Dispensing closure for a fluid container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispensing closure comprising a base element, which can be attached to a neck of a container, a flip-top lid, being attached to said base element by a hinge and being movable between a closed and an opened position, and a tamper-evident element extending in a circumferential direction around at least part of the circumference of said dispensing closure, wherein the tamper-evident element has at least one weakening region extending at least over part of the height of the tamper-evident element and/or wherein a shoulder region of the base element, to which frangible elements of the tamper-evident element are attached, is inclined such that it declines in an outward direction of the base element.

Claims

1. Dispensing closure comprising a base element (100) which can be attached to a neck of a container and which comprises a dispensing opening, a flip-top lid (200), being attached to said base element (100) by a hinge (320) and being movable between a closed position, in which the dispensing opening is closed by a closing element of said flip-top lid, and an opened position, in which said dispensing opening is at least partly opened such that a fluid can be dispensed through said dispensing opening, a tamper-evident element (300) extending in a circumferential direction around at least a part of the circumference of said dispensing closure and being attached to a shoulder region (180) of said base element by at least two frangible elements (380) having a pre-determined breaking point, said flip-top lid (200) having at least one opening or recession being arranged and dimensioned such that it encloses at least part of at least one locking extension (355) of the tamper-evident element (300) extending at least partly into the direction of the flip-top lid (200), when said flip-top lid (200) is in its closed position and said tamper-evident element (300) is in its original position with the frangible elements (380) being undestroyed, characterized in that said tamper-evident element (300) has at least one weakening region (340, 350, 352), said at least one weakening region (340, 350, 352) extending at least over a part of a height (H) of the tamper-evident element (300), and/or said shoulder region (180) of said base element (100), to which said frangible elements (380) of said tamper-evident element (300) are attached, is inclined such that it declines in an outward direction of the base element (100).

2. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one weakening region comprises a notch (340) extending over a part of the height (H) of the tamper-evident element (300).

3. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one weakening region (350, 352) comprises a weakening area (352) or line (350), reducing the thickness of the tamper-evident element (300) over at least part of the height of the tamper-evident element (300).

4. Dispensing closure according to claim 3, wherein said weakening area (352) or line (350) is provided on the inner side of the tamper-evident element (300).

5. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein said tamper-evident element (300) comprises two locking extensions (360) and wherein said weakening region (340) is provided, in a circumferential direction, between these two locking extensions (360).

6. Dispensing closure according to claim 5, wherein said weakening region (340) extends over the complete circumferential distance between the two locking extensions (360).

7. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein said tamper-evident element (300) comprises only one locking extension (355) and at least two weakening regions (352) which, in a circumferential direction of the tamper-evident element (300), are positioned directly adjacent said one locking extension (355).

8. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, having said frangible elements (380) in a circumferential position of said tamper-evident element (300) in the vicinity of said weakening region (350).

9. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, having said frangible elements (380) positioned, in a circumferential direction, at the circumferential borders of said at least one locking extension (355) or in the direct vicinity thereof.

10. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weakening region comprises multiple weakening regions (350) over the extension of the tamper-evident element (300) in its circumferential direction.

11. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the number of frangible elements (380) per angular extension of the tamper-evident element (300) in its circumferential direction is higher in those circumferential angular regions where said locking extension is provided compared to those angular circumferential regions where no locking extension of the tamper-evident element (300) is provided.

12. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein said shoulder region (180) of said base element (100) is declined in a radially outward direction by an angle of 10 to 45 relative to a horizontal direction.

13. Dispensing closure according to claim 12, wherein said shoulder region (180) is declined over at least the complete circumferential extension of the tamper-evident element (300).

14. Dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein all frangible elements (380) are attached to said shoulder region (180) of said base element (300) in an area where said shoulder region is declined.

15. Dispensing closure according to claim 1 wherein each of said at least one of the two frangible elements (380) has an hour-glass shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become even more apparent by the following figures, partly schematically showing preferred embodiments of the dispensing closure according to the present invention or elements thereof.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention in a perspective view, with the dispensing closure being in its original, un-opened position.

