Flip top container closure
A flip-top container closure for use with a bottle or similar container having a neck. The closure includes a base cap that attaches to the container. The base cap is connected to an cover cap by a hinge. The base cap includes a skirt extending downward from the section's top surface, and a concentric plug seal extending from the surface inside the skirt. The base cap includes an orifice for passage of the container's contents. The cover cap includes a plug that seals the orifice when the closure is closed.
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The present invention relates generally to closures for a bottle or other container having a neck, and more particularly, to a container closure having a flip top and a plug for sealing an orifice.
BACKGROUNDIt is known to provide a removable closure for bottles and other containers, and it is known to provide a sealable passage in the closure. This is often accomplished by use of a hinged two-sectioned “flip-top” type closure that features an cover cap section with a plug to seal an orifice on a base cap, which itself it secured to the container or bottle. However, current designs suffer from several flaws. First, flip-top closures typically rely on the engagement of a snap ring on the edge of the base cap to secure the cover cap in a closed position. However, when excess weight is applied to the side of the closures, such as when the closures are packed in a box for shipping, the weight deforms the closures and causes them to open. Second, the motion of a flip-top closure inherently causes interference between the surfaces of the plug and the orifice as the closure is sealed, causing damage to the tip of the plug and the edge of the orifice, and leading to leakage.
A need, therefore, exists for a closure that remains closed reliably, and that avoids seal degradation when used.
SUMMARYThe invention is directed to a container closure for use with a bottle or other container having a neck. In exemplary embodiments, the closure includes two sections—a base cap and an upper or cover cap section—connected by a living hinge. The base cap is adapted to mate to the outside of the neck of a container and preferably features a plug seal adapted to fit the inside of the container neck, while the upper section functions as a cover that seals and covers the base cap. The base cap includes an orifice adapted to allow passage of the container's contents, the orifice preferably being defined by a nozzle or spout. The nozzle or spout also preferably features a sealing bead ring circumscribing its exterior circumference. The cover cap features a plug adapted to seal the orifice and a shroud preferably featuring a lock adapted to mate to the bead ring; the shroud and bead ring ensure that the cover cap will remain closed. As the cover cap is closed over the base cap, the shroud makes contact with the nozzle and acts as a cam surface, forcing the cover cap to move laterally, rather than in a continuous arc. This lateral movement allows the plug to seal the orifice without interference and avoids damage to either the plug or the nozzle, maintaining the integrity of the seal and reducing the chance that the contents of the container will leak.
Other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings briefly described below.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments that are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and constructions particularly shown. In the drawings:
Referring now to the drawings that illustrate several preferred embodiments of the invention, a closure is shown for use on a bottle or similar container having a neck. As will be discussed in more detail below, the container closure preferably includes two sections connected by a hinge. One section attaches to the container, while the other section removably seals and covers the first section.
The following description and embodiments of the invention are not intended to describe all cover/container combinations, but are merely illustrative of how the teachings of the present invention may be employed in the context of a preferred container configuration.
As shown in
As discussed above, in one embodiment, the skirt includes at least one skirt rib 24 (also shown in
The closure is preferably molded of a single piece of a suitably flexible plastic, such as [polypropylene?]. However, the closure may be constructed of multiple pieces, using various materials.
In the exemplary embodiment, contact between the nozzle and the shroud causes the cover cap to translate approximately 0.02″. However, it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the required amount of lateral translation will vary according to design characteristics such as component size and material elasticity. This lateral translation places the plug in position to seal the orifice without making contact with the nozzle, as shown in
As shown in
To open the closure, a user applies upward pressure on a lip 44 formed on the cover cap which preferably projects laterally pas the radial location of the shoulder. as shown in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the configuration of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations provided they come within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.
Claims
1. A flip-top closure device for a bottle or other similar container having a neck, the closure comprising:
- a base cap including a top wall with an upper surface, a lower surface and a circumferential edge, a nozzle projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the top wall and having an orifice formed in the nozzle, a cylindrical skirt depending downwardly from the circumferential edge, the skirt adapted to engage the neck of a container; and
- a cover cap adapted to cover at least a portion of the base cap, the cover cap having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a lower circumferential edge, a plug is formed integral with and depending downward from the inner surface of the cover cap, the plug sized to fit within the orifice so as to seal the orifice, and a sealing shroud having an inner surface and an outer surface, the shroud depending downwardly from the cover cap and circumscribing the plug,
- wherein the cover cap is hingeably attached to the base cap through an integrally formed hinge, wherein the pivoting of the cover cap onto the base cap causes the sealing shroud to engage with an upper portion of the top of the nozzle, the contact between the sealing shroud and the nozzle adapted to cause the cover cap to move laterally in relation to the base cap, thereby properly aligning the plug with the orifice.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the base cap includes a hollow cylindrical plug seal having a smaller diameter than the skirt and depending downwardly from the lower surface of the top wall, the plug seal having an outer surface adapted to engage the inside surface of the neck of the container and including at least one bead ring formed on the outer surface.
3. The closure of claim 2, wherein the circumferential edge includes a shoulder circumscribing the circumference of the top wall, the shoulder adapted to mate with the lower edge of the cover cap when the cover cap is in a closed position.
4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the plug includes a tip end which is sloped.
5. The closure of claim 4, wherein the angled tip provides clearance between the tip and the shroud when the cover cap is transitioned during the closing process.
6. The closure of claim 3, wherein the nozzle includes an integral bead extending around its circumference.
7. The closure of claim 6, wherein the inner surface of the shroud includes a notch adapted to engage the integral bead on the nozzle when the cover cap is in the closed position thereby securing the nozzle to the shroud.
8. The closure of claim 7, wherein the skirt includes at least one rib adapted to grip the neck of a container.
9. The closure of claim 5, wherein the plug seal includes at least two sealing beads on its outer surface, the beads being spaced apart from one another and adapted to sealingly contact the inside surface of the container neck.
10. The closure of claim 5, wherein the cover cap includes at least one tooth adapted to engage at least one notch in the base cap when the cover cap is placed in the closed position.
11. A flip-top closure device for a bottle or other similar container having a neck, the closure comprising:
- a base cap including a top wall with an upper surface, a lower surface and a circumferential edge, a nozzle projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the top wall and having an orifice formed in the nozzle, a cylindrical skirt depending downwardly from the circumferential edge, the skirt adapted to engage the neck of a container, a hollow cylindrical plug seal having a smaller diameter than the skirt and depending downwardly from the lower surface of the top wall, the plug seal having an outer surface adapted to engage the inside surface of the neck of the container; and
- a cover cap adapted to cover at least a portion of the base cap, the cover cap having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a lower circumferential edge, a plug is formed integral with and depending downward from the inner surface of the cover cap, the plug sized to fit within the orifice so as to seal the orifice, the plug having a sloped tip, and a sealing shroud having an inner surface and an outer surface, the shroud depending downwardly from the cover cap and circumscribing the plug,
- wherein the cover cap is hingeably attached to the base cap through an integrally formed hinge, wherein the pivoting of the cover cap onto the base cap causes the sealing shroud to engage with an upper portion of the top of the nozzle, the contact between the sealing shroud and the nozzle adapted to cause the cover cap to move laterally in relation to the base cap, thereby properly aligning the plug with the orifice.
12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the nozzle includes an integral bead extending around its exterior circumference, and the shroud includes a bead notch formed in its interior surface, the notch adapted to engage the bead when the cover cap is in a closed position.
13. The closure of claim 12, wherein the shroud is adapted to contact a portion of the nozzle during the closing motion, the contact causing the cover cap to move laterally during the closing motion.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 8, 2007
Publication Date: May 14, 2009
Applicant:
Inventors: Gene Stull, SR. (Far Hills, NJ), Wayne E. Ford (Yardville, NJ), Robert T. Auer (East Stroudsburg, PA)
Application Number: 11/983,351
International Classification: B65D 41/00 (20060101);