Flip top closure
View Patent ↗A closure ( 10 ) that is suitable for attachment to a container ( 20 ) having an end portion defining an opening of the container. The closure comprises a top ( 11 ), a skirt ( 12 ), a support ring ( 30 ) that is engageable with the end portion of the container and which is hingedly connected to the skirt ( 12 ), and a sealing rib ( 13 ). The sealing rib ( 13 ) has a first portion ( 14 ) and a second portion ( 15 ). The length of the second portion ( 15 ) is such that, during attachment of the closure ( 10 ) with the end portion of the container ( 20 ), the end portion of the container contacts the second portion ( 15 ) and pushes it upwardly and at least towards the first portion ( 14 ) so as to form a seal between the end portion of the container ( 20 ) and the closure ( 10 ).
1. A closure suitable for attachment to a container having an end portion having a free end defining an opening of the container, the closure comprising:
a top portion;
a skirt portion depending from the top portion to an end distal the top portion, said top portion and skirt portion defining a cavity;
a support ring which is hingedly connected to said skirt portion;
a first sealing portion depending from the top portion and having a cylindrical inner surface; and
a second sealing portion separated from the top portion by the inner surface of the first portion and which, prior to attachment of the closure to the container, extends at least inwardly into said cavity for a length to a free edge positioned inwardly of the skirt portion;
wherein the length of the second portion is such that, during attachment of the closure with the end portion of the container, the end portion of the container contacts the second portion and pushes it upwardly and at least towards the first sealing portion of the closure to form a seal between the end portion of the container and the closure;
wherein the support ring comprises a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly from an inner surface of the body portion that provides a lip having an inner free edge to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the end portion of the container but spaced a distance from the free end thereof;
wherein an undercut is formed on the inner surface of the support ring above the rib, the undercut providing an abutment surface and defining an upper extremity of a region of the body portion that is thinner than the body portion immediately above and below that region; and
wherein the abutment surface provided by the undercut is substantially at a right angle to the inner surface of the support ring and bears on the upper surface of the retaining flange of the container on relatively downward movement of the support ring on the end portion and so resists that downward movement.
2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the support ring and skirt portion are hingedly connected by a single hinge member that extends between the support ring and the skirt portion of the closure.
3. The closure of claim 2 wherein the hinge member has a line of weakness formed therein about which the skirt portion pivots relative to the support ring.
4. The closure of claim 1 wherein in addition to being hingedly mounted to the support ring, at least one frangible bridge extends between the skirt portion of the closure and the support ring prior to and while the closure is attached to the end portion of the container.
5. The closure of claim 4 wherein said at least one frangible bridges is shorter in circumferential length than the hinge member.
6. The closure of claim 4 wherein there is a plurality of frangible bridges that are non-equally spaced around the circumference of the skirt portion.
7. The closure of claim 4 wherein said at least one bridge decreases in circumferential width towards the skirt portion end of the bridge.
8. The closure of claim 7 wherein the skirt portion end of said at least one bridge is joined to the skirt portion in a respective recess formed in the distal end of the skirt portion.
9. The closure of claim 4 wherein the support ring has an outer surface having one or more projections extending outwardly therefrom, said projections being located adjacent the upper edge of the support ring and serving to stiffen the ring adjacent its connection to the bridges.
10. The closure of claim 1 wherein the closure is provided with an annular bead on an inside surface of the skirt portion that is engageable with a corresponding annular bead on an external surface of the end portion of the container.
11. The closure of claim 1 wherein a finger pad extends out from the skirt distal the hinge member and allows a user or consumer to more readily exert relatively upward pressure on the top portion of the closure when that person wishes to move the skirt portion of the closure from a closed to an open position.
12. The closure of claim 1 wherein the height of the support ring is such that the ring, once attached to the end portion of the container, is held substantially in position on the end portion between a first and second retaining flange.
13. A closure suitable for attachment to a container having an end portion having a free end defining an opening of the container, said end portion having a retaining flange extending outwardly from the end portion and spaced a distance from the free end thereof, the closure comprising:
a top portion;
a skirt portion depending from the top portion to an end distal the top portion, said top portion and skirt portion defining a cavity; and
a support ring which is connected to said skirt portion by a frangible connection;
wherein said support ring comprises a generally cylindrical body portion having a rib extending inwardly of the body portion that provides a lip having an inner free edge to engage under the retaining flange, and an undercut providing an abutment surface that is formed in the inner surface of the body portion above the rib and which is engageable with an upper surface of the retaining flange on relatively downward movement of the support ring to the end portion;
wherein the undercut defines the upper extremity of a region of the body portion that is thinner than the body portion immediately above and below that region; and
wherein the abutment surface provided by the undercut is substantially at a right angle to the inner surface of the support ring and bears on the upper surface of the retaining flange of the container on relatively downward movement of the support ring on the end portion and so resists that downward movement.
14. The closure of claim 13 wherein the frangible connection comprises at least one frangible bridge that extends between the skirt portion and the support ring.
15. A container having an end portion defining an opening of the container, the end portion being sealed by a closure as defined in claim 1 .
16. A container having an end portion defining an opening of the container, the end portion being sealed by a closure as defined in claim 13 .
17. A closure suitable for attachment to a container having an end portion having an inner surface, an outer surface and a free end defining an opening of the container, the outer surface having spaced and parallel first and second retaining flanges each spaced a respective distance from the free end, the closure comprising:
a top portion;
a skirt portion having an unthreaded inside surface and depending from the top portion to an end distal the top portion, said top portion and skirt portion defining a cavity;
a support ring which is hingedly connected to said skirt portion;
a first sealing portion depending from the top portion and having a cylindrical inner surface; and
a second sealing portion separated from the top portion by the inner surface of the first portion and which, prior to attachment of the closure to the container, extends at least inwardly into said cavity for a length to a free edge positioned inwardly of the skirt portion;
wherein the length of the second portion is such that, during attachment of the closure with the end portion of the container, the end portion of the container contacts the second portion and pushes it upwardly and at least towards the first sealing portion of the closure to form a seal between the end portion of the container and the closure;
wherein the support ring comprises a generally cylindrical body portion having a free edge and a rib extending inwardly from an inner surface of the body portion that provides a lip having an inner free edge and wherein once the support ring is attached to the end portion of the container, the lip engages under the first retaining flange extending outwardly from the end portion of the container and the free edge of the support ring abuts the second retaining flange, such that the support ring is held in position on the end portion between said spaced retaining flanges; and
wherein the closure is also provided with an annular bead on the inside surface of the skirt portion that is engageable with a corresponding annular bead positioned on an external surface of the end portion of the container between said container free end and the first retaining flange.
18. The closure of claim 17 wherein the support ring and skirt portion are hingedly connected by a single hinge member that extends between the support ring and the skirt portion of the closure.
19. The closure of claim 18 wherein the hinge member has a line of weakness formed therein about which the skirt portion pivots relative to the support ring.
20. The closure of claim 17 wherein a finger pad extends out from the skirt distal the hinge member and allows a user or consumer to more readily exert relatively upward pressure on the top portion of the closure when that person wishes to move the skirt portion of the closure from a closed to an open position.