US3407967A - Dispensing closure cap - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1968 M. B. STULL DI SPENS I NG CLOSURE CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24. 1967 INVENTOR. I

Movton E1 tulL I: Ii l/ l E 2 z Oct. 29, 1968 I M. B. STULL 3,407,967

DISPENSING CLOSURE CAP Filed Jan. 24, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

United States Patent 3,407,967 DISPENSING CLOSURE CAP Morton B. Stull, Boonton, NJ. Stnll Engraving Company, 221-223 Banta Ave., Garfield, NJ. 07026) Filed Jan. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 611,325 11 Claims. (Cl. 222-48) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispensing closure cap structure having a tubular molded plastic body through which the product passes, and having a screw cap on the body, provided with a. raised, central orifice which is closed by a closure pin on the body when the cap is screwed down. Screw means is especially arranged to prevent backlash, and a duct is provided on the cap between the orifice and the cap interior, said duct having means which coacts with the closure pin to accurately progressively restrict the passage for the product as the cap is unscrewed.

Cross references (1) U.S. application Ser. No. 511,593 filed Dec. 6, 1965, by Morton B. Stull, and entitled Captive Closure Cap Construction.

(2) U.S. Patent No. 3,216,630.

(3) Copending application of Morton B. Stull, Ser. No. 602,004 filed Dec. 15, 1966, and entitled Dispensing Closure Cap.

(4) Copending application of Morton B. Stull, Ser. No. 605,654 filed Dec. 29, 1966, and entitled Dispensing Screw-Type Closure Cap now Patent No. 3,370,764 dated Feb. 27, 1968.

(5) Copending application of Morton B. Stull, Ser. No. 605,805 filed Dec. 29, 1966, and entitled Dispensing Closure Cap.

Background This invention relates to molded plastic dispensing closure caps wherein a stationary body portion holds captive a movable screw cap portion which has the discharge orifice.

In some prior captive dispensing cap constructions where an adjustable flow is had by screwing in or unscrewing the cap member the play or lost motion normally present in the thread means of the cap impairs considerably the accuracy of the flow adjustment. Also, the range of opening of the discharge passage is not ideally suited to the range of turning of the cap member, and in addition the hardening of product in the cap and contamination of threads by the product often results in malfunctioning of the dispensing closure.

Summary The present invention obviates disadvantages of prior adjustable-flow cap constructions, and one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved captive screw-cap type adjustable fiow dispensing closure wherein considerable accuracy is had in the adjustment or setting of the flow control means. This is accomplished by the provision of novel thread systems between the cap member and the body member on which the cap member is mounted, whereby backlash and lost motion are prevented for the various adjusted cap positions, with the result that the size of the discharge passage is a true function of the rotative position of the cap member. The cap member can have a range of turning of from 180 to substantially 360, thereby to adapt the turning movement to the different sizes of discharge passage in the most advantageous manner. A wiper action of one of the thread systems tends to dislodge product from the cap interior and to return it to the container.

Other objects and advantages are to provide an improved cap construction as above, wherein a compact arrangement is had and small sizes are possible, wherein the adjustable discharge passage and thread and wiper systems are arranged in a simple manner and can be readily adapted to liquid products of various characteristics, wherein the action is reliable and foolproof, and wherein the parts can be economically molded and assembled.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view of an adjustable flow cap construction as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of an adjustable flow cap construction constituting another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cap body member of the construction of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of a cap construction illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the cap body member of FIG .7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the cap body member of FIG. 7.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the improved adjustable dispensing cap construction shown therein comprises an upright tubular molded plastic body 10 which is adapted to be carried on a container such as a plastic squeeze bottle or the like. The body 10 has a base portion 12 which is arranged to be either screwed onto the neck of the container or else to be press-fitted thereon in accordance with well-known procedures. For example, the base portion 12 may comprise an internally threaded screw cap part. Or, it may comprise the actual upper wall of the container, as may be readily understood. The tubular body 10 has a central bore 14 constituting a dicharge passage for product which is to be discharged or dispensed from the container.

In the body 10 there is a diametric bridge 16 which carries a closure pin 18, locating the latter at the upper end of the discharge passage or bore 14 so as to extend upward from the center of the upper end of the body 10. Axially movable on the body 10 and surrounding the same is a molded plastic screw cap 20 having an internal thread formation 22 which is cooperable with an external helical thread 24 disposed on the outer side of the body 10. The helical thread formation 24 includes an axially extending bead 26 which joins adjacent upper portions of the thread 24 to form therewith a continuous ridge by which product is prevented from flowing between the threads and contaminating the same.

In addition to the thread system comprising the threads 22, 24 there is additionally provided a second thread system by which backlash of the cap 20 on the body 10 is prevented, thereby to cause the axial position of the cap to be a true function of its rotative position. Use is made of this to insure an accurate control of the size of the discharge passage leading to the exterior orifice of the cap, as will be hereinafter disclosed.

