U.S. patent application number 11/268916 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for closure with flap for retaining a lid hinge shaft.
Invention is credited to Cori M. Blomdahl, James W. Hammond, Travis J. Hoepner.
Application Number | 20070102392 11/268916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38002696 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070102392 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hoepner; Travis J. ; et
al. |
May 10, 2007 |
Closure with flap for retaining a lid hinge shaft
Abstract
A closure system is provided for a container. The system has a
body for extending from the container at the container opening. The
body defines a dispensing orifice. A lid is provided for covering
the orifice. The body has a bearing member with a laterally outer
wall and a laterally inner wall which together define a channel for
receiving a pivot shaft on the lid. At least one flap is hingedly
attached to one of the body bearing member lateral walls and is
initially positioned to expose the channel to permit mounting the
lid pivot shaft in the channel. The flap can be subsequently folded
over the channel and lid pivot shaft, and the distal end of the
flap can be attached to the other lateral wall to form a bridge
which prevents removal of the lid pivot shaft from the channel.
Another form of the invention includes the fully completed closure
system after the flap has been folded over and attached. Another
form of the invention includes the method for making the closure
system.
Inventors: |
Hoepner; Travis J.;
(Mukwonago, WI) ; Hammond; James W.; (North
Prairie, WI) ; Blomdahl; Cori M.; (Muskego,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET
SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
38002696 |
Appl. No.: |
11/268916 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/237 ;
215/253; 220/259.1; 220/840; 222/546; 222/556 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0885 20130101;
B65D 55/024 20130101; B65D 2401/15 20200501 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/237 ;
215/253; 220/259.1; 222/546; 222/556; 220/840 |
International
Class: |
B65D 39/00 20060101
B65D039/00; B65D 43/18 20060101 B65D043/18; B65D 47/00 20060101
B65D047/00; B65D 43/14 20060101 B65D043/14 |
Claims
1. A closure system for a container that has an opening to the
container interior, said closure system consisting of unassembled
components comprising: a body that is either a separate structure
for attaching to, and extending from, said container at said
opening or is a unitary extension of said container at said
opening, said body having (1) at least one orifice for
communicating with said container opening, (2) a bearing member
comprising a laterally outer wall spaced from a laterally inner
wall which together define between them a channel, and (3) at least
one flap hingedly attached to, and extending from, one of said
laterally inner and outer walls to expose said channel which can be
covered by folding said flap over said channel and against the
other of said laterally inner and outer walls; and a lid adapted to
be disposed on said body for accommodating lifting of said lid
relative to said at least one orifice between (1) a closed position
over said at least one orifice, and (2) an open position away from
said at least one orifice, said lid including a pivot shaft for
being received in said channel prior to said flap being folded over
said channel and attached to said other of said laterally inner and
outer walls to prevent removal of said shaft from said channel.
2. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which said
closure body is molded from thermoplastic material with said at
least one flap extending laterally from said laterally outer
wall.
3. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which said
closure system is a closure for an end of said container wherein
the container end defines said container opening; and said closure
includes said body and said lid.
4. The closure system in accordance with claim 3 in which said
closure is an article that is separate from said container; and
said body is attachable to said container end over said container
opening.
5. The closure system in accordance with claim 3 in which said
closure body is adapted to be mounted to said container on a
peripheral wall that defines said container opening, and said
closure body has an upwardly projecting spout that extends above
said container opening to define said at least one orifice.
6. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which said body
includes a hinge that hingedly attaches said at least one flap to
said one of said laterally inner and outer walls; and said hinge is
defined by a reduced thickness of material between said at least
one flap and said one of said laterally inner and outer walls.
7. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which the other of
said laterally inner and outer walls defines a top surface and an
energy director projecting upwardly from said top surface; and said
energy director has a tapering cross section that becomes narrower
with increasing distance from said top surface.
8. A closure system for a container that has an opening to the
container interior, said closure system consisting of unassembled
components comprising: a body that is either a separate structure
for attaching to, and extending from, said container at said
opening or is a unitary extension of said container at said
opening, said body having (1) at least one orifice for
communicating with said container opening, (2) a bearing member
comprising a laterally outer wall spaced from a laterally inner
wall which together define between them a channel, and (3) at least
one flap that (a) extends from one of said laterally inner and
outer walls, (b) has been folded over said channel and against the
other of said laterally inner and outer walls, and (c) has been
attached to the other of said laterally inner and outer walls; and
a lid disposed on said body for accommodating lifting of said lid
relative to said at least one orifice between (1) a closed position
over said at least one orifice, and (2) an open position away from
said at least one orifice, said lid including a pivot shaft
received in said channel under said folded over flap that is
attached to said other of said laterally inner and outer walls to
prevent removal of said shaft from said channel.
9. The closure system in accordance with claim 8 in which said
closure system is a closure for an end of said container wherein
the container end defines said container opening; and said closure
includes said body and said lid.
10. The closure system in accordance with claim 9 in which said
closure is an article that is separate from said container; and
said body is attachable to said container end over said container
opening.
11. The closure system in accordance with claim 9 in which said
closure body is adapted to be mounted to said container on a
peripheral wall that defines said container opening, and said
closure body has an upwardly projecting spout that extends above
said container opening to define said at least one orifice.
12. The closure system in accordance with claim 9 in which said
flap is a unitary extension of said one of said laterally inner and
outer walls.
