CA1330780C

CA1330780C - Side dispensing closure

Info

Publication number: CA1330780C
Application number: CA000608501A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert J. Groya; Richard W. Hofmann
Original assignee: Magenta Corp
Current assignee: Magenta Corp
Priority date: 1988-08-22
Filing date: 1989-08-16
Publication date: 1994-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-19
Also published as: IT8921541A0; GB2222154B; GB8918792D0; GB2222154A; IT1231383B; DE3927612A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A side dispensing container closure cap is provided with a hinged lid extending to a side periphery of the cap and which is pivotable from a closed position to an opened position and which has depending side walls along the length of the pivotable portion forming a chute passage to the periphery of the cap, the chute passage has dividing walls between the side walls to define a plurality of chute-like passages. Stop means are provided to allow partial opening of the pivoted portion and a reinforcing web interconnects the lower portion of the side walls and dividing walls.

Description

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i P 13 C I F I C A T I 0 N
"8IDE DI8PENSING CLOSUR3~"

133~

FIELD OF T~E INlIENTION -:
This invention relates to container closures and more particularly to a side dispensing pivoted top container closure. ~;

PRIOR ART -~
Containers are normally fitted with closure caps which are frequently molded plastic cap members. Numerous examples :~
exist of such molded closures equipped with dispensing tops ;~:~
including devices where a portion of the end piece or top of the :~
dispensing cap is pivotable from a closed position to an open dispensing position. Such dispensing tops normally provide for ~-contents dispensing in a direction substantially normal to the : plane of the end face of the cap. Frequently, however, : containers are provided with side dispensing openings, ~:~
particularly where the container is provided for dry, shakeable ~-ingredients such as, for example, grass seed, rock salt or the ~ .
like. Often such side dispensing openings are formed as tear away portions of the container and such tear away portions may `:~
include both a portion of a side wall of the container and a portion of a top wall of the container.

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~, ' :'' More recently, plastics material containers have been used for packaging such products and it is frequently not desirable to provide tear away portions for such containers.
- Such containers, once opened, may not thereafter adequately protect the remaining contents from environmental conditions, such as moisture. Equipping such containers with shakeable dispenser caps having top openings generally requires the container be held in an inverted position. This is frequently awkward and can result in undesired dispensing patterns and ;
difficulty in achieving proper flow control.
Chute type pivoted side dispensers are also known to the art, such as the classic table salt container utilizing a small pivotable (generally metal) chute forming member attached to the top of the container which can be pivoted to define a pouring chute providing a opening between the top of the pivoted member and side walls which depend from the top and extend into the ;~
interior of the container. Such chute-like dispensers have generally not been adapted for shaking type dispensing, nor do ~i~
they have a reinforcing web interconnecting the bottom of the slde walls, nor do they have multiple chute orifices, nor do they have means to provide multiple sized openings, nor have they generally been designed to extend directly to the periphery of ;
the cap. ;
It would therefore be an improvement in the art to provide a container closure cap that has a hinged top and chute-like side dispenser means to provide a side pour dispenser which is particularly applicable for shake dispensing.
It would be a further improvement in the art to provide <312026.1> 2 - 133~80 a molded plastic side pour container cap which cap is capable of side dispensing via a hinged chute-like top lid portion which opens adjacent the periphery of the cap and has a reinforcing web.

5 SUMMARY OF ~HE IlNVENTION
The present invention provides a container closure cap which is preferably a one-piece molded plastic cap. The cap includes a skirt portion which may be provided with female threads for attachment to the male threaded neck of a container and a top surface. The top surface lid is connected to the skirt to preferably form a hat~like closure cap. The top has a hinged lid portion which may be formed with a living hinge and which extends to adjacent the periphery of the top surface. The hinged lid portion has a top lid wall with depending side walls which, together with th~ hinged top lid wall, define a chute-like dispensing opening adjacent to periphery of the top surface.
Internal divider walls are preferably provided to define a plurality of chute-like dispensers. A reinforcing web member joins the lower portion o~ the side walls and divider walls to define plurality of dispensing orifices. The divider walls are substantially parallel to each other. Stop members may be provided ~or locking the lid in several open and closed positions. A lip on the lid overlies the periphery of the hat-like extension to allow the hinged lid to be readily opened. The bottom web preferably has stop means thereon to prevent the lid from opening beyond the bottom of the web.
In this manner we provide a one piece molded plastic container closure adapted for side dispensing which has at least <312026.1> 3 ;.

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one and preferably a plurality of chute-like dispensing orifices which open substantially at the periphery of the closure so as to facilitate side dispensing o~ the ingredients contained within the container. If desired, one or more of the side walls or divider walls may be provided with beads or ribs which can cooperate with portions of the container periphery or with an inturned lip thereat, to retain the dispensing opening in various open or closed positions.
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide an improved side dispensing container closure or cap.
It is a specific object of this invention to provide an improved one-piece molded plastic container closure or cap adapted for side dispensing of the container's contents through a dispensing opening formed adjacent a peripheral edge of the closure and by a plurality of chute-like dispensers formed as part of a hinged lid which is hinged to the closure top by a living hinge. The hinged lid has side walis, at least one internal divider wall between the side walls and a web interconnecting the bottom portions of the side walls and divider walls to define a plurality of dispensing orifices and having projections whiah interfit with other portions of the top to retain the hinged portions selectively opened or closed.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:

<312026.1> 4 133078~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ~F THE DRAWING~
Figure 1 is a fragmentary prospective view of a container eguipped with closure cap of this invention with the dispensing - orifice open.
5Figure 2 is a top plan view of the closure cap of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines loof 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side view with portions broken away to show underlying portions of a container closure cap of Fiyure 1.
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken from the ~ront of the container closure adjacent the dispensing openings substantially 15along the lines of 6-6 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the lines of 7-7 of Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a enlarge.d fragmentary sectional view substantially along the lines of 8-8 of Figure 2 with the 20dispensing orifice closed.
Figure 9 is a side plan view of the container closure of Figure 1 illustrating the position in which the closure may be molded and, by dotted lines showing closure of the chute , , ~ j ,, , , ~
dispensing mechanism. ~.
25Figure 10 is a fragmentary prospective view of a container equipped with another closure cap of this invention with the dispensing orifice open.
Figure 11 is a top plan view of the closure cap of Fi.gure <312026.1> 5 `~
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Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines of 12-12 of Fig. 11.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the liens of 13-13 of Fig. 12.
Figure 14 is a side view with portions broken away to show underlying portions of a container closure cap of Fig. 10.
Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the front of the container closure of a sidewall of the hinged portion substantially along the lines of 15-15 of Fig.
14.
Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines of 16-16 of FIG. 14.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED ~MBODIMENTS
Figure 1 illustrates a container 10 equipped with a one-piece molded plastic or closure cap 11. The particular shape of the container has no importance to this invention except that it is equipped with a open ended throat 12 which may have a means for affixing a closure to the container formed thereon. In the 20 further discussion of the preferred embodiment the fixing means on the closure is shown as including female threads 13 which would index with male threads on the neck of the container.
Alternatively other types of cooperating fasteners may be used such as a snap-on béad fasteners or the like.
The type of container sought to be illustrated is a dry goods container generally molded of plastic which has recently ;~ become popular for ingredients designed to be shaken such as grass seed, road salt, fertilizer and the like. Such containers ..
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are generally large and they may hold a quart or more of product to be dispensed.
The particular closure of this invention is particularly well adapted for use with dry ingredient and dispensing and particularly of that type of dry ingredient which is most advantageously dispensed by a back and forth sweeping or shaking motion of the container.
However, the container and closure may be sized for finer materials sucA as spices, powders, and even liquics such as syrups, oils and shampoos.
The closure body is illustrated as hat-like with a depending peripheral skirt 15 on which the internal female threads 13 are formed. The top 16 is formed as a generally hat-like extension extending upwardly from the skirt but positioned inwardly therefrom and spaced from the periphery of the skirt by a ledge section 17. The ledge 17 may overlie the rim of the container. The hat-like extension includes an annular peripheral wall portion 18 and a top end wall 19. Such hat-liXe closures are common in the industry. The closure, including the skirt 15, the ledge 17, the periphery wall 18 and the top end wall 19 is circular although if desired other shapes could be employed as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. An annular skirt is preferred because the closure is generally adapted for containers hav~ a circular neck.
The top end wall 19 is provided with a hinged lid portion 20 which occupies more than half of the top wall 19. The lid is pivotally connected to the top end wall through a living hinge connection 21. As illustrated, the hinged lid portlon fits in ~ -<3120~6.1~ 7 j~
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.. -a dispensing aperture or an opening 90 in the top 19. The lid extends from the hinge to the periphery 27 and is defined by converging sidewalls 25 and 26 which generally coverage from the hinge to the periphery 27. The width of the hinge and the width 5 of the opening at the periphery are predetermined depending on what material is to be dispensed and on what container the closure is to be used. The hinged lid 20 is provided in the manner of a flap or leaf which is attached to the top wall only at the living hinge.
~he undersurface 29 of the hinged lid portion is provided with a plurality of divider walls 30 which, in the preferred embodiment are parallel to each other but at a slight angle to the converging sidewalls. The divider walls (30) may be of uniform thickness or of varying thickness. As illustrated in 15 Figure 4, each dividing wall 30 has a narrow tail end 31 and a wider forward end 32 ad~acent the forward end of the hinged lid 20. The dividing walls 30 terminate short of the foremost pro~ection or periphery 27 of the hinged lid 20 which foremost pro~ection overlies and extends beyond the peripheral top 36 of 20 the wall 18 to form an opening lip 35. A portion of the wall 18 underlying the lip may be recessed as at 38 to facilitate insertion of the portion of the finger to pry open the hinged lid 20.
Sidewalls 40 and ~llextend downwardly from the top surface~
25 42 of the hinged lid at the sides 25 and 26. Both the sidewalls 40 and 41 and the dividing walls 30 are wedgeshaped such that they pro~ect below the undersurface 29 to a greater extent ad~acent the dispensing peripheral opening 27 and decrease in height towards the living hinge portion. The sidewalls 40 and ~ ..

41 may extend all the way back to the living hinge and are sized to provide side walls when the lid is in all of its open operating positions. The side walls generally slidably contact the ~ides of thP dispensing aperture 90 80 as to provide the desired chute~like dispenser. The dividing walls 30 may be terminated intermediate the fronts 32 of the ribs and the living hinge and may therefore have a greater angle of wedge inclination than the sidewalls.
As best illustrated in Figure 6 the walls 30 and sidewalls 40 and 41 are all interconnected at the dispensing end of the hinged flap section 20 at thelr bottoms by a reinforcing web member 50.
As illustrated in Figure 7, the web member 50 has a projecting latch portion 51. This is designed to underlie in an inturned lip portion 52. The lip 52 is at the top 36 of the periphery wall 18 and is sized to form a catch that with the latches 51 limit~ the opening of the lid. Additionally, one or more of the dividing walls 30 may be provided with latch beads 55 which are dimensioned to underlie and overlie respectively the inturned lip 52 as the lid 20 is moved towards a wider or narrower opening. The beads 55 cooperate with optimally pro~ecting bead ribs 57 formed on the sidewalls 40 and 41. The bead ribs 57, as shown in Figure 8, cooperate with a downturned !
lip 58 formed on the undersurface 59 of the top 19 at the sides 25 and 26 of the dispensing opening 90 formed for receipt of the hinged lid 20. I~ this manner a plurality of opened positions can be provided allowing the hinged lid to be snapped into greater and lesser opened positions. In the most fully closed ~;

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: 1330~80 position both the topmost of the beads 55 and the topmost of the bead ribs 57 cooperate with their respective opposed surfaces of the lips 52 and 58 to maintain the dispensing flap closed.
As illustrated in Figure 9 the closure of this invention may be formed in a single molding most expeditiously by molding the hinge portion elevated out of the opening in the top 19 into which it is to fit. Thereafker by forring the web latch 51 which may be formed with a series of spaced stop ribs 70 best shown in Figure 6, past the inturn lip 52, the pivoted flap section 20 can then be inserted into operable position in the remainder of khe closure cap. It will be appreciated that this forcing can occur because the cap will be formed of a rigid but partially yieldable plastics material.
It will be seen that by forming the inturned lip 52 of relatively small dimensions extending directly inwardly from the periphery of wall 18 that the actual dispensing opening 90 will lie substantially at the periphery of the hat~like top. Again, by maintaining the ledge 17 relatively small, or even nonexistent, the actual dispensing will occur at the periphery.
Moreover it will be appreciated that the hinged lid 20 when in an open position defines a chute-like dispenser defined by the undersurface 29, the sidewalls 40 and 41 and/or internal chute divider walls 30 and web 50. This provides a plurality of chute-¦ like dispensing passages 33 (Figure 6). This chute-likè
¦ 25 dispensing, particularly when coupled with the variable opening settings provided by the ribs 55 and/or rib beads 57 allows very effective dispensing especially of dry or granular material from the container.
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133~7~0 However, when the flap is closed, it is held in a secure closed position by the beads 55 and bead ribs 57 to insure against accidental spillage and to act as a protective closure for the contents. It will be appreciated that by rounding or inclining the surfaces of the beads 55 adjacent to their latch slots as illustrated, and by rounding the top and bottom surfaces of the bead ribs 57, that an over center snapping action can be provided for during closing to maintain the actual pivoted flap in a secure closed position with the container being tightly closed at the dispensing opening with the projecting lip 35 pressed against the top surface 36.
By properly sizing the position of the sidewalls 40 and 41, little or no gap will exist between the downturn lip 58 and the sidewalls.
In addition a seal-like connection can be provided at the top of the bead ribs to the sidewall. If desired the bead ribs can be extended to enhance that seal. Alternatively, if desired, the lid can extend slightly beyond the sidewalls and a corresponding portion of the top end wall 19 ad~acent the sides 25 and 26 can be races6ed to facilitate the seal. It will be appreciated that the skirt portion 18 is recessed at the top at the portion overlied by the lip 35 as illustrated at 36 in Figure 3. A similar rece6sing can extend along the sidewalls if desired.
. . . . .
To reiterate, one of the embodiments of our invention has a side dispensing closure 11 for a container 10. The closure body has a top end wall 19, bounded by a skirt 15. The skirt has internal means 13 to attach the closure to the container. A
relatively large aperture 90 is formed in the top end wall to ..
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permit the dispen6ing of pourable product carried in the container. A hinged lid 20 is integrally attached to the top end wall 19 to open and close the aperture 90. The lid 20 has a rear 21, front 27 and two sides 25, 26 with its rear being hinged to 5 the top wall and said front 27 extending beyond the periphery of the top wall to form a lip 35. A pair of side walls 40, 41 ¦ depending from the sides of the lid and are adapted to move in the aperture 90 when said lid is pivoted from an open position to a closed position. The lid ha~ at least one separate dividing 10 wall 30 depending from the undersurface of the lid, spaced a predetermined distance from each of the said walls and a reinforcing web 50 interconnecting the bottom front portions of tne side walls and dividing wall. The dividing wall, side walls, lid and web forming at least two chute-like dispensing orifices 15 33. When more than one dividing wall is used, they preferably extend parallel to each other. The side walls and dividing walls have front ends 44 and 34 respectively. The front ends 34 and ;~
44 have a height which extend the entire opening of the orifices ;~
33. Preferably at least one side wall has a latch mechanism 55 ~i 20 to hold the lid in a desired position.
In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated generally in Fig.
10 the container 10 i9 equipped with a closure ~1. The closure cap 61 has female threads 13 on the closure skirt 15 which would index with male threads on the neck of the container.
25 Alternatively as noted above other types of fasteners may be used ;
such as a snap-on bead fastener or the like.

The closure as illustrated in Figs. 10-12 has a depending , ~ .
peripheral skirt 15 on which the internal female threads 13 are j! 12 i `. . " ~'~

- l3307~n formed. The top 16 is formed as a generally hat~like extension extending upwardly from the skirt but positioned ln~ardly therefrom and spaced from the periphery of the skirt by a ledge section 17. The ledge section may overlie the rim of the 5 container. The hat-like extension includes a peripheral wall portion 18 and a top portion 19. The closure, including the skirt 15, the ledge 17, the periphery 18 and the top 19 is circular although if desired other shapes, except for the skirt 15, could be employed as will be apparent to those skilled in the 10 art.
The top 19 is provided with a hinged lid portion 60 which occupies less than half of the top wall 19. The lid is connected to the remaining portions of the top wall through a living hinge connection 62 which extends chordally of the top and 15 is positioned such that the hinged portion occupies a substantial portion of the area of the top. When the periphery 18 is circular, as in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the hinge connection in this embodiment is located at the diameter of the top 19 80 that all generated curves, as will be described in 20 greater detail below, can be generated with the hinges connections as the centerpoint. As illustrated, hinged portion fits in an opening 84 in the top 19. The lid extends from the hinge to the periphery and is defined by converging sidewalls 65 and 66. Thelside walls ! at dispensing periphery 67 are spaced 25 apart a considerable distance. The hinged portion 60 is provided in the manner of a flap or leaf which is attached to the top wall !; only at the living hinge 62.
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~330~80 ` An undersurface 68 of the hinged portion iis provided with a plurality of divider walls rib~ 69 which, in the preferred embodiment are parallel to each other but at a slight angle to the converging sidewalls 65, 66. The divider walls are wedge 5 shaped with varying height such that, as illustrated in FIG. 12, each wall 69 has a short end 71 near the hinge connection 62 and a taller forward end 72 adjacent the dispensing periphery of the opening 84. The walls 69 terminate short of a foremost projection 73 of the hinged lid 60 which foremost projection 10 overlies and extends significantly beyond a peripheral top 36 of the periphery 18 to form an opening lid (FIG. 14).
Sidewalls 74 and 75 extend downwardly from the top surface 76 to the hinged lid at the sides 65 and 66. Both the sidewalls 74 and 75 and the dividing walls 69 are wedge-shaped such that 15 they pro~ect below the undersurface 68 to a greater e~tent . ad~acent the dispensing peripheral opening 67 and decrease in height towards the living hinge portion 62. The sidewalls 74 and : 75 have a lesser angle of wedge inclination than the walls 69.
The ~ide wall angle of inclination would normally cause the . 20 sidewalls to extend rearwardly beyond hinge. Thus near a rear . terminal end 76, 77 of the sidewalls there is a recessed portion : 78, 79 which angles rapidly toward the undersurface 68 of the hinged lid 60. When the hinged lid is in a normal full open position, as shown in FIGI. 12, the bottom edge of the sidewall . 25 is below the undersurface of the top end wall 19. In this manner, the sidewalls 74, 75 will always remain captured in the . opening in the top 19 so that closing of the hinged lid will be , easy to accomplish.
The ~idewalls 74, 75 are preferably formed as sections of . a cone, as best seen in FIG. 15, such that the walls 74, 75 . 14 j., , ., ~'' ' ~330780 I
are bowed outwardly slightly along a height of the walls to maintain the outer surface of the walls in tight sealing contact with the opening sides 65, 66 in the top wall 19 of the closure as the hinged portion 60 moves between an open and closed position.
As best illustrated in FIG. 16 the dividing walls 69 and sidewalls 74 and 75 are all interconnected at the dispensing end of the hinged flap 60 at their bottoms by a web member 80. The web member 80 has a projecting latch portions 70 which are designed to underlie an inturned lip portion 52 at the top 36 of the periphery 18 to form a catch that with the latches 70 limits the opening of the hinged lid.
Additionally, one or more of the dividing walls 69 may be provided with detentes 81 which are formed by elongated integral ribs 82 formed on the arcuate ends of one or more of , the dividing walls. The ribs 82 are sized and dimensioned so that the detentes 81 engage the inturned lip 52 as the hinged lid 60 is moved towards a wider or narrower opening. In this manner a plurality of opened positions can be provided allowing the hinged lid to be shaped into greater and lesser opened i positions. In the most fully closed position the topmost of the detentes 81 cooperates with the opposed surface of the lip 52 to maintain the dispensing lid or flap 60 closed.
As illustrated in phantom in FIG. 12, the closure cap of this invention may be formed in a single molding most expeditiously by molding the hinged portion elevated out of the opening in the top 19 into which it is to fit. Thereafter by ~ ~ forcing the web latches 70 which may be formed as a series of ,.,~1 ~,~ ~ ~312026.1> 15 ~, ~
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spaced ribs best shown in FIG. 16, pas-t the inturned lip 52, the pivoted flap 60 can then be inserted into operable position in the remainder of the closure. It will be appreciated that this forcing can occur because the cap will be formed of a rigid but partially yieldable plastics material. Further, the hinged lid 60 may also be reopened to the phantom position of FIG. 12 by forcing the latches 70 past the inturned lip 52, for example, to provide greater access to the interior of the container for a utensil such as a spoon.
It will he seen that by forming the inturned lip 52 of relatively small dimensions extending directly inwardly from the periphery 18 that the actual dispensing opening 83 will lie substantially at the periphery of the hat-like top. Again, by maintaining the ledge 17 relatively small, or even nonexistent, the actual dispensing will occur at the periphery. Moreover it will be appreciated that the hinged lid 60 when in an open position defines a plurality of chute-like passages defined by the undersurface 68, sidewalls 74 and 75, dividing walls 69 and reinforcing web 50. This chute-like dispensing, particularly when coupled witn the variable opening settings provided by the detentes 81 allows very effective dispensing of material from the container.
However, when the flap is closed, it is held in a secure closed position by the top detentes ~1 to insure against ,...
accidental spillage and to act as a protective closure for the contents. By properly sizing the position of the sidewalls 74 and 75, when the lid is closed, little or no gap will exist between the lid 60 and its adjacent walls. If desired, the ~312026.1> 16 ~, - , ,j ~::

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I actual lid can extend slightly beyond the sidewalls 74, 75 (as I at 85 in FIG. 15) to facilitate the seal. It will be appreciated that the skirt por~ion 18 is recessed at the top at the portion overlaid by the lip 73 as illustrated at 84 in FIG. 1.
It will therefore be seen from the above embodiments that this invention provides an improved side dispensing container closure having a hinged lid which is constructed to provide chute-like dispensing passages.
While two embodiments have been shown, modifications and changes may become apparent to those skilled in the art which shall fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that such modifications and changes be covered by the attached claims.

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Claims

1. A side dispensing closure for a container comprising a body having a top end wall, said top end wall being bounded by a skirt, said skirt having internal means to attach said closure to the container, a relatively large aperture formed in said top end wall to permit the dispensing of a pourable product carried in the container, a lid having lid rear, a lid front and two lid sides, said lid rear being hinged to the top end wall, said lid being sized to open and close said aperture, and said lid front extending to at least the periphery of said top end wall, a pair of side walls depending from the lid adjacent the lid sides, said side walls being sized to move in and out of the aperture as said lid is pivoted to and from an open position, at least one dividing wall depending from the lid and spaced a predetermined distance from each of the side walls, a web spaced from said lid and interconnecting the side walls and dividing wall, said dividing wall and side walls and lid and web forming at least two chute-like dispensing passages.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the dividing walls has latch means thereon to releasably hold the lid in at least two open positions.

3. The closure of claim 1 having a plurality of spaced dividing walls depending from the lid between the side walls, said dividing walls extending substantially parallel to each other and forming with said lid a plurality of chute-like passages; and at least one of the dividing walls has latch means thereon to releasably hold the lid in at least two positions.

4. The closure of claim 1 wherein the web has latch means thereon to releasably hold the lid in a fully open position, and at least one of the dividing walls has latch means thereon to hold the lid releasably closed and latch means to releasably hold the lid in a second position which is not fully open.

5. The closure of claim 1 having a plurality of spaced dividing walls depending from the lid between the side walls, said dividing walls extending substantially parallel to each other and forming with said lid a plurality of chute-like passages; and the web has latch means thereon to releasably hold the lid in a fully open position, and at least one of the dividing walls has latch means thereon to hold the lid releasably closed and in a second position which is not fully open.

6. The closure of claim 1 wherein said hinge is a living hinge and said side walls are cone shaped so that the side walls are in contact with sides of the dispensing opening substantially throughout the opening and closing of the lid.

7. The closure of claim 6 wherein the side walls are wedge shaped with a front portion thereof being in contact with an inturned lip extending inwardly of the periphery of said top, and the front portion being a large end of the wedge and a rear portion extending substantially to the rear of the lid and being a small end of the wedge;
said dividing walls being wedged shaped and dividing walls having a large end of dividing wall wedge being in contact with the inturned lip and a rear of the dividing wall wedge adjacent a rear of the lid.

8. A one-piece molded plastic side dispensing closure comprising a body having a top end wall, said top end wall being bounded by a skirt, said skirt having internal means to attach said closure to a container, an annular ledge extending inwardly from a top of said skirt;
an annular peripheral wall extending from the ledge to the top end wall;

an aperture formed in said top end wall to permit the dispensing of a pourable product carried in the container, a lid having a lid rear, a lid front and two lid sides, said aperture having an arcuate front end, diverging sides and a substantially straight rear, said lid rear being pivotally hinged to the aperture rear, said lid being sized to open and close said aperture, and said lid front extending to at least the periphery of said top end wall;
a pair of side walls depending from the lid adjacent the lid sides, said side walls being sized to move in and out of the aperture as said lid is pivoted to and from an open position; said side walls being sized to extend substantially the entire length of the diverging sides;
at least one dividing wall depending from the lid and spaced a predetermined distance from each of the side walls; said dividing wall and said side walls each being wedge shape with arcuate front ends being positioned adjacent the arcuate front end of the aperture and each front end of said dividing and side walls being sized so that when the lid is in a fully open position the dividing and side walls front ends extend for the entire opening;
latch means on at least one dividing wall to hold the lid in a plurality of open positions; a web interconnecting the side walls and dividing wall, and said dividing wall and side walls and lid and web forming at least two chute-like dispensing passages.

9. The closure of claim 8 comprising a plurality of spaced dividing walls depending from the lid between the side walls, said dividing walls extending substantially parallel to each other and forming with said lid a plurality of chute-like passages;
latch means on the front end of at least one dividing wall to hold the lid in a plurality of open positions;
a web interconnecting the side walls and dividing wall and each dividing wall extends more than half of the length of the lid from the aperture open end toward the lid rear.

10. A one-piece molded plastic container closure having an open bottom and a closed top wall, comprising a peripheral skirt defining the open bottom, said skirt having internal means formed thereon for fixing the closure to a container, said top wall having an aperture therein of a predetermined size, said top wall having a lid with a lid rear hingedly connected to said top and being pivotable to and from a closed position to an open position, said lid having a lid front terminating adjacent a periphery of said top wall, side walls for said lid depending from an undersurface of said lid, a reinforcing web interconnecting said side walls at a forward end of said sidewalls remote from said hinge connection, said web being spaced from said undersurface, said undersurface and said side walls and said web defining a dispensing orifice when said lid is pivoted to an open position, said dispensing orifice having an outermost edge adjacent the periphery and spaced from the periphery of the top only by a narrow inturned lip whereby the dispensing orifice is substantially at the periphery of the top, said lid has a plurality of dividing walls depending from the undersurface thereof, said dividing walls terminating in close space relation to said inturned lip and being parallel to one another and extending a predetermined distance from said terminating position towards the hinge, said web having latch means thereon projecting forwardly of said sidewalls, said latch means cooperating with said inturned lip extending inwardly of the periphery of said top wall to limit opening of said lid, said side walls and lid undersurface defining a chute-like dispensing passage, and at least one dividing wall having a plurality of projections formed at its terminating end which cooperate with said inturned lip to retain said lid in selected positions.

11. A one-piece molded plastic container closure having an open bottom and a closed top wall, comprising a peripheral skirt defining the open bottom, said skirt having internal means formed thereon for fixing the closure to a container, said top wall having an aperture therein of a predetermined size, said top wall having a lid with a lid rear hingedly connected to said top and being pivotable to and from a closed position to an open position, said lid having a lid front terminating adjacent a periphery of said top wall, side walls for said lid depending from an undersurface of said lid, at least one dividing wall depending from the lid undersurface and spaced from each of the side walls, said dividing wall having a front face extending from said lid to a reinforcing web and a portion extending towards said lid rear, said reinforcing web interconnecting said side walls at a forward end of said sidewalls remote from said hinge connection, said web being spaced from said lid undersurface, said lid undersurface and said side walls and said web defining at least two dispensing orifices when said lid is pivoted to an open position, said dispensing opening having an outermost edge adjacent the periphery and spaced from the periphery of the top only by a narrow inturned lip whereby the dispensing orifices are substantially at the periphery of the top, said web having latch means thereon projecting forwardly of said sidewalls, said latch means cooperating with said inturned lip extending inwardly of the periphery of said top wall to limit opening of said lid, and said side walls and lid undersurface and dividing wall defining at least two chute-like dispensing passages.

12. The closure of claim 11 wherein said lid has a plurality of dividing walls depending from the undersurface thereof, said dividing walls terminating in close space relation to said inturned lip and being parallel to one another and extending a predetermined distance from said terminating position towards said hinge.

13. The closure of claim 11 wherein said sidewalls have projections formed thereon and said top adjacent the sidewalls has undersurfaces thereof which cooperate with said projections to retain said lid in selected positions.

14. The closure of claim 8 wherein said sidewalls have projections formed thereon and said top adjacent the sidewalls has undersurfaces thereof which cooperate with said projections to retain said lid in selected positions, said dividing walls being wedged shaped with said front face being a large end of sand wedge with said front face being in contact with sand inturned lip, at least one dividing wall front face having a latch means which cooperates with said inturned lip to releasably hold the lid in at least one intermediate open position.

15. An annular molded plastic container closure cap comprising a peripheral annular skirt having internal means formed thereon for fixing the closure cap to a container and an annular top closing one end of the skirt, a hinged top portion being joined to the top at a hinge connection remote from a periphery of the top being pivotable from a closed position to an open position to open and close an opening formed in said top adjacent periphery of said top, said hinged top portion terminating at the periphery of said top at a dispensing opening, sidewalls for hinged top portion depending from an undersurface of said hinged top portion, said side walls being formed as a conical section and being bowed outwardly to maintain an outer surface of said walls in tight sealing contact with an opening sidewall in a top wall of the closure as said hinged portion moves between an open and closed position, a solid panel interconnecting said sidewalls at a forward end of said sidewalls remote from said hinge connection and adjacent said periphery, said panel having means thereon cooperating with a lip extending inwardly of the periphery of said top to limit opening of said hinged top portion, and said panel having at least one opening therethrough for dispensing material contained in said container.

16. The closure cap of claim 15 wherein said panel has a plurality of openings therethrough arranged in at least one row.

17. The closure cap of claim 16 wherein said opening are formed in a plurality of horizontal rows.

18. The closure cap of claim 17 wherein a detent is formed between horizontal rows to permit selected retention of the closure lid in various degrees of opening to expose selected numbers of rows of openings for dispensing.

19. The closure cap of claim 15 wherein seal means are provided along a top horizontal edge and a bottom horizontal edge of said panel to engage with said lip.

20. The closure cap of claim 15, further comprising a tamper indicating means having a detachable projection formed on said closure and engageable with said hinged top portion to cause said projection to become detached when said hinged top portion is first opened from a closed-position.

21. The closure cap of claim 15 wherein said sidewalls are formed as a conical section and being bowed outwardly to maintain an outer surface of said sidewalls in tight sealing contact with an opening sidewall in a top wall of the closure as said hinged portion moves between an open and closed position, and said undersurface and said sidewalls defining a chute-like dispensing orifice when said portion is pivoted to an open position.

22. The closure of any one of claim 7 wherein at least one of the dividing walls has latch means thereon to releasably hold the lid in at least two open positions.

23. The closure of any one of claim 22 wherein the web has latch means thereon to releasably hold the lid in a fully open position.

24. The closure of claim 7 wherein each dividing wall extends more than half of the length of the lid from the aperture open end toward the lid rear.

25. The closure of claim 8 wherein at least one of the dividing walls has latch means thereon to hold the lid releasably closed and latch means to releasably hold the lid in a second position which is not fully open.

26. The closure of claim 11 wherein said hinge is a living hinge and said side walls are cone shaped so that the side walls are in contact with sides of the dispensing opening substantially throughout the opening and closing of the lid.

27. The container closure of claim 26 wherein the side walls are wedge shaped with a front portion thereof being in contact with the inturned lip and being a large end of the wedge and a rear portion extending substantially to the rear of the lid and being a small end of the wedge;
said dividing walls being wedged shaped and dividing walls having a large end of dividing wall wedge being in contact with the inturned lip and a rear of the dividing wall wedge adjacent a rear of the lid.

28. The closure of claim 10 wherein said side walls are bowed outwardly to maintain sealing contact with the aperature as the lid moves between the open and closed position.

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