Abstract:
Tamper-evident closures are known in which the tamper-evidence remains attached to the closures after initial opening. However, the tamper-evidence is not always that clear and therefore it is desirable to produce a closure which more clearly shows it has been initially opened. This may be achieved by having a tamper-evident closure comprising a base, a lid, and a tamper-evident member irreversibly moveable between a first position in which part of the member is visible prior to initial opening of the closure and a second position in which the said part is masked by the lid so as to be partly hidden from view, the tamper-evident member being moved from the first position to the second position upon initial opening of the closure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from UK Patent Application Serial No. 0721330.9, filed Oct. 31, 2007, and is directly related to International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/GB2008/003666, filed Oct. 30, 2008, the entire contents of each of which is herein incorporated fully by reference. 
     
    
     FIGURE FOR PUBLICATION 
       [0002]      FIG. 2 . 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a closure for a container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a closure which can provide some indication that the closure has been opened at least once. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    The related art involves container closures with tamper-evident drop bands which are released from the open end of a closure side wall upon first opening. Although drop bands provide some indication that the closure has been opened, because they are physically separated there is no clear indication of opening on the remaining part of the closure. It is also known to provide tear-off bands which are removed from a closure body upon first opening. 
         [0007]    What is not appreciated by the prior art is that the tear-off bands of the closure body present a litter problem and a potential choking hazard because they are generally small tabs which are separated from the closure body. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved tamper evident closure that overcomes the problems identified hereinabove. 
       ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An aspect of the present invention is to provide address the problems with known tamper-evident closures. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident closure comprising a base, a lid and a tamper-evident member irreversibly movable between a first position in which part of the member is visible prior to initial opening of the closure and a second position in which the part of the member is now masked by the lid so as to be at least partly hidden from view, the tamper-evident member being moved from the first position to the second position upon initial opening of the closure. 
         [0011]    The closure may include a hinge for allowing the lid to move with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position. 
         [0012]    The base and lid may be integrally hinged to one another in that they are manufactured as one piece. For instance, the closure may be manufactured from plastics and the base and lid may be molded in one, connected together via the hinge. The hinge may be a snap type hinge and may include at least one strap. 
         [0013]    The closure may include first retaining means for retaining the tamper-evident member in the first position. The first retaining means may comprise at least one frangible bridge connecting the tamper-evident member to the base and/or lid. 
         [0014]    The closure may include second retaining means for retaining the tamper-evident member in the second position. The second retaining means may comprise a first projection on the lid and a first recess in the tamper-evident member. Alternatively, the second retaining means may comprise a first projection on the tamper-evident member and a first recess in the lid. 
         [0015]    The closure may further include third retaining means for retaining the lid in an initially closed position. The third retaining means may comprise a second projection on the lid and a second recess in the tamper-evident member. Alternatively, the third retaining means may comprise a second projection on the tamper-evident member and a second recess in the lid. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second projections described above may be one and the same. 
         [0017]    The tamper-evident member may include a grasping portion for aiding the movement of the tamper-evident member from the first position to the second position. This grasping portion may project radially outwards from the perimeter of the lid such that it is easily grasped by a user. 
         [0018]    A dispensing member may be included in the closure. This dispensing member may be substantially hidden from view by the tamper-evident member with the tamper-evident member in the first position. At least part of the dispensing member may be revealed with the tamper-evident member in the second position. 
         [0019]    The dispensing member may be a spout. The dispensing member may be a different colour and/or texture from the lid and/or base to allow it to be more easily differentiated from the lid and/or base. 
         [0020]    In use, a user may grasp the grasping portion and move the tamper-evident member from the first position to the second position thus breaking the frangible bridge connecting the tamper-evident member to the base. hi one embodiment, the user may grasp the grasping portion and lift or push it upwardly away from the base in an attempt to open the lid in a manner which is common to typical flip-top closures. The act of lifting or applying force to the grasping portion may move it from the first position to the second position. Continued application of this force may then rotate the lid about the hinge such that it opens the closure. When the closure is returned to its closed position, by movement of the lid from its open position to its closed position adjacent to the base, the tamper-evident member may remain in the second position thus providing evidence that the closure has been initially opened. This evidence is enhanced by the grasping portion projecting from the lid having been moved from its initial position to its subsequent position. Further, enhancement may be provided by the revealing of at least a part of the dispensing member which is initially masked by the tamper-evident member. If the dispensing member is a different color from the lid and/or base then it may be more clearly evident to a user that the closure has been initially opened at least once and then re-closed. 
         [0021]    The dispensing member may be a separate member from the lid and/or base. For instance, it may be molded separately, as opposed to being integral with the lid and/or base. The dispensing member may then be assembled with the lid and/or base. The dispensing member may be a spout for drinking from directly or for pouring from. Alternatively, the dispensing member may be integral with the lid or base. 
         [0022]    The tamper-evident member may initially be in an unprimed state on molding and with the lid in the as-molded open position. Following initial closing of the lid the tamper evident member may then have a primed state in that the second projection and recess are inter-engaged. 
         [0023]    The closure may include further tamper-evidence means in the form of a ring provided at the lower end of the base. This ring may fit over a neck finish of an associated container so that the base and lid combination may not be unscrewed, or otherwise removed, from the container without breaking the connection between this ring and the base. The ring may be connected to the base of the closure by the means of frangible bridges as is well known in this technical field. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the lid, base and hinge are molded unitarily. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the lid includes an aperture through which the tamper-evident member is visible with the tamper-evident member in the second position. It is possible that the tamper-evident member is not visible through the lid aperture with the tamper-evident member in the first position. 
         [0026]    The lid aperture may be provided in the top of the lid. 
         [0027]    In another aspect, the invention provides a tamper-evident closure comprising a base, a lid and a tamper-evident member irreversibly moveable between a first position in which part of the member is masked by the lid prior to initial opening of the closure and a second position in which the said part is visible via an opening in the lid, the tamper-evident member being moved from the first position to the second position upon initial opening of the closure. 
         [0028]    The various embodiments and features discussed above with regard to the first aspect of the invention may also apply to the second aspect of the invention. 
         [0029]    The closure may be formed from any suitable material, such as plastics or metallic material. Different components of the closure may be formed from different materials. 
         [0030]    The above, and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a closure formed according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown in an open state. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the closure of  FIG. 1  having been opened and re-closed. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the closure of  FIGS. 1 and 2  shown in the open position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is an elevational cross-section of part of the closure of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is an elevational cross-section of part of the closure of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, and below may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices. 
         [0037]    Referring first to  FIG. 1  there is shown a tamper-evident closure generally indicated  10 . The closure  10  is shown attached to the neck of a container  15 . The closure  10  comprises a base  20  and a lid  30  which together comprise a closure body. The lid  30  is connected to the base  20  by a hinge  100  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0038]    The base  20  comprises a cylindrical skirt which is open at both ends. At the end of the skirt adjacent the lid  30  a flange, or deck  22  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) extends radially inward. 
         [0039]    The lid  30  comprises an upturned cup-shape body having a top plate  32  and a side skirt depending from the periphery of the top plate. The skirt of the lid  30  is coaxial and concentric with the skirt of the base  20  such that in the closed position the side walls of the base  20  and the lid  30  are contiguous. 
         [0040]    The base  20  is provided with a recess  25  which is located on the other side of the circumference of the base  20  from the hinge  100 . 
         [0041]    The closure  10  includes a tamper-evident member  40  which is located within the lid  30 . This tamper-evident member  40  includes a grasping portion  50  which projects radially outward from the perimeter of the lid  30  and above the recess  25  provided in the skirt  20 . The grasping portion  50  is more readily gripped by a user due to the proximity of the recess  25  in the base  20  which reduces the diameter of the closure at this point underneath the grasping portion  50 . 
         [0042]    The lid  30  also includes an aperture or opening  35  which is provided axially above the grasping portion  50  and on a shoulder of the lid  30  between the top plate  32  and the base  20 . 
         [0043]    In use, a user may grasp the grasping portion  50  and push it axially upwards and away from the base  20  in order to open the lid  30  in a manner typically associated with flip-top lids. By the application of force on the grasping portion  50 , the tamper-evident member  40  is moved upwardly inside the lid  30  as shown in  FIG. 2 . With the tamper-evident member  40  moved upwardly within the lid  30  a portion  60  of the dispensing member  80  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) is visible through an opening  110  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) which was previously masked by the tamper-evident member  40 . 
         [0044]    A portion  52  of the tamper-evident member  40  is also visible through the lid aperture  35  in the lid  30  once the tamper-evident member  40  has moved upwardly inside the lid  30 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows the closure  10  after having been initially opened and then re-closed. Due to the structure which will be described below the tamper-evident member  40  is irreversibly locked in the upper second position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , which provides evidence of the closure having been opened at least once. Accordingly, evidence of tampering or having been opened and re-closed is thus provided. If the dispensing member has a different color from the lid and/or base then it is more clearly apparent to a user that the closure has been initially opened and re-closed since the portion  60  of the dispensing member  80  is more clearly visible through the opening  110 . 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the lid  30  of the closure  10  is shown in the fully open position having been rotated about the hinge  100 . A dispensing member  80  is shown exposed provided in association with the base  20 . The dispensing member  80  includes a spout having an orifice  90 . The dispensing member  80  is sealed by interaction with a bore seal  33  provided on the underside of the lid  30 . This bore seal  33  takes the form of a substantially cylindrical projection which fits around the spout  90  and seals against the dispensing member  80 . The tamper-evident member  40  is not visible in this  FIG. 3 ; however, the grasping portion  50  is shown in the second or raised position. Frangible bridges  51  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) have broken on movement of the tamper-evident member  40  to the second position. The remains  41  of the frangible bridges  51  are visible on the deck  22  of the base  20  in the region of the recess  25 . 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a partial cross-section of the closure  10  through the area surrounding and including the tamper-evident member  40 .  FIG. 4  shows the tamper-evident member  40  in the first or lower position, relative to the lid  30  and the base  20 . The grasping portion  50  is spaced from the lid  30  such that an opening  105  provides a “window” or aperture through which the tamper-evident member  40  is visible. The dispensing member  80  and in particular a portion  60  of the dispensing member  80  is not visible through the aperture  105  since the tamper-evident member  40  masks it. The tamper-evident member  40  is connected to the base via at least one frangible bridge  51 . The tamper-evident member  40  comprises two recesses  53 ,  55  provided one axially above the other and above the grasping member  50 . The top  52  of the tamper-evident member  40  is axially displaced downwardly from the lid aperture  35  and accordingly is not visible through this lid aperture  35  with the tamper-evident member  40  in this first lower position. 
         [0048]    The bore seal  33  provided within the lid  30  is shown pressed against the dispensing member  82  to thereby seal it. 
         [0049]    Further, a retaining member  37  is indicated lying radially between the bore seal  33  and the outer skirt of the lid  30 . This retaining member  37  projects downwardly from the underside of the lid  30  but does not reach all the way to the deck  22  of the skirt  20  such that it leaves an aperture  110  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). This aperture  110  is presently masked by the presence of the tamper-evident member  40  and the grasping portion  50  thereof. 
         [0050]    Provided on the radially outer surface of this retaining member  37  is a projection  38 . This projection has a sloping lower surface and a horizontal upper surface. The sloping lower surface  38  allows the tamper evident member  40 , and in particular the block  54 , to travel past it from a lower, primed position to an upper position. With the tamper-evident member  40  in the first position, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the projection  38  projects radially outwardly and in to the recess  53  on the tamper-evident member  40 . The interaction of the upper surface of the projection  38  and the top of the recess  53  prevents the lid  30  from being opened without the frangible bridge(s)  51  breaking and the tamper-evident member  40  moving upwardly with the lid  30 . 
         [0051]    In one embodiment, the closure  10  is molded in the open position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . This means that upon initial assembly the lid  30  is moved to the initially closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the tamper-evident member  40  slides upwardly between the retaining member  37  and the outer skirt of the lid  30  so that the projection  38  on the retaining member  37  passes into the recess  53  such that the tamper-evident member  40  becomes primed. 
         [0052]    In use, a user grasps the grasping portion  50  aided by the recess  25  and applies upward axial force to it in an attempt to open the lid  30 . By the application of this force, the tamper-evident  40  is moved axially upward within the pocket formed between the retaining member  37  and the outer skirt of the lid  30 . This is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0053]    In  FIG. 5  the tamper-evident member  40  is shown having moved axially upwards from its first position to its second position such that the projection  38  has moved from recess  53  to recess  55  past intermediate block  54 . The tamper-evident member  40  is prevented from returning to its first position by the block  54  which cannot pass back beyond the projection  38  due to the corresponding horizontal surfaces provided on the upper surface of the projection  38  and the underside of the block  54 . The projection  38  now rests in the lower recess  55 . The frangible bridge  51  accordingly has broken leaving behind a mark or portion of the frangible bridge  41  on the deck  22  of the base  20 . 
         [0054]    By the movement of the tamper-evident member  40  to its second raised or upper position an aperture  110  is exposed between the lower end of the retaining member  37  and the deck  22  of the base  20 . A user may see a portion  60  of the dispensing member  80  through this aperture  110 .