AU2006100567A4 - Flip Top Container Closure - Google Patents

Description

FLIP TOP CONTAINER CLOSURE Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to bottle and container closures and more particularly to closures which allow access to the contents of a bottle or container at a user's discretion.

Background Art.

Bottle closure devices are known in many different modifications including so-called crown caps, twist-off caps and many other versions. Flip top closures for bottles and similar are available. One such closure is described in British Patent No.

2195619 and that document described the prior art base as follows: "The use of flip top caps for application to bottles to close same after the bottle has been filled through the neck opening of the bottle is well known.

Existing flip top caps are characterised in that the lower part of the cap which engages in the neck opening of the bottle is formed of two concentric downwardly projecting sleeves, a longer inner sleeve and a shorter outer sleeve, between which is received the neck of the bottle. The flip top cap is push fitted onto the bottle, the friction between the bottle neck and the inner and outer sleeves of the flip top cap being sufficient to secure the flip top cap onto the bottle. The inner and/or outer sleeve may be formed with projections, possibly threads, to enhance the frictional grip between the neck and sleeves. The inner sleeve of the flip top cap operates both as a guide to enable manual push application of the cap onto the bottle and assists in sealing the cap to the bottle." Another type of flip top closure is described in United States Patent number 5603436 as follows: "A dispensing container including a receptacle portion for holding liquids and an upper opening having a closure device. The closure device is embodied in threaded cap which closes a relatively large opening in the top of the receptacle portion for filling purposes. The closure device includes a spout connected to the threaded cap for sliding movement between open and closed positions. The spout includes a plug member having a resilient static sealing element. A tubular closure element is secured to the threaded cap and includes a plug bore which receives the plug member and further defines a fluid flow path. A resilient dynamic sealing element is disposed on an outer surface of the tubular closure element and the dynamic sealing element is in continuous contact with an inner surface of the spout during sliding movement thereof. The tubular closure element further includes an upper sealing surface adapted to engage the static sealing element and apply axial compression thereto when the spout is in a closed position. A flip-top protective cover is connected to the threaded cap and, in a closed position, the protective cover maintains the static sealing element in axial compression against the sealing surface." Both of these types of flip top closures generally require more than one hand to operate between the open and closed condition, particularly when closing the cap.

Also known are beer steins. Steins are mugs used for drinking beer. They can be made of earthenware, pewter, wood, ceramics, crystal, porcelain, creamware, silver, or glass. They have a handle and a hinged lid. Steins originated in the 14th century. As a result of the bubonic plague and several invasions of flies in Europe, Germany established laws to require beverage containers to be covered for sanitary purposes. Around the same time, techniques to improve earthenware by raising the firing temperature of clay, created stoneware. Thus, there was a presence of stoneware drinking vessels with attached pewter lids for the next 300 years. By the end of the 19th century, the stein was clearly defined as being made in Europe, primarily of stoneware and primarily with a permanently attached pewter lid. The history of steins includes the development and presentation of steins made with different materials. Pewter was the material of choice in some areas of Europe, especially England. Glass, porcelain and silver steins were introduced several hundred years ago.

One disadvantage with steins is that the hinged lid is permanently attached to the cup or tankard. This prevents the same hinged lid from being used on multiple different steins.

The flip top closure art would be substantially improved if a simple closure was provided that allowed easy operation, preferably using only one hand and that did not interfere with the access to the container contents. It would be a further contribution if a flip top closure was provided that prevented foreign objects or insects from entering a bottle (which is a problem particularly with sugary contents).

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Summary of the Invention.

The present invention is directed to a flip top container closure, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a flip top container closure which is removeably attachable relative to a container opening, the closure including a container engaging portion to releasably secure the closure relative to a container opening; a closure member moveable between a closed condition in which the container opening is substantially closed and an open condition in which contents of the container can be accessed; and a lever means associated with the closure member and the bottle engaging means to move the closure member between the closed and open condition.

The container closure of the invention may substantially contribute to the art by providing a container closure which is easy to remove and attach to a container and also is operable using only one hand.

The flip top container closure is preferably adapted for use with bottles and particularly for use with bottles containing liquid. The closure may be manufactured of any suitable material but will typically be manufactured from a plastics or light metal material. The material of manufacture may be chosen for its properties such as light weight, ease of sanitisation or cleaning or ease of production.

The closure may seal the opening of the container to which it is attached or it may only cover the opening without sealing. The closure of the invention may be manufactured in a variety of sizes to suit different containers and it may also be manufactured in a variety of shapes. The preferred shape however may be circular.

The flip top container closure is removeably attachable relative to a container opening. Preferably, the closure is quickly and easily removeable from one container and attachable to another container. In this manner, a single flip top container closure may be used by the same user with a variety of different containers by removal and transfer to another container.

The closure includes a container engaging portion to releasably secure the closure relative to a container opening. Suitably, when the closure of the invention is used with a bottle or similar, the bottle will be provided with a portion of lesser dimension, generally called the "neck" of the bottle and the opening is provided at the upper end of the neck. Typically, the container engaging portion may engage with the container at or adjacent to the opening of the container and generally with the neck of the bottle, or a portion directly adjacent the opening of the bottle.

The container engaging portion may engage with the container in any suitable manner. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the container engaging portion may include a cylindrical member which engages with a portion, preferably the neck, of a bottle. The cylindrical member may be of sufficient diameter to receive an upper portion of the bottle therein.

The container engaging portion may typically be releasably attachable relative to the bottle. A variety of methods can achieve this end. The two most preferred means of attaching the container engaging portion are a threaded engagement portion and a clip engagement portion.

The threaded engagement portion may suitably include a cylindrical container engaging portion to engage with either the bottle portion directly adjacent the opening or with the neck portion of the bottle. The cylindrical portion may typically be provided with an internally threaded portion to engage with the threaded portion of the bottle (if present) adjacent the opening to securely attach the closure relative to the opening.

The engagement portion may also be provided with grip enhancing means on an external surface of the cylindrical container engaging portion to allow more secure attachment.

The clip engagement portion may suitably include a cheliform or pincershaped container engaging portion to engage with either the bottle portion directly adjacent the opening or with the neck portion of the bottle. The pincer shaped portion may typically be provided with a pair of spaced apart arm members to engage with a portion of the bottle (if present) adjacent the opening to securely attach the closure relative to the opening. Typically, the arm members may be resilient. When attaching the clip engaging portion to the container, an arm member may be located to either side of the bottle and then the clip portion may be forced against the bottle. This may result in deformation of the arm members apart in order to accommodate the bottle between the arms. The resilience of the arm members may then hold the bottle securely between the arm members until the clip portion is forcibly removed.

The clip engagement portion may also be provided with grip enhancing means on an external surface of the cylindrical container engaging portion to allow more secure attachment.

The container engaging portion may preferably be provided with a lever means mounting assembly in order to associate the lever means with the container engaging portion. The lever means may preferably take the form of a pair of spaced apart arm members which receive and locate the lever means therebetween.

The closure also includes a closure member moveable between a closed condition in which the container opening is substantially closed and an open condition in which contents of the container can be accessed.

The closure member may be biased into the closed condition, so that the user must maintain pressure on the lever means in order to retain the closure in the open condition. Alternatively, the closure member may not be biased into the closed condition.

When provided in this form, the closure member must be moved from the closed condition to the open condition and also from the open condition to the closed condition.

The closure member may act to seal the opening or not. According to a first embodiment, the sealing may occur such that once in the closed condition, spills are prevented. According to a second embodiment, the closure member may not seal the opening but only cover the opening.

The closure member may enclose the container engaging means or not.

Preferably, the enclosing type of closure member may be used with the cylindrical container engaging portion. According to a particularly preferred form, the cylindrical engaging portion may engage with a threaded portion of the bottle adjacent the opening.

The closure member may be provided which encloses the container engagement portion.

The closure member may therefore be configured with a top wall and dependant side wall which extends at least partially about the top wall and encloses the container engaging portion.

The sidewall may be provided with at least one opening therein in order to allow for the spaced apart arm members for mounting the lever means.

The closure member may be substantially planar in its simplest configuration, but alternatively may be bowl-shaped having the top wall and dependant side wall. The closure member may also have other configurations such as plug-shaped such that the plug may be received in the opening of the container to close the opening.

The closure member will typically be attached at or towards one end of the lever means. Typically the closure member and the lever means may be integrally formed but the two components may be attached to one another using an adhesive or other method.

The closure further includes a lever means associated with the closure member and the container engaging means to move the closure member between the closed and open condition.

Typically, the lever means will be in pivotal association with the container engaging means. In this manner, depression of the lever means may result in lifting of the closure means to the open condition. The lever may operate in the reverse configuration as well where depression of the lever means may result in the closure member being moved to the closed condition.

Typically, the lever means will be pivoted about a centrally located pivot.

The pivot may include at least one pin member which is mounted on the spaced apart arm members and associated with the lever means. The pin may be a single member which extends through the lever means or a pin member may be provided on either side of the lever means. The at least one pin member may be mounted on the spaced apart members by engaging with openings in the respective arm members. Preferably, the lever means will be received between the respective arm members associated with the container engaging portion.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the lever means may have an annodated, sigmoid or S-shaped body portion with a first end associated with the closure member and a free end. This shape may allow the free end of the lever means to be located within easy reach of a person's fingers when the container is gripped.

Suitably, the lever means will be shaped such that the fingers of the hand gripping the container also operate the lever means.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a pair of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of a pair of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention with the closure member in the open condition.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention with the closure member in the open condition.

Figure 5 is an end view from the lever means of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an end view from the lever means of a second, preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention with the closure member in the open condition.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a bottle, with the closure member in the closed condition.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a bottle, with the closure member in the open condition.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a bottle, with the closure member in the closed condition.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a bottle, with the closure member in the open condition.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flip top container closure 10 is provided.

The flip top container closure 10 illustrated in the figures is removeably attachable relative to a container opening 11 which is best seen in figures 9 and 11. The flip top container closure 10 is manufactured of plastic and is illustrated attached to a bottle 12 which would normally contain liquid.

The flip top container closure 10 illustrated includes a container engaging portion 13 to releasably secure the closure 10 relative to a container opening 11, a closure member 17, and a lever means 18 to open and close the closure member 17.

The container engaging portion 13 engages with the bottle 12 at the threaded portion 14 immediately adjacent to the opening 11 of the bottle 12.

The container engaging portion 13 includes a cylindrical member 15 of sufficient diameter to receive the threaded portion 14 immediately adjacent to the opening 11 of the bottle 12.

The cylindrical member 15 has an internally threaded portion 16 to engage with the threaded portion 14 of the bottle 12 adjacent the opening 11 to securely attach the closure 10 relative to the opening 11.

The container engaging portion 13 may also be provided with grip enhancing means on an external surface of the cylindrical member 15 to allow more secure attachment. The grip enhancing means is best illustrated in figure 11.

The container engaging portion 13 is provided with a pair of spaced apart arm members 19 which receive and locate the lever means 18 therebetween.

The closure member 17 is moveable between a closed condition in which the bottle opening 11 is substantially closed and an open condition in which contents of the bottle 12 can be accessed.

Two preferred embodiments of the closure member 17 are illustrated in the figures. The first embodiment of closure member 17 encloses the container engaging portion 13 and is illustrated best in Figures 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11. According to a first preferred embodiment, the cylindrical member 15 engages with the threaded portion 14 of the bottle 12 adjacent the opening 11. The closure member 17 of this embodiment has a top wall 20 and dependant side wall 21 which extends about the outer edge of the top wall 20 and encloses the container engaging portion 13 when the closure is in the closed condition. The sidewall 21 is provided with an opening 22 therein in order to allow for the spaced apart arm members 19 for mounting the lever means 18. As can be seen from Figure 10 in particular, the first embodiment of the closure member is of the enclosing type.

According to a second preferred embodiment as illustrated in Figures 4, 6, 8 and 10, the closure member 17 is substantially planar and merely covers the opening 11.

The closure member 17 is attached at one end of the lever means 18. and according to the preferred embodiment which is an early prototype, the closure member 17 and the lever means 18 are attached to one another using an adhesive. Normally however, the two components will be integrally formed.

The lever means 18 is associated with the closure member 17 and the bottle engaging means 13 to move the closure member 17 between the closed and open condition.

The lever means 18 is pivotally associated with the container engaging portion 13. In this manner, depression of the lever means 18 results in lifting of the closure member 17 to the open condition.

The lever means 18 pivots about a centrally located pivot 23. The pivot of the preferred embodiments is a pin member which is mounted on the spaced apart arm members 19 and through with the lever means 18. The pin member pivot 23 is mounted on the spaced apart members 19 by engaging with openings in the respective arm members 19 with the lever means 18 received between the respective arm members 19 associated with the container engaging portion 13.

The lever means 18 has an annodated, sigmoid or S-shaped body portion with a first end associated with the closure member 17 and a free end. This shape allows the free end of the lever means to be located within easy reach of a person's fingers when the bottle is gripped such that the fingers of the hand gripping the bottle 12 also operate the lever means 18 allowing one-handed operation.

In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (4)

1. A flip top container closure which is removeably attachable relative to a container opening, the closure including a. a container engaging portion to releasably secure the closure relative to a container opening; b. a closure member moveable between a closed condition in which the container opening is substantially closed and an open condition in which contents of the container can be accessed; and c. a lever means associated with the closure member and the bottle engaging means to move the closure member between the closed and open condition.

2. A flip top container closure according to claim 1 wherein the lever means has an annodated, sigmoid or S-shaped body portion with a first end associated with the closure member and a free end.

3. A flip top container closure according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the container engaging portion is a cylindrical, internally threaded engagement portion to engage with either the bottle portion directly adjacent the opening or with the neck portion of the bottle.

4. A flip top container closure according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the container engaging portion is cheliform or pincer-shaped container engaging portion to engage with either the bottle portion directly adjacent the opening or with the neck portion of the bottle. A flip top container closure substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 6th day of July 2006 Christopher Muter By his patent attorneys CULLEN CO