Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1694576B1/en
Timestamp: 2018-10-16 04:28:50
Document Index: 140939133

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 45', 'arts 45', 'art 45', 'art 35', 'arts 35', 'art 160', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 190', 'art 160', 'art 160', 'art 165', 'art 160', 'art 160', 'art 165', 'art 167', 'art 175', 'art 160', 'art 175', 'art 175', 'art 175', 'art 165', 'art 183', 'art 181', 'art 183', 'art 183', 'art 190', 'art 191', 'art 181', 'art 175', 'art 191', 'art 190', 'art 191', 'art 194', 'art 194', 'art 190', 'art 191', 'art 181', 'art 175', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 173', 'art 160', 'art 160', 'art 167', 'art 160', 'art 160', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 190', 'art 183', 'art 175', 'art 192', 'art 175', 'art 175', 'art 183', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 160', 'art 160', 'art 165', "art'160", 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 175', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 160', 'art 165', 'art 160', 'art 165', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 160', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 165', 'art 175', 'art 160', 'art 160']

EP1694576B1 - A tamper-evident closure - Google Patents
EP1694576B1
EP1694576B1 EP20040790841 EP04790841A EP1694576B1 EP 1694576 B1 EP1694576 B1 EP 1694576B1 EP 20040790841 EP20040790841 EP 20040790841 EP 04790841 A EP04790841 A EP 04790841A EP 1694576 B1 EP1694576 B1 EP 1694576B1
EP20040790841
EP1694576A1 (en )
A tamper-evident closure (10) for a container (20) is provided. The closure (10) comprises a first portion (25) including inner (35) and outer (45) parts, and a second portion (30). The outer part (45) is movable relative to the inner part (35) from a first position in which the outer part (45) is immediately adjacent the second portion (30) to a second position in which there is an empty, unobstructed gap (G) therebetween. The inner (35) and outer (45) parts are adapted to become irreversibly locked in the second position so that the outer part (45) cannot be moved back to the first position to close the gap (G). A combination of such a closure (110) with an in-bore filament (100) connectable to a container (120) is also provided.
A particularly useful method of providing tamper-evidence is to use a system in which a closure is initially located in a first position, but once removed can only be returned to a second position which is visually distinct from the first position. For example, US 5,738,231 describes a closure with a part which is moved during the opening process so that following opening it cannot pass back over a projection on the container finish. The result is that the closure can only return to a position in which it is axially displaced with respect to its original position.
Document WO-A-02/096771 describes a closure with a first portion with inner and outer parts, and a second portion. Initially a section of the inner part of the first portion protrudes below the level of the outer part and is held firmly by a region of the second portion which is formed so as to have a reduced circumference. When the first portion is removed the section of the inner part is pulled from under the area of reduced circumference on the second portion. After removal the inner part of the first portion and the area of reduced circumference on the second portion retain their original dimensions, so that if the first portion is reapplied the inner part can no longer pass under the area of reduced circumference. Accordingly a gap is produced between the outer part of the first portion and the second portion, because the section of the inner part which was previously trapped under the second portion is now trapped above the area of reduced circumference.
The second portion may be connected to a container and the first portion may comprise a cap. Certain industries demand closures with a first portion comprising a cap and a second portion comprising a sleeve which is connected to a container; for example the spirits industry.
Fig 1 is a section of a closure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, shown attached to a container and being in a first position;.
Fig 2 shows the closure of Fig 1 in a second position prior to removal from the container;
Fig 3 shows a diagrammatic section along line III-III of Fig 2 illustrating a ratchet arrangement for locking the closure in the second position;
Fig 4 shows the closure of Fig 3 following removal from the container;
Fig 5 shows the closure of Fig 4 following reattachment to the container following first opening;
Fig 6 is a section of a tamper-evident closure according to an alternative embodiment, shown forming part of a tamper-evident arrangement on a container neck and being in a first position;
Fig 7 is a perspective view of a shell forming part of the closure of Fig 6;
Fig 8 is a perspective view of a ratchet member forming part of the closure of Fig 6;
Fig 9 is a perspective view of a liner part forming part of the closure of Fig 6;
Fig 10 is a perspective view of a pouring part forming part of the non-return fitment of Fig 6;
Fig 11 is a perspective section of a basket part forming part of the non-return fitment of Fig 6;
Fig 12 is a perspective view of a float forming part of the non-return fitment of Fig 6;
Fig 13 is a perspective view of the neck finish of Fig 6; and
Fig 14 is section of the closure of Fig 6 with the closure shown in a second position.
Referring to Fig 1 there is shown a tamper-evident closure generally indicated 10 attached to a container generally indicated 20. The container 20 includes a neck portion 21 with external screw threads 22. At the lower end of the neck 21 is an annular retention ring 23, the purpose of which is described in more detail below.
