Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CLOSURE SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED SEALING OF LID
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a closure system for a container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
AND
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
There are a variety of types of conventional closures. 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
openhag to the container interior. The closure body to which the lid is
attached may
be alternatively described as the closure base or base portion.
For some types of products, it would be desirable to provide 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.
=
It would be advantageous if such a closure could be provided with an
improved seal between the lid and the closure body¨especially for a "wide
mouth"
closure in which the smallest dimension across the product discharge opening
is at
least 40 mm. or more. In the past, the inventors of the present invention have
found
that it is difficult to design wide mouth, disposable, thermoplastic closures
that have
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sufficiently good sealing capabilities and that are sufficiently robust to
accommodate manufacturing processes, assembly processes, and handling during
shipping and use.
It would be desirable to provide an improved seal for a closure, including a
wide mouth closure, in which the seal could function effectively to provide
proper
sealing and that would be sufficiently robust. It would be also especially
desirable
if such an improved seal could function effectively to guide a cooperating
portion of
the lid during closing of the lid.
It would also be beneficial if the improved seal could accommodate some
warpage or other distortion of a large closure without deleteriously affecting
the
sealing capability.
Further, it would also be desirable if 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.
Preferably, a closure with such an improved seal should accommodate ease
of use. Preferably, 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.
It would also be beneficial if a closure with such an improved seal could
readily accommodate its manufacture from a thermoplastic material.
It would also be desirable if 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.
Further, it would be desirable if a closure with such an improved seal could
accommodate efficient, high-quality, high-speed, large volume manufacturing
techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produce products having
consistent
operating characteristics unit-to-unit with high reliability.
It would also be advantageous if such an improved seal could also optionally
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be incorporated, at least in part, directly in a container around the
container opening
to function as part of the closure system without requiring the use of a
separate
closure body, per se.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a first form of such a
closure system is provided for a container that has an interior where a
product may
be stored. The closure system includes:
(A) a peripheral wall for extending from the container 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; and
(B) a lid that is movable between (1) a closed position occluding the
opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing the opening.
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.
According to another aspect of the invention, another form of a closure
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system is provided for a container that has an interior where a product may be
stored, and the closure system includes:
(A) a peripheral wall for extending from the container 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; and
(B) 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.;
(iii) is sealingly engaged with the sealing surface of the distal
second portion of the sealing member of the peripheral wall
so as to force the distal second portion laterally outwardly;
and
(iv) extends inwardly, in the direction opposite to the
discharge direction, beyond the peripheral wall sealing
member by an amount that is between about 0.5% and about
10.0% of the largest lateral dimension measured across the
locus of the periphery defined by the lid flange sealable
surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, another form of a closure
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system is provided for a container that has an interior where a product may be
stored, and the closure system includes:
(A) a peripheral wall for extending from the container 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; and
(B) 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;
(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) is sealingly engaged with the sealing surface of the distal
second portion of the sealing member of the peripheral wall
so as to force the distal second portion laterally outwardly;
and
(c) the largest lateral dimension of the sealing
surface of the
peripheral wall sealing member distal second portion, as
measured perpendicular to the discharge direction and across
the locus defined by the sealing surface of the peripheral wall
of the sealing member distal second portion when the lid is
opened, 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
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surface.
In embodiments that are presently most preferred, 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.
According to another aspect of the invention, another form of a closure
system is provided for a container that has an interior where a product may be
stored, and the closure system includes:
(A) a peripheral wall for extending from the container 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; and
(B) 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 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
(b) the lid includes a closure flange that defines a
peripheral
sealable surface which, when the lid is in the closed position,
is
(i) oriented generally parallel to the discharge direction, and
(ii) sealingly engaged with the sealing surface of the distal
second portion of the peripheral wall sealing member so as to
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force the distal second portion laterally outwardly.
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.).
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will
become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention,
from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in which
like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,
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
2-2 in FIG. 1;
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.
5 indicated by the circle designated "FIG. 7;"
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
(not illustrated), and the closure is shown in a completely closed condition;
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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
12-12 in FIG. 10;
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;
and
FIG. 15 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
15-15 in FIG. 14.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms,
this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific
forms
as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to
the
embodiments so described, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out
in
the appended claims.
For ease of description, the 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.
The 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. With respect to the broadest
aspects of
the invention, the 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.
One presently preferred, first embodiment of a closure system of the present
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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 (not shown) 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
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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.
As shown in FIG. 4 for the first embodiment, the preferred structure of the
closure 30 comprises (A) a peripheral wall 32 that defines the closure base or
body
32, and (B) 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. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the hinge
36
incorporates the hinge design of the snap-action type disclosed in the U.S.
