Previously proposed such devices simply use the inverted cap as a cup. A disadvantage of this is that the contents might easily be spilt. It is also possible for the user's fingers to be covered with the fluid being dispensed.

A further disadvantage is that the fluid contents will dribble down the container when the cup is replaced, and may fix the lid to the container as the fluid dries.

The present invention seeks to provide a remedy.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a dispensing cap for a fluid container, the cap having a dosing chamber with an aperture which allows fluid in such a container to flow into the dosing chamber when the cap is in use, and the cap having a lid coupled to a membrane which is also provided with an aperture, in such a fashion that when the lid is in a closed position, the aperture in the membrane and the aperture in the dosing chamber are in registration with one another, so that when such a container with the cap in place is inverted, the fluid in such a container flows through the apertures into the dosing chamber, the lid being coupled to the membrane also in such a fashion that when the lid is opened, the membrane is moved so that the aperture in the membrane and the aperture in the dosing chamber are no longer in registration and so that the membrane blocks

the aperture in the dosing chamber, preventing fluid from flowing between the container and the dosing chamber when the fluid in the dosing chamber is dispensed through the open lid.

It will be appreciated in this context that the word fluid may refer to a bulk fluid, such as a powder, as well as to a liquid.

An especially effective closure of the aperture in the dosing chamber may be achieved if the lid is movable with the membrane in an upward direction when the lid is open. A spring may be provided to assist opening of the lid.

Snap fit closure means may be provided on the lid which serve to maintain the lid in a closed position against the force exerted upon the lid by the spring.

The lid may be pivotable to effect opening. To this end, the cap may be provided with an in-moulded hinge for the lid.

The membrane may be restrained to move within a retaining slot provided in the cap.

The cap may be provided with an annular recess to receive the rim of a container when the cap is in use.

The base of the dosing chamber may be slanted to accommodate the wall of a spout of a container with which it is intended to be used.

The present invention extends to a container provided with a dispensing cap made in accordance with the present invention.

Examples of dispensing caps made in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an axial sectional view of a cap embodying the present invention; Figure 2 shows a view of the cap shown in Figure 1 from above; Figure 3 shows a view of the cap shown in Figure 1 from underneath; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in Figures 1 to 3 taken in the plane defined by the line IV-IV shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in Figures 1 to 3 taken in the plane defined by the, line V-V shown in Figure 2 ; Figure 6 shows an axial sectional view of a modified form of cap which also embodies the present invention ; Figure 7 shows a view of the cap shown in Figure 6 from above; and Figure 8 shows an axial sectional view of the cap shown in Figures 6 and 7 secured to the neck of a container of fluid.

The dispensing cap 10 shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a one-piece synthetic plastics injection moulding. It is formed with a generally circular cross- sectional cylindrical dispensing chamber 12 provided with

a base 14 and an aperture 16 having a lower straight horizontal edge 18 spaced from the base 14 by a predetermined amount. The upper edge of the aperture 16 is arcuate. The intended upper end 20 of the dispensing chamber 12 provides a mouth thereof with a slightly wider cross-section than that'of the rest of the chamber 12. A down-turned annular skirt 22 extends downwardly from the upper rim of the mouth 20 to define an annular recess 24 between the skirt 22 and the mouth 20. This receives the rim of a container, the liquid contents of which are to be dispensed by the cap 10. An inwardly directed annular protuberance 36 towards the bottom of the skirt 22 enables the cap to be snap-fitted on to the rim of such a container.

Rearwardly extending bridging portions 38 extend from the sides of the mouth. 20. At a position spaced from that mouth 20, a spring 40 extends in a generally upward direction from the portions 38. It is urged against the underside of a lid 42, the rear edge of which is pivoted to a lid support portion 44 which extends generally. rearwardly from the portions 38. An in-moulded hinge 46, in the form of a thinned portion of the plastics material is provided between the lid 42 and the support portion 44.

A generally cylindrical closure portion 48 extends from the lid 42 (downwardly when the lid is closed) and snap-fits into the mouth 20 when the lid 42 is closed.

A membrane 50 also extends from the lid 42

(downwardly when the lid is closed) and has edges received in slots 52 defined between portions of the chamber wall 12 and elongate projections 54 which project inwardly from the interior walls of the chamber 12 and extend from the base 14 thereof to the mouth 20 thereof.

The membrane 50 is provided with an aperture 56 having the same dimensions and shape as the aperture 16 and being in registration thereof when the lid 42 is closed.

The lid 42 is also provided at its rear with abutment portions 58. These also project downwardly when the lid is closed. They each have an outwardly directed restraining protuberance 60 which engages the underside of a shoulder 61 of an associated bridging portion 38 when the lid is opened, to inhibit opening beyond a predetermined angle indicated in broken lines in Figure 1.

In the simplified embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, the abutment portions 58 and the spring 40 are omitted.

Otherwise corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals as used in Figures 1 to 5.

The manner of use of both illustrated embodiments of the dispensing cap are shown in Figure 8. Although the actual embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 is the one shown in Figures 6 and 7, the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 is used in precisely the same way. Thus a rim 70 of a container 72 is inserted in the recess 24 of the cap 10 as shown in Figure 8. A precisely measured dose of fluid 74 within the container 72 can be dispensed by first

inverting the container 72 with the lid 42 in the closed position. As a result, fluid tips into the chamber through the apertures 16 and 56.

It will be appreciated that the wall of the container 72 fits snugly about the outside of the dispensing chamber 12 on the side thereof opposite to its aperture 16, to ensure that substantially all of the contents can be dispensed, without a significant amount of the contents remaining in the region between that side of the chamber 12 and the wall of the container 72, where it would not readily flow into the chamber 12 through the aperture 16.

The container now may be put back into the upright position so that fluid now flows back out of the apertures 16 and 56 back into the container 72 interior until the level of fluid in the dispensing chamber 12 is at the lower extremities of the apertures 16 and 56. The lid 42 may now be flipped open so that the lower extremity of the closure portion 48 is urged clear of the upper rim of the mouth 20. In the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, spring 40 assists in the opening of the lid 42 until the protuberances 60 abut the underside of the shoulders 61 of portions 38, in the position shown in broken lines in Figure 1. At the same time the membrane 50, being attached to the lid, is raised so that the apertures 16 and 56 are no longer in registration with one another and, on the contrary, a portion of the membrane 50 covers and closes the aperture

16. The contents of the dispensing chamber 12 may now therefore be tipped out from the dispensing chamber without further contents 74 of the container 72 flowing into the dispensing chamber 12. Thus, the remainder of the contents in the container 72 are prevented from exiting through the mouth 20, and only the measured dose in the chamber 12 is dispensed.

Figures 1 and 6 show the respective embodiments of dispensing cap with the lid fully disengaged, in the form each would have directly after being injection-moulded as a one-piece moulding. To prepare ready for use, the lid 42 is flipped over, the free end of the membrane 50 is inserted into the slot 52, the protuberances 60 in the case of the first embodiment are urged to a position below the shoulders 61 of the portions 38, the closure portion 48 is snap-fitted into the mouth 20 and the lid is closed.

Numerous variations and modifications to the illustrated dispensing cap may occur to the reader without taking the resulting construction outside the scope of the present invention.

Filling of the dispensing chamber 12 may be assisted by means of a small vent hole in the base 14 of the chamber 12. A portion of Gore-Tex TM may be used to enable air to pass out of the chamber 12 through the vent hole in the desired direction whilst inhibiting the passage. of fluid in the other direction. It will be appreciated that a vent hole is not needed at all if the

filling of the chamber in the inverted position, including filling of the closure portion 48 up to the apertures 16 and 56 when the container is inverted, is sufficient.

The membrane 50 may be arcuate in section to correspond to an arcuate portion of the dosing chamber in section, instead of being flat. Also, the membrane 50 may be arranged on the outside of the dosing chamber, entering into that portion via a slot in the rim of the chamber sufficiently snugly to avoid undesirable leakage when the container is inverted.

The spring 40 may be arranged on the lid rather than on the base portions 38.

A tamper evident strip may be provided on the front outside top of the dispensing chamber.

The apertures 16 and 56 may be rectangular, or indeed any shape.

The base 14 of the chamber 12 may be slanted as shown in broken lines in Figure 8, with that side of the base which is closer to the front of the cap being higher than the other side, to accommodate the lower wall of a spout of the container also shown in broken lines in Figure 8.

The inwardly directed annular protuberance 36 may be replaced by a screw-threaded connection to enable the cap 10 to be secured to the rim of the container 72.

A very different form of construction to the one illustrated but still lying within the scope of the

present invention involves the use of a cap in which the membrane is replaced by an annular skirt extending downwardly from the lid such that the lid is rotated to effect opening and to put the apertures 16 and 56 out of registration with one another.