CN1210801A - a seal - Google Patents

Abstract

A tapered seal having a peripheral seal side wall and a platform integrated concentrically with the peripheral seal side wall, characterized in that the perimeter of the top surface is preferably greater than the perimeter of the bottom surface, the platform is concave, and/or a groove , extending in the middle of the platform and the peripheral sealing side wall. The invention also provides a method of making such a closure.

Description

a seal

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/058,296, filed September 9, 1997, and is a continuation-in-part of Mohary et al., filed January 21, 1998, with Application No. (Attomey Dkt. No. .JBP 419), entitled "Dispensing Containers," which are incorporated by reference into this application in their entirety.

The invention relates to the field of container closures, in particular conical closures.

Most of the containers in use today are designed for use by adults, and young children have small hands, so it can be difficult for them to grasp and squeeze the contents out of containers designed for use by adults. Conversely, it is difficult for adults to use dispensing containers that are specifically designed for use by young children.

Another related problem with conventional containers is that these containers are designed by adults to expel the contents, ie, the force required to squeeze the contents out of the container is comparable to the strength of an adult's hand. Children and the elderly, who are weaker than most adults, do not have the strength needed to squeeze out the contents. Therefore, for better use of the container by those with small hands, it is desirable for the container to have less extrusion force.

In the existing packaging of toilet articles, the content is usually stored in a vertical direction, for example, the closed end of the container is arranged below the open end, which is the storage position where the container is filled with the content. When the contents are placed in a vertical orientation, it is often necessary to squeeze the contents out of the container in an upside-down orientation. Containers usually have a certain capacity, for example, because the contents are in contact with the container wall, and the extrusion of the contents is not facilitated. The capacity in the container emphasizes that the contents are stored in an upright position and used in the opposite direction. This problem is additionally emphasized in the case of storing viscous contents such as shampoo, which is inconvenient to squeeze out.

Another problem with conventional containers is that they can slip from the hands, especially when hands are wet. This is a particular problem for containers of toiletry products, such as shampoos and body washes, which are commonly used by children for bathing.

A closure design that is particularly suitable for inverted containers and has a stable platform is the tapered closure. However, the geometry of these seals makes their manufacture very difficult. Especially when these seals must remain in their molds for a longer period of time to allow their thickest areas to cool completely, or if they are removed from the mold prematurely, these seals often also develop irregular "dimples" or pits.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing container which is designed to be comfortably used in the hands of both children and adults.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which requires less force to expel the contents from the container, thereby being pleasant to use for those with limited manual strength.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a container having design features that prevent the container from slipping from the hand, especially when the hands are wet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which can be stably placed in an upside-down position when the container has a small content, especially for storing viscous liquid contents.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a container which is ergonomic for use by children and adults and which can be easily labeled on the surface of the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tapered closure with minimal surface imperfections, enabling containers incorporating such a closure to be stored upside down.

According to the present invention, there is provided a conical closure comprising, and/or consisting essentially of:

a) a peripheral seal side wall, the side wall includes an upper seal side wall and a lower seal side wall, wherein the upper seal side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower seal side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter;

b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and having an upper platform surface recessed from the top surface.

Obtain a tapered seal by another aspect of the present invention, this seal comprises:

a) a peripheral seal side wall, the side wall includes an upper seal side wall and a lower seal side wall, wherein the upper seal side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower seal side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter;

b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and having an upper platform surface recessed from the top surface.

A conical seal is derived from yet another aspect of the present invention, this seal comprising:

a) a peripheral seal side wall, the side wall includes an upper seal side wall and a lower seal side wall, wherein the upper seal side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower seal side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter;

b) a platform integral with the peripheral seal sidewall concentrically;

c) A groove located between the platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal and integral with the platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal.

A further aspect of the present invention derives a method of manufacturing a closure, this method comprising:

Molding the closure under conditions sufficient to form the closure in the mold, including:

a) a peripheral seal side wall, the side wall includes an upper seal side wall and a lower seal side wall, wherein the upper seal side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower seal side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter;

b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and having an upper platform surface recessed from the top surface.

A further aspect of the present invention derives a method of manufacturing a closure, this method comprising:

Molding the closure under conditions sufficient to form the closure in the mold, including:

a) a peripheral seal side wall, the side wall includes an upper seal side wall and a lower seal side wall, wherein the upper seal side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower seal side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter;

b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and having an upper platform surface recessed from the top surface.

A further aspect of the present invention derives a method of manufacturing a closure, this method comprising:

Molding the closure under conditions sufficient to form the closure in the mold, including:

a) a peripheral seal side wall, the side wall includes an upper seal side wall and a lower seal side wall, wherein the upper seal side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower seal side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter;

b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the sidewall of the peripheral seal and having an upper platform surface;

c) A groove located between the platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal and integral with the platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal.

Due to the unique characteristics of the tapered closures of the present invention, the percentage of closures with surface "dimples" or surface defects and the lead time to produce closures are significantly reduced.

The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention.

Fig. 1 A is the front view of the best structure of container of the present invention;

Figure 1B is a side view of the container of Figure 1A;

Figure 1C is a front view of the container of Figure 1A along section line A-A to F-F;

Fig. 2A to Fig. 2F are respectively the horizontal sectional views of the container of Fig. 1C viewed from the direction of the arrow along the section line A-A to F-F;

Figures 3A and 3B are front views of a container of the present invention having a gripping device;

Fig. 4 is another embodiment of the container of Fig. 1A;

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C are front, side and rear views, respectively, of the container of Figure 1A fitted with a liquid vent closure.

Figure 6A is a front view of the container of Figure 1A with another inverted cone liquid closure;

Figure 6B is a front view of the container of Figure 6A in an inverted position;

Figure 7 is a front view of the container of Figure 1A fitted with a dispensing device including a spray valve;

Figure 8 is a front view of yet another embodiment of a container of the present invention having a neck adapted to discharge powder;

Fig. 9 is the container of Fig. 8 with a seal;

Figure 10A is a top view of the neck of the container of Figure 8;

Fig. 10B and Fig. 10C are the top views of the container seal of Fig. 9, respectively showing that the seal is in the open and closed positions;

Figure 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the required force (lbs) and the volume of liquid (ml) to be discharged from a container equipped with a valve;

12A and 12B are front and side views, respectively, of a commercial package for children's toiletries.

Fig. 13 shows the container of the present invention in an inverted position, the container being supported by a stand in the recess of the container, but not in contact with the concave surface of the container;

Figure 14 shows that the hand-held container of the present invention is in the position of discharging the contents from the container;

Figure 15A shows another embodiment of the container of the present invention, the container has an inverted cone closure, this closure includes a valve and lid in an open position;

Figure 15B shows the container of Figure 15A with the lid, wherein the lid is in the closed position;

Fig. 16A and Fig. 16B respectively represent the cross-sectional view of the container closure of Fig. 15A and Fig. 15B, wherein the lid is in the relative position of opening and closing;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the cone closure of the present invention with the lid in the closed position;

Figure 18 is a left side view of the seal of Figure 17;

Fig. 19 is a right side view of the seal of Fig. 17;

Figure 20 is a top view of the seal of Figure 17;

Figure 21 is a front view of the seal of Figure 17; the rear view is a mirror image of the front view;

Figure 22 is a bottom view of the seal of Figure 17;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of the closure of Figure 17, showing the cover and its attachments in a fully open position;

Figure 24 is a top view of Figure 23;

Figure 25 is a perspective view of the closure of Figure 23, showing the lid in an open position;

Figure 26 is a top view of Figure 23;

Figure 27 is a vertical sectional view of a seal, the sectional view is along the section line A'-A' of Figure 24, and the view viewed along the direction of the arrow;

Figure 28 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the seal without groove, which is a sectional view along the section line of Figure 24 and viewed from the direction of the arrow;

Figure 29A is a vertical section view of a seal without a recessed platform shown in another embodiment; Figure 29B is a vertical section view of a grooveless seal with a recessed platform shown in an embodiment; Figure 29C and FIG. 29D are additional embodiments with recessed lands but with different groove widths;

Figures 30A and 30B are top views of yet another embodiment with triangular and square closures, respectively;

Figure 31 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a closure with a flap and snap-lock mechanism;

32 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a closure having a snap-fit connection portion connecting the closure to the neck of the container;

Figure 33 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an inverted, non-grooved closure having a top perimeter that is less than its bottom perimeter;

Figure 34 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an inverted closure having grooves and a top perimeter that is less than its bottom perimeter.

As used herein, the term "upright orientation" means that the closed end of the container is below the apertured end of the container, ie when the container is filled with its contents and the container is in place. In contrast, the term "inverted orientation" means that the closed end of the container is positioned above the apertured end. Similarly, the term "lateral" refers to an orientation in an intermediate position between upright and upside down. Such directional indications are for convenience only and do not imply the orientation of the container during storage and removal of the contents therefrom. As described below, the various embodiments of the container of the present invention can be used upright or upside down.

The basic form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1A , 1B and 1C and is indicated by the numeral 6 . The container 6 comprises a bored end 1 and a closed end 2 . The closed end 2 of the container 6 preferably has a surface 21 which holds the container in place when the container 6 is placed upright on a flat surface. The hole end of the container 6 includes a neck 3 which defines a hole 20 in the container. The neck includes a finish portion 4 which cooperates with the closure (not shown) of the container. The neck portion shown in Figures 1A and 1B is a threaded neck finish, but any other known neck finish may be used in the container of the present invention. By way of example, other suitable necks include, but are not limited to, press fit necks, snap lock necks, press and turn necks, or threaded necks, e.g. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1986 The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Engineering discloses the neck finish types.

The bore end 1 of the container 6 also includes a shoulder 5 for connecting the neck 3 to the shell 22 of the container. The housing body 22 of the container comprises an upper housing part 7 adjacent the aperture end 1, which is preferably cylindrical in cross-section. The upper housing portion 7 of the container 6 preferably has a circumference, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 23 of the container 6, ranging from about 4.7 inches to 6.0 inches, preferably from about 5.0 inches to 5.7 inches, most preferably is from 5.2 inches to 5.7 inches. The upper housing portion 7 preferably has a substantially constant circumference along the longitudinal axis of the container 6 along a length of at least 0.2 inches.

As shown in FIG. 1A , the upper housing part 7 transitions into an intermediate housing part 8 , wherein the intermediate housing part 8 is located below and immediately adjacent to the upper housing part 7 along the longitudinal axis 23 . In the transition from the upper housing 7 to the middle housing part 8, the circumference of the container 6 gradually increases and begins to assume an egg-shaped or elliptical cross-section. Continuing down the longitudinal axis of the container 6, the circumference of the container continues to increase until the region of maximum circumference 9, after which the circumference of the container 6 preferably gradually decreases. The area of greatest circumference marks the transition from the middle housing part 8 to the lower housing part 10 adjacent to its closed end 2 .

The longitudinal lengths of the upper housing part 7, the middle housing part 8 and the lower housing part 10 vary with the use of the container 6, and the ratio of the length of the middle housing part to the upper housing part is preferably from about 1.2:1 to 6: Preferably in the range of 1, more preferably from about 1.75:1 to 5:1. The ratio of the lengths of the lower housing part to the upper housing part is preferably in the range from about 1:1 to 3: preferably 1, more preferably in the range from 1.2:1 to 2.5:1.

The variation in cross-section and circumference of the container 6 along its longitudinal length is shown in Figures 2A to 2F. The figures depict the general cross-sectional shape of the container 6 along the section lines A-A to F-F shown in FIG. 1C , respectively. We have unexpectedly found that the variation of the circumference of the upper shell of the container along the longitudinal axis is the same as for ergonomically improved containers for comfortable handling by young children and for use by both children and adults.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , the shell 22 of the container 6 consists of a front 11 , a rear 12 , a first side 13 and a second side 14 . The front face 11 of the container comprises a first groove 15 and the rear face 12 of the container comprises a second groove 16 . The groove is adjacent to the closed end 2 , the first side 13 and the second side 14 of the container 6 . The first groove 15 and the second groove 16 define a first concave surface 17 and a second concave surface 18 at the front and rear of the container, respectively. Each groove has a depth 19, as shown in Figure 1B. For example, the depth of the groove 15 is the distance from the extension 21 of the closed end 2 of the container 6 to the concave surface 17 of the container in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. As shown in Figure 13, when the container is in an upside-down orientation, the depth of the groove is sufficient to allow the container 6 to pass through the first support 71 tangential to the groove 15 on the front 11 of the container 6 and the recess on the rear 12 of the container 6. The second support 72 tangential to the groove 16 is held. This support does not actually come into contact with the concave surface of the container. Since the container holds and dispenses toiletries such as body wash and shampoo for use in the shower or in the bath, especially when the container is wet, we were surprised to find that the container held upside down or tilted , the depth of these grooves actually has a non-slip effect.

The depth of the recess can be any thickness desired, and may depend on the desired manner of use of the container and the contents contained therein. The depth of the recess preferably varies with the position of the container, and is more preferably at its deepest immediately adjacent the closed end 2 of the container, and in the longitudinal direction towards the hole end 2, adjacent the first side 13 and the second side 14. up gradually decreases. The depth of the grooves is preferably from about 2.0 mm to 3.4 mm, more preferably from about 2.5 to 2.9 mm. Such a depth is optimal for providing a container with effective anti-slip properties, but it should be understood that other groove depths can be manufactured to meet specific needs and fall within the scope of the present invention . In a preferred embodiment, the recess is not adjacent the bore end of the container, thereby providing a "U" shaped outer frame for the recess. The absence of a groove near the hole end 1 allows the user of the container to freely slide from the bottom of the concave surface closest to the closed end 2 of the container to substantially the entire length of the first and second concave surfaces of the hole end 1 of the container to find a The portion of the circumference that corresponds to the size of the user's hand.

The above ergonomically calculated dimensions and structural features of the container of the present invention allow adults and children to easily grasp and handle the container of the present invention. These dimensions and features are believed to account for user preference in terms of the handling of the container of the present invention relative to existing containers.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , the concave surfaces 17 and 18 are recessed relative to the sides 13 , 14 and the closed end 2 of the container. Although the size, shape and geometry of the concavities will vary depending on the desired end use of the container, the first concavity 17 and the second concavity 18 are preferably of the same size, shape and geometry. The concave surface has a larger dimension in the direction from the hole end 1 of the container to the closed end 2, that is, generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container; and along the direction from the first side of the container to the second side, that is, generally perpendicular to The direction of the longitudinal axis has a smaller dimension. The length of the concavity is determined from the point of the recess 15 closest to the bottom of the container 24, ie point 30, to the top surface 29 of the container's upper housing part 7.

The concave surfaces 17, 18 have surfaces 27 and 28 that are either substantially flat or curved. If the concave surface is curved, preferably the curve extends in only one dimension and is substantially straight in the other dimension. For example, the container of the present invention shown in Figures 1A and 1B has concave surfaces 17, 18 which are curved in their smaller dimensions but substantially straight in their larger dimensions. Preferably, the concave surface is substantially straight in its larger dimension, based on the longitudinal length of the concave surface, for a distance of at least about 50% of its longitudinal length, more preferably at least 65% of its longitudinal length is straight within a distance of . We have found that the concave profile is particularly suitable where the concave portion of the container allows a label or decoration to be applied to the container by printing or pasting the adhesive-laden label. In the case of printing, the absence of curvature in the entire concave portion over two degrees allows it to be in stable contact with the printing roller. Also in the case of sticking a label, the absence of bends in the entire concave portion in two degrees allows the sticky label to be stuck without wrinkles.

Figures 3A and 3B show another embodiment of the container of the present invention, on the side of the container, there are side projections 25 or recesses 26 optionally formed to provide a means for strengthening the user's fingers to hold the container . Alternatively, the container of the present invention may include a combination of protrusions and depressions. Although Figures 3A and 3B only illustrate lateral protrusions and arc-shaped indentations, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the container of the present invention may have protrusions, indentations, and other grip-enhancing devices such as rubber or polymeric Material models or devices of any shape, size and quantity attached to the container to increase the user's grip on the container.

Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment of the container shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, wherein the volume of the container in Fig. 4 is about half of the volume of the container in Figs. 1A and 1B.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the container 6 of the present invention is provided with a closure 39 to contain and discharge the contents contained therein. Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that the type/type of closure suitable for use in the present invention depends on various factors such as the type of content in the container, the desired form in which the content is to be discharged, and the degree of convenience provided to the customer.

Any closure known in the art may be used with the containers of the present invention, including but not limited to those disclosed by Wiley.

In the case of containers for the storage and drainage of liquids, the simplest form of closure is a convenient one-piece lid which must be removed from the container in order to drain the contents; Drain the contents from the seal without removing the lid from the container.

An embodiment of a container with a closure 39 for discharging liquid contents is shown in Figures 5A, 5B and 5C, which depict the container of Figures 1A and 1B with a conventional hinge closure. Other suitable closures include, but are not limited to, those known in the art, including: 1) closures comprising a body and a cover that can be completely removed from the body of the closure; ; 3) Seals without caps, like push-pull and press-spray seals. These are published in Wiley.

The closure 39 comprises a housing part 31 and a cover part 32 hingedly connected to the housing part by a hinge 33 . The housing portion 31 includes an aperture (not shown) through which the contents are expelled. Cover portion 32 includes a peg (not shown) therebelow which is sized to fit snugly within the bore of housing 31 . When the lid portion 32 is in the closed position, the pin contacts the housing portion 31 to seal the container against expulsion of its contents. Housing portion 31 includes an optional indentation 34 to allow easy opening of the seal by placing a finger in indentation 34 in a portion of cover 35 and then applying a force to the underside of the cover.

The closure 39 has a base 36 adjacent the upper body portion of the container and a top surface 37 remote from the base 36 . The closure 39 has a substantially uniform circular circumference from its base 36 to its top surface 37 and is substantially equal to the circumference of the upper body portion of the container.

Another novel feature of the present invention is shown in Figures 5A-5C. Closure 39 preferably has a top surface 38 to allow the container to be stored upside down. When the contents of the container are reduced, storing the container upside down allows the remaining contents of the container to collect at the holed end of the container, rather than at its closed end, thus allowing the draining of all the contents of the container and indeed eliminating stagnation of more Problems with sticky contents. More preferably, the closed end of the container and the top of the seal have a flat surface so that the container can be stored upright or upside down.

Another embodiment of the container of the present invention is shown in Figures 6A and 6B, in upright and upright orientations, respectively. The closure 40 has a base 41 adjacent the upper body portion of the container, and a top 42 remote from the base 41 . The base 41 has a substantially circular circumference which is approximately equal to the circumference of the container upper housing part 7 . The closure 40 is tapered, ie the circumference of the closure gradually increases from the base 41 to the top surface 42 of the closure. Such a seal is referred to herein as an "inverted cone" seal. The taper can be determined by the desired end use of the container and the desired aesthetics. The closure 40 has a top surface 43 which allows the container to be placed upside down. The larger circumference of the tapered closure at its top increases the stability of the container when it is inverted.

In another preferred embodiment, the closure for the container of the present invention may include a valve as shown in FIG. 5,439,143, 4,749,108 and 4,846,810 disclose those closures which are hereby referenced in their entirety only. Such valves are generally designed to open above a certain critical pressure, allowing the contents to be expelled from the container, and to close below the critical pressure, thereby restricting the expulsion of the contents from the container. The minimum value of the critical pressure of the valve is determined by the requirements of the valve so that when the contents of the container exhibit the maximum discharge pressure; that is, when the container is full, the valve will hold the contents of the container. The discharge pressure of the container contents is in turn determined by the geometry of the container and the density of the contents. In practice, the actual minimum critical pressure is slightly greater than the discharge pressure, so as to accommodate slight pressure changes that occur within the container when it is used without the need for the contents to be discharged. The maximum threshold pressure is determined by the requirement to open the valve when the container is squeezed by the user. In the container of the present invention, the valve can be opened not only by adults, but also by children or the elderly who have weak hands.

A container made of elastic material, applying a squeeze force to the outside of the container, can generate a pressure exceeding the critical pressure in the container, so that the contents are discharged from the container. Cessation or sufficient reduction of the squeezing force reduces the pressure inside the container to below the critical pressure, thereby closing the valve and inhibiting the expulsion of the contents from the container. This feature is especially important when the container is often used upside down.

Fig. 15A and 15B, Fig. 16A and 16B have shown the container of the band inverted tapered sealing 85 of the present invention, and wherein sealing 85 comprises a cover 84 and a valve 80, and cover 84 is hinged with extension part 86 by hinge 83, and cover 84 comprises a Below it is a plug 82 which engages with an annular ring 81 protruding from the closure 85 . When in use and in a position ready to discharge the contents, the lid 84 is in the retracted position, as shown in Figure 15A. During storage and transport, the cover 84 is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 15B. When the cover 84 is in the closed position, the plug 82 below the cover 84 cooperates with the protruding eyelet 81, thereby preventing the valve 80 from indexing and releasing the contents therefrom. The closure 85 has a perimeter at its bottom 88 adjacent the upper container body portion which is equal to the perimeter of the container upper body portion. The closure 85 is tapered, having a greater circumference at the top 87 than at the bottom 88 . The larger perimeter at the top of the closure 85 increases the stability of the container when it is stored upside down.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 17-27, the top of tapered seal 85 has a platform 91, and one is concentric with platform and the groove 90 that extends around platform 91, and the sealing side wall 92 of peripheral direction and platform 91 Concentric with the groove 90, the upper sealing side wall 92 extends around the periphery of the groove 90, which is shown in more detail in FIG. The sealing side wall 108 is integral with the peripheral platform side wall 114 and the lower table top 97 .

The upper closure sidewall 92 extends from the top surface 93 of the closure to the bottom of the groove 90 or, in an embodiment without grooves, to the upper deck 113 . Generally, the height A (measured along the longitudinal axis) of the upper seal side wall 92 of the seal, as shown in Figure 18, can range from greater than 0% to Less than 100%, preferably from more than 20% to less than 90%, most preferably from more than 50% to less than 70%. Although the thickness of the upper closure sidewall 92 can vary with the size of the desired closure, the desired impact strength of the closure and the time it takes for the closure to cool properly from the mold, generally its thickness can be from about 0.38 mm (0.015 inches) to about 2.03 mm (0.080 inches), preferably from about 0.76 mm (0.03 inches) to about 1.52 mm (0.06 inches), most preferably from about 1.02 mm (0.04 inches) to about 1.27 mm ( 0.05 inch).

The width of the groove 90 is generally proportional to the width of the land 97, although the width of the groove 90 varies depending on the size of the seal required, the impact strength required for the seal, the time for the seal to cool properly from the mold, and the width of the land required. Inversely proportional, and preferably less than the width of platform 97. More preferably, the defined width of groove 90 along upper deck surface 91 is at least about 1.65 mm (0.065 inches). Determination along the upper platform surface 91 . Figures 29C and 29D illustrate two embodiments of the seal 85 with grooves 90 of different widths.

In a preferred embodiment, the groove 90 has at least one hole 94 which allows water and/or residual contents to escape from the groove 90 when the closure is secured to the container and to the shoulder 5 of the container. discharge. This feature prevents accumulation of residue on the countertop 91 and/or flow of contaminated residue into the container.

In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 23 , platform 91 is recessed from top surface 93 of upper closure side wall 92 . The depth of the platform recess 200 of the sealing, as shown in FIG. 18 , is the distance A along the longitudinal axis from the upper platform 113 to the top surface 93 of the upper sealing side wall 92 . Although the depth of the platform depression 200 may vary depending on the size of the seal required, the impact strength required for the seal, the distance required for the ejection mechanism to operate and the amount of time for the seal to cool properly on the mold, the The full height H is used as the base, and the depth can vary from approximately greater than 0% to less than 100%, preferably from 20% to 80%, and most preferably from 30% to 50%, as shown in Figure 1 shown. In a preferred embodiment of tapered seal 85 as a dispensing seal, this depth enables the desired dispensing device reclosing mechanism to operate while remaining recessed below top surface 93, see FIG.

The taper of the tapered seal 85 represented by "θ" in Fig. 18 can be varied within the range of less than 90° and greater than 25°, preferably within the range of 85° to 45°, most preferably at 80° to a range of 55° (each angle value is the angle relative to the vertical plane (indicated by "B") of the longitudinal axis "A" of the seal).

As shown in Figure 27, the lower portion of the tapered seal 85 has a peripheral lower seal side wall 108 extending from the bottom of the groove 90 or upper land 113 in the non-grooved embodiment to the lower seal side wall bottom 111. The lower closure side wall 108 is integrally formed with the upper closure side wall 92 so that when the closure 85 is viewed from the outside, the side walls 92, 108 appear to be a uniform peripheral wall 131 . In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 22, the lower side wall 108 has a thickness such that the lower deck 97 is visible in the bottom view of the closure. While the thickness and height of the lower closure sidewall 108 may vary depending on the size of the closure desired, the required impact strength of the closure, the amount of time for the closure to cool properly in the mold, the thickness is typically from about 1.91 mm ( 0.075 inches) to about 0.38 mm (0.015 inches), preferably from about 1.27 mm (0.050 inches) to 0.89 mm (0.035 inches), the height A measured along the longitudinal axis of the seal shown in Figure 18, to seal The total height H is the base number, and its range is from greater than 0% to less than 100%, preferably from greater than 10% to less than 80%, most preferably from greater than 30% to less than 50%.

Integral to the lower deck 97 is a closure connecting portion 107 adapted to receive the neck of a container. Any mechanism for securing the assist closure to the container may be used. These devices are well known to those skilled in the art and include, but are not limited to: a threaded structure capable of screwing the closure onto the threaded neck of the container, as shown in Figure 27; Then (snap-fit) hemming, and the above-mentioned structures involved in this article.

In a preferred embodiment, closure 85 is a dispensing closure which also includes the above-described dispensing mechanism referred to herein. Figures 23 and 24 illustrate a preferred dispensing mechanism comprising a stopper 82 and discharge hole 122 located on the upper deck 113 so that the stopper 82 is located on the cover 84 which is attached to the closure 85 by a double hinge assembly.

More specifically, a stud 99 is provided on the lower surface of the extension 86 which is hinged by a first living hinge 101 to the thin upper closure wall. Cover 84 includes a plug 82 on its lower surface to securely engage protruding grommet 81 . To operate the second living hinge 83 , the plunger 99 is securely engaged with the hole 102 of the deck 113 . Hinge 83 is a living hinge that enables lid 84 to be in an open position (see Figures 25 and 26) or a closed position (see Figure 17). Although the shape of the pin 99 and the hole 102 are not critical, it is preferable to use a pin with one end like a ball or projection, the diameter of the ball or flange being slightly larger than the diameter of the hole 102. These dimensions will allow the pin 99 to "lock" or "snap" securely into the throat 121 of the bore 102 . Other suitable securing mechanisms include a lever 140 and snap ring 141 arrangement, as shown in FIG. 31 .

Although the means used to connect lid 84 to closure 85 is not critical, the double living hinge assembly advantageously prevents removal of lid 84 from the portion of closure 85 that remains on the container neck. Other means for attaching the cap 84 to the closure 85 are known in the art including, but not limited to, the ball and socket disclosed in Wiley, and the like.

The cover 84 should be adapted to lock the discharge aperture 122 when the cover 84 is in the closed position. To this end, plug 82 should be received within throat 123, preferably a press fit, to form a tight seal. The actual shape and design of the plug 82 and discharge hole 122 are not critical, but a cylindrical plug 82 and a cylindrical discharge hole 122 with a cylindrical throat 123 are preferred. Preferably, the orifice ring 81 has a practical height to allow the cleaning agent to drain without being prone to leakage.

Detents 103 integral to the outer edge of cover 84 enable cover 84 to be locked in the open position by means of detents 103 by friction fit against upper closure side wall 92, as shown in FIGS. The shape of bayonet 103 is not very strict, but the width W of cover 84 in the bayonet area is preferably sufficiently greater than the width of the upper sealing side wall hole 130 in the hinge 101 area, so that bayonet 103 locks firmly Cover 84 in the retracted position is shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 .

In a more preferred embodiment, a valve is secured within the throat 123 of the discharge port 122, and the container is placed upside down with the lid 84 in the retracted position, as shown in Figure 15A. This allows the container to be placed and used upside down, as shown in Figure 15B, while not requiring the lid 84 to be reclosed during use. While any valve known in the art for controlling the flow of material to be expelled through the seal may be used, the valve described in US Pat. No. 5,377,877, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, is preferred.

As shown in Figure 24, the valve 98 is inserted into the closure by methods known in the art including, but not limited to, mechanical means of retaining the valve in the closure, such as by using retaining rings, which position the valve in the closure housing. in place. See US Patent 5,377,877. Alternatively, the valve and closure can be formed integrally, for example by multi-shot or co-shot molding of the different materials making up the closed valve. Methods for co-injection molding are disclosed in US Patent 5,523,045 and "Compendium of Modern Plastics" (by McGraw-Hill New York 1990), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29B, another embodiment of the conical seal 85 of the present invention includes a platform 91 and an upper seal side wall 92 concentric with the platform 91, but without the groove 90. In this example. The upper sealing side wall 92 extends upwardly entirely around the periphery of the upper deck surface 113 .

As shown in FIG. 29A, another embodiment of the tapered seal 85 of the present invention includes an unrecessed platform 91, a groove 90, and a thin upper sealing side wall 92, wherein the groove 90 is concentric with the platform 91. , and extend around the periphery of the platform 91 , the upper sealing side wall 92 is concentric with the platform 91 and the groove 90 .

The closures presented herein can be made into any desired shape, such as closures with a square horizontal cross-section or a triangular horizontal cross-section, as shown in Figures 30A and 30B. Those with a more complete circular or oval horizontal cross-section are best. Even better is a closure 160 as shown in Figure 30 which has a rounded upper platform surface 161 and upper closure side walls (not shown) with a triangular top surface 162, and Figure 30B which shows a closure 170 which There is a circular upper deck surface 171 and an upper closure side wall (not shown) with a square top surface 172 . Similarly, from the top view of the closure, the shape of the platform surface is not critical, and those closures with a more complete circular or oval perimeter are preferred.

