Patent Abstract:
A hinged closure lid made of plastic for placing onto a container, has a main part which has a dispenser opening, a lid which is mounted pivotably on the main part and, in a closure position resting on the main part, closes the dispenser opening, and an actuating part which is mounted on the main part so as to be adjustable between an inoperative position and an actuating position. The lid can be adjusted from the closure position in the direction of an open position when the actuating part is actuated. The actuating part here is connected to the lid via at least one flexible web serving as a predetermined breaking point. The web is destroyed when the actuating part is first adjusted into the actuating position.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a United States National Phase Application of International Application PCT/EP2012/003508 filed Aug. 17, 2012 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German patent application DE 10 2011 112 616.7 filed Sep. 8, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hinged closure lid made of plastic for placing onto a container, with a main part which has a dispenser opening, a lid which is mounted pivotably on the main part and, in a closure position resting on the main part, closes the dispenser opening, and an actuating part which is mounted on the main part so as to be adjustable between an inoperative position and an actuating position, wherein the lid is adjustable from the closure position in the direction of an open position when the actuating part is actuated. 
     The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing and installing a corresponding hinged closure lid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A hinged closure lid of the type mentioned customarily serves to open a bottle, a tube or another container in which, for example, a cream, liquid soap, toothpaste or another flowable or pourable product can be contained, in a simple manner when required by the user using a finger of the hand which grasps the container to adjust the actuating part and thereby open the lid. “Single-handed operation” is therefore possible in order to open the lid and gain access to the product in the container. A corresponding hinged closure lid is depicted in EP 2 035 292 B1. 
     A hinged closure lid of this type has a substantially cylindrical main part to which a lid is connected in an articulated manner. An actuating part is mounted pivotably inside the main part, and, in a closed state of the hinged closure lid, the user can exert a compressive force on said actuating part, as a result of which the actuating part pivots about an axis of rotation and, in the process, pushes the lid upwards into the open position thereof. 
     The main part, the lid and the actuating part are designed as a single-piece injection-molded plastics part, wherein the lid is connected to the main part via strap hinges. 
     The actuating part is integrally connected to the main part via two torsion pins arranged on different sides. The torsion pins defined the pivot axis of the actuating part, wherein a restoring force for the actuating part can be derived from the internal stresses of the torsion pins. 
     In the known hinged closure lid, the actuating part is arranged on the upper side of the main part in the vicinity of the dispenser opening. This is associated with the disadvantage that the product may enter during use into the intermediate space between the main part and the actuating part. In the case of certain products, this is not acceptable for hygienic reasons, and there is the risk of the adjustability of the actuating part relative to the main part being obstructed by adhering product residues. 
     Furthermore, the known hinged closure lid is very complicated to produce, since a complicated tool is required for forming the torsion pins. 
     For many products, it is desirable for the user to identify that the hinged closure lid has previously not been opened. A “tamper-evident indicator” of this type has to be attached retrospectively in the case of the known hinged closure lid by, for example, the hinged closure lid being covered with a film. This procedure is complicated and costly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is based on the object of providing a hinged closure lid of the type mentioned, which can be produced in a simple manner and has an integrated tamper-evident indicator. 
     Furthermore, the intention is to provide a method for producing and installing a corresponding hinged closure lid, which method can be carried out rapidly and cost-effectively. 
     With regard to the hinged closure lid, this object is achieved by a hinged closure lid made of plastic for placing onto a container, with a main part which has a dispenser opening, a lid which is mounted pivotably on the main part and, in a closure position resting on the main part, closes the dispenser opening, and an actuating part which is mounted on the main part so as to be adjustable between an inoperative position and an actuating position. The lid is adjustable from the closure position in the direction of an open position when the actuating part is actuated. The actuating part is connected to the lid via at least one flexible web serving as a predetermined breaking point. The web is destructible when the actuating part is first adjusted into the actuating position. 
     Provision is made here for the actuating part to be connected to the lid via at least one flexible web serving as a predetermined breaking point, wherein the web is destructible when the actuating part is first adjusted into the actuating position. 
     Also in the case of the hinged closure lid, the lid part and the actuating part are formed, preferably also together with the main part, as a single-piece injection-molded plastics part. In this case, the actuating part is connected to the lid preferably exclusively via the flexible web. As soon as a user brings the actuating part into the actuating position thereof in order to open the lid, the web is destroyed. The web thereby serves as a tamper-evident indicator which can be perceived by the user in a simple manner. 
