Container, closure and method of manufacturing

Abstract

In some embodiments, the device and method provided herein can be used for dispensing fluids, such as thixotropic fluids. In some embodiments, the bottle with the closure comprises a flip-top, a base, and a dish, wherein the base and the dish define a mixing chamber that is configured to facilitate mixing any slurry or liquid separated from the fluid back into it. In some configurations, the base has a central opening and an inner shaft, through which the fluid flows out, and the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft is opposite to the central opening. In some configurations, the non-planar end surface and the dish define a passage between the mixing chamber and the inner shaft. In some embodiments, the dish comprises a central opening, a plurality of local annular openings passing through the planar surface of the dish, and a projection extending into the mixing chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to containers for fluids. More particularly, the present disclosure generally relates to containers with closures. Background Art

[0002] Fluid containers occasionally have dosing and leakage problems, particularly during transport and / or when the container is placed in certain configurations. Many bottled consumer products can suffer from such drawbacks. For example, thixotropic fluids, such as ketchup or certain liquid soaps, are sometimes sold in bottles that utilize a flexible plastic film valve with an "X-shaped slit." These bottles are sometimes used as inverted bottles that rest on their caps when not in use so that gravity holds the product in place adjacent the valve.

[0003] One problem with this type of valve is that, in some cases, product may leak through the valve when the bottle is not in use. Another problem is that the product may be ejected from the opening at an undesirably high velocity during dispensing, increasing the risk of splashing. The high-velocity discharge of the product also makes proper metering difficult, as control of the product at high speeds is often insufficient. A third problem is that the valve may resist or prevent the inflow of air to maintain the internal volume after dispensing, resulting in a subatmospheric pressure, or partial vacuum, within the bottle. This can cause paneling, or bowing, or other undesirable inward deflection of the container walls, which can be aesthetically problematic as well as functionally problematic, as it can increase the manual pressure required to dispense the product and may result in uneven or inconsistent dispensing in response to squeezing, or manual application of pressure to the outside of the container.

[0004] Another problem is that such membrane valves are typically formed from silicone, while the rest of the lid is typically formed from another material, such as polypropylene. Combining multiple materials into the closure increases manufacturing complexity and cost, and can make recycling difficult and / or impractical, making the solution less attractive for large-scale use.

[0005] Furthermore, such membrane valves and other similar solutions do not always adequately address product separation issues that often occur in fluids, such as when a slurry, water, or another thin liquid component with a relatively low viscosity separates from the rest of the fluid, such as ketchup. This separation can increase leakage, increase splashing, and cause the thin liquid component to be dispensed separately from the rest of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods related to containers, closures, and manufacturing methods are disclosed herein. This specification includes the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a bottle with a cap according to some embodiments.

[0008] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A Cross-sectional view of the bottle in an inverted position.

[0009] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cap and a portion of a bottle according to several embodiments.

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the cover in the open configuration.

[0011] Figure 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the cover in an inverted orientation.

[0012] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of a cover with a tray removed therefrom, according to some embodiments.

[0013] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the underside of a tray according to several embodiments.

[0014] Figure 7A and 7B are top and bottom plan views of trays according to several embodiments.

[0015] Figure 7C yes Figure 7A and 7B A bottom side view of the dish.

[0016] Figure 7D It is along Figure 7B A cross-sectional view taken along line 7D-7D.

[0017] Figure 7E It is along Figure 7B A cross-sectional view taken along line 7E-7E of FIG.

[0018] Figure 8 is a perspective, cross-sectional, partial view of a cover in a closed configuration with a tray removed therefrom, according to several embodiments.

[0019] Figure 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover without a tray attached to the cover according to several embodiments.

[0020] Figure 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover without a tray attached to the cover according to several embodiments.

[0021] Figure 11 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover according to several embodiments.

[0022] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an inner shaft at a cover opening according to several embodiments.

[0023] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an inner shaft at a cover opening according to several embodiments.

[0024] Figure 14 and 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of an alternative embodiment.

[0025] Figure 16 and 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover according to several embodiments.

[0026] Figure 18 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of a cover showing an alternative embodiment.

[0027] Figure 19 yes Figure 18 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 20 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of a cover showing an alternative embodiment.

[0029] Figure 21 yes Figure 20 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 22 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of a cover showing an alternative embodiment.

[0031] Figure 23 yes Figure 22 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 24 is a side view of a cover in an open configuration according to several embodiments.

[0033] Figure 25 and 26 yes Figure 24 A partial cross-sectional view of the cover.

[0034] Figure 27 is a side view of a cover in an open configuration according to several embodiments.

[0035] Figure 28 and 29 yes Figure 27 A partial cross-sectional view of the cover.

[0036] Figure 30 is a side view of a cover in an open configuration according to several embodiments.

[0037] Figure 31 and 32 yes Figure 30 A partial cross-sectional view of the cover.

[0038] Figure 33 and 34 is a cross-sectional view showing an alternative mixing chamber.

[0039] Figures 35-37 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative inner shaft according to several embodiments.

[0040] Figure 38 is a cross-sectional view of the cover with enlarged detail to illustrate various finishing options for the inner shaft.

[0041] Figures 39-44 is a partial perspective view with a portion removed to illustrate an alternative embodiment of the inner shaft of the base.

[0042] Figures 45A-45I is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a tray.

[0043] Figure 46A and 46B is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a disc.

[0044] Figures 47A-47I is a perspective view of the underside of an alternative embodiment of a tray.

[0045] Figure 48 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of an alternative cover according to several embodiments.

[0046] Figure 49 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative cover.

[0047] Figure 50 is a partial cross-sectional view of another alternative cover.

[0048] Figure 51 Includes a perspective view of a portion of an alternative cover.

[0049] For simplicity and clarity, the various elements are shown in the figures, and the elements are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the size and / or relative position of some elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help enhance understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention. In addition, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments may be omitted so as to have a less obstructive view of these different embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and / or steps may be described or depicted in a specific order of occurrence, but in fact no specificity with respect to the order is required. The terms and expressions used herein have the common technical meanings given to these terms and expressions by those skilled in the art in the above-mentioned technical field, unless different specific meanings have been separately provided herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for facilitating the dispensing of fluids, such as thixotropic fluids, from bottles. Some embodiments include a closure for such bottles. The closure may include a flip-up member, a base, and a disc, wherein the base and disc define a mixing chamber configured to facilitate mixing of fluids, such as slurries or liquids separated from the fluids and returned to the closure. In some configurations, the base has a central opening through which the fluid exits, and a hollow inner shaft with a non-planar end surface opposing the central opening, the non-planar end surface and the disc defining one or more channels between the mixing chamber and the interior of the shaft. (In other configurations, the shaft may have a planar end surface opposing the opening, and the shaft may have an aperture formed therein.) In some embodiments, the disc includes a central opening, a plurality of partially annular openings extending through the planar surface of the disc, and a protrusion extending into the mixing chamber. To exit the bottle, the fluid travels from a reservoir or bottle, through an opening in the disc (e.g., a partially annular opening or a central pinhole), and through a slideway formed by the inner shaft, exiting the central opening of the base. The fluid is advanced through these openings and passages by the user applying manual pressure to the bottle.

[0051] In certain embodiments, dispensing bottle comprises the main body of the container with neck, and the external thread on this neck engages with the internal thread on the cap, and this cap comprises base and flip-top.In an illustrative embodiment, the base of cap has skirt, is provided with base thread thereon, and wherein base thread is constructed to engage with the external thread on the neck of bottle.In addition, in certain embodiments, base comprises one or more fixing elements, protrusion or ring on the base inner surface (as on the inner surface of skirt), and central part, and this central part has the opening aligned with inner shaft, wherein, when opening is unimpeded, allows fluid to flow out from there.According to a method, inner shaft terminates in the non-planar end surface opposite to central part.In addition, this inner shaft can have the dish that is adjacent its installation.

[0052] As previously described, the lid has a flip-top, and in one illustrative configuration, the flip-top has an internal protrusion that is movable between a closed first position and an open second position, wherein the protrusion blocks the opening of the base, preventing or inhibiting fluid from flowing out of the interior of the container body in the first position and allowing fluid to flow out through the opening of the base in the second position. Furthermore, in one illustrative embodiment, the disk is connected to the interior of the base by snapping the disk into place at (some) retaining rings, the disk having a central pinhole and a partial annular groove disposed around the central pinhole. In one exemplary configuration, a mixing chamber is formed by the disk and a central portion of the base, as well as the skirt and the inner shaft. Furthermore, in some configurations, a plurality of fluid channels are formed by a non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and a disk that allows fluid to flow from the mixing chamber to the inner shaft.

[0053] In some embodiments, when the bottle is in an inverted position such that the bottle opening is positioned below the body of the container, the cap in the closed position enables the thixotropic fluid to maintain a stable equilibrium in the bottle without leakage. In some embodiments, when the cap is in the open position, the cap is configured to control the dispensing of the thixotropic fluid while pressure is applied to the container body, while the release of pressure on the container body quickly stops the dispensing, such as by allowing air to flow back into the container body, causing the bottle to rebound and reversing the flow of the thixotropic fluid in the internal passageway. Furthermore, in one illustrative configuration, this occurs without requiring the disk to move relative to the base. According to one approach, rebound is achieved by allowing air to quickly enter the bottle to replace the dispensed volume of fluid, which allows the bottle to quickly return to its original shape.

[0054] In one illustrative method, before exiting the dispensing bottle through the central opening, at least a portion of the fluid is dispensed by downwardly propelling it through the partially annular opening, through the mixing chamber, and then inwardly through the fluid passageway defined between the disk and the non-planar end of the inner shaft, and then downwardly through the interior of the shaft. According to one method, before the thixotropic fluid moves through the passageway formed by the end of the inner shaft and the disk and exits the central opening of the base, the thixotropic fluid disposed in the bottle can be squeezed out of the bottle, propelled through the partially annular groove in the disk and through the mixing chamber, where any separated slurry can be mixed into the fluid. Additionally, a portion of the fluid can be propelled downwardly through a small hole or pinhole in the disk and through the central opening of the base. As described above, during operation, the bottle can quickly recover its shape after pressure is removed. Air can flow into the bottle through one or both of these pathways, for example, through the pinhole in the disk and / or through the annular opening, allowing air to flow into the bottle through the internal chamber, passageway, pinhole, mixing chamber, and / or partially annular groove. Generally, air is drawn into the bottle when pressure on the bottle body or container is released. Therefore, in short, air flows into the main cavity of the bottle through at least one central pinhole or local annular groove of the dish.In addition, once the dish is mounted on the base of the closure, the dish remains stationary relative to the base according to a method.

[0055] In some embodiments, the closure, including the base, flap, and disc, is generally composed of polypropylene, allowing the entire closure to be recycled as a unit. Furthermore, due to the absence of a silicone membrane, in some embodiments, the closure strength does not significantly degrade over time, and its performance exhibits minimal degradation. In some embodiments, the pressure required to dispense fluid from the bottle remains virtually constant throughout the life of the bottle.

[0056] As described herein, the cap can allow for better metering. It can prevent accidental, high-speed discharge of product from the bottle, which can be messy, and can prevent permanent collapse or other permanent inward deformation of the bottle. Furthermore, the cap configuration can reduce splashing. Furthermore, as described below, the mixing chamber can be configured to facilitate cleaning of its exterior surface, for example, by having an outwardly convex or domed exterior surface.

[0057] According to one method, the outer side, bottom (when the bottle is inverted) surface of the base, adjacent to the central opening through which the fluid is dispensed, has an arc-shaped or dome-shaped central portion with a planar peripheral surface around it. In one example, the interior of the base has an inner shaft that extends parallel to the skirt of the base, at least to a certain extent. In some configurations, the base includes an inner blocker disposed adjacent to the central opening, wherein the inner diameter of the inner shaft is sharply reduced. According to one method, the blocker has sharp edges and is free of burrs. In some configurations, the inner diameter of the opening itself is different from that of the inner shaft wall. More particularly, in such a configuration, the diameter of the opening into the container is smaller than the diameter between the inner shaft walls. This reduction in size and the relatively sharp edges therebetween help to reduce the tail formation of the product by retaining the product portion in the seal. In addition, surface tension and the size of the opening also help to reduce the tail formation of the product. Although this blocker cannot prevent the product from flowing out of the opening of the cap, it reduces the amount of release under a certain pressure by slowing down the flow rate. According to one approach, the cutoff piece is relatively small compared to the diameter of the shaft. In some configurations, the width of the internal cutoff piece is approximately 1 mm, while the diameter of the opening into the container itself is approximately 3 mm to approximately 7 mm. In another configuration, the diameter of the opening is approximately 3.5 mm to approximately 4.5 mm. In yet another embodiment, the diameter of the opening is approximately 4 mm, while the diameter of the inner shaft is approximately 6 mm. Accordingly, in some configurations, the cutoff piece has a width of approximately 1 mm.

[0058] While the stopper helps to quickly stop liquid dispensing, the disc (and its interface with the inner shaft) also reduces the pressure induced by the product in the bottle when pressure on the bottle is released, which helps to stop dispensing. As discussed below, the size and configuration of the opening in the disc helps monitor flow rate and, depending on the viscosity and surface tension of the product, the disc geometry can be adjusted to accommodate different fluids.

[0059] At the upper end of the inner shaft, distal from the opening in the base, the inner shaft, in some embodiments, has a non-planar end surface. According to one approach, the non-planar end surface has a stepped configuration forming a plurality of teeth and depressions. According to another configuration, the non-planar end surface is configured with depressions that are wavy, sinusoidal, or otherwise curved.

[0060] As mentioned above, bottle and cap as described herein can be used for the use of various fluids. In an illustrative configuration, what is filled in the bottle is thixotropic fluid, for example, some condiments, sauces, or some consumer goods, such as shampoo or shower gel. This application may be particularly advantageous because they allow consumers or users to easily and quickly distribute the required amount of fluid without splashing or otherwise causing the accidental mess of liquid. According to a method, the dispensing bottle with the cap can have a capacity of approximately 250mL to approximately 1000mL. In addition, various container configurations have also been envisioned, including some containers stored in an inverted configuration, in which the bottle rests on the cap. In an illustrative method, the diameter of the dish is approximately between 20 and approximately 40mm, and the height of the inner shaft is approximately between 4 and approximately 12mm, and the diameter of the inner shaft is approximately 3 to approximately 9mm. In other configurations, the height of the inner shaft is approximately 5 to approximately 9mm, and the diameter is approximately 3 to 5mm.

[0061] As described above, the closure has a mixing chamber formed by a portion of a base having a disc secured thereto. According to one approach, the mixing chamber includes a plurality of extensions extending from the disc. More particularly, in some configurations, the disc includes a plurality of extended flanges extending downwardly from the bottom of the disc (when the bottle is inverted) into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber described herein helps prevent slurry from leaking from a dispensing bottle, in part by remixing the slurry separated from the thixotropic fluid into the remainder of the thixotropic fluid. According to one approach, the mixing chamber prevents separated slurry from leaking from the bottle by mixing it back into the liquid before it leaves the bottle opening. In some embodiments, the mixing chamber has a capacity of, or holds, 2 mL to 11 mL, 3 mL to 9 mL, or 5 to 7 mL, or approximately 6 mL. The disc extensions can aid in remixing the separated slurry by slowing the flow of fluid through the mixing chamber, creating or increasing turbulence, and / or otherwise increasing interaction between the separated slurry and the remainder of the fluid.

[0062] According to one approach, a plurality of retaining rings may be provided, and one of these retaining rings may have a bottle or cap liner associated therewith that can seal the bottle after the cap is attached thereto. For example, a first retaining ring and a second retaining ring may be spaced apart from each other in the axial (vertical) direction, with the edge of the disc captured therebetween. The upper ring (when the bottle is inverted) may have a removable film or liner member associated therewith that seals the opening at the bottle neck before use. The liner member can be manually removed by the consumer before dispensing the product.

[0063] The bottles with closures described herein can be formed, filled, and sealed in high-speed, high-volume, large-scale production operations or in other types of operations. In one approach, a method of manufacturing a dispensing bottle generally includes forming a squeezable flexible bottle, for example, by blow molding, injection molding, or other methods; forming a disk having a base and a flip-top lid and the closure by injection molding or other methods; snapping the disk into the base; filling the container with a fluid (e.g., a thixotropic fluid); and securing the closure to the filled container. In some embodiments, the base has an inner skirt and an outer skirt, the inner skirt having base threads on the interior thereof (wherein the base threads are configured to engage threads on the exterior of the bottle neck), the inner skirt having a retaining ring on the interior thereof, and a central dome-shaped portion having an opening therein that is aligned with the inner axis and terminates in a non-planar end surface opposite the central opening. The dome-shaped portion includes an opening that allows fluid to flow therethrough when the opening is unobstructed, and the flip-top has an internal protrusion that moves between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the internal protrusion blocks the opening in the base, inhibiting or preventing fluid from flowing out, and in the second position, the internal protrusion allows fluid to flow out through the opening in the base. In some embodiments, the disk has a central pinhole and a partially annular groove disposed around the central pinhole, wherein the disk, the central portion of the base, the inner skirt, and the outer surface of the inner shaft define a mixing chamber, and wherein a plurality of fluid channels are formed between the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk. In some configurations, the method further includes sealing the container with a removable liner associated with the closure to seal the product within the body of the bottle. As discussed further below, the base and flip-top can be molded integrally with the disk or separately therefrom.

[0064] In one illustrative configuration, a closure for a container includes a flip-top lid and a base, the base comprising at least a dome-shaped wall with an opening therethrough, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by an upper planar portion, threads on the inner skirt, one or more retaining rings, and an inner shaft cantilevered inwardly from the dome-shaped wall. According to one approach, the inner shaft terminates at a non-planar end surface. Furthermore, in such a configuration, the flip-top lid has a protrusion and is movable between a first position, in which the protrusion blocks the opening, and a second position, in which the protrusion does not block the opening of the base. In some configurations, the closure includes a disc that attaches to the interior of the base by snapping the disc into the retaining ring(s). In such a configuration, the disc has a central needle hole, a partially annular groove disposed around the central needle hole, and a flange extending toward the base, disposed between the inner shaft and the partially annular groove when the disc is attached to the base. Furthermore, according to one approach, the closure includes a mixing chamber defined by the disc, the dome-shaped wall, the inner skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid channels are formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disc.

[0065] In another approach, a method of manufacturing a closure includes forming a flip cap in a mold, the flip cap having (a) a base having at least a dome-shaped wall with an opening therethrough, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, threads on the inner skirt, and a retaining ring, and an inner shaft cantilevering inwardly from the dome-shaped wall, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface, and (b) a flip cap hingedly connected to the base, the flip cap having an internal protrusion and movable from a first position in which the internal protrusion blocks the opening to a second position in which the internal protrusion does not block the opening of the base. Furthermore, in some methods, the method also includes snapping a disk into the retaining ring of the flip cap base, the disk having a central pinhole, a partially annular groove disposed around the central pinhole, and a flange extending toward the base, the flange being disposed between the inner shaft and the partially annular groove when the disk is attached to the base. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the disk and the base form a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the dome-shaped wall, the inner skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid channels are formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk.

[0066] Further, in some configurations, the method also includes forming the closure as two separate components, including a flip cover and a tray, wherein the flip cover includes a base and a flip cover formed as a single, unitary, unitary, integral structure, and wherein the two separate components are made of the same material and assembled at a mold or separate station.

[0067] Figure 1A and 1B A packaged food product is shown, comprising a bottle 10 containing a fluid food product 5 such as ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, mustard or other product, a closure 18 which is secured to the bottle via an internal thread 32 of the closure 18 (e.g., see FIG. Figure 4 ) is engaged with the external thread 16 of the container body 12 and attached to the container body 12. For the purpose of illustration, Figure 1A A portion of the cover 18 is transparently shown in FIG. Figure 1A The bottle is shown in an upright position, but in some embodiments, the bottle 10 is configured to be stored in an inverted position while resting on its closure, such as Figure 1B Thus, during storage and dispensing, the bottle 10 can have the closure 18 positioned below the container body 12 of the bottle 10 without the liquid 5 accidentally leaking from the bottle 10 .

[0068] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the closure 18 includes a base 20 and a hinged top or flip-top 22. To open the bottle 10 so that the liquid 5 can be easily dispensed therefrom, the user can pull the flip-top 22 from the base 20. Figure 2 The closing structure pivots to Figure 3To do this, the user or consumer can apply an upward force to the top cover 22 by engaging the mouth-shaped indentation 70 defined by the upper surface 72 and the lower surface 74. According to one method, the user will manually grasp and pull the upper surface 72 upward, pulling it away from the base 20 and the rest of the bottle 10. The flip top 22 then pivots about the hinge 19 opposite the mouth-shaped indentation 70 to be stably placed in the open configuration.

[0069] like Figure 3 As shown, when the flip cover 22 is in the open configuration, the protrusion 90 of the flip cover 22 moves from obstructing or blocking the opening 34 in the base 20 to a position away therefrom, thereby leaving the opening 34 unobstructed. Figure 3 Also shown is a central portion 30 and a planar portion 62 disposed at least partially therearound. The central portion 39 may be dome-shaped with the opening 34 extending therethrough. Figure 3 In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG, the lower surface 74 of the mouth-shaped indentation 70 extends between sections of the planar portion 62.

[0070] Figure 4 A perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the cover 18 is shown in an inverted orientation. Figure 4 As shown, the base 20 includes an inner skirt 26 having internal threads 32 and one or more retaining rings 44 disposed thereon, an outer skirt 28 with a planar portion 62 therebetween, and a dome-shaped central surface 30 having an opening 34 disposed therein. Figure 4 One or more radial stiffeners or ribs 76 are shown disposed between the outer skirt 28 and the inner skirt 26. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in the illustrative configuration of FIG, the base 20 includes a base portion 20 extending upwardly away from a central dome-shaped surface 30 and terminating in a nonlinear surface 38 (eg, Figure 5 As shown) of the inner shaft 36.

[0071] In one illustrative embodiment, the cover 18 includes a disk 42 (e.g., Figure 4 and 6 36 , wherein a plurality of openings are provided through which fluid 5 and air can flow. According to one approach, a retaining ring 44 disposed on the inner wall of the inner skirt 26 captures the disc 42 in the middle. In another configuration (not shown), the disc 42 can be captured between the retaining ring and another structure, such as a portion or extension of the inner shaft 36. Figure 4 A cross-section of a portion of the closure 18 is shown with the disc 42 captured between two retaining rings 44, illustrating how the disc 42 and base 20 form a mixing chamber 56. In one illustrative embodiment, the mixing chamber 56 is formed by the walls of the inner skirt 26, the central portion 30, the inner shaft 36 of the base 20, and the disc 42.

[0072] Furthermore, the planar portion 62 of the base 20 also engages the inner skirt 26 and the outer skirt 28. As shown in FIG1 , the base 20 also has ribs 80 disposed on the portion of the base 20 that is below the flip-top cap 22 (when the bottle is in an upright orientation). These ribs provide a gripping surface so that if a user wishes to remove the entire closure 18 from the container body 12, they can more easily grasp the closure 18 to disengage the internal threads 32 of the base 20 from the external threads 16 of the neck 14. In other configurations, the ribs 80 can be removed from the closure 18.

[0073] Figure 5 and Figure 9 An exemplary nonlinear end surface 38 of the inner shaft 36 of the base 20 is shown. In some embodiments, the nonlinear end surface 38 forms a passage opening for fluid and air to move between the mixing chamber 56 and the inner shaft 36. According to one approach, the nonlinear end surface 38 has a stepped configuration 64, such as Figure 8 and 9 As shown. In another approach, the nonlinear terminating surface 38 has a wavy, sinusoidal, or other curved configuration. In some configurations, the nonlinear terminating surface 38 can have a semicircular depression cut into the wall of the inner shaft 36. Additionally, a single or multiple depressions can form one or more channels between the mixing chamber 56 and the inner shaft 36.

[0074] Further, in Figure 5 and Figure 9 The stepped configuration 64 shown in FIG may include one or more raised teeth 68 and one or more deep grooves 66 extending from its midpoint or otherwise positioned. The stepped configuration 64 of the nonlinear terminal surface 38 of the inner shaft 36 cooperates with the surface of the disk to form fluid channels 58 having varying widths and / or depths. Figure 10 As shown, the nonlinear terminal surface 39 may also have an undulating or curved configuration with a plurality of grooves or depressions 65 and a rounded extension 69. The undulating nonlinear terminal surface 39 functions similarly to the stepped configuration discussed above, forming the channel 58 with the disc 42. In some configurations, the nonlinear terminal surface may have a combination of stepped portions, protrusions, angled and / or curved sections, among other elements.

[0075] In fact, the nonlinear terminating surface 38 may take various configurations, such as, Figure 8-10 and the structures shown in 39-44. As described above, Figure 5 and Figure 9 The nonlinear termination surface 38 shown in FIG has a stepped configuration forming a plurality of channels 58. In addition, in another configuration, Figure 10 The non-linear terminating surface 39 shown in FIG. 3 has a wavy or sinusoidal configuration. Figure 39A nonlinear termination surface 2238 is shown having two different heights, with Figure 8 and Figure 9 The three different heights described are opposite. Figure 40 A non-linear terminating surface 2338 is shown having two heights and an angled portion therebetween. Figure 41 A non-linear terminating surface 2438 is shown having generally V-shaped valleys disposed between corners or protrusions having triangular cross-sections. Figure 42 and Figure 39 Similarly, a nonlinear termination surface 2538 is shown having two different heights, but Figure 42 The corners or projections have a triangular or trapezoidal shape, with the angles being more acute or less severe adjacent to the larger base. Figure 43 A nonlinear terminating surface 2638 is shown having a stepped configuration, wherein the width of the lowest step is less than the width of the uppermost step. Figure 44 A nonlinear end surface 2738 is shown having triangular corners or protrusions with U-shaped valleys therebetween. It should be noted that the features shown may be used as shown or in combination with other exemplary features, including, for example, those shown in other figures. Alternatively, the ends of the shaft may be linear or flat, and the shaft may include other openings incorporated therein.

[0076] In addition to partially forming the mixing chamber 56, the disk 42 also defines a partial annular groove or opening 50 therein to allow the fluid (and its components) to flow into the mixing chamber. The annular opening 50 can take various configurations, such as, Figure 7A 、 7B and the construction shown in 45A-45I. According to one method, as Figure 7A and 7B As shown, the disk 42 includes four openings. In other embodiments, as shown Figure 45A As shown, the disk 1142 has two openings. In another example, Figure 45B includes three annular openings 1250, and Figure 45C The example includes five openings 1350 . Figure 45D An exemplary disk 1442 is shown having six openings 1450, while Figure 45E An exemplary disk 1542 having seven annular openings 1550 is shown. Figure 45F The exemplary disk 1642 shown includes eight annular openings 1650 and offset pinholes 1648, while Figures 45A-45E and 45G-45I are centrally located in the disk shown therein. Figure 7A 、 7B The corners of the annular openings shown in 45A-45F are rounded without any sharp edges or pinch points, and Figures 45G-45I The openings shown have less circular openings 1750, 1850, and 1950. These features can be combined in various ways.

[0077] Figures 47A-47I Also shown are some exemplary trays having various features that may help manage the flow of fluid from the bottle and through the cap. As mentioned above, bottles are often stored and / or used in a top-down position, such that slurry separated in the chamber may leak from the bottle, in part because it may not be advanced through a particularly long flow path or time before being mixed back into the fluid before being removed from the cap.

[0078] In order to facilitate mixing of any separated slurry with the rest of the fluid, the disc may include additional features such as additional openings disposed within its flange. In one illustrative embodiment, these openings are between the annular groove and the center of the disc, which may have a central pinhole as described above. Figure 47A One illustrative disk 2042 shown includes an annular opening 2051 within a flange 2054, which is itself within a larger annular opening or slot 2050. In this manner, the presence of a smaller interior opening 2051 adjacent the inner wall of the flange 2054 facilitates mixing of the fluid and any of its separate constituent elements. Figure 47B and 47C Also shown are exemplary discs 2142, 2242 having adjacent flanges 2154, 2254 and annular openings or slots 2150, 2250 with central or interior openings 2151, 2251, although similar to Figure 47A The shapes and sizes of the openings are different from each other. Figure 47C The central pinhole is missing, and Figure 47A and 47B The disc shown therein includes a central opening. In addition to these configurations, the pinhole can also be arranged offset from the geometric center of the disc, as previously suggested.

[0079] Figures 47D-47F Additional illustrative embodiments are shown of a disc having posts extending therefrom to promote mixing of the fluid as it moves through the cap. Once mounted or secured to the remainder of the cap, the posts typically extend toward the outlet or opening of the bottle. For example, exemplary disc 2342 ( Figure 47D ) includes an annular opening 2350 and a central configuration column 2353, the sides of which are relatively smooth. Figure 47E The disk 2442 shown in FIG. 2442 includes an annular opening 2450, a flange 2454, and a centrally disposed post 2453. Whereas the post 2353 has a rounded exterior, the post 2453 has uneven sides and has a generally X-shaped configuration in cross-section.

[0080] While the pillars are shown as being centrally arranged, they can also be arranged off-center, and multiple pillars can be included in the disc. Furthermore, the pillars can have a variety of surface textures and configurations. Indeed, a variety of pillar configurations can be included in the lid, depending on the fluid moving through it.

[0081] In some configurations, instead of a post, the disk may have another similar structure, such as a cone. Figure 47I A central portion of a disk 2842 is shown having a conical extension 2857 with an opening 2848 extending therethrough. In addition, the disk 2842 includes an annular opening 2851, a flange 2854, and an opening 2850.

[0082] Figure 47F The disk 2542 of FIG. 2542 similarly has a central configuration post 2553 with a generally X-shaped cross-section and an annular opening 2550. However, instead of discrete flanges, the disk 2542 has one continuous flange or cylindrical wall 2555 extending from the disk 2542. While the cylindrical wall 2555 is shown as being generally perpendicular to the disk, it may also extend at an angle from the disk, similar to FIG. Figure 46B The flanges are not shown in a perpendicular manner.

[0083] Figure 48 The disk 2542 is shown secured to the remainder of the cover 2518. In addition, the post 2553 is shown extending at least partially into the inner shaft 2536. In this manner, the fluid must pass through the annular opening 2550, across or around the cylindrical wall 2555, across or around the end of the inner shaft 2536, and be propelled through the shaft along the post 2553 toward the opening 2534. Such a configuration, with a somewhat entangled flow path, may be particularly suitable for certain fluids having particular fluid properties.

[0084] Other modifications or combinations of the features described herein may be made. For example, Figure 47G Shown with Figure 47B The disc 2142 is similar to the disc 2642, however, the flange 2654 is not like Figure 47B As long as shown in Figure 47B Compared with the flange 2654 in the Figure 47G There is more room or space for movement between the flanges 2654. In addition, Figure 47H The outer annular opening 2750 in the disc 2742 is shown adjacent to the opening 2751 without a flange disposed therebetween. Many of the various structural features of the disc, including those described herein, can be combined or modified in various ways to tailor the disc to the characteristics of the fluid being propelled from the bottle through its cap.

[0085] As described above, the mixing chamber 56 and the opening in the disk 42 formed by the disk 42 and the inner shaft 36 allow for accurate dispensing and metering of the fluid 5 within the container. Thus, the geometry of the disk 42 helps promote proper dispensing of the fluid 5.

[0086] Figure 7A A first side of the disc 42 is shown with the flange 54 of the disc 42 extending downwardly when the bottle is inverted and facing the inner shaft 36 when the disc 42 is mounted in place between the retaining ring(s) of the closure 18. Although the flange 54 may extend orthogonally from the face of the disc 42 (e.g., Figures 7C-7E ), but the flange 54 may also extend from the disk 42 at an angle other than 90°. Figure 46A and 46B , two illustrative flange configurations are shown. Figure 46A The flange 54 is shown extending at approximately 90° from the body of the disc 42. Figure 46B In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the flange 54′ extends from the body of the disc 42 at an angle less than 90°. Such an angled flange may affect the flow of the product 5 entering the mixing chamber 56 and may affect the mixing action in the chamber. Figure 46A and 46B Both flanges shown in the figure help to mix the product as it is propelled towards the outlet, but depending on the flow characteristics of the product, Figure 46B The angle of the flange 54' shown in can be less than 90. ° As described above, the central needle hole 48 is configured to pass through the center of the planar portion of the disk 42 and is partially surrounded by a plurality of grooves or partial annular openings 50. The peripheral partial annular openings 50 are significantly larger than the central needle hole, and most of the fluid 5 flowing out of the bottle 10 is propelled through the partial annular openings 50. In some embodiments, the diameter D1 of the disk 42 is 20mm to 40mm, 25mm-35mm or about 30-34mm. In an exemplary construction, the diameter D1 of the disk 42 is approximately 31.9mm±0.1mm. According to one approach, the arc length of the annular groove is 10-15mm, or 11-14mm. As Figure 7B As shown, the arc length A1 of each opening can be approximately 12.7 mm. Furthermore, the annular opening 50 has an inner radius of curvature R1 at the inner edge of the opening and an outer radius of curvature R2 at the outer edge of the opening. In one illustrative approach, R1 is approximately 6-10 mm and R2 is approximately 10-15 mm. In another illustrative approach, R1 is approximately 8-9 mm and R2 is approximately 12-13 mm. In one illustrative embodiment, R1 is approximately 8.3 mm and R2 is approximately 12.3 mm.

[0087] like Figure 6 and 7AAs shown, a partially annular opening 50 is disposed adjacent to a flange 54. When the disc 42 is installed in the base 20, the flange 54 extends into the mixing chamber 56, so that the fluid 5 (including any constituents, such as slurry) cannot be propelled directly through the opening 50 into the inner shaft 36 and out of the bottle. Instead, the portion of the fluid 5 propelled through the opening 50 must flow into the mixing chamber 56 before the fluid exits the bottle 10 (thereby promoting mixing of any constituents of the fluid 5 separated therefrom). In one illustrative approach, the extension or flange 54 has a height h1 of approximately 2-5 mm. In another illustrative approach, the height h1 is approximately 3-4 mm. In one exemplary embodiment, h1 is approximately 3.5 mm. Furthermore, in operation, the length or height of the flange 54 can be correlated to the depth of the channel 58 formed by the nonlinear terminal surface 38, as having these dimensions helps promote mixing by requiring the fluid to flow around the flange 54 rather than directly through the annular opening 50 and through the fluid channel 58. In one illustrative approach, the height h2 of the disc 42 is approximately 3-7 mm. In another illustrative approach, the height h2 of the disk 42 is approximately 4-6 mm. In yet another illustrative approach, the height h2 of the disk 42 is approximately 4.8 mm.

[0088] like Figure 7D As shown in FIG, in some embodiments, the width w1 of the planar portion of the disk 42 is about 0.75 mm to about 3 mm. In one illustrative approach, the width w1 of the disk 42 is about 1-2 mm. In one illustrative approach, the width w1 of the disk 42 is about 1.3 mm. The width of the central pinhole opening 48, such as Figure 2 Shown is d2, which is approximately 1-2 mm. In one illustrative approach, the width d2 of the pinhole 48 is approximately 1.5 mm.

[0089] like Figure 7E As shown, each of the partial annular openings 50 can have a beveled edge on the surface of the disk 42 facing the base 20. When the bottle is placed in a cap-side-up (upright) configuration, this orientation can help the fluid 5 (e.g., at least a portion of the fluid not retained in the inner shaft 36) flow back into the container body 12. In addition, the beveled edge can also help move air back into the bottle to improve the resilience of the bottle or container body 12.

[0090] To facilitate proper dispensing of the fluid, the geometry of the disc 42 regulates the flow of the fluid 5, including, for example, the size, shape, and angle of the flange 54. In addition to the geometry discussed above, there are sufficient openings in the disc 42 relative to the area of the disc 42 to facilitate adequate flow of the fluid 5 while preventing leakage from the closure 18. The openings 50 are of a specific size, shape, and location to facilitate the flow of the fluid, thereby enabling easy dispensing and quick resumption of the bottle. In one illustrative embodiment, the total area of the disc is approximately 800 mm.2 The total area of the local annular opening 50 and the central pinhole is about 211mm 2 , or about 26% of the total disc area. According to some methods, the total area of the disc openings will cover about 20-35% of the total disc area, and generally, the area occupied by the partial annular openings is much larger than that of the central pinhole.

[0091] exist Figure 4 , the flow of ketchup during dispensing is shown as a dashed line. After dispensing, the flow of air into the bottle to displace the ketchup is shown as a thick solid line. The lighter solid line shows the flow of slurry separated from fluid 5, which flows into mixing chamber 56 where it is mixed back into fluid 5.

[0092] In some illustrative embodiments, the closure 18 (e.g., base 20, flip-top lid 22, and disc 42) is composed of a single material, such as polypropylene or other food-grade plastics or polymers, or similar recyclable materials. Forming the closure 18 from a single material can increase the ease and potential for material recycling during operation. According to some embodiments, a material can be selected to have a specific surface tension. For example, the surface of the disc 42 (and potentially other interior surfaces of the closure) can be roughened or textured to provide flow resistance and help control the flow of the fluid being dispensed. As discussed below, the interior surface of the inner shaft 38 can also be textured to inhibit flow, or can have a smooth surface to facilitate fluid movement therethrough. A smooth surface can result in faster and / or more difficult to control fluid flow and, due to reduced surface tension, can also lead to leakage of the product or its separated components. The surface treatment of the material or the manner in which the components are formed can also affect the surface tension of the components and help facilitate control of fluid flow. For example, portions of the flip-top lid 18 can have a roughened surface to affect the flow of the fluid 5 therethrough.

[0093] Briefly go to Figure 38 , two different exemplary finished surfaces 77 and 79 are shown. Although a single inner wall 78 may have a single texture across its entire surface or portions of surfaces having different textures, Figure 38 The cap 18 shown in FIG has a first portion 2078 with a relatively rough texture 77 and a second portion 2178 with a relatively smooth texture 79. As described above, the surface of the material forming the cap 18 can inhibit, slow, or restrict the flow of the liquid 5 within the bottle. Whether to include a textured surface on part or all of the cap, such as the inner wall of the inner shaft, can depend on the type of fluid being propelled through the cap 18.

[0094] like Figure 6As shown, a first side of the disk 42 (which, when installed, is disposed adjacent the inner shaft 36 of the base 20) includes a rainbow-shaped or arcuate flange or extension 54 extending therefrom. When the disk 42 is installed in the base 20, the arcuate flange or extension 54 extends into the mixing chamber 56 and toward the base 20. The disk extension 54 promotes mixing of the fluid 5 in the mixing chamber 56 by causing the fluid 5 to move around the extension 54 rather than directly into the fluid passage 58 from the partial annular opening 50.

[0095] like Figure 8 As shown, the base 20 at the opening 34 and the inner shaft 36 has an inner blocking piece or protrusion 60 on the inner surface adjacent to the opening, wherein the inner diameter of the inner shaft is sharply reduced. For example, the diameter of the inner shaft can be sharply reduced at the protrusion 60 so that the sharp edge helps to reduce the tail formation of the product by retaining the product portion in the capping, until the manual pressure on the container body becomes large enough to overcome the trend of the fluid being retained in the capping by the protrusion. According to a method, the blocking piece has a sharp edge and is free of burrs. In some configurations, the diameter of the opening into the container is smaller than the diameter of the inner shaft. This reduction in size and the relatively sharp edge therebetween help to stop dispensing in a quick and clean manner. Although this blocking piece cannot prevent the product from flowing out of the opening of the capping, it reduces the release amount under a certain pressure by slowing down the flow rate. According to a method, the blocking piece is relatively small compared to the diameter of the shaft, and the opening into the container itself is between about 3.5mm and about 4.5mm, and is about 4mm in an illustrative embodiment.

[0096] As described above, inner shaft 36 can help support disk 42 when the disk is attached to base 20. According to one approach, the inner wall or interior wall 78 of inner shaft 36 funnels fluid 5 toward opening 34. In one embodiment, interior wall 78 forms at least one of a circular or parabolic shape. Figure 11 An example shape of the inner wall 78 is shown, which narrows slightly near the exit of the inner shaft 36. Additionally, in some embodiments, the shaft 36 may flare again adjacent the opening 34. By flaring slightly where the opening and the upper surface of the base meet, the opening allows the protrusion 90 to be more easily and quickly placed in the opening 34 when the lid 18 is closed. Figure 12 In another configuration shown, the interior wall 78 has a generally vertical straight portion and then an angled portion to direct the fluid 5 toward the opening 34 . Figure 13 and Figure 12 The inner shaft 36 is similar to the inner shaft 36, but further includes a blocking piece 60 or a sharp reduction in diameter of the inner shaft 36 to assist in stopping the dispensing of the fluid 5, as described above. Additional examples of blocking piece configurations or inner protrusions around the opening are shown in FIG. Figure 14 and Figure 15 Shown in. Figure 14The opening 134 is shown with a blocking piece 160 having an interior surface that slopes slightly downward or toward the through opening without a horizontal lip extending from the interior surface as previously discussed. Figure 13 It includes a downwardly sloping portion but has a horizontal blocking piece 60 extending therefrom. Figure 15 An opening 234 is shown having a blocking tab 260 having an interior surface angled away from the through opening.

[0097] Figure 16 and Figure 17 Two options are shown for the configuration of the dome or surface of the container outside the opening 34. For example, Figure 16 The rounded edge where the central portion 30 meets the opening 34 is shown. Figure 14 and 15 There are angled depressions around the opening at this location. Figure 17 A recess 161 with sloping wall surfaces is shown between the central portion 30 and the opening 34 .

[0098] The bottle 10 and closure 18 can be produced in many different ways. In one illustrative method, a method of manufacturing or producing a filled bottle for dispensing a fluid includes molding a container, such as a container body having a threaded neck, filling the container with a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid, molding a closure having a base, a flip-top lid, and a disc, and closing the filled container with the closure. Furthermore, the bottle can be formed and filled on an assembly line, or can be formed at one location and filled at another.

[0099] According to one approach, the closure and disc are molded separately and snapped together. In some configurations, the molded base has an inner skirt and an outer skirt, the inner skirt being provided with base threads that are configured to engage with threads on the neck of the container. Additionally, the molded base may have one or more retaining rings and a central dome-shaped portion on the inner skirt (at a short distance from the threads) having an opening aligned with an inner shaft that terminates at a non-planar end surface opposite the central dome-shaped portion. As described above, the opening in the base allows fluid to flow out through it without obstruction of the opening. In some configurations, the molded flip-top has an internal protrusion that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the protrusion blocks the opening in the base to inhibit the flow of fluid from within the container body, while the second position allows the fluid to flow out through the opening in the base.

[0100] As described above, in some methods, the cover and the tray are molded separately and then secured to each other or snapped together. In such a configuration, the manufacturing method may further include an assembly step that orients the tray in a particular position relative to the rest of the cover or base 20. By including one or more orientation steps before assembling the tray with the rest of the cover, the assembled cover is more likely to have a constant flow rate therein. Additionally, in some configurations, the flow rate can be adjusted for different fluids by adjusting the relative position of certain elements of the cover or tray without changing the structure of the cover or tray. By one approach, visual markings or recessed notches disposed on one or both of the cover or tray may be used to help position the tray and / or cover relative to each other.

[0101] This may depend in part on the configuration of its various components. In one illustrative example, such as Figure 5 The base 20, the nonlinear end surface 38 of the inner shaft 36 includes three cutouts, and Figure 6 The disc 42 includes four flanges 54. The flow of fluid through the assembled closure can be affected by the orientation of the flanges 54 relative to the cutout openings of the inner shaft 36. Thus, the two structural elements can be oriented relative to each other to promote increased fluid flow therebetween or to slow fluid flow by causing the fluid to take a longer path to the bottle outlet. Given the interest in regulating the fluid path or standardizing the flow rate across a large number of closures, the method of manufacturing or assembling the closure and bottle can include orienting the disc in a particular manner relative to the rest of the closure.

[0102] As mentioned above, the method for producing filling bottle can comprise that dish is stuck in the retaining ring of cap.In some configurations, molded dish comprises central pinhole and the local annular groove that is provided with around central pinhole.In case dish is attached to the remainder of cap 18, the central portion of dish 42, base 20, inner skirt 26 and the inner shaft 36 of base just define mixing chamber 56, and a plurality of fluid passages 58 are formed by the non-planar end surface and dish 42 of inner shaft 36.The passage 58 that forms between the end of inner shaft 36 and dish 42 allows fluid to be advanced to the slideway formed by inner shaft 36, that is communicated with opening 34 from mixing chamber 56.

[0103] The filled container or container body, in some configurations, is sealed from the fluid by a liner associated with the closure. For example, a liner, such as a cardboard, plastic, and / or metal material, is associated with a portion of the retaining ring and seals the fluid 5 in the container when the closure 18 is threadedly attached to the container body.

[0104] Furthermore, in some methods, the method of manufacturing a closure includes forming a flip closure comprising a base and a flap in a mold. In some embodiments, the molded base comprises: a dome-shaped wall having an opening therethrough and an inner shaft extending therefrom; an inner skirt having threads thereon; an outer skirt connected to the inner skirt by a planar portion and / or possible reinforcing ribs; and a retaining ring on the inner skirt. The molded base's inner shaft generally extends inward from the dome-shaped wall and terminates at a non-planar end surface. Furthermore, the molded closure includes a flap hingedly connected to the base, wherein the flap has an internal protrusion and is movable from a first position in which the internal protrusion blocks the opening to a second position in which the internal protrusion does not block the base opening. In some configurations, the method of manufacturing the closure further includes snapping a disc into the retaining ring or protrusion of the base. In some embodiments, the disc comprises: a central pinhole; a partially annular groove disposed around the central pinhole; and a flange extending toward the base and disposed between the inner shaft and the partially annular groove when installed. Once the disk and base are attached, a mixing chamber is formed between the disk, dome-shaped wall, inner skirt, and inner shaft, with a plurality of fluid passages formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk.

[0105] In some configurations, the closure is made from only two separate components, including a flip-top lid and a tray. The flip-top lid comprises a base and a flip-top lid formed as a single, integral, unitary, and integrated structure, and the two separate components (i.e., the flip-top lid and the tray) are made from the same material and assembled. In operation, after the closure is molded and ejected from the mold, a mechanism can be used to assemble the tray into the closure (which can be formed in the same mold as the base and flip-top lid, or in a separate location), for example, by snapping it into place within the base. Furthermore, this mechanism or another device can be used to attach a gasket to the retaining ring, which can help seal the fluid in the bottle. In some configurations, the base and flip-top lid are molded in the same mold as the tray; in other configurations, the tray is molded separately from the base and flip-top lid in the same mold. Furthermore, the base and tray can be molded and assembled separately at separate stations. In other configurations, the entire closure (including the base, flip-top lid, and tray) can be molded or printed together.

[0106] As noted above, some adjustments may be made to the concepts described herein while remaining consistent with these teachings. For example, Figure 18 and Figure 19Another embodiment of a disk having an annular opening is shown. As shown, disk 342 has a central portion 384 disposed vertically spaced from a peripheral portion 386 having an annular opening 350 disposed therein. In this configuration, the volume of mixing chamber 356 can be designed to be somewhat independent of the discharge shaft or chamber formed by inner shaft 356. In fact, this mixing chamber 356 is smaller than some of the other mixing chambers discussed above. To allow fluid 5 to flow from mixing chamber 356 to inner shaft 356 forming the discharge chamber, the radius of central portion 384 can be sufficiently large compared to the radius of inner shaft 336 to provide clearance for fluid 5 to pass from mixing chamber 356 through opening or fluid passage 358 formed between inner shaft 336 and mixing chamber 356. Alternatively, opening 358 can extend to a height or position beyond the vertical portion of disk 342, which can be positioned adjacent to inner shaft 336. In short, the opening between the mixing chamber 356 and the inner shaft 358 can be moved or sized to allow fluid flow even if the central portion 384 is not significantly larger than the inner shaft. Figure 18 and Figure 19 384, but in some configurations, the central portion 384 can include a vent formed via a pinhole or other structure. Additionally, the disc 342 can mate with the rest of the lid in any manner, for example, via a snap fit between portions of the base, including ribs and / or protrusions between the disc and base, or other complementary geometric shapes. Figure 20 and 21 Another example of a disc 442 is shown which lacks the central pinhole 48 of some other embodiments. Figure 18 and Figure 19 Rather than including a flange similar to that described above, a vertical portion of the disc separates the central portion 384 and the peripheral portion 386, which operates similarly to mixing the product therein.

[0107] Steering Figure 22 and 23, shows another embodiment, which is a three-part solution having a flat disk 542 and an inner cover or inner cylindrical shell 596. By one approach, the inner cylindrical shell 596 includes a circular wall 592 having one or more openings 598 disposed therein. In this manner, the mixing chamber 556 is in fluid communication with an intermediate chamber 594 defined in part by the inner cylindrical shell 596. By one approach, the inner cylindrical shell 596 is positioned about the inner shaft 536 and held in place via the disk 542, which is held in place by a securing member 544, such as a ring. Alternatively, the inner cylindrical shell 596 may also be securely attached to the central portion 530. When the inner cylindrical shell 596 is arranged in place around the inner shaft 536, the fluid 5 is propelled from the bottle to the outlet or opening 534 through the annular opening 540, the opening 598 of the inner cap 596, and along the length of the inner shaft 536 upward through the internal opening 588 of the inner shaft 536 and down the shaft to the outlet opening 534. As shown, the disk 542 includes the annular opening 540 but lacks a central pinhole because the inner cylindrical shell 596 lacks an opening between the walls 592 on its surface. In this way, the fluid 5 travels and mixes as it is propelled through the fluid passages of the three-part cap 518. In addition to mixing, this configuration may be particularly useful for larger containers because, when the container is inverted, the downward force of the fluid is considerable due to the large amount of product that may be placed above the cap.

[0108] In addition, although Figure 20-23 Not shown includes a flange extending from the disc, but in some constructions the disc may include a flange similar to that described above.

[0109] The outer shape of the central portion of the base can also have various configurations. As mentioned above, the central portion 30 of the base 20 can have a dome-shaped configuration, such as Figure 24 The configuration in the disc 18 is shown. Figure 25 Shown Figure 24 A cross section of a portion of the outlet 34 of the dome-shaped central portion 30. Figure 26 The dome-shaped central portion is further shown in cross-section. While the dome-shaped central portion 30 of the base 20 provides a surface that is easily wiped clean, other configurations having similar properties may also utilize the teachings described herein. For example, Figures 27-29 Another exemplary embodiment is shown, where the cover 618 has a central portion 630 having generally volcano-shaped sloping walls and an opening 634 disposed at its center. Figure 30-32 Another embodiment is shown, including a cover 718 having a rocking center portion 730 and an opening 734 therein, wherein several flat surfaces surround the exterior of the opening 734. Additionally, while Figure 24-32The exemplary shapes shown in show openings with exemplary blocking tabs, but these various shapes can be combined with other opening shapes and aspects described herein.

[0110] As described above, the mixing chamber described herein allows for the separation of the slurry and / or a portion thereof to be incorporated into or mixed back into the fluid before the fluid and / or a portion thereof is discharged from the opening of the container lid. By one approach, the desired size of the mixing chamber can depend in part on the viscosity or other fluid properties of the fluid or product in the container. By one approach, the size of the mixing chamber 56 depends in part on the size of the inner shaft 36, the position of the disc 42 determined via the corresponding geometry of the base, and / or the configuration of the disc, as described above. Figure 33 and 34 , two mixing chambers 56 and 56' of different sizes are shown. Although the components are similar, the walls forming the inner shaft 36 are Figure 34 China and Belgium Figure 33 The wall of the shaft 36' in the mixing chamber is longer, and the corresponding geometric shape (e.g., the fixing ring 44') is disposed at a greater distance from the central surface 30 of the base 20' than the corresponding geometric shape (e.g., the fixing ring 44) is disposed from the central surface 30 of the base 20. Although the relative dimensions of these components can be varied, as shown, their functionality remains the same; that is, the mixing chamber helps prevent the separated slurry from leaking from the bottle separately from the rest of the fluid 5.

[0111] As described above, the inner wall 78 of the inner shaft may have a cross-section formed in various shapes, such as a circular or oval shape. In addition, the shape or configuration formed along the length of the inner wall 78 may adopt various configurations. For example, Figure 4 、 14 As shown in FIG. 15 , the inner shaft 36 , 136 , 236 may have a generally linear inner wall 78 along the height of the inner shaft 36 . In other embodiments, the inner shaft 36 may have one or more non-linear inner walls 78 . In one embodiment, Figure 35 The inner wall 878 of the inner shaft 836 is shown angled toward the opening 834. According to one approach, the downward angle provides a cross-section having a V-shaped configuration. In another embodiment, Figure 36 The inner wall 978 of the inner shaft 936 is shown to have a downward slope that is slightly non-linear. According to one approach, the downward slope provides a cross-section having a modified U-shape. In another embodiment, Figure 37 The inner shaft 1036 is shown having an inner wall 1078 having a stepped configuration that narrows in diameter in a step-like manner.

[0112] Go to Figure 49 , shows a cross-section of the top portion of a dispensing bottle according to another embodiment. Figure 49As shown, dispensing bottle 2900 includes a container body 2902 and a cap 2910. Cap 2910 is configured to selectively allow metering of the contents of container body 2902. Container body 2902 may be similar to the container bodies described above. In use, container body 2902 may contain a fluid, such as a thixotropic liquid. Container body 2902 generally has a neck 2904 extending from the main portion of container body 2902. Neck 2904 may have threads 2906 disposed on its surface for threadably engaging a cap, such as cap 2910.

[0113] Figure 49 The cap 2910 shown in the figure has a base 2912 and a flip top 2914. The base 2912 has an outer skirt 2916 and an inner skirt 2918, which are connected by a planar portion 2920. The inner skirt 2918 includes threads 2922 configured on the inner surface of the skirt. The threads 2922 are sized and configured to engage with the threads 2906 on the neck 2904 of the container body 2902. The base 2912 also includes a dome-shaped central surface 2924 having an opening 2926 configured therein. The opening 2926 is generally aligned with an inner shaft 2927 that extends from the dome-shaped surface 2924 and terminates in a non-planar end surface 2928, which can take a variety of forms. The non-planar end surface 2928 is shown to have a stepped configuration, which is similar to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 and Figure 9 However, in other approaches, the non-planar end surface 2928 can have a wavy, sinusoidal, or other curved configuration, for example, Figure 10 The central opening 2926 permits fluid to flow out of the container body 2902 when the opening 2926 is unobstructed.

[0114] The base 2912 further includes an inner annular attachment skirt 2929 extending from the dome-shaped central surface 2924. The end of the attachment skirt 2929 opposite the dome-shaped central surface 2924 generally has a geometry that mates with the geometry of the disk 2938 to which it is assembled. In one illustrative approach, the geometry of the attachment skirt 2929 includes an angled tip 2930 at one end thereof. Figure 49 As shown, the angled end 2930 has an engagement surface 2932 facing inwardly toward the inner shaft 2927. According to some approaches, the angled end 2930 is configured to engage a portion of the disk 2938 to guide the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 to connect with the disk 2938, as will be described in more detail below. The inner annular attachment skirt 2929 may further include a ridge 2933 configured on the inner surface of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929. The ridge 2933 may be as shown. Figure 49The angled tip 2930 shown may be an extension of the angled tip 2930, or may be independent of the angled tip 2930, for example, disposed on the surface of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 at a location closer to the dome-shaped center surface 2924. The angled tip 2930 and the ridge 2933 may together have a hook or barb configuration so that the angled tip 2930 can be easily snapped onto the ridge, rib, or groove, but it may be more difficult to remove. For example, Figure 49 As shown, the angled tip 2930 has an engagement surface 2932 that extends at a slight angle away from the end of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 before angling sharply back toward the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 at a location closer to the central surface 2924 of the base 2912, thereby providing a secure snap-fit or friction-fit connection between the disc 2938 and the remainder of the cover 2912. Furthermore, the annular attachment skirt 2929 and the corresponding outer annular wall 2940 with which the attachment skirt 2929 engages are typically composed of a material that permits them to be easily flexed relative to each other during assembly, thereby allowing them to be mated together with a low risk of damage to any portion of the cover 2900.

[0115] In addition, the lid 2910 includes a flip-top 2914 having an inner protrusion 2936 disposed on its inner surface. The flip-top 2914 is typically hingedly connected to the base 2912 to allow the top cover 2914 to be reclosably moved between a first, closed position and a second, open position. The hinged connection may be, for example, a living hinge connecting the flip-top 2914 and the base 2912. In the first, closed position, the protrusion 2936 blocks the opening 2926 of the base 2912, thereby inhibiting the outflow of liquid from the container body 2902. The protrusion 2936 can be configured to prevent the outflow of fluid without leakage even when the bottle is in an inverted position, i.e., when the lid 2910 is at the bottom of the dispensing bottle 2900. In the second, open position, the protrusion 2936 is no longer located in the opening 2926 of the base 2912, thereby allowing the fluid to flow out through the opening 2926.

[0116] As described above, the dispensing bottle 2900 also includes a disc 2938, which generally includes an outer annular wall 2940, one or more needle holes 2942, a partial annular groove 2946 disposed around the needle holes 2942, and an inner flange 2948. By one approach, the needle holes 2942 are disposed in a central portion 2944 of the disc 2938, however, in other configurations, the disc may be completely devoid of needle holes. As shown, the outer annular wall 2940 has an angled tip 2952 disposed on one end thereof. Figure 49, the angled end 2952 has an engagement surface 2954 that partially faces outward from the outer annular wall 2940. When the disc 2938 is attached to the base 2912, the angled end 2952 is configured to engage with the angled end 2930 of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 of the base 2912. Similar to the angled end 2930 of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929, the angled end 2952 of the disc 2938 is configured to guide the disc 2938 when it is connected to the base 2912. For example, the angled end 2952 guides the outer annular wall to bend inward or outward to snap onto the ribs or ridges of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929. The outer annular wall 2940 may further include a ridge 2955 configured on its surface. Figure 49 As shown, the ridge 2955 is configured on the outward facing surface of the outer annular wall 2940. In some configurations, as shown in FIG. 45 , the ridge 2955 can be an extension of the angled tip 2952. In other configurations, the ridge 2955 can be independent of the angled tip 2952, for example, configured on the surface of the outer annular wall 2940 at a location closer to the disk 2938. The angled tip 2952 and the ridge 2955 can together have a hook or barb configuration such that the angled tip guides the outer annular wall 2940 over the rib or ridge in one direction, but makes movement in the opposite direction over the rib or ridge more difficult. For example, as Figure 49 As shown, an angled tip 2952 at the end of the outer annular wall 2940 has an engagement surface 2954 that extends away from the outer annular wall 2940 at a slight angle before sharply angled back toward the outer annular wall 2940 at a location closer to the body 2938 of the disc at the bottom 2956 of the tip 2952. In operation, the slight angle generally allows the disc to slide easily over the ridge in the direction in which the slightly inclined surface contacts the ridge, while the sharply angled surface causes more force to be required to move over the ridge in the opposite direction.

[0117] As described above, the pinhole 2942 can be disposed in the central portion 2944 of the disc, or can be offset therefrom. Figure 48 As shown, the pinhole 2542 is located at the geometric center of the disk 2538. The pinhole 2942 generally allows air to flow into the container body 2902 during use of the dispenser 2900. Figure 51 In the alternative embodiment shown, the disk 3100 may have two pinholes 3102, 3104 instead of a single pinhole. Similar to the pinholes discussed previously, such as Figure 45FAs shown, the needle holes 3102, 3104 can be offset from the center point 3106 of the disk 3100. This configuration may be advantageous in the case of injection molding of the disk 3100 so that the injection point can be at the center of the disk 3100. The needle holes 3102, 3104 can be at the same distance from the center point 3106 of the disk 3100, or each can be at a different distance from the center point 3106. Figure 51 As shown, the pinholes 3102, 3104 are symmetrical across the center point 3106. In some alternative embodiments, the pinholes 3102, 3104 may be asymmetrical about the center point 3106. For example, the two pinholes 3102, 3104 may be adjacent to the same partial annular groove. Figure 50 The embodiment shown shows two pinholes, but configurations with more than two pinholes offset from a center point are also contemplated. Additionally, the pinholes may have various shapes, or the disc may not have any pinholes.

[0118] When the disc 2938 is attached to the base 2912, the disc 2938 is aligned with the base 2912 so that the engagement surface 2932 of the angled end 2930 of the base 2912 contacts the engagement surface 2954 of the angled end 2952 of the disc 2938. A force is applied to push the disc 2938 and the base 2912 together. As the force is applied, the angled engagement surfaces 2932, 2954 of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 and the outer annular wall 2940 cause the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 and the outer annular wall 2940 to bend or elastically deflect away from each other as the angled engagement surfaces 2932, 2954 slide over each other. Once the angled end 2930 of the base 2912 clears the ridge 2955 of the disc 2938, the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 elastically returns or springs back to its original, unbent state. Likewise, once the angled end 2952 of the disc 2938 travels beyond the ridge 2955 of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929, the outer annular wall 2940 elastically returns or springs back to its original, unbent state. Figure 49 In the embodiment of the present invention, once the angled tips 2930, 2952 travel over the ridges 2933, 2955, the base 2912 and the disc 2938 remain or are secured together unless pried apart from each other. Forces in opposite directions cause the ridges 2933 of the base 2912 to contact the ridges 2955 of the disc 2938. Because the angle of the side of the ridge 2933 proximate to the dome-shaped surface 2924 is large relative to the inner annular attachment skirt 2929, and the angle of the ridge 2955 proximate to the disc 2938 is large relative to the outer annular wall 2940, a greater force is required to bend the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 and the outer annular wall 2940 away from each other to allow the angled tips 2930, 2952 to travel back over the ridges 2933, 2955.

[0119] Once assembled, the mixing chamber is formed by the disc 2938, the domed central portion 2924, the inner annular attachment skirt 2929, and the inner shaft 2927. A fluid passageway is formed by the non-planar end surface 2928 of the inner shaft 2927, the disc 2938, and the partially annular groove 2946 of the disc 2938. During use, the flip-top 2914 is moved from a first, closed position to a second, open position so that the protrusion 2936 does not inhibit the flow of fluid through the opening 2926 of the base 2912. Once the bottle 2900 is opened, pressure can be applied to the container body 2902 to control the dispensing of the fluid contained therein. Once pressure is applied to the container body 2902, the fluid is forced along the neck 2904 of the container body 2902 and out of the container body 2902 through the partially annular opening of the disc 2938. The fluid can then flow over or between the inner flange 2948 and then through the fluid passageway in the inner shaft 2927. The fluid then flows along the inner shaft 2927 and exits the dispensing bottle 2900 through the opening 2926 of the base 2912. As the fluid flows through the opening and passages of the mixing chamber, the flow of the fluid causes the fluid to mix, as described in more detail above.

[0120] When pressure is removed from the container body 2902, the fluid quickly stops leaving the dispensing bottle. This is in part because air is allowed to flow back into the container body 2902. Air can enter the container body 2902 through, for example, the opening 2926 and the pinhole 2942, the partial annular groove 2946, or both. This causes the container body 2902 to spring back to its original, unpressurized state, thereby reversing the flow of fluid in the internal passageway without the disc 2938 moving relative to the base 2912.

[0121] Now go to Figure 50 , which shows a dispensing bottle 3000 similar to the bottle 2900 described above, with the prefix "29" of the reference numeral being replaced by "30" for similar structure. The dispensing bottle 3000 includes a container body 3002 and a cap 3010, which includes a base 3012 and a flip top 3014, similar to the one described above. Figure 49 The cover 2910. Figure 49 Similar to the base 2912 of the embodiment of the present invention, the base 3012 includes an inner annular attachment skirt 3029 depending from the dome-shaped central surface 3024. The end of the attachment skirt 3029 opposite the dome-shaped central surface 3024 generally has a geometry that engages the geometry of the disk 3038 to which it is assembled. Figure 49 Unlike the embodiment shown, the angled tip 3030 has an engagement surface 3032 that faces outward and away from the inner shaft 3027 rather than inward. The angled tip 3030 can be identical to the inner shaft 3027 in all respects except orientation. Figure 49The angled end 3030 may be similar to the angled end 2930 of the disc 3038. The angled end 3030 may be configured to engage with a portion of the disc 3038 to guide the inner annular attachment skirt 3029 to connect with the disc 3038. The inner annular attachment skirt 3029 may further include a ridge 3033 configured on the outer surface of the inner annular attachment skirt 3029. The ridge 3033 may be as shown. Figure 50 An extension of the angled tip 3030 as shown, or it may be independent of the angled tip 3030, for example, disposed on the surface of the inner annular attachment skirt 3024 at a location closer to the dome-shaped center surface 3029. Figure 49 In some embodiments, the angled tip 3030 and the ridge 3033 may together have a hook or barb configuration so that the angled tip 3030 can be easily snapped onto the ridge, rib, or groove, but it is more difficult to remove. The annular attachment skirt 3029 and the corresponding outer annular wall 3040 that engages the attachment skirt 3029 are typically composed of a material that allows them to be easily flexed relative to each other during assembly, allowing them to be mated together with a low risk of damage to any part of the cover 3010.

[0122] Dispensing bottle 3000 also includes a tray 3038. The tray 3038 may be similar to Figure 49 The disk 2938 includes an outer annular wall 3040, a needle hole 3042, a local annular groove 3046 arranged around the needle hole 3042, and an inner flange 3048. Figure 50 The disk 3038 and Figure 49 Unlike the disc 2938, the angled end 3052 of the outer annular wall 3040 has an engagement surface 3054 that faces inward from the outer annular wall 3040 portion. Figure 49 Similar to the angled end 2952 of the disc 3038, the angled end 3052 is configured to engage with the angled end 3030 of the inner annular attachment skirt 3029 of the base 3012 when the disc 3038 is attached to the base 3012. Similar to the angled end 3029 of the inner annular attachment skirt 3030, the angled end 3052 of the disc 3038 is configured to guide the disc 3012 when the disc 3038 is connected to the base 3038. For example, the angled end 3052 guides the outer annular wall to bend inwardly or outwardly to catch on the ribs or ridges of the inner annular attachment skirt 3029. The outer annular wall 3040 may further include a ridge 3055 configured on its surface. Figure 50 As shown, ridges 3055 are disposed on the inwardly facing surface of outer annular wall 3040. In some configurations, such as Figure 50As shown in FIG, the ridge 3055 can be an extension of the angled tip 3052. In other configurations, the ridge 3055 can be independent of the angled tip 3052, for example, disposed on the surface of the outer annular wall 3038 at a location closer to the disc 3040. The angled tip 3052 and the ridge 3055 can together have a hook or barb configuration so that the angled tip guides the outer annular wall 3040 over the rib or ridge in one direction but makes movement in the opposite direction over the rib or ridge more difficult. The attachment of the disc 3038 to the base 3012 can be similar to that described with respect to FIG. Figure 49 The described method was performed.

[0123] Although Figure 49 and 50 While the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure show both the base and the disc having angled tips, there are also embodiments in which only one of the base or the disc has an angled tip. For example, the base may have an angled tip, while the disc may have a ridge or even an annular depression or groove extending around the outer annular wall. The angled tip of the base may be configured to slide along the surface of the outer annular wall and snap onto a ridge or snap into an annular depression or groove provided on the outer annular wall. In similar embodiments, the disc may have an angled tip, while the base may have a ridge, annular depression, or groove provided on the annular surface of the inner annular attachment skirt, into which the angled tip snaps.

[0124] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other modifications, changes and combinations may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, and these modifications, changes and combinations should be considered to be within the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A dispensing bottle comprising: A container body having a thixotropic fluid, wherein the container body has a neck with threads formed thereon; a cover having a base and a flap, The base has: an inner skirt with base threads disposed thereon, the base threads being configured to engage with the threads on the neck; a central portion having an opening therein aligned with an inner shaft, the inner shaft terminating in a non-planar end surface opposite the central portion, the opening permitting egress of the fluid therethrough when the opening is unobstructed; and an inner annular attachment skirt from the central portion, the inner annular attachment skirt having an angled tip at an end opposite the central portion and a protrusion extending away from the inner annular attachment skirt to form a ridge, The flip cover has an internal protrusion and is reclosably movable between a closed first position and an open second position, wherein the protrusion blocks the opening of the base in the first position, inhibiting the fluid in the container body from flowing out, and the second position allows the fluid to flow out through the opening of the base; a disk having an outer annular wall adjacent an edge thereof, the outer annular wall having an angled distal end on one end thereof, the outer annular wall having a protrusion extending away from the outer annular wall to form a ridge, the disk being attached to the interior of the base portion by mutual engagement of the ridge of the disk and the ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt, the disk including a body having a pinhole and a partial annular groove disposed about the pinhole; as well as a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the central portion, the inner annular attachment skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk; wherein, when the bottle is in an inverted position with the cap at its bottom and the flip cover in a closed first position, the cap is capable of keeping the thixotropic fluid in a stable balance without leakage; and wherein applying pressure to the container body when the flip-top is in the open second position controls dispensing of the thixotropic fluid, with the fluid being dispensed through the partial annular groove of the disc, through the mixing chamber, and through the fluid passageway before exiting the dispensing bottle via the opening in the base, and wherein releasing pressure on the container body allows air to flow back into the container body, causing dispensing to rapidly cease and the flow of the thixotropic fluid in the internal passageway to rebound and reverse without movement of the disc relative to the base.

2. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The mutual engagement of the angled end of the disc and the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt includes a surface of the ridge of the disc contacting a surface of the ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt.

3. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The mutual engagement of the angled end of the disc and the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt includes a portion of the ridge of the angled end of the disc being closer to the central portion of the base than at least a portion of the ridge of the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt.

4. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The angled end of the disc has an engagement surface configured to contact an engagement surface of the angled end of the base to cause the outer annular wall of the disc to deflect away from the inner annular attachment skirt when the disc is snapped into the base.

5. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that An angle formed by the surface of the ridge of the disk proximate to the disk body and the outer annular wall is greater than an angle formed by the engagement surface of the disk and the outer annular wall.

6. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The ridge of the disc is an extension of the angled end of the disc.

7. A method of making a filled dispensing bottle, the method comprising: molded containers; filling the container with a thixotropic fluid; Molding a closure having a base and a flap, The base has an inner skirt and an outer skirt with base threads disposed on the inner skirt, the base threads being configured to engage threads on the neck; a central dome-shaped portion having an opening therein aligned with an inner shaft, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface opposite the central dome-shaped portion, the opening permitting the fluid to flow therethrough when the opening is unobstructed; and an inner annular attachment skirt extending away from the dome-shaped surface of the central dome-shaped portion, the inner annular attachment skirt having an angled tip at an end opposite the dome-shaped surface and a protrusion extending away from the inner annular attachment skirt to form a ridge, The flip cover has an inner protrusion and is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the protrusion blocks the opening of the base in the first position, inhibiting the fluid in the container body from flowing out, and the second position allows the fluid to flow out through the opening of the base; snapping a disc to the base of the closure, the disc having an annular wall with an angled tip at one end and a projection extending away from the annular wall to form a ridge, the disc being snapped to the base of the closure by causing the ridge of the disc to extend beyond the ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt, the disc having a pinhole and a partial annular groove disposed about the pinhole, wherein the disc, the central dome-shaped portion of the base, the inner annular attachment skirt of the base, and the inner shaft of the base form a mixing chamber, and a plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disc; as well as The filled container is closed with the closure.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The inner annular attachment skirt is resiliently deflectable such that when the angled end of the disc contacts the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt, the inner annular attachment skirt deflects and allows the angled end of the disc to pass over the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The angled end of the disc has an engagement surface configured to contact an engagement surface of the angled end of the base to guide the annular wall of the disc to deflect away from the inner annular attachment skirt when the disc is snapped into the base.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The step of snapping the disc into the base of the closure includes passing the ridge of the angled end of the disc over the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt.

11. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The ridge of the disc is an extension of the angled end of the disc.

12. A closure for a container, the closure comprising: a base having at least a dome-shaped wall with an opening therethrough, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, threads on the inner skirt, an inner shaft depending inwardly from the dome-shaped wall, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface, and an inner annular attachment skirt extending away from the dome-shaped wall, the inner annular attachment skirt having an angled distal end at an end opposite the dome-shaped wall and a protrusion extending away from the inner annular attachment skirt to form a ridge; a flap hingedly connected to the base, the flap having a protrusion and movable between a first position in which the protrusion blocks the opening and a second position in which the protrusion does not obstruct the opening of the base; as well as a disk having an outer annular wall with an angled tip on an end thereof and with a protrusion extending away from the outer annular wall to form a ridge, the disk being attached to the interior of the base by engagement of the ridge of the disk with the ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt, the disk including a body having a pinhole, a partial annular groove disposed about the pinhole, and a flange extending toward the base, the flange being disposed between the inner shaft and the partial annular groove when the disk is attached to the base; as well as A mixing chamber is defined by the disk, the dome-shaped wall, the inner annular attachment skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk.

13. The closure according to claim 12, wherein: The surface of the ridge of the disk contacts the surface of the ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt.

14. The closure according to claim 12, wherein: The engagement of the angled end of the disc and the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt includes a surface of the ridge of the disc contacting a surface of the ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt.

15. The closure according to claim 12, wherein: The mutual engagement of the angled end of the disc and the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt includes a portion of the ridge of the angled end of the disc being closer to the dome-shaped wall of the base than at least a portion of the ridge of the angled end of the inner annular attachment skirt.

16. The closure according to claim 12, wherein: The angled end of the disc has an engagement surface configured to contact an engagement surface of the angled end of the base to cause the outer annular wall of the disc to deflect away from the inner annular attachment skirt when the disc is snapped into the base.

17. The closure according to claim 16, wherein: An angle formed by the surface of the ridge of the disk proximate to the disk body and the outer annular wall is greater than an angle formed by the engagement surface of the disk and the outer annular wall.

18. The closure according to claim 12, wherein: The ridge of the disc is an extension of the angled end of the disc.

19. The closure according to claim 12, wherein: One end of the angled distal end of the base contacts a surface of the tray body to inhibit the tray body from approaching the dome-shaped wall of the base.

20. A closure for a container, the closure comprising: a base having at least a generally frustoconical portion with an opening therethrough, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, threads on the inner skirt, an inner shaft depending inwardly from the frustoconical wall, wherein the inner shaft terminates at a non-planar end surface, and a disc attachment skirt extending from the generally frustoconical portion around the inner shaft; a flap hingedly connected to the base; as well as a disc having an at least partially annular wall, the disc being formed of a single rigid material, the disc having a planar body having a centrally disposed pinhole and being attached to an interior portion of the base portion by engagement of the at least partially annular wall of the disc with the disc attachment skirt; as well as A mixing chamber is defined by the disk, the generally frustoconical portion, the disk attachment skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk form at least one fluid passageway.

21. The closure according to claim 20, wherein: The at least partially annular wall of the disc contacts a surface of the disc attachment skirt.

22. The closure according to claim 20, wherein: The engagement of the at least partially annular wall of the disc and the disc attachment skirt forms a friction fit connection between the disc and the base.

23. The closure according to claim 20, wherein: The disk includes at least one opening that allows fluid to enter the mixing chamber.

24. The closure of claim 20, wherein: The at least partially annular wall of the disc engages a radially outer surface of the disc attachment skirt.

25. The closure of claim 20, wherein: A surface of the disk contacts at least a portion of the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft.

26. The closure of claim 20, wherein: The flip cover has a protrusion, and the flip cover moves between a first position, wherein in the first position, the protrusion blocks the opening of the base, and a second position, wherein the protrusion does not block the opening of the base.

27. The closure of claim 20, wherein: The base inner skirt is a radially facing portion of the tray attachment skirt of the tray.

28. The closure of claim 20, wherein: The base includes an inner shaft and the disc is formed of a rigid material.

29. The closure according to claim 20, wherein: When the tray is initially attached to the remainder of the base, the tray is stationary relative to the remainder of the base.

30. The closure of claim 20, wherein: The inner shaft is formed by an inwardly depending wall that depends inwardly from the generally frustoconical portion, the inner shaft having a circular cross-section and a hollow interior.

31. A closure for a container, the closure comprising: a base having a central wall with an opening therethrough, inner and outer skirts connected by a planar portion, threads on the inner skirt, an inner shaft depending inwardly from the central wall about the opening, and an attachment skirt; a flap hingedly connected to the base; as well as a tray having a central planar tray portion and a tray attachment wall extending from the central planar tray portion, attached to an interior portion of the base by contact of the tray attachment wall of the tray with an attachment skirt; as well as A distribution chamber is formed by the disc, the central wall of the base, the attachment skirt and the inner shaft, wherein the wall forming the inner shaft includes at least one lateral opening therethrough allowing fluid to flow from the distribution chamber through the inner shaft to the opening.

32. The closure according to claim 31, wherein The engagement of the tray attachment wall and the attachment skirt of the tray forms a friction fit connection between the tray and the base.

33. The closure of claim 31, wherein: The disc attachment wall of the disc engages a radially outer surface of the attachment skirt.

34. The closure of claim 31, wherein: The end of the inner shaft opposite the central wall has a non-planar end surface.

35. The closure of claim 31, wherein: The disc is formed from a single rigid material.

36. A method of manufacturing a closure, the method comprising: Molding a closure having a base and a flap, the base having an inner skirt and an outer skirt, base threads being provided on the inner skirt for attachment to a container, the base having a central portion with an opening therein aligned with an inner shaft, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface relative to the central portion, the opening permitting fluid to exit therethrough, and a disc attachment skirt extending from the central portion, The flip cover is integrally formed with the base and is hingedly connected to the base; A disc is attached to the base of the closure, the disc being formed of a single rigid material having a planar body, the disc having an at least partially annular wall extending from the disc portion, the at least partially annular wall of the disc engaging the disc attachment skirt to secure the disc to the disc attachment skirt, the disc having at least one opening to permit passage of fluid into a chamber formed by the disc, the central portion of the base, the disc attachment skirt of the base, and the inner shaft of the base, the disc engaging the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft to form at least one fluid passage along which fluid flows from the chamber to the opening.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein: Also included is closing the flap to cover the opening of the base by moving the flap about the hinged connection.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein: Attaching the tray to the base includes sliding the at least partially annular wall of the tray along the tray attachment skirt.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein Attaching the tray to the base of the cover includes securing the tray to the base via a friction fit connection.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein Also included is molding the tray.

41. A dispensing bottle comprising: A container body having a neck with: a lid having a base and a flap; A flip cover movable between a closed first position and an open second position, wherein the base has an inner skirt, a central portion, and an inner shaft, wherein the inner skirt is provided with a base thread, The base threads are configured to engage threads on the neck, the central portion having an opening therein that is aligned with the inner shaft and allows fluid to exit therethrough when the opening is unobstructed, and an inner annular attachment skirt extending from the central portion and having an angled end and a protrusion to form a ridge, a disc having a planar body, an annular wall extending therefrom, and one or more openings therethrough, the annular wall having an angled distal end at one end thereof, the annular wall having a protrusion to form a ridge, the disc being attached to the interior of the base portion by interengagement of the ridge of the disc with a ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt; as well as A mixing chamber is defined by the disk, the central portion, the inner annular attachment skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-flat end surface or opening of the inner shaft and the disk.

42. The dispensing bottle of claim 41, wherein: The inner shaft terminates at the non-flat end surface.

43. The dispensing bottle of claim 41, wherein: The one or more openings of the disk include partial annular grooves provided in the disk.

44. The dispensing bottle of claim 43, wherein: The tray also includes a flange extending from the tray toward a central portion of the base.

45. The dispensing bottle of claim 44, wherein: The partial annular groove includes a plurality of large partial annular grooves and a plurality of small partial annular grooves, wherein one of the flanges is provided between each of the large partial annular grooves and the small partial annular grooves.

46. The dispensing bottle of claim 43, wherein: The one or more openings of the disc further comprise one or more pinholes.

47. The dispensing bottle of claim 41, wherein: The flip cover further includes a protrusion that blocks the opening of the base to prevent the fluid in the dispensing bottle from flowing out.

48. The dispensing bottle of claim 41, wherein: Interengagement of the angled end of the disc and the inner annular attachment skirt includes contact of a surface of the ridge of the disc with a surface of the ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt.

49. The dispensing bottle of claim 41, wherein: The central portion forming the opening includes an inwardly projecting tab inside the central portion.

50. The dispensing bottle of claim 41, wherein: The central portion has an outer central recess with inclined walls towards the opening of the central portion.

51. The dispensing bottle of claim 41, wherein: The planar body of the disk has a central portion and a peripheral portion, and the central portion of the disk is disposed at a vertical distance relative to the peripheral portion.

52. A closure for a container, the closure comprising: base and flap, The flip-top is movable between a closed first position and an open second position, and the base has an inner skirt having base threads, a central portion, and an inner shaft, the base threads being configured to engage threads on the neck, the central portion having an opening therein aligned with the inner shaft, the opening allowing fluid to exit therethrough when the opening is unobstructed, and an inner annular attachment skirt extending from the central portion and having an angled end and a protrusion to form a ridge. a disc having a planar body, an annular wall extending therefrom, and one or more openings therethrough, the annular wall having an angled distal end at one end thereof, the annular wall having a protrusion forming a ridge, the disc being attached to the interior of the base by interengagement of the ridge of the disc with a ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt; as well as A mixing chamber is defined by the disk, the central portion, the inner annular attachment skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-flat end surface or opening of the inner shaft and the disk.

53. The closure of claim 52, wherein: The inner shaft terminates at the non-flat end surface.

54. A closure for a container, the closure comprising: a base having an outer skirt, an inner skirt with internal threads therein, a central portion with an opening therethrough and an internal shaft, and an inner annular attachment skirt extending from the central portion, the inner annular attachment skirt having an attachment geometry at an end opposite the central portion; a flap hingedly attached to the base; as well as a disc having a planar body, an annular wall having a securing geometry complementary to the attachment geometry of the attachment skirt, and one or more openings in the planar body of the disc, the disc being formed of a single rigid material; as well as A mixing chamber is defined by the disc, the central portion of the base, the inner annular attachment skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-flat end surface or opening of the inner shaft and the disc.

55. The closure of claim 54, wherein: The inner shaft terminates in a non-planar end surface.

56. The closure of claim 54, wherein: The one or more openings of the disk include a plurality of partially annular openings.

57. The closure of claim 56, wherein: The tray also includes a flange extending from the tray toward the central portion of the base.

58. The closure of claim 57, wherein: The plurality of partial annular openings include a plurality of large partial annular grooves and a plurality of small partial annular grooves, and wherein one of the flanges is disposed between one of the large partial annular grooves and one of the small partial annular grooves.

59. The closure of claim 54, wherein: The securing geometry includes an angled end and a protrusion forming a ridge, while the attachment geometry includes an angled end and a protrusion forming a ridge of the inner annular attachment skirt.

60. The closure of claim 54, wherein: The central portion forming the opening includes an inwardly projecting tab inside the central portion.

61. The closure of claim 54, wherein: The central portion has an outer central recess with inclined walls towards the opening of the central portion.

62. The closure of claim 54, wherein: The planar body of the disk has a central portion and a peripheral portion, and the central portion of the disk is disposed at a vertical distance relative to the peripheral portion.

63. A dispensing bottle comprising: a container body having a neck with threads thereon; a cover having a base and a flap; a base having an outer skirt, an inner skirt with internal threads therein, a central portion with an opening therethrough and an internal shaft, and an inner annular attachment skirt extending from the central portion, the attachment skirt having an attachment geometry at an end opposite the central portion; a flap hingedly attached to the base; as well as a disc having a planar body, an annular wall having a securing geometry complementary to the attachment geometry of the attachment skirt, and one or more openings in the planar body of the disc, the disc being formed of a single rigid material; as well as A mixing chamber is defined by the disk, the central portion of the base, the inner annular attachment skirt, and the inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-planar end surface or opening of the inner shaft and the disk.

64. The dispensing bottle of claim 63, wherein: The inner shaft terminates in the non-planar end surface.

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