Closure assembly, system and method of use

Abstract

A closure assembly (100) for a container (200) is provided. The closure assembly (100) includes a frame (105) configured to couple to a container (200); an interior lid hingedly coupled to the frame (105) along a first longitudinal side thereof and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the lid (110) includes a lid rim that defines an opening, a flexible membrane (300) housed within the opening of the lid rim, wherein the flexible membrane (300) defines a zone configured to permit a plurality of articles to feed therethrough, and a tab member (120) fixedly coupled to the lid rim and extending above the membrane (300), wherein the tab member (120) defines a channel groove (125) configured to receive a leading article of the plurality of articles therein and separate the leading article from the plurality of articles. The assembly further includes a cover panel (150) hingedly coupled to the frame (105) along the first longitudinal side thereof and movable between an assembly closed position and an assembly open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure assembly for a container, comprising:
 a frame configured to couple with a container;   a lid hingedly coupled to the frame along a first longitudinal side thereof and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the lid includes
 a lid rim that defines an opening, 
 a flexible membrane housed within the opening of the lid rim, wherein the flexible membrane defines a zone configured to permit a plurality of articles to feed therethrough, and 
 a tab member fixedly coupled to the lid rim and extending above the membrane, wherein the tab member defines a channel groove configured to receive a leading article of the plurality of articles therein and separate the leading article from the plurality of articles; and 
   a cover panel hingedly coupled to the frame along the first longitudinal side thereof and movable between an assembly closed position and an assembly open position.   
     
     
         2 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane includes a first portion and a second portion separated by a distance dimension of a slot gap defining the zone, wherein the first portion and section portion are configured to retain an article therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The closure assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion and the second portion cooperate together to permit a plurality of articles to be pulled therethrough without causing a separation of individual articles from the plurality of articles. 
     
     
         4 . The closure assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible membrane has a first configuration with the first portion and second portion separated by the distance dimension of the slot gap, wherein a separation force exerted on the first portion and the second portion expands the slot gap into a second configuration and upon removal of the separation force, the first and second portion transition back to the first configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and section portion overlap with each other and are configured to retain an article therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises at least one of silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyester, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tab member is rigidly disposed to the lid rim and disposed opposite the first longitudinal side of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tab member is positioned between the cover panel and the membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tab member further includes a flexible orifice at an end of the channel groove, wherein the flexible orifice separates the leading article from the plurality of articles without removing material liquid from the leading article and retains a next article therein after the leading article is removed. 
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes an interior surface, the interior surface having a frame latching member extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the frame latching member includes a frame projection; and
 wherein the lid includes a sidewall extending downwardly from a perimeter of a bottom surface of the interior lid, the sidewall defining a cavity configured to receive the frame projection therein to lock the lid with the frame in the closed position.   
     
     
         11 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover panel is biased towards the assembly closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover panel and the lid move independently of one another. 
     
     
         13 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure retarding system configured to retard movement of the cover panel when the cover panel transitions from the assembly open position to the assembly closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The closure assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the closure retarding system includes a rotary damper. 
     
     
         15 . A lid for a container of articles disposed therein, the lid comprising:
 a lid rim that defines an opening;   a flexible membrane housed within the opening of the lid rim, wherein the flexible membrane defines a zone configured to permit a plurality of articles to feed therethrough; and
 a tab member fixedly coupled to the lid rim and extending above the membrane, wherein the tab member defines a channel groove configured to receive a leading article of the plurality of articles therein and separate the leading article from the plurality of articles. 
   
     
     
         16 . A container system comprising:
 a container;   a closure assembly having:
 a frame configured to couple to the container, 
 a lid hingedly coupled to the frame along a first longitudinal side thereof and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the lid includes
 a lid rim that defines an opening, 
 a flexible membrane housed within the opening of the lid rim, wherein the flexible membrane defines a zone configured to permit a plurality of articles to feed therethrough, and 
 a tab member fixedly coupled to the lid rim and extending above the membrane, wherein the tab member defines a channel groove configured to receive a leading article of the plurality of articles therein and separate the leading article from the plurality of articles, and 
 
 a cover panel hingedly coupled to the frame along the first longitudinal side thereof and movable between an assembly closed position and an assembly open position; and 
   a plurality of articles receivable within the container, wherein a leading article of the plurality of articles is accessible in the container through the flexible membrane when the cover panel is in the assembly open position.   
     
     
         17 . The container system of  claim 16 , wherein the container is at least partially transparent and product information of the plurality of articles is viewable through the container. 
     
     
         18 . The container system of  claim 17 , wherein articles are selectively fed through the membrane alone or selectively fed through the membrane and the tab member. 
     
     
         19 . The container system of  claim 17 , wherein the articles are wet nonwovens. 
     
     
         20 . The container system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of articles are contained in a package and the package comprises a flexible package of wet wipes therein. 
     
     
         21 . A method of dispensing articles from a container system, comprising
 providing a container,   a closure assembly having:
 a frame configured to couple to the container, 
 a lid hingedly coupled to the frame along a first longitudinal side thereof and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the lid includes
 a lid rim that defines an opening, 
 a flexible membrane housed within the opening of the lid rim, wherein the flexible membrane defines a zone configured to permit a plurality of articles to feed therethrough, and 
 a tab member fixedly coupled to the lid rim and extending above the membrane, wherein the tab member defines a channel groove configured to receive a leading article of the plurality of articles therein and separate the leading article from the plurality of articles, and 
 
 a cover panel hingedly coupled to the frame along the first longitudinal side thereof and movable between an assembly closed position and an assembly open position, and 
   a plurality of articles receivable within the container, wherein a leading article of the plurality of articles is accessible in the container through the flexible membrane when the cover panel is in the assembly open position;   transitioning the cover panel to the assembly open position and the lid to the open position;   inserting the plurality of articles into the container;   transitioning the lid to the closed position;   pulling a leading article of the plurality of articles through the zone; and   selectively inserting the leading article through the channel grove to separate the leading article from a next article in the plurality of articles.