EP1180482B1 - Container closure arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a closure arrangement for closing an opening (17) in a base component (15). In particular - but not exclusively - this invention relates to a closure arrangement for a container, to serve as an openable lid (17) for the container. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a closure arrangement for closing an opening in abase component. In particular - but not exclusively - this invention relates to aclosure arrangement for a container, to serve as an openable lid for the container.

Many household products are supplied in a container having an opening togive access to the interior of the container, together with a lid to close thatopening. Many such containers require two hands to remove the lid but for someproducts, it is desirable that the container can be opened simply, just with onehand. For example, in the case of a container for wetted or moist tissues, a personwishing to use a tissue may well have soiled fingers and so will wish to gainaccess to the interior of the container holding the tissues in a quick and simplemanner. On the other hand, the lid for the container, when closed, shouldsubstantially seal the container so as to prevent drying-out of the wetted tissues.

Particularly in the case of a container for wetted tissues, it is advantageous ifthe lid can be moved from its closed position to its opened position automatically,on being released by a simple one-touch action by a finger of a user. Forexample, such a container is described in EP-0952088-A.

It is an aim of the present invention to improve on the several known designsof closure arrangements for containers and so provide such an arrangementwhich can be operated effectively and reliably for the expected life of thecontainer, and yet which is cheap and easy to manufacture, bearing in mind thatthe container will probably be thrown away when its contents have beenexhausted.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a closure arrangementcomprising a base component defining a closable opening, a closure for theopening and hinged to the base component for movement between closed andopen positions, juxtaposed lugs provided respectively on the base component andthe closure in the region of the hinging axis of the closure, each lug having at oradjacent its free end a receptor, and an elastic link located in and extendingbetween the receptors of the lugs, the receptors of the lugs being off-set from thehinging axis and arranged such that the link is strained when the closure is at itsclosed position, the straining of the link varying as the closure is moved betweenits closed and open positions and is least when the closure is at its open position.

It will be appreciated that the closure arrangement of this invention may bemanufactured by a moulding operation using suitable plastics materials, exceptperhaps for the elastic link. Both the base component and the closure may beconfigured to be relatively simple items so as to be cheap to manufacture in largequantities and yet able to give reliable operation when in use.

Though it would be possible for there to be only one lug on the basecomponent and only one lug on the closure, preferred embodiments of thisinvention have a single lug on one of the base component and the closure and onthe other of the base component and closure a pair of spaced apart lugs so thatthe single lug is disposed therebetween. For such an arrangement, the elastic linkmay be strained between the pair of lugs and be deflected from a straight-linepath by means of the single lug engaged substantially centrally with the link.

The elastic link preferably takes the form of a strip of elastomeric materialmoulded to have an enlarged head at each of its two ends respectively and whichheads in use engage the respective lugs. Preferably, the strip of elastomericmaterial is of substantially circular cross-sectional shape. Each receptor maycomprise a generally U-shaped recess formed in an end portion of each lug,which recess has a sufficient width to receive the strip of elastomeric material butthe head of the strip serving to prevent the strip pulling out of the receptortransverse to the plane of the lug.

Preferably, a catch mechanism is provided to maintain the closure in itsclosed position, against the action of the strained link. Such a catch mechanismmay comprise a catch member hinged to the base component and a tab provided on the closure which tab is engageable with the catch member so as to retain theclosure in its closed position. Hinging of the catch member away from the tab willthen release the closure to permit it to move to its open position, under the actionof the elastic link. Such a releasing action may easily be performed by a singlefinger of a user so facilitating easy access to the contents of a containerassociated with the closure arrangement.

In an alternative embodiment, the arrangement of the lugs respectively onthe base component and the closure is such that the straining of the elastic linkinitially increases on moving the closure from its closed position to its openposition, before reducing to its smallest value with the closure at its open position.Such a closure arrangement will have an over-centre feel but may still bereleased easily so as automatically to move to its open position, merely by liftingthe closure slightly.

Preferably, the closure arrangement of this invention is used in associationwith a container, the base component forming a part of a lid assembly for thatcontainer. Such a container may hold wetted or moistened sheets or tissuesremovable from the container through the opening in the base component. In thiscase, the closure when in its closed position may effect a generally air-tight sealto the base component, to minimise any drying of the moistened or wetted sheetswithin the container.

By way of example, certain specific embodiments of this invention will nowbe described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings inwhich:-

Figure 1 is an isometric rear view of a first closure arrangement, with theclosure separated from the base component;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but with the closure fitted to thebase component;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2taken generally on the hinging axis of the closure;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 correspond to Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively, butshowing a second embodiment;

Figure 7 corresponds generally to Figure 2, but shows a third embodiment ofthis invention;

Figure 8 shows a catch mechanism used with the first, second and thirdembodiments of this invention;

Figures 9A, 9B and 9C are cross-sections through the hinge region of theembodiment of Figures 1 to 3; and

Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9A, but of an alternative over-centrearrangement.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a first embodiment ofclosure arrangement of this invention and comprising abase component 15defining anopening 16, and aclosure 17 pivoted to thebase component 15 formovement between an open position and a closed position (shown in Figure 2)where the closure closes theopening 16. Both thebase component 15 and theclosure 17 are moulded from a plastics material. The lower region of thebasecomponent 15 may be configured for mounting on a lid of a container, over anaperture through that lid. In the alternative, thebase component 15 may itself formthe lid for a container with which the closure arrangement is to be associated. Yetanother possibility would be for thebase component 15 to be formed integrallywith or attached directly to a container.

Around three sides of theopening 16, thebase component 15 is providedwith an in-turnedflange 18, that flange on the two sides having alignedholes 19,adjacent therear wall 20 of thebase component 15. Acurved wall 21 extendsinwardly of the opening 16 from therear wall 20, curving upwardly towards the topface of thebase component 15. Alug 22 projects upwardly from thiscurved wall21, midway along the length of therear wall 20, thelug 22 having a U-shapedslot23 at its upper free end.

Theclosure 17 is of simple rectangular shape and is provided with adownturnedlip 25 around its periphery. For the sake of clarity, the lip has been omittedfrom therear edge 26 of the closure in Figures 1 and 2, but is shown in Figure 9A,9B and 9C, and has a curved form for interaction with the rear wall as the closureis opened. Theclosure 17 is dimensioned so that it is a snug fit within theopening16 of thebase component 15, when in its closed position shown in Figure 2,giving a generally moisture-tight seal.

Projecting outwardly from thelip 25 at two opposed locations adjacent therear edge 26 of theclosure 17 are alignedpivot pins 27, arranged to be receivedin the alignedholes 19 of thebase component 15, so allowing theclosure 17 topivot between the closed position shown in Figure 2 to an open position shown inFigure 9C. The under-surface of theclosure 17 is provided with a pair of spacedlugs 28, disposed equidistant from the side edges of the closure and each havingaU-shaped slot 29 formed in its free end. Stretched between thelugs 28 is alink30 of an elastomeric material (such as natural or synthetic rubber), thelink 30having amain portion 31 of circular cross-sectional shape and arespective head32 formed at each of the two ends of themain portion 31. As shown in Figure 1,thelink 30 should be lightly stretched when positioned between the pair oflugs 28on the closure, so that the link will remain in position in theslots 29 by virtue ofthe tension in the link. Then, on engaging thepivot pins 27 with theholes 19, asshown in Figure 2 and 3, thelug 22 on thebase component 15 will engage thecentral part of thelink 30 and strain that link so as to take up a generally V-shapedform.

With theclosure 17 in its closed position, shown in Figures 2, 3 and 9A, thelink 30 is strained to the greatest extent. Pivoting movement of theclosure 17 fromits closed position through an intermediate position (Figure 9B) to its openposition (Figure 9C) reduces the straining of the link, with the included angle ofthe V-shaped form taken up by themain portion 31 of thelink 30 reducing as theclosure moves to its open position. Thus, theclosure 17 will tend to move to itsopen position where the tension in thelink 30 is at a minimum.

In Figure 3, tworetaining walls 33 are shown, disposed outside the pair oflugs 28 and spaced therefrom. These walls serve to assist holding of thelink 30 intheslots 29 oflugs 28, by having eachhead 32 of the link a friction fit betweenthewall 33 and the opposed face of the link. These walls may be omitted, asshown in Figures 1 and 2, if the link is sufficiently strained when carried in the pairoflugs 29, before the closure is engaged with the base member.

In order to maintain theclosure 17 in its closed position, acatch mechanism34 as shown in Figure 8 is employed. This catch mechanism includes an L-shapedcatch member 35 which is pivoted at 36 to thebase component 15, so asto be movable between a holding position shown in solid lines in Figure 8 and a released position shown in broken lines in that Figure. Theclosure 17 is showndiagrammatically at 37 in Figure 8, but in the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2,there is a forwardly-projecting tab (not shown) on theclosure 17 and below theupper surface of that closure, so that theupper surface 38 of thecatch member35 may lie in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of theclosure 17.

Though in Figure 8 asimple pivot 36 is shown for thecatch member 35,preferably the pivot is defined by a moulded film hinge which will urge the catchmember to its holding position, movement of the catch member to its releasedposition being against the force provided by the film hinge. Theforward edge 39of the catch member should be raked as shown in Figure 8, so as to permit theclosure 17 (or the tab provided thereon) to ride over thatedge 39, deflecting thecatch member 35 as necessary. Securing of theclosure 17 in its closed positionthus simply requires the closure to be pushed to that position. Then, the closuremay be released by a simple one-touch operation, pressing on the upper surfaceof thecatch member 35.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of this invention but which isgenerally similar to the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3. Consequently, like partsare given like reference numerals and those parts will not be described againhere.

The second embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 differs from that of Figures 1 to 3in that theclosure 17 is provided with only a single downwardly-projectinglug 40,disposed centrally of the closure adjacent itsrear edge 26. Conversely, thebasecomponent 15 has a pair of spacedlugs 41 the upper edges of which are on thesame level as the upper edge of thecurved wall 21. In this embodiment, theelastic link 30 is strained between thelugs 41 and thelug 40 on the closureengages a central region of themain portion 31 of that link, to deform the link intoa generally V-shaped form when the closure is in its closed position, as shown inFigures 5 and 6. In other respects, the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 operates ashas been described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, thebase component 43 has a generally rounded profile to enhance the aestheticappearance thereof, as compared to thebase component 15, but otherwisegenerally corresponds to thatbase component 15. However, in this embodiment both thebase component 43 and theclosure 17 are provided only with onelug 44and 45 each, those lugs being disposed equally to either side of the centre line oftheclosure 17. A shorterelastic link 46 is provided than in the case of theembodiments of Figures 1 to 6, but the link is generally of the same form aslink30 and operates in the same manner. In other respects, the embodiment of Figure7 is essentially the same as the first two embodiments, described above.

It will be appreciated that with the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7, the axis ofpivoting movement of the closure 17 (that is, the axis of theholes 19 and pivotpins 27) is disposed slightly to the rear of the slots in the lugs of the closure andbase component, as shown in Figure 9A. This ensures that the link is strained toits greatest extent when the closure is in its closed position, with the straining ofthe link reducing as the closure is moved to its open position. The position of saidaxis relative to the lugs may be adjusted to control the rate of change of the forceof the link. If that axis is moved sufficiently forwardly to lie just in front of the linkwith the closure in its closed position, there will be imparted to the mechanism anover-centre (or toggle) action; such an arrangement is shown in Figure 10. Withthis arrangement, the straining of the link increases for the first few degrees ofopening movement of the closure, whereafter the action proceeds as describedabove, with the straining reducing until the closure is in its opened position. Theresult is that the closed position of the closure is stable and the closure will moveautomatically to its open position only after raising the closure through a fewdegrees. This then permits the elimination of thecatch mechanism 34 whilst stillgiving a simple and easy to operate one-touch action, of just raising the closureby a few degrees at its forward edge.

Claims (12)

1. A closure arrangement comprising a base component (15) defining a closableopening, a closure (17) for the opening and hinged to the base component formovement between closed and open positions, juxtaposed lugs (22) providedrespectively on the base component and the closure in the region of thehinging, axis of the closure, each lug having at or adjacent its free end areceptor (23), and an elastic link (31) located in and extending between the receptorsof the lugs, the receptors of the lugs being off-set from the hinging axis andarranged such that the link is strained when the closure is at its closedposition, the straining of the link varying as the closure is moved between itsclosed and open positions and is least when the closure is at its openposition.
2. A closure arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base component isprovided with a pair of similarly-configured lugs spaced in the direction of thehinging axis of the closure, the elastic link extends between the pair of lugsand is located in the receptors thereof, and the lug of the closure is disposedbetween the pair of lugs of the base component with the closure lug receptoralso engaging the elastic link.
3. A closure arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure is providedwith a pair of similarly-configured lugs spaced in the direction of the hingingaxis of the closure, the elastic link extends between the pair of lugs and islocated in the receptors thereof, and the lug of the base component isdisposed between the pair of lugs of the closure with the base componentlug receptor also engaging the elastic link.
4. A closure arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, whereineach receptor comprises a generally U-shaped slot formed in an end portionof each lug.
5. A closure arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, whereinthe elastic link comprises a strip of elastomeric material moulded to haveenlarged heads at its two ends and which heads engage the lugs.
6. A closure arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the strip ofelastomeric material is of substantially circular cross-sectional shape.
7. A closure arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein acatch mechanism is provided to maintain the closure in its closed position.
8. A closure arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said catch mechanismcomprises a catch member hinged to the base component and a tabprovided on the closure which tab is engageable with the catch member toretain the closure in its closed position.
9. A closure arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, whereinthe arrangement of the lugs respectively on the base component and theclosure is such that the strain in the elastic link initially increases on movingthe closure from its closed position to its open position, before reducing to itssmallest value with the closure at its open position.
10. A closure arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, whereinthe base component forms a part of a lid assembly for a container.
11. A closure arrangement for a container as claimed in claim 10 and where thecontainer is intended to hold wetted or moistened sheets removable from thecontainer through the opening in the base component, wherein the closurewhen in its closed position effects a generally moisture-tight seal to the basecomponent.
12. A closure arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and substantially ashereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

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