Dispensing closure and method

• US 5,392,968 A
• Filed: 06/14/1993
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard C.G. Dark
• Original Assignee: Richard C.G. Dark
• Inventors: Dark, Richard C. G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US08/078,006
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 222/527, 222/528, 222/529, 222/530, 222/531, 222/532, 222/534, 222/536
• US Class Current: 222/529
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/066 the spout being either flexible or having a flexible wall portion, whereby the spout is foldable between a dispensing and a non-dispensing position B65D47/2043 takes precedence

Abstract

A resealable plastic closure formed of one piece of plastic material includes a swivelable diaphragm to allow a hinged spout to pivot between an upright dispensing position and a down closed position. To permit easier operation in closures containing diaphragms in small sizes, the diaphragm is divided by a crease, hinging the two section, and one diaphragm section is invertible and the other diaphragm section is pliable, deformable. Improved side latches for the spout are provided by flexible latch member supporting wall that may flex into an adjacent cavity on the underside of the closure base. The fabrication of those side latches is enhanced in a process that withdraws one tool to create a void behind the latch member supporting walls so that the other tool, which forms the latch member, may be withdrawn without damaging the member by forcing the walls to flex laterally as the second tool is withdrawn. In one such resealable closure that is particularly adapted for drinking cup application a novel spout seal of cylindrical tubular section provides the sealing function by collapsing the cylindrical wall in response to the spout being placed in the closed position.

Claims

1. In a one piece molded plastic resealable dispensing closure of the type comprising:

a closure base defining a seal surface;

a dispensing spout defining a passage through said base, with said spout being swivelly mounted by a pivot axis to said base for positioning in a dispensing position and, alternatively, in a sealing position;

an invertible flexible diaphragm, said diaphragm having a peripheral portion connected to said base and means connecting another peripheral portion of said invertible diaphragm to said spout, with a portion of said peripheral portion located most distant from said pivot axis and said pivot axis defining a plane, whereby movement of said spout swivels said invertible diaphragm through said plane, responsive to which said invertible diaphragm inverts;

said diaphragm providing an arrangement that pre-loads said spout in the direction of the dispensing position, when said spout is in the dispensing position, and pre-loads said spout in the direction of the sealing position, when said spout is in the sealing position;

the improvement wherein said means connecting said spout to said invertible diaphragm comprises;

a elastic foldable diaphragm means for coupling a force applied to pivot said spout to said invertible diaphragm during movement of said spout to swivel and permit inverting of said invertible diaphragm as said spout is moved to the sealing position, said foldable diaphragm being sufficiently pliant to be pulled by said spout and placed in a position underlying said spout with a bend formed at the juncture of said foldable diaphragm with said spout, when said spout is in said sealing position, said spout initially folding over a portion of said foldable diaphragm in overlying relationship with a remaining portion of said foldable diaphragm to create a bend in said foldable diaphragm, responsive to said spout being moved from said dispensing position toward said sealing position, and then unfolds said diaphragm, responsive to said spout being moved further to said sealing position, whereby the location of said bend moves along said foldable diaphragm to said juncture of said foldable diaphragm with said spout;

wherein said foldable diaphragm reduces said pre-load on said spout in the direction of said dispensing position responsive to folding over; and

wherein said invertible and foldable diaphragms collectively define a predetermined surface area when said spout is in said dispensing position with each said diaphragm covering a more than insignificant portion of said surface area.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said foldable diaphragm comprises a first predetermined surface area and said invertible diaphragm comprises a second predetermined surface area, said first predetermined surface area being less than said second predetermined surface area;

and a crease at the boundary between said foldable diaphragm and said invertible diaphragm to permit at least some pivotal movement between said foldable diaphragm and said invertible diaphragm, responsive to said spout moving from said dispensing position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said foldable diaphragm is of a predetermined length which extends in the direction of the spout axis a predetermined distance beyond the bottom of said spout, responsive to said spout being in said dispensing position.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said invertible diaphragm includes two straight lateral side ends oriented parallel to one another, a straight bottom end oriented perpendicular to said two lateral side ends and an upper end, bordering said deformable diaphragm, having a concavely curved shape.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said invertible diaphragm includes two straight lateral side ends oriented parallel to one another, a straight bottom end oriented perpendicular to said two lateral side ends and an upper end, bordering said deformable diaphragm, having an arcuate shape.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure base includes an upper side surface and an underside surface with said dispensing spout defining the fluid passage between said upper and underside surfaces;

and further includes;

latch means on said base for releasably latching said spout in the sealing position, said latch means including a first latching member located to one side of said spout for engagement with a complementary latching member located on said spout responsive to said spout being in the sealing position; and

further comprising;

a wall on said base for supporting said first latching member with one side of said wall being on the upper side surface and the opposed side of said wall being on the underside surface in spaced relation with other portions of said base to define a cavity behind said opposed side of said wall, said wall being sufficiently flexible to permit said spout to move into the sealed position and be latched responsive to application of a sufficient force applied to said spout.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said closure base includes an upper side surface and an underside surface with said dispensing spout defining the fluid passage between said upper and underside surfaces and further includes latch means on said base for releasably latching said spout in the sealing position, said latch means including a first latching member located to one side of said spout for engagement with a complementary latching member located on said spout responsive to said spout being in the sealing position;

and further comprising;

a wall on said base for supporting said first latching member with one side of said wall being on the upper side surface and the opposed side of said wall being on the underside surface in spaced relation with other portions of said base to define a cavity behind said opposed side of said wall, said wall being sufficiently flexible to permit said spout to move into the sealed position and be latched responsive to application of a sufficient force applied to said spout.

8. In a one piece resealable closure of plastic material of the type containing a pivotable spout and a diaphragm moved by said spout mounted on a closure base in which said spout is swivelly mounted to said base for movement about a pivot axis between a dispensing position and a closed position and said diaphragm is swivelly mounted to said base for swiveling movement by said spout, said diaphragm having an edge most distant from said pivot axis, said distant edge defining with said pivot axis a plane;

said spout having a foot end containing a seal for sealing engagement with a sealing surface of said closure base responsive to said spout being swiveled about said pivot axis into said closed position, the improvement wherein said diaphragm comprises a flexible compound diaphragm of predetermined surface area, said compound diaphragm including a flexible foldable diaphragm and an invertible diaphragm serially connected in the order recited between said spout foot end and said closure base with each said flexible foldable diaphragm and invertible diaphragm comprising a more than insignificant portion of said predetermined surface area; and

said invertible diaphragm inverting responsive to being swiveled through said plane, and wherein a portion of said foldable diaphragm is folded over in overlying relationship with a remaining portion thereof to create a bend in said foldable diaphragm, responsive to said spout being pivoted from said dispensing position toward said closed position, and then unfolds, responsive to said spout being pivoted further to said closed position, wherein said bend moves along said flexible foldable diaphragm to said juncture of said flexible foldable diaphragm with said foot end of said spout.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said flexible foldable diaphragm and said invertible diaphragm are angularly inclined relative to one another, when said spout is in the dispensing position, to define a crease therebetween.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said flexible foldable diaphragm includes a top end connected to said foot end of said spout and defines a bend line therewith at that end, said flexible foldable diaphragm being bendable relative to said spout at said connection with said spout foot end.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10, wherein said foot end of said spout moves in an arcuate path to push said flexible foldable diaphragm during the initial course of travel of said spout to the closed position and through said flexible foldable diaphragm to invert said invertible diaphragm and during additional movement to the sealing position to place said flexible foldable diaphragm in a position underlying said spout;

said flexible foldable diaphragm being adapted to swivel about and be pushed and then pulled by said arcuately moving foot end of said spout, whereby said flexible foldable diaphragm is temporarily flexed and forms a bend therein that moves to said foot end of said spout and is placed in a position underlying said spout, responsive to said spout attaining the closed position.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11, further comprising:

latch means for releasibly latching said spout in the closed position.

13. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said flexible foldable diaphragm comprises a predetermined surface area that is less than the surface area of said invertible diaphragm and defines a crease at the boundary thereof with said invertible diaphragm to permit pivotal movement between said flexible foldable diaphragm and said invertible diaphragm.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13, wherein said flexible foldable diaphragm is of a predetermined length which extends a predetermined axial distance beneath said foot end of said spout, responsive to said spout being in said dispensing position.

15. The invention as defined in claim 10, wherein said invertible diaphragm includes two straight lateral side ends oriented parallel to one another, a straight bottom end oriented perpendicular to said two lateral side ends and an upper end, bordering said flexible foldable diaphragm, having a concavely curved shape.

16. A one piece resealable closure of plastic material, comprising:

a pivotable spout and a diaphragm mounted on a closure base with said spout being swivelly mounted to said base for movement about a pivot axis between a dispensing position and a closed position and said diaphragm being swivelly mounted to said base for swiveling movement by said spout;

said diaphragm defining a surface area and having an edge most distant from said pivot axis, said most distant edge and said pivot axis defining a plane;

said spout having a base containing a seal for sealing engagement with a sealing surface of said closure base, responsive to said spout being swiveled into the closed position;

latch means for releasibly latching said spout in the closed position; and

wherein said diaphragm comprises;

a flexible diaphragm and an invertible diaphragm serially connected between said spout base and said closure base, with each comprising a more than insignificant portion of said surface area;

said invertible diaphragm inverting responsive to being swiveled through said plane and providing an arrangement that pre-loads said spout in the direction of the dispensing position, when said spout is in the dispensing position, and pre-loads said spout in the direction of the sealing position, when said spout is in the sealing position;

said flexible diaphragm and said invertible diaphragm being angularly inclined relative to one another, when said spout is in the dispensing position, to define a crease therebetween;

said flexible diaphragm including an upper end connected to said spout base and defining a bend line therewith at said upper end, wherein said flexible diaphragm is bendable relative to said spout at said connection with said spout base;

said base of said spout being movable in an arcuate path to push said flexible diaphragm during the initial course of travel of said spout from said dispensing position to the closed position and, through said flexible diaphragm, to invert said invertible diaphragm and, during additional movement to the closed position, to place said flexible diaphragm in a position underlying said spout; and

said flexible diaphragm being adapted to swivel about and be pushed and then be pulled by said arcuately moving base of said spout, whereby said flexible diaphragm is temporarily deformed and forms a bend therein that moves toward said spout base, responsive to said spout moving from said dispensing position toward said closed position, and is placed in a position underlying said spout responsive to said spout attaining the closed position.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said closure base includes a compartment recessed from a top surface thereof;

wherein said diaphragm is located within said compartment and wherein said spout is swivelable into said compartment to attain said closed position and orient a surface of said spout flush with said top surface of said closure base.

18. The invention as defined in claim 16, wherein said invertible diaphragm includes two straight lateral side ends oriented parallel to one another, a straight bottom end oriented perpendicular to said two lateral side ends and an upper end, bordering said flexible diaphragm, defining a curve in shape.

19. The invention as defined in claim 18 wherein said latch means comprises:

a first latching member located to one side of said spout for engagement with a complementary latching member located on said spout responsive to said spout being in the sealing position;

a wall on said base for supporting said first latching member with one side of said wall being on an upper side surface of said closure base and the opposed side of said wall being on an underside surface of said closure base in spaced relation with other portions of said closure base to define a cavity behind said opposed side of said wall, said wall being sufficiently flexible to permit said spout to move into the sealed position and be latched responsive to application of a sufficient force applied to said spout to move said spout to said sealed position and to permit said spout unlatch and move toward said dispensing position responsive to application of a sufficient force applied to said spout to move said spout to said dispensing position.

20. In a one piece injection molded plastic closure of the type containing a movable spout that is pivotable about a pivot axis between a dispensing position and a sealed position and a diaphragm of predetermined surface area moved by said spout during pivoting of said spout, with said diaphragm having an edge most distant from said pivot axis, said edge and said pivot axis defining a plane, the improvement wherein said diaphragm comprises a sequential diaphragm, said sequential diaphragm containing a plurality of diaphragm sections with said sections being operated in sequence by said spout as said spout moves between said dispensing and sealed positions with one of said plurality of diaphragm sections being an invertible diaphragm operable to invert responsive to being moved through said plane and another of said plurality of diaphragm sections being a flexible diaphragm operable to wrap over upon itself and each diaphragm section comprising a more than insignificant portion of said predetermined surface area.

21. A diaphragm formed of plastic material for connecting a pivotably mounted member to a base, said diaphragm defining a predetermined surface area, comprising:

a first diaphragm section defining a flexible diaphragm; and

a second diaphragm section defining an invertible diaphragm;

said first and second diaphragm sections each comprising a greater than insignificant portion of said predetermined surface area;

said second diaphragm section being connected integrally to said first diaphragm section for placing said two sections in a mechanical series relationship, wherein movement of said first diaphragm section forces movement of said second diaphragm section;

said second diaphragm section having a peripheral portion for connection to said base and having the characteristic of elastically inverting when pushed with suitable force by said first diaphragm section when said peripherial portion is held in fixed position; and

said first diaphragm section having a peripheral portion for connection to said pivotably mounted member and having the characteristic of flexurally wrapping over responsive to the application of sufficient torque to said peripheral portion by said pivotal member.

22. The diaphragm as defined in claim 21 wherein said connection between said first and second sections defines a crease.

23. The invention as defined in claim 21 wherein said first and second diaphragm sections are formed with the respective surfaces thereof angularly inclined relative to one another define a crease at the connection between said sections.

24. In a one piece resealable closure formed of injection molded plastic material of the type containing a pivotable spout and a diaphragm mounted on a closure base, wherein said spout is swivelly mounted to said base for movement between an upright dispensing position and a closed sealing position and said diaphragm is swively mounted to said base for movement by said spout, said closure base having an upperside surface and an underside surface with said spout providing a passage for flowable material from said underside surface of said closure base to said upperside surface thereof, and latch means for releasibly holding said spout in said closed position, said latch means further comprising a spout bar projection formed on each of the right and left hand sides of said spout laterally outwardly projecting therefrom and a corresponding base bar projection located on each of the right and left hand sides of said closure base and base bar mounting means for mounting said base bar projection to overlie and latchingly engage the corresponding spout bar projection when said spout is in the closed position;

the improvement therein wherein said base bar mounting means for mounting said base bar projections comprises;

a first support wall on said base located to the left hand side of said spout for supporting one said base bar projection with one side of said wall being on the upper side surface of said base and the opposed side of said wall being on the underside surface of said base in spaced relation with other portions of said base to define a cavity behind said opposed side of said wall;

a second support wall on said base located to the right hand side of said spout for supporting the other base bar projection with one side of said wall being on the upper side surface of said base and the opposed side of said wall being on the underside surface of said base in spaced relation with other portions of said base to define a cavity behind said opposed side of said wall, said walls being sufficiently flexible laterally into the respective cavity to permit said spout to move into the sealed position and be latched, responsive to application of a sufficient force applied to said spout, and to permit release of said latch responsive to application of a sufficient force, greater than the closing force, to said spout to move said spout from the closed position toward the dispensing position.

25. The invention as defined in claim 24 further comprising:

first and second lateral extending walls in said base, each having one wall surface on the upper side of said closure and an opposed surface on the under side surface of said closure;

said first lateral extending wall connected between an upper end of said first support wall and another portion of said closure base for bracing said support wall and said opposed surface thereof defining a border to said cavity behind said first support wall; and

said second lateral extending wall connected between an upper end of said second support wall and another portion of said closure base for bracing said support wall and said opposed surface thereof defining a border to said cavity behind said second support wall.

26. The invention as defined in claim 25 wherein each of said first and second lateral extending walls is of a relatively rigid characteristic.

27. The invention as defined in claim 25 wherein said diaphragm comprises a flexible compound diaphragm, said flexible compound diaphragm including a flexible foldable diaphragm and an invertible diaphragm serially connected in the order recited between a base end of said spout and said closure base.