Dispensing closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10266313-B2
Application number	US-201715539187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2017
Priority date	Jan 9, 2017
Publication date	Apr 23, 2019
Grant date	Apr 23, 2019

Abstract

A dispensing closure ( 40 ) for a fluent substance-containing system, such as a container, includes a body ( 54 ) for receiving the fluent substance from the system, a locking member ( 56 ) assembled with the body ( 54 ), and a pivotable actuator ( 60 ) assembled with the locking member ( 56 ) and defining a dispensing flow passage ( 190 ) for discharging the fluent substance. The locking member ( 56 ) is rotatable relative to the body ( 54 ) from a locking position to an unlocking position to permit a user to pivot the actuator ( 60 ) from a closed position to a dispensing, open position. The body ( 54 ) has an abutment ( 110 ) that extends through the locking member ( 56 ) in the locking position to prevent the actuator ( 60 ) from moving into the open position. In the unlocking position of the locking member ( 56 ), the actuator ( 60 ) is not prevented by the abutment ( 110 ) from being moved into the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing closure ( 40 ) for a system ( 44 ) having an opening ( 46 ) between an exterior of the system ( 44 ) and an interior of the system ( 44 ) where a fluent substance may be stored, said dispensing closure ( 40 ) comprising:
A. a closure body ( 54 ) that
1) can be located at the system opening ( 46 ) and that defines an inlet ( 74 ) for communicating with the system, and
2) has an end ( 70 ) defining an aperture ( 84 ) to accommodate the flow of a fluent substance through said closure body ( 54 );

B. a locking member ( 56 ) mounted on said closure body ( 54 ) for rotation about a central rotational axis (A), said locking member ( 56 ) having an intermediate flow passage ( 140 ) for accommodating the flow of a substance through said closure body aperture ( 84 ), said locking member ( 56 ) having
1) a locking position, and
2) an unlocking position rotated about said central rotational axis (A) away from said locking position; and

C. an actuator ( 60 ) that
1) is rotatably mounted to said locking member ( 56 ) for occluding said locking member intermediate flow passage ( 140 ) to prevent flow of a fluent substance through said closure ( 40 ) when said actuator ( 60 ) is in a closed, non-dispensing position and for permitting flow of a fluent substance through said closure ( 40 ) when said actuator ( 60 ) is rotated to an open, dispensing position,
2) includes a dispensing flow passage ( 190 ) that is in communication with said intermediate flow passage ( 140 ) of said locking member ( 56 ) when said actuator ( 60 ) is in said open, dispensing position, and
3) is in engagement with a portion of said closure body ( 54 ) when said locking member ( 56 ) is in said locking position to prevent said actuator ( 60 ) from moving into said open, dispensing position,

wherein
1) said end ( 70 ) of said closure body ( 54 ) has an upper surface ( 82 ) with at least one recess ( 90 ) therein, and
2) said locking member ( 56 ) has at least one resilient projection ( 164 ) having a bead ( 168 ), whereby rotation of said locking member ( 56 ) relative to said closure body ( 54 ) carries said projection ( 164 ) in an arc with said bead ( 168 ) engaging said surface ( 82 ) so that said projection ( 164 ) is deflected by said surface ( 82 ) until continued rotation of said locking member ( 56 ) relative to said closure body ( 54 ) carries said projection ( 164 ) to a location in which said at least one recess ( 90 ) receives said bead ( 168 ) whereupon said projection ( 164 ) returns to its undeflected condition as said bead ( 164 ) snaps into said at least one recess ( 90 ) to generate at least one of an audible signal and a tactile signal.

2. A dispensing closure ( 40 ) for a system ( 44 ) having an opening ( 46 ) between an exterior of the system ( 44 ) and an interior of the system ( 44 ) where a fluent substance may be stored, said dispensing closure ( 40 ) comprising:
A. a closure body ( 54 ) that
1) can be located at the system opening ( 46 ) and that defines an inlet ( 74 ) for communicating with the system, and
2) has an end ( 70 ) defining an aperture ( 84 ) to accommodate the flow of a fluent substance through said closure body ( 54 ):

B. a locking member ( 56 ) mounted on said closure body ( 54 ) for rotation about a central rotational axis (A), said locking member ( 56 ) having an intermediate flow passage ( 140 ) for accommodating the flow of a substance through said closure body aperture ( 84 ), said locking member ( 56 ) having
1) a locking position, and
2) an unlocking position rotated about said central rotational axis (A) away from said locking position; and

C. an actuator ( 60 ) that
1) is rotatably mounted to said locking member ( 56 ) for occluding said locking member intermediate flow passage ( 140 ) to prevent flow of a fluent substance through said closure ( 40 ) when said actuator ( 60 ) is in a closed, non-dispensing position and for permitting flow of a fluent substance through said closure ( 40 ) when said actuator ( 60 ) is rotated to an open, dispensing position,
2) includes a dispensing flow passage ( 190 ) that is in communication with said intermediate flow passage ( 140 ) of said locking member ( 56 ) when said actuator ( 60 ) is in said open, dispensing position, and
3) is in engagement with a portion of said closure body ( 54 ) when said locking member ( 56 ) s in said locking position to prevent said actuator ( 60 ) from moving into said open, dispensing position,

wherein said locking member ( 56 ) includes a bottom deck ( 118 ) having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced arcuate slots ( 122 ) therein, each of said slots ( 122 ) having the same radius of curvature, and said bottom deck ( 118 ) further includes an arcuate aperture ( 126 ) having a radius of curvature less than said radius of curvature of said slots ( 122 ).

Assignees

• Aptargroup Inc

Inventors

• Jelich Nicholas J

Classifications

• B65D47/2006 Primary

  formed by a rigid spout outlet opened by tilting of the spout outlet · CPC title

• B65D51/248

  the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles (B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02) · CPC title

• B65D2203/12

  Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means (B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D50/06

  requiring the combination of different actions in succession · CPC title

• B65D47/08 Primary

  having articulated or hinged closures {(B65D55/16 takes precedence)} · CPC title