Dosing closure with dust cover to activate, twist and pull

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storing and dispensing closure to separately house, store or carry a dose or supply of one or more ingredients, formulations or products until dispensed at point-of-use, to dispense the stored products into a separate receiving vessel, and to dispense for consumption. Methods for dosing or supplying are also provided.

1 . A closure device comprising:
 a. a base;   b. a sleeve;   c. a spout for dispensing the contents of the closure device from a receiving vessel;   d. an end cap; and   e. a dust cover.   
     
     
         2 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a product chamber for housing one or more ingredients. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a center post, a base engaging seal portion and a spout engaging seal portion, wherein the base engaging seal portion comprises one or more distal end sleeve beads which provides radial interference on the outer diameter of the base, wherein the spout engaging seal portion comprises one or more spout seal beads which provides radial interference on the inner diameter of the spout, wherein the sleeve engages with the base and is capable of moving relative to the base in an axial direction, wherein the spout engages with the sleeve and is capable of moving relative to the sleeve in an axial direction. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises one or more distal end base beads which provides radial interference on the inner diameter of the sleeve, and a closure skirt for engaging an opening or neck of a receiving vessel, the closure skirt comprising a proximal top, one or more peripheral side walls and a distal annular edge. 
     
     
         8 . The closure device of  claim 4 , wherein the center post has one or more inner and outer diameters, a proximal stem, an intermediate portion and a distal end, wherein the distal end engages the end cap, wherein the proximal stem of the center post engages with a sealing member of the spout to form a seal, wherein the center post is in axial alignment within the product chamber and is capable of moving in a distal direction within the product chamber upon application of a user-actuated force. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The closure device of  claim 4 , wherein the outer diameter of the center post is attached to one or more center post collar support ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a sleeve stop that engages the sleeve after the sleeve has moved relative to the base in an axial direction and which prevents further movement of the sleeve relative to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the center post is in mating engagement with the end cap comprising a proximal top, peripheral radial edge and distal end, wherein the proximal top of the end cap comprises a center post receiving portion, wherein the center post is in mating engagement with the center post receiving portion of the end cap. 
     
     
         14 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of the product chamber has polished radial mating surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the spout comprises an outlet, one or more sealing members which engages the stem of the center post, and one or more distal end spout beads which engages a spout seal portion of the sleeve, wherein the spout moves relative to the sleeve axially in proximal and distal directions. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the stem of the center post contacts one or more sealing members of the spout, resulting in a seal between the center post and spout when the closure is in an inactive configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the spout comprises a proximal top, a greater diameter of the spout, a lesser diameter of the spout, one or more side walls having one or more inner and outer diameters and a distal annular edge, wherein the one or more inner diameters of the side wall of the spout interferingly engage one or more of the outer diameters of the side wall of the spout seal portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The closure device of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more inner diameters of the side wall of the spout comprises one or more distal end spout beads for interfering engagement of the one or more outer diameters of the side wall of the spout seal portion of the sleeve, the one or more outer diameters of the side wall of the spout seal portion of the sleeve comprises one or more spout seal beads for interfering engagement of the one or more inner diameters of the side wall of the spout, wherein the one or more distal end spout beads are distal to the one or more spout seal beads, wherein the one or more distal end spout beads interferingly engage the one or more spout seal beads when the spout is in its most proximal, open configuration. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the dust cover comprises one or more helical thread forms which interferingly engage with one or more helical thread forms of the sleeve. 
     
     
         27 . The closure device of  claim 26 , wherein a twisting motion of the dust cover activates the closure device, wherein the activation of the closure device results from axial movement of the sleeve in a downward or distal direction, wherein the center post applies a pressing force on the end cap, wherein a seal between the end cap and inner wall of the product chamber is broken, wherein one or more ingredients housed in the closure device are released into a receiving vessel. 
     
     
         28 . The closure device of  claim 27 , wherein the dust cover is held in position by a series of lug and groove combinations configured to move/work in combination with the sleeve such that the dust cover is not readily removed from the base until appropriate lug and groove combinations are aligned. 
     
     
         29 . The closure of  claim 28 , wherein the alignment and radial movement required to make the dust cover align for removal drives the sleeve and end cap from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A closure device comprising:
 a. a base comprising a product chamber for storing one or more ingredients until point-of-use dispensing comprising one or more side walls having an inner and outer diameter wherein the outer diameter further comprises one or more base radial beads, a proximal end and distal end, and a closure skirt for engaging the opening or neck of a receiving vessel comprising a proximal top, one or more peripheral side walls having an inner and outer diameter greater than the one or more side walls of the product chamber, a distal end and a plug seal depending from the proximal top of the closure skirt comprising a thicker proximal end and thinner distal end, and non-parallel inner and outer angled surfaces wherein the apex of the outer surface engages the inner diameter of the opening or neck of the receiving vessel;   b. a sleeve capable of moving axially in proximal and distal directions comprising a center post, a base engaging seal portion and a spout engaging seal portion, wherein the base engaging seal portion comprises one or more distal end sleeve beads which provides radial interference on the outer diameter of the base, wherein the spout engaging seal portion comprises one or more spout seal beads which provides radial interference on the inner diameter of the spout, wherein the center post is in axial alignment within the product chamber, wherein the center post is attached to and one or more center post collar support ribs;   c. a spout capable of moving axially in proximal and distal directions comprising a proximal top with an outlet capable of receiving the stem of the center post and allowing product to pass through the closure device from a receiving vessel, one or more side walls having inner and outer diameters wherein the inner diameter further comprises one or more distal end spout beads for interfering engagement of one or more spout seal beads of the spout engaging seal portion of the sleeve when the spout is in its most proximal, open configuration, a sealing member for engaging the stem of the center post to create a seal when the spout is in its most distal, closed configuration;   d. an end cap in mating engagement with the distal end of the center post, wherein the end cap closes the distal end of the product chamber in the inactivated state; and   e. a dust cover that covers the spout, sleeve and part of the base in the inactivated configuration, wherein the spout comprises one or more helical thread forms which interfering engage with one or more helical thread forms of the sleeve, wherein a twisting motion of the dust cover activates the closure device, wherein the activation of the closure device results from axial movement of the sleeve in a downward or distal direction, wherein the center post applies a pressing force on the end cap, wherein a seal between the end cap and inner wall of the product chamber is broken, wherein one or more ingredients housed in the closure device are released into a receiving vessel.   
     
     
         32 . The closure device of  claim 31 , wherein the dust cover is held in position by a series of lug and groove combinations configured to move/work in combination with the sleeve such that the dust cover is not readily removed from the base until appropriate lug and groove combinations are aligned. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method of supplying or dispensing a dose or one or more ingredients, formulations or products to a user comprising:
 i) attaching a closure device of any of  claims 1 - 33  to a receiving vessel;   ii) dispensing the one or more ingredients, formulations or products therefrom into the attached receiving vessel by twisting and removing the dust cover; and   iii) opening the spout on the closure device for consuming the contents of the receiving vessel through the spout.