MXPA00000256A - A resealable closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A combination of a container (41) and a lid (48) is provided. The container (41) has an inner peripheral surface (94) around an opening (42) to the container interior. The lid (48) is movable between (1) a closed position to cover the opening (42), and (2) an open position to expose the opening (42). The lid (48) has (a) a peripheral wall (60), (b) a peripheral hinge (80) that extends from the wall (60), (c) a plug seal wall (84) that extends from the peripheral hinge (80), and (d) a central portion (90) that extends from the plug seal wall (84). When the lid (48) is in a closed position, the lid (48) is displaceable from an outwardly projecting configuration wherein the plug seal wall (84) is held in a non-sealing condition disengaged from the inner peripheral surface (94) to an inwardly deformed configuration wherein the plug seal wall (84) is held in a sealing condition engaged with the inner peripheral surface (94).

Description

"A RESELLABLE CLOSURE" TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to containers and closures. The invention relates more particularly to a sealable seal that is especially suitable for use with a wide-mouth product package that can be scooped from or slit from the package when the closure lid is opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS IMPOSED BY THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Various product packaging designs employ closures with one or more barriers or seals through an opening to the package. These seals can serve as primary or secondary barriers to the discharge of contaminants. These seals can also maintain the freshness of the product. In addition, these seals can provide an unauthorized tamper indicating function where the seal break or removal provides evidence that the package has been opened.

Examples of a closure with an internal tamper-indicating indicator seal are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,948,003 and 4,807,769. These types of closures include a base for mounting the closure on the container. The base includes a pouring spout. The pouring spout is initially occluded by a disc or sealing member. The periphery of the sealing disc defines a thickness of material in reduced cross-section that functions as a frangible web that connects the sealing disc with a region of material radially outward. An outer portion of the sealing disc may include a pull tab that is held by the fingers of a user to tear the sealing disc out of the spout of the laundry. The closure also includes an articulated cover with an internal collar for telescopically receiving the pouring spout in sealing engagement when the closure closes in order to provide a hermetic and liquid-tight system and to the air after the sealing disc has been removed. Although closures of the type discussed above can generally work satisfactorily in applications for which they are intended, it would be desirable to provide an improved closure with improved features.

For example, some containers, such as peanut butter jars or other paste-like products, typically have a relatively wide mouth. It would be desirable to provide an improved closure that would extend through the wide mouth of this container and have a lid that could be opened and closed to allow access to the interior of the container. Furthermore, it would be desirable if this improved closure could include a means for retaining the lid with the closure when the lid is opened. Also, it would be advantageous if this improved closure could include a means to provide an indication of unauthorized tampering that provides evidence that the lid has been opened, or at least that could provide evidence of unauthorized tampering with the lid. Some types of containers, especially containers designed for food products or pharmaceutical products, include a thin, flat paper or film liner secured to the top of a container through the mouth of the container. The liner must be broken and / or removed in order to allow access to the contents of the container. This liner has an unauthorized tamper indicating function. This lining also serves to prevent the discharge of contaminants and maintain the freshness of the product. It would be desirable to provide an improved closure that could accommodate the use of this liner initially in the package and which could, after removal of the liner, provide a reseal function. Preferably, this improved closure should accommodate the use of existing lining technology. It would also be desirable if this improved closure could be provided with a design that accommodates efficient, high-quality, high-volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product rejection regime. further, this improved closure should advantageously accommodate its use with a variety of conventional packages having a variety of conventional package finishes, such as conventional screw or snap-fit fastening configurations. This improved closure design also optionally accommodates the incorporation of the closure as a unitary part of the container. The present invention provides an improved closure that can accommodate designs that have the benefits and features discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved closure structure is provided for an opening into a container. The closure structure includes a lid that can be easily manipulated by the user to an open position and can be easily closed to seal the opening. The closure structure of the present invention is adapted to at least reseal a defined inner peripheral surface around the opening of the container. Preferably, the closure is also provided with an optional, frangible, tamper-evident tape, optional, which can be broken when the lid is initially opened. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a container and lid combination is provided. The package has an inner peripheral surface around an opening towards the interior of the package. The lid is provided for movement between (1) a closed position to cover the opening and (2) an open position to expose the opening. The cap has (a) a peripheral wall, (b) a peripheral section to a thin pivot or hinge extending from the peripheral wall (c) a plug seal wall extending from the peripheral hinge and (d) a portion central extending from the plug seal wall. When the lid is in the closed position, the central portion can be displaced from a projecting outward configuration, wherein the wall of the plug seal is retained in an unsealed condition unhooked from the inner peripheral surface, to a deformed configuration inwards, wherein the wall of the plug seal is retained in a sealing condition sealably coupled with the inner peripheral surface. In a preferred embodiment, the combination further includes (1) a liner through the mouth of the container and (2) a lower closure portion around the container opening below the lid. The lower closure portion is separate from, but is capable of being fixed to the container. The lid is preferably connected with the lower closure portion with a hinge and also with a section of material of reduced frangible thickness. The invention can alternatively be characterized as providing a closure for a package having an inner peripheral surface around an opening towards the interior of the package. The closure includes a lower closure portion to extend around the container opening. The closure includes a lid that is movable between (1) a closed position in the lower closure portion to cover the opening, and (2) an open position relative to the lower closure portion to expose the opening. The lid has a peripheral wall. A thin pivot or hinge peripheral section extends from the peripheral wall to a wall of the plug seal. The seal wall of the plug extends from the peripheral hinge to a central portion. The central portion occupies the central portion of the closure and is displaceable from a configuration projecting outwardly to an inwardly deformed configuration. In the outwardly projecting configuration, the seal wall of the plug is retained in an unsealed condition unhooked from the inner peripheral surface of the package. When the central portion of the lid is in the inwardly deformed configuration, the wall of the plug seal is retained in a sealing condition sealably coupled with the inner peripheral surface of the container. The closure can be used with or without a liner secured through the top of the mouth of the container. In addition, the lower portion of the closure can be formed as a unitary part or extension of the container. The lid may be a separate element, but mountable in the lower closure portion. Preferably, the lower closure portion and the closure cap are molded together as a unitary combination connected to a rear portion of the closure by a hinge defining an axis, and the lid and the lower closure portion are also initially connected around the remaining periphery of the closure by a frangible web that must be broken in order to open the lid. 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 that are part of the specification, where equal numbers are used to designate the same parts through them. Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a closure of the present invention shown with a closed layer with an intact frangible web; Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the closure, which is generally taken by the plane 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear or rear elevation view of the closure; Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view that is generally taken along the plane 4- -4 in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 1, but Figure 1 shows a lid that is opening breaking the frangible web; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but Figure 6 shows the lid re-closed in a sealing condition; Figure 7 is a fragmentary, greatly amplified cross-sectional view taken generally by the plane 7-7 in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 1, but Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the closure; Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 9- -9 in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but Figure 10 shows the lid re-closed in a sealing condition; Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 1, but Figure 11 shows a third embodiment of the closure; Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally by the plane 12-12 in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12, but Figure 13 shows the lid re-closed in a sealing condition; and Figure 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2, but Figure 14 shows a fourth embodiment of the closure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES While this invention is susceptible to the 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 described, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. For ease of description, the closure elements or components of this invention are described in different positions, in terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc. that are used with reference to those positions. It will be understood, however, that the . xA Closing components can be manufactured and stored in orientations other than those described. Referring to the figures, a first embodiment of a closure structure of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, wherein a separately formed closure is generally represented in the figures by the reference number 40. As shown in FIGS. Figure 2, the closure 40 is adapted to be placed in a package 41 having a mouth or opening 42. The opening 42 is typically defined by a neck 43 or other appropriate structure in the upper part of the package 41. The neck 43 typically has (but need not have) a configuration in circular cross section, and the body of the package 41 may have another configuration in cross section, such as an oval cross-sectional shape, for example. The package 41 need not have a separately identifiable neck 43, per se. The package 41 could instead have just a main body portion ending at an upper end. The package 41 may have a rigid wall or walls. Also, package 41 can be a collapsible package having a flexible wall or walls. The closure 40 includes a base or lower closure portion 46 and a lid 48. The lower closure portion 46 can be easily injection molded from thermoplastic materials compatible with the contents of the container. In the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the lower closure portion 46 includes an annular skirt or wall 56 which may have an appropriate connection means (eg, a conventional thread (or a conventional press fit flange not illustrated)) for coupling the media appropriate cooperation (eg, a thread 57 (or slot not shown)) to secure the lower closure portion 46 in the container 41. The lower closure portion 46 and the container 41 could also be welded together by induction or fusion fusion ultrasonic The closure cap 48 may be a completely separate piece not connected to the lower closure portion 46. Preferably, a hinge 47 is provided (Figures 2 and 3) to connect the cover 48 with the portion 46 of bottom closure to form a unitary structure. In the preferred embodiment, the lid 48 includes a peripheral wall 60 having an annular cylindrical configuration. The wall 60 has a lower edge which, in the rear part of the closure, as shown in Figures 3 and 2 fuses with the hinge 47 along the top of the hinge 47. The lower part of the hinge 47 merges with the lower closure portion 46. As shown in Figure 3, the hinge 47 extends during , AA only a short distance through the rear portion of the closure and can define a generally linear pivot axis. On either side of the hinge 47, the wall 60 of the lid is also preferably initially connected to the upper part of the wall 56 of the lower closing portion 46 by means of a section of material of reduced frangible thickness or continuous ribbon 62. (Figures 1 to 3). The first time the closure 40 is opened, the frangible web 62 breaks off as the lid 48 is lifted off. Specifically, the lid 48 includes a grip tab 64 that projects upwardly.

(Figures 1 to 7) that can be held by the user, as shown in Figure 5 and pulled up and back in relation to the front of the closure. The upward pulling force causes the continuous frangible tape 62 to break-along two opposite directions around the circumference of the cover 48 to the rear hinge 47 (Figure 3). The frangible web 62 ends at each side end of the hinge 47, and the breaking process can not continue towards the hinge 47 having a greater thickness that resists breakage. When the continuous frangible tape 62 has been broken or detached from the front of the closure completely around both side ends of the hinge 47 at the rear of the closure, the cover 48 remains connected to the lower closure portion 46 only by the hinge. 47. The hinge 47 allows the lid to move to an open position that can be 90 ° or even 180 ° or more, from the initial closed position illustrated in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, a thin, flat paper or film liner 70 may optionally be provided. Preferably, the liner 70 is placed through the opening 42 of the package. As shown in Figure 5, the neck 43 of the container defines an upper flat annular surface 72 for receiving and holding the peripheral margin of the liner 70. Preferably, the liner 70 is secured, for example, with an adhesive or heat seal in the surface 72. The liner 70 must be broken and / or removed in order to allow access to the contents of the container. The liner 70 may provide an unauthorized tamper indicating function and may also serve to prevent the egress of contaminants and to maintain the freshness of the product. With reference to Figure 2, it will also be appreciated that the peripheral wall 60 of the lid has a flat lower annular surface 78 for engaging the upper surface of the peripheral margin of the liner 70. If a liner 70 is not used, the closure can be designed from so that the lower annular surface 78 of the lid directly engages the upper annular surface 72 of the container (Figures 2 and 5). If the liner 70 is removed, the liner 70 can be secured on the upper surface 72 of the package in a manner that allows the liner 70 to be completely removed from the upper surface 72. With this design, the lower annular surface 78 of the lid can couple the upper surface 72 of the container after removal of the liner 70. After the lid 48 is opened (and, if a liner 70 is used after the liner 70 has been removed completely or at least partially), access is provided to the interior of the container for removal of some or all of its contents. Subsequently, the lid 48 can be closed. The lid 48 includes a novel structure that allows the container to be resealed, as will be explained below in detail. The cover 48 includes a thin pivot or hinge peripheral section 80 (Figures 1-4 and 6-7) extending from the top of the peripheral wall 60 of the lid. The cover 48 also includes a plug seal wall 84 (Figures 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7), which extends from the peripheral hinge 80. The lid 48 also has a central portion 90 extending from the plug seal wall 84.

