Abstract:
A flapper cap container closure including a cover-lid having a first flap hinged to the cap and to second and third flaps overlying the apertures of its web, whereby depressing the first flap automatically positions the second and third flaps to depress and seal off the apertures of the closure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     NONE. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     NOT APPLICABLE 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to dispensing closures for storing and dispensing particulate matter, in general, and, more particularly, to plastic closures having hinged reclosable flaps. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Food product container closures having hinged reclosable flaps are known in the art. For example, flapper-cap container closure patents assigned to Gateway Plastics Inc. of Wisconsin include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,250,517; 6,308,870; 6,460,718; 6,464,113; 6,691,901; D509,426; D513,452; and 7,007,830. Flapper cap patents assigned to Weatherchem Corporation of Ohio include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,936,494; D340,187; 5,330,082; and RE37,634. Common to their descriptions is the providing of a cover-lid with a first flap overlying a single large dispensing aperture and a second flap overlying a series of smaller dispensing apertures. As will be appreciated, the smaller apertures are utilized as sifters for shaking matter from the container, while (depending on size) the larger aperture allows for spooning matter out of the container, or for using it as a pour spout. Also common to these container configurations are the inclusion of a pair of toggle hinges, to open and then reclose each of the flaps in turn. 
     Experience with these double-hinge, double-flap constructions, however, has shown that they exhibit several problems. First, the flaps tend not to stay closed, but often pop open so that the particulate matter within is not always sealed. Second, their methods of injection mold manufacture are complicated, and frequently lead to substantial differences in the shrinkages of their respective parts. This causes the closure to go out of round when attempting to screw it onto the container or bottle beneath. 
     However, and as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the container closure of the present invention allows for a simpler molding manufacture, a more effective seal, and a more reliable use of operation. As will be seen, this follows, in part, from the use of a further toggle hinge, resulting in a triple-hinge, triple-flap closure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As will be described blow, the triple-hinge, triple-flap closure of the invention allows, as does the prior art, either the smaller sifter apertures or the larger spoon or pour spout aperture to be opened or closed independently. But, the sealing of the container of the invention follows from the closing of the included third flap located between the other two flaps on the cover-lid. The criticality of the prior molding methods in attempting to arrange their individual flap pairs to overlie their respective apertures is thereby eliminated. This follows through the sealing being effected by the third flap of the cover-lid, which automatically brings the two other flaps into position. As will be seen, a third toggle hinge is utilized to effectuate this. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of the triple-hinge, triple-flap container closure of the invention with the two prior art flaps in their closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the triple-hinge, triple-flap container with the two prior art flaps in their open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of the triple-hinge, triple-flap container with the third flap open, as well as the prior art pair; and 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are helpful in an understanding of the deployment and operation of the added third flap of the container closure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIGS. 1 through 5 , a circular lid or cover for the dispensing closure  10  is shown at  12 , joined by a toggle hinge  14  to a cylindrical cap  16 . The smaller sifter apertures of a circular web  18  are illustrated at  20 , and the larger pour spout aperture is shown at  22 . Reference numeral  24  identifies a male snap-lock projection member extending downwardly from the underside of the cover-lid  12  and reference numeral  26  represents a female snap-lock well extending downwardly in the web  18 . An orifice  28  is provided in the snap-lock well  26  to prevent any particulate product from collecting there, falling instead into the cylindrical container or bottle beneath (not shown). 
     As the drawings illustrate, the male snap-lock projection member  24  is configured to fit within the female snap-lock well  26 , and a locking ring  30  within the well  26  retains the male member  24  in place. The product passage orifice  28  within the female locking well  26  allows passage of the particulate product back into the dispensing container should there be a tendency of particulate to build up within the well. Reference numeral  32  identifies a finger detent for opening a first flap  19  which overlies the pour spout aperture  22 . Reference numeral  34  identifies a finger detent for opening a second flap  21  which overlies the sifter apertures  20 . Both detents open by an upward pushing movement. Reference numeral  36  identifies an injection mold gate for forming the dispensing closure of plastic. 
     As  FIGS. 3-5  illustrate, a male valve seal ring  38  extends downwardly from the underside of the cover-lid  12  near its extreme circumference  40 . The ring  38  is configured to fit within a female valve seat  42  encircling the web  18 , to which it is joined by the hinge  14  constructed in three dimensions to give it a toggle action as the cover-lid  12  opens and closes. Inwardly of the male valve seal ring  38  on the underside of the cover-lid  12  is a downwardly extending projection  44  configured to bear against an edge  46  of the pour spout aperture  22  in fixing the flap  19  closed when it is pressed downwardly. A male snap-lock projection  48  similarly extends downwardly from the underside of the cover-lid  12  inwardly of its circumference  40 , configured to fit within a female snap-lock well  50  amongst the smaller sifter apertures  20  to likewise close the flap  21  when it is pressed downwardly. 
     As is more clearly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the flaps  19  and  21  rotate about hinges  52 ,  54  on opposite sides of a third flap  23 , according to the invention. A third finger detent  56  is provided for opening the flap  23  (and thereby the cover-lid  12 ) by an upward pushing movement. As will be seen, it is on the underside of this third flap  23  that the snap lock projection member  24  is positioned. 
     In operation, the cover-lid  12  is first closed by the lowering of the flap  23  such that the male snap-lock projection member  24  fits within the female snap-lock well  26 . The flaps  19  and  21  are then lowered to close the male valve seal ring  38  within the female valve seat  42  encircling the web  18 . The projections  44  and  48  thus close to seal the pour spout aperture  22  and the smaller sifter apertures  20  in like manner to effectuate the container closure. 
     A continuous thread  58  is in the nature of a screw thread for attaching the dispensing closure to the container or bottle—and the circumferential valve seal formed between the underside of the cover-lid  12  and the web  18  prevents any component of the lid and the web contacting one another to affect the efficacy and positive nature of the seal. 
     With the triple-hinge, triple flap container closure of the invention, its construction allows the closure to be molded on the flat as a single piece, followed by a sonic sealing to melt the plastic in adhering the cover-lid  12  to the cap. The resulting hinges last longer in this manner, and the individual flaps  19  and  21  remain closed. Increased positive sealing results, with a longer lasting life for the closure. 
     While there has been described what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention.