U.S. patent application number 15/064130 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-15 for tamper-evident closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to Plastek Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Plastek Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to H Stephen Quinn.
Application Number | 20160264316 15/064130 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56887379 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160264316 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Quinn; H Stephen |
September 15, 2016 |
Tamper-Evident Closure
Abstract
A closure comprises the unitarily molded single-piece
combination of: a base for mounting to a container body; a living
hinge; and a cover coupled by the living hinge to the base and
shiftable between a closed orientation and an open orientation via
rotation about the living hinge. A tamper-evident feature
comprises: a tab connected to one of the cover and base by a second
living hinge and having a proximal portion and a distal portion,
the distal portion separated from the proximal portion by a
pre-defined rupture zone in a pre-rupture condition and having a
first engagement feature; and a second engagement feature on the
other of the base and the cover positioned to engage the first
engagement feature in the closed orientation and pre-rupture
condition.
Inventors: |
Quinn; H Stephen; (Eau
Claire, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Plastek Industries, Inc. |
Erie |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Plastek Industries, Inc.
Erie
PA
|
Family ID: |
56887379 |
Appl. No.: |
15/064130 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62130506 |
Mar 9, 2015 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 55/024 20130101;
B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 43/169
20130101; B65D 2543/00527 20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D
2543/00435 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/08 20060101
B65D047/08; B65B 7/16 20060101 B65B007/16; B65D 43/02 20060101
B65D043/02 |
Claims
1. A closure (220) comprising the unitarily molded single-piece
combination of: a base (224) for mounting to a container body; a
living hinge (222); and a cover (226) coupled by the living hinge
to the base and shiftable between a closed orientation and an open
orientation via rotation about the living hinge, wherein a
tamper-evident feature comprises: a tab (250) connected to one of
the cover and base by a second living hinge (266) and having a
proximal portion (262) and a distal portion (264), the distal
portion separated from the proximal portion by a pre-defined
rupture zone (272) in a pre-rupture condition and having a first
engagement feature (280); and a second engagement feature (300,
310) on the other of the base and the cover positioned to engage
the first engagement feature in the closed orientation and
pre-rupture condition.
2. The closure (200) of claim 1 wherein: the second engagement
feature comprises a recess (310) in a wall (300) capturing the
distal portion in the closed orientation and pre-rupture
condition.
3. The closure (200) of claim 2 wherein: the first engagement
feature comprises the combination of lateral barbs (280) and a
proximal edge of the distal portion.
4. The closure (200) of claim 2 wherein: the wall is spaced outward
of a main sidewall of the other of the base and the cover.
5. The closure (200) of claim 1 wherein: the one of the base and
the cover is the base; and the other of the base and the cover is
the cover.
6. The closure (200) of claim 1 wherein: the one of the base and
the cover has means (284, 286) for stowing the proximal portion in
a post-rupture condition.
7. The closure (200) of claim 1 wherein: the other of the base and
the cover has tamper-evident indicia (313) concealed by the
proximal portion in the pre-rupture closed condition and exposed in
the post-rupture condition.
8. The closure of claim 1 wherein: the cap, in the closed
condition, surrounds and covers an upper rim portion of the base
and has a detented engagement therewith.
9. The closure of claim 1 wherein: closure is molded of
polypropylene.
10. A method for using the closure of claim 1, the method
comprising: with the closure mounted to the container body, opening
the closure from the closed orientation to the open orientation,
the opening including severing the distal portion from the proximal
portion while leaving the distal portion attached to said other of
the base and the cover.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein: the opening causes the proximal
portion to relax to an outwardly protruding orientation.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising: bending the proximal
portion to a stowed condition to lock the proximal portion in the
stowed condition.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: closing the closure
with the proximal portion in the stowed condition so that the
proximal portion falls inboard of the second engagement
feature.
14. A method for using the closure of claim 1, the method
comprising: closing the closure from an as-molded condition to an
initial closed orientation; shifting the tab to engage the first
engagement feature to the second engagement feature.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No.
62/130,506, filed Mar. 9, 2015, and entitled "Tamper-Evident
Closure", the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety as if set forth at length.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The invention relates to packaging. More particularly, the
invention relates to tamper-evident features for molded package
closures.
[0003] A well-developed art exists in molded plastic closures. Key
examples involve consumer goods packaging such as caps for bottles,
dispensing tubes, jars, tubs and the like. Exemplary situations
involve a closure formed as the unitary molding of a base for
securing to a container body, a closure member (e.g., a cover) for
opening and closing relative to the base, and a hinge connecting
the base and the closure member to guide movement between closed
and open conditions. A variety of such closures have been proposed.
One example of a snap hinge closure is found in U.S. Pat. No.
5,143,234 of Lohrman et al. PCT/US2011/053858 discloses yet further
living hinge configurations.
SUMMARY
[0004] One aspect of the disclosure involves a closure comprising
the unitarily molded single-piece combination of: a base for
mounting to a container body; a living hinge; and a cover coupled
by the living hinge to the base and shiftable between a closed
orientation and an open orientation via rotation about the living
hinge. A tamper-evident feature comprises: a tab connected to one
of the cover and base by a second living hinge and having a
proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion separated
from the proximal portion by a pre-defined rupture zone in a
pre-rupture condition and having a first engagement feature; and a
second engagement feature on the other of the base and the cover
positioned to engage the first engagement feature in the closed
orientation and pre-rupture condition.
[0005] Additional aspects may be as set forth in any possible
combination of features of the dependent claims or otherwise drawn
from the drawings and description.
[0006] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,
objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and
drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a view of a prior art closure in an as-molded open
condition/orientation.
[0008] FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of a hinge region of the closure
of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of the hinge of the closure of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a central transverse vertical sectional view of
the hinge taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an end view of the hinge.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a medial sectional view of the hinge taken along
line 5-5 of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an off-center transverse sectional view of the
hinge taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a first view of a closure in an as-molded
condition.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a second view of the closure of FIG. 7.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the closure of FIG. 7.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a side view of the closure of FIG. 7.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a first end view of the closure of FIG. 7.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a second end view of the closure of FIG. 7.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a view of the closure of FIG. 7 after a first
stage of initial closing.
[0022] FIG. 14A is an enlarged view of a tamper-evident feature
area of the closure of FIG. 14.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a front view of the closure of FIG. 14.
[0024] FIG. 15A is an enlarged view of a tamper-evident feature
area of the closure of FIG. 15.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 14.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a side view of the closure of FIG. 14.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a view of the closure of FIG. 14 after a second
stage of initial closing.
[0028] FIG. 18A is an enlarged view of the tamper-evident feature
area of the closure of FIG. 18.
[0029] FIG. 19 is a second view of the closure of FIG. 18.
[0030] FIG. 20 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 18.
[0031] FIG. 21 is a side view of the closure of FIG. 18.
[0032] FIG. 22 is a front view of the closure of FIG. 18.
[0033] FIG. 23 is an underside view of the closure of FIG. 18.
[0034] FIG. 24 is a first end view of the closure of FIG. 18 after
opening.
[0035] FIG. 25 is a view of the closure of FIG. 24 after opening
and stowing of a tamper-evident tab.
[0036] FIG. 25A is an enlarged view of the tamper-evident tab of
the closure of FIG. 25.
[0037] Like reference numbers and designations in the various
drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a closure system (closure) 20 in an open
condition. The illustrated exemplary system 20 comprises a
unitarily molded combination comprising a living hinge 22 coupling
a first portion 24 to a second portion 26. The exemplary first
portion is a fixed portion such as a mounting base or "frame". The
exemplary mounting base 24 is formed as an essentially fully open
ring or frame structure. The exemplary base 24 comprises a sidewall
extending from a lower end formed by a lower rim 28 to an upper end
formed by an upper rim 30 and has an inner/inboard/interior surface
32 and an outer/outboard/exterior surface 34. The inner surface 32
may bear a feature 36 such as a thread or an annular bead for
respectively screwing onto or snapping onto a neck of a mating
container body (not shown) and securing to a complementary feature
thereon. Although the exemplary rim 30 defines a mouth that is
essentially fully open, alternative implementations may have a
smaller opening such as defined along a web extending radially
inward from the upper end of the sidewall. The exemplary frame has
a central vertical axis 1000 (vertical and longitudinal from the
point of the container mouth).
[0039] Other possible mountings include adhesive mounting, solvent
bond mounting, thermal weld mounting and like.
[0040] The exemplary second portion 26 is a closure member or
element. The closure member 26 is articulatable by flexing of the
hinge 22 relative to the base 24 when in a closed condition and one
or more open conditions.
[0041] The exemplary closure member 26 is formed as a cover, more
particularly, a combination of cap and plug. The closure member has
a sidewall 40 having an upper (when closed on an upright package)
portion 42 and an inwardly rebated lower portion 44. The lower
portion extends upward from a lower rim 46. The sidewall has an
inner surface 48 and an outer surface 50. Along the lower portion
44 the outer surface 50 is dimensioned to be received within an
upper portion of the base 24. The upper portion 42 forms a shoulder
52 at junction with the lower portion 44 along the outer surface
50. In the exemplary implementation, the shoulder 52 is positioned
to closely face or contact the upper rim 30 in the closed
condition.
[0042] The exemplary closure element 26 further includes a
transverse web 54 forming a top of the closure member. The surface
50 along the lower portion 44 and mating surface 32 may bear
cooperating detent moieties (e.g., rib and channel or rib pairs)
for detenting the closure element in the closed condition. Yet
other locking features may include latches or the like.
[0043] FIG. 7 shows a closure system 200 in an open as-molded
condition. The system 200 may be otherwise similar to the system 20
with a living hinge 222, a first portion 224, and a second portion
226 otherwise similar to their FIG. 1 counterparts but differing in
the presence of a tamper-evident feature discussed below. Other
illustrated differences are matters of design choices and may be
interchanged with the FIG. 1 embodiment or others. For example,
rather than a thread, the interior surface 32 of the base 224 bears
detent projections 236 for snapping onto the neck of a container
body rather than screwing.
[0044] The tamper-evident feature comprises, as molded, the
combination of a first member 250 on the base 224 and a second
member 252 on the cover 226. The exemplary first member 250
comprises a tab 260 having a proximal portion 262 and a distal
portion 264. The proximal portion connects to the base 224 by a
living hinge 266. As is discussed further below, the living hinge
266 is split into two hinges hinging respective legs 268 of the
proximal portion spaced apart by a gap 270. The hinge 266 connects
to the frame along the outer surface 34 near the lower edge 28.
[0045] The distal portion 264 (FIG. 10) is connected to the
proximal portion 262 by a predefined rupture zone. In the
illustrated example, the connection is a pair of legs 272 separated
by a gap 274. The legs are sufficiently thin to pre-define a
rupture zone where the distal portion may be severed from the
proximal portion. The exemplary strength of the legs 272 in this
regard is less than the hinges 266 so that the legs 272 will
rupture preferentially to the hinges 266 when a load is applied
between the distal portion and the frame. As is discussed below,
the distal portion serves to engage the member 252 and be severed
from the proximal portion upon first opening of the closure. FIG. 7
shows the distal portion 264 as having a pair of lateral barbs 280
serving as features for engaging the second member 252.
[0046] FIG. 7 shows the frame as having an optional pair of
features 284 for engaging complementary features 286 of the member
250 in a post-ruptured stowed condition discussed below.
[0047] The exemplary feature 252 comprises a wall 300 (FIG. 8)
spaced outwardly of the adjacent portion of the sidewall 40
opposite the hinge. The wall 300 is connected to the outer surface
of the sidewall 40 via a pair of branches or connection portions
302. The exemplary connection portions 302 are along upper portions
of lateral edges of the wall 300 and lateral portions of the upper
edge of the wall 300. Between the lateral portions of the upper
edge, the wall 300 has a recess 310 extending partially down the
wall. The wall 300 has an outer surface 312 and an inner surface
314 (FIG. 7).
