Closure provided with a film hinge

Abstract

A closure for a container, which specifically may contain cosmetic product, the closure having a hinged lid which is connected in one piece to a base part via a film hinge, the film hinge having a pivot axis, there being a latching mechanism which keeps the hinged lid in a first stable position, and a springy element acting on the hinged lid. The springy element is tensioned in the first stable position and, after the release of the latching mechanism, automatically displaces the hinged lid by means of a driving spring force and with a pivoting movement into a second stable position. There is a separate control element which, at least during part of the pivoting movement, controls the spring force acting on the hinged lid. The control causes a delay in comparison to an uninfluenced pivoting movement caused by the spring

1 . A closure for a container, the closure having a hinged lid, a base part, a film hinge having a pivot axis, said lid, said base and said lid being interconnected as one piece, a latching mechanism which keeps the hinged lid in a first stable position, and a springy element having a driving spring force acting on said hinged lid, said springy element being tensioned in the first stable position of the hinged lid and, after the release of the latching mechanism, automatically displacing the hinged lid by means of a driving spring force and with a pivoting movement into a second stable position, 
 said closure including a separate control element operable, at least during part of said pivoting movement, to directly act upon the springy element with an actuating force, the actuating force predetermining at least one of the strength and direction of the spring force acting on the hinged lid and therefore influencing the speed of the pivoting movement.    
   
   
       2 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said base has a dispensing opening operable to be closed in a sealing manner by said hinged lid when in said first stable position, in said second stable position said hinged lid completely opening up said dispensing opening.  
   
   
       3 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein said springy element is an elastic strap of deformable plastic, said strap being tensioned in said first stable position of the hinged lid with the elastic strap flexing around said pivot axis.  
   
   
       4 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein said deformable plastic is selected from a group of deformable plastics consisting of TPE and PE.  
   
   
       5 . The closure according to  claim 3  wherein said control element has a bearing surface confronting said elastic strap, said elastic strap bearing on said surface under tension when said hinged lid is in the first stable position, the control element directly acting upon the elastic strap with said actuating force via said bearing surface.  
   
   
       6 . The closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said bearing surface comprises a plurality of bearing surfaces at angles to one another.  
   
   
       7 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein said actuating force acts on the springy element over a substantial subsection of the pivoting movement, with the hinged lid carrying out an approximately linear pivoting movement.  
   
   
       8 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein said control element comprises an independent damping element controlling the spring force of said spring, causing a delay in the pivoting movement caused by the spring force.  
   
   
       9 . The closure according to  claim 8 , wherein said independent damping element counters the pivoting movement of the hinged lid by means of a specific damping force.  
   
   
       10 . The closure according to  claim 9 , wherein said damping force acts over a substantial subsection of the pivoting movement and at least virtually compensates for the accelerating component of the spring force, the hinged lid thereby carrying out its pivotal movement at a virtually constant speed.  
   
   
       11 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein said springy element and said control element are integral with said hinged lid in a fixed connection.  
   
   
       12 . The closure according to  claim 11  wherein said fixed connection comprises a molded connection.  
   
   
       13 . The closure according to  claim 11  wherein said fixed connection is an adhesive bond.  
   
   
       14 . A closure for a container, the closure having a hinged lid, a base part, a film hinge having a pivot axis, said lid carrying out a pivoting movement, said base and said lid being interconnected as one piece, a latching mechanism which keeps the hinged lid in a first stable position, and a springy element having a driving spring force acting on said hinged lid, said springy element being tensioned in the first stable position of the hinged lid and, after the release of the latching mechanism, automatically displacing the hinged lid by means of a driving spring force and by said pivoting movement into a second stable position, 
 said closure including a separate independent control element operable over a substantial subsection of the pivoting movement, with an approximately linear pivoting movement, to act in cooperation with said springy element with an actuating force, the actuating force predetermining at least one of the strength and direction of the spring force acting on the hinged lid and therefore influencing the speed of the pivoting movement, said independent damping element controlling the spring force of said springy element, causing a delay in the pivoting movement caused by the spring force.