Flip-top tamper-evident closure and a package

Abstract

A tamper-evident, flip-top closure includes first and second closure portions. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion, a sidewall, and at least one tamper-evident wing. The sidewall encompasses and extends from the top wall portion. The tamper-evident wing is detachably connected to the sidewall via a frangible connection. The second closure portion includes a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion encompassing and extending from the top wall portion of the second closure portion. The top wall portion of the second closure portion forms at least one recess that receives the tamper-evident wing therein. The hinge connects the first and second closure portions. During movement of the hinge from the initial closed position to an open position, the frangible connection breaks leaving the tamper-evident wing being securely engaged within the at least one recess.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tamper-evident, flip-top closure, the closure comprising:
 a first closure portion including a polymeric top wall portion, a sidewall, and at least one tamper-evident wing, the sidewall encompassing and extending from the polymeric top wall portion of the first closure portion, the at least one tamper-evident wing being detachably connected to the sidewall via a frangible connection;   a second closure portion including a polymeric top wall portion and a polymeric annular skirt portion encompassing and extending from the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion, the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion forming at least one recess, the at least one recess being configured to receive the at least one tamper-evident wing therein; and   at least one hinge connecting the first closure portion and the second closure portion,   wherein during movement of the at least one hinge from the initial closed position to an open position, the frangible connection breaks leaving the at least one tamper-evident wing being securely engaged within the at least one recess of the second closure portion.   
     
     
         2 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein after the frangible connection breaks, the at least one tamper-evident wing drops below an upper surface of the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion. 
     
     
         3 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tamper-evident wing is a plurality of tamper-evident wings, wherein the at least one recess is a plurality of recesses, and wherein during movement of the hinge from the initial closed position to an open position, the frangible connection breaks leaving the plurality of tamper-evident wings being securely engaged within a respective one of the plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         4 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tamper-evident wing includes an extension on one end thereof that assists in preventing or inhibiting removal of the at least one tamper-evident wing from a remainder of the flip-top closure. 
     
     
         5 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is formed by an inwardly tapering inner wall, the inwardly tapering inner wall assisting in securely engaging with the at least one tamper-evident wing. 
     
     
         6 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is formed by an inner wall having an inwardly-extending flange, the inwardly-extending flange assisting in securely engaging with the at least one tamper-evident wing. 
     
     
         7 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion includes a first top wall section, a second top wall section, and a third top wall section, the second top wall section being located between the first and third top wall sections, the first and third top wall sections being vertically spaced from the second top wall section. 
     
     
         8 . The flip-top closure of  claim 7 , wherein the second top wall section forms an opening to enable access to an interior of the flip-top closure. 
     
     
         9 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional of the at least one tamper-evident wing is in the general shape of the letter “E”. 
     
     
         10 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein the flip-top closure is a snap-on closure. 
     
     
         11 . The flip-top closure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hinge is a plurality of hinges. 
     
     
         12 . A package comprising:
 a container having a neck portion defining an opening; and   a flip-top closure being configured for fitment into the neck portion of the container for closing the opening of the container, the flip-top closure including a first closure portion, a second closure portion and at least one hinge, the first closure portion including a polymeric top wall portion, a sidewall, and at least one tamper-evident wing, the sidewall encompassing and extending from the polymeric top wall portion of the first closure, the at least one tamper-evident wing being detachably connected to the sidewall via a frangible connection, the second closure portion including a polymeric top wall portion and a polymeric annular skirt portion encompassing and extending from the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion, the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion forming at least one recess, the at least one recess being configured to receive the at least one tamper-evident wing therein, the at least one hinge connecting the first closure portion and the second closure portion,   wherein during movement of the at least one hinge from the initial closed position to an open position, the frangible connection breaks leaving the at least one tamper-evident wing being securely engaged within the at least one recess of the second closure portion.   
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion forms a locking projection to assist in preventing or inhibiting removal of the flip-top closure from the container. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein after the frangible connection breaks, the at least one tamper-evident wing drops below an upper surface of the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tamper-evident wing is a plurality of tamper-evident wings, wherein the at least one recess is a plurality of recesses, and wherein during movement of the hinge from the initial closed position to an open position, the frangible connection breaks leaving the plurality of tamper-evident wings being securely engaged within a respective one of the plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tamper-evident wing includes an extension on one end thereof that assists in preventing or inhibiting removal of the at least one tamper-evident wing from a remainder of the flip-top closure. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is formed by an inwardly tapering inner wall, the inwardly tapering inner wall assisting in securely engaging with the at least one tamper-evident wing. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is formed by an inner wall having an inwardly-extending flange, the inwardly-extending flange assisting in securely engaging with the at least one tamper-evident wing. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional of the at least one tamper-evident wing is in the general shape of the letter “E”. 
     
     
         20 . A tamper-evident, flip-top closure, the closure comprising:
 a first closure portion including a polymeric top wall portion, a sidewall, and at least one tamper-evident wing, the sidewall encompassing and extending from the polymeric top wall portion of the first closure portion, the at least one tamper-evident wing being detachably connected to the sidewall via a frangible connection, the at least-one tamper-evident wing being outwardly tapered;   a second closure portion including a polymeric top wall portion and a polymeric annular skirt portion encompassing and extending from the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion, the polymeric top wall portion of the second closure portion forming at least one recess, the at least one recess being configured to receive the at least one tamper-evident wing therein; and   at least one hinge connecting the first closure portion and the second closure portion,   wherein during movement of the at least one hinge from the initial closed position to an open position, the frangible connection breaks leaving the at least one tamper-evident wing being securely engaged within the at least one recess of the second closure portion.