GB2076378A - Closure for container - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle or like closure has a cap (10), for mounting on the container, which cap has a central discharge spout (18), and a lid (11) moulded in one piece with the cap. The cap and lid are joined by thin web hinges (12). On the lid there is a resilient tongue (24) which in opening and closing the lid slides on an abutment (20) upstanding from the cap, the arrangement being that on opening or closing the lid, the movement of the lid is first resisted and then assisted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure for container The invention relates to closures for containers, for example bottles and the like, which closures are of plastics material and of the type comprising a cap and a lid, whereof the cap has a top to overlie the container mouth and an orifice in the top for dispensing the container contents, and whereof the lid is hinged to the cap to swing between a closed position covering the cap top and sealing the orifice and an open position clear of the top to allow dispensing.

The invention provides a closure of the abovedescribed type in which the lid and cap have co-operating parts comprising a resilient tongue and an abutment, the tongue sliding on the abutment in such manner that in moving the lid between the closed and open positions the movement is first resisted and then assisted.

Conveniently, the tongue is on the lid and the abutment is on the cap adjacent the hinges which are thin integral webs of the plastics material.

Polypropylene is a suitable plastics.

One form of closure of this invention is illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings on which: Figure 1 is a much-enlarged elevation, partly in section, of the closure with the lid partly open, Figure 2 is a partial view showing the lid closed, and Figure 3 is a detailed view.

The closure comprises cap 10 and lid 11 which are moulded in one piece from a suitable plastics, these being joined by a pair of thin spaced flexible webs 12 (Figure 3) forming the hinges, the webs being on bosses 13, 14 projecting outwards from the cap and lid respectively.

The cap 10 has a skirt 15, the upper part of which has an internal screw thread 16 (Figure 1) to engage a corresponding thread on a bottle neck. The cap also has a recessed top with a portion 17 forming a plug to fit into the neck of the bottle and with a centrally-disposed upstanding spout 18 having a discharge orifice 19. Between the bosses 13, the cap has an upstanding abutment 20 projecting above a top flange 21 encircling the spout, the top of the abutment being rounded.

On the opposite side of the cap from the hinges 12, there is a recess 26 so that, as shown in chain lines in Figure 1, when the lid 11 is closed it projects slightly beyond the cap to facilitate opening as by flipping with the thumb nail.

The lid 11 has an annular flange 22 projecting from its underside, which flange, when the lid is closed (Figure 2), has an interference fit over the spout 18 so as to seal off the orifice 19. The lid further has thin peripheral flanges 23 to engage within the top flange 21 of the cap.

The lid 11 also has a narrow resilient tongue 24to slide over the abutment 20 as the lid 11 is opened and closed. At the base of the tongue there is a shallow notch 25.

In use, when the lid 11 is closed, the rounded top of the abutment 20 engages in the notch 25 (Figure 2) so as to provide some restraint against opening.

As the lid is moved towards its fully open position, the tongue 24 slides on the abutment 20 and initially the reaction between these parts generates a torque opposing opening, but at about the half-open position of the lid 11 the direction of action of the torque reverses so that the lid is urged towards the fully open position in which, as shown in chain lines in Figure 2, the tongue 24 is just behind the abutment 20 so holding the lid open.

On closing, the reverse operation occurs, the reaction between the tongue and abutment first opposing and then assisting closure. Final closure is manually effected because of the interference fit between the flange 22 and spout 18.

1. A closure for a container, which closure is of plastics material and is of the type comprising a cap and a lid, whereof the cap has a top to overlie the container mouth and an orifice in the top for dispensing the container contents, and whereof the lid is hinged to the cap to swing between a closed position covering the cap top and sealing the orifice and an open position clear of the top to allow dispensing, wherein the lid and cap have cooperating parts comprising a resilient tongue and an abutment, the tongue sliding on the abutment in such manner that in moving the lid between the closed and open positions the movement is first resisted and then assisted.

2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the tongue is on the lid and the abutment is on the cap adjacent the hinges which are thin integral webs of the plastics material.

3. A closure according to claim 1 or claim 2, the lid and cap being moulded in one piece and being joined by flexible webs on each forming hinges, the webs being on projections extending outwards from the cap and lid respectively.

4. A closure according to any of claims 1 to 3, the plastics material being polypropylene.

5. A closure for a container such as a bottle, the closure being formed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Closure for container The invention relates to closures for containers, for example bottles and the like, which closures are of plastics material and of the type comprising a cap and a lid, whereof the cap has a top to overlie the container mouth and an orifice in the top for dispensing the container contents, and whereof the lid is hinged to the cap to swing between a closed position covering the cap top and sealing the orifice and an open position clear of the top to allow dispensing. The invention provides a closure of the abovedescribed type in which the lid and cap have co-operating parts comprising a resilient tongue and an abutment, the tongue sliding on the abutment in such manner that in moving the lid between the closed and open positions the movement is first resisted and then assisted. Conveniently, the tongue is on the lid and the abutment is on the cap adjacent the hinges which are thin integral webs of the plastics material. Polypropylene is a suitable plastics. One form of closure of this invention is illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings on which: Figure 1 is a much-enlarged elevation, partly in section, of the closure with the lid partly open, Figure 2 is a partial view showing the lid closed, and Figure 3 is a detailed view. The closure comprises cap 10 and lid 11 which are moulded in one piece from a suitable plastics, these being joined by a pair of thin spaced flexible webs 12 (Figure 3) forming the hinges, the webs being on bosses 13, 14 projecting outwards from the cap and lid respectively. The cap 10 has a skirt 15, the upper part of which has an internal screw thread 16 (Figure 1) to engage a corresponding thread on a bottle neck. The cap also has a recessed top with a portion 17 forming a plug to fit into the neck of the bottle and with a centrally-disposed upstanding spout 18 having a discharge orifice 19. Between the bosses 13, the cap has an upstanding abutment 20 projecting above a top flange 21 encircling the spout, the top of the abutment being rounded. On the opposite side of the cap from the hinges 12, there is a recess 26 so that, as shown in chain lines in Figure 1, when the lid 11 is closed it projects slightly beyond the cap to facilitate opening as by flipping with the thumb nail. The lid 11 has an annular flange 22 projecting from its underside, which flange, when the lid is closed (Figure 2), has an interference fit over the spout 18 so as to seal off the orifice 19. The lid further has thin peripheral flanges 23 to engage within the top flange 21 of the cap. The lid 11 also has a narrow resilient tongue 24to slide over the abutment 20 as the lid 11 is opened and closed. At the base of the tongue there is a shallow notch 25. In use, when the lid 11 is closed, the rounded top of the abutment 20 engages in the notch 25 (Figure 2) so as to provide some restraint against opening. As the lid is moved towards its fully open position, the tongue 24 slides on the abutment 20 and initially the reaction between these parts generates a torque opposing opening, but at about the half-open position of the lid 11 the direction of action of the torque reverses so that the lid is urged towards the fully open position in which, as shown in chain lines in Figure 2, the tongue 24 is just behind the abutment 20 so holding the lid open. On closing, the reverse operation occurs, the reaction between the tongue and abutment first opposing and then assisting closure. Final closure is manually effected because of the interference fit between the flange 22 and spout 18. CLAIMS

1. A closure for a container, which closure is of plastics material and is of the type comprising a cap and a lid, whereof the cap has a top to overlie the container mouth and an orifice in the top for dispensing the container contents, and whereof the lid is hinged to the cap to swing between a closed position covering the cap top and sealing the orifice and an open position clear of the top to allow dispensing, wherein the lid and cap have cooperating parts comprising a resilient tongue and an abutment, the tongue sliding on the abutment in such manner that in moving the lid between the closed and open positions the movement is first resisted and then assisted.

2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the tongue is on the lid and the abutment is on the cap adjacent the hinges which are thin integral webs of the plastics material.

3. A closure according to claim 1 or claim 2, the lid and cap being moulded in one piece and being joined by flexible webs on each forming hinges, the webs being on projections extending outwards from the cap and lid respectively.

4. A closure according to any of claims 1 to 3, the plastics material being polypropylene.

5. A closure for a container such as a bottle, the closure being formed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.