     In a preferred refinement of the invention, provision is made for the actuating part to be connected to the lid solely via the web. After destruction of the web, the actuating part is released from the lid but is held adjustably on the main part and is therefore mounted in a floating manner. 
     The web preferably forms a hinge joint by said web being, for example, of strap-like design. It is thereby possible to pivot the actuating part about the web for the installation (illustrated later in detail) of the hinged closure lid and to bring said actuating part into the installation position. The connection between the lid and the actuating part via the web ensures that said two parts take up a desired relative position before installation. 
     In a preferred refinement of the invention, provision is made for the web in the region of the edge to be arranged on the outside of the lid. It is thereby ensured that the web can be perceived in a simple manner by the user. 
     The web is preferably arranged adjacent to a finger rest of the actuating part. The user rests a finger on the finger rest in order to exert an adjustment force on the actuating part. If the web is arranged directly adjacent to the finger support, it is thereby ensured that the force applied by the user is conducted over a short path to the web and leads there to a destruction of the web. Furthermore, the user customarily sees the finger rest during the opening of the hinged closure lid and can therefore immediately identify whether the web has already been destroyed or is still undamaged. 
     After the web has been destroyed when the actuating part is first adjusted, the actuating part is released from the lid and is freely adjustable relative thereto. In order to obtain a defined adjustment movement, provision is made, in a development of the invention, for the actuating part to be mounted displaceably on the main part. This can be achieved, for example, by the actuating part being held in a form-fitting on the main part in particular by latching. The actuating part can therefore be adjusted in a defined manner between the inoperative position thereof and the actuating position thereof, wherein said actuating part is held and guided on the main part. 
     In a first refinement, provision can be made for the actuating part to be arranged within the main part, which is designed as a housing, and to be mounted displaceably therein. Alternatively, it is also possible, however, to design the actuating part in the manner of a housing and to arrange the main part within the actuating part. In this configuration, the actuating part therefore surrounds the main part and is likewise mounted displaceably thereon. 
     The lid is preferably also integrally connected to the main part, and therefore the main part, the lid and the actuating part can be produced as a single-piece injection-molded plastics part. In this case, provision is made in particular for the lid to be connected in a manner known per se to the main part via at least one strap hinge which forms a hinge joint. 
     Additionally or alternatively thereto, provision can be made for the lid to be connected to the main part via at least one spring shackle. 
     The spring shackle or the spring shackles can be dimensioned and positioned in such a manner that they apply a force to the lid prestressing said lid into the open position thereof. This has the result that the lid automatically pivots into the open position thereof as soon as the lid is released from the main part by actuating of the actuating part. 
     The spring shackle is preferably dimensioned and oriented in such a manner that said spring shackle, in the manner of a spring-loaded toggle lever, exerts a spring force in a different direction depending on the state of deformation. If the lid is displaced out of the closure position thereof in the direction of the open position, the spring force of the spring shackle, which spring force loads the cover into the closure position, first of all has to overcome. If a certain deformation of the spring shackle is achieved at a “switching-over point”, the spring force of the spring shackle acts in the opposite direction, i.e. into the open position of the lid. The spring shackle thereby supports both the opening movement of the lid, by said spring shackle reliably bringing the lid into the open position thereof after the switching-over point has been reached, and also the closing movement of the lid, by the spring shackle loading the lid into the closure position after the switching-over point is reached. 
     The lid can be kept in the closure position thereof on the main part either in a frictional manner by means of friction of clamping or in a form-fitting manner. Provision can be made here for the lid, in the closure position thereof, to be in engagement in a form-fitting manner with the actuating part. For this purpose, the lid can have a first engagement part which, in the closure position of the lid, can be brought into engagement with a second engagement part of the actuating part. For example, the lid can have at least one extension which reaches through the main part by way of an aperture in the closure position of the lid. If the user actuates the actuating part, the two engagement parts can be disengaged, and therefore the lid comes free from the form-fitting mounting thereof on the actuating part and can be adjusted into the open position. 
     In a possible refinement, the main part has a cylindrical basic shape and, in particular, a circular-cylindrical basic shape. Provision can be made for the main part and the actuating part to be connected at diametrically opposite sections of the lid to the latter. 
     In a preferred refinement of the invention, provision can be made for the main part to be of hood-shape design and to have an upper side and an encircling circumferential surface. The circumferential surface can be provided with a cut-out at which the actuating part, which is very substantially arranged inside the main part in the fitted state, reaches with the finger rest thereof through the wall of the main part. 
     Alternatively, provision can be made for the actuating part to be of housing-shaped design, and for the main part to be arranged in the actuating part. Also in this case, the lid and the actuating part can be connected at diametrically opposite sections of the main part to the latter. In this refinement, an encircling circumferential surface of the actuating part is provided with a cut-out at which the main part, which is very substantially arranged inside the actuating part in the fitted state, reaches through the wall of the actuating part with a section. 
     The actuating part is mounted adjustably and preferably displaceably on the main part. If the actuating part is adjusted into the actuating position by the user, said actuating part acts on the lid and releases the latter from engagement with the actuating part and/or the main part, after which the lid pivots, preferably automatically, into the open position thereof. In a development of the invention, provision can be made for the actuating part, in the actuating position thereof, to be in contact in at least one region, and in particular in at least two spaced-apart regions, with the lid and, as a result, to load the lid into the open position. The actuating part preferably acts on the lid in the vicinity of or on the at least one strap hinge by which the lid is attached to the main part. A further region can preferably be provided on the diametrically opposite end of the lid in the vicinity of the finger support of the actuating part. 
     With regard to the method, the abovementioned object is achieved in a first refinement by a method for producing and installing a hinged closure lid of the design mentioned, by the following steps: 
     First of all, the main part, the lid and the actuating part are produced as a single-piece injection-molded plastics part, wherein the actuating part is arranged outside the main part and is connected to the lid via a flexible web. The main part is integrally formed via the at least one strap hinge on that end of the lid which is diametrically opposite the web, and therefore the actuating part, the lid and the main part are arranged in a row in this sequence. 
     Since the injection-molded plastics part has adequate stability, the lid with the actuating part attached is first of all pivoted relative to the main part about the strap hinge and/or the spring shackle in such a manner that the lid is located, in the closure position thereof, on the main part, with the actuating part being arranged adjacent to the main part. The actuating part is then pivoted about the web in such a manner that said actuating part enters from below into the interior of the cup- or hood-shaped main part and is arranged there, with the circumferential surface of the main part being reached through by the actuating part by way of a cut-out. The actuating part is preferably held within the main part in such a manner that said actuating part cannot drop out of the latter. This can be achieved, for example, by the actuating part being latched in the main part. The latching is configured here in such a manner that the actuating part is held displaceably in the main part. 
     A second refinement of the method has the following steps: 
     The hinged closure lid is produced as a single-piece injection-molded plastics part in the abovementioned manner. Since the injection-molded plastics part has adequate stability, the lid with the actuating part attached is first of all pivoted relative to the main part about the strap hinge and/or the spring shackle in such a manner that the lid is located, in the closure position thereof, on the main part, with the actuating part being arranged adjacent to the main part. The actuating part is the pivoted about the web in such a manner that said actuating part is arranged around the main part from below, i.e. the main part is arranged in the interior of the housing-shaped actuating part, with the circumferential surface of the actuating part being reached through by the main part by way of a cut-out. The actuating part of the main part are held here relative to each other, for example by means of latching, in such a manner that they do not become detached from each other, with the actuating part being held displaceably on the main part. 
     In order to have sufficient construction space for the pivoting movements of the lid and also of the actuating part, provision is preferably made for the main part and the actuating part to be connected at diametrically opposite sections of the lid to the latter. 
     The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of a hinged closure lid according to a first exemplary embodiment before installation; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective rear view of the hinged closure lid according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective top view of the hinged closure lid after installation; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective bottom view of the hinged closure lid according to  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view through the hinged closure lid according to  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective front view of a hinged closure lid according to a second exemplary embodiment before installation; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective rear view of the hinged closure lid according to  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective top view of the hinged closure lid after installation; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective bottom view of the hinged closure lid according to  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a vertical sectional view through the hinged closure lid according to  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a hinged closure lid  10  after the production thereof in the form of a single-piece injection-molded plastics part. The hinged closure lid  10  comprises a central lid  16 , to which, in diametrically opposite regions, a main part  11  and an actuating part  20  are connected. 
     The main part  11  has a hood-shaped basic shape and has a dispenser opening  12  on the upper side thereof. Furthermore, the upper side has an aperture  29  in which an extension  28  of the lid  16  can engage. The upper side of the main part  11  has a smooth, untextured surface except for the dispenser opening  12  and the aperture  29 , and therefore soiling or functional impairment of the hinged closure lid  10  by product residues is very substantially avoided. 
     Furthermore, the main part  11  has an encircling circumferential surface  11   a  which has a cut-out  15  on the side facing away from the lid  16 . 
     A central, nozzle-shaped extension  13  is integrally formed inside the main part  11 , the extension having an internal thread  14  with which the hinged closure lid  11  can be screwed onto a container B, which is illustrated merely by chain-dotted lines (see  FIG. 5 ). Alternatively, it is also possible to latch or push the hinged closure lid  11  onto the container B. 
     A plurality of ribs  24  which protrude to the center of the main part  11  and each have a latching recess  25  are integrally formed on the inside of the circumferential surface  11   a  of the main part  11 . 
     In a circumferential region of the main part  11 , the lid  16  is integrally connected via two strap hinges  18  which are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the main part  11 . A likewise integrally formed, strap-shaped spring shackle  19  is provided between the strap hinges  18 . If the lid  16  is pivoted out of the open position, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and in which the lid is arranged next to the main part  11 , into the closure position, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 5  and in which said lid is arranged on the main part  11 , internal stresses build up in the spring shackle  19 , the internal stresses loading the lid  16  into the open position thereof up to reaching a switching-over point and loading said lid into the closure position thereof after the switching-over point is exceeded. 
     The lid  16  is of substantially hood-shaped design and the lower side thereof, which faces the main part  11  in the closure position, has a stopper  17  which, in the closure position, engages in the dispenser opening  12  and closes the latter (see  FIG. 5 ). Furthermore, the extension  28  is integrally formed on the lid in a manner offset from the stopper  17 , the extension, in the closure position of the lid  16 , reaching through the aperture  29  on the upper side of the main part  11  and protruding at the front end thereof into the interior of the main part  11 . 
     The inner surface of the spring shackle  19 , said surface facing the main part  11  in the closure position of the cover  16 , has a projection  32  (see  FIG. 5 ) which, in the closure position of the lid  16 , protrudes by a small amount into the interior of the main part  11 . 
     The actuating part  20  is integrally formed on that region of the lid  16  which is diametrically opposite the main part  11 . The actuating part  20  is connected to the lid  16  solely via a web  21 , which acts as a hinge joint and is connected to the edge of the lid  16 . The actuating part  20  has a body which serves as a finger rest  27 , is arranged in the vicinity of the lid  16  and the upper side of which has a depression  30  with an adjacent thrust bump  31 . 
     At that end of the finger rest  27  which faces away from the lid  16 , the actuating part  20  is in the form of a frame  33  which surrounds a central recess  23 . A plurality of strip-shaped latching projections  26  are integrally formed on the outside of the frame  33 , the outside facing away from the central recess  23 . 
     At the end thereof facing away from the web  21 , the actuating part  20  has a thrust plate  22  which protrudes in the direction facing away from the lid  16 . 
     The production and installation of the hinged closure lid  10  will be described below. The hinged closure lid  10  is produced as a single-piece injection-molded plastics part in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein the actuating part  20 , the lid  16  and the main part  11  are arranged consecutively in this sequence as a single piece. In order to install the hinged closure lid  10 , first of all the lid  16  is pivoted about the strap hinges  18  (see arrow S 1  in  FIG. 1 ), and therefore the lid  16  comes to lie on the upper side of the main part  11 . In this closure position (see  FIG. 5 ), the stopper  17  is introduced into the dispenser opening  12  and closes the latter. The extension  28  reaches through the aperture  29  on the upper side of the main part  11 . 
     The actuating part  20  is then pivoted about the web  21  in such a manner that said actuating part enters into the interior of the main part  11  from below through the cut-out  16  in the circumferential surface  11   a  of the main part  11 . The frame  33  engages here around the nozzle-shaped extension  13  of the main part  11  and the latching projections  26  of the actuating part  20  enter into engagement with the latching recesses  25  of the ribs  24  of the main part  11 . In this manner, the actuating part  20  can no longer drop out of the main part  11 . The latching between the actuating part  20  and the main part  11  is selected in such a manner that it permits an adjustment or displacement of the actuating part  20  in the linear direction of the main part  11 , but with the actuating part  20  first of all being obstructed by the web  21 . In this fitted position, the depression  30  of the actuating part  20  is positioned below the aperture  29  of the main part  11  in which the extension  28  engages. 
     In this state, the thrust bump  31  of the actuating part  20  is located in the vicinity of the extension  28 , and the thrust plate  22  of the actuating part  20  is located in the immediate vicinity of the projection  32  of the spring shackle  19 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The hinged closure lid  10  can then be screwed or pushed onto a container after the latter has been filled with a product. 
