Double hinging cap

• US 4,723,693 A
• Filed: 10/02/1986
• Issued: 02/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Inventors: DeCoster, Pieter K. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUPPERT, MICHEAL
• Application Number:
  US06/914,913
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 215/235, 220/335, 222/142.6, 222/142.7, 222/153, 222/478, 222/480, 222/482-483, 222/485, 222/498, 222/517, 222/544, 222/545, 222/556, 222/565
• US Class Current: 222/483
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0876 Hinges without elastic bias

Abstract

A container cap including dual longitudinally aligned closure lids integrally connected by an inboard hinge strip having a central mounting panel and opposed hinges integrally joining the hinge strip to the respective lids. A pair of outboard spring strips parallel the hinge strip in spaced relation to each side thereof, each spring strip including a substantially rigid central panel and opposed end hinges integrally joining the spring strip to the opposed lids on axes longitudinally outwardly spaced from the axes of the hinge strip hinges.

Claims

1. In a container cap construction, first and second closure lids positionable in longitudinally aligned relation over said container, first and second spaced parallel hinges respectively mounting said first and second lids for independent hinged movement of said lids about parallel axes spaced longitudinally between said lids, and a spring strip extending between said lids, said spring strip including first and second pivot axes respectively joining the spring strip and the first and second lids, said pivot axes alternatively defining proximal and distal pivot axes relative to the first and second closure lids, said first and second pivot axes paralleling said first and second hinges respectively, each of said first and second pivot axes being disposed in longitudinally outwardly spaced relation to a respective one of said first and second hinges, said first and second hinges being in a common plane, said first and second pivot axes being offset to a first side of the plane when both closure lids are in a first hinged position, and said proximal pivot axis, upon hinged movement of either closure lid to a second hinged position, moving through and to the second side of the plane to an overcenter position biasing the moved lid to said overcenter position with the distal pivot axis remaining to the first side of the plane.

2. The cap construction of claim 1 including a hinge strip between said first and second closure lids, said hinge strip including a central hinge plate and said first and second spaced hinges, said closure lids, and hinge plate being integrally formed.

3. The cap construction of claim 2 wherein said spring strip is spaced laterally outward of said hinge strip and is integrally formed with said closure lids.

4. The cap construction of claim 3 including a second spring strip duplicating said first mentioned spring strip, said hinge strip being in inwardly spaced relation between said spring strips.

5. A unitary cap for a container comprising two longitudinally aligned closure lids, first and second hinge means for pivotally mounting said lids for selective movement between open and closed positions about a pair of spaced hinge-defined axes between said lids, said hinge-defined axes being in a first plane, a spring strip extending longitudinally between said closure lids and integrally pivoted thereto at a pair of pivot axes, each of said pivot axes being parallel to and spaced longitudinally outward of one of said hinge-defined axes, said pivot axes, in a closed position of the lids, being in a second plane offset in the direction of said container from said first plane, said pivot axes being shared by said lids and providing reverse functions with respect to the closure lids with each pivot axis alternatively defining a proximal pivot axis for one lid and a distal pivot axis for the other lid, whereby said two closure lids are alternatively movable about a corresponding hinge axis with the spring strip pivoting about the distal pivot axis and with the proximal pivot axis moving from one side to the other of the plane of the hinge-defined axes to an overcenter position relative to the hinge axis of the moved closure lid.

6. A one-piece container cap comprising a pair of longitudinally aligned closure lids, a hinge strip extending longitudinally betwen said closure lids, said hinge strip including a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel hinges integrally joining said closure lids to said hinge strip and defining a pair of hinge axes, a spring strip extending longitudinally of said cap in parallel spaced relation to s aid hinge strip, said spring strip including a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel hinges integrally joining said spring strip to said closure lids, each of said spring strip hinges being disposed longitudinally outwardly of one of said hinge axes, said spring strip hinges defining pivot axes, said hinge strip and said spring strip being in spaced adjacent planes when said closure lids are in a closed position.

7. The container cap of claim 6 including a second duplicate spring strip in parallel spaced relation to said hinge strip to the opposite side thereof from said first mentioned spring strip.

8. The container cap of claim 7 wherein each said closure lid is pivotable about the associated hinge axis between a closed position in a common plane with the other lid and an open position extending laterally to one side of the common plane of the closed lids.

9. The container cap of claim 8 wherein, in the closed position of said lids, said hinge strip and said spring strips are in substantially parallel offset planes.

10. The container cap of claim 9 wherein said hinge strip includes a substantially rigid central hinge plate, said hinge plate including means for mounting said central hinge plate in fixed position relative to a container.

11. The container cap of claim 10 wherein each of said spring strips includes a substantially rigid central panel between the spring strip hinges.

12. For use in the selective dispensing of flowable material from a container through either of two ports therein, a unitary cap comprising a pair of longitudinally aligned lids, a pair of hinges mounting said lids for alternate pivotal movement, about a pair of parallel hinge axes, between closed positions closing corresponding ports and open positions opening the ports, said hinge axes extending across said cap between said lids, and overcenter positioning means extending between and integral with said lids for selectively biasing each lid in the open and closed position thereof, said positioning means being integral with said lids and comprising a substantially rigid strip with opposed ends integrally hinged to said lids and defining said pair of hinge axes, one pivot axis associated with each lid and being disposed longitudinally outward of and adjacent the associated hinge axis for pivotal attachment of a spring strip to said lids, said hinge axes defining a plane, each lid, upon movement to the open position thereof, extending laterally to one side of said plane, said pivot axes, in the closed position of the lids, being positioned on the opposite side of said hinge axis plane with each pivot axis crossing the hinge axis plane to an overcenter position upon movement of the corresponding lid to the open position thereof, said spring strip, with one of said lids in the open position, extending through said hinge axis plane with one of said pivot axes disposed on each side of said plane.

13. For use with a container having a discharge end for flowable material, a container cap comprising a generally flat elongate member having opposed end portions forming a pair of longitudinally outwardly directed closure lids, a pair of elongate slots extending longitudinally of said member in parallel spaced relation between said lids, said slots defining an inboard hinge strip therebetween and a pair of outboard spring strips, one spring strip being disposed laterally outward of each slot, said hinge strip being in a first plane, said spring strips being in a second plane substantially parallel to and in spaced adjacent relation to said first plane to a first inner side thereof in proximity to said container, said inboard hinge strip including a pair of spaced hinges extending across said inboard hinge strip to said lids, said spring strips each including a pair of spaced pivot axes integrally joining said spring strips to said lids, each of said pivot axes being parallel to a hinge strip hinge in adjacent relation thereto and spaced outwardly of said hinge strip hinge along the length of said elongated member, said hinge strip including a substantially rigid panel between said hinges, and means on said panel for mounting said panel in a fixed position relative to the discharge end of a container, whereby each said lid hinges outward to a second outer side of the plane of the hinge strip, each of said spring strips, upon outward hinged movement of either lid, pivoting about both pivot axes with the pivot axis associated with the moved lid moving to an overcenter retaining position by translational movement from said first inner side of said plane of the hinge strip to the second outer side of the plane of the hinge strip.