US3797689A - Tamper-proof closure for a pressurized container - Google Patents

Tamper-proof closure for a pressurized container Download PDF

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Publication number
US3797689A
US3797689A US00184886A US3797689DA US3797689A US 3797689 A US3797689 A US 3797689A US 00184886 A US00184886 A US 00184886A US 3797689D A US3797689D A US 3797689DA US 3797689 A US3797689 A US 3797689A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tamper
closure
container
proof closure
neck
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00184886A
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English (en)
Inventor
D Adomaitis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Continental Can Co Inc
Original Assignee
Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Continental Can Co Inc filed Critical Continental Can Co Inc
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Publication of US3797689A publication Critical patent/US3797689A/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D39/0005—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers made in one piece
    • B65D39/0023—Plastic cap-shaped hollow plugs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D39/16—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers with handles or other special means facilitating manual actuation

Definitions

  • My invention relates to a tamper-proof closure and particularly to a tamper-proof closure having an area of less strength and shaped so that pressure inside the container tends to seal the closure in the container.
  • Closure means are known which have self-sealing features and in which a weakening line is featured so that the parts of the closure means separate along the weakening line. These closure means are particularly used in tear-off caps.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the tamper-proof closure of my invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tip of a novel reamer with retractable cutting blades used to ream a lock shoulder of the neck of a container.
  • My tamper-proof closure 1 of FIG. 1 shows a sort of stopper having an anchor element 2 and an easy opening tab 3.
  • the flexural modulus of closure must be lower than the flexural modulus of the bottle neck.
  • the material of my closure is plastic and a criterion for good operation of this device is that the flexural modulus of the material of the closure must be lesser than the flexural modulus of the material of the bottle 4and bottle neck 5, This assures that plastic creep of the closure will be sufficient to cause good contact between the closure and the inner surface of the elongated neck as shown in FIG. 1.
  • a lid element 6 or lid portion of the closure lies above the bottle neck and is in close contact with the upper edge of the bottle neck all around its periphery.
  • An easy opening tab 3 is attached to the periphery 7 of the lid portion and hangs downwardly somewhere in the neighborhood of the neck to avoid being in the way during handling.
  • the tubular plug portion 8 Integral with the lid portion is .the tubular plug portion 8 having the shape generally shown in FIG. 1. This tubular portion extends a distance along the inner surface 9 of the elongated neck to the internal lock shoulder 10 formed along the inner surface 9 of the elongated neck 5.
  • the tubular plug portion 8 is of a size to fit snugly within the inner surface of the elongated neck. Attached at the end of the tubular portion 8 is anchor element 2.
  • the anchor element 2 comprises an external lock shoulder 11 which compliments the internal lock shoulder 10 of the bottle neck.
  • a circular flange surface 12 Extending downwardly from the periphery of the external lock shoulder is a circular flange surface 12 which tapers inwardly as it extends downwardly while in the neck.
  • the circular flange surface may be formed as an annular ring tapering in use only.
  • the circular flange surface is in close contact with the reamed out portion of the elongated bottle neck 5.
  • lndented into the lower portion or lower surface of the tamper-proof closure is a recess 13 having the shape of a cone, for example.
  • the operation of the combination of the tamperproof closure 1 and the bottle retaining shoulder 10 or internal lock shoulder located in the neck 5 of the bottle is as follows.
  • pressure which is applied inside of the cone recess 13 presses laterally against the anchor element 2 and against the conical inside 13 of the tubular plug portion 8.
  • the tamper-proof closure 1 is made up of plastic material having the property of creep.
  • the tamper-proof closure 1 moves laterally into a snug fit against the inside of the neck. This pressure applied through the plastic material to the inside of the neck tends to seal the surface of the closure more tightly against the inner surface of the neck. Similarly, lateral pressure against the inner surface of the anchor element operates in this fashion.
  • the relative length of the vectors H and V illustrates the relative value of the horizontal forces and vertical forces acting on the interior surface of the closure.
  • the lateral force is several times the vertical force.
  • the anchor and the tubular plug are forced laterally into close engagement with the neck of the container.
  • the anchor is forced laterally under the shoulder 10 which may be cut into the neck 5.
  • the external anchor shoulder 11 has an inner edge 31 located at the juncture of outer surface 14 and the external lock shoulder. The lateral force of the pressure inside the container insures a sealing tight fit of the closure in the neck.
  • the recess is shown as extending well up into the plug portion to give a high horizontal force to vertical force ratio along the length of the closure. Since it is essential that the external shoulder 11 hold fast into the internal lock shoulder 10, the flange 12 is made several times as long as the shoulder width and has a relatively sharp edge. The edge presses tightly against the sloping interior neck surface under the shoulder 10. This tight fit keeps gas from getting in behind the flange surface 12 to prevent the internal pressure of the container from assuring a tight fit of the anchor shoulder 11 under the internal shoulder 10.
  • the anchor must be made of a resilient material. The use of a resilient material such as plastic tends to provide a mechanical rigidity which holds the external shoulder 11 from turning inwardly. It also tends to hold the edge of the flange 12 against the inwardly sloping surface of the neck.
  • the recess may be the shape of an inverted bowl with the flat top along the area of least strength of the closure shown by dotted line 15 to form a sort of truncated cone. In this configuration, lateral force is applied to the anchor with no specific lateral force applied to the tubular plug portion.
  • the lateral area of the recess which is exposed to the horizontal pressure inside the container should be greater than the area taken at Horizontal pressure causes the outer wall of the closure to seal against the inner wall of the bottle neck.
  • the easy opening tab 3 is lifted and the lid is urged upward. Since the area of least strength along line 15 has the least plastic material cross-section, this area will be the first to snap or break.
  • the tubular plug portion 8 becomes an ordinary stopper which can be lifted out or inserted at will.
  • Liquid flowing out through the neck of the bottle flows through anchor element 2 which acts as a funnel of sorts.
  • the conventional stopper provided by the tubular plug portion has the self-sealing features of the tamper-proof closure discussed above in that the pressure acting'inside the cone recess 13 tends to press the stopper laterally against the inner surface of the bottle neck.
  • the anchor element 2 is wedged in place in the tapered recess formed inside the bottle neck.
  • This area of least strength configuration provides the advantages: That the weakest area allows an easy disconnect to form a typical stopper when it is disconnected.
  • the shape of the annular element and the position of the area of least strength allows the anchor to be inserted past the bottle neck to the internal shoulder with a minimum of buckling.
  • the closure is easily molded because the contours are relatively smooth and there are no notches or score lines to be made in the surface of the closure.
  • a reaming tool 16 such as that shown in FIG. 2 is used.
  • the reaming tool has a shoulder 18 located a certain distance up from the tip 19 of the reamer. If the reduced reamer shank 17 is inserted into the bottle neck 5, the reamer stops its penetration when the shoulder 18 comes to rest against the top 20 of the neck of the bottle. After the reamer has been inserted a given distance and is turning, then blades 21 are forced outwardly as the activating rod 22 descends between them and pushes them out into the inner surface 23 of the plastic neck.
  • Reamer 16 turns in the neck and reams material from the inner surface 23 of the neck.
  • An internal lock shoulder 24 is formed.
  • the activating rod 22 is lifted upward and the blades 21 are pulled inwardly by retracting spring 25.
  • the reamer can be lifted out of the neck at this time.
  • the blades swing a limited angular distance about pivot pins 26 located at the lower extremity 27 of each blade so that the volume cut away in the neck may be of a limited amount which does not weaken the entire wall of the neck to the point that it will not prevent the tubular plug portion from popping out under normal usage.
  • the advantages of my invention are that a plastic closure is sealed in a plastic neck of a container. A good closure fit is assured and a device is shown for reaming out the neck in appropriate fashion. Blow-out of the closure in storage is minimized also and pull-out of the external lock shoulder 11 upon applying leverage to sever the cap is minimized.
  • the area of least strength is formed in the plane of the retaining shoulder by the convergence of the barrel and the recess cone in the plane of the area of least strength for ease of moulding.
  • the inner rounded surface of the neck under the internal shoulder is tapered and has the effect of preventing the anchor from falling into the contents of the container when the area of least strength is severed.
  • a tamper-proof closure comprising:
  • a plug portion extending from said lid, said plug portion having an external lock shoulder extending radially from an inner edge formed by the juncture of the lower part of said plug portion and the external lock shoulder;
  • said plug portion is tubular whereby said plug acts as a conventional stopper when said anchor element is disconnected from the rest of said tamper-proof closure.
  • said plug portion is longer than said anchor element.
  • said lid extends beyond the outer perimeter of said elongated neck.
  • said recess extends inwardly beyond the area of least strength.
  • said closure is made of a material having a flexural modulus less than the flexural modulus of the material of the container.
  • said tamper-proof closure is made of a plastic material having the property of plastic creep whereby pressure which is internal of said bottle is transmitted into the recess and presses the lateral surfaces of the tamper-proof closure against the inner surface of said neck to give a greater sealing area.
  • the vertical length of said cylindrical flange is several times the radial width of said external lock shoulder.
  • a tamper-pro0f closure for use with a container having a neck with an internal lock shoulder compristhe level of Sam 10c]? Shoulder to for,m an area of mg: 10 least strength at the inner edge of said lock shoula lid having a diameter greater than the neck of the whereby when Said lid is lifted Said p cont in proof closure breaks along said area of least a plug portion depending from the center of said lid; strength.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
US00184886A 1971-09-29 1971-09-29 Tamper-proof closure for a pressurized container Expired - Lifetime US3797689A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18488671A 1971-09-29 1971-09-29

Publications (1)

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US3797689A true US3797689A (en) 1974-03-19

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00184886A Expired - Lifetime US3797689A (en) 1971-09-29 1971-09-29 Tamper-proof closure for a pressurized container

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3797689A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5338993B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4747511A (en) * 1986-07-10 1988-05-31 Sun Coast Plastics, Inc. Plug-type openers for plastic can ends
GB2293167A (en) * 1994-08-25 1996-03-20 Knorr Bremse Systeme Resilient plug

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5212403B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1974-04-19 1977-04-07
JPS51102004U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1975-02-14 1976-08-16

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1912084A (en) * 1932-03-02 1933-05-30 Marcum George Bottle closure
US1999113A (en) * 1934-08-03 1935-04-23 Shapiro Morris Bottle stopper
FR1087474A (fr) * 1953-08-03 1955-02-24 Valentin F Sarl Bouchon composite
US3042242A (en) * 1961-02-13 1962-07-03 Inredeco Inc Stopper with safety seals
BE644177A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1964-02-21 1964-06-15
US3251499A (en) * 1964-07-02 1966-05-17 Rausing Closure means for a container with an opening
US3348719A (en) * 1964-12-28 1967-10-24 Tetra Pak Rausing & Co K G Closure means
US3415405A (en) * 1965-11-09 1968-12-10 Sobrefina Sa Cap

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1912084A (en) * 1932-03-02 1933-05-30 Marcum George Bottle closure
US1999113A (en) * 1934-08-03 1935-04-23 Shapiro Morris Bottle stopper
FR1087474A (fr) * 1953-08-03 1955-02-24 Valentin F Sarl Bouchon composite
US3042242A (en) * 1961-02-13 1962-07-03 Inredeco Inc Stopper with safety seals
BE644177A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1964-02-21 1964-06-15
US3251499A (en) * 1964-07-02 1966-05-17 Rausing Closure means for a container with an opening
US3348719A (en) * 1964-12-28 1967-10-24 Tetra Pak Rausing & Co K G Closure means
US3415405A (en) * 1965-11-09 1968-12-10 Sobrefina Sa Cap

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4747511A (en) * 1986-07-10 1988-05-31 Sun Coast Plastics, Inc. Plug-type openers for plastic can ends
GB2293167A (en) * 1994-08-25 1996-03-20 Knorr Bremse Systeme Resilient plug
GB2293167B (en) * 1994-08-25 1999-02-10 Knorr Bremse Systeme Plugs for apertures

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5338993B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-10-18
JPS4842882A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-06-21

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