TAMPER EVIDENT FLIP TOP CLOSURE

A package includes a container and a closure coupled to the container to control release of product therefrom. The closure includes a closure body coupled to the container and a flip-top cap coupled to the closure body and configured to pivot relative to the closure body between a closed position and an opened position.

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Description
PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/745,041, filed January 14, 2025, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to packages, and particularly to packages including a closure. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a package having a closure that can change between an opened position and a closed position.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a package includes a container and a closure coupled to the container to control release of product from the container. The closure includes a closure body coupled to the container and a flip-top cap coupled to the closure body via a hinge. The flip-top cap is configured to pivot relative to the closure body about the hinge between a closed position and an opened position.

In illustrative embodiments, the closure is formed from one or more polymeric materials as a monolithic unit and further includes a breakaway release tab configured to retain the flip-top cap to the closure body in the closed position and provide tamper evidence to consumers. The breakaway release tab includes a tab body, a tab retainer configured to engage the closure body, and a frangible boarder interconnecting the tab body and the flip-top cap. The breakaway release tab is configured to be moved by a user from a raised, locked position to a lowered, unlocked position to open the closure upon application of a downward force on the tab body to break the frangible boarder and separate the breakaway release tab from the flip-top cap.

In illustrative embodiments, the closure is configured to change between various configurations throughout its life. The closure is initially molded in a pre-installation, opened position in which the flip-top cap is opened and the breakaway release tab is integrally connected to the flip-top cap via the frangible boarder. The closure is configured to change from the pre-installation, opened position to an unused closed position where the breakaway release tab is in the raised, locked position to secure products within the container. The closure is configured to change from the unused, closed configuration to a first-use, closed configuration where the flip-top cap is closed and the breakaway release tab is in the lowered, unlocked position to free the flip-top cap to be opened and expose a tamper evident indication that the closure is no locker secured. With the breakaway release tab in the lowered, unlocked position, the closure is free to change between the first-use closed configuration and a first-used opened configuration where the flip-top cap is opened and the breakaway release tab is retained to the closure body in the lowered, unlocked position.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and diagrammatic view of a package, in accordance with the present disclosure, showing that the package includes a molded, polymeric closure having a closure body formed with a product dispensing aperture and a flip-top cap coupled to the closure body initially in a pre-installation, molded configuration immediately following manufacture of the closure where the flip-top cap is oriented in an opened position relative to the closure body and further showing that the closure includes a breakaway release tab formed integrally with the flip-top cap in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the closure mounted on a container included in the package and showing the flip-top cap in a closed position after the container has been filled with product and showing the breakaway release tab in a raised, locked position to establish an unused, closed configuration of the closure where the breakaway release tab blocks movement of the flip-top cap from the closed position to the opened position and provides an indication that the package has not been opened;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the closure of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the closure in a first-use, closed configuration after movement of the breakaway release tab from the raised, locked position to a lowered, unlocked position where the breakaway release tab is separated from the flip-top cap to free the flip-top cap for movement from the closed position to the opened position, and showing that the flip-top cap includes a second tamper-evident indication exposed when the breakaway release tab is in the lowered, unlocked position to indicate that the package is unlocked and may have been opened;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the closure showing the flip-top cap in the opened position after being opened for the first time to establish a first-use opened configuration of the closure and showing the breakaway release tab retained to the closure body;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration showing the closure body formed to include a tab-receiving aperture and showing the breakaway release tab including a frangible boarder connecting the breakaway release tab to the flip-top cap and configured to be broken under load as the breakaway release tab moves from the locked position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, to the unlocked position, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the closure showing the breakaway release tab in the locked position and protruding from the tab-receiving space to expose a first indication to indicate that the closure is secured and has not been opened;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the closure showing the breakaway release tab in the unlocked position where the first indication is lowered into the tab-receiving space to obscure the first indication from view and to expose the second indication on the flip-top cap to indicate that the closure is unsecured and may have been opened;

