NZ544807A - Dispensing closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing closure for dispensing contents of a container comprises a first closure member which includes a primary dispensing aperture and a second closure member 14 associated with the first closure member and rotatable relative thereto. The second closure member 14 includes one or more secondary dispensing apertures 18, the or each of which are adapted to dispense the contents of the container when the first and second closure members are moved relative to one another so that the primary and secondary dispensing apertures are aligned. The or each secondary dispensing aperture 18 is generally broader at one end than the other end.

Description

54 48 07 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional 2005900231 filed in Australia on 19 January 2005 Davies Collison Cave Reference: 12512321 APPLICANT(S): Irwin and Sheehan Pty Ltd an Australian company of Cnr Joynton & O'Dea Avenue Waterloo New South Wales 2017 INVENTION TITLE: DISPENSING CLOSURE We/I, Irwin and Sheehan Pty Ltd hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: My/Our contact address is: My/Our address for service is: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Level 14, 255 Elizabeth Street Sydney 2000 G.P.O. Box 3876 Sydney 2001 New South Wales, AUSTRALIA Telephone: 612 9263 1000 Facsimile: 612 9262 1080 Email: [email protected] DAVIES COLLISON CAVE c/- James & Wells Level 9, James & Wells Tower 56 Cawley Street Private Bag 11907 DX CP 34005 Ellerslie Auckland NEW ZEALAND intellectual property office of n.z. 2 9 JUN 2007 received P:\WPDOCS\LXW\Letters\2007\004 April\12646751 LNM draft resp + rpt 17-04-07.doc - 22/6/07 P \WPDOCS\LXW\SpccificaiionsVl2646751 amendments 17-04-07.doc-18/04/2007 DISPENSING CLOSURE Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to dispensing closures for use with containers which contain dispensable materials. The dispensable materials include granulated material such as for example salt, pepper, cheese, spices, toner, sugar, and the like.

Background to the Invention It is known to provide closures suitable for dispensing granulated contents from containers. However, with some closures there is associated uncertainty relating to whether the 15 contents have been tampered with. Others do not allow control over the dispensing of a broad range of granulated sizes of contents. Still others have moving parts which are not securely fastened to one another which reduces security of contents by inviting transport damage and vandalism. Humidity sometimes causes aggregation of granules in differing ways so as to provide many different sizes of aggregate, making it difficult to pour or 20 sprinkle the contents. Other known dispensing closures do not allow the flexibility of allowing spoon access to contents of containers.

The present invention seeks to alleviate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure suitable for dispensing granular contents disposed within a container, the dispensing 30 closure in use closing an opening of the container and including: a first closure member which includes a primary dispensing aperture; a second closure member associated with the first closure member and rotatable relative thereto, the second closure member intellectual property office of n.z 2 9 JUN 2007 received P:\WPDOCS\LXW\Spccificalions\1264tf75l amendments 17-04-07 doc-18/04/2007 including one or more secondary dispensing apertures, the or each secondary dispensing aperture being adapted to dispense the contents of the container when the first and second closure members are rotated relative to one another so that the primary and secondary dispensing apertures are aligned, wherein the or each secondary dispensing aperture is 5 generally broader at one end than the other end.

Preferably the or each secondary dispensing aperture includes one or more sprinkling apertures, the or each sprinkling aperture arranged in a generally teardrop shape or sector shape so as to inhibit clogging when sprinkling differing sizes of granule through the or 10 each aperture.

Preferably a longitudinal axis of the teardrop or sector shape is aligned with a radial axis of the closure members so as to facilitate control over sprinkling and further inhibit clogging.

Preferably the or each secondary dispensing aperture includes a pouring aperture, which is in the form of a sector generally extending from a central region to a peripheral region of the secondary closure member so as to facilitate spoon access.

Preferably first and second dispensing members are rotatable about a hub disposed at a 20 periphery of the primary and secondary closure members.

Preferably the hub includes a catch adjacent the periphery of the primary and secondary closure members so as to catch and hold the secondary closure member against the primary closure member.

Preferably the catch is a snap-action catch to keep the secondary closure member captive against the primary closure member.

Preferably the primary dispensing aperture is closed by a door connected to the primary 30 closing member by frangible or weakened portions so as to be tamper evident. intellectual property office of n.2. 2 9 JUN 2007 received P.YWPDOCSVLXVASpccificationsM 2646751 amendments l7-04-07.doc-18/04/2007 Preferably each aperture is provided with a bevel across at least a portion of the thickness of its respective closure member to ease removal of contents from the closure and reduce clogging or retention of contents on respective closure members.

Preferably the door is connected by a hinge so that he door is retained on the primary closure member once the frangible bridges are broken.

Preferably the primary closure member is constructed from LDPE.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order to enable a clearer understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments will hereinafter be described with reference to the attached drawings, and in those 15 drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a component of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, being a secondary closure member having secondary dispensing apertures passing therethrough; Figure 2 is a plan view of a component of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, being a primary closure member having primary dispensing apertures passing through when opened; Figure 3 is a part side elevation section view of the component shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation and detail view of the component shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectioned side elevation view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5; intellectual property" office of n.z 2 9 JUN 2007 received P\WPDOCS\LXW\Spccificaiions\l 2646751 amendments 17-04-07.doc-! 8/04/2007 Figure 7 is a section detail view of a hub of the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6; Figure 8 is a section detail view of a periphery of the embodiment shown in Figures 5-7.

Figure 9 is a section detail view of an aperture in a second closure member in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is a section detail view of a detent means between first and second closure members in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is a plan view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention having a frangible membrane with a tab disposed adjacent a hingeline so that the tab distends a second closure member and thereby holds the frangible membrane in an open position; Figure 12 is a plan view of a component of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, being a secondary closure member having teardrop-shaped sprinkling apertures; Figure 13 is a detail view of the sprinkling apertures of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a section view of the sprinkling apertures of Figures 12 and 13.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 - 4 there is shown a first embodiment of dispensing closure suitable for controlling flow of dispensable granular contents from a container. An assembled closure is not shown, however, each component of the closure is shown separately in each Figure.

A base member, or primary closure member 12, is shown in Figures 2 and 4. The primary closure member 12 includes an engaging portion 50 which is ft llt office of n.z 2 8 JUN 2007 RECPIVFn an P \WPDOCS\LX'W\SpccificaiionsU264<S751 amendments 17-04-07 doc-18/04/2007 opening end of a container (not shown). Ridges 52 increase friction between the first closure member 12 and the container opening end, by lightly interfering with, pressing into and deforming the container end to anchor the first closure member 12 into position.

A primary dispensing aperture 16 is provided which in this embodiment is generally broader at its outer end than its inner end, and in the shape of a sector 20, extending from a region on a periphery of the primary closure member 12, to a region adjacent a centre of the primary closure member 12, so as to facilitate spoon access to the container. The angle subtended by the sector in this embodiment is approximately 110° (though it may be of 10 course up to approximately 180°) so as to provide a large opening, suitable for spoons to pass through and thereby obtain contents. A frangible portion 17 is provided to seal the aperture 16 before first use. The frangible portion 17 is adapted to be broken away and hinged inwards on a hinge or stem 19 when pressed. The stem 19 retains the frangible portion after opening so that it does not fall into the container to rattle around and interfere 15 with the flow of contents during dispensing.

A hub 22 is provided for facilitating rotation of a secondary, or upper closure member 14, the hub 22 being disposed at a peripheral region 23 of the primary closure member 12. The hub 22 includes a retaining means 61 in the form of a catch 36 suitable for retaining a 20 corresponding catch 37 mounted on a peripheral edge of the secondary closure member 14. A relief recess 90 is provided so as to facilitate free rotation of the second closure member 14 in the hub.

The secondary, or upper closure member 14 is shown in Figures 1 and 3. The secondary 25 closure member 14 is generally in the form of a circular disc 15, and includes secondary dispensing apertures 19 in the form of a pouring aperture 20 which is generally broader at the peripheral end than the inner end and in the form of a sector 21 and a sprinkling aperture group 18 in the form of a plurality of sprinkling apertures 25. The pouring aperture 20 extends, like the primary aperture 16, from the central region of the peripheral 30 region so as to make a large opening to facilitate spoon access. The sprinkling apertures 25 include three circular sprinkling apertures 27 and five teardrop or keyhole apertures 29 each teardrop (229 in Figures 12 - 14) or keyhole 29 varying in cross-section so as to intellectual property office of im.z. 2 9 JUN 2007 received P:\WPDOCS\LXW\Spcciftcati0rts\1264675l amendments ]7.04-07.doc-18/04/2007 allow different sizes of granules and granule aggregates to be sprinkled through the apertures. Each teardrop 29 is generally broader at one end than the other end and is aligned so that a longitudinal axis of the teardrop 29 is aligned with the radial axis of the secondary closure member 15 to facilitate pouring and inhibit clogging. The teardrops 29 5 are rounded at their ends to further inhibit clogging.

