Flip-top closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11926451-B2
Application number	US-202318169258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2023
Priority date	Oct 7, 2019
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

A flip-top closure includes first and second polymeric closure portions. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion, a sealing mechanism and an annular skirt portion. The second closure portion includes a tamper-evident band. The closure portions are attached by a line of weakness. The closure portions are further attached via a hinge. The hinge includes a locking tab, a flexible tab and linking segments. The locking tab extends further outwardly from a center of the closure in a closed position than the flexible tab and the linking segments. During the opening of the flip-top closure, the locking tab moves and passes the flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flip-top closure comprising:
a first closure portion including:
a polymeric top wall portion,
a sealing mechanism depending from the polymeric top wall portion, and
a polymeric annular skirt portion; and

a second closure portion including:
a polymeric tamper-evident band,
wherein the first closure portion and the second closure portion are attached by a line of weakness,
wherein the first closure portion and the second closure portion are further attached via a hinge, the hinge assisting in moving the flip-top closure between an open position and a closed position, the hinge including a polymeric locking tab, a polymeric flexible tab and a plurality of polymeric linking segments, the polymeric locking tab extending further outwardly from a center of the flip-top closure in the closed position than the polymeric flexible tab and the plurality of polymeric linking segments, the polymeric flexible tab having a flat outer surface with a convex upper surface,
wherein during opening of the flip-top closure, the polymeric locking tab is configured to move and pass the convex upper surface of the polymeric flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position in which the polymeric locking tab is configured to contact a finish of a container.

2. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the polymeric locking tab contacts a top edge of the polymeric flexible tab when moving to the fully open position, the surface of the polymeric locking tab causing an outward deflection of the polymeric flexible tab.

3. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the polymeric locking tab contacts both the convex upper surface of the polymeric flexible tab and a top surface of the container when in the open position.

4. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism is a polymeric continuous plug seal including a first end and a second end, the second end being located farther away from the polymeric top wall portion than the first end, the polymeric continuous plug seal including at least one interlocking bump at the second end to assist in snapping the flip-top closure into a closed position.

5. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the flip-top closure is cylindrical and is a one-piece closure.

6. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of polymeric linking segments is two linking segments, in which the polymeric locking tab and the polymeric flexible tab are located between the two linking segments.

7. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric flexible tab includes an inwardly-extending projection configured to contact an outwardly-extending projection of a container so as to secure the flip-top closure and the container.

8. The flip-top closure of claim 7 , wherein a top surface of the inwardly-extending projection of the polymeric flexible tab is configured to contact a bottom surface of the outwardly-extending projection of the container.

9. The flip-top closure of claim 7 , wherein the inwardly-extending projection of the polymeric flexible tab is of a triangular shape.

10. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric top stop depending from the polymeric top wall portion to assist in positioning the flip-top closure to the finish of the container.

11. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the flip-top closure comprises polyolefins.

12. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is adapted to flip at least 200 degrees.

13. The flip-top closure of claim 12 , wherein the hinge is adapted to flip at least 225 degrees.

14. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is adapted to flip up to 235 degrees.

15. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is adapted to flip between 200 and 225 degrees.

16. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric outer seal to assist in providing an outer seal with the finish of the container.

17. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism is a polymeric continuous plug seal.

18. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a prying tab extending from the polymeric annular skirt portion and assisting in moving the flip-top closure between the open position and the closed position.

19. The flip-top closure of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric locking tab has a raised portion relative to a remainder of the hinge.

20. The flip-top closure of claim 19 , wherein the raised portion of the polymeric locking tab is on an upper surface of the polymeric locking tab.

Assignees

• Closure Systems Int Inc

Inventors

• Migas Jeremiah
• Lennartz Marina
• Morin Jeremy

Classifications

• B65D47/0804 Primary

  integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage · CPC title

• B65D55/024

  Closures in which a part has to be ruptured to gain access to the contents (B65D41/32, B65D43/0235, B65D55/022, B65D55/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2401/20

  Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt · CPC title

• B65D41/465 Primary

  with integral internal sealing means (B65D41/47 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D55/16

  Devices preventing loss of removable closure members · CPC title