Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPENSER WITH SANITARY DISCHARGE
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dispenser for retaining and
discharging a flowable
product, such as a granular or powdered material. The dispenser further
includes a sealing
structure for the discharge outlet.
Background
[0002] A number of forms of dispensers having discharge controls are known,
including
those having a closed or shipping position and a separate operative position
whereby discharge
of the retained product may occur.
[0003] US 3,344,962 to Popivalo shows a dispensing device having a defined
chamber and a
discharge tube extending from the top of the chamber to an inlet opening
positioned adjacent the
bottom wall of the chamber. A pivotable plate normally covers the top end of
the discharge tube
and opens when the dispenser is in the inverted, discharge position.
[0004] US 2,538,336 to Smith shows a dispensing device having a defined
chamber and a
discharge tube extending from the top of the chamber to an inlet opening
positioned adjacent the
bottom wall. A cap is inserted into the top end of the discharge tube to close
the dispenser and is
removed to permit discharge through the tube upon inversion of the dispenser.
[0005] US 1,276,382 to Loveland shows a dispensing device having an axially
moveable
discharge tube positioned along one side of a container. The discharge tube
communicates with
a casing formed on the bottom wall of a retaining chamber within the device.
The front wall of
the casing is open to the chamber, such that material in the chamber may fill
the casing when the
discharge tube is in a lifted position. Rotation of the tube about its central
axis positions the
flange to close the inlet opening. Lifting of the tube (axially) opens the
casing for filling material
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therein. Inversion of the device discharges the dose of material from the
casing through the
discharge tube.
[0006] US 5,186,366 to Meisner et al. shows a dispenser having a metering
trap at the base
for defining a product dose to be dispensed. The dispenser includes a
discharge tube that is
positioned along one side wall and is open at the bottom. The trap is
rotatable and forms the
bottom wall of the dispenser. The trap includes a number of chambers that are
filled with the
product from the dispenser. Rotation of the trap positions the discharge tube
to cover one of the
chambers and inversion of the dispenser causes discharge of the product within
the covered
chamber through the discharge tube.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] In one aspect of the disclosure, a dispenser is provided for
retaining a flowable
product, such as a granular or powdered material. The dispenser includes a
body defining a
storage chamber for retaining the product. The body may be formed from a side
wall, a top wall
having a defined surface and a recess formed therein, and a bottom wall. An
opening is provided
in the recess and a discharge tube is secured within the opening. The
discharge tube includes an
inlet positioned within the storage chamber and an outlet positioned within
the recess in the top
wall. A sealing cap is provided for releasably covering the outlet of the
discharge tube and
closing the tube. The sealing cap is positioned within the recess in the
closed position. A patch is
releasably secured to the top wall and covers the recess. The patch preferably
conforms to the
defined surface of the top wall and seals the recess, with the cap and
discharge tube outlet also
sealed therein. The patch may be removed from the sealing position to expose
the cap. Removal
of the cap from the discharge tube exposes the outlet. Rotation of the
dispenser from an upright
position to a second position causes movement of product from the chamber,
into the inlet,
through the tube and out of the outlet.
[0008] In a further aspect of the dispenser, the cap may be frictionally
secured to the outlet of
the discharge tube. The cap may be tethered to the discharge tube and may be
integrally formed
with the tube. The discharge tube may include an outwardly projecting flange
positioned
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adjacent the outlet, with the flange providing stabilization to the discharge
tube in the opening.
The discharge tube may further be slidingly retained within the opening in the
top wall.
[0009] In a further aspect of the dispenser, the side wall may be formed as
an open ended
cylinder, with the top wall attached to the one end of the cylinder and the
bottom wall attached to
an opposite end of the cylinder to form the body of the dispenser.
[0010] In a still further aspect of the dispenser, the patch is adhesively
secured to the defined
surface of the top wall. The patch may be formed from a flexible web.
[0011] In a further aspect of the disclosure, a dispenser for flowable
product is provided
having a container body defining a storage chamber. A discharge tube is
provided having an inlet
communicating with the storage chamber and an outlet positioned with a recess
in the wall of the
container. A cap is releasably secured to the outlet of the discharge tube and
positioned within
the recess. A removable patch is secured to the top wall and covers the
recess, the discharge tube
outlet and the cap. Removal of the patch exposes the cap within the recess.
The cap may then be
released from its closed position to expose the outlet of the discharge tube.
The dispenser is
selectively rotated for discharge of the product through the discharge tube.
