Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing closure or a closure device for a container and also relates to a container with such a dispensing closure or closure device.

Such closures are typically used for dispensing products contained in a container to which said closure is attached.

The products to be dispensed are typically fluid products or fluent substances, like e.g. liquids or powdered or granular products, e.g. in the food or beverage area or in cosmetics and in beauty and care applications.

Some closures are employed to selectively prevent or permit communication between the interior and exterior of the system through an opening in the system, while the systems are typically bottles or pouches or similar devices.

Such closures are for example known from EP 3565 765 Bi.

Such a closure comprises a closure body, a locking member and an actuator, while the actuator can be moved between a closed, non-dispensing position and an open, dispensing position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an enhanced dispensing closure or closure device and an enhanced system comprising such a dispensing closure and a container.

This object is solved by a dispensing closure for a container according to claim 1 and by a container with such a closure according to claim 17. Claims 2 to 16 refer to specifically advantageous realizations of the closure according to claim 1 and claim 18 refers to a specifically advantageous realization of the container with such a dispensing closure.

The dispensing closure for a container according to the present invention having an opening between an exterior of the system and the interior of the container comprises a closure body that can be located at the container opening and that defines an inlet for communicating with the container, while said closure body has an end portion defining an aperture to accommodate the flow of affluent substance through said closure body.

The closure further comprises a locking member mounted on said closure body for rotation about a central rotational axis and relative to said closure body, wherein said locking member has a locking position and an unlocking position, with said unlocking position being rotated about a central rotational axis away from said locking position, or with said unlocking position being in a different angular position than said locking position.

The dispensing closure further comprises an actuator that can be moved between a closed, non-dispensing position and an open, dispensing position for preventing flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position and for permitting flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in an open, dispensing position.

According to the present invention said actuator is rotatably fixed to said closure body, while said locking member is rotatable about said central rotational axis relative to said actuator and relative to said closure body.

Furthermore, said actuator includes a dispensing flow passage that is in communication with said aperture of said closure body when said actuator is in said open, dispensing position. Furthermore, said actuator is in engagement with a portion of said locking member when said locking member is in said locking position to prevent said actuator from moving into said open, dispensing position.

Said actuator includes a first abutment and said locking member includes a second abutment, while preferably said first abutment of said actuator is extending in a first direction and said second abutment of said locking member is extending in a second direction, said first direction and said second direction being opposite directions. Preferably said first abutment of said actuator is downwardly extending or extending downwards in a vertical direction or in a direction parallel to said central rotational axis, while said second abutment of said locking member is upwardly extending or extending upwardly in a vertical direction or in a direction parallel to said central rotational axis, but in an opposite direction than said abutment of said actuator. According to the present invention said actuator is by rotatably attached to said closure body, so that it can be pivoted about a pivoting axis between its closed, non-dispensing position and its opened, dispensing position.

Furthermore and according to the present invention said actuator includes a sealing element which occludes said aperture of said closure body to prevent flow of fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position, and which at least partly disengages from said aperture to allow a flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in an open, dispensing position.

A major advantage of the dispensing closure according to the present invention is that a rotation of said locking member between its locking position and said unlocking position does not lead to a relative movement of said sealing element and said aperture of said closure body occluded by said sealing element. The sealing element therefore does not have to withstand a friction which otherwise would occur, so that wear is remarkably reduced, so that a remarkably better sealing efficiency is achieved, even after frequent utilization of the closure and especially after frequent movement of said locking member between its locking position and its unlocking position. This avoids undesired spilling of liquid or fluid material, which otherwise may occur after frequent use of the closure, which is highly critical especially during transport of a container with such a dispensing closure, especially during travel and when being placed in bags or suitcases.

With a given minimum number of movements of the locking member between its locking and its unlocking position and with a given minimum number of movements of the actuator between its closed and its opened position during a typical life cycle of a closure, over which a required predetermined sealing efficiency or sealing effect has to be ensured, the product can be manufactured with lower costs, while still maintaining or even outperforming the predetermined sealing efficiency and/ or sealing effect, as the wear during these movements or cycles is reduced or, with respect to the movement of the locking member, even fully avoided.

A friction between elements moving relative to each other during normal use of the device does therefore not occur in areas, in which sealing is of relevance, so that an especially secure closure device or container with such a closure device is provided, which is very important for containers holding liquid or fluent substances, especially for containers which will be used multiple times and over longer time periods and which may additionally have to be transported between these utilizations. According to a preferred embodiment said closure body has a deck portion, from which said end portion extends, preferably in an upward direction or an essentially upward direction or in a direction parallel or essentially parallel to said central rotational axis. Further preferably said end portion has a spout like form or an essentially cylindrical or an essentially conical form.

Such an end portion or spout especially supports secure sealing, as the corresponding sealing element can be easily manufactured, e.g. provided in a ringlike form or in oval form, while such a sealing element could be easily introduced into the aperture of the end portion or spout with a further reduced friction.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the dispensing closure a rotating angle of said locking member between its locking position and its unlocking position is in the range of between 15 ⁰ to 40°, preferably in the range between 25 ⁰ and 35 ⁰ . It has turned out that this range is preferred for the user for on the one hand having a clear distinction between a locking position and an unlocking position, while still a movement from the locking to the unlocking position and vice versa can be easily realized by one “rotation action” the user implements with his fingers.

According to a further preferred embodiment said closure body includes an attachment means for pivotably attaching said actuating member to said closure body. Said attachment means can, in a further preferred embodiment, be realized as an extension or bridge element, preferably arranged on the deck portion of said closure body.

The attachment means are further preferably arranged and positioned centrally, preferably along a diameter direction of the closure body and preferably on the deck of the closure body, so that pivoting of the actuator is accomplished along a central axis of the actuator.

In a further preferred embodiment the end portion is arranged close to said attachment means, preferably shifted out of the central region or to a radially more outward position, preferably closer to a position where the dispensing flow passage of said actuator for dispensing fluent content is positioned. This enhances the dispensing properties and especially reduces the total length of a flow passage through the closure and minimizes remaining and not yet dispensed fluent product within passages or space or volume of the closure.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the actuator and the closure body, especially the attachment means of the closure body, are arranged such that the actuator can be attached to said closure body by a snap in connection. This enables a specifically easy assembly of the closure and especially an easy attachment of or insertion of the actuator.

In a further preferred embodiment said closure body includes engagement means for attaching said locking. This further enhances an easy and effective assembly of the various units and/or elements, especially the locking means can be snap fitted to the closure body, so that an axial movement (essentially along the central rotational axis) is prohibited while still a rotational movement (around the central rotational axis) is possible, so that the locking means can be rotated between its opened and its closed position.

In combination with the above described preferred attachment means, a very easy and therefore cost effective assembly of the three subunits of the closure device, the closure body, the locking means and the actuator, are possible, which reduces the manufacturing costs and reduces the risk of potential incorrect assembly or manufacturing.

Preferably said engagement means comprise at least two retaining projections, preferably three or four retaining projections. Further preferably, the retaining projections are arranged around a circumference and preferably on the deck portion of said closure body, further preferably in equal angular distances. Especially the provision of three or four retaining projections has turned out to be of advantage, as on the one hand enabling a safe attachment and a controlled rotation of the locking means, while on the other hand requiring a reduced snap-on force when assembling the locking means to the closure body.

Preferably said sealing element is a ringlike extension, extending from said actuator, which provides a secure sealing with said end portion at said aperture of said closure body. Said sealing element preferably extends in a downward or essentially downward direction from an upper and inside region of said actuator, so that said extension is inserted into said aperture of said closure body when said actuator is in its closed position.

According to a further preferred embodiment said actuator has a flat or an essentially flat outer surface with a recessed or sloping back region. This recessed or sloping back region is preferably designed to accommodate a finger of a user of the closure during opening of the actuator. This enables an easy and intuitive operation.

