Adjustable dispensing cap
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention provide dispensing caps, containers, and methods for quickly and easily dispensing liquids of varying viscosities at different flow rates. In one embodiment, an adjustable dispensing cap is provided that permits a user to rotate a first member to select an appropriately sized pour hole and achieve a desired flow rate for the particular liquid to be dispensed.
1. A dispensing cap for a container, the dispensing cap comprising:
a first member having a plurality of through holes, wherein each through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member is aligned along a diametrical axis of the first member with another through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member, wherein the plurality of through holes of the first member comprises at least two pairs of diametrically aligned through holes;
a second member rotatively coupled to the first member, the second member having a plurality of through holes, wherein each through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member is aligned along a diametrical axis of the first member with another through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member, and wherein the plurality of through holes of the second member comprise at least one pair of diametrically aligned through holes, and wherein each through hole of the first member is disposed such that it can overlap, in whole or in part, each through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member depending on the rotation of one or both of the first member and second member about a longitudinal axis passing through the first member and second member, and
a third member rotatively coupled to the second member, the third member having an upper opening and a lower opening.
2. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein the third member comprises threads adapted to engage threads on the container, the threads disposed between the upper opening and the lower opening.
3. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein the third member comprises an inwardly protruding portion, wherein the inwardly protruding portion defines the upper opening and the upper opening has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the lower opening.
4. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein the diametrical axes of the first member and the second member are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
5. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein each through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member differs in size from other through holes of the plurality of through holes of the first member by a fixed proportion.
6. The dispensing cap of claim 5 , wherein the fixed proportion is greater than or equal to 2:5 and less than or equal to 4:5.
7. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein each through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member differs in size from other through holes of the plurality of through holes of the second member by a fixed proportion.
8. The dispensing cap of claim 7 , wherein the fixed proportion is greater than or equal to 2:5 and less than or equal to 4:5.
9. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , further comprising a spout adjacent to at least one through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member.
10. A method for dispensing liquid from a container: providing a dispensing cap coupled to the container, the dispensing cap comprising:
a first member having a plurality of through holes, wherein each through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member is aligned along a diametrical axis of the first member with another through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member wherein the plurality of through holes of the first member comprises at least two pairs of diametrically aligned through holes; and a second member rotatively coupled to the first member, the second member having a plurality of through holes, wherein each through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member is aligned along a diametrical axis of the second member with another through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member, and wherein the plurality of through holes of the second member comprise at least one pair of diametrically aligned through holes;
rotating one or both of the first member and the second member about a longitudinal axis that passes through the first member and the second member such that each of two through holes of the first member overlap, in whole or in part, a through hole of the second member, thereby defining a first and second flow path from an inner volume of the container through the dispensing cap;
passing liquid from the inner volume of the container through the first flow path;
passing air through the second flow path into the inner volume of the container;
rotating the first member and the second member in unison relative to the container; and
passing liquid from the inner volume of the container through the first flow path at a different orientation relative to the container than in the previous passing step.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
selecting a first through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member based on a first viscosity of liquid to be dispensed from the container; and
rotating one or both of the first member and the second member such that the selected first through hole overlaps, in whole or in part, a through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
selecting a second through hole of the plurality of through holes of the first member based on a second viscosity of liquid to be dispensed from the container, wherein the second viscosity is greater than the first viscosity and the second selected through hole has a greater area than the first selected through hole; and
rotating one or both of the first member and the second member such that the selected second through hole overlaps, in whole or in part, a through hole of the plurality of through holes of the second member.