DISPENSING CLOSURE WITH TAMPER-EVIDENT PUSH-BUTTON

Abstract

A closure includes a closure body having a deck and a circumferential skirt. An opening is formed in the deck and a receiving recess is formed in the circumferential skirt or in the deck. A lid is hingedly connected to the closure body, and a tamper-evident push-button is formed in one piece with the lid. The lid and the push-button are connected by frangible connections. The tamper-evident push-button is received in the receiving recess upon first time closing of the lid. The receiving recess is adapted to allow the tamper-evident push-button to be pushed whilst in the receiving recess so as to break the frangible connections and allow opening of the lid. The push-button has a coupling member to couple the push-button to the closure body. The coupling member provides a tilting axis allowing tilting movement of the push-button with respect to the closure body when it is pushed in.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure for a container, said dispensing closure comprising: a closure body having a deck and a circumferential skirt, wherein a dispensing orifice is formed in the deck and a receiving recess is formed in the circumferential skirt, which receiving recess has an open deck-sided end, a lid which is hingedly connected to the closure body, the lid having a closed state in which it covers the dispensing orifice and at least a part of the deck, and having an open state in which it is swivelled away from the deck about a hinging axis, such that a product can be dispensed from the container through the dispensing orifice, a tamper-evident push-button formed in one piece with the lid, wherein the lid and the push-button are connected by frangible connections, wherein the tamper-evident push-button is received in the receiving recess upon first time closing of the lid, wherein the receiving recess is adapted to allow the tamper-evident push-button to be pushed whilst in the receiving recess so as to break the frangible connections and allow opening of the lid, wherein, while the push-button is connected to the lid by the frangible connections, the push-button is configured and oriented or orientatable such that upon first time closing of the lid and the lid is swivelled about the hinging axis from the open to the closed state, the push-button is insertable in the receiving recess from said open deck-sided end.

2. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the push-button has a coupling member to couple the push-button to the closure body, said coupling member being located opposite the frangible connections, and wherein the recess has an end opposite the deck-sided end, which is adapted to receive the coupling member.

3. The dispensing closure according to claim 2, wherein the coupling member provides a tilting axis allowing tilting movement of the push-button with respect to the closure body when it is pushed in.

4. The dispensing closure according to claim 2, wherein the coupling member is formed as an anchor pin having at least one transverse retaining lug, and wherein the corresponding end of the recess includes an opening allowing insertion of the anchor pin, and wherein upon insertion of the anchor pin in said opening, the transverse retaining lug gets caught behind an edge of said opening and prevents the anchor pin to be retracted.

5. The dispensing closure according to claim 4, wherein the coupling member has two transverse retaining lugs which form a tapering shape.

6. The dispensing closure according claim 1, wherein retaining means are provided adapted to retain the push-button in a pushed-in state in the receiving recess after first time opening, wherein the retaining means comprise at least one clamp ridge in a central region of the recess seen in a width direction, and wherein a protrusion is formed on a central region of a rear surface of the push-button, seen in the width direction, wherein the clamp ridge and the protrusion are configured an arranged to cooperate and retain the button in a pushed-in state.

7. (canceled)

8. The dispensing closure according to claim 6, wherein the clamp ridge is formed by a support rib formed in the central region of the recess.

9. The dispensing closure according to claim 8, wherein the retaining means comprises two support ribs in the central region of the recess, said support ribs being spaced apart.

10. The dispensing closure according to claim 9, wherein two protrusions are formed on the rear surface of the push-button, each arranged and adapted to engage one of the support ribs.

11.-14. (canceled)

15. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the lid has a peripheral rim which in the closed state is flush with the circumferential skirt.

16.-17. (canceled)

18. A closure for a container, said closure comprising: a closure body having a deck and a circumferential skirt, wherein the closure body defines an opening, a lid which is hingedly connected to the closure body, the lid having a closed state in which it covers the opening and the deck, and having an open state in which it is swivelled away from the deck and opening about a hinging axis, such that a product contained in the container can pass through the opening, a tamper-evident push-button formed in one piece with the lid, wherein the lid and the push-button are connected by frangible connections, wherein: a receiving recess is formed in the closure body, the tamper-evident push-button is positioned in or over the receiving recess upon first time closing of the lid, wherein the receiving recess is adapted to allow the tamper-evident push-button to be pushed into the receiving recess so as to break the frangible connections and allow opening of the lid, and the push-button has a coupling member to couple the push-button to the closure body, wherein the coupling member provides a tilting axis allowing tilting movement of the push-button with respect to the closure body when it is pushed in.

