Container, closure and method of manufacturing

Abstract

In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods provided herein can be used to contain and distribute fluids, such as thixotropic fluids. In some embodiments, the bottle with the cap includes a control device, a base and a tray, wherein the base and the tray define a mixing chamber, which is configured to facilitate mixing any slurry or liquid separated from the fluid back into it. In some embodiments, the dispensing bottle includes a non-removable cap with an anti-tamper feature that indicates whether the cap has been previously opened. By a method, the dispensing bottle includes a discontinuous thread on the bottle neck and a ratchet protrusion on the cap, which engages with the discontinuous thread to prevent or inhibit the cap from being manually removed from the bottle.

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, especially those with food or consumer goods in them, often have an aluminum or foil seal under the cap to provide an airtight seal and prevent product leakage, especially during transportation and / or when the container is placed in certain configurations. A problem with these types of seals is that they are often not recyclable or biodegradable. Another problem is that consumers often need to unscrew or remove the closure to remove such seals. Alternatively, the cap sometimes has a plastic portion that is separate from the rest of the bottle cap to provide an anti-tamper indicator.

[0003] In addition, foil seals and detachable plastic parts often provide anti-tamper indicators. Alternatives to these components should similarly provide safety and anti-tamper indicators to consumers who are considering purchasing containers and closures. Although some alternatives to anti-tamper seals have been developed (such as the plastic parts mentioned above), these typically produce small pieces of closure fragments that are difficult to recycle and often end up in waterways or other sensitive ecosystems. Therefore, given the difficulties associated with recycling, such closures often prove to be a poor choice for recyclable seal alternatives.

[0004] Another problem with many potential solutions in this area is that they are often expensive because they require special modifications to both the container body and the closure, which limits the usability of the container or closure with other similarly sized containers and closures. This increases the cost of such modifications because the mold for the closure or container can only be used in one specific combination or in a specific embodiment.

[0005] In addition, fluid containers occasionally have metering and leakage problems, particularly during transport and / or when the container is placed in certain configurations. Many consumer products delivered in bottles may 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 resting on a cap when not in use so that gravity can hold the product in place adjacent the valve.

[0006] Another problem with such valves is that such membrane valves are typically formed from silicon, while the rest of the cap is typically formed from another material, such as polypropylene. Having the cap comprised of multiple materials increases manufacturing complexity and cost, and can make recycling difficult and / or impractical, making the solution less attractive for large-scale use.

[0007] 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 of relatively low viscosity separates from the remainder of a fluid such as ketchup. Such separation can increase leakage, increase splashing, and cause the thin liquid component to be dispensed separately from the rest of the product.

[0008] Another problem with this type of valve is that, in certain circumstances, product may leak through the valve when the bottle is not in use. In addition, product may be ejected from the opening at an undesirably high velocity during dispensing, increasing the risk of splashing. The high velocity discharge of product also makes proper metering difficult, as control of the product is often insufficient at high velocities. Yet another problem is that the valve may resist or prevent the inflow of air to maintain the internal volume after dispensing, resulting in a sub-atmospheric pressure, i.e., a partial vacuum, within the bottle. This may result in panelization, i.e., bowing, or other undesirable inward deflection of the container walls, which may be aesthetically problematic, as well as functionally problematic, as it may increase the manual pressure required to dispense the product and may result in uneven or inconsistent dispensing in response to squeezing, i.e., manual application of pressure to the outside of the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Embodiments of systems, devices and methods related to containers, closures and manufacturing methods are disclosed herein. This specification includes the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a bottle with a cap according to some embodiments.

[0011] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of the bottle in an inverted position.

[0012] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cap and a portion of a bottle according to several embodiments.

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the cover in the open configuration.

[0014] Figure 4 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of a cover in an inverted orientation.

[0015] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the underside of a portion of a cover with a tray removed therefrom according to some embodiments.

[0016] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the underside of a tray according to several embodiments.

[0017] Fig. 7A and 7Bare top and bottom plan views of trays according to several embodiments.

[0018] Figure 7C yes Fig. 7A and 7B A bottom side view of a plate.

[0019] Fig.7D is along Figure 7B The cross section is taken along line 7D-7D.

[0020] Fig. 7E is along Figure 7B A cross section taken along line 7E-7E.

[0021] Figure 8 is a perspective cutaway partial view of a cover in a closed configuration with a tray removed therefrom according to several embodiments.

[0022] Fig. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover without a tray attached to the cover according to several embodiments.

[0023] Fig.10 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover without a tray attached to the cover according to several embodiments.

[0024] Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an inner shaft at a cover opening according to several embodiments.

[0025] Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an inner shaft at a cover opening according to several embodiments.

[0026] Fig.13 and 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of an alternative embodiment.

[0027] Fig.15 and 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover according to several embodiments.

[0028] Fig.17 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of a cover showing an alternative embodiment.

[0029] Fig.18 yes Fig.17 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig.19 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of a cover showing an alternative embodiment.

[0031] Fig. 20 yes Fig.19 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Fig.21 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of a cover showing an alternative embodiment.

[0033] Fig. 22 yes Fig.21 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Fig.23 is a side view of a cover in an open configuration according to several embodiments.

[0035] Fig.24 yes Fig.21 A partial cross-sectional view of the cover.

[0036] Fig.25 is a side view of another cover in an open configuration according to several embodiments.

[0037] Fig.26 yes Fig.25 A partial cross-sectional view of the cover.

[0038] Fig. 27 is a side view of another cover in an open configuration according to several embodiments.

[0039] Fig.28 yes Fig. 27 A partial cross-sectional view of the cover.

[0040] Fig.29 and 30 is a cross-sectional view showing an alternative mixing chamber.

[0041] Figure 31-33 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an alternative inner shaft according to several embodiments.

[0042] Fig.34 is a cross section of the cover with enlarged detail to show the various finishing options for the inner shaft.

[0043] Figure 35-40 is a partial perspective view with a portion removed to show an alternative embodiment of the inner shaft of the base.

[0044] Fig.41A -I is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a tray.

[0045] Fig.42 is a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of a disc.

[0046] Figures 43A-43I is a perspective view of the underside of an alternative embodiment of a tray.

[0047] Fig.44 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of an alternative cover according to several embodiments.

[0048] Fig.45is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative cover.

[0049] Fig.46 Includes a perspective view of a portion of an alternative cover.

[0050] Fig.47 is a partial perspective view of a bottle or body threadably engageable with two different closures according to some embodiments.

[0051] Fig.48 is a perspective view of a closure threadably engageable with two different bottles according to several embodiments.

[0052] Fig.49 is a top perspective view of a bottleneck according to some embodiments.

[0053] Fig.50 yes Fig.49 Side perspective view of the bottleneck.

[0054] Fig.51 yes Fig.49 Top view of the bottleneck.

[0055] Fig.52 It was cut along line 52-52 Fig.51 Cross-sectional view of the bottleneck.

[0056] Fig.53 is a bottom perspective view of a closure according to some embodiments.

[0057] Fig.54 yes Fig.53 A cross-sectional view of the closure member along line 54-54.

[0058] Fig.55 yes Fig.53 A cross-sectional view of the closure member along line 55-55.

[0059] Fig.56 is a top perspective view of a bottleneck according to some embodiments.

[0060] Fig.57 yes Fig.56 Side view of the bottleneck.

[0061] Fig.58 yes Fig.56 Top view of the bottleneck.

[0062] Fig.59 is a side view of a flip cover according to some embodiments.

[0063] Fig.60 It is under open structure Fig.59 A top perspective view of a flip cover.

[0064] Fig.61 It is under open structure Fig.59 A bottom perspective view of a flip cover.

[0065] Fig.62 A bottle with a push-pull valve closure is shown.

[0066] For simplicity and clarity, each element is shown in each figure, and each element is not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the size and / or relative position of some elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help enhance the understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention. And, 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 disclosure. Certain actions and / or steps may be described or depicted in a specific order of occurrence, but in fact no specificity relative 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 as stated above, unless different specific meanings have been stated separately herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] Described herein are systems, devices and methods that help dispense liquids, such as thixotropic liquids, from bottles. In some embodiments, the container body can be used to package ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, other condiments or other flowable foods in an amount similar to that currently packaged in existing bottles for consumer use. In some embodiments, the bottle can be a single material bottle, i.e., the bottle can be made entirely of a single material. In some of these embodiments, the material can be a recyclable material, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET) or high density polyethylene (HDPE), or one or more biodegradable materials. In various embodiments, the container body can contain an amount ranging from 10 to 100g, 100g to 1kg, 100g to 200g, 200g to 300g, 300g to 400g, 400g to 500g, 500g to 600g, 600g to 700g, 700g to 800g, 800g to 900g, 900g to 1kg or more.

[0068] Some embodiments include closures for such bottles. The closure may include a flip-top, a base, and a disk, wherein the base and the disk define a mixing chamber configured to facilitate mixing of fluids, which may mix slurries or liquids separated from the fluids returned thereto. In some configurations, the base has a central opening through which the fluid flows out, and a hollow inner shaft, whose non-planar end surface is opposite to the central opening, and the non-planar end surface and the disk define 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 opposite to the opening, and the shaft may have a hole formed therein.) In some embodiments, the disk includes a central opening, a plurality of partial annular openings through the planar surface of the disk, and a protrusion extending into the mixing chamber. To leave the bottle, the fluid is advanced from the reservoir or body, through an opening in the disk (e.g., a partial annular opening or a central pinhole), and through a slideway formed by the inner shaft, out of the central opening of the base. The fluid advances through these openings and channels by having the user apply manual pressure to the body of the bottle.

[0069] In certain embodiments, the dispensing bottle comprises a container body with a neck, the external thread on the neck engages with the internal thread on the cap, and the cap comprises a base and a flip cap. In an illustrative embodiment, the base of the cap has a skirt, on which a base thread is provided, wherein the base thread is configured to engage with the external thread on the neck of the bottle. In addition, in certain embodiments, the base comprises one or more fixing elements, projections or rings, and a central portion located on the inner surface of the base (such as on the inner surface of the skirt), and the central portion has an opening aligned with the inner shaft, wherein, when the opening is unimpeded, fluid is allowed to flow out from the place. By a method, the inner shaft terminates at a non-planar end surface relative to the central portion. In addition, the inner shaft can have a dish adjacent to its installation.

[0070] As previously described, the lid has a flip cover, and in an illustrative configuration, the flip cover 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. In addition, in an illustrative embodiment, the disk is attached to the interior of the base by snapping the disk into place at (one or more) retaining rings, and the disk has a central pinhole and a partial annular groove configured around the central pinhole. In an exemplary configuration, a mixing chamber is formed by the disk and the central portion of the base, as well as the skirt and the inner shaft. In addition, in some configurations, multiple fluid channels are formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk, allowing fluid to flow from the mixing chamber to the inner shaft.

[0071] In some embodiments, when the bottle is in an inverted position so that the bottle mouth 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, during the application of pressure to the container body, the configuration of the cap allows the dispensing of the thixotropic fluid to be controlled, and the release of the pressure on the container body quickly stops the dispensing, such as by allowing air to flow back into the container body, allowing the bottle to rebound and allowing the flow of the thixotropic fluid in the internal channel to reverse. In addition, in an illustrative configuration, this occurs without the need for the disk to move relative to the base. By one approach, the rebound is achieved by allowing air to quickly enter the bottle to replace the dispensed fluid volume, which allows the bottle to quickly return to its original shape.

[0072] In one illustrative method, at least a portion of the fluid is dispensed by being pushed downward through the partial annular opening, through the mixing chamber, then inwardly through the fluid passage defined between the disc and the non-planar end of the inner shaft, and then downwardly through the interior of the shaft before exiting the dispensing bottle through the central opening. By one method, the thixotropic fluid disposed in the bottle can be squeezed out of the bottle, pushed through the partial annular groove in the disc, and through the mixing chamber before the thixotropic fluid moves through the passage formed by the end of the inner shaft and the disc and exits the central opening of the base, and any separated slurry in the mixing chamber can be mixed into the fluid. In addition, a portion of the fluid can also be pushed downward through the small hole or pinhole in the disc and through the central opening of the base. As described above, in operation, the bottle can quickly recover its shape when the pressure on the bottle stops. Air can flow into the bottle via one or both of these pathways, for example, through the pinhole in the disc and / or through the annular opening, so that the air can flow into the bottle through the inner chamber, the passage, the pinhole, the mixing chamber, and / or the partial annular groove. Generally, when the pressure on the body or container of the bottle is released, the air is pulled into the bottle. 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 by a method.

[0073] In some embodiments, the closure is a single material closure, that is, the closure is made entirely of a single material. In some of these embodiments, the material is a recyclable material. In some of these embodiments, the closure, including the base, flip cover, and tray, is generally composed of a polypropylene material so that the entire closure can be recycled as a unit. In addition, due to the absence of a silicone membrane, in some embodiments, the strength of the closure does not significantly decrease over time, and its performance also hardly decreases. In some embodiments, the pressure required to dispense the fluid from the bottle hardly changes over the entire service life of the bottle.

[0074] As described herein, the closure can permit better metering. It can prevent accidental high-speed discharge of product from the bottle, which discharge can be messy, and can prevent permanent collapse or other permanent inward deformation of the bottle. In addition, the closure configuration can reduce splashing. In addition, 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.

[0075] By a method, the outside, bottom (when the bottle is inverted) surface of the base, adjacent to the central opening through which the fluid is distributed, has an arc or dome-shaped central portion, and has a plane peripheral surface around it. In one example, the inside of the base has an inner shaft, which extends parallel to the skirt of the base at least to a certain extent. In some configurations, the base includes an inner blocking piece configured adjacent to the central opening, wherein the inner diameter of the inner shaft is sharply reduced. By a method, the blocking piece has a sharp edge, and there is no burr on it. In some configurations, the inner diameter of the opening itself is different from the inner shaft wall. More particularly, in such a configuration, the diameter of the opening into the container is less than the diameter between the walls of the inner shaft, and the reduction of this size and the relatively sharp edge therebetween help to reduce the tail material formation of the product by retaining the product portion in the closure. In addition, the surface tension and the size of the opening also help to reduce the tail material formation of the product. Although this blocking piece cannot prevent the product from flowing out of the opening of the cap, it reduces the release amount under a certain pressure by slowing down the flow. By one approach, the blocker is relatively small compared to the diameter of the shaft, and in some configurations, the width of the internal blocker is about 1 mm, while the diameter of the opening into the container itself is about 3 mm to about 7 mm. In another configuration, the diameter of the opening is about 3.5 mm to about 4.5 mm. In other embodiments, the diameter of the opening is about 4 mm, while the diameter of the inner shaft is about 6 mm. Accordingly, in some configurations, the blocker has a width of about 1 mm.

[0076] While the stopper helps to quickly stop liquid dispensing, the disk (and its interface with the inner shaft) also reduces the pressure caused by the product in the bottle when the pressure on the bottle is released, which helps to stop dispensing. As discussed below, the size and configuration of the opening in the disk helps with flow monitoring, and this size and configuration depends on the viscosity and surface tension of the product, and the geometry of the disk can be adjusted to accommodate different fluids.

[0077] At the upper end of the inner shaft, disposed away from the opening in the base, the inner shaft in some embodiments has a non-planar end surface. By one approach, the non-planar end surface has a stepped configuration forming a plurality of teeth and depressions. By another configuration, the non-planar end surface is configured with a wavy, sinusoidal, or other arcuate depression.

[0078] As mentioned above, bottle and cap as described herein can be applied to the use of a wide range of fluids. In an illustrative configuration, what is filled in the bottle is a thixotropic fluid, such as, 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 unexpected confusion of liquid. By a method, the dispensing bottle with a cap can have a capacity of about 250mL to about 1000mL. In addition, various container configurations are also envisioned, including some containers stored in an inverted configuration, wherein the bottle rests on the closure cap. In an illustrative method, the diameter of the dish is between about 20 to about 40mm, the height of the inner shaft is between about 4 to about 12mm, and the diameter of the inner shaft is about 3 to about 9mm. In other configurations, the height of the inner shaft is about 5 to about 9mm, and the diameter is about 3 to 5mm.

[0079] As described above, the cap has a mixing chamber formed by a portion of a base having a disk fixed thereto. By one method, the mixing chamber includes a plurality of extensions from the disk. More particularly, in some configurations, the disk includes a plurality of extended flanges extending downward from the bottom of the disk (when the bottle is inverted) into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber described herein helps prevent slurry from leaking from the dispensing bottle, in part by mixing the slurry separated from the thixotropic fluid back into the remainder of the thixotropic fluid. By one method, the mixing chamber prevents the separated slurry from leaking from the bottle by mixing it back into the fluid before the separated slurry leaves the bottle. In some embodiments, the capacity of the mixing chamber is, or accommodates 2mL to 11mL, 3mL to 9mL, or 5 to 7mL, or about 6mL. The disk extension can help the remixing of the separated slurry by slowing down the flow of the fluid through the mixing chamber, generating or increasing turbulence, and / or otherwise increasing the interaction between the separated slurry and the remainder of the fluid.

[0080] By 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 closure 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 direction (vertical direction), with the edge of the disk captured therebetween. The upper ring (when the bottle is inverted) may have a removable film or liner member associated therewith that seals against the opening at the bottle neck before use. The liner member may be manually removed by the consumer before dispensing the product.

[0081] 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 and a 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 interior of the inner skirt having base threads (wherein the base threads are configured to engage with threads on the exterior of the bottle neck), the interior of the inner skirt having a retaining ring, and a central dome-shaped portion having an opening therein, the opening being aligned with the inner axis and terminating in a non-planar end face opposite the central opening. The dome-shaped portion includes an opening that allows fluid to flow out through it when the opening is unobstructed, and the flip cover 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 of the base, inhibiting or preventing the flow of fluid, and in the second position, the internal protrusion allows the fluid to flow out through the opening of the base. In some embodiments, the disk has a central pinhole and a partial annular groove arranged 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 also includes sealing the container with a removable liner associated with the closure to seal the product in the body of the bottle. As further discussed below, the base and the flip cover can be molded together with the disk or separately therefrom.

[0082] In an illustrative configuration, a closure for a container includes a flip cover and a base having 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 and one or more retaining rings, and an inner shaft suspended inwardly from the dome-shaped wall. By one approach, the inner shaft terminates at a non-planar end surface. In addition, in such a configuration, the flip cover has a protrusion, and the protrusion can move between a first position and a second position, in which the protrusion blocks the opening, and in which the protrusion does not block the opening of the base. In some configurations, the closure has a disk that is attached to the inside of the base by snapping the disk into (some) retaining rings. In such a configuration, the disk has a central pinhole, a local annular groove arranged around the central pinhole, and a flange extending toward the base, which is arranged between the inner shaft and the local annular groove when the disk is connected to the base. Further, by one approach, a closure includes a mixing chamber defined by a disk, a dome-shaped wall, an inner skirt, and an inner shaft, wherein a plurality of fluid passages are formed by a non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk.

[0083] In another method, a method of making a closure includes forming a flap in a mold, the flap 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 cantilevered inwardly from the dome-shaped wall, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface, and (b) a flap hingedly connected to the base, the flap 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. Further, in some methods, the method also includes snapping a disk into the retaining ring of the base of the flap, the disk having a central pinhole, a partial annular groove disposed around the central 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. Further, 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.

[0084] Further, in some configurations, the method also includes forming the cover into two separate components, including a flap and a tray, wherein the flap includes a base and a flap formed as a single, integral, unitary, one-piece structure, and wherein the two separate components are made of the same material and assembled at a mold or separate station.

[0085] In other embodiments, the dispensing bottle comprises an irremovable cap having one or more control devices thereon, such as a flip-top, a push-pull valve and / or other devices that allow the user to control the flow of contents. In certain embodiments, the cap can be made completely of one or more materials listed above. In certain embodiments, the bottle and the cap are made of the same recyclable material and can be recycled together in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. In certain embodiments, the material of the bottle and / or the cap can include recyclable contents. According to some methods, the cap comprises one or more anti-tampering features to indicate whether the control device was opened before. Therefore, the dispensing bottle with the cap having tamper-proof features does not need to be provided with an anti-tampering seal at the neck of the container body.

[0086] In one illustrative configuration, the dispensing bottle includes a discontinuous thread on the bottle neck and a ratchet protrusion or extension on the closure. In one embodiment, the container body includes a bottle neck with a discontinuous bottle thread, with at least one space or cutout between a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. In addition, in some embodiments, the closure includes a base with a skirt having an inner surface, a base thread and a ratchet protrusion configured on the skirt, and one or more control devices, such as a push-pull valve and / or a hinged flip cap that can be moved from a closed position to an open position. In operation, once the closure is fixed to the container body, the size and position of the bottle thread are generally configured to be threadedly engaged with the base thread, and at least a portion of one of the ratchet protrusions extends into at least one space or cutout to prevent the closure from being manually removed from the bottle neck. In addition to the closure having a ratchet protrusion, in some configurations, the discontinuous bottle thread forms one or more bottle mouth ratchet protrusions.

[0087] As described above, if the closure and / or bottle can be used with containers of many different configurations, the advantages of the containers disclosed herein can be utilized. In fact, as used herein, the teachings outlined herein include, for example, that the dispensing bottle and closure embodiments can be employed with various bottle features, such as those disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT / US2019 / 067485 filed on December 19, 2019, which claims US Patent Application Nos. 62 / 783,790 (filed on December 21, 2018) and 62 / 903,245 (filed on September 20, 2019), and International Patent Application No. PCT / US2020 / 035840 (filed on June 3, 2020), which claims priority to US Patent Application No. 62 / 903,245, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0088] Furthermore, as outlined below, the teachings described herein may permit the use of containers or bottles without a liner that is sealingly attached to the neck of the bottle, which avoids the generation of small pieces of plastic waste when the container is opened. Thus, a bottle formed according to these teachings may produce a container with improved recyclability, with fragments or portions of it being much less likely to end up in waterways or sensitive ecosystems. Figure 1A and 1B A packaged food product is shown, including a bottle 10 containing a fluid food product 5 such as ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, mustard or other product, with a closure 18 that is engaged with the external threads 16 of the container body 12 via internal threads 32 of the closure 18 (e.g., see Figure 4 ) is attached to the container body 12. One or both of the internal thread 32 and the external thread 16 may be discontinuous threads and / or include ratchet protrusions, such as for example with respect to Figure 47-61The cap 3218 and bottle 3212 shown in FIG. 32 are described in more detail. For illustrative purposes, 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 inverted while resting on its closure, such as Figure 1B Thus, during storage and distribution, the bottle 10 can position the closure 18 below the container body 12 of the bottle 10 without the fluid 5 accidentally leaking from the bottle 10.

[0089] In some embodiments, the bottle 10 is made of a three-layer PET (polyethylene terephthalate or polyester) material. Some prior art bottles include three layers of material, wherein the middle layer is EVOH or another oxygen barrier or deoxygenation material. Eliminating the oxygen barrier or deoxygenation layer may have some effect on the color stability of the fluid 5 in the bottle 10. For example, if the fluid 5 is an example of ketchup, over time, if oxygen contacts the ketchup in the bottle, the ketchup may change color slightly. To avoid this color change, some embodiments may include an oxygen barrier or deoxygenation middle layer that can be recycled with the PET inner and outer layers. For example, the middle layer can be made of PET material. Alternatively or additionally, some embodiments may include a modified ketchup that includes ingredients that effectively avoid this color change. In some embodiments, the head space of the bottle 10, that is, the volume above the fluid 5 in the filled bottle 10, is reduced. The head space can be occupied by a modified atmosphere composed of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other gases that do not include oxygen. The reduction of the head space and / or the use of a modified atmosphere can help increase the shelf life by increasing stability, including color stability and stability of sensory properties.

[0090] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the closure 18 includes a base 20 and a hinged lid or flip top 22. To open the bottle 10 so that the fluid 5 can be easily dispensed therefrom, the user can pull the flip top 22 from the base 20 to the flip top 22. Figure 2 The closing structure pivots to Figure 3 To 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. By 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 cover 22 then pivots about the hinge 19 opposite the mouth-shaped indentation 70 to be stably placed in the open configuration.

[0091] 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 a position obstructing or blocking the opening 34 in the base 20 to a position away from the opening 34 so that the opening 34 is unobstructed. Figure 3Also shown is a central portion 30, which may be dome-shaped, and a planar portion 62 disposed at least partially thereabout, through which the opening 34 extends. Figure 3 In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the lower surface 74 of the mouth-shaped indentation 70 extends between sections of the planar portion 62 .

[0092] Figure 4 A perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the cover 18 is shown in an inverted orientation. Figure 4 , the flow of ketchup during dispensing is shown as a dashed line. The flow of air into the bottle to replace the ketchup after dispensing 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.

[0093] like 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, 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. 1 , the base 20 includes a central dome-shaped surface 30 extending upwardly away from the central dome-shaped surface 30 and terminating at a nonlinear surface 38 (eg, Figure 5 The inner shaft 36 is shown).

[0094] In one illustrative embodiment, the cover 18 includes a disk 42 (eg, Figure 4 and 6 26 ) with a plurality of openings through which fluid 5 and air can flow. By one approach, a retaining ring 44 disposed on the inner wall of the inner skirt 26 captures the disc 42 therebetween. In another configuration (not shown), the disc 42 may be captured between the retaining ring and another structure, such as a portion or extension of the inner shaft 36. Figure 4 , shows a cross section of a portion of a closure 18 having a disk 42 captured between two retaining rings 44, showing how the disk 42 and the base 20 form a mixing chamber 56. In one illustrative embodiment, the mixing chamber 56 is formed by the wall of the inner skirt 26, the central portion 30, the inner shaft 36 of the base 20, and the disk 42.

[0095] Further, the planar portion 62 of the base 20 also engages the inner and outer skirts 28. As shown in FIG. 1 , the base 20 also has ribs 80 disposed on the portion of the base 20 below the flip-top 22 (when the bottle is in an upright orientation). These ribs provide a gripping surface for embodiments in which the entire closure 18 can be removed from the container body 12. The ribs 80 enable a user to 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.

[0096] Figure 5 and Fig. 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. By one approach, the nonlinear end surface 38 has a stepped configuration 64, such as Figure 8 and 9 In another approach, the nonlinear termination surface 38 has a wavy, sinusoidal, or other arcuate configuration. In some configurations, the nonlinear termination surface 38 may have a semicircular depression cut into the wall of the inner shaft 36. In addition, a single or multiple depressions may form one or more channels between the mixing chamber 56 and the inner shaft 36.

[0097] Further, in Figure 5 and Fig. 9 The stepped configuration 64 shown in FIG. 5 may include one or more raised teeth 68 and one or more deep grooves 64 extending from a midpoint therebetween 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 different widths and / or depths. Fig.10 As shown, the nonlinear terminal surface 39 may also have an undulating or arcuate configuration with a plurality of grooves or depressions 65 and a rounded extension 69. The undulating nonlinear terminal surface 39, which operates similarly to the stepped configuration discussed above, forms a channel 58 with the disk 42. In some configurations, the nonlinear terminal surface may have a combination of stepped portions, protrusions, angles and / or curved sections, as well as other elements.

[0098] In fact, the nonlinear termination surface 38 can take various configurations, such as, Figure 8-10 and the structures shown in 35-40. As described above, Figure 5 and Fig. 9 The nonlinear surface 38 shown in FIG. 5 has a stepped configuration forming a plurality of channels 58. In addition, in another configuration, Fig.10 The non-linear terminating surface 39 shown in FIG. 5 has a wavy or sinusoidal configuration. Fig.35A nonlinear termination surface 2238 is shown having two different heights, with Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The three different heights described in are opposite. Fig.36 A non-linear terminating surface 2338 is shown having two heights and an angled portion therebetween. Fig.37 A non-linear terminating surface 2438 is shown having generally V-shaped valleys disposed between corners or protrusions having a triangular cross-section. Fig.38 and Fig.35 Similarly, a nonlinear termination surface 2538 having two different heights is shown, but Fig.37 The corners or projections are triangular or trapezoidal in shape, with the angles being more acute or less adjacent to the larger base. Fig.39 A nonlinear termination surface 2638 is shown having a stepped configuration, wherein the width of the lowest step is less than the width of the uppermost step. Fig.40 A non-linear end surface 2738 is shown with 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.

[0099] In addition to partially forming the mixing chamber 56, the disk 42 also defines an annular partial slot or opening 50 therein to permit the fluid (and its components) to flow into the mixing chamber. The annular opening 50 may take a variety of configurations, such as, Fig. 7A , 7B and the construction shown in 41A-41I. By a method, such as Fig. 7A and 7B As shown, the plate 52 includes four openings. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. Fig.41A As shown, the disk 1242 has two openings. In another example, Fig.41B includes three annular openings 1250, and Fig.41C The example includes five openings 1350 . Fig.41D An exemplary disk 1442 having six openings 1450 is shown, while Fig.41E An exemplary disk 1542 having seven annular openings 1550 is shown. Fig.41F The exemplary disk 1642 shown includes eight annular openings 1650 and offset pinholes 1648, while Figures 41A-41E The pinhole in 41G-41I is centrally located in the disk shown therein. Fig. 7A , 7BThe corners of the annular openings shown in 41A-41F are rounded and lack any sharp edges or pinch points, while Figures 41G-41I The openings shown have less round openings 1750, 1850, and 1950. These features can be combined in various ways.

[0100] Figures 43A-43I Also shown are a number of exemplary trays having various features that may help manage the flow of fluid from the bottle and through the cap. As described above, bottles are often stored and / or used in a top-down position such that the 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 out of the cap.

[0101] In order to facilitate mixing of any separated slurry with the remainder of the fluid, the disc may include additional features such as additional openings disposed within its flange. In an illustrative embodiment, these openings are between the annular groove and the center of the disc, which may have a central pinhole as described above. Fig.43A One illustrative disk 2042 shown includes an annular opening 2051 within a flange 2054, which itself is 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 separate constituent elements thereof. Fig.43B and 43C Also shown are exemplary disks 2142, 2242 having intermediate or interior openings 2151, 2251 adjacent flanges 2154, 2254 and annular openings or slots 2150, 2250, although similar to Fig.43A The shapes and sizes of the openings are configured differently compared to each other. Fig.43C The central pinhole is missing, and Fig.43A and 43B The disk shown therein includes a central opening. In addition to these configurations, the pinholes may also be arranged offset from the geometric center of the disk, as previously suggested.

[0102] Figures 43D-43F Additional illustrative embodiments of a disk having posts extending therefrom are shown 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 disk 2342 ( Fig.43D ) includes an annular opening 2350 and a central configuration column 2353, and the side of the central configuration column 2353 is relatively smooth. Fig.43EThe disk 2442 shown in FIG. 2442 includes an annular opening 2450, a flange 2454, and a centrally disposed post 2453. Whereas the post 2453 has a relatively rounded exterior, the post 2453 has uneven sides and has a generally X-shaped configuration in cross-section.

[0103] Although the posts are shown as centrally configured, they may also be eccentrically configured, and multiple posts may be included in the disk. Furthermore, the posts may have a variety of surface textures and configurations. In fact, a variety of different configurations of posts may be included in the cover, depending on the fluid moving in the cover.

[0104] In some configurations, instead of a post, the disk may have another similar structure, such as a cone. Fig.43I A central portion of a disk 2842 is shown having a conical extension 2857 with an opening 2848 extending therethrough. In addition, disk 2842 also includes an annular opening 2851, a flange 2854, and an opening 2850.

[0105] Fig.43F 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 a continuous flange or cylindrical wall 2555 extending from the disk 2542. Although the cylindrical wall 2555 is generally perpendicular to the disk in the figure, it can also extend from the disk at a certain angle so that the cylindrical wall 2555 is not perpendicular. As an example, the cylindrical wall 2555 extends outward from the disk so that Fig.42 The 90° angle shown in is less than 90°. Such an example is shown in PCT / US2020 / 035840 Fig.46 B, which figure is incorporated herein by reference.

[0106] Fig.44 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 through the shaft along the post 2553 toward the opening 2534. Such a configuration of a flow path with some degree of entanglement may be particularly suitable for certain fluids having particular fluid properties.

[0107] Other modifications or combinations of the features described herein may be made. For example, Figure 43G Shown with Fig.43B The disc 2142 is similar to the disc 2642, however, the flange 2654 is not as Fig.43B as long as shown in Fig.43B Compared with the flange 2654 in Figure 43G There is more room or space for movement between the flanges 2654. In addition, Figure 43H A disc 2742 is shown having an outer annular opening 2750 adjacent to an opening 2751 with no flange disposed therebetween. Many of the various structural features of the disc may be combined or modified in various ways, including those described herein, to adapt the disc to the characteristics of the fluid propelled from the bottle through its cap.

[0108] 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.

[0109] Fig. 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 the disc 42 facing the inner shaft 36 when the disc 42 is installed in place between the retaining rings (some) of the closure 18. Although the flange 54 can extend orthogonally from the face of the disc 42 (such as Figure 7C-7E ), but flange 54 may extend from disk 42 at an angle other than 90°. Fig.42 , an illustrative flange configuration is shown. Fig.42 The flange 54 is shown extending about 90° from the body of the disk 42. However, in other configurations, the flange 54 extends less than 90° from the body of the disk 42. 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. Although both of the above flanged disk configurations help to mix the product as it is propelled toward the outlet, the angle of the flanged disk may be less than 90° depending on the fluid characteristics of the product. As described above, the central needle hole 48 is centrally disposed through the planar portion of the disk 42 and is partially surrounded by a plurality of slots 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 20 mm to 40 mm, 25 mm-35 mm, or about 30-34 mm. In an exemplary configuration, the diameter D1 of the disk 42 is about 31.9 mm±0.1 mm. By one approach, the arc length of the annular groove is 10-15 mm, or 11-14 mm. Figure 7BAs shown, the arc length A1 of each opening can be about 12.7 mm. In addition, 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 an illustrative method, R1 is about 6-10 mm and R2 is about 10-15 mm. In another illustrative method, R1 is about 8-9 mm and R2 is about 12-13 mm. In an illustrative embodiment, R1 is about 8.3 mm and R2 is about 12.3 mm.

[0110] like Figure 6 and 7A As shown, the partial annular opening 50 is disposed adjacent to the flange 54, and when the disk 42 is installed in the base 20, the flange 54 extends into the mixing chamber 56, so that the fluid 5 (including any components, such as slurry) cannot be directly propelled through the opening 50 into the inner shaft 36 to exit the bottle, but rather, 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 components of the fluid 5 separated therefrom). In one illustrative approach, the extension or flange 54 has a height h1 of about 2-5 mm. In another illustrative approach, the height h1 is about 3-4 mm. In an exemplary embodiment, h1 is about 3.5 mm. In addition, in operation, the length or height of the flange 54 can be related to the depth of the channel 58 formed by the non-linear terminal surface 38, because having them of similar size 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 disk 42 is about 3-7 mm. In another illustrative approach, the height h2 of the disk 42 is approximately 4-6 mm. In another illustrative approach, the height h2 of the disk 42 is approximately 4.8 mm.

[0111] like Fig.7D As shown in , 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 about 1-2 mm. In one illustrative approach, the width d2 of the pinhole of the disk 42 is about 1.5 mm.

[0112] like Fig. 7EAs 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 also helps move air back into the bottle to improve the rebound of the bottle or container body 12.

[0113] To promote proper dispensing of the fluid, the geometry of the disk 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 disk 42 relative to the area of ​​the disk 42 to promote adequate flow of the fluid 5 while preventing leakage of the closure 18. The openings 50 are of a specific size, shape, and location to facilitate the flow of the fluid, thereby allowing easy dispensing and quick resuscitation of the bottle. In one illustrative approach, the total area of ​​the disk is approximately 800 mm 2 The total area of ​​the local annular opening 50 and the central pinhole is about 211mm of the total area. 2 , or about 26% of the total area of ​​the disk. According to some methods, the total area of ​​the openings of the disk will cover about 20-35% of the total area of ​​the disk, and generally, the area occupied by the partial annular openings is much larger than that of the central pinhole.

[0114] In some illustrative methods, the closure 18 (e.g., base 20, flip cover 22, and disc 42) is composed of a single material, such as polypropylene or other food-grade plastics or polymers, or similar recyclable materials. In operation, making the closure 18 formed of a single material can increase the convenience and possibility of material recycling. According to some methods, a material with a specific surface tension can be selected. For example, the surface of the disc 42 (and other potential inner surfaces of the closure) can be rougher or textured to provide flow resistance and help control the flow of the fluid being dispensed. As discussed below, the inner surface of the inner shaft 38 can also be textured to inhibit flow, or can have a smooth surface to promote the movement of the fluid therein. Smooth surfaces may lead to faster and / or more difficult to control fluid flow, and due to the reduction of surface tension, may also cause leakage of the product or separated components of the product. The surface treatment of the material or the formation mode of the element may also affect the surface tension of the element and help promote the control of the flow of the fluid. For example, some parts of the flip cover 18 can form a rough surface so that the flow of the fluid 5 passing through it can be affected.

[0115] Briefly go to Fig.34 , 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 a surface having different textures, Fig.34The cap 2018 shown in FIG. 1 has a first portion 2078 with a rougher texture and a second portion 2178 with a smoother texture. As described above, the surface of the material forming the cap 18 can inhibit, slow down 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 pushed through the cap 2018.

[0116] like Figure 6 As shown, a first side of the disk 42 (which is disposed adjacent the inner shaft 36 of the base 20 when installed) 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 extends 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 entering the fluid passage 58 from the partial annular opening 50.

[0117] like Figure 8 As shown, the base 20 at the opening 34 and the inner shaft 36 has an inner blocking piece or a 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 material 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 there is no burr on it. In some configurations, the diameter of the opening entering the container is less than the diameter of the inner shaft, and this reduction in size and the relatively sharp edge therebetween help to stop dispensing in a fast 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. According to a method, the blocking piece is relatively small compared to the diameter of the shaft, and the opening entering the container itself is between about 3.5mm and about 4.5mm, and is about 4mm in an illustrative embodiment.

[0118] As described above, the inner shaft 36 can help support the disc 42 when the disc is attached to the base 20. According to one approach, the inner or interior wall 78 of the inner shaft 36 funnels the fluid 5 toward the opening 34. In one embodiment, the inner wall 78 forms at least one of a circular or parabolic shape. As an example, the inner wall 78 narrows slightly near the outlet of the inner shaft 36 attached to the dome-shaped central portion 30, directing the fluid toward the opening 34. The inner wall 78 can be slightly angled relative to the dome-shaped central portion 30, or can be slightly curved toward the opening 34. Additionally, in some embodiments, the shaft 36 can expand again adjacent to the opening 34. By expanding a little where the opening and the upper surface of the base meet, the opening allows the protrusion 90 to be more easily and quickly placed into the opening 34 when the flip cover 18 is closed. Fig.11 In another configuration shown, the inner wall 78 has a generally vertical straight portion and then an angled portion to direct the fluid 5 toward the opening 34 . Fig.12 and Fig.11 The inner shaft 36 is similar to the inner shaft 36 of the embodiment of the present invention, 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 the segment structure or internal protrusion around the blocking opening are shown in Fig.13 and Fig.14 Shown in. Fig.13 The opening 134 is shown with a blocking piece 160 whose inner surface slopes slightly downward or toward the through opening without a horizontal ledge extending from the inner surface, as previously discussed. Fig.12 It includes a downwardly sloping portion but has a horizontal blocking piece 60 extending therefrom. In addition, Fig.14 An opening 234 is shown having a blocking tab 260 having an interior surface angled away from the through opening.

[0119] Fig.15 and Fig.16 Two options are shown for the configuration of the dome or surface of the container outside the opening 34. For example, Fig.15 The rounded edge where the central portion 30 meets the opening 34 is shown. Fig.13 and 14 There are angled depressions around the opening at this location. Fig.16 A recess 161 with a sloped wall surface is shown between the central portion 30 and the opening 34 .

[0120] The bottle 10 and the 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, and a disc, and closing the filled container with the closure. In addition, the bottle can be formed and filled on an assembly line, or can be formed at one location and filled at another location.

[0121] According to one approach, the closure and the tray 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 configured to engage with threads of the neck of the container. The threads may be continuous or discontinuous threads, as described below with reference to Figure 47-61The molded base may also include one or more ratchet protrusions for locking the closure to the bottle, which will also be discussed in detail below. In addition, 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) with an opening aligned with the inner shaft, the inner shaft terminating in 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 cap has an internal protrusion that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the protrusion blocks the opening of the base in the first position to inhibit the outflow of fluid within the container body, while the second position allows the fluid to flow out through the opening of the base.

[0122] As mentioned above, in some methods, the cover and the dish are separately molded and then fixed to each other or stuck together. In such a structure, the manufacturing method can also include an assembly step, which directs the dish in a specific position relative to the remainder of the cover or base 20. By including one or more orientation steps before the dish is assembled with the remainder of the cover, the assembled cover is more likely to have a constant flow rate therein. In addition, in some structures, by adjusting the relative position of some elements of the cover or dish, the flow rate can be adjusted for different fluids without changing the structure of the cover or dish. By a method, visual markings or recessed notches arranged on one or both of the cover or the dish can be used to help the dish and / or the cover to be positioned relative to each other.

[0123] 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 disk 42 includes four flanges 54. The flow of fluid through the assembled closure may be affected by the orientation of the flanges 54 relative to the cutout openings of the inner shaft 36. Thus, the two structural elements may 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 outlet of the bottle. 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 may include orienting the disk relative to the rest of the closure in a particular manner.

[0124] As mentioned above, the method for producing the filling bottle can comprise that disk is stuck in the retaining ring of capping.In some configurations, the molded disk comprises central pinhole and the local annular groove that is arranged around the central pinhole.In case disk is attached to the remainder of capping 18, the central part of disk 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 disk 42 of inner shaft 36.The passage 58 formed between the end of inner shaft 36 and disk 42 allows fluid to be advanced to the slideway formed by inner shaft 36, communicated with opening 34 from mixing chamber 56.

[0125] The container or container body of filling, in some configurations, is sealed with the fluid therein by the liner associated with the cap.For example, the liner, for example cardboard, plastics and / or metal material, is associated with a part of a retaining ring, and when the cap 18 is threadedly attached to the container body, the liner is sealed in the container with fluid 5.In other embodiments, the cap can form an airtight or isolated seal with the container body.In these embodiments, the use of the liner associated with the cap can be omitted.The inclusion of the liner is omitted to reduce the quantity of the different materials included in the distribution bottle, which may help to make the distribution bottle recyclable.

[0126] Further, in some methods, the method of manufacturing the closure includes forming a flip-top closure including a base and a flip-top in a mold. In some embodiments, the molded base has: 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 inner shaft of the molded base generally extends inward from the dome-shaped wall and terminates at a non-planar end surface. In addition, the molded closure also has a flip-top hingedly connected to the base, wherein the flip-top has an internal protrusion and can be moved 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. In some configurations, the method of manufacturing the closure further includes snapping a disk into a retaining ring or protrusion of the base. In some embodiments, the disk has: a central pinhole; a partial annular groove arranged around the central pinhole; and a flange extending toward the base and arranged between the inner shaft and the partial 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.

[0127] In some configurations, the closure is made of only two separate parts, including a flap and a disc, wherein the flap includes a base and a flap formed in a single, integral, unitary, integrated structure, and wherein the two separate parts (i.e., the flap and the disc) are made of the same material and assembled. In operation, after the closure is formed and ejected from the mold, the disc can be assembled into the closure (which can be formed in the same mold as the base and the flap, or in a different position), for example, by snapping it into place in the base. In addition, the mechanism or another device can be used to attach the liner to the fixed ring, which can help seal the fluid in the bottle. In some configurations, the base and the flap are formed in the same mold as the disc; in other configurations, the disc is independently formed in the same mold as the base and the flap. In addition, the base and the disc can be molded and assembled separately at another station. In other configurations, the entire closure (including the base, the flap, and the disc) can be molded or printed together.

[0128] As noted above, some modifications may be made to the concepts described herein while remaining consistent with these teachings. For example, Fig.17 and Fig.18 Another embodiment of a disk with an annular opening is shown. As shown, the disk 342 has a central portion 384, which is arranged to be spaced apart by a vertical distance relative to a peripheral portion 386, and the peripheral portion has an annular opening 350 disposed therein. In such a configuration, the volume of the mixing chamber 356 can be designed to be independent of the discharge shaft or chamber formed by the inner shaft 356 to a certain extent. In fact, the mixing chamber 356 is smaller than some other mixing chambers discussed above. In order to allow the fluid 5 to flow from the mixing chamber 356 to the inner shaft 356 forming the discharge chamber, the radius of the central portion 384 can be large enough compared to the radius of the inner shaft 336 to provide a gap for the fluid 5 to pass from the mixing chamber 356 through the opening or fluid passage 358 formed between the inner shaft 336 and the mixing chamber 356, and / or the opening 358 can extend so that it has a height or position beyond the vertical portion of the disk 342, and the disk 342 can be disposed adjacent to the inner shaft 336. In short, even if the central portion 384 is not significantly larger than the inner shaft, the opening between the mixing chamber 356 and the inner shaft 358 can be moved or sized to allow fluid flow. Fig.17 and Fig.18 384, but in some configurations, the central portion 384 may include a vent formed via a pinhole or other structure. In addition, the disc 342 may be mated with the rest of the cap in any manner, for example, via a snap fit between portions of the base, including ribs and / or protrusions or other complementary geometries between the disc and the base. Fig.19 and 20 Another example of a disk 442 is shown which lacks the central pinhole 48 of some other embodiments. Fig.17 and Fig.18 Rather than including a flange similar to that described above, a vertical portion of the disk separates the central portion 384 and the peripheral portion 386 which operates similarly to mixing the product therein.

[0129] Steering Fig.21 and 22 , another embodiment is shown, which is a three-part solution with 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 in which one or more openings 598 are provided. In this way, the mixing chamber 556 is in fluid communication with an intermediate chamber 594 that is partially defined by the inner cylindrical shell 596. By one approach, the inner cylindrical shell 596 is arranged in a position around the inner shaft 536 and is held in place via the disk 542, which is held in place by a fixing member 544, such as a ring. In addition, the inner cylindrical shell 596 can 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 pushed from the bottle to the outlet or opening 534 through the annular opening 540, the opening 598 of the inner cap 592 and the inner opening 588 of the inner shaft 536 upward along the length of the inner shaft 536 and down along the shaft to the outlet opening 534. As shown, the disk 542 includes an 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 when it is pushed through the fluid passage 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 quite large due to the large amount of product that may be arranged above the cap.

[0130] In addition, although Figure 19-22 Not shown includes a flange extending from the disc, but in some constructions the disc may include a flange similar to that described above.

[0131] The outer shape of the central portion of the base can also have various configurations. As described above, the central portion 30 of the base 20 can have a dome-shaped configuration, such as a Fig.23 The construction in the cover 18 is shown. Fig.24 A cross-section of the dome-shaped central portion 30 and the outlet 34 is shown. While the dome-shaped central portion 30 of the base 20 provides an easily wiped clean surface, other configurations having similar properties may also employ the teachings described herein. For example, Figure 25-26 Another exemplary embodiment is shown, where the cover 618 has a central portion 630 having a generally volcano-shaped sloping wall and an opening 634 disposed at the center thereof. Figure 27-28Another embodiment is shown, including a cover 718 having a swinging central portion 730 and an opening 734 therein, and with several flat surfaces around the exterior of the opening 734. In addition, although Figure 23-28 The exemplary shapes shown in show openings with exemplary blocking tabs, but these different shapes may be combined with other opening shapes and aspects described herein.

[0132] As described above, the mixing chamber described herein allows for the incorporation or mixing of a separated slurry back into the fluid before the fluid and / or portions thereof are discharged from the opening of the container lid. By one approach, the desired size of the mixing chamber may 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 may depend in part on the size of the inner shaft 36, the position of the disk 42 determined via the corresponding geometry of the base, and / or the configuration of the disk, as described above. Fig.29 and 30 , two mixing chambers 56 and 56' of different sizes are shown. Although the components are similar, the wall forming the inner shaft 36 is Fig.30 China Fig.29 The wall of the shaft 36' in the mixing chamber is longer, and the corresponding geometric shape (e.g., the fixing ring 44') is arranged at a greater distance relative to the central surface 30' of the base 20' than the corresponding geometric shape (e.g., the fixing ring 44) is arranged at a greater distance relative to the central surface 30' of the base 20. Although the relative dimensions of these components can be changed, as shown in the figures, their function still remains, that is, the mixing chamber helps prevent the separated slurry from leaking separately from the rest of the fluid product 5 from the bottle.

[0133] 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 elliptical shape. In addition, the shape or configuration formed along the length direction of the inner wall 78 may adopt various configurations. Figure 4 , 13 As shown in FIG. 14 , the inner shaft 36, 136, 236 may have a substantially 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, Fig.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, Fig.32 An inner shaft 936 is shown with an inner wall 978 having a downward slope that is slightly nonlinear. According to one approach, the downward slope provides a cross-section having a modified U-shape. In another embodiment, Fig.33 An inner shaft 1036 is shown having an inner wall 1078 having a stepped configuration that narrows in diameter in a stepped manner.

[0134] Steering Fig.45 , shows a cross-section of the top portion of a dispensing bottle according to another embodiment. Fig.45 As shown, dispensing bottle 2900 includes a container body 2902 and a cap 2910. Cap 2910 is configured to selectively allow the contents of container body 2902 to be metered. Container body 2902 can be similar to the container body described above. In use, container body 2902 can contain fluids, such as thixotropic liquids. Container body 2902 generally has a neck 2904 extending from the main body portion of container body 2902. Neck 2904 may have a thread 2906 configured on its surface to threadably engage a cap, such as cap 2910.

[0135] Fig.45 The cap 2910 shown in FIG. 29 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 flat portion 2920. The inner skirt 2918 includes threads 2922 disposed on the inner surface of the skirt. The size and configuration of the threads 2922 are arranged to engage with the threads 2906 on the neck 2904 of the container body 2902. The threads 2906, 2922 can be continuous or discontinuous, as described below with respect to Figures 47-48 The inner skirt 2918 may also include ratchet protrusions, such as those described with respect to Figure 47-61 The base 2912 also includes a dome-shaped central surface 2924 having an opening 2926 disposed 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 that can take a variety of forms. The non-planar end surface 2928 shown has a stepped configuration, similar to Figure 8 and Fig. 9 However, in other methods, the non-planar end surface 2928 can have a wavy, sinusoidal or other curved configuration, for example, Fig.10 The central opening 2926 permits fluid to flow out of the container body 2902 when the opening 2926 is unobstructed.

[0136] The base 2912 further includes an inner annular attachment skirt 2929 depending 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 engages with the geometry of the disk 2938 with which it is assembled. In one illustrative approach, the geometry of the attachment skirt 2929 includes an angled tip 2930 at one end thereof. Fig.45As shown, the angled end 2930 has an engagement surface 2932 facing inwardly toward the inner shaft 2927. According to some methods, the angled end 2930 is configured to engage with 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 in FIG. Fig.45 The distal angled tip 2930 may be an extension of the distal angled tip 2930 shown, or may be independent of the distal 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 distal angled tip 2930 and the ridge 2933 may together have a hook or barb configuration so that the distal angled tip 2930 may be easily snapped onto the ridge, rib, or groove, but it may be more difficult to remove. For example, as Fig.45 As shown, the distal angled tip 2930 has an engagement surface 2932 that extends away from the end of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 at a slight angle 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 achieving a secure snap-fit ​​or friction-fit connection between the disc 2938 and the remainder of the cover 2912. In addition, the annular attachment skirt 2929 and the corresponding outer annular wall 2940 that engages the attachment skirt 2929 are typically composed of materials that permit them to be easily flexed relative to each other during assembly to allow them to be mated together with a low risk of damage to any part of the cover 2900.

[0137] In addition, lid 2910 includes flip cover 2914, which has an inner protrusion 2936 configured on the inner surface of top cover 2914. Top cover 2914 is usually hinged with base 2912 to allow top cover 2914 to move reclosably between a closed first position and an open second position. The hinge connection can be, for example, a living hinge connecting flip cover 2914 and base 2912. In the closed first position, protrusion 2936 blocks the opening 2926 of base 2912, suppressing the outflow of liquid in container body 2902. Protrusion 2936 can be configured to suppress the outflow of fluid without leakage even when bottle is in an inverted position, i.e., lid 2910 is at the bottom of dispensing bottle 2900. In the opened second position, protrusion 2936 is no longer located in the opening 2926 of base 2912, so fluid is allowed to flow out through opening 2926.

[0138] As described above, the dispensing bottle 2900 also includes a disk 2938, which generally includes an outer annular wall 2940, one or more pinholes 2942, a partial annular groove 2946 disposed around the pinholes 2942, and an inner flange 2948. By one approach, the pinholes 2942 are disposed in a central portion 2944 of the disk 2938, while in other configurations, the disk may be completely devoid of pinholes. As shown, the outer annular wall 2940 has a distal angled tip 2952 disposed on one end thereof. Fig.45 , the terminal angled end 2952 has an engagement surface 2954 that partially faces outward from the outer annular wall 2940. When the disk 2938 is attached to the base 2912, the terminal 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 disk 2938 is configured to guide the disk 2938 when connecting the disk 2938 to the base 2912. For example, the terminal angled end 2952 guides the outer annular wall to bend inward or outward to catch on 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. Fig.45 As shown, ridges 2955 are disposed on the outwardly facing surface of outer annular wall 2940. In some configurations, such as Fig.45 As shown, the ridge 2955 can be an extension of the distal 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 body of the disk 2938. The distal angled tip 2952 and the ridge 2955 can together have a hook or barb configuration so that the distal angled tip guides the outer annular wall 2940 over the rib or ridge in one direction, but causes movement in the opposite direction over the rib or ridge to be more difficult. For example, as Fig.45 As shown, the 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 engages the ridge, while the sharply angled surface causes more force to be required to move over the ridge in the opposite direction.

[0139] As described above, the pinhole 2942 can be disposed in the central portion 2944 of the disk, or can be offset therefrom. Fig.44As shown, the pinhole 2942 is located at the geometric center of the disk 2938. The pinhole 2942 generally allows air to flow into the container body 2902 during use of the dispenser 2900. Fig.46 In the illustrated alternative embodiment, the disk 3100 may have two pinholes 3102, 3104 instead of a single pinhole. The pinholes discussed previously are similar, such as Fig.41F As shown, the pinholes 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 pinholes 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. Fig.46 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. Fig.46 The illustrated embodiment shows two pinholes, but configurations with more than two pinholes offset from a center point are also contemplated. In addition, the pinholes may have various shapes, or the disk may not have any pinholes.

[0140] 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 ring-shaped angled end 2930 of the base 2912 contacts the engagement surface 2954 of the ring-shaped 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 exceeds the ridge 2955 of the disc 2938, the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 elastically returns or springs back to its original non-bent state. Likewise, once the angled end 2952 of the disk 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. Fig.45In the embodiment of the present invention, once the distal angled tips 2930, 2952 travel over the ridges 2933, 2955, the base 2912 and the disk 2928 remain or are secured together unless pried away from each other. The forces in the opposite directions cause the ridges 2933 of the base 2912 to contact the ridges 2955 of the disk 2938. Because the angle of the side of the ridges 2933 proximate the dome-shaped surface 2924 is greater relative to the inner annular attachment skirt 2929, and the angle of the ridges 2955 proximate the disk 2938 is greater 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 distal angled tips 2930, 2952 to travel back over the ridges 2933, 2955.

[0141] Once assembled, the mixing chamber is formed by the disc 2938, the dome-shaped central portion 2924, the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 and the inner shaft 2927. The fluid passage is formed by the non-planar end face 2928 of the inner shaft 2927, the disc 2938 and the partial annular groove 2946 of the disc 2938. In use, the flip cover 2914 is moved from the first closed position to the second open position so that the protrusion 2936 does not inhibit the fluid from flowing out 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 in the container body 2902. Then, once pressure is applied to the container body 2902, the fluid is forced to flow out of the container body 2902 along the neck 2904 of the container body 2902 and through the partial annular opening of the disc 2938. The fluid can then flow over or between the inner flange 2948 and then flow through the fluid passage 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.

[0142] When pressure is removed from the container body 2902, fluid quickly stops leaving the dispensing bottle. This is in part because air is permitted to flow back into the container body 2902. Air may 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 non-pressurized state, thereby reversing the flow of fluid in the inner passageway without the disc 2938 moving relative to the base 2912.

[0143] In another embodiment, the angled end 2930 of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 has an engagement surface 2932 that faces toward and away from the inner shaft 2927 rather than inwardly. The ridges 2933 are also configured on the outer surface of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 rather than the inner surface. The angled end 2952 of the outer annular wall 2940 of the disk 2938 has an engagement surface 2954 that partially faces inwardly from the outer annular wall 2940. The ridges 2955 are configured on the inwardly facing surface of the outer annular wall 2940. When the disk 2938 is connected to the base 2912, the angled end 2952 is configured and positioned to engage with the angled end 2930 of the inner annular attachment skirt 2929 of the base 2912 to guide the disk 2938.

[0144] Although Fig.45 The embodiments disclosed in show that both the base and the disk have angled tips, but there are also embodiments in which only one of the base or the disk has an angled tip. For example, the base can have an angled tip, while the disk can have a ridge or even an annular depression or groove extending around the outer annular wall. The angled tip of the base can be configured to slide along the surface of the outer annular wall and snap onto the ridge or snap into an annular depression or groove configured on the outer annular wall. In a similar embodiment, the disk has an angled tip, while the base has a ridge, annular depression or groove configured on the annular surface of the inner annular attachment skirt, into which the angled tip snaps.

[0145] Now turn to Fig.47 , a dispensing bottle 3210 having a plurality of optional closures 3218, 3218' is illustrated. More particularly, the container bottle or body 3212 of the dispensing bottle 3210 can be matched or threadedly engaged with a first closure 3218 or a second closure 3218'. In fact, as Fig.47 As shown, the container body 3212 is compatible with both the closure 3218 including the protrusion 3236 and described in further detail below, and the conventional closure 3218' which does not have many of the details outlined herein. Thus, while the combination of the closure 3218 and the container body 3212 provides a secure closure, as described in further detail below, a removable closure such as the closure 3218' can also be coupled to the container body 3212 such that the closure 3218' can be disengaged or removed from its threads after mating engagement with the container body 3212. The container body 3212 is also compatible with the conventional closure 3218' described above with respect to the container body 3212. Figure 1A-46 The described cover embodiments are compatible.

[0146] In one illustrative construction, the dispensing bottle 3210 includes a closure 3218 and a container body 3212 having a neck 3214 with a bottle thread 3216 thereon. By one approach, the bottle thread 3216 is discontinuous such that the bottle thread has at least one space 3223 between a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. Additionally, the dispensing bottle 3210 in some constructions includes a closure 3218 having a base 3220 and a flip top 3222. In such a construction, the base 3218 typically includes a skirt 3226 having an inner surface 3228 having a base thread 3232 disposed thereon and a ratchet protrusion 3236 extending from the inner surface 3228 thereof. As shown, the closure 3218 includes a hingedly attached flip top 3222 that can be moved from a closed position (e.g., see FIG. 1 ) to an open position (e.g., see FIG. 1 ). Fig.53 ) is moved to the open position. In addition, the bottle threads 3216 are sized and positioned so that once the closure 3218 is secured to the container body 3210, they are threadedly engaged with the base threads 3232, and at least one of the ratchet protrusions 3236 of the closure 3222 extends into at least one space 3223 between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion, so that due to the engagement of one or more closure ratchet protrusions 3236 with one or more bottle thread portions, such as ratchet 3238, manual removal of the closure thereafter becomes difficult or impossible. Therefore, although a conventional bottle cap 3218' can be threadedly removed from the container body 3212, Fig.47 The closure 3218 shown in FIG. 32 has a portion thereof that engages with the geometry of the neck 3214 of the container body 3212 to prevent or at least inhibit removal of the closure 3218 from the container body 3212 .

[0147] The container body 3212 is Fig.47 In one illustrative approach, the neck 3214 of the container body 3212 has a discontinuous thread disposed thereon. The illustrated discontinuous thread includes an elongated lead-in portion 3221, additional elongated threads 3216, and one or more bottle ratchet protrusions 3238. In some embodiments, the bottle thread includes a plurality of bottle ratchet protrusions 3238 extending from the neck 3214 of the container body 3212 between the elongated threads 3216 and the elongated lead-in portion 3221.

[0148] like Figure 49-52As shown, the neck 3214 of the container body 3212 may include one or more bottle ratchet protrusions 3238, each of which may be approximately the same size and shape as each of the other bottle ratchet protrusions. In some embodiments, the ratchet protrusions 3238 may have a height ranging from about 1.7 mm to about 3.4 mm, or 2.4 to 2.58 mm, a length or circumferential dimension ranging from about 1.9 mm to about 6.3 mm, or 3.7 to 4.2 mm, and a radial dimension or width ranging from about 2.58 mm, or 1.80 mm to 3.35 mm. In addition, these are generally matched with the geometry of the closure 3218, such as the base protrusion 3236, which generally has a base thickness that is approximately equal to each of the other base protrusions.

[0149] Fig.51 It is illustrated that in some configurations, one of the elongated bottle threads 3216 has a width W1 along a majority of the elongated thread 3216 and has a cutout or notch 3224 of a smaller width W2, which can help locate the bottle, for example, by facilitating the detection of bottle orientation. As shown, the cutout 3224 is configured between or in the middle of the two ends of the elongated thread 3216, and the cutout can have an angled configuration or a gradually increasing or decreasing width. Accordingly, the cutout 3224 has a smaller width or is narrower than the rest of the elongated bottle thread 3216.

[0150] As previously described, in one illustrative embodiment, the cover 3218 includes a ratchet protrusion 3236. Fig.53 and 54 As shown, the ratchet protrusions 3236 of the base 3220 generally extend from the inner surface 3228 at a certain angle. In one illustrative embodiment, the ratchet protrusions 3236 of the base 3220 extend from the inner surface 3228 at an angle less than about 60 degrees to the inner surface of the base. By some methods, the base 3220 includes four to ten ratchet protrusions 3236 on each of its opposite sides, so that the base includes a total of eight to twenty ratchet protrusions. Fig.53 Four ratchet protrusions are shown on one side of the closure 3218. It also illustrates an opening 3234 in the base 3220 and a protrusion 3290 on the inner surface of the flip cover 3222 that will block the opening 3234 when the flip cover is rotated or flipped to a closed configuration.

[0151] By including Fig.553222 of the closure 3218 is pivoted from the closed position to the open position. By one approach, the tamper-indicating feature may be included on the closure and may be configured such that the tamper-indicating structure remains part of the closure after opening, i.e., does not separate from the closure when it is opened. In one approach, the tamper-proof feature may include a fragile layer of material, such as a shrink film layer, a tape strip, or the like, extending to all or part of the outer surface of both the flip 3222 and the base 3220. In one approach, the length of the shrink wrap film or tape may extend onto the cover so that the continuity of the film or tape must be interrupted, for example, by cutting or tearing or other deformation, to enable the top of the cover to be pivoted from the closed position to the open position. The fragile material may include one or more weak portions 3239, such as one or more perforations or areas of reduced thickness aligned at or near the junction between the cover 3222 and the base 3220 to facilitate the rupture and removal of the fragile material. The fragile material can be fixed to both the lid and the base by an unpeelable or permanent adhesive. The fragile material can be made of the same material as the capping or a different material, and can be made of a biodegradable material. The fragile material can only be attached to the lid so that any part of the fragile material will not be attached to the bottle, or can be attached to both the bottle cap and the bottle. In an illustrative embodiment, the portion of the dispenser bottle, such as the container body 3212, is made of a plastic material, such as a blow-molded PET material, a polypropylene material or the like. In addition, in some configurations, the capping 3218 is made of a molded plastic material, such as an injection-molded PET material, a polypropylene material or the like.

[0152] As mentioned above, previous bottles with flip-top lids, such as U.S. Application No. 63 / 033,354 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety), have been described. Figure 22-25 Those bottles shown in the prior art generally have a lid that can be hingedly moved relative to the base, but it lacks any kind of base ratchet mentioned above, and lacks any kind of anti-tampering feature. Therefore, the neck of the container body of the prior art generally includes a sealing liner, which requires the consumer to manually remove the fluid in the consumption distribution bottle before consuming. In this way, the consumer usually unscrews the flip-top that is threadedly engaged with the bottleneck thread of the container body to contact the liner, and then grabs and peels off the liner from the container body to allow contact with the fluid. Then, the flip-top is usually screwed back on the container body to allow the fluid to disperse or shunt from the container body. As mentioned above, this liner is usually non-recyclable, but the consumer wishes to ensure that the product and fluid consumed from the container are safe and not tampered with.

[0153] As described above, the dispensing bottle 3210 is generally well suited for containing the fluid 325 therein. Further, the dispensing bottle 3210 generally includes a geometric shape, such as an angled portion below the neck 3214 of the container body 3212, to direct the fluid 325 disposed therein to the open neck of the container body. In addition, inverted bottles are often popular with thixotropic fluid consumers, which generally help to move a lot of fluid 325 out of the bottle. (For a description of such a top-down bottle, see, for example, International Patent Application No. PCT / US2019 / 067485 filed on December 19, 2019). In some illustrative configurations, the dispensing bottle 3210 also incorporates a slip liner inside the container body 3212 therein to facilitate complete discharge of the fluid 325 disposed in the container body 3212. By one approach, the slip liner is only disposed on a portion of the inner surface of the container body 3212. In other configurations, the slip liner is continuously configured around all or most of the interior of the container body. In some configurations, a slip liner or material may be disposed in the plastic material forming the container body and may then migrate to the interior surface of the container body to facilitate discharge of the fluid. In this manner, the fluid 325 may be more completely discharged from the container body. Thus, the container body 3212 may not require cleaning prior to recycling, which may otherwise be required by a recycler to identify the PET or similar material forming the container body.

[0154] like Fig.47 As shown, the container body 3212 described herein can be used with different covers, such as a cover 3222 having a ratchet protrusion 3236 that provides a non-removable, secure top cover attachment. The container body 3212 can also be used with a cover 3218 and a lid 3222 having a ratchet protrusion 3236 that provides a non-removable, secure top cover attachment. Figure 1A-46 In addition, as shown, the container body 3212 can also be used with a more conventional closure 3218 ', such as Fig.47 By using the container body 3212 with a cap that does not include the ratchet protrusion 3236, such as a conventional closure 3218', the closure can generally be removed from the container body 3212 via manual manipulation.

[0155] The closures 3218, 33118 and 3402 can be used with various container bodies. When the closure 3218 is used with a conventional container body 3212', the ratchet 3236 does not lock the closure on the bottle, and therefore, the closure 3218 is easily removed manually from the container body 3212' by simply unscrewing the closure 3218 to disengage the base threads 3232 from the threads 3216' of the neck 3214' of the container body 3212'. Alternatively, the closures 3218, 33118 and 3402 can be used with a container body 3212 having discontinuous threads 3216 to form an irremovable closure between the closure and the container body.

[0156] like Figure 59-61 As shown, the cover 3318 includes a base 3320 having a central surface with an opening 3334 therein, and a skirt 3326 with an inner surface 3328 with a base thread 3332 disposed thereon and a ratchet protrusion 3336 extending therefrom. In addition, the cover 3318 includes a flip cover 3322 hingedly attached to the base 3320. The flip cover 3322 is movable from a closed position to an open position via a hinge 3319. The protrusion 3390 on the inner surface of the flip cover 3322 is configured to block the opening 3334 of the base when the flip cover 3322 is disposed in the closed position. While some covers include ratchet protrusions disposed around most of the inner surface of the cover (e.g., covers typically include eight to twenty ratchet protrusions that are somewhat evenly distributed), the ratchet protrusion 3336 extends only from a portion of the inner surface. By one approach, the ratchet projections extend at an angle from the inner surface 3328, and the base 3320 includes two to eight ratchet projections 3336, typically arranged along half or less than half of the circumference of the interior of the cover 3318. Fig.61 As shown, the closure 3318 includes four ratchet protrusions 3336, which are arranged on the peripheral portion of the closure 3318 opposite the hinge 3319. In other embodiments, other configurations can be used. For example, six ratchet protrusions can be provided on each side, and the ratchet protrusions can be evenly or approximately evenly spaced around the entire periphery. Similar to those discussed above, the ratchet protrusions 3336 extending from the skirt 3326 and the base threads 3332 are configured to threadably engage the elongated, continuous neck threads to allow the closure 3318 to be attached to a bottle (e.g., Fig.48 3212') is removably coupled, and the base threads 3316 are further configured to threadably engage the discontinuous neck threads to permit the closure to be attached to another bottle (e.g. Fig.48 3212) are non-removably connected.

[0157] In addition to the closures described herein, Fig.48 In addition to the threaded engagement of the bottle 3212, 3212', the closure can also be engaged with a Figures 56-58 A bottle 3312 having a neck 3314 with threads 3316 is shown engaged.

[0158] As used herein, ratchet projections can take various forms, such as fins or flat members protruding from the inner surface at an angle. By one approach, ratchet projections 3336 extend from the inner surface 3326 at an angle less than about 60 degrees from the inner surface of the base. As described above, the closure described herein can be formed of molded plastic material. Similarly, details thereon, such as, ratchet projections 3336 and base threads 3332 are also generally made of molded plastic material.

[0159] like Fig.60 As shown, the base 3320 of the closure 3318 includes an opening 3334 through which the contents of the container body, such as fluid, can flow out. When the closure 3318 is in the closed position, the protrusion 3390 on the inner surface of the flip cover 3322 extends into or adjacent to the opening 3334 to seal or otherwise engage or block the opening 3334 to inhibit the fluid 3205 from flowing out therethrough.

[0160] In some configurations, the cover includes a material coated onto at least a portion of its surface that provides an oxygen barrier.

[0161] In order to seal the closure 3318 to the container body, a seal can be formed directly between the container body and the base 3320 of the closure 3318 without a separate gasket between the two. The seal (seal) can be formed between the uppermost surface of the container body, i.e., the top surface of the facing, and the underside of the top wall of the base 3320. A thin coating of sealant material can be provided at this location on the container body and / or the cover 3318 to facilitate the isolation seal. The sealing material can be additionally or alternatively configured on the outside of the closure or at one or more other locations on the outside of the bottle body, for example, on the threaded portion, or around the threaded portion, to further limit or prevent air or other fluids from flowing into or out of the closed bottle, which may help increase the shelf life of the product or fluid 3205 in the dispensing bottle 3210.

[0162] In some embodiments, the cover 3402 may have a Fig.62 The push-pull valve in the conventional motion closure shown in FIG. 1 is combined with the locking ratchet feature described above. Fig.62 The push-pull valve shown in the embodiment includes an annular protrusion 3404 extending upward and a plug (not shown), similar to the plug used in conventional motion closures. Protrusion 3404 acts as a handle and a valve seat. When protrusion 3404 is in the closed position, it surrounds the central plug, which prevents the fluid from flowing through the closure. When it is pulled up, it moves into the open position, with a gap between the central plug and the annular protrusion so that the fluid can flow outward around the outside of the plug and through the central opening or port of protrusion 3404, so that the fluid can be dispensed from the bottle. Protrusion 3404 can be moved back to the closed position from the open position by pushing downward so that protrusion 3404 surrounds the plug again, whereby the plug is seated in protrusion 3404. In order to facilitate pulling protrusion 3404 upward, the illustrated protrusion 3404 has a bottom peripheral surface 3410 that can be manually engaged.

[0163] Fig.62The cap 3402 is shown locked onto the bottle 3406. In some embodiments, the cap 3404 and the bottle 3406 can have a disc, mixing chamber, threaded configuration, and / or locking features similar to those described and shown above with respect to one or more embodiments of FIGS. 1-61. Fig.62 The cap 3402 of the embodiment of the present invention can be directly sealed to the bottle 3406 without traditional disc seals or other separate parts extending on the top of the bottle between the surface of the bottle and the cap. In some embodiments, a fragile material 3408 can be provided on the projection 3404 to provide an anti-tampering portion. In some embodiments, the fragile material 3408 may include a certain length of tape, which is firmly sealed to one or more of the bottom, side and top of the projection 3404, and extends to the top of the projection 3408 to cover the central opening, so that the fluid is difficult or impossible to flow through the closure when the tape is not broken. In some embodiments, the fragile material 3408 may include a shrink wrap material layer covering the bottom, top and side of the projection 3404, so that the fluid is difficult or impossible to flow through the closure when the shrink wrap material is not broken. In some embodiments, a hinged lid, such as a flip cover, or other additional structures may also extend onto the projection 3404 and enclose it.

[0164] A dispensing bottle including a closure and a container body as described herein can be formed in many ways. In an illustrative method, a method for manufacturing a filled dispensing bottle includes blow molding or otherwise molding a container body having a neck, the neck having a bottle thread, wherein the bottle thread is discontinuous so that the thread has at least one space between a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, and molding a closure having a base and a flip-top. In some embodiments, the closure can be injection molded or otherwise molded and includes a base with its skirt, a base thread is configured on the inner surface of the skirt and a ratchet protrusion extends out, and a flip-top hinged to the base via a hinge so that the flip-top can be moved from a closed position to an open position relative to the base of the closure. The method generally also includes filling the container body with a fluid, and threading the bottle thread with the base thread to close the filled container body with the closure. As described above, fixing such a closure to the container body can achieve that once one of the ratchet protrusions of the base extends into at least one bottle thread space of the neck, the closure cannot be manually removed from the filled container. Furthermore, in this manufacturing method, the step of threading the bottle thread with the base thread to close the filled container can occur without a safety seal liner being disposed on the neck of the container body or under the flip-top. The closure and container body can be made of recyclable materials, biodegradable materials, and / or other materials.

[0165] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other modifications, changes and combinations may be made to the above-described 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 neck with threads thereon, the container body threads being discontinuous such that the threads of the container body have at least one space between a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, the container body not including an inner liner; a closure having a base and a control device, The base has an inner skirt with an inner surface having base threads disposed thereon and base ratchet projections extending from the inner surface thereof, the base threads being configured to engage with the threads on the neck, and at least a portion of the ratchet projections being configured to engage with the at least one space between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion to prevent or hinder manual removal of the closure from the container body, the base having a central portion including a non-planar surface having an opening therein, and an inner annular attachment skirt depending from the non-planar surface, the attachment skirt having an end opposite the non-planar surface having an angled tip and a protrusion extending away from the inner annular attachment skirt to form a ridge, the control device being reclosably movable between a closed first position and an open second position, wherein a portion of the control device inhibits the outflow of fluid from the interior of the container body in the first position and permits the outflow of the fluid in the second position, the control device not including a silicone rubber valve; The cover further includes a disk having an annular wall adjacent an edge thereof, the annular wall having an angled tip on one end thereof, the annular wall having a protrusion extending away from the annular wall to form a ridge, the disk being attached to the interior of the base 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; and The cover further includes a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the central portion, and the inner annular attachment skirt; wherein, when the bottle is in an inverted position so that the cover is located at the bottom thereof and the control device is in the closed first position, the cover can keep the thixotropic fluid in a stable balance without leakage; and wherein application of pressure to the container body while the control device is in the open second position enables controlled dispensing of the thixotropic fluid, the fluid being dispensed through the partial annular opening and the mixing chamber before exiting the dispensing bottle via the opening in the base, and wherein releasing the pressure on the container body can rapidly stop dispensing by permitting air to flow back into the container body and enable rebound and reverse flow of the thixotropic fluid in the inner passageway without movement of the disc relative to the base.

2. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The opening of the central portion is aligned with an inner shaft terminating in a non-planar end surface opposite the central portion.

3. The dispensing bottle according to claim 2, characterized in that When the opening is unobstructed and the portion of the control device blocks the opening of the base in the first position, the opening permits the fluid to flow out through the opening.

4. The dispensing bottle according to claim 3, characterized in that A plurality of fluid passages are formed by the non-planar end surface of the inner shaft and the disk, through which the fluid is further dispensed before exiting the dispensing bottle via the opening in the base.

5. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The non-planar surface of the central portion is a dome-shaped surface.

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

7. 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.

8. 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 annular wall of the disc to deflect away from the inner annular attachment skirt when the disc is snapped into the base.

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

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

11. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The control device comprises a hingedly attached flip cap and wherein the discontinuous bottle threads form one or more bottle ratchet projections.

12. The dispensing bottle according to claim 11, characterized in that The bottle threads include a plurality of bottle ratchet projections extending from the neck of the container body between a first elongated thread and a second elongated thread.

13. The dispensing bottle according to claim 11, characterized in that One or more of the bottle ratchet projections may have a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of each other of the bottle ratchet projections, and the base thickness of the base projection may have a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of each other of the base projections.

14. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The control device comprises a push-pull valve.

15. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The ratchet projection of the base extends from the inner surface at an angle.

16. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The ratchet projections of the base extend from the inner surface of the base at an angle less than about 60 degrees relative to the inner surface.

17. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The base includes four to ten ratchet projections on each of its opposing sides, such that the base includes eight to twenty ratchet projections in total.

18. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The container body comprises blow molded PET material.

19. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that The cover comprises a molded PET material.

20. The dispensing bottle according to claim 11, characterized in that The closure cannot be manually removed from the container body without significantly damaging one or both of the closure and the container body, and further includes an anti-tamper feature permanently attached to the base and the flip top such that the continuity of the anti-tamper feature must be interrupted to enable the top of the lid to be pivoted from the closed position to the open position.

21. The dispensing bottle according to claim 20, characterized in that The tamper-evident feature includes shrink wrap or a length of tape that is not permanently adhered to the container body.

22. The dispensing bottle according to claim 21, characterized in that The inner surface of the flip cover includes a protrusion that engages and blocks the opening in the base of the closure when the flip cover is in the closed position to prevent the fluid from flowing out of the container body.

23. A dispensing bottle comprising: a container body with a thixotropic fluid therein, the container body having a neck with threads thereon, the bottle threads being discontinuous such that the bottle threads have at least one space between a first thread portion and a second thread portion, the container body not including an inner liner; a closure having a base and a control device, The base has a skirt, the inner surface of the skirt having base threads disposed thereon and base ratchet projections extending from the inner surface thereof, the base threads being configured to engage with the threads on the neck, and at least a portion of the ratchet projections being configured to engage with the at least one space between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion to prevent or hinder manual removal of the closure from the container body, the base having a retaining ring and a central portion having an opening therein, the opening being aligned with an inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface opposite the central portion, the opening permitting the fluid to flow out through the opening when the opening is unobstructed, The control device is movable between a closed first position and an open second position in a reclosable manner, and the control device does not include a silicone rubber valve; a disk attached to an interior of the base, the disk having a pinhole and a partial annular groove disposed around the pinhole; as well as a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the central portion, the 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 so that the cover is located at the bottom thereof and the control device is in the closed first position, the cover can keep the thixotropic fluid in a stable balance without leakage; and wherein application of pressure to the container body when the control device is in the open second position controls dispensing of the thixotropic fluid, and the fluid is dispensed through the partial annular groove, through the mixing chamber and through the fluid passageway and then exits 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 cease rapidly and the flow of the thixotropic fluid in the internal passageway to rebound and reverse without movement of the disc relative to the base.

24. The dispensing bottle according to claim 23, characterized in that The control device is a flip cover having an inner protrusion, the protrusion blocking the opening of the base, inhibiting the outflow of the fluid inside the container body in the first position, and allowing the fluid to flow out through the opening of the base in the second position.

25. The dispensing bottle according to claim 23, characterized in that The mixing chamber has a capacity of about 2 mL to about 11 mL, and wherein the disk is attached to the base via a retaining ring.

26. The dispensing bottle according to claim 25, characterized in that The mixing chamber has a capacity of about 5 mL to about 7 mL for use with a dispensing bottle having a capacity of about 250 mL to 1000 mL.

27. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The mixing chamber prevents slurry from leaking from the dispensing bottle, and wherein the mixing chamber mixes slurry separated from the thixotropic fluid back into the thixotropic fluid.

28. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The thixotropic fluid passes from the container body during dispensing through the partial annular groove, through the mixing chamber, through the passage formed by the inner shaft and the disk, and through the opening in the central portion of the base, and through the pinhole in the disk.

29. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: An inner blocking piece is further included, the inner blocking piece having a protruding edge on the inner side of the opening.

30. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The central portion includes a dome-shaped central surface having a peripheral planar surface therearound.

31. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The non-planar end surface terminating the inner shaft opposite the central portion includes a stepped structure forming a plurality of teeth and a plurality of recesses therein.

32. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The non-planar end surface terminating the inner shaft opposite the central portion includes at least some arcuate surface portions forming one or more depressions.

33. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The diameter of the disk is about 20-40 mm, the height of the inner shaft is about 4-12 mm, and the diameter is about 3-9 mm.

34. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The tray is stationary relative to the base, and both the lid and tray are composed of a single food grade plastic.

35. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: Air enters through at least one of the pinhole and the partial annular groove.

36. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The tray further includes a plurality of extensions extending from a first side of the tray such that when the tray is attached to the base, the extensions extend toward the base.

37. The dispensing bottle of claim 23, wherein: The disk further includes one or more intermediate openings between the annular groove and the pinhole.

38. A dispensing bottle comprising: a container body having a neck with bottle threads thereon, the bottle threads being discontinuous such that the bottle threads have at least one space between a first thread portion and a second thread portion; a closure having a base and a control device, The base has at least: a dome-shaped wall with an opening therethrough; An outer skirt having an inner surface with base threads disposed thereon and base ratchet projections extending from said inner surface; an inner skirt connected to said outer skirt via a flat portion; and an inner shaft depending inwardly from the dome-shaped wall, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface; The control device is movable from a closed position to an open position; a tray attached to an interior of the base by snapping the tray into the base, the tray having one or more flanges extending from the tray toward the base, a centrally disposed post, and a plurality of openings therethrough; as well as a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the dome-shaped wall, the inner 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, The size and position of the bottle body thread are set to threadably engage with the base thread once the cap is fixed to the container body, and at least a portion of one of the ratchet protrusions engages with at least one space between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion to prevent or hinder manual removal of the cap from the container body.

39. The dispensing bottle according to claim 38, characterized in that The control device is a flap hingedly connected to the base, the flap having a protrusion and movable between the closed position in which the protrusion blocks the opening and the open position in which the protrusion does not block the opening of the base.

40. A dispensing bottle comprising: a container body having a neck with bottle threads thereon, the bottle threads being discontinuous such that the bottle threads have at least one space between a first thread portion and a second thread portion; a closure having a base and a control device, The base has at least: a dome-shaped wall with an opening therethrough; An outer skirt having an inner surface with base threads disposed thereon and base ratchet projections extending from said inner surface; an inner skirt connected to said outer skirt via a flat portion; and an inner shaft depending inwardly from the dome-shaped wall, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface; The control device is movable from a closed position to an open position; a disk connected to the interior of the base by snapping the disk into the base, the disk having a plurality of annular grooves and a plurality of intermediate openings therethrough, wherein the intermediate openings are disposed between the plurality of annular grooves and a center of the disk; as well as a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the dome-shaped wall, the inner 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, The size and position of the bottle body thread are set to threadably engage with the base thread once the cap is fixed to the container body, and at least a portion of one of the ratchet protrusions engages with at least one space between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion to prevent or hinder manual removal of the cap from the container body.

41. The dispensing bottle according to claim 40, characterized in that The control device is a flap hingedly connected to the base, the flap having a protrusion and movable between the closed position in which the protrusion blocks the opening and the open position in which the protrusion does not block the opening of the base.

42. A dispensing bottle comprising: a single material container body having a neck with bottle threads thereon, the bottle threads being discontinuous such that the bottle threads have at least one space between a first thread portion and a second thread portion; A single material closure having a base and controls, The base has at least: a dome-shaped wall with an opening therethrough; An outer skirt having an inner surface with base threads disposed thereon and base ratchet projections extending from said inner surface; an inner skirt connected to said outer skirt via a flat portion; and an inner shaft depending inwardly from the dome-shaped wall, the inner shaft terminating at a non-planar end surface; The control device is movable from a closed position to an open position; a tray attached to an interior of the base; as well as a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the dome-shaped wall, the inner 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, The size and position of the bottle body thread are set to threadably engage with the base thread once the cap is fixed to the container body, and at least a portion of one of the ratchet protrusions engages with at least one space between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion to prevent or hinder manual removal of the cap from the container body.

43. The dispensing bottle of claim 42, wherein: The mixing chamber effectively prevents or inhibits separate dispensing of the slurry when the bottle is filled with ketchup.

44. A dispensing bottle according to claim 42 or 43, characterized in that The dispensing bottle does not include a removable liner between the container body and the closure, and the closure does not include a silicone rubber valve.

45. A dispensing bottle according to claim 42 or 43, characterized in that The dispensing bottle does not include any non-recyclable components.

46. ​​The dispensing bottle of claim 44, wherein: The dispensing bottle does not include any non-recyclable components.

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