Container cap with finger-openable, reclosable closure

• US 7,011,227 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ignite Design LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Ward, Evan T., Nole, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US10/652,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20050045634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 220/254.3, 220/254.5, 220/254.7, 220/713, 220/715, 220/716, 220/717, 220/367.1, 220/817, 220/819, 220/827, 220/830, 220/833, 220/843, 220/844, 222/556
• US Class Current: 220/254.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0857 made separately from the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A removable and reusable cap for a container is provided. The cap has a platform portion and peripherally associated upstanding and downwardly extending portions, and a depression is defined across the platform portion. In the depression, a dispensing aperture and preferably a vent are defined which are opened and closed by a closure plate that is received within the depression and that has a proximal end which is pivotably associated with the depression. The distal end of the closure plate is pivotally associated with a pull ring that is biased into association with the closure plate and that is nestably received in the closure plate, but that has a finger associatable apex region. When the pull ring is pivoted upwardly, the closure plate is pivoted and the dispensing aperture and vent are opened, preferably the vent before the dispensing aperture.

Claims

1. A cap for a container mouth comprising in combination:

a transversely extending platform portion having upper and lower opposed faces and having a depression relative to said upper face defined therein that extends generally across said platform portion, said depression having a pair of laterally spaced, generally opposed side walls and a bottom wall extending between said side walls;

a generally cylindrical, peripheral flange portion extending downwardly from said lower face, said flange portion defining circumferential surface portions whereby said flange portion is engageable with peripheral portions of said container mouth;

a closure plate having top and bottom surface portions, proximal and distal opposite end portions, and a pair of laterally spaced, opposed lateral wall portions, said closure plate being generally receivable within and between said depression side walls with each of said lateral wall portions being adjacent to a different one of said side walls, said proximal end portion having first hinge means that pivotably associates said closure plate with said platform portion, whereby said closure plate is pivotable relative to said depression;

said depression having an aperture defined therethrough that is located in spaced, adjacent, radially interior relationship relative to said flange, and said bottom surface portions of said closure plate having an outstanding stopper means associated therewith, the interrelationship between said aperture and said stopper means being such that, when said closure plate is pivoted so that said bottom surface portion is adjacent said depression bottom wall, said stopper means closes said aperture; and

a pull ring pivotally connected to said distal end portion, including associated hinge means, whereby, when said pull ring is finger engaged, said closure plate is pivoted upwardly away from said depression and said stopper means is separated from said aperture.

2. The cap of claim 1 wherein a relatively small pressure equalizing vent hole is additionally defined in said depression in radially inwardly spaced relationship relative to said aperture, and said bottom surface portions additionally have an outstanding plug means associated therewith for closing said vent hole.

3. The cap of claim 2 wherein the interrelationship between said pressure equalizing hole and said plug means being such that, when said closure plate is pivoted so that said bottom surface portions are adjacent said depression, said plug means closes said pressure equalizing hole.

4. The cap of claim 3 wherein said stopper means has a depth substantially greater than the depth of said plug means whereby, when said pull ring is engaged by a finger, and said closure plate is pivoted upwardly away from said depression, said plug means is separated from said pressure equalizing hole before said stop-stopper means is separated from said aperture.

5. The cap of claim 1 wherein pull ring includes stop means limiting maximum pivotal movement of said pull ring relative to said closure plate.

6. The cap of claim 1 wherein each of said lateral wall portions has a raised protuberance that is adapted to frictionally and slidably engage an adjacent portion of each of said side walls when said closure plate is pivoted so that, when said closure plate is pivoted so that said bottom surface portions are adjacent said depression, said protuberances retard removal of said stopper means from said aperture.

7. The cap of claim 1 wherein said first hinge means comprises a pair of pin members each of which is associated with a different one of said lateral wall portions at said proximal end and also with an adjacent opposed portion of each of said side walls whereby said closure plate is pivotable relative to said depression.

8. The cap of claim 7 wherein the location where said pin members so associate with said side walls is such that, when said closure plate is pivoted about 180°

from the location where said bottom surface portions of said closure plate are adjacent said depression and said stopper means closes said aperture, said distal end portions extend beyond said platform portion.

9. The cap of claim 7 wherein, after said 180°

pivot, portions of said pull ring are located between said depression and said top surface portions.

10. The cap of claim 7 wherein, after said 180°

pivot, portions of said pull ring extend downwardly from said closure plate outside of said platform portion.

11. The cap of claim 1 wherein said associated hinge means comprises a pair of pin members each of which is associated with a different one of said lateral wall portions at said distal end and also with an adjacent defined portion of said closure plate.

12. The cap of claim 11 wherein said pull ring includes a pair of rearwardly extending leg members each one of which is associated with one of said pin members whereby each said leg members is pivotably connected with a different opposite side of said distal end portion.

13. The cap of claim 12 wherein said upper surface portions have surface contours defined therein that are adapted to nestably receive portions of said pull ring but that leave an apex portion of said pull ring readily accessible for engagement with a finger.

14. The cap of claim 12 wherein said pull ring is additionally associated with spring means biasing said pull ring into a flattened position adjacent to said top surface portions.

15. The cap of claim 12 wherein a terminal portion of each said leg member is configured so that, when said pull ring is pivoted and elevated relative to said closure plate at an angle of about 90°

, each said terminal portion engages an adjacent portion of said closure plate and thereby limits further movement of said pull ring.

16. The cap of claim 12 wherein said pull ring is comprised of a thyroidal configured body having an apex region and a generally opposed foot region from which a pair of circumferentially spaced legs extend in spaced, parallel relationship relative to each other, and the spacing between said legs is such that a portion of said closure plate at said distal end thereof fits therebetween, and each of said pin members extends between and associates with a different one of said spaced legs and an adjacent opposed portion of each of said side walls at said distal end whereby said pull ring is pivotable relative to said closure plate.

17. The cap of claim 16 wherein at least one of said spaced legs is associated with spring means for yieldingly biasing said pull ring into a flattened association with said closure plate.

18. The cap of claim 16 wherein portions of said closure plate that are located adjacent to portions of said pull ring are depressed and adapted to nestably receive said pull ring portions.

19. The cap of claim 16 where portions of said closure plate located adjacent to an apex region of said pull ring are depressed and adapted to receive a finger that is inserted under said apex region.

20. A reusable container cap for a container mouth comprising in combination:

a unitarily formed base comprising a transversely extending platform portion having a top surface, peripheral, upstanding side wall portions about said platform portion, and peripheral downturned, circumferentially extending, threaded side wall portions about said platform portion,

said platform portion being inclined relative to said side wall portions, thereby defining a well between said top surface and an adjacent region of said upstanding side wall portions, said platform portion also having a depression defined in said top surface that extends generally transversely thereacross from said well;

said depression having a bottom and opposed side walls, an aperture defined therein radially interiorly adjacent said downturned side wall portions and a vent defined therein in radially inwardly spaced relationship relative to said aperture;

a closure plate having upper and lower opposed surface portions, proximal and distal opposite end portions, and opposite lateral side portions which each fits in said depression adjacent a different one of said opposed side walls, said proximal end portions being associated with first hinge means enabling pivotal movements of said closure plate in said depression, and said lower surface portions having first and second stopper means positioned and adapted to close said aperture and said vent, respectively, when said lower surface portions are adjacent said bottom; and

a pull ring pivotally associated by second hinge means to said distal end portion and having spring means yieldingly biasing said pull ring into a flattened association with said upper surface portion and stop means limiting the maximum angle of pivotal opening of said pull ring relative to said closure plate;

said upper surface portion including depressed portions adapted to nestably receive adjacent portions of said pull ring and to permit access of a finger adjacent said pull ring;

whereby elevating said pull ring by said finger relative to said upper surface separates said lower surface portion from said bottom and opens said aperture and said vent.