Double shell dispenser
A dispenser closure is provided having a stopping mechanism that limits the rotation of the closure and generally prevents removal of the closure cap from the container. The dispenser closure includes a cap body, fitment and container finish. The cap body has a double shell design, which includes at least one drop lug projecting from the inner shell. When the cap body is rotated about the container finish, the drop lug engages at least one lug stop located on the container finish so as to limit the rotation, thereby preventing removal of the cap body from the container finish.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to dispenser closures. More particularly, the present invention relates to threadably movable dispenser closures with stopping mechanisms.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Dispenser closures that open by the axial movement of a cap along a container finish are generally known in the art. Such a closure commonly includes a cap portion that is threadably attached to the finish of a container in such a way that the cap may be threadably moved from a closed position to an open position so as to access the contents of the container. The cap of this type of closure commonly has a limited range of rotation, so that the cap may remain affixed to the container even while in the open position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a closure having a dispensing feature.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a double shell dispenser closure having a stopping mechanism which limits the range of rotation of a closure cap about a container finish.
More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention includes a double shell closure having a dispensing mechanism. The dispenser closure includes a cap body that is threadably attached to a container finish and a fitment placed in an aperture of the container and operably disposed between the cap body and the container finish. The container finish includes a neck portion with an opening therein, at least one thread and at least one lug stop thereon. The fitment has a plurality of spokes that connect an annular side wall with a post that is concentrically aligned therein. The cap body includes an inner wall and an outer wall concentrically aligned. In one embodiment, both the inner wall and the outer wall are annular and are concentrically aligned with an opening in a top wall of the cap body. The inner wall may include at least one thread on an inner surface thereof. The inner wall also has at least one drop lug projecting from a lower portion thereof. In one embodiment, two drop lugs are diametrically aligned and project downwardly from the terminating edge of the annular inner wall. The drop lugs are positioned to engage the lug stops located on the container finish, so as to prevent the threadable removal of the cap body from the container finish. The double shell dispenser closure may be partially opened to allow dispensing of the contents of the container, but may not be removed from the container due to the stopping mechanism.
A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts and wherein:
As shown in the
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As shown in FIGS. 6-8, in addition to annular wall 22, fitment 20 includes a post 24 connected to annular wall 22 by a plurality of spokes 26. Post 24 is centrally aligned within the fitment 20 such that, when annular wall 22 engages skirt 64, post 24 extends through both opening 62 and spout portion 66. When cap body 50 is in the closed position, post 24 extends through opening 63 of spout portion 66, as shown in FIG. 4. Whereas, when cap body 50 is in the open position, post 24 extends through only a portion of spout portion 66 and extends short of opening 63. Annular wall 22 includes a locking bead 49 formed therein, as well as flange 23 projecting therefrom. Flange 23 includes a fitment sealing bead 29 formed thereon. When the closure 10 is assembled, fitment 20 is disposed within opening 84 of container finish 80, shown in FIG. 9. Fitment 20 is secured within opening 84 by the engagement of locking bead 49 with the inner surface of neck portion 82. Thus, as cap body 50 is threadably opened, fitment 20 remains secured in position relative to neck portion 82.
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Container finish 80 also may include at least one child-resistant stop 81 and/or 83. In one embodiment, container finish 80 includes two child-resistant stops 81 and 83 diametrically aligned around the neck portion 82 and integrally formed with lug stops 90 and 92, as shown in
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In use, the closure 10 provides for the dispensing of the contents of a container (not shown). When closure 10 is assembled, fitment 20 is disposed over the opening 84 in the neck portion 82 of container finish 80. Cap body 50 is positioned over fitment 20 so that post 24 extends through spout portion 66 and seal 65 engages a surface of annular wall 22 of fitment 20. Cap body 50 is threadably attached to container finish 80 by the cooperation of at least one thread 72, on the inner surface 71 of inner wall 70, with at least one thread 86 on neck portion 82. Each of the drop lugs 54 and 56 and the child-resistant locks 61 and 63a are disposed between lug stops 90 and 92 and child-resistant stops 81 and 83. In the closed position, cap body 50 is threaded axially down over neck portion 82, such that post 24 of fitment 20 extends upward through each of opening 62, spout portion 66 and opening 63, thereby sealing opening 63 and the closure 10. When closure 10 is opened, the user applies inward pressure to the outer wall 60 at the thumb pads 68, thereby deforming the outer wall 60. The child-resistant locks 61 and 63a are disposed on the portions of the outer wall that deflect outward, when pressure is applied by the user. While this pressure is being applied, the user may then axially rotate the cap body 50, so that the cap body 50 moves upward from neck portion 82 and fitment 20. As the cap body 50 rotates axially, child-resistant locks 61 and 63a rotate past child-resistant stops 81 and 83 without engaging them, since the outer wall 60 is deformed outwardly at those points where the child-resistant locks are located. If the outer wall 60 was not deformed as the axial rotation was occurring, then child-resistant locks 61 and 63a would engage child-resistant stops 81 and 83, thereby preventing the opening of the closure 10. Nevertheless, as the child-resistant locks 61 and 63a on the deformed cap body 60 move past the child-resistant stops 81 and 83, the cap body 50 continues to rotate axially until one or both drop plugs 54 and 56 engage one or both stops 90 and 92. Once drop lugs 54 and 56 engage stops 90 and 92, further axial rotation of cap body 50 is prevented. At the point of engagement of drop lugs 54 and 56 with stops 90 and 92, closure 10 is open, but cap body 50 is still attached to container finish 80. In this manner, the dispenser closure 10 may dispense the contents of a container in which the closure 10 is attached without removing the cap body 50 from the container finish 80.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A dispenser closure comprising:
- a container finish having at least one thread and at least one lug stop formed thereon; and,
- a cap body threadably attached to said container finish, said cap body having a top wall with an opening therein, said top wall including an inner wall and an outer wall depending therefrom, said outer wall and said inner wall being concentrically aligned, said inner wall having at least one drop lug projecting from a terminating edge thereof;
- said outer wall including at least one child-resistant lock formed therefrom, said container finish including at least one child-resistant stop formed thereon;
- said child-resistant stop being integrally formed with said lug stop.
2. A dispenser closure comprising:
- a container finish having at least one thread and at least one lug stop formed thereon; and,
- a cap body threadably attached to said container finish, said cap body having a top wall with an opening therein, said top wall including an inner wall and an outer wall depending therefrom, said outer wall and said inner wall being concentrically aligned, said inner wall having at least one drop lug projecting from a terminating edge thereof;
- said outer wall including at least one child-resistant lock formed therefrom, said container finish including at least one child-resistant stop formed thereon;
- said at least one lug stop including an over-torque barrier integrally formed therewith.
3. A dispenser closure comprising:
- a container finish including at least one lug stop and at least one child-resistant stop formed thereon; and,
- a cap body threadably attached to said container finish, said cap body including a top wall with an inner wall and outer wall depending therefrom, said inner wall having at least one drop lug projecting downward therefrom, said outer wall including at least one child-resistant lock projecting therefrom;
- said lug stop being integrally formed with said child-resistant stop.
4. A dispenser closure comprising:
- a container finish including a neck portion and at least one lug stop integrally formed with at least one child-resistant stop formed on said neck portion; and,
- a cap body attached to said container finish, an inner wall and an outer wall projecting from a top wall of said cap body, said inner wall including at least one drop lug formed thereon, and said outer wall including at least one child-resistant stop formed thereon.
5. The dispenser closure of claim 4, further comprising a fitment attached to said container finish and sealably engaged to said cap body.
6. The dispenser closure of claim 5, said cap body further including a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt including a sealing bead formed thereon, said sealing bead engaging said fitment.
7. The dispenser closure of claim 4, said at least one drop lug projecting downwardly from a terminating edge of said inner wall.
8. The dispenser closure of claim 4, said at least one drop lug including two drop lugs projecting from said inner wall, said at least one child-resistant lock including two child-resistant locks projecting from said outer wall.
9. The dispenser closure of claim 4, said at least one lug stop including an over-torque barrier integrally formed therewith.
10. The dispenser closure of claim 4, said at least one child-resistant stop including at least one cam formed integrally therewith.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 17, 2003
Date of Patent: Jul 17, 2007
Assignee: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc. (Evansville, IN)
Inventors: William D. Sprick (Evansville, IN), Christopher B. Clodfelter (Evansville, IN)
Primary Examiner: Joseph A. Kaufman
Attorney: Middleton Reutlinger
Application Number: 10/738,700
International Classification: B67D 5/33 (20060101);