Retractable Turnspout Closure

Abstract

A retractable turnspout closure is adapted to extend across the neck of a container. A plug with an eccentrically located opening extends across the top of the neck. A tubular wall defines this opening and includes an upper lip serving as a valve seat. A turnspout is mounted on the tubular wall and includes a valve plug portion which cooperates with the valve seat in providing a valve adapted to be opened to permit discharge of the container contents to the turnspout and closed to seal this passage. A cap having a lateral opening extends over the turnspout and plug. This cap is adapted to be rotated in one direction and includes a contact member for engaging the spout to turn it and extend it out through the lateral opening. During this movement, cooperating ramps between the spout and plug raise the turnspout and consequently the valve plug member to open the valve. A reverse movement of the cap causes a contact surface thereon to engage the turnspout and retract it inwardly of the cap. During this movement, a ramp on the cap engages the turnspout to shift it downwardly to close the valve. A child safety feature is included whereby the cap is adapted to be locked against movement when the turnspout is interiorly disposed therein. Towards this end an outwardly biased shield forming part of the plug is adapted to be disposed in the cap opening, and shifted to lock the cap in this position. When it is desired to dispense the container contents only a deliberate shifting inwardly of this shield by the intended user will free the cap to permit the turnspout to project outwardly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT

This application relates to the general subject matter of retractable turnspout closures of the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,827 granted Mar. 5, 1968, and while the closures of that patent represent a considerable advance in the art, the closure of the present application is directed to a further advanced closure with an improved valving arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved retractable turnspout closure of the foregoing type which is effectively reclosable and substantially tamper proof while being manufactured of relatively few parts, each individually simple to manufacture and assemble at relatively reduced cost.

Another object is to provide a retractable turnspout closure of the above type in which a spout is turned between extreme positions of projection and retraction and during this movement cam and cam follower means operate to raise and lower a valve member in respectively opening and closing a valve in which the container contents are adapted to travel.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the retractable turnspout closure of the present invention shown associated with the neck of a container.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of the closure.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing the closure in a retracted and sealed position.

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the spout in a projected position and the closure valve opened.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 7a and 7b are a sectional view of a further embodiment of closure having a venting means associated therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, the retractable turnspout closure 10 of the present invention is shown associated with a container or bottle 12 of suitable design and configuration for holding either liquid, powder, paste or the like materials. The bottle may be of any suitable material and for illustrative purposes may be considered a "squeeze" type bottle. Other varieties of container 12 may require venting or the like considerations. In the illustrated embodiment, the container 12 includes the usual body portion 14 terminating in an upper neck 16 on which appears an exterior closure retaining bead 18.

The closure 10 is made of only three parts, including plug 20, spout 22 and cap 24.

The plug 20 conveniently rests on the upper lip 26 of the bottle neck 16 and is received interiorly thereof to provide the seal between the closure 10 and the bottle 12. Towards this end, the plug 20 includes a substantially annular or circular base 28, the outer periphery of which rests on the neck lip 26. Extending downwardly from the base 28 is a depending annular apron 30 defining a plug portion for frictionally engaging with the interior surfaces of the bottle neck 16. The plug base 28 is provided with an offset or eccentrically located opening 32 through which the container contents are adapted to pass. Extending upwardly from the base 28 and defining a continuance of the opening 32 is an upstanding tube 34. The tube 34 includes an upper lip 36 defining a valve seat forming part of the valve 38 for opening and closing the passage 32. A ramp 40 is disposed about the tube 34 and cooperates with companion ramp surfaces of the spout 22 in opening the valve 38 and permitting its closure. At a location radially outwardly of the axis of the base 28 are a pair of shields 42 and 44. Shield 42 is biased slightly outwardly at its top relative to its base in order to flex inwardly into an accommodating opening 46 in the cap 24 for purposes of providing a safety lock. Shield 44 presents an upstanding edge 48 which serves as a contact surface for engaging with surfaces of the spout 22 and determining the extent to which the spout may be turned upon rotation of the cap 24, and more specifically, the fully extended position of the spout 22 from the opening 46 of the cap 24.

