Dispensing closure, package and method of manufacture

• US 7,628,297 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rexam Closure Systems Incorporated (Ball Corporation)
• Inventors: Pugne, Darin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US11/190,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 222/556, 222/494, 222/546, 222/557, 222/498, 222/499, 222/516, 222/517, 222/561, 2202541-2547, 220/259.1, 220/300, 220/833, 220/834, 220/805, 220/841, 220/324, 215/224, 215/245, 215/237
• US Class Current: 222/556
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/00 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0804 integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2031 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure B65D47/2025 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispensing closure includes a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction having a base for securement to a container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to the base. The base has a deck, a recess extending across the deck from a point adjacent to the hinge, and a dispensing opening in the recess. The lid has a base portion for receipt in the recess in the closed position of the lid and a tongue at an end of the lid remote from the hinge. A latch on the base in the recess engages the tongue on the lid releasably to hold the lid in the closed position. The latch preferably comprises a snap latch that includes an internal bead on the tongue and an external latch element in the recess over which the internal bead is received in the closed position of the lid. The base preferably includes a ledge in the recess against which the tongue abuts, and a pair of ribs for frictionally holding the tongue against the body.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure that includes:

a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base for securement to a container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to said base,

said base having a skirt, and a deck with a recess extending across said deck from a position adjacent to said hinge to a position opposite from said hinge, a dispensing opening in said deck recess, a radially outwardly facing wall disposed radially inwardly of said skirt, and a thumb recess in said skirt at a position opposite from said hinge and having a bottom wall,

said lid having a base portion with a periphery for receipt in said deck recess and a tongue that extends substantially perpendicular to said base portion at an end of said base portion remote from said hinge wherein said tongue includes a lid latch element, and

a base latch element in said radially outwardly facing wall in said thumb recess for engaging said lid latch element of said tongue on said lid to said base releasably to hold said lid in a closed position,

wherein said base includes at least one rib to frictionally engage said tongue between said at least one rib and said radially outwardly facing wall of said deck in said closed position of said lid, and said base also includes a ledge provided between said thumb recess bottom wall and an edge of said deck recess and against which said tongue abuts in said closed position of said lid.

2. The dispensing closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid latch element comprises a bead on said tongue and said base latch element includes a channel in which said bead is received in said closed position.

30. The dispensing closure set forth in claim 1, wherein said lid has side edges that converge between said hinge and said tongue, and said deck recess has sidewalls complementary to said side edges of said lid, and wherein said at least one rib includes ribs extending upwardly from an axially facing bottom wall of said thumb recess along said sidewalls of said deck recess.

31. The dispensing closure set forth in claim 30 wherein said side edges of said deck recess and said lid are straight.

3. A dispensing closure that includes:

a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base for securement to a container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to said base,

said base having a skirt, and a deck with a deck recess extending across said deck from a position adjacent to said hinge, a dispensing opening in said deck recess, a radially outwardly facing wall disposed radially inwardly of said skirt, and a thumb recess in said skirt that opens into said deck recess at a position opposite from said hinge and that has a bottom wall,

said lid having a periphery for receipt in said deck recess in a closed position of said lid and a tongue at an edge of said lid remote from said hinge, wherein said tongue has a lid latch element and said deck has a base latch element in said radially outwardly facing wall in said thumb recess for snap-receipt of said lid latch element in said closed position of said lid, and

at least one rib in said thumb recess for frictional engagement with said tongue between said at least one rib and said radially outwardly facing wall of said deck in said closed position of said lid,

wherein said base includes a ledge provided between said thumb recess bottom wall and an edge of said deck recess and against which said tongue abuts in said closed position of said lid,

wherein said lid has side edges that converge between said hinge and said tongue, and wherein said deck recess has side edges complimentary to said side edges of said lid.

4. The closure set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least one rib comprises a pair of said ribs in said thumb recess adjacent to said ledge for frictional engagement with said tongue.

5. The closure set forth in claim 3 wherein said side edges of said deck recess and said lid are straight side edges.

6. A dispensing closure that includes:

a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base for securement to a container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to said base,

said base having a deck and a skirt, a deck recess extending across said deck from a position adjacent to said hinge, a dispensing opening in said deck recess, and a thumb recess in said skirt that opens into said deck recess at a position opposite from said hinge,

said lid having a periphery for receipt in said deck recess in a closed position of said lid and a tongue at an edge of said lid remote from said hinge, and

at least one rib in said thumb recess for frictional engagement with said tongue between said at least one rib and said deck in said closed position of said lid,

wherein said lid has side edges that converge between said hinge and said tongue, and wherein said deck recess has side edges complimentary to said side edges of said lid,

wherein said lid has a wall for receipt in said dispensing opening in said closed position of said lid, and

wherein dimensions between said hinge and said wall, and between said hinge and said dispensing opening, are such that said wall engages a periphery of said dispensing opening adjacent to said hinge as said lid is closed and cams said lid into alignment with said deck.

7. The closure set forth in claim 6 including a dispensing valve in said dispensing opening, and wherein said wall has at least one external channel to vent air when said lid is in said closed position.

8. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein there are a circumferential array of said channels around said wall.

9. A dispensing closure that includes:

a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base for securement to a container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to said base,

said base having a deck with a dispensing opening and an elastomeric dispensing valve disposed within said dispensing opening,

said lid having a wall disposed and contoured for receipt within said dispensing opening, and in contact with and between an outer periphery of said dispensing valve and an inner periphery of said dispensing opening, to prevent outward opening of said valve when said lid is closed,

said wall having at least one external channel for venting air inward when said lid is closed,

wherein said base has a recess extending across said deck from a position adjacent to said hinge to a position opposite from said hinge, said lid having a base portion with a periphery for receipt in said base recess and a tongue that extends substantially perpendicular to said base portion at an end of said base portion remote from said hinge, and

a latch for engaging said tongue on said lid to said base releasably to hold said lid in said closed position.

10. The closure set forth in claim 9 wherein there are a circumferential array of said channels around said wall.

11. The closure set forth in claim 9 wherein said latch comprises a snap latch that includes an internal bead on said tongue and an external latch element in said thumb recess over which said internal bead is received in said closed position.

12. The closure set forth in claim 11 wherein said base includes a ledge in said thumb recess against which said tongue abuts in said closed position of said lid.

13. The closure set forth in claim 12 further comprising at least one rib adjacent to said ledge for frictional engagement with said tongue in said closed position of said lid to hold said bead in snap engagement with said latch element.

14. The closure set forth in claim 13 wherein said at least one rib comprises a pair of said ribs in said thumb recess adjacent to said ledge for frictional engagement with said tongue.

15. The closure set forth in claim 9 wherein said lid has side edges that converge between said hinge and said tongue, and said base recess has side edges complementary to said side edges of said lid.

16. The closure set forth in claim 15 wherein said side edges of said base recess and said lid are straight.

17. A package that includes a container having a neck finish and a dispensing closure on said neck finish, said dispensing closure including:

a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base for securement to a container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to said base,

said base having a skirt, and a deck with a recess extending across said deck from a position adjacent to said hinge to a position opposite from said hinge, a dispensing opening in said deck recess, a radially outwardly facing wall disposed radially inwardly of said skirt in said deck recess, and a thumb recess in said skirt at a position opposite from said hinge and having a bottom wall,

said lid having a base portion with a periphery for receipt in said deck recess and a tongue that extends substantially perpendicular to said base portion at an end of said base portion remote from said hinge, wherein said tongue includes a lid latch element, and

a base latch element in said radially outwardly facing wall in said thumb recess for engaging said lid latch element of said tongue on said lid to said base releasably to hold said lid in said closed position,

wherein said lid has side edges that converge between said hinge and said tongue, and said deck recess has side edges complementary to said side edges of said lid,

wherein said base includes at least one rib to frictionally engage said tongue between said at least one rib and said radially outwardly facing wall of said deck in said closed position of said lid, and wherein said base includes a ledge provided between said thumb recess bottom wall and an edge of said deck recess and against which said tongue abuts in said closed position of said lid.

18. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said lid latch element comprises a bead on said tongue and said base latch element includes a channel in which said bead is received in said closed position.

19. The package set forth in claim 18 wherein said at least one rib also holds said bead in snap engagement with said latch element.

20. The package set forth in claim 19 wherein said at least one rib comprises a pair of said ribs in said thumb recess adjacent to said ledge for frictional engagement with said tongue.

21. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said side edges of said deck recess and said lid are straight.

22. A package that includes a container having a neck finish and a dispensing closure on said neck finish, said dispensing closure including:

a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base secured to said container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to said base,

said base having a deck with a dispensing opening and an elastomeric dispensing valve disposed within said dispensing opening,

said lid having a wall disposed and contoured for receipt within said dispensing opening, and in contact with and between an outer periphery of said dispensing valve and an inner periphery of said dispensing opening, to prevent outward opening of said valve when said lid is closed,

said wall having at least one external channel for venting air inward when said lid is closed,

wherein said base has a recess extending across said deck from a position adjacent to said hinge to a position opposite from said hinge, said lid having a base portion with a periphery for receipt in said recess and a tongue that extends substantially perpendicular to said base portion at an end of said base portion remote from said hinge, and

a latch for engaging said tongue on said lid to said base releasably to hold said lid in said closed position.

23. The package set forth in claim 22 wherein there are a circumferential array of said channels around said wall.

24. The package set forth in claim 22 wherein said latch comprises a snap latch that includes an internal bead on said tongue and an external latch element in said thumb recess over which said internal bead is received in said closed position.

25. The package set forth in claim 24 wherein said base includes a ledge in said thumb recess against which said tongue abuts in said closed position of said lid.

26. The package set forth in claim 25 further comprising at least one rib adjacent to said ledge for frictional engagement with said tongue in said closed position of said lid to hold said bead in snap engagement with said latch element.

27. The package set forth in claim 26 wherein said at least one rib comprises a pair of said ribs in said thumb recess adjacent to said ledge for frictional engagement with said tongue.

28. The package set forth in claim 22 wherein said lid has side edges that converge between said hinge and said tongue, and said base recess has side edges complementary to said side edges of said lid.

29. The package set forth in claim 28 wherein said side edge of said base recess and said lid are straight.