Flip-top preform for blow molding

1. A preform for blow molding a plastic container with a flip-top closure, comprising:

a container portion;

a flip-top closure base portion integrally molded with said container portion, said flip-top closure base portion further comprising an integrally molded first hinge structure, said hinge structure arranged for mating engagement with a second hinge structure of a flip-top closure top, and

wherein said flip-top closure base portion further comprises a skirt extending downward from said upper surface of said flip-top closure base portion and a depressed area in an outer surface of said skirt, said depressed area positioned between said pair of hinge members and arranged for engagement with a tab structure on said flip-top closure top.

2. The preform for blow molding a plastic container as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first hinge structure further comprises a pair of hinge members extending from an upper surface of said flip-top closure base portion.

3. The preform for blow molding a plastic container as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each of said hinge members further comprises one of the structures selected from the group comprising a detent and a ball protrusion to facilitate mating engagement with said second hinge structure of said flip-top closure top.

4. A blow-molded, plastic container, comprising:

a blow-molded container body; and

a flip-top closure base portion integrally molded with said container body in a preform, said flip-top closure base portion further comprising an integrally molded first hinge structure;

a flip-top closure top further comprising a second hinge structure, said first and second hinge structures arranged for mating engagement to rotatingly connect said flip-top closure top with said flip-top closure base portion; and

said flip-top closure base portion further comprises a first outer skirt extending downward from an upper surface of said flip-top closure base portion and a depressed area in an outer surface of said skirt;

said flip-top closure top further comprises a second outer skirt extending downward from a top surface of said flip-top closure top and a tab structure extending downward from said top surface and extending below the bottom of said second outer skirt; and

wherein said depressed area and said tab structure are provided with generally matching dimensions and are arranged for engagement with one another when said flip-top closure top and flip-top closure base are initially connected in a closed position.

5. The blow-molded, plastic container as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said first hinge structure further comprises a pair of hinge members extending from an upper surface of said flip-top closure base portion.

6. The blow-molded, plastic container as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said second hinge structure further comprises a pair of hinge openings in said flip-top closure top, each of said hinge openings being arranged to receive one of said hinge members of said flip-top closure base portion.

7. The blow-molded, plastic container as set forth in claim 6 , wherein each of said hinge openings further comprises a structure selected from the group comprising detents and ball protrusions.

8. The blow-molded, plastic container as set forth in claim 5 , wherein each of said hinge members further comprises a structure selected from the group comprising a detent and a ball protrusion.

9. The blow-molded, plastic container as set forth in claim 4 , wherein

said first hinge structure further comprises a pair of hinge members extending from an upper surface of said flip-top closure base portion;

said second hinge structure further comprises a pair of hinge openings, each of said hinge openings being arranged to receive one of said hinge members of said flip-top closure base portion; and

said depressed area positioned between said pair of hinge members and said tab structure positioned between said hinge openings.