Container, closure, and methods for manufacture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11401083-B2
Application number	US-202117353376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2021
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods provided herein are useful for dispensing a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid. In some embodiments, a bottle having a closure cap includes a flip top, a base, and a disk, where the base and disk define a mixing chamber configured to facilitate mixing of any serum or liquid separated from the fluid back therein. In some configurations, the base has a central opening through which the fluid exits and an internal shaft with a non-planar end surface opposite the central opening. In some configurations, the non-planar end surface and the disk define channels between the mixing chamber and the internal shaft. In some embodiments, the disk includes a central opening, a plurality of partial annular openings through a planar surface of the disk, and projections extending into the mixing chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A closure cap for a container, the closure cap comprising:
a base having, at least, a substantially frustoconical portion with an opening therethrough, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, threads on the inner skirt, an internal shaft inwardly depending from the substantially frustoconical portion, the internal shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface, and a disk attachment skirt extending from the substantially frustoconical portion about the internal shaft,
a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base; and
a disk having an at least partially annular wall, the disk formed from a single, rigid material, the disk attached to an interior of the base by engagement of the at least partially annular wall of the disk with the disk attachment skirt; and
a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the substantially frustoconical portion, the disk attachment skirt, and the internal shaft, wherein at least one fluid channel is formed by the non-planar end surface of the internal shaft and the disk.

2. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein a surface of the at least partially annular wall of the disk contacts a surface of the disk attachment skirt.

3. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the engagement of the at least partially annular wall of the disk and the disk attachment skirt forms a friction-fit connection between the disk and the base.

4. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the disk includes at least one opening permitting fluid to enter the mixing chamber.

5. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the at least partially annular wall of the disk engages a radially outer surface of the disk attachment skirt.

6. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein a surface of the disk contacts at least a portion of the non-planar end surface of the internal shaft.

7. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the flip-top lid has a projection and the flip-top lid is movable between a first position where the projection blocks the opening of the base and a second position where the projection does not obstruct the opening of the base.

8. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the inner skirt of the base is radially outward of the disk attachment skirt of the base.

9. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the base including the internal shaft and the disk are formed from a rigid material.

10. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the disk is stationary relative to a remainder of the base once the disk is initially attached thereto.

11. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the internal shaft is formed by an inwardly depending wall, inwardly depending from the substantially frustoconical portion, the internal shaft having a circular cross section and a hollow interior.

12. A closure cap for a container, the closure cap comprising:
a base having a central wall with an opening therethrough, an inner skirt and an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, threads on the inner skirt, an internal shaft inwardly depending from the central wall about the opening, and an outer dispensing chamber wall inwardly depending from the central wall and about the internal shaft;
a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base; and
a disk having a disk portion and a disk attachment wall extending from the disk portion, the disk attached to an interior of the base by engagement of the disk attachment wall of the disk with the outer dispensing chamber wall; and
a dispensing chamber formed by the disk, the central wall of the base, and the outer dispensing chamber wall, a wall forming the internal shaft including at least one lateral opening therethrough permitting fluid to flow from the dispensing chamber toward the opening via the internal shaft.

13. The closure cap of claim 12 wherein the engagement of the disk attachment wall of the disk and the outer dispensing chamber wall form a friction-fit connection between the disk and the base.

14. The closure cap of claim 12 wherein the disk attachment wall of the disk engages a radially outer surface of the outer dispensing chamber wall.

15. The closure cap of claim 12 wherein an end portion of the internal shaft opposite the central wall has a non-planar end surface.

16. The closure cap of claim 12 wherein the disk is formed from a single, rigid material.

17. A method of manufacturing a closure cap, the method comprising:
molding a closure cap having a base and a flip-top lid,
the base having an inner and outer skirt with base threads disposed on the inner skirt for attachment to a receptacle, the base having a central portion having an opening therein aligned with an internal shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface opposite the central portion, the opening permitting fluid to egress therethrough, and a disk attachment skirt extending from the central portion,
the flip-top lid unitarily formed with the base and hingedly connected to the base;

attaching a disk to the base of the closure cap, the disk formed from a single, rigid material, the disk having an at least partially annular wall extending from a disk portion, the at least partially annular wall of the disk engaging the disk attachment skirt to secure the disk to the disk attachment skirt, the disk having at least one opening to permit fluid to pass therethrough to a chamber formed by the disk, the central portion of the base, the disk attachment skirt of the base, and the internal shaft of the base, the disk engaging the non-planar end surface of the internal shaft to form at least one fluid channel along which fluid flows from the chamber to the opening.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising closing the flip-top lid to cover the opening of the base by moving the flip-top lid about the hinged connection.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein attaching the disk to the base includes sliding the at least partially annular wall of the disk along the disk attachment skirt.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein attaching the disk to the base of the closure cap includes securing the disk to the base by a friction-fit connection.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising molding the disk.

Assignees

• Heinz Co Brands H J Llc

Inventors

• Hiltser Balint
• Lueb Guus
• Cox Thomas
• Fox Jamie

Classifications

• B65D43/0231

  only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container (B65D43/0227 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D51/24

  combined {or co-operating} with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes · CPC title

• B65B3/04

  Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65D47/2031

  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

• B65D47/0809

  and elastically biased towards both the open and the closed positions · CPC title