated indicia, a bottle label could identify that #1 corresponds to closed, #2 corresponds to 5 ml, #3 to 10 ml, and so forth.

The container may be made using otherwise conventional or yet-developed materials and techniques. For example, all pieces may be made of molded plastics. In one example, the container body is blow molded of a plastic such as HDPE or MDPE. The platform may be injection molded of a plastic such as HDPE or polypropylene. The closure main body piece (including the exemplary cover or lid) may be injection molded of a plastic such as polypropylene. The adjuster may be injection molded of a plastic such as polypropylene. The exemplary indicia may be molded indicia. The exemplary dip tube may be extruded and cut to length of a plastic such as LDPE. Additional routine features such as safety seals, gaskets, and the like are not shown but may be present.

The use of “first”, “second”, and the like in the description and following claims is for differentiation within the claim only and does not necessarily indicate relative or absolute importance or temporal order. Similarly, the identification in a claim of one element as “first” (or the like) does not preclude such “first” element from identifying an element that is referred to as “second” (or the like) in another claim or in the description.

Where a measure is given in English units followed by a parenthetical containing SI or other units, the parenthetical's units are a conversion and should not imply a degree of precision not found in the English units.

One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, when applied to an existing basic system, details of such configuration or its associated use may influence details of particular implementations. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a body having an interior; and

a closure having: a closure main body carried by the body; a stem within the closure main body and having a passageway in communication with the body interior and a port from the passageway; and a platform within the closure main body radially between the stem and the closure main body and adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein:

the closure comprises a rotatable adjuster coupled to the platform for adjusting a height of the platform.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein:

the platform has an external thread; and

the rotatable adjuster has an internal thread engaged to the external thread.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein:

the stem extends through the platform and interfits to resist relative rotation.

5. The container of claim 2 wherein:

the platform has an internal thread;

the stem has an external thread engaged to the internal thread; and

the rotatable adjuster is coupled to the platform for transmitting rotation to the platform to adjust the height of the platform via cooperation of the internal thread and the external thread.

6. The container of claim 2 further comprising:

a detent mechanism for detenting the adjuster in a plurality of orientations.

7. The container of claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of fill level indicia on one of the adjuster and the closure main body; and

a reference indicia on the other of the adjuster and the closure main body operatively associated with the fill level indicia.

8. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

a dip tube communicating with the stem.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein:

the body consists essentially of a first molded plastic piece;

the closure main body and the stem are formed by a second molded plastic piece;

the adjuster consists essentially of a third molded plastic piece; and

the platform consists essentially of a fourth molded plastic piece.

10. The container of claim 9 further comprising:

a dip tube communicating with the stem.

11. A method for using the system of claim 1, the method comprising:

with the platform in a first condition, introducing a first dose of liquid into the dosing chamber through the stem; and

discharging the first dose.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

adjusting the platform to a second condition;

with the platform in the second condition, introducing a second dose of liquid into the closure through the stem; and

discharging the second dose.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the second dose is at least one third greater in volume than the first dose.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the adjusting comprises a screw jack action.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the introducing comprises squeezing the container to push the dose through a dip tube.