CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER
20240002109 ยท 2024-01-04
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65D43/169
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D51/246
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
Abstract
A closure (1) for a container, comprising: a first part (2); a second part (3) relatively movable to the first part (2) to move GC between a closed condition, in which an opening (21) of the closure (1) is covered, and an open condition, in which the opening (21) is uncovered; and a tamper evidence element (5) that is, on the one hand, connected to the second part (3) by a frangible connection (51) and that is, on the other hand, arranged to be withheld relative to the first part (2) such that, as the second part (3) moves with an opening motion relative to the first part (2) from the closed condition to the open condition, the opening motion ruptures the frangible connection (51). The tamper evidence element (5) is adapted to be actuated in order to rupture the frangible connection (51) independent of moving the second part (3) relative to the first part (2) by the opening motion, and the closure (1) further comprises a holding device (22) arranged on the first part (2) and adapted to secure the tamper evidence element (5) to the first part (2) after the frangible connection (51) has been ruptured.
Claims
1. A closure for a container, comprising a first part, a second part relatively movable to the first part to move between a closed condition, in which an opening of the closure is covered, and an open condition, in which the opening is uncovered, and a tamper evidence element that is, on the one hand, connected to the second part by a frangible connection and that is, on the other hand, arranged to be withheld relative to the first part such that, as the second part moves with an opening motion relative to the first part from the closed condition to the open condition, the opening motion ruptures the frangible connection, wherein the tamper evidence element is adapted to be actuated in order to rupture the frangible connection independent of moving the second part relative to the first part by the opening motion, and wherein the closure further comprises a holding device arranged on the first part and adapted to secure the tamper evidence element to the first part after the frangible connection has been ruptured.
2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is adapted to withhold the tamper evidence element relative to the first part as the second part moves relative to the first part by the opening motion to allow rupturing of the frangible connection.
3. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is adapted to secure the tamper evidence element such that, after the frangible connection has been ruptured, the tamper evidence element is movable relative to the holding device with a defined play.
4. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the holding device comprises a section for securing the tamper evident element to the first part, and wherein the tamper evidence element is, by actuating the tamper evidence element, movable towards this section in order to rupture the frangible connection, wherein, optionally, the holing device, such as the section, is adapted to secure the tamper evidence element to be not movable relative to the holding section or movable relative to the holding section with a further defined play.
5. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is adapted to secure the tamper evidence element with a snap fit.
6. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the tamper evidence element is adapted to be pushed in order to be actuated, and wherein the tamper evidence element is at least in part designed as a button.
7. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the second part comprises a wall portion, wherein, when viewed at least along a direction perpendicular to the wall portion, the tamper evidence element exposes the wall portion after the frangible connection has been ruptured.
8. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the first part comprises the opening, and wherein the second part covers, in the closed condition, the opening and uncovers, in the open condition, the opening.
9. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the first part comprises a sealing wall with an angled section, wherein the second part comprises a first wall contactable with the sealing wall, such as with the angled section and/or a straight section of the sealing wall, and wherein the second part further comprises a second wall that is distanced further from an outer edge of the second part than the first wall and contactable with the angled section, such as with a distal end of the sealing wall that is part of the angled section.
10. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part comprise one or more fastening elements for fastening the second part to the first part in the closed condition.
11. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the second part comprises a grasping portion for grasping the second part in order to move the second part relative to the first part, wherein, when the tamper evidence element is connected to the second part by the frangible connection, the tamper evidence element is preferably arranged between the grasping portion and the wall portion of the second part.
12. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the second part is hinged to the first part.
13. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the first part is integral with the second part.
14. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure is partially or completely made of a bio-based and/or biodegradable material.
15. A system, comprising a container and a closure comprising a first part, a second part relatively movable to the first part to move between a closed condition, in which an opening of the closure is covered, and an open condition, in which the opening is uncovered, and a tamper evidence element that is, on the one hand, connected to the second part by a frangible connection and that is, on the other hand, arranged to be withheld relative to the first part such that, as the second part moves with an opening motion relative to the first part from the closed condition to the open condition, the opening motion ruptures the frangible connection, wherein the tamper evidence element is adapted to be actuated in order to rupture the frangible connection independent of moving the second part relative to the first part by the opening motion, and wherein the closure further comprises a holding device arranged on the first part and adapted to secure the tamper evidence element to the first part after the frangible connection has been ruptured, wherein the first part or the second part of the closure is part of the container or attached to the container.
Description
[0024] Further advantages, features and implementations of the invention are described exemplarily with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:
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[0053] The second part 3 can be moved relative to the first part 2. As such, the closure 1 can be moved between a closed condition and an open condition. The closed condition is exemplarily shown amongst others in
[0054] As shown in
[0055] For easily moving the second part 3 relative to the first part 2, the second part 3 may comprise a grasping portion 32. The grasping portion 32 is in particular designed to be easily grasped by a user's finger. As shown in
[0056] The closure 1 further comprises a tamper evidence (evident) element 5. Hence, the closure 1 represents a tamper evidence system. The tamper evidence element 5 is arranged to indicate a sealed state and an unsealed state of the closure 1. As such, the tamper evidence element 5 is in particular suitable for indicating whether the closure 1 has been already opened by moving the second part 3 relative to the first part 2 and into the open condition. Hence, the tamper evidence element 5 can easily indicate an unauthorized access to the product contained in the container. The tamper evidence element 5 is arranged to provide a good visibility for the user. For this purpose, the tamper evidence element 5 may, when viewed onto a plane surface of the second part 3, such as in a direction perpendicular to the lid surface 31 (perpendicular to the drawing surface of
[0057] As shown in
[0058] On the other hand, and as shown in
[0059] Accordingly, as the second part 3 moves, with an opening motion, relative to the first part 2 in order to move the closure 1 from the closed condition, in which the closure 1 is in an unsealed state and in which the (non-ruptured) frangible connection 51 thus connects the tamper evidence element 5 to the second part 3, into or towards the open condition, the second part 3 at the same time forces the tamper evidence element 2 to move relative to the first part 2. This due to the frangible connection 2 connecting the tamper evidence element 5 to the second part 3. However, since the tamper evidence element 5 is withheld relative to the first part 2, the tamper evidence element 5 cannot move relative to the first part 2 during this opening motion. Instead, the opening motion effects that the frangible connection 51 ruptures. In other words, during the opening motion the second part 2 moves, due to the withheld tamper evidence element 5, relative to the tamper evidence element 5, thereby effecting a force in the frangible connection 51 that ruptures the frangible connection 51. Thereby, the closure 1 moves into the unsealed state.
[0060] In the state, in which the frangible connection 51 is ruptured and thus does not connect the tamper evidence element 5 to the second part 3, the tamper evidence element 5 indicates the unsealed state. For example, in this state the tamper evidence element 5 indicates the unsealed state by a visual appearance and/or a haptic effect. For example, compared to the sealed state, the tamper evidence element 5 may have in the unsealed state a different position and/or orientation and/or may be arranged more loosely, i.e. less firmly.
[0061] The tamper evidence element 5 is further adapted to be actuated. Therefore, instead of rupturing the frangible connection 51 by the opening motion of the second part 3 relative to the first part 2, the frangible connection 51 can be also ruptured by actuating the tamper evidence element 5. Hence, the tamper evidence element 5 can be moved by actuation from the position shown in
[0062] For an advantageous actuation, the tamper evidence element 5 is preferably adapted to be pushed in order to be actuated. In particular, and as shown in
[0063] The closure 1, in particular the second part 3, may comprise one or more protection structures (such as in the form of bumps) arranged to protect the tamper evidence element 5, in particular from being accidently actuated. The tamper evidence element 5 may be arranged between two of such protection structures, and/or the one or more protection structures may be arranged adjacent to the tamper evidence element 5. When the frangible connection 51 is not ruptured, the one or more protection structures preferably extend above (i.e. beyond) the tamper evidence element 5, such as above the actuation surface 54.
[0064] Once the frangible connection 51 has been ruptured, the tamper evidence element 5 cannot be retained by the second part 3 anymore. To avoid that the tamper evidence element 5 detaches from or falls off the parts 2, 3, the closure 1 further comprises a holding device 22 arranged on and preferably integrally formed with the first part 2. After the frangible connection 51 has been ruptured, i.e. in the unsealed or ruptured state, the holding device 22 secures the tamper evidence element 5 to the first part 2. Securing the tamper evidence element 5 to the first part 2 by the holding device 22 may be provided in different ways. For example, in the ruptured state of the frangible connection 51, the holding device 21 may secure the tamper evidence element 5 such that the tamper evidence element 5 is movable relative to the holding device 22 with a defined play (i.e. backlash). With the defined play, the tamper evidence element 5 is thus loosely secured, so that a particularly good (in particular visual and/or haptic) indication of the unsealed state can be provided. As shown in
[0065] As shown in
[0066] The section 25 may be adapted to secure the tamper evidence element 5 to the first part 1 such that the tamper evidence element 5 is not movable relative to the holding device 22 or at least movable relative to the holding device 22 with a further defined play that is less than the defined play, e.g. provided by the section 23. Preferably, the section 25 comprises one or more protrusions for securing the tamper evidence element 5. The section 25 may further comprise a bottom wall 26 that, together with the one or more protrusions, can secure the tamper evidence element 5, optionally such that the tamper evidence element 5 is not movable relative to the holding device 22 or at least movable with the further defined play. That is, the motion of the tamper evidence element 5 secured to the section 25 may be restricted by the one or more protrusions of the section 25 and the bottom wall 26. In the state of being secured by the section 25, the one or more protrusions 53 of the tamper evidence element 5 may be at least partially arranged between the wall 26 on the one hand and the one or more protrusions of the section 25 on the other hand. Preferably, the section 25 secures the tamper evidence element 5 by a snap fit, which may be provided by the one or more protrusions of the section 25 and/or the bottom wall 26.
[0067] The (upper) section 23 may be arranged with respect to the (lower) section 25 such that the tamper evidence element 5 can be moved, by actuation, from the section 23 towards the section 24. Lower section preferably means that this section is further distanced from the second part 3 (in the closed position) than the upper section. The section 25 may be at least in part defined by one or more side walls of the holding device 22, such as also by the one or more side walls 24. For example, the one or more side walls may comprise the one or more protrusions of the section 25 and/or may extend from the bottom wall 26.
[0068] The holding device 22 may comprise a side wall 24a that is, at least after the frangible connection 51 has been ruptured, arranged to at least partially cover the tamper evidence element 5. After the tamper evidence element 5 has been actuated (and is thus, for example, moved towards the section 25), the side wall 24a may be arranged to cover more parts of the tamper evidence element 5 than in a state, in which the tamper evidence element 5 is connected via the frangible connection 5 to the second part 3. In other words, the tamper evidence element 5 may comprise a wall portion 55, which is, when the tamper evidence element 5 is connected via the frangible connection 5 to the second part 3, exposed (i.e. not covered by the first part 2 or the side wall 24a; see
[0069] If the opening motion of the second part 3 relative to the first part 3 ruptures the frangible connection 51, the tamper evidence element 5 will displace or move by gravity relative to (and further into) the holding device 22 and be secured by the holding device 22, such as with the (upper) section 23, with the defined play (with reference to
[0070] As said before, the tamper evidence element 5 is withheld relative to the first part 2 in order to allow rupturing of the frangible connection 51 by the opening motion. Preferably, the holding device 22 is adapted to provide this function. More specifically, the holding device 22, preferably the (upper) section 23, may be adapted to withhold the tamper evidence element 5 relative to the first part 2 as the second part 3 moves relative to the first part 2. If withholding is effected by the section 23, the one or more protrusions of the section 23 may engage with the tamper evidence element 5, such as with its one or more protrusions, in order to withhold the tamper evidence element 5. Hence, forcing the tamper evidence element 5, such as the one or more protrusions 53, by the opening motion to engage with the holding device 22, such as with the section 23 or the section's 23 one or more protrusions, will effect a reaction force that ruptures the frangible connection 51.
[0071] The tamper evidence element 5 may interact with the wall portion 33 of the second part 3 in order to provide a particularly good indication of the sealed state and unsealed state. For example, after the frangible connection 51 has been ruptured, in particular by actuating the tamper evidence element 5, the tamper evidence element 5 exposes the wall portion 33 (when viewed along a direction perpendicular to the wall portion 33, which is, in
[0072] The closure 1 is preferably a reclosable and/or resealable closure or lid. For example, and as shown in
[0073] In the closed condition, the first part 2 and the second part 3 preferably sealingly engage with (or sealingly contact) one another. One example for a sealing is shown in
[0074] In the closed condition, the first wall 34 (sealingly) contacts, e.g. with a stepped portion, the sealing wall 27, such as the angled section 28 but preferably not the distal end of the sealing wall 27. Additionally or alternatively, the first wall 34 may contact, in the closed condition, the straight section 29 of the sealing wall 27. In the closed condition, the first wall 34 contacts the sealing wall 27 (such as the angled section 28 and/or the straight section 29) preferably with a flat contact. Further, in the closed condition, the second wall 35 contacts (e.g. only) the angled section 28, such as the distal end of the sealing wall 27 that is part of the angled section 28. The sealing wall 27 (such as the angled section 28), the first wall 34 and the second wall 35 may be arranged to delimit a cavity 36.
[0075] Hence, a particularly good sealing is provided, in which the second wall 35 contacting the angled section 28 provides an inner sealing, and the first wall 34 contacting the sealing wall 27 provides an outer sealing. Accordingly, a particularly good sealing is provided, which prevents a fluid (such as oxygen, air, liquid, pasty mass) to pass the interface between the first part 2 and the second part 3. This in particular prevents, in the closed condition, leakage of the product by way of the closure 1 and/or degradation of the product inside of the container by a fluid (in particular oxygen) flowing from the outside via the closure 1 into the container.
[0076] The first part 2 is preferably integrally formed with the second part 3. Further, the tamper evidence element 5 is preferably integrally formed with the second part 3, namely by way of the frangible connection. The closure 1 may be produced by any suitable production method, such as injection molding. For example, in a first production step, the closure 1 is obtained in the open condition (such as in the state shown in
[0077] The closure 1 is not limited to a specific material. For example, the closure 1 may be made of a transparent and/or opaque material. Preferably, the closure 1 is partially or completely made of a bio-based and/or biodegradable material, such as bio-based and/or biodegradable polypropylene (PP). Additionally or alternatively, the closure 1 may be partially or completely made of a thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PET) and/or plastic. In order to avoid environmental pollution, a bio-based and/or biodegradable material is preferred. In order to increase the recyclability of the closure 1, the closure 1 may comprise defined portions, such as weakened portions, which facilitate a disassembly of the closure 1 in different parts, e.g. in order to put these different parts into different recycling streams (such as a recycling stream for biodegradable material and a further recycling stream for non-biodegradable and/or bio-based material). One example for such a portion is shown in
[0078] The closure 1 is not limited to specific dimensions. That is, the tamper evidence element 5 can be used with closures (lids, etc.) and/or containers with any sizes or dimensions. For example, the closure 1 may be suitable for big diameter containers, which have a diameter in the range from 73 mm to 127 mm. In some examples, the closure 1 has a diameter in the range from 73 mm to 127 mm, in particular from 80 mm to 120 mm or from 90 mm to 110 mm.
[0079] As shown in
[0080] If the closure 1 is provided with a container (the closure 1 and the container provide a system), the first part 2 may be attached to the container by a form and/or frictional fit and/or by an adhesive bond. As shown in
[0081] It should be clear to a skilled person that the embodiments shown in the figures are only preferred embodiments, but that, however, also other designs of a closure 1 can be used.