Resealable container having frangible portion and hinged top
OwnerMichael D Grissominventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light weight hinged top (top) is described to be used as a container top. This particular model provides ease of use and requires significantly less material for manufacturing. A novel way of connecting the top and the container is using a fork spring which has three fingers like structures. The two outer structures are smaller than the middle one. The fork spring due to its resiliency brings the container top back to closing position thus providing self closing and self reseal ability for the top. A guide member also helps to position the top when it opens and closes. The top can be made using metal, biodegradable materials or any flexible material. The top can be used for cans or bottles.
Claims14
A hinged top and a container, comprising:
- a) a container having a top comprising a fixed portion attached to said container at a perimeter thereof, and a frangible, openable portion disposed in an interior portion of the fixed top portion, said frangible, openable portion being surrounded by a two-fold separable seam having an inverted flange;
- and
- b) a fork spring device comprising a finger like structure having at least two elongated fingers, a proximal end of said fork spring device being attached to a lower surface of said fixed top portion of said container top, each of said at least two elongated fingers having a distal end configured for interactive engagement of at least one selected from the group:
- said inverted flange, and a lower surface of said frangible, openable portion of said container top.
A hinged top and a container, comprising:
- a) a container having a top comprising a fixed portion attached to said container at a perimeter thereof, and a frangible, openable portion disposed in an interior portion of the fixed top portion, said frangible, openable portion being surrounded by a two-fold separable peripheral seam having an inverted flange, wherein said hinged top comprises a one part top;
- and
- b) a fork spring device comprising at least two elongated, resilient fingers, said fork spring device having a proximal end operatively connected to a lower surface of said fixed portion of said top, at least one of said at least two elongated fingers comprises a distal end disposed and configured for interactive engagement with at least one chosen from the group:
- said two-fold separable peripheral seam, and a bottom surface of said frangible, openable portion to support said frangible, openable portion, wherein at least one of said at least two elongated fingers through said interactive engagement serves to hold said frangible, openable portion of said hinged top in place when said container is opened.
A method of using a container having a resealable hinged top, the steps comprising:
- a) providing a container having a one part top comprising a fixed portion attached to said container at a perimeter thereof, and a frangible, openable portion disposed in an interior portion of the fixed top portion, said frangible, openable portion being surrounded by a two-fold separable peripheral seam having an inverted flange, said frangible, openable portion comprising a dome, and a spring device having at least two elongated fingers, a proximal end of said spring device being operatively connected to an inside surface of said fixed top portion, a proximal end of at least one of said at least two fingers being disposed and configured for interactive engagement with said dome;
- b) applying pressure to said dome to separate said dome of said one part top from said fixed portion of said one part top, wherein at least one of said at least two elongated fingers of said spring device holds said hinged top in place when opened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.