Closure with dispensing flap stay-open construction
First Claim
1. A one-piece dispensing closure for a package comprising a generally circular end wall, an aperture in the end wall, a flap for selectively opening and closing the aperture by movement between open and closed positions, the flap being connected to the end wall by a hinge integral with the flap and the end wall, the hinge lying along a chordal line on the end wall, the end wall having an outer face, a first lock member on the outer face of the end wall spaced from the hinge on a side of the hinge opposite the flap when the flap is in the closed position, and a second lock member on the flap spaced from the hinge, the location of the hinge relative to both the first and second lock members being fixed when molded and unchanged in use of the closure, the first and second lock members being constructed and arranged relative to the hinge to interengage when the flap is moved to an open position and the second lock member is caused to arcuately pass over an outer part of the first lock member to releasably hold the flap in such open position to facilitate dispensing through said aperture.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing closure with a hinged flap for conveniently opening and closing a dispensing aperture. The closure is a one-piece molded part having an integral living hinge. A mechanism for releasably locking the flap in a stay-open position and thereby resisting any tendency of the hinge to resiliently bias the flap towards a closed position is provided. The stay-open mechanism comprises a cooperating pair of surfaces molded into the flap and main body of the closure which are arranged to snap into and out of locking engagement when the flap is deliberately moved into or out of the open position.
124 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A one-piece dispensing closure for a package comprising a generally circular end wall, an aperture in the end wall, a flap for selectively opening and closing the aperture by movement between open and closed positions, the flap being connected to the end wall by a hinge integral with the flap and the end wall, the hinge lying along a chordal line on the end wall, the end wall having an outer face, a first lock member on the outer face of the end wall spaced from the hinge on a side of the hinge opposite the flap when the flap is in the closed position, and a second lock member on the flap spaced from the hinge, the location of the hinge relative to both the first and second lock members being fixed when molded and unchanged in use of the closure, the first and second lock members being constructed and arranged relative to the hinge to interengage when the flap is moved to an open position and the second lock member is caused to arcuately pass over an outer part of the first lock member to releasably hold the flap in such open position to facilitate dispensing through said aperture.
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10. A one-piece dispensing closure for a package comprising an end wall, an aperture in the end wall, a flap for selectively opening and closing the aperture, the flap being connected to the end wall by a hinge integral with the flap and the end wall, the end wall having an outer face, a first lock member on the outer face of the end wall spaced from the hinge and a second lock member on the flap spaced from the hinge, the first and second lock members being constructed and arranged to interengage when the flap is moved to an open position and releasably hold the flap in such open position to facilitate dispensing through said aperture, the flap including an aperture through which the locking member on the body is adapted to pass when the flap is moved to its open position.
Specification