Furthermore said locking member has preferably an outer skirt, wherein said skirt has a cutaway or recessed area. This cutaway or recessed area is preferably designed to accommodate a user’s finger, e.g. a thumb or forefinger, during operation of the actuator. In a specifically preferred embodiment said recessed or sloping back region of said actuator and said cut out or recessed area of said skirt of said locking member are arranged and dimensioned such that said recessed or sloping back region matches or essentially matches the cutout or recessed area of said skirt, preferably the extension of said recessed or sloping back region in a circumferential direction is identical or essentially identical to the extension of said cutout or recessed area in a circumferential direction.

Preferably the recessed or sloping back region of said actuator is positioned such that it matches with the position of the cutout or recessed area when said actuator is in its opened position. This especially has the advantage that the user can directly and visually or haptically recognize a closed position, when said actuator is in its closed position and said recessed or sloping back region of said actuator is in a different position or in a set- off or not aligned position to said recessed or cutout area of said skirt.

According to a further preferred embodiment said actuator comprises at least one friction element which is designed and positioned such that it at least partly comes into contact with at least one part or at least one portion of said locking member, when said locking member is in its unlocking position and at least when said actuator is moved between its closed position and its opened position.

This specific embodiment ensures that there is a friction created between the at least one friction element and a corresponding element of said locking member, being moved relateive to each other while being in contact, which creates a minimum opening (or closing) force or a minimum force when the user manipulates the locking member, e.g. when moving the locking member into its open position. This provides on the one hand a clear haptic feedback to the user and on the other hand secures that a minimum force is necessary to move the actuator from a current position into any other position, thereby avoiding an inadvertent movement of the actuator, especially towards its open position.

Further preferably the actuator comprises two friction elements in the form of protrusions extending at least partly towards each other, while these protrusions are designed and positioned such that they both come into contact with a corresponding element of said locking member, at least when said actuator is moved out of its closed position.

Further preferably, one friction element is positioned at an element of said actuator which forms said first abutment of said actuator, while a second friction element is positioned at an element of said actuator being positioned opposite to said first element forming said first abutment. Thus, an element of said locking member, preferably an element forming the first abutment of said locking member, can be moved into a space between these two friction elements.

This embodiment has the specific advantage that the two friction elements are located on both sides of the element of the locking member, thereby somehow “clamping” this element inbetween and creating a friction which ensures a minimum necessary force to move the actuator out of its current position, especially in a direction towards an open position.

Further preferably the distance between the two friction elements is selected such that it is slightly smaller than the width of the corresponding element of the locking member which forms said first abutment, specifically advantageously realizing the above described clamping effect. The amount of the clamping effect or the amount of friction or force can be set by selecting the material of the corresponding elements, being elastically deformable, and by selecting respective dimensions. Preferably the distance between the two friction elements is selected such that it is smaller than the width of the corresponding element of the locking member, preferably by a range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm, more preferably by a range of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm.

The present invention also comprises a container for storing a fluent substance with a dispensing closure as described above, while the dispensing closure can be attached to or attachable to said container. Alternatively the dispensing closure can be an integral part of said container.

These and other advantages of the dispensing closure and the container according to the present invention will become even more apparent in view of the following figures showing a preferred embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention, with said locking member in its locking position,

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the closure as shown in figure 1 with said locking member in its unlocking position and with said actuator in its open, dispensing position, Figure 3a shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the closure according to the present invention with the locking member in its locking position,

Figure 3b shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the closure according to the present invention with the locking member in its unlocking position of and with the actuator in its closed, non-dispensing position,

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the closure according to the present invention with the locking member in its unlocking position of and with the actuator in its open, dispensing position,

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an actuator, a locking member and a closure body of a dispensing closure of an embodiment of the present invention in an explosive view, and

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an actuator of a dispensing closure of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a dispensing closure 10 according to the present invention with a closure body 200, a locking member 400 and in actuator 600.

The locking member 400 has a skirt 450 and said locking member 400 can be rotated around a central rotational axis A between a locking position, as shown in figure 1, and an unlocking position, which would be achieved when said locking member 400 would be rotated into an anticlockwise direction around said central rotational axis A when viewed from a top side of the dispensing closure 10 as shown in figure 1.

The actuator 600 comprises an essentially flat outer surface 680 with a recessed or sloping back region 682. This recessed or sloping back region 682 is designed to accommodate a finger of a user of the closure during opening of the actuator 600. This enables an easy and intuitive operation by the user.

Furthermore the skirt 450 of the locking member 400 has a cutout region 452, which is also designed to accommodate a user’s finger, e.g. a thumb or forefinger, during actuation of the actuator 600. As can be well seen in figure 1, the position of the sloping back region 682 and the position of the cutout region 452 are off-set from or not aligned with each other when said actuator 400 is in its closed position. This immediately indicates to a user, solely by looking onto the device, that the dispensing device is not or not yet ready for dispensing.

Figure 2 shows the embodiment of the dispensing closure 10 as shown in figure 1, from a slightly different perspective and with said locking member 400 being in its unlocking position, rotated about said central rotational axis A away from said locking position as shown in figure 1, in this embodiment rotated by 30°. Furthermore, the actuator 600 has pivoted or rotated around a rotation axis B and has therefore been moved or tilted from its closed, non-dispensing position as shown in figure 1 into its open, dispensing position as shown in figure 2.

The dispensing closure 10 as shown in figure 2 is therefore ready for dispensing a fluent substance via a dispensing passage 640.

Figure 3a shows a cross-section through an embodiment of a dispensing device 10 according to the present invention, with the locking member in its locking position, similar to the situation as shown in figure 1.

As can be well seen in figure 3a the actuator 600 comprises a first abutment 610 which is provided at a protrusion 608 , extending in a downward direction and into a direction towards the closure body 200, while said locking member 400 comprises a second abutment 410 which is arranged that another protrusion 408 , extending in an upward direction and in an opposite direction such that, when said locking member 400 is in its locking position, said first abutment 610 and said second abutment 410 engage, thereby preventing said actuator 600 from moving into an open, dispensing position.

Figure 3b shows a cross-section similar to the cross-section as shown in figure 3a, however, with the locking member 400 rotated into its unlocking position. As can be well seen in figure 3b due to this rotation of the locking member 400 the abutment 610 (see Fig. 3a) of the actuator 600 is not in alignment anymore with the abutment 410 of the locking member 400, but the abutment 410 is opposite to or within or at a space 612 provided in said actuator 600.

In this respect it has to be noted that both in figure 3a and in figure 3b the actuator 600 is in the same rotational position relative to the closure body 200, as actuator 600 and closure body 200 are rotatably fixed to each other. The sealing element 620, being a ringlike element extending in a downward direction and into an inner region of said actuator 600, extends into an aperture 220 of said spout like end portion 210 of said closure body 200, thereby occluding said aperture 220 and preventing flow of a fluent substance through said aperture 220 and therefore through said closure 10. The sealing element 620 is therefore not moved relative to said spout like end portion 210 during rotation of the locking member, so that no friction arises when the closure is brought from its status as shown in figure 3a into its status as shown in figure 3b, i.e. when rotating said locking member 600 from a locking position to an unlocking position.

Furthermore, in figure 3b a friction element 614 is visible, the function of which will be described in more detail in connection with figure 6 hereinafter.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the embodiment as shown in figure 3b, however, with the actuator 600 in its open, dispensing position. In this embodiment, the tilting angle between the closed and the open position of the actuator 600 is 16,5°. The protrusion 408 with the second abutment 410 of said locking member thereby extends into the space 612 of said actuator 600.

In this position, a fluent material can be dispensed from the container through the closure 10, especially through the aperture 220 and the dispensing flow passage 640.

Fig. 5 shows a closure body 200, a locking member 400 and an actuator 600 of an embodiment of a closure 10 according to the present invention in an exploded view.

The closure body 200 has a deck portion 250 from which an end portion 210 extends in an upward direction, i.e. in a direction parallel to the central rotation axis A (see figure 1) and away from said deck portion 250.

