IMPROVED TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE

Abstract

Embodiments of a tamper-evident closure are disclosed which prevent unauthorized access to a container and its contents, deterring adulteration or introduction of counterfeit product. In one embodiment the tamper-evident closure can be fitted to an associated container and closure, and includes a portion which is removed by fracture of the tamper-evident closure to gain access to the container closure. In another embodiment, an arrangement of wedge-like tongues permit fitment of the tamper-evident closure to associated container for temper-evidence. In another embodiment, the tamper-evident closure is joined by frangible bridges to the container closure to provide the desired tamper-evidence. In another embodiment, the tamper-evident closure is movable axially of the associated container closure to thereby provide evidence of removal.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident closure, comprising: an upper, annular top wall portion defining a central opening, and a discontinuous, annular skirt portion depending from said top wall, said skirt portion defining a finger opening to facilitate gripping of said skirt portion, and a lower, annular sleeve portion depending from said annular skirt portion, said annular sleeve portion and said skirt portion being distinguished from each other by a circumferential line of weakness, said top wall defining a fracturable portion extending from said finger opening defined by said skirt portion to said central opening defined by said upper, annular top wall portion and terminating at a fracturable region, so that gripping of said skirt portion at said finger opening permits fracture of said fracturable region and separation and removal of said top wall portion and said skirt portion from said lower, annular sleeve portion at said circumferential line of weakness, to thereby permit access to a container closure of an associated container.

2. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein an opening on the top wail terminates in the fracturable region and extends from the finger opening generally tangentially of the central opening.

3. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said annular skirt portion defines a plurality of axially extending projections on an inside surface of said skirt portion for engagement with said container closure to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

4. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said annular sleeve portion defines a plurality of projections on an inside surface thereof for engagement with said container to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

5. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said container closure of said associated container includes a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion depending therefrom, and including an axial retention element for removably maintaining the container closure in sealing cooperation with said container.

6. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 5, wherein said axial retention element comprises an annular retention bead on said container for engagement with said container closure.

7. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closure of said associated container includes a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion depending therefrom, and includes a bore sealing element retained in a spout opening of the associated container by a frictional fit for sealingly engaging a bore defined by said container, said bore sealing element depending from an inside surface of said top wall portion and selected from the group consisting of: a plug seal element, a polymeric cork, and an organic cork.

8. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closure of said associated container includes a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion depending therefrom, and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam followers on said skirt portion, wherein said cam followers are spaced and configured to engage a plurality of cam ramps on an outer circumferential surface of the associated container.

9. A tamper-evident closure, comprising: a top wall portion, and an annular skirt portion depending downwardly therefrom, and defining a circumferential fracturable region extending between upper and lower portions of said skirt portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart wedge-shaped tongues depending downwardly from said skirt portion beneath said fracturable region, said wedge-shaped tongues each including a vertical surface and an inclined surface, wherein the inclined surface is inclined away from a longitudinal axis of said closure assembly, and a lower sleeve portion configured to surround a spout of an associated container, and defining a plurality of recesses configured to respectively accept said wedge-shaped tongues, said top wall portion and said upper skirt portion being removable from said lower skirt portion by fracture of said fracturable region.

10. A tamper-evident closure in accordance with claim 9, wherein said fracturable region includes a staggered interface, including at least one cam so that rotation of said upper portion skirt portion relative to said lower portion of said skirt portion causes said cam to urge said lower portion of said skirt portion and said wedge-shaped tongues downwardly.

11. A tamper-evident closure assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein said lower sleeve portion includes at least one pierceable web positioned at a respective one of said recesses, said web being pierced by the respective one of said wedge-shaped tongues attendant to rotation of said upper skirt portion relative to said lower portion of said skirt portion, thereby urging said lower portion of said skirt portion downwardly.

12. A tamper-evident closure assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein said tamper-evident closure can be fitted to an associated container having a container closure, said tamper-evident closure being joined to said container closure so that said container closure is removed from said container together with removal of said top wall portion and upper skirt portion after fracture of said fracturable region.

13. A tamper-evident closure assembly, comprising: an inner, container closure, and a tamper-evident closure positioned over said container closure, and comprising an overcap including a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion depending from said top wall portion, and a lower, annular sleeve portion depending from said annular skirt portion, said tamper-evident closure including a circumferential tamper-evident tear band positioned between said overcap and said lower, annular sleeve portion, including a tear tab with an inner protrusion thereon, said tear band being joined to said lower sleeve portion of said tamper-evident closure at a circumferential, fracturable region, and further being joined to said container closure at circumferentially spaced frangible bridges, said annular skirt portion of said overcap defining a plurality of slots to separate the skirt portion into sections and to respectively receive said frangible bridges, at least one of said sections having a recess configured to retain said inner protrusion of said tear tab, said overcap being positioned over said container closure to at least partially conceal the tear band and limit accessibility to said tear tab, with rotation of said overcap of relative to said lower skirt portion thereof urging said inner protrusion outwardly so the tear tab becomes accessible for removal of said tear band by fracture of said frangible bridges.

14. A tamper-evident closure assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein after said rotation of said overcap, said overcap and said container closure are locked together for simultaneous removal of said overcap and said container closure from an associated container.

15. A tamper-evident closure, comprising: an overcap including a top wall portion positioned to overlie a container closure of an associated container, and inner and outer annular skirt portions depending from said top wall portion, and an annular sleeve portion depending from said top wall portion, said sleeve portion including a plurality of upper sleeve segments fracturally joined to each other, and positioned between said inner and outer skirt portions of said overcap, wherein relative movement of said overcap axially of said annular sleeve portion fractures and separates said sleeve to enable access to said container closure,

16. A tamper-evident closure assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein said top wall portion of said overcap fractures and separates from said inner and outer skirt portions attendant to said relative movement of said overcap axially of said sleeve portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded, diagrammatic, isometric view depicting a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a tamper-evident closure configured to provide tamper-evidence for an associated container;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the tamper-evident closure shown in FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the tamper-evident closure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, isometric view depicting the first embodiment of the present invention, including a container closure for an associated container, after removal the tamper-evident closure arrangement shown in FIGS. 1-3, thereby providing access to the container closure;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of the first embodiment showing a friction fit arrangement for the container closure;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 depicting an alternative configuration of the container closure;

[0023] FIG. 7 is diagrammatic, isometric exploded view further showing the container closure of FIG. 4, and the arrangement of the associated container for cooperation therewith;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing a further alternative embodiment of the container closure;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view depicting another embodiment of the tamper-evident closure of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view depicting a portion of the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 9;

[0027] FIG. 11 is an exploded, diagrammatic, side-elevational view further depicting the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 9;

[0028] FIG. 11A is an exploded, diagrammatic, isometric view depicting a variation of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 11B is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view further depicting a portion of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 11A;

[0030] FIG. 11C is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view further depicting a portion of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 11A;

[0031] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic, isometric view depicting another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic, isometric view further illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 12;

[0033] FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic, isometric view further illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 12;

[0034] FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12-14;

[0035] FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic, isometric view depicting another embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 17 is an exploded, diagrammatic, cross-sectional view depicting the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 16;

[0037] FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view depicting the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 16; and

[0038] FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic, isometric view depicting the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 16 during removal from an associated container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] While the present invention is susceptible to embodiment in various forms, there are shown in the drawings and hereinafter be described various embodiments, with the understanding these embodiments are considered to be exemplary of the invention, and are not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0040] Embodiments of the present invention include tamper-evident designs which meet the required shelf-evident tamper-resistance without the possibility of semi-retained pieces falling into the beverages.

[0041] In accordance with the present invention, various embodiments of a tamper-evident closure for use with a container having a container closure sealingly applied thereto. In some embodiments, removal of the tamper-evident closure provides access to the container closure and access to the container contents. In other embodiment, the tamper-evident closure acts in concert with the container closure, so that at least a portion of the tamper-evident closure is removed together with the container closure to provide a so-called single opening event. Introduction of any loose components of the tamper-evident features into the container contents is desirably avoided.

[0042] With reference now to FIGS. 1-5, therein is shown a first embodiment of the present invention, comprising a tamper-evident closure 10. This type of closure is sometimes referred to as a security seal, and can be configured for fitment to an associated container and container closure. The desired shelf-evident tamper-resistance is achieved with a tear-away band configured as a discontinuous skirt portion, with a window-like finger opening providing access to manipulate, fracture, and separate the band.

[0043] In a presently preferred embodiment, the tamper-evident closure 10 is molded from high density polyethylene (HDPE), but other suitable polymeric materials can alternatively be employed.

[0044] In this embodiment, the tamper-evident closure 10 comprises an upper, annular top wall portion 12 defining a central opening 14, and a discontinuous, annular skirt portion 15 depending from the top wall 12. A lower, annular sleeve portion 17 depends from the annular skirt portion 15. The closure 10 is thus configured for fitment to the neck portion or like feature of the finish of an associated container C. The annular top wall portion is configured for positioning over a circumferential rim of an associated container closure 18.

