GB2512620A

GB2512620A - Tamper Evident Child Resistant Flip-Top Closure

Info

Publication number: GB2512620A
Application number: GB1306039.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Dean Cummings; Rodney J Parker
Original assignee: Dragon Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Dragon Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-04
Filing date: 2013-04-04
Publication date: 2014-10-08
Also published as: GB201306039D0

Abstract

A flip top closure 10 comprising a one-piece plastic moulding with a retention ring 11 for application to a container neck and a cap 12 connected to the retention ring 11 by a living hinge 13. The retention ring defines a mouth 15 (figure 3) and includes a seal for engagement with the mouth. The cap comprises a latch projection resiliently engageable in an aperture of the retention ring 11 to secure the cap in the closed condition; the latch projection is releasable by squeezing the cap radially inward about the mouth. Additionally the cap comprises a frangible connection comprising a resilient catch engageable on the closure of the cap and breakable at the first opening of the cap. The catch and the hinge may be on opposite sides of the mouth, and the catch may comprise an upstanding bridge of the retention ring and a barb of the cap, which may be outwardly facing. A bridge span may be frangible upon first opening of the cap, and may comprise a central pillar to define a span on each side of the pillar, and the barb comprises teeth engageable one under each span.

Description

Tamper Evident Child Resistant Flip-Top Closure The present invention relates to moulded plastic closures for containers such as bottles, in particular closures having child resistance and tamper evidence.

Child resistant closures have been known for many years, and typically comprise a mechanical featurc designed to prevent opening of the closure by a child. One such feature relies upon squeezing of one part of the closure, between finger and thumb, to release a latch. The required squeezing force is generally too great for a child, and the necessity for simultaneous manipulation too difficult.

Such caps are often provided on containers for domestic chemicals and the like, and are termed squeeze and turn'; the latch is typically provided between the closure and the container. A cap of this kind typically comprises twin co-axial cylindrical walls, in which the inner wall defines a screw-thread for mating with a container, and the outer wall is squcezable and defines the latch clement(s).

Tamper evidence can be provided in many ways, and in one form comprises an outer clear plastic cover which is applied subsequent to closing of the container, and which must be broken prior to opening the closure. Another kind common with screw caps for bottles is a moulded circular ring at the mouth of the cap side-wall; the ring snaps over a feature of the bottle neck when first applied, and is broken upon first unscrewing of the cap.

In many cases both tamper evidence and child resistance are provided by co-operating features of the closure and the container. This is generally undesirable because standard containers, i.e. those without the feature associated with child resistance and/or tamper evidence, cannot be used.

The so-called push and turn' child resistant closure can be used on a plain screw-necked container, but comprises two components which must be assembled prior to first fitting. Such a closure is thus somewhat expensive, and in any event does not have inherent tamper evidence.

Another kind of closurc is the so-callcd flip top, which is typically provided on drinks bottles and the like. Such flip top closures generally comprise a unitaiy plastic moulding having a retention ring for application to a bottle neck, and a cap connected to thc retcntion ring by mcans of an integrally moulded living hingc. It has been proposcd to provide tamper evidence on a flip top closure by means of a frangible link between the retention ring and the cap, the link being broken upon first time opening of the cap.

A characteristic common to many kinds of closure is that thcy arc inherently restricted by design to particular kinds or shapes of container, to particular neck forms of containers, or to particular internal seal arrangements.

What is required is a flip top closure, with both tamper evidence and child resistance, which comprises a one-piece plastic moulding, which is adaptable to many kinds of container, and which can also accommodate different kinds of internal seal.

According to the invention there is provided a flip top closure for a container, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic moulding having a retention ring for application to the neck of a container and a cap connected to the retention ring by a living hinge, the retention ring defining a mouth and including a seal for engagement with the opening of a container, the cap including a seal for engagement with said mouth, the cap having a latch projection resiliently engageable in an aperture of the retention ring to hold the cap in a closed condition, said latch projection being releasable by squeezing said cap radially inwardly about said mouth, and said cap further including a frangible connection between the cap and retention ring, said frangible connection comprising a resilient catch engageable on first closure of the cap, and breakable at first opening of the cap.

Preferably breakage of the frangible connection is automatic upon first opening of the flip cap.

In OIIC embodiment the catch and hinge are on opposite sides of the mouth. The catch may comprise an upstanding bridge of the retention ring, and a barb of the cap. The barb may be inwardly or outwardly directed.

Tn one embodiment opposite latch projections are provided together with corresponding apertures, and the direction of squeezing is parallel to the axis of the living hinge.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a TO preferred embodiment illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings of a moulding according to the invention, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above in the open condition.

Fig. 2 is an underneath plan view corresponding to Fig. T. Fig. 3 is an elevation from the front corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation from the side corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view from below corresponding to Fig. T. Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. T. Fig. 7 is a perspective view from above in the closed condition.

Fig. 8 is an underneath plan view corresponding to Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an elevation from the front corresponding to Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is an elevation from the side corresponding to Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged scrap section of a latch.

Fig. 12 is a transverse cross-section on line 12-12 of Fig. 8.

With reference to the drawings a one-piece flip top closure 10 is injection moulded of plastics material in one shot. Figs. 1-6 show the as-moulded condition.

The closure consists of a retention ring 11 to which is integrally attached a cap 12 via a living hinge 13 having a pivot axis 14.

The retention ring comprises a cylindrical mouth 15 and a cylindrical skirt 16 of larger diameter, joined by a planar circular shoulder 17. The mouth defines on the inside a screw-thread 18 for engagement with the external screw-thread of the neck of a container. Thc skirt defincs on the insidc facc oppositc upright lugs 19 for engagement with similar outwardly protruding lugs of a container neck.

In use the retention ring 11 is screwed onto the neck of a container, and the lugs 18 provided a one-way locking arrangement, to prevent unscrewing. This arrangement is well-known and need not be frirther described here. On-screwing of the cap is terminated upon abutment of the container with the underside of the shoulder 17, and simultaneous engagement of the lugs 18 over the corresponding lugs of a container neck. Other means of securing the cap against unscrewing may be provided.

The skirt 16 is somewhat oval as illustrated in the plan views, the short transverse axis passing through the lugs 19.

As illustrated the mouth 15 and skirt 16 have approximately the same external axial extent (see Fig. 4), but the mouth also extends downwardly below the plane of the shoulder 17 to provide an extended screw-thread 18 (see Fig. 12).

The cap 12 is moulded with the retention ring 11, and is attached by a conventional living hinge 13. The cap comprises a planar end face 21 from which depends a continuous wall 22, so that when the cap is hinged over the retention ring, the mouth is completely enclosed (See Fig. 7).

Within the cap is provided a circular dust seal 23 which engages the upper surface of the mouth (Fig. 12) to seal the container when the cap is in the closed condition.

The lower edge or rim 24 of the wall 22 includes opposite latch projections 25 on an axis parallel to the hinge axis 14. Each projection has an outwardly facing tooth 26, and is resiliently engageable in a corresponding aperture 27 formed in the shoulder 17.

The underside of each tooth 27 includes a ramp 28 to facilitate press-fitting of the cap 12 over the mouth 15, as best illustrated in Fig. 11; the natural resilience of the wall 22 cnsurcs in-bending of each tooth 26 prior to engagement with thc underside of the shoulder 17.

In ordcr to release thc cap, opposite sides thereof arc squeezed between finger and thumb to permit the teeth 27 to move toward each other, thereby disengaging the shoulder 17 and allowing the cap to be hinged upwardly. It will be appreciated that the downwardly extended screw-thread 18 ensures that the container does not encroach upon the space necessary for free movement of the projections 25.

The front edge of the cap (opposite the hinge 13) includes an outwardly facing barb 31 for engagement under an upstanding bridge 32 of the shoulder 17. The bridge has a central pillar 33, and in consequence the barb is divided, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The underside of the barb includes a ramp 34 to facilitate engagement with the bridge span by snap-fitting upon first movement of the cap to the closed condition.

Unlike the latch projections 25, engagement of the barb 31 cannot be released owing to the proximity of the bridge 32 to the mouth 15 (Fig. 4), as compared with the relative distance of the latch projections 25 (Fig. 3); upon engagement, the bridge span tends to move slightly outwardly relative to the mouth 15.

The bridge span 35 comprises a thin frangible portion of the moulding, which permits one-time engagement of the barb 31, but which breaks upon first opening of the cap or upon any attempt to bend the span out of engagement with the barb. The bridge span may break automatically as the cap is flipped up, or may be broken manually by the user prior to flipping the cap. In the latter ease a moulded tag (not shown) may be attached to the bridge span to facilitate grasping thereof by a user. The bridge span 35 is longer than the hinge 13 and also areuate so as to obstruct the application of release tools.

In use the bridge is a tamper-evident indicator, which breaks irreparably upon first opening of the closure; as noted above such breakage is preferably automatic.

Also illustrated in the drawings in the generally areuate form of the front and rear portions of the cap 12, and the somewhat flat sides 36 which provide a comfortable surface for engagement between finger and thumb.

The outer face of the cap (Fig. 2) includes arrows and numerals indicating that opening is accomplished by firstly squeezing to release the latch projections 25, and secondly lifting the cap from the front edge -which breaks the tamper indicator.

After first opening it will be appreciated that the cap can be reclosed and re-opened at will, and that the child resistant feature remains operative.

Various features of the described embodiment may be changed to suit circumstances of intended use. For example the design of the child resistant/tamper evident features permits alternative means of attachment to a container neck. Snap-fitting of the skirt or mouth to a retention bead is possible, or attachment by adhesive -neither option affects fttnctionalityofthe latch projections 25 andbarb 31.

Likewise, the method of sealing of the cap may be improved by adding a bore seal projecting downwardly from the underside of the end face 21, and/or by adding an internal circdar wad to the cap.

Furthermore, the cap may have a different shape in plan, if desired. For example the retention ring may be circular, or may be polygonal with rounded corners; a four sided polygonal form may better suit somewhat rectangular containers. The cap could also have a different external shape to that illustrated, provided that an adequate scal is maintained with thc mouth of the retcntion ring.

The closure is injection moulded of any suitable plastics material, and may for example be of polypropylene or high density polyethylene.

Claims

Claims 1. A flip top closure for a container, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic moulding having a retention ring for application to the neck of a container and a cap connected to the retention ring by a living hinge, the retention ring defining a mouth and including a seal for engagement with the opening ofa container, the cap including a seal for engagement with said mouth, the cap having a latch projection resiliently engageable in an aperture of the retention ring to hold the cap in a closed condition, said latch projection being releasable by squeezing said cap radially inwardly about said mouth, and said cap further including a frangible connection between the cap and retention ring, said frangible connection comprising a resilient catch engageable on first closure of the cap, and breakable at first opening of the cap.
2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein said catch and hinge are on opposite sides of said mouth.
3. A closure according to claim 2, wherein said catch comprises an upstanding bridge of said retention ring, and a barb of said cap.
4. A closure according to claim 3, wherein said barb is outwardly directed.
5. A closure according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a span of said bridge is frangible upon first opening of said cap.
6. A closure according to any of claims 2-5, wherein said bridge includes a central pillar to define a span on either side thereof and said barb comprises teeth engageable one under each span.
7. A closure according to claim 6, wherein each tooth is substantially the same length as each corresponding span.
8. A closure according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the spans are of substantially equal length.
9. A closure according to any preceding claim, and comprising opposite latch projections and corresponding apertures.
10. A closure according to claim 10, wherein the direction of squeezing is substantial ly parallel to the axis of said living hinge.
11. A closure according to any preceding claim, wherein said retention ring comprises a cylindrical skirt engageable over the neck of a container; a cylindrical mouth engageable with said cap; said cylindrical mouth being of smaller diameter than said cylindrical skirt, and being on a substantially common axis therewith; and a circular shoulder linking said mouth and skirt.
12. A closure according to claim 12, wherein an aperture of said latch is provided in said shoulder.
13. A closure according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said shoulder comprises said catch.
14. A closure according to any of claims 11-13, wherein said cap comprises a planar top having a continuous depending wall surrounding said mouth in the closed condition, said wall having a lower edge from which a projection of said latch depends.
15. A closure according to claim 14, wherein said lower edge comprises said catch.
16. A closure according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said depending wall is arcuate in the region of the hinge and catch and is straight in the region of said latch.
17. A closure according to any of claims 11-16, wherein said cylindrical mouth and cylindrical skirt have substantially the same axial extent.
18. A closure according to any preceding claim, wherein said retention ring is symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the mid-point of said hinge on the axis thereof.
19. A closure according to any preceding claim, wherein said cap is symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the mid-point of said hinge on the axis thercof
20. A flip top closure substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.