FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This device generally relates to threaded tamper evident container closures, and to threaded tamper-evident closures having a push-pull resealable tamper evident pour spout.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/687, 149 filed on July 24, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/633,225 filed on April 16, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Examples of threaded prior art tamper-evident closures are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/332,589 filed October 31 , 1994 which is the priority document for International Patent Application No. PCT/IB95/01174 (published July 11 , 1996 under International Publication No. WO 96/20872), U.S. Patent Nos. 4,664,278 and 4,971 ,212, and in U.K. Patent No. GB 2, 177,384 and French Patent No. 2,682,357. Examples of threaded prior art tamper-evident closures having a push-pull resealable tamper-evident pour

spout are disclosed, in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/332, 140 filed October 31 , 1994 which is the priority document for International Patent Application No. PCT/IB95/01105 (published May 9, 1996 under International Publication No. WO 96/13442), and in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,465,876.

The present invention provides an improved means of locking threaded tamper-evident closures to a bottle neck, by means of a uniquely shaped annular flange extending radially inward from the inner surface of the tamper-evident band attached to the bottom edge of the closure body. This flange, which can be continuous or segmented, forms an upwardly angled

"hook" shaped surface for engaging the sealing flange on the bottle neck. The hook-like flange has a reverse basis that allows it to slide past the bottle neck sealing flange as the cap is snapped downward onto the container during installation. The hook-shaped flange then

provides a positive grip on the bottle neck sealing flange to prevent removal of the closure while the tamper evident band remains intact. This hook-like sealing feature makes the closure of the present invention more difficult to detach from the container neck than existing prior art designs to minimize the risk of unintended removal while at the same time providing the same ease of installation as found in existing designs. The hook-shaped flange of the present invention can optionally be configured with a plurality of fins or gussets extending upwardly from and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sealing surface of the flange. The purpose of the fins or gussets is to assist in breaking and dislodging the tamper- evident band from the remainder of the closure by engaging the exterior surface of the bottle neck as the tamper-evident seal is being broken.

Additionally, the present invention provides a novel configuration for protecting the integrity of frangible elements during installation of threaded tamper-evident closures. A plurality of elevated areas extend upwardly from the tamper-evident band in spaced relation to the bottom edge of the closure body. The purpose of these elevated areas is to support the tamper evident band in resisting vertical movement imparted by insertion of the closure on the bottle neck, thereby protecting the frangible elements during assembly. The frangible elements connecting the tamper-evident band to the lower edge of the closure body may be configured to extend from these elevated areas as well as the non-elevated areas of the tamper-evident band. The purpose of attaching frangible elements to the elevated areas of the tamper-evident band is to assist in preventing axial misalignment of the tamper-evident

band relative to the annular depending skirt portion of the closure upon subjecting the closure to torquing forces during assembly to the container neck.

Prior art threaded push-pull pour spout closures providing tamper evidency and having tamper evident pour spouts have not always been leak proof at spout closure interface. Generally, prior art push-pull pour spout closures that are reusable do not provide effective sealing at the juncture between the spout opening and the plug positioned in the opening when the spout is closed. Because of the very small diameter of the opening and the concern for safety, it is not possible to add non- integrated sealing means. The present invention solves this problem by utilizing a closure plug which combines a circular closure disk with an integral annular skirt depending from the periphery of the disk thereby defining a hollow cavity for the plug interior and increasing the structural flexibility of the plug. The increased structural flexibility provided by the hollow cavity causes inward deformation of the plug skirt upon engagement with annular flanges integrated into the periphery of the spout closure central opening to create a form-fitting leak tight seal. A plurality of circumferentially spaced dimples optionally extend from the exterior wall of the pour spout. These dimples engage vertically spaced inturned annular flanges on the interior surface of the spout closure to facilitate breaking the frangible elements connecting the tamper evident band to the push- pull pour spout closure.

The present invention also optionally provides a tamper-evident dust cover which encloses the push-pull pour spout closure when inserted on the container. The dust cover is provided with a tamper-evident sealing band which remains intact upon initial installation of the dust cover onto the container and which is broken when the dust cover is initially disturbed. The purpose of the dust cover is to provide an indication of whether the push-pull pour spout closure has been exposed subsequent to the sealing of the container.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a threaded tamper- evident closure having an annular hook-shaped flange extending radially inward from the inner surface of the tamper-evident band attached to the bottom edge of the closure body, for

locking the closure to a bottle neck while the tamper evident band is intact.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a threaded tamper-evident closure having an annular hook-shaped flange with a plurality of fins or gussets extending upwardly from and in a direction substantially peφendicular to the sealing surface of the

flange, to assist in breaking and dislodging the tamper-evident band from the remainder of the closure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a threaded tamper-evident closure having frangible elements attached from and between a plurality of elevated areas extending upwardly from the tamper-evident band, for protecting the integrity of frangible elements during installation of the closure on a bottle neck.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a threaded tamper-evident closure with a reusable push-pull pour spout having a closure plug of increased structural flexibility to provide a more effective leak tight seal.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dimple means for facilitating

the breakage of frangible elements on the tamper evident band of the push-pull pour spout closure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a threaded tamper-evident closure with a reusable push-pull pour spout that utilizes an upwardly angled hook-shaped

annular flange to prevent removal of the closure body from a bottle neck while the tamper

evident band remains intact.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a threaded tamper-evident

closure with a reusable push-pull pour spout having a plurality of fins or gussets extending upwardly from and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sealing surface of an annular hook-shaped flange, to assist in breaking and dislodging the tamper-evident band from the remainder of the closure body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide frangible elements attached from and between a plurality of elevated areas extending upwardly from the tamper-evident band, for protecting the integrity of frangible elements during installation of the closure on a bottle neck.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dust cover with a ratcheted tamper-evident sealing band which encloses the push-pull pour spout closure when inserted on the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first preferred embodiment of the present invention generally provides a threaded tamper-evident closure having an annular hook-shaped flange extending radially inward from the inner surface of the tamper-evident band attached to the bottom edge of the closure body. The hook-shaped flange can be continuous or segmented and forms an upwardly angled surface for engaging the sealing flange on the bottle neck. The edge of the flange preferably lies at an angle with a plane normal to the inner surface of the tamper-evident band, thereby defining a grooved "hook" which slides over the locking flange on the bottle neck when the closure is placed on the container but which engages and locks the closure to the container neck when removal of the closure is attempted with the tamper-evident band intact. The hook-shaped flange can optionally be configured with a plurality of fins or gussets extending upwardly from and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sealing surface of the

flange. A plurality of elevated areas extend upwardly from the tamper-evident band in spaced relation to the bottom edge of the closure body. The frangible elements connecting the tamper evident band to the lower edge of the closure depending annular flange may be

configured to extend from these elevated areas as well as the non-elevated areas of the tamper-evident band.

A second preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a threaded tamper- evident plastic closure having a tamper-evident band containing the above -described features, for use with a tamper evident push-pull resealable pour spout which is substantially leak proof. The push-pull pour spout has an opening which is partially closed by a second top having a secondary opening therein and a plug spaced thereabove with upwardly angled legs formed integrally with the closure. The plug takes the form of a circular closure disk having an integral annular skirt depending from the periphery of the disk that attaches the plug to the angular legs thereby defining a hollow cavity for the plug interior and increasing the structural flexibility of the plug. Integrated into the periphery of the secondary opening is at least one and preferably two annular flanges which engage the plug skirt when the secondary opening is closed to seal the spout. The annular flanges cause inward deformation of the plug skirt upon engagement to create a form-fitting leak proof seal. A plurality of circumferentially spaced dimples optionally extend from the exterior wall of the pour spout. These dimples engage vertically spaced inturned annular flanges on the interior surface of the spout closure to facilitate breaking the frangible elements connecting the tamper evident band to the spout closure. The present invention also optionally provides a tamper-evident dust cover which encloses the push-pull pour spout closure when inserted on the container. The dust cover is provided with a ratcheted tamper-evident sealing band which remains intact

upon initial installation of the dust cover onto the container and which is broken when the

dust cover is initially disturbed.

Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a perusal of the

following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 and IA are sectional views of a threaded tamper-evident closure of the present invention.

