NZ206374A - Closure and cap therefor with u-shaped secondary hinge linkages - Google Patents

Description

2063 74 Priority Date(s): ; Complete Specification Filed: Class: £9391 I?£}. ...

Publication Date: Ct J.

P 0. Journal, No: iasa -i- W;-, '2.5 SOV ;.83 NEW ZEALAND , -r* PATENTS ACT 195 3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A CLOSURE WE, NUON INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 14-18 Kawana Street, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 2(56.3 7 4 This invention relates to a closure.

The present invention in particular relates to improvements in closures such as used with containers and which closures include a body portion for connection to the top of a container, and a cap. The cap is hingeably connected to the body portion and is capable of moving into a position in which it closes over the body portion and into a position in which it moves out of and away from the body portion.

In some closures used up until this time, the body portions have been provided with one or more holes or bores in the top thereof, which have allowed for the exit of matter from within the container. Thus, the caps have been capable of moving into a position over the body member in which the holes or bores are closed, or into a position in which they move outwardly of and away from the body portion so that matter is able to be exited out of the hole or bore.

The closures used up until this time have not always been as successful, or as efficient in use as possible. In particular hinge arrangements between body portions and caps have not always allowed the caps to be completely clear such as may be required for labelling, decoration and the like.

In addition, in closures used up until this time, the connection between the body portion and the cap has not always allowed a sufficient opening of the cap relative 2 ?0 8 3 7 4 to the body portion, which has in some cases detracted from, or impeded the dispensing of matter from the container to which the closure is attached.

In addition, closures used up until this time have often had hinge connections between the body portion and the cap, which have prevented straight forward and efficient opening and closing of the cap relative to the body portion.

The present invention sets out to overcome and at least minimise these problems. The present invention also sets out to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a closure including a body portion and a hingeably connected cap, a primary hinge linkage connecting the body and the capand having a substantially medial, partial slot therein; secondary hinge linkages also connecting the body and cap; the secondary linkages including substantially "U" shaped portions.

According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided a closure having a body portion and a hingeably connected cap; a primary hinge linkage connecting the body and cap and having a substantially medial and transverse partial slot therein; secondary hinge linkages also connecting the body and cap; at least one on either side of the primary hinge linkage; the secondary hinge linkages including substantially "U" shaped portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described by way of example 2063 74 only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1: is a side view of a known closure.

Figure 2; is a rear view of a known closure.

Figure 3: is a plan view of a known closure.

Figure 4: is a side view of a known closure showing the cap in an open position.

Figure 5: is a partially exploded side view of a closure according to one form of the present invention.

Figure 6: is a rear view of a closure according to one form of the present invention.

Figure 7: is a plan view of a closure according to one form of the present invention.

Figure 8; is a view of a closure according to the present invention showing the cap in an open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The cap of the present invention is preferably formed 2 '0 63 74 of an appropriate plastics material. Other materials can however be used to advantage if desired.

As referred to hereinbefore, up until this time, closure members (as shown by way of example in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings) have been provided including a body portion 1 and a cap portion 2, the closure members being adapted for attachment, (such as screw attachment), to the top of containers such as for example shampoo containers, liquid cleaner containers and the like. These are by way of example only. The attachment of the closure allows for controlled exit of matter from the containers. It should be appreciated that the present invention has application to any container, for any purpose of contents.

The closures used up until this time, have thus included a body portion 1 and a cap 2, the cap 2 being hingeably connected to the main body portion 1.

The body portions 1 have included an exit means or hole 3 therein, to allow the exit of matter from within the container, to which the closure is attached. This is shown for example in Figures 4 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

The undersurface of the cap 2 of the closures used up until this time, have been provided with inwardly extending lugs or stops 4, which engage with, about and/or over the hole or outlet 3 in the top of the body portion, so as to close the outlet when the cap is in its "down" or closed position. 2'063 74 The caps 2 have up until this time been hingeably connected to the body portion by a primary hinge 5 such as shown in Figures 1 through 4 of the accompanying drawings. This has in effect been a substantially "L" connection, which pivots into an open and closed position, as shown in Figures 1 through 4 of the accompanying drawings. Figure 4 in particular shows the hinge 5 connection holding the cap 2 in an open position relative to the body portion 1.

Thus, the cap 2 has been connected to the main body portion 1 by a primary or main hinge connection 5, being substantially "L" shaped in formation, and two secondary hinge connections 6 being interconnected substantially triangular members, to each side of the primary hinge connection 5.

A suitable lip 7 extends outwardly from a forward face of the cap 2 and co-operates with a slight recess 8 in the front face of the body portion 1, so that an upward pressure on the lip 7 will move the cap 2 to an open position outwardly and away from the body portion 1.

On the cap 2 being moved downwardly in a substantially reverse direction, the inlet of the body portion 3 and the stop 4 of the cap 2 will engage one with the other. The closure will then be held in its closed position.

As referred to hereinbefore, the closures used up until this time have brought about certain problems and deficiencies. For this purpose, it has been found advantageous to develop the closure of the present invention 206374 as shown in particular with reference to Figures 5 through 8 of the accompanying drawings.

The cap 2 of the present invention is connected to the body 1 portion by a hinge arrangement including a primary hinge linkage 20 and secondary linkages 21.

The primary hinge linkage 20 is an integral connection between the sides of the body portion 2 and the cap 1; in its substantially closed position (as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings), it has a substantially triangular formation and apparatus.

The primary linkage 20 has a substantially medial and transverse slot 24 therein, which extends partially along the length thereof (hereinafter referred to as a 'partial slot'), and which assists in the straight forward and efficient opening and operation of the primary hinge linkage 20 .

The closure of the present invention is also provided with a plurality of secondary linkages 21, (preferably being two in number). Preferably, one such secondary linkage 21 is provided on either side of the primary hinge linkage 20, the secondary linkages 21 being adjacent to but spaced apart from each side of the primary hinge linkage 20. The secondary linkages 21 are formed of a substantailly flexible, resilient or semi-flexible plastics material, and are substantially "U" shaped in formation. Preferably, the primary linkage 20, which has a substantially medial and transverse partial slot therein, together wi'fHvthe secondary linkages 21 being of a substantially "U" /shaped configuration, provide for a more efficient and s forward operation between the body portion 1 and ca^2 of „ 2065 74 the closure. In addition, the secondary hinge linkages are prefearbly of a lesser width than the primary hinge linkages, this contributing to ease of operation and the movement of the cap 2 relative to the body 1.

In particular, it has been found that the arrangement of the present invention allows for the cap 2 to be completely clear for use in labelling and the like.

As will be appreciated from the description hereinbefore and from the accompanying drawings (in particular Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings), the primary hinge connection of the known arrangement includes use of part of the cap as part of the primary hinge connection or linkage. This then prevents full use of the top of the cap 2. The present invention allows for the primary hinge linkage 20 and secondary linkages 21 to connect to and between the side of the cap 2. This then leaves the top of the cap 2 free for marking, insignia, pricing and the like.

As will be appreciated by the accompanying drawings (in particular Figures 1 through 4 thereof) the arrangements known up until this time have utilised a primary hinge connection 5 which extends into and uses as part of the primary hinge connection a portion of the cap. This is shown in particular in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

When the cap 2 is in the open position (such as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings), the substantially "L" shaped primary hinge connection 5 utilises part of the top of the cap. Thus, when the cap 2 of 2 063 74 the known arrangement is being opened and closed relative to the body portion 1, part of the cap 2 is being moved into and out of position within the cap 2. This then means that any labelling or marking, indicia or the like, placed on the top of the cap is interfered with or broken on the opening and closing of the cap 2.

In the present arrangement, as shown in particular with reference to Figures 5 through 8 of the accompanying drawings, the primary hinge connection 20 (and indeed the secondary hinge connections 21), extend between and are connected to, the sides of the cap and body portion, and so not extend into the top of the cap. For example, the primary hinge linkage 20 of the present arrangement as shown in Figures 5 through 8 of the accompanying drawings, extends from the side of the container 1 to the side of the cap 2. The secondary linkages 21 also extend from the side of the container 1 to the side of the cap 2. Again, there is no intrusion into the top of the cap 2. Thus, when the cap 2 is in its open position (such as shown in Figure 8 fo the accomapnying drawings), the operation does not cause part of the cap to be removed from its normal plane or orientation, (as is the case with known arrangements as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings).

This then makes the present invention particularly applicable for clear labelling, decoration, indicia markings and the like.

The location, formation and operation of the 20u3 / hinged connection between the cap member and the body member in the present invention also allows for the cap lid to be open substantially 180° which is a far greater and more effective distance than caps have been capable of opening up until this time. This provides or allows for more efficient and straight forward dispensing from the container.

It has also been found that the present invention allows for greater ease and efficiency in opening and closing the container cap, relative to the body portion.

It should be appreciated that modifications and improvements may be made to this invention, without departing from the scope or spirit thereof, as defined by the appended claims. 206374 ii

Claims (11)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A closure including a body portion and a hingedly connected cap; a primary hinge linkage connecting the body and cap and having a substantially medial and partial slot (as herein defined) therein; secondary hinge linkages also connecting the body and cap; the secondary linkages including substantially "U" shaped portions.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said partial slot of said primary hinge linkage is substantially transverse.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the secondary linkages comprise at least one secondary linkage on each side of the primary linkage.

4. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary hinge linkage is an integral connection extending between the body portion and the cap.

5. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary hinge linkage extends between a side of the body portion and a side of the cap.

6. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary hinge linkages extend from a side of the body portion to a side of the cap.

7. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the secondary hinge linkages are adjacent to but spaced apart from each side of the primary hinge linkage. /;1V 1 -12- 206374

8. A closure aB claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary hinge linkages are each of a lesser width than the primary hinge linkage.

9. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, constructed of a plastics material.

10. A closure including a body portion and a hingedly connected cap; a primary hinge linkage connecting the body and cap, and having a substantially medial and transverse partial slot therein; secondary hinge linkages also connecting the body and cap, at least one secondary hinge linkage being provided adjacent to but spaced apart from each side of the primary hinge linkage; the primary and secondary hinge linkages extending from a side of the body portion to an adjacent side of the cap; the secondary hinge linkages including substantially "U" shaped portions.

11. A closure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings. NUON INDUSTRIES LIMITED By Their Attorneys, BALDWIN, SON & CAREY.