Closure

Abstract

A dispensing closure is provided and comprises a base and a lid. The base includes a sidewall closed at one end by a top deck including a dispensing orifice. The base and lid are joined by a hinge to allow the lid to move between closed and open positions with respect to the base whereby to close and open the dispensing orifice. At the periphery of the top deck the sidewall forms or provides a raised lip. The lid closes onto the top deck and is bounded by the lip and the lid is generally flush with the lip when in the closed position.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure comprising a base and a lid, the base includes a sidewall closed at one end by a top deck including a dispensing orifice, the base and lid being joined by a hinge to allow the lid to move between closed and open positions with respect to the base whereby to close and open the dispensing orifice, at the periphery of the top deck the sidewall forms or provides a raised lip, in which the lid closes onto the top deck and is bounded by the lip and in which the lid is generally flush with the lip when in the closed position, in which the closure comprises a lid lock for preventing the lid being moved away from the closed position, the lid lock comprising a bi-stable locking portion movable between a locked position in which lid cannot be moved to the open position and an unlocked position in which the lid can be moved to the open position, in which in the locked position the locking portion is generally concave and in the unlocked position the locking portion is generally convex.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the top deck is dished.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the lip is formed at the intersection between the sidewall and the top deck.

4. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the sidewall lip comprises two arc portions separated at a front of the closure by a lifting recess and at the back of the closure by a hinge recess.

5. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the locking portion comprises a flap, beak or panel.

6. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the movable locking portion is provided on or by the base.

7. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the sidewall includes a lifting recess which exposes part of the lid.

8. A closure as claimed in claim 7, in which the lifting recess is generally opposite the hinge.

9. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the deck has a dispensing orifice.

10. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which an upper surface of the lid is generally flat.

11. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the hinge is a butterfly hinge.

12. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the skirt generally cylindrical.

13. A closure as claimed in claim 12, in which the section of the skirt is generally circular or generally oval.

14. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the lid has an overhang for allowing it to be lifted.

15. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is engageable on a container neck using screw threads, or using snap fitting.

16. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which in an as-moulded condition the locking portion is in the locked position.

17. A closure as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a container.

18. A closure in combination with a container as claimed in claim 17, in which the container is a tube.

19. A closure as claimed in claim 18, in which at the back of the base, a hinge notch is provided, and in the hinge has two opposed lateral trapezoidal link and a central main hinge portion, in which at one end the hinge the straps and central main hinge portion connect to the base in the hinge notch, at the other end the hinge the straps and central main hinge portion connect to an arcuate portion at the rear of the lid, and in which when the lid is closed the portion sits in the hinge notch.

20. A closure comprises a base and a lid, the base and lid are joined by a hinge which allows the lid to move between a closed position and an open position, the base comprises a generally cylindrical sidewall with a generally circular section, at one end of the sidewall is a generally circular top deck, the top deck has a central dispensing orifice, the top deck is dished, and the top of the sidewall provides two arcuate raised ridges which means that the intersection between the periphery of the top deck and the sidewall is taller with respect to the centre of the top deck, the lid has a non-circular shape including two lateral sides, the two lateral sides of the lid are radially inwards of, the ridges when the lid closes onto the base.

Description

(1) In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention.

(2) Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 10 there is shown a dispensing closure generally indicated 10.

(3) The closure 10 comprises a base 15 and a lid 20.

(4) The base 15 and lid 20 are joined by a hinge 25 which allows the lid 20 to move between a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 2: 1 (front perspective); 2 (rear perspective)) and an open position (FIGS. 3 to 10: 3 (plan view); 4 (side); 5 (underplan); 6 (rear perspective); 7 (rear); 8 (front perspective); 9 (bottom perspective); 10 (section)).

(5) The base 15 comprises a generally cylindrical sidewall 30 with a generally circular section. At one end of the sidewall is a generally circular top deck/wall/plate 35. The top deck 35 has a central (in this embodiment) dispensing orifice 40.

(6) It will be noted that the top deck 35 is dished/concave, which means that the intersection between the periphery of the top deck 35 and the sidewall 30 is “taller” i.e. axially extended with respect to the centre of the top deck. This means that in some respects the top deck is sunken with respect to the sidewall. This configuration effectively forms a shallow recess 37.

(7) The underside of the top deck 35 is provided with a depending outer annular skirt 36 which includes a segmented snap bead 38 for engaging a corresponding bead on a container neck (not shown). A plurality of axial anti-rotation ribs 39 extend radially inwards from the interior surface of the skirt 36 and in use can engage corresponding projections on a container neck to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Radially inwards of the skirt 36 a further, inner annular sealing skirt 41 depends from the underside of the top deck and in use would fit inside the bore of a container neck. Radially inwards of the skirt 41 an L-section orifice skirt 43 depends from the top plate around the orifice 40.

(8) At the “front” of the base, opposite the point of attachment of the hinge, the sidewall is lowered to form a curved notch 50.

(9) At the “back” of the base, a hinge notch 45 is provided. In this embodiment the hinge 25 is a “butterfly” type hinge and has two opposed lateral trapezoidal links/straps 26, 27 and a central main hinge portion 28.

(10) At one end the hinge straps 26, 27 and portion 28 connects to the base in the hinge notch (i.e. beneath the axial height of the sidewall ridges); at the other end the hinge connects to an arcuate portion 21 at the rear of the lid 20. It will be seen that when the lid is closed the portion 21 therefore sits in the hinge notch 45. It will also be seen (e.g. FIGS. 4 and 7) that in the open position the lid sits below the height of the ridges 32, 34.

(11) The notches 45, 50 mean that the top of the sidewall provides two arcuate raised regions/ridges/lips 32, 34.

(12) The lid 20 closes onto the base, but it is not circular and does not close onto the top of the base. Instead, the lid has a generally rectilliptical shape. This means that the two lateral sides 22, 24 of the lid are generally parallel with (and radially inwards of) the ridges 32, 34 respectively. In this embodiment the sides 22, 24 extend/depend downwards. In addition, because of the position of the hinge and the hinge notch 45 the lid does not extend above the ridges 32, 34, but rather the lid can close into the recess formed by the dished top deck such that it is flush with the ridges.

(13) The underside of the lid is provided with a spigot 23 which enters the dispensing orifice 40 when the lid is closed.

(14) At the front of the lid (opposite the hinge) a depending peak 29 is provided. In the closed position the peak 29 sits in/above the notch 50. This allows a user to insert a finger and lift up the lid.

(15) FIG. 11 shows a closure 110 formed according to a further embodiment. The closure 110 is similar to the closure 10, except that the closure is formed using a bi-injection moulding process meaning that the lid 120 can be formed in a different material and/or colour to the base 115.

(16) FIGS. 12 to 14 show a closure 210 formed according to a further embodiment. The closure 210 is similar to the closures 10, 110. The closure 210 is shown attached to a tube 260.

(17) FIGS. 15 to 37 show a closure 310 formed according to a further embodiment.

(18) In FIGS. 15 to 18 show the closure in an initially closed, unopened condition.

(19) FIGS. 19 to 26 show the closure 310 is as as-formed (e.g. as moulded), condition, which in this embodiment is with the lid in an open position.

(20) FIG. 27 is a section of the closure shown with the lid initially closed onto the base and with the transport lock engaged.

(21) FIG. 28 shows the closure with the lock pressed inwards to disengage the lock.

(22) FIGS. 29 to 34 shows the closure with the lock disengaged and the lid flipped open.

(23) FIGS. 35 to 37 show the closure with the lid reclosed onto the base.

(24) The closure is similar to the closures 10, 110, 210 inasmuch as an embedded, flush fitting lid is provided. In this embodiment a lid lock is provided. This can be used, for example to help prevent the flip top from opening during transport.

(25) The closure 310 has a frontal, curved notch 350. Within the notch is provided a flap/panel/beak 370.

(26) As shown best in FIGS. 19 and 22, at the top of the panel 370 two locking notches 372, 374 are provided and separated by a generally T-shape central post 375.

(27) In the as-moulded and initially closed position the panel 370 is in a locking position, in which it bows/curves outwards (generally concave).

(28) The lid 320 includes a frontal peak 329. The inner surface of the peak 329 is provided with two inwardly directed projections/lugs/pips 380, 382 as shown best in FIGS. 19 and 20.

(29) When the lid 320 is initially closed onto the base 315 the projections 380, 382 engage into the locking notches 372, 374, as shown best in FIGS. 18 and 27. In this embodiment the projections 380, 382 can deform the post 375 to enter the notches. In other embodiments, for example the panel could be formed in an inward position; then lid is then closed before the panel is pulled forwards to engage the projections in the notches.

(30) With the projections engaged in the notches the lid cannot be lifted because of the post. This can be useful, for example as a transport lock to prevent accidental opening of the lid during transport/storage. Alternatively or additionally, this system could be useful for providing tamper-evidence and/or child-resistance.

(31) In order to be able to lift the lid the panel must be pushed/pressure inwards from the position shown in FIG. 27 to the position shown in FIG. 28 in which is rests against an inclined wall portion 380 that depends from the top deck. The lid can then be opened/lifted to the open position shown in FIGS. 29 to 33.

(32) The lid is shown re-closed in FIGS. 34 to 37. The panel 370 remains in the inwards/unlocked (generally convex) position.

(33) FIGS. 38 and 39 illustrate a closure 410 formed as a basic variant and with a lid shown in an open and closed position.

(34) Push-on version

(35) Lid covered from the body

(36) Reduced weight

(37) Improved for drop-test

(38) FIGS. 40 and 41 show a closure 510 formed in accordance with a further embodiment.

(39) Push-on version

(40) Lid covered from the body

(41) Reduced weight

(42) Improved for drop-test

(43) Thumb recess flap—585

(44) FIGS. 42 and 43 show a closure 610 formed according to a further embodiment.

(45) Push-on version

(46) Lid covered from the body

(47) Reduced weight

(48) Improved for drop-test

(49) Hook-lock—690

(50) FIGS. 44 and 45 show a closure 710 formed according to a further embodiment.

(51) Push-on version

(52) Lid covered from the body

(53) Reduced weight

(54) Improved for drop-test

(55) Tamper-evident band/tab with lock-segments I—796

(56) FIGS. 46 and 47 shows a closure 810 formed according to a further embodiment.

(57) Push-on version

(58) Lid covered from the body

(59) Reduced weight

(60) Improved for drop-test

(61) Tamper-evident band/tab with lock-segments II—898

(62) In FIGS. 44 to 47 the tamper-evident tab 796/898 is initially frangibly attached to the lid and includes hooks to engage in/on the base. Upon first opening the tab is torn/pulled away from the lid and retained by the base as evidence of opening.

(63) Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.