Closure

Abstract

A container closure (10) is provided and comprises a base (50) and a lid (55), and the footprint of the lid is larger than the footprint of the base.

Claims

1. A container closure comprising a base and a lid, said base and said lid being connected by a hinge, said base and lid each having a footprint, the lid having a periphery, the footprint of the lid being larger than the footprint of the base, in which the periphery of the lid is substantially flush fitting with a periphery of a container region onto which the lid closes, wherein the base is engageable onto a container by snap-fit engagement or by screw thread engagement, and the footprint of the lid is larger than the footprint of the base by an amount of at least 10%.

2. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the hinge extends inwardly from the periphery of the lid to connect to the base.

3. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the lid is sized to match the size of a container shoulder.

4. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is sized to match the size of a container neck.

5. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the shape of the base is substantially the same as the shape of the lid when viewed in plan.

6. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the shape of the base is different to the shape of the lid when viewed in plan.

7. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is located substantially centrally with respect to the lid when viewed in plan.

8. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base includes a dispensing orifice.

9. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the closure is provided with an opening mechanism which allows for one-handed opening.

10. The container closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is circular and the lid is ellipsoidal.

11. The container in combination with the container closure as claimed in claim 1.

12. A container in combination with a container closure, the container having a container body comprising a shoulder region which merges into a top panel including an opening through which product carried in the container can pass, the container closure comprising a base and a lid, the base and lid being connected to a lid by a hinge, the base being connected on or to the top panel, said base and lid each having a footprint, the footprint of the lid being larger than the footprint of the base, the base including an inner periphery of the base and the lid including an outer periphery, characterized in that the lid is dimensioned to match the outline of the shoulder region on the container body such that the periphery of the lid is substantially flush fitting with the periphery of the shoulder region, onto which the lid closes, the outer periphery of the lid is spaced from the inner periphery of the base, and the footprint of the lid is larger than the footprint of the base by an amount of at least 10%.

13. The container of claim 12, in which the hinge extends inwardly from the periphery of the lid to connect to the base.

14. The container of claim 12, in which the shape of the base is substantially the same as the shape of the lid when viewed in plan.

15. The container of claim 12, in which the shape of the base is different to the shape of the lid when viewed in plan.

16. The container of claim 12, in which the base is located substantially centrally with respect to the lid when viewed in plan.

17. The container of claim 12, in which the base includes a dispensing orifice.

18. The container of claim 12, in which the closure is provided with an opening mechanism which allows for one-handed opening.

19. The container of claim 12, in which the base is circular and the lid is ellipsoidal.

20. The container of claim 12, in which the base includes engagement means for engaging a container.

Description

(1) The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure formed according to the present invention shown connected to a container;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 shown in an open position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a magnified view of the closure of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a magnified view of the closure of FIG. 5;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic under plan view of the closure of FIGS. 1 to 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment and shown attached to a container;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the closure of FIG. 6 shown in an open position;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic under plan view of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic under plan view of a closure formed according to a further embodiment;

(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic under plan view of a closure formed according to a still further embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment;

(13) FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the closure of FIG. 11

(14) FIG. 13 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 11;

(15) FIG. 14 is an underplan view of the closure FIG. 11;

(16) FIG. 15 is a front elevation of the closure of FIG. 11;

(17) FIG. 16 is a rear elevation of the closure of FIG. 11;

(18) FIG. 17 is a side elevation of the closure of FIG. 11;

(19) FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the closure of FIG. 11 shown in an open position;

(20) FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of the closure of FIG. 18;

(21) FIG. 20 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 18;

(22) FIG. 21 is an underplan view of the closure of FIG. 18;

(23) FIG. 22 is a front elevation of the closure of FIG. 18; and

(24) FIG. 23 is a side elevation of the closure of FIG. 18.

(25) Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 4 there is shown a closure generally indicated 10 connected to a container generally indicated 20.

