Dispensing closure with a twist sleeve and two internal passages

• US 5,379,926 A
• Filed: 03/26/1993
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AptarGroup Incorporated
• Inventors: Daniels, Richard J., Elliott, John, Mueller, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US08/038,909
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 222/503, 222/505, 222/507, 222/531, 222/532, 222/548, 222/550, 222/553, 222/556
• US Class Current: 222/507
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2006 formed by a rigid spout outlet opened by tilting of the spout outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispensing closure is provided with a body having an outlet passage. A sleeve is mounted on the body for rotation relative to the body. The sleeve has a transverse deck defining a discharge passage for communicating with the body outlet passage as the discharge passage moves in an arc relative to the body. In one embodiment, a seal is provided between the sleeve deck and the body around the outlet passage and discharge passage. In a preferred embodiment, an actuator is mounted on the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve. Engaging structures are defined by the body and actuator for tilting actuator between a closed position and an open position while the actuator is rotated with the sleeve. The actuator includes engaging portions for engagement with drive members projecting upwardly from the body through openings in the sleeve. Engagement between the drive members and actuator is effected on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the actuator so as to effect tilting of the actuator between an open position and a closed position.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure for an opening to a container, and closure comprising:

a body that can be located on said container over said opening, said body having a transverse end wall defining an outlet passage through said end wall for communicating with said container opening;

a sleeve mounted on said body for rotation relative to said body about a rotation axis defined by said sleeve, said sleeve having a transverse deck over said body end wall, and said deck defining a discharge passage through said deck offset from said rotation axis for being moved in an arc relative to said body outlet passage when said sleeve is rotated;

an actuator mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith to occlude flow through said discharge passage from said container when said actuator means is in a closed, non-dispensing position and to permit flow through said discharge passage from said container when said actuator is tilted about a pivot axis to an open, dispensing position; and

engaging means defined by said body and said actuator for tilting said actuator between said closed position and said open position while said actuator is rotated with said sleeve.

2. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said body is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container.

3. A dispensing closure for an opening to a container, and closure comprising:

a body that can be located on said container over said opening, said body having an outlet passage for communicating with said container opening and having a pair of upwardly projecting drive members;

a sleeve mounted on said body for rotation relative to said body about a rotation axis defined by said sleeve, said sleeve having a transverse deck over said body, said sleeve deck defining opening means for receiving said drive members which extend therethrough, and said deck also defining a discharge passage through said deck for communicating with said body outlet passage; and

an actuator mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith to occlude flow through said discharge passage from said container when said actuator means is in a closed, non-dispensing position and to permit flow through said discharge passage from said container when said actuator means is tilted about a pivot axis to an open, dispensing position, said actuator including engaging portions for engagement with said body drive members, the engagement between said body drive members and said actuator engaging portions effectively occurring on opposite sides of said pivot axis to effect tilting of said actuator.

4. The closure in accordance with claim 3 in which each said drive member is a post having at least one drive surface inclined relative to a plane that is normal to said rotational axis and having an abutment surface oriented parallel to said plane.

5. The closure in accordance with claim 4 in which the top of each said post has an upwardly open channel.

6. The closure in accordance with claim 4 in which a circular arc between said posts is less than 180°

.

7. The closure in accordance with claim 3 in which said actuator engaging portions include two spaced-apart, downwardly projecting cam rails which each have a cam ramp inclined relative to a plane that is normal to said rotation axis.

8. The closure in accordance with claim 7 in which said cam ramps are partially helical and have different inclinations.

9. The closure in accordance with claim 7 in which one of said rails has an abutment surface oriented parallel to said plane.

10. The closure in accordance with claim 7 in which said actuator engaging portions include a planar surface of said actuator from which said cam rails project whereby at least one of said posts engages said planar surface during a part of the rotation of said sleeve and engages one of said cam rails during another part of the rotation of said sleeve.

11. The closure in accordance with claim 3 in which said body is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container.

12. The closure in accordance with claim 3 in which

said sleeve deck opening means includes two spaced-apart slots defined in said deck outwardly of said discharge passage;

and

one of said drive members projects through one of said slots and the other of said drive members projects through the other of said slots.

13. A dispensing closure for an opening to a container, and closure comprising:

a body that can be located on said container over said opening, said body having an outlet passage for communicating with said container opening and having a pair of upwardly projecting drive members;

a sleeve mounted on said body for rotation relative to said body about a rotation axis defined by said sleeve, said sleeve having a transverse deck over said body, said sleeve deck defining opening means for receiving said drive members which extend therethrough, and said deck also defining a discharge passage through said deck for communicating with said body outlet passage;

an actuator mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith to occlude flow through said discharge passage from said container when said actuator means is in a closed, non-dispensing position and to permit flow through said discharge passage from said container when said actuator means is tilted about a pivot axis to an open, dispensing position, said actuator including engaging portions for engagement with said body drive members, the engagement between said body drive members and said actuator engaging portions effectively occurring on opposite sides of said pivot axis to effect tilting of said actuator;

said sleeve discharge passage being radially offset from said rotation axis;

said body including a transverse end wall which has a generally planar, upwardly facing, top surface;

said sleeve further including a generally annular seal flange projecting downwardly from said deck bottom surface toward the body end wall top surface; and

said body end wall having an annular seal wall projecting upwardly toward said sleeve deck, said annular seal wall being concentric with, and in sealing engagement with, said sleeve seal flange.

14. A dispensing closure for an opening to a container, and closure comprising:

a body that can be located on said container over said opening, said body having a tranverse end wall defining an outlet passage through said end wall for communicating with said container opening;

a sleeve mounted on said body for rotation relative to said body about a rotation axis defined by said sleeve, said sleeve having a transverse deck over said body end wall, and said deck defining a discharge passage through said deck for communicating with said body outlet passage and for being opened and closed;

a seal which is located between said sleeve deck and said body transverse end wall and which extends around said body outlet passage and said deck discharge passage;

an actuator mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith to occlude flow from said container when said actuator means is in a closed, non-dispensing position and to permit flow from said container when said actuator means is tilted about a pivot axis to an open, dispensing position; and

engaging means defined by said body and said actuator for tilting said actuator between said closed position and said open position while said actuator is rotated with said sleeve.