EP0407441A1 - Containers with tamper evident closures. - Google Patents

Containers with tamper evident closures.

Info

Publication number
EP0407441A1
EP0407441A1 EP89904183A EP89904183A EP0407441A1 EP 0407441 A1 EP0407441 A1 EP 0407441A1 EP 89904183 A EP89904183 A EP 89904183A EP 89904183 A EP89904183 A EP 89904183A EP 0407441 A1 EP0407441 A1 EP 0407441A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
cap
mouth
band
ring
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP89904183A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0407441B1 (en
Inventor
John Richard Calvert
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.)
RPC Containers Ltd
Original Assignee
Reed Packaging 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 Reed Packaging Ltd filed Critical Reed Packaging Ltd
Publication of EP0407441A1 publication Critical patent/EP0407441A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0407441B1 publication Critical patent/EP0407441B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0235—Removable lids or covers with integral tamper element
    • B65D43/0237—Removable lids or covers with integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections before removal of the tamper element
    • B65D43/0256—Removable lids or covers with integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections before removal of the tamper element only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container
    • 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
    • B65D45/00—Clamping or other pressure-applying devices for securing or retaining closure members
    • B65D45/32—Clamping or other pressure-applying devices for securing or retaining closure members for applying radial or radial and axial pressure, e.g. contractible bands encircling closure member
    • 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
    • B65D2401/05—Tearable non-integral strips
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
    • B65D2543/00296—Plastic
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00509—Cup
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00555—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on both the inside and the outside
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00611—Profiles
    • B65D2543/00629—Massive bead
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00675—Periphery concerned
    • B65D2543/00685—Totality
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00722—Profiles
    • B65D2543/0074—Massive bead
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00787—Periphery concerned
    • B65D2543/00796—Totality

