US3887116A

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US3887116A
Application number: US463848A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seiichi Ishikawa; Yooichi Miya; Ryoji Odate; Yasui Kumai
Original assignee: Shiseido Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shiseido Co Ltd
Priority date: 1972-09-01
Filing date: 1974-04-24
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03

Abstract

Deformable receptacle for liquid material. A cap is turnably engaged with a neck of a main body by a thread or similar engagement. The cap is provided with a first aperture passing through a top end thereof, while second apertures are formed at a top end portion of the neck. An elastic ring to prevent back flow is formed at a middle portion of the neck and the cap is slidably engaged therewith.

Description

United States Patent Ishikawa et a].

June 3, 1975 RECEPTACLE FOR LIQUID MATERIAL [75] Inventors: Seiichi Ishikawa; Yooichi Miya, both Pnmary Examiner-Stanley Touberg of Tokyo; Ryoji Odate, Yokohama; Attorney, Agent, or F1rmRobert E. Burns; Yasui Kumai, Okegawa a" of Japan Emmanuel G2 Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [73] Assignee: Shiseido Co., Ltd., Japan [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 463,848

[56] References cued 6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.578223 5/1971 Armour 222/52]J 4 808b U Q f 7 Ic RECEPTACLE FOR LIQUID MATERIAL The present invention is a continuation-in-part patent application of the patent application Ser. No. 285,635 filed on Sept. l, 1972, and particularly relates to an improved receptacle which permits the easy removal of a desired quantity of liquid by turning the cap about the neck of the main body of the receptacle and then squeezing the main body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Many different kinds of caps have been used for alternately closing or opening the aperture of receptacles for liquid material. These caps are usually engaged to the neck of the receptacle by means ofa thread engagement. For modernization and convenience, a type of receptacle was recently developed which provides means for closing or opening an aperture of the receptacle, and permits a liquid to be forced through the open aperture by deforming the main body of the receptacle. This kind of receptacle has usually been used for toiletries such as shampoo, or medicines or foods in liquid condition. However, it is our experience that, when the liquid material is taken out of the receptacle by squeezing of deforming the main body of the receptacle, an excess of the liquid flows out of the receptacle. While on the other hand, if the receptacle is deformed too little, it is impossible to take out the required quantity of liquid. The quantity of liquid taken out from the receptacle also varies according to the quantity of liquid contained in the receptacle when it is deformed. Further, in most cases it is impossible to force out all of the contents of the receptacle as a small amount is trapped adjacent to the aperture of the receptacle. This amount of the liquid is, therefore, lost to the receptacle user as there is no way of getting it out without breaking the receptacle.

Moreover, according to our experience, it is very difficult to prevent the leakage of the liquid material through the portion where the cap is engaged with the neck.

The principal object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks experienced with conventional deformable receptacles.

The receptacle according to the present invention is composed of a main body for containing liquid material, and a cap which alternatively opens or closes a connection between an aperture formed in the cap (hereinafter referred to as a first aperture) and an aperture formed in the neck of the main body (hereinafter referred to as a second aperture). The cap is provided with inward projected elements consisting of an intermediate cylindrical wall element and an inside cylindrical wall element, and a shutter piece or closure valve element disposed between the above-mentioned two apertures. A helical thread is formed upon the inside surface of the intermediate cylindrical wall element, and the shutter piece is provided with a cover portion. A plurality of projections or recesses are formed on the cover or body portion of the shutter piece. The neck of the main body is provided with a helical thread formed thereon, so that the helical thread of the intermediate cylindrical wall element of the cap engages with the helical thread of the neck. As the intermediate cylindrical wall element of the cap is slidably inserted into a cylindrical space formed between the outside and inside cylindrical portions of the double cylindrical member,

when the cap is turned about the neck of the main body, the cap is relatively displaced along the longitudinal axis of the neck. In the above-mentioned displacement of the cap, the ring shaped rib formed on the outside cylindrical surface of the inside cylindrical portion of the double cylindrical member always urges the inside cylindrical surface of the inside cylindrical wall element of the cap, consequently, possible leakage of the liquid material through the portion where the cap engages with the neck can be perfectly avoided. The cover portion of the shutter piece closes or opens the apertures formed in the neck of the main body according to the relative position of the cap to the neck. That is, when the cap is displaced upwards by the turning thereof about the neck, the cover portion of the shutter piece is removed from the neck and consequently the aperture of the cap is connected to the apertures of the neck. In this condition, if the liquid contained in the main body is pressured by pushing on or squeezing the main body by hand, a desired quantity of the liquid can be pushed out or taken out from the receptacle. As the receptacle of the present invention is provided with double apertures, that is, the first and second apertures as mentioned above, the drawbacks of the conventional receptacle for liquid material can be satisfactorily eliminated.

Further objects and features of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the receptacle according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle illustrated in FIG. 1 for illustrating the various components thereof;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the cap positioned at the closed position upon the main body of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shutter piece used for the receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the cap positioned at the opened position upon the main body of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross section of a cap positioned at the closed position upon a main body of a modified receptacle according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified shutter piece used as a packing for the cap shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross section of the cap positioned at the opened position upon a main body of the receptacle shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross section of a cap positioned at the opened position upon a main body of a further modified embodiment of the receptacle according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another modified shutter piece used as a packing in the cap shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, an embodiment of the receptacle for liquid material according to the present invention, comprises a main body I and acap 2 which is mounted on a top portion of the main body I, in a tumably and displaceable condition along a common longitudinal axis thereof by means of thread engagement therebctween. Thecap 2 is provided with an outside conical wall-element 2a, a topcylindrical projection 3 having a dispensingaperture 3a (hereinafter referred to as a first aperture) passing therethrough, an inwardly projected cylindrical wall-element 4 (hereinafter referred to as an inside cylinder) and an intermediate cylindrical wall-element 5 projecting inwardly at a coaxially intermediate position between theinside cylinder 4 and the outside conical wall-element 2a dcfining a compartment as later explained. The intermediate cylindrical wall-element 5 (hereinafter referred to as an intermediate cylinder) is provided with a helically formedthread 5a formed upon inside wall thereof. The depth of theintermediate cylinder 5 from an inside ring-shaped head wall 2b is larger than the depth of the inside cylinder projected from theinside head wall 2b as shown in FIG. 3. Themain body 1 consists of the main portion 1a and the top portion lb, which consists of acylindrical neck 6 and aconical shoulder 7. The main portion la and theneck 6 have circular lateral cross sections respectively, A step It is formed between theshoulder 7 and the main portion la.

Thecylindrical neck 6 is provided with an upper projectedflange 6a and ahelical thread 6b as shown in H65. 3 and 5. When thecap 2 is assembled with the top portion lb of themain body 1, thehelical thread 5a of theintermediate cylinder 5 engages thehelical thread 6b of theneck 6 so that thecap 2 is stably mounted on the top portion lb of themain body 1 in such a way that thecap 2 is capable of turningg about theneck 6. Theupper flange 6a is provided with a sloped surface formed on upper side thereof, and a sharp valley is formed between theupper flange 6a and thehelical thread 6b.

A double cylindrical member orclosure 8 is rigidly disposed in the aperture of theneck 6 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The doublecylindrical member 8 con sists of an outside cylindrical portion 8a and insidecylindrical portion 8b, a ringshaped bottom connection St between the inside and outsidecylindrical portions 8a, 8b. An outwardly projecting flange 8a is formed at the top end of the outside cylindrical portion 8a, while a plurality ofapertures 8f are formed at atop portion 80 formed at the top of the insidecylindrical portion 8b. A ring'shaped projection 81' is formed at the outside wall of the insidecylindrical portion 8b. A shutter piece orclosure valve element 9 is regidly held by thecap 2. Theshutter piece 9 consists of a stem 9a provided with a pair ofgrooves 9b formed along the longitudinal axis thereof, and a laterally expanded flat plate portion or body 9c formed at the bottom end of thestem 90. Theflat plate portion 90 is provided with a pair of grooves 9a which are connnected to therespective grooves 9b. Theshutter piece 9 can be rigidly held by inserting the stem 9a into the aperture of thecap 2 from inside thereof. Themain body 1, thecap 2, theshutter piece 9 and the doublecylindrical member 8 are made of plastic material, such as polypropylene, rigid polyethyl ene, vinyl chloride resin, having elasticity. Consequently, when thecap 2 is assembled with the top portion lb ofthe main body I, the doublecylindrical member 8 is firstly pushed into the top aperture of theneck 6 in such a way that theflange 8d rests on the top edge of theneck 6. To hold the doubelcylindrical member 8 rigidly by theneck 6. some bonding agent may be used between themember 8 and the inside wall of the ltl opend portion ofneck 6 or themember 8 is so made that the outside diameter thereof is a little larger than the inside diameter of the opened portion of the neck (a so as to always urge outwards the inside cylindrical wall element of the cap. Theinside cylinder 4 of thecap 2 is formed at a coaxial position to the doublecylindrical member 8 so as to be capable of inserting into the neck and into a cylindrical space formed between the outside cylindrical portion 8a and the insidecylindrical portion 8b of the doublecylindrical member 8. As mentioned above, it is essential to contact the inside wall of theinside cylinder 4 with the ring-shaped pro jection 8i of the insidecylindrical portion 8b thereby forming a compartment fluid-tiglit except at the dispensing aperture. When the preparation of theneck 6 is completed, thecap 2 is pushed downward along the common longitudinal axis thereof. By this pushing op eration, the bottom edge of theintermediate cylinder 5 passes over the outside edge of theflange 60 and the helical thread tab by their elastic deformation so that the stable engagement between the

helical thread

50 and 6b can be attained. When the intermediate cylinder Sis engaged with theneck 6, theinside cylinder 4 occu' pics the cylindrical space formed between the outside cylindrical portion 8a and the insidecylindrical portion 8b of the doublecylindrical member 8, the bottom edge of the outsideconical wallelement 2a rests on the step If of themain body 1. In the above-mentioned condition, the flat plate portion or body 9c" closes theapertures 8f of the doublecylindrical member 8 secured to theneck 6, so that the openings of the receptacle are completely closed, as shown in FIG. 3.

As can be clearly understood from the drawing shown in FIG. 3, theinside cylinder 4 of thecap 2 can be closely engaged with the insidecylindrical portion 8b when thecap 2 and the doublecylindrical member 8 and theneck 6 are assembled. According to this sealing system, any leakage of the liquid material through the

apertures

3a and 8f and the insidecylindrical wallelement 4 and the doublecylindrical member 8, can be completely prevented. When thecap 2 is positioned at its rest position as shown in l 'lG, 3, wherein the bottom edge of the outside wall-element 2a is resting on the horizontal step 1c the flat plate portion of theshutter piece 9 closes the apertures 8fof the doublecylindrical member 8 so that the connection of theaperture 3a with thesmall apertures 8 is closed. However, when thecap 2 is displaced upward relative to theneck 6 along the common axis thereof, the flat plate portion 96 of theshutter piece 9 leaves from the top portionn 8e of themember 8 and theaperture 3a is connected to thesmall apertures 8f. The above-mentioned relative upward motion of thecap 2 with respect to themain body 1 is created by turning thecap 2 about theneck 6 of the main body l. According to this relative upwarddisplacement ofthc cap 2, the aperture 36 is connected to the small apertures 3f and consequently the inside space of the main body I is connected to the atmosphere as shown in HG. 5. However, the helical thread 544 of theintermediate cylinder 5 cannot pass over the flange (it: because of the sharp valley formed between theflange 6a and the helical thread 611. Therefore, the relative upward displacement of thecap 2 to the main body l is restricted by the flange ()1? of theneck 6. in this condition, when the liquid material contained in themain body 1 is pressurized by deforming the main body by hand, the liquid material in themain body 1 is ejected outside through the small apertures 8}" and the space formed by thecap 2 and the passage formed by thegrooves 9b, 9d of theshutter piece 9 and theaperture 3a.

When the receptacle is inclined by hand so as to lower the cap for puring out the liquid material from the receptacle, the liquid material can be easily taken out in exactly the desired amount. As theapertures 8f and the intervened space between the inside wall of thecap 2 and the flat plate portion 9c, and the passages formed by thegrooves 9b, 9a of theshutter piece 9 form a combination of liquid passages, the receptacle is prevented from ejecting or pouring out an excess quantity of liquid material from themain body 1. As the engagement of thecap 2 with theneck 6 of themain body 1 is stable, because of the elasticity of the plastic material used for the receptacle, if the relative sizes of the elements are suitable, the above-mentioned engagement of theshutter piece 9 with the doublecylindrical member 8 is stable and any leakage of the liquid material from the receptacle can be perfectly prevented. Further, as the ring-shaped rib 81' of the doublecylindrical member 8 always urges outwards the inside cylindrical wall-element 4 of thecap 2, possible leakage of the contained liquid material through the slidable engagement of the wall-element 4 with the doublecylindrical member 8 can be perfectly prevented The structure of thecap 2 and the top portion of themain body 1 can be modified with the basic technical idea of the present invention without any changes of the function of the present invention. Several modificiations of the first embodiment are hereinafter illustrated. However, in the illustration of these modified embodiments, elements having the same function as the elements of the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and illustration of those elements are omitted to avoid repetition.

ln FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a second embodiment of the receptacle is shown. This receptacle has an almost similar structure and function as the above-mentioned first embodiment. The only difference in this embodiment from the first embodiment relates to the shutter piece disposed between the cap and the double cylindrical member. That is, a packing is utilized instead of theshutter piece 9 of the first embodiment. The packing 10 consists of a base plate 10a and a plurality ofprojections 10b symmetrically formed on the base plate 10a in such a way that a plurality of grooves 10c are formed between twoadjacent projections 10b.

To hold the packing 10 to theinside cylinder 4, the lateral size of the packing 10 is preferably chosen a little larger than the inside lateral diameter of theinside cylinder 4. As theprojections 10b are also projected upward from the base plate 10a, when the packing 10 is disposed in theinside cylinder 4 and sandwiched by a shoulder portion 3b of thecap 2 and thetop portion 8e of the doublecylindrical member 8, a space 11 is formed between the shoulder portion 3b and the base plate 10a. Further, thebase plate 100 is so designed that, when thecap 2 is positioned at its closed position upon theneck 6, thebase plate 100 closes theapertures 8f of the doublecylindrical member 8. On the other hand when thecap 2 is positioned at its opened position by turning about theneck 6 as shown in FIG. 8, an intervenedspace 12 is formed between thebase plate 100 of the packing 10 annd thetop portion 8e of the doublecylindrical member 8. In this case theaperture 30 of thecap 2 is connected to the main portion 1a by way of the intervened space 11,grooves 100, intervenedspace 12 andapertures 8f of the doublecylindrical member 8. Consequently, by squeezing themain body 1, a desired quantity of liquid material can be pushed out from the receptacle.

To prevent incorrect insertion of the packing 10, a modified packing having a symmetrical structure with respect to horizontal central plane of the base plate can be applied instead of the packing shown in FIG. 7. in this modified packing element, a plurality of projections are symmetrically provided on the upper and lower surface of thebase plate 100. Theapertures 8f of thecylindrical member 8 are provided so as to be closed by the projections when thecap 2 is positioned at its closed position.

In the third embodiment shown in H6. 9, a modified packing 13 is utilized instead of the packing 10 of the second embodiment. Other component elements and their functions of the third embodiment are similar to the second embodiment. The packing 13 consists of a base plate 13a provided with acentral aperture 13d, a plurality ofsupports 13b projected upward from the base plate and a ring-shaped projection which defines theaperture 13d.

Thetop portion 8e of the doublecylindrical member 8 is provided with a plurality ofapertures 8f passing therethrough and anupward projection 8h which is formed at a position facing theaperture 13d of the packing 13 when the receptacle is assembled, so that the upward projection 81: is allowed to enter into theaperture 13d. Consequently, the packing 13 can be always loosely held by the upward projection SI: of the doublecylindrical member 8. And in the opened condition of thecap 2, the packing 13 is capable of displac ing upward when the pressurized liquid material is pushed out frommain body 1 through theapertures 8f of the doublecylindrical member 8. On the other hand, when thecap 2 is positioned in its closed condition, the packing 13 is urged onto thetop portion 8e so that theapertures 8f are completely closed.

In the above-menntioned embodiments, the cap is mounted on the neck of the main body in a turnable thread engagement condition. However, the shutter piece used in these embodiments can be satisfactorily applied for the receptacle characterized in that the cap can be displaced upward by turning it relative to the main body while the caps bottom edge is forced to slide upward upon the slope of the shoulder or ride on a step of the shoulder so that the first and second apertures are connected to each other. Receptacles of this type are disclosed in the co-pending patent application Ser. No. 259,586 filed on June 5, l972.

What we claim and desire to secure by letters patent:

2. A liquid dispenser comprising, a main container body for containing a liquid to be dispensed and having an externally threaded neck, an outside cap for said container body having an inner cylinder internally threaded for threading said cap on said neck said cap having a dispensing aperture, an innermost cylinder in said cap extending axially into said neck when said cap is threaded on said neck, a closure on said neck closing an opening in said neck and jointly with said innermost cylinder defining a compartment within said innermost cylinder fluid-tight except at said dispensing aperture on said cap, said closure having openings providing communication between said compartment and the interior of said neck, a closure valve element in said compartment normally seated closing said openings and controlled axially by rotation of said threaded cap for seating and unseating thereof for controlling opening and closing of said openings on said closure for controlling flow of liquid in said container body through said compartment and through said dispensing aperture.

3. A liquid dispenser according toclaim 2, in which said cap comprises a central cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said dispensing aperture being disposed on said cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said closure valve element having a body seatable and unseatable on said closure under control of said cap and a stern on said body axially guided in said cylindrical projection, and said closure valve element having grooves providing communication between said compartment and said dispensing aperture when said closure valve element is unseated.

4. A liquid dispenser according toclaim 2, in which said cap comprises a central cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said dispensing aperture being disposed on said cylindrical projection, said closure valve element having a body seatable and unseatable on said closure under control of said cap, said closure valve element body having grooves providing communication between said compartment and said dispensing aperture when said closure valve element is unseated.

5. A liquid dispenser according toclaim 2, in which said cap comprises a central cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said dispensing aperture being disposed on said cylindrical projection, said closure valve element having a body seatable and unseatable on said closure under control of said cap, said body having a central aperture and means for providing communication between the interior of said compartment and said cylindrical projection when unseated, said closure having an axial projection extending axially through said central aperture of said body for axially guiding movement of said closure valve element.

6. A liquid dispenser according toclaim 2, in which said container body comprises a deformable material having memory.

* I! =1 I II

Claims

3. A liquid dispenser according to claim 2, in which said cap comprises a central cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said dispensing aperture being disposed on said cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said closure valve element having a body seatable and unseatable on said closure under control of said cap and a stem on said body axially guided in said cylindrical projection, and said closure valve element having grooves providing communication between said compartment and said dispensing aperture when said closure valve element is unseated.

4. A liquid dispenser according to claim 2, in which said cap comprises a central cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said dispensing aperture being disposed on said cylindrical projection, said closure valve element having a body seatable and unseatable on said closure under control of said cap, said closure valve element body having grooves providing communication between said compartment and said dispensing aperture when said closure valve element is unseated.

5. A liquid dispenser according to claim 2, in which said cap comprises a central cylindrical projection on the top thereof, said dispensing aperture being disposed on said cylindrical projection, said closure valve element having a body seatable and unseatable on said closure under control of said cap, said body having a central aperture and means for providing communication between the interior of said compartment and said cylindrical projection when unseated, said closure having an axial projection extending axially through said central aperture of said body for axially guiding movement of said closure valve element.