[0045] The discontinuous skirt portion 15 defines a window-like finger opening 19 to facilitate gripping and outward manipulation of the skirt portion 15 and the top wall portion 12. The annular sleeve portion 17 and the skirt portion 15 are distinguished from each other by a circumferential line of weakness 16, such provided as by suitable scoring, circumferentially spaced frangible bridges, or like preferential weakening. The top wall 12 defines a finger-like fracturable portion 13 that extents generally inwardly from the finger opening 19 to the central opening 14, and which terminates at a fracturable region 16. The opening on the top wall that terminates in the fracturable region 16 extends from the finger opening 19 generally tangentially of the central opening 14, and thus defines the fracturable portion 13.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the inside surface of skirt portion 15 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending projections 15, which are configured to engage and cooperate with container closure 18 to prevent relative rotation between the skirt portion and the closure 18. To this end, the container closure 18 can be provided with gripping knurls 18 for engagement with the projections 15, with the wedge-like configuration of the knurls 18 desirably acting to align the components with each other during assembly. The inside surface of annular sleeve portion 17 can similarly be provided with a plurality of projections 17 for engagement with the associated container to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

[0047] For removal of the tamper-evident closure 10, the skirt portion 15 is gripped and manipulated at the finger opening 19, and pulled generally radially outwardly, with the fracturable portion 13 of the top wall portion fracturing and torn at the fracturable region 16. The skirt portion 15 and top wall portion 12 can thereafter be removed together from the lower sleeve portion 17 by fracture at the line of weakening 16, with the sleeve portion 17 typically remaining in place on the associated container C.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows the tamper-evident closure 10 with the top wall portion 12 and skirt portion 15 removed to reveal the now accessible container closure 18 in the form of a reclosable cap, such as a twist-off stopper. Notably, economical manufacture of this embodiment is promoted in that the geometry of the finger opening 19 and fracturable portion 13 of the tear-off portion of the closure can be formed with axial-open and strip molds, as opposed to side-action molds, thus reducing tooling costs, and ultimately the cost of the product. Once removed, the band-like element is discarded in its entirety, with no vestiges capable of making their way into a consumer's vessel.

[0049] In this embodiment, the tamper-evident closure 10 is shown with a container fitted with an anti-refill closure assembly, including a one-way valve member 19, which desirably inhibits introduction of adulterated or counterfeit product, such as an adulterated spirits product, into the container. However, it to be understood that any of the embodiments of the present invention can be employed with closures or container pouring fitments other than the illustrated anti-refill arrangement.

[0050] The container closure 18 and the associated container may include an axial retention element for removably maintaining the container closure in sealing cooperation with the container. The axial retention element may comprise an annular retention bead 25 on the container for engagement with the container closure (see FIG. 7). The container closure may be configured to include a sealing element retained in the spout opening of the associated container by a frictional fit for sealingly engaging a bore defined by the container. Such a bore sealing element depends from an inside surface of said top wall portion of the container closure 18, and may include one of: (1) a plug seal element 20, (2) a polymeric cork 28 (FIG. 8), and (3) an organic cork.

[0051] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative arrangement for the container closure of the assembly, including a closing/opening mechanism comprising a cam and the retention bead 25 for opening and retention, respectively. At least one cam ramp 24 on the outer circumferential surface of the container, such as on pouring fitment 22, interacts with a respective one of the plurality of cam followers 26 on the underside of the skirt of the primary closure 18 to provide a mechanical advantage to urge the closure upwardly to overcome annular retention bead 25 on fitment 22. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam followers 26 are shown, with the cam followers spaced and configured to respectively engage a plurality of cam ramps 24. This allows for a simple pop-on/twist-off package interaction that requires no pre-orientation.

[0052] As will be appreciated, sealing features such as disclosed above, as well as the one or more cam ramps and followers 24, 26, and/or an axial retention element such as annular retention bead 25, can be included in the following embodiments of the invention, as may be desired.

[0053] A further embodiment of the present closure assembly 110 is shown in FIGS. 9-11, and includes a tamper-evident closure having an upper portion or overcap 112, and which includes an arrangement of nesting tongues 113, and recesses 114 in the lower sleeve portion 117 of the closure. This arrangement provides the desired tamper-evident access to the inner, container closure 118, and may be configured such that the overcap 112 and container closure 118 are removed together to provide a single opening event.

[0054] As shown, in this embodiment, the overcap 112 includes a top wall portion, and an annular skirt portion depending downwardly therefrom. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, wedge-shaped tongues 113 depend downwardly from the skirt, with the wedge-shaped tongues 113 each comprising a vertical surface and an inclined surface, wherein the inclined surface is inclined upwardly and away from a longitudinal axis of the closure.

[0055] The lower sleeve portion 117 of the closure is provided in the form of a sleeve configured to surround a container spout. The sleeve comprises a plurality of the recesses 114 to respectively receive and accept the wedge-shaped tongues 113 during fitment of the tamper-evident closure 110 to a container to which the container closure 118 has already been applied. In this embodiment each of the tongues 113 defines an upper, locking surface which cooperates with a respective one of the recesses 114 to lock the tongue in the recess.

[0056] A fracturable region of the tamper-evident closure 110 is provided at a preferentially weakened line of weakness 115 in the overcap 112, which separates and distinguishes a lower portion of the skirt from an upper portion of the skirt portion. The wedge-shaped tongues are thus provided on the lower skirt portion for respective disposition in the recesses 114 defined by the lower sleeve portion 117. Suitable frangible leaders or bridges, such as defined between cuts, scores, or molded gaps, provide the desired fracturable connection at the line of weakness 115. The line of weakness comprises a staggered interface, and defines at least one cam 116, as shown. By this arrangement, rotation of the upper portion of the overcap 112, relative to the lower skirt portion and the lower sleeve portion 117 fractures the line of weakness, and causes the cam 116 to urge the lower skirt portion and the wedge-shape tongues downwardly. It is contemplated that function in this fashion is best achieved by fixing the lower sleeve portion 117 against rotation on the associated container.

[0057] Thus, when the upper portion of the overcap 112 is removed and the frangible leaders or bridges are broken, cam 116 on the overcap 112 forces the lower skirt portion and wedge-shaped tongues 113 downwardly, which in this embodiment creates a readily visually discernable staggered interface. This staggered interface thus is the shelf-evident tamper-resistance. Desirably, the tamper band is secured in the sleeve geometry, with tongues 113 retained in recesses 114, thus eliminating any parts which can fall off.

[0058] This version of the present invention can be configured such that the crenellations in the sleeve portion 117, which receive the wedge-shaped tongues 113, are webbed over, or covered. By virtue of a point of weakness in the web, and corresponding high contact pressure geometry on the wedge-shaped tongues, the web is pierced by the tamper-evidence actuation, leading to retained, irreversible tamper-evidence.

[0059] FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate this variation of this embodiment of the present invention, including the provision of pierceable webs 114. Each such pierceable web is positioned in the lower sleeve portion 117 at the bottom of a respective one of the recesses 114. The webs 114 are pierced by the respective ones of the wedge-shaped tongues 113 received in each recess attendant to rotation of the upper skirt portion relative to the lower portion of the skirt portion, with the action of cam 116 thereby urging the lower skirt portion downwardly. As illustrated in FIG. 11C, each of the tongues 113 can be provided with a respective piercing element 113 for effecting piercing of the respective web 114.

[0060] In this embodiment, the overcap 112 and the associated container closure 118 are configured to be secured to each to each other, including the provision of circumferentially extending ribs 119 for axially joining the overcap and closure, and the provision of gripping knurls 119 for fixing the closure against rotation relative to the overcap. It will also be noted that in this embodiment, the container closure 118 is fracturably joined to the sleeve portion 117 at a preferentially weakened circumferential line of weakening 118.

[0061] One of the desirable aspects of this embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, and in FIGS. 11A-11C, is the manner in which the upper and lower components of the construction, including tongues 113 and recesses 114 defined by the sleeve portion 117, smoothly blend together, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the arrangement.

[0062] Yet another embodiment of a tamper-evident closure is shown in the form of a closure 210, as shown in FIGS. 12-15. This embodiment includes an inner, container closure 218 having a circumferential tamper evident tear ring or band 216, having a tear or pull tab 220. The tear band is joined to a lower sleeve portion 217 of the tamper-evident closure at a fracturable region, with the tear band in turn connected to the inner container closure 218 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, generally radially extending frangible bridges 215 (the container closure 218 and lower sleeve 217 are molded together).

[0063] An outer closure or overcap 212 of the tamper-evident closure is fitted over and locks on to the container closure 218, and is preferably assembled onto the container closure 218 and the sleeve portion 217 so the arrangement can be fitted as an assembly to the associated, filled container. The overcap 212 includes a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. The overcap 212 is positioned over the container closure 218 to at least partially conceal and limit accessibility to the tear tab, with the tear band 216 thus positioned between the overcap 212 and the lower sleeve portion 217 of the outer, secondary closure.

[0064] The overcap 212 of the tamper-evident closure 210 is configured for limited rotation relative the container closure 218, and relative to the lower sleeve portion. The overcap 212 includes a plurality of gaps or slots 223 to separate the skirt portion thereof into sections, with the resultant gaps or slots respectively receiving the radially extending frangible bridges 215 between the container closure 218 and the tear band 216 of the closure.

[0065] At least one inner protrusion 221 is provided on the inner diameter of the tear band 216 at the pull tab 220. A corresponding recess 222 for the protrusion 221 is provided in one of the skirt sections of the rotatable overcap 212, such that it retains the protrusion feature axially, but allows for relative rotation between the overcap 212 and the container closure 218 and sleeve portion 217. A slight relative rotation urges the protrusion 221 outwardly, which in turn causes the pull tab 220 to protrude from the cylindrical envelope of the closure sleeve portion, making the tab accessible. At the end of the travel in which the tab has been flared out to its maximum extent, the overcap 212 and container closure 218 lock together. The consumer removes the circumferential tamper-evident tear band 216 (which fractures bridges 215), and proceeds to open the package without further inhibiting features. Again, a single opening event is achieved by removal of the overcap 212 and the container closure 218 together.

[0066] Thus, this embodiment functions such that rotation of the overcap 212 exposes a previously difficult to access pull tab 220 for a tear-off band 216. The split skirt and cam geometry is fitted to the sleeve/stopper with discrete connections between the sleeve portion and the stopper, i.e., the container closure (which are molded together).

[0067] Yet one more embodiment of a tamper-evident closure 310 shown is in FIGS. 16-19, and functions to provide the desired tamper-evidence attendant to axial movement of an overcap of the arrangement relative to the associated sleeve portion. A unique, champagne-like opening action is thus achieved.

[0068] In this embodiment, closure 310 includes an overcap 312 having a top wall portion 311, and inner and outer annular skirt portions 313, 315, depending from the top wall portion. The top wall portion 311 overlies an inner, container closure 318, and may be joined to the container closure such as by the provision of suitable adhesive, fusion bonding, mechanical features, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the top wall portion 311 is fracturable attendant to opening, and to this end is fracturably joined to the inner and outer skirt portions at frangible connections 311.

[0069] The tamper-evident closure 310 further includes an annular sleeve portion 317 depending from the overcap 312. Notably, the sleeve portion 317 includes a plurality of upper sleeve segments 319 which are fracturably joined to each other at frangible connections 319. The sleeve segments are further fracturably joined to the lower portion of the sleeve portion 317 at frangible ribs 320 (FIG. 17).

[0070] Tamper-evident actuation of this embodiment is effected by urging the overcap 312 downwardly of the sleeve portion 317, which relative axial movement acts to drive the sleeve segments 319 upwardly between the inner and outer skirt portions 313, 315. A plurality of wedge-like splitting elements 321 provided on the overcap 312 engage the sleeve segments at the respective fractuable connections 319, separating and fracturing the segments, and fracturing frangible ribs 320. As noted, in the illustrated embodiment, attendant to this relative axial movement, the top wall portion 311 of the overcap 312 is fractured and separated by fracture of frangible connections 311, thereby providing the desired access to container closure 318. This embodiment improves upon the current art in the increased difficulty of both reproduction and reuse.

[0071] There are several advantages of the different embodiments. By way of example, and by no means exclusive, some embodiments, such as FIGS. 1-8, allow the consumer to remove the tamper-evident piece and discard it prior to using the package. This action eliminates the potential of a piece of the tamper band hanging up on or otherwise remaining connected to other components of tamper-evident closure, and undesirably falling off during the pouring step. In a further embodiment, for example FIGS. 9-11 and FIGS. 11A-11C, there are no break-away pieces, and the closure can be difficult to reassemble and thus resell, and has a unique aesthetic. Similarly, in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-15, there are no break-away tamper-evident components. In an alternative embodiment, for example FIGS. 16-19 pieces are allowed to break away, but the improvement lies in the increased difficulty to the counterfeiter of reassembling the multiple connection points. It also has a unique opening mechanism and aesthetic.

[0072] From the foregoing, it will observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modification as fall within the scope of the claims.