Patent ID: 7303709

Claim:
A method for making a closure having a body, a lid, and a hinge connecting said body and lid, said method comprising the steps of: (A) providing a first mold part having (1) a first surface region defining a first side of said body, (2) a second surface region defining a first side of said hinge, and (3) a third surface region defining a first side of said lid; (B) at a location spaced from said first mold part, providing a second mold part having (1) a first surface region defining a second side of said body, (2) a second surface region defining a second side of said hinge, and (3) a third surface region defining a second side of said lid; (C) creating from a melt of thermoplastic material a billet having a predetermined shape in the form of a non-symmetrical shape with a large end and a small end; (D) positioning said billet in a predetermined orientation with (1) said small end adjacent, and extending over a portion of, said first mold part third surface region, (2) said large end adjacent, and extending over a portion of, said first mold part first surface region, and (3) at least a portion of said billet disposed adjacent said first mold part second surface region; (E) decreasing the space between said first and second mold parts to compress said billet so that said thermoplastic material flows between said mold parts; and (F) after said thermoplastic material has solidified to form a closure, increasing the space between said mold parts, and then removing said closure.