Container having a tamper-indicating component

A tamper-evident product and related methods of production. A container includes a neck, and a tamper-evidencing component separate from the container and carried by the neck of the container in direct contact with a corresponding portion of the container neck. The component is composed of material that has higher thermal conductivity than that of a material of the container so as to concentrate heat in the corresponding portion of the container neck. The neck is thermally responsive to application of heat pursuant to tampering with the product by at least one of the following responses: an irreversible change in visual appearance of the corresponding portion of the container neck, or fracture of the container neck at the corresponding portion of the container neck.

The present disclosure is directed to containers and, more particularly, to container fitments.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A container for carrying a liquid product can include a fitment that renders the container non-refillable so as to impede or prevent efforts to refill the container with inferior products. U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,811 illustrates a container of this type.

A general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, is to provide a container including a tamper-evidencing component that is non-removably secured to the container and that evidences efforts to tamper with the package via breakage and/or discoloration of the container.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A product in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes a glass container including a neck, and an anti-refill fitment carried in the neck to deter refill of the container and at least partially composed of plastic. The product also includes a metal ring carried in at least one of the neck of the container or the fitment and in direct contact with a corresponding portion of the container neck, such that heating of the product pursuant to tampering results in at least one of discoloration of the container neck or fracture of the container neck.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a product that includes a container including a neck, and a tamper-evidencing component separate from the container and carried by the neck of the container in direct contact with a corresponding portion of the container neck and composed of material that has higher thermal conductivity than that of a material of the container so as to concentrate heat in the corresponding portion of the container neck. The container neck is thermally responsive to application of heat pursuant to efforts to tamper with the product by at least one of the following responses: an irreversible change in visual appearance of the corresponding portion of the container neck, or fracture of the container neck at the corresponding portion of the container neck.

In accordance with a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of producing a product that includes (a) flowing liquid into a container having a neck, (b) non-removably coupling an anti-refill fitment into the neck of the container to render the product non-refillable, and (c) coupling a tamper-evidencing component to at least one of the fitment or the container neck so that the component is in direct contact with a corresponding portion of the container, such that heating of the product pursuant to tampering concentrates heat in the component and in the corresponding portion of the container to result in at least one of discoloration of the container neck or fracture of the container neck.

In accordance with an additional aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of producing a product that includes (a) forming a glass container including a neck having an outer surface and an annular groove in the outer surface, and (b) embedding a metal ring in the annular groove of the container neck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1Aillustrates a product10in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure as including a container12to hold a liquid product P, a dispensing fitment14coupled to the container12, and a tamper-indicating component11carried between the container12and the fitment14. The fitment14may be non-removably secured to the container12. The terminology “non-removably secured” includes a manner in which the fitment14is, by design-intent, not intended to be removed from the container12without damaging the container and/or fitment14or otherwise visibly compromising the structural and/or functional integrity of either or both. Also, the fitment14may render the container12non-refillable. In other words, the fitment14may prevent or at least impede efforts to refill the container12, for example, with counterfeit liquid products. The terminology “non-refillable” is used interchangeably herein with the terms refill-resistant and anti-refill, and includes a characteristic of the fitment14which, by design intent, is not intended to be refilled without damaging the container12and/or fitment14or otherwise visibly compromising the structural and/or functional integrity of either or both. As will be described below, the component11may facilitate evidencing of efforts to tamper with the product10, for example, via breakage or discoloration of the container12when someone attempts to defeat the non-refillable fitment14.