The second thread system comprises a helical track 28 disposed at the base of the tubular body 10, and a follower or stop lug 30 on the interior of the cap 20 at the bottom edge thereof. The follower lug 30 is adapted to ride on or traverse the track 28 and to remain in engagement therewith under the action of the helical threads 22, 24 as the cap is turned.

The helical track 28 includes a stop projection 32 having a shoulder surface or side face 34 engageable with a cooperable shoulder surface of the stop lug 30 of the cap to limit the unscrewing movement thereof to a maximum of slightly less than 360 from the fully screwed down position of FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 an opposite shoulder surface of the follower or stop lug 30 is shown as engaged with an end face or shoulder surface 36 of the track 28 (which surface is circumferentially spaced from the shoulder surface 34) thereby limiting the fully screwed down position of the cap 20. For the position of FIG. 1, the axial bead 26 of the body is also engaged by a second internal stop lug 38 in the cap 20, this constituting a second stop for limiting the screwing in of the cap. The stop lug 38 is also engageable with a shoulder 40 provided at one end of the bridge 16, such engagement occurring when the cap is unscrewed slightly less than 360.

The above structure is essentially similar to that already described in my copending application, Ser. No. 605,805, filed Dec. 29, 1966, and entitled Dispensing Closure Cap.

The cap member 20 has a discharge opening or orifice 42 disposed at the top of a central tubular upward extension 44 constituting an upright duct disposed between and connecting the orifice 42 and the interior of the cap 20. The duct 44 surrounds the closure pin 18 and coacts therewith to control the flow of liquid product past the pin. The duct 44 has means at its inside, coacting with the pin to control the flow of product. The said flow-control means provides for a progressively less restricted passage for the product through the duct 44 and past the pin 18 as the cap 20 is unscrewed more and more from the fully seated, sealing or closing position of FIG. 1. In the embodiments of the invention the flow control means of the ducts comprise a generally tapered bore thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the bore has an internal groove 46 providing a generally helical thread 48 engageable with the pin 18. The groove 46 varies in width and depth, being wider and deeper at the bottom of the duct 44 and narrower and shallower at the top of the duct. Accordingly, as the cap 20 is unscrewed, more and more of the upper portions of the groove 46 will be removed from the pin 18, resulting in a larger and still larger discharge passage leading from the upper interior of the cap 20 to the orifice 42 thereof. When the cap 20 is fully unscrewed, only the wider and deeper portions of the groove 46 will coact with the pin 18 to define the flow control passage, the remainder of the groove being disposed beyond the top of the closure pin. Thus, the largest discharge passage is provided for this condition. As the cap 20 is screwed down little by little, more and more of the shallower, narrower portions of the discharge groove 46 will surround the pin 18, resulting in a lesser rate of flow of the product.

It will be noted that the internal thread 22 is disposed below the external thread 24, and that the follower lug is disposed above the helical track 28. In consequence, looseness and backlash of the cap 20 is prevented, and instead the axial position of the cap will clearly be a function of its rotative position and accordingly the relationship of the groove 46 with the pin 18 will also be a function of the rotative position of the cap 20. There is thus the advantage that an accurate adjustability of the size of the discharge passage is had, by virtue of the elimination of backlash in the turning movement (screwing and unscrewing) of the cap 20.

Further, positive stops are provided for the raised and lowered positions of the cap 20, and contamination of the thread systems comprising the threads 22, 24 and the track 28 and lug 30 is prevented by virtue of the sealing engagement between the closed-end helical thread 24 and the cylindrical inner sealing wall 50 of the cap. The viscous product is thus kept from the track 28 and lug 30,

as well as from the spaces between the screw threads 22, 24.

Also, the base portion 12 can be made like a dial and provided with indicia 51, such as the numbers from 1 to 12 and the word off, disposed in a circle around the outside of the base of the cap 20, and the latter can have a reference pointer 52 adapted to travel past the numbers to indicate numerically the extent of opening of the cap, or the closed position thereof. The pointer can cooperate also with a stop lug 53 on the base portion 12, thereby providing additional positive stop means. The adjusted size of the discharge passage 46 can have an exact specific relationship with the numbers 51, due to the elimination of backlash in the screw means of the closure device.

Another embodiment of the invention, wherein a smaller diameter is possible and wherein there is had a total turning movement of slightly less than 180, is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. In these figures there is shown a tubular body 54 having an internal bore 56 through which the product is discharged. A diametric bridge 58 mounts a closure pin 60 which is disposed in an orifice 62 of a screw cap 64. The cap 64 has internal threads 66 which are cooperable with external threads 68 on the body 54 to effect axial movement of the cap in response to its being turned.