Approximately half way along its length, the outer surface of the skirt 37 also includes two diametrically opposed wedge-shape ratchet members 40 (best shown in Fig 3).
At its open end, the inner surface of the skirt also includes two dimensionally opposed, wedge-shape ratchet members 49 (best shown in Fig 3).
The operation of the closure will now be described with reference to Figs 2 to 5.
Continued turning of the outer part 45 eventually leads to the ratchet members 40, 49 passing each other and locking in the position shown in Figs 2 and 3. The outer and inner parts 45, 35 are now irreversibly locked in this second position. It will be seen that there now exists a gap (G) between the open end of the outer part skirt 47 and the second portion 30. The gap (G) is empty and unobstructed; that is, the gap (G) is not created by an obstruction structure which braces between the skirt 47 and the second portion 30.
With the outer 45 and inner 35 parts locked together as shown in Figs 2, continued turning of the outer part 45 now acts to unscrew the inner part 35 from the container neck 21. In Fig 4 the closure 10 is shown removed completely from the container neck 21 to allow access to the container 20.
When the closure 10 is replaced on the container neck 21 it cannot be returned to its first position because the inner and outer parts 35, 45 are still locked together. Instead the closure can only be returned to the position shown in Fig 5, in which the gap (G) remains.
Figs 6 to 13 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the closure 110 forms part of a tamper-evident arrangement for a container 120 having a neck 121 with an associated in-bore non-return fitment generally indicated 100.
Referring generally to Fig 6, the components of the tamper-evident arrangement are as follows: the closure 110 comprises a shell 155, a ratchet part 160 and a liner part 165; the non-return fitment 100 comprises a pouring part 175, a ball 200, a float valve 186 and a basket part 190.
The closure shell 155 is shown in Fig 7 and is a metal closure of the well-known "roll-on pilfer-proof" type. The shell comprises a disk-shape top plate 156 with a side wall 157 depending from its periphery. The shell 155 includes upper 155a and lower 155b sections. The shape of the side wall 157 is determined at least in part after the shell is applied because a series of rollers and cutters are used to form a frangible line 159 and first 158a and second 158b rolled-in regions, as is described in more detail below.
The ratchet part 160 is shown in Fig 8 and comprises a tubular body part. The inner surface of the part 160 includes screw threads 161. The inner surface also includes a ratchet member 162 for engaging a corresponding notch in the liner part 165. The inner surface also includes a ratchet step 163 formed by a band of thicker material at the opposite end of the part 160 to the ratchet member 162. The outer surface includes an annular groove 164 which is used to hold the part 160 in the shell 155 by virtue of a first crimped-in region 158 of the shell 155 (see Fig 6).
The liner part 165 is shown in Fig 9 and comprises a disk-shape top plate 166 with a cylindrical skirt 167 depending from its periphery. The upper part 167a of the surface of the skirt 167 includes screw threads 168 for engaging the threads 161 of the ratchet part. The inner surface of the skirt 167 includes screw threads 169 (shown in phantom on Fig 9) for engaging corresponding threads on the pouring part 175. Below the thread start of the external screw thread 168 is a notch 174 for receiving the ratchet member 162 of the ratchet part 160. Below the thread start of the internal screw thread 169 is a ratchet tooth 174a (see Fig 6) for engaging a corresponding tooth 180a on the outer surface of the pouring part 175 (see Fig 6).
As shown best in Fig 6, an annular plug band 173 depends from the inner surface of the top plate 166 and is adapted to engage in the pouring part 175.
The pouring part 175 is shown in Fig 10 and comprises a generally frusto-conical hollow body with an upper thread-bearing portion 176 having external screw threads 177 for engaging the internal screw threads 169 on the liner 165. Within the thread bearing portion 176 is positioned a dome-shape flow regulator 178. The regulator 178 is attached by three axial spokes 179 to the inner wall of the portion 176 to provide a flow path around the regulator 178.
A ball chamber 180 depends from the portion 176 and is sized to accommodate the ball 200 in such a way that it can move freely. The outer surface of the ball chamber 180 includes the ratchet tooth 180a for engaging the ratchet tooth 174a of the liner part 165,
A neck-engaging part 183 depends from the basket retaining part 181. The neck-engaging part 183 begins with an external annular groove 184a which is used to help hold the fitment 175 on the container neck 121 by virtue of the second rolled-in region 158b of the shell (see Fig 6).
Below the groove 184a, the internal surface of the part 183 includes a plurality of axial ribs 185 for engaging ribs 125 on the container neck 121, as described below. The ribs 185 are visible in Fig 10 through a window 186 in the basket-retaining part. An identical window is present diametrically opposite (not shown). The windows 186 are present so that a sharp retention edge 184c can be formed in a moulding production process. The edge 184c provides a very strong connection under the lip 123 of the container neck 121.
Opposite the external groove 184a is an internal step 184b.
The basket part 190 is shown in Fig 11 and includes an annular upper part 191 sized so that it has an interference sealing fit within the basket-retaining part 181 of the pouring part 175. The seal is improved with the presence of a bead 192 approximately half way along the outer surface of the part 191. The internal diameter of the part 190 decreases at the lower end of the upper part 191 with a curved step 193 and continues to form an annular plug part 194 sized to fit sealingly into the internal bore of the container neck 121. Approximately half way along the external surface of the plug part 194 is a bead 195 for improving the seal against the container neck 121.
The float valve 186 is shown in Fig 12 and comprises a disk-shape top plate 187 with a cylindrical skirt 188 depending from its periphery. The skirt 188 is sized so that its open end fits into the groove 194 of the basket part 190.
The neck finish 121 is shown in Fig 13 and comprises an upper lip 123 below which is a lower portion 124 of reduced diameter. The lower portion has a plurality of spaced axial ribs 125 around its periphery. A shoulder emerges from the lower end of the lower portion 124.
The tamper-evident arrangement shown in Fig 6 is assembled as follows.
The ball 200 is placed in the ball chamber 182. The float 186 is placed on the basket 190 and sits in the groove 194. The upper part 191 of the basket is pushed into the basket-retaining part 181 of the pouring part 175; the insertion extent is limited by the step 182. The liner part 165 is screwed onto the pouring part 175 using the corresponding screw threads 169, 177. The plug part 173 enters the inner bore of the thread bearing portion 176. The ratchet part 160 is connected to the pouring part by opening the tubular body part at the split line 160a. The part 160 is then fitted around the upper part 167a of the pouring part before allowing the part 160 to close with the threads 161, 168 now engaged and the lower edge of the ratchet resting on the liner flange 172.
The ratchet part 160, liner part 165, pouring part 175, ball 200, float valve 186 and basket part 190 are then added to the container neck 121 by pressing the neck-engaging part 183 of the pouring part 175 over the lip 123. The plug part 192 of the basket 190 enters the inner bore of the container neck 121 until the sealing member 198 contacts the upper surface 122 of the container neck 121 and the step 184b clips under the lip 123. At this point the ribs 125, 185 on the neck 121 and pouring part 175 engage to prevent relative rotation.
The shell 155 is now added. The shell side wall 157b is initially straight. Following placement over the rest of the tamper-evident arrangement the side wall is crimped into the groove 164 of the ratchet part and the groove 184 of the pouring part at points 158a and 158b respectively.
Initially the upper section 155a of the shell 155 is grasped above the frangible line 159 and twisted. The pouring part 175 cannot turn by virtue of the ribs 125, 185 on the container neck 121 and the neck-engaging part 183. The lower section 155b of the section of shell below the frangible line is firmly connected to the pouring part by crimped-in region 158b, and also cannot turn. The liner part 165 is prevented from turning relative to the pouring part 175 at this stage because of the interaction of the ratchet teeth 174a, 180a.
The upper section 155a of the shell turns and the frangible line 159 breaks. The turning of the upper section 155a turns the ratchet part 160 by virtue of the firm connection provided by the region 158a in the groove 164.
The ratchet part 160 continues to rise in the upper shell section 155a until the step 163 passes over the flap 170 and the ratchet member 162 enters the notch 174 on the liner part 165. The flap 170 prevents the upper-shell section 155a from moving back down by its engagement with the step 163 and the ratchet member 162 prevents relative rotation between the ratchet part'160 and the liner part 165. Because the step 163 and flap 170 are located above the respective screw threads, access to this part of the closure is made difficult. Re-setting of the ratchet arrangement is thereby made more difficult.
The tamper-evident arrangement is now shown in the position shown in Fig 14. A gap (G1) is formed in the shell 155 between the upper 155a and lower 155b shell sections. The gap (G1) is unobstructed; there is no obstacle at the point of dislocation to prevent closing of the gap (G1). Continued turning of the upper shell section 155a now turns the liner 165 with respect to the pouring part 175; again the pouring part 175 remains stationary.
The action of twisting the liner part 165 off the pouring part 175 may break one or both of the ratchet teeth 174a, 180a, and may make a 'crack' sound to reinforce the tamper-proof nature of the closure. Therefore the interaction of the ratchet teeth 174a, 180a must be strong enough to counter the force of the ratchet part 160 turning relative to the liner part 165. In particular the interaction must be strong enough to remain intact as the ratchet part step 163 passes over the liner flap 170. However, the ratchet teeth 174a, 180a interaction is such that it can be overcome once the ratchet part 160 and liner part 165 are locked in place. Other types of semi-permanent locking arrangements could be used between the liner part 165 and the pouring part 175. For example the parts could be glued together. Preferably the locking arrangement is destroyed during the opening operation to prevent the tamper-evident arrangement from being re-set.
The upper shell section 155a, the ratchet part 160 and the liner part 165 are then removed to expose the pouring part 175.
When the upper shell section 155a is replaced and the liner part 165 is screwed back onto the pouring part 175, the gap (G1) cannot be re-closed because the ratchet part 160 prevents the upper shell section 155a moving down further than is shown in Fig 14. It will be noted that the annular extension portion 171 of the liner 165 is visible through gap (G1) in the position shown in Fig 14.
The upper shell section 155a constitutes the first portion outer part of the closure. The liner 165 constitutes the first portion inner part. The lower shell section 155b constitutes the second portion. The ratchet part 160 locks the inner and outer parts together.
A tamper-evident closure (10) for a container (20), the closure comprising:
- a first portion (25) including inner (35) and outer (45) parts, and
- a second portion (30), characterized in that
the outer part (45) is movable relative to the inner part (35) from a first position in which the outer part (45) is immediately adjacent the second portion (30) to a second position in which there is an unobstructed gap (G) therebetween, the inner (35) and outer (45) parts are adapted to become irreversibly locked in the second position so that the outer part (45) cannot be moved back to the first position to close the gap (G).
A closure (10) according to claim 1, wherein the second portion (30) is adapted to be connected to a container (20) and the first portion (25) comprises a cap.
A closure (10) according to claim 2, wherein the second portion (30) is permanently fixed in its position on the container.
A closure (110) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first portion (155a, 165) is adapted to engage an in-bore fitment (100) associated with the container.
A closure (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the first portion (25) includes a ratchet arrangement (40, 49) for locking the inner (35) and outer parts (45) in the second position.
A closure (110) according to claim 5, wherein the first portion (155a, 165) includes engagement formations (169) and the ratchet arrangement (163, 170) is located above the formations (169).
A closure (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the gap (G) is formed at the respective adjacent peripheries of the portions (25, 30).
A closure (110) according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner part (165) includes a part (171) which extends beyond the outer part (155a) towards the second portion (155b) in the second position, the part (171) is positioned so as to be visible through the gap (G1).
In combination a container (20) and a tamper-evident closure (10), the closure (10) comprising:
- a second portion (30), characterised in that
the second portion (30) is connected to the container (20) and the first portion (25) is a removable top cap, the first portion outer part (45) is movable relative to the inner part (35) from a first position in which the outer part (45) is immediately adjacent the second portion (30) to a second position in which there is an empty, unobstructed gap (G) therebetween, thereafter the first portion (25) is removable and the inner (35) and outer (45) parts are adapted to become irreversibly locked in the second position so that the outer part (45) cannot be moved back to the first position to close the gap (G) when the first portion (25) is replaced.
A combination according to claim 9, wherein the combination further comprises an in-bore fitment (100) connectable to the container (120), the first portion (155a, 165) being adapted to engage the fitment (100).
EP20040790841 2003-10-31 2004-10-26 A tamper-evident closure Active EP1694576B1 (en)
EP20040790841 EP1694576B1 (en) 2003-10-31 2004-10-26 A tamper-evident closure
EP1694576A1 true EP1694576A1 (en) 2006-08-30
EP1694576B1 true EP1694576B1 (en) 2008-02-27
EP20040790841 Active EP1694576B1 (en) 2003-10-31 2004-10-26 A tamper-evident closure
JP5824144B2 (en) * 2011-05-31 2015-11-25 カルメル ファルマ アクチボラゲット Non-removable, tamper-proof lid
WO2017093218A1 (en) 2015-12-02 2017-06-08 Obrist Closures Switzerland Gmbh A tamper-evident closure
NL127574C (en) * 1965-01-20
GB1207487A (en) * 1966-11-30 1970-10-07 Metal Closures Ltd Improved bottle closure
DE2230330A1 (en) * 1971-06-25 1973-03-01 Bouchage Mecanique Inviolable closure capsule
EP0129934B1 (en) * 1983-06-22 1987-09-30 WASSILIEFF, Victor Sealing and distributing device for containers of fluids
JP2849013B2 (en) * 1991-12-14 1999-01-20 株式会社日章 Method of extracting a physiologically active substance from coral sand
DE4390847T1 (en) * 1992-03-06 1994-02-17 Ernst Herrmann Closure device with a guarantee
GB0019345D0 (en) 2000-08-08 2000-09-27 Procter & Gamble Liquid composition
US8522991B2 (en) 2013-09-03 grant
Owner name: CROWN PACKAGING UK PLC
Ref document number: 1094438
Ref document number: 602004012149
Ref document number: 20080401319
Ref document number: 2302040