19. The closure according to claim 18, wherein an attachment surface is formed in the recess and wherein the coupling member is welded to the attachment surface after first time closing of the lid.

20. The closure according to claim 18, wherein said tilting axis is provided by a hinge that interconnects the push-button and the coupling member.

21. The closure according to claim 18, wherein the coupling member is formed as an anchor pin having at least one transverse retaining lug, and wherein the recess includes an anchor opening allowing insertion of the anchor pin, and wherein upon insertion of the anchor pin in said anchor opening, the transverse retaining lug gets caught behind an edge of said anchor opening and prevents the anchor pin to be retracted.

22. The closure according to claim 18, wherein the receiving recess is formed in the deck.

23. The closure according to claim 18, wherein the receiving recess is formed in the skirt.

24. The closure according to claim 18, wherein retaining means are provided adapted to retain the push-button in a pushed-in state in the receiving recess after first time opening.

25. (canceled)

26. The closure according to claim 18, wherein the closure is a one-piece injection moulded part.

27. The closure according to claim 18, wherein the hinge between the lid and the closure body is located opposite the push-button.

28. The closure according to claim 18, wherein the lid has a peripheral rim which in the closed state is flush with the circumferential skirt.

29.-30. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of an embodiment of a closure according to the invention in an open state before first time closing;

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a view in perspective of the closure of FIG. 1 in a closed state after first time closing;

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the closure in the open state of FIG. 1;

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the line A-A in FIG. 3, but with the closure in a closed state;

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a partially sectioned side view of the closure in the closed state of FIG. 2;

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a view in perspective of another embodiment of a closure according to the invention in an open state before first time closing;

[0054] FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the closure of FIG. 6, in a state while first time closing the lid;

[0055] FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the closure of FIG. 6 in a closed state;

[0056] FIG. 9 shows a view in perspective of another embodiment of a closure according to the invention in an open state before first time closing;

[0057] FIG. 10 shows a view in perspective of the closure of FIG. 9 in a closed state after first time closing;

[0058] FIG. 11 shows in a view in perspective a push-button of the closure of FIG. 10 in the closed state after first time closing;

[0059] FIG. 12 shows in a view in perspective a push-button of the closure of FIG. 10 in the pushed in state;

[0060] FIG. 13 shows a cross-section of the closure of FIG. 10, after first time closing; and

[0061] FIG. 14 shows a cross-section of the closure of FIG. 10 with the push-button in the pushed in state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0062] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a possible embodiment of a dispensing closure 1 according to the invention. The dispensing closure 1 comprises a closure body 2 and a lid 3, which is connected to the closure body 2 by a hinge 4. The closure body 2 and the lid 3 are preferably made in one piece by injection moulding using a suitable plastic material. Non-limiting examples of suitable plastic materials are PP and PE. The hinge 4 is moulded in one piece with the lid 3 and the closure body 2. The hinge 4 may be a so called living hinge or bi-stable hinge.

[0063] The closure body 2 and the lid 3 in this specific embodiment have an oval contour. However, it must be understood that within the scope of the invention any other suitable contour shape is possible, such as a circular shape, a rectangular or square shape, or a polygonal shape.

[0064] The closure body 2 comprises a deck 5. The deck 5 forms the upper surface of the closure body 2. In the deck 2 a dispensing orifice 6 is formed. In this specific embodiment the dispensing orifice 6 is surrounded by an upstanding collar 7. However, it is noted that also embodiments without such a collar or with a more spout-like collar are also conceivable within the scope of the invention. Embodiments with or without a self-closing valve mounted at the orifice 6 are within the scope of the present invention.

[0065] On the inner side of the closure body 2 a so called inner skirt 22 is formed, which extends from the deck 5 coaxially with dispensing orifice 6. This inner skirt 22 is only partly visible in FIG. 5, but is a common feature adapted to allow the closure to be arranged and secured on a neck of the container, usually by some kind of snap structure.

[0066] The closure body 2 furthermore comprises an outer skirt 8, which is a circumferential skirt that extends from the deck 5. In the shown embodiment the outer skirt 8 thus has an oval contour. The skirt 8 has a free end 9, which in an upright position of the closure 1 will be the lower end, and adjoins the container wall when arranged on the container.

