GB2378940A

GB2378940A - Tamper evident child resistant closure

Info

Publication number: GB2378940A
Application number: GB0120245A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dean Walding
Original assignee: Dragon Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Dragon Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-20
Filing date: 2001-08-20
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-20
Also published as: GB2378940B; GB0120245D0

Abstract

A tamper evident, child resistant closure 11 for a screw threaded container 10 having a neck ring 22, said closure 11 comprises a child resistant closure (CRC) having an inner cap 14 and an outer cap 15, a co-axial annular member 24 next to the outer cap 15, and a sheath 27 overlying the CRC, the annular member 24 being attached to the outer cap 15 and includes a radially inwardly extending portion 25 for one-way engagement with the neck ring 22 on the bottle 10, the sheath 27 and annular member 24 are breakable to separate the annular member 24 from the outer cap 15. The sheath may include circumferentially extending weakening such as a row of perforations, and the outer cap 15 may be pushed axially downwards to engage the inner cap 14 which may then be screwed off. The sheath 27 may be made from aluminium.

Description

Tamper Evident Child Resistant Closure This invention relates to child resistant closures for screw capped containers, and particularly to such closures having means to indicate tampering.

Child resistant closures are well-known and typically comprise an inner cap which is internally screw threaded, and a relatively rotatable outer cap which shields the inner cap and may be engaged therewith in a predetermined manner. Typically the outer cap is moved or deformed axially in order to engage the inner cap so as to permit unscrewing thereof.

Tamper evident caps typically have a radially inwardly directed rim which engage under the usual neck ring of a bottle, and which is tom-off as the cap is first unscrewed. The separated rim thus provides evidence of tampering. A tamper evident rim of this kind may of course be provided on a child resistant closure.

Screw caps of some containers, typically bottles for alcoholic beverages, may be formed of aluminium in which case the lower portion of the cap is deformed under the neck ring of the bottle, and the wall of the cap is somewhat weakened so that the lower portion is tom-off as the cap is first unscrewed. This lower portion remains as a loose annulus under the neck ring as evidence of tampering.

It has been proposed to apply a child resistant closure (CRC) to bottles for alcoholic beverages such as whisky, gin and the like. However a conventional CRC as used on e. g. a medicine bottle is not aesthetically acceptable. It would be desirable to sheath such a cap, for example with an aluminium over cap, so as to mimic the appearance of a cap for conventional spirits bottle, but owing to the greater comparative diameter of a CRC it is difficult to deform such a sheath sufficiently under the neck ring of the bottle to provide a tamper evident lower portion.

According to the invention there is provided a tamper evident child resistant closure for a screw threaded container having a protruding neck ring axially inwardly of the screw thread, said closure comprising a CRC having an inner cap and an outer cap, an annular member next to the outer cap adjacent the mouth thereof, and a sheath overlying said CRC and annular member and being radially inwardly deformed at the edge thereof to engage under said annular member, wherein the annular member comprises an axially extending portion in engagement with said outer cap and an inwardly extending portion for one way engagement over the neck ring of said container, and said sheath is adapted to fracture circumferentially to permit said annular member and CRC to separate.

Such a closure provides an aesthetically pleasing cap which is self-contained and can be assembled to a bottle by conventional machinery, the radial portion of the annular member being arranged to snap over the neck ring as the cap is screwed on. Typically the radial portion is a continuous flexible lip or series of inwardly directed tongues which are sufficiently stiff to retain the annular member below the neck ring. The shape of the lip or tongues can be determined empirically with reference to the neck ring and CRC, and should allow deformation as the annular member is pushed over the neck ring, and sufficient stiffness to ensure retention of the annular member on first removal of the closure from the bottle.

The sheath preferably includes a circumferentially extending weakening so as to permit breakage into two parts as the cap is first unscrewed the lower sheath ring being retained on the bottle with the annular member. Other ways of permitting the sheath to be separated or removed are possible.

In the preferred embodiment the annular member abuts the underside of the outer cap and has substantially the same outside diameter as the outer cap. This arrangement provides full support of the skirt of the sheath, which is typically rather thin.

Furthermore the annular member may extend axially on either side of the inwardly extending portion so as to shield the entire neck of the container. This arrangement

substantially avoids a gap between the base of the neck of some containers, and the underside of the cap, and is more aesthetically pleasing.

The closure according to the invention can utilize a conventional CRC, and is adaptable to container necks of different length by use of a different annular member.

In a preferred arrangement the annular member extends below the inwardly extending portion, and includes internal support means adjacent the base thereof to avoid a clearance between the mouth of the cap and the neck of the container.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bottle with closure according to the invention in the secured condition.

Fig. 2 corresponds to Fig. 1 and shows the closure partly removed.

Figs. 3-5 are transverse sections through a bottle neck and closure illustrating assembly steps.

Figs. 6-8 are transverse sections through a bottle neck and closure illustrating removal steps.

Fig. 1 illustrates a bottle 10 for spirits and the like to which is attached a closure 11. As will become apparent the external surface of the cap comprises a smooth metal sheath, the mouth of which is turned radially in so as to present a smooth unobstructed appearance.

Fig. 2 illustrates the closure 11 partially unscrewed. A circumferential line of weakness in the sheath causes the cap to separate into an upper portion 12 defining screw threads,

and a lower portion 13 which is retained on the bottle by the usual neck ring. The lower portion provides tamper evidence, and the upper portion may be attached or removed on demand to permit the contents of the bottle to be decanted.

With reference to Figs. 3-8, the closure 11 comprises a conventional two-part CRC comprising the usual inner cap 14 and outer cap 15. The inner cap 14 is internally screw threaded for engagement with a screw thread 16 on the neck 17 of the bottle 10.

The outer cap 15 is rotatable relative to the inner cap, but is engageable therewith to cause the inner cap to rotate therewith. Typically the outer cap is pushed axially (represented by arrow 18) to engage dogs, and the inner cap may thus be screwed on or off (represented by arrow 19). In some circumstances relative axial movement is not required for screwing on.

The precise design of the CRC is not illustrated, but many kinds of conventional two-

part CRC are suitable, for example the KIDLOKTM CRC manufactured by the present applicants. The CRC may include an internal wad or seal 21.

A typical bottle neck 17 consists of the screw thread 16, and a continuous neck ring 22 which in glass bottles has a function in the manufacturing process. A typical PET bottle may also include a neck ring. As illustrated, the bottle neck includes a second, lower neck ring 23.

An annular latching ring 24 is provided below the outer cap 15, and has the same external diameter. Within the ring 24, circumferentially spaced barbs 25 are provided, and at the lower part of the ring 24, circumferentially spaced internal abutments 26 are provided.

The barbs 25 comprises flexible upwardly directed tongues for one way latching over the neck ring 22, as will be described.

An aluminium sheath 27 covers the outer cap 15 and latching ring 24 and is inturned at the mouth to hold the cap and ring in simple abutment, as illustrated in e. g. Fig. 3. The

ring 24 may include an annular relieved portion at the mouth to permit the sheath to bend smoothly with the outer surface thereof.

Assembly of the closure 11 onto the bottle neck is illustrated in Figs. 3-5. The cap is first pushed over the bottle neck with slight rotation so that the barbs 25 are deformed by the neck ring 22, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Further cap rotation causes the respective threads to engage, and the cap is screwed fully onto the bottle neck whilst allowing the barbs 25 to engage the underside of the neck ring 22, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The internal abutments 26 provide additional support by contact with the lower neck ring

23. As shown in Fig. 5, the closure 11 is securely affixed to the bottle and rotation thereof does not cause unscrewing by virtue of the CRC construction-in practice the sheath 27, outer cap 15 and latching ring 24 comprise an outer cap assembly which rotates as a unit relative to the inner cap 14.

Unscrewing of the cap is illustrated in Figs. 6-8. Downwards pressure, indicated by arrows 31, causes the outer cap 15 to engage the inner cap 14 so that they may be rotated together. The entire outer cap assembly moves down as illustrated, the barbs 25 deforming inwardly to a small extent.

Fig. 7 illustrates that as the cap is unscrewed, indicate by arrow 32, the barbs 25 retain the latching ring 24, resulting in breakage of the sheath 27 at a circumferential line of weakening (not shown). This weakening may be for example a local thinning of material, a row of perforations or some other means.

The latching ring drops slightly to an extent permitted by the portion under the neck ring 22, and the cap may subsequently be applied and removed on demand.

The invention provides a neat and effective way of applying a conventional two-part CRC to a spirits bottle whilst giving clear evidence of first opening. The sheath may be smooth, ribbed or carry some other external decoration. The sheath may be adapted to

break at the interface between the CRC and latching ring, as illustrated, or above, or below this level.

Claims

Claims 1. A tamper evident child resistant closure for a screw threaded container having a protruding neck ring axially inwardly of the screw thread, said closure comprising a CRC having an inner cap and an outer cap, a co-axial annular member next to the outer cap adjacent the mouth thereof, and a sheath overlying said CRC and annular member and being radially inwardly deformed at the edge thereof to engage under said annular member, wherein the annular member comprises an axially extending portion in engagement with said outer cap and a radially inwardly extending portion for one way engagement over the neck ring of said container, and said sheath is adapted to fracture circumferentially to permit said annular member and CRC to separate.
2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said portion is a continuous flexible lip.
3. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said radial portion comprises a series of inwardly directed tongues.
4. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein said sheath includes a circumferentially extending weakening so as to permit breakage into two parts as the CRC is first unscrewed.
5. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein said sheath is in the form of an overcap, having a continuous top and a continuous depending skirt.
6. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein said annular member abuts the underside of the outer cap.
7. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein said annular member has substantially the same outside diameter as the outer cap.

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8. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein said annular member extends axially on either side of said portion so as to shield in use the neck of the container below the neck ring.
9. A closure according to claim 8 wherein the annular member extends below said portion, and includes internal support means adjacent the base thereof to take-up clearance between the mouth of the cap and the neck of the container.
10. A closure substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.