The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 18, 2003
Charles E. Roberts, Eagle, WI (US);
Terry J. Vandenboom, Kansasville, WI (US);
Nicholas J. Jelich, Oconomowoc, WI (US);
Catherine F. Schultz, Eagle, WI (US);
Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc., Crystal Lake, IL (US);
Abstract
A toggle-action dispensing closure for a container is provided for manipulation between a closed, non-dispensing orientation and an open, dispensing orientation. The closure includes an actuator pivotally mounted along a tilting axis on a body secured to the container. The actuator is tiltable by applying force to the actuator on one side of the tilting axis so as to move the actuator from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. The actuator includes a flange having an engagable surface. The closure body includes an annular wall in which the actuator is received, and the annular wall includes an inwardly projecting interference member which underlies the actuator engagable surface and prevents tilting of the actuator unless a sufficient predetermined, initial opening force is exerted on the actuator to cause permanent, plastic deformation of the engagable surface is and/or interference member. Thereafter, the actuator can be tilted to the open dispensing position a second or subsequent times in response to subjecting the actuator to a force less than the predetermined, initial opening force.