Childproof tamper evident closure assembly

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for sealing bottles with a Roll-on Pilfer Proof (ROPP) closure and a childproof overcap are provided. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an overcap that can be placed onto or formed onto the ROPP closure. The overcap has a retainer that secures the overcap to the ROPP closure and allows the overcap to move relative to the ROPP closure in a longitudinal axis. The overcap moves between a first position or mode of operation where the overcap can rotate about the ROPP closure and a second position or mode of operation where the overcap engages the ROPP closure to transmit a twisting or torque force to the ROPP closure and open the bottle.

Claims

1. A closure system for a container, comprising: said container having a longitudinal axis and a radial direction that is oriented substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein a neck of said container has an opening positioned on an uppermost portion of said neck; a closure positioned on said neck of said container to seal said opening, said closure having a retainer band extending outwardly in said radial direction and at least one recess positioned on an outer perimeter of said closure; an overcap positioned on said closure, said overcap having a lower end positioned proximate to said retainer band of said closure and extending inwardly in said radial direction to secure said overcap to said closure, wherein said overcap has a pliable portion positioned on an interior surface of said overcap; wherein, in a first mode of operation, said pliable portion of said overcap is in a non-engaging position with said closure such that rotation of said overcap is not translated to said closure; and wherein, in a second mode of operation, said overcap is lowered relative to said closure and said container, and said pliable portion of said overcap is in an engaging position with said at least one recess of said closure to translate rotation of said overcap to said closure and separate said closure from said opening of said neck.

2. The closure system of claim 1, wherein said closure further comprises: a top portion; a body portion extending from said top portion to a free end; a closure thread formed on a portion of said body portion; and said retainer band positioned between said closure thread and said free end, said retainer band comprising a first fold and a second fold.

3. The closure system of claim 1, wherein said at least one recess is part of a knurled pattern that has alternating protrusions and recesses extending about said outer perimeter of said closure.

4. The closure system of claim 1, wherein said closure is a roll-on pilfer proof (ROPP) closure that comprises: a shell covering said opening of said neck; a pilfer band positioned below a skirt of said neck, and a free end of said pilfer band extends inwardly in said radial direction to secure said pilfer band to said neck, wherein said pilfer band has a first interior diameter proximate to said shell and a second interior diameter at said free end, said first interior diameter being greater than said second interior diameter; and a serrated portion that selectively connects said pilfer band to said shell, wherein, in said second mode of operation, said translation of rotation of said overcap to said ROPP closure severs said serrated portion.

5. The closure system of claim 4, wherein said serrated portion is positioned between said retainer band and said pilfer band, and wherein, in said first mode of operation, said pilfer band is positioned between said neck and said lower end of said overcap.

6. The container closure system of claim 1, further comprising a pilfer band selectively connected to said closure, wherein said retainer band is positioned between said at least one recess and a free end of said pilfer band, and wherein said retainer band comprises at least one fold to extend the retainer band outward in said radial direction.

7. The closure system of claim 1, further comprising a coating on said closure to increase friction with said pliable portion of said overcap in said second mode of operation.

8. The closure system of claim 1, wherein a top portion of said overcap is deflectable from an initial shape in said non-engaging position to a substantially planar shape in said engaging position.

9. A closure system for a container, comprising: a closure positioned on a neck of the container to seal an opening of the container, the container having a longitudinal axis and a radial direction that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the neck has a skirt and the opening is positioned on an uppermost portion of the neck; said closure comprising: a top portion covering the opening; a body portion extending from said top portion, said body portion including a closure thread and a retainer band extending outwardly in the radial direction; a pilfer band positioned below the skirt of the container neck, said pilfer band extending inwardly in the radial direction to secure said pilfer band to the container neck; and a tear band that selectively connects said pilfer band to said body portion; an overcap positioned on said closure, said overcap having a lower end positioned between said retainer band and said pilfer band of said closure, said lower end extending inwardly in the radial direction to secure said overcap to said closure, wherein said overcap has a pliable portion positioned on an interior surface of said overcap; and wherein, in a first mode of operation, said pliable portion of said overcap is in a non-engaging position with said closure such that rotation of said overcap is not translated to said closure; wherein, in a second mode of operation, said overcap is lowered relative to said closure and the container, and said pliable portion of said overcap is in an engaging position with said closure to translate rotation of said overcap to said closure and separate said closure from the opening of the container neck, and wherein said translation of rotation of said overcap to said closure severs said tear band.

10. The closure system of claim 9, further comprising: at least one recess positioned on an outer perimeter of said closure, wherein said pliable portion of said overcap engages said at least one recess in said second mode of operation such that rotation of said overcap is translated to said closure, and wherein said at least one recess is part of a knurled pattern that has alternating protrusions and recesses extending about said outer perimeter of said closure.

11. The closure system of claim 9, wherein said retainer band comprises: a first fold with a first diameter; and a second fold with a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than said second diameter.

12. The closure system of claim 11, wherein said retainer band is positioned between said closure thread and a free end of said pilfer band, and wherein said tear band is positioned between said second fold of said retainer band and said pilfer band.

13. The closure system of claim 9, further comprising a coating on said closure to increase friction with said pliable portion of said overcap in said second mode of operation.

14. The closure system of claim 9, wherein a top portion of said overcap is deflectable from an initial shape in said non-engaging position to a substantially planar shape in said engaging position.

15. A closure system for a container, comprising: a closure positioned on the container to seal an opening of a neck of the container, the container having a longitudinal axis and a radial direction that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein said closure has a retainer band extending outwardly in the radial direction; an overcap positioned on said closure, said overcap having a lower end positioned proximate to said retainer band of said closure and extending inwardly in the radial direction to secure said overcap to said closure, wherein said overcap has a pliable portion positioned on an interior surface of said overcap, wherein, in a first mode of operation, said pliable portion of said overcap is in a non-engaging position with said closure such that rotation of said overcap is not translated to said closure, and wherein, in a second mode of operation, said overcap is lowered relative to said closure and the container, and said pliable portion of said overcap is in an engaging position with said closure to translate rotation of said overcap to said closure and separate said closure from said opening of said neck; and a coating on said closure to increase friction with said pliable portion of said overcap in said second mode of operation.

16. The closure system of claim 15, further comprising: at least one recess positioned on an outer perimeter of said closure, wherein said pliable portion of said overcap engages said at least one recess in said second mode of operation such that rotation of said overcap is translated to said closure, and wherein said at least one recess is part of a knurled pattern that has alternating protrusions and recesses extending about said outer perimeter of said closure.

17. The closure system of claim 15, wherein said closure is a roll-on pilfer proof (ROPP) closure that comprises: a shell covering the opening of the neck; a pilfer band positioned below a skirt of the neck, and said pilfer band extends inwardly in the radial direction to secure said pilfer band to the neck; a serrated portion that selectively connects said pilfer band to said shell, said serrated portion being positioned between said retainer band and said pilfer band, wherein, in said second mode of operation, said translation of rotation of said overcap to said ROPP closure severs said serrated portion.

18. The closure system of claim 15, wherein said retainer band comprises at least one fold to extend said retainer band outward in the radial direction.

19. The closure system of claim 15, wherein said closure further comprises: a top portion; a body portion extending from said top portion to a free end; a closure thread formed on a portion of said body portion; and said retainer band positioned between said closure thread and said free end, said retainer band comprising: a first fold with a first diameter; and a second fold with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.

20. The closure system of claim 19, wherein said closure further comprises a pilfer band with a pilfer band end that has a third diameter that is less than said second diameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the Summary given above and the Detailed Description given below serve to explain the principles of these embodiments. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Additionally, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.

(2) FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate a process of sealing a metallic bottle with a ROPP closure using a prior art capping apparatus;

(3) FIG. 1E is a partial cross-sectional front elevation view of a portion of a prior art metallic bottle before the metallic bottle is sealed with a prior art ROPP closure;

(4) FIG. 1F is another partial cross-sectional front elevation view of the prior art metallic bottle of FIG. 1E after the metallic bottle has been sealed with the prior art ROPP closure;

(5) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front elevation view of a bottle sealed with a ROPP closure and with a childproof overcap in the process of being positioned on the ROPP closure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional front elevation view of a bottle sealed with a ROPP closure and with a childproof overcap positioned on the ROPP closure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(7) FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional top plan view of the ROPP closure of FIG. 3A taken along line B-B in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(8) FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional front elevation view of a bottle sealed with a ROPP closure and a childproof overcap engaged with the ROPP closure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(9) FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional top plan view of the ROPP closure and the overcap of FIG. 4A taken along line B-B in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(10) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front elevation view of a bottle where rotation of the overcap has caused the serrated portion of the ROPP closure to break and open the bottle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(11) FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional front elevation view of a bottle sealed with a deflectable ROPP closure and with a childproof overcap positioned on the ROPP closure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(12) FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional top plan view of the deflectable ROPP closure of FIG. 6A taken along line B-B in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(13) FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional front elevation view of a bottle sealed with a deflectable ROPP closure and a childproof overcap engaged with the ROPP closure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

