Dispensing closure, closure and container package, and method of manufacture
A dispensing closure includes a base and a lid of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. The lid is hinged to the base for movement between an open position spaced from the base and a closed position overlying the base. The base has a deck with an outer surface, a dispensing opening, a radially inwardly and axially outwardly facing conical surface extending from the dispensing opening to the outer surface of the deck, and a radially outwardly facing first snap/seal bead surrounding the deck adjacent to the outer surface. The lid has a pintle for receipt in the dispensing opening, a wall spaced radially outwardly from the pintle and a radially inwardly facing second snap/seal bead on the wall for engagement with the first snap/seal bead on the base. The pintle on the lid is sufficiently long as compared to the surrounding wall on the lid to engage the conical surface and align the snap/seal beads as the lid is moved toward the closed position and the snap/seal beads are spaced from each other. The second snap/seal bead is received by sealing snap-fit over the first bead and the pintle is spaced from the dispensing opening in the fully closed position of the lid.
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The present disclosure relates to a dispensing closure, a dispensing closure and container package, and a method of closure manufacture in which the closure includes a base and a lid of one-piece plastic construction, and in which the lid is automatically aligned with the base as the lid is moved to its closed position over the base.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREFluid dispensing closures typically include a one-piece integrally molded shell having a base and a lid connected by a hinge to the base to pivot between a closed position adjacent to the base and an open position spaced from the base. The base includes a dispensing opening through which product may be dispensed in the open position of the lid and through which dispensing is blocked in the closed position of the lid. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,766,926 and 6,880,736 illustrate dispensing closures of this general type. A problem that can be encountered with dispensing closures of this type is that the lid can interfere with the base as the lid is moved toward its closed position. This problem readily can be overcome as the lid is closed manually by jockeying the lid with respect to the base, but can be problematic in applications in which the lid is closed over the base while the closure is within its forming mold. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a mechanism whereby the lid is automatically aligned with the base as the lid is moved toward its closed position.
The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.
A dispensing closure in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure includes a base and a lid of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. The lid is hinged to the base for movement between an open position spaced from the base and a closed position overlying the base. The base has a deck with an outer surface, a dispensing opening, a radially inwardly and axially outwardly facing conical surface extending from the dispensing opening to the outer surface of the deck, and a radially outwardly facing first snap/seal bead surrounding the deck adjacent to the outer surface. The lid has a pintle for receipt in the dispensing opening, a wall spaced radially outwardly from the pintle and a radially inwardly facing second snap/seal bead on the wall for engagement with the first snap/seal bead on the base. The pintle on the lid is sufficiently long as compared to the surrounding wall on the lid to engage the conical surface and align the snap/seal beads as the lid is moved toward the closed position and the snap/seal beads are spaced from each other. The second snap/seal bead is received by sealing snap fit over the first bead and the pintle is spaced from the dispensing opening in the fully closed position of the lid.
The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:
Closure 22 is illustrated in detail in
Lid 40 is contoured for receipt within recess 46 of base 36 in the closed position of the lid illustrated in
A flange 78 extends from the periphery of lid 40 for engaging the opposing surface of recess 46 in the fully closed position of the lid, as best seen in
As noted above, it is preferred that the outside surface of pintle 68 or 86 be spaced from inside surface 56 and the inner edge of the dispensing opening (i.e., the dispensing passage) in the fully closed position of the lid. In applications in which the lid is closed in the forming mold, contact between the pintle and the dispensing passage can shave off small pieces of plastic material that, over millions of mold cycles, could become problematic. However, pintle 86 in
There thus have been disclosed a dispensing closure, a closure and container package and a method of making a dispensing closure that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A dispensing closure that includes a base and a lid of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction, said lid being hinged to said base for movement between an open position spaced from said base and a closed position overlying said base,
- said base having a deck with an outer surface, a dispensing opening, a radially inwardly and axially outwardly facing conical surface extending from said dispensing opening to said outer surface of said deck surrounding said dispensing opening, and a radially outwardly facing first snap/seal bead surrounding said deck adjacent to said outer surface,
- said lid having a pintle for receipt in said dispensing opening, a wall spaced radially outwardly from said pintle and a radially inwardly facing second snap/seal bead on said wall for engagement with said first snap/seal bead on said base,
- said pintle being sufficiently long as compared to said wall to engage said conical surface and align said beads prior to engagement of said beads as said lid is moved toward said closed position, said second bead on said lid being received by sealing snap fit over said first bead on said base.
2. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said pintle is spaced from an inner periphery of said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid.
3. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said pintle does not extend through said dispensing opening in said closed position of the said lid.
4. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said pintle includes a plurality of angularly spaced ribs, with one of said ribs extending toward said hinge.
5. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said base includes a pair of spaced shoulders and a recess between said shoulders, said deck and said outlet opening being disposed within said recess, and said lid is disposed within said recess in said closed position of said lid and substantially flush with said shoulders.
6. The closure set forth in claim 3 wherein said deck is raised from said recess by an annular wall, said first snap/seal bead being disposed on said annular wall.
7. A dispensing closure that includes a base and a lid of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction, said lid being hinged to said base for movement between an open position spaced from said base and a closed position overlying said base,
- said base having a deck with an outer surface, a dispensing opening, a radially inwardly and axially outwardly facing conical surface extending from said dispensing opening to said outer surface of said deck surrounding said dispensing opening, and a radially outwardly facing first snap/seal bead surrounding said deck adjacent to said outer surface,
- said lid having a pintle for receipt in said dispensing opening, a wall spaced radially outwardly from said pintle and a radially inwardly facing second snap/seal bead on said wall for engagement with said first snap/seal bead on said base,
- said pintle being sufficiently long as compared to said wall to engage said conical surface and align said beads prior to engagement of said beads as said lid is moved toward said closed position, said second bead on said lid being received by sealing snap fit over said first bead on said base,
- said pintle being spaced from an inner periphery of said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid and said pintle not extending completely through said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid.
8. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said pintle includes a plurality of angularly spaced ribs, with one of said ribs extending toward said hinge.
9. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said pintle comprises an annular wall.
10. A package that includes a container having a neck finish and a dispensing closure disposed on said neck finish,
- said dispensing closure including a base and a lid of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction, said lid being hinged to said base for movement between an open position spaced from said base and a closed position overlying said base,
- said base having a deck with an outer surface, a dispensing opening, a radially inwardly and axially outwardly facing conical surface extending from said dispensing opening to said outer surface of said deck surrounding said dispensing opening, and a radially outwardly facing first snap/seal bead surrounding said deck adjacent to said outer surface,
- said lid having a pintle for receipt in said dispensing opening, a wall spaced radially outwardly from said pintle and a radially inwardly facing second snap/seal bead on said wall for engagement with said first snap/seal bead on said base,
- said pintle being sufficiently long as compared to said wall to engage said conical surface and align said beads prior to engagement of said beads as said lid is moved toward said closed position, said second bead on said lid being received by sealing snap fit over said first bead on said base.
11. The package set forth in claim 10 wherein said pintle is spaced from an inner periphery of said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid.
12. The package set forth in claim 11 wherein said pintle does not extend through said dispensing opening in said closed position of the said lid.
13. The package set forth in claim 10 wherein said pintle includes a plurality of angularly spaced ribs, with one of said ribs extending toward said hinge.
14. The package set forth in claim 10 wherein said pintle comprises an annular well.
15. The package set forth in claim 10 wherein said base includes a pair of spaced shoulders and a recess between said shoulders, said deck and said outlet opening being disposed within said recess, and said lid is disposed within said recess in said closed position of said lid and substantially flush with said shoulders.
16. The package set forth in claim 15 wherein said deck is raised from said recess by an annular wall, said first snap/seal bead being disposed on said annular wall.
17. The package set forth in claim 16 wherein said container includes a pair of spaced shoulders and a recess between said shoulders,
- said neck finish being disposed within said channel on said container,
- said shoulders on said base and said lid on said closure being substantially flush with said shoulders of said container in said closed position of said lid.
18. A method of making a dispensing closure that includes integrally molding a lid and a base of one-piece plastic construction, said lid being hinged to said base for movement between an open position spaced from said base and a closed position overlying said base,
- said base having a deck with an outer surface, a dispensing opening, a radially inwardly and axially outwardly facing conical surface extending from said dispensing opening to said outer surface of said deck surrounding said dispensing opening, and a radially outwardly facing first snap/seal bead surrounding said deck adjacent to said outer surface,
- said lid having a pintle for receipt in said dispensing opening, a wall spaced radially outwardly from said pintle and a radially inwardly facing second snap/seal bead on said wall for engagement with said first snap/seal bead on said base,
- said pintle being sufficiently long as compared to said wall to engage said conical surface and align said beads prior to engagement of said beads as said lid is moved toward said closed position, said second bead on said lid being received by sealing snap fit over said first bead on said base.
19. The method set forth in claim 18 including moving said lid to said closed position within the forming mold for said closure.
20. The method set forth in claim 19 wherein said pintle does not extend through said dispensing opening in said closed position of the said lid.
21. The method set forth in claim 20 wherein said pintle is spaced from an inner periphery of said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid.
Type: Application
Filed: May 17, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 22, 2007
Applicant:
Inventor: Philip J. Robinson (Sylvania, OH)
Application Number: 11/436,077
International Classification: B65D 47/00 (20060101); B65D 35/38 (20060101);