AU2007100243A4 - A dust cover and closure - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant(s): AMCOR LIMITED Invention Title: A DUST COVER AND CLOSURE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: 2 A DUST COVER AND A CLOSURE The present invention relates to dust covers for closures of the type that have closed and open positions and remain on packages while the contents of the packages are consumed via the closures when the closures are in the open position.

More specifically, although by no means exclusively, the present invention relates to dust covers for "sports" closures applied to packages, such as bottles, for beverages.

Most specifically, although by no means exclusively, the present invention relates to dust covers that have tamper evident means and the interaction of such dust covers and the closures.

The term "dust cover" within this specification refers to a component manufactured from polymeric material that is placed over a closure to prevent accidental contamination of the drinking surface. Desirably, such a dust cover also prevents deliberate and potentially malicious access to the drinking surface. In practice, the dust cover is commonly made from a largely transparent or translucent polymer.

Dust covers of the known art come in many variations.

The simplest known dust cover includes a cylinder with a closed end that clips onto either a body or a shutter slider) component of a sports closure and has no tamper evident or tamper resistant properties.

Other known dust covers include tamper evident N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\71000-71999\P7177cAU\Specis\Tamper Eviden Duatcover.doc 26/03/07 3 members incorporating break-away bands that are retained by the closure bodies. However, a disadvantage of these dust covers is that when a cover is re-applied, there is no visible evidence of prior opening. Further, such dust covers can be levered off closures using simple tools, thus defeating the tamper evident means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a dust cover and an associated closure.

In broad terms, the dust cover and the associated closure of the present invention dust cover and an associated closure includes a dust cover including a body having a top panel and a skirt extending from the top panel and forming the sides of the body, with a lower edge of the skirt defining an opening and a tamper evident band connected by a plurality of frangible bridges to the lower edge of the skirt, and a closure including a closure body including a well to receive a lower edge of the tamper band of the dust cover and protect the band from being levered from the closure with a tool.

In more specific terms, the dust cover and the associated closure of the present invention have the following features.

SThe dust cover includes a body having a top panel and a continuous skirt extending from the top panel and forming the sides of the body, with a lower edge of the skirt defining an opening.

SThe dust cover includes a tamper evident band connected by a plurality of frangible bridges to the lower edge of the skirt of the dust cover body. The bridges are preferably sized to each provide similar N -\Melbourne\Casea\Paten\7100- 71999\P71770AU\Speci\TaTmer Eviden Dueteoverdoc 26/03/07 4 breakage resistance while being formed in a line of draw of transverse sliding components of an injection mould.

The closure includes a closure body including a well to receive a lower edge of the tamper band of the dust cover and protect the band from being levered from the closure with a tool.

0 The closure body includes a first annular bead, preferably an interrupted bead, for providing resistance to removal of the tamper band of the dust cover that is greater than the strength of the frangible bridges and that also acts as a retaining band for the dust cover after the dust cover has been separated from the closure and the dust cover is re-applied to the closure.

SThe closure body includes a second annular bead below the first bead for causing controlled rotation of the tamper band around a horizontal pivot axis as the dust cover is displaced upwardly to remove the dust covers from the closure to lock the tamper band under the first bead.

SThe dust cover includes a bead on the lower skirt for interacting with the first bead on the closure body to retain the dust cover after the dust cover has been separated from the closure and the dust cover is re-applied to the closure.

SThe tamper band of the dust cover includes a band for interacting with the first bead on the closure body to prevent removal of the tamper band without breaking the frangible bridges between the dust cover components and with the second bead on the closure body to retain the tamper band in a tamper N: \MelbourneCaae\Patent\n100 71999\P71770.AU\Specia\Tamper Eviden Dustcoverdoc 26/03/07 5 indicating relationship to the dust cover skirt after the dust cover has been separated from the closure and the dust cover is re-applied to the closure.

The present invention also provides a filled package, such as a bottle, that is closed by the abovedescribed dust cover and associated closure.

Tamper evidence (rather than tamper-proof) is an important field. Unfortunately, as tampering is an individual matter, there is no agreed standard testing regime that can be applied to closures.

The applicant is a supplier to the Coca Cola Company in Australia. Tamper evidence of individual components and assemblies is certified by the customer using a proprietary test regime.

Existing closures certified by the customer provide an accepted level of tamper evidence, either audible or tactile. None of the closures of the art, however, provide a high level of visual tamper evidence.

The closure of the present invention provides visual tamper evidence with a drop-down tamper evident band on the closure and a drop-down tamper evident band on the dust cover.

