US 5,332,131 AGranted

Kicker latch for container closures

OwnerHarold T. Pehrinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A kicker latch for container closures includes a latch wall integrally hinged to the cap and having a latch tab extending from an end of the latch wall toward the cap and kicker lever extending in generally the same direction and spaced from the latch tab. In general, pivoting the kicker latch outwardly causes the kicker lever to urge a closure member of the cap away from its closed position to facilitate grasping the closure member to pivot it to its fully open position. On a folding spout type of cap, wherein the folding spout functions as a closure member, the latch wall may include a plug positioned between the latch tab and the kicker lever to seal the end of the spout. In general, the kicker latch has utility with a variety of types of container closures, including caps with nonfolding spouts, open top types of caps for pills and granulates, and containers for which the closure member is a lid which is completely separable from the container.

Claims26

Dependent claims

In a container including a closure member adapted to close said container in a closed position of said closure member, said closure member in said closed position having an outer surface facing away from said container and an inner surface facing toward said container, the improvement comprising:

(a) a kicker latch including a latch wall connected to means on said container to enable pivotal movement of said kicker latch relative to said container;
(b) a latch tab extending from said latch wall toward said closure member and positioned to engage said outer surface of said closure member in said closed position to retain said closure member in said closed position;
(c) a kicker lever extending from said latch wall toward said closure member in spaced relation to said latch tab and positioned to engage said inner surface of said closure member in said closed position;
and
(d) said kicker latch, upon being pivoted away from said closure member, withdrawing said latch tab from retaining said closure member in said closed position and revolving said kicker lever to urge said closure member away from said closed position.

2 more elements

A container cap comprising:

(a) a cap housing including container engaging means to engage said cap housing with a container;
(b) a closure member connected to said cap housing and movable between an open position enabling access to contents of a container with which said housing is engaged and a closed position preventing access to said contents, said closure member having an outer surface facing away from said housing in said closed position and an inner surface facing generally toward said housing in said closed position;
(c) a kicker latch including a latch wall connected to said housing to enable pivotal movement of said kicker latch relative to said housing;
(d) a latch tab extending from said latch wall toward said closure member and positioned to engage said outer surface of said closure member in said closed position to retain said closure member in said closed position;
(e) a kicker lever extending from said latch wall toward said closure member in spaced relation to said latch tab and positioned to engage said inner surface of said closure member in said closed position;
and
(f) said kicker latch, upon being pivoted away from said closure member, withdrawing said latch tab from retaining said closure member in said closed position and revolving said kicker lever to urge said closure member away from said closed position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/951,877Filed 28 Sep 1992
Granted: 26 Jul 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B65D 47/2006
Comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge: formed by a rigid spout outlet opened by tilting of the spout outlet
B65D 47/066
With hinged, foldable or pivotable spouts: the spout being either flexible or having a flexible wall portion, whereby the spout is foldable…
B65D 47/0838
Hinges without elastic bias: located at an edge of the base element
B65D 2251/1016
Details of hinged closures: means for locking the closure in closed position