Two stage flip cap closure

Abstract

The disclosed aspects relate to a closure that includes a skirt that operatively engages a container. The closure also includes a top operatively attached to the skirt at a hinge, wherein the top is configured for a partial open configuration or a full open configuration. Also provided is a container assembly that includes a container and a closure operatively attached to the container. The closure is configured to be in one of a first position, a second position, or a third position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure, comprising:
 a skirt that operatively engages a container; and   a lid operatively attached to the skirt at a hinge, wherein the lid is configured to pivot relative to the skirt via the hinge and move into a partially open configuration and a full open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a top side and a lower portion, and when in the partially open configuration, the lower portion is at least partially in contact with the skirt. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a top side and a lower portion, and when in the full open configuration, the lid is moved away from the skirt and the lower portion is not in contact with the skirt. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a downward extending portion configured to fit within the skirt, and when in the partially open configuration, the lid is partially lifted away from the skirt and a dispensing opening formed within the downward extending portion is exposed. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the skirt operatively engages the container around an opening of the container, and the dispensing opening has a dimension smaller than a dimension of the opening of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein when in the full open configuration, the opening of the container is entirely exposed. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein when in the partially open configuration, a portion of the downward extending portion remains in contact with an inner wall of the skirt. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the hinge is configured to fixate at first position and a second position, and the lid is configured to move into the partially open configuration in response to application of a force to the lid and fixation of the hinge at the first position and the lid is configured to move into the full open configuration in response to application of another force to the lid and fixation of the hinge at the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the skirt comprises a first stopping bead on an inner wall of the skirt and the lid is configured to remain in the partially open configuration in response to engagement of the first stopping bead with a second stopping bead located on the downward extending portion. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 9 , wherein the first stopping bead and the second stopping bead are configured to disengage in response to an upward force applied to the lid, and the lid is configured to move into the full open configuration in response to application of the upward force to the lid and disengagement of the first stopping bead with the second stopping bead. 
     
     
         11 . A container assembly, comprising:
 a container;   a closure operatively attached to the container and configured to move between a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein the first position seals contents of the container within the container, the second position allows for dispensing of a first amount of the contents of the container at a time, and the third position allows for dispensing of a second amount of the contents of the container at a time, the second amount being larger than the first amount.   
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first position is a closed position, the second position is a partially open position, and the third position is a full open position. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the closure comprises:
 a skirt that operatively engages a container; and   a lid operatively attached to the skirt at a hinge, wherein the lid is configured to pivot relative to the skirt via the hinge and move into the first position, the second position, or the third position.   
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the lid comprises a downward extending portion configured to fit within the skirt, and when in the second position, the lid is partially lifted away from the skirt and at least a portion of a dispensing opening formed within the downward extending portion is exposed while a portion of the downward extending portion remains in contact with an inner wall of the skirt. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the skirt operatively engages the container around an opening of the container, and the dispensing opening has a dimension smaller than a dimension of the opening of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly of  claim 15 , wherein when in the third position, the opening of the container is entirely exposed. 
     
     
         17 . The container assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the closure is further configured to move between the first position, the second position, the third position and a fourth position, the fourth position allows for dispensing of a third amount of the contents of the container at a time, and the fourth amount being larger than the second amount. 
     
     
         18 . The container assembly of  claim 17 , wherein when in the third position, the lid is partially lifted away from the skirt and the dispensing opening formed within the downward extending portion is entirely exposed while another portion of the downward extending portion remains in contact with an inner wall of the skirt. 
     
     
         19 . A closure, comprising:
 a skirt that operatively engages a container; and   a lid operatively attached to the skirt at a hinge, wherein the lid is configured to pivot relative to the skirt via the hinge and move into a partially open configuration and a full open configuration, wherein the lid comprises:
 a downward extending portion configured to fit within the skirt, and when in the partially open configuration, the lid is partially lifted away from the skirt and a dispensing opening formed within the downward extending portion is exposed. 
   
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 19 , wherein the skirt operatively engages the container around an opening of the container, the dispensing opening has a dimension smaller than a dimension of the opening of the container, and when in the full open configuration, the opening of the container is entirely exposed.