Container, closure, and manufacturing method

Abstract

In some embodiments, the devices and methods provided herein are useful for dispensing fluids, such as thixotropic fluids. In some embodiments, a bottle with a closure cap includes a flip top, a base, and a disk, where the base and disk define a mixing chamber that facilitates mixing and reconstitution of any serum or liquid that has separated from the fluid. In some embodiments, the base has a central opening through which the fluid flows and an internal shaft with a non-planar end surface opposite the central opening. In some embodiments, the non-planar end surface and the disk define a channel between the mixing chamber and the internal shaft. In some embodiments, the disk has a central opening, a plurality of partial annular openings penetrating the planar surface of the disk, and protrusions extending into the mixing chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to containers for flowing substances. More specifically, the present disclosure generally relates to containers having a closure cap.

Background Art

[0002] Fluid containers sometimes have problems with dosing and leakage, especially during transportation and / or when the container is placed within some form. Many consumer products distributed in bottles can be troubled by such drawbacks. For example, thixotropic fluids such as ketchup or some liquid soups are sometimes sold in bottles using a flexible plastic film having a "X" shaped slit. These are sometimes used in an inverted bottle that rests with a cap when not in use, whereby gravity holds the product in a position adjacent to the valve.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] One problem with this type of valve is that in some cases, the product may leak from the valve when the bottle is not in use. Another problem is that during dispensing, the product may spray out of the opening at an undesirably high speed, increasing the risk of splashing. The high speed of the discharging product further makes proper dosing difficult, that is, generally because product control at high speeds is insufficient. A third problem is that the valve may resist or prevent air inflow to maintain the internal volume after dispensing, creating a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, i.e., a partial vacuum. This can cause paneling, i.e., buckling, or other undesirable inward deflection of the container wall, which can result in aesthetic problems and furthermore functional problems, that is, increasing the manual pressure required to dispense the product and causing the dispensing in response to manual pressure applied to the outside of the container, i.e., squeezing, to be non-uniform or inconsistent.

[0004] Another problem is that such thin film valves are often formed of silicon, while other parts of the cap are often formed of other materials such as polypropylene. Having a closed cap made of multiple materials increases complexity and manufacturing costs, and also risks making recycling difficult and / or infeasible, thereby making this solution unattractive for large-scale use.

[0005] Furthermore, such thin film valves and other similar solutions do not always adequately address product separation, which often occurs with fluids, such as when a relatively low-viscosity serum, moisture, or other thin liquid component separates from the remaining portion of a fluid product such as ketchup. This separation increases leakage, increases splashing, and also risks separating and dispensing the thin liquid component from the remaining product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

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[0007] Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods involved in containers, closures, and manufacturing methods are disclosed herein. The description herein includes the following drawings.

[0008] The elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and / or relative positioning of some elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to assist in understanding various embodiments of the present invention. Further, commonly understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially realizable embodiments may be omitted to facilitate a clutter-free rendering of these various embodiments of the present invention. Some acts and / or steps are described or illustrated in a particular order of occurrence, but such particularity with respect to the sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as would be followed by those of ordinary skill in the art described above, unless a different special meaning is otherwise stated.

[0009] A system, apparatus, and method useful for dispensing a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid, from a bottle are described. Some embodiments have a closure cap for such a bottle. The closure cap can have a flip top, a base, and a disk, where the base and the disk define a mixing chamber configured to promote mixing of the fluid, and the mixing chamber can mix a separated serum or liquid back into the fluid. In some embodiments, the base has a central opening through which the fluid exits and a hollow inner shaft with a non-planar end face on the side opposite the central opening, and the non-planar end face and the disk define one or more channels between the mixing chamber and the interior of the shaft. (In other forms, the shaft can have a planar end face on the side opposite the opening side, and the shaft can have an aperture formed in the shaft.) In some embodiments, the disk has a central opening, a plurality of partial-annular openings that penetrate the planar surface of the disk, and a protrusion that projects into the mixing chamber. To flow out of the bottle, the fluid travels from a reservoir or the body of the bottle, through an opening in the disk (e.g., a partial-annular opening or a central pinhole), through a chute formed by the inner shaft, and out through the central opening in the base. The fluid travels through these openings and paths by the user manually applying pressure to the body of the bottle.

[0010] In some embodiments, the dispensing bottle comprises a container body having a neck with male threads that engage female threads in a closure cap including a base and a flip-top lid. In one exemplary embodiment, the base of this closure cap has a skirt on which the base threads are disposed, and the base threads are configured to engage the male threads on the neck of the bottle. Further, in some embodiments, the base has one or more retaining elements, protrusions or rings (such as on the inner surface of the skirt) on the inner surface of the base and a central portion having an opening that aligns with an internal shaft, and the opening allows a flowing material to flow out when not blocked. As one approach, the internal shaft terminates in a non-planar end face on the side opposite the central portion. Further, the internal shaft can have a disk provided adjacent thereto.

[0011] As described above, the cap has a flip-top lid, and in one exemplary form, the flip-top lid has an internal protrusion movable between a closed first position and an open second position, and the protrusion blocks the opening of the base so as to prevent or inhibit the flowing material from flowing out of the interior of the container body in the first position and allows the flowing material to flow out of the opening of the base in the second position. Further, in one exemplary embodiment, the disk is attached inside the base by snap-fitting the disk in place with a retaining ring, and the disk has a central opening and a partial annular groove hole disposed around this central opening. In one exemplary form, a mixing chamber is formed by the disk and the central portion of the base along the skirt and the internal shaft. Further, in some forms, a plurality of flowing material channels are formed by the non-planar end face of the internal shaft and the disk, whereby the flowing material can flow from the mixing chamber into the internal shaft.

[0012] In some embodiments, when the closure cap is in the closed position and the bottle is inverted such that the bottle opening is positioned below the container body, the thixotropic fluid can maintain a stable equilibrium state within the bottle without leakage. In some embodiments, when the closure cap is in the open position, during pressure application to the container body, the configuration of the closure cap enables controlled dispensing of the thixotropic fluid, and release of the pressure on the container body allows for immediate interruption of dispensing, for example, by allowing air to flow reversely into the container body and enabling the thixotropic fluid to elastically return and flow back into the internal channel. Further, as one approach, this elastic return is achieved by enabling air to immediately flow into the bottle to replace the amount of dispensed fluid and rapidly restoring the bottle to its original shape.

[0013] As one exemplary approach, at least a portion of the flowing material advances downward through a partial annular opening, through a mixing chamber, and then inwardly into a flowing material channel defined between the disk and the non-planar end of the inner shaft, then downward through the interior of the shaft, and then out of the dispensing bottle through a central opening. As one approach, the thixotropic flowing material disposed within the bottle advances from the partial annular opening of the disk and through a mixing chamber that can mix any separating ceramic into the flowing material, and then the thixotropic flowing material can be squeezed out of the bottle so as to migrate into the channel formed by the end of the inner shaft and the disk and flow out from the central opening of the base. Further, a portion of the flowing material can advance downward from small apertures or pinholes in the disk and also through the central opening of the base. As described above, upon pressure interruption to the bottle, the bolt can immediately return to its shape. Air can flow into the bottle through one or both of these paths, for example, through the pinholes and / or annular openings in the disk, whereby air can flow into the bottle through the internal chamber, the channel, the pinholes, the mixing chamber, and / or the partial annular opening. Generally, air is drawn into the bolt when releasing the pressure on the bottle body or container. Thus, briefly stated, air is received into the main cavity of the bottle, and this reception is effected by flowing through the central pinhole or the partial annular groove holes of the disk. Further, after the disk is installed on the base of the closure cap, as one approach, the disk remains stationary relative to the base.

[0014] In some embodiments, the closure cap including the base, flip-top, and disk is made of a polypropylene material such that the entire closure cap is recyclable as a unit. Further, without a silicon thin film, the strength of the closure does not significantly decrease over time and there is little or no degradation of its performance over time in some embodiments. In some embodiments, there is little or no pressure change required to dispense the flowing material from the bottle over the life of the bottle.

[0015] As described herein, the closure cap can enable better dosing. It can prevent accidental high-speed product discharge from the bottle, which may cause splashing soiling, and can also prevent permanent crushing or other permanent inward deformation of the bottle. Further, the closure cap configuration can reduce splashing. Further, as described below, the mixing chamber can be configured to facilitate outer surface cleaning, for example, by having an outwardly convex or domed outer surface.

[0016] As one approach, the outer bottom (when the bottle is inverted) surface adjacent to the central opening into which the base fluid is dispensed has an arcuate or domed central portion having a planar peripheral surface therearound. In one embodiment, the inner surface of the base has an internal shaft that projects at least somewhat parallel to the skirt of the base. In some embodiments, the base has an internal cutting blade disposed adjacent to the central opening, and in this internal cutting blade, the inner diameter of the internal shaft decreases abruptly. As one approach, the cutting blade has a sharp and non-notch edge. In some forms, the inner diameter of the opening itself is different from the inner shaft wall. More specifically, in such forms, the diameter of the opening into the container is smaller than the diameter between the walls of the internal shaft, and this size reduction and the relatively sharp edge therebetween assist in promoting a reduction in the dripping of the product by holding the product within the closure in part. Further, the surface tension and size of the opening can similarly assist in reducing the dripping of the product. This cutting blade does not prevent the product from flowing out of the opening in the closure cap, but reduces the amount released under a given pressure by slowing the flow. As one approach, the cutting blade is relatively small compared to the diameter of the shaft, and in some forms, the internal cutting blade has a width of about 1 mm, and the diameter of the opening itself into the container is from about 3 mm to about 7 mm. In other forms, the opening has a diameter from about 3.5 mm to about 4.5 mm. In yet other embodiments, the opening has a diameter of about 4 mm, and the diameter of the internal shaft is about 6 mm. Thus, the cutting blade has a width of about 1 mm in some forms.

[0017] The cutting blade assists in quickly interrupting the dispensing of the fluid when pressure is released on the bottle, and the disk (and the interface to the internal shaft) reduces the pressure generated by the product in the bottle, which assists in interrupting the dispensing. As will be explained below, the size and shape of the opening in the disk assist in monitoring the flow, depend on the viscosity and surface tension of the product, and the geometry of the disk can be adjusted to accommodate different fluids.

[0018] At the upper end of the inner shaft located away from the opening in the base, in some embodiments, the inner shaft has a non-planar end face. As one approach, this non-planar end face has a stepped configuration that creates a plurality of teeth and a plurality of recesses. As another configuration, the non-planar end face is configured to have wavy, sinusoidal, or other arcuate recesses.

[0019] As described above, the bottles and caps described herein can be employed for use with a wide variety of flowing substances. In one exemplary configuration, the bottle can be filled with, for example, a few spices, a shear-thinning flowing substance such as a sauce, or a few consumer items such as shampoo or body wash. Such applications are particularly advantageous in that they allow the consumer or user to easily and quickly dispense a desired amount of the flowing substance without splashing the flowing substance or creating other unintended messes. As one approach, a dispensing bottle with a closed cap can have a capacity of from about 250 mL to about 1000 mL. Further, various container configurations are contemplated, including a configuration in which the bottle is stored in an inverted configuration with the closed cap resting on the bottle. As one exemplary approach, the disc has a diameter of from about 20 to 40 mm, and the inner shaft has a height of from about 4 to 12 mm and a diameter of from about 3 to 9 mm. In other configurations, the inner shaft has a height of from about 5 to 9 mm and a diameter of from about 3 to 5 mm.

[0020] As described above, the closure cap has a mixing chamber formed by a portion of the base having a disk fixed to the base. As one approach, this mixing chamber has a plurality of extensions protruding from the disk. More specifically, the disk, in some forms, has extensions in the form of a plurality of flanges that project downward into the mixing chamber from the bottom of the disk (with the bottle inverted). The mixing chamber described herein helps prevent the leakage of the serum from the dispensing bottle, in part, by mixing the serum separated from the thixotropic fluid back into the remaining thixotropic fluid. As one approach, the mixing chamber prevents the separated serum from leaking from the dispensing bottle by mixing the separated serum back into the thixotropic fluid and then allowing it to flow out of the opening of the bottle. In some embodiments, the mixing chamber has or holds a volume of 2 mL to 11 mL, 3 mL to 9 mL, or 5 mL to 7 mL, or about 6 mL. The disk extensions can assist in remixing the separated serum by slowing the fluid flow, creating or increasing turbulence, and / or otherwise increasing the interaction between the separated serum and the remaining fluid by the mixing chamber.

[0021] As one approach, a plurality of retaining rings can be provided, one of which can have a liner for the bottle or cap that is associated such that it can seal the bottle after the closure cap is attached to the bottle. For example, a first retaining ring and a second retaining ring can be spaced apart from each other in the axial (vertical) direction, and the edge of the disk can be captured therebetween. The upper ring (with the bottle inverted) can have a removable film or liner member associated to seal the opening at the bottle neck prior to use. The liner member can be removed by the consumer by hand before dispensing the product.

[0022] The bottles having the closure caps described herein can be formed, filled, and sealed in high-speed, high-volume, mass-production operations, or other types of operations. As one approach, a method of manufacturing dispensing bottles generally includes the steps of forming a squeezable flexible bottle, for example, by blow molding, injection molding, or other methods; forming a closure cap having a disk, a base, and a flip-top lid by injection molding or other methods; snap-fitting the disk onto the base; filling a receptacle with a flowing material (such as a thixotropic flowing material); and securing the closure cap to the filled receptacle. In some embodiments, the base has an internal skirt with an internal base thread provided inside the internal skirt (the base thread is configured to engage an external thread of the bottle neck), the internal skirt and the external skirt, a retaining ring inside the internal skirt, and a central domed portion having an opening aligned with an opening in an internal shaft that terminates at a non-planar end face on the side opposite the central opening. The domed portion has an opening through which the flowing material can flow when the opening is not blocked, and the flip-top lid has an internal projection movable between a first position and a second position, the projection blocking the opening of the base to inhibit or prevent the outflow of the flowing material when in the first position and allowing the outflow of the flowing material from the opening of the base when in the second position. In some embodiments, the disk has a central pinhole and a partial annular groove hole disposed around the central pinhole, the outer surfaces of the disk, the central portion of the base, the internal skirt, and the internal shaft define a mixing chamber, and a plurality of flowing material channels are formed between the non-planar end face of the internal shaft and the disk. In some forms, the method further includes the step of sealing the receptacle with a removable liner associated with the closure cap so as to seal the product within the bottle body. As will be described in more detail below, the base and the flip-top lid can be molded together with or separately from the disk.

[0023] In one exemplary form, the closure cap of the container includes a flip-top lid and a base having at least a domed wall with a through opening, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by an upper planar portion, a thread on the inner skirt and one or more retaining rings, and an internal shaft depending inwardly from the domed wall. As one approach, the internal shaft terminates in a non-planar end face. Further, in such a form, the flip-top lid has a protrusion and is movable between a first position where the protrusion blocks the opening and a second position where the protrusion does not block the opening of the base. The closure cap, in some forms, has a disk that is attached inside the base by snap-fitting the disk to the retaining ring. In such a form, the disk has a central pinhole, a partial annular slot disposed around the central pinhole, and a flange projecting toward the base, and the flange is disposed between the internal shaft and the partial annular slot when the disk is attached to the base. Further, as one approach, the closure cap includes a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the domed wall, the inner skirt, and the internal shaft, and the mixing chamber is formed by a plurality of fluid channels formed by the non-planar end face of the internal shaft and the disk.

