U.S. patent application number 11/453688 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for dispensing closure, package and method of manufacture.
This patent application is currently assigned to Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.. Invention is credited to Darin M. Pugne.
Application Number | 20070289936 11/453688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38626314 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289936 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pugne; Darin M. |
December 20, 2007 |
Dispensing closure, package and method of manufacture
Abstract
A closure includes a shell of relatively rigid plastic material
having a deck and a peripheral skirt, at least one recessed
shoulder in the deck adjacent to the skirt, and a plurality of
angularly spaced external channels extending along the skirt from
the recess. An external feature of flexible resilient second
plastic material different from the first plastic material is
integrally molded onto the shell within the recessed shoulder and
the channels. By way of example only, the shell may be of
polypropylene material and the external feature may be of
thermoplastic elastomer material. Lock elements, such as openings
in the deck recessed shoulder and/or pegs in the skirt channels,
cooperate with the external feature molded onto the shell to retain
the external feature on the shell.
Inventors: |
Pugne; Darin M.; (Holland,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OWENS-ILLINOIS, INC.
ONE MICHAEL OWENS WAY, THREE O-I PLAZA
PERRYSBURG
OH
43551-2999
US
|
Assignee: |
Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
|
Family ID: |
38626314 |
Appl. No.: |
11/453688 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/237 ;
215/232; 220/254.3; 220/258.1; 222/556 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29L 2031/565 20130101;
B29C 45/1676 20130101; B65D 47/0814 20130101; B65D 47/2031
20130101; B65D 21/0231 20130101; B29C 45/0081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/237 ;
215/232; 220/258.1; 220/254.3; 222/556 |
International
Class: |
B65D 39/00 20060101
B65D039/00; B65D 41/00 20060101 B65D041/00; B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18; B65D 51/20 20060101 B65D051/20 |
Claims
1. A plastic closure that includes: a shell of relatively rigid
first plastic material having at least one external surface portion
with at least one lock element, and an external feature of flexible
resilient second plastic material, different from said first
plastic material, integrally molded onto said at least one external
surface portion including said lock element to retain said external
juncture on said shell.
2. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said shell includes a
peripheral skirt, and wherein said external feature includes at
least one rib that extends axially along said skirt.
3. The closure set forth in claim 2 wherein said at least one rib
extends radially outwardly from an outer surface of said skirt.
4. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one lock
element includes a peg externally extending from said shell, said
external feature being molded around said peg.
5. The closure set forth in claim 4 wherein said peg has a body
extending from a surface of said shell and an enlarged head spaced
from said surface.
6. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said lock element
includes an opening in said shell, said external feature extending
into said opening.
7. A plastic closure that includes: a shell molded of a first
plastic material having a deck and a peripheral skirt with at least
one external channel, and an external feature of a second plastic
material different from said first plastic material and including a
rib molded into said channel and extending radially outwardly from
an outer surface of said skirt.
8. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said external skirt has
a plurality of angularly spaced external axially extending
channels, and said external feature includes a plurality of axially
extending ribs molded into said channels and extending radially
outwardly from said skirt.
9. The closure set forth in claim 8 in which said shell has a peg
disposed within each of said channels, and wherein said ribs are
molded over said pegs to retain said ribs in said channels.
10. The closure set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said pegs has
a body extending from a surface of said skirt and an enlarged head
spaced from said surface.
11. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said external feature
is molded onto said deck.
12. The closure set forth in claim 11 wherein said deck has at
least one opening and said external feature is molded into said at
least one opening to retain said external feature on said deck.
13. The closure set forth in claim 6 wherein said shell is of
relatively rigid plastic material and said external feature is of
flexible resilient plastic material.
14. A plastic closure that includes: a shell of relatively rigid
plastic material having a deck and a peripheral skirt, at least one
recessed shoulders in said deck adjacent to said skirt, and a
plurality of angularly spaced external channels extending along
said skirt from said recessed shoulder, and an external feature of
flexible resilient second plastic material, different from said
first plastic material, integrally molded onto said shell within
said recessed shoulder and said channels, said external feature in
said channels comprising ribs that extend radially outwardly from
an outer surface of said skirt.
15. The closure set forth in claim 14 wherein said shell has a peg
disposed within each of said channels, and wherein said external
feature is molded over said peg to retain said external feature in
said channels.
16. The closure set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said pegs has
a body extending from a surface of said shell and an enlarged head
spaced from said surface.
17. The closure set forth in claim 14 wherein said deck has at
least one opening in said recessed shoulder and said external
feature is molded into said at least one opening to retain said
external feature on said shoulder.
18. The closure set forth in claim 14 wherein said shell is of
polypropylene construction and said external feature is of
thermoplastic elastomer construction.
19. A molded plastic container having a neck finish with at least
one external thread segment and at least one radially outwardly
extending enlargement on said thread segment.
20. The container set forth in claim 19 having a body with a bottom
wall and a push-up in said bottom wall.
21. A package that includes: a container having a body with a neck
finish, at least one external thread segment on said neck finish, a
bottom wall spaced from said neck finish and a push-up in said
bottom wall, and a closure that includes a shell of relatively
rigid first plastic material having a peripheral skirt, at least
one internal thread segment for engagement with said at least one
external thread segment, a plurality of angularly spaced external
channels extending along said skirt, and a plurality of ribs of
flexible resilient second plastic material different from said
first material molded into said channels so as to extend radially
outwardly from an outer surface of said skirt, said ribs being
dimensioned to be received by interference press fit within said
push-up to facilitate stacking of said packages.
22. The package set forth in claim 21 wherein said at least one
external thread segment has at least one radially extending
enlargement for engagement with said closure to retard removal of
said closure from said neck finish.
23. The package set forth in claim 21 wherein said closure has at
least one lock element in each of said channels, said ribs being
molded onto said lock elements to secure said rib within said
channels.
24. The package set forth in claim 23 wherein each said lock
element includes a peg externally extending from said she within
said channel, said rib being molded around said peg.
25. The package set forth in claim 24 wherein said peg has a body
extending from a surface of said shell and an enlarged head spaced
from said surface.
26. The package set forth in claim 21 wherein said shell includes a
deck within at least one recessed shoulder, said channels extending
along said skirt from said recessed shoulder, and a plate of said
second plastic material molded onto said shoulder, said ribs
extending from said plate.
27. The package set forth in claim 21 wherein each said rib has an
external surface, at least a portion of which is angled with
respect to an axis of said closure.
28. A method of making a plastic closure that includes the steps
of: (a) molding a shell of relatively rigid first plastic material
having at least one external surface portion with at least one lock
element, and (b) molding onto said at least one external surface
portion of said shell over said lock element an external feature of
flexible resilient second plastic material different from said
first plastic material.
29. A method of making a plastic closure that includes the steps
of: (a) molding a shell of relatively rigid plastic material having
a deck and a peripheral skirt, at least one recessed shoulder in
said deck adjacent to said skirt and a plurality of angularly
spaced external channels extending along said skirt from said
recessed shoulder, and (b) molding an external feature of flexible
resilient second plastic material different from said first plastic
material onto said shell within said recessed shoulder and said
channels.
Description
[0001] The present disclosure is directed to dispensing closures
for fluid products such as beverages, food condiments and body
lotions, to dispensing packages that include such closures, and to
methods of making such closures.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Fluid 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. It is a general object of the present disclosure to
provide a dispensing closure, a dispensing closure and container
package and a method of making a dispensing closure, in which
external features are molded onto the closure shell, preferably of
a plastic material different from the material of the closure
shell, for press-fit receipt within a push-up on a container base
to facilitate stacking of closure and container packages, or for
other purposes such as provision of decoration on the closure
shell.
[0003] The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can
be implemented separately from or in combination with each
other.
[0004] A dispensing closure in accordance with one aspect of the
present disclosure includes a shell of relatively rigid first
plastic material having at least one external surface portion, and
an external feature of flexible resilient second plastic material
different from the first plastic material integrally molded onto
the at least one external surface portion of the shell. The shell
preferably has at least one lock element molded into the shell and
the external feature is molded onto the lock element to help retain
the external feature on the shell.
