Abstract:
A closure ( 2 A) overlies a liner ( 6 ) which seals a container mount defined by a peripheral edge ( 12 ) of the container. The liner ( 6 ) includes a sealing flange ( 31 ) having an upstanding outermost terminal rim ( 40 ) of resilient material which is folded inwardly during closing movement of the closure shell ( 2 A) toward the sealing flange ( 31 ) to form an unflattened fold constituting a biasing means for biasing the periphery of the sealing flange ( 31 ) against the peripheral edge ( 12 ) of the container mouth.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved sealing wad or liner for use in closure caps. The invention is particularly suitable for use with ROPP (Roll-On Pilfer Proof) closures and in conjunction with pourers or non-refilling devices fitted inside the bore of a container neck. 
     A sealing wad or liner is often used in association with known closures. Generally, such closures have a planar crown, to cover the container mouth, and a tubular skirt which depends from the periphery of the crown and is adapted to locate on the outside of the container by, for example, threaded engagement. A sealing wad or liner is received adjacent to the closure crown to provide a seal around the mouth of the container. 
     For example, FR1378262 describes a plastic disc for use in conjunction with a metal crown. The plastic disc has a projecting annular wall of approximately the same diameter as the internal diameter of a bottle neck and a peripheral lip perpendicular to the disc. As the metal crown is applied to the bottle the lip deforms and seals around the outside of the bottle neck and the annular wall seals against the inside. 
     In an ROPP closure, a capsule made of thin metal is removably attached to the container. The capsule is fitted in position on the container neck and thread formations are rolled into the capsule skirt, conforming automatically to the underlying threads on the container neck to provided the necessary threaded engagement between the two. At the same time as the thread is formed, the free edge of the skirt is usually rolled inwardly under an annular shoulder on the container. This, in combination with a line of weakening provided around the periphery of the skirt, forms a tamper evident or security band. When the closure is unscrewed for the first time, this band separates from the remainder of the closure along the line of weakening, thereby providing visual evidence that an attempt has been made to open the container. 
     A waxed, cardboard sealing wad is usually provided in conventional ROPP closures. The sealing wad is retained in the capsule by means of an annular retaining bead formed around the periphery of the closure skirt, adjacent to the crown. When the container is capped, the mouth of the container locally deforms the cardboard sealing wad, to provide a seal. However, cardboard sealing wads are not always suitable, particularly when the container is provided with a device that is designed to be substantially or wholly received in the neck of the container; hereinafter referred to as “in-bore”, devices. Such devices include, for example, pourers and non-refilling devices for insertion in containers of fine spirits. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly the present invention provides a closure comprising a closure shell and a liner adapted to seal the mouth of a container, the liner having a sealing flange, arranged to overlie the container mouth, the sealing flange having an upstanding rim around its periphery, characterised in that on application of the closure on the container the upstanding rim folds towards the sealing flange, without folding completely flat, thereby constituting a biasing means for biasing the periphery of the sealing flange against the outside edge of the container mouth. 
     In particular, the invention provides a means of improving the seal between a closure and a container fitted with an in-bore device, such as a non-refilling device. 
     Various proposals for in-bore, non-refilling devices are described in Patent Publications U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,854, GB 2026428, WO 96/04179 and WO 98/42587. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,854, WO 96/04179 and WO 98/42587, the housing of the non-refilling device is provided with an annular flange which is arranged to overlie the rim of the container. The annular flange acts as a closure liner and provides a seal when the closure is fully tightened onto the container. The annular flange is adapted to releasably engage with the main body of the non-refilling device. Thus, the in-bore device can be assembled inside the closure cap prior to delivery to the bottling line. The combined closure and in-bore device can then be applied to the container neck as a single unit, reducing the time required to cap the bottles. 
     A disadvantage of this arrangement is that it is difficult to obtain as good a seal as can be achieved using the conventional cardboard wad. This causes particular problems when the filled bottles are being transported or stored in adverse conditions, such as hot and humid conditions. However, use of a conventional cardboard wad in conjunction with a non-refilling device is considered unacceptable as the closure has to be applied to the bottle independently of the in-bore device which increases process times and costs. 
     Therefore, the present invention also aims to provide an in-bore device, such as a non-refilling device, having the advantages of the existing in-bore devices but with improved sealing performance. The device must be capable integration with the closure or capsule for delivery to the filling line, relatively cheap and easy to mould and easy to assemble, but should seal the container opening as well as a closure containing a conventional cardboard wad. 
     Accordingly, the present invention also provides an in-bore device for a container having a body portion, at least part of which is adapted to be held firmly in the neck of a container, and a liner portion, arranged to be held captive in a closure and to co-operate releasably with the body portion, the liner portion having a sealing flange, arranged to overlie the container mouth, the sealing flange having an upstanding rim around its periphery, characterised in that on application of the closure and in-bore device to the container the upstanding rim folds towards the sealing flange, without folding completely flat, thereby constituting a biasing means for biasing the periphery of the sealing flange against the outside edge of the container mouth. 
     The liner according to the invention is preferably made of a plastics material. When used in conjunction with an in-bore device, the liner is provided with means for releasable engagement with the body portion of the in-bore device. This releasable connection may be provided, for example, by a snap fit arrangement or by frangible bridges, which break on first opening of the container. The in-bore device and liner may be inserted into the closure cap and the resultant integrated unit provided to the bottling line for insertion into the neck of a container. 
     The upstanding rim is located around the periphery of the liner, between the opposed surfaces of the liner and the crown of the closure. As the closure is applied to the container, the force applied to the closure crown by the capping head folds the upstanding rim towards the sealing flange, which in turn forces the periphery of the liner around the outside edge of the mouth of the container, thereby providing a seal. The upstanding rim may be segmented or shaped to provide the required sealing force. Where the closure crown is made from a thin, deformable material, such as in an ROPP closure, the upstanding rim is preferably continuous, to reduce the risk of producing a witness mark on the crown of the closure during the capping process. 
     The upstanding rim around the periphery of the liner is configured to have a spring characteristic when it is folded. As the closure is applied to the container, the spring bias in the folded structure provides the biasing force required to force the periphery of the liner around the outside edge of the rim of the container. The biasing effect of the liner is not reliant on the inherent resilience of the liner material. Thus, the invention is particularly advantageous where the liner is made from a relatively rigid material due to the need to provide engagement means, so that the liner can be releasably connected to an in-bore device, for example. 
     On application of the closure to the container, the upstanding rim is folded towards the sealing flange by the force exerted on the crown of the closure by the capping head. In its folded configuration, the rim acts like a folded spring and biases the periphery of the liner around the outside edge of the container mouth. In order to ensure that the folded rim acts like a folded spring rather than a local material thickening, it is important that the rim is not folded completely flat against the sealing flange. 
     Preferably, a spacer is provided between the opposed surfaces of the crown of the closure and the liner. The spacer may take the form of an upstanding boss, a number of discrete upstanding bosses or an annular ridge. Where the closure crown is made from a thin, deformable material, such as in an ROPP closure, the spacer is preferably a solid boss which extends over substantially the whole surface of the closure crown, in order to reduce the risk of witness marks appearing on the crown. 
     The spacer preferably defines a cavity into which the upstanding rim can fold. Again this ensures that the liner presents a smooth surface to the closure crown and does not give rise to witness marks on the crown during capping. The spacer may be adapted to prevent the fold, between the rim and the periphery of the sealing flange, from buckling and folding completely flat. If the fold is completely flattened the additional spring bias effect will not be achieved. 
     The closure liner according to the invention provides an effective seal by wrapping the periphery of the liner around the outside edge of the container mouth. The liner is simple to mould and may be provided with other features, such as engagement tabs for connection of the liner to an in-bore device for example. 
     The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a side section view of a conventional ROPP closure fitted to a bottle. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side section view of an ROPP closure having a liner according to the invention, fitted to a bottle. 
     FIG. 3 shows a side section view of a known in-bore, non-refilling device inserted in the neck of a bottle and surrounded by a ROPP closure. 
     FIG. 4 shows a side section view of the same in-bore, non-refilling device shown in FIG. 3, with a modified liner according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of the modified liner shown in FIG. 4, in its as-moulded configuration. 
     FIG. 6 shows a side section view of the modified liner shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIGS. 7A to  7 D show the liner of FIGS. 4 to  6  in its as-moulded configuration, first and second partially compressed configurations and with the closure fitted to the container respectively. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Where possible in the drawings, like components have been given the same reference numerals. 
     Referring to the prior art shown FIG. 1, a bottle  1  is fitted with a capsule or shell  2  of the well-known ROPP variety. The capsule is stamped from aluminium and has a generally planar crown  2 A and a tubular skirt  2 B. Near its free end, the skirt  2 B has a circumferential line of weakening  3  comprising a number of slits. This line of weakening defines a tamper evident band  4 , which is retained on the bottle when the remainder of the capsule is removed. A small annular retaining bead  5  is formed around the skirt  2 B at a small distance from the crown  2 A. In conventional ROPP closures of this type, a cardboard wad  6  is provided to seal the neck of the bottle  1 . The wad  6  is retained adjacent to the crown  2 A by the retaining bead  5 . 
     The neck of the bottle  1  has a generally cylindrical exterior surface with a stop bead  7  defined thereon. The stop bead  7  engages with the retaining bead  5 , to define the axial position of the capsule on the bottle. The finish portion of the bottle  1  also has screw threads  8 , a recess  9  arranged to align with the line of weakening  3  on the capsule, and a shoulder  10 . 
     The capsule  2 , with the retaining bead  5  already formed and the wad  6  inserted, is placed over the neck of the bottle  1 . A tool is then rolled around the tubular skirt  2 B of the capsule in the region of the screw threads  8  on the bottle, to form complimentary screw threads  11  in the capsule  2 . The free end of the tubular skirt  2 B is curled inwardly below the shoulder  10 , to retain the tamper evident band  4  on the bottle  1  and to remove the sharp edge. When the capsule is opened, the unscrewing action fractures the line of weakening  3 , severing the tamper evident band  4  from the rest of the capsule. The tamper evident band  4  is retained on the neck of the bottle by the shoulder  10 , when the rest of the capsule  2  is removed. 
     FIG. 2 shows the same ROPP closure as FIG. 1 with a liner  6  modified according to the invention. The liner  6  comprises a flange portion (not labelled) which extends over the rim of the opening in the bottle  1 . The flange portion has an upstanding rim  40  around its periphery, which is folded as the ROPP closure is applied to the container. A raised central boss or annular rim  42  acts as a spacer to ensure that the fold between the rim  40  and the flange portion of the liner  6  does not collapse completely flat. The central boss  42  also defines an annular recess into which the rim  41  can fold. This presents a substantially smooth surface to the underside of the capsule crown  2 A, ensuring that witness marks do not appear on the surface of the crown  2 A during capping. 
     The folded rim  40  applies a biasing force to the periphery  41  of the liner  6 , pushing the periphery  41  around the outside edge of the rim  12  of the container opening. By curling the periphery  41  of the liner around the outside edge of the rim  12 , the sealing performance of the liner is improved. The spring bias of the fold increases the biasing force on the periphery  42  of the sealing flange, compared to a liner which relies purely on compression of the liner material to provide the necessary sealing force. This is particularly important where the liner material has to be relatively hard, due to other design considerations such as the requirement to provide snap beads to allow the liner to be releasably connected to an in-bore device. 
