One-piece dispensing system and method for making same

• US 5,927,566 A
• Filed: 07/11/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AptarGroup Incorporated
• Inventors: Mueller, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US08/680,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 222/212, 222/490, 222/491, 222/494
• US Class Current: 222/490
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/00 Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor injection blow-moulding B29C49/06
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/00 Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/02 Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/00 Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor B29C61/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/766 on the end part of a tubular article
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/20 Flexible squeeze tubes, e.g. for cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/20 Flexible squeeze tubes, e.g. for cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/565 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispensing system for a container is provided in the form of a dispensing end structure defining a dispensing orifice and a surrounding attachment region. Subsequently, a dispensing valve is molded from a second material to include (a) a peripheral portion molded against, and bonded to, the end structure attachment region, and (b) a central portion that extends from the peripheral portion across the dispensing orifice.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for a container, said system comprising:

a dispensing end structure molded from a first material to form a unitary dispensing body which is adapted to extend from a container and which defines a dispensing orifice and which has an exterior surface that in part defines an attachment region surrounding said orifice; and

a dispensing valve molded from a second material to define (a) a flexible central portion having a dispensing orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on one side of said valve and which closes to shut off flow through said valve upon removal of the increased pressure, (b) a skirt extending outwardly from said flexible central portion, and (c) a peripheral portion extending peripherally from said skirt, said peripheral portion having been molded against said body attachment region in surface-to-surface contact to create a bond between said peripheral portion and said body attachment region wherein said bond includes a weld defined by the interface solidification of melted portions of said first and second materials so as to locate said valve central portion inwardly of said body dispensing orifice with said valve skirt extending outwardly through said body dispensing orifice, said bond preventing damage-free removal of said valve from said body attachment region.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 further including a lid molded as a unitary part of said end structure for occluding said dispensing orifice in a closed position over said end structure and for being moved away from said closed position to permit the dispensing of a product out of said valve.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said first material is polypropylene and said second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said end structure is an injection-molded closure body having an annular skirt that is releasably attachable to a container neck that defines an opening to the interior of a container.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which

said valve is molded from a thermoplastic elastomer;

and

said valve central portion has a dispensing aperture defined by two intersecting slits which open to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on one side of said valve and which close to shut off flow therethrough upon removal of the increased pressure.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said end structure includes an annular mass of said first material which is connected to said attachment region and which can be formed into an open-ended container body that can be subsequently filled with product and sealed closed.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said end structure includes an injection-molded, open-ended body of a container having a hollow, cylindrical wall which can be subsequently filled with product and sealed closed.

8. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said end structure includes a small tube which (1) defines said dispensing orifice and surrounding attachment region to which said valve is bonded, (2) has an open end opposite said valve, and (3) can be subsequently blow-molded to a larger size container with a sealed closed end opposite said valve.