Liner piercing twist closure
First Claim
1. A dispensing closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior where a fluent substance may be stored, and wherein a membrane is interposed between the container and dispensing closure, said dispensing closure comprising:
- (A) a base for extending from said container at said container opening, said base defining (1) a receiving passage through said base, and (2) an annular sealing flange that (a) is located axially outwardly of at least part of the length of said receiving passage, and (b) extends radially inwardly from a peripheral portion of said receiving passage to define an opening into said receiving passage;
(B) a movable spout that (1) is at least partly disposed in said base receiving passage, (2) has a dispensing passage extending through said spout, (3) has a grippable discharge end that (a) is located at an axially outward end of said spout, and (b) projects axially outwardly from said base, (4) has a peripheral sealing surface that is sealingly engaged by said base annular sealing flange, and (5) has a piercing element at an axially inward end of said spout;
(C) a cam track located in one of said base and spout axially inwardly of said annular sealing flange; and
(D) a cam follower that is (1) located on he other one of said base and spout, and (2) engaged in said cam track whereby said spout grippable discharge end can be grasped to rotate said spout for moving said spout axially from an axially outward, non-piercing location to an axially inward, piercing location whereinsaid cam follower projects radially outwardly on said spout;
said cam follower has an axially outward lead-in surface that extends increasingly inwardly in the radial direction with increasing distance in the axially outward direction;
said closure base has an interior sleeve that (1) is located axially inwardly of said base annular sealing flange (2) extends axially inwardly, and (3) has a cylindrical interior surface that defines, at least in part, said base receiving passage;
said cam track is defined in said interior surface of said closure base interior sleeve;
said interior sleeve has an axially oriented slot located (1) axially inwardly of said cam track, and (2) at a predetermined circumferential location;
said slot has an axially inward open end for receiving said cam follower during installation of said spout in said base;
said slot has an axially outward end terminating in a radially inwardly extending ramp adjacent, but separated from, said cam track; and
at least one of said base and spout is sufficiently resilient to accommodate insertion of said spout into said base with said cam follower in said slot to force said cam follower against and past said ramp into said cam track.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing closure system is provided for a container that has an opening wherein a membrane is interposed between the container opening and the dispensing closure system. The system includes a base for extending from the container at the opening. The base has a receiving passage and an annular sealing flange extending radially inwardly around the passage. A movable spout is mounted in the base receiving passage and has a grippable discharge end that projects axially outwardly from the base receiving passage. The spout has a dispensing passage extending through the spout and has a peripheral sealing surface that is sealingly engaged with the base annular sealing flange. The spout also has a piercing element at an axially inward end of the spout. A cam track is located in either the base or the spout. A cam follower is located on the other one of the base and spout, and the cam follower is engaged in the cam track. The grippable discharge end of the spout can be grasped to rotate the spout for moving the spout axially to pierce the membrane.
94 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A dispensing closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior where a fluent substance may be stored, and wherein a membrane is interposed between the container and dispensing closure, said dispensing closure comprising:
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(A) a base for extending from said container at said container opening, said base defining (1) a receiving passage through said base, and (2) an annular sealing flange that (a) is located axially outwardly of at least part of the length of said receiving passage, and (b) extends radially inwardly from a peripheral portion of said receiving passage to define an opening into said receiving passage; (B) a movable spout that (1) is at least partly disposed in said base receiving passage, (2) has a dispensing passage extending through said spout, (3) has a grippable discharge end that (a) is located at an axially outward end of said spout, and (b) projects axially outwardly from said base, (4) has a peripheral sealing surface that is sealingly engaged by said base annular sealing flange, and (5) has a piercing element at an axially inward end of said spout; (C) a cam track located in one of said base and spout axially inwardly of said annular sealing flange; and (D) a cam follower that is (1) located on he other one of said base and spout, and (2) engaged in said cam track whereby said spout grippable discharge end can be grasped to rotate said spout for moving said spout axially from an axially outward, non-piercing location to an axially inward, piercing location wherein said cam follower projects radially outwardly on said spout; said cam follower has an axially outward lead-in surface that extends increasingly inwardly in the radial direction with increasing distance in the axially outward direction; said closure base has an interior sleeve that (1) is located axially inwardly of said base annular sealing flange (2) extends axially inwardly, and (3) has a cylindrical interior surface that defines, at least in part, said base receiving passage; said cam track is defined in said interior surface of said closure base interior sleeve; said interior sleeve has an axially oriented slot located (1) axially inwardly of said cam track, and (2) at a predetermined circumferential location; said slot has an axially inward open end for receiving said cam follower during installation of said spout in said base; said slot has an axially outward end terminating in a radially inwardly extending ramp adjacent, but separated from, said cam track; and at least one of said base and spout is sufficiently resilient to accommodate insertion of said spout into said base with said cam follower in said slot to force said cam follower against and past said ramp into said cam track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification