Tamper Evident Closure

Abstract

A closure with tamper evident features is disclosed.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/880,174 filed Jul. 30, 2019, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a closure, and more specifically to a tamper evident closure for a container.

BACKGROUND

It is often desirable to store product or contents in a container or package. It is often desirable to close the container with a closure. A closure may be provided with tamper evident features.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments according to the present disclosure provide a closure with tamper evident features for a container. The closure may include a tamper band having a plurality of segments with tabs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments may be shown. Indeed, embodiments may be illustrated or described in many different forms and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a closure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a closure on a bottle, with the bottle shown in partial transparency to better show details of the closure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a portion of the closure of FIG. 1, with the lid or cover removed to better show details of features of the closure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the closure on a bottle of FIG. 3, with the bottle shown in partial transparency to better show details of the closure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a closure with a tamper band in a down position prior to attachment to a bottle or container;

FIG. 7 illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a tamper band focusing on two adjacent segments and end tabs with a scallop between the ends of the two adjacent segments; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a closure with the tamper band in the down position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments may be shown. Indeed, embodiments may take many different forms and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The terms “substantial” or “substantially” may encompass the whole as specified, according to certain embodiments, or largely but not the whole specified according to other embodiments.

Some embodiments of a closure 100 may include a lid or cover 110 and/or a skirt 120, as shown for example in cross section in FIG. 1. Lid 110 may be configured to substantially block access to anything in, under, and/or covered by lid 110, such as a product storage region within a container. Skirt 120 may depend from lid 110 and may include an attachment feature such as an internal thread 125 for attachment to a container to be covered by closured 110. Lid 110 may include one or more sealing features, such as a first seal 111 and/or a second seal 112, which may be, for example, of the plug fit or friction fit type.

Closure 100 may include a tamper band 130, as shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, which may be configured to separate from the rest of closure 100 when removed from an underlying bottle or container. Closure 100 and/or tamper band 130 may provide a visual indication to a user that closure 100 has been removed from a bottle or container by virtue of the separation of tamper band 130 from the rest of closure 100. Tamper band 130 and/or closure 100 may include a plurality of segments of material to facilitate attachment and tamper evident removal of closure 100 from a bottle or container. The plurality of segments may include, for example, a first segment 131, a second segment 132, a third segment 133, a fourth segment 134, and/or a fifth segment 135, or additional segments (see, e.g., FIG. 5 showing five segments). Any or all of the segments may include one or more end tabs, such as, for example, a first end tab 131a and a second end tab 131b on first segment 131, a second end tab 132a and a second end tab 132b on second segment 132, a third end tab 133a and a third end tab 133b on third segment 133, a fourth end tab 134a and a fourth end tab 134b on fourth segment 134, and/or a fifth end tab 135a and a fifth end tab 135b on fifth segment 135. Any or all of the tabs may be sized, shaped, and/or configured such that they are radially outward of a portion of the associated segment and/or so the associated segment has at least a portion that projects radially inwardly farther than the associated end tab or tabs. As discussed more below, the segments and/or tabs may facilitate attachment to and/or tamper evident removal from a bottle or container.

As shown if FIG. 3, tamper band 130 may be folded upright into a closed position when attached or coupled to an embodiment of a bottle 50. Bottle 50 may include a neck 51, a bead 52, and/or an attachment mechanism such as an external thread 55 configured to engage or attach with internal thread 125 of closure 100. In FIG. 3, bottle 50 is shown in partial transparency so that features of closure 100 may be more clearly seen. Any or all of segments 131-135 may contact and/or be adjacent to neck 51 and/or bead 52. For example, a portion of any or all segments may contact the outside surface of neck 51 and/or an underside of bead 52. Any or all of first end tabs 131a-135a and/or second end tabs 131b-135b may extend longitudinally or axially up from corresponding segments 131-135 and may provide, for example, a surface that contacts an outer surface of bead 52. When closure 100 is attached to bottle 50, any or all of the tabs 131a-135a and/or 131b-135b may be substantially contacted by bead 52 and/or closure skirt 120 and/or be pinched or pressed therebetween. This could cause additional friction and/or resistance when removing closure 100 from bottle 50, which could provide or contribute to, for example, an optimized removal torque and/or separation force of closure 100 relative to bottle 50, of tamper band 130 from the rest of closure 100, or both.

Segments 131-135, first end tabs 131a-135a, and/or second end tabs 131b-135b may provide a geometry that facilitates optimization of forces needed for attachment of closure 100 to bottle 50, removal of closure 100 from bottle 50, and/or separation of tamper band 130 from the rest of closure 100, as shown for example in FIG. 4. For example, there may be provided five segments 131-135 that are substantially similar in size, shape, and configuration, and are substantially symmetrical or equally spaced around closure skirt 120. Each segment may have a first end tab oppositely disposed a second end tab, for example, first segment 131 may have a first end tab 131a oppositely disposed a second end tab 131b. Each segment may be separated from an adjacent tab by one or more scallops (e.g., first segment 131 may be separated form second segment 132 by a first scallop 131c). One or more scallops 131c-135c, if included, may provide a drain channel for water trapped between segments 131-135, closure skirt 120, and/or bottle neck 51, for example, or for any other reason. For example, any or all scallops 131c-135c may facilitate folding of any or all segments 131-135, for example, during the inversion process from a downwardly extending position in which segments 131-135 extend downwardly from the rest of tamper band 130 to an upwardly extending position in which segments 131-135 extend upwardly, and/or to help the segments remain in the inverted state or upwardly extending position prior to closure 100 being applied, attached, and/or coupled to bottle 50.

When tamper band 130 and/or closure 100 is in a closed or attached position relative to bottle 50, and/or in the aforementioned downwardly extending position for example prior to attachment to bottle 50, tamper band 130 may be folded upright as shown in FIG. 4. In this position, each segment and/or a central portion disposed between the end tabs may be substantially straight and/or, if curved, may have a greater radius than that of skirt 120 of closure 100. Such an area of relative straightness or less curvature may facilitate locating any or all of segments 131-135 under and/or against an underside of bottle bead 52, as shown for example, in FIG. 5. Bead 52 may press any or all tabs against closure skirt 120, which may for example, pull the segments straighter, hold the segments straighter, and/or enhance, increase, or optimize the surface area of segments against the underside of bead 52. The contact of bead 52 with segments 131-135, first end tabs 131a-135a, and/or second end tabs 131b-135b, may increase, enhance, and/or optimize the friction or resistance between bottle 50 and closure 100 to optimize removal torque, attachment force, and/or separation force required to separate tamper band 130 from the rest of closure 100. For example, five segments 131-135 may be include to provide a substantially five-sided polygon or pentagon shape. It is understood that more or less segments may be included, such as, for example, four segments or six segments, any or all of which may include a pair of oppositely disposed end tabs such as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example.

Closure 100 may be provided in a substantially open or unattached position, and/or a pre-inverted state or condition, such as is shown in FIG. 6, in contrast to the substantially closed or attached position, and/or inverted state upwardly extending, shown for example in FIG. 3. In FIG. 6, tamper band 130 is shown extending downwardly and radially inwardly from closure skirt 120. Tamper band 130 and/or closure 100 may be provided in this pre-inverted state with downwardly extending segments 131-135, for example, prior to attachment to bottle 50 and/or prior to the aforementioned inversion process in which the segments are caused to extend upwardly. Attachment to bottle 50 may cause tamper band 130 to flip upwardly, and/or to transition from an open or unattached position to a closed or attached position. From the attached or closed position, twisting or rotating closure 100 relative to bottle 50 in order to remove closure 100 from bottle 50 may cause separation of tamper band 130 from the rest of closure 100 for example, by interaction of tamper band 130 and/or components thereof with bead 52. One or more scallops may be aligned with one or more thread starts, as indicated by the dashed line through the thread start and second scallop 132c. One or more scallops 131c-135c may be so aligned for any of a variety of reasons, including but not limited to providing an alignment wherein a minimal number of scallops (e.g., two scallops) are exposed underneath closure thread 125.

A portion of an embodiment of features of tamper band 130 are shown in more detail in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, any or all scallops such as first scallop 131c, for example, may have an upper or first radius R_S1 and/or a lower or second radius R_S2, either or both of which may be provided for any of a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, reducing stress concentrations, capping, filling, and/or facilitating movement of tamper band 130 relative to skirt 120.

For example, an embodiment of closure 100 may be configured to have a 28 mm diameter and/or to be used with a bottling and/or beverage industry standard PCO 1810 finish. For this or any other application, closure 100 may include first radius R_S1 of about 0.01 inches to about 0.02 inches, and/or about 0.017 inches, second radius R_S2 of about 0.01 inches to about 0.02 inches, and/or about 0.013 inches. Any or all scallops such as scallop 131c may have a width Ws and/or a side edge angle α_S. Scallop width Ws may for example be about 0.02 inches to about 0.04 inches, and/or about 0.032 inches and/or scallop side edge angle as of about 1 degree to about 5 degrees and/or about 2 degrees.

Any or all tabs such as tab 131b, for example, may have an upper or first tab radius R_T1 and/or a lower or second tab radius R_T2, a tab height H_T, an upper or first tab width W_T1, a lower or second tab width W_T2. For example, in an embodiment first tab radius R_T1 may be about 0.002 to about 0.010 inches and/or about 0.005 inches, second tab radius R_T2 may be about the same as R_T1 and/or about 0.002 to about 0.010 inches and/or about 0.005 inches, first tab width W_T1 may be about 0.05 to about 0.10 inches and/or about 0.08 inches, and/or W_T2 may be about 0.04 to about 0.09 inches and/or about 0.07 inches.

It is understood that the dimensions provided are merely exemplary and may be varied. Exemplary dimensions are provided to show, for example, how first segment 131, second segment 132, first segment second end tab 131b, second segment first end tab 132a, and/or first scallop 131c may be sized, shaped, and/or configured. It is understood that shapes, sizes, and dimensions are exemplary and any of a variety of dimensions may be used. For example, if changing the size and/or diameter of closure 100, or for any other reason, the dimensions, configurations, shapes, and/or orientations may change.

Closure 100 is shown in an open or unattached position with an example of outer surface features on closure skirt 120 in FIG. 8. Skirt 120 may include, for example, one or more polish or polished areas 128 next to a thread start mark 127 corresponding to a thread start of closure 100, if included. Skirt 120 may include knurls or other features on the outer surface for any of a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, to facilitate or enhance gripping and/or rotating of closure 100 by hand.

It is understood that container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof, may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, any of a variety of suitable plastics material, any other material, or any combination thereof. Suitable plastics material may include, but is not limited to, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), crystallized polyethylene terephthalate (CPET), mixtures and combinations thereof, or any other plastics material or any mixtures and combinations thereof. It is understood that multiple layers of material may be used for any of a variety of reasons, including to improve barrier properties, or to provide known functions related to multiple layer structures. The multiple layers, if included, may be of various materials, including but not limited to those recited herein.

It is further understood that container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof, may be substantially rigid, substantially flexible, a hybrid of rigid and flexible, or any combination of rigid, flexible, and/or hybrid, such as having some areas be flexible and some rigid. It is understood that these examples are merely illustrative, are not limiting, and are provided to illustrate the versatility of options available in various embodiments of container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof.

It is further understood that any of a variety of processes or combination thereof may be used to form container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof, or any layer or substrate used therein. For example, any component, layer, or substrate, or combination thereof, may be compression molded, thermoformed, injection molded, injection stretch blow molded, blow molded, extrusion blow molded, coextruded, subjected to any other suitable process, or subjected to any combination thereof. In some embodiments, container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof may be formed substantially of injection molded and/or thermoformed suitable plastics material, although other materials and forming processes may be used instead of or in addition to injection molding and thermoforming, respectively. Various materials and/or processes may be used to form container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof, may be substantially a one-piece design and/or substantially formed as an integral or unitary structure.

It is understood that, while some directional terms are used herein, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, inward, outward, upward, downward, etc., these terms are not intended to be limiting but rather to relate to one or more exemplary orientations, positions, and/or configurations of container 50 and/or closure 100, and/or any component thereof. It is understood container 50 and/or closure 100 and/or any component or portion thereof may be inverted or re-oriented to face or point a different direction without departing from the nature of container 50 and/or closure 100 disclosed herein.

