Closure for a container
A closure ( 40, 40 A, 40 B) for use with a container includes a body ( 54, 54 A, 54 B) defining a passage ( 72, 72 A, 72 B) and a first latch portion ( 92, 92 B). The closure ( 40, 40 A, 40 B) has a lid ( 56, 56 A, 56 B) defining a deflectable press portion ( 96, 96 A, 96 B) that has a connection ( 100, 100 A, 100 B) to the closure body ( 54, 54 A, 54 B). The lid ( 56, 56 A, 56 B) has a cover portion ( 100, 100 A, 100 B) including a second latch portion ( 120, 120 A, 120 B) for engaging the first latch portion ( 92, 92 B) to releasably hold the cover portion ( 100, 100 A, 100 B) in a latched closed position in which the cover portion ( 100, 100 A, 100 B) at least partially occludes the passage ( 72, 72 A, 72 B). The lid ( 56, 56 A, 56 B) has a biased hinge ( 104, 104 A, 104 B) connecting the cover portion ( 100, 100 A, 100 B) with the press portion ( 96, 96 A, 96 B) to accommodate movement of the cover portion ( 100, 100 A, 100 B) between the latched closed position and an unlatched open position.
1. A closure that can control communication between the exterior and the interior of a container having an opening between the exterior and the interior of the container where a substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
A. a closure body that
1) can be located at the container opening and that defines a passage through said body for communicating with the container opening, and
2) defines a first latch portion;
B. a lid that has
1) a press portion that (a) has a connection to said closure body and (b) is deflectable,
2) a cover portion that includes a second latch portion for releasably engaging said closure body first latch portion to releasably hold said cover portion in a latched closed position in which said cover portion at least partially occludes said passage, and
3) a biased hinge connecting said cover portion with said press portion to accommodate movement of said cover portion between (a) said latched closed position, and (b) an unlatched open position moved away from said latched closed position when said first latch portion is disengaged from said second latch portion; and
C. an arrangement of said closure body, said press portion, said cover portion, and said biased hinge that
1) locates said cover portion to extend between said biased hinge and said body first latch portion when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, and
2) locates said press portion to extend between said biased hinge and said connection to said closure body when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, whereby deflection of said press portion moves said cover portion to disengage said second latch portion from said first latch portion and urges said cover portion away from said latched closed position; and
wherein said closure body further comprises a spring member for engagement with said press portion to bias said press portion against at least one retainer portion on said closure body.
2. A closure that can control communication between the exterior and the interior of a container having an opening between the exterior and the interior of the container where a substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
A. a closure body that
1) can be located at the container opening and that defines a passage through said body for communicating with the container opening, and
2) defines a first latch portion;
B. a lid that has
1) a press portion that (a) has a connection to said closure body and (b) is deflectable,
2) a cover portion that includes a second latch portion for releasably engaging said closure body first latch portion to releasably hold said cover portion in a latched closed position in which said cover portion at least partially occludes said passage, and
3) a biased hinge connecting said cover portion with said press portion to accommodate movement of said cover portion between (a) said latched closed position, and (b) an unlatched open position moved away from said latched closed position when said first latch portion is disengaged from said second latch portion; and
C. an arrangement of said closure body, said press portion, said cover portion, and said biased hinge that
1) locates said cover portion to extend between said biased hinge and said body first latch portion when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, and
2) locates said press portion to extend between said biased hinge and said connection to said closure body when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, whereby deflection of said press portion moves said cover portion to disengage said second latch portion from said first latch portion and urges said cover portion away from said latched closed position; and
said closure body includes a camming lip extending laterally toward said passage, and
said cover portion of said lid includes a central camming projection, wherein deflection of said press portion relative to said closure body causes said central camming projection to rotate against said camming lip to urge said cover portion out of said latched closed position.
3. A closure that can control communication between the exterior and the interior of a container having an opening between the exterior and the interior of the container where a substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
A. a closure body that
1) can be located at the container opening and that defines a passage through said body for communicating with the container opening, and
2) defines a first latch portion;
B. a lid that has
1) a press portion that (a) has a connection to said closure body and (b) is deflectable,
2) a cover portion that includes a second latch portion for releasably engaging said closure body first latch portion to releasably hold said cover portion in a latched closed position in which said cover portion at least partially occludes said passage, and
3) a biased hinge connecting said cover portion with said press portion to accommodate movement of said cover portion between (a) said latched closed position, and (b) an unlatched open position moved away from said latched closed position when said first latch portion is disengaged from said second latch portion; and
C. an arrangement of said closure body, said press portion, said cover portion, and said biased hinge that
1) locates said cover portion to extend between said biased hinge and said body first latch portion when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, and
2) locates said press portion to extend between said biased hinge and said connection to said closure body when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, whereby deflection of said press portion moves said cover portion to disengage said second latch portion from said first latch portion and urges said cover portion away from said latched closed position; and
wherein said biased hinge is a bi-stable over-center toggle type hinge that defines a center pivot portion and a pair of laterally spaced strap portions.
4. A closure that can control communication between the exterior and the interior of a container having an opening between the exterior and the interior of the container where a substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
A. a closure body that
1) can be located at the container opening and that defines a passage through said body for communicating with the container opening, and
2) defines a first latch portion;
B. a lid that has
1) a press portion that (a) has a connection to said closure body and (b) is deflectable,
2) a cover portion that includes a second latch portion for releasably engaging said closure body first latch portion to releasably hold said cover portion in a latched closed position in which said cover portion at least partially occludes said passage, and
3) a biased hinge connecting said cover portion with said press portion to accommodate movement of said cover portion between (a) said latched closed position, and (b) an unlatched open position moved away from said latched closed position when said first latch portion is disengaged from said second latch portion; and
C. an arrangement of said closure body, said press portion, said cover portion, and said biased hinge that
1) locates said cover portion to extend between said biased hinge and said body first latch portion when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, and
2) locates said press portion to extend between said biased hinge and said connection to said closure body when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, whereby deflection of said press portion moves said cover portion to disengage said second latch portion from said first latch portion and urges said cover portion away from said latched closed position;
wherein said closure body defines at least one retainer portion, and said press portion confronts said at least one retainer portion when said cover portion is in said unlatched open position; and
said connection between said press portion and said closure body is a living hinge for biasing said press portion against said at least one retainer portion when said cover portion is located in an unlatched open position.
5. A closure that can control communication between the exterior and the interior of a container having an opening between the exterior and the interior of the container where a substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
A. a closure body that
1) can be located at the container opening and that defines a passage through said body for communicating with the container opening, and
2) defines a first latch portion;
B. a lid that has
1) a press portion that (a) has a connection to said closure body and (b) is deflectable,
2) a cover portion that includes a second latch portion for releasably engaging said closure body first latch portion to releasably hold said cover portion in a latched closed position in which said cover portion at least partially occludes said passage, and
3) a biased hinge connecting said cover portion with said press portion to accommodate movement of said cover portion between (a) said latched closed position, and (b) an unlatched open position moved away from said latched closed position when said first latch portion is disengaged from said second latch portion; and
C. an arrangement of said closure body, said press portion, said cover portion, and said biased hinge that
1) locates said cover portion to extend between said biased hinge and said body first latch portion when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, and
2) locates said press portion to extend between said biased hinge and said connection to said closure body when said cover portion is in said latched closed position, whereby deflection of said press portion moves said cover portion to disengage said second latch portion from said first latch portion and urges said cover portion away from said latched closed position;
wherein said closure body defines at least one retainer portion, and said press portion confronts said at least one retainer portion when said cover portion is in said unlatched open position; and
said closure body includes an aperture beneath said at least one retainer portion.