FLOW-LIMITING DEVICE AND CAP FOR A CONTAINER INCLUDING SAME

Abstract

A flow-limiting device for controlling the distribution of products, to be fitted into a neck of a container for such products comprises a flow-limiting part, and a sealing part wherein the flow-limiting part consists of an active material and comprises a dispensing opening. The sealing part is made of a polymer material different to the material of the flow-limiting part. The sealing part is adapted to form a moisture-tight seal with the neck of the container.

Claims

1. A flow-limiting device for controlling the distribution of products, to be fitted into a neck of a container for such products, the flow-limiting device comprising: a flow-limiting part; and a sealing part; wherein the flow-limiting part is made of an active material and comprises a dispensing opening; wherein the sealing part is made of a polymer material different to the material of the flow-limiting part; and wherein the sealing part is adapted to form a moisture-tight seal with the neck of the container; wherein the sealing part is injection molded; and the flow-limiting part and the sealing part are integrally formed by bi-injection moulding.

2. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing part comprises an annular sealing member which is arranged so as to establish a sealing contact around the circumference of the neck of the container.

3. (canceled)

4. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing part comprises an annular sealing member adapted to form a moisture-tight seal with an interior side of the neck of the container, wherein the annular sealing member is provided with an annular bead close to its distal end, the annular bead extending in a radially outwards direction.

5. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing part comprises an annular skirt adapted to be snap-fitted on the neck of the container.

6. The flow-limiting device according to claim 5, wherein the annular skirt comprises an interlocking bead which projects in a radially inwards direction.

7. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing part comprises a sealing ring which is arranged and adapted to establish a moisture-tight seal with a cap for closing the container, the sealing ring arranged and adapted to be snap-fitted into the cap.

8. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the flow-limiting part further comprises a plurality of elevated regions, providing overall surfaces slanted towards the dispensing opening of the container.

9. The flow-limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening is arranged offset relative to a radial center of the flow-limiting device.

10. A combined cap for a container for storing and dispensing products, comprising a flow-limiting device according to claim 1; and a cap comprising a closure element, wherein the flow-limiting device is attached to the cap.

11. The combined cap according to claim 10, wherein the cap further comprises a tamper-evident device.

12. The combined cap according to claim 10, that wherein the closure element comprises a top plate and an annular sealing skirt depending therefrom; wherein the sealing skirt is shaped and arranged to form a moisture-tight seal with a sealing ring of the flow-limiting device.

13. The combined cap according to claim 10, wherein the closure element comprises a reservoir for receiving a dispensed unitary product.

14. The combined cap according to claim 10, wherein the cap further comprises a hinge for hingedly opening at least a part of the closure element of the cap.

15. A container for storing and dispensing unitary products comprising: the combined cap according to claim 10, wherein the cap is openable; a container body with a container opening to which the combined cap is mounted; wherein the dispensing opening is dimensioned to allow passage of one unitary product at a time.

16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the container opening is surrounded by a lip; and the lip is shaped to allow a snap-fit connection with either the cap or the flow-limiting device.

17. (canceled)

18. The flow-limiting device according to claim 8, wherein the elevated regions comprise ribs.

19. The combined cap according to claim 11, wherein the tamper-evident device comprises at least one tearable or frangible element.

20. The combined cap according to claim 12, wherein the closure element comprises a reservoir for receiving a dispensed unitary product, wherein the reservoir is delimited by the top plate and the annular sealing skirt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] In the following, some specific embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a closed container according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container according to FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly drawing of the container according to FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view onto a flow-limiting device of the first embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view onto the flow-limiting device according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a closed container according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0049] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container according to FIG. 6;

[0050] FIG. 8 is an exploded assembly drawing of the container according to FIG. 6;

[0051] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view onto a flow-limiting device of the second embodiment of the invention; and

[0052] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view onto the flow-limiting device according to the second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0053] Throughout the description below of preferred embodiments of the invention, the same elements will be indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0054] When reference is made to geometrical relationships like upper or lower, a container with the flow-limiting device according to the invention is considered to stand on a flat horizontal surface so that the opening of the container faces in an upward direction. If a container of different shape and with a dispensing opening which is angularly arranged with respect to a vertical direction should be used, the terminology can be adapted accordingly.

[0055] The container 10 as shown in FIG. 1 has a container body 12 which, in the example as shown in FIG. 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom wall 14 and a cylindrical sidewall 16. However, the container body 12 could also have a different geometrical shape, although it is preferred that the neck 18 (see FIG. 2) of the container body has a cylindrical shape.

[0056] Further, a combined cap 19 is provided which comprises a flow-limiting device 24 attached to a cap 20 having a closure element 22. Further, in order to provide tamper-evident characteristics to the container 10, a tamper-evident means can be provided which, in the example of FIG. 1 is provided as breakable bridges between the closure element and the ring 25 which, in case that the bridges have been broken, indicates to a user that the cap has been opened before.

[0057] Turning now to FIG. 2, the container 10 containing the unitary products 28 in its interior is shown in a cross-sectional view. The sidewall 16 of the cylindrical container narrows in an upwards direction to a neck 18 of the container which is provided with an outwardly facing step portion 30 which runs around at least part of the outer circumference of the neck 18.

[0058] In the assembled state, the flow-limiting device 24 is attached to the neck 18 of the container. The flow-limiting device 24 comprises a flow-limiting part 32 and a sealing part 34.

[0059] The flow-limiting part 32 is provided with a dispensing opening 36 which is provided offset to the longitudinal center line of the container. The sealing part 34 is provided with an annular sealing member 38 which is arranged so as to establish a sealing contact around the inner circumference of the neck 18. The annular sealing member 38 can be provided with an annular bead 40 which is close to the distal end 42 of the annular sealing member 38 and which extends in a radially outwards direction of the annular sealing member 38. The annular bead 40 abuts and presses against the inner circumference of the neck 18 so as to establish a sealing contact between the sealing part 34 of the flow-limiting device 24 and the neck 18 of the container.

[0060] The flow-limiting device 24 is advantageously provided with an empty space 80 between the sealing member 38 and the flow-limiting part 32 close to and extending up to the distal end 42 of the annular sealing member 38. Such empty space 80 allows the distal end of the sealing member 38 to be elastically bent in a radially inwards direction when assembled onto the neck of the container. The possibility to compensate the elastic bending of the annular sealing member 38 allows to design the geometry of the annular bead 40 such that even in view of possible manufacturing tolerances, the annular bead 40 will always press with a sufficient force against the neck of the container such that a good air tightness can be safely establish.

[0061] Additionally, the sealing part 34 of the flow-limiting device 24 is provided with an annular skirt 44 which is arranged concentrically relative to the annular sealing member and radially outwards thereof. The annular skirt 44 is arranged so that in the mounted state as shown in FIG. 2, the annular skirt 44 runs around the outer circumference of the neck 18.

[0062] The annular skirt 44 is provided with a hook 46 which is an interlocking bead projecting in a radially inwards directions and which is arranged at a position such that, in the mounted state, the hook 46 establishes a form fit connection with the step portion 30 of the neck 18. In addition to this, the annular skirt 44 and the abutting contact between its hook 46 and the step portion 30 of the neck 18 can establish a further sealing contact around the outer circumference of the neck of the container. In this way, a double sealing contact both on the inner circumference and on the outer circumference of the neck 18 can be established. It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer sealing contact and the inner sealing contact can be arranged at substantially the same height position which further increases the sealing effect by tightening the seals.

[0063] The flow-limiting device 24 is further provided with radially extending ribs 48 (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) which form part of the flow-limiting part 32. These ribs form slanted surfaces 64 (see FIG. 5) allowing to direct the unitary products towards the opening.

[0064] The flow-limiting device 24 is further provided with a sealing ring 50 which is arranged and adapted to form a moisture-tight seal with the cap 20, and more particularly with the removable closure element 22 of the cap 20. Furthermore, the sealing ring 50 is arranged and adapted to be snap-fitted into the cap 20. More particularly, this sealing ring allows to fix or hold the closure element 22.

[0065] The closure element 22 comprises a top plate 52 and an annular sealing skirt 54 depending therefrom. The annular sealing skirt 54 is shaped and arranged to form a moisture-tight seal with the sealing ring 50 of the flow-limiting device 24. It is arranged such that it presses against the inner circumference of the fixing ring 50. Preferably, the annular sealing skirt 54 is provided with an outwardly extending circular protrusion 56 which snap-fits into a correspondingly shaped depression 58 on the inner circumference of the sealing ring 50. The sealing relation between protrusion 56 and groove 58 can be for example as described in US2017/144804 the disclosure of which is included by reference.

