GB2133774A

GB2133774A - Container for dispensing measured volume of liquid

Info

Publication number: GB2133774A
Application number: GB08334559A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eugene Edward Davis; Frank Graham Booker
Original assignee: Johnsen and Jorgensen Ltd; Johnsen and Jorgensen Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Johnsen and Jorgensen Ltd; Johnsen and Jorgensen Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1982-12-31
Filing date: 1983-12-29
Publication date: 1984-08-01
Also published as: GB2133774B; GB8334559D0

Abstract

A container for dispensing a measured volume of liquid has a flexible plastics container body (1) and a separately moulded dispensing receptacle (4) fitted in the container neck (2). A tube (8) connecting the interior of the container body (1) with the interior of the receptacle (4) has a laterally directed aperture (7) through which liquid enters the receptacle (4) from the container body (1) when the latter is squeezed. When the container body (1) is released, liquid in the receptacle (4) is sucked back through the tube (8) until the level of the liquid in the receptacle reaches the lower edge (14) of the aperture (7) after which air is sucked back into the container body (1). In this way, a predetermined volume of liquid is measured into the receptacle (4), which can then be dispensed by pouring. The level of the aperture (7) is determined by an integrally moulded projection (9) for locating and securing the top end portion of the tube (8). By manufacturing the receptacle (4) in a mould having interchangeable core pins, the position of the projection (9), and hence the size of the measured volume, can be varied without the need for a different mould. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container with dispensing receptacle The invention relates to a container including a device for dispensing a measured volume of liquid.

It is know to provide liquid containers such as cans or bottles with a measuring compartment enabling a predetermined volume of liquid to be dispensed. Such containers have application in the dispensing of medicines, photographic solutions, and gardening products, indeed wherever a fixed dose of a liquid has to be repeadedly dispensed. In the past however, such containers, in spite of the extra convenience they provide, have not been widely used because they are relatively expensive to manufacture or they are unreliable in that the container is prone to leaking and the dispensed volume tends to vary.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dispensing container which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which is simple and reliable in use.

According to one aspect of this invention, a container for dispensing a measured volume of liquid comprises a container body having an opening defined by a container neck, at least a portion of the container body being flexible to allow the interior volume to be varied, a separately formed dispensing receptacle mounted in the container opening, the receptacle having a closed end inside container body and an open end arranged to be covered by a closure engaging the container neck when the container is not in use, and a duct providing communication between the interior of the container body and the interior of the dispensing receptacle, one end of the duct being located adjacent a base portion of the container body, and the other end comprising an aperture located at a predetermined level in the dispensing receptacle so as to define a required dispensing volume.

In use, liquid inside the container body is forced through the duct into the dispensing receptacle by squeezing together the walls of the container body. Provided the liquid in the receptacle reaches a level above the aperture, release of the squeezing force allows liquid to be sucked back through the duct until the level in the receptacle reaches the lower edge of the aperture; thereafter only air is sucked back, leaving a predetermined volume of liquid in the dispensing receptacle. This measured dose can then be dispensed by pouring.

Being a separate component from the container body, the dispensing receptacle can be fitted to a range of containers, provided that the necks of the containers are of a suitable size. In addition, the relatively complicated and expensive moulding techniques associated with known containers having an integral dispensing and measuring receptacle are avoided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the receptacle has a lip which locates on the top edge of the container neck, so that a I screw closure, when fitted to the neck, creates an airtight seal between the atmosphere and the interior spaces of both the receptacle and the container body.

Advantageously, the receptacle has an inte gral moulded feature defining the level of the aperture in the receptacle, and by using a mould with suitable interchangeable core pins, this aperture level can be altered, allow ing the manufacture of receptacles having different measuring volumes using a single basic mould. A splash guard, covering the end of the duct, may be integrally moulded as part of the receptacle and may be varied in position using the same interchangeable core pins.

Thus, the invention also includes a method of moulding a dispensing receptacle for use as a dose-measuring device to be fitted in neck of a flexible bottle, the receptacle comprising ì a hollow container having an open end and a closed end, and integral means for defining the level of an aperture inside the receptacle, wherein the method comprises providing a mould having first and second halves for moulding exterior and interior surfaces of the receptacle respectively, selecting a core com ponent of a required length, fitting the core component into a hole into one of the mould halves, and injecting plastics material into the complete mould to form a receptacle in which the position of the integral means is deter mined by the length of the core, whereby the size of the dose to be dispensed from the receptacle can be varied by varying the length of the core.

According to a further aspect of the inven tion, there is provided a dose-measuring de vice for mounting in a neck of a flexible bottle, wherein the device comprises an open ended dispensing receptacle, and a tube for connecting the receptacle with the interior of the bottle, the receptacle and the tube to gether defining a duct terminating at an aper ture inside the receptacle, the level of the aperture determining the volume of a liquid dose to be dispensed from the receptacle.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectioned side view of a container in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a sectioned side view of a further container in accordance with the in vention; Figure 3 is a sectioned side view of the dispensing receptacle of the container of Fig.

2; Figure 4 is an underside view of the dis pensing receptacle; and Figure 5 is a partly sectioned side view of the dispensing receptacle on the line V-V in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a first container in accordance with the invention comprises a plastic bottle 1 having an opening defined by an externally threaded neck 2 for receiving a screw closure 3. A separately moulded plastics dispensing receptacle in the form of a cup 4 fits within the neck 2 and has a lip 5 which is trapped against the edge of the neck 2 when the closure 3 is sdrewed down. The cup 4 may be bonded to the neck 2 or it may be dimensioned so as to be a push fit in the neck 2, thereby sealing off the interior of the bot tle. In this embodiment, the base of the dispensing cup 4 has an integral, upwardly projecting, hollow extension 6 with an aperture 7 formed in its side.The interior of the extension 6 is coupled tb a tube 8 fitted to the base of the cup 4 sd that liquid can be pushed up from the base of the bottle 1 through the aperture 7 into the cup 4 when the walls of the bottle 1 are squeezed together. It will be appreciated that alternative constructions can be used to achieve the same function; for example, the inner extension 6 may comprise the upper end of a tube which passes through the base of the cup 4 rather than terminating on a stub below it.

As hereinbefore described, the volume of liquid collected in the dispensing cup 4 after the bottle has been squeezed and released is determined by the level of the lower edge of the aperture 7. Alternative dispehsing volumes can be obtained using the same mould by providing the mould with selitotively interchangeable core pins defining apertures at different levels on the extension 6.

In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the tube e passes through and seals in an asymmetrically positioned hole 9 in the base of the dispensing cup 4, and is located and secured inside the cup 4 by an integral shtit-off feature comprising a lug 10 projecting Inwardly from the side wall 11 of the cup 4. A tapered hotch 12 formed between the side wall 11 and the lug, 10 is dimensioned to grip the edge portion of the tube 8, the position of the root of the notch defining the position of the tube 8 in the cup 4. Integrally moulded with the lug 10 is a splash guard 13 Comprisin a small plate extending over the end of the tdbe 8 to direct liquid laterally into the cup 4.

The edge 14 of the tube 8 and the splash guard 1 3 together define a laterally directed aperture 7 the position of which on the side wall 11 determines the volume df the dose which is measured out when the bottle 1 is squeezed and the released. The mould which is used to produce the cup 4 has two core pins whose end portions are shaped to define the upper and lower surfaces of the lug 10 and splash guard 1 3. These core pins enter the interior of the mpti.ld defined by two main mould halves from opposite directions so that, referring to the side Wiew of the cup 4 in Fig.

3, they effectively pass through the oken end of the cup 4 and the hole 9 respectively. By selecting core pins dt different length, the position of the lug ahd splash guard dan be altered according to the required dos. volume. Conveniently, the size of the dose volume can be embossed on the top face of the splash guard.

The same dispensing cup 4 may bd used in a number of different botties of different sizes given that the internål diameter of thd neck 2 remains constant, a different length tube 8 being fitted to suit the depth of the bottle.

Standard bottles of the correct shape may also be retrofitted with a cup 4 and tube in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A container for dispensing a measured volume of liquid comprising a container body having an opening defined by a container neck, at least a portion of the container body being flexible to allow the interior volume to be varied, a separately formed dispensing receptacle mounted in the container opening, the receptacle having a closed end inside container body and an open end arranged to be covered by a closure engaging the container neck when the container is not In use, and a duct providing communication between the interior of the container body and the interior of the dispensing receptacle, one end of the duct being located adjacent a base portion of the container body, and the other end comprising an aperture located af a predetermined level in the dispensing redeptacle so as to define a required dispensing volume

2. A container according to claim 1 including a closure shaped to be fitted Over the container neck, wherein the dispensing receptacle comprises a cup having lip which engages an edge of the neck so as to be trapped against the said edge when the closure is fitted to the neck.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the closure and the neck håve matching screw threads.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing receptacle is a moulded component including integral means defining the level of the aperture therein.

5. A container according to claim 4; wherein the duct comprises a tube housed in an opening formed in the base of the receptacle, the position of the tube in the opening being determined by the said integral means.

6. A container according to claini 5, wherein the integral tneans comprises a lug projecting from a side wall of the receptacle in the receptable interior, the tube being gripped in a notch between the lug and the side wall.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperture is transyersely directed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the duct.

8. A container according to claim 7, further comprising a splash guard located over the end of the duct.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the guard is an integral part of the receptacle and projects inwardly from the side wall thereof.

10. A dose-measuring device for mounting in a neck of a flexible bottle, wherein the device comprises an open-ended dispensing receptacle, and a tube for connecting the receptacle with the interior of the bottle, the receptacle and tube together defining a duct terminating at an aperture inside the receptacle, the level of the aperture determining the volume of a liquid dose to be dispensed from the receptacle.

11. A method of moulding a dispensing receptacle for use as a dose-measuring device to be fitted in neck of a flexible bottle, the receptacle comprising a hollow container having an open end and a closed end, and integral means for defining the level of an aperture inside the receptacle, wherein the method comprises providing a mould having a first and second halves for moulding exterior and interior surfaces of the receptacle respectively, selecting a core component of a required length, fitting the core component into a hole into one of the mould halves, and injecting plastics material into the complete mould to form a receptacle in which the position of the integral means is determined by the length of the core, whereby the size of the dose to be dispensed from the receptacle can be varied by varying the length of the core.

1 2. A method according to claim 11, wherein both mould halves are provided with holes for receiving respective core components of selectable length, the core component for fitting in the first mould half being shaped to define an opening in the closed end of the dispensing receptacle.

1 3. A container constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.

1 4. A dispensing receptacle for insertion in a neck of a flexible bottle, the receptacle being constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.

1 5. A method of moulding a dispensing receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.