Closure with lid protection

Abstract

A closure is provided for a container opening. The closure includes a body for mounting to the container and a lid movable between a closed position and an open position. The rear end of the lid and body are connected by a hinge. The lid is disposed in a recess defined in the body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a container closure having a lid and a closure body to which the lid is attached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART

A variety of packages, including dispensing packages or containers, have been developed for personal care products such as shampoo, lotions, etc., as well as for other fluid materials. One type of closure for these kinds of containers typically has a hinge connecting a lid to a base that is mounted over the container opening. The hinge may be a tether strap, a floppy living hinge, a snap-action hinge (providing a biasing force which maintains the lid in a selected closed or open position), or some other hinge structure.

In some applications, it may be desirable to protect the lid in a way that would inhibit contact with the front of the lid or otherwise reduce the likelihood of the closed lid being inadvertently pushed away from the body to an open position. An improved closure design, wherein the lid would be less likely to open from accidental impacts on the closure, would be advantageous during shipping and handling of a container having such a closure.

It would be beneficial if such an improved closure could also optionally accommodate designs that permit the use of a variety of hinge structures to provide the desired opening and closing action of the lid.

Also, it would be desirable if such an improved closure could readily accommodate efficient, high quality, large volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate.

Further, such an improved closure should advantageously accommodate its use with a variety of conventional containers having a variety of conventional container finishes, such as conventional threaded or snap-fit attachment configurations.

The present invention provides an improved closure which can accommodate designs having one or more of the above-discussed benefits and features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an improved closure, having a hinge connecting a closure lid to the base or body of the closure, is provided for being mounted to, or formed as a unitary part of, a container that has an opening to the container interior where a product may be stored.

The closure base or body is adapted for extending from the container at the opening and defines a discharge aperture for communicating with the opening.

The lid is movable between a closed position occluding the aperture and an open position spaced from the aperture.

The body defines a recess for receiving the lid when the lid is in the closed position so that the body laterally encloses the lid at least at the front end and at the sides so as to inhibit contact with the lid front end from locations that are laterally in front of the lid front end but exterior of the body. The recess extends sufficiently in front of the lid front end to provide a space for accommodating insertion of a user's finger from above the lid front end to a position in the recess adjacent the lid front end so that the lid can be lifted up with the finger and moved to the open position.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a first embodiment of a dispensing closure of the present invention in the form of a closure that is manufactured separately from a container and that is shown in the closed condition;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1, but FIG. 2 shows the closure in the opened condition;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but FIG. 4 shows the closure in the opened condition;

FIG. 5 is a bottom isometric view of the closure in the opened condition;

FIG. 6 is a top isometric view of a second embodiment of the closure in the closed condition;

FIG. 7 is a top isometric view of a third embodiment of a closure in the closed condition; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 7, but FIG. 8 shows the third embodiment of the closure in the opened condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

For ease of description, the closure of this invention is described in particular orientations, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to these orientations. It will be understood, however, that the closure may be manufactured, stored, and used in orientations other than the ones described.

With reference to the figures, a first embodiment of a closure of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and is identified generally in some of those figures by reference number 40. The closure 40 is adapted to be disposed on a container (not illustrated), which may have a conventional mouth or opening formed by a neck or other suitable structure.

The container may be stored and used in an upright orientation wherein the closure 40 is at the top of the container. The container may also be normally stored in an inverted position (not illustrated). When stored in the inverted position, the container employs the closure 40 as a support base.

Although the container, per se, does not form a part of the broadest aspects of the present invention, per se, it will be appreciated that at least a body or base portion of the closure 40 of the present invention optionally may be provided as a unitary portion, or extension, of the top of the container. However, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the closure 40 is a separate article or unit (e.g., a dispensing closure 40) which is adapted to be removably, or non-removably, installed on a previously manufactured container that has an opening to the container interior.

The illustrated, preferred embodiment of the closure 40 is adapted to be used with a container having an opening to provide access to the container interior and to a product contained therein. The closure 40 can be used to dispense many materials, including, but not limited to, relatively low or high viscosity liquids, creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures, lotions, etc. (such as a material constituting a food product, a beverage product, a personal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product, or other compositions of matter (e.g., compositions for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture, medical treatment, military operations, etc.)).

The container with which the closure 40 may be used would typically be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can be grasped by the user and squeezed or compressed to increase the internal pressure within the container so as to force the product out of the container and through the opened closure. Such a flexible container wall typically has sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the container wall returns to its normal, unstressed shape. Such a squeezable container is preferred in many applications but may not be necessary or preferred in other applications. For example, in some applications it may be desirable to employ a generally rigid container, and to pressurize the container interior at selected times with a piston or other pressurizing system, or to reduce the exterior ambient pressure so as to suck the material out through the open closure.

It is presently contemplated that many applications employing the closure 40 will conveniently be realized by molding the closure 40 from suitable thermoplastic material or materials. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the closure could be molded from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the closure 40 includes a base or body 42 and a lid 44 mounted on the body 42. Throughout this specification, the terms “base” and “body” will be used interchangeably. The base or body 42 includes an exterior skirt 46 and an internal collar 48 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which has a conventional, internal, snap-fit bead 50 for engaging suitable cooperating means, such as a mating groove or bead (not shown) on the container, so as to secure the closure base or body 42 to the container. Alternatively, a threaded connection system could be used. On another optional design (not illustrated), the closure internal collar 48 could be omitted altogether, and the exterior skirt 46 could be configured and sized for mounting directly on the container.

At the top of the closure base extension skirt 46, the skirt 46 is rounded or curved, and joins a transverse deck 56 (FIG. 1). As can be seen in FIG. 2, the deck 56 is divided by a recess 60 which receives the lid 44 when the lid 44 is closed (FIG. 3).

The closure body 42 includes a first side portion 61 (FIG. 2) defining one side of the recess 60 which is adjacent one side of the lid 44 when the lid is closed. The closure body 42 includes a second side portion 62 defining a second side of the recess 60 which is adjacent the other side of the lid 44 when the lid 44 is closed. The body 42 includes a front portion 63 (FIGS. 2 and 4) defining a front end of the recess 60. The body 42 defines a floor 64 (FIGS. 2 and 4) extending across the bottom of the recess 60.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, a spout in the form of a collar 70 projects upwardly from the closure body floor 64 in the recess to define a discharge aperture 72. Part of the discharge aperture 72 extends from the collar 70 downwardly through the floor 64. The interior upper end portion of the spout or collar 70 has a reduced diameter sealing flange or bead 76 (FIG. 4). The top of the sealing flange or sealing bead 76 is at the distal end of the collar 70 and has a chamfered or frustoconical surface 80.

The floor 64 typically has (but need not have) a downwardly extending, annular, internal seal structure 84 (FIG. 4) which is received against the inner edge of the container opening so as to provide a leak-tight seal between the closure 40 and the container when the closure 40 is installed on the container.

In the preferred embodiment, the closure a lid 44 (FIG. 1) is connected to the closure body skirt 46 with a hinge structure 88. The lid 44 has a generally flat top deck or cover 90 (FIG. 1). With reference to FIG. 2, the lid 44 includes a peripheral wall structure extending generally perpendicularly from the periphery of the flat top or cover 90, and the peripheral wall structure includes a generally planar first sidewall 91, a generally planar second sidewall 92, and a generally planar front wall 93. The front wall 93 defines the front end of the lid, the first planar sidewall 91 defines a first side of the lid, and the second planar sidewall 92 defines a second side of the lid.

The rear end of the lid 44 is connected to the hinge structure 88. To accommodate the hinge structure 88, the rear end of the lid 44 has two, narrow, spaced-apart rear wall segments 94 (FIG. 2). Running along one edge of the hinge structure 88 between the two narrow wall segments 94 is a wider, but shorter, intermediate rear wall 95 (FIG. 4). The wall segments 94 and rear wall 95 may be regarded as being part of the lid peripheral wall structure along with the front wall 93 and sidewalls 91 and 92.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the lid front end includes a lift tab 96 which projects outwardly from the lid front wall 93. Extending from the underside of the lid cover 90 is an annular member or spud 100 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 4) which is adapted to be received in, and sealingly engage the interior of, the closure base collar 70 when the lid 44 is closed. In the preferred embodiment, the distal end of the spud 100 has a chamfer or frustoconical surface 102 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The hinge structure 88 is preferably integrally molded as a unitary part of the closure with the base 42 and lid 44. One preferred material for molding the closure is polypropylene. It has been found that this material provides a relatively strong, durable closure hinge. The material has the capability for withstanding typical loads imposed on the hinge structure 88 by a user of the closure when the user opens and closes the lid 44, and has the capability for accommodating a relatively high number of opening and closing cycles without failure.

One suitable hinge structure 88 is the snap-action hinge disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,824. Other hinge structures could be employed, such as a living film hinge, a tether or strap, etc. The detailed design and operation of the hinge structure 88 form no part of the present invention.