These and other modifications and variations may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and it is not intended to limit the scope of that which is described in the claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the exemplary description of the versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A closure for a bottle, comprising:

a cover and a skirt depending from the cover;

a tamper band, wherein the skirt is disposed between the cover and the tamper band; and

a plurality of segments disposed on the tamper band, wherein each segment includes a pair of oppositely disposed end tabs;

wherein the tamper band has an unattached pre-inverted position in which the segment and tabs extend downwardly and an inverted position in which the segment and tabs extend upwardly;

wherein the tabs are configured to be disposed between a bead of a bottle and at least one of the tamper band and closure skirt;

wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is configured to have a greater radius of curvature than the closure skirt when in the inverted position and an attached position on the bottle.

2. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments includes between about 3 segments and about 8 segments.

3. The closure for a bottle of claim 2, wherein the plurality of segments includes between 4 segments and 6 segments.

4. The closure for a bottle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of scallops.

5. The closure for a bottle of claim 4, wherein the plurality of scallops includes at least one scallop disposed between a first segment and a second segment of the plurality of segments.

6. A package, comprising:

a bottle and a closure;

wherein the bottle includes a bead and an external thread;

wherein the closure includes a cover, a tamper band, and a skirt depending from the cover that is disposed between the cover and the tamper band;

the closure skirt having an internal thread configured for threaded engagement with the external thread of the bottle;

the tamper band including at least a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment;

each of the first segment, second segment, and third segment extending from a first end to a second end; and

each segment having a first tab at the first end and extending away from the segment and a second tab at the second end and extending away from the segment;

wherein the tamper band is configured to be movable between a pre-inverted position in which each tab extends away from the closure cover and an inverted position in which each tab extends toward the closure cover;

wherein the closure is movable relative to the bottle between an attached position and an unattached position;

wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment are pulled into a straighter position to have a larger radius of curvature than the bottle bead when in the attached position with the bottle bead pushing each tab radially outwardly to pull each segment into the straighter position under the bottle bead.

7. The package of claim 6, further comprising a fourth segment having a first tab at a first end and a second tab at a second end.

8. The package of claim 7, further comprising a fifth segment having a first tab at a first end and second tab at a second end.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the first segment, second segment, third segment, fourth segment, and fifth segment are arranged to form a five sided polygonal shape having a perimeter configured to lie within and below an outer perimeter of the bottle bead when in the inverted position and the attached position.

10. The package of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of scallops, with each scallop of the plurality of scallops disposed between a first end of one segment and a second end of an adjacent segment.

11. A closure for a bottle, comprising:

a cover, a skirt depending from the cover, and a tamper band, wherein the skirt is disposed between the cover and the tamper band;

a plurality of segments disposed on the tamper band, the plurality of segments including a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment;

wherein each segment includes a pair of oppositely disposed end tabs, including a first end tab and a second end tab;

the tabs extending away from the segment to provide a surface engagable by a bead of the bottle so that the bead may press the tab radially outwardly to straighten each segment;

wherein the tamper band has an unattached pre-inverted position in which the segment and tabs extend downwardly and an inverted position in which the segment and tabs extend upwardly;

wherein the tabs are configured to be disposed between a bead of a bottle and an interior surface of at least one of the tamper band and closure skirt when in the inverted position and an attached position;

wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is configured to have a greater radius of curvature when in the inverted position and the attached position on the bottle than when in the pre-inverted position.

12. The closure for a bottle of claim 11, wherein at least one tab has a width.

13. The closure for a bottle of claim 12, wherein the width is in the range of about 0.04″ to about 0.10″.

14. The closure for a bottle of claim 11, wherein at least one tab has a first radius at an upper corner with a dimension in the range of about 0.002″ to about 0.010″.

15. The closure for a bottle of claim 14, wherein the at least one tab has a second radius at a lower corner with a dimension in the range of about of about 0.002″ to about 0.010″.

16. The closure of claim 11, further comprising a first scallop interposed between the first segment and the second segment.

17. The closure of claim 16, wherein the first scallop has a radius with a dimension in the range of about 0.01″ to about 0.02″.

18. The closure of claim 17, wherein the first scallop has a width with a dimension in the range of about 0.02″ to about 0.04″.

19. The closure of claim 16, further comprising a second scallop interposed between the first second segment and the third segment.

20. The closure of claim 11, having a diameter of about 28 mm and a PCO 1810 finish.