Container having a push-button activated, pop-open lid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11399672-B2
Application number	US-201716641797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

A container for dispensing product includes a housing having an interior space. A rigid flip top assembly is disposed on the housing, and includes a lever, a lid, and a flange. The lid covers a dispensing orifice when in a closed position. The lever has a first end and a second end, and the lid is connected to the flange at a hinge proximate the second end. The lever longitudinally extends over a fulcrum. When a force is applied to the lever proximate the first end, the lever pivots at the fulcrum about a pivot axis, and the second end of the lever moves the lid from the closed position toward an open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container for storing and dispensing product, the container comprising:
a flexible pouch for storing product, the flexible pouch defining an interior space, the flexible pouch having an inner surface generally facing toward the interior space, and an outer surface generally facing away from the interior space;
a rigid flip top assembly having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, the assembly comprising a ring lever, a lid, and a flange, the flange being affixed to the outer surface of the pouch, the lid covering a dispensing orifice when the lid is in a closed position, the flange surrounding the ring lever;
wherein the ring lever has a first end and a second end, the lid being connected to the flange at a hinge proximate the second end, the ring lever extending in the longitudinal direction over at least one fulcrum,
wherein the ring lever and the flange encircle a dispensing orifice through which the product can be withdrawn from the interior space,
wherein, when a force is applied to the ring lever proximate the first end, the ring lever pivots at the at least one fulcrum about a pivot axis, and the second end of the ring lever moves the lid from the closed position toward an open position.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein, as the first end of the ring lever is moved from a rest position to a fully depressed position, the second end of the ring lever rotates less than 15 degrees about the pivot axis and the lid rotates at least 90 degrees about the hinge.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein, as the first end of the ring lever is moved from a rest position to a fully depressed position, the second end of the ring lever rotates less than 10 degrees about the pivot axis, and the lid rotates at least 110 degrees about the hinge.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the fulcrum is closer to the first end than to the second end.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the fulcrum is integrally formed with the ring lever.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one fulcrum comprises a pair of fulcrums integrally formed with the ring lever.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid includes a catch, the catch adapted to engage a latch when the lid is in the closed position, and wherein when the force is applied to the ring lever proximate the first end, the second end of the ring lever forces the latch to pull away from the catch to move the lid from the closed position toward the open position.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein the latch is integrally formed with the ring lever.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the ring lever includes at least two raised portions adapted to press against an underside of the lid when the force is applied to the ring lever.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Rolfs Bryan Eliot
• Gauger Jeremy Thaddeus
• Berger Maggie Vanderheiden
• Gantz Amanda Ann
• Gehrke Heidi Ellen

Classifications

• B65D45/02

  for applying axial pressure to engage closure with sealing surface · CPC title

• B65D83/08

  for dispensing thin flat articles in succession (for surgical scalpel blades A61B17/3215) · CPC title

• B65D43/169

  the lid, the hinge and the element connecting them to the container being made of one piece · CPC title

• B65D47/088

  located at an edge of the base element · CPC title

• B65D43/26 Primary

  Mechanisms for opening or closing, e.g. pedal-operated {(for refuse receptacles B65F1/1623)} · CPC title