Closure assembly including pivotable handle and method for sealing a container

Abstract

A closure assembly includes a cap having a radially outer wall surrounding a central axis and a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion. The cap also includes a threaded portion configured for threaded engagement with the container. The handle is pivotably coupled to the cap proximate the first end portion whereby the handle is configured to be movable between a stowed first position and a deployed second position relative to the cap. In the second position, the second end portion of the handle is positioned radially outward of the outer wall such that the handle is accessible for rotation in opposite directions about the central axis to loosen or tighten the cap relative to the container. The cap, when tightened relative to the container, maintains sealing of the opening during movement of the handle between the first position and the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure assembly for use in sealing an opening provided in a container, comprising:
 a cap having a radially outer wall surrounding a central axis and including a threaded portion configured for threaded engagement with the container; and   a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion, the handle being pivotably coupled to the cap proximate the first end portion whereby the handle is configured to be movable between a stowed first position and a deployed second position relative to the cap, wherein in the second position, the second end portion of the handle is positioned radially outward of the outer wall such that the handle is accessible for rotation in opposite directions about the central axis to loosen or tighten the cap relative to the container, and further wherein the cap, when tightened relative to the container, maintains sealing of the opening during movement of the handle between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cap includes a recess at least partially circumscribed by the outer wall, the handle extending into the recess when positioned in the first position.   
     
     
         3 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap and the handle are configured to frictionally engage one another to maintain the handle in the first position. 
     
     
         4 . The closure assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the cap includes a projection and the handle includes an aperture or receptacle portion, the projection configured to extend into the aperture or receptacle portion when the handle is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The closure assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the cap includes a recess at least partially circumscribed by the outer wall and the handle extends into the recess of the cap when positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap includes an upper portion defining at least part of a first plane, and the handle includes a first side extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the first side either faces toward or is coplanar with the first plane when the handle is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The closure assembly of  claim 6 , wherein in the second position, the first side is spaced from the first plane. 
     
     
         8 . The closure assembly of  claim 6 , wherein in the second position, the first side faces away from the first plane. 
     
     
         9 . The closure assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the handle includes a second side opposing the first side, wherein the second side either generally faces toward the first plane or is coplanar with the first plane when the handle is positioned in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides each extend between the first and second end portions and are generally parallel. 
     
     
         11 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a first edge and a second edge, each of the first and second edges extending between the first and second end portions, wherein at least a portion of each the first edge and the second edge tapers towards a middle of the handle located between the first edge and the second edge to define at least one gripping surface. 
     
     
         12 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end portion of the handle is configured to be positioned radially inward of the outer edge when the handle is positioned in the first position. 
     
     
         13 . In combination, a closure assembly and a container, the closure assembly being configured to seal an opening provided in the container, comprising:
 a container body having an opening;   a cap having a radially outer wall surrounding a central axis and including a threaded portion configured for threaded engagement with the container body; and   a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion, the handle being pivotably coupled to the cap proximate the first end portion whereby the handle is configured to be movable between a stowed first position and a deployed second position relative to the cap, wherein in the second position, the second end portion of the handle is positioned radially outward of the outer wall such that the handle is accessible for rotation in opposite directions about the central axis to loosen or tighten the cap relative to the container body, and further wherein the cap, when tightened relative to the container body, maintains sealing of the opening during movement of the handle between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         14 . A method for sealing an opening provided in a container with a closure assembly, the closure assembly comprising a cap defining a radially outer wall surrounding a central axis and including a threaded portion configured for threaded engagement with a container, and a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion, with the handle pivotably coupled to the cap proximate the first end portion, the method comprising:
 moving the handle from a stowed first position relative to the cap to a deployed second position relative to the cap such that the second end portion is positioned radially outward of the outer wall, wherein the cap, when tightened relative to the container, maintains sealing of the opening in the container during movement of the handle between the first position and the second position; and   rotating the handle to rotate the cap about the central axis relative to the container to loosen or tighten the cap relative to the container.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein rotating the handle further comprises:
 rotating the handle in a first direction to loosen the cap relative to the container; and   rotating the handle in a second direction to tighten the cap relative to the container.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 rotating the handle such that a position of the handle relative to the cap remains substantially constant during loosening or tightening of the cap relative to the container.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 lifting and removing the cap from the container using the handle once the cap is sufficiently loosened relative to the container.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cap includes a projection and the handle includes an aperture or receptacle portion, and the method further comprises:
 moving the handle back to the first position such that the projection extends into the aperture or receptacle portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cap includes a recess, and the method further comprises:
 moving the handle back to the first position such that the handle extends into the recess.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 moving the handle from the second position to the first position such that second end portion is positioned within radially inward of the outer edge.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 moving the handle from the second position back to the first position such that the handle and cap frictionally engage one another.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cap includes an upper surface located along a first plane and the handle includes a first side between the first and second end portions, and the method further comprises:
 moving the handle from second position to the first position such that the first side either faces toward or is coplanar with the first plane.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the handle includes a second side opposing the first side, and the method further comprises:
 moving the handle from the first position to the second position such that the second side either generally faces toward the first plane or is coplanar with the first plane.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 moving the handle from first position to the second position such that the first side faces away from the first plane.