CLOSURE

Abstract

A closure for a liquid container includes a base portion and a top portion. The base portion includes a top deck and an outer skirt extending from an outer end of the top deck in a lower direction away from the top deck. The outer skirt comprises a fastening means to interconnect the closure to the container neck. The top deck further has a spout extending in an upper direction away from the top deck. The top portion includes an annular base interconnectable to the base portion and a cover having an outer wall. At least one tamper element extends from the annular base in the upper direction above the annular base along the outer wall but spaced a distance apart from said outer wall. The tamper element is also initially interconnected to the outer wall by a predetermined breaking linkage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a closure, namely for containers. In particular, the invention relates to a closure for containers for carbonated liquids such as soft drinks, but is well adaptable to seal other containers such as glass or PET containers with contents at above or below atmospheric pressure or having gaseous components or requiring a hermetic seal.

Discussion of Related Art

Packages for liquids, such as beverages, are often closed by screw caps which can be removed before usage and allow the package to be sealed again after usage, such as pouring the liquid out of the liquid container. The crew cap seals the container if attached and further prevents a contamination of the liquid. The outlet is usually circular with respective larger diameter and permits a high flow rate. The outlet is primarily designed in order to pour the liquid and not to drink directly from the beverages.

In certain applications, such as beverages for sport drinks, however, drinking directly from the beverage respectively the liquid container is desired. Therefore, other geometries of closures are preferred. Such closures may include a base portion having a spout, which the user can place directly inside the month and therefore needs to meet high standards with respect to cleanliness. Furthermore, a valve may ensure a lower flow rate for comfortable drinking. Often, the valve may further seal the liquid container.

To ensure the standards in regard of the cleanliness the spout of the base portion, the spout is often protected by a top portion comprising a cover. Such re-closable two-piece closures may therefore provide an additional tamper seal to indicate if the cover, respectively the top portion, has been removed from the spout, respectively the base portion. Using breakable elements and a tamper band as a tamper seal are known from conventional screw caps. After tearing the breakable elements connecting the screw cap to the tamper band, the tamper band falls away leaving a visual gab between the screw cap and the tamper band, such that it can easily be detected that the container has been opened. However, breakable elements used as a tamper seal between the base portion and the top portion of a two-piece-closure do not provide an easy visual confirmation of a broken seal.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages and to provide a closure with an improved tamper seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A closure for a liquid container according to the invention comprises a base portion and a top portion. The base portion serves to be interconnected to a neck of the container and comprises a top deck and an outer skirt extending from an outer end of the top deck in a lower direction away from the top deck. The outer skirt comprises a fastening means to interconnect the closure to the container neck. The top deck further has a spout extending in an upper direction away from the top deck. The top portion of the closure comprises an annular base interconnectable to the base portion and a cover. The cover has an outer wall, which may be interconnected to the annular base by a hinge.

According to the invention, at least one tamper element extends from the annular base in the upper direction above the annular base along the outer wall of the cover but spaced a distance apart from said outer wall. The tamper element is initially (before initial opening) interconnected to the outer wall by at least one predetermined breaking linkage. Furthermore, the tamper element may be accommodated in a pocket formed in the outer wall of the cover to avoid unwanted protrusion above the outer surface of the closure.

Depending on the application, a rib may extend from the outer wall of the cover to interconnect the cover with the tamper element. Preferably, the at least one predetermined breaking linkage is arranged between the rib and the tamper element, but other positions may also be suitable. In a variation of the invention, the rib has an in general T-shaped cross-section in the upper direction. Furthermore, the tamper element may be formed comprising an opening, which is initially closed at least partially by a part of the rib and/or the at least one predetermined breaking linkage. The rib may comprise a widening at its outer end facing away from the outer wall (as it is the case for a T-shaped cross section).

In a variation of the closure, the tamper element is interconnected to the annular base by a hinge arrangement as described hereinafter in more detail. The hinge arrangement is preferably arranged between the annular base and the predetermined breaking linkage, such that the tamper element can be bent away from the outer wall after tearing the predetermined breaking linkage. The hinge arrangement may provide at least one stable position in which the tamper element remains bent away from the cover such that a user may open and close the cover or drink from the spout without hindrance. Advantageously, the hinge arrangement comprises a first and a second stable position. In the first stable position, the tamper element may extend along the outer wall of the cover meanwhile in the second stable position the tamper element remains bent and folded away from the cover, as explained above, reliably indicating initial opening. Good results can be achieved when the hinge arrangement of the tamper element comprises at least two film-hinges V- or arch-shaped, extending away from each other in an outward direction. The hinge arrangement can e.g. comprise four film-hinges arranged in pairs to each other. The tamper element may further feature additional folding means such as one or more fold points arranged in the tamper element allowing the tamper element to bend away more easily.

Preferably, once the predetermined breaking linkage has been broken, the hinge arrangement folds away the tamper element from the cover and snaps to the at least one stable position. If only one stable position of the tamper element in the folded state is present, the tamper element cannot stay in the upright and unfolded position, once the predetermined breaking linkage is damaged, and will remain in the stable folded position. Hence, there will be a clear visual evidence that the tamper element has been tampered with.

Depending on the application, the at least one predetermined breaking linkage may be designed in form of a film layer, which breaks, respectively tears, during initial opening of the closure. The film layer may have the shape of a strip or a square or have a circular design. Other forms are also possible. Preferably, the film layer is arranged to initially close (at least partially) an opening in the tamper element, as described above. Depending on the thickness of the film layer and/or the size of the opening, the film layer may thus be used to prevent that the tamper element cannot be hooked, respectively latched, back in the initial unfolded position once the tamper element has been bent away.

In another application however, the rib may be used to form an undercut with the opening of the tamper element to secure the tamper element to the cover after initially tearing the predetermined breaking linkage and reclosing of the closure, respectively the tamper element. Thus, the tamper element may be used as a closure element to secure the cover to the annular base after the predetermined breaking linkage is torn apart. For this, it is advantageous to arrange the tamper element with respect to the circumference of the closure diametrically opposite of the hinge. However, other positions are also possible. The tamper element may e.g. be positioned close by the hinge.

The tamper element gives a user an easy to determine visual impression if the liquid container has been opened before or has been tampered with in any way. However, the closure may additionally provide fragile bridges interconnecting the cover and the annular base along the circumference of the closure.

In certain fields of applications, the top portion of the closure can be used with other base portions or as a closure in itself being directly attached to a container and the cover covering an opening in the container.

Preferably, the closure is made of plastic. The closure may be manufactured by injection molding. One or multiple plastic components may be used for different parts, respectively regions of the closure.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

FIG. 1 is a first variation of the closure 1 according to the invention in a perspective and partly sectionized view;

FIG. 2 is a detail A of the tamper element 13 according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is the first variation of the closure 1 according to FIG. 1 in a second perspective view;

FIG. 4 is the first variation of the closure 1 according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view with the tamper element 13 bent backwards;

FIG. 5 is a detail B of the tamper element 13 according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a top portion 8 of a second variation of the closure 1 according to the invention in a partly sectionized view from the side,

FIG. 7 is a detail of the tamper element 13 according to FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a third variation of the tamper element 13,

FIG. 9 is a fourth variation of the tamper element 13,

FIG. 10 is a fifth variation of the tamper element 13,

FIG. 11 is a sixth variation of the tamper element 13,

FIG. 12 is a seventh variation of the tamper element 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and 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. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 both show a first variation of the closure 1 for a liquid container (not shown) in a perspective view. In FIG. 1, the closure 1 is further partly sectionized. FIG. 2 illustrates a detail A of the tamper element 13 according to FIG. 1. FIG. 4 discloses the closure 1 with the tamper element 13 bent backwards. FIG. 5 further shows the detail B of the tamper element 13 according to FIG. 4.

The illustrated closure 1 comprises a base portion 2 and a top portion 8. The base portion 2 comprises a top deck 3 with a spout 4 extending in an upper direction z away from the top deck 3. An outer skirt 5 further extends from an outer end 6 of the top deck 3 in a lower direction away from the top deck 3. The outer skirt 5 comprises a fastening means 7 to interconnect the closure 1 to a neck of the container (not shown). Meanwhile, the top portion 8 comprises an annular base 9 interconnectable to the base portion 2 and a cover 10. The cover 10 has an outer wall 11, which is interconnected to the annular base 9 by a hinge 12. The cover 10 comprises a pocket 16 with a tamper element 13 arranged in the pocket 16. The tamper element 13 extends from the annular base 9 in the upper direction z above the annular base 9 along the outer wall 11 of the pocket of the cover and spaced a distance apart from the outer wall 11.

A rib 17 extends from the outer wall 11 of the pocket 16, respectively the cover, and interconnects the outer wall 11 to the tamper element 13 though a predetermined breaking linkage 14. The rib 17 has a T-shaped cross-section in the upper direction. Tearing the predetermined breaking linkage 14 results in an opening 18 being formed in the tamper element 13, which was initially closed by an outer end of the rib and/or the predetermined breaking linkage. The tamper element 13 is further interconnected to the annular base 9 by a hinge arrangement 15, which is arranged between the annular base 9 and the predetermined breaking linkage 14. In such a way, the tamper element 13 can be bent away from the outer wall 11 after tearing the predetermined breaking linkage 14. The shown hinge arrangement 15 provides two stable positions: A first stable position in which the tamper element 13 extends along the outer wall 11 of the cover 10 and a second stable position in which the tamper element 13 is bent respectively folded away from the cover 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top portion 8 of a second variation for a closure 1 according to the invention from a side view. FIG. 7 shows a detail of the tamper element 13 of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 to FIG. 12 show further variations of a tamper element 13 according to the invention. The shown variations of the tamper elements 13 may be used in combination with a base portion 2 and any top portion 8 of a closure 1, as described above. Depending on the hinge arrangement 15, only one stable position of the tamper element in the folded state may be present, or multiple, such as two, stable positions can be used instead.

The tamper element 13 of the top portion 8 of FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 features a rib 17 in form of a bridge between the outer wall 11 and the tamper element 13 arranged behind the tamper element 13 and thus not visible in FIG. 6. The tamper element 13 is interconnected to the outer wall 11 by a predetermined breaking linkage 14. The rib 17 may e.g. comprises a predetermined breaking linkage 14. Alternatively, the predetermined breaking linkage 14 may be arranged between the rib 17 and the tamper element 13 or between the rib 17 and the outer wall 11. Once the predetermined breaking linkage 14 has been broken, the tamper element 13 preferably folds away from the cover 10 and snaps to a stable position. If only one stable position of the tamper element 13 in the folded state is present, the tamper element 13 cannot stay in the upright and unfolded position, once the predetermined breaking linkage 14 is damaged, and will remain in the stable folded position. Hence, there will be a clear visual evidence that the tamper element 13 has been tampered with. The tamper element 13 of FIG. 8 differs from the tamper element 13 of FIG. 7 only by the presence of additional folding means 21. The folding means 21, e.g. in form of multiple fold points or lines, can further facilitate the procedure of folding back the tamper element 13 and minimize the space needed for the folded tamper element 13. Depending on the material further visual tamper evidence may be provided by stress whitening of the material.

The rib 17 of the tamper element 13 according to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 is interconnected to the tamper element 13 via the predetermined breaking linkage 14 in form of a tearable film layer. The film layer 14 may have the shape of square (FIG. 9) or a circular design (FIG. 10) arranged to initially close (at least partially) an opening 18 in the tamper element 13. Other shapes are also possible. During initial opening of the closure, the film layer 14 is deformed and broken. This further aids the visual tamper evidence from the front and side. Depending on the design and thickness of the film layer, the film layer may be used to prevent that the tamper element may to be latched back and held in place in the unfolded position once the film layer has been destroyed.

FIG. 11 shows a tamper element 13, with a predetermined breaking linkage 14 in form of two tearable film layer sections on either side of the rib 17 extending through an opening 18 of the tamper element 13. These film layer sections 14 will deform and tear when the tamper element 13 is pulled down. One advantage of the variation is that the broken breaking linkage 14 is visible from the front and side. Furthermore, the tearable film layer again prevents the tamper element to latch back in an upright position.

The tamper element 13 of FIG. 12 differs from the design of FIG. 11, in that multiple film layer section 14 are present on either side of the rib 17. In the shown example, four sections on each side of the rib 17 can be seen. However, other numbers of multiple breaking linkages 14 are possible. The multiple linkages 14 having a smaller dimension than e.g. the linkage of the tamper element of FIG. 11 may even further prevent the tamper element 13 from being latched back in place.

The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A closure (1) for a liquid container comprising:

a. a base portion (2) comprising i. a top deck (3) with a spout (4) extending in an upper direction (z) away from the top deck (3); and ii. an outer skirt (5) extending from an outer end (6) of the top deck (3) in a lower direction away from the top deck (3), said outer skirt (5) comprising a fastening means (7) to interconnect the closure (1) to a neck of the container;

b. a top portion (8) comprising i. an annular base (9) interconnectable to the base portion (2); and ii. a cover (10) with an outer wall (11) interconnected to the annular base (9); and iii. at least one tamper element (13) extending from the annular base (9) in the upper direction (z) above the annular base (9) along the outer wall (11) spaced a distance apart from the outer wall (11) and being interconnected to the outer wall (11) by a predetermined breaking linkage (14).

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the tamper element (13) is interconnected to the annular base (9) by a hinge arrangement (15), said hinge arrangement (15) being arranged between the annular base (9) and the at least one predetermined breaking linkage (14), such that the tamper element (13) can be bent away from the outer wall (11) after tearing the predetermined breaking linkage (14).

3. The closure (1) according to claim 2, wherein the hinge arrangement (15) provides at least one stable position in which the tamper element (13) remains bent away from the cover (10).

4. The closure (1) according to claim 2, wherein the hinge arrangement (15) comprises a first and a second stable position.

5. The closure (1) according to claim 4, wherein in the first stable position the tamper element (13) extends along the outer wall (11) of the cover (10) and in the second stable position the tamper element (13) is folded away from the cover (10).

6. The closure (1) according to claim 2, wherein the hinge arrangement (15) comprises at least two film-hinges.

7. The closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (10) comprises a pocket (16) to accommodate the tamper element (13).

8. The closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein a rib (17) extends from the outer wall (11) interconnecting the cover (10) with the tamper element (13).

9. The closure (1) according to claim 8, wherein the rib (17) has a T-shaped cross-section in the upper direction.

10. The closure (1) according to claim 8, wherein the at least one predetermined breaking linkage (14) is arranged between the rib (17) and the tamper element (13).

11. The closure (1) according to claim 8, wherein the tamper element (13) comprises an opening (18), which is initially at least partially closed by a part of the rib and/or the at least one predetermined breaking linkage (14).

12. The closure (1) according to claim 11 wherein the at least one predetermined breaking linkage (14) is a film layer.

13. The closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein fragile bridges (19) interconnect the cover (10) and the annular base (9) along the circumference of the closure (1).

14. The closure (1) according to claim 1, wherein a hinge (12) interconnects the cover (10) and the annular base (9).