Dispensing – Axially rotary and longitudinally movable tubes – sleeves – or... – Axial discharge
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-16
2002-01-01
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Axially rotary and longitudinally movable tubes, sleeves, or...
Axial discharge
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334555
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to fitments for use in resealable dispensing closure assemblies to provide high-pressure sealing, to provide two or more dispensing modes and to control the movement of closure bodies in such closure assemblies. The invention also relates to resealable dispensing closure assemblies that incorporate such fitments and to tamper-evident features for closure assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
Closure assemblies that are used on containers for pressurized contents, such as carbonated beverages, must be able to maintain a sealed condition even when subject to high internal pressures, which are typically 50 p.s.i.g. but which may, under some ambient conditions, exceed 100 p.s.i.g. High internal pressures may also be present in containers which contain non-carbonated beverages. For example, bottled water is often provided with a nitrogen charge in order to provide a positive internal pressure on the container to increase container strength and structural stability during shipping.
Known closure assemblies for containers for pressurized contents are characterized by several disadvantages. For example, such closures, which typically include a threaded aluminum or plastic cap, must be completely removed from the container to dispense the contents and must be threaded completely back onto the container to reseal it. Since the closure cap is detached from the container during dispensing, there is potential for the closure cap to become contaminated or misplaced. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a closure assembly which addresses this shortcoming in the prior art.
Another disadvantage associated with known closure assemblies for containers for pressurized contents is that such closure assemblies offer only one dispensing mode wherein the closure cap is entirely removed from the container and the product is poured directly through the container opening. This sole dispensing mode may be inconvenient for certain users. Consider an elderly or very young person of limited strength who is attempting to dispense a beverage from a large container, such as a 2-liter bottle, when it is full. Because they cannot support the entire weight of the container, the limited-strength user may tilt the container on a counter top and attempt to slowly pour the contents out. Since the entire closure is removed and the product will be dispensed in a relatively uncontrolled manner through the container opening, the product is likely to be spilled and wasted. It would therefore be desirable to provide a restricted flow closure assembly that offers a dispensing mode which provides more controlled dispensing of product than do prior art systems. On the other hand, other stronger users, who would like to pour the contents from the container at a faster rate, might find such a restricted flow closure assembly to be undesirable because the product cannot be dispensed quickly. It would therefore be further desirable to provide a resealable closure assembly that can be readily adapted to two or more dispensing modes and accommodate the dispensing preferences of a variety of users.
While resealable closures are generally known, and while it would be desirable to provide a resealable closure for containers of pressurized contents, there has not been widespread adoption of resealable closures in this area of the art. One reason for this is that, in general, resealable closures are relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture compared to the simple aluminum and plastic threaded cap closures of the prior art. Moreover, prior art resealable closures are typically not designed for use with pressurized contents.
Such prior art closures typically include a closure body that is threaded onto the container, and a spout engaging a separate set of threads on the closure body and rotatable relative to the closure body. The spout includes a dispensing orifice at its top and moves to an elevated position when rotated, moving the dispensing orifice from a sealing surface on the closure body and permitting flow of product.
Such known resealable closures have been widely adopted in containers for certain contents, such as shampoo or food condiments, but they have generally not been recognized as feasible or economical for pressurized content applications such as containers for carbonated beverages or non-carbonated liquids. The resealable closures of the prior art are usually costly because they incorporate relatively large numbers of parts and complex threaded features and molding techniques. For example, the closure body must be molded with two threaded portions: one threaded portion for securing the closure to the container finish and another threaded portion for securing the spout to the closure body. These aspects of the prior art, coupled with the perceived increased costs in adapting known resealable closures to high-pressure containers, have fostered a reluctance in the art to attempt to provide resealable closures in such applications. It would therefore be desirable to provide a resealable closure that is suitable for high-pressure applications and which may be manufactured economically.
Resealable closures also present a challenge in design with regard to tamper-evidence features. Known resealable closures typically incorporate two tamper-evident features, such as frangible members, one for evidencing tampering with the closure body relative to the container and another for evidencing tampering of the spout relative to the closure body. These features increase the manufacturing complexity and material and manufacturing cost of known resealable closures. It would therefore be desirable to provide a resealable closure which has improved tamper-evidence features compared to known prior art devices.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect, the invention provides a fitment that may be incorporated into a closure assembly that provides a re-sealable dispensing capabilities and at least one high-pressure seal. As used herein, the term “high-pressure” is intended to refer to positive pressures that are typically associated with carbonated beverages and other pressurized products, which pressures are typically in the range of 50 to 100 p.s.i.g. Also, as used herein, the term “closure assembly” refers to a combination of sub-parts, which typically include a fitment and a closure body, and which could include other components such as a lid. The term “finish” is intended to refer to features on the exterior surface of a container, including features for attaching a closure assembly thereto and may include one or more threads, one or more snap-fit features or a threadless, smooth sliding finish for sliding attachment of a closure assembly.
Exemplary fitments and closure assemblies which embody this aspect of the invention include a fitment with a plug seal and a sealing post extending in a direction generally opposite the plug seal. The plug seal is adapted to engage an interior surface of a container to provide a high-pressure seal. The plug seal may include one or more snap-fit beads or snap rings which engage respective snap grooves formed on the container interior surface. The fitment sealing post has a fitment sealing surface that is adapted to engage a sealing surface around a dispensing orifice formed in a spout of a closure body that cooperates with the fitment.
In a preferred form, the fitment includes a deck, and the plug seal extends below the deck, whereas the sealing post extends above the deck. One or more apertures are preferably formed in the fitment deck to permit fluid flow from the interior of the container through the fitment. A user may move the closure body vertically relative to the fitment to bring the closure body orifice sealing surface into or out of engagement with the fitment sealing surface, thereby closing or opening the orifice. Preferably, this provides a high-pr
Blomdahl Corinne M.
Randall Jeffrey T.
Smith Kelly A.
Bui Thach H
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
Scherbel David A.
Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
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