Dispensing – With resilient biasing means for outlet element – For pivoted and swingable elements
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-02
2002-07-09
Doerrler, William C. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With resilient biasing means for outlet element
For pivoted and swingable elements
Reexamination Certificate
active
06415965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of product dispensing systems, and more particularly, to product dispensing systems having multiple component closure apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of product dispensing devices are known. These devices typically include the container and a closure, cap, etc., that provides containment and packaging of a product within a container. The container and/or closure can include a dispensing portion for dispensing of the product. Numerous types of closures are known that provide containment of the product. Typically, the closure portion is molded from plastic, however, a metal-based material may be used. The material used is typically resilient such that the closure can be press-fit over a neck portion of the container. The closure may be threaded onto the container. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,161, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Many products, such as, for example, creams and lotions, are packaged in product dispensing devices whereby the closure, having a dispensing portion, is disposed on one end and a portion that is open disposed adjacent an opposing end. Typically, these product dispensing devices include tube containers which are monolithically formed. Other configurations may use an injection-molded neck section welded to an extruded tube. The closure is mounted to the tube container and filled with the product through the open end. The open end is heat sealed and closed after filling of the tube container with the product.
Many of these product dispensing devices have closures that include disengageable or removable sections that allow opening of the closure so that the product may be dispensed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,161. These devices, however, can fail to preserve the integrity of the product from fluid and/or gas contamination before and after the disengageable portion is removed and the product is initially used. Further, these type of containers may require special tooling and, therefore, cannot be easily and economically made. This increases the manufacturing cost of the product dispensing device.
Product dispensing devices may include tamper evident portions used to preserve the integrity of the product prior to first use. The tamper evident portion provides a visual indicator to a user of whether the integrity of the product contained within the product dispensing device has been compromised. This maintains safety and quality of the product to the user.
Typically, tamper evident portions employ a heat sealed foil liner that must be removed before dispensing the product. This procedure includes removing or disengaging the cap from the tube container and then removing the foil liner. The foil liner, however, may be difficult to remove from the tube container due to heat sealing. The foil must then be punctured or otherwise, which can impair the integrity of the product or cause injury to a user. Further, heat sealing adds to the cost of manufacture. Other tamper evident means may include celon bands, glued cartons, tamper indicating closure wraps, etc.
Other designs employ bottle containers made from glass, plastic, etc., for packaging and dispensing products, liquids, etc., such as, for example, vinegars. These type of bottle containers use a one-piece closure that is propped open for dispensing of the liquid. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.: 4,010,875 to Babiol; U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,248 to Wilson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,495 to Lorscheid; U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,888 to Curry; U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,898 to Hayord; U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,360 to Ullman; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,536 to Wilson. These closure designs, however, do not provide adaptability to existing containers. Further, these closure designs may not adequately reduce an opening of the container to effectively dispense the product.
Accordingly, a need exists for a product dispensing system having a multiple component closure apparatus that advantageously provides adaptability to existing containers. It is also desirable that the product dispensing system creates a fluid and/or gas tight interface to preserve the integrity of a product contained within the product dispensing system.
It is, therefore, an object of the present disclosure to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a product dispensing system having a multiple component closure apparatus that advantageously provides adaptability to existing containers. Desirably, the product dispensing system creates a fluid and/or gas tight interface to preserve the integrity of a product contained within the product dispensing system.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a product dispensing system that adequately reduces an opening of a container to effectively dispense a product.
It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a product dispensing system having tamper evident structure.
It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a product dispensing system which is easily and efficiently manufactured and assembled.
Objects and advantages of the present disclosure, set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious therefrom, achieve the intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and non-obvious configuration of component elements at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing readily available materials. The various embodiments contemplated are gleaned from the present disclosure and realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure is directed to a product dispensing system and related methods of assembly, manufacture and use, having a multiple component closure apparatus that advantageously provides adaptability to existing containers. The product dispensing system may also adequately reduce an opening of a container to effectively dispense a product.
The product dispensing system beneficially provides tamper indicating structure that does not require a liner and advantageously provides an integral dispensing portion for effectively dispensing a product. Desirably, the product dispensing system creates a fluid and/or gas tight interface to preserve the integrity of a product contained within the product dispensing system. Most desirably, the product dispensing system can be used with one-handed operation. These features contribute to product safety.
The product dispensing system enables facile mounting of a closure with a container. The product dispensing system can also have structure formed with the closure that maintains the closure in an open position during dispensing of the product. The components of the product dispensing system are adaptable to existing manufacturing equipment, and due to their uniform design, prevent misalignment, etc. The advantages achieved by the present disclosure are carried out without substantial increases in labor costs, material costs, mold cycle time or tooling complexity.
In one particular embodiment, in accordance with the present disclosure, a dispenser is provided which includes a container having a closed end and defining a longitudinal axis. The closed end defines an orifice. A closure is mountable about the closed end of the container and has a closing lid portion. The closing lid portion includes an orifice plug configured to sealingly engage the orifice of the container. The closure includes a retention collar disposed about an outer surface of the container. The retention collar is configured to facilitate mounting of the closure to the container. The closing lid portion is movably connected to the retention collar. The orifice of the container may define an orifice bead configured to engage the orifice plug of the closure and facilitate sealing engagement therebetween.
The closure further includes a tamper evident portion which is disposed about the closed end of the container. The tamper evident portion is removably connected to the closing lid portion and th
Nyman Henry H.
Robinson Donald
Brown Rudnick Berlack & Israels LLP
Bui Thach H
Leonardo, Esq. Mark S.
Paradigm Packinging, Inc.
Sorell, Esq. Peter B.
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