Abstract:
A swivel top closure including a base and a top affixed to the base, the top being movable with respect to the base along the horizontal plane in swivel-like motion between a closed position in which the top fully covers an opening in the base to an open position in which the top uncovers the opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to dispensing closures for containers, and more particularly, to such closures which include a base potion affixed to the container and a separate top portion which is cooperatively engageable upon the base portion and adapted to be swiveled thereabout between a fully closed and a fully opened condition of said closure to permit dispensing of product from the container.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Dispensing closures for containers are known and commonly include a base portion adapted to be positioned upon the mouth of a container and a separately formed cap or top portion which is cooperatively engageable upon said base portion to complete the closure.  
           [0005]    Hinged dispensing closures for containers also are known and commonly include a cap hingedly connected to a base and capable of being pivoted with respect to the base between a closed and an open dispensing position. In the closed position, the cap covers a dispensing opening formed in the base, and in the open position, the cap is moved away from the opening to permit product to be dispensed from the container.  
           [0006]    Also known in the art are hinged dispensing closures which include features to maintain the cap in its open position away from the base without the need for application of an extraneous restraining force, and also to maintain the cap in closed position over the base when the cap is pivoted to such closed position.  
           [0007]    It is desirable to provide a dispensing closure which includes a base and top that is engageable upon the base and movable between a closed position on the base and a fully open position, which closure utilizes a swivel engagement construction between the top and base rather than a hinge connecting construction therebetween. Preferably, such swivel top closure is formed from separately molded top and base portions which are assembled together to provide the desired closure. Also preferably, the swivel top portion of the closure is movable between a first closed position on the base to a second fully opened position where the top is maintained in said opened position without the need for application thereagainst of an extraneous restraining force.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The invention is characterized by a two piece closure including a base portion and a separately formed top portion. The base portion includes a generally horizontally disposed platform or deck and a circumferential skirt depending from and surrounding the platform. The skirt is adapted to be secured to the mouth of a container by engagement of the skirt about said mouth. A passageway is formed in the platform to permit the contents of the container to pass therethrough and be dispensed through the closure. The top portion includes a depending post formed on the underside thereof which is engageable within a hole formed in the platform. Once so engaged upon the base, the top is movable along the horizontal plane in swivel-like motion with respect to the base between a closed position in which the top fully covers the passageway in the base to an open position in which the top uncovers the passageway, thereby permitting the contents of the container to be dispensed through the passageway formed in the base. The top is maintained in its closed position and its open position without application of any extraneous restraining force applied thereto.  
           [0009]    Various objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in accordance with the above and ensuing disclosure in which the preferred embodiments are described in detail in the specification and illustrated in accompanying drawings. It is contemplated that minor variations may occur to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the swivel top closure of the invention, in which the top is shown in its closed position with respect to the base;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the closure in which the top is shown in its fully opened position with respect to the base;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 in which the closure is rotated to a position different than that shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 in which the closure is rotated to a position different than that shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the closure similar to that of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5, in the direction indicated generally;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the closure in which the top is shown in a partially opened position with respect to the base;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7, in the direction indicated generally;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the closure in which the top is shown in a nearly fully opened position with respect to the base;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken long the line  10 - 10  of FIG. 9, in the direction indicated generally;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the closure similar to that of FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line  12 - 12  of FIG. 11, in the direction indicated generally;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the closure similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the manner in which a container (shown in fragment) may be stacked upon another container having the closure of the invention positioned thereon;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 14 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 13, with a portion thereof shown in section;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the section portion  15  shown in FIG. 14;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the closure in which the top is shown in its fully opened position as shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the closure as shown in FIGS. 2 and 16;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of the top and base portions of the closure exploded one with respect to the other;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of the top and base portions of the closure exploded one with respect to the other;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 20 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 18 in which the top and base portions of the closure are rotated to a position different than that shown in FIG. 18;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 21 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 19 in which the top and base portions of the closure are rotated to a position different than that shown in FIG. 19;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line  22 - 22  of FIG. 1, in the direction indicated generally;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of the section portion  33  shown in FIG. 22;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 24 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the closure of the invention in which the top is shown in its fully opened position with respect to the base; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 25 is a top plan view of a further alternate embodiment of the closure of the invention in which the top is shown in its fully opened position with respect to the base.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    Referring to the drawings, the swivel top closure  10  of the invention preferably is formed of molded plastic material and includes a base  12  and a separately formed top  14 . The base  12  includes a generally horizontally disposed platform or deck  16  and a circumferential skirt  18  depending from and surrounding the platform  16 .  
         [0036]    The base  12  is adapted for attachment to the mouth  20  of a container  22  by engagement of screw threads  24  formed on the inner-facing surface  26  of skirt  18  which mate with like threads (not shown) formed on the mouth  20  of container  22  in conventional manner.  
         [0037]    Platform  16  is disposed over mouth  20  when the closure  10  is installed upon the container  22 . A lip  28  is formed on platform  16  upstanding therefrom and is positioned adjacent to passageway  30  which passes through the platform between the bottom surface  32  disposed adjacent to mouth  20  and the top surface  34  of said platform. Lip  28  rises from low points  36 ,  37  which merge with platform  16  on opposite sides of passageway  30  to a high point  38  disposed proximate to the mid-length of the lip  28 . Lip  28  functions as a pouring lip about passageway  30  to facilitate pouring of the contents of container  22  through mouth  20  and direct same therefrom when dispensing of such contents is desired.  
         [0038]    The top surface  34  of platform  16  is of generally angled and contoured configuration and rises from a low point  40  disposed proximate to passageway  30  to a high point  42  spaced away from passageway  30  and located generally opposite to high point  38  of lip  28 . A hole  44  is formed in platform  16  proximate to high point  42  for a purpose to be described below.  
         [0039]    Top  14  functions as a lid for base  12  to cover passageway  30  when the closure is in closed orientation and prevent dispensing of the contents of container  22  through mouth  20 . Top  14  includes a generally horizontally disposed wall  46  having a bottom surface  48  adapted for mating engagement with top surface  34  of platform  16  and a top surface  50  on the side of wall  46  opposite to bottom surface  48 . Wall  46  is generally contoured and dish-shaped in configuration such that the bottom contoured surface  48  contacts and mates against top surface  34  of platform  16  when top  14  is positioned upon base  12 . Top contoured surface  50  of wall  46  forms a depression or concave dish-like external configuration of the top  14 .  
         [0040]    A depending post  52  is formed on bottom surface  48  and is matingly engageable within hole  44  in platform  16  and retained therein by engagement of slot  54  of post  52  within peripheral surface  56  of hole  44 . The engagement of post  52  within hole  44  is such as to permit top  14  to swivel about the horizontal plane with respect to base  12  to which the top is secured when post  52  is engaged within hole  44 . The swivel axis of engagement  60  (see FIG. 22) of post  52  within hole  44  is generally tilted with respect to normal. As such, the bottom surface  48  of top  14  is moved away from top surface  34  of platform  16 , and thereby out of engagement with passageway  30 , when the top is moved from closed position to open position with respect to the base.  
         [0041]    A stacking rim  58  projects above the top surface  50  of wall  46  and extends with consistent perimeter height about the entire circumferential edge  62  thereof. A depending skirt  64  is formed partially about the circumferential edge  62  of wall  46  and projects downwardly below bottom surface  48  between a first stop edge  66  and a second stop edge  68  spaced approximately 180° from first stop edge  66 .  
         [0042]    When top  14  is positioned upon base  12  with post  52  engaged within hole  44 , bottom surface  48  of wall  46  engages against top surface  34  of platform  16  in close contact such that passageway  30  is closed and sealed to prevent the contents of container  22  from being dispensed through mouth  20 . The closed position of top  14  against base  12  is maintained without the application of any extraneous force because of the contact between post  52  within hole  44 . In order to enhance such closed position and ensure its maintenance, an inwardly projecting nub  72  is formed on the inner surface  74  of skirt  64  proximate to first stop edge  66 . Nub  72  engages against lip  28  near high point  38  thereof to securely retain top  14  in contact with base  12  when the top is in its closed position.  
         [0043]    When top  14  is swiveled about base  12  to open the closure, the cooperating contoured undersurface of the top rides against the top surface  34  and continues until second stop edge  68  of skirt  64  engages against surface  76  of platform  16  at a location  78  in the general vicinity of hole  44 . During the opening operation of top  14 , the condition of passageway  30  changes from fully closed (FIG. 5) to partially or variably opened (FIG. 7) and finally to fully opened (FIG. 11). Also during such opening operation the top edge  80  of lip  28  between low points  36  and  37  and along high point  38  wipes against bottom contoured surface  48  of top  14  to move material which may be adhered thereto off of such surface. Thus, during such opening operation, any product from container  22  which may be adhered to surface  48  will be wiped from such surface to fall back through passageway  30  into the container.  
         [0044]    The fully opened or variably opened positions of top  14  with respect to base  12  are maintained without the application of any extraneous force because of the engagement of the post  52  within hole  44 . In such positions the contents of container  22  may be dispensed through passageway  30  without the top falling over passageway  30  because the closure operation takes place only by swivelling the top about the base and not pivoting the top as is the case in prior art hinged constructions.  
         [0045]    After the top  14  has been moved to its fully opened position with respect to base  12 , the procedure can be reversed to close the closure and top  14  is swivelled about post  52  upon swivel axis  60  in the opposite direction until first stop edge  66  of skirt  64  engages against surface  82  of lip  28  at a location in the general vicinity of high point  38 . During such closing operation, any undesirable debris which may be adhered to undersurface  48  will be wiped and cleaned therefrom by top edge  80  of lip  28  to fall away from passageway  30  before undersurface  48  is positioned thereagainst. When moved to its fully closed position (see FIG. 23) the bottom contoured surface  48  of top  14  is engaged against top mating contoured surface  34  of platform  30  and passageway  30  to seal same.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS.  13 - 15 , stacking rim  58  is provided to facilitate stacking of a second container  22 ′ upon container  22  having closure  10  applied thereto. The stacking rim  58 , having a consistent perimeter height about the circumferential edge  62 , in conjunction with the concave dish-like top surface  50  forms a receiving or cradling area  84  upon which a container  22 ′ with mating bottom surface  86  may be positioned in nesting-like fashion. In this manner, multiple containers may conveniently be stacked one upon another, as desired.  
         [0047]    In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 23 , the passageway  30  is illustrated as being a single opening. It is to be understood that such passageway is only one configuration contemplated to function as a product dispensing opening in the closure of the invention. For example, the passageway  30  may be replaced by a dispensing opening  100  comprising multiple small holes  102  (FIG. 24), or a dispensing opening  104  having multiple slots  106  (FIG. 25). In all other respects, the closures illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25 are the same as that illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 23 .  
         [0048]    Other configurations and variations in the structure, arrangement and size of the various parts may occur to those skilled in the art without department from the spirit or circumventing the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.