Dispenser package for fluent products and method of manufacture

• US 6,757,957 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graham Packaging Plastic Products Incorporated (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Incorporated (O-I Glass, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harman, Robert E., McClean, Craig E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuda Rosenbaum, Irene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kenny, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US10/602,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 294/36, 294/53, 294/551, 294/34, 222/212, 222/494, 222/548, 222/553, 222/556, 534/71, 534/88, 220/253, 220/259.3
• US Class Current: 29/453
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/169 the lid, the hinge and the element connecting them to the container being made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0847 located within a flat surface of the base element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/089 located within a flat surface of the base element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49879 Spaced wall tube or receptacle

Abstract

A dispenser package for fluent products such as cosmetics and lotions that includes an integrally molded plastic container having a flexible body with a sidewall, a closed bottom, and a top wall having a dispensing opening offset from the axis of the container body. A closure has a base wall and a peripheral skirt. In some embodiments of the invention, the closure is rotatably mounted on the container body, and has a dispensing opening in the closure base wall for selective registry with the dispensing opening in the top wall of the container body. Detent elements are provided on the closure and container body for selectively locking the closure in open and closed positions. In alternative embodiments, the closure includes a flip-top hinged to the base wall, with a plug extending therefrom for selectively opening and closing the dispensing opening in the container body top wall.

Claims

1. A method of making a dispenser package for a fluent product, which comprises:

(a) integrally molding a plastic container having a flexible body with a sidewall having a central axis, a closed bottom, a top wall with at least one opening offset from said axis, and a circumferential exterior channel extending around said sidewall adjacent to said top wall,

(b) providing a closure having a base wall, a peripheral skirt, and a rib extending radially inwardly from said skirt for slidable receipt in said channel to mount said closure on said container for rotation about said axis, said closure having an opening for registry with said at least one opening in said top wall for dispensing product from said package, and

(c) providing detent means on said base wall of said closure and said top wall of said container for releasably locking said closure to said container with said opening in said closure in registry with said at least one opening in said container,

said detent means comprising a second opening in said top wall angularly spaced from said at least one opening, and a lug on said base wall angularly spaced from said opening in said closure for registry with said second opening in said top wall when said opening in said closure registers with said at least one opening in said top wall.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one opening and said second opening in said top wall are at equal radial offset from said axis, such that said lug on said closure is constructed to cooperate with said at least one opening in said top wall for releasably locking said closure to said container with said opening in said closure out of registry with said at least one opening in said top wall.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein said lug on said closure comprises a depression in said base wall.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein said base wall includes a plurality of said depressions for releasably locking said closure to said container in a plurality of angularly spaced positions.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of mounting a check valve in said at least one opening in said top wall.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening in said closure base wall comprises an axial portion for registry with said at least one opening in said container top wall, and a radial portion that extends through said base wall to said skirt.

7. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a circumferential array of outer surface ribs extending around said peripheral skirt to facilitate rotation of said closure on said container.

8. A method of making a dispenser package for a fluent product, which comprises the steps of:

(a) integrally molding a plastic container having a flexible body with a sidewall and a central axis, a closed bottom and a top wall having a first opening centered on said axis and at least one second opening offset from said axis,

(b) providing a closure that has a base wall and a peripheral skirt, said base wall having an annular axially extending wall with interlocking means for engaging said first opening in said top wall to mount said closure on said container, and a flip top hinged to said closure for selectively opening and closing said at least one opening in said container, and

(c) non-rotatably mounting said closure on said container.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said flip top has a plug for internal sealing registry with said second opening in said container when said flip top is closed.

10. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said interlocking means comprises a radially outwardly extending rib on said annular axially extending wall for snap-fit receipt through said first opening in said top wall.

11. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said container top wall has a recessed portion in which said first opening, said second openings and said closure are disposed.

12. A method of making a closure that comprises the step of molding a plastic closure that has a base wall and a peripheral skirt, said base wall having an annular axially extending wall spaced radially inwardly from said peripheral skirt with interlocking means on said axially extending wall for engaging an opening in a top wall of a container to mount said closure on the container, and providing means for selectively opening and closing a dispensing opening in the container, said interlocking means comprising a radially inwardly extending bead wherein said bead lies in one plane perpendicular to said skirt at an end of said annular axially extending wall remote from said base wall.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 wherein said selectively opening means comprises a flip top hinged to said closure.

14. The method set forth in claim 13 wherein said flip top has a plug for internal sealing registry with the dispensing opening in the container when said flip top is closed.