TECHNICAL SHIELD

[001] This present disclosure relates generally to closures for containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to tethering closures to containers, such as bottles.

BACKGROUND

[002] In the field of liquid packaging, it is very common to seal the aperture of a container with a stopper, often made from a plastic material. Such a container is usually a plastic bottle, but other materials may be used as well.

[003] The stopper typically has a tubular shape closed at its top edge by a top wall. The stopper comprises a closure shell attached to a tamper band through the implementation of bridges. Bridges are distributed around the circumference of the closure shell and the tamper band. Moreover, the bridges may be made when molding the stopper or after through undergoing a cutting step during the manufacturing process.

[004] Usually the bottle neck comprises outer fixation features, such as threads for screw type stopper or annular fixation rings for a snap type stopper that secures the stopper on the bottle neck.

[005] For screw type stoppers, die closure shell typically comprises inner thread(s) arranged inside side walls. 'Hie bottle neck fixation feature comprises outer thread(s), Such combinations of outer and inner titread(s) allow the stopper to be screwed on a bottle neck to seal it and unscrewed for bottle entirely opening. A snap type stopper comprises inner annular area: and the bottle neck fixation feature comprises outer fixation ring, in order to slot in force the stopper on the bottle neck. A simp type stopper comprises a closure shell with a movable sealing roof from a closure position to a part opening, and reversely. The roof may be separating upon opening or may be connected with the closure shell.

[006] In a bottle sealing position of the stopper, the tamper band is secured around the bottle neck through inner temper band retaining features or through the tamper band diameter being smaller than a diameter of a tamper evident ring of the bottle neck.

[007] The closure shell is typically removable. During bottle opening, the bridges form a weakness line and are tom apart from the closure shell, so it can be separated from the bottle. The weakness line is tom when user unscrews the closure shell of the stopper or when user lifts the roof by tilting.

[008] There is a recycling risk with separable closure shell as consumers may not always screw or snap back the closure shell onto the bottle neck once empty. The stopper may result in being thrown away in a trash bin as it travels to the landfill environmental considerations.

[009] A solution can be linking the closure shell to the tamper band secured on the bottle neck, so the closure shell stays attached to the bottle after bottle opening. Such an attached stopper is so called a "tethered stopper.”

[0010] Other known art prior art systems include a tethered stopper comprising a spiral strip. The spiral strip is made during the stepper molding so there is no cutting or slitting operations. Other known prior art systems includes tethered stoppers comprising two strips linking the closure shell to the tamper band secured on the bottle neck.

[0011] A problem relative to a tethered stopper with a strip is that once the closure shell is separated from the bottle neck when opening, but while still linked to the tamper band through the strip, the closure shell remains close to a bottle neck aperture, as the strip wants to return to its original configuration because of the elasticity of its plastic material. The consumer, when drinking the liquid through the bottle aperture, brings the bottle neck to his mouth, but die stopper shell can interfere and bother the consumer as the stopper hits the consumer’s facial features such as their nose.

SUMMARY

[0012] This invention is a methodology for improving a bottle tethered stopper where its closure shell remains attached to its tamper hand after bottle opening and the tethered stopper can be moved further away from the bottle neck. The tethered plastic stopper can comprise a strip linked at one end to the tamper band and connected at an opposite end to the closure shell through a hinge. [0013] The tethered stopper comprises a bottom weakness line formed between the strip and the tamper band, and a top weakness line formed between the closure shell and the strip. Hence, the action of opening the bottle by unscrewing or unsnapping the tethered stopper tears apart the bottom weakness line and the top weakness line. The closure shell can remain connected to the tamper band secured on the bottle neck through toe combination of the strip and the hinge. In the opening position, toe strip allows the closure shell to be so far from the bottle neck so that it will not. bother the consumer when drinking.

[0014] The strip extends at least almost around half toe perimeter of the stopper, so when opening toe strip allows the closure shell to be moved further to the side of toe bottle. In an opened position, the closure can be secured under the ring of toe bottle neck or attached to toe bottle neck side.

[0015] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of toe following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of toe invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized, such as to show details of particular components. Emphasis is placed on illustrating toe principles of toe invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views,

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates a rear view of a first embodiment of the tethered plastic screw stopper in a closed position.

[0018] Figure 2 illustrates a rear view of a second embodiment at the start of the opening process.

[0019] Figure 3 illustrates a side view of toe second embodiment in the closed position.

[0020] Figure 4 illustrates a side view of toe second embodiment at the beginning of opening, [0021] Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the first embodiment during opening.

[0022] Figure 6 illustrates a side view of the first embodiment in an opened position.

[0023] Figure 7 illustrates a side view of a second embodiment secured in an opened position.

[0024] Figure 8 illustrates a side view of a third embodiment, in a first opened position.

[0025] Figure 9 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment during the opening process.

[0026] Figure 10 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment in the opened position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure ate disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, for example, exemplary, and similar terms, refer expansively to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern.

[0028] In some instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis tor teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0029] Phrasing such as 'configured to' perform a function, including in the claims, can include any or all of being sized, shaped, positioned in the arrangement, aid comprising material to perform the function.

[0030] Terms indicating quantity, such as‘first’ or‘second’ are used for exemplary and explanation purposes and are not intended to dictate the specific ordering of a component with respect to other components.

[0031] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the claims.

[0032] Figure 1 illustrates a rear view of a tethered stopper 100 for closing a bottle neck generally having a tubular shape. The stopper 100 is integrally made as one plastic component, for example during injection molding. The stopper 100 comprises a tamper band 102 and a closure shell 104. The temper band 102 and the closure shell 104 are so linked together, the tamper band 102 being top connected around the bottom of the closure shell 104.

[0033] The tamper band 102 includes retaining features 200 that secure the stopper 100 when sealing the bottle neck. Specifically, the retaining features 200 include a collar 202. The collar 202, when molded, is positioned at the bottom of the tamper band 102. The collar 202 is later configured to be inverted inside of the tamper band 102. This inversion, for example, occurs during a folding operation where the collar 202 is folded along a seam and inverted into the tamper band 102. Once the collar 202 is inverted, the stopper 100 can be inserted and secured against a neck ring located at the bottle neck.

[0034] The objective of the invention is to prevent, or at least make it more difficult, to completely remove the closure shell 104 from the tamper band 102 after opening. To accomplish this objective, the stopper 100 includes a strip 106 between the tamper band 102 and the closure shell 104, such that the tamper band 102 and the closure shell 104 are connected through the strip 106. Specifically, the strip 106 is connected to the tamper band 102 and at least partially connected to the closure Shell 104.

[0035] Prior to opening, the strip 106 is linked to the tamper band 102 and the closure shell 104 along a portion of the peripheral length of the stopper 100. Specifically, the strip 106 is connected at a bottom edge of the closure shell 104 and at a top edge of the tamper hand 102, at or near a weakness line 110. In order to separate a portion of the strip 106 from the tamper band 102 and the closure shell 104, the stopper 100 first includes a bottom weakness line 108 between the tamper band 102 and the strip 106 and the top weakness line 110 between the closure shell 104 and the strip 106 and also the tamper band 102. [0036] The weakness lines 108, 110 include bridges, regularly or irregularly distributed around the stopper 100. The weakness line 108, 110 can be created when molding the stopper 100 or after through a cutting operation. Such a cutting operation can consist in slitting the material of the tamper band 102, through a part or the entire width of the tamper band material. The bridges can be made when molding the stopper 100 or after through a further cutting or slitting operation. During opening, die bottom weakness line 108 and the top weakness line 1 10 can be torn until each is respectively disconnected from the tamper band 102 and the closure shell 104.

[0037] In order to for the closure shell 104 to remain connected to the tamper band 102, the stopper 100 includes a hinge 112. The hinge 112 is created between the top edge of the strip 106 and the bottom edge of the closure shell 104. The hinge 112 is an angular portion of the stopper 100 which is almost aligned with the top weakness line 110. Along the hinge 112 there is no weakness line, so the closure shell 104 remains attached through the hinge 112 to the strip 106.

[0038] In some embodiments, the hinge 112 may comprise a middle free portion 116 separating at least a left and/or right hinge 1 18 and 120. The left hinge 118 and the right hinge 120 can remain linked the closure shell 104 when the stopper 100 is separated from the bottle.

[0039] The middle free portion 116 allows the left hinge 118 and the right hinge 120 to deform. When turning the closure shell 104 to a side of the stopper 100, die left hinge 118 and the right hinge 120 are twisted, getting a round resilient shape, until they come in a locking position, such as shown in Figure 6 where the closure shell 104 is secured in an opened position.

[0040] In the secured opened position, the middle free portion 116 creates a space between the left hinge 118 and the right hinge 120 where a part of a border of the closure shell. 104 blocks against the bordure of the tamper band 102. The closure shell 1.04 cannot spring back due to the elasticity of the left hinge 112 and the right hinge 114.

[0041] In some embodiments, a left vertical edge of the left hinge 1 I S and a right vertical edge of the right hinge 120 are positioned higher than the respective opposite right and left edges. Such raised edges allows the closure to be twisted into an open position. In some embodiments, the left edge of the left hinge 118 and the right edge of the right hinge 120 are inclined relative to the vertical. The left edge and the right edge can angularly incline from -45° to +45° where the left edge and the right edge are convergent.

[0042] The hinge 112 can extend around the peripheral length of the tamper band forming an angle formed by the center of the closure shell 104 and the periphery of the tamper band. According to different embodiments, the hinge 112 can angularly extend from 5° to 90°. In Figures 1 and 2, the hinge 112 extends about 15° and the top weakness line 110 extends around the periphery of the closure shell 104, except for the angular portion of the hinge 112.

[0043] In some embodiments, the hinge 112 forms an angle between 7.5° to 90°. In some embodiments, the middle tree portion 116 can extend angularly from 2.5° to 45°. In some embodiments, each of the left hinge 118 and the right hinge 120 can angularly extend from 2.5° to 45°.

[0044] The bottom weakness line 108 can extend at least beneath die hinge 112. The bottom weakness line 108 is centered below the middle of the hinge 112. The strip 106 only extends on a part of the periphery of the stopper 100. The bottom of the .strip 106 extends between approximately 150° to about 336° in angular portion of die stopper 100. Therefore, the bottom weakness line 108 can extend a part of the tamper band 102 and die strip 106.

[0045] So the tamper band 102 and the closure shell 104 are connected through the bottom weakness line 108 bottom attached to the top of the tamper band 104 and top attached to the bottom of the strip 106. The tamper band 102 and the closure shell 104 are connected through the top weakness line 110 bottom attached to the top of the strip 106 and the top of the tamper band 102 and top attached to the bottom of the closure shell

104.

[0046] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bottom weakness line 108 extends almost half of the perimeter of the stopper 100 or approximately an angular value of 180° or slightly more. When opening the strip 106, the closure shell 104 can be partially disconnected (e.g., unscrewed or flipped open) from the bottle neck and to be moved to a side of the stopper 100. Steps of this opening are shown in Figures 5 and 6. When dosing the strip 106 also allows the closure shell 104 to easily come back on the bottle neck in order to be screwed or snapped, which would be more complicated with only a pivot connection through the hinge without the strip 106.

[0047] In another embodiment shown in Figure 7, the strip 106 allows the closure shell 104 to be moved forward and downwardly under the tamper band 102. The closure shell 104 is secured under the bottom edge of die tamper band 102 or is blocked under a ring of the bottle neck, especially under a transport ring of the bottle neck. So blocking is possible due to the length of the strip 106, depending of the angular value of the bottom weakness line 108, which is at least 150° of the periphery of the stopper 100. The elasticity of the plastic material allows the strip 106 to locally twist at the proximity of the hinge 112.

[0048] in the third embodiment shown in Figures 8 through 10, the strip 106 extends more than a half of the stopper 100 and the bottom weakness line 108 can angularly extend more than 180°. Thus when opening, the closure shell 104 can be upwardly moved, such as shown in Figure 9, and then moved to an opened position, such as that shown in Figure 10. Especially in this totally opened position, the resilience of the strip 106 allows the closure shell 104 to remain open.

[0049] While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention.