Dispenser With Closure Cap

The present invention relates to a dispenser for a flowable material, such as toothpaste.

Toothpaste has been conventionally sold in squeezable tubes. Recently, dispensers have been introduced for dispensing the toothpaste. Such dispensers have a hollow container for retaining the toothpaste, and a nozzle defining an outlet orifice for dispensing the toothpaste. Separate plugs have been provided to close the orifices prior to use of the dispensers. In the event that the user wishes to reuse the plugs after dispensing some toothpaste, the plugs are reinserted into the nozzles to close the orifices. However, it has been found that when the plugs are removed from the nozzles, they are often misplaced and lost. Also, it is desirable to simplify the attachment procedure for a cap to cover the nozzles. Dispensers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,461,403 and 4,437,591, incorporated herein by reference.

A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of an improved dispenser for a flowable material.

The dispenser of the present invention comprises, a container having a chamber for retaining the material, and a nozzle defining an outlet orifice for dispensing the material from the container. The dispenser has a cap defining a cavity for covering the nozzle, with the cap having means cooperating with an upper portion of the container for securing the cap to the container.

A feature of the present invention is that the securing means secures the cap to the container at a plurality of rotational positions relative to the container.

Another feature of the invention is that in a preferred form the closing means requires only 1/8 to 1/4 4 turn of the cap on the container in order to simplify the attachment procedure.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of a plurality of spaced plugs on an inner portion of the cap.

Another feature of the invention is that each of the plugs register with or are placed within the nozzle and close the orifice at different of the rotational positions of the cap.

Thus, a feature of the present invention is that the cap may be secured to the container in a simplified manner while closing the nozzle.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the following description of the embodiments of this invention and from the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cap for a dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken partly in section, of the dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cap for another embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the dispenser associated with the cap of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken partly in section, of the dispenser of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a dispenser generally designated 10 having an elongated container 12 having a chamber 14 to retain a flowable material 16, such as toothpaste. The container 12 has a nozzle 18 adjacent an upper end 20 of the container 12 defining an outlet orifice 22 for dispensing the material 16 from the container 12. The container 12 has a pivoted lever 24 which is actuated in order to pump the material 16 from the chamber 14 through the outlet orifice 22.

The dispenser 10 has a cap 26 defining a cavity 28 for covering the nozzle 18. The cap 26 has a plurality of spaced arcuate inner threads 30 adjacent an outer end 32 of the cap 26. As shown, the threads 30 are disposed peripherally around the outer end 32 of the cap 26 in the cavity 28. The container 12 has a plurality of spaced arcuate grooves 34 adjacent the upper end 20 of the container 12 which are disposed around the container 12, such that the grooves 34 cooperate with the threads 30 on the cap 26 in order to secure the cap 26 onto the container 12 at a plurality of rotational positions of the cap 26 relative to the container 12. In a preferred form, only 1/8 to 1/4 4 turn of the cap 26 is required in order to secure the cap 26 onto the container 12 to close the nozzle 18 in order to simplify the placement procedure of the cap 26 onto the container 12.

The cap 26 has a plurality of spaced plugs 36 extending from an inner portion 38 of the cap 26 around the cap 26 in the cavity 28. In accordance with the present invention, each of the plugs 36 register with the nozzle 18 and close the orifice 22 at different of the rotational positions of the cap 26 relative to the container 12. The plugs 36 may have open outer ends 40 as shown in FIG. 1-3, or closed outer ends 42 as shown in FIG. 4.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention the cap 26 may be secured to the container 12 in a simplified manner utilizing the cooperating threads 30 and grooves 34. Also, when the cap 26 is secured to the container 12, the plugs 36 automatically close the nozzle 18.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. In this embodiment, the cap 26 has a plurality of spaced plugs 50 extending from the inner portion 38 of the cap 26 around the cap 26 in the cavity 28. The plugs 50 each have outer dimensions slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the orifice 22. In accordance with the invention, each of the plugs 50 are received in the nozzle 18 and close the orifice 22 at different of the rotational positions of the cap 26 relative to the container 12. The cap 26 and container 12 have arcuate threads 30 and grooves 34, as previously described in connection with FIGS. 1-4.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.