[0067] Opposite the hinge 4 a recess 10 is formed in the skirt 8, as is best visible in FIGS. 1 and 3. The recess 10 is all through the wall of the skirt 8, i.e. at the recess 10 the skirt 8 is open towards the inner side. An inwardly extending rim 12 extends in a concavely curved manner from the deck 5 to a lower point and back to the deck 5. The recess 10 has a deck sided end 10A, which in FIG. 1 is the upper end of the recess 10. The deck sided end 10A is open.

[0068] Opposite to the deck sided end 10A is a lower end 10B of the recess 10, which, seen in width direction, is in the centre. At the lower end 10B an opening 13 is formed in the inwardly extending rim 12. The opening 13 is adapted to receive a coupling member as will be described further below.

[0069] Two spaced apart elongate support ribs 11 are formed at the rear of the recess 10 in a central region thereof, seen in width direction. The support ribs 11 each extend in height direction from the deck-sided end 10A to the lower end 10B and adjoin the deck 5 and the inwardly extending rim 12, respectively. The support ribs 11 are substantially parallel. The supporting ribs 11 are extending slanting from the deck 5 forward to the skirt 8 as can be best seen in FIG. 5.

[0070] The lid 3 has a cover surface 14 and a peripheral rim 15 that extends from the cover surface. In the closed state the peripheral rim 15 of the lid 3 and the circumferential skirt 8 of the closure body 2 are flush as is visible in FIG. 2. It is noted though that this is not necessary for the invention.

[0071] A tamper-evident push-button 16 is attached to a free end of the peripheral rim 15 by means of frangible connections 17. The frangible connections 17 bridge a small gap between the upper end of the push-button 16 and the lower free end of the peripheral rim 15. The push-button 16 is moulded in one piece with the lid 3 and the frangible connections 17. FIG. 1 shows the orientation in which the push-button 16 is moulded with respect to the lid 3. The hinge 4 defines a hinging axis. The lid 3 can rotate about this hinging axis between an open position shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position shown in FIG. 2. The push-button 16 extends in a tangential direction with respect to the rotational movement about the hinging axis. In this orientation, the push-button 16 can be inserted from above, via the deck sided end 10A, in the recess 10 of the closure body 2, upon first time closing of the lid 3.

[0072] In the embodiment shown in the figures the covering surface 14 is substantially flat and the circumferential rim extends perpendicular to the covering surface. It is however also conceivable that the lid has another shape, for example a dome shape with a convex outer side.

[0073] The push-button 16 has a coupling member 18 formed on a side remote from the lid, in particular opposite the side where the frangible connections 17 are located. The coupling member 18 is adapted to couple the push-button 16 to the closure body 2.

[0074] The coupling member 18 is in this specific embodiment formed as an anchor pin 19 having two transverse retaining lugs 20. The opening 13 in the inwardly extending rim 12 of the recess 10 allows to insert the anchor pin 19. Upon insertion of the anchor pin 19 in the opening 13, the transverse retaining lugs 20 get caught behind a respective edge of the opening 13 and prevents the anchor pin 19 to be retracted. The transverse retaining lugs 20 have a slanting surface which guides them past the respective edges of the opening 13. They form a tapering shape which is best seen in FIG. 4 which tapering shape facilitates insertion of the anchor. When making the closing movement the transverse retaining lugs are also sliding by the slightly slanting support ribs 11, such that the anchor of the coupling member is guided towards the opening 13.

[0075] The closure 1 is made by an injection moulding process, which allows it to be produced in large quantities by the industry. After the closures 1 are moulded they are ejected from the mould in the open state as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The closures 1 will be closed by an automated device such that they are in a state in which they are ready to be placed on a container. The configuration and arrangement of the open end 10A of the recess, the support ribs 11, the opening 13, and the coupling member 18 having an anchor pin 19 and transverse retaining lugs forming an anchor shaped end, facilitates the automated closing process of the closure 1. The configuration and arrangement is such that the frangible connections 17 are spared as much as possible during first time closing of the closure, whilst the coupling member 18 is securely fixed to the closure body 2 and is practically irremovable without causing visible damage to the closure 1.

[0076] On a rear side of the push-button 16 a pair of protrusions 21 is formed. The protrusions 21 are spaced apart and positioned such that they are each located in the space separating the support ribs 11 when the push-button 16 is pushed in, wherein each protrusion engages one rib 11 such that friction occurs between a so called clamping ridge of the respective ribs 11 and the respective protrusions 21. The protrusions 21 and the support ribs 11 thus constitute retaining means whereby the push-button 16 is retained in the pushed-in position, once it is pushed in the first time. Thus, the push-button 16 clearly shows that the tamper-evident closure 1 has been opened before.

