Carbonite Corporation

Matthew Eric Smith

Karl Mondszein

A dispenser for viscous or pasty materials comprises a storage container in the form of a flexible tube () and an applicator (). The tube () comprises an elongate, 1-piece hollow moulding of polymeric material, one end of which is closed and formed at the other end of which is an integral dispensing valve defining one or more dispensing slits (). The or each dispensing slit is defined by a respective pair of resilient plates (), which are opposed and inclined to one another and have a respective free edge, the two free edges defining a dispensing slit. The applicator has an applicator surface and one or more passages (), into which the free edges of a respective pair of resilient plates is received. The width of each passage in the applicator is dimensioned such that there is a gap between the free edges of the resilient plates and the associated side surfaces of the passage, when the dispensing slit is closed and so that this gap is substantially closed, when the dispensing slit is opened by the application of pressure to the flexible tube in order to dispense material within the tube.

Dispensers for viscous or pasty materials

A method of injection molding a plastics component includes providing a first mold member with a mold cavity, which is defined by an internal surface, and a second mold member with an external surface whose shape is complementary to the shape of the mold cavity. Either the internal surface or the external surface carry an elongate formation with an elongate apex. The method includes advancing the second mold member into the mold cavity such that the apex is spaced from the opposed one of the internal surface and the external surface by a predetermined distance and the internal surface of the first mold member and the external surface of the second mold member together define a mold space. Molten polyolefin material is then injected into the mold space to substantially fill it. The predetermined distance is so dimensioned that the polyolefin material does not completely fill the space between the apex and the opposed surface and the slit is thus formed.

Injection moulding plastic components with a slit

Dispensing valve

A container for dispensing a two-component liquid comprises an outer resilient container for containing one component with a neck defining an opening and an inner tubular container. The inner container contains a piston slidably received within it. A closure member extends over the entire area of the inner container and closes its lower end. The piston and the inner container define a reservoir for containing a second component. The neck carries a closure cap which affords a liquid dispensing opening. A first non-return valve communicates with the liquid dispensing opening and with the interior of the inner container. An airflow path extends through the closure cap and the piston and includes a second non-return valve. The first non-return valve is arranged to permit liquid to flow from the inner container to the liquid dispensing opening and the second non-return valve is arranged to permit air to flow through the airflow path into the inner container. The closure cap cooperates with the piston so that movement of the closure cap in the downward direction results in movement of the piston towards the closure member. A finger connected to the piston contacts the closure member and moves it and thus opens the inner container, thereby permitting the component within it to fall down into the component within the outer container.

Dispensing container

Method of injection molding a plastics component includes providing a first mold member with a mold cavity, defined by an internal surface, and a second mold member with an external surface complementary to the mold cavity shape. Either the internal or external surface carry an elongate formation with an elongate apex. Then, the second mold member is advanced into the mold cavity such that the apex is spaced from the opposed one of the internal surface and the external surface by a predetermined distance and the internal surface of the first mold member and the external surface of the second mold member together define a mold space. Molten polyolefin material is then injected into the mold space to substantially fill it. The predetermined distance is so dimensioned that the polyolefin material does not completely fill the space between the apex and the opposed surface and the slit is thus formed.

A dispensing valve for flowable material comprises a valve plate () of resilient polymeric material in which at least one elongate discontinuity is formed. The discontinuity defines at least one valve flap () which is an integral part of the valve plate but whose margin defined by the discontinuity is not connected to the adjacent material of the valve plate. The valve flap () is movable under the application of pressure from a closed position, in which the adjacent margins of the discontinuity form a substantial seal, to an open position, in which the margins for the discontinuity are spaced from one another and material can flow through the valve member. The polymeric material is a polyolefin material and the discontinuity is a rupture line. The margins defining the rupture line are of decreasing thickness towards their free edge and overlie one another.

Dispensing valves

A beverage container comprises a bottle () and is sealed by a lid of resilient material. The bottle includes a neck () defining an opening and the lid includes a closure plate (), integral with which is a depending skirt () extending around the outer surface of the neck. The skirt () carries an annular flange (), which is in sealing engagement with the underside of the downwardly directed annular shoulder () on the outer surface of the neck. The annular flange () is connected to the skirt () by an integral hinge. The internal surface of the skirt () carries an annular protuberance (), which is in sealing engagement with one side surface of the annular flange, the other side surface being in sealing engagement with the outer surface of the neck. The said one side surface of the annular flange includes an annular portion which extends downwardly and inwardly and is in contact with a corresponding annular portion on the surface of the annular protuberance ().

Lid and container for carbonated beverage

An applicator for applying a substance in liquid, paste or gel form comprises a container (), of which a portion is flexible and which includes an applicator portion, which is arcuate in cross-section and in which one or more first apertures () is formed. An elastic valve membrane () is connected to and overlies the applicator portion and one or more second apertures () are formed in it. The first apertures () are offset from the second apertures (). The valve membrane () normally engages the applicator portion and the first apertures () are thus normally closed by the valve membrane () but the application of pressure to the flexible portion of the container produces an increase of the pressure of the container which results in the valve membrane () being forced away from the applicator portion against its elasticity. The second apertures () are slits, which are closed when the valve membrane () is in engagement with the applicator portion but which are open when the valve membrane () is forced away from the applicator portion.

Applicators

A beverage container comprises a receptacle () which has a central axis () and is sealed by a lid () of resilient material. The receptacle includes a neck () defining an opening and the lid includes a closure plate (), integral with which is a depending skirt () extending around the outer surface of the neck. The inner surface of the skirt () carries a continuous annular flange (), which is in sealing engagement with the underside of a continuous downwardly directed annular shoulder () on the outer surface of the neck and thus prevents movement of the lid in the axial direction away from the receptacle. The annular flange () on the lid is connected thereto by a resilient hinge connection (). The annular flange () is elongate in axial sectional view. The end surface of the free end of the flange () is in sealing engagement with the underside of the shoulder () and the resilience of the resilient hinge connection () urges the side surface of the free end of the annular flange () into sealing engagement with the external surface of the neck.

Beverage containers

A drinking cap constitutes a one-piece molding of polymeric material including a first circular section tubular portion () for connection to the mouth of a beverage container and a second smaller circular section tubular portion () situated at least partially within the first tubular portion. The first tubular portion is connected to the second tubular portion by a resilient, annular, integral web (), in which one or more flow openings () are formed. One end of the second tubular portion () is closed. The upper or external surface of the web () carries a projecting annular first sealing flange () at a point intermediate its ends, as seen in axial sectional view. The first and second tubular portion () are coaxial and relatively movable in the axial direction between an open position, in which the flow openings () are unobstructed, and a closed position, in which the sealing flange () is in sealing engagement with the internal surface of the first tubular portion (). The flow openings () are thus prevented from communicating with the atmosphere. When the cap is in the closed position, the free edge of the first sealing flange () forms a substantially line seal with the internal surface of the first tubular portion ().

Dispensing caps for liquid containers

A closure for a multiple component container includes an insert (), a piston () and a cap (). The insert () and the piston () define a reservoir and the insert () comprises a fixed cylindrical wall () and a movable wall () connected thereto and movable with respect thereto by the action of gas pressure within the reservoir. The movable wall () has a discharge aperture () formed therein. The cap () comprises a closure plate (), integral with whose outer edge is a depending skirt (), by means of which the cap may be secured to a container. The closure plate () cooperates with the piston () such that movement of the closure plate towards the insert () results in movement of the piston also in the same direction. The piston () forms a sliding seal with the internal surface of the fixed cylindrical wall (). A valve member () is integral with, the piston () and is slidably received in and seals the discharge aperture ().

Closures for multiple component containers

A drinking cap includes a first tubular portion () for connection to the mouth of a beverage container and an elongate actuating member () situated at least partly within the first tubular portion () and connected to it by a resilient, annular, integral web (), in which one or more flow openings () are formed. The actuating member () is longitudinally movable in the axial direction between an open position of the flow openings () and a closed position thereof. The cap also includes an insert () and a piston () which together define a reservoir (). The insert () includes a cylindrical wall () and a portion () which is movable under the action of pressure within the reservoir and in which a discharge aperture () is formed. A flow tube () is connected to the piston () around an aperture () and extends through the discharge aperture () in the insert () and forms a sliding seal with the edge () of the discharge aperture. The actuating member () is arranged to engage the piston () when it is moved from the closed position to the open position and thus to move the piston () towards the insert (), whereby the increased pressure created in the reservoir () causes the movable portion () of the insert () to move away from the piston () until the flow tube () moves out of the discharge aperture () in the insert ().

Dispensing caps for beverage containers

A closure for a container comprises a circular closure plate (), integral with the outer edge of which is a depending skirt (), integrally connected to the lower end of which by means of a resilient annular integral hinge () is an annular flange (), which extends generally upwardly and inwardly. The closure also includes a cutter assembly which includes a cutting blade () and is mounted to rotate about the center of the closure plate (). The integral hinge () has a hole formed in it through which the cutting blade () extends. Rotation of the cutter assembly about the center of the closure plate thus results in cutting of the integral hinge () and thus in release of the closure plate () and the depending skirt () from the annular flange ().

Container closures including a retaining flange and a cutter

A dispensing cap for a beverage container constitutes a one-piece moulding of plastic material including a first circular section tubular portion for connection to the mouth of a liquid container and a second circular section tubular portion carrying a radially projecting circumferential flange, one end of the first tubular portion being connected to one end of the second tubular portion by a resilient, annular, integral web in which one or more flow openings are formed, the first and second tubular portions being coaxial and relatively movable in the axial direction between an open and closed position. The moulding further including two half shells of semi-cylindrical shape, the upper edge of each is integral with and sealed to the circumferential flange, the lower edge forms a sliding seal with the first tubular portion, whereby within the two half shells, there is a liquid flow space.

An insert for a multiple component container includes a reservoir with an opening defined by a peripheral edge which, in use, is connected to a sealing element (). In use, the reservoir and the sealing element define a substantially sealed space. The reservoir includes a stationary portion () and a movable portion (), which is connected to the stationary portion and is movable with respect thereto by the action of gas pressure within the reservoir. A discharge opening () is formed in the movable portion () and a gas leakage path is provided in the reservoir wall. A valve member () is connected to the stationary portion () and cooperates with the discharge opening () and substantially seals it. The application of a greater gas pressure to the interior of the reservoir than to its exterior results in movement of the movable portion () away from the stationary portion () and thus in the valve member () moving out of sealing contact with the discharge opening ().

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Isle of Man, United Kingdom

Matthew Eric Smith