Although the girth of the top surface 93 of the upper seal side wall 92 is optimal than the girth of the bottom surface 111 of the seal side wall 108, that is, an "inverted" tapered seal is optimal, a supplementary embodiment as shown in Figure 33 then is an inverted, non-grooved seal 155 having a top surface 151 whose perimeter is smaller than its bottom surface 152 perimeter. The groove 153 of the seal 155 in Fig. 34 is not visible from the top view, but is visible in the bottom view of the seal 155 (not shown). The upper deck surface 154 of the closure 155 in both Figures 33 and 34 is visible in a top view (not shown).

Figure 6B shows the container of Figure 6A in an inverted orientation. It should be noted that the container takes on the shape of an "exclamation point" when it is in an upside-down orientation. The dimensions of the container are such that a child can conveniently and comfortably hold the container close to the upper housing part 7 of the container. Older children and adults can comfortably hold the container in its central housing part 8 or its lower housing part 10 . The optimal size and shape of the container 6 allows an adult with normal sized hands to hold the container at its widest point by holding the rear of the container in the palm so that the thumb and fingers can touch the sides of the container , and at least partially contact the front of the container.

The container closures of the present invention may be composed of any material that forms the desired shape and is non-reactive with the substances contained therein. Preferred materials include any elastomeric polymeric material commonly used in the art of container manufacture including, but not limited to, materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride based resins, polyethylene terephthalate, or copolymers or mixtures thereof. As used herein, "copolymer" shall mean any polymer having two or more monomer components.

Different grades of polyethylene, dense polyethylene in bag, high density polyethylene or copolymers or blends thereof, are generally compatible with toilet contents and are the best material for the container of the present invention. LDPE produces bottles that are relatively easy to squeeze, while HDPE bottles are relatively rigid. A 50:50 mix of low density and high density polyethylene is optimal where the contents to be expelled by squeezing the container are liquid. In the case of powders, where the desired discharge function is achieved by shaking the container, including low density polyethylene, a more rigid container made of high density polyethylene is best.

The thickness of the outer wall, i.e. the thickness of the concave surface, the first side, the second side, etc., can be any desired thickness and can vary within the container and can depend on the desired end use of the container and the contents contained therein . The preferred thickness of the outer wall varies from 10 mils to 50 mils, most preferably from 30 mils to 40 mils. Such thicknesses are preferred to provide a resilient container, but it will be appreciated that other wall thicknesses may be manufactured to meet specific needs and fall within the scope of the invention.

The container of the present invention can be made by any existing technology known in the art for the manufacture of containers, the production process includes, but not limited to extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, stretch blow molding and other methods . Details of these methods, eg extrusion blow molding is one method of choice and are disclosed in Wiley on pages 54-65.

A distinctive feature of the container of the present invention is that it is suitable to be held in the hands of adults as well as in the hands of young children. Another notable feature is that the container of the present invention uses relatively little hand force to expel the contents, making it ideal for young children and adults with little hand strength. Another notable feature is that the container of the present invention has design features to prevent the container from slipping from the user's hands, especially when the hands are wet. Another notable feature of the container of the present invention is that it has a surface for easy printing or labeling.

We have further found that the presence of the upper seal sidewall 92 and/or the groove 90 allows for a more rapid and consistent cooling time of the tapered seal 85 in the mold. Surface damage is reduced because the closure produced does not have a thick and strong block of material, but consists of a thin outer wall of relatively constant thickness.

The invention disclosed schematically herein can be practiced without elements, components or steps not specifically disclosed herein. The following examples will further illustrate the characteristics of the present invention and the manner of implementing the present invention. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited to these detailed descriptions.

Example

Detection methods used in the examples

1) Test of the expulsion force: The force required to expel the contents from the container or "extrusion force" was used with an instrument manufactured by Force Imaging Technologies, a single force tester (parallel inlet and outlet), with software (standard sensor system version 5.0 ) and hardware to connect the sensor to a personal computer for data determination, it has a thin (0.003mm) and flexible strip sensor, which can be fixed on different surfaces, and has little or no impact on the test sample No effect.

A strip sensor with a suitable force range (usually 0-101bs) is fixed to a concave surface of the sample container, and the sensor is fixed at the position where the user's thumb usually touches the container during normal discharge of the contents from the container, As shown in Figure 14. For an adult-sized hand, the thumb typically touches the concavity closest to the closed end of the container at 70%-80% of the length of the concavity. The software performs the function of recording data within a time period of 1.25-1.75 seconds. The container is held in the user's hand with the thumb resting on the front of the container and the fingers resting on the reverse side of the container. With the thumb on the sensor, the container is in a vertical position with the discharge pointing down to the measuring cup placed on the Melter scale PE600. The container is then squeezed with sufficient force to open the valve and expel the standard amount of contents (3-6 g) contained in the container. The maximum force required to open the valve and expel each portion is output by a computer program. The force value and the weight of the expelled contents are tabulated by the operator.

