US20240132255A1 - Hinged Closure - Google Patents
Hinged Closure Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20240132255A1 US20240132255A1 US18/402,389 US202418402389A US2024132255A1 US 20240132255 A1 US20240132255 A1 US 20240132255A1 US 202418402389 A US202418402389 A US 202418402389A US 2024132255 A1 US2024132255 A1 US 2024132255A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- hinge portion
- container
- hinged closure
- central flexible
- closure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 5
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000003796 beauty Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000014171 carbonated beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000013409 condiments Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004278 EU approved seasoning Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000748 compression moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000011194 food seasoning agent Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006210 lotion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002453 shampoo Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
- B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
- B65D41/3404—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element
- B65D41/3409—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D55/16—Devices preventing loss of removable closure members
Definitions
- the present invention relates to bottle closures for containers. More particularly, the invention relates to hinged bottle closures.
- Hinged closures that can remain open are needed for various uses such as in conjunction with containers used to house carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, water or other liquids, powders, oils, condiments, and beauty products, among others.
- Existing closures sacrifice desirable characteristics, such as opening angle range, flexibility, inability to tether to a corresponding container, and the presence of a locking mechanism.
- the present disclosure relates to hinged closures for a container, such as for a beverage.
- the hinged closures allow for closures that can be held in the open position with a large opening angle.
- the closure can include an upper lid portion, a tamper evident band, and a hinge portion.
- the hinge portion integrally interconnects the lid portion and the tamper evident band, including at least one connecting band and a flexible portion.
- the hinge portion includes a pair of connecting bands and a central flexible portion. In another aspect, the hinge portion includes a pair of flexible portions and a central connecting band.
- the hinge portion comprises a continuous band having variable thickness and a central flexible area.
- the central flexible area is the thinnest point and is blended with the continuous band.
- FIGS. 1 A- 1 E provide an example of a hinged closure from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the hinge portion includes two connecting bands and a central flexible portion having a groove.
- FIG. 1 A shows a perspective view
- FIG. 1 B provides an interior view including the hinge portion
- FIG. 1 C is a cross-sectional perspective view through central flexible portion
- FIG. 1 D is a cross-sectional perspective view through a connecting band
- FIG. 1 E is a side view of the closure from the hinged portion.
- FIG. 1 F is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present disclosure in which the hinged closure in the open position and attached to a container.
- FIGS. 1 G and 1 H are perspective views of the tamper evident band of the closure.
- FIG. 1 G shows the folded tamper band section; in FIG. 1 H , the folded portion of the tamper band has been removed to show the horizontal slit.
- FIGS. 1 I and 1 J are perspective views of another embodiment of the tamper evident band of the closure, including beading.
- FIGS. 2 A- 2 F provide another example of a hinged closure from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the hinge portion comprises two connecting bands and a central flexible portion.
- FIG. 2 A shows a perspective view
- FIG. 2 B provides a side view including the hinge portion
- FIG. 2 C is cross-sectional perspective view through a connecting band
- FIG. 2 D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the central flexible portion
- FIG. 2 E provides an interior view including the hinge portion.
- FIG. 2 F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamper evident band of the closure.
- FIGS. 3 A- 3 F provide another example of a hinged closure from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the hinge portion comprises a continuous band having variable thickness and a central thinner flexible area.
- FIG. 3 A shows a perspective view
- FIG. 3 B provides a side view including the hinge portion
- FIG. 3 C is cross-sectional perspective view through a thicker portion
- FIG. 3 D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the thinner central flexible area
- FIG. 3 E provides an interior view including the hinge portion.
- FIG. 3 F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamper evident band of the closure.
- embodiments of the present disclosure in some aspects, relate to hinged closures for containers having an opening.
- embodiments of the present disclosure provide for hinged closures and methods of making hinged closures.
- the hinged closure described herein are generally used in connection with containers for dispensing products such as food and beverages (e.g. carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, water, oils or condiments, powders or granular products such as seasonings), beauty products (e.g. shampoos, lotions), and household products (e.g. adhesives, detergents).
- the hinged closure of the present disclosure can also be used in connection with various other containers as desired.
- the hinged closure can be adapted for container applications having a screw closure and/or a snap closure, and for use with all applications, the hinged closure can remain in the open position and can have an opening angle of up to 240 degrees (e.g. up to 180 degrees for screw closure applications and up to 240 degrees for snap closure applications). Additionally, the hinged closures described herein advantageously provide for flexibility, tamper evidence, and evidence of tampering.
- FIGS. 1 A- 1 H illustrate one example of a hinged closure 100 .
- the hinged closures comprise an upper lid portion (or closure shell) 110 and a lower skirt portion forming a tamper evident band 120 , which are integrally interconnected by the hinge portion 130 .
- the skirt portion is generally ring shaped.
- the tamper evident band 120 can be retained on the bottle neck such as by a folded portion (see FIGS. 1 C and 1 D ) or by including molded beads on the interior of the tamper evident band 120 .
- the hinge portion 130 includes at least one connecting band 140 and at least one central flexible portion 150 .
- the hinge portion can comprise two connecting bands 140 and a central flexible portion 150 placed between the two connecting bands 140 .
- the hinge portion can comprise two flexible portions 150 and a central connecting band 140 placed between the two flexible portions 150 .
- the connecting bands 140 are vertical and thus are parallel to one another.
- at least a portion of the connecting bands 140 are curved with respect to one another (e.g., crescent shaped) or can be angled.
- the connecting bands 140 and/or central flexible portion 150 can include lines of articulation to direct the bending force.
- the hinge portion can be a continuous band having variable thickness and a central thinner flexible area.
- the central flexible portion 150 and the connecting bands 140 can have substantially the same thickness or the thickness can vary as desired.
- the central flexible portion 150 can have at least one groove 155 that forms a joint and/or flex point at which the central flexible portion 150 rotates relative to the tamper evident band 120 such that the lid portion can open up to 240 degrees from the closed position.
- the groove 155 functions as a reverse flex hinge that can flex and/or pop inwards upon flipping open the upper lid portion 110 .
- the central flexible portion 150 thereby deforms, forming a memory position such that the upper lid portion 110 can remain in a semi-locked open condition.
- the closure lid can be flipped back to a closed position with a simple finger push.
- the groove 155 enables the upper lid portion 110 to be pivotable relative to the tamper evident band.
- the groove 155 can be on the core side (e.g. the interior side of the upper lid portion) or on the cavity side (e.g. the exterior side of the upper lid portion), depending upon the requirements of the closure.
- the groove 155 can be horizontal (e.g., zero degrees) to the long axis of the band. In some embodiments, a single groove 155 can be located in the center of the central flexible portion 150 . In some embodiments, the groove 155 can be located at the upper portion of the central flexible portion 150 . In other embodiments, a groove 155 can be located at both the upper and lower portions of the connecting band. In yet another embodiment, two smaller parallel grooves 155 can be closely placed to one another. In various embodiments, the groove 155 may be chamfered, angled, or slightly tapered at the center to provide a pinch area.
- the tamper evident band 120 can include a horizontal slit 180 below the tongue to allow more bending upon closure opening. Additional reinforcement of material (e.g., slit reinforcement) on the horizontal slit 180 can also be included as desired.
- the hinged closure can be formed using injection molding and can have various features suitable to efficient injection molding manufacture.
- the hinged closure can include vertical openings alongside the hinge portion.
- the openings act as a split between the slide and the cavity of the injection mold, allowing the slide of the injection mold to follow the opening.
- the openings alongside the hinge portion can be angled. The angled opening allows for improved flexibility of the hinge and can be tapered to prevent undercutting during the molding process. The removal of undercutting reduces the potential for damage when ejecting the closure from the mold, thereby reducing wastage and costs.
- the closure can be molded as a single piece.
- the closure can include vertical knurls (or ribs).
- the knurls can provide additional strength to the closure and provide a grip surface for an end user (e.g., consumer) and/or a grip surface for the capping chuck during application of the closure onto the bottle finish at the packaging stage.
- the split line between the slide and cavity can be such that knurls that are located on the hinge area will partially be molded by the slide to prevent undercutting.
- the closures described herein can be screw closures or snap closures.
- horizontal slit 180 can be omitted.
- screw threads can be located on an interior surface of the upper lid portion 110 .
- the closures can be from about 16 mm to about 110 mm, preferably 25 mm to 48 mm in diameter (e.g., for the beverage industry) or can alternatively be sized larger as desired to accommodate containers of various sizes.
- the hinge can withstand a break force of about 25 N.
- the hinge can be designed to withstand higher or lower break forces depending on various factors, such as the size of the container, the desired level of break force for a particular application, the required level of reusability, etc.
- the closure can also include locking means on the interior portion, such as ratchet (or lug) segments, laterally spaced apart a distance suitable to be engaged with the neck of the container.
- the tamper evident band can include one or more beads molded into and positioned on the interior surface of the tamper evident band configured to engage the tamper evident ring of the container neck.
- the closures described and shown herein are substantially circular, in other embodiments the hinged closure could be ovoid, polygonal, or other shape to accommodate a variety of containers.
- the skirt portion can be a tamper evident band or include other tamper-prevention means such as frangible bridges, which would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
- Said bridges can be added (e.g., molded) into the primary cut (i.e., between the lid portion 110 and tamper evident band) and/or a secondary cut (i.e., positioned within the tamper evident band).
- hinged closures and methods of making described herein pertain primarily to plastic closures formed by injection molding. Such materials generally include thermoplastic polymers. However, other materials including elastomers, flexible metals, or other materials suitable for injection molding can be envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, the hinged closures described herein could be manufactured using other methods including but not limited to compression molding and/or additive manufacturing.
- FIGS. 1 A- 1 H an embodiment of the hinged closure 100 from various views is shown.
- FIG. 1 A shows a perspective view
- FIG. 1 B provides an interior view including the hinge portion 130
- FIG. 1 C is a cross-sectional perspective view through central flexible portion 150
- FIG. 1 D is a cross-sectional perspective view through a connecting band 140
- FIG. 1 E is a side view of the closure 100 from the hinge portion 130
- FIG. 1 F is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the hinged closure 100 in the open position, attached to a container 195 .
- FIGS. 1 G and 1 H are perspective views of a tamper evident band 120 of the closure.
- FIGS. 1 G and 1 H are perspective views of a tamper evident band 120 of the closure.
- FIG. 1 I and 1 J are perspective view of additional embodiments of the tamper evident band.
- the hinge portion 130 integrally connects the superior lid portion 110 with the inferior, ring-like tamper evident band 120 .
- the hinge portion 130 includes two connecting bands 140 on either side of a central flexible portion 150 , the central flexible portion 150 having a groove 155 .
- the connecting bands 140 may be vertical, as shown, and thus parallel to one another. Alternatively, at least a portion of the connecting bands 140 can be curved (e.g., crescent shaped) or angled with respect to one another.
- FIG. 1 G the tamper band is shown in a folded position.
- FIG. 1 G the tamper band is shown in a folded position. In FIG.
- the tamper band has been removed to show the horizontal slit 180 .
- the tamper band can be replaced with beads 122 and/or bridges 124 as a tamper-evident feature ( FIG. 1 I ).
- the connecting bands 140 are each integrally joined at the top portion to the lid portion 110 and each integrally joined at the bottom to the tamper evident band 120 .
- the central flexible portion 150 is located between the two connecting bands 140 .
- the central flexible portion includes a groove 155 .
- the groove 155 is positioned on an upper portion of the central flexible portion 150 .
- the groove 155 is positioned on a middle portion of the central flexible portion 150 .
- the groove 155 can be horizontal to the long axis of the central flexible portion 150 .
- One or more additional grooves can be located above and/or below the groove 155 to form a pinch area, which increases flexibility.
- the groove 155 can be located on the interior side of the upper lid portion 110 .
- the central flexible portion 150 and two connecting bands 140 can be in the same plane or in different planes (e.g. along a curved plane).
- the central flexible portion 150 is integrally joined to the lid portion 110 and at the bottom to the tamper evident band 120 .
- the open position in some embodiments may be greater than 180 degrees.
- Other optional features can also be included. For instance, bottom slitting 180 can be included in the tamper evident band 120 to allow bending (e.g., when the closure is opened by the end user); additional material can be added as slit reinforcement 185 ( FIG.
- bottom slitting 180 multiple bridges 160 can be added on the primary or secondary opening cut where needed; the opening 190 between the lid portion 110 and the hinge portion 130 may be angled to prevent undercutting during molding (e.g., hinge portion 130 can be vertical or angled dependent on the technology utilized); and knurls 170 can be included to reinforce the strength of the hinged closure 100 . This reinforcement ensures adequate gripping during application of the closure, initial removal of the closure, and subsequent reclosing of the closure.
- the hinge portion 230 comprises two connecting bands 240 and a central flexible portion 250 having a groove 255 on the exterior side.
- FIGS. 2 A- 2 F provide another example of a hinged closure 200 from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein FIG. 2 A shows a perspective view; FIG. 2 B provides a side view including the hinge portion 230 ; FIG. 2 C is cross-sectional perspective view through a connecting band 240 ; FIG. 2 D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the central flexible portion 250 ; FIG. 2 E provides an interior view including the hinge portion 230 .
- FIG. 2 F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamper evident band 220 of the closure.
- the hinge portion 230 integrally connects the superior lid portion 210 with the inferior, ring-like tamper evident band 220 .
- the hinge portion 230 includes two parallel connecting bands 240 on either side of central flexible portion 250 . In other embodiments (not shown), at least a portion of the connecting bands 240 are curved or angled with respect to one another (e.g., crescent shaped).
- the connecting bands 240 are each integrally joined at the top portion to the lid portion 210 and integrally joined at the bottom to the tamper evident band 220 .
- the central flexible portion 250 is located between the two connecting bands 240 . At the top, the central flexible portion 250 is integrally joined to the lid portion 210 and, at the bottom, is integrally joined to the tamper evident band 220 .
- the open position in some embodiments may be greater than 180 degrees.
- the groove 255 can be non-linear, such as wider at the ends to form a bowtie shape for forming a pinch point.
- the central flexible portion 250 can have at least one groove 255 that forms a joint and/or flex point at which the central flexible portion 250 rotates relative to the tamper evident band 120 such that the lid portion can open up to 180 degrees from the closed position.
- the groove 255 functions as a reverse flex hinge that can flex and/or pop inwards upon opening the hinged closure 200 , the central flexible portion 250 is thereby in a semi-locked position in the open condition.
- the closure can be flipped back to a closed position with a simple finger push.
- the groove 255 enables the upper lid portion 210 to be pivotable relative to the tamper evident band.
- the groove 255 can be on the exterior side (shown) or the interior side of the central flexible portion 250 , depending upon the requirements of the closure.
- the groove 255 can be horizontal (e.g., zero degrees) to the long axis of the band. In some embodiments, a single groove 255 can be located in the center of the central flexible portion 250 . In some embodiments, the groove 255 can be located near the upper portion of the central flexible portion 250 . In other embodiments, a groove 255 can be located at both the upper and lower portions of the connecting band. In various embodiments, the groove 255 may be slightly tapered at the center to provide a pinch area.
- bottom slitting 280 can be included in the tamper evident band 220 to allow stretching during opening of the closure; additional material can be added as slit reinforcement 285 (not shown) to bottom slitting 280 ; the opening 290 between the lid portion 210 and the hinge portion 230 may be vertical or angled to prevent undercutting during molding; and knurls 270 can be included to reinforce the strength of the hinged closure 200 and to provide grip during application or cap removal and/or reclosing. Additional lines of articulation can be included on connecting bands 240 or central flexible portion 250 to direct the bending force.
- FIGS. 3 A- 3 F an embodiment of the hinged closure 300 from various views is shown.
- This embodiment includes a hinge portion 330 formed by a continuous band 340 having variable thickness and a central flexible pane 350 .
- FIG. 3 A shows a perspective view;
- FIG. 3 B provides a side view including the hinge portion;
- FIG. 3 C is cross-sectional perspective view through a thicker portion of the continuous band 340 ;
- FIG. 3 D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the central flexible pane 350 ;
- FIG. 3 E provides an interior view including the hinge portion 330 .
- FIG. 3 F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamper evident band 320 of the closure.
- the central flexible pane 350 is a thinner flexible area blended, chamfered, or recessed into a thicker portion of the continuous band 340 .
- the continuous band 340 functions similarly to the hinge portions shown in the previous embodiments.
- the thicker portions of continuous band 340 provide strength and bending capacity to the hinge portion 330 , much like the connecting bands previously described.
- the central flexible pane 350 is a thin flexible area formed by a reverse undercut, such that when the hinged closure 300 is opened, central flexible pane 350 flexes inward to allow the superior lid portion 310 to be in a semi-locked open position.
- the hinge portion 330 integrally connects the superior lid portion 310 with the inferior tamper evident band 320 .
- the bottom and/or top portions of the central flexible pane 350 can be curved ( FIG. 3 C ) to aid in the functionality of the hinge portion 330 (e.g. allowing it to remain locked in the open position).
- the height and width of the curvature will vary depending upon the size of the closure.
- One or more grooves 355 (not shown) and/or lines of articulation can be included to increase flexibility and direct the bending of the hinge portion 330 .
- the open position in some embodiments may be greater than 180 degrees.
- bottom slitting 380 can be included in the tamper evident band 320 to allow bending; additional material can be added as slit reinforcement 385 (not shown) to bottom slitting 380 ; the opening 390 between the lid portion 310 and the hinge portion 330 may be angled to prevent undercutting during molding; and knurls 370 can be included to reinforce the strength of the hinged closure 300 .
- Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.
- the terms “about,” “approximately,” “at or about,” and “substantially equal” can mean that the amount or value in question can be the exact value or a value that provides equivalent results or effects as recited in the claims or taught herein. That is, it is understood that amounts, sizes, measurements, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art such that equivalent results or effects are obtained. In general, an amount, size, measurement, parameter or other quantity or characteristic is “about,” “approximate,” “at or about,” or “substantially equal” whether or not expressly stated to be such. It is understood that where “about,” “approximately,” “at or about,” or “substantially equal” is used before a quantitative value, the parameter also includes the specific quantitative value itself, unless specifically stated otherwise.
- a further aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value.
- a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the disclosure.
- the upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.
- the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure.
- ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure, e.g. the phrase “x to y” includes the range from ‘x’ to ‘y’ as well as the range greater than ‘x’ and less than ‘y’.
- the range can also be expressed as an upper limit, e.g. ‘about x, y, z, or less’ and should be interpreted to include the specific ranges of ‘about x’, ‘about y’, and ‘about z’ as well as the ranges of ‘less than x’, less than y′, and ‘less than z’.
- the phrase ‘about x, y, z, or greater’ should be interpreted to include the specific ranges of ‘about x’, ‘about y’, and ‘about z’ as well as the ranges of ‘greater than x’, greater than y′, and ‘greater than z’.
- the phrase “about ‘x’ to ‘y’”, where ‘x’ and ‘y’ are numerical values, includes “about ‘x’ to about ‘y’”.
- a numerical range of “about 0.1% to 5%” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 0.1% to about 5%, but also include individual values (e.g., about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, and about 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., about 0.5% to about 1.1%; about 5% to about 2.4%; about 0.5% to about 3.2%, and about 0.5% to about 4.4%, and other possible sub-ranges) within the indicated range.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
Hinged closures for containers are provided. The hinged closures allow for a closure that can be held in the open position with a large opening angle. The hinged closures include a lid portion and a tamper evident band interconnected by a hinge portion. The hinge portion can be formed from two connecting bands and a central flexible band, or a continuous band having variable thickness and a central thinner flexible area.
Description
- This application is a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/036,764 filed Sep. 29, 2020, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to bottle closures for containers. More particularly, the invention relates to hinged bottle closures.
- Hinged closures that can remain open are needed for various uses such as in conjunction with containers used to house carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, water or other liquids, powders, oils, condiments, and beauty products, among others. Existing closures sacrifice desirable characteristics, such as opening angle range, flexibility, inability to tether to a corresponding container, and the presence of a locking mechanism.
- The present disclosure relates to hinged closures for a container, such as for a beverage. The hinged closures allow for closures that can be held in the open position with a large opening angle. The closure can include an upper lid portion, a tamper evident band, and a hinge portion. The hinge portion integrally interconnects the lid portion and the tamper evident band, including at least one connecting band and a flexible portion.
- In one aspect, the hinge portion includes a pair of connecting bands and a central flexible portion. In another aspect, the hinge portion includes a pair of flexible portions and a central connecting band.
- In yet another aspect, the hinge portion comprises a continuous band having variable thickness and a central flexible area. In example embodiments, the central flexible area is the thinnest point and is blended with the continuous band.
- Further aspects of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated upon review of the detailed description of its various embodiments, described below, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
-
FIGS. 1A-1E provide an example of a hinged closure from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the hinge portion includes two connecting bands and a central flexible portion having a groove.FIG. 1A shows a perspective view;FIG. 1B provides an interior view including the hinge portion;FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional perspective view through central flexible portion;FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional perspective view through a connecting band;FIG. 1E is a side view of the closure from the hinged portion. -
FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present disclosure in which the hinged closure in the open position and attached to a container. -
FIGS. 1G and 1H are perspective views of the tamper evident band of the closure.FIG. 1G shows the folded tamper band section; inFIG. 1H , the folded portion of the tamper band has been removed to show the horizontal slit. -
FIGS. 1I and 1J are perspective views of another embodiment of the tamper evident band of the closure, including beading. -
FIGS. 2A-2F provide another example of a hinged closure from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the hinge portion comprises two connecting bands and a central flexible portion.FIG. 2A shows a perspective view;FIG. 2B provides a side view including the hinge portion;FIG. 2C is cross-sectional perspective view through a connecting band;FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the central flexible portion;FIG. 2E provides an interior view including the hinge portion.FIG. 2F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamper evident band of the closure. -
FIGS. 3A-3F provide another example of a hinged closure from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the hinge portion comprises a continuous band having variable thickness and a central thinner flexible area.FIG. 3A shows a perspective view;FIG. 3B provides a side view including the hinge portion;FIG. 3C is cross-sectional perspective view through a thicker portion;FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the thinner central flexible area;FIG. 3E provides an interior view including the hinge portion.FIG. 3F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamper evident band of the closure. - The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope described herein, as other equally effective embodiments are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions may be exaggerated to help visually convey certain principles. In the drawings, similar reference numerals between figures designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily the same, elements.
- In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in some aspects, relate to hinged closures for containers having an opening. In general, embodiments of the present disclosure provide for hinged closures and methods of making hinged closures. For instance, the hinged closure described herein are generally used in connection with containers for dispensing products such as food and beverages (e.g. carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, water, oils or condiments, powders or granular products such as seasonings), beauty products (e.g. shampoos, lotions), and household products (e.g. adhesives, detergents). But the hinged closure of the present disclosure can also be used in connection with various other containers as desired. The hinged closure can be adapted for container applications having a screw closure and/or a snap closure, and for use with all applications, the hinged closure can remain in the open position and can have an opening angle of up to 240 degrees (e.g. up to 180 degrees for screw closure applications and up to 240 degrees for snap closure applications). Additionally, the hinged closures described herein advantageously provide for flexibility, tamper evidence, and evidence of tampering.
- The present disclosure includes several embodiments of hinged closures with a hinge portion including at least one flexible portion, as shown in the figures. For instance,
FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate one example of a hingedclosure 100. In general, the hinged closures comprise an upper lid portion (or closure shell) 110 and a lower skirt portion forming a tamperevident band 120, which are integrally interconnected by thehinge portion 130. The skirt portion is generally ring shaped. The tamperevident band 120 can be retained on the bottle neck such as by a folded portion (seeFIGS. 1C and 1D ) or by including molded beads on the interior of the tamperevident band 120. Thehinge portion 130 includes at least one connectingband 140 and at least one centralflexible portion 150. In some embodiments, the hinge portion can comprise two connectingbands 140 and a centralflexible portion 150 placed between the two connectingbands 140. In some embodiments, the hinge portion can comprise twoflexible portions 150 and a central connectingband 140 placed between the twoflexible portions 150. In some embodiments, the connectingbands 140 are vertical and thus are parallel to one another. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the connectingbands 140 are curved with respect to one another (e.g., crescent shaped) or can be angled. The connectingbands 140 and/or centralflexible portion 150 can include lines of articulation to direct the bending force. In another embodiment the hinge portion can be a continuous band having variable thickness and a central thinner flexible area. - The central
flexible portion 150 and the connectingbands 140 can have substantially the same thickness or the thickness can vary as desired. The centralflexible portion 150 can have at least onegroove 155 that forms a joint and/or flex point at which the centralflexible portion 150 rotates relative to the tamperevident band 120 such that the lid portion can open up to 240 degrees from the closed position. Advantageously, thegroove 155 functions as a reverse flex hinge that can flex and/or pop inwards upon flipping open theupper lid portion 110. The centralflexible portion 150 thereby deforms, forming a memory position such that theupper lid portion 110 can remain in a semi-locked open condition. The closure lid can be flipped back to a closed position with a simple finger push. Thegroove 155 enables theupper lid portion 110 to be pivotable relative to the tamper evident band. Thegroove 155 can be on the core side (e.g. the interior side of the upper lid portion) or on the cavity side (e.g. the exterior side of the upper lid portion), depending upon the requirements of the closure. - In general, the
groove 155 can be horizontal (e.g., zero degrees) to the long axis of the band. In some embodiments, asingle groove 155 can be located in the center of the centralflexible portion 150. In some embodiments, thegroove 155 can be located at the upper portion of the centralflexible portion 150. In other embodiments, agroove 155 can be located at both the upper and lower portions of the connecting band. In yet another embodiment, two smallerparallel grooves 155 can be closely placed to one another. In various embodiments, thegroove 155 may be chamfered, angled, or slightly tapered at the center to provide a pinch area. - In some embodiments, the tamper
evident band 120 can include ahorizontal slit 180 below the tongue to allow more bending upon closure opening. Additional reinforcement of material (e.g., slit reinforcement) on thehorizontal slit 180 can also be included as desired. - In various embodiments, the hinged closure can be formed using injection molding and can have various features suitable to efficient injection molding manufacture. In some embodiments, the hinged closure can include vertical openings alongside the hinge portion. Advantageously, the openings act as a split between the slide and the cavity of the injection mold, allowing the slide of the injection mold to follow the opening. In other embodiments, the openings alongside the hinge portion can be angled. The angled opening allows for improved flexibility of the hinge and can be tapered to prevent undercutting during the molding process. The removal of undercutting reduces the potential for damage when ejecting the closure from the mold, thereby reducing wastage and costs. In some embodiments, the closure can be molded as a single piece. No subsequent slitting operations are required to form the openings and/or voids (e.g. the openings alongside the hinge portion, between the connecting bands and central flexible portion, and the bottom slit). In other embodiments, the closure can include vertical knurls (or ribs). The knurls can provide additional strength to the closure and provide a grip surface for an end user (e.g., consumer) and/or a grip surface for the capping chuck during application of the closure onto the bottle finish at the packaging stage. When manufactured using injection molding, the split line between the slide and cavity can be such that knurls that are located on the hinge area will partially be molded by the slide to prevent undercutting.
- As previously mentioned, the closures described herein can be screw closures or snap closures. When configured as a snap closure,
horizontal slit 180 can be omitted. When configured as a screw closure, screw threads can be located on an interior surface of theupper lid portion 110. In either configuration, the closures can be from about 16 mm to about 110 mm, preferably 25 mm to 48 mm in diameter (e.g., for the beverage industry) or can alternatively be sized larger as desired to accommodate containers of various sizes. In example commercial embodiments, such as in a beverage container closure, the hinge can withstand a break force of about 25 N. However, in other embodiments, the hinge can be designed to withstand higher or lower break forces depending on various factors, such as the size of the container, the desired level of break force for a particular application, the required level of reusability, etc. The closure can also include locking means on the interior portion, such as ratchet (or lug) segments, laterally spaced apart a distance suitable to be engaged with the neck of the container. In some embodiments, the tamper evident band can include one or more beads molded into and positioned on the interior surface of the tamper evident band configured to engage the tamper evident ring of the container neck. Moreover, although the closures described and shown herein are substantially circular, in other embodiments the hinged closure could be ovoid, polygonal, or other shape to accommodate a variety of containers. - The skirt portion can be a tamper evident band or include other tamper-prevention means such as frangible bridges, which would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Said bridges can be added (e.g., molded) into the primary cut (i.e., between the
lid portion 110 and tamper evident band) and/or a secondary cut (i.e., positioned within the tamper evident band). - The hinged closures and methods of making described herein pertain primarily to plastic closures formed by injection molding. Such materials generally include thermoplastic polymers. However, other materials including elastomers, flexible metals, or other materials suitable for injection molding can be envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, the hinged closures described herein could be manufactured using other methods including but not limited to compression molding and/or additive manufacturing.
- With reference now to
FIGS. 1A-1H , an embodiment of the hingedclosure 100 from various views is shown.FIG. 1A shows a perspective view;FIG. 1B provides an interior view including thehinge portion 130;FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional perspective view through centralflexible portion 150;FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional perspective view through a connectingband 140;FIG. 1E is a side view of theclosure 100 from thehinge portion 130.FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the hingedclosure 100 in the open position, attached to acontainer 195.FIGS. 1G and 1H are perspective views of a tamperevident band 120 of the closure.FIGS. 1I and 1J are perspective view of additional embodiments of the tamper evident band. In this embodiment of the hingedclosure 100, thehinge portion 130 integrally connects thesuperior lid portion 110 with the inferior, ring-like tamperevident band 120. Thehinge portion 130 includes two connectingbands 140 on either side of a centralflexible portion 150, the centralflexible portion 150 having agroove 155. The connectingbands 140 may be vertical, as shown, and thus parallel to one another. Alternatively, at least a portion of the connectingbands 140 can be curved (e.g., crescent shaped) or angled with respect to one another. InFIG. 1G , the tamper band is shown in a folded position. InFIG. 1H , the tamper band has been removed to show thehorizontal slit 180. In other possible embodiments, the tamper band can be replaced withbeads 122 and/orbridges 124 as a tamper-evident feature (FIG. 1I ). - The connecting
bands 140 are each integrally joined at the top portion to thelid portion 110 and each integrally joined at the bottom to the tamperevident band 120. - The central
flexible portion 150 is located between the two connectingbands 140. The central flexible portion includes agroove 155. In some embodiments, thegroove 155 is positioned on an upper portion of the centralflexible portion 150. In other embodiments, thegroove 155 is positioned on a middle portion of the centralflexible portion 150. In some embodiments, thegroove 155 can be horizontal to the long axis of the centralflexible portion 150. One or more additional grooves can be located above and/or below thegroove 155 to form a pinch area, which increases flexibility. Thegroove 155 can be located on the interior side of theupper lid portion 110. The centralflexible portion 150 and two connectingbands 140 can be in the same plane or in different planes (e.g. along a curved plane). The centralflexible portion 150 is integrally joined to thelid portion 110 and at the bottom to the tamperevident band 120. The open position in some embodiments may be greater than 180 degrees. Other optional features can also be included. For instance, bottom slitting 180 can be included in the tamperevident band 120 to allow bending (e.g., when the closure is opened by the end user); additional material can be added as slit reinforcement 185 (FIG. 1J ) to bottom slitting 180;multiple bridges 160 can be added on the primary or secondary opening cut where needed; theopening 190 between thelid portion 110 and thehinge portion 130 may be angled to prevent undercutting during molding (e.g.,hinge portion 130 can be vertical or angled dependent on the technology utilized); andknurls 170 can be included to reinforce the strength of the hingedclosure 100. This reinforcement ensures adequate gripping during application of the closure, initial removal of the closure, and subsequent reclosing of the closure. - With reference now to
FIGS. 2A-2F , an embodiment of the hingedclosure 200 from various views is shown. In this embodiment, thehinge portion 230 comprises two connectingbands 240 and a centralflexible portion 250 having agroove 255 on the exterior side. -
FIGS. 2A-2F provide another example of a hingedclosure 200 from various views in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, whereinFIG. 2A shows a perspective view;FIG. 2B provides a side view including thehinge portion 230;FIG. 2C is cross-sectional perspective view through a connectingband 240;FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the centralflexible portion 250;FIG. 2E provides an interior view including thehinge portion 230.FIG. 2F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamperevident band 220 of the closure. Thehinge portion 230 integrally connects thesuperior lid portion 210 with the inferior, ring-like tamperevident band 220. Thehinge portion 230 includes two parallel connectingbands 240 on either side of centralflexible portion 250. In other embodiments (not shown), at least a portion of the connectingbands 240 are curved or angled with respect to one another (e.g., crescent shaped). - The connecting
bands 240 are each integrally joined at the top portion to thelid portion 210 and integrally joined at the bottom to the tamperevident band 220. The centralflexible portion 250 is located between the two connectingbands 240. At the top, the centralflexible portion 250 is integrally joined to thelid portion 210 and, at the bottom, is integrally joined to the tamperevident band 220. The open position in some embodiments may be greater than 180 degrees. In some embodiments, thegroove 255 can be non-linear, such as wider at the ends to form a bowtie shape for forming a pinch point. - The central
flexible portion 250 can have at least onegroove 255 that forms a joint and/or flex point at which the centralflexible portion 250 rotates relative to the tamperevident band 120 such that the lid portion can open up to 180 degrees from the closed position. As described in reference to groove 155, thegroove 255 functions as a reverse flex hinge that can flex and/or pop inwards upon opening the hingedclosure 200, the centralflexible portion 250 is thereby in a semi-locked position in the open condition. The closure can be flipped back to a closed position with a simple finger push. Thegroove 255 enables theupper lid portion 210 to be pivotable relative to the tamper evident band. Thegroove 255 can be on the exterior side (shown) or the interior side of the centralflexible portion 250, depending upon the requirements of the closure. - In general, the
groove 255 can be horizontal (e.g., zero degrees) to the long axis of the band. In some embodiments, asingle groove 255 can be located in the center of the centralflexible portion 250. In some embodiments, thegroove 255 can be located near the upper portion of the centralflexible portion 250. In other embodiments, agroove 255 can be located at both the upper and lower portions of the connecting band. In various embodiments, thegroove 255 may be slightly tapered at the center to provide a pinch area. - Similar to various other embodiments, such as those shown in
FIGS. 1A-1H , other optional features can also be included. For example, bottom slitting 280 can be included in the tamperevident band 220 to allow stretching during opening of the closure; additional material can be added as slit reinforcement 285 (not shown) to bottom slitting 280; theopening 290 between thelid portion 210 and thehinge portion 230 may be vertical or angled to prevent undercutting during molding; andknurls 270 can be included to reinforce the strength of the hingedclosure 200 and to provide grip during application or cap removal and/or reclosing. Additional lines of articulation can be included on connectingbands 240 or centralflexible portion 250 to direct the bending force. - Turning to
FIGS. 3A-3F , an embodiment of the hingedclosure 300 from various views is shown. This embodiment includes ahinge portion 330 formed by acontinuous band 340 having variable thickness and a centralflexible pane 350.FIG. 3A shows a perspective view;FIG. 3B provides a side view including the hinge portion;FIG. 3C is cross-sectional perspective view through a thicker portion of thecontinuous band 340;FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional perspective view through the centralflexible pane 350;FIG. 3E provides an interior view including thehinge portion 330.FIG. 3F is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tamperevident band 320 of the closure. - The central
flexible pane 350 is a thinner flexible area blended, chamfered, or recessed into a thicker portion of thecontinuous band 340. Thecontinuous band 340 functions similarly to the hinge portions shown in the previous embodiments. In this example, the thicker portions ofcontinuous band 340 provide strength and bending capacity to thehinge portion 330, much like the connecting bands previously described. The centralflexible pane 350 is a thin flexible area formed by a reverse undercut, such that when the hingedclosure 300 is opened, centralflexible pane 350 flexes inward to allow thesuperior lid portion 310 to be in a semi-locked open position. In this embodiment, thehinge portion 330 integrally connects thesuperior lid portion 310 with the inferior tamperevident band 320. The bottom and/or top portions of the centralflexible pane 350 can be curved (FIG. 3C ) to aid in the functionality of the hinge portion 330 (e.g. allowing it to remain locked in the open position). The height and width of the curvature will vary depending upon the size of the closure. - One or more grooves 355 (not shown) and/or lines of articulation can be included to increase flexibility and direct the bending of the
hinge portion 330. The open position in some embodiments may be greater than 180 degrees. - As described in the previous embodiments, other optional features can also be included. For example, bottom slitting 380 can be included in the tamper
evident band 320 to allow bending; additional material can be added as slit reinforcement 385 (not shown) to bottom slitting 380; theopening 390 between thelid portion 310 and thehinge portion 330 may be angled to prevent undercutting during molding; andknurls 370 can be included to reinforce the strength of the hingedclosure 300. - Although embodiments have been described herein in detail, the descriptions are by way of example. The features of the embodiments described herein are representative and, in alternative embodiments, certain features and elements may be added or omitted. Additionally, modifications to aspects of the embodiments described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the following claims, the scope of which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass modifications and equivalent structures.
- Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.
- It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
- It should be noted that measurements, amounts, and other numerical data can be expressed herein in a range format. It is also understood that there are a number of values disclosed herein, and that each value is also herein disclosed as “approximately” that particular value in addition to the value itself. For example, if the value “10” is disclosed, then “approximately 10” is also disclosed. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “approximately,” it will be understood that the particular value forms a further aspect. For example, if the value “approximately 10” is disclosed, then “10” is also disclosed.
- As used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” “at or about,” and “substantially equal” can mean that the amount or value in question can be the exact value or a value that provides equivalent results or effects as recited in the claims or taught herein. That is, it is understood that amounts, sizes, measurements, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art such that equivalent results or effects are obtained. In general, an amount, size, measurement, parameter or other quantity or characteristic is “about,” “approximate,” “at or about,” or “substantially equal” whether or not expressly stated to be such. It is understood that where “about,” “approximately,” “at or about,” or “substantially equal” is used before a quantitative value, the parameter also includes the specific quantitative value itself, unless specifically stated otherwise.
- Where a range is expressed, a further aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure.
- For example, where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure, e.g. the phrase “x to y” includes the range from ‘x’ to ‘y’ as well as the range greater than ‘x’ and less than ‘y’. The range can also be expressed as an upper limit, e.g. ‘about x, y, z, or less’ and should be interpreted to include the specific ranges of ‘about x’, ‘about y’, and ‘about z’ as well as the ranges of ‘less than x’, less than y′, and ‘less than z’. Likewise, the phrase ‘about x, y, z, or greater’ should be interpreted to include the specific ranges of ‘about x’, ‘about y’, and ‘about z’ as well as the ranges of ‘greater than x’, greater than y′, and ‘greater than z’. In addition, the phrase “about ‘x’ to ‘y’”, where ‘x’ and ‘y’ are numerical values, includes “about ‘x’ to about ‘y’”.
- It is to be understood that such a range format is used for convenience and brevity, and thus, should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. To illustrate, a numerical range of “about 0.1% to 5%” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 0.1% to about 5%, but also include individual values (e.g., about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, and about 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., about 0.5% to about 1.1%; about 5% to about 2.4%; about 0.5% to about 3.2%, and about 0.5% to about 4.4%, and other possible sub-ranges) within the indicated range.
Claims (20)
1. A hinged closure for a container comprising:
an upper lid portion;
a tamper evident band; and
a hinge portion comprising a continuous band defining thicker portions positioned on either side of a thinner central flexible pane.
2. The hinged closure for a container of claim 1 , wherein the thicker portions are integrally connected to the thinner central flexible pane.
3. The hinged closure for a container of claim 1 , wherein the central flexible pane flexes inward to allow the upper lid portion to be in a semi-locked open position.
4. The hinged closure for a container of claim 1 , wherein the thicker portions of the hinge portion define inwardly-directed panes that integrally connect with the central flexible pane.
5. The hinged closure for a container of claim 1 , wherein the thicker portions of the hinge portion comprise a variable thickness.
6. The hinged closure for a container of claim 1 , wherein the thinner central flexible pane comprises a thinner flexible area centrally positioned between the thicker portions.
7. The hinged closure for a container of claim 6 , wherein the thicker portions of the continuous band provide strength and bending capacity to the hinge portion.
8. The hinged closure for a container of claim 7 , wherein the central flexible pane comprises a thin flexible area formed by a reverse undercut, wherein when the hinged closure is opened, the central flexible pane flexes inward to allow the upper lid portion to be in a semi-locked open position.
9. The hinged closure for a container of claim 1 , wherein the hinge portion integrally connects the upper lid portion with the tamper evident band.
10. The hinged closure for a container of claim 1 , wherein one or more portions of the central flexible pane are curved at least partially.
11. A hinged closure of a container comprising an upper lid portion, a tamper evident band, and a hinge portion integrally connecting the upper lid portion with the tamper evident band, the hinge portion comprising a continuous band defining thicker portions positioned on either side of a thinner central flexible pane, wherein the thickness of the thicker portions is reduced as they approach and integrally connect with the thinner central flexible pane, and wherein the continuous band is configured so as to permit the upper lid portion to remain in a semi-locked open position.
12. The hinged closure of a container of claim 11 , wherein the thicker portions of the hinge portion comprise a variable thickness.
13. The hinged closure of a container of claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the hinge portion transitions along a horizontal length thereof, from a first side of the hinge portion at a first thickness, transitioning to a second thickness at a central flexible pane, and then transitioning to the first thickness at a second side of the hinge portion.
14. The hinged closure of a container of claim 11 , wherein the thinner central flexible pane generally defines a thinner flexible area centrally positioned between the thicker portions.
15. The hinged closure of a container of claim 14 , wherein the thicker portions of continuous band provide strength and bending capacity to the hinge portion.
16. The hinged closure of a container of claim 14 , wherein the central flexible pane comprises a thin flexible area formed by a reverse undercut, wherein when the hinged closure is opened, the central flexible pane flexes inward to allow the upper lid portion to be in a semi-locked open position.
17. The hinged closure of a container of claim 11 , wherein one or more portions of the central flexible pane are at least partially curved.
18. A hinge portion for a hinged closure for a container, the hinged closure comprising an upper lid portion and a tamper evident band, the hinge portion comprising:
a continuous band defining a length and a width, wherein the width is at least about twice the length, wherein the continuous band varies in thickness along its width and defines a thicker portion positioned on either side of a thinner central flexible pane, wherein the continuous band is configured so as to permit the upper lid portion to remain in a semi-locked open position.
19. The hinge portion of claim 18 , wherein the hinge portion integrally connects the upper lid portion with the tamper evident band.
20. The hinge portion of claim 18 , wherein the thicker portions of the continuous band provide strength and bending capacity to the hinge portion.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18/402,389 US20240132255A1 (en) | 2020-09-29 | 2024-01-02 | Hinged Closure |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/036,764 US11866231B2 (en) | 2020-09-29 | 2020-09-29 | Hinged closure |
US18/402,389 US20240132255A1 (en) | 2020-09-29 | 2024-01-02 | Hinged Closure |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/036,764 Division US11866231B2 (en) | 2020-09-29 | 2020-09-29 | Hinged closure |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20240132255A1 true US20240132255A1 (en) | 2024-04-25 |
Family
ID=80823316
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/036,764 Active US11866231B2 (en) | 2020-09-29 | 2020-09-29 | Hinged closure |
US18/402,389 Pending US20240132255A1 (en) | 2020-09-29 | 2024-01-02 | Hinged Closure |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/036,764 Active US11866231B2 (en) | 2020-09-29 | 2020-09-29 | Hinged closure |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US11866231B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4222070A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3189886A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022069964A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11780652B1 (en) * | 2022-03-29 | 2023-10-10 | Pretium Packaging, L.L.C. | Tapered closure and closure system |
Family Cites Families (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3549618B2 (en) | 1995-05-08 | 2004-08-04 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | Snap hinge cap |
PT933304E (en) * | 1998-01-30 | 2003-07-31 | Soplar Sa | CLOSURE OF SYNTHETIC MOLDING MOLDED IN A PECA SO |
JP3196075B2 (en) | 1998-03-25 | 2001-08-06 | 株式会社トーヨー工芸工業 | Cap hinge device |
US20050116382A1 (en) * | 2002-07-12 | 2005-06-02 | Philippe Nusbaum | Closure device comprising a hinged cap moulded in the closed position |
JP2005306421A (en) | 2004-04-20 | 2005-11-04 | Fuji Gosei Kk | Snap hinge cap |
MX2010008853A (en) * | 2008-02-14 | 2010-11-12 | Creanova Universal Closures Ltd | Closure with an external hinge. |
DE102009010681B3 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-01-28 | Sig Technology Ag | Cover arrangement for closing pouring element made of plastic for application of packing fluid, has cover connected with base element by outwardly distant connection element which serves at same time as original warranty seal |
WO2011154324A1 (en) * | 2010-06-10 | 2011-12-15 | Creanova Universal Closures Ltd. | Tamper evident closure |
ES2906427T3 (en) * | 2016-04-13 | 2022-04-18 | Betapack S A U | Closing device comprising an opening indicator |
KR101880107B1 (en) * | 2016-12-16 | 2018-07-19 | 성보연 | Container cap easily separate collection |
IT201800003429A1 (en) * | 2018-03-12 | 2019-09-12 | Sacmi | Cap for a container, and method of making a cap |
US10836544B2 (en) * | 2018-05-09 | 2020-11-17 | Silgan White Cap LLC | Closure with hinge |
EP3847106A4 (en) * | 2018-09-02 | 2022-05-18 | NOVEMBAL USA Inc. | Tethered plastic stopper |
US10843849B1 (en) * | 2019-10-01 | 2020-11-24 | Silgan White Cap LLC | Flip top dispensing closure |
US20220055804A1 (en) * | 2020-08-20 | 2022-02-24 | Novembal Usa Inc. | Hinged Closure |
-
2020
- 2020-09-29 US US17/036,764 patent/US11866231B2/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-08-30 EP EP21874659.2A patent/EP4222070A1/en active Pending
- 2021-08-30 CA CA3189886A patent/CA3189886A1/en active Pending
- 2021-08-30 WO PCT/IB2021/057897 patent/WO2022069964A1/en unknown
-
2024
- 2024-01-02 US US18/402,389 patent/US20240132255A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20220097923A1 (en) | 2022-03-31 |
US11866231B2 (en) | 2024-01-09 |
WO2022069964A1 (en) | 2022-04-07 |
EP4222070A1 (en) | 2023-08-09 |
CA3189886A1 (en) | 2022-04-07 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20220055804A1 (en) | Hinged Closure | |
US20240132255A1 (en) | Hinged Closure | |
US9981785B2 (en) | Closure with tamper band and spout | |
EP2137078B1 (en) | Dispensing closure with latch back | |
US7182213B2 (en) | Closure assembly for a wide mouth vessel | |
US7225945B2 (en) | Self-adjusting re-sealable spring center closure | |
CN108473237B (en) | Closure member | |
US7857155B2 (en) | Closure for high torque installation on a container | |
EP3950528B1 (en) | Capping device intended to be fixed on the neck of a container | |
WO2015023829A1 (en) | Dispensing closure | |
US10889413B2 (en) | Tamper-evident container with a tab extending beyond a hinge | |
US10351310B2 (en) | Tamper-evident container with a bump near a tabbed hinge | |
US20040256347A1 (en) | Flip top closure | |
CN109153479B (en) | Container lid comprising a tamper-evident device | |
US8220650B2 (en) | Dispensing caps for liquid containers | |
WO2004094239A2 (en) | Closure | |
US10894635B2 (en) | Tamper-evident container with a wide tab extending beyond a hinge | |
WO2005077777A1 (en) | Closure with frangible tamper-evident band | |
US20230020391A1 (en) | Hinged Closure Including an Alignment Fin | |
US8453858B2 (en) | Cover for closing containers | |
US20060016836A1 (en) | Shaped spouts for flip-top closures | |
EP4132864B1 (en) | Spout-cap unit, pouch comprising such a spout-cap unit | |
US20230249882A1 (en) | Bottle cap with a flip lid | |
US20220097928A1 (en) | Closure with flexible hinge | |
AU780623B2 (en) | Bottle closure |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |