U.S. patent application number 15/209234 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-19 for variable metered dose closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to Plastek Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Plastek Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Timothy C. Dzurik, Alex S. Szekely.
Application Number | 20170015474 15/209234 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57775505 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170015474 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Szekely; Alex S. ; et
al. |
January 19, 2017 |
Variable Metered Dose Closure
Abstract
A container comprises: a body having an interior; and a closure.
The closure has: a closure main body carried by the body; a stem
within the closure main body and having a passageway in
communication with the body interior and a port from the
passageway; and a platform within the closure main body radially
between the stem and the closure main body and adjustable between a
lowered position and a raised position.
Inventors: |
Szekely; Alex S.; (Jackson,
NJ) ; Dzurik; Timothy C.; (Erie, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Plastek Industries, Inc. |
Erie |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Plastek Industries, Inc.
Erie
PA
|
Family ID: |
57775505 |
Appl. No.: |
15/209234 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62191994 |
Jul 13, 2015 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/323 20130101;
B65D 51/245 20130101; B65D 47/0838 20130101; B65D 47/08 20130101;
G01F 11/286 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/08 20060101
B65D047/08; B65D 51/24 20060101 B65D051/24; B65D 1/32 20060101
B65D001/32 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a body having an interior; and a closure
having: a closure main body carried by the body; a stem within the
closure main body and having a passageway in communication with the
body interior and a port from the passageway; and a platform within
the closure main body radially between the stem and the closure
main body and adjustable between a lowered position and a raised
position.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein: the closure comprises a
rotatable adjuster coupled to the platform for adjusting a height
of the platform.
3. The container of claim 2 wherein: the platform has an external
thread; and the rotatable adjuster has an internal thread engaged
to the external thread.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein: the stem extends through the
platform and interfits to resist relative rotation.
5. The container of claim 2 wherein: the platform has an internal
thread; the stem has an external thread engaged to the internal
thread; and the rotatable adjuster is coupled to the platform for
transmitting rotation to the platform to adjust the height of the
platform via cooperation of the internal thread and the external
thread.
6. The container of claim 2 further comprising: a detent mechanism
for detenting the adjuster in a plurality of orientations.
7. The container of claim 2 further comprising: a plurality of fill
level indicia on one of the adjuster and the closure main body; and
a reference indicia on the other of the adjuster and the closure
main body operatively associated with the fill level indicia.
8. The container of claim 1 further comprising: a dip tube
communicating with the stem.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein: the body consists essentially
of a first molded plastic piece; the closure main body and the stem
are formed by a second molded plastic piece; the adjuster consists
essentially of a third molded plastic piece; and the platform
consists essentially of a fourth molded plastic piece.
10. The container of claim 9 further comprising: a dip tube
communicating with the stem.
11. A method for using the system of claim 1, the method
comprising: with the platform in a first condition, introducing a
first dose of liquid into the dosing chamber through the stem; and
discharging the first dose.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: adjusting the
platform to a second condition; with the platform in the second
condition, introducing a second dose of liquid into the closure
through the stem; and discharging the second dose.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein: the second dose is at least one
third greater in volume than the first dose.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein: the adjusting comprises a screw
jack action.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein: the introducing comprises
squeezing the container to push the dose through a dip tube.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No.
62/191,994, filed Jul. 13, 2015, and entitled "Variable Metered
Dose Closure", the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety as if set forth at length.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The disclosure relates to liquid dosing dispensers. More
particularly, the disclosure relates to squeeze dispensers having
dip tubes for dosing an amount of product. Liquid dosing dispensers
have become known for delivering product such as oral rinse or
cough medicine. In such a system, the user squeezes the container
body driving product up through a dip tube into a dosing chamber.
Relaxation of the squeeze allows a drain-back to the design dosing
level.
SUMMARY
[0003] One aspect of the disclosure involves a container
comprising: a body having an interior; and a closure. The closure
has: a closure main body carried by the body; a stem within the
closure main body and having a passageway in communication with the
body interior and a port from the passageway; and a platform within
the closure main body radially between the stem and the closure
main body and adjustable between a lowered position and a raised
position.
[0004] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the closure comprises a rotatable adjuster coupled to
the platform for adjusting a height of the platform.
[0005] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the platform has an external thread (plural threads
shown) and the rotatable adjuster has an internal thread (plural
threads shown) engaged to the external thread.
[0006] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the stem extends through the platform and interfits to
resist relative rotation.
[0007] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments: the platform has an internal thread; the stem has an
external thread engaged to the internal thread; and the rotatable
adjuster is coupled to the platform for transmitting rotation to
the platform to adjust the height of the platform via cooperation
of the internal thread and the external thread.
[0008] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, a detent mechanism detents the adjuster in a plurality
of orientations.
[0009] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the container further comprises: a plurality of fill
level indicia on one of the adjuster and the closure main body; and
a reference indicia on the other of the adjuster and the closure
main body operatively associated with the fill level indicia.
[0010] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments: the body consists essentially of a first molded
plastic piece; the closure main body and the stem are formed by a
second molded plastic piece; the adjuster consists essentially of a
third molded plastic piece; and the platform consists essentially
of a fourth molded plastic piece.
[0011] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the container further comprises a dip tube
communicating with the stem.
[0012] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, a method for using the system comprises: with the
platform in a first condition, introducing a first dose of liquid
into the dosing chamber through the stem; and discharging the first
dose.
[0013] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the method further comprises: adjusting the platform
to a second condition; with the platform in the second condition,
introducing a second dose of liquid into the closure through the
stem; and discharging the second dose.
[0014] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the second dose is at least one third greater in
volume than the first dose.
[0015] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the adjusting comprises a screw jack action.
[0016] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the introducing comprises squeezing the container to
push the dose through a dip tube.
[0017] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,
objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and
drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a view of a liquid dosing dispenser or bottle.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of the bottle of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the bottle
taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a portion of a dispensing
closure of the bottle.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the bottle
taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a view of the bottle with an open lid.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a central vertical sectional view of the open lid
bottle along the same cut plane to FIG. 3.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a view of the dispense enclosure with a platform
partially lowered from the FIG. 6 condition.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a view of the dispense enclosure with the platform
fully lowered from the FIG. 6 condition.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a view of a closure main body and lid molding in
an open condition.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a second view of the molding of FIG. 9.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a top view of the molding.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a central vertical sectional view of the molding
taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a central vertical sectional view of the molding
taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a view of an adjuster.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a second view of the adjuster.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a top view of the adjuster.
[0035] FIG. 17 is a central vertical sectional view of the adjuster
taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16.
[0036] FIG. 18 is a side view of the adjuster.
[0037] FIG. 19 is a view of a platform.
[0038] FIG. 20 is a top view of the platform.
[0039] FIG. 21 is a central vertical sectional view of the platform
taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20.
[0040] FIG. 22 is a side view of the platform.
[0041] Like reference numbers and designations in the various
drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] FIG. 1 shows a container 20 for a dosed liquid product. An
exemplary dosed liquid product is an oral rinse such as a
mouthwash, an anti-cavity rinse, and the like. The container 20
comprises a body 22 and a closure assembly (closure) 24. As is
discussed below, the exemplary closure assembly is a dosing
closure, more particularly an adjustable-dose closure. As is
discussed further below, the exemplary closure 24 comprises a
hinged lid 26 shown in a closed condition with an open condition
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The exemplary lid 26 is formed as a single
molded piece along with a main body member 28, with the single
piece also including an exemplary living hinge 30.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows the body 22 as comprising a sidewall 32
extending generally upward from a bottom or base 34 to a shoulder
36. A neck 38 (FIG. 3A) of the body 22 extends upward to a rim 40
which defines a body opening. The exemplary rim and opening define
a central axis 500 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which, in the exemplary
embodiment, is a central vertical axis of the neck and closure. As
is discussed further below, the neck may bear one or more features
42 for cooperating with features of the closure 24 to retain the
closure in an installed condition. The exemplary features 42
comprise a barb (e.g., an annular barb or a segmented barb) on the
outer diameter (OD) surface of the neck 38 having an upper ramping
surface 44 and a lower stop surface 46. In the installed condition,
the stop surface 46 cooperates with a complementary stop surface of
the closure 24 to resist axial extraction of the closure.
[0044] The exemplary body 22 (FIG. 3) has an interior space 400
which may contain a body of liquid ("product") 402 (e.g., the
aforementioned oral rinse). An exemplary dip tube 50 extends from
an upper end 52 to a lower end 54 with an upper end portion
captured in the closure 24 (e.g., the closure main body 28) and a
lower portion immersed in the liquid 402. As is discussed further
below, a squeezing of the body 22 (e.g., via hand compression) may
drive the product upward through the dip tube 50 and into an
interior of the closure 24 for subsequent dispensing.
[0045] The closure 24 (e.g., the main body 28) comprises a stem 60
having a passageway 62 in communication with the dip tube interior.
In an exemplary embodiment, the upper portion of the dip tube is
received in a lower portion of the stem and secured thereto (e.g.,
in a press fit relation). At its upper end, the stem has one or
more ports 64. When the bottle body is squeezed, product may flow
upward through the tube 50 and stem 60 and discharge from the ports
64 into the closure interior. However, as is discussed further
below, the exemplary closure includes means for blocking the ports
64 in at least one condition to prevent such discharge. The
exemplary means is provided by an adjustable height platform 70
(FIG. 3A) which also provides for adjustability of dose. The
platform 70 is adjustable between a lowered position and a raised
position. In an exemplary fully raised position, the platform
closes and seals the ports 64. From a fully lowered position upward
to near the fully raised position, the platform provides for an
adjustment of dose volume by adjusting the volume of the portion of
the closure interior (chamber) above the platform. More
particularly, a portion of the chamber above the platform and below
the ports 64 will receive and retain a dose of the product upon
squeezing of the bottle. For example, a squeeze may overfill to a
level above the lower boundary of the ports 64. However, relaxation
of the squeeze will allow the excess to drain, leaving the surface
of the product accumulation in the closure at the level of the
lower extremity of the ports 64.
[0046] Exemplary height adjustment of the platform 70 is provided
by relative rotation of the platform and some other member having a
threaded engagement thereto. An exemplary relative rotation
involves maintaining the platform essentially non-rotating relative
to the bottle body while rotating an adjuster 80 (FIG. 3A). The
exemplary adjuster 80 has an internal thread 82 (plural threads or
multi-lead threads shown) engaged to an external thread 84 (plural
threads or multi-lead threads shown) of the platform. The adjuster
is rotatable about the axis 500 as is discussed below. The
exemplary platform is held against such rotation by an interfitting
relationship with the stem. An exemplary interfitting relationship
with the stem involves a non-round planform or transverse
cross-section of the stem interfitting with a complementary
internal cross-section of the platform. In the exemplary
embodiment, the stem external cross-section is approximately
elliptical (e.g., having a major axis at least 10% longer than a
minor axis) received in a complementary central sleeve or boss 90
of the platform. The exemplary platform comprises an outer sidewall
92 bearing the external thread 84 and spaced radially outward of
the collar 90. A transverse web 94 joins the boss and outer
sidewall 92 and its upper surface provides a lower boundary of the
effective dosing volume of the closure. In the exemplary fully
raised condition, it is seen that the boss 90 seals/closes the
ports 64. Accordingly, the exemplary boss seals circumferentially
with a cap portion 96 enclosing the top of the stem.
[0047] FIGS. 5-8 show the lid 26 in its open condition. A feature
110 on the lid may cooperate with a feature 112 on the closure main
body 28 to allow disengagable locking in the closed condition. The
exemplary feature 110 comprises a barb at the lower end of a
radially inwardly depressible portion 114 of a lid sidewall 116.
The exemplary feature 112 comprises a complementary hole in an
upper web (discussed below) of the main body member that may
receive the barb allowing the barb to backlock against the
underside of the web until the portion 14 is pressed.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows the platform in a fully lowered condition; FIG.
7 shows the platform in an intermediate condition. It is
accordingly seen that as the platform is lowered from its fully
raised condition it will eventually disengage from the stem cap 96
partially opening the ports 64. It will shortly thereafter pass by
the lower extremity of the ports 64 with further downward motion
providing ever-increasing effective dosing volume.
[0049] The exemplary stem 60 is formed as a portion of the closure
main body 24, extending upward from a lower end 120 at the inner
diameter (ID) boundary of a base 122 of the main member 24. A
sidewall 124 extends upward from an outer diameter (OD) periphery
of the base. The exemplary base 122 comprises a plurality of
apertures 130 allowing drain-back of any product that leaks past
the platform (e.g., it leaks downwardly between the stem and boss
or between the engaged threads of the platform sidewall and
adjuster sidewall).
[0050] The exemplary main body sidewall 124 is an intermediate
sidewall, an upper portion of which is surrounded by an outer
sidewall 134. The outer sidewall 134 extends upward from a lower
rim 136 to an upper end at the outer diameter (OD) periphery of a
transverse annular upper web 138. The exemplary intermediate
sidewall upper end also merges with the web 138. In this example,
the intermediate sidewall upper end merges slightly radially
outboard of an inner periphery 140 defining an aperture of the web.
This slight radially outward recessing leaves an inner peripheral
portion of the web as a radially inwardly protruding rib which may
interfit with and retain the adjuster. FIG. 3 shows this radial
inward protrusion 142 received in a complementary radially
outwardly open channel 150 in the adjuster.
[0051] The exemplary adjuster comprises a sidewall 152 extending
from a lower end to a rim 154 to an upper end along a gripping
protuberance 156. The exemplary channel 150 (FIG. 18; between an
underside 157 of the protuberance 156 and an annular rib or short
flange 158) faces outward from the sidewall while the internal
thread is along the inner diameter (ID) surface of the sidewall. A
transverse web 160 extends across the upper end with a central
opening from which an open boss 162 extends upward to a rim 164
defining a dispensing opening (outlet). In operation, the user
grips the protuberance 156 with one hand and the bottle body or
closure main body with the other hand and relatively rotates about
the axis 500. This causes the threaded engagement between the
adjuster and platform to drive the platform either upward or
downward depending upon the direction of rotation.
[0052] To provide visual guidance as to the dose volume, the
adjuster and main body may have complementary indicia. For example,
one may have indicia representing specific dose volumes whereas the
other may bear a simple index such as an arrow. In the exemplary
embodiment, the upper surface of the web 160 bears an arrow index
170 (FIG. 5) whereas the main body may bear dose indicia 172. In
the exemplary embodiment, the dose indicia are along the upper
surface of the annular web 138. The exemplary index 170 is aligned
with a circumferential recess 171 in the planform or footprint of
the adjuster gripping protuberance. This recess allows exposure of
an indicia 172 when in registry with the index 170. Indicia 172
away from the index and recess 171 are at least partially obscured
by the gripping protuberance.
[0053] Additionally, there may be a detent mechanism to detent the
orientation of the adjuster in one or more conditions. Exemplary
detenting may be in each of the specific dosing conditions.
Alternative detenting may be only in a closed position. The
exemplary detent mechanism comprises a channel 180 (FIG. 9) on the
inner diameter (ID) surface of the main body intermediate wall
which receives outward radial projections 182 (FIG. 15; e.g.,
depending from the rib 158) of the adjuster.
[0054] The exemplary illustrated detenting may include a closed
condition associated with a relatively raised position of the
platform and a plurality of increasingly larger doses associated
with sequentially lowered positions of the platform. Alternative
embodiments may lack the closed condition and thus have only dosing
conditions. An exemplary variation amongst dosing conditions may
involve an increase of at least one third between the lowest
non-zero dose and the greatest dose. Alternative ranges may include
at least 50% or at least 100% or at least 200%. Exemplary doses are
at least 1 ml. One example of four doses is 5 ml, 10, ml, 15 ml,
and 20 ml. With the exemplary illustrated indicia, a bottle label
could identify that #1 corresponds to closed, #2 corresponds to 5
ml, #3 to 10 ml, and so forth.
[0055] The container may be made using otherwise conventional or
yet-developed materials and techniques. For example, all pieces may
be made of molded plastics. In one example, the container body is
blow molded of a plastic such as HDPE or MDPE. The platform may be
injection molded of a plastic such as HDPE or polypropylene. The
closure main body piece (including the exemplary cover or lid) may
be injection molded of a plastic such as polypropylene. The
adjuster may be injection molded of a plastic such as
polypropylene. The exemplary indicia may be molded indicia. The
exemplary dip tube may be extruded and cut to length of a plastic
such as LDPE. Additional routine features such as safety seals,
gaskets, and the like are not shown but may be present.
[0056] The use of "first", "second", and the like in the
description and following claims is for differentiation within the
claim only and does not necessarily indicate relative or absolute
importance or temporal order. Similarly, the identification in a
claim of one element as "first" (or the like) does not preclude
such "first" element from identifying an element that is referred
to as "second" (or the like) in another claim or in the
description.
[0057] Where a measure is given in English units followed by a
parenthetical containing SI or other units, the parenthetical's
units are a conversion and should not imply a degree of precision
not found in the English units.
[0058] One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless,
it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For
example, when applied to an existing basic system, details of such
configuration or its associated use may influence details of
particular implementations. Accordingly, other embodiments are
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *