ES2746563T3 - Flip top plastic lid - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure (10) for a container (18), comprising: a collar (12) having an outer surface (27), to a central opening (14), and a collar locking portion (38), a lid (16) pivotably attached to the collar (12), the cap having an outer surface and a cap locking portion (40), the cap locking portion (40) being operable to releasably engage the cap portion collar (38) locking on collar (12) when lid (16) is in a closed position covering central opening (14), thereby securing lid (16) to collar (12) in the closed position; a collar latch member (22) located on the outer surface (27) of the collar (12); and a lid latch element (26) located on the outer surface (56) of the lid (16), the collar latch element (22) being configured to releasably engage the lid latch element (26 ) when the cap (16) is in the closed position, thereby further securing the cap (16) to the collar (12) in the closed position; and wherein the cap (16) further comprises a lower perimeter (32) and the collar (12) further comprises a cap engaging surface (34), the lower perimeter of the cap (32) being in contact with the surface of cap (34) engagement on collar (12) when collar (12) and cap (16) are in the closed position; and wherein the cap engaging surface (34) further comprises a sealing layer (46), such that a first annular seal (48) is formed between the cap (16) and the collar (12) when the cap ( 16) and collar (12) are in the closed position.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Flip top plastic lid

Technical field

The present invention relates to a closure for a container for containing a granular or powdered product, such as a baby formula. More specifically, the invention is directed to a closure having a collar and a hinged top lid to releasably secure the open end of a container.

Background technique

There are many products in grain or powder form that are normally stored and sold in containers. These products include baby formula, flour, coffee, sugar, and nutritional supplements, such as protein or dietary supplements. Because many of these items are stored, transported, and ultimately dispensed from the same container, the container should be robust enough to withstand the conditions it may be exposed to. Additionally, the container should be easy to use by the end consumer.

Containers made of plastic and / or metal are often used to store and sell various granular products, particularly in the industrial, food and pharmaceutical sectors. Some containers may include a lid or closure so that the container can be repeatedly opened and closed. A problem often associated with such containers is leakage of product from the container. Such leakage typically occurs in the area around the closure. Furthermore, if a lid or closure does not provide adequate sealing, contaminants can be more easily introduced into the product stored in the container, leading to deterioration or other detrimental effects. As such, although some containers include releasable lids that can be opened and closed by a user to access the product contained within the container, many of these layers do not provide a sufficiently secure seal.

Furthermore, current containers do not provide sufficient verification that the container is sealed when in a closed position. The consumer closes the lid on the container, but cannot be sure that the product will not come out. Thus, it is desirable to provide the consumer with perceptible verification that the container is properly sealed when the lid is closed.

Additionally, some containers include a measuring device or spoon that allows the consumer to remove the product from the container, and, in certain circumstances, measure the amount of product necessary for each use. However, conventional spoons can make it difficult for the consumer to obtain product when the content level of the container decreases.

Accordingly, there is a need for a closure for a container that more fully seals the container content, in order to prevent any leakage from the container, or to prevent contaminants from contacting the container content. Additionally, there is a need for a container that provides perceptible verification to the consumer that the container has been properly sealed when the lid is closed. Additionally, there is a need for a container having a spoon that is better able to facilitate the obtaining of product generally located at the bottom of the container. FR 2490191 A1 and EP 0773172 describe such containers and FR2490191 describes a closure comprising a collar and a lid hingedly attached thereto, with a collapsible collar locking cap and parts. EP 0773172 describes a closure comprising a collar and a lid hingedly attached thereto, with latch elements therebetween.

Description of the Invention

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved closure for a container according to claim 1.

In some embodiments, the collar locking portion and the lid locking portion can provide an audible sound when the two locking portions engage each other. Similarly, the collet latch element and cap latch element can provide a second audible sound when coupled together. This feature can provide the user with perceptible verification that the container and its contents have been properly closed and sealed.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a closure of the present invention in an open position.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of Figure 1 in a closed position.

Figure 3 is a detail cross-sectional view of an exemplary coupling between the collar and the closure cover of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail cross-sectional view of a second exemplary coupling between a collar and a closure cap of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the closure of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detailed view of a first latch element and a second exemplary latch element for the closure of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a front view of a collar and a cap of Figure 1 when the cap is in an open position. Figure 8 is a top view of the closure of Figure 1 when the lid is in a closed position with the first latch element engaging with the second latch element.

Figure 9 is a front view of the closure of Figure 1 in a closed position showing how multiple mounted containers can be stacked on each other.

Best way to carry out the invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made from the teachings of the present invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, the features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to give rise to a further embodiment.

Thus, the present invention is intended to cover such modifications and variations considered within the scope of the appended claims. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure is an exemplary description of embodiments only and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the present invention.

For clarity, not all reference numbers are necessarily present in every drawing. In addition, positional terms such as "top", "bottom", "side", "vertical", "horizontal", etc., refer to the container when it is in the orientation shown in the drawings. Those skilled in the art will recognize that containers can take different orientations when in use.

A perspective view of one embodiment of a closure 10 of the present invention is shown in Figure 1; the closure 10 is intended to be used in the closure of a container 18. The closure 10 includes a collar 12 having a central opening 14. A cap 16 can be releasably attached to the collar 12, so that the cap 16 covers the central opening 14. In Figure 1, the cap 16 is pivotally attached to the collar 12, so that the cap 16 can pivot between an open position in which a front side 17 of the cap 16 is decoupled from the collar 12, and a closed part in which the front side 17 of the cap 16 engages with the collar 12 and the cap 16 covers the central opening 14. The cap 16 is seen in an open position in Figure 1. In other embodiments, the Cap 16 and collar 12 are pivotably connected by means of a hinge structure such as a continuous hinge or made of the same material. In other embodiments, the cap 16 and the collar 12 are two separate pieces, and the cap 16 can be pressed to fit the collar 12 by the user to engage the collar 12 with the cap 16 and place the cap 16 in a closed position .

In some embodiments the shape of the collar 12 and the lid 16 is complementary to the shape of the container 18. For example, when the container 18 is cylindrical, having a generally circular cross section, the collar 12 and the lid 16 may have a shape generally circular, as shown in Figure 1. However, collar 12 and cap 16 can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes, including elliptical, oval, square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc. For each of these shapes, the cap 16 can be pivotably attached to the collar 12 (such as one by a continuous hinge), or the cap 16 and collar 12 can be two separate pieces, the cap 16 being snap-fit on the collar 12 to couple the cap 16 with the collar 12 and place the cap 16 in a closed position. In other embodiments, the shape of the upper end 20 of container 18 may be complementary to the shape of collar 12 and lid 16, and the remainder of container 18 may have a different shape.

Collar 12 may be configured to engage and connect with container 18. Container 18 may have an open top end 20. Closure 10 may be configured such that when collar 12 is connected to container 18, center opening 14 is concentric with the open upper end 20 of the container 18. As such, when the lid 16 is engaged with the collar 12 in the closed position, the lid 16 can cover both the central opening 14 in the collar 12 and the open upper end 20 in container 18.

The closure 10 includes a collar latch element 22. The collar latch element 22 is located on an outer surface 27 of the collar 12. In some embodiments, the collar latch element 22 is a latch that it can be pivotably attached to the collar 12 by means of mechanical fasteners commonly known in the art, such as screws or pins. In some embodiments, the collar latch element 22 is pivotably attached to the collar 12 by means of a continuous hinge 24, so that the collar 12 and the collar latch element 22 can be manufactured as an integral part. By having the collar 12 and the collar latch element 22 pivotably connected by means of a continuous hinge 24, the time associated with mounting the closure 10 during manufacture can also be reduced because the collar latch element 22 does not it has to be connected to the collar 12 by means of a second operation (manually or by automation). The cap 16 also includes a cap latch member 26, seen in Figure 5, located on an outer surface 28 of the cap 16. The collar latch member 22 is configured to engage the cap latch member 26 to secure cap 16 to collar 12 in a closed position. In other embodiments, the lid latch element 26 is a latch that can be pivotably attached to the lid 16 by means of mechanical fasteners, such as screws or pins. In some embodiments, the lid latch member 26 is pivotably attached to the lid 16 by means of a continuous hinge. The collar 12 may include a collar latch element 22 located on an outer surface of the collar 12. The cap latch element 26 may be configured to engage the collar latch element 22 to secure the cap 16 with the collar 12 in a closed position.

Referring again to Figure 1, some embodiments of container 18 for storing granular product such as baby formula or food products include at least one flexible heat-sealed membrane 30 removably attached to the open top end 20 of container 18. Flexible membrane 30 remains in container 18 during dispensing of container 18, and is opened by the consumer prior to the first use of the product. Flexible membrane 30 can serve both as a protective barrier that prevents contaminants from reaching the product during transport, and as a tamper evident mechanism indicating that a product should not be purchased or used by a consumer if flexible membrane 30 has been tampered with or withdrawal.

