Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MULTI-PIECE CLOSURE WITH HINGED LID
DESCRIPTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 12/655,673
filed January 5,
2010, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to a closure for a fluid
containing vessel.
More specifically the present disclosure relates to a multi-piece closure for
a fluid containing
vessel that may be attached to the fluid containing vessel without regard to
the orientation of the
fluid containing vessel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Many fluid containing vessels, such as drink bottles and motor oil
bottles, are
provided with a spout or a nozzle that allows fluid within the bottle to be
accessed by a user.
The spout or nozzle is often covered by a closure with a lid or a flip-top
lid. A user can access
the contents of the container by moving the hinged lid from a closed position
to an open position.
A user can also provide a fluid tight seal for the container by moving the
hinged lid back to the
closed position. Such an application is particularly useful in certain
beverage containing vessels,
such as bottles for water, juices, sports drinks, or beverages for children,
where a user may
periodically desire access to the contents of the vessel, but also wishes to
avoid spilling the
contents of the vessel once the contents have been accessed.
[0005] Existing multi-piece closures often utilize a non-position memory strap
to connect a
cover portion of the lid to a ring portion of the lid. Additionally, the strap
is connected to an
exterior surface of a ring portion of the lid, and portions of the strap
reside outside of a periphery
formed by the ring portion. Therefore, when the lid is connected to the rest
of the closure, i.e.,
by pushing the ring portion into a base, a particular orientation of the strap
must be maintained
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relative to the assembly equipment which pushes the ring into the base to
avoid potentially
damaging the strap or having the strap interfere with operation of assembly
equipment. This
requires more complex assembly tooling that may increase the amount of time
required to
produce a completed closure and may further increase the cost to produce a
closure.
Additionally, manufacturing a strap which is connected to the exterior surface
of the ring portion
is difficult and may require a slidable mold piece on a separate axis in order
to remove the lid
piece from the mold. Therefore, a need exists for a closure with a lid that
does not require
circumferential orientation with respect to the to the assembly equipment
during assembly, does
not require a slidable mold piece, and can maintain access to the spout or
nozzle with position
memory when the hinge is in the open position.
[0006] Furthermore, as the existing hinged closure can be closed to form a
fluid tight seal in
the closed position even after being initially opened, it is often desirable
to provide an optional
tamper evident feature so that a user may determine if the closure has
previously been opened.
Many tamper evident features are disposed in a generally vertical direction
between portions of
the closure with a hinged lid, such that the tamper evident features deform or
even break when a
hinged lid is initially opened. Manufacturing a closure with such vertical
features may also
require slidable mold pieces or a costly secondary operation to the molding
(i.e., slitting).
[0007] The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations
and other
drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore
available. A full
discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred
to the following
detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one embodiment, a closure for a fluid containing vessel
comprises a
base and a one-piece lid. The base has a sidewall and a shoulder formed at a
top surface of the
sidewall. A spout extends upward from the shoulder and has an opening formed
in a top surface
of the spout. The one-piece lid has a ring portion, a hinge portion and a
cover portion. The
hinge portion connects the cover portion to the ring portion and allows the
cover portion to move
from a closed position to an open position. The hinge portion is disposed
completely within an
outer periphery of the ring portion with the cover portion in the closed
position. The cover
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portion covers the opening in the top surface of the spout in the closed
position to form a fluid
tight seal between the base and the one-piece lid.
[0009] According to another embodiment, a closure for a fluid containing
vessel comprises a
base portion and a lid portion. The base portion comprises a generally
horizontal shoulder
portion, a first generally vertical sidewall, a second generally vertical
sidewall, and a securing
groove. The generally horizontal shoulder portion has an outer periphery and
an inner periphery.
The first generally vertical sidewall extends in a first direction from the
outer periphery of the
shoulder portion. The second generally vertical sidewall extends in a second
direction from the
inner periphery of the shoulder portion. The second generally vertical
sidewall terminates in a
generally horizontal rim. The generally horizontal rim has an opening formed
therein. The
securing groove is disposed radially between the first generally vertical
sidewall and the second
generally vertical sidewall. The lid has a connecting ring having a periphery
with a
complimentary shape to the securing groove of the base portion and forms a
friction fit within
the securing groove. The cover portion has a hinged connection to the
connecting ring. The
cover portion is movable between a closed position and an open position. The
hinged connection
is disposed within the periphery of the connecting ring when the cover portion
is in the closed
position. The cover portion is disposed over the opening of the horizontal rim
of the base
portion. The connecting ring, cover portion, and the at least one tamper
evident feature form a
single piece.
[0010] According to a further embodiment, a lid for a fluid containing vessel
comprises a
connecting ring, a cover portion, and a hinge. The connecting ring has a
periphery with a
generally circular shape. The cover portion is connected to the connecting
ring by a hinge. The
cover portion is movable between a closed position and an open position. The
hinge forms
between the connecting ring and the cover portion. The hinge is disposed
within the periphery of
the connecting ring when the cover portion is in the closed position.
[0011] Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following
specification taken
in conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of
example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
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[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure for a fluid containing vessel
according to one
embodiment in a closed position;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the closure for a fluid containing
vessel according to
the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an open position;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of the closure for a fluid containing vessel
according to the
embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the closure for a
fluid containing
vessel according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a front view of a closure for a fluid containing vessel
according to another
embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the closure for a fluid containing vessel
taken through
lines A-A of FIG. 6;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a view of the base portion of the closure for a fluid
containing vessel of FIG.
7;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a view of the lid portion of the closure for a fluid
containing vessel taken of
FIG. 7; and
[0022] FIG. 10 is a top view of the lid portion of the closure for a fluid
containing vessel of
FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different
forms, there are
shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred
embodiments of the
invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be
considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to
limit the broad aspect of
the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
[0024] FIGs. 1-5 depict a closure for a fluid containing vessel 10 according
to one
embodiment. The closure 10 comprises a base portion 12 and a lid portion 14.
The base portion
12 comprises a first generally vertical sidewall 16 that descends from a
shoulder portion 18. The
shoulder portion 18 has an outer periphery 19, and an inner periphery 21
(FIG.3). The first
generally vertical sidewall 16 connects to the shoulder portion 18 at the
outer periphery 19. A
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second generally vertical sidewall 20 ascends from the inner periphery 21 of
the shoulder portion
18. The second generally vertical sidewall 20 terminates at a generally
horizontal rim 23. The
generally horizontal rim 23 has an opening 22 formed therein. The opening 22
allows fluid
within a fluid containing vessel (not shown) that the closure 10 is disposed
on to flow out of the
fluid containing vessel. The base portion 12 may be threaded and function as a
screw-on cap for
a vessel. It is contemplated the base portion 12 may be a snap-on cap or be
formed as part of the
vessel or any other form.
[0025] The lid portion 14 comprises a connecting ring 24 and a cover portion
26 which are
connected via a hinge 28. The connecting ring 24 is depicted as forming a
complete circle in the
embodiment of FIGs. 1-5, but it is contemplated that a partial circle may be
utilized, or that a full
or partial polygon may be utilized as the shape for the connecting ring 24. As
shown in FIGs. 1-
5, the lid portion 14 may be formed from a single piece of material, such as
molded plastic.
[0026] The lid portion 14 is moveable from a closed position, as shown in FIG.
1, to an open
position, as shown in FIG. 2. In the closed position, the lid portion 14
prevents fluid from
exiting the opening 22 of the fluid containing vessel as a plug seal 36 (FIG.
3) which is disposed
on the cover portion 26, being positioned to contact the opening 22 of the
base portion to form an
interference fit. It is contemplated that additional types of seals may also
be formed between the
lid portion 14 and the opening 22, such as, for example, a gasket, an o-ring,
a blade seal, or the
like.
[0027] As best viewed in FIG. 3, the base portion 12 has a securing groove 32
formed on the
shoulder 18. The securing groove 32 is adapted to receive a connecting portion
34 of the
connecting ring 24 of the lid portion 14. The connecting ring 24 has a
generally complimentary
shape to the securing groove 32 of the base portion. The securing groove 32
has a securing lip
33 that the connecting portion 34 of lid portion 14 interacts with to secure
the connecting ring 24
to the base portion 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 34 is in
the form of a tab,
however, it is contemplated that other geometric arrangements may be utilized
to secure the
connecting portion 34 of the lid portion 14 to the securing groove 32 of the
base portion 12, such
as a friction fit or an interference fit. While the securing groove 32 is
shown ascending from
shoulder 18, it is additionally contemplated that the securing groove 32 may
be a securing
protrusion with a securing lip formed near the shoulder 18 that receives a
portion of the
connecting ring 24, or may be other types of connectors.
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[0028] The cover portion 26 of the lid portion 14 additionally has an opening
tab 30. The
opening tab 30 is disposed on an opposite side of the lid portion 14 from the
hinge 28. It is
contemplated that the opening tab 30 may be positioned elsewhere on the lid
portion 14. The
opening tab 30 allows a user to more easily move the lid portion 14 from the
closed position to
the open position.
[0029] FIGs. 4 and 5 show a plurality of tamper evident features 38 disposed
between the
cover portion 26 and the connecting ring 24. The tamper evident features 38
are disposed in a
generally horizontal plane. The tamper evident features 38 deform and/or
disconnect as the
cover portion 26 of the lid portion 14 is moved from the closed position to
the open position.
This provides visual evidence to a user that the lid portion 14 has been moved
from its closed
position and/or opened. Therefore, the user will know if the contents of the
fluid containing
vessel have been accessed by opening the lid portion 14 based upon the tamper
evident features
38 being deformed, or no longer being connected to both the connecting ring 24
and the cover
portion 26, even if the lid portion 14 has been returned to the closed
position. The tamper
evident features 38 may have a section with reduced width, such that the
tamper evident features
deform at the section with reduced width and generally the tamper evident
features 28 will fail at
the section with reduced width and thus disconnect from the connecting ring 24
and the cover
portion 26.
[0030] FIG. 4 additionally depicts the hinge 28 of the lid portion 14. The
hinge 28 connects
the cover portion 26 to the connecting ring 24. The hinge 28 has a connecting
ring region 40 and
a cover portion region 42 that are connected by a first web 44a and a second
web 44b. The
connecting ring region 40 of the hinge 28 is disposed at or within the outer
periphery of the
connecting ring 24, or, put another way, connecting ring region 40 of the
hinge 28 connects to
the connecting ring 24 at a location no greater than a maximum diameter of the
connecting ring
24. Connecting the hinge 28 to the outer periphery of the connecting ring 24
eliminates the need
for a slide action within the mold to create the hinge 28 of the lid portion
14. It is contemplated
that the connecting ring region 40 and the cover portion region 42 of the
hinge 28 have a semi-
circular shape, but other shapes may be utilized. The hinge 28 is adapted to
keep the lid portion
14 in the open position once the lid portion 14 has passed a predetermined
amount of opening.
As such, the opening 22 remains uncovered until a user asserts a force on the
lid portion 14 to
reinsert the plug seal 36 of the lid portion 14 back into the opening 22.
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[0031] The hinge 28 is completely disposed within the diameter or perimeter of
an outer
periphery of the connecting ring 24 when the lid portion 14 is in the closed
position. Therefore,
all of the lid portion 14 is disposed within the outer periphery of the
connecting ring 24, whether
at, below or above the ring's surface. When the hinge is attached at or below
the ring's surface,
the orientation of the lid portion 14 relative to the base portion 12 does not
need to be controlled
when attaching lid portion 14 to the base portion 12 via the connecting ring
24 being inserted
into the securing groove 32, simplifying the assembly of the lid portion 14 to
the base portion 12.
[0032] The hinge 28 is disposed at or above the level of the shoulder portion
18 of the base
portion 12. The higher the hinge 28 resides above the shoulder portion 18, the
greater the
opening angle of the hinge 28.
[0033] Turning now to FIGs. 6-10, a closure for a fluid containing vessel 100
according to
another embodiment is depicted. The closure 100 comprises a base portion 102
and a lid portion
104. The base portion 102 comprises a first generally vertical sidewall 106
that descends from a
shoulder portion 108. The shoulder portion 108 has an outer periphery 110, and
an inner
periphery 112 (FIGs.7-8). The first generally vertical sidewall 106 connects
to the shoulder
portion 108 at the outer periphery 110. A spout 114 ascends from the inner
periphery 112 of the
shoulder portion 108. The spout 114 terminates at a generally horizontal rim
116 (FIG. 8). The
generally horizontal rim 116 has an opening 118 formed therein (FIG. 8). The
opening 118
allows fluid within a fluid containing vessel (not shown) that the closure 100
is disposed on to
flow out of the fluid containing vessel. The opening 118 may be sized to
control the rate of fluid
flow from the fluid containing vessel, such that a larger opening 118 allows a
higher fluid flow
rate, while a smaller opening allows a lower fluid flow rate.
[0034] As best shown in FIGs. 9 and 10, the lid portion 104 comprises a
connecting ring 120
and a cover portion 122 connected via a hinge 124. As shown in FIGs. 6-10, the
lid portion 104
is formed from a single piece of material.
[0035] The lid portion 104 is moveable from a closed position, like that shown
in FIG. 1, to
an open position, like that shown in FIG. 2. In the closed position, the lid
portion 104 prevents
fluid from exiting the opening 118 of the fluid containing vessel as a plug
seal 126 (FIG. 7)
disposed on the cover portion 122 and positioned to contact the opening 118 of
the base portion
102 when the lid portion 104 is in the closed position.
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[0036] As best viewed in FIG. 8, the base portion 102 has a securing groove
128 formed on
the shoulder 108. The securing groove 128 is adapted to receive a connecting
portion 130 of the
connecting ring 120 of the lid portion 104 (FIG. 9). The connecting ring 120
has a generally
complimentary shape to the securing groove 128 of the base portion 102. The
securing groove
128 has a securing lip 132 that the connecting portion 130 of lid portion 104
interacts with to
secure the connecting ring 120 to the base portion 102. As shown in FIG. 9,
the connecting
portion 130 is in the form of a tab, however, it is contemplated that other
geometric arrangements
may be utilized to secure the connecting portion 130 of the lid portion 104 to
the securing groove
128 of the base portion 102, such as a friction fit or an interference fit.
[0037] The cover portion 122 of the lid portion 102 additionally has an
opening tab 134. The
opening tab 134 is disposed on an opposite side of the lid portion 104 from
the hinge 124. The
opening tab 134 allows a user to more easily move the lid portion from the
closed position to the
open position.
[0038] FIG. 10 shows a plurality of tamper evident features 136 disposed
between the cover
portion 122 and the connecting ring 120. The tamper evident features 136 are
disposed in a
generally horizontal plane. The tamper evident features 136 deform and/or
disconnect as the
cover portion 122 of the lid portion 104 is moved from the closed position to
the open position.
Visual evidence that the lid portion 104 has been opened is thereby provided
to a user.
Therefore, the user will know if the contents of the fluid containing vessel
have been accessed by
opening the lid portion 104 based upon the tamper evident features 136 being
deformed, or no
longer being connected to both the connecting ring 120 and the cover portion
122, even if the lid
portion 104 has been returned to the closed position. The tamper evident
features 136 are
depicted as being non-linear, such as, for example, being generally S-shaped
or Z-shaped, as
shown in FIG. 10. A non-linear tamper evident feature 136 contains less
material near a
midpoint of the tamper evident feature 136, thus making the tamper evident
feature 136 more
likely to fail and visually deform in that location as the lid portion 104 is
opened.
[0039] FIG. 10 additionally clearly depicts the hinge 124 of the lid portion
104. The hinge
124 connects the cover portion 122 to the connecting ring 120. The hinge 124
has a connecting
ring region 138 (FIG. 9) and a cover portion region 140 that are connected by
a web 142. It is
contemplated that the connecting ring region 138 and the cover portion region
140 of the hinge
124 have a semi-circular shape, but other shapes may be utilized. The hinge
124 is adapted to
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keep the lid portion 104 in the open position once the lid portion 104 has
passed a predetermined
amount of opening. As such, the opening 118 remains uncovered until a user
asserts a force on
the lid portion 104 to reinsert the plug seal 126 of the lid portion 104 back
into the opening 118.
[00401 The hinge 124 is completely disposed at or within an outer periphery of
the
connecting ring 120 when the lid portion 104 is in the closed position.
Therefore, all of the lid
portion 104 is disposed at or within the outer periphery of the connecting
ring 120. When the
hinge is attached at or below the ring, the orientation of the lid portion 104
relative to the base
portion 102 does not need to be controlled when attaching lid portion 104 to
the base portion 102
via the connecting ring 120 being inserted into the securing groove 128,
simplifying the
assembly of the lid portion 104 to the base portion 102.
[00411 It is contemplated that the closure for a fluid containing vessel 10,
100 may be
manufactured from a variety of frangible and/or elongating polymeric
materials, such as
homopolymers and copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene.
[00421 It is additionally contemplated that different materials may be
utilized to form the
base portion and the lid portion. For example, it may be desired to have the
base portion be
manufactured from an opaque material, while the cap portion is manufactured
from a generally
transparent material, or a different colored opaque material.
[00431 While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,
numerous
modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of
the invention, and
the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying
Claims.
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