Patent Publication Number: US-6220470-B1

Title: Resealable closure for open end of container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a closure member for an open end of a container, and more particularly to a closure member with a main body segment and a flap segment pivotally mounted to the main body segment for closing a discharge port of the main body segment. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art includes a large number of containers for accommodating various types of goods, including beverages and other liquids. Such containers typically include a cylinder with an integrally formed bottom and an open top. They also include a closure that normally closes the open top and defines a sealed port through which one may discharge the contents of the container after breaking the seal. Some of the closures include resealable discharge ports that allow a user to repeatedly open and close the port. 
     A resealable closure should have a rugged, simple and inexpensive construction that allows repeated closing and opening while maintaining a tight seal even when the container holds pressurized fluid. It should allow easy opening; and it should simulate the local shape and lip feel of a drinking glass. A releasable closure should also keep the area that the lips contact clean by shielding it from environmental dirt or dust. It should further minimize slosh and facilitate pouring. 
     The prior art resealable containers of the general type described above fail to meet these criteria because of various inherent design characteristics. However, the closure member of the present invention does meet these criteria. It provides a simple and reliable construction that effectively closes a wide mouth enclosure or other similar container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a closure member for closing an open end of a container includes a main body segment secured to edge portions of the container adjacent the open end and a flap segment pivotally mounted to the main body segment. The main body segment defines a discharge port through which fluid discharges from the container while the flap segment is moveable between a first position in which it covers the discharge port and extends over an edge portion of the container and a second position away from the port. 
     In one embodiment, the flap segment flips over as it moves between these two positions. In this embodiment, the flap segment includes a sleeve portion that extends into the discharge port and engages the main body segment portions adjacent the port to form a fluid-tight seal. In another embodiment, the flap segment slides over the main body segment as it moves from the first to the second position. In this embodiment, the flap segment lies rotatably mounted to the main body portion, and a sealing segment lies between the main body segment and the flap segment to assure a fluid-tight seal between these two segments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of this invention, one should now refer to the embodiment illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the closure member of the present invention in place over a container; 
     FIG. 1A is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  1 A— 1 A in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 1B is the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1A, showing a different sealing arrangement; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the closure member of FIG. 1 in place over a container; 
     FIG. 4 is the front elevation view of FIG. 3, showing a modification of a flap segment that covers the discharge port of the closure member; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the left hand portion of FIG. 2, showing the flap segment in a first, closed position; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the left hand portion of FIG. 5, showing a part of the flap segment as it moves out of the first position; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the right hand portion of FIG. 2, showing the flap segment in a second, open position; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of the closure member of the present invention in place over a container; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the closure member of FIG. 8 in place over a container; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the left hand portion of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 11, showing the flap segment raised a predetermined distance above its first, closed position so that it can slide to the second position; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 8, showing the flap segment as it moves away from the first position of FIG. 8 to a second position where it does not obstruct the discharge port of the closure member; 
     FIG. 14 is a plan view of a modified form of the embodiment of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line  15 — 15  of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the closure member of FIG. 14 in place over a container; 
     FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the left hand portion of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 18 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 14, showing the flap segment as it moves away from the first position of FIG. 14 to a second position where it does not obstruct the discharge port of the closure member; 
     FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of modified main body and flap segments, including alternative securing means that threadably secure the closure member to a container; 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the modification of FIG. 19; 
     FIG. 20A is a sectional view taken along line  20 A— 20 A in FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line  21 — 21  in FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 22 is an elevational view taken along line  22 — 22  in FIG. 21; 
     FIG. 23 is the sectional view of FIG. 21 with the flap segment disposed away from the discharge opening; 
     FIG. 24 is the elevational view of FIG. 22 with the flap segment disposed away from the discharge opening; 
     FIG. 25 is the perspective view of FIG. 20 with the flap segment disposed in the second position and with a portion of the main body segment cut away; 
     FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a further modification of the main body and flap segments, including securing means for securing the closure member to a container; 
     FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the closure member shown in FIG. 26; and 
     FIG. 28 is the perspective view of FIG. 27, showing the flap segment in the second, open position. 
    
    
     While the following disclosure describes the invention in connection with two embodiments and modifications of those embodiments, one should understand that the invention is not limited to these embodiments and modifications. Furthermore, one should understand that the drawings are not to scale and that graphic symbols, diagrammatic representatives, and fragmentary views, in part, illustrate the embodiment. In certain instances, the disclosure may not include details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Turning now to the drawings and referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure member of the present invention shown generally at  20  closes an open top of a container C which normally contains pressurized fluid and includes a cylindrical body  21  with edge portions  22  and an integrally formed bottom (not shown). The container C may be a wide mouth plastic enclosure, a metal can, or any other enclosure made of any suitable material. The closure member  20  is a one-piece, integrally formed unit or component made out of a single or multi-layered plastic material such as polyolefin or polypropylene, PET, or any other suitable material that provides a gas barrier and has sufficient strength, flexibility and corrosion resistance. It includes a main body segment  23  and a flap segment  24  pivotally connected to the main body segment with a molded hinge (e.g., a living hinge) as shown at  25 . 