[0005] A closure in accordance with another aspect of the present
disclosure includes a shell of relatively rigid plastic material
having a deck and a peripheral skirt, at least one recessed
shoulder in the deck adjacent to the skirt, and a plurality of
angularly spaced external channels extending along the skirt from
the recess. An external feature of flexible resilient second
plastic material different from the first plastic material is
integrally molded onto the shell on the recessed shoulder and
within the channels. By way of example only, the shell may be of
polypropylene material and the external feature may be of
thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. Lock elements, such as
openings in the deck recessed shoulder and/or pegs in the skirt
channels, cooperate with the external feature molded onto the shell
to retain the external feature on the shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] 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:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a package in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the
closure in the package of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the closure in FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the closure in FIGS.
2-3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the closure of FIGS. 2-4
with the lid open;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the closure in FIG. 5;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned elevational view taken
substantially along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially
along the line 8-8 in FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 9 is an enlargement of the portion of FIG. 4 within the
area 9;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 5
showing the closure shell as molded;
[0017] FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the container in the
package of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 11;
[0019] FIG. 13 is an enlargement of the portion of FIG. 12 within
the area 13;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the container in FIG.
11;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view that illustrates the
closure of the package in FIG. 1 nested within the push-up of an
overlying container;
[0022] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second exemplary
embodiment of the closure; and
[0023] FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the closure in FIG. 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a package 20 in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as including a
dispensing closure 22 applied to the neck finish 24 of a container
26. Container 26 can be of glass or, more preferably, plastic
construction. Dispensing closure 22 is illustrated in greater
detail in FIGS. 2-10, and includes a shell 28 and an external
feature 30 integrally molded onto the shell. Shell 28 preferably is
of one-piece relatively rigid plastic material (i.e., rigid
relative to external feature 30) such as polypropylene. External
feature 30 preferably is of a flexible resilient plastic material
that is different from the plastic material of shell 28, such as
TPE. Closure 22 preferably is made in a two-material injection
molding operation in which closure shell 28 is first molded and
external feature 30 is then molded onto shell 28.
[0025] Closure shell 28 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure includes a base 32 to which a lid 34 is coupled by a
hinge 36. Hinge 36 may comprise one or more hinge elements. The
specific hinge 36 illustrated in the drawings is a snap hinge of
the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,477, although other hinge
constructions can be employed. Base 32 in the exemplary embodiment
of the disclosure includes a deck 38 from which an inner wall 40
depends. Inner wall 40 has suitable internal beads or, more
preferably, thread segments 42 for securement to external beads or
thread segments 44 (FIGS. 1 and 11-13) on container neck finish 24
to secure the closure to the container. An outer peripheral skirt
46 extends from deck 38 and may be contoured (e.g., circular, oval,
etc.) in coordination with the contour of container 26 to which
closure 22 is to be secured. A recess 48 may be provided in deck 38
extending from hinge 36 to a position on base 32 opposite from the
hinge. A thumb recess 50 in skirt 46 opens onto the end of deck
recess 48 opposite from hinge 36. Lid 34 has an internal rib 52
that cooperates with a rib or channel 54 in recess 50 for locking
lid 34 in the closed position. A dispensing opening 56 is provided
in deck recess 48. Dispensing opening 56 preferably is coaxial with
inner skirt 40, although this need not necessarily be the case. In
the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a dispensing valve 58
is mounted within dispensing opening 56. Provision of dispensing
valve 58 is preferred but not necessary. Dispensing valve 58, when
provided, maybe mounted in accordance with the disclosure of U.S.
Pat. No. 6,672,487, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/874,036 and/or
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/076,376. To the extent thus far
described, exemplary closure 22 is similar to that disclosed in
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/190,443, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0026] Deck 38 has a pair of recessed shoulders 60,62 on laterally
opposed sides of deck recess 48. These shoulders 60, 62 preferably
are disposed beneath the level of deck 38 and preferably are
substantially coplanar. At least one external channel 64 extends
axially along the external surface of skirt 46 from each recessed
shoulder 60, 62. In the exemplary embodiment, there are two
angularly spaced channels 64 extending from each recessed shoulder
62. Channels 64 thus are angularly spaced from each other around
peripheral skirt 46. Such angular spacing maybe may be equal
spacing, or may be unequal spacing in view of the wedge-shape of
lid 34 and deck recess 48. Channels 64 preferably extend throughout
the entire length of skirt 46. (?) Each shoulder 60, 62 preferably
has at least one through-opening 66, and most preferably at least
two through-openings 66. Each channel 64 has a peg 68 that
preferably is disposed adjacent to the free edge of skirt 46 at a
position spaced from associated recessed shoulder 60 or 62. Each
peg 68 includes a leg 70 (FIG. 9) that extends outwardly from the
external surface of associated channel 64, and a generally conical
head 72 spaced from the external surface of channel 64.
[0027] External feature 30 comprises opposed plate portions 74,76
molded onto recessed shoulders 60, 62 respectively. Each plate
portion 74, 76 has legs 78 that extends into corresponding shoulder
openings 66 to help retain portions 74, 76 on recessed shoulders
60, 62. Openings 66 may be conical, enlarging away from shoulders
60, 62 to enhance this retention function. External feature 30
further includes ribs 80 that are molded into and extend along
channels 64 from plate portions 74, 76. Ribs 80 thus are angularly
spaced from each other around the circumference of closure skirt
46. Ribs 80 have rounded outer surfaces (see FIG. 9) that extend
radially outwardly from the outer surface of skirt 46. Ribs 80
preferably follow the contour of skirt 46, which in the exemplary
embodiment is conical adjacent to deck 38 and cylindrical spaced
from deck 38. The upper portions of ribs 80 preferably have outer
surfaces on a common cone of revolution around the axis of the
closure, and the lower portions of ribs 80 preferably have outer
surfaces on a common cylinder of revolution.
[0028] Container 26 (FIGS. 11-14) includes a body 82 that extends
from neck finish 24 to a bottom wall or base 84. Base 84 is formed
with a push-up 86 that extends into the internal cavity of
container body 82, as best seen in FIGS. 11 and 14. Push-up 86
preferably is formed to receive closure 22 by interference
press-fit, as best seen in FIG. 15. That is, the outer periphery of
external feature 30, including deck portions 74, 76 and ribs 80,
preferably is such that the external feature is resiliently
compressed as the closure is forced into push-up 86. This feature
helps retain packages 20 in stacked orientation. Thread segments 44
on container neck finish 24 preferably are provided with radially
outwardly extending bumps or protrusions 88 that engage the inner
surface of closure inner wall 40 and retard (but do not prevent)
removal of closure 22 so that insertion of closure 22 into push-up
86, or removal of the closure from a push-up, will not
inadvertently loosen the closure on the container neck finish.
Push-up 86 preferably tapers inwardly from base 84, as best seen in
FIG. 15, to receive closure 22 by resilient interference press
fit.
[0029] FIGS. 16 and 17 are similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 but illustrate
a second exemplary embodiment of the closure. The closure 90 in
FIGS. 16 and 17 has an external feature 92 with plate portions 74,
76 and ribs 94 that extend only part-way down skirt 46. That is,
ribs 94 extend along the conical upper portion of skirt 46 but not
along the cylindrical lower portion of the skirt. The lower edges
of ribs 94 are tangential with the cylindrical lower portion of
skirt 40, as best seen in FIG. 17. Closure 90 has the advantages
that it can more readily be used with conventional capping
equipment and uses less material for the external feature. Pegs 68
(not shown) preferably are used in channels on the skirt, as in the
prior embodiment, to help hold the ribs in place.
[0030] There thus have been disclosed a dispensing closure, a
closure and container package, and a method of making a dispensing
closure, which fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously
set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with an
exemplary presently preferred embodiment, and a number of
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
disclosure. For example, the external feature molded onto the
closure shell preferably facilitates stacking of packages in the
exemplary embodiment of the disclosure as described. However, the
external feature molded onto the closure shell could be provided
for other purposes as well, such as for ornamental purposes.
Furthermore, in applications where the closure is intended to be
removed frequently from the container neck finish, the external
feature molded onto the closure shell can facilitate gripping of
the closure. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such
modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *