US3322308A - Plastic container cover with hinged closures - Google Patents

Description

J. A. FOSTER May 30, 1967 PLASTIC CONTAINER cov ER WITH HINGED CLOSURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1966 ()(Jf I QR TTC) WE Q/" 4 SheetsSheet 2 May 30, 1967 J A. FOSTER PLASTIC CONTAINER COVER WITH HINGED CLOSURES Filed May 24, 1966 J. A. FOSTER 3,322,308 PLASTIC CONTAINER COVER WITH HINGED CLOSURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 W W mu 4 w J L 6 T U m a! I a s 1 e (a w v 7. Am a Mm 4 H 1 .0 @0 5 /5 o w 4 (7. a rk 36/ 7 7 W 3 5 4 s 5 Zr m 5 w? & /H

May 30, 1967 Filed May 24, 1966 QRTTOIQNEYJ May 30, 1967 J. A. FOSTER PLASTIC CONTAINER COVER WITH HINGED CLOSURES 4 sheet 4 Filed May 2 6 United States Patent 3,322,308 PLASTIC CONTAINER COVER WITH HINGED CLOSURES John A. Foster, Rockford, Ill., assignor to J. L. Clark Manufacturing (30., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 24, 1966, Ser. No. 552,549 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-480) This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application Ser. No. 423,674 filed Ian. 6, 1965, and formally allowed Apr. 12, 1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a cover for one end of a tubular container providing one or more selectively closable hinged closures for openings from which the container contents may be dispensed as by pouring, spooning or sifting. The invention has more particular reference to a plastic cover adapted to enclose and interlock with the lip of a metal container of generally rectangular cross-section.

The general object is to construct each dispensing opening and its hinged closure in a novel manner such that the cover, the closure and the means for attaching the cover to a container may be formed as a single-piece molding of resilient plastic so that all of the parts may be produced accurately and at a substantially lower cost than has been possible heretofore.

Another object is to provide a novel closure and hinge construction which enables the dispensing opening to be sealed tightly around its entire periphery in spite of the integral hinge connection of the closure to the top along one edge of the dispensing opening.

A further object is to arrange spoon and sifter openings in a novel manner in a cover of rectangular shape so that each opening may be of optimum size.

A more detailed object is to locate and shape the engaging edge surfaces of the dispensing opening wall and the closure periphery to provide effective pressure sealing all around the closure between opposite ends of the hinge.

The invention also resides in the novel manner of spacing and shaping the dispensing openings and in the shaping of the peripheries of the dispensing opening and the mating parts of the closure so that the desired accuracy may be attained in the formation of the single plastic piece by standard molding techniques while providing proper sealing of the opening when covered by the closure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a spice can with a cover embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the plastic cover with the parts in different positions.

FIGS. 4, and 6 are sections taken along the lines 44, 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of FIGURE 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view.

FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 3.

3,322,308 Patented May 34), 1967 FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the initial molding shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is an enlargement of part of FIG. 5.

FIG. 16 is an enlargement of part of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 13 respectively showing modifications.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary bottom View of the modification with the spoon and sifter hole closures open.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are fragmentary sections taken respectively along the lines 20-20 and 21 21 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of part of the cover as initially molded.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 23--23 of FIG. 21.

In the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 16, the invention is incorporated in the cover 10 of a conventional spice can having a decorated metal body 11 of generally rectangu lar cross-section and with rounded corners 13. The cover comprises a substantially flat top 14 molded of resilient plastic and providing in one end portion an opening 15 (FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 13) large enough to receive "an ordinary spoon and normally covered by a relatively thin and flat fiap or closure 16 hinged at 17 to the top. A smaller opening 18 (FIG. 13) in the opposite end portion of the top is normally closed by a similar flap 19 hinged at 21 and when open (FIGS. 2, and 11) exposes holes 22 through which the contents may be sifted out of the container.

