Dispensing closure with pliable sealing surface
View Patent ↗A dispensing closure that comprises a pliable sealing surface that is selectively formed with a dispensing opening or a cleanout. At least a portion of the pliable sealing surface can be formed at a base of a skirt, wherein the skirt engages the dispensing closure with the container. Material of the pliable sealing surface can be bonded with material of a body portion and a flap portion of the dispensing closure during a multi-shot injection molding process. The pliable sealing surface can be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer and the body portion and flap portion can be formed from a polymer material.
1. A dispensing closure, comprising:
a body portion comprising:
an end wall;
a non-round orifice in the end wall; and
a skirt that depends from the end wall, the skirt engages the dispensing closure with a container;
a flap portion comprising a depending wall that comprises a cleanout;
a first portion of a pliable sealing surface located around a rim of the non-round orifice; and
a second portion of the pliable sealing surface located at a base of the skirt, wherein a connecting flow channel connects the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface.
2. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface conforms to a geometry of the cleanout when the flap portion is in a first position.
3. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the non-round orifice is a tear-drop shaped orifice.
4. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
5. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed from silicone.
6. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the flap portion are formed of a polymer material and the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the polymer material and the thermoplastic elastomer bond during a multi-shot molding process.
7. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the flap portion are connected with a hinge, wherein the flap portion contacts the body portion in a first position and does not contact the body portion in a second position.
8. The dispensing closure of claim 7 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge or a pivoting hinge.
9. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing closure is formed in a multi-shot injection molding process.
10. The dispensing closure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed with the connecting flow channel during a single molding process.
11. A container assembly, comprising:
a container; and
a closure operatively attached to the container, the closure comprises:
a body portion comprising:
an end wall;
a skirt that depends from the end wall and engages the closure with the container;
a non-round orifice in the end wall, wherein contents of the container are accessed through the non-round orifice; and
a flap portion comprising a depending wall that comprises a cleanout;
a first portion of a pliable sealing surface located at a rim of the non-round orifice; and
a connecting flow channel connecting the first portion of the pliable sealing surface to a second portion of the pliable sealing surface located at a base of the skirt.
12. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface conforms to a geometry of the cleanout when the flap portion is in a first position.
13. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the non-round orifice is a tear-drop shaped orifice.
14. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
15. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed from silicone.
16. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the body portion and the flap portion are formed of a polymer material and the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, the polymer material and the thermoplastic elastomer bond during a multi-shot molding process.
17. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the body portion and the flap portion are connected with a hinge, wherein the flap portion contacts the body portion in a first position and does not contact the body portion in a second position.
18. The container assembly of claim 17 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge or a pivoting hinge.
19. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the pliable sealing surface and the second portion of the pliable sealing surface are formed with the connecting flow channel during a single molding process.
20. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the closure is formed in a multi-shot injection molding process.