Container, closure, and methods of manufacture
A mono-material closure cap for fluid containers, featuring a base, flip-top lid, disk, and flow guide flange all made of the same material, addresses leakage, splatter, and dosing issues while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost, and preventing container deformation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/US2024/050002
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-10-05
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing fluid containers with membrane valves face issues such as multi-material construction leading to increased complexity and cost, leakage when not in use, high velocity discharge causing splatter and dosing difficulties, and development of subatmospheric pressure leading to container deformation.
A mono-material closure cap for dispensing bottles, comprising a base, flip-top lid, disk, and flow guide flange all made of the same material, which inhibits leakage and allows controlled fluid dispensing by providing flow resistance through a fluid channel.
The solution addresses leakage, splatter, and dosing issues by ensuring a controlled fluid dispensing process, reduces manufacturing complexity and cost, and prevents container deformation due to pressure changes.
Smart Images

Figure US2024050002_10042025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
CONTAINER, CLOSURE, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 542,613 filed October 5, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to containers for fluids. More particularly, this disclosure generally relates to containers with closure caps.BACKGROUND
[0003] Some fluid containers include an outlet opening through which a consumer can dispense a desired amount fluid from the fluid container. Such fluid containers may include a bottle and a flip-top cap with the outlet opening. The consumer may open the flip-top cap and squeeze the bottle to dispense fluid from the bottle. Fluid containers occasionally have issues with dosing and leakage, especially during shipping and / or when the fluid containers are placed in certain configurations. To address such issues, some fluid containers include a flexible plastic membrane valve with an "X" shaped slit. These membrane valves are sometimes used with inverted fluid containers that rest on their caps, such that when not in use the product is retained in the container by the membrane valve.
[0004] One issue with this type of membrane valve is that such membrane valves are often formed of silicone, whereas other portions of the caps are often formed of another material such as polypropylene. Having a closure cap comprised of multiple materials increases the complexity and cost of manufacturing and can make recycling difficult and / or impractical, thereby making the solution less attractive for large scale use.
[0005] Another issue with this type of membrane valve is that in some cases, product may leak through the valve when the fluid container is not in use. Moreover, during dispensing, product may squirt from the outlet opening at an undesirably high velocity, increasing the risk of splatter. The high velocity of the product being discharged also makes proper dosing difficult because there is generally insufficient control over the product at high velocities. Yet another issue is that the membrane valve may resist or prevent inflow of air to maintain interior volumeafter dispensing, leading to development of subatmospheric pressure, i.e., a partial vacuum, in the bottle. This can lead to paneling, i.e., buckling, or other undesirable inward deflection of container walls, which can be aesthetically problematic and also functionally problematic, as it may increase the manual pressure required to dispense product, and may lead to uneven or inconsistent dispensing in response to a squeeze, i.e., manual application of pressure to the container exterior.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a disassembled, perspective view of a closure cap for a dispensing bottle having a main body and an attachment disk.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a front view of the closure cap of FIG. 1 secured to a dispensing bottle.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the main body of the closure cap of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of the attachment disk of the closure cap of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view of the attachment disk of FIG. 4A.
[0011] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the closure cap of FIG. 1 with the attachment disk assembled with the main body.
[0012] FIG. 5B is a close-up view of the closure cap of FIG. 1 with the attachment disk showing the interconnection of the attachment disk to the main body of the closure cap.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled closure cap of FIG. 1 illustrating a fluid flow path therethrough.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a disassembled, perspective view of a closure cap for a dispensing bottle according to another embodiment, the closure cap having a main body and an attachment disk, the closure cap shown without a lid.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a top view of the attachment disk of the closure cap of FIG. 7.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an assembled, top perspective view of the closure cap of FIG. 7 without the lid and with the main body shown as transparent.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the main body of the closure cap of FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure cap of FIG. 7 secured to a dispensing bottle.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a closure cap according to another embodiment, the closure cap secured to a dispensing bottle.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of the closure cap and dispensing bottle of FIG. 12 taken along lines 13-13 of FIG. 12.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a perspective, cross-section view of the closure cap of FIG. 12.
[0022] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of an attachment disk of the closure cap of FIG. 12.
[0023] FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of the attachment disk of FIG. 15.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide a mono-material closure cap of a dispensing bottle, that is a closure cap made of a single material, that inhibits undesired leakage of fluid therefrom and dispenses fluid in a controlled manner. In some embodiments, the closure cap has a base, a flip-top lid, a disk, and a flow guide flange that are made of the same material.
[0025] By some approaches, the base of the closure cap has a central portion, a container attachment skirt to secure the base to a container, and a disk attachment skirt. The central portion of the base has a centrally disposed outlet for selectively permitting fluid to egress therethrough. The flip-top lid is hingedly connected to the base such that the flip-top lid is movable from a closed position to an open position. The flip-top lid has an interior protrusion that is positioned to be disposed at least partially in the centrally disposed outlet of the base when the flip-top lid is in the closed position and withdrawn from the centrally disposed outlet when the flip-top lid is in the open position.
[0026] In one illustrative approach, the disk has a body securable to the disk attachment skirt of the base, and a single, non-centrally disposed inlet. In some forms, the disk includes attachment geometry that engages attachment geometry of the disk attachment skirt of the base to secure the disk to the base. As one example, the disk includes an attachment protrusion that engages the disk attachment skirt to secure the disk to the base. In some forms, the disk includesan annular wall extending from the body, with the attachment protrusion extending from the annular wall. The flow guide flange extends between the body of the disk and the base to form a fluid channel that extends between the non-centrally disposed inlet and the centrally disposed outlet.
[0027] In some forms, the disk includes the flow guide flange. The fluid channel provides flow resistance to fluid flowing therethrough from the non-centrally disposed inlet to the centrally disposed outlet which inhibits leakage from the closure cap. To dispense fluid, pressure may be applied to the fluid (e.g., by a user applying a force to the walls of the bottle) sufficient to overcome the flow resistance of the fluid channel to urge the fluid along the flow channel and out the centrally disposed outlet. As explained below, a variety of configurations may be employed for the disk.
[0028] In some embodiments, a dispensing bottle is provided having the closure cap and a container body. The container body has a neck and contains a fluid therein (or a fluid is poured into the container body before the closure cap is threaded thereon). The closure cap may be attached to the neck of the container body to form the dispensing bottle. To dispense fluid, pressure may be applied to walls of the container body to force fluid into the fluid channel through the non-centrally disposed inlet, along the fluid channel, and out the centrally disposed outlet.
[0029] In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of manufacturing a dispensing bottle is provided. The method includes molding a main body of a closure cap having a base and a flip- top lid. The base has a central portion having an outlet opening permitting fluid to egress therethrough when the outlet opening is unobstructed. In some configurations, the base includes a disk attachment skirt extending from the central portion, the end of the disk attachment skirt opposite the central portion having an angled tip and a protrusion extending away from the disk attachment skirt to form a ridge.
[0030] The flip-top lid has an interior projection and is movable between a first position where the projection blocks the outlet opening of the base inhibiting egress of the fluid therethrough and a second position that permits egress of the fluid through the outlet opening of the base.
[0031] By some approaches, the method includes molding the base, flip-top lid, and the disk separately from the base and flip-top lid (which are typically hingedly connected together) and then securing or snapping a disk to the base to form the closure cap. In this manner, the disk has an angled protrusion extending to a ridge. The disk may be secured or snapped to the base by passing the ridge of the disk beyond the ridge of the disk attachment skirt. By some approaches, the disk has a single, non-central inlet opening and a fluid guide flange. Securing or snapping the disk to the base forms a fluid channel extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening with the fluid guide flange forming a wall of the fluid channel to direct fluid from the non-central inlet opening to the central outlet opening.
[0032] In some embodiments, a closure cap has a base, a disk, and a flow guide flange. The base has a central portion and a wall extending from the central portion, the wall having base threads disposed on an inner surface thereof for securing the closure cap to a neck of container body. The central portion of the base has an outlet offset from a center of the base for selectively permitting fluid to egress therethrough.
[0033] In one illustrative configuration, the disk has a body securable to the wall of the base and defines a single inlet. The flow guide flange extends between the central portion of the base and the body of the disk when the disk is secured to the base, the flow guide flange defining a fluid flow path. One of the disk and base has an alignment protrusion that cooperates with the other of the base and disk to ensure the disk secures to the base in an orientation such that the fluid flow path extends from the inlet to the non-central outlet.
[0034] With respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, a closure cap 100 is shown having a main body 102 and an attachment disk 104. The closure cap 100 may be formed in two pieces with the attachment disk 104 being secured to the main body 102 after molding but before use. The main body 102 and the attachment disk 104 are typically formed of the same material (e.g., polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE)) such that the closure cap 100 is formed of a single material. In one illustrative embodiment, the closure cap 100 further does not include a silicone valve at any of the openings, as discussed below. The closure cap 100 may thus be recycled as single unit without having to be disassembled as with other existing, multi-material closure caps.
[0035] The main body 102 includes a base 106 and a flip-top lid 108. The flip-top lid 108 may be connected to the base 106 by a hinge 107 (see FIG. 5A) that permits the flip-top lid 108 to be moved relative to the base 106 between an open position and closed position. The base 106 of the closure cap 100 is attachable to a container 110 to form a dispensing bottle 112 that includes a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid, condiment, and / or sauce. For example, the container 110 may store a sauce that includes particles or chunks such as hot chili sauce, barbeque sauce, ranch, or relish among other options. The flip-top lid 108 may be moved to the open position to permit fluid to be dispensed from the container 110 through the closure cap 100. The flip-top lid 108 may be moved to the closed position when the dispensing bottle 112 is not in use.
[0036] With respect to FIG. 3, the base 106 of the closure cap 100 has a central body 114 and an inner skirt 116 and an outer skirt 118 depending from the central body 114. The inner skirt 116 may be used to attach the base 106 to the neck of the container 110. For example, the inner skirt 116 may have base threads 120 on the inner surface 116A thereof. The base threads 120 may be threaded to threads on a neck of the container 110 to attach the closure cap 100 to the container 110. As another example, the inner skirt 116 may secure or snap to the neck of the container 110, for instance, similar to attachment of the disk 104 to the base 106 discussed below. In yet another example, the closure cap 100 may attach to the container 110 in a nonremovable manner. For example, the teachings herein may be combined with a variety of bottle features, such as those in U.S. Patent No. 17 / 417,041 and International Patent Application No. PCT / US2020 / 039387, filed June 24, 2020. The outer skirt 118 has a larger diameter than the inner skirt 116 and typically extends about the inner skirt 116 and the neck of the container 110. The outer skirt 118 forms a cover about the neck of the container 110.
[0037] In some configurations, an outer surface 118A of the outer skirt 118 may include ridges 121 or other texturizing that provides a user with enhanced grip when grasping the closure cap 100 to thread the closure cap 100 to the container 110 or to unthread the closure cap 100 from the container 110.
[0038] With reference also to FIG. 5A, the central body 114 of the closure cap 100 includes an outlet opening 122 in a central region of the central body 114 through which fluid may be dispensed from the dispensing bottle 112. The flip-top lid 108 includes a protrusion 124 that closes / blocks or opens / unblocks the outlet opening 122 when the flip-top lid 108 is in theclosed position or open position. The protrusion 124 may, for example, be inserted into the outlet opening 122 when the flip-top lid 108 is in the closed position to close the outlet opening 122. The protrusion 124 may be a plug that is inserted into the outlet opening 122 to inhibit fluid from flowing therethrough, even when the bottle 112 is in the inverted position such that the closure cap is below the container 110.
[0039] The protrusion 124 may include an annular projection 126 that extends into the outlet opening 122 when the flip-top lid is in the closed position. The annular projection 126 may include an end portion 128 that has a slightly larger diameter than the outlet opening 122. When moving the flip-top lid 108 to the closed position, the end portion 128 may be forced into the outlet opening 122 with the end portion 128 held within the outlet opening 122 by a friction fit. In some forms, the end portion has a barbed configuration and hooks the outlet opening 122 once inserted therethrough. The end portion 128 resists the flip-top lid 108 being moved from the closed position to retain the flip-top lid 108 in the closed position. The central body 114 of the closure cap 100 may include an annular projection 130 extending about the outlet opening 122 to engage a seal surface 132 of the flip-top lid 108 when the flip-top lid 108 is in the closed position. The annular projection 130 may be pressed against the seal surface 132 when the flip- top lid 108 is in the closed position to inhibit fluid from passing therebetween. When the flip- top lid 108 is moved to the open position, the flip-top lid 108 is pivoted about the hinge 107 and the protrusion 124 is withdrawn from the outlet opening 122 to permit fluid to egress from the dispensing bottle 112.