Depending from the top 14 around the entire periphery thereof is a skirt 23 adapted to telescope with a hem 24 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7) at the upper end of the body 11 and preferably interlock securely with the free edge 25 of the hem along all sides and around the corners of the body. Preferably, the hem is substantially closed and flat and spaced inwardly from the sides of the body to provide a narrow frusto-conical offset 26 for exposing the hem edge for biting engagement with an upwardly converging surface 27 of an external bead 28 around the lower edge portion of the skirt. When pressed into the body, the skirt is collapsed laterally as the bead passes the hem after which the skirt expands and the bead snaps under the hem edge to look the cover securely on the body. In the final position, the lip 29 of the hem is seated in between the skirt 23 and an outer skirt 32 to provide an effective seal between the cover and the container. The outer skirt telescopes down over the exterior of the hem and provides a narrow ledge 31 around the entire periphery of the cover to enable the latter to be nested into the bottom recess of another container to facilitate plurality of cans. Also, the outer surface of is substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the body thus concealing the hem and imparting a neat and artistic appearance to the final assembly.

In accordance with the present invention, the top 14 and its peripheral skirts 23 and 32, the closure flaps 16 and 19, the sifter holes 22, and the several means to be described for sealing all of the joints around the flaps and effecting snap closure thereof are formed in a single molding operation to the shape shown in FIGS. 3 and 13 so that all of the parts are joined integrally together and no further operations are required to seal the container closed other than to swing the flaps 16 and 19 into closed position (FIG. 1) and press the cover over the end of the container. In addition, the top 14 is shaped to provide flat surface areas 33 to 36 flush With and closely enclosing edges of the flat top surfaces of the flaps 16 and 19 when the latter are closed (FIG. 1). Such a composite flat top surface presents a neat and artistic appearance and lends itself to easy cleaning when on the grocery shelf.

Formation by modern high speed and multiple molding techniques of a cover with such complex contours and hingedly connected parts is possible in the present instance by making the plastic sections of substantially uniform thickness at all points as will presently appear. Thus, the entire cover may be formed at substantially lower cost than prior plastic covers having both spoon and sifter openings. Preferably, the plastic employed in the molding is a combination of polyethylene and polypropylene manufactured by Eastman and called a polyallymer.

The spoon hole closure 16 comprises a thin and flat plate joined to the top area 33 by the hinge 17 and having side edges 37 which may be perpendicular to and intersect the hinge as shown in FIG. 13. Outwardly beyond these portions, the edges converge gradually along lines 38 to a squared thumb tab 39 which is disposed between the top areas 34 and projects outwardly a short distance beyond a ledge 41 (FIGS. 3 and which is spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the areas 34. The outer end 42 of the tab is thus spaced above the ledge 31 of the top so as to provide a recess 44 into which the thumb of the user may be inserted to facilitate upward swinging of the flap to uncover the spoon hole.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the straight side of the spoon hole is defined by a web 45 (FIGS. 3, 5, 12-14) spaced inwardly a short distance from one long side of the skirt 2.3 and cast integral at one end (FIG. 13) with one short side of the skirt and at the other end with a perpendicular cross-web 46 which is integral at opposite ends with the long sides of the skirt (see FIG. 14) and herein defines the inner edge of the sifter opening 18. The lower straight edge of the web 45 allows for convenient leveling off of the contents of a spoon as the latter is withdrawn through the spoon hole. Portions 47 and 48 (FIG. 4) of the skirt and the web 46 define the ends of the spoon hole wall which receives the flat side edges 37 of the closure 16.

The remainder of the spoon hole is defined by an upright wall opposing the straight edge 45 and having end portions which converge toward each other to a midpoint adjacent the opposite long side of the top 10. Preferably, and as shown herein, this wall is arcuate in shape and formed by a web 49 (FIGS. 2, 5, 12 and 14) integrally joined at opposite ends to the skirt 23 and the cross-web 46 and formed around its upper edge. From its ends, the web 49 curves outwardly toward the other long side of the skirt 23 and is spaced a short distance from the latter at its center. Outwardly beyond the web 49 and within the areas 34, the top 14 is depressed to provide a surface 51 (FIG. 3) in which the undersides of the overlapping portions 52 of the flap seat in closed position of the flap thus locating the top of the fiap flush with the top areas 33, 34, 35. The edges 37 and 38 of the flap are shaped to match and fit closely within the edges of the areas 33, 34 and so that the two present a substantially continuous and neat appearing top surface when the flap is closed (FIG. 1).

To define the hinge 17, a straight and narrow groove 50 (FIG. 5) is molded in the underside of the flap 16 across the full width of the latter at the junction with the upper edge of the web 45. Such thinning of the plastic locates the hinge axis accurately and insures close mating and seating of the free edge of the flap in the top recess in the closed position of the flap.

An important feature of the present invention is the prevention of objectionable leakage of the container contents during shipment and rough handling through the provision of an extremely tight seal around the entire periphery of the dispensing opening 15 in spite of dimensional variations inherent in the formation of complicated plastic parts by modern high production techniques. To the foregoing ends, a narrow internal flange 53 is formed around the upper edge of the curved wall 49 and presents an inner surface into which telescopes with a close interference fit a rib 54 molded integral with and depending from the underside of the flap 16 short of the free edge thereof and complementing the shape of the flange surface 40.

As a head 55 around the lower or free edge of the rib 54, passes below the flange 53 when the flap 16 reaches the closed position (FIG. 15), the rib 54 expands snapping the head 55 outwardly beneath a shoulder 53 at the lower edge of the flange 53. The flap is then held effectually in closed position with its free edge position seated in the recess within the edges 38 of the top 10. The lower beveled edge 55 of the bead 55 guides the entry of the rib into the opening 15 past the surface 40 of the flange 53.

The depending rib 54, although relatively shallow, possesses enough lateral flexibility because of its curvature and composition to bend and adjust itself automatically to the contour of the flange surface 40 and thereby compensate for the small inaccuracies inherent in the use of multiple cavity molds and high production molding techniques. Thus, the sealing pressure developed as a result of the interference fit provided in the design of the molding is distributed with substantial uniformity around the full peripheral length of the rib in spite of the variations in dimensions and contour of the opposing surfaces of the rib 54 and the flange surface 40.

To increase still further the effectiveness of the seal between the rib 54 and the flange surface 40, a very narrow and shallow sealing rib 56 is molded integral with the outer periphery of the rib immediately adjacent the bottom of the flap 16 and extends around the full peripheral length of the rib. Herein this sealing rib is about .005 of an inch deep and generally V-shaped so as to be relatively flexible laterally and thus adapted to collapse and move past the upper edge of the flange surface 40 as the flap approaches closed position (FIG. 15). The rib thus becomes compressed against the flange surface under the expanding pressure developed in the laterally bending of the curved rib 54 as it is forced downwardly into the opening 15 to close the container.

An important aspect of the invention is the novel manner of providing an equally effective seal around the remainder of the closure 16 and the opening 15 while permitting molding of the closure, including the projecting sealing rib 54, integral with the top 14 so that the hinge 17 and all of the connected parts may be formed in a single molding operation. To this end, the curved rib extends around the free end portion of the flap 16 and all the way across the latter to points along the surfaces 47, 48 spaced a short distance from the hinge 17. Between these points and the hinge are lugs 57 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4, l3 and 14) depending from the flap 16 along the edges 37 and integral at one end with the ends of the rib 54 so as to constitute extensions of the latter.

The outer faces 58 of these extensions 57 ar straight and disposed in parallel planes which preferably are coincident with the edges 37 of the flap 16 and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the spacing of the spoon hole side surfaces 47, 48. Bevels 59 formed along the outer sides and along the free edges of the extensions engage the upper edges of the walls 47 and 48 as the flap 16 is swung from the open position (FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 13) toward closed position and guide the entry of the extensions in betwen these walls which bend the lugs inwardly if necessary to allow such entry. Thus, in the closed position of the flap, the surfaces 47, 48 of the top and the outer surfaces 58 of the rib extensions 57 are pressed together into tight sealing engagement, the seal being extended all along the edges 37 and to th hinge 17 by virtue of the tight fit of the ends of the rib extensions and the wall as they are pressed in and become wedged between the end walls 47, 48 of the opening 15. Such a tight fit is made possibl by molding the flap 16 integral with the top 14 thus avoiding later assembly and the dimensional inaccuracies that would be involved if these parts were molded separately. Preferably, the shallow rib 56 formed around the rib 54 as above described may be extended along the outer sides of the lugs 57 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 so as to continue the secondary pressure seal beyond the ends of the rib 54 and thus span the space between these ends and the ends of the straight side 45 of the dispensing opening.

In view of their shallowness, the sealing ribs 56 along the extensions 57 of the ribs 54 may project outwardly beyond the surfaces 47, 48 in the original molding and be connected integrally at the hing end wth the top surfaces 33, 35 as indicated at 60 (FIGS. 22 and 23). Then, as the flap 16 is first swung downwardly from the original molded position in FIG. 17, the connection 61 is broken and the rib 56 is forced in between the opposed surfaces 48, 8 of the rib extensions 57 and the top ends of the opening 15.

The sifter holes 22 are formed in and spaced along a wall 62 of special contour integral with the underside of the closure flap 19 so as to be concealed by the top 14 when the flap is in closed position (FIGS. 1 and 4). Except for this wall, the closure flap 19, the walls defining the opening 18, and the surfaces forming a seal around the opening are of the same general construction as the parts that coact as above descirbed to seal the spoon hole 15 when the flap 16 is in closed position. Therefore, the correspondingly shaped but small sized parts are therefore indicated by the same but primed reference numerals.

The straight side of the opening 18 is formed by the web 46 along which the underside of the flap is grooved at 50' to define and impart the desired flexibility to the hinge 21. The curved flange 53 with the internal sealing surface 46 thereon is formed around the upper edge of a semi-circular web 63 (FIGS. 13, 14 and 16) which is tensions of the web and define the opposed parallel surfaces 47, 48 with which th flat side faces 58' engage under sealing pressure when the flap is closed. The bead 55' and the auxiliary sealing rib 56' (FIG. 16) are formed the flap is in the sifting position distributed, between the parallel faces 58 is preferably curved vertically about the hinge 21 as an axis and also horizontally at substantially the same radius as the sealing surface 40.

of the flange 53. The extent of such opening of the flap is limited by abutment of a stop 66 on the lower edge of the wall 62 with the under side of the flange 53 as shown in FIG. 11. Herein the stop comprises an arcuate bead similar to the bead 55 above described and extending partially around and projecting outwardly from the lower edge of the wall 62. This bead is shallow enough to allow the wall 62 to be collapsed and the head to pass the flange 53' as pressure is applied to the flap for swinging the same away from the original position (FIGS. 3 and 13) in which the flap is molded.

The sifter holes 22 are arranged in a row and spaced around the wall 62 between the flap 19 and the head 66 so that they may be formed by coactting die elements having the same relative motions as those forming the other parts above described of the single piece molding. Being carried by and spaced below the flap 19, the holes are concealed when the flap is closed, exposed simply by swinging the flap upwardly (FIG. 11), and reclosed by pressing the flap downwardly (FIG. 4). The use of relatively sliding parts or plugs for closing the holes as has been the common practice heretofore is thus avoided. These advantages to the ultimate user and the avoidance of leakage in shipment and handling are made possible by the effectiveness of the seal all around the peripheries of the closure fi'aps 16 and 19 in spite of their hinged mounting and formation integral with a cover telescoped over the container end.

It is to be noted that in the open position (FIG. 11) of the sifter flap 19, the wall 62 is sealed against the flange surface 43 around its entire circumference so that the container contents may escape only through the sifter holes. Such sealing is made possible by the generally spherical contouring of the outer surface 65 of the wall 62 together with its sizing to insure a tight rubbing fit around the face of the flange 53 in the open as well as the closed position of the flap 19. Due to such curving of the wall and the resiliency of the plastic, the sealing pressure is applied around the full area of contact in both the open and closed positions of the flap.

Referring to FI1S. 17, 18 and 19, it has been found that adequate holding of the closure flap 16 in closed position and easier manual opening of the flap may be achieved by substituting for the head 55 a few short and generally rounded nibs 70 spaced around the rib 54 near the center thereof and positioned to snap in beneath the flange 53 as the flap reaches the closed position. The ribs are about .030 of an inch in diameter and .010 of an inch deep. As before, the lower edge of the rib 54 below the auxiliary sealing rib 56 is beveled as indicated at 71 (FIG. 22) to guide the rib 54 into the curved part of the opening 15, the nibs 76 snapping in beneath the shoulder 53 to hold the flap closed while permitting easier lifting of the flap to expose the opening 15.

Nibs 72 (FIG. 18) of similar size may be formed around the wall 62 below the seal rib 56 and utilized as shown in phantom in FIG. 18 to snap under the flange 53 and hold the fiap 19 securely in closed position while permitting easy upward swinging of the flap to expose the sifter holes. Other similar nibs 73 spaced around the web 62 and below the holes 22 engage the top of the flange 53' in the sifting position of the flap shown in dotdash outline in FIG. 22 and resist closure of the flap during the shaking of the container to sift its contents out through the holes 22.

Removal of the single piece plastic molding from the dies in which it is formed may be facilitated by converging the ends 37 and 37 of flaps 16 and 19 toward the free ends of the latter. Thus, these edges may be inclined slightly relative to the outer parallel surfaces 58 of the rib extensions 57.

Covers as above described may be handled and assembled 0n container bodies 11 by a machine for handling the covers and containers and bringing the two into axial alinement and then simply pressing the cover down onto the body to interlock the skirt 32 and the hem 24 as above described. Such automatic assembly is made possible with the sifter holes 22 arranged as above described by virtue of the substantial depth of the skirt 23 by which the cover is fastened to the container body. For this purpose, the web or generally spherical rib 62 in which the sifter holes 22 are formed is made equal to or less than the overall vertical distance between the lower edge of the skirt 23 and the bottom 31' of the recess in which flap 19 becomes seated in the closed position of the flap shown in phantom in FIG. 22. Thus, the lower edge of the bend 66 does not project below the edge of the skirt 23 so that the single piece cover may be supported on a conveyor in a definite upright and brought automatically :into proper axial alinement with .a body 11 for enabling the two to be telescoped and joined together simply by pressing the cover downwardly onto the body.

From FIG. 14 and the several sectional views, it will 'be observed that the thickness of the various parts of the composite molding are approximately uniform which is important in order to enable the plastic piece to be formed in modern high production molding machines with the desired dimensional accuracy and without danger of warping during solidification of the plastic. This is made possible in the present instance by utilizing the webs 45, '45, 49 and 63 to define the walls of the spoon and sifter openings 15 and 18 and spacing these webs inwardly from the peripheral skirt 23 which is of substantially the :same thickness as the webs. At the same time, overall rigidity of the final molding is achieved by joining the longer webs 45 and 49 integrally to the skirt 23 by means of cross-webs 6'7 spaced apart along these webs and cast integral with the underside of the top 14. Attainment of :the desired rigidity is also facilitated by molding opposite ends of the web 45 and the curved web 49 integral with the skirt 23 and the cross-web 46 and similarly joining the ends and the center of the curved web 63 to three :sides of the skirt.

To facilitate quick removal of the plastic pieces from 'the molding dies, numerous knock-out pins 68 are dis- *tributed around the piece at the four corners and spaced along the longer sides of the skirt 23. These pins are cast integral with the underside of the top and with the several webs 4 9, 63 and 67 as shown in FIG. 14.

It will be observed that the respective hinges 17 and '21 of the closure flaps 16 and 19 extend longitudinally and crosswise of the rectangular top 14, the sifter opening 18 occupying one end portion of the top and extending crosswise so that the desired area for the sifter openings 22 is obtained while leaving the major length of the top available for the spoonhole 15 with the hinge 17 of the latter paralleling a long side of the top as is desirable to facilitate spooning out the container contents. Thus, the several advantages above described of the sifter closure are achieved While providing an ample spoon hole for a spice can of conventional size with a hinged closure for the spoon hole. These advantages, together with effective sealing of the openings against leakage during shipment and handling, molding which can be produced at a substantially lower cost than prior plastic covers with hinged closure flaps.

