Variable Metered Dose Closure

Abstract

A container comprises: a body having an interior; and a closure. The closure has: a closure main body carried by the body; a stem within the closure main body and having a passageway in communication with the body interior and a port from the passageway; and a platform within the closure main body radially between the stem and the closure main body and adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a body having an interior; and   a closure having:
 a closure main body carried by the body; 
 a stem within the closure main body and having a passageway in communication with the body interior and a port from the passageway; and 
 a platform within the closure main body radially between the stem and the closure main body and adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the closure comprises a rotatable adjuster coupled to the platform for adjusting a height of the platform. 
 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the platform has an external thread; and 
 the rotatable adjuster has an internal thread engaged to the external thread. 
 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein:
 the stem extends through the platform and interfits to resist relative rotation. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the platform has an internal thread; 
 the stem has an external thread engaged to the internal thread; and 
 the rotatable adjuster is coupled to the platform for transmitting rotation to the platform to adjust the height of the platform via cooperation of the internal thread and the external thread. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a detent mechanism for detenting the adjuster in a plurality of orientations. 
 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a plurality of fill level indicia on one of the adjuster and the closure main body; and 
 a reference indicia on the other of the adjuster and the closure main body operatively associated with the fill level indicia. 
 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a dip tube communicating with the stem. 
 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the body consists essentially of a first molded plastic piece; 
 the closure main body and the stem are formed by a second molded plastic piece; 
 the adjuster consists essentially of a third molded plastic piece; and 
 the platform consists essentially of a fourth molded plastic piece. 
 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a dip tube communicating with the stem. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for using the system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 with the platform in a first condition, introducing a first dose of liquid into the dosing chamber through the stem; and   discharging the first dose.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 adjusting the platform to a second condition; 
 with the platform in the second condition, introducing a second dose of liquid into the closure through the stem; and 
 discharging the second dose. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the second dose is at least one third greater in volume than the first dose. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the adjusting comprises a screw jack action. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the introducing comprises squeezing the container to push the dose through a dip tube.