In the preferred embodiment, the plug seal wall 84 is generally an annular wall, and the central portion 90 has a configuration projecting outward initially in the form of a convex dome. The central dome or portion 90 is adapted to be pushed down or inward to the interior of the package (as shown in Figure 7) after the lid 48 has been re-closed in the package. The lid 48 is sufficiently flexible, at least in the regions defined by the peripheral hinge 80, the plug seal wall 84 and the central portion 90 so that the lid 48 adopts and maintains a different configuration when the central portion 90 it is pushed inwards. The outwardly projecting central portion 90 flexes, reverses or collapses from its outwardly projecting configuration to an outwardly projecting configuration minus which deforms inwardly as compared to the outwardly projecting configuration. initial. As shown in Figure 7, the central portion 90 is preferably retained in an extended inwardly deformed configuration that forces the wall 84 of the plug seal radially outwardly in sealing relationship with the adjacent portion of the container 41 defining the mouth 42 of the container. Preferably, the upper portion of the container 41 defines a smooth, annular, peripheral, inner surface 94 that is sealingly engaged by the plug seal wall 84. By comparing Figure 2 with Figure 7, it will be appreciated that the central portion 90 can characterized as being displaceable between two configurations. One of the configurations establishes a condition of non-sealing and the other of the configurations establishes a sealing condition. In particular, when the lid 48 is in the closed position, the central portion of the lid 90 can have an outwardly projecting configuration (Figure 2) wherein the seal wall of the plug 84 is retained in an unsealed condition unhooked from the inner peripheral surface 94 of the container. However, when the central portion 90 of the lid is in the inwardly deformed configuration (Figure 7), then the seal wall 84 of the plug is stopped in a sealing condition sealingly coupled with the inner peripheral surface 94 of the package. Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment of the closure in a package 41A. The closure includes a lower closure portion 46A and a cover 48A. The structures of the container 41A and the lower closure portion 46A are essentially identical to the structures of the container 41 and the lower closure portion 46, respectively, which are described above with reference to the iSÜ: first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7. However, the lid 48A is somewhat different compared to the first embodiment of the closure lid 48, which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7. In particular, the lid 48A it has a central portion 90A that is less convex. The lid 48A also has a plug seal wall 84A that is initially angled or angled toward the axial centerline of the closure. In addition, the lid 48A has a clamping tab 64A, which is positioned inwardly of a peripheral hinge 80A. The lid 48A can be hingedly connected to the lower closing portion 46A with a rear hinge similar to the hinge 47 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, for the first embodiment of the closure. Also, a liner 70A can be mounted through the package 41A below the lid 48A. The lid 48A is also preferably connected to the lower closure portion 46A with a frangible web 62A. When the lid 48A is lifted up initially to break the frangible web 62A, the liner 70A can be removed to expose the contents of the package. Subsequently, the lid 48A is resealed and the central portion 90A can deform inwardly or reverse, as shown in Figure 10 for pushing the seal wall of the plug 84A in sealing engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the package 41A. As shown in Figure 10, when the plug seal wall 84A of the lid engages sealingly with the package 41A, the orientation of the fastening tab 64A is changed so that the fastening tab 64A is tilted or set. angled backwards. Figures 11 to 13 illustrate a third embodiment of a closure in a container 4IB. The third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment described above with reference to Figures 8 and 10. However, a third embodiment includes a locking tab 64B projecting outward from the periphery of the lid 48B. The holding tab 64B extends outwardly and downwardly to the portion 46B of the lower closure. An annular hinge 80B is positioned inward of the fastening tab 64B between a peripheral wall 60B and a plug seal wall 84B. The lid 48B has a central portion 90B which can deform inward from the position illustrated in Figure 12 to the position illustrated in Figure 13. The orientation of the fastening tab 64B does not change. Figure 14 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein a package 41C may be characterized as incorporating the lower closure portion as a part or unit portion of the part _MÍL Af & top of the container. That is, there is not a separately formed lower closure portion such as the lower closure portions 46, 46A and 46B which are described above with reference to Figures 1 to 7, Figures 8 to 10 and Figures 11 to 13, respectively. Instead, the upper end of the container 41C is adapted to directly engage the lower part of a lid 48C. Preferably, the cap 48C is initially connected through a frangible web 62C to the top edge of the package 41C. The back of the lid 48C can be connected with a hinge 47C at the upper end of the package 41C. Because the embodiment illustrated in Figure 14 includes a lid 48C that is directly connected to the top of the package 41C, a secondary seal such as the liner 70 described above could not typically be employed with reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. Figures 1 to 7. After the lid 48C has been initially pulled up to break the frangible web 62C and expose the contents of the package, the lid 48C can be re-closed. The lid 48C includes a central portion 90C projecting outward initially, which may subsequently deform inwardly to push a plug seal wall 84C in seal engagement with the interior surface of the package 41C, generally in the same manner which is described above with reference to the inward deformation of the central portion 90 of the lid, in the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7. It will be appreciated that if the lid 48C has been initially molded with the continuous ribbon frangible 62C as a unitary extension of the upper part of the package 41C, appropriate means must be employed to subsequently fill the package 41C from the bottom and subsequently close the lower part of the package. For this purpose, the package 41C could be molded with the closure structure at the upper end and with the lower end open. The container could then be filled through the open lower end and then the lower end of the container could be closed by an appropriate means such as by molding the lower part of the closed container or by installing a separately formed lower closure which could be threaded or snapped into the part bottom of the container. Alternatively, a separate closure to the bottom of the package could be ensured with an adhesive or thermal bonding techniques. With respect to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 14, the embodiment may be characterized as a closure for a container wherein the closure comprises (1) the lid 48C and (2) a lower closure portion 46C that is molded as a part or unitary extension of the package 41C. That is, the upper part of the package 41C can be considered as including or defining the "lower closure portion 46C". Therefore, the phrase "a closure for" as used in the claims can be construed as including either a closure structure (or a portion thereof) that is molded as a unit part or extension of a container (FIG. 14) or a separate closure element adapted to be removably or permanently assembled in the package (Figures 1 to 13). It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and the illustrations thereof that numerous other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.

Claims (15)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A closure for a container having an inner peripheral surface around an opening towards the interior of the container, the closure comprising: a movable lid (1) a closed position for covering the opening, and (2) an open position for exposing the opening , the cap has (a) a peripheral wall, (b) a peripheral hinge extending from the peripheral wall, (c) a plug seal wall extending from the peripheral hinge, and (d) a central portion that extends from the wall of the plug seal and which, when the lid is in the closed position, is movable from a projecting outward configuration, wherein the seal wall of the plug is retained in an unsealed condition of disengaged from the inner peripheral surface of the container to an inwardly deformed configuration wherein the wall of the seal of the plug is retained in a sealable condition, sealingly coupled with the inner peripheral surface of the container; the container.

The closure according to claim 1, further including a lower closure portion in the container opening below the lid.

3. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the lower closure portion is separate from, but is apt to be fixed to the container. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the lower closure portion is molded as a unitary part of the container; and the inner peripheral surface of the container around the opening of the container is defined by an annular inner surface in the lower closure portion. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the lower closure portion is a portion of a unitary combination molded from both the lower closure portion and the lid. The closure according to claim 5, wherein the lower closing portion is fixed to the lid with a hinge defining a molded shaft as a connection that is unitary with the lid and the lower closing portion for accommodating the movement pivot the lid around the axis, between the open and closed positions. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the lower closure portion and the lid each are molded as separate elements whereby the lid can be completely removed from the lower closure portion. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the lid is connected to the lower closure portion with a section of material of reduced frangible thickness; the package has a top portion defining an annular top surface around the opening; the inner peripheral surface of the container is defined below the upper surface; the peripheral wall of the lid has a lower annular surface for engaging with the upper surface of the container; the lower closure portion is separate from, but capable of being fixed with the container; and the lower closure portion has a skirt adapted to surround and to be received in the upper portion of the container. The closure according to claim 8, wherein the upper portion of the package includes a neck defining (1) the opening, (2) the upper annular surface and (3) an external thread shape; and the skirt of the lower closure portion defines an internal thread shape for coupling the external thread shape. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral hinge is a section of material of reduced annular thickness. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the plug seal of the lid is an annular wall. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the configuration projecting outward from the central portion of the lid is a convex dome configuration. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly deformed configuration of the central portion of the lid is slightly convex inwards. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure has a lower closure portion in the container opening below the lid; the peripheral wall of the lid has an outer peripheral bottom edge; and the lower closing portion is initially connected to a main part of the lower edge S? SSÍÉÍ-peripheral external peripheral wall of the lid, with a section of material of reduced thickness frangible. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the package defines an annular top surface around the opening; the inner peripheral surface of the package is defined within the package below the upper surface; the closure further has a lower closure portion that is separate from, but capable of being fixed on the container; and the non-sealing condition of the wall of the plug seal is further defined by the location of the plug seal wall out from the top surface of the container when the lid is in the closed position to accommodate a removable liner seal, evident to unauthorized handling, secured to the upper surface of the container through the opening of the container. ^ utí &tíí