Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6460712
-
Patent Number
6,460,712
-
Date Filed
Friday, February 2, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 8, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 215 235
- 215 237
- 215 250
- 215 253
- 215 254
- 215 256
- 220 2543
- 220 2591
- 220 837
- 220 839
- 220 847
- 220 270
- 220 276
- 222 556
- 222 5415
- 222 5416
- 222 5419
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A closure structure is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior. The closure structure includes a closure base for extending around the container opening. A lid is provided on the closure base and is connected to the base by a hinge web. The hinge web has a first end connected to the closure base, a second end connected to the lid, and two sides which each extends between the first and second ends. A frangible, reduced-thickness section of material initially connects the lid to the closure base and initially connects both of the hinge web sides to the closure base or to the lid for initially holding the lid sealed closed at a tamper-evident, first closed position and for subsequently accommodating movement of the lid relative to the first closed position to break the frangible connection and become selectively located at one of the following positions: (1) a second closed position inwardly of the first closed position, and (2) an open position outwardly of both the first closed position and second closed position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to containers and closures. The invention is more particularly related to a sealable closure which is especially suitable for use with a wide-mouth container of product that can be scooped from or poured from the container when the closure lid is opened.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
Various product packaging designs employ closures with one or more barriers or seals across an opening to the package. Such seals can serve as primary or secondary barriers to contaminant ingress. Such seals may also maintain product freshness. In addition, such seals may provide a tamper-indicating function wherein breaking or removing the seal provides evidence that the package has been opened.
Examples of a closure with an internal tamper-indicating seal are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,003 and 4,807,769. These types of closures include a base for mounting the closure to the container. The base includes a pour spout. The pour spout is initially occluded by a sealing disk or member. The periphery of the sealing disk defines a reduced cross-sectional thickness of material which functions as a frangible web connecting the sealing disk to a radially outward region of material. An exterior portion of the sealing disk may include a pull tab which is grasped by a user's fingers for ripping the sealing disk out of the pour spout. The closure also includes a hinged lid with an internal collar to telescopically receive the pour spout in sealing engagement when the lid is closed so as to provide a liquid-tight and air-tight system after the sealing disk has been removed.
While closures of the above-discussed type may function generally satisfactorily in applications for which they are intended, it would desirable according to discoveries relating to the present invention to provide an improved closure with enhanced features.
For example, some containers, such as jars for peanut butter and other such paste-like products, typically have a relatively wide mouth. It would be desirable to provide an improved closure which could extend over the wide mouth of such a container and which would have a lid that could be opened to permit access to the container interior and subsequently closed.
Preferably, such an improved closure should accommodate insertion of a kitchen implement such as a knife, spoon, or spatula after the lid is opened without requiring removal of the closure from the container.
Further, it would be desirable if such an improved closure could include means for retaining the lid with the closure when the lid is open. Further, it would be advantageous if such an improved closure could include means for providing tamper-indication that would furnish evidence that the lid has been opened or at least that could provide evidence of tampering with the lid. It would be desirable to provide such tamper-indication means that is consumer friendly with respect to its operations and that does not create loose waste pieces requiring disposal.
Some types of containers, especially containers designed for food products or pharmaceutical products, include a thin, flat paper or film liner secured to the top of the container across the mouth of the container. The liner must be broken and/or removed in order to permit the container contents to be accessed. Such a liner has a tamper-indicating function. Such a liner also serves to prevent contaminant ingress and maintain product freshness. It would be desirable to provide an improved closure which could accommodate the use of such a liner initially on the container and which could, after removal of the liner, provide a re-sealing function. Preferably, such an improved closure should accommodate the use of existing liner technology, including separate induction or pressure sensitive innerseals.
Also, it would be desirable if such an improved closure could be provided with a design that would accommodate efficient, high quality, large volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate. Further, it would be beneficial if the improved closure could be molded in the closed position so as to maximize mold capacity and increase manufacturing efficiency.
Further, such an improved closure should advantageously accommodate its use with a variety of conventional containers having a variety of conventional container finishes, such as conventional threaded or snap-fit attachment configurations. Such an improved closure design should also optionally accommodate the incorporation of the closure as a unitary part of the container.
The present invention provides an improved closure which can accommodate designs having the above-discussed benefits and features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an improved closure structure is provided for an opening to a container interior. The closure structure includes a lid which is easily manipulated by the user to an open position and which can be readily closed to occlude the opening. The closure structure of the present invention is adapted to reseal an inner peripheral surface defined at least partly around the container opening. The closure is also provided with a tamper-indicating, frangible web which is torn when the lid is initially opened.
According to one aspect of the invention, the closure includes a closure base for extending around the container opening, and the closure includes a lid on the closure base. The lid is connected to the base with a hinge web. The hinge web has (1) a first end connected to the closure base, (2) a second end connected to the lid, and (3) two sides which each extends between the first and second ends. A frangible, reduced-thickness section of material also initially connects the lid to the closure base. The frangible, reduced-thickness section of material also initially connects both of the hinge web sides to the closure base or to the closure lid for initially holding the lid sealed closed at a tamper-evident, first closed position. In the preferred embodiment, the frangible, reduced thickness section of material initially connects both of the hinge web sides to the closure base.
The closure structure accommodates subsequent movement of the lid relative to the first closed position so as to break the frangible connection and so that the lid becomes selectively located at one of the following two positions: (1) a second closed position inwardly of the first closed position, or (2) an open position outwardly of both the first closed position and the second closed position. In a preferred form of operation, the lid can be initially pushed down by the user to break the frangible, reduced-thickness section of material. Subsequently, the lid can be lifted upwardly, past the initial, first closed position, to an open position, including to an open position that locates the lid at a substantially 180° orientation relative to the initial, first closed position of the lid. This permits access to the container opening without interference from the lid.
In an alternate form of operation, instead of the user initially pushing down on the lid, the user may pull the lid upwardly to tear the frangible, reduced-thickness section of material that initially connects the lid to the closure base.
The closure is especially suitable for use with large, “wide-mouth” jars or other containers. When the closure is open, a wide range of kitchen implements, such as knives, spoons, spatulas, etc., can be inserted into the opening for removing the contents from the container. In the preferred embodiment, the closure structure is a separate closure that is adapted to be mounted on the container and that defines an access aperture for communicating with the container opening. However, in an alternate form of the closure structure, the closure structure can be formed as a unitary part (i.e., extension) of the container at the container opening.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,
FIG. 1
is a fragmentary, front, perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a closure structure of the present invention in the form of a separate closure shown mounted on a container with the closure lid in a first closed position and with a tamper-evident frangible section or membrane intact;
FIG. 2
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
, but
FIG. 2
is a rear, perspective view of the closure;
FIG. 3
is a side elevation view of the closure prior to installation on the container and with the lid in the first closed position;
FIG. 4
is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, perspective view of the hinge region of the closure prior to installation on the container;
FIG. 5
is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
5
—
5
in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 6
is a top plan view of the closure shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 7
is a bottom plan view of the closure shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 8
is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
8
—
8
in
FIG. 6
, but
FIG. 8
also shows the closure installed on the container;
FIG. 9
is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view showing the portion of the closure within the circle designated
9
in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 10
is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view showing the portion of the closure within the circle designated
10
in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 11
is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
11
—
11
in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 12
is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
12
—
12
in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 13
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
, but in
FIG. 13
the container is omitted for ease of illustration, and the lid is shown lifted to an open position after the tamper-evident frangible section has been broken;
FIG. 14
is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to
FIG. 10
, but in
FIG. 14
the container is omitted for ease of illustration, and
FIG. 14
shows the lid opened a little more than 90° from the first closed position;
FIG. 15
is similar to
FIG. 14
, but
FIG. 15
shows the lid in a fully opened orientation substantially 180° from the first closed position;
FIG. 16
is a view similar to
FIG. 4
, but
FIG. 16
shows the lid in the second closed position after the tamper-evident section has been broken; and
FIG. 17
is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to
FIG. 8
, but
FIG. 17
shows the lid in the second closed position corresponding to the position of the lid shown in FIG.
