Hinged tamper evident closure moulded as a unitary item in a closed condition

The present invention relates to a tamper evident closure, a combination of a closure and a container and assemblies and uses involving a closure and a container.

The present invention envisages a closure able to be moulded in a form capable simply of being engaged to a necked open mouthed container so as to effect closure thereof and seal any liquid or other (e.g. powder) content thereof. Such a closure however whilst preferably moulded in its closed form, preferably is to include a lid able to be uplifted (preferably in a tamper evident way) and to be reclosed to effect a seal closure of any resulting liquid or other content in the container. Whilst screw fit closures hitherto have been known diat have included a flip lid feature, such closure types (typified by US Patents 4948003, 5992659 and 6510971) are moulded in an open condition usually with a seal removable from one of die two parts thus defined.

In other prior art closures both components of a flip top closure includes a threaded region threadingly by engageable with an externally threaded necked container and some partial unscrewing of the whole closure is required before the flip up feature can be activated thereby to enable opening (e.g. see US Patent 5944207 and US Patent App US2002/0134746A1).

US Patents 4,919,286 and 5,605,240 and EP 0852205 disclose closures to be hinge opened but moulded in a closed condition. Such closures are engaged to the containers reliant on press fitting e.g. with retention beads to underlie flanges or ribs of the container. The present invention recognises, as an object, a desirability of a cap with a tamper evident hinged lid opening capability able to be used with screw cap fitting lines (e.g. such as that for milk container screw caps) and it is to such screw interacting closure container assemblies the present invention is directed.

As an additional or alternative object the present invention recognises a need for a screw on flip up closure with discouragement for removal or with means to prevent easy (accidental or otherwise) descrewing of the closure e.g. preferably using complementary ratcheting formations away from each thread lead (and preferably interengageable substantially at the end of the screwing on process).

The present invention looks to an alternative of such prior art arrangements and one which should find wide spread consumer acceptance as a suitable closure in existing screw cap fitting lines.

In an aspect the invention is a tatnpet evident closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define

an inwardly threaded skirt adapted to engage a complementary thread of a necked container, a lid with a peripheral skirt, a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid, and a hinge between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd, the arrangement being such that the Hd can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, in which it has been moulded and an open condition, and subsequently vice versa, reHant on movement on the hinge, once there has been and/ or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone.

In another aspect the invention is a tamper evident closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define an inwardly threaded skirt adapted to engage a complementary thread of a necked container, the thread of the skirt beyond its lead in having at least one ratchet formation to co-act with at least one complementary formation of the complementary thread as a removal impediment, a Hd with a peripheral skirt, a frangible zone and/ or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd, and a hinge between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd, the arrangement being such that the Hd can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, in which it has been moulded and an open condition, and subsequently vice versa, reHant on movement on the hinge, once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone. As used herein "inwardly threaded skirt" includes a dependent skirt structure of the moulding able to become a threaded sleeve when the closure has been opened, the sleeve encircling the neck of an appropriately outwardly threaded necked container (e.g. a plastics or glass bottle, flask, bag, or the like).

As used herein "thread", and derivatives thereof (e.g. "threaded") includes any mouldable structure able to lock to a complementary mouldable structure by a screw on procedure. Preferably one or both of the complements is a heHcal thread or a skeletal variant thereof.

As used herein "hinge", "hinge zone", or derivatives thereof, includes single or multiple hinge line hinging as well as regions of general flexure, or hybrids of flexure and hinging. A hinge may or may not have a closing or opening bias.

As used her ein "tamper evident zone" preferably refers to a tear band or strip but in less preferred forms can be mould defined weakening, scoring, seaming or the equivalent.

As used herein "once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone" includes a rupture, partial removal or total removal of a zone. In the case of a zone simply being a frangible line mere rupture is a sufficient treatment to allow the hinging movement. In some forms there mere act of uplifting the lid may be a sufficient evident treatment of the tamper evident zone.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein the term "(s)" following a noun includes, as might be appropriate, the singular or plural forms of that noun.

Preferably the Ed includes an annular flange to act as a stopper seal inwardly of the peripheral skirt. Preferably such a flange can provide a bias on initial flip top release to assist the flip up e.g. obviates any need for a snap hinge.

Preferably one or both of the inside of the peripheral skirt and/or the annular flange of the lid includes a click fit profile, (e.g. a bead, channel, or the like) to coact with the thread skirt portion.

Preferably the annular flange of the Hd inwardly of the peripheral skirt of the Kd is of variable depth, preferably deepest distally of the hinge.

In another aspect the invention consists in, in combination, (I) a necked container with an exterior thread, and

(II) a tamper evident closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define a sleeve-like skirt internally threaded to engage the neck of the container, a Hd with a peripheral skirt, a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd, and a hinge between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid, the arrangement being such that the closure can seal closed the open mouth of the necked container when the closure is fitted to the necked container and the lid is in a closed condition and being such that the Hd can move between said closed condition, and an open condition, reHant on movement on the hinge, once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone.

In another aspect the invention consists in, in combination,

(I) a necked container with a thread, and

(II) a tamper evident closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define

a sleeve-like skkt having a thread to engage the threaded neck of the container, the threads including interacting features to discourage unscrewing, a lid with a peripheral skkt, a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between, the sleeve-like skkt and the peripheral skkt of the lid, and a hinge between die sleeve-like skkt and the peripheral skkt of die lid, the arrangement being such that the thread of the skkt and the diread of the container includes and/or is associated with formations to co-act away from die lead in as a descrewing impediment, the arrangement furdier being such that the closure can seal closed die open mouth of die necked container when, the closure is fitted to the necked container and the lid is in a closed condition and being such that the lid can move between said closed condition, and an open, condition, reliant on movement on the hinge, once there ^' has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of die tamper evident zone. In a preferred form of die present invention the necked container is self supporting aldiough in some forms it can be a bag form.

In an aspect the invention is a sealed liquid or other material containing necked container where the open mouth of the neck has fitted diereto, as a seal closure, a tamper evident closure, having a sleeve-like skkt threadedly engaging about the neck of die necked container, a lid with a peripheral skkt, a frangible zone and/ or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the sleeve-like skkt and the peripheral skkt of the Hd, and a hinge between die sleeve-like skkt and the peripheral skkt of the Hd, the arrangement being such that the Hd can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, (preferably in which it has been moulded) and an open condition, and subsequendy vice versa, reHant on movement on the hinge once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of die tamper evident zone.

In an aspect the invention is a sealed liquid or othet material containing necked container where the open moutih. of the neck has fitted thereto, as a seal closure, a tamper evident closure, having a sleeve-like skkt engaging about the neck of die necked container by a thread interengagement wkh an anti removal or removal discouraging interengagement away from the diread lead ins but in the threaded regions, a Hd with a peripheral skkt,

a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid, and a hinge between the sleeve-like skkt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd, the arrangement being such that the lid can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, (preferably in which it has been moulded) and an open condition, and subsequently vice versa, reliant on movement on the hinge once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone.

In another aspect die invention is a closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define an inwardly threaded skirt adapted to engage a complementary thread of a necked container, the threaded region including anti removal formations preferably away from the thread lead in, a lid with a peripheral skirt and an annular flange (e.g. "stopper like flange") inwardly of the peripheral skirt, (optionally a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid), and a hinge between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Ed, the arrangement being such that the lid can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, in which it has been moulded and an open condition, and subsequently vice versa, reliant on movement on the hinge (optionally once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone).

Preferably one or both of the inside of the peripheral skirt and/ or the annular flange of the Hd includes a cHck fit profile, e.g. a bead, channel, or the like.

Preferably the annular flange of the Hd inwardly of the peripheral skirt of the Hd is of variable depth, preferably deepest distally of the hinge.

In another aspect the invention is a closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define an inwardly threaded skkt having in the threaded region anti removal ratchet features away from the thread lead in adapted to engage a complementary thread and threaded region of a necked container, a Hd with a peripheral skirt and an annular flange inwardly of the peripheral skirt,

(optionally a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd), and a hinge between the threaded skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd,

the arrangement being such that the lid can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, in which it has been moulded and an open condition, and subsequently vice versa, reliant on movement on the hinge (optionally once there has been and/ or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone). Preferably one or both of the inside of the peripheral skirt and/or the annular flange of the lid includes a click fit profile, e.g. a bead, channel, or the like.

Preferably the annular flange of the lid inwardly of the peripheral skirt of the lid is of variable depth, preferably deepest distally of the hinge.

In another aspect the invention consists in, in combination, (I) a screw necked container, and

(II) a closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define a sleeve-like skirt to screw engage the neck of the container, a lid with a peripheral skirt and an annular flange inwardly of the peripheral skirt,

(optionally a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid), and a hinge between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid, the arrangement being such that the closure can seal closed the open mouth of the necked container when the closure is fitted to the necked container, the Hp of the open mouth being interposed between the peripheral skirt and the annular flange, and the Hd is in a closed condition, and being such that the Hd can move between said closed condition, and an open condition, reHant on movement on the hinge (optionally once there has been and/ or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone).

In another aspect the invention consists in, in combination,

(T) a necked container with a threaded region with anti removal ratchet features away from the lead in, and

Ql) a closure, the closure being moulded as a unitary item to define a sleeve-Hke skirt with a threaded region with anti removal ratchet features away from the lead in to engage the neck of the container, a Hd with a peripheral skirt and an annular flange inwardly of the peripheral skirt, (optionally a frangible zone and/ or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the sleeve-Hke skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd), and a hinge between the sleeve-Hke skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Hd, the arrangement being such that the closure can seal closed the open mouth of the necked container when the closure is fitted to the necked container, the Hp of the open mouth being interposed between the peripheral skirt and the annular flange, and the Hd is

in a closed condition and being such that the Hd can move between said closed condition, and an open condition, r eliant on movement on the hinge (optionally once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone).

In a preferred form of the present invention the necked container is self supporting although in some forms it can be a bag form. Ideally however it is a moulded plastics container having a thread or the like provided neck to the open mouth. It is that externally threaded neck with which said sleeve luce skirt is preferably to engage.

In an aspect the invention is a sealed liquid of other material containing necked container where the open mouth of the neck has fitted thereto, as a seal closure a closure, having a sleeve-like skirt engaging about the neck of the necked container, a lid with a peripheral skirt and an annular flange inwardly of the peripheral skirt, the lip of the open mouth being interposed between die peripheral skir t and the annular flange, ^• (optionally a frangible zone and/or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid), and a hinge between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the Kd, the arrangement being such that the lid can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, (preferably in which it has been moulded) and an open condition, and subsequently vice versa, reliant on movement on the hinge (optionally once there has been and/or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone).

In an aspect the invention is a sealed liquid or other material containing necked container where the open mouth of the neck has fitted thereto as a seal closure a closure, having a sleeve-like skirt engaging about the neck of the necked container by a thread to thread interengagement with and removal features away from the lead in, a lid with a peripheral skirt and an annular flange inwardly of the peripheral skirt, the lip of the open mouth being interposed between the peripheral skirt and the annular flange, (optionally a frangible zone and/ or tear removable zone ("tamper evident zone") between the sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid), and a hinge between die sleeve-like skirt and the peripheral skirt of the lid, the arrangement being such that the lid can move between a closed, or at least substantially closed condition, (preferably in which it has been moulded) and an open

coαdition, and subsequently vice versa, reliant on movement on the hinge (optionally once there has been and/ or with tamper evident treatment of the tamper evident zone).

The invention also consists in the use of a closure, combination or sealed container of any aspect of die invention. A preferred form of closure, combination and sealed container will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 is a view from above of a preferred plastics cap in accordance with the present invention (e.g. HDPE),

Figure 2 is another view from above of the cap of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view of the cap of Figures 1 and 2 from below showing the thread and, in conjunction with the thread at the top thereof and away from the lead therein to, the commencement of the thread anti rotation forms,

Figure 4 shows the top (e.g. of LDPE) of a suitable container to which the thread with the anti rotation cam, ramp or ratchet forms or the like of Figure 3 can interengage so as to prevent easy removal after ratchet locking thereof at more or less the final act of screw fitting of the cap of Figure 3 to the thread formation of the container having the necked top as shown in Figure 4,

Figure 5 shows the closure of Figures 1 to 3 interengaged with the neck form of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a sectional view of the assembly of Figure 5, i.e. looking at the cut in side elevation,

Figure 7 is a similar view to diat of Figure 6 but after the removal of the tamper evident band or tear strip, and

Figure 8 shows the hinged uplifting of die lid with the peripheral skirt after the removal of the tamper evident zone, i.e. the tear seal or tear band.

In the preferred form of the present invention the product is moulded in HDPE in the form as shown in Figures 1 through 3 to interengage with a threaded neck of the form of Figure 4. The container is to have a thread 1 with anti-rotation features 2 to interengage with the formations of a ramp type nature 3 associated with the thread 4 of the closure 5 away from the lead in of the thread 4 dius making the anti-rotation locking of the fitted screw top a final act of the screw on of the cap using preferably conventional screw cap apparatus.

The moulding of Figures 1 through 3 offers an assist 6 for removal of a tamper evident band or tear seal 7 which, when removed as in Figures 7 and 8, allows the hinge 8 to allow the uplifting of the peripherally skirted lid 9. A feature of die Hd 9 is preferably

the inwatd annular flange 10 deeper at zone 11 than at the more distal zone 12 so as to provide appropriate seals against the inside surface 13 whilst at the same time having die deeper portion 11 acting as a bias assist of the uplift after initial flicking up of the distal region 10 of the lid reliant upon the lids overhang above die scallop 14. As can be seen the inwardly threaded skirt 15 is almost sleeve like but preferably has the beading interengagement depicted in the cross-sections so diat tiiere is a clip fit seal closure with portions 16 underlying peripheral rib 17 of the inwardly threaded skirt or sleeve.

As used herein the term "skirt" in respect inwardly threaded "skirt" includes a sleeve of any particular configuration.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how this particular closure is moulded in its as closed condition but has an ease of engagement with a container having the formation as shown in Figure 4 utilising conventional milk screw cap fitting apparatus whilst at the same time providing the tamper evident flip up convenience evident. There need be no substantial addition to bottle neck height over conventional screw cap arrangements.

This closure/neck combination for, for example, screw caps of milk containers provides non leaking - hinge flip top dispensing low cost/light weight linerless screw on / minimal change over costs

HDPE (recycling friendly) - tamper evidence / non removable correct orientation to cottle for pouring no fragility.

In this specification where reference has been, made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such

documetits, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.