Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPENSING CLOSURE WITH INTEGRAL LOCKING SWITCH
AND TAMPER EVIDENCY STRUCTURE
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to containers for dispensing products. More
particularly, this invention relates to an improved dispensing closure having
an integral
switch to prevent opening of the closure, and an integral tamper evidency
feature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Assemblies for dispensing liquid or solid product (e.g., pills, hair shampoo,
liquid
soap, detergents, and the like) are known in the art. Typically in such
arrangements, a
dispensing lid, having a product dispensing position and a closed position, is
pivotally
attached to a closure body. The closure body, in turn, may have a threaded
structure for
engaging a mouth or similar neck finish disposed on a product storage
container such that the
storage chamber is in product communication with the dispensing lid.
While previously available dispensers may function well for the purposes for
which
they were designed, they have drawbacks. For example, during shipping, storage
and
handling, a dispensing lid may inadvertently be moved to the dispensing
position allowing
spillage or other undesirable escape of the product. Such spillage may make
the product non-
saleable, soil the surrounding environment, and/or inconvenience further
handling and use.
In addition, some prior structures also allowed purposeful opening of the
containers and
contamination of the contents during shipping or storage without the knowledge
of the end
user. 1n these and other circumstances, it would be desirable to provide an
improved
dispenser having a locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent movement of the
dispensing lid
and a tamper evidence structure that are easy to use and manufacture and do
not add
significant cost to the container.
Some prior ideas for preventing movement of a dispensing lid to its dispensing
position include U.S. Patent No. 5,284,264 to Gross which discloses a lid
having a separate
slide lock assembly. The lock assembly engages an abutment surface when in the
locked
position thereby preventing rotation of the lid to its dispensing position.
When the lock
assembly is translated to its unlocked position, it will clear the abutment
surface thus
permitting the lid to be rotated to its dispensing position.
Another example is seen in U.S. Patent No. 5,205,424 to Gaspar, which
illustrates a
child resistant cap and container assemblage having a lid with an internal
locking means and
a spring to bias the lid in the closed position. When the dispenser is
upright, a ball bearing is
in obstructive contact with the lid preventing its movement to the open
position. If the
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dispenser is tipped at an angle, the ball bearing moves out of obstructive
contact with the lid
thereby permitting movement of the lid to its dispensing position. Another
embodiment
discloses a slidable rod which engages the lid thereby preventing its rotation
to the dispensing
position.
Although these dispensers each provide a means for physically preventing the
accidental movement of the lid to the dispensing position, they require the
provision and
assembly of a plurality of individual parts, resulting in somewhat complex and
more costly
packaging. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a locking structure
which is
formed integrally with the lid and/or closure body, for simplicity and ease of
manufacture,
and which may initially function as a shipping lock and which thereafter may
repeatably
function as a travel lock. It would also be advantageous if such a structure
were child-proof
yet still easily manipulated by adults. In addition, a tamper evidence
structure (e.g., an
exten~al visual sea! and/or indicator) for indicating whether the lid had
previously been moved
to the dispensing position during shipping, storage or handling would be
desirable. It would
be further advantageous for simplicity and ease of manufacture if such a
tamper evidence
structure were similarly formed integrally with the lid and/or closure body.
'The present
invention provides an improved dispensing closure which can accommodate
designs having
the above-described simplicity and multi-functional benefits and features,
while being
childproof, easy for adults to use, and without adding significant cost to the
containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIQN
A dispensing closure is provided for dispensing a product from a container
having a
product storage chamber. The dispensing closure comprises a closure body, a
dispensing lid
having a lid top surface and an integral locking switch. The closure body has
a top face with
a downwardly depending skirt, a passageway, and an attachment swcture for
attaching the
body to the container such that the container is in product communication with
the
passageway. The dispensing closure is also provided with a mounting structure,
preferably a
pivot, for movably attaching the dispensing lid such that the lid can be
selectively moved
betvvoert closed and dispensing positions. The dispensing lid has a discharge
aperture
disposed thereoa such that, when the dispensing lid is in its dispensing
position, the discharge
aperture is in product communication with the passageway of the closure body.
The dispensing closure is also preferably provided with an integrally formed
locking
switch having a predetermined locked position with a stable first shape
wherein the lid is in
obstructive contact with an obstruction such that it is prevented from being
moved to its
dispensing position. The locking switch also has a predetermined unlocked
position with a
stable second shape wherein the lid is substantially clear of the obstruction
such that it can be
moved to its dispensing position. The obstruction may comprise a rib adjacent
the skirt or a
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bottom edge of a cutout portion of the skirt. The rib may be further provided
with a detent
for preventing inadvertent movement of the locking switch.
In a preferred arrangement, the locking switch has a first living hinge and a
second
living hinge both of which are integrally formed with the dispensing lid or
the closure body.
Preferably disposed between the living hinges is a flexible member. In a more
preferred
arrangement, the locking switch comprises a third living hinge, a first switch
member and a
second switch member. The first switch member is disposed between and integral
with the
first and third living hinges while the second switch member is disposed
between and integral
with the second and third living hinges.
Finally, the locking switch and/or closure body can be provided with art
integral
frangible tab for tamper evidency. The frangible tab may be disposed ben~~ccn
an e~ctension
and the lid surface or between a pair of wing mrmbcrs.
BRIEF UESCR1PTIOV OF THE DRAWIN
White the specification concludes wrath clmms particularly pointing out and
distinctly
claiming the present invention, it is believed the same will be better
understood from the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing closure made in accordance with
the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the dispensing closure of FIG. l, taken
along line
2-2 thereof, illustrating the dispensing lid in the closed position;
FIG. 2A is an enlarged partial cross xrnonal view of the dispensing closure of
FIG.
2 taken about circle 2A thereof;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the dispvrsmg closure of FIG. l, takes
along line
2-2 thereof, illustrating the dispensing lid m the dcspv.,nsmg position;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a closurr body of a dispensing closure as
~Ilustr-ated m
FIG. 1, shown without the dispensing lid for clsnn,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a d~spmsmg lid of the closure of FIG I, wt~n
the
locking switch includes three living hingc.~s and a frangible tab;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the d~spcms,ng lid of FIG. 5, illustrating the
locking
switch in its initial locked position;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of tlx; ,imps-nsmg I~d of FIG. 5 illustraang the
lotkmg
switch in its unlocked position;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan virw ~,f th,~ n..l mg switch of the dispensing lid
of FIG ~.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ,lm~r,.mg closure made in accordanex with
the;
present invention, wherein the locking swt~h " ;ru:~ralfv formed with the
closure body and ~s
shown in its locked position;
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FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dispensing closure of FIG. 9, wherein the
locking
switch is sho~m in its unlocked position;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a dispensing lid of the present invention,
wherein the
locking sW tch is provided with hvo living hinges and a frangible tab;
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 11, illustrating the
locking
switch in its initial locked position; and
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the dispensing lid of FIG. 11, illustrating the
locking
switch in its unlocked position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of
the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings
wherein like
numerals indicate the same elements throughout the views. FIG. 1 is a
perspective view of a
dispensing closure 20 made in accordance with the present invention,
comprising a closure
body 22 and dispensing lid 24 having an integral locking switch 26, including
at least two
living hinges. The terms "integral" and "integrally", as used herein, shall
generally mean a
structure which is unitary with and foamed as a part of another structure. The
team "living
hinge", as used herein, shall generally mean an integral structure having a
reduced cross
sectional area, when compared with surrounding structure, such that the
structure is capable
of rotational bending without significant degradation in structural integrity
(i.e., capable of
repeated bending without cracking or othenvise demonstrating signs of
fatigue).
Closure body 22 preferably has a top face 28 and a skirt 30 which generally
depends
downwardly from the periphery of top face 28. Skirt 30 may comprise a single
continuous
curved or rounded section, or may be defined by the interconnection of a
plurality of walls of
various configurations (e.g., straight, convex, concave, partially circular,
partially elliptical,
or any combination thereof] to provide for a unique, pleasing appearance.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, dispensing closure 20 may be attached to
an
upwardly extending neck finish 32 of a bottle or similar container 34 having -
a product
storage chamber 36. Neck finish 32 has an opening in product communication
with storage
chamber 36. Threads can be provided so that dispensing closure 20 may attach
to container
34, although other attachment structures known in the art, such as snap fit
arrangements, spin
welding interfaces, or the like, are equally suitable for attaching the two
pieces.
A dispensing opening 38 is provided through lower deck 40 in closure body 22,
and
is disposed such that dispensing opening 38 is placed in product communication
with product
storage chamber 36. Closure plug 42 extends downwardly from the inner portion
of
dispensing lid 24 such that it sealingly engages dispensing opening 38 when
lid 24 is in its
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closed position (F1G. 2). When dispensing lid 24 is rotated to its open
position (FIG. 3), plug
42 is raised clear of dispensing opening 38, thereby permitting dispensing of
product.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a recessed cavity is defined, at least in part, by
deck 40 and
opposing deck walls 44a and 44b, which extend upwardly from and around deck
40, thereby
providing a mounting location for dispensing lid 24. Although illustrated as
being curved in
shape, deck walls 44a and 44b may have any of a variety of co~gurations (e.g.,
straight,
convex, concave, elliptical or any combination thereof). The front and rear of
the cavity may
be at least partially defined and enclosed by portions of skirt 30. A lowered
portion of skirt
30 is preferably located on one side of the cavity to facilitate user access
to locking switch 26,
and is defined by lowered edge 46. In addition, lowered edge 46 and/or rib 48
(FIG. 2A) may
define a locking switch obstruction for purposes that will be described in
more detail
hereinafter.
The cavity must be sized to accommodate dispensing lid 24, such that lid 24
inay
move (e.g., via pivoting) between a closed position (FIG. 2) and a dispensing
position (FIG.
3). Deck walls.44a and 44b preferably include pivot recesses SOa and SOb, or
similar
mounting structures, which cooperate with knobs 52a and 52b (FIG. 5) on !id
24. When
engaged, pivot recesses SOa and SOb and knobs 52a and 52b are pivotally
aligned along an
axis (e.g., axis A of FIG. 5) generally transverse to lid 24 and about which
lid 24 may pivot.
As best illustrated in FIG. 5, dispensing lid 24 has an integral locking
switch 26, a lid
top surface 54, and lid wall 56 which generally depends downwardly from the
periphery of lid
top surface 54. Dispensing lid 24 further includes a passage or discharge
aperture 58 which
communicates with opening 38 and allows the user to dispense product outwardly
from
dispensing closure 20 when in the open or dispensing position.
Dispensing lid 24 can be provided with lid protrusions 60a and 60b (FIG. 5)
which
may engage lid depressions 62a and 62b (FIG. 4), thereby preventing
inadvertent opening of
lid 24 to its dispensing position. Lid protrusions 60a and 60b provide only a
slight
engagement with lid depressions 62a and 62b that can easily be overcome by the
force a user
would exert to move dispensing lid 24 to the dispensing position.
Locking switch 26 of the present invention may be provided in a variety of
forms and
structures, and can be formed as part of dispensing lid 24, as part of closure
body 22, or as
part of both. Preferably, locking switch 26 is in obstructive contact with an
obstruction, such
as rib 48 in FIG. 2A, in the locked position thereby preventing lid 24 from
moving to its
dispensing position without prior actuation of switch 26. For example, as
shown in FIG. 2A,
lowered edge 46 of locking switch 26 may be in obstructive contact with rib
48. As shown in
FIG. 2A, edge 64 would have to clear rib 48 in order to move lid 24 to the
dispensing
position. Alternatively, locking switch 26 may be provided with a rearwardly
extending
structure (not shown) which is in obstructive contact with edge 46 of closure
body 22 when
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locking switch 26 is in its locked position; in this case, rib 48 would be
absent. When switch
26 is moved to its unlocked position, the obstruction would have to clear edge
46 so that lid
24 may be moved to the dispensing position.
As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, a preferred arrangement of locking switch 26 is
shown
having three living hinges 66a, 66b, and 66c. Locking switch 26 preferably has
a stable first
shape (FIG. 6), in which it is supplied, and a stable second shape (FIG. 7),
in which it is
purposefully put, corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions,
respectively. The
phrase "stable shape," as used herein, is intended to refer to a position of
locking switch 26
which can be maintained without application of any external force. While it is
believed that
the action of bi-stable locking switch 26 will be understandable to those of
ordinary skill in
the art, for completeness and clarity, a general description of the bi-stable
operation of the
illustrated embodiments will be provided.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the living hinges are areas of reduced thickness
'"T" along
switch 26. The portions of switch 26 between the ~ hinges have effective
lengths L I and L2 as
shown. Length L3 is the approximate distance between living hinges 66a and
66c. The
living hinges also have hinge radii "R". L 1 plus L2 must equal a length
greater than L3.
This difference in length must not be so great that switch 26, when moved from
the locked to
the unlocked position, will suffer permanent damage; however, the length
difference must be
great enough so that the switch wilt hold the unlocked position when the user
releases applied
force from it.
As the switch is pushed forward, and L1 and L2 line up in a straight tine,
switch 26
goes into compression. The natural tendency for the material at that point
will be for it to
want to spring back to a relief position, upon release of the user's applied
force, that releases
the compressive forces within. Before a certain point during actuation, that
relief position
will be it's original position (as shown in F1G. 8). Beyond that certain point
during actuation,
that relief position will be the position shown in F1G. 7. In the position of
FIG. 7, the outside
surface 68 of switch 26 will be in compression, and the inside surface 70 of
switch 26 will be
in tension, but the major compressive forces within the body of the switch
will be relieved and
this will allow the switch to hold its position. Locking switch 26 will retain
this position until
force is applied in the opposite direction to once again put the switch in the
lockod, or as
supplied, position.
In another preferred arrangement, locking switch 26 can be provided with an
integral
tamper evidence structure for alerting the user of dispensing closure 20
whether dispensing lid
24 may have been moved to the dispensing position during shipping, storage, or
handling.
Frangible tab 72 (FIG. 8) is preferably disposed between and integral with
wing members 74a
and 74b and has a location of reduced cross sectional area (or other stress
attracting
configurations such as perforations or the like) such that when force is first
applied to locking
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switch 26, tab 72 will fracture thus permitting movement of locking switch 26
from a locked
position to an unlocked position. Preferably, tab 72 fractures such that it
does not interfere
with the return movement of locking switch 26 to its locked position. As shown
in FIG. 11,
frangible tab 72 may also be integrally attached between locking switch 26 and
surface 54
such that it may fracture in compression the first time the switch is pushed.
Once tab 72 is
breached, it provides a physical and visual indication of the fact that the
tamper seal has been
broken. Frangible tab 72 may also work in cooperation with other tamper
evidence structures
such as cellophane seals and the like. In addition, frangible tab 72 may be
formed from a
material whose color changes when subjected to strain or fracture, such as a
dark pigmented
plastic. Such a feature would advantageously aid in the tamper evidence
function.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, still another preferred embodiment can
be
provided wherein locking switch 26 is integrally formed with closure body 22
rather than
dispensing lid 24. In this arrangement, switch 26 has an "as supplied" locked
position with a
stable first shape, as best shown in FIG. 9. Protrusiotrs 76a and 76b act as
the obstruction to
moving the lid 24 to the dispensing position. As switch 26 is pulled outward,
it will reach a
point where it holds its unlocked position as described above, and as shown in
FIG. 10.
Protrusions 76a and 76b are clear of the inside surface of lid 24 when locking
switch 26 is in
the unlocked position (FIG. 10), such that dispensing lid 24 can now be
rotated to its
dispensing position. Tamper evidence may also be provided by a frangible tab
similar to that
described above.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 13, yet another preferred embodiment
of the
present invention can be provided wherein locking switch 26 includes only two
living hinges.
This works as described above, except that the switch body retains more
flexibility without
the wing structure shown in FIG. 8, and as such the switch 26 will retain the
unlocked
position without the need for a third living hinge.
As shown in FIGS. 11 through 13, frangible tab 72 may be integrally formod
between lid top surface 54 and extension 78 such that switch 26 cannot be
moved from the
loclcod position without fracturing or otherwise rupturing frangible tab 72.
Extension 78 is
integrally molded with switch 26 and positioned such that it may pass without
substantial
interference either above or below lid top surface 54 when locking switch 26
is moved from a
locked position town unlocked position or vice versa. Frangible tab 72 is
preferably formed
integrally to both extension 78 and lid top surface 54 such that it will
fracture when placed in
compression, by a force applied to locking switch 26.
Preferably, closure body 22, dispensing lid 24 and locking switch 26 are
formed from
plastic or the like. More preferably, for economy and ease of manufacture,
they may be
manufactured by injection molding although other methods such as plastic
welding, adhesive
or mechanical connection of separately constructed parts may also be suitable.
Locking
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switch 26 may also be used repeatedly as a travel lock so as to reduce the
risk of inadvertent
movement of lid 24 to its dispensing position during handling, traveling, etc.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments have been presented for
purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the
invention to the precise foam disclosed. Modifications or variations are
possible and
contemplated in light of the above teachings by those skilled in the art, and
the embodiments
discussed were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles
of the invention
and its practical application, and indeed to thereby enable utilization of the
invention in
various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular
use
contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the
claims appended
hereto.
