U.S. patent application number 12/109870 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-30 for container closure including flip-top cap.
This patent application is currently assigned to BERRY PLASTICS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Duane SAWYER.
Application Number | 20080264961 12/109870 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39885754 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080264961 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAWYER; Duane |
October 30, 2008 |
CONTAINER CLOSURE INCLUDING FLIP-TOP CAP
Abstract
A container closure adapted to be used with a container to allow
for the selected removal of the contents of the container. The
container closure includes a body adapted to be mounted to the
container, a flip-top cap, and a hinge used to couple the flip-top
cap to the body. The flip-top cap is adapted to move from a closed
position on the body to an open position away from the body.
Inventors: |
SAWYER; Duane; (York,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
BERRY PLASTICS CORPORATION
Evansville
IN
|
Family ID: |
39885754 |
Appl. No.: |
12/109870 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60914588 |
Apr 27, 2007 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/810 ;
215/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0814
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/810 ;
215/316 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/16 20060101
B65D043/16; B65D 41/00 20060101 B65D041/00 |
Claims
1. A closure for a container having an opening, the closure
comprising a body adapted to mount onto a container over an
opening, the body being defined by a top wall and an annular side
wall depending from the top wall, the top wall being formed to
include a product-dispensing aperture adapted to communicate with
the opening of the container, the side wall of the body being
formed to include a recess, a flip-top cap mounted for movement on
the body between a closed position on the body to cover the
aperture and an opened position away from the body to expose the
aperture, and a hinge molded with the body and the flip-top cap,
the hinge being formed to include first and second web ramps that
are coupled to the body and the flip-top cap, wherein the hinge is
configured to include an offset web apex positioned between the
first and second web ramps and positioned closer to the body than
the flip-top cap, and the offset web apex is adapted to engage a
portion of the body and place the web ramps in tension to vault the
flip-top cap from an opened position away from the body, over the
web apex, to a closed position on the body and to assist in
aligning the flip-top cap on the body when the flip-top cap is
moved to the closed position.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a first
elastic web connector used to couple the hinge to the flip-top cap
and a second elastic web connector used to couple the hinge to the
body of the closure and the offset web apex is positioned above the
first and second elastic web connectors when the flip-top cap is in
the opened position away from the body.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a first
sloped face that extends upwardly from the first elastic web
connector to the offset web apex when the flip-top cap is in the
opened position away from the body.
4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the hinge further includes a
second sloped face that extends upwardly from the second elastic
web connector to the offset web apex when the flip-top cap is in
the open position away from the body.
5. The closure of claim 4, wherein the surface area of the second
sloped face is less than the surface area of the first sloped face
to cause the offset web apex to be positioned closer to the body
than to the flip-top cap.
6. The closure of claim 1, wherein the web apex includes a first
sloped face that is coupled to the first web ramp along a first web
ridge.
7. The closure of claim 6, wherein the first sloped face is coupled
to the second web ramp along a second web ridge.
8. The closure of claim 7, wherein the first and second web ridges
are interconnected along a first apex ridge that extends along the
offset web apex.
9. The closure of claim 6, wherein the web apex includes a second
sloped face that is coupled to the first web ramp along a third web
ridge.
10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the second sloped face is
coupled to the second web ramp along a fourth web ridge, and
wherein the third and fourth web ridges are interconnected along a
second apex ridge that extends along the offset web apex.
11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the recess formed in the body
is defined by a back wall and first and second opposing faces.
12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the recess is also defined by
first and second bottom wall segments included in the body and
arranged to extend inwardly from the first and second opposing
faces and intersect at a peak.
13. The closure of claim 12, wherein the offset web apex engages
the peak of the body during closure of the flip-top cap onto the
body, to vault the flip-top cap from an opened position away from
the body, over the web apex, to a closed position on the body.
14. The closure of claim 12, wherein engagement of the offset web
apex with the peak of the body places the first and second web
ramps in tension to cause the flip-top cap to be biased toward the
body when vaulting the flip-top cap over the offset web apex to
assist in aligning the flip-top cap on the body.