16
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.
For ease of description, the closure elements or features of this closure structure invention are described in various positions, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to these positions. It will be understood, however, that the closure elements may be manufactured and stored in orientations other than the ones described.
With reference to the figures, a presently preferred embodiment of a closure structure of the present invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 1-17
as a separately formed closure which is represented generally in the figures by reference number
40
. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the closure
40
is adapted to be disposed on a container
41
which has a mouth or opening
42
(FIG.
8
). The opening
42
is typically defined by a neck
43
(
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
8
) or other suitable structure at the top of the container
41
. The neck
43
typically has (but need not have) a circular cross-sectional configuration, and the body of the container
41
may have another cross-sectional configuration, such as an oval cross-sectional shape, for example. The container
41
need not have a separately identifiable neck
43
per se. The container
41
could instead have just a main body portion terminating in an upper end. The container
41
may have a rigid wall or walls. Also, the container
41
may be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls.
As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 8
, the closure
40
can be readily injection-molded from thermoplastic materials compatible with the container contents, and the closure
40
includes a base or lower closure portion
46
and a lid
48
.
In the first embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 8 and 17
, the lower closure portion or base
46
includes a peripheral deck
47
(
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5
,
6
,
8
,
9
,
10
,
13
,
14
,
15
,
16
, and
17
) and includes a downwardly depending annular skirt or wall
56
. As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 17
, the skirt
56
may have suitable connecting means (e.g., a conventional thread
55
(or conventional snap-fit bead which is not illustrated)) for engaging suitable cooperating means (e.g., a thread
57
(or groove which is not shown)) to secure the lower closure portion or base
46
to the container
41
. The lower closure portion or base
46
and the container
41
could also be welded together by induction melting or ultrasonic melting. The base
46
defines an access aperture
49
(
FIG. 13
) for communicating with the container opening.
In the preferred embodiment as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the lid
48
includes a horizontal top deck or wall
58
and a depending wall or flange
60
that extends around the lid
48
except where the flange
60
is interrupted by a hinge region
62
(
FIG. 2
) described in more detail hereinafter.
At the top of the flange
60
at the front of the lid
48
, as shown in
FIGS. 2
,
3
, and
8
, there is a thumb lift or finger lift projection or tab
64
which can be grasped between the user's finger and thumb or which can be pushed up by the user's thumb in order to lift the lid
48
. Around the periphery of the flange
60
is an outwardly projecting bead
66
(
FIGS. 3
,
4
, and
8
). As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
, the bead
66
is located on the flange
60
slightly above the deck
47
of the closure base
46
when the lid
48
is in the as-molded, initial, first closed position. Because of the perspective of the view in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the bead
66
appears to be adjacent the closure base deck
47
, but the bead
66
is actually located sufficiently above the deck
47
(as shown in
FIG. 9
) to accommodate subsequent movement of the lid flange
60
vertically downwardly a slight amount from the first closed position illustrated in
FIG. 9
to the second closed position illustrated in
FIGS. 16 and 17
wherein the bead
66
engages the inner peripheral edge of the deck
47
.
As shown in
FIG. 9
, the lid
48
and closure base
46
are initially molded together as a unitary structure, and there is an initial, as-molded connection between the lid
48
and the base
46
which has the form of a frangible, reduced-thickness section of material
70
(
FIG. 9
) which extends around the periphery of the lid skirt
60
and along each side of the hinge region
62
in a manner described in detail hereinafter. The reduced-thickness section of material
70
can be broken by the user initially pushing downwardly on the lid deck
58
(
FIG. 8
) or by initially pushing upwardly on the thumb tab
64
(FIG.
8
).