The container12can be a bottle, for example, a wine or spirits bottle or any other suitable type of bottle, jar, or any other suitable type of container, and can be composed of glass, ceramic, metal, plastic, or any other suitable material(s). The container12may include a bottom or base16, a body18that may include a sidewall20extending in a directional axially away from the base16along a central longitudinal axis A of the container12. The container12also may include a shoulder22extending in a directional axially away from the sidewall20, and a neck24extending in a directional axially away from the shoulder22and including a neck finish26. As used herein, directional words such as top, bottom, upper, lower, radial, circumferential, lateral, longitudinal, transverse, vertical, horizontal, and the like are employed by way of description and not limitation. The neck finish26may include an open end or mouth28of the container12, and one or more closure engagement elements30, for example, a crown closure bead, helical threads, or any other suitable feature(s), for coupling to a closure (not shown). The geometry of the container12ofFIGS. 1A and 2is illustrative only, and any other suitable geometries may be used.

The container neck24may include an interior passage32to carry the fitment14and to communicate liquid out of the container body18and through and out of the neck24. The passage32may include an interior surface34in which the fitment14may be positioned. The surface34may be of cylindrical shape or of any other suitable geometry.

The component11may include a ring, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. But in other embodiments, the component11may be of any other suitable geometry. In the ring embodiment, the component11may extend completely circumferentially 360 degrees around the fitment14and/or the container neck24. As shown inFIG. 1B, the component11may include a circumferentially extending rim11aand a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending spokes11bto draw heat from a greater area.

The component11may be relatively rigid. For example, the component11may be composed of metal, or any other suitable rigid material. For instance, the component11may be composed of a ferrous metal, for instance, iron or steel, to facilitate separation (via magnets or the like) of the component11from container material during recycling. In other embodiments, the component11may be composed of aluminum, copper, titanium, stainless steel, or non-metal.

With reference toFIG. 1C, in another embodiment, a component11′ may be a snap ring that may be carried in an interior of a container neck24′ in any suitable manner. For example, the component11′ may be retained in an internal groove23′, between internally extending projections (not shown), or in any other suitable portion of the container neck24′.

With reference toFIG. 1A, various features of the fitment14illustrated in the drawing figures are illustrative only, and may be of any other suitable type or construction. The fitment14includes an axially extending circumferential outer wall36to contact the interior surface34of the container12. The outer wall36may be a ring or ring-shaped, for example of oval or cylindrical shape, or of any other suitable shape corresponding to the shape of the corresponding portion of the container neck24. The fitment14also may include an inlet wall38in the container12and an axially oppositely disposed outlet wall40that may be flush with, or may be recessed or extended past, the open mouth28of the container12and that may extend transversely with respect to the outer wall36. As used herein, the term “transverse” may mean disposed at some non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the container12and along any direction intersecting the container12and may include but is not limited to a radial direction.

As also shown inFIG. 2, the fitment14also may include an annular relief42, which may carry the tamper-indicating component11therein. Moreover, at least a portion of the component11may include a radially outer surface44in direct contact with the interior surface34of the container neck24. In the illustrated embodiment, the component11may be in complete circumferential contact with the interior surface34of the container neck24. In fact, the component11may be interference fit to the neck24, for example, by press-fit, shrink-fit, or the like, such that the outer diameter of the component11may be larger than a corresponding portion of the inner diameter of the neck24.

The fitment14further may include any suitable features to impede or prevent refilling of the container12. For example, the fitment14may include a check valve46that may be carried within the outer wall36. The check valve46may include an suitable movable check element like a check ball48, seat50, and passages. The fitment14may be composed of plastic, metal, glass, and/or the like. The illustrative check valve46permits flow of liquid out of the container body18but prevents or retards flow into the container body18. Non-refillable fitments are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and any suitable type of such a fitment may be used, whether a check valve type of fitment, an air trap type of fitment, or any other suitable type of refill-resistant fitment.

The component11may be coupled to the container12in such a way that when a closure and/or fitment is reapplied, a discoloration area extends below the reapplied closure and/or fitment. For example, discoloration could occur by a heat sensitive and/or permanent thermochromic coating, or by an additive in the glass of the container12, for example, pre-struck copper. Accordingly, when heat is applied to the glass in the region of the component11, the copper would strike in that region, causing a visual change in the glass. A region larger than that in the immediate vicinity of the component11will experience a temperature increase pursuant to tampering, so the discoloration-affected region will be larger than just that occupied by the component11.

