U.S. patent application number 11/268917 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for tamper-evident closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEAQUIST CLOSURES FOREIGN, INC.. Invention is credited to Cori M. Blomdahl, James W. Hammond, Travis J. Hoepner.
Application Number | 20070102389 11/268917 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38002693 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070102389 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hoepner; Travis J. ; et
al. |
May 10, 2007 |
Tamper-evident closure
Abstract
A tamper-evident closure system is provided for a container. The
system has a body for extending from the container at the container
opening. The body defines a dispensing orifice and an attachment
surface. The system includes a lid for being moved between a closed
position and an open position. An anchor member is provided for
being attached to the body attachment surface when the lid is first
closed on the body. At least one frangible web initially connects
the anchor member with the lid so that the frangible web breaks
when the lid is initially lifted from the closed position.
Inventors: |
Hoepner; Travis J.;
(Mukwonago, WI) ; Hammond; James W.; (North
Prairie, WI) ; Blomdahl; Cori M.; (Muskego,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET
SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Assignee: |
SEAQUIST CLOSURES FOREIGN,
INC.
|
Family ID: |
38002693 |
Appl. No.: |
11/268917 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/235 ;
215/252; 222/556 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2401/15 20200501;
B65D 55/024 20130101; B65D 47/0885 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/235 ;
215/252; 222/556 |
International
Class: |
B65D 39/00 20060101
B65D039/00; B65D 47/00 20060101 B65D047/00; B65D 51/00 20060101
B65D051/00 |
Claims
1. A tamper-evident closure system for a container that has an
opening to the container interior, said closure system comprising:
a body that is either a separate structure for attaching to, and
extending from, said container at said opening or is a unitary
extension of said container at said opening, said body having (1)
at least one orifice for communicating with said container opening,
and (2) a thermoplastic attachment surface; a lid adapted to be
disposed on said body for accommodating lifting of said lid
relative to said at least one orifice between (1) a closed position
over said at least one orifice, and (2) an open position away from
said at least one orifice; an anchor member having a thermoplastic
attaching portion for being welded to said body attachment surface
when said lid is first in said closed position; and at least one
frangible web extending between said lid and said anchor member for
initially connecting said anchor member with said lid for
subsequently being broken when said lid is first lifted from said
closed position.
2. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 further including
a welded connection between said attachment surface of said body
and said attaching portion of said anchor member.
3. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which there are
two anchor members each having an attachment portion that includes
an energy director having a triangular cross section for
facilitating ultrasonic welding of the anchor member to said body
attachment surface.
4. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion
of said lid has a skirt with a generally cylindrical exterior
surface; and each of said frangible webs has an upper portion
molded as a unitary extension from said exterior surface of said
lid skirt.
5. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which each said
frangible web has an upper wide portion and a lower narrow
portion.
6. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion
of each said anchor member defines a radially inwardly facing
surface; each said frangible web has a lower portion molded as a
unitary extension from said anchor member inwardly facing
surface.
7. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which said
closure system is a closure for an end of said container wherein
the container end defines said container opening; and said closure
includes said body, said lid, said anchor member, and said at least
one frangible member.
8. The closure system in accordance with claim 7 in which said
closure is an article that is separate from said container; and
said body is attachable to said container end over said container
opening.
9. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid,
said anchor member, and said at least one frangible member are
molded together from a thermoplastic material to form a unitary
structure that is initially separate from said closure body.
10. A tamper-evident closure system for a container that has an
opening to the container interior, said closure system comprising:
a body that is either a separate structure for attaching to, and
extending from, said container at said opening or is a unitary
extension of said container at said opening, said body having at
least one orifice for communicating with said container opening,
and a a lid adapted to be disposed on said body for accommodating
lifting of said lid relative to said at least one orifice between
(1) a closed position over said at least one orifice, and (2) an
open position away from said at least one orifice, said lid having
a lower edge; an anchor member non-removably fixed to said body
when said lid is first in said closed position to define a vertical
gap between said anchor member and said lid lower edge; and at
least one frangible web extending across said gap between said lid
lower edge and said anchor member for initially connecting said
anchor member with said lid for subsequently being broken when said
lid is first lifted from said closed position.
11. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 in which a
portion of said lid has a skirt with a generally cylindrical
exterior surface; and each said frangible web has an upper portion
molded as a unitary extension from said exterior surface of said
lid skirt.
12. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 in which each
said frangible web has an upper wide portion and a lower narrow
portion; and the height of said vertical gap between said anchor
member and said lid lower edge is greater than the width of said
frangible web upper wide portion.
13. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 in which a
portion of each said anchor member defines a radially inwardly
facing surface; and each said frangible web has a lower portion
molded as a unitary extension from said anchor member inwardly
facing surface.
14. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 in which said
closure system is a closure for an end of said container wherein
the container end defines said container opening; and said closure
includes said body, said lid, said anchor member, and said at least
one frangible member.
15. The closure system in accordance with claim 14 in which said
closure is an article that is separate from said container; and
said body is attachable to said container end over said container
opening.
16. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 in which said
lid, said anchor member, and said at least one frangible member are
molded together from a thermoplastic material to form a unitary
structure that is initially separate from said closure body.
17. A method for making a tamper-evident closure system for a
container that has an opening to the container interior, said
method comprising the steps of: (A) molding from thermoplastic
material a body that (1) is either a separate structure for
attaching to, and extending from, said container at said opening or
is a unitary extension of said container at said opening, (2) has
at least one orifice for communicating with said container opening,
and (3) has a thermoplastic attachment surface; (B) molding from
thermoplastic material a top structure comprising (1) a lid, (2) an
anchor member that has an attaching portion, and (3) at least one
frangible web that extends between, and is unitary with, said lid
and said anchor member wherein said lid is adapted to be disposed
on said body for accommodating lifting of said lid relative to said
at least one orifice between (i) a closed position over said at
least one orifice, and (ii) an open position away from said at
least one orifice; (C) mounting said top structure on said body
with said lid disposed on said body in said closed position and
with said anchor member attaching portion located adjacent said
body thermoplastic attachment surface; and (D) welding said anchor
member attaching portion to said body thermoplastic attachment
surface when said lid is first in said closed position to initially
connect said anchor member with said lid so that said at least one
frangible web can be subsequently broken when said lid is first
lifted from said closed position.
18. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which step (B)
includes molding said top structure to have said anchor member that
has an attaching portion that includes an energy director having a
triangular cross section for facilitating ultrasonic welding of the
anchor member to said body attachment surface; and step (D)
includes utrasonically welding said anchor member to said body
attachment surface.
19. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which step (B)
includes molding a portion of said lid to have a skirt with a
generally cylindrical exterior surface and a lower edge; step (B)
includes molding said anchor member to have an inwardly facing
surface; and step (B) includes molding each of said frangible webs
to (1) have an upper portion molded as a unitary extension from
said exterior surface of said lid skirt, (2) have a narrower lower
portion molded as a unitary extension from said anchor member
inwardly facing surface, and (3) have a length sufficient to create
a vertical gap between said anchor member and said skirt lower edge
wherein the height of said gap is greater than the width of said
web upper portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0004] This invention relates to a tamper-evident closure system
for a container. The invention is particularly suitable for
incorporation in a dispensing closure for use with a squeezable
container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE
PRIOR ART
[0005] There are a variety of types of conventional closures which
function generally satisfactorily in applications for which they
are designed. One type of prior art closure includes a body or base
for being attached to the top of a container. The body defines a
dispensing orifice. The system further includes a lid which is
mounted on the base or body and which can be lifted up to open the
dispensing orifice. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,487.
[0006] The U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,487 discloses a design which also
includes tamper-evident frangible webs for connecting the lid to
the body and for initially preventing the lid from being lifted
away from the body unless and until a sufficient lifting force is
applied to the lid to break the webs, and such breakage serves as a
tamper-evident feature. While such a design offers significant
advantages, it would be desirable to provide a further improved
tamper-evident closure system.
[0007] In particular, it would be desirable to provide an improved
design in which the tamper-evident feature can be optionally more
strongly integrated into the closure system and/or can be
optionally made even more noticeable to the user (before the
tamper-evident feature is broken prior to the lid being initially
opened, as well as after the tamper-evident feature has been broken
and the lid is re-closed).
[0008] It would also be advantageous if such an improved
tamper-evident closure system could also be adapted for use with a
one-piece, unitary closure system as well as with a two-piece, or
other multiple-piece, closure system.
[0009] It would also be beneficial if such an improved
tamper-evident closure system could optionally readily accommodate
the connection of the lid to the body with a hinge structure,
either a hinge structure that is unitary with both the lid and
body, or a two-piece hinge structure that is part of a separately
formed lid and separately formed body which can be assembled
together.
[0010] It would also be advantageous if such an improved
tamper-evident closure system could optionally incorporate the
tamper-evident feature in a way which does not hinder access to, or
obstruct, the front of the lid where a thumb lift tab might be
employed.
[0011] It would also be desirable to provide a tamper-evident
closure system which would not require the use of a freshness seal
or liner across the closure or container opening, and that would
have a minimum number of components so as to facilitate manufacture
and assembly.
[0012] It would also be advantageous to provide a closure system
with the capability for accommodating optional tamper-evident
features between the container and closure system body that can
readily indicate to a consumer that the closure system has been
initially removed from the container.
[0013] It would also be beneficial if a closure system could
readily accommodate its manufacture from at least a thermoplastic
material, or other material.
[0014] It would also be advantageous if such an improved closure
system could accommodate bottles, containers, or packages which
have a variety of shapes and which are constructed from a variety
of materials.
[0015] Further, it would be desirable if such an improved system
could accommodate efficient, high-quality, high-speed, large volume
manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to
produce products having consistent operating characteristics
unit-to-unit with high reliability.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention can be incorporated into a closure
system that may include one or more of the above-discussed, desired
features.
[0017] The present invention provides an improved tamper-evident
closure system for a container that has an opening to the container
interior. The system can be readily operated by the user to
initially open the system.
[0018] If desired, the improved system can accommodate a
tamper-evident feature that is optionally more strongly integrated
into the closure and/or is optionally more readily visible so that
the condition or status of the feature (i.e., unbroken or broken)
can be easily observed.
[0019] The initial opening operation of the inventive,
tamper-evident closure system lid does not produce a separate,
loose piece which must be discarded. The tamper-evident closure
system can be employed with a one-piece or multi-piece closure body
and lid design. Further, the tamper-evident closure system readily
accommodates the employment of a thumb lift tab on the lid and also
readily accommodates a unitary, or multi-piece, hinge structure
between the lid and the body. The system also accommodates the use
of other, optional, tamper-evident features between the closure
body and the container.
[0020] According to a first aspect of a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention, the tamper-evident feature is more
strongly integrated into the closure system by welding. The system
includes a body that is either a separate structure for attaching
to, and extending from, the container at the container opening or
is a unitary extension of the container at the opening.
[0021] The body has [0022] (1) at least one orifice for
communicating with the container opening, and [0023] (2) a
thermoplastic attachment surface.
[0024] A lid is adapted to be disposed on the body for
accommodating lifting of the lid relative to the at least one
orifice between (1) a closed position over the at least one
orifice, and (2) an open position away from the at least one
orifice.
[0025] An anchor member is provided with a thermoplastic attaching
portion for being welded to the body attachment surface when the
lid is first in the closed position. In the preferred embodiment,
ultrasonic welding is employed.
[0026] At least one frangible web extends between the lid and the
anchor member for initially connecting the anchor member with the
lid, and the web is subsequently broken when the lid is first
lifted from the closed position.
[0027] According to a second aspect of the invention, a more
visible tamper-evident feature in a closure system is provided for
a container that has an opening to the container interior. This
second aspect of the invention may be provided in the closure
system without the above-described first aspect of the invention,
or vice versa. The closure system includes a body that is either a
separate structure for attaching to, and extending from, the
container at the opening or is a unitary extension of the container
at the opening. The body has at least one orifice for communicating
with the container opening.
[0028] A lid is adapted to be disposed in the body for
accommodating lifting of the lid relative to the at least one
orifice between (1) a closed position over the at least one
orifice, and (2) an open position away from the at least one
orifice. The lid has a lower edge.
[0029] An anchor member is non-removably fixed to the body when the
lid is first in the closed position to define a vertical gap
between the anchor member and the lid lower edge.
[0030] At least one frangible web extends across the gap between
the lid lower edge and the anchor member for initially connecting
the anchor member with the lid for subsequently being broken when
the lid is first lifted from the closed position. The frangible web
is highly visible in the gap.
[0031] In a most preferred form of the invention, both the
above-described first aspect of the invention and the
above-described second aspect of the invention are included
together in the closure system.
[0032] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method
is provided for making a tamper-evident closure system for a
container that has an opening to the container interior. The method
comprises the steps of:
[0033] (A) molding from thermoplastic material a body that [0034]
(1) is either a separate structure for attaching to, and extending
from, the container at the opening or is a unitary extension of the
container at the opening, [0035] (2) has at least one orifice for
communicating with the container opening, and [0036] (3) has a
thermoplastic attachment surface;
[0037] (B) molding from thermoplastic material a top structure
comprising (1) a lid, (2) an anchor member that has an attaching
portion, and (3) at least one frangible web that extends between,
and is unitary with, the lid and the anchor member wherein the lid
is adapted to be disposed on the body for accommodating lifting of
the lid relative to the at least one orifice between (i) a closed
position over the at least one orifice, and (ii) an open position
away from the at least one orifice;
[0038] (C) mounting the top structure on the body with the lid
disposed on the body in the closed position and with the anchor
member attaching portion located adjacent the body attachment
surface; and
[0039] (D) welding the anchor member attaching portion to the body
attachment surface when the lid is first in the closed position to
initially connect the anchor member with the lid so that the at
least one frangible web can be subsequently broken when the lid is
first lifted from the closed position.
[0040] Numerous other advantages and features of the present
invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention, from the claims, and from the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] In the accompanying drawings that form part of the
specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate
like parts throughout the same,
[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary tamper-evident
closure system in the form of a separate dispensing closure
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the
closure is shown in a closed configuration, before installation on
a container, and from a vantage point generally above, or from the
top of, the closure;
[0043] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but FIG. 2 shows the lid
in the open position with the tamper-evident feature having been
broken;
[0044] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view
taken generally along the plane 3-3 in FIG. 1, but FIG. 3 further
shows the closure installed on the neck of a container and shows
part of the lower tamper-evident band of the closure turned
upwardly to engage a flange on the container neck;
[0045] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally
along the plane 4-4 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows the closure prior
to the closure being installed on the neck of the container, and
FIG. 4 further shows the lower tamper-evident band in the
as-molded, downwardly depending configuration prior to being turned
up under the flange on the container neck;
[0046] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view similar to FIG.
3, but FIG. 5 shows the closure (1) prior to the lid anchor member
being welded to the closure body, and (2) prior to the closure
being installed on the neck of a container, and FIG. 5 further
shows the lower tamper-evident band in the as-molded, downwardly
depending configuration prior to being turned up under the flange
on the container neck;
[0047] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closure body prior to
the lid being initially mounted on the body by the manufacturer and
prior to the completed closure being installed on the
container;
[0048] FIG. 7 is a enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally
along the plane 7-7 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 shows the closure body
prior to being installed on the neck of the container, and FIG. 7
further shows the lower tamper-evident band in the as-molded,
downwardly depending configuration prior to being turned up under
the flange on the container neck;
[0049] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the closure lid prior
to the lid being mounted on the closure body by the
manufacturer;
[0050] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the lid prior to the
lid being mounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;
[0051] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the closure lid prior to the
lid being mounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;
[0052] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the lid prior to the lid being
mounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;
[0053] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
plane 12-12 in FIG. 10;
[0054] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the
plane 13-13 in FIG. 10;
[0055] FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the lid taken generally
along the plane 14-14 in FIG. 10;
[0056] FIG. 15 is a greatly enlarged view of the region within the
oval designated as FIG. 15 in FIG. 12;
[0057] FIG. 16 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the
area within the circle designated FIG. 16 in FIG. 13; and
[0058] FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15, but FIG. 17 shows the
structure after a tamper-evident feature has been broken.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0059] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings
disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The
invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so
described, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out in
the appended claims.
[0060] For ease of description, most of the figures illustrating
the invention show a closure system in the typical orientation that
it would have at the top of a container when the container is
stored upright on its base, and terms such as upper, lower,
horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will
be understood, however, that the closure system of this invention
may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an
orientation other than the position described.
[0061] The closure system of this invention is suitable for use
with a variety of conventional or special containers having various
designs, the details of which, although not illustrated or
described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and
an understanding of such containers. The container, per se,
described herein forms no part of, and therefore is not intended to
limit, the present invention. It will also be understood by those
of ordinary skill that novel and non-obvious inventive aspects are
embodied in the described exemplary closure systems alone.
[0062] A presently preferred embodiment of a tamper-evident closure
system of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 17 and is
designated generally therein by reference number 20 in FIG. 1. In
the preferred embodiment illustrated, the closure system 20 is
provided in the form of a separate closure 20 which is adapted to
be mounted or installed on a container 22 (FIG. 3) that would
typically contain a fluent material. The container 22 includes body
24 and a neck 26 as shown in FIG. 3. The neck 26 defines an opening
28 to the container interior. The container neck 26, in the
preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, has an external, male
thread 29 for engaging the closure 20.
[0063] The body 24 of the container 22 may have any suitable
configuration, and the upwardly projecting neck 26 may have a
different cross-sectional size and/or shape than the container body
24. (Alternatively, the container 22 need not have a neck 26, per
se. Instead, the container 22 may consist of just a body with an
opening.) The container 22 may have a rigid wall or walls, or may
have a somewhat flexible wall or walls.
[0064] Although the container, per se, does not necessarily form a
part of the broadest aspects of the present invention, per se, it
will be appreciated that at least a body portion of the system 20
of the present invention optionally may be provided as a unitary
portion, or extension, of the top of the container. However, in the
preferred embodiment illustrated, the system 20 is a separate unit
(e.g., a closure) which can be either one-piece or multiple pieces,
and which is adapted to be removably or non-removably installed on
a previously manufactured container 22 that has an opening 28 to
the container interior. Hereinafter, the closure system 20 will be
more simply referred to as the closure 20.
[0065] The closure 20 is adapted to be used with a container 22
having an opening 28 to provide access to the container interior
and to a product contained therein. The closure 20 can be used with
many materials, including, but not limited to, relatively low or
high viscosity liquids, creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures,
lotions, pastes, particulates, granular materials, small pieces or
items, etc. as constituting a food product, a beverage product, a
personal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product,
or other compositions of matter (e.g., compositions for use in
activities involving manufacturing, commercial or household
maintenance, construction, agriculture, etc.).
[0066] The container 22 with which the closure 20 may be used would
typically be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls
which can be grasped by the user and squeezed or compressed to
increase the internal pressure within the container so as to force
the product out of the container and through the opened closure.
Such a flexible container wall typically has sufficient, inherent
resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the
container wall returns to its normal, unstressed shape. Such a
squeezable wall container is preferred in many applications but may
not be necessary or preferred in other applications. For example,
in some applications it may be desirable to employ a generally
rigid container, and to pressurize the container interior at
selected times with a piston or other pressurizing system. Also,
the interior of the container need not be pressurized at all.
Instead, if the closure is large enough, the product could be
accessed by reaching through the open closure with a hand, spoon or
straw, or the package could be inverted to let the product
discharge through the opened closure solely under the influence of
gravity.
[0067] It is presently contemplated that many applications
employing the closure 20 will conveniently be realized by molding
some or all of the components of the closure 20 from suitable
thermoplastic material or materials. In the preferred embodiment
illustrated, the components of the closure could each be molded
from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as, but not limited
to, polypropylene. The closure components may be separately molded
from the same material or from different materials. The materials
may have the same or different colors and textures.
[0068] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the closure system or closure 20
includes, inter alia, two basic components, (1) a base or body 30,
and (2) a lid 40 which is adapted to be carried on the body 30. The
closure 20 also includes tamper-evident features described in
detail hereinafter.
[0069] The lid 40 is movable between a closed position over the
body as shown in FIG. 1 and an open position as shown in FIG. 2.
The lid 40 may be a separate component which is completely
removable from the closure body 30, or the lid 40 may be tethered
to the body 30 with a strap, or the lid 40 may be hinged to the
body 30 as shown in FIG. 2 so as to accommodate pivoting movement
from the closed position to the open position.
[0070] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the closure body 30 includes a
spout 42 defining a dispensing orifice 44 which opens to the hollow
interior of the closure body 30 and which therefore communicates
with the opening 28 in the container neck 26 when the closure 20 is
mounted on the container 22 as shown in FIG. 4. The interior of the
spout 42 contains an apertured baffle structure 45 (FIGS. 3-7) for
controlling the flow of the discharging fluid product. The baffle
structure 45 may be omitted altogether, or other spout interior
structures may be included (e.g., a discharge valve).
[0071] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, at the bottom of the spout 42,
the closure body 30 has a peripheral upper deck 46. The peripheral
upper deck 46 is defined at its outer edge by a generally vertical
wall 48 as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. Surrounding the lower edge
of the vertical wall 48 is an intermediate deck 50. The
intermediate deck 50 is defined at its outer edge by a generally
vertical wall 52. At the bottom edge of the vertical wall 52 is a
lower deck 54. The lower deck 54 defines an attachment surface and
functions to accommodate a thermoplastic weld attachment of a
tamper-evident feature on the lid 40 as described in detail
hereinafter.
[0072] As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rear of the closure
body 30 includes a bearing member comprising two, spaced-apart
walls 80 which together define between them an upwardly open
channel 82. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper, distal end portion of
each wall 80 extends toward the other wall 80 over the channel 82
to define a reduced width passage 84 to the channel 82. The bottom
of the channel 82 includes a narrower recess or groove 86.
[0073] As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the closure body 30 has an
annular skirt 90 extending downwardly form the upper portion of the
closure body 30. The interior surface of the skirt 90 defines a
female thread 92. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the closure body skirt
thread 92 is adapted to threadingly engage the exterior, male
thread 29 on the container neck 26.
[0074] Alternatively, the closure skirt 90 could be provided with
some other container connecting means, such as a snap-fit bead or
groove (not illustrated) in place of the thread 92 for engaging a
container neck groove or bead (not illustrated), respectively. The
closure body 30 could also be permanently attached to the container
22 by means of induction melting, ultrasonic melting, gluing, or
the like, depending on materials used for the closure body 30 and
container 22. The closure body 30 could also be formed as a unitary
part, or extension, of the container 22.
[0075] The closure body skirt 90 may have any suitable
configuration for accommodating an upwardly projecting neck 26 or
other portion of the container 22 received within the particular
configuration of the closure body 30, and the main part of the
container 22 may have a different cross-sectional shape than the
container neck 26 and closure body 30.
[0076] An optional seal or liner (not illustrated) may be sealed
across the top of the container neck 26 or, alternatively, may be
sealed across an interior region or underside of the upper portion
of the closure body 30. However, if the function of a
tamper-evident seal or freshness seal as provided by such a liner
is not needed or desired in a particular application, then the
liner may, of course, be omitted.
[0077] Also, if desired, the closure body 30 may be provided with
an interior, annular seal 96 (FIGS. 6 and 7) extending downwardly
from the underside of the upper portion of the closure body 30.
Such a seal 96 could be "plug" profile seal, as illustrated, or a
"crab's claw" seal, a flat seal, a V seal, or some other such seal,
depending upon the particular application and depending upon
whether or not a liner is employed.
[0078] In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the
closure body skirt 90 has a generally annular configuration.
However, the closure body skirt 90 may have other configurations.
For example, the closure body skirt 90 might have a prism or
polygon configuration adapted to be mounted to the top of a
container neck having a polygon configuration. Such prism or
polygon configurations would not accommodate the use of a threaded
attachment, but other means of attachment could be provided, such
as a snap-fit bead and groove arrangement, or the like. However, if
the closure body included a double wall defining a polygon outer
skirt and a cylindrical inner attachment wall, then the cylindrical
inner attachment wall could be provided with a thread for
engagement with a threaded container.
[0079] In one preferred form of the invention as shown in FIG. 5,
the closure body 30 incorporates a conventional or special
tamper-evident ring 100 along the bottom edge of the closure body
skirt 90 for cooperation with a container 22 that has a retention
flange 104 (FIG. 3) below the container neck thread 26. As shown in
FIG. 5, the tamper-evident ring 100 is initially molded as a
downwardly extending, unitary flange on the bottom of the closure
body skirt 90. Prior to the installation of the closure body 30 on
a container, such as on the container 22 illustrated in FIG. 3, the
lower half of the tamper-evident ring 100 is deformed or bent
radially inwardly and upwardly. Then, the closure body 30 is
lowered onto the container neck 26 and threadingly rotated relative
to the container neck 26. The upwardly bent tamper-evident ring 100
passes over the container neck thread 29 and over the container
neck retention flange 104. The upwardly bent portion of the
tamper-evident ring 100 snaps inwardly below the container neck
retention flange 104 as shown in FIG. 3. This resists removal of
the closure body 30 if a user attempts to rotate the closure body
30 in an unscrewing direction. However, the tamper-evident band or
ring 100, in the preferred form, is connected to the bottom end of
the closure body skirt 90 by a very thin portion or portions of
material (which may have, for example, circumferentially
spaced-apart notches or a scored groove or a molded groove (not
shown)). If the user attempts to unscrew the closure body 30 with a
sufficient amount of torque, then the interconnecting, thin portion
of material will break, and the tamper-evident band 100 will
separate from the bottom of the closure body skirt 90. This will
serve as an indication that the closure body 30 has been unscrewed,
at least partially, from the fully assembled configuration.
[0080] The use of a tamper-evident ring or band 100 is an entirely
optional feature of the illustrated embodiment, and it does not
form a necessary part of the present invention. Indeed, if the
closure body 30 is non-releasably attached to the container neck 26
(as with adhesive, thermal bonding, irreversible snap-fit
configurations, etc.), then the tamper-evident ring 100 would
provide no additional benefit. Similarly, a tamper-evident ring 100
would provide no additional benefit if the closure body 30 is
formed as a unitary molded extension of the container neck 26.
[0081] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lid 40 includes a top wall
122 and a skirt 124. The front of the lid 40 has an indentation or
recess 126 in the skirt 124. A thumb lift tab 128 projects
outwardly from the top portion of the lid 40 over the recess 126.
As can be seen in FIG. 9, the skirt 124 has a flat wall section 125
at the rear of the lid 40. Projecting outwardly from the flat wall
section 125 is a pair of rearwardly extending lugs 130. A shaft 132
extends between, and connects, the lugs 130 at a location where the
shaft 132 is spaced from the lid skirt flat wall section 125. The
shaft 132 has a centrally located, outwardly projecting ridge or
bead 133.
[0082] With reference to FIG. 4, the lid shaft 132 is received
within the upwardly open channel 82 defined at the rear of the
closure body 30. The shaft 132 has a width dimension or diameter
that is greater than the opening 84 between the upper, distal ends
of the walls 80 which define the sides of the channel 82. This
provides a snap-fit engagement and retains the lid shaft 132 on a
fixed axis relative to the closure body 30 so as to accommodate
pivoting movement of the lid 40 relative to the closure body 30
between the full closed position (FIG. 1) and the full open
position (FIG. 2). The shaft ridge or bead 133 (FIG. 4) is received
in the groove 86 (FIGS. 4 and 6) at the bottom of the channel 82
when the lid 40 is fully opened (FIG. 2) to provide a detent
engagement that increases the resistance to rotation of the lid 40
away from the open position. This helps keep the lid 40 open at
about 80.degree., and helps prevent the open lid 40 from flopping
around.
