CA2002940A1 - Tamper evident closure - Google Patents
Tamper evident closureInfo
- Publication number
- CA2002940A1 CA2002940A1 CA002002940A CA2002940A CA2002940A1 CA 2002940 A1 CA2002940 A1 CA 2002940A1 CA 002002940 A CA002002940 A CA 002002940A CA 2002940 A CA2002940 A CA 2002940A CA 2002940 A1 CA2002940 A1 CA 2002940A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cap
- frangible
- skirt
- neck portion
- container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
- B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
- B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
- B65D41/3404—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element
- B65D41/3409—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
- B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
- B65D2401/20—Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
TAMPER EVIDENT CLOSURE
A screw cap 10 comprising an internally threaded skirt 14 including a frangible indicator 22 having a projection 30 adapted to be engaged by a projection 40 on the neck 20 of the jar 12 as the cap is rotated to remove it. Pressure applied by the projection 40 causes frangible supports 26 to snap and the indicator 22 to break, thus providing an indication (both visual and tactile) that the jar has previously been opened. The cap can be made and applied to a jar by currently used systems and is a little more expensive than a conventional cap.
TAMPER EVIDENT CLOSURE
A screw cap 10 comprising an internally threaded skirt 14 including a frangible indicator 22 having a projection 30 adapted to be engaged by a projection 40 on the neck 20 of the jar 12 as the cap is rotated to remove it. Pressure applied by the projection 40 causes frangible supports 26 to snap and the indicator 22 to break, thus providing an indication (both visual and tactile) that the jar has previously been opened. The cap can be made and applied to a jar by currently used systems and is a little more expensive than a conventional cap.
Description
~002:940 . , ~' ' TAMPER EVIDENT CLOSURE
: ~' FIELD OF THE INVENTION - -" ;~,,' ,.',',' This invention~ relates to a tamper evident cloqure and especially to a tamper evident screw cap for a container, a package including quch a screw cap, and a container adapted for use with such a ~crew cap.
It i~ desirable to provide a clear indication to a purchaser that a package ha~ not been tampered with especially where the package is a food package eg. a coffee or jam jar. It i~ a current practise to provide vessels, for example glass jars, with a closure cap removably attached to the jar by means of screw threadq, the cap comprising a closure portion (generally planar~
with a skirt depending from a periphery thereof, the skirt having internal screw threads adapted to cooperate with external threads on a neck portion defining an openin~ in the jar through which access may be gained to the interior of the jar. Such screw cap~ are commonly moulded of a suitable plastics material, for example polypropylene.
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Such jars when used for certain products, for example . i ~.
~" ~002940 coffee, are commonly supplied with a qheet material, for example a ~etal foil, covering the opening and sealed to the rim of the jar bounding the opening:
intactness of the foil when the screw cap is first removed can provide some visual reassurance that the contents have not been tampered with, aq well a~ the foil maintaining the contents of the jar in good condition. However, the foil may ~ometimes be damaged when first removing the closure qo that this visual reaqqurance is not very reliable and in any event a hypodermic syringe may be used .: .::.,, to inject noxious material through the foil in a position which is not readily noticeable at a casual inspection.
Furthermore, jars are not sealed when used for other products, for example jam, with a separate foil qeal of thiY type.
In GB-A-2203416 is described a tamper evident package having a seal member secured over the mouth of a receptacle and indicating mean~ joined to the seal member proiecting through an opening in a cover member (in the ~ form of a screw cap) which is ripped off when the cover member is moved from a closed condition towards an open condition. However, with a such a package there i9 a risk that the indicating means will merely be deformed should unauthorised removal of the cover member occur and, - ' '~," ....
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-- ~0029~0 " 3 ' following replacement of the cover member over the mouth of the receptacle, returned to its apparently "~afe"
condition, or that the indicating means may accidentally be detached (as it projects to some extent through the opening). Furthermore, the indicating means provides a substantially visual indication which is of little or no benefit to a blind or partially-sighted person. In addition, as the opening in the cover member i~ in register with the seal member there is a substantial ri~k that noxious substances may be introduced into the receptacle without disturbing the indicating means, through the opening itself, for example by a hypodermic needle introduced between the sealing member and the receptacle. Thus the packa~e deYcribed in thi~
specification has a number of disadvantages and does not provide a package which is reliably tamper evident nor convenient. -`~ It has alYo been proposed, for example, in GB-A-2149765 and GB-A-2163413 to provide a tamper evident cap for a container comprising a closure portion with a skirt depending therefrom, inter-engagin8 meanY on the interior ,. . I ~
of the cap and on the exterior of a neck portion defining an opening in a container whereby to removably retain the cap on the neck portion to close the opening, the cap 2002C~40 being removable form the container by an action including rotation of the cap relative to the neck portion, the cap further comprising at least one portion which is connected to the remainder of the cap by fran8ible means and means which is adapted to be engaged by a projection provided on the neck portion of a container to which the cap has been applied a~ the cap is rotated relative to the neck portion to remove it therefrom and to thereby fracture the frangible means but which is not fractured during initial application of the cap to the neck portion wherein said one portion of the cap comprise-q an indicator provided by a frangible portion of the skirt which when fractured becomes separated from the remainder of the skirt and leaves an opening in the skirt, thus to provide an indication that the cap has previously been removed from the neck portion.
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In both of theqe patents said one portion of the cap is provided by a band connected to the skirt of the cap by the frangible means. On rotation of the cap to remove it from a container the band is prevented from rotation by engagement of the projection on the neck portion of the container with the means on the cap and the band is thus separated from the skirt portion. While thii may provide an indication that a container has previou_ly been opened ., ~, - .
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' in some circum~tance~, the band may remain around the neck portion and mi~ht only be ~een to have been separated by very close examination. Even if the band become~
completely detached, for ~ighted people this may provide an indication of tampering ~though only if an intact cap is close by for compari~on) but blind or partially sighted people would meet with difficulty in assessing the condition of the cap.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
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One of the various objects of the present invention is to provide an improved tamper-evident cap for use in closing an opening in a container.
Another of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved tamper-evident package.
~' '', SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one a~pect the invention may be considered to : provide a tamper evident cap for a container, comprising a closure portion with a skirt dependin8 therefrom, -;~
interengaging means on the interior of the cap and on the exterior of a neck portion defining an opening in a -~
container whereby to removably retain the cap on the neck portion to cloqe the opening, the cap being removable from the container by an action including rotation of the cap .: ~-relative to the neck portion, the cap further compriqing at leaqt one portion which i~ connected to the remainder ,~ ~
of the cap by frangible mean~ and meanq which is adapted ~ ~, to be engaged by a projection provided on the neck portion :~
of a container to which the cap has been applied a~ the cap :.
iY rotated relative to the neck portion to remove it ;:
therefrom and to thereby fracture the frangible meanq which i.q not fractured durin~ initial application of the .;i:;.;.. '~
cap to the neck portion wherein qaid one portion of the '~
cap compriseq an indicator provided by a frangible portion ~ ',;,;:',;
of the ~kirt which when fractured becomeq qeparated from the remainder of the skirt and leaves an opening in the .
qkirt, thu~ to provide an indication that the cap ha~
previou~ly been removed from the neck portion.
