Closure for a container

• US 7,938,282 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berlin Packaging, LLC
• Original Assignee: Berlin Packaging, LLC
• Inventors: Considine, Ralph Guy, Jost, Scott, Hawry, Liam
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELOSHWAY, NIKI MARINA
• Application Number:
  US12/016,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 215/305, 220/212.5, 220/288
• US Class Current: 215/305
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/0485 with means specially adapted for facilitating the operation of opening or closing

Abstract

A closure for a container having a top portion having a centered region; and a plurality of slots radially arrayed about the top section, each slot being sized to receive a finger tip of a human hand interspaced about the top portion.

Claims

1. A closure for a container, the closure comprising:

a cylindrical skirt depending downwardly from a top portion;

the top portion having a centered region;

a plurality of slots interspaced about the top portion, each slot sized to receive a finger tip of a human hand, each slot being defined as having an opening positioned towards the cylindrical skirt, a back portion radially facing the centered region on the top portion and facing the opening, and a walled section extending from the back portion towards the opening define a partially elliptical form; and

an upwardly rounded edge on the secondary edge positioned only between two slots of the plurality of slots, and

wherein the top portion further includes a first tapered annular section that extends upwardly and inwardly from the cylindrical skirt and includes a second tapered annular section extending upwardly and inwardly from an intervening edge between the first tapered annular section and the second tapered annular section, the second tapered annular section further having a secondary edge distal from the intervening edge, the secondary edge separating the second tapered annular section from a region sloped upwardly and radially inwardly towards the centered region defined by the top section, and

wherein each slot, of the plurality of slots, is further defined as including an indent having a surface boundary formed from the secondary edge of the second tapered annular section which forms into a downwardly sloped section, the surface boundary continues from the downwardly sloped section into a bowed section and then merges into an upwardly sloped section, the upwardly sloped section then levels into an extension section moving inwardly towards the centered region, the extension section forms into a wall section that merges at an edge with the top section.

2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the first tapered annular section has a higher rise angle then the second tapered annular section.

3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots is defined by having seven slots radially and equally spaced around the top section.

4. A closure for a container, the closure comprising:

a cylindrical skirt depending downwardly from a top portion;

the top portion having a centered region; and

a plurality of slots spaced around the top section, each slot being sized to receive a finger tip of a human hand, each slot having an opening facing the cylindrical skirt, a back side radially facing the centered region and a walled section extending from both ends of the back side, such that the slot has a partially elliptical form, and wherein each slot, of the plurality of slots, is further defined as including an indent having a surface boundary formed from the secondary edge of the second tapered annular section which forms into a downwardly sloped section, the surface boundary continues from the downwardly sloped section into a bowed section and then merges into an upwardly sloped section, the upwardly sloped section then levels into an extension section moving inwardly towards the centered region, the extension section forms into a wall section that merges at an edge with the top section, and

wherein the top portion further includes a first tapered annular section that extends upwardly and inwardly from the cylindrical skirt and includes a second tapered annular section extending upwardly and inwardly from an intervening edge between the first tapered annular section and the second tapered annular section, the second tapered annular section further having a secondary edge distal from the intervening edge, the secondary edge separating the second tapered annular section from a region sloped upwardly and radially inwardly towards the centered region defined by the top section.

5. The closure of claim 4, wherein the first tapered annular section has a higher rise angle then the second tapered annular section.

6. The closure of claim 4 further comprising an upwardly rounded edge on the secondary edge positioned only between two slots of the plurality of slots.

7. The closure of claim 4, wherein the plurality of slots is defined by having seven slots radially and equally spaced around the top section.

8. The closure of claim 4, wherein each slot of the plurality of slots has a partially elliptical form.

9. A closure for a container, the closure comprising:

a top portion having a centered region; and

a plurality of indents radially and equally spaced around the top portion, each indent being sized to receive a finger tip of a human hand, each indent having a bottom defined from an opening of the indent to a back wall and defined between walled sections extending from the back wall to the opening, both the opening and the back wall radially face the centered region, and wherein the bottom is further defined from the opening as having a downwardly sloped section, a bowed section from the downwardly sloped section that merges into an upwardly sloped section, the upwardly sloped section then levels into an extension section moving inwardly towards the centered region, the extension section forms into the back wall, and

wherein the top portion further includes an annular region positioned between the plurality of indents and an outer edge defined by the top portion, the annular region further includes a first tapered annular section that extends upwardly and inwardly from the outer edge and includes a second tapered annular section extending upwardly and inwardly from an intervening edge between the first tapered annular section and the second tapered annular section.

10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the first tapered annular section has a higher rise angle than the second tapered annular section.

11. The closure of claim 9 further comprising an upwardly rounded edge on the secondary edge positioned only between two indents, of the plurality of indents.

12. The closure of claim 9, wherein the plurality of indents is defined by having seven indents.