Fluid Dispensing Closure Device for a Fluid Container

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/278,831, filed Nov. 12, 2021.

The present invention relates to a closure device for capping the opening in the neck of a fluid container, for example a bottle having a neck that is externally threaded, and more particularly the present invention relates to a closure device having a valve member incorporated therein for operation between an open position for dispensing fluid from the fluid container therethrough and a closed position for containing fluid under pressure within the fluid container.

Carbonated beverages are commonly sold in bottles that have a neck that is externally threaded to receive a cap that closes the top opening in the neck of a bottle to contain the liquid beverage within the bottle. The liquid beverage is initially packaged within the bottle under considerable gas pressure within the headspace in the bottle as to maintain carbonation of the liquid beverage in the bottle. Larger bottles typically have sufficient volume to contain several serving portions of the carbonated liquid beverage therein; however, upon initially removing the cap to serve the first portion, the gas pressure within the headspace is lost, so that even if the cap is replaced, the liquid beverage tends to quickly lose carbonation during subsequent storage of the remaining serving portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,231,032 by Puma discloses various embodiments of a replacement cap for closing the opening at the neck of the bottle which permit the liquid beverage to be dispensed through the cap without fully removing the cap from the bottle. This allows the cap to be opened and closed while the bottle remains in an inverted orientation so that the pressurized headspace can be maintained within the bottle, which in turn assists in maintaining carbonation of any remaining unserved portions of the liquid beverage stored within the bottle. In each instance, the threaded connection of the cap to the bottle must be loosened to open the cap sufficiently to dispense the beverage; however, the pressurized contents of the bottle force some of the liquid beverage into the threaded connection between the cap and the bottle while dispensing. The leftover beverage within the threaded connection after dispensing a serving portion of the liquid beverage can interfere with subsequent ease of opening and closing of the cap such that the cap becomes more difficult to open with each subsequent use.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a fluid dispensing closure device for a fluid container including a neck defining an opening at a top of the neck and external threads on the neck, the device comprising:

The operation of the valve member relative to a separate outer member that remains tightly threaded onto the fluid container while operating in either the open or closed positions of the closure device prevents any liquid from entering into the threaded connection to the fluid container. Furthermore, the externally accessible actuator member operatively connected to the valve member allows operation of the internal valve member between open and closed positions in a compact arrangement that fits approximately within the dimensions of convention caps for closing beverage containers.

The valve arrangement can be further applied to a variety of liquid containers including bottles, jugs or other suitable containers for containing liquids to provide optimal control over dispensing of the liquid with minimum spillage.

The actuator member may be restricted from moving in the axial direction as the valve member is displaced between the open position and the closed position.

The inner sleeve of the outer member preferably mates non-rotatably with one of the valve member and the actuator member such that relative movement between the outer member and said one of the valve member and the actuator member is restricted to translating movement in the axial direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve member mates non-rotatably with the outer member such that the valve member is restricted to translation movement relative to the outer member between the open and closed positions of the valve member.

The actuator member may be operatively connected to the valve member by a threaded connection.

Preferably the valve seat is an annular surface at a bottom end of the inner sleeve of the outer member and the valve body portion of the valve member spans across the bottom end of the inner sleeve in the closed position. In this instance, a first one of the valve seat and the valve body portion may support an annular flange projecting therefrom in the axial direction while a second one of the valve seat and the valve body portion may have an annular groove formed thereon, in which the annular flange is received within the annular groove in the closed position of the valve member.

The valve member may include a tubular body portion received within the inner sleeve of the outer member, in which the tubular body portion has an outer diameter which is similar to an inner diameter of the inner sleeve. In this instance, the internal portion of the actuator member may comprise a tubular body received within the tubular body portion of the valve member, in which the internal portion of the outer member has an outer diameter which is similar to an inner diameter of the tubular body portion of the valve member.

The device may further include a sealing interface between the actuator member and the outer member which maintains a pressurized seal between the actuator member and the outer member as the valve member is displaced between the open and closed positions.

The internal portion of the actuator member may comprise a tubular body received within the fluid passage of the outer member, while the external portion of the actuator member may comprise an annular flange extending across a top end of the collar portion of the outer member. In this instance, the annular flange may terminate at an outer perimeter edge having an outer diameter which is approximately equal to an outer diameter of the collar portion of the outer member. When the annular flange terminates at an outer perimeter edge, the outer perimeter edge may be knurled.

The collar portion of the outer member may include an annular groove defining a downwardly facing, annular shoulder surface on the collar portion that is perpendicular to the axial direction, while the external portion of the actuator member may include an undercut area locating a catch therein that engages the shoulder surface on the collar portion that prevents the actuator member from being displaced in the axial direction relative to the outer member.

Preferably the outer member, the valve member, and the actuator member each consist of polyethylene terephthalate material. In this manner, the material of the closure device and the material of a typical bottle upon which the closure device is mounted are formed of the same material to simplify the recycling of the bottle and closure device.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a fluid dispensing closure device generally indicated by reference numeral. The deviceis particularly suited for use with a fluid container, for example a beverage bottleor other suitable liquid containing vessel including a neckextending upwardly to a top openingfrom which contents of the container can be dispensed. More particularly, the neckincludes a cylindrical upper portion which is externally threaded to receive a conventional closure device in the form of a bottle cap thereon.

The closure deviceis particularly suited for closing the top openingon the neck of a bottlecontaining a pressurized liquid beverage therein. The closure deviceis operable between an open position for dispensing the liquid therethrough and a closed position for containing pressure within the bottle. When the bottle is inverted prior to opening of the closure device, any gas pressure within the bottle can be maintained at the top end of the inverted bottle while the liquid beverage is dispensed through the opened closure device at the bottom end of the inverted bottle.

The closure deviceis also well-suited for use with a variety of other liquid container for example plastic, metal, or glass jugs or bottles capable of containing various liquids therein including household products, automotive fluids and the like. In each instance, when the container is provided with a neck which is threaded, the closure devicecan be sized for threading onto the neck while being similarly operable between closed and open positions for selectively dispensing the liquid from the container.

In the preferred embodiments, the closure devicegenerally includes (i) an outer memberarranged to be threaded onto the neck of the bottle and defining a fluid passage through which the contents of the bottle can be dispensed, (ii) a valve memberwhich is operable relative to the fluid passage defined in the outer memberbetween opened and closed positions, and (iii) an actuator memberwhich is supported to be externally accessible on the outer memberwhile being operatively connected to the valve memberfor opening and closing the valve member relative to the fluid passage. Each of the outer member, the valve member, and the actuator membermay be formed as a single unitary piece of material, or may be formed as an assembly of two or more pieces joined together to collectively define the overall function of the member as described herein.

Throughout the following description, the top end of the closure deviceis generally understood to refer to the uppermost portion of the closure device when supported at the top end of a bottle in a normal orientation is illustrated inor the lowermost portion of the closure device when supported on the neck of a bottle in an inverted orientation according to. In use, the closure device is typically only opened once the bottle has been displaced into the inverted position ofso that any gas contained under pressure within the bottle remains contained at the uppermost portion of the bottle while the liquid contents of the bottle can be dispensed through the closure deviceat the lowermost portion of the inverted bottle.

The outer memberis generally comprised of two separate components including a collar portionarranged for threading onto the neck of the bottle and an inner sleevethat extends into the bottle to define the fluid passage of the closure device through which the liquid contents of the bottle are dispensed. These two components may be formed separately according to the illustrated embodiment or as a single unitary body according to further embodiments.

The inner sleevegenerally includes a tubular main bodyhaving an outer diameter which closely fits within the inner diameter of the opening in the neck of the bottle. The fluid passage is partly defined by the interior surface of the tubular main body extending in an axial direction through the outer member from the bottom end to the top end of the device. A valve seatis defined at the bottom end of the tubular main bodyas an annular in the face oriented perpendicularly to the axial direction of the sleeve. The valve seatfurther includes an annular sealing flangesupported on the end face at the bottom of the tubular main body. The annular sealing flange is generally cylindrical in shape so as to project axially outward from the bottom end face of the main body for cooperation with an annular grooveof the valve memberas described in further detail below.

The inner sleeve further includes a radial flangemounted on the top end thereof to extend radially outward from the tubular main body about the full circumference thereof. The radial flangefurther supports a depending flangewhich is cylindrical in shape and which extends downward from the outer perimeter edge of the radial flange at a location spaced radially outward from the cylindrical outer surface of the tubular main body. The radial flangeand the depending flange, together with an upper end of the tubular main bodycollectively define a U-shaped channelbeneath the radial flangeat the top end of the inner sleeve which snugly receives the top end portion of the neck of the bottle inserted therein when the closure device is mounted onto the neck of the bottle. More particularly, the inner surface of the channelbelow the radial flangedefines an annular surfacewhich is perpendicular to the axial direction of the sleeve for abutment against the annular end face of the neck of the bottle about the top opening of the bottle.

An optional gasket may be received within the channelto enhance the sealing interface between the annular surfaceof the inner sleeveand the open top end of the bottle upon which the closure device is mounted.

The collar portionof the outer membercomprises a collar having an interior diameter which fits around the outer diameter of the neck of the bottle and which includes internal threadsformed thereon for mating with the corresponding external threads about the neck of the bottle. The collar portionreceives the tubular main bodyof the inner sleeve concentrically therein such that there is a resulting radial gap between the inner surface of the collar portionand the outer surface of the tubular main bodyof the inner sleeveof suitable size to receive the wall thickness of the neck of the bottle therein in a mounted position of the closure device on the bottle.

An upper portionis provided above the main body of the collar portionto extend radially inward from the top end of the collar portion directly above the radial flangeof the inner sleeve. In this manner, tightening the threads of the collar portion onto the neck of the bottle causes the upper portionof the outer member to be engaged upon the radial flangeof the inner sleevein a manner that tightly engages the annular surfacein sealing engagement against the top end of the bottle. The upper portionextends inward from the top end of the collar portion above the radial flangeof the inner sleeve to a central openinghaving a cylindrical inner surface with an interior diameter which is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the fluid passage extending through the tubular main bodyof the inner sleeve directly therebelow.

The outer diameter of the upper portionis reduced relative to the main body of the collar portionbelow to provide a recessed area that receives part of the actuator membertherein as described in further detail below. The exterior surface of the upper portionwhich is stepped radially inward relative to the collar portionbelow further locates an annular groovetherein such that an upper boundary of the annular groove defines a shoulder surfacewhich is perpendicular to the axial direction and which faces downwardly towards the bottom of the bottle so as to be suitable for retaining a portion of the actuator member thereon to prevent axial displacement of the actuator memberrelative to the outer memberwhile permitting relative rotation therebetween as further described below.

The valve memberincludes a tubular body portionwhich is received inside the inner sleeveof the outer member within the neck of the bottle. The outer diameter of the tubular body portionis approximately the same as the inner diameter of the inner sleeve so as to allow some relative movement between the valve member and the inner sleeve of the outer member. A set of four keysare provided externally on the tubular body portionto be received within a corresponding set of four keywaysrecessed into the inner surface of the inner sleeveof the outer member.

More particularly, each of the keysis a radially protruding rib which extends in the axial direction of the sleeve at evenly spaced apart positions in the circumferential direction relative to the other keys. Likewise, each of the four keywaysis a groove which extends in the axial direction of the sleeve at evenly spaced apart positions in the circumferential direction relative to the other keyways. The profile of each keyway is substantially identical to the profile of the corresponding keyreceived therein. The interaction between the keysand the keywaysallow longitudinal sliding movement in the axial direction of the sleeve between the valve memberand the inner sleeveof the outer memberwhile coupling the valve member and the outer member non-rotatably relative to one another.

The valve memberfurther includes a valve bodysupported at the bottom end of the tubular body portionat a location spaced below the bottom end of the tubular body portion by a set of four axially extending legsconnected between the bottom end of the tubular body portion and the valve bodyat evenly spaced apart positions in the circumferential direction. In this manner an annular discharge area is formed between the valve bodybelow and the tubular body portionabove, in which the annular discharge area is collectively defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart discharge openingsbetween respective pairs of the legs. In the open position, the bottom end of the tubular body portionthe valve member is located approximately adjacent to the bottom end of the inner sleevesuch that the annular discharge area formed by the plurality of discharge openingsis located fully below and unobstructed by the tubular body portion. To close the valve member, the valve member is displaced in the axial direction for translating movement relative to the inner sleeveof the outer member, upwardly until the valve bodyis abutted against the valve seatat the bottom end of the inner sleeve corresponding to the fully closed position.

The valve bodygenerally comprises a circular plate having a diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of the tubular body portion and which is substantially identical to the outer diameter of the inner sleeveof the outer member. In this manner, a peripheral edge portion of the valve bodydefines a flangeprotruding radially outward from the tubular body portionat the bottom end thereof about the full circumference of the valve member. The protruding flange portionof the valve body locates the annular grooveat the top side of the flange facing the bottom end of the inner sleeve where the annular sealing flangeis located. Accordingly, when the valve member is displaced into the closed position, the annular sealing flangeon the valve seat is snugly received into the annular grooveabout the periphery of the valve body to ensure a sealing interface which is sealed against the pressurized fluid in the bottle in the closed position.

