U.S. patent number 3,828,973 [Application Number 05/300,505] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-13 for method of and means for dispensing.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Cornelius Company. Invention is credited to Peter Leslie Birrell.
United States Patent |
3,828,973 |
Birrell |
August 13, 1974 |
METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR DISPENSING
Abstract
Method and means for dispensing from replaceable containers
provided with diaphragm-like closures, wherein the closure is
movably controlled to control the flow of contents from the
container. Several forms of dispensers are provided, adapted for
containers for flowable particulate material, liquids, or gas.
Several forms of closures especially adapted therefor are also
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Birrell; Peter Leslie (Delta,
Br. Columbia, CA) |
Assignee: |
The Cornelius Company (Golden
Valley, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
23159382 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/300,505 |
Filed: |
October 25, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/1; 222/82;
222/88; 222/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
47/00 (20130101); B65D 83/06 (20130101); B65D
47/38 (20130101); B67D 3/0032 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
47/38 (20060101); B65D 47/00 (20060101); B65D
83/06 (20060101); B67D 3/00 (20060101); B67b
007/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/27,48
;222/1,80-91,181,185,367,368,369,325,326,327,490,501,502,505,529,531,532,537,541 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Martin; Larry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sherman; Benjamin H.
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. A dispenser for flowable material adapted to be coupled with a
replaceable container filled with such material and provided with
an initially close unitary diaphragm-like closure having a
relatively movable body portion which can provide a dispensing
capability through such closure, said dispenser comprising:
a. a dispenser housing receptive of and manually detachable from
the closure end of the container;
b. means carried by said housing for initially opening the closure
about the periphery of the body portion by effecting relative
movement of the body portion with respect to the container; and
c. means carried by said housing for supporting the body portion of
the opened closure, said supporting means being selectably movable
to enable a modulated annular flow of the material through the
closure about the body portion.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which said opening means and
said supporting means form a unitary element.
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 including selectably movable
metering means carried on said housing, and receptive of flowable
material passed through the closure for discharging the same.
4. A dispenser according to claim 3 in which said metering means is
of the volumetric type.
5. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which said opening means is
so arranged that said relative movement is in an axial
direction.
6. A dispenser according to claim 1 including means of a
noncircular cross-section forming part of said supporting means and
receptive of a complementally shaped portion of the body portion,
the movability of said supporting means being rotary.
7. A dispenser according to claim 1, the movability of said
supporting means being axial.
8. A dispenser according to claim 7 in which said supporting means
is a reciprocable plunger, and a dispensing nozzle carried on said
housing, and receptive of flowable material passed through the
closure for discharging the same.
9. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which the movement of said
supporting means is rotary and axial.
10. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which said dispenser
housing has means for axially interlocking with complementary
structure on the container, said housing having a spill-out opening
of such axial extent as to overlap the upper end of said
interlocking means.
11. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which said opening means
comprises an annular structure engageable in encircling shear
relation with an outer marginal portion of the closure for severing
it from the body portion during reception of the container into
said housing.
12. A dispenser according to claim 11 in which said annular
structure is arranged to urge the severed marginal portion axially
in sealing relation against an encircling formation on the
container, for forming a seal between the housing and the opened
container.
13. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which said housing is in
the form of a cap having means for axially interlocking with
complementary structure on the container, said supporting means
being disposed within said cap.
14. A dispenser according to claim 13 in which said opening means
comprises resiliently flexible pawl tongues receptive in grooves in
the closure.
15. A dispenser according to claim 13 including means on said cap
for clamping the outer periphery of the body portion sealingly
against the container.
16. A dispenser according to claim 1, including:
a. a container having a closure end through which a discharge
passage extends, said passage converging in a downstream direction
to a seat on said housing;
b. an initially closed diaphragm-like closure having a relatively
movable cup-shaped body portion disposed in said converging passage
and capable of providing a dispensing capability through said
closure, said body portion being sealingly engageable with said
seat; and
c. the movement of said supporting means disposing said body
portion at selected positions along said converging passage to vary
flow rate.
17. A dispenser according to claim 16 in which said container has
an orifice at the upstream end of said discharge passage, the
effective flow area about said body portion encompassing the
effective flow area of said orifice.
18. A dispenser according to claim 1 including means defining a
flow limiting orifice leading downstream to a converging passage in
which said body portion is axially movable, said body portion with
the wall of said converging passage defining an annular variable
orifice, said flow limiting orifice having an effective flow area
intermediate the range of available effective flow areas of said
variable orifice.
19. A dispenser for flowable particulate material adapted to be
coupled with a replaceable inverted container filled with such
material, said dispenser comprising:
a. a dispenser housing receptive of and manually detachable from
the closure end of the container;
b. a unitary diaphragm-like closure member having a central body
portion and a continuous margin portion adapted to be secured to
the container at its mouth to initially seal it, there being a
generally circular line of weakness in said member defined by
adjacent edges of said portions;
c. means carried by said housing for cooperating with complemental
structure on one of said portions for initially opening said
closure member about the periphery of said body portion by
effecting relative movement of said body portion with respect to
the container; and
d. means carried by said housing for cooperating with complemental
structure on said body portion for supporting said body portion of
the opened closure member in axially spaced relation to said margin
portion as a modulating element for cooperating with the discharge
end of the container for determining the effective size of the
resulting dispensing opening around said body portion, said
supporting means being selectably movable to enable a modulated
annular flow of the material through said margin portion and about
said body portion.
