Reclosable container for dipping and squeezing

Abstract

A container is disclosed which includes a body shaped to define a reservoir. The body has a body flange coupled to a sidewall. The body flange forms a perimeter around an opening in the body, and the opening includes a spout and a dipping area. The container also includes a hinge region fixedly adhered to the body flange to form a hinge. The hinge region separates the lid into a first lid portion sealing the spout and a second lid portion sealing the dipping area, and the first lid portion rotates at the hinge to expose the spout and wherein the second lid portion rotates at the hinge to expose the dipping area.

1 . A container comprising:
 a body shaped to define a reservoir, wherein the body comprises a body flange coupled to a sidewall, wherein the body flange forms a perimeter around an opening in the body, and wherein the opening comprises a spout and a dipping area;   a lid having a hinge region, wherein the hinge region is fixedly adhered to the body flange to form a hinge, wherein the hinge region separates the lid into a first lid portion sealing the spout and a second lid portion sealing the dipping area; and   wherein the first lid portion rotates at the hinge to expose the spout and wherein the second lid portion rotates at the hinge to expose the dipping area.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge region divides the opening into the spout and the dipping area. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises:
 a bottom surface; and   wherein the sidewall extends from the bottom surface to the body flange.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first hermetic seal securing the first lid portion to the body flange; and   a second hermetic seal securing the second lid portion to the body flange.   
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more removably adhered regions around the perimeter of the opening. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mechanical seal securing at least one of the first lid portion and the second lid portion to the body.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanical seal is coextensive with at least one of a first hermetic seal securing the first lid portion to the body flange and a second hermetic seal securing the second lid portion to the body flange. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises:
 a lid flange around a perimeter of the lid, wherein the lid flange is coextensive with the body flange, and wherein the lid flange defines a plane that is an upper surface of the container.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the first lid portion includes a first latching feature, wherein the second lid portion includes a second latching feature configured to receive the first latching feature. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the first latching feature is a protrusion extending outwardly from the upper surface of the container, away from the body. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the second latching feature is recessed below the plane. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the second latching feature is a trough sized to receive the first latching feature. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the lid further comprises:
 at least one recessed sidewall orthogonal to the lid flange, wherein the at least one recessed sidewall connects the flange to at least one sunken surface.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one recessed sidewall engages an interior surface of the sidewall of the body when the container is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one recessed sidewall comprises a first operative surface, wherein the interior surface of the sidewall comprises a second operative surface, and wherein the first operative surface and the second operative surface are secured together to form a mechanical seal. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one unbonded region between the body flange and a lid flange.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge region spans a width of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the hinge region is located closer to one end of the container. 
     
     
         19 . A method for opening a container, the container having a lid coupled to a body at a hinge region, wherein the hinge region divides the lid into a first lid portion and a second lid portion, the method comprising:
 separating a lid flange of the first lid portion from a body flange at a first end of the container; and   rotating the first lid portion in an arced path away from the body and towards a second end of the container to expose an opening in the container.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 securing the first lid portion to the second lid portion to achieve an opened state.