In addition to the thread system 66, 68 there is a second thread system comprising helical tracks 70 disposed at the upper end of the body 54, on which internal lugs 72 of the screw cap ride. Also, the screw cap 64 has additional internal lugs 74 which are engageable with axially extending lugs 76 provided on the outer peripheral upper portions of the body 54. The lugs 74, 76 constitute stops which limit the unscrewing movement of the cap 64, and the lugs 72 are engageable with end surfaces 78 of the tracks 70 to limit the downward or closing movement of the cap 64.

A sealing bead 80 in the cap 64 engages a cylindrical surface 82 of the tubular body 54, providing a seal which prevents the product from coming in contact with the cooperable threads 66, 68. A second annular sealing bead 84 on the outer periphery of the tubular body 54 engages an internal cylindrical surface 86 of the cap 64.

The screw threads 66, 68 in conjunction with the tracks 70 and follower lugs 72 prevent lost motion or backlash as the cap 64 is being screwed down or unscrewed to raise it. A structure as above set forth is essentially disclosed and described in my copending application Ser. No. 605,805, filed Dec. 29, 1966, and entitled Dispensing Closure Cap.

By the present invention, the screw cap 64 has an upstanding duct portion 88 provided with a tapered bore comprising tapered V-grooves 90 which are of lesser depth near the top of the duct 88 and of greater depth near the bottom of the duct. As seen in FIG. 6, the cross sectional shape of the duct 88 may be somewhat in the form of a star, and said cross sectional shape may have a greater or a lesser number of points than that shown. For example, the star shape may have three points instead of four, or may have five points or six points, or it may have two points or there may be provided but a single groove in place of the four grooves 90 which are illustrated.

As the screw cap 64 is unscrewed from the closed, sealing position of FIG. 4, more and more of the grooves 90 will be removed from around the closure pin 60, resulting in a correspondingly greater size of discharge passage through the duct 88. The size of the discharge passage may be a true function of the rotative position of the cap 64 by virtue of the elimination of backlash in the thread systems provided between the cap and the tubular body. By the provision of the tracks 70 at the upper end of the tubular body 54 there is achieved a reduction in the overall diameter of the cap construction, as will be understood.

Whereas in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the screw cap has a total turning movement of slightly less than with a small diameter characteristic, in F168. 7, 8 and 9 there is illustrated a screw cap of small diameter, which has a total range of turning of slightly less than 360. In these figures, the tubular body 94 has external screw threads 96 which are cooperable with internal threads 98 of a screw cap 100. A second thread system is provided, comprising a helical track 102 at the upper end of the tubular body 94, said track being engageable by an internal lug 104 at the inside of the screw cap 100. The lug 104 is engageable with side edges of a stop lug 106 disposed on the upper edge of the body 94, thereby to limit the turning movement of the cap 100 to less than 360.

The tubular body 94 has a closure pin 108 which is received in a discharge duct 110 terminating in an orifice 112 at the top of the screw cap 100. The duct 110 has a smooth conical or tapered bore comprising a frusto-conical inner wall 114. As the screw cap 100 is unscrewed or turned in the opening direction, more and more of the inner wall 114 of the duct 110 will be removed from the closure pin 108, thereby enlarging the size of the discharge passage defined by the duct. An accurate adjustment of the flow is thus possible, since looseness or lost motion in the screwing or unscrewing movement of the cap 100 is eliminated by virtue of the two screw thread systems provided.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the interior lug 38 and the helical thread 48 tend to break up and dislodge the product which is disposed in the upper portion of the screw cap 20. In the forms of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4-9, the follower lugs 72, 74 tend to break up and dislodge product which is disposed in the upper portion of the screw cap.

Further details of the essential structures and functioning of the cap construction of FIGS. 7-9 are disclosed and described in my copending application Ser. No. 605,805, filed Dec. 29, 1966, and entitled Dispensing Closure Cap.

In all of the forms of the invention an accurate control of the size of the discharge passage disposed within the duct of the cap is had, by merely turning the cap in one direction or the other from the fully closed position or positions intermediate the fully closed and fully opened positions. The cap construction is seen to be simple, and the parts thereof may be readily molded in simple mold cavities and equipment. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost is held to a low figure. The cap constructions have various advantages in addition to enabling an accurate adjustment of the size of the discharge passage to be had. Contamination of the screw threads is prevented, a positive unscrewing action is had, and the structures are seen to be compact and of relatively small size.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure cap comprising, in combination:

(a) an upright tubular molded plastic, yieldable body adapted to be carried on a container, the bore of said body constituting a discharge passage for product to be dispensed from the container,

(b) said body having a closure pin disposed at the end of said discharge passage and extending upward from the center of the upper end of the body,

(c) a molded plastic screw cap axially movable on said body and surrounding the same,

((1) cooperable thread means on the tubular body and screw cap for etfecting axial movement of the latter in response to its being turned,

(e) said cap having an orifice in its top, adapted to be closed by the closure pin when the cap is screwed down on the tubular body, wherein the improvement comprises:

(f) said screw cap including an upright duct disposed between and connecting the orifice thereof and the interior of the cap,

(g) said duct surrounding the closure pin and having means at its inside, coacting with said pin to control the flow of liquid product past the pin,

(h) said pin and flow-control means providing for a progressively less restricted passage for product through the duct as the cap is unscrewed more and more,

(i) said cooperable thread means comprising two separate thread systems acting in conjunction with each other to eliminate backlash of the cap whereby the axial position thereof is a true function of its rotary position, said rotary position thereby constituting an accurate determiner of the degree of restriction of the passage in the duct, for the product.

2. A cap as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) one thread system comprises helical interior and exterior cooperable threads respectively on the cap and tubular body,

(b) the other thread system comprising a helical track on the tubular body and a follower lug in the cap, said lug being adapted to traverse the track in engagement therewith under the action of the helical threads as the cap is turned.

3. A cap as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the helical track is at the upper end of the tubular body.

4. A cap as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the helical track is at the base of the tubular body.

5. A cap as in claim 2 wherein:

(a) the helical track extends for approximately half a perigon.

6. A cap as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the helical track extends for approximately a perigon.

7. A cap as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) an indicating means is provided, for giving specific statistical indications of different unscrewed positions of the cap which has its blacklash eliminated.

8. A dispensing closure cap comprising, in combination:

(a) an upright tubular molded plastic, yieldable body adapted to be carried on a container, the bore of said body constituting a discharge passage for product to be dispensed from the container,

(b) said body having a closure pin disposed at the end of said discharge passage and extending upward from the center of the upper end of the body,

(c) a molded plastic screw cap axially movable on said body and surrounding the same,

(d) cooperable thread means on the tubular body and screw cap for effecting axial movement of the latter in response to its being turned,

(e) said cap having an orifice in its top, adapted to be closed by the closure pin when the cap is screwed down on the tubular body, wherein the improvement comprises:

(f) said screw cap including an upright duct disposed between and connecting the orifice thereof and the interior of the cap,

(g) said duct surrounding the closure pin and having means at its inside, coacti-ng with said pin to control the flow of liquid product past the pin,

(h) said pin and flow-control means providing for a progressively less restricted passage for product through the duct as the cap is unscrewed more and more,

(i) said flow control means of the duct comprising a generally tapered bore thereof,

(j) said tapered bore having its smaller end adjacent the said orifice,

(k) said tapered bore of the duct being threaded.

9. A dispensing closure cap comprising, in combination:

(a) an upright tubular molded plastic, yieldable body adapted to be carried on a container, the bore of said body constituting a discharge passage for product to be dispensed from the container,

(b) said body having a closure pin disposed'at the end of said discharge passage and extending upward from the center of the upper end of the body,

(0) a molded plastic screw cap axially movable on said body and surrounding the same,

(d) cooperable thread means on the tubular body and screw cap for effecting axial movement of the latter in response to its being turned,

(e) said cap having an orifice in its top, adapted to be closed by the closure pin when the cap is screwed down on the tubular body, wherein the improvement comprises:

(f) said screw cap including an upright duct disposed between and connecting the orifice thereof and the interior of the cap,

(g) said duct surrounding the closure pin and having means at its inside, coacting with said pin to control the flow of liquid product past the pin,

(h) said pin and flow-control means providing for a progressively less restricted passage for product through the duct as the cap is unscrewed more and more,

(i) said fiow control means of the duct comprising a generally tapered bore thereof,

(j) said tapered bore having its smaller end adjacent the said orifice,

(k) said tapered bore of the duct having internal longitudinal grooves of tapered depth.

10. A dispensing closure cap comprising, in combination:

(d) cooperable thread means on the tubular body and screw cap for effecting axial movement of the latter in response to its being turned,

(e) said cap having an orifice in its top, adapted to be closed by the closure pin when the cap is screwed down on the tubular body, wherein the improvement comprises:

(f) said screw cap including an upright duct disposed between and connecting the orifice thereof and the interior of the cap,

(g) said duct surrounding the closure pin and having means at its inside, coacting with said pin to control the flow of liquid product past the pin,

(h) said'pinand flow-control means providing for a progressively less restricted passage for product through the duct as the cap is unscrewed more and more,

(i) two circumferentially-acting positive stop means are provided, limiting respectively the fully screwed and fully unscrewed positions of the cap, said stop means comprising cooperable shoulder surfaces on the yieldable body and screw cap, said body having two said shoulder surfaces circumferentially-spaced apart.

11. A cap as in claim 10, wherein:

(a) the stop means comprises two separate stop devices,

(b) each such stop device positively limiting both the fully screwed and fully unscrewed positions of the cap.

, References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

Images