U.S. patent application number 12/597398 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-10 for improvements in and relating to tamper evident seals.
This patent application is currently assigned to VIN SINGLZ LIMITED. Invention is credited to Graeme Ashley Blake.
Application Number | 20100140210 12/597398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39875695 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100140210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blake; Graeme Ashley |
June 10, 2010 |
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TAMPER EVIDENT SEALS
Abstract
A tamper evident seal for a container includes a screw thread
and a closure adapted for use with the container. The seal
comprises a normally circular ring which is frangibly linked to the
closure. The ring has one or more inwardly extending protrusions,
and the container has one or more corresponding outwardly extending
protrusions adjacent its screw thread. Faces of the protrusions are
configured such that the leading face of each ring protrusion
approaches the forward face of each container protrusion when the
closure is fitted onto the container. Protrusions are situated in
spaced apart locations about a perimeter of the container or ring
and the normally circular ring is able to pass over the protrusion
or protrusions on the container substantially without stretching by
deforming out of round. The closure is adapted for use as a
drinking vessel and the container is substantially bottle
shaped.
Inventors: |
Blake; Graeme Ashley;
(Hamilton, NZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Assignee: |
VIN SINGLZ LIMITED
Hamilton
NZ
|
Family ID: |
39875695 |
Appl. No.: |
12/597398 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 23, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NZ2008/000087 |
371 Date: |
October 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/3409 20130101;
B65D 41/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/252 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/34 20060101
B65D041/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 23, 2007 |
NZ |
554715 |
Claims
1. A tamper evident seal for a container having a screw thread and
a closure means adapted for use with the container, the tamper
evident seal comprising a normally circular ring which is frangibly
linked to the closure means, the ring having one or more inwardly
extending protrusions, and the container having one or more
corresponding outwardly extending protrusions adjacent its screw
thread, the or each protrusion on the ring having a leading face,
and an opposing trailing face, and the or each protrusion on the
container having a forward face and an opposing aft face, the faces
being configured such that the leading face of the or each ring
protrusion approaches the forward face of the or each container
protrusion when the closure means is being fitted onto the
container, and wherein any protrusions on the container or ring are
situated or grouped in spaced apart locations about a perimeter of
the container or ring and the normally circular ring is able to
pass over the protrusion or protrusions on the container
substantially without stretching and by deforming out of round.
2. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or
each trailing face is substantially aligned at an acute angle to a
tangent of an inner surface of the ring at the point where the
trailing face meets the inner surface of the ring.
3. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 2 wherein the or
each aft face is substantially aligned at an acute angle to a
tangent of the perimeter of the container at the point where the
aft face meets the perimeter of the container.
4. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 3 wherein where
there are two protrusions on the container or the ring, they are
located on opposite sides of the container or ring, and where there
are more than two protrusions they are grouped into two groups with
each group being on opposite sides of the container or ring.
5. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of
the protrusions in any group of protrusions on the container or
ring, are linked by a web extending between adjacent
protrusions.
6. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 5 wherein a face of
the or each protrusion on the container facing the screw threads of
the container is bevelled with respect to the outer surface of the
container.
7. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 6 wherein the or
each forward face is bevelled with respect to the outer surface of
the container.
8. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 7 wherein the or
each leading face is bevelled with respect to an inner surface of
the ring.
9. The tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ring
protrusions can be bevelled on their upper and/or lower faces.
10. A liquids packaging product incorporating at least one tamper
evident seal as claimed in claim 1.
11. The liquids packaging product as claimed in claim 10 wherein
the closure means is also adapted for use as a drinking vessel.
11. The liquids packaging product as claimed in claim 11 wherein
the container is substantially bottle shaped.
12. The liquids packaging product as claimed in claim 12 wherein
the closure means or drinking vessel is manufactured entirely, or
primarily, from a styrene plastics material.
13-14. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to tamper evident seals for use with
screw top containers, and in particular, but not exclusively to
tamper evident seals for use with a combined drinking vessel and
cap for a drinks container.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The applicant of the present invention is also the applicant
of the New Zealand patent application numbers 527195, 538172 and
551470, and has been involved in the development of packaging
systems for single serve drinks for a number of years. The present
invention relates to an improved tamper evident seal for use with
the packaging systems described in the above patent applications
and addresses problems that have been experienced during the
development process.
[0003] The problem has been to devise a tamper evident seal for use
with a drink packaging product which includes both a bottle and a
drinking vessel. Early attempts to solve this problem have involved
the use of a paper or plastic wrap fitted over the join between the
mouth of the drinking vessel and the body of the bottle.
[0004] However this type of seal has a number of problems. It
involves the use of an additional item of material, and this
additional item must be fitted by adding another step to the
production line used to fill and seal the drink packages. This
additional material and production step adds to the cost of
producing each packaged drink.
[0005] Also, a tamper evident seal which is removed from the
packaged drink when the package is opened is a problem. The person
opening the drink has one hand to hold the bottle and one to hold
the drinking vessel, and another item can be inconvenient and is
likely to become a litter hazard. This problem can be significant
in an airline situation for example, where seated passengers are
provided with drinks, and where a tear off seal is yet another
object to handle and one that will often end up on the floor or
under seat cushions etc.
[0006] In New Zealand patent application number 538172 a tamper
evident seal was developed which was situated within the drinking
vessel and which engaged with the neck of the bottle. At present it
is considered that the method of manufacture could be improved upon
to reduce manufacturing costs, and or to improve the overall feel
and appearance of the drinking vessel.
[0007] The previous designs have incorporated tamper evident seals
of the type that are ideally formed from a plastics material having
a useful degree of elasticity and memory. Plastics materials having
these characteristics, and relatively low cost, are polypropylene
and polyethylene. For this reason, a combined drinking vessel and
cap that incorporates a tamper evident seal has had to be
manufactured in at least two parts, or be manufactured entirely
from polypropylene or polyethylene.
[0008] However, polypropylene or polyethylene are not the ideal
choice for a drinking vessel when trying to manufacture a drinking
vessel that is as "glass" like as possible. In such a case it is
preferable to use a styrene plastics material which can be clear
and a little more "glass" like in appearance and feel.
[0009] What is needed is a tamper evident seal design which does
not require the use of a plastics material having a similar degree
of elasticity and memory as that found in polypropylene or
polyethylene materials. A tamper evident seal design that could be
manufactured from a more rigid plastics material, for example a
styrene plastics material, would facilitate the manufacture of a
combined drinking vessel and cap from this material. This would
allow the desirable characteristics of this material to be taken
advantage of, while allowing greater opportunity to keep
manufacturing costs low.
[0010] The use of a single plastics type for both the body of the
drinking vessel and for the cap/base portion would also allow the
use of ultrasonic welding if the drinking vessel is manufactured in
two or more parts. The use of ultrasonic welding is desirable since
it can improve the leak resistance of an assembled drinking
vessel.
[0011] In this specification unless the contrary is expressly
stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to
or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that
the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof
was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public,
part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an
attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is
concerned.
OBJECT
[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a tamper evident seal design which will at least go some
way towards overcoming the above mentioned problems, or at least
provide the public with a useful choice.
STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention consists in a
tamper evident seal for a container having a screw thread and a
closure means adapted for use with the container, the tamper
evident seal comprising a normally circular ring which is frangibly
linked to the closure means, the ring having one or more inwardly
extending protrusions, and the container having one or more
corresponding outwardly extending protrusions adjacent its screw
thread, the or each protrusion on the ring having a leading face,
and an opposing trailing face, and the or each protrusion on the
container having a forward face and an opposing aft face, the faces
being configured such that the leading face of the or each ring
protrusion approaches the forward face of the or each container
protrusion when the closure means is being fitted onto the
container, and wherein any protrusions on the container are
situated or grouped in spaced apart locations about a perimeter of
the container and the normally circular ring is able to pass over
the protrusion or protrusions on the container substantially
without stretching and by deforming out of round.
[0014] Preferably the or each trailing face is substantially
aligned at an acute angle to a tangent of an inner surface of the
ring at the point where the trailing face meets the inner surface
of the ring.
[0015] Preferably the or each aft face is substantially aligned at
an acute angle to a tangent of the perimeter of the container at
the point where the aft face meets the perimeter of the
container.
[0016] Optionally there are two or more protrusions spaced about
the perimeter of the container.
[0017] Preferably where there are two protrusions on the container
they are located on opposite sides of the container, and where
there are more than two protrusions they are grouped into two
groups with each group being on opposite sides of the
container.
[0018] Preferably each of the protrusions in any group of
protrusions on the container are linked by a web extending between
adjacent protrusions.
[0019] Preferably the or each web is narrower than the protrusions
which it links.
[0020] Preferably the or each web substantially connects the faces
of adjacent protrusions that face the screw threads of the
container.
[0021] Preferably a face of the or each protrusion on the container
facing the screw threads of the container is bevelled with respect
to the outer surface of the container.
[0022] Preferably a face of the or each web facing the screw
threads of the container is bevelled with respect to the outer
surface of the container.
[0023] Preferably the or each forward face is bevelled with respect
to the outer surface of the container.
[0024] Preferably the or each leading face is bevelled with respect
to an inner surface of the ring.
[0025] Preferably the frangible link includes a line of weakness
between the ring and the closure means.
[0026] Preferably the ring protrusions can be bevelled on their
upper and/or lower faces.
[0027] In a second aspect, the invention consists in a tamper
evident seal for a container having a screw thread and a closure
means adapted for use with the container, the tamper evident seal
comprising a normally circular ring which is frangibly linked to
the closure means, the ring having one or more inwardly extending
protrusions, and the container having one or more corresponding
outwardly extending protrusions adjacent its screw thread, the or
each protrusion on the ring having a leading face, and an opposing
trailing face, and the or each protrusion on the container having a
forward face and an opposing aft face, the faces being configured
such that the leading face of the or each ring protrusion
approaches the forward face of the or each container protrusion
when the closure means is being fitted onto the container, and
wherein any protrusions on the ring are situated or grouped in
spaced apart locations about an inner surface of the ring and the
normally circular ring is able to pass over the protrusion or
protrusions on the container substantially without stretching and
by deforming out of round.
[0028] Preferably the or each trailing face is substantially
aligned at an acute angle to a tangent of the inner surface of the
ring at the point where the trailing face meets the inner surface
of the ring.
[0029] Preferably the or each aft face is substantially aligned at
an acute angle to a tangent of a perimeter of the container at the
point where the aft face meets the perimeter of the container.
[0030] Optionally there are two or more protrusions spaced about
the inner surface of the ring.
[0031] Preferably where there are two protrusions on the ring they
are located on opposite sides of the ring, and where there are more
than two protrusions they are grouped into two groups with each
group being on opposite sides of the ring.
[0032] Preferably each of the protrusions in any group of
protrusions on the ring are linked by a web extending between
adjacent protrusions.
[0033] Preferably the or each web is narrower than the protrusions
which it links.
[0034] Preferably the or each web substantially connects the faces
of adjacent protrusions that face away from the screw threads of
the closure means.
[0035] Preferably a face of the or each protrusion on the container
facing the screw threads of the container is bevelled with respect
to an outer surface of the container.
[0036] Preferably a face of the or each web facing away from the
screw threads of the closure means is bevelled with respect to the
inner surface of the ring.
[0037] Preferably the or each forward face is bevelled with respect
to the outer surface of the container.
[0038] Preferably the or each leading face is bevelled with respect
to the inner surface of the ring.
[0039] Preferably the frangible link includes a line of weakness
between the ring and the closure means.
[0040] Preferably the ring protrusions can be bevelled on their
upper and/or lower faces.
[0041] In a third aspect, the invention consists in a liquids
packaging product incorporating at least one tamper evident seal
substantially as specified herein.
[0042] Preferably the closure means is also adapted for use as a
drinking vessel.
[0043] Preferably the container is substantially bottle shaped.
[0044] Preferably the closure means or drinking vessel is
manufactured entirely, or primarily, from a styrene plastics
material.
[0045] To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates,
many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and
application of the invention will suggest themselves without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are
purely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting.
DESCRIPTION
[0046] Further aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description which is given by way of
example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle adapted for use
with a tamper evident seal of the present design,
[0048] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the bottle,
[0049] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a base of a drinking
vessel incorporating the tamper evident seal of the present
design,
[0050] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the bottle shown
assembled with a drinking vessel incorporating the base,
[0051] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main body of the drinking
vessel,
[0052] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the base of the drinking
vessel,
[0053] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view AA referenced in FIG. 2,
and
[0054] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view BB referenced in FIG.
3.
[0055] FIG. 9 is cross sectional view of a main body of the bottle
shown assembled with a drinking vessel incorporating the base,
[0056] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the base of the
drinking vessel,
[0057] FIG. 11 is a close up cross sectional view BB referenced in
FIG. 9,
[0058] FIG. 12 is a close up cross sectional view CC referenced in
FIG. 9.
[0059] FIG. 13 is an outer perspective view of the base of the
drinking vessel,
[0060] FIG. 14 is an inner perspective view of the base of the
drinking vessel,
[0061] FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the base of FIG.
14,
[0062] FIG. 16 is a top plan cross sectional view of the base of
FIG. 14.
[0063] FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view AA of a main body of the
drinking vessel as referenced in FIG. 16,
[0064] FIG. 18 is a top plan sectional view CC of the ring of the
base as referenced in FIG. 15,
[0065] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the bottle without the
drinking vessel,
[0066] FIG. 20 is a cross sectional top plan view of the bottle of
FIG. 19.
[0067] FIG. 21 is a cross sectional side view perspective view of
the bottle,
[0068] FIG. 22 is a cross sectional end view of the base of the
bottle, and
[0069] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the drinking vessel showing
the groove.
[0070] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a tamper evident seal (10)
of the present invention is shown. The seal (10) is designed for
use with a container (11) having a screw thread (13) and a closure
means (15) that is adapted for use with the container (11). The
tamper evident seal (10) comprises a normally circular ring (17)
which is connected to the closure means (15) by a frangible link
(19). The closure means (15) forms a cap which can seal off an
opening (20) of the container (11) and is provided with an internal
screw thread (21) which is adapted to mate with the external screw
thread (13) of the container (11).
[0071] In this example the frangible link (19) is shown as a number
of narrow links (22) which bridge between the closure means (15)
and the ring (17) providing a line of weakness which can easily be
broken to allow the closure means (15) to be removed from the
container (11) while leaving the ring (17) behind and retained
about a neck (23) of the container (11).
[0072] The ring (17) has a number of inwardly extending protrusions
(25), and the container (11) has a number of corresponding
outwardly extending protrusions (27) adjacent its screw thread
(13). Each protrusion (25) on the ring (17) has a leading face
(29), and an opposing trailing face (31), and each protrusion (27)
on the container (11) has a forward face (33) and an opposing aft
face (35). The faces are configured such that the leading face (29)
of each ring protrusion (25) approaches the forward face (33) of
each container protrusion (27) when the closure means (15) is being
fitted onto the container (11).
[0073] When the closure means (15) is screwed onto or off the
container (11) the ring protrusions (25) interfere with the
container protrusions (27) since the inner most diameter of the
tips of the ring protrusions (25) is less than the outer diameter
of the tips of the container protrusions (27).
[0074] To aid the passage of the ring protrusions (25) past the
container protrusions (27), while the closure means (15) is being
screwed onto the container (11), each forward face (33) can be
bevelled with respect to the outer surface of the neck (23) of the
container (11). Similarly, each leading face (29) can be bevelled
with respect to an inner surface (34) of the ring (17).
[0075] In this example there are eight ring protrusions (25)
equally spaced about the inner surface (34) of the ring (17), and
there are four container protrusions (27) situated on the neck (23)
of the container (11). It can be seen that the protrusions (27) on
the container (11) are situated or grouped in spaced apart
locations about a perimeter of the neck (23) of the container (11).
And since the protrusions are grouped, in pairs in this example, a
significant portion, or at least half of the perimeter of the neck
(23) has no protrusions. The ring protrusions (25) can easily pass
over the parts of the perimeter of the neck (23) that have no
protrusions. And, the ring protrusions (25) can pass over the parts
of the neck (23) that have protrusions by the ring (17) deforming
slightly out of round, that is, by becoming slightly oval or
elliptical.
[0076] This means that the normally circular ring (17) can pass
over the protrusions (27) on the container (11), as the closure
means (15) is screwed onto the container (11), substantially
without having to stretch, but rather by simply deforming out of
round. As will be explained further below, the container
protrusions (27) are designed to facilitate this passage of the
ring protrusions (25) as the closure means (15) is screwed onto the
container (11), but to resist the passage when the closure means
(15) is unscrewed from the container (11).
[0077] It can be seen from the drawings, particularly FIG. 8, that
each trailing face (31) is substantially aligned at an acute angle
(49) to a tangent (51) of an inner surface (34) of the ring (17) at
the point where the trailing face (31) meets the inner surface (34)
of the ring (17). And similarly in FIG. 7 it can be seen that each
aft face (35) is substantially aligned at an acute angle (53) to a
tangent (55) of the perimeter of the container (11) at the point
where the aft face (35) meets the perimeter of the container
(11).
[0078] When the closure means (15) is unscrewed from the container
(11), the trailing face (31) of the protrusions (25) on the ring
(17) move toward the aft face (35) of the protrusions (27) on the
container (11). When these faces (31) and (35) contact each other,
the acute angle of the faces means that they tend not to pass over
each other, but rather to become wedged together. This halts that
rotation of the ring (17) and if the closure means (15) is
unscrewed further the frangible link (19) will break and the ring
(17) will remain about the neck (23) of the container (11).
[0079] While it is conceivable that only one container protrusion
(27) is required, it is considered prudent to have two or more such
protrusions (27) spaced about the perimeter of the container (11).
If there are two protrusions (27) on the container (11) they should
be located on opposite sides of the neck of the container (11). And
where there are more than two protrusions (27) they are preferably
grouped into two groups with each group being on opposite sides of
the container (11). This allows a significant portion of the
perimeter of the neck (23) to be clear of any protrusions as noted
above.
[0080] The protrusions (27) in any group of protrusions (27) on the
container (11) can be linked by a web (37) extending between
adjacent protrusions (27). Preferably the or each web (37) is
narrower than the protrusions (27) which it links, at least narrow
in a direction perpendicular to the length of the web. It can be
seen in this example that each web (37) substantially connects the
upper faces (39) of adjacent protrusions (27), that is the faces
(39) of each protrusion (27) that face the screw threads (13) of
the container (11).
[0081] The upper faces (39) are preferably bevelled with respect to
the outer surface of the container (11) to aid the passage of the
ring protrusions (25) when the closure means (15) is being fitted
onto the container (11). Similarly, and for the same reason, the
upper face of each web (37) can be bevelled with respect to the
outer surface of the container (11).
[0082] The web (37) is useful in at least two aspects. Firstly, the
web (37) can prevent a ring protrusion (25) from sliding around a
container protrusion (27) when the closure means (15) is being
removed. This is because the joined web (37) and container
protrusion (27) can provide a blind corner (41) in which the ring
protrusion (25) can become trapped as the closure means (15) is
being removed. And secondly, the web (37) traps one of the ring
protrusions (25) and resists the migration of the ring (17) off the
container (11) when the closure means (15) has been removed from
the container.
[0083] FIG. 4 shows an assembled liquids packaging product (41)
which incorporates a tamper evident seal (10) as described herein.
In this case the container (11) is bottle shaped and the closure
means (15) is also adapted for use as a drinking vessel (43).
[0084] The drinking vessel (43) comprises a body (43) (see FIG. 5)
and a base (47) (see FIG. 3). The inventors have found that it is
advantageous to be able to join the body (43) to the base (47) by
ultrasonic welding. To do this however, the two must be made from
the same material. It is advantageous to make the body (43) from a
styrene plastics material due to the "glass" like qualities of
styrene plastics, and the two parts can only be welded together if
the base (45) is also made from the same material.
[0085] In fact, it has been this desire to manufacture the entire
drinking vessel (43) from one material, and preferably from a
styrene plastics material, that has lead to the need to create this
new tamper evident seal design. Previous tamper evident seals
require plastics with a useful degree of elasticity and memory.
However styrene plastics are poor in these areas. It is for this
reason that the inventor has created this seal design in which the
ring portion (15) does not have to stretch, but simply has to
deform slightly when being assembled onto the bottle.
[0086] As shown in FIGS. 9-23 the drinking vessel and cap have the
same reference numbers for the same components as used in the
drinking vessel and cap of FIGS. 1-8. However in this variation of
invention, cap (15) has means (50) to allow proper twisting to
break the seal (13) therebetween. This means (50) as shown in FIG.
10 has mutually opposing tabs with the words "TWIST" and "OPEN" to
facilitate the breaking of the frangible seal (13) or show the
direction to be taken when twisting.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 11 drinking vessel (45) is joined to cap
(15) as described on page at base on page 10. Container (11) has a
top end (51) and a base end (52). In other options and features in
manufacturing to further facilitate the joining of the cap to the
drinking vessel (45) by spin welding or any other joining method, a
circumferential groove portion (53) can be provided on a top edge
of the vessel (15). Also cap (15) can be provided with a downwardly
and outwardly facing shelf with a protruding ridge portion or
flashing (54) which is shaped to interfit within groove (53) during
the joining process of welding.
[0088] Other manufacturing options as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the
bottom of the drinking vessel (45) (which is oriented at the same
point as the top of the container (11)) can be abutting or be
removably attached to the outside face of the threaded portion (13)
of cap (15) via a bridging portion (55). Bridging portion (55) can
be joined to or formed with or abutting either the inside surface
of the top portion of drinking vessel (45) and a lower position of
the outer thread (13) of container (11). Portion (55) can be
continuous or formed in discreet lengths circumferentially
in-between the outside of the container and the inside of the
vessel. This optional bridging portion (55) can be useful in
providing temporary or permanent support for the joining of the
drinking vessel (45) to the cap (10) either during use or during
transportation or during manufacture.
[0089] Cap (15) is shown in perspective and in various side views
of FIGS. 14-17 showing the directional twisting action needed to
break the seal. The ring (17) is shown having pairs of ring
protrusions (25) similar to that already disclosed in the other
figures. As shown in the FIGS. 3, 8, 14, 15, 17 any of the faces of
the ring protrusions (25) can be bevelled in the upper and lower
faces and the forward and rear faces as well. Also shown in FIGS.
1, 2, 7, 19, 21) are container protrusions (27) having faces such
as forward face (33), opposing aft face (35) which can be bevelled
or chamfered and optionally the top and bottom faces of the
container protrusions (27) can be bevelled or chamfered if
necessary--see FIGS. 3 and 17. In FIGS. 19 & 21 the container
protrusions (27) are joined to each other by a continuous web
portion (56). FIG. 20 is similar to that shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 22
shows the base of the container (11) having protrusions (57)
there-from. FIG. 23 shows the drinking vessel (45) having the
groove portion (53) to allow joining to the ridge of cap (15).
[0090] Also shown in FIGS. 14, 15 & 17 are tabs (58) which are
used to hold an inner cap seal to the inside of the cap to assist
in pressurizing any contained fluid within the drinking vessel.
These tabs (58) are shown in different sizes in this example and
are useful especially during transport and movement to further
enhance and retain the quality of the contained product.
VARIATIONS
[0091] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way
of example Only and it should be appreciated that modifications and
additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope
thereof.
[0092] In the above example, the protrusions were equally spaced
about the inner surface of the ring, and they were grouped in two
locations about the neck of the bottle. In an alternative
configuration, the protrusions could be equally spaced about the
neck of the bottle, and be grouped in two locations about the inner
surface of the ring. In the case where a web extended between
adjacent protrusions within a group on the inner surface of the
ring, the web would preferably connect the faces of adjacent
protrusions that face away from the screw threads of the closure
means. And preferably the face of the web facing away from the
screw threads of the closure means is bevelled with respect to the
inner surface of the ring.
[0093] In the above examples there are more than one protrusion on
the ring (17) and on the container (11). In an alternative
configuration it is envisaged that only a single protrusion could
be used on the ring (17) and/or on the container (11). In a case
where a single protrusion was used on both the ring (17) and on the
container (11) a single start thread and careful alignment of the
mating protrusions would be required.
[0094] In the above examples the container (11) is shown as a
bottle shaped container, however it is envisaged that the tamper
evident seal (10) could be used on a range of packaging products or
containers of other shapes, for example on the lid of a jar shaped
container. Similarly, while the drinking vessel (43) is shown
having a `fluted glass` like shape, the drinking vessel (43) could
have a different shape, for example a tumbler shape.
[0095] Also, in the above examples the tamper evident seal (10) is
shown as part of a closure means which is in the form of a drinking
vessel, however the tamper evident seal (10) could also be part of
a cap or lid or other closure device. Similarly, the closure means
(15) could be a cap that is adapted to also function as a measuring
device, for example, a measuring cap for use with a medicine
bottle.
DEFINITIONS
[0096] Throughout this specification the word "comprise" and
variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are
not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or
steps.
ADVANTAGES
[0097] Thus it can be seen that at least the preferred form of the
invention provides a tamper evident seal which can be made of a
plastics material that does not have a useful degree of elasticity
or memory, allowing greater manufacturing flexibility which is
particularly useful in the manufacture of a drinking vessel which
also acts as a closure means or cap for a drinks container.
* * * * *