With reference to the hinge region
62
shown in
FIG. 4
, the lid skirt
60
includes a generally planar, flattened portion
60
A. A hinge web
80
extends from the lid rear planar portion
60
A to the deck
47
of the closure base
46
. In the presently preferred configuration, the hinge web
80
has a generally rectangular, planar shape in the as-molded condition as shown in FIG.
4
. The hinge web
80
is initially molded as a unitary structure with, and extending between, a pair of spaced-apart, generally triangular support members
72
(FIGS.
4
and
5
). Each support member
72
projects upwardly as a unitary part of the closure base
46
.
As shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the hinge web
80
maybe characterized as having a first end connected to the closure base
46
, a second end connected to the lid
48
, and two sides or edges which each extends between the first and second ends. Each side of the web
80
extends along the upper, slanted portion of an adjacent support member
72
.
The frangible, reduced-thickness section of material
70
that initially joins the lid
48
to the base
46
as shown in
FIG. 4
also extends around the rear of the lid
48
and into the hinge region
62
as shown in FIG.
4
. For convenience of illustration, the reduced-thickness section of material
70
is shown as a dashed line in FIG.
4
. However, it will be appreciated that the reduced-thickness section of material
70
is preferably formed as a continuous thin section of material, such as a membrane, between the closure of base
46
and lid
48
as illustrated in FIG.
9
. Alternatively, the reduced-thickness section of material maybe provided either as intermittent, spaced-apart, molded recesses or as recesses that are subsequently slit into, but not completely through, the molded material.
With reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the reduced-thickness section of material
70
is seen to extend rearwardly into the hinge region
62
and vertically up the inside edge of each support member
72
. In
FIG. 5
, the vertical extension of the reduced-thickness section of material is designated with the reference and number
70
A. With reference to
FIGS. 4 and 12
, the reduced-thickness section of material extends along and down the underside of the hinge web
80
adjacent each support member
72
, and the downwardly extending reduced-thickness section of material is designated in
FIGS. 4 and 5
by the reference number
70
B. In
FIG. 4
, the reduced-thickness section of material
70
B along the slanted portion of each support member
72
is represented by a dashed line. However, it will be appreciated that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the downwardly slanting reduced-thickness section of material
70
B along each support member
72
is a continuous membrane formed by omitting material from the underside of the hinge web
70
along each side edge so as to form the reduced-thickness section of material. Of course, alternatively, the reduced-thickness section of material could be defined by other means, such as molded recesses or recesses that are slit into, but not completely through, the material after molding, etc.
The closure structure
40
is initially molded as a unitary piece as shown in
FIG. 3
wherein the lid
48
is in a first closed position relative to the closure base
46
and wherein the lid
48
and base
46
are connected together around the periphery of the lid
48
and through the hinge region
62
(
FIG. 4
) by means of the reduced-thickness section of material or membrane
70
,
70
A and
70
B which is formed during the initial molding process or other manufacturing process. The molded closure (as shown in
FIG. 3
) is then installed on a container
41
(as shown in
FIG. 8
) which has previously been filled with a product.
In order to initially open the closure, the user can push downwardly on the lid deck
58
(
FIG. 8
) to rupture the frangible membrane
70
,
70
A,
70
B around the lid
48
and along the sides of the hinge region
62
(FIG.
4
). When the lid
48
is initially pushed downwardly far enough (in the direction of the arrow
83
as shown in FIG.
17
), the lid bead
66
engages the top, inner edge of the closure base deck
47
to prevent further downward movement. With continued reference to
FIG. 17
, it will be appreciated that the lid skirt
60
has a bottom portion
84
below the bead
66
, and the bottom portion
84
may be characterized as a seal member for engaging at least a portion of the of the inner peripheral surface of the container opening
42
.
With reference to
FIGS. 16 and 17
, the reduced-thickness section of material or membrane
70
A and
70
B in the hinge region adjacent the support members
72
will rupture and break. The upper end of the hinge web
80
will thus be able to move downwardly to the position shown in
FIGS. 16 and 17
. In the downward position, the lateral side edges of the hinge web
80
engage the inside, vertical, planar surfaces of the support members
72
so as to prevent access to the container interior through the hinge region.
The position of the lid
48
in
FIGS. 16 and 17
may be characterized as a second closed position inwardly of the first closed position (which is the initial as-molded closed condition illustrated in FIG.
8
).
The invention accommodates an alternate way of breaking the frangible membrane. In particular, instead of the user pushing down on the lid
48
, the user could lift upwardly on the lid thumb tab
64
(
FIG. 8
) to tear the membrane
70
,
70
A, and
70
B around the lid
48
and along the hinge support members
72
.
Regardless of whether the user pushes down on the lid
48
or pulls up on the lid
48
in order to rupture the membrane, after the membrane has torn or otherwise ruptured, the lid
48
may be lifted, as shown in
FIG. 13
, by the thumb tab
64
to an open position to permit access to the container (omitted for ease of illustration in FIG.
13
). In
FIG. 13
, the torn membrane
70
′ is shown around the inner peripheral edge of the closure base deck
47
. A corresponding torn portion of the membrane on the lid skirt
60
is designated by the reference number
70
″.
FIGS. 13-17
also show the torn membrane along the vertical edge of each triangular support member
72
and downwardly along the slanted back edge of each support member
72
. For purposes of illustration, the figures show the torn material as a jagged line in an exaggerated scale. However, it will be appreciated that the torn material may actually have a less jagged edge or even a smooth edge.
With reference to
FIGS. 4 and 13
, the frangible, reduced-thickness section of material may be characterized as a membrane which has (1) a portion lying in a plane for a major part of the length of the connection between the lid
48
and closure base for
46
, and (2) at least one portion that is generally straight and that is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the plane. The portion lying in a plane for a major part of the length of the connection between the lid
48
and the closure base
46
is the generally arcuate portion indicated by the reference number
70
in FIG.
4
. The portion that is generally straight and that is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the plane is the portion designated by the reference number
70
B in FIG.
4
.
As illustrated in
FIG. 14
, the open lid
48
can be tilted rearwardly further, and as shown in
FIG. 15
, the lid
48
can be positioned to a full, or wide open, position wherein the hinge web
80
lies on the closure base deck
47
and wherein the lid
48
has a orientation which is generally 180° from the initial, as-molded, first closed position shown in FIG.
8
. With the lid
48
in this position, there is substantially no interference with access to the interior of the container (not shown in FIG.
15
), and a wide range of kitchen implements (i.e., knives, spoons, spatulas, tongs, etc.) can be readily used to remove product from the container.
The lid
48
can be readily re-closed by returning the lid
48
to the position illustrated in
FIGS. 16 and 17
. A slight downward force on the top of the lid
48
(in the direction of the arrow
83
as shown in
FIG. 17
) will seat the seal member
84
at the bottom of the lid in the container mouth
42
. The engagement of the lid
48
within the container mouth
42
, and the position of the hinge membrane
80
between the support members
72
prevent access to the container interior.
After the reduced-thickness section of material or membrane has been initially broken around the lid
48
, it will be apparent to subsequent users that the initial, as-molded, closed condition of the structure has been breached (and that the lid
48
may possibly have been opened). The tamper indication function of the structure is effective to provide evidence of tampering without leaving separate waste pieces of loose material requiring disposal. Because the lid
48
always remains connected to the closure base
46
via the hinge web
80
, there is no potential for misplacing or losing the lid
48
.
Because the closure is preferably molded from a thermoplastic material in the first closed position illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 8
, the mold cavity does not have to accommodate an open lid as is the case with other conventional types of closures wherein the lid is molded in an initially open configuration. Thus, because the lid is molded in a closed position in accordance with the present invention, the capacity of the mold is maximized, and the efficiency of manufacturing is increased.
It will be appreciated that an optional, inner seal structure (not illustrated) could be initially provided across the top of the container
41
or across the closure base opening. Such an inner seal could be a foil or thermoplastic membrane sealed to the top, annular surface of the container
41
or sealed to the annular underside of the closure base deck
47
. Such an inner seal would have to be torn or cut away and removed after the lid
48
is lifted up to an open position.
It will be appreciated that the lid
48
and the container
41
could be initially molded together with the frangible membrane
70
and base
46
as a unitary extension of the top of the container
41
if the container is molded with an open bottom end. In such an alternate design, suitable means must be employed for subsequently filling the container
41
from an open bottom end of the container and subsequently closing the bottom of the container. To this end, the container
41
could be molded with the closure structure located at the top end and with the bottom end of the container open. The container could then be filled through the open bottom end, and then the bottom end of the container could be closed over by suitable means, such as molding the bottom of the container closed or by installing a separately formed bottom closure which could be threaded or snap-fit onto the container bottom. Alternatively, a separate closure could be secured to the container bottom with adhesive or thermal bonding techniques. With respect to such an alternate design, the alternative design may be characterized as a closure structure for a container wherein the closure structure comprises (1) the lid
48
, (2) a lower closure portion or base
46
which is molded as a unitary part or extension of the container
41
, (3) a hinge web connecting the lid and base, and (4) the frangible, reduced-thickness section of material initially connecting the lid, base, and hinge web. That is, the top of the container
41
may be regarded as including or defining the “base” or “lower closure portion”
46
. Thus, the phrase “a closure structure for” as used in the claims appended hereto may be construed to include either a closure structure (or portion thereof) that is molded as a unitary part or extension of a container or a separate closure element adapted to be releasably or permanently mounted to the container.
It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous other variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.
Claims
- 1. A closure structure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said closure comprising:a closure base for extending around said container opening; a lid on said closure base; a hinge web having (1) a first end connected to said closure base, (2) a second end connected to said lid, and (3) two sides which each extends between said first and second ends; and a frangible, reduced-thickness section of material initially connecting said lid to said closure base and initially connecting both of said hinge web sides to one of said closure base and said lid for initially holding said lid sealed closed at a tamper-evident, first closed position and for subsequently accommodating movement of said lid relative to said first closed position to break said frangible connection and become selectively located at one of the following positions: (1) a second closed position inwardly of said first closed position, and (2) an open position outwardly of both said first closed position and second closed position.
- 2. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure structure is a separate closure that (1) is adapted to be mounted to said container, and (2) defines an access aperture for communicating with said container opening.
- 3. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure structure is formed as a unitary part of said container at said container opening.
- 4. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in whichsaid structure is a separate closure that is adapted to be mounted to said container which has an inner peripheral surface around the container opening; and said lid includes a seal member for engaging at least a portion of said periphery of said inner peripheral surface when said lid is in said second closed position.
- 5. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said frangible, reduced-thickness section of material breaks when said lid is pushed inwardly with sufficient force.
- 6. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said frangible, reduced-thickness section of material breaks when said lid is pulled outwardly with sufficient force.
- 7. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure base includes a pair of outwardly projecting, spaced-apart support members; andsaid frangible, reduced-thickness section of material is a membrane which has (1) a portion lying in a plane for a major part of the length of the connection between said lid and said closure base, and (2) at least one portion that is generally straight and that is oriented at an oblique angle relative to said plane.
- 8. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure base includes an inner membrane seal for initially preventing communication through said closure base with the interior of the container until said inner membrane seal is breached.
- 9. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which said web is generally rectangular.
- 10. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in whichsaid closure base has an inner peripheral edge; said lid includes a flange having an outer peripheral surface; and said frangible, reduced-thickness section of material connects said closure base inner peripheral edge to said lid flange outer peripheral surface.
- 11. The closure structure in accordance with claim 1 in which both of said hinge web sides are initially connected to said closure base.
US Referenced Citations (36)