# US 5,702,013 A · Virtual hinge

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- Number: US 5,702,013 A
- Document ID: US5702013A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/417,935
- Filed: 1995-04-06
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1992-03-12
- Inventors: Anna B. Freed
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702013A

## CPC

- A61J 7/04: Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- B05B 11/0027: {Means for neutralising the actuation of the sprayer (pump locking means B05B11/1059); Means for preventing access to the sprayer actuation means}
- B65D 21/0231: {Bottles, canisters or jars whereby the neck or handle project into a cooperating cavity in the bottom (B65D81/361 takes precedence)}
- B65D 47/0885: {one part of the hinge being integral with the hinged closure and the other part with the base element, without any other additional hinge element}
- B65D 47/185: {with sprinkling devices}
- B65D 50/043: {the closure comprising a screw cap whose threads are shaped to accommodate blocking elements and the closure is removed after first applying axial force to unblock it and allow it to be unscrewed}
- B65D 50/061: {being disengageable from container only after rotational alignment of closure, or other means inhibiting removal of closure, with container, e.g. tortuous path type (B65D55/145 takes precedence)}
- B65D 55/16: Devices preventing loss of removable closure members
- B05B 11/0032: {Manually actuated means located downstream the discharge nozzle for closing or covering it, e.g. shutters (automatically removed during actuation of a spray pump B05B11/1053)}
- B65D 2251/1083: Closures formed of several sections hinged to the container or base
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A dynamic virtual hinge closure used for controlled, reliable, and measured dispensing of a variety of substances with extensive monitoring, child-resistance and senior-friendly features. A hook dynamically engages with a slot to create a virtual hinge each time the closure is opened. The hook dynamically disengages with the slot each time the closure is closed. Monitoring is accomplished by markers position on the outer surface of the container or lid. The closure may be opened in several ways, according to the users preference or ability. The monitoring may be for dispensing of food such as spices (i.e, pour, shake, spoon), for dispensing of drugs (1st, 2nd, 3rd dose). The internal structure insures that the lid shifts into a locked, child-resistant position when closed and also that the lid is opened exactly once at each marker position. The lid is made of only one piece and requires no assembly. The closure is easily moldable, sealed on the top and side, and configured to accept a moisture/vapor seal and/or tamper-evident film.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A virtually hinged closure, comprising:
(a) a substantially cylindrical lid;
(b) a substantially cylindrical neck member, said lid being movable between a closed and an opened position, said closed position including a locked position and a released position, wherein in said locked position said lid is immovable to said opened position and in said released position said lid is movable to said opened position, said lid being rotatably fixed relative to said neck member in said open position only;
(c) at least one marker position being associated with one of said lid and said neck member;
(d) pointer means for indicating said at least one marker position, said pointer means being associated with the other one of said lid and said neck member;
(e) locking means for rotatably locking said lid to said neck member in said closed position;
(f) selective release means for allowing selective release of said locking means;
(g) a shifting ramp disposed on one of said lid and said neck member for shifting said lid from said released position to said locked position during movement of said lid from said opened position to said closed position; and
(h) dynamic selective engagement means which dynamically cooperates with said selective release means for selectively engaging said lid to said neck member during movement of said lid from said closed to said opened position, said dynamic selective engagement means selectively fixing one of said at least one marker position with respect to said pointer means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1, further including an indicating means for indicating to the user when the lid has been rotated from said locked position to said released position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1, wherein said dynamic selective engagement means is disposed on an outer surface of said virtual hinge closure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1, wherein said lid has at least two contiguous surfaces that are in contact with at least with two contiguous surfaces of said neck member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1, further including a means for preventing said lid from reversing direction after said lid has moved from said opened position to said closed position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1. wherein said shifting ramp prevents said lid from opening after said lid has moved from said opened to said closed position, said shifting ramp includes a stepped ridge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1, further including a means for preventing continuous rotation of said lid with respect to said neck member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 7, wherein said means for preventing continuous rotation includes a detente.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes a hook on one of said lid and said neck member and a bead on the other one of said lid and said neck member, said hook engages with said bead to rotatably lock said lid to said neck member in said closed position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 9, wherein said dynamic selective engagement means includes said hook and said bead, said hook selectively engaging with a slot adjacent to said bead and pivoting about said bead during movement of said lid from said closed to said opened position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 9, wherein said hook is disposed on said lid and said bead is disposed on said neck member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 9, wherein said bead is disposed on said lid and said hook is disposed on said neck member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes a locking lug on one of said lid and said neck member, said locking lug rotates within a locking groove on the other one of said lid and said neck member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 13, wherein said selective release means includes a locking groove release, which enables release of said locking lug from said locking groove when said lid is moved from said closed position to said opened position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 13, wherein said locking lug is disposed on said lid and said locking groove is disposed in said neck member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 13, wherein said locking groove is disposed in said lid and said locking lug is disposed on said neck member.

### Claim 17

A virtually hinged closure, comprising:
(a) a substantially cylindrical lid;
(b) a substantially cylindrical neck member, said lid being movable between a closed and an opened position, said closed position including a locked position and a released position, wherein in said locked position said lid is immovable to said opened position and in said released position said lid is movable to said opened position, wherein in said open position only, said lid is rotatably fixed relative to said neck member;
(c) a first locking means for rotatably locking said lid to said neck member in said closed position;
(d) a second locking means cooperating with said first locking means to lock said lid to said neck member in said closed position;
(e) a first selective release means for allowing selective release of said first locking means from said closed to said opened position and dynamically engaging said lid to said neck member in said opened position;
(f) a second selective release means cooperating with said first selective release means for allowing selective release of said second locking means; and
(g) a shifting ramp disposed on one of said lid and said neck member which shifts said lid from said released position to said locked position when said lid is moved from said opened position to said closed position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, further including indicating means for indicating to the user that the lid had been rotated from said locked position to said released position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, wherein said lid has at least two contiguous surfaces that are in contact with at least two contiguous surfaces of said neck member.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, further including at least one additional lid being attached to said virtual hinge closure.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, wherein said first selective release means and said second selective release means are disposed at substantially the same angular position on one of said lid and said neck member.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, further including a means for preventing said lid from reversing direction after said lid has moved from said opened position to said closed position.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, wherein said shifting ramp prevents said lid from opening after said lid has moved from said opened to said closed position, said shifting ramp, includes a stepped ridge.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, further including a means for preventing continous rotation of said lid with respect to said neck member.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 24, wherein said means for preventing continuous rotation includes a detente.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, wherein said first locking means includes a hook on one of said lid and said neck member and a bead on the other one of said lid and said neck member, said hook engages with said bead to rotatably lock said lid to said neck member in said closed position.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 26, wherein said first selective release means includes said hook and said bead, said hook dynamically engages with a slot disposed adjacent to said bead and pivoting about said bead during selective release of said first locking means from said closed position to said opened position.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 26, wherein said hook is disposed on said lid and said bead is disposed on said neck member.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 26, wherein said bead is disposed on said lid and said hook is disposed on said neck member.

### Claim 30 (depends on 17)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 17, wherein said second locking means includes a locking lug disposed on one of said lid and said neck member, said locking lug rotates within a locking groove on the other one of said lid and said neck member.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 30, wherein said second selective release means includes a locking groove release for release of said locking lug from said locking groove when said lid is moved from said closed position to said opened position.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 30, wherein said locking lug is disposed on said lid and said locking groove is disposed in said neck member.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

A virtually hinged closure according to claim 30, wherein said locking groove is disposed in said lid and said locking lug is disposed on said neck member.

### Claim 34

A closure comprising:
a shifting ramp disposed on one of a lid and a neck member for automatically shifting an angular position of said lid relative to said neck member during substantial axial movement of said lid from an opened position to a closed position; and
(b) a stepped ridge disposed in said shifting ramp, said stepped ridge locks said lid to said neck member when said lid is moved from said opened position to said closed position.