MX2009001308A

MX2009001308A - Closure with lid protection.

Info

Publication number: MX2009001308A
Application number: MX2009001308A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Nicholas J Jelich; Alan P Hickock; Kurt N Behrendt; John Ryan Kenny
Original assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign Inc
Priority date: 2006-08-28
Filing date: 2007-06-19
Publication date: 2009-02-16
Also published as: WO2008027102A3; AR062557A1; CN201362419Y; PL118253U1; CA2661441A1; RU2009111269A; JP2010502522A; EP2057080A2; WO2008027102A2; EP2057080A4; BRMU8702880U2; US20080073311A1; AU2007290859A1

Abstract

A closure (40, 4OA, 40B) is provided for a container opening. The closure (40, 4OA, 40B) includes a body (42, 42A, 42B) for mounting to the container and a lid (44, 44A, 44B) movable between a closed position and an open position. The rear end of the lid (44, 44A, 44B) and body (42, 42A, 42B) are connected by a hinge (88, 88B). The lid (44, 44A, 44B) is disposed in a recess (60, 60B) defined in the body (42, 42A, 42B).

Description

CLOSURE WITH COVER PROTECTION TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a container closure having a lid and a closure body to which the lid is fixed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS RAISED BY THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE A variety of packages, including assortment packets or containers, have been developed for personal care products such as shampoos, lotions, etc., as well as for other fluid materials. A type of closure for these kinds of containers tends in common a joint connecting a cover to a base which is mounted on the opening of the container. The joint may be a link belt, a joint made of the same flexible material, a snap action joint (providing a deflection force which holds the cover in a selected open or closed position), or some other articulation structure. In certain applications, it may be desirable to protect the lid in a manner that would inhibit contact with the front of the lid or otherwise reduce the likelihood that the lid closed will be Inadvertently pushed from the body to an open position. An improved closure design, where the lid would be less likely to be opened by accidental contacts on the closure, would be advantageous during shipping and handling of a container having said closure. It would be beneficial if said improved closure could also optionally accommodate designs that allow the use of a variety of articulation structures in order to provide the desired opening or closing action of the lid. Also, it would be desirable if said improved closure could easily accommodate efficient, high-quality, high-volume manufacturing techniques with a low product rejection rate. In addition, said improved closure will advantageously accommodate its use with a variety of conventional containers having a variety of conventional container finishes, such as conventional screw-in or snap-fit configurations. The present invention provides an improved closure which can accommodate designs having one or more of the benefits and features described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an improved closure, which has a hinge that connects a closure cap to the base moon or closure body, is provided to be mounted to, or formed as a unitary portion of, a container that has an opening toward the interior of the container where a product can be stored . Base moon or closure body is adapted to extend from the container in the opening and defines a discharge opening for communication with the opening. The lid is movable between a closed position that occludes the opening and an open position separated from the opening. The body defines a recess for receiving the lid when the lid is in the closed position so that the body laterally encloses the lid at least at the front end and at the sides in order to inhibit contact with the front end of the lid from locations that are laterally in front of the front end of the lid, although they are exterior to the body. The recess extends sufficiently in front of the front end of the lid to provide a space for accommodating the insertion of the user's finger on the front end of the lid towards a position in the recess adjacent to the front end of the lid so that the lid can be lifted with the finger and moved to the open position. 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 In the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification, in which similar numbers are used to designate similar parts therethrough, FIGURE 1 is an isometric top view of a first embodiment of a dispenser closure of the present invention in the form of a closure that is manufactured separately from a container and shown in the closed condition; FIGURE 2 is an isometric view similar to FIGURE 1, although FIGURE 2 shows the closure in the open condition; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 3-3 in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, although FIGURE 4 shows the closure in the open condition; FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the closure in the open condition; FIGURE 6 is an upper isometric view of a second embodiment of the closure in the closed condition; FIGURE 7 is a top isometric view of a third embodiment of a closure in the closed condition; and FIGURE 8 is an isometric view similar to FIGURE 7, although FIGURE 8 shows the third embodiment of the closure in the open condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES While this invention is susceptible to being presented in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings describe only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments thus described, and the scope of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims. For ease of description, the closure of this invention is described in particular orientations, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are employed with reference to those orientations. However, it will be understood that the closure can be manufactured, stored and used in different orientations to those described. With reference to the figures, a first embodiment of a closure of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 1-5 and is generally identified in some of those figures by reference numeral 40. The closure 40 is adapted to be placed in a container (not shown), which may have a conventional nozzle or opening formed by a neck or other suitable structure. The container can be stored and used in a vertical orientation where the closure 40 is in the upper part of the container. The container can also be stored normally in an inverted position (not shown). When it is stored in the inverted position, the container employs the closure 40 as a support base. Although the container, per se, does not form part of the broader aspects of the present invention, per se. it will be appreciated that at least one base body or portion of the closure 40 of the present invention may optionally be provided as a unitary portion, or extension, of the upper part of the container. However, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the closure 40 is a separate article or unit (eg, a dispenser closure 40) which is adapted to be installed removably or non-removably, on a previously manufactured container having an opening towards the inside of the container. The illustrated preferred embodiment of the closure 40 is adapted to be used with a container having an opening for providing access to the interior of the container and to a product contained in said container. The closure 40 can be used to supply many materials, including, but not limited to, liquids of relatively low or high viscosity, creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures, lotions, etc. (such as a material that constitutes a food product, a product drinkable, a personal care product, an industrial or domestic cleaning product, or compositions of other materials (for example, compositions for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or domestic maintenance, construction, agriculture, medical treatment, military operations, etc.) ).