[0048] In an initial stage of use for securing to the container
body, a manual or automated process may close the cover to the base
(FIG. 14) via rotation about the hinge axis. The member 250 is, at
this point, still in its as-molded orientation relative to the base
(e.g., projecting radially outward). The manual or automated
process then hinges (rotates) member 250 upward. This may involve
hinging about an axis of its hinge 266 and/or a similar bending of
the legs 268. A terminal portion of this rotation brings the barbs
280 into the recess 310 with the undersides of the barbs eventually
(FIG. 18) catching on the inboard surface 314 to resist outward
radial extraction.
[0049] FIG. 18A shows the distal portion 264 thus fitting in the
recess 310.
[0050] This initial pre-rupture fully closed condition represents
the consumer sale condition with the closure attached to a
container. At this point, opening the cover 226 via normal means
(e.g., as opposed to careful tool manipulation) will rupture the
legs 272. For example, pulling up on the cover 226 relative to the
base 224 will bottom the proximal edge of the distal portion 264
against the base of the recess 310 to resist further movement (with
the barbs preventing the distal portion from pulling radially out
of the recess). The lack of strength of the legs 272 relative to
the hinges 266 will cause the legs 272 to break, leaving the distal
portion 264 captured/retained in the member 252. The capture may be
desirable to prevent loss of the distal portion for child safety or
recyclability issues. Thus, the distal portion 264 cannot move
inward due to the ends of the barbs 280 coming into contact with
the cover sidewall; it cannot move outward due to the undersides of
the barbs still retaining it; it cannot move downward due to some
combination of it being bottomed out in the recess or the barbs
preventing downward movement; it cannot move upward due to the
barbs being captured beneath inboard portions of the connecting
portions 302 adjacent the mouth of the recess at the upper edge of
the wall 300.
[0051] Initially after opening (condition not shown), there are
several indicia of opening. First, the indicia 313 (FIG. 6) on the
outer surface 312 of the wall 300 are now exposed, having
previously been concealed by the proximal portion 262. Second, the
proximal portion 262 now projects radially outward which, alone,
provides further tamper evidence. However, the original upper
surface of the proximal portion 262 may have indicia 263 (FIG. 7)
previously concealed that now show tamper evidence. This is
particularly useful in a retail situation to provide a quick
indication.
[0052] However, for a consumer, it may be undesirable to have the
proximal portion 262 projecting radially outward after first
opening. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the proximal
portion 262 may be folded back up with the features 284 and 286
engaging each other to hold the proximal portion in a stowed
condition (FIG. 25). The exemplary features 284 of FIG. 25 are
barbs and the exemplary features 286 are holes. The barbs hold the
proximal portion slightly radially inboard of its original
position. When the container is re-closed, a proximal portion is
sufficiently further inboard to now pass inboard of the wall 300 to
be captured behind the wall 300. Even if the user severs the
hinge(s) 266 to separate the tab proximal portion, the user may
still mount the severed tab proximal portion back to the frame via
the features 284 and 286, allowing the tab to be retained for
recycling with the rest of the closure.
[0053] Exemplary closure material is a molded plastic such as a
conventional polypropylene or copolymerpolypropylene (CoPP).
[0054] Notwithstanding the present tamper-evident feature, other
conventional tamper--evident features would also likely be included
in any implementation. Thus, a conventional foil or other seal may
be adhered or otherwise secured across the container mouth prior to
closure installation. Similarly, after closure installation, a
shrink sleeve may be shrunk over the closure.
[0055] The use of "first", "second", and the like in the
description and following claims is for differentiation within the
claim only and does not necessarily indicate relative or absolute
importance or temporal order. Similarly, the identification in a
claim of one element as "first" (or the like) does not preclude
such "first" element from identifying an element that is referred
to as "second" (or the like) in another claim or in the
description.
[0056] Where a measure is given in English units followed by a
parenthetical containing SI or other units, the parenthetical's
units are a conversion and should not imply a degree of precision
not found in the English units.
[0057] One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless,
it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For
example, when applied to an existing basic system, details of such
configuration or its associated use may influence details of
particular implementations. Accordingly, other embodiments are
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *