CLOSURE DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure device (1) for a container (2) in which a flowable material (3) is stored, comprising a base element (4), which can be fastened on a container opening (5) of the container (2), a spout (11) with a dispensing opening (7), whereby the spout (11) is positioned inboard of the base element (4), and a lid (8) connected to the base element (4) by a hinge (12), whereby the lid (8) can be moved back and forth between a closed position (9) so that the spout (11) is not accessible and an open position (10) in which the spout (11) is accessible, tamper evidence indication means (13) for visually indicating if the lid (8) of closure device (1) has once been moved out of its closed position (9).

Claims

1. Closure device (1) for a container (2) in which a flowable material (3) is stored, comprising a base element (4), which can be fastened on a container opening (5) of the container (2) a spout (11) with a dispensing opening (7) whereby the spout (11) is positioned inboard of the base element (4), and a lid (8) connected to the base element (4) by a hinge (12), whereby the lid (8) can be moved back and forth between a closed position (9) in which the lid (8) closes the dispensing opening (7) so that the spout (11) is not accessible and an open position (10) in which the spout (11) is accessible, tamper evidence indication means (13) for visually indicating if the lid (8) of closure device (1) has once been moved out of its closed position (9), whereby the tamper evidence indication means (13) comprise a first indication ring (14) and at least a second indication ring (15), whereby the first indication ring (14) and the second indication ring (15) are connected by at least one frangible bridge (6) which is configured to be disrupted when the lid (8) is moved from its closed position (9), causing an axial movement of the first indication ring (14) relative to the second indication ring (15), whereby the first indication ring (14) is coupled to a spring arrangement (33) so that the first indication ring (14) is spring-loaded in the direction of the container (2) prior to the disruption of the frangible bridge/s (6), whereby the spring force applied to the first indication ring (14) is configured to hold the first indication ring (14) in a defined position (37) after the disruption of the frangible bridge/s (6).

2. Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring arrangement (33) comprises a plurality of spring elements (34).

3. Closure device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring elements (34) are integrally formed with the base element (4).

4. Closure device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring elements are supported at their first distal end (35) by the base ring (4) and are supported with their second distal end (36) at the flange (20) of the first indication ring (14).

5. Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring arrangement (33) is configured to move the first indication ring (14) against the direction of gravity into its defined position (37) after disruption of the frangible bridge/s (6).

6. Closure device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring elements (34) are configured as spring tongues particularly with a flat cuboid-shaped spatial form.

7. Closure device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring elements (34) are arranged equidistantly around the inner surface of the cylinder-ring-shaped base element (4).

8. Closure device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring elements (34) have a radial length (38) that is equal to the radial length (39) of the flange (26) of the base element (4).

9. Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the base element (4), the spout (11) and the first indication ring (14) are configured to define an axial linear plain bearing (40) in which the first indication ring (14) is guided into its defined position (37) after the disruption of the frangible bridge/s (6).

10. Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the second indication ring (15) is co-axially arranged in the first indication ring (14).

11. Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first indication ring (14) and the second indication ring (15) are connected by at least one radially oriented frangible bridge (6).

12. Closure device (1) according claim 1, characterised in that the second indication ring (15) is connected to the lid (8) whereby the axial movement of the first indication ring (14) is limited at a defined position (16) within the base element (4) in the direction of the opening of the lid (8), causing a disruption of the radially oriented frangible bridge (6), when the lid (8) is moved out of its closed position (9), whereby the lid (8) comprises a spout sealing ring (17) which projects from the lid bottom (18) axially inwardly into the closure device (1) and which contacts the outer surface of the spout (11), whereby the second indication ring (15) is connected to the spout sealing ring (17).

13. Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first indication ring (14) comprises a flange (20) projecting radially to the outside of the closure device (1) at its distal end facing the container (2).

14. Closure device (1) according to claim 13, characterised in that the spring arrangement (33) is coupled with the flange (20) so that the spring force of the spring arrangement (33) is applied to the flange (20).

15. Closure device (1) according claim 13, characterised in that the free ends of the spring elements (34), preferably configured as spring tongues, rest spring-loaded on the flange (20) in the non-disrupted state of the frangible bridge/s (6).

Description

[0063] FIG. 1 an isometric view on a closed and an open closure device,

[0064] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view on a closed closure device,

[0065] FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view on a closed but once opened closure device,

[0066] FIG. 4 a cross-sectional view on an open closure device,

[0067] FIG. 5 a cross-sectional view on the tamper evidence indication means,

[0068] FIG. 6 schematic drawings of different embodiments of the temper evidence indication means,

[0069] FIG. 7 schematic drawings of different embodiments of the temper evidence indication means,

[0070] FIG. 8 a cross-sectional view detail view on the closure device with a spring arrangement in the initially closed state and in the once opened state,

[0071] FIG. 9 a cross-sectional view detail view on a head-stand closure device with a spring arrangement in the initially closed state and in the once opened state,

[0072] FIG. 10 a cross-sectional view detail view on the closure device with a spring arrangement in the initially closed state and in the once opened state, and

[0073] FIG. 11 a cross-sectional view on the tamper evidence indication means during assembly with assembly shaft.

[0074] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view on a closed and an open closure device 1. The closure device 1 in its closed position 9 is shown in the left section of the FIG. 1 while the closure device 1 in its open position 10 can be found in the right section of FIG. 1. The FIG. 1 shows that closure device 1 is fixed to a container 2 in which a flowable material 3 is stored. The basically ring-shaped base element 4 of the closure device 1 can be fastened on a corresponding container opening 5 of the container 2, e.g. by screwing und/or snap-fit means.

[0075] As visible from the representation of the closure device 1 in its open position 10, the in general cylindrical spout 11 is positioned inboard of the base element 4 and has a dispensing opening 7 projecting axially out of the base element 4.

[0076] The cup-shaped lid 8 is connected to the base element 4 by a hinge 12. The lid 8 has a circular-shaped lid bottom 18 from which the cylinder-ring-shaped shell surface 30 projects axially into the direction of the container 2. Preferably, the lid 8 is made of a transparent plastic material. The lid 8 may also be configured in a way that the shell surface 30 is made partly or entirely of a transparent plastic material to allow the visibility of the temper evidence means 13 from outside of the closure device 1.

[0077] The lid 8 can be moved back and forth between the closed position 9 in which the lid 8 closes the dispensing opening 7, so that the flowable material 3 is retained in the container 2 and its open position 10 in which the flowable material 3 can be released from the container 2. The hinge 12 is formed by a material bridge between the base element 4 and the lid 8. The hinge 12 is preferably formed monolithically with the base element 4 and the lid 8. The lid 8 is made of a transparent plastic material that is configured to allow the visibility from outside the dispensing device 1 on the temper evidence indication means 13 in their initially closed state.

[0078] Referring to the closure device 1 in its open position 10, it can be seen, that the closure device 1 comprises tamper evidence indication means 13 for visually indicating if the lid 8 of the closure device 1 has once been moved out of its closed position 9. The tamper evidence indication means 13 consist of a first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15. The function of the temper evidence means will be explained in more detail in the following by referring to FIG. 2-5.

[0079] Further, the base element 4 comprises a flange 26 projecting radially to the inside of the closure device 1 defining a duct 27 for pass-through of the spout 11, whereby the spout 11 comprises a flange 28 projecting radially to the outside of the closure device 1, whereby the spout 11 is positioned at least partly inside of the base element 4 so that a ring-shaped channel 29 is formed between the spout flange 28 and the base element flange 26.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view on a closed closure device 1 which has not been opened after initial closing.

[0081] The closure device comprises the temper evidence indication means 13 with the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 co-axially arranged in the first indication ring 14. The first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 are connected by multiple radially oriented frangible bridges 6 which are configured to be disrupted when the lid 8 is moved from its closed position 9. The disruption of the frangible bridges 6 is causing an axial movement of the first indication ring 14 relative to the second indication ring 15 which can be very well seen by comparing the positions of the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In the shown embodiment the first indication ring 14 slides in the direction of gravity while the second indication ring 15 remains in place at the spout sealing ring 17. While being in its undisrupted state, the first indication ring 14 covers the view from the generally horizontal viewing direction of a consumer on the second indication ring 15. Therefore, the first indication ring 14 has a first axial height 21 and the second indication ring 15 has a second axial height 22 whereby in the non-disrupted condition the second axial height 22 is completely covered by the first axial height 21 and the first axial height 21 and the second axial height 22 are chosen to be between 1.5:1-5:1, which can be especially seen from FIG. 5.

[0082] The first indication ring 14 has a first optical property and the second indication ring 15 has a second optical property being different form the first optical property.

[0083] Hence, the consumer can optically distinguish between an originally closed and once-open state of the closure device 1.

[0084] An optical property can be chosen from a group comprising light absorption properties, light reflection properties, transparency, opacity, gloss, a surface structure, especially one or more openings, one or more elevations, one or more recesses and any combination of these properties.

[0085] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2-3 the first optical property is light absorption in the range of 380-750 nm and the second optical property is light absorption in the range of 380-750 nm, whereby the light absorption ranges of the first optical property and the second optical property are different from each other. Even more preferred the light absorption rate of the first optical property is below 5% over the range of 380-750 nm and the second optical property is a light absorption rate above 50% in the range of 380-750 nm.

