[0001] The present disclosure is directed to a tamper-indicating package, and to a closure
and container for such a package, in which the closure and container are constructed
such that the tamper-indicating mechanism is activated before loss of sealing engagement
between the closure and the container neck finish.
Background and Summary of the Disclosure
[0002] Many aseptic-fill packages, such as packages for dairy products, are provided with
a foil seal over the end of the container neck finish before the closure is applied
to the neck finish. This foil seal functions both to seal the package during shipment,
storage and handling, and to provide indication that the package has been opened when
the foil seal has been ruptured or removed. However, there is a desire to eliminate
the cost associated with provision of this foil seal and the inconvenience of requiring
removal of the foil seal by the consumer. The present disclosure is directed to a
tamper-indicating package, and to a closure and a container for such a package, in
which the closure and the container are constructed such that a tamper-indicating
mechanism on the closure is activated before loss of sealing engagement between the
closure and the container neck finish. A tamper-indicating pacqage comprising a container
a closure ratchet wings and
[0003] ratchet feeth, a flexible resilient liner is disclosed in document
US-A-20050199574.
[0004] The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately
from or in combination with each other.
[0005] A tamper-indicating package in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure
is described in claim 1.
[0006] The open end of the neck finish preferably has a radially inwardly extending trim
flange, which may be flexible, resilient and deformed axially inwardly by engagement
with the liner surface. Resilient engagement of the liner surface with the trim flange
is such that the tamper band is separated from the skirt before loss of sealing engagement
between the liner and the trim flange. The ratchet wings preferably extend from an
inside surface of the tamper band onto an inside surface of the closure skirt and
frangibly connect the tamper band to the skirt. Each ratchet tooth of each set on
the container neck finish preferably is diametrically opposed to an associated ratchet
tooth of the opposing set, such that all ratchet teeth are simultaneously engaged
by ratchet wings on the closure skirt. The flexible resilient liner preferably includes
barrier material resistant to migration of gases, water vapor and/or flavorants through
the liner.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects
thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims
and the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tamper-indicating package in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container in the package of FIGS.
1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the container illustrated in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG.
4;
FIG. 5A is a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of FIG. 5 within the area 5A;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of FIG. 4 within the area 6;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the portion of FIG.
6 within the area 7;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the closure in the package of FIGS. 1 and
2;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a closure in accordance with another exemplary
embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 10 is a partially sectioned elevational view of the shell in the closure of FIG.
8;
FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the closure shell in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 12-12 in FIG. 10;
FIGS. 13 and 14 are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along the lines
13-13 and 14-14 in FIG. 11; and
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 15-15 in
FIG. 12.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0009] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a package 20 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure. Package 20 includes a closure 22 applied to the neck finish 24
of a container 26. Container 26 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 3-7. Neck
finish 24, which typically is cylindrical, has one or more external thread segments
28. First and second sets 30,32 of angularly spaced ratchet teeth 34 are in diametrically
opposed arrays on neck finish 24 on a side of thread segments 28 remote from the open
upper end of the neck finish. (Directional words such as "upper" and "lower" are employed
by way of description and not limitation with respect to the upright orientation of
the package, container and closure illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 10, for example.
Directional words such as "diametric" or "circumferential" are employed by way of
description and not limitation with respect to the axis of the container neck finish
and/or the closure skirt as appropriate. The term "thread segment" is employed in
its usual broad sense to include both partial and full helical threads, and both continuous
and interrupted threads.) Ratchet teeth 34 extend radially outwardly from an external
ledge 33, which preferably extends entirely around the neck finish. Ledge 33 and ratchet
teeth 34 may be solid, as shown, or hollow. Each ratchet tooth 34 has a counterclockwise-facing
cam surface 35 and a clockwise-facing abutment surface 36. Ratchet teeth 34 may be
identical, but preferably are non-identical to facilitate removal of container neck
finish 24 from its forming mold.
[0010] Container 26, including neck finish 24, preferably is formed in an extrusion blow
molding operation, as described for example in detail in above-referenced
U.S. Patent 6,533,136. During such container manufacture, a trim flange 38 is formed at the open end of
the container neck finish during a post-mold trimming operation by means of a suitable
knife blade or the like to separate the container neck finish from an integrally formed
moil or another container. This trimming operation forms a trimmed surface 40 (FIG.
5A) on which there is no vestige caused by mold mismatch or the like during the molding
operation. Trimmed surface 40, which is annular (FIG. 4) and extends around the open
end of the container neck finish, may be in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the
container neck finish as illustrated in FIG. 5A, or may be a conical surface that
extends either upwardly or downwardly with respect to the container neck finish, particularly
after the neck finish and trim flange have cooled after the trimming operation. By
way of example only, trimmed surface 40 may nominally be perpendicular to the axis
of the neck finish as noted, and undersurface 41 (FIG. 5A) of trim flange 38 may be
at a nominal angle of 45° to the neck finish axis. Container 26 may be of any suitable
material, such as a polyethylene. Depending upon the geometry of trim flange 38, the
trim flange can be relatively rigid, or can be flexible and resilient.
[0011] Closure 22 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8 and 10-15. Closure 22 includes a one-piece
shell 42 of compression molded or injection molded plastic construction, such as polypropylene
for example. Shell 42 has a base wall 44 and an annular skirt 46. Skirt 46 is illustrated
as extending from the periphery of base wall 44 in the exemplary embodiment of the
disclosure. However, in other embodiments of the disclosure, there may be an additional
skirt disposed radially outwardly of skirt 46 to match the sidewall contour of the
container to which the closure will be applied. One or more internal thread segments
48 are provided on the inside surface of skirt 46. A tamper band 50 is frangibly connected
to skirt 46 of closure shell 42. In shell 42 as molded (FIGS. 10-15), tamper band
50 preferably forms an integral axial extension from the end of skirt 46 remote from
base wall 44. Tamper band 50 separates from skirt 46, as will be described, to indicate
that the package has been opened. In the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, this
band separation is complete, in that band 50 completely separates from skirt 46. However,
tamper band separation could be partial separation, as described for example in
U.S. Patent 4,432,461,
5,295,600 or
6,053,344, and still be within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0012] A circumferential array of angularly spaced flexible resilient ratchet wings 52 extend
from the inner surface of tamper band 50. Ratchet wings 52 preferably are nominally
flat as molded and extend counterclockwise at an angle to the inner surface of band
50 as viewed from above (or clockwise as viewed from below in FIGS. 11 and 12). Ratchet
wings 52 preferably are at equal angular spacing around the inner surface of tamper
band 50. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, there are eighteen
ratchet wings 52 at equal angular spacings of 20° around the inside surface of tamper
band 50, and the abutment spaces 36 (FIGS. 4, 6 and 7) of ratchet teeth 34 preferably
are at equal angular spacings of 20°. Each ratchet wing 52 preferably extends axially
from the inner surface of band 50 onto the inner surface of skirt 46. As best seen
in FIG. 8, skirt 