Closure for a package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12280922-B2
Application number	US-202318397298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2023
Priority date	Jun 7, 2021
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

A package includes a container and a closure coupled to the container to control release of product therefrom. The closure includes a closure cap coupled to the container and a flip-top cap coupled to the closure cap and configured to pivot relative to the closure cap between a closed position and an opened position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A package comprising
a container and
a closure coupled to the container to control release of product therefrom,
wherein the closure includes a side wall, a top wall coupled to an upper end of the side wall, and a breakaway flap coupled to the top wall,
wherein the closure is configured to change from a closed configuration in which the breakaway flap closes a product-dispensing aperture defined by the top wall, to a product-dispensing configuration, in which the breakaway flap at least partially separates from the top wall to allow release of the product from the container through the product-dispensing aperture,
wherein the breakaway flap includes a flap base coupled to the top wall, a frangible border that extends at least partway around the product-dispensing aperture between the top wall and the flap base, a push pad coupled to a central region of the flap base, and a hinge coupled between the flap base and the top wall to provide a pivot axis therebetween, and
wherein the push pad includes a plurality of side walls and a top wall, and the top wall of the push pad is inclined to extend away from the hinge.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein the frangible border of the breakaway flap and the hinge provide an outer perimeter of the breakaway flap that is entirely, integrally coupled to the top wall to provide a hermetically-sealed configuration when the closure is in the closed configuration, and wherein the frangible border is configured to at least partially separate from the top wall as the closure changes from the hermetically-sealed configuration to the product-dispensing configuration and the hinge allows the flap base and the push pad to pivot about the pivot axis after application of a downward force on the push pad by the user to break the frangible border.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein the top wall of the push pad is formed to include a depression.

4. The package of claim 1 , wherein the frangible border has a smaller thickness compared to a thickness of the hinge so that the breakaway flap separates from the top wall only along the frangible border and remains attached to the top wall along the hinge.

5. The package of claim 1 , wherein the closure further includes a flap retainer that is configured to engage and retain the breakaway flap in the product-dispensing configuration.

6. The package of claim 5 , wherein the flap retainer includes an interruption formed on an interior surface of the closure.

7. The closure of claim 6 , wherein the interruption is defined at least partially by a lip that is arranged to lie at an angle relative to a central axis of the closure.

8. A closure comprising
a side wall,
a top wall coupled to an upper end of the side wall, and
a breakaway flap coupled to the top wall,
wherein the closure is configured to change from a closed configuration in which the breakaway flap closes a product-dispensing aperture defined by the top wall, to a product-dispensing configuration, in which the breakaway flap at least partially separates from the top wall to allow release of product through the product-dispensing aperture,
wherein the breakaway flap includes a flap base coupled to the top wall, a frangible border that extends at least partway around the product-dispensing aperture between the top wall and the flap base, a push pad coupled to a central region of the flap base, and a hinge coupled between the flap base and the top wall to provide a pivot axis therebetween, and
wherein the push pad includes a plurality of side walls and a top wall, and the top wall of the push pad is inclined to extend away from the hinge.

9. The closure of claim 8 , further comprising a flap retainer that is configured to engage and retain the breakaway flap in the product-dispensing configuration, and wherein the flap retainer includes an interruption formed on an inner surface of the closure.

10. The closure of claim 9 , wherein the interruption is a first interruption and the flap retainer further includes a second interruption coupled to the inner surface of the closure and that is spaced circumferentially apart from the first interruption around a central axis of the closure.

11. The closure of claim 9 , wherein the interruption is a notch defined partially by a lip that is arranged to lie at an angle relative to a central axis of the closure, the lip includes a first end spaced apart from an end of the hinge by a first circumferential distance that is greater than or equal to a thickness of the breakaway flap, and the lip includes a second end that is spaced apart from the end of the hinge by a second circumferential distance that is greater than the first circumferential distance.

12. A closure configured to control release of product from a container, the closure comprising
a side wall,
a top wall coupled to an upper end of the side wall, and
a breakaway flap coupled to the top wall,
wherein the closure is configured to change from a closed configuration in which the breakaway flap closes a product-dispensing aperture defined by the top wall, to a product-dispensing configuration, in which the breakaway flap at least partially separates from the top wall to allow release of the product from the container through the product-dispensing aperture,
wherein the closure further includes a flap retainer that is configured to engage and retain the breakaway flap in the product-dispensing configuration, and
wherein the flap retainer includes an interruption formed on an inner surface of the closure.

13. The closure of claim 12 , wherein the top wall of the closure includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion coupled to a radially inner edge of the horizontal portion and the breakaway flap is spaced radially inward from the vertical portion, and wherein the closure further includes a flip-top cap having a top wall and an annular plug seal arranged to extend downwardly from the top wall, the annular plug seal having an inner surface with a diameter that is equal to a diameter of the vertical portion of the top wall of the closure such that the vertical portion and the annular plug seal form a sealing interface with one another when the flip-top cap is in a closed position.

14. The closure of claim 12 , wherein the breakaway flap includes a flap base fixed to the top wall, a frangible border that extends at least partway around the product-dispensing aperture between the top wall and the flap base, a push pad coupled to a central region of the flap base, and a hinge coupled between the flap base and the top wall to provide a horizontal pivot axis therebetween.

15. The closure of claim 14 , wherein the frangible border of the breakaway flap and the hinge provide an outer perimeter of the breakaway flap that is entirely, integrally coupled to the top wall to provide an unopened, hermetically-sealed configuration.

16. The closure of claim 14 , wherein the frangible border has a smaller thickness compared to a thickness of the hinge so that the breakaway flap separates from the top wall only along the frangible border and remains attached to the top wall along the hinge.

17. The closure of claim 14 , wherein the push pad includes a front wall, a pair of side walls, and a top wall, the front wall arranged adjacent to the frangible border, and the top wall of the push pad inclined to extend away from the hinge.

18. The closure of claim 17 , wherein the frangible border is configured to at least partially separate from the top wall as the closure changes from the closed configuration to the product-disp

Assignees

• Berry Global Inc

Inventors

• Vassallo John A
• Gift Steven
• Bond Frank A

Classifications

• B65D47/08

  having articulated or hinged closures {(B65D55/16 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D51/221

  a major part of the inner closure being left inside the container after the opening · CPC title

• B65D2547/06

  with pouring spouts ot tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages · CPC title

• B65D47/10 Primary

  having frangible closures · CPC title

• B65D47/0804 Primary

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