Closure with shipping latch

Abstract

A closure is provided with a peripheral wall and a lid movable relative to the peripheral wall. Either the peripheral wall or the lid includes a deflectable latch pad having a latch aperture. The other of the peripheral wall and lid has a latch post for being pushed into the latch aperture only during the first closing of the lid while the deflectable latch pad is restrained against inward movement where by an initial releasable connection is created between the latch post and the deflectable latch pad to establish at least part of an initial opening resistance of the lid. After the lid is opened following the first closing of the lid, any subsequent closing of the lid fails to create a connection between the latch post and elastically deformable portion of the deflectable latch pad owing to unrestrained inward deflection of the deflectable latch pad by the latch post as the lid is moved to the closed position.

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 around an opening to the container interior; and   (B) a lid movable relative to said peripheral wall between (1) a closed position for occluding said container opening, and (2) an open position for exposing said container opening; and   wherein
 (a) one of said peripheral wall and said lid includes a deflectable latch pad having a latch aperture; and 
 (b) the other of said peripheral wall and said lid has a latch post for being pushed into said latch aperture only during the first closing of said lid while said deflectable latch pad is restrained against inward movement whereby an initial releasable connection is created between said latch post and said deflectable latch pad to establish at least part of an initial opening resistance of said lid, but after said lid is opened following the first closing of said lid, any subsequent closing of said lid fails to create a connection between said latch post and said deflectable latch pad owing to unrestrained inward deflection of said deflectable latch pad by said latch post as said lid is moved to said closed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said latch aperture is defined by a surrounding elastically deformable portion of said deflectable latch pad that can be elastically deformed laterally outwardly around said latch aperture to increase the size of said latch aperture; and   said latch post includes a laterally extending latch bead for causing said elastically deformable portion of said latch pad around said latch aperture to elastically deform laterally outwardly and temporarily increase the size of said latch aperture only as said lid is first closed while said deflectable latch pad is restrained against inward movement as said latch post is received in said latch aperture and as said latch post latch bead passes through said latch aperture while said latch aperture temporarily increases in size so that said latch bead becomes disposed inwardly of said elastically deformable portion of said latch pad and said latch aperture returns to the original size to create an engagement to thereby establish said at least part of an initial opening resistance of said lid.   
     
     
         3 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said closure system is a separate closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior; and   said closure includes a closure body that is (a) defined by said peripheral wall, and (b) separate from, but attachable to, said container around said opening.   
     
     
         4 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 3  in which said closure body defined by said peripheral wall includes a snap-fit bead for engaging a snap-fit receiving structure on a container when said closure body is installed in said container. 
     
     
         5 . The system in accordance with  claim 3  in which
 said closure body has a skirt, a peripheral shoulder extending laterally inwardly from the top of said skirt, and a side wall extending upwardly from said shoulder; and   said lid has a peripheral flange for depending alongside said closure body side wall when said lid is in said closed position.   
     
     
         6 . The system in accordance with  claim 5  in which
 said closure body has a latch bead extending laterally outwardly from said side wall above said shoulder; and   said peripheral flange of said lid has a laterally inwardly extending latch bead for being positioned below said laterally outwardly extending latch bead of said closure body when said lid is in said closed position to thereby establish an interference resistance to lifting said lid to said open position.   
     
     
         7 . The system in accordance with  claim 3  in which
 said closure body has a skirt with a laterally outwardly extending latch bead;   said lid has a front tab for being located alongside a portion of said body skirt when said lid is in said closed position; and   said front tab of said lid has a laterally inwardly extending latch bead for being positioned below said laterally outwardly extending latch bead of said closure body skirt when said lid is in said closed position to thereby establish an interference resistance to lifting said lid to said open position.   
     
     
         8 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said peripheral wall has a laterally outwardly extending latch bead;   said lid has a flange for depending alongside an upper portion of said peripheral wall when said lid is in said closed position; and   said flange of said lid has a laterally inwardly extending latch bead for being positioned below said laterally outwardly extending latch bead of said closure body when said lid is in said closed position to thereby establish an interference resistance to lifting said lid to said open position.   
     
     
         9 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said closure system further includes a hinge that is unitary with said peripheral wall and with said lid for connecting said lid with said peripheral wall to accommodate pivoting movement of said lid between said closed position and said open position. 
     
     
         10 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said peripheral wall includes a weakened, flexible region extending to, and connecting, said deflectable latch pad to accommodate deflection of said deflectable latch pad when said deflectable latch pad is subjected to an inwardly acting force imposed by said latch post on said deflectable latch pad adjacent said latch aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 10  in which said weakened, flexible region is a reduced cross-sectional thickness of material defining a thin membrane to accommodate deflection of said deflectable latch pad. 
     
     
         12 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said lid includes said latch post; and   said lid includes a lift tab projecting laterally outwardly.   
     
     
         13 . The closure system is accordance with  claim 1  in which
 said peripheral wall is a closure body of a closure;   said closure body includes a lift tab projecting laterally outwardly to assist in removing the closure body from a container on which the closure body is installed;   said closure includes said lid for cooperation with said closure body;   said closure body includes said deflectable latch pad; and   said lid includes said latch post.   
     
     
         14 . The closure system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said latch pad includes an inwardly projecting rim located at least partially around said latch aperture.