Dispensing – Axially slidable tubes – sleeves – or apertured caps – Axial discharge
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-13
2001-09-11
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Axially slidable tubes, sleeves, or apertured caps
Axial discharge
C222S524000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286733
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a sliding valve dispenser with overcap used for dispensing liquids. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel seal and cover design for use in conjunction with a sliding valve push/pull type dispenser to reduce leakage.
2. Prior Art
Using push/pull dispenser systems to open and close closures is well known in the art of closures. However, current closures in the art often suffer measurable leakage due to either inadequate seals, or valves inadvertently remaining open after securing of an overcap to the closure. Thus, there is a need for a push/pull dispenser closure that will both easily seal when placed in the closed position and automatically close when an overcap is placed thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a resealable push/pull dispenser closure for a container in order to reduce the amount of leakage from the closure when the user desires to close the container.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a push/pull dispenser closure that will close automatically when an overcap is attached to the cap body.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a push/pull dispenser closure that is designed to reduce the occurrence of seal surface imperfections that prevent complete sealing of the closure.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a push/pull dispenser closure that requires less polymeric material and is more durable than other push/pull dispenser closures.
More particularly, the present invention is directed to a three-piece closure having a cap body, a slider valve and an overcap. The cap body includes an upwardly extending center post which is mounted axially by three spokes within a first axial opening of a neck. The spokes attach to the center post and extend to the side wall of the neck. The spokes attach to the neck at points that are non-adjacent to a neck sealing bead that projects outwardly from the neck. This nonalignment of the spokes and the neck sealing bead helps to reduce the occurrence of sinks in the seal. Sinks can occur in the neck of the sealing bead when heat from the molding process is retained with the adjacent plastic. Such sinks can create gaps between the sealing surfaces, thereby causing leaks. The frequency of the occurrence of sinks in the neck sealing bead can be reduced by limiting the amount of structural plastic which is adjacent the sealing surface. This limiting of the amount of plastic can be achieved by spacing the spokes away from the neck sealing bead. The reduction in the amount of plastic also provides for a thinner shell and a shallower bead, thereby accelerating the molding cycle and reducing the overall weight of the closure. The nonalignment of the spokes and the bead also provides more flexibility to the neck of the closure, so that when the bead is jumped by the slider valve the neck may flex inward, thereby reducing the potential for damage to the bead by its interaction with the slider valve.
The side wall of the neck of the cap body has an inner diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the skirt of the center post, thereby providing space between the neck and the center post through which liquid may flow from the container when the dispenser is open. The neck side wall extends downward to a shoulder from which depends a neck skirt having threads internally formed thereon. On the inside surface of the cap body, where the shoulder and the neck skirt meet, an integral linerless seal projects inwardly therefrom. This linerless seal prevents fluid from leaking between the neck skirt of the cap body and the container finish. Further down the inside surface of the neck skirt is found a centering bead which contacts the container finish when the cap body is attached thereto. The centering bead assists in the alignment of the cap body relative to the container finish, thereby providing for the alignment of the cap body threads with the container finish threads. The neck skirt also has at least one helical thread, having a substantially flat upper thread surface, circumscribing its inner surface.
The slider valve includes a first top wall and a second skirt depending therefrom. A second axial opening is provided in a first top wall of the slider valve. The first top wall also has an annular seal depending therefrom. An annular trough is disposed within the bottom surface of the first top wall and circumscribes the annular seal. The annular trough provides more flexibility to the annular seal than would otherwise be available. Due to this increased flexibility, the annular seal can more easily engage the center post to form a seal when the slider valve is placed in the closed position. Thus, less force is required both to open and to close and seal the closure than would be needed in the absence of the trough. Additionally, the increased flexibility provides an enhanced seal that is suitable for pressurized products.
The overcap includes a second top wall with a third skirt depending therefrom. A second bead projects inwardly from the third skirt and engages the rib located on the cap body when the overcap is attached to the cap body. An annular ring depends from the second top wall. This annular ring engages the first top wall located on the slider valve when the overcap is attached to the cap body. This engagement of the annular ring and the slider valve ensures that the slider valve is in the closed and sealed position when the overcap is attached to the cap body. More particularly, due to the height of the overcap relative to the cap body, the slider valve must be in the closed position in order for the second bead of the overcap to snap over and engage the rib projecting from the cap body. As pressure is applied by the user to the overcap to attach it to the cap body, the annular ring engages the second top wall of the slider valve, thereby forcing the slider valve into the closed position. Due to the flexibility of the annular seal, a great deal of force is not necessary to close the slider valve. Therefore, once the second bead engages the rib on the cap body, the slider valve is necessarily in the closed and sealed position.
It will become apparent that other objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment set forth hereinafter.
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Bui Thach H
Middleton & Reutlinger
Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
Salazar John F.
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
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