Closure assembly for a container and a container comprising the same

Abstract

A closure assembly for a container is provided, the closure assembly comprising: a closure body for securing to the container to extend across and seal an opening in the container; the closure body comprising a bore therein, the bore communicating with the opening in the container and providing a conduit between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container through which product within the container may be dispensed; a closure member having a port therein, the closure member slideably mounted to the closure body and slideable between a closed position in which the port is out of alignment with the bore in the closure body and the closure member acts to close the bore in the closure member and an open position in which the port is aligned with the bore in the closure body. A measuring vessel for use with the closure assembly is also provided.

Claims

1. A closure assembly for a container, the closure assembly comprising: a closure body for securing to the container to extend across and seal an opening in the container; the closure body comprising a bore therein, the bore communicating with the opening in the container and providing a conduit between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container through which product within the container may be dispensed; a closure member having a port therein, the closure member slideably mounted to the closure body and slideable between a closed position in which the port is out of alignment with the bore in the closure body and the closure member acts to close the bore in the closure member and an open position in which the port is aligned with the bore in the closure body; and wherein the closure member is held in the closed position and is released for movement to the open position when the closure assembly is engaged with a vessel to receive dispensed product.

2. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure body is generally cylindrical.

3. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bore is circular in cross-section.

4. The closure assembly according claim 1, wherein the bore is tapered along its length.

5. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bore is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the closure body.

6. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure body comprises a closure portion for extending across the opening in the container, the bore extending through the closure portion.

7. The closure assembly according to claim 6, wherein the closure portion is a planar body.

8. The closure assembly according to claim 7, wherein the closure portion is a disc.

9. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure body comprises a first mounting portion having a thread formed thereon for engaging with a complementary thread on the container in a region of the opening of the container.

10. The closure assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first mounting portion is tubular.

11. A closure assembly for a container, the closure assembly comprising: a closure body for securing to the container to extend across and seal an opening in the container; the closure body comprising a bore therein, the bore communicating with the opening in the container and providing a conduit between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container through which product within the container may be dispensed; a closure member having a port therein, the closure member slideably mounted to the closure body and slideable between a closed position in which the port is out of alignment with the bore in the closure body and the closure member acts to close the bore in the closure member and an open position in which the port is aligned with the bore in the closure body, further comprising a connecting structure for securing the closure body to a vessel to receive product dispensed from the container through the closure assembly when in the open position.

12. The closure assembly according to claim 11, wherein the connecting structure comprises a second mounting portion of the closure body.

13. The closure assembly according to claim 12, wherein the second mounting portion is tubular.

14. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is slideable laterally across the closure body.

15. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is arranged to slide across one end of the bore in the closure body.

16. The closure assembly according to claim 15, wherein the closure member is arranged to slide across an outer end of the bore in the closure body.

17. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the port in the closure member is generally circular in at least part of its length.

18. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is a planar body.

19. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the port in the closure member is tapered along its length.

20. The closure assembly according to claim 19, wherein the widest portion of the port is at an outer end of the port, relative to the interior of the container.

21. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is moveable through a side wall of the closure body.

22. The closure assembly according to claim 21, wherein an outer end portion of the closure member is enlarged.

23. The closure assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a guard member to limit or prevent inadvertent movement of the closure member.

24. A closure assembly for a container, the closure assembly comprising: a closure body for securing to the container to extend across and seal an opening in the container; the closure body comprising a bore therein, the bore communicating with the opening in the container and providing a conduit between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container through which product within the container may be dispensed; a closure member having a port therein, the closure member slideably mounted to the closure body and slideable between a closed position in which the port is out of alignment with the bore in the closure body and the closure member acts to close the bore in the closure member and an open position in which the port is aligned with the bore in the closure body, a guard member to limit or prevent inadvertent movement of the closure member, wherein the guard comprises one or more guard walls extending from the outer surface of the closure body.

25. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein movement of the closure member past the open position is limited by a stop.

26. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is biased.

27. The closure assembly according to claim 26, wherein the closure member is biased into the closed position.

28. The closure assembly according to claim 27, wherein the closure member is biased by a resilient biasing arm.

29. The closure assembly according to claim 28, wherein the resilient biasing arm acts between the closure body and the closure member.

30. The closure assembly according to claim 29, wherein the resilient biasing arm is connected to the closure member.

31. The closure assembly according claim 1, wherein movement of the closure member is limited to a substantially linear path by guide members.

32. A closure assembly for a container, the closure assembly comprising: a closure body for securing to the container to extend across and seal an opening in the container; the closure body comprising a bore therein, the bore communicating with the opening in the container and providing a conduit between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container through which product within the container may be dispensed; a closure member having a port therein, the closure member slideably mounted to the closure body and slideable between a closed position in which the port is out of alignment with the bore in the closure body and the closure member acts to close the bore in the closure member and an open position in which the port is aligned with the bore in the closure body, wherein the closure member is held in the closed position and is released for movement to the open position when the closure assembly is engaged with a vessel to receive dispensed product.