15. A closure for a container opening, the closure comprising a
body for mounting to the container over the opening, and defining a
discharge aperture communicating with the opening, a flip-top cap
mounted for movement on the body between a closed position on the
body to cover the aperture and an open position away from the body
to expose the aperture, and a hinge formed to include vault means
for vaulting the flip-top cap from an opened position away from the
body to a closed position on the body to assist in aligning the
flip-top cap with the body when flip-top cap is moved onto the body
and to cause accelerating movement of the flip-top cap relative to
the base in response to the application of a force to the flip-top
cap to cause the flip-top cap to move past an over-center
position.
16. The closure of claim 15, wherein the vault means of the hinge
includes a web apex and first and second web ramps positioned to
lie near the web apex.
17. The closure of claim 16, wherein the web apex is positioned
closer to the body than the flip-top cap of the closure when the
flip-top cap is in the opened position away from the body.
18. The closure of claim 16, wherein the web apex includes a first
sloped face coupled to the first and second web ramps along first
and second web ridges and a second sloped face coupled to the first
and second web ramps along third and fourth web ridges.
19. The closure of claim 18, wherein the first and second web
ridges are interconnected along a first apex ridge and the third
and fourth web ridges are interconnected along a second apex ridge
and wherein the first and second apex ridges are generally parallel
with respect to each other along the web apex.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/914,588, filed
Apr. 27, 2007, which is expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to closures for mounting on
the top of bottles or other containers, and in particular, to a
container closure including a flip-top cap. More particularly, the
present disclosure relates to a flexible hinge configured to
interconnect a body and a flip-top cap of a container closure.
SUMMARY
[0003] In accordance with the present disclosure, a container
closure is provided for coupling with a container. The container
closure comprises a body adapted to be coupled to the container to
selectively permit the release of a substance, such as a liquid,
from the container. The container closure includes a hinge that is
coupled to the body and a flip-top cap appended to the hinge.
[0004] In illustrative embodiments, the hinge is molded with the
body and cap and includes first and second web ramps interconnected
by an offset web apex. The web apex is adapted to engage an inner
top edge of a recess formed in a side wall of the body to vault the
flip-top cap from an open position away from the body, over the web
apex to a closed position on the body. The web apex, in combination
with the web ramps, assists in positioning the flip-top cap on the
body.
[0005] In illustrative embodiments, the hinge may also include
first and second plateau buttresses that are positioned to lie
between first and second web ramps. The plateau buttresses are
designed to cause the hinge to fold along an elongated notch formed
in a web plateau of the hinge when the flip-top cap is moved from
the open position, away from the body, to the closed position on
the body. The first and second plateau buttresses each include an
inclined surface that spaced apart from each other when the
flip-top cap is in the closed position on the body to allow the
hinge to fit flush against the side wall of the body.
[0006] Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following
detail description of illustrative embodiments exemplify the best
mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure adapted to be
mounted on a bottle to cover a mouth opening into an interior
region formed in the bottle and formed to include a flip-top cap
retained in a closed position on an underlying body and showing a
hinge configured to interconnect the body and the flip-top cap and
to include a web provided with a bow tie shape;
[0009] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1
after movement of the flip-top cap on the hinge relative to the
body to an open position exposing a product-dispensing spout formed
in the body;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the closure showing
movement of the flip-top cap with respect to the body with time
interval T.sub.1 representing the flip-top cap in the open position
and T.sub.2 representing the flip-top cap in an intermediate
position on the body at which point the apex of the hinge engages
the body to vault the flip-top cap onto the body to a closed
position at time interval T.sub.3;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge of FIG.
1 showing the web apex located in a central portion of the web
between the first and second flat web ramps and also showing the
web apex offset toward the body of the closure;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the hinge shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4 showing the web apex of the hinge at a location
between the first and second web ramps and offset toward the body
of the closure;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of
FIG. 5 showing the web having a positively sloping flat first web
ramp and a negatively sloping flat second web ramp and showing the
web apex positioned between and interconnecting high-elevation
portions of the first and second web ramps;
[0014] FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 of
FIG. 1 showing elastic deformation of each of the first and second
web end ramps to assume curved shapes upon movement of the flip-top
cap to a closed position on the body (as shown in FIG. 1);
[0015] FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8-8 of
FIG. 2 showing a force applied to the flip-top cap to pivot the cap
on the hinge relative to the body (in a counterclockwise direction)
toward the closed position;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing the
flip-top cap pivoting from an open position to a closed position in
a counterclockwise direction;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 showing
the cap in the closed position on the body;
[0018] FIGS. 11-20 illustrate a closure in accordance with another
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 11 is perspective view of the closure after movement of
the flip-top cap on the hinge relative to the body to an open
position exposing a product-dispensing spout formed in the
body;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the closure showing the
flip-top cap in an open position away from the body and also
showing the orientation of the web buttresses of the hinge when the
flip-top cap is in the open position;
[0021] FIG. 13 is another diagrammatic view of the closure showing
the flip-top cap in a closed position on the body and also showing
the orientation of the web buttresses when the flip-top cap is in
the closed position;
[0022] FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge of FIG.
12 showing a web plateau located in a center portion of the web and
formed to include an elongated notch and a pair of ramp-shaped
plateau buttresses arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one
another to locate the web plateau and the elongated notch
therebetween;
[0023] FIG. 15 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the
hinge shown in FIGS. 11 and 14 showing that a first of the plateau
buttresses (on the right) is appended to a curved portion of the
flip-top cap and a second of the plateau buttresses (on the left)
is appended to a curved portion of the body;
[0024] FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 16-16
of FIG. 12 showing that the web includes a positively sloping flat
first web end ramp and a negatively sloping flat second web end
ramp and that the web plateau is arranged to lie between and
interconnect high-elevation portions of the first and second web
end ramps;
[0025] FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line 17-17 of FIG.
12;
[0026] FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG.
12;
[0027] FIG. 19 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 18 showing a
force applied to the flip-top cap to pivot the cap on the hinge
relative to the body in a counterclockwise direction toward the
closed position; and
[0028] FIG. 20 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 18 and 19
showing the cap in the closed position in the body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] A container closure 10 includes a body 12 that is adapted to
mate with a container, a flip-top cap 16, and a hinge 14
interconnecting body 12 and flip-top cap 16, and is shown in an
open position in FIG. 1. Hinge 14 includes an offset web apex 38
that is used in combination with first and second elastic web ramps
34, 36 to vault flip-top cap 16 over web apex 38 and onto body 12,
as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3 and illustratively in FIGS.
8-10.
[0030] Hinge 214, in accordance with another embodiment of the
present disclosure, includes first and second inclined plateau
buttresses 242, 244 that are adapted to cause hinge 214 to fold
about an elongated notch 240 formed in web plateau 238 of hinge
214, as shown, for example, in the perspective view of FIG. 14 and
the sectional views of FIGS. 19 and 20. First and second plateau
buttresses 242, 244 include inclined top surfaces 268, 270 that
form a space between plateau buttresses 242, 244 when flip-top cap
216 is in a closed position on body 212 to allow hinge 214 to fit
tightly against body 212 and flip-top cap 216 of container closure
210.
[0031] In illustrative embodiments, container closure 10 includes
body 12 adapted to be mounted on a container, as shown, for
example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. Container closure 10 also includes hinge
14 coupled to body 12 and flip-top cap 16 depending from hinge 14.
Container closure 10 is adapted to seal an opening formed in the
container to allow for selected removal of contents from the
container.
[0032] Hinge 14 is coupled to body 12 and to lid 26 to support
flip-top cap 16 for movement relative to body 12 from a closed
position on body 12 covering product-dispensing aperture 18 to an
open position away from body 12 uncovering product-dispensing
aperture 18, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. Hinge 14 includes a
first web ramp 34, a second web ramp 36, and an offset web apex 38
positioned to lie between first and second web ramps 34, 36.
[0033] First and second web ramps 34, 36 are elastic and adapted to
assist in moving flip-top cap 16 from an over center position to a
closed position on body 12, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8. First
and second web ramps 34, 36 are under tension when flip-top cap 16
is moved toward the closed position on body 12, as shown in FIG. 4.
Hinge 14 includes a first side edge 52 that is positioned along
first web ramp 34 and a second side edge 54 that is positioned
along second web ramp 36. Hinge 14 also includes first and second
sloped faces 60, 68 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0034] First sloped face 60 of hinge 14 is coupled to flip-top cap
16 along a first elastic web connector 62 and slopes upwardly from
flip-top cap 16 to web apex 38, as shown, for example in FIG. 4.
First sloped face 60 is coupled to first web ramp 34 along a first
web ridge 64 and is coupled to second web ramp 36 along a second
web ridge 66. First and second web ridges 64, 66 are interconnected
along a first apex ridge 67.
[0035] Second sloped face 68 of hinge 14 is coupled to body 12
along a second elastic web connector 70 of body side wall 22 and
slopes upwardly from second elastic web connector 70 to web apex
38, as shown, for example in FIGS. 4 and 5. Web apex 38 is
positioned above first and second elastic web connectors 62, 70
when flip-top cap 16 is in an open position. Second sloped face 68
is coupled to first web ramp 34 along a third web ridge 72 and is
coupled to a second web ramp 36 along a fourth web ridge 74. Third
and fourth web ridges 72, 74 are interconnected along a second apex
ridge 76. Second apex ridge 76 is substantially parallel to first
apex ridge 67. Second sloped face 68 has a surface area that is
less than the surface area of first sloped face 60, to position web
apex 38 closer to body 12 than flip-top cap 16.
[0036] Web apex 38 of hinge 14 assists in keeping hinge 14 flush
with side wall 22 of body 12 and side wall 32 of a lid 26 when
flip-top cap 10 is in the closed position on body 12. This is
accomplished by placing first and second web ramps 34, 36 in
tension to pull hinge 14 closer to sidewalls 22, 32 of closure 10,
as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 7. Web apex 38, first and
second web ramps 34, 36, and peak 80 of recess 24 cooperate to
assist in positioning flip-top cap 16 on body 12 when flip-top cap
16 is moved from an open position away from body 12 to a closed
position on body 12.
[0037] Movement of hinge 14 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3.
Flip-top cap 16, shown at time T.sub.2, is in an open position away
from body 12. At time T.sub.1, web apex 38 does not contact peak 80
of recess 24 in body 12. As flip-top cap 16 is moved towards a
closed position, web apex 38 engages peak 80 of recess 24 at time
T.sub.3.
[0038] The engagement of web apex 38 with peak 80 at time T.sub.2
places first and second web ramps 34, 36 in tension to assist in
vaulting flip-top cap 16 over web apex 38 and an over center
position onto body 12 at time interval T.sub.3. At time interval
T.sub.2 web apex 38 of hinge 14 is under compression and first and
second web ramps 34, 36 are under tension to vault flip-top cap 18
over web apex 38 and onto body 12.
[0039] Web apex 38 in combination with first and second web ramps
34, 36 of hinge 14 provide a vault means for vaulting flip-top cap
16 from an open position away from body 12 to a closed position on
body 12 to assist in aligning flip-top cap 16 with body 12 when
flip-top cap 16 is moved onto body 12. The vault means also causes
acceleration of flip-top cap 16 relative to base 12 in response to
the application of a force to flip-top cap 16 to move flip-top cap
16 past an over-center position. The wall thickness of hinge 14 is
greater around web apex 38 to prevent web apex 38 from collapsing
under compressive forces as flip-top cap 16 is moved to the closed
position on body 12.
[0040] Body 12 of container closure 10 includes a top wall 20 and
an annular side wall 22 depending from top wall 20, as shown in
FIG. 2. Body 12 also includes a product dispensing aperture 18 that
is formed in top wall 20. Product dispensing aperture 18 is adapted
to allow the contents of the container to pass through body 12 of
container closure 10.
[0041] Top wall 20 of body 12 includes an annular vertical wall 82.
Annular vertical wall 82 is positioned to lie near an inner top
edge 84 of body side wall 22. Annular vertical wall 82 and inner
top edge 84 cooperate to form an annular groove 86. Annular groove
86 is adapted to accept annular side wall 32 of lid 26 when
flip-top cap 16 is in the closed position on body 12.
[0042] Side wall 22 of body 12 is formed to include a recess 24, as
shown, for example, in FIG. 4. Recess 24 is arranged to permit a
portion of hinge 14 to fit within recess 24 when flip-top cap 16 is
in a closed position on body 12. Recess 24 includes a first
vertical face 40 and a second vertical face 42 that opposes first
vertical face 40. Recess 24 of body 12 also includes a back wall
78. Back wall 78 is positioned to lie in between first and second
vertical faces 40, 42.
[0043] Recess 24 also includes first and second curved bottom wall
segments 44, 46. First and second bottom wall segments 44, 46 are
coupled along a second elastic web connector 70 of hinge 14. First
and second bottom wall segments 44, 46 slope upwardly and extend
inwardly from first and second vertical faces 40, 42 and intersect
at a peak 80. Web apex 38 engages peak 80 when flip-top cap 16 is
moved to the closed position on body 12.
[0044] Flip-top cap 16 of container closure 10 includes a movable
lid 26 formed to include an interior chamber 28, as shown, for
example, in FIG. 2. Lid 26 also includes a top wall 30 and an
annular side wall 32 depending from top wall 30. Annular side wall
32 is adapted to be received on body 12 when flip-top cap 16 is in
a closed position on body 12.
[0045] Top wall 30 of lid 26 includes an inside surface 88 having a
plug 90 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. Plug 90 is adapted to
seal dispensing aperture 18 when flip-top cap 16 is in the closed
position on body 12. Annular side wall 32 of lid 26 includes a
first edge 92 depending from top wall 30 and a second edge 94 that
is spaced apart from first edge 92. Second edge 94 of annular side
wall 32 is adapted to be coupled with annular groove 86 of body 12
when flip-top cap 16 is in a closed position on body 12.
[0046] Side wall 32 of lid 26 is formed to include a notched out
portion 96 that is defined by first and second vertical faces 98,
100 and bottom face 102, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. Hinge 14
is coupled to bottom face 102 along first elastic web connector 62.
A portion of hinge 14 is positioned to lie within notched out
portion 96 of lid 26 when flip-top cap 16 is in the closed position
on body 12.
[0047] Flip-top cap 16 of container closure 10 moves from an open
position away from body 12, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8, to a
closed position on body 12, as shown, for example in FIG. 10. To
move flip-top cap 16 from an open position away from body 12 to a
closed position on body 12, a force 104 is applied to flip-top cap
16. Force 104 applied to flip-top cap 16 causes flip-top cap to
pivot toward body 12 about web apex 38.
[0048] As flip-top cap 16 pivots about web apex 38, first and
second web ramps 34, 36 are stretched, placing web ramps 34, 36 in
tension and web apex 38 in compression. Further movement of
flip-top cap 16 toward body 12 beyond a midpoint causes web apex 38
to engage peak 80 of recess 24 and vault flip-top cap over web apex
38 onto body 12. To open flip-top cap 16, a force must be applied
to overcome the biasing force exerted on flip-top cap 26 by web
ramps 34, 36 of hinge 14.
[0049] A container closure 210, in accordance with another
embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown, for example, in the
illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 11 -21. The container closure 210
is similar to that of FIGS. 1 -10 but includes a hinge 214 of a
different configuration. Container closure 210 includes body 212
adapted to be mounted on a container, a hinge 214 coupled to body
212, and flip-top cap 216 depending from hinge 214, as shown, for
example, in FIG. 11.
[0050] Hinge 214 is coupled to body 212 and to lid 226 to support
flip-top cap 216 for movement relative to body 212 from a closed
position on body 212 covering product-dispensing aperture 218 to an
open position away from body 212 uncovering product-dispensing
aperture 218, as shown, for example, in FIG. 11. Hinge 214 includes
first and second web ramps 234, 236 and a web plateau 238
positioned between the first and second web ramps 234, 236. Web
plateau 238 also includes an elongated notch 240.
[0051] First and second web ramps 234, 236 are elastic and are
adapted to assist in moving flip-top cap 216 to a closed position,
as shown, for example, in FIG. 19. First and second web ramps 234,
236 are under tension when flip-top cap 216 is moved toward the
closed position on body 212. Web plateau 238 is positioned to lie
between first and second web ramps 234, 236. Web plateau 238 is the
highest elevated point of hinge 214 when flip-top cap 216 is in an
open position. Web plateau is formed to include an elongated notch
240.
[0052] Elongated notch 240 of web plateau 238 is positioned along
web apex 238 between first and second web ramps 234, 236. Elongated
notch 240 forms a fold line to allow the folding of hinge 214 about
web plateau 238 when flip-top cap 216 is moved from an open
position away from body 212 to a closed position on body 212. Hinge
214 also includes first and second plateau buttresses.
[0053] First plateau buttress 242 of hinge 214 is positioned to lie
near lid 226 and second plateau buttress 244 is positioned to lie
near body 212 of container closure 210, as shown, for example in
FIG. 14. The orientation of the first and second plateau buttresses
242, 244 with respect to body 12 and flip-top cap 216 when flip-top
cap 216 is in a open position away from body 212 and in a closed
position on body 212 is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 12 and 13.
With flip-top cap 216 in an open position away from body 212, first
plateau buttress 242 slopes upwardly away from flip-top cap 216
toward web plateau 238. Similarly, second plateau buttress 244
slopes upwardly away from body 212 toward web plateau 238.
[0054] When flip-top cap 216 is moved to a closed position on body
212, first and second plateau buttresses 244, 246 slope toward web
plateau 238 to create a space 247 between buttresses 244, 246, as
shown, for example in FIG. 13. Space 247 formed between plateau
buttresses 244, 246 allows hinge 214 to relax when flip-top cap 216
is in a closed position on body 212 so that hinge 214 fits flush
against side wall 222 of body 212.
[0055] First and second plateau buttresses 242, 244 provide
reinforcement to the central portion of hinge 214 to assist in
controlling the folding of hinge 214 about elongated notch 240 as
flip-top cap 216 is moved from an open to a closed position. As
flip-top cap 216 is moved to a closed position over body 212, first
plateau buttress 242 is positioned above second plateau buttress
244, as shown, for example, in FIG. 13. The triangular shape of
first and second plateau buttresses 242, 244 creates a space
between first and second plateau buttresses 242, 244, when flip-top
cap 216 is in the closed position on body 212 to allow hinge 214 to
lie flat against body 212 in flip-top cap 216.
[0056] Hinge 214 also includes a first elastic web connector 246,
as shown, for example in FIG. 14. First elastic web connector 246
is adapted to couple hinge 214 to annular side wall 232 of flip-top
cap 216. Hinge 214 further includes a second elastic web connector
248 that is adapted to couple hinge 214 to annular side wall 222 of
body 212. First and second web connectors are elastic to allow
movement between hinge 214, flip-top cap 216 and movement between
hinge 214 and body 212.
[0057] Body 212 of container closure 210 includes a top wall 220
and an annular side wall 222 depending from top wall 220. Body 212
also includes a product dispensing aperture 218 that is formed in
top wall 220. Product dispensing aperture 218 is adapted to allow
the contents of the container to pass through body 212 of container
closure 210.
[0058] Side wall 222 of body 212 is formed to include recession 224
that is adapted to accept a portion of hinge 214 when flip-top cap
216 is in a closed position on body 212, as shown, for example in
FIG. 16. Recession 224 of annular side wall 222 is stepped inward
from side wall 222 and includes a first vertical face 250 and a
second vertical face 252 that opposes first vertical face 250.
Recession 224 also includes first and second bottom wall segments
144, 146. First and second bottom wall segments 254, 256 are
curved, as shown, for example, in FIG. 14. First and second bottom
wall segments 254, 256 include an outer edge 258 that is coupled
along second elastic web connector 248 of hinge 214. Recession 224
also includes rear wall 225 that is positioned between side walls
250, 252.
[0059] Flip-top cap 216 of container closure 210 includes a movable
lid 226 formed to include an interior chamber 228, as shown, for
example, in FIG. 11. Lid 226 also includes a top wall 230 and an
annular side wall 232 depending from top wall 230. Annular side
wall 232 is adapted to be received on body 212 when flip-top cap
216 is in a closed position on body 212.
[0060] Top wall 230 of lid 226 includes an inside surface 288
having a plug 290, as shown, for example, in FIG. 11. Plug 290 is
adapted to seal dispensing aperture 218 when flip-top cap 216 is in
the closed position on body 212. Lid 226 also includes an annular
side wall 232 having a first edge 292 depending from top wall 230
and a second edge 294 that is spaced apart from first edge 292.
Second edge 294 is adapted to be coupled with annular groove 286 of
body 212 when flip-top cap 216 is in a closed position on body
212.
[0061] Side wall 232 of lid 226 is formed to include a notched out
portion 296 that is defined by first and second vertical faces 298,
300 and bottom face 202, as shown, for example, in FIG. 17. Hinge
214 is coupled to bottom face 302 along first elastic web connector
246. A portion of hinge 214 is positioned to lie within notched out
portion 296 when flip-top cap 216 is in the closed position on body
212.
[0062] Flip-top cap 216 includes a side wall buttress 260. The side
wall buttress 260 includes a first side 262 that is adapted to lie
near annular side wall 232 and a second side 264 that is positioned
to lie near top wall 230 of lid 226, as shown, for example in FIG.
14. The side wall buttress 260 provides structural support to
annular side wall 232 to reduce flexing of annular side wall 232
during movement of flip-top cap 216 from the open position away
from body 12 to the closed position on body 212.
[0063] A cross-section of container closure 210 through web plateau
238 of hinge 214, before web plateau 238, is shown in FIGS. 17 and
18 to show the orientation of first and second plateau buttresses
242, 244 with respect to web plateau 238, flip-top cap 216, and
container 212 when flip-top cap 216 is in the open position away
from body 212. As shown in the figures, top surface 268 of first
plateau buttress 242 slopes upwardly from side wall 232 of lid 226
to elongated notch 240 of web plateau 238. In a similar fashion,
top surface 270 of second plateau buttress 244 slopes upwardly from
side wall 222 of body 212 to elongated notch 240 of web plateau
238.
[0064] Flip-top cap 216 of container closure 210 moves from an open
position away from body 212, as shown, for example, in FIG. 19, to
a closed position on body 212, as shown, for example, in FIG. 20.
To move flip-top cap 216 from an open position, away from body 212,
to a closed position, on body 212, a force 272 is applied to
flip-top cap 216. Force 272 applied to flip-top cap 216 causes
flip-top cap 216 to pivot towards body 212 about elongated notch
240 of web plateau. As flip-top cap 216 pivots about elongated
notch 240, first and second web ramps 234, 236 are stretched,
placing web ramps 234, 236 under tension to cause hinge 214 to fold
about elongated notch 240. Folding of hinge 214 along elongated
notch 240 positions flip-top cap 216 on body 212.
* * * * *