CONTAINER CLOSURE INCLUDING FLIP-TOP CAP
A container closure adapted to be used with a container to allow for the selected removal of the contents of the container. The container closure includes a body adapted to be mounted to the container, a flip-top cap, and a hinge used to couple the flip-top cap to the body. The flip-top cap is adapted to move from a closed position on the body to an open position away from the body.
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/914,588, filed Apr. 27, 2007, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates to closures for mounting on the top of bottles or other containers, and in particular, to a container closure including a flip-top cap. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a flexible hinge configured to interconnect a body and a flip-top cap of a container closure.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the present disclosure, a container closure is provided for coupling with a container. The container closure comprises a body adapted to be coupled to the container to selectively permit the release of a substance, such as a liquid, from the container. The container closure includes a hinge that is coupled to the body and a flip-top cap appended to the hinge.
In illustrative embodiments, the hinge is molded with the body and cap and includes first and second web ramps interconnected by an offset web apex. The web apex is adapted to engage an inner top edge of a recess formed in a side wall of the body to vault the flip-top cap from an open position away from the body, over the web apex to a closed position on the body. The web apex, in combination with the web ramps, assists in positioning the flip-top cap on the body.
In illustrative embodiments, the hinge may also include first and second plateau buttresses that are positioned to lie between first and second web ramps. The plateau buttresses are designed to cause the hinge to fold along an elongated notch formed in a web plateau of the hinge when the flip-top cap is moved from the open position, away from the body, to the closed position on the body. The first and second plateau buttresses each include an inclined surface that spaced apart from each other when the flip-top cap is in the closed position on the body to allow the hinge to fit flush against the side wall of the body.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detail description of illustrative embodiments exemplify the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A container closure 10 includes a body 12 that is adapted to mate with a container, a flip-top cap 16, and a hinge 14 interconnecting body 12 and flip-top cap 16, and is shown in an open position in
Hinge 214, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, includes first and second inclined plateau buttresses 242, 244 that are adapted to cause hinge 214 to fold about an elongated notch 240 formed in web plateau 238 of hinge 214, as shown, for example, in the perspective view of
In illustrative embodiments, container closure 10 includes body 12 adapted to be mounted on a container, as shown, for example, in
Hinge 14 is coupled to body 12 and to lid 26 to support flip-top cap 16 for movement relative to body 12 from a closed position on body 12 covering product-dispensing aperture 18 to an open position away from body 12 uncovering product-dispensing aperture 18, as shown, for example, in
First and second web ramps 34, 36 are elastic and adapted to assist in moving flip-top cap 16 from an over center position to a closed position on body 12, as shown, for example, in
First sloped face 60 of hinge 14 is coupled to flip-top cap 16 along a first elastic web connector 62 and slopes upwardly from flip-top cap 16 to web apex 38, as shown, for example in
Second sloped face 68 of hinge 14 is coupled to body 12 along a second elastic web connector 70 of body side wall 22 and slopes upwardly from second elastic web connector 70 to web apex 38, as shown, for example in
Web apex 38 of hinge 14 assists in keeping hinge 14 flush with side wall 22 of body 12 and side wall 32 of a lid 26 when flip-top cap 10 is in the closed position on body 12. This is accomplished by placing first and second web ramps 34, 36 in tension to pull hinge 14 closer to sidewalls 22, 32 of closure 10, as shown, for example, in
Movement of hinge 14 is shown diagrammatically in
The engagement of web apex 38 with peak 80 at time T2 places first and second web ramps 34, 36 in tension to assist in vaulting flip-top cap 16 over web apex 38 and an over center position onto body 12 at time interval T3. At time interval T2 web apex 38 of hinge 14 is under compression and first and second web ramps 34, 36 are under tension to vault flip-top cap 18 over web apex 38 and onto body 12.
Web apex 38 in combination with first and second web ramps 34, 36 of hinge 14 provide a vault means for vaulting flip-top cap 16 from an open position away from body 12 to a closed position on body 12 to assist in aligning flip-top cap 16 with body 12 when flip-top cap 16 is moved onto body 12. The vault means also causes acceleration of flip-top cap 16 relative to base 12 in response to the application of a force to flip-top cap 16 to move flip-top cap 16 past an over-center position. The wall thickness of hinge 14 is greater around web apex 38 to prevent web apex 38 from collapsing under compressive forces as flip-top cap 16 is moved to the closed position on body 12.
Body 12 of container closure 10 includes a top wall 20 and an annular side wall 22 depending from top wall 20, as shown in
Top wall 20 of body 12 includes an annular vertical wall 82. Annular vertical wall 82 is positioned to lie near an inner top edge 84 of body side wall 22. Annular vertical wall 82 and inner top edge 84 cooperate to form an annular groove 86. Annular groove 86 is adapted to accept annular side wall 32 of lid 26 when flip-top cap 16 is in the closed position on body 12.
Side wall 22 of body 12 is formed to include a recess 24, as shown, for example, in
Recess 24 also includes first and second curved bottom wall segments 44, 46. First and second bottom wall segments 44, 46 are coupled along a second elastic web connector 70 of hinge 14. First and second bottom wall segments 44, 46 slope upwardly and extend inwardly from first and second vertical faces 40, 42 and intersect at a peak 80. Web apex 38 engages peak 80 when flip-top cap 16 is moved to the closed position on body 12.
Flip-top cap 16 of container closure 10 includes a movable lid 26 formed to include an interior chamber 28, as shown, for example, in
Top wall 30 of lid 26 includes an inside surface 88 having a plug 90 as shown, for example, in
Side wall 32 of lid 26 is formed to include a notched out portion 96 that is defined by first and second vertical faces 98, 100 and bottom face 102, as shown, for example, in
Flip-top cap 16 of container closure 10 moves from an open position away from body 12, as shown, for example, in
As flip-top cap 16 pivots about web apex 38, first and second web ramps 34, 36 are stretched, placing web ramps 34, 36 in tension and web apex 38 in compression. Further movement of flip-top cap 16 toward body 12 beyond a midpoint causes web apex 38 to engage peak 80 of recess 24 and vault flip-top cap over web apex 38 onto body 12. To open flip-top cap 16, a force must be applied to overcome the biasing force exerted on flip-top cap 26 by web ramps 34, 36 of hinge 14.
A container closure 210, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown, for example, in the illustrative embodiments of
Hinge 214 is coupled to body 212 and to lid 226 to support flip-top cap 216 for movement relative to body 212 from a closed position on body 212 covering product-dispensing aperture 218 to an open position away from body 212 uncovering product-dispensing aperture 218, as shown, for example, in
First and second web ramps 234, 236 are elastic and are adapted to assist in moving flip-top cap 216 to a closed position, as shown, for example, in
Elongated notch 240 of web plateau 238 is positioned along web apex 238 between first and second web ramps 234, 236. Elongated notch 240 forms a fold line to allow the folding of hinge 214 about web plateau 238 when flip-top cap 216 is moved from an open position away from body 212 to a closed position on body 212. Hinge 214 also includes first and second plateau buttresses.
First plateau buttress 242 of hinge 214 is positioned to lie near lid 226 and second plateau buttress 244 is positioned to lie near body 212 of container closure 210, as shown, for example in
When flip-top cap 216 is moved to a closed position on body 212, first and second plateau buttresses 244, 246 slope toward web plateau 238 to create a space 247 between buttresses 244, 246, as shown, for example in
First and second plateau buttresses 242, 244 provide reinforcement to the central portion of hinge 214 to assist in controlling the folding of hinge 214 about elongated notch 240 as flip-top cap 216 is moved from an open to a closed position. As flip-top cap 216 is moved to a closed position over body 212, first plateau buttress 242 is positioned above second plateau buttress 244, as shown, for example, in
Hinge 214 also includes a first elastic web connector 246, as shown, for example in
Body 212 of container closure 210 includes a top wall 220 and an annular side wall 222 depending from top wall 220. Body 212 also includes a product dispensing aperture 218 that is formed in top wall 220. Product dispensing aperture 218 is adapted to allow the contents of the container to pass through body 212 of container closure 210.
Side wall 222 of body 212 is formed to include recession 224 that is adapted to accept a portion of hinge 214 when flip-top cap 216 is in a closed position on body 212, as shown, for example in
Flip-top cap 216 of container closure 210 includes a movable lid 226 formed to include an interior chamber 228, as shown, for example, in
Top wall 230 of lid 226 includes an inside surface 288 having a plug 290, as shown, for example, in
Side wall 232 of lid 226 is formed to include a notched out portion 296 that is defined by first and second vertical faces 298, 300 and bottom face 202, as shown, for example, in
Flip-top cap 216 includes a side wall buttress 260. The side wall buttress 260 includes a first side 262 that is adapted to lie near annular side wall 232 and a second side 264 that is positioned to lie near top wall 230 of lid 226, as shown, for example in
A cross-section of container closure 210 through web plateau 238 of hinge 214, before web plateau 238, is shown in
Flip-top cap 216 of container closure 210 moves from an open position away from body 212, as shown, for example, in
Claims
1. A closure for a container having an opening, the closure comprising
- a body adapted to mount onto a container over an opening, the body being defined by a top wall and an annular side wall depending from the top wall, the top wall being formed to include a product-dispensing aperture adapted to communicate with the opening of the container, the side wall of the body being formed to include a recess,
- a flip-top cap mounted for movement on the body between a closed position on the body to cover the aperture and an opened position away from the body to expose the aperture, and
- a hinge molded with the body and the flip-top cap, the hinge being formed to include first and second web ramps that are coupled to the body and the flip-top cap, wherein the hinge is configured to include an offset web apex positioned between the first and second web ramps and positioned closer to the body than the flip-top cap, and the offset web apex is adapted to engage a portion of the body and place the web ramps in tension to vault the flip-top cap from an opened position away from the body, over the web apex, to a closed position on the body and to assist in aligning the flip-top cap on the body when the flip-top cap is moved to the closed position.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a first elastic web connector used to couple the hinge to the flip-top cap and a second elastic web connector used to couple the hinge to the body of the closure and the offset web apex is positioned above the first and second elastic web connectors when the flip-top cap is in the opened position away from the body.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a first sloped face that extends upwardly from the first elastic web connector to the offset web apex when the flip-top cap is in the opened position away from the body.
4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the hinge further includes a second sloped face that extends upwardly from the second elastic web connector to the offset web apex when the flip-top cap is in the open position away from the body.
5. The closure of claim 4, wherein the surface area of the second sloped face is less than the surface area of the first sloped face to cause the offset web apex to be positioned closer to the body than to the flip-top cap.
6. The closure of claim 1, wherein the web apex includes a first sloped face that is coupled to the first web ramp along a first web ridge.
7. The closure of claim 6, wherein the first sloped face is coupled to the second web ramp along a second web ridge.
8. The closure of claim 7, wherein the first and second web ridges are interconnected along a first apex ridge that extends along the offset web apex.
9. The closure of claim 6, wherein the web apex includes a second sloped face that is coupled to the first web ramp along a third web ridge.
10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the second sloped face is coupled to the second web ramp along a fourth web ridge, and wherein the third and fourth web ridges are interconnected along a second apex ridge that extends along the offset web apex.
11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the recess formed in the body is defined by a back wall and first and second opposing faces.
12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the recess is also defined by first and second bottom wall segments included in the body and arranged to extend inwardly from the first and second opposing faces and intersect at a peak.
13. The closure of claim 12, wherein the offset web apex engages the peak of the body during closure of the flip-top cap onto the body, to vault the flip-top cap from an opened position away from the body, over the web apex, to a closed position on the body.
14. The closure of claim 12, wherein engagement of the offset web apex with the peak of the body places the first and second web ramps in tension to cause the flip-top cap to be biased toward the body when vaulting the flip-top cap over the offset web apex to assist in aligning the flip-top cap on the body.
15. A closure for a container opening, the closure comprising
- a body for mounting to the container over the opening, and defining a discharge aperture communicating with the opening,
- a flip-top cap mounted for movement on the body between a closed position on the body to cover the aperture and an open position away from the body to expose the aperture, and
- a hinge formed to include vault means for vaulting the flip-top cap from an opened position away from the body to a closed position on the body to assist in aligning the flip-top cap with the body when flip-top cap is moved onto the body and to cause accelerating movement of the flip-top cap relative to the base in response to the application of a force to the flip-top cap to cause the flip-top cap to move past an over-center position.
16. The closure of claim 15, wherein the vault means of the hinge includes a web apex and first and second web ramps positioned to lie near the web apex.
17. The closure of claim 16, wherein the web apex is positioned closer to the body than the flip-top cap of the closure when the flip-top cap is in the opened position away from the body.
18. The closure of claim 16, wherein the web apex includes a first sloped face coupled to the first and second web ramps along first and second web ridges and a second sloped face coupled to the first and second web ramps along third and fourth web ridges.
19. The closure of claim 18, wherein the first and second web ridges are interconnected along a first apex ridge and the third and fourth web ridges are interconnected along a second apex ridge and wherein the first and second apex ridges are generally parallel with respect to each other along the web apex.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 25, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2008
Applicant: BERRY PLASTICS CORPORATION (Evansville, IN)
Inventor: Duane SAWYER (York, PA)
Application Number: 12/109,870
International Classification: B65D 43/16 (20060101); B65D 41/00 (20060101);