[0077] The slanting supporting ribs 11 allow the push-button to move inwardly at the deck sided end, where the frangible connections 17 are formed on the push-button. At the opposite end (lower end) of the support ribs 11 the push-button 16 cannot move inwardly. Thus, the push-button 16 swivels inwardly around a swivelling axis defined by the transverse retaining lugs 20 engaging behind the lateral edges of the opening 13, when it is pushed in the first time. Once pushed in, the frangible connections 17 are subjected to transverse forces which will break them. The cooperation between the protrusions 21 and the support ribs 11 maintains the push-button 16 in this inwardly swivelled position.

[0078] The fact that the protrusions 21 and the support ribs 11 are located in a central region of the recess 10 and the fact that the retainment is based on clamping/friction, has the beneficial effect that minimal deformation occurs in the push-button 16 when it encounters resistance from the protrusions 21 engaging the support ribs 11, because the pushing force, like the resistance, is mainly applied in the middle of the push-button 16. The push-button 16 will be brought in a pushed-in position and it is warranted that it is held there. This is an advantage over the snap mechanism that is shown in JP 3320898, which may encounter problems due to the fact that the push force is applied in the middle, but the resistance of the snap-members is acting near the lateral edges of the push-button. The resiliency of the material may then hamper a reliable snapping when the push-button is pushed.

[0079] The retaining means 11, 21 shown in the figures are only a specific embodiment, however also other retaining means working on the principle of friction are conceivable.

[0080] The open recess 10 with only two support ribs 11 at the rear saves material and is possible because the push-button 16, that is received in the recess 10 when the closure 1 is closed will cover the recess 10 in the unused state but also in the pushed-in state.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows a dispensing closure 101 according to the invention in an open state before the lid 3 is closed for the first time after the product is ejected from the mould. The dispensing closure 101 is similar to the dispensing closure 1 of FIG. 1 and the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. For a description of these parts is referred to the above description. The main difference compared to dispensing closure 1 of FIG. 1 is the shape and orientation of the push-button 116 compared to the push-button 16 in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0082] The push-button 116 is moulded in an orientation in which it is tilted outward, as is best seen in FIG. 7 in which the push-button 116 is shown in its initial position indicated by 116. While the lid 3 is closed for the first time, the push-button 116 is forced inwardly by a force N to a position indicated with 116. The angle between the same push-button indicated by 116 and 116 is at most 30. The push-button 116 in the position indicated by 116 can enter the receiving recess 10 from the deck side or upper side and the anchor pin 19 is able to be inserted in the opening 13. When the anchor pin 19 is inserted in the opening 13, the transverse retaining lugs 20 get caught behind a respective edge of the opening 13. Finally the closed state as is shown in FIG. 8 is reached. This embodiment has the advantage that during production in the injection mould the lid 3 can be released easily due to the tilted orientation of the push-button. Therefor a slider, i.e. a movable core part can be omitted in the injection mould compared to a mould for producing the dispensing closure 1 of FIG. 1, which results in a less complex and thus cheaper mould. A disadvantage is that during first time closing of the lid 3, the frangible connections 17 have to be deformed to move the push-button inwardly (from 116 to 116). The advantage of a simpler mould however is of more economical importance.

[0083] In FIG. 9-14 a closure 1 for a container is shown. The container, which is not shown, may be a container having an open top which may for example contain a granular or powdered product, such as infant formula, powder milk or nutritional supplements. The closure 1 comprises a closure body 2 having a top side and a circumferential skirt 8. The skirt 8 is provided on its radial inner side with retaining lips 9 to attach the closure body 2 to a top side of the container. Other retaining members instead of lips 9 are also possible.

[0084] The top side of the closure 1 includes a deck 5. In the deck 5 an opening 6 is formed, which allows access to the container on which the closure 1 is placed. The closure body 2 thus forms annular base to be arranged on and attached to the container. In the deck 5, a receiving recess 10 is formed. The bottom 11 of the recess 10 is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the deck 5. Referring to FIG. 9, the deck 5 thus not only comprises portion shaped as a circle segment, in which the receiving recess 10 is formed, but also the circular arc-shaped rim portion adjoining the mentioned circle segment and extending around the opening 6.

[0085] The closure 1 furthermore comprises a lid 3 which is hingedly connected to the closure body 2 by a hinge 4. The lid 3 has a closed state, cf. FIGS. 10-14, in which it covers the opening 6 and the deck 5. The lid 3 also has an open state, illustrated in FIG. 9, in which it is swivelled away from the top side about a hinging axis defined by the hinge 4. In the open state a product can pass through the opening 6. For example powdered product can be taken from the container using a scoop or spoon.

[0086] A tamper-evident push-button 16 is formed in one piece with the lid 3 (cf. FIG. 9). The lid 3 and the push-button 16 are connected by frangible connections 17. The receiving recess 10 is formed in the closure body 2, in particular in the deck 5 (cf. FIG. 9). Upon first time closing of the lid 3 (cf. FIGS. 10, 11 and 13), the tamper-evident push-button 16 is positioned over the receiving recess 10. The receiving recess 10 is adapted to allow the tamper-evident push-button 16 to be pushed into the receiving recess 10, as is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 14, so as to break the frangible connections 17 and allow opening of the lid 3.

[0087] The push-button 16 has a coupling member 18 to couple the push-button 16 to the closure body 2. An attachment surface 19 is formed in or adjacent the receiving recess 10 and may be a portion of the bottom 11 of the recess 10 or a surface portion adjoining the bottom 11. The coupling member 18 is welded to the attachment surface 19 after first time closing of the lid 3. The coupling member 18 is welded to the attachment surface 19 by thermo-welding or preferably ultrasonic welding.

[0088] The coupling member 18 is interconnected with the push-button 16 by a hinge 20. Thus the coupling member 18, which is welded to the closure body, provides a tilting axis 23 (cf. FIG. 10) for the push-button 16 allowing tilting movement of the push-button 16 when it is pushed in the receiving recess 10. The hinge 20 may be a film hinge.

[0089] Retaining means 13 formed as lugs 14 on side walls of the retaining recess 10 are adapted to retain the push-button 16 in a pushed-in state (cf. FIGS. 12 and 14) in the receiving recess 10 after first time opening.

[0090] Referring to FIGS. 11-14, the user at first time opening of the closure 1 pushes the push-button 16 inwardly. The pressure on the push-button 16 causes the frangible connections 17 to break and the push button 16 pivots around the hinge 20 into the recess 10. The end of the push-button 16 remote from the hinge 20 is snapped under retaining lugs 14, cf. FIGS. 12 and 14, such that the push-button 16 remains in the pushed-in state and clearly indicates that the tamper-evident seal has been broken. Furthermore the tilted push-button 16 provides space to grab the lid 3 with a finger at an edge 15 and allows the user to pull the lid 3 upwardly and to move the lid 3 to an open position. In the open position the user can access the container to take some product from the container, for example with a scoop or a spoon.

[0091] The above embodiments of closures shown in the figures can be summarised as follows: [0092] A closure 1, 1 for a container, said closure comprising: [0093] a closure body 2, 2 having a deck 5, 5 and a circumferential skirt 8, 8, wherein the closure body defines an opening 6, 6, [0094] a lid 3, 3 which is hingedly connected to the closure body 2, 2, the lid 3, 3 having a closed state in which it covers the opening 6, 6 and the deck 5, 5, and having an open state in which it is swivelled away from the deck 5, 5 and opening 6, 6 about a hinging axis, such that a product contained in the container can pass through the opening 6, 6, [0095] a tamper-evident push-button 16, 116, 16 formed in one piece with the lid 3, 3, wherein the lid 3, 3 and the push-button 16, 116, 16 are connected by frangible connections 17, 17, [0096] wherein: [0097] a receiving recess 10, 10 is formed in the closure body 2, 2, [0098] the tamper-evident push-button 16, 116, 16 is positioned in or over the receiving recess 10, 10 upon first time closing of the lid 3, 3, wherein the receiving recess 10, 10 is adapted to allow the tamper-evident push-button 16, 116, 16 to be pushed into the receiving recess 10, 10 so as to break the frangible connections 17, 17 and allow opening of the lid 3, 3, and [0099] the push-button 16, 116, 16 has a coupling member 18, 18 to couple the push-button 16, 116, 16 to the closure body 2, 2, wherein the coupling member 18, 18 provides a tilting axis 23, 23 allowing tilting movement of the push-button 16, 116, 16 with respect to the closure body 2, 2 when it is pushed in.