Container cap assembly

Abstract

A container cap assembly comprises an annular cap body hinged to a lid. The cap body has a lower section with internal female threads for cooperation with matching male threads on a container and an annular upwardly extending flange. The lid has a downwardly extending flange. The flanges have interlocking sealing surfaces which extend outwardly at an acute angle to the vertical so that the lid flange will snap over the cap body flange in the closing mode and retain the lid in a closed and sealed position relative to the cap body until the lid is forced upwardly.

1 . A container cap assembly for providing a closure for large mouth containers having male threads surrounding one or more openings comprising: 
 an annular cap body formed having a lower and upper section, the lower section having an outer surface and an inner surface defining female threads for cooperation with matching threads on the container, the upper section forming a generally horizontally inwardly extending shelf joined to an inwardly and upwardly extending flange, the flange defining a sealing surface which tapers outwardly at an acute angle with respect to the vertical in the unstressed condition; and    a lid member pivotally hinged to the cap body whereby the lid member is arranged to pivot to a closed position in which said one or more openings in the container is closed and an open position in which un obstructed access is provided through the opening(s) in the container, the lid member having a top and bottom surface, a downwardly extending peripheral skirt arranged to overlie the body shelf in the closed position, and a downwardly extending inner flange, the lid flange defining an interior sealing surface which tapers inwardly at an acute angle with respect to the vertical in the unstressed condition, the lid flange being arranged to snap over the cap body flange to secure the lid member in a closed position when the lid member is pressed downwardly with the sealing surfaces forming an interference fit to provide a liquid tight seal between the cap body and lid member.    
   
   
       2 . The container cap assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cap body and lid member are integrally molded including a living hinge pivotally connecting the lid member to the cap body.  
   
   
       3 . The container cap assembly of  claim 2  wherein the lid member peripheral skirt has an outer surface arranged to be aligned with the outer surface of the cap body lower section in the closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The container cap assembly of  claim 2  wherein the sealing surfaces of the cap body and lid member flanges are oriented at angles of θ and λ to the vertical, respectively.  
   
   
       5 . The container cap assembly of  claim 4  wherein θ≠λ.  
   
   
       6 . The container cap assembly of  claim 5  wherein θ and λ are within the ranges of about 8° to 24° and 10° to 18°, respectively.  
   
   
       7 . The container cap assembly of  claim 6  wherein θ and λ are within the ranges of about 15° to 21° and 12° to 16°, respectively.  
   
   
       8 . The container cap assembly of  claim 2  wherein the cap body and lid member are injection molded from a plastic having a Rockwell R hardness of between about 60 and 100.  
   
   
       9 . The container cap assembly of  claim 8  wherein the plastic has Rockwell R hardness of about 80.  
   
   
       10 . The container cap assembly of  claim 2  wherein the difference between θ and λ is greater than 20.  
   
   
       11 . The container cap assembly of  claim 10  wherein θ is about 18° and λ is about 14° 
   
   
       12 . The container cap assembly of  claim 11  wherein the cap body and lid member are made of polypropylene.  
   
   
       13 . The container cap assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cap body and lid member are molded as separate pieces.  
   
   
       14 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein the sealing surfaces of the cap body and lid member flanges are oriented at angles of θ and λ to the vertical, respectively.  
   
   
       15 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein θ≠λ.  
   
   
       16 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein θ and λ are within the ranges of about 8° to 24° and 10° to 18°, respectively.  
   
   
       17 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein θ and λ are within the ranges of about 15° to 21° and 12° to 16°, respectively.  
   
   
       18 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein the cap body and lid member are injection molded from a plastic having a Rockwell R hardness of between about 60 and 80.  
   
   
       19 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein the plastic has Rockwell R hardness of about 80.  
   
   
       20 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein the difference between θ and λ is greater than 2°.  
   
   
       21 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein θ is about 18° and λ is about 14° 
   
   
       22 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein the cap body and lid member are made of polypropylene.  
   
   
       23 . The container cap assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the flanges terminate in a free edge, the inner surface of the lid flange curving outwardly below the sealing surface thereof to engage the free edge of the cap body flange and flex said lid flange outwardly as the lid flange is snapped over the cap body flange.  
   
   
       24 . The container cap assembly of  claim 23  wherein θ>λ 
   
   
       25 . The container cap assembly of  claim 24  and further including a downwardly extending tongue formed integrally with the peripheral rim, the tongue terminating in an outwardly extending finger engaging portion to aid a user in opening the lid member.  
   
   
       26 . The container cap assembly of  claim 13  wherein the hinge is formed by a pair of space axle stubs formed integrally with the lid member and opposite the tongue and a pair of upwardly extending cooperating spaced slots in the cap body member, the spaced slots terminating in semi-cylindrical bores for receiving the axle studs.  
   
   
       27 . The container cap assembly of  claim 26  wherein the slots have a slightly smaller width than the diameter of the axle studs to allow the axle studs to be snapped into the cooperating bores and wherein the axle studs are formed with an extension on one side thereof to provide a resistance to the rotation of the lid member through a preselected angle so that once the lid is rotated through said angle the lid will be held in an open position allowing unobstructed access to the opening in the container.  
   
   
       28 . The container cap assembly of  claim 1  further including a releasable handle connected to the cap body.  
   
   
       29 . A container cap assembly for providing a closure for large mouth containers having male threads surrounding an open end thereof comprising: 
 an annular cap body having a lower and an upper section, the lower section having an outer surface and an inner surface defining female threads thereon for cooperation with matching threads on the container, the upper section forming an annular upwardly extending flange surrounding the container opening;    a lid member having a top surface, a bottom surface and a downwardly extending flange; and    a hinge pivotally connecting the lid member and the cap body whereby the lid member is arranged to pivot between a closed position in which the opening in the container is closed and an open position in which unobstructed access is provided through the opening in the container, the flanges having interlocking sealing surface in the closed position with the sealing surfaces of both flanges extending outwardly at an acute angle to the vertical.    
   
   
       30 . The container cap assembly of  claim 29  wherein the sealing surfaces of the cap body an lid member flanges are oriented at angles of θ and λ to the vertical, respectively.  
   
   
       31 . The container cap assembly of  claim 30  wherein θ≠λ.  
   
   
       32 . The container cap assembly of  claim 31  wherein θ and λ are within the ranges of about 8° to 24° and 10° to 18°, respectively.  
   
   
       33 . The container cap assembly of  claim 32  wherein θ and λ are within the ranges of about 15° to 21° and 12° to 16°, respectively.  
   
   
       34 . The container cap assembly of  claim 32  wherein the cap body and lid member are injection molded from a plastic having a Rockwell R hardness between 60 and 80.