Preferably the interengaging meanq of a cap in accordance wit~ ,the invention haq internal ~crew threads adapted to cooperate with external threadq on the neck portion. ':, ~
Preferably the indicator comprise~ an inwardly projecting .
engagement portion compriqing a firqt qurface adapted to :' be engaged by the external projection from the neck :~:.. .:~.
portion of a container to which the cap ha~ been applied ` "-` -. .
. ~ ~". , .
.~, as the cap is rotated to remove it from the neck portion thereby to apply a force to the franKible portion cau~in~
it to fracture. Conveniently the engagement portion further comprising a second surface adapted to engage said external projection of a container as the cap i~ first applied thereto and to permit the indicator to pa~s the projection a~ the cap iq fir3t applied to the neck portion without fracture of the frangible portion.
The frangible portion is preferably attached to the remainder of the skirt by frangible supports which extend between a body of the frangible portion and portions of the ~kirt at either side, axially, of the body. Suitably the ~upports have a relatively ~mall circumferential width (by comparison with the circumferential width of the body).
In a preferred screw cap in accordance with the ~
invention the body has a weakened portion at a ~ -circumferentially central region of the body which extends generally axially acros~ the body thuY to divide it into two psrts. The weakened portion suitably ha~ a circumferèntial width which is between about 5% and 10% of the circumferential width of the frangible portion.
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-`` 200294(~
Preferably the opening within which the frangible portion is supported extends between about 30 and 50 of arc around the skirt, suitably about 40. .~ :
The preferred screw cap compriYes two pairq of -: .:
frangible supports each pair associated with one of the two parts of the frangible portion. The ~upports of each . ~:;:
pair are axially opposed at oppo~ite side~ of the body and are conveniently situated at a central region of the ...
as~ociated part. Conveniently each of the fran~ible :
~upports extend~ acro~s between about 10 and 15% of the circumferential width of the as~ociated part of the frangible portion, suitably about 12.5X and is dispo3ed with its centre ~ub~tantially at the centre of the - r~
a~sociated part, considered circumferentially. .:-~.d -' : :.;. ~, Preferably a screw cap according to the invention .~
. .:. :, ~
comprises two inwardly projecting portions on the .~- '".'.~1!' frangible portion, po.~itioned at circumferentially opposite end portions thereof. The first, engagement portion is adapted to be engaged by a projection from the .
neck of the container as afore~aid, whilst the second projecting portion i~ adapted to engage the neck portion .~
when the frangible portion is fractured to militate . .;
again~t the frangible portion becoming forced between the .~
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'';';..'': :~' ,` ."'.' K . , ~ 200Z940 . ~, , neck portion and the remainder of the skirt as the cap i~
rotated to remove it. Preferably, in addition, in the preferred screw cap, the second end portion is configured so that when the supports are fractured during removal of the cap, the second end portion is urged into en~agement with part of the skirt boundin8 the frangible portion whereby to urge the franeible portion away from the skirt and, in some cases, to cause the weakened portion to fracture.
, ~, -, There now follow detailed descriptions to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings of two ~crew caps embodying the invention. It will be reali~ed that theqe qcrew caps have been selected for description to ~;
illuqtrate the invention by way of example and not of limitation of the invention. ~ ;
'' ','''.''~',;, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ~ -In the accompanying drawings; ;~ ~
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Fieure 1 is a perspective view of a first cap embodyln~ the invention;
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2002940 ~ ~ ~
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Figure 2 i~ a perspective view showing part of a first container embodying the invention;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing part of the fir~t illustrative cap;
Fi~ure 4 is a view in section of part of the first :~-illustrative cap showing an indicator and ~howing in chain :~
dot line a frangible portion of the indicator as it is ...
fractured during the initial opening of the container;
~' '. ,. '''~:
Figure 5 is a view in section showing an indicator ;
and screw threads of the first illustrative cap; . -~
Figure 6 is a perQpectiVe view showing part of a ~, :
second container embodying the invention;
Figure 7 is a view in section of part of a second illu~trative oap showing an indicator;
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Figure 8 i~ a plan view of part of the second illustrative cap showing the indicator viewed from within . ~.
the cap; and ,`, .`.
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Figure 9 is a view of the second illustrative cap generally correqponding to Figure 7 but showing the indicator as it is fractured during initial opening of the second illustrative container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The firqt illustrative screw cap 10 iY intended for use with a container, namely a glass jar 11 which is especially suitable for use in storing granulated coffee or the like. The first illustrative tamper evident screw cap 10 comprises a substantially flat closure portion 12 from which a ~kirt 14 dependq. The skirt 14 has internal screw threadq 16 (qee figure 5) adapted to cooperate with external threadq 18 on A neck portion 20 which defines an opening in the jar 11, whereby to retain the cap on the neck portion 20 to close the opening. The first illustrative cap 10 and jar 11 are provided with four-start thread~; however, any convenient number of start~
may_ ~e used, e.g. a six-~tart thread which may simplify manufacture.
The qkirt 14 comprises two indicators 22 (positioned at oppoqite qides of the skirt 14) which are frangible.
Each indicator 22 compriseq a frangible portion including '' ' ~ ';
20029~) a body 24 and frangible support~ 26. The frangible supports 26 extend between the body 24 and portion~ of the skirt 14 at either ~ide, axially, of the body 24 (that is the portion~ nearer to the closure portion 12 and to the rim of the skirt 14 remote from the clo~ure portion 12, respectively). The frangible supports 26 have a relatively small circumferential width by compari~on with the circumferential width of the body 24, suitably bein8 about 6% of the circumferential width of the whole of the body 24. The body 24 ha~ a weakened portion 29 at a circu~ferentially central region of the body. The weakened portion is in the form of a groove 28 (po~itioned internally of the skirt 14) which extends generally axially across the body to divide it into two parts (see figure 4). The width of the groove 28 is about 7.5% of the circumferential width of the body 24. The body 24 further comprises two inwardly projecting portions 30, 32 positioned at circumferentially opposite end portions of the body 24 one on each of the two parts of the body. The first portion 30 comprises a first ~urface 34 and a ~econd surface 36 the purpo~e of which will be described hereinafter. The end portion of the body 24 adjacent the second projecting portion 32 comprise~ a surface 38, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.
