Closure device for a container

Abstract

A closure device for a container having a neck including an annular flange, the closure device comprising: a cap body; a tamper evident (TE) band positioned below the annular flange when assembled in the container; a first hinge and a second hinge defined on the cap body; a leash connected to the TE band, the first hinge and the second hinge; the leash allowing for the cap body to be separated from the TE band during opening, but to remain connected thereto via the leash; a tongue protruding from the cap body between the first and second hinges; when the cap body is actuated from a closed configuration relative to the neck to a fully open position: the leash is configured to retain the cap body to the TE band; an interaction of the tongue and the neck is configured to retain the cap body in the fully open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure device for a container, the container having a neck including an annular flange along an exterior surface of the neck, said closure device comprising:
 a cap body;   a tamper evident (TE) band, the TE band defined such that, when assembled onto the container, the TE band is positioned below the annular flange;   a first leash and a second leash connecting the cap body to the TE band, the first leash and the second leash originating from separate locations on the cap body and extending towards a pivot region on the TE band, the pivot region defining a pivotal axis;   a tongue protruding from the cap body; and   a ratchet provided on the TE band;   wherein, when said cap body is moved from a closed configuration relative to the neck to a fully open configuration, an interaction of the tongue with a contact surface of the ratchet maintains the cap body in the open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue comprises a lip protruding from a free end of the tongue. 
     
     
         3 . The closure device of  claim 2 , wherein the lip is configured to interact with the contact surface of the ratchet as the cap body is moved from the closed configuration to the fully open configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The closure device of  claim 3 , wherein the lip is configured to push the TE band against a stepped support surface of the container as the cap body is moved from the closed configuration to the fully open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first hinge connecting the first leash to the TE band and a second hinge connecting the second leash to the TE band. 
     
     
         6 . The closure device of  claim 5 , further comprising a leash connector portion extending between the first hinge and the second hinge, the leash connector portion interconnecting the first leash and the second leash. 
     
     
         7 . The closure device of  claim 6 , further comprising a cutout portion between a rim of the cap body, the first leash, the second leash, and the leash connector portion. 
     
     
         8 . The closure device of  claim 7 , wherein the cutout portion is configured to allow for movement of the cap body away from the leash connector portion as the cap body is rotated about the pivotal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The closure device of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the tongue is configured to be disposed between the leash connector portion and the ratchet when the cap body is in the fully open configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The closure device of  claim 6 , wherein the first hinge is spaced circumferentially around the TE band from the second hinge, and wherein the tongue and the ratchet are disposed between the first hinge and the second hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The closure device of  claim 10 , further comprising a cutout portion between the ratchet and the leash connector portion. 
     
     
         12 . The closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet is generally wedge shaped, such that a free end of the ratchet is thinner than a connected end of the ratchet connected to the TE band opposite the free end. 
     
     
         13 . The closure device of  claim 12 , wherein the connected end of the ratchet is thicker than the TE band. 
     
     
         14 . A mold for forming a closure device by injection molding, the mold comprising a female cavity piece and a male core piece, the female cavity piece and the male core piece defining a molding cavity configured to form the closure device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A closure device for a container, the container having a neck including an annular flange along an exterior surface of the neck, said closure device comprising:
 a cap body;   a tamper evident (TE) band, the TE band defined such that, when assembled onto the container, the TE band is positioned below the annular flange;   a first hinge and a second hinge extending from the TE band toward the cap body; and   a first leash connecting the first hinge to the cap body, and a second leash connecting the second hinge to the cap body, the first leash and the second leash originating from separate locations on the cap body and extending towards a pivot region on the TE band, the pivot region defining a pivotal axis;   wherein said cap body is configured to be moved from a closed configuration relative to the neck to a fully open configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The closure device of  claim 15 , further comprising a leash connector portion extending between the first hinge and the second hinge, the leash connector portion interconnecting the first leash and the second leash. 
     
     
         17 . The closure device of  claim 16 , further comprising a cutout portion between a rim of the cap body and the leash connector portion. 
     
     
         18 . The closure device of  claim 17 , wherein the cutout portion is configured to allow for movement of the cap body away from the leash connector portion as the cap body is rotated about the pivotal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The closure device of  claim 15 , further comprising a tongue protruding from the cap body, wherein, when said cap body is moved from a closed configuration relative to the neck to a fully open configuration, an interaction of the tongue with a portion of the TE band and/or a portion of the neck is configured to retain the cap body in the fully open configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The closure device of  claim 19 , further comprising a leash connector portion extending between the first hinge and the second hinge, the leash connector portion interconnecting the first leash and the second leash, wherein a portion of the tongue is configured to interact with the leash connector portion when the cap body is in the fully open configuration. 
     
     
         21 . A mold for forming a closure device by injection molding, the mold comprising a female cavity piece and a male core piece, the female cavity piece and the male core piece defining a molding cavity configured to form the closure device of  claim 15 .