CLOSURE AND CONTAINER NECK
This invention relates to closures for containers, and more particularly to tamper-evident closures for containers. One aspect of the invention provides a container and a closure for connection to said container, said closure including: an upper wall (102); a skirt (104) formed integrally with and extending downwardly from said upper wall, said skirt adapted to engage with a neck portion of the container to secure the closure to the container; a tamper-evident band (110) frangibly connected to said skirt; the neck of a container including a tamper bead adapted to engage with tabs (122) on said tamper-evident band to facilitate separation of the band (110) from the skirt of the closure and an inwardly and downwardly sloping container neck surface beneath said tamper bead, said inwardly and downwardly sloping surface urging said separated tamper-evident band downwards away from said skirt.
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This application is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/AU2005/001968, filed Dec. 23, 2005 which claims priority to Australian Application No. 2004907264, filed Dec. 23, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to closures for containers, and more particularly to tamper-evident closures for containers and including tamper evident dispensing closures and tamper evident child resistant closures together with corresponding container necks.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTIONAny discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
There exists extensive prior art in relation to the design and manufacture of tamper-evident closures for containers, such as for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,657 (Papavasilopolous), U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,771 (Roy), U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,288 (Nyman), U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,093 (Taha), U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,988 (Taha) and Australian Patent application 43435/85 (Patent No. 550878) the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated into this specification by way of cross-reference.
One problem that exists with prior art tamper-evident closures is the loss of sealing between the closure and container opening prior to the tamper-evidence features operating and insufficient visibility of tamper evidence means.
A further problem is that air is often present within sealed containers and at least the oxygen and or moisture contained therein and or contained in air or oxygen which may after sealing permeate into the container may react with and degrade the contents. There exists extensive prior art in relation to means of reducing or limiting the amount of oxygen inside a sealed container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,052, (Zenner), U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,555 (Zenner), U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,022 (Adur) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,027 (Speer) the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated into this specification by way of cross-reference. The said prior art does not disclose oxygen or moisture reduction in sealed container using means associated with the closures disclosed herein.
It is also often desirable with containers that are to contain a flowable substance to provide a means to control the flow of the substance from the container in response to the degree of pressure applied by the user to the container. Prior art valves, as for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,652, are generally formed from silicon rubber and are specially shaped in order to provide the necessary flow control characteristics. However such flow control valves are relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture. Additionally, prior art valves, especially those made of silicon rubber, typically require a retention means to hold and retain the valve in position. This adds to the complexity and cost of manufacture and often necessitates the use of specialised machinery in order to manufacture the valve. It is therefore desirable to provide a simple and effective flow control valve that can be manufactured and inserted using known equipment.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA first aspect of the present invention provides a dispensing closure assembly for connection to a container, said dispensing closure assembly including a flow control means for controlling the flow of material from said container in response to increased pressure inside the container, said flow control means comprising a resiliently deformable member having one or more slits, said flow control means being arranged such that, upon an increase of pressure inside the container, said resiliently deformable member deforms to create an opening adjacent to said slits thereby allowing said material to be dispensed from said container.
Preferably, said slits are in the form of intersecting slits.
Preferably, said resiliently deformable member is in the form of an annular disk. Preferably, said annular disk is formed from a foamed plastic flexible liner. Preferably said annular disk is inserted into said dispensing closure assembly and, upon application of said dispensing closure assembly to said container, is compressed to form a seal between said dispensing closure assembly and a neck of the container.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a flow control device for controlling the flow of material from a container in response to pressure applied to the contents of a container, said flow control device comprising a resiliently deformable member having one or more slits, said flow control device being arranged such that, upon application of pressure to the walls of the container, said resiliently deformable member deforms to create an opening adjacent to said slits thereby allowing said material to be dispensed from said container.
Preferably, said slits are in the form of intersecting slits.
Preferably, said resiliently deformable member is in the form of an annular disk. Preferably, said annular disk is formed from a foamed plastic flexible liner.
A further aspect of the present invention deals especially with the need for a proper relationship between sealing means and tamper-evidence means such that the tamper-evidence means operates prior to the seal being breached. This avoids the possibility apparent with many so-called tamper-evident closures whereby by malicious tampering or inappropriate application torque and/or relaxation of the closure causing the seal between closure and container neck to be breached without the tamper-evidence means operating and allowing the contents to be degraded by action of atmosphere or the malicious introduction of contaminants.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a tamper-evident closure for a container with tamper-evident means and means of dispensing one or more additives into the container and a tamper-proof cover to protect additive dispensing means.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a tamper-evident closure for a container with tamper-evident means and a dispensing means for dispensing the contents of the container in a controlled or limited manner, and a re-usable tamper evident cover for said dispensing means.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a tamper evident closure having a means of extracting at least oxygen and or moisture from at least the air trapped inside a container sealed with a tamper evident closure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSPreferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Depending from lower surface 112 of the skirt 104 is tamper-evident means consisting of tamper band 110 which is connected to a said lower surface 112 by a frangible section 114 formed by a series of circumferentially spaced ribs 116 separated by slots 118 which slots may be of different length thereby allowing tamper band 110 to deform more easily adjacent to larger slots when said closure 100 is ejected from a mould and said tamper-evident band 110 has an annular wall 120 from which extends more than one discretely spaced tabs 122. The tabs 122 are connected to the lower surface of the annular wall 120 by means of a hinged section 125. Initially, the tabs 122 extend radially inwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the annular wall 120 to facilitate removal from the mould and are depicted in this position in
Said sealing member 130 has sealing contact point 132 which when said closure 100 is fully applied to a corresponding container neck said sealing contact point 132 sealingly engages (referring to
top of neck sealing surface 68; and
inside annular sealing surface 60; and
radius or sloped or curved sealing surface 68A connecting said top of neck sealing surface 68 to outside annular sealing surface 69; and
said outside annular sealing surface 69 located adjacent to said sealing surface 68A and extending downwards away from said sealing surface 68A for the distance necessary to provide a proper seal between container neck and corresponding closure said annular sealing surfaces 68, 68A and 69 are typically formed without mould parting lines and annular sealing surfaces 68A and 69 are together typically at least 11.0 mm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including other products and said annular sealing surface 69 may be increased in height as necessary to provide extended vertical height of sealing surface to facilitate extended sealing engagement for closures of the type shown in
helical thread 61; and
tamper bead 55 which has a lower engagement surface 57 to engage co-operatively with engagement surface 124 on closure 100 (
neck wall surface 58 which joins engagement surface 57 and preferably immediately or at least within 11.0 mm of said joining point said neck wall surface 58 commences to slope or curve towards the axis of the container neck at an angle averaging along the whole surface until it returns at least to parallel to the axis of the container neck said angle being greater than 1 degree and less than 70 degrees and preferably about 20 degrees.
more than one engagement means 80 having:
engagement faces 78 which referring to the normal position of said container neck are oriented in a horizontal plane at least radially and preferably at less than 90 degrees angle to the normal direction of removal engagement of tamper evident engagement tabs 122 in
joining edges 79A which are formed by the abutment said engagement faces 78 with ramped and/or sloped and/or curved surface 79. Said joining edges 79A may be linear and/or curved but referring to the entire length of said joining edge 79A shall have an average angle of greater than 1 degree and preferably at least 15 degrees towards the axis of the said closure; and
ramped surface 79 which allows free edges 124A of tamper band tabs 122 (referring to
Embodiment 1 has joining edge 79A1 as a sloped curved shape with a convex curve viewed from ‘AA’ and
Embodiment 2 has joining edge 79A2 as a linear sloped surface and
Embodiment 3 has joining edge 79A3 as a sloped curved shape with a concave curve viewed from ‘AA’ and
In yet another embodiment 4 curved wall 58 between each engagement means 80 continues as indicated by dotted line 58A intersecting the upper surface of tamper bead 55 at edge 56 and creating an extension to engagement face 78 represented by hatched area 78A. Said curved wall 58 may have a compound curve having a varying radius at various points.
In yet another embodiment said wall 58 may be a linear surface not curved.
In yet another embodiment 5 the upper outer edge of engagement faces 78 may abut the lower surface 57 of said tamper bead 55 at a point radially inwards towards the axis of the said container neck for example at joining point 82 and leaving at least adjacent to engagement means 80 a portion of tamper bead lower surface 57 adjoining tamper bead upper surface 55A to engage at least with closures relying on contact between closure tamper evidence means and said lower surface 57 to promote separation of tamper evidence means from the body of said closures and for example (referring to
In yet another embodiment 6 (not shown) which (referring to
joining elements 122T which join at least 2 adjacent engagement tabs 122 and assist in retaining said tabs 122 in (referring to
one or more spacing elements 110E which (referring to
annular inner or bore-seal 130 and bore sealing surface 132 which seals against inside neck surface of a corresponding container (not shown) and
sealing surface 145 which seals against the top neck surface of a corresponding container. Said sealing surface 145 may have one or more projections which as well as sealing will raise the annular seal 140 closer to the top of a corresponding container neck and
skirt wall 104 depending from said top disc and
at least one helical thread means 106 to engage with corresponding thread means on a container neck and
annular seal 140 having
lower surface 140A which is located so that when the closure is fully applied to a corresponding container said lower surface 140A is preferably above but at least in close proximity to the lower extremity of an the annular sealing surface formed on the upper portion of the outside surface of a corresponding container neck where an outside annular sealing surface is generally formed without mould parting lines and which outside annular sealing surface is typically at least 11.0 mm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including other products and
lower wall joining point 140B which is preferably formed as a radius of less than 3.5 mm and preferably 0.5 mm and
wall 140C which may be linear or formed as a radius or compound curve but in any case having on average and angle to the axis of the closure of between 85 degrees and 5 degrees and preferably 45 degrees and the angle formed by the dotted lines ‘J’ and ‘L’ where dotted line ‘L’ representing the orientation of at least the major portion of said wall 140C and dotted line ‘J’ representing the orientation of at least the major portion of said lower surface 140A and where dotted line ‘J’ is disposed approximately at 90 degrees to the axis of the closure and the angle formed by the intersection of dotted lines ‘J’ and ‘L’ is therefore between 95 degrees and 175 degrees and preferably 135 degrees and
upper wall joining point 140D which is preferably formed as a radius and if as a radius less than 3.5 mm radius but otherwise may be linear by extending walls 140D and 140E and the various features of annular seal 140 which is located at a point sufficiently lower than top sealing surface 145 which when closure is fully applied to a container said sealing surface 145 abuts top of neck sealing surface 68 of container neck 50 (referring to
vertical distance between dotted lines ‘K’ and ‘M’ is less than the vertical height of an the annular sealing surface 69 (referring to
vertical distance between dotted lines ‘M’ and ‘J’ is greater than 0.2 mm and less than about 3.0 mm and preferably 0.5 mm and
vertical distance between dotted lines ‘K’ and ‘J’ is preferably such that the sum of said vertical distance between dotted lines ‘K’ and ‘J’+ the vertical height of any sealing projections depending from sealing surface 145 is less than the vertical height of the annular sealing surface formed on the upper portion of the outside surface of a corresponding container neck. Said outside annular sealing surface is typically formed without mould parting lines and which outside annular sealing surface is typically at least 11.0 mm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including other products.
top wall or disc 102 and
annular inner or bore-seal 130 and bore sealing surface 132 which seals against inside neck surface of a corresponding container (not shown) and
surface 145 which in the absence of projections 146 may slope or curve downwards to a level sealing surface 145A (not shown) parallel to the tips of projections 146 and said sealing surface 145A seals against the top neck surface of a corresponding container thereby preserving the relative position of annular seal 140 in respect of (referring to
lower top wall surface 147 which is disposed at approximately 90 degrees to the axis of the closure said lower top wall surface 147 located at a vertical distance from dotted line J1 or the extension thereof which is greater than the vertical distance from dotted line J1 or the extension thereto to sealing surfaces 146 or 145A such that the distance between annular seal 140 and the lower top wall surface 147 is increased allowing a larger radius on the surface 148 joining said lower top wall surface 147 and upper wall 140G and allowing the angle between said upper wall 140G and lower surface 140A to be greater than is possible in prior art closures where the lower surface of top wall 102 typically abuts the upper surface of the container neck and thereby assisting in ejection of annular seal 140 from a mould and allowing more space into which annular seal 140 can deform towards said surface 147 upon application of the closure to a container and
skirt wall 104 depending from said top disc and
at least one continuous or segmented helical thread means 106 to engage with corresponding thread means on a container neck and
annular seal 140 having
lower surface 140A disposed or oriented to the axis of the closure as indicated by the dotted line J1 being at more than 45 degrees and less than 135 degrees and preferably 90 degrees to the axis of the closure and said lower surface 140A adapted so that when the closure is fully applied to a corresponding container said lower surface 140A is preferably above the lower extremity of an the annular sealing surface formed on the upper portion of the outside surface of a corresponding container neck where on said container neck an outside annular sealing surface is generally formed without mould parting lines and which outside annular sealing surface is typically up to 11.0 mm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including other products neck arrangements and
curved surface 140F which may be linear or formed as a radius or compound curve and if as a radius less than 1.0 mm radius and preferably 0.1 mm radius and
upper wall 140G which may be linear or curved and having a surface disposed or oriented in relation to the axis of the closure as indicated by the dotted line J2 whereby the angle formed by the at the intersection of the dotted lines J1 and J2 is less than 75 degrees and preferably approximately 20 degrees
said annular seal 140 is located at a point sufficiently lower than top sealing surface 145 which when closure is fully applied to a container said sealing surface 145 abuts top of neck sealing surface 68 of container neck 50 (referring to
on a diameter less than the diameter of container neck outside annular sealing surface 69; and
preferably on a diameter equal to the diameter of the distal edge of top of neck sealing surface 68. However, preferred embodiments referred to at 2A, 2B, and 2C are designed to at least restrict back off and
vertical distance between dotted lines ‘J1’ and ‘J3’ where ‘J3’ should taken to be at the closure fully applied to container position at which stage sealing projections 146 are compressed, is less than the vertical height of an the annular sealing surface 69 (referring to
surface 146A is arranged to make contact with (referring to
said lower top wall surface 147 being spaced apart from sealing surface 146A as for example shown by the space between dotted lines J4 and J4A thereby creating space 148 into which annular seal 140 may deform into upon application of said closure to a container neck.
Upon separation of tamper band 110 from skirt 104 tabs 122 which are exerting a pressure in direction ‘X’ against surface 58 of container neck 50 by the tendency of said tabs 122 urged by the tendency of the joining members 123 (shown in
Sealing members 130 and 140 and sealing surface 145 are shown in sealing engagement with the corresponding sealing surfaces on container neck 50
various approximate positions of tabs 122 including Position ‘A’ being the as moulded position and position ‘B’ being the corresponding neutral position when said tabs 122 are folded towards the operating position prior to sorting and application to a container and when at said neutral point ‘B’ said tabs 122 are at an acute angle to annular wall 120 said neutral point ‘B’ is also defined as being the point at which the angle formed by dotted lines ‘D’ and ‘E’ (dotted line ‘E’ being parallel to the axis of closure 100) is equal to the angle formed by dotted lines ‘E’ and ‘F’ and said neutral position ‘B’ is the point at which gaps 122c have parallel sides and flap joining members 123 are in a neutral position being neither under tension or compression save for the said force exerted by the propensity of deformed hinge plastic material to return towards an as moulded position. Position ‘C’ is the position of tabs 122 when fully applied to container and prior to commencement of removal. Position ‘A’ is the as moulded position of said tabs 122; and
annular neck projection 51 which reduces the clearance gap between tabs 122 and container neck 50 and thereby assisting in prevention of tampering with tabs 122 in operating position ‘C’.
Said tabs 122 in a separate closure half ‘B’ are shown in a position at 90 degrees to the axis of the closure and at this point the gaps 122C at edges of said tabs 122 adjacent engagement faces 124 would be narrower because engagement faces 124 are now located on a smaller diameter that the position shown in half ‘A’ thereby causing joining members 123 to be compressed and some of this compression will be relieved by the free edges of each pair of joined tabs deforming radially as indicated by arrows ‘J’ which will cause the wall 120 (shown in
Tabs 122 when in position shown in half ‘A’ corresponding to position ‘B’ in
top sealing surface 68; and
engagement means 80 located on the lower surface of tamper bead 55 (shown with dotted line) and having:
engagement surfaces 78 which are radially oriented to the axis of the container neck or in another embodiment aligned at an acute angle for example shown by dotted line ‘R’; and
ramped surface 79 which may be linear or curved and upon application rotation of a corresponding closure such as shown in
joining edges 79A at the join between said ramped surfaces 79 and engagement surfaces 78.
top sealing surface 68; and
engagement means 80 located on the lower surface of tamper bead 55 and having: engagement surfaces 78 and 78A which are radially oriented at 90 degrees to the axis of the container neck and vertically oriented to the axis of the neck; and
ramped surface 79 which may be linear or curved and which upon application rotation of a corresponding closure such as shown in
joining edges 79A at the join between said ramped surface 79; and engagement surfaces 78, 78A; and
edge point 56 corresponding to edge point 56 in
neck surface intersection point 59 being at the lower end of curved section 58 (referring to
The dispensing closure 100 includes
a dispensing portion 102 having annular and/or frusto-conical wall 110 having one or more thread and/or annular projection or clip means 116 to co-operate with corresponding thread and/or annular clip means 215 on said cover cap to secure and/or resecure said cover cap to said dispensing closure after initial removal and
having annular projection 115 which co-operates with a corresponding projection 205 on said cover cap tamper band 220 such that upon removal of the said cover cap the frangible connections 210 between tamper band and lower portion of cover cap wall 212 are severed allowing tamper band 220 to drop away from said lower portion of cover cap wall 212
and connected thereto
a downwardly extending skirt 104
having a helically threaded section 106 located on the internal face 108 of the said skirt which is adapted to engage with the corresponding helically threaded section on the external surface of the neck of a container.
Tamper evidence may also be present on or in the dispensing closure body such as by means of foil induction removably welded to the mouth of a container or by a closure tamper band frangibly connected to the lower portion of (referring to
The tamper evident sealing cover cap 200 includes
top wall 202 and depending therefrom annular sealing projection 225 which co-operates with annular sealing feature 120 at the orifice of the said dispensing closure to provide a seal to retain the contents of the container and annular side wall 212 and thread or annular clip means 215 and frangible connections 210 and tamper band 220 having annular or interrupted annular projection 205.
Annular or interrupted annular projection 118 on closure 100 which co-operates with one or more of projections 218 on annular side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 when the said sealing cover is applied or re-applied to the said closure to provide a retention means to retain the said sealing cover in a fully engaged position on the said dispensing closure. Said retention means being such that it can be easily disengaged during normal removal and re-application of the said sealing cover from or to the said dispensing closure
inner wall 208 of cover cap tamper band 220 is angled such that the said wall adjacent to frangible connections 210 is further from the axis of the cover cap than the said wall 208 at the end adjacent to projection 205. The said angle ‘C’ of wall 208 to the axis of the closure is more than 1 degree and less than 90 degrees and preferably 15 degrees. This arrangement allows or promotes the said tamper band 220 to move downwards after separation from frangible connections 210 opening up a visible gap between the lower extremity of said annular side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 so that a person viewing the said sealing cover can easily discern that the said sealing cover has been opened.
In another embodiment of the present invention (not shown) there is a distinct clearance gap between said wall 208 and projection 115 on the dispensing closure body and projection 205 extends further from the axis of the cover cap. The wall 208 then has a smaller angle to or is parallel to the axis of the closure. This arrangement allows the said tamper band 220 to move downwards after separation from frangible connections 210 opening up a visible gap between the lower extremity of said annular side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 so that a person viewing the said sealing cover can easily discern that the said sealing cover has been opened.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention (not shown) there is interference between said wall 208 and projection 115 on the dispensing closure body such that upon severing of the frangible connections 210 tamper band 220 is forced downwards by the co-operating angled surfaces of wall 208 and projection 115 opening up a visible gap between the lower extremity of said annular side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 so that a person viewing the said sealing cover can easily discern that the said sealing cover has been opened.
In yet another embodiment or additional feature of the present invention wall 121 of dispensing closure may have an angle ‘D’ in respect of the axis of the cover cap which ensures clearance between projection 205 on tamper band 220 and said wall 121 as said tamper band fall or is driven downwards after severing of the said frangible connections opening up a visible gap between the lower extremity of said annular side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 so that a person viewing the said sealing cover can easily discern that the said sealing cover has been opened. The said angle ‘D’ of wall 121 to the axis of the closure is more than 1 degree and less than 45 degrees and preferably 10 degrees.
Section ‘B’ shows
the tamper band 220 having dropped into annular channel 119 after frangible connections 210 are severed and by the gap between the lower portion of cover cap wall 212 and tamper band 220 provide clear evidence that the cover cap has been removed.
frusto-conical wall 110 having a
wall with lead in surface 128 which co-operates with outside surface 225A of to assist in directing annular sealing projection 225 into sealing engagement with said dispensing closure 100;
annular or frusto conical sealing surface 120 and
inner surface 110A and connected thereto disc 105 having
in at least one and preferably 3 locations disc supports 105C are formed between outside wall 105A of said disc 105 and surface 110A of said wall 110 and
upper surface 105B may be angled below horizontal in the normal position such that any contents which remain undispensed on said upper surface 105B with in the area adjacent to dispensing orifice 125 will be urged under gravity to return to the container when the container and dispensing closure is in the normal position.
Sealing cover 200 has outside surface 225A of annular sealing projection 225 which as it is moved towards and enters into sealing abutment with annular sealing feature 120 of dispensing closure 100 acts to push any product remaining attached to at least portion of lead in surface 128 and said annular sealing wall 120 at least towards the upper surfaces of disc 105 and or into the container through orifice 125 or the said product being sealed from atmosphere by the said sealing cover is prevented from drying out and caking or forming a crust and the said product is therefore able to be re-dispensed at the next use.
Said orifice 125 may be of any suitable shape or combination of shapes including circular and/or rectangular and/or ellipsoid and/or curved or irregular. This arrangement allows the provision of dispensing closures with various dispensing orifice shapes and sizes but which can all be sealed with a common sealing overcap.
The arrangement of the said orifice 125 includes the concept shown at
The second of said means of controlling or shutting off the flow is an annular disc of any suitable material such as foamed plastic flexible liner 700 is inserted into the closure and upon application of the closure is compressed to form a seal between closure and container neck. Said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 has one or more shaped cuts or slits 705 which upon a user squeezing or compressing walls of the container and causing an increase in internal pressure and promoting part of the said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 at the free edges of slits 705 and especially at intersection point 706 to deform outward thereby creating an opening to allow product to be dispensed. Upon cessation of squeezing a reduction occurs in the internal pressure allowing the deformed portion of said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 to return under the influence of the propensity of deformed plastic to tend to return to its original state upon removal of the deforming stress and also the influence of an increase in the volume of the container as it returns to its pre compressed state lowers internal pressure relative such that the pressure is greater on the outside surface of the outwardly deformed part of the said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 whereby the said deformed part of the said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 is urged to return to its original undeformed position or shape. Said shaped slits cuts 705 forming free edges are preferably in the form of 2 or more intersecting slits as shown in
annular body 305 having depending skirt wall 307 which has any known retention means such as clip/projections 318 and 319
said projection 318 co-operates with closure wall recess 130A and projection 130 to retain said assembly in place within closure 100 and provide a sealing means to prevent the contents of a container escaping between said assembly 300 and closure loop and having annular recess 309 to receive a corresponding projection of annular valve insert 310 which is preferably made of a flexible material such as silicon rubber and having at least one slit 312 (referring to
valve retention disc 315 which lockingly engages with retention means 319 to retain annular valve insert in position with said projecting portion of said annular valve insert located in recess 109.
Should additional retention means be required additional projections or annular ring projection 143 may be formed on inner wall 110A. The position of said projections 143 may be as shown to allow (not shown) an annular disc to be inserted past said projections so that said annular disc is held in position firmly compressing and holding wall 325 of annular valve insert 310 in position. Said annular disc would have an orifice of diameter at least equivalent to the concave section of annular valve insert 310 so as to allow passage of product to be dispensed. Said projections or annular ring projection 143 may be of different shape and size and also be located to abut and hold in position wall 325 of annular valve insert 310.
In yet another embodiment sealing cover 200 may be absent.
a top wall 102 and depending therefrom;
an integrally moulded structure 120 consisting of one or more thin walled annular structures 121 separated by gaps 124. The walls of said thin walled annular structures have a large surface area and contain an oxygen scavenging or moisture scavenging or scavenger of taint causing contaminant material, said scavenging material including ferrous carbonate, silica dessicant materials and glucose or dextrose or dextrins or their derivatives whether organic or synthetically produced.
annular or interrupted annular clip means 105 which act to retain within the closure for example a receptacle insert 126 containing for example an oxygen scavenging material in the form of granules or powder or liquid. Said receptacle may have a sealing cover (not shown) so as to retain said oxygen scavenger material.
Materials or blends of materials have been used to reduce or limit the adverse affect of oxygen or moisture or other contaminants that may spoil or contaminate the contents of a container including food contents or otherwise disaffect its flavour or shelf life of food products in containers.
Methods have been devised for reducing the amount of oxygen which is transported through the container or is contained in the unfilled head space in a container.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,202,052 and 5,364,555 describe polymeric material carriers containing oxygen scavenging material whereby the oxygen scavenging material is activated by contact with water or water vapor. However these materials may be activated prematurely from atmospheric moisture and oxygen surrounding the material prior to use and thus lose effectiveness.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,022 which is by reference incorporated herein discloses a polymer blend especially well-suited for coating paperboard substrates used in food packaging.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,027 which is also by reference included herein discloses an improved method of initiating oxygen scavenging by compositions which comprise compounding oxidizable organic compounds and transition metal catalysts to form a composition suitable for forming into films or articles for packaging of oxygen sensitive products is disclosed. The method requires the addition of small amounts of a base to the oxygen scavenging composition as it is being compounded to improve the initiation properties and subjecting the film or article formed from the composition to actinic or electron beam radiation.
Limiting adverse affects of oxygen on the contents of a container may for example be by means of a container closure having affixed to the underside of the top wall a disc or other shaped item consisting of an oxygen scavenging material combined with a polymeric material or alternatively affixing to the underside of the top wall of the said container closure a receptacle containing an oxygen scavenging material or oxygen scavenging material blended with one or more substances to enhance effectiveness of or initiate operation of the oxygen scavenging and said receptacle having a sealing means which retains the said oxygen scavenging material within the receptacle and separate from the contents of the container but said sealing means permitting the passage of at least oxygen and/or carbon dioxide and/or moisture containing or having an acidic nature into the receptacle from the container and/or out of the receptacle into the container. The space inside the diameter of the walls of the plug or bore-seal may also be utilised as a receptacle which may be sealed by known sealing means.
More particularly the said closure may be of a type that incorporates one or more of the following annular sealing means such as a wedge-seal or ring-seal respectively sealingly engaging on the top inside edge/top surface of the container neck opening or a plug-seal or bore-seal sealingly engaging the inner surface of the container neck or an outer neck ring seal sealingly engaging the upper outside surface of the container neck and in such closures the said disc or other shaped item is affixed to the underside of the top wall of the closure inside the diameter of the said annular seals.
The means of affixing the said disc or other shaped item is for example but not limited to by means of adhesive material such as a hot melt glue or by retaining the said disc or other shaped item into a moulded co-operating retention means on the closure by means of an interference fit between the said retention means and the said disc or other shaped item. Advantageously the shape of and the means of affixing the said disc or other shaped item may enhance the total surface area exposed to the contents of the container and/or the air in the unfilled headspace above the level of the filled product in the container so as to enhance the oxygen scavenging or absorbing process by exposing a greater surface area of the said polymeric material containing oxygen scavenging material.
Alternatively the closure itself may be moulded from a polymer containing scavenging material thus avoiding the need for other manufacturing operations to create a disc or receptacle containing scavenger material and/or a disc/receptacle assembly.
Advantageously quantities of the closures and/or said disc or other shaped item consisting of an oxygen scavenging material combined with a polymeric material may when the oxygen scavenging material is active or may become active through exposure to ambient atmosphere be stored in packaging which excludes atmosphere and said packaging is only opened at about the time the closure is required to be affixed to the filled container.
The said oxygen scavenging material combined with a polymeric material for example may consist of a polymer such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) or any other polymeric material and, mixed therein, from about 0.1% to about 80% by weight of a scavenger material such as
an acid-activatable oxygen scavenger such as ferrous carbonate. The oxygen scavenger becomes activated when the polymeric material containing the oxygen scavenger is contacted with an acid-containing liquid or foodstuff or
an oxygen scavenging composition comprising an oxidizable organic compound, a transition metal catalyst, optionally a polymeric diluent, and a basic substance and to a method which comprises compounding the basic substance with the remaining components of the composition prior to exposing the composition to radiation, e.g. actinic or an electron beam. Said radiation including UVA and/or UVB promotes the activation of the oxygen scavenger.
an annular sealing ring 141 which is also connected to the skirt 105 and which seals against the top and or outside of an annular container neck 200 an annular bore-seal 140 which seals on the inside wall of said container neck 200
an annular or interrupted annular retention means 151 to retain a disc or other shaped object 160 consisting of a polymeric material or a polymeric material containing and acid activated oxygen absorbing material
a depending skirt 105. The skirt having
on its inner wall 106 segmented or continuous helical threads 107 which co-operate with corresponding threads on a container neck (200 in
depending from said skirt are frangible bridges 110 connecting tamper evidence means 115 to the said skirt. Advantageously the said bridges must be constructed to as to resist the forces involved when folding the flaps 120 from the as moulded position into an operating position. Thickening the said frangible bridges to resist stress of the folding process is one solution but it has the undesirable effect of making the bridges less frangible and therefore requiring excessive force to cause operation of the tamper evidence means. A more advantageous solution is to design the frangible bridges having a taper in excess of 1 degree and preferably 5 degrees or greater and tapering from the smallest cross sectional area which is immediately adjacent the lower edge of the skirt 105A and increasing according to the taper angle in cross section progressively to the largest cross sectional area which is in the area connecting to the tamper evidence means 115. Preferably the cross sectional shape is in the form approximating a semi-circular shape or at least a shape with radii between adjoining flat sides which sides are disposed to the adjoining sides at an angle exceeding 90 degrees when referring to the side disposed closest to and approximately parallel or tangent to the outside of the closure and the 2 adjoining sides. Upon commencement of the ejection movement of the bridges from the mould the shape of the bridges tends to urge the said bridges from the mould in a more effective manner than would otherwise be the case with bridges of constant cross section.
Depending from frangible bridges 110 is tamper evidence means 115 with wall 112 and hinge portion 116 which is connected to flaps 120 (shown in an as moulded position) which when folded inwards so that inner walls 122 are in close proximity to the inner surface 113 of wall 112 the free ends 125 are in position to engage with a tamper bead on a container neck 205 (
Typically, the said closure is a one-piece construction moulded from thermoplastic and includes:
a top wall 102 and connected thereto a downwardly extending skirt 104 having a helically threaded section 106 located on the internal face 108 of the said skirt said helically threaded section 106 adapted to engage with the corresponding helically threaded section on the external surface of the neck of a container;
annular seal 140 and;
annular sealing member 130 and;
sealing surface 145 which seals against the top neck surface of a corresponding container. Said sealing surface 145 may have one or more projections and;
depending from lower surface 112 of the skirt 104 is tamper-evident means consisting of tamper band 110 which is connected to a said lower surface 112 by a frangible section 114 and said tamper-evident band 110 has an annular wall 120 from which extends more than one discretely spaced tabs 122. The tabs 122 are connected to the lower surface of the annular wall 120 by means of a hinged section 125. Initially, the tabs 122 extend radially inwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the annular wall 120 to facilitate removal from the mould and said tabs are depicted in this position.
The mould to produce said closure 100 includes:
mould element 800 which forms the inner surface of closure 100 including threads 106 and the lower portion of annular seal 140 and;
mould element 880 which forms the upper surface of annular seal 140 and sealing surface 145 and the outer surface including the sealing surface of sealing member 130 and;
interlocking threaded section 890 whereby mould elements 800 and 880 are preferably threadingly engaged or engaged and retained together by known means whereby said mould element 880 may be removed preferably when the mould is normally fully open and replaced with different mould element 880s to produce a closures having different sealing arrangements to annular seals 140 and 130.
The various aspects of the present invention described above may be combined with any one or more of the following:
(i) Various child resistant features, such as is disclosed in Australian patent 43435/85 (Patent No. 550878) the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in this application and one of said features may be of the type whereby it is necessary to exert downward force either on the top of the closure or on the top of an over-cap which fits over the top of the closure, such that the downward force overcomes resistance thereby allowing engagement means between the over-cap and the closure to enable removal rotation of the closure to operate the tamper-evident feature and remove the closure from the neck of the container.
(ii) child-resistant tamper-evident closures, including a “squeeze dropper” type dispensing closure.
(iii) Dispensing closures for liquids, such as oils.
(iv) Dispensing closures for particulate matters, such as granular powders and the like.
(v) The moulding of the closure from more than one type of material.
For example, it would assist recycling if the closure tamper-evident band was moulded in the same material as the container. In another example a different colour or type of material may be used to mould the tamper band promoting visual difference between closure body and tamper band or physical performance of the tamper band.
(vi) Various dispensing means such as, but not limited to, a perforated or partially perforated closure with flip top cover, a flexible membrane with cruciform or other pattern slits or openings to thereby permit the dispensing of container contents or a pump action dispenser or a push/pull valve closing/opening feature.
(vii) A closure applied by axial rather than rotational motion and closures with more than one thread means.
(viii) A closure with a cooperating ratchet or engagement means between the tamper-evident band and features on the neck of the container such that cooperation between the said engagement means or any of them upon removal rotation of the threaded closure tends to promote severing of the frangible ribs connecting the tamper-evident band to the skirt of the closure. Said engagement means having ramped surfaces which cooperate during application of said closure to said container neck to reduce rotational force on the tamper-evident band during application reducing the possibility of severing the frangible ribs connecting the tamper-evident band to the skirt of the closure.
(ix) Various means of employing an additional foil seal to ensure freshness of the contents of a container and which may include a means to pierce the foil.
(x) Closures made of metal or plastic materials, or a combination of metal and plastic materials as may be useful in hot fill or retorted or vacuum seal packages.
(xi) Containers made of plastic, metal and glass materials.
Although the various aspects of this invention have been described with reference to specific examples it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
Claims
1. A dispensing closure assembly for connection to a container, said dispensing closure assembly including a flow control means for controlling the flow of material from said container in response to increased pressure inside the container, said flow control means comprising a resiliently deformable member having one or more slits, said flow control means being arranged such that, upon an increase of pressure inside the container, said resiliently deformable member deforms to create an opening adjacent to said slits thereby allowing said material to be dispensed from said container.
2. A dispensing closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slits are in the form of intersecting slits.
3. A dispensing closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resiliently deformable member is in the form of an annular disk.
4. A dispensing closure assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said annular disk is formed from a foamed plastic flexible liner.
5. A dispensing closure assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said annular disk is inserted into said dispensing closure assembly and, upon application of said dispensing closure assembly to said container, is compressed to form a seal between said dispensing closure assembly and a neck of the container.
6. A flow control device for controlling the flow of material from a container in response to pressure applied to the contents of a container, said flow control device comprising a resiliently deformable member having one or more slits, said flow control device being arranged such that, upon application of pressure to the walls of the container, said resiliently deformable member deforms to create an opening adjacent to said slits thereby allowing said material to be dispensed from said container.
7. A flow control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said slits are in the form of intersecting slits.
8. A flow control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said resiliently deformable member is in the form of an annular disk.
9. A flow control device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said annular disk is formed from a foamed plastic flexible liner.
10. A dispensing closure assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said resiliently deformable member is in the form of an annular disk.
11. A dispensing closure assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said annular disk is formed from a foamed plastic flexible liner.
12. A dispensing closure assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said annular disk is inserted into said dispensing closure assembly and, upon application of said dispensing closure assembly to said container, is compressed to form a seal between said dispensing closure assembly and a neck of the container.
13. A flow control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resiliently deformable member is in the form of an annular disk.
14. A flow control device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said annular disk is formed from a foamed plastic flexible liner.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 25, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 27, 2008
Applicant: ABACUS (C.I.) LIMITED AS TRUSTEE OF BAYVIEW TRUST (Jersey)
Inventor: Christopher Higgins (Noosa Heads)
Application Number: 11/767,813
International Classification: B65D 35/38 (20060101);