Dosing cap for container

• US 8,851,333 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conopco (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Conopco (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: van de Poll, Jonkheer Theodoor Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Application Number:
  US13/883,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20130214008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 222/207, 222/212, 222/213, 222/282, 222/285, 222/286, 222/305, 222/309, 222/513, 222/514, 222/523, 222/434, 222/438, 222/439, 222/519, 222/520, 222/477, 222/454, 222/455, 222/456
• US Class Current: 222/207
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00442 the means being actuated by the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0059 allowing operation in any orientation, e.g. for discharge in inverted position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0072 A valve member forming part of an outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/02 Membranes or pistons acting on the contents inside the container, e.g. follower pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/027 inverted during outflow of content
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/04 Deformable containers producing the flow, e.g. squeeze bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1008 by adjusting or modifying the pump end-of-dispensing-stroke position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1067 actuated by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1069 the valve being made of a resiliently deformable material or being urged in a closed position by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1076 Traction springs, e.g. stretchable sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/263 with valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/288 squeezing of the supply vessel causing filling of the measuring chamber and backflow from the measuring chamber to the supply vessel being prevented by a check valve G01F11/46 take precedence

Abstract

A dispenser cap (10) for a liquid container having an opening, the cap (10) comprising a means for attachment (30) to the container, a housing (12) inserted into the opening and comprising a liquid inlet (14), a channel and a liquid outlet (16), the channel comprising a moveable seal (18) defining an outlet-side liquid volume (24) and an inlet-side liquid volume (26), the moveable seal (18) is moveable from a first position to a second position towards the liquid outlet (16) by increasing the inlet-side liquid pressure, thereby causing a dispensable volume of liquid flow out of the outlet (16), the moveable seal (18) also comprising a liquid outlet seal means (22) to seal the liquid outlet when the moveable seal (18) is in its second position, thereby preventing further flow of liquid out of the outlet (16), the cap (10) also comprising a dispensable liquid volume adjustment means (32,34) to adjust the fixed volume of dispensable liquid.

Claims

1. A dispenser cap (10) for a liquid container having an opening,

the cap (10) comprising a means for attachment (30) to the container at the opening,

a housing (12) for insertion into the opening,

the housing (12) comprising a liquid inlet (14) to receive liquid from the container,

a channel and a liquid outlet (16) to expel liquid from the container,

the channel comprising a moveable seal (18) defining an outlet-side liquid volume (24) and an inlet-side liquid volume (26),

the moveable seal (18) being biased to a first position towards the liquid inlet (14),

and is moveable from the first position to a second position towards the liquid outlet (16) by increasing the inlet-side liquid pressure,

such movement thereby causing a dispensable volume of liquid flow out of the outlet (16), characterised in that

the moveable seal (18) also comprising a liquid outlet seal means (22) which is operable to seal the liquid outlet (16) when the moveable seal (18) is in its second position,

thereby preventing further flow of liquid out of the outlet (16),

the cap (10) also comprising a dispensable liquid volume adjustment means (32, 34),

operable to permit an end user to adjust the fixed volume of dispensable liquid,

by manipulation of the volume adjustment means (32, 34),

and wherein the liquid outlet (16) is a non-return valve, allowing only the flow of liquid out and no backflow of atmospheric gas into the container.

2. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet (16) requires a difference in pressure across it to allow liquid to flow out of the outlet (16).

3. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the moveable seal (18) is arranged to allow the flow of liquid from the inlet-side liquid volume (26) to the outlet-side liquid volume (24) when it is in both its first and second positions and when there is a difference in pressure across the seal.

4. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) is cylindrical and the seal means (18) is a circular arrangement within the cylindrical housing (12).

5. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the moveable seal (18) comprises a resilient material which forms its seal by pressing onto the inside walls of the housing (12).

6. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the moveable seal (18) comprises a circular flap of resilient material with a diameter a little greater than that of the inside walls of the housing (12).

7. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser cap (10) comprises a channel providing gaseous communication between the inlet-side liquid (26) and the atmosphere outside the container.

8. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 7, wherein the channel comprises a non-return valve, allowing only the inlet of air from the atmosphere outside the container into the inlet-side liquid volume (26).

9. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet seal means (22) operates by surrounding the outlet or otherwise covering it.

10. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 9, wherein the engagement involves the liquid outlet seal means (22) to engage a face parallel to a face of the housing (12) to provide the seal.

11. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein the volume adjustment means (32, 34) operates by the first and/or second position of the seal (18) being moveable with respect to the housing (12).

12. A dispenser cap (10) according to claim 11 wherein the volume adjustment means (32, 34) operates by the second position being moveable with respect to the housing (12) by means of the housing (12) comprising a tube (34) surrounding the liquid outlet (16) whose position is moveable.

13. A container for holding a liquid, comprising a dispenser cap (10),

the dispenser cap (10) comprising a channel having a liquid inlet (14) and ending with a liquid outlet (16) to expel liquid from the container,

the channel comprising a moveable seal (18) defining an outlet-side liquid volume (24) and an inlet-side liquid volume (26),

the container comprising means for increasing the pressure of the inlet-side liquid,

the moveable seal (18) being biased to a first position towards the liquid inlet (14) and is moveable from the first position to a second position toward the liquid outlet (16) by increasing the inlet-side liquid pressure,

such movement thereby causing a dispensable volume of liquid to flow out of the outlet (16), characterised in that the moveable seal (18) also comprising a liquid outlet seal means (22) which is operable to seal the liquid outlet (16) when the moveable seal is in its second position,

thereby preventing further flow of liquid out of the outlet (16),

the cap (10) also comprising a dispensable liquid volume adjustment means (32, 34),

operable to permit an end user to adjust the fixed volume of dispensable liquid,

by manipulation of the volume adjustment means (32, 34),

and wherein the liquid outlet (16) is a non-return valve, allowing only the flow of liquid out and no backflow of atmospheric gas into the container.

14. A container according to claim 13, wherein the means for increasing the inlet-side pressure is in the form of the container being squeezable.

15. A container according to claim 13, wherein the dispenser cap (10) is attachable to the container by means of a screw thread.

16. A container according claim 13, wherein the liquid outlet (16) requires a difference ire pressure across it to allow liquid to flow out of the outlet (16).

17. A container according to claim 13, wherein the moveable seal (18) is arranged to allow the flow of liquid from the inlet-side liquid volume (26) to the outlet-side liquid volume (24) when it is in both its first and second positions and when there is a difference in pressure across the seal.

18. A container according to claim 13, wherein the housing (12) is cylindrical and the seal means (18) is a circular arrangement within the cylindrical housing (12).

19. A container according to claim 13, wherein the dispenser cap (10) comprises a channel providing gaseous communication between the inlet-side liquid (26) and the atmosphere outside the container.

20. A container according to claim 19, wherein the channel comprises a non-return valve, allowing only the inlet of air from the atmosphere outside the container into the inlet-side liquid volume (26).