Abstract:
A closure structure for a container includes a body having a containing wall for closing the container, the containing wall having a dispensing orifice. A lid is operatively associated with the containing wall to cover the dispensing orifice in a closed position and uncover the dispensing orifice when the lid is moved away from the closed position. In one embodiment, a tamper-indicating member includes a press portion connected by a hinge to the lid, and an anchor portion connected to the body, the press portion connected at a frangible junction to the anchor portion, whereby the press portion can be moved sufficiently relative to the body to separate the press portion from the anchor portion. The anchor portion is connected to the body by an anchor member extending radially from the body. The anchor portion includes an aperture. The body includes a radially extending head which captures the aperture when the anchor portion is pressed to the body. The head can be flattened to make the connection between the anchor portion and the body more secure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to tamper-evident systems for containers which must be altered in some fashion to obtain access to the container contents, the alteration being evidence that the container has been previously opened. The present invention is especially suited for a tamper-evident construction wherein a panel must be severed or separated to open the container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART 
     A variety of container closures have been developed or proposed wherein an initial opening of a lid or a dispensing spout structure provides visual evidence of such an occurrence--even after the lid or spout has been subsequently closed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,487,324 and No. 4,941,592 disclose closures which incorporate a locking band or tab that is attached to either the lid or body of the closure with a plurality of frangible webs so as to initially retain the closure lid to the body in the closed position. To initially open the closure, the user must break the frangible webs by pushing or pulling on a tab or band. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,440 describes a container closure which includes a body for mounting on a container. The body defines a dispensing orifice. A lid is disposed on the body for being moved between open and closed positions relative to the dispensing orifice. A tamper-indicating member is provided as a unitary extension from the lid. A first frangible web connects the member to the lid. An anchor is connected with a second frangible web to another portion of the tamper-indicating member, and the anchor is retained by the closure body. The tamper-indicating member includes a graspable pull tab which can be pulled to completely sever the frangible webs connecting the tamper-indicating member to the lid and to the anchor. This permits the lid to be opened while providing evidence of tampering with the closure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,907 discloses a closure for a container that has a body and a lid. The closure includes a tamper-indicating member connected to the body of the closure by an anchor member received in an anchor member-receiving aperture defined in the closure body. The tamper-indicating member is also connected along a frangible junction to the lid of the closure. A plug member extends from the tamper-indicating member and is receivable in a plug member-receiving aperture defined in the body. When the tamper-indicating member is depressed to force the plug member into the plug member-receiving aperture, the frangible junction is broken, and the tamper-indicating member is retained in its depressed position. This provides an indication that the closure may have been previously opened. 
     While the above-discussed closures can function well for the purposes for which they have been designed, it would be desirable to provide an improved tamper-evident closure which could be readily fabricated with certain types of lids or flow control elements and which, prior to the initial opening, could blend in with, or enhance, the cosmetic appearance of the closure. It would also be desirable for such a tamper-evident closure to be easily molded as one piece, including lid, body, and tamper-indicating portion, and to be easily deployed after molding to its tamper-indicating ready condition for eventual delivery to a user. 
     Further, it would be advantageous if such an improved closure could be initially opened relatively easily by the user. After such an improved closure has been initially opened and then closed, the closure should furnish a very clear indication that it has been previously opened. It would also be desirable to provide an improved tamper-evident closure design that includes a tamper-indicating member which, when altered during opening of the closure, would not result in the creation of a separate scrap piece that would require disposal. 
     The present invention provides an improved tamper-evident or tamper-indicating closure which can accommodate designs having the above-discussed benefits and features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a tamper-indicating closure structure that includes a tamper-indicating member or tab which extends between a lid part and a body part of the closure structure, and includes a unique and novel system for fixing the tab to the body part. The tab includes an anchor portion for attachment to the body part, and a press portion connected by a frangible junction to either the anchor portion or the lid part and breakable at the frangible junction to free the lid part from the body part to open the closure structure. 
     In a preferred form of the invention, the anchor portion includes an aperture, and the body part includes a radially extending head. Pressing the anchor portion against the body part acts to snap fit the aperture over the head to at least temporarily hold the tab to the body part. If necessary, the head can then be flattened or otherwise deformed to make the connection more permanent. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the tab of the tamper-indicating closure structure includes an anchor portion for attachment to the body part, and a press portion which is connected by a frangible junction to the anchor portion and which is connected by a hinge to the lid part. The frangible junction is breakable to free the lid part from the body part to open the closure structure. 
