Dispensing structure which has a lid with a push-in mounted pressure-openable valve

• US 6,186,374 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gross, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cartagena, Melvin A.
• Application Number:
  US09/432,135
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 222/494, 222/491, 222/556
• US Class Current: 222/494
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2547/066 inserted in or attached to the base element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0838 located at an edge of the base element
• 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 structure is provided for discharging the contents from the interior of a container. The structure includes a body for extending from the container. The body defines a dispensing opening and a sealing surface around the dispensing opening. A lid is provided for movement between open and closed positions. The lid has a frame defining a lid dispensing passage through the lid. The lid has a mounting flange extending inwardly adjacent the dispensing passage, and the lid has a valve mounted to the lid flange across the dispensing passage. The flexible valve has self-sealing slits which open to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of the valve facing the container when the lid is closed. The valve has a lower flange which is below the lid flange and which sealingly engages the body sealing surface when the lid is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A dispensing structure for discharging the contents from the interior of a container, said dispensing structure comprising:

a body for extending from said container, said body defining a dispensing opening for establishing communication between the exterior and interior of said container, and said body having a sealing surface around said body dispensing opening; and

a lid having a frame defining a lid dispensing passage through said lid, said lid frame including an annular mounting flange extending radially inwardly adjacent said lid dispensing passage, said lid including a flexible valve that is disposed within said lid frame across said lid dispensing passage to resiliently engage said lid mounting flange, said valve having self-sealing slits which open to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing said container when said lid is closed, said lid accommodating movement between (1) a closed position over said body dispensing opening whereby the container contents can be dispensed through said body dispensing opening, through said lid dispensing passage, and through said valve, and (2) an open position away from said dispensing opening to accommodate pouring of the contents from the container through said dispensing opening without flowing through said valve, said lid when in said closed position being in sealing relationship with said body sealing surface, said valve having a retention flange with one side engaging said lid mounting flange and with another side engaging said body sealing surface when said lid is in said closed position.

2. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said body is formed separately from said container; and

said body has a skirt with an internal thread for threadingly engaging an external thread on said container to permit said body to be removably mounted to said container.

3. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said body is a unitary part of said container.

4. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid is hingedly connected to said body.

5. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said body includes a spout;

and

said body sealing surface is defined at an upper end of said spout as an annular configuration around said body dispensing opening.

6. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid includes a releasable cover adhesively secured to said lid frame over said lid dispensing passage.

7. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said body includes a liner below, and occluding, said dispensing opening.

8. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said dispensing structure is defined by a closure which is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container;

said body defines a body of said closure; and

said lid defines a lid of said closure.

9. A dispensing structure for discharging the contents from the interior of a container, said dispensing structure comprising:

a body for extending from said container, said body defining a dispensing opening for establishing communication between the exterior and interior of said container, and said body having a sealing surface around said body dispensing opening; and

a lid for accommodating movement between (1) a closed position over said body dispensing opening, and (2) an open position away from said closed position, said lid having a frame defining a lid dispensing passage through said lid, said lid frame having an annular mounting flange extending radially inwardly adjacent said lid dispensing passage, said lid including a flexible valve that is disposed within said lid frame across said lid dispensing passage and that has self-sealing slits which open to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing said container when said lid is closed, said valve having a generally annular wall defining a generally annular groove which is open radially outwardly for receiving said lid mounting flange, said wall being (1) sufficiently flexible to temporarily deform as said wall is forced against said lid mounting flange to accommodate seating of said lid mounting flange in said groove, and (2) sufficiently resilient to accommodate the retention of said lid mounting flange in said groove by adjacent portions of said valve annular wall, said valve annular wall including a retention flange with one side engaging said lid mounting flange and with another side engaging said body sealing surface when said lid is in said closed position.

10. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 9 in which

said valve has a head portion in which said slits are defined and has a sleeve extending from said head portion to accommodate outward movement of said head portion in response to increased pressure on the side of said valve facing said container when said lid is closed; and

said groove is defined at a location along said annular wall to locate said sleeve and head portion within said dispensing passage of said lid when said valve slits are closed.

11. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 9 in which said lid is hingedly connected to said body.

12. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 9 in which

said dispensing structure is defined by a closure which is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container;

said body defines a body of said closure; and

said lid defines a lid of said closure.

13. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 9 in which said body is a unitary part of said container.

14. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 9 in which said valve retention flange has a height which exceeds the height of said groove.

15. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 9 in which

said valve annular wall includes a generally annular upper shoulder spaced above said valve retention flange;

and

said groove is located below said upper shoulder and above said valve retention flange.

16. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 15 in which said upper shoulder defines (1) a generally frustoconical lead-in surface facing generally away from said retention flange, and (2) a generally annular undercut surface which faces generally toward said retention flange and which defines one side of said groove.

17. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 16 in which said retention flange has a generally flat, annular, upper surface defining one side of said groove and facing toward said undercut surface of said shoulder.

18. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 15 in which said retention flange extends radially outwardly beyond the radial extent of said upper shoulder.

19. The dispensing structure in accordance with claim 9 in which

said valve is molded from just one material;

and

said one material is one of a thermoplastic elastomer and a thermosetting polymer.