[0066] The annular sealing skirt 54 and the top plate 52 form a cavity 60 which can be used as a reservoir for collecting the dispensed unitary products.

[0067] The cap is further provided with a tamper-evident means which, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, is provided as breakable bridges 62 (shown in FIG. 3) between the closure element 22 and the ring 25. The cap 20 comprising the closure element 22, the ring 25 and the breakable bridges is integrally molded.

[0068] The flow-limiting device 24 is bi-injection molded from two different materials. The flow-limiting part 32 is made of an active material and the sealing part 34 is made of plastic material with sufficient flexibility and elasticity in order to establish a press-fit or a snap-fit connection with the neck 18 of the container and to establish a sealing (moisture-tight) contact with the container on one hand and with the closure element 22 on the other hand.

[0069] The active material forming the flow limiting part is a material able to act on its surrounding atmosphere. For example by decreasing or increasing relative humidity, scavenging oxygen, trapping or realizing odor and organic volatile compounds. It comprise at least one treatment agent that can be blended into at least one plastic material.

[0070] The flow-limiting part 32 is made of a suitable plastic material which is preferably selected from the group comprising branched or linear high and low density polyethylenes, copolymers of ethylene such as for example ethylene vinyl acetates, ethylene ethyl acrylates, ethylene butyl acrylates, ethylene maleic anhydrides, ethylene alpha olefines, regard-less of the methods of polymerisation or modification by grafting, homo polypropylene and copolymers, polybutene-1, polyisobutylene. Polyolefines are preferably selected to make the flow-limiting part 32 for cost reasons and because they are easy to use.

[0071] Other polymer materials can be considered however such as polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chlorides, polystyrenes, copolymers of styrene, derivatives of cellulose, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyoxymethylenes, polyethylene terephthalates, polybutylene terephthalates, copolyesters, polyphenylene oxides, polymethyl methacrylates, copolymers of acrylate, fluoride polymers, polyphenylene sulphides, polyarylsulphones, polyaryletherketones, polyetherimides, polyimides, thermoplastic elastomers, polyurethanes, phenol resins, melamine resins, urea resins, epoxy resins and unsaturated polyester resins, elastomers.

[0072] Biodegradable polymer materials, with for example a starch base, are also possible such as polylactic acids (PLA).

[0073] Combinations of these polymers can be used, if desired. The polymer used to produce the body of the flow-limiting part 32 can also contain one or more additives such as elastomers, fibers, expanding agents, additives such as stabilizers and colorants, sliding agents, demolding agents, adhesion agents or reinforced catching agents and/or any others according to the requirements of usage.

[0074] The flow-limiting part 32 can also be made from injectable materials made in such a way that they are capable of absorbing various different pollutants such as humidity, oxygen, odour and other possible pollutants. The thermoplastic materials are thus themselves formulated with treatment agents belonging to a group of humidity absorbers, oxygen scavengers, odour absorbers and/or emitters of volatile olfactory organic compounds. The formulated thermoplastic materials must however retain a certain degree of resilience.

[0075] Suitable treatment agents to control humidity are selected from a group comprising silica gels, dehydrating clays, activated alumina, calcium oxide, barium oxide, natural or synthetic zeolites, molecular or similar sieves, or deliquescent salts such as magnesium sulfide, calcium chloride, aluminum chloride, lithium chloride, calcium bromide, zink chloride or the like. Preferably the dehydrating agent is a molecular sieve and/or a silica gel.

[0076] A suitable oxygen collecting agent is selected from a group comprising metal powders having a reducing capacity, in particular iron, zink, tin powders, metal oxides still having the ability to oxidize, in particular ferrous oxide, as well as compounds of iron such as carbides, carbonyls, hydroxides, used alone or in the presence of an activator such as hydroxides, carbonates, sulfites, thiosulfates, phosphates, organic acid salts, or hydrogen salts of alkaline metals or alkaline earth metals, activated carbon, activated alumina or activated clays.

[0077] Other agents for collecting oxygen can also be chosen from specific reactive polymers such as those described for example in the patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,616 and WO 99/48963. These specific reactive polymers can be mixed with a thermoplastic polymer used to produce the flow-limiting device according to the present invention.

[0078] The amount of treatment agent introduced into the thermoplastic polymer to produce the flow-limiting part of the flow-limiting device according to the present invention expressed in percentage by weight can advantageously be more than 40%, preferably more than 50% of the thermoplastic material used to produce the flow-limiting device, when the treatment agent is a reaction and/or adsorption agent.

[0079] The material of the container can be freely selected. For example, the container body and the integrally formed neck thereof can be made of glass or suitable plastic material.

[0080] The flow-limiting part 32 of the flow-limiting device 24 is made from an active material. Examples of active materials are given above.

[0081] The sealing part 34 of the flow-limiting device 24 is made of a plastic material provided with a sufficient impermeability to moisture and sufficient elasticity and deformability so as to allow moisture-tightness with both the container and the cap.

[0082] The cap 20 of the container is also suitably made of plastic material which is provided with a sufficient elastic deformability so as to form an air-tight connection to the sealing ring 50 of the flow-limiting device.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows in an exploded view the individual parts of the container assembly 10 including the container body 12 with a neck 18, the flow-limiting device 24 and the cap 20 comprising the closing element 22 and the ring 25 on which the breakable bridges 62 can be seen. The cap 20 is molded in one piece. For example, the cap 20 can be integrally molded in one plastic material or bi-injection molded with two different materials, for example to provide soft or rough aspects, parts with different colors.

[0084] In FIG. 4, a perspective top view onto the flow-limiting device and in FIG. 5 a perspective bottom view on the flow-limiting device are shown.

[0085] In FIG. 4, the sealing ring 50 with its depression 58 and the outer circumferential surface of the annular skirt 44 can be seen. Further, a concave surface 66 is shown which can also be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. The concave surface 66 helps to redirect products which were inadvertently dispensed back through the dispensing opening 36 and into the interior volume of the container. Furthermore, the concave surface 66 comprises a layer of polymer material which is different to the active material and which is molded with the sealing part.

[0086] In FIG. 5 showing the bottom side of the flow-limiting device, the shape of the ribs 48 can be seen. The ribs have guiding surfaces 64 which help, when turning the container upside down, to guide the unitary products inside the container towards the dispensing opening 36.

[0087] Further, the shape of the flow-limiting part 32 can be more clearly seen. The flow-limiting part 32 essentially consists of a ring 68, a surface 78 (opposed or on the other side compared to the concave surface 66) and the ribs 48 being integrally formed with the ring 68 and the surface 78. The surface 78 is convex in the embodiment shown but can also be flat or concave.

[0088] The embodiment as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 is very similar to the embodiment as previously explained so that reference will be made in the following mainly to the differences to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5. The flow-limiting device 24 comprises a flow-limiting part 32 and a sealing part 34, preferably integrally formed by bi-injection molding. The flow-limiting device 24 is assembled into a cap 20 provided with a closure element 22. The cap 20 further comprises a ring part 84 and a tamper-evident means between the closure element 22 and the ring part 84.

[0089] In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the tamper-evident means 26 is provided as a tearable band 70 with a tab 72 which is grasped by the user before first opening the container in order to remove the tearable band 70. The tamper-evident means is further provided with breakable bridges 62 (shown in FIG. 8). Alternatively, these breakable bridges can be replaced by a thickness reduction in the material of the cap.

[0090] The cap 20, comprising the closure element 22, the ring part 84 and the tamper-evident band 70 is integrally formed in one piece.

[0091] Further, like in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the flow-limiting part 32 and the sealing part 34 are preferably integrally formed. This is achieved by means of a protrusion 74 which extends from the inner circumferential surface of the sealing part 32 in a radially inwards direction and fits into a circumferential notch 76 arranged on the outer circumference of the flow-limiting part 32. In this way, it is possible to design a flow-limiting device that combines an active substance while being flexible for sealing purposes. Alternatively, the flow-limiting part 32 and the sealing part 34 could be molded separately and then assembled. In this case, they can be provided with a snap-fit connection, as interlocking protrusions. This allows to maintain both parts of the flow-limiting device assembled.

[0092] The flow-limiting device 24 can be manufactured by bi-injection molding with two different types of material. First, the flow-limiting part 32 made of an active material is molded followed by molding of the sealing part 32.

[0093] The flow-limiting device 24 and the cap including the tamper-evident means can be preassembled so that, at the site where the unitary products are packaged they simply have to be filled in the interior volume of the container before snapping the combined flow-limiting device, cap and tamper-evident means onto the neck of the container.