TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE AND TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE AND CONTAINER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A tamper-evident closure for the attachment to a container body includes a cap portion which includes a top wall and a peripheral wall extending downwardly from the top wall, an attachment portion, a tamper-proof element arranged and integrally formed between the cap portion and the attachment portion, and a hinge portion including at least one wall section which is integrally formed with the peripheral wall and the attachment portion and connects the cap portion and the attachment portion. The at least one wall section of the hinge portion is formed between at least two cut outs, does not extend beyond an envelope defined by an outer surface of the peripheral wall and an outer surface of the attachment portion and has a substantially constant wall thickness which is essentially the same as the wall thickness of the peripheral wall.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident closure for the attachment to a container body, comprising: a cap portion comprising a top wall and a peripheral wall extending downwardly from the top wall); an attachment portion; a tamper-proof element arranged and integrally formed between the cap portion and the attachment portion; and a hinge portion comprising at least one wall section which is integrally formed with the peripheral wall and the attachment portion and connects the cap portion and the attachment portion; wherein the at least one wall section of the hinge portion is formed between at least two cut outs; the at least one wall section of the hinge portion does not extend beyond an envelope defined by an outer surface of the peripheral wall and an outer surface of the attachment portion; and the at least one wall section of the hinge portion has a constant wall thickness and in a horizontal plane section follows an outer curvature of the peripheral wall of the cap portion.

2. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is shaped to be attached to a tubular wall of the container body.

3. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cut outs comprise a U-shaped cut out delimiting a blocking portion extending downwards from the cap portion, said blocking portion being dimensioned to hold the cap portion in an opened position by interacting with at least one sidewall of the container body.

4. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the tamper-proof element comprises a plurality of frangible bridges between the peripheral wall of the cap portion and the attachment portion.

5. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the tamper-proof element comprises a tearable band between the cap portion and the attachment portion, or between the peripheral wall and the attachment portion.

6. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion consists of a single wall section which is formed between two vertical cut outs.

7. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion consists of two wall sections formed between vertical cut outs.

8. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 7, wherein a cut out between the two wall sections comprises an opening in the hinge portion, the width of the opening in a horizontal direction having preferably at least twice the width of the two wall sections.

9. Tamper evident The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the cap portion comprises an element for generating or maintaining a controlled atmosphere.

10. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, being integrally moulded from plastic material.

11. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the cap portion further comprises a sealing skirt which provides air-tightness when the cap portion is in a closed position.

12. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral wall comprises an outer wall which is arranged outside of a sealing skirt of the cap portion forming a gap of predetermined width between the sealing skirt and the outer wall.

13. A tamper-evident closure and container assembly for receiving loosely stored products, comprising: a container comprising a bottom element; and at least one sidewall integrally formed with the bottom element at a lower end of the at least one sidewall and extending perpendicularly from the bottom element, and forming an opening opposed to the bottom element; wherein the at least one sidewall having an upper end to which the tamper-evident closure according to claim 1 is attached and closes the opening of the container in an air-tight manner.

14. The tamper-evident closure and container assembly according to claim 13, wherein the container further comprises a tubular sidewall.

15. The tamper-evident closure and container assembly according to claim 14, wherein the cap portion comprises a sealing skirt being suitable to provide air-tightness when the cap portion is in a closed position, and wherein the sealing skirt cooperates with an inner surface of the sidewall of the container.

16. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 9, wherein the element for generating or maintaining a controlled atmosphere comprises an adsorbent.

17. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 10, wherein the plastic material comprises polyolefin based polymers.

18. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the cap portion forms a flip-top closure.

19. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is aligned with the peripheral wall.

20. The tamper-evident closure according to claim 1, wherein the constant wall thickness of the at least one wall section of the hinge portion is the same as the wall thickness of the peripheral wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] In the following, specific embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a closure according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the closure according to FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure according to FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a closure according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a closure in three dimensional view according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a side view of the closure according to FIG. 5;

[0048] FIG. 7 is a further side view of the closure according to FIG. 5 as shown from the side according to the paper plane of FIG. 6;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the closure according to the embodiment of FIG. 5;

[0050] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the closure according to the line A-A of FIG. 7;

[0051] FIG. 10 is a closure according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0052] FIG. 11 is a side view of the closure according to FIG. 10;

[0053] FIG. 12 is a closure and container assembly exemplified by the embodiment of the closure according to FIG. 10;

[0054] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the closure and container assembly according to FIG. 12;

[0055] FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the invention;

[0056] FIG. 15 shows a three dimensional view of the closure according to another embodiment of the invention with a different tamper-evident means; and

[0057] FIGS. 16 and 17 are side views of the closure according to FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0058] Throughout the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0059] In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the invention is shown. The tamper-evident closure 1 as shown therein is a flip-top closure for attachment to a tube of a container. The tamper-evident flip-top closure 1 can be moulded in one piece from plastic material and generally comprises a cover part 3 which, as will be explained in more detail later, can provide for an air-tight sealing engagement with the tubular sidewall around the opening of a container. The cover part 3 has a top wall 2 and a peripheral wall 7 extending downwardly from the top wall 2 which is essentially horizontally arranged. Preferably, the peripheral wall 7 extends perpendicularly downwardly from the top wall and, therefore, extends in a vertical direction.

[0060] As outlined above, references to geometrical positions have to be understood in the context of a closure and container assembly with closed cover part 3 and with the container standing with its bottom on a horizontal surface.

[0061] In the different embodiments as shown, the top wall 2 is additionally provided with a tab which allows a user to grip the tab 8 in order to lift it up to open the cover part 3. The tab 8 does not extend beyond the periphery of the top wall of the cover part 3 (and beyond an envelope defined by an outer surface of the attachment portion 4). This tab 8 is provided by a brim above a recess formed by an interruption of the vertical peripheral wall 7 on the front of the cover part (see FIG. 12). Although such tab 8 is shown throughout the embodiments, it is not a limiting feature and the closure could be provided without a tab. Likewise, a tab could be provided which is displaceable into a position in which it protrudes beyond the periphery of the top wall so that it can be gripped. Such a displaceable tab further provides child resistance properties to the closure. Further, the tab could be provided at the peripheral wall 7.

[0062] The closure 1 is further provided with an attachment portion 4 for the attachment to a container. The attachment portion, once attached to the container, maintains its position relative to the container, whereas the cap portion 3 can be moved relative to the attachment portion when opening the cover part 3. The attachment portion comprises a ring part 4. The outer surface of the ring part 4 is aligned with the outer surface of the peripheral wall 7 of the cover part 3. The attachment portion also comprises a snap portion 41 on the inner surface of the ring part formed by a recess fitting to a corresponding rib 26 on the outer surface of the sidewall of the container.

[0063] Further, the closure is provided with a means for generating or maintaining a controlled atmosphere. Such means 5 can be an adsorption means. The adsorption means is a desiccant chamber formed by a cylindrical wall 54, in which a desiccant is provided, and closed by a permeable cardboard 56. The breathable cardboard 56 is conventionally attached to the wall of the desiccant chamber, here by means of heat for crimping the lower end of the wall of the desiccant chamber.

[0064] Between the ring part 4 and the peripheral wall, there are several frangible bridges 6 serving as a tamper proof means placed between the cover part 3 and the ring part 4. Upon first opening of the cover part 3, the frangible bridges 6 break as an indication that the closure has been opened. Between the frangible bridges, a gap 9 is formed which extends around most of the radial extension of the closure.

[0065] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the hinge portion 10 is formed by a wall section 11 which is integrally formed with the peripheral wall 7 and the ring part 4. The wall section 11 of the hinge portion 10 is formed between two cut outs 12. The distance between the two cut outs 12 is preferably 8% to 53% of the outer diameter of the peripheral wall 7. The cut outs run essentially in a vertical direction and are essentially parallel to each other. The cut outs 12 start at the gap 9 and extend in an upwards direction towards the top wall 2 of the closure. Accordingly, the cut outs extend over a part of the height of the peripheral wall 7. The wall section 11 of the hinge portion 10 has the same wall thickness as the peripheral wall 7 and the ring part 4. Further, the wall section 11 of the hinge portion 10 does not extend beyond an envelope defined by an outer surface of the peripheral wall 7 and an outer surface of the ring part 4 of the attachment portion. Further, the wall thickness of the wall section 11 in a vertical section plane is constant. Accordingly, there is no pre-defined axis of rotation of the hinge portion 10.

