Dispensing closures and dispensers

Abstract

A dispensing closure for dispensing liquid, comprising an outer nozzle component (6) defining a nozzle opening (66) and a valve assembly (7) disposed in the closure upstream of the nozzle opening, the valve assembly comprising an outer valve element (3) and a generally rigid intermediate valve seat element (4) disposed inwardly of the outer valve element, the outer valve element comprising an outer valve flap (38) and the intermediate valve element (4) defining an outflow opening (451) bordered by an outer seat region (411, 471), the outer valve flap (38) being movable between a closed position, in which it overlaps the outer seat region of the intermediate valve element to close the outflow opening (451) against inflow therethrough, and an open position, in which it is deflected away from the outer seat region (411, 471) to open the outflow opening for outflow.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure comprising an outer nozzle and a valve assembly having a first valve element formed with a peripheral mounting ring, a second valve element and an intermediate valve element between the first and second valve elements so that the intermediate and second valve elements are annularly nested within the peripheral mounting ring, and wherein: (i) the intermediate valve element at least partly defines an outflow opening and an inflow opening for flow through the dispensing closure; (ii) the first valve element comprises a first deflectable blocking portion operable to prevent liquid inflow through the outflow opening in a closed condition thereof; (iii) the second valve element comprises a second deflectable blocking portion operable to prevent liquid outflow through the inflow opening in a closed condition thereof; and (iv) the first deflectable blocking portion is a flat annular flap with a central opening and the second deflectable blocking portion is a flat disk.

2. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein the intermediate valve element provides a first valve seat region bordering the outflow opening and a second valve seat region bordering the inflow opening, the first and second valve seat regions being engaged respectively by the first and second deflectable blocking portions in their closed positions.

3. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein the intermediate element has oppositely-directed first and second faces respectively engaging the first and second valve elements.

4. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein the inflow opening of the intermediate element is at a central part of the intermediate element and the outflow opening is at a peripheral region of the intermediate element.

5. A dispensing closure of claim 4 wherein the inflow opening is encircled by an annular seat surround connected by a support structure to a peripheral mounting portion of the intermediate element, and the outflow opening is provided as one or more flow windows surrounding the annular seat surround, through said support structure.

6. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein the first valve element comprises a peripheral mounting portion and the deflectable blocking portion thereof is connected to the peripheral mounting portion by one or a plurality of flexible support limbs.

7. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherien the second valve element comprises a peripheral mounting portion and the deflectable blocking portion thereof is connected to the peripheral mounting portion by one or a plurality of flexible support limbs.

8. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein all of said valve elements are moulded thermoplastic components.

9. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein all of said valve elements are of polypropylene.

10. A dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein all of said valve elements are fitted inside an outer nozzle component.

11. A dispensing closure of claim 10 wherein the outer nozzle component comprises a cap integrally formed with a nozzle.

12. A dispenser comprising the dispensing closure of claim 1 connected to a container for a liquid to be dispensed and wherein the dispensing closure includes a cap element having a tamper evident strip affixed thereto, said cap element snap-fittingly receiving the mounting ring.

13. A dispenser of claim 12 in which the container is a resiliently squeezable container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 are mutually orthogonal side views of a closure embodying the invention, with a lid in place;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closure, on a container and with the lid removed;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the closure at V-V of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross-section through the closure at IV-IV of FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an outer valve element of the closure;

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an intermediate seat element of the closure;

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an inner valve element of the closure;

(9) FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-section view of the valve assembly of the closure in an outflow condition, and

(10) FIG. 10 is a similar cross-section showing an inflow or recovery/suck-back condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

(11) For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

(12) With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a dispensing closure 2 comprises a cap element 6 with a nozzle 63 having a nozzle opening 66 from which a user can drink when the closure 2 is mounted on a drink container 1. With reference also to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cap 6 is connected to a neck of the container (not shown) by a conventional skirt 61 having an internal thread 65 for engagement with a thread of the container neck (not shown). The cap skirt 61 has an exterior grip formation 62 and connects to a tamper-evident strip 64 around its lower edge to indicate, in a known way, if the cap 6 has been removed from the container 1 as sold. The nozzle 63 projects up axially from the top centre of the cap via a smoothly tapered transition 67; again this is a known form to provide a user-friendly nozzle which can be put into the mouth safely and comfortably. It is well known that the users of squeezable drinks bottles sometimes squirt liquid into their mouths by squeezing the bottle, and at other times prefer to tip the bottle and suck on the nozzle.