13. A method for making a closure system for a container that has
an opening to the container interior, said method comprising the
steps of: (A) molding from thermoplastic material a body that (1)
is that is either a separate structure for attaching to, and
extending from, said container at said opening or is a unitary
extension of said container at said opening, (2) has at least one
orifice for communicating with said container opening, (3) has a
bearing member comprising a laterally outer wall spaced from a
laterally inner wall which together define between them a channel,
and (4) has at least one flap hingedly attached to, and extending
from, one of said laterally inner and outer walls to expose said
channel which can be covered by folding said flap over said channel
and against the other of said laterally inner and outer walls; (B)
molding from thermoplastic material a lid which (1) has a pivot
shaft, and (2) is adapted to be disposed on said body for
accommodating lifting of said lid relative to said at least one
orifice between (a) a closed position over said at least one
orifice, and (b) an open position away from said at least one
orifice; (C) mounting said lid on said body in said closed position
with said pivot shaft disposed in said channel; and (D) folding
said flap over said channel and attaching it to said other of said
laterally inner and outer walls to prevent removal of said shaft
from said channel.
14. The method in accordance with claim 13 in which step (A)
includes molding said body to have one flap extending from said
laterally outer wall in a generally horizontal configuration; and
step (D) includes utrasonically welding an end of said flap to the
top of said laterally inner wall to define a continuous bridge over
said pivot shaft.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0004] This invention relates to closure system for a container.
The invention is particularly suitable for incorporation in a
dispensing closure for use with a squeezable container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE
PRIOR ART
[0005] There are a variety of types of conventional closures which
function generally satisfactorily in applications for which they
are designed. One type of prior art closure includes a body or base
for being attached to the top of a container. The body defines a
dispensing orifice. The system further includes a lid which is
mounted on the base or body and which can be lifted up to open the
dispensing orifice. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,487.
[0006] The U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,487 discloses the use of a closure
having a lid hinge system in which the closure base or body
includes a channel for snap-fit retention of a hinge pivot shaft
projecting from the rear of the lid. While such a design offers
significant advantages, it would be desirable to provide a further
improved closure system.
[0007] In particular, it would be desirable to provide an improved
design in which the lid hinge shaft could be even more securely
held on the closure body.
[0008] It would also be beneficial if a closure system could
readily accommodate molding of the closure body from a
thermoplastic material.
[0009] It would also be advantageous if such an improved closure
system could accommodate bottles, containers, or packages which
have a variety of shapes and which are constructed from a variety
of materials.
[0010] Further, it would be desirable if such an improved system
could accommodate efficient, high-quality, high-speed, large volume
manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to
produce products having consistent operating characteristics
unit-to-unit with high reliability.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention can be incorporated into a closure
system that may include one or more of the above-discussed, desired
features.
[0012] The present invention provides an improved closure system
for a container that has an opening to the container interior. The
system can be readily operated by the user to open and close the
system. One form of the invention includes a completed closure
system, and another form of the invention comprises unassembled
components that include an intermediate manufactured preform which
can be subsequently deformed to create the completed closure
system. The present invention also provides a method for making the
closure system.
[0013] According to a first aspect of a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention, unassembled closure system components
are provided, and these components include a lid and a preform body
as an intermediate article of manufacture. The body is either a
separate structure for attaching to, and extending from, the
container at the container opening or is a unitary extension of the
container at the opening. The body has [0014] (1) at least one
orifice for communicating with the container opening, [0015] (2) a
bearing member comprising a laterally outer wall spaced from a
laterally inner wall which together define between them a channel,
and [0016] (3) at least one flap hingedly attached to, and
extending from, one of the laterally inner and outer walls to
expose the channel which can be covered by folding the flap over
the channel and against the other of the laterally inner and outer
walls.
[0017] The lid is adapted to be disposed on the body for
accommodating lifting of the lid relative to the at least one
orifice between (1) a closed position over the at least one
orifice, and (2) an open position away from the at least one
orifice. The lid includes a pivot shaft for being received in the
channel prior to the flap being folded over the channel and
attached to the other of the laterally inner and outer walls to
prevent removal of the shaft from the channel.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, a completed
closure system is provided for a container that has an opening to
the container interior. The closure system includes a body that is
either a separate structure for attaching to, and extending from,
the container at the opening or is a unitary extension of the
container at the opening. The body has [0019] (1) at least one
orifice for communicating with the container opening, [0020] (2) a
bearing member comprising a laterally outer wall spaced from a
laterally inner wall which together define between them a channel,
and [0021] (3) at least one flap that (a) extends from one of the
laterally inner and outer walls, (b) has been folded over the
channel and against the other of the laterally inner and outer
walls, and (c) has been attached to the other of the laterally
inner and outer walls.
[0022] A lid is disposed on the body for accommodating lifting of
the lid relative to the at least one orifice between (1) a closed
position over the at least one orifice, and (2) an open position
away from the at least one orifice. The lid includes a pivot shaft
received in the channel under the folded over flap that is attached
to the other of the laterally inner and outer walls to prevent
removal of the shaft from the channel.
