EP0802878A2 - Fermetures de securite indicatrice d'effraction - Google Patents

Fermetures de securite indicatrice d'effraction

Info

Publication number
EP0802878A2
EP0802878A2 EP95918085A EP95918085A EP0802878A2 EP 0802878 A2 EP0802878 A2 EP 0802878A2 EP 95918085 A EP95918085 A EP 95918085A EP 95918085 A EP95918085 A EP 95918085A EP 0802878 A2 EP0802878 A2 EP 0802878A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
closure
adaptor
inner member
window
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95918085A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Stephen Edgar Norris
John David Casey
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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
Priority claimed from GB9409218A external-priority patent/GB9409218D0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0802878A2 publication Critical patent/EP0802878A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0485—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means specially adapted for facilitating the operation of opening or closing
    • 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
    • B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
    • B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
    • B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
    • B65D50/041—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one the closure comprising nested inner and outer caps or an inner cap and an outer coaxial annular member, which can be brought into engagement to enable removal by rotation
    • 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
    • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
    • B65D55/026—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by a visual change using indicators other than tearable means, e.g. change of colour, pattern or opacity

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to tamper-evident security devices and has a wide variety of applications, particularly but not solely for the closures of containers of liquids, gases or other materials.
  • containers are liable to tampering, for example in the case of unauthorised use of the contents.
  • closures particularly child-resistant • closures for medicine or drug containers, it is desirable to provide a tamper-evident seal.
  • tamper-evident seals which have been proposed to-date are of complex construction and/or limited effectiveness.
  • a tamper evident security device which comprises a cap member formed with at least one window, and an inner member, the cap being arranged for screw-threaded engagement with the inner member or the inner member being arranged for screw-threaded engagement with a further member and co-operable with the cap member for rotation thereby, and the inner member or further member carrying at least one active element arranged to displace outwardly and penetrate at least partially through said window upon rotating said cap member through a predetermined angle in the direction to loosen said screw-threaded engagement.
  • the window or windows may be formed in the top of the cap member, particularly in the case of relatively large- diameter devices. Instead, the window or windows may be formed in the tubular or skirt portion of the cap, particularly in the case of relatively small-diameter applications e.g. bottle caps or child-resistant closures.
  • the window or windows may comprise a relatively thin portion of the cap wall, arranged to be punctured by the active element or elements.
  • each window may comprise an opening preformed in the cap wall, and a frangible member is positioned between the inner member and the cap wall, so as to be punctured by the active element or elements of the inner member: in the latter case, the security device can be re-used once the frangible member has been replaced.
  • a frangible membrane may be secured around its edges to the periphery of the or each window opening in the cap wall.
  • the or each window of the cap member may be formed with an edge arranged to engage the or a said active element, upon rotation of the cap member through its predetermined angle, and displace that active element outwardly and at least partially through the window.
  • the or each active element is formed integrally with, and is flexible relative to, the inner member or a component carried by the inner member.
  • the inner member of the security device may be in the form of an inner cap or otherwise comprise a tubular element arranged for screw-threading onto a container neck or other tubular structure.
  • the inner cap or tubular element of the inner member may be arranged for fixing non- rotatably to the neck of a container or other structure, the outer cap being screw-threaded onto the inner member.
  • the security device may in particular comprise a tamper-evident closure for a container, for example for medicine or drugs.
  • the device may form a cap for a container outlet, which is provided with a valve or alternative closure, the security device preventing contamination of the container outlet and/or guarding against unauthorised use of the contents of the container.
  • the outer cap will require rotation through a significant angle to activate the tamper-evident feature. In general this angle will be less than 360° and can be different for different applications; often it may be desirable to allow rotation of the outer cap through a maximum angle of 90° to 180°; . in other cases it may be required that the tamper- evident feature is activated whenever the outer cap is turned through as little as 5° for example.
  • a problem often associated with child-resistant closures is that they are too difficult for the infirm, disabled or elderly to open. We have now devised an arrangement which alleviates this problem.
  • a closure for a container having a cap which is to be turned in order to remove the closure from the container, in combination with an adaptor engaged with or arranged to be engaged with said cap in a retained manner, the adaptor having a head portion of shape and size suited to a particular user's restricted ability.
  • the adaptor head may be of an enlarged shape, whether elongate or otherwise, but suited to the particular user so that, despite his or her limitations, the user is nevertheless able to unscrew the closure cap from the container.
  • the closure is retained by the adaptor, so that the closure can subsequently be re-applied to the container by the same user.
  • the adaptor may have a cap-shaped portion, which fits over the closure cap.
  • the adaptor may clip under the lower rim of the closure cap.
  • the adaptor may have a plurality of projections which snap-fit into sockets formed on the top of the cap.
  • the cap with which the adaptor engages is an outer cap which drives an inner cap screw-threaded on the container.
  • the outer cap can only spin freely relative to the inner cap, until the adaptor is fitted to the outer cap: preferably the adaptor has at least one projection which serves to engage drive teeth or other elements on the inner cap, when the adaptor is fitted.
  • FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a security device which includes a tamper-evident feature in accordance with this invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through a portion of the device of Figure 1, illustrating components forming the tamper- evident feature of the device;
  • FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating an annunciator ring forming part of the tamper-evident feature;
  • FIGURE 4 is a view, part in section and part in elevation, of a child-resistant tamper-evident closure
  • FIGURE 5 is a schematic view showing portions of the co-operating surfaces of the inner and outer members of the closure of Figure 4;
  • FIGURE 6 is a cross-section through the closure of Figures 4 and 5, showing successive positions of a puncturing profile of the tamper-evident feature as the closure is unscrewed;
  • FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing parts of the tamper-evident feature of the closure of Figures 4 to 6;
  • FIGURE 8 is a partial section through a modified child resistant closure and adaptor for use therewith;
  • FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of another embodiment of child-resistant tamper-evident closure.
  • FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a further embodiment of tamper-evident closure.
  • a security device in diagrammatic form.
  • the device comprises an outer cap member 32 which is screw-threaded onto an inner member 42.
  • a tamper- evident arrangement is included, to show if the outer cap member is unscrewed (at least through a predetermined angle) .
  • the top of the inner member 42 is formed with an annular channel 30, which received a plastics tamper annunciator ring 31.
  • the outer cap 32 has two projecting, concentric distance rings 33 on the underside of its top to ensure that the cap 32 will be screwed down to a precise position over the tamper annunciator ring 31.
  • the cap 32 may incorporate a thinning of the plastics at its top to form a number of windows which will be punctured by the operation of the tamper annunciator ring 31, in which case the cap will need to be replaced upon recycling.
  • a frangible ring 34 may be positioned over the tamper annunciator ring 31 and is destroyed upon operation of the tamper annunciator ring: this arrangement allows the cap to be reused. The operation of the tamper annunciator ring will be described below.
  • the annunciator ring 31 and optional frangible ring 34 are placed upon the inner member 42.
  • the cap 32 is screwed down and in so doing engages the optional frangible ring 34.
  • the cap 32 is prevented from distorting the frangible ring 34 and annunciator ring 31 by the distance rings
  • the annunciator ring 31 may be rotated upon screwing up the cap 32 (by engagement of the teeth 35,36 turning the frangible ring 34 and by inter-engaging teeth 39 and corresponding recesses 40 of the frangible ring
  • Unscrewing the cap 32 causes the teeth 35,36 of both the cap 32 and frangible ring 34 to engage which in turn causes the annunciator ring 31 to rotate via the teeth 39 and recesses 40 in the frangible ring and annunciator ring respectively.
  • the profiles of these cause the annunciator profile 37 to rise and puncture the frangible ring 34 through windows 41 in the cap 32.
  • the cap windows 41 may be formed as a thinning of the top of the cap to provide a frangible area or may have a metal foil bonded to the underside.
  • the annunciator ring 31 is then made of shape-memory plastics with the puncturing profiles 37 cast so as to project out from the face of the ring.
  • the leading edge of each cap window 31 is then modified to form a hard catching blade, effective in one direction only, which contacts the puncturing profile 37 and lifts it through the frangible window.
  • the construction and nature of the inner member 42 may vary considerably, depending on the application of the tamper- evident security device.
  • the inner member 42 may comprise a tubular neck or outlet of a container.
  • the member 42 may instead form part of or be secured to a structure shown diagra matically at 44; in any event the tamper-evident feature provides indication if the cap 32 has been removed in order to gain access to the inner member 42 or the structure to which it is secured.
  • Figure 4 shows the neck 90 of a plastics container for the containment of liquids or solids, and including an encircling step 91 to prevent an annunciator ring 93 from downwards movement.
  • a small lip 95 on the container neck above the annunciator ring 93 is segmented to correspond with serrations on the annunciator ring 93 and therefore enables the ring's installation upon the container.
  • the segmented lip 95 also provides a location for a securing ring 94 which is distorted over the segmented lip 95 and acts as a second step to prevent upwards movement of the annunciator ring 93.
  • the annunciator ring is constructed of shape-memory plastics.
  • the top of the container is screw threaded to receive an inner cap which incorporates a bevelled lip 97 allowing the outer cap to pass over, under distortion, but resist dismantling.
  • the outer face of the inner cap also incorporates triangular-shaped anti-clockwise drivers 98 and semi-hinged wedge-shaped clockwise drivers 99 which normally project outwards but can be depressed into recesses formed behind them in the inner cap surface.
  • the top of the inner cap incorporates a socket 101 for receiving a projecting part 102 of the outer cap, arranged to maintain centring when the outer cap is depressed, and a 'spring' profile 100 to resist downward movement of the outer cap.
  • the spring profile 100 may take the form of a raised flange or washer for smaller diameter container openings or spring profile tabs to reduce the downward force necessary on larger diameter container openings.
  • the outer cap has, on its inner face, semi-triangular profiled clockwise drivers 99a which, when the cap is turned in an anti-clockwise direction, will bear on the inner cap clockwise drivers 99 and depress them into their respective recesses and pass accordingly.
  • the outer cap also has anti-clockwise drivers 98a, positioned such that when the cap is rotated in a clockwise direction, but not depressed, they do not engage the anti-clockwise drivers 98 of the inner cap: their shape also ensures that positive driving in the anti-clockwise direction is only possible at full depression of the outer cap. If the outer cap is depressed and at the same time rotated in a clockwise direction, the clockwise drivers 99,99a will not engage but the anti-clockwise drivers 98,98a will engage and thereby fulfil the task of the clockwise drivers. This will not activate the tamper evident annunciator ring as the window blade will be rendered ineffective by the direction of rotation.
  • A indicates one quarter of the circumference of the inner member and outer cap.
  • the outer cap has a segmented and bevelled lip 96 allowing the outer cap to pass over the inner cap lip 97 under distortion as previously described. The gaps between the segments coincide with the projections on the inner cap thereby eliminating any obstruction when the two caps are assembled together.
  • the bottom of the outer cap is provided with a splayed lip 120 to facilitate the outer cap passing over and distorting inwards the projecting profile of the annunciator ring if this operation is carried out away from automated factory conditions.
  • the annunciator ring 93 has serrations on its inner side, to engage with complementary serrations 82 formed around the neck 90 of the container and prevent the annunciator ring turning.
  • Figure 8 shows a modified child resistant, or child ⁇ proof, closure arrangement but providing easier use for the infirm, disabled or elderly.
  • This modified closure comprises inner and outer caps generally as the closure of Figures 4 and 5 (the inner cap being omitted from the drawing) , but the outer cap no longer has its clockwise or anti-clockwise drivers 99a, 98a. Instead, the outer cap has two diametrically-opposed openings in its side wall (one shown) to receive projections 110 (one shown) carried on the inner wall of a cap-shaped portion 112 of an adaptor.
  • the adaptor has a head portion 114 which may be of any selected shape, suited to the particular user according to his or her restricted ability, such that the particular user is able to turn the adaptor and thus turn the outer cap of the closure.
  • the projections 110 are provided with clockwise and anti-clockwise drivers 109a, 108a corresponding to the drivers 99a, 98a of the outer cap of the closure shown in Figures 4 and 5.
  • the adaptor is a snap-fit onto the outer cap: before the adaptor is fitted onto the outer cap, the latter spins freely relative to the inner cap; however, once the adaptor is fitted, its drivers 109a, 108a will engage the corresponding drivers of the inner cap for clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the inner cap relative to the container to which the closure is fitted.
  • the closure can be lifted free from the container still using the adaptor, and similarly returned subsequently to the container. Should it be desired to remove the adaptor from the closure, this can be accomplished by squeezing the adaptor across an enlarged diameter at right angles to the diameter on which the two projections 110 lie, so expanding the adaptor along the latter diameter so that the projections 110 emerge from their openings in the outer cap.
  • the adaptor may instead be arranged to fit onto the outer cap of the closure of Figures 4 and 5, without altering the manner in which the inner and outer caps co-operate.
  • the adaptor may be arranged simply to clip over the outer cap, but with the outer cap having a pronounced knurling on its outer periphery so that depending clips of the adaptor will engage the outer cap to cause the two to turn together.
  • the adaptor is of enlarged diameter between the clips, so again it can be squeezed to release the adaptor from the closure when desired.
  • the adaptor may instead have projecting clips or claws which snap-fit into sockets formed in the top of the outer cap, to retain the adaptor to the outer cap.
  • the tamper- evident feature may be provided on the top of the outer cap (in which case the adaptor is preferably transparent) or on the side of the outer cap.
  • Figure 9 shows diagrammatically another form of child- resistant closure in accordance with this invention, comprising an inner member 10 having an internal screw-thread for engaging the screw-threaded neck of a bottle or other container, and an outer cap 12.
  • the closure is assembled by inserting the inner member into the open bottom of the outer cap, the external rim on the bottom edge of the inner member snapping past the internal rim on the bottom edge of the outer cap.
  • An extension on the top of the inner member 10 is formed with integral puncturing profiles 11 (two in the example shown)
  • the outer cap 12 is formed with windows 13 (being reduced-thickness portions of the wall) adjacent its top.
  • the outer surface of the inner member skirt and the inner surface of the outer member skirt are formed with integral, co-operating projections at 15 (not shown in detail) , enabling the outer cap to rotate the inner member in the clockwise or tightening direction, and also enabling the outer cap to turn the inner member in the loosening direction once the outer cap has been pushed down against the bias of spring fingers (not shown) provided integrally on the inner member top or on the underside of the outer cap top.
  • FIG. 10 shows a modification of the closure of Figure 9, in which the inner member 20 has an externally screw- threaded extension 24 from the underside of its top, for engagement within the internally screw-threaded neck of a container.
  • the outer cap 22 is not axially displaceable relative to the inner member, so that the closure is not child- resistant.
  • the outer surface of the inner member skirt and the inner surface of the outer member skirt are formed with co ⁇ operating projections at 25 (not shown in detail) , enabling rotation of the outer cap to turn the inner member in either the clockwise or anticlockwise direction.
  • the outer cap must be turned through a predetermined angle before the co ⁇ operating projections at 25 engage for turning the inner member: during this rotation, inner edges of the windows 23 pick up puncturing profiles 21 of the inner member, and cause these to puncture through the windows 23.
  • any number of windows and puncturing profiles may be provided (not necessarily equal in number) , arranged for the tamper-evident feature to be activated upon rotation of the outer cap through an angle less than 360°.
  • the closures of Figures 9 and 10 may be modified for operation by an adaptor such as shown in Figure 8, with appropriate modification of that adaptor.
  • the tamper-evident security devices of this invention may be arranged for a wide variety of different uses.
  • the device may forma dust cap for the screw-threaded, valved outlet of a gas container, the device having an inner member which screws onto this outlet, and an outer cap for driving the inner member, and the device incorporating a tamper-evident feature as described above.
  • the dust cap then protects the gas container outlet against contamination, and also protects against unauthorised use of the contents of the container.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

Dispositif de sécurité indicateur d'effraction (pouvant prendre la forme d'une fermeture de récipient de protection enfant) comprenant un chapeau (12) pourvu d'au moins une fenêtre (13), ainsi qu'un élément interne (10) conçu pour s'engager par filetage sur un récipient ou sur un autre élément, et susceptible de coopérer avec le chapeau (12) afin de tourner sous l'effet de celui-ci: l'élément interne (10) porte au moins un élément actif (11) conçu pour se déplacer vers l'extérieur et transpercer au moins partiellement la fenêtre (13) lors de la rotation du chapeau (12) selon un angle prédéterminé dans la direction permettant de débloquer l'élément interne. Dans d'autres modes de réalisation, le chapeau peut être vissé à l'aide d'un filetage sur l'élément interne.
EP95918085A 1994-05-10 1995-05-10 Fermetures de securite indicatrice d'effraction Withdrawn EP0802878A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9409218A GB9409218D0 (en) 1994-05-10 1994-05-10 Tamper-evident security devices
GB9409218 1994-05-10
GB9414730A GB9414730D0 (en) 1994-05-10 1994-07-21 Tamper evident security devices
GB9414730 1994-07-21
PCT/GB1995/001061 WO1995030595A2 (fr) 1994-05-10 1995-05-10 Fermetures de securite indicatrice d'effraction

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0802878A2 true EP0802878A2 (fr) 1997-10-29

Family

ID=26304854

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95918085A Withdrawn EP0802878A2 (fr) 1994-05-10 1995-05-10 Fermetures de securite indicatrice d'effraction

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0802878A2 (fr)
AU (1) AU2414995A (fr)
CA (1) CA2190297A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1995030595A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005005167A1 (de) * 2005-02-04 2006-08-10 Georg Menshen Gmbh & Co. Kg Verschluss eines Behälters

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2560793A (en) * 1949-12-09 1951-07-17 Inter Seal Corp Tamperproof closure for receptacles
US4446979A (en) * 1981-10-09 1984-05-08 Sunbeam Plastics Corporation Tamper indicating closure
US4480760A (en) * 1982-12-21 1984-11-06 Milton Schonberger Tamper visible indicator for container lid
DE4002967A1 (de) * 1989-11-02 1991-05-08 Huebner Gmbh & Co Max Schraubverschluss fuer originalitaetssicherung fuer insbesondere weithalsbehaelter

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9530595A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1995030595A3 (fr) 1996-04-04
CA2190297A1 (fr) 1995-11-16
WO1995030595A2 (fr) 1995-11-16
AU2414995A (en) 1995-11-29

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