NZ248752A - Tamper evident closure: cap connected to collar by frangible bridging such that collar is retained on container neck when closure removed - Google Patents

Description

248 7 52 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: 248752 Date: 23 September 1993 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 'Tamper Evident Device" We, SPOTLESS PLASTICS (NZ) LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand 30 O'Rorke Road, Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- It is known to provide container closures which provide evidence of open or tampering by means of a lower collar which is initially connected by frangible bridging regions to a cap and which breaks off said cap when unscrewed.

In forms of these tamper evident closures which are known in the art the collar is often not retained on the neck of the container when the tamper evident closure is unscrewed. Other tamper evident closures require modification of the apparatus used to initially place the tamper evident closure upon containers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tamper evident closure which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first aspect the present invention consists in a tamper evident closure moulded as an unitary member in a plastics material to have a closure defining region in the form of a cap with an internally threaded skirt capable of being screw fitted to close the mouth of an appropriate container, a substantially annular and continuous collar defining region which is positioned beneath the skirt of the closure region, and frangible bridging regions between said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region and the lower periphery of the skirt of said closure region, wherein said frangible bridging regions splay outwardly from the lower regions of said closure region and the frangibility of said bridging regions is such as to leave said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region with upwardly and inwardly directed projections in use upon the unscrewing of the closure region which projections will assist in retaining the collar region about the neck of an appropriate container.

Preferably said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region has no part of its internal periphery that extends inwardly as far as the inner periphery of said closure region ie. preferably said collar is offset outwardly from the closure region and is connected thereto by said frangible bridging regions.

Preferably the internal threads in said skirt are of the four start configuration. Preferably the exterior of said skirt has a series of ribs thereon.

Preferably said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region is angled inwardly so that the region of said collar adjacent said closure defining region is of a lesser diameter than the region distal said closure defining region. Preferably nine frangible bridging regions are provided. 248751 .3. 24 8 7 5 2 Preferably each said frangible bridging region comprises a substantially non-frangible region immediately adjacent said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region and a substantially frangible region adjacent said closure defining region.

Preferably said substantially non-frangible region, in use, assists in the retention of said collar defining region about the neck of an appropriate container.

In another aspect the present invention consists in a tamper evident closure substantially closing a container having an appropriate threaded neck wherein said a tamper evident closure which consists in an unitary member in a plastics material to have a closure defining region in the form of a cap with an internally threaded skirt capable of being screw fitted to close the mouth of an appropriate container, a substantially annular and continuous collar defining region which is positioned beneath the skirt of the closure region, and frangible bridging regions between said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region and the lower periphery of skirt of said closure region, wherein said frangible bridging regions splay outwardly from the lower regions of said closure region and the frangibility of said bridging regions is such as to leave said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region with upwardly and inwardly directed projections in use upon the unscrewing of the closure region which projections will assist in retaining the collar region about the neck of said container.

Preferably said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region has no part of its internal periphery that extends inwardly as far as the inner periphery of said closure region ie. preferably said collar is offset outwardly from the closure region and is connected thereto by said frangible bridging regions.

Preferably the internal threads in said skirt are of the four start configuration.

Preferably the exterior of said skirt has a series of ribs thereon.

Preferably said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region is angled inwardly so that the region of said collar adjacent said closure defining region is of a lesser diameter than the region distal said closure defining region. Preferably nine frangible bridging regions are provided.

Preferably each said frangible bridging region comprises a substjpfrally non-frangible region immediately adjacent said annular collar and a substantially frangible h$D 1ri r^jl region adjacent said closure defining region. V* u '33$ J 248752 Preferably said substantially non-frangible region, in use, assists in the retention of said collar defining region about the neck of an appropriate container.

Preferably said container is a plastics material bottle.

Preferably said container is a plastics material fruit juice or milk container.

Preferably said container is a two litre milk container.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a tamper evident closure as per one form of the present invention; Figure 2 is the plan view of the top of the tamper evident closure of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bottom another form of the present invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of the top of the tamper evident closure of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a detailed view of the frangible bridging region of the tamper evident closure as shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view through Section AA of the tamper evident closure of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 7 is a detailed view of the frangible bridging region of another form of the present invention as shown in Figures 3 and 4; Figure 8 is a detailed section view of the frangible bridging region through BB; Figure 9 is a sectional elevation through CC of the form of the present invention as shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6; Figure 10 is a sectional elevation through DD of the form of the invention as shown in Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8; and Figure 11 is a partial elevation of a form of the present invention in use closing the neck of the bottle.

As shown in the Figures, a tamper evident closure is provided which is of the form having a closure defining region 1 and a collar defining region 2 below said closure defining region 1. Said closure defining region has a top or cap and an internally threaded skirt 3. The internally threaded skirt 3 is capable of being screw fitted to close the mouth of an appropriate container, for example, a bottle, •5 The collar defining region 2 and the closure defining region 1 are linked by frangible bridging regions 5. In one form of the invention as shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9 the frangible bridging region consists of a straight sided thinned area of material which provides a frangible link between the closure defining region 1 and the collar defining region. In this form of the invention the area of the frangible bridging region 5 immediately adjacent the lower region of the threaded skirt 3 of the closure defining region is straight sided, that is the junction between the closure defining region 1 and the frangible bridging section 5 is substantially sharp edged to facilitate the breaking away of the said frangible bridging region 5. In a differing form of the invention as shown in Figures 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 the collar defining region 2 is more distant from the closure defining region 1 and the frangible bridging region 5 consists of at least two regions or zones, a first region 6, which is substantially non-frangible and a second region 7, which is substantially frangible and of a similar form to the frangible bridging region 5 of the first described form of the invention.

