Abstract:
A method and apparatus for fusing a preformed pour spout to the surrounding surface of a lid or container during the molding process. During molding the hot molten plastic of the lid or container contacts a relatively thick rim portion at the bottom of the pour spout to meet the thick rim portion and create fusing during the cooling of the mold. The pour spout has a flexible section to permit a portion of the fused pour spout to be moved between collapsed and extended positions.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application, Ser. No. 08/841,868 filed May 5, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,460. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fused combination of a plastic lid and a pour spout. While the invention may have wider application, it will be described here in conjunction with a plastic lid and a flexible pour spout fused to the lid which can be collapsed to a position relatively flat with the lid and can be pulled out to an extended position when it is desired to pour liquid from a bucket which is closed on the top by the lid. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described relative to a combination of a plastic lid intended to close a plastic bucket, and a plastic pour spout fused to the lid and movable between a collapsed position and an extended position. 
     Such a pour spout cannot be made of a material which has the same thickness as the lid. Such a pour spout must have a relatively thin spout section to permit it to be pressed into a generally flat or collapsed position when not in use, and to be pulled out to an extended position when the spout is to be used for pouring from a bucket on which the lid is attached. In contrast, the plastic lid material must be much more stiff than the pour spout. 
     It has been known heretofore to manufacture a pour spout attached to a molded lid. Thus, the lid and pour spout are molded separately, and then an attachment operation is carried out to attach the pour spout to the lid. Where a pour spout is to be used, the lid must be molded with a fitting to which the pour spout can be attached. Such a fitting will normally include a solid portion which can be punched out to create a hole where the pour spout attaches. The pour spouts have their own screw cap or the like for closure. If no pour spout is utilized, the lid can function as a normal closure of an open top bucket. 
     Known pour spouts comprise relatively soft, thin plastic in the spout area combined with a relatively rigid base portion which attaches to the lid fitting. Such base portion may be made of metal, or relatively rigid plastic. Known pour spouts also have screw-on lids or caps, so the spout can be opened and closed. In some cases, the spout will snap onto a fitting portion on the lid, while in other cases the spout may screw on to the lid fitting. In all such cases, the pour spout is attached to the lid after the lid has been molded, and such pour spouts are relatively expensive. 
     The known pour spouts have significant disadvantages. As noted above, they are relatively expensive, and of course an attachment operation is required after the lid is molded. Beyond that, plastic bucket and lid combinations are often required to be subjected to drop tests to assure that filled bucket can withstand a given drop without the lid disengaging or any of the contents being lost. The various known spouts as described above which snap or screw on to a lid fitting have not performed well when subjected to required drop tests. In addition, there exists a theft problem because the relatively expensive pour spout can easily can be removed from the lid fitting. 
     The present invention involves a novel method of fusing a pour spout to a lid during the molding of the lid. Thus, the pour spout is molded and is placed in a special steel mold insert which is positioned in the lid mold. When the lid is molded, the previously molded pour spout is molded integral or fused to the lid so that no subsequent attachment operation is required. 
     One of many advantages of the invention is that the molded pour spout is relatively inexpensive due to its simplicity. The pour spout comprises the usual thin and flexible spout portion, and a relatively thick flange or rim at the bottom. During the molding of the lid, the molten plastic is permitted to surround a relatively thick flange or rim of the pour spout to fuse the base of the pour spout to the lid. At the same time, the mold inserts serve to prevent the molten plastic from engaging the thin spout portion of the pour spout which would be destroyed if contacted by the molten plastic. The pour spout used in the present invention has the usual screw-on cap or the like for opening and closing the spout, and it is collapsible to a flat position as in known in the art. 
     The pour spout used in the present invention is quite simple and inexpensive compared to the known pour spout which is attached to a lid fitting after the lid has been molded. As described above, the pour spout essentially comprises only the usual flexible spout portion with a cap, and a relatively thick rim or flange at the bottom which is fused to the lid during the molding of the lid. Such a pour spout could not be fused to a lid during the molding of the lid without the special mold inserts which comprise an element of the present invention, because the thin portion of the spout would be destroyed if it were contacted by the molten plastic which forms the lid. Another advantage of the present invention is that fusing of the pour spout and lid during the molding of the lid creates a bond between the pour spout and lid which is especially strong so as to provide significantly improved drop test results. Moreover, the theft problem is eliminated since the pour spout is not removable. 
     The mold inserts of the present invention comprise a pair of rigid inserts, which may be steel, which fit into the respective halves of a lid mold. In accordance with the preferred embodiment to be described herein, the mold inserts are round, and approximately four inches in diameter. The mold inserts open and close with the two halves of a lid mold, and a molded pour spout is positioned in one of the inserts and held tightly therein when the lid mold and mold inserts are closed. The inserts are designed so that the hot plastic will flow around a relatively rigid base portion of the pour spout to fuse it to the lid being molded, while the inserts prevent the molten plastic from engaging the soft, flexible portion of the previously molded pour spout. The mold inserts are also water cooled to enable them to protect the flexible portion of the pour spout. 
     There is one prior art technique which bears a superficial resemblance to the present invention. It is known to mold a plastic lid, and to connect a molded pour spout to such a lid by fusing or welding the pour spout to a fitting formed on the lid. Such a method involves attaching the pour spout to a lid after the lid is molded, which is entirely different from the present invention. Beyond that, the final product is very different because the known fusing technique only affects fusing of the spout to the lid at the very bottom surface of the spout. In contrast, the final product of the present invention comprises a spout and lid combination where the spout is fused to the lid around many different surfaces all the way around a rim flange of the spout and not just around a bottom surface. Such extensive fusing of the pour spout to the lid can only be achieved using the present invention where the spout is fused to the lid during the molding of the lid. 
     One of the important features of the present invention is the use of a rigid inserts to pinch against the thin portion of the previously molded pour spout to create a seal which prevents the flow of molten plastic past the seal. The lid inserts when closed create steel against steel contact, but the mold inserts are designed so that when closed they pinch against the thin section of the molded pour spout without engaging so hard that they destroy the spout. 
     In the foregoing manner, the pair of mold inserts, which hold the molded pour spout, pinch the thin portion of the pour spout to seal off and protect the thin pour spout section from being contacted by molten plastic while at the same time the molten plastic is permitted to flow around a relatively thick rim or flange portion at the bottom of the pour spout. The relatively thick rim or flange portion of the pour spout, which is thick enough not to be damaged by the molten plastic, is thereby fused to the lid during the molding of the lid. The hot plastic melts the relatively thick rim portion at the bottom of the pour spout to fuse the same with the adjacent portion of the lid as the lid is molded. 
     During the molding of the lid, the mold inserts are designed to be in close proximity to the thin section of the previously molded pour spout so that, in addition to sealing off the thin section from the molten plastic, the inserts, which are water cooled, serve to cool the thin section of the pour spout to avoid damage which could otherwise be caused by conduction of heat from the relatively thick rim section of the pour spout which is exposed to the molten plastic. It is known in the art to water cool mold inserts, but such inserts have not previously been used for a purpose as in the present invention. 
     Based on the foregoing description, the pair of mold inserts serve two purposes. First, when the lid mold halves are closed, the closed mold inserts pinch against a thin section of a molded pour spout to seal the same off from contact with the molten plastic, and in addition the water cooled inserts cool the thin section of the spout to protect it against heat conducted from the rim portion of the spout which is exposed to the molten plastic. The mold inserts preferably fit close against the thin section of the pour spout to cool the latter. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantage of my invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In my previous described embodiment of a plastic lid with a fused pouring spout, a flexible plastic pouring spout, a type of liquid dispensing closure previously molded with a flexible plastic material and commonly found on industrial size containers, was incorporated to the lid closure by fusion to its base during the process of molding. 
     While the above described flexible spout fusion concept is without question the most economical and positive process for the industry of liquid dispensing containers, in the manufacturing production of the lid closures with the spout it is necessary to have an additional manufacturing operation to install the screw cap to the spout. The spout cap is also widely used for resealing the container one it is open and also for lifting the spout from its nested position. 