When the lid 44 is closed (FIGS. 1 and 3), the upper portions of the closure body 42 laterally enclose the lid 44 at least at the front end of the lid 44 and at the sides of the lid so as to inhibit contact with the lid front end (front wall 93 and lift tab 96) from locations that are laterally in front of the lid front end but exterior of the body 42. When the lid 44 is closed in the recess 60, the recess 60 extends sufficiently in front of the lid front end (front wall 93 and lift tab 96) so as to provide a space for accommodating insertion of a user's finger from above the lid front end to a position in the recess 60 adjacent the lid front end so that the lid 44 can be lifted up with the finger and moved to the open position (FIGS. 2 and 4).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the top of the lid 44 defines a generally flat top surface, and the body deck 56 has a generally flat top surface which is substantially coplanar with the lid flat top surface when the lid is closed. With the exception of the small space at the front of the closed lid, the relatively smooth, substantially flat surface existing across the top of the closure 40 further provides an enhanced resistance to accidental opening of the lid 44. Further, because the space forwardly of the closed lid front end within the recess 60 is only large enough for the end of the user's finger, the likelihood of the lid 44 being accidentally impacted or snagged in a way that would cause it to open during shipping and handling is substantially reduced.

In the preferred form of the invention, the rear end of the lid 44 is generally smooth and merges with the hinge structure 88, and there is virtually no access at the rear end of the lid 44 that would allow an outside lifting force to be applied underneath the lid from the region exterior of the lid rear end.

In the preferred form of the closure illustrated, the lid 44 is normally maintained closed with a friction fit or interference fit between the lid spud 100 (FIG. 3) and the closure body collar 70 (FIG. 3). However, to provide even greater resistance against accidental opening, conventional snap-fit bead latches or other similar structures could be provided in the recess sidewalls 61 and 62 and the lid mating sidewalls 91 and 92, respectively. A conventional sealing bead or latch bead could also be provided on the exterior of the lid spud 100 for engaging or interfering with the sealing flange 76 of the closure body collar 70.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a closure 40A of the present invention having a closure body 42A and a lid 44A. The closure body 42A has a generally elliptical configuration in contrast with the generally cylindrical configuration of the closure body 42 of the first embodiment of the closure 40 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5. Other than the elliptical configuration of the closure body 42A in the second embodiment, the features of the second embodiment of the closure 40A may be substantially identical to the features of the first embodiment of the closure 40 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of a closure 40B of the present invention having a closure body 42B and a lid 44B hingedly connected to the body 42B. This embodiment is a presently preferred form of the closure.

The closure body 42B has a generally cylindrical configuration similar to that of the closure body 42 of the first embodiment of closure 40 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5. However, in the third embodiment, the lid 44B is hingedly connected differently than the first embodiment lid 44. In particular, as can be seen in FIG. 8, the lid 44B is hingedly connected to the upper surface of the closure body 42B with a conventional film hinge 88B. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the closure body 40B has a body deck 56B which extends rearwardly behind the rear end of the lid 44B, and that rear portion of the deck 56B is designated with the reference number 43B.

The lid 44B tapers laterally inwardly on each side so that the rear end of the lid at the film hinge 88B is somewhat wider than the lid front end. In a contemplated modified design (not illustrated), the front end of the lid may be wider than the rear end, and that may facilitate opening of the lid.

The lid 44B has a generally flat top deck or cover 90B. With reference to FIG. 8, the lid 44B includes a peripheral wall structure that extends generally perpendicularly from the periphery of the cover 90B. The peripheral wall structure includes a generally planar first sidewall 91B, a generally planar second sidewall 92B, and a generally arcuate front wall 93B. The lid front end includes a lift tab 96B which projects outwardly from the lid front wall 93B.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the closure body deck 56B extends around a recess 60B which receives the lid 44B when the lid 44b is closed (FIG. 7). The closure body 42B includes a first side portion 61B (FIG. 8B) defining one side of the recess 60B which is adjacent one side of the lid 44B when the lid 44B is closed. The closure body 42B includes a second side portion 62B defining a second side of the recess 60B which is adjacent the other side of the lid 44B when the lid 44B is closed. The body 42B includes a front portion 63B (FIGS. 7 and 8) defining a front end of the recess 60B. The body 42B defines a floor 64B (FIGS. 7 and 8) extending across the bottom of the recess 60B.

With reference to FIG. 8, a very short discharge structure or spout in the form of a short collar 70B projects upwardly from the closure body floor 64B in the recess 60B and has an inner, chamfered surface or frustoconical surface 80B defining a discharge aperture which extends from the collar 70B downwardly through the floor 64B. At the bottom of the frustoconical surface 80B there is a reduced diameter sealing flange or bead 76B (FIG. 8).

Extending from the underside of the lid cover 90B is an annular member or spud 100B (FIG. 8) which is adapted to be received in, and sealingly engage the interior of, the closure base collar 70B when the lid 44B is closed. In the preferred embodiment, the distal end of the spud 100B has a chamfer or frustoconical surface 102B (FIG. 8).

The floor 64B typically has (but need not have) a downwardly extending, annular, internal seal structure (not visible, but similar to the structure 84 in the first embodiment of the closure 40 shown in FIG. 4), and such a seal structure is received against the inner edge of the container opening so as to provide a leak-tight seal between the closure 40B and the container when the closure 40B is installed on the container.

When the lid 44B is closed (FIG. 7), the upper portions of the closure body 42B laterally enclose the lid 44B at least at the front end of the lid 44B and at the sides of the lid so as to inhibit contact with the lid front end (i.e., the front wall 93B and lift tab 96B) from locations that are laterally in front of the lid front end but exterior of the body 42B. When the lid 44B is closed in the recess 60B, the recess 60B extends sufficiently in front of the lid front end (i.e., the front wall 93B and lift tab 96B) so as to provide a space for accommodating insertion of a user's finger from above the lid front end to a position in the recess 60B adjacent the lid front end so that the lid 44B can be lifted up with the finger and moved to the open position (FIG. 8).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the top of the lid 44B defines a generally flat top surface, and the closure body deck 56B has a generally flat top surface which is substantially coplanar with the lid flat top surface when the lid is closed. With the exception of the small space at the front of the closed lid, the relatively smooth, substantially flat surface existing across the top of the closure 40B further provides an enhanced resistance to accidental opening of the lid 44B. Further, because the space forwardly of the closed lid front end within the recess 60B is only large enough for the end of the user's finger, the likelihood of the lid 44B being accidentally impacted or snagged in a way that would cause it to open during shipping and handling is substantially reduced.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rear end of the lid 44B is generally smooth and merges with the hinge structure 88B, and there is virtually no access at the rear end of the lid 44B that would allow an outside lifting force to be applied underneath the lid from the region exterior of the lid rear end.

In the preferred form of the closure 40B illustrated, the lid 44B is normally maintained closed with a friction fit or interference fit between the lid spud 100B (FIG. 8) and the closure body collar 70B (FIG. 8). However, to provide even greater resistance against accidental opening, conventional snap-fit bead latches or other similar structures could be provided in the recess sidewalls 61B and 62B and the lid mating sidewalls 91B and 92B, respectively. A conventional sealing bead or latch bead could also be provided on the exterior of the lid spud 100B for engaging or interfering with the sealing flange 76B of the closure body collar 70B.

It will also be appreciated that the closure of the present invention may be provided with a variety of dispensing passage structures other than the illustrated aperture structures 72 and 70B.

It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous other variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.

Claims

1. A closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior where a product may be stored, said closure comprising:

(A) a body for extending from said container at said opening and defining a discharge aperture for communicating with said opening;

(B) a lid movable between a closed position occluding said aperture and an open position spaced from said aperture, said lid having a front end, a rear end, and two sides extending between said front end and rear end; and

(C) a hinge connecting said lid rear end with said body; and wherein said body defines a recess for receiving said lid when said lid is in said closed position so that said body laterally encloses said lid at least at said front end and at said sides so as to inhibit contact with said lid front end from locations that are laterally in front of said lid front end but exterior of said body, said recess extending sufficiently in front of said lid front end to provide a space for accommodating insertion of a user's finger from above said lid front end to a position in said recess adjacent said lid front end so that said lid can be lifted up with said finger and moved to said open position.

2. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said recess extends to, and is laterally open at, the edge of said body at said lid rear end to accommodate said hinge at said lid rear end.

3. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid front end includes a lift tab projecting partway into said space at said lid front end.

4. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure is molded from polypropylene.

5. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure is a dispensing closure wherein said body is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening.

6. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said body includes a side portion defining one side of said recess which is adjacent one side of said lid when said lid is closed;

said body includes another side portion defining another side of said recess which is adjacent the other side of said lid when said lid is closed; and

said body includes a front portion defining a front end of said recess which is spaced in front of said lid front end when said lid is closed.

7. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said lid has a generally flat top surface; and

said body has a generally flat top surface which is substantially coplanar with said lid flat top surface.

8. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said lid front end has a generally planar front wall; and

each of said lid sides has a generally planar sidewall.

9. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said body defines a floor extending across the bottom of said recess; and

part of said discharge aperture is defined in a spout having the form of a collar projecting upwardly from said floor, and part of said discharge aperture extends from said spout downwardly through said floor.

10. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which

said closure body includes a deck extending around said lid rear end; and

said hinge is a film hinge connecting said lid rear end with said deck.

11. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid is tapered such that said lid front end is narrower than said lid rear end.