[0040] The base 106 of the closure cap 100 further includes an attachment skirt 134 depending from the central body 114. Once assembled, the attachment skirt 134 connects with the disk 104 to attach the disk 104 to the base 106. The end of the attachment skirt 134 opposite the central body 114 may have a geometry that engages with geometry of the disk 104 that is assembled therewith.
[0041] In one illustrative approach, the geometry of the attachment skirt 134 includes an angled tip 136 on an end thereof. With respect to FIG. 5B, the angled tip 136 has an engaging surface 136 A that faces outward. By some approaches, the angled tip 136 is configured to engage with a portion of the disk 104 to guide the attachment skirt 134 in connecting with the disk 104, as will be described in more detail below.
[0042] The attachment skirt 134 may further include a ridge 136B disposed on an outer surface of the attachment skirt 134. The ridge 136B may be an extension of the angled tip 136 as shown in FIG. 5B or may be independent of the angled tip 136, for example, disposed on a surface of the attachment skirt 134 at a point closer to the central body 114. Together, the angled tip 136 and the ridge 136B may have a hook or barb configuration such that the angled tip 136 can be easily be passed over a ridge, rib, or groove of the disk 104, but is more difficult to pass back over the ridge, rib, or groove. The angled tip 136 thus secures the main body 102 to the disk 104 by snap-fit or friction-fit connection between the disk 104 and the main body 102 of the closure cap 100. In addition, the attachment skirt 134 and the corresponding attachment wall 142 of the disk 104 that engages the attachment skirt 134 are typically comprised of material and / or have a thickness that permits them to easily flex relative to one another during assembly to accommodate being mated together with a low risk of damage to either portion of the closure cap 100.
[0043] With respect to FIGS. 4A-4B, the attachment disk 104 includes a body 140 and an attachment wall 142 extending from a periphery of the body 140. The body 140 defines an inlet opening 144 in a non-central portion of the body 140, for example, at the periphery of the body 140 adjacent the attachment wall 142. The attachment disk 104 may have a single inlet opening to provide one flow path 154 for the fluid to flow through the closure cap 100. A single inlet opening 144 may be desired where the fluid of the dispensing bottle 112 includes chucks to inhibit the chunks from different flow paths contacting one another and clogging the fluid channel 152. In other forms, the attachment disk 104 includes multiple inlet openings 144 and defines corresponding flow paths from the inlet openings 144 to the outlet opening 122. Multiple outlet openings 144 may be used where the fluid is less viscous, homogeneous, or where the mixing of the fluid is desired.
[0044] The attachment wall 142 may be annular and sized to connect to the attachment skirt 134 of the base 106 of the closure cap 100. For example, the attachment wall 142 may have a diameter slightly larger than the attachment skirt 134. The end portion of the attachment wall 142 opposite the body 140 may include an angled tip 146 disposed on an end thereof. With reference also to FIGS. 5A-5B, the angled tip 146 has an engaging surface 146A that faces partly inward from the attachment wall 142.
[0045] In some configurations, the angled tip 146 is configured to engage with the angled tip 136 of the attachment skirt 134 of the base 106 when attaching the disk 104 to the base 106. Like the angled tip 136 of the attachment skirt 134, the angled tip 146 of the disk 104 is configured to guide the disk 104 when connecting the disk 104 to the base 106. For example, the angled tip 146 guides the attachment wall 142 to flex outward or inward to extend or snap over a rib or ridge of the attachment skirt 134 of the base 106 such as ridge 136B.
[0046] The attachment wall 142 may further include a ridge 146B disposed on a surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 5B, the ridge 146B is disposed on the inward facing surface of the attachment wall 142, in one illustrative approach. In some configurations, the ridge 146B may be an extension of the angled tip 146 as shown in FIG. 5B. In other configurations, the ridge 146B may be independent of the angled tip 146, for example, disposed on a surface of the attachment wall 142 at a point closer to the body 140 of the disk 104.
[0047] Together, the angled tip 146 and the ridge 146B may have a hook or barb configuration such that the angled tip 146 guides the attachment wall 142 over a rib or ridge in one direction, but causes movement in the reverse direction over the rib or ridge to be more difficult. For example, as shown FIG. 5B, the angled tip 146 at the end of attachment wall 142 has an engaging surface 146A extending away from the attachment wall 142 at a slight angle before sharply angling back toward the attachment wall 142 at the base of the tip 146 at a point closer to the body 140 of the disk 104. In operation, the slight angle typically allows the disk 104 to be slid over a ridge with ease in the direction where the slight angled surface engages the ridge, while the sharp angled surface causes movement over the ridge in the reverse direction to require more force.
[0048] In other forms, the attachment wall 142 has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the attachment skirt 134. The engaging surface 146A of the angled tip 146 of the disk 104 faces outward and the engaging surface 136A of the angled tip 136 of the base 106 faces inward. The attachment wall 142 may be inserted into the attachment skirt 134 to attach the disk 104 to the base 106.
[0049] In other forms, the attachment wall 142 of the disk 104 engages the attachment skirt 134 of the base 106 by a friction fit connection. For example, the attachment wall 142 may be aligned with and inserted into the opening defined by the attachment skirt 134. The outersurface of the attachment wall 142 contacts the inner surface of the attachment skirt 134 to retain the disk 104 by a friction fit. Alternatively, the attachment skirt 134 may be aligned with and inserted into the opening defined by the attachment wall 142. The outer surface of the attachment skirt 134 contacts the inner surface of the attachment wall 142 to retain the disk 104 by a friction fit. While a friction, interference, or snap-fit arrangement may be employed to retain the disk to the base, other forms of attachment may be employed such as, e.g., a threaded engagement.
[0050] The attachment disk 104 may include an inner wall 148 that extends from the body 140 of the disk 104 and is radially inward of the attachment wall 142. The inner wall 148 may be annular and spaced from the attachment wall 142. The inner wall 148 may aid in aligning the disk 104 with the base 106 when the disk 104 is attached to the base 106. The attachment skirt 134 of the base 106 may extend into the space between the inner wall 148 and the attachment wall 142 when the disk 104 is attached to the base 106. The inner wall 148 may aid to hold the disk 104 in alignment with the base 106. The inner wall 148 may also aid to inhibit fluid from leaking from the sides of the disk 104 at the interface of the disk 104 and the base 106.
[0051] With reference also to FIG. 6, the attachment disk 104 may include a flow guide flange 150. The flow guide flange 150 may be a wall or a set of walls that extends from the body 140 of the disk 104 in the same direction as the attachment wall 142. The flow guide flange 150 is sized to be pressed against the central body 114 of the base 106 when the disk 104 is attached to the base 106 via the attachment wall 142. The end portion of the flow guide flange opposite the body 140 of the disk 104 may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the inner surface of the central body 114 of the base 106. For example, the inner surface of the central body 114 may be frustoconical or dome-shaped and the end portion of the flow guide flange 150 may have a corresponding shape (such as angled or arcuate, respectively) such that the fluid guide flange 150 extends along the inner surface of the central body 114 and forms a fluid tight seal therebetween.
[0052] The flow guide flange 150 extends about the inlet opening 144 of the disk 104 and an outlet portion 145 of the disk 104 that aligns with the outlet opening 122 of the base 106 when the disk 104 is attached to the base 106. The flow guide flange 150 includes a pair of walls that extend from the inlet opening 144 to the outlet portion 145 to form a flow path 154 from theinlet opening 144 to the outlet portion 145 and outlet opening 122. The flow guide flange 150 may extend about and surround both the inlet opening 144 and the outlet portion 145 such that when the attachment disk 104 is attached to the base 106, the flow guide flange 150 surrounds the inlet opening 144 and the outlet opening 122 and forms a fluid channel 152 from the inlet opening 144 to the outlet opening 122. The flow guide flange 150 may form the side walls of the fluid channel 152 along the entire length of the fluid channel 152 from the inlet opening 144 to the outlet opening 122. In another form, the flow guide flange 150 extends from the central body 114 of the base 106 and presses against the body 140 of the disk 104 when the disk 104 is attached to the base 106.
[0053] In one illustrative embodiment, the flow guide flange 150 extends from the body of the disk in a direction generally perpendicular to the body. In other configurations, the flange may extend in a manner that is not perpendicular to the body of the disk. In yet another configuration, the flange 150 may extend from the body of the disk in a variety of angles along different portions thereof.
[0054] The body 140 of the disk 104, the flow guide flange 150, and the central body 114 of the base 106 together form the fluid channel 152 when the disk 104 is attached to the base 106. The flow guide flange 150 may form a fluid tight seal with the base 106 to inhibit fluid from flowing out of the fluid channel 152 to a non-flow portion 151 of the attachment disk 104. The fluid channel 152 may be asymmetrically disposed in the closure cap 100, for example, positioned on one side of the closure cap 100. The flow guide flange 150 defines the flow path 154 to direct the flow of fluid from the non-central inlet opening 144 to the central outlet opening 122 of the base 106. Because the outlet opening 122 is positioned in the center of the base 106 and the flow guide flange 150 extends to the center of the disk 104, the disk 104 may be attached to the base 106 in any orientation (i.e., with the inlet opening 144 at any portion of the perimeter of the base 106) to connect the inlet opening 144 to the outlet opening 122. For example, the disk 104 need not be rotated to a specific orientation relative to the base 106 to ensure the fluid channel 152 connects the inlet opening 144 and outlet opening 122.
[0055] The fluid channel 152 provides flow resistance to the fluid flowing from the inlet opening 144 to the outlet opening 122. The dispensing bottle 112 may be stored in an inverted position with the closure cap 100 at the bottom of the dispensing bottle 112. Flow resistance maybe provided to inhibit fluid from flowing (e.g., leaking) out of the outlet opening 122 of the closure cap 100 when the user moves the flip-top lid 108 to the open position and until the bottle is operated to dispense the fluid. When the user wants to dispense fluid from the dispensing bottle 112, the user may squeeze the walls of the container 110 to apply a force to the fluid that overcomes the flow resistance to urge the fluid through the fluid channel 152 and out the outlet opening 122.
[0056] The flow resistance of the fluid channel 152 may be adjusted according to the fluid to be dispensed from the dispensing bottle 112. For example, more viscous fluids may require less flow resistance whereas less viscous fluids may require more flow resistance to inhibit undesired leakage from the closure cap 100. Flow resistance is provided by the surfaces of the body 140 of the disk 104, the flow guide flange 150, and the base 106 that form the fluid channel 152 contacting the fluid flowing therethrough to provide frictional resistance to the flow. The flow guide flange 150 may include one or more bends 156 along the flow path 154 to increase the flow resistance from the inlet opening 144 to the outlet opening 122.
[0057] The length of the flow guide flange 150 may be increased or decreased to adjust the flow resistance. Increasing the length of the flow path 154 may increase the flow resistance whereas decreasing the length of the flow path 154 may decrease the flow resistance. The width of the fluid channel 152 (e.g., the distance between the walls of the flow guide flange 150 forming sides of the fluid channel 152) may also be increased to decrease the flow resistance or decreased to increase the flow resistance along the fluid channel 152. Similarly, the height of the fluid channel 152 (e.g., the distance between the surfaces of the body 140 of the disk 104 and the base 106 forming the fluid channel 152) may also be increased to decrease the flow resistance or decreased to increase the flow resistance along the fluid channel 152. With the proper flow resistance, the dispensing bottle 112 may be inverted with the flip-top lid 108 in the open position and the fluid does not leak out of the outlet opening 122.
[0058] By way of example, the fluid channel 152 has a width (e.g., the distance between the walls of the flow guide flange 150 forming opposite sides of the fluid channel 152) in the range of about 3.5 mm to about 7.5 mm. In another configuration, the fluid channel 152 has a width in the range of about 4 mm to about 7 mm. In another configuration, the fluid channel 152 has a width in the range of about 4.5 mm to about 6.5 mm. By way of example, the flow guide flange150 has a height in the range of about 3.5 mm to about 7.5 mm. In another configuration, the flow guide flange 150 has a height in the range of about 4 mm to about 7 mm. In another configuration, the flow guide flange 150 has a height in the range of about 4.5 mm to about 6.5 mm. By way of example, the fluid channel 152 has a length in the range of about 3.5 mm to about 70 mm. In another configuration, the fluid channel 152 has a length in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm. In another configuration, the fluid channel 152 has a length in the range of about 10 mm to about 30 mm.
[0059] In some exemplary configurations, the inlet opening 144 of the disk 104 is misaligned with or laterally offset from the outlet opening 122 of the base 106. For instance, as shown in FIG. 5A, no portion of the inlet opening 144 is aligned with or overlapping the outlet opening 122. Misalignment of the inlet opening 144 and outlet opening 122 ensures that the fluid flows laterally along the flow path 154 just before exiting the closure cap 100 which provides resistance to the flow and inhibits leakage. For example, the flow resistance of the fluid channel 152 counters the force from the weight of the fluid in the container 110 forcing the fluid toward the outlet opening 122 (when the dispensing bottle 112 is inverted). Moreover, the body 140 of the disk 104 supports a majority of the weight of the fluid in the container 110 when the closure cap 100 is at the bottom of the dispensing bottle 112 to ease the pressure on the fluid proximate the outlet opening 122. The flow guide flange 150 may include a divider wall 158 that inhibits fluid from flowing directly from the inlet opening to the outlet opening which also may increase the flow resistance.
[0060] The outlet opening 122 of the base 106 and the inlet opening 144 of the disk 104 may have substantially the same diameter. The diameter of the outlet opening 122 and inlet opening 144 may be substantially the same as the width of the fluid channel 152.
[0061] In some embodiments, the disk 104 may include a ridge 160 (see FIG. 4B) that extends from a side of the body 140 of the disk 104 opposite the attachment wall 142. The ridge 160 may be an annular ridge sized to contact the neck of the container 110 when the closure cap 100 is threaded to the container 110. The ridge 160 may be used to apply pressure to a seal covering the opening of the neck of the container 110 to press and hold the seal in engagement with the neck during an induction sealing process. For example, the seal may be positioned on the neck of the container 110 or on the ridge 160 of the closure cap 100. The closure cap 100 maybe threaded to the neck to sandwich the seal between the ridge 160 and the neck of the container 110 to press the seal against the neck. An induction sealer may be operated to cause the seal to weld to the neck of the container 110 to seal the fluid in the container 110. The end user may remove the seal when they desire to begin using the fluid from the container 110.
[0062] A method of manufacturing the dispensing bottle 112 is provided. The method includes molding the main body 102 of the closure cap 100 having the base 106 and the flip-top lid 108. The flip-top lid 108 is hingedly connected to the base 106 such that the flip-top lid 108 is moveable between the closed and open positions. By one approach, the main body 102 is molded in the open configuration. The method further includes molding the disk 104 separate from the main body 102 of the closure cap 100. The disk 104 is molded from the same material as the main body 102 so that the closure cap 100, when assembled, is recyclable as a single unit.
[0063] Subsequent to the molding operation, the disk 104 is secured or snapped to an interior of the base 106 to form the closure cap 100. When attaching the disk 104 to the base 106, the disk 104 is aligned with the base 106 such that the engaging surface 136A of the angled tip 136 of the base 106 contacts the engaging surface 146A of the annular angled tip 146 of the disk 104. Force is applied to urge the disk 104 and the base 106 together.
[0064] In some configurations, as force is applied, the angled engaging surfaces 136A, 146A of the attachment skirt 134 and the attachment wall 142 cause the attachment skirt 134 and the attachment wall 142 to flex or elastically deflect away from one another as the angled engaging surfaces 136A, 146A slide over each other. Once the angled tip 136 of the base 106 has passed beyond the ridge 146B of the disk 104, the attachment skirt 134 elastically returns or springs back to its original non-flexed state. Likewise, once the angled tip 146 of the disk 104 has passed beyond the ridge 136B of the attachment skirt 134, the attachment wall 142 elastically returns or springs back to its original non-flexed state. Thus, once the angled tips 136, 146 have passed beyond the ridges 136B, 146B the base 106 and the disk 104 are held or secured together, unless pried apart from one another. Force in the opposite direction causes the ridge 136B of the base 106 to contact the ridge 146B of the disk 104 which holds the disk 104 to the base 106. A greater amount of force may be required to cause the attachment skirt 134 and the attachment wall 142 to flex away from one another to allow the angled tips 136, 146 to pass back over the ridges 136B, 146B.
[0065] Once assembled, the fluid channel 152 is formed by the body of the disk 104, the flow guide flange 150, and an inner surface of the central body 114 of the base 106. The closure cap 100 may be threaded to the neck of a container 110 to form the dispensing bottle 112. Fluid flows into the fluid channel 152 from the container 110 through the inlet opening 144. The fluid channel 152 forms the flow path 154 from the inlet opening 144 to the outlet opening 122.
[0066] The method further includes molding the container 110 having the neck with threads and filling the container 110 with a fluid (e.g., a condiment, sauce). The fluid may include chunks or particles. The method further includes closing the filled container 110 with the closure cap 100. The closure cap 100 may be secured or snapped to the container 110 to close the filled container 110. In another form, the closure cap 100 is attached to the container 110 by threading the inner skirt 116 to the neck of the container 110.
[0067] In some forms, the method further includes positioning a seal to be between the closure cap 100 and the neck of the container 110 when the closure cap 100 is attached to the container 110. The closure cap 100 may press the seal against the neck of the container 110 to hold the seal in place to seal the contents of the container 110. For example, the seal may be positioned to be between the disk 104 and the neck of the container 110 when the closure cap 100 is attached to the container 110. In one approach, the seal may be placed over the opening of the neck of the container 110 before the closure cap 100 is threaded to the neck. In another approach, the seal may be positioned in the interior of the closure cap 100 and supported by the disk 104. For example, the seal may be secured to the ridge 160 of the disk 104 (e.g., with an adhesive) and sandwiched between the disk 104 and the neck when the closure cap 100 is threaded to the container 110. The method further may include securing the seal to the neck of the container 110 by induction sealing. For example, an induction sealer may be passed over the dispensing bottle 112 to interact with the seal and cause the seal to be welded to the neck of the container 110 to seal the contents of the container 110.
[0068] To dispense fluid from the dispensing bottle 112, the user may move the flip-top lid 108 to the open position, invert the bottle, and squeeze the walls of the container 110 toward one another to force fluid in the container 110 to flow into the fluid channel 152 of the closure cap 100. The force applied to the fluid may overcome the flow resistance of the fluid channel 152 and drive the fluid to flow along the flow path 154 of the fluid channel 152 toward the outletopening 122 and out of the closure cap 100. When pressure is removed from the container 110, the fluid promptly ceases to exit the closure cap 100. For example, the walls of the container 110 may spring back to their original state which may draw a portion of the fluid along the fluid channel from the outlet opening 122. Drawing the fluid from the outlet opening 122 may further aid to inhibit leakage from the closure cap 100.
[0069] With respect to FIGS. 7-11, a closure cap 200 is provided according to another embodiment. The closure cap 200 is similar in many respects to the closure cap 100 of FIG. 1 discussed above such that the differences will be highlighted. The closure cap 200 includes a main body 202 and an attachment disk 204. In this illustrative configuration, the main body 202 includes a base 206 that has a non-centrally disposed outlet opening 208 on a central portion 209 of the base 206. A lid, such as a flip- top lid, may be secured to the base 206 to selectively uncover or cover the outlet opening 208 to permit or inhibit fluid from being dispensed through the outlet opening 208.
[0070] The attachment disk 204 includes a body 210, an attachment wall 212, and a flow guide flange 214. The attachment wall 212 and the flow guide flange 214 extend from the body 210 of the disk 204 in the same direction. The attachment wall 212 may attach to the base 206 to secure the attachment disk 204 to the base 206. The base 206 includes an upper portion 218 that forms a recess 221 for receiving the attachment disk 204. The attachment wall 212 may include longitudinal ribs 216. The attachment disk 204 may be urged into the recess 221 to slide the longitudinal ribs 216 along the walls of the upper portion 218 and secure the attachment disk 204 therein by a friction fit connection. The disk 204 may be inserted until the attachment wall 212 and / or the flow guide flange 214 contact an interior surface of the central portion 209 of the base 206. In other forms, the disk 204 is attached to the base 206 as described above with respect to the embodiment to FIG. 1. Once assembled, the interior surface of the central portion 209, the body 210 of the disk 204 and the fluid guide flange 214 form a fluid channel 220 defining a flow path 222 along which fluid flows through the closure cap 200. In another form, the attachment wall 212 attaches to the base 206 as discussed above with respect to the closure cap 100 of FIG. 1.
[0071] The body 210 of the disk 204 defines an inlet opening 224 through which fluid enters the fluid channel 220. The inlet opening 224 may be non-centrally disposed on the body 210 of the attachment disk 204. The flow guide flange 214 extends about the inlet opening 224and includes walls forming the fluid flow path 222 from the inlet opening 224 to an outlet portion 226 of the attachment disk 204 to be aligned with the outlet opening 208. The inlet opening 224 is thus laterally offset from the outlet opening 208 such that the flow guide flange 214 directs fluid flow laterally in part from the inlet opening 224 to the outlet opening 208. As shown in FIG. 11, the inlet opening 224 may be laterally offset from the outlet opening 208 such that no portion of the outlet opening 208 is aligned with the inlet opening 224. The flow guide flange 214 may include a portion of the attachment wall 212 to form the flow path 222. The flow guide flange 214 may include a divider wall 228 that extends between the inlet opening 224 and the portion 226 of the attachment disk 204 to be aligned with the outlet opening 208 to inhibit fluid from flowing directly from the inlet opening 224 to the outlet opening 208. The divider wall 228 and the flow guide flange 214 forces the fluid to flow outward toward the attachment wall 212 from the inlet opening 224 and then inward toward the outlet opening 208. The flow guide flange 214 thus forces the fluid about a bend which increases the flow resistance of the fluid channel 220. The flow resistance of the fluid channel 220 may be tuned based on the type of sauce being dispensed from the closure cap 200. For example, the length and / or width of the fluid channel 220 or the number of bends in the fluid channel 220 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow resistance as discussed above.
[0072] Because the inlet opening 224 and the outlet opening 208 are non-centrally disposed, the attachment disk 204 connects to the base 206 in a certain orientation to fluidly connect the inlet opening 224 to the outlet opening 208 with the fluid channel 220. In this manner, the base 206 and / or the attachment disk 204 typically include alignment features such as a protrusion that cooperates with the other of the base 206 and the attachment disk 204 to ensure that the attachment disk 204 is secured to the base in an orientation where the flow path 222 extends from the inlet opening 224 to the outlet opening 208.
[0073] As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the base 206 includes an alignment flange 230 that spans a substantial portion of the width of the base 206. In some forms, the alignment flange 230 is shaped to mate with the fluid guide flange 214, for example, the alignment flange 230 has an "m" shape. The alignment flange 230 extends from the interior surface of the central portion 209 of the base 206 and is offset from the center of the base 206. As shown in FIG. 9, when the attachment disk 204 is properly aligned with the base 206, the alignment flange 230 extends into a recess 232 of the attachment disk 204 adjacent the flowguide flange 214. When the attachment disk 204 is misaligned with the base 206, the alignment flange 230 contacts a top surface 214A of the flow guide flange 214 which inhibits the attachment disk 204 from being inserted any further into the base 206.
[0074] With respect to FIG. 11, the base 206 includes a lower portion 234 that has a wall with base threads 236 on the inner surface thereof. The base threads 236 of the base 206 may be threaded to threads 240 on a neck 242 of a container 244. The wall of the lower portion 234 may have a larger diameter than that of the upper portion 218 of the base 206. The base 206 may be threaded to the container 244 after inserting the attachment disk 204 into the base 206 and threaded until the neck 242 contacts the attachment disk 204. The lower surface of the attachment disk 204 may include a seal engagement ridge 246 that contacts the neck 242 of the container 244. The seal engagement ridge 246 applies pressure to a seal positioned between the neck 242 and the seal engagement ridge 246 to press the seal against the neck 242 such that the seal welds to the neck 242 during an induction sealing process.
[0075] With respect to FIGS. 12 and 13, a dispensing bottle 300 is provided having a closure cap 302 according to another embodiment for attachment to a container body 315, such as a bottle. The closure cap 302 is similar in many respects to the closure cap 100 discussed above such that the differences are highlighted.
[0076] With reference also to FIGS. 14-16, the closure cap 302 has a base 304 and a flip-top lid 306 hingedly attached to the base 304. The closure cap 302 includes a disk 308 that attaches to the base 304. The base 304 includes an inner skirt 310 with threading 312 to thread to threading 314 of the container body 315 of the dispensing bottle 300.