Patent
No. 4,403,712. In the preferred, first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8,
the
closure peripheral wall 32 (i.e., the closure base or body), lid 34, and 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). Other materials may be employed
instead.
In an alternate embodiment (not illustrated), 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.
In yet another alternate embodiment (not illustrated), 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.
In other contemplated embodiments, the peripheral wall 32 (or even the
entire closure 30) need not be a structure or assembly that is completely
separate
from the container. Instead, 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. To create such an alternate
embodiment, 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
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to accommodate communication with the container interior. In any case, 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.
Regardless of whether or not the entire closure 30 (or just the peripheral
wall 32) is molded as a unitary extension of a container or is a separate
unit, 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. After the inverted
container is
filled with the product through the open bottom end of the container, 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.). Alternatively, 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).
Where the peripheral wall 32 is the base or body of a separate closure 30, as
in the preferred, first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, 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).
Hereinafter in the description of the closure system, 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.
Alternatively, 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
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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.
In the preferred first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the closure body
32 includes an upwardly projecting spout 50 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which has a
cylindrical
exterior surface 52 (FIG. 7) having an outside diameter D1 (FIG. 7). The
inside of
the spout 50 is defined=in part by an interior surface 54 (FIG. 7) which has a
diameter D2 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. As
can be
seen in FIG. 7, the sealing member 60 includes a first portion 61 and a distal
second
portion 62 extending from the first portion 61. Preferably, the first portion
61 tapers
so that it becomes thinner in the radially inward direction.
In the preferred embodiment, the exterior surface of the sealing member first
portion 61 is defined by a circular radius R1. The interior surface of the
sealing
member 60, extending along the sealing member first portion 61as well as along
the
sealing member distal second portion 62, is defined by a circular radius R2.
The
radius R1 and the radius R2 are located so that the arcuate surface defined by
radius
R1 and the arcuate surface defined by the radius R2 each becomes tangent to
horizontal planes passing through the spout in an orientation perpendicular to
the
discharge direction. In particular, the arcuate surface defined by the radius
R1 is
tangent to an upper plane P1 (FIG. 7), and the arcuate surface defined by the
radius
R2 is tangent to a lower plane P2 (FIG. 7).
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The maximum thickness of the sealing member 60 where it attaches to the
spout 50 between the planes P1 and P2 is designated T1 in FIG. 7. The sealing
member exterior arcuate surface defined by the radius R1 has a radially
inwardly
extending length designated L1 in FIG. 7. The sealing member 60 extends
radially
inwardly from the spout interior surface 54 for a distance or length L2 as
designated
in FIG. 7. The total height of the sealing member 60 is designated as H1 in
FIG. 7.
The sealing member 60 projects below the point where the arcuate interior
surface
defined by the radius R2 merges with the spout 50 (at the plane P2), and the
amount
of this projection is shown in FIG. 7 as the distance H2.
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. The 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 D4 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The vertical height of the sealing
surface 74,
in the direction parallel to the discharge direction, is designated H3 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.
In the preferred configuration of the sealing member 60, 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 T2 in FIG.
7.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, 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. The
opening
86 is covered by an insert disk 88 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 5) which is preferably bi-
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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. In one
preferred
embodiment, the disk 88 is a translucent material, and it may have a different
tint or
color than the rest of the closure. In other contemplated embodiments, 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.
In order to hold the lid 34 in the closed position, the closure body 32
includes an upwardly projecting, annular 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). As can be seen in FIG. 2, 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.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, 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 D3 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The diameter D3 of the lid sealable
surface 102
is larger than the diameter D4 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. When the lid 34 is closed (FIGS. 2 and 3), 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.
To provide a robust closure system that withstands normal manufacturing
and handling processes and that withstands normal use, especially in
relatively large
diameter closures, the diameter D3 of the closure lid flange sealable surface
102
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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 D4 in FIG. 7). Specifically, in a preferred form of the invention,
the
largest lateral dimension of the sealing surface 74 of the sealing member
distal
second portion 62 (i.e., dimension D4), as measured perpendicular to the
discharge
direction and across the locus defined by the sealing surface 74 of the
sealing
member distal second portion when the lid is opened, 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 D3) 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. With such an interfering
relationship, when the lid 34 is closed, the peripheral wall sealing member
distal
second portion 62 is forced laterally outwardly by the lid flange sealable
surface 102
an amount sufficient to insure a good seal under normal conditions of use.
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 one presently preferred embodiment, the lid
flange
sealable surface 102 and the peripheral wall sealing member distal second
portion
62 interfere when the lid 34 is in the closed position so as to force the
peripheral
wall sealing member distal second portion 62 radially outwardly a distance
that is
between about 0.05 mm. and about 0.51 mm., and that is preferably about 0.21
mm.
or at least as great as about 0.20 mm.
A presently preferred range for the height H3 (FIG. 7) of the sealing surface
74 is between about 0.10 mm. and about 1.02 min. 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 H3 (FIG. 7) based on a desired
ratio of
the sealing surface height H3 to the distance L2 (where L2 is the laterally
inward
extension of the sealing member 60 from the spout interior surface 54). Such a
desired ratio of H3 to L2 is between about 0.08 and about 0.17. This helps to
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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 H3 in FIG. 7) between only about 0.15 mm. and about 0.35
mm.
In the illustrated embodiments, the peripheral wall sealing member distal
second portion sealing surface 74 height H3 (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 D4 (FIG. 7) as measured across the
locus
defined by the sealing surface 74 when the lid 34 is in the open condition. In
the
presently manufactured embodiments, the ratio H3/D4 (i.e., the ratio of the
sealing
member sealing surface height H3 to the largest lateral dimension D4 of the
seal
member sealing surface 74) is between about 0.002 and about 0.01 for round or
oval
closures.
Further, according to a preferred form of the invention, there is a preferred
relationship between the interior surface 54 of the peripheral wall or spout
50 and
the sealing surface 74 of the sealing member distal second portion 62. In
particular,
the peripheral wall interior surface 54 preferably has a maximum lateral
dimension
X (e.g., diameter D2) defined as the largest lateral dimension defined by the
peripheral wall interior surface 54 as measured perpendicular to the discharge
direction, and the sealing surface 74 of the sealing member distal second
portion 62
has a maximum lateral dimension Y (e.g., diameter D4) defined as the largest
lateral
dimension measured across the locus defined by the sealing surface 74 measured
perpendicular to the discharge direction, and the ratio of X to Y is between
about
1.04 and about 1.08.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, when the lid 34 is closed, 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
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relatively large discharge opening (e.g., 40 mm. or more) and which must
accommodate creep or relaxation of the stressed closure material.
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. In a preferred design, 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
D3 for the circular closure lid flange 100 illustrated in FIG. 3). In a
presently
preferred range, the extension distance S is between about 0.5% and about
10.0% of
D3 for a round closure (where D3 is the diameter of the lid flange 100) or an
oval
closure (where D3 for an oval closure is the length of the major axis). In
presently
manufactured closure system embodiments (which could be round or oval), the
distance S is between about 0.60% and about 2.60% of the largest lateral
dimension
D3 of the lid flange sealable surface 102. 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. In one preferred embodiment of a round closure wherein the
closure body sealing member 60 has an inner diameter D4 of at least 57 mm.
(before
the lid 34 is closed), 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.
In the above discussion of the dimensional relationships, the term "largest
lateral dimension" has been employed with respect to a particular feature of
interest.
For the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, wherein the closure has a
generally circular configuration, the "largest lateral dimension" is the
diameter of
the particular feature. In an oval or elliptical closure (such as the second
embodiment discussed hereinafter), the "largest lateral dimension" would be
the
major axis of the oval or elliptical feature.
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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. In TABLE 1, the numbers in column A (for closure A), column B (for
closure B), and in column C (for oval closure C) are in millimeters, except
for
numbers in TABLE 1 that are followed by a percent sign. Numbers followed by a
percent sign are the ratio of the parameters listed in the far left-hand
column
multiplied by 100. In TABLE 1, the listed values of the parameters are
preferred
values which have been found to provide the desired operation of the closure
with
respect to sealing and with respect to providing a structure with sufficient
ruggedness or robustness to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, handling,
and
normal internal container pressures (including pressures applied to the
closure lid
from the product in an inverted container and/or from impacts upon the
container).
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TABLE 1
A B C
Major Minor
Parameters
Axis Axis
H1 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30
H2 0.80 0.80 0.79 0.79
L1 1.30 1.69 1.30 1.30
D3 57.70 74.02 80.62 48.87
S 1.50 1.44 0.48 0.48
S/D3 2.60% 1.95% 0.60% 0.98%
D4 57.28 73.60 80.21 48.46
(D3 - D4)/2 0.21 0.21 0.205 0.205
(D3 - D4)/D3 0.73% 0.57% 0.51% 0.84%
D1 62.55 79.78 86.36 54.61
D2 61.00 78.24 83.82 52.07
D2/D4 1.065 1.063 1.045 1.074
L2-(D2 - D4)/2 1.86 2.32 1.805 1.805
L2/D3 3.22% 3.13% 2.24% 3.69%
L2/D2 3.05% 2.97% , 2.15%
3.47%
L2/D3 3.22% 3.13% 2.24% 3.69%
T2 0.21 0.30 0.31 0.31
T2/D3 0.36% 0.41% 0.38% 0.63%
T1 0.50 0.50 0.51 0.51
R1 1.21 1.77 1.27 1.27
R2 1.21 1.77 1.22 1.22
RI/D3 2.10% 2.39% 1.51% 2.50%
H3 0.165 1.196 0.30 0.30
H3/1)4 029% 0.27% 0.37% 0.62%
H3/1-2 0.089 0.085 0.166 0.166
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A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9-15
wherein an elliptical or oval closure 30A is shown. As can be seen in FIG. 14,
the
closure 30A 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 30A 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. In the preferred form of the second embodiment of the invention
illustrated in FIGS. 9-15, the lid 34A is connected to the peripheral wall 32A
by
means of a floppy hinge 36A. The hinge 36A could be omitted altogether.
Alternatively, the hinge 36A could be another type of hinge, such as a snap-
action
hinge.
The peripheral wall 32A includes a base flange 41A 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 41A is mounted. The container could
be
generally rigid or flexible. The second embodiment of the closure 30A 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 41A 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.
In the preferred form of the second embodiment 30A illustrated in FIG. 14,
the peripheral wall 32A is initially molded first, and then the closure lid
34A is bi-
injection molded to the peripheral wall 32A. Preferably, if the closure 30A
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 32A, and an
upper part
of the hinge is molded as a unitary extension of the lid 34A. 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 32A.
As can be seen in FIG. 12, the lid 34A preferably includes a downwardly
extending latch tab 37A for being received in a snap-fit type engaging slot
39A 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 34A in an upward
direction to
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lift the lid 34A away from the peripheral wall 32A.
As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 14, the peripheral wall 32A includes a sealing
member 60A. In cross section, the undeformed, as-molded configuration of the
sealing member 60A and of the lid flange 100A 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.
In the second embodiment closure, the lid 34A includes an outwardly
projecting flange 100A. The flange 100A is adapted to be sealed by the sealing
member 60A when the lid 34A is closed on the peripheral wall 32A as
illustrated in
FIG. 13. The sealing member 60A includes a sealing surface 74A 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 102A on the exterior of the lid
flange
100A.
In this second embodiment of the closure 34A illustrated in FIGS. 9-15, the
sealing member 60A has an oval configuration, and the lid sealable flange 100A
has
a cooperating oval configuration. The major axis of the oval configuration of
a
particular feature of the closure 30A may be characterized as the "largest
lateral
dimension" of that particular feature. The various lateral dimensions of the
features
of the closure sealing member 60A and lid flange 100A 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 D1, D2, D3, D4, L1, L2 , HI, H2, H3, T1, T2, etc. in the first embodiment
apply also to
the configuration of the oval closure illustrated in FIGS. 9-15. To the extent
that the
oval closure features have a major and minor axis, such major and minor axes
are
listed in TABLE 1 in column C for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-15.
The
values listed in the "Major Axis" column and "Minor Axis" under heading C in
TABLE 1 are preferred values which have been found to provide the desired
operation of the closure with respect to sealing and with respect to providing
a
structure with sufficient ruggedness or robustness to accommodate
manufacturing
tolerances, handling, and normal internal container pressures (including
pressures
applied to the closure lid from the product in an inverted container and/or
from
impacts upon the container).
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With respect to either the round, first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 or
the oval, second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-15, it has been found that
the top
arcuate surface 71, 71A, and bottom arcuate surface 72, 72A, function to
facilitate
the closing and opening engagement of the closure lid sealable flange 100,
100A with
the peripheral wall sealing member 60, 60A, and that these arcuate surfaces
71, 71A,
72, 72A further eliminate sharp corner edges that a user might find
objectionable
when contacted by the user's fingers.
Also, with respect to all of the embodiments, the configuration and size
relationships of the cooperating structures contribute to providing an
arrangement in
which the lid sealable flange 100, 100A is properly guided during closing of
the lid
34, 34A so as to facilitate proper closing and sealing, especially for "wide
mouth"
sizes (e.g., 40 mm. or greater). 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.
It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the
invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous variations and
modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope
of the
novel concepts or principles of this invention.
'