(14) FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional top plan view of the deflectable ROPP closure and the overcap of FIG. 7A taken along line B-B in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(15) To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the present disclosure the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:

(16) TABLE-US-00001 Number Component 2 Bottle of the prior art 4 Neck portion 6 Curl 8 Bottle threads 9 ROPP shell 10 ROPP closure 12 Body portion of ROPP closure 14 ROPP liner 16 Closure threads 17 Serrated band 18 Pilfer band 19 Bottom edge of pilfer band 20 Top portion of ROPP closure 22 Prior art capping apparatus 24 Pressure block ejector 25 Pressure block 26 Thread roller 28 Pilfer roller 30 Skirt of metallic bottle 32 Channel of closure 36 Bottle 38 Longitudinal Axis 40 Radial Direction 42 Neck 44 Skirt 46 Thread 48 Curl 50 Opening 52 ROPP Closure 54 Body 56 Thread 58 Liner 60 Pilfer Band 62 Serrated Portion 64 Retainer Band 66 Knurled Pattern 68 Overcap 70 Body 72 Lower End 74 Deflection Angle 76 Top Portion 78 Pliable Portion 80 First Distance 82 Lock Protrusion 84 Lock Recess 86 Second Distance

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) The present disclosure has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the disclosure being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the present disclosure, a preferred embodiment that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the disclosure into practice is described herein by, and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary embodiment is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the disclosure might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the arts, may be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

(18) Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1F, a prior art method of sealing a ROPP closure 10 on a threaded neck of a metallic bottle 2 is provided.

(19) Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of a bottle 36, a ROPP closure 52, and an overcap 68 is provided where the ROPP closure 52 is positioned on the bottle 36, and the overcap 68 is in the process of being positioned on the ROPP closure 52. The bottle 36 is generally oriented along a longitudinal axis 38 and a radial direction 40 that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 38. The bottle 36 has a neck 42 extending upward along the longitudinal axis 38, and the neck 42 has a skirt 44 that extends outwardly in the radial direction 40 to secure the ROPP closure 52. The neck 42 also has a thread 46 that extends around the neck 42 and along the neck 42 in the longitudinal axis 38. The thread 46 engages a corresponding thread on the ROPP closure 52 so that the ROPP closure 52 can be selectively opened and closed on the bottle 36. A curl 48 is formed at an uppermost end of the neck 42 to define an opening 50 of the bottle 36 and to provide a suitable surface for contacting the mouth of a user when the user consumes the contents of the bottle 36.

(20) Next, the ROPP closure 52 has several features that seal the bottle 36 and provide additional functions. The ROPP closure 52 has a body 54 with a thread 56 that engages the thread of the bottle 36 to provide the selective opening and closing of the ROPP closure 52. A liner 58 is positioned on an interior surface of the ROPP closure 52 at an uppermost end of the ROPP closure 52. The liner 58 presses into the curl 48 to seal the ROPP closure 52 against the curl 48 and seal the opening 50 of the bottle 36. Next, the ROPP closure 52 has a pilfer band 60 that is attached to the body 54 by a serrated portion 62. The pilfer band 60 in this embodiment is positioned at the lowermost end of the ROPP closure 52 and positioned below the skirt 44 of the bottle 36, and the pilfer band 60 extends inwardly in the radial direction 40 to secure the pilfer band 60 to the bottle 36. The pilfer band 60 can be deflected into place below the skirt 44 or, for example, the pilfer band 60 can be formed after the ROPP closure 52 is positioned on the bottle 36. The serrated portion 62 has at least one perforation such that the serrated portion 62 breaks when subjected to a predetermined twisting or torque force. During operation, a user rotates the ROPP closure 52, and the threads 56, 46 engage each other to urge the ROPP closure 52 away from the bottle 36. The force increases until the serrated portion 62 breaks, leaving the pilfer band 60 in place below the skirt 44 as an indication that the bottle 36 has been opened.

(21) The ROPP closure 52 also has a retainer band 64 and a knurled pattern 66 that interact with features of the overcap 68 to provide various functions. Like the outwardly-extending skirt 44 on the bottle 36, the retainer band 64 extends outwardly in the radial direction 40 to help secure the overcap 68 to the ROPP closure 52. In this embodiment, the retainer band 64 is a double folded portion of the ROPP closure 52 positioned above the serrated portion 62. In other embodiments, it will be appreciated that the retainer band 64 may be a portion of the ROPP closure 52 that forms a partially or continuous protrusion or other feature that extends in an outwardly, radial direction. The knurled pattern 66 selectively engages the overcap 68 so that the overcap 68 can selectively transmit a twisting or torque force to the ROPP closure 52, which provides the childproof feature of the assembly. In this embodiment, the knurled pattern 66 has alternating protrusions and recesses that extend around the ROPP closure 52.

(22) Still referring to FIG. 2, the overcap 68 has a body 70 with a lower end 72 that extends inwardly in the radial direction 40 at a position below the retainer band 64 of the ROPP closure 52. As shown, the overcap 68 is pressed onto the ROPP closure 52 such that the lower end 72 deflects outwardly at an angle 74. Once the lower end 72 passes the retainer band 64, the lower end 72 deflects back inwardly at a smaller angle 74 to secure the overcap 68 to the ROPP closure 52. The lower end 72 may be a continuous feature extending about a perimeter of the ROPP closure 52. In other embodiments, recesses or slots may be cut into the lower end 72 to allow portions of the lower end 72 between the recesses or slots to more easily deflect outwardly and inwardly.

(23) It will be appreciated that the overcap 68 and other components may be made from a variety of materials. The overcap 68 may be made from plastic or another material that is capable of deflecting outwardly to pass over the ROPP closure 52 and then deflect inwardly to secure the overcap 68 to the ROPP closure 52. In some embodiments, the overcap 68 may be made from a metallic material. Like the formation of the ROPP closure 52 described in FIGS. 1A-1F, the overcap 68 may first be positioned over the ROPP closure 52. Then, rollers can form the lower end 72 below the retainer band 64 of the ROPP closure 52 to secure the overcap 68 to the ROPP closure 52.

(24) Next, the overcap 68 has a top portion 76 and a pliable portion 78 that is at least partially positioned on the interior surface of the top feature 76. The pliable portion 78 is a deflectable and/or flexible material that, when pressed into the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure 52, fills in the recesses of the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure 52 so that the pliable portion 78 and knurled pattern 66 are engaged and rotation of the overcap 68 causes rotation of the ROPP closure 52. It will be appreciated that the pliable portion 78 may have an annular shape without a center to engage the corresponding annular shape of the other knurled pattern 66. In addition, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the pliable portion 78 may be connected to the interior surface of a sidewall of the overcap 68 in addition to or in place of the top portion 76.

(25) In addition, the top portion 76 is selectively deflectable between modes of operation. In the absence of a load on the top portion 76, the top portion 76 extends downward so that the pliable portion 78 of the overcap 68 does not engage the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure 52. When a load force is applied to an outer edge of the top portion 76, the top portion 76 flattens out into a more planar shape that allows the pliable portion 78 of the overcap 68 to reach and engage the knurled pattern 66.

(26) Referring now to FIG. 3A, a cross-sectional view of the bottle 36, the ROPP closure 52, and the overcap 68 is provided. The lower end 72 of the overcap 68 has now passed the retainer band 64 such that the lower end 72 deflects inwardly to secure the overcap 68 to the ROPP closure 52. In the absence of a force, the top portion 76 is in a downward, non-deflected position such that the top portion 76, or at least the portion of the pliable portion 78 at the center of the top portion 76, contacts the top of the ROPP closure 52 before the outer portion of the pliable portion 78 can engage the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure 52. In this mode of operation, the overcap 68 can rotate about the ROPP closure 52 without transmitting a twisting or torque force to the ROPP closure 52 to break the serrated portion 62. Thus, a child can turn the overcap without breaking a portion of the ROPP closure 52 and gaining access to the contents of the container. Moreover, the lower end 72 of the overcap 68 is a first distance 80 from the retainer band 64 of the ROPP closure 52 in the longitudinal axis 38. Also shown in FIG. 3A is line B-B.

(27) Referring now to FIG. 3B, a cross-sectional view of the ROPP closure 52 taken along line B-B of FIG. 3A is provided. As discussed above, the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure 52 in this embodiment has alternating protrusions 82 and recesses 84 extending around an outer edge of the ROPP closure 52.

(28) Referring now to FIG. 4A, a cross-sectional view of the bottle 36, the ROPP closure 52, and the overcap 68 is provided. This figure shows a force applied to an outer edge of the overcap 68 such that the top portion 76 deflects into a more planar shape. As a result of this deflection, the pliable portion 78 of the over cap 68 engages the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure 52 such that a twisting or torque force imparted on the overcap 68 is transmitted to the ROPP closure 52. In addition, in this mode of operation, the overcap 68 moves downward relative to the ROPP closure 52 and the bottle 36 such that a second distance 86 between the lower end 72 of the overcap 68 and the retainer band 64 of the ROPP closure 52 is larger than the first distance. Also shown in FIG. 4A is line B-B.

(29) Referring now to FIG. 4B, a cross-sectional view of the overcap 68 and the ROPP closure 52 taken along line B-B of FIG. 4A is provided. As described above, the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure has alternating protrusions 82 and recesses 84. The pliable portion 78 of the overcap 68 is pressed into the knurled pattern 66 of the ROPP closure 52 where the pliable and/or flexible material of the pliable portion 78 extends into the recesses 84 of the other knurled pattern 66. For example, the pliable and/or flexible material may be a low durometer elastomer material in some embodiments. This allows a twisting or torque force from the overcap 68 to transmit to the ROPP closure. While this embodiment has a pliable portion 78 engaging a more rigid knurled pattern 66, other embodiments may include two pliable lock features or two rigid lock features. Furthermore, some embodiments may include only one lock feature positioned on the overcap or the ROPP closure. For example, an exemplary embodiment may include a pliable portion 78 on the overcap 68 that engages a conventional ROPP closure 52 that does not have a knurled pattern 66. The conventional ROPP closure 52 may be smooth and featureless where the pliable portion 78 pushes into the ROPP closure 52 to transmit torque. In other embodiments, the ROPP closure 52 may have a coating to increase friction with the pliable portion 78.

(30) Referring now to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of the bottle 36, the ROPP closure 52, and the overcap 68 is provided. This figure shows a twisting or torque force applied to the overcap 68 imparted to the ROPP closure 52 during the second mode of operation. A user presses down on an outer edge of the overcap 68 to deflect the top portion 76, which engages the pliable portion 78 and knurled pattern 66. Then, or simultaneously, the user rotates the overcap 68 to transmit force to the ROPP closure 52. The ROPP closure 52 rotates against the bottle 36 to break the serrated portion 62, opening the bottle 36 and leaving behind a pilfer band 60 on the bottle 36 to indicate that the bottle 36 has been opened.

(31) Now referring to FIGS. 6A-7B, various views of another embodiment of the disclosure are provided. In these embodiments, the lock feature 66 of the ROPP closure 52 is a deflectable area instead of alternating protrusions and recesses in a knurled pattern. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, the lock feature 66 of the ROPP closure 52 is in a non-deflected state, and the overcap 68 can rotate about the ROPP closure 52 as described in other embodiments. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the ROPP closure 52 and the deflectable lock feature 66 taken along line B-B in FIG. 6A. As depicted, the deflectable lock feature 66 continuously extends around a perimeter of the ROPP closure 52, but it will be appreciated that the lock feature 66 may have alternating deflectable and non-deflectable portions extending around the perimeter, in some embodiments.

(32) As shown in FIG. 7A, as the lock feature 78 of the overcap 68 presses downward to the second position or mode of operation where the lock features 66, 78 engage such that rotation of the overcap 68 is transmitted to the ROPP closure 52. In this mode of operation, the lock feature 66 of the ROPP closure 52 is deflected inward to accommodate the lock feature 78 of the overcap 68. The deflection of the lock feature 66 of the ROPP closure 52 allows the other lock feature 78 to engage and generate a sufficient amount of friction to transmit torque or rotational forces. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the ROPP closure 52 and the deflectable lock feature 66 in a deflected position taken along line B-B in FIG. 7A. While FIGS. 6A-7B describe a further embodiment, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure encompass other lock features 66, 78 as described elsewhere herein. In addition, terms such as “pliable portion”, “knurled pattern”, “lock feature”, “engagement feature”, “lock pattern” and other terms can be used interchangeably to describe the features of the overcap and/or the ROPP closure that selectively engage each other to transfer rotational motion, torque, etc. from the overcap to the ROPP closure.

(33) The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the disclosure to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments described and shown in the figures were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure, the practical application, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure.

(34) While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Moreover, references made herein to “the present disclosure” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present disclosure and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, as set forth in the following claims.