GB2151590A - Tamper-proof packages and closures therefor - Google Patents

Tamper-proof packages and closures therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2151590A
GB2151590A GB08333616A GB8333616A GB2151590A GB 2151590 A GB2151590 A GB 2151590A GB 08333616 A GB08333616 A GB 08333616A GB 8333616 A GB8333616 A GB 8333616A GB 2151590 A GB2151590 A GB 2151590A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
closure
container
ring
bridge portions
bead
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08333616A
Other versions
GB2151590B (en
GB8333616D0 (en
Inventor
George Victor Mumford
Ernest Liang-Chuan Li
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.)
OI Glass Inc
Original Assignee
Owens Illinois 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 Inc filed Critical Owens Illinois Inc
Priority to GB08333616A priority Critical patent/GB2151590B/en
Publication of GB8333616D0 publication Critical patent/GB8333616D0/en
Publication of GB2151590A publication Critical patent/GB2151590A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2151590B publication Critical patent/GB2151590B/en
Expired 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
    • B65D41/32—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
    • B65D41/3442—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container
    • B65D41/3447—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
    • B65D2401/30—Tamper-ring remaining connected to closure after initial removal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
    • B65D2401/40—Bridges having different cross-sections

Abstract

A tamper-proof package comprises a container having an annular locking bead 21 positioned axially below external threads 12, and a closure having a skirt 15 with a pilfer ring 18 at the lower end thereof connected to the upper portion of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridge portions. The ring 18 has a radially inwardly extending annular rib 20 engaging beneath the locking bead when the closure is on the container. One 19a of the bridge portions has a greater radial or circumferential extent than the remainder. When the closure is applied to the container, the rib on the pilfer ring snaps over and engages below the locking bead on the container, and when the closure is rotated to remove the closure from the container, the bridge portions are broken except for the bridge portion 19a such that the pilfer ring remains connected to the closure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to tamper-proof packages and closures therefor The present invention relates to tamper-proof packages and closures therefor.
In the packaging of variouscommodities, it has become desirable to-provide some indication as to whether the contents have been tampered with. In such packages, one common expedient has been to use'a ring that is connected to the closure of the container and is broken or severed when attempts are made to remove the closure. In one type of such package, that is-shown for example in United States Patent Specification Nos. 3,329,290 and 3,784,041, the closure includes an integral pilfer ring that snaps over an annular bead on the container and is fractured or severed from the closure when the closure is removed.In another type of package such as shown in United States Patent Specification Nos. 3,673;761, 4,206,852 and 4,033,472, the closure includes an integral ring which is deformed by heat over an annular bead when the closure is applied to the container, which ring is thereafter fractured or broken from the remainder of the closure when the closure is removed. In United States Patent Specification-No. 4,033,472, the closure includes a portion that retains the pilfer ring in position.
According to one feature of the present invention, a temper-proof package comprises a container having a neck with external threads formed thereon, and a plastic closure comprising a top panel and an integral depending annular skirt, the skirt having integral internal threads formed thereon complementary to the threads on the neck of the container, the container having an annular locking bead positioned axially below the threads, said skirt having a pilfer ring at the lower end thereof connected to the upper portion of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridge portions that are located below the threads when the closure is on the container, said ring having a radially inwardly extending annular rib engaging beneath the locking bead of the container when the closure ison the container, one of said bridge portions having a greater cross section than the remainder of said bridge portions such that when the closure is applied to the container, the rib on the pilfer ring snaps over and engages below the annular locking bead on the container, and when the closure is rotated to remove the closure from the container, the bridge portions are broken except for the bridge portion having the greater cross section such that the pilfer ring remains connected to the closure.
According to another feature of the present invention, a tamper-proof closure for a container having a neck with external threads formed thereon and having an annular bead positioned axially below the threads, comprises a plastics body including a top panel and an integral depending annular skirt, said skirt having integral internal threads formed thereon adapted to engage the threads on the neck of a container, said skirt having a ring at the lower end thereof connected to the upper portion of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridge portions such that the bridge portions are located below the threads when the closure is on the container, said ring portion having a radially inwardly extending annular rib engaging beneath the locking bead of the container when the closure is on the container, one of said bridge portions having a greater cross section than the remainder of said bridge portions such that when the closure is applied to a container, the rib on the pilfer ring snaps over and engages below the annular bead on the container, and when the closure is rotated to remove the closure from the container, the bridge portions are broken except for the bridge portion having the greater cross section such that the pilfer ring remains connected to the closure.
Thus the present invention can provide a package which has a pilfer ring that can function to indicate that a closure has been removed or tampered with, which does not require any special step in the application of the closure to the container, which can be readily manufactured'and which can effectively provide an indication of tampering or removal of-the closure while keeping the retaining ring attached to the closure.
The invention will be further described by way of'example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a package embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing the package during removal of the closure, Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the package during a further step of removal of the closure, Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a package with closure applied, Figures 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views showing the closure and container during various steps in the removal of the closure, Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 4 of a modofied form of pack age, ~ and Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of a modified closure.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, a package embodying the invention comprises a con tainer 10 having a neck 11 with external threads 1 2 thereon, and a plastic closure 1 3 including a top wall 1 4 and a peripheral skirt 1 5 having internal threads 15a for engaging threads 1 3. rhe top wall includes an annular rib 1 G adapted to engage the upper end 1 7 of the container. The container may be made of glass or plastics. The closure 1 3 is preferably made of plastics such as high density poly ethylene.
The lower arjriulj-r portion 1 8 of the skirt is connected to tl-ie remairider of the skirt by a plurality of Integral bridge portions 1 9 to define a pilfer riny. One of the bridge portions 1 9a has a greater cross sectional area than the remainder of the bridge portions 1 9. The bridge portions preferably have a greater circumferential extent or length than radial thick nests, with the radial thickness of the bridge portion 1 9a being greater than the radial thickneass of the remaining bridge portions 19.
The pilfer ring 1 8 further includes a radially inwardly extending annular rib 20 near its lower edge which extends beneath an annular locking bead 21 that is below the threads 12 on the container thereby defining a space 22 between the threads and the bead 21.
The closure may include serrations in the form of vertical ribs 23 to facilitate grasping the closure.
In order to apply the closure to the container, the closure 1 3 is threaded onto the container 10 and then by manually applying an axial force, the rib 20 on the closure 1 3 snaps below the locking bead 21 of the container, after which the closure 1 3 is tightened onto the container 1 0.
Referring to Fig. 2, when the closure 1 3 is rotated to unthread the closure 1 3 from the container 10, the interaction of the threads í 2 or the container 10 and the threads 15a oir the closure 1 3 provide a force axiaily on eacn of the bridge portions. The dimensions of the bridge portions 1 9 are such that they are ri-actured or broken by this force escept for the bridge portion 1 ova having the greater cross section. As shown in Fig. 3, continued rotation of the closure 1 3 causes the pilfer ring -18 to snap over the annular bead 21 on the container 1 0.The he thickness of the pilfer ring 1 8 radially is such that during this move ment, the pilfer ring 1 8 assumes an oval configuration permitting it to snap over the annular bead 21.
The continued unthreading of the closure 1 3 resuits in the closure being completely removed from the container with the pilfer ring 1 8 remaining connected to tire closure by the thickened portion 1 9a.
In a modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the closure is substantialiy identical except that the greater cross sectional area of one of the bridge portions 1 9b is achieved by the bridge portion 1 9b having a greater circumferential length rather than a greater radial thickness, as in the previously described embodiment of the invention.
In a further modified form of the closure shown in Fig. 10, the pilfer ring 1 8a has a rib 20a comprising a plurality of circumferential bead segments 20b in an annular array. This enhances the flexibility of the ring 1 8a so that it can more readily snap over the annular bead 21 on the container 10.
It can thus be seen that there has been provided a closure which provides an effective indication of the fact that the closure has been removed or attempted to be removed which is simply made, easily applied, and retains the pilfer ring thereon after removal from a container.

Claims (11)

1. A tamper-proof package comprising a container having a neck with external threads formed thereon, and a plastics closure comprising a top panel and an integral depending annular skirt, said skirt having integral internal threads formed thereon complementary to the threads on the neck of the container, said container having an annular bead positioned axially below the threads, said skirt having a ring at the lower end thereof connected to the upper portion of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridge portions located below the threads when the closure is on the container.
said ring having a radially inwardly extending annular rib engaging beneath the locking bead of the container when the closure is on the container, one of said bridge portions having a greater cross section than the remainder of said bridge portions such that when the closure is applied to the container, the rib on the pilfer ring snaps over and engages below the annular locking bead on the container, and when the closure is rotated to remove the closure from the container, the bridge portions are broken except for the bridge portion having the greater cross section such that the pilfer ring remains connected to the closure.
2. A package as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said bridge portions has a greater circumferential length than radial thickness.
3. A package as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said bridge portion of greater cross section has a greater radial thickness than the remainder of the bridge portions.
4. A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each of said bridge portions is within the confines of the skirt and ring.
5. A package as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which the thickness of said ring is such that the ring will flex to an oval configu ration as the closure is being removed so that the ring will pass over the annular bead of the container into the space between the threads of the container and the bead.
6. A package as claimed in claim 1, in which said annular bead on said ring comprises a single continuous bead.
7. A package as claimed in claim 1, in which said annular bead on said ring comprises a plurality of bead segments in an annular array.
8. A tamper-proof closure for a container having a neck with external threads formed thereon and having an annular bead position axially below the threads, comprising a plastics body including a top panel and an integral depending annular skirt, said skirt having integral internal threads formed thereon adapted to engage the threads on the neck of a container, said skirt having a ring at the lower end thereof connected to the upper portion of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridge portions such that the bridge portions are located below the threads when the closure is on the container, said ring portion having a radially inwardly extending annular rib engaging beneath the locking bead of the container when the closure is on the container, one of said bridge portions having a greater cross section than the remainder of said bridge portions such that when the closure is applied to a container, the rib on the pilfer ring snaps over and engages below the annular bead on the container, and when the closure is rotated to remove the closure from the container, the bridge portions are broken except for the bridge portion having the greater cross section such that the pilfer ring remains connected to the closure.
9. A closure as claimed in claim 8, in which each of said bridge portions has a greater circumferential length than radial thickness.
10. A closure as claimed in claim 8 or 9, in which said portion of greater cross section has a greater radial thickness than the remainder of the bridge portions.
11. A closure as claimed in claim 7, in which said annular bead on said ring comprises a single continuous bead.
1 2. A closure as claimed in claim 7, in which said annular bead on said ring comprises a plurality of bead segments in an annular array.
1 3. A tamper-proof package constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, or Fig. 9, or Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.
1 4. A closure for a container, constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, or Fig. 9, or Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A closure as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, in which each of said bridge portions is within the confines of the skirt and ring.
1 2. A closure as claimed in claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, in which the thickness of said ring is such that the ring will flex to an oval configuration as the closure is being removed so that the ring will pass over the annular bead of a container into the space between the threads of the container and the bead.
1 3. A closure as claimed in claim 8, in which said annular bead on said ring comprises a single continuous bead.
1 4. A closure as claimed in claim 8, in which said annular bead on said ring comprises a plurality of bead segments in an annular array.
1 5. A tamper-proof package constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, or Fig. 9, or Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.
1 6. A closure for a container, constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, or Fig. 9 or Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.
CLAIMS Superseded claims 1-16. New or amended claims:-
1. A tamper-proof package comprising a container having a neck with external threads formed thereon, and a plastics closure comprising a top panel and an integral depending annular skirt, said skirt having integral internal threads formed thereon complementary to the threads on the neck of the container, said container having an annular bead positioned axially below the threads, said skirt having a pilfer ring at the lower end thereof connected to the upper portion of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridge portions located below the threads when the closure is on the container, said ring having a radially inwardly extending annular rib engaging beneath the locking bead ofthe container when the closure is on the container and having a thickness such that the ring can flex to an oval configuration, one of said bridge portions having a greater cross sectional area than the remainder of said bridge portions such that when the closure is applied to the container, the rib on the pilfer ring snaps over and engages below the annular locking bead on the container, and when the closure is rotated to remove the closure from the container, the bridge portions are broken except for the bridge portion having the greater cross sectional area, and the ring will flex to an oval configuration as the closure is being removed so that the ring will pass over the annular bead of the container into the space between the threads of the container and the bead such that the pilfer ring remains connected to the closure.
2. A package as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said bridge portions has a greater circumferential length than radial thickness.
3. A package as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said bridge portion of greater cross sectional area has a greater radial thickness than the remainder of the bridge portions.
4. A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which each of said bridge portions is within the confines of the skirt and ring.
5. A package as claimed in claim 1, in which said annular bead on said ring com prises a single continuous bead.
6. A package as claimed in claim 1, in which said annular bead on said ring comprises a plurality of bead segments in an annular array.
7. A tamper-proof closure for a container having a neck with external threads formed thereon and having an annular bead positioned axially below the threads, comprising a platics body including a top panel and an integral depending annular skirt, said skirt having integral internal threads formed thereon adapted to engage the threads on the neck of a container, said skirt having a pilfer ring at the lower end thereof connected to the upper portion of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridge portions such that the bridge portions are located below the threads when the closure is on the container, said ring having a radially inwardly extending annular rib engaging beneath the locking bead of the container when the closure is on the container and having a thickness such that the ring can flex to an oval configuration, one of said bridge portions having a greater cross sectional area than the remainder of said bridge portions such that when the closure is applied to a container, the rib on the pilfer ring snaps over and engages below the annular bead on the container, and when the closure is rotated to remove the closure from the container, the bridge portions are broken except for the bridge portion having the greater cross sectional area such that the pilfer ring remains connected to the closure.
8. A closure as claimed in claim 7, in which each of said bridge portions has a greater circumferential length than radial thickness.
9. A closure a claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which said bridge portion of greater cross sectional area has a greater radial thickness than the remainder of the bridge portions.
10. A closure as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, in which each of said bridge portions is within the confines of the skirt and ring.
GB08333616A 1983-12-16 1983-12-16 Tamper-proof packages and closures therefor Expired GB2151590B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08333616A GB2151590B (en) 1983-12-16 1983-12-16 Tamper-proof packages and closures therefor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08333616A GB2151590B (en) 1983-12-16 1983-12-16 Tamper-proof packages and closures therefor

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8333616D0 GB8333616D0 (en) 1984-01-25
GB2151590A true GB2151590A (en) 1985-07-24
GB2151590B GB2151590B (en) 1987-02-04

Family

ID=10553424

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08333616A Expired GB2151590B (en) 1983-12-16 1983-12-16 Tamper-proof packages and closures therefor

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2151590B (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1303436A (en) * 1969-09-08 1973-01-17
GB1432836A (en) * 1972-05-12 1976-04-22 Couronne Emballages Anti-tamper stopper
GB1444302A (en) * 1973-07-02 1976-07-28 Somepla Sa Screw cap
GB1507540A (en) * 1974-08-19 1978-04-19 Obrist Ag Albert Closure for containers
GB2096114A (en) * 1981-02-11 1982-10-13 Grussen Jean Cap with tamper-proof hold ring

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1303436A (en) * 1969-09-08 1973-01-17
GB1432836A (en) * 1972-05-12 1976-04-22 Couronne Emballages Anti-tamper stopper
GB1444302A (en) * 1973-07-02 1976-07-28 Somepla Sa Screw cap
GB1507540A (en) * 1974-08-19 1978-04-19 Obrist Ag Albert Closure for containers
GB2096114A (en) * 1981-02-11 1982-10-13 Grussen Jean Cap with tamper-proof hold ring

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2151590B (en) 1987-02-04
GB8333616D0 (en) 1984-01-25

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee