Cap and dust cover for an antiseptic soap dispenser

• US 6,142,343 A
• Filed: 01/25/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steris Inc (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Alsberg, Keith D., Taylor, Jon B., Wade, Allan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Quinalty, Keats
• Application Number:
  US09/237,264
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 222/181.3, 222/181.2, 222/214, 222/325, 222/153.1, 222/182, 215/250, 215/251, 215/256, 215/276, 215/352
• US Class Current: 222/182
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1215 applied by a peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/086 using an auxiliary pressure to cooperate with the diaphragm or bellows
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/286 where filling of the measuring chamber is effected by squeezing a supply container that is in fluid connection with the measuring chamber and excess fluid is sucked back from the measuring chamber during relaxation of the supply container

Abstract

A cap (18,120) and a thrust washer (62,128) seal a flexible silicone dispensing tube (10,118) to a neck (20,114) of a container (12,116) which holds a fluid to be dispensed. The thrust washer is shaped to inhibit contact between a lip (50,110) of the dispensing tube and the interior of the cap so that the soft material of the dispensing tube is not damaged when the cap is screwed on to the neck of the container. The thrust washer slides on the cap as the cap is screwed on to limit sliding movement relative to the dispensing tube. A dust cover (24,138) protects the dispensing tube during shipment and storage. The dust cover is attached to the cap by a frangible portion (66) which is broken prior to dispensing the cleaning fluid. A lower projecting ring (86,134) on the thrust washer prevents the dust cover from compressing and damaging the lip of the dispensing tube.

Claims

1. A dispensing tube and a closure for sealing an upstream end of the dispensing tube to a neck of a container of fluid to be dispensed, the upstream end of the tube defining a lip including an annular flange, the closure comprising:

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening, the skirt having an internal thread for engaging an external thread on the container neck;

a thrust washer received within the cap, the thrust washer disposed between the lip flange and the top of the cap and being configured to engage and remain stationary with the lip flange as the cap rotates such that the thrust washer provides a bearing surface on which the top of the cap slides.

2. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 1, wherein the thrust washer includes:

an annular rim; and

an upper projecting ring extending from the annular rim, the upper projecting ring dimensions for compressing the lip of the dispensing tube between the upper projecting ring and an interior surface of the neck of the container.

4. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 1, wherein the cap further includes:

a thrust washing guiding projection which extends inwardly from an interior surface of the skirt, the thrust washing guiding projection situated for positioning the thrust washer in the cap.

7. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 1, wherein the thrust washer has a smooth lower surface which slides over the interior surface of the top of the cap when the cap is rotated in the capping direction.

8. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 1, further including a dust cover which is releasably connected to the cap.

9. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 8, wherein the dust cover is connected to the cap by a frangible portion.

11. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 8, wherein the thrust washer includes a lower annular projecting ring which is positioned between an upper surface of the dust cover and the lip of the dispensing tube.

12. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 8, wherein the dust cover includes an inwardly projecting end portion for supporting a self sealing valve on the dispensing tube.

14. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 8, wherein the dust cover includes vertically extending projections for gripping by a user during removal of the dust cover.

3. A dispensing tube and a closure for sealing an upstream end of the dispensing tube to a neck of a container of fluid to be dispensed;

the upstream end of the tube defining a lip, the lip including a U-shaped portion;

the closure comprising;

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening, the skirt having an internal thread for engaging an external thread on the container neck;

a washer received within the cap and rotatable relative to the top of the cap, the washer configured for maintaining a separation between the cap and the lip of the tube, the washer including;

an annular rim; and

a projecting ring extending from the annular rim, the projecting ring being dimensioned for compressing an outer annular side of the U-shaped portion between the projecting ring and an interior surface of the neck of the container.

5. The dispensing tube and closure of claim 3, wherein the lip of the dispensing tube includes a flange which extends circumferentially from the outer annular side of the U-shaped portion and wherein the rim of the thrust washer is shaped for compressing the flange between the rim and the neck of the container.

6. A dispensing tube and a closure for sealing an upstream end of the dispensing tube to a neck of a container of fluid to be dispensed, the neck of the container defining an external thread, the upstream end of the tube defining a lip, the closure comprising:

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening, the skirt having an internal thread for engaging the external thread on the container neck;

an additional thread segment, the additional thread segment defined adjacent one of the external thread and the internal thread, the additional thread segment converging with the one of the external thread and the internal thread to define a region which is narrower than a width of the other of the external thread and the internal thread, whereby the external and internal threads disengage from threaded engagement when the cap is rotated in a capping direction until the other of the external thread and the internal thread reaches the region, preventing further tightening of the cap; and

a thrust washer rotatably received within the cap.

10. A dispensing tube and closure for sealing an upstream end of the dispensing tube to a neck of a container of fluid to be dispensed, the upstream end of the tube defining a lip, the closure comprising:

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening;

a dust cover which is integrally connected with the cap by a frangible portion, the dust cover and the cap being molded as a single piece, a thinned region between the cap and the dust cover defining the frangible portion; and

a washer rotatably received within the cap, such that the washer, the neck of the container, and the lip of the tube remain stationary relative to each other and rotate together relative to the cap.

13. A dispensing tube and closure for sealing an upstream end of the dispensing tube to a neck of a container of fluid to be dispensed, the upstream end of the tube defining a lip, the closure comprising:

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening, the skirt engaging the container neck;

a thrust washer received within the cap and rotatable relative to the top of the cap;

asymmetrical serrations extending from an exterior surface of the skirt of the cap, each of the serrations including a capping edge which is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface and a sloping edge, the capping edge being positioned for engaging a corresponding surface on a capping machine; and

a dust cover frangibly connected to the cap and covering the tube, the dust cover including projections for a user to grip during removal of the dust cover.

15. A container system for a fluid to be dispensed, the container system comprising:

a container for containing the fluid, the container including an exterior wall which defines a neck;

a dispensing tube, an upstream end of the tube defining a resilient lip; and

a closure which seals the upstream end of the dispensing tube to the neck of the container, the closure including;

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening, the skirt having an internal thread for engaging an external thread on the container neck; and

a thrust washer received within the cap and rotatable relative to the top of the cap, the thrust washer being positioned to prevent the top of the cap from engaging the lip of the dispensing tube as the cap rotates during capping.

16. The container system of claim 15, wherein the thrust washer includes:

an annular rim; and

,

an upper projection ring extending from the annular rim, the upper projecting dimensioned for compressing the lip of the dispensing tube between the upper projecting ring and an interior surface of the neck of the container.

18. The container system of claim 15, wherein the cap further includes:

a thrust washer guiding projection which extends inwardly from an interior surface of the skirt, the projection assisting in positioning the thrust washer in the cap.

21. The container system of claim 15, wherein the thrust washer has a smooth lower surface which slides over the interior surface of the top of the cap when the cap is rotated in the capping direction.

22. The container system of claim 15, further including a dust cover which is releasably connected with the cap by a frangible portion.

23. The container system of claim 22, wherein the thrust washer includes a lower projecting ring which is positioned between an upper surface of the dust cover and the lip of the dispensing tube.

24. The container system of claim 22, wherein the dust cover includes an inwardly projecting end portion for supporting a self sealing valve on the dispensing tube.

25. The container system of claim 15, wherein the cap includes:

asymmetrical serrations extending from an exterior surface of the skirt of the cap, each of the serrations including a capping edge which is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface and a sloping edge, the capping edge being positioned for engaging a corresponding surface on a capping machine.

26. The container system of claim 22, wherein the dust cover includes vertically extending projections for gripping by a user during removal of the dust cover.

17. A container system for a fluid to be dispensed, the container system comprising:

a container for containing the fluid, the container including an exterior wall which defines a neck;

a dispensing tube, an upstream end of the tube defining a lip, the lip of the dispensing tube including a U-shaped portion, with an outer annular sides; and

a closure for sealing the upstream end of the dispensing tube to the neck of the container, the closure including;

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening, the skirt having an internal thread for engaging an external thread on the container neck; and

a thrust washer received within the cap, the thrust washer including;

an annular rim which is disposed between the dispensing tube lip and the cap top, and

an upper projection ring extending from the annular rim, the outer annular side of the U-shaped portion of the lip of the dispensing tube being positioned between the upper projecting ring and an interior surface of the neck of the container.

19. The container system of claim 17, wherein the lip of the dispensing tube includes a flange which extends circumferentially from the outer annular side of the U-shaped portion and wherein the flange is positioned between the rim of the thrust washer and the neck of the container.

20. A container system for a fluid to be dispensed, the container system comprising:

a container for containing the fluid, the container including an exterior wall which defines a neck with an external thread;

a dispensing tube, an upstream end of the tube defining a lip;

a closure for sealing the upstream end of the dispensing tube to the neck of the container, the closure including;

a cap, the cap including a top and an annular skirt depending from an outer edge of the top, the top defining a central opening, the skirt having an internal thread for engaging an external thread on the container neck; and

a thrust washer rotatable received within the cap between the dispensing tube lip and the cap top; and

an additional thread, the additional thread defined adjacent one of the external thread and the internal thread, the additional thread converging with the one of the external thread and the internal thread to define a region which is narrower than a width of the other of the external thread and the internal thread, whereby the external and internal threads disengage from threaded engagement when the cap is rotated in a capping direction until the other of the external thread and the internal thread reaches the region, preventing further tightening of the cap.

27. A method for sealing a dispensing tube to a neck of a container, the dispensing tube including sides and a lip at an upstream end of the dispensing tube, the method comprising:

positioning a thrust washer between the neck of the container and a cap, such that the thrust washer slidably contacts an interior surface of a top of the cap, a skirt of the cap defining an interior thread;

positioning the upstream end of the dispensing tube between the thrust washer and the neck of a container, a downstream end of the dispensing tube extending through an opening defined in a top of the cap;

engaging the thread on the interior of the cap with a thread on the exterior of the neck of the container; and

rotating the cap in a capping direction such that the top of the slides on the thrust washer as the thrust washer remains stationary relative to and compresses the lip of the dispensing tube between the thrust washer and an interior surface of the neck of the container to seal the dispensing tube to the neck of the container.

28. A method for sealing a dispensing tube to a neck of a container, the dispensing tube including sides and a lip at an upstream end of the dispensing tube, the method comprising:

positioning a thrust washer between the neck of the container and a cap, an interior of the cap defining a thread;

positioning the upstream end of the dispensing tube between the thrust washer and the neck of a container, a downstream end of the dispensing tube extending through an opening defined in a top of the cap;

engaging the thread on the interior of the cap with a thread on the exterior of the neck of the container;

rotating the cap in a capping direction as the thrust washer compresses the lip of the dispensing tube between the thrust washer and a surface of the neck of the container to seal the dispensing tube to the neck of the container; and

continuing to rotate the cap until a projection adjacent one of the cap thread and the container neck thread causes the threads to disengage and the cap to rotate without further compression of the dispensing tube lip.

29. The method of claim 28, further including, pivoting a dust cover which is connected to the top of the cap until a frangible connection between the cap and the dust cover is broken.