Bottle closure with integrated flip top handle

A closure having an integrated, one-piece flip top handle for use with a liquid container and for carrying the liquid container, the closure comprising:

• an end wall;
• a generally circular skirt wall depending from the end wall;
• an outlet opening in the end wall;
• a pivot hinge mount connected to the end wall, the pivot hinge mount being positioned at an opposite side of the end wall from the outlet opening, the pivot hinge mount and the outlet opening disposed within an outer perimeter of the end wall and within an outer perimeter of the generally circular skirt wall;
• and
• a flip top pivotally supported by the pivot hinge mount, the flip top being movable between a first position in which the outlet opening is covered by the flip top and a second position in which the outlet opening is exposed, the flip top comprising:
• a body including a first end and a second end, wherein an upwardly applied force on a lower portion of the first end of the body is used to move the flip top from the first position to the second position;
• a pivot support member extending outwardly and downwardly from the body at an angle, the pivot support member pivotally attached to the pivot hinge mount about an axis of rotation;
• a closing member disposed proximate the first end of the body, the closing member covering the outlet opening when the flip top is in the first position, the closing member spaced apart from the outlet opening when the flip top is in the second position, the closing member disposed on a first side of the axis of rotation;
• and
• a carrying loop disposed proximate the second end of the body, the carrying loop including a distal end that is disposed on an opposing second side of the axis of rotation;
• wherein the body, the pivot support member, the closing member and the carrying loop are integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure;
• and
• wherein when the closure is connected to a container, the flip top is in the first position and the container is carried by the distal end of the carrying loop, a carrying force does not cause an opening force to be applied to the closing member.

A closure for a container, the closure having an integrated flip top handle for carrying the container, the closure comprising:

• an end wall;
• a generally circular skirt wall depending from the end wall;
• an outlet opening associated with the end wall;
• an opening ridge disposed within the outlet opening;
• a pivot hinge mount connected to the end wall, the outlet opening and the pivot hinge mount being integrally formed with the end wall as part of a unitary, one-piece structure, the pivot hinge mount disposed within an outer perimeter of the end wall and within an outer perimeter of the generally circular skirt wall;
• a flip top pivotally supported by the pivot hinge mount about an axis of rotation, the flip top being movable between a first position in which the outlet opening is covered by the flip top and a second position in which the outlet opening is exposed, the flip top comprising:
• a pivot support member attached to the pivot hinge mount;
• a closing member that covers the outlet opening when the flip top is in the first position and exposes the outlet opening when the flip top is in the second position, the closing member comprising a closure wall, a plug seal and a closing member ridge, the closing member ridge and the opening ridge interacting to securely close the outlet opening and create a leak-proof seal;
• and
• a carrying member that extends in an opposite direction from the closing member, the pivot support member, the closing member and the carrying member being integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure.