Universal Portion-Control Dispensing Cap, ¼ tsp to 1 tbsp
A three-piece dosing cap for squeeze bottles — rotating measurement chamber, one-way valve and multi-thread compatibility, designed to come apart for cleaning.
A cap that fits most condiment bottles and dispenses an exact measure — from a quarter teaspoon to a tablespoon — with a provisional patent already filed.
The problem
Universal compatibility and precise dosing pull against each other:
- Multiple thread standards. 28-410, 33/400 and 38-400 finishes all had to be accommodated, and thread finishes are not interchangeable by eye.
- Adjustable volume in a moulded part. A rotating chamber has to define repeatable volumes across its range while staying a two-part mould.
- One-way flow through a simple valve — simple, because every added component raises unit cost on a commodity closure.
- It must come apart for cleaning and go back together correctly. Condiment residue in a sealed cap is a product failure.
- Visually intuitive. Users should see the dose without reading instructions.
The client also wanted a vent so the bottle does not lock up under vacuum when squeezed and inverted.
The approach
- Chamber volumes set as geometry, not as markings. Rotating alignment positions define real cavity volumes, so the dose is mechanical rather than a printed guess.
- Base adapter as the compatibility layer, isolating thread variation in one part so the chamber and valve above it stay common across bottle types.
- Cleaning-driven split lines. Where the three pieces separate was decided by where residue collects, not by what was easiest to mould.
- Venting handled at the flow path — a small relief so trapped air escapes as a measure fills, which is what makes the dose repeatable in the first place.
The result
A complete three-piece cap design with the adjustable chamber, valve and adapter ring detailed for injection moulding.
Where this applies
Closures and dispensing hardware: caps, valves, dosing systems. Thread standards, cleanability and mould split lines decide these products long before styling does.
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