[0012] Other features of the present invention will become apparent from
the detailed
description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0013] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the
drawings a form
which is presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not
limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0014] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a dispenser in a form contemplated by
the present
disclosure.
[0015] Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the dispenser of Fig. 1 with a patch
portion being
removed from the top wall of the dispenser body.
[0016] Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the dispenser of Figs. 1 and 2 with a
sealing cap shown
in a rotated, open position.
[0017] Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser as shown in Fig. 1
with the patch
portion in its covering position on the top wall of the dispenser body.
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[0018] Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser as shown in Fig. 2
with the sealing
cap shown in the rotated, open position.
[0019] Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the top wall portion of the dispenser
of Figs. 1-5.
Detailed Description
[0020] Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals identify like
elements, there is
shown in Fig. 1 a dispenser, which is generally referred to by the numeral 10.
The dispenser 10
is defined by a container body 12 having a side wall 14, a top wall 16. As
shown in the cross
sections of Figs. 4 and 5, a bottom wall 18 is provided. The bottom wall 18,
side wall 14 and top
wall 16 define an internal storage chamber 20. The embodiment if the dispenser
10 shown
includes a cylindrical side wall 14 and round plates forming the top wall 16
and bottom wall 18.
Other forms and shapes are contemplated, including square, rectangular,
triangular or other
multi-walled configurations.
[0021] In Fig. 1, the top wall 16 is secured to the side wall 14 and a
cover or patch 22 is
secured to the upper surface 24 of the top wall 16. The patch 22 is
contemplated to be a planer
membrane or web that is adhesively secured to the outer surface 24 of the top
wall 16. In Fig. 2,
the patch 22 is removed from the upper surface 24, exposing a sealing cap 26.
In the cross
section of Fig. 4, the cap 26 is in the closed position and is secured to the
outlet end 28 of a
discharge tube 30. The inlet end 32 of the discharge tube 30 is positioned
within the storage
chamber 20. The outlet end 28 of the tube 30 and the sealing cap 26 are
positioned within a
formed recess 34 on the upper surface 24 of the top wall 16.
[0022] In Figs. 3 and 5, the cap 26 is shown in an open position. The cap
26 includes a top
surface and a peripheral skirt defining inside dimensions that closely conform
to the outside
dimensions of the outlet end 28 of the discharge tube 30. The cap 26 in the
closed position (Figs.
2 and 4) is frictionally secured to the outlet end 38 of the tube 30 and may
be selectively
removed to open the dispenser 10 for discharge (Figs. 3 and 5). The cap 26 is
preferably
connected to the tube 30 by a tether or hinge. The cap 26 may be integrally
formed or molded as
part of the tube 30 or may include means for attachment. Alternatively the cap
26 may be a
separate element. In the open position, the cap 26 is retained within a saddle
portion 38 of the
recess 36. The dimensions of the saddle portion 38 may be formed to
frictionally accept the cap
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within the recess 38 to avoid accidental interference with the opening of the
tube 20 at the outlet
end 28. The cap 26 is provided with projecting tabs 34 on the side edges of
the skirt. The tabs
34 are provided for gripping the cap 26 during release from the closed
position on the tube 30
and during the securing of the cap 26 on the outlet end 28 when closing the
tube 30.
[0023] In Fig. 6, the top wall 16 is shown separate from the body (12) of
the dispenser (10).
The top wall 16 is embodied as a plate having an upstanding a peripheral rim
40. As shown in
the cross sections of Figs. 4 and 5, the rim 40 forms a groove facing in the
direction of the
bottom surface 44 of the plate. The groove is formed to receive an upper edge
of the side wall
14. An opening 46 is provided in the recess 36 in the top wall 16.
[0024] In assembling the dispenser 10, the upper edge of the side wall 14
is inserted into a
groove formed by the rim 40 of the top wall 16. The rim 40 and side wall 14
are secured
together by any number of means, including a crimping of the rim, adhesive,
rolling of the rim
and sidewall together, spin welding, ultrasonic welding, etc. As shown, the
bottom wall 18
includes a similarly formed rim 42 (see Figs. 4 and 5) having a groove for
receipt of the bottom
edge of the side wall 14. The securing of the side wall 14 to the respective
rims 40, 42 of the top
wall 16 and bottom wall 18 create the enclosed storage chamber 20. Any number
of possible
materials may be used to form the container body. For example, the body may be
formed from a
combination of materials, such as a composite side wall and injection molded
top wall and
bottom wall. The side wall and bottom wall may also be injection molded, with
the top wall
attached to the open end of the formed body structure. A blow molding process
for forming the
container body may also be used. Other material examples include metals, such
as aluminum,
etc., for forming one or more of the parts. In another example, a relatively
rigid top wall or
partial wall portion may be attached to a flexible pouch or other flexible
body member to form
the container and to define the storage chamber.
[0025] The discharge tube 30 is inserted (see Figs. 4 and 5) into the
opening 46 formed in the
recess 36 portion of the top wall 16. The outlet end 28 of the tube 30 is
provided with a
projecting flange 48 forming a stop to secure and/or stabilize the tube 30 in
the opening 46. The
flange 48 and top wall 16 are preferably sealed together, either by the
frictional engagement or
by some other means, such as welding, adhesive, etc.
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[0026] The flange 48 on the tube 30 is formed closely adjacent the outlet
end 28, such that
only a portion of the tube 30 projects into the recess 36. The top edge of the
tube 30 is
preferably positioned below the upper surface 24 of the top wall 16. The cap
26 is positioned on
the outlet end 28 of the tube 30, closing the discharge tube 30. The patch 22
is secured to the
upper surface 24 of the top wall 16, sealing the tube 30 and cap 26 in the
recess 36 (see Fig. 4).
The patch 22 is preferably thin and formed from a flexible material, such as a
plastic, paper or
combination web or film. The patch 22 is substantially positioned in the plane
of the upper
surface 24 of the top wall 16 and covers the recess 36. The patch may be
adhesively sealed to
the portion of the upper surface 24 surrounding the recess 36. An overcap or
other structures
may be added to the dispenser as desired.
[0027] To open the dispenser 10 for discharge of a product (not shown)
retained in the
storage chamber 20, the patch 22 is removed. A start-up tab (not shown) may be
provided for
grip and to initiate pealing separation of the patch 22 from the top wall 16.
Once the patch 22 is
removed, the cap 26 is exposed and may be removed from its frictional
engagement with the
tube 20. The cap 26 may be placed in the saddle 38. The dimensions of the
saddle portion 38
may conform to those of the cap 26, creating a frictional retention of the cap
26.
[0028] Removal of the cap 26 from the outlet end of the tube 30 opens the
dispenser 10.
Product retained in the storage chamber 20 may be discharge through the tube
30 by tilting or
inversion of the dispenser 10. Product flows from the chamber 20, into the
inlet end 32 of the
tube 20, through the tube 30 and out of the open outlet end 28. Means for
controlling the
quantity of each dose of product that enters the tube during the inversion
process may also be
provided. Further, the tube may be slidably secured within the opening 46 on
the top wall 16,
permitting a selective extension of the tube 30 from the recess 36. Upon
completing the
discharge, the dispenser 10 is positioned upright and the cap 26 is secured
onto the outlet end 28
of the tube 30, closing the product in the chamber 20.
[0029] The contemplated dispenser provides a barrier for maintaining the
discharge
structures in a sanitary state during shipment and storage. The barrier formed
by the
contemplated patch may also serve to prevent the flow of moisture, oxygen or
other gas into or
out of the storage chamber. The overall structure of the dispenser is
contemplated to create a
high barrier package, with sufficient gas and moisture barrier properties to
meet the required
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standards for food storage. The patch serves to seal the discharge opening in
the package. The
patch may be formed from a plastic web with means provided to create the
desired moisture and
gas barrier qualities. The web may be a laminated structure and may include
aluminum or a
similar barrier material. The patch may also be formed from an aluminum film.
In other forms,
the patch may include a one-way degassing valve for allowing degassing of the
product within
the storage chamber.
[0030] The barrier patch may further be used to deter tampering and to
provide an indication
of tampering. For example, the adhesive or other securing means for the patch
may be
sufficiently strong to prevent undemanding removal. Further, the adhesive
preferably may be
blocked upon removal, such that resealing is not readily possible, once the
patch is removed.
However, certain laminated structures are possible that would provide a
resealing of one or more
layers of the patch, after an opening access to the cap and discharge tube.
[0031] The supplemental cap structure serves to retain and seal the product
after removal of
the patch. The cap and discharge tube are recessed within the confines of the
container body,
and therefore do not create any special shipping or storage considerations for
the dispenser.
[0032] The present disclosure shows and describes one or more exemplary
embodiments. It
should be understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing that
various other changes,
omissions and additions may be made therein, without departing from the spirit
and scope of the
contemplated invention, with the scope of the invention being defined by the
foregoing claims.
Further, the terms herein are used in a generic and descriptive sense and are
not necessarily for
purposes of limitation. The scope of the invention is set forth in the
following claims.