20. A method of dispensing by gravity from an initially sealed
container, comprising:
a. providing a quantity of flowable particulate material in the
initially sealed container;
b. rupturing a lower surface of the container along a generally
circular line to thereby provide a detached body portion encircled
by such rupture line;
c. supporting the detached body portion at a position remote from
its original sealed position and spaced from the container surface
to define an annular orifice thereabout; and
d. moving the body portion with respect to the container to agitate
the material at such orifice above the body portion to assist the
flow of the material therethrough.
21. A method of dispensing according to claim 20 in which said
moving of the body portion is about its own axis.
22. A method of dispensing according to claim 20 in which said
moving of the body portion is along its own axis.
23. A method of dispensing according to claim 20 which includes
moving the body portion into an abutting sealing relation with the
container.
24. A method of dispensing according to claim 20 in which said
rupturing is provided by rotating the prospective body portion
about its own axis.
25. A dispensing closure for the discharge end of a storage
container, such container being adapted to be replaceably coupled
in an inverted position with a separate dispenser mechanism,
comprising a unitary diaphragm-like member having a central body
portion and a continuous margin portion adapted to be secured to
the container at its mouth to initially seal it, there being a
generally circular line of weakness in said member, said line of
weakness being defined by adjacent edges of said portions, said
body portion being a prospective modulating element for cooperation
with the discharge end of the container after opening at said line
of weakness, means on one of said portions for cooperating with
complemental structure on the dispenser mechanism for effecting
relative movement between said portions to effect such opening, and
means on said body portion for cooperating with complemental
support structure on the dispenser mechanism for effecting relative
axial spacing between said portions for determining the effective
size of the resulting dispensing opening around said body
portion.
26. A dispensing closure according to claim 25 in which said
first-named cooperating means is a shoulder on said margin
portion.
27. A dispensing closure according to claim 25 in which said body
portion has at least one radial rib for projecting toward the
interior of the container.
28. A dispensing closure according to claim 27 in which said line
of weakness has portions with ends adjacent to each other and in
angular alignment with said rib.
29. A dispensing closure according to claim 25 in which said body
portion is of generally frustoconical shape.
30. A dispensing closure according to claim 25 in which the
diameter of the circular line of weakness is greater than the
inside diameter of the discharge end of the container.
31. A dispensing closure according to claim 25 in which said
circular line of weakness comprises a plurality of separate arcuate
portions having adjacent ends which terminate angularly adjacent to
and radially offset from each other.
32. A dispensing closure according to claim 31 in which adjacent
ones of said arcuate portions have different diameters.
33. A dispensing closure according to claim 25 in which an annular
area of sealing material is disposed on the peripheral border of
said body portion.
34. A dispensing closure according to claim 25 in which said body
portion has a hollow indentation for projecting into the discharge
end and receptive of an element of the dispenser mechanism for
acting on said body portion.
35. A dispensing closure according to claim 34 in which said
indentation is disposed centrally of said body portion and is of
generally frustoconical configuration.
36. A dispensing closure according to claim 34 in which said
indentation is of noncircular cross-section receptive of an element
of the dispenser mechanism of complementary configuration.
37. A dispensing closure according to claim 34 in which said
indentation comprises at least one hollow radial rib.
38. A dispensing closure according to claim 37 in which said line
of weakness has portions with ends adjacent to each other and in
angular alignment with said rib.
39. A dispensing closure according to claim 37 in which said body
portion is of generally frustoconical shape, and the axial height
of said rib increases in a radially outward direction.
40. A dispensing closure according to claim 34 in which said
indentation includes a plurality of surfaces jointly lying in a
frustoconical locus for centering said closure with respect to the
discharge end.
Description
This invention relates to a new method of and means for dispensing
from containers.
Convenience packaging in mass production, and automation in
dispensing mode of flowable products of particulate, liquid and
gaseous forms has been accelerating in recent time. Assurance of
genuineness of trademarked products from the manufacturer to the
ultimate consumer has become increasingly a matter of concern.
Non-reusable sealing closures applied to the containers before they
pass from the hands of the manufacturer or processor have provided
some assurance to the package purchaser. However, such closures
have been of no value after opening to control the flow of contents
from the container in a dispenser. Further, with the growing use of
dispensers for various flowable products, it has become more and
more difficult to prevent trademarked product substitution. Another
difficulty has been the likelihood of product deterioration when
the container closures have been opened for dispensing, and
especially where it is deliberately impossible or inconvenient to
remove a container after it is in the dispensing mode.
An important object of the present invention is to overcome the
disadvantages, deficiencies, inefficiencies, short-comings, and
problems in prior structures and methods in this art and to attain
important advantages and improvements in dispensing from containers
for flowable contents and providing assurance of product
genuineness.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved
method of and means for dispensing
A further object of the invention is to provide a method of and
means for utilizing an opened container closure for controlling
flow of contents from the container.
Still another object of the invention is to provide new and
improved means for utilizing container closures for interim
resealing of the containers in dispensers.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide new and improved
container closure means for dispenser-oriented containers.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be
readily apparent from the following description of certain
preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be
effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel
concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a container
provided with a closure especially adapted for dispensing according
to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the inner face of the closure
taken substantially as indicated by the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken
substantially along the line III--III of FIG. 2 and showing the
closure member in sealing relation to the container;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a modified
attachment of the sealing closure to the container;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing another modified
attachment of the sealing closure to the container;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational and vertical sectional detail
view through a dispenser with which the container is
associated;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the container and
dispenser in the dispensing mode;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially
along the line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevational detail view
showing a modified container, seal and dispenser arrangement;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view showing
the sealing structure at the joint between the container lip and
the dispenser of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a novel dispenser cap
structure;
FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional detail view showing the dispenser
cap of FIG. 11 in the dispensing mode with a container equipped
with a closure according to the invention;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken substantially
along th line XIII--XIII of FIG. 12 showing the arrangement of
elements before the container closure is opened;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary exploded view showing a novel closure cap
for the sealed container;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 14 showing its
inner side;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail
view taken substantially along the line XVI--XVI of FIG. 14;
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional detail view through
pressurized gas container and closure means associated with
dispensing means;
and
FIG. 18 is a similar view showing the parts in the dispensing
mode.
On reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a representative form of replaceable
container 20 for use in a dispenser is depicted which may be made
from any desired material suitable for the purpose, such as glass,
rigid or semi-rigid plastic, metal, or other material, and which is
provided with a normally open mouth 20a defined by a neck 21. In
this instance the container 20 is illustrated as especially
suitable for packaging of flowable material 22 in a particulate
form such as granular, powdered, or the like. Where the container
is employed in the food industry, the material 22 typically is a
commodity such as coffee of the instant type, of the freeze-dried
type, ground coffee, instant tea, coffee additive such as powdered
cream substitute, instant soup ingredients, or any other food
product that can be desirably dispensed for consumption. However,
the contents 22 can be any desirable nonfood commodity which is
capable of being dispensed.
Secured across the mouth 20a of the container 20 is a unitary
diaphragm-like closure such as a preferably tamperproof
non-reusable seal 23 for retaining the contents within the
container 20. The closure 23 is of a disk construction which
readily enables it to be made from suitable thermoplastic sheet
material by a vacuum forming process. Typical of such a material is
0.010 inch medium or high impact styrene film. In one desirable
construction, the unitary closure 23 comprises an imperforate
severable and thus relatively movable body or body portion 24
having a margin 25 provided with means for premanently or
releasably securing the same to the container entirely about the
mouth 20a and more particularly to a lip 27 provided on the end of
the neck 21. For this purpose, the margin 25 has an axially
extending continuous perimeter flange 28 dimensioned to embrace the
outer perimeter of the lip 27 to which the flange 28 is secured in
fixed relation as by means of bonding with a suitable cement or
adhesive 28a (FIG. 3) and/or by vacuum within the container 20.
In FIG. 4, there is shown another means for securing the marginal
flange 28' of seal 23' to the container 20'. A laterally projecting
lip-bead 29 of the container 20' is of complementary shape to the
flange 28' which is snapped thereover, and heat shrunk if desired.
The flange 28' has a number of circumferentially spaced holes 30 to
facilitate application to the container lip bead 29.
Instead of a continuous bead 29, the lip of a container 20" may be
provided with circumferentially spaced, downwardly shouldered
retaining projections 31 (FIG. 5) which engage in the holes 30 in
the marginal flange 28' of the closure. The shouldered projections
31 and the holes 30 may be spaced about the lip of the container in
complementary relation according to a product identification code.
Thereby, only complementally coded closures and containers will
provide for matching of the projections and holes. A mismatch will
cause interference with and likely damage the closure during
assembly with the container, and if a mismatched assembly slips by,
interference with reception in a dispenser can be expected.
Whatever manner of securing the flange may be, permanency of
attachment is the principal criterion to the extent that in order
to open the closure 23, clear evidence of such opening will
persist. This does not mean that the container 20 may not be
adapted for recycling by returning it to the product source for
refilling and resealing with a new tamper-proof closure 23.
A suitable protective, removable cap 33 is initially provided to
engage upon the neck 21 in enclosing relation to the closure 23
until it is desired to discharge the contents 22 from the
container. As shown, the cap 33 is of the screw-on type having an
internally threaded annular flange 34 which is threadedly
engageable with a complementary peripheral thread 35 on the
container neck. The closure 23 may, as shown, be relied on as the
usual sealing disk or ring within the crown of the cap 33, but if
preferred such a sealing disk or ring may be carried by the
cap.
Pursuant to the invention, the unitary closure 23 is constructed
and arranged to enable assembling of the container 20 at its mouth
end to a dispenser, then opening the closure, and by means of the
opened closure controlling the flow of contents from the container
20. To this end, a dispenser structure 36 is constructed and
arranged to receive the container 20 after the cap 33 has been
removed from the container 20 and the container is inverted, as
shown in FIG. 6. To support the container 20 in stable relation in
the dispensing mode, the dispenser 36 has a housing with an
integral collar 37 of substantial height into which the mouth end
portion of the container 20 fits reasonably snugly but with a free
sliding engagement. By having the collar 37 of substantial height,
protection against attempts to defeat the non-reusable closure 23
is provided. In a lower portion of the collar 37, an internally
threaded throat 38 receives the external thread 35 of the container
neck 21. If preferred, both the neck 21 and the throat 38 may be
complementary for a straight-in sliding fit instead of a threaded
fit.
The dispenser 36 includes means for opening and supporting the
closure 23 to control flow of the contents 22 from the container
20. For this purpose, an O-ring 39 is mounted in an annular
inwardly opening shallow groove 40 adjacent to the lower inside end
of the throat 38 so that the O-ring 39 projects radially inwardly
into intercepting, shouldering relation to the outer edge of the
margin 25 of the closure 23. As the container is moved axially
inwardly toward the shoulder provided by the O-ring 39, an annular
shoulder 41 at juncture of the margin 25 and the flange 28 of the
closure 23 is thrust toward and into engagement with a flat
shoulder on the O-ring 39 which resists further axial inward
movement of the margin 25. However, a limited range of further
axially inward movement of the container is provided for, during
which the restraining action of the O-ring 39 causes the closure 23
to be opened for discharge of the contents from the container
20.
In a desirable construction of the closure 23 which will enable
opening by placing the container 20 into the dispensing mode, and
until opened, at least, will permit sealed cooperation with the
container lip, a rupturable connection 32 is provided between the
seal margin 25 and the body 24 of the closure 23. As seen in FIG.
2, the rupturable connection 32 comprises partial separation of the
closure 23 along a generally circular or circumferential line of
weakness comprising discontinuous or partial separations or slits
42, 43 and intervening solid integral connections 44. The slits 42
and 43 may be formed on a common radius. The ends of the slits 42,
43 are preferably radially offset, and in this instance, the entire
slits 42, 43 are in the form of alternating relatively slightly
radially offset circumferentially elongated arcs having between
their adjacent ends the short solid, spoke-like connections 44 of
the material of the closure 23 connecting the continuous annular
margin 25 with a continuous annular sealing area 45 of the closure
body 24 radially inwardly along the slits 42, 43. Although a larger
or smaller number of the slits 42, 43 may be employed depending
upon conditions such as diameter of closure, means for opening the
closure, and the like, in the illustrated arrangement especially
suitable for a closure on the order of 21/2 to 3 inches in
diameter, there are three of the slits 42 and three of the slits
43. Although the slits 42 and 43 may be precut by completely
incising through the material of the closure, the slits 42, 43 may
be formed as thinned scorings in the material of the closure 23
rupturable by radial separating tension, with the connections 44
serving as reinforcements, but rupturable by radial separating,
tensioning force slightly greater than that required for separating
the thinned slits 42 and 43. Thereby, the slits may open before the
connections 44 are ruptured whether or not the slits 42, 43 are
fully precut or are only partially cut or pressed into the material
of the closure 23. By having the adjacent ends of the slits 42, 43
relatively offset, and substantially aligned with one another on a
radius of the closure, efficient rupturing of the connections 44
during container thrust-in for opening the closure 23 is
facilitated.
An out-turned annular reinforcing terminal 47 on the rim flange 28
provides a stiffness against undesirable distortions during
pre-application as well as during the opening, shouldering, and
thrusting of the shoulder 41 against the shoulder provided by the
O-ring 39. Such shouldering of the shoulder 41 is enhanced by the
generally convergent relation of the margin 25 and the flange 28 in
the opening mode and wherein the shoulder 41 extends to a slightly
greater diameter than the outside diameter of the lip 27 (FIGS. 3
and 6).
As the container 20 thrusts downwardly during opening of the
closure 23, the closure shoulder 41 engages the shoulder-like
O-ring 39 and is stopped thereby. The continuing axially downward
movement of the container thrusts the lip 27 against the annular
area 45 of the closure 23 and effects rupturing of the connections
44 and drives the separated inner main body portion 24 of the
closure 23 axially inwardly, i.e., downwardly past the O-ring 39.
By having the radially outer slits 42 formed on a slightly larger
diameter than the inside diameter of the O-ring 39, the
discontinuous perimeter provided for the body portion 24 by the
edges at these slits provides symmetrical wiper tongues 48 which
are forced under slight stress past the O-ring 39 as the container
lip 27 thrusts the separated body 24 axially inwardly. Normally the
severed, separated body 24 will then drop downwardly away from the
container lip 27 under weight of the container contents. However,
should the body 24 resist separation from the container 20 for any
reason such as vacuum due to vacuum packing of the contents 22,
positive dislodgement of the body 24 will be effected by reversing
movement of the container in an axially outward or upward
direction, wherein the wiper tongues 48 catch on the O-ring 39 and
strip the annular seal area 45 from the lip 27.
To improve sealing of the seal area 45 of the container lip 27,
especially for vacuum packing, a sealing ring 49 (FIG. 3) may be
applied to the lip-engaging surface of the area 45. For this
purpose the sealing ring 49 may be applied as a coating on the
annular area 45 or may be provided as a separately formed ring of
suitable plastic or elastomeric sealing material. Desirably
assembly guide and centering means for the sealing ring are
provided on the closure 23 in the form of a narrow angular
off-setting flange 50 along the inner edge of the area 45
projecting in generally the same direction as the flange 28, and
serving also as stiffening or reinforcment in this area. Thereby,
the flanges 28 and 50, in effect, provide an annular groove within
which the sealing material 49 is readily received and retained to
effect a hermetic seal with the container lip 27 for vacuum
packing.
Additional reinforcement for the body portion 24 of the closure 23
is provided by a set of radially extending circumferentially spaced
vane-like agitating ribs 51 projecting from the same face of the
body portion 24 as the annular intermediate reinforcing flange 50
and having oblique outer end faces 52 on the ribs extending in a
plane with the flange 50. The ribs 51 are hollow and are receptive
of driving means described below. Thereby, the end faces 52 provide
centering means within the lip 27 facilitating assembly of the
closure 23 with the container 20. During rupture of the closure and
in cooperation with the flange 50, the rib ends 52 can abut the
inside diameter of the neck 21 and thereby also prevent radial
pulling or distorting of the body 24 during opening of the closure
23. In particular, the reinforcement provided by the flange 50 and
the ribs 51 holds the area 45 of the closure firmly against warping
or pulling outwardly as the margin 25 is thrust generally away from
the body 24 by action of the O-ring 39 during opening of the
closure 23. It may be observed in FIG. 2, that there are desirably
at least as many of the ribs 51 as there are tear connections 44
and that the radial ribs 51 are in angular alignment with the
connections 44 whereby to enhance the reinforcing,
plural-resistance cooperation of the ribs 51 with the area 45
during the connection-rupturing strain incident to opening of the
seal 23.
After the closure 23 has been opened, the separated marginal
portion 25, together with the flanges 28 and 47 cooperate with the
O-ring 39 to seal the joint between the container 20 and the
dispenser 36, as best visualized in FIG. 7. This is especially
valuable where quality of the product being dispensed should be
protected at least to a reasonable extent from volatilization or
other deteriorating effects of free exposure to atmosphere.
Upon the shoulder's 41 encountering the O-ring 39 during movement
of the container into dispensing position, the person manipulating
the container will feel the inevitable resistance to inward or
downward thrust, and may gauge the moderate inward force which will
complete opening of the closure 23 because of the mechanically
advantageous relationship of the closure margin 25 in its
engagement with the O-ring 39. Should the container 20 than be
forced inwardly beyond the point of full opening, it will be
positively stopped by safety stop means or shoulder 53 which is
formed as an annular ledge under the O-ring 39, projecting radially
inwardly to a lesser extent than the inside diameter of the O-ring
39, but to a greater extent than the inside diameter of the throat
38. Thereby, the end of the container thread 35 nearest the lip 27
is intercepted by the shoulder 53 against which the O-ring 39 is
pressed as a cushion.
Means are provided for supporting the opened closure to control
flow of the contents 22 from the container 20. To this end, the
dispenser 36 includes a spindle 54 mounted co-axially relative to
the throat 38 and located to receive and support the body portion
24 of the opened closure 23 as it drops downwardly from the
container lip 27, and as best shown in FIG. 7, in a manner to
provide an annularly arranged orifice 55a between the radially
outer annular area 45 and a metering surface means or overhanging
shoulder formation 55 at the lower end of the dispenser throat.
This formation 55 provides an offsetting juncture with a tubular
and in this instance cylindrical larger diameter wall 57 defining
therein a dispensing chamber 58 to receive the flowable product
from the container. In this embodiment, the shoulder formation 55
comprises the underside of the shoulder 53.
For maintaining the body 24 centered, the spindle 54 is provided
with a means comprising coaxial upwardly projecting centering boss
59 which is adapted to be received within a complementary hollow
embossment 60 formed centrally in the body 24 and projecting
axially in the same direction as the ribs 51. To stabilize support
of the body 24 on the spindle 54, an annular seat 61 is provided
about the base of the boss 59 engaged by an annular seating area 62
of the body about the embossment 60. To enhance its flow
controlling function, the body 24 radially outwardly from the
seating area 62 preferably slopes frustoconically to the
reinforcing offsetting flange 50, and the annular peripheral area
45 continues the slope to the severed edge of the body 24. As
shown, the slope may be about 15.degree. from a flat plane,
providing a shallow angle of repose for the material discharging
from the container 20. Flow of material through the orifice 55a
defined between the perimeter area 45 of the body 24 and the
container lip 27 and the formation 55 will normally be throttled,
but is readily effected by moving the body 24. In such movement,
the ribs 51 serve as impeller and/or stirring vanes, and to enhance
their impeller and/or stirring action are desirably constructed
substantially as shown with their crests extending in a
substantially flat plane with the seating area 62. Thereby the ribs
51 extend to progressively greater height radially relative to the
sloping area of the body 24 intervening between the ribs 51 and
down which the material slides toward the orifice 55a.
Material-flow-inducing movement of the body 24 is effected by
movement of the spindle 54 which is mounted to be driven rotatably
by means not shown and thereby correspondingly rotate the body 24.
Corotation of the body 24 with the spindle 54 is assured by keying
means, such as a longitudinally extending keying rib indentation 63
formed in the side of the embossment 60 constructed and arranged to
engage in a complementary longitudinally extending keying groove or
keyway 64 in the side of the boss 59. By having the key 63 and the
keyway 64 of a predetermined geometrical cross section, the boss 59
will only receive a complementally keyed closure 23. Instead of a
single key and keyway, a combination of such keys and keyways may
be employed of selected size and arrangement to provide a code for
an authorized product, namely one which bears the same trademark on
the container as appears to the view of the public on the dispenser
36. Relative circumferential orientation of the keying and
complemental keyway(s) enables reception of the closure 23 by the
dispenser boss 59.
As best seen in FIG. 6, after the shoulder 41 has engaged the
O-ring 39, the crown or top of the boss 59 is then at a proper
elevation to abut a shoulder 65 on the lower end of the key 63 to
hold the body 24 from moving down into the closure opening position
until the key 63 has been registered with the keyway 64. With
relative angular movement between the shoulder 65 and the boss 59,
the shoulder 65 slides along the crown of the boss 59 until
registration with the keyway 64 is attained whereupon the key 63
drops into the keyway 64. Before the connections 44 rupture,
resilient flexibility of the closure 23 enables it to yield and
avoid damage or development of undue frictional resistance. Radial
slant of the rib ends 52 provides clearance to enable axial
flexing. This arrangement allows random axial orientation between
the key 63 and the container thread 35 at initial product filling
and container sealing.
Adequate draft is provided on the matching telescoping surfaces of
the boss 59 and the embossment 60 as well as the key 63 and the
keyway 64 structure to enable easy reception and easy separation.
In addition, the ribs 51 and the offsetting reinforcing flange 50
are constructed with ample draft so that the closure will readily
nest with like closures for packaging prior to assembly with a
container 20. Reception of one body 24 upon the other as is shown
in FIG. 7, by way of illustration is also enabled, so that it is
not necessary to remove each body 24 every time a fresh container
of product is inserted into the dispenser 36. After several
successive bodies 24 have accumulated, they may be removed and
discarded.
In operation of the dispenser 36, product passing through the
orifice 55a as modulated by impeller or stirring action of the body
24 may drop into volumetric metering measuring or apportioning
pockets 67a defined between radial vanes 67 (FIG. 7) on the spindle
59. Rotation of the spindle effects progressive registration of the
measuring pockets 67a with a dispensing chute 68 which discharges
into a desired receptacle such as a cup.
Apart from key coding described above, another means to defeat
loading of spurious product into the dispenser, comprises one or
more spill-out openings 69 in the dispenser collar 37. If it is
attempted to insert an unsealed filled container 20 into the collar
37, the product will spill out through the openings 69. The
openings 69 are desirably located in such a position as to be
inaccessible from the outside of the collar 37 and may also be in
such a position relative to mechanism of the dispenser 37 as to
cause the same to jam if any significant amount of particulate
product is permitted to escape through the spill openings 69. This
device also deters any attempt to remove the container 20 before
all of the contents have been discharged therefrom.
In the slightly modified structure of FIGS. 9 and 10, the container
20'" is adapted to be inserted mouth end first into the collar 37'
of the dispenser 36' in substantially the same manner as described
for the container 20 in respect to the dispenser 36, except that in
this instance the arrangement is such that the container is adapted
to be inserted by straight axial sliding motion instead of the
threaded arrangement already described, although if preferred the
container 20'" and the dispenser may be equipped with complementary
threads. The flowable contents within the container 20'" are
protectively sealed by means of a closure 23" which may be
constructed substantially the same as the closure 23, but is shown
as a simpler form which may be manufactured in the same manner from
thin thermoplastic sheet material, vacuum formed to shape. About
its margin the closure 23" is provided with an attachment flange 70
of generally S-shape radial cross-section which interengages with
the lip portion 27' of the container 20'" within an annular
outwardly facing peripheral groove 71 defined at the lip edge by an
annular rib 72 for interlocking cooperation with the attachment
flange 70 in retaining the unruptured closure 23" on the
container.
Means for opening the closure 23' comprises an annular shoulder 73
constructed as a ledge at the inner end of the throat 38', facing
axially upwardly and of a diameter slightly greater than the
diameter of the rib 72. As the container is moved downwardly and
the rib 72 moves past the shoulder 73, the retaining flange 70 will
be separated from the body 24' by gravity and the weight of the
container contents. The body 24' drops downwardly away from the
container lip 27' to open the container 20'" for discharge of
contents. As best seen in FIG. 10, the severed flange 70 is
squeezed by the shoulder 73 toward a stop shoulder 74 defining an
opposing side of the groove 71 and providing a positive limit
against axial downward overthrust movement of the container 20'",
with the crumpled flange 70 providing a seal in the joint between
the container lip 27' and the dispenser throat 38'.
Upon dropping into open position (FIG. 9), the body 24' engages
upon a stem or spindle 75 which has an upwardly extending boss or
tip 77 of geometrical shape, i.e., of conical shape. The tip 77 is
received in a complementary embossment 78 formed in the body 24'
which slopes away from the embossment in the direction of product
flow from the container 20'" toward the perimeter of the body 24'
which controls the flow in cooperation with the container lip 27'
and an overhanging annular area 79 at the lower end of the throat
38'. This arrangement, with an annular reinforcing and metering
flange 80 about the perimeter of the body 24', defines an orifice
through which the body 24' is adapted to control product flow by
movement of the body 24' by means of the spindle 75 which is
equipped to reciprocate vertically by suitable means (not shown). A
coding key structure may be provided on the embossment 78 and the
spindle tip on the order of key 63 and the keyway 64.
In another modified structure shown in FIGS. 11-13, a manually held
or bracket-mounted dispenser 81 is in the form of a cap-like nozzle
device adapted to be molded from a suitable material such as a food
grade of plastic providing a generally cylindrical body 81a with a
frustoconical dispensing nozzle 82 having a central discharge or
dispensing opening 83. Means are provided for attaching the
dispenser 81 to the container 20, such as by threaded engagement,
for which purpose the collar-like body 81a of the device is
provided with internal threads 84 engageable with the threads 35 of
the container 20.
Means are provided on the dispenser 81 for opening and for
supporting the closure 23 to control flow of the contents from the
container 20, namely a set of thin longitudinally extending
radially arranged vanes 85 which may be integrally molded with the
inside of the funnel-like spout 82 and provided with resiliently
flexible ears 87 which are adapted to engage within the grooves
defined by the ribs 51 of the closure 23. The free ends of the ears
87 extend to a plane which is axially between the ends of the
threads 84 so that when the sealed container 20 is received within
the dispenser 81 by relative threaded engagement, the ears 87 will
be engaged by the closure 23 and bent over substantially as shown
in FIG. 13 as the relative assembly of the container 20 and
dispenser 81 progresses. As this occurs, a sensible reaction
results at least vibrationally, and possibly also audibly as the
flexed ears 87 snap across the grooves in the closure ribs 51.
Then, if it is desired to open the closure 23, a simple reverse
relative rotation of the container 20 and the dispenser 81 by
unscrewing the dispenser will cause a ratcheting interlock, i.e.,
the bent-over ears 87 will act as drive pawls in the grooves of the
ribs 51 serving as ratchet teeth, thereby holding the closure 23
corotative with the dispenser 81 whereby to break the frangible
connections 44 between the margin 25 and the main body 24 of the
closure 23, Thereupon, the ears 87 can straighten inside the
grooves in the ribs 51 of the closure 23 and by the complementary
edge configuration of the ears 87, support the body 24 in centered
relation within the dispenser 81 wherein the edge of the severed
body 24 is in limited peripherally spaced relation to the
surrounding wall of the dispenser body 81a and defining with the
lip 27 of the container 20 and the dispenser 81 an annular orifice
for product, the flow of which is thus controlled by the disk.
Means are provided to enable effecting a sealed engagement of the
container lip 27 with the peripheral area 45 of the closure when it
is desired to close the container protectively during interim
periods between dispensing product therefrom. To this end, a
sealing anvil shoulder ring 88 is carried within the dispenser 81
about the vanes 85 in spaced product flow clearance relation to the
surrounding inner wall of the dispenser 81, and with spaced
flow-through openings 89 in the lower end of the ring 88 along the
funnel wall of the spout 82. On its outer end the ring 88 provides
an annular shoulder 90 which receives the annular area 45 of the
body 24 thereagainst and against which the annular area 45 is
adapted to be clamped sealingly by the container lip 27 by
relatively threading the container neck 21 tightly into the
dispenser 81. Although if preferred the ring 88 may be molded
integrally with the body 81a of the dispenser 81, it may be
constructed as a separate ring and secured in any desired manner
such as by adhesive bonding in the operative position within the
dispenser 81. Inadvertent separation of the dispenser 81 from the
container 20 is avoided by provision of a flexible annular
generally radially inwardly directed retaining flange 91 on the
upper end of the dispenser 81 and which flange 91 is of a diameter
to be snapped into the annular groove area at the end of the thread
35. Additionally, the annular retaining flange 91 serves as a seal
to provide reasonable protection against contamination,
volatilization or other deteriorating effects. When it is desired
to remove the dispenser 81 from the container 20 the flange 91 can
be readily snapped or expanded free from the container thread 35.
Mounting of the dispenser 81 in a wall bracket or the like is
facilitated by providing longitudinally extending circumferentially
spaced ribs 91a on the outer cylindrical wall of the dispenser to
engage interlockingly with complementary ribs of the bracket to
hold the dispenser 81 non-rotatably so that the container 20 can be
rotated readily to effect opening of the closure 23 and also
resealing as desired. In manual use, the ribs 91a may serve
similarly as knurling to improve finger-grip on the dispenser
81.
A tamper-proof cap 92 (FIGS. 14 and 15) may be provided for the
container 20 and which cap 92 will protect the closure 23 against
damage in storage or transit, and will maintain the closure
inviolate until the cap is removed. Within a flange 92a of the cap
92, a thread 93 is provided for engagement with the thread 35 of
the container neck 21. The cap 92 may be molded from a suitable
plastic material such as polypropylene and is provided with one or
more tramper-proof lugs 94 on the free end portion of the cap
flange 92a. Each of the lugs 94 is separated by a U-shaped slot 94a
from the flange 92a except for frangible integral connections 95 at
the mouth or edge of the flange 92a. While the connections 95 are
frangible when shearing loads are imposed, they are possessed of
resilience in torsional stress. Thereby, each of the lugs 94 is
adapted to be swung about an axis through the connections 95 from a
normal locking position as shown at the left side of FIG. 15 in
solid lines and in broken lines in FIG. 16 into an outwardly
displaced released position as shown at the right of FIG. 15 and in
full lines in FIG. 16. To retain the lug 94 in these positions,
small detents 97 are provided on the respective opposite ends of
the lug 94 spaced from the pivotal connections 95. When the lug 94
is pushed into the outwardly displaced position (e.g. by hand or by
the lip 27 of the container acting on a cam surface 98a), the
detents 97 will catch on the opposite outside edges defining the
slot 94a and thus hold the lug 94 so that an interference flange 98
on the inner face of the lug 94 will be shifted into clearance
relation to the inner surface of the flange 92a to enable screwing
the cap 92 onto the container 20 without interference. Then, after
the cap 92 has been screwed into place on the container 20,
radially inward force against the respective lug 94 will snap it
back into its inner or normal position where the flange 98 is in
interference relation to the container thread 35. In this position
it is impossible to again displace the lug outwardly without
leaving evidence of tampering because the detents 97 now engage
with the inner edges along the separating slot 94a. To remove the
cap 92 it is necessary to remove the lug 94 by fracturing the
connections 95, thereby leaving obvious evidence of tampering.
Removal is effected when the interference flange 98 comes into
engagement with the nearest container thread 35 and continued
unscrewing of the cap 92 places transverse or shear strain on the
connections 95 causing them to rupture, and to render the lug free
as indicated schematically at the left of FIG. 15. If preferred,
the cap 92 may have the lug 94 molded in the outwardly displaced
position in a clearance relation to the inner surface of the flange
92a to enable screwing the cap 92 onto the container 20 without
interference.
Another feature of the cap 92 whch may be utilized in combination
with the break-away lugs 94 or which may be utilized separately
therefrom to give evidence of tampering resides in means on the
inside of the cap 92 for effecting opening of the closure 23 by
manipulation of the cap 92. By way of example, such means are shown
as comprising radially extending and axially projecting resiliently
flexible ratcheting vanes 99 carried by, and preferably integral
with the inner surface of the crown wall of the cap 92 and adapted
to function on the order of the drive pawl vanes or tongues 87 of
the cap dispenser in FIG. 11. When the cap 92 is screwed onto the
container 20 having the closure 23, the tongue vanes 99 on engaging
the closure 23 are bent over in the trailing direction relative to
the rotary screw-on movement of the cap 92. Then, when the cap 92
is turned in reverse for opening, the free ends of the tongues 99
acting as drive pawls enter into the grooves defined by the hollow
ribs 51 of the body 24, and provide an angular thrust and rupture
the points of connection 44 between the marginal slits 42, 43 as
described in respect to the action of the tongues 87. Hence, when
the dispenser is equipped with the closure-opening tongues 99,
removal of the cap 92 necessarily opens the closure 23. After the
closure 23 has been opened, when it is desired to seal the
container 20 to preserve the remaining contents until further need
arises, the body 24 carried in the cap 92 or replaced in the cap 92
or on the container lip 27 can be secured firmly in place sealingly
by tightening the cap 92 in closing relation onto the container
neck 21.
Having reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, an arrangement is shown for
controlling flow of pressurized contents from a container or tank
141, such as for pressurized gas. The container 141 is provided
with a fitting 142 providing a discharge mouth which is normally
open but arranged to be closed and sealed hermetically by means of
a rupturable closure 143. In this instance, the fitting 142 is
provided with means comprising an externally threaded nipple 144
having a frustoconical tip 145 on which is engaged a complementary
annular marginal sealing flange 147 of the closure 143. Sealingly
clamping the flange 147 to the tip 145 are means comprising an
internally threaded thimble 148 screwed onto the nipple 144 with
the aid of a wrench-engageable rear end collar flange 149 and
having an annular frustoconical centrally apertured outer end
flange 150 engaging and clamping the sealing flange 147. In its
primary sealing condition, the closure 143 strongly resists gas
pressure displacement by virtue of its generally tubular inwardly
projecting shape extending into an axial bore 151 within the
nipple. While the closure 143 may be made from suitably molded or
formed plastic, it may also be made from a suitable preferably
malleable or shearable metal. For storage and shipment, a closure
cap (not shown) may be engaged on the thimble 148 which is
desirably externally threaded.
For dispensing gas from the container 141, a dispenser fitting 152
is adapted to be connected with the nipple 144 and is provided with
means for opening and for supporting the closure 143 to control
flow of contents from the container 141. To this end, the fitting
152 comprises means including a nut-like member 153 which is
adapted to be screwed onto the thimble 148 in place of the closure
cap and has a seal opening element 154 integral therewith in the
form of a tubular punching plunger having a shearing edge 155
confronting and cooperable with a shearing edge 157 on the tip 145
to rupture and separate the sealing flange 147 from the body of the
closure 143 by simply screwing in the member 153. As opening of the
closure 143 is effected, a shoulder 158 on its freed margin engages
in sealing relation with the end of the plunger 154 which is
desirably provided with sealing means such as a ring 159. To assure
firm sealing engagement of the shoulder 158 with the plunger 154,
biasing means such as a coiled compression spring 160 is seated on
a partition 161 across the inner end portion of the bore 151
through which a flow limiting port or orifice 162 opens encircled
by a spring-centering projection or boss 163. At its outer end the
spring 160 thrusts against the closure 143 through a thrust head
164.
For dispensing gas, means are provided for pushing the closure 143
in opposition to its biasing spring 160. To this end, the fitting
152 includes a supporting and controlling plunger 165 which extends
freely through a gas delivery passage 167 in the member 153 and
axially through the punching plunger 154. Operation of the plunger
165 is adapted to be effected by means of a handwheel 168 provided
with a tubular transmission stem 169 within which is threadedly
engaged a driving head 170 of the plunger 165. By rotation of the
wheel 168 the plunger 165 can be reciprocably moved inwardly or
outwardly, being guided for this purpose by fins 171 for free
passage of gas in a passage 172 in a tubular guide member 173
having a dispensing branch duct 174 to which may be coupled a
conduit 175 to carry the gas to point of consumption. Attachment of
the branched member 174 to the member 153 is by means of a coupling
177.
When gas is required, the wheel 168 is turned to drive the plunger
165 axially inwardly into engagement with the body of the closure
143, as shown in FIG. 22, which is thereby pushed in opposition to
the spring 160 and gas pressure away from the seal 159 along the
bore 151 which is tapered to become wider inwardly so that a
selected flow of gas can be effected by the control shifting of the
closure 143 along the bore 151. In order for the tapered bore 151
to coact progressively with the outer periphery of the freed body
of the closure 143, the effective flow area of the progressively
varying orifice must be less than the effective flow area of the
opening 162. To close the seal, turning of the wheel 168 to
withdraw the plunger 165 returns the seal body by spring and gas
pressure to its sealing engagement with the sealing element 159. To
hold the plunger 165 against rotation during advancement or
retraction, one of the fins 171 is disposed in a longitudinal
guideway 178.
In order to prevent escape of gas in the interval between
shear-opening of the closure 143 and sealing engagement of the seal
159 with the closure shoulder 158, sealing means are provided in
the form of an O-ring 179 mounted in the outer perimeter of the
punch 154 to seal the sliding joint between it and the edge of the
flange 150.
As a product assurance and error preventing safety feature, coding
means may be provided, such as on the closure 143 and the plunger
165. To this end, respective selected keying configurations are
provided which will prevent registration unless they are
complementary and match, comprising a longitudinal keyway formation
180 in the closure 143 in which a lateral keying lug 181 on the
thrust tip end of the plunger 165 is receptive if complementary. By
having the thrust end portion of the plunger 165 project normally
beyond the shearing edge 155, only properly coded keyway and key
registration will permit coupling the dispenser assembly 152 to the
fitting 142 of the container 141.
It will be understood that variations and modifications may be
effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel
concepts of this invention.
* * * * *