(13) The nozzle interior has a set of vanes 68 which are conventional and not an essential feature herein; other forms of nozzle may be used. The drawings also show a removable lid 8 with a tamper-evident pull-strip 81; again this is not intrinsic to the inventive proposal and other forms of lid, cap, cover or plug may be used, or none at all.

(14) The present drink bottle differs from a conventional drink bottle particularly in that the closure includes a valve assembly 7 to control fluid flow between the interior of the container 1 and the outlet 66. By this special valve mechanism, communication between the nozzle opening 66 and container interior is normally closed, opens readily for dispensing of liquid at a flow rate adequate for a drink bottle, closes promptly when dispensing ceases e.g. when squeeze pressure on a container is relaxed, but also allows for venting of compensation air into the container and for residual liquid outside the valve assembly 7 to be drawn back into the container.

(15) The valve assembly 7 is a generally circular assembly comprising an outer valve element 3, an intermediate valve seat element 4 and an inner valve element 5. With the container neck pointed up (as shown) outer and inner correspond to upper and lower respectively, and this terminology is sometimes used for clarity, but it should be understood that the closure will operate in any orientation.

(16) The mentioned elements of the valve assembly are molded from thermoplastic material, preferably polypropylene. Each of the outer valve element, inner valve element and intermediate valve seat element is a one-piece molding. In this embodiment the outer valve element 3 comprises a peripheral mounting ring 31 with a radially-outwardly directed snap formation 33, which snaps upwardly into a corresponding downwardly-directed securing skirt 69 beneath the top of the closure cap; see FIGS. 4, 5 and 9. The intermediate valve seat element 4 in turn has a peripheral outer mounting ring 41 with exterior snap formations 43, and the inner valve element 5 has an outer mounting ring 51 with exterior snap formations 53. The intermediate and inner elements 4,5 nest up successively inside the outer element 3, with engagement of the snap formations with one another as shown, to hold the valve assembly 7 together in all directions.

(17) The intermediate element 4 is a generally rigid structure, comprising an inner seat annulus 471 held coaxially inside the outer mounting ring 41 by a support structure consisting of a plurality of spaced limbs, here radial spokes 46. Both spokes and inner seat annulus are formed with depth, and a channel form of the spokes, so that they will not flex in or out. A central flow opening 452 (inflow opening) is defined through the inner annulus 47, and a peripheral flow opening 451 (outflow opening) is defined, in the form of a set of segments or windowsbetween the inner annulus and the outer ring, sub-divided by the spokes 46. In operation of the device, as will be explained below, liquid flows out of the closure through the peripheral flow opening 451. Recovery air and any sucked-back product flow in through the central opening 452.

(18) The outer valve element 3 comprises a thin annular valve flap 38, with a central opening 352, supported coaxially inside the mounting ring 31 by flexible limbs 36. The limbs 36 allow for relatively free axial deflection of the flap 38 upwardly/outwardly relative to the mounting ring 31. Peripheral flow clearance 351 (outflow clearance) is defined between the flap 38 and the mounting ring 31, divided but not significantly reduced by the flexible limbs 36. The limbs are formed much longer than the radial distance to be bridged, with elongate circumferential elements 362 between their radial elements 361, increasing the lift distance of the flap 38 under modest pressure difference to give a large flow area between the lifted flap 38, the mounting ring 31 and the intermediate seat element 4 below.

(19) In the assembled valve the outer valve flap 38 overlies and covers the peripheral flow opening 451 of the intermediate element 4, and its inner and outer annular peripheries overlap the upwardly-directed surfaces of the intermediate element 4. The corresponding regions of overlap, including an inwardly-projecting flange of the mounting ring 41, constitute valve seat regions 411,471 for the outer valve flap 38. In the rest condition shown, the valve flap 38 therefore fully closes the peripheral flow opening 451. Optionally the outer valve element as molded has the flap slightly below (inwardly of) the illustrated level, so that in the assembly it is slightly urged against the valve seat regions 471,411 to make a positive seal. The central opening 352 of the valve flap is as large as or larger than the central flow opening 452 of the intermediate element 4, so the outer valve does not control this opening.

(20) The inner valve element 5 also comprises a valve flap 58 coaxially supported in the centre of the mounting ring 51 by a set of flexible limbs 56, and again these limbs are formed to allow ready deformation with a substantial axial reach, by virtue of circumferential segments 562 between radial segments 561. Peripheral flow clearance 55 is defined around the valve flap 55, subdivided but not significantly obstructed by the thin limbs 56. The inner valve flap 58 is a closed disk whose diameter is about the same as the inner annulus 47 of the intermediate element 4; that annulus 47 has a downwardly (inwardly)-directed flat surface 472 (see FIG. 9) and in the rest position of the closure, as shown, the edge of the inner valve flap 58 fits closely up against this downward surface 472 which therefore constitutes a valve seat for the inner valve flap 58, to close the central flow opening 452. Radially outwardly of the inner valve flap 58 the peripheral flow clearance 55 of the inner element 5 underlies the peripheral flow clearance 451 of the intermediate element 4, so that there is full fluid communication through this peripheral region of the closure.

(21) As with the outer valve element, it is optional and preferred that the inner valve flap 58 is pre-tensioned for a positive seal, by making it with an as-molded shape in which the flap 58 projects slightly above the mounting ring 51, so that the limbs must be slightly bent against their resilience when the valve is assembled.

(22) Operation is as follows. When the container is squeezed, or when a user sucks on the nozzle 63, a pressure difference arises across the valve assembly 7. This lifts the outer valve flap 38 off its seats 471,411, with flexion of its mounting limbs 36, as indicated by arrows x in FIG. 5. Because the limbs 36 are free to flex through a long distance under light pressure difference, a large outflow opening is opened up between openings 451,352 for dispensing flow of liquid. FIG. 9 shows the path X of liquid flow and the outwardly-deflected position of the outer flap 38.

(23) When the user stops squeezing the container, or stops sucking on the nozzle, the container re-expands resiliently creating a negative pressure difference across the valve assembly 7. This promptly draws the outer valve flap 38 in to close against its seats 411,471, stopping flow through the peripheral flow opening 451. Rather, the negative pressure difference deflects the inner valve flap 58 in and away from its valve seat 472 (arrows y in FIG. 5), opening up the central inflow opening 452 of the intermediate element 4 for inflow of compensation air and any residual liquid in the nozzle adjacent the valve 7. The small force and large reach provided by the thin support limbs 56 of the inner valve provide for reliable venting and easy suck-back. FIG. 10 shows the path Y of fluid flow (recovery air and/or liquid suck-back) and the inwardly-deflected position of the inner flap 58.

(24) Once the pressures equalise the inner valve flap 58 returns to close the central opening 452 and the valve assembly is fully closed as before.

(25) This action provides immediate closure of the outflow channel when outward pressure differential drops or ceases, preventing dripping and splashing. The closed rest condition of the valve prevents inadvertent contamination of the contents through the nozzle.

(26) The valve assembly 7 is injection-molded from polypropylene, which is a very cheap and recyclable material. No elastomer or separate spring is required to operate the valve effectively. The suggested structure of the valve components, which fit together, makes the closure susceptible of easily automated assembly. The outer cap can be molded from conventional material and in a conventional form so that users can have a familiar nozzle structure.

(27) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.