The container with which closure 40 can be used will commonly be a compressible container having a flexible wall or walls which can be held by the user and squeezed or compressed in order to increase the internal pressure within the container to force the product out of the container and through the open closure. Said flexible container wall commonly has sufficient inherent elasticity so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the wall of the container returns to its normal unstressed shape. Said compressible container is preferred in many applications although it may not be necessary or preferred in other applications. For example, in certain applications it may be desirable to employ a generally rigid container, and to pressurize the interior of the container at selected times with a piston or other pressurization system, or to reduce the external ambient pressure in order to suck the material out through of the open closure. It is now considered that many applications employing the closure 40 will be conveniently achieved through the molding of the closure 40 from suitable thermoplastic material or materials. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the closure could be molded from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. As can be seen in FIGURE 1, the closure 40 includes a base or body 42 and a cover 44 mounted on the body 42. Throughout this specification, the terms "base" and "body" they will be used interchangeably. The base or body 42 includes an outer skirt 46 and an inner collar 48 (FIGURES 3 and 5) which has a conventional internal snap-fit edge 50 for engaging suitable cooperating means, such as a slot or engagable edge (not shown) in the container, in order to secure the base or closure body 42 to the container. Alternatively, a threaded connection system could be used. In another optional design (not shown), the inner locking collar 48 could be omitted in its entirety, and the outer skirt 46 could be configured and sized for mounting directly on the container. At the top of the extension skirt of the closure base 46, the skirt 46 is rounded or curved, and is joined to a transverse platform 56 (FIGURE 1). As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the platform 56 is divided by a recess 60 which receives the lid 44 when the lid 44 is closed (FIGURE 3). The closure body 42 includes a first side portion 61 (FIGURE 2) defining a side of the recess 60 which is adjacent to a side of the lid 44 when the lid is closed. The closure body 42 includes a second side portion 62 that defines a second side of the recess 60 which is adjacent to the other side of the lid 44 when the lid 44 is closed. The body 42 includes a front portion 63 (FIGURES 2 and 4) defining a front end of the recess 60. The body 42 defines a floor 64 (FIGURES 2 and 4) extending through the bottom of the recess 60.

With reference to FIGURES 2 and 4, a peak in the shape of a collar 70 projects upwardly from the body floor of 64 in the recess to define a discharge opening 72. Part of the discharge opening 72 extends from the collar 70 down through the floor 64. The inner upper end portion of the peak or collar 70 has a reduced diameter seal flange 76 (FIGURE 4). The upper part of the sealing flange or sealing edge 76 is at the distal end of the collar 70 and has a beveled or truncoconical surface 80. The floor 64 has a common (but not necessarily necessary) internal sealing structure, annular , extending downwardly 84 (FIGURE 4) which is received against the inner edge of the container opening in order to provide a leak-tight seal between the closure 40 and the container when the closure 40 is installed in the container. In the preferred embodiment, the lid closure 44 (FIGURE 1) is connected to the closure body skirt 46 with an articulation structure 88. The lid 44 has a generally flat upper platform or cover 90 (FIGURE 1). With reference to FIGURE 2, the lid 44 includes a peripheral wall structure that generally extends perpendicularly from the periphery of the upper part or flat roof 90, and the peripheral wall structure includes a first generally flat side wall. 91, a second generally planar side wall 92, and a generally planar front wall 93. The front wall 93 defines the front end of the lid, the first flat side wall 91 defines a first side of the lid, and the second flat side wall 92 defines a second side of the lid. The rear end of the lid 44 is connected to the articulation structure 88. To accommodate the articulation structure 88, the rear end of the lid 44 has two narrow back wall segments 94 (FIGURE 2). Moving along one edge of the articulation structure 88 between the two narrow wall segments 94 is a broader, but shorter intermediate rear wall 95 (FIGURE 4). The wall segments 94 and the rear wall 95 can be considered as part of the peripheral wall structure of the cover together with the front wall 93 and side walls 91 and 92. As can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the front end of the lid includes a lifting tab 96 which projects outward from the front cover wall 93. Extending from the underside of the lid cover 90 is an annular member or coupling 100 (FIGURES 2, 3, and 4) which is adapted to be received in, and sealed in a sealed manner with the interior of, the closure base collar 70 when the cover 44 is closed. In the preferred embodiment, the distal end of the coupling 100 has a beveled or frustoconical surface 102 (FIGURES 2 and 3). Preferably, the articulation structure 88 is integrally molded as a unitary part of the closure with the base 42 and lid 44. A preferred material for molding the closure is polypropylene. It has been found that this material provides a relatively strong and durable closing hinge. The material has the ability to withstand the typical loads imposed on the articulation structure 88 by a user of the closure when the user opens and closes the lid 44, and has the ability to withstand a relatively high number of opening and closing cycles without failure . A suitable articulation structure 88 is the snap action joint described in United States Patent No. 5,642,824. Other articulation structures could be used, such as a film hinge made of the same material, a lock or strap, and so on. The detailed design and operation of the articulation structure 88 is not part of the present invention. When the lid 44 is closed (FIGURES 1 and 3), the upper portions of the closure body 42 laterally enclose the lid 44 at least at the front end of the lid 44 and on the sides of the lid in order to inhibit contact with the front end of the lid (front wall 93 and lifting tab 96) from the locations that are laterally opposite the front end of the lid but exterior to the body 42. When the lid 44 is closed in the recess 60, the recess 60 is extends far enough in front of the front end of the lid (front wall 93 and elevator tab 96) to provide a space to accommodate the insertion of the finger of a user from above the front end of the lid to a position in the recess 60 adjacent to the front end of the lid so that the lid 44 can be raised with the finger and moved to the open position (FIGURES 2 and 4). In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, the upper part of the lid 44 defines a generally flat top surface, and the body platform 56 has a generally flat top surface which is substantially coplanar with the flat top surface of the lid when closed the lid. With the exception of the small space in front of the closed lid, the substantially flat, relatively uniform surface that exists through the upper part of the closure 40 further provides improved resistance to accidental opening of the lid 44. In addition, because the forward space of the closed lid front end within the recess 60 is only large enough for the end of a user's finger, the likelihood of the lid 44 being accidentally hit or hooked in a manner that is substantially reduced is substantially reduced. that would cause it to open during boarding and handling. In the preferred form of the invention, the rear end of the lid 44 is generally uniform and is combined with the articulation structure 88, and there is virtually no access to the rear end of the lid 44 that would allow an external lifting force to be applied. below the lid from the outer region of the rear end of the lid.

In the preferred form of the illustrated closure, the lid 44 is normally kept closed with a friction fit or interference fit between the lid coupling 100 (FIGURE 3) and the closure body collar 70 (FIGURE 3). However, in order to provide even greater strength against accidental opening, the conventional snap-fit flange fasteners or other similar structures could be provided in the recess side walls 61 and 62 and the attachable side walls of the lid 91 and 92, respectively. A conventional seal edge or fastener edge could also be provided on the outside of the lid coupler 100 to engage or interfere with the sealing flange 76 of the closure body collar 70. FIGURE 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a closure 40A of the present invention having a closure body 42A and a lid 44A. The closure body 42A has a generally elliptical configuration in contrast to the generally cylindrical configuration of the closure body 42 of the first embodiment of the closure 40 described above and with reference to FIGS. 1-5. Different from the elliptical configuration of the closure body 42A in the second embodiment, the characteristics of the second embodiment of the closure 40A may be substantially identical to the characteristics of the first embodiment of the closure 40 described above with reference to FIGURES 1-5. FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of a closure 40B of the present invention having a closure body 42B and a cover 44B hingedly connected to the body 42B. this mode is a currently preferred form of closure. The closure body 42B has a generally cylindrical configuration similar to that of the closure body 42 of the first embodiment of the closure 40 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5. However, in the third embodiment, the lid 44B is hingedly connected differently to that of the lid of the first embodiment 44. In particular, as can be seen in FIGURE 8, the lid 44B is hingedly connected to the upper surface of the closure body 42B with a conventional film hinge 88B. As can be seen in FIGURE 7, the closure body 40B has a body platform 56B which extends rearward of the rear end of the lid 44B, and the rear portion of the platform 56B is designated with the reference number 43B. The cap 44B tapers laterally inward on each side so that the rear end of the cap on the film joint 88B is somewhat wider than the front end of the cap. In a modified design considered (not illustrated), the front end of the lid may be wider than the rear end, and this may facilitate the opening of the lid. The lid 44B has a generally flat upper platform or cover 90B. With reference to FIGURE 8, the cover 44B includes a peripheral wall structure that extends generally perpendicularly from the periphery of the cover 90B.

The peripheral wall structure includes a first generally planar side wall 91B, a second generally planar side wall 92B, and a generally arcuate front wall 93B. The front end of the lid includes a lifting tab 96B which projects outwardly from the front cover wall 93B. As can be seen in FIGURE 8, the closure body platform 56B extends around a recess 60B which receives the cover 44B when the lid 44B is closed (FIGURE 7). The closure body 42B includes a first side portion 61B (FIGURE 8B) defining a side of the recess 60B which is adjacent to a side of the lid 44B when the lid 44B is closed. The closure body 42B includes a second side portion 62B defining a second side of the recess 60B that is adjacent to the side of the lid 44B when the lid 44B is closed. The body 42B includes a front portion 63B (FIGURES 7 and 8) defining a front end of the recess 60B. The body 42B defines a floor 64B (FIGURES 7 and 8) extending through the bottom of the recess 60B. With reference to FIGURE 8, a very short discharge structure or peak in the shape of a short collar 70B projects upwardly from the closure body floor 64B in recess 60B and has an internal beveled surface or truncoconical surface 80B that it defines a discharge opening which extends from the collar 70B down through the floor 64B. At the bottom of the truncoconical surface 80B there is a flange or sealing edge of reduced diameter 76B (FIGURE 8). Extending from the side bottom of lid cover 90B is an annular member or coupling 100B (FIGURE 8) which is adapted to be received in and sealingly engage the interior of the closure base collar 70B when the lid 44B is closed. In the preferred embodiment, the distal end of the coupling 100B has a beveled or truncated surface 102B (FIGURE 8). The floor 64B has in common (though not necessarily has) an internal, annular seal structure that extends downward (not visible, although similar to the structure 84 in the first embodiment of the closure 40 shown in FIGURE 4), and said seal structure is received against the inner edge of the container opening in order to provide a leak-tight seal between the closure 40B and the container when the closure 40B is installed in the container. When lid 44B is closed (FIGURE 7), the upper portions of the closure body 42B laterally enclose the lid 44B at least at the front end of the lid 44B and on the sides of the lid to inhibit contact with the front end of the lid (i.e., the front wall) 93B and the lifting tab 96B) from locations that are laterally opposite but external to the body 42B. When the lid 44B is closed in the recess 60B, the recess 60B extends far enough in front of the front end of the lid (i.e., the front wall 93B and the lifting tab 96B) to provide a space to accommodate the insertion of the lid. a user's finger from above the front end of the lid towards a position in the recess 60B adjacent the front end of the lid so that the lid 44B can be raised with the finger and moved to the open position (FIGURE 8). In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 7, the upper part of the lid 44B defines a generally flat top surface, and the closure body platform 56B has a generally planar top surface which is substantially coplanar with the flat top surface of the lid when the lid is closed. With the exception of the small space in front of the closed lid, the substantially flat, relatively uniform surface that exists through the top of the closure 40B further provides improved resistance to accidental opening of the lid 44B. Further, because the forward space at the front end of the closed lid within the recess 60B is only large enough for the end of a user's finger, the likelihood that the lid 44B is accidentally impacted is substantially reduced. or hooked in a way that would cause it to open during shipping and handling. In the preferred form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rear end of the lid 44B is generally uniform and is combined with the articulation structure 88B, and there is virtually no access at the rear end of the lid 44B which would allow that an external lifting force is applied below the cap from the outer region of the rear cap end. In the preferred form of closure 40B illustrated, cap 44B is normally closed with a friction fit i an interference fit between the lid coupling 100B (FIGURE 8) and the closure body collar 70B (FIGURE 8). However, in order to provide even greater strength against accidental opening, conventional snap-fit edge fasteners or other similar structures could be provided on the recess side walls 61B and 62B and the pluggable side walls 91B and 92B, respectively. A conventional sealing edge or fastening edge could also be provided on the outside of the lid coupling 100B to engage or interfere with the sealing flange 76B of the closure body collar 70B. It will also be appreciated that the closure of the present invention may be provided with a variety of dispensing passage structures other than the illustrated opening structures 72 and 70B. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that many other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A closure (40, 40A, 40B) for a container having an opening towards the inside of the container in which a product can be stored, the closure (40, 40A, 40B) comprising: (A) a body (42, 42A , 42B) to extend from said container into the opening and defining a discharge opening (72) for communication with said opening; (B) a cover (44, 44A, 44B) movable between a closed position that occludes the opening (72) and an open position separate from the opening (72), the cover (44, 44A, 44B) having a front end (93, 93B), one rear end, and two sides (91, 91B; 92, 92B) extending between the front end (93, 93B) and the trailing end; and (C) a hinge (88, 88B) connecting the rear end of the lid to the body (42, 42A, 42B); the closure (40, 40A, 40B) characterized in that the body (42, 42A, 42B) defines a recess (60, 60B) to receive the lid (44, 44A, 44B) when the lid (44, 44A, 44B) it is in the closed position so that the body (42, 42A, 42B) laterally encloses the lid (44, 44A, 44B) at least at the front end (93, 93B) and at the sides (91, 91B; 92 , 92B) in order to inhibit contact with the front end cap (93, 93B) from locations that are laterally opposite the front end of the cover (93, 93B) although external to the body (42, 42A, 42B), said recess (60, 60B) which extends far enough in front of the front end cap (93, 93B) so as to provide a space for accommodating the insertion of a user's finger from above the front end cap (93, 93B) toward a position in the recess (60, 60B) adjacent to the front end of (93, 93B) so that the lid (44, 44A, 44B) can be raised with said finger and moved to the open position. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess extends up to and is laterally open at the edge of said body at the rear end of the lid to accommodate the articulation at the rear end of the lid. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the front end of the lid includes a lifting tab projecting partially into said space at the front end of the lid. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure is molded from polypropylene. 5. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure is a dispensing closure wherein the body is separated from, although releasably engageable with, said container around the container opening. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the body includes a side portion defining a side of said recess which is adjacent to a side of the lid when said lid is closed; the body includes another side portion defining another side of said recess which is adjacent to the other side of the lid when said lid is closed; and the body includes a front portion defining a front end of said recess which is spaced apart from the front end of the lid when said lid is closed. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid has a generally flat top surface; and the body has a generally planar top surface which is substantially coplanar with the flat top surface of the lid. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the front end of the lid has a generally flat front wall; and each of the lid sides has a generally flat side wall. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the body defines a floor extending through the lower part of the recess; and part of the discharge opening is defined in a peak that has the shape of a collar projecting upwards from said floor, and part of the discharge opening extends from the peak down through said floor. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure body includes a platform extending around the rear end of the lid; and the articulation is a film joint that connects the rear end of the cover with the platform. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid is tapered in such a way that the front end of the lid is narrower than the rear end of the lid.