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the closure in the unused, closed configuration taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6 showing the breakaway release tab in the locked position and including a tab retainer engaged with a first retainer flange formed on the closure body to block the flip-top cap from moving from the closed position to the opened position;

FIG. 9 is a cross section of the closure in the unused, closed configuration taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 7 showing the breakaway release tab in the unlocked position and the tab retainer engaged with a second retainer flange formed on the closure body to retain the breakaway release tab in the unlocked position;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the closure in the first-use, opened configuration with the breakaway release tab separated from the flip-top cap and retained to the closure body;

FIG. 11 is an exploded assembly view of the a portion of the package showing the closure in the unused, closed configuration prior to being installed on a filler neck of the container;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the closure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 15 is front view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 17 is a first side view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 18 is a second side view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the closure in the pre-installation, molded configuration;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the closure in the unused, closed configuration;

FIG. 22 is front view of the closure in the unused, closed configuration;

FIG. 23 is a rear view of the closure in the unused, closed configuration;

FIG. 24 is a first side view of the closure in the unused, closed configuration;

FIG. 25 is a second side view of the closure in the pre unused, closed configuration;

FIG. 26 is a top view of the closure in the unused, closed configuration;

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the closure in the unused, closed configuration;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure including a breakaway release tab;

FIG. 29 is a cross section taken along line 29-29 in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure including a breakaway release tab;

FIG. 31 is a front view of the closure of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a rear view of the closure of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a first side view of the closure of FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 is a second side view of the closure of FIG. 30;

FIG. 35 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 30;

FIG. 36 is a bottom view of the closure of FIG. 30;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure including a breakaway release tab;

FIG. 38 is a front view of the closure of FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a rear view of the closure of FIG. 37;

FIG. 40 is a first side view of the closure of FIG. 37;

FIG. 41 is a second side view of the closure of FIG. 37;

FIG. 42 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 37; and

FIG. 43 is a bottom view of the closure of FIG. 37.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A package 10 in accordance with the present disclosure includes a container 12 and a closure 14 configured to be mounted on the container 12 as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The container 12 includes a container body 16 and a filler neck 18 formed to include a mouth 20. The mouth 20 opens into an interior product-storage region defined by the container body 16 and the filler neck 18. The closure 14 is configured to mount to the filler neck 18 of the container 12 to close the mouth 20 defined by the filler neck 18 opening into the interior product-storage region. The closure 14 controls release of product from the container 12 and provides tamper evidence to users.

The closure 14 may be opened and closed by a user to allow access to and block access to product inside the interior product-storage region, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The closure 14 includes a closure body 26, a flip-top cap 28 coupled to the closure body 26, and a hinge 30 interconnecting the closure body 26 and the flip-top cap 28. The closure body 26 is configured to engage with the filler neck 18 to retain the closure 14 to the container 12 and is formed to include a discharge aperture 31. The flip-top cap 28 is mounted to the closure body 26 for pivotable movement about a cap pivot axis 30A established by the hinge 30 between the opened position and the closed position.

The closure 14 is formed as a monolithic, integral structure from one or more polymeric materials and is configured to change between various configurations as the flip-top cap 28 is opened and closed throughout the closure’s life. The closure 14 is initially molded in a pre-installation, molded configuration in which the flip-top cap 28 is in the opened position and spaced apart from the closure body 26 by the hinge 30 about 180 degrees about the hinge axis 30A. Molding of the closure 14 with the integrally formed closure body 26, flip-top cap 28, and hinge 30 is facilitated when the flip-top cap

28 is in the opened position. The closure 14 may be injection molded, compression molded, thermoformed, blow molded, or molded in any other suitable manner.

The closure 14 further includes a breakaway release tab 50 formed integrally with the flip-top cap 28 in the pre-installation, molded configuration as shown in FIG. 1. After molding, the flip-top cap 28 and the breakaway release tab 50 are pivoted about the hinge axis 30A from the opened position to the closed position, as shown in FIG. 2 to establish an unused, closed configuration blocking access to the discharge aperture 31. The closure 14 can be applied to the filler neck of the container The breakaway release tab 50 engages the closure body 26 to help retain the flip-top cap 28 in the closed position until the flip-top cap 28 is opened for the first time by a user.

Once the closure 14 has established the unused, closed configuration, the breakaway release tab 50 is configured to be moved relative to the closure body 26 and the flip-top cap 28 by a user from a raised, locked position attached integrally with the flip-top cap 28, as shown in FIG. 2, to a lowered, unlocked position separated from the flip-top cap 28, as shown in FIG. 3. Separating the breakaway release tab 50 from the flip-top cap 28 establishes a first-use, closed configuration of the closure 14, as shown in FIG. 3, where the flip-top cap 28 is unlocked and free to pivot relative to the closure body 26 from the closed position to the opened position. Once separated from the flip-top cap 28, the breakaway release tab 50 is configured to remain attached to the closure body 26 and, when the flip-top cap 28 is opened, the closure 14 establishes a first-use, opened configuration as shown in FIG. 4.

The breakaway release tab 50 blocks opening of the flip-top cap 28 in the unused, closed configuration and cooperates with other portions of the closure 14 to provide tamper evidence that the closure 14 has been opened. In the unused, closed configuration with the breakaway release tab 50 in the raised, locked position, the breakaway release tab 50 of the flip-top cap 28 is configured to display a first indication or visual representation 100 that indicates the breakaway release tab 50 is integrally attached to the flip-top cap 28. In the first-use, closed configuration after the breakaway release tab 50 is moved to the lowered, unlocked position, a second indication or visual

representation 102 is exposed and indicates that the flip-top cap 28 is free to move from the closed position to the opened position and/or that the flip-top cap 28 has been opened at least one time after the closure 14 has established the unused, closed configuration.

In the illustrative embodiment, the breakaway release tab 50 is configured to be received in a tab-receiving aperture 38 formed in the closure body 26 when the flip-top cap moves initially from the pre-installation, molded configuration to the unused, closed position. In the first-use, closed configuration and the first-use, opened configuration, the breakaway release tab 50 separates from the rest of the flip-top cap 28 and remains in the tab-receiving aperture 38. Additionally, the closure body 26 retains the breakaway release tab 50 captured in the tab-receiving aperture 38 so that the package 10 and/or the closure 14 can be recycled as one piece.

The closure body 26 is configured to secure the closure 14 to the filler neck 18 and includes an outer body sidewall 32, an inner body plug 34, and a body top wall 36 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The outer body sidewall 32 includes a plurality of closure anchors 33 spaced circumferentially about axis 26A and configured to form a snap-fit connection with a corresponding annular anchor ring 35 formed on the filler neck 18 of the container 12. The inner body plug 34 is spaced radially inward from the outer body sidewall 32 relative to a central axis 26A of the closure body 26 and is configured to engage with a radially inner surface of the filler neck 18 to provide a seal therebetween. The body top wall 36 is coupled to an upper end of both the outer body sidewall 32 and the inner body plug 34. The body top wall 36 is formed to include the tab-receiving aperture 38. A space 40 is positioned radially between the outer body sidewall 32 and the inner body plug 34 and is configured to receive a portion of the breakaway release tab 50.

The outer body sidewall 32 includes a shell wall 42, a first retainer flange 44 coupled to the shell wall 42, and a second retainer flange 46 coupled to the shell wall 42 and spaced apart from the first retainer flange 44 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The shell wall 42 provides a radially outer surface of the closure body 26 and extends annularly around the central axis 26A. The first retainer flange 44 extends radially inward from the

shell wall 42 toward the central axis 26A and includes a lower surface configured to engage the release tab 50 of the flip-top cap 28 in the raised, locked position to block the release tab 50 from being removed from the space 40 and the flip-top cap 28 from moving from the closed position to the opened position. The second retainer flange 46 extends radially inward from the shell wall 42 and is configured to engage the breakaway release tab 50 in the lowered, unlocked position to retain the breakaway release tab 50 in the lowered, unlocked position.

The flip-top cap 28 includes a cap top wall 60, a cap sidewall 62, and a cap-lifting ledge 64 as shown in FIG. 6-9. The cap top wall 60 is coupled to an upper end of the cap sidewall 62. The cap sidewall 62 has an outer surface 4 having a diameter equal to or less than an diameter of the outer surface of the closure body 26 relative to the central axis 26A when the flip-top cap 28 is in the closed position. The cap-lifting ledge 64 is coupled to at least one of the cap sidewall 62 and the cap top wall 60 and extends radially outward away from the central axis 26A.

The cap top wall 60 and the cap sidewall 62 are formed to include a lifting space 66 at a front end of the flip-top cap 28. The cap-lifting ledge 64 extends radially into the lifting space 66 spaced radially inward from the outer body sidewall 32 of the closure body 26. The breakaway release tab 50 occupies at least a portion of the lifting space 66 in the raised, locked position to block access to the cap-lifting ledge 64 until the breakaway release tab 50 is moved to the lowered, unlocked position. In the lowered, unlocked position, breakaway release tab 50 is spaced apart from the cap-lifting ledge 64 to expose the cap-lifting ledge 64 so that a user can engage the cap-lifting ledge 64 and pry open the flip-top cap 28. In other words, a portion of the breakaway release tab 50 is positioned vertically above a lower surface of the cap-lifting ledge 64 in the raised, locked position so that a user cannot reach the lower surface of the cap-lifting ledge 64 and pry the flip-top cap 28 open.

The release tab 50 includes a tab body 70, a tab retainer 72 coupled to the tab body 70, and a frangible border 74 connecting the tab body 70 to at least one of the cap-lifting ledge 64 and the cap sidewall 62. The tab retainer 72 is configured to engage

the first retainer flange 44 of the closure body 26 in the unused, closed configuration to block movement of the flip-top cap from the closed position to the opened position. The tab retainer 70 is also configured to engage the second retainer flange in the lowered, unlocked position to block the release tab 50 from moving from the lowered, unlocked position to the raised, locked position. The frangible boarder 74 is configured to break under load as the breakaway release tab 50 moves from the raised, locked position to the lowered, unlocked position.

The tab body 70 includes a push pad 76 and an indicator panel 78. The push pad 76 is aligned with the cap-lifting ledge 64 when the breakaway release tab 50 is in the raised, locked position and is spaced apart from the cap-lifting ledge 64 when the breakaway release tab 50 is in the lowered, unlocked position. The indicator panel 78 includes the first indication 100. The first indication 100 and at least a portion of the indicator panel 78 is located above an upper end of the body top wall 36 and the outer body side wall 32 of the closure body 26 when the breakaway release tab 50 is in the raised, locked position. The first indication 100 and at least a portion of the indicator panel 78 is located below the upper end of the body top wall 36 and the outer body sidewall 32 of the closure body 26 when the breakaway release tab 50 is in the lowered, unlocked position.

In the illustrative embodiment, the closure 14 may be made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In some embodiments, the closure 14 is made from polypropylene, which may also be more flexible than other materials. In some embodiments, the container 12 is made from HDPE or polypropylene. In some embodiments, the package 10 includes HDPE. In some embodiments, the package 10 consists of HDPE. In some embodiments, the package 10 consists essentially of HDPE. In some embodiments, the package 10 includes polypropylene. In some embodiments, the package 10 consists of polypropylene. In some embodiments, the package 10 consists essentially of polypropylene.

The closure body 26 may further include a raised discharge port 80 coupled to and extending axially away from the body top wall 36 in an upward direction

relative to the central axis 26A as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The raised discharge port 80 defines the discharge aperture 31 and is located radially inward from the inner body plug 34. Similarly, the flip-top cap 28 may further include a cap-sealing wall 82 coupled to and extending axially away from the cap top wall 60 in a downward direction. The cap-sealing wall 82 is positioned radially inward from the cap sidewall 62 and radially inward from the raised discharge port 80 when the flip-top cap 28 is in the closed position. The cap-sealing wall 82 and the raised discharge port 80 engage with one another to provide a seal to the discharge aperture 31 when the flip-top cap 28 is in the closed position.

The closure body 26 may further include one or more secondary cap anchors 90 and the flip-top cap 28 may further include one or more corresponding secondary cap retainers 92. The secondary cap retainers 92 are configured to engage and latch onto each corresponding cap anchor 90 in the closed position to block the flip-top cap 28 from moving to the opened position. The secondary cap anchors 90 and cap retainers 92 are spaced circumferentially from the breakaway release tab 50. In the illustrative embodiment, the closure 14 includes a single cap anchor 90 and a single cap retainer 92 on each circumferential side of the space 40.

The closure body 26 may further include a plurality of reinforcement ribs 94 coupled to a lower end of the body top wall 36 and to at least one of the outer body sidewall 32 and the inner body plug 34 to block deformation thereof as shown in FIG. 12. A first subset of the plurality of reinforcement ribs 94 interconnect the outer body sidewall 32 and the inner body plug 34 to block movement of at least a portion of the outer body sidewall 32 and the inner body plug 34 relative to one another. A second subset of the plurality of reinforcement ribs 94 are aligned circumferentially with the tab receiving aperture 38 and are only body top wall 36 and the inner body plug 34. The reinforcement ribs 94 each have a height that is less than a height of the inner body plug 34 and the outer body sidewall 32 to allow deformation of a lower portion of the inner body plug 34 during installation of the closure 14 on the filler neck 18. In the illustrative embodiment, the first subset includes six reinforcement ribs 94 and the second subset includes two reinforcement ribs 94.

Another embodiment of a closure 214 that can be used with the container 12 is shown in FIGS. 28 and 29. The closure 214 includes similar features included in closure 14. For example, the closure 214 includes a closure body 226, a flip-top cap 228, and a hinge 230 interconnecting the closure body 226 and the flip-top cap 228. The closure 214 also includes a breakaway release tab 250 configured to retain the flip-top cap 228 in a closed position and break under load to free the flip-top cap 228 for movement to an opened position in the same manner previously described for closure 14. Accordingly, the disclosure of closure 14 is herein incorporated by reference for closure 214 except for the differences between closure 214 and closure 14 discussed below.

The primary difference between closure 214 and closure 14 is that the closure body 226 of closure 214 includes an additional, inner body sidewall 237 instead of only the outer body sidewall 32 of closure 14. The inner body sidewall 237 is positioned radially inward of an outer body sidewall 232 and radially outward of an inner body plug 234. Closure anchors 233 are formed on the inner body sidewall 237 and the inner body sidewall 237 is configured to engage with filler neck 18 to secure the closure 214 to the container 12. The addition of the inner body sidewall 237 may provide greater security for the closure 214 by using the outer body sidewall 232 as a barrier to block access to closure anchors 233 so that removal of the closure 214 from the container 12 is restricted. The deformable release tab 250 is received in a tab receiving aperture 238 formed in top wall 236 and slides within a space 240 formed between the outer body sidewall 232 and the inner body sidewall 237 from the raised, locked position to the lowered, unlocked position.

Another embodiment of a closure 314 that can be used with the container 12 is shown in FIGS. 30-36. The closure 314 includes similar features included in closure 14. For example, the closure 314 includes a closure body 326, a flip-top cap 328, and a hinge 330 interconnecting the closure body 326 and the flip-top cap 328. The closure 314 also includes a breakaway release tab 350 configured to retain the flip-top cap 328 in a closed position and break under load to free the flip-top cap 328 for movement to an opened position in the same manner previously described for closure 14. Accordingly, the

disclosure of closures 14, 214 are incorporated by reference herein for closure 314 except for the differences between closure 314 and closures 14, 214 discussed below.

The primary difference between closure 314 and closures 14, 214 is that the flip-top cap 328 and the breakaway release tab 350 have different shapes compared to closures 14, 214 and closure 314 does not include an additional sidewall but may in some embodiments. The breakaway release tab 350 includes a tab body 370 having a curved front edge 371 and a curved rear edge 372. The flip-top cap 328 is formed to include a lifting space 366 defined by surfaces of the flip-top cap 328 that conform to the shape of the breakaway release tab 350. Specifically, a front end of the flip-top cap 328 includes a curved rear surface 3281, a first side surface 3282 extending radially outward from the rear surface 3281 along a first side of the breakaway release tab 350, and a second side surface 3283 extending radially outward from the rear surface 3281 along an opposite second side of the breakaway release tab 350. The first and second side surfaces 3282, 3283 are linear surfaces in the illustrative embodiment.

Another embodiment of a closure 414 that can be used with the container 12 is shown in FIGS. 37-43. The closure 414 includes similar features included in closure 14. For example, the closure 414 includes a closure body 426, a flip-top cap 428, and a hinge 430 interconnecting the closure body 426 and the flip-top cap 428. The closure 414 also includes a breakaway release tab 450 configured to retain the flip-top cap 428 in a closed position and break under load to free the flip-top cap 428 for movement to an opened position in the same manner previously described for closure 14. Accordingly, the disclosure of closures 14, 214, 314 are incorporated by reference herein for closure 414 except for the differences between closure 414 and closures 14, 414 discussed below.

The primary difference between closure 414 and closures 14, 214, 314 is that the flip-top cap 428 and the breakaway release tab 450 have different shapes compared to closures 14, 214, 314 and closure 414 does not include an additional sidewall but may in some embodiments. The breakaway release tab 450 includes a tab body 470 having a curved front edge 471 and a linear rear edge 472. The flip-top cap 428 is formed to include a lifting space 466 at a front end of the flip-top cap 428. The lifting

space 466 is defined at least partially by a front surface 429 of the flip-top cap 428. The front surface of the flip-top cap 428 is linear across a width of the flip-top cap 428 such that the front end of the flip-top cap 428 does not extend all the way to a corresponding front end of the closure body 426.

Claims

1. A package comprising a container and a closure coupled to the container to control release of product therefrom, the closure including: a closure body coupled to the container and formed to include a discharge aperture, the closure body having an outer body sidewall and a body top wall coupled to an upper end of the outer body sidewall, a flip-top cap coupled to the closure body and configured to pivot relative to the closure body between a closed position blocking access to the discharge aperture and an opened position allowing access to the discharge aperture, the flip-top cap including a cap sidewall, a cap top wall coupled to an upper end of the cap sidewall, and a cap-lifting ledge coupled to at least one of the cap sidewall and the cap top wall, and a breakaway release tab coupled to the flip-top cap and configured change from a raised, locked position blocking access to the cap-lifting ledge and blocking movement of the flip-top cap from the closed position to the opened position to a lowered, unlocked position released from the flip-top cap to expose the cap-lifting ledge and free the flip-top cap for movement relative to the closure body from the closed position to the opened position.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the closure is configured to change from a pre-installation, molded configuration, in which the breakaway release tab is attached with the flip top cap and the flip-top cap is in the opened position, to an unused, closed configuration in which the breakaway release tab is attached with the flip-top cap and the flip-top cap is in the closed position, and to a first-use opened configuration, in which the breakaway release tab is separated from the flip top cap and the flip-top cap is in the opened position.

3. The package of claim 2, wherein the breakaway release tab is movable from the raised, locked position to the lowered, unlocked position when the flip-top cap is in the closed position to change the closure from the unused, closed configuration to a first-use, closed configuration.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein the breakaway release tab remains in the lowered, unlocked position after the closure changes from the unused, closed configuration to the first-use, closed configuration.

5. The package of claim 3, wherein the breakaway release tab includes a first indication and the cap sidewall of the flip-top cap includes a second indication different than the first indication, the first indication is located above an upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body and overlies the second indication when the closure is in the unused, closed configuration, and the first indication is located below the upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body to expose the second indication when the closure is in the first-use, closed configuration.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the breakaway release tab includes a tab body, a tab retainer coupled to the tab body and configured to engage the closure body in the unused, closed configuration to block movement of the flip-top cap from the closed position to the opened position, a frangible border connecting the tab body to at least one of the cap-lifting ledge and the cap sidewall and configured to break under load as the breakaway release tab moves from the raised, locked position to the lowered, unlocked position.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein the tab body includes a push pad and an indicator panel, the push pad is aligned with the cap-lifting ledge when the breakaway release tab is in the raised, locked position and spaced apart from the cap-lifting ledge when the breakaway release tab is in the lowered, unlocked position, and the indicator panel includes an indication located above an upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body when the breakaway release tab is in the raised, locked position and located below the upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body when the breakaway release tab is in the lowered, unlocked position.

8. The package of claim 6, wherein the outer sidewall of the closure body includes a shell wall extending at least partway around a central axis of the closure body, a first retainer flange coupled to the shell wall and configured to engage with the tab retainer of the breakaway release tab in the raised, locked position, and a second retainer flange coupled to the shell wall and spaced apart from the first retainer flange and configured to engage with the tab retainer of the breakaway release tab in the lowered, unlocked position.

9. The package of claim 1, wherein the body top wall is formed to include a tab-receiving aperture opening into a space located radially between the outer body sidewall and an inner plug wall included in the closure body, and wherein the breakaway release tab is received in the tab-receiving aperture when the flip top cap is in the closed position and protrudes upwardly from the tab-receiving aperture a first distance in the raised, locked position and a second distance, less than the first distance, in the lowered, unlocked position.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein the closure body has a first outermost diameter and the flip-top cap has a second outermost diameter less than the first outermost diameter, and wherein the cap-lifting ledge extends in a radial direction outward away from an outer surface of the cap sidewall and toward the breakaway release tab to locate the cap-lifting ledge radially between a portion of the cap sidewall and the breakaway release tab.

11. A closure configured to be coupled to a container to control release of product therefrom, the closure comprising: a closure body formed to include a discharge aperture, the closure body having an outer body sidewall and a body top wall coupled to an upper end of the outer body sidewall, a flip-top cap coupled to the closure body and configured to pivot relative to the closure body between a closed position covering the discharge aperture and blocking access to the discharge aperture and an opened position spaced apart from the discharge aperture to and allowing access to the discharge aperture, the flip-top cap including a cap sidewall, a cap top wall coupled to an upper end of the cap sidewall, and a cap-lifting ledge coupled to at least one of the cap sidewall and the cap top wall, and a breakaway release tab coupled to the flip-top cap and configured change from a raised, locked position blocking access to the cap-lifting ledge and blocking movement of the flip-top cap from the closed position to the opened position to a lowered, unlocked position released from the flip-top cap to expose the cap-lifting ledge and free the flip-top cap for movement relative to the closure body from the closed position to the opened position.

12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the closure is configured to change from a pre-installation, molded configuration, in which the breakaway release tab is attached with the flip top cap and the flip-top cap is in the opened position, to an unused, closed configuration in which the breakaway release tab is attached with the flip-top cap and the flip-top cap is in the closed position, and to a first-use opened configuration, in which the breakaway release tab is separated from the flip top cap and the flip-top cap is in the opened position.

13. The closure of claim 12, wherein the breakaway release tab remains in the lowered, unlocked position after the closure changes from the unused, closed configuration to the first-use, closed configuration.

14. The closure of claim 12, wherein the breakaway release tab includes a first indication and the cap sidewall of the flip-top cap includes a second indication different than the first indication, the first indication is located above an upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body and overlies the second indication when the closure is in the unused, closed configuration, and the first indication is located below the upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body to expose the second indication when the closure is in the first-use, closed configuration.

15. The closure of claim 11, wherein the breakaway release tab includes a tab body, a tab retainer coupled to the tab body and configured to engage the closure body in the unused, closed configuration to block movement of the flip-top cap from the closed position to the opened position, a frangible border connecting the tab body to at least one of the cap-lifting ledge and the cap sidewall and configured to break under load as the breakaway release tab moves from the raised, locked position to the lowered, unlocked position.

16. The closure of claim 15, wherein the tab body includes a push pad and an indicator panel, the push pad is aligned with the cap-lifting ledge when the breakaway release tab is in the raised, locked position and spaced apart from the cap-lifting ledge when the breakaway release tab is in the lowered, unlocked position, and the indicator panel includes an indication located above an upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body when the breakaway release tab is in the raised, locked position and located below the upper end of the outer sidewall of the closure body when the breakaway release tab is in the lowered, unlocked position.

17. The closure of claim 15, wherein the outer body sidewall of the closure body includes a shell wall extending at least partway around a central axis of the closure body, a first retainer flange coupled to the shell wall and configured to engage with the tab retainer of the breakaway release tab in the raised, locked position, and a second retainer flange coupled to the shell wall and spaced apart from the first retainer flange and configured to engage with the tab retainer of the breakaway release tab in the lowered, unlocked position.

18. A polymeric closure configured to control release of product from a container, the closure comprising: a closure body coupled to the container and formed to include a discharge aperture, the closure body having an outer body sidewall and a body top wall coupled to an upper end of the outer body sidewall, a flip-top cap coupled to the closure body and configured to pivot relative to the closure body between a closed position blocking access to the discharge aperture and an opened position allowing access to the discharge aperture, and a breakaway release tab coupled to the flip-top cap, wherein the closure is configured to change from a pre-installation, molded configuration, in which the breakaway release tab is attached integrally with the flip top cap and the flip-top cap is in the opened position, to an unused, closed configuration in which the breakaway release tab is attached integrally with the flip-top cap and the flip-top cap is in the closed position, and to a first-use closed configuration, in which the breakaway release tab is separated from the flip-top cap and the flip-top cap is in the closed position.

19. The closure of claim 18, wherein the breakaway release tab includes a tab body, a tab retainer coupled to the tab body and configured to engage the closure body in the unused, closed configuration to block movement of the flip-top cap from the closed position to the opened position, and a frangible border connecting the tab body to flip-top cap and configured to break under load as the breakaway release tab moves from a locked position to establish the unused, closed configuration, to an unlocked position, to establish the first-use, closed configuration.

20. The closure of claim 19, wherein the flip-top cap includes a cap top wall, a cap sidewall coupled to the cap sidewall, and a cap-lifting ledge coupled to at least one of the cap top wall and the cap sidewall to extend radially outward away from the cap sidewall and positioned radially between the cap side wall and the breakaway release tab, and wherein the cap lifting segment is aligned with a portion of the breakaway release tab in a radial direction when the breakaway release tab is in the locked position and the cap lifting ledge is spaced apart from the breakaway release tab in a vertical direction when the breakaway release tab is in the unlocked position.

Patent History
Publication number: 20260200646
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 13, 2026
Publication Date: Jul 16, 2026
Inventors: Daniel A. BLOOM (Bowling Green, OH), Darin M. PUGNE (Holland, OH)
Application Number: 19/447,426
Classifications
International Classification: B65D 47/08 (20060101); B65D 47/10 (20060101);