Patent Publication Number: US-11649093-B2

Title: Method of manufacturing a tamper-evident closure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/254,090, entitled “A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE”, and filed on Jan. 22, 2019. U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/254,090 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/026,484, entitled “A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE” filed on Mar. 31, 2016. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/026,484 is a U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/052564, entitled “A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE,” filed on Feb. 10, 2014. International Application No. PCT/EP2014/052564 claims priority to Great Britain Application No. 1317407.3 filed on Oct. 1, 2013. The entire contents of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the manufacture of closures and particularly to the manufacture of tamper-evident closures. 
     Tamper-evident closures are widely used and include some means of indicating that a closure has been opened at least once. Such closures can be fabricated in a variety of different ways. 
     The present disclosure seeks to provide improvements in or relating to the method by which a tamper-evident closure is fabricated. 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of manufacturing a tamper-evident closure, comprising the steps of: forming a body having a base and a lid; and inserting a dispensing member and a tamper-evident member into the body 
     The base and lid may be formed integrally, for example with an integral hinge connecting them together. 
     The lid may be movable between an open position and a closed position. The body may be formed with the lid in an open or partially open position. 
     The tamper-evident member and/or the dispensing member may be introduced into the body with the lid in an open position. 
     In some embodiments, prior to inserting the tamper-evident member and/or the dispensing member into the body the lid may be closed onto the base for example the tamper-evident member and/or the dispensing member are introduced after the lid has been closed. 
     The body may be formed with the lid in a closed position. The tamper-evident member and/or the dispensing member may be inserted into the body with the lid in the closed position. Alternatively the lid may be opened before introduction. 
     In some embodiments, the tamper-evident member engages the lid when introduced into the body. For example the member may secure the lid in the closed position. For this purpose the lid and member may be provided with co-operating features (such as a hook and a ledge) so that they engage upon insertion of the member. The engagement may then be used to cause the tamper evidence to operate, for example by causing the member to be broken or separated upon opening of the lid. 
     In some embodiments the member is a double ring structure, with two rings frangibly connected. Upon assembly, one of the rings engages in the lid and one engages in the base so that upon first opening the rings are pulled apart. 
     In some embodiment the tamper-evident member is inserted before the dispensing member and the dispensing member may be used to secure the tamper-evident member in position. In other embodiments the dispensing member is inserted first. 
     The dispensing member may comprise or include a spout or the like. 
     The method may further comprise a slitting step, for example to form one or more frangible lines on the body, tamper-evident member or dispensing member. For example a frangible line may be formed towards the free end of a base sidewall to form a tamper-evident band that will activate if an attempt is made to remove the closure from an associated container. 
     In some embodiments the tamper-evident member and/or the dispensing member are introduced through the base, for example from its end opposite the lid and through a sidewall. 
     The present disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing a tamper-evident closure, comprising the steps of: a) forming a body having a base and a lid; b) inserting a tamper-evident member into the body, and c) inserting a dispensing member into the body, in which the tamper-evident member secures or holds the lid in a closed position prior to step c). 
     In this method the tamper-evident member secures the lid in a closed position with respect to the base before the dispensing member is inserted. In other words, the lid and base are held in a closed position during assembly of the dispensing member. 
     The present disclosure also provides a tamper-evident dispensing closure manufactured using a method as described herein. 
     The present disclosure also provides a closure as described herein in combination with a container. 
     Different aspects and embodiments of the disclosure may be used separately or together. 
     Particular aspects of the present disclosure are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. 
     The present disclosure will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    is a side elevation of a tamper-evident closure suitable for manufacture using the method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a section of the closure of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a side perspective view of a dispensing spout forming part of the closure of  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a section of the spout of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a section of a tamper-evident member forming part of the closure of  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the closure of  FIGS.  1  and  2    shown in an opened position. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of an alternative closure suitable for the present disclosure and shown in a fully assembled, closed position. 
         FIG.  8    is a front view of the closure of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a section of the closure of  FIGS.  7  and  8   . 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the closure of  FIGS.  7  to  9    shown in an open position. 
         FIG.  11    is a side view of the closure of  FIG.  10    after it has been re-closed. 
         FIG.  12    is a section of the closure of  FIG.  11   . 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of a tamper-evident member forming part of the closure of  FIGS.  7  to  12    and shown in an unbroken condition. 