In order to assemble the two closure members 12 and 14, the periphery of the second member 14 is snapped into place in the hub of the first member 12. The catches 36 and 37 engage, and the two members may be rotated relative to one another by the spoked handles 10 24.

Stackability is facilitated by a raised, angled bead 42 which extends around the periphery of the first closure element 12. The bead 42 is adapted to insert into a base recess on adjacent containers and to support those containers when stacked.

The absence of a central hub allows the primary dispensing apertures and the pouring apertures to be larger and sector-shaped so that faster pouring or sprinkling may be effected and so that spoons may access the container through the apertures when aligned. This allows added convenience for the user. A blind, peripheral hub with retaining means 20 also inhibits tampering because the lid is more securely retained, and there is no access to the container except through the frangible membrane which generally remains open when the seal is broken.

A second aspect of the invention is shown in Figures 5 - 11, in which like numerals denote 25 like parts (i.e., a numeral such as 40 in one embodiment will correspond to 140 in another embodiment). A dispensing closure for controlling flow of dispensable contents from a container is shown, the closure generally indicated at 110, the closure including a first closure member 112 and a second closure member 114. The first closure member includes a primary dispensing aperture 116 and the second closure member 114 has secondary 30 dispensing apertures 118 and 120. The primary and secondary closure members 112 and 114 respectively may be relatively moved by rotation about a hub 122 by operating a gripping means 124 in the form of a pair of projections 126, 127 extending upwardly from intellectual property office of n.z 2 S JUN 2007 received P:\WPDOCS\LXW\Spccificalions\l 2646751 amendments l7-04-07.doc-18/04/2007 an upper surface 128 of the secondary closure member 114. The primary closure member 112 is disposed adjacent the dispensable contents (not shown) and the secondary closure member 114 is disposed remote from the contents, on an opposite side of the primary closure member 112.

The primary dispensing aperture 116 has a frangible portion 117 which closes the aperture until a user first breaks the frangible portion to provide access to the contents. A hinge line is provided so that the frangible portion hangs downwards into the container to allow pouring or sprinkling therefrom. A tab 130 is provided in one embodiment shown in Figure 7 which provides for retention of the frangible portion in 117 an open position to allow unimpeded sprinkling. The tab distends the second closure member 114 which, by its flexibility, retains the tab 130 and frangible portion 117 in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the second closure member 114.

The hub 122 is in the form of a boss 132 and a blind bore 134. The boss 132 includes a flange 136 (Figure 4 and 6) which is received in a cooperating recess 138 formed in the blind bore 134 when the closure is assembled. The boss 132 and flange 136 cooperating with recess 138 provide improved captivity of secondary closure member 114.

A first secondary dispensing aperture 120 is a segment which aligns with the primary dispensing aperture 116 in order to provide pouring. A second secondary dispensing aperture 118 is a group of apertures of varying sizes arranged into a sector. The varying sizes of aperture in group 118 provides sprinkling of granules of varying sizes. Greater control of sprinkling and dispensing is provided thereby.

Each aperture 116, 118 or 120 is provided with a taper 140 of 45 0 in order to improve dispensing of contents. This feature alleviates retention of granules or other forms of contents on the side walls of the aperture, but the aperture is closed by an effective knife-edge which closes the container. intellectual property office of n.z 2 9 JUN 2007 received P:\WPDOCS\UXW\Spcfificatious\12646751 amendments 17-04-07.doc-) 8/04/200? Improved stacking of containers is provided by a raised edge 142 of the primary closure member. The raised edge takes the form of a stacking ring in order to provide increased grip on adjacent containers stacked on top of a container.

Improved retention of the closure assembly is provided by a recess 146 which is disposed about an inner periphery of the primary closure member 112. A periphery of the second closure member 114 cooperates with the recess in order to discourage transport damage and vandalism. In the fonn shown in Figure 2, the recess 146 and periphery 148 of second closure member 114 are bevelled in order to provide improved retention and relative 10 rotation of first and second closure members 112 and 114 respectively.

Securing means 150 are provided in the form of ridges 152 which engage inner side walls of the container. This reduces transport damage from having the entire closure assembly lift off the container.

Detent means 160 are provided in the form of projections 162 on the second closure member 114 and recesses 164 on the primary member 112. These means 160 provide stopping points for the second closure member 114 on its rotation about the first closure member 112. This more securely holds the second closure member 114 in a pouring, 20 sprinkling or closed position to further enhance control of dispensing or enhance product retention within the container in transport.

In operation, the closure assembly is pushed into a container and its various features provide improved control over dispensing or retention in the container. The closure 25 assembly 110 is fitted to the container, and dispensing is provided by rotating the second closure member 114 relative to the first closure member 112 so that pouring, sprinkling or closing is selected, and that position is maintained by detents 160.

Tamper evidence is enhanced by the absence of a through bore in the first closure member 112. The only entry for contents in normal use is through the breakthrough or frangible portion. intellectual property office of n.z. 2 9 JUN 2007 R E c EI v f n P:\WPDOCS\LXW\Spccifications\l2646751 amendments 17-04-07 dOC-18/04/2007 Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. intellectual property office of n.z 2 9 JUN 2007 received

Claims (13)

PAWPDOCS\LXW\Spccifications\l 2(54 6 751 amendments l7-04-Q7.doc-! 8/04/2007 - 10- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A dispensing closure suitable for dispensing granular contents disposed within a 5 container, the dispensing closure in use closing an opening of the container and including: a first closure member which includes a primary dispensing aperture; a second closure member associated with the first closure member and rotatable relative thereto, the second closure member including one or more secondary dispensing apertures, the or each secondary dispensing aperture being adapted to dispense the 10 contents of the container when the first and second closure members are rotated relative to one another so that the primary and secondary dispensing apertures are aligned, wherein the or each secondary dispensing aperture is generally broader at one end than the other end. 15

2. A dispensing closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the or each secondary dispensing aperture includes one or more sprinkling apertures, the or each sprinkling aperture arranged in a generally teardrop shape or sector shape so as to inhibit clogging when sprinkling differing sizes of granule through the or each aperture. 20

3. A dispensing closure in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein a longitudinal axis of the teardrop or sector shape is aligned with a radial axis of the closure members so as to facilitate control over sprinkling and further inhibit clogging.

4. A dispensing closure in accordance with any previous claim wherein the ends of the 25 dispensing apertures are rounded to reduce likelihood of clogging during sprinkling.

5. A dispensing closure in accordance with any previous claim wherein the or each secondary dispensing aperture includes a pouring aperture, which is in the form of a sector generally extending from a central region to a peripheral region of the secondary 30 closure member so as to facilitate spoon access. intellectual property office of n.z 2 9 JUN 2007 received P:\WPDOCS\LXW\Spcciftcations\12646751 amendments 17-04-07.doc-18/04/2007 -11 -

6. A dispensing closure in accordance with any previous claim wherein first and second dispensing members are rotatable about a hub disposed at a periphery of the primary and secondary closure members. 5

7. A dispensing closure in accordance with claim 6 wherein the hub includes a catch adjacent the periphery of the primary and secondary closure members so as to catch and hold the secondary closure member against the primary closure member.

8. A dispensing closure in accordance with claim 7 wherein the catch is a snap-action 10 catch to keep the secondary closure member captive against the primary closure member.

9. A dispensing closure in accordance with any previous claim wherein the primary dispensing aperture is closed by a door connected to the primary closing member by 15 frangible or weakened portions so as to be tamper evident.

10. A dispensing closure in accordance with any previous claim wherein each aperture is provided with a bevel across at least a portion of the thickness of its respective closure member to ease removal of contents from the closure and reduce clogging or retention of contents on respective closure members.

11. A dispensing closure in accordance with claim 9 wherein the door is connected by a hinge so that he door is retained on the primary closure member once the frangible bridges are broken.

12. A dispensing closure in accordance with any previous claim wherein the primary closure member is constructed from LDPE.

13. A dispensing closure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 30 attached drawings. intellectual property office of n.z. 2 9 JUN 2007 received