Claims
- 1. A closure for resealably sealing a fluid container, said closure comprising:a body portion including a spout portion and a downwardly depending shank, said spout portion including an aperture for permitting a fluid contained is said fluid container to flow therethrough, said shank including an attachment feature protruding generally inwardly, a cap portion for resealably sealing said aperture; and a first hinge and a second hinge for permitting said cap portion to be articulated with respect to said body portion between an open position and a closed position, the first hinge defining a first axis of rotation of the cap portion of the cap portion relative to the body portion, said first hinge comprising a flexible web including a first end directly coupled to the shank and an opposing second end directly, coupled to the cap portion, the second hinge defining a second axis of rotation of the cap portion relative to the body portion; wherein the spout portion protrudes substantially upwardly relative to the first hinge and the second hinge while the cap is in the closed position.
- 2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said second hinge comprises a detent that forms a flexible member on said cap connecting said cap portion to said flexible web.
- 3. The closure of claim 2, wherein said cap is rotatable with respect to said body portion about said first hinge and said second hinge in excess of approximately 180-degrees between said open position and said closed position.
- 4. The closure according to claim 2, wherein said body, portion cap portion, said first hinge and said second hinge are integrally formed.
- 5. The closure according to claim 1, further comprising means for visually indicating at least partial removal of said body portion from said container.
- 6. The closure according to claim 5, wherein said visually indicating means comprises a tamper evident band being frangible connected to said body portion, said tamper evident band at least partially separating from said body portion when said body portion is at least partially removed from said container.
- 7. The closure according to claim 1, further comprising means for sealing said aperture.
- 8. The closure according to claim 7, in wherein said sealing means comprises a sheet of material secured to said spout portion and covering said aperture.
- 9. The closure according to claim 8, wherein said sheet is secured to said spout portion by induction heat sealing.
- 10. The closure according to claim 8, wherein said sealing means includes means for removing said sheet from said spout portion.
- 11. The closure according to claim 10, wherein said removing means comprises a pull-tab.
- 12. The closure according to claim 1, further comprising a tab extending radially outwardly from said cap portion.
- 13. The closure according to claim 12, wherein said tab is located on said cap opposite to said first hinge and said second hinge.
- 14. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said spout portion includes an annular lip extending radially outwardly from a top of said spout portion and wherein said cap includes a collar for receiving said top of said spout portion when said cap is in said closed position.
- 15. The closure according to claim 14, wherein said annular lip frictionally engages said collar when said cap is in said closed position.
- 16. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said attachment feature comprises internal threads in said body portion.
- 17. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said spout portion is in the form of a conical frustum.
- 18. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said spout portion is at least partially insertable into a person's mouth.
- 19. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said cap is movable from said open position to said closed position by using one hand.
- 20. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said cap is movable from said closed position to said open position by using one hand.
- 21. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said first hinge includes a snap hinge.
- 22. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said second hinge includes a living hinge.
- 23. The closure of claim 1 wherein the shank forms a curved shape in transverse cross section, and the cap member forms a similar curved shape in transverse cross section that is substantially coextensive with a perimeter of the shank.
- 24. The closure of claim 1 wherein the shank forms a circular shape in transverse cross section and the cap member forms an overall circular shape in transverse cross section that is substantially coextensive with a perimeter of the shank.
- 25. The closure of claim 1 wherein the cap portion has a perimeter that is substantially coextensive with a perimeter of the shank.
- 26. The closure of claim 1 wherein a top portion of the spout is disposed higher than the first hinge and the second hinge while in the closed position.
- 27. The closure of claim 1 wherein the cap portion includes a substantially conical frustum portion that extends upwardly while in the closed position.
Parent Case Info
This Application is a continuation of U.S. application Serial No. 09/093,290 filed Jun. 8, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,320.
US Referenced Citations (32)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 447 357 A2 |
Sep 1991 |
EP |
2 224 309 |
May 1990 |
GB |
7-330009 |
Dec 1995 |
JP |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Two color photographs of Wei-Chuang “Daily C Juice” bottle (date unknown). |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/093290 |
Jun 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/718817 |
|
US |