[0077] The closure cap 302 includes disk attachment geometry such as disk attachment skirt 316 to attach the disk 308 to the base 304. The disk attachment skirt 316 is sized to receive the disk 308. The disk attachment skirt 316 includes an annular wall 316A that extends from a central deck portion such as a central body 318 of the base 304 to an end portion 320. In some configurations, the annular wall 316A extends generally perpendicular from the body 318 of the base 304, although other angles may be employed. The disk attachment skirt 316 may include a protrusion 322 that extends inwardly from the annular wall 316A to engage and retain the disk 308 in the base 304. In some configurations, the protrusion 322 may include an angled surface 324 that extends to a ridge 326. Together the angled surface 324 and the ridge 326 provide theprotrusion 322 with a barb configuration that facilitates attachment of the disk 308 in the base 304 but resists removal of the disk 308 from the base 304 once attached.
[0078] The disk 308 is sized to be inserted into the disk attachment skirt 316 to attach the disk 308 to the base 304. The entirety of the disk 308 may be radially inward of the disk attachment skirt 316 when the disk 308 is fully inserted into the disk attachment skirt 316. The disk 308 includes a body 330 from which a flow guide flange 332 extends. The flow guide flange 332 is similar in many respects to the structure and function of the embodiments discussed above. For example, the flow guide flange 332 serves to provide flow resistance to the fluid flowing through the disk 308.
[0079] In some approaches, the flow guide flange 332 extends from the body 330 of the disk 308 to contact the central body 318 of the base 304 when the disk 308 is attached to the base 304. The flow guide flange 332 typically limits insertion of the disk 308 into the disk attachment skirt 316 by abutting or contacting the central body 318 of the base 304 when fully inserted. In use, the flow guide flange 332 directs fluid from an inlet opening 331 of the disk 308 and along a fluid channel 334 defined by the disk 308 and the base 304 to an outlet opening 336 in a central body 318 of the base 304.
[0080] In some embodiments, the disk 308 includes a protrusion 338 that engages the protrusion 322 of the disk attachment skirt 316 to attach the disk 308 to the disk attachment skirt 316. The protrusion 338 extends outward from the body 330 of the disk 308. The protrusion 322 may include an angled surface 340 that extends to a ridge 342. Together the angled surface 340 and the ridge 342 provide the protrusion 338 with a barb configuration that facilitates attachment of the disk 308 in the base 304 but resists removal of the disk 308 from the base 304 once attached.
[0081] To attach the disk 308 to the closure cap 302, the disk 308 is aligned with the disk attachment skirt 316 of the base 304 of the closure cap 302. The angled surface 340 of the disk 308 is pressed against the angled surface 324 of the disk attachment skirt 316. The disk 308 may be urged in direction 352 to slide the angled surface 340 of the disk 308 along the angled surface 324 of the disk attachment skirt 316 until the ridge 342 of the disk 308 passes beyond the ridge 326 of the disk attachment skirt 316. By some approaches, the ridge 326 of the disk attachment skirt 316 hooks the ridge 342 of the disk 308 to inhibit the disk 308 from being withdrawn fromthe base 304. The ridge 326 of the disk attachment skirt 316 holds the disk 308 in contact with the central body 318 of the base 304.
[0082] In other forms, the disk 308 may be attached to the base 304 using other approaches, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,401,083, 11,472,610, and 11,891,218 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. For example, the disk attachment skirt 316 may include a groove and the disk 308 includes a protrusion configured to extend or snap into the groove to secure the disk 308 to the disk attachment skirt 316.
[0083] The disk 308 may include an outer wall 344 that extends from the body 330 of the disk 308. The outer wall 344 may extend at about a 90 degree angle relative to the body 330 of the disk, though other angles may be employed. For example, the outer wall 344 may extend along the annular wall 316A of the disk attachment skirt 316. The end of the outer wall 344 may contact the central body 318 of the base 304 when the disk 308 is attached to the base 304 to limit insertion of the disk 308 into the base 304. The end of the outer wall 344 may also contact the central body 318 of the base 304 to form a fluid tight connection therebetween to inhibit fluid from leaking between the disk 308 and the base 304. In some forms, a portion of the flow guide flange 332 forms a portion of the outer wall 344.
[0084] In some embodiments, the end portion 320 of the disk attachment skirt 316 includes an end surface 346 that is configured to press a seal 348 against a neck 328 of the container body 315. For example, the end surface 346 may be aligned with the neck 328 of the container body 315 such that the disk attachment skirt 316 has a length sized such that the end surface 346 presses the seal 348 against the neck 328 when the closure cap 302 is fully threaded to the container body 315. In this manner, the disk attachment skirt 316 thus supports the seal 348 against the neck 328 of the container body 315 so that the seal 348 may be sealed over the opening of the neck 328 in an induction sealing process. When the seal 348 is removed from the container body 315 (e.g., for use), the end surface 346 of the disk attachment skirt 316 may contact the neck 328 of the container body 315, which may form a fluid tight connection therebetween. In some embodiments, the end surface 346 of the disk attachment skirt 316 is positioned to press against the neck 328 of the container body 315 (e.g., after the seal 348 has been removed to provide access to the contents of the container body 315) to form a fluid tight connection between the end surface 346 and the neck 328.
[0085] The end surface 346 of the disk attachment skirt 316 may be in line with or extend beyond the end of the disk 308 opposite the central body 318 of the base 304. In other words, the disk 308 may not extend beyond the end surface 346 of the disk attachment skirt 316. With this configuration, the end surface 346 of the disk attachment skirt 316 engages the seal 348 to seat the seal 348 against the neck 328 of the container body 315. The closure cap 302 may be used without the disk 308, for example, in applications where the additional flow resistance provided by the disk 308 is not needed or desired.
[0086] In some configurations, the inner skirt 310 of the closure cap 302 may include an annular rib 350 to retain the seal 348 in the closure cap 302 before the seal 348 is secured to the container body 315. The annular rib 350 may projects inward from the inner skirt 310 and have an inner dimension (e.g., diameter) that is smaller than the outer dimension (e.g., diameter) of the seal 348. In this manner, the seal 348 may be pressed into the base 304 beyond the annular rib 350 such that the annular rib 350 inhibits the seal 348 from moving axially out of the base 304. The end surface 346 of the disk attachment skirt 316 limits movement of the seal 348 into the base 304. Upon induction sealing, the seal 348 remains attached to the neck 328 of the container body 315 and is withdrawn from the base 304 when the base 304 is subsequently unthreaded from the container body 315.
[0087] Uses of singular terms such as "a," "an," are intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms. It is intended that the phrase "at least one of" as used herein be interpreted in the disjunctive sense. For example, the phrase "at least one of A and B" is intended to encompass A, B, or both A and B.
[0088] While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
Claims
CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:
1. A closure cap comprising: a base having a central portion, a container attachment skirt to secure the base to a container, a disk attachment skirt, and the central portion having a centrally disposed outlet for selectively permitting fluid to egress therethrough; a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base, the flip-top lid being movable from a closed position to an open position, the flip-top lid having an interior protrusion configured to be disposed at least partially in the centrally disposed outlet of the base when the flip-top lid is in the closed position and withdrawn from the centrally disposed outlet when the flip-top lid is in the open position; a disk having a body securable to the disk attachment skirt of the base, and a single, non-centrally disposed inlet; and a flow guide flange; wherein a fluid channel is defined by the flow guide flange, the body of the disk, and the base and extends between the non-centrally disposed inlet and the centrally disposed outlet.
2. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the disk includes the flow guide flange which defines a flow path of the fluid channel that directs fluid along an entire length of flow from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the fluid channel provides flow resistance to fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet.
3. The closure cap of claim 2 wherein the fluid guide flange includes at least one bend to increase the flow resistance of the fluid channel.
4. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the fluid guide flange surrounds the inlet and extends to a portion of the disk to be aligned with the outlet of the base.
5. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the disk includes an attachment protrusion to secure the disk to the disk attachment skirt.
6. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the fluid guide flange includes a divider wall that inhibits fluid from flowing directly from the inlet to the outlet.
7. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the inlet of the disk is laterally offset from the outlet of the base, the fluid channel directing the fluid at least in part in a lateral direction from the inlet to the outlet.
8. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel is asymmetrically disposed in the closure cap.
9. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel has a width in a range of about 3.5 mm to about 7.5 mm.
10. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the outlet of the base and the inlet of the disk have substantially the same diameter.
11. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the flow guide flange has a height in a range of about 3.5mm to about 7.5 mm and wherein the fluid channel has a length in a range of about 3.5 mm to about 70 mm.
12. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the flow guide flange extends from the body of the disk to an end portion, the end portion of the flow guide flange shaped to extend along the central portion of the base to form a fluid tight seal therebetween.
13. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the closure cap is formed of a single material and without a silicone valve.
14. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the disk is securable to the base in any orientation when the disk is aligned with the disk attachment skirt to fluidly connect the inlet to the outlet.
15. The closure cap of claim 1 wherein the disk attachment skirt receives the disk and the disk attachment skirt is positioned to support a seal in engagement with a neck of the container.
16. A dispensing bottle comprising: a container body with a fluid therein, the container body having a neck; and a closure cap including: a base having a central portion, a container attachment skirt that attaches to the neck to secure the closure cap to the container body, and a disk attachment skirt, the central portion having a centrally disposed outlet for permitting fluid to egress therethrough when the closure cap is in an open configuration and pressure is applied to walls of the container body; a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the base, the flip-top lid being movable from a closed position to an open position, the flip-top lid having an interior protrusion configured to be disposed at least partially in the centrally disposed outlet of the base when the flip-top lid is in the closed position and withdrawn from the centrally disposed outlet when the flip-top lid is in the open position; a disk having a body securable to the disk attachment skirt of the base, and a single, non-centrally disposed inlet; and a flow guide flange; wherein a fluid channel is formed by the flow guide flange, the body of the disk, and the base and extends between the non-centrally disposed inlet and the centrally disposed outlet.
17. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the disk includes the flow guide flange which defines a flow path of the fluid channel that directs fluid along an entire length of flow from the inlet to the outlet.
18. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the flow guide flange is sized to extend from the body of the disk to an interior surface of the base when the disk is secured to the base, the flow guide flange forming a portion of the fluid channel to direct fluid flow along a flow path between the inlet of the disk and the outlet of the base.
19. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the fluid guide flange surrounds the inlet and the outlet of the base.
20. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the disk includes an attachment protrusion to secure the disk to the disk attachment skirt.
21. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the inlet of the disk is laterally offset from the outlet of the base, the fluid channel directing the fluid at least in part in a lateral direction from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the container body extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein no portion of the inlet is longitudinally aligned with the outlet.
22. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the disk contacts the neck of bottle when the base of the flip-top cap is secured to the container body.
23. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the disk includes a seal engagement ridge that presses a seal against the neck of the container body when the closure cap is secured thereto.
24. The dispensing bottle of claim 16 wherein the disk attachment skirt extends to the neck of the container body when the base of the flip-top cap is secured to the container body to press a seal against the neck of the container body when the closure cap is secured to the container body.
25. A method of manufacturing a dispensing bottle including a closure cap and a container body, the method comprising: molding a main body of the closure cap having a base and a flip-top lid,the base having a central portion having an outlet opening permitting fluid to egress therethrough when the outlet opening is unobstructed, and disk attachment skirt extending from the central portion, an end of the disk attachment skirt opposite the central portion having an angled tip and a protrusion extending away from the disk attachment skirt to form a ridge, the flip-top lid having an interior projection and being movable between a first position and a second position, where the projection blocks the outlet opening of the base inhibiting egress of the fluid therethrough in the first position, and the second position permits egress of the fluid through the outlet opening of the base; and securing a disk to the base to form the closure cap, the disk having an attachment protrusion having an angled surface extending to a ridge, the disk secured to the base by having the ridge of the disk extend beyond the ridge of the disk attachment skirt, the disk having a single, non-central inlet opening and a fluid guide flange, wherein securing the disk to the base forms a fluid channel extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the fluid guide flange forming a wall of the fluid channel to direct fluid from the non-central inlet opening to the central outlet opening.
26. The method of claim 25 further comprising: molding the container body; filling the container body with a fluid; and closing the filled container body with the closure cap, wherein molding the main body includes molding the base to include a container attachment skirt with base threads disposed thereon and wherein molding the container body includes molding a neck with threads, wherein closing the filled container body with the closure cap includes threading the container attachment skirt of the base to the neck of the container body.
27. The method of claim 25 further comprising: positioning a seal to be between the closure cap and a neck of the container body such that the closure cap presses the seal against the neck of the container body when the closure cap closes the container body; and securing the seal to the neck of the container body by induction sealing.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein either: the disk of the closure cap presses the seal against the neck of the container body when the closure cap closes the container body; or the disk attachment skirt of the closure cap presses the seal against the neck of the container body when the closure cap closes the container body.
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