[0023] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method
is provided for making a closure system for a container that has an
opening to the container interior. The method comprises the steps
of:
[0024] (A) molding from thermoplastic material a body that [0025]
(1) is either a separate structure for attaching to, and extending
from, the container at the opening or is a unitary extension of the
container at the opening, [0026] (2) has at least one orifice for
communicating with the container opening, and [0027] (3) has a
bearing member comprising a laterally outer wall spaced from a
laterally inner wall which together define between them a channel,
and [0028] (4) has at least one flap hingedly attached to, and
extending from, one of the laterally inner and outer walls to
expose the channel which can be covered by folding the flap over
the channel and against the other of the laterally inner and outer
walls;
[0029] (B) molding from thermoplastic material a lid which (1) has
a pivot shaft, and (2) is adapted to be disposed on the body for
accommodating lifting of the lid relative to the at least one
orifice between (a) a closed position over the at least one
orifice, and (b) an open position away from the at least one
orifice;
[0030] (C) mounting the lid on the body in the closed position with
the pivot shaft disposed in the channel; and
[0031] (D) folding the flap over the channel and attaching it to
the other of the laterally inner and outer walls to prevent removal
of the shaft from the channel.
[0032] 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
[0033] In the accompanying drawings that form part of the
specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate
like parts throughout the same,
[0034] FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of an exemplary
dispensing closure system in the form of a separate dispensing
closure according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and
the closure is shown in a closed configuration, before installation
on a container, and from a vantage point generally above, or from
the top of, the closure;
[0035] FIG. 1A is a rear, perspective view of the dispensing
closure system shown in FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but FIG. 2 shows the lid
in the open position with a tamper-evident feature having been
broken;
[0037] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view
taken generally along the plane 3-3 in FIG. 1, but FIG. 3 further
shows the closure installed on the neck of a container and shows
part of the lower tamper-evident band of the closure turned
upwardly to engage a flange on the container neck;
[0038] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally
along the plane 4-4 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows the closure prior
to the closure being installed on the neck of the container, and
FIG. 4 further shows the lower tamper-evident band in the
as-molded, downwardly depending configuration prior to being turned
up under the flange on the container neck;
[0039] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view similar to FIG.
3, but FIG. 5 shows the closure (1) prior to the lid anchor member
being welded to the closure body, and (2) prior to the closure
being installed on the neck of a container, and FIG. 5 further
shows the lower tamper-evident band in the as-molded, downwardly
depending configuration prior to being turned up under the flange
on the container neck;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closure body prior to
the lid being initially mounted on the body by the manufacturer and
prior to the completed closure being installed on the
container;
[0041] FIG. 7 is a enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally
along the plane 7-7 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 shows the closure body
prior to being installed on the neck of the container, and FIG. 7
further shows the lower tamper-evident band in the as-molded,
downwardly depending configuration prior to being turned up under
the flange on the container neck;
[0042] FIG. 7A is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional
view of the area within the circle designated FIG. 7A in FIG.
7;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the closure lid prior
to the lid being mounted on the closure body by the
manufacturer;
[0044] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the lid prior to the
lid being mounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;
[0045] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the closure lid prior to the
lid being mounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;
[0046] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the lid prior to the lid being
mounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;
[0047] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
plane 12-12 in FIG. 10;
[0048] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
plane 13-13 in FIG. 10; and
[0049] FIG. 14 (on drawing sheet 9/12 with FIG. 7A) is a front,
elevational view of the lid taken generally along the plane 14-14
in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] 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, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out in
the appended claims.
[0051] For ease of description, most of the figures illustrating
the invention show a closure system in the typical orientation that
it would have at the top of a container when the container is
stored upright on its base, and terms such as upper, lower,
horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will
be understood, however, that the dispensing closure system of this
invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold
in an orientation other than the position described.
[0052] The closure system of this invention is suitable for use
with a variety of conventional or special containers having various
designs, the details of which, although not illustrated or
described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and
an understanding of such containers. The container, per se,
described herein forms no part of, and therefore is not intended to
limit, the present invention. It will also be understood by those
of ordinary skill that novel and non-obvious inventive aspects are
embodied in the described exemplary closure systems alone.
[0053] A presently preferred embodiment of a closure system of the
present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 et seq. and is
designated generally therein by reference number 20 in FIG. 1. In
the preferred embodiment illustrated, the closure system 20 is
provided in the form of a separate, dispensing type closure 20
which is adapted to be mounted or installed on a container 22 (FIG.
3) that would typically contain a fluent material. The container 22
includes body 24 and a neck 26 as shown in FIG. 3. The neck 26
defines an opening 28 to the container interior. The container neck
26, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, has an
external, male thread 29 for engaging the closure 20.
[0054] The body 24 of the container 22 may have any suitable
configuration, and the upwardly projecting neck 26 may have a
different cross-sectional size and/or shape than the container body
24. Alternatively, the container 22 need not have a neck 26, per
se. Instead, the container 22 may consist of just a body with an
opening. The container 22 may have a rigid wall or walls, or may
have a somewhat flexible wall or walls.
[0055] Although the container, per se, does not necessarily form a
part of the broadest aspects of the present invention, per se, it
will be appreciated that at least a body portion of the closure
system 20 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
system 20 is a separate assembly (e.g., a closure) of two pieces,
and is adapted to be removably or non-removably installed on a
previously manufactured container 22 that has an opening 28 to the
container interior. Hereinafter, the closure system 20 will be more
simply referred to as the closure 20.
[0056] The closure 20 is adapted to be used with a container 22
having an opening 28 to provide access to the container interior
and to a product contained therein. The closure 20 can be used with
many materials, including, but not limited to, relatively low or
high viscosity liquids, creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures,
lotions, pastes, particulates, granular materials, small pieces or
items, etc. as constituting a food 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, etc.).
[0057] The container 22 with which the closure 20 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 wall 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. Also,
the interior of the container need not be pressurized at all.
Instead, if the closure is large enough, the product could be
accessed by reaching through the open closure with a hand, spoon or
straw, or the package could be inverted to let the product
discharge through the opened closure solely under the influence of
gravity.
[0058] In other designs, a flexible, slit valve could be included
in the closure for dispensing product when the lid is opened. Such
a valve could open to accommodate dispensing of a fluid under the
influence of a differential pressure acting across the valve (as
may be created, for example, if suction (i.e., reduced pressure) is
applied to the exterior of the valve, and/or if the pressure inside
the container is increased).
[0059] It is presently contemplated that many applications
employing the closure 20 will conveniently be realized by molding
some or all of the components of the closure 20 from suitable
thermoplastic material or materials. In the preferred embodiment
illustrated, the components of the closure could each be molded
from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene or
polypropylene. The closure components may be separately molded from
the same material or from different materials. The materials may
have the same or different colors and textures.
[0060] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the closure system or closure 20
includes, two basic components, (1) a base or body 30, and (2) a
lid 40 which is adapted to be carried on the body 30. The closure
20 may also include optional tamper-evident features as described
in detail hereinafter. The optional, tamper-evident features do not
form a necessary part of the present invention.
[0061] The lid 40 is pivotable between a closed position over the
body 30 as shown in FIG. 1 and an open position as shown in FIG. 2.
The lid 40 is manufactured (e.g., preferably molded from
thermoplastic material) as a component which is initially
completely separate from the closure body 30. The detailed
structure of the presently preferred form of the lid 40 is
described in detail hereinafter.
[0062] After the closure body 30 is initially molded, the lid 40 is
assembled (as described in detail hereinafter), and a rear portion
of the body 30 is deformed in order to establish a secure retention
of the lid 40 to the body 30 in a way that accommodates the
pivoting movement of the lid 40 while preventing removal of the lid
40 from the body 30. The structure of the closure body 30, prior to
mounting of the lid 40 thereon and deforming of a rear portion of
the body 30 to secure the lid 40 to the body 30, will next be
described in detail.
[0063] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the closure body 30, as initially
molded, includes a spout 42 defining a dispensing orifice 44 which
opens to the hollow interior of the closure body 30 and which
therefore communicates with the opening 28 in the container neck 26
when the closure 20 is mounted on the container 22 as shown in FIG.
4. The interior of the spout 42 contains an apertured baffle
structure 45 (FIGS. 3-7) for controlling the flow of the
discharging fluid product. The baffle structure 45 may be omitted
altogether, or other spout interior structures may be included
(e.g., a discharge valve).
[0064] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, at the bottom of the spout 42,
the closure body 30 has a peripheral upper deck 46. The peripheral
upper deck 46 is defined at its outer edge by a generally vertical
wall 48 as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. Surrounding the lower edge
of the vertical wall 48 is an intermediate deck 50. The
intermediate deck 50 is defined at its outer edge by a generally
vertical wall 52. At the bottom edge of the vertical wall 52 is a
lower deck 54. The lower deck 54 defines an attachment surface and
functions to accommodate a thermoplastic weld attachment of an
optional, tamper-evident feature on the lid 40 as described in
detail hereinafter.
[0065] As can be seen in FIGS. 6, 7, and 7A, the rear of the
closure body 30 includes a receiving structure or bearing member
comprising two, spaced-apart, lower portions or walls--a laterally
outer wall 80A, and a laterally inner wall 80B spaced from the
laterally outer wall 80A so as to define between them an upwardly
open channel 82. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper, distal end portion
of each lower wall 80 extends toward the other wall 80 over the
channel 82 to define a reduced width passage 84 to the channel 82.
The bottom of the channel 82 includes a narrower recess or groove
86.
[0066] As can be seen in FIG. 7A, the upper end of the laterally
inner wall 80B defines a top surface 85 with an energy director 87
which projects from the top surface 85. The energy director 87 is
tapered and becomes smaller in cross section with increasing
distances from the top surface 85. The energy director 87
facilitates the preferred method of ultrasonically welding the
portions of the body 30 as described in detail hereinafter.
[0067] A flap 88 extends laterally from the top end of the
laterally outer wall 80A. A hinge 89 connects the flap 88 with the
laterally outer wall 80A. The hinge 89 is defined by a reduced
thickness of material and permits the flap 88 to be pivoted or
folded over the channel 82 after the closure lid 40 has been
mounted to the closure body 30 as described in detail
hereinafter.
[0068] As used herein, the phrases "laterally inner wall" and
"laterally outer wall" (e.g., walls 80A and 80B) refer to portions
of material on either side of, and defining, the channel 82. Each
wall 80A and 80B may actually be very thick, and merge into, or be
part of, a larger surrounding structure of the closure body. The
term "lateral" as employed herein is a relative term used with
respect to the channel 82. Each wall 80A and 80B may actually also
be in an upper portion of the closure body 30 as in the preferred
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0069] In an alternate embodiment (not illustrated), the flap 88
could be hinged to the inner wall 80B, and the outer wall 80A could
be provided with an energy director 87.
[0070] As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the closure body 30 has an
annular skirt 90 extending downwardly form the upper portion of the
closure body 30. The interior surface of the skirt 90 defines a
female thread 92. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the closure body skirt
thread 92 is adapted to threadingly engage the exterior, male
thread 29 on the container neck 26.
[0071] Alternatively, the closure skirt 90 could be provided with
some other container connecting means, such as a snap-fit bead or
groove (not illustrated) in place of the thread 92 for engaging a
container neck groove or bead (not illustrated), respectively. The
closure body 30 could also be permanently attached to the container
22 by means of induction melting, ultrasonic melting, gluing, or
the like, depending on materials used for the closure body 30 and
container 22. The closure body 30 could also be formed as a unitary
part, or extension, of the container 22.
[0072] The closure body skirt 90 may have any suitable
configuration for accommodating an upwardly projecting neck 26 or
other portion of the container 22 received within the particular
configuration of the closure body 30, and the main part of the
container 22 may have a different cross-sectional shape than the
container neck 26 and closure body 30.
[0073] An optional seal or liner (not illustrated) may be sealed
across the top of the container neck 26 or, alternatively, may be
sealed across an interior region or underside of the upper portion
of the closure body 30. However, if the function of a
tamper-evident seal or freshness seal as provided by such a liner
is not needed or desired in a particular application, then the
liner may, of course, be omitted.
[0074] Also, if desired, the closure body 30 may be provided with
an interior, annular seal 96 (FIGS. 6 and 7) extending downwardly
from the underside of the upper portion of the closure body 30.
Such a seal 96 could be "plug" profile seal, as illustrated, or a
"crab's claw" seal, or some other such seal, depending upon the
particular application and depending upon whether or not a liner is
employed.
[0075] In the preferred form of the closure illustrated, the
closure body skirt 90 has a generally annular configuration.
However, the closure body skirt 90 may have other configurations.
For example, the closure body skirt 90 might have a prism or
polygon configuration adapted to be mounted to the top of a
container neck having a polygon configuration. Such prism or
polygon configurations would not accommodate the use of a threaded
attachment, but other means of attachment could be provided, such
as a snap-fit bead and groove arrangement, or the like. However, if
the closure body included a double wall defining a polygon outer
skirt and a cylindrical inner attachment wall, then the cylindrical
inner attachment wall could be provided with a thread for
engagement with a threaded container.
[0076] In one preferred form of the closure as shown in FIG. 5, the
closure body 30 incorporates a conventional or special
tamper-evident ring 100 along the bottom edge of the closure body
skirt 90 for cooperation with a container 22 that has a retention
flange 104 (FIG. 3) below the container neck thread 26. As shown in
FIG. 5, the tamper-evident ring 100 is initially molded as a
downwardly extending, unitary flange on the bottom of the closure
body skirt 90. Prior to the installation of the closure body 30 on
a container, such as on the container 22 illustrated in FIG. 3, the
lower half of the tamper-evident ring 100 is deformed or bent
radially inwardly and upwardly. Then, the closure body 30 is
lowered onto the container neck 26 and threadingly rotated relative
to the container neck 26. The upwardly bent tamper-evident ring 100
passes over the container neck thread 29 and over the container
neck retention flange 104. The upwardly bent portion of the
tamper-evident ring 100 snaps inwardly below the container neck
retention flange 104 as shown in FIG. 3. This resists removal of
the closure body 30 if a user attempts to rotate the closure body
30 in an unscrewing direction. However, the tamper-evident band or
ring 100, in the preferred form, is connected to the bottom end of
the closure body skirt 90 by a very thin portion or portions of
material (which may have, for example, circumferentially
spaced-apart notches or a scored groove or a molded groove (not
shown)). If the user attempts to unscrew the closure body 30 with a
sufficient amount of torque, then the interconnecting, thin portion
of material will break, and the tamper-evident band 100 will
separate from the bottom of the closure body skirt 90. This will
serve as an indication that the closure body 30 has been unscrewed,
at least partially, from the fully assembled configuration.
[0077] The use of a tamper-evident ring or band 100 is an entirely
optional feature of the illustrated embodiment, and it does not
form a necessary part of the present invention. Indeed, if the
closure body 30 is non-releasably attached to the container neck 26
(as with adhesive, thermal bonding, irreversible snap-fit
configurations, etc.), then the tamper-evident ring 100 would
provide no additional benefit. Similarly, a tamper-evident ring 100
would provide no additional benefit if the closure body 30 is
formed as a unitary molded extension of the container neck 26.
[0078] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lid 40 includes a top wall
122 and a skirt 124. The front of the lid 40 has an indentation or
recess 126 in the skirt 124. A thumb lift tab 128 projects
outwardly from the top portion of the lid 40 over the recess 126.
As can be seen in FIG. 9, the skirt 124 has a flat wall section 125
at the rear of the lid 40. Projecting outwardly from the flat wall
section 125 is a pair of rearwardly extending lugs 130. A shaft 132
extends between, and connects, the lugs 130 at a location where the
shaft 132 is spaced from the lid skirt flat wall section 125. The
shaft 132 has a centrally located, outwardly projecting ridge or
bead 133.
[0079] After the closure body 30 has been made (as by molding it
from thermoplastic material) with the laterally extending flap 88,
the closure body 30 may be characterized as an intermediate article
of manufacture or preform. Subsequently, the lid 40 can be mounted
to the closure body 30 in a way that accommodates the pivoting
movement of the lid 40 between the open and closed positions. With
reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the lid 40 is initially mounted in a
closed position on the body 30 so that the lid shaft 132 is
received within the upwardly open channel 82 defined at the rear of
the closure body 30. Subsequently, the flap 88 is pivoted or folded
over the shaft 132 and attached to the laterally inner wall 80B to
form a retention bridge 135 (FIGS. 2 and 4).
[0080] The shaft 132 has a width dimension or diameter that is
greater than the opening 84 between the upper, distal ends of the
walls 80 which define the sides of the channel 82. This provides a
snap-fit engagement that holds the lid shaft 132 on a fixed axis
relative to the closure body 30 so as to accommodate pivoting
movement of the lid 40 relative to the closure body 30 between the
full closed position (FIG. 1) and the full open position (FIG. 2).
The shaft ridge or bead 133 (FIG. 4) is received in the groove 86
(FIGS. 4 and 6) at the bottom of the channel 82 when the lid 40 is
fully opened (FIG. 2) to provide a detent engagement that increases
the resistance to rotation of the lid 40 away from the open
position.
[0081] Although the above-described snap-fit engagement of the lid
shaft 132 within the channel 82 functions well in many
applications, in some applications it would be desirable to have a
structure that even more strongly retains the lid hinge shaft 132
on the closure body 30, and that prevents removal of the lid hinge
shaft 132 from the body channel 82. To this end, the bridge 135
(FIG. 4) (which is formed by pivoting (i.e., folding) and securing
the flap 88) functions as a positive retention system preventing
withdrawal of the hinge shaft 132 from the channel 82.
[0082] The flap 88 preferably is pivoted from the as-molded,
horizontal orientation (FIG. 7A) to a position extending over the
channel 82 by a suitable operation applying force to the flap 88.
Heat may also be applied to facilitate the process, and ultrasonic
welding is a presently preferred method for attaching the flap 88
to surface 84 of the inner wall 80B. When an ultrasonic process is
used, the flap 88 can be pivoted and folded over the lid shaft 132
in the channel 82 and then attached to the top surface 85 of the
laterally inner wall 80B by forcing the flap 88 against the energy
director 86. The energy director 87 softens, deforms, and flattens
as the ultrasonic weld is effected. Softened or melted portions of
the flap 88 and wall top surface 85 fuse and re-solidify after the
termination of the application of the ultrasonic energy. This
effects a welding of the thermoplastic material.
[0083] The preferred material of the closure body 30, including the
flap 88, is a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene, and such
a material accommodates ultrasonic welding of the flap 88 to the
wall 80B to form the desired, final shape of the bridge 135 that
bridges the lid shaft 132 in the channel 82. Other materials could
be used.
[0084] Conventional or special tools or equipment may be employed
for effecting ultrasonic welding of the flap 88 to the wall 80B.
The details of the particular process, and the details of tools or
equipment used, form no part of the present invention. Equipment
operating energy, time, force, etc., depend, of course, on the size
and mass of the particular flap 88 as designed, as well as upon the
type of thermoplastic material.
[0085] The flap 88 could be attached to the wall 80B by means other
than ultrasonic welding. For example, the distal end portion of the
folded over flap 88 could be bonded to the top surface 85 of the
wall 80B with adhesive or by forming a weld from melting one or
both of the confronting surfaces with a hot knife or plate. Also, a
mechanical snap-fit attachment structure could be provided (e.g., a
snap-fit groove in the flap 88 or wall top surface 85, and a mating
snap-fit projection in the wall top surface 85 or flap 88,
respectively).
[0086] As can be seen in FIG. 12, the lid 40 preferably includes a
plug or spud 140 projecting downwardly from the underside of the
lid top wall 122. An annular sealing member 142 projects from the
underside of the lid 40 around the spud 140. The member 142 has a
radially inwardly projecting sealing bead 144. As shown in FIG. 4,
the spud 140 is adapted to be received within the dispensing
orifice 44 of the spout 42. In the preferred embodiment illustrated
in FIGS. 4, the dispensing orifice 44 is a substantially
cylindrical orifice, and the exterior of the lid plug or spud 140
has a generally cylindrical surface. The diameter of the exterior
surface of the lid spud 140 is slightly greater than the internal
diameter of the body dispensing orifice 44. This provides an
interference fit to effect good sealing engagement. Either the spud
140 or the spout 42, or both, have sufficient flexibility to
accommodate such an interference fit providing leak-tight sealing
capability. The lid sealing member 142 and its bead 144 are
optional features that may be included so that the bead can
sealingly engage the upper, exterior surface of the spout 42. The
spud 140 is also an optional feature. The closure 20 could
alternatively be provided with just the spud 140 alone, or the lid
member 142 alone, or both the spud 140 and lid member 142 (as in
the illustrated, preferred embodiment).
[0087] Although not part of the present invention per se, an
optional tamper-evident feature may be provided for indicating that
the lid 40 has been initially moved away from the fully closed
configuration (FIG. 1) toward the fully opened position (FIG. 2).
The tamper-evident feature involves cooperation between the lid 40
and closure body 30. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 9, the
tamper-evident feature includes at least one anchor member 152
which is initially connected to the lid 40 with one or more
frangible members or webs 160. The combination of the lid 40, webs
160, and anchor members 152 may be characterized as a top structure
for being initially mounted on, and attached to, the closure body
30.
[0088] There are two anchor members 152--one provided on each side
of the lid 40 along the bottom edge of the lid 40, but spaced a
distance Y (FIGS. 14-16) below the lid skirt bottom edge. As
illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, there are a plurality of frangible
webs 160 in the form of spaced-apart bridges extending between each
anchor member 152 and the lid skirt 124.
[0089] In the illustrated preferred embodiment, each anchor member
152 includes a generally vertically inner surface 153 (FIGS. 12 and
13) that faces radially inwardly and that is connected to the lower
portion of each frangible web 160. The webs 160 are initially
molded simultaneously with, and as part of the unitary top
structure that includes, the lid 40 and anchor members 152. Each
anchor member 152 is a generally arcuate bar. In other contemplated
embodiments (not illustrated), each anchor member need not be an
arcuate bar. Each anchor member 152 includes an attaching portion
162 (FIGS. 13 and 14) which, in the illustrated preferred
embodiment, is defined by the underside or bottom surface of the
member 152. Preferably, the attaching portion 162 is initially
molded as the bottom surface of the anchor member 152 and also
includes a downwardly projecting protuberance 164 that has a
triangular transverse cross section for facilitating the
thermoplastic welding attachment of the anchor member 152 to the
closure body attachment surface 54 as described in detail
hereinafter.
[0090] In the presently contemplated, preferred form of the
optional tamper-evident feature, the manufacturer can readily mold
the lid 40, webs 160, and anchor members 152 (with the
protuberances 164) together as a single, unitary component (i.e.,
the "top structure"), and the manufacturer can separately mold the
closure body 30 as another, separate component. The top structure
and body 30 may be molded from the same thermoplastic material or
from different thermoplastic materials. The lid 40, webs 160,
anchor members 152, and body 30 may have the same color and texture
or may have different colors and/or textures.
[0091] After separately molding the closure body 30 and the top
structure (i.e., the lid 40, webs 160, and anchor members 152 with
protuberances 164), the two components are assembled by mounting
the lid 40 on the closure body 30 so that the lid hinge shaft 132
is received in a snap-fit engagement within the closure body
receiving channel 82. The lid 40 is initially closed on the closure
body 30 as shown in FIG. 5. In the initially closed position of the
lid 40, each anchor member 152 is disposed above the closure body
lower deck 54 which defines the upwardly facing attachment surface.
The lower, pointed edge of the anchor member attaching portion
protuberance 164 rests on the closure body attachment surface
(i.e., the upwardly facing surface of the closure body lower deck
54). The closure manufacturer can then (1) deform the upstanding
deformable walls 87 (FIG. 7) over the lid shaft 132 as previously
described, and (2) weld the anchor members 152 to the deck 54.
[0092] A presently preferred method for welding the optional
tamper-evident anchor members 152 to the closure body lower deck 54
employs thermoplastic welding, and preferably thermoplastic welding
as effected with ultrasonic energy. The triangular cross section
protuberance 164 on the attachment portion 162 at the bottom of
each anchor member 152 functions as an energy director for the
ultrasonic energy. The ultrasonic, energy can be applied with
commercial ultrasonic welding equipment which may be of any
suitable conventional or special design. Such ultrasonic welding
equipment typically includes a suitable horn or engaging member for
engaging the outwardly facing, exterior portions of the anchor
members 152 and for applying a force against the anchor members 152
in a direction tending to urge the anchor members 152 downwardly
toward the closure body lower deck attachment surface 54 at the
same time that the ultrasonic equipment transfers ultrasonic energy
into and through the anchor members 152. The same equipment could
also include, but need not include, suitable engaging members for
ultrasonically welding the flap 88 (FIGS. 6 and 7) over the lid
pivot shaft 132 to form the bridge 135 (FIG. 2) at substantially
the same time that the members 152 are welded to the closure body
deck 54. The equipment operating energy, time, force, etc. depend,
of course, on the size and mass of the closure top structure
components that are to be welded as well as upon the type of
thermoplastic material. The detailed design and operation of such
ultrasonic welding equipment form no part of the present
invention.
[0093] In one presently preferred embodiment of the optional
tamper-evident feature, the ultrasonic welding of the anchor
members 152 to the closure body lower deck 54 is facilitated by
providing the deck 54 with a textured surface. One such suitable
textured surface can be provided by conventional etching of the
relevant region of the mold steel through a conventional texture
mask or plaque. In a preferred embodiment of the closure molded
from polypropylene, the surface of the mold at the attachment
surface 54 is AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) type 420
stainless steel with a hardness of 54-64 Rockwell c that has been
(1) ferric chloride acid attached to a depth of 0.052 mm. through a
plaque or mask designated MT 11050 as sold by Mold Tech (having an
office at 279 East Lies Road, Carol Stream, Ill. 60188, U.S.A.),
and (2) bead blasted to remove ash residue.
[0094] During the welding of the anchor members 152 to the closure
body deck 54, the energy director protuberances 164 (which may have
a projection of about 0.55 mm. in a presently preferred embodiment)
become softened and/or melted along with adjacent portions of the
closure body deck 54. The softened or melted protuberances 164 and
the softened or melted portions of the closure body deck 54, along
with any softened or melted portions of the anchor member 152
adjacent the protuberances 164) fuse and re-solidify after
termination of the application of the ultrasonic energy. This
effects a welding of the thermoplastic material (as schematically
designated by reference number 168 in FIG. 3).
[0095] With reference to FIG. 14, it can be seen that the frangible
webs 160 extend downwardly for a distance Y below the bottom edge
of the closure lid skirt 124 where the webs 160 adjoin the inner
top edge of the anchor member 152. The frangible web 160 spans the
gap Y between the top of the anchor member 152 and the bottom edge
of the closure lid skirt 124.
[0096] When the user wishes to open the closure 20, the user
applies a generally upwardly directed force to the closure lid
thumb lift 128 (FIGS. 1 and 14). The application of a sufficiently
large force will case the frangible webs 160 to break or rupture as
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0097] Before the lid 40 is lifted for the first time to break the
frangible webs 160, the frangible webs 160 provide an indication
that the lid 40 has not yet been opened. The user can readily see
that the frangible web 160 are not ruptured because the frangible
webs 160 span a relatively large gap having the height Y as shown
in FIG. 14. The gap Y between the bottom edge of the lid skirt 124
and the top of the anchor member 152 provides a good background,
field of view, or visual environment in which to readily ascertain
that the frangible webs 160 are not broken (or are broken).
[0098] It will be appreciated that the optional, lid tamper-evident
feature (comprising, inter alia, the anchor members 152 and
frangible webs 160) may be omitted altogether if tamper-evidency is
not desired. Alternatively, a completely different tamper-evident
system could be employed for the lid.
[0099] When the closure 20 is in the full open condition as shown
in FIG. 2, the user can tip or invert the package to facilitate the
dispensing of fluent product under the influence of gravity. If the
container 22 has a flexible wall or walls, the container 22 can be
squeezed to further assist in dispensing the product. After the
desired amount of product has been dispensed, the package can be
turned back to its upright orientation, and the user can close the
lid 40. If the package is designed for "inverted" storage (such as
if the closure includes a flexible, pressure-actuatable,
self-sealing dispensing valve), then the package may be left
inverted at all times.
[0100] It will also be appreciated that the closure system of the
present invention need not be provided as a separate closure for a
container. The closure body 30 could instead be molded as a unitary
part of the container 22. A container could be molded to have (1)
an initially open bottom end, (2) a peripheral wall forming an
upper end that defines a container top end opening, and (3) a
unitary closure body portion extending radially inwardly from the
container peripheral wall over the container top end opening so as
to form a unitary part of the container top end and so as to define
a unitary, top end closure body, including the spout 42 (and
optionally including a hinge and lid, if the body, hinge, and lid
are to be part of a single, unitary structure). Then, the container
could be filled with product through the open bottom end, and the
open bottom end could be subsequently sealed closed by appropriate
means, such as with thermally assisted deformation or with a
separate bottom closure plug or bottom cap.
[0101] It will also be appreciated that the closure system of the
present invention may include other components, elements, or
features. For example, the closure body 30 (FIG. 3) could include
an internal valve system. The valve could be, for example, a
pressure-actuated, flexible, resilient slit valve. Such a valve has
the configuration and operating characteristics of a commercially
available valve design substantially as disclosed in the U.S. Pat.
No. 5,676,289 with reference to the valve 46 disclosed in the U.S.
Pat. No. 5,676,289. The operation of such a type of valve is
further described with reference to the similar valve that is
designated by reference number 3d in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,144.
The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 herein
could accommodate such a valve within the closure body spout 42
under the dispensing orifice 44 and within, or in place of, the
baffle structure 45. Such a valve could be held in place with a
suitable retainer ring in snap-fit engagement with the closure
body. Alternatively, such a valve could be secured with other
means, such as bi-injection molding, insert molding, adhesive
securement, crimping, swagging, or the like.
[0102] It will also be appreciated that beyond the region of the
lid hinge shaft 132 and shaft retention structure in the body 30,
the lid 40 and body 30 may have configurations and features other
than those illustrated herein for the preferred embodiment. It will
also be appreciated that the shapes of lid hinge pivot shaft 132,
receiving channel 82, and flap 88 need not be exactly as shown for
the illustrated preferred embodiment.
[0103] The novel lid hinge shaft retention system of the present
invention, which includes one or more flaps (e.g., flap 88 in FIG.
7), can be readily molded from thermoplastic material. The shape of
the flap 88 allows the flap 88 to be more easily molded in the line
of draw of the mold parts.
[0104] After pivoting the flap 88 and welding (or otherwise
attaching) it to the top of the inner wall 80B to create the bridge
135 (FIG. 2), the bridge 135 provides an enhanced, secure retention
of the lid pivot shaft 132 in either the open or closed
position.
[0105] Of course, in an alternate embodiment (not illustrated), the
flap 88 could be hinged to the inner wall 80B, and then folded over
and attached to the top of the other wall 80A. Also, two or more
separate flaps could be used, if desired.
[0106] It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed
description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof
that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without
departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or
principles of this invention.
* * * * *