Abstract:
The present invention is an improved plastic industrial container which may be used for packaging, shipping and dispensing a variety of liquids while protecting the contents from tampering and theft. The container is manufactured in components which include a pail body, a cover and a nestable pour spout closure. The improved container design facilitates press fit assembly of the cover to the pail in the usual manner, but which blocks tool insertion and undamaged removal of the cover. The invention specifically relates to an improved cover and closure combination which facilitates the press fit assembly of the closure to the cover but which resists tampering. A molded cover sump and top plastic barrier wall closely surrounds the installed closure. The sump and barrier wall resist tampering by restricting the clearance for tool insertion and closure removal. The barrier wall is further molded in thin cross section with frangible elements to be easily damaged if tools are used in a prying manner on the closure. Damage to the top barrier wall or container cover provides tamper evidence.

Description:
DESCRIPTION  
         [0001]    An object of the present invention is to provide a tamper resistant container for packaging and dispensing liquids. The container is the commonly used open head plastic pail with separate cover and nestable pour spout closure. To be tamper resistant, industry practice is to make the cover difficult to remove from the pail and also make the closure difficult to remove from the cover. Additionally, covers and closures which are equipped with tamper evident features will discourage tampering.  
           [0002]    Tampering with packaging for the undetected theft or replacement of the contents is a major problem. To discourage tampering with open head style plastic pails, the cover must be securely affixed to the pail body in a manner which discourages cover removal. The industry practice is to provide a cover with a tight fitting outer flange or skirt which conceals the annular latch between the pail and cover. The tight cover fit is often reinforced by adding a circumferential outer flange on the pail wall which further blocks access to the annular latch in a manner well understood in the industry. The cover to pail attachment is thereby considered tamper resistant. Only by cutting the cover skirt can the cover be removed.  
           [0003]    Making a nestable pour spout closure installed in the cover tamper resistant has proven to be an ongoing area of interest and development.  
           [0004]    There are several devices that attach the pouring spout to a lid, Kline U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,818 tamper evident pouring spout has a metal ring attaching the spout to the plastic lid.  
           [0005]    Dwinell U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,225 secures a plastic spout by sonic welding it to the plastic lid. Ultrasonic welding of the closure to the cover is an effective tamper resistant bond, but the method suffers from high welding equipment cost and slow installation cycles.  
           [0006]    Arciniegas U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,460 shows a plastic lid closure with a molded-on fused spout. Molding the cover around the closure so as to achieve a thermally bonded joint between cover and closure is also effective as a tamper resistant method. But this in-molding method also suffers from the high cost of interrupting the molding cycle to place a closure into the mold. The high installation costs make this closure type less competitive in the market.  
           [0007]    Kars U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,405 shows a snap on closure and cylindrical outer collar, the collar in contact with the closure wall to squeeze the closure tighter to an outwardly facing cover beaded rim and aid in sealing. The outer collar also protects the leading edge of the outer wall from tampering. This closure can be pressed on for a low installation cost. This closure still has a large portion of the outer wall that is exposed above the locking collar, and is thus exposed to potential tampering.  
           [0008]    Krautkramer U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,357 uses a press fit closure attachment with a U-shaped closure foot. The outer portion of the closure foot is pressed into a mating cover recess, the recess serving to block attempts at tampering and removal of the closure. The inner wall of the closure foot snaps over an inwardly facing beaded rim around the cover opening. This closure can also be pressed on for a low installation cost. This closure is tamper resistant but lacks tamper evidence. The cover wall just external of the closure foot is rigid for the potential use of levering tools. There is no thin projection to aid detection of tampering attempts. The closure also lacks a secondary locking ring or method to hold the inner closure foot engaged to the cover beaded rim. By extending the spout (without disturbing the cap bails) and pulling diagonally on the extended spout, the closure is vulnerable to release from the cover beaded rim.  
           [0009]    Sturk U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,100 discloses an all-plastic snap-on closure with a locking ring initially attached by frangible webs to the periphery of the closure cap. During installation the locking ring is broken off the cap and is pressed in locking engagement around the closure body outer wall. While the closure attachment to the cover is very secure, the outer lock ring and closure are exposed to undetected tampering. It is an objective of the preferred embodiment of this invention to add tamper resistant means to the cover to protect the closure from tampering.  
         NOTE ON TAMPER EVIDENT FEATURES  
         [0010]    While the pouring spout have been regularly improved to incorporated new features, mounting the closure within the container lid has posed problems related to difficulty of installation as well as quality control and product integrity. In one well know method, the spout is positioned over the lid opening in the container cover and a metal ring around the flange of the spout is crimped over the peripheral flange of the spout to hold the spout over the cover. For example, in the oil lubricants industry, refined oil is filled through an opening in the plastic lid into a 5 gallon plastic pail. Next, a pouring spout assembly with cap is attached to the cover opening by a crimping metal ring. However the spout could easily be pried off and re-crimped without detection.  
           [0011]    With the present invention the same procedure could be followed, however instead of a metal crimp spout that is used today, an all plastic pouring spout assembly could be attached to the cover by simply press fitting the spout assembly into the tamper resistant cover opening.  
           [0012]    A better application is known for securing the spout to the opening bead with an external lock ring, Sturk U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,100 closure with two position lock ring allows the spout to be secure to the opening bead. During installation the closure body is first pressed into engagement over the cover opening beaded rim. Secondly, the annular lock ring is broken off the cap and is press fitted over the body skirt, securely locking the closure in attachment to the cover. The result is a secure seal, but the locking ring is exposed to tampering and could be removed allowing the closure assembly to come off the cover and be reinstalled without detection. A similar limitation exists with McLelland U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,525 where the outer plastic ring could easily be pried upward from the cover without damaging the closure.  
           [0013]    It is an objective of this invention to improve the design of the cover opening to protect press fit closures from tampering. Press fit closures which have a low cost installation advantage over welding and in-molding closures, would achieve greater market acceptance. In the preferred arrangement an all plastic press fit closure made up a flexible pouring spout surrounded by an annular sealing channel is fitted with an overlying screw cap. An annular lock ring is integrally connected about the periphery of the screw cap so as to extend radially outwardly of the closure body sealing channel. During installation the closure is pressed onto a circumferentially enlarged upstanding opening neck causing the sealing channel to snap there over. Secondly, during closure installation the locking ring is broken away from the cap periphery and is axially pressed around the outer wall of the body sealing channel so as to lock the same against the opening neck. The result is a very strong closure cover wall connection.  
           [0014]    With this invention, the plastic cover is molded with an opening adapted for secure attachment of a plastic press fit closure and a channel with a outer wall and thin barrier wall around the opening that closely encloses the outer diameter of the installed closure assembly. A tall narrow gap between the outside of the installed closure and the protective annular barrier wall restricts access for tools to tamper with or pry off the closure. The top thin barrier wall may be further adapted with frangible sections that readily show damage from attempted tampering. This feature makes the dispensing closure anti-theft and tamper evident.  
         LIST OF DRAWING NUMBERS  
         [0015]    [0015] 1  container  
           [0016]    [0016] 2  container body  
           [0017]    [0017] 3  container cover  
           [0018]    [0018] 4  dispensing closure  
           [0019]    [0019] 5  cover flat panel  
           [0020]    [0020] 6  cover outer skirt  
           [0021]    [0021] 7  container body projection  
           [0022]    [0022] 8  closure cap  
           [0023]    [0023] 9   
           [0024]    [0024] 10  cross section view  
           [0025]    [0025] 11  cap bail  
           [0026]    [0026] 12  lock ring  
           [0027]    [0027] 13  closure body  
           [0028]    [0028] 14  closure body inner wall  
           [0029]    [0029] 15  closure body outer wall  
           [0030]    [0030] 16  body outer wall notch  
           [0031]    [0031] 17   
           [0032]    [0032] 18   
           [0033]    [0033] 19   
           [0034]    [0034] 20  container opening  
           [0035]    [0035] 21  opening annular neck  
           [0036]    [0036] 22  opening beaded rim  
           [0037]    [0037] 23  bottom sump wall  
           [0038]    [0038] 24  outer sump wall  
           [0039]    [0039] 25  annular outer wall  
           [0040]    [0040] 26  thin barrier wall  
           [0041]    [0041] 27  frangible section  
           [0042]    [0042] 28  gap  
           [0043]    [0043] 29  no beaded rim  
           [0044]    [0044] 30  inward facing beaded rim  
           [0045]    [0045] 31  flat opening  
           [0046]    [0046] 32   
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0047]    The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed drawings and description of a preferred embodiments of the present invention  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container comprised of a container body, a container cover having an opening and a dispensing closure attached to the cover;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 2 is a top view of a cover having an opening and a dispensing closure attached to the cover.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 3 is a profile and cross sectional view of the container cover attached to the container body, and the dispensing closure installed in the cover opening, and the closure surrounded by a thin barrier wall;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 4 is a top view of the dispensing closure installed in the container cover and surrounded by a thin barrier wall;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 5 is a profile and cross sectional view of a dispensing closure with outer two position lock ring prior to installation;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 6 is a profile and cross sectional view of a cover opening with bottom sump wall and thin barrier wall;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 7 is a profile and cross sectional view of a cover opening with outer wall and thin barrier wall;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of a dispensing closure with two position lock ring, and a container opening with “U” shaped sump and barrier wall prior to closure installation.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 9 shows FIG. 8 after installation of the closure onto the cover. The closure body is snapped onto the cover beaded rim, and the lock ring is in locked position. The outer wall and barrier wall, forming a close barrier around the periphery of the closure lock ring, said barrier optionally containing frangible sections,  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 10 is a profile and cross sectional view of a dispensing closure prior to installation, the closure not having an outer two position lock ring;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 11 is a profile and cross sectional view of a cover opening with bottom sump wall and thin barrier wall,  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 12 is a profile and cross sectional view of a cover opening with outer wall and thin barrier wall;  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of a dispensing closure and a container opening prior to closure installation, the closure not having a two position lock ring;  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 14 shows FIG. 13 after installation of the closure onto the cover. The closure body is snapped over the cover beaded rim. The outer wall and thin barrier wall form a close barrier around the periphery of the closure lock ring, said barrier wall optionally containing frangible sections,  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 15 is a profile and cross sectional view of an alternate cover opening with opening annular neck, the neck having no beaded rim, the opening surrounded by a thin barrier wall,  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 16 is a profile and cross sectional view of an alternate cover opening with opening annular neck, the neck having an inward facing beaded rim, the opening surrounded by a thin barrier wall,  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 17 is a profile and cross sectional view of an alternate cover opening with no annular neck, the opening surrounded by a thin barrier wall. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0065]    [0065]FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shows a container  1  assembled from a container body  2 , a disc shaped container cover  2  having a peripheral cover outer skirt  6  for engagement with the side wall of the container body  2  to maintain the material within the container  1 . In a known manner, the container cover  3  having a flat panel  5 , and a dispensing closure  4  secured to the cover  3 . The dispensing closure  4  is used to protect the contents during shipment and to remove contents from the container. Typically, the container body  2  and container cover  3  are molded of plastic material. To remove contents from the container  1 , the cover  3  is molded with an opening  20  adapted to receive the dispensing closure  20 . The container  1  is made tamper resistant by restricting external access to undo the latching engagement of the cover  3  to the container body  2 , and by restricting external access to undo the latching engagement of the closure  4  to the container cover  3 .  
         [0066]    As seen in FIG. 3, the container cover  1  is assembled to container  2  in the usual manner. After assembly the cover outer skirt  6  is in close proximity to container body projection  7 . The close proximity of the outer skirt  6  and body projection  7  restricts external access of tools under the cover outer skirt  6  to unlatch the cover. Attempted cover removal will leave visible damage marks on the plastic outer skirt  6  or body projection  7 , making it tamper evident. FIG. 3 also shows a pull up style dispensing closure  4  installed on cover opening annular neck  21 . Installation of closure  4  is by press fit latching engagement in a manner described in greater detail in FIG. 9 below. The installed closure  4  is closely surrounded by a thin barrier wall  26 . The thin barrier wall may be further adapted with frangible sections  27 . The close proximity of the thin barrier wall  26  to the installed closure  4  prevents the easy access of tools under the closure lock ring  12  to remove the closure  4 . Attempted closure removal will leave visible damage marks on the thin barrier wall  26  and frangible sections  27 , making it tamper evident.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 4 is a top view of the dispensing closure  4  surrounded by thin barrier wall  26 . The closure cap  8  is equipped with cap bails  11 . Installed dispensing closure  4  is closely surrounded by thin barrier wall  26 .  
         [0068]    Referring to FIG. 5, the closure  4  is comprised of a plastic threaded cap  8  leading outward to cap bails  11  and an annular lock ring  12 . The cap is mounted by threads to closure body  13 . Closure body  13  is molded from flexible plastic, and may be subsequently extended to the dispensing position by lifting on the cap bails in a manner well understood. The closure body  13  leads to an annular inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  adapted for attachment to the container cover  3 . The body outer wall  15  is equipped with an annular outer notch  16  for subsequent engagement with lock ring  12 .  
         [0069]    Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover  3  incorporates a cover opening  20 , the cover opening  20  being defined by an opening annular neck  21 . The neck  21  leading vertically to an outward facing beaded rim. The neck  21  also leading radially outward to a bottom wall  23 . In FIG. 6 the bottom wall  23  leads vertically to annular outer sump wall  24 . The vertical wall  24  leading outward to cover flat panel  5  and leading vertically upward to annular thin barrier wall  26 . The neck  21 , bottom wall  23 , vertical wall  24  and barrier wall  26  define a “U” shaped sump to receive dispensing closure  4 . In FIG. 7 the bottom wall  23  leads outward to cover flat panel  5  and vertically to annular outer wall  25  and thin barrier wall  26 . The neck  21 , bottom wall  23  and outer wall  25  and barrier wall  26  define a “U” shaped recess to receive dispensing closure  4 .  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 8 shows the partial detailed view of a plastic threaded cap  8  leading outward to cap bails  11  and an annular lock ring  12 . The closure body  13  leads to an annular inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  adapted for attachment to the container cover  3 . The neck  21 , bottom wall  23 , vertical wall  24  and barrier wall  26  define a “U” shaped sump to receive dispensing closure  4 . Cover flat panel  5  leads outward from vertical wall  24  and thin barrier wall  26 . Vertical wall  24  and thin barrier wall  26  must be larger in diameter than lock ring  12  to allow for press fit installation of the closure  4 . By keeping the bottom wall  23  below the elevation of the cover flat panel  5 , dispensing closure  4  may be partially recessed in the cover  3 . A partially recessed dispensing closure  4  increases clearance between containers  1  that are vertically stacked.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 8 also shows the closure body inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  positioned vertically and in alignment over the cover beaded rim  22  to initiate installation. The two position cap lock ring  12  is shown in the first open or unlocked position in FIG. 8. The lock ring is attached to the cap bails  11  with frangible webs. By first applying pressure to the cap bails  11 , the closure body inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  are forced to slide in engagement over opening annular neck  21 . The closure body outer wall  15  expands radially outward over beaded rim  22 , and then inward to a more relaxed position. Pressure is next applied to the annular cap lock ring  12  to break the frangible webs and press the lock ring  11  into locking embrace over the closure body outer wall  15  as shown in FIG. 9. An inner projection on lock ring  11  engages body outer wall notch  16  to retain lock ring  11  in the locked position.  
         [0072]    In the closure installed position in FIG. 9, the closure  4  is firmly engaged and locked to annular neck  21  and beaded rim  22 . Lock ring  12  captures body outer wall  15  from possible expansion and retraction off beaded rim  22 . As is also clearly shown in FIG. 9, the lock ring is closely surrounded by outer sump wall  24  and thin barrier wall  26 .  
         [0073]    The thin barrier wall  26  which is molded from plastic may be further adapted with thinner frangible sections  27 . The close proximity of the thin barrier wall  26  prevents the easy access of tools under the closure lock ring  12  to remove the closure  4 . Attempted closure removal will leave visible damage marks on the thin barrier wall  26 , and the frangible sections  27  may stretch and break leaving further tamper evidence.  
         [0074]    Referring to FIG. 10, the closure  4  is comprised of a plastic threaded cap  8  leading outward to cap bails  11 . The cap is mounted by threads to closure body  13 . Closure body  13  is molded from flexible plastic, and may be subsequently extended to the dispensing position by lifting on the cap bails in a manner well understood. The closure body  13  leads to an annular inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  adapted for attachment to the container cover  3 .  
         [0075]    Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the cover  3  incorporates a cover opening  20 , the cover opening  20  being defined by an opening annular neck  21 . The neck  21  leading vertically to an outward facing beaded rim. The neck  21  also leading radially outward to a bottom wall  23 . In FIG. 11 the bottom wall  23  leads vertically to annular outer sump wall  24 . The vertical wall  24  leading outward to cover flat panel  5  and leading vertically upward to annular thin barrier wall  26 . The neck  21 , bottom wall  23 , vertical wall  24  and barrier wall  26  define a “U” shaped sump to receive dispensing closure  4 . In FIG. 12 the bottom wall  23  leads outward to cover flat panel  5  and vertically to annular outer wall  25  and thin barrier wall  26 . The neck  21 , bottom wall  23  and outer wall  25  and barrier wall  26  define a “U” shaped recess to receive dispensing closure  4 .  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 13 shows the partial detailed view of a plastic threaded cap  8  leading outward to cap bails  11 . The closure body  13  leads to an annular inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  adapted for attachment to the container cover  3 . The neck  21 , bottom wall  23 , vertical wall  24  and barrier wall  26  define a “U” shaped sump to receive dispensing closure  4 . Cover flat panel  5  leads outward from vertical wall  24  and thin barrier wall  26 . Vertical wall  24  and thin barrier wall  26  must be larger in diameter than body outer wall  15  to allow for press fit installation of the closure  4 . By keeping the bottom wall  23  below the elevation of the cover flat panel  5 , dispensing closure  4  may be partially recessed in the cover  3 . A partially recessed dispensing closure  4  increases clearance between containers  1  that are vertically stacked.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 13 also shows the closure body inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  positioned vertically and in alignment over the cover beaded rim  22  to initiate installation. The two position cap lock ring  12  is shown in the first open or unlocked position in FIG. 8. By first applying pressure to the cap bails  11 , the closure body inner wall  14  and outer wall  15  are forced to slide in engagement over opening annular neck  21 . The closure body outer wall  15  expands radially outward over beaded rim  22 , and then inward to a more relaxed position.  
         [0078]    In the closure installed position in FIG. 14, the closure  4  is firmly engaged with annular neck  21  and beaded rim  22 . The interference fit of body outer wall  15  over the beaded rim  22  holds the closure in position. The body outer wall  15  is closely surrounded by outer sump wall  24  and thin barrier wall  26 . There is typically a small gap  28  between outer wall  15  and barrier wall  26 .  
         [0079]    The thin barrier wall may be further adapted with frangible sections  27 . The close proximity of the thin barrier wall  26  prevents the easy access of tools under the closure outer wall  15  to pry off the closure  4 . Attempted closure removal will leave visible damage marks on the thin barrier wall  26  and frangible sections  27 , making it tamper evident.  
         [0080]    FIGS.  15  shows an alternate cover openings  20  where the opening annular neck  21  leads vertically to no beaded rim  29 . This style of opening could be readily used for air vent which are designed to allow air into containers for venting purposes. The cover opening  20  is surrounded by thin barrier  26  in the usual manner.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 16 shows an alternate cover openings  20  where the opening annular neck  21  leads vertically to a radially inward facing beaded rim  30 . The cover opening  20  is surrounded by thin barrier  26  in the usual manner.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 17 shows an alternate cover openings  20  where the opening  20  leads outward to the cover flat panel  5 . This style of opening could also be readily used for air vent closures which are designed to allow air into containers for venting purposes. The cover opening  20  is surrounded by thin barrier  26  in the usual manner.  
         [0083]    Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail. Since changes in and/or additions to the above described best mode may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to said details.