Spice dispensing closure with positive seal
A circular lid hinged to open and close a circular cap having a web with a plurality of orifices cooperates with a two-component seal and two-component lock in a manner such that the lid is secured in position when depressed while at the same time providing a positive seal preventing any intake of moisture from ambient humidity to enter a cylindrical container to agglomerate the particulate inside and/or to clog its dispensing orifices.
None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTResearch and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dispensing closures that one would utilize in sprinkling solid particulate such as spices or mixtures of spices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dispensing closures for spice containers traditionally depend on the underside of its lid having projections that close off the orifices when the lid is in the sealing or storage mode. Such arrangements, although theoretically functional, are not practicable owing to the plurality of orifices and cooperating projections that require precise alignment to make sealing effective. Additionally, frequently there is entrapment of residual particles between the lid and the web. As a result, the projections cannot mesh precisely within the orifices to accomplish a true seal. This problem is especially prevalent among mixtures of spices that contain salt, and accordingly are hygroscopic—the particulate then may agglomerate and clog the orifices, preventing the spices from being freely dispensed. Furthermore, any inadequate sealing will permit moisture from ambient humidity to enter the container and agglomerate the particulate inside. In some cases oxygen combined with humidity may promote degradation of the contained product.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved sealing efficacy of hinged covers over the web that contains the dispensing orifices of the spice container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAs will become clear from the following description, the spice dispensing closure of the invention provides a circumferential valve seal between the underside of the lid and the orifice-containing web to prevent moisture from entering. As will be seen, the seal is so designed that no components of the lid and the web are able to contact one another to prevent the efficacy of the valve seal which follows. The seal is enabled even should there be an inclusion of particulate between the lid and the web.
In a first embodiment of the invention, a male member of the seal extends downward from the lid and circumvents the center of the lid near its extreme circumference. A female cooperating member is located in the web to receive the male member.
In a second embodiment, a second valve seal arrangement is presented in which the location of the male and female cooperating components are reversed—the male portion being located within the dispensing web, and the female component being located within the underside of the lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In
In the lateral view of
(As previously noted,
As the lateral cross-sectioned views of
As will be understood, the orifices 18-20 of
In the configuration shown in the lateral cross-sectioned view of
While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A dispensing closure for a cylindrical container comprising:
- a cylindrical cap attached to said container;
- a circular lid hinged to said cap;
- a circular web having a plurality of orifices upwardly facing from said cap toward said lid;
- a two-component seal, one component being a male member ring extending downwardly from an underside of said lid inwardly of its outer circumstance, and one component being a female member seat encircling said web; and
- a two-component lock, one component being a male member projection downwardly extending from an underside of said lid and one component being a female member well within said web oriented to receive said male member projection;
- whereby depressing said lid positions said male member projection within said female member well and encloses said male member ring onto said female member seat.
2. The dispensing closure of claim 1, also including a locking ring within said female member well to envelop said male member projection securing it into position.
3. The dispensing closure of claim 2, additionally including a finger detent on said cylindrical cap to release a depressed lid by an upwards pushing movement.
4. The dispensing closure of claim 1, including a further orifice within said female member well communicating with the inside of said cylindrical container.
5. The dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said circular hinge is rotatable from substantially 0° closed to 180° open with respect to said cap.
6. The dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said web includes a first plurality of orifices of larger diameter than a second plurality of orifices located therein.
7. The dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said male member projection is of a cylindrical configuration.
8. The dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical cap is detachably attached to said container.
9. The dispensing closure of claim 1, including a second two-component seal, one component being a second male member ring extending upwardly from a top side of said web and one component being a second female member seat extending said underside of said lid inwardly of its said outer circumference.
10. A dispensing closure for a cylindrical container comprising:
- a cylindrical cap attached to said container;
- a circular lid hinged to said cap;
- a circular web having a plurality of orifices upwardly facing from said cap toward said lid;
- a two-component seal, one component being a male member ring extending downwardly from an underside of said lid inwardly of its outer circumstance, and one component being a female member seat encircling said web; and
- a two-component lock, one component being a male member projection downwardly extending from an underside of said lid and one component being a female member well within said web oriented to receive said male member projection;
- whereby depressing said lid positions said male member projection within said female member well and encloses said male member ring onto said female member seat;
- a further orifice within said female member well communicating with the inside of said cylindrical container;
- wherein said circular hinge is rotatable from substantially 0° closed to 180° open with respect to said cap;
- a locking ring within said female member well to envelop said male member projection securing it into position; and
- a finger detent on said cylindrical cap to release a depressed lid by an upwards pushing movement.
11. The dispensing closure of claim 5 wherein said web includes a first plurality of orifices of larger diameter than a second plurality of orifices located therein;
- wherein said male member projection is of a cylindrical configuration; and
- wherein said cylindrical cap is detachably attached to said container.
12. A dispensing closure for a cylindrical container comprising:
- a cylindrical cap attached to said container;
- a circular lid hinged to said cap;
- a circular web having a plurality of orifices upwardly facing from said cap toward said lid;
- a two-component seal, one component being a male member ring extending downwardly from an underside of said lid inwardly of its outer circumstance, and one component being a female member seat encircling said web; and
- whereby depressing said lid encloses said male member ring onto said female member seat.
13. The dispensing closure of claim 12, additionally including a finger detent on said cylindrical cap to release a depressed lid by an upwards pushing movement.
14. The dispensing closure of claim 12 wherein said circular hinge is rotatable from substantially 0° closed to 180° open with respect to said cap.
15. The dispensing closure of claim 12, including a second two-component seal, one component being a second male member ring extending upwardly from a top side of said web and one component being a second female member seat extending onto said underside of said lid inwardly of its said outer circumference.
16. The dispensing closure of claim 15, also including a two-component lock, one component being a male member projection downwardly extending from an underside of said lid and one component being a female member well within said web oriented to receive said male member projection;
- whereby depressing said lid also positions said male member projection within said female member well.
17. The dispensing closure of claim 16, wherein said web includes a first plurality of orifices of larger diameter than a second plurality of orifices located therein; and
- wherein said cylindrical cap is detachably attached to said container.
18. The dispensing closure of claim 17, also including a locking ring within said female member well to envelop said male member projection securing it into position.
Type: Application
Filed: May 15, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2007
Inventors: Robert Sheffler (Morganville, NJ), Thomas Dolan (Flemington, NJ), Harold Zuber (Wall, NJ)
Application Number: 11/433,172
International Classification: B65D 51/18 (20060101);