SPLIT BAND CLOSURE WITH SINGLE ANCHOR

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container. The closure comprises a closure portion that is coupled to a tamper evidence band by a single anchor. The closure portion threadably engages with a finish portion of the container and seals contents in the interior of the container. The anchor is configured to keep the closure portion coupled with the tamper evidence band when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. A multiplicity of thin connections between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. The anchor remains unbroken and allows the closure portion to be tilted away from the finish portion. The tamper evidence band includes a split portion that separates when the closure portion is pulled from the finish portion with sufficient force.

Description

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of plastic bottles and preforms. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and methods for a container closure that reliably provides a visible indication about whether or not a manufacturer-installed closure has been previously removed from a plastic container.

BACKGROUND

Plastic 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. Advantages of PET containers include lighter weight and decreased breakage as compared to glass, and lower costs overall when taking both production and transportation into account. PET resins are also reasonably priced and easy to process. PET containers 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 containers include lighter weight and decreased breakage as compared to glass, and lower costs overall when taking both production and transportation into account. As such, there is a continuous interest in creating the lightest possible plastic container so as to maximize cost savings in both transportation and manufacturing by making and using containers that contain less plastic.

A PET 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 portion. The finish portion 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 portion. The tamper evidence band generally remains positioned on the finish portion when an end-user loosens the closure to access the contents within the container. As such, the tamper evidence band and the finish portion 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. Embodiments disclosed herein provide container closures that include tamper evidence bands that reliably provide a visible indication about whether or not a manufacturer-installed closure has been previously removed from a plastic container.

SUMMARY

An apparatus and methods are provided for a closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container. The closure comprises a closure portion that is coupled to a tamper evidence band by a single anchor. The closure portion threadably engages with a finish portion of the container and seals contents in the interior of the container. The anchor is configured to keep the closure portion coupled with the tamper evidence band when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. A multiplicity of thin connections between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. The anchor remains unbroken and allows the closure portion to be tilted away from the finish portion. The tamper evidence band includes a split portion that separates when the closure portion is pulled from the finish portion with sufficient force. The split portion allows the tamper evidence band to extend into a strip of plastic that is attached to the anchor by way of a thin bridge. Once the split portion separates, the closure portion and the tamper evidence band may be removed from the finish portion of the container.

In an exemplary embodiment, a closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container comprises: a closure portion for threadably engaging with a finish portion of the container; a tamper evidence band for engaging with the finish portion; an anchor for keeping the closure portion attached to the tamper evidence band; and a split portion for allowing the tamper evidence band to separate from the finish portion.

In another exemplary embodiment, the split portion comprises a separation that extends along a segment of the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, the separation leaves the tamper evidence band connected to the anchor by way of a thin bridge. In another exemplary embodiment, the separation has a length along the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, the separation has a length ranging between about 3.0 mm and about 10.0 mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the separation has a length of substantially 4.0 mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the separation has a length of substantially 7.0 mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the separation has a length that is greater than 10.0 mm.

In another exemplary embodiment, a thin bridge cooperates with the anchor to keep the closure portion attached to the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, the thin bridge has a length and a thickness that affect the ease with which an end-user can tilt the closure portion away from the finish portion to access contents within the container. In another exemplary embodiment, the thin bridge operates to keep the tamper evidence band attached to the closure portion when the closure is pulled with enough force to break the split portion. In another exemplary embodiment, the tamper evidence band includes a thin portion, a line of perforations, or other suitable device that facilitates the tamper evidence band snapping and separating into a single strip of plastic when the closure portion is pulled from the container. In another exemplary embodiment, the strip of plastic remains attached to the closure portion by the anchor and the thin bridge. In another exemplary embodiment, the strip of plastic provides an observational indication that the closure has been unsealed from the finish portion after having been installed by a manufacturer.

In an exemplary embodiment, a method for unsealing contents within an interior of a container comprises: disengaging a closure portion from a finish portion of the container; breaking thin connections between the closure portion and a tamper evidence band; and tilting the closure portion away from the finish portion.