Figures 2 and 2A are perspective views of a threaded tamper-evident closure of the present invention;

Figures 3 and 3A are enlarged sectional views of the tamper-evident band of the closure of the present invention;

Figures 4 and 4A are bottom plan views of the closure of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the closure of the present

invention as installed on a container neck.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the hook-shaped locking flange of the present invention.

Figure 6A is an exploded view of the hook-shaped locking flange of the present invention displaying a plurality of fins or gussets.

Figure 6B is an exploded view of the hook-shaped locking flange of the present

invention positioned adjacent to the bottom edge of the closure tamper-evident band and having and having a surface substantially parallel to the interior surface of the closure tamper-evident band.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section through a portion of a resealable push-pull pour spout closure with the push-pull cap in an open position;

Figure 7A is a vertical cross-section through a portion of the resealable push-pull pour spout closure with the push-pull cap in a closed position;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the resealable push-pull pour spout closure;

Figure 8A is a sectional view of the resealable push-pull pour spout closure with tamper evident dust cover installed;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the push-pull cap;

Figure 9A is a top plan view of the push-pull cap;

Figure 10 is an enlarged partial section view of the secondary opening of the push-pull cap;

Figure 10A is an exploded view of the secondary closure plug of the present invention.

Figure 11 is an exploded view of the resealable push-pull pour spout closure with tamper evident dust cover installed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1-6 and 1A-6A of the drawings, a first preferred embodiment of a plastic threaded tamper-evident closure is shown having a seal disc 12 and a depending annular skirt 13 extending therefrom. The depending annular skirt 13 has inwardly extending

spiral threads 36 formed on its interior annular surface 13A which can be either continuous as shown in Figure 1 or segmented as shown in Figure IA. If segmented, threads 36 segments may be offset or aligned in spaced vertical relation to one another defining spaced parallel threaded segment pairs as shown in Figure IA. A frangible annular tamper-evident band IS is integrally molded to annular skirt 13 by interconnecting frangible elements 14 and

14A. The tamper-evident band 15 is flexible for initial insertion of the closure on the neck portion 18 of the container as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to Figures 1, IA, 4 and 4A of the drawings, arcuate hook-like flanged

locking projections 16 are circumferentially spaced about the inner surface of said tamper evident ring 15 and are positioned so that they are engageable under an annular locking flange 17 to lock the closure on a bottle neck 18 as seen in Figure 5 of the drawings. As can

be seen in Figure 6, projections 16 comprise edges 16a defining grooves 16b formed on radially upwardly extending annular flanges 16c. Flanges 16c are preferably discontinuous but can be continuous. Edge 16a and groove 16b provide a "hook" shape for engaging the annular locking flange 17 which has a radius substantially the same as groove 16b. The

surface of flange 16c lies at an angle with a plane normal to the inner surface of the tamper- evident band 15, thereby defining a grooved "hook" with a reverse basis allowing flange 16c to slide over the locking flange 17 on the bottle neck 18 when the closure is placed on the container but which engages and locks the closure to the container when removal of the

closure is attempted with the tamper-evident band 15 intact. As shown in Figure 6B, the aforementioned angle may vary over the surface of flange 16c such that at least a portion of the flange surface lies substantially parallel to the interior surface of the tamper indicating band 15. This flanged edge and groove configuration 16a- 16c may be positioned at any

elevation the surface of tamper-evident band 15, including a position adjacent to the bottom edge of tamper-evident band 15 as shown in Figure 6B. in Because groove 16b is undercut, a mold core must be used that frees or permits removal of undercut prior to stripping the closures from the mold. Various techniques are known to those skilled in the art including

the use of movable core sleeves which free the undercut section of the mold. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the hook-shaped flange 16c of the present invention can optionally be

configured with a plurality of fins or gussets 10 extending upwardly from and in a direction substantially peφendicular to the sealing surface of the flange. The puφose of the fins or gussets 10 is to assist in breaking and dislodging the tamper-evident band from the remainder of the closure by engaging the exterior surface of the bottle neck as the tamper-evident seal

is being broken.

Referring to Figures 1-1A, 2-2A and 3-3A, it will be seen that the tamper-evident band 15 has a series of circumferentially spaced elevated bridge areas 35 extending towards the closure depending annular skirt 13. Each of the elevated bridge areas 35 defines a

reinforcing support for the tamper-evident band 15 during molding and insertion of the closure on the bottle neck. As shown in Figures IA, 2A and 3A, frangible elements 14 can be configured to extend from the tamper evident band 15 between the elevated bridge areas 35. Alternately, as shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, frangible elements 14A can be configured to extend from the tops of the elevated bridge areas 35 to the tamper evident band 15 in addition to the frangible elements 14 which are located between the elevated bridge areas 35. Arcuate projections 16 are shown in Figures 1A-4A in a vertically aligned relation with the respective elevated bridge areas 35 with frangible elements 14 therebetween, but projections

16 can be offset with respect to both the elevated bridge areas 35 and the frangible elements 14 or 14a, as shown in Figures 1-4.

Each of the bridge areas 35 provides support for the tamper-evident band 15 during

the closure capping process on the bottle neck portion by preventing excessive vertical deformation and movement of the ring against the depending skirt 13 which would otherwise break the frangible elements 14 prematurely, since the elevated bridges 35 act as stops

against the depending closure skirt 13. The same protection of the tamper-evident band 15 is apparent during molding of the closure at a time when the frangible elements 14 can be

readily damaged when stripped from the mold. The puφose of attaching frangible elements

14A to the elevated bridge areas 35 of the tamper-evident band 15 is to assist in preventing axial misalignment of the tamper-evident band 15 relative to the closure annular depending

skirt 13 upon subjecting the closure to torquing forces during assembly to the container neck

18.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the closure spiral thread 36 engages a registering-spiral thread 37 extending outwardly from the container neck portion 18 a known distance. The

resulting action of the closure rotation for removal twists and elevates the closure on the neck portion deforming and breaking the respective frangible elements 14 and 14A separating the tamper-evident band 15 from the depending annular skirt 13. By referring to Figure 4A, the closure can be seen wherein the relative positioning of the segmented spiral thread 36 and the arcuate projections 16 on the tamper-evident band 15 can be seen in a circumferentially spaced overlapping relationship providing for offsetting points of engagement with respect to registering locking annular flange 17 and spiral thread 37 on the container neck 18,

respectively.

Figures 7 and 7A provide the second preferred embodiment of the invention showing a resealable push-pull pour spout closure. The closure is preferably made of high density polyethylene which also is made of high density polyethylene, except for pour spout 20 which is preferably low density polypropylene. As shown in Figures 7-7 A and 8-8 A The portion of the closure extending below seal disc 12 can be configured in accordance with any of the embodiments shown in Figures 1-6 and 1A-6A as described above.

Referring to Figures 7 and 7A, an opening 19 is preferably formed in the center of seal disc 12 with an upstanding cylindrical pour spout 20 positioned in registry with opening 19. The upper end of the pour spout 20 includes a secondary top portion 21 which is

apertured at 22. A closure plug 23 is positioned on the secondary top portion 21 in spaced

relation to aperture 22 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced angularly arranged upwardly extending supports 24. A push-pull cap 25 is positioned on the upstanding cylindrical pour spout 20 and has a top surface 26 with a central opening 27 which is designed to register

with the plug 23 to form a secondary closure when the push-pull cap 25 is in a closed position resting on the secondary top portion 21 of the upstanding cylindrical pour spout 20, as illustrated in Figure 7A.

Referring to Figure 10A, the plug 23 is formed by a circular closure disk 41 having

an integrally molded annular skirt 42 depending from the periphery of the disk 41. The sidewall of skirt 42 is dimensioned to be thin enough to allow inward deformation of the sidewall upon contact with the central opening surface 27 of spout cap 25 while at the same time being thick enough to ensure that the plug 23 will not break off with repeated use. Skirt 42 attaches plug 23 to the angular supports 24 thereby defining a hollow cavity 43 for the plug interior.

Located on the inner surface of central opening 27 is at least one, but preferably a pair of annular, preferably arcuate, flanges 33 which radially project into opening 27. As shown in Figure 10, a pair of annular flanges 33a and 33b are integrally molded with the inner surface of central opening 27. A pair of flanges 33a and 33b are especially preferable for sealing fluids such as water. However, a single flange is sufficient for containers used

for fluids having a higher viscosity such as fruit juice. The radially projecting flanges 33 engage depending plug skirt 42 to form a leak tight seal for the spout 20. The attachment of skirt 42 to the periphery of disk 41 increases the structural flexibility of the plug 23 thereby forcing the plug skirt 42 to flex and inwardly deform upon engagement with radially projecting flanges 33. This deformation causes a form fit which increases the tightness of

the secondary closure seal thereby resulting in a superior leak-tight arrangement when

compared to other designs currently in the state of the art.

Push-pull cap 25 has a depending cylindrical body member 28 with a plurality of

annularly spaced frangible elements 29 connected on its lower perimeter edge to a secondary tamper indicating band 30. The cylindrical body member 28 has a pair of vertically spaced inturned annular flanges 31 which slidably engage the outer surface of the upstanding cylindrical pour spout 20. The secondary tamper-evident band 30 also has an internal

annular flange 32 which is slidably engaged at the exterior of the upstanding cylindrical pour spout 20. The upstanding cylindrical pour spout 20 has two outwardly extending annular flanges 34a and 34b, respectively on the exterior thereof. The internal annular flange 32 is

oppositely disposed with respect to the secondary top portion 21 and outwardly extending flange 34a. The outwardly extending flange 34a is positioned above the seal disc 12 and is oppositely disposed to and between the annular flanges 31 and 32 on the cylindrical body member 28 and the secondary tamper evident band 30, respectively. As shown in Figures

8A and 9, the secondary-tamper evident band 30 may contain elevated bridge portions 29A extending from and between frangible elements 29, similar to and for the same puφose as the configuration shown on the bottom tamper-evident band 15 shown in Figures 2, 2A, 3 and 3 A.

In assembled form as illustrated in Figures 7-7 A and 8-8A, the secondary tamper evident band 30 is joined by the frangible elements 29 to the cylindrical body member 28. The push-pull cap 25 is incapable of moving upwardly due to the interengagement of the internal annular flange 32 with the outwardly extending flange 34a on the cylindrical pour

spout 20. Thus the cylindrical body member 28 of the push-pull cap 25 is incapable of vertical movement such as required to move the apertured top surface 26 above the plug 23

until sufficient force is applied to the push-pull cap 25 to break away the frangible elements

29 whereby the push-pull cap 25 can move to the position illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings wherein the opening 27 therein moves upwardly and away from the plug 23. The inturned annular flanges 31 on the cylindrical body member 28 cannot move above the

outwardly extending annular flange 34b on the upstanding cylindrical pour spout 20 so that the push-pull cap 25 cannot be removed therefrom.

As shown in Figures 7 and 9A, a plurality of circumferentially spaced dimples 44 optionally extend from the exterior wall of the pour spout 20. Dimples 44 engage the inturned annular flanges 31 on the cylindrical body member 28 of the push-pull spout closure 25 to facilitate breaking the frangible elements 29 connecting the tamper evident band 30 to the spout closure 25. Dimples 44 can break the frangible elements 29 by either axial or rotational movement of the spout closure 25 relative to the pour spout 7. Referring to Figure 8, the push-pull pour spout closure 10 may be seen in assembled condition illustrating an outside rib surface 40 on the depending annular flange 13.

As shown in Figures 8A and 11 , the present invention also optionally provides a tamper-evident dust cover 90 which encloses the push-pull pour spout closure when inserted

on the container. The dust cover 90 may be optionally provided with an integral ratcheted tamper-evident sealing band 91 which engages teeth 91a integrally formed on the top of closure seal disc 12. Alternately, dust cover 90 may be provided with a tamper-evident sealing band containing at least one bead for engaging at least one bead integrally formed on the top of closure seal disc 12, wherein said beads may be either continuous or discontinuous around their circumference. Tamper-evident sealing band 91 remains intact upon initial installation of the dust cover 90 onto the container. Dust cover 90 and tamper-evident band

91 are separated by the breaking of an line of weakness 92 formed at the intersection of the

dust cover 90 and tamper-evident band 91. The puφose of the dust cover is to provide an indication of whether the push-pull pour spout closure has been exposed subsequent to the sealing of the container.

While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in particularity, the invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.