GB2193196A - Dispensing closure and container package - Google Patents

Description

GB2193196A 1

SPECIFICATION vided that the dispensing orifice has been opened providing access to the contents of Dispensing closure and container package the container.

The sealing engagement of the inner skirt This invention relates to a closure and con- 70with the neck can be with the exterior or in- tainer package, and, more particularly, to a terior of the neck an in most instances takes safety dispensing closure and container pack- the form of a plug seal being in engagement age. with the inside of the neck.

Safety closures or safety container-closure The primary safety function is accomplished packages generally have a child resistant or 75 by retention of the base cap on the neck of tamper indicating feature or both. The child the container requiring the dispensing of the resistant feature is designed to make it more product through the orifice. The snap retention difficult for a child to open the container as by of the cap on the container neck is fortified requiring, for example, a combination of sucby selecting the length of the outer cap skirt cessive or simultaneous movements for open- 80 to bring the bottom of the skirt close to the ing or removing the closure from the con- shoulder discouraging attempts to remove the tainer. The tamper indicating feature is de- cap. The sealing of the base cap to the neck signed to make a perspective purchaser aware by the inner skirt is independent of the reten that the container has been previously opened tion means enhancing both sealing and reten or tampered. 85 tion.

It is an aim of the present invention to pro- A second safety function is preferably ac vide a new safety dispensing closure and con- complished by reducing the wall thickness of tainer package. the cap's outer skirt from the annular bead to According to the invention we provide a the bottom of the skirt so that any attempt to dispensing closure and container package 90 remove the cap will damage or distort the comprising a container having a neck with a bottom of the outer skirt providing visual evi- shoulder at the base of the neck and an annu- dence of tampering.

lar groove above the shoulder, a closure in- Another safety feature to provide tamper in cluding a base cap, and a lid connected to the dication may be added in the form of remova base cap by a hinge, the base cap having a 95 ble sealing disk which is integrally moulded flat top through which a dispensing orifice is with and extends across the dispensing ori provided and an annular outer skirt extending fice. A pull tab is preferably attached to the from the periphery of the top, the outer skirt disk and a weakening groove provided in the having an annular bead projecting inwardly face of the disk so that the disk can be re from the outer skirt for force-fitting snap-on 100 moved by lifting the pull tab away from the retention within the groove of the neck, and container, The initial package integrity can pre the outer skirt having a length such that when ferably be checked by swinging the lid open the base cap is snapped onto the container and observing the condition or absence of the neck the bottom of the outer skirt is in such sealing disk.

close proximity to the shoulder so as to pre- 105 Other features can be added to enhance the vent the insertion of a tool in an attempt to foregoing safety features as by, for example, remove the base cap from the container, and adding a gasket between the inner and outer in which the base cap has an inner skirt, con- skirts in contact with the cap top and the end centric with the outer skirt, extending from the of the container neck, serving as a secondary top of the cap for sealing engagement with 110 seal or creating a bond to enhance the snap the neck, and the lid being movable about the on retention. Other features, of the preferred hinge from a closed position covering the ori- embodiments will be apparent from the de- fice to an open dispensing position. scription which follows.

Thus the present invention is directed to a The preferred embodiments of the invention dispensing package in which a safety feature 115 are illustrated in the accompanying drawings affixes the closure to the container so that it of which:

cannot be removed, requiring dispensing Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of through a dispensing orifice in the cap, and in a closure container package in accordance some configurations making it difficult or im- with the invention arranged for snap attach possible to refill the container. Making it diffi- 120 ment of the base cap of the closure to the cult to refill the container is desirable where container neck, the original product is a chemical substance Figure 2 is an elevational view, partially in such as a cleaning agent or a drug which section,. showing the embodiment of Figure 1 could harmfully contaminate another product with the base cap firmly retained on the con introduced into the container. 125 tainer neck, and with the closure lid removed A second safety feature can be provided in for clarity to show the initial opening of the the present invention to indicate tampering. In package by removal of an integrally moulded one embodiment, evidence of an attempt to insert which provides tamper indication; remove the closure from the container is pro- Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view along vided. In another embodiment evidence is pro-130 line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing on an enlarged 2 GB2193196A 2 scale the details of the closure base cap and ing stiffening ribs 32 are provided between container with the lid removed for clarity; the top 17 of the cap and the bead 24, parti Figure 4 is a partial elevational view in sec- cularly where a more resilient material is used, tion showing an embodiment in which the clo- to provide additional resistance if an attempt sure cap is attached to the container by the 70 is made to distort the cap to remove it.

inner action of the cap bead with the con- The base cap 16 is provided with an inneY tainer flange or groove as in the embodiments skirt or annular plug 34 for sealing engage of Figures 1 - 3, but showing an alternative ment with the interior or exterior of the con safety sealing diaphragm or disk for tamper tainer neck 22. Typically, this engagement indication; 75 would be with the interior surface 36 of the Figure 5 is a partial elevational view similar neck 22, as shown in Figure 2. This sealing to Figure 4 showing the closure without the can be enhanced by the use of a sealing bead container and showing the use of a plastisol 38 projecting inwardly from the interior neck liner to rigidly attach the cap to the container surface 36 adjacent to the end 40 of the to enhance the safety retention; 80 neck.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another The hinge 20 allows movement of the lid closure in accordance with this invention at- 18 from an open dispensing position as tached to a container, but with a smaller disshown in Figures 1 and 6 to a closed position pensing nozzle and lid plug providing a safety in which it covers the dispensing orifice 19.

liquid dispensing package; and 85 The lid or cover 18 has a flat top 42 and a Figure 7 it, a cross-sectional enlargement depending skirt 44 which engages a rim or taken through the hinge structures showing groove 45 in the base cap for retention of the the means of assembly of the closure lid to lid on the cap in its closed position and pre the base cap. senting an aesthetically pleasing flush blending Referring to Figures 1-3, a package 10 in- 90 of the lid skirt 44 into the outer cap skirt 2 1.

cludes a closure 12 and a container 14. The The dispensing orifice 19 is sealed when the closure 12 includes a base cap 16 and a lid 18 is in its closed position by an annular cover lid 18 connected by a separable post plug 46 depending from the flat top 42 of the and slot hinge 20. The base cap 16 has a flat lid. A pouring lip 48 around the dispensing top 17 with a dispensing orifice 19 provided 95 orifice 19 is established by an outwardly ex through it, and a depending cylindrical outer tending bevel, and this lip and an upstanding skirt 21. A fastening retention bead 24 exsemi-circular guide lip 50 direct the plug 46 of tends inwardly from outer skirt 21 near the the lid into the dispensing orifice 19.

bottom of the skirt. Container 14 has a neck The interior 52 of the inner skirt 34 serves 22 with a shoulder 23 at the base of the neck 100 as a nozzle extension 52 of the dispensing and an annular groove 28 above the shoulder orifice 19 and provides a co- acting sealing 23 formed in part by a container flange 26. surface with the plug 46. The outer cap skirt The closure 12 is firmly or permanently at- 21 can be provided with an indentation 54 for tached to the container 14 by pushing the access of a finger to push the lid 18 open.

base cap 16 onto the container neck 22, 105 The post and slot hinge 20 not only pro snapping-the smaller diameter, inwardly di- vides easy separation of the lid 18 and cap rected, bead 24 over a larger diameter flange 16 and the advantage of forming the lid and 26 on the container neck and into the groove cap separately with less complex moulds, a] 28. lowing the use of different material and colour When the base cap 16 has been assembled 110 combinations between the lid and the cap, but to the container neck 22, the bottom of the also provides a hinge which is hidden when outer skirt 21 is in close proximity to the the lid is in a closed condition to further en container shoulder 23 which prevents or dis- hance the aesthetic appearance of the pack courages the use of a tool such as a knife or age. This hinge structure, as shown more fully screwdriver in an attempt to remove the base 115 in Figures 3, 6 and 7, includes a pair of cap 16 from the container 14. The skirt 21 spaced apart posts 56 which project upwardly has a flange 30 of reduced wall thickness at from the cap top 17 or from the hinge area its bottom Should an attempt be made to enlargement of the groove or recess 45 in the remove the rap 16 with a tool, the flange 30 cap. The posts 56 are provided with curvili will be damaged or distorted providing evi- 120 near projections 58 which are in-line with each dence of tampering. Preferably, the base cap other and the centres of which establish a 16 is moulded from polypropylene. This pro- hinge axis. The lid 18 is provided with a wall vides a resilient structure for snap connection structure defining a pair of complementary to the container, and any prying will distort or slots 60, and each slot has a complementary partially tear the flange 30. If a harder or 125 aligned curvilinear indentation 62. The slots of more brittle material is used, such as a high the lid and the curvilinear indentations receive density polyethlyene, for greater thread reten- the cap's posts and mating curvilinear projec tion, such prying will be evidenced by chipp- tions establishing the working hinge 20. The ing or breaking off portions of the flange 30. curvilinear projections 58 cary take a semi- Circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extend- 130 spherical shape or other shape such as a 3 GB2193196A 3 cylindrical shape, so long as they provide finger ring 78 is lifted, the sealing disk is first complete swinging action with the correspond- removed as a spiral strip 86 as more fully ing indentations 62. Similarly the projections described in our co- pending British Patent Ap may be facing each other as shown in Figure plication No. 8711140, filed 12th May, 1987.

7 or they may be facing away from each 70 A gasket 88 can be located between the other, or may even be even on one side on inner skirt 34 and the outer skirt 21, in con one post and the other side on the other post tact with top 17 of the base cap and the top so long as they are on a common pivotal axis. 40 of the container neck 22 to provide a sec It should also be noted that the posts can be ondary seal of the closure 12 to container 14 located on the lid and the slots located on the 75 or it may provide a more rigid connection of base cap to per-form the same equivalent func- the cap to the container neck. When the tion. The foregoing hinge structure is set forth gasket 88 is made of a resilient material, it in more detail in co-pending British Patent Ap- will be compressed between the neck end 40 plication, Publication No. 2 166 123 filed 1 lth and the top 17 of the cap when the base cap October 1986. 80 is snapped onto the container neck. The While the safety package 10 with its snap gasket can also be formed after moulding of closure retention is shown in Figures 1-3 as the base cap, for example by pouring a hot applied to a wide mouth dispensing orifice 19; melt material 90 between the inner and outer the same principles are used in the package skirts in contact with the base cap top as 64 shown in Figure 6 in which similar refershown in Figure 5. This material can be the ence numerals are given to similar compo- type of plastisol which when allowed to cool, nents. Here the dispensing orifice 19' is will set up and may be of a further compo shown surrounded by an upstanding nozzle sition to provide a clinging bond to the cap collar 52% and the lid 18 is provided with a top 17 and the container neck top 40.

cylindrical plug 66 for sealing coaction with 90

Claims (1)

1. the dispensing orifice in the closed position of CLAIMS the lid. The

   dispensing orifice 19' is off-centre 1. A dispensing closure and container pack but still remains in line with the hinge 20, age comprising a container having a neck with being positioned on a line perpendicular to the a shoulder at the base of the neck and an pivot axis of the hinge. 95 annular groove above the shoulder, a closure To provide virtual hermetic sealing of the including a base cap and a lid connected to package, and to provide a tamper indicator, a the base cap by a hinge, the base cap having removable sealing disk 68 can be moulded a flat top through which a dispensing orifice is integrally with the base cap 16, extending provided and an annular outer skirt extending over the dispensing orifice 19. In the embodi- 100 from the periphery of the top, the outer skirt ments of Figures 1-3 and Figure 4 sealing disk having an annular bead projecting inwardly 68 is located adjacent to the bottom of the from the outer skirt for force-fitting snap-on inner skirt 34, projecting inwardly from the retention within the groove of the neck, and interior wall surface 52. In the embodiment of the outer skirt having a length such that when Figures 1-3, the disk or membrance 68 is 105 the base cap is snapped onto the container formed with -a flat annular portion 70, the out- neck the bottom of the outer skirt is in such side of which is contiguous with and joined to close proximity to the shoulder so as to pre the internal wall 52 of the skirt 34. The disk vent the insertion of a tool in an attempt to 68 further includes a central conical section remove the base cap from the container, and 72 which extends from the annular portion 70 110 in which the base cap has an inner skirt, con downwardly into the container neck 22. A pull centric with the outer skirt, extending from the tab 74 is attached to the sealing disk 68, as top of the cap for sealing engagement with by post 76 which is attached at one end to the neck, and the lid being movable about the the annular portion 70 of the sealing disk 68 hinge from a closed position covering the ori- with the other end of the post being formed 115 fice to an open dispensing position.

   with a finger pull ring 78. A weakening 2. A dispensing package according to claim groove 80 is moulded in the face of the disk 1 in which the outer skirt has a reduced wall 68 to provide a frangible break area when the thickness from the annular bead to the bottom pull ring 78 is lifted by the user's finger 82 as of the outer skirt so that any attempt to re shown in Figure 2. In the embodiments of 120 move the base cap from the container by pry Figures 1-3, this weakening groove is contigu- ing between the bottom of the outer skirt and ous with the periphery of th e orifice 19 or the the shoulder of the container will distort the inner wall 52 of the inner skirt 34. The coni- bottom of the outer skirt to provide evidence cal central portion 72 of the disk provides of tampering.

   structural rigidity so that a clean tear or break 125 3. A dispensing package according to claim occurs when the ring 78 is lifted, In the em- 1 or claim 2 further comprising a plurality of bodiment of Figure 4, the sealing disk 68 is circumferentially spaced longitudinally extend shown as a planar disk across the dispensing ing strengthening ribs projecting inwardly from orifice 19, and an additional groove 84 forms the outer skirt and being provided between an overall spiral groove 80, 84 so that as the 130the top of the cap and the annular bead.

   4 GB2193196A 4 4. A dispensing package according to any the container, and the initial package integrity preceding claim in which the inner skirt is in can be checked by swinging the lid open and the form of an annular plug the exterior of observing the condition or absence of the which sealingly engages the inside of the neck sealing disc.

   of the container. 70 15. A dispensing package according to 5. A dispensing package according to any claim 14 in which the pull tab is formed as a preceding claim in which the interior of the post, one end of which is attached to the disc inner skirt forms a nozzle extension of the and the other end of which is attached to a dispensing orifice. finger pull ring, and further including an annu- 6. A dispensing package- according to any 75 lar plug extending from the lid for sealing en preceding claim in which the neck of the con- gagement with the dispensing orifice and co tainer has an internal bead adjacent its open nfining the post and pull ring when the lid is end which sealingly engages the inner skirt. in its closed position.

   7. A dispensing package according to any 16. A dispensing closure according to claim preceding claim further including a gasket lo- 80 14 or claim 15 in which the weakening cated between the inner and outer skirts in groove in the disc is contiguous with the peri contact with the top of the base cap and the phery of the orifice and in which the disc is end of the container neck. formed with a flat annular portion the outside 8. A dispensing package according to claim of which is contiguous with the weakening 7 in which the gasket is resilient so that when 85 groove, and to which the pull tab is attached, the base cap is snapped onto the neck, the the disc further including a central conical sec end of the neck engages and compresses the tion extending from the annular portion with gasket against the cap top. its apex extending into the neck of the con 9. A dispensing package according to claim tainer, thereby stiffening the disc and provid- 7 or claim 8 in which the gasket is formed 90 ing easy fracture at the weakening groove after the closure has been moulded by pouring when the pull tab is lifted for removal of the a hot melt material between the inner and disc.

   outer skirts in contact with the top of the 17. A dispensing closure according to any base cap. preceding claim in which the hinge is a spaced 10- A dispensing package according to any 95 post and slot hinge permitting separate mould- one of claims 7 to 9 in which the gasket ing of the base cap and the lid and assembly forms a bond with the top of the cap and the together at the hinge.

   end of the neck to enhance retention of the 18. a dispensing closure according to claim cap on the Container. 17 in which the post and slot hinge includes a 11. A dispensing package according to any 100 pair of spaced apart posts projecting from the preceding claim further comprising a cylindrical top of the cap, each post being provided with plug extending from the lid for sealing engage- one of a curvilinear projection and curvilinear ment Wit the dispensing orifice when the lid indentation, and wall means forming a pair of is in its closed position. complementary slots in the lid, each slot hav 12. A dispensing package according to 105 ing one of a complementary curvilinear projec claim 11 in hich the dispensing orifice is tion and curvilinear indentation in its associ concentric with the outer skirt and further ated wall means, the slots receiving the posts comprising a sealing bead extending inwardly with mating curvilinear projections and inden around the periphery of the dispensing orifice tations being aligned with each other.

   from the inner skirt contiguous to the cap top 110 19. A dispensing package substantially as for sealing engagement with the cylindrical herein described and illustrated with reference plug of the lid when the lid is in its closed to Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 7 of the accom position. panying drawings.

   13. A dispensing package according to 20. A dispensing package substantially as claim 12 further comprising. a semi-circular 115 herein described and illustrated with reference guide lip extending upwardly from the top of to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

   the cap on the diametrically opposed side of 21. A dispensing package substantially as the dispensing orifice from the hinge, the herein described and illustrated with reference guide lip tapering outwardly from a point adja- to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

   cent the sealing bead. 120 22. A dispensing package substantially as 14. A dispensing package according to any herein described and illustrated with reference preceding claim further comprising a remova- to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

   ble sealing disc integrally moulded with and Published 1988 at The Patent office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, extending across the dispensing orifice, a London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from weakening groove provided in the face of the The PatentOffice, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD.

   disc adjacent the periphery of the orifice, and Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con, 1/87.

   a pull tab attached to the disc on the inner side of the groove, the arrangement being such that the sealing disc can be removed by gripping the pull tab and lifting it away from