     Referring to the prior art shown in FIG. 3, a glass bottle  1  is fitted with a known in-bore, non-refilling device  20 . These devices are often used in bottles of fine spirits, such as Scotch Whisky. The non-refilling device  20  is held captive inside the neck of the bottle by a number of flexible outwardly projecting fins  21 . The device  20  generally comprises a housing which has upper and lower parts  22 ,  23  respectively, joined together by frangible bridges  24  of smaller cross sectional dimension than the remainder of the housing. A valve member  25  is held captive within the housing  22 , 23  and is adapted to engage with a valve seat in the housing, to prevent refilling of the bottle. The frangible bridges  24  are designed to rupture, should someone try to tamper with the action of the valve member  25  and thereby refill the bottle. 
     The non-refilling device  20  also comprises a liner  30 . The liner  30  is generally in the shape of a corrugated disc, having an elevated outer flange  31  with a downturned free edge  32 . Adjacent to and inside the outer flange  31 , the liner has an upwardly open peripheral groove  33 . The groove  33  and flange  31  define a recess  34  in which the rim of the bottle  1  may be received and sealed. In order to enhance the seal between the liner and the rim of the bottle, the underside of the flange  31  may be formed with a number of concentric, compliant and downwardly projecting sealing beads  35 . Thus, the seal is formed on the top surface of the rim of the bottle opeining. 
     The liner  30  also comprises a number of depending catch members  37 , which are arranged to co-operate with a complimentary portion  36  on the upper part of housing  22 . The catch members  37  and upper part of the housing  22  allow the liner  30  and the main body  22 ,  23  of the non-refilling device  20  to be releasably connected together. 
     The, non-refilling device  20  is assembled by connecting the liner  30  to the main body  22 ,  23 . The assembled non-refilling device  20  is then pushed into the ROPP capsule  2  with the liner  30  leading. The downturned edge  32  of the liner  30  snap engages behind the retaining bead  5 , which has been pre-formed in the capsule. The assembly of the device  20  and capsule  2  as it appears at this stage, is shown on the right hand side of FIG.  2 . The closure is now ready for use in a bottling plant. 
     In the bottling plant, the capsule  2  is pushed over the neck of a product filled bottle  1  and the non-refilling device  20  becomes lodged in the neck of the bottle  1  by means of the fins  21  (as shown on the left hand side of FIG.  2 ). As previously described, screw threads (not shown) are then rolled into the capsule in conformity with the screw threads  8  provided on the bottle finish portion and the free edge of the capsule  2  is rolled under the shoulder  10  to secure the tamper evident band  4  to the bottle. 
     To open the bottle, the user unscrews the capsule  2 , leaving the tamper evident band  4  on the bottle. The liner  30  is held captive in the capsule  2  by the retaining bead  5  and is therefore separated from the body  22 ,  23  of the non-refilling device. When the capsule  2  is screwed back onto the bottle, the liner  30  re-engages with the upper part of the body  22  via the catch members  37 . 
     FIG. 4 shows generally the same in-bore, non-refilling device  20  as shown in FIG. 3 but with a modified liner  30  according to the invention. The liner  30  has a number of depending catch members  37 , arranged to co-operate with a complimentary portion  36  on the upper part of the non-refilling device housing  22 . 
     The liner  30  is generally in the shape of a corrugated disc and comprises a flange portion  31  which extends over the rim of the bottle opening. The flange portion  31  has an upstanding rim  40  around its periphery, which is folded when the ROPP closure is applied to the container. A raised central boss or annular rim acts as a spacer  42  between the crown  2 A of the capsule and the sealing flange  31 . Spacer  42  is sized to ensure that the fold between the rim  40  and the flange portion  31  does not collapse completely flat. The central bass  42  defines an annular recess into which the rim  41  can fold. This presents a substantially smooth surface to the underside of the capsule crown  2 A, ensuring that witness marks do not appear on the surface of the crown  2 A during capping. 
     During capping, the rim  40  is folded towards the sealing flange  31  by the force applied to the crown  2 A of the capsule. The folded rim  40  applies a biasing force to the periphery  41  of the liner, pushing it around the outside edge  12  of the rim of the container opening, to provide an improved seal. 
     The remaining features of the non-refilling device are the same as those shown in FIG.  3 . The capping procedure is also as generally described in relation to FIG.  3 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a liner according to one embodiment of the invention, which is suitable for use in conjunction with an in-bore device, comprises a sealing flange  31  which is sized so that it extends over the rim of a container opening. An upstanding rim  40  extends around the periphery of the sealing flange  31 . When a closure containing the liner is applied to a container, the force applied to the crown of the closure causes the upstanding rim  40  to fold towards the sealing flange  31  as previously described in relation to FIGS. 2 and 4. 
     In its as-moulded configuration (shown in FIGS.  5  and  6 ), the sealing flange  31  slopes downwardly towards the periphery of the liner, whilst the upstanding rim  40  is substantially vertical. This configuration ensures that the rim  40  folds during capping and that the periphery of the liner seals around the outside edge of the rim of the container opening (as discussed in relation to FIGS. 7A to  7 D below). This arrangement also allows the liner to be retained in a closure by a conventional wad bead. 
     The liner may also comprise a number of depending catch members  37 , arranged to co-operate with complimentary portions on the upper part of an in-bore device. A spacer  42  is provided inside the rim  40 , suitably spaced to provide a recess  43  into which the rim  40  can fold. The spacer  42  is also arranged to provide the liner with a substantially flat upper surface to prevent witness marks appearing on the visible surface of the closure crown. 
     FIGS. 7A to  7 D show the configuration of the liner in an ROPP capsule at four stages during the capping process. FIG. 7A shows the liner in its as-moulded configuration, FIGS. 7B and 7C show the liner at two intermediate stages and FIG. 7D shows the liner configuration when the ROPP capsule is fully fitted on the container. 
     Referring to FIG. 7A, the liner comprises a sealing flange  31 , which extends over the rim of a container opening. An upstanding rim  40  extends around the periphery of the sealing flange  31 . In the liner&#39;s as-moulded configuration, the sealing flange  31  slopes downwardly towards the periphery of the liner and the upstanding rim  40  extends substantially vertical to the main plane of the liner. The liner is connected to the remainder of an in-bore device by catch members  37 . The assembled in-bore device (only liner shown) is then inserted into an ROPP capsule  2  and the liner snaps behind the annular retaining bead  5 , thereby retaining the device within the capsule. The in-bore device is then placed into the neck of a container  1  and the capsule fits around the outside of the container neck. Force is applied to the closure crown  2 A to force the in-bore device into the bore of the container opening. 
     As shown in FIG. 7B, the force applied to the closure crown  2 A forces the lower surface of the sealing flange  31  into contact with the rim of the container opening. This forces the sealing flange  31  into a substantially horizontal configuration and thereby cams the upstanding rim  40  slightly inward from its initial vertical position. 
     Referring to FIG. 7C, further force on the closure crown  2 A acts on the upstanding rim  40  to push the periphery of the sealing flange  41  around the outside edge  12  of the rim of the container opening and also forces the upstanding rim  40  to fold towards the upper surface of the liner, into the recess left by the spacer  42 . 
     Finally, as shown in FIG. 7D, the force on the closure crown  2 A pushes the crown  2 A into contact with the spacer  42 . Screw threads conforming to the threads on the container  1  are then rolled into the capsule  2  as previously described. In this fully capped configuration, the closure crown  2 A is in contact with the Spacer  42  and the rim  40  is folded towards the upper surface of the liner. The fold between the sealing flange  31  and rim  40  acts in the same way as a folded spring and maintains a sealing force on the periphery of the liner  41 . The free end of the rim  40  may be forced into contact with the upper surface of the liner but complete collapse of the fold is avoided. The spacer  42  may be sized and arranged to ensure that complete collapse of the fold does not occur. This ensures that the folded rim  40  acts as a spring, biasing the periphery  41  of the liner around the outer rim of the container opening  12  even when the liner material is relatively rigid. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined the appended claims.