(3) FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of a dispensing closure as in FIG. 1, in a position as it is manufactured e.g. by injection molding before a first closing of the flip-top lid, so that the tamper-evident element is still attached to the base element.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a part of a tamper-evident element of the embodiment of a dispensing closure as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2:

(5) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention in a perspective view, with the dispensing closure being in its original, un-opened position.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-section through a tamper-evident element of the embodiment of a dispensing closure as shown in FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of parts of another embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention, especially an embodiment of a tamper-evident element, which could be also e.g. used for an embodiment of the dispensing closure as shown in FIG. 4, the view showing especially the tamper-evident element from an inner side;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the view showing the tamper-evident element from the outside;

(9) FIG. 8 shows parts of another embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention, especially another embodiment of a tamper-evident element, and

(10) FIG. 9 shows a partial cross-section of an embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention with the dispensing closure being in its original, un-opened position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic view, one embodiment of a dispensing closure 10 according to the present invention. The dispensing closure 10 comprises a base element 100, a flip-top lid 200 and a tamper-evident element 300.

(12) As can be seen in FIG. 2, the flip-top lid 200 is attached to the base 100 by a hinge 320, so that the flip-top lid 200 can be moved, by a user, between a closed position, see FIG. 1 and an opened position, see FIG. 2. However, it has to be noted that FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the dispensing closure 10 in a condition before a first use, namely directly after manufacturing, with the flip-top lid still in the open position and the tamper-evident element 300 still being attached to the base element 100 via frangible elements (see especially FIG. 3), and before a first use, in other words in an intermediate manufacturing state, in order to better show the respective elements.

(13) The tamper-evident element 300 is, as can be especially well seen in FIG. 3, attached to the base 100 via a number of frangible elements 380.

(14) The tamper-evident element 300 further has two opening 345 or windows, at its lower edge, in which two protrusions 440 of the flip-top lid 200 extend, when the flip-top lid 200 is in its closed position as shown in FIG. 3.

(15) If therefore the flip-top lid 200 is moved from its closed position, FIG. 1, into its opened position, the protrusions 440, in engagement with the openings 345 or windows of the tamper-evident element 300, will also lift the tamper-evident element 300 in an upward direction, so that the tamper-evident element 300 will be detached from the base 100, thereby destroying the frangible elements 380.

(16) Normally the tamper-evident element 300 will thereby be completely removed from the other parts of the closure, so that it is visible to all future users that the dispensing closure has been opened at least once.

(17) Only for completion, it also has to be noted that the dispensing closure 10 comprises another tamper-evident device 600 which is a tamper-evident device 600 for showing whether the dispensing closure, which can be attached to a neck of a container (not shown), has been removed at least once from the container. Such tamper-evident devices 600 are well-known in the art, and there is no specific relationship to the tamper-evident element 300, which is a major part of the dispensing closure according to the present invention.

(18) As can be well seen in FIG. 2 and especially in FIG. 3 the tamper-evident element 300 also comprises two locking extensions 360, which extend into the direction of the flip-top lid 300, when said flip-top lid 300 is in its closed position, whereby the two locking extensions 360 are enclosed by parts of the flip-top lid, so that the locking extensions 360 are enclosed or covered to the outside in order to avoid a tampering of these locking extensions by a user. With respect to a preferred realization of a flip-top lid being arranged such that the locking extensions 360 are enclosed or covered to the outside, see especially FIG. 9.

(19) As can be further well seen in FIG. 3 the tamper-evident element 300 has a weakening region, which is realized in this embodiment as a notch 340. The notch 340 extends about a major part of the height H of the tamper-evident element 300, in this embodiment the notch 340 extends over about 80% of the height H of the tamper-evident element 300, while the notch starts at an upper end or an upper edge of the tamper-evident element 300, in other words at the side of the tamper-evident element 300 which is directed to the flip-top lid 200 when the flip-top lid 200 is in its closed position.

(20) Furthermore the weakening region, here the notch 340, extends over the complete circumferential distance between the two locking extensions 360, at least at an upper part of the tamper-evident element 300, and the width of the notch 340 decreases in a downward direction, i.e. in a direction to the base element 100. The notch 340 therefore is formed essentially in a V- or U shape.

(21) With respect to FIG. 3 it has to be mentioned that the protrusions (440, s. FIG. 1) of the flip-top lid 200 are not shown in order to enhance clarity of this figure, which especially shows the specific realization of the tamper-evident element 300, the two locking extensions 360, the notch 340 and some of the frangible elements 380, which attach or fasten the tamper-evident element 300 to the base 100.

(22) The notch 340 has the effect that, if a force is exerted onto the tamper-evident element 300, the tamper-evident element is more susceptible to deformation, especially in the area of this notch 340,

(23) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention. This embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment, similar or identical elements therefore bear the same reference numeral.

(24) Also this embodiment of the dispensing closure 10 according to the present invention has a base element 100, a flip-top lid 200 and a tamper-evident element 300. With respect to the functioning it is especially referred to the description of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, especially with respect to the protrusions 440, interacting with openings 345 or windows of the tamper-evident element 300.

(25) However, as can be well seen in FIG. 4, the tamper-evident element 300 of the dispensing closure 10 does not have a notch, but has weakening areas or weakening lines, which are provided at the inner side of the tamper-evident element 300, so that these weakening lines or areas cannot be seen in the perspective view of FIG. 4.

(26) FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-section through one embodiment of a tamper-evident element 300, which has, on its inner side, two weakening regions, being realized as weakening lines 350, extending over the complete height H of the tamper-evident element 300, therefore in a vertical direction.

(27) The weakening lines 350 have the effect that, if a force is exerted onto the tamper-evident element 300, the tamper-evident element is more susceptible to deformation, especially in the area of these weakening lines 350.

(28) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a tamper-evident element of a dispensing closure according to the present invention, while FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing parts of the dispensing closure and the tamper-evident element 300 from the inside.

(29) As can be well seen in FIG. 6, also this embodiment of the tamper-evident element 300 has two weakening regions, being realized as weakening areas 352, directly adjacent, in a circumferential direction, to one locking extension 355, which extends in a vertically upward direction, i.e. into the direction of a flip-top lid when the flip-top lid is in its closed position.

(30) The weakening areas 352 extend about a certain angular distance in a circumferential direction over the tamper-evident element 300, in this embodiment by about 10. Generally, it is preferred that the weakening areas, here especially the weakening areas 352, extend about an angular distance in a circumferential direction being larger than the protrusions (440, see especially FIG. 1) of the flip-top lid (200, see also e.g. FIG. 1 or FIG. 4).

(31) Beyond the purpose described above, these weakening areas also serve to enable a closing of the flip-top lid for the first time after manufacturing, so that the tamper-evident element 300 is not destroyed or damaged by the above-mentioned protrusions when closing the flip-top lid for the first time.

(32) However, also these weakening areas 352 lead to the effect that the tamper-evident element 300 is especially susceptible to deformation at these weakening regions, so that such deformation can be easily seen by a user after the dispensing closure has been opened at least once, even if somebody would on purpose try to re-position the tamper-evident element after it has been torn off and after the frangible elements have been destroyed by a first opening of the flip-top lid.

(33) FIG. 7 shows some elements of an embodiment of the dispensing closure as shown in FIG. 6, however, from the outside, and as can be seen in FIG. 7, the weakening regions and weakening areas 352 are not visible from the outside.

(34) However, FIG. 7 very well shows the frangible elements 380, which attach the tamper-evident element 300 to the base element 100, more exactly to a shoulder region 180 of the base element 100.

(35) As can be also well seen in FIG. 7, the shoulder region 180 is inclined such that it declines in a radially outward direction of the base element 100. The declination angle in this embodiment is about 20 relative to a horizontal direction.

(36) All frangible elements 380 are on the one side connected to the tamper-evident element 300 and on the other side to the declined shoulder region 180 of the base element 100.

(37) This declined shoulder region 180 has the effect that even in case a detached tamper-evident element 300 should be re-positioned onto said shoulder region after the frangible elements 380 have been destroyed, the tamper-evident element tends to automatically shift its position and slid away on the declined shoulder portion 180 simply by gravitational forces.

(38) FIG. 8 shows some elements of a still further embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention, especially a tamper-evident element 300 and parts of the base 100.

(39) The tamper-evident element 300 of this embodiment is very similar to the tamper-evident element shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, however, the frangible elements 380 are different.

(40) As can be well seen in FIG. 8, most of the frangible elements 380 have an hour-glass shape, in spite of the typically cubical form of the frangible elements used in such dispensing closures. The hour-glass shape of the frangible elements 380 leads to the effect that after destruction the remaining parts of the frangible elements 380 are more elongated than typically shaped frangible elements, and this will make it even more difficult to keep the tamper-evident element in its original position after the frangible elements 380 have been destroyed, even if a user should try to re-position the tamper-evident element on purpose after a destruction of the frangible elements 380.

(41) In another preferred embodiment, all frangible elements 380 are realized in an hour-glass shape.

(42) FIG. 9 shows a partial cross-section through another embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention, which is very similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As can be well seen in FIG. 9, the tamper-evident element 300 has locking extensions 360 (one of which is shown and visible in the cross-section of FIG. 9), while the locking extensions protrude into a recess 280 such that the locking extensions 360 are enclosed and covered to the outside so that a tampering of these locking extensions by a user is avoided. The features of the present invention disclosed in the specification, the claims and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realizing the invention in various forms thereof,