Lid assembly having a curvilinear spring activated, pop-open lid, and container having same

Abstract

A lid assembly, adapted to form part of a dispensing container, includes a closed-loop flange, and a lid is joined to and pivots about the flange via a hinge. A spring is joined to the flange at the first and second ends. The flange, the spring, the lid, and an opening button can all be integrally formed together. In a closed position, the lid is stacked above the flange in a height dimension. The spring forms a convex arc whose convexity extends away from the flange in the height dimension when the lid is in the open position. The spring can be curvilinear and have two, three, four, or more points of inflection, such as by being m- or w-shaped.

1 . A lid assembly adapted to form part of a dispensing container, the assembly having a longitudinal dimension, a transverse dimension, and a height dimension, the assembly comprising:
 a flange that forms a closed loop;   a lid joined to the flange via a hinge, the lid adapted to pivot about the hinge between a closed position and an open position;   a spring in the flange positioned proximate the hinge, the spring having first and second ends, the spring joined to the flange at the first and second ends; and   an opening button in the flange positioned longitudinally opposite the spring on the closed loop,   wherein the flange, the button, the spring, and the lid are all integrally formed together,   wherein the lid in the closed position is stacked above the flange in the height dimension,   wherein the spring forms a convex arc flanked by a pair of concave arcs, each of whose concavity extends away from the convex arc in the height dimension, wherein the convexity of the convex arc extends away from the flange in the height dimension when the lid is in the open position,   wherein the arc is at least partially deformed toward the flange in the height dimension when the lid is in the closed position, the spring having stored potential energy when the lid is in the closed position, and having no stored potential energy when the lid is in the open position,   wherein if the lid is in the closed position, the lid is held in the closed position until the button is pressed,   wherein when the button is pressed, the spring urges the lid toward the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a catch and the button includes a latch, the catch adapted to engage the latch when the lid is in the closed position, and wherein when the button is pressed, the latch releases the catch, allowing the spring to urge the lid toward the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flange is hollow under an entirety of the arc. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring has a width extending in the longitudinal dimension, and wherein under the spring in the height dimension the flange defines a hole having a hole width that is at least as wide as the spring width, the hole extending from the first end of the spring to the second end of the spring. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the assembly consists of a substantially homogenous polymeric structure. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the assembly consists of a single polymer selected from the group of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, poly acrylo nitrile, and poly carbonate. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lid defines a top side and an underside, wherein the spring exerts force against the underside of the lid in the height dimension when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the spring exerts substantially no force against the lid in the longitudinal dimension when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes no component made of rubber, silicone, elastomer, or metal. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing container, the container comprising:
 a housing for storing product, the housing defining an interior space, the housing having an outer surface generally facing away from the interior space, the housing having a dispensing orifice for withdrawing product from the interior space;   a lid assembly having a longitudinal dimension, a transverse dimension, and a height dimension, the assembly comprising:
 a flange that forms a closed loop that surrounds the dispensing orifice; 
 a lid joined to the flange via a hinge, the lid adapted to pivot about the hinge between a closed position and an open position; 
 a spring in the flange positioned proximate the hinge, the spring having first and second ends, the spring joined to the flange at the first and second ends; and 
 an opening button in the flange positioned longitudinally opposite the spring on the closed loop, 
   wherein the flange, the button, the spring, and the lid are all integrally formed together,   the flange being affixed to the outer surface of the housing, the lid covering the dispensing orifice when the lid is in the closed position,   wherein the lid in the closed position is stacked above the flange in the height dimension,   wherein the spring forms a convex arc flanked by a pair of concave arcs, each of whose concavity extends away from the convex arc in the height dimension, wherein the convexity of the convex arc extends away from the flange in the height dimension when the lid is in the open position,   wherein the arc is at least partially deformed toward the flange in the height dimension when the lid is in the closed position, the spring having stored potential energy when the lid is in the closed position, and having no stored potential energy when the lid is in the open position,   wherein if the lid is in the closed position, the lid is held in the closed position until the button is pressed,   wherein when the button is pressed, the spring urges the lid toward the open position.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the lid includes a catch and the button includes a latch, the catch adapted to engage the latch when the lid is in the closed position, and wherein when the button is pressed, the latch releases the catch, allowing the spring to urge the lid toward the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the flange is hollow under an entirety of the arc. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the spring has a width extending in the longitudinal dimension, and wherein under the spring in the height dimension the flange defines a hole that is at least as wide as the spring width, the hole extending from the first end of the spring to the second end of the spring. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the assembly consists of a substantially homogenous polymeric structure. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the assembly consists of a single polymer selected from the group of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, poly acrylo nitrile, and poly carbonate. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the lid defines a top side and an underside, wherein the spring exerts force against the underside of the lid in the height dimension when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the spring exerts substantially no force against the lid in the longitudinal dimension when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the housing is a flexible film pouch, and wherein the product comprises disposable personal care tissues or moist wipes. 
     
     
         21 . A lid assembly adapted to form part of a dispensing container, the assembly having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, the assembly comprising:
 a flange;   a lid joined to the flange via a hinge, wherein the hinge extends in the transverse dimension, the lid adapted to pivot about the hinge between a closed position and an open position; and   a curvilinear spring disposed proximate to the hinge and interposed between the flange and the lid, the spring having at least two points of inflection when the lid is an open position,   wherein the hinge is a living hinge and wherein the lid, hinge and the curvilinear spring are integrally formed with one another,   wherein the flange has an upper surface lying in a first plane and the curvilinear spring has an arced portion having an upper surface lying in a second plane that is above the first plane when the lid is in an open position.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the curvilinear spring is integrally formed with the flange. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 21  further comprising an opening button disposed on the flange. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the curvilinear spring has at least three points of inflection when the lid is in the open position. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the flange is annular. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the curvilinear spring has a first and a second end joined to the flange and the at least two points of inflection lie between the first and the second ends when the lid is in the open position. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the curvilinear spring has an m-shape or an s-shape when the lid is in the open position.