The spout 22 defines a laterally extending passage 50 which communicates with the vertical passage 32 of the plug 20 for directing the container contents from the closure 10. The spout 22 includes a sleeve 61 adapted to be telescoped over the tube 34 and includes along its base, ramp 62 defining the complementary camming surface which engages with the ramp 40 in opening the valve 38. In this connection, the spout includes an internal downwardly depending plug 64 which completes the valve 38 and is adapted to be lowered into the passage 32 to close the valve 38 (FIG. 3) and is adapted to be raised from the valve seat 36 through the interengagement of the ramps 40 and 62 to open the valve 38 (FIG. 4).

The retraction and projection of the spout 22 and the opening and closing of the valve 38 are accomplished incident to the turning of the cap 24. The cap 24 includes an annular top 66 from which projects a downwardly depending tubular skirt 68. The lower end of the skirt 68 includes an inner annular recess 70 which accommodates the bead 18 for maintaining the closure, particularly the cap 24 on the bottle neck 16. An internal shoulder 72 is also present on the interior of the skirt 38 in maintaining the peripheral flash portion of the plug base 28 in sealing relationship on the bottle neck lip 26.

As explained previously, the turning or rotation of the cap 24 projects the spout 22 outwardly through the opening 46 to permit the container contents to be dispensed and reverse movement of the cap retracts the spout internally of the cap from the opening 46 at which point the shield 42 extends through the opening 46 for purposes of defining a safety feature of the present invention. In order to facilitate the projection of the spout 22, the cap includes a vertically extending contact surface or edge 74 appearing on a depending wall 76 extending downwardly from the inner face of the cap top 66. Eventually, the spout 22 upon turning and projection by the contact face 74 will eventually abut against the vertically extending face 48 of the shield 44 extending upwardly from plug 20 to arrest the spout from further movement. The spout 22 is turned in the reverse direction and retracted upon counter-clockwise movement of the cap 24. Towards this end, the vertically extending edge 78 of the cap opening 46 engages the spout 22 to turn it in a clockwise direction. Eventually the ramp or camming face 80 of the wall 76 will engage surfaces of the spout to turn it further in a counter-clockwise direction and at the same time lower the spout and consequently the valve plug 64 to close the valve 38. When this occurs, the outwardly biased shield 42 will spring into the opening 46 of the cap to lock the closure against unintentional opening.

Thus assuming the disposition of parts as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 with the spout 22 retracted and the valve 38 closed and the safety lock afforded by shield 42 effective as result of its projection through the cap opening 46, the container user will execute the following manipulative steps to permit the discharge of the container contents. Initially, the shield 42 will be pushed or otherwise forced inwardly to clear the opening 46 to permit counter-clockwise rotation of the cap 24. As the cap 24 is turned counter-clockwise, the contact edge 74 will engage the spout 22 and turn it in a counter-clockwise direction. The spout 22 will eventually project out through the opening 46 at which time the valve 38 will open as result of the raising of the valve plug 64 relative to the valve seat 66 as result of the interengagement and camming of the ramps 40 and 62. The fully projected position of the spout 22 will be determined as a result of its contact with the vertically extending stop surface 48 of the shield 44. At this juncture, the user may dispense the container contents in a desired discharge pattern and location. Reverse movement of the cap 24 will cause the spout 22 to retract and the valve 38 to close. In this connection, the cap 24 is turned in a clockwise direction and the vertically extending edge 78 of the opening 46 will engage with side surfaces of the spout 22 to cause it to turn in a clockwise direction. The spout 22 will be withdrawn interiorly of the opening 46 and into the interior of the cap. Eventually the ramp or camming edge 80 will engage with surfaces of the spout 22 to turn it further in a clockwise direction and at the same time force it downwardly so that the valve plug 64 will be lowered on to the valve seat 36 to close the valve 38. When this occurs, the outwardly biased shield 42 will be opposite the opening 46 whereupon it will spring outwardly to lock therein and prevent further movement of the cap and at the same time operate as a safety lock against unintentional opening, particularly by children.

