Dispensing closure having an interior sealing sleeve, a threaded sleeve engaging a threaded tube, and stop blocks limiting twisting of the closure cap

• US 4,964,548 A
• Filed: 10/27/1989
• Issued: 10/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mccormick & Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mccormick & Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Kenyon, William B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEROSA, KENNETH
• Application Number:
  US07/427,993
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 222/519, 222/520, 222/521, 222/525, 222/540
• US Class Current: 222/521
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/242 moving helically

Abstract

A two-piece tubed product dispensing closure wherein the cap member has a recessed top surface such that the connected tube can be stored in an upright position resting on the end closure. The closure includes a steep pitch double thread on the tube end in combination with a steep pitch single thread in the cap to create rapid opening and closing of the closure with good cap control.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing a tubed product, comprising:

a cap having a cup shape with a concave end wall and an integral peripherally located side wall, said concave end wall including a centrally located exterior valve element, said cap also having a first interior sleeve, with a single continuous thread located on an interior surface thereof, depending from said concave end wall and a second sleeve located interiorly of said first interior sleeve, said second sleeve having a smaller axial dimension than said first sleeve; and

a tube end portion having an end wall with passages located therein and an upstanding exteriorly double threaded sleeve formed integrally therewith, said double threaded sleeve comprising a tubular member including an internal cylindrical surface having a selected axial extent, said tube end wall also having an upstanding centrally located tapered valve stem extending therefrom, said second sleeve of said cap comprising a tubular surface portion with said tubular surface portion being dimensioned to sealingly engage said internal cylindrical surface of said double threaded sleeve of said tube end portion over a substantial portion of said selected axial extent for all positions of said cap relative to said tube end portion, said tube end portion being dimensioned to telescopically fit within the cap, said cap interior sleeve thread and said tube end portion upstanding double threaded sleeve portion cooperating in a manner so as to provide relative axial displacement between said cap and said tube end portion when said cap is twisted relative to said tube end portion, said valve stem and said valve element cooperating to seal and unseal said dispensing closure upon the occurrence of axial displacement therebetween, the respective limits of axial displacement being a closed and a most open position for the dispensing closure;

said tube end portion further including a shoulder and a side wall extending axially from said shoulder with said side wall of said tube end portion having an axial dimension less than that of said double threaded sleeve, said side wall of said tube end portion having at least one first stop block means disposed thereon and said side wall of said cap having at least one second stop block means formed thereon for cooperation with said first stop block means, the two stop blocks means limiting the twisting of said cap relative to said tube end portion between said closed to said most open positions for the dispensing device, said shoulder of said tube end portion cooperating with a bottom edge portion of said side wall of said cap to limit twisting of said cap relative to said tube end portion from said most open to said closed position, said thread of said first interior sleeve reminding in contact with said double threaded sleeve of said tube end portion for all positions of said cap and tube end portion;

said concave end wall of said cap being sufficiently concave such that a peripheral rim of said cap extends axially beyond said exterior valve element, the dispensing device being capable of being stored on said end wall of said cap so that the tubed product will be pulled by gravity toward said end wall of said tube when it is so stored.

2. A dispensing closure as in claim 1, wherein:

said tube end portion, said end wall, upstanding sleeve and valve stem are a single integral molded peice.

3. A dispensing closure as in claim 1, wherein;

said cap assembly is injection molded and tube end portion is made of compression molded plastic.