Definitions

  • Tamper evident or pilfer proof closures for containers are known in which a strip or band is provided around a closure member of the container, and has to be removed before the closure member can be removed to give access to the contents of the container. Thus the presence of the undisturbed band is evidence that the container has not previously been opened. Examples of such closures are to be found in EP 0148168 and EP 0280488.
  • a container having a tamper evident closure, wherein the tamper evident means comprises a removable band which circumferentially embraces an area of cooperation between the container closure member and the container which must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure member from the container.
  • the container, the closure member, and the removable band are all moulded from plastics material.
  • the container or the closure member it would be possible for either the container or the closure member to be formed of a more rigid material such as glass or metal, so long as one or other of them is so formed as to permit the said radial expansion.
  • the closure member and the container are formed with respective annular shoulders which interengage to prevent axial separating movement of such parts in the absence of said radial expansion.
  • the closure member may comprise a cap which engages over the mouth of the container, with the band embracing the cap.
  • the closure • member may comprise a plug which fits in the mouth of the container, with the band embracing the container mouth.
  • the band is held against axial displacement between two external annular shoulders on the container, and the closure member respectively.
  • the band may be such that its outer circumferential surface is flush with the outer circumference surfaces of the said shoulders.
  • closure member for use in an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, which closure member is a cap for engagement over a mouth of the container of the assembly, the said cap being moulded from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the cap and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the cap adjacent the said ring having an external circumferenti surface arranged to receive the said ring tele ⁇ copically thereon and the said part of the cap being formed internally with means for cooperating with the container mouth in such manner that the said part of the cap must be radially expanded in order to remove it from the container.
  • the invention provides a container for use in an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, which container has a mouth for receiving a closure member of the assembly in the form of a plug, the container being moulded from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the container mouth and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the container mouth adjacent the said ring having an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the container mouth being formed internally with means for cooperating with a said closure plug in such manner that the said mouth must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure plug from the container.
  • the frangible portion(s) attaching the plastics ring to the closure member or container may be of substantially less thickness than the ring.
  • the present invention also provides improved methods of making a closure member and a container.
  • the invention provides a method of making a closure member for an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, which closure member is a cap for engagement over a mouth of the container of the assembly, comprising moulding the said cap from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the cap and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the cap adjacent the said ring having an external circumfer ⁇ ential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the cap being formed internally with means for cooperating with the container mouth in such manner that the said part of the cap must be radially expanded in order to remove it from the container, detaching the said ring of plastics material from the cap by way of the said frangible portion
  • the invention provides a method of making a container for an assembly according to the first -aspect of the invention, which container has a mouth which is adapted to receive therein a plug constituting the said closure member of the assembly, comprising moulding the said container from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the mouth of the container and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the container mouth adjacent the said ring having an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the mouth being formed internally with means for cooperating with the closure plug in such manner that the said part of the mouth must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure plug therefrom, detaching the said ring of plastics material from the container mouth by way of the said frangible portion(s) so as to form the said band and, simultaneously with said detachment, engaging the said band telescopically over the said external circumferential
  • the said ring may be broken from the closure member or the container at the end of the moulding operation, before removal from the mould.
  • the ring may be left joined to the closure member or container on removal from the mould and then broken therefrom and moved to engage the said external circumferential surface during the operation of assembling the closure member and the container, or at some intermediate time between the moulding and such assembly.
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of part of the closure member fastened to a container body.
  • the closure member and the container are moulded from flexible plastics material such as is conventionally used in the container-manufacturing industry.
  • the closure member comprises a cap having a cylindrical side wall 10 and a recessed top 11.
  • the wall 10 has an outwardly-extending annular flange 12 and an internal annular protrusion 13 with an upper face 14 forming an annular shoulder which extends inwardly at a more acute angle than its lower face 15 extends in an outwards direction.
  • an annular strip or band 16 which has an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the wall 10, so as to be capable of being telescopically engaged thereon.
  • the strip 16 is, as moulded, attached to the wall 10 by a thin, frangible, portion 17.
  • Figure 2 shows the position of the closure cap and the band 16 when the closure is fastened to a container.
  • the container mouth has a side wall 18 with an upwardly-extending rim 19, the upper part 20 of which is accommodated in an annular recess 21 in the cap.
  • the rim 19 has an external configuration which corresponds partly to the internal configuration of the wall 10 of the cap.
  • the rim 19 has an external recess 22 with an upper face 23 forming an annular shoulder which is inclined at a similar angle to the shoulder 14 of the protrusion 13 on the cap.
  • the rim 19 has an outer face 24 which tapers inwardly above the face 23. It also has an external peripheral flange 25 beneath the recess 22.
  • the cap can be pressed on to the mouth of the container and retained thereon by the interengagement of the shoulders 14 and 23.
  • the band 16 prevents the shoulder 14 from moving past the shoulder 23 until the band is removed.
  • the band 16 provides tamper evident means whose presence in an undisturbed condition provides evidence that the container has not previously been opened.
  • the band 16 is provided with release means for breaking it, which may be of any suitable kind, so that the band can be peeled off the cap to enable the cap to be removed from the container.
  • the release means may for example comprise an easily breakable portion of the band, or separable connecting means.
  • the band 16 may be moved into its position surrounding the cap wall when the cap is being removed from the mould, or it may be moved into such position when the cap is being pressed into position on the container mouth, or at some intermediate time between moulding and pressing on to the container. Once the band is removed, then the cap may be easily removed from the container. As the cap is pulled upwardly, the protrusion 13 is expanded by the interaction of the shoulders 14 and 23 until the shoulders disengage from one another, at which point the cap may be simply lifted off.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

A tamper evident band (16) is provided around an area of cooperation between a container mouth (18) and a closure cap (11). Sloping faces (15) and (24) on the container and cap respectively allow the cap, surrounded by the strip (16) to be pushed on to the container, but shoulders (14) and (23) prevent subsequent removal of the cap without first removing the band (16). When the band (16) is removed, the cap can expand radially when pulled upwardly to release the engagement between the shoulders (14) and (23), and so allow removal of the cap. The cap and band (16) may be moulded together from a plastics material, with the band (16) depending from the edge of the cap and being attached thereto by a frangible portion (17, Fig. 1). At some point prior to, or during the assembly with the container, the frangible portion is broken and the band (16) moved to surround the cap as shown.

Description

CONTAINERS WITH TAMPER EVIDENT CLOSURES
This invention is concerned with containers and in particular containers with closure systems of the kind which are commonly called "tamper evident" or "pilfer proof". Tamper evident or pilfer proof closures for containers are known in which a strip or band is provided around a closure member of the container, and has to be removed before the closure member can be removed to give access to the contents of the container. Thus the presence of the undisturbed band is evidence that the container has not previously been opened. Examples of such closures are to be found in EP 0148168 and EP 0280488.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container having a tamper evident closure, wherein the tamper evident means comprises a removable band which circumferentially embraces an area of cooperation between the container closure member and the container which must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure member from the container.
The said band prevents the radial expansion of the said area, which cannot therefore take place until the band is removed. Preferably, the container, the closure member, and the removable band are all moulded from plastics material. However, it would be possible for either the container or the closure member to be formed of a more rigid material such as glass or metal, so long as one or other of them is so formed as to permit the said radial expansion.
In a preferred arrangement, at the said area of cooperation between the closure member and the container, the closure member and the container are formed with respective annular shoulders which interengage to prevent axial separating movement of such parts in the absence of said radial expansion. The closure member may comprise a cap which engages over the mouth of the container, with the band embracing the cap. Alternatively the closure •member may comprise a plug which fits in the mouth of the container, with the band embracing the container mouth. In a preferred embodiment the band is held against axial displacement between two external annular shoulders on the container, and the closure member respectively. In such an arrangement, the band may be such that its outer circumferential surface is flush with the outer circumference surfaces of the said shoulders.
The scope of the invention also extends to a closure member alone, for use in the assembly already described. Thus viewed from a second aspect the invention provides e closure member for use in an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, which closure member is a cap for engagement over a mouth of the container of the assembly, the said cap being moulded from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the cap and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the cap adjacent the said ring having an external circumferenti surface arranged to receive the said ring teleεcopically thereon and the said part of the cap being formed internally with means for cooperating with the container mouth in such manner that the said part of the cap must be radially expanded in order to remove it from the container.
The scope of the invention further extends to a container alone, for use in the assembly already described. Thus viewed from a third aspect the invention provides a container for use in an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, which container has a mouth for receiving a closure member of the assembly in the form of a plug, the container being moulded from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the container mouth and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the container mouth adjacent the said ring having an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the container mouth being formed internally with means for cooperating with a said closure plug in such manner that the said mouth must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure plug from the container.
The frangible portion(s) attaching the plastics ring to the closure member or container may be of substantially less thickness than the ring. The present invention also provides improved methods of making a closure member and a container. Thus viewed from another aspect the invention provides a method of making a closure member for an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, which closure member is a cap for engagement over a mouth of the container of the assembly, comprising moulding the said cap from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the cap and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the cap adjacent the said ring having an external circumfer¬ ential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the cap being formed internally with means for cooperating with the container mouth in such manner that the said part of the cap must be radially expanded in order to remove it from the container, detaching the said ring of plastics material from the cap by way of the said frangible portion(s) so as to form the said band and, simultaneously with said detachment, engaging the said band telescopically over the said external circumferential surface of the cap.
Viewed from yet another aspect the invention provides a method of making a container for an assembly according to the first -aspect of the invention, which container has a mouth which is adapted to receive therein a plug constituting the said closure member of the assembly, comprising moulding the said container from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the mouth of the container and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the container mouth adjacent the said ring having an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the mouth being formed internally with means for cooperating with the closure plug in such manner that the said part of the mouth must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure plug therefrom, detaching the said ring of plastics material from the container mouth by way of the said frangible portion(s) so as to form the said band and, simultaneously with said detachment, engaging the said band telescopically over the said external circumferential surface of the container mouth.
The said ring may be broken from the closure member or the container at the end of the moulding operation, before removal from the mould. Alternatively, the ring may be left joined to the closure member or container on removal from the mould and then broken therefrom and moved to engage the said external circumferential surface during the operation of assembling the closure member and the container, or at some intermediate time between the moulding and such assembly. The following is a description, by way of example only, of an embodiment of a closure member and container in accordance with the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of part of the closure member as moulde , and
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of part of the closure member fastened to a container body. The closure member and the container are moulded from flexible plastics material such as is conventionally used in the container-manufacturing industry.
The closure member comprises a cap having a cylindrical side wall 10 and a recessed top 11. The wall 10 has an outwardly-extending annular flange 12 and an internal annular protrusion 13 with an upper face 14 forming an annular shoulder which extends inwardly at a more acute angle than its lower face 15 extends in an outwards direction. As shown in Figure 1, moulded integrally with the closure member and depending from the wall 10 ^hereof is an annular strip or band 16, which has an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the wall 10, so as to be capable of being telescopically engaged thereon. The strip 16 is, as moulded, attached to the wall 10 by a thin, frangible, portion 17.
Figure 2 shows the position of the closure cap and the band 16 when the closure is fastened to a container. The container mouth has a side wall 18 with an upwardly-extending rim 19, the upper part 20 of which is accommodated in an annular recess 21 in the cap. The rim 19 has an external configuration which corresponds partly to the internal configuration of the wall 10 of the cap. In particular, the rim 19 has an external recess 22 with an upper face 23 forming an annular shoulder which is inclined at a similar angle to the shoulder 14 of the protrusion 13 on the cap. The rim 19 has an outer face 24 which tapers inwardly above the face 23. It also has an external peripheral flange 25 beneath the recess 22. As a result of the configurations of the inside of the cap and the outside of the container mouth, the cap can be pressed on to the mouth of the container and retained thereon by the interengagement of the shoulders 14 and 23. The band 16, now detached from the cap and engaged telescopically on the external circumferential surface of the wall 10 of the cap, is located between flanges 12 and 25 and positively prevents removal of the cap from the container, by preventing the radial expansion of the wall 10 of the cap which is necessary to achieve such removal until the band itself is removed. Specifically, as can be seen in Figure 2, the band 16 prevents the shoulder 14 from moving past the shoulder 23 until the band is removed.
Although not shown in the drawings, it is possible to provide an annular lip extending upwardly from the circumference of flange 25 to overlie the lower part of the band 16. This provides a further degree of tamper prevention, in that it helps to prevent the insertion of an object, such as a knife, between the band 16 and the flange 25 with a view to forcibly prising off the cap. Thus the band 16 provides tamper evident means whose presence in an undisturbed condition provides evidence that the container has not previously been opened. The band 16 is provided with release means for breaking it, which may be of any suitable kind, so that the band can be peeled off the cap to enable the cap to be removed from the container. The release means may for example comprise an easily breakable portion of the band, or separable connecting means.
The band 16 may be moved into its position surrounding the cap wall when the cap is being removed from the mould, or it may be moved into such position when the cap is being pressed into position on the container mouth, or at some intermediate time between moulding and pressing on to the container. Once the band is removed, then the cap may be easily removed from the container. As the cap is pulled upwardly, the protrusion 13 is expanded by the interaction of the shoulders 14 and 23 until the shoulders disengage from one another, at which point the cap may be simply lifted off.
It will be appreciated that while the above embodiment describes the band 16 being formed on the closure member, it could equally well be provided on the container mouth, with the closure member than being in the form of a plug fitting in the container mouth.
It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more of such features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisional application based thereon. Furthermore the manner in which any of such features of the specification or claims are described or defined may be amended, broadened or otherwise modified in any manner which falls within the knowledge of a person skilled in the relevant at, for example so as to encompass, either implicitly or explicitly, equivalents or generalisations thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS ;
1. A container having a tamper evident closure, wherein the tamper evident means comprises a removable band which circumferentially embraces an area of cooperation between the container closure member and the container which must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure member from the container.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container, the closure member, and the removable band are all moulded from plastics material.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, at said area of cooperation, the closure member and the container are formed with respective annular shoulders which interengage to prevent axial separating movement of such parts in the absence of said radial expansion.
4. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the said closure member comprises a cap which engages over the mouth of the container and the said band embraces the cap.
5. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the said closure member comprises a plug which fits in the mouth of the container and the said band embraces the container mouth.
6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sai-d band is held against axial displacement between two external annular shoulders on the container and the closure member respectively.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the said band is flush with the outer circumference surfaces of the said shoulders.
8. A closure member for use in an assembly as claimed in claim 1, which closure member is a cap for engagement over a mouth of the container of the assembly, the said cap being moulded from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the cap and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the cap adjacent the said ring having an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the cap being formed internally with means for cooperating with the container mouth in such manner that the said part of the cap must be radially expanded in order to remove it from the container.
9. A container for use in an assembly as claimed in claim 1, which container has a mouth for receiving a closure member of the assembly in the form of a plug, the container being moulded from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the container mouth and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the container mouth adjacent the said ring having an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the container mouth being formed internally with means for cooperating with a said closure plug in such manner that the said mouth must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure plug from the container.
10. A method of making a closure member for an assembly as claimed in claim 1, which closure member is a cap for engagement over a mouth of the container of the assembly, comprising moulding the said cap from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending -around and axially away from the edge of the cap and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the cap adjacent the said ring having - an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the cap being formed internally with means for cooperating with the container mouth in such manner that the said part of the cap must be radially expanded in order to remove it from the container, detaching the said ring of plastics material from the cap by way of the said frangible portion(s) so as to form the said band and, simultaneously with said detachment, engaging the said band telescopically over the said external circumferential surface of the cap.
11. A method of making a container for an assembly as claimed in claim 1, which container has a mouth which is adapted to receive therein a plug constituting the said closure member of the assembly, comprising moulding the said container from plastics material with a ring of the plastics material for providing the said band extending around and axially away from the edge of the mouth of the container and joined thereto by at least one frangible portion, a part of the container mouth adjacent the said ring having an external circumferential surface arranged to receive the said ring telescopically thereon and the said part of the mouth being formed internally with means for cooperating with the closure plug in such manner that the said part of the mouth must be radially expanded in order to remove the closure plug therefrom, detaching the said ring of plastics material from the container mouth by way of the said frangible portion(s) so as to form the said band and, simultaneously with said detachment, engaging the said band telescopically over the said external circumferential surface of the container mouth.
EP89904183A 1988-03-15 1989-03-15 Containers with tamper evident closures Expired - Lifetime EP0407441B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888806133A GB8806133D0 (en) 1988-03-15 1988-03-15 Container closures
GB8806133 1988-03-15
PCT/GB1989/000275 WO1989008588A1 (en) 1988-03-15 1989-03-15 Containers with tamper evident closures

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0407441A1 true EP0407441A1 (en) 1991-01-16
EP0407441B1 EP0407441B1 (en) 1995-06-14

Family

ID=10633468

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89904183A Expired - Lifetime EP0407441B1 (en) 1988-03-15 1989-03-15 Containers with tamper evident closures

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0407441B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE123736T1 (en)
AU (1) AU630871B2 (en)
DE (1) DE68923084D1 (en)
DK (1) DK220390D0 (en)
ES (1) ES2012691A6 (en)
GB (1) GB8806133D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1989008588A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5163575A (en) * 1991-08-07 1992-11-17 Cup Snap Co. Container with curled tamper-evident band to retain closure
DE4314923C2 (en) * 1993-05-06 1998-08-27 West Company Deutschland Gmbh Cap for closing a bottle
GB2349874A (en) * 1999-05-12 2000-11-15 Francis Showering Container closure
EP1201556A1 (en) * 2000-10-24 2002-05-02 Alfred Bühler Lid and vessel

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1209565A (en) * 1969-05-06 1970-10-21 Growth Internat Ind Corp Plastic container tape seal structure
US4111329A (en) * 1977-09-19 1978-09-05 John Edward Lampman Container with tamperproof and stackable lid
GB2085854B (en) * 1980-09-26 1985-03-13 Johnsen Jorgensen Plastics Ltd An improved container closure
DE3346928A1 (en) * 1983-12-24 1985-07-04 Friedrich Sanner GmbH & Co KG Spritzgußwerk, 6140 Bensheim ORIGINAL ASSURED LOCKING ARRANGEMENT

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8908588A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0407441B1 (en) 1995-06-14
ATE123736T1 (en) 1995-06-15
ES2012691A6 (en) 1990-04-01
WO1989008588A1 (en) 1989-09-21
GB8806133D0 (en) 1988-04-13
AU630871B2 (en) 1992-11-12
DK220390A (en) 1990-09-14
DK220390D0 (en) 1990-09-14
AU3363289A (en) 1989-10-05
DE68923084D1 (en) 1995-07-20

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