The present invention relates generally to the dispensing of liquid from containers and particularly to repeated dispensing of controlled doses of liquid product from containers.

In many known metering devices, a particular disadvantage is insufficient metering accuracy. In addition metering may become increasingly less accurate the less liquid there is remaining in the container. The present invention seeks to provide improvements over known dose dispensing systems.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a dosing device for dispensing a controlled does of liquid product from a container, the device comprising: a closure including a dispensing orifice; a chamber which is connected or connectable to the closure so as to be in fluid communication with the orifice and having one or more dispensing inlets for filling the chamber; and a plunger movable within the chamber between a first end position and a second end position; in which in use as a dose is dispensed the plunger travels from the first to the second position as product flows from the chamber through the office, and in the second position the plunger seals the dispensing orifice such that the plunger travel controls the dose quantity.

The device may include an end cap for closing the end of the chamber opposite the dispensing orifice. A drain hole (which may also allow flow into the chamber) may be formed in the end cap.

The end cap may generally conical, for example generally frusto-conical.

In some embodiments the end cap may be formed integrally with the chamber. The chamber may be generally tubular. For example a generally cylindrical tube one end of which may be connectable to a closure.

The chamber may have a drain hole. In some embodiments the drain hole may be formed in the end cap.

The or each dispensing inlet may comprise one or more windows. In some embodiments the window/s is/are generally (but not limited to) quadrilateral shaped.

The plunger is provided in the dosing chamber and may be moveable relative to said chamber so as to advance upon squeezing of the container.

The plunger may be piston-like, moving from a starting position in which it is at its furthest position from the orifice up to a blocking position in which it blocks the orifice and terminates the dose.

Motion of the plunger may be linear and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber. However, it will be understood that any other kind of motion such as rotation and combination of rotation and translation may be used to generate a dose.

The plunger may have a vent hole.

The plunger may include an end cap, for example a generally conical end cap. Plunger vent hole/s, where present, may be formed in the end cap. The closure may include a generally conical recess leading to the orifice. The corresponding end of the plunger may be shaped so as to sealingly engage in the recess (which is effectively a valve seat). The closure may comprise a base and a lid, which may be connected by a hinge.

The chamber and the plunger may be formed from a plastics material. In some embodiments the plastics material for the chamber and plunger is substantially the same. The present invention also provides a metering device for a dispensing closure, comprising a chamber and plunger as described herein and being associable with a dispensing closure and/or a container.

The present invention also provides a device as described herein in combination with a container, for example a resiliently squeezable container.

The present invention also provides a metering device, the device comprising: a chamber which is connectable or connectable to a closure including a dispensing orifice so as to be in fluid communication with the orifice, the chamber having one or more dispensing inlets for filling the chamber; and a plunger movable within the chamber between a first end position and a second end position; in which in use as a dose is dispensed the plunger travels from the first to the second position as product flows from the chamber through the office, and in the second position the plunger seals the dispensing orifice such that the plunger travel controls the does quantity.

In some embodiments the field of the invention is for domestic or household use, with a container containing detergents or other cleaning preparations, fabric conditioners, or liquid foods such as sauces. Other fields of use include dosage devices for manual and automatic dishwashing liquids, hair-care products and oral care applications such as mouthwashes.

In a basic form, in some embodiments of the present invention the metering stopper consists of two components, namely a tubular metering housing which defines the metering chamber and a float valve or plunger inserted into the metering chamber.

The container may be a resiliently squeezable container of any suitable type, shape and material. The container therefore returns to its original shape without suffering any permanent deformation after squeezing.

In some embodiments the term "dose" defines the measured amount of liquid to be delivered by the device. The dose may begin when the liquid first exits the nozzle and end once the flow of said liquid stops. The volume of liquid dosed for each squeeze of the container may be in the range from I ml to 1 00 ml, for example from 2 ml to 50 ml, 1 0 ml to 30 ml, or 1 5 ml to 25 ml.

The viscosity of liquid used in (where the liquid forms part of the invention) or in combination with devices of the present invention may be from I to 350 mPa.s, for example from I to 300 mPa.s, from I to 250 mPa.s, from I to 220 mPa.s, from I to 200 mPa.s and from I to I 50 mPa.s (measured, for example, at 1000 s-' at 20°C).

The dosing device may deliver a dose of liquid medium at a pressure of less than 150 kPa, for example less than 1 20 kPa, less than or equal to I 1 0 kPa, from 80 kPa to I 1 0 kPa, or from 90 kPa to 100 kPa. The dosage time may be less than or equal to 3 seconds, for example less than or equal to 2 seconds, less than or equal to 1 .5 seconds, less than or equal to I second, less than or equal to 0.75 seconds but greater than 0 seconds, or from 0.4 seconds to 0.75 seconds. The dose of liquid may expelled through the orifice, spout, nozzle or the like with a flow rate of greater than 20 g/s, for example greater than 25 g/s, greater or equal to 30 g/s, greater or equal to 35 g/s, greater or equal to 38 g/s, greater or equal to 40 g/s, from 42 g/s to 70 g/s, from 45 g/s to 65 g/s, or from 50 g/s to 60 g/s. Compositions suitable for use in the apparatus of the present invention may be formulated as liquid compositions, such as liquid detergent compositions. The composition may comprise water, for example in an amount from 1 0% to 85% by weight of the total composition.

Suitable compositions may be acidic or alkaline or both, and may further comprise abrasive cleaning particles, suspending aids, chelating agents, surfactants, radical scavengers, perfumes, surface modifying polymers, solvents, builders, buffers, bactericides, hydrotropes, colorants, stabilizers, bleaches, bleach activators, suds controlling agents like fatty acids, enzymes, soil suspenders, anti-dusting agents, dispersants, pigments, thickeners, and/or dyes. The liquid composition may comprise, include or consist of a compact liquid i.e. a composition having densities in the range of from 0.5 to 1 .5 grams, for example from 0.8 to 1 .3 grams, from I to I . I grams, per cubic centimetre, excluding any solid additives but including any bubbles (if present). Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a perspective sectional view of a dispensing device formed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a device of the type shown connected to a container and being in a non- dispensing, rest position;

Figure 3 shows the device of Figures 2 following inversion of the container and the device being in an intermediate position;

Figure 4 shows the device of Figure 3 at an end position which terminates a dose; and

Figure 5 shows the device of Figure 4 returned to the rest position. Referring first to Figure I there is shown a dispensing device generally indicated 1 0.

The device 1 0 comprises a closure 1 5, a metering chamber 20 and a plunger 25. In other embodiments (not shown) the device of the present invention is a two part construction comprised of a chamber and a plunger which is attached or attachable to a closure.

The closure is a base-like structure 1 5. In other embodiments a lid is also provided (see for example Figures 2 to 5). The closure 1 5 includes a top platform 30 with a cylindrical sidewall 35 depending from its periphery. The sidewall 35 has an internal screw thread 40 to allow it to be screwed onto a container neck.

Inboard of the sidewall 35 an annular sealing ring 37 depends from the platform 30 and terminates at its free end with a bead 45. Further inboard is a depending wall 50 from which extends upwardly a generally conical wall 55 with a terminal spout 57 that defines a central orifice 60.

The metering chamber 20 is a generally cylindrical tubular housing.

At one end the chamber is a peripheral bead 21 which allows it to be clipped into the closure by engagement under the bead 45.

The other end of the chamber terminates with a frusto-conical end cap 22 which in this embodiment is formed integrally with the housing body. The end cap 22 has a central drain hole 23.

The end of the chamber closest to the closure includes four generally rectangular windows 24 (in other embodiments one, two, three or more windows are provided).

The plunger 25 comprises a cylindrical sidewall 26 open at one end and closed at the other by a frusto-conical end cap 27. The inclined wall of the end cap 27 includes a vent hole 28; it will be noted that the frustrum 29 is closed. It will also be noted that the end cap 27 fits into the recess defined by the closure wall 55, with the walls being of corresponding inclinations. When the plunger is engaged in the closure as shown the cap seals against the wall and the frustrum 29 blocks the orifice 60. Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a device I 1 0 of the same general type as that shown in Figure I .

In this embodiment the closure I 1 5 includes a lid 1 1 6 connected to the base by a hinge I 1 7. The lid 1 1 6 includes a central depending spigot I 18 which when in the closed position shown engages in the spout 1 57 to stopper the orifice 1 60.

In Figure 2 the device I 1 0 is shown in an inactive position, with the plunger 1 25 in a first end position in which it rests on spaced lugs 1 65 provided on the interior of the chamber wall just above the end cap 1 22.

Referring now to Figure 3, when product is required the lid 1 1 6 is flipped open to expose the spout 1 57 and unlock the orifice 1 60. When the container 1 05 is inverted and external pressure P is applied by squeezing, product flows through the chamber side windows 1 24 and starts to flow out of the orifice 1 60. This movement of liquid creates a negative pressure within the chamber, allowing the plunger 1 25 to fall. This action and the rate of plunger descent provides the accurate dose. To relieve any vacuum within the chamber, the drain hole 1 23 will allow product to gradually backfill behind the plunger 125.

Whilst external pressure continues to be applied to the bottle 1 05 product continues to be dispensed until the position in Figure 4 is reached. In this position the plunger 1 25 has reached the closure I 1 5 where mating faces of the plunger end cap 1 27 and the wall 1 55 seal and the frustrum 1 29 blocks the orifice 1 60 to terminate the dose. As shown in Figure 5, to begin dispensing again, the pack is re-inverted to allow the plunger 125 to reset and the process may begin again. Any residual product in the chamber can flow back into the container through the drain hole 1 23. Fine tuning of the plunger descent and the dose quantity can be accomplished by varying the vent hole size, the drain hole size and the size of the windows.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.