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
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
  • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
  • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage

Definitions

• This invention relates to a closure system for a container.
• One type of prior art closure system includes a body for being attached to the top of a container.
• the body defines an opening to the container interior.
• the system further includes a lid which is hingedly mounted on the body and which can be lifted up to expose the opening to the container interior.
• the closure body to which the lid is attached may be alternatively described as the closure base or base portion.
• a closure with a hinged top or other lid structure that could provide access to the product (such as fluent products, as well as non-fluent products), and that would optionally accommodate either the insertion of a utensil through the open closure to permit the product to be scooped out of the container with a spoon, knife, ladle, etc., or accommodate the insertion of a user's hand through the open closure so that the product can be lifted out by the user's hand.
• the improved seal had the optional capability for being incorporated in a closure having a lid that could be preferably connected with a hinge to the closure body. It would also be advantageous if a closure with such an improved seal could accommodate containers which have a variety of shapes and which are constructed from a variety of materials.
• a closure with such an improved seal should accommodate ease of use.
• the structural features of such an improved closure should also be capable of being readily incorporated into a design that facilitates cleaning of the closure.
• a closure with such an improved seal could be molded from thermoplastic materials in one or more pieces, and preferably molded in only one, integral unit so as to not require assembly of multiple parts.
• the improved seal of the present invention can be incorporated into a closure system that may include one or more of the above-discussed, desired features.
• a first form of such a closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored.
• the closure system includes:
• the peripheral wall may be a closure base formed as a unitary or integral extension of the container, or may be a separate closure body for installation on the container.
• the peripheral wall includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered over part of the opening.
• the sealing member includes a first portion and a distal second portion having a transverse cross-sectional configuration that is defined by (a) a laterally inwardly extending top arcuate surface, (b) a laterally inwardly extending bottom arcuate surface, and (c) a sealing surface that is generally parallel to the discharge direction and that extends between, and merges with, the top arcuate surface and the bottom arcuate surface.
• the lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when the lid is in said closed position, is (a) oriented generally parallel to the discharge direction, and (b) sealingly engaged with the sealing surface of the distal second portion of the sealing member so as to force the distal second portion laterally outwardly.
• closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, and the closure system includes:
• a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding the opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing the opening; and wherein (a) the peripheral wall includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered over part of the opening, the sealing member including a first portion and a distal second portion extending from the first portion to define a sealing surface that is generally parallel to the discharge direction; and (b) the lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when the lid is in the closed position, (i) is oriented generally parallel to the discharge direction, (ii) has a minimum lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by the sealable surface that exceeds 40 mm.;
• closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, and the closure system includes:
• the peripheral wall includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered over part of the opening, the sealing member including a first portion and a distal second portion extending from the first portion to define a sealing surface that is generally parallel to the discharge direction;
• the lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when the lid is in the closed position,
• the largest lateral dimension of the sealing surface of the peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion is between about 0.3% and about 2.0% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of the lid flange sealable surface as measured across the locus of the flange periphery defined by the lid flange sealable surface whereby, when the lid is closed, the peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion is forced laterally outwardly by the lid flange sealable surface.
• the largest lateral dimension of the sealing surface of the peripheral wall of the sealing member distal second portion is between about 0.50% and about 0.75% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of the lid flange sealable surface.
• closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, and the closure system includes:
• the peripheral wall has interior surface and further includes a laterally inwardly extending sealing member cantilevered from said interior surface over part of the opening, the sealing member including a first portion and a distal second portion extending from the first portion to define a sealing surface that (i) is generally parallel to the discharge direction, and (ii) has a height measured along the discharge direction, and the ratio of the height of said sealing surface to the largest lateral dimension of said peripheral wall interior surface as measured perpendicular to said discharge direction is between about 0.08 and about 0.17; and
• the lid includes a closure flange that defines a peripheral sealable surface which, when the lid is in the closed position, is
• the closure system of the present invention is especially suitable for (but not limited to) relatively large product discharge openings (e.g., an opening (which may be round, oval, or some other shape) wherein the minimum lateral dimension across the opening is at least 40 mm.).
• relatively large product discharge openings e.g., an opening (which may be round, oval, or some other shape) wherein the minimum lateral dimension across the opening is at least 40 mm.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a closure system of the present invention as embodied in a closure for use on, or as part of, a container (not illustrated), and the closure is shown in a completely closed condition;
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the region in FIG. 2 indicated by the circle designated "FIG. 3";
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the closure illustrated in FIG. 1, but in FIG. 4, the lid is shown in an open position;
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view, taken generally along the plane 5-5 in FIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the region in FIG. 5 indicated by the oval designated "FIG. 6;"
• FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the region in FIG.
• FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3, but FIG. 8 shows the lid just beginning to engage the body as the lid is closing;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a closure system of the present invention as embodied in a closure for use on, or as part of, a container
• FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the closure illustrated in FIG. 9;
• FIG. 11 is a left side elevation view of the second embodiment of the closure illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10;
• FIG. 12 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
• FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the region in FIG. 12 indicated by the circle designated "FIG. 13";
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the closure illustrated in FIG. 9, but in FIG. 14, the lid is shown in an open position;
• FIG. 15 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 15-15 in FIG. 14.
• closure system of this invention is described in a generally upright orientation that it could have at the upper end of a container when the container is positioned upright on its base. It will be understood, however, that the closure system of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in orientations other than the orientation described.
• closure system of this invention is suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special containers having various designs, the details of which, although not illustrated or described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of such containers.
• container, per se need not form part of the invention, and therefore, any particular container that is described herein is not intended to limit the broadest aspects of the invention.
• FIGS. 1-8 One presently preferred, first embodiment of a closure system of the present invention is incorporated in the closure that is illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, and that is designated generally by reference number 30 in FIG. 1.
• the closure 30 is provided as a separately manufactured unit for mounting to the top of a container (not shown). It will be appreciated, however, that in some applications it may be desirable for the closure 30 to be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container wherein the unitary part or extension defines an upper end structure of the container, per se.
• the container may be a pouch-type structure or a more rigid structure.
• a substantially rigid, or slightly flexible-walled container typically has a conventional mouth which provides access to the container interior and product contained therein.
• the product may be a paste-like product or fluent product (which can be scooped or ladled from the container with a spoon, knife, ladle, etc.), or a product of small, individual items, such as nuts, candies, crackers, cookies, etc. (which can be scooped out of the container, ladled out of the container, or removed by hand from the container).
• Other contemplated products include ground coffee, sugar, or other material in the form of liquids, powders, gels, pastes, slurries, lotions, creams, etc.
• Such materials may be sold, for example, as a food product, a personal care product, an industrial or household product (such as lotions or creams), or other composition (e.g., for internal or external use by humans or animals, or for use in activities involving medicine, manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture, etc.).
• a substantially rigid container or slightly flexible-walled container typically may have a neck or other suitable structure defining the container mouth having a cross-sectional configuration with which the closure 30 is adapted to engage.
• the body of the container may have another cross-sectional configuration that differs from the cross-sectional configuration of the container mouth.
• the container may, on the other hand, have a substantially uniform shape along its entire length or height without any neck portion of reduced size or different cross-section.
• the container may also be a pouch or bag fabricated from a relatively thin, flexible film, or the container may be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can be grasped by the user and compressed somewhat.
• One embodiment of the closure 30 is especially suitable for use with a container that has substantially inflexible walls that are not intended to be squeezed inwardly by the user.
• Another embodiment is especially suitable for a flexible pouch-type container.
• the preferred structure of the closure 30 comprises (A) a peripheral wall 32 that defines the closure base or body
• a lid 34 joined to the peripheral wall 32 (i.e., the closure base or body) by a hinge 36 which may be of any suitable conventional hinge design known in the closure art, or which may be of a special design, the details of which form no part of the present invention.
• the hinge 36 incorporates the hinge design of the snap-action type disclosed in the U.S. Patent
• the closure peripheral wall 32 i.e., the closure base or body
• lid 34 i.e., the hinge 36
• hinge 36 are molded from a suitable thermoplastic material (such as polypropylene or the like) as an integral structure (which may include a bi-injection molded feature or other multi-step injection molded features).
• suitable thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or the like
• Other materials may be employed instead.
• the lid 34 could be a piece that is separate from the peripheral wall 32 (i.e., closure base or body), and that is not connected to the peripheral wall 32 by any hinge.
• the lid 34 and peripheral wall 32 could be separate pieces that each has a cooperating portion of a hinge and that can be assembled together to provide a hinged assembly for accommodating pivoting movement of the lid 34 on the peripheral wall 32 between the closed and open positions.
• the peripheral wall 32 (or even the entire closure 30) need not be a structure or assembly that is completely separate from the container.
• the container could be made with a dispensing end structure that incorporates the closure 30, or at least the peripheral wall 32, as a unitary part of the top of the container.
• the illustrated first embodiment closure 30 could be modified so that it is formed as an extension of the top of the container, and the extending portion defining the closure peripheral wall 32 could then be characterized as a structural feature that functions to accommodate communication with the container interior.
• the peripheral wall 32 (whether it is a unitary portion of the top of the container or a separate piece that is releasably or permanently mounted at the top of the container) may be characterized as a peripheral wall for extending from the container around the opening to the container.
• the container may have an initially open bottom end opposite the top end on which the closure 30 is located, and such a bottom end could be used for accommodating the filling of the inverted container with the product.
• the open bottom end of the container could be closed by suitable means, such as by a separate bottom end closure which could be attached to the container bottom end (e.g., through a suitable threaded engagement, snap-fit engagement, adhesive engagement, thermal bonding engagement, etc.).
• suitable means such as by a separate bottom end closure which could be attached to the container bottom end (e.g., through a suitable threaded engagement, snap-fit engagement, adhesive engagement, thermal bonding engagement, etc.).
• such an open bottom portion of the container could be deformed closed (e.g., with an appropriate process applying heat and force if the container bottom end portion is made from a thermoplastic material or other material that would accommodate the use of such a process).
• the peripheral wall 32 may have a skirt 40 (FIGS. 2 and 4) with a screw thread 42 (FIG. 2) for releasably attaching the base or body 32 to a mating thread of a container (not shown).
• the peripheral wall 32 will be usually referred to simply as the closure base or body 32.
• the closure body 32 and container could also be releasably connected by providing the body 32 with a conventional bead (not shown) for snap-fit engagement with a mating container groove (not shown), or by other means.
• the closure body 32 may be permanently attached to the container by means of induction bonding, ultrasonic bonding, gluing, or the like, depending upon the materials employed for the container and closure body 32.
• the interior of the body 32 may also include special or conventional seal features to provide an enhanced leak-tight seal between the closure body 32 and the container.
• the illustrated body 32 employs such an enhanced seal feature in the form of a conventional "crab's claw” type of seal 44 (FIG. 2) for sealing against the container.
• a conventional "crab's claw" type of seal 44 FIG. 2
• FIG. 32 includes an upwardly projecting spout 50 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which has a cylindrical exterior surface 52 (FIG. 7) having an outside diameter D 1 (FIG. 7).
• the inside of the spout 50 is defined-in part by an interior surface 54 (FIG. 7) which has a diameter D 2 and which has an annular, cylindrical configuration concentric with the spout exterior surface 52.
• the closure body 32 and in particular the spout 50, defines a dispensing passage for communicating with the opening of the container (not shown) and defines a product discharge direction that is generally perpendicular to the container opening through which the product can be removed (by pouring, scooping, lifting out, etc.).
• the closure body 32 includes a sealing member 60 (FIG. 7) which extends laterally inwardly from the spout interior surface 54 so that it is cantilevered over the container opening when the closure 30 is installed on the container.
• the sealing member 60 includes a first portion 61 and a distal second portion 62 extending from the first portion 61.
• the first portion 61 tapers so that it becomes thinner in the radially inward direction.
• the exterior surface of the sealing member first portion 61 is defined by a circular radius R 1 .
• the interior surface of the sealing member 60, extending along the sealing member first portion 6 las well as along the sealing member distal second portion 62, is defined by a circular radius R 2 .
• the radius R 1 and the radius R 2 are located so that the arcuate surface defined by radius R 1 and the arcuate surface defined by the radius R 2 each becomes tangent to horizontal planes passing through the spout in an orientation perpendicular to the discharge direction.
• the arcuate surface defined by the radius R 1 is tangent to an upper plane P 1 (FIG. 7), and the arcuate surface defined by the radius
• R 2 is tangent to a lower plane P 2 (FIG. 7).
• the maximum thickness of the sealing member 60 where it attaches to the spout 50 between the planes P 1 and P 2 is designated T 1 in FIG. 7.
• the sealing member exterior arcuate surface defined by the radius R 1 has a radially inwardly extending length designated L 1 in FIG. 7.
• the sealing member 60 extends radially inwardly from the spout interior surface 54 for a distance or length L 2 as designated in FIG. 7.
• the total height of the sealing member 60 is designated as H 1 in FIG. 7.
• the sealing member 60 projects below the point where the arcuate interior surface defined by the radius R 2 merges with the spout 50 (at the plane P 2 ), and the amount of this projection is shown in FIG.
• the sealing member distal second portion 62 has a radially inward end which, in the transverse cross-sectional configuration as illustrated in FIG. 7, is defined by (i) a laterally inwardly extending top arcuate surface 71, (ii) a laterally inwardly extending bottom arcuate surface 72, and (iii) a sealing surface 74 that is generally parallel to the discharge direction and that extends between, and merges with, the top arcuate surface 71 and bottom arcuate surface 72.
• sealing surface 74 defines the most radially inwardly extent of the sealing member distal second portion, and the sealing surface 74 has a cylindrical or annular configuration having a diameter D 4 as illustrated in FIG. 7.
• the sealing surface 74 is adapted to coact with a feature on the lid 34 when the lid 34 is closed as explained in detail hereinafter.
• the member 60 has a generally tapering configuration over a major portion of its length.
• the thinnest region occurs at the location where the distal second portion 62 is connected to the first portion 61, and the thinnest region dimension is designated T 2 in FIG. 7.
• the closure body 32 includes a peripheral shoulder 80 for receiving the lid 34 when the lid 34 is closed.
• the lid 34 includes an outer frame or skirt 82 for confronting the closure body shoulder 80 when the lid 34 is closed.
• the frame or skirt 82 includes a radially inwardly extending annular portion 84 (FIGS. 2 and 6) which terminates in a circular opening 86.
• an insert disk 88 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 5) which is preferably bi- injection molded onto the annular portion 84.
• the disk 88 may be of the same material as the rest of the closure 30 or may be a different material.
• the disk 88 is a translucent material, and it may have a different tint or color than the rest of the closure.
• a separate disk 88 need not be employed. Rather, the entire top of the lid 34 could be molded as one unitary structure together with the hinge 36 and body 32, and such a structure would not incorporate any bi-injection molded portions or features.
• the closure body 32 In order to hold the lid 34 in the closed position, the closure body 32 includes an upwardly projecting, annular flange 90.
• the flange 90 At the front of the closure body 32, the flange 90 includes an outwardly projecting engaging bead 92 for engaging a cooperating bead 94 on the inside of the closure lid skirt 82 at the front of the lid 34 (FIG. 5).
• the front of the lid 34 has an outwardly projecting portion 96 for functioning as a finger or thumb lift to assist the user in lifting the lid.
• the lid 34 includes a closure flange 100 which projects from the underside of the lid 34.
• the lid closure flange 100 defines a peripheral sealable surface 102 which is generally cylindrical and defines a diameter D 3 as illustrated in FIG. 6.
• the diameter D 3 of the lid sealable surface 102 is larger than the diameter D 4 of the closure body sealing member sealing the surface 74.
• the outer, distal edge of the flange 100 is tapered or chamfered at 104 as illustrated in FIG. 6.
• the peripheral sealable surface 102 of the lid flange 100 is oriented generally parallel to the discharge direction and is sealingly engaged with the sealing surface 74 of the distal second portion 62 of the closure body peripheral wall sealing member 60 so as to force the distal second portion 62 laterally outwardly.
• FIG. 8 illustrates the lid 34 in an intermediate position as it is being closed on the closure body 32, and FIG. 8 shows how the closure lid flange 100 begins to engage the closure body sealing member 60 just prior to deforming the sealing member 60 radially outwardly.
• the diameter D 3 of the closure lid flange sealable surface 102 should be somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the closure body sealing member sealing surface 74 as measured in the as-molded, unstressed condition (diameter D 4 in FIG. 7).
• the largest lateral dimension of the sealing surface 74 of the sealing member distal second portion 62 is between about 0.3% and about 2.0% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of the lid flange sealable surface 102 (i.e., dimension D 3 ) as measured across the locus of the periphery of the lid flange 100 defined by the lid flange sealable surface 102.
• a presently most preferred range of the largest lateral dimension of the sealing member sealing surface is between about 0.50% and about 0.75% smaller than the largest lateral dimension of the lid flange sealable surface 103.
• the sealing surface 74 is between about 0.10 mm. and about 1.02 mm. for round and oval closures. It is preferable to design the sealing surface 74 of the peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion so that it has a height H 3 (FIG. 7) based on a desired ratio of the sealing surface height H 3 to the distance L 2 (where L 2 is the laterally inward extension of the sealing member 60 from the spout interior surface 54). Such a desired ratio of H 3 to L 2 is between about 0.08 and about 0.17. This helps to provide a good seal without creating excessive fictional forces when the lid is closed and opened—thereby facilitating operation of the lid and also reducing wear on the sealing surfaces. In presently preferred embodiments identified in TABLE 1 discussed below, the sealing member distal second portion sealing surface 74 has a height (i.e., height H 3 in FIG. 7) between only about 0.15 mm. and about 0.35 mm.
• the peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion sealing surface 74 height H 3 (FIG. 7), as measured along the discharge direction, can be characterized as being between about 0.25% and about 0.38% of the largest lateral dimension D 4 (FIG. 7) as measured across the locus defined by the sealing surface 74 when the lid 34 is in the open condition.
• the ratio H 3 /D 4 i.e., the ratio of the sealing member sealing surface height H 3 to the largest lateral dimension D 4 of the seal member sealing surface 74
• the peripheral wall interior surface 54 preferably has a maximum lateral dimension X (e.g., diameter D 2 ) defined as the largest lateral dimension defined by the peripheral wall interior surface 54 as measured perpendicular to the discharge direction
• the sealing surface 74 of the sealing member distal second portion 62 has a maximum lateral dimension Y (e.g., diameter D 4 ) defined as the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus defined by the sealing surface 74 measured perpendicular to the discharge direction
• the ratio of X to Y is between about 1.04 and about 1.08.
• the lid flange sealable surface 102 extends inwardly in the direction opposite to the discharge direction, beyond the peripheral wall sealing member 60 by an amount designated S in FIG. 3. It has been found that some projection of the surface 62 beyond the deformed sealing member 60 is useful in insuring good operation of the seal between the lid flange 100 and the sealing member 60 ⁇ especially for a closure 30 which has a relatively large discharge opening (e.g., 40 mm. or more) and which must accommodate creep or relaxation of the stressed closure material.
• a relatively large discharge opening e.g. 40 mm. or more
• the extension S of the lid flange 100 below the sealing member 60 is also useful in circumstances wherein the interior pressure in the package can act to impose an outwardly directed force on the lid 34, including when the closed package is inverted.
• the lid flange sealable surface 102 extends a distance S beyond the closure body sealing member 60 by an amount which is at least as great as 0.59% of the largest lateral dimension measured across the locus of the periphery defined by the lid flange sealable surface (i.e., dimension D 3 for the circular closure lid flange 100 illustrated in FIG. 3).
• the extension distance S is between about 0.5% and about 10.0% of D 3 for a round closure (where D 3 is the diameter of the lid flange 100) or an oval closure (where D 3 for an oval closure is the length of the major axis).
• the distance S is between about 0.60% and about 2.60% of the largest lateral dimension
• the extension distance S helps to provide a good seal without creating excessive frictional forces during opening and closing of the lid—thereby facilitating operation of the lid and also reducing wear on the sealing surfaces.
• the lid flange sealable surface 102 extends a distance S that is at least 1.40 mm. inwardly, in the direction opposite to the discharge direction beyond the peripheral wall sealing member 60 when the lid 34 is in the closed position.
• the "largest lateral dimension" is the diameter of the particular feature.
• the "largest lateral dimension” would be the major axis of the oval or elliptical feature.
• TABLE 1 below identifies two different sizes of a preferred embodiment of a round closure, closure A and closure B, and also identifies one embodiment of an oval closure C (discussed in detail following TABLE 1).
• TABLE 1 identifies various parameters and relationships for each round closure A and B, including those parameters and relationships discussed above, and identifies various parameters and relationships for the oval closure C as discussed in detail following TABLE 1.
• FIGS. 9-15 A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9-15 wherein an elliptical or oval closure 3OA is shown.
• the closure 3OA includes a peripheral wall, base or body 32A for extending from a container (not shown) around an opening to the container interior and through which the product can be removed in a discharge direction that is perpendicular to the opening.
• the closure 3OA also includes a lid 34A which is movable between (1) a closed position occluding the opening , and (2) a fully open position exposing the opening.
• the lid 34A is connected to the peripheral wall 32A by means of a floppy hinge 36A.
• the hinge 36A could be omitted altogether.
• the hinge 36A could be another type of hinge, such as a snap-action hinge.
• the peripheral wall 32A includes a base flange 41 A which extends laterally outwardly and which is adapted to be sealed to the wall of a container defining a discharge opening around which the flange 41 A is mounted.
• the container could be generally rigid or flexible.
• the second embodiment of the closure 3OA is especially suitable for use on a flexible container.
• the flexible container may be any suitable flexible container, including, but not limited to, a pouch-type container made from a thin, flexible, thermoplastic film.
• the flange 41 A can be heat-sealed or secured with adhesive to the wall of the container. Other attachment systems may be employed, including purely mechanical attachment systems.
• the peripheral wall 32A is initially molded first, and then the closure lid 34A is bi- injection molded to the peripheral wall 32A.
• the closure 3OA includes a floppy-type hinge 36A illustrated in FIG. 14
• a lower portion of the hinge 36A is initially molded as a unitary extension of the peripheral wall 32 A, and an upper part of the hinge is molded as a unitary extension of the lid 34 A.
• the two hinge extensions are connected together outwardly of the hinge fold line when the lid 34A is bi-injection molded onto the peripheral wall 32 A.
• the lid 34A preferably includes a downwardly extending latch tab 37 A for being received in a snap-fit type engaging slot 39 A in the peripheral wall 32A.
• the snap-fit engagement can be overcome when sufficient force is applied by the user's finger or thumb to the lid 34 A in an upward direction to lift the lid 34A away from the peripheral wall 32A.
• the peripheral wall 32 A includes a sealing member 6OA.
• the undeformed, as-molded configuration of the sealing member 6OA and of the lid flange IOOA is identical with the configuration of the sealing member 60 and lid flange 100, respectively, as described above in detail for the first embodiment of the closure illustrated in FIGS. 1-8.
• the lid 34A includes an outwardly projecting flange IOOA.
• the flange IOOA is adapted to be sealed by the sealing member 6OA when the lid 34A is closed on the peripheral wall 32A as illustrated in FIG. 13.
• the sealing member 6OA includes a sealing surface 74 A that has an overall oval configuration and that is flat as viewed in cross section in FIG. 13 so that it is generally parallel to the product discharge direction.
• the surface 74A is adapted for sealing against a peripheral sealable surface 102 A on the exterior of the lid flange IOOA.
• the sealing member 6OA has an oval configuration
• the lid sealable flange IOOA has a cooperating oval configuration.
• the major axis of the oval configuration of a particular feature of the closure 3OA may be characterized as the "largest lateral dimension" of that particular feature.
• the various lateral dimensions of the features of the closure sealing member 6OA and lid flange IOOA may be conveniently designated by the same dimensional signifiers used for illustrating the first embodiment of the closure 30 in FIGS. 3 and 7. That is, the various dimensions such as D 1 , D 2 , D 3 D 4 , L 1 , L 2 , H 1 , H 2 , H 3 , T 1 , T 2 , etc. in the first embodiment apply also to the configuration of the oval closure illustrated in FIGS. 9-15.
• top arcuate surface 71, 71 A, and bottom arcuate surface 72, 72 A function to facilitate the closing and opening engagement of the closure lid sealable flange 100, IOOA with the peripheral wall sealing member 60, 6OA, and that these arcuate surfaces 71, 7 IA,
• the configuration and size relationships of the cooperating structures contribute to providing an arrangement in which the lid sealable flange 100, IOOA is properly guided during closing of the lid
• the arrangement also is sufficiently robust to accommodate some warpage or other distortion—as well as normal handling during manufacturing, shipping and use—without deleterious effects on the sealing capability.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=36931125

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (15)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (47)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (22)

• 2005
  • 2005-02-25 US US11/066,751 patent/US20060191933A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2006
  • 2006-01-19 JP JP2007557023A patent/JP2008531410A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-01-19 BR BRPI0606190-7A patent/BRPI0606190A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-01-19 WO PCT/US2006/001744 patent/WO2006093579A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-01-19 AU AU2006219092A patent/AU2006219092B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-01-19 MX MX2007010213A patent/MX2007010213A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2006-01-19 ES ES06718765T patent/ES2349306T3/es active Active
  • 2006-01-19 CA CA2599202A patent/CA2599202C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-01-19 PL PL06718765T patent/PL1851127T3/pl unknown
  • 2006-01-19 AT AT06718765T patent/ATE478809T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-01-19 DE DE602006016404T patent/DE602006016404D1/de active Active
  • 2006-01-19 CN CNB2006800058909A patent/CN100572208C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-01-19 RU RU2007135348/12A patent/RU2372265C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-01-19 EP EP06718765A patent/EP1851127B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-02-23 AR ARP060100671A patent/AR055864A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events