33. The closure assembly according to claim 32, wherein the closure member is held in the closed position by a retaining member.

34. The closure assembly according to claim 33, wherein the retaining member is moveable between a locked position, in which the closure member is unable to move to the open position, and an unlocked position, in which the closure member is free to move to the open position.

35. The closure assembly according to claim 34, wherein the retaining member is biased to the locked position.

36. The closure assembly according to claim 35, wherein the retaining member is resilient.

37. The closure assembly according to claim 33, wherein the retaining member is connected to the closure member.

38. A vessel for measuring the quantity of a dispensed product, the vessel comprising a side wall, an opening defined by the side wall and a base, the vessel comprising a member extending inwards from the base, such that the member reduces the volume of the interior portion of the vessel in the region of the base, and the vessel being secured to a closure assembly for a container, the closure assembly comprising: a closure body for securing to the container to extend across and seal an opening in the container; the closure body comprising a bore therein, the bore communicating with the opening in the container and providing a conduit between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container through which product within the container may be dispensed; a closure member having a port therein, the closure member slideably mounted to the closure body and slideable between a closed position in which the port is out of alignment with the bore in the closure body and the closure member acts to close the bore in the closure member and an open position in which the port is aligned with the bore in the closure body; and wherein the closure member is held in the closed position and is released for movement to the open position when the closure assembly is engaged with the vessel to receive dispensed product.

39. The vessel according to claim 38, wherein the side wall of the vessel is frusto-conical.

40. The vessel according to claim 38, wherein the member is tapered, with the wider portion of the member being towards or adjacent the base.

41. The vessel according to claim 40, wherein the member is conical.

42. A container comprising a closure assembly as claimed in claim 1.

43. The container according to claim 42, further comprising a measuring vessel.

44. The container according to claim 43, wherein the measuring vessel comprises a side wall, an opening defined by the side wall and a base, a member extending inwards from the base, such that the member reduces the volume of the interior portion of the vessel in the region of the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure assembly of one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the closure assembly of FIG. 1 on a container;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view of the closure assembly of FIG. 2 in the direction of arrow III;

(5) FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the closure assembly of FIG. 3 along the line IV-IV;

(6) FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the closure assembly along the line V-V of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a closure member of the closure assembly of FIGS. 1 to 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of the closure member in the direction of arrow VII of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a plan view of the closure member in the direction of arrow VIII of FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the closure member along the line IX-IX of FIG. 7; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a measuring vessel for use with the closure assembly of FIGS. 1 to 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of one embodiment of a closure assembly of the present invention. A side view of the closure assembly in place on a container is shown in FIG. 2. The closure assembly is shown in vertical cross-section in FIGS. 3 and 5. A horizontal cross-section through the closure assembly is shown in FIG. 4.

(13) It will be appreciated that the closure assembly may be used in many different orientations. Accordingly, the terms upper, lower, above and below are used in this specification for ease of reference only and refer to the orientation of the assembly as shown in the accompanying figures.

(14) The closure assembly, generally indicated as 2, is shown in FIG. 2 secured to a container 4 of conventional form and having a neck 6 with a circular opening 6a therein through which the container may be filled with product and the product dispensed from the container.

(15) The closure assembly 2 has a generally cylindrical closure body 10 having a central longitudinal axis 12. A generally planar closure portion in the form of a circular closure disc 14 extends laterally across the interior of the closure body 10 for extending across the opening 6a in the container 4. The closure disc 14 has a bore 16 therethrough. The bore 16 is located centrally in the closure disc 14 and is aligned with the central longitudinal axis 12 of the cylindrical closure body 10. The bore 16 is tapered, with the opening at the lower end 16a of the bore, as viewed in the figures, being greater than the opening in the upper end 16b.

(16) The portion of the closure body 10 below the closure disc 14 forms a generally tubular first mounting portion 20. The first mounting portion 20 is provided with a thread 22 formed on its inner surface 24. The thread 22 engages with a corresponding thread on the outer surface of the container 4 in the region of the opening 6a, in known manner. A collar 26 with barbs 28 formed on its inner surface is provided around the open end 30 of the first mounting portion and prevents inadvertent removal of the closure assembly 2 from the container 4, in known manner.

(17) The portion of the closure body 10 above the closure disc 14 forms a generally tubular second mounting portion 32. The second mounting portion 32 is provided with a thread 34 formed on its outer surface 36. The thread 34 engages with a corresponding thread on the inner surface of a measuring vessel, details of which are provided below. A flange 40 extends circumferentially around the exterior of the closure body 10 and provides a stop to abut the lip of the measuring vessel.

(18) The second mounting portion 32 of the body 10 is provided with a rectangular slot 42 therein, the slot 42 opening above and adjacent the closure disc 14, as shown in FIG. 4. Opposing parallel guide members 44 extend across the closure disc 14 from the slot 42 on either side of the bore 16.

(19) A guard member 46 having walls 48a, 48b and 48c extends outwards from the first mounting portion 20 below the slot 42. A closure member, generally indicated as 50, extends from between the walls of the guard member 46, through the slot 42 and across the upper surface of the closure disc 14. The walls 48a, 48b and 48c of the guard member 46 extend to the side and below an exterior portion of a closure member.

(20) Details of the closure member 50 will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

(21) The closure member 50 comprises a rectangular closure plate 52 having a proximal end 54 and a distal end 56. The closure plate 52 has chamfered sides 52a and 52b for engaging with the guide members 44 on the closure disc 14.

(22) A port 60 extends through the closure plate 52. The port 60 is formed with an eccentric taper 62, such that the cross-sectional area of the port in the upper surface of the closure plate is larger than that in the lower surface. The taper 62 is eccentric in the direction from the proximal end 54 to the distal end 56 and comprises a relatively steep taper portion 62a on the proximal side of the port and a relatively shallow taper portion 62b on the distal side thereof.

(23) The proximal end 54 of the closure member 50 is provided with an actuator portion 66 connected to the closure plate 52. In use, the user presses on the actuator portion 66 to move the closure member 50 from the closed position to the open position, as described in more detail below. The actuator portion 66 comprises opposing side walls 66a, 66b and an end wall 68. The actuator portion 66 is accommodated within the guard member 46, with the surface of the end wall 68 exposed. In use, the guard member 46 prevents the closure member 50 being moved inadvertently.

(24) A resilient, V-shaped biasing member 70 having arms 70a and 70b is connected at the end of one arm 70a to the proximal end 54 of the closure plate 52 and extends downwards and inwards within the actuator portion 66. The second arm 70b of the biasing member 70 bears against the outer surface of the first mounting portion 20 of the closure body 10. The action of the resilient biasing member 70 is to urge the closure member 50 into the closed position.

(25) A resilient retaining member 74 extends distally of the proximal end 54 within a slot 76 in the proximal end of the closure plate 52. The distal end of the retaining member 74 is provided with a tapered retaining lug 78. In use, with the closure member in the closed position, the retaining member 74 is biased upwards and the end of the retaining lug 78 contacts the outer surface of the second mounting portion 32 just above the slot 42. In this position, the retaining lug 78 prevents the closure member 50 from being moved, in particular moved into the open position. In this way, the closure assembly is held in a closed or shut condition, preventing product from leaving the container.

(26) When the closure assembly is connected to a vessel for receiving dispensed product, such as a measuring vessel, by means of the thread 34 on the outer surface 36 of the second mounting portion 32, the edge of the vessel contacts the retaining lug 78, urging the retaining member 74 downwards, as viewed in the figures, allowing the retaining member 74 to pass through the slot 42, in turn allowing the closure assembly to be moved to the open position. In this way, the container is only opened and product able to be dispensed once the closure assembly has been fully engaged with a vessel, such as a measuring vessel, for receiving the dispensed product.

(27) Lugs 80 are provided on each of the side walls 66a and 66b of the actuator portion 66 and engage with corresponding slots 82 in each of the side walls 48a and 48b of the guard member 46.

(28) In use, the closure member 50 is biased into the closed position, with the actuator portion 66 housed within the guard member 46 and the closure plate 52 extending across the upper surface of the closure disc 14. In this position, the port 60 is out of alignment with the bore 16 in the closure disc 14 and the closure plate 52 covers and seals the bore 16 sufficiently to prevent product leaving the container 4. When product is to be dispensed from the container, the user presses on the end wall 68 of the actuator portion 66 of the closure member 50, moving the closure plate 52 in the distal direction across the closure disc 14 against the action of the biasing member 66 and until the port 60 aligns with the bore 16 in the closure disc 14. With the port and bore aligned, product may be dispensed from the container. The user removes the pressure on the end wall 68 of the actuator portion, allowing the closure member 50 to return to the closed position under the action of the resilient biasing member 70, thereby closing the assembly.

(29) A measuring vessel for use with the closure assembly 2 is shown in FIG. 10. The measuring vessel, generally indicated as 102, has an inverted frusto-conical body 104 having a tapered side wall 106 and a base 108. The vessel 102 has an opening 110. The portion of the side wall 106 adjacent the opening 110 is provided with an internal thread 112 corresponding to the thread 34 on the second mounting portion of the closure body 10.

(30) A cone 120 extends upwards within the vessel 102 from the base.

(31) In use, the measuring vessel 102 may be attached to the second mounting portion 32 of the closure assembly 2. In this way, product may be dispensed from the container 4, as described above, directly into the measuring vessel.

(32) The closure assembly, container and the measuring vessel may be used for storing and dispensing a wide range of products, including both liquid and solid products. They have been found to be of particular use for the storage and dispensing of agrochemical products, in particular granular or powdered formulations, for example products containing sulphonyl ureas as active ingredients.