Dispensing – With lock or fastening seal – Inhibiting operation of flow controller or closure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-06-26
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With lock or fastening seal
Inhibiting operation of flow controller or closure
C222S480000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250507
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a container cap. More particularly, the invention relates to a dispensing-type container cap having dual, inwardly opening, locking, non-interfering door-type doors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Containers having a dispensing-type cap are known in the art. One type of dispensing container includes a threaded closure cap (an over-cap) and a perforated fitment fit onto the container, below the cap, for dispensing the contents of the container. Such an arrangement may be used, for example, for storing and dispensing herbs and spices.
One variation of this type of container includes a fitment having a relatively large opening for dispensing or spooning large (e.g., poured or measured) amounts of the contained material, in combination with a plurality of relatively small perforations or openings in the fitment for non-measured dispensing (e.g., shaking or sprinkling) of the material from the container.
Another known type of container closure includes a cap having doors, doors or covers hingedly mounted to the cap. The doors are positioned on the cap to share a hinge portion that extends across the cap, generally through the center thereof. Alternately, the hinge portions of the known dual-door type caps may be positioned separated from one another in back-to-back relation relative to each other, with the area between the doors defining a hinge region. When closed, the doors retard spoilage and can extend the life of the material stored in the container.
These door-type caps eliminate the need for an additional cap element (e.g., an over-cap) covering the dispensing portion. Although such caps eliminates one or more member from the closure assembly, generally, the doors are somewhat subject to being accidentally jarred open. This is especially true of caps which have desirable grasping extensions. Such grasping extensions ease the consumer's opening of the container, but also offer a projection which subjects a container to accidental opening.
Further, locking mechanisms for a door-type cap can pose stacking and storage problems when a locking mechanism extends above the rim of a cap. For the retail sales environment it is important that a locking mechanism facilitates the easy stacking of the capped products on store shelves.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a door-type closure cap for a container which eliminates the need for an over-cap while permitting both measured and shaken dispensing of material from the container. Preferably, such a cap includes improved means for keeping the doors closed despite external stresses, while facilitating stacking and display in the retail environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to closures for containers which have locking flap-like doors. One embodiment of the present invention contemplates a locking closure for use with an associated container is a closure cap having a top wall portion and a depending skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. The top wall portion has a dispensing region, and a door for covering the dispensing region. The door has a top surface and a bottom surface defining a thickness. The door is connected to the top wall portion at a hinge region, and the door is pivotable about the hinge region to traverse a path between an open condition and a closed condition. The locking closure also has a latch with a base portion integral to the top wall extending generally transverse therefrom. The latch includes a hook portion integral with the base portion, with the hook portion extending from the base portion and intersecting the path of the door, with the hook portion being spaced from the top wall. The hook portion has an engaging surface and a locking surface, with the locking surface generally opposing the top wall portion, and the engaging surface inclining downward as it extends toward the door. The locking surface maintains the door in the closed condition and the engaging surface is configured to urge the hook portion out of the path of the door during closing of the door.
In a preferred embodiment the hook portion is spaced from the top wall portion by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the door. In this embodiment, the latch abuts the top surface of the door and the top wall portion abuts the bottom surface of the door when the door is in the closed condition.
In one embodiment, the door has an edge, and the door defines a deflecting surface which extends from the edge to the bottom surface. In this embodiment, the deflecting surface abuts the engaging surface and exerts a force thereon during closing, while providing an arcuate or sloped contact between the door and the engaging surface.
In another embodiment, the deflecting surface is an inclined plane.
In a further embodiment, the deflecting surface extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface at an angle between 15° and 75°.
In a still further embodiment, the deflecting surface extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface at an angle between 35° and 55.
In yet a still further embodiment the deflecting surface extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface at an angle of about 45°.
In another embodiment, the door has an edge and defines an unlocking surface. The unlocking surface extends from the top surface of the door to the edge of the door such that the hook portion locking surface abuts the door unlocking surface when the door is in the closed condition and exerts a force thereon to maintain the door in the closed condition.
In still another embodiment, the hook portion is spaced from the top wall portion by a distance substantially equal to a distance between the bottom surface and the unlocking surface, and the latch abuts the unlocking surface while the top wall portion abuts the bottom surface of the door when the door is in the closed condition.
Alternatively, the hook portion locking surface is upwardly inclined relative to the top wall portion.
In yet another embodiment, the top wall defines a first plane, and the locking surface defines a second plane and the angle between first plane and the second plane is about 10°.
In a still further embodiment, the engaging surface has an arcuate configuration.
In yet another embodiment, the engaging surface has a radial configuration.
In yet another still further embodiment, the latch tapers inwardly as it extends upwardly from where the base portion connects to the top wall portion, so that the hook portion is more easily urged away from the door.
In still another embodiment, a locking closure has a rim integral with the top wall portion and extending upwardly therefrom away from the skirt portion.
Alternatively, a locking closure has a rim having a top spaced from the top wall portion by a first height above the top wall portion, and the latch extends upwardly to a second height above the top wall portion less than or equal to the first height.
In yet another alternative embodiment, the latch is spaced from the hinge region.
In a still further embodiment, the locking closure has a second latch which is spaced from the latch and spaced from the hinge region.
In a still yet further embodiment, the top wall portion defines a secant line and a periphery, and the door has a secant edge adjacent to the secant line and a peripheral edge adjacent to a portion of the periphery.
In yet another embodiment, the locking closure has a first latch and a second latch, the first latch engaging the door on the secant edge and the second latch engaging the door on the peripheral edge.
In another embodiment, the latch is configured to cooperate with the door to render an audible indication that closing is complete.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 278602 (1985-04-01), Rosenstein
patent: 4303176 (1981-12-01), Swatzbaugh
patent: 4693399 (1987-09-01), Hickman et al.
patent: 4714181 (1987-12-01), Kozlowski et al.
patent: 4898292 (1990-02-01), VerWe
Bui Thach H
Derakshani Philippe
Phoenix Closures, Inc.
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
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