The closure body 200 further comprises four retaining projections 260, which are arranged around the circumference of said deck portion 250 in equal angular distances, in this embodiment in an angular distance of 90° (only 3 of the altogether 4 retaining projections 260 are visible in figure 5). The retaining projections 260 are curved with a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the circumference of the closure body 200 and are arranged in a hook like form, so that the locking member 400 can be easily snapped onto fastening means 240 of closure body 200, securing the locking member 400 to said closure body 250 and fixing it relative thereto in axial direction, i.e. in a direction normal or perpendicular to said deck portion 250 and parallel to the direction of the central rotational axis A, while still allowing relative rotational movement between the locking member 400 and the closure body 200.

The end portion 210 of the closure body 200 has a spout like form and is in this embodiment cylindrically formed, having an aperture 220, through which fluent substance can be dispensed, if the aperture 220 is not closed or occluded by the actuator 600.

The locking member 400 has an outer, ringlike skirt 450, while said skirt 450 has some outer, longitudinal projections 454, like ribs, for a better and more reliable gripping of the user, who, during operation, rotates said locking member 400 relative to said closure body 200 in order to switch or move the locking member 400 between its opened and its closed position.

The closure body 200 further has fastening means 240 fastening said actuator 600 directly to the closure body 200. As can be well seen in figure 5, the locking member 400 has a central, essentially circular opening 456 through which both the end portion 210 and the fastening means 240 extend for a direct interaction with the actuator 600. In this respect it is especially referred to figure 3a and figure 3b and the corresponding description in order to avoid repetitions.

The actuator 600 has a flat outer surface 680 with a recessed or sloping back region 682 for being operated by a finger or thumb of the user for tilting or rotating or moving said actuator 600 from its closed, non-dispensing position into its open, dispensing position. The skirt 450 of the locking member 400 has a cut away or recessed area of 452 which, in its dimensions, essentially corresponds to the dimensions, especially circumferential dimensions, of the recessed or sloping back region 682 of the actuator 600.

Fig. 5 also very well shows the upwardly extending protrusion 408 with the first abutment 410 for engaging with a corresponding second abutment of the actuator, see especially Fig. 6

Fig. 6 shows an actuator 600 of an embodiment of a closure according to the present invention in a perspective view, especially showing the inside area of the actuator 600. Figure 6 especially shows the ringlike sealing means 620, which extend into the aperture 220 of said end portion 210 for occluding the aperture 220 when said actuator is in its closed, non-dispensing position.

Figure 6 also veiy well shows the dispensing passage 640, through which fluent material can be dispensed when said actuator 600 is in its opened, dispensing position. Furthermore figure 6 also shows the protrusion 608 with the first abutment 610, said protrusion 608 extending downwardly from and within the actuator 600 for engaging with a corresponding second abutment 410 of said locking member 400 when said locking member 400 is in its locking position, see e.g. figure 3a.

The actuator 600 of this embodiment also comprises another protrusion 606, being located opposite to or facing said protrusion 608, generating the space 612, into which the protrusion 410 of the locking member 400 can be inserted. Each of the protrusions 606 and 608 comprise the friction element 614, which extend from the protrusions 606 and 608, respectively, towards each other. The protrusion 606 and 608 are positioned and designed such that they create a distance d between these protrusions.

In this specific embodiment, the distance d is slightly smaller than the width of the protrusion 408 of the locking member 400, see Fig. 5, and locking member 400 and actuator 600 are designed and arranged such that the protrusion 410 extends into the space 612 and between the protrusions 614, when said actuator is moved into its opened position and such that the protrusion 410 is in contact with the protrusion 614. Due to the fact that the distance d is selected to be slightly smaller than the width of the protrusion 410, a friction is generated between these elements when the actuator is moved between its opened and its closed position, which generates a predetermined force being necessary for initiating a movement of the actuator by the user.

The desired level of force or friction can be set or determined by selecting the width of the protrusion 410 and the distance d between the protrusion 608 and 610 and/ or by selecting the used materials or properties of the materials, especially its flexibility or deformability.

It is clear to the expert that various amendments can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the attached claims, and any features disclosed in connection with the embodiments or the general description can be important for realizing the invention, either alone or in any combination thereof.