Dispensing closure for spreadable product

• US 20020104855A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures LLC (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pozgay, David S., Blomdahl, Cori M., DeGroot, Susan
• Granted Patent: US 6,688,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/556
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0804 integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage

Abstract

An improved dispensing closure system for dispensing a product from a container includes an elongate or oblong dispensing orifice for dispensing a ribbon of product. The dispensing closure system also includes a spout having a dispensing orifice that is oriented at an angle relative to the closure deck and relative to the flow direction of product from the orifice. The closure system provides for an abrupt “cut-off” of product and thus provides for the dispensing of product in a clean and controlled manner without mess. The closure system also incorporates conical geometries in transition surfaces extending from the container opening to the dispensing orifice. The conical geometries of the transition surfaces provides for a smooth transition of product flow from the container opening to the dispensing orifice, while minimizing the volume defined by the closure system spout and thereby providing increased “suck-back” and an abrupt “cut-off” of product compared to prior art devices.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure system for dispensing a ribbon of product from a container, the closure system comprising:

a body having a deck and a skirt extending from the deck for engaging the container;

a spout extending from the deck and including a dispensing orifice peripheral surface defining a dispensing orifice, the spout including a back spout wall and a front spout wall, the back spout wall extending to a different elevation relative to the deck than the front spout wall.

2. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing orifice peripheral surface defines an oblong dispensing orifice.

3. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral surface defines an orifice plane and wherein the closure skirt defines a central axis, the orifice plane forming an acute angle with the central axis.

4. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing orifice peripheral surface includes a pair of arcuate lateral portions of constant radius, a dispensing orifice neck surface, including a front neck surface portion and a back neck surface portion, extending substantially parallel to the front neck surface portion.

5. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the front spout portion extends from the deck to the dispensing orifice according to a non-circular conical geometry.

6. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the back spout portion extends from the deck to the dispensing orifice according to a non-circular conical geometry.

7. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the spout has an internal sealing bead recessed below the peripheral surface, and further comprising a closure lid cooperatively associated with the closure body, the closure lid having a sealing member for sealingly occluding the dispensing orifice by engaging the spout at the internal sealing bead.

8. The dispensing closure system of claim 7 wherein the closure lid includes an end wall and wherein the sealing member has a back portion and a front portion, the front portion extending to a higher elevation than the back portion relative to the end wall.

9. The dispensing closure system of claim 7 wherein the dispensing orifice peripheral surface includes a dispensing orifice intermediate surface extending at an obtuse angle to the dispensing orifice neck surface to accommodate entry of the front portion of the sealing member into the dispensing orifice.

10. The dispensing closure system of claim 7 wherein the lid includes a lid end wall and wherein the front portion and back portion of the sealing member extend upward from the lid end wall and outward relative to one another to provide a resilient sealing force when the lid is moved to a closed position in which the sealing member engages the spout at the dispensing orifice.

11. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the front and back spout portions each extend from the deck to the dispensing orifice according to a non-circular conical geometry, the conical geometry of the front spout portion being different than the conical geometry of the back spout portion.

12. The dispensing closure system of claim 1 wherein the front spout portion and back spout portion each extend from the deck to the dispensing orifice according to a parabolic geometry.

13. The dispensing closure system of claim 1, wherein the spout includes a left spout portion and a right spout portion, each extending from the deck to the dispensing orifice according to a non-circular conical geometry.

14. A dispensing closure system for dispensing a ribbon of product from a container, the closure system comprising:

a closure body having (1) a closure deck, (2) a skirt extending from the closure deck for engaging a container and (3) a spout extending from the closure deck, the spout including a dispensing orifice peripheral surface defining an oblong dispensing orifice.

15. A dispensing closure system for dispensing a ribbon of product from a container, the closure system comprising:

a closure body having (1) a closure deck, (2) a skirt extending from the closure deck for engaging a container and (3) a spout extending from the closure deck;

the spout including (A) a rear wall extending to a rear spout end surface, and (B) a front wall extending to a front spout end surface, the rear wall extending further from the closure deck than the front wall, and (C) a dispensing orifice peripheral surface defining a dispensing orifice.

16. A dispensing closure system for dispensing a ribbon of product from a container, the closure system comprising:

a closure body having (1) a closure deck, (2) a skirt extending from the closure deck for engaging a container and (3) a spout extending from the closure deck;

the spout including (A) a rear wall extending to a rear spout end surface, (B) a front wall extending to a front spout end surface, and (C) a dispensing orifice peripheral surface defining a dispensing orifice;

at least one of the rear wall and front wall having a transition surface of a conical geometry extending at least partially from the closure deck to the dispensing orifice peripheral surface.