The present invention relates generally to closures and particularly to tamper-evident closures having a mechanism for informing a user if a closure has been opened/accessed at least once.

The present invention relates to a tamper-evident system for ensuring that a tamper- evidencing event is shown clearly; that there is a strong visual difference between the initial, unopened condition and the condition after tamper-evidencing has been activated. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a tamper-evident closure for a container, the closure comprising a base attachable to a container neck, the base comprising a sidewall having a tamper-evident drop band, the band including an abutment for engaging the container neck to cause the band to break away from the sidewall if an attempt is made to remove the closure from the neck once fitted, the band further comprising an extension against which the sidewall pushes if the closure is reapplied to push/keep the band away from the base.

The sidewall may comprise an internal bead for pushing the extension in the reapplied position.

Part of the extension may be initially located above the bead and is pulled down over the bead upon removal of the closure, and thereafter cannot pass back over the bead.

The internal bead may be continuous or discontinuous.

The extension may comprise a plurality of flaps.

The band may be pushed so that it pressed towards or against a container neck transfer bead. The band may be frangibly connected to a free end of the sidewall.

The drop band may comprise a folded band including the abutment and the extension. The band may be formed with the flap in an unfolded position.

The base may be the closure. However, the closure may further comprise other parts, such as a lid. The lid may be hingedly connected to the base.

There may be provided a tamper-evident means for indicating if the lid has been opened.

The base may comprise a dispensing member such a spout.

The member may comprise a self-closing valve. The base may be screw threadable onto a neck. Other forms of connection may be used, such as a snap bead or the like.

The band may comprise anti-rotation means for improving breakage. A further aspect provides a flip-top sportscap for a container neck, the sportscap comprising a screw-threaded base and a lid joined by a hinge, the base comprising a sidewall at the free end of which a tamper-evident drop-band is frangibly connected, the drop band comprising a folded flap having a part which engages a container neck in use and causes the band to break away from the sidewall if the base is unscrewed, the flap further comprising an extended free end and the sidewall comprising an abutment bead, the bead abutting against the free end of the band to push the band away from the free end of the sidewall if the base is re-screwed onto the neck.

The present invention also provides a container fitted with a closure as described herein.

The closure may comprise a tamper-evident drop band frangibly attached to the free end of a closure side skirt forming part of a main body. The drop band may be formed so that if the closure is removed and then replaced the main body pushes down onto part of the band. In some embodiments the part of the band which is pushed away by the body is a folded flap. This ensures that there is a clear gap between the free end of the side skirt and the band. The free end of the flap has a generally triangular geometry.

In some embodiments the body can push the band down until it contacts a container neck transfer bead or the like.

In some embodiments the body is provided with a bead or the like which pushes the band. Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is an underplan perspective view of a closure formed according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2A is a side view of the closure of Figure I shown fitted to a container neck;

Figure 2B is a side view of the closure of Figure 2A following removal and re-closure of the closure from a container neck; Figure 3 is a section of the closure of Figure 2A;

Figure 4A is a magnified view of the region of a tamper-evident drop band forming part of the closure of Figure 2A; Figure 4B shows the region of Figure 4A corresponding to Figure 2B;

Figure 5 is a front view of a closure body formed according to the present invention and shown in an as-moulded condition; Figure 6 is a section of the closure of Figure 5 taken along line - ;

Figure 7 is a magnified view of the region L of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a front view showing the closure of Figure 5 fully assembled and fitted on to a container neck;

Figure 9 is a section of the closure/neck of Figure 8 taken along line C-C; Figure 1 0 is a magnified view of the region D of Figure 9;

Figure I I shows the closure/neck of Figure 9 when the closure is first unscrewed from the neck;

Figure 1 2 shows the closure/neck of Figure I I when the closure is re-closed onto the neck; Figure I 3 is a magnified view of the region G of Figure I I ;

Figure 14 is a magnified view of the region J of Figure 1 2;

Figure 1 5 is a magnified view of the region H of Figure I I ; Figure 1 6 shows the region of a tamper-evident drop band of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment;

Figure 1 7 shows the region of a tamper-evident drop band of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment;

Figure 18 is a side view of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment and shown in an as-moulded condition;

Figure 1 9 is a plan view of the closure of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is an underplan view of the closure of Figure 18;

Figure 21 is a section of the closure of Figure 1 9 taken along line H-H; Figures 22A to 22D is a sequence of drawings showing the closure of Figures 18 to 21 fitted to a closure and during removal and re-closure of the closure base;

Figure 23 is a section of a closure formed according to an alternative embodiment based on the drop band of Figure 16;

Figure 24 is a magnified view of the drop band of Figure 23; Figure 25 shows the closure of Figure 23 fitted onto a container neck; and

Figure 26 is a section of a one-piece beverage closure having a drop band similar to the band shown in Figures I to 1 5.

