WO2010096326A1

WO2010096326A1 - Hinged dispensing closure

Info

Publication number: WO2010096326A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/023871
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonora M. Brozell
Original assignee: Rexam Closure Systems Inc.
Priority date: 2009-02-20
Filing date: 2010-02-11
Publication date: 2010-08-26

Abstract

A dispensing system for dispensing product from a container (16) having a neck finish (20) includes a fitment (22 or 122) coupled to the container neck finish and a hinged dispensing closure (14) of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction coupled to the fitment. The fitment includes an annular end wall (30 or 130) for overlying an end surface of the container neck finish, an inner peripheral wall (34 or 134) for receipt within the container neck finish, a removable panel (26) extending across the inner peripheral wall, an outer peripheral wall (38 or 138) extending from the end wall, and at least one external thread (40) on the outer peripheral wall. The closure includes a base (42) having a deck (48) with a dispensing opening (28), an inner wall (58 or 158) extending from the deck for sealing engagement with the fitment, an outer wall (50 or 150) extending from the deck, and at least one internal thread (52) on the outer wall for threaded engagement with the external thread on the outer peripheral wall of the fitment such that the dispensing closure can be unthreaded from the fitment to remove the removable panel from the fitment. A lid (44) includes a pintle (78) for receipt within the dispensing opening in the closed position of the lid, and a bead (88) engageable with the deck for releasably holding the lid in the closed position. A hinge (46) couples the lid to the base so that the lid is pivotal between a closed position overlying the deck and an open position spaced from the deck.

Description

HINGED DISPENSING CLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to packages for dispensing fluent products and, more particularly, to a hinged dispensing closure and a dispensing system and a package having such a closure. Background and Summary of the Disclosure

Some aseptically-filled packages include a container and a hinged dispensing closure coupled to the container. The container has a body for holding a product to be dispensed and a neck finish with an open mouth sealed with a removable foil seal, which is adhered to a top surface of the neck finish. The hinged dispensing closure typically includes a one-piece integrally molded shell having a base and a lid connected by a hinge to the base to pivot between a closed position adjacent to the base and an open position spaced from the base. The base includes a skirt with threads coupled to corresponding threads on the neck finish of the container. In use, a user unthreads the hinged dispensing closure from the container, removes the foil seal, replaces and rethreads the closure to the container, and opens the lid to dispense product from the container through a dispensing opening in the base of the closure. A user applies force to the lid to snap a pintle of the lid into tight engagement with the dispensing opening to block flow of fluid out of the container. One or more general objects of the present disclosure include providing a hinged dispensing closure that may serve as an overcap to an aseptically filled package capped with a pull- ring fitment, may be easier to close than some prior dispensing closures, may reduce pooling of fluent product on the closure, and/or may be less prone to leakage after a consumer removes and replaces the closure to unseal the package. The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure a dispensing system for dispensing product from a container having a neck finish includes a fitment coupled to the container neck finish and a hinged dispensing closure of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction coupled to the fitment. The fitment includes an annular end wall for overlying an end surface of the container neck finish, an inner peripheral wall for receipt within the container neck finish, a removable panel extending across the inner peripheral wall, an outer peripheral wall extending from the end wall, and at least one external thread on the outer peripheral wall. The closure includes a base having a deck with a dispensing opening, an inner wall extending from the deck for sealing engagement with the fitment, an outer wall extending from the deck, and at least one internal thread on the outer wall for threaded engagement with the external thread on the outer peripheral wall of the fitment such that the dispensing closure can be unthreaded from the fitment to remove the removable panel from the fitment. The closure also includes a lid including a pintle for receipt within the dispensing opening in the closed position of the lid, and a bead engageable with the deck for releasably holding the lid in the closed position. The closure further includes a hinge coupling the lid to the base so that the lid is pivotal between a closed position overlying the deck and an open position spaced from the deck.

In accordance with a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a hinged dispensing closure of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction employable as an overcap for an aseptic package including a container and a fitment coupled thereto before the aseptic package is unsealed and employable as a resealable dispensing closure after the aseptic package is unsealed. The closure includes a base having a deck with a dispensing opening, an inner wall extending from the deck for sealable engagement with the fitment, an outer wall extending from the deck and at least one internal thread on the outer wall threadably engageable with an external thread on an outer peripheral wall of the fitment such that the dispensing closure is removable from the fitment. A closure lid includes a pintle for receipt within the dispensing opening in the closed position of the lid, and a bead engageable with the deck for releasably holding the lid in the closed position. A closure hinge couples the lid to the base so the lid is pivotal between a closed position overlying the deck and an open position spaced therefrom. Brief Description of the Drawings The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the package of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially from ellipse 3 of FIG. 2, illustrating a closure and fitment sealing arrangement;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged fragmentary view of another closure and fitment sealing arrangement in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially from ellipse 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the package of FIG. 1 , showing an exemplary aseptic package; FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the aseptic package shown in FIG. 5, enlarged to show an exemplary pull ring type of fitment;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a hinged dispensing closure in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of the hinged dispensing closure of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially from ellipse 9 of FIG. 8. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a package 10, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, that may be used, for example, for containing and dispensing daily creamer, or the like. In general, the package 10 may include an aseptically-filled, or aseptic, package

12 and a hinged dispensing closure 14 coupled to the aseptic package 12. The closure 14 may be employable as an overcap for the aseptic package 12 until the package 12 is unsealed and, after the package 12 is unsealed, may be employable as a resealable dispensing closure of the package 10. Referring to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the aseptic package 12 may include a container 16 having a body 18 and a neck finish 20 extending from the body 18, and a fitment 22 that may be sealingly coupled to the neck finish 20 in any suitable manner. The combination of the fitment 22 and the hinged dispensing closure 14, which may be coupled thereto, constitutes an exemplary dispensing system for dispensing product from a container, such as the exemplary container 16, or any other suitable container.

The fitment 22 may be of one-piece integrally molded construction and may be composed of any plastic suitable for use as a packaging fitment. For example, the fitment 22 may be composed of any plastic suitable for use as a packaging closure. For example, the fitment 22 may be composed of a low density polymer, for example, low density polyethylene or any other suitable polymeric material suitable for packaging, for example, food packaging. In any case, the fitment 22 is coupled to the container neck finish 20 in any suitable manner. For example, the fitment 22 may be non-removably and sealingly received on the container neck finish 20, for example, by self- broaching splines, by threaded inter engagement with ratchets (not shown) or the like to prevent unthreading from the neck finish 20. The fitment 22 may include a pull ring 24 and panel 26 that, when removed, opens a dispensing opening 28 in the fitment. For example, the pull ring 24 and panel 26 may be a central frangibly removable component that is integrally molded with the rest of the fitment 22. The fitment 22 may also include an annular end wall 30 for overlying an end surface 32 (FIG.2) of the container neck finish 20, and an inner peripheral wall 34 for receipt within an open mouth 36 (FIG. 2) of the container neck finish 20, wherein the removable panel 26 extends across the inner peripheral wall 34. The fitment 22 may also include an outer peripheral wall 38 extending from the annular end wall, and one or more external threads 40 on the outer peripheral wall 38. Referring to FIGS . 2, 7, and 8, the hinged dispensing closure 14 may be of one-piece integrally molded construction and may be composed of any plastic suitable for use as a packaging closure. For example, the closure 14 may be composed of polypropylene or any other suitable polymeric material suitable for packaging, for example, food packaging. In any case, the closure 14 generally may include a base 42, a lid 44, and a hinge 46 coupling the lid 44 to the base 42 so that the lid 44 is pivotal between a closed position overlying the base 42 and an open position spaced from the base 42. Referring to FIG.2, the base 42 of the closure 14 may include a deck 48, an outer wall 50 extending from the deck 48 and including internal threads 52 for threaded engagement with the external threads 40 on the outer peripheral wall 38 of the fitment 22. The base 42 may further include a skirt 54, which may extend from the deck 48, surround the outer wall 50, and terminate in an end 56 that may be of substantially similar outer peripheral size as an outer peripheral dimension of the container body 18.

FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a linerless closure and fitment sealing arrangement.

The base 42 may also include an inner wall 58 that may extend from the deck 48 for plug-sealing engagement with the inner peripheral wall 34 of the fitment 22, and an annular seal bead 60, such as a V-shaped seal, extending from an undersurface of the deck 48 for sealing engagement with an opposing surface of the annular end wall 30 of the fitment 22. The seal bead 60 may prohibit the closure 14 from being over-driven onto the fitment 22. As used herein, directional words such as top, bottom, upper, over, under, lower, radial, circumferential, lateral, longitudinal, vertical, horizontal, and the like are employed by way of description and not limitation. The annular seal bead 60 becomes axially compressed when the closure 14 is secured to the fitment 22 and such compression may offer resistance to limit the extent to which the closure 14 can be threaded to the fitment 22 to prevent overthreading and concomitant poor sealing conditions therebetween. The inner wall 58 of the closure 14 may be sized for an interference fit with the inner wall 34 of the fitment 22, wherein the inner wall 58 may be in close sealing contact with the inner wall 34 and may deflect radially inwardly to some degree.

FIG. 3 A illustrates an example of a linerless closure and fitment sealing arrangement according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, and like numerals between the embodiments designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, much of the common subject matter will generally not be repeated here. Panel 26 and ring 24 are not shown in FIG. 3 A for simplicity. A package 110 includes a fitment 122 to be secured to a container (not shown) and a closure 114 to be secured to the fitment 122. The fitment 122 includes an outer peripheral wall 138, and annular end wall 130, and an inner peripheral wall 134. As shown in hidden lines, the fitment 122 may be oval or teardrop-shaped, for example, to correspond to the opening of the spout 164. The closure 114 includes a base 142 having an outer wall 150 and a deck 148. The deck 148 includes a spout 164 having a front portion 168 extending from a top surface of the deck 148, and an annular seal bead 160 extending from an undersurface of the deck 148. The deck 148 also includes an inner wall 158 for axial or abutment sealing engagement with the end wall 130 of the fitment 122. The inner wall 158 is disposed laterally or radially between the front portion 168 of the spout 164 and the annular seal bead 160 and also extends from the undersurface of the deck 148. The inner wall 158 is preferably tapered in a radially inward direction as shown, such that it is a conical annular seal wall. Accordingly, when the closure 114 is coupled to the fitment 122, the inner wall 158 gets compressed between the fitment end wall 130 and the closure deck 148. In this position, an inner periphery 159 of the wall 158 is located generally beneath the front portion 168 of the spout 164 but radially outward of the inner peripheral wall 134 of the fitment 122. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the base 42 additionally may include a dispensing opening 62 in the deck 48 and a spout 64, which may extend from the deck 48 and at least partially around the dispensing opening 62. The spout 64 may be at least somewhat teardrop-shaped in plan view as exemplified by FIG. 7, and may include a rear portion 66, a front portion 68 with a chamfer 70 (FIG. 9), and inclined sides 72 that may extend from and/or between the rear and front portions 66, 68. The spout 64 may be directional such that it is forward biased as exemplified by one or more of the following features: the chamfer 70, the inclined sides 72, and/or a radially forward or outwardly leaning inside surface of the front portion 68. The base 42 may also include a bead 74, which may be semi-circular in shape, at a forward end for cooperating with the lid 44 as will be described herein below.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, the lid 44 may include a base wall 76 extending forward from a rear end at the hinge 46 to a front end. The lid 44 may also include a pintle 78 extending from the base wall 76 for sealing receipt within the dispensing opening 62 of the base 42 when the lid 44 is in its closed position against the base 42.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the pintle 78 may have a shape complementary to that of the spout 64 of the base 42 and sized for acceptance in close contact therewith, such that the pintle 78 may cooperate with the spout 64 to align the lid with the base as the Hd is moved to the closed position. Also, the pintle 78 may include a rear portion 80, a front portion 82, and sides 84 therebetween that may all be of substantially similar length. The lid 44 may further include a peripheral edge 86 that may terminate the base wall 76 of the lid 44 and a bead 88 that may further extend from the peripheral edge 86 at the forward end of the lid 44. The lid bead 88 may be semicircular in shape and may be engageable with the corresponding base bead 74 for releasably holding the lid 88 in its closed position with respect to the base 42.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the base bead 74 may be disposed inboard of an outer periphery 90 of the base 42 and elevated with respect to a shoulder portion 92 between the deck 48 and the outer wall 50 to define a space therebetween. The lid bead 88 may include a flat surface 94 corresponding to the shoulder portion 92 of the base 42 and may include a tip 96 that snaps into engagement with the base bead 74 at least partially in the defined space between the base bead 74 and the shoulder portion 92. In use, and referring to FIG. 2, a user may hold the container 16 with a first hand and grip the closure 14 with a second hand to twist or unthread the closure 14 from the fitment 22 of the aseptic package 12 to gain access to the removable pull ring 24 and panel 26 of the fitment 22. Once the closure 14 is removed, the user may pull the pull ring 24 to break the panel 26 away from the rest of the fitment 22. Then, the user may discard the pull ring 24 and panel 26, replace or rethread the closure 14 back onto the now unsealed aseptic package 12. After that, the user may use the thumb of the second hand to apply upward pressure to the front end of the lid 44 to disengage the corresponding beads 74, 88 of the base 42 and the lid 44. Thereafter, the user may pivot the lid 44 about the hinge 46, and invert the package 10 to some degree so that fluent product may be dispensed out of the container 16 and through the dispensing system. Subsequently, the user may reorient the package 10 in a generally upright position, and grip the closure 14 with the second hand so as to pivot the lid 44 about the hinge 46 back toward the base 42. As the lid 44 pivots, the pintle 78 contacts the spout 64 to wipe the spout and align the lid 44 to the base 42. More specifically, the front portion 82 of the pintle 78 may contact an inside surface of the front end 68 of the spout 64 to wipe fluent material from the spout 64 back toward the interior of the container 16. Similarly, the sides 84 and the rear end 80 of the pintle 78 may similarly engage the corresponding sides 72 and rear end 66 of the spout 64 to wipe clean the surfaces thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the pintle 78 may be longer than the length of the spout 64 such that there is longitudinal overlap therebetween and so that a free end of the pintle 78 may extend beyond the undersurface of the deck 48 and past the dispensing opening 62. Eventually, upon continued application of pressure on the lid 44 toward the base 42 by the user's second hand, the lid bead 88 may snap into engagement with the corresponding base bead 74 to lock the closure 14 in a sealed condition so as to reliably seal the package 10.