[0083] As can be seen in FIG. 12, the lid 40 optionally may
include, and preferably includes, a plug or spud 140 projecting
downwardly from the underside of the lid top wall 122. An annular
sealing member 142 projects from the underside of the lid 40 around
the spud 140. The member 142 has a radially inwardly projecting
sealing bead 144. As shown in FIG. 4, the spud 140 is adapted to be
received within the dispensing orifice 44 of the spout 42. In the
preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4, the dispensing orifice
44 is a substantially cylindrical orifice, and the exterior of the
lid plug or spud 140 has a generally cylindrical surface. The
diameter of the exterior surface of the lid spud 140 is slightly
greater than the internal diameter of the body dispensing orifice
44. This provides an interference fit to effect good sealing
engagement. Either the spud 140 or the spout 42, or both, have
sufficient flexibility to accommodate such an interference fit
providing leak-tight sealing capability. The lid sealing member 142
and its bead 144 are optional features that may be included so that
the bead can sealingly engage the upper, exterior surface of the
spout 42. The spud 140 is also an optional feature. The closure 20
could alternatively be provided with just the spud 140 alone, or
the lid member 142 alone, or both the spud 140 and lid member 142
(as in the illustrated, preferred embodiment).
[0084] According to the present invention, a unique tamper-evident
feature is provided for indicating that the lid 40 has been
initially moved away from the fully closed configuration (FIG. 1)
toward the fully opened position (FIG. 2). The tamper-evident
feature involves cooperation between the lid 40 and closure body
30. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 7, and 9, the tamper-evident feature
includes at least one anchor member 152 which is initially
connected to the lid 40 with one or more frangible members or webs
160. The combination of the lid 40, webs 160, and anchor members
152 may be characterized as a top structure for being initially
mounted on, and attached to, the closure body 30.
[0085] In the preferred embodiment, there are two anchor members
152--one provided on each side of the lid 40 along the bottom edge
of the lid 40, but spaced a distance Y (FIGS. 14-16) below the lid
skirt bottom edge. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
8 and 9, there are a plurality of frangible webs 160 in the form of
spaced-apart bridges extending between each anchor member 152 and
the lid skirt 124.
[0086] In the illustrated preferred embodiment, each anchor member
152 includes a generally vertically inner surface 153 (FIGS.
12,.13, 15, 16, and 17) that faces radially inwardly and that is
connected to the lower portion of each frangible web 160. The webs
160 are initially molded simultaneously with, and as part of the
unitary top structure that includes, the lid 40 and anchor members
152. Each anchor member 152 is a generally arcuate bar. In other
contemplated embodiments (not illustrated), each anchor member need
not be an arcuate bar. Each anchor member 152 includes an attaching
portion 162 (FIGS. 13, 14, and 16) which, in the illustrated
preferred embodiment, is defined by the underside or bottom surface
of the member 152. Preferably, the attaching portion 162 is
initially molded as the bottom surface of the anchor member 152 and
also includes a downwardly projecting protrusion or protuberance
164 that has a triangular transverse cross section for facilitating
the thermoplastic welding attachment of the anchor member 152 to
the closure body attachment surface 54 as described in detail
hereinafter.
[0087] In the presently contemplated preferred form of the
invention, the manufacturer can readily mold the lid 40, webs 160,
and anchor members 152 (with the protuberances 164) together as a
single, unitary component (i.e., the top structure), and the
manufacturer can separately mold the closure body 30 as another,
separate component. The top structure and body 30 may be molded
from the same thermoplastic material or from different
thermoplastic materials. The lid 40, webs 160, anchor members 152,
and body 30 may have the same color and texture or may have
different colors and/or textures.
[0088] After separately molding the closure body 30 and the top
structure (i.e., the lid 40, webs 160, and anchor members 152 with
protuberances 164), the two components are assembled by mounting
the lid 40 on the closure body 30 so that the lid hinge shaft 132
is received in a snap-fit engagement within the closure body
receiving channel 82. The lid 40 is initially closed on the closure
body 30 as shown in FIG. 5. In the initially closed position of the
lid 40, each anchor member 152 is disposed above the closure body
lower deck 54 which defines the upwardly facing attachment surface.
The lower, pointed edge of the anchor member attaching portion
protuberance 164 rests on the closure body attachment surface
(i.e., the upwardly facing surface of the closure body lower deck
54). The closure manufacturer can then weld the anchor members 152
to the deck 54.
[0089] A presently preferred method for welding the anchor members
152 to the closure body lower deck 54 employs thermoplastic
welding, and preferably thermoplastic welding as effected with
ultrasonic energy. The triangular cross section protuberance 164 on
the attachment portion 162 at the bottom of each anchor member 152
functions as an energy director for the ultrasonic energy. The
ultrasonic energy can be applied with commercial ultrasonic welding
equipment which may be of any suitable conventional or special
design. Such ultrasonic welding equipment typically includes a
suitable horn or engaging member for engaging the outwardly facing,
exterior portions of the anchor members 152 and for applying a
force against the anchor members 152 in a direction tending to urge
the anchor members 152 downwardly toward the closure body lower
deck attachment surface 54 at the same time that the ultrasonic
equipment transfers ultrasonic energy into and through the anchor
members 152. The equipment operating energy, time, force, etc.
depend, of course, on the size and mass of the closure top
structure components that are to be welded as well as upon the type
of thermoplastic material. The detailed design and operation of
such ultrasonic welding equipment forms no part of the present
invention.
[0090] In one presently preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic
welding of the anchor members 152 to the closure body lower deck 54
is facilitated by providing the deck 54 with a textured surface.
One such suitable textured surface can be provided by conventional
etching of the relevant region of the mold steel through a
conventional texture mask or plaque. In a preferred embodiment of
the closure molded from polypropylene, the surface of the mold at
the attachment surface 54 is AISI (American Iron and Steel
Institute) type 420 stainless steel with a hardness of 54-64
Rockwell c that has been (1) ferric chloride acid attached to a
depth of 0.052 mm. through a plaque or mask designated MT 11050 as
sold by Mold Tech (having an office at 279 East Lies Road, Carol
Stream, Ill. 60188, U.S.A.), and (2) bead blasted to remove ash
residue.
[0091] During the welding of the anchor members 152 to the closure
body deck 54, the energy director protuberances 164 (which may have
a projection of about 0.55 mm. in a presently preferred embodiment)
become softened and/or melted along with adjacent portions of the
closure body deck 54. The softened or melted protuberances 164 and
the softened or melted portions of the closure body deck 54, along
with any softened or melted portions of the anchor member 152
adjacent the protuberances 164) fuse and re-solidify after
termination of the application of the ultrasonic energy and force.
This effects a welding of the thermoplastic material (as
schematically designated by reference number 168 in FIG. 3).
[0092] In the preferred embodiment, the energy deflector
protuberances 164 project downwardly about 0.55 mm. After being
ultrasonically welded, the melted and fused protuberances 164 loose
substantially all of their original height and shape so that the
0.55 mm. gap initially defined by the protuberances 164 is
substantially eliminated and reduced to approximately 0 mm.
[0093] The assembled, closed, and welded closure 20 may then be
shipped to an entity that fills bottles or other containers with a
fluent product and then installs the closures 20 on the filled
containers.
[0094] With reference to FIGS. 15-16, it can be seen that the
frangible webs 160 extend downwardly for a distance Y below the
bottom edge of the closure lid skirt 124 where the webs 160 adjoin
the inner top edge of the anchor member 152. The frangible web 160
spans the gap Y between the top of the anchor member 152 and the
bottom edge of the closure lid skirt 124.
[0095] As best seen in FIG. 16, the radially inwardly facing
vertical side 153 of each anchor member 152 includes a vertical rib
170 which is a molded, unitary extension or part of the anchor
member 152 and which, in effect, merges with, and forms an
extension from, the frangible web 160. As can be seen in FIG. 14,
the bottom portion of the closure lid skirt 124 has an external rib
174 which is molded unitary with, and extends from, the exterior
surface of the closure lid skirt 124 so as to merge with the upper
end of the frangible web 160. As can be seen in FIG. 16, within the
vertical gap or space Y, the web 160 includes an enlarged or wider
portion 178 and a reduced width, or narrower, portion 180. In a
presently preferred embodiment of a polypropylene closure, the
reduced width portion 180 has a width of about 0.69 mm., a height
above the member 152 of about 0.25 mm., and a thickness of about
0.25 mm.
[0096] When the user wishes to open the closure, the user applies a
generally upwardly directed force to the closure lid thumb lift 128
(FIGS. 1 and 14). The application of a sufficiently large force
will case the frangible webs 160 to break or rupture as illustrated
in FIG. 17. The frangible webs 160 break in the reduced width
region 180. Typically, the reduced width portion 180 of the
frangible web 160 will have some slight reduction in width (from W1
to W2 in FIG. 17) as the tensile stress along the length or height
of the frangible web 160 causes some elongation prior to
rupture.
[0097] As shown in FIG. 17, when the frangible webs 160 rupture, a
short length L, of the reduced width section 180 typically will
remain with the wider portion 178 on the lid skirt 124, and a short
length L.sub.2 of the reduced width portion 180 typically will
remain with the anchor member 152. In a presently preferred
embodiment, after a frangible web 160 breaks, the height L.sub.2 of
the portion of the broken web projecting upwardly from the anchor
member 152 is about 0.2 mm., or less. Thus, the projection L.sub.2
of the reduced width frangible web portion 180 on the anchor member
152 is relatively small. If the opened closure is used to dispense
a fluid for drinking, the user may place the user's lips around the
closure body spout 42 (FIG. 2) and against the surrounding deck
portions of the closure body 30 without sensing any objectionable
roughness from the broken frangible portions 180 on the closure
body 30 because such portions are so small and short.
[0098] Before the lid 40 is lifted for the first time to break the
frangible webs 160, the frangible webs 160 provide an indication
that the lid 40 has not yet been opened. The user can readily see
that the frangible web 160 are not ruptured because the frangible
webs 160 span a relatively large gap having the height Y as shown
in FIGS. 14-16. The gap Y between the bottom edge of the lid skirt
124 and the top of the anchor member 152 provides a good
background, field of view, or visual environment in which to
readily ascertain that the frangible webs 160 are not broken (or
are broken).
[0099] Further, the tamper-evident feature of the closure 20 can be
enhanced by molding the lid 40, frangible webs 160, and anchor
members 152 from a suitable thermoplastic material that changes
color after being subjected to a sufficient level of stress. In a
preferred embodiment, polypropylene is used for molding the
components, and during subsequent rupture of the frangible webs
160, the frangible webs 160 are subjected to sufficient stress to
cause "stress whitening" in the region of the break. Thus, if the
polypropylene that is used to mold the lid 40, frangible webs 160,
and anchor members 152 is tinted or colored so that it initially
has a non-white hue, then there will be a lightening or whitening
of the color of the material at, and adjacent, the broken surfaces
of the frangible webs. This will further aid the user in
ascertaining that the webs 160 have been broken.
