Flow Regulating Dispensing Closure

Abstract

A flow regulating dispensing closure for a container comprises a base attachable to a container, a dispensing passage, and a lid connected to the base, the lid movable between a closed position in which the dispensing passage is blocked and an open position in which a first flow path through the lid is unblocked for dispensing flowable product from a container. The lid is movable to one or more further open positions in which one or more further flow paths therethrough are unblocked to allow increase of the flow rate.

Description

The present invention relates generally to a dispensing closure for a container and particularly to a closure which can regulate the flow of product from a container.

There are a wide variety of circumstances in which it is useful to be able to regulate the flow of product from a container through a closure. For example food products such as sources, cosmetics and other flowable materials. It is known to provide flow regulating closures in which a flow path can be established and the flow rate through the path can be regulated, for example by changing the size of a terminal dispensing orifice. Therefore a single flow path is provided and the flow rate is regulated by changing the flow rate through that flow path.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a flow regulating dispensing closure for a container, the closure comprising a base attachable to a container and including a dispensing passage, and a lid connected to the base and movable between a closed position in which the dispensing passage is blocked and an open position in which a first flow path through the lid is unblocked for dispensing flowable product from a container, in which the lid is movable to one or more further open positions in which one or more further flow paths therethrough are unblocked to allow increase of flow rate.

The present invention is therefore based on the provision of multiple flow paths through the lid. Adjustment of the flow rate is achieved by changing the number of flow paths rather than merely restricting or expanding the flow rate through a particular path.

The lid may be rotatable with respect to the base between the closed, open and further open positions. Alternatively or additionally other forms of relative movement, such as simple axial (for example longitudinal), may be used.

The closure may include a flow regulator. The regulator may be provided as a separate component for the lid and/or base.

In the open and/or further open positions a fluid path may be established through the regulator. Alternatively or additionally a fluid path around the regulator may be made available.

The open and further open positions may be discrete. In other words, the lid may be indexed between the closed, open and further open position/s.

In some embodiments only one further open position is provided. However, in other embodiments two or more further open positions are provided each of which progressively make one or more further flow paths through the lid available so as to regulate the flow rate.

The base and lid may be provided with cooperating surface formations for facilitating movement between the positions. For example screw thread formations and/or cam surfaces could be used to translate rotational movement into axial movement between the base and lid.

The closure may be provided with means for retaining the lid on the base. This means that the lid cannot be moved beyond a final further open position and removed form the base.

The open and further open positions may be stable. In other words, those positions are defined and further user intervention would be required in order to move them away from the closed, open and further open positions.

The present invention also provides a container having a closure as described herein.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a side view of a closure formed according to the present invention shown attached to a container and in a closed position;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the closure/container of FIG. 1a with the closure shown in an open position;

FIG. 1C is a side view of the closure/container of FIGS. 1a and 1b with the closure shown in a further open position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation illustrating movement of the closure between the positions of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C;

FIG. 3 is section of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment and shown in a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a section of the closure of FIG. 3 shown in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a section of the closure of FIGS. 3 and 4 shown in a further open position;

FIG. 6A is an external side view of the closure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6B is a section of the closure of FIG. 6A taken along line A-A;

FIG. 6c is a magnified view of the region B from FIG. 6B;

FIG. 7A is an external side view of the closure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7B is a section of the closure of FIG. 7A taken along line C-C;

FIG. 7C is a magnified view of the region D of FIG. 7b;

FIG. 8A is a side view of the closure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8B is a section of the closure of FIG. 8A taken along line E-E;

FIG. 8C is a magnified view of the region F in FIG. 8B;

FIGS. 9A to 9D are perspective, side and underplan views of a flow regulator component forming part of the closure of FIGS. 3 to 8.

Referring first to FIG. 1A there is shown a dispensing closure generally indicated 10 and shown connected to a container 20.

In FIG. 1A the closure 10 is in a closed position and product from the container 20 cannot be dispensed. As shown in FIG. 2, the closure 10 can be rotated from the position (designated 1) in FIG. 1a to the position of FIG. 1B (designated 2) in which product 25 can be dispensed from the closure 10 at a first flow rote. Further turning of the closure to the position shown in FIG. 1C (designated 3) in which an increased product flow rate is provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 8 the structure and operation of a closure 110 formed according to an alternative embodiment is now described in detail.

Referring first to FIGS. 3 and 6A to 6C the closure 110 is shown in a fully closed position.

The closure 110 comprises a generally cylindrical base 130 and a frustoconical lid 135.

The base 130 comprises a generally cylindrical sidewall 140 provided with internal screwthread formations 141 for engaging corresponding external formations 142 on a container neck 145. At one end of the sidewall 140 a deck 150 extends radially inwardly. At the centre of the deck 150 a dispensing spout 155 projects and defines a dispensing passage through its interior. The deck 150 also includes an end stop 151 which projects away from the sidewall 140.

The spout 155 comprises a base section 156, a middle section 157 and a top section 158. The base section 156 projects orthogonally from the inner edge of the deck 150. The middle section 157 is a reduced diameter with respect to the base 156 and therefore extends from the base 156 by a step 159. Similarly, the top section 158 is of reduced diameter with respect to the middle section 157 and extends therefrom by an inclined step 160.

The base 156 and middle 157 sections carry a screwthread formation 162. The top section 158 comprises a terminal, exterior retention bead 164 and a flow opening 166. At the centre of the section 158 a retention post 168 projects on support legs 170.

The lid 135 comprises a generally frustoconical outer shell 175 which fits over the spout 155, resting on the deck 150 in the closed position illustrated in the figures. The interior of the shell 175 carries a stop member 177 which in this position is approximately diametrically opposite the stop 151 of the deck 150. The exterior of the lid comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, ellipsoidal dimples 176 which help with gripping of the lid during rotation (described in more detail below).

A first inner skirt 180 depends from the interior of the shell 175 and carries an internal screwthread 182 (best shown in FIG. 4). The formation 182 cooperates with the formation 162 on the spout, to translate rotation of the lid into axial movement as described in more detail below.

Radially inward of the skirt 180 a second internal skirt 185 depends from the shell 175 which terminates with an annular bead 186 which in this position rests on the step 160.

The sidewall 175 terminates with an opening 188 and a third inner skirt 190 depends from the sidewall 175 around the opening 188. The skirt 190 terminates with an internal annular bead 192.

Fitted into the lid is a flow regulator generally indicated 195. As shown best in FIGS. 9a and 9d the regulator 195 comprises an annular top plate 196 with a central dispensing orifice 197. Depending from the top plate 196 around the orifice 197 are four spaced legs 198 each of which terminates with a hook projection 199.

In the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6A to 6C the dispensing passage Through the spout 155 is completely blocked because fluid cannot exit either the orifice 188 in the lid or the orifice 197 in the flow regulator.

In FIGS. 4 and 7a to 7c the lid 135 has been rotated anti-clockwise (as shown in the drawings) so that the screwthread formations 162, 181 cooperate and the lid 135 rises axially up the spout 155 and results in a gap G1 between the base and lid. As the lid 135 rises up it carries the flow regulator 195 by virtue of engagement of the top plate 196 with the bead 192. The position in the figures is reached when the flow regulator hooks 199 contact the underside of the spigot post 168. In this position fluid can pass out of the spout outlet 166, between the regulator legs 198 and through the orifice 197 (passing over the top of the spigot 168). This represents a first flow path X and establishes a first flow rate of fluid through the closure.

In the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 8A to 8C the lid 135 has been further rotated. The resistance provided by the hook 199 is greater than that provided by the bead 192 and therefore the regulator 195 is pulled through the orifice 188 and over the bead 192 whilst remaining retained by the spigot 168. The position shown is finally determined when the stop 177 on the sidewall 175 engages the stop 151 on the deck 150, giving a gap G2. Further rotation is not possible.

In this position, the flow path through the regulator 197 is still operational, However, in addition, a further flow path Y is now established around the regulator 195, over the top plate 196 and through the lid orifice 188. In this position, therefore, an increased flow rate of product is possible. It is noted that the lid is held captive on the base in all positions.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A flow regulating dispensing closure for a container, the closure comprising a base attachable to a container, a dispensing passage, and a lid connected to the base and movable by rotation between a closed position in which the dispensing passage is blocked and an open position in which a first flow path through the lid is unblocked and dispenses flowable product from a container, said base and said lid having co-operating formations for translating said rotation of said lid into axial movement of said lid, in which the lid is axially movable by said rotation to one or more further open positions in which one or more further flow paths therethrough are unblocked and increase a flow rate of the product from the container.

14. The closure as claimed in claim 13, in which the closure includes a flow regulator.

15. The closure as claimed in claim 14, in which in the open and/or further open positions a fluid path through the regulator is available.

16. The closure as claimed in claim 14, in which in the open and/or further open positions a fluid path around the regulator is available.

17. The closure as claimed in claim 13, in which the open and further open positions are discrete.

18. The closure as claimed in claim 13, in which only one further open position is provided.

19. The closure as claimed in claim 13, in which the closure retains the lid on the base.

20. The closure as claimed in claim 13, in which the open and further open positions are stable.

21. A flow regulating dispensing closure for a container, the closure comprising a base attachable to a container, a dispensing passage, and a lid connected to the base and movable between a closed position in which the dispensing passage is blocked and an open position in which a first flow path through the lid is unblocked and dispenses flowable product from a container, in which the lid is movable to one or more further open positions in which one or more further flow paths therethrough are unblocked and increase a flow rate of the product from the container.

22. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which the lid is rotatable with respect to the base between the closed, open and further open positions.

23. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which the closure includes a flow regulator.

24. The closure as claimed in claim 23, in which in the open and/or further open positions a fluid path through the regulator is available.

25. The closure as claimed in claim 23, in which in the open and/or further open positions a fluid path around the regulator is available.

26. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which the open and further open positions are discrete.

27. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which only one further open position is provided.

28. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which the base and lid are provided with co-operating surface formations for facilitating movement between the positions.

29. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which the closure retains the lid on the base.

30. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which the open and further open positions are stable.

31. The closure as claimed in claim 21, in which the lid is generally frustoconical.

32. A container having a closure as claimed in claim 13.