Closure with hinged lid

Abstract

A closure system is provided with a peripheral wall for extending from a container. A lid is molded with the peripheral wall as a unitary structure connected by a linear array of spaced-apart floppy hinge segments.

1 . A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container at an opening to the container interior;    (B) a lid; and    (C) a molded thermoplastic hinge structure that is unitary with said peripheral wall and with said lid for connecting said lid with said peripheral wall to accommodate movement of said lid between a closed position occluding said opening and an open position exposing said opening, said hinge structure including a plurality of spaced-apart floppy hinge segments arranged along a straight line hinge axis to define a plurality of spaced-apart voids wherein each void is defined between two of said spaced-apart floppy hinge segments.    
   
   
       2 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 said system is a closure for a container that has a container opening to said container interior;    said closure is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening; and    said closure has a body that (1) has a body opening for communicating with said container opening, and (2) is defined at least in part by said peripheral wall adjacent said body opening.    
   
   
       3 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which there are three of said spaced-apart floppy hinge segments.  
   
   
       4 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 said system is a closure for a container that has a container opening to said container interior;    said closure is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening;    said closure has a body that has a body opening for communicating with said container opening;    said closure body has a skirt around said closure body opening;    said skirt is adapted to engage said container around said container opening, and    a portion of said skirt defines at least a portion of said peripheral wall to which said hinge structure connects said lid.    
   
   
       5 . The system in accordance with  claim 4  in which said lid has a peripheral flange for said closure body when said lid is in said closed position.  
   
   
       6 . The system in accordance with  claim 5  in which 
 said peripheral flange of said lid has a laterally extending latch bead; and    said closure body skirt has a laterally extending latch bead for engaging said latch bead on said lid peripheral flange.    
   
   
       7 . The system in accordance with  claim 4  in which said closure body includes a lift tab projecting laterally beyond said lid when said lid is closed.  
   
   
       8 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said lid includes a lift tab projecting laterally.  
   
   
       9 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said hinge structure includes two of said voids.  
   
   
       10 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 said hinge structure has a first end defined by an outer end of a first one of said floppy hinge segments;    said floppy hinge structure has a second end defined by an outer end of a last one of said hinge segments;    said hinge structure has a total length as measured along said hinge axis from said first end to said second end; and    said spaced-apart voids have a cumulative length along said hinge structure that is about 40% or more of said total length of said hinge structure.    
   
   
       11 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 each said spaced-apart void has a length as measured along said hinge axis;    each said spaced-apart floppy hinge segment has a length as measured along said hinge axis; and    the lengths of said spaced-apart voids and the lengths of said spaced-apart floppy hinge segments are uniform and equal.    
   
   
       12 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 each said floppy hinge segment has a width measured perpendicular to said hinge axis; and    each said floppy hinge segment has a minimum thickness at the center of the width of the hinge segment.    
   
   
       13 . The system in accordance with  claim 12  in which said width is about 0.048 inch and said minimum thickness is about 0.008 inch.  
   
   
       14 . The system in accordance with  claim 12  in which the ratio of the floppy hinge segment width to the floppy hinge segment thickness is about 6.  
   
   
       15 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 said peripheral wall defines a flat surface adjacent each said floppy hinge segment;    said lid defines a flat surface adjacent each said floppy hinge segment;    a tapered surface extends from said lid flat surface to each said floppy hinge segment;    a tapered surface extends from said peripheral wall flat surface to each said floppy hinge segment;    each said floppy hinge segment defines an interior surface which has a folded over configuration when said lid is fully closed; and    when said lid is opened to a position 180 degrees from said fully closed position, said interior surface of each said floppy hinge segment is generally planar and is recessed from said lid flat surface and from said peripheral wall flat surface.    
   
   
       16 . The system in accordance with  claim 15  in which said interior surface is recessed about 0.003 inch.  
   
   
       17 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which each said floppy hinge segment has a uniform thickness.  
   
   
       18 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which each said floppy hinge segment defines an exposed exterior surface that (1) has a convex arcuate configuration when said lid is fully closed, and (2) has a concave arcuate configuration when said lid is opened to a position 180 degrees from the fully closed position.