초록 ▼

A closure for a container includes a base with at least one opening for dispensing a material from the container and a cover coupled atop the base. The cover includes at least one flap that is movable between an open position for dispensing the material and a closed position for covering the opening

A closure for a container includes a base with at least one opening for dispensing a material from the container and a cover coupled atop the base. The cover includes at least one flap that is movable between an open position for dispensing the material and a closed position for covering the opening. At least one projection extends from the flap to releasably retain the flap in the closed position. A tab extends from the projection. A guide surface is provided on the tab and is configured to contact an edge of the opening when the flap is moved toward the closed position and is configured to create a wedging interaction with the edge of the opening when the flap is moved further toward the closed position. The flap is retained in the closed position by the wedging interaction of the tab and the edge.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. In an integrally-formed cover for a container comprising a cylindrical portion, a top portion having a shaker opening and a spooning opening, a shaker flap having an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt and coupled to the top portion and configured for selective movem

What is claimed is: 1. In an integrally-formed cover for a container comprising a cylindrical portion, a top portion having a shaker opening and a spooning opening, a shaker flap having an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt and coupled to the top portion and configured for selective movement between an open position in which the shaker opening is opened and a closed position in which the shaker opening is covered by the shaker flap, a spooning flap having an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt and coupled to the top portion and configured for selective movement between an open position in which the spooning opening is opened and a closed position in which the spooning opening is covered by the spooning flap, at least one projection extending from the shaker flap to releasably retain the shaker flap in the closed position, the improvement comprising: the projection extending from the shaker flap comprises a tab; and a guide provided with the tab so that movement of the shaker flap from the open position to the closed position initially brings the guide into wedging interaction with an inner edge of the shaker opening and further movement of the shaker flap brings the tab into wedging interaction with the inner edge of the shaker opening; so that the shaker flap is retained in the closed position by the wedging interaction of the tab against the inner edge of the shaker opening. 2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the shaker opening comprises a plurality of shaker openings and the guide is configured for wedging interaction with at least one of the plurality of shaker openings. 3. The cover of claim 1 further comprising an upwardly projecting lip extending substantially around an outer portion of the top portion, the shaker flap and the spooning flap, whereby the lip is configured to position a container bottom stacked on top of the cover. 4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the guide is provided at the center of the tab. 5. The cover of claim 1 wherein the guide includes a curved portion extending beyond a free end of the tab. 6. The cover of claim 5 wherein the curved portion of the guide is configured to contact the inner edge of the shaker opening. 7. The cover of claim 6 wherein the curved portion of the guide is provided on the outer surface of the guide. 8. The cover of claim 7 wherein the curved portion of the guide comprises a cam portion. 9. The cover of claim 8 wherein the cam portion is defined by at least one radius. 10. The cover of claim 1 wherein the tab extends angularly downward from an underside of the shaker flap and at least partially through the shaker opening when the shaker flap is in the closed position. 11. In a closure for a container comprising a base having at least one opening for dispensing a material from the container, a cover coupled atop the base having at least one flap movable between an open position for dispensing the material and a closed position for covering the opening, at least one projection extending from the flap to releasably retain the flap in the closed position, the improvement comprising: a guide extending from the projection; and a guide surface provided on the guide and configured to contact an edge of the opening when the flap is moved toward the closed position and configured to create a wedging interaction with the edge of the opening when the flap is moved further toward the closed position; so that the flap is retained in the closed position by the wedging interaction of the projection and the edge. 12. The closure of claim 11 wherein the cover and the base are integrally molded as a single piece. 13. The closure of claim 11 wherein the opening comprises a shaker opening and a spooning opening and the flap comprises a shaker flap and a spooning flap. 14. The closure of claim 13 wherein the shaker flap and the spooning flap are integrally molded as a single piece with the cover. 15. The closure of claim 13 further comprising an upwardly projecting lip extending at least partially around an outer portion of the cover, the shaker flap and the spooning flap, whereby the lip is configured to position a container bottom stacked on top of the cover. 16. The closure of claim 11 wherein the guide surface comprises a curved surface defined by at least one radius. 17. The closure of claim 11 wherein the edge is an inner edge of the opening. 18. The closure of claim 11 wherein the wedging interaction is formed by movement of the guide surface relative to the edge. 19. The closure of claim 11 wherein the flap is retained in the closed position by friction between the projection and an edge of the opening. 20. The closure of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of guides and at least one guide surface on each guide. 21. The closure of claim 11 wherein the guide extends substantially perpendicularly from the projection. 22. The closure of claim 11 wherein the guide is a stiffener for the projection. 23. The closure of claim 11, wherein the projection comprises a tab; the flap comprises a spooning flap; the opening comprises a spooning opening; and the edge comprises an inner edge of the spooning opening; and wherein the tab and the inner edge do not fit in size or shape so that the spooning flap is retained in the closed position by the wedging interaction of the tab and the inner edge of the spooning opening. 24. The closure of claim 11, wherein the projection comprises a tab; the flap comprises a spooning flap; the opening comprises a spooning opening; and the edge comprises an inner edge of the spooning opening; and wherein the tab and the inner edge do not conform correctly in size or shape so that the spooning flap is retained in the closed position by the wedging interaction of the tab and the inner edge of the spooning opening. 25. In a closure for a container comprising a base including at least one opening for dispensing a material from the container, a top portion coupled to the base having at least one flap movable between an open position for dispensing the material and a closed position for covering the opening, a first projection extending from the flap to retain the flap in the closed position, the improvement comprising: a second projection extending from the first projection; and a guide surface provided on the second projection and configured to contact a portion of the base adjacent the opening when the flap is moved toward the closed position and configured to create a wedging interaction with the portion of the base adjacent the opening when the flap is moved further toward the closed position; so that the flap is retained in the closed position by the wedging interaction of at least one of the first projection and the second projection with the portion of the base adjacent the opening. 26. The closure of claim 25 wherein the first projection is a tab integrally molded as a single piece with the flap. 27. The closure of claim 25 wherein the second projection is a guide integrally molded as a single piece with at least one of the flap and the first projection. 28. The closure of claim 25 wherein the first projection and the second projection are configured in a T-shape. 29. The closure of claim 25 wherein the wedging interaction is created by movement of the guide surface relative to the portion of the base adjacent the opening. 30. The closure of claim 25 wherein the opening comprises a spooning opening and the flap comprises a spooning flap. 31. The closure of claim 25 wherein the opening comprises at least one shaker opening and the flap comprises a shaker flap. 32. The closure of claim 25 wherein the first projection is a tab extending angularly downward from an underside of the flap. 33. The closure of claim 25 wherein the second projection is a guide configured to stiffen the first projection. 34. The closure of claim 25 wherein the guide surface is a curved surface that extends at least partially through the opening when the flap is in the closed position. 35. In a closure for a container comprising a base including at least one opening for dispensing a material from the container, a top portion coupled to the base having at least one flap movable about a hinge between an open position for dispensing the material and a closed position for covering the opening, the improvement comprising: a first recess and a second recess formed in the base; a first projection extending from a first side of the flap and configured to fit at least partially within the first recess when the flap is in the closed position; and a second projection extending from a second side of the flap and configured to fit at least partially within the second recess when the flap is in the closed position; a third projection extending from the flap, the third projection being configured to engage an edge of the opening when the flap is in the closed position and to releasably retain the flap in the closed position; wherein the first recess and the second recess each include a closed bottom portion to prevent any material from passing through the first recess and the second recess. 36. The closure of claim 35 wherein the first recess and the second recess are substantially perpendicular to the hinge. 37. The closure of claim 35 wherein the first projection comprises a side skirt extending downward from the first side of the flap. 38. The closure of claim 37 wherein the second projection comprises a side skirt extending downward from the second side of the flap opposite the first side of the flap. 39. The closure of claim 35 wherein the first recess and the first projection are substantially parallel to the second recess and the second projection. 40. The closure of claim 35 wherein the first projection and the second projection comprise a side wall extending downwardly from opposite sides of the flap. 41. The closure of claim 35 wherein the at least one flap comprises at least one of a shaker flap and a spooning flap. 42. The closure of claim 35 wherein the first recess, the second recess, the first projection and the second projection are substantially straight. 43. The closure of claim 35 further comprising a fourth projection extending downward from a free end of the flap opposite the hinge. 44. The closure of claim 43 wherein the first projection and the second projection are interconnected by the fourth projection. 45. The closure of claim 43, wherein the base comprises a third recess configured to receive the fourth projection of the flap when the flap is in the closed position. 46. The closure of claim 43, wherein the fourth projection comprises an indentation configured to receive a finger of a user. 47. The closure of claim 35, wherein the third projection comprises an interface. 48. The closure of claim 35, wherein the third projection comprises a first portion to releasably retain the flap in the closed position and a second portion to engage in a wedging interaction with the edge of the opening before the flap is fully closed. 49. The closure of claim 35, further comprising a raised lip extending upward from at least one of the flap and the top portion. 50. The closure of claim 35, wherein the base further comprises a second opening for dispensing material from the container and wherein the top portion further comprises a second flap movable about a hinge between an open position for dispensing the material and a closed position for covering the second opening. 51. The closure of claim 50, wherein the top portion includes a first portion that extends between a first side of the first flap and the second flap and a second portion that extends between a second side of the first flap and the second flap. 52. The closure of claim 51 further comprising a raised lip extending from the top portion. 53. The closure of claim 52, wherein the raised lip comprises a first segment extending from the first flap, a second segment extending from the second flap, a third segment extending from the first portion of the top portion, and a fourth segment extending from the second portion of the top portion. 54. The closure of claim 35, wherein the first recess and the second recess are channels. 55. The closure of claim 35, wherein the base comprises a rim having an inner edge defining the at least one opening in the base and wherein the third projection engages the inner edge of the rim when the flap is in the closed position to releasably retain the flap in the closed position. 56. The closure of claim 35, wherein the base and the top portion are integrally-formed as a single unitary body. 57. The closure of claim 35 further comprising an annular sealing member projecting downwardly from the top portion. 58. The closure of claim 35, wherein the third projection comprises a tab; the at least one flap comprises a spooning flap; the at least one opening comprises a spooning opening; and the edge of the opening comprises an inner edge of the spooning opening; and wherein the tab and the inner edge do not fit in size or shape so that the spooning flap is retained in the closed position by the wedging interaction of the tab and the inner edge of the spooning opening.