Anti-refill closure assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10293992-B2
Application number	US-201415023060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2014
Priority date	Sep 20, 2013
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

An anti-refill closure assembly comprises a closure body having an upper spout portion and a lower fitment portion configured for securement to an associated container. The closure body defines at least one flow passage through which liquid from the container enters the closure body. A reciprocable valve member is positioned within the closure body for movement between opened and closed positions. In the opened position of the valve member, liquid from within the container flows into the closure body through the at least one flow passage, and past the valve member outwardly through the upper spout portion. In the closed position of the valve member, the valve member acts to prevent the reverse flow of liquid from the outer spout portion back through the valve body and into the associated container. The reciprocable valve member acts to permit normal dispensing of liquid from within the container in the open position of the valve member, but acts in the nature of a one-way check valve to inhibit and prevent flow of liquid through the closure body back into the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-refill closure assembly, comprising:
a closure body having an upper spout portion, and a lower fitment portion configured for securement to an associated container,
said closure body defining at least one flow passage through which liquid from said container enters said closure body, and a valve seat surrounding said flow passage, said closure body including a centrally-positioned guide element; and
a reciprocable valve member positioned within said closure body for movement between opened and closed positions, said valve member including a circular valve head configured for engagement with said valve seat defined by said closure body in the closed position of said valve member, said valve member including a valve shaft extending downwardly from said valve head, said valve shaft being slidably mounted in said guide element of said closure body to provide reciprocable movement of said valve member, said reciprocable valve member in said closed position being generally located between said upper spout portion and said lower fitment portion,
said upper spout portion including a flow opening, the flow opening being formed between a wall and a central element, the wall being outwardly divergent relative to the central element such that the distance between the wall and the central element increases nearer the exit of the closure assembly resulting in a wider flow path,
wherein in said opened position, liquid from within said container flows into said closure body through said at least one flow passage and past said valve member outwardly though said upper spout portion, and in said closed position said valve member acts to prevent flow of liquid from said upper spout portion through said at least one flow passage and into said associated container.

2. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 1 , further including at least one vent flow path providing communication between the interior of said closure body, downstream of said valve member, and the exterior of said closure body, so the liquid introduced into said closure body through said upper spout portion can flow outwardly through said vent flow path when said valve member is in said closed position.

3. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said closure body defining a plurality of elongated flow passages through which liquid from said container enters said closure body.

4. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said closure body defines at least ten of said elongated flow passages arranged in parallel relationship with each other.

5. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 1 , further including an outer cover for fitment to said closure body to close said upper spout portion, said outer cover including a locking element engageable with said valve head of said valve member for maintaining said valve member in said closed position when said outer cover is fitted to said closure body.

6. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said closure body includes a lower fitment portion which defines said at least one flow passage and includes said centrally-positioned guide element, and an upper spout portion joined to said lower fitment portion.

7. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said valve head of said valve member defines an upwardly facing, non-horizontal surface, so that lateral liquid flow impinging on the surface induces a vertical force component in said valve member to urge said valve member into engagement with said annular valve seat.

8. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said annular valve seat is recessed to receive a peripheral portion of said valve head of said valve member, to thereby limit exposure of a lower surface of said valve head to liquid pressure from liquid introduced into said closure assembly through said upper spout portion.

9. An anti-refill closure assembly, comprising:
a closure body having an upper spout portion, and a lower fitment portion configured for securement to an associated container,
said closure body defining a plurality of elongated flow passages through which liquid from said container enters said closure body, the elongated flow passages being sized to collectively permit liquid to flow from a container while venting air into the container; and
a reciprocable valve member positioned within said closure body for movement between opened and closed positions, said reciprocable valve member in said closed position being generally located between said upper spout portion and said lower fitment portion,
said upper spout portion including a flow opening, the flow opening being formed between a wall and a central element, the wall being outwardly divergent relative to the central element such that the distance between the wall and the central element increases nearer the exit of the closure assembly resulting in a wider flow path,
wherein in said opened position, liquid from within said container flows into said closure body through at least some of said plurality of flow passages and past said valve member outwardly though said upper spout portion, and in said closed position said valve member acts to prevent flow of liquid from said upper spout portion through said at least one flow passage and into said associated container.

10. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 9 , further including at least one vent flow path providing communication between the interior of said closure body, downstream of said valve member, and the exterior of said closure body, so the liquid introduced into said closure body through said upper spout portion can flow outwardly through said vent flow path when said valve member is in said closed position.

11. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said valve member includes a circular valve head, and a valve shaft extending downwardly from said valve head, said valve shaft being slidably mounted in said closure body to provide reciprocable movement of said valve member.

12. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said closure body defines at least ten of said elongated flow passages arranged in parallel relationship with each other.

13. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of flow passages has an internal diameter of from about 0.020 to about 0.3 inches.

14. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the plurality of flow passages is sized to inhibit flow of liquid from being introduced into the container.

15. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 9 , further including an outer cover for fitment to said closure body to close said upper spout portion, said outer cover including a locking element engageable with said valve head of said valve member for maintaining said valve member in said closed position when said outer cover is fitted to said closure body.

16. The anti-refill closure assembly in accordance with claim 9 , further including an outer cover for fitment to said closure body for closing said upper spout portion, said outer cover including a lower sleeve portion configured for non-removable fitment to an outer surface of said associated container.

17. A container including an anti-refill closure assembly, comprising:
a container including a neck portion; and
an anti-refill closure assembly including a closure body and a reciprocable valve member, said closure body ha

Assignees

• Closure Systems Int Inc

Inventors

• Zweigart Jr Patrick
• Bashyam Navaneeth
• Tartock Russell
• Elliott Daniel

Classifications

• B65D49/04

  Weighted valves · CPC title

• B65D47/02 Primary

  for initially filling and for preventing subsequent refilling · CPC title

• B65D41/325 Primary

  with integral internal sealing means · CPC title

• B65D49/02 Primary

  One-way valves · CPC title

• B65D47/12

  having removable closures · CPC title