Closure with lid having an opening resistance

Abstract

A dispensing closure system is provided with (1) a peripheral wall for extending from a container, and (2) a lid. A user can pivotably move the lid relative to the container between open and closed positions. For at least some range of lid movement, a resistance to lid movement is sensed by the user.

1 . A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container at least part way around an opening to the container interior;    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and    (C) a hinge structure defining a pivot axis and connecting said lid to said peripheral wall to accommodate pivoting of said lid about said pivot axis between said closed position and said fully opened position; and    wherein 
 (1) said peripheral wall includes two, spaced-apart recesses each having 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls wherein one sidewall defines a concave socket, and  
 (b) an arcuate resistive surface comprising a plurality of parallel ridges arranged on an arc about said pivot axis, wherein 
 (i) one of said ridges is the first ridge defining a beginning edge of said resistive surface, and  
 (ii) another one of said ridges is the last ridge defining a terminal edge of said resistive surface; and  
 
 
 (2) said lid includes two projecting arms that each has 
 (a) an engaging member for engaging said ridges, and  
 (b) a convex protuberance for fitting in one of said sockets when each of said arms is disposed in a respective one of said recesses to create said hinge structure to accommodate pivoting of said lid sequentially through 
 (i) a first range of movement wherein said engaging member is disengaged from said ridges,  
 (ii) a second range of movement wherein said engaging member is in engagement with said ridges, and  
 (iii) a third range of movement wherein said engaging member is disengaged from said ridges.  
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 said system is a closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior;    said closure includes a closure base portion that is molded as a unitary part of the top of said container and that defines said peripheral wall; and    said lid is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said peripheral wall defined by said closure base portion at the top of said container.    
     
     
         3 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which said lid includes a lift tab projecting laterally outwardly.  
     
     
         4 . The system in accordance with  claim 1  in which 
 said engaging member has a converging tip for engaging said arcuate resistive surface; and    said arcuate resistive surface is defined on the locus of a circular arc which has a center coincident with said pivot axis of said hinge structure.    
     
     
         5 . A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container at least part way around an opening to the container interior;    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and    (C) a hinge structure defining a pivot axis and connecting said lid to said peripheral wall to accommodate pivoting of said lid about said pivot axis between said closed position and said fully opened position; and    wherein 
 (1) said peripheral wall includes two, spaced-apart recesses each having 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls wherein one sidewall defines a concave socket, and  
 (b) a substantially smooth, arcuate, resistive surface lying along an arc about said pivot axis and having 
 (i) a beginning edge, and  
 (ii) a terminal edge; and  
 
 
 (2) said lid includes two projecting arms that each has 
 (a) an engaging member for engaging said resistive surface, and  
 (b) a convex protuberance for fitting in one of said sockets when each of said arms is disposed in a respective one of said recesses to create said hinge structure to accommodate pivoting of said lid sequentially through 
 (i) a first range of movement wherein said engaging member is disengaged from said resistive surface,  
 (ii) a second range of movement wherein said engaging member is in engagement with said resistive surface, and  
 (iii) a third range of movement wherein said engaging member is disengaged from said resistive surface.  
 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The system in accordance with  claim 5  in which 
 said system is a closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior;    said closure includes a closure base portion that is molded as a unitary part of the top of said container and that defines said peripheral wall; and    said lid is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said peripheral wall defined by said closure base portion at the top of said container.    
     
     
         7 . The system in accordance with  claim 5  in which said engaging member has a converging tip for engaging said arcuate resistive surface; and 
 said arcuate resistive surface is defined on the locus of a circular arc which has a center coincident with said pivot axis of said hinge structure.    
     
     
         8 . A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: 
 (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container at least part way around an opening to the container interior;    (B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and    (C) a hinge structure defining a pivot axis and connecting said lid to said peripheral wall to accommodate pivoting of said lid about said pivot axis between said closed position and said fully opened position; and    wherein 
 (1) one of said lid and said peripheral wall includes a resistive surface arranged in an arc around said pivot axis; and  
 (2) the other of said lid and said peripheral wall includes an engaging member for engaging said resistive surface with a resistance force free of substantial bias toward said closed position and said fully opened position whereby the user must apply a torque sufficient to overcome said resistance force in order to pivot said lid through a range of movement that is defined at least part way between said closed position and said fully opened position.  
   
     
     
         9 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which 
 said system includes one or more of said resistive surfaces and one or more of said engaging members;    each said engaging member engages one of said resistive surfaces with an engaging force; and    the sum of said engaging forces is sufficient to maintain said lid in an intermediate position selected from a predetermined range of intermediate positions between said closed position and said fully opened position when said user terminates the application of pivoting torque to said lid.    
     
     
         10 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which 
 said resistive surface extends from a beginning edge to a terminal edge; and    said resistive surface includes a portion at said terminal edge that provides increased engagement with said engaging member to signal the user when the lid is at a predetermined opened position beyond which the lid can be pivoted to said fully opened position if the user applies a further increased torque to said lid sufficient to overcome the force created by said increased engagement.    
     
     
         11 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said hinge structure permits said lid to pivot from said closed position partway toward said fully opened position prior to said engaging member engaging said resistive surface.  
     
     
         12 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said hinge structure permits said lid to pivot from said fully opened position partway toward said closed position prior to said engaging member engaging said resistive surface.  
     
     
         13 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which 
 said system is a closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior;    said closure includes a closure base portion that is molded as a unitary part of the top of said container and that defines said peripheral wall; and    said lid is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said peripheral wall defined by said closure base portion at the top of said container.    
     
     
         14 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said lid includes a lift tab projecting laterally outwardly.  
     
     
         15 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said hinge structure includes 
 an arm extending from said lid and having a convex protuberance; and    a recess in said peripheral wall defined in part by two, spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls between which said arm can be disposed, one of said sidewalls defining a concave socket for receiving said convex protuberance in pivoting alignment with said pivot axis.    
     
     
         16 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said resistive surface is defined in a generally arcuate wall.  
     
     
         17 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said resistive surface is arcuate and smooth.  
     
     
         18 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said resistive surface is defined by a plurality of parallel ridges lying along an arc about said pivot axis.  
     
     
         19 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which said engaging member has a converging tip for engaging said arcuate resistive surface; and 
 said arcuate resistive surface is defined on the locus of a circular arc which has a center coincident with said pivot axis of said hinge structure.    
     
     
         20 . The system in accordance with  claim 8  in which 
 said peripheral wall has a recess defined by two, spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls;    said resistive surface extends between said sidewalls;    said lid includes an extending arm;    said engaging member projects from said arm; and    said arm is mounted for pivoting movement to one of said sidewalls whereby said arm and said one sidewall function as said hinge structure.