When placed upon a suitable container and then removed the substantially non-frangible region 6 of the frangible bridging region 5 of the invention as shown in Figures 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 aids in the retention of the collar defining region 2 on the container.

In other forms of the invention a rib 8 extends inwardly of the interior periphery of said collar defining region 2. In use this rib 8 aids in the retention of said collar defining region on a suitable container when used.

It can be seen that the collar defining region 2 has no part of its interior periphery that extends inwardly as far as the inner periphery of said closure defining region 1. That is the collar 2 is offset from the closure defining region 1 and is connected by the frangible bridging regions 5.

When used, ie. when the tamper evident closure is placed upon a suitable container 10 as shown in Figure 11 and then removed, the collar defining region 2 is substantially retained upon said suitable container 10 by means of the upward and inwardly directed projections resulting from the breaking or flanging of said frangible bridging regions 5. This retention maybe aided by the substantially non-frangible regions 6 of an alternate form of the invention, the provision of an interior rib 8 in forms of the invention and ribs which maybe present on the neck of the container 10. 2487 All or part of the exterior of the skirt region 3 maybe covered with ribs which maybe vertical to enhance the gripping of said tamper evident closure.

In forms of the invention the area of the collar defining region 2 adjacent the frangible bridging regions 5 slopes inwardly so as to produce a region immediately adjacent said frangible bridging regions 5 which is of a lesser diameter than the area distal the frangible bridging regions 5. This also may enhance the retainment of said collar defining region 2 on the container 10 when the tamper evident closure is correctly placed upon said container 10 and then removed.

The tamper evident closure of the present invention maybe made from any suitable plastics material preferably food-grade plastics and is preferably moulded as a unitary member. The container 10 upon which the tamper evident closure is placed is preferably also moulded from a food grade plastics. The tamper evident closure maybe colour coded in order to indicate the contents of the container 10 or may have (/her indica thereon.

Claims (19)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -7- 24 8 7 5

1. A tamper evident closure moulded as an unitary member in a plastics material to have a closure defining region in the form of a cap with an internally threaded skirt capable of being screw fitted to close the mouth of an appropriate container, a substantially annular and continuous collar defining region which is positioned beneath the skirt of the closure region, and frangible bridging regions between said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region and the lower periphery of the skirt of said closure region, wherein said frangible bridging regions splay outwardly from the lower regions of said closure region and the frangibility of said bridging regions is such as to leave said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region with upwardly and inwardly directed projections in use upon the unscrewing of the closure region which projections will assist in retaining the collar region about the neck of an appropriate container.

2. A tamper evident closure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region has no part of its internal periphery that extends inwardly as far as the inner periphery of said closure region said collar is offset outwardly from the closure region and is connected thereto by said frangible bridging regions.

3. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the internal threads in said skirt are of the four start configuration.

4. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the exterior of said skirt has a series of ribs thereon.

5. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region is angled inwardly so that the region of said collar adjacent said closure defining region is of a lesser diameter than the region distal said closure defining region.

6. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 ^herein nine frangible bridging regions are provided.

7. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to said frangible bridging region comprises a substantially non-frangible ref -8- 248 75 2 immediately adjacent said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region and a substantially frangible region adjacent said closure defining region.

8. A tamper evident closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein said substantially non-frangible region, in use, assists in the retention of said collar defining region about the neck of an appropriate container.

9. A tamper evident closure substantially closing a container having an appropriate threaded neck wherein said a tamper evident closure which consists in an unitary member in a plastics material to have a closure defining region in the form of a cap with an internally threaded skirt capable of being screw fitted to close the mouth of an appropriate container, a substantially annular and continuous collar defining region which is positioned beneath the skirt of the closure region, and frangible bridging regions between said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region and the lower periphery of the skirt of said closure region, wherein said frangible bridging regions splay outwardly from the lower regions of said closure region and the frangibility of said bridging regions is such as to leave said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region with upwardly and inwardly directed projections in use upon the unscrewing of the closure region which projections will assist in retaining the collar region about the neck of said container.

10. A tamper evident closure as claimed in claim 9 wherein said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region has no part of its internal periphery that extends inwardly as far as the inner periphery of said closure region ie. preferably said collar is offset outwardly from the closure region and is connected thereto by said frangible bridging regions.

11. A tamper evident closure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the internal threads in said skirt are of the four start configuration.

12. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the exterior of said skirt has a series of ribs thereon.

13. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region is angled inwardly so that the region of said collar adjacent said closure defining region is of a less^omftife^Sv than the region distal said closure defining region. ff* 248752 -9-

14. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein nine frangible bridging regions are provided.

15. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein each said frangible bridging region comprises a substantially non-frangible region immediately adjacent said substantially annular and continuous collar defining region and a substantially frangible region adjacent said closure defining region.

16. A tamper evident closure as claimed in claim 15 wherein said substantially non-frangible region, in use, assists in the retention of said collar defining region about the neck of an appropriate container.

17. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16 wherein said container is a plastics material bottle.

18. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17 wherein said container is a plastics material fruit juice or milk container.

19. A tamper evident closure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17 wherein said container is a two litre milk container. DATED THIS ^ DAY OF foflWCNvl \<W\o AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANT