Closure having inverted frangible valve

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a closure for a container. Among the embodiments provided herein, a cap for a container used on a water dispenser has a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt, and a well extending from the roof portion into the cap. The well has a wall structure terminating at a base structure that has a shape defined as comprising an annular rim connected to the wall structure and either a frusto-conical member having an edge that terminates to a disk shaped member, a dome member, or a convex member depending from the annular rim and extending in a direction towards the roof portion. The cap may further include at least two frangible lines defined on the base structure with scored sections at the ends defined by each frangible line. Alternatively, the cap may have a base structure that includes at least two sections, one of which is dominant and overlaps or is coincident with an edge of the other subservient section, the two sections causing the base structure to be sufficiently sealed during non-use and being deformable when penetrated by a probe to separate and allow dispensing of liquid within the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 803,997 filed Jun. 6, 2006.BACKGROUND[0002]This invention relates to a closure for a container, and particularly to, a container used in the water bottling industry for water dispensers and water coolers, such as a five-gallon container.[0003]Drinking water has been supplied to consumers for many years in large containers, which typically have volumes ranging from 2.5 to 6 gallons. These large containers are often mounted upside down on a dispensing device which may also cool or heat the water as desired. The dispensing devices also permit facile dispensing of the water. A typical large container has an upstanding neck, defining an opening for the container, and has an external snap formation for engagement with a closure. Closures for the large containers are also known and typically include a roof portion, a shoulder portion depending downwardly from the roof por...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]At the end of each frangible line, the cap may further include scored sections to help prevent damage and rupturing of the well during probe insertion. The scored section may include a portion on the base structure and / or a portion on the wall structure.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, design freedom for such closures is limited.

An issue associated with large containers is that the containers must be lifted and inverted in order to mount on the dispensing device.

Lifting and inverting the open, heavy bottle is awkward and can lead to accidental spillage and / or an unsanitary condition if one attempts to cover the open end of the bottle with their hand.

The '188 patent does not enjoy significant commercial acceptance for a number of reasons.

Possible attempts to soften the end would lead to increased difficulty in piercing the bottom portion of the closure well.

Another problem with the '188 patent is that there is no provision to reseal the closure well when the container, still having water within, is removed from the dispenser.

Such a removal would inevitably result in significant spillage from a partially full container, leading to messy and possibly hazardous conditions.

Spillage was even a problem when removing an essentially exhausted container.

Thus, when the contents of the container were effectively exhausted, a small amount of residual water still remained in the container, trapped between the inverted closure cap and the opening of the probe.

Over time this spillage could result in excessive water gathering in the cup-like receptacle of the dispenser, leading to an unsanitary condition.

Nevertheless, the relatively high cost of these multiple component systems has challenged the packaging industry to devise improved, less costly alternatives.

Two problems are associated with the “non-spill” type closures comprising frangible lines intended to be penetrated by a standard blunt probe.

First, the force required to initially puncture the frangible lines can be considerable.

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