U.S. patent application number 10/833867 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-03 for container and tamper evident closure.
Invention is credited to Corrales, Guido Mauricio Quesada, Serrano, Adolfo.
Application Number | 20050242095 10/833867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35186040 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050242095 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Serrano, Adolfo ; et
al. |
November 3, 2005 |
Container and tamper evident closure
Abstract
A container and tamper evident closure comprising a container
having a body portion, shoulder and a cylindrical dispensing unit
extending upward from the shoulder. The closure is comprised of a
closure aperture with a skirt depending from the area of the
closure aperture. The cylindrical dispensing unit has a rotation
limiting mechanism. The closure attaches to the cylindrical
dispensing unit or to the shoulder and has one or more weakened
areas on the skirt. Upon the twisting of the closure to remove it
from the container the weakened areas are stressed and show
distortion or are severed. This is clear evidence of tampering.
Inventors: |
Serrano, Adolfo; (San Jose,
CR) ; Corrales, Guido Mauricio Quesada; (San Jose,
CR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
909 RIVER ROAD
PISCATAWAY
NJ
08855
US
|
Family ID: |
35186040 |
Appl. No.: |
10/833867 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.3 ;
215/235; 220/837; 220/847 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 55/16 20130101;
B65D 47/0838 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.3 ;
220/837; 220/847; 215/235 |
International
Class: |
B65D 043/14; B65D
051/18 |
Claims
1. A container and tamper evident closure comprising a container
having a body portion, a shoulder on one end of said body portion
and a cylindrical dispensing unit on the extending unit on
extending from said shoulder, said closure comprising a closure
channel in alignment with said cylindrical dispensing unit, a skirt
depending from said channel, said skirt having at least one
weakened area whereby when said closure is attempted to be removed
by twisting said at least one weakened area is visually affected to
provide a signal of such attempt.
2. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
there are at least two weakened areas.
3. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said at least one weakened area is on an interior surface of said
closure.
4. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said closure is attached to said cylindrical dispensing unit.
5. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 4 wherein
said closure is attached to said cylindrical dispensing unit by an
interference fit.
6. A container and closure as in claim 1 wherein said closure is
attached to said shoulder.
7. A container and closure as in claim 6 wherein said closure is
attached to said shoulder by an interference fit.
8. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said cylindrical dispensing unit has a rotation limiting means.
9. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 8 wherein
said rotation limiting means is at least one cam.
10. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said closure has at least one projection which interacts with a
rotation limiting means on said cylindrical dispensing unit.
11. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 10 wherein
said rotation limiting means is at least one cam.
12. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 10 wherein
said projection is a cam.
13. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said closure channel has a refill limitation device.
14. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said closure has a lid.
15. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 14 wherein
said lid is attached to said closure by a hinge.
16. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 14 wherein
said lid has a reinforcement structure on a lower part thereof.
17. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said at least one weakened area is at least partially fractured as
a signal of such attempt.
18. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said at least one weakened area is visually distorted as a signal
of such attempt.
19. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 1 wherein
said body portion is non-circular.
20. A container and tamper evident closure as in claim 17 wherein
said body portion is substantially rectangular.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a container with a tamper evident
closure. More particularly this invention relates to a closure
where upon an unauthorized twisting to remove the closure portions
of the closure will be distorted and/or ruptured.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are many technologies for making closures for
containers tamper evident. These include shrink bands of plastic, a
shrink sleeve over a part or all of a container and closure. In
addition there are bands which are bridged to the closure where the
bridged are broken upon an opening of the container. In each of
these a tampering is evidenced by a lack of a shrink band or sleeve
or a closure with a severed band. There are yet other tamper
evident structures for a closure. However many require an added
feature as discussed above where shrink bands or sleeves or a
bridged band is required.
[0003] The present invention solves the problem of having a less
costly tamper evident closure for a container. No added item is
required. The closure side surfaces will have one or more weakened
areas. Upon an unauthorized attempted removal of the closure the
one or more weakened areas will have become distorted and/or
ruptured. This will be a positive indication of an unauthorized
attempt to remove the closure and open the container. This product
then is not available for purchase and is removed from the
shelf.
[0004] This tamper evident container and closure does not require
any added item such as shrink bands or sleeves or bridged bands.
The closure is one molded piece as in the container. Neither has an
added item. The tamper evidency is accomplished solely by a
restriction of rotation of the closure and weakened areas that
distort and/or rupture upon a torquing of the closure during an
attempt to remove the closure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is directed to a container with a tamper
evident closure which is comprised of a container having a body
portion with a shoulder on one end of the body portion. Extending
from the shoulder is a cylindrical dispensing unit. There is at
least one anti-rotation means on an exterior surface of the
cylindrical dispensing unit. The closure has a closure channel
which when applied to the container is in alignment with the
cylindrical dispensing unit of the container. A peripheral skirt
extends down from an area surrounding the closure channel, this
peripheral skirt having at least one weakened area. The closure
also has a closure anti-rotation means which interacts with the
anti-rotation means on the cylindrical dispensing unit. The
cylindrical dispensing unit anti-rotation means preferably is a cam
which interfits with at least one closure projection extending from
the closure adjacent the closure channel. In a further preferred
embodiment this projection has a ledge at a lower end which
interacts with a flange on the cylindrical dispensing unit to
attach the closure to the container.
[0006] Upon an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure the
cylindrical dispensing unit anti-rotation means prevents any
rotation of the closure by keeping the at least one closure
projection from rotating on the cylindrical dispensing unit. Such
an attempt at rotation causes stress on the closure distorting
and/or rupturing the at least one weakened area providing visual
indication of an unauthorized tampering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container and
closure.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container and closure
with the closure open.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the container and closure.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom side of the closure.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the closure along line
5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention will now be disclosed in more detail in the
preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Modifications
can be made to these embodiments but yet be within the concept of
the invention.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the body portion 12 of container and closure 10
with right side surface 18 and front surface 16. Closure 14 is
attached to body portion 12. The closure is comprised of a skirt 15
(see FIG. 3) having a right sidewall 22 and front wall 24. Lid 20
fully closes a dispensing opening of the closure. Ledge 26 provides
a grip for the opening lid 20. Weakened areas 76 on the inner
surface of front wall 24 are shown in dashed lines. These are shown
in more detail in FIG. 4.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the container with the lid open. The closure 14
has top surface 40 with channel 43 defined by ridge 42. Within the
channel 43 is anti-refill beam 44 which makes re-filling for reuse
difficult. The lid 20 is attached to the top surface 40 by hinge
36. The lid has plug 32 for sealing aperture 43 and a force
transfer ring 30. The force transfer ring transfers forces on the
exterior of lid directly to the top surface 40 rather than from the
lid edges to the top surface.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows the closure in the same detail as FIG. 2.
However this view shows the upper part of the container in more
detail. The container body 12 has a shoulder 48 which has a ledge
50 formed by vertical surface 52. This ledge accepts the lower edge
of the closure. The container shoulder top surface 54 supports
cylindrical dispensing unit 58 and has a flange 62 for attachment
of the closure 14. Dispensing unit cam 56 is a part of the closure
anti-rotation mechanism. Any equivalent projection can be used in
place of cam 56. This cam, along with a similar cam on the other
side of the cylindrical dispensing unit, will prevent the rotation
of the closure on the container body by cooperation with cam
projections on the closure. Interference by the cams on the
container cylindrical dispensing unit 58 and cam projections on the
closure 14 will prevent the rotation of the closure 14 on the
container body portion 12.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the closure 14.
This view shows the outer surface of lid 20 and the inner surface
of skirt 15 of the closure. The closure 14 has an inner surface 70
of the cylindrical dispensing unit with aperture 43 defined by
ridge 42. Also shown is anti-refill bean 44. Projecting down from
inner surface 70 are closure cam projections 74. The closure cam
projections 74 have two functions. The first is to provide an
interference with cylindrical dispensing unit cams 56 and thus
prevent rotation of the closure 14 on container body 12. The second
is to have ledge 78 on the closure cam projections 74 fit under
flange 62 into space 64 of the cylindrical dispensing unit 58 and
prevented from rotation on the dispensing unit. Also shown in this
view are weakened areas 76 on the front 24 and rear 23 surfaces of
the closure. These weakened areas are areas of a decreased
thickness of the skirt walls. This can be a decrease of up to fifty
percent or more. These weakened surfaces 76 will be distorted
and/or ruptured upon a forced removal of the closure 14 from the
container body 12. This distortion and/or rupture is evidence that
the container has been subject to tampering.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 along line 5-5.
Shown is more detail is the structure of closure cam projections
74. These have an upper end 80 attached to the closure and a lower
locking ledge 78 for fitting under flange 62 and into spare 64 to
secure the closure 14 to the container body 12. Also shown are
weakened areas 76 which are distorted or ruptured upon an attempt
to remove the closure.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container alone. This
view also shows container left side 11. Also shown are the two cams
56 on the cylindrical dispensing unit 58. All of the other parts of
the container have been described above.
[0020] The container is blow molded from essentially any
thermoplastic. Useful thermoplastics are polyethylenes,
polypropylenes, vinyl chlorides and polyethylene terephthalates.
The closure will be injection molded and can be essentially any
thermoplastic. Useful thermoplastics include those used for the
container.
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