[0066] The constant wall thickness of the wall section 11 can also be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

[0067] In. FIG. 2, it can be seen that the wall section 11 is flush with the outer surface of the peripheral wall 7 and the ring part 4.

[0068] Turning now to FIG. 3 which is a cross-sectional view of the closure according to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the wall section 11 of the hinge portion does not extend beyond an envelope defined by an outer surface of the peripheral wall 7 and an outer surface of the attachment portion 4. Further, it can be seen that there is no defined weakening of the wall section 11 forming a hinge portion. Instead, the whole wall section 11 serves as the hinge without a defined axis of rotation. Further it can be seen in FIG. 8, that there is a chamber 52 inside the adsorption means 5 for receiving an adsorbent material.

[0069] The embodiment of FIG. 4 is identical to that as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 except for the shape of the cut outs 12 which generate a wall section 11 of varying length in a circumferential direction of the closure. At the position with the smallest length, there is the preferred position of the wall section 11 which will bend most when the cap portion will be opened.

[0070] Turning now to FIGS. 5 to 9, a further embodiment of the invention is shown. The embodiment is identical to that as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 except for the geometry of the hinge portion 10. Accordingly, the description of the other elements is omitted and reference can be made to the description of the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0071] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the hinge portion comprises two wall sections 11a and 11b. Further, there is an opening 13 in the hinge portion acting as a common cut out between the wall sections 11a, 11b. The cut outs 12 are similar to those as shown in the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3. In other words, the first wall section 11a is formed between the first cut out 12 starting from gap 9 and the opening 13 in the hinge portion 10. The wall section 11b of the hinge portion is formed between the second cut out 12 also starting from the gap 9 and the opening 13 in the hinge portion. The width of the opening 13 in a horizontal direction is at least twice the width of the two individual separate wall sections 11a, 11b.

[0072] In this embodiment, the provision of two separate wall sections 11, 11b of the hinge portion which are at a distance to each other being at least twice the individual width of each wall section provides for a well-defined opening movement of the cover part when opening the closure 1.

[0073] Like in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the two wall sections 11a, 11b have a constant wall thickness when considered in a vertical section plane. The wall thickness corresponds to the wall thickness of the peripheral wall 7 as well as the ring part 4. Further, the outer surface of the wall sections 11a, 11b, the peripheral wall 7 in the region of the hinge and the ring part in the region of the hinge are flush with each other such that an envelope defined by an outer surface of the peripheral wall, the ring part and the wall sections is a curved plane with a curvature only in a horizontal direction, whereas the vertical direction of the envelope is straight.

[0074] From FIG. 9, which is a cross-sectional view according to A-A in FIG. 7, it can be derived that the wall sections 11a, 11b are arranged so as to form an angle a between their remotest positions. The angle preferably ranges from 10 to 60.

[0075] With regard to the other aspects, the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 9 is identical to that which was explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0076] FIGS. 10 to 13 show a further embodiment of the invention. Again, it distinguishes from the above-described embodiments only with respect to the geometry of the hinge section such that the description of the other parts can be omitted and reference can be made to the detailed description of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0077] The embodiment according to FIG. 10 is similar to that as shown in. FIG. 5 in that the hinge portion comprises two wall sections 11a and 11b. However, there is a difference in that the cut outs 12 starting from the gap 9 between the peripheral wall 7 and the ring part 4 do not extend vertically upwards from the gap 9 into the wall of the peripheral wall 7, but extend in a downwards direction starting from gap 9. In other words, the cut outs 12 extend into the wall of the ring part 4.

[0078] Instead of the opening 13 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 7, a U-shaped cut out 14 is provided. The U-shaped cut out 14 is formed such that the basis 15 of the U is horizontally arranged essentially at the lower end of the cut outs 12, whereas the two side pieces 16 of the U extend vertically upwards from the basis 15 of the U and vertically upwards therefrom. As a result of this, the first wall section 11a is formed between cut out 12 and the adjacent side pieces 16 of the U-shaped cut out 14, whereas the second wall section 11b is formed between its adjacent cut out 12 and the adjacent, second side piece 16 of the U-shaped cut out 14. Also in this embodiment, the two wall sections 11a, 11b form hinges identical to that as explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9.

[0079] In contrast to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, there is no opening 13 of an essential rectangular shape in the hinge portion, but a blocking portion 18 which is integrally formed with the peripheral wall 7 and depends downwardly from the peripheral wall 7. The blocking portion 18 is surrounded by the U-shaped cut out 14. The blocking portion has the function to cooperate, once the closure 1 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 has been attached to a container body, as a means for maintaining the cover part 3 of the closure in an open position.

[0080] A closure and container assembly is shown in FIG. 12. The container 20 has a sidewall 22 which is integrally formed with the bottom element 24. The tubular sidewall 22 extends perpendicularly from the bottom element and forms an opening 26 opposed to the bottom element 24. The tamper-evident closure is attached to the sidewall 22 close to the opening 26 and is held in place by a rib 28 on the sidewall 22 (best shown in FIG. 13). Further, the closure according to this embodiment of the invention is also provided with a receiving structure for a means 5 for generating or maintaining a controlled atmosphere. It can be a conventional stopper element which is provided with desiccant but also other types of active agent like oxygen scavengers are contemplated.

[0081] When the closure according to FIGS. 10 and 11 is attached to the body of the container, and the cover part 3 is opened into the position as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the cover part 3 is kept in the opened position. This is achieved by means of the blocking portion 18 which extends downwards from the cover part 3 and is dimensioned and shaped such that it holds the cover part 3 in an opened position by interacting with the upper end of the sidewall 22 of the container body.

[0082] To this end, the blocking portion 18 is dimensioned such that it slightly bends in a radially inwards direction during the opening of the cover part 3. When bent in an inwards direction, the blocking portion 18 can slip over the upper end of the sidewall 22. When further pivoting the cover part 3, the blocking portion 18 snaps back into its relaxed position and form a form lock by extending over the outer surface of the sidewall of the container body. Since a certain bending force acting on the blocking portion 18 is required to close the cover part 3 again, the cover part 3 is kept in the opened position and does not fall back into the closed position even in case that a means 5 for generating or maintaining a controlled atmosphere is provided with a certain weight. Accordingly, the blocking portion 18 serves for further convenience to a user of the closure and container assembly.

[0083] FIGS. 15 to 17 show another embodiment similar to that according to FIGS. 10 and 11. The only difference lies in the provision of a tear band 67 as a tamper-evident means. The tear band 67 is provided with an extension 68 to conveniently grip and remove the band when opening the container for the first time.

[0084] The inventive closure and closure and container assembly has the advantage that the closure can be made in one piece and comprises a hinge that is an alternative to the previously known hinges. It can be manufactured in one piece in closed position in order to include the tamper-evident means and is provided with a hinge without a considerable weakening of the material and without a pre-defined position of the rotational axis. In such a way, the hinge will not easily become worn-out and is less prone to breaking.

[0085] In all embodiments of the invention, provisions can be made to provide an air-tight sealing of the cover part 3 on the container. Such sealing can be effected either by means of a single sealing structure using a sealing skirt providing air-tightness of the container when the cover is in the closed position. The sealing skirt 32 can be best seen in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3 and 8. It is provided with an outwardly protruding, convex projection 34 which serves to abut against the inner surface of the sidewall 22 when the closure 1 is correctly positioned on top of the sidewall of the container body. Such structure provides a sealing contact surface consisting a small contact surface formed by the apex of the convex projection 34 in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the sidewall 22. Such small contact surface has superior sealing properties because the deformation of the convex projection compensates surface irregularities. Such sealing structure with one sealing element or two cooperating sealing elements can be provided in all embodiments as described above, but also together with a closure and container assembly of a different geometry, e.g. with a plurality of sidewalls and of a rectangular cross-sectional shape.