Abstract:
A flip-top dispensing closure ( 10 ) is provided. The closure comprises: a base ( 12 ) connectable to a container neck ( 1 ); a lid ( 14 ) hingedly connected to the base so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position; and a dispensing member ( 20 ). The closure further comprises a tamper-indicating member ( 5 ). The tamper-indicating member ( 5 ) activates either: upon first opening of the lid ( 14 ); or if the base ( 12 ) is removed from the neck ( 1 ).

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a closure and particularly, although not exclusively, to a container closure including one or more tamper-indicating features. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There is a widespread requirement within the field of closures for mechanisms which can be used to indicate to a consumer if a closure is unopened. One very common system uses a drop band which is frangibly connected to the open end of a closure base and which drops onto and remains on a container neck if the closure base is removed. There are also mechanisms for indicating if two parts of a closure have been separated, for example, if a lid has been removed from a base. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention seeks to provide improvements over known tamper-indicating closures. 
         [0004]    According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a flip-top dispensing closure comprising: a base connectable to a container neck; a lid hingedly connected to the base so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position; and a dispensing member, the closure further comprising a tamper-indicating member, in which the tamper-indicating member activates either: upon first opening of the lid; or if the base is removed from the neck. 
         [0005]    If the base is removed from the neck the dispensing member may be retained on the neck until after the tamper-indicating member is activated, and thereafter is removed together with the base. 
         [0006]    The dispensing member may include a bead or the like for interacting with a corresponding bead or the like on the tamper-indicating member, the beads interacting to cause activation of the member if the lid is opened or if the base is removed. 
         [0007]    The dispensing member may have a bead or the like for retaining it on the container neck. 
         [0008]    The base may include a bead for engaging the dispensing member so as to lift the dispensing member off the neck if the base is removed. 
         [0009]    The base bead may be located axially spaced from the dispensing member so that as the base initially moves axially off the neck the dispensing member remains on the neck, whereby to cause the tamper-evident member to activate. 
         [0010]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provide a flip-top dispensing closure comprising a base connectable to a container neck, and a lid hingedly connected to the base so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position, the closure comprises a bi-functional tamper-indicating member which breaks either upon first opening of the lid or if the base is removed from the neck. 
         [0011]    The present invention therefore provides a unitary tamper-indicating system capable of providing multiple functions. 
         [0012]    The closure may comprise a dispensing member, for example a spout. The dispensing member may be separate from the base and lid. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments the dispensing member may cause the tamper-evident member to break if the base is removed from the neck. 
         [0014]    The dispensing member may be lifted off the container neck if the base is removed. The lifting may be delayed/retarded so as to cause activation of the tamper-evident member. 
         [0015]    The member may comprise a double ring structure with two rings frangibly connected together that break apart in a tamper-indicating event. 
         [0016]    When the tamper-indicating member is activated at least part of the member may fall into a pocket or void in the base. In some embodiments part of the member is visible in a gap prior to opening and moves out of the gap as a result of an opening event. 
         [0017]    According to a further aspect there is provided a container closure comprising a base and a lid, the base is attachable to a container and the lid is attachable to the base, the closure has a tamper-evident member which is capable of indicating if the lid has been opened, in which the said tamper-evident member is also capable of indicating if the base is removed from the neck. 
         [0018]    According to a further aspect there is provided a container closure comprising two or more parts and being connectable to a container, the closure being vulnerable to two or more different opening events, in which the closure includes a single, multi-functional tamper-indicating system activatable if any of the opening events occur. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment there are important interactions between:
       (1) a bead on a spout and a bead on a lower part of a tamper-evident double ring, which causes the ring to break if the lid is opened or if the base is removed;   (2) a bead/clip on a spout which holds it onto a container neck (until a bead on the base lifts it off); and   (3) a bead on the base and part (e.g. an edge) of the spout, which cause the spout to be lifted off the neck after the tamper-evident ring has been broken due to interaction (1).       
 
         [0023]    In some embodiments the member is the only tamper-indicating feature; in other embodiments further features may be provided. 
         [0024]    Closures of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material, such as a plastics material (for example PP or PE). The closure may be formed by molding, for example by injection or compression molding. Closures with lids and bases may be formed with the lid in an open or closed position. 
         [0025]    The present invention also provides a closure as described herein in combination with a container. 
         [0026]    A further aspect provides a method of providing a container closure with multi tamper-evidencing functionality using only a single tamper-evident break event which occurs upon any of two or more different opening events. 
         [0027]    A further aspect provides a neck or neck finish for a container, the finish having a height in the range 7 mm to 11 mm when measured from a transfer bead. The finish may have a height in the range 8 to 10 mm, for example in the range 8 mm to 9 mm. In some embodiments the finish has a height of approximately 8.41 mm. 
         [0028]    A further aspect provides a neck or neck finish for a tamper-evident closure, the neck finish being formed with an absence of a tamper-evident bead. The neck finish may be formed in combination with a closure having a base and be part of a system that can still detect an attempt to remove the base and provide an indication that the base has been removed. The finish of aspects and embodiments of the present invention may be a 29/25 finish. 
         [0029]    Finishes of the present invention may include engagement means for enabling connection to a closure, for example they may include an external and/or internal screw thread formation, snap bead or the like. 
         [0030]    A further aspect provides a container having a neck or neck finish as described herein. 
         [0031]    The present invention also provides for a closure as described herein in combination with a neck, neck finish or container as described herein. 
         [0032]    The container, neck or neck finish of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material, including plastics material (e.g., PET, PP or PE) or glass. 
         [0033]    Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together. 
         [0034]    Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention 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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]    The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0036]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a closure formed according to the present invention and shown in an unopened position; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a section of the closure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are further sectional and side views of the closure of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7  show side, perspective and sectional views of the closures of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  following a first type of premier opening event in which a lid is opened. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are side and sectional views of the closure of  FIG. 1  at the start of an alternative type of premier opening event in which a base is unscrewed. 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , and  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17  show side and sectional views as the base is progressively unscrewed. 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19  show the closure after the base has been screwed back on. 
           [0043]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a container neck having a finish formed according to the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 21  is a side view of the neck of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 22  is a magnified view of the part labelled A in  FIG. 21 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 23 ,  FIG. 25 , and  FIG. 27  are front and side sectional views of a known container and closure and a side view of a known neck finish. 
           [0047]      FIG. 24 ,  FIG. 26 , and  FIG. 28  show views of a container and closure formed according to the present invention and corresponding to  FIG. 23 ,  FIG. 25 , and  FIG. 27 , respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0048]    Referring first to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  there is shown a sportscap closure generally indicated  10 . 
         [0049]    The closure  10  comprises a body  11 , a spout  20  and a tamper-evident member  5 . 
         [0050]    The closure  10  is connectable to a container neck  1 . 
         [0051]    The body  11  comprises a base  12  and a lid  14 . 
         [0052]    The base  12  comprises a generally cylindrical side wall  16 . The side wall  16  terminates at one end with an annular shoulder  16   c  which extends radially inwards. 
         [0053]    The interior of the base side wall  16  comprises internal screw thread formations  16   a  for engaging corresponding external screw thread formations  2  on the container neck located above a transfer bead  4 . The interior of the side wall  16  further comprises an annular retention bead  16   b  positioned below a second shoulder  16   d  in the sidewall  16 . 
         [0054]    The lid  14  comprises a top plate  34  from which depends a curved outer sidewall  35 ; an inner skirt  25   b  depends from the underside of the top plate, radially inwards of the outer wall  35  and a spigot  36  depends from the underside of the center of the plate  34 , radially inwards of the inner skirt  25   b.    
         [0055]    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.    
         [0056]    The generally turret-like lid  14  is connected to the free end of the shoulder  16   c  via a hinge arrangement generally indicated  32 . 
         [0057]    A gap  27  is left between the lower end of the side skirt and the upper surface of the base  20  and the lid includes a shallow cut-out window  28  opposite the hinge  32 . 
         [0058]    Opposite the hinge  32  the lid  14  includes a small peak  38  used to lift the lid and flip it open with respect to the base  12 . 
         [0059]    The spout  20  comprises a lower portion  50 , a central portion  51  and an upper portion  52 . 
         [0060]    The lower portion  50  comprises a ledge  21  with an annular seal  56  depending therefrom. In use, the seal  56  enters the bore of the container neck such that it seals against its inner surface. 
         [0061]    The ledge  21  comprises a plurality of radially outwardly extending retention spokes  60  at is periphery. The spokes  60  abut against the shoulder  16   d.  It will be noted that the spokes  60  are spaced from the bead  16   b  and that they terminate with a “claw”  61  that allows them to grip onto the rim  3  of the container neck  1  which comprises a peripheral bead  3   a.    
         [0062]    The central section  51  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 gap  27  between the underside of the lid  25  and the upper surface of the base  20 . 
         [0063]    A void or pocket  31  is provided between the spout ledge  41  and the base  20 . 
         [0064]    The upper portion  52  comprises a curved, generally frustoconical outer surface defining a spout. At the end of the spout side wall opposite the central portion  51  is a cylindrical terminal portion  70 . An inclined annular orifice wall  72  extends inwards from the free end of the portion  70  and from it an annular wall  73  depends; the wall  73  defines an orifice  74 . In the closed position the lid spigot  36  enters through the wall  73  to close the orifice  74 . 
         [0065]    The tamper-evident member  5  takes the form of a separate element having an upper ring  6  and a lower ring  7  connected together by frangible connections  8 . The tamper-evident member  5  fits between the base and the lid and radially outward of the spout  20 . The upper ring  6  includes an upper projection  6   a  which projects radially inwardly. The lower ring includes a flange  7   a  which projects radially outwardly, and a hook-like inner projection  7   b  which projects radially inwardly. 
         [0066]    The upper projection  6   a  engages with the projection  25   e  provided on the radially inner surface of the inner skirt  25   b  of the lid. 
         [0067]    The flange  7   a  sits adjacent (and may or may not initially engage with) the underside of the shoulder  16   c  and the projection/bead  7   b  sits adjacent (and may or may not initially engage with) under the spout flange  41 . 
         [0068]    As described below the lid cannot be opened without breaking the frangible connections  8  and separating the rings  6 ,  7 . 
         [0069]    When a user desires to drink from the spout they grasp the lid and flip it open to the position shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7  using the peak  38 . 
         [0070]    Due to the interaction between the member  5  and the base and spout the member  5  splits into the two rings  6 ,  7  as shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 ; and the lower ring  7  is no longer visible through the gap  27 , having dropped into the void  31  above the spout ledge  21 . 
         [0071]    The user can now access the spout freely and unencumbered by the lid. With the lid in the open position the ring  6  is retained in the lid by the projection  25   e  and is clearly visible in the lid. The ring  7  drops into and is retained in the void. The separated rings  6 ,  7  show that the closure lid has been opened at least once. 
         [0072]    Referring now to  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 17 , in addition to the lid opening being the premier opening event, the closure  10  is also capable of showing that the base has been removed (or an attempt has been made to remove the base) from the neck  1 . 
         [0073]    Initially as the base  12  is unscrewed the spout  20  remains on the neck. This means that as the base moves up the ring hook  7   b  contacts the underside of the spout flange  41  ( FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0074]    Continued unscrewing causes the ring to  7  to be broken away from the ring  6  ( FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0075]    The ring  7  drops into the void  31  and can no longer be seen in the gap/window  27 / 28 . It will also be noted that frangible bridges  15  between the base and lid are unbroken i.e. the member  5  has broken due to removal of the base from the neck. 
         [0076]    Also in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  it can be seen that because the base sidewall has moved up then bead  16   b  now abuts against the underside of the spokes  60 . Up to this point the spout is retained on the neck by the interaction of the spoke bead  61  and the rim bead  3   a.    
         [0077]    As the base continues to be unscrewed the spout  20  now starts to be lifted off the neck rim ( FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 ) by the bead  16   b,  but this is only after the member  5  has been broken (i.e., the delay in the lifting of the spout allows the member to be broken). The bead/claw  61  of the spout is pulled over the rim bead  3   a  by the interaction of the wall bead  16   b  and the spoke  60 . 
         [0078]    The base now continues to be unscrewed ( FIG. 14  to  FIG. 17 ) and may be completely removed. 
         [0079]    When the base is replaced ( FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 ) the tamper-evidence remains as the breaking of the member  5  is an irreversible event. 
         [0080]    The multi (in this embodiment double/dual) function of the member  5  removes the need for a separate tamper-evident band at the free end of the base sidewall and allows a reduction in weight of the closure and removes the need for a slitting step to form the band. By removing the need for a bead to cause breakage of a tamper band this also allow the weight of the neck finish to be reduced. 
         [0081]    Referring now to  FIG. 20  to  FIG. 22  there is shown a container neck  101  formed according to an aspect of the present invention. 
         [0082]    The neck  101  includes a neck finish  102  and a transfer bead  103 . 
         [0083]    The finish  102  is the part of the container that holds a cap or closure in use, and surrounds the opening  104  in the container. It is so named because, in early hand glass manufacturing, it was the last part of the glass container to be made, hence the term “finish”. 
         [0084]    The exterior of the finish  102  includes a single start screw thread  105 . In this embodiment this is a continuous spiral projecting ridge on the finish intended to mesh with the thread of a screw-type closure. Other screw thread formations, including multi-start threads, are possible. 
         [0085]    The transfer bead  103  is a continuous horizontal ridge near the bottom of the finish used in transferring of a container from one part of a manufacturing operation to another. 
         [0086]    It will be noted that the neck finish rim  106  includes an undercut  107  the purpose of which is described in more detail below. 
         [0087]    In this embodiment dimension x is in the range 25 mm to 30 mm (for example 27.70 mm), dimension y is in the range 30 mm to 35 mm (for example 32.50 mm), dimension z is in the range 7 mm to 11 mm (for example 8.41 mm) and dimension α is in the range 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm (for example 0.25 mm). All dimensions are within certain tolerances, for example ±10%. 
         [0088]      FIG. 23  to  FIG. 28  show a comparison of a known closure and neck finish with a closure and neck finish formed in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
         [0089]    The known closure  270  includes a tamper-evident band  271  at the free end of its sidewall  272 . The band  271  includes a bead  273  that engages under a tamper band bead  274  necessarily formed on the neck finish  275  in addition to a transfer bead  276 . 
         [0090]    By contrast, the closure  210  does not have a tamper-evident band and accordingly the neck finish does not require a tamper band bead. This means that not only can the weight of the closure be significantly reduced, but the weight of the finish, formed without a tamper band bead, can also be significantly reduced. 
         [0091]    It will be seen that the closure spout  220  is clipped under the neck finish undercut  207 . The closure  210  operates in accordance with the principles set out in relation to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 19 . In this embodiment the provision of a dual function tamper system in the closure produces a height reduction of approximately 4.19 mm over a corresponding tamper band closure. The short neck finish  202  gives a significant weight saving. 
         [0092]    Some aspects and embodiments of the present invention consist of a closure and/or neck finish substantially exactly as shown in  FIG. 23  to  FIG. 28 , i.e., restricted to the dimensions shown in the drawings (within a tolerance of ±10%). 
         [0093]    Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention 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 invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.