EP3826934A1

EP3826934A1 - Fluid container closure system

Info

Publication number: EP3826934A1
Application number: EP19745609.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rodney Druitt; David Bevan
Original assignee: Creanova Universal Closures Ltd
Current assignee: Creanova Universal Closures Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-26
Filing date: 2019-07-26
Publication date: 2021-06-02
Also published as: WO2020021094A1; US20210309420A1

Abstract

A fluid container closure system is proposed, comprising a fluid container which comprises a fluid outlet, a neck finish adjacent to the fluid outlet, wherein the neck finish includes a retaining rim arranged a distance apart from the fluid outlet, protruding in a radial outward direction encircling the neck finish in a circumferential direction. The fluid container closure system further comprises a screw cap (300) for sealing the fluid outlet, the screw cap comprising a base (301) including a top deck (302) and a skirt (303) extending downward therefrom. Further, the screw cap comprises a tamper evident band (320) comprising a base with a lateral inner surface (321). The screw cap further comprises a predetermined breaking structure (309) along which the skirt and the tamper evident band are interconnected. The tamper evident band comprises a lip (322) extending at least in part circumferentially along the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band's base and projects inwardly therefrom, wherein the lip comprises a hinge section (324) and a retaining surface (325), and wherein the lip is configured in such a way that, when the screw cap is initially applied to the fluid container, the lip is folded upward about the hinge section such that the retaining surface in an applied position of the screw cap is positioned underneath the retaining rim.

Description

Fluid container closure system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fluid container closure system according to the preamble of the patent claims. In particular, the invention relates to a screw cap for containers for liquids such as soft drinks, but is well adaptable to seal other con tainers such as glass or PET containers with contents at above or below atmospheric pressure or having gaseous components or requiring a hermetic seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages for liquids, such as beverages, are often closed by screw caps which can be removed before usage and allow the packages to be sealed again after usage, such as pouring the liquid out of the fluid container. The screw cap seals the con tainer if attached and further prevents a contamination of the liquid.

Many of the screw caps at present are of the tamper evident type, using a tamper evident band interconnected to a base of the screw cap by a breaking structure. After tearing the breaking structure connecting the base to the tamper evident band, the tamper evident band e.g. falls away leaving a visual gap between the base and the tamper evident band, such that it can easily be detected that the con tainer had been opened. An object underlying the present invention is to provide means for closing and opening a fluid container wherein tampering of the fluid container is made reliably evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A fluid container closure system is proposed, comprising a fluid container which comprises a fluid outlet, a neck finish adjacent to the fluid outlet, wherein the neck finish includes a retaining rim arranged a distance apart from the fluid outlet, pro truding in a radial outward direction encircling the neck finish in a circumferential direction. Depending on the field of application, the retaining rim usually acts as a neck support rim, which may be configured for use in production lines to facilitate handling of the fluid container, for example when it is gripped by the neck support rim. The fluid container closure system further comprises a screw cap for sealing the fluid outlet, the screw cap comprising a base including a top deck and a skirt extending downward therefrom. Further, the screw cap comprises a tamper evi dent band comprising a base with a lateral inner surface. The screw cap further comprises a predetermined breaking structure along which the skirt and the tamper evident band are interconnected. Good results can be achieved when the predeter mined breaking structure is provided by a knife in a scoring process in which the skirt is locally scored. Alternatively, or in addition, the predetermined breaking structure may comprise at least one frangible element (bridge) generated prefera bly by an injection moulding process along with the rest of the screw cap. The tamper evident band comprises a lip extending at least in part circumferentially along the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band's base and projects in wardly therefrom, wherein the lip comprises a hinge section and a retaining surface, and wherein the lip is configured in such a way that, when the screw cap is initially applied to the fluid container, the lip is folded upward about the hinge section such that the retaining surface in an applied position of the screw cap is positioned un derneath the retaining rim.

When the screw cap is initially opened, the tamper evident band is retained against upward displacement by the retaining surface abutting the retaining rim of the fluid container's neck finish, thereby separating the base of the screw cap from the base of the tamper evident band and breaking the predetermined breaking structure. The tamper evident band is configured to then drop away from the retaining rim. Generally, the terms downward, inward and upward are used with reference to the axis around which the screw cap is screwed or the longitudinal axis of the neck fin ish of the fluid container. Hence, inward is understood to generally mean radially toward the axis whilst downward and upward are generally understood to mean approximately parallel to the axis.

The predetermined breaking structure is configured to break when the base of the screw cap is unscrewed from the neck finish of the fluid container. This is achieved in particular by tensile strain applied across the predetermined breaking structure which overcomes its structural integrity. The tensile strain is caused by the tamper evident band being prevented from upward displacement past the retaining rim of the fluid container's neck finish, due to the lip's retaining surface jamming against the retaining rim, while the base of the screw cap moves upward and away from the tamper evident band, in particular its base. As the base and the tamper evident band separate from one another, the tamper evident band is free to drop away from the retaining rim and rest on a part of the fluid container with a larger diame ter than the neck finish, for example a shoulder part of the fluid container. When the tamper evident band has dropped away from the retaining rim, it exposes a gap between the tamper evident band and the base of the screw cap when the latter is re-applied to the fluid container for sealing. This gap shows the user that the fluid container has been tampered with or the fluid container has already been opened at least once.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the base of the tamper evident band comprises an upper rim configured to abut the screw cap base while the screw cap initially seals the fluid container and a lower rim directed away from the screw cap base, wherein the lip projects inwardly from the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band's base in its upper half section. Preferably, the lip projects in wardly from the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band's base from a po sition nearer to the upper rim than to the lower rim. Good anti-tamper results are achieved when the lip projects inwardly from the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band's base in its upper third section. Initial sealing of the fluid container is considered to generally include the first time the screw cap is applied to the fluid container and before breakage of the predetermined structure occurs. In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the lip, in particular the base section of the lip, may comprise gas release means configured to release gas from a carbonated drink product or a drink product under pressure when the screw cap is unscrewed. The gas release means may include cutouts, for examples holes or slits, in the lip. When the screw cap is unscrewed from the fluid container, gas from the interior of the fluid container may initially be released in a relatively limited and controlled amount via the gas release means, helping to prevent explosive gas re lease and spillage of the drink. The gas release means may contribute to structural weakening of the lip in the area of the hinge, in particular stiffness reduction and / or elasticity increase of the lip.

The hinge section of the lip's base section preferably comprises an area of structural weakening of the lip and may be thinner than other parts of the lip. In particular, the lip may comprise cutouts as a measure of structural weakening. The cutouts may be arranged in or adjacent the hinge section of the lip. In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the lip comprises a base section and an end section, wherein the base section is interconnected to the inner lateral surface of tamper evident band's base and includes the hinge section, and wherein the end section is directed toward the base of the screw cap and at least one part of the end section is thinner than a part of the base section of the lip. For example, as the part of end section which is thinner than a part of the base section of the tip, the end section may comprise a staggered form, in particular including at least one step, whereby the retaining surface includes a surface of the step. The base of the tamper evident base is preferably in the shape of a sleeve or collar.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the at least one thinner part of the end section of the lip, in applied position of the screw cap, is at least partially arranged, in particular clamped, between the retaining rim and the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular the inner lateral surface of the skirt. The base section of the lip may be formed as a seat extending circumferentially along the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular the skirt, the seat in cluding the retaining surface. However, the lip may be discontinuous and consist of a series of subsidiary lips, of which at least one subsidiary lip is shaped according to the description of a lip in this document.

Preferably, the retaining surface has a surface normal projecting away from the base section of the lip, in particular a surface normal projecting toward the under side of the retaining rim of the fluid container's neck finish.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, when the screw cap has once been applied to the fluid container, the lip is shaped to curve up and away from the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band's base in a hook-like manner. For example, the lip may be U-shaped, wherein the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band's base constitutes one side of the U-shape and the curved up lip the other side of the U-shape. In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the at least one thinner part of the end section of the lip comprises at least one projection that extends upward from the retaining surface of the lip. In the applied position of the screw cap, the at least one projection may be arranged, in particular clamped, between the retaining rim and the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular the inner lateral surface of the skirt. In a variation, the at least one thinner part of the end section of the lip comprises a plurality of such projections extending upward from the retain ing surface in the manner of merlons of a crenellation.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the lip is formed integrally with the tamper evident band.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular the inner lateral surface of the skirt, comprises at least one inwardly directed protrusion arranged laterally opposite the retaining rim. Pref erably, the at least one thinner part of the end section of the lip is laterally supported by the inwardly directed protrusion.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, a plurality of inwardly directed protrusions is arranged along the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular along the inner lateral surface of the skirt, each protrusion being ar ranged laterally opposite the retaining rim and a plurality of thinner parts of the end section of the lip are preferably arranged, in particular clamped, therebetween.

As the screw cap base is removed by a user, in particular raised by twisting off, the tamper evident band is immobilized both vertically by means of the retaining sur- face jammed against the underside of the fluid container's retaining rim and immo bilized laterally by means of the thinner part of the lip's end section arranged, in particular clamped, between the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in par ticular the inner lateral surface of the skirt, and the retaining rim. This leads results in a tensile strain across the predetermined breaking structure, thus breaking it. Breaking the closure of the fluid container in such a manner reliably allows the tam per evident band to remain on the fluid container whilst cleanly removing the screw cap base for repeated closure and opening, if desired.

In a variation, the base of the screw cap comprises an inner thread for engagement with the thread on the neck of a bottle. For example, the base of the screw cap comprises an inner wall extending downward from the underside of the base's top deck, wherein the thread is provided on the inner lateral surface of this inner wall. The skirt of the screw cap's base may be considered an outer wall arranged laterally opposite, and radially outside, the inner wall with a lateral gap provided between them. The inner wall may comprise a termination in the form of a free end directed toward the bottom, in particular toward the tamper evident band's base. Alterna tively, or in addition, the inner wall and the inner lateral surface of the skirt are in terconnected by a shoulder section in which the inner wall merges with the skirt.

Good results are achieved when the inner thread is arranged on the inner wall and the inwardly directed lip is arranged on the inner lateral surface of the tamper evi dent band which is radially spaced apart from the inner wall. Preferably, the hinge section of the lip is arranged radially outside of the inner wall. The inner wall and the inner lateral surface of the screw cap's base, in particular the skirt, may be spaced apart by a lateral gap.

In an aspect of the invention, a screw cap according to a fluid container closure system described in this document, in particular as used in such a fluid container closure, in provided.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an over view or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed de scription given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The draw- ings illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to ex plain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view onto a screw cap as initially applied to a fluid con tainer;

Fig. 2 is a close-up of the boxed-in area according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a section view of the screw cap according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is section view of the fluid container closure system wherein the screw cap is in an applied state;

Fig. 5 is a close-up of the boxed-in area according to Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view onto a fluid container closure system in a first state where the base of the screw cap has been separated from the tamper evident band;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view onto a fluid container closure system in a second state where the base of the screw cap has been separated from the tam per evident band;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view onto a fluid container closure system in a third state where the base of the screw cap has been separated from the tamper evident band;

Fig. 9 a further variation of a screw cap in a perspective view from above and partially cut;

Fig. 1 0 the screw cap according to Figure 9 in a perspective view from below. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many dif- ferent forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal reguirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a screw cap 300 in its applied position on the neck finish of a fluid container (not shown) before the sealed fluid container has been opened the first time by a user. The screw cap 300 preferably consists of a synthetic material such as plastic, in particular HDPE (high density polyethylene), LDPE (low density polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene) or a combination of these materials, and is preferably injection molded. The screw cap 300 comprises a base 301 which includes a top deck 302 and a skirt 303 extending downward therefrom. The base 301 of the screw cap 300 further comprises a threaded inner surface, in particular an inner wall 304 comprising a thread 305 matching that of the fluid container's neck finish. The preferably cylindrical inner wall 304 extends downwards from the underside of the screw cap's top deck 302 some distance before terminating at a free end preferably above the level of tamper evident band 320. The top deck 302 also includes an overhang 306 extending laterally beyond the skirt 303, the edge region of the overhang 306 being curved downward toward the fluid container. The outer surface of the skirt 303 comprises a grip structure 307 to facilitate grip ping of the screw cap by the user, the grip structure in particular being configured to direct the user's fingers downward toward the predetermined breaking structure 309. To that end, the grip structure 307 preferably comprises a series of struts 308 leading from the edge region of the overhang 306 to the lower end of the base 301 adjacent the predetermined breaking structure 309. The struts 308 extend down ward and are sloped inward. They are shaped as downward facing tabs or teeth, for example. As the user grips the screw cap 300, due to the inward slope of the struts 308, the user's fingers will grip the screw cap 300 most naturally and firmly at or near the predetermined breaking structure 309.

The base 301 of the screw cap 300 further comprises a lateral inner surface 3 1 0, preferably the inner surface of the skirt 303. The lateral inner surface 3 1 0 may be a cylindrical wall extending downward from the underside of the screw cap's top deck 302 with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inner wall 304, thereby providing a lateral space between the lateral inner surface and the inner wall.

From the lateral inner surface 3 1 0, at least one inwardly directed protrusion 3 1 1 extends, in particular a series of inwardly directed protrusions 3 1 1 , preferably spaced at regular intervals along the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular the inner lateral surface 3 1 0 of the skirt. The protrusions 3 1 1 are ar ranged opposite the lip 322 of the tamper evident band 320, in particular laterally opposite the upwardly directed projections 323 of the lip 322, as described in fur ther detail below. Further, the inwardly directed protrusions 3 1 1 are preferably 5 provided adjacent and just above the predetermined breaking structure 309. The protrusions 3 1 1 preferably each have a width corresponding approximately to the width of the upwardly directed projections 323 of the tamper evident band 320, described in further detail below, opposite which they lie. For example, the protru sions 3 1 1 are dome-shaped with a circular or elliptical contour and footprint on the o inner lateral surface 3 1 0 of the screw cap base 301 , in particular the inner lateral surface of the skirt 303. The shape and arrangement of each of the protrusions 323 relative to other elements of the fluid container closure system or screw cap, when a plurality of such protrusions 323 are provided, applies also to the shape and arrangement of one single protrusion, in case only one such protrusion is pro-5 vided.

The predetermined breaking structure 309 comprises a structurally weakened sec tion of the screw cap 300, in particular a particularly thin or perforated section of the screw cap or a line of cutouts between the base 300 and the tamper evident band 320. The cutouts may be provided by a knife in a scoring process in which the0 skirt of the screw cap base is locally scored.

The tamper evident band 320 is generally shaped as a sleeve or collar and com prises a base with an inner lateral surface 321 from which a lip 322 extends inward. As the screw cap 300 in this drawing is shown in its state of first application to the fluid container, the lip 322 is shown folded upwards along a hinge section 324 and is approximately U-shaped as described earlier in this document. Prior to first ap plication of the screw cap 300 to the fluid container, however, the lip 322 may extend in a plane away from the inner lateral surface 321 , the plane preferably be ing at a downwardly directed or obtuse angle relative to the inner lateral surface 321 . The plane of the lip 322 prior to first application of the screw cap may alter natively extend inwardly from the inner lateral surface 321 perpendicularly or at an acute or upwardly directed angle. Preferably, the tamper evident band is config- ured to have a lip with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the fluid container's retaining rim.

The lip 322 comprises a base section 322a which meets and extends away from the inner lateral surface 321 of the base of the tamper evident band 320 and an end section 322b directed away from said inner lateral surface. The end section 322b of the lip 322 comprises parts which are thinner than the base section 322a, preferably comprising at least one, preferably a series of projections 323 which are thinner than and extend away from the base section 322a of the lip. Upon first application of the screw cap 300 to the fluid container, these projections 323 are upwardly directed. The transition surface of the lip 322 between its end section 322b and its base section 322a comprises a retaining surface 325 configured to abut the underside of a retaining rim 23 (see Figures 4, 5 and 7) on the fluid con tainer's neck finish 22 (see Figures 4, 6 and 7) when the tamper evident band 320 experiences an upwardly directed force or tug caused by unscrewing the screw cap 300, in particular the base 301 of the screw cap. The lip 322 comprising the ar rangement of base section 322a and end section 322b with projections 323 ex tending upward therefrom is shaped in the manner of a crenellation, wherein the merlons of the crenellation correspond to the upwardly directed projections 323. The projections 323 are generally shaped as tabs or teeth, in particular as rectan- gular tabs. The base section 322a of the lip 322 comprises a series of holes, in par ticular cutouts 326, for example to improve elasticity of the lip 322 and / or to initiate gradual decompression of gas, as gas release means, when the fluid con tainer is opened. These cutouts may be part of the hinge section 324 of the lip's base section 322a.

Although the lip 322 is shown here to comprise a base section 322a extending circumferentially along the inner lateral surface 321 of the tamper evident band, the lip 322 may instead be shorter and extend only partially along the inner lateral surface 321 . Further, the lip 322 may comprise a series of subsidiary lips, each shaped in the manner of a lip already described with a base section 322a and an end section 322b, which are spaced at regular intervals along the inner lateral sur face 321 .

Following first application of the screw cap 300 to the fluid container 20, when initially opening the screw cap 300, as its skirt 303 is gripped by the user's fingers and the base 301 of the screw cap 300 removed, in particular twisted off, the tam per evident band 320 is kept in position, in particular is prevented from lateral and vertical displacement, leading to a tensile force across the predetermined breaking structure 309 overcoming the structural integrity of the predetermined breaking structure.

Figure 2 is a close-up perspective view of the boxed in part shown in Figure 1 . Pro trusions 31 1 extend laterally away from the inner lateral surface 31 0 of the base 301 of the screw cap 300, in particular from the inner lateral surface of the skirt

303, and lie opposite the upwardly directed projections 323 of the lip 322 in its end section 322b. The lip 322 extends away inwardly from the base of the tamper evident band 320 at a height L2 which is less than the height of the tamper evident band's base L1 , in particular at its upper rim 330, hence preferably L1 > L2. L2 is preferably in the top half section, in particular top third section of the tamper evi dent band's base and / or nearer its upper rim 330 than its lower rim 331 . The retaining surface 325 with a surface normal directed toward the underside of the retaining rim 23 of the fluid container's neck finish 22 is shown as an intermediate surface between the end section 322b and base section 322a of the lip 322. Figure 3 is a section view of the screw cap 300 shown in Figure 1 . The protrusions 31 1 extending laterally away from the inner lateral surface 31 0 of the base 301 of the screw cap 300, in particular its skirt, is shown to have an elliptical dome-shape.

Figure 3 also shows the tamper evident band's base to comprise an upper rim 330 and a lower rim 33 1 , the upper rim 330 being configured to abut the lower rim of the skirt of the screw cap base 301 . The lower rim 33 1 is directed away from the screw cap base 301 and may, when the screw cap has been unscrewed at least partially, fall to rest on the outer surface of the fluid container at a position below the retaining rim 23 (see Figs. 5 to 8) of the fluid container's neck finish. The lip 322 projecting inwardly from the inner lateral surface 321 of the tamper evident band's base does so from a position at distance from the lower rim 33 1 of the tam- per evident band's base. In particular, the position of the lower rim 33 1 of the tam per evident band's base is preferably lower than the lowest extent of the lip 322. In the present example, the lip projects inwardly from the inner lateral surface 321 from a position nearer to the upper rim 330 of the tamper evident band's base than to the lower rim 33 1 . The lip 322 may project inwardly from the inner lateral sur- face 321 in the upper half or upper third section of the tamper evident band's base (see Figure 2) .

This position of the lip 322 at a distance from the lower rim 33 1 and deeper in the interior of the screw cap 300 is poorly accessible from the outside by a person or tool and makes unfolding the lip 322 once the fluid container has been sealed dif- ficult.

Figure 4 is a section view of the screw cap 300 as first applied to the fluid container 20 showing engagement of the screw cap 300 with the neck finish 22 of the fluid container 20, in particular a thread provided on said neck finish.

Figure 5 is a close up the boxed in area B of the fluid container closure system 1 as shown in Figure 4 and shows the retaining surface 325 of the lip 322 underneath, in particular vertically underneath the retaining rim 23 of the fluid container's neck finish. The retaining rim 23 includes an annular band surrounding the neck finish. The annular band may be flat or comprise some thickness, as shown in this figure. It comprises a preferably flat underside configured to engage with the retaining surface of the lip's end section, preferably also configured to engage a gripping device or holder provided at a beverage production line. In vertical direction, an area of the retaining rim 23 overlaps an area of the retaining surface of the lip. The projections 323 of the end section 322b of the lip 322 are shown to be wedged in or clamped between the lateral projection 3 1 1 of the screw cap's base inner lateral surface 3 1 0, in particular its skirt 303, and the retaining rim 23 of the fluid con- tainer's neck finish 22, in particular the lateral edge of the neck finish.

Figures 6 to 8 show various states of the fluid container closure system 1 after initial application of the screw cap 300 to a fluid container 20. In particular, Figure 6 shows the tamper evident band 320 separated from the base 301 of the screw cap 300, the outer surface of the skirt 303 and the struts 308 of the grip structure being visible, Figure 7 shows the same tamper evident band 320 which has dropped lower along the fluid container's neck finish 22 and Figure 8 shows the base 301 of the screw cap 300 as reapplied to the fluid container 20 with a gap visible to the user from the outside between the dropped tamper evident band 320 and the base 301 of the screw cap 300. Figure 8 also shows the state of the fluid container having been opened at least once after initial sealing, wherein the tamper evident band 320 and the screw cap base 301 are separated in the vertical direction by a space. Preferably, the upwardly directed projections 323 of the tamper evident band's lip 322 are visible within this gap. In this way, the user or handler of the fluid container can readily identify that it has been opened at least once following initial sealing. Were the attempt made to rejoin, at least superficially, the tamper evident band 320 with the screw cap base 301 , for example by sliding the tamper evident band 320 up and past the retaining rim 23, the latter could not be bypassed without visibly damaging or de forming the tamper evident band.

Figure 9 and Figure 10 each show a further variation of the screw cap 300, wherein Figure 9 is an angled perspective view from the top of the screw cap 300 and Figure 1 0 is an angled perspective view from the bottom. The screw cap 300 in general corresponds to the screw cap 300 as shown and described in connection with the preceding figures. With respect to the general description, therefore, ref erence is made to these drawings and their description. Differing from the varia tions according to Figures 1 to 8, however, is the inner wall 304, which in the pre- sent variation is not spaced apart by a lateral gap from the skirt 303. Instead, the inner wall 304 is not terminated at a free end as described with reference to Figure 1 but merges into the skirt 303 via a shoulder section 333. The shoulder section 333 bridges the difference between radius R 1 or diameter R 1 of the inner wall 304 and the radius R2 or diameter R2 of the inner lateral surface of the skirt 303, where preferably R2 > R 1 . R2 may correspond to the maximum radius or diameter of the inner lateral surface of the skirt 303. In general, in the shoulder section 333, the diameter R 1 of the inner wall 304 increases in direction of the tamper evident band 320. This arrangement advantageously results in weight and material savings. The diameter of the tamper evident band 320, at least at its upper rim 330, corre sponds at least to that of the lower end of the skirt 303 where the predetermined breaking structure is provided, preferably resulting in an essentially flush outer sur face transition between the skirt 303 and the tamper evident band. In both figures, the lip 322 is shown with downwardly directed protrusions 323 which, when the screw cap is made to initially seal the fluid container, will be flipped upward such that they point upward toward the screw cap base 301 and are then laterally opposite the projections 31 1 along the inner lateral surface of the skirt

303.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

1 Fluid container closure sys 3 1 1 inward protrusion along in tem ner lateral surface of screw

20 Fluid container cap base

21 Fluid container outlet 320 tamper evident band

22 Fluid container neck finish 321 inner lateral surface of tam

23 Fluid container retaining rim per evident band

24 Tamper evidence bead 322 inwardly directed lip of tam

300 screw cap per evident band

301 base of screw cap 322a base section of lip

302 top deck of screw cap 322b end section of lip

303 skirt of screw cap 323 upwardly directed projection

304 inner wall of screw cap of lip

305 thread of inner wall of screw 324 hinge section of lip

cap 325 retaining surface of lip

306 overhang of screw cap top 326 cutout in lip

deck 330 upper rim of tamper evident

307 grip structure of screw cap band

308 strut of grip structure 331 lower rim of tamper evident 309 predetermined breaking band

structure 332 gap

31 0 inner lateral surface of screw 333 shoulder section

cap base, in particular skirt

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Fluid container closure system ( 1 ), comprising:

a. a fluid container (20), comprising

i. a fluid outlet (21 ),

5 ii. a neck finish (22) adjacent to the fluid outlet (21 ), the neck finish

(22) including a retaining rim (23 ) arranged a distance apart from the fluid outlet (21 ), and

b. a screw cap (300) for sealing the fluid outlet, comprising:

i. a base (301 ) including a top deck (302), an inner lateral surfaceo (31 0) and a downward extending skirt (303 ),

ii. a tamper evident band (320) comprising a base with a lateral inner surface (321 ),

iii. a predetermined breaking structure (309) along which the skirt (303 ) and the base of the tamper evident band (320) are inter-5 connected,

characterised in that

the tamper evident band (320) further comprises

c. a lip (322) extending at least in part circumferentially along the inner lateral surface (321 ) and projecting inwardly therefrom, wherein the lip0 (322) comprises a hinge section (324) and a retaining surface (325), and wherein the lip (322) is configured in such a way that, when the screw cap (300) is initially applied to the fluid container ( 20), the lip (322) is folded upward about the hinge section (324) such that the re taining surface (325) in an applied position of the screw cap (300) is positioned underneath the retaining rim (23). 2. The fluid container closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the base of the tamper evident band (320) comprises an upper rim (330) configured to abut the screw cap base (301 ) while the screw cap initially seals the fluid container and a lower rim (33 1 ) directed away from the screw cap base (301 ), wherein the lip (322) projects inwardly from the inner lateral surface (321 ) of the tamper evident band's base in its upper half section.

3. The fluid container closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the lip (322) projects inwardly from the inner lateral surface (321 ) of the tamper evident band's base from a position nearer to the upper rim (330) than to the lower rim. 4. The fluid container closure system ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preced ing claims, wherein the lip (322) comprises a base section (322a) and an end section (322b), wherein the base section (322a) is interconnected to the inner lateral surface (321 ) of the tamper evident band's (320) base and in cludes the hinge section (324), and wherein the end section (322b) is di rected toward the base (301 ) of the screw cap (300) and at least one part of the end section (322b) is thinner than a part of the base section (322a) of the lip (322).

5. The fluid container according to claim 4, wherein the at least one thinner part of the end section (322b) of the lip (322), in applied position of the screw cap (300), at least partially is arranged between the retaining rim (23 ) and the inner lateral surface of the skirt (303 ). 6. The fluid container according to claim 5, wherein the at least one thinner part of the end section (322b) of the lip (322) comprises at least one projection (323 ) extending upward from the retaining surface (325) of the lip (322), wherein the at least one projection (323 ) is in the applied position of the screw cap (300) arranged between the retaining rim (23 ) and the inner lat- eral surface (31 0) of the skirt (303 ).

7. The fluid container closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one thinner part of the end section (322b) of the lip (322) comprises a plurality of projections (323) extending upward from the retaining surface (325) in the manner of merlons of a crenellation. 8. The fluid container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner lateral surface (3 1 0) of the skirt (303 ) comprises at least one inwardly directed protrusion (3 1 1 ) arranged laterally opposite the retaining rim (23) .

9. The fluid container according to claim 8, wherein at least one thinner part of the end section (322b) of the lip (322) is laterally supported by the at least one inwardly directed protrusion (3 1 1 ).

10. Fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of inwardly directed protrusions (31 1 ) are arranged along the inner lateral surface (3 1 0) of the skirt (303 ), each protrusion (3 1 1 ) being arranged lat erally opposite the retaining rim ( 23) and a plurality of thinner parts of the end section (322b) of the lip (322) are positioned therebetween.

1 1. Fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (301 ) of the screw cap (300) comprises an inner wall (304) extending downward from the underside of the screw cap base's top deck (302), further wherein a thread (305) is provided on the inner lateral surface of the inner wall (304).

12. Fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 1 , wherein the inner wall (304) and the inner lateral surface (3 1 0) of the skirt (303) are spaced apart by a gap (332) .

13. Fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 2, wherein the inner wall (304) and the inner lateral surface (321 ) of the tamper evident band's base are interconnected by a shoulder (333 ).

14. Fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according at least one of the preceding claims, wherein hinge section (324) of the lip (322) is arranged radially out side of the inner wall (304).

15. Fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lip (322) comprises cutouts (326) .

16. Fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 5, wherein the cut outs (326) are arranged in or adjacent the hinge section (324) of the lip. 17. The fluid receptacle closure system ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lip (322) is formed integrally with the tamper evident band (320).

18. Screw cap (300) according to the fluid container closure system ( 1 ) accord ing to one of the previous claims.