Abstract: A spray dispensing closure includes a spray plug and a cap cooperating therewith to selectively occlude passages in the spray plug. In one embodiment, a spray plug includes a set of inner passages for conveying product from a dip tube through the spray plug and a set of outer passages for conveying air from a head space in the container. The inner passages communicate with an inner flow space and the outer passages communicate with an outer flow space. A cap cooperates with the spray plug to define an outer chamber and an inner chamber which are isolated from one another when the cap is in the closed position, thereby preventing the mixing of air and product. As the cap is moved to the open position, the cap chambers are permitted to communicate with one another and, as the container is squeezed, a product/air mixture is formed in the closure. A central spray plug post has an upper portion that forms at least one restrictive passage with an inner wall of the cap when the cap is in the open position.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided to dispense a fluent product from a container that has an opening to the container interior. A support base is provided for supporting the container with the container opening oriented at least somewhat downwardly to accommodate gravity flow of the fluent material out of the container through the container opening. The support base has (1) a receiving aperture for receiving the container opening, (2) a discharge aperture, and (3) a flow path extending between the receiving aperture and the discharge aperture.

Abstract: A method to regulate copolymer structure using lipase catalyzed transesterification reactions, by selecting a first reactant from the group consisting of polymers and monomers, selecting a second reactant from the group consisting of polymers and monomers, and combining the first reactant, the second reactant, and a lipase in a reaction vessel and allowing the ensuing transesterification reaction to proceed resulting in a polymer. The method allows one to regulate the copolymer repeat unit sequence distribution, and may take place with chain-length specificity such that activation of chains for exchange reactions with other chains or monomers can occur preferentially at certain locations along the chain.

Abstract: A dispensing closure system is provided for a container. The system includes a body for extending from the container at the container opening. The body includes a base, a conduit that is reciprocatable relative to the base, and a flexible wall joining the conduit to the base. The conduit includes a dispensing aperture and a first seal surface. A spout is carried on, and is rotatable relative to, the body. The spout includes a dispensing orifice and a second seal surface for engaging the first seal surface. The body and spout together define a rotary-to-linear motion translation drive system that is (1) responsive to the rotation of the spout in one direction for moving the conduit in a first direction to a closed position, and (2) responsive to the rotation of the spout in the opposite direction for moving the conduit in a second direction opposite from the first direction to an open position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary absorbent structure including a fluid acquisition stratum; a fluid distribution stratum; and a fluid storage stratum between the acquisition stratum and the distribution stratum. Each of the acquisition, distribution, and storage strata are in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided for dispensing a product from a container having an opening. The dispensing system includes a spout for communicating with the container opening. The spout defines at least one discharge aperture and a distal seal. A nozzle assembly is mounted on the spout for movement between a retracted, closed position and an extended, open position. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle having a dispensing passage around at least a portion of the spout. The nozzle assembly also includes a resiliently flexible valve that is sealingly disposed across the nozzle dispensing passage at a location distally of the spout and has an initially closed dispensing orifice which opens in response to a pressure differential acting across the valve. The nozzle assembly also includes a flow restrictor below the valve, and a distal seal for sealingly engaging the spout distal seal.

Abstract: A tamper-evident dispensing structure is provided for being sealed to a collapsible pouch. The structure includes a fitment and a lid structure which are each separately molded and which can be subsequently non-releasably attached. The fitment is adapted to be sealed to a periphery of the pouch at an opening in the pouch. The fitment has a receiver and has at least one dispensing flow passage through the fitment. The lid structure includes (1) a base for being fixedly and non-releasably attached to the fitment receiver, (2) a cap for being sealingly and removably mounted on the fitment to occlude the dispensing passage, and (3) at least a first frangible web connecting the cap to the base for accommodating separation of the cap from the base.

Abstract: A spray dispensing closure includes a spray plug and a cap cooperating therewith to selectively occlude passages in the spray plug. In one embodiment, a spray plug includes a set of inner passages for conveying product from a dip tube through the spray plug and a set of outer passages for conveying air from a head space in the container. The inner passages communicate with an inner flow space and the outer passages communicate with an outer flow space. A cap cooperates with the spray plug to define an outer chamber and an inner chamber which are isolated from one another when the cap is in the closed position, thereby preventing the mixing of air and product. As the cap is moved to the open position, the cap chambers are permitted to communicate with one another and, as the container is squeezed, a product/air mixture is formed in the closure. A central spray plug post has an upper portion that forms at least one restrictive passage with an inner wall of the cap when the cap is in the open position.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided to dispense a fluent product from a container that has an opening to the container interior. A support base is provided for supporting the container with the container opening oriented at least somewhat downwardly to accommodate gravity flow of the fluent material out of the container through the container opening. The support base has (1) a receiving aperture for receiving the container opening, (2) a discharge aperture, and (3) a flow path extending between the receiving aperture and the discharge aperture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary absorbent structure including a fluid acquisition stratum; a fluid distribution stratum; and a fluid storage stratum between the acquisition stratum and the distribution stratum. Each of the acquisition, distribution, and storage strata are in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A closure structure includes a closure body having a deck and depending sidewall, and a dispensing orifice through said deck. A closure cap has a lid part attached by a hinge to the body, and a cover part frangibly connected to the lid part, on a side of the lid part opposite the hinge. The lid part is latched to the body at lateral positions located between the hinge and the cover part. The cover part covers a lifting lip extending from the lid part. Removal of the cover part exposes the lifting lip for lifting by the user to open the lid part from the closure body.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided for two, constituent, fluent materials which are stored separately and then combined in a dispensing process to form a combination product. The dispensing system includes a container having at least two interior storage chambers, and each chamber has a separate discharge opening. Associated with each discharge opening is a separate, flexible valve. Each valve has an initially closed dispensing orifice which opens in response to a differential between the pressure acting against the side of the closed valve facing toward the associated discharge opening and the pressure acting against the side of the closed valve facing away from the associated discharge opening. In a preferred embodiment, a top is provided downstream of the valve. The top is movable between (1) a close position to occlude a dispensing flow path downstream of the valves, and (2) an open position which permits flow to be discharged from the system.

Abstract: In a dispensing system comprising a container having at least two storage chambers, each for a fluent material, the finishes of the respective chambers are arranged in a contiguous pair defining a cylindrical surface having outer threads, except for two anti-rotational flats. Each finish defines an outlet. A valve of a type that remains closed until opened by a differential between inside pressure and outside pressure overlies the outlet defined by each finish. A fitment defines a mixing chamber having two inlets, one for each storage chamber, and having an outlet. The fitment has two skirts, each having an inner surface having at least one rib, each defining an anti-rotational flat. The fitment fits over the paired finishes and over the valves so that the antirotational flats on the ribs engage the anti-rotational flats on the paired finishes. A collar having inner threads is threaded onto the paired finishes so as to hold the fitment, which holds the valves.

Abstract: A bioresorbable copolymer composition comprising products of a reaction between a first comonomer comprising cyclic carbonates, lactones, lactides, lactams, thiolactones, functionalized cyclic carbonates and nonfunctionalized cyclic carbonates; and a second, functionalized, cyclic carbonate comonomer, wherein said second comonomer is a ring structure, wherein comprising a functional group.

Abstract: A dispensing valve is provided for dispensing a product from a container. The valve includes a marginal portion, a head portion with a discharge orifice therein, and a resilient, connector sleeve extending between the marginal portion to the head portion. The connector sleeve has a generally U-shaped cross-section that defines a first leg that is connected with the marginal portion and a shorter second leg connected with the head portion. The connector sleeve locates the head portion so that a plane passing through the head portion extends generally through or outwardly of the marginal portion.

Abstract: A dispensing system is provided for dispensing a product from a container having an opening. The dispensing system includes a spout for communicating with the container opening. The spout defines at least one discharge aperture, a distal seal surface located distally of the discharge aperture, and a proximal seal surface located on the exterior of the spout proximally of the discharge aperture. A nozzle assembly is mounted on the spout for movement between a retracted, closed position and an extended, open position. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle having a dispensing passage around at least a portion of the spout, a proximal seal surface for sealingly engaging the spout proximal surface, and a distal seal surface located outwardly of the nozzle proximal seal surface for sealingly engaging the spout distal seal surface when the nozzle assembly is in the retracted, closed position.

Abstract: In a dispensing system comprising a container having at least two storage chambers, each for a fluent material, the finishes of the respective chambers are arranged in a contiguous pair defining a cylindrical surface having outer threads, except for two anti-rotational flats. Each finish defines an outlet. A valve of a type that remains closed until opened by a differential between inside pressure and outside pressure overlies the outlet defined by each finish. A fitment defines a mixing chamber having two inlets, one for each storage chamber, and having an outlet. The fitment has two skirts, each having an inner surface having at least one rib, each defining an antirotational flat. The fitment fits over the paired finishes and over the valves so that the anti-rotational flats on the ribs engage the anti-rotational flats on the paired finishes. A collar having inner threads is threaded onto the paired finishes so as to hold the fitment, which holds the valves.

Abstract: A fitment for being sealed to a collapsible pouch has a body having at least one side wall portion, which is provided with spaced steps defining spaced shoulders, an inner end, which faces the interior of the collapsible pouch when the fitment is sealed to the collapsible pouch, and an outer end. The body of the fitment defines a reference plane and a range of peripheral dimensions, each of which is measured around one of the spaced steps or around one of the spaced shoulders, in a plane that is located at one of the inner and outer ends or between the inner and outer ends and that coincides with or is parallel to the reference plane. The peripheral dimensions increase from a smallest dimension at or toward one such end, through intermediate dimensions which between the inner and outer ends do not decrease after increasing, to a largest dimension at or toward the other end.

Abstract: A closure structure for a container includes a body having a containing wall for closing the container, the containing wall having a dispensing orifice. A lid is operatively associated with the containing wall to cover the dispensing orifice in a closed position and uncover the dispensing orifice when the lid is moved away from the closed position. In one embodiment, a tamper-indicating member includes a press portion connected by a hinge to the lid, and an anchor portion connected to the body, the press portion connected at a frangible junction to the anchor portion, whereby the press portion can be moved sufficiently relative to the body to separate the press portion from the anchor portion. The anchor portion is connected to the body by an anchor member extending radially from the body. The anchor portion includes an aperture. The body includes a radially extending head which captures the aperture when the anchor portion is pressed to the body.

Abstract: A dispensing structure is provided for discharging the contents from the interior of a container. The structure includes a body for extending from the container. The body defines a dispensing opening and a sealing surface around the dispensing opening. A lid is provided for movement between open and closed positions. The lid has a frame defining a lid dispensing passage through the lid. The lid has a mounting flange extending inwardly adjacent the dispensing passage, and the lid has a valve mounted to the lid flange across the dispensing passage. The flexible valve has self-sealing slits which open to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of the valve facing the container when the lid is closed. The valve has a lower flange which is below the lid flange and which sealingly engages the body sealing surface when the lid is in the closed position.