I claim as my invention:

1. A single piece closure of molded resilient plastic for covering one end of a container and having, in combination, a generally flat top defining an opening of generally segmental shape through which material may be dispensed, said opening being defined by elongated straight and curved upright walls depending from said top, said curved wall being disposed opposite said straight wall and curving arcuately and horizontally, laterally spaced end wall sections depending from said top and each integrally joined at opposite ends to the corresponding ends of said straight and curved walls, said end sections having parallel inner flat surfaces intersecting the inner faces of said straight and curved wall and disposed perpendicular to the straight wall, an imperforate and flat closure flap integrally joined to said straight wall along the upper edge thereof to form a hinge for swinging of the flap into and out of a closed position in which the top of the flap is substantially flush with the upper edges of said end wall surfaces, opposite side edges of the flap adjacent said hinge being straight, substantially parallel and laterally spaced to fit closely within and between said end wall surfaces in said closed position of the flap and the remaining free edge portion of said flap projecting over and covering the curved edge of said opening, a laterally yieldare incorporated in the single-piece plastic.

able rib of narrow radial width integral with and depending from the underside of said flap and curved and located to telescope within said curved wall with a tight press fit around the full circumferential length of the wall in the closed position of the flap, and laterally yieldable lugs depending from said flap and integrally joined to the flap and the ends of said curved rib, said lugs extending along said straight edges of said flap and presenting oppositely facing and substantially parallel outer surfaces flush with such side edges and adapted to telescope closely and with a wedge fit in between said fiat surfaces of said end wall sections whereby to extend and seal said opening between the ends of said rib and said hinge when the flap is in said closed position.

2. A single piece closure of molded resilient plastic for covering one end of a container and having, in combination, a generally flat top defining an opening of generally segmental shape through which material may be dispensed, said opening having an elongated straight side and a curved wall depending from said top, said curved wall being disposed opposite said straight side and curving arcuately and horizontally, with the end portions thereof converging away from the ends of said straight side, a pair of laterally spaced end wall sections depending from said top and each integrally joined at opposite ends of the corresponding ends of said straight side and said wall, said end sections having inner substantially flat surfaces intersecting said straight side and constituting extensions of said wail, an imperforate and substantially fiat closure fiap integrally joined to said straight side to form a hinge for swinging of the flap into and out of a position closing said opening, the free edge portion of said flap projecting over and covering said opposed wall, a radially yieldable rib of narrow radial width integral with and depending from the underside of said flap and complementing the curvature of said wall, said rib being sized and located to yield and telescope closely and with a wedge fit within said wall around the full circumferential length of the wall in the closed position of the fiap, and laterally yieldable lugs depending from said flap and integrally joined to the flap and the ends of said rib so as to constitute extensions of the latter, said lugs presenting oppositely facing outer surfaces adapted to yield and telescope closely and with a wedge fit in between said flat surfaces of said end wall sections whereby to extend and seal said opening between the ends of said rib and said hinge when the flap is in said closed position.

3. A single piece closure as defined in claim 2 in which the outer and oppositely facing side faces of said lugs are beveled and converge away from the bottom of the flap so as to guide the entry of the lugs in between said opposed surfaces of said end wall sections during swinging of said flap from fully open position to close said opening.

4. A single piece closure as defined in claim 2 including a narrow sealing rib integral with and extending continuously around said depending rib and said extensions throughout the lengths thereof, said sealing rib being disposed adjacent and below said fiap and being sufficiently shallow and flexible to yield, enter said opening during closure of said flap, and form a tight seal around the full periphery of the opening between the ends of said hinge.

5. A single piece cover of molded resilient plastic for covering one end of a container of generally rectangular cross-section comprising, in combination, a generally flat top of rectangular configuration having a depending peripheral skirt adapted to telescope and interlock with one end of said container, means on said top defining a spoon hole opening having a straight side extending along the longer dimension of said top adjacent but spaced inwardly from said skirt, the opposite side of said opening being a wall converging to a midpoint disposed adjacent the opposite long side of said top, a closure flap integrally joined to said top along said straight side to form a hinge extending lengthwise of said top for swinging of the flap into and out of sealing engagement within said wall around the remaining circumferential length thereof, means formed on said top and defining in one end portion thereof beyond the end of said first opening and said hinge a second opening having a straight side extending transversely of the axis of said hinge and crosswise of said top adjacent the end of the hinge, the opposite side Wall of the second opening being disposed adjacent and curving around a short end of said top, and a closure flap for said second opening integrally joined to said top along the straight side of the second opening to form a hinge in all degrees of opening of the flap, and sifter holes extending through and angularly spaced around said web below the flap.

7. A single piece container closure of molded resilient contour and length as said wall depending from the underside of said flap around the full periphery thereof between the ends of said hinge and adapted to telescope with continuous interference within said. wall as the flap is swung to said closed position, said rib having a beveled edge guiding its entry into said opening and being of relatively narrow radial width flexibility at all points around its ally in contour of the rib and the internal contour of said wall and thereby form a tight seal around the full peripheral length of said opening between the ends of said hinge and said straight side, and means for increasing the tightness of said seal in the closed position of said flap comprising a secondary rib molded integral with and projecting outwardly from said first rib adjacent and below the flap around the full periphery thereof, such secondary rib being sufficiently shallow and narrow as to References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,361,958 11/1944 Nyden 222-556 2,986,309 5/1961 Larson 222-48O 3,140,019 7/1964 Barr 222480 3,144,180 8/1964 Phillipps et a1. 22248O 3,155,285 11/1964 Van Baarn 222498 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SINGLE PIECE CLOSURE OF MOLDED RESILIENT PLASTIC FOR COVERING ONE END OF A CONTAINER AND HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A GENERALLY FLAT TOP DEFINING AN OPENING OF GENERALLY SEGMENTAL SHAPE THROUGH WHICH MATERIAL MAY BE DISPENSED, SAID OPENING BEING DEFINED BY ELONGATED STRAIGHT AND CURVED UPRIGHT WALLS DEPENDING FROM SAID TOP, SAID CURVED WALL BEING DISPOSED OPPOSITE SAID STRAIGHT WALL AND CURVING ARCUATELY AND HORIZONTALLY, LATERALLY SPACED END WALL SECTIONS DEPENDING FROM SAID TOP AND EACH INTEGRALLY JOINED AT OPPOSITE ENDS TO THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID STRAIGHT AND CURVED WALLS, SAID END SECTIONS HAVING PARALLEL INNER FLAT SURFACES INTERSECTING THE INNER FACES OF SAID STRAIGHT AND CURVED WALL AND DISPOSED PERPENDICULAR TO THE STRAIGHT WALL, AN IMPERFORATE AND FLAT CLOSURE FLAP INTEGRALLY JOINED TO SAID STRAIGHT WALL ALONG THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF TO FORM A HINGE FOR SWINGING OF THE FLAP INTO AND OUT OF A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH THE TOP OF THE FLAP IS SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID END WALL SURFACES, OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF THE FLAP ADJACENT SAID HINGE BEING STRAIGHT, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND LATERALLY SPACED TO FIT CLOSELY WITHIN AND BETWEEN SAID END WALL SURFACES IN SAID CLOSED POSITION OF THE FLAP AND THE REMAINING FREE EDGE PORTION OF SAID FLAP PROJECTING OVER AND COVERING THE CURVED EDGE OF SAID OPENING, A LATERALLY YIELDABLE RIB OF NARROW RADIAL WIDTH INTEGRAL WITH AND DEPENDING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID FLAP AND CURVED AND LOCATED TO TELESCOPE WITHIN SAID CURVED WALL WITH A TIGHT PRESS FIT AROUND THE FULL CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH OF THE WALL IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF THE FLAP, AND LATERALLY YIELDABLE LUGS DEPENDING FROM SAID FLAP AND INTEGRALLY JOINED TO THE FLAP AND THE ENDS OF SAID CURVED RIB, SAID LUGS EXTENDING ALONG SAID STRAIGHT EDGES OF SAID FLAP AND PRESENTING OPPOSITELY FACING AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL OUTER SURFACES FLUSH WITH SUCH SIDE EDGES AND ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE CLOSELY AND WITHIN A WEDGE FIT IN BETWEEN SAID FLAT SURFACES OF SAID END WALL SECTIONS WHEREBY TO EXTEND AND SEAL SAID OPENING BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID RIB AND SAID HINGE WHEN THE FLAP IS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION.

Images