Multi-functional, enviornmentally-oriented, tamper-evident container closure

• US 5,507,419 A
• Filed: 11/03/1993
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRI-Made Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TRI-Made Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Clyde J., Duncan, Gail F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US08/145,205
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 222/143, 222/480, 222/482, 222/541, 222/548, 220/253, 206/508
• US Class Current: 222/480
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0235 Containers stackable in a staggered configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0025 of the 47-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0081 of the 43-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/20 Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing B65D51/185 takes precedence; co-operating with an auxiliary container for additional articles or materials B65D51/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/10 Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Abstract

A multi-functional, environmentally-oriented one-piece container closure panel has a peripheral rib adapted to removably engage the lip of a container end. The closure panel is slidably rotatable on the lip such that an opening in the closure panel may be variably positioned in alignment with a push-in opening in the container end to control the dispensing of container contents. When removed, the one-piece container closure may be disposed of separately, allowing recycling of reusable container materials or disposal of biodegradable container materials. Because disposed of separately, the container closure may be of any suitable material appropriate for the application, while different reusable or biodegradable materials may be used for the container.

Claims

1. An environmentally oriented, multi-functional container closure for an easy-opening container having a threaded portion at one end of the container, said container closure comprising:

a container end cap, said container end cap comprising;

a tube section having threads along a surface thereof, said threads engagable with said threaded portion of said container wall;

a container end panel disposed across one end of said tube section, said container end panel having a push-in opening defined by a score line; and

at least one raised lip extending upward from said container end panel, extending generally along at least a portion of the periphery of said container end panel; and

a closure panel having a peripheral rib adapted to removably engage said raised lip of said container end panel, said peripheral rib slidable on said raised lip to rotatably position said closure panel;

said closure panel having at least one opening defined therein, and said closure panel rotatable between a position wherein said closure panel substantially blocks said push-in opening, and one or more positions wherein said at least one opening is alignable with at least a portion of said push-in opening;

whereby said container closure, is adjustable to regulate the dispensing of contents from said container wherein said closure panel is in substantially planar contact with said container end panel.

2. The container closure of claim 1 wherein said tube section has threads along at least a portion of the inner surface thereof.

3. The container closure of claim 1 wherein said tube section has threads along at least a portion of the outer surface thereof.

4. The container closure of claim 1 wherein said closure panel further comprises means for gripping, whereby said closure panel may be easily grasped and rotatably positioned on said container end panel.

5. The container closure of claim 1 wherein said closure panel further comprises means for stacking whereby a second container may be stacked on top of said container.

6. The container closure of claim 1 wherein said closure panel further comprises means for reinforcing said closure panel.

7. An environmentally oriented, multi-functional container closure for an easy-opening container having a lip at one end of the container, said container closure comprising:

a container end cap, said container end cap comprising;

a tube section having a first peripheral rib along a surface thereof, said peripheral rib engagable with said lip;

a container end panel disposed across one end of said tube section, said container end panel having a push-in opening defined by a score line; and

at least one raised lip extending upward from said container end panel, extending generally along at least a portion of the periphery of said container end panel; and

a closure panel having a second peripheral rib adapted to removably engage said raised lip of said container end panel, said second peripheral rib slidable on said raised lip to rotatably position said closure panel;

said closure panel having at least one opening defined therein, and said closure panel rotatable between a position wherein said closure panel substantially blocks said push-in opening, and one or more positions wherein said at least one opening is alignable with at least a portion of said push-in opening;

whereby said container closure is adjustable to regulate the dispensing of contents from said container wherein said closure panel is in substantially planar contact with said container end panel.

8. The container closure of claim 7 wherein said closure panel further comprises means for gripping, whereby said closure panel may be easily grasped and rotatably positioned on said container end panel.

9. The container closure of claim 7 wherein said closure panel further comprises means for stacking whereby a second container may be stacked on top of said container.

10. The container closure of claim 7 wherein said closure panel further comprises means for reinforcing said closure panel.

11. The container closure of claim 7 wherein said container end cap further comprises means for gripping, whereby said container end cap may be easily grasped and rotatably positioned on said container end cap.

12. The container closure of claim 11 wherein said means for gripping comprises a reeded edge along at least a portion of the periphery of said container end cap, whereby a user may grasp and rotate said container end cap.