     This latter embodiment is directed to fusion of a flexible pouring spout assembly, or any other pouring device assembly, where the spout base and the spout threaded cap, or the pouring device and its cap assembly are fused into an opening in the plastic lid closure, the plastic container closure or the plastic closure. The result is a plastic container or the like for containing liquids, and the provision of a 100% degree of tamper proof protection through fusion of the base of the spout to the plastic closure or a plastic lid closure and the fusion of the spout cap to the same plastic closure or a plastic lid closure. The fusion of the pouring spout cap to the closure is accomplished by fusion of several frangible connecting webs to the periphery of the cap. The frangible webs normally have to be broken to remove the cap offering a tamper proof protection. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing a pair of mold inserts with a previously molded pour spout positioned therebetween, the mold inserts being shown approaching but not yet in a fully closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the type shown in FIG. 1, but with the mold inserts fully closed in the position they are in during the molding of a lid; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a sectional view showing a pair of mold inserts in a mold-open position; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a view similar to FIG. 3 a  showing a previously molded pour spout being inserted into a cavity on one&#39;s steel insert; 
     FIG. 3 c  is a view similar to FIG. 3 b  showing the pour spout fully inserted onto the mold insert in a position suitable for closing of the mold; 
     FIG. 3 d  shows the mold inserts in a closed position where a relatively thick rim portion at the bottom of the pour spout will be exposed to molten plastic during the molding of a lid, while opposed portions of mold inserts pinch against a thin portion of the pour spout adjacent the relatively thick rim portion to seal off the thin portion of the spout from exposure to molten plastic; 
     FIG. 3 e  show the mold inserts during plastic fusing of the pour spout to the plastic lid; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing a pair of lid mold half sections in a mold-open position, there being shown a pair of mold inserts positioned in respective ones of the lid molds; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a previously molded pour spout partially inserted into one of the mold insets; 
     FIG. 5 a  previously molded pour spout with the inserts in cross section; 
     FIG. 5 b  is a side elevational view of the previously molded pour spout; 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing the molds of FIG. 5 in a mold-closed position during a plastic injection cycle; 
     FIG. 7 is a view showing the molds of FIG. 6 in a mold-open position with a plastic lid ejected therefrom, the lid being fused with the previously molded pour spout; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a molded lid having a previously molded pour spout which was fused to the lid during the molding of the lid in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken along the line A—A of FIG. 8 showing the molded lid and fused pour spout, a cap for the pour spout not being shown. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, of a flexible spout having a threaded cap in its retractable position; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, showing the cap being fused to the lid closure of the container through a plurality of frangible webs; 
     FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the lid closure showing the plurality of frangible webs; 
     FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the lid closure after the frangible webs have been broken with the handle being in raised position; 
     FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the lid closure with the spout being raised through use of handle; 
     FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the cap for the pour spout having a modified handle; 
     FIG. 16 is a top perspective view showing the pour spout cap shown in FIG. 15 being lifted; 
     FIG. 17 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the spout cap of the invention having a fused tear tab; 
     FIG. 18 is side elevational view of the spout cap of FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of the spout cap of FIG. 17 with the tear strip intact; 
     FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of the spout cap of FIG. 17 with the tear strip being initially removed; and 
     FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of the spout cap of FIG. 17 with the tear strip wholly removed. 
    
    
     Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of making and using my invention, I shall describe, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of my invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made to FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . FIG. 4 shows lid mold half sections, a cavity side of the lid mold being shown at  10  and the core side being shown at  12 . Such molds are normally made of steel, and in the preferred embodiment being described, mold inserts are also made of steel. FIG. 4 shows in cross-sections of a cavity side mold inserts  14  and a core side mold inserts  16 . 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a molded lid and a fused pour spout  20 , the lid and spout being shown in vertical section in FIG.  9 . 
     In the preferred embodiment being described, the pour spout  20  is located radically out from the center of the lid on the section line A—A as shown in FIG.  8 . During the molding of the lid, the molten plastic is injected at the center of the like mold and flows radically outwardly to the outer periphery of the lid mold. As the plastic flows radically outwardly, the previously molded pour spout will be fused to the lid when the plastic reaches the location of the pour spout as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     Referring again to FIG. 4, the drawing shows the lid mold half sections in the open position with the mold inserts positioned in the respective lid molds in preparation for the molding of a lid. FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but it further shows the previously molded pour spout  20  being inserted into the cavity side mold insert  14 . As shown in FIG. 5, the previously molded pour spout has an outer threaded neck portion  30  having threads  30   a ′ to receive a threaded cap (not shown) for covering the spout, a soft, thin section  32 , an annular rim  34 , and an annular flange  36 . The flange  36  is provided with a tip or thin end section  36   a ′ to ensure fusion of part  36  with the molded lid wall or part  60  and is provided with a bore or hole means  36   b  to ensure further fusion between part  36  and the part  60 . To open the spout  20 , the top flat plate thin portion  30   a  of the spout neck portion  30  is attached to the cylindrical wall of the threaded portion  30   b  which is provided at its end with a cylindrical thinner wall section  30   c  to allow removal of the plate portion  30   a.  Further there is provided a graspable tab  30   d  at the edge of the plate portion  30   a.  When the tab  30   d  is pulled away from the neck portion  30  the thin portion  30   c  is torn away from the cylindrical portion  30   b  allowing removal of the top portion  30   a  and exposing the inner contents of the container or can which can now be poured out of the container or can. 
     As will be described more fully later herein, it is the relatively thick rim  34  and flange  36  which are contacted by molten plastic during the molding of a lid and are fused to the lid, caused by melting and fusing between the hot plastic and the cold plastic of the pour spout rim and flange. The design of the rim  34  and flange  36  may vary, the important point being that a relatively thick plastic rim or the like is required at the “bottom” of the previously molded pour spout where the spout is fused to the lid. The remainder of the pour spout, especially including the very thin spout portion  32 , is protected from contact with molten plastic in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the pour spout  20  in its collapsed position which is the position of the pour spout during the molding of the lid. As is known in the art, the neck section  30  may be pulled out to an extended position for purposes of pouring liquid from a container. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 a  through  3   e.  FIG. 3 a  shows the mold inserts  14  and  16  in a mold-open position. FIG. 3 b  show the mold inserts in a open position with the molded pour spout being inserted into the cavity side insert  14 . FIG. 3 c  shows the pour spout  20  fully inserted into the cavity side inset  14  in preparation for a lid molding cycle. The cavity side insert  14  includes an annular projecting rim  40  having a rounded outer annular portion  42 . As shown in FIGS. 3 b  and  3   c,  the projecting annular rim  40  fits radially inwardly of the annular rim  34  on the molded pour spout, and the rounded out annular portion  42  of the insert engages against the thin spout section  32  in the area where the thin spout section connects with the rim  34 . As shown FIG. 3 c,  the relatively thick rim  34  and flange  36  on the molded pour spout are positioned in an annular space in the mold insert  14  radially outwardly of the annular rim  40 . 
     FIG. 3 d  shows the mold inserts  14  and  16  in a mold-closed position as during plastic injection. The core side mold insert  16  has a projecting annular rim  50  which in the closed position fits closely inside the rim  40  on the insert  14 , leaving just enough space to accommodate the thin wall of pour spout section  32 . FIG. 3 d  also illustrates how in the mold-closed position the out portion  42  of the projection annular rim  40  on insert  14  engages against the mold insert  16  by an amount sufficient to pinch the thin spout wall  32  between the insert  16  and the outer portion  42  of projecting rim  40 . 
     As described earlier, in the mold-close position, the lid mold halves shown at  10  and  12  in FIG. 5 will engage steel to steel, but the mold inserts  14  and  16  engage by an amount sufficient to pinch the thin spout wall  32  to create a seal, but not so much as to damage that thin wall. The purpose of the pinching can be seen in FIG. 3 d.  The annular space shown at  52  represent the space in which molten plastic will flow between the mold inserts  14  and  16  during lid molding operation. It can be seen from FIG. 3 d  that as molten plastic flows into annular space  52 , it will fill the space  52  and will also flow around the spout rim  34  and spout flange  36 . The plastic in space  52  of the lid wall and the molten plastic surrounding spout rim  34  and spout flange  36  will partially melt the latter and use it to fuse with the lid wall which surrounds the spout rim  34  and flange  36 . Thus, as the lid is molded, the lid wall surrounding pour spout  20  is fused to the rim and flange portions of the pour spout. 
     FIG. 3 e  represents a showing of the molten plastic filling the open spaces created by the mold and mold inserts in their closed position of FIG. 3 d.  FIGS. 3 d  and  3   e  further show how the pinching of the thin walled section  32  of the pour spout adjacent its rim  34  creates an annular seal so the molten plastic flowing radially into the annular opening  52  is prevented from flowing past the outer portion  42  of projecting rim  40  of inset  14  and is thereby prevented from contacting the thin wall section  32  of the pour spout. As described earlier the inserts  14  and  16  are preferably water cooled so they will cool the thin wall  32  of the pour spout and protect it from heat conducted from the rim portion  34  of the pour spout  20 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 further illustrate the method and mold inserts of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows the lid mold half sections  10  and  12  in their closed position, and thus they illustrate a mold cavity which defines one half of the lid, including the mold inserts  14  and  16  which control the fusing of the lid wall to the annular rim  34  and flange  36  of the pour spout while protecting the spout thin-walled section  32  so it is not engaged by the molten plastic. FIG. 6 shows a molded lid wall  60  including an outer peripheral lid rim portion  62 , and as previously described the lid wall  60  surrounds the pour spout  20  and is fused to the annular spout rim  34  and flange  36  during the molding of the lid. FIG. 7 shows the lid mold halves  10  and  12  in an open position with the molded lid and fused pour spout combination being ejected from the mold. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 further illustrate the molded lid L having a rim portion  62  and flat wall portion  60 . FIG. 9 comprises a full section of the lid L showing the location of the fused pour spout  20 . Of course, the location of pour spout  20  may vary. The lid shown in FIG. 9 is of a known design, and the rim portion  62  is configured to fit down tightly over the open upper end of a plastic bucket. A threaded cap (not shown) fits one the upper end of the threaded neck portion  30  of the pour spout. 
     The pour spout  20  is shown in its collapsed or flat position in FIG.  9  and when it is desired to use the same for pouring, it is pulled to an extended position which is permitted due to the soft, flexible section  32  as is known in the art. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are enlarged, fragmentary section views which further illustrate the cooperation between the mold inserts and the previously molded pour spout to permit fusing of the lid wall to an annular rim and flange of the pour spout while protecting the thin wall section  32  of the pour spout  20  against contact by molten plastic. FIG. 1 shows the mold inserts  14  and  16  are an almost but not fully closed position, while FIG. 2 shows the mold inserts in a fully closed position. As shown in FIG.  2  and the other drawings showing the mold inserts  14  and  16  fully closed, it should be understood that the pinching of the thin spout wall section  32  between the outer annular portion  42  of the insert  14  and the opposing wall of the insert  16  occurs at two different annular areas. One such annular area is at the extreme outer end of the annular portion  42  of insert  14 , and the other are slightly around the comer of  42  and below the projection  42  viewed in FIG.  2 . Thus, two redundant annular pinching areas are created. 
     As previously described, the molded pour spout used the present invention must have a relatively thick or rigid section at its lower end for fusing to the wall of the lid. However such relatively thick spout section need not take the form of the rim  34  and flange  36  described in the foregoing preferred embodiment. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 10-14, there is illustrated an embodiment of the tamper proof lid closure invention for use with a plastic container (not shown). In FIG. 10 a typical flexible spout assembly  100  is shown having a spout  102  and a spout base  104  made of a flexible plastic whereby the spout  102  is in its retracted position. Although the tamper proof flexible spout assembly  100  is shown in connection with an opening of a lid closure  90 , it is within the scope of the invention to use the teachings of the invention with pourable openings anywhere on the container. A cap  106  having upper lid  106   a  and a lower base  106   b  is formed with lower internal threads  108  (FIG.  10 ), which engage the external threads  110 , is provided at the upper entrance of the spout  102 . As seen in FIGS.  10  and  12 - 14 , a raisible plastic handle  112  in the form of opposed loops is integrally attached to the cap  106  at opposed portions  112   a  and is shown in FIGS. 10 and 12 in a non-raised position prior to opening to the spout closure as will be apparent. Referring to FIG. 11, there are shown a plurality of frangible webs  120 , such as, for example, four in number, which are fused between the surface  122  of the lid closure  90  and the periphery of the upper lid  106   a  of the cap  106 . The spout and cap assembly  100  may be fused to the lid closure  90  during the molding cycle of the lid, such as during injection molding, in a manner as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-9. During the process suitable openings are provided in the mold to introduce molten plastic of the lid between the hardened cap  106  and integral with the surface  122 , such that the webs  120  are fused to both parts as the molten plastic hardens during the molding process. As a result, the cap  106  cannot be removed except by destroying the webs  120  by an implement or the like. Thus, the fused webs  120  of the invention offer tamper proof protection against removal of the contents of the container to which the lid closure  90  is affixed. Further in accordance with the invention, the fused cap  106  is used in conjunction with the spout  102  being also fused to the lid closure in the manner previously described with reference to preceding FIGS. 1-9. Thus, the fused tamper proof cap  105  of FIGS. 10-14 can be formed at the same time as a fused spout to create a fused spout/cap assembly and to eliminate an extra manufacturing step. The frangible webs  120  can also be used with spout assemblies situated at any other pour opening in a container which is not on the lid closure. As seen in FIGS. 12-14, the spout  102  can be raised after the removal of the webs  120  by grasping the two opposed segments  112   a  of the lid handle  112 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is illustrated another embodiment of the invention having a typical lid closure  130  being fused to a flexible spout assembly  132  in accordance with the previous described embodiments. The spout assembly  132  includes a cap  134 , which may threaded to the spout assembly  132  and having a lower cylindrical base  136  and an upper integral plate portion  138 . In FIG. 15, the cap  134  is attached to the lid closure by frangible fused webs  140  of the same type as described with reference to FIGS. 10-14. The bail handle  142  is integrally attached to the lid  134  and may be lifted in the manner shown in FIG.  16 . The cap/spout assembly of FIGS. 15 and 16 also forms a tamper proof unit requiring destruction of webs  140  for removal of cap  134 . 
     In FIGS. 17-21, there is shown a tamper proof cap  150  being fused to the plastic container closure lid  152  by a fused circumferentially extending plastic tear strip or fusion rim  154 . The cap  150  is internally threaded by threads  154  for engagement with a pour spout (not shown). The pour spout may be of the type previously described with reference to the preceding embodiment and may also be fused to the lid closure in accordance with the invention. The fusion rim  154  is provided with a raised tear tab  156  to be lifted to allow for removal of the entire fusion rim  154 . The removal of the fusing rim  154  permits cap  150  to be lifted from the pour spout. In FIG. 19 the fusion rim  154  is in place and the cap  150  cannot be removed. In FIG. 20, the tear tab  156  is grasped and the entire circumferentially extending fusion rim  154  can then be removed. In FIG. 21, the fusion rim  154  is removed to allow opening of the cap  150 . The opposed edges  158  and  160  of the fusion rim are fused to cap  150  and to lid surface  162  during the molding process as in the previously described embodiments by suitable modification of the mold assembly that permits introduction of the molten plastic of lid in the space between the lid surface  162  and the hardened cap  150  during the molding process. The cap  150  may be in threaded engagement with pour spout assembly and also be fitted with a handle (not shown) if desirable.