CN114728720A - Flip top closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A flip-top closure (1) is disclosed which may be used on a container, such as a bottle containing a personal care product.

Description

Flip closure

technical field

The present disclosure generally relates to closures that may be used on containers, such as bottles containing personal care products such as shampoos and conditioners.

Background technique

Protective packaging is used to protect products that are prone to damage during shipping. For example, the product may be surrounded by air pillows, styrofoam boards, loose foam fill, newspaper, foam blocks, and the like. However, certain shipping products cannot be easily or affordably protected by such protective packaging. For example, lidded glass or plastic containers (such as water bottles, soda bottles, medicine bottles, condiment bottles, personal care product bottles, etc.) may not include protective packaging around the upper end of the bottle with the lid attached to the container body. As a result, the lid may be damaged, loosened, or separated from the container body during shipping, and/or the upper end of the container body may be damaged.

Products are usually packaged by the manufacturer or distributor before being sold. Such packaging is referred to as "retail packaging". Retail packaging varies widely based on the product being packaged, the size and weight of the product, the durability or fragility of the product, where and how the product is sold, and many other factors. Retail packaging for a particular product is usually designed for that particular product. Designing retail packaging for a product takes a lot of time and expense. Due to the specificity of retail packaging, it is unlikely that the retail packaging of one product will work for another. Thus, the cost of designing retail packaging for a product adds significantly to the cost of making the product available for sale. This upfront design cost can make some low-volume or limited-run product retail packaging cost prohibitive.

Products and other items (collectively "items") may then be packaged for storage and/or shipping. Such packaging is referred to as "non-retail packaging". Non-retail packaging typically uses general-purpose packaging supplies such as cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, polystyrene peanuts, tissue paper, shrink wrap, wrapping tape, etc. Such general packaging supplies are readily available, but are not particularly suited to the specific item being packaged. Therefore, items may be damaged during storage and/or transportation. Furthermore, the effectiveness of packaging depends largely on how the user chooses to package the item. Many users lack the skills or experience to package items effectively.

Product packaging may also be damaged during normal consumer use. For example, the consumer may store the product in less than ideal conditions and/or discard the packaging, for example.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improved methods of retail and non-retail packaging.

US Patent No. 10,392,172 to Obrit Closures Switzerland GmbH discloses a closure for a container comprising a body formed from a plastic material and a metal retaining member for retaining the body on the neck of the container.

D850,259 to Dart Industries Inc. discloses a flip cover.

US Published Application No. 20190092539 to Aptargroup Inc. discloses a closure for a system (such as a container) containing a flowable substance, comprising a body for receiving the flowable substance from the system, assembled with the closure body for selective An actuator for effectively preventing or allowing flow of a flowable substance through the closed body, and a housing mounted around at least a portion of the closed body.

US Published Application No. 20190329946 to L'Oreal discloses a cap protector for protecting caps on containers. This reference discloses that the cover protector contains a plurality of axial fins extending from a common point, wherein each axial fin contains a body extending between the inner edge and the outer edge; and a cover engagement defined on the inner edge A lip, the lid engaging lip is configured to selectively engage the lid of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a closure 1 for a container comprising a body formed of plastic material, wherein the closure 1 is shown in Figures 1-11.

According to one embodiment, the present invention is a closure 1 which is intended to be non-removable in use. For example, the present invention may make it impossible or difficult to remove the closure 1 without breaking/damaging/destroying the container.

The closure 1 can be fitted to the neck of the bottle.

The closure 1 may be formed from a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene (PP).

The body may be formed from a thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or high density polyethylene (HDPE).

The closure 1 can be snap fit onto the container neck.

The present invention also provides a closure 1 in combination with a container as described herein.

The present invention also provides a container fitted with a closure 1 as described herein. The container may be a bottle for personal care products.

Further specific and preferred aspects of the invention are shown in conjunction with the independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate and combinations other than those expressly set out in the claims.

Description of drawings

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

Figure 1 shows a top, front, right perspective view of a closure 1 according to the invention with the flip part 2 open (the left top, front, right perspective is a mirror image of the right);

Figure 2 shows a top, front, right perspective view of the closure 1 according to the invention with the flip part 2 closed (the left top, front, right perspective is a mirror image of the right side);

Figure 3 shows a rear orthogonal view of the closure 1 according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a front orthogonal view of the closure 1 according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the closure 1 according to the invention with the flip part 2 open;

Figure 6 shows a right side elevational view of the closure 1 according to the invention with the flip part 2 open (the left side elevational view is a mirror image of the right side);

Figure 7 shows a right sectional view of the closure 1 according to the invention with the flip part 2 open (the left sectional view is a mirror image of the right);

Figure 8 shows a right sectional view of the closure 1 according to the invention with the flip part 2 closed (the left sectional view is a mirror image of the right).

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the closure 1 according to the invention with the flip portion 2 open;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view of the closure 1 according to the present invention with the flip portion 2 closed.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic top, front, right perspective view of the closure 1 according to the present invention with the flip portion 2 open.

Detailed ways

Exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and practice the systems and processes described herein. It is important to understand that the embodiments may be provided in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Thus, while the embodiments may be modified in various ways and take various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail below by way of example. There is no intention to limit the particular form disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims are to be included. Where appropriate, elements of the example embodiments are referred to by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and the detailed description.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted according to custom in the art. It will be further understood that commonly used terms are also to be interpreted in accordance with the custom in the art, rather than in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless explicitly so defined herein.

The closures may be used in retail packaging (ie, packaging of the product by a manufacturer, distributor, etc. prior to sale) and/or non-retail packaging (eg, packaging for storage, shipping, etc.). As used herein, the term non-retail packaging refers to any packaging used for storage and/or transportation, whether before or after sale to consumers. That is, non-retail packaging includes shipping from manufacturer to customer, shipping from manufacturer to dealer, shipping from dealer to customer, shipping from any imaged individual to another, and/or packaging for storage thing.

e-commerce

Closures can be used on containers sent through e-commerce, including through e-commerce merchants' warehouses or fulfillment centers. When a user places an order for one or more items, the one or more items may be automatically packaged and/or shipped to the user.

Figures 1 to 6 show the closure 1 of the present invention. The closure 1 contains a base portion 4; a flip portion 2 which, when opened, provides access to a container (not shown); and a hinge portion 3 that allows opening of the flip portion 2 and closure.

In use, the base portion 4 of the closure 1 is snap-fitted to the neck 7 (not shown) of a container (eg, a bottle).

Referring to eg Figures 3, 4 and 7 to 11, each side 6a and 6b of the base portion 4 is elevated to provide side impact protection compared to other points of contact with the flip portion 2. This helps prevent damage to the closure 1 and/or the container (not shown) during eg transport, storage and/or use.

Referring to eg Figures 1, 5 and 7-11, flanges 7 are provided on the inner wall of the base portion 4 at the point of contact with the flip portion 2 to provide side load protection. This helps prevent damage to the closure 1 and/or the container (not shown) during eg transport, storage and/or use.

Referring to eg Figures 7, 8 and 11, each side 6a and 6b of the base part 4 contains a pin 8 which protects the hinge part 3 from impact loads. This helps prevent damage to the closure 1 and/or the container (not shown) during eg transport, storage and/or use.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a computerized method for predicting how a product will respond to real-world forces, vibrations, heat, fluid flow and other physical effects. It shows if the product will break, wear out or work the way it was designed. FEA can be used to predict the benefits of the closures of the present invention when in use.

Therefore, the use of the closure 1 on the container neck helps prevent breakage of the plastic parts.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing, closure 1 simplifies and improves the packaging and shipping process of capped containers. Furthermore, the closure 1 can absorb and/or redistribute any compressive force exerted on the cap end during the flow process.

As e-commerce grows, simplification and improvements in packaging and shipping components save suppliers and eventual buyers money. Additionally, buyers receive undamaged and unopened lidded products, preventing losses and customer dissatisfaction.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that those skilled in the art may Various other changes and modifications are implemented therein.

Claims (4)

1. A closure for a container neck, wherein the closure comprises: base part; a flip portion, wherein the flip portion is capable of providing access to the container when opened; and a hinge portion that allows opening and closing of the flip portion; wherein each side of the base portion is elevated to provide side impact protection compared to other points of contact with the flip portion; wherein flanges are provided on the inner wall of the base portion at points of contact with the flip portion to provide side load protection; and Wherein each side of the base portion contains a pin that protects the hinge portion from impact loads. 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is formed from a thermoplastic material. 3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the container is formed from a thermoplastic material. 4. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is snap fit onto the container neck.

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