Closures

• US 7,513,381 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Click Clack Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Click Clack Ltd.
• Inventors: Griffiths, Evan George, Heng, John Montgomery, Sands, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smalley; James N
• Application Number:
  US10/486,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 220/233, 220/234, 220/238, 220/262, 220/801, 220/805, 220/806, 215/294, 215/358, 215/359, 215/355, 138/90
• US Class Current: 220/238
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00231 made of several pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00314 Combination, e.g. laminates, several different materials
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00546 NO contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00879 on the central part of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00935 by depressing the central part at least locally
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00981 Discs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/022 only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1683 by actuating a separate element in the container or closure

Abstract

A closure for the open mouth of an airtight container. The closure has a resiliently flexible diaphragm which has a peripheral edge (37) which can sealing engage against an inside wall surface of the open mouth. The diaphragm (13) is engaged with the second cover section (12) of a cover. A pair of toggles (24) are pivotally mounted on axles (22) of second cover section (12). The levers (30) of the toggles (24) extend through an opening (44) in the first or outer cover section (11) when the first and second cover sections (11,12) are snap-locked together. By moving the levers (30) toward one another the respective feet (27) of the toggle (24) engage with area (35) of the diaphragm (13) to deform the diaphragm and thereby break a sealing effect between the peripheral edge of the diaphragm and the inside wall surface of the open mouth.

Claims

1. A closure for the open mouth of a container, the closure including:

a resiliently flexible diaphragm including a sealing edge with a perimeter defining a periphery of the diaphragm, the sealing edge of the diaphragm being sealable against an inside wall surface of the open mouth of the container;

a cover with which the diaphragm is mounted; and

a deformation mechanism, whereby the diaphragm can be deformed so as to reduce a length of the perimeter of the sealing edge of the diaphragm to break a sealing effect between the sealing edge of the diaphragm and the inside wall surface,

wherein the cover comprises first and second cover sections coupled together and retaining therebetween at least part of the deformation mechanism,

wherein the first and second cover sections are coupled together by first and second separate mechanical connections, and

wherein the first mechanical connection is formed by fitting together a peripheral skirt of the first cover section and a peripheral wall of the second cover section in an overlapping arrangement.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second mechanical connection is formed by the first cover section interlocking with a part of the deformation mechanism mounted by the second cover section.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first cover section includes a dished portion, which engages within a dished portion of the second cover section.

4. A closure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the dished portion includes drainage openings for drainage of any accumulation of moisture between the first and second cover sections.

5. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the diaphragm is mounted to the cover by the second cover section.

6. A closure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second cover section includes a peripheral groove into which is fitted a peripheral projection of the diaphragm.

7. A closure for the open mouth of a container, the closure including:

a resiliently flexible diaphragm including a sealing edge with a perimeter defining a periphery of the diaphragm, the sealing edge of the diaphragm being sealable against an inside wall surface of the open mouth of the container;

a cover with which the diaphragm is mounted; and

a deformation mechanism, whereby the diaphragm can be deformed so as to reduce a length of the perimeter of the sealing edge to break a sealing effect between the sealing edge of the diaphragm and the inside wall surface,

wherein the cover comprises first and second cover sections coupled together and retaining therebetween at least part of the deformation mechanism,

wherein the deformation mechanism includes a pair of toggles pivotally mounted with the cover, each toggle including an engagement portion engageable with a contact area of the diaphragm, and

wherein the second cover section includes a pair of axles, each axle engaging with a sleeve of a toggle, and wherein each axle has a stub axle which is held within a clip of the first cover section.

8. A closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the deformation mechanism includes a pair of toggles pivotally mounted with the second cover section, the pivoted mounting incorporating at least one stub-axle, which is connected to a mounting of the first cover section to form a second mechanical connection.

9. A closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein each toggle includes a lever, which projects through the first cover section, said lever being overmoulded with a soft feel plastic material.

10. A closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein each toggle includes a lever, which projects through an opening in the first cover section, said levers being oppositely disposed.

11. A closure as claimed in claim 10 wherein each lever projects from a respective sleeve, each sleeve being pivotally mounted on an axle carried by the second cover section, and wherein the engagement portion is formed by a foot, each foot being coupled to a respective sleeve, and each foot projecting from a side of the respective sleeve that is substantially opposite to the side from which the lever projects.

12. A closure as claimed in claim 11 wherein each foot extends on an incline relative to a central pivot axis of the respective sleeve.

13. A closure for the open mouth of a container, the closure including:

a resiliently flexible diaphragm including a sealing edge with a perimeter defining a periphery of the diaphragm, the sealing edge of the diaphragm being sealable against an inside wall surface of the open mouth of the container;

a cover with which the diaphragm is mounted; and

a deformation mechanism, whereby the diaphragm can be deformed so as to reduce a length of the perimeter of the sealing edge to break a sealing effect between the sealing edge of the diaphragm and the inside wall surface,

wherein the cover comprises first and second cover sections coupled together and retaining therebetween at least part of the deformation mechanism,

wherein the deformation mechanism includes a pair of toggles pivotally mounted with the cover, each toggle including an engagement portion engageable with a contact area of the diaphragm,

wherein each toggle includes a lever, which projects through an opening in the first cover section, said levers being oppositely disposed,

wherein each lever projects from a respective sleeve, each sleeve being pivotally mounted on an axle carried by the second cover section, and wherein the engagement portion is formed by a foot, each foot being coupled to a respective sleeve, and each foot projecting from a side of the respective sleeve that is substantially opposite to the side from which the lever projects,

wherein each foot extends on an incline relative to a central pivot axis of the respective sleeve, and

wherein the foot has a distal end, which engages with an area of the diaphragm which is of increased thickness.