[0086] The tamper evidence indication means 13 are made from one or more plastic materials by bi-injection moulding.

[0087] The second indication ring 15 is connected to the lid 8 and the axial movement of the first indication ring 14 within the closure device 1 is limited at a defined position 16 within the base element 4 in the direction of the opening of the lid 8, causing a disruption of the radially oriented frangible bridge 6, when the lid 8 is moved out of its closed position 9. The first indication ring 14 comprises a flange 20 projecting radially to the outside of the closure device 1 at its distal end facing the container 2, The flange 20 contacts the base element flange 26 defining the defined position 16 in the initially closed position 9 of the closure device 1.

[0088] The lid 8 further comprises a spout sealing ring 17 which projects from the lid bottom 18 axially inwardly into the closure device 1 and which contacts the outer surface of the spout 11. The second indication ring 15 is connected to the spout sealing ring 17 by interlocking means 19 for fixing the second indication ring 15 on the spout sealing ring 17.

[0089] The lid 8 has a shell surface 30 which is concavely shaped to the inside of the closure device 1.

[0090] What is also visible from FIG. 1 is that the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 are positioned inboard of the closure device 1, so that the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 are not in direct contact with the environment surrounding the closure device 1.

[0091] What becomes obvious by comparing the FIGS. 2 and 3 is that the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 are coaxially positioned to each other and the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 having an axially overlapping section 41 before and after the lid 8 of the closure device 1 has once been moved out of its closed position 9. The first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 are coaxially positioned to each other and the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 having an axially overlapping section 41 before and after the lid 8 of the closure device 1 has once been moved out of its closed position 9 when the lid 8 is in its closed position.

[0092] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view on an open closure device 1. The hinge 12 connects the lid 8 with the base element 4 so that the lid 8 can be pivoted back and forth to cover or uncover the spout 12. In the shown embodiment, the hinge 12 is a flexible material bridge monolithically formed with the base element 4 and the lid 8.

[0093] What is also shown in the FIG. 5 is that the first indication ring 14 has a first radial ring width 23 and the second indication ring 15 has a second radial ring width 24 which is different from the first radial ring width 23.

[0094] The frangible bridge/s 6 is/are ring shaped or ring-segment shaped. The ring-shape or the ring-segment-shape is flat, hence, the axial thickness of the ring-shape or ring-segment-shape is lower than the radial length which can be very well seen from the detail view shown in the lower section of FIG. 5. Although not visible from FIG. 5, the temper evidence indication means 13 in the shown embodiment comprise a plurality of frangible bridges 6, whereby the number of frangible bridges 6 is six. The plurality of frangible bridges 6 are essentially identical in ring-segment shape and they are equidistantly positioned between the first indication ring 14 and the second indication ring 15 at an angle of 60°.

[0095] The FIGS. 6-7 show alternative combinations of optical properties. In the embodiment shown in the upper section of FIG. 6, the first indication ring 14 is made of an opaque material which has a colour perceived as white, whereas the second indication ring 15 is made of an opaque material which has a colour perceived as being white. The second indication ring 15 comprises openings 31 in the shape of letters, which become visible, when the first indication ring 14 is moved axially below the second indication ring 15. The spout 11 preferably has a colour perceived as being different from white, for example red, orange, blue or violet, so that the openings are contrasted against the white second indication ring 15.

[0096] In the lower section of FIG. 6, an embodiment is shown in which the first indication ring 14 is made of an opaque material which has a colour perceived as white, whereas the second indication ring 15 is made of an opaque material which has a colour perceived as being white. The second indication ring 15 comprises elevations 32 and/or recesses 32 e.g. in the shape of letters, which become visible, when the first indication ring 14 is moved axially below the second indication ring 15.

[0097] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in which the first indication ring 14 is made of an opaque material which has a colour perceived as white with elevations 32 and/or recesses 32 in its surface, for example in the shape of letters, which become invisible, when the first indication ring 14 is moved axially below the second indication ring 15. The second indication ring 15 is made of an opaque material which has a colour perceived as being white. The spout 11 preferably may have a colour perceived as being different from white.

[0098] The spring arrangement of the closure device 1 will now be described in more detail by turning to FIG. 8-10. FIG. 8-10 show cross-sectional detail views of the temper evidence indication means 13.

[0099] What can be seen well in the FIGS. 8-10 is that the first indication ring 14 is coupled to a spring arrangement 33 so that the first indication ring 14 is spring-loaded in the direction of the container 2 prior to the disruption of the frangible bridge/s 6. The spring force applied to the first indication ring 14 is configured to hold the first indication ring 14 in a defined position 37 after the disruption of the frangible bridge/s 6 which is shown in FIG. 10.

[0100] The base element 4 and the spout 11 are configured to define an axial linear plain bearing 40—as shown in FIG. 10—in which the first indication ring 14 is guided into its defined position 37 after the disruption of the frangible bridge's 6. The inner surface of the first indication ring 14 is guided by an axial section 43 of the spout 11, The outer surface of the first indication ring 14 is guided by the axial front surface of the base element flange 26. A tilting of the first indication ring 14 while moving its defined position 37 after the disruption of the frangible bridge's 6 is thereby prevented and the functional safety of the temper evidence indication means 13 is increased.

[0101] The spring arrangement 33 comprises a plurality of spring elements 34, which are integrally formed with the base element 4. The spring elements 34 are supported at their first distal end 35 by the base ring 4 and are supported with their second distal end 36 at the flange 20 of the first indication ring 14. In the shown embodiment, the spring elements 34 are configured as spring tongues with a flat cuboid-shaped spatial form. The spring elements 34 are arranged equidistantly around the inner surface of the cylinder-ring-shaped base element 4.

[0102] The spring arrangement 33 is coupled with the flange 20 so that the spring force of the spring arrangement 33 is applied to the flange 20. The free ends of the spring elements 34 configured as spring tongues rest spring-loaded on the flange 20 in the non-disrupted state of the frangible bridge/s 6, which is shown in the upper representation of FIG. 8.

[0103] In the lower configuration, the state of the temper evidence indication means 13 is shown after the disruption of the frangible bridge's 6. Here, the first indication ring 14 is hold in its defined position 37 by the spring elements 34, which still rests against the flange 20 ensuring that the first indication ring 14 is hold in the shown position 37. The spring force of the spring elements 34 also supports the movement of the first indication ring 14 into its defined position 37 after the disruption of the frangible bridge/s 6.

[0104] The embodiment in FIG. 8 shows a conventional closure device 1, where the dispensing opening 7 of the closure device 1 is above the container 2 in its intended transport and/or storage position.

[0105] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment where the closure device 1 is arranged below the container 2 in its intended transport and/or storage position, which is also known as head-stand closure device. The closure devices 1 from FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are identically configured. The spring arrangement 33 of the head-stand closure device 1 of FIG. 9 is constructed to move the first indication ring 14 against the direction of gravity into its defined position 37 after disruption of the frangible bridge/s 6.

[0106] FIG. 10 especially shows that the spring elements 34 have a radial length 38 that is equal to the radial length 39 of the flange 26 of the base element 4.

[0107] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view on the temper evidence indication means 13 during assembly with assembly shaft 42. The assembly shaft is basically cylindrically-shaped with a shoulder 44, Extending axially from the shoulder 44 is a shaft section that has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the shoulder section of the assembly shaft 42 so that this smaller diameter section can be moved into the first indication ring 14. This section smaller in diameter has an axial height that corresponds to the difference of the first axial height 21 and the second axial height 22. The temper evidence indication means 13 are placed on the cylinder-shaped assembly shaft 42, which has the shoulder 44 on which the flange 20 of the first indication ring 14 rests. The second indication ring 15 rests against the front surface 45 of the assembly shaft 42. Hence, during assembly of the temper evidence indication means 13, no axial stress is exposed to the frangible bridge/s 6 and the position of the temper evidence indication means 13 is well defined during assembly.

[0108] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures. The above description is therefore not to be regarded as restrictive, but as explanatory. The following patent claims are to be understood in such a way that a named feature is present in at least one form of implementation of the invention. This does not exclude the presence of further features. If the patent claims and the above description define ‘first’ and ‘second’ features, this indication serves to distinguish two features of the same kind without establishing an order of priority.

REFERENCES

[0109] 1 closure device [0110] 2 container [0111] 3 flowable material [0112] 4 base element [0113] 5 container opening [0114] 6 frangible bridge [0115] 7 dispensing opening [0116] 8 lid [0117] 9 closed position [0118] 10 open position [0119] 11 spout [0120] 12 hinge [0121] 13 tamper evidence indication means [0122] 14 first indication ring [0123] 15 second indication ring [0124] 16 position [0125] 17 spout sealing ring [0126] 18 lid bottom [0127] 19 interlocking means [0128] 20 flange [0129] 21 first axial height [0130] 22 second axial height [0131] 23 first radial ring width [0132] 24 second radial ring width [0133] 26 base element flange [0134] 30 shell surface [0135] 31 opening [0136] 32 elevations/recesses [0137] 33 spring arrangement [0138] 34 spring elements [0139] 35 first distal end [0140] 36 second distal end [0141] 37 position [0142] 38 radial length [0143] 39 radial length [0144] 40 plain bearing [0145] 41 axial overlapping section [0146] 42 assembly shaft [0147] 43 axial spout section [0148] 44 shoulder [0149] 45 front surface