Vial with hinged cap and method of making same

Abstract

An integrally molded dispensing vial having a vial body, vial lid and living hinge structure connecting the vial lid to the vial body. The vial body having an upper lip with an inner and outer annular sealing bead. The vial lid having a U-shaped sealing channel having an inner and outer annular sealing wall, and a snap rim depending from the outer annular sealing wall. The upper lip and U-shaped sealing channel cooperably engageable to form complete peripheral seals.

1 . A dispensing vial comprising: 
 a vial body having 
 an upper body portion,  
 a lower body portion depending from the upper body portion,  
 an upper lip extending from the upper body portion forming a dispensing orifice,  
 a bottom surface depending from and enclosing the lower body portion;  
   a vial lid having 
 a top portion,  
 a U-shaped sealing channel having an inner annular sealing wall extending from the top portion, an upper wall depending from the inner annular sealing wall, an outer annular sealing wall depending from the upper wall,  
 a snap rim depending from the outer annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel,  
   a living hinge structure pivotably joining the vial lid to the vial body, the vial lid being pivotably movable about the living hinge structure between an open position and a closed position; and    cooperable sealing means providing a complete peripheral seal between the upper lip and the U-shaped sealing channel.    
     
     
         2 . The dispensing vial of  claim 1  wherein the vial lid further comprises stop ribs depending from the upper wall and across the U-shaped sealing channel to connect to the inner annular sealing wall and outer annular sealing wall, the stop ribs preventing the upper lip from contacting the upper wall of the U-shaped sealing channel of the vial lid when in the closed position.  
     
     
         3 . The dispensing vial of  claim 2  wherein there are three stop ribs, the first stop rib located centrally on the upper wall, the second and third stop robs spaced radially apart on either side of the first stop rib along the upper wall.  
     
     
         4 . The dispensing vial of  claim 1  wherein the cooperable sealing means comprises an outer annular sealing bead formed on the outer surface of the upper lip, the outer annular sealing bead engaging the outer annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         5 . The dispensing vial of  claim 4  wherein the cooperable sealing means further comprises an inner annular sealing bead formed on the inner surface of the upper lip, the inner annular sealing bead engaging the inner annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         6 . The dispensing vial of  claim 1  wherein the cooperable sealing means comprises an inner annular sealing bead formed on the inner surface of the upper lip, the inner annular sealing bead engaging the inner annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         7 . The dispensing vial of  claim 6  wherein the cooperable sealing means further comprises an outer annular sealing bead formed on the outer surface of the upper lip, the outer annular sealing bead engaging the outer annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         8 . The dispensing vial of  claim 1  wherein the vial body is a semi-elliptical tube.  
     
     
         9 . The dispensing vial of  claim 1  wherein the snap rim further comprises a plurality of snap beads to provide the vial lid with an audible an tactile snap when closed.  
     
     
         10 . The dispensing vial of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of snap beads are radially spaced apart.  
     
     
         11 . The dispensing vial of  claim 9  wherein there are three of the plurality of snap beads.  
     
     
         12 . The dispensing vial of  claim 10  wherein the snap beads are radially spaced apart.  
     
     
         13 . A dispensing closure for a container comprising: 
 a closure body adapted to be mounted on a container and having an upper lip extending from the closure body forming a dispensing orifice;    a closure lid having 
 a top portion,  
 a U-shaped sealing channel having an inner annular sealing wall extending from the top portion, an upper wall depending from the inner annular sealing wall, an outer annular sealing wall depending from the upper wall,  
 a snap rim depending from the outer annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel,  
 a living hinge structure pivotably joining the closure lid to the closure body, the closure lid being pivotably movable about the living hinge structure between an open position and a closed position;  
   cooperable sealing means providing a complete peripheral seal between the upper lip and the U-shaped sealing channel.    
     
     
         14 . The dispensing closure of  claim 13  wherein the closure lid further comprises stop ribs depending from the upper wall and across the U-shaped sealing channel to connect to the inner annular sealing wall and outer annular sealing wall, the stop ribs preventing the upper lip from contacting the upper wall of the U-shaped sealing channel of the closure lid when in the closed position.  
     
     
         15 . The dispensing closure of  claim 14  wherein there are three stop ribs, the first stop rib located centrally on the upper wall, the second and third stop robs spaced radially apart on either side of the first stop rib along the upper wall.  
     
     
         16 . The dispensing closure of  claim 13  wherein the cooperable sealing means comprises an outer annular sealing bead formed on the outer surface of the upper lip, the outer annular sealing bead engaging the outer annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         17 . The dispensing closure of  claim 16  wherein the cooperable sealing means further comprises an inner annular sealing bead formed on the inner surface of the upper lip, the inner annular sealing bead engaging the inner annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         18 . The dispensing closure of  claim 13  wherein the cooperable sealing means comprises an inner annular sealing bead formed on the inner surface of the upper lip, the inner annular sealing bead engaging the inner annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         19 . The dispensing closure of  claim 18  wherein the cooperable sealing means further comprises an outer annular sealing bead formed on the outer surface of the upper lip, the outer annular sealing bead engaging the outer annular sealing wall of the U-shaped sealing channel to form a complete peripheral seal.  
     
     
         20 . The dispensing closure of  claim 13  wherein the snap rim further comprises a plurality of snap beads to provide the closure lid with an audible an tactile snap when pivoted to the closed position.  
     
     
         21 . The dispensing closure of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of snap beads are radially spaced apart.  
     
     
         22 . The dispensing closure of  claim 20  wherein there are three of the plurality of snap beads.  
     
     
         23 . The dispensing closure of  claim 22  wherein the snap beads are radially spaced apart.