Moisture-resistant dispensing top

• US 5,048,730 A
• Filed: 05/10/1990
• Issued: 09/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weatherchem Corporation (Mold-Rite Plastics, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherchem Corporation (Mold-Rite Plastics, LLC)
• Inventors: Wiedman, Craig C., Forsyth, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/521,389
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 222/480, 222/481, 222/482, 222/498, 222/513, 222/517, 222/545, 222/556, 215/235, 215/236, 215/325, 215/DIG. 1, 220/307, 220/354
• US Class Current: 222/482
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/20 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0847 located within a flat surface of the base element

Abstract

A screw on container closure has a hinged flap on a dispensing aperture for spooning out product. The flap and aperture have a sealing flash structure that provides a moisture resistant seal therebetween. An integral resilient sealing flange within the closure provides a moisture-resistant seal on the mouth of a container.

Claims

1. a dispensing cap for a container comprising an injection-molded one-piece body, the body having a generally circular end wall and a generally cylindrical skirt, an aperture in the end wall of a size sufficient to allow spooning out granular product from the container through the aperture, a generally planar flap closing the aperture, the flap being hinged on the end wall along a line generally parallel to a diametral line across the end wall between an open position clear of the aperture and a closed position over the aperture, the flap lying in a plane substantially parallel to the end wall when its closed position over the aperture;

major areas of the skirt, end wall and flap each having a nominal wall thickness, a sealing flash extending around the aperture, the sealing flash having a thickness that is a minor fraction of the nominal wall thickness of any of the skirt, end wall and flap and a free length sufficient in comparison to its thickness to enable it to bend, the sealing flash having an interference fit between the end wall and the flap when the flap is in the closed position and being arranged to elastically deform in local bending deflection to accommodate closing of the flap and produce a resilient seal between the end wall and the flap.

2. A cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sealing flash in a sealing position is arranged to increase its sealing force in proportion to an increase in pressure in the container.

3. A cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sealing flash is formed on the end wall.

4. A cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sealing flash is molded in a condition wherein it has a cantilevered length greater than its thickness.

5. A cap as set forth in claim 4, wherein the sealing flash is molded in a generally flat plane.

6. A cap as set forth in claim 5, wherein the end wall and the sealing flash have upper faces that are molded in a substantially coplaner configuration.

7. A cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flap includes a depending lip and said sealing flash is arranged to seal against said lip when said flap is closed.

8. A cap as set forth in claim 7, wherein said flap has a continuous free edge extending substantially from one end of the hinge to the other, said lip extending continuously on a line spaced inwardly from one free edge.

9. A cap as set forth in claim 8, wherein said lip provides a seating surface substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flap, said sealing flash being arranged to sealingly engage said seating surface.

10. A cap as set forth in claim 9, wherein sais lip includes a portion adjacent said hinge that with remaining portions of said lip defines a closed boundary for said opening.

11. A cap as set forth in claim 1, including a resilient sealing flange integrally formed therewith, the sealing flange being adapted to sealingly and resiliently engage the mouth of a container.