, The first illustrative cap lO can readily be moulded from plastics material by the techniques commonly used in moulding caps and can be applied to the neck of an appropriate jar or other container including the necessary projection~ 40 by the techniques commonly u~ed without there being any need to modify the operation of existing equipment. It iq, of course, neceQsary to select an appropriate plastics material which will fracture when suitable pressure is applied in opening the container and to select the dimension~ of the frangible supports 26, the weakened portion 29 and the width of the groove 28 so that the indicator 22 functions correctly. A suitable plastics material from which to manufacture the illustrative cap lO
is polypropylene. Although other sufficiently brittle polymers, for example, polyQtyrene or styrene acrylonitrile copolymer may be used.
The neck portion 20 of the jar 12 as well as having screw thread~ 18 is provided with four projections 40 ~paced equisngularly around the neck portion 20 but at the same po~ition axially of the neck portion. There may, however, be provided more, or fewer, projections, e.g.
six~ likewise equiangularly disposed. Each of the projections comprises a stop face 42 which is ~ubstantia11y rmdia1 of the necù portion anù meet- a ; '~
200XC~40 ' sloping cam face 44 at an apex, the cam face 44 smoothly ~- -merging at the end opposite the stop face 42 with the ,-remainder of the neck portion 20.
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When the cap 10 is applied to the neck portion 20 the threads 16 on the cap engage with the threads 18 of the neck portion 20 and the cap 10 is rotated to tighten the closure portion 12 into sealing engagement with the rim of the neck portion 20. It will be understood that the mouth of the neck portion may, if desired, be also closed by a sealing member in known manner e.g. a foil which may be iecured to the rim of the neck portion by adhe~ive as is common practice. The ~ealing member may be applied carried within the cap and pressed into adherent en~agement with the rim by pres~ure applied by the cap as it iY applied in known manner. After the closure portion 12 has been tightened against the rim, the indicators 22 are then positioned relative to the projection~ 40 in the relationship 3hown in figure 4 in full line, namely with the fir~t surface 34 of the fir~t projecting portion 30 of ._ , , .. ~
the body 24 adjacent the stop face 42. As the cap 10 is applied to the neck portion 20 it will be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A relative to the neck portion. As the indicator 22 approaches the position in - which it is ~hown in full line in figure 4, the second . .
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` ~002940 surface 36 of the projecting portion 30 will engage the cam face ~4 of the projection 40 from the jar and permit ;
the frangible portion to pass the projection 40 a~ the cap is first applied to the neck portion 20, without fracture of the frangible portion, the surface 36 riding over the cam surface 44 and easing the projecting portion 30 past the projection 40. Likewise if the second projection 32 from the body 24 ~hould engage the projection 40 during application, the projecting portion 32 is so ~haped a~ to likewise engage the cam surface 44 and ride over the projection 40 without fracturing the frangible body 24 or the frangible supports 26. :
`, '-' When the first illustrative cap 10 is first to be removed from the neck portion 20, it is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow B (fi~ures 3 and 4). As '~
can be seen viewing figure 4, the second surface 34 of the :-projecting portion 30 is moved firmly into engagement with : the -qtop face 42. Continuing attempts to rotate the cap 10 t~ unscrew it from the neck portion 20 force the body 24 toward~ the po~ition in which it is shown in line in figure 4 (and in which it i~ shown in figure 3). The body 24 pivots about the frangible support~ 26 and the weakened portion 29 of the body at the bottom of the groove 28 act~
as a hinge ~o that the body 24 begins to bend at the :; . .:~, ::.::
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weakened portion 29. Continued rotation of the cap 10 breaks the frangible supports 26 and forces the surface 38 of the body 24 into engagement with a part 39 of the skirt defining the opening within which the frangible body 24 is po~itioned. When the qurfaces 38, 39 come into engagement, the stop face 42 still continues to push against the first surface 34 of the projection 30 and continues to cause the body to bend at the weakened portion 29 until the force exerted on the weakened portion 29 may be sufficient to cause it to fracture (as shown in chain dot line in figure 4). The groove 28 is made as narrow as conveniently possible so that, when pressure is ., exerted as aforesaid during opening, the innermo~t edge portions contact each other as soon as possible.
Continued pressure then causes these edge portion~ to act a~ a pivot and thus applies increasine tension to the ;~
weakened portion 29, finally cau~ing it to break. A~ can be seen from figure 4, the second projecting portion 32 from the body 24 engages the surface of the neck portion 20 wh,en the body 24 is fractured and is confi~ured to prevent the body 24 becoming forced between the neck portion 20 and the remainder of the skirt 14 as the cap is rotated to remove it. ~-~ .
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~ 2002940 The broken parts of the indicator 22 have thus become completely separated from the remainder of the skirt 1 and fall away leaving an opening in the ~kirt.
A second illu~trative cap and second illustrative container are described hereinafter.
The iecond illustrative cap and ~econd illustrative container are generally similar to the fir~t illu~trative cap and container, except a~ hereinafter de~cribed and like numbers are used to indicate like part~ in the drawing~
The second illu~trative container namely a glass jar 11_ (see Figure 6~ i~ identical with the first illustrative container, ~hown in Figure 2, except that it . :,., , , .,~,:
is provided with a cylindrical collar 50. The collar 50 extends around the neck portion 20 remote from itY rim.
The collar 50 is intended to be Ylidingly received, as a cap lO is applied to the neck portion 20, in the skirt 14 ~o that the rim portion of the ~kirt 14 remote from the clo~ure portion 12 cannot be squeezed inwardly. Thus distortion of the skirt in ~uch a manner that the ''.'."'.~.''``"'.'.'.
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indicators 22 might be eased, without fracturing, passed the projections ~0 when the cap 10 is rotated to remove it, is prevented.
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The ~econd illustrative cap is ~enerally similar to the first except in the region of the indicator 20, as described hereinafter with reference to and ai shown in Figure 7 to 9 of the drawings. The body 24 of the indicator i8 connected to the ~kirt 14 not merely by axially extendin8 fran8ible support~ 26 but also by a circumferentisl frangible support 56 extending between an end portion of the indicator adjacent the projecting portion 30 and the skirt 14. At the circumferentially opposite end of the indicator there is no corresponding support. However, the skirt 14, adjacent the second projecting portion 32, i8 formed with a guide pas~age 52 ~ -terminating, remote from the indicator, with a stop face part 39 of the skirt 14. A web 54 overlies the passage 52, spaced from the neck portion 20.
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As the ~econd illustrative cap lOa iq rotated to ;~
remove it from the neck portion and the portion 30 engages the projection 40, the frangible support 56 first ; stretches and finally snaps: however the support 56 acts ~ ; ~
to assist in retaining the portion 30 firmly in contact ~
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200;~ 0 with the projection 40 (preventing the indicator being lifted and eased passed the projection 40) and to prevent the body 24 twisting, thus facilitating effective operation of the indicator. Additionally, as the body 24 iY forced by the projections towards the part 39 it is guided by the thin, relatively flim~y, web 54 into the passage 52 in which the body is slidingly received. When the Yurface 38 of the body engages the part 39 of the qkirt, the qecond illustrative cap 10_ functions in a similar manner to the first, the portion 32 preventing the body 24 becoming jammed between the skirt 14 and neck portion 20. However, the paqsa~e 52 guideq the body 24 aqsisting in holding the portions 30, 32 in contact with the neck portion 20 and preventing the body 24 twi~ting and thuY ensuring that the indicator operates as intended.
The indicator of the second illuqtrative cap functions Yatiqfactorily the body 24 being reliably ejected from the opening in the skirt 14 as the cap 10_ iq removed.
The weakened portion of the Yecond illustrative cap 10_ primarily actq as a hinge and does not normally break when the cap is removed from a container.
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2002C~40 Any rotation of the caps 10 of the illustrative package~, sufficient to permit acce~s to the contents of the jar 12 causeY the frangible supports 26,56 to fracture and the body 2~ of the indicator to become ~eparated from the remainder of the skirt. Thi~ provideY a clear visual indication that the cap 10 ha~ previouYly been removed from the jar 20 and the ab~ence of the indicator iY also readily detectable by touch so that it alqo provide~ a warning to a blind per~on.
Becau~e the openin8 in the ~kirt 14 formed when the part~ of the indicator 22 fall away ~after fracturing the frangible supportq) i~ dispo~ed below the rim of the neck portion 20 there ix little or no po~sibility of any contaminant being introduced into the jar through the opening in the Ykirt and the neck portion, e~pecially where a separate Yealing member e.8. a foil is secured over the mouth of the neok portion.
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: ~' FIELD OF THE INVENTION - -" ;~,,' ,.',',' This invention~ relates to a tamper evident cloqure and especially to a tamper evident screw cap for a container, a package including quch a screw cap, and a container adapted for use with such a ~crew cap.
It i~ desirable to provide a clear indication to a purchaser that a package ha~ not been tampered with especially where the package is a food package eg. a coffee or jam jar. It i~ a current practise to provide vessels, for example glass jars, with a closure cap removably attached to the jar by means of screw threadq, the cap comprising a closure portion (generally planar~
with a skirt depending from a periphery thereof, the skirt having internal screw threads adapted to cooperate with external threads on a neck portion defining an openin~ in the jar through which access may be gained to the interior of the jar. Such screw cap~ are commonly moulded of a suitable plastics material, for example polypropylene.
: ~
Such jars when used for certain products, for example . i ~.
~" ~002940 coffee, are commonly supplied with a qheet material, for example a ~etal foil, covering the opening and sealed to the rim of the jar bounding the opening:
intactness of the foil when the screw cap is first removed can provide some visual reassurance that the contents have not been tampered with, aq well a~ the foil maintaining the contents of the jar in good condition. However, the foil may ~ometimes be damaged when first removing the closure qo that this visual reaqqurance is not very reliable and in any event a hypodermic syringe may be used .: .::.,, to inject noxious material through the foil in a position which is not readily noticeable at a casual inspection.
Furthermore, jars are not sealed when used for other products, for example jam, with a separate foil qeal of thiY type.
In GB-A-2203416 is described a tamper evident package having a seal member secured over the mouth of a receptacle and indicating mean~ joined to the seal member proiecting through an opening in a cover member (in the ~ form of a screw cap) which is ripped off when the cover member is moved from a closed condition towards an open condition. However, with a such a package there i9 a risk that the indicating means will merely be deformed should unauthorised removal of the cover member occur and, - ' '~," ....
',,'.'~`, . , ~, ':
-- ~0029~0 " 3 ' following replacement of the cover member over the mouth of the receptacle, returned to its apparently "~afe"
condition, or that the indicating means may accidentally be detached (as it projects to some extent through the opening). Furthermore, the indicating means provides a substantially visual indication which is of little or no benefit to a blind or partially-sighted person. In addition, as the opening in the cover member i~ in register with the seal member there is a substantial ri~k that noxious substances may be introduced into the receptacle without disturbing the indicating means, through the opening itself, for example by a hypodermic needle introduced between the sealing member and the receptacle. Thus the packa~e deYcribed in thi~
specification has a number of disadvantages and does not provide a package which is reliably tamper evident nor convenient. -`~ It has alYo been proposed, for example, in GB-A-2149765 and GB-A-2163413 to provide a tamper evident cap for a container comprising a closure portion with a skirt depending therefrom, inter-engagin8 meanY on the interior ,. . I ~
of the cap and on the exterior of a neck portion defining an opening in a container whereby to removably retain the cap on the neck portion to close the opening, the cap 2002C~40 being removable form the container by an action including rotation of the cap relative to the neck portion, the cap further comprising at least one portion which is connected to the remainder of the cap by fran8ible means and means which is adapted to be engaged by a projection provided on the neck portion of a container to which the cap has been applied a~ the cap is rotated relative to the neck portion to remove it therefrom and to thereby fracture the frangible means but which is not fractured during initial application of the cap to the neck portion wherein said one portion of the cap comprise-q an indicator provided by a frangible portion of the skirt which when fractured becomes separated from the remainder of the skirt and leaves an opening in the skirt, thus to provide an indication that the cap has previously been removed from the neck portion.
:,:.-, :
In both of theqe patents said one portion of the cap is provided by a band connected to the skirt of the cap by the frangible means. On rotation of the cap to remove it from a container the band is prevented from rotation by engagement of the projection on the neck portion of the container with the means on the cap and the band is thus separated from the skirt portion. While thii may provide an indication that a container has previou_ly been opened ., ~, - .
. " ,.,, :~ , ~ :-`` 20029~0 .
' in some circum~tance~, the band may remain around the neck portion and mi~ht only be ~een to have been separated by very close examination. Even if the band become~
completely detached, for ~ighted people this may provide an indication of tampering ~though only if an intact cap is close by for compari~on) but blind or partially sighted people would meet with difficulty in assessing the condition of the cap.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
' :
One of the various objects of the present invention is to provide an improved tamper-evident cap for use in closing an opening in a container.
Another of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved tamper-evident package.
~' '', SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one a~pect the invention may be considered to : provide a tamper evident cap for a container, comprising a closure portion with a skirt dependin8 therefrom, -;~
interengaging means on the interior of the cap and on the exterior of a neck portion defining an opening in a -~
container whereby to removably retain the cap on the neck portion to cloqe the opening, the cap being removable from the container by an action including rotation of the cap .: ~-relative to the neck portion, the cap further compriqing at leaqt one portion which i~ connected to the remainder ,~ ~
of the cap by frangible mean~ and meanq which is adapted ~ ~, to be engaged by a projection provided on the neck portion :~
of a container to which the cap has been applied a~ the cap :.
iY rotated relative to the neck portion to remove it ;:
therefrom and to thereby fracture the frangible meanq which i.q not fractured durin~ initial application of the .;i:;.;.. '~
cap to the neck portion wherein qaid one portion of the '~
cap compriseq an indicator provided by a frangible portion ~ ',;,;:',;
of the ~kirt which when fractured becomeq qeparated from the remainder of the skirt and leaves an opening in the .
qkirt, thu~ to provide an indication that the cap ha~
previou~ly been removed from the neck portion.
Preferably the interengaging meanq of a cap in accordance wit~ ,the invention haq internal ~crew threads adapted to cooperate with external threadq on the neck portion. ':, ~
Preferably the indicator comprise~ an inwardly projecting .
engagement portion compriqing a firqt qurface adapted to :' be engaged by the external projection from the neck :~:.. .:~.
portion of a container to which the cap ha~ been applied ` "-` -. .
. ~ ~". , .
.~, as the cap is rotated to remove it from the neck portion thereby to apply a force to the franKible portion cau~in~
it to fracture. Conveniently the engagement portion further comprising a second surface adapted to engage said external projection of a container as the cap i~ first applied thereto and to permit the indicator to pa~s the projection a~ the cap iq fir3t applied to the neck portion without fracture of the frangible portion.
The frangible portion is preferably attached to the remainder of the skirt by frangible supports which extend between a body of the frangible portion and portions of the ~kirt at either side, axially, of the body. Suitably the ~upports have a relatively ~mall circumferential width (by comparison with the circumferential width of the body).
In a preferred screw cap in accordance with the ~
invention the body has a weakened portion at a ~ -circumferentially central region of the body which extends generally axially acros~ the body thuY to divide it into two psrts. The weakened portion suitably ha~ a circumferèntial width which is between about 5% and 10% of the circumferential width of the frangible portion.
,. .' ' .
~,.',~','.',.
-`` 200294(~
Preferably the opening within which the frangible portion is supported extends between about 30 and 50 of arc around the skirt, suitably about 40. .~ :
The preferred screw cap compriYes two pairq of -: .:
frangible supports each pair associated with one of the two parts of the frangible portion. The ~upports of each . ~:;:
pair are axially opposed at oppo~ite side~ of the body and are conveniently situated at a central region of the ...
as~ociated part. Conveniently each of the fran~ible :
~upports extend~ acro~s between about 10 and 15% of the circumferential width of the as~ociated part of the frangible portion, suitably about 12.5X and is dispo3ed with its centre ~ub~tantially at the centre of the - r~
a~sociated part, considered circumferentially. .:-~.d -' : :.;. ~, Preferably a screw cap according to the invention .~
. .:. :, ~
comprises two inwardly projecting portions on the .~- '".'.~1!' frangible portion, po.~itioned at circumferentially opposite end portions thereof. The first, engagement portion is adapted to be engaged by a projection from the .
neck of the container as afore~aid, whilst the second projecting portion i~ adapted to engage the neck portion .~
when the frangible portion is fractured to militate . .;
again~t the frangible portion becoming forced between the .~
,, ~
' ' :: ,.
: ~ ., :.
: ~
:",,,::" ~;, . , .:
~ ~ ,....
'';';..'': :~' ,` ."'.' K . , ~ 200Z940 . ~, , neck portion and the remainder of the skirt as the cap i~
rotated to remove it. Preferably, in addition, in the preferred screw cap, the second end portion is configured so that when the supports are fractured during removal of the cap, the second end portion is urged into en~agement with part of the skirt boundin8 the frangible portion whereby to urge the franeible portion away from the skirt and, in some cases, to cause the weakened portion to fracture.
, ~, -, There now follow detailed descriptions to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings of two ~crew caps embodying the invention. It will be reali~ed that theqe qcrew caps have been selected for description to ~;
illuqtrate the invention by way of example and not of limitation of the invention. ~ ;
'' ','''.''~',;, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ~ -In the accompanying drawings; ;~ ~
:, ,.
Fieure 1 is a perspective view of a first cap embodyln~ the invention;
, :, . ~
.;
2002940 ~ ~ ~
.,,;,",,,~ ,,, .' ~,:''.
Figure 2 i~ a perspective view showing part of a first container embodying the invention;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing part of the fir~t illustrative cap;
Fi~ure 4 is a view in section of part of the first :~-illustrative cap showing an indicator and ~howing in chain :~
dot line a frangible portion of the indicator as it is ...
fractured during the initial opening of the container;
~' '. ,. '''~:
Figure 5 is a view in section showing an indicator ;
and screw threads of the first illustrative cap; . -~
Figure 6 is a perQpectiVe view showing part of a ~, :
second container embodying the invention;
Figure 7 is a view in section of part of a second illu~trative oap showing an indicator;
., . ., " , . .
Figure 8 i~ a plan view of part of the second illustrative cap showing the indicator viewed from within . ~.
the cap; and ,`, .`.
'`,"."'~'"''.'~
'~ :. ":
''''' ~' ~
Z~0~
::
Figure 9 is a view of the second illustrative cap generally correqponding to Figure 7 but showing the indicator as it is fractured during initial opening of the second illustrative container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The firqt illustrative screw cap 10 iY intended for use with a container, namely a glass jar 11 which is especially suitable for use in storing granulated coffee or the like. The first illustrative tamper evident screw cap 10 comprises a substantially flat closure portion 12 from which a ~kirt 14 dependq. The skirt 14 has internal screw threadq 16 (qee figure 5) adapted to cooperate with external threadq 18 on A neck portion 20 which defines an opening in the jar 11, whereby to retain the cap on the neck portion 20 to close the opening. The first illustrative cap 10 and jar 11 are provided with four-start thread~; however, any convenient number of start~
may_ ~e used, e.g. a six-~tart thread which may simplify manufacture.
The qkirt 14 comprises two indicators 22 (positioned at oppoqite qides of the skirt 14) which are frangible.
Each indicator 22 compriseq a frangible portion including '' ' ~ ';
20029~) a body 24 and frangible support~ 26. The frangible supports 26 extend between the body 24 and portion~ of the skirt 14 at either ~ide, axially, of the body 24 (that is the portion~ nearer to the closure portion 12 and to the rim of the skirt 14 remote from the clo~ure portion 12, respectively). The frangible supports 26 have a relatively small circumferential width by compari~on with the circumferential width of the body 24, suitably bein8 about 6% of the circumferential width of the whole of the body 24. The body 24 ha~ a weakened portion 29 at a circu~ferentially central region of the body. The weakened portion is in the form of a groove 28 (po~itioned internally of the skirt 14) which extends generally axially across the body to divide it into two parts (see figure 4). The width of the groove 28 is about 7.5% of the circumferential width of the body 24. The body 24 further comprises two inwardly projecting portions 30, 32 positioned at circumferentially opposite end portions of the body 24 one on each of the two parts of the body. The first portion 30 comprises a first ~urface 34 and a ~econd surface 36 the purpo~e of which will be described hereinafter. The end portion of the body 24 adjacent the second projecting portion 32 comprise~ a surface 38, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.
, The first illustrative cap lO can readily be moulded from plastics material by the techniques commonly used in moulding caps and can be applied to the neck of an appropriate jar or other container including the necessary projection~ 40 by the techniques commonly u~ed without there being any need to modify the operation of existing equipment. It iq, of course, neceQsary to select an appropriate plastics material which will fracture when suitable pressure is applied in opening the container and to select the dimension~ of the frangible supports 26, the weakened portion 29 and the width of the groove 28 so that the indicator 22 functions correctly. A suitable plastics material from which to manufacture the illustrative cap lO
is polypropylene. Although other sufficiently brittle polymers, for example, polyQtyrene or styrene acrylonitrile copolymer may be used.
The neck portion 20 of the jar 12 as well as having screw thread~ 18 is provided with four projections 40 ~paced equisngularly around the neck portion 20 but at the same po~ition axially of the neck portion. There may, however, be provided more, or fewer, projections, e.g.
six~ likewise equiangularly disposed. Each of the projections comprises a stop face 42 which is ~ubstantia11y rmdia1 of the necù portion anù meet- a ; '~
200XC~40 ' sloping cam face 44 at an apex, the cam face 44 smoothly ~- -merging at the end opposite the stop face 42 with the ,-remainder of the neck portion 20.
.~ .:, .:
When the cap 10 is applied to the neck portion 20 the threads 16 on the cap engage with the threads 18 of the neck portion 20 and the cap 10 is rotated to tighten the closure portion 12 into sealing engagement with the rim of the neck portion 20. It will be understood that the mouth of the neck portion may, if desired, be also closed by a sealing member in known manner e.g. a foil which may be iecured to the rim of the neck portion by adhe~ive as is common practice. The ~ealing member may be applied carried within the cap and pressed into adherent en~agement with the rim by pres~ure applied by the cap as it iY applied in known manner. After the closure portion 12 has been tightened against the rim, the indicators 22 are then positioned relative to the projection~ 40 in the relationship 3hown in figure 4 in full line, namely with the fir~t surface 34 of the fir~t projecting portion 30 of ._ , , .. ~
the body 24 adjacent the stop face 42. As the cap 10 is applied to the neck portion 20 it will be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A relative to the neck portion. As the indicator 22 approaches the position in - which it is ~hown in full line in figure 4, the second . .
~`
` ~002940 surface 36 of the projecting portion 30 will engage the cam face ~4 of the projection 40 from the jar and permit ;
the frangible portion to pass the projection 40 a~ the cap is first applied to the neck portion 20, without fracture of the frangible portion, the surface 36 riding over the cam surface 44 and easing the projecting portion 30 past the projection 40. Likewise if the second projection 32 from the body 24 ~hould engage the projection 40 during application, the projecting portion 32 is so ~haped a~ to likewise engage the cam surface 44 and ride over the projection 40 without fracturing the frangible body 24 or the frangible supports 26. :
`, '-' When the first illustrative cap 10 is first to be removed from the neck portion 20, it is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow B (fi~ures 3 and 4). As '~
can be seen viewing figure 4, the second surface 34 of the :-projecting portion 30 is moved firmly into engagement with : the -qtop face 42. Continuing attempts to rotate the cap 10 t~ unscrew it from the neck portion 20 force the body 24 toward~ the po~ition in which it is shown in line in figure 4 (and in which it i~ shown in figure 3). The body 24 pivots about the frangible support~ 26 and the weakened portion 29 of the body at the bottom of the groove 28 act~
as a hinge ~o that the body 24 begins to bend at the :; . .:~, ::.::
'" ' '','`;
;',' ;' ' ~ '"". '~'',':' . ' '-' :: ~':: :- .~
;:, ., :,~--:.:
~ ;~002940 ,, ~.-~. .. . ..
weakened portion 29. Continued rotation of the cap 10 breaks the frangible supports 26 and forces the surface 38 of the body 24 into engagement with a part 39 of the skirt defining the opening within which the frangible body 24 is po~itioned. When the qurfaces 38, 39 come into engagement, the stop face 42 still continues to push against the first surface 34 of the projection 30 and continues to cause the body to bend at the weakened portion 29 until the force exerted on the weakened portion 29 may be sufficient to cause it to fracture (as shown in chain dot line in figure 4). The groove 28 is made as narrow as conveniently possible so that, when pressure is ., exerted as aforesaid during opening, the innermo~t edge portions contact each other as soon as possible.
Continued pressure then causes these edge portion~ to act a~ a pivot and thus applies increasine tension to the ;~
weakened portion 29, finally cau~ing it to break. A~ can be seen from figure 4, the second projecting portion 32 from the body 24 engages the surface of the neck portion 20 wh,en the body 24 is fractured and is confi~ured to prevent the body 24 becoming forced between the neck portion 20 and the remainder of the skirt 14 as the cap is rotated to remove it. ~-~ .
`' ~
' ' '-''.'~ ~
~ 2002940 The broken parts of the indicator 22 have thus become completely separated from the remainder of the skirt 1 and fall away leaving an opening in the ~kirt.
A second illu~trative cap and second illustrative container are described hereinafter.
The iecond illustrative cap and ~econd illustrative container are generally similar to the fir~t illu~trative cap and container, except a~ hereinafter de~cribed and like numbers are used to indicate like part~ in the drawing~
The second illu~trative container namely a glass jar 11_ (see Figure 6~ i~ identical with the first illustrative container, ~hown in Figure 2, except that it . :,., , , .,~,:
is provided with a cylindrical collar 50. The collar 50 extends around the neck portion 20 remote from itY rim.
The collar 50 is intended to be Ylidingly received, as a cap lO is applied to the neck portion 20, in the skirt 14 ~o that the rim portion of the ~kirt 14 remote from the clo~ure portion 12 cannot be squeezed inwardly. Thus distortion of the skirt in ~uch a manner that the ''.'."'.~.''``"'.'.'.
'.'~'"'.~'~, ,,.',.
",",''.,''-~ Z002~40 1 ~: ~
indicators 22 might be eased, without fracturing, passed the projections ~0 when the cap 10 is rotated to remove it, is prevented.
,,, ,, ,",.
The ~econd illustrative cap is ~enerally similar to the first except in the region of the indicator 20, as described hereinafter with reference to and ai shown in Figure 7 to 9 of the drawings. The body 24 of the indicator i8 connected to the ~kirt 14 not merely by axially extendin8 fran8ible support~ 26 but also by a circumferentisl frangible support 56 extending between an end portion of the indicator adjacent the projecting portion 30 and the skirt 14. At the circumferentially opposite end of the indicator there is no corresponding support. However, the skirt 14, adjacent the second projecting portion 32, i8 formed with a guide pas~age 52 ~ -terminating, remote from the indicator, with a stop face part 39 of the skirt 14. A web 54 overlies the passage 52, spaced from the neck portion 20.
, ~' ~'; '''~
As the ~econd illustrative cap lOa iq rotated to ;~
remove it from the neck portion and the portion 30 engages the projection 40, the frangible support 56 first ; stretches and finally snaps: however the support 56 acts ~ ; ~
to assist in retaining the portion 30 firmly in contact ~
~ .
200;~ 0 with the projection 40 (preventing the indicator being lifted and eased passed the projection 40) and to prevent the body 24 twisting, thus facilitating effective operation of the indicator. Additionally, as the body 24 iY forced by the projections towards the part 39 it is guided by the thin, relatively flim~y, web 54 into the passage 52 in which the body is slidingly received. When the Yurface 38 of the body engages the part 39 of the qkirt, the qecond illustrative cap 10_ functions in a similar manner to the first, the portion 32 preventing the body 24 becoming jammed between the skirt 14 and neck portion 20. However, the paqsa~e 52 guideq the body 24 aqsisting in holding the portions 30, 32 in contact with the neck portion 20 and preventing the body 24 twi~ting and thuY ensuring that the indicator operates as intended.
The indicator of the second illuqtrative cap functions Yatiqfactorily the body 24 being reliably ejected from the opening in the skirt 14 as the cap 10_ iq removed.
The weakened portion of the Yecond illustrative cap 10_ primarily actq as a hinge and does not normally break when the cap is removed from a container.
.
: :::,, ~ ., .; . " ,. j ,: ., '.`.`1,'; '-,'~; '.
2002C~40 Any rotation of the caps 10 of the illustrative package~, sufficient to permit acce~s to the contents of the jar 12 causeY the frangible supports 26,56 to fracture and the body 2~ of the indicator to become ~eparated from the remainder of the skirt. Thi~ provideY a clear visual indication that the cap 10 ha~ previouYly been removed from the jar 20 and the ab~ence of the indicator iY also readily detectable by touch so that it alqo provide~ a warning to a blind per~on.
Becau~e the openin8 in the ~kirt 14 formed when the part~ of the indicator 22 fall away ~after fracturing the frangible supportq) i~ dispo~ed below the rim of the neck portion 20 there ix little or no po~sibility of any contaminant being introduced into the jar through the opening in the Ykirt and the neck portion, e~pecially where a separate Yealing member e.8. a foil is secured over the mouth of the neok portion.
~ ' ' ' ' "` ,~
'"' , ~ ;''',.
Claims (16)
1. A tamper evident cap for a container, comprising a closure portion with a skirt depending therefrom, interengaging means on an interior of the cap and on the exterior of a neck portion defining an opening in a container whereby to removably retain the cap on the neck portion to close the opening, the cap being removable from the container by an action including rotation of the cap relative to the neck portion, the skirt further comprising at least one indicator which is frangible and which is adapted to be engaged by a projection provided on the neck portion of a jar to which the cap has been applied as the cap is rotated relative to the neck portion to remove it therefrom and to be thereby fractured but which does not fracture the frangible means during initial application of the cap to the neck portion the indicator being provided by a frangible portion which when fractured becomes separated from the remainder of the skirt and leaves an opening in the skirt thus to provide an indication that the cap has previously been removed from the neck portion.
2. An indicator according to Claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises an inwardly projecting engagement portion comprising a first surface adapted to be engaged by an external projection from the neck portion of a container to which the cap has been applied as the cap is rotated to remove it from the neck portion thereby to apply a force to the frangible portion causing it to fracture.
3. An indicator according to Claim 3 wherein the engagement portion further comprises a second surface adapted to engage said external projection of a container as the cap is first applied thereto and to permit the frangible portion to pass the projection as the cap is first applied to the neck portion without fracture of the frangible portion.
4. A tamper evident screw cap for a container comprising a closure portion with a skirt depending therefrom, the skirt having internal screw threads adapted to cooperate with external threads on a neck portion defining an opening in a container whereby to retain the cap on the neck portion to close the opening, the skirt further comprising at least one indicator comprising a frangible portion which is visible externally of the skirt and an inwardly projecting engagement portion comprising a first surface adapted to be engaged by an external projection from the neck portion of a container to which the cap has been applied as the cap is rotated to remove it from the neck portion thereby to apply a force to the frangible portion causing it to fracture and become separated from the remainder of the skirt leaving an opening in the skirt thus to provide an indication that the cap has previously been removed from the neck portion, the engagement portion further comprising a second surface adapted to engage said external projection of a container as the cap is first applied thereto and to permit the frangible portion to pass the projection as the cap is first applied to the neck portion without fracture of the frangible portion.
5. A cap according to Claim 1 wherein the frangible portion is attached to the remainder of the skirt by frangible supports.
6. A cap according to Claim 1 wherein the frangible portion is attached to the remainder of the skirt by frangible supports which extend between a body of the frangible portion and portions of the skirt at either side, axially, of the body of the frangible portion.
7. A cap according to Claim 6 wherein the supports have a small circumferential width relative to the body.
8. A cap according to Claim 6 wherein the body has a weakened portion at a circumferentially central region and extending generally axially across the body thus to divide it into two parts.
9. A cap according to Claim 6 comprising two pairs of frangible supports, each associated with one of two parts of the body defined by a weakened portion at a circumferentially central region extending axially of the body, the supports of each pair being axially opposed at opposite sides of the body.
10. A cap according to Claim 9 wherein each pair of supports is positioned at a central region of the associated part.
11. A cap according to Claim 1 comprising two inwardly projecting portions on the frangible portion positioned at circumferentially opposite end portions thereof the first, engagement, portion being adapted to be engaged by a projection from a neck portion of a container as aforesaid, and the second projecting portion being adapted to engage the neck portion when the frangible portion is fractured to militate against the frangible portion becoming forced between the neck portion and the remainder of the skirt as the cap is rotated to remove it.
12. A cap according to any one of Claims 5 to 9 comprising a frangible support which extends between one a circumferential end portion of the body and a portion of the skirt adjacent to but at one side, circumferentially, of said one end portion.
13. A cap according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a passage formed in the skirt adjacent a circumferential end portion of the indicator which is remote from the projection when the projection engages said means as the cap is rotated to remove it from the neck portion of a container , the passage being adapted to slidingly receive said end portion of the indicator during separation of the indicator from the remainder of the skirt
14. A cap according to Claim 8 comprising an engagement portion which projects inwardly from one end portion of the frangible portion and wherein the circumferentially opposite end portion is configured so that when the supports are fractured during removal of the cap said opposite end portion is urged into engagement with part of the skirt bounding the frangible portion whereby to urge the frangible portion outwardly of the skirt and to cause the weakened portion to fracture.
15. A package comprising a container having an externally screw-threaded neck portion defining an opening through which access to the interior of' the container may be gained and a screw cap according claim 1 secured to the neck portion, interengaging means being provided on the interior of the cap and the exterior of the neck portion whereby to removably retain the cap on the neck portion.
16. A container having a neck portion defining an opening through which access to the interior of the container may be gained, the neck portion comprising at least one external projection, adapted to cooperate with an indicator of a screw cap according to Claim 1.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8827328A GB2225778A (en) | 1988-11-23 | 1988-11-23 | Tamper evident closure |
| GB8827328.9 | 1988-11-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2002940A1 true CA2002940A1 (en) | 1990-05-23 |
Family
ID=10647300
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002002940A Abandoned CA2002940A1 (en) | 1988-11-23 | 1989-11-14 | Tamper evident closure |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| KR (1) | KR900701617A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4636189A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2002940A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB2225778A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1990005681A1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA898948B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011133067A1 (en) * | 2010-04-21 | 2011-10-27 | Agarkov Andrey Vyacheslavovich | Container with cap opening indicator |
Families Citing this family (18)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2240098B (en) * | 1990-01-20 | 1994-06-08 | Montgomery Daniel & Son Ltd | Closure with tamper-indicating device |
| GB2277320B (en) * | 1993-04-02 | 1997-01-29 | Able Ind Ltd | Container and closure therefor |
| AU690212B2 (en) * | 1994-04-15 | 1998-04-23 | G.V. Engineering Pty. Ltd. | Tamper evident closure |
| AUPM505594A0 (en) * | 1994-04-15 | 1994-05-05 | G.V. Engineering Pty. Ltd. | Tamper evident closure |
| AU743722B2 (en) * | 1995-08-30 | 2002-01-31 | G.V. Engineering Pty. Ltd. | Tamper evident closure |
| WO1997008071A1 (en) * | 1995-08-30 | 1997-03-06 | G. V. Engineering Pty. Ltd. | Tamper evident closure |
| US5884788A (en) * | 1997-12-17 | 1999-03-23 | Wilde; Sheldon L. | Tamper-indicating closure |
| WO2001030663A1 (en) * | 1999-10-26 | 2001-05-03 | Wellman Industrial Plastics Co. Pty. Limited | Container and lid combination with tamper evident mechanism |
| ITMO20060027A1 (en) * | 2006-01-27 | 2007-07-28 | Sacmi | MEANS OF CLOSING |
| DE102006017259A1 (en) * | 2006-04-12 | 2007-10-18 | Terxo Ag | Container closure for e.g. liquids has independently-operating twist-cap seal and hinged cap seal |
| SE530031C2 (en) * | 2006-06-30 | 2008-02-12 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance | Opening device, screw cap for use in such an opening device and method for forming such an opening device |
| EP2105386A1 (en) | 2008-06-25 | 2009-09-30 | Jean-Denis Rochat | Tamper-proof device for screw cap |
| WO2009146567A1 (en) * | 2008-06-04 | 2009-12-10 | Jean-Denis Rochat | Tamper-proof device for threaded closure for container |
| FR3002521B1 (en) * | 2013-02-27 | 2015-03-27 | Materne | PLUG-SLEEVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A DELETION WITNESS |
| CN103264832B (en) * | 2013-05-24 | 2015-04-22 | 南通大学 | Destructive anti-counterfeiting hoop steel drum sealer |
| GB2563401B (en) * | 2017-06-13 | 2020-04-15 | Elopak Gmbh | Pour spout fitment |
| DE102020202731B3 (en) * | 2019-05-17 | 2020-10-01 | Benedikt Schellinger | Closure for the fluid-tight closing of a vessel filled with a substance, a container with a vessel and a closure and a method for filling a container with a substance |
| GB202000444D0 (en) | 2020-01-13 | 2020-02-26 | Gbuk Group Ltd | Tamper evident cap |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR201708A1 (en) * | 1973-11-16 | 1975-04-08 | Bouchage Mecanique | INVIOLABLE LONG SKIRT CAPSULE WITH A CIRCULAR LINE OF WEAKENING |
| NL8403450A (en) * | 1983-11-14 | 1985-06-03 | Anchor Hocking Corp | MESSAGE INDICATOR CLOSURE. |
| GB8411507D0 (en) * | 1984-05-04 | 1984-06-13 | Johnsen Jorgensen Plastics Ltd | Ointment tube with cam teeth and dogs |
| US4572385A (en) * | 1985-04-11 | 1986-02-25 | Sunbeam Plastics Corporation | Tamper indicating child resistant threaded closure |
| GB2184102A (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1987-06-17 | Ici Plc | Tamper-indicating closure |
| US4778069A (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1988-10-18 | Cpc Interational Inc. | Tamper indicating package |
-
1988
- 1988-11-23 GB GB8827328A patent/GB2225778A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1989
- 1989-11-14 CA CA002002940A patent/CA2002940A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1989-11-17 AU AU46361/89A patent/AU4636189A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1989-11-17 WO PCT/GB1989/001371 patent/WO1990005681A1/en unknown
- 1989-11-17 KR KR1019900701614A patent/KR900701617A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1989-11-23 ZA ZA898948A patent/ZA898948B/en unknown
-
1991
- 1991-03-26 GB GB9106466A patent/GB2241231B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011133067A1 (en) * | 2010-04-21 | 2011-10-27 | Agarkov Andrey Vyacheslavovich | Container with cap opening indicator |
| EA025225B1 (en) * | 2010-04-21 | 2016-12-30 | Гуала Клоужурс Интернэшнл Б.В. | Container with cap opening indicator |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1990005681A1 (en) | 1990-05-31 |
| AU4636189A (en) | 1990-06-12 |
| GB9106466D0 (en) | 1991-05-15 |
| GB2225778A (en) | 1990-06-13 |
| KR900701617A (en) | 1990-12-03 |
| ZA898948B (en) | 1990-08-29 |
| GB2241231B (en) | 1992-07-08 |
| GB8827328D0 (en) | 1988-12-29 |
| GB2241231A (en) | 1991-08-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |