Flip top container closure

Abstract

A flip-top container closure for use with a bottle or similar container having a neck. The closure includes a base cap that attaches to the container. The base cap is connected to an cover cap by a hinge. The base cap includes a skirt extending downward from the section's top surface, and a concentric plug seal extending from the surface inside the skirt. The base cap includes an orifice for passage of the container's contents. The cover cap includes a plug that seals the orifice when the closure is closed.

1 . A flip-top closure device for a bottle or other similar container having a neck, the closure comprising:
 a base cap including a top wall with an upper surface, a lower surface and a circumferential edge, a nozzle projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the top wall and having an orifice formed in the nozzle, a cylindrical skirt depending downwardly from the circumferential edge, the skirt adapted to engage the neck of a container; and   a cover cap adapted to cover at least a portion of the base cap, the cover cap having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a lower circumferential edge, a plug is formed integral with and depending downward from the inner surface of the cover cap, the plug sized to fit within the orifice so as to seal the orifice, and a sealing shroud having an inner surface and an outer surface, the shroud depending downwardly from the cover cap and circumscribing the plug,   wherein the cover cap is hingeably attached to the base cap through an integrally formed hinge, wherein the pivoting of the cover cap onto the base cap causes the sealing shroud to engage with an upper portion of the top of the nozzle, the contact between the sealing shroud and the nozzle adapted to cause the cover cap to move laterally in relation to the base cap, thereby properly aligning the plug with the orifice.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the base cap includes a hollow cylindrical plug seal having a smaller diameter than the skirt and depending downwardly from the lower surface of the top wall, the plug seal having an outer surface adapted to engage the inside surface of the neck of the container and including at least one bead ring formed on the outer surface. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the circumferential edge includes a shoulder circumscribing the circumference of the top wall, the shoulder adapted to mate with the lower edge of the cover cap when the cover cap is in a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein the plug includes a tip end which is sloped. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the angled tip provides clearance between the tip and the shroud when the cover cap is transitioned during the closing process. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle includes an integral bead extending around its circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 6 , wherein the inner surface of the shroud includes a notch adapted to engage the integral bead on the nozzle when the cover cap is in the closed position thereby securing the nozzle to the shroud. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the skirt includes at least one rib adapted to grip the neck of a container. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein the plug seal includes at least two sealing beads on its outer surface, the beads being spaced apart from one another and adapted to sealingly contact the inside surface of the container neck. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein the cover cap includes at least one tooth adapted to engage at least one notch in the base cap when the cover cap is placed in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A flip-top closure device for a bottle or other similar container having a neck, the closure comprising:
 a base cap including a top wall with an upper surface, a lower surface and a circumferential edge, a nozzle projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the top wall and having an orifice formed in the nozzle, a cylindrical skirt depending downwardly from the circumferential edge, the skirt adapted to engage the neck of a container, a hollow cylindrical plug seal having a smaller diameter than the skirt and depending downwardly from the lower surface of the top wall, the plug seal having an outer surface adapted to engage the inside surface of the neck of the container; and   a cover cap adapted to cover at least a portion of the base cap, the cover cap having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a lower circumferential edge, a plug is formed integral with and depending downward from the inner surface of the cover cap, the plug sized to fit within the orifice so as to seal the orifice, the plug having a sloped tip, and a sealing shroud having an inner surface and an outer surface, the shroud depending downwardly from the cover cap and circumscribing the plug,   wherein the cover cap is hingeably attached to the base cap through an integrally formed hinge, wherein the pivoting of the cover cap onto the base cap causes the sealing shroud to engage with an upper portion of the top of the nozzle, the contact between the sealing shroud and the nozzle adapted to cause the cover cap to move laterally in relation to the base cap, thereby properly aligning the plug with the orifice.   
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the nozzle includes an integral bead extending around its exterior circumference, and the shroud includes a bead notch formed in its interior surface, the notch adapted to engage the bead when the cover cap is in a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the shroud is adapted to contact a portion of the nozzle during the closing motion, the contact causing the cover cap to move laterally during the closing motion.