THREAD CATCHING AND ENGAGING TAMPER EVIDENCE CLOSURE
A tamper evidence closure is provided for engaging with a finish so as to seal contents within the interior of a container. The tamper evidence closure comprises interior threads configured to engage with threads of a finish. A tamper evidence portion is disposed around the perimeter of a lower portion. Recesses are configured to receive and fixate thread ends disposed on the finish so as to prevent further rotation of the tamper evidence portion and configured to be outwardly flexed by the finish. Each of tamper evidence flaps includes a ramp that terminates at a catching surface that is configured to be contacted by a truncated thread end of the finish during loosening of the closure by an end-user. The tamper evidence band on the finish and the flaps are configured to remain in absence of the finish to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 62/721,473, filed Aug. 22, 2018, titled “Thread Catching Tamper Evidence Closure,” U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 62/725,973, filed Aug. 31, 2018, titled “Thread Catching Tamper Evidence Closure,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 62/721,481, filed Aug. 22, 2018, titled “Thread Engaging Tamper Evidence Closure,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELDEmbodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of plastic bottles and preforms. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to tamper evidence container caps that provide visible indications of removal of the container caps after installation by a manufacturer.
BACKGROUNDPlastic containers have been used as a replacement for glass or metal containers in the packaging of beverages for several decades. The most common plastic used in making beverage containers today is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Containers made of PET are transparent, thin walled, and have the ability to maintain their shape by withstanding the force exerted on the walls of the container by their contents. PET resins are also reasonably priced and easy to process. PET bottles are generally made by a process that includes the blow-molding of plastic preforms which have been made by injection molding of the PET resin.
Advantages of plastic packaging include lighter weight and decreased breakage as compared to glass, and lower costs overall when taking both production and transportation into account. Although plastic packaging is lighter in weight than glass, there is still great interest in creating the lightest possible plastic packaging so as to maximize the cost savings in both transportation and manufacturing by making and using containers that contain less plastic.
A plastic container for storing liquid contents typically includes a base that extends up to a grip portion suitable for affixing a label, as well as providing a location for grasping the container. The grip portion generally transitions into a shoulder, which connects to a bell. The bell has a diameter that generally decreases as the bell extends upward from the shoulder to a neck and a finish. The finish is adapted to receive a closure, such as a bottle cap, to seal the contents within the interior of the plastic container.
In many instances, the closure includes a tamper evidence band that is disposed around the perimeter of the finish. The tamper evidence band generally remains positioned on the finish when an end-user loosens the closure to access the contents within the container. As such, the tamper evidence band and the finish cooperate to indicate to the end-user whether or not the closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.
A drawback to conventional tamper evidence bands, however, is that in some instances the tamper evidence bands fail to detach from the closure upon being loosened, thereby making it difficult for an end-user to directly observe whether or not the closure has been previously separated from the container. Consequently, the closure may be separated from the tamper evidence band, the container may be refilled, and another closure may be installed onto the container, giving little visual indication to the end-user that the container has been reused.
What is needed, therefore, is a tamper evidence closure that reliably provides a visible indication about whether or not a manufacturer-installed closure has been previously removed from a plastic container.
SUMMARYSystems and methods for finishes configured to engage with a closure so as to seal contents within the interior of a container in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, the finish includes a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to an interior of the container and extends to and includes a support ledge, threads configured to provide a means to fasten the closure to the container, a terminal end of each of the threads, and a gap disposed between the support ledge and a bottom-most of the threads.
In a further embodiment, the threads are configured to rotatably engage with similar threads disposed within the closure to provide a way to seal contents within the container.
In another embodiment, each of the threads generally extends along a section of the circumference of the finish and approaches the support ledge.
In a still further embodiment, the threads of the closure are configured to engage with the threads, such that the closure advances toward the support ledge during clockwise rotation.
In still another embodiment, the terminal end includes a blunt surface that is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the finish.
In a yet further embodiment, the blunt surface is configured to contact a catching surface of the closure so as to fixate a tamper evidence band of the closure.
In yet another embodiment, the terminal end is configured to be directed by at least one guiding surface of the closure, the guiding surface terminating at the catching surface.
