Closure with dispensing valve

• US 6,543,652 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation (Crown Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelder, Maria Louise, Ramsey, Christopher Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US09/980,459
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 222/212, 222/494, 222/521, 222/519, 222/564, 222/547
• US Class Current: 222/212
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2037 the element being opened or closed by actuating a separate element which causes the deformation, e.g. screw cap closing container slit
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/242 moving helically
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/243 moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion

Abstract

A dispensing closure (1) incorporating a flexible, self-closing valve (5) and a transport seal for preventing accidential dispensing of product through the valve during transportation and storage of a filled container. The closure includes a cover (4), which is adapted to move axially between raised and lowered positions, to actuate the transport seal. The transport seal comprises a sealing plate (8), located between the valve and the container opening, which partially occludes the container opening but defines at least one dispensing orifice (9). To form the transport seal, the cover is lowered so that it presses part of the flexible valve against the sealing plate around the dispensing orifice/s, thereby blocking the dispensing passageway to the valve.

Claims

1. A closure (1) for a container opening, the closure comprising

a housing (3), adapted to co-operate with the container opening and defining a dispensing passageway;

a cover (4) disposed on the housing (3) for movement between lowered and raised positions relative to the housing (3); and

a flexible dispensing valve (5),

the housing (3) provides a sealing plate (8) located, in use, between the dispensing valve and the container opening,

the sealing plate is adapted to partially occlude the container opening, characterised in that

the sealing plate (8), defines at least one dispensing aperture (9), and in that

the dispensing valve is arranged to seal the or all of the dispensing apertures when the cover is in its lowered position.

2. A closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) is adapted to receive the dispensing valve (5) and the dispensing valve (5) is raised and lowered relative to the sealing plate (8) as the cover (4) is raised and lowered.

3. A closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (3) is adapted to receive the dispensing valve (5) and the cover (4) is adapted to press a portion of the dispensing valve (5) against the dispensing aperture/s (9) when the cover (4) is in its lowered position.

4. A closure (1) according to claim 3, wherein the cover (4) comprises a projection (11) adapted to stretch a portion of the dispensing valve (5) into contact with the dispensing aperture/s (9) when the cover (4) is in its lowered position.

5. A closure (1) according to claim 3, wherein the cover (4) is adapted to retain the valve (5) in the housing (3) when the cover (4) is in both its raised and lowered positions.

6. A closure (1) according to claim 4, wherein the cover (4) is adapted to retain the valve (5) in the housing (3) when the cover (4) is in both its raised and lowered positions.

7. A closure (1) and container (2) combination comprising

a container, arranged to define a dispensing passageway,

a cover disposed on the container around the dispensing passageway and adapted for movement between lowered and raised positions relative to the container and

a flexible dispensing valve,

the container provides a sealing plate located in the dispensing passageway, between the inside of the container and the dispensing valve,

the sealing plate adapted to partially occlude the container opening, characterised in that p1 the sealing plate (8) defines at least one dispensing aperture (9), and in that the dispensing valve is arranged to seal the or all of the dispensing apertures when the cover is in its lowered position.

8. A closure (1) and container (2) combination according to claim 7, wherein the cover (4) is adapted to receive the dispensing valve (5) and the dispensing valve (5) is raised and lowered relative to the sealing plate (8) as the cover (4) is raised and lowered.

9. A closure (1) and container (2) combination according to claim 7, wherein the housing (3) is adapted to receive the dispensing valve (5) and the cover (4) is adapted to press a portion of the dispensing valve (5) against the dispensing aperture /s (9) when the cover (4) is in its lowered position.

10. A closure (1) and container (2) combination according to claim 9 wherein the cover (4) comprises a projection (11) adapted to stretch a portion of the dispensing valve (5) into contact with the dispensing aperture/s (9) when the cover (4) is in its lowered position.

11. A closure (1) and container (2) combination according to claim 9, wherein the cover (4) is adapted to retain the valve (5) in the housing (3) when the cover (4) is in both its raised and lowered positions.

12. A closure (1) and container (2) combination according to claim 8, wherein the cover (4) is adapted to retain the valve (5) in the housing (3) when the cover (4) is in both its raised and lowered positions.