     The main body segment  23  includes a smooth contoured or curved, generally horizontal portion  23   a  and a rim portion  23   b  which defines a cavity or slot  23   c  to receive the edge portions  22  of the container C. (Rib portions  23   d  stiffen the segment  23  to help maintain its structural integrity; and they serve as seats for machinery that connects the closure member to the container C.) The rim portion  23   b  extends over the edge portions  22  of the container C and latches onto the edge portions by having a barb-like distal end  23   e  extending into an outer annular groove  22   a  of the edge portions (See FIGS.  2  and  7 ). The rim portion  23   b  also includes a knob-like annular protuberance  23   f  that extends into an inner annular groove  22   b  of the edge portions  22 . The distal end  23   e  and the protuberance  23   f  form a fluid-tight seal between the segment  23  and the container C. 
     FIG. 1A shows the initial position of the rim portion  23   b (in phantom) before conventional machinery snaps the closure member into the secured position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1A and 2. A gasket-like compound G applied to the distal end (or top end) of the edge portions  22  of the container C in combination with the barb-like end  23   e  and the knob-like protuberance  23   f  provide a secure fluid tight seal between the main body segment  23  and the container C. (A modification of this arrangement may include a knob-like protuberance  23   e′  instead of a barb-like latch anywhere along the outside part of the rim portion  23   b , See FIG. 1B.) Connecting the closure member to the container C includes the step of forcing the rim portion of the closure member into locking engagement (as shown in FIGS.  1 A and  1 B), using, for example, high compressive forces generated between variations of the seaming chucks and rollers normally used in double-seaming metal cans and ends. 
     The main body segment  23  defines two openings—a discharge port  26  and a vent  27  (See FIGS.  5 - 7 ). The discharge port  26  lies proximate the edge portions  22  in a curved, elliptic depression  23   g  of the horizontal portion  23   a . Liquid disposed in the container C discharges through this port  26 , allowing an individual to drink from the container. The depression  23   g  provides a large drinking surface area to facilitate drinking; and the vent opening  27  allows air to enter the container C as the contents discharge through the port  26 , providing easy discharge of liquid from the port  26 . (The vent opening  27  lies proximate the middle of the portion  23   a  as shown in FIG. 2.) 
     If the port  26  had an area equal to that of the depression  23   g , the flap segment  24  would be subjected to too high an opening force to be contained by the combination of the barb-like latch  23   e  and the mechanical interference between the sleeve  24   b  and the sides of the port  26 . Conversely, if the closure member did not include a depression  23   g , the drinking sensation from the small port  26  would be unsatisfactory. Moreover, if the closure member did not include a vent  27 , the flow through the port  26  would be too slow and non-uniform in time. By way of a specific example, the closure member  20  includes an area for the port  26  that is less than 0.6 square inches and preferably between 0.1 and 0.35 square inches. 
     The flap segment  24  generally has the shape of a truncated pie section; and it includes a rim portion  24   a  with a shape similar to that of the rim portion  23   b  of the main body segment  23 . This segment  24  also includes a closed sleeve portion  24   b  that normally closes the discharge port  26  when the segment  24  lies in a first position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 and a plug portion  24   c  that normally closes the vent  27  when the segment  24  lies in the first position. The distal ends of the sleeve portion  24   b  and the plug portion  24   c  spread outwardly to better engage the portions of the main body segment  23  that lie adjacent the port  26  and the vent  27  and help seal the port and vent and prevent pressurized contents from forcing open the port  26 . The sleeve  24   b (and accordingly the discharge port  26 ) is small enough to overcome the pressure exerted by the contents of the container C but large enough to allow easy discharge of those contents. As stated above, the combination of the port  26 , the depression  23   g  and the vent  27  provide easy discharge and drinking of the contents of the container C. 
     The flap segment  24  is moveable between two positions—a first position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 and a second position shown in FIG.  7 . In the first position, the segment  24  closes the port  26  and the vent  27 , as described above. In the second position, the segment  24  flips over; and two projections  24   d  and  24   e  of the segment  24  engage the inside surface of the rim portion  23   b  of the main body segment  23  to releasably secure the flap segment  24  in the second position shown in FIG.  7 . To move the flap segment  24  from the first to the second position, one must first disengage the rim portion  24   a  from the edge portion  22  of the container C. As shown in FIG. 3, the middle of this rim portion  24   a  has its barb-like end, the end that extends into the outer groove  22   a , cut away to allow easy disengagement. (The modification shown in FIG. 4 has the ends of the distal barb-like end cut away.) In addition, this closure member  20  may include a bridging portion between the main body segment  23  and the flap segment  24 . This bridging portion is a tampering evidence feature that would break the first time that someone opened the flap segment. 
     Another embodiment  120  shown in FIGS. 8-13 similarly includes a main body segment  123  and a flap segment  124 . However, in this embodiment, the flap segment  124  lies rotatably connected to the main body segment  123  as at  125 . The pivot at  125  comprises a projecting, arcuate portion  124   f  of the flap segment  124  and a channel or trough  123   h  of the main body segment  123  that receives the portion  124   f  and guides it along a circular path. The trough  123   h  slopes slightly so that the flap segment may exert a sealing force (directed inwardly of the container C) when the flap segment moves from the second to the first position. The flap segment  124  rotates from a first position shown in FIG. 8, counterclockwise to a second position shown in FIG. 13, away from a discharge port  126  of the main body segment  123 . In the first position, the flap segment  124  covers the port  126 ; and a continuous sealing liner  127  disposed in a groove  124   g  and secured to the segment  124  forms a fluid-tight seal around the port. The liner  127  is a resilient member made out of rubber or any other suitable material. Also, in this embodiment, the port  126  is larger than the port  26 . 
     The main body segment  123  includes a stop portion  123   i  that engages a side of the flap segment  124  to stop further clockwise rotation of the segment  124  beyond the position shown in FIG.  8  and exert a force inwardly of the container C that helps maintain the seal between the flap segment and the main body segment. It also includes a breakable projection  123   j  which the flap segment  124  breaks but does not detach the first time that the segment  124  rotates from the first to the second position. (This feature shows any tampering with the closure member  120 .) The segment  124  includes a handle portion  124   h  used to drive the segment between the first and the second positions and to add rigidity to the segment  124 . 
     To move the flap segment  124  from the first to the second position, one must first lift the segment from the locked or lowered arrangement shown in FIG. 11 to an unlocked or raised arrangement shown in FIG.  12 . In the lowered arrangement, the flap segment  124  lies flush with the main body segment  123 . But in the raised arrangement the flap segment can override the main body segment  123  to move between the first and second positions. (A grooved surface  124   i  on an outward face of a rim portion  124   a  of the flap segment  124  facilitates grasping of the segment  124  to place it in the raised arrangement.) 
     Referring to FIGS. 14-18, a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-13 includes a main body segment  123  with a rim portion  123   b  that has the same shape around the entire circumference of the container C. (In the first embodiment, FIGS. 1-7, and in the second embodiment, FIGS. 8-13, the rim portion that extends over the edge portions of the container has a gap that the flap segment fills when it lies in the first position.) In addition, the connection between the flap and the main body segments is a single pivot  150  about the center of the closure member and the container C. This pivot includes a knob portion of the flap segment and a cooperating well of the main body segment. 
     The modification of FIGS. 14-18 includes grooves in the rim portion of the main body segment and cooperating threads on the inside of the rim portion of the flap segment. (Although the FIGS. 8-13 do not show these features, the embodiment of those figures may also include them.) This threading forces the flap segment inwardly of the container C as the flap segment moves from the second to the first position. This action provides a better seal between the main body segment and the flap segment. It supplements the sealing force provided by the portion  123   i.    
     In the embodiments and modifications described above “snap-on” type procedures make the connection between the closure member and the container C. “Snap-on” type procedures include conventional double seam-like and push on methods. Alternatively, the closure member  220  may thread onto the container C. (See FIGS. 19-25.) In this alternative, the main body segment  223  includes a rim portion  223   b  with threading  223   k  formed on the container engaging face of the rim portion. The container C has cooperating grooves C 1  formed into the outer face of edge portions  222 . The grooves C 1  and threading  223   k  include teeth (See FIG. 20A) that allow rotation of the closure member only in one direction, e.g., the clockwise direction. Once in place on the container C, the main body segment  223  cannot rotate in the opposite direction to disconnect from the container C because the teeth stop such reverse rotation. 
     However, the flap segment  224  of this alternative may rotate between a first, closed position (See FIG. 20) and a second, open position (See FIG.  25 ). (This flap segment  224  does not include the reverse anti-rotation feature used to secure the main body segment  223 .) A groove  223   l  formed into the outside face of the rim portion  223   b  facilitates this rotation and allows the flap segment  224  to slide over the main body segment  223  (See FIGS.  21 - 24 ). FIGS. 26-28 show a further modification, in which discontinuous thread segments replace the continuous, helical thread and groove features of the alternative in FIGS. 19-25. In this “push and twist” alternative one may start the twisting in any one of a number of positions and the discontinuous thread segments of the main body segment engage those of the container to secure the closure member and the container together. The stopping teeth of FIG. 20A lie on the side of the thread segments. 
     While the above description and the drawings disclose and illustrate two embodiments and various modifications, one should understand, of course, that the invention is not limited to these embodiments and modifications. Those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may make other modifications and other embodiments employing the principles of this invention, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. For example, one may use the threaded connection of FIGS. 19-25 or FIGS. 26-18 with the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7. Therefore, by the appended claims, the applicants intend to cover any modifications and other embodiments as incorporate those features which constitute the essential features of this invention.