Dispensing closure assembly with pre-venting
View Patent ↗A dispensing closure assembly is particularly configured for use on a container having carbonated or otherwise pressurized contents. The closure assembly includes a closure shell having an annular mounting collar, and an axially moveable tip positioned on the mounting collar for axial movement between opened and closed positions. Notably, the closure assembly includes an arrangement of venting projections, preferably provided on the closure shell, which provide pre-venting of gas pressure from within the container upon initial opening movement of the moveable tip. Foaming, splashing, or other undesirable discharge of liquid from within the container upon initial opening is desirably abated.
1. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ), comprising:
a closure shell ( 12 ) having a cylindrical body ( 14 ) for fitment onto an associated container, and a cylindrical mounting collar ( 16 ) extending upwardly from said cylindrical body ( 14 ), said cylindrical body defining at least one central dispensing opening ( 18 ) through which product can flow from said container through said closure shell ( 12 ), said closure shell further including a sealing collar ( 20 ) positioned inwardly of said cylindrical mounting collar ( 16 ) and extending upwardly from said cylindrical body ( 14 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) around said central dispensing opening ( 18 ); and
a movable tip ( 22 ) for controlling flow through said dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ), said moveable tip ( 22 ) having an outer mounting sleeve ( 24 ) for sliding fitment to an outside surface of said cylindrical mounting collar ( 16 ) of said closure shell, and an inner sealing plug ( 26 ) positioned inwardly of said outer mounting sleeve ( 24 ) for sealing engagement with an interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell, said movable tip ( 22 ) defining at least one flow opening ( 28 ) in communication with a flow region ( 30 ) between said outer mounting sleeve ( 24 ) and said inner sealing plug ( 26 ),
said movable tip ( 22 ) further including a sealing sleeve ( 32 ) positioned outwardly of said sealing plug ( 26 ) for sealing engagement with said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell,
said movable tip ( 22 ) being movable between: (1) a first, sealed position in which said sealing plug ( 26 ) and said sealing sleeve ( 32 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) engage and seal against sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) to block flow from said container through said closure assembly ( 10 ), and (2) a second, dispensing position wherein said sealing plug ( 26 ) and said sealing sleeve ( 32 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) are out of sealing engagement with said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) to permit flow from said container outwardly through said dispensing opening ( 18 ) defined by said closure shell ( 12 ), into said flow region ( 28 ) defined by said movable tip ( 22 ), and out of said flow opening ( 28 ) defined by said movable tip.
2. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein
one of said sealing collar ( 20 ) and said moveable tip ( 22 ) defines at least one venting projection engageable with the other one of the sealing collar ( 20 ) and the moveable tip ( 22 ) after said movable tip is moved out of said first, sealed position toward said second, dispensing position.
3. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 2 , wherein
said interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell defines a plurality of said venting projections ( 34 ) positioned in spaced apart relationship on the interior surface of the sealing collar ( 20 ).
4. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 2 , wherein
said interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) defines an outwardly flared, chamfered region for receiving said sealing plug ( 26 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) in sealing engagement with the interior surface of the sealing collar ( 20 ), said venting projection ( 34 ) being positioned on said chamfered region.
5. A dispensing closure assembly in accordance with claim 4 , wherein
said flow opening ( 28 ) defined by said movable tip ( 22 ) is positioned radially outwardly of said dispensing opening ( 18 ) defined by said closure shell.
6. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein
said interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) defines at least one venting projection ( 34 ) engagable with said sealing plug ( 26 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) after said movable tip is moved out of said first, sealed position toward said second, dispensing position, and after said sealing sleeve ( 32 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) has moved out of sealing engagement with said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell.
7. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein
said sealing plug ( 26 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) has a hollow configuration.
8. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein
said sealing plug ( 26 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) has an axial length greater than an axial length of said sealing sleeve ( 32 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ).
9. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein
one of said closure shell ( 12 ) and said movable tip ( 22 ) includes a detent projection ( 36 ) for cooperation with the other of said closure shell ( 12 ) and said movable tip ( 22 ) for releasably retaining said movable tip ( 22 ) in said first, sealed position on said closure shell ( 12 ).
10. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ), comprising:
a closure shell ( 12 ) having a cylindrical body ( 14 ) for fitment onto an associated container, and a cylindrical mounting collar ( 16 ) extending upwardly from said cylindrical cylindrical body ( 14 ), said body defining at least one central dispensing opening ( 18 ) through which product can flow from said container through said closure shell ( 12 ), said closure shell further including a sealing collar ( 20 ) positioning inwardly of said cylindrical mounting collar ( 16 ) and extending upwardly from said cylindrical body ( 14 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) around said central dispensing opening ( 18 ); and
a movable tip ( 22 ) for controlling flow through said dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ), said moveable tip ( 22 ) having an outer mounting sleeve ( 24 ) for sliding fitment to an outside surface of said cylindrical mounting collar ( 16 ) of said closure shell, and an inner sealing plug ( 26 ) positioned inwardly of said outer mounting sleeve ( 24 ) for sealing engagement with an interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell, said movable tip ( 22 ) defining at least one flow opening ( 28 ) in communication with a flow region ( 30 ) between said outer mounting sleeve ( 24 ) and said inner sealing plug ( 26 ),
said movable tip ( 22 ) being movable between: (1) a first, sealed position in which said sealing plug ( 26 ) and a sealing sleeve ( 32 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) engage and seal against sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) to block flow from said container through said closure assembly ( 10 ), and (2) a second, dispensing position wherein said sealing plug ( 26 ) and said sealing sleeve ( 32 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) are out of sealing engagement with said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) to permit flow from said container outwardly through said dispensing opening ( 18 ) defined by said closure shell ( 12 ), into said flow region ( 28 ) defined by said movable tip ( 22 ), and out of said flow opening ( 28 ) defined by said movable tip,
wherein said interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) defines at least one venting projection ( 34 ) engagable with said sealing plug ( 26 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) after said movable tip is moved out of said first, sealed position toward said second, dispensing position, and after said sealing sleeve ( 32 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) has moved out of sealing engagement with said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell.
11. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 10 , wherein
said interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) of said closure shell ( 12 ) defines a plurality of said venting projections ( 34 ) positioned in spaced apart relationship on the interior surface of the sealing collar ( 20 ).
12. A dispensing closure assembly ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 10 , wherein
said interior surface of said sealing collar ( 20 ) defines an outwardly flared, chamfered region for receiving said sealing plug ( 26 ) of said movable tip ( 22 ) in sealing engagement with the interior surface of the sealing collar ( 20 ), said venting projection ( 34 ) being positioned on said chamfered region.