WO2010134931A1 - Fermeture de distribution avec membrane amovible - Google Patents

Fermeture de distribution avec membrane amovible Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010134931A1
WO2010134931A1 PCT/US2009/058029 US2009058029W WO2010134931A1 WO 2010134931 A1 WO2010134931 A1 WO 2010134931A1 US 2009058029 W US2009058029 W US 2009058029W WO 2010134931 A1 WO2010134931 A1 WO 2010134931A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
closure
container
skirt
weakness
base body
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/058029
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Richard Lohrman
Mike Xiaoli Ma
Limin Zhang
Original Assignee
Portola Packaging, 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 Portola Packaging, Inc. filed Critical Portola Packaging, Inc.
Publication of WO2010134931A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010134931A1/fr

Links

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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
    • B65D47/0809—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage and elastically biased towards both the open and the closed positions
    • 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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
    • B65D47/2031—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure

Definitions

  • This invention relates, in general, to closures for packaging of consumer container goods and more particularly to hinged lid dispensing closures incorporating removable membranes to form a primary seal.
  • the membrane closure systems are often accompanied by an additional closure which serves primarily as a dust cover prior to initial opening and as a reclosure cap after opening.
  • the additional closure is removed on initial opening to access the membrane. After removing the membrane to access the contents, the package is reclosed with the additional closure to create a multiple use package.
  • removable membrane comprises a foil that is heat sealed to the upper lip of a container after filling with contents.
  • the foil membrane is removed by simply pulling off wherein the heat sealed joint is ruptured.
  • Another form of removable membrane comprises a monolithic plastic structure wherein a thin plastic membrane is joined to a primary closure body through a frangible score iine. In this case the package is initially opened by tearing out the membrane along the frangible line.
  • Prior ait membrane closures have often employed multiple components to achieve the desired functional benefits.
  • a first component is the foil itself or a membrane frangibly attached to structure suitable for attachment to the container.
  • the second component is normally the above mentioned reclosure cap. Typical examples of such a prior art membrane closure systems are taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,810,184 and U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 11/929,009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Plastic membranes are not so limited, since they are manufactured with pull tabs which facilitate initial membrane removal. However, the membranes are supported and frangibly joined to additional structure suitable for engagement to the container. Should this attachment structure be readily disengaged without a tampering indication, the tamper evident aspect of the membrane removal could be circumvented. Thus the attachment is often designed to be at least semi -permanent so that the only access to the contents is to remove the membrane. However, semi -permanent or permanent attachment to the container can lead to mixed material recycling streams which complicates recycling efforts.
  • a further object of the invention is to permit facile removal of the entire closure structure from the container after exhausting its contents so that the recycling stream is not negatively impacted by mixed materials.
  • a further object of the invention is to teach a closure design which combines the convenience of a hinged top closure with the convenience of an initial plastic pull-out membrane seal.
  • a closure for a container having a container opening comprising a base body adapted for engaging retention with the container adjacent the container opening and having a top portion and a skirt depending from a peripheral edge of the top portion, a removable membrane joined to the top portion through a frangible line of weakness, the membrane sealing an area of the base body adjacent the container opening and defining an orifice through which contents of the container may be dispensed when the membrane is removed, and a lid attached to the base body through a hinge structure allowing movement of the lid between closed and opened positions, the lid being sized to cover a major portion of the base body when in a closed position and to expose the top portion and the membrane when in an open position, the skirt being formed with at least one line of weakness extending from a point vicinal a lower edge of the skirt to the hinge structure such that a pulling force applied to the lid will be transmitted to the line of weakness of kirt to cause material separation thereof and enable removal of the closure from the container
  • a closure for a container having a container opening comprising, a base body adapted for engaging retention with the container adjacent the container opening and having a top portion and a skirt depending from a peripheral edge of the top portion, a pour lip extending upward from the top portion, the pour lip forming a spout at a portion thereof over which contents of the container may be dispensed, a lid attached to the base body through a hinge structure allowing movement of the lid between closed and opened positions, the lid being sized to cover a major portion of the base body when in a closed position and to expose the top portion and the pour lip when in an open position, the skirt being formed with at least one line of weakness extending from a point vicinal a lower edge of the skirt to the hinge structure, and a tab downwardly extending from the skirt or a tamper evident band thereof for orientation of the closure relative the container.
  • the inventive closures advantageously provide for a "flip-top" container closure employing a molded integral hinge.
  • the closure may have an integrally molded tear out membrane within the bore of the closure, the bore of the closure being large enough to enable removal of the tear out membrane without requiring the closure to be removed from the container. Attachment of the inventive closure to a container is such that it is not readily removed from the container without destroying the closure.
  • the molded integral hinge joining the lid to the base body of the inventive closure advantageously allows facile removal of the entire closure from the container while simultaneously destroying the closure.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing closure in accordance with the invention shown with a top lid in the closed position.
  • Fig. 2 is a front view of the dispensing closure of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a back view of the dispensing closure of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the dispensing closure of Fig. 1 shown with the top lid in the opened position.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of the dispensing closure of Figure 1 shown with the top lid in the opened position.
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially from the perspective of lines 6-6 of
  • Closure 10 is shown applied to a portion of a container neck indicated by numeral 12.
  • Closure 10 comprises a top lid 14 and base body 16.
  • Top 14 is monoiithically joined to base 16 via integral hinge structure 18.
  • Hinge structurel ⁇ is best seen in Fig. 3.
  • the hinge structure 18 depicted can be described characterization of "butterfly" hinges, specifically a center hinge post 19 with a pair of winged hinged sections 21 emanating from either side of the hinge post 19.
  • Other forms of hinge structure may be appropriate for the invention, the hinge structure need not be integrally formed.
  • the top and base body may be separately molded pieces joined via a "ball and socket" type hinge structure.
  • Fig. 4 depicts the top in the "open" position illustrating that the base body 16 comprises a top portion 20 and a generally cylindrical skirt portion 22 depending from the peripheral edge of top portion 20.
  • a portion of top 20 is formed by a membrane 24 which is joined to the remaining annular portion of the top through a frangible line of weakness 26.
  • a pull ring 28 is attached to membrane 24 at a position vicinal the inner edge of frangible line 26.
  • Pull ring 28, frangible line 26 and base 16 may be a monolithic structure formed by a single material in a single molding step. Alternatively, these components may comprise differing materials as taught in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 11/929,009 incorporated herein in entirety by reference.
  • closure base 16 also comprises an upstanding pour lip 30 projecting upward from top 20.
  • Pour lip 30 has a generally arcuate form when view from above the closure as depicted in Fig. 5.
  • pour lip 30 has a top surface 32 which reaches a maximum height above top 20 at a position approximately 180 degrees from the back of the closure base.
  • the function of the pour lip 30 is to avoid dribble of liquid contents down the skirt 22 of the closure or onto the container when fluid is dispensed, especially from a freshly opened, full container.
  • the upper wall 34 of Hp 30 is tapered downward/inward as shown and merges with a vertical wall 36.
  • wall 36 joins top 20 along a line slightly outside the line defined by frangible line of weakness 26 has been removed.
  • an annular flange or hollow plug 50 depends downwardly from top 20.
  • Plug 50 has an exterior surface 52 having dimensions *ned to form an interference fit with a complimentary seal surface on a container neck finish.
  • 52 may be a cylindrical surface, in which case it would have a diameter slightly greater than an internal diameter of a complimentary seal surface on a container neck.
  • top lid 14 comprises an upper surface 40 and lower surface 42.
  • An annular flange or hollow plug 44 extends from surface 42, as best seen in Fig. 6.
  • Plug 44 has an outside surface 46 dimensioned to have a slight interference fit with surface vertical wall 36.
  • complimentary surfaces 46 and 36 form a seal when Hd 14 is in its closed position as depicted in Fig. 1.
  • a first retention means comprises a multiple of inwardly directed beads 48.
  • beads 48 become positioned beneath exterior outwardly projecting structure on the complimentary finish.
  • the closure is firmly retained to the bottle finish.
  • One unique aspect of the instant invention is that the closure can be snapped on the container and beads 48 can be vertically positioned to nestle under screw thread starts of the container.
  • a packager may choose between a conventional screw cap and the closure of the instant invention, depending on the nature of the product, brand identity or package value. This choice may be made without changing the container or its finish.
  • retention structures known in the art such as bi-stable bands or screw threads may be employed.
  • Closure 10 is further characterized by having a second tamper evidencing retention structure in the form of tamper band 52.
  • tamper band 52 comprises a cylindrical band joined to a lower edge of skirt portion 22 through a frangible connection 54.
  • Band 52 may be joined, for example, to skirt through multiple frangible "bridges" indicated m the figures as 56.
  • Band 52 further comprises an upwardly-inwardly directed flange 59.
  • Range 59 further comprises, extensions 62, flutes 64 and drain holes 66.
  • Flange 59 engages complimentary structure present on the container neck finish to retain the band to the finish should one attempt to remove the closure to improperly gain access to the container, thereby thwarting both fraudulent and improper access. Should fraudulent access occur, the broken bridges 56 would indicate such.
  • the consumer In order to initially gain access to the container, the consumer "flips" open the top lid 14 to expose the pull ring 28. It is noted that p ⁇ or to the initial opening, the pull ring 28 and attached membrane 24 are completely enclosed within the closed lid 14. When the consumer pulls on the ring 28, frangible line 26 ruptures and tears, and the membrane 24 is removed to allow dispensing of contents. In this way the closure does not have to be removed from the container at all in order dispense contents thereby eliminating the inconvenience and potential messmess of such removal required by other membrane sealing systems.
  • a further inventive aspect of the instant invention is the cap skirt being formed with at least one line of weakness or frangible line extending from a point vicinal a lower edge of the skirt to the hinge structure such that a pulling force applied to the lid will be transmitted to the line of weakness or frangible line of the skirt to cause material separation thereof and enable removal of the closure from the container.
  • Fig, 3 there is a pair of vertical frangible lines 60 extending downward from the dual hinge structure 18 to the bottom of the skirt portion 22 and continuing through band 52.
  • the lines 60 define a skirt portion 67 and band portion 68 positioned between lines 60. snding from lower edge of the band portion 68 is a short downwardly depending tab 69.
  • Tab 69 is present primarily for orientation of the closure relative to the container. Its intent is not to be grabbed to remove the closure from the container. Thus its vertical length remains shortened to that which would allow orientation yet be very inconvenient for a consumer to mistakenly grab and pull. Vertical lengths less than about 0.25 inch are typical.
  • Band portion 68 and skirt portion 67 may be monolithically joined to the closure top lid 14 through hinge structures 18. Further, lid 14, hinges 18 and skirt and band portions 67 and 68 respectively are joined to the remainder of the closure base body 16 through frangible lines 60.
  • This inventive structural arrangement is important for a number of reasons. First, recycling methods for packaging often aims at material separation by the initial consumer to limit mixed material recycling streams. Closures are often made of materials different and incompatible with those used for container manufacture. With current packaging, consumers often reapply the closure prior to disposal of the empty package.
  • a second important inventive aspect of the instant invention is the ability to form the closure using a dual shot molding method.
  • the closure portion comprising the top lid, hinges and portions 67 and 68 may be formed by a first shot of plastic material in a molding operation and the remainder of the closure in a second shot.
  • the molten plastic material would normally be injected into the membrane 24 portion. In this case plastic would be required to flow through a tortuous path including frangible lines 26 and 60 and thin hinge structure 18 to completely form the part.
  • a first portion of the closure (for example the Hd 14, hinge structures 18, portions 67 and 68, and tab 69) may be formed with a first shot of material with the injection port or gate centered on the lid portion.
  • a second shot would form the remainder of the closure with the injection port or gate centered on the membrane 24.
  • alternate gating locations could be chosen, the aforementioned gating locations being identified by way of example. Both shots could be of the same material. Alternatively, different materials or colors could be chosen for aesthetic or functional aspects.
  • the frangible lines 60 could be formed in unique ways, such as those identified in U.S. Patent application Serial No. 10/854,925 incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
  • the closure of the instant invention is used as follows.
  • a container such as the ubiquitous gallon milk jug is filled and oriented relative to the feed stream of closures. Such relative container/closure orientation is easily accomplished using structural features of the components.
  • the closure of the invention is applied and the package distributed to the ultimate consumer. The consumer initially opens the package by "flipping" open the lid, grabbing the pull ring (or other gripping means attached to the membrane) and pulling out the membrane. There is no need to remove the closure prior to use. The container contents may then be dispensed until finally exhausted. At this point the consumer grips the lid, pulls to easily remove the closure and is then able to recycle the unattached separate material components.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur une fermeture pour récipient présentant une ouverture. Cette fermeture comprend: un corps de base conçu pour être en prise avec le récipient, une partie supérieure, et une jupe dépendante de la partie supérieure, une membrane amovible reliée à la partie supérieure par une ligne de faiblesse cassable pouvant être mise en place. Un couvercle assurant un mouvement entre une position fermée et une position ouverte est fixé au corps de base par une structure d'articulation. Celui-ci comprend au moins une ligne de faiblesse s'étendant d'un point voisin d'un bord inférieur de la jupe à la structure d'articulation, de telle sorte qu'une force de traction appliquée au couvercle soit transmise à la ligne de faiblesse de la jupe pour provoquer une séparation physique de celle-ci et permettre le retrait de la fermeture du récipient. La jupe peut également comprendre une languette s'étendant de la jupe vers le bas, ou un manchon d'inviolabilité de celle-ci pour l'orientation de la fermeture par rapport au récipient.
PCT/US2009/058029 2009-05-19 2009-09-23 Fermeture de distribution avec membrane amovible WO2010134931A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17956909P 2009-05-19 2009-05-19
US61/179,569 2009-05-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010134931A1 true WO2010134931A1 (fr) 2010-11-25

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/058029 WO2010134931A1 (fr) 2009-05-19 2009-09-23 Fermeture de distribution avec membrane amovible

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013129940A1 (fr) * 2012-03-02 2013-09-06 Smartseal As Fermeture pour récipient, récipient de boisson et procédé de fonctionnement de fermeture
US20170050780A1 (en) * 2014-07-22 2017-02-23 Aptargroup, Inc. Closure with membrane

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5456376A (en) * 1990-08-09 1995-10-10 Portola Packaging, Inc. Snap-on, screw off cap and container neck
WO2004007313A1 (fr) * 2002-07-12 2004-01-22 Bericap Dispositif de fermeture comportant un capot articule moule en position fermee
US20070000955A1 (en) * 2003-06-06 2007-01-04 The Zebra Company Stopper with unlocking lid and elastic return
US7281636B2 (en) * 2001-06-26 2007-10-16 Portola Packaging, Inc. Bottle cap having tear tab and sealing bead
US20080251573A1 (en) * 2005-09-23 2008-10-16 Airsec One Piece Container with Hinged Cap/Lid

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5456376A (en) * 1990-08-09 1995-10-10 Portola Packaging, Inc. Snap-on, screw off cap and container neck
US7281636B2 (en) * 2001-06-26 2007-10-16 Portola Packaging, Inc. Bottle cap having tear tab and sealing bead
WO2004007313A1 (fr) * 2002-07-12 2004-01-22 Bericap Dispositif de fermeture comportant un capot articule moule en position fermee
US20070000955A1 (en) * 2003-06-06 2007-01-04 The Zebra Company Stopper with unlocking lid and elastic return
US20080251573A1 (en) * 2005-09-23 2008-10-16 Airsec One Piece Container with Hinged Cap/Lid

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013129940A1 (fr) * 2012-03-02 2013-09-06 Smartseal As Fermeture pour récipient, récipient de boisson et procédé de fonctionnement de fermeture
US9439523B2 (en) 2012-03-02 2016-09-13 Smartseal As Closure for a container, beverage container and a method of operating a closure
RU2608285C2 (ru) * 2012-03-02 2017-01-17 СмартСил АС Укупорочное устройство для контейнера, контейнер для напитка и способ эксплуатации укупорочного устройства
US20170050780A1 (en) * 2014-07-22 2017-02-23 Aptargroup, Inc. Closure with membrane
US10173816B2 (en) * 2014-07-22 2019-01-08 Aptargroup, Inc. Closure with a removable membrane having an improved separability configuration

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