Patent Publication Number: US-11040806-B2

Title: Closure cap for a container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a closure cap for a liquid container, and more particularly to a closure cap having a lid and a shell, and a hinge region for pivotally connecting the lid to the shell and for locking the lid in an open position thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Particularly in the beverage and food industry, there is a demand for closure caps which can be sealingly fitted onto the neck of a container with liquid contents and have a pivotable lid that can be held in an open position. 
     In general, such closure caps are injection molded articles. In essence they consist of a lid, a cylindrical body for sealingly fitted onto a container neck, a hinge for pivotally connecting the lid to the cylindrical body and means for locking the lid in an open position thereof. For protecting the lid from unauthorized opening or inappropriate manipulation, the lid usually is connected to the cylindrical body via frangible bridges which break upon a first opening of the lid. 
     European Patent Application No. 0 908 349 A1 (KLOPFER; PUBLISHED: 14 Apr. 1999) discloses a closure cap for a container having a lid pivotally connected to a fastening ring of the closure cap and means for locking the lid in an open position at an angle of about 90°. The joint is provided by a thin film formed in an upper wall portion of the fastening ring. The locking means consist of a T-shaped stub projecting from a rim of the lid, and a pair of profiled sprung jaws extending from a lower wall portion of the fastening ring. For locking the lid in its open position, the T-shaped stub is pressed between the profiled jaws which grip the same with a ratchet grip. 
     Applied to a beverage container, the opening angle of the lid of about 90° is unsatisfactory as a lid in such a position renders drinking from the container neck inconvenient. Further, reclosing the lid is cumbersome as in a first place the stub must be disengaged from the sprung jaws. 
     US Patent Application No. 2004/0178166 A1 (ANTIER et al.; PUBLISHED 16 Sep. 2004) discloses a closure cap having a lid pivotally connected to a skirt of the closure cap and means for locking the lid in an open position at an angle of about 180°. The joint is provided by a pair of elastic lamellae spaced apart from each other and formed in upper wall portions of the skirt and lower wall portions of a rim of the lid. The locking means consist of a tongue-shaped projection integrally formed with the lid and extending beyond the rim, and a wall section of the skirt defined by the spacing between the lamellae. The wall section serves to provide an abutment against which the tongue-shaped projection rests in the open position of the lid. 
     Whether or not the lid can be held in a position with an opening angle of 180° fully depends on the compliance with given dimensions of the tongue-shaped extension. Thus, any deviations from such given dimensions, likely to occur during the production of the closure cap, inevitably render the locking mechanism to fail. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object underlying the present invention is to provide a closure cap for a container having a pivotable lid which, at a wide opening angle thereof, can be reliably locked and which also can be readily reclosed. 
     This object is solved by a closure cap having the features defined by claim  1 . 
     According to the present invention, the hinge region for pivotally connecting the lid to the shell of the closure cap and for locking the lid in a final open position comprises a pair of elongate hinge elements spaced apart from each other, and a ratchet-like member disposed therebetween. The hinge elements are integrally formed with the shell and the top panel of the lid. Each hinge element has a lower portion having a wall thickness and an intermediate portion with an inwardly sloping outer face, thereby providing a wall thickness of an upper portion of the hinge element which, relative to the lower portion of the hinge element, is of a reduced thickness. The ratchet-like member is integrally formed with the shell and has a body with outer and inner contours, each thereof having a lower portion, an intermediate portion and an upper portion. The intermediate portion of the outer contour has at least one inward curvature configured for guiding an end portion of the tongue towards the upper portion of the outer contour during opening of the lid. The upper portion has an outward curvature which provides an abutment for the end portion of the tongue in the final open position of the lid. It is worth noting that in its final open position, the lid can reliably be locked at a wide opening angle, so that the closure cap, if applied to a beverage container, allows for conveniently drinking from the container neck. Further, it is worth noting that the lid, from its final open position, can conveniently be reclosed. 
     Preferably, the lower portion of the hinge elements has a wall thickness that corresponds to a wall thickness of the shell. 
     Preferably, the upper portions of the hinge elements each form a recess in the top panel of the lid, so that the recesses in concert form a tongue in the top panel of the lid. 