In such embodiments that include the flexible membrane 30, the collar 12 can be connected to the open top end 20 of the container 18, so that the flexible membrane 30 is located between the collar 12 and the open top end 20 of container 18. The membrane Flexible 30 can then be removed by the consumer by pulling the flexible membrane 30 up through the central opening 14 in the collar 12, thereby providing the consumer with access to the contents of container 18.

The cap 16 has a lower perimeter 32. The collar 12 includes a lid coupling surface 34. When the cap 16 is in a closed position and engaging the collar 12, the lower perimeter 32 can be in mating contact with the surface of the cap coupling 34. In Figure 1, the cap coupling surface generally extends laterally inward from an upper perimeter 36 of collar 12. As such, the lower perimeter 32 of cap 16 may be located laterally inward from the upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the cap engagement surface 34 of the collar 12 can extend laterally outward from the upper perimeter 36, so that the lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16 is located laterally out of the upper perimeter 36 when the cover 16 is in the closed position.

A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the closure 10 of the present invention in a closed position is shown in Figure 2. Cap 16 engages with collar 12, so that cap 16 covers central opening 14 in collar 12 The lower perimeter 32 in the closed position engages with the collar 12, so that the lower perimeter 32 is in contact with the lid engaging surface 34 on the collar 12. The collar 12 is also shown connected to container 18.

A detailed view of an exemplary coupling between cap 16 and collar 12 is shown in Figure 3. Collar 12 has a collar locking portion 38. Cap 16 has a lid locking portion 40. The Cap locking portion 40 is operable to releasably engage collar locking portion 38 when the cap is moved to a closed position. When the lid locking part 40 engages with the collar locking part 38, the lid 16 is releasably secured to the collar 12 in the closed position.

In Figure 3, the collar locking portion 38 is a flange extending from the upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12. The flange of the collar locking portion 38 extends laterally inward from the upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12 in Figure 3. The cap locking part 40 is a flange located at the lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16. The flange extends so as to be operable to engage the flange of the collar locking portion 38. The flange in Figure 3 is shown extending from the lower perimeter of the cap 16. In one embodiment, the flange extends from the outer surface 28 of the cap 16. In some embodiments, the flange of the collar locking portion 38 is annularly extends from the entire upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12, and the flange of the lid locking portion 40 may extend annularly from the entire lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16. In certain embodiments, the the flange of the collar locking part 38 extends from only a part of the upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12, and the flange of the cap locking part 40 extends from only a part of the lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16. In Further embodiments, one of the collar locking part 38 and the lid locking part 40 can extend annularly around the entire upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12 or the lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16 respectively, while the other is extends from only part of upper perimeter 36 of collar 12 or lower perimeter 36 of the cover 16 respectively.

Although the collar locking member 38 and the cap locking member 40 are shown as a flange extending from the collar 12 and a flange extending from the cap 16, respectively, these embodiments are in no way a limitation within the scope of the present invention. The collar locking member 38 and the cap locking member 40 can be any suitable complementary locking parts known in the art. For example, the locking portions 38, 40 may be two corresponding tabs, one on the collar 12 and one on the cap 16. Additionally, the collar locking member 38 could be a protrusion extending from the collar 12 and which it is received through a corresponding recess in the cover 16, or vice versa.

A second exemplary coupling between collar 12 and cap 16 is shown in Figure 4. Cap 16 is releasably secured to collar 12 as previously described for Figure 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the flange of the lid locking member 40, when the lid locking member 40 is engaged with the flange of the collar locking member 38, is in contact with the lid engaging surface 34. Therefore, the lower perimeter 32 of cap 16 contacts the cap engaging surface 34 of collar 12 by means of the flange. In some embodiments, the lid engaging surface 34 includes a lid sealing layer 42. When the lid 16 is moved to a closed position and the lid locking member 40 engages with the collar locking member 38, the lower perimeter 32 by means of the flange engages with the seal layer 42 on the lid coupling surface 34, so that the seal layer 42 is compressed. The lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16 that compresses the seal layer 42 will create an annular seal between the cap 16 and the collar 12. The annular seal formed by the lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16 that is compressing the seal layer 42 may be a dust-tight seal that will prevent the contents of container 18 from leaking between cap 16 and collar 12 when cap 16 is in the closed position.

The collar 12 includes a collar seal layer 46. The sealing layer 46 can be operable to couple the open upper end 20 of the container 18 when the collar 12 is connected to the container 18. When the open upper end 20 of the container 18 is coupled with the sealing layer 46, a Ring seal 48 between collar 12 and container 18. Ring seal 48 may also be a dust-tight seal that prevents the contents of container 18 from leaking between container 18 and collar 12. In such an embodiment, when the collar 12 is connected to the container 18 and the lid 16 is in a closed position engaging the collar 12, the contents of the container can be effectively sealed so that it does not come out between both the container 18 and the collar 12, and the collar 12 and cover 16.

In Figure 3 and Figure 4, the lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16 in the closed position is located within the upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12. Similarly, the collar locking portion 38 and the coupling surface of Cap 34 generally extends and radially inward from the upper perimeter 36 of collar 12, and cap locking portion 40 generally extends radially outward. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the orientation of the features described above could be specular, such that the lower perimeter 32 of the cap 16 is located outside the upper perimeter 36 of the collar 12. As such, the locking part Collet collar 38 and lid engaging surface 34 can generally extend radially outward and lid locking portion 40 can generally extend radially inward. The two orientations work similarly to each other to secure the cover 16 to the collar 12 in the closed position.

Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the closure 10 of the present invention. The cap 16 in this embodiment is pivotably connected to the collar 12 by means of a continuous hinge 50. The cap 16 which is connected to the collar 12 by means of a continuous hinge 50 allows the cap 16 and collar 12 to be manufactured as an integral piece. Such an embodiment can eliminate a mounting operation during the manufacturing process. The collar 12 and the cap 16 can also be produced in one color, or in two different colors to improve the aesthetic appearance. In some embodiments, the cap 16 may be pivotably attached to the collar 12 by means of mechanical fasteners commonly known in the art, such as screws or pins.

An exemplary coupling between the collar latch element 22 and the lid 16 is also shown in Figure 5. The lid 16 includes a lid latch element 26. The collar latch element 22 may be attached in a manner pivotable to collar 12 and configured to engage lid latch member 26 when lid 16 is in the closed position. When the collar latch member 22 engages with the cap latch member 26 in the cap 16, the cap 16 is additionally secured to the collar 12. In some embodiments, as can be seen in Figure 6, the member Collar latch 22 includes a protrusion 52 extending from a bottom side 54 of the collar latch element 22. When the cap 16 is in a closed position, the collar latch element 22 can be rotated such that the protrusion 52 releasably engages with lid latch member 26 on lid 16.

Cap latch member 26 is shown in Figure 6 as a second protrusion extending from cap 16. However, that is an embodiment of the coupling between collar latch member 22 and the cover latch element 26, and is not a limitation of the scope of this invention. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the collar latch element 22 can be coupled with the cap latch element 26 in a variety of ways. For example, in some embodiments the lid latch element 26 may be a cavity in lid 16, the cavity being configured to receive protrusion 52 on collar latch element 22. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that in In some embodiments, the cap latch member 26 may be pivotably attached to the cap 16. As such, the cap latch member 26 may include the shoulder 52, and the collar latch member 22 may be a second boss which is it extends from the outer surface 27 of the collar 12. The collar latch element 22 can then be configured to releasably engage the projection 52 on the cap latch element 26.

Such an embodiment can allow the user to secure the cap 16 to the collar 12 in a closed position in two different ways. Cap 16 can be rotated such that cap lock portion 40 releasably engages with collar lock portion 38, as described above, to create a first clamping measure. Subsequently, latch 22 can be rotated to engage locking element 52, creating a second clamping configuration.

In some embodiments, the cap 16 has a top surface 56, and the cap latch member 26 may be located on the top surface 56 of the cap 16. Additionally, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, in some In embodiments, the top surface 56 of the lid 16 may include a recess 58. The second latch element 26 may be located within the recess 58, so that the collar latch element 22 can be inserted into the recess 58 to engage with the cap latch element 26. The recess 58 may allow the user's fingers or hand to grip the collar latch element 22 to facilitate disengagement of the collar latch element 22 from the cap latch element 26 in order to open the lock 10.

In Figure 8, the closure 10 is shown with a collar latch element 22 engaging the lid latch element 26. The lid latch element 26 in Figure 8 is located in recess 58 and the latch element is Collar 22 is inserted into recess 58. From Figure 8, it can be seen that a user can insert one or more fingers into exposed portion 60 of recess 58 to disengage collar latch member 22 from latch member of lid 26.

Another aspect of the present invention is a closure 10 which provides the user with perceptible verification that the cap 16 is sufficiently secured to the collar 12 so that the powder or the contents of the container 18 do not come out of the container 18. Accordingly, in In some embodiments, the collar lock portion 38 and the cap lock portion 40 may be operable to provide an audible sound when the cap lock portion 40 engages with the collar lock portion 38. Similarly, the Collar latch element 22 and lid latch element 26 can provide an audible sound when the collar latch element 22 engages with the lid latch element 26. The two audible sounds created may be similar to a sound of "click" produced by a conventional snap-fit bra.

The audible sounds produced when the lid locking part 40 engages with the collar locking part 38 and when the collar latch element 22 engages with the lid latch element 26 indicate to the user that the lid 16 has been properly closed on the collar 12, so that the product in the container 18 will not leak or spill. The audible sounds produced may also indicate that the contents of the container 18 have been suitably sealed off from potential contaminants from the exterior of the container 18.

Referring to Figure 2, the cap 16 in some embodiments may include a raised circumferential portion 82. The raised circumferential portion 82 may be inserted laterally from the outer perimeter 84 of the cap 16. As shown in Figure 9, the portion raised circumferential 82 may be configured to receive a complementary recess 86 in a base 88 of a second container 90, so that multiple containers mounted in closed positions can be stacked on each other. Such a feature is beneficial for stacking multiple containers in warehouses and on store shelves.

Claims (8)

1. A closure (10) for a container (18), comprising: a collar (12) having an outer surface (27), a central opening (14), and a collar locking part (38), a lid (16) pivotably attached to the collar (12), the lid having an outer surface and a lid locking part (40), the lid locking part (40) being operable to releasably engage with the collar locking part (38) on the collar (12) when the cap (16) is in a closed position covering the central opening (14), thereby securing the cap (16) to the collar (12) in the closed position ; a collar latch element (22) located on the outer surface (27) of the collar (12); Y a lid latch element (26) located on the outer surface (56) of the lid (16), the collar latch element (22) being configured to releasably engage with the lid latch element (26) when the cap (16) is in the closed position, thereby additionally securing the cap (16) to the collar (12) in the closed position; and wherein the lid (16) further comprises a lower perimeter (32) and the collar (12) further comprises a lid engaging surface (34), the lower perimeter of the lid (32) being in contact with the surface of engagement of cap (34) on collar (12) when collar (12) and cap (16) are in the closed position; and wherein the lid engaging surface (34) further comprises a sealing layer (46), such that a first annular seal (48) is formed between the lid (16) and the collar (12) when the lid ( 16) and collar (12) are in the closed position. 2. The closure (10) of Claim 1, wherein: the collar (12) has an upper perimeter (36) and the collar locking part (40) is a flange located on the upper perimeter (36) of the collar (12); and the lid has a lower perimeter (32) and the lid locking part (38) is a flange extending from the lower perimeter (32) of the lid (16), the flange being configured to engage with the flange on the upper perimeter (36) of the collar (12). 3. The closure (10) of Claim 1, wherein: the collar locking part (38) and the lid locking part (40) are operable to provide an audible sound when the lid locking part (40) engages with the collar locking part (38); Y the collar latch element (22) and the lid latch element (26) are operable to provide an audible sound when the collar latch element (26) engages with the lid latch element (22). The closure (10) of Claim 1, wherein the cover (16) further comprises an upper surface (56), the upper surface having a recess (58), the cover latch element (26) being located in the recess (58). 5. The closure (10) of Claim 1, wherein the collar (12) and the cap (16) have a generally circular shape. 6. The closure (10) of Claim 1, wherein the cover (16) further comprises a top surface (56), said top surface (56) having a raised circumferential portion (82) configured to receive a complementary recess (86 ) on a base (88) of a container (90), so that multiple mounted containers (90) can be stacked on each other. 7. The closure (10) of Claim 1, wherein the cap (16) is pivotably attached to the collar (12) by means of a continuous or same material hinge and the cap (16) and collar (12 ) are a continuous piece. The closure (10) of Claim 1, wherein the collar (12) further comprises a sealing layer (42) operable to mate with an upper end of the container (18) to create an annular seal between the collar (12 ) and the container (18).