Snap-on container closure with hinged flap

A snap-on closure prevents flaps from coming unsnapped or popping open during assembly of the closure onto the neck of a container. The snap-on connection between the container and the closure includes a circular groove and a circular rib projecting into the groove. The closure includes dispensing ports such as sifter holes, a pouring hole, and/or a spooning hole which are closed by hinged flaps which snap-on the horizontal platform of the closure. The flaps may include plugs which project into their respective dispensing openings and provide a seal against the wall of the opening. The closure also includes a resilient crush seal which engages the neck of the container to provide a seal between the closure and the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates to server lids or closures for containers, more
 particularly, to injection molded plastic closures with hinged reclosable
 flaps enabling the contents of the container to be dispensed through the
 closure.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 One conventional form of product dispenser for spices, condiments and other
 similar dry particulate materials includes a container with a round server
 lid screwed onto its neck. The round server lid is often known and
 referred to as a "closure" by those skilled in the art. In the product
 dispensing art, round closures include one or more dispensing ports for
 such purposes as sifting, pouring or spooning spices or other condiments
 from the container. These closures also include one or more vertically
 movable flaps that snap close over the dispensing ports to keep the
 product in the container. In this particular server lid closure art it is
 conventional that the round closure is screwed onto the neck of a
 container. One reason for this convention is that a separate plastic or
 foil seal strip is often applied over the entire open end of the
 container. The plastic or foil seal strip serves the purpose of
 maintaining the freshness or shelf-life of the product inside the
 container. Prior to first use, the closure is removed by unscrewing it,
 the plastic or foil seal strip is removed, then the closure replaced. An
 exemplary product dispenser including a closure as described above is
 generally disclosed in VerWeyst et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,292, the
 disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
 Round closures as disclosed in the '292 patent to VerWeyst et al. work very
 well and are highly practical for the consuming public. However, as is
 recognized by the '292 patent to VerWeyst et al., round screw-on closures
 present certain difficulties from an automated assembly standpoint. In
 particular, when the closure is screwed on the container, the resilient
 plastic material in the closure tends to deflect or shift after the
 closure engages the top lip of the container towards the end of the
 screwing motion. Occasionally too much torque is applied (a condition
 known as over-torquing) which results in the hinged flaps undesirably
 popping open. The '292 patent to VerWeyst et al. discloses an improved
 locking arrangement to address this problem and better maintain the hinged
 flaps in the closed position during assembly. Although the locking
 arrangement taught by VerWeyst et al. reduces the number of open flaps
 occurring during assembly, an undesirable number of flaps still inevitably
 open during assembly operations even with this improvement. This specific
 locking arrangement also reduces the number of design options possible for
 the port configuration of the dispensing ports of the closure.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is the general objective of the present invention provide a round
 closure having hinged flaps for closing dispensing ports in which the
 flaps more reliably stay closed during assembly operations of the closure
 to a container.
 While achieving this above objective, it is another objective of the
 present invention to maintain the desired freshness of product inside the
 container for certain applications.
 In accordance with these and other objectives, the present invention is
 directed towards a novel snap-on closure having hinged flaps, in which the
 closure is adapted to be snapped on the cylindrical neck of a container
 during assembly. The closure includes a cylindrical skirt depending
 vertically downward from a generally horizontal platform. The platform
 includes at least one dispensing port such as a spoon hole, a pour hole,
 and/or sift holes. For each dispensing port, a hinged flap is provided
 that swings between open and closed positions to correspondingly open and
 close its dispensing port. The cylindrical skirt and the cylindrical neck
 of the container include cooperating interfitting locking structures which
 snap together to lock the closure on the container in a substantially
 non-removable manner. In a preferred embodiment these structures comprise
 an interlocking projection and recess structure, both of which follow a
 circular and non-helical path. It is an important advantage that the
 closure is installed by being pressed into place and without the need for
 torque, thereby reducing the number of flaps that pop open or otherwise
 come unsnapped during assembly due to shifts or deflection in the
 resilient plastic material of the closure. The present invention is also
 directed towards the combination of the snap-on closure and the container.
 It is an aspect of the present invention that the flaps include plugs that
 fill their dispensing ports and provide a seal against the walls of the
 dispensing ports. It is another aspect of the present invention that a
 crush seal is provided between the closure and the neck of the container.
 It is an advantage that these seals maintain freshness of product in the
 container by minimizing air transfer between the inside of the container
 and the external environment. With these seals, a plastic or foil sealing
 strip over the open end of the container is not necessary for most
 applications. As such, the snap-on connection can be substantially
 permanent meaning that the closure is not intended to be removed by the
 customer.
 Other object and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from
 the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
 accompanying drawings.

While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred
 embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the
 contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and
 equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
 defined by the appended claims.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 For purposes of illustration, the invention has been shown in the drawings
 as embodied in a one-piece server lid or closure 10 for closing the open
 end of a container 12 which herein is a glass or plastic jar. The
 combination of the closure and the container provides a product dispenser
 13. The container 12 includes a closed end 14 and a vertically upwardly
 extending wall 16 to define an internal volume for containing such
 products as spice, condiments or other relatively dry flowable particulate
 products. The container 12 also includes a cylindrical neck section 18
 having an upper rim 20 that defines a circular opening 22. Although a
 cylindrical container is shown, it will be appreciated that the closure 12
 of the present invention can be used with other shapes of containers that
 are formed with cylindrical necks to include rectangular box-like
 containers.
 The closure 10 is molded of resiliently yieldable plastic material such as
 polypropylene and comprises a round generally horizontal platform 24 and a
 downwardly depending cylindrical skirt 26. The cylindrical skirt 26 has an
 inner diameter that is closely dimensioned to the outer diameter of the
 cylindrical neck 18 such no substantial gap is formed between the skirt
 and the neck. The inner cylindrical surface of the skirt 26 may actually
 be in direct contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the neck 18.
 Recessed surfaces 28, 29 are located on opposite sides of the platform 24
 with a raised plateau portion 37 therebetween. Each recessed surface 28,
 29 typically includes a dispensing port. For example, in this embodiment,
 a large pour hole 30 is formed through one side of the platform 24 and a
 plurality of smaller sifter holes 31 are formed through the other side of
 the platform 24. The pour hole 30 and sifter holes 31 are adapted to be
 separately closed by similarly formed flaps 34, 35, respectively, located
 on opposite sides of the platform 24. Each flap 34, 35 is substantially
 semicircular in shape similar to the shape of its respective recessed
 surface 28, 29 and is integrally connected to the platform 24 by a hinge
 36 provided by a thin web of plastic material formed on the intermediate
 raised plateau portion 37 of the platform 24. By virtue of the hinge 36,
 the flaps 34, 35 may be swung upwardly and downwardly between open and
 closed positions as illustrated by a comparison of FIGS. 2-3 and 4-5. The
 illustrated form of flaps and sectional plateau is preferred for many
 spice bottle applications, but other flap and port arrangements can also
 be used.
 In the preferred embodiment, the flaps 34, 35 include generally flat sides.
 However, plugs 38, 39 may project from the bottom surface of the flaps 34,
 35. The plugs 38, 39 are aligned with and are sized closely to the shape
 or diameter of their respective dispensing holes 30, 31. In the closed
 position, each plug 34, 35 substantially fills its respective dispensing
 hole 30, 31 and preferably forms a close fit or an interference fit with
 the wall of its dispensing hole to form a seal. Seals provided between the
 plugs and the platform prolong the shelf-life and maintain freshness of
 the contents inside the container. In the preferred embodiment, these
 seals are accomplished by increased diameter or outwardly projecting ribs
 40, 41 that completely surround each plug 38, 39. Each outward projecting
 rib 40, 41 engages either the bottom surface of the platform 24 or
 alternatively the sidewall of its respective dispensing hole 30, 31 to
 provide a seal. In either event, the size and shape of the ribs 40, 41 is
 dimensioned and shaped such that the seal is generally continuous around
 each of the plugs. The outwardly projecting ribs 40, 41 by their shape and
 dimension provide a snap fit connection which cooperate with corresponding
 nibs or catches 42, 43 formed into the platform 25. In this embodiment,
 the corresponding snapping nibs or catches 42, 43 are provided by either a
 closely dimensioned sidewall of the dispensing port to provide a
 resistance fit or alternatively the bottom surface of the platform 24 to
 catch the corresponding ribs 40 or other snapping nibs formed on the plugs
 34, 35. The outward projecting ribs 40, 41 and the catches 42, 43 provide
 cooperating snap connectors that are adapted to releasably snap together
 to hold the flaps in the closed position. Each flap also preferably
 includes a lift tab 45 that is positioned over a recess 47 at the outer
 peripheral corner between the skirt 26 and the platform 24. The lift tab
 45 provides a structure which is easily engaged by the finger of a person
 to facilitate easier opening of the flaps.
 While a preferred form of plugs have been shown in the preferred embodiment
 and described above, it will also be appreciated that other forms of plugs
 can be used with alternative forms of releasable snapping arrangements.
 For example FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which a
 differently shaped sifter plug 139 projects downward from a hinged flap
 135 into a sifter hole 131 in a closure platform 124. The sifter plug 139
 includes a releasable snapping structure 140 near the top that is separate
 from the circular sealing rib 141 near the bottom. In this embodiment the
 snapping structure 140 comprises a recess 144 in the plug that is received
 into a snapping nib projection 143 formed into the platform 124. The
 sifter plug 139 may also include a sealing rib 141 that contacts the
 surrounding wall of the sifter hole 131 to provide a seal.
 It will be appreciated that the size of the sifter holes 32 is dependent
 upon the desired application in that the size of the sifter holes 32 are
 formed just larger than the size of spice or other particulate material in
 the container 12. It will also be appreciated that the type, size, number
 and shape of the dispensing ports can be varied as desired to meet the
 requirements of the application. In addition, although two forms of snap
 fit connectors are disclosed in the present application, it will be
 appreciated that other connector configuration can be used to hold the
 flaps in the closed position. Other arrangements of flaps/dispensing holes
 and other forms of releasable snap connectors can also be used such as
 those forms for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,898,292 to VerWeyst
 et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,250 to Foster, U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,399 to
 Hickman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,838 to Miller, and U.S. Pat. No.
 3,323,671 to Minarik Jr. et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated
 by reference for these above purposes. As generally demonstrated by these
 patents, the snap fit connectors can be located virtually anywhere such as
 on the outer semicircular edge of the flaps which interact with a raised
 projection on the platform of the closure, or for example on a tab
 projecting from the semicircular edge of the flap.
 In accordance with the present invention, a non-threaded snap-on connection
 is provided for retaining the closure 10 on the container 12. The snap-on
 connection includes an interfitting projection and recess structure on the
 container and the closure which locks the closure on the container in a
 substantially non-removable condition. Non-removable in this context is
 meant that the closure is not intended to be removed in normal use, and in
 fact cannot be removed by normal manual manipulation such as would be
 applied to a screw type closure. In the present embodiment, the
 interlocking projection and recess structure takes the form of a radially
 inward projecting circular projection or rib 46 on the skirt 26 and a
 circular receiving recess or groove 48 on the neck 18 of the container.
 The rib 46 has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer
 cylindrical diameter of the neck 18 or sealing lip 20. More specifically,
 the inner diameter and shape of the rib 46 is sized closely to the shape
 and inner diameter of the groove 48. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rib 46
 projects into the groove 48 to engage either the side walls of the groove
 or alternatively the groove bottom and as such, the circular rib 46 has an
 inner diameter sized closely to the diameter of the bottom of groove 48.
 The rib 46 engages the top wall of the groove 48 for vertical retention of
 the closure 10 on the container 12. In the preferred embodiment, the rib
 46 and the groove 48 both follow a non-helical and continuous path as
 illustrated and both have a semicircular cross-section as seen in FIGS. 2
 and 3. The intermitting projection and recess structure is engaged as the
 closure is pressed over the neck, of course after filling the container.
 No freshness seal is applied, because the closure, once fitted, is not
 intended to be removable. During assembly, pressure of the closure onto
 the neck causes the outside of the skirt to flare radially outward as the
 rib 46 rise against the outer wall of the closure cylindrical top.
 Ultimately a position is reached in which the rib 46 is trapped in the
 groove 48, forming a projection and recess lock which is only removable by
 the application of substantial force preferably with the use of a tool.
 For practical purposes the closure is non-removably locked on the
 container. And it is done by simple mechanical pressing equipment without
 the need for torque, thereby eliminating the over-torquing lid-popping
 problem.
 It will also be appreciated that other projection and recess configurations
 could be provided other than a U-shaped or hemispherical shape as shown.
 For example, non-continuous configurations could also be provided in which
 the rib 46 is broken up into projecting tabs or gripping teeth and the
 groove 48 is broken up into individual receiving channels or slots. FIGS.
 9-13 disclose alternative embodiments of the invention. From these
 alternative embodiments, it will also be appreciated that the interfitting
 recess structure and the projection can take other shapes. For example,
 FIG. 9 illustrates a snap fitted and interlocked closure 200 and container
 202 that includes a square cross-sectional configuration of a rib 204 and
 a groove 206 providing the snap fit connection. FIG. 10 illustrates a snap
 fitted and interlocked closure 210 and container 212 with a V-shaped
 cross-sectional configuration of a rib 214 and a groove 216 also providing
 a snap fit connection. FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration that is
 somewhat of a collaboration of that shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, but with the
 rib 224 angling upwardly interfitting with a larger square shaped groove
 226, such that removal of the lid is even more difficult.
 A further alternative embodiment of the snap-on connection for a dispensing
 container 13a is illustrated in FIG. 7. As shown therein, the location of
 the rib and the groove may be reversed. In particular, in this embodiment
 the rib 46a projects radially outwardly from the neck 18a of the container
 12a and is received into a corresponding groove 48a in the inner
 peripheral surface of the skirt 26a for vertical retention of the closure
 10a. It will be understood that this embodiment works much the same way as
 the first embodiment but in this case the cam surface 52a is located on
 the bottom edge of the skirt.
 Turning to yet another alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, it
 will also be appreciated that the snap fit connection between the closure
 and the container does not need to be provided along the outer periphery
 of the neck section and the inner periphery of the skirt. In this
 embodiment, a closure 300 is provided in which the skirt 302 includes an
 inner and outer cylindrical flanges 304, 306 joined by an interconnecting
 top section 308 of the skirt. The inner flange 304 may be longer than the
 outer flange 306. In this embodiment, the outer periphery of the inner
 flange 304 includes a recess structure in the form of a groove 310 that
 receives a projection in the form of a radially outward projecting rib 312
 on the outer periphery of the inner flange 304.
 Yet a further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13 in
 which the neck section 400 of the container 402 is illustrated as a smooth
 curve 404 having a circular cross section. Although not perfectly
 cylindrical, the neck section 400 performs the same function in the same
 way as those of the previous embodiments to achieve a snap-on connection
 and includes a similar projection or recess structure. The server lid or
 closure 406 snaps on to this container 402 in a similar manner to the
 previous embodiments with an interfitting rib 408 and groove 410. This
 embodiment also illustrates the fact that only one hinged flap 412 need be
 provided on the closure 406.
 In any of the embodiments, the snapping structures of the rib 46 and the
 groove 48 provide an assembly of the closure 10 on the container 12 that
 achieves retention of the closure 10 without requiring the application of
 torque to the closure 24 and the resulting deflections or shifts in the
 plastic material caused by over-torquing. It is a significant advantage
 that this better prevents the flaps 34, 35 from popping open or coming
 unsnapped during assembly. According to the preferred method of assembly
 and referring to FIG. 1, the closure 10 is initially aligned with the neck
 18 of the container about a common central axis 50. Then an axial pressing
 force is applied along the central axis 50 to either press the closure 10
 on the container 12 or alternatively press the container 12 on the closure
 10. In either event, the action first starts with the rib 46 engaging the
 sealing lip 20 such that the skirt 26 bends or deflects radially outward
 from the axis 50 to an increased diameter and the neck 18 bends radially
 inward towards the axis 50 to a decreased diameter if the container is
 also plastic and resiliently yieldable (In the case of a glass container
 or container of non-yielding material, the neck 18 would not bend and
 remain rigid). In either event, enough clearance is provided to allow the
 rib 46 to axially slide along the outer cylindrical surface of the neck 18
 to allow the rib to reach the groove 48. Once the rib 46 reaches the
 groove 48, the resilient nature of the plastic material in the closure 10
 and the container 12 causes the rib 46 to snap into the groove 48, with
 the skirt 26 bending radially inwardly towards its original relaxed
 position and at the same time the neck 18 bending radially outwardly
 towards its original relaxed position. Once this occurs the upper surfaces
 of the rib 46 and the groove 48 engage one another to vertically retain
 the closure 10 on the container 12. In the preferred embodiment, the
 snap-on connection is substantially permanent in that it is not intended
 to be removed by the customer without extraordinary force. However, it
 will be appreciated that such a force could be accomplished by prying the
 closure off of the container with a tool such as a screwdriver or kitchen
 utensil, but in doing so the force would also typically mark or otherwise
 damage the container and/or the closure. This ensures that the closure 10
 is reliably retained on the container 12, and does not fall off when
 shaking spice or other condiment from the container. Although all of the
 embodiments illustrated in the drawings are considered substantially
 permanent, it will be appreciated that the level of permanency can be
 varied. For example, the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 11 with squared comers
 or an upwardly angled snap fit connection can be even more permanent than
 the hemispherical rib and groove approach shown in the preferred
 embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, thereby increasing the force necessary to remove
 the lid. The hemispherical shape of the interfitting rib and groove of the
 preferred embodiment however has the benefit of providing for easier
 assembly as the smooth curved surfaces act as a cam to direct the outward
 flaring of the skirt during assembly. It will also be appreciated that a
 non-permanent snap fit connection could be provided in a less preferred
 embodiment, and as such certain claims appended hereto are directed
 towards that possibility.
 If the snap-on connection is substantially permanent, it is not desirable
 to use a plastic or foil sealing strip over the container opening 22. The
 reason is that the sealing strip would not be easily removed and customers
 would have to puncture the sealing strip instead. Because a sealing strip
 is not desirable, it is a further aspect of the present invention that two
 seal areas are provided. Specifically a seal is provided for each of the
 dispensing port to prevent air transfer through the dispensing ports and a
 seal is provided to prevent air transfer between the closure 12 and the
 neck 18 of the container 12. As indicated above, the plugs 38, 39 form
 interference fits with their respective dispensing holes 30, 31 to seal
 off air passageways through the closure 10. The other seal is provided
 between the closure and the container for both freshness and to prevent
 material from exiting therebetween. Referring to FIG. 2 a resilient seal
 56 in the form of a crush rib is provided between the container 12 and the
 closure 10 to prevent air passage therebetween. The seal 56 comprises a
 thin resilient annular web 58 that is sized such that it engages the
 sealing lip 20 of the container 12 in a biased state such that the sealing
 surface 60 of the web 58 is biased against the sealing lip 20 to provide a
 seal once the closure 10 is snapped on the container 12. The amount of
 deflection in the web 58 from the relaxed to the biased state can be seen
 comparing FIGS. 1 and 2. The resiliency, thickness, and shape of the web
 58 are such that the seal is continuous around the neck of the container.
 Although one type of resilient seal 56 is illustrated in the preferred
 embodiment, several other forms of seals may also be used which comprises
 thin resilient webs of plastic material. Examples of alternative
 embodiments of such seals are illustrated in FIGS. 8a-8j. The seals of
 these alternative embodiments also are ring shaped and engage the sealing
 lip 20 or alternatively the side walls of the neck of the container all
 the way around the open end. These alternative embodiments of seals
 operate substantially the same as those previously discussed in that the
 resilient nature of the material in that the seal and ultimate location of
 the seal by virtue of the snap fit connection maintains the seal in a
 biased state. For example, in FIG. 8a, the seal is provided by a tight
 fitting contact between the sealing lip of the container and the bottom
 surface of the closure. In FIG. 8b, the resilient seal takes the form of a
 wiper seal or radial seal which is biased radially outward against the
 inner peripheral surface of the container neck section. FIG. 8c
 illustrates a pair of small projecting ring seals which compress against
 the sealing lip of the container. FIGS. 8d-8f illustrate an embodiment
 where the seal engages the corner of the sealing lip. FIGS. 8g and 8h
 illustrate axial crush seals similar to the first embodiment of FIG. 2.
 FIGS. 8i and 8j illustrate combinations of the previous seals.
 Also, although not shown in the drawings, a plastic shrink wrap over cap
 may also be used to cover the entire closure 10. Such an over cap would be
 anchored to the container either just below the bottom edge of the skirt
 or below the outward projecting bead of the neck.
 The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments of the invention
 has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
 intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention the precise forms
 disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of
 the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described
 to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and
 its practical application thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art
 to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
 modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such
 modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as
 determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the
 breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.