EP0138585B1 - Metal closure blank and combination of a container and closure - Google Patents

Metal closure blank and combination of a container and closure Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0138585B1
EP0138585B1 EP84306959A EP84306959A EP0138585B1 EP 0138585 B1 EP0138585 B1 EP 0138585B1 EP 84306959 A EP84306959 A EP 84306959A EP 84306959 A EP84306959 A EP 84306959A EP 0138585 B1 EP0138585 B1 EP 0138585B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
skirt
band
closure
security band
score
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.)
Expired
Application number
EP84306959A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0138585A3 (en
EP0138585A2 (en
Inventor
James Frederick Herbert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arconic Closure Systems International UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Metal Closures Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Metal Closures Ltd filed Critical Metal Closures Ltd
Priority to AT84306959T priority Critical patent/ATE39340T1/en
Publication of EP0138585A2 publication Critical patent/EP0138585A2/en
Publication of EP0138585A3 publication Critical patent/EP0138585A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0138585B1 publication Critical patent/EP0138585B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65D41/348—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt the tamper element being rolled or pressed to conform to the shape of the container, e.g. metallic closures
    • 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
    • B65D2401/35—Vertical or axial lines of weakness

Definitions

  • This invention relates to pilfer-proof closures for containers.
  • French Specifications No. 1252132 and 2132578 disclose a closure having circumferentially extending horizontal slits interrupted by bridges. During removal of the closure the bridges break thereby separating the closure from the security band, said security band remaining on the neck of the bottle.
  • French Specification No. 2179114 discloses a metal closure blank for a container having an externally threaded neck and an annular downwardly facing shoulder below the thread, which closure blank comprises a top, a depending skirt and a security band at the lower margin of the skirt, the junction between the security band and the skirt being defined by a continuous circumferential score-line formed on the internal surface of the skirt, the skirt comprising a substantially cylindrical portion extending towards the circumferential score-line and the security band being divided into sections by further score-lines extending from the free edge of the band to the circumferential score-line.
  • the security band and the lower end portion of the skirt immediately contiguous to said cylindrical portion are of plain cylindrical form but of larger diameter than said substantially cylindrical portion of the skirt.
  • FR 2179114 also discloses the combination of a container having an externally screw-threaded neck with a downwardly facing shoulder below the screw-thread and a closure engaged on the neck, the closure being made from a malleable metal and having a top, a depending skirt, and a security band at the lower margin of the skirt, the skirt being deformed into engagement with the screw-thread on the neck of the container, the junction between the skirt and the security band being defined by a continuous circumferential score line formed on the internal surface of the skirt and disposed above the level of said shoulder, and the security band being divided into sections by further score lines extending from the free edge of the security band to the circumferential score-line and having its free edge portion lying against said downwardly facing shoulder.
  • the parts of the skirt and security band immediately adjoining said score line are spaced radially away from the external surface of the container neck.
  • the further score lines are preferably formed on the internal surface of the closure.
  • the skirt may or may not have a band of knurling adjacent the top to assist in gripping the closure manually.
  • the free edge portion of the security band expands or splits along some at least of the further score lines, the circumferential score line forming a hinge for the sections to open out and allow the closure to be removed completely.
  • the outer corner portion of the shoulder is preferably radiussed so as to provide a cam action between the shoulder and the edge portion of the security band in contact with the shoulder operating to provide a mechanical advantage between the torque which must be applied to the closure to remove it and the force necessary to expand or split the security band.
  • the shoulder is formed by the bottom face of an outwardly projecting band on the neck of the container, and the circumferential score line is disposed above the location at which the top face of the band meets the outer periphery of the band.
  • the shoulder is inclined so as to face outward at a small angle, e.g. 20°, away from the central axis of the neck.
  • a closure blank 10 having a top 11, skirt 12 and security band 13.
  • the closure is formed from a malleable metal and is intended to be applied to a bottle, the lower parts of the skirt being engaged with the thread on the neck of the bottle by a thread rolling operation in the well-known manner.
  • the junction between the security band 13 and the skirt 12 is defined by a continuous circumferential score line 14 formed on the internal surface of the closure.
  • the part of the skirt to which the screw-thread is to be applied and the security band are of plain cylindrical form, but the diameter of the security band is slightly greater than that of the said part of the skirt and the increased diameter extends a little way upward beyond the score line 14.
  • score lines 15 extend axially to the free edge of the security band and are evenly spaced along the circumference of the band.
  • a gasket 16 which may be a flowed-in gasket as shown or may be a pre-formed or any other suitable type of gasket or liner, is disposed on the underside of the top, and a broad band of knurling 17 is formed on the skirt near the top 11.
  • the neck 20 of the bottle has an external screw-thread 21 spaced below the top of the bottle and an outwardly- projecting annular band 22 providing a shoulder 23 is formed below the screw-thread.
  • the shoulder is inclined so as to face outwardly at a small angle (20° in the illustrated example) away from the central axis of the neck and the corner 24 where the shoulder joins the outer periphery 25 of the band is radiussed.
  • the band 22 is of semi-circular cross-section.
  • the closure is applied to the neck of the bottle in the usual manner, the portion of the skirt nearest the top being re-formed to provide a seal with the cylindrical surface of the neck, and the lower parts of the skirt and the bottom edge portion of the security band being rolled into engagement with the screw-thread 21 and the shoulder 23 respectively of the bottle.
  • the circumferential score line 14 is disposed just above the maximum diameter part of the band 22 just above the maximum diameter part of the band 22 and is thus spaced away from the surface of the neck.
  • the radiussed corner 24 and the inclined shoulder 23 apply a cam-like action to the bottom edge portion of the security band causing it to be expanded and to split the band along some at least of the score lines 15.
  • the circumferential score line 14 acts as a hinge for the split sections of the security band. Unauthorised removal of a previously unremoved closure can thus be detected.
  • the spacing of the circumferential score line away from the neck enables the parts of the security band and adjoining portions of the skirt in the immediate vicinity of the upper end of each score line 15 to deform inward towards the neck during removal of the closure to reduce the angle of the split which must be formed at each score line 15 to permit the security band to pass the band 22 on the neck. This assists the opening operation.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)
  • Sealing Material Composition (AREA)
  • Bipolar Transistors (AREA)
  • Materials For Photolithography (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)

Abstract

A metal pilferproof closure for a container having an externally screw-threaded neck comprises a top 11, skirt 12 and piferproof band 13. The boundary between band 13 and the skirt 12 is defined by a continuous peripheral score line 14 on the internal surface of the closure, and score lines 15 extend from the lower edge of band 13 to score line 20 at intervals along the periphery of the band. The skirt is devoid of any protective bead or ring of knurling immediately above the score line 14. The lower extremity of the security band is turned inward during application of the closure so as to lie against an outwardly inclined shoulder 23 formed at the bottom end of an external band 22 on the container. The score line 14 is disposed above the maximum diameter part of the band 22 so that the score line is spaced radially away from the external surface of the container. When the closure is unscrewed the security band fractures along some or all of the score lines 15 and the score line 14 forms a hinge axis about which the segments defined by the score lines 15 can pivot outward.

Description

  • This invention relates to pilfer-proof closures for containers.
  • French Specifications No. 1252132 and 2132578 disclose a closure having circumferentially extending horizontal slits interrupted by bridges. During removal of the closure the bridges break thereby separating the closure from the security band, said security band remaining on the neck of the bottle.
  • French Specification No. 2179114 discloses a metal closure blank for a container having an externally threaded neck and an annular downwardly facing shoulder below the thread, which closure blank comprises a top, a depending skirt and a security band at the lower margin of the skirt, the junction between the security band and the skirt being defined by a continuous circumferential score-line formed on the internal surface of the skirt, the skirt comprising a substantially cylindrical portion extending towards the circumferential score-line and the security band being divided into sections by further score-lines extending from the free edge of the band to the circumferential score-line.
  • According to one aspect of this invention the security band and the lower end portion of the skirt immediately contiguous to said cylindrical portion are of plain cylindrical form but of larger diameter than said substantially cylindrical portion of the skirt.
  • FR 2179114 also discloses the combination of a container having an externally screw-threaded neck with a downwardly facing shoulder below the screw-thread and a closure engaged on the neck, the closure being made from a malleable metal and having a top, a depending skirt, and a security band at the lower margin of the skirt, the skirt being deformed into engagement with the screw-thread on the neck of the container, the junction between the skirt and the security band being defined by a continuous circumferential score line formed on the internal surface of the skirt and disposed above the level of said shoulder, and the security band being divided into sections by further score lines extending from the free edge of the security band to the circumferential score-line and having its free edge portion lying against said downwardly facing shoulder.
  • According to a second aspect of the present invention the parts of the skirt and security band immediately adjoining said score line are spaced radially away from the external surface of the container neck.
  • The further score lines are preferably formed on the internal surface of the closure.
  • The skirt may or may not have a band of knurling adjacent the top to assist in gripping the closure manually.
  • On unscrewing the closure the free edge portion of the security band expands or splits along some at least of the further score lines, the circumferential score line forming a hinge for the sections to open out and allow the closure to be removed completely.
  • The outer corner portion of the shoulder is preferably radiussed so as to provide a cam action between the shoulder and the edge portion of the security band in contact with the shoulder operating to provide a mechanical advantage between the torque which must be applied to the closure to remove it and the force necessary to expand or split the security band.
  • According to a preferred feature of the invention the shoulder is formed by the bottom face of an outwardly projecting band on the neck of the container, and the circumferential score line is disposed above the location at which the top face of the band meets the outer periphery of the band.
  • According to another preferred feature of the invention, the shoulder is inclined so as to face outward at a small angle, e.g. 20°, away from the central axis of the neck.
  • One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
    • Figure 1 is a compound elevation, half in axial section, of a closure blank according to the invention,
    • Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the closure blank of Figure 1, and
    • Figure 3 shows the closure blank of Figures 1 and 2 after application to the neck of a bottle.
  • Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a closure blank 10 having a top 11, skirt 12 and security band 13. The closure is formed from a malleable metal and is intended to be applied to a bottle, the lower parts of the skirt being engaged with the thread on the neck of the bottle by a thread rolling operation in the well-known manner. The junction between the security band 13 and the skirt 12 is defined by a continuous circumferential score line 14 formed on the internal surface of the closure. The part of the skirt to which the screw-thread is to be applied and the security band are of plain cylindrical form, but the diameter of the security band is slightly greater than that of the said part of the skirt and the increased diameter extends a little way upward beyond the score line 14. From score line 14, further score lines 15 (preferably more than three - for example eight in number) extend axially to the free edge of the security band and are evenly spaced along the circumference of the band. A gasket 16, which may be a flowed-in gasket as shown or may be a pre-formed or any other suitable type of gasket or liner, is disposed on the underside of the top, and a broad band of knurling 17 is formed on the skirt near the top 11.
  • Referring now to Figure 3 the neck 20 of the bottle has an external screw-thread 21 spaced below the top of the bottle and an outwardly- projecting annular band 22 providing a shoulder 23 is formed below the screw-thread. The shoulder is inclined so as to face outwardly at a small angle (20° in the illustrated example) away from the central axis of the neck and the corner 24 where the shoulder joins the outer periphery 25 of the band is radiussed. In some cases the band 22 is of semi-circular cross-section.
  • The closure is applied to the neck of the bottle in the usual manner, the portion of the skirt nearest the top being re-formed to provide a seal with the cylindrical surface of the neck, and the lower parts of the skirt and the bottom edge portion of the security band being rolled into engagement with the screw-thread 21 and the shoulder 23 respectively of the bottle. The circumferential score line 14 is disposed just above the maximum diameter part of the band 22 just above the maximum diameter part of the band 22 and is thus spaced away from the surface of the neck.
  • On unscrewing the closure, the radiussed corner 24 and the inclined shoulder 23 apply a cam-like action to the bottom edge portion of the security band causing it to be expanded and to split the band along some at least of the score lines 15. The circumferential score line 14 acts as a hinge for the split sections of the security band. Unauthorised removal of a previously unremoved closure can thus be detected.
  • The spacing of the circumferential score line away from the neck enables the parts of the security band and adjoining portions of the skirt in the immediate vicinity of the upper end of each score line 15 to deform inward towards the neck during removal of the closure to reduce the angle of the split which must be formed at each score line 15 to permit the security band to pass the band 22 on the neck. This assists the opening operation.
  • Since there is no external slit at the junction between the skirt and the security band, the usual circumferential bead to protect the fingers is not provided on the adjoining lower marginal portion of the skirt. Since the protective bead is not required, the overall height of the skirt and security band are considerably less than in a pilferproof closure of the type employing connecting bridges, and there is a considerable saving of metal over closures of the said type.

Claims (9)

1. A metal closure blank for a container having an externally threaded neck and an annular downwardly facing shoulder (23) below the thread (21 which closure blank comprises a top (11), a depending skirt (12) and a security band (13) at the lower margin of the skirt, the junction between the security band (13) and the skirt (12) being defined by a continuous circumferential score-line (14) formed on the internal surface of the skirt, the skirt (12) comprising a substantially cylindrical portion extending towards the circumferential score-line (14) and the security band (13) being divided into sections by further score-lines (15) extending from the free edge of the band to the circumferential score-line (14) characterised in that the security band (13) and the lower end portion of the skirt (12) immediately contiguous to said cylindrical portion are of plain cylindrical form but of larger diameter than said substantially cylindrical portion of the skirt.
2. A closure blank as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said further score lines (15) are formed on the internal surface of the security band (13).
3. The combination of a container having an externally screw-threaded neck (20) with a downwardly facing shoulder (23) below the screw-thread (21) and a closure engaged on the neck, the closure being made from a malleable metal and having a top (11), a depending skirt (12), and a security band (13) at the lower margin of the skirt, the skirt (12) being deformed into engagement with the screw-thread (21) on the neck of the container, the junction between the skirt (12) and the security band (13) being defined by a continuous circumferential score line (14) formed on the internal surface of the skirt and disposed above the level of said shoulder (23), and the security band (13) being divided into sections by further score lines (15) extending from the free edge of the security band (13) to the circumferential score line (14) and having its free edge portion lying against said downwardly facing shoulder (23) characterised in that the parts of the skirt (12) and security band (13) immediately adjoining said score line (14) are spaced radially away from the external surface of the container neck.
4. The combination claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said further score lines (15) are formed on the internal surface of the security band (13).
5. The combination claimed in claim 4 characterised in that the region of the skirt (12) adjacent the security band (13) is devoid of any ring of knurling or protective bead for said score line (14).
6. The combination claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the outer corner portion (24) of the shoulder (23) is radiussed.
7. The combination claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the shoulder (23) is formed by the bottom face of an outwardly projecting band (22) on the neck (20) of the container, and the circumferential score line (14) is disposed above the location at which the top face of the band (22) meets the outer periphery (25) of the band.
8. The combination claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the shoulder (23) is inclined so as to face outward from the central axis of the neck.
9. The combination claimed in claim 8 characterised in that the shoulder (23) is inclined at an angle of 20° to the horizontal, outward from the axis of the neck.
EP84306959A 1983-10-17 1984-10-11 Metal closure blank and combination of a container and closure Expired EP0138585B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT84306959T ATE39340T1 (en) 1983-10-17 1984-10-11 METAL CLOSURE BLANK AND COMBINATION OF CONTAINERS AND CLOSURE.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08327692A GB2149764A (en) 1983-10-17 1983-10-17 Pilfer-proof closure
GB8327692 1983-10-17

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0138585A2 EP0138585A2 (en) 1985-04-24
EP0138585A3 EP0138585A3 (en) 1986-07-30
EP0138585B1 true EP0138585B1 (en) 1988-12-21

Family

ID=10550300

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84306959A Expired EP0138585B1 (en) 1983-10-17 1984-10-11 Metal closure blank and combination of a container and closure

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0138585B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE39340T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3475698D1 (en)
GB (1) GB2149764A (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TW448120B (en) 1999-11-26 2001-08-01 Takeuchi Press Metal container with thread

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB651238A (en) * 1948-11-29 1951-03-14 Christian Berner A B Improvements in closures for bottles, jars and similar containers
GB947043A (en) * 1959-08-18 1964-01-22 Frederick Guy Robinson Screw caps for bottles, jars, canisters and other suitable containers
FR1252132A (en) * 1959-12-15 1961-01-27 Anciens Etablissements E Rober Sealing cap for flasks, bottles or other containers, having a threaded neck according to standard manufacturing standards
FR1369347A (en) * 1963-03-14 1964-08-14 Brev Utilitaires S E B U Soc D Improved capping of bottles and similar articles
GB1021712A (en) * 1964-08-12 1966-03-09 Metal Box Company Of India Ltd Improvements in or relating to pilferproof closures for bottles, jars and like containers
US3303955A (en) * 1965-12-01 1967-02-14 Aluminum Co Of America Container closure
US3601273A (en) * 1969-01-31 1971-08-24 Aluminum Co Of America Pilferproof closure with vertical weakening lines
FR2132578B1 (en) * 1971-04-09 1976-12-03 Bouchage Mecanique
GB1372005A (en) * 1971-07-12 1974-10-30 Sanmugasunderam V Closures for bottles and like containers
GB1361180A (en) * 1971-09-22 1974-07-24 Ug Closures & Plastics Ltd Thermoplastic closures
US3828963A (en) * 1972-02-11 1974-08-13 Continental Can Co Recessed crown cap
DE2315962A1 (en) * 1972-04-05 1973-10-18 Metal Closures Ltd CLOSING CAP BLANK FOR BOTTLES OD. DGL.
GB2136782B (en) * 1983-03-22 1986-06-18 Metal Closures Ltd Pilferproof closure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0138585A3 (en) 1986-07-30
EP0138585A2 (en) 1985-04-24
GB2149764A (en) 1985-06-19
GB8327692D0 (en) 1983-11-16
DE3475698D1 (en) 1989-01-26
ATE39340T1 (en) 1989-01-15

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