Inverted bottle dispensing systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131473-B2
Application number	US-201514629283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 23, 2015
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A dispensing system that includes a bottle, a valve cap, a dosing cap. The bottle includes a side wall having at least a portion that is flexible. The valve cap regulates the dispensing of a flowable product from bottle into the dosing cap. In particular, flowable product may be dispensed from the bottle into the dosing cap when the dispensing system is in an inverted position and while the dosing cap is attached to valve cap. The valve cap and the dosing cap may support the dispensing system in the inverted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing system, comprising:
a bottle including a proximal end and a distal end separated by a side wall which has a portion that is flexible, the proximal end including an opening;
a valve cap liquid-tightly attached to the opening of the bottle, the valve cap including a valve in fluid communication with the opening of the bottle; and
a dosing cap attached to the valve cap, including a closed end and an open end;
wherein the valve cap further includes a venting aperture to allow air flow into and out of the dosing cap;
wherein the venting aperture allows air to flow into and out of a gap located between the side wall of the bottle and the valve cap; and
wherein the valve cap allows a flowable product to be dispensed from the bottle into the dosing cap when the dosing cap is locked on the valve cap and the bottle is in an inverted position with the opening disposed below the distal end,
wherein the valve cap comprises a valve cap body and a skirt disposed radially about the valve cap body, and
wherein the skirt defines feet that extend towards the closed end of the dosing cap.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is in direct fluid communication with an interior volume of the bottle and a receiving chamber of the dosing cap and resealably closes the opening of the bottle.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the valve allows a variable amount of flowable product to be dispensed.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the skirt defines a first coupling that attaches to a second coupling located on the dosing cap.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the dosing cap comprises:
a base wall, an outer circumferential side wall and an inner circumferential side wall extending from the base wall, and an elevated wall connected to the inner circumferential wall and located between the base wall and the open end of the dosing cap.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5 , wherein the elevated wall includes a surface having a concave shape that forms a depression.

7. The dispensing system of claim 5 , wherein the outer circumferential side wall defines a second coupling that attaches to a first coupling located on the valve cap.

8. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a slit valve comprising at least one flexible flap.

9. A dispensing system, comprising:
a bottle including a proximal end and a distal end separated by a side wall which has a portion that is flexible, the proximal end including an opening;
a valve cap liquid-tightly attached to the opening of the bottle, the valve cap including a valve in fluid communication with the opening of the bottle; and
a dosing cap attached to the valve cap, including a closed end and an open end;
wherein the valve cap further includes a venting aperture to allow air flow into and out of the dosing cap;
wherein the venting aperture allows air to flow into and out of a gap located between the side wall of the bottle and the valve cap; and
wherein the valve cap allows a flowable product to be dispensed from the bottle into the dosing cap when the dosing cap is locked on the valve cap and the bottle is in an inverted position with the opening disposed below the distal end, and
wherein the valve is secured to the valve cap using a retainer, and wherein the height of the retainer is less than or equal to the overall height of the valve.

10. The dispensing system of claim 5 , wherein the base wall, the outer circumferential side wall, the inner circumferential side wall, and the elevated wall of the dosing cap have continuous curvature.

11. The dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein an apex of the depression is positioned directly below the flow path of a flowable product being dispensed from the valve cap when the dosing cap is attached to the valve cap.

12. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the valve is in direct fluid communication with an interior volume of the bottle and a receiving chamber of the dosing cap and resealably closes the opening of the bottle.

13. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the valve allows a variable amount of flowable product to be dispensed.

14. The dispending system of claim 9 , wherein the valve cap comprises a valve cap body and a skirt disposed radially about the valve cap body.

15. The dispending system of claim 14 , wherein the skirt defines feet that extend towards the closed end of the dosing cap.

16. The dispensing system of claim 15 , wherein the skirt defines a first coupling that attaches to a second coupling located on the dosing cap.

17. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the valve is a slit valve comprising at least one flexible flap.

18. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the dosing cap comprises:
a base wall, an outer circumferential side wall and an inner circumferential side wall extending from the base wall, and an elevated wall connected to the inner circumferential wall and located between the base wall and the open end of the dosing cap.

19. The dispensing system of claim 18 , wherein the elevated wall includes a surface having a concave shape that forms a depression.

20. The dispensing system of claim 18 , wherein the outer circumferential side wall defines a second coupling that attaches to a first coupling located on the valve cap.

Assignees

• Henkel IP & Holding GmbH

Inventors

• Sterling Daniel Peter
• Nixon Anne E
• Talbot Whitney
• Kaye Glenn William
• Colacioppo Keith
• Turek Christopher Crosby
• Ahlman Carson E
• Murphy Shannon A
• Warren Adam
• Daoust Michael

Classifications

• B65D51/249

  the closure being specifically formed for supporting the container · CPC title

• B65D47/2031 Primary

  the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure (B65D47/2025 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D47/32

  with means for venting · CPC title

• B65D41/26

  Caps or cap-like covers serving as, or incorporating, drinking or measuring vessels · CPC title

• B65D47/122

  Threaded caps · CPC title