Metering and dispensing closure
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispensing closure for a container, the dispensing closure comprising:
- a cap adapted to be received on the container, the cap having an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed;
a first movable member positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first movable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked;
a second movable member positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second moveable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, movement of the first moveable member and the second moveable member is sequenced such that at least one of the moveable members is always blocking the aperture; and
a plurality of resilient fingers coupled to the first movable member and extending from the first movable member toward the cap, the fingers being movable with the first movable member between a position in which the fingers are not aligned with the aperture and a position in which the fingers are aligned with the aperture, the resilient fingers extend into the aperture of the cap when the fingers are in the aligned position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A metering and dispensing closure for a container wherein two rotatable disks rotate in conjunction with a stationary cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The disks and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A dispensing closure for a container, the dispensing closure comprising:
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a cap adapted to be received on the container, the cap having an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed; a first movable member positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first movable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked; a second movable member positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second moveable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, movement of the first moveable member and the second moveable member is sequenced such that at least one of the moveable members is always blocking the aperture; and a plurality of resilient fingers coupled to the first movable member and extending from the first movable member toward the cap, the fingers being movable with the first movable member between a position in which the fingers are not aligned with the aperture and a position in which the fingers are aligned with the aperture, the resilient fingers extend into the aperture of the cap when the fingers are in the aligned position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A dispensing closure for a container, the dispensing closure comprising:
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a cap adapted to be received on the container, the cap having an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed; a first movable member positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first movable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked; and a second movable member positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second moveable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, the second movable member comprises an edge that contacts and passes over the aperture in the cap when the second movable member moves from the second position back to the first position, the edge comprises a generally angled surface terminating at a point defining an acute angle, movement of the edge over the aperture removes a dispensed material coupled to an outer surface of the cap adjacent the aperture; wherein the movement of the first moveable member and the second moveable member is sequenced such that at least one of the moveable members is always blocking the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a funnel coupled to the frame and supported to rotated relative to the frame; a drive member coupled to the frame and the funnel, the drive member actuatable to rotate the funnel relative to the frame; a conduit in fluid communication with a water source and the funnel; a container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the container and closure are supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the funnel, the closure and funnel being in rotational engagement such that rotation of the funnel causes rotation of at least a portion of the closure, wherein the closure dispenses the materials into the funnel. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of dispensing a powder or granular material from a container, the method comprising:
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providing a dispensing assembly comprising a frame, a funnel coupled to the frame and supported to rotated relative to the frame, a drive member coupled to the frame and the funnel, the drive member actuatable to rotate the funnel relative to the frame, a conduit in fluid communication with a water source and the funnel, and a container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the container and closure are supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the funnel; actuating the drive member; rotating funnel via actuation of the drive member; engaging a portion of the closure with the funnel; rotating at least a portion of the closure via rotation of the funnel; and dispensing the powdered or granular material from the container and through the closure and into the funnel via rotation of at least a portion of the closure. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method of dispensing a powder or granular material from a container, the method comprising:
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providing a dispensing assembly comprising a frame, a funnel coupled to the frame and supported to rotated relative to the frame, a drive member coupled to the frame and the funnel, the drive member actuatable to rotate the funnel relative to the frame, a conduit in fluid communication with a water source and the funnel, and a container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the container and closure are supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the funnel; dispensing the powdered or granular material from the container and through the closure and into the funnel via rotation of at least a portion of the closure; drawing water from the water source and through the conduit to the funnel; actuating the drive member; rotating funnel via actuation of the drive member; and flushing the powdered or granular material from the funnel with the water while rotating the funnel. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A system for dispensing a powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic, the dispensing assembly comprising:
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a distributable container having an opening and containing the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic; a closure coupled to the distributable container, the closure configured to prevent moisture from entering the container and contacting the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic, the closure comprising a cap adapted to fit over and secure the opening of the distributable container, the cap having a central axis and an opening therein positioned off-center from the central axis, the cap having an inner surface and an outer surface; a first rotor coupled to the inside of the cap and positioned to rotate about the central axis of the cap, the first rotor is rotatable between a position in which it blocks the opening of the cap and a position in which it does not block the opening of the cap; and a second rotor coupled to the outside of the cap and positioned to rotate about the central axis of the cap, the second rotor is rotatable between a position in which it blocks the opening in the cap and a position in which it does not block the opening of the cap; wherein the rotation of the first rotor and the second rotor is sequenced such that at least one of the rotors always block the opening in the cap to prevent moisture from entering the container and contacting the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic; a dispenser fixed at a dispensing location adapted to receive the closure of the container and selectively operate the closure to dispense the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic; a power source operatively coupled to the dispenser and adapted to rotate the rotors relative to the cap when the closure is mated to the dispenser thereby rotate the first rotor between the first position and the second position of the first rotor and thereby rotate the second rotor between the first position and the second position of the second rotor to allow for dispensing of the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic from the distributable container to the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification