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GB2202836A - Dispensing container closure - Google Patents

Dispensing container closure Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2202836A
GB2202836A GB08806378A GB8806378A GB2202836A GB 2202836 A GB2202836 A GB 2202836A GB 08806378 A GB08806378 A GB 08806378A GB 8806378 A GB8806378 A GB 8806378A GB 2202836 A GB2202836 A GB 2202836A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
container
passageway
closure
closure according
outlet opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
GB08806378A
Other versions
GB8806378D0 (en
Inventor
John C Mason
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TESTEMP ELECTRONICS Ltd
Original Assignee
TESTEMP ELECTRONICS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TESTEMP ELECTRONICS Ltd filed Critical TESTEMP ELECTRONICS Ltd
Publication of GB8806378D0 publication Critical patent/GB8806378D0/en
Publication of GB2202836A publication Critical patent/GB2202836A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/04Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
    • B67D1/045Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers using elastic bags and pistons actuated by air or other gas
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B9/00Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour
    • B05B9/03Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material
    • B05B9/04Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material with pressurised or compressible container; with pump
    • B05B9/08Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type
    • B05B9/0805Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type comprising a pressurised or compressible container for liquid or other fluent material
    • B05B9/0838Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type comprising a pressurised or compressible container for liquid or other fluent material supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston, or by deformation of container
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/24Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
    • B65D81/245Internal membrane, floating cover or the like isolating the contents from the ambient atmosphere

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A closure for use with a rigid container converts the container into a liquid dispenser so that contact of undispensed liquid with atmospheric air is prevented. The closure comprises a cap (3) adapted to seal the outlet opening (2) of the container (1), the cap having a first passageway providing fluid communication between the atmosphere and a variable volume chamber (15) defined by a flexible membrane (15) positioned within the container. A second passageway (9) allows the egress of the contents of the container, air entering via first passageway to expand the chamber (15) to replace the volume of dispensed liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPENSING CONTAINER CLOSURE The present invention relates to dispensing closure for containers, and particularly concerns a closure for a rigid container by means of which a liquid may be dispensed from the container without allowing the remaining contents of the container to contact the atmosphere.
Many bulk liquids are supplied in large containers, from which the liquid is dispensed as required via a tap. Such containers generally include a vent hole to allow dispensed liquid to be replaced within the container by atmospheric air.
In certain circumstances, due to the nature of the liquid or to other factors, it is necessary to isolate the contents of the container from contact with the atmosphere, for example to prolong the life of liquids which become altered by air contact.
A solution to this problem, used in small volume packages, is to provide a rigid outer container and to place within it a flexible bag containing the liquid and having an outlet for dispensing the liquid. As liquid is drawn off, the bag collapses to correspond to the succssively smaller volume of liquid remaining in the container.
Clearly, the use of such containers is prohibitively expensive for most liquids, since the machinery required to fill and seal a flexible bag and then to place it inside a rigid container is extremely complicated.
The present invention seeks to provide a closure cap, which is adapted to fit the outlet opening of an existing conventional rigid container and which will convert that container into a dispensing container and will prevent air from contacting the undispensed contents of the container.
According to the invention, a dispensing closure for a container defining an interior volume and having an outlet opening comprises a body adapted to seal the outlet opening, a variable volume chamber positionable within the container via the outlet opening, a first passageway penetrating the body to provide communication between the interior volume and the atmosphere, and a second passageway penetrating the body to provide communication between the atmosphere and the variable volume chamber.
Preferably the first passageway is provided with a tap or other similar control device. The variable volume chamber is preferably a flexible or resilient sac.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a dispensing container fitted with the dispensing closure; and Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the closure of Figure 1.
Referring now to the Figures, there is seen a container 1 of substantially rigid construction. Typically the container will be of plastics material, formed by blow-moulding.
The container has an outlet opening 2, which is closed by a conventional closure cap (not shown) when the container is not required as a dispenser, for example when in transit or storage.
When the contents of the container are to be dispensed, a dispensing cap 3 is substituted for the closure cap. The dispensing cap is shown in greater detail in Figure 2 and comprises a sealing body 4 adapted to fit over the outlet opening 2 and to seal its periphery. The sealing body 4 is held against the outlet opening by a retaining ring 5 which engages threads 65 formed on the container outlet opening.
A first passageway 7 penetrates the sealing body 4 and extends outwardly from the container along a spigot 8. The passageway 7 provides an outlet for liquid within the container and the spigot 8 may be connected to a flexible outlet hose 9 as seen in Figure 1. A valve 10 controls flow along the outlet hose 9 to a spray lance 11.
Alternatively a valve may be formed integrally with the sealing body 4.
Extending inwardly from the sealing body 4 is a tubular projection 12, through which a second passageway 13 passes. Attached to the end of the projection 12 is a flexible membrane 14 which defines a variable volume chamber 15, the only access to the chamber 15 being through the second passageway 13.
The membrane is preferably of a flexible plastics material, but may also be of a resilient or a stretchable material. The membrane is arranged so that, when fully expanded, the volume of the chamber 15 is substantially equal to, or even greater than, the volume of the container 1.
In use, a conventional container may be converted to a dispensing container simply by removing its closure cap and substituting the dispensing cap 3 therefor.
To apply the dispensing cap, the membrane 14 is collapsed so that the chamber 15 is of minimal volume. The membrane is then pushed through the outlet opening 2 of the container 1 and the sealing body 4 clamped over the outlet opening 2 by the retaining ring 5. An outlet tube 9 is then connected to the spigot 8, and the container is ready for use.
In the embodiment shown, the container will normally be inverted for use, so that as liquid flows out of the outlet spigot 8 through first passageway 7, then air will enter via the second passageway 13 to inflate the membrane 14 and the bouyancy of the air will ensure an effective deployment of the membrane 14 as the chamber 15 increases in volume.
For containers which are too large to be easily inverted, it is envisaged that the sealing body may have a dip tube extending from spigot 8 to the bottom of the container and optionally the projection 12 may extend downwards to a point adjacent the bottom of the container so that the deployment of membrane 14 may again benefit from the bouyancy of air admitted to volume 15.
In another embodiment, not illustrated, the spigot 8 may be replaced by a tap, so that liquid may be dispensed directly from the container when it is lying on its left side as seen in Figure 1.
The fastening of the membrane 14 to the projection 12 may be effected in any suitable fluid-tight manner, and is preferably an ultrasonic or thermal weld between two plastics components.
As described above, the container 1 may be filled by conventional means and a closure cap applied for storage and transport, the dispenser cap being applied only when the liquid is to be dispensed. Clearly, in such cases, the liquid is exposed to air during filling of the container, since the container will initially be full of air.
In an advantageous filling method, applicable not only to the initial filling but also to refilling of dispensing containers, a container fitted with the dispensing closure is filled with liquid by first inflating the flexible membrane to its fullest extent and thereby excluding the air from Within the container. This may be achieved either by applying pressure to the vent, or by applying a vacuum to the outlet tube of the container.
With the flexible membrane fully inflated, liquid is admitted to the container via a filling tube connected to the outlet tube to fill the container, the flexible membrane collapsing as the container is filled.
The dispensing container is primarily intended for use with horticultural or agricultural chemicals whose contact with air is undesirable, not only to avoid contamination or alteration of the chemical but also to avoid pollution of the environment or health risk to the user. The container may also be used for example for beverages or medical or pharmaceutical liquids to reduce the risk from aerobic organisms, or for laboratory reagents or photographic chemicals to avoid oxidation.
An advantage of the present invention over existing rigid dispensing containers is that there is no possibility with the present invention of leakage or spillage through vent apertures, and non-return venting valves are completely avoided.
The possibility of providing a pressurised dispenser is also foreseen; by applying gas pressure to the second passageway 13, the contents of the container may be forcibly expelled. The gas pressure may be from a pump or from a reservoir of pressurised gas and may be controlled by a pressure reducing valve.
While a single embodiment of the invention has been described, it is to be understood that modifications to the device are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. . A dispensing closure for a container defining an interior volume and having an outlet opening, comprising a body adapted to seal the outlet opening and a variable volume chamber positionable within the container via the outlet opening, a first passageway penetrating the body to provide fluid communication between the interior of the variable volume chamber and the atmosphere, and a second passageway penetrating the body to provide communication between the interior volume of the container and the atmosphere.
2. A closure according to Claim 1, wherein the variable volume chamber is defined by a flexible membrane.
3. A closure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the second passageway includes a valve.
4. A closure according to Claim 3 wherein the valve is mounted to the body, or is integral therewith.
5. A closure according to any preceding Claim, wherein the body is generally disc-like and has a tubular spigot extending from one of its faces, a flexible bag being sealingly attached to the spigot to define the variable volume chamber, and an opening being formed in the disc to constitute, with the lumen of the spigot, the first passageway.
6. A closure according to claim 5, wherein the spigot is of such a length as to extend into the container to a point adjacent its wall opposite the outlet opening.
7. A closure according to any preceding Claim, wherein the material of the variable volume chamber is a strechable membrane.
8. A closure according to Claim 7, wherein the stretchable membrane is resilient.
9. A closure substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08806378A 1987-03-17 1988-03-17 Dispensing container closure Pending GB2202836A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB878706287A GB8706287D0 (en) 1987-03-17 1987-03-17 Dispensing container

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8806378D0 GB8806378D0 (en) 1988-04-13
GB2202836A true GB2202836A (en) 1988-10-05

Family

ID=10614076

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB878706287A Pending GB8706287D0 (en) 1987-03-17 1987-03-17 Dispensing container
GB08806378A Pending GB2202836A (en) 1987-03-17 1988-03-17 Dispensing container closure

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB878706287A Pending GB8706287D0 (en) 1987-03-17 1987-03-17 Dispensing container

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8706287D0 (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2220408A (en) * 1988-06-27 1990-01-10 Excludair Ltd Closure devices for containers
EP0439872A1 (en) * 1990-01-18 1991-08-07 Nomix-Chipman Limited Fluid container
FR2769247A1 (en) * 1997-10-07 1999-04-09 Maison Frederic Renaud Container and spraying device for liquid products e.g. herbicides or insecticides
WO2008105001A1 (en) * 2007-02-26 2008-09-04 Mauro De Mei Hermetic packaging system of a consumer fluid within a container for the preservation of such consumer fluid from contamination and deterioration during the phases of storage as well as of induction and/or delivery
US7950388B2 (en) 2005-06-24 2011-05-31 Boehringer Ingelheim International Gmbh Nebuliser and container
EP2531415A2 (en) * 2010-02-02 2012-12-12 Diversey, Inc. Liquid dispensing container and method
US9221666B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2015-12-29 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Dispensing appliance provided with a hinged hood
US9403632B1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2016-08-02 José Luis Marrero Ramos Fluid dispenser
US9540223B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2017-01-10 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Dispensing appliance provided with means for positioning a container
US9670048B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2017-06-06 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Dispensing appliance provided with a removable dispensing cartridge
US10112821B2 (en) 2010-11-10 2018-10-30 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Liquid dispensing appliance provided with an anti-drip valve system

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4279363A (en) * 1979-01-05 1981-07-21 Raza Alikhan Non-inverting fluid dispenser

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4279363A (en) * 1979-01-05 1981-07-21 Raza Alikhan Non-inverting fluid dispenser

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2220408A (en) * 1988-06-27 1990-01-10 Excludair Ltd Closure devices for containers
EP0439872A1 (en) * 1990-01-18 1991-08-07 Nomix-Chipman Limited Fluid container
FR2769247A1 (en) * 1997-10-07 1999-04-09 Maison Frederic Renaud Container and spraying device for liquid products e.g. herbicides or insecticides
US7950388B2 (en) 2005-06-24 2011-05-31 Boehringer Ingelheim International Gmbh Nebuliser and container
US8561853B2 (en) 2007-02-26 2013-10-22 Mauro De Mei Airtight preservation system
WO2008105001A1 (en) * 2007-02-26 2008-09-04 Mauro De Mei Hermetic packaging system of a consumer fluid within a container for the preservation of such consumer fluid from contamination and deterioration during the phases of storage as well as of induction and/or delivery
EP2531415A2 (en) * 2010-02-02 2012-12-12 Diversey, Inc. Liquid dispensing container and method
EP2531415A4 (en) * 2010-02-02 2014-01-22 Diversey Inc Liquid dispensing container and method
US8998042B2 (en) 2010-02-02 2015-04-07 Diversey, Inc. Liquid dispensng container and method
US9221666B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2015-12-29 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Dispensing appliance provided with a hinged hood
US9540223B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2017-01-10 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Dispensing appliance provided with means for positioning a container
US9670048B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2017-06-06 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Dispensing appliance provided with a removable dispensing cartridge
US10112821B2 (en) 2010-11-10 2018-10-30 Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A. Liquid dispensing appliance provided with an anti-drip valve system
US9403632B1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2016-08-02 José Luis Marrero Ramos Fluid dispenser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8706287D0 (en) 1987-04-23
GB8806378D0 (en) 1988-04-13

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