In another exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises pulling the closure portion away from the finish portion with enough force to break a split portion comprising the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises separating the tamper evidence band and the closure portion from the finish portion. In another exemplary embodiment, pulling includes exerting enough force to tear a thin portion comprising the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, disengaging includes twisting the closure portion to disengage threads of the closure portion with threads comprising the finish portion. In another exemplary embodiment, breaking the thin connections includes partially separating the closure portion from the tamper evidence band while an anchor keeps the tamper evidence band attached to the closure portion. In another exemplary embodiment, tilting the closure portion includes flexing a thin bridge disposed between the anchor and the tamper evidence band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary container suitable for storing liquid contents;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the finish portion that is configured to rotatably engage with a closure to seal contents within the interior of the container;

FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a split-band container closure that may be threadably engaged with a finish portion of a container;

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a split portion disposed between a closure portion and a tamper evidence band comprising a split-band container closure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary-use environment wherein an exemplary embodiment of a closure has been installed onto a preform and then subsequently untightened from the preform and placed into a tethered configuration;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary-use environment wherein the closure of FIG. 5 is being pulled from a finish portion of the preform by an end-user; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a separated configuration of the closure of FIG. 6 wherein the closure has been pulled loose from the finish portion of the preform, in accordance with the present disclosure.

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 DESCRIPTION

In 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 container,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first container” is different than a “second container.” 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 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.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary container 100 typically used for storing liquid contents, such as water, juice, and contents under pressure. The container 100 comprises a base 104 that extends up to a grip portion 108. In some embodiments, the base 104 may be of the petaloid variety, although other configurations of the base may be incorporated into the container 100, without limitation. The grip portion 108 comprises a plurality of grip portion ribs 112 (i.e., sidewall ribs). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the plurality of grip portion ribs 112 generally vary in depth, and swirl or angulate around the grip portion 108. A label portion 116 is connected to the grip portion 108 and comprises one or more label panel ribs (not shown). The label panel portion 116 transitions into a shoulder 124, which connects to a bell 128.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the bell 128 comprises a plurality of design features 132. In other embodiments, however, the bell 128 may include various other design features, or may be smooth and generally unornamented. The bell 128 connects to a neck 136, which connects to a finish portion 140. As shown in FIG. 1, the bell 128 comprises a diameter that generally decreases as the bell 128 extends upward from the shoulder 124 to the neck 136 and the finish portion 140. The finish portion 140 is adapted to receive a closure, such as by way of non-limiting example, a container cap or closure 144, so as to seal contents within the container 100. The finish portion 140 generally defines an opening that leads to an interior of the container 100 for containing a beverage, or other contents, such as any of a variety of carbonated soft drinks. The finish portion 140 may be of a Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) variety or may be configured to receive closures suitable for sealing noncarbonated contents within the interior of the container 100. Further, in some embodiments, the finish portion 140 may be configured to retain hot-filled contents with the container or may be configured to retain a gas, such as nitrogen gas (N₂) within the interior of the container, without limitation.

As shown in FIG. 1, a tamper evidence closure 144, such as a bottle cap, may be threadably engaged with the finish portion 140. The closure 144 generally includes interior threads that are configured to engage with threads disposed on the finish portion 140, as described herein. During tightening of the closure 144 onto the finish portion 140, a plug seal of the closure 144 extends into the opening of the container 100 and enters into a pressed relationship with the finish portion 140 whereby contents may be sealed in the interior of the container 100.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the closure 144 includes a tamper evidence band 148 to provide an indication of whether or not the closure 144 has been loosened after being installed by a manufacturer. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band 148 may be attached to the closure 144 by a multiplicity of thin connections. The tamper evidence band 148 may include a cam that is configured to fixedly engage with a tamper evidence ledge disposed on the finish portion 140 during loosening of the closure 144. Once the closure 144 is installed onto the finish portion 140 by a manufacturer and later an end-user loosens the closure 144, the cam engages the tamper evidence ledge, breaking the thin connections between tamper evidence band 148 and the closure 144. The tamper evidence band 148 remains positioned on the tamper evidence ledge after the closure 144 is removed from the container 100. As such, the tamper evidence band 148 cooperates with the tamper evidence ledge to indicate to the end-user whether or not the closure 144 has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a finish portion 164 that is configured to rotatably engage with the closure 144 so as to seal contents within the interior of the container 100. The finish portion 164 comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening 172 to an interior of the container 100 and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge 176 that is joined to a neck portion 136 of the container 100. The finish portion 164 is further characterized by the presence of one or more threads 180 configured to provide a means to fasten a closure, such as the closure 144 of FIG. 1, to the container 100. As such, the threads 180 are configured to rotatably engage with similar threads disposed within the closure 144 so as to seal contents within the container 100. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the threads 180 generally extends along a section of the circumference of the finish portion 164 and approaches the tamper evidence ledge 176. Thus, when the threads of the closure 144 are engaged with the threads 180, and the closure 144 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the closure 144 advances toward the tamper evidence ledge 176.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, each of the one or more threads 180 begins at a thread start 184 and extends along an angular section of the finish portion 164 to a thread end 188. The thread start 184 is configured to guide a thread comprising the closure 144 into a space, or a valley 190, between adjacent threads 180 so as to threadably engage the closure 144 with the finish portion 164. Further, the threads 180 generally are disposed adjacently to one another, separated by valleys 190, and spaced uniformly around the circumference of the finish portion 164. In some embodiments, wherein three threads 180 are disposed around the finish portion 164, the thread starts 184 of adjacent threads 180 are spaced at substantially 120-degree intervals around the circumference of the finish portion 164. As will be appreciated, however, more or less than three threads 180 may be incorporated into the finish portion 164 without deviating beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a split-band container closure (hereinafter “closure”) 200 that may be threadably engaged with the finish portion 164 shown in FIG. 2. The illustrated embodiment of the closure 200 includes a closure portion 204 that is coupled with a tamper evidence band 208 by way of an anchor 212 and a multiplicity of thin connections 216. Upon the closure portion 204 being removed from the container 100, the thin connections 216 break, allowing the tamper evidence band 208 to partially separate from the closure portion 204 while the anchor 212 keeps the tamper evidence band 208 attached to the closure portion 204. The tamper evidence band 208 further includes a split portion 220 that allows the tamper evidence band 208 to snap into two portions that remain coupled to the closure portion 204 only by way of the anchor 212. As such, the tamper evidence band 208, once broken and separated away from the closure portion 204, provides an observational indication that the closure 200 has been unsealed from the finish portion 164 after having been installed by a manufacturer.

As will be appreciated, the closure 200 is configured to be threadably engaged with the finish portion 164 shown in FIG. 2. The closure 200 includes interior threads (not shown) that are configured to engage with the threads 180 of the finish portion 164. During tightening of the closure 200 onto the finish portion 164, a plug seal (not shown) of the closure 200 may extend into the opening 172 of the finish portion 164 and enter into a pressed relationship with the finish portion 164 whereby contents may be sealed in the interior of the container 100. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of knurls 232 may be arranged on top of the closure portion 204 and configured to facilitate grasping the closure portion 204 during tightening and untightening the closure 200 on the finish portion 164.

As mentioned above, the multiplicity of thin connections 216 may be configured to break apart when the closure portion 204 is untightened from the finish portion 164, such as during opening the container 100 to access contents within the container 100. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band 208 includes a cam that interferes with a flat lower portion 240 of the tamper evidence ledge 176 (see FIG. 2). The cam generally comprises a ledge, or a similar structure, that extends around an inner circumference of the tamper evidence band 208 and is configured to facilitate passing the tamper evidence band 208 over an upper rounded portion 248 (see FIG. 2) of the tamper evidence ledge 176 during installation of the closure 200 onto the container 100. The cam generally is configured to interfere with the flat lower surface 240 (see FIG. 2) of the tamper evidence ledge 176 and thus contributes to separating the tamper evidence band 208 and the closure portion 204 during loosening of the closure 200 on the finish portion 164.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the split portion 220 comprises a separation 256 in the tamper evidence band 208 that extends along a segment of the tamper evidence band 208. The separation 256 leaves the tamper evidence band 208 connected to the anchor 212 by way of a thin bridge 260. The separation 256 may have any suitable length along the tamper evidence band 208, as desired. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the separation 256 has a length of substantially 4.0 millimeters (mm), whereas in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the separation 256 has a length of roughly 7.0 mm.

It is contemplated that the thin bridge 260 cooperates with the anchor 212 to keep the closure portion 204 attached to the tamper evidence band 208 once the closure 200 is loosened on the finish portion 164. Further, the length and thickness of the thin bridge 260 may affect the ease with which an end-user can tilt the closure portion 204 away from the finish portion 164 to access contents within the container 100. As will be appreciated, embodiments of the thin bridge 260 having a relatively large cross-sectional area will offer greater resistance to the closure portion 204 being tilted away from the finish portion 164.

It is further contemplated that the thin bridge 260 operates to keep the tamper evidence band 208 attached to the closure portion 204 when the closure 200 is pulled with enough force to separate the split portion 220. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band 208 may include a thin portion 264, a line of perforations, or other suitable device that facilitates the tamper evidence band 208 snapping and separating into a single strip of plastic when the closure portion 204 is pulled from the container 100. As will be appreciated, the strip of plastic remains attached to the closure portion 204 by the anchor 212 and the thin bridge 260. As such, the tamper evidence band 208, once broken, provides an observational indication that the closure 200 has been unsealed from the finish portion 164 after having been installed by a manufacturer.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary-use environment wherein the closure 200 has been installed onto a preform, such as the preform 160 of FIG. 2, and then subsequently untightened from the finish portion 164 and placed into a tethered configuration 280. During installation of the closure 200 onto the preform 160, the rounded upper portion 248 of the tamper evidence ledge 176 facilitates passing the tamper evidence band 208 over the tamper evidence ledge 176. As described herein, the flat lower portion 240 of the tamper evidence ledge 176 retains the tamper evidence band 208 positioned below the tamper evidence ledge 176 during loosening of the closure 200. As such, loosening the closure 200 on the finish portion 164 causes the thin connections 216 to break apart, thus causing the closure 200 to assume the tethered configuration 280.

In the tethered configuration 280, the tamper evidence band 208 resembles a loop of plastic coupled to the closure portion 204 solely by way of the anchor 212 and the thin bridge 260. As will be appreciated, the thin bridge 260 flexes when the closure portion 204 is tilted with respect to the tamper evidence band 208. It is contemplated that the thin bridge 260 comprises a portion of plastic that is configured to resist breaking during tilting the closure portion 204 away from the finish portion 164.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary-use environment 288 wherein the closure 200 is being pulled from the finish portion 164 of the container preform 160 by an end-user. As shown in FIG. 6, the end-user may use fingers 292 to grasp the closure portion 204 and attempt to pull the closure portion 204 loose from the finish portion 164. When the closure portion 204 is pulled with enough force to separate the split portion 220, shown in FIGS. 3-4, the closure portion 204 and the tamper evidence band 208 may be removed from the finish portion 164, as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates a separated configuration 296 of the closure 200 wherein the closure 200 has been pulled loose from the finish portion 164 of the container preform 160, as described hereinabove. In the separated configuration 292, the tamper evidence band 208 is separated into a single strip of plastic that remains attached to the closure portion 204 by the anchor 212 and the thin bridge 260. It is contemplated that the tamper evidence band 208 may include a thin portion 264, a line of perforations, or other similar device that facilitates breaking the tamper evidence band 208 when the closure portion 204 is pulled from the container 100. As such, the tamper evidence band 208, once broken, provides an observational indication that the closure 200 has been unsealed from the finish portion 164 after having been installed by a 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 closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container, the closure comprising:

a closure portion for threadably engaging with a finish portion of the container;

a tamper evidence band for engaging with the finish portion;

an anchor for keeping the closure portion attached to the tamper evidence band; and

a split portion for allowing the tamper evidence band to separate from the finish portion.

2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the split portion comprises a separation that extends along a segment of the tamper evidence band.

3. The closure of claim 2, wherein the separation leaves the tamper evidence band connected to the anchor by way of a thin bridge.

4. The closure of claim 2, wherein the separation has a length along the tamper evidence band.

5. The closure of claim 4, wherein the separation has a length ranging between about 3.0 mm and about 10.0 mm.

6. The closure of claim 5, wherein the separation has a length of substantially 4.0 mm.

7. The closure of claim 5, wherein the separation has a length of substantially 7.0 mm.

8. The closure of claim 1, wherein a thin bridge cooperates with the anchor to keep the closure portion attached to the tamper evidence band.

9. The closure of claim 8, wherein the thin bridge has a length and a thickness that affect the ease with which an end-user can tilt the closure portion away from the finish portion to access contents within the container.

10. The closure of claim 8, wherein the thin bridge operates to keep the tamper evidence band attached to the closure portion when the closure is pulled with enough force to break the split portion.

11. The closure of claim 8, wherein the tamper evidence band includes a thin portion, a line of perforations, or other suitable device that facilitates the tamper evidence band snapping and separating into a single strip of plastic when the closure portion is pulled from the container.

12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the strip of plastic remains attached to the closure portion by the anchor and the thin bridge.

13. The closure of claim 11, wherein the strip of plastic provides an observational indication that the closure has been unsealed from the finish portion after having been installed by a manufacturer.

14. A method for unsealing contents within an interior of a container, comprising:

disengaging a closure portion from a finish portion of the container;

breaking thin connections between the closure portion and a tamper evidence band; and

tilting the closure portion away from the finish portion.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising pulling the closure portion away from the finish portion with enough force to break a split portion comprising the tamper evidence band.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising separating the tamper evidence band and the closure portion from the finish portion.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein pulling includes exerting enough force to tear a thin portion comprising the tamper evidence band.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein disengaging includes twisting the closure portion to disengage threads of the closure portion with threads comprising the finish portion.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein breaking the thin connections includes partially separating the closure portion from the tamper evidence band while an anchor keeps the tamper evidence band attached to the closure portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein tilting the closure portion includes flexing a thin bridge disposed between the anchor and the tamper evidence band.