One-piece hinged closure for equipping a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016243735-A1
Application number	US-201615147314-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2016
Priority date	Jun 7, 2011
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A one-piece closure can mount on a container having an aperture. The one-piece closure includes a base portion that inwardly defines an opening centered about a base portion longitudinal axis and that is intended to be mounted on the container neck. The one-piece closure includes a hinged cap that is linked to the base portion by an outside hinge member. The hinge member has two opposite ends that are respectively connected to the base portion and the cap, the cap being movable between a closed position in which it closes the aperture of the base portion and an open position in which the aperture is left clear. The two opposite ends of the hinge member are aligned along an axis that is inclined with respect to the base portion longitudinal axis when the cap is in the closed position.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1 . A mold for forming a one-piece container closure by injection molding, the closure comprising a base portion that inwardly defines an opening centred about a base portion longitudinal axis and a hinged cap that is linked to the base portion by an outside hinge member, the hinge member having two opposite ends that are respectively connected to the base portion and the cap thus defining an elongated hinge member therebetween, the mold comprising two parts which respectively define two internal cavities facing each other along a longitudinal axis of alignment that coincides with the base portion longitudinal axis, the internal cavities being intended for molding the base portion and the cap, the two mold parts being movable along the longitudinal axis of alignment between a closed position where they define together a mold jointing plane and an open position where they are spaced apart from each other for demolding the closure, the hinge member being disposed along a longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base portion, at least the portion of the mold jointing plane that is disposed in the area between the closure and the hinge member extends from a first segment that is adjacent to the highest point of the hinge member to a second segment that is adjacent to the lowest point of the hinge member.

2 . The mold of claim 1 , wherein the mold jointing plane locally includes a substantially Z-shaped or inverted Z-shaped interface portion for molding the inclined hinge member.

3 . The mold of claim 2 , wherein the substantially Z-shaped or inverted Z-shaped interface portion is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of alignment of the two mold parts.

4 . The mold of claim 2 , wherein the substantially Z-shaped or inverted Z-shaped interface portion is in a cross-section plane that is located outside the cap and that intersects the hinge member.

5 . A method of forming a one-piece container closure by injection molding, the closure comprising a base portion that inwardly defines an opening centred about a base portion longitudinal axis and a hinged cap that is linked to the base portion by an outside hinge member, the hinge member having two opposite ends that are respectively connected to the base portion and the cap thus defining an elongated hinge member therebetween, the method comprising:
molding the closure through injection of a liquid material after: assembling together two mold parts having respectively two internal cavities facing each other along a longitudinal axis of alignment that coincides with the base portion longitudinal axis so as to define a mold jointing plane between the two mold parts, at least the portion of the mold jointing plane that is disposed in the area between the closure and the hinge member extends from a first segment that is adjacent to the highest point of the hinge member to a second segment that is adjacent to the lowest point of the hinge member, and introducing a removable central insert into the internal cavities for molding the base portion and the cap; and demolding the one-piece closure and, in particular, the inclined hinge member, by merely removing the central insert and moving at least one of the two mold parts apart from each other along the longitudinal axis alignment.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the two mold parts define therebetween a local recess that radially extends outwardly from the internal cavities, the removable central insert defining together with the inner walls of the cavities a space that is filled by the injected liquid material for molding the base portion and the cap, the space being in communication with the local recess and filled by the injected liquid material for molding the inclined hinge member.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Cerveny Jean-Paul

Classifications

• B29D99/0096

  Producing closure members for containers, e.g. closure caps or stoppers · CPC title

• B29L2031/565

  for containers · CPC title

• B29C45/26

  Moulds · CPC title

• B65D47/0842

  consisting of a strap of flexible material · CPC title

• B29C45/0017 Primary

  moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges · CPC title