Example 1: Discharge force test:

The force required to expel the contents from the container of the present invention can be measured according to the above-mentioned expulsion force test, and various commercially available containers are listed in Table 1. Each container in Table 1 was fitted with a closure which contained a silicon discharge valve, Seaquist closures are available from Mukwonago, Wisconsin.

Table 1 Various Containers code name contents Container volume (ml) content source 1 Lever2000 bath liquid 354 Lever Bros. 2 Vaseline Intense Moisturizing Body Lotion 177 Cheeseborough-Ponds 3 Toddler Magic Moisturizing Body Wash 200 Mennen Company 4 Soft Soap Gentle Antibacterial Body Wash 354 Colgate 5 Container of the present invention shown in Fig. 4 100 6 The container of the present invention shown in Figure 6A, 6B 200

To eliminate all inconsistencies resulting from the discharge of contents of different viscosities, water was substituted for the contents of all containers that were packaged and purchased. The results of these force tests are shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11 demonstrates that the container of the present invention requires the least amount of force to expel the contents relative to other containers tested. Thus, the container of the present invention would be considered by those with weak hands, such as young children and elderly adults, to be the easiest container to expel the contents from.

Claims (26)

1. A tapered seal, comprising: a) A peripheral sealing side wall, which includes an upper sealing side wall and a lower sealing side wall, the upper sealing side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower sealing side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter: b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and also having an upper platform surface recessed downwardly from the top surface. 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the top surface is greater than the perimeter of the bottom surface. 3. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a groove located intermediate the platform and the peripheral closure sidewall and concentric with the platform and the peripheral closure sidewall. 4. The closure of claim 3, further comprising a hole in the channel. 5. The seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the taper of the seal relative to the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis is between 85°-45°. 6. The closure of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the upper closure sidewall is from 0.075 inches to 0.015 inches. 7. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a cover attached to the peripheral closure side wall by an attachment means. 8. A closure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connecting means is a first hinge. 9. The closure of claim 7, wherein said closure further includes an extension, said extension being attached to the peripheral closure side walls and the cover, said extension further comprising: surface. 10. The closure of claim 9, further comprising a second hinge, pin integral to the lower surface of the extension and aperture in the upper deck surface, wherein said second A hinge integrally connects the extension to the cover, and the pins and holes are positioned on the closure to allow the pins and holes to engage. 11. The closure of claim 10, further comprising a discharge opening extending through the upper deck surface, the discharge opening having a throat. 12. The closure of claim 11, wherein said cap further includes a lower surface and a plug integral with the lower surface, whereby when said plug is secured in said throat, said closure is in the closed state. Location. 13. The closure of claim 11, further comprising a valve fixedly mounted in the throat. 14. A tapered closure comprising: a) A peripheral sealing side wall, which includes an upper sealing side wall and a lower sealing side wall, the upper sealing side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower sealing side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter: b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and also having an upper platform surface recessed downwardly from the top surface. 15. The closure of claim 14, wherein the perimeter of the top surface is greater than the perimeter of the bottom surface. 16. The closure of claim 14, further comprising a groove intermediate and concentric with the platform and the peripheral closure sidewall. 17. A tapered closure comprising: a) A peripheral sealing side wall, which includes an upper sealing side wall and a lower sealing side wall, the upper sealing side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower sealing side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter: b) a platform integral with the peripheral seal sidewall concentrically; c) A groove located between the platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal and concentric with said platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal. 18. The closure of claim 17, wherein the perimeter of the top surface is greater than the perimeter of the bottom surface. 19. The closure of claim 17, further comprising a container, wherein said closure is adapted to fit said container. 20. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a container, wherein said closure is adapted to fit said container. 21. The closure of claim 14, further comprising a container, wherein said closure is adapted to fit with said container. 22. A method of making a tapered closure comprising: Molding the closure under conditions sufficient to form the closure in the mold, including: a) A peripheral sealing side wall, which includes an upper sealing side wall and a lower sealing side wall, the upper sealing side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower sealing side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter: b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and also having an upper platform surface recessed downwardly from the top surface. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the perimeter of the top surface is greater than the perimeter of the bottom surface. 24. A method of making a tapered closure comprising: Molding the closure under conditions sufficient to form the closure in the mold, including: a) A peripheral sealing side wall, which includes an upper sealing side wall and a lower sealing side wall, the upper sealing side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower sealing side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter: b) a platform integrally formed concentrically with the peripheral seal sidewall and also having an upper platform surface recessed downwardly from the top surface. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the perimeter of the top surface is greater than the perimeter of the bottom surface. 26. A method of making a tapered closure comprising: Molding the closure under conditions sufficient to form the closure in the mold, including: a) A peripheral sealing side wall, which includes an upper sealing side wall and a lower sealing side wall, the upper sealing side wall also includes a top surface with a perimeter, and the lower sealing side wall also includes a bottom surface with a perimeter: b) a platform integral with the peripheral seal sidewall concentrically and also having an upper platform surface; and c) A groove located between the platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal and concentric with said platform and the side wall of the peripheral seal.

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