(26) The container 20 comprising on elongate hollow body 25 with a generally ellipsoidal section and having a shallow wasted portion 30 approximately half way along its length. At one end of the body 25 the container is closed by a base 35. At the other end of the body 20 is a shoulder region 40 which merges into a top panel 45. The panel 45 includes an opening (not shown) through which product carried in the container 20 can pass. The opening is covered by the closure 10.

(27) The closure 10 comprises a base 50 and a lid 55.

(28) The base 50 is generally circular and is connected to the panel 45, in this embodiment by a snap-fit engagement. The base 50 includes a central dispensing orifice 60 through which product from the container 20 can pass the base 50 is connected to the lid 55 by a hinge element 85 shown best in FIG. 5. The lid 65 comprises a generally ellipsoidal-shape top plate which is convexly domed. A shallow side wall 70 depends from the periphery of the plate 65. A spigot 75 depends from the underside of the plate 65 and is positioned centrally so that in the close position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 it engages into the orifice 60 to seal it.

(29) The lid 55 is dimensioned to match the outline of the shoulder region 40 on the container body. it will be noted that the lid 55 is significantly (in this embodiment) approximately 3 times) larger than the base 50. This means, therefore, that in the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the lid 55 is flush with the container body 25, but is not flush with the base 50, which is dimensioned to fit around the body orifice. The closure 10 is therefore presented in a “small base with big lid” format that allows the material for the base 50 to be reduced whilst maintaining a flush-fitting lid 55. In other words, the base and lid are not flush fitting.

(30) Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a closure 110 formed according to an alternative embodiment and connected to a container 120. The container 120 and closure 110 are very similar to the container and closure of FIGS. 1 to 5. However, in this embodiment the closure 110 is provided with an opening mechanism which allows for one-handed opening.

(31) The closure 110 comprises a base 150 and a lid 155. The spigot 175 on the lid 155 is arranged to hold the lid firmly on the base in the closed position shown in FIG. 6 a lever 180 is provided at the front of the base 150. The closure is arranged so that in a first phase of the opening the lever is activated but does not release the locking forces. As the unlocking mechanism moves in this phase it causes energy to be stored in the form of deformation of the lid and/or the base. When the unlocking mechanism reaches its final position the lock is released and the stored energy is released to flip open the lip. In this respect the mechanism is similar to that shown in patent document number EP1619134, the content of which are incorporated herein by reference.

(32) As with the closure showing in FIGS. 1 to 5, the lid 155 is significantly larger than the base 150 thus providing the some benefit in material reduction.

(33) Referring now to FIG. 8 there as shown a closure 210 formed according to on alternative embodiment.

(34) The closure 210 comprises a generally circular base 250 and a generally circular lid 255. The base 250 is connectable to a container (not shown). The lid 255 is attachable to the base 250 by cooperating formations, in this embodiment screw thread formation (not shown).

(35) The lid 255 is considerably larger than the base 250 and thus a significant overhang is Present. The base 250 is offset from the centre of the lid 255.

(36) Referring now to FIG. 9 there as shown a closure 310 formed according to an alternative embodiment. The closure 310 comprises a circular base 350 and a circular lid 355. In this embodiment the base is positioned generally centrally with a respect to the lid. The base 350 and lid 355 are connected by a strap hinge 365.

(37) Referring now to FIG. 10 there as shown a closure 410 formed according to are alternative embodiment. The closure 410 comprises a generally circular base 450 and a generally circular lid 455. The lid 455 is slightly larger than the base 450 and thus a peripheral overhang region is present. In this embodiment the base 450 is connectable to a container using screw thread formations and the lid is snap fit onto the base.

(38) Referring now to FIGS. 11 to 23 there is shown a closure 510 formed according to an alternative embodiment. The closure 510 is very similar to the closure 10 of FIGS. 1 to 5 and comprises a larger lid 555 hingedly connected to a smaller base 550. Because the base is smaller and located inboard of the periphery of the lid, the hinge extends inwardly from the periphery of the lid to connect to the base.