The visible tamper evidence is provided by (a) the relationship between the dimensions of the dust cover and the closure and the relationship between annular beads on the closure body and annular bead on the dust cover providing sufficient distance for the parts to become visibly separated.

Features of the dust cover and the closure of the present invention include the positioning of the second annular bead on the closure body relative to the N.\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\71000-71999\P71770.AU\Specis\Tamper Eviden Dusicoverdoc 26/03/07 -6 Cy position of the first, preferably interrupted, annular bead on the closure body and the vertical and Shorizontal sizes of the tamper band of the dust cover.

Preferably the closure is a "sports" closure.

SPreferably the closure includes a shutter that is mounted to the closure body for sliding movement between Sopen and closed positions.

SDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows expanded detail of region D of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a sectional view displaced 300 in rotation around the embodiment as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows expanded detail of region C of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an initial phase of application of the dust cover shown in the Figures to the closure body shown in the Figures; Figure 6 shows the second phase of application of the dust cover shown in the Figures to the closure body shown in the Figures; Figure 7 shows the dust cover applied as sold commercially; N:\Melbourne\Casee\Patent\71000-71999\P71770.AU\Specie\Tamper Eviden Dustcover.doc 26/03/07 7 Figure 8 shows the action of the lower annular bead forcibly engaging the tamper evident means to cause breakage of the frangible bridges; Figure 9 shows the position of the tamper band of the duct cover at first opening; Figure 10 illustrates the action of reapplication of the dust cover; and Figure 11 shows the visible tamper evidence obtained using the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The embodiment of the closure and the dust cover shown in the Figures are manufactured as separate components and are assembled together on a bottle after the bottle has been filled with a product, such as a sports drink.

The closure shown in the Figures includes a body 11, a shutter 12, and a sealing foil 14. The closure is shown applied to a bottle neck 15 which is known in the art.

The closure body 11 includes: an internally threaded skirt 16 that cooperates with a thread 17 on the bottle neck 15 to apply sealing force to the foil 14 at seal point 18; a cylindrical section 19 that extends from the skirt 16 and includes a first interrupted annular bead on an external surface, a second annular bead 21 on an external surface of the section; NC\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\71000-71999\P71770AU\Specis\Tamper Rviden Dustcover.doc 26/03/07 8 an annular well 22 defined on an inner side by the cylindrical section 19 and on an outer side by a vertical protrusion 23 extending from the skirt 16; a frusto-conical section 24 extending from the cylindrical section 19, a spout section including a vertical wall 25; and a plug section 27 to seal the opening 28 in the shutter component.

The closure body 11 further includes a tamper evident band 31 at the lower edge of the threaded skirt 16 that cooperates with a tamper ledge 32 on a bottle to provide primary tamper evidence to the closure assembly.

The shutter 12 includes a shutter component 26 having a central opening and mounted for sliding movement in relation to the spout section of the closure body 11.

The shutter component 26 includes internal annular rings 29 and 30 which cooperate with external annular rings (not shown) on the vertical wall 25 of the spout section to provide the familiar "click" functions of such a closure of the art.

The dust cover shown in the Figures is generally identified by the numeral 13 and includes a top panel 33, a generally cylindrical wall 34 extending from the top panel 33, a skirt 35 extending from the wall 34, and a tamper band 36 connected to the skirt 35 by a plurality of frangible bridges 37.

The dust cover 13 further includes an internal annular retaining bead 38 cooperating with the annular N.\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\71000-71999\P7v77oAU\Specis\Tamer Eviden Duetcover.doc 26/03/07 9 bead 20 of the body 11 to retain the dust cover during use and re-use.

The dust cover 13 further includes an annular tamper band bead 39 cooperating with annular bead 20 of the body 11 to provide tamper evident performance.

The top panel 33 of the dust cover includes a reclosure projection 40 in the form of a short hollow cylinder to ensure shutter component 26 is fully closed when the dust cover is re-applied after first use, i.e.

after the dust cover and the closure are separated from each other after being assembled together on the bottle rack Figures 5-11 illustrate the operation of the dust cover 13 in relation to application, removal, reapplication, and visible tamper indication of the dust cover.

It is noted that different reference numerals to the reference numerals in Figures 1-4 are used to describe the same features in Figures 5-11.

Figure 5 shows the dust cover 33 in initial application to the closure body 4 with the tamper band 2 being forced over the first interrupted annular bead 20 on the body 4. The dust cover skirt 1 is shown connected to the tamper band 2 by frangible bridges 3. The dust cover further includes a tamper band bead 8, and a dust cover retaining bead 9. The closure body 4 includes a first interrupted annular bead 5, a second annular bead 6, and a well 7 to receive the tamper band 2.

Figure 6 shows the tamper band 2 of the dust cover supported by the annular lower bead 6 on the closure body 4 as the clip 9 on the dust cover skirt 1 passes over N: \Mebourne\Caees\ Patent \7100071999\P7177 0.AU\SpciB\Ta-er Rviden Dustcover.doc 26/03/0? 10 the upper bead 5 on the closure body 4 as the dust cover continues to be applied to the closure. The annular lower bead 6 prevents excessive stress on the frangible bridges 3 and potential premature breakage of the bridges 3.

Figure 7 show the dust cover and tamper indicating band 2 fully engaged in its pre-opening arrangement, with the various beads engaged and the lower edge of the tamper band 2 enclosed within the well 7 in the closure body 4.

Figure 8 shows the dust cover during removal from the closure. As the dust cover moves vertically in the direction of arrow 41, the tamper band 2 is supported at the bottom by the lower annular ring 6 of the closure body 4, and pivots inwardly at the top as shown by the direction of arrow 10 and, by so doing, is brought into forcible engagement under the interrupted first bead 5 on the closure body. The vertical force required to ride clip 9 on the dust cover skirt over annular ring 5 on the body 4 is greater than the force required to break the frangible bridges. Hence, the frangible bridges break and separation of the tamper band 2 from the skirt 1 occurs.

Figure 9 shows the tamper evident band 2 in place between the beads and retained to the closure body 4 after separation of the remainder of the dust cover from the closure body 4. Although removable, this would indicate opening.

Figure 10 shows the re-engagement of the dust cover, with the dust cover travelling in the direction indicated by arrow 42 and pushing the tamper band 2 below the lower annular bead on the closure body 4. Contact between the residual parts of the frangible bridges 3' and the opposing surface of the skirt 1 and tamper band 2 assists this action.

N:\Melbourne\Cases\Patent\71000-71999\P71770.AU\Specis\Tamper Eviden Dustcoverdoc 26/03/07 11 Figure 11 shows the tamper evident band 2 pushed past the lower annular bead 6 and positioned in the well 7 to create a visible gap and tamper indication. A drop-down distance d is achieved as a visible indicator.

The above-described dust cover and closure provide an effective or efficient assembly of components that provide tamper evidence.

Many modifications may be made to the embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

N:\Melbourne\Caseo\Patent\71000-71999\P71770.AU\Specis\Tamper Eviden Dustcover.doc 26/03/07

Claims (3)

1. 2. A dust cover and an associated closure includes a dust cover including a body having a top panel and a continuous skirt extending from the top panel and forming the sides of the body, with a lower edge of the skirt defining an opening and a tamper evident band connected by a plurality of frangible bridges to the lower edge of the skirt, and a closure including a closure body including a well to receive a lower edge of the tamper band of the dust cover and protect the band from being levered from the closure with a tool, a first annular bead for providing resistance to removal of the tamper band of the dust cover that is greater than the strength of the frangible bridges and that also acts as a retaining band for the dust cover after the dust cover has been separated from the closure and the dust cover is re- applied to the closure, and a second annular bead below the first bead for causing controlled rotation of the tamper band of the dust cover around a horizontal pivot axis as the dust cover is displaced upwardly to remove the dust covers from the closure to lock the tamper band under the first bead, and wherein the dust cover includes an annular bead on the skirt for interacting with the first bead on the closure body to retain the dust cover after the dust cover has been separated from the N\Melbourne\Caes\Patent\71000o71999\P71770.AU\Specis\Tamer Eviden Dustcoverdoc 26/03/07 L 13 closure and the dust cover is re-applied to the closure, and wherein the tamper band of the dust cover includes a band for interacting with the first bead on the closure body to prevent removal of the tamper band without breaking the frangible bridges between the dust cover components and with the second bead on the closure body to retain the tamper band of the dust cover in a tamper indicating relationship to the dust cover skirt after the dust cover has been separated from the closure and the dust cover is re-applied to the closure.
2. 3. The dust cover/closure defined in claim 2 wherein the relationship between the dimensions of the dust cover and the closure and the relationship between annular beads on the closure body and annular bead on the dust cover are selected to provide sufficient distance for the parts to be visibly separated and thereby provide tamper evidence.
3. 4. The dust cover/closure defined in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the first annular bead of the closure body is an interrupted bead. A filled package, such as a bottle, that is closed by the dust cover/closure defined in any one of the preceding claims. N\Mebourne\Caae\Patent\71000-71999\P71770.AU\Specis\Tamer Eviden Duatcover.doc 26/03/07