EP0861792B1 - Originalitätsverschluss - Google Patents

Originalitätsverschluss Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0861792B1
EP0861792B1 EP98301411A EP98301411A EP0861792B1 EP 0861792 B1 EP0861792 B1 EP 0861792B1 EP 98301411 A EP98301411 A EP 98301411A EP 98301411 A EP98301411 A EP 98301411A EP 0861792 B1 EP0861792 B1 EP 0861792B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
closure
container
tamper indicating
flange
band
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP98301411A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0861792A1 (de
Inventor
Keith W. Ingram
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.)
BPrex Healthcare Brookville Inc
Original Assignee
Owens Illinois Closure Inc
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 Owens Illinois Closure Inc filed Critical Owens Illinois Closure Inc
Publication of EP0861792A1 publication Critical patent/EP0861792A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0861792B1 publication Critical patent/EP0861792B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • B65D41/3423—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with flexible tabs, or elements rotated from a non-engaging to an engaging position, formed on the tamper element or in the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3428—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with flexible tabs, or elements rotated from a non-engaging to an engaging position, formed on the tamper element or in the closure skirt the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges

Definitions

  • This invention relates to tamper indicating packages.
  • tamper indicating packages wherein the tamper indicating band is connected to the closure along a weakened line provided by a plurality of bridges or a scoreline and interengaging means between the band and the container are such that when the closure is unthreaded from the container, the band is severed along the bridge portions to indicate that the closure has been tampered with.
  • US-A-4,394,918 discloses a threaded closure carrying a hold ring that is joined to the bottom of the cap skirt by a series of breakable tabs and the hold ring has an inside diameter that is at least equal to the outside diameter of the cap skirt.
  • a plurality of lock lugs supported on the ring are inclined upwardly and inwardly and are intended to hook behind a collar or mating ring on the container neck to prevent the hold ring from being lifted off the container neck when the cap is unscrewed.
  • US-A-4,550,844 discloses an arrangement wherein a continuous annular flange extends from the lower end of the tamper indicating band and is inclined upwardly and inwardly. Such an arrangement is effective but has the disadvantage in that the continuous flange requires excessive force to apply the closure to the container in certain extreme tolerance conditions.
  • US-A-4,807,771 proposes the use of a plurality of spaced-apart ring segments on the tamper indicating band to define independently foldable ring segments and a plurality of resilient tabs connected to each end of each ring segment so that the free ends of the tabs bear on the bead or ledge of the container.
  • the tamper indicating package comprises a container having a neck with a threaded finish, an annular bead on the neck, a plastic closure which includes a base wall and a depending peripheral skirt having threads interengaging the threads of the container, and a tamper indicating band attached to the skirt by a plurality of weakened portions defining a line of severing.
  • An annular flange extends axially upwardly and inwardly from the tamper indicating band toward the base wall of the closure and comprises a first continuous annular flange portion connected to the band by a hinge portion and a second portion which has free ends of the segment portions engaging beneath the bead on the container when the closure is threaded onto the container.
  • the second portion comprises a plurality of segment portions extending upwardly and inwardly from the first continuous portion.
  • the second portion comprises a second continuous flange portion. The flange is bent intermediate its ends so that the second portion extends inwardly at a greater angle than the first continuous flange portion.
  • tamper indicating package of the type shown in the aforementioned US-A-5,090,788, US-A-5,219,507, US-A-5,310,069, US-A- 5,370,520, US-A-5,462,184 disclosing a tamper indicating closure according to the first part of claim 1 and US-A-5,611,446 wherein the tamper indicating band is attached to the closure by bridges formed by a notched knife score line, that is, by use of an interrupted knife having an interrupted edge.
  • the improvement relates to a notched knife scored closure of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patents which has improved tamper evidency, ease of application and minimizes band breakage on application by the closure applying machinery.
  • EP-A-0, 381,118 describes a tamper indicating closure having a tamper indicating band attached to the skirt of a screw-on closure.
  • the band has on its inside a number of spaced flexible tabs.
  • the skirt also has on its inside surface a number of projecting ribs which fit into the spaces between flexible tabs.
  • a tamper indicating closure as defined in claim 1.
  • the tamper indicating closure has a tamper indicating band which has circumferentially spaced recesses for receiving portions of the segments during application of the closure to a container.
  • the tamper indicating band has projections on its inner surface which extend into the slots between the segments when the closure is being applied.
  • Each projection has a length in an axial direction and a width in a transverse direction.
  • the upper portion of each projection blends with the inner surface of the tamper indicating band.
  • the side surfaces of each projection can converge toward the lower end.
  • the sides of the slots are preferably V-shaped.
  • Each segment is generally rectangular including a straight upper edge and inclined sides to define the slots.
  • Each recess is generally complementary in shape to each segment and includes an upper transverse surface and a base surface and side walls the lower ends of which merge with the inner surface of said tamper indicating band.
  • Figures 1-28 show known tamper indicating closures.
  • a tamper indicating package of the prior art comprises a container 30 having a finish or neck 31 and a closure 32.
  • the closure 32 is formed of thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene which is molded as a single unit and comprises a generally disc shaped top or base wall 33 with a cylindrical depending skirt portion 34 (Fig. 2).
  • a tamper indicating band 35 which is generally cylindrical is connected to the peripheral skirt 34 by a weakened line defined by bridges or scored portions of the skirt 34, herein shown as an interrupted scoreline 36.
  • Interengaging threads 32a, 31a are provided on the closure and neck and cooperate to apply and hold the closure in position on the container.
  • the container 30 includes an annular bead 37.
  • annular flange 40 is connected to the inner surface of the tamper indicating band by an integral hinge portion 41 that is spaced so that it extends radially inwardly of the inner surface of the tamper indicating band 35 and the flange 40 extends upwardly and inwardly toward the base wall of the closure.
  • the flange 40 includes a first continuous annular flange portion 42 that extends from hinge portion 41 at a slight angle radially inwardly before the closure is applied to the container.
  • the flange 40 further includes a second portion in the form of a plurality of integral circumferentially spaced segment portions 43 extending from the free edge of the first continuous flange portion 42.
  • the flange 40 is bent at X intermediate its ends so that the free ends of the segment portions 43 extend at a different and greater angle with the axis of the closure than the first continuous flange portion 42 of the annular flange 41.
  • the annular flange portion 42 thus has a first pivot or hinge relative to the band 35 through hinge portion 41 and the segment portions 43 have a second hinge with respect to the remainder of flange 40 at X.
  • the first continuous flange portion 42 extends axially at a very small acute angle with respect to the band 35 so that it is substantially vertical before the closure is applied to the container.
  • each segment portion 43 is at least several times greater than the thickness at its smaller cross section.
  • the segment portions are generally rectangular and closely spaced spart by narrow slots S such that the segment portions comprise the major portion of the second portion.
  • the number of segment portions 43 is preferably twelve but may be as few as two.
  • the slots S preferably extend from the free edge of the segments beyond the bend line X so that the length of the segment portions 43 is greater than the corresponding length of flange portion 42. Satisfactory results have been achieved where segment portions 43 of the flange 40 comprise about 60% of the flange 40 while the flange portion 42 comprises about 40%. However, the length of the slots may vary. It is essential that the continuous flange portion 42 have a sufficient dimension or length so that the flange 40 will remain inverted, without heat forming and curing, as hereinafter described.
  • the continuous flange portion 42 first engages the annular bead 37 on the container 30 and flexes the flange 40 outwardly.
  • the first continuous portion flexes radially outwardly and the free ends of segment portions 43 may contact the inner surface of band 35. Further threading of the closure on the container causes segment portions 43 to flex radially inwardly beneath the bead 37 of the container 30 (Fig. 3).
  • the first continuous flange portion 42 is substantially vertical and the free edges of segment portions 43 engage the neck of the container below bead 37.
  • the closure which forms part of the tamper indicating package requires a substantially lower application force in applying the closure and yet effectively provides the desired tamper indicating protection. It is believed that the considerable reduction in application force to pass over the bead on the container is achieved by reducing the hoop strength of the flange 40 toward its extremity. It is preferred that the bend in the flange 40 be at or near the juncture of the segment portions 43 with the flange portion 42. In such an arrangement, the segment portions 43 are at a thickness at the bend line X such that they are able to bend approximately along hinge line X.
  • a radially outward force on the tips of the segment portions 43 will first cause bending at the second hinge line X and thus aLlow easier deflection of the segment portions 43 of the flange 40, thereby reducing application force.
  • the length of the slots S is such that the base of the slots is intermediate the bend line X and the free ends of the segment portions 43, the segment portions 43 may flex adjacent the base of the slots that define the segment portions.
  • the closure could, by complex molding apparatus, be made to the final configuration as shown in Fig. 4, it is preferred that the closure be made with the flange 40 extending radially and inwardly and axially outwardly away from the base wall of the closure.
  • the closure 32 is preferably molded by injection molding or compression molding with the annular flange portion 42 and segments extending radially downwardly and inwardly relative to the base wall 33 of the closure 32 with the annular flange and segments being preferably aligned with one another. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 7, the first hinge portion 41.
  • connecting the annular flange portion 42 to the band 35 includes an upper inclined surface 45 that extends downwardly and inwardly from the inner surface of band 35 and that merges through an are to a straight upper surface on the annular flange portion 42 and segment portions.
  • the lower surface 47 of the annular flange 40 is at an angle to the upper surface so that the flange 40 becomes increasingly thicker toward the free end.
  • the lower surface 48 of the hinge 41 is generally horizontal connected by small arc to the interior surface of the peripheral skirt.
  • the flange 40 can be deformed to provide the flange portion 42 at a substantially vertical angle and deform to form the bend X and then the flange 40 may be inverted in accordance with well-known techniques.
  • the continuous flange portion 42 can be deformed so that it is substantially vertical and the bend X can be simultaneously formed during the inversion.
  • the elastic limit of the flange portion 42 can be exceeded to decrease the angle which the flange portion 42 forms with the axis of the closure and the elastic limit of the flange at the line X can be exceeded to form the bend desired.
  • a plunger or mandrel M such as shown in Figs. 9-14 and comprises a free end having a cap centering cone 50, a thread location diameter for engaging the diameter of the threads of the closure, a first inclined portion, a pilot diameter 52 and a laterally inclined inverting shoulder 53 that engages the segment portions to invert the segment portions and the annular flange portion, as presently described.
  • This action initially induces a stress in the segment at the bend line X, which causes a permanent bend in the flange 40 toward the inside of the closure.
  • This action causes the continuous annular flange 42 to be moved such that the flange portion 42 exceeds the elastic limit at the hinge 41 so that it remains in a substantially vertical position in the final closure after the closure is removed from the mandrel. This further reduces the interference of the hinge over the tamper bead of the container to which it is applied.
  • the closure 32 is removed by a fixed stripper (not shown) which engages the rim of the closure 32, and extends at least 180° around the circumference of the closure (not illustrated).
  • the plunge invert tooling described thus has two major effects:
  • the flange 40a has segment portions43a with raised portions 59 along each axial edge thereof positioned adjacent the inner surface of the flange 40a when the flange 40a is inverted.
  • Such a thickening of the side edges provides rigidity to each segment portion 43a in an axial direction while permitting circumferential flexing of each segment portion 43a so that it may tend to conform with the finish.
  • a raised rib 61 on the flange 40b performs a similar function.
  • the second portion 43a comprises a second continuous flange portion which is connected to continuous flange portion 42 and extends at a greater angle therefrom.
  • the closure is similar, is made in the same manner, and functions in the same manner.
  • the closure is identical to that shown in Figs. 2-8A and 8B except for the provision of circumferentially spaced axially extending projections 50 on the inner surface of the band 35 above the inclined surface 45.
  • the projections are aligned with the slots S and have a width slightly less than the width of the slots.
  • the length of the projections as shown in Figs. 27 and 28 is such that lower edges of the projections are not engaged by the second portion of the flange 40, namely, the segment portions 43.
  • the projections function to deter any attempts to tamper with the tamper indicating band by hooking a tool on the segment portions 43.
  • each recess 60 on the tamper indicating band 35 has a generally rectangular cross section including an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface 63 and a radial surface 62.
  • the axial height of each recess 60 is less than the axial length of each segment 43 on flange 40 of band 35.
  • the axial height width of each recess 60 is greater than the axial height of the segment 43 and the circumferential width of each is greater than the circumferential width of each segment 43 such that the recesses 60 and segments 43 are generally complementary.
  • circumferentially spaced raised axial ribs or projections 64 are provided on the inside surface 62 of the band 35 between recesses 60.
  • the upper end of each projection 64 is rounded.
  • Each projection 64 extends axially and is generally triangular conforming to the configuration of the slots between segments 43. Referring to Fig. 34, when the closure is being removed, the projections 64 project through the slots between segments 43 and engage the annular bead 37 on the container during removal.
  • the projections assist in centering the closure and maintaining the band 35 more concentric to the finish to avoid tiring or inverting action of the band 35 which can result if the band 35 is allowed to move laterally of the finish.
  • the projections 64 also provide additional strength to the band 35 having recesses therein.
  • the overall weight of a closure with recesses 60 and projections 64 remains, however, substantially the same as closure without recesses and projections.
  • a tamper indicating package with an improved arrangement for interengaging the closure with the container so that when the closure is removed the tamper indicating band remains on the container; wherein the closure can be readily applied to the container; and wherein the tamper indicating package effectively minimizes tampering.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Micro-Capsules (AREA)
  • Pigments, Carbon Blacks, Or Wood Stains (AREA)

Claims (4)

  1. Unversehrtheitsanzeigeverschluss, umfassend:
    ein Kunststoffverschluss (32), der eine Basiswand (33) und eine sich nach unten erstreckende periphere Ringwand (34) aufweist, die zum Eingriff in Schraubwindungen eines Behälters dienende Schraubwindungen besitzt;
    ein Unversehrtheitsanzeigeband (35), das über eine oder mehrere Schwachstellen (36) mit der Ringwand verbunden ist, die eine Aufreißlinie bestimmen;
    ein ringförmiger Flansch (40), der sich achsial nach oben und innen von dem Unversehrtheitsanzeigeband zu der Basiswand (33) des Verschlusses erstreckt; mit folgenden Merkmalen;
    der Flansch (40) weist eine untere Oberfläche (47) im Winkel zu seiner oberen Oberfläche auf, so dass der Flansch zu seinem freien Ende hin zunehmend dicker wird;
    der Flansch (40) umfasst einen ersten umlaufenden ringförmigen Flanschteil (42), der mit der Innenoberfläche des Unversehrtheitsanzeigebandes (35) über ein Scharnier (41) verbunden ist, das im Abstand radial nach innen von der Innenoberfläche des Bandes (35) angeordnet ist;
    der Flansch (40) ist zwischen seinen Enden gebogen, so dass ein zweiter Teil sich mit größerem Winkel zur Achse des Verschlusses nach innen erstreckt als der erste Teil und dafür ausgebildet ist, unterhalb eines Wulstes an einem Behälter anzuliegen;
    der zweite Teil umfasst eine Mehrzahl von in Umfangsrichtung beabstandeten Segmenten (43), die durch schmale Schlitze voneinander getrennt sind, die sich nach oben und innen von dem umlaufenden Flansch erstrecken;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,    dass das Band (35) eine Mehrzahl von in Umfangsrichtung beabstandeten Aussparungen (60) aufweist, die so ausgebildet und angeordnet sind, dass wenn der Verschluss (32) auf einen Behälter aufgebracht wird, ein Teil jedes Segmentes sich in die benachbarte Aussparung (60) hinein erstreckt, und
       dass es eine Mehrzahl von in Umfangsrichtung beabstandeten Vorsprüngen (64) an der Innenoberfläche des Bandes (35) zwischen den Segmenten (43) gibt, so dass, wenn sich die Segmente an einem ringförmigen Wulst an einem Behälter anlegen, wenn der Verschluss (32) gerade von einem Behälter entfernt wird, die Vorsprünge (64) sich in die Schlitze zwischen den Segmenten (43) )erstrecken, um bei der Aufrechterhaltung der Konzentrizität des Unversehrtheitsanzeigeverschlusses (32) am Behälter behilflich zu sein.
  2. Unversehrtheitsanzeigeverschluss nach Anspruch 1, worin die Vorsprünge (60) und die Segmente (43) sich hinsichtlich ihrer Gestalt ergänzen.
  3. Unversehrtheitsanzeigeverschluss nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, worin die Aussparungen (60) eine Umfangsbreite aufweisen, die im wesentlichen gleich der Umfangsbreite der Segmente (43) ist.
  4. Unversehrtheitsanzeigeverschluss nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
    worin die achsiale Höhe der jeweiligen Aussparung (60) größer als die achsiale Höhe der jeweiligen Segmente (43) ist.
EP98301411A 1997-02-27 1998-02-26 Originalitätsverschluss Expired - Lifetime EP0861792B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US80718497A 1997-02-27 1997-02-27
US807184 1997-02-27

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0861792A1 EP0861792A1 (de) 1998-09-02
EP0861792B1 true EP0861792B1 (de) 2002-08-21

Family

ID=25195774

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98301411A Expired - Lifetime EP0861792B1 (de) 1997-02-27 1998-02-26 Originalitätsverschluss

Country Status (12)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0861792B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2902391B2 (de)
CN (1) CN1200345A (de)
AT (1) ATE222553T1 (de)
AU (1) AU730107B2 (de)
BR (1) BR9800213A (de)
CA (1) CA2230152C (de)
CO (1) CO4761097A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69807271T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2182223T3 (de)
SG (1) SG60209A1 (de)
ZA (1) ZA981614B (de)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5979682A (en) * 1997-04-14 1999-11-09 Zumbuhl; Bruno Tab construction for closures having tamper evident rings
CA2419086A1 (en) * 2002-02-22 2003-08-22 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Tamper-indicating closure and package
ITMI20030220A1 (it) † 2003-02-07 2004-08-08 Guglielmo Ferrari Tappo a vite con anello di sicurezza ad affidabilita' migliorata
DE102004014758A1 (de) * 2004-03-23 2005-10-06 Bericap Gmbh & Co. Kg Verschlusskappe mit Flexband
FR2893591B1 (fr) * 2005-11-22 2009-11-06 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Dispositif de bouchage d'un col de recipient, recipient equipe d'un tel dispositif et procede de fabrication d'un tel dispositif
GB0622398D0 (en) * 2006-11-09 2006-12-20 Carbonite Corp Beverage containers
US9790005B2 (en) * 2010-10-15 2017-10-17 Closure Systems International Inc. Plastic closure with enhanced performance
ES2578152T3 (es) 2011-04-06 2016-07-21 Creanova Universal Closures Limited Cierre con banda a prueba de manipulación plegada
GB201601789D0 (en) * 2016-02-01 2016-03-16 Obrist Closures Switzerland Improvements in or relating to tamper-evident closures

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4801030A (en) 1987-05-28 1989-01-31 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Tamper-indicating closure and package
DE69004820T2 (de) * 1989-01-30 1994-06-16 Hc Ind Garantieverschluss aus Kunststoff.
US5219507A (en) * 1989-07-27 1993-06-15 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Method of making a tamper indicating package
CA2112565C (en) * 1991-06-29 2002-08-27 Gunter Spatz Plastic closure for containers with tamper indicating element
FR2683509B1 (fr) * 1991-11-08 1994-01-28 Astra Plastique Bouchon a vis, en matiere synthetique, equipe d'une bague d'inviolabilite.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2902391B2 (ja) 1999-06-07
ZA981614B (en) 1998-08-31
DE69807271T2 (de) 2002-12-19
CO4761097A1 (es) 1999-04-27
AU5631198A (en) 1998-09-03
DE69807271D1 (de) 2002-09-26
ES2182223T3 (es) 2003-03-01
AU730107B2 (en) 2001-02-22
BR9800213A (pt) 1999-06-01
EP0861792A1 (de) 1998-09-02
CA2230152C (en) 2001-09-18
CA2230152A1 (en) 1998-08-27
ATE222553T1 (de) 2002-09-15
MX9801549A (es) 1998-12-31
SG60209A1 (en) 1999-02-22
JPH10316155A (ja) 1998-12-02
CN1200345A (zh) 1998-12-02

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