CA2701024A1 - Sift-resistant dispensing closure - Google Patents

Sift-resistant dispensing closure Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2701024A1
CA2701024A1 CA 2701024 CA2701024A CA2701024A1 CA 2701024 A1 CA2701024 A1 CA 2701024A1 CA 2701024 CA2701024 CA 2701024 CA 2701024 A CA2701024 A CA 2701024A CA 2701024 A1 CA2701024 A1 CA 2701024A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
sift
deck
lid
dispensing closure
end wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA 2701024
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2701024C (en
Inventor
Barry Michael Daggett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Weatherchem Corp
Original Assignee
Weatherchem Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Weatherchem Corp filed Critical Weatherchem Corp
Priority to CA2701024A priority Critical patent/CA2701024C/en
Publication of CA2701024A1 publication Critical patent/CA2701024A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2701024C publication Critical patent/CA2701024C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • B65D47/0804Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
    • B65D47/0833Hinges without elastic bias
    • B65D47/0847Hinges without elastic bias located within a flat surface of the base element

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base contains a circular end wall, a cylindrical skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside of the circular end wall. The sift deck contains a deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid contains a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that are formed on the underside of the lid and engage with the first snap bead and first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position.

Description

Agent Ref: 75923/00004
2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
3 The invention generally relates to dispensing closures and, in particular, to a sift-
4 resistant dispensing closure.

BACKGROUND

6 There is a constant need for product containment in the spice and seasoning markets.
7 Usually this containment is accomplished by a sealed liner between the container and the 8 container closure that prevents leakage of the content during shipment and storage. However, 9 after an end user removes the sealed liner, the container is no longer tightly sealed and is prone to sift. For example, the product will often spill or leak if the container falls on its side. Such a 11 spill can create a bad experience for the consumer and eventually affect sales of the product. In 12 addition, there is a need for the packaging industry to lower production costs and eliminate the 13 sealed liner. Another ongoing issue with dispensing closures in the marketplace is product 14 build-up on the deck of the closure. Over time the build-up may interfere with the closure of the container, thus affecting product freshness and worsening the spill problem.
Therefore, there 16 exists a constant need for better dispensing closures that are resistant to sift and product built-17 up, and can be produced at low cost.

19 A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base includes an end wall, 21 a skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the 22 upside of the end wall. The sift deck has a deck surface surrounded by a first sealing means 23 and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid has a second sealing means formed on 24 the underside of the lid. The second sealing means engages with the first sealing means on the sift deck to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position.

26 Another embodiment of the sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid and a 27 hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base includes a circular end wall, a cylindrical skirt 28 extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside 29 of the circular end wall. The sift deck has a concave deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the concave deck surface. The 31 lid has a second snap bead and a second sealing surface. The second snap bead and second 21986620.1 1 Agent Ref: 75923/00004 1 sealing surface are formed on the underside of the lid and engage with the first snap bead and 2 first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed 3 position.

4 Also disclosed is a container assembly having a container with an opening;
and a sift-resistant dispensing closure attached to the opening. The sift-resistant dispensing closure 6 includes a base, a lid and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base includes an end wall, 7 a skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the 8 upside of the end wall. The sift deck has a deck surface surrounded by a first sealing means 9 and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid has a second sealing means formed on the underside of the lid. The second sealing means engages with the first sealing means on the 11 sift deck to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position..

13 In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in which like numerals 14 are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the sift-resistant dispensing closure.
16 Figure 2 is a side view of the sift-resistant dispensing closure of Figure 1 in an open 17 position.

18 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sift-resistant dispensing closure of Figure 1 in a 19 closed position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sift-resistant dispensing closure with two lids.

22 This description is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, 23 which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. The drawings 24 are not necessarily to scale and certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity. In the description, relative terms 26 such as "front," "back," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom," as well as derivatives thereof, should 27 be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under 28 discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description, and normally are not 29 intended to require a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as "connected" and "attached," refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or 21986620.1 2 Agent Ref. 75923/00004 1 attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as 2 both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

3 A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure 4 comprises a base, a lid and a hinge connecting the lid to said base. The base includes an end wall, a skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall; and a sift deck elevated 6 from the upside of the end wall. The sift deck includes a deck surface surrounded by a first 7 sealing means and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid includes a second 8 sealing means formed on the underside of the lid. When the lid is in a closed position, the 9 second sealing means engages with the first sealing means on the sift deck to form a seal around the sift deck.

11 Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown an embodiment of a sift-resistant dispensing 12 closure 100. The sift-resistant dispensing closure 100 includes a base 10, a lid 20 and a hinge 13 30 connecting the lid 20 to the base 10. The base 10 has a generally circular end wall 11 and a 14 cylindrical skirt 12 extending downward from the periphery of the end wall 11. The skirt 12 can be joined to a container either in a unitary manner or by other removable or non-removable 16 means such as threading engagement, snap-on engagement, bonding by means of adhesive or 17 welding, etc. In one embodiment, the skirt 12 is formed with internal threads enabling it to be 18 screwed onto a mouth of a container. In another embodiment, the underside of the end wall 11 19 includes a circumferentially continuous sealing surface that registers with and can engage the mouth of a bottle or container.

21 A sift-resistant deck 13 is formed on the upside of the end wall 11. The sift-resistant 22 deck 13 is elevated from the upper surface of the end wall 11 and has a concave deck surface 23 14 with one or more pouring openings 15. The size and shape of the pouring openings 15 may 24 vary depending upon the type of contents to be dispensed from the container and upon the dispensing action that is desired. The concave deck surface 14 allows the leftover product on 26 the deck surface to fall back into the container after each use and therefore prevents product 27 built-up on the sift-resistant deck 13. The sift-resistant deck 13 is surrounded by a deck snap-28 bead 16 formed along the edge of the deck surface 14 and a sift deck sealing surface 17 formed 29 in parallel to the hinge 30. As described in more detail below, the deck snap-bead 16 and deck sealing surface 17 interact with the corresponding structures on the lid 20 to form a tight seal 31 around the sift-resistant deck 13 when the lid 20 is in a closed position.

32 The lid 20 opens and closes the pouring openings 15. A releasable lid catch mechanism, 33 such as the snap bead design as illustrated, is provided to releasably hold the lid 20 closed on 21986620.1 3 Agent Ref 75923/00004 1 the end wall 21 and seal the sift deck 13. The snap bead catch structure on the lid 20 includes 2 a complimentary lid snap bead 21 and a lid sealing surface 22. Both the lid snap bead 21 and 3 the lid sealing surface 22 are protrusions formed on the inside surface 23 of the lid 20, with 4 shapes and lengths that match those of the corresponding structures on the base 10 (i.e., the deck snap-bead 16 and deck sealing surface 17, respectively). As shown in Figure 3, the lid 6 snap-bead 21 engages with the deck snap bead 16 when the lid 20 is in a closed position and 7 hold the lid 20 in the closed position. The engagement of the snap-beads 21 and 16 also pulls 8 the lid sealing surface 22 and the deck sealing surface 17 against each other to form a complete 9 seal around the sift-resistant deck 13, therefore preventing the contained product from escaping the closure 100. The engagement of the snap beads 16 and 21 also serves as a lid-to-base 11 locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent opening of the lid 20. In one embodiment, the lid 20 12 further contains a lid skirt 24 extending downward from the periphery of the inside surface 23 of 13 the lid 20. When the lid 20 is in a closed position, the lid skirt 24 is brought into contact with the 14 upside of the end wall 11 in areas surrounding the sift deck 13, therefore forming a second seal around the sift deck 13.

16 In one embodiment, a thumbtab 18 is formed on the cylindrical skirt 12 on the side 17 opposite to the living hinge 30 and a corresponding recession 25 is formed on the lid 20 to 18 facilitate the opening of the lid 20.

19 In another embodiment, the sift deck 13 is surrounded by a circular guard wall and the lid catch mechanism includes an edge protruding from the exterior of the guard wall and a 21 complimentary curvature on the inside surface 23 of the lid 20.

22 Although a D-shaped sift deck is shown in the drawings, a person of ordinary skill in the 23 art would understand that the size and shape of the sift deck 13 is application dependent, and 24 that the snap bead and sealing surfaces on the base 10 and lid 20 can be adjusted accordingly to provide a complete seal around the sift deck 13.

26 The hinge 30 is preferably a living hinge. As used hereinafter, the term "living hinge"
27 refers to a hinge integrally formed with two opposite portions of the same material. Typically the 28 material along the living hinge is thin relative to the adjacent areas to facilitate flexing or bending 29 of the opposite portions (e.g., the base 10 and lid 20). A living hinge allows one portion (e.g., the lid 20) to bend relative to the other portion (e.g., the base 10), as would other hinges 31 between the two portions. A living hinge allows for a single piece design that can be molded as 32 in-line of draw. No slides or sub-slides are required in the molding design.

21986620.1 4 Agent Ref: 75923/00004 1 In one embodiment, the dispensing closure 100 contains a pair of lids 20.
Each of the 2 lids 20 selectively opens and closes a pouring opening and shake openings, respectively. The 3 lids 20 are connected to a chordal or diametral area 33 by respective living hinges 30. The term 4 "chordal", as used herein, is intended to cover the special case where the area 33 is symmetrical with a diametral line such as where, as illustrated, the lids 20 are essentially of the 6 same size, but also includes arrangements where the lids are of unequal size and the area is 7 more distinctly offset from a true diametral line. The lids 20 may optionally contain signs or 8 symbols showing the type of openings that the lids 20 cover. For example, the lid that covers a 9 pouring or spooning opening may contain a spoon symbol and the lid that covers shaking openings may have a symbol for shaking openings on top of the lid. In the illustrated case, the 11 living hinges 30 are elongated elements that extend along a major portion of the chordal area 33 12 and the width of the respective lids. The living hinges 30 in the illustrated embodiment are 13 parallel to each other. The hinges 30 comprise relatively thin, small areas of material that 14 connect the lids 20 to the chordal area 33.

The sift-resistant dispensing closure 100 allows for the elimination of a sealed liner 16 between the container and the dispense closure 100. The sift-resistant dispensing closure 100 17 can also be produced as a single piece in a molding process and thus lower the production cost.
18 Also disclosed is a container assembly. The container assembly includes a container 19 having a dispensing opening and a sift-resistant dispensing closure attached to the dispensing opening. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid and a hinge connecting 21 said lid to said base. The base includes an end wall, a skirt extending downward from the 22 periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside of the end wall. The sift deck 23 has a deck surface and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The sift deck is surrounded 24 by a first snap-bead and a first sealing surface. The lid contains a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that are formed on the underside of the lid. When the lid is in a closed 26 position, the second snap bead and second sealing surface engage with the first snap bead and 27 first sealing surface on the base, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck.

28 In one embodiment, the dispensing closure is reversibly attached to the container. In 29 another embodiment, the dispensing closure is irreversibly attached to the container.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to particular 31 embodiments thereof, this is for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation, and other 32 variations and modifications of the specific embodiments herein shown and described will be 33 apparent to those skilled in the art all within the intended spirit and scope of the invention.
21986620.1 5 Agent Ref: 75923/00004 1 Accordingly, the patent is not to be limited in scope and effect to the specific embodiments 2 herein shown and described nor in any other way that is inconsistent with the extent to which 3 the progress in the art has been advanced by the invention.

21986620.1 6

Claims (20)

1. A sift-resistant dispensing closure, comprising a base comprising:
an end wall;
a skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall; and a sift deck elevated from an upside of the end wall, said sift deck having a deck surface surrounded by a first sealing means, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface;
a lid comprising a second sealing means formed on an underside of said lid;
and a hinge connecting said lid to said base, wherein said second sealing means engages with said first sealing means on said sift deck to form a seal around said sift deck when said lid is in a closed position.
2. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein said first sealing means comprises a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and wherein said second sealing means comprises a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that engage with said a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around said sift deck when said lid is in a closed position.
3. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 2, wherein said deck surface is a concave deck surface.
4. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein said hinge is a living hinge.
5. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 4, wherein said end wall is a circular end wall and said skirt is a cylindrical skirt with internal threads.
6. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein said skirt further comprises a thumbtab.
7. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 1, further comprising a second sift deck on said base and a second lid capable of sealing the second sift deck.
8. A sift-resistant dispensing closure, comprising a base comprising:
a circular end wall;
a cylindrical skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall; and a sift deck elevated from an upside of the circular end wall, said sift deck having a concave deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the concave deck surface;
a lid comprising:
a second snap bead; and a second sealing surface, wherein said second snap-bead and second sealing surface are formed on n underside of said lid and engage with said first snap bead and first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around said sift deck when said lid is in a closed position; and a hinge connecting said lid to said base.
9. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 8, wherein said hinge is a living hinge.
10. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 8, wherein said cylindrical skirt comprises internal threads.
11. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 8, wherein said skirt further comprises a thumbtab.
12. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 8, further comprising a second sift deck on said base and a second lid capable of sealing the second sift deck.
13. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 8, wherein said sift-deck has a D-shaped concave deck surface with the first snap bead formed along the curved edge of the deck surface and the first sealing surface formed along the straight edge of the deck surface.
14. A container assembly, comprising:

a container with an opening; and a sift-resistant dispensing closure attached to the opening, said dispensing closure comprises:
a base comprising an end wall, a skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from an upside of the end wall, said sift deck having a deck surface surrounded by a first sealing means, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface;
a lid comprising a second sealing means formed on a underside of said lid;
and a hinge connecting said lid to said base, wherein said second sealing means engages with said first sealing means on said sift deck to form a seal around said sift deck when said lid is in a closed position.
15. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein said first sealing means comprises a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and wherein said second sealing means comprises a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that engage with said a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around said sift deck when said lid is in a closed position.
16. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein said hinge is a living hinge.
17. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein said end wall is a circular end wall and said skirt is a cylindrical skirt with internal threads.
18. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein said skirt further comprises a thumbtab.
19. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein said sift-resistant dispensing closure further comprises a second sift-deck on said base and a second lid capable of sealing the second sift deck.
20. The sift-resistant dispensing closure of claim 14, wherein said deck surface is a concave deck surface.
CA2701024A 2010-04-19 2010-04-19 Sift-resistant dispensing closure Active CA2701024C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2701024A CA2701024C (en) 2010-04-19 2010-04-19 Sift-resistant dispensing closure

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2701024A CA2701024C (en) 2010-04-19 2010-04-19 Sift-resistant dispensing closure

Publications (2)

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CA2701024A1 true CA2701024A1 (en) 2011-10-19
CA2701024C CA2701024C (en) 2014-12-09

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD900606S1 (en) 2018-03-02 2020-11-03 Berlin Packaging, Llc Closure
USD931101S1 (en) 2018-03-02 2021-09-21 Berlin Packaging, Llc Closure

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD900606S1 (en) 2018-03-02 2020-11-03 Berlin Packaging, Llc Closure
USD931101S1 (en) 2018-03-02 2021-09-21 Berlin Packaging, Llc Closure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2701024C (en) 2014-12-09

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