In FIGS. 7a and 7b, a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated which is advantageously employed where venting is desirable for purposes of replenishing the void or volume resulting from the container content discharge by air. Thus, an air passage 84 (FIG. 7b) is conveniently provided in both the plug and the spout when the latter is in a fully projected position. This passage is adapted to be closed when the spout is in its fully retracted position (FIG. 7a).

A dip tube (not shown) may be included in the contemplated embodiments of this invention, for facilitating dispensing of the container contents and for using the container in an upright position.

Thus, the several favorable objects and advantages are most effectively obtained. Although several somewhat preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A retractable turnspout closure for closing the neck of a container and permitting selective discharge of the container contents, comprising in combination:

a plug adapted to extend across the opening defined by the neck of the container, said plug including a base having a first vertically extending axis, an opening in said base having a second vertically extending axis, a valve seat forming part of a valve disposed about said opening;

a rotatable spout having a passage therethrough for cooperating in directing the container contents during discharge therefrom, and a valve member also forming part of the valve adapted to assume a lower first position at which it engages with the valve seat of the plug in closing said opening and prevent the container contents from discharging from the spout passage and a raised second position at which it is spaced from the valve seat to permit the container contents to travel through the opening into the passage and be discharged therefrom;

a rotatable cap extending over the plug and having an opening through which the spout is adapted to project when said valve is in said raised second position and from which the spout is adapted to be retracted when said valve is in said lower first position;

contact means in the path of rotation of the spout for contacting the spout and move it from its retracted to its projecting position upon rotation of the cap in one direction; and

cam and cam follower means for moving the valve member from the lower first position to the raised second position to open the valve when the cap is rotated in said one direction and for moving the valve member from the raised second position to the lower first position to close the valve when the cap is rotated in said other direction the cam and cam follower means including mating ramps on the spout and plug for raising the valve member to open the valve when the spout is rotated from its retracted position to its projected position upon rotation of the cap in one direction, the cam and cam follower means including a ramp projecting downwardly from the interior of the cap for engagement with surfaces of the spout for lowering the valve member to close the valve when the spout is rotated from its projected position to its retracted position upon rotation of the cap in the other direction.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plug includes means for securing the plug to the neck of the container.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the securing means is a downwardly depending annular apron for engaging with the inner surfaces of the container neck.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plug includes a radially extending flange for seating on the top of the container neck in cooperating to seal the plug to the neck.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a shield extends upwardly from the base of the plug and interiorly of the cap to cover the cap opening when the spout is retracted.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein the shield is biased radially outwardly to project the upper end of the shield into the cap opening to serve as a safety lock requiring deliberate radially inward movement of the shield to free the cap for rotation in said one direction.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the spout includes a downwardly depending annular apron and an annular type extending upwardly from the plug base defining said plug opening, the tube being telescoped inwardly of the spout apron, the spout having a laterally extending tubular portion the interior of which communicates with the interior of the spout apron defining the spout passage, a downwardly depending plug portion on the interior of the spout adapted to be lowered in the plug tube in said first lowered position of the valve and cooperates with adjacent surfaces of the spout in defining the valve member, and the upper end of the plug tube defining the valve seat.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ramp includes stop means for determining the fully retracted position of the spout.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the contact means includes a vertical surface on the interior of the cap for engaging the spout when the cap is rotated in said one direction to move the spout from its retracted position to its projected position, and a vertical surface on the cap defining part of the cap opening for engaging the spout when the cap is rotated in said other direction to move the spout from its projected position to its retracted position.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the closure includes venting means for permitting introduction of air into container as the container contents are discharged.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the axis of the plug hole is eccentrically located on the plug base.

12. A closure for closing the neck of a container and permitting selective discharge of the container contents, comprising in combination:

plug means adapted to extend across the opening defined by the container, an opening defined by the plug through which the container contents are adapted to travel;

nozzle means adapted to direct the container contents from the plug opening to the selected discharge location;

cap means defining an opening through which the nozzle means is adapted to project when discharging the container contents, such nozzle means being adapted to be retracted from the cap opening; and

shield means extending between the cap and the plug to cover the cap opening when the nozzle means is retracted, the shield means being biased radially outwardly to project the upper end of the shield into the cap opening to serve as a safety lock to require radially inward movement of the shield to free the cap and thereby permit the nozzle means to project through the cap opening.

13. A retractable turnspout closure for closing the neck of a container and permitting selective discharge of the container contents, comprising in combination:

a plug adapted to extend across the opening defined by the neck of the container, said plug including a base having a first vertically extending axis, an opening in said base having a second vertically extending axis, a valve seat forming part of a valve disposed about said opening;

a rotatable spout having a passage therethrough for cooperating in directing the container contents during discharge therefrom, and a valve member also forming part of the valve adapted to assume a lower first position at which it engages with the valve seat of the plug in closing said opening and prevent the container contents from discharging from the spout passage and a raised second position at which it is spaced from the valve seat to permit the container contents to travel through the opening into the passage and be discharged therefrom;

a rotatable cap extending over the plug and having an opening through which the spout is adapted to project when said valve is in said raised second position and from which the spout is adapted to be retracted when said valve is in said lower first position;

contact means in the path of rotation of the spout for contacting the spout and move it from its retracted to its projecting position upon rotation of the cap in one direction;

cam and cam follower means for moving the valve member from the lower first position to the raised second position to open the valve when the cap is rotated in said one direction and for moving the valve member from the raised second position to the lower first position to close the valve when the cap is rotated in said other direction; and

a shield extending upwardly from the base of the plug and interiorly of the cap to cover the cap opening when the spout is retracted, the shield being biased radially outwardly to project the upper end of the shield into the cap opening to serve as a safety lock requiring deliberate radially inward movement of the shield to free the cap for rotation in said one direction.

14. A retractable turnspout closure for closing the neck of a container and permitting selective discharge of the container contents, comprising in combination:

a plug adapted to extend across the opening defined by the neck of the container, said plug including a base having a first vertically extending axis, an opening in said base having a second vertically extending axis, a valve seat forming part of a valve disposed about said opening;

a rotatable spout having a passage therethrough for cooperating in directing the container contents during discharge therefrom, and a valve member also forming part of the valve adapted to assume a lower first position at which it engages with the valve seat of the plug in closing said opening and prevent the container contents from discharging from the spout passage and a raised second position at which it is spaced from the valve seat to permit the container contents to travel through the opening into the passage and be discharged therefrom, the spout including a downwardly depending annular apron and an annular tube extending upwardly from the plug base defining said plug opening, the tube being telescoped inwardly of the spout apron, the spout having a laterally extending tubular portion the interior of which communicates with the interior of the spout apron defining the spout passage, a downwardly depending plug portion on the interior of the spout adapted to be lowered in the plug tube in said first lowered position of the valve and cooperates with adjacent surfaces of the spout in defining the valve member, and the upper end of the plug tube defining the valve seat;

a rotatable cap extending over the plug and having an opening through which the spout is adapted to project when said valve is in said raised second position and from which the spout is adapted to be retracted when said valve is in said lower first position;

contact means in the path of rotation of the spout for contacting the spout and move it from its retracted to its projecting position upon rotation of the cap in one direction; and

cam and cam follower means for moving the valve member from the lower first position to the raised second position to open the valve when the cap is rotated in said one direction and for moving the valve member from the raised second position to the lower first position to close the valve when the cap is rotated in said other direction, said cap cooperating with adjacent surfaces for defining ramp means of the cam and cam follower means for raising the valve member to open the valve when the spout is rotated from its retracted position to its projected position upon rotation of the cap in one direction and for lowering the valve member to close the valve when the spout is rotated from its projected position to its retracted position upon rotation of the cap in the other direction.