     The present invention provides a novel tamper-indicating dispensing structure which blends well with, and/or enhances, the cosmetic appearance of a container or a closure and yet can be easily manipulated by the user to permit the structure to be opened for dispensing. The structure of the invention gives a clear indication of an initial opening of the structure. The structure, if embodied as a closure, can be configured to be easily molded as a single piece which can be mounted on a container in a tamper-indicating ready condition, i.e., ready to be first opened by a user. 
     The features of the invention can be adapted for use in a variety of dispensing container or closure designs. In one illustrated embodiment, the features can be incorporated in a closure having a body suitable for mounting as a separate piece on a container. Alternatively, the body could be formed as a unitary part of, or extension of, the container. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a dispensing closure structure includes a body defining a dispensing orifice, and a lid for closing the dispensing orifice. In such a preferred embodiment, the body is adapted to be mounted on the container. The lid may be hinged to the body or may be a separate piece otherwise adapted to engage the body. 
     The tamper-indicating member includes a press portion that is connected to one of the lid or the body via a hinge. The press portion is also connected to the other one of the lid or the body via a frangible junction. The hinge allows deflection of the press portion of a magnitude sufficient to break the frangible junction. In the preferred form of the invention, the press portion is hinged to the lid and anchored to the body. 
     The press portion can be retained in the inwardly displaced orientation as a further indication that the frangible junction has been broken. The retention of the press portion in the inwardly displaced position can also provide a space below an overhanging part of the lid to accommodate a person&#39;s finger for lifting the lid away from the body. 
     In the preferred form of the invention, the connection of the tamper-indicating member to the body is effected at least by an aperture through the anchor portion for receiving an anchor member which extends from the body. The anchor portion can be pushed inwardly in a region adjacent the anchor member so as to force the anchor member into the aperture of the anchor portion. If required, the anchor member can be subsequently deformed to more securely fix the anchor portion to the body. 
     The dispensing structure, including body, lid, and tamper-indicating member, can be molded as a unitary, separate closure which is snap-engaged into the tamper-indicating ready condition. The closure can be cost effectively manufactured and installed on a container. 
     Numerous other advantages or features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an unassembled closure of the present invention shown in the as-molded, open condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the closure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the closure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the closure of FIG. 1 in a partially assembled state or configuration with the lid closed; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 5 in a fully assembled state or final assembly configuration mounted on a container neck; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 6 after a tamper-indicating portion has been manipulated to permit a lid of the closure to be opened; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the closure in a closed and final assembly configuration corresponding to the configuration shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the closure of FIG. 8 after the tamper-indicating element is broken; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a alternate embodiment closure in a fully assembled state; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the closure of FIG. 10 after a tamper-indicating element is broken; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 10 in the final assembly configuration; and 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 12 after a tamper-indicating portion has been manipulated to permit a lid of the closure to be opened. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
     For ease of description, the dispensing structure of this invention is described in various operating positions. It will be understood, however, that the dispensing structure of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in orientations other than the positions described. 
     FIGS. 1 through 9 illustrate one presently preferred embodiment of the dispensing structure of the invention, in the form of a dispensing closure designated generally by the reference number  20 . The dispensing structure or closure  20  is provided as a separately manufactured unit for mounting to the top of a container  22 , such as to a container neck  22   a  (shown partially in FIG.  6 ). It will be appreciated, however, that it is contemplated that in some applications it may be desirable for the dispensing structure  20  to be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container  22 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the closure  20  is molded as a unitary structure from a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Typically, the closure  20  is molded in the open condition as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing structure or closure  20  includes a lid  24  and a body  26 . The lid  24  is connected by a hinge  30  to the body  26 . Preferably, the hinge  30  is a snap-action hinge formed integrally with the lid  24  and body  26 , in a molded unitary structure. The illustrated snap-action hinge  30  is a conventional type as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,824. The snap-action hinge readily maintains the lid  24  in the open position during the dispensing of the container contents at the application site. Alternatively, the lid  24  can be tethered to, or completely removable from, the closure body  26 . 
     The closure body  26  includes a skirt  36  which defines a lower opening  42  for receiving a container neck  22   a  of a container  22  (as illustrated in FIG.  6 ). The skirt  36  is adapted to surround and engage the container neck  22   a  of the container  22 . The skirt  36  can include conventional threads  44  which engage conventional threads  22   b  on the container to secure the closure body  26  to the neck  22   a  of the container  22 . 
     A conventional closure-to-container tamper-indicating band  43  is formed around the opening  42 . In FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4 ,  5 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  the tamper-indicating band  43  is illustrated in a preliminary condition before being properly formed to engage a container. In FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8  and  9  the tamper-indicating band  43  is shown completely formed. In FIG. 6 the tamper-indicating band  43  is shown completely formed and engaged to the container neck  22   a.    
     A deck  48  (FIG. 1) extends radially inwardly from the upper end of the skirt  36 . The deck  48  includes an upwardly extending cylindrical wall or nozzle  52  defining a dispensing orifice  56 . Outwardly of the deck  48 , the upper end of the skirt  36  defines lateral shoulders or side ledges  64 ,  66 . 
     The lid  24  includes bottom surface portions  68 ,  70  which abut the side ledges  64 ,  66  when the lid  24  is closed to the body  26 . The lid  24  also includes a locating ring  74  with a beveled edge  76  which is sized to slide down around the cylindrical wall or spout  52  (as shown in FIGS.  5  and  6 ). The ring  74  includes a radial seal bead  74   a  which seals against an outside surface of the spout  52 . The lid  24  further includes a support ring  153  on an inside surface thereof (FIGS.  5  and  6 ). The support ring  153  supports the lid to withstand the downward forces generated in the forming of the tamper-indicating band  43 . 
     The lid  24  has an outer peripheral wall  86 . The wall includes a substantially rectangular recess  87  on a front side thereof (“front side” when the lid is in a tamper-indicating ready condition as shown in FIG.  6 ). A tab or tamper-indicating member  94  extends from a top edge of recess  87  (“top edge” when the lid is in a tamper-indicating ready condition as shown in FIG.  6 ). The tamper-indicating member  94  is connected to the lid  24  at the top edge by a film hinge  110 , and includes a press portion  116  and an anchor portion  120 . 
     The tamper-indicating member  94  is preferably curved to match the outside contours of the body  26  and lid  24  (as shown in FIG.  8 ). The hinge  110  is preferably molded with the closure  20  as a reduced thickness section of material. 
     A wall recess  140  extends into the skirt  36  on a front side thereof. The recess  140  is sized to receive the anchor portion  120  of the tamper-indicating member  94  when the anchor portion  120  is pivoted into its tamper-indicating ready position. The recess is preferably sized and shaped to receive the anchor portion  120  in a close fitting or tight clearance manner. This permits the member  94  and the skirt  36  to have substantially flush outer surfaces (FIGS.  6  and  8 ). A second, adjoining recess  141  allows for molding of the closure with an anchor member  130  (described in detail hereinafter) in a mold without side action mold parts. A raised, ribbed surface  143  extends around the body skirt  36  to the recesses  140 ,  141  for providing a gripping surface. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the press portion  116  and anchor portion  120  are connected by a frangible junction  124 . The frangible junction  124  could be molded with closure  20  as a reduced thickness section of material defined by an interior notch or groove. The frangible junction  124  could also be an intentionally weakened junction created by partially cutting through a thickness of the frangible junction  124  with perforations, scoring, indentations, or created by materials selection, tapering, or other means to define an easily breakable junction between the press portion  116  and the anchor portion  120 . According to the preferred embodiment, the frangible junction includes a substantially linear gap  125  bridged by two webs or bridges  124   a ,  124   b  as illustrated in FIG.  3 . The bridges are relatively easily breakable by force exerted on the frangible junction. 
     Extending from the skirt  36  is the anchor member  130 . The anchor member  130  has a neck  132  which terminates at a rounded cylindrical head  134  (illustrated most clearly in FIGS.  1  and  4 ). The anchor member  130  extends from a central area of the recess  140 . 
     The anchor portion  120  of the tamper-indicating member  94  includes an anchor member-receiving aperture  138 . The aperture  138  has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the head  134 . 
     During assembly, the lid  24  is initially closed onto the body  26  by being rotated about 180° to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this position of the lid  24 , the member  94  is still in its initial, or first, as-molded position extending outwardly from the front of the lid peripheral wall  86 . The tamper-indicating member  94  is subsequently forcibly rotated about the hinge  110  downwardly about 90° in the direction A (indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 4 and 5) and then snap-engaged to the anchor member  130 . The anchor member-receiving aperture  138  of the anchor portion  120  captures the anchor member  130  as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. 
     When the tamper-indicating member  94  is rotated and pressed into a tamper-indicating ready position, the head  134  is sized to be pushed through the aperture  138  owing to the resilient deformation of the head and/or resilient stretching of the anchor portion  120  around the aperture  138 . Thus, the contoured surface of the head  134  can temporarily stretch the aperture  138  to an increased diameter, and/or the head can be temporarily deformed, so as to accommodate insertion of the head. The aperture  138  and/or the head  134  return to their original, undeformed shapes once the head has passed through the anchor portion  120  to a front side of the aperture  138  so as to retain the anchor portion  120 , in snap fit fashion, on the anchor member  130 . The aperture  138  then circumscribes the neck  132 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the closure  20  after the member  94  has been pivoted downwardly and anchored to the body skirt  36 . The closure  20  is in a tamper-indicating ready condition wherein it is ready to be first opened by a user. The head  134 , after having been received in snap fit fashion into the aperture  138 , has been peened or flattened such that the anchor portion  120  cannot be pulled outwardly from the head  134  without breaking or tearing either the head  134  or the skirt  36 . The anchor member  130  fixes the anchor portion  120  of the member  94  to the body  26  at a location which is below, but adjacent to, a pressing space  148 . The pressing space  148  is generally defined within the lid  24 , between the spout  52  and the press portion  116 . The press portion  116  of the member  94  defines an unsupported span over the pressing space  148  from the frangible junction  124  to the hinge  110 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the spout  52  can carry a flow control assembly  147  which regulates flow between the container interior and exterior through the orifice  56 . The assembly  147  can include a flexible valve member  148  captured between an internal collar  149  of the spout  52  and a snap-in valve retainer  151 . An annular, flexible “crabs claw” shaped seal  145  projects from the lower surface of the closure body deck  48  to seal against a top surface of the container neck  22   a  so as to provide a leak-tight seal between the closure body  26  and the container neck  22   a . Of course, other types of closure body container seals may be employed. 
     The threads  44  of the skirt  36  engage threads  22   b  of the container neck  22   a  to releasably attach the closure  20  on the container  22 . The closure body  26  could also be releasably attached to the container  22  with a snap-fit bead and groove, or by other means. Alternatively, the closure body  26  may be permanently attached to the container by means of a suitable snap-fit, or by means of induction melting, ultrasonic melting, glueing, or the like, depending upon the materials employed for the container and closure. Further, the closure  20  could, in some applications, be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container  22 . 
     The container  22  (FIG. 6) typically has a conventional mouth or opening  22   c  which provides access to the container interior and product contained therein. The product may be, for example, a liquid comestible product. The product could also be any other solid, liquid, or gaseous substance, including, but not limited to, a food product, a personal care product, and industrial or household product cleaning product, a paint product, a wall patch product, or other chemical composition (e.g., for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, remodeling, and agriculture), etc. 
     In the illustrated embodiment (FIG.  6 ), the container neck  22   a  extends from a hollow body  22   d  and defines the container mouth or opening  22   c . The container neck  22   a  may have (but need not have) a circular cross-sectional configuration, and the body  22   d  of the container  22  may have another cross-sectional configuration, such as an oval cross-sectional shape, for example. The container  22  may, on the other hand, have a substantially uniform shape along its entire length or height without any neck portion of reduced size or different cross-section. 
     The container  22  may be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can be grasped by the user and compressed to increase the internal pressure within the container so as to squeeze the product out of the container through the closure  20  when the closure  20  is open. Such a container will typically have sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezing forces are removed, the container wall returns to its normal, unstressed shape. Such a structure is preferred in many applications, but may not be necessary or preferred in other applications that are substantially rigid. A piston could be provided in such a rigid container to aid in dispensing a product, especially a relatively viscus product. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the closure  20  is to be opened for the first time, the press portion  116  is forcibly depressed inwardly in the direction B. The press portion  116  bends about the hinge  110  and the frangible junction  124  is thereby broken and separated into free edges  150   a  and  150   b . The press portion deflects into the pressing space  148 . Preferably, the bridges  124   a ,  124   b  are broken off at the lower edge  150   b  and carried with the press portion  116 , to leave a relatively smooth surface on the edge  150   b . One exemplary application of the closure is for use on a drinking bottle. A smooth edge  150   b  is preferred for user comfort when placing a user&#39;s lips around the spout  52 . 
     The press portion  116  is held in the retracted position shown in FIG. 7 by ribs  155   a ,  155   b  (shown in FIG.  1 ). The press portion  116  is forced tightly between the ribs  155   a ,  155   b  and held therebetween by friction. 
     The lid  24  can be pried open from the body  26  by pushing upwardly with a finger against the deflected press portion  116 , the finger placed in an external space  157  created by the inward movement of the press portion  116  into the pressing space  148 . The external space  157  is defined by the recess  87  (FIG. 1) in the sidewall  86  and the press portion  116 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the closure  20  in fully assembled condition. The anchor portion  120  is curved and fits with tight clearance into the recess  140 . The head  134  of the anchor member  130  has been flattened by peening to be substantially flush with the anchor portion  120 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the closure  20  just after the press portion  116  has been deflected inwardly to break the frangible junction  124  (FIG.  1 ). The recess  87  in the lid sidewall  86  (FIG. 9) and the press portion  116  define the external space  157 , useful for receiving a user&#39;s finger to pry open the lid  24  from the body  26 . 
     FIG. 10-13 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a closure  20 ′ which is substantially identical to the closure  20  except for reconfigured structure associated with an alternate tamper-indicating member  94 ′. Identical elements carry identical reference numbers. 
     FIGS. 10 and 12 illustrate the modified closure  20 ′ in a fully assembled condition. FIGS. 11 and 13 illustrate the closure  20 ′ of FIG. 10 after the tamper-indicating member  94 ′ has been actuated to allow an alternate lid  24 ′ to be lifted from the body  26  to an open position. 
     The member  94 ′ includes the same press portion  116  and the anchor portion  120  as previously described. An alternate hinge  110 ′ however, is relocated to connect the press portion  116  to the anchor portion  120 . The alternate hinge  110 ′ can be a weakened junction which promotes bending. The illustrated junction is formed by a substantially linear through-slot  160  crossed by two bendable bridges  162   a ,  162   b . The frangible junction  124  connects the press portion  116  to the lid wall  86 . The frangible junction  124  preferably is formed by the gap  125  (FIG. 10) and the two bridges  124   a ,  124   b  as previously described with reference to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-9. Sufficient inward force on the press portion  116  will pivot the press portion about the hinge  110 ′ to break the frangible junction  124 . 
     In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the frangible junction  124  is broken to separate the lid  24 ′ from the tamper indicating member  94 ′. Both the press portion  116  and the anchor portion  120  remain with the body  26  when the lid  24 ′ is lifted to an open position (not illustrated). 
     Breaking the frangible junction  124  creates free edges  150   a ′,  150   b ′ between the press portion  116  and the lid  24 ′, respectively. Preferably, the bridges  124   a ,  124   b  break off to remain with the lid  24 ′, so that the edge  150   a ′ (FIG. 13) is substantially smooth. One exemplary application of the closure is for use on a drinking bottle. A smooth edge  150   a ′ is preferred for user comfort when placing a user&#39;s lips around the spout  52 . A structure, such as the ribs  155   a ,  155   b  described above with reference to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, but relocated onto the body  26 , or as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,907, can be provided to hold the press portion  116  in its retracted position shown in FIG.  13 . 
     Although a single anchor member  130  is depicted in the embodiments, it is within the scope of the invention to provide multiple anchor members which may, for example, each be identical with the anchor member  130 . The anchor portion  120  would then have a plurality of corresponding anchor member-receiving apertures. Multiple anchor members may provide a more secure attachment of the anchor portion  120  to the skirt  36 . 
     Alternatively, the above-described single or multiple anchor members  130  may be replaced by one or more laterally extending wall-like members wherein each wall-like member has an enlarged distal end in the form of a continuous head with an enlarged cross-section. Such wall-like members could each have a transverse cross section corresponding to the transverse cross section of the anchor member  130  as shown in FIG. 2, but each wall-like member would be laterally elongated in a direction into and out of the plane of FIG.  2 . The anchor portion  120  would define elongated slots for receiving the enlarged end portions of the wall-like members which function as the anchor members. 
     As can be understood from the above description of the various embodiments, the invention provides a tamper-indicating structure which advantageously retains the tamper-indicating member  94 ,  94 ′ in a unique configuration on the structure without creating a separately disposable scrap piece. The body  26 , lid  24 ,  24 ′, and tamper-indicating member  94 ,  94 ′ can be advantageously molded from thermoplastic material as a unitary structure. The hinge  110 ,  110 ′ and the frangible junction  124  can be created by the molding process, or after molding by other processes. 
     The invention could also employ other modes of movement of the tamper-indicating member  94 ,  94 ′, such as sliding or twisting, in order to break the frangible junction  124 . 
     It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous other variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or the principles of this invention.