     In order to advantageously support the body of the ratchet-like member in the final open position of the lid, the intermediate portion of its inner contour preferably comprises a profile configured to abut, at least in part, against a pilfer proof of a container neck. 
     Preferably, part of the upper portion of the inner contour of the body comprises a profile that is configured to abut, at least in part, against a portion of a container neck in the final open position of the lid. 
     According to a first embodiment of the outer contour of the body of the ratchet-like member, the lower portion of the outer contour has a flat face sloping outwardly at an upper section thereof. In this way, it is advantageously ensured that the end portion of the tongue during opening of the lid is properly guided into the inward curvature of the intermediate portion of the outer contour, which inward curvature, in terms of a first variant of this first embodiment, has a substantially semi-circular profile and, in terms of a second variant of this first embodiment, the intermediate portion has a concave profile. An inward curvature having a substantially semi-circular profile has the advantage that it is associated with material savings. The outward curvature of the upper portion of the outer contour has a substantially semi-circular profile which profile thus advantageously supports the sliding of the end portion of the tongue towards an abutment of the outward curvature against which the end portion of the tongue is firmly held in the final open position of the lid. The substantially semi-circular profile of the upper portion of the outer contour preferably has an end section with a nose-like profile such that in the final open position of the lid, the end section either as such can abut against a neck finish of a container or allows an end section of the upper portion of the inner contour to be brought into such an abutment. 
     According to a second embodiment of the outer contour of the body of the ratchet-like member, the lower portion of the outer contour has a flat profile sloping outwardly, the intermediate portion of the outer contour has first and second inward curvatures with an outward curvature disposed therebetween, and the upper portion of the outer contour has an outward curvature having an end section with a nose-like profile. 
     Providing a profile of the intermediate and upper portions of the outer contour of the body in terms of the above second embodiment of an outer contour has the advantage that the end portion of the tongue, during opening of the lid, undergoes a stepwise guidance, wherein, in interaction with the second inward curvature of the intermediate portion and part of the outward curvature of the upper portion, the tongue, by virtue of the hinge elements, can be retained in a position at which the lid is in an intermediate open position with an opening angle that is wider than that the lid has in its final open position where the intermediate portion of the inner contour of the body is, at least in part, in abutment with a pilfer proof of a container neck. 
     According to the aforesaid second embodiment of the outer contour of the body, the profile of the intermediate portion of the outer contour preferably is such that the first inward curvature has a substantially semi-circular profile, the second inward curvature has a substantially semi-circular profile, and the outward curvature disposed therebetween has a substantially semi-circular profile. Preferably, a width of the second semi-circularly profiled inward curvature of the intermediate portion of the outer contour is less than a width of the second semi-circularly profiled inward curvature of said intermediate portion. The outward curvature of the upper portion of the outer contour preferably has a substantially semi-circular profile, and preferably a width thereof is greater than a width of the semi-circularly profiled outward curvature of the intermediate portion of the outer contour. The intermediate and upper portions of the outer contour profiled in such a manner provide for a smooth stepwise guidance of the tongue towards an abutment with the upper portion, while the substantially semi-circular profile of the second inward curvature of the intermediate portion conveniently allows the tongue to be held in an abutment with part of the outward curvature of the upper portion in an intermediate open position of the lid. 
     According to a first embodiment of the inner contour of the body of the ratchet-like member, the lower portion of the inner contour has a flat profile and the upper portion of the inner contour of the body has a flat profile. The intermediate portion has an inward curvature configured to abut, at least in part, against a pilfer proof of a container neck in the final open position of the lid. Providing such an abutment advantageously supports the body in the final open position of the lid. 
     According to a second embodiment of the inner contour of the body of the ratchet-like member, the lower portion of the inner contour has a flat profile. The intermediate portion of the inner contour has an outward curvature and an end section having a substantially flat profile. The outward curvature is such positioned that it, at least in part, abuts against a pilfer proof of a container neck in the final open position of the lid, thereby advantageously supporting the body in the final open position of the lid. The upper portion of the inner contour has an outward curvature. 
     Preferably, the outward curvature of the intermediate portion of the inner contour and the outward curvature of the upper portion of the inner contour each have a convex profile having an apex. Advantageously, the convex profile of the intermediate portion is such positioned that a lower portion thereof abuts against a pilfer proof of a container neck in the final open position of the lid. 
     According to an embodiment of the closure cap of the present invention, the shell, on a side opposite to the side of the hinge region, has a wall section of reduced height which is provided by way of an inverted trapezoid cut-out having identically inclined cut lines. The wall suspended from the top panel of the lid has a complementarily shaped wall section which is received in the aforesaid wall section of the shell in a closed position of the lid. For opening the closure cap conveniently, the complementarily shaped wall section of the wall suspended from the top panel preferably carries a tongue-like projection integrally formed therewith and having an arced-shaped support structure. 
     In order to provide that the closure cap can be snugly fitted onto a container neck, the shell, along an inner circumference thereof, comprises a plurality of cam-like stopper components spaced apart from each other and configured to slide over a pilfer proof of a container neck during capping of the closure cap. During capping a lower surface of the cam-like stopper components helps to radially stretch the shell of the closure cap, while during opening of the lid an upper surface of the cam-like stopper components cooperates with a lower surface of the pilfer proof of the container neck to retain the shell on the container neck. In order to stiffen the wall section of the shell of reduced height, adjacent to each of the inclined cut lines of the inverted trapezoid cut-out providing that wall section, the respective cam-like stopper component preferably has a body portion having an inclination similar to that of the inclined cut-lines. 
     For protecting the closure cap from unauthorized opening or inappropriate manipulation, the lid is connected to the shell via a plurality of frangible bridges which break upon a first opening of the lid. The bridges are each positioned above a space defined by two adjacent cam-like stopper components. In order to allow a user a more precise and convenient opening of the lid, the plurality of bridges preferably is provided only in the front half of the closure cap. 
     In order to provide a proper seal for the liquid content of a container capped with a closure cap of the present invention, the bottom face of the top panel of the lid comprises a plug seal shaped to sealingly fit into a neck finish of a container neck. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view from the above, oriented towards the front half of a closure cap provided according to embodiments of a closure cap of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an elevation view of the front half of the closure cap of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view from the above, oriented towards the back half of the closure cap shown in  FIG. 1 , which closure cap has a ratchet-like member with a body having an outer contour according to a first variant of a first embodiment of the outer contour; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view from the above, oriented towards the back half of the closure cap shown in  FIG. 1 , which closure cap has a ratchet-like member with a body having an outer contour according to a second variant of the first embodiment of the outer contour; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view from the above, oriented towards the back half of the closure cap shown in  FIG. 1 , which closure cap has a ratchet-like member with a body having an outer contour according to a second embodiment of the outer contour; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a sectional view of the closure cap shown in  FIG. 3 , which closure cap has a ratchet-like member with a body having an outer contour according to the first variant of the first embodiment of the outer contour and an inner contour according to a first embodiment of the inner contour; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a sectional view of the closure cap shown in  FIG. 4 , which closure cap has a ratchet-like member having a body with an outer contour according to the second variant of the first embodiment of the outer contour, and an inner contour according to a second embodiment of the inner contour; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a sectional view of the closure cap shown in  FIG. 5 , which closure cap has a ratchet-like member having a body with an outer contour according to the second embodiment of the outer contour, and an inner contour according to the second embodiment of the inner contour; 
         FIG. 9A  depicts a perspective view of the closure cap shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6  in its final open position, which closure cap has a ratchet-like member having a body with an outer contour according to the first variant of the first embodiment of the outer contour, and an inner contour according to the first embodiment of the inner contour; 
         FIGS. 9B to 9D  depict sectional views of the closure cap of  FIG. 9A  and show the lid in interaction with the hinge elements and the body of the ratchet-like member during opening of the lid and in its final open position; 
         FIG. 10A  depicts a perspective view of the closure cap shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7  in its final open position, which closure cap has a ratchet-like member having a body with an outer contour according to the second variant of the first embodiment of the outer contour, and an inner contour according to the second embodiment of the inner contour; 
         FIGS. 10B to 10D  depict sectional views of the closure cap of  FIG. 10A  and show the lid in interaction with the hinge elements and the body of the ratchet-like member during opening of the lid and in its final open position. 
         FIG. 11A  depicts a perspective view of the closure cap shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8  in its final open position, which closure cap has a ratchet-like member having a body with an outer contour according to the second embodiment of an outer contour, and an inner contour according to the second embodiment of an inner contour; 
         FIGS. 11B to 11D  depict sectional views of the closure cap of  FIG. 11A  and show the lid in interaction with the hinge elements and the body of the ratchet-like member during opening of the lid and in its final open position. 
     
    
    
     The drawings serve the purpose of illustration and are not to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to non-limiting embodiments of a closure cap according to the present invention. It should be understood that other modifications and equivalents will be evident to those skilled in the art in view of the non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein and that those variants should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain structural and/or operational details of the non-limiting embodiments discussed hereinafter may be modified or amended. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , closure cap  100 ,  200  and  300 , respectively, comprises a lid  102 , a shell  104  and a hinge region  106  which is configured for pivotally connecting the lid  102  to the shell  104  and for locking the lid  102  in an open position thereof. The lid  102  comprises a substantially circular top panel  108  having a tongue  138  adjacent the hinge region  106 , and a wall  110  suspended from a bottom face  112  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the top panel  108 . Wall  110  is connected to the shell  104  via a plurality of bridges  114  which break upon a first opening of the lid  102 . For allowing a more precise and convenient opening of the lid  102 , the bridges  114  are only provided in the front half of the closure cap. Opposite to the hinge region  106 , the wall  110  carries a tongue-like projection  178  to be gripped by a user for opening the lid  102 . The tongue-like projection  178  is integrally formed with the wall  100  and has an arc-shaped support structure  182 . 
     As it becomes more apparent from  FIG. 2 , the shell  104  has a wall section  170  of reduced height provided by way of an inverted trapezoid cut-out  172  having identically inclined cut lines. In the closed position of the lid, wall section  170  accommodates a complementarily shaped wall section  174  of the wall  110 , which wall section  174  carries the aforesaid tongue-like projection  178 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts the closure cap shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with particular emphasis on the hinge region  106  which comprises a pair of elongate hinge elements  116 ,  118  spaced apart from each other and a ratchet-like member  120  disposed therebetween. The hinge elements  116 ,  118  are integrally formed with the shell  104  and the lid  102 . Each hinge element  116 ,  118  has a lower portion  130 ,  132  having a wall thickness of the shell  104 , and an intermediate portion  126 ,  128  having an outer face which, relative to the lower portion, slopes inwardly and thereby provides an upper portion  122  and  124 , respectively, having a wall of reduced thickness. In this way, the upper portions  122 ,  124  of the hinge elements  116 ,  118  each form a recess  134 ,  136  in the top panel  108  which recesses  134 ,  136  in turn form the aforesaid tongue  138  in the top panel  108  of the lid. 
     As set out above, the ratchet-like member  120  has a body with outer and inner contours each having a lower portion, an intermediate portion and an upper portion. 
     The ratchet-like member  120  employed in the closure cap  100  of  FIG. 3 , has a body  140  with an outer contour  142  profiled in accordance with a first variant of a first embodiment of an outer contour, and an inner contour  150  profiled in accordance with a first embodiment of an inner contour. The inner  150  and outer contours  142  of body  140  in more detail are depicted in  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, one will appreciate the following. The lower portion  144  of the outer contour  142  of body  140  has a flat profile with an end section  166  sloping outwardly. The intermediate portion  146  of the outer contour  142  of body  140  has an inward curvature  158  with a substantially semi-circular profile, and the upper portion  148  of the outer contour  142  has an outward curvature  160  which has a substantially semi-circular profile and an end section  168  (more clearly shown in  FIGS. 9B to 9D ) having a nose-like profile. The lower portion  152  of the inner contour  150  of body  140  has a flat profile, and the intermediate portion  154  of the inner contour  150  of body  140  has an inward curvature  164  having a concave profile. The upper portion  156  of the inner contour  150  of body  140  has a flat profile  162 . 
       FIGS. 9A to 9D  supplement  FIGS. 3 and 6  in that as they illustrate on how lid  102  of closure cap  100 , via hinge region  106  employing a ratchet-like member  120  having body  140  with the aforesaid outer  142  and inner  150  contours, is brought into and locked in its final open position. In the depicted embodiment, the opening angle of the lid  102  is about 210° (shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9D ). In order to also illustrate on how the intermediate portion  154  of the inner contour  150  of body  140  supports body  140  in the final open position of the lid  102 , the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 9B to 9D  also depict part of a container neck. 
     Under continued reference to  FIG. 6 , one will appreciate from  FIGS. 9B to 9D  the following. 
     From  FIG. 9B  one will appreciate that the outwardly sloping end section  166  of the lower portion  144  of the outer contour  142  of body  140  ensures that during opening of lid  102 , an end portion of tongue  138  formed in the top panel  108  of lid  102 , is properly received by the substantially semi-circularly profiled inward curvature  158  of the intermediate portion  146  of outer contour  142 . From  FIGS. 9C and 9D  one will appreciate that by way of said substantially semi-circular profile of the inward curvature  158  of the intermediate portion  146  and the substantially semi-circular profile of the outward curvature  160  of the upper portion  148  of the outer contour  142 , an end portion of tongue  138  is guided towards an abutment of the outward curvature  160  of said upper portion  148 , against which abutment the tongue  138  is firmly held in the final open position of lid  102  by virtue of the hinge elements  116  and  118 . From  FIG. 9D , showing the lid  102  in its final open position, one will appreciate that body  140  at this position of lid  102  is advantageously supported by the intermediate portion  154  of its inner contour  150 , namely in that the concavely profiled inward curvature  164  of the intermediate portion  154  abuts, in part, against a pilfer proof of a container neck.  FIG. 9D  further shows that an end section of the flat profile  162  of upper portion  156  of the inner profile  150  of body  140  is in abutment with an uppermost portion of a container neck finish. Although such an abutment provides further support for body  140 , it is not necessarily required for holding the lid  102  via tongue  138  in its final open position. Whether or not such an abutment occurs, rather depends on the design of the outer contour of the uppermost portion of a container neck finish and/or on the plastic material used in the injection molding of the closure cap of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the closure cap of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , while putting particular emphasis on the hinge region  106 . The hinge elements  116 ,  118  depicted accordingly are identical to those depicted in  FIG. 3  and discussed above under reference to that Figure. 
     The ratchet-like member  120  employed in the closure cap  200  of  FIG. 4 , has a body  240  with an outer contour  242  profiled in accordance with a second variant of the first embodiment of the outer contour, and an inner counter  250  profiled in accordance with a second embodiment of the inner contour. The inner  250  and outer  242  contours of body  240  are depicted in  FIG. 7  in more detail. Accordingly, one will appreciate the following. The lower portion  244  of the outer contour  242  of body  240  has a flat profile with an end section  266  sloping outwardly. The intermediate portion  246  of the outer contour  242  of body  240  has an inward curvature  258  with a concave profile. In comparison with the above-discussed first variant of a first embodiment of an outer contour  142  of body  140 , i.e. the intermediate portion  146  of said contour  142  which has an inward curvature  158  with a substantially semi-circular profile (see  FIGS. 6 and 9B to 9D ), one will appreciate that the concave profile of the inward curvature  258  of the intermediate portion  246  of the presently discussed second variant of said first embodiment of an outer contour  242  of body  240  provides a smoother transition from the intermediate portion  246  of the outer contour  242  to the upper portion  248  thereof. The upper portion  248  of the outer contour  242  of body  240  has an outward curvature  260  which has a substantially semi-circular profile and an end section  268  having a nose-like profile. The lower portion  252  of the inner contour  250  of body  240  has a flat profile. The intermediate portion  254  of the inner contour  250  of body  240  has an outward curvature  264  with a convex profile having an apex  267  and a substantially flat end section  265 . The upper portion  256  of the inner contour  250  of body  240  has an outward curvature  274  with a convex profile having an apex  276 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 7  are supplemented by  FIGS. 10A to 10D  which illustrate on how lid  102  of closure cap  200 , via hinge region  106  employing a ratchet-like member  120  having body  240  with the aforesaid outer  242  and inner  250  contours, is brought into and locked in a final open position of lid  102 . In the depicted embodiment, the lid has an opening angle of about 210° (shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10D ). In order to also illustrated on how the intermediate portion  254  of the inner contour  250  of body  240  supports body  240  in the final open position of lid  102 , the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 10B to 10D  also depict part of a container neck. 
     Under continued reference to  FIG. 7 , one will appreciate from  FIGS. 10B to 10D  the following. 
     From  FIG. 10B , one will appreciate that the outwardly sloping end section  266  of the lower portion  244  of the outer contour  242  of body  240  ensures that during opening of the lid  102 , an end portion of the tongue  138  formed in the top panel  108  of lid  102 , is properly received by the concavely profiled inward curvature  258  of the intermediate portion  246  of the outer contour  242  of body  240 . From  FIGS. 10C and 10D  one will appreciate that by way of the concave profile of the inward curvature of intermediate portion  246  of the outer contour  242  and the to semi-circular profile of the outward curvature  260  of the upper portion  248  of the outer contour  242 , the and portion of the tongue  138  is smoothly guided towards an abutment of the outward curvature  260  of said upper portion  248 , in which abutment the tongue  138  is firmly held in the final open position of lid  102  by virtue of the hinge elements  116  and  118 . From  FIG. 10D , showing the lid  102  in its final open position, one will appreciate that body  240  at this position of lid  102  is advantageously supported by the intermediate portion  254  of the inner contour  250  of body  240 , namely in that the convex profiled outward curvature  264  of the intermediate portion  254  of the inner contour  250  abuts, in part, against a pilfer proof of a container neck.  FIG. 10D  further shows that the nose-like profiled end section  268  of the semi-circularly profiled outward curvature  260  of the upper portion  248  of the outer contour  242  as well as part of the convexly profiled outward curvature  274  of the upper portion  256  of the inner contour  250  each abut against part of an uppermost portion of a container neck finish. Although such an abutment provides further support for body  240 , it however is not necessarily required for holding the lid  102  via tongue  138  in its final open position. Whether or not such an abutment occurs, rather depends on the design of the outer contour of the uppermost portion of a container neck finish and/or the plastic material used in the injection molding of a closure cap of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  depicts the closure cap of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , while putting particular emphasis on the hinge region  106 . The hinge elements  116 ,  118  depicted accordingly, are identical to those depicted in  FIG. 3  and discussed above under reference to that Figure. 
     The ratchet-like member  120  employed in the closure cap  300  of  FIG. 5  has a body  340  with an outer contour  342  profiled in accordance with a second embodiment of an outer contour, and an inner counter  350  profiled in accordance with the aforesaid second embodiment of an inner counter. The inner counter  350  and the outer contour  342  are depicted in  FIG. 8  in more detail. Accordingly, one will appreciate the following. The lower portion  344  of the outer counter  342  of body  340  has a flat profile with an end section  366  sloping outwardly. The intermediate portion  346  of the outer contour  342  of body  340  has a first inward curvature  358  having a substantially semi-circular profile, a second inward curvature  359  having a substantially semi-circular profile and an outward curvature  361  which is disposed between the first and second inward curvatures  358 ,  359  and has a substantially semi-circular profile. The upper portion  348  of the outer contour  342  of body  340  has an outward curvature  360  with a substantially semi-circular profile and an end section  368  having a nose-like profile. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11B to 11C , the second inward curvature  359  of the intermediate portion  346  of the outer contour  342  preferably has a smaller width than the first inward curvature  358  thereof, and the outward curvature  361  of the said intermediate portion  346  has a smaller width than the outward curvature  360  of the upper portion  348  of the outer contour  342  of body  340 . The lower portion  352  of the inner contour  350  of body  340  has a flat profile. The intermediate portion  254  of the inner profile  350  of body  340  has an outward curvature  364  with a convex profile having an apex  367  and a substantially flat end section  365 . The upper portion  356  of the inner profile  350  of body  340  has an outward curvature  374  with a convex profile having an apex  376 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 8  are supplemented by  FIGS. 11A to 11D  which illustrate on how lid  102  of closure cap  102 , via hinge region  106  employing a ratchet-like member  120  having body  340  with the aforesaid outer  342  and inner  350  contours, is brought into and locked in a final open position. In the depicted embodiment, lid  102  has an opening angle of about 210° C. (shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11D ). In order to also illustrate on how the intermediate portion  354  of the inner contour  250  of body  340  supports body  340  in the final open position of lid  102 , the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 11B to 11D  also depict part of a container neck. 
     Under continued reference to  FIG. 8 , one will appreciate from  FIGS. 11B to 11D  the following. 
     From  FIG. 11B  one will appreciate that the outwardly sloping end section  366  of the lower portion  344  of the outer contour  342  of body  340  ensures that during opening of the  102 , an end portion of tongue  138  formed in the top panel  108  of lid  102 , is properly received by the first inward curvature  358  of the intermediate portion  346  of the outer contour  342  of body  340 . From  FIGS. 11A and 11B  one will appreciate that due to the aforesaid dimensions of the first and second inward curvatures  358 ,  359  of the intermediate portion  342 , the outward curvature  361  disposed therebetween, and the outward curvature  360  of the upper portion  348  of outer contour  342 , an end portion of the tongue  138  of lid  102  successively and gently is guided towards a position at which it from below abuts against the outward curvature  360  of the upper portion  348  of the outer contour  342  of body  340 . At this position of tongue  138 , the lid  102 , by virtue of the hinge elements  116 ,  118  can be reliably held in an open position, i.e. an intermediate open position. In the depicted embodiment, the opening angle of lid  102  is in this intermediate open position greater than 210°. 
       FIG. 11D  shows lid  102  in its final open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening angle is about 210°. Accordingly, one will appreciate from  FIG. 11D  that body  340  at this position of lid  102  is advantageously supported by the intermediate portion  354  of the inner contour  350  of body  340 , namely in that the convexly profiled outward curvature  364  of the intermediate portion  354  of the inner contour  350  abuts, in part, against a pilfer proof of a container neck.  FIG. 11D  further shows that the nose-like profiled end section  368  of the semi-circularly profiled outward curvature  360  of the upper portion  348  of the outer contour  342  as well as part of the convexly profiled outward curvature  374  of the upper portion  356  of the inner contour  350  each abut against part of an uppermost portion of a container neck finish. Although such an abutment provides further support for body  340 , it is however not necessarily required for holding lid  102  in its final open position. Whether or not such an abutment takes place, rather depends on the design of the outer contour of the uppermost portion of a container neck finish and/or the plastic material used in the injection molding of a closure cap of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 , respectively, for snugly fitting the closure cap  100 ,  200  and  300 , respectively, onto a container neck, a plurality of cam-shaped stopper components  176 , spaced apart from each other, is arranged along an inner circumference of the shell. In view of the aforesaid wall section  170  of reduced height of shell  104  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the plurality of stopper components  176  each having upper and lower surfaces, includes upper and lower sets of stopper components  176 , such that the upper set is arranged at a first height of the inner surface of shell  104  and the lower set at a second height thereof, namely around the wall section  170  of reduced height. With the closure cap  100 ,  200  and  300 , respectively, installed on a container neck, the upper surfaces of the supper set of stopper components  176  fit closely with respect to a lower surface of a pilfer proof of the container neck, whereas the stopper components  176  of the lower set are spaced well apart from the pilfer proof. With the attempt of opening the lid  102 , the stopper components  176  of the lower set are deflected upwards, with elastic distortion of the shell&#39;s wall, wherein the upper surfaces of said stopper components  176  also engage with the lower surface of the pilfer proof of the container neck to further retain the shell  104  on the container neck. 
     In order to stiffen the wall section  170  of reduced height of the shell  102 , adjacent to each cutline of the inverted trapezoid cut-out  172  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), a cam-shaped stopper component  176  preferably is such designed that it comprises a body portion that has an inclination similar to that of the inclined cut lines. 
     From  FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 , respectively, one will further appreciate that the bottom face  112  of the top panel  108  of the lid  102  further comprises a plug seal  184  which is integrally formed therewith and is configured to sealingly fit into a neck finish of a container neck. 
     It is noted that the foregoing has outlined some of more pertinent non-limiting embodiments. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications to the disclosed non-limiting embodiments can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. As such, the described non-limiting embodiments ought to be considered to be merely illustrative of some of the mere prominent features and applications.