Tamper-evident dispenser bottle
First Claim
1. A dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material, comprising:
- a bottle portion having an outlet through which the flowable material passes when dispensed from said dispenser bottle;
a cap covering said outlet, said cap having a cap hole therein and being rotatable relative to said outlet between an opened position wherein said cap hole is aligned with said outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein said cap hole is out of alignment with said outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough;
means for retaining said cap covering said outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position; and
a cap lock attached to at least one of said cap and said bottle portion, said cap lock having a locked position preventing the rotation of said cap relative to said outlet and an unlocked position wherein said cap is unconstrained by said cap lock from rotating relative to said outlet.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispenser bottle and associated closure has a sifter disposed in the neck thereof, either in the form of castellated vents formed in the interior peripheral edge of the neck or a separate sifter element. A rotatable cap is positioned over the sifter. The cap has holes that align with the vents or holes in the sifter to dispense material from the bottle. A removable lock ring is removeably conjoined to the cap to evidence tampering. One embodiment employs a squeeze tab that is depressed to open the bottle thereby increasing the dexterity required for opening. Another embodiment employs a rotatable sifter that must be held by one hand while the cap is held and rotated relative to the sifter by the other hand. A detent provides resistance to opening.
102 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material, comprising:
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a bottle portion having an outlet through which the flowable material passes when dispensed from said dispenser bottle;
a cap covering said outlet, said cap having a cap hole therein and being rotatable relative to said outlet between an opened position wherein said cap hole is aligned with said outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein said cap hole is out of alignment with said outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough;
means for retaining said cap covering said outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position; and
a cap lock attached to at least one of said cap and said bottle portion, said cap lock having a locked position preventing the rotation of said cap relative to said outlet and an unlocked position wherein said cap is unconstrained by said cap lock from rotating relative to said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material, comprising:
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a bottle portion having an outlet therein;
a sifter having a generally cylindrical side wall, an open end and a dispensing end with a sifter opening therein, said sifter rotatably coupling to said bottle at said open end in communication with said outlet; and
a cap coaxially and rotatably coupled to said sifter on said dispensing end, said cap having a cap hole therein and being rotatable relative to said sifter between an opened position wherein said cap hole is aligned with said sifter opening and a closed position wherein said cap hole is not aligned with said sifter opening. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material, comprising:
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a bottle portion with a neck defining an outlet through which the flowable material passes when dispensed from said dispenser bottle , said bottle having a rotation stop extending from an outer surface thereof proximate said neck;
a cap covering said outlet, said cap having an occluder plate with a cap hole therein and a peripheral wall depending at substantially right angles from said occluder plate, said peripheral wall slidably coaxially embracing said neck, said cap being rotatable relative to said outlet between an opened position wherein said cap hole is aligned with said outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein said cap hole is out of alignment with said outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough, said cap having a squeeze tab depending therefrom, said squeeze tab having a relaxed position and a depressed position, said squeeze tab abutting said rotation stop in the relaxed position to prevent rotation of said cap from said closed position, said squeeze tab clearing said rotation stop when in the depressed condition allowing said squeeze tab and said cap to rotate past said rotation stop to said opened position;
means for retaining said cap covering said outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A closure for selectively dispensing a flowable material through an outlet in a bottle, comprising:
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a sifter portion having a generally cylindrical side wall, an open end and a dispensing end with a sifter opening therein, said sifter rotatably coupling to the bottle at said open end in communication with the outlet thereof; and
a cap coaxially and rotatably coupled to said sifter on said dispensing end, said cap having a cap hole therein and being rotatable relative to said sifter portion between an opened position wherein said cap hole is aligned with said sifter opening and a closed position wherein said cap hole is not aligned with said sifter opening. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A closure for selectively dispensing a flowable material through an outlet in the neck of a bottle having a stop disposed on an outer surface thereof proximate the neck, comprising:
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a cap covering the outlet, said cap having an occluder plate with a cap hole therein and a peripheral wall depending at substantially right angles from said occluder plate, said peripheral wall slidably coaxially embracing the neck, said cap being rotatable relative to the outlet between an opened position wherein said cap hole is aligned with the outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein said cap hole is out of alignment with the outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough, said cap having a squeeze tab depending therefrom, said squeeze tab having a relaxed position and a depressed position, said squeeze tab abutting the rotation stop in the relaxed position to prevent rotation of said cap from said closed position, said squeeze tab clearing the rotation stop when in the depressed condition allowing said squeeze tab and said cap to rotate past said rotation stop to said opened position;
means for retaining said cap covering the outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A dispenser bottle for containing and selectively dispensing a flowable material, comprising:
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a bottle portion with a neck defining an outlet through which the flowable material passes when dispensed from said dispenser bottle;
an arcuate rail disposed on said bottle portion proximate said neck with a spacing therebetween defining an arcuate track;
a stop rail extending from said arcuate rail toward said neck;
a cap covering said outlet, said cap having an occluder plate with a cap hole therein and a peripheral wall depending at substantially right angles from said occluder plate, said peripheral wall slidably coaxially embracing said neck, said cap being rotatable relative to said outlet between an opened position wherein said cap hole is aligned with said outlet allowing the flowable material to pass therethrough to a closed position wherein said cap hole is out of alignment with said outlet preventing the flowable material from passing therethrough, said cap having a squeeze tab depending therefrom, said squeeze tab having a relaxed position and a depressed position, said squeeze tab abutting against said arcuate rail when in the relaxed condition preventing rotation of said cap and entering said arcuate track between said arcuate rail and said neck when in the depressed condition, enabling said cap to be rotated to said opened position, said stop rail limiting the rotation of said cap when said squeeze tab abuts said stop rail;
means for retaining said cap covering said outlet when in the closed position and when in the opened position. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification