U.S. patent application number 14/342452 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-27 for tamper-evident closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to ESSEL PROPACK LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Chandrashekhar Ramchandra Abhyankar, Mrinal Kanti Banerjee, Avinash Velandy Mukkolath. Invention is credited to Chandrashekhar Ramchandra Abhyankar, Mrinal Kanti Banerjee, Avinash Velandy Mukkolath.
Application Number | 20140346172 14/342452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54289206 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140346172 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Banerjee; Mrinal Kanti ; et
al. |
November 27, 2014 |
TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE
Abstract
A tamper-evident closure (100) is described, wherein the
tamper-evident closure (100) comprises a body (102), a cap portion
(104) coupled to the body (102) by a joint (106), and a tab (124)
attached to a closure body skirt (122) of the body (102) to provide
a space (126) between the closure body skirt (122) and the tab
(124) to accommodate a lip portion (114) of the cap portion (104).
Further, an inset (129) is provided below the tab (124) in the body
skirt (122), wherein the tab (124) and the closure body skirt (122)
are attached to one another by a seal.
Inventors: |
Banerjee; Mrinal Kanti;
(Mumbai, IN) ; Abhyankar; Chandrashekhar Ramchandra;
(Mumbai, IN) ; Mukkolath; Avinash Velandy;
(Mumbai, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Banerjee; Mrinal Kanti
Abhyankar; Chandrashekhar Ramchandra
Mukkolath; Avinash Velandy |
Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai |
|
IN
IN
IN |
|
|
Assignee: |
ESSEL PROPACK LIMITED
Mumbai
IN
|
Family ID: |
54289206 |
Appl. No.: |
14/342452 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
August 30, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2012/001671 |
371 Date: |
July 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/257.1 ;
220/259.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2401/15 20200501;
B65D 43/22 20130101; B65D 2401/20 20200501; B65D 47/0809
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/257.1 ;
220/259.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/22 20060101
B65D043/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 2, 2011 |
IN |
2448/MUM/2011 |
Claims
1. A tamper-evident closure (100) comprising: a body (102) having a
closure body skirt (122); a cap portion (104) coupled to the body
(102) by a joint (106), wherein the cap portion (104) includes a
lip portion (114); and a tab (124) attached to the closure body
skirt (122) of the body (102) by a seal (130), wherein a space
(126) is provided between the closure body skirt (122) and the tab
(124) to accommodate the lip portion (114) of the cap portion
(104), and wherein an inset (129) is provided below the tab (124)
in the closure body skirt (122).
2. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the inset (129) is a depression in the closure body skirt
(122).
3. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the joint (106) is a bi-stable joint.
4. The tamper-evident closure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
protruded part (116) is disposed on a front surface of the lip
portion (114).
5. The tamper-evident closure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
protruded part (116) has a downward sloping surface.
6. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the tab (124) includes a cavity (128) and wherein the protruded
part (116) is adapted to flush fit with the cavity (128).
7. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the seal (130) comprises at least one break-away stitch between the
tab (124) and the closure body skirt (122).
8. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein
the at least one break-away stitch (130) is provided away from the
inset (129).
9. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the tab (124) is attached to the closure body skirt (122) at a
position substantially opposite to the joint (106).
10. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
an outer surface of the tab (124) forms a smooth surface with an
outer surface of the closure body skirt (122).
11. The tamper-evident closure (100) as. claimed in claim 1,
wherein the body (102) further comprises a planar surface (118)
having an opening (120), wherein the opening (120) is configured to
receive, in a sealing manner, a projection (110) disposed on a
cover surface (108) of the cap portion (104).
12. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the tamper-evident closure (100) and the tab (124) are made of a
polypropylene copolymer.
13. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the body (102), the cap portion (104), and the joint (106) are
formed as a single-piece.
14. The tamper-evident closure (100) as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a fitting arrangement 125 for being snap fit on a
container.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein, in general,
relates to closures for containers and, in particular, relates to
tamper-evident closures.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Closures are provided to cover product-dispensing openings
formed in bottles, tubes or other containers. There are various
types of closures available in the market including screw-top
closures, snap-top closures, and flip-top closures. In conventional
tamper-evident closures, a tear-away strip, generally made of
plastic and coupled to a skirt portion of a closure, is provided.
If the tear-away strip is missing or damaged, it means that someone
may have tampered with and/or gained unauthorized access to a
product stored in the container. Further, existing tamper-evident
closures involve specialized equipment to provide a tamper-evident
feature and also involve high manufacturing cost due to the use of
extra material. On the other hand, cheaper and simpler
tamper-evident closures can easily be tampered with, without anyone
noticing that any tampering had taken place, thus putting public
health and safety at risk.
SUMMARY
[0003] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to
tamper-evident closures. This summary is neither intended to
identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is
it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the
claimed subject matter.
[0004] A tamper-evident closure is described, wherein the
tamper-evident closure comprises a body, a cap portion coupled to
the body by a joint, and a tab attached to a closure body skirt of
the body to provide a space between the closure body skirt and the
tab to accommodate a lip portion of the cap portion. Further, an
inset is provided below the tab in the closure body skirt, wherein
the tab and the closure body skirt are attached to one another by a
seal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the
subject matter will be better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings,
where:
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a tamper-evident
closure having a tamper-evident feature, in an open position, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0007] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a side view and a cross-sectional side
view, respectively, of the tamper-evident closure, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a cap portion of
the tamper evident closure, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present subject matter.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows a partial front view of the tamper-evident
closure, according to an embodiment of the present subject
matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] This present subject matter relates to tamper-evident
closures. Various types of tamper-evident closures, such as
flip-top closures, are known in the art and are used for covering
openings of various containers including tube containers, bottles,
etc., which are used for storing various products, such as
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products.
[0011] Conventional tamper-evident closures are either high on cost
because of the involvement of specialized equipment or machines
during manufacturing, or they turn out to be unreliable and easy to
tamper, thus putting public health and safety at risk.
[0012] The tamper-evident closure as described herein includes a
body and a cap portion. The cap portion is adapted for movement
from a closed position on the body to an open position, away from
the body. The cap portion can be coupled to the body by a joint,
such as a butterfly hinge. In an embodiment, the joint may be a
bi-stable hinge and the tamper-evident closure is a flip-top
closure. In another embodiment, the body is configured to snap-fit
on a container.
[0013] Further, the cap portion includes a cover surface, a skirt
portion encircling the cover surface, and a projection disposed on
the cover surface and projecting in a direction towards the body of
the tamper-evident closure. The body includes a planar surface,
which acts as a cover for a product stored in a container on which
the tamper-evident closure is disposed. The planar surface has an
opening for dispensing the product stored inside the container. In
an embodiment, the opening is provided at a position on the planar
surface such that the projection disposed on the cover surface is
received, substantially flush, by the opening, in the closed
position of the cap portion. Further, the body includes a closure
body skirt encircling the cover surface. A tab is attached to the
closure body skirt such that a space is provided between the
closure body skirt and the tab and an inset is provided below the
tab in the body skirt. Further, the skirt portion of the cap
portion includes a lip portion, wherein a front surface of the lip
portion includes a protruded part. In the closed position of the
cap portion, the space between the closure body skirt and the tab
receives the lip portion.
[0014] In an embodiment, the tab is provided with a cavity, which
is configured to receive the protruded part of the lip portion,
substantially flush, thereby providing a locking between the cap
portion and the body of the tamper-evident closure. In an
embodiment, the tab is attached to the body of the tamper-evident
closure by a seal, thereby providing a tamper-evident feature to
the tamper-evident closure. Further an outer surface of the tab
forms a smooth surface with an outer surface of the body skirt. In
order to release the cap portion from the body, the seal is broken
to detach the tab, at least partially, from the body, or is
completely detached, by using optimum force. Once detached, the tab
cannot be replaced, thereby providing an evidence of possible
tampering that may have taken place with the product stored inside
the container bearing the closure.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a tamper-evident
closure 100 in an open position, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present subject matter. In an embodiment, the tamper-evident
closure 100, hereinafter referred to as closure 100, is a one-piece
plastic molded, flip-top closure having a body 102 adapted to be
mounted on a neck (not shown) of a container (not shown) such as a
tube or a bottle. The closure 100 includes a cap portion 104
adapted for movement from a closed position, that is, in contact
with the body 102, to an open position, away from the body 102. The
body 102 and the cap portion 104 may be coupled to one another by a
joint 106, such as a butterfly hinge. In an embodiment, the joint
106 is a bi-stable hinge.
[0016] Further, the cap portion 104 includes a cover surface 108, a
projection 110 disposed on the cover surface 108, and a skirt
portion 112 enclosing the cover surface 108. In an embodiment, the
skirt portion 112 is configured such that a press fit is achieved
between the cap portion 104 and the body 102. The skirt portion 112
rests on an outer circumferential portion 107 of the body 102 when
the cap portion 104 is in the closed position. The skirt portion
112 includes a lip portion 114, opposite to the joint 106. A front
surface of the lip portion includes a protruded part 116. On the
other hand, the body 102 includes a planar surface 118 having an
opening 120 for dispensing a product stored in the container. In an
embodiment, the opening 120 is provided at a position on the planar
surface 118 such that the projection 110 disposed on the cover
surface 108 is received by the opening 120, substantially flush, in
the closed position of the cap portion 104.
[0017] Apart from the planar surface 118, the body 102 includes a
closure body skirt 122 encircling the planar surface 118. Further,
a tab 124 is attached to the closure body skirt 122, at a position
opposite to the joint 106, in a manner such that the outer surface
of the closure body skirt 122 and the outer surface of the tab 124
form a smooth surface, and a space (not shown) exists between the
closure body skirt 122 and the tab 124. This space is provided for
the purpose of accommodating the lip portion 114 of the cap portion
104, in the closed position of the cap portion 104. In an
embodiment, the tab 124 is made of a polymeric material, such as
polypropylene (PP). In another embodiment, the closure 100 can be a
monolithic piece formed, for example, of a polymeric material such
as PP, PP copolymer, and high density polyethylene copolymer. The
closure 100 can be formed using any suitable injection-molding or
compression-molding technique.
[0018] Further, the tab 124 includes a cavity (not shown), which is
configured to receive the protruded part 116 of the lip portion
114, substantially flush, thereby providing a locking between the
cap portion 104 and the body 102 of the closure 100, in the closed
position of the cap portion 104. Further, the tab 124 is attached
to the closure body skirt 122 by a seal, so as to provide the
tamper-evident feature to the closure 100. In an embodiment, the
tab 124 is attached to the closure body skirt 122 by at least one
break-away stitch between the tab 124 and the closure body skirt
122. In order to release the cap portion 104 from its closed
position, the seal is broken to detach the tab 124, at least
partially, from the closure body skirt 122, through the application
of force. In an embodiment, the location at which the tab 124 is
attached to the closure body skirt 122 is in the form of an inset
(not shown), through which a user may apply force using his or her
thumb, for example, and pull the tab 124 outwardly, away from the
closure 100, to either partially break the tab 124 or completely
detach the tab 124 from the closure body skirt 122. In this way,
the tab 124, when stitched to the closure body skirt 122, provides
the tamper-evident feature. The tamper-evident feature as described
above is further elaborated upon in subsequent diagrams.
[0019] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a side view and a cross-sectional side
view, respectively, of the tamper-evident closure, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present subject matter. FIG. 2a, in
particular, illustrates the tab 124 and a space 126 that exists
between the closure body skirt 122 and the tab 124 for the purpose
of accommodating the lip portion 114. As already mentioned earlier,
the cap portion 104 can be moved along the joint 106 in order to
achieve the closed position of the cap portion 104, and can be
pressed down further, towards the body 102, so that the lip portion
114 of the cap portion 104 is accommodated into the space 126
provided between the closure body skirt 122 and the tab 124. In
such a position, that is, upon pressing the cap portion 104 towards
the body 102, the protruded part 116 is received by a cavity (not
shown) provided in the tab 124, substantially flush. Further, as
mentioned earlier, an outer surface of the tab 124 can then be
sealed to the closure body skirt 122 so that the protruded part 116
can only be released from the cavity upon removal of the tab 124,
for example, by partially or completely breaking the seal to detach
the tab 124 from the closure body skirt 122. In an embodiment, the
tab 124 is stitched to the closure body skirt 122 by way of at
least one break-away stitch.
[0020] In addition, in the closed position of the cap portion 104,
the projection 110 (as shown in FIG. 2b) moves inside the opening
120 so as to cover a periphery of the opening 120 and seal the
opening 120. This helps prevent any product stored inside the
container from spilling through the opening 120. The projection 110
may be sized to create a friction fit with the opening 120, for
example, with an internal diameter of the opening 120. Further, in
FIG. 2b, a cavity 128 can be seen in which the protruded part 116
is accommodated in the closed position of the cap portion 104. The
protruded part 116 may be of a shape that is in correspondence with
a shape of the cavity. Furthermore, an inset portion 129 used for
breaking the seal of the tab 124, as discussed earlier, is also
illustrated. Through the inset portion 129, which, in an
embodiment, is in the shape of a depression in the closure body
skirt 122, facilitates a user to apply force, for example, using
his or her thumb, to pull the tab 124 outwardly, i.e., away from
the closure body skirt 122, and break the seal holding the tab.
124. To further facilitate the breaking of the seal, the protruded
part 116 may be provided with a downward sloping surface. Once the
seal is broken and the tab 124 is detached, at least partially,
from the closure body skirt 122, the cap portion 104 can be opened
in the same manner as any conventional flip-top closure is opened.
Also, an already detached tab 124 is an indication of possible
tampering with the product stored inside the container.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the cap portion 104
of the closure 100, according to an embodiment of the present
subject matter. As shown in detail here, the lip portion 114 of the
cap portion 104 is shown with the protruded part 116 on its outer
surface. In an embodiment, the protruded part 116 has a shape
corresponding to the cavity 128 in which the protruded part 116 is
received when the cap portion 104 is pressed towards the body 102,
i.e., to achieve the closed position. In this closed position, a
locking is provided between the body 102 and the cap portion 104,
and then an outer periphery of the tab 124 can be sealed to the
closure body skirt 122, at least at one location, and preferably at
two or more locations, by way of, for example, break away
stitch(es).
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a partial front view of the closure 100 having
the tamper-evident feature, according to an embodiment of the
present subject matter. As shown in FIG. 4, the tab 124 is shown
having the cavity 128 configured to receive the protruded part 116
of the lip portion 114. In an embodiment, the tab 124 is sealed to
the inset portion 129 of the closure body skirt 122, by way of, for
example, break-away stitches 130. In an embodiment, the break-away
stitches 130 are placed away from the inset 129. The number of
stitches 130 may vary depending on the requirement and cost
constraints. A user may apply force using, for example, his or her
thumb, to break the stitches 130 to detach the tab 124, at least
partially, or completely detach the tab 124 from the closure body
skirt 122. A user may then open the cap portion 104 to expose the
opening 120, by pushing the cap portion 104 upwards. Once detached,
the tab 124 cannot be replaced, thereby providing evidence that the
closure 100 or the product stored inside the container has been
tampered with. In an embodiment, the whole of the closure 100,
including the tab 124 along with the stitches 130, is made one
piece, for example, via injection molding, using a tough yet
flexible polymeric material, such as PP, so that the tab 124
detaches from the closure body skirt 122 upon being subjected to a
force.
[0023] In an embodiment not shown here, the closure 100 may be
disposed on a container by, for example, cooperatively engaging a
screw thread arrangement or by pressing the two elements together
until an annular groove in one element cooperatively engages with
an annular ring or a partial ring-shaped segment on the other
element or by snap-fit. In an embodiment, the closure 100 includes
a fitting arrangement 125 to enable snap fit of the closure 100 on
the container. By providing the fitting arrangement 125 for
snap-fit, the closure 100 can be easily aligned and disposed on an
oval top container. However, it will be appreciated that for other
containers, such as circular top containers, screw thread
arrangement may also be used. The cap portion 104 of the closure
100 may be opened and closed by pivoting around the joint 106, once
the stitches 130 are broken. The joint 106 may bias the cap portion
104 into the open and closed positions.
[0024] Although the subject matter has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments
thereof, other embodiments are possible. As such, the spirit and
scope of the invention should not be limited to the description of
the embodiment contained therein.
* * * * *