In production, the liquid product P may be flowed into the container12in any suitable manner, and then the fitment14carrying the component11can be coupled into the neck24of the container12via an interference fit to render the product10tamper-evident. The fit between the outer wall40of the fitment14and the corresponding interior surface of the container12may be tight, wherein the fitment14cannot be removed without causing visible damage to the container12. For example, the outer wall40of the fitment14may be larger than the corresponding interior surface of the container12that carries the fitment14when both the fitment14and the container12are at the same temperature. Also, although not shown, that container12and/or the fitment14may include any suitable interengagement features to non-removably secure the fitment14in the container neck24.

The component11may facilitate evidencing of efforts to tamper with the package10, for example, when someone attempts to remove or defeat the non-refillable fitment14and refill the container12. For example, counterfeiters may apply heat to a portion of the package10pursuant to tampering or efforts to tamper with the package10. More specifically, counterfeiters may attempt to partially or completely melt a plastic portion of the fitment14, or may attempt to thwart other anti-tampering or anti-counterfeiting features, for instance, in an effort to either remove or damage such features, or to change the visual characteristics of such features so that they fail to indicate tampering or counterfeiting. In such a case, the component11will provide evidence of such efforts in one or both of the following ways. First, the component11may act as a thermal concentration element to break the container12immediately or to develop stresses that cause the container12to fracture at a later time, for instance, when a closure is reapplied to the container12. Second, the component11, through heat transfer, may effect a change in a visible state of the container12.

In the first example, the component11may function as a thermal concentrator, wherein the component11may be composed of a material that has higher thermal conductivity than the material of the container12. If counterfeiters apply heat to the fitment14or other portions of the package10, then the application of heat will result in concentration of heat in the component11and in the corresponding portion of the container12. Such concentration of heat thermally stresses the container12to fracture the container neck24, thereby facilitating evidence of tampering with the container12and likely rendering the container12unusable. The container12would break because the component11concentrates heat in a corresponding narrow or thin area of the container11, thereby creating a well-defined thermal expansion differential in the glass, and thus thermally stressing the container12beyond its breaking point. In effect, the component11cuts through the glass container12in a way similar to that of a heat knife cutting through glass.

In the second example, the component11may evidence tampering with the container12for example, via a state change of the container12upon application of heat pursuant to efforts to tamper with the package10. For example, the application of heat may be that amount of heat sufficient to melt or at least partially melt the fitment14in an effort to remove the fitment14. In another example, the heat may be sufficient to thwart other features that are designed to provide a visual indication of tampering or counterfeiting, for instance, by applying heat in an effort to either remove or damage such features, or to change the visual characteristics of such features so that they fail to indicate tampering or counterfeiting. Those of ordinary skill in the art would understand that such temperatures are application specific and are well known.

In this embodiment, the container12may be of any suitable composition(s) and constructed in any suitable manner to enable the container12to exhibit different visual characteristics. For example, the container12may be composed of a base material and a thermally responsive additive carried by the base material. The base material may include glass, and the additive may include a reactive material that reacts to heat sufficient to melt the fitment14so as to visibly change appearance of the material. For example, the container12may become discolored, for instance, via a change from one color to another, from a hue of a color to another hue of that color, from transparent to translucent or vice-versa, from transparent or translucent to opaque or vice-versa, and/or any other suitable discoloration qualities. The thermally responsive additive may include copper, or copper with a suitable nucleating agent, for instance, tin oxide, antimony, or molybdenum, or silver halides or any other suitable material.

In an initial state of the product10, for example after product packaging, the container12may exhibit a first visual characteristic, for example, a first color. But upon product tampering, for instance, by application of heat sufficient to melt the fitment14, the container12is adapted irreversibly to change a characteristic of the container12that is visible from outside of the container12to advise a user that the container12has been tampered with. Accordingly, the container12will exhibit the second visual characteristic different from the first visual characteristic. For example, the container12may exhibit a different color after such tampering.

Therefore, the component11may provide a security feature. If counterfeiters attempt to melt the fitment14, to facilitate refilling the container12with counterfeit liquid product and repackaging, the refilled and repackaged package will include the state changed container12as evidence of product tampering. Accordingly, the product10is permanently or irreversibly identifiable as being a once-fillable product10or package. Over time, purchasers will become educated to spot such refilled counterfeit products and packages. Thus, counterfeiters will be deterred from offering counterfeit products and packages to such educated purchasers.

FIGS. 3-5illustrate another illustrative embodiment of a product110including a container112and a tamper-evidencing component111non-removably coupled to the container112. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-2and like numerals between the embodiments generally designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, the descriptions of the embodiments are incorporated into one another. Additionally, the description of the common subject matter generally may not be repeated here.

With reference toFIG. 3, the container112includes a neck124including a neck finish126. At least a portion of the neck124may be coated with a coating154that is thermally responsive. For example, the coating154may include permanent change thermochromic ink, or permanent dye in temperature activated micro capsules, or any other suitable material carried by the substrate of the container112. The coating154covers the component111. The product110also may include an anti-refill fitment (not shown) and, thus, may carry other components, for example, as shown inFIGS. 1A-2.

With reference toFIG. 4, the product110may be tampered with, wherein heat is applied to the container neck124. The heat is sufficient to at least partially melt a plastic portion of a fitment or to thwart other anti-tampering or anti-counterfeiting devices, which may be carried in the container neck124. The heat is also sufficient to concentrate heat within the component111such that the thermally responsive coating154changes coloration in an area corresponding to the component111.

With reference toFIG. 5, the container112may include a relief143in an exterior surface of the container neck124. The relief143may be formed during formation of the container112. The tamper-evidencing component111is embedded in the container112by being carried in the relief143. For example, the component111may be assembled into the relief143, for example by shrink fitting the component111to the container112. The component111may be further embedded in the container112by being covered with a covering material152. The covering material152may include glass solder, freeze fit collar of metal or glass, thermoset plastic, or sol-gel adhesive, and may be applied by automated mechanical means, or any other suitable technique.

FIGS. 6-7illustrates another illustrative embodiment of a product210including a container212and a tamper-evidencing component211non-removably coupled to the container212. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-5and like numerals between the embodiments generally designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, the descriptions of the embodiments are incorporated into one another. Additionally, the description of the common subject matter generally may not be repeated here.

With reference toFIG. 6, in this embodiment, the container212includes a neck224including a neck finish226that may include one or more closure engagement features230, for instance, thread(s), thread segment(s), or the like. The tamper-evidencing component211may be carried by the neck224just below the neck finish226as will be described in detail further herein below with respect toFIG. 7. The product210also may include an anti-refill fitment (not shown) and, thus, may carry other components, for example, as shown inFIGS. 1A-2.

With reference toFIG. 7, the container212may include a relief243in an exterior surface of the container neck224. The relief243may be formed as a result of insert-molding the component211to the container212during formation of the container212. Accordingly, the tamper-evidencing component211is embedded in the container212by being insert-molded thereto. For example, the component211may be insert-molded during a molding stage of container manufacturing as will be described in further detail herein below.

In general, the products described above can be produced in any suitable manner. The containers are preferably composed of glass, but may be composed of any other suitable material including plastic or metal, and may be of one-piece integrally formed construction. (The term “integrally formed construction” does not exclude one-piece integrally molded layered constructions of the type disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,401, or one-piece containers to which other structure is added after the container-forming operation.) In a glass embodiment, the containers may be fabricated in a press-and-blow, narrow neck press-and-blow, or a blow-and-blow container manufacturing operation.

For example, a typical glass container manufacturing process includes a “hot end” and a “cold end.” The hot end may include one or more glass melting furnaces to produce a glass melt, one or more forming machines to form the glass melt into containers, and one or more applicators to apply a hot-end coating to the containers. The “hot end” also may include an annealing lehr, or at least a beginning portion of the annealing lehr, for annealing the containers therein. Through the lehr, the temperature may be brought down gradually to a downstream portion, cool end, or exit of the lehr. The “cold end” may include an end portion of the annealing lehr, applicators to apply one or more cold-end coatings to the containers downstream of the annealing lehr, inspection equipment to inspect the containers, and packaging machines to package the containers.

In conjunction with the above description, the containers may be produced by the following container manufacturing process, which may or may not include all of the disclosed steps or be sequentially processed or processed in the particular sequence discussed, and the presently disclosed manufacturing process encompass any sequencing, overlap, or parallel processing of such steps.

First, a batch of glass-forming materials may be melted. For example, a melting furnace may include a tank with melters to melt soda-lime-silica to produce molten glass. Thereafter, the molten glass may flow from the tank, through a throat, and to a refiner at the downstream end of the furnace where the molten glass may be conditioned. From the furnace, the molten glass may be directed toward a downstream forehearth that may include a cooling zone, a conditioning zone, and a downstream end in communication with a gob feeder. The feeder may measure out gobs of glass and deliver them to a container forming operation.

Next, the glass gobs may be formed into containers, for example, by forming machines, which may include press-and-blow or blow-and-blow individual section machines, or any other suitable forming equipment. Blank molds may receive the glass gobs from the feeder and form parisons or blanks, which may be at a temperature on the order of 900-1100 degrees Celsius. Blow molds may receive the blanks from the blank molds and form the blanks into containers, which may be at a temperature on the order of 700-900 degrees Celsius. Material handling equipment may remove the containers from the forming machines and place the containers on conveyors or the like.

Also, the formed containers may be annealed, for example, by an annealing lehr. At an entry, hot end, or upstream portion of the annealing lehr, the temperature therein may be, for instance, on the order of 500-700 degrees Celsius. Through the lehr, the temperature may be brought down gradually to a downstream portion, cool end, or exit of the lehr, for example, to a temperature therein on the order of 100 degrees Celsius.

At any suitable point(s) in the manufacturing process, the containers are embedded with a tamper-indicating element.

In one example, the tamper-evidencing components may be applied to the blanks in the blank molds or to the containers in the blow molds, for instance, by insert molding the components onto the container necks of the blanks or the containers as they are formed. For example, a robotic arm or pick-and-place unit may be used to pick up a component and place it in a recess or detent in a blank mold, for example, in a location of the blank mold just below or adjacent to a neck ring used to form the neck finish. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a forming step may include sub-steps of forming a blank and then forming the container from the blank, wherein the component is insert molded to the blank during the blank forming step. In another embodiment, the forming step may includes sub-steps of forming a blank and then forming the container from the blank, wherein the component is insert molded to the container during the container forming step.

In another example, the components may be applied to the containers downstream of the blow molds. For instance, portions of the containers may be formed in the blank or blow molds to include recesses to accept the components in a downstream assembly operation. More specifically, the container forming step may include forming a recess in a radially outward surface of a container neck. Accordingly, the retaining step may include placing the component in the recess to non-removably retain the component to the container.

According to a first embodiment, the retaining step may include shrink fitting the component around the container neck. For example, the component may be heated and/or the container cooled and assembled over a comparatively cold container neck and allowed to cool and shrink tightly around the container neck. Also, the retaining step may include applying solder glass over the component and adjacent portions of the container.

According to a second embodiment, the retaining step may include placing the component within the recess between the molding step and the annealing step while the container is still relatively soft, and swaging a portion of the container over the component to trap the component to the container to non-removably retain the component to the container. In any case, the components are non-removably retained to corresponding wall(s) of the containers so that the components cannot be removed without destroying or damaging the containers, such that the components serve as tamper-resistant authentication markers.

There thus has been disclosed products and methods that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several illustrative embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.