US3257022A

US3257022A - Closure

Info

Publication number: US3257022A
Application number: US404720A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-10-19
Filing date: 1964-10-19
Publication date: 1966-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-21

Description

Jun 21, 1966 w. H. ROBINSON 3,257,022

CLOSURE Filed 001:. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 INVENTOR 30 F 5 mum/w Ram/501v ATTORNEY June 21, 1966 w. H. ROBINSON 3,257,022

CLOSURE Filed Oct. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 Z/ INVENTOR F y 9 7g 9 WILL/AM H. ROBINSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,257,022 CLOSURE William H. Robinson, New Vienna, Ohio Filed Oct. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 404,720 3 Claims. (Cl. 215-46) This invention relates to a re-usable plastic container closure and has as its primary object the provision of a container closure preferably comprised of plastic which includes a top and an offset skirt portion as well as a tightly engaging skirt portion, the latter being provided with a removable tear strip, and a hinge so that the container closure may, after removal of the tear strip, be repositioned on the container and effectively close the same.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a container closure of this character which may be opened with a minimum of effort and subsequently reclosed when the contents of the container are only partially used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a container closure of this character which may be simply and inexpensively manufactured.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a container closure of this nature which is sturdy and durable in construction, and which will reliably and effectively relcose a container after the tear strip has been removed.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the container closure of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the closure of FIGURE l,'shown as applied to a container, portions thereof being broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing -a' constructional detail on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a constructional detail disclosed in FIGURE 3;-

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the closure after removal of the tear strip, and showing a further constructional detail;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the closure removed from the container as viewed from the side opposite that of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the container closure applied to a container and in open position after removal of the tear strip; and,

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 taken from the opposite direction.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the container closure of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a circular top 11, which may be provided with an annular shoulder 12 forming a depressed center portion 13 and a slightly raised rim 14. An annular skirt 15 depends from rim 14, and includes an upper outwardly offset portion 16 which is spaced by means of an internal rib 17 from the outer side wall of the container 18. An inwardly and downwardly inclined portion 19 connects offset portion 16 with a lowerskirt portion 20, which closely engages the side wall of the container 18. At its bottom edge lower skirt portion 20 is provided with a head or flange 21.

Lower skirt portion 20 is provided with a pair of annular spaced

parallel score lines

22 and 23, the upper score line being immediately adjacent the juncture of ice lower portion 20 with inwardly and downwardly inclined portion 19, and the lower score line 23 being immediately adjacent the head or flange 21. On one side of the closure the upper score line is provided with a downwardly extending arcuate indentation 24, which when the score lines are severed by removal of the tear strip formed thereby defines a tab 25 which adheres to the downwardly and inwardly inclined portion, which,

as will be hereinafter pointed out, defines the removable portion of the closure.

Diametrically opposite the indentation 24 the spaced

parallel score lines

22 and 23 terminate in

vertical score lines

26 and 27, which between them define an unscored portion 28 which serves in a manner to be hereinafter described as a hinge.

Overlying the hinge portion 28 is an outwardly bowed or oifset arcuate plastic strip 30, which at one end 31 is firmly secured to the space between the

score lines

22 and 23, which defines in itself a tear strip 32. The opposite end of strip 30 terminates in a generally cylindrical head 33, which is lightly adhered, as by a drop of adhesive 34, to the side of the tear strip 32.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The container 18 is packed and the unitary closure 10 is positioned thereon, with the lower skirt portion 20 affording a tight seal to protect the contents. The flange 21, may, if desired, be suitably sealed to the exterior of the container, to retain the contents in sealed or airtight condition. When access to the container is desired, the head 33 is engaged by the fingernail to release the grip of the adhesive 34 and the bowed strip 30 is pulled outwardly, until a firm grip may be secured thereon by the fingers. The tear strip 32 defined by the

score lines

22 and 23 is then torn in an annular direction, or clockwise as shown in the illustration, the score line following the indented portion 24 leaving the tab 25 on the side opposite the initial position of the strip 30. The tearing starts at one end of the tear strip as defined by the vertical score line 26, and continues until the opposite score line 27 is reached, whereupon the strip is torn oif along this vertical line leaving the hinge tab 28. The container closure may then be lifted by means of the tab 25 to the position shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, and the contents of the container, or part thereof, readily removed. When it is desired to re-close the device, the closure is simply pushed downwardly, and the ofiset upper portion 16 of the skirt and its inwardly extending flange 17 will relatively tightly engage the outer rim of the container to seal the same, thus leaving a hinged lid, which may be re-opened numerous times, until the contents of the container are exhausted. 1

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved plastic container closure which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention,

and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be intertion adapted to closely engage the outer wall of the container, said lower portion having a pair of spaced parallel annular score lines defining a tear strip, the uppermost of said pair of score lines being located adjacent to the juncture of said inclined portion with said lower portion, said tear strip having a protruding portion defining a finger grip and comprising an outwardly offset arcuate plastic strip integral with said tear strip at one end and having a bead at its other end lightly adhered to the tear strip. a

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said score lines are broken to leave an unscored strip beneath said oifset arcuate plastic strip, said unscored strip being defined at its ends by score lines perpendicular to the annular score lines and extending between the annular score lines, whereby when the tear strip is removed said unscored strip serves as a hinge.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the upper of said pair of score lines is provided with an arcuate indentation opposite said hinge, whereby when the tear 'strip is removed an arcuate finger tab remains secured to said inwardly and downwardly inclined portion.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 103,069 10/1962 Netherlands.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK; Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A PLASTIC CONTAINER CLOSURE INCLUDING A TOP AND A RELATIVELY DEEP SHIRT ADAPTED TO SURROUND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE TOP OF A CONTAINER, SAID SKIRT INCLUDING AN UPPER OUTWARDLY OFFSET PORTION HAVING AN INTERNAL ANNULAR RIB ADAPTED TO SPACE SAID OFFSET PORTION FROM THE OUTER SIDE OF THE CONTAINER AND CONNECTED BY AN INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED PORTION TO A LOWER PORTION ADAPTED TO CLOSELY ENGAGE THE OUTER WALL OF THE CONTAINER, SAID LOWER PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL ANNULAR SCORE LINES DEFINING A TEAR STRIP, THE UPPERMOST OF SAID PAIR OF SCORE LINES BEING LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE JUNCTURE OF SAID INCLINED PORTION WITH SAID LOWER PORTION, SAID TEAR STRIP HAVING A PROTRUDING PORTION DEFINING A FINGER GRIP AND COMPRISING AN OUTWARDLY OFFSET ARCUATE PLASTIC STRIP INTEGRAL WITH SAID TEAR STRIP AT ONE END AND HAVING A BEAD AT ITS OTHER END LIGHTLY ADHERED TO THE TEAR STRIP.