Multi-piece closure with hinged lid

Abstract

A closure for a fluid containing vessel comprises a base and a one-piece lid. The base has a sidewall and a shoulder formed at a top surface of the sidewall. A spout extends upward from the shoulder and has an opening formed in a top surface of the spout. The one-piece lid has a ring portion and a cover portion. A hinge portion connects the cover portion to the ring portion and allows the cover portion to move from a closed position to an open position. The hinge portion is disposed completely within an outer periphery of the ring portion with the cover portion in the closed position. The cover portion covers the opening in the top surface of the spout in the closed position to form a fluid tight seal between the base and the one-piece lid.

1 . A closure for a fluid containing vessel comprising:
 a base having a sidewall, a shoulder formed at a top surface of the sidewall, a spout extending upward from the shoulder and having an opening formed in a top surface of the spout; and   a one-piece lid having a ring portion, a hinge portion and a cover portion, the hinge portion connecting the cover portion to the ring portion and allowing the cover portion to move from a closed position to an open position, the hinge portion being completely disposed within an outer periphery of the ring portion with the cover portion in the closed position, the ring portion being connected to the base;   wherein the cover portion covers the opening in the top surface of the spout in the closed position forming a fluid tight seal between the base and the one-piece lid.   
     
     
         2 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion further comprises a plug seal adapted to be disposed within the opening in the top surface of the spout with the cover portion in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion further comprises an opening tab. 
     
     
         4 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a securing groove formed on the shoulder. 
     
     
         5 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 4 , wherein the ring portion further comprises a connecting portion, the connecting portion adapted to interact with the securing groove to connect the cover to the base. 
     
     
         6 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge portion comprises a ring portion region and a cover portion region. 
     
     
         7 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 6 , wherein the hinge portion additionally comprises at least one web portion disposed between the ring portion region and the cover portion region. 
     
     
         8 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of tamper evident features disposed in a generally horizontal orientation between the cover portion and the ring portion, wherein the plurality of tamper evident features are generally straight. 
     
     
         9 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of tamper evident features disposed in a generally horizontal orientation between the cover portion and the ring portion, wherein the plurality of tamper evident features are generally non-linearly shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of tamper evident features contain less material near a midpoint of the non-linear shape. 
     
     
         11 . A closure for a fluid containing vessel comprising:
 a base portion comprising:
 a generally horizontal shoulder portion having an outer periphery and an inner periphery; 
 a first generally vertical sidewall extending in a first direction from the outer periphery of the shoulder portion; 
 a second generally vertical sidewall extending in a second direction from the inner periphery of the shoulder portion, the second generally vertical sidewall terminating in a generally horizontal rim, the generally horizontal rim having an opening formed therein; 
 a securing groove extending from the shoulder portion, the securing groove being disposed radially between the first generally vertical sidewall and the second generally vertical sidewall; and 
 a lid portion comprising: 
 a connecting ring having a periphery with a complimentary shape to the securing groove of the base portion and being at least partially disposed within the securing groove; and 
 a cover portion having a hinged connection to the connecting ring, the cover portion being movable between a closed position and an open position, the hinged connection being disposed within the periphery of the connecting ring when the cover portion is in the closed position, the cover portion being disposed over opening of the horizontal rim of the base portion; 
 wherein the connecting ring, cover portion, and the at least one tamper evident feature being a single piece. 
   
     
     
         12 . The closure for a fluid contain vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the connecting ring forms a friction fit with the securing groove. 
     
     
         13 . The closure for a fluid contain vessel of  claim 11  further comprising at least one tamper evident feature connected between the connecting ring and the cover portion, the at least one tamper evident feature having a generally horizontal orientation, wherein the at least one tamper evident feature is deformed as the cover portion is moved from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         14 . The closure for a fluid contain vessel of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one tamper evident feature is generally non-linearly shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the hinged connection comprises a connecting ring portion region and a cover portion region. 
     
     
         16 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 15 , wherein the hinged connection additionally comprises at least one web portion disposed between the connecting ring portion region and the cover portion region. 
     
     
         17 . The closure for a fluid containing vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the cover portion further comprises a plug seal adapted to be disposed within the opening of the generally horizontal rim. 
     
     
         18 . A cover for a lid portion of a fluid containing vessel comprising:
 a connecting ring having a periphery with a generally circular shape;   a cover portion connected to the connecting ring, the cover portion being movable between a closed position and an open position; and   a hinge formed between the connecting ring and the cover portion, the hinge being disposed within the periphery of the connecting ring when the cover portion is in the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The cover for a lid portion of a fluid containing vessel of  claim 18  further comprising at least one tamper evident feature connected between the connecting ring and the cover portion, the at least one tamper evident feature having a generally horizontal orientation, wherein the at least one tamper evident feature is deformed as the cover portion is moved from the closed position to the open position, and wherein the at least one tamper evident feature contains less material near a midpoint of the tamper evident feature. 
     
     
         20 . The cover for a lid portion of a fluid containing vessel of  claim 18 , wherein the hinge comprises a connecting ring portion region and a cover portion region and at least one web portion disposed between the connecting ring portion region and the cover portion region.