Container closure
AssigneeSeaquist Closures L.L.C.
InventorJohn Eimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A one-piece container closure with a collar, leaflets hingedly attached to the collar, and thin flexible foldable webs attached to and extending between the leaflets. The leaflets are flat with the webs folded beneath in closed closure position. The leaflets are pivoted upwardly with webs unfolded therebetween in open position. An integral cap is attached to the collar by a snap-action bow-tie hinge. A central pin on the cap seals with the leaflets when the cap is closed. The closure is integrally molded in open position with raised leaflets and unfolded webs, leaflets then being lowered and the webs folded to closed position while the closure is still warm.
Claims10
A closure for a fluid container that dispenses product through a container opening by the application of hand pressure, comprising:
- an annular collar for attachment to the container about its opening;
- a plurality of leaflets attached by hinges to the collar;
- a plurality of flexible and foldable webs attached to and extending between adjacent pairs of leaflets;
- said leaflets extending adjacent one another in an essentially flat surface in the closed position of the closure with the webs folded like pleats beneath the adjacent leaflets;
- said leaflets upon product dispensing being pivotable upwardly at their hinges by fluid pressure to separate from one another in the open position of the closure, with said web numbers unfolding and extending between the separated leaflets to form with the leaflets the closure dispensing opening;
- said leaflets in the absence of product dispensing being pivotable downwardly to return to their closed closure position adjacent one another with said webs folded beneath the leaflets.
A method of forming a plastic closure for a fluid container, said closure having an annular collar, a plurality of leaflets, and a plurality of flexible and foldable webs, comprising:
- molding said closure with said leaflet members attached by hinges to the collar and said webs attached to and extending between adjacent pairs of leaflets, further comprising initially molding said closure in the open position with said leaflets extending upwardly at an angle and separated from one another and with said webs unfolded and extending between the separated leaflets;
- and thereafter pivoting said leaflets, while said hinges are warm, downwardly to a position where said leaflets extend adjacent one another in an essentially planar surface and said webs fold beneath the adjacent leaflets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.