Flip-top tamper evident closure

Abstract

A dispensing closure for a container that includes a flip-top lid, a main body, a first hinge integrally molded to and pivotably connecting the lid to the main body, and a tamper-evident element. The first hinge is located on a top surface of the main body and permits pivoting of the lid relative to the main body between a closed and open position. The tamper-evident element is initially intact and secured to portions of both the lid and the top surface of the main body in the closed position before the lid is first pivoted open, initial sealing state. The tamper-evident element is configured to fracture where the tamper-evident element is secured to the lid when the lid is first pivoted to the open position following the initial sealing state, with a portion of the tamper-evident element remaining secured to the top surface of the main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing closure for a container, the dispensing closure comprising:
 a flip-top lid having a lid thickness;   a main body;   a first hinge integrally molded to and pivotably connecting the flip-top lid to the main body, the first hinge located on a top surface of the main body, the first hinge configured to permit pivoting of the flip-top lid relative to the main body between a closed position and an open position;   a tamper-evident element being initially intact, the tamper-evident element secured to at least a portion of the flip-top lid and to at least a portion of the top surface of the main body in the closed position before the flip-top lid is first pivoted to the open position defining an initial sealing state, the tamper-evident element being configured to fracture where the tamper-evident element is secured to the flip-top lid when the flip-top lid is first pivoted to the open position following the initial sealing state with at least a portion of the tamper-evident element remaining secured to the at least a portion of the top surface of the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident element includes a line of weakening proximate to where the tamper-evident element is secured to the flip-top lid, the tamper-evident element configured to fracture along the line of weakening. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2 , wherein the line of weakening is nonlinear. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing closure of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tamper-evident element is sonically welded to at least a portion of the top surface of the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2 , wherein the main body includes at least one recess on the top surface of the main body; and
 wherein the tamper-evident element comprises at least one flap integrally molded to the flip-top lid through the line of weakening, the at least one flap protruding from a lateral side of a portion of the flip-top lid, the at least one flap having a flap thickness and configured to mate with the at least one recess when the flip-top lid is pivoted into the initial sealing state.   
     
     
         6 . The dispensing closure of  claim 5 , wherein the flap thickness of the at least one flap is less than the lid thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing closure of  claim 6 , wherein the line of weakening comprises perforations formed in the tamper-evident element. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing closure of  claim 6 , wherein the line of weakening between the at least one flap and the flip-top lid defines a web, the web having at least one feature selected from a group consisting of: a web thickness that is less than the flap thickness, spaced apart perforations along a length of the web, and a web thickness that is less than the flap thickness and spaced apart perforations along a length of the web. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2 , wherein the tamper-evident element comprises a layer affixed to at least a portion of a top surface of the flip-top lid and at least a portion of the top surface of the main body, the layer having a layer thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing closure of  claim 9 , wherein the layer thickness is less than the lid thickness to facilitate fracturing of the layer along the line of weakening. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing closure of  claim 9 , wherein the flip-top lid is made of a first material and the layer is made of a second material that is different than the first material. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing closure of  claim 11 , wherein the second material is polymeric. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing closure of  claim 10 , wherein the layer includes weakening elements along the line of weakening, the weakening elements selected from a group consisting of: scores, perforations, and a reduced web thickness that is less than the layer thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing closure of  claim 9 , wherein the layer has a shape that is substantially circular. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing closure of  claim 2 , wherein the main body further comprises:
 a second hinge positioned on an outer edge of the top surface of the main body and adjacent the first hinge, the first hinge and second hinge defining a hinge portion.   
     
     
         16 . The dispensing closure of  claim 15 , wherein the tamper-evident element comprises a layer affixed to at least a portion of a top surface of the flip-top lid and at least a portion of the top surface of the main body, the layer having a layer thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing closure of  claim 15 , wherein the second hinge includes:
 a locking element;   a receiving element; and   an integrally molded living hinge pivotally coupling the locking element and the receiving element;   wherein the hinge portion lies substantially along a plane when the dispensing closure is in an initial molded state;   wherein the locking element is configured to pivot about the integrally molded living hinge to engage with the receiving element following the initial molded state such that the locking element and the receiving element are not readily separable, the engagement of the receiving element and the locking element defining a locked state.   
     
     
         18 . The dispensing closure of  claim 16 , wherein the layer thickness is less than the lid thickness to facilitate fracturing of the layer. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing closure of  claim 18 , wherein the line of weakening comprises weakening elements formed in the layer to facilitate a directional fracture of the layer, the weakening elements extending substantially circumferentially along at least a portion of the layer radially inward from an outer edge of the layer and at or radially outward from an outer edge of the flip-top-lid. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing closure of  claim 19 , wherein the weakening elements include features selected from a group consisting of: notches, slits, perforations, and a web thickness that is less than the layer thickness. 
     
     
         21 . The dispensing closure of  claim 19 , wherein the weakening elements being selected from a group consisting of: randomly angled, unevenly sized, and unevenly spaced.