Dispenser and Methods

Abstract

A dosing bottle closure ( 24; 320 ) has a body ( 26; 326 ) and a lid ( 27; 327 ). The body ( 26 ) has: a sidewall ( 50 ) extending from a lower rim ( 54 ) to an upper rim ( 62 ); and means ( 58 ) along the sidewall ( 50 ) for engaging a container body ( 22 ). The lid ( 27 ) is hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition. The body defines an internal upwardly open chamber ( 25 ) at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition. The body defines a feed passageway ( 100 ) having an outlet ( 110 ) to the chamber ( 25 ) and spaced above a bottom ( 72 ) of the chamber.

1 . A dosing bottle closure comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a sidewall extending from a lower rim to an upper rim; 
 means along the sidewall for engaging a container body; and 
   a lid hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition,   
       wherein:
 the body defines an internal upwardly open chamber at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition; 
 the body defines a feed passageway having an inlet and an outlet to the chamber spaced above a bottom of the chamber, 
 a hinge defines a rear end of the body; and 
 the inlet faces at least partially rearward. 
 
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the body and lid are unitarily molded as a single piece. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein:
 a hinge defines a rear end of the body; and 
 an open top second chamber is between the feed passageway and the hinge. 
 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3  wherein:
 the lid closes the second chamber in the closed condition 
 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 3  wherein:
 lateral portions of a wall separate the chamber from the second chamber; 
 a central portion of the wall having a vertically recessed upper edge separates the chamber from the feed passageway. 
 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inlet of the feed passageway is spaced below the bottom of the chamber. 
 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein:
 the chamber has a volume of 15-75 ml. 
 
     
     
         9 . A container comprising:
 a container body having an interior for storing a flowable material;   the closure of  claim 1  secured to the container body.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein:
 the container body is polyethylene; and 
 the closure body and lid are polypropylene. 
 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a flowable material within the container body. 
 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  further comprising:
 the flowable material is a particulate. 
 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11  further comprising:
 the flowable material is a detergent. 
 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 9  wherein:
 the container body interior has a volume of 0.4-2.01. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method for using the container of  claim 9  comprising:
 tilting the container with the lid in the closed condition to transfer a first dose of material from the interior through the feed passageway; 
 uprighting the container to leave some of the material in the chamber; 
 opening the lid to the open condition; and 
 tilting the container to pour at least a portion of the charge from the container. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 after the pouring, reuprighting the container and closing the lid; and 
 repeating the tilting, uprighting, opening, and tilting. 
 
     
     
         17 . A dosing bottle closure comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a sidewall extending from a lower rim to an upper rim; 
 means along the sidewall for engaging a container body; and 
   a lid hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition,   
       wherein:
 the body defines an internal upwardly open chamber at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition; 
 the body defines a feed passageway having an inlet and an outlet to the chamber spaced above a bottom of the chamber; 
 a hinge defines a rear end of the body; and 
 the inlet is rearwardly offset from a rear wall of the chamber. 
 
     
     
         18 . A dosing bottle closure comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a sidewall extending from a lower rim to an upper rim; 
 means along the sidewall for engaging a container body; and 
   a lid hinged relative to the body for articulation between a closed condition and an open condition,   
       wherein:
 the body defines an internal upwardly open chamber at least partially covered by the lid in the closed condition; and 
 the body defines a feed passageway having:
 an inlet spaced below a bottom of the chamber; and 
 an outlet to the chamber spaced above the bottom of the chamber.