The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Referring first to Figures I to 3 there is shown a flip-top (sportscap) tamper-evident closure 10. The closure 1 0 includes a lid 1 5 connected to a base 20 by a hinge 25.

A tamper-evident strip 30 is provided to connect the lid 1 5 and the base 20 and must be torn off to allow the lid to be opened to reveal a drinking spout 35. The base 20 includes a sidewall 21 and at the free end of the sidewall is a tamper-evident drop band 40.

Referring also to Figure 4A, the drop band 40 includes an annular band 41 frangibly connected to the free end of the sidewall, and a folded flap 42 that extends radially inwardly of the band.

The flap 42 includes an abutment surface 43 which engages under a tamper bead 5 1 of a container neck finish 50 and ensures that if the sidewall lifts (if an attempt is made to unscrew the closure) the drop band 40 is broken away from the sidewall 21 because the abutment surface 43 cannot pass over the bead 51 .

Beyond the flap abutment surface 43 the flap 42 has an extension part 44 that terminates with a terminal part 45 with a generally triangular geometry. In the unopened position shown in Figure 4A the part 45 rests on a bead 22 formed on the interior of the sidewall, towards its free end.

If the band breaks 40 away from the sidewall 21 and then the closure is screwed back down, the sidewall bead 22 now pushes down on the terminal part 45 of the band flap extension 43 and this pushes the band 40 down, as shown in Figure 4B to form and maintain a gap G.

By using the closure base to push down on the folded flap part of the drop band this ensures that there is a clear gap between the free end of the sidewall and the broken away drop band. In this embodiment the base 20 pushes the band 40 down until it abuts against the neck bead 51 .

If the band has already dropped the gap G is maintained; if the band remains on the bead then it is pushed off the bead and down away from the sidewall as the closure is reapplied.

Figures 5 to 7 show a closure body 1 05 formed according to an alternative embodiment.

The body is very similar to that shown in Figures I to 4 and comprises a lid 1 15 hingedly connected to a base 120.

In this embodiment the flap 142 is moulded in a position in which it extends downwardly with respect to the sidewall 1 21 and is then folded up so that it extends almost parallel thereto and extends up into the interior of the sidewall. After folding the closure is slit to form a frangible line (formed by bridges) between the sidewall 1 21 and the drop band 140.

In Figures 8 to 1 0 the body 1 05 is shown fitted with a separate spout member I 35 to form a closure I 1 0 and connected to a container neck 1 50 by engagement of internal screw threads 123 on the body base sidewall 1 21 and external screw threads 1 52 on the neck. In Figures 1 1 , 1 3 and 1 5 the closure I 1 0 is shown partially removed from the neck 1 50 so that the band 140 is broken away from the sidewall 1 21 . The band 140 may or may not fall down onto the neck transfer ring 1 54. In Figures 1 2 and 14 the closure I 1 0 is shown re-applied to the container neck 1 50. The sidewall bead 122 pushes down on the terminal part 145 of the flap 142 to force the band 140 down onto the ring 1 54.

In Figures I to 14 the band flap 142 is generally annular and is continuous. In other embodiments, for example as shown in Figures 1 6 and 1 7 the flap 242, 342 may be discontinuous and instead comprise a plurality of hook-like flaps 260, 360 each comprising an extension part 244, 344 and a terminal part 245, 345.

A closure 41 0 formed with a discontinuous flap is shown in Figures 18 to 21 .

The closure 41 0 is a one-piece body with a generally disc-shape top plate 41 I from the periphery of which depends a generally cylindrical sidewall 421 .

Figure 18 shows the closure 41 0 in an as moulded condition with retention flap 460 shown in a downwardly folded position. The flaps are upturned and a frangible line is formed at the open end of the sidewall to define the tamper-evident drop band. Operation of the closure 41 0 is illustrated in Figures 22A to 22D.

In Figure 22A the closure 41 0 is shown fitted to a container neck 450. The terminal part 445 of the flaps 460 rest against a parallel inclined surface 470 formed on the sidewall 421 . In Figure 22B the closure starts to be unscrewed from the neck. The abutment surface 443 on the flaps abuts against the neck bead 45 1 . Further unscrewing causes the band 441 to break away from the sidewall 421 .

In Figure 22C the closure is being screwed back onto the neck. A bead 422 on the sidewall 421 presses onto the terminal parts 445, causing the band 440 to drop down onto the neck transfer ring 454, after which the extension part 442 of the flaps passes back over the bead 422, as shown in Figure 22D.

Figure 23 is a section of a closure 5 1 0 formed according to an alternative embodiment having a drop band 540 based on the drop band of Figure 1 6 and having a plurality of "fish hook" flaps 560. Figure 24 is a magnified view of the drop band of Figure 23. Figure 25 shows the closure of Figure 23 fitted onto a container neck.

Figure 26 is a section of a one-piece beverage closure having a drop band similar to the band shown in Figures I to 1 5.

Where shown, dimensions are not limiting and are merely by way of example,

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.