Dispenser

Details Dispenser Dispenser

2001-08-28

2003-11-11

McDowell, Suzanne E. (Department: 1732)

Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

Direct application of fluid pressure differential to...

C264S523000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06645419

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensing devices. Specifically the present invention may be used to form a dispenser from a single plastic moulding that can pierce a membrane seal and dispense liquid from a container.
BACKGROUND ART
Modern packaging methods allow numerous and varied types of liquid to be sealed within containers. In some instances a removable membrane barrier is provided at the outlet of a container to ensure that liquid cannot be accidentally spilled and to provide a barrier to the atmosphere, which may degrade the contents of the container.
Membrane seals are normally configured so that the user must first remove a covering cap, which protects the membrane during transit or storage on a shop shelf, and then pierce or peel off the membrane. To some users this is a fiddly operation as they must ensure they do not spill any of the liquid on themselves when they apply pressure to the membrane. Some people also find the two stage opening process relatively slow if they need quick access to a fresh container.
The most common form of membrane seal currently used in packaging applications is the induction seal. An induction seal consists of membrane or layer of aluminium foil with backing material applied to the outlet of a container. The induction seal must be applied as an additional step to the container manufacturing process, increasing manufacturing costs and time frames.
In addition, some containers are adapted to hold and dispense relatively viscous liquids. As these liquids flow slowly they are difficult to pour without having the liquid spill on to the sides of the container. In such cases liquid usually cakes up and dries around the outlet of the container, and in the case where the liquid is a food, this is unattractive to and unhygienic for the user.
A dispenser that solved any or all of the above problems would be of advantage over the prior art. Specifically a dispenser which could easily pierce the membrane seal of a container with little effort from the user and which could cleanly dispense viscous liquid would be of advantage over the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquid dispenser adapted to connect to a container cap, said container cap including a membrane seal,
said dispenser being moveable between two configurations, being an unopened configuration to an open configuration which opens a liquid channel through the container cap.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquid dispenser substantially as described above wherein the dispenser includes a spout to provide a portion of a liquid channel within said dispenser, said spout being pivotably moveable between two positions to position the dispenser in either an unopened or opened configuration.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispenser substantially as described above wherein the dispenser includes a claw adapted to rupture the membrane seal of the cap when the dispenser is attached to the container cap and moved from an unopened to an open configuration.
A container as discussed throughout the specification may be any type to packaging that allows a liquid to be contained and held within same. For example, a container may consist of an internally “waterproofed” cardboard carton, or a bottle formed from plastic, glass or other similar materials.
In a preferred embodiment the liquid which the container may contain and which is dispensed may be a food sauce. Such sauces are usually relatively viscous and need to be sealed away from the atmosphere to prevent the sauce from degrading. These two characteristics of food sauces present particular difficulties in the design and implementation of containers and dispensers for same.
The term relatively viscous discussed above may be defined as being any material that is more viscous than water. The present invention may be adapted to dispense liquids such as food sauces that have a viscosity greater than that of water.
However, in alternative embodiments the liquid dispensed may not be a food sauce. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that any type of liquid may be dispensed using the present invention and reference to its use with food sauces only throughout the specification should in no way be seen as limiting.
Preferably a dispenser is adapted to connect to a container cap. Such a connection may be substantially “waterproof” to ensure that any liquid that flows between the two elements cannot leak out between the connection points or areas.
Preferably the present invention is adapted for use with a container cap which includes a membrane seal. Such a cap and membrane seal may be adapted to cover the outlet to a container to prevent spillage of its contents during transportation and from exposure to the atmosphere ruining the contents of the container. In some instances the container cap and membrane seal may also provide a tamper evident means to indicate if a container has been interfered or tampered with before purchase by a consumer.
A membrane seal as discussed throughout this specification may also be defined as any element or component which may be applied over an aperture or opening within a container to seal in the contents of the container. Preferably such a membrane seal may be in the form of the induction seal discussed previously but those skilled in the art should appreciate that other types of membrane seal may be used in conjunction with the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment the present invention may be adapted to facilitate the dispensing of liquid from a container via a liquid channel. This liquid channel may be open or closed depending on the particular position or configuration of the dispenser. Such a liquid channel may be defined as including an outlet from a container, sections of the container cap through which liquid can flow, the membrane seal of a container cap and portions of the dispenser through which liquid may also flow in a controlled manner. The dispenser may be configured so as to engage with the container cap and to form a portion of a liquid channel through which liquid may be dispensed. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the container cap and dispenser may be used to provide a water tight liquid channel from the outlet of the container.
In a preferred embodiment the cap may be clipped or screwed on to an attachment of the container to place the membrane seal over the outlet of the container. Alternatively, the cap may be glued onto the container or formed as an integral part of same. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art the container cap and membrane seal may have many different forms and configurations depending on a particular application and embodiment in which the present invention is applied.
For example in one alternative embodiment the container cap may not be configured as a component which is clipped, screwed or otherwise attached to a container. In such an embodiment the container cap may simply be formed as an integral part of the container, and may incorporate a membrane seal to prevent the contents of the container from escaping. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the present invention may be configured for use with such types of container caps and containers, and reference only to container caps which are attached to containers throughout this specification should in no way be seen as limiting.
Preferably the dispenser is moveable between two positions to provide the dispenser with two configurations. In the first configuration, being the unopened configuration

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