Bottles and jars – Closures – Closure pivoted about receptacle opening
Patent
1991-10-28
1994-11-29
Shoap, Allan N.
Bottles and jars
Closures
Closure pivoted about receptacle opening
220335, 220339, 222556, B65D 4708
Patent
active
053681762
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a closure comprising a snap hinge serving to connect the lower part of such closure to its lid.
Closures of the above-mentioned kind are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,324 OSTROWSKY/SEAQUIST, for example, discloses a closure having a snap hinge whereby two film hinges, lying in the main axis of rotation, are arranged on either side of a single spring element (hereinafter called "elastic" element). In contrast, DE-GMS 87 05 035--WEENER PLASTIK discloses a closure comprising an opposite arrangement of the snap hinge, wherein two elastic elements are arranged on either side of a single film hinge.
The concept of "surrounding border" is intended to embrace borders that do not completely run around the edge of the lid.
In both of the above named patents and particularly in the U.S. patent, parts of the lower part and lid, which are connected together by means of the film hinges, project relatively far outside of the closure. This results from the fact that both lower part and lid are, when being moulded, positioned relative to each other as indicated in FIG. 5 of the U.S. patent. Since, however, the mould for the lower part and lid have a specific wall thickness, the state of the art contemplated only the need to bridge such mould wall thicknesses by means of the sections that lead from both lower part and lid to the film hinge.
The same applies to U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,215--EVERBURG/AMERICAN OPTICAL--although the bridging sections, which had to exist due to the thicknesses of the mould wall, were not shown in all of the figures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, therefore, to closures having a particularly attractive appearance, an aspect which requires, among other things, that the external profile of the elastic element, when the closure is in the closed position, so correspond to the external profile of adjacent sections of lower part and lid, that, ideally, a smooth, continuous external surface is formed, in contrast to U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,215--EVERBURG/AMERICAN OPTICAL, wherein the elastic element occupies the inside of the container when the lid is closed, the result of which being an aesthetically unpleasing groove that is visible from the outside.
Accordingly, the invention contemplates a small strip or two or more film hinge-strips, which are aligned with each other, serve as the film hinge.
The object of the present invention is the design of a closure wherein the film hinge, which lies in the main axis of rotation, cannot project to the outside when the closure is closed, a condition that applies equally when two or more film hinges are aligned in the main axis of rotation. It is proposed that a closure as described be so designed that, when the lid is closed, no part of the small strip is capable of projecting toward the outside. It is furthermore proposed that the closure comprising lid, lower part and hinge, nevertheless admit production in one moulding step.
In accordance with the invention, a single film hinge lies substantially in the outer faces of lower part and lid. In addition, two or more hinges, which are aligned together, are situated in flat sections of the outer faces of lower part and lid, that are located in the region of the hinge. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the edges of the small strip or aligned small strips are also arranged in this manner.
It is proposed that, when the container is closed, no component or part of the small strip(s) which lead to the film hinge(s), will be able to protrude toward the outside. This advantage is enabled because sections of the lower part and the lid, which lead to the film hinge or film hinges, comprise inclined surfaces (bevelled edges). The inclination of the latter must be such that such edges are adjacent when the lid is closed and swung apart when the lid is opened.
In contrast to FIG. 5 of OSTROWSKY/SEAQUIST, the proposed design enables, when the lid is opened, the part of the articulated lid floor situa
REFERENCES:
patent: 4386714 (1983-06-01), Roberto et al.
patent: 4487324 (1984-12-01), Ostrowsky
patent: 4533058 (1985-08-01), Uhlig
patent: 4773550 (1988-09-01), Ekkert
patent: 4778071 (1988-10-01), Fillmore
patent: 4795043 (1989-01-01), Odet et al.
patent: 4813560 (1989-03-01), Begley
patent: 4848612 (1989-07-01), Beck
patent: 5123561 (1992-06-01), Gross
patent: 5127537 (1992-07-01), Graham
patent: 5221017 (1993-06-01), Cistone et al.
Caretto Vanessa
Shoap Allan N.
Zeller Plastik GmbH
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