Dispenser and Methods
A dosing bottle closure (24; 320) has a body (26; 326) and a lid (27; 327). The body (26) has: a sidewall (50) extending from a lower rim (54) to an upper rim (62); and means (58) along the sidewall (50) for engaging a container body (22). The lid (27) is hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition. The body defines an internal upwardly open chamber (25) at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition. The body defines a feed passageway (100) having an outlet (110) to the chamber (25) and spaced above a bottom (72) of the chamber.
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Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/844,167, filed Jul. 9, 2013, and entitled “Dispenser and Methods”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to dispensing of home and garden granules/powders and liquids (flowable materials) such as detergents, fabric softeners, insecticides, fertilizers and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to dosing bottles.
Exemplary flowable materials are laundry detergent, fabric softener, and home and garden chemicals (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides).
Conventionally in such fields, dosing may be achieved via providing a combined cap and measuring cup. Exemplary such caps/cups have installed conditions screwed onto a spout fitment to close/seal a bottle.
One recently-proposed dispenser is found in International Patent Application No. PCT/US12/20471, “Dispenser and Methods”, filed Jan. 6, 2012, of inventors: Alex S. Szekely and Richard H. Seager.
In other fields, a number of dosing bottles have been proposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention involves a dosing bottle closure that has a body and a lid. The body has: a sidewall extending from a lower rim to an upper rim; and means along the sidewall for engaging a container body. The lid is hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition. The body defines an internal upwardly open chamber at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition. The body defines a feed passageway having an outlet to the chamber and spaced above a bottom of the chamber.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONTwo embodiments of a closure are disclosed which may otherwise operate in a similar fashion and may otherwise be manufactured similarly. Exemplary closures may be used in identical fashion. The first closure is a one-piece closure; whereas the second closure is a two-piece closure. Additionally, as is discussed further below, passageway inlet features of the two closures may differ.
An exemplary container 20 comprises a bottle body or container body 22 and a closure 24. The exemplary bottle body has an interior 23 (
The closure comprises a body 26 and a lid, cap, or cover 27. Exemplary bottle body, closure body, and closure lid materials are molded plastics such as various polyethylenes and polypropylenes.
The
An exemplary bottle body (injection blow molded) 22 (
The exemplary closure body 26 comprises an outer wall 50 (sidewall) (
An inlet 120 (
Exemplary dose volume is one fluid ounce (30 ml), more broadly 5-75 ml or 15-50 ml. Exemplary bottle interior volume is about 32 fluid ounces (one liter, more broadly, 0.4-4.0 liter or 0.4-2.0 liter) (e.g. sufficient to contain that much flowable material).
For providing a seal of the closure body to the bottle body, the closure body and bottle body may have complementary sealing surfaces which engage each other in the installed condition. A first sealing surface of the bottle body is formed by the rim 30. Its complementary first sealing surface of the closure body member is formed by a peripheral annular portion of the underside 130 (
In an exemplary charge/discharge sequence illustrated with the hinged embodiment, the lid is initially closed and the bottle upright (e.g., the
After pouring, the bottle is re-uprighted and the lid closed (in any order). Thereafter, the process may be repeated by inverting to charge.
One or more embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the nature of the particular product to be dispensed may influence details of any particular embodiment. The bottle body may be based on the overall configuration of an existing or yet-developed conventional bottle for such product. Tamper-evident features may also be included. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A dosing bottle closure comprising: wherein:
- a body comprising: a sidewall extending from a lower rim to an upper rim; means along the sidewall for engaging a container body; and
- a lid hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition,
- the body defines an internal upwardly open chamber at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition;
- the body defines a feed passageway having an inlet and an outlet to the chamber spaced above a bottom of the chamber,
- a hinge defines a rear end of the body; and
- the inlet faces at least partially rearward.
2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the body and lid are unitarily molded as a single piece.
3. The closure of claim 1 wherein:
- a hinge defines a rear end of the body; and
- an open top second chamber is between the feed passageway and the hinge.
4. The closure of claim 3 wherein:
- the lid closes the second chamber in the closed condition
5. The closure of claim 3 wherein:
- lateral portions of a wall separate the chamber from the second chamber;
- a central portion of the wall having a vertically recessed upper edge separates the chamber from the feed passageway.
6. The closure of claim 1 wherein:
- the inlet of the feed passageway is spaced below the bottom of the chamber.
7. (canceled)
8. The closure of claim 1 wherein:
- the chamber has a volume of 15-75 ml.
9. A container comprising:
- a container body having an interior for storing a flowable material;
- the closure of claim 1 secured to the container body.
10. The container of claim 9 wherein:
- the container body is polyethylene; and
- the closure body and lid are polypropylene.
11. The container of claim 9 further comprising:
- a flowable material within the container body.
12. The container of claim 11 further comprising:
- the flowable material is a particulate.
13. The container of claim 11 further comprising:
- the flowable material is a detergent.
14. The container of claim 9 wherein:
- the container body interior has a volume of 0.4-2.01.
15. A method for using the container of claim 9 comprising:
- tilting the container with the lid in the closed condition to transfer a first dose of material from the interior through the feed passageway;
- uprighting the container to leave some of the material in the chamber;
- opening the lid to the open condition; and
- tilting the container to pour at least a portion of the charge from the container.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
- after the pouring, reuprighting the container and closing the lid; and
- repeating the tilting, uprighting, opening, and tilting.
17. A dosing bottle closure comprising: wherein:
- a body comprising: a sidewall extending from a lower rim to an upper rim; means along the sidewall for engaging a container body; and
- a lid hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition,
- the body defines an internal upwardly open chamber at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition;
- the body defines a feed passageway having an inlet and an outlet to the chamber spaced above a bottom of the chamber;
- a hinge defines a rear end of the body; and
- the inlet is rearwardly offset from a rear wall of the chamber.
18. A dosing bottle closure comprising: wherein:
- a body comprising: a sidewall extending from a lower rim to an upper rim; means along the sidewall for engaging a container body; and
- a lid hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition,
- the body defines an internal upwardly open chamber at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition; and
- the body defines a feed passageway having: an inlet spaced below a bottom of the chamber; and an outlet to the chamber spaced above the bottom of the chamber.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 8, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2016
Applicant: Plastek Industries, Inc. (Erie, PA)
Inventor: Richard H. Seager (North Stonington, CT)
Application Number: 14/904,043