[0100] According to one aspect of the invention, the use of the
relatively long frangible webs 160 to span the gap Y provides an
enhanced tamper-evident feature regardless of how each anchor
member 152 is affixed or connected to the underlying closure body
deck 54. Thus, it is not necessary, according to an optional form
of the invention, to secure the anchor members 152 to the closure
body deck 54 with a thermoplastic weld. Instead, other connection
means could be employed, such as, for example, a mechanical
interference fit, staking, gluing, etc. If the anchor members 152
are attached to the closure body deck 54 by means other than
welding, then the closure components may be made from materials
other than weldable thermoplastic materials.
[0101] If desired, the frangible webs 160 could be configured to
have orientations other than the generally vertical orientation
illustrated in FIG. 16. For example, the radially inner sides 153
of the anchor members 152 could be located further radially
outwardly (e.g., beyond the circumference of the closure lid 40),
and the frangible webs 160 could be inclined or angled radially
outwardly at a substantial angle. Further, with reference to FIG.
15, each frangible web 160 could be angled to the left or to the
right instead of being located generally vertical as shown in FIG.
15.
[0102] In yet another contemplated embodiment, the frangible webs
160 could be bi-injection-molded onto the lid 40 and anchor members
152 after the lid 40 and anchor members 152 are initially molded.
That would permit the webs 160 to be molded from a different
material having a different color and/or texture. This would make
the frangible webs 160 even more visible to the user.
[0103] The structure of the tamper-evident webs 160, in relation to
the closure lid 40 and anchor members 152, accommodates ease of
molding of the lid 40, webs 160, and anchor members 152, and such
molding does not require side action molding components or lifters.
Further, the closure 20 functions well with various types of hinge
structures, or with no hinge. Additionally, no separate shrink band
is required to provide the tamper-evident function that is
performed by the frangible webs 160. Opening the lid 40 of the
closure 20 does not require the user to break and remove a
separate, discardable piece (e.g., shrink band). The tamper-evident
function provided by the frangible webs 160 eliminates the need to
provide other types of tamper-evident features that may be more
expensive or more difficult to use.
[0104] Furthermore, the tamper-evident structure provided by the
frangible webs 160 (in conjunction with the anchor members 152 and
the securement of the anchor members 152 to the closure body 30)
accommodates the design of a closure which has high retention
strength and which is very secure--especially when the design
employs a weld of the anchor members 152 to the closure body
30.
[0105] The closure 20 need not be made in two or more separate
parts. For example, if desired, the entire closure 20 could be
molded as a single, unitary structure with an integral hinge system
such as a snap-action hinge, tether hinge, or the like. The
detailed design of such a hinge system forms no part of the present
invention. Indeed, the present invention contemplates that the lid
40 and closure body 30 could be provided as separate components
without any hinge structure so that the lid would not remain
attached to the closure body after the assembly is opened.
[0106] When the closure 20 is in the full open condition as shown
in FIG. 2, the user can tip or invert the package to facilitate the
dispensing of fluent product under the influence of gravity. If the
container 22 has a flexible wall or walls, the container 22 can be
squeezed to further assist in dispensing the product. After the
desired amount of product has been dispensed, the package can be
turned back to its upright orientation, and the user can close the
lid 40. If the package is designed for "inverted" storage (such as
if the closure includes a flexible, pressure-actuatable,
self-sealing dispensing valve), the package may be left inverted at
all times.
[0107] It will also be appreciated that the closure system of the
present invention need not be provided as a separate closure for a
container. The closure body 30 could instead be molded as a unitary
part of the container 22. A container could be molded to have (1)
an initially open bottom end, (2) a peripheral wall forming an
upper end that defines a container top end opening, and (3) a
unitary closure body portion extending radially inwardly from the
container peripheral wall over the container top end opening so as
to form a unitary part of the container top end and so as to define
a unitary, top end closure body, including the spout 42 (and
optionally including a hinge and lid, if the body, hinge, and lid
are to be part of a single, unitary structure). Then, the container
could be filled with product through the open bottom end, and the
open bottom end could be subsequently sealed closed by appropriate
means, such as with thermally assisted deformation or with a
separate bottom closure plug or bottom cap.
[0108] It will also be appreciated that the closure system of the
present invention may include other components, elements, or
features. For example, the closure body 30 (FIG. 3) could include
an internal valve system. The valve could be, for example, a
pressure-actuated, flexible, resilient slit valve. Such a valve has
the configuration and operating characteristics of a commercially
available valve design substantially as disclosed in the U.S. Pat.
No. 5,676,289 with reference to the valve 46 disclosed in the U.S.
Pat. No. 5,676,289. The operation of such a type of valve is
further described with reference to the similar valve that is
designated by reference number 3d in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,144.
The descriptions of those patents are incorporated herein by
reference thereto to the extent pertinent and to the extent not
inconsistent herewith. The embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIG. 7 herein could accommodate such a valve within the
closure body spout 42 under the dispensing orifice 44 and within,
or in place of, the baffle structure 45. Such a valve could be held
in place with a suitable retainer ring in snap-fit engagement with
the closure body. Alternatively, such a valve could be secured with
other means, such as bi-injection molding, insert molding, adhesive
securement, crimping, swagging, or the like.
[0109] It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed
description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof
that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without
departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or
principles of this invention.
* * * * *