An optional gasket may be incorporated into the annular grooveto improve the pressurized seal between the valve body and the bottom end of the inner sleeve.

The tubular body portionof the valve member further includes a helical grooveformed in the cylindrical inner surface of the tubular body portion. The helical groovedefines internal threads on the valve member for cooperation with the actuator memberas described in further detail below.

The actuator memberis rotatably supported relative to the collar portionand inner sleeveof the outer member. The actuator member includes an internal portionextending downwardly into the fluid passage of the closure device to be operatively connected to the valve member and an external portionsupported externally on the top end of the collar portionof the outer memberso as to be externally accessible by an operator for operating the valve member between the open and closed positions thereof.

The internal portionof the actuator member comprises a tubular body having an outer diameter which is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the tubular body portionof the valve member within which it is received. An external threadis formed on the exterior surface of the tubular body of the internal portion in the form of a protruding rib extending helically about the tubular body to form a mating connection with the corresponding helical groovein the inner surface of the tubular body portionof the valve member. Due to the threaded connection formed between the actuator member and the valve member, rotating the actuator member while the actuator member remains fixed in place in the axial direction relative to the valve seat on the inner sleeve of the outer member, causes the valve member to be displaced in the axial direction between the open and closed positions thereof depending upon the direction of rotation of the actuator member.

The external portionof the actuator member comprises an annular flangeextending radially outward from the top end of the tubular body of the internal portionto an outer perimeter edgeof the external portion. The outer diameter at the perimeter edgeis approximately equal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the collar portionof the outer member below. The perimeter edgeis knurled to provide a gripping texture for ease of driving rotational movement of the actuator member relative to the outer memberin operation.

An undercut areais formed under the annular flangewhich receives the upper portionof the outer membertherein in a mounted position of the actuator member on the outer member. A retainer flangeextends radially inward from the outer boundary of the undercut areato define a catch surface thereon which is perpendicular to the axial direction and which faces upwardly to be suitable for being retained against the shoulder surfaceon the upper portionof the outer member. The vertical dimension between the catch surface on the retainer flangeand the uppermost boundary of the undercut areais approximately equal to the vertical distance between the top end of the upper portionand the shoulder surfaceof the outer member so that the actuator member is restricted in both directions in the axial direction relative to the outer member while the actuator member remains rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the closure device relative to the outer member.

A bottom face of the retainer flangeis sloped upwardly and inwardly towards the inner edge of the retainer flange, while the corresponding surface of the upper portionimmediately above the shoulder surfaceis similarly sloped so that the actuator member can be assembled onto the outer member by pressing the external portionof the actuator member downwardly over top of the upper portionof the outer member. The sloped surfaces guide the catch surface on the actuator member outwardly by resilient deformation past the outer boundary of the shoulder surfacesuch that upon the catch surface being located below the shoulder surface, the catch surface returns into an interfering relationship with the shoulder member to be retained upon the shoulder member in a snap fit arrangement.

A small gap is provided in the axial direction between the bottom of the annular flangeof the actuator member and the top of the collar portionof the outer member below. A first stopis mounted to protrude axially upward from the top of the collar portionwithin the gap while a second stopis mounted on the bottom of the retainer flangeto extend downwardly toward the collar portion also within the gap. The pitch of the threaded connection between the actuator member and the valve member is arranged such that a single near complete rotation of the actuator member causes the valve member to be fully displaced in the axial direction from the closed position to the open position, and a near complete rotation in the opposing direction returns the valve member from the open position to the closed position. The first stopis abutted against a first side of the second stopto prevent further rotation in one direction beyond the open position. Likewise, the first stopis abutted against an opposing second side of the second stopto prevent further rotation in the opposing direction beyond the closed position to prevent damage to the threaded connection by over rotation.

The design of the closure device described above further enables the entirety of the outer member, the valve member, and the actuator member to be formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. This enables the closure device and commonly available PET bottles (upon which the closure device is typically mounted) to be recycled in a common recycling stream, facilitating recycling in a cost effectively manner and reducing environmental levies where applicable.

Since various modifications can be made in the invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.