[0024] In another approach, a method of manufacturing a closure cap comprises the step of forming a flip-top cap within a mold, the flip-top cap having: (a) a base having at least a domed wall with a through opening, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, a thread and a retaining ring in the inner skirt, and an internal shaft depending inwardly from the domed wall and terminating in a non-planar end face; and (b) a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base and having an internal projection, the flip-top lid being movable between a first position in which the internal projection blocks the opening and a second position in which the internal projection does not block the opening of the base. Further, in some approaches, the method comprises the step of snap-fitting a disk within a retaining ring of the base of the flip-top cap, the disk having a pinhole, a partial annular slot disposed around the pinhole, and a flange projecting towards the base, the flange being disposed between the internal shaft and the partial annular slot 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 domed wall, the inner skirt, and the internal shaft, and a plurality of fluid channels are formed by the non-planar end face of the internal shaft and the disk.

[0025] Further, in some forms, the method further comprises the step of forming the closure cap as two separate components including the flip-top cap and the base, the flip-top cap having the base and a flip-top lid formed as a single integrated one-piece structure, and the two separate components being made of the same material and assembled in the mold or at separate stations.

[0026] Figures 1A and 1B show a packaged food product comprising a bottle 10 for storing a flowable food product 5 such as ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, mustard, or other products, having a closed (closure) cap 18 attached to a container body 12, and being attached via a female thread 32 of the closed cap 18 that engages a male thread 16 of the container body 12. A portion of the closed cap 18 is shown transparent in Figure 1A for illustrative purposes. Figure 1A shows the bottle in an upright position, although in some embodiments, the bottle 10 is configured to be stored in an inverted state resting on the closed cap as shown in Figure 1B. Thus, during storage and dispensing, the bottle 10 can have a closed cap 18 located on the lower side of the container body 12 of the bottle 10 such that the flowable product 5 does not inadvertently leak from the bottle 10.

[0027] The closed cap 18 has a base 20 and a hinged or flip-top lid 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. To open the bottle 10 and facilitate dispensing of the flowable product 5, the user can rotate the flip-top lid 22 from the closed configuration of Figure 2 to the open configuration of Figure 3. For that purpose, the user or consumer applies an upward force to the lid 22, which is done by hooking the applied force in a mouth-shaped recess 70 defined by an upper surface 72 and a lower surface 74. As one approach, the user grasps the upper surface 72 by hand and pulls upward, away from the base 20 and the remainder of the bottle 10. Next, to stably position it in the open configuration, the flip-top lid 22 is rotated about the hinge portion 19 to the side opposite the mouth-shaped recess 70.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, when the flip-top lid 22 is in the open configuration, a protrusion 90 of the flip-top lid 22 moves from a position closing or blocking an opening 34 in the base 20 to a spaced-apart position not blocking the opening 34. Figure 3 further shows that the central portion 30 can be dome-shaped and that the opening 34 passes through, and a planar portion 62 is at least partially disposed around it. The lower surface 74 of the mouth-shaped recess 70 extends between sections of the planar portion 62 as shown in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the closed cap 18 in an inverted orientation. As shown in FIG. 4, the base 20 has an inner skirt 26 where female threads 32 and one or more retaining rings are disposed, an outer skirt 28, a planar portion 62 between the two skirts, and a domed central surface 30 where an opening 34 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 4, one or more radial stiffeners or reinforcing ribs 76 are disposed between the outer skirt 28 and the inner skirt 26. As shown in the exemplary form in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base 20 has an internal shaft 36 that extends upward from the central domed surface 30 and terminates in a non-linear surface 38 (shown in FIG. 5).

[0030] In one exemplary embodiment, the closed cap 18 has a disk 42 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) provided with a plurality of openings through which fluid 5 and air can flow. As one approach, retaining rings 44 disposed on the inner wall of the inner skirt 26 capture the disk 42 between these rings. In other forms (not shown), the disk 42 can be captured between a retaining ring and other structures, such as a portion or extension of the internal shaft 36. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a portion of the closed cap 18 having a disk 42 snap-fitted between two retaining rings 44, showing how the disk 42 and the base 20 form a mixing chamber 56. In one exemplary embodiment, the mixing chamber 56 is formed by the wall of the inner skirt 26, the central portion 30, the internal shaft 36 of the base 20, and the disk 42.

[0031] Furthermore, the planar portion 62 of the base 20 joins the inner skirt and the outer skirt 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the base 20 further has ribs 80 disposed on a portion of the base 20 below the flip-top lid 22 (with the bottle upright). These ribs form a gripping surface, enabling a user to more easily grasp the closure cap 18 if they wish to remove the entire closure cap 18 from the container body 12 and to disengage the female thread 32 of the base 20 from the male thread 16 at the neck 14. In other forms, the ribs 80 can be excluded from the closure cap 18.

[0032] FIGS. 5 and 9 show an example of the non-linear terminal surface 38 on the inner shaft 36 of the base 20. In some embodiments, the non-linear terminal surface 38 forms a channel opening for both the flowing material and air to migrate between the mixing chamber 56 and the inner shaft 36. As one approach, the non-linear terminal surface 38 has a stepped configuration 64 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In yet another approach, the non-linear terminal surface 38 has a wavy, sinusoidal, or other arcuate configuration. In some embodiments, the non-linear terminal surface 38 can have a semi-circular recess that cuts into the wall of the inner shaft 36. Further, a single or multiple recesses can form one or more channels between the mixing chamber 56 and the inner shaft 36.

[0033] Furthermore, the stepped configuration 64 shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 can have one or more protruding teeth 68 and one or more deep groove holes 64 positioned and extending intermediate or otherwise between these protruding teeth. The stepped configuration 64 on the non-linear terminal surface 38 of the inner shaft 36 forms a fluid channel 58 that varies in width and / or depth in cooperation with the surface of the disk. As shown in FIG. 10, the non-linear terminal surface 39 can also have a plurality of groove holes or recesses 65 and rounded protrusions 69 in a wavy or arcuate configuration. The wavy non-linear terminal surface 39, which operates in a manner similar to the stepped configurations described above, forms the channel 58 together with the disk 42. In some embodiments, the non-linear terminal surface can have a combination of stepped portions, protrusions, ridges, and / or curved sections, among other elements.

[0034] In fact, the non-linear end surface 38 can take various forms, for example, it can take the forms shown in FIGS. 8-10 and 39-44. As described above, the non-linear surface 38 shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 has a stepped form that forms a number of channels 58. Further, in other forms, the non-linear end surface 39 shown in FIG. 10 has a wavy or sinusoidal form. FIG. 39 shows a non-linear end surface 2238 having two different heights instead of the three different heights shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 40 shows a non-linear end surface 2338 having two heights and an angled portion therebetween. FIG. 41 shows a non-linear end surface 2438 having a substantially V-shaped valley disposed between convex portions or protrusions having a triangular cross-section. FIG. 42, similar to FIG. 39, shows a non-linear end surface 2538 having two different heights, but the convex portions or protrusions of FIG. 41 have a triangular or trapezoidal shape and have a more acute or smaller angle adjacent to a larger base. FIG. 43 shows a non-linear end surface 2638 having a stepped form, in which case the lowest step has a width smaller than the width of the highest step. Finally, FIG. 44 shows a non-linear end surface 2738 having triangular-shaped convex portions or protrusions with a U-shaped valley therebetween. The illustrated features can be used as shown or in combination with other exemplary features, for example, features shown in other drawings. As an alternative, the end of the shaft can be linear or flat, and the shaft can have other openings incorporated therein.

[0035] In addition to forming a mixing chamber 56 in part, the disk 42 also defines an annular partial groove or opening 50 through which the fluid (and its contained parts) flows into the mixing chamber. The annular opening 50 can take various forms, for example, the forms shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 45A - 45I. As one approach shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the disk 52 has four openings. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 45A, the disk 1242 has two openings. In other examples, FIG. 45B has three annular openings 1250, while the embodiment of FIG. 45C has five openings 1350. FIG. 45D shows an exemplary disk 1442 having six openings 1450, and FIG. 45E shows an exemplary disk 1542 having seven annular openings 1550. The exemplary disk 1642 shown in FIG. 45F has eight annular openings 1650 and offset pinholes 1648, although in FIGS. 45A - 45E and 45G - 45I, the pinholes are shown located at the center of the disk. Further, although the corners of the annular openings shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and FIGS. 45A - 45F are rounded without any sharp edges or pinch points, FIGS. 45G - 45I show openings 1750, 1850, and 1950 with less rounding. These features can be combined in various ways.

[0036] FIGS. 47A - 47I also show a number of exemplary disks having various features useful for managing the flow of fluid from the bottle and also through the cap. As described above, the bottle is often stored and / or used in the top - down position, in which case there is a risk that the ceramic that separates within the chamber may partially leak from the bottle, which means that there is no particularly long flow path or time for the ceramic to return and mix within the fluid before exiting the bottle cap.

[0037] To facilitate mixing any separated components with the remaining flowing material, the disk can incorporate a number of additional features, for example, additional openings disposed inside the flange. In one exemplary embodiment, these openings can be intermediate between an annular slot and the center of the disk which can have a central pinhole as described above. One exemplary disk 2042 shown in FIG. 47A has an annular opening 2051 inside the flange 2054, and this flange 2054 itself is inside a larger annular opening or slot 2050. In this way, adjacent to the inner wall of the flange 2054, there is a smaller inner opening 2051 that aids in mixing the flowing material and any separated components. FIGS. 47B and 47C show exemplary disks 2142, 2242 that similarly have intermediate or inner openings 2151, 2251 adjacent to the flanges 2154, 2254 and the annular openings or slots 2150, 2250, however, the shape and size of these openings are configured differently compared to those in FIG. 47A. Further, FIG. 47C does not have a central pinhole, while FIGS. 47A and 47B have a central opening of the disk as shown. In addition to these configurations, the pinhole can also be offset from the geometric center of the disk as previously suggested.

[0038] FIGS. 47D - 47F show further exemplary embodiments of the disk having posts protruding from the disk to facilitate mixing of the flowing material as the flowing material moves out of the cap. After being installed or fixed to the remaining portion of the cap, the posts typically protrude towards the outlet or opening of the bottle. For example, the exemplary disk 2342 (FIG. 47D) has an annular opening 2350 and a centrally located post 2353 with a relatively smooth side surface. The exemplary disk 2442 shown in FIG. 47E has an annular opening 2450, a flange 2454, and a centrally located post 2453. Post 2353 has a relatively rounded outer surface, while post 2453 has a non-uniform side surface with a cross-section that is approximately an X-shaped configuration.

[0039] The post is shown centered, but can also be offset, and multiple posts can be incorporated into the disk. Further, the post can have various surface textures and configurations. In fact, based on the fluid moving through the removed cap, various posts with different configurations can be incorporated into the cap.

[0040] In some forms, instead of a post, the disk can have other similar structures such as a cone. The central portion of disk 2842 having a conical extension 2857 through which opening 2848 passes is shown. Further, disk 2842 also has an annular opening 2851, a flange 2854, and an opening 2850.

[0041] Disk 2542 of FIG. 47F similarly has a centrally located post 2553 with a generally X-shaped cross-section and an annular opening 2550. However, instead of discrete flanges, disk 2542 has one continuous flange or cylindrical wall 2555 protruding from disk 2542. Cylindrical wall 2555 is shown generally orthogonal to the disk, but can also protrude from the disk at an angle that is not perpendicular, similar to the flange shown in FIG. 46B.

[0042] FIG. 48 shows disk 2542 fixed to the remainder of the closed cap 2518. Further, post 2553 is shown at least partially protruding into inner shaft 2536. In this way, the fluid must travel from annular opening 2550 over or around cylindrical wall 2555, over or around the end of inner shaft 2536, and through the shaft along post 2553 to opening 2534. Such a configuration with a somewhat tortuous flow path can be particularly adapted for some fluids having special fluid properties.

[0043] Other modifications and combinations of the features described herein can be made. For example, FIG. 47G shows a disk 2642 similar to disk 2142 of FIG. 47B, but the flange 2654 is not longer than that shown in FIG. 47B, and the fluid has a wider margin or space to move between the flanges 2654 of FIG. 47G as compared to that of FIG. 47B. Further, FIG. 47H shows a disk 2742 having an outer annular opening 2750 adjacent to the opening 2751 and no flange disposed between these openings. Many of the various structural features of the disks can be combined or modified in various ways, including those described herein, and the disks can be tailored to suit the characteristics of the fluid advancing out of the bottle past the cap.

[0044] As described above, the mixing chamber 56 and the opening formed in the disk 42 by the disk 42 and the inner shaft 36 enable accurate dispensing and dosage administration of the fluid 5 within the container. Thus, the geometry of the disk 42 serves to facilitate proper dispensing of the fluid 5.

[0045] Figure 7A shows the first side of the disk 42 having a flange 54 that protrudes downward when the bottle is inverted, and this first side faces the inner shaft 36 when the disk 42 is installed at a predetermined position between the retaining rings of the closed cap 18. The flange 54 protrudes orthogonally from the surface of the disk 42 (as shown in FIGS. 7C - 7E), but the flange 54 can protrude from the disk 42 at an angle other than 90°. Turning back to FIGS. 46A and 46B for a moment to explain, two exemplary flange configurations are shown. FIG. 46A shows a flange 54 that protrudes from the body of the disk 42 at approximately 90°, while FIG. 46B shows a flange 54' that protrudes from the body of the disk 42 at an angle less than 90°. Such angled flanges can impact the flow of the fluid 5 entering the mixing chamber 56 and also affect the mixing action within the chamber. Both flanges shown in FIGS. 46A and 46B assist in product mixing as the product advances towards the outlet based on the flow characteristics of the product, and the angle of the flange 54' shown in FIG. 46B can be made less than 90°. As described above, the central pinhole 48 disposed through the center of the planar portion of the disk 42 is partially surrounded by a plurality of groove holes or partial annular openings 50. The peripheral partial annular openings 50 are considerably larger than the central pinhole, and most of the fluid 5 exiting the bottle 10 advances through the partial annular openings 50. In some embodiments, the disk 42 has a diameter D of 20 mm to 40 mm, 25 mm to 35 mm, or about 30 mm to 34 mm 1 and. In one exemplary form, the disk 42 has a diameter D of about 31.9 mm ± 0.1 mm 1 and. As one approach, the annular groove holes have an arc length of 10 - 15 mm, or 11 - 14 mm. As shown in FIG. 7B, the arc length A 1 of each opening can be about 12.7 mm. Further, the annular opening 50 has an inner curvature radius R 1 at the inner edge of the opening, and an outer curvature radius R 2 at the outer edge of the opening. In one exemplary approach, R 1 is about 6 - 10 mm, and R 2is about 10 to 15 mm. In another exemplary approach, R 1 is about 8 to 9 mm, and also R 2 is about 12 to 13 mm. In one exemplary embodiment, R 1 is about 8.3 mm, and also R 2 is about 12.3 mm.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A, the partial annular opening 50 is disposed adjacent to the flange 54 such that when the disk 42 is mounted on the base 20, these flanges 54 project into the mixing chamber 56, whereby the fluid 5 (including any component such as a ceramic) cannot directly pass through the opening 50 and also advance into the inner shaft 36 and out of the bottle. Instead, the portion of the fluid 5 advancing via the opening 50 must enter the mixing chamber 56 before the fluid exits the bottle 10 (thereby facilitating the mixing of any component of the fluid 5 separated from the fluid). In one exemplary approach, the extension or flange 54 has a height h 1 of about 2 to 5 mm. In another exemplary approach, h 1 is about 3 to 4 mm. In one exemplary embodiment, h 1 is about 3.5 mm. Further, in operation, the length or height of the flange 54 can be linked to the depth of the channel 58 formed by the non-linear terminal surface 38, which is to say that sizing them similarly aids in promoting mixing by requiring the fluid to flow around the flange 54 without passing directly through the annular opening 50 and the fluid channel 58. In one exemplary approach, the height h 2 of the disk 42 is about 3 to 7 mm. In another exemplary approach, the height h 2 of the disk 42 is about 4 to 6 mm. In yet another exemplary approach, the height h 2 of the disk 42 is about 4.8 mm.

[0047] The width w 1 of the planar portion of the disk 42 shown in FIG. 7DIn some embodiments, it is between about 0.75 mm and about 3 mm. In one exemplary approach, the width w of the disk 42 1 is from about 1 mm to about 2 mm. In one exemplary approach, the width w of the disk 42 1 is about 1.3 mm. As shown in FIG. 2, the width d of the central pinhole opening 48 2 is from about 1 to 2 mm. In one exemplary approach, the width d of the pinhole of the disk 42 2 is about 1.5 mm.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7E, each partial annular opening 50 can have an inclined edge on the surface of the disk 42 facing the base 20. This orientation can facilitate the backflow of the flowing material 5 (e.g., at least a portion of the flowing material not retained within the inner shaft 36) into the container body 12 when the bottle is placed with the cap side upward (upright). Further, the inclined edge can facilitate the movement of air back into the bottle and improve the bounce-back of the bottle or the container body 12.

[0049] To facilitate proper dispensing of the flowing material, the geometry of the disk 42 adjusts the flow of the flowing material 5, for example, including the size, shape, and angle of the flange 54. In addition to the geometry described above, the disk 42 has sufficient openings relative to the area of the disk 42 to promote sufficient flow of the flowing material 5 while still preventing leakage from the closed cap 18. The openings 50 have specific sizes, shapes, and positions that promote a flowing material flow that allows for easy dispensing and rapid bounce-back of the bottle. In one exemplary approach, the total area of the disk is about 800 mm 2 and the total area of the partial annular openings 50 and the central pinhole is about 211 mm of the total area 2 which is about 26% of the total area of the disk. In some approaches, the total area of the openings in the disk covers about 20 - 35% of the total disk area, and generally, the partial annular openings have a significantly larger area than the central pinhole.

[0050] In FIG. 4, the flow of ketchup during dispensing is shown as a dashed line. The air flow into the bottle that replaces the ketchup after dispensing is shown as a thick solid line. The thin solid line indicates the flow into the mixing chamber 56 of the ceramic separated from the flowing material 5, where it is remixing restored to the flowing material 5 in this mixing chamber.

[0051] In some exemplary approaches, the closure cap 18 (e.g., base 20, flip-top lid 22, and disk 42) is composed of a single material, such as polypropylene or other food-grade plastic or polymer, or a similar recyclable material. In operation, having a closure cap 18 made of a single material can improve the ease and possibility of recycling the material. As some approaches, the material can be selected with a specific surface tension. For example, the surface of the disk 42 (and potentially the inner surface of the closure cap) can be made rough or textured to create flow resistance and assist in controlling the flow of the flowing material being dispensed. As will be detailed below, the inner surface of the inner shaft 38 can also be made textured to inhibit flow or a smooth surface to facilitate the movement of the flowing material passing through. A smooth surface can result in a faster and / or less controlled flow of the flowing material and also risk causing leakage of the product or the separated components of the product due to a decrease in surface tension. The finish of the material or the manner in which the element is formed can also affect the surface tension of the element and assist in facilitating the control of the flowing material flow. For example, some portions of the flip-top cap 18 can be formed to create a rough surface that affects the flow of the flowing material 5 passing through.

[0052] Returning temporarily to FIG. 38 for explanation, two different exemplary finish portions 77 and 79 are shown. The single inner wall 78 can have an entire surface of a single texture or surface portions of different textures, and the cap 2018 shown in FIG. 38 has a first portion 2078 of a rough texture and a second portion 2178 of a smooth texture. As described above, the surface of the material forming the cap 18 can inhibit, slow down, or restrict the flow of the fluid 5 within the bottle. Whether to provide or not provide a textured surface on a part or the whole of the cap, for example, on the inner wall of the inner shaft, can depend on the type of fluid advancing through the cap 2018.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 6, the first side surface of the disk 42 (which is arranged adjacent to the inner shaft 36 of the base 20 when installed) has an arcuate or arc-shaped flange or extension 54 protruding from that side surface. When the disk 42 is provided on the base 20, the arcuate flange or extension 54 projects into the mixing chamber 56 towards the base 20. The extension 54 of the disk requires the fluid 5 to move around the flange 54 without passing directly through the fluid channel 58 from the annular opening 50, promoting the mixing of the fluid 5 within the mixing chamber 56.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 8, the base 20 and the inner shaft 36 at the opening 34 have a cutting blade or a ledge 60 on the inner surface adjacent to the opening, where the inner diameter of the inner shaft decreases abruptly. For example, the diameter of the inner shaft shrinks abruptly at this ledge 60, such that by partially holding the product within the closure until the manual pressure on the container body is large enough to overcome the tendency of the ledge to hold the flowing material within the closure cap, the sharp edge aids in promoting a reduction in the wake formation of the product. As one approach, the cutting blade has a non-scalloped sharp edge. In some forms, the diameter of the opening into the container is smaller than the diameter of the inner shaft, and this size reduction and relatively sharp edge assist in quickly and cleanly interrupting dispensing. This cutting blade does not impede the outflow of product from the opening within the closure cap and reduces the amount released under some pressure by slowing the flow. As one approach, the cutting blade is relatively small compared to the diameter of the shaft, the opening itself into the container is from about 3.5 mm to about 4.5 mm, and in one exemplary embodiment, about 4 mm.

[0055] As described above, the internal shaft 36 can assist in supporting the disk 42 when the disk is attached to the base 20. As one approach, the inner wall or inner wall 78 of the internal shaft 36 allows the flowing material 5 to pass through in a funnel-like manner toward the opening 34. In one embodiment, the inner wall 78 forms at least one of a circular shape or a parabolic shape. FIG. 11 shows the shape according to an embodiment of the inner wall 79 where the vicinity of the outlet of the internal shaft 36 is slightly narrowed. Further, in some embodiments, the shaft 36 can expand again adjacent to the opening 34. By slightly expanding at the portion where the opening merges with the upper surface of the base, when the flip-top lid 18 is closed, the opening allows the protrusion 90 to be more easily and quickly positioned in the opening 34. In still other forms, as shown in FIG. 12, the inner wall 78 has a substantially vertical straight portion and then an angled portion that directs the flowing material 5 toward the opening 34. FIG. 13 is similar to the internal shaft 36 of FIG. 12, but further has a cutting blade 60 that assists in interrupting the dispensing of the flowing material 5 or a sharply reduced diameter portion of the internal shaft 36 as described above. Other examples of the cutting blade configuration or internal protrusion around the opening are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 shows an opening 134 having a cutting blade 160 that is an inner surface angled slightly downward toward the through-opening rather than a horizontally extending shelf portion, while FIG. 13 described above has a downwardly angled portion but has a horizontally extending cutting blade 60. Further, FIG. 15 shows an opening 234 having a cutting blade 260 with an angled inner surface directed away from the through-opening.

[0056] FIGS. 16 and 17 show two options for the configuration on the surface of the container or dome outside the opening 34. For example, FIG. 16 shows a rounded edge at the junction where the central portion 30 merges with the opening 34. As described above, FIGS. 14 and 15 have angled recesses around the opening in that location. Further, FIG. 17 shows a depression 161 having an inclined wall surface between the central portion 30 and the opening 34.

[0057] The bottle 10 and the closure cap 18 can be produced in a number of different ways. In one exemplary approach, a method of manufacturing or producing a filling bottle for dispensing a fluid includes forming a receptacle such as a container body having a threaded neck, filling the receptacle with a fluid such as a thixotropic fluid, forming a closure cap having a base, a flip-top lid, and a disc, and closing the filled receptacle with the closure cap. Further, the bottle can be formed and filled in-line or formed in one location and filled in another location.

[0058] As one approach, the closure cap and the disc are formed separately and snap fit together. In some embodiments, the formed base has an inner skirt and an outer skirt, and a base thread is disposed on the inner skirt, the base thread being configured to engage a thread at the neck of the receptacle. Further, the formed base has one or more retaining rings (at a short distance from the thread) on the inner skirt and a central domed portion having an opening, the opening being aligned with an internal shaft that terminates at a non-planar end face on the side opposite the central domed portion. As described above, the opening in the base allows the fluid to flow out of the opening when the opening is not blocked. In some embodiments, the formed flip-top lid has an internal projection movable between a first position and a second position, the projection blocking the opening in the base so as to inhibit the outflow of the fluid inside the container body when in the first position, and the second position allowing the fluid to flow out of the opening in the base.

[0059] As described above, in some approaches, the closure cap and the disk are formed separately and then fixed to each other or snap-fitted together. In such a configuration, the manufacturing method can further comprise the step of assembling the disk to be oriented in a specific position relative to the closure cap or the remaining portion of the base 20. By comprising one or more orientation steps before assembling the disk to the remaining portion of the closure cap, the assembled cap is more likely to provide a constant flow rate passing therethrough. Further, in some configurations, the constant flow rate can be adjusted for different fluids without requiring a structural change, by adjusting the relative positioning of some elements of the closure cap or the disk. As one approach, visible marks or engraved notches disposed on one or both of the closure cap or the disk can be used to assist in the relative positioning of the disk and / or the closure cap.

[0060] This can in part depend on the form of their various elements. In one exemplary embodiment, as in the base 20 of FIG. 5, the non-linear terminal surface 38 of the inner shaft 36 has three cutouts, and the disk 42 of FIG. 6 has four flanges 54. The fluid flow passing through the assembled closure cap can be affected by the orientation of the flange 54 relative to the cutout opening of the inner shaft 36. Thus, these two structural elements can be relatively oriented to promote an increased fluid flow between them or slow down the fluid flow by requiring the fluid to take a longer path to the bottle outlet. Considering the benefits of adjusting the fluid path or standardizing the flow rate for a number of closure caps, the method of manufacturing or assembling the closure cap and the bottle can comprise the step of orienting the disk in a particular manner relative to the remaining portion of the closure cap.

[0061] As previously suggested, a method of producing a filled bottle can include snapping a disk onto a retaining ring of the closure cap. The formed disk, in some embodiments, has a central pinhole and a partial annular slot disposed around the central pinhole. After attaching the disk to the remainder of the closure cap 18, the disk 42, the central portion of the base 20, the inner skirt 26, and the internal shaft 36 of the base that defines the mixing chamber 56 and the plurality of fluid channels 58 are formed by the non-planar end face of the internal shaft 36 and the disk 42. The channel 58 formed between the end of the internal shaft 36 and the disk 42 allows the fluid to be advanced into a chute formed by the internal shaft 36 that communicates the fluid from the mixing chamber 56 to the opening 34.

[0062] The filled receptacle or container body seals the fluid in some embodiments with a liner associated with the closure cap. For example, a liner such as a paperboard, plastic and / or metal material liner is associated with a portion of the retaining ring and when the closure cap 18 is threaded onto and attached to the container body, the liner seals the fluid 5 within the container.

[0063] Furthermore, in some approaches, a method of manufacturing a closure cap comprises forming a flip-top closure cap including a base and a flip-top lid within a mold. In some embodiments, the formed base has a domed wall having an opening therethrough and an internal shaft projecting from the wall, the wall, an inner skirt having threads, a planar portion and / or an outer skirt connected to the inner skirt by reinforcing ribs if possible, and a retaining ring in the inner skirt. The internal shaft of the formed base projects inwardly from the domed wall and terminates in a non-planar end face. Further, the formed closure cap further has a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base, the flip-top lid having an internal projection, and the internal projection being movable from a first position blocking the opening to a second position where the internal projection does not block the opening of the base. The method of manufacturing the closure cap further comprises, in some forms, snapping a disk into the retaining ring or projection of the base. In some embodiments, the disk has a central pinhole, a partial annular groove hole disposed around the central pinhole, and a flange that projects toward the base and is disposed between the internal shaft and the partial annular groove hole when installed. After attaching the disk and the base, a mixing chamber is formed between the disk, the domed wall, the inner skirt, and the internal shaft, where a plurality of fluid channels are formed by the non-planar end face of the internal shaft and the disk.

[0064] In some forms, the closure cap is made from only two separate components, including a flip-top cap and a disk. The flip-top cap has a base and a flip-top lid formed as a single integrated one-piece structure. The two separate components (i.e., the flip-top cap and the disk) are made and assembled from the same material. In the operation, after forming the closure cap and ejecting it from the mold, a mechanism can be used to assemble the disk to the closure cap (which can be formed in the same mold as the base and the flip-top lid, or at different locations). This assembly is performed, for example, by snap-fitting the disk into a predetermined position on the base. Further, a liner can be attached to the retaining ring using the mechanism or other devices, and the liner can assist in sealing the flowing material within the bottle. The base and the flip-top lid are formed in the same mold as the disk in some forms, and in other forms, the disk is separately formed in the same mold together with the base and the flip-top lid. Further, the base and the disk can be separately formed and assembled at other stations. In still other forms, the entire closure cap (including the base, the flip-top lid, and the disk) can be molded or printed together.

[0065] As described above, numerous adjustments to the concepts described herein can be made while maintaining consistency with these teachings. For example, FIGS. 18 and 19 show other embodiments of a disk having an annular opening. As shown, disk 342 has a central portion 384 that is disposed at a distance in the vertical direction from a peripheral portion 386, and an annular opening 350 is disposed in the peripheral portion 386. In such a configuration, the mixing chamber 356 can be designed to have a volume that is somewhat independent of the volume of the discharge shaft or chamber formed by the internal shaft 356. In fact, the mixing chamber 356 is somewhat smaller than some of the other embodiments described above. To allow for the flow of fluid 5 from the mixing chamber 356 into the internal shaft 356 that forms the discharge chamber, the radius of the central portion 384 can be made sufficiently large compared to the radius of the internal shaft 336 that creates a clearance for the fluid 5 to pass through an opening or fluid channel 358 formed between the internal shaft 336 and the mixing chamber 356, and / or the opening 358 can extend to have a height or location that is disposed beyond the vertical portion of the disk 342 where the opening 358 can be disposed adjacent to the internal shaft 336. Put simply, the opening between the mixing chamber 356 and the internal shaft 358 can be moved or sized to allow for fluid flow even if the central portion 384 is not significantly larger than the internal shaft. Further, although the central portion 384 is shown without a central pinhole in FIGS. 18 and 19, in some configurations, the central portion 384 can have something like an air vent formed through a pinhole or other structure. Further, the disk 342 can be joined to the remainder of the cap, for example, by a snap fit between base portions having ribs and / or protrusions, or by other complementary geometries between the disk and the base. FIGS. 20 and 21 show other examples of a disk 442, in which case there is no central pinhole 48 as seen in some of the other embodiments.Furthermore, although there is no flange as in the embodiments described above in FIGS. 18 and 19, the vertical portion of the disk that separates the central portion 384 and the peripheral portion 386 operates similarly to effect mixing inside the product.

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, another embodiment is shown, which is a three-part solution having a flat disk 542 and an inner cap or inner cylindrical housing 596. As one approach, the inner cylindrical housing 596 has a circular wall 592 in which one or more openings 598 are disposed. In this way, the mixing chamber 556 is in fluid communication with an intermediate chamber 594 that is partially defined by the inner cylindrical housing 596. As one approach, the inner cylindrical housing 596 is disposed at a predetermined position around the inner shaft 536 and is held in place via a disk 542 that is held in place by a retaining member 544 such as a ring. Further, the inner cylindrical housing 596 can also be fixedly attached to the central portion 530. When the inner cylindrical housing 596 is disposed at a predetermined position around the inner shaft 536, the fluid 5 travels through the annular opening 540, through the opening 598 of the inner cap 592, travels upward along the length of the inner shaft 536, travels downward through the inner opening 588 of the inner shaft 536, and advances to the outlet opening 534, thereby advancing from the bottle to the outlet or opening 534. As shown, the disk 542 has an annular opening 540 but no central pinhole, which is because the inner cylindrical housing 596 has no openings in the surface between the walls 592. In this way, the fluid 5 undergoes transitions and mixing as it travels through the fluid channels of the three-part cap 518. In addition to mixing, this configuration is particularly useful for larger containers where the downward force applied to the fluid when the container is inverted is large enough, which is because there is a large amount of product that can be disposed above the cap.

[0067] Furthermore, although FIGS. 20 - 23 are not shown as having a flange protruding from the disk, in some configurations, the disk can have a flange similar to the configurations described above.

[0068] The external shape in the central portion of the base can further have various forms. As described above, the central portion 30 of the base 20 can have a dome-like form such as that incorporated into the cap 18 shown in FIG. 24. FIG. 25 shows a part of the cross-section at the outlet 34 of the dome-like central portion 30 of FIG. 24. Further, FIG. 26 shows the cross-section of the dome-like central portion. The dome-like central portion 30 of the base 20 provides a surface that can be easily wiped, but other forms having similar characteristics can also be adopted according to the teachings described herein. For example, FIGS. 27 to 29 show other exemplary embodiments of the cap 618 having a central portion 630 with inclined walls and having a substantially volcanic shape and an opening 634 disposed at its center. Further, FIGS. 30 to 32 show still other embodiments of the cap 718 having a flap central portion 730 and an opening 734 therein, and having a flat surface surrounding the outside of the opening 734. Further, the exemplary shapes shown in FIGS. 24 to 32 show openings having exemplary cutting blades, but these various shapes can be incorporated into other opening shapes and aspects described herein.

[0069] As described above, the mixing chamber described herein incorporates or mixes separated ceramic back into the flowing material and then discharges the flowing material and / or a portion thereof from the opening of the container cap. As one approach, the desired size of the mixing chamber may depend in part on the viscosity or other fluid properties of the flowing material or product within the container. As one approach, the size of mixing chamber 56 is defined in part by, as described above, the size of internal shaft 36, the location of disk 42 based on the corresponding geometry of the base, and / or the form of the disk. Briefly with respect to FIGS. 33 and 34, two different sized mixing chambers 56 and 56' are shown. The components are similar, but the wall forming internal shaft 36 in FIG. 34 is longer than the wall of shaft 36' in FIG. 33, and the corresponding geometry (e.g., retaining ring 44') is positioned at a greater distance from central surface 30' of base 20' compared to the corresponding geometry of base 20 (e.g., retaining ring 44) and central surface 30. Although the relative sizes of these components can vary as shown, their function is maintained, i.e., the mixing chamber serves to prevent separated ceramic from leaking out of the bottle separately from the remainder of the flowing material product 5.

[0070] As described above, the inner wall 78 of the inner shaft can have a cross-section with different shapes, such as, for example, circular or elliptical. Further, the shape or configuration along the length in which the inner wall 78 is formed can adopt various forms. For example, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the inner shafts 36, 136, 236 can have a substantially linear inner wall 78 along the height of the inner shaft 36. In other embodiments, the inner shaft 36 can have one or more non-linear inner walls 78. In other embodiments, FIG. 35 shows the inner wall 878 of the inner shaft 836 angled towards the opening 834. As one approach, the downward angle gives a V-shaped form to the cross-section. In other embodiments, FIG. 36 shows an inner shaft 936 having an inner wall 978 with a slightly non-linear downward slope. As one approach, this downward slope gives a modified U-shaped shape to the cross-section. In other embodiments, FIG. 37 shows an inner shaft 1036 having an inner wall 1078 with a stepped form in which the diameter gradually narrows.

[0071] Those skilled in the art can also make a wide variety of other changes, substitutions, and combinations to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and it will be understood that such changes, substitutions, and combinations are considered to be within the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A container body that houses a flowing substance and has a neck with a thread, A cap having a base and a flip-top lid, The base has a skirt with a base thread configured to engage with the thread of the neck, a retaining ring, and a central portion with an opening. When the opening is not blocked, the flowing substance can flow out through the opening. The flip-top lid has an internal protrusion and is movable between a closed first position and an open second position and can be re-closed. The internal protrusion blocks the opening of the base to prevent the flowing substance inside the container body from flowing out in the first position. The second position allows the flowing substance to flow out from the opening of the base. A cap, A disk attached inside the base, having a pinhole and a partial annular groove hole disposed around the pinhole. A mixing chamber defined by the disk, the central portion, the skirt, and an internal shaft, with a plurality of flowing substance channels formed by the non-planar end face of the internal shaft and the disk. A dispensing bottle comprising: When the cap is inverted so that the cap is at the bottom and the flip-top lid is in the closed first position, the flowing substance can be held without leakage. When the flip-top lid is in the open second position, applying pressure to the container body enables controlled dispensing of the flowing substance. Before flowing out of the dispensing bottle through the opening of the base, the flowing substance is dispensed from the partial annular groove hole, the mixing chamber, and the plurality of flowing substance channels. Releasing the pressure on the container body allows air to flow back into the container body without the disk moving relative to the base, enabling immediate interruption of dispensing. A dispensing bottle.

2. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber has a capacity of 2 mL to 11 mL and the disk is attached to the base by a retaining ring.

3. For a dispensing bottle having a capacity of 250 mL to 1000 mL, the mixing chamber has a capacity of 5 mL to 7 mL. The dispensing bottle according to claim 2.

4. The mixing chamber prevents the ceramic from leaking from the dispensing bottle, and the mixing chamber mixes the ceramic separated from the flowing material so as to return it into the flowing material, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

5. During dispensing, the flowing material moves from the container body via the partial annular groove holes, the mixing chamber, the channel formed by the inner shaft and the disk, and the opening in the central portion of the base, and also via the pinholes in the disk, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

6. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, further comprising an internal cutting blade having a shelf portion inside the opening.

7. The central portion has a domed central surface with a peripheral planar surface around it, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

8. The non-planar end surface at which the inner shaft terminates on the side opposite to the central portion has a stepped form that produces a plurality of teeth and a plurality of recesses on the non-planar end surface, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

9. The non-planar end surface at which the inner shaft terminates on the side opposite to the central portion has at least some arcuate surface portions that form one or more recesses, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

10. The disk has a diameter of 20 to 40 mm, and the inner shaft has a height of 4 to 12 mm and a diameter of 3 to 9 mm, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

11. The disk is immovable relative to the base, and both the cap and the disk are made of a single material, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

12. Air is allowed to pass through at least one of the pinholes and the partial annular groove holes, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

13. The disk further has a plurality of extensions protruding from a first side surface of the disk, and the extensions protrude towards the base when the disk is attached, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

14. The retaining ring has two retaining rings, and one of the two retaining rings has a bottle liner associated with it to seal the flowing material inside the container body, the dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

15. The dispensing bottle according to claim 1, wherein the disk further has one or more intermediate openings between the partial annular groove holes and the pinholes.

16. A closed cap, having at least a base having a central portion with a through opening, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, a thread and a retaining ring on the inner skirt, and an inner shaft depending inwardly from the central portion and terminating in a non-planar end face; a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base, having a protrusion, and the flip-top lid being movable between a first position where the protrusion blocks the opening and a second position where the protrusion does not block the opening of the base; a disk attached to the inside of the base by snap-fitting to the base, having a pinhole, a partial annular groove hole disposed around the pinhole, and a flange protruding toward the central portion of the base, the flange being disposed between the inner shaft and the partial annular groove hole when the disk is attached to the base; a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the central portion, the inner skirt, and the inner shaft, the mixing chamber having a plurality of fluid channels formed by the non-planar end face of the inner shaft and the disk; A closed cap for a container, comprising:

17. The closed cap according to claim 16, wherein the mixing chamber has a capacity of 7 mL to 11 mL, and the disk is attached to the base by a retaining ring.

18. The closed cap according to claim 16, wherein the non-planar end face at which the inner shaft terminates is on the side opposite to the central portion and has a stepped configuration that produces a plurality of teeth and a plurality of recesses on the non-planar end face.

19. The closed cap according to claim 18, wherein the non-planar end face at which the inner shaft terminates on the side opposite to the central portion has at least some arcuate surface portions forming one or more recesses.

20. The closed cap according to claim 16, wherein the disk has a diameter of 20 to 40 mm, and the inner shaft has a height of 4 to 12 mm and a diameter of 3 to 9 mm.

21. The closure cap according to claim 16, wherein the disk is immovable relative to the base, and the closure cap is composed of a single material.

22. The closure cap according to claim 16, further comprising an internal cutting blade having a shelf portion inside the opening.

23. The closure cap according to claim 16, wherein the closure cap is composed of only two individual components, the combination of the base and the flip-top lid is a single integrated one-piece structure, and the disk is separately formed.

24. The closure cap according to claim 16, wherein the internal shaft supports the disk when the disk is attached, and the internal shaft has at least one of an inner wall of a circular shape or a parabolic shape.

25. The closure cap according to claim 24, wherein the inner wall is angled inward toward the opening in the base at an end opposite to the non-planar end face side of the inner wall, and the internal shaft has a diameter that varies along the length of the internal shaft.

26. The closure cap according to claim 17, wherein the retaining ring has two retaining rings, and one of the two retaining rings has an associated bottle liner.

27. The closure cap according to claim 17, wherein the disk further has a conical protrusion protruding from the disk toward the base.

28. A base having at least an upper wall with a through opening, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, a thread on the inner skirt, and an internal shaft that hangs downward from the upper wall and terminates with a non-planar end face, A flip-top lid hinged to the base, having a protrusion, and movable between a first position where the protrusion blocks the opening and a second position where the protrusion does not block the opening in the base, A disk attached inside the base, fixed near the internal shaft, A mixing chamber defined by the disk, the upper wall, the mixing chamber wall, and the inner shaft, wherein at least one fluid channel is formed by the non-planar end face of the inner shaft and the disk, and the at least one fluid channel enables fluid to move from the mixing chamber into the inner shaft, the mixing chamber; A closed cap for a container, comprising; The closed cap, wherein the disk is immovable relative to the base once attached. **Claim 29** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the mixing chamber has a volume of 7 mL to 11 mL, and the disk is attached to the base by snap fit. **Claim 30** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the non-planar end face at which the inner shaft terminates on the side opposite the central portion has a stepped configuration. **Claim 31** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the non-planar end face at which the inner shaft terminates on the side opposite the central portion has at least some arcuate surface portions forming one or more recesses. **Claim 32** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the disk has a diameter of less than 40 mm. **Claim 33** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the closed cap is composed of a single material. **Claim 34** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the closed cap is composed of only two individual components, the combination of the base and the flip-top lid is a single integrated one-piece structure, and the disk is molded separately. **Claim 35** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the inner shaft supports the disk when the disk is attached. **Claim 36** The closed cap according to claim 28, wherein the wall of the mixing chamber is formed by a flange protruding from the disk. **Claim 37** A step of molding a flip-top cap in a mold, wherein the flip-top cap has: At least a base having an upper wall with a through-opening, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by a planar portion, a thread and a retaining ring in the inner skirt, and an inner shaft hanging downward from the upper wall and terminating at a non-planar end face; A flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base, having an internal projection, and the internal projection being movable from a first position where it blocks the opening to a second position where the internal projection does not close the opening of the base, the flip-top lid; Forming a flip-top cap having; Fixing a disk to the base of the flip-top cap, the disk being arranged around the internal shaft, the step of fixing the disk, a method of manufacturing a closed cap, comprising: The disk and the base form a mixing chamber defined by the disk, the upper wall, the mixing chamber wall, and the internal shaft, and at least one fluid channel is formed between the mixing chamber and the internal shaft by the non-planar end face of the internal shaft; The disk is immovable relative to the base once attached. A method of manufacturing a closed cap.

38. The closed cap is made from only two individual components including the flip-top cap and the disk, the flip-top cap having the base and a flip-top lid formed as a single integrated one-piece structure, and the two individual components are made of the same material and assembled, the manufacturing method according to claim 37.

39. The disk is snap-fitted into the flip-top cap, the manufacturing method according to claim 37.

40. A base having at least an upper wall with a through opening, an inner skirt, an outer skirt connected by the upper wall, a thread on the inner skirt, and an internal shaft hanging inward from the upper wall and terminating in a non-planar end face; A flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base, having a projection, and the projection being movable between a first position where it blocks the opening and a second position where the projection does not close the opening of the base, the flip-top lid; A disk attached inside the base, the disk being fixed near the internal shaft, the internal shaft supporting the disk when the disk is attached to the base, the disk; A mixing chamber formed by the disk, the upper wall, the mixing chamber wall, and the internal shaft; At least one fluid channel formed between the mixing chamber and the space within the inner shaft, wherein at least a part of the at least one fluid channel is formed by the non-planar end face of the inner shaft, the at least one fluid channel; A closed cap comprising; The closed cap, wherein once attached, the disc is immovable relative to the base.

41. The closed cap according to claim 40, wherein the non-planar end face at which the inner shaft terminates on the side opposite to the central portion has a stepped configuration.

42. The closed cap according to claim 40, wherein the mixing chamber wall is a flange protruding from the disc.

43. The closed cap according to claim 42, wherein the wall of the mixing chamber is a circular wall hanging down from the upper wall of the base.

44. The closed cap according to claim 40, wherein at least a part of the non-planar end face of the inner shaft forms the at least one fluid channel with a gap from the disc.

45. The closed cap according to claim 40, wherein the base and the disc form a tortuous fluid flow path towards the opening in the upper wall.

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