THREAD CATCHING AND ENGAGING TAMPER EVIDENCE CLOSURE

Abstract

A tamper evidence closure is provided for engaging with a finish so as to seal contents within the interior of a container. The tamper evidence closure comprises interior threads configured to engage with threads of a finish. A tamper evidence portion is disposed around the perimeter of a lower portion. Recesses are configured to receive and fixate thread ends disposed on the finish so as to prevent further rotation of the tamper evidence portion and configured to be outwardly flexed by the finish. Each of tamper evidence flaps includes a ramp that terminates at a catching surface that is configured to be contacted by a truncated thread end of the finish during loosening of the closure by an end-user. The tamper evidence band on the finish and the flaps are configured to remain in absence of the finish to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened.

Claims

1. A finish configured to engage with a closure so as to seal contents within the interior of a container, the finish comprising: a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to an interior of the container and extends to and includes a support ledge; threads configured to provide a means to fasten the closure to the container; a terminal end of each of the threads; and a gap disposed between the support ledge and a bottom-most of the threads.

2. The finish of claim 1, wherein the threads are configured to rotatably engage with similar threads disposed within the closure to provide a way to seal contents within the container.

3. The finish of claim 1, wherein each of the threads generally extends along a section of the circumference of the finish and approaches the support ledge.

4. The finish of claim 3, wherein the threads of the closure are configured to engage with the threads, such that the closure advances toward the support ledge during clockwise rotation.

5. The finish of claim 1, wherein the terminal end includes a blunt surface that is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the finish.

6. The finish of claim 5, wherein the blunt surface is configured to contact a catching surface of the closure so as to fixate a tamper evidence band of the closure.

7. The finish of claim 6, wherein the terminal end is configured to be directed by at least one guiding surface of the closure, the guiding surface terminating at the catching surface.

8. The finish of claim 1, wherein the threads comprise a single thread that begins at a thread start and spirals around the circumference of the finish before terminating at the terminal end.

9. The finish of claim 8, wherein the thread start is configured to guide a thread of the closure into a valley between adjacent threads so as to threadably engage the closure with the finish.

10. The finish of claim 1, wherein the gap includes a roughly uniform width around the circumference of the finish that is configured to retain a tamper evidence band of the closure.

11. A tamper evidence closure configured to engage with a finish so as to seal contents within the interior of a container, the tamper evidence closure comprising: interior threads configured to engage with threads of the finish; a plug seal configured to extend into an opening of the finish whereby contents are sealed in the interior of the container; a tamper evidence portion disposed around the perimeter of a lower portion of the tamper evidence closure; and one or more tamper evidence flaps disposed in the tamper evidence portion and configured to be outwardly flexed by the finish.

12. The tamper evidence closure of claim 11, wherein outward flaring of the one or more tamper evidence flaps indicates that the tamper evidence closure has been loosened after installation by a manufacturer.

13. The tamper evidence closure of claim 11, wherein the one or more tamper evidence flaps are configured to remain flared in absence of the finish so as to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

14. The tamper evidence closure of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more tamper evidence flaps is disposed within an elongate opening and coupled with the tamper evidence portion by way of a bridge.

15. The tamper evidence closure of claim 14, wherein the bridge is configured to allow the tamper evidence flap to be flexed outwards with respect to the tamper evidence portion.

16. The tamper evidence closure of claim 15, wherein the one or more tamper evidence flaps are configured to be pushed outwards due to contact with truncated thread ends comprising the finish.

17. The tamper evidence closure of claim 14, wherein the bridge comprises a narrow portion between the tamper evidence flap and the tamper evidence portion of the closure.

18. The tamper evidence closure of claim 17, wherein the bridge is configured to flex when a truncated thread end of the finish contacts a catching surface.

19. The tamper evidence closure of claim 18, wherein the catching surface comprises a terminal end of the tamper evidence flap and is substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the tamper evidence portion.

20. The tamper evidence closure of claim 18, wherein the bridge allows the tamper evidence flap to be outwardly extended without breaking away from the tamper evidence portion.

21. The tamper evidence closure of claim 18, wherein the bridge is configured to remain flexed in absence of the truncated thread end to as to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:

[0054] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary container suitable for storing a beverage;

[0055] FIG. 2A illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a finish including truncated thread ends;

[0056] FIG. 2B illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a truncated thread end;

[0057] FIG. 3A illustrates a ghost view of an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evidence closure coupled with the finish of FIG. 2A.

[0058] FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure configured to be threadably engaged with the finish shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

[0059] FIG. 3C illustrates an isometric cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evidence closure that includes a thread-catching tamper evidence band;

[0060] FIG. 4 illustrates a close up view of an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evidence flap comprising a tamper evidence portion of a closure configured to be threadably engaged with the finish shown in FIG. 2A;

[0061] FIG. 5A illustrates an isometric cutaway view of a tamper evidence closure coupled with a finish, showing a truncated thread end of the finish sliding along a guiding surface of a thread-catching tamper evidence band during loosening of the closure;

[0062] FIG. 5B illustrates a lower isometric view of a tamper evidence closure coupled with a finish, showing a blunt surface of a truncated thread end approaching a catching surface of a thread-catching tamper evidence band as the closure is rotated with respect to the finish;

[0063] FIG. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evidence closure coupled with the finish of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0064] FIG. 6 illustrates a close-up cutaway view of an interior of an exemplary embodiment of a thread-catching tamper evidence band that includes guiding surfaces, in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0065] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evidence closure coupled with the finish of FIG. 2A.

[0066] While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as first bottle, may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the first bottle is different than a second bottle. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term coupled is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms about, approximately, or substantially for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.

[0068] In some instances, conventional tamper evidence bands fail to detach from the closure upon being loosened, thereby making it difficult for an end-user to directly observe whether or not the closure has been previously separated from the container. Consequently, the end-user has little visual indication of whether the container has been reused. Embodiments disclosed herein provide a tamper evidence closure that reliably provides a visible indication about whether or not a manufacturer-installed closure has been previously removed from a plastic container.

[0069] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary container 100 typically used for storing liquid contents, such as water and juice. The container 100 comprises a base 104 that extends up to a grip portion 108. In some embodiments, the base 104 may be of the petaloid variety, although other configurations of the base may be incorporated into the container 100, without limitation. The grip portion 108 comprises a plurality of grip portion ribs 112 (i.e., sidewall ribs). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the plurality of grip portion ribs 112 generally vary in depth, and swirl or angulate around the grip portion 108. A label portion 116 can be connected to the grip portion 108 and comprises one or more label panel ribs (not shown). The label panel portion 116 transitions into a shoulder 124, which connects to a bell 128. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the bell 128 comprises a plurality of design features 132. In other embodiments, however, the bell 128 may include various other design features, or may be smooth and generally unornamented. The bell 128 connects to a neck 136, which connects to a finish 140. As shown in FIG. 1, the bell 128 comprises a diameter that generally decreases as the bell 128 extends upward from the shoulder 124 to the neck 136 and the finish 140. The finish 140 can be adapted to receive a closure, such as by way of non-limiting example, a container cap or bottle cap, so as to seal contents within the container 100. The finish 140 generally defines an opening 144 that leads to an interior of the container 100 for containing a beverage, or other contents, such as any of a variety of carbonated soft drinks.

[0070] FIG. 2A illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary finish 140 that may be configured to rotatably engage with the closure 164 so as to seal contents within the interior of the container 100. The finish 140 comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening 160 to an interior of the container 100 and extends to and includes a support ledge 156. The finish 140 can be further characterized by the presence of one or more threads 172 configured to provide a means to fasten the closure 164 to the container 100. As such, the threads 172 are configured to rotatably engage with similar threads disposed within the closure 164 to provide a way to seal contents within the container 100. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, each of the threads 172 generally extends along a section of the circumference of the finish 140 and approaches the support ledge 156. Thus, when the threads of the closure 164 are engaged with the threads 172, and the closure 164 can be rotated in a clockwise direction, the closure advances toward the support ledge 156.

[0071] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B, the threads 172 can comprise a single thread 172 that begins at a thread start 180 and spirals around the circumference of the finish 140 before terminating at a thread end 184. As best shown in FIG. 2B, the thread end 184 can be truncated and thus terminates at a blunt surface 192 that can be substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the finish 140. In some embodiments, however, the thread end 184 need not be truncated, as desired. The thread start 180 can be configured to guide a thread 176 of the closure 164 into a space, or valley 188, between adjacent threads 172 so as to threadably engage the closure 164 with the finish 140. Further, the threads 172 generally are disposed adjacently to one another and are spaced uniformly around the circumference of the finish 140. As best shown in FIG. 2, a gap 196 may be disposed between the support ledge 156 and the bottom-most threads 172. The gap 196 includes a roughly uniform width around the circumference of the finish 140 that can be configured to retain a tamper evidence band of the closure 164, as discussed herein.

[0072] FIG. 3A illustrates a ghost view of an exemplary embodiment of a tamper evidence closure coupled with the finish of FIG. 2A. As further shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, the closure 164 includes a tamper evidence portion 166 that can be disposed around the perimeter of lower portion of the closure 164. The tamper evidence portion 166 includes a tamper evidence flap 200 disposed within an elongate opening 204. A bridge 208 couples the tamper evidence flap 200 with the tamper evidence portion 166, as best shown in FIG. 4. The bridge 208 may be configured to allow the tamper evidence flap 200 to be flexed outward with respect to the tamper evidence portion 166. As such, the tamper evidence flap 200 may be configured to be pushed outward when acted on by an outwardly-directed force, such as by way of the contact with the truncated thread end 184. It is contemplated that an outwardly flared tamper evidence flap 200 indicates to an end-user that the closure 164 has been loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

[0073] FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a closure 164 that may be threadably engaged with the finish 140 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As shown in FIG. 4A, the closure 164 includes interior threads 176 that are configured to engage with the threads 172 of the finish 140, as described above. As such, the threads 176 extend into the thread valleys 188 extending around the finish 140. During tightening of the closure 164 onto the finish 140, a plug seal 168 of the closure 164 can be configured to extend into the opening 160 and enter into a pressed relationship with the finish 140 whereby contents are sealed in the interior of the container 100.

[0074] As further shown in FIG. 3B, the closure 164 includes a thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 that includes a segmented cam 200. The thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 may be disposed around the perimeter of the closure 164 and can be attached to the closure 164 by a multiplicity of thin connections 204. The cam 200 generally comprises an angled lower surface 208 configured to facilitate passing the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 over the threads 172 during assembly of the closure 164 onto the container 100. A relatively flat upper surface 212 of the cam 200 can be configured to engage with the threads 172 of the finish 140 and thus contribute to retaining the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 positioned within the gap 196 during loosening of the closure 164.

[0075] Although the thin connections 204 illustrated in FIG. 3B are substantially perpendicular to the circumference of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166, it is contemplated that the thin connections 204 may be disposed at a tilt angle with respect to the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166, without limitation. It is contemplated that orienting the thin connections 204 at an advantageous tilt angle imparts a tendency for the thin connections 204 to break upon removal of the closure 164 from the finish 140, but not during installation of the closure 164 onto the finish 140 by a manufacturer. In some embodiments, the thin connections 204 are tilted clockwise such that the thin connections are subjected, at least in part, to shear forces upon an end-user twisting the closure 164 with respect to the finish 140. As such, the tilt angle of the thin connections 204 may range between substantially perpendicular, as shown in FIG. 3B, and substantially parallel to the threads 176, without limitation.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 includes one or more recesses 216 configured to receive and fixate one or more truncated thread ends 184 disposed on the finish 140, as described herein. As best shown in FIG. 3C, the recess 216 includes a guiding surface 220 that extends gradually deeper into the thickness of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 and terminates at a catching surface 224. The catching surface 224 can be substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166. The guiding surface 220 may be configured to smoothly guide the thread end 184 deeper into the recess 216 during counterclockwise rotation of the closure 164, such as during loosening of the closure 164 on the finish 140. The catching surface 224 receives the thread end 184 and thereby prevents further rotation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166.

[0077] It is contemplated that the number of recesses 216 included in the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 generally can be equal to the number of threads 172 disposed on the finish 140. In some embodiments, for example, the threads 172 include three single threads uniformly spaced around the circumference of the finish 140, and the tamper evidence band 166 includes three recesses 216 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the closure 164. Thus, upon an end-user turning the closure 164 the three recesses 216 engage the three truncated thread ends 184, thereby preventing further rotation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 with respect to the finish 140. Fixation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 during turning of the closure 164 causes the thin connections 204 to break, separating the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 from the closure 164. The thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 remains positioned within the gap 196 after the closure 164 is removed from the container 100. As such, the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 remaining in the gap 196 indicates to the end-user that the closure 164 has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer. It should be understood, however, that the finish 140 is not be construed as being limited to three single threads 172, but rather the finish 140 may include, in some embodiments, between one thread 172 and six individual threads 172 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the finish 140, without limitation. As such, the number of recesses 216 disposed in the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 generally ranges between one recess 216 and six recesses 216 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166, without limitation.

[0078] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a relationship between the thread end 184 of the finish 140 and the recesses 216 during loosening of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166. FIG. 5A provides an isometric view of the thread end 184 sliding along the guiding surface 220 and approaching the catching surface 224 during loosening of the closure 164. FIG. 5B illustrates a lower isometric view of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 coupled with the finish 140, providing a clear view of the blunt surface 192 of the thread end 184 approaching the catching surface 224 as the closure 164 can be rotated with respect to the finish 140. Once the blunt surface 192 contacts the catching surface 224, the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 can be prevented from rotating further with respect to the finish 140. As described hereinabove, fixation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 during turning of the closure 164 causes the thin connections 204 to break, separating the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 from the closure 164 and leaving the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 positioned within the gap 196 after the closure 164 may be removed from the container 100. As will be appreciated, the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 remaining in the gap 196 indicates to the end-user that the closure 164 has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

[0079] FIG. 6 illustrates a close-up cutaway view of an interior of an exemplary embodiment of a thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 that includes an upper guiding surface 240 and a lower guiding surface 244 that are adjacent to a recess 216. As described hereinabove, the recess 216 generally can be configured to receive and fixate a thread end 184 disposed on the finish 140. In some embodiments, the recess 216 can be accompanied by the upper guiding surface 240 and the lower guiding surface 244, as well as the guiding surface 220 that extends gradually deeper into the thickness of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 and terminates at a catching surface 224. The guiding surfaces 220, 240, 244 generally are configured to smoothly guide the thread end 184 deeper into the recess 216 during counterclockwise rotation of the closure 164, such as during loosening of the closure 164 on the finish 140. The catching surface 224 receives the thread end 184 and thereby prevents further rotation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166.

[0080] In some embodiments, one or more spacers (not shown) may be disposed on an interior of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166. It is contemplated that the spacers may be configured to maintain a desired degree of clearance between the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 and the finish 140 so as to ensure that the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 does not flex, allowing the catching surface 224 to bypass the thread end 184. To this end, it is envisioned that one or more spacers can be disposed between circumferential locations of the catching surfaces 224 to keep the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 secured in place during catching the thread ends 184.

[0081] Turning now to FIG. 7, interior portions of the tamper evidence flap 200 are shown. As best shown in FIG. 5C, the tamper evidence flap 200 includes a ramp 212 and a catching surface 216. The ramp 212 comprises an increasing thickness of the flap 200 that terminates at the catching surface 216. The catching surface 216 may be substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the tamper evidence portion 166 and can be configured to be contacted by the truncated thread end 184 during loosening of the closure by an end-user. The ramp 212 can be configured to be engaged by the truncated thread end 184 so as to push the tramper evidence flap 200 outwards with respect to the tamper evidence portion 166. As best shown in FIG. 7, the bridge 208 comprises a narrow portion between the tamper evidence flap 200 and the tamper evidence portion 166 of the closure 164. The bridge 208 can be configured to flex when the truncated thread end 184 contact the catching surface 216, and thus advantageously allows the tamper evidence flap 200 to be outwardly extended without breaking away from the tamper evidence portion 166.

[0082] It is contemplated that the number of tamper evidence flaps 200 included in the tamper evidence portion 166 generally is equal to the number of threads 172 disposed on the finish 140. In some embodiments, for example, the threads 172 include three single threads uniformly spaced around the circumference of the finish 140, and the tamper evidence portion 166 includes three tamper evidence flaps 200 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the closure 164. Thus, upon an end-user turning the closure 164 the tamper evidence flaps 200 engage the three truncated thread ends 184, thereby flaring the tamper evidence flaps 200 with respect to the closure 164. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, once the tamper evidence flaps 200 are initially flared, such as by the end-user loosening the closure 164, the bridges 208 remain flexed and the tamper evidence flaps 200 remain outwardly flexed in absence of contacting the threads 172. As such, flared tamper evidence flaps 200 indicates to the end-user that the closure 164 has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

[0083] While the invention has been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.