Dispensing – With lock or fastening seal – Single-use fastening seal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-07-10
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
With lock or fastening seal
Single-use fastening seal
C222S153020, C222S499000, C222S522000, C222S525000, C222S541600, C215S253000, C215S311000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257453
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dispensing closure for removable attachment to a dispensing opening of a container. More particularly, this invention relates to a two-piece dispensing closure of the foregoing type with tamper-indicating opening characteristics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,700 (Fillmore et al.), which was assigned to a predecessor of the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a two-piece dispensing closure for attachment to the neck of a liquid containing container. The closure of this reference has a molded plastic cap with an annular opening in a top panel portion therein and an annular molded plastic valve telescopically inserted in the opening of the closure panel. The valve is slidable relative to the cap between an inner position of the valve, in which no dispensing of the contents of the container can occur, and an outer position of the valve, in which dispensing of the contents of the container can occur through the valve. Closures of this type have been widely used in the packaging of various non-comestible liquids, such as liquid detergents. and these packaging applications do not require tamper-indicating opening characteristics.
In the packaging of comestible liquids, however, such as sport drinks and other unpressurized beverages, it is desirable to provide a recloseable dispensing closure of the general type of the aforesaid '700 Patent to permit consumption of the contents of the container in doses that are much smaller than the capacity of the container. However, for these applications it is also important that the closure have tamper-indicating opening characteristics, both as to the attachment of the closure cap to the container and as to the telescopic fit between the closure valve and the closure cap, and the aforesaid '700 Patent does not disclose or suggest the inclusion of any structure that would impart the needed tamper-indicating opening characteristics to the closure described therein.
Another requirement for a two-piece dispensing closure for a comestible product is to provide a secure interference fit between the closure valve and the closure cap to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the valve from the cap during movement of the valve from its non-dispensing position to its dispensing position.
Other known prior art references relative to two-piece dispensing closure inventions are U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,008 (Crisci), U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,562 (Sander et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,685 (Carr et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,953 (Long, Jr.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A dispensing closure according to the present invention is intended for application to a neck of a liquid container and is made up of a molded plastic cap member having an annular, transversely extending top panel member whose opening is surrounded by an annular spout that extends axially from the top panel member, the cap member further having an annular skirt extending axially from an edge of the top panel member in a direction opposed to the direction of the spout, the top panel member, annular spout and annular skirt being molded integrally in a single piece. The skirt is provided with an integral, inwardly extending helical thread to permit the dispensing closure to be removably affixed to a threaded neck of a bottle or other container. Of course, other modes of attachment of a closure to a container neck, such as a snap fit, are also contemplated. The dispensing closure further has a valve member that is slidable within the spout of the cap member between an innermost position of the valve member, where no dispensing of the liquid in the container can occur, and an outermost position of the valve member, where dispensing of the liquid in the container can occur through an annulus between the interior of the spout and the exterior of the valve member. An innermost end of the valve member is provided with an annular extension whose radial extent is greater than the radial extent of the opening of the spout. The annular extension has sufficient flexibility to permit the valve member to be forcibly inserted into the spout of the cap until it clears the interior of the spout and the top panel of the cap. However, the annular extension thereafter serves to help prevent inadvertent disengagement of the valve member from the cap during the movement of the valve member from its non-dispensing position to its dispensing position. This is accomplished by making the annular extension axially thicker at its innermost extent than at its outermost extent, to thereby make an outer region of the annular extension sufficiently flexible to permit the valve member to be inserted through the spout of the cap into its assembled relationship with the cap.
The dispensing closure of the present invention is intended for application to a container for the packaging of a comestible liquid, for example, for the packaging of a sport drink or other still or non-carbonated beverage, and the interference fit between the valve member and the cap makes such a dispensing closure suitable for a container intended for the packaging of a comestible product that is normally consumed in a multitude of small doses. In any case, as a dispensing closure intended for application to a container for a comestible product, the dispensing closure of the present invention is provided with structure to impart tamper-indicating opening characteristics thereto, both as to the attachment of the cap to the container and as to the relationship between the valve member and the cap in the original, non-dispensing position of the valve member.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, two-piece dispensing valve for application to the neck of a container. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved two-piece dispensing closure with structure to help to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the separate pieces of the two-piece container during movement of the separate pieces relative to one another to permit dispensing through the dispensing container. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing closure as described above with tamper-indicating opening characteristics.
For a further understanding of the present invention and the objects thereof, attention is directed to the drawing and to the following brief description thereof, to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2775369 (1956-12-01), Waite
patent: 2790582 (1957-04-01), Halpern
patent: 2834520 (1958-05-01), Nyden
patent: 3294294 (1966-12-01), Amburgey
patent: 3521796 (1970-07-01), Roy
patent: 4408700 (1983-10-01), Fillmore et al.
patent: 5104008 (1992-04-01), Crisci
patent: 5588562 (1996-12-01), Sander et al.
patent: 5655685 (1997-08-01), Carr et al.
patent: 5862953 (1999-01-01), Long, Jr.
Jacyna J. Casimer
Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
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