         FIG.  14    is a section of a closure body in an as-moulded condition. 
         FIG.  15    shows the closure body of  FIG.  14    following a pre-closing step. 
         FIG.  16    shows the closure body of  FIG.  15    in a fully closed position. 
         FIG.  17    shows a tamper-evident member offered up to the body of  FIG.  16   . 
         FIG.  18    shows the member of  FIG.  17    inserted into the body. 
         FIG.  19    shows a dispensing spout offered up to the body/member of  FIG.  18   . 
         FIG.  20    shows the spout of  FIG.  18    inserted into the body/member to form a fully assembled closure. 
         FIG.  21    shows the fully assembled closure of  FIG.  20    ready for further processing or use. 
         FIG.  22 A  is a section of a closure body formed according to an alternative embodiment and shown with a tamper-evident member being presented. 
         FIG.  22 B  is a front view of the closure body and member of  FIG.  22 A . 
         FIG.  23 A  is a section of the closure of  FIG.  22 A  shown with a tamper-evident member inserted and with a spout being presented. 
         FIG.  23 B  is a front view of the closure of  FIG.  23 A . 
         FIG.  24 A  is a section of the closure of  FIG.  23 A  shown following insertion of the spout. 
         FIG.  24 B  is a front view of the closure of  FIG.  24 A . 
         FIGS.  25 A to  25 F  show front perspective, rear perspective, rear, side, front and top views of the fully assembled closure in a closed position. 
         FIGS.  25 G to  25 I  show front perspective, side and top views of the closure in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  6    show a closure  10  being an embodiment of which the method of the present disclosure is suitable. 
     The closure  10  comprises a body having a base  20  and a lid  25 . The lid has a top surface  25   a  and a projection  25   c  on one side to aid gripping and opening of the lid  25 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , within the closure  10  is a spout or dispensing member  40  which is a separate member fitted inside the base  20  and lid  25 . 
     The base  20  and lid  25  are pivoted together by a hinge  26 . 
     The lid  25  has an outer skirt  25   b  and an annular inner skirt  25   d  which depend from the top surface  25   a  and presses against part of the spout  40  so as to provide a seal. Further, the lid  25  includes an annular projection  25   f  depending from the underside of top surface  25   a  and which takes the form of a bore seal to seal against the inner surface of the spout  40  to prevent leakage of the contents of the container when the lid is in the closed position. 
     The spout  40  includes a flange  41  which projects radially outward from the side of the spout  40  at approximately the same axial level, when assembled with the base and/or lid, as the parting plane between the underside of the lid  25  and the upper surface of the base  20 . Furthermore, the skirt  25   d  of the lid  25  has a projection  25   e . This projection  25   e  projects radially outwards at the lower end of the skirt  25   d . A gap  27  is left between the lower end of the side skirt  25   b  in a region approximately opposite the hinge  26  and the upper surface of the base  20 . A void or pocket  31  is provided between the spout  40  and the base  20 . 
     The spout  40  also includes a bore seal  44  which depends from the flange  41  and seals against the radially inner surface of an associated container (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     Referring also to  FIG.  5   , a tamper-evident member  30  which takes the form of a separate element having an upper ring  30   a  and a lower ring  30   b  connected together by frangible connections  32  is assembled with the closure  10 . Upon assembly, the tamper-evident member  30  fits between the base and the lid and radially outward of the spout  40 . The tamper-evident member  30  includes an upper projection  34  which projects radially inwards and a lower flange  33  which projects radially outwards. 
     When the tamper-evident member  30  is assembled with the closure  10  the upper projection  34  engages with the projection  25   e  provided on the radially inner surface of the side skirt  25   b  of the lid  25 . Further, the lower projection  33  engages under a terminal sidewall portion  21 . In this manner, the lid cannot be opened without breaking the frangible connections  32 . The components are all shaped to allow initial installation; for example the upper ring  30   a  has an angled surface  30   c  so that the ring  30   a  can pass over the projection  25   e  during assembly. The upper projection  34  includes an undercut, on the side opposite to the side having the angled surface, which engage with the projection  25   e  to prevent the projections from passing over one another following installation. 
     Furthermore, the closure  10  includes a tamper-evident band  23  at the lower end of the base  20  which operates in a similar manner to well-known tamper-evident drop members. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  7  to  13    there is shown a further embodiment of a closure  110  which is suitable for fabrication using a method according to the present disclosure. 
     The closure  110  is connectable to a container neck. 
     The closure  110  comprises a body  111 , a spout insert  120  and a tamper-evident member insert  101 . 
     The body  111  comprises a base  112  and a lid  114 . 
     The base  112  comprises a generally cylindrical side wall  116  having at one end a tamper-evident annular band  117  connected thereto by a plurality of frangible bridges  118 . 
     The side wall  116  terminates at its end opposite the band  117  with an annular shoulder  116   c  which extends radially inwards. 
     The turret-like lid  114  is connected to the free end of the shoulder  116   c  via a hinge arrangement generally indicated  132 . 
     The interior of the base side wall  116  comprises internal screw thread formations  116   a  for engaging corresponding external screw thread formations on a container neck. The interior of the side wall  116  further comprises an annular retention bead  116   b  positioned below a second shoulder  116   d  in the sidewall  116 . 
     The interior of the band  117  comprises a segmented retention bead  117   a  for engagement under a locking bead on a container neck so that if the closure is unscrewed the band  117  will remain on a container neck. 
     The lid  114  comprises a top plate  134  from which depends a curved outer sidewall  135 ; an inner skirt  125   b  depends from the underside of the top plate, radially inwards of the outer wall  135  and a spigot  136  depends from the underside of the centre of the plate  134 , radially inwards of the inner skirt  125   b . The free end of the lid sidewall  135  includes a window  108  (which could be, for example, a material thinning or an opening). 
     Opposite the hinge  132  the lid  114  includes a small peak  138  used to lift the lid and flip it open with respect to the base  112 . 
     The spout  120  comprises a generally cylindrical lower portion  150 , a generally cylindrical central portion  151  and a generally frusto conical upper portion  152 . 
     The lower portion  150  comprises an annular external sealing bead  156 . In use, the portion  150  enters the bore of the container neck such that the sealing bead  156  seals against its inner surface. 
     The central retention portion  151  comprises a plurality of radially outwardly extending retention spokes  160 . 
     The upper portion  152  comprises a curved, generally frusto conical outer surface defining a spout. At the end of the spout side wall opposite the central portion  151  is a cylindrical terminal portion  170 . An inclined annular orifice wall  172  extends inwards from the free end of the portion  170  and from it an annular wall  173  depends; the wall  173  defines an orifice  174 . 
     The separate spout  120  is received into the body  111  as part of method described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS.  14  to  21   . The spokes  160  abut against the shoulder  116   d  and engage under the projection  116   b  to retain the spout in the base. The spigot  136  enters through the wall  173  to close the orifice  174 . 
     A tamper-evident member  101  is provided for the closure and is shown in more detail in  FIG.  13   . 
     The member  101  takes the form of a separate element having an upper ring  102  and a lower ring  103  connected together by frangible connections  104  and is assembled with the closure  110  as part of a method described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS.  14  to  21   . Upon assembly, the tamper-evident member  101  fits between the base and the lid and radially outward of the spout  120 . The tamper-evident member  101  includes an upper projection  105  on the upper ring  102  which projects radially inwardly and a lower flange  106  on the lower ring which projects radially outwardly. 
     When the tamper-evident member  101  is assembled with the closure  110  the upper projection  105  engages with a projection  125   e  provided on the radially inner surface of the inner skirt  125   b  of the lid. Further, the flange  106  engages with the underside of the shoulder  116   c . In this manner, the lid cannot be opened without breaking the frangible connections  104 . The member  101  splits into the two rings  102 ,  103  as shown in  FIGS.  10  to  12    and the lower ring  103  is no longer visible through the lid window  108 , having dropped into a void  107  above the spout ledge  121 . 
     In  FIGS.  7  to  9    the closure  110  is shown in the closed position. When a user desires to drink from the spout they grasp the lid and flip it open to the position shown in  FIG.  11    using the peak  138 . 
     The user can now access the spout freely and unencumbered by the lid. With the lid in the open position the ring  103  is retained in the lid by the projection  125   e  and is clearly visible in the lid. The separated rings  102 ,  103  show that the closure has been opened at least once. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  14  to  21    there is described a method of manufacturing a tamper-evident dispensing closure. 
     In  FIG.  14    a closure body  211  is shown and is generally the same as that of the closures  10 ,  110 , comprising a base  212  and a lid  214  hinged together by an integral hinge  232 . In this embodiment the body is formed with the lid  214  in an open position. 
       FIG.  15    shows a pre-closing step, in which the lid  214  is moved to a partially closed position with respect to the base  212 . 
     In  FIG.  16    the lid  214  has been fully closed on to the base  212 . 
     In  FIG.  17    a tamper-evident member  201  is presented to the closed body  211 . 
     The member  201  takes the form of a separate annular element having an upper ring  202  and a lower ring  203  connected together by frangible connections  204 . 
     The member  201  includes an upper projection  205  on the upper ring  202  which projects radially inwardly to form a hook; and a lower flange  206  is provided on the lower ring  203  and projects radially outwardly. 
     In  FIG.  18    the member  201  is pushed through the open end of the base sidewall  216 . The member flange  206  abuts against the underside of the shoulder  216   c  and the upper ring projection  205  snaps over the lid inner skirt bead  225   e  to connect it to the lid and to hold the lid in the closed position. 
     In  FIG.  19    a dispensing spout  220  is presented to the closed body (with the member  201  in position). 
     In  FIG.  20    the spout  220  is pushed into the open end of the base sidewall  216 . 
     The spokes  260  (which in other embodiments may be a continuous flange) abut against the shoulder  216   d  and engage over the projection  216   b  to retain the spout in the base. The lid spigot  236  enters through the spout wall  273  to close the orifice  274 . 
     The assembled closure  210  is now shown in  FIG.  21   . Further processing steps may now be performed, such a slitting to form a tamper-evident band at the free end of the base sidewall. 
     The closure  210  functions in a similar way to the closures  10 ,  110 . Upon first opening the tamper member rings  202 ,  203  are torn apart because the upper ring  202  is clipped over the skirt bead  225   e  and the lower ring flange abuts against the shoulder  216   c . The upper ring  202  is retained by the lid, and the lower ring  203  drops into the base void  207  so it can no longer be seen through the window  208 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  22  to  24    there is described a method of manufacturing a tamper-evident dispensing closure  310  formed according to an alternative embodiment. 
     In  FIGS.  22 A and  22 B  a closure body  311  is shown and is generally the same as that of the closures  10 ,  110 , comprising a base  312  and a lid  314  hinged together by an integral hinge  332 . In this embodiment the body is formed with the lid  214  in a closed position. In other embodiments the lid is formed in an at least partially open position. 
     A tamper-evident member  301  is presented to the closed body  311 . The member  301  takes the form of a separate annular element having an upper ring  302  and a lower ring  303  connected together by frangible connections  304 . 
     The member  301  includes an upper projection  305  on the upper ring  202  which projects radially inwardly to form a hook; and a lower flange  306  is provided on the lower ring  303  and projects radially outwardly. 
     In  FIGS.  23 A and  23 B  the member  301  has been pushed through the open end of the base sidewall  316 . The member flange  306  abuts against the underside of the shoulder  316   c  and the upper ring projection  305  snaps over the lid inner skirt bead  325   e  to connect it to the lid and to hold the lid in the closed position. 
     A dispensing spout  320  is presented to the closed body (with the member  301  in position). 
     In  FIGS.  24 A and  24 B  the spout  320  has been pushed into the open end of the base sidewall  316 . 
     The spokes  360  (which in other embodiments may be a continuous flange) abut against the shoulder  316   d  and engage over the projection  316   b  to retain the spout in the base. The lid spigot  336  enters through the spout wall  373  to close the orifice  374 . 
     The assembled closure  310  is now shown in  FIGS.  25 A to  25 F . Further processing steps may now be performed, such a slitting to form a tamper-evident band at the free end of the base sidewall. 
     The closure  310  functions in a similar way to the closures  10 ,  110 ,  210 . Upon first opening the tamper member rings  302 ,  303  are torn apart because the upper ring  302  is clipped over the skirt bead  325   e  and the lower ring flange abuts against the shoulder  316   c . The upper ring  302  is retained by the lid and the lower ring  303  drops into the base void  307  so it can no longer be seen through the window  308  (see  FIGS.  25 G to  25 I ). 
     Although illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the disclosure is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.