WO1998019934A1

WO1998019934A1 - Easy opening device for container closures

Info

Publication number: WO1998019934A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/020284
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesc Perich; Bruce Kevin Bitowft; Simon David Julian Hill
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 1996-11-08
Filing date: 1997-11-10
Publication date: 1998-05-14
Also published as: AU5248398A; ES1035581U; ES1035581Y

Abstract

An easy opening device for container closures comprising a first cover (1) hinged onto a second cover or base (3) for closing an opening (5) from which articles inside the container (4) may be dispensed. There is at least one flexible and elastic flap (9) located between the two covers which opens the first cover (1) when pressure is applied to the flexible and elastic second cover or base (3) to open the first cover automatically.

Description

EASY OPENING DEVICE FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES

The present application relates to an easy opening device for container closures, particularly suitable for containers of laminar articles, such as moistened hand towels, which are used one by one.

Known in the art are containers provided with a closure formed by a first enclosing cover articulated in the manner of a hinge onto a base or second cover of the container having an opening with elastic flaps which permit the laminar or other type of articles inside the container to come out, whether in the form of a continuous strip or separately and folded. The first cover has the purpose of closing by pressure the opening for outlet of the laminar articles. This cover is generally flat and has to be opened by acting upon a tab or the like provided on the articulated cover. This operation presents difficulties because access to the lug is not easy and, furthermore, a certain amount of force must be exercised upon it in the direction of opening so that the second cover can come away from the means of retention by pressure.

The easy opening device of the present application has been designed in order to solve the disadvantages outlined, being of very simple embodiment and permitting the aforesaid second cover to be opened easily with just one hand.

The easy opening device for container closures is of the type formed by a first cover articulated by hinge on a base or on a second cover of the container, provided with an opening through which the articles inside the container are withdrawn, the first cover being able to adopt a stable closed position in which it is secured by pressure by a known device linked to the second cover or base of the container and other adjustable opening positions in which it is released. On the basis of this known embodiment, the device is essentially characterized in that the first articulated cover which constitutes the closure is of substantially rigid nature, of polypropylene or PET, which the cover or base on which the first cover is articulated is flexible and elastic. In the vicinity of the zone of articulation of the first cover which constitutes the closure is attached at least one flexible and elastic flap, made of natural rubber or synthetic derivatives, which tends to open the cover, so that when exterior pressure is brought to bear on the second cover or base of the container the articulated cover opens automatically. At least one flap is fixed by its ends respectively to the first cover and to the second cover or base.

At least one flap is a separate piece with one end coupled to the articulated cover and the other resting by pressure on the base or second cover of the container.

The design also provides that at least one flap constitutes a single piece with the first articulated cover.

In one possible embodiment, the flap is situated between two spaced and aligned points of articulation which constitute a hinge.

Another version of the same device makes provision for the articulated cover to be provided with twp flaps on two aligned points spaced apart from each other and constituting a hinge.

The first articulated cover and the second cover or base have means for allowing the opening of the first cover an angle of up to 180° with respect to the second one.

In a more specific embodiment, the second flexible and elastic cover presents zones marked for exercising thereupon manual pressure for opening of the articulated cover.

For a better understanding of all that is set out in this specification some drawings are attached which show, solely by way of example, a practical example of embodiment of the closing device.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the device in closed position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the interior side of the first articulated cover provided with an elastic flap; Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but the cover is provided with two flaps; Figure 4 is a detail at larger scale and in longitudinal section which shows the position of a flap when the articulated cover is open in one of the possible positions; and Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, but in this case the cover is closed.

In the drawings, the closing device comprises a first cover 1 of hard nature and of oval or any other shape, which is articulated by means of a hinge 2 with two points of rotation 2a, which are aligned with and spaced apart from each other, onto a second cover 3 of flexible and elastic nature which tends to remain flat and which normally closes the open side of a container 4. The first cover 1 could also be articulated onto a base of the container 4.

The cover 1 is destined to close an opening 5 provided in the cover 3, generally in the bottom of a cavity 6 of same. The covers 1 and 4 have complementary means of retention (projection and groove) situated in diametrically opposite position to that occupied by the hinge 2, which means slot into each other in the closed position of the cover, keeping same secured. Said means have not been shown, since they are of known type. Moreover, the cover 1 presents a lug 7 which in the closed position coincides with a depressed portion 8 of the cover 4 which can be used to open the cover 1 in the conventional manner.

The articulated cover 1 incorporates one or more flexible and elastic flaps 9 (Figures 2 and 3), with one end provided with a thickened section 10 destined for coupling by pressure on a space 11 provided on the internal side of the cover 1 (Figures 4 and 5). The end of the flap opposite the thickened section 10 presents a beveled edge 9a. Provision is made for the flap 9 to form a single body with one end attached to one cover or with two the two ends respectively attached to the two covers.

Figure 2 shows a single flap 9 situated between the points of articulation 2a of the hinge 2, while Figure 3 shows two flaps 9 situated beside the points of articulation 2a.

When the articulated cover is let down in order to situate it in closed position it is secured by the conventional device (not shown) and is thus retained. The flap or flaps 9 bend owing to their flexibility (Figure 5). To open the cover it is sufficient to press the flexible and elastic cover 3 in order to deform it slightly and thereby release the cover 1 from the retaining device (not shown) which was keeping it in closed position, and it opens automatically driven by the flap or flaps 9 (Figure 4) which tend to extend owing to their elasticity. The open position of the cover 1 is limited by a conventional stop device fitted between the cover and the bottom of the cavity 6 or in another suitable location allowing the opening of the cover 1 by an angle of 180° with respect to the second cover 3.

So that the user of the closing device knows the most suitable zone or zones of the cover 3 to press in order to achieve instantaneous opening of the cover 1, those zones have been indicated by means of optional markings 12.

Thanks to the easy opening device described, the user can open the cover 1 simply by pressing on the cover 4, instead of having to lift it with a finger applied under the lug 7.

Independent of the object of the invention are the materials used for manufacturing of the components of the device, the forms and dimensions of same and all the accessory details which might be presented, as long as they do not affect its essential nature.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Easy opening device for container closures, formed by a first cover articulated in the manner of a hinge onto a base or second cover of the container having an opening through which the articles inside the container are withdrawn, the first cover being able to adopt a stable closed position in which it remains secured by pressure by a known device attached to the second cover or base of the container and other adjustable opening positions in which it is released, essentially characterized in that the first articulated cover which constitutes the closure is of substantially rigid nature, while the cover or base on which the first cover is articulated is flexible and elastic, made of natural rubber or synthetic derivatives; in the vicinity of the zone of articulation of the first cover which constitutes the closure is attached at least one flexible and elastic flap which tends to open the cover, so that when exterior pressure is brought to bear on the second cover or base of the container the articulated cover opens automatically.

2. Easy opening device for container closures, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one elastics flap is fixed by its ends respectively to the first cover and to the second cover or base.

3. Easy opening device for container closures, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one flap is a separate piece with one end coupled to the articulated cover and the other resting by pressure on the base or second cover of the container.

4. Easy opening device for container closures, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one flap constitutes a single piece with the first articulated cover and/or the second cover or base.

5. Easy opening device for container closures, according to claim 1 and either of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that at least one flap is situated between two spaced and aligned points of articulation which constitute a hinge.

6. Easy opening device for container closures, according to claim 1 and either of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the first articulated cover and the second cover or base are attached by means of flaps and two aligned and spaced apart points constituting a hinge.

7. Easy opening device for container closures, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first articulated cover and the second cover or base have means for allowing the opening of the first cover by an angle of up to 180° with respect to the second one.

8. Easy opening device for container closures, according to claim 1, characterized in that the second flexible and elastic cover presents one or several zones marked for exercising thereupon manual pressure for opening of the articulated cover.