     If a user wishes to open the hinged closure lid  10  placed onto a container, said user pushes from the outside against the finger rest  27  of the actuating part  20 , said finger rest protruding laterally out of the main part  11 , as a result of which a radially inwardly directed force P is exerted on said actuating part (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Owing to said force P, the web  21  via which the actuating part  20  is connected to the lid  16  tears. As a result, the actuating part  20  comes free from the lid  16  and can be displaced in the main part  11 . A corresponding displacement of the actuating part  20  causes the thrust bump  31  to first of all come into contact with the extension  28  of the lid  16  and push the latter upward out of the aperture  29  of the main part  11 . Immediately subsequently, the thrust plate  22  of the actuating part  20  comes into contact with the projection  32  of the spring shackle  19  and exerts a force thereon in the direction of the open position of the lid  16 . The displacement of the actuating part  20  therefore brings about an initial pivoting of the lid  16  in the direction of the open position thereof, with the stopper  17  of the lid  16  being pulled out upwards from the dispenser opening  12  of the main part  11 . As soon as the lid  16  has exceeded the switching-over point of the spring force of the spring shackle  19 , said lid pivots into the open position thereof as a consequence of the internal force of the spring shackle  19 . 
     Since the web  21  between the actuating part  20  and the lid  16  tears when the actuating part  20  is first actuated, said web also serves as a tamper-evident indicator, and therefore the user can always see whether the actuating part  20  has already been displaced once and therefore the lid  16  has already been opened. 
       FIGS. 6 to 10  illustrate a second embodiment of the hinged closure lid  10 . Components which are identical or are initially functionally identical with the first embodiment are provided with the same reference numbers as in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , to the description of which reference is hereby made. 
     Also in the second embodiment, the hinged closure lid  10  is produced as a single-piece injection-molded plastics part and comprises the central lid  16 , to which the main part  11  and the actuating part  20  are connected in diametrically opposite regions. In a modification of the first exemplary embodiment, the main part has a compact, box-shaped basic shape and bears rail-like latching projections  36  on the outside thereof. 
     The main part  11  is integrally connected via the strap hinge  18 , which acts as a hinge joint, to one end of the lid  16 . Two spring shackles  19  are integrally formed in the vicinity of the strap hinge  18 , said spring shackles loading the lid  16  in the manner mentioned into the open position or the closure position depending on the pivoted position of said lid. The lid  16  can be introduced in the abovementioned manner by the stopper  17  thereof into the dispenser opening  12  of the main part. Furthermore, lateral extensions  28  which, in the closure position of the lid  16 , protrude in the direction of the actuating part  20  and engage in depressions  30  formed there are integrally formed on the lid  16 . 
     The actuating part  20  is integrally formed on that region of the lid  16  which is diametrically opposite the main part  11 , said actuating part being connected to the main part  11  via the web  21 , which acts as a hinge joint. In a modification of the first exemplary embodiment, the actuating part  20  is of housing-shape design with a circular-cylindrical basic shape, wherein a cut-out  20   b  is formed in the circumferential surface  20   a  of the actuating part  20 . 
     A plurality of strip-shaped latching projections  26  are likewise integrally formed inside the actuating part  20 , said latching projections being latchable to the rail-like latching projections  36  of the main part. 
     After the hinged closure lid  10  is produced as an injection-molded plastics part, the lid is brought into the closure position thereof on the main part  11  by being pivoted about the strap hinge  18  (see arrow S 2  in  FIG. 6 ) and being placed onto the basic part  11 , wherein the stopper  17  of said lid enters the dispenser opening  12  and closes the latter. The actuating part  20  is then pivoted about the web  21  for installation purposes in such a manner that the main part  11  enters the interior of the actuating part  20 , and the inside of the housing-like actuating part  20  receives and surrounds the main part  11 . The latching projections  26  enter into engagement here with the latching projections  36 , and therefore an adjustment or displacement of the actuating part  20  relative to the main part  11  is possible, but said adjustment is prevented by the web  21  as long as the latter is not destroyed. 
     The hinged closure lid  10  can then be placed onto the container B after the latter has been filled with a product. 
     If the user applies a force P for the first time to the finger rest  27  (see  FIGS. 8 and 10 ), the web  21  tears, and therefore the actuating part  20  comes free from the lid  16 . During a further movement of the actuating part  20 , and by contact of the extensions  28  of the lid  16  with the depressions  30  of the actuating part  20 , the lid  16  is lifted off the actuating part  20  and, owing to the spring action of the spring shackles  19 , pivots out of the closure position thereof into the open position thereof, wherein the stopper  17  of the lid  16  is pulled out of the dispenser opening  12  and releases the dispenser opening  12 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1