Dispensing closure

Abstract

A dispensing closure for covering an opening of a container including a liquid is presented. The dispensing closure includes an engagement element that fits over the opening of the container and defines a pouring orifice for allowing pouring of the liquid. The pouring orifice having a side defining an air channel for allowing air to flow into the container when liquid during the pouring. The engagement element also includes outer walls and a cap having a hollow including inner walls tightly conforming to the outer walls, a first orifice generally conforming in shape to the pouring orifice, and a second orifice generally conforming in shape to the air channel.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure for covering an opening of a container including a liquid, comprising: an engagement element, wherein the engagement element fits over the opening of the container, the engagement element defining a pouring orifice for allowing pouring of the liquid, the pouring orifice having a side defining an air channel for allowing air to flow into the container when liquid during the pouring the engagement element further comprising: outer walls; and a cap having a hollow including inner walls tightly conforming to the outer walls, a first orifice generally conforming in shape to the pouring orifice, and a second orifice generally conforming in shape to the air channel, wherein the cap is engaged with the engagement element, the cap having a first position about the engagement element where the first orifice is not aligned with the pouring orifice and the second orifice is not aligned with the air channel, the cap having a second position about the engagement element where the first orifice is aligned with the pouring orifice and the second orifice is aligned with the air channel, wherein the liquid cannot be poured when the cap is in the first position and the liquid can be poured when the cap is in the second position.

2. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the container includes a top, the dispensing closure further comprising: a foil affixed to the top.

3. The dispensing closure of claim 2, further comprising: a threaded knife, wherein the threaded knife perforates the foil when the cap is changed from the first position to the second position.

4. The dispensing closure of claim 1, further comprising: an o-ring affixed to the cap for sealing at least one of: the first orifice, and the second orifice.

5. The dispensing closure of claim 1, further comprising a sealing material layer, wherein the hollow is coated with the sealing material layer.

6. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein motion of the cap about the engagement element is restricted to between the first position and the second position.

7. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises at least one of: a printed logo on at least one side of the cap, a printed icon on at least one side of the cap, an embossed icon on at least one side of the cap, a printed text on at least one side of the cap, and an embossed text on at least one side of the cap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject matter disclosed herein is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of a sealed dispensing closure constructed according to an embodiment; and

(3) FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of an open dispensing closure constructed according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed herein are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed embodiments. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.

(5) The various disclosed embodiments include a dispensing closure for mounting on a container containing liquid. The dispensing closure comprises an engagement element designed to fit over the opening of the container. The engagement element further comprises a pouring orifice to allow pouring of the liquid. The engagement element further comprises an air channel at a side of the pouring orifice to allow for air to flow into the container when the liquid is poured.

(6) FIG. 1A shows an exemplary and non-limiting schematic diagram illustrating a side view of a dispensing closure 100 in a sealed configuration according to an embodiment. A cap 110 defines a first orifice 120 generally conforming in shape to a pouring orifice 130 of an engagement element 140. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the cap 110 is in a first position where the first orifice 120 of the cap 110 is not aligned with the corresponding pouring orifice 130 of the engagement element 140. The hollow of the cap 110 has inner walls 115 tightly conforming to outer walls 145 of the engagement element 140 at any rotational position of the cap 110 about the engagement element 140. The engagement element 140 is designed to fit over an opening of a container 150 containing liquids or to be assembled thereto.

(7) The engagement element 140 further includes an air channel 160 which may be beside the pouring orifice 130. The air channel 160 allows air to flow into the container 150 when liquid is poured through the pouring orifice 130. The cap 110 further defines a second orifice 170 generally conforming in shape to the air channel 160. When the cap 110 is in the first position in which the first orifice 120 of the cap 110 is not aligned with the corresponding pouring orifice 130 of the engagement element 140, liquid cannot be poured out of the container through the dispensing closure 100.

(8) FIG. 1B shows an exemplary and non-limiting schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the dispensing closure 100 in an open configuration according to an embodiment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the cap 110 is in a second position where the first orifice 120 of the cap 110 is aligned with the corresponding pouring orifice 130 of the engagement element 140. As a result of this configuration, liquid can be poured out of the container through the dispensing closure 100. According to an embodiment, the position of the cap 110 can be changed from the first position where liquid cannot be poured out of the dispensing closure 100 to the second position where liquid can be poured out of the dispensing closure 100 by twisting of the cap 110. As a non-limiting example, the cap 110 may be changed from the first position to the second position upon twisting of the cap 110 by 180 degrees.

(9) According to an embodiment, the container 150 comprises a foil (not shown) affixed to the top of the container 150. The foil may be used to preserve the freshness of the content of the container 150. In a further embodiment, the dispensing closure 100 may further comprise a threaded knife 180. During an initial use, the threaded knife 180 is pressed down upon twisting of the cap 110 from the first position to the second position, thereby perforating the foil and enabling pouring of the liquid from the container 150 thereafter.

(10) A person skilled-in-the-art will readily note that other embodiments may be achieved without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example and without limitation, other bases and/or engaging elements may be used to affix the dispensing closure 100 to the opening of the container 150.

(11) In an embodiment, the dispensing closure 100 may further include an o-ring 190 for sealing the first orifice 120 and/or the second orifice 170. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1A-1B, the o-ring 190 is for sealing the first orifice 120. In a further embodiment, the o-ring 190 is affixed to the cap 110. The o-ring 190 may be placed for, e.g., better sealing. In yet another embodiment, a locking mechanism (not shown) is used to lock the cap 110 in a depressed position when pressed downward. In that embodiment, another press releases the cap to its original locked position.

(12) In an embodiment, the hollow of the cap may be coated with a sealing material layer 195 to ensure better sealing. Such a sealing material layer 195 may be, but is not limited to, rubber, Teflon, or any other appropriate sealing material. In yet another embodiment, motion of the cap may be restricted to the first position, the second position, and positions between the first position and the second position. In an embodiment, a logo, an icon, a text, or the like can be printed, embossed, or otherwise affixed to, e.g., any side of the cap 110.

(13) All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosed embodiment and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.