Container with integrated closure and methods
AssigneeElmer's Products, Inc.
InventorShawn D. Heipp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Containers for products such as glue sticks are provided. The containers include a valve and a mechanical device for advancing a product through the container and for opening the valve. The mechanical device includes a screw component having a base portion and a threaded portion, a valve lifter component selectively slidable between a retracted position, in which the valve is closed, and alternatively an extended position, in which the valve is open, a biasing element that engages and applies force to the valve lifter component, and an elevator component for advancing the product through the container.
Claims20
A container, comprising:
- an exterior housing;
- a valve disposed at a first end of the exterior housing, wherein the valve comprises a plurality of adjacent sections that are configured to contact one another to seal the container when the valve is in a closed position;
- and
- a mechanical device for advancing a product through the container and for opening the valve, wherein the mechanical device comprises:
- a screw component having a base portion positioned outside of the exterior housing at a second end opposite the valve and a threaded portion extending from the base portion within the exterior housing;
- a valve lifter component operable to open the valve and positioned at least partially within the exterior housing, wherein the valve lifter component is selectively slidable between a retracted position, in which the valve is closed, and alternatively an extended position, in which the valve is open;
- a biasing element positioned at a first end of the valve lifter component, wherein the biasing element engages and applies force to the valve lifter component;
- and
- an elevator component positioned within the exterior housing for advancing the product through the container, wherein the elevator component is engaged and operated by the threaded portion of the screw component.
A method for dispensing a product from a container, comprising:
- providing a container that comprises:
- an exterior housing;
- a valve disposed at a first end of the exterior housing;
- and
- a mechanical device for advancing the product through the container and for opening the valve, the mechanical device comprising a screw component, a valve lifter component, an elevator component, and a biasing element;
- and
- rotating a base portion of the screw component that is positioned outside of the exterior housing at a second end opposite the valve, to correspondingly rotate a threaded portion of the screw component within the exterior housing and thereby advance the elevator component, to advance the product through the container,
- wherein advancing the elevator component decreases a load on the biasing element, such that the biasing element applies a force effective to selectively slide the valve lifter component into an extended position in which the valve lifter component opens the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.