There thus has been disclosed a hinged dispensing closure that may be used as an overcap for, and to dispense fluent product from, an aseptic package, and as a resealable closure for a package, that at least partially satisfies at least some of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several exemplary embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the ail in view of the foregoing discussion.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for dispensing product from a container (16) having a neck finish (20), said dispensing system including: a fitment (22 or 122) coupled to the container neck finish, said fitment including an annular end wall (30 or 130) for overlying an end surface of the container neck finish, an inner peripheral wall (34 or 134) for receipt within the container neck finish, a removable panel (26) extending across said inner peripheral wall, an outer peripheral wall (38 or 138) extending from said end wall, and at least one external thread (40) on said outer peripheral wall, and a hinged dispensing closure (14) of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction coupled to said fitment and including: a base (42) having a deck (48) with a dispensing opening (28), an inner wall (58 or 158) extending from said deck for sealing engagement with said fitment, an outer wall (50 or 150) extending from said deck, and at least one internal thread (52) on said outer wall for threaded engagement with said external threads on said outer peripheral wall of said fitment such that said dispensing closure can be unthreaded from said fitment to remove said removable panel from said fitment, a lid (44) including a pintle (78) for receipt within said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid, and a bead (88) engageable with said deck for releasably holding said lid in said closed position, and a hinge (46) coupling said lid to said base so that said lid is pivotal between a closed position overlying said deck and an open position spaced from said deck.

2. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner wall (58) of said closure is adapted for plug-sealing engagement with said inner peripheral wall of said fitment.

3. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner wall (158) of said closure is adapted for abutment sealing engagement with said end wall of said fitment.

4. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispensing closure includes an annular V-seal (60) on an undersurface of said deck for sealing engagement with an opposing surface of said end wall of said fitment.

5. The dispensing system set forth in any preceding claim wherein said base of said hinged dispensing closure includes a spout (64 or 164) extending from said deck and having a front portion (68 or 168) and inclined sides (72) extending from said front portion, and wherein said lid of said hinged dispensing closure includes apintle (78) complementary in shape to that of said spout and having a front portion (82) and sides (84) being of substantially similar length and corresponding to said front portion and inclined sides of said spout, and also wherein as said lid pivots toward a closed position said front portion and sides of said pintle contact said corresponding front portion and sides of said spout to wipe said spout and align said lid to said base.

6. The dispensing system set forth in claim 5 wherein said pintle (78) is longer than said spout (64 or 164) such that there is longitudinal overlap therebetween and a free end of said pintle extends beyond an undersurface of said deck.

7. The dispensing system set forth in claim 5 wherein said pintle and spout are generally teardrop-shaped in plan view.

8. The dispensing system set forth in any preceding in claim wherein said lid of said hinged dispensing closure includes a base wall (76) that terminates in a peripheral edge and said lid bead (88) extends from said peripheral edge at a front end of said lid and is semi-circular in shape.

9. An asceptic package that includes a container (16) having a body (18) and a neck finish (20), and a dispensing system as set forth in any preceding claim mounted on said neck finish.

10. A hinged dispensing closure of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction adapted to be employed as an overcap in an aseptic package that includes a container and a fitment coupled to said container, both before the aseptic package is unsealed and employable as a resealable dispensing closure after the aseptic package is unsealed, said hinged dispensing closure including: a base (42) having a deck (48) with a dispensing opening (28), an inner wall (58 or 158) extending from said deck for sealable engagement with the fitment, an outer wall (50 or 150) extending from said deck, and at least one internal thread (52) on said outer wall threadably engageable with an external thread on an outer peripheral wall of the fitment such that said dispensing closure is removable from the fitment, a lid (44) including a pintle (78) for receipt within said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid, and a bead (88) engageable with said deck for releasably holding said lid in said closed position, and a hinge (46) coupling said lid to said base so that said lid is pivotal between a closed position overlying said deck and an open position spaced from said deck.

11. The hinged dispensing closure set forth in claim 10 wherein said inner wall (58) of said closure is adapted for plug-sealing engagement with said inner peripheral wall of said fitment.

12. The hinged dispensing closure set forth in claim 10 wherein said inner wall (158) of said closure is adapted for abutment sealing engagement with said end wall of said fitment.

13. The hinged dispensing closure set forth in claim 10, 11 or 12 including an annular V- seal (60) on an undersurface of said deck for sealing engagement with an opposing surface of said end wall of said fitment.

14. The hinged dispensing closure set forth in claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein said base of said hinged dispensing closure includes a spout (64 or 164) extending from said deck and having a front portion (68 or 168) and inclined sides (72) extending from said front portion, and wherein said lid of said hinged dispensing closure includes a pintle (78) complementary in shape to that of said spout and having a front portion (82) and sides (84) being of substantially similar length and corresponding to said front portion and inclined sides of said spout, and also wherein as said lid pivots toward a closed position said front portion and sides of said pintle contact said corresponding front portion and sides of said spout to wipe said spout and align said lid to said base.

15. The hinged dispensing closure set forth in claim 14 wherein said pintle is longer than said spout such that there is longitudinal overlap therebetween and a free end of said pintle extends beyond an undersurface of said deck.

16. The hinged dispensing closure set forth in claim 14 wherein said pintle (78) and spout are generally teardrop-shaped in plan view.

17. The hinged dispensing closure set forth in claim 10 wherein said lid includes a base wall (76) (88) that terminates in a peripheral edge and said lid bead extends from said peripheral edge at a front end of said lid and is semi-circular in shape.