Dispensing closure with self-closing valve

• US 10,442,584 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weener Plastics Netherlands B.V. (Weener Plastik GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Weener Plastics Netherlands B.V. (Weener Plastik GmbH)
• Inventors: Ellenkamp-Van Olst, Lenny Marita, Ramon, Willem, Rap, Albertus, Stegeman, Gerrit Jan, Den Boer, Sebastiaan Wilhelmus Josephus
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gruby, Randall A
• Application Number:
  US15/546,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20180022514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/472 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5346 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/61 Joining from or joining on the inside for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81427 comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0096 Producing closure members for containers, e.g. closure caps or stoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/003 Thermoplastic elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/56 Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like , e.g. closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0842 consisting of a strap of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispensing closure for a product container includes a plastic closure body having a top wall with a dispensing opening which is arranged in line with a dispensing passage of the container. The closure includes a self-closing valve embodied as a membrane made of a plastic foil. The membrane has a valve portion, which in use can assume an open position under influence of product pressure, and an attachment portion surrounding the valve portion. The attachment portion of the valve is sealed to an annular support surface integrally formed in the closure body along the periphery of the opening or being formed on a plastic annular insert part that is connected to the closure body along the periphery of the opening. The seal between the attachment portion and the support surface includes an annular groove and an inner annular seal zone adjoining the annular groove on a radial inner side.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure comprising a plastic closure body adapted to be attached to a product container having a dispensing passage for dispensing product from the container,

the closure body having a top wall provided with an opening which is arranged in line with the dispensing passage of the container,

the dispensing closure furthermore comprising a self-closing valve embodied as a membrane made of a plastic having a thickness, which membrane has a valve portion with one or more slits or holes, which in use can assume an open position under influence of product pressure, and an attachment portion surrounding the valve portion,

the attachment portion of the valve is heat sealed to an annular support surface formed on a plastic annular insert part that is connected to the closure body along a periphery of the opening,

wherein the seal between the attachment portion and the support surface comprises an annular groove and an inner annular seal zone adjoining the annular groove on a radial inner side of the annular groove, said inner annular seal zone and said annular groove both formed in said support surface, wherein said annular groove being recessed in the support surface and having a depth that is 2 to 5 times the thickness of the membrane.

2. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the seal between the attachment portion and the support surface furthermore comprises an outer annular seal zone adjoining the annular groove on a radial outer side.

3. The dispensing closure according to claim 2, wherein the inner annular seal zone and outer annular seal zone have a same radial width.

4. The dispensing closure according to claim 2, wherein the outer annular seal zone has a radial width of about 0.5 mm.

5. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the inner annular seal zone and/or outer annular seal zone are/is flat.

6. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the insert part is made of a polymer material, preferably PP or PE.

7. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the insert part includes a circumferential wall portion that extends from the support surface of the ring in an axial direction of the ring and is located radially outward from the support surface.

8. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the plastic membrane is selected from PP foil, PE foil, or TPE foil.

9. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the plastic membrane has a thickness within a range of 30 to 150 μ

m.

10. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the valve portion of the valve is provided with at least two intersecting slits.

11. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a radial width within a range of 0.3 to 0.4 mm.

12. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a depth of 0.15 mm.

13. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the inner annular seal zone has a radial width of about 0.5 mm.