MXPA06010139A - Tamper-indicating closure, package and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

A tamper-indicating closure that includes a base wall (34) having a cylindrical skirt (36) for removably engaging a container finish (24). A tamper band (50) is frangibly connected to the skirt, and a plurality of wings (58) extend inwardly from an inner surface of the tamper band for engagement with a container finish. The wings (58) are resiliently flexibly connected to the inner surface of the band along lines that are disposed at a counterclockwise angle (60) with respect to the axis of the skirt as viewed from inside the skirt.

Description

INDICATOR CLOSURE OF MISUSE, PACKAGING AND MANUFACTURING METHOD Field of the Invention The present invention relates to closure indicators of misuse, to packaging and manufacturing methods, and more particularly to an indicator closure of misuse that has fins for coupling the ratchet teeth on a container finish, to separate a tamper indicating band from the edge of the closure. Background of the Invention It is conventional to provide a tamper-indicating closure that includes a band brittlely connected to the edge of the closure and fin-shaped elements extending inwardly from the misuse indicating band for engagement with a projection on a finish of the container. The fins are flat and are flexibly connected to the inner surface of the strip along the lines that are placed at a positive angle or in a clockwise direction with respect to the axis of the edge as seen from inside, from the shore. Such flap type misclosures are conventionally manufactured in molds using a straight release release action instead of an unscrewing action. Although the misfiring indicator closures of the prior art fin type Ref. 175515 have been employed for outgoing type packaging, such as carbonated beverage packaging, the improper use flap closures of the prior art are not very suitable for use in combination with containers having improper use means ratchet type on the container finish. The prior art closures are not very suitable for manufacturing in an injection molding operation of the type in which it is necessary to unscrew the closure of the mold core, as opposed to only axially withdrawing the core closure from the mold. In such manufacturing applications, the positive angle tabs on the misuse indicator web are permanently folded and deformed when the closure is unscrewed from the core of the mold. It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure and method of manufacture in which the improperly worn indicator elements of the fin type are molded on the inner side of the misuse indicating band in a molding operation in which the closure it is unscrewed from the core of the mold, and in which the fin elements are not distorted or permanently compressed when the core is unscrewed from the closure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a tamper indicating package that includes such a closure, and a container for use in combination with such a closure in an improperly indicating package. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention involves a number of different aspects, which may be implemented separately from, or more preferably in combination, with each other. A misuse indicator closure according to one aspect of the present invention includes a base wall having a cylindrical edge for removably attaching a finish to the container. A tamper indicating band is brittlely connected to the edge, and a plurality of fins extend inwardly from an internal surface of the misuse indicator strip for coupling with the finish of a container. The fins are flexibly elastically connected to the inner surface of the band along lines that are placed at a negative angle or in the counterclockwise direction with respect to an axis of the edge as observed from the inside From the shore. In an exemplary but currently preferred embodiment of the invention, the tamper indicating band includes a portion that is stepped radially outwardly with respect to the edge and is connected contiguously to the edge by a portion of the interconnecting wall. The fins are integrally connected both to the stepped portion and to the portion of the interconnection wall of the band., such that the rigidity of the fins to flex with respect to the band is greater at a location adjacent to the portion of the interconnecting wall than at a location remote from the portion of the interconnecting wall. A misuse indicator package according to another aspect of the invention includes a container having a finish with at least one external thread segment, and a plurality of external ratchet teeth spaced from the thread segment. A tamper-indicating closure includes a base wall having a lip with at least one internal thread segment for coupling with the container finish, and an undone use indicator band bridged to the edge. A plurality of fins extend inward from an internal surface of the tamper indicating band for engagement with the external ratchet teeth on the container finish. The fins are elastically connected flexibly to the inner surface of the strip along the lines that are placed at an angle in the counterclockwise direction with respect to a bank axis as seen from inside of the shore. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the angular spacing between the fins is less than the angular spacing between the ratchet teeth, and even more preferably it is half the angular spacing between the ratchet teeth. The fins in this preferred construction cooperate with each other to prevent removal of the closure from the container finish without brittlely separating the tamper indicating band from the edge of the closure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, together with the objects, features, advantages and additional aspects thereof, will be better understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation view, partially sectioned, fragmentary, of a closure and container packing according to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary, elongated sectional view of the portion of Figure 1 within the area 2; Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of Figure 2 within the area 3; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a partially sectioned elevation view of the outer layer of the closure in the package of Figures 1-4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the portion of Figure 5 within the area 6; Figure 7 and Figure 8 are respective fragmentary sectional views of the portions of Figure 5 within the areas 7 and 8; Figure 9 is a bottom plan view from the direction 9 in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation view of the finish of the container in the packing of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 11 is a top plan view of the finish of the container in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the finish of the container in Figures 10-11; Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 13-13 in Figure 10; Figure 14 is a fragmentary schematic diagram of a mold for injection molding the outer layer of the closure of Figures 5-9; Figure 15 is a schematic diagram useful for explaining the operation of an aspect of the present invention; And Figure 16 is a schematic diagram similar to that of Figure 15 and useful for explaining the removal of the closure from the core of the mold with the fins molded at a positive angle or clockwise with respect to the axis of the mold. container. Detailed Description of the Invention Figures 1-2 illustrate a closure and the packing of the container 20 according to a currently preferred but exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising a container 22 having a cylindrical neck finish 24. A closure 26 is secured externally to the finish 24 of the container. The closure 26 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is an assembly that includes an outer layer 28 of the ring-shaped closure, a coating disc 30 and a sealing liner 32 on the underside of the disc 30. The outer layer 28 of the closure includes a base wall 34 and a peripheral edge 36 having one or more segments 38 of internal thread for engagement with one or more segments 40 of external thread on the finish 24 of the container. The disc 30 has fingers 42 extending axially for mounting the disc 30 within a central opening in the base wall 34 of the outer layer. The liner 32 is preferably molded in situ on the underside of the disc 30. To the extent described so far, the closure 26 is similar to that described in the U.S. application. No. 10 / 217,691 assigned to the assignee of the present application.

The description of such a request is incorporated herein by reference to the background and for the further description of the closure assembly up to the degree described hitherto. In accordance with the present invention, an abuse-indicating band 50 is brittlely connected to the lower edge of the edge 36 of the closure. (Directional words such as "upper" and "lower" are employed by way of description and not by limitation with respect to the vertical orientation of the package illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Directional words such as "axial" and "radial" "are used by way of description and not of limitation with respect to the axis of the finish of the container or the edge of the closure as applicable). Such fragile interconnection can be by means of paths 52 interconnecting the edge 36 with the web 50 when it is molded, by means of bridges brittle that are marked with notches on the edge of the closure as described for example in U.S. Pat. 5,564,319, or by a combination of molded guides and notch marking. The less preferred brittle interconnection may be in the form of a thin weft integrally interconnecting the web with the edge. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the abuse indicating band 50 includes a substantially cylindrical portion 54 that is stepped radially outward from the edge 36, and a conical interconnection portion 56 integrally connecting the cylindrical portion 54 to the edge of the closing. A plurality of fin-shaped elements (fins) 58 extend inwardly from the inner surface of the misuse indicator band 50. All fins 58 are preferably identical. Each flap 58 is nominally smooth or flat, although the fins could leave the mold in a slightly non-flat manner from the mold tolerances or because of a slight distortion by the demolding. Each fin 58 is flexibly and elastically connected to the inner surface of the band 54 along a line that is at an angle 60 in the counterclockwise direction (FIG. 8) with respect to the axis 62 of the shore 36 of the closure, as seen from the inner side of the shore. This angle of inclination 60"negative" or in the counterclockwise direction, facilitates removal of the closure from the core of the injection mold without substantial deformation or distortion of the fins 58, as will be described. The angle 60 is greater than 0o, preferably 18 ° to 35 °, more preferably 18 °. Each fin 58 preferably is of nominally uniform thickness, preferably 0.060 cm (0.024 inches) to 0.076 cm (0.03 inches) in thickness. The fins 58 are preferably angularly spaced uniformly around the inner periphery of the web 50, at a spacing of 10 ° in the preferred but exemplary embodiment of the invention. Each fin 58 is generally trapezoidal, having an outer edge integrally coupled to the web 50, an inner edge 64 parallel to the axis 62, a lower edge 66 and an upper edge 68. The bottom edge 66 desirably is parallel to the plane of the base wall 34, and typically is at an angle of -5o to + 5o with respect to the base wall. The upper edge 68, which is turned toward the base wall 34 of the closure, is at an angle with respect to the base wall 34 in the range of 25 ° to 45 °, even more preferably 35 °. The upper edge of each flap 58 is also integrally coupled to, and extends from the inner surface of the interconnecting portion 56 of the band 50, so that each flap 58 is more flexible with respect to the band 50 at the lower edge 66 and less flexible with respect to the band 50 at the upper edge 68. In other words, the flexibility of each flap 58 is reduced from the lower edge 66 to the upper edge 68. As seen from the axial direction through the open end of the outer layer 28 (figure 9), the fins are at an angle in the clockwise direction 61 with respect to the diameter of the outer layer, in the preferred range of 25 ° to 70 °. The finish 24 of the container is illustrated in greater detail in Figures 10-13. The finish 24 has an open upper end 70 that defines the mouth of the container. The external thread segments 40 are positioned below the upper end 70. An external support shoulder 72 is optionally provided in a position that is spaced apart from the open end 70. An outer shoulder 74 extends around the finish 24 at a position below the end. the thread segments 40. A plurality of ratchet teeth 76 extend radially outwardly from the shoulder 74. As best seen in Figure 11, the ratchet teeth 76 are preferably provided in two diametrically opposed groups on the finish 24, with a substantial angular spacing between the groups and within which no ratchet tooth 76 is placed. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there are five ratchet teeth 76 in each diametrically opposed group. Each ratchet tooth 76 has an embedment face 78 turned or rotated in the clockwise direction. As best seen in Figure 13, the embedment face 78 on the ratchet tooth 76a is at a substantial acute angle to the diameter of the finish, the embedment faces 78 of the teeth 76b, 76c are at a lower acute angle with respect to the diameter of the finish, while the embedding faces 78 on the teeth 76d, 76e are parallel to each other and with respect to the direction of pulling from the split mold in which the container is formed. The angle of the embedment face on the tooth 76a is preferably approximately 37 °, and the embedding faces 78 on the ratchet teeth 76b and 76c are preferably at approximately 20 °. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the angular spacing between the embedment faces 78 is 20 °. The ratchet teeth and the embedment faces on the opposite side of the container finish are the same as illustrated in Figure 13. The operation of the closure flaps 58 and the ratchet teeth 76 of the container is best illustrated in FIG. Figure 4. When the closure 26 is initially applied to the finish 24 of the container by the rotation in the clockwise direction as seen in Figure 4, the fins 58 of the closure are tilted on the ratchet teeth 76. When then attempts to remove the closure 26 from the container finish by rotation in the counterclockwise direction, the fins 58 are engaged with the embedding faces of the ratchet teeth 76 so that the abuse indicator web 50 is effectively prevents it from rotating with respect to the container's finish. The forced rotation of the outer layer of the closure causes the fracture of the brittle connection between the tamper indicating band 50 and the edge 36 of the closure, such separation indicating that the package has been opened. The provision of fins 58 in one half of the angular spacing between the embedding faces of the ratchet teeth helps to ensure that the outer layer of the closure can not be unscrewed from the finish of the container without rupture of the brittle connection between the indicator strip. misuse and the edge of the closure. For example, referring to Figure 4, it will be noted that the flange 58a engages with the embedding face of the ratchet tooth 76a when the closure is rotated in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the container finish. Meanwhile, the flap 58b is engaged with the surface of the ratchet tooth flap 76b. The flap 58b is thus positioned to prevent reverse folding of the flap 56a when the closure is unscrewed from the finish of the container, and thereby improves the function of indication of misuse. Fig. 14 schematically illustrates a mold 80 for injection molding the outer layer 28 of the closure. The mold 80 includes a mold cavity 82 and a mold core 84. The core 84 includes a threaded core 86 - i.e. having external channels 88 for molding the internal thread segments 38 on the edge 36. A guide ring 90 externally surrounds the threaded core 86, and has an outwardly extending edge 92 for molding the guides 52 (FIGS. 5-8) and the top surfaces 68 on the fins 58. A finned sleeve 94 externally surrounds the ring guide 90 to form the cavities in which the fins 58 are molded. A spacer ring 96 externally surrounds the finned sleeve 94. The threaded core 84 is adapted to rotate, to unscrew the core from the molded closure when the guide ring 90 is pulled away from the molded closure axially and the spacer ring 96 pushes the closure 28 out of the core. The sleeve 94 with fins is free to rotate with respect to the other rings and sleeves. The edge 92 of the guide ring exerts a pushing force on the surfaces 68 of the flap when the closure is removed from the core 80 (Figure 14). With the fins 58 molded at a negative angle or in the counter-clockwise direction 60 with respect to the edge axis, as shown in Figure 15, this pushing force on the fins 58 bends the fins 58 in the direction 100 against the inner surface of the web 50, which does not permanently deform the fins. In contrast, as shown in Fig. 16, if the fins 102 were molded at a positive angle or clockwise with respect to the axis 62 of the closure, the guide ring exerts a pushing force on the edges. 68 of the fin which could bend the fins in the direction 106 contrary to the angle at which the fin projects from the inner surface of the indicator band of misuse, distorting and permanently deforming the fins. A plastic closure, a closure and packing of the container, and a manufacturing method that fully satisfies all the objects and purposes previously described have been described. The invention has been described in conjunction with a number of currently preferred aspects. and in conjunction with a currently preferred embodiment, and a number of modifications and variations have been described. Other modifications and variations will be easily suggested by themselves for people with ordinary experience in the art. For example, the invention is thus not limited to the implementation in conjunction with two-piece (or multi-piece) closure assemblies of the type illustrated in Figures 1-2. Actually, the closure could also be in the form of an external layer of integrally molded plastic in a part having uncoated sealing means, or having a separate coating molded in situ on the base wall of the closure, or formed and adhered separately to the base wall of the closure. The invention could also be implemented in compression molding applications e? which the core of the thread is unscrewed from the closure, as it is distinguished from a straight strip of the core of the mold. The invention is intended to encompass all of these all and all other modifications and variations that are considered within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Claims Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property. A closure with indication of misuse, which includes: a base wall having a cylindrical edge for removably attaching a finish to the container, a tamper indicating band connected to the edge, and a plurality of fins extending inwardly from an internal surface of the misuse indicator web for coupling a container finish, characterized in that: the fins are flexibly elastically connected to the inner surface of the web along the lines that are placed at an angle in the inverse of the hands of the clock with respect to an axis of the shore as it is observed from the inner side of the shore. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the misuse indicating band includes a stepped portion radially outward with respect to the edge and which is connected contiguously to the edge by a portion of the interconnecting wall, and in where the fins are integrally connected to the portion of the interconnecting wall whereby the rigidity of the fins flexing with respect to the web is greater at a site adjacent to the portion of the interconnecting wall than a site remote from the web. portion of the interconnection wall. 3. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle is in a range greater than 0 ° to 35 °. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the fins have a flat edge turned towards the base wall at an angle of 25 ° to 45 ° with respect to the base wall. 5. The closure according to claim 4, characterized in that the angle is 35 °. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the fins have a thickness in the range of 0.060 cm (0.024 inches) to 0.076 cm (0.03 inches). 7. A misuse indicator package that includes: a container that has a finish with at least one external thread segment, a misuse indicator seal that includes: a base wall having a border with at least one internal thread segment for coupling to the external thread segment on the finish, an improper use indicator band brittlely connected to the edge, and a plurality of fins extending inwardly from an internal surface of the misuse indicating band, characterized in that: the container finish has a plurality of external ratchet teeth spaced apart from the thread segment, and the fins are flexibly elastically connected to the inner surface of the strip along the lines which are positioned at an angle in the direction inverse of the hands of the clock with respect to an axis of the edge as it is observed from the inner side of the edge for the coupling with the s ratchet teeth on the finish. 8. The packaging in accordance with the claim 7, characterized in that the angular spacing between the fins is smaller than the angular spacing between the ratchet teeth. The closure according to claim 8, characterized in that the angular spacing between the fins is half the angular spacing between the ratchet teeth. The package according to claim 7, characterized in that the ratchet teeth are placed in two diametrically opposed groups. 11. The package according to claim 10, characterized in that at least some of the ratchet teeth have a recessed face at an acute angle with respect to the diameter of the finish. 12. The packing in accordance with the claim 7, characterized in that the misuse indicating strip includes a stepped portion radially outward with respect to the edge and which is connected contiguously to the edge by a portion of the interconnecting wall., and wherein the fins are integrally connected to the portion of the interconnecting wall such that the rigidity of the fins flexing with respect to the web is greater at a site adjacent to the portion of the interconnecting wall than at a site away from the interconnection wall portion. 13. A method of manufacturing a closure that includes the step of integrally molding an outer layer of a piece closure that includes a base wall having a cylindrical edge for removably attaching a finish to the container, a tamper-indicating band connected to the container. fragile manner to the edge, and a plurality of fins extending integrally inwardly from an internal surface of the tamper indicating band for coupling with a container finish, characterized in that the fins are molded to be elastically connected in a manner flexible to the inner surface of the band along • the lines. which are placed at an angle in the counterclockwise direction with respect to an axis of the bank as seen from the inner side of the bank. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the misuse indicator strip includes a stepped portion radially outward with respect to the edge and which is connected contiguously to the Shore by a portion of the interconnecting wall, and in wherein the fins are integrally connected to the portion of the interconnecting wall whereby the rigidity of the fins to flex with respect to the web is greater at a site adjacent to the portion of the interconnecting wall than at a site remote from the web. the portion of the interconnecting wall. 15. A method of manufacturing a tamper indicating closure, characterized in that it includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold including a mold cavity, and a mold core having a threaded core, a surrounding guide ring to the core, a finned sleeve surrounding the guide ring and a spacer ring surrounding the finned sleeve, (b) with the core in the cavity, molding a closure between the core and the cavity, with the closure including a border with an axis and at least one internal thread segment molded between the threaded core and the cavity, a misuse indicator band coupled to the edge and molded between the guide ring and the cavity, and a plurality of molded flaps molded between the sleeve with fins and the guide ring, each of said fins extends inwardly from the misuse indicating band and is positioned at an angle in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the axis, as is observed or from the inner side of the edge, (c) retract the core of the mold from the mold cavity with the retained closure on the core of the mold, and then (d) unscrew the closure from the core of the mold by rotating the threaded core and moving the threaded core and the guide ring with respect to the spacer ring so that the engagement of the guide ring against the fins bends the fins in a clockwise direction as seen from an open end of the closure against the band when the guide ring and the threaded ring are separated from the closure.