In a further embodiment again, the threads comprise a single thread that begins at a thread start and spirals around the circumference of the finish before terminating at the terminal end.
In another embodiment again, the thread start is configured to guide a thread of the closure into a valley between adjacent threads so as to threadably engage the closure with the finish.
In a further additional embodiment, the gap includes a roughly uniform width around the circumference of the finish that is configured to retain a tamper evidence band of the closure.
In many embodiments, a tamper evidence closure configured to engage with a finish so as to seal contents within the interior of a container, the tamper evidence closure includes interior threads configured to engage with threads of the finish, a plug seal configured to extend into an opening of the finish whereby contents are sealed in the interior of the container, a multiplicity of thin connections attaching a thread-catching tamper evidence band to a perimeter of the tamper evidence closure, one or more recesses disposed in the thread-catching tamper evidence band and configured to fixedly engage the finish, and a cam including a segmented cross-sectional shape of the thread-catching tamper evidence band extending around the circumference of the tamper evidence band.
In another additional embodiment, the one or more recesses are each configured to receive and fixate a thread end disposed on the finish.
In a still yet further embodiment, each the one or more recesses includes at least one guiding surface that extends gradually deeper into the thickness of the thread-catching tamper evidence band and terminates at a catching surface.
In still yet another embodiment, the catching surface is substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the thread-catching tamper evidence band.
In a still further embodiment again, the guiding surface is configured to smoothly guide a thread end of the finish deeper into the recess during counterclockwise rotation of the closure.
In still another embodiment again, the catching surface is configured to receive the thread end and thereby prevent also rotation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band.
In a still further additional embodiment, the one or more recesses includes a number of recesses that is equal to the number of threads disposed on the finish.
In still another additional embodiment, the number of recesses includes three recesses that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the closure so as to engage three thread ends including three threads that are uniformly spaced on the finish.
In a yet further embodiment again, the one or more recesses are configured to engage one or more thread ends of the finish so as to prevent also rotation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band with respect to the finish.
In yet another embodiment again, the one or more recesses are configured to engage one or more thread ends of the finish so as to cause the multiplicity of thin connections to break, separating the thread-catching tamper evidence band from the closure.
In a yet further additional embodiment, the multiplicity of thin connections are disposed at a tilt angle with respect to the thread-catching tamper evidence band, the tilt angle imparting a tendency for the multiplicity of thin connections to break upon twisting of the closure with respect to the finish.
In yet another additional embodiment, the tilt angle of the multiplicity of thin connections is clockwise such that the thin connections are subjected to shear forces upon an end-user twisting the closure with respect to the finish.
In a further additional embodiment again, the tilt angle ranges between substantially perpendicular to the thread-catching tamper evidence band and substantially parallel to the interior threads.
In a variety of embodiments, a tamper evidence closure configured to engage with a finish so as to seal contents within the interior of a container, the tamper evidence closure includes interior threads configured to engage with threads of the finish, a plug seal configured to extend into an opening of the finish whereby contents are sealed in the interior of the container, a tamper evidence portion disposed around the perimeter of a lower portion of the tamper evidence closure, and one or more tamper evidence flaps disposed in the tamper evidence portion and configured to be outwardly flexed by the finish.
In another additional embodiment again, outward flaring of the one or more tamper evidence flaps indicates that the tamper evidence closure has been loosened after installation by a manufacturer.
In a still yet further embodiment again, the one or more tamper evidence flaps are configured to remain flared in absence of the finish so as to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.
In still yet another embodiment again, each of the one or more tamper evidence flaps is disposed within an elongate opening and coupled with the tamper evidence portion by way of a bridge.
In a still yet further additional embodiment, the bridge is configured to allow the tamper evidence flap to be flexed outwards with respect to the tamper evidence portion.
In still yet another additional embodiment, the one or more tamper evidence flaps are configured to be pushed outwards due to contact with truncated thread ends including the finish.
In a yet further additional embodiment again, the bridge includes a narrow portion between the tamper evidence flap and the tamper evidence portion of the closure.
In yet another additional embodiment again, the bridge is configured to flex when a truncated thread end of the finish contacts a catching surface.
In a still yet further additional embodiment again, the catching surface includes a terminal end of the tamper evidence flap and is substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the tamper evidence portion.
In still yet another additional embodiment again, the bridge allows the tamper evidence flap to be outwardly extended without breaking away from the tamper evidence portion.
In another further embodiment, the bridge is configured to remain flexed in absence of the truncated thread end to as to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.
In still another further embodiment, each of one or more tamper evidence flaps includes a ramp that terminates at a catching surface.
In yet another further embodiment, the catching surface is substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the tamper evidence portion and is configured to be contacted by a truncated thread end of the finish during loosening of the closure by an end-user.
In another further embodiment again, the ramp is configured to be engaged by a truncated thread end of the finish so as to push the tramper evidence flap outwards with respect to the tamper evidence portion.
In a further embodiment, a number of the one or more tamper evidence flaps disposed in the tamper evidence portion is equal to the number of threads disposed on the finish.
In another embodiment, three tamper evidence flaps are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the tamper evidence portion so as to engage three truncated thread ends disposed on the finish, the three tamper evidence flaps being configured to be flared by the three truncated thread ends.
In some embodiments, a finish configured to engage with a closure so as to seal contents within the interior of a container, the finish includes a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to an interior of the container and extends to and includes a support ledge, threads configured to provide a means to fasten the closure to the container, a blunt surface including a truncated terminal end of each of the threads, and a gap disposed between the support ledge and a bottom-most of the threads.
In a still further embodiment, the blunt surface is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the finish.
In still another embodiment, the blunt surface is configured to contact a catching surface of the closure so as to flare a tamper evidence flap including the closure.
In a yet further embodiment, the threads comprise multiple single threads that each begins at a thread start and spirals around a segment of the circumference of the finish before terminating at the truncated thread end.
In yet another embodiment, the threads generally are disposed adjacently to one another with the thread starts spaced uniformly around the circumference of the finish.
The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:
While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIn the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “first bottle,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first bottle” is different than a “second bottle.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.
In some instances, conventional tamper evidence bands fail to detach from the closure upon being loosened, thereby making it difficult for an end-user to directly observe whether or not the closure has been previously separated from the container. Consequently, the end-user has little visual indication of whether the container has been reused. Embodiments disclosed herein provide a tamper evidence closure that reliably provides a visible indication about whether or not a manufacturer-installed closure has been previously removed from a plastic container.
In the embodiments illustrated in
As further shown in
Although the thin connections 204 illustrated in
As shown in
It is contemplated that the number of recesses 216 included in the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 generally can be equal to the number of threads 172 disposed on the finish 140. In some embodiments, for example, the threads 172 include three single threads uniformly spaced around the circumference of the finish 140, and the tamper evidence band 166 includes three recesses 216 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the closure 164. Thus, upon an end-user turning the closure 164 the three recesses 216 engage the three truncated thread ends 184, thereby preventing further rotation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 with respect to the finish 140. Fixation of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 during turning of the closure 164 causes the thin connections 204 to break, separating the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 from the closure 164. The thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 remains positioned within the gap 196 after the closure 164 is removed from the container 100. As such, the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 remaining in the gap 196 indicates to the end-user that the closure 164 has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer. It should be understood, however, that the finish 140 is not be construed as being limited to three single threads 172, but rather the finish 140 may include, in some embodiments, between one thread 172 and six individual threads 172 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the finish 140, without limitation. As such, the number of recesses 216 disposed in the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 generally ranges between one recess 216 and six recesses 216 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166, without limitation.
In some embodiments, one or more spacers (not shown) may be disposed on an interior of the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166. It is contemplated that the spacers may be configured to maintain a desired degree of clearance between the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 and the finish 140 so as to ensure that the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 does not flex, allowing the catching surface 224 to bypass the thread end 184. To this end, it is envisioned that one or more spacers can be disposed between circumferential locations of the catching surfaces 224 to keep the thread-catching tamper evidence band 166 secured in place during catching the thread ends 184.
Turning now to
It is contemplated that the number of tamper evidence flaps 200 included in the tamper evidence portion 166 generally is equal to the number of threads 172 disposed on the finish 140. In some embodiments, for example, the threads 172 include three single threads uniformly spaced around the circumference of the finish 140, and the tamper evidence portion 166 includes three tamper evidence flaps 200 that are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the closure 164. Thus, upon an end-user turning the closure 164 the tamper evidence flaps 200 engage the three truncated thread ends 184, thereby flaring the tamper evidence flaps 200 with respect to the closure 164. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, once the tamper evidence flaps 200 are initially flared, such as by the end-user loosening the closure 164, the bridges 208 remain flexed and the tamper evidence flaps 200 remain outwardly flexed in absence of contacting the threads 172. As such, flared tamper evidence flaps 200 indicates to the end-user that the closure 164 has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.
While the invention has been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A finish configured to engage with a closure so as to seal contents within the interior of a container, the finish comprising:
- a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to an interior of the container and extends to and includes a support ledge;
- threads configured to provide a means to fasten the closure to the container;
- a terminal end of each of the threads; and
- a gap disposed between the support ledge and a bottom-most of the threads.
2. The finish of claim 1, wherein the threads are configured to rotatably engage with similar threads disposed within the closure to provide a way to seal contents within the container.
3. The finish of claim 1, wherein each of the threads generally extends along a section of the circumference of the finish and approaches the support ledge.
4. The finish of claim 3, wherein the threads of the closure are configured to engage with the threads, such that the closure advances toward the support ledge during clockwise rotation.
5. The finish of claim 1, wherein the terminal end includes a blunt surface that is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the finish.
6. The finish of claim 5, wherein the blunt surface is configured to contact a catching surface of the closure so as to fixate a tamper evidence band of the closure.
7. The finish of claim 6, wherein the terminal end is configured to be directed by at least one guiding surface of the closure, the guiding surface terminating at the catching surface.
8. The finish of claim 1, wherein the threads comprise a single thread that begins at a thread start and spirals around the circumference of the finish before terminating at the terminal end.
9. The finish of claim 8, wherein the thread start is configured to guide a thread of the closure into a valley between adjacent threads so as to threadably engage the closure with the finish.
10. The finish of claim 1, wherein the gap includes a roughly uniform width around the circumference of the finish that is configured to retain a tamper evidence band of the closure.
11. A tamper evidence closure configured to engage with a finish so as to seal contents within the interior of a container, the tamper evidence closure comprising:
- interior threads configured to engage with threads of the finish;
- a plug seal configured to extend into an opening of the finish whereby contents are sealed in the interior of the container;
- a tamper evidence portion disposed around the perimeter of a lower portion of the tamper evidence closure; and
- one or more tamper evidence flaps disposed in the tamper evidence portion and configured to be outwardly flexed by the finish.
12. The tamper evidence closure of claim 11, wherein outward flaring of the one or more tamper evidence flaps indicates that the tamper evidence closure has been loosened after installation by a manufacturer.
13. The tamper evidence closure of claim 11, wherein the one or more tamper evidence flaps are configured to remain flared in absence of the finish so as to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.
14. The tamper evidence closure of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more tamper evidence flaps is disposed within an elongate opening and coupled with the tamper evidence portion by way of a bridge.
15. The tamper evidence closure of claim 14, wherein the bridge is configured to allow the tamper evidence flap to be flexed outwards with respect to the tamper evidence portion.
16. The tamper evidence closure of claim 15, wherein the one or more tamper evidence flaps are configured to be pushed outwards due to contact with truncated thread ends comprising the finish.
17. The tamper evidence closure of claim 14, wherein the bridge comprises a narrow portion between the tamper evidence flap and the tamper evidence portion of the closure.
18. The tamper evidence closure of claim 17, wherein the bridge is configured to flex when a truncated thread end of the finish contacts a catching surface.
19. The tamper evidence closure of claim 18, wherein the catching surface comprises a terminal end of the tamper evidence flap and is substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the tamper evidence portion.
20. The tamper evidence closure of claim 18, wherein the bridge allows the tamper evidence flap to be outwardly extended without breaking away from the tamper evidence portion.
21. The tamper evidence closure of claim 18, wherein the bridge is configured to remain flexed in absence of the truncated thread end to as to indicate that the tamper evidence closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 21, 2019
Publication Date: Dec 12, 2019
Applicant: Niagara Bottling, LLC (Ontario, CA)
Inventor: Jay Clarke Hanan (Ontario, CA)
Application Number: 16/547,503