Flip-top closure cap

Abstract

A flip-top cap is provided in which an upper portion is secured to a lower portion by means of a living hinge. An outer skirt forms a lever with an integral radial connecting wall on a side of the cap opposite the living hinge. The outer skirt and the radial connecting wall may be elastically deformed to permit a detent on the upper portion of the cap to escape a recess on the outer skirt for opening the cap. The radial connecting wall is lowered and thinned with respect to heretofore known designs, facilitating opening of the cap. Integral ribs are provided on the base and flip-top portions to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of the upper portion that could allow for inadvertent opening of the cap.

1 . A flip-top cap comprising: 
 a base portion;    the flip-top portion joined to the base by a living hinge, the flip top portion comprising a detent opposite the living hinge for maintaining the flip-top portion closed over the base portion;    the base portion comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall, the outer skirt forming a latch lever on a side thereof opposite the living hinge, the latch lever being pivotal by elastic deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer skirt when a force is exerted on the latch lever and an opposite side of the cap, the latch lever including a recess for capturing the detent of the flip-top portion;    wherein the radial connecting wall is disposed at a lower elevation on the outer skirt at a location adjacent to the latch lever than at a location adjacent to the living hinge.    
   
   
       2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the outer skirt is substantially continuous around a circumference of the base portion.  
   
   
       3 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion includes a plurality of ribs configured to contact the flip-top portion when closed over the base portion to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of the flip-top portion on the base portion.  
   
   
       4 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein the flip-top portion includes a plurality of ribs configured to contact the base portion to prevent movement of the flip-top portion with respect to the base portion when closed over the base portion.  
   
   
       5 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the latch lever includes a latch surface that contacts the detent of the flip-top portion to elastically deform the outer skirt and thereby to permit the detent to enter into the recess upon closing the flip-top portion over the base portion.  
   
   
       6 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bumpers extending from the base portion for protecting the hinge from damage.  
   
   
       7 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the outer skirt has a non-uniform circumferential thickness, whereby the latch lever elastically deforms a different amount than other portions of the outer skirt.  
   
   
       8 . The cap of  claim 7 , wherein the outer skirt is thicker in regions adjacent to the latch lever and to the living hinge than at other locations around its circumference.  
   
   
       9 . A flip-top cap comprising: 
 a base portion;    the flip-top portion joined to the base portion by a living hinge, the flip-top portion comprising a detent opposite the living hinge for maintaining the flip-top portion closed over the base portion;    the base portion comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall, the outer skirt forming a latch lever on a side thereof opposite the living hinge, the latch lever being pivotal by elastic deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer skirt when a force is exerted on the latch lever and an opposite side of the cap, the latch lever including a recess for capturing the detent of the flip-top portion;    wherein the radial connecting wall is disposed at a lower elevation on the outer skirt at a location adjacent to the latch lever than at a location adjacent to the living hinge; and    wherein the base portion includes a plurality of ribs configured to contact the flip-top portion when closed over the base portion to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of the flip-top portion on the base portion.    
   
   
       10 . The cap of  claim 9 , further comprising a pair of bumpers disposed immediately adjacent to and on either side of the living hinge.  
   
   
       11 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the latch lever includes a latch surface that contacts the detent of the flip-top portion to elastically deform the outer skirt and thereby to permit the detent to enter into the recess upon closing the flip-top portion over the base portion.  
   
   
       12 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the outer skirt is substantially continuous around a circumference of the base portion.  
   
   
       13 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the flip-top portion includes a plurality of ribs configured to contact the base portion to prevent movement of the flip-top portion with respect to the base portion when closed over the base portion.  
   
   
       14 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the outer skirt has a non-uniform circumferential thickness, whereby the latch lever elastically deforms a different amount than other portions of the outer skirt.  
   
   
       15 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the outer skirt is thicker in regions adjacent to the latch lever and to the living hinge than at other locations around its circumference.  
   
   
       16 . A flip-top cap comprising: 
 a base portion;    the flip-top portion joined to the base portion by a living hinge, the flip-top portion comprising a detent opposite the living hinge for maintaining the flip-top portion closed over the base portion;    the base portion comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall, the outer skirt forming a latch lever on a side thereof opposite the living hinge, the latch lever being pivotal by elastic deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer skirt when a force is exerted on the latch lever and an opposite side of the cap, the latch lever including a recess for capturing the detent of the flip-top portion;    wherein the radial connecting wall is disposed at lower elevation on the outer skirt at a location adjacent to the latch lever than at a location adjacent to the living hinge; and    wherein the base portion includes a pair of bumpers configured to contact the flip-top portion when closed over the base portion to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of the flip-top portion on the base portion.    
   
   
       17 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the bumpers are disposed immediately adjacent to and on either side of the living hinge.  
   
   
       18 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the latch lever includes a latch surface that contacts the detent of the flip-top portion to elastically deform the outer skirt and thereby to permit the detent to enter into the recess upon closing the flip-top portion over the base portion.  
   
   
       19 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the outer skirt has a non-uniform circumferential thickness, whereby the latch lever elastically deforms a different amount than other portions of the outer skirt.  
   
   
       20 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the outer skirt is thicker in regions adjacent to the latch lever and to the living hinge than at other locations around its circumference.  
   
   
       21 . A flip-top cap comprising: 
 a base portion;    the flip-top portion joined to the base portion by a living hinge, the flip-top portion comprising a pair of latches disposed at opposite locations with respect to one another around its periphery for maintaining the flip-top portion closed over the base portion;    the base portion comprising an inner skirt and an outer skirt surrounding the inner skirt and spaced from the inner skirt by a radial connecting wall, the outer skirt forming a pair of latch levers at locations of the latches of the flip-top portion, the latch levers being pivotal by elastic deformation of the radial connecting wall and the outer skirt when a force is exerted on the latch levers to release the latches of the flip-top portion for opening the cap;    wherein the base portion includes a plurality of ribs configured to contact the flip-top portion when closed over the base portion to prevent twisting and/or lateral movement of the flip-top portion on the base portion.