U.S. patent application number 10/116871 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for multi-piece snap-together cap.
Invention is credited to Auer, Robert T., Stull, Gene.
Application Number | 20030189065 10/116871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28674082 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030189065 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stull, Gene ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
Multi-piece snap-together cap
Abstract
A multi-piece snap together cap generally comprises a molded
base cap and a covercap intended to be used on a flexible-walled
container and in an inverted position. Neither the covercap nor the
base cap require special orientation during the assembly process of
the multi pieces. To assemble, the top open ring of the covercap is
lowered onto the base cap. The ring is molded with a one-way
negative snap-in void area that is formed with an undercut,
insuring the top positive overlapping snap ring in locked in place
after assembly. The top cap covercap piece is unique in its
construction and combines several functional features. For
instance, it is molded in the open position and connected to the
top open snap ring with a living hinge, forming a single piece.
When the lid is in the open position, the living hinge keeps it out
of the way when product is dispensed. The top lid and snap ring
also includes a second open/close friction snap ring, which keeps
the top lid in a down position during storage and the internal
product fresh. The top lid also provides an overhang tab so that
the consumer may easily unsnap the lid with a fingertip.
Inventors: |
Stull, Gene; (Far Hills,
NJ) ; Auer, Robert T.; (East Stroudsburg,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KATTEN MUCHIN ZAVIS ROSENMAN
575 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022-2585
US
|
Family ID: |
28674082 |
Appl. No.: |
10/116871 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/212 ;
222/556 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/105 20130101;
B65D 47/2031 20130101; B65D 47/0871 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/212 ;
222/556 |
International
Class: |
B65D 037/00 |
Claims
1. A closure for selective dispensing of product from a
flexible-walled container, said closure comprising: a base cap for
attachment to said container; a cover cap for attachment to the
base cap; a structure for retaining the cover cap in a locked
position.
2. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a circumscribing
member on the cover cap to be fitted onto the base cap.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein said circumscribing member is
expandable to be retained on the base cap.
4. The closure of claim 1, wherein said circumscribing member is
rotatable on the base cap and does not require special orientation
during the assembly process of the base and cover caps.
5. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a tab on the cover
cap to facilitate the opening of the cap merely by one's
finger.
6. The closure of claim 1, wherein said cover cap further comprises
a living hinge connecting a lid of the cover cap to said
circumscribing member.
7. The closure of claim 6, wherein said cover cap stays distal from
the product when dispensed.
8. The closure of claim 6, further comprising a second open/close
friction snap ring which keeps the in a down position during
storage and the internal product fresh.
9. The closure of claim 1, wherein said cover cap has a different
visual characteristic from the base cap or container.
10. The closure of claim 9, wherein said different visual
characteristic is color.
11. The closure of claim 1, wherein at least a portion thereof is
made from polypropylene.
12. The closure of claim 1, further comprising an area for trapping
liquid or products of differing viscosities in a channel.
Description
(a) TITLE OF THE INVENTION. MULTI-PIECE SNAP-TOGETHER CAP.
(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS. NONE.
(c) STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
NONE.
(d) REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING. NONE.
e) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Closures for various containers are, of course, well known
and are disclosed in numerous publication and patents. Many of the
patents are owned by the assignee herein.
[0002] Perhaps the closest closures to the invention herein are
those having a straight skirt and a living hinge on it which could
be molded all in one. However, because such closures have tapered
tips, much less material is required than if one were to have a
closure with a lower circumference identical to main channel of the
container leading to the contents within. Because of the focusing
type of nozzle required for dispensing many types of products, the
tapered sides of the base cap do not lend themselves to a "one
piece" closure with a cover cap included as single unit. Special
tooling cams can be designed and built into the mold. However,
these types of cams can be very expensive and also require a much
higher ongoing maintenance fee. This type of more complicated cam
tooling also results in more tooling downtime, cutting into
manufacturing productivity.
[0003] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
multi-piece snap together cap generally intended to be used on a
flexible-walled container and in preferably an inverted position
which does not require the use of much material.
[0004] Another object of the invention to provide a multi-piece
snap together cap which is easy to assemble.
[0005] A further object of the invention to provide a multi-piece
snap together cap which does not require specific orientation
during the assembly of the two pieces.
[0006] Additionally an object of the invention to provide a
multi-piece snap together cap which insures that it is locked in
place after assembly.
[0007] Yet another object of the invention to provide a multi-piece
snap together cap which is molded in the open position and in which
the cover cap stays out of the way of product when it is
dispensed.
[0008] Moreover an object of the invention to provide a multi-piece
snap together cap which includes a second open/close friction snap
ring in which keeps the top lid is in a closed position during
storage and the internal product remains fresh.
[0009] Furthermore, an object of the invention to provide a
multi-piece snap together cap which the consumer may easily unsnap
the lid with a fingertip.
(f) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] These and other objects of the invention, which shall become
hereinafter apparent, are achieved by a multi-piece snap together
cap, generally comprising a molded base cap and a covercap intended
to be used on a flexible-walled container and in an inverted
position. The simple negative and positive overlapping snap rings
that are formed on the covercap and base cap make it very easy to
assemble.
[0011] Neither the covercap nor the base cap require special
orientation during the assembly process of the two pieces. To
assemble, the top open ring is lowered onto the base and snapped
into place. The positive overlapping snap ring located on the top
covercap expands and retracts, as it is forced down over the base
ring. The base ring is designed and molded with a one-way negative
snap-in void area that is formed with an undercut, insuring the top
positive overlapping snap ring in locked in place after
assembly.
[0012] The top cap covercap piece is unique in its construction and
combines several functional features. The top covercap lid is
molded in the open position and connected to the top open snap ring
with a living hinge, forming one single piece. When the lid is in
the open position, the living hinge keeps it out of the way when
product is dispensed. The top lid and snap ring also includes a
second open/close friction snap ring, which keeps the top lid
closed during storage and the internal product fresh. The top lid
also provides an overhang tab so that the consumer may easily
unsnap the lid with a fingertip.
(g) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will be better understood by the detailed
description of the invention, with reference to the drawings, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-piece snap
together cap according to the invention on a container in a closed
position shown with a valve located into the synerisis trap
channel;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-piece snap
together cap of FIG. 1, but in an open position also showing a
valve with a locking retainer ring;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the multi-piece snap
together cap of FIG. 1 in an open position;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the multi-piece snap
together cap of FIG. 1 in a closed or locked position; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the multi-piece
snap together cap of FIG. 1.
(h) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals depict
like elements throughout the various views, FIG. 1 is a
cross-sectional view of a multi-piece snap together cap 10,
generally comprising a molded base cap 20 and a covercap 30
intended to be used on a flexiblewalled container 1.
[0020] The covercap 10 includes generally a lid 16 and an
overlapping snap ring 13 to fit over the base cap 20. Neither the
covercap 30 nor the base cap 20 require special orientation during
the assembly of the two pieces; in fact, when assembled, the snap
ring 13 rotates around an inward recess 25 of the base cap 20. (It
should be noted that the configuration may be reversed to have an
outwardly projecting lip on the base cap and a corresponding
channel on the ring.) To assemble the snap ring 13 to the base cap
20, the ring 13 is placed over the lip 24 of the base cap 20 and
snapped into place with the ridge 23 inside of the ring 13 fitting
into recess 25. The lid 16 has a lifting tab 18, which facilitates
the open of the cap 10 merely by one's finger.
[0021] The positive overlapping ring 13 located on the covercap 10
expands over the base cap 20 and retracts as it is forced down over
the base cap 20. A portion of the ring 13 has a "step" (ie. it is
stepped) in a certain manner such that when one brings the lid 16
down, it fits inside the covercap 30.
[0022] The covercap 10 is unique in its construction and combines
several functional features. For instance, the lid 16 is molded in
the open position and connected to the snap ring 13 by a living
hinge 17, forming one complete piece. When the lid 16 is in the
open position, the living hinge 17 keeps it out of the way when
product is dispensed. Although the vast majority of closures have a
living hinge, because of the structure of the cap, the living hinge
creates some problems in that if one were to make it one-piece, and
the flexibility of dispensing different kinds of products from the
multi-component construction would be lost. The cams used in the
molding process are not so expensive, but mold maintenance becomes
more of a problem, particularly with large volume
manufacturing.
[0023] Constructed in the above manner, the multi-piece snap
together cap permits the closure to have good color variation. The
difference in color makes the product look like more product for
one's money and facilitates product labeling. For instance, the
containers could be identical, but one with a red cover cap could
be indicative of ketchup or one with a yellow cover cap could be
indicative of mustard. The cap 1 is preferably made of because of,
among other reasons, the living hinge between the ring 13 and the
covercap 30.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the cap in an open position. The place on the
cap 10 where it meets the ring when closed is depicted best in FIG.
5. In this embodiment, fitted into the cap 1 is a thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE) valve 31 which is held in place, in this
embodiment, by an insert piece 32. (The closure can be manufactured
with or without the valve. The flexibility of this
multi-construction closure is designed to be manufactured with and
without a valve that is dependent upon requirements and consumer
benefits.) Such valves facilitate generally the one-way flow of the
product and prevents spillage. 33 is a projection on the valve,
which allows the valve to fit underside of extension 34. The valve
slit may be created in several ways including being molded (as
opposed to being subsequently cut), stretched and punched or laser
pierced.
[0025] The container 1 has a trap channel 35 so that when it is
tipped slightly (for instance if a liquid and a portion of the
product separates from the product because of the differing
viscosities) the liquid is trapped in the channel created between
the inner side wall 36 of the base cap 20 and inner channel guide
37.
[0026] In addition, the basic cap and covercap construction is a
development which is extremely versatile and usable with many
different types of products. The basic design has been developed to
be manufactured with or without a valve depending on the type of
product to be dispensed. Depending on the product and price point,
the valve is insert-molded, co-injected or added as a certain
piece.
[0027] Moreover, the valve can be placed inside the syerisis trap
channel and held in place with a separate locking retainer piece.
The valve can be co-injected and fused to the overcap ring or
molded in the nozzle of the base cap. The valve can also be insert
molded or manufactured as a separate piece held in place by the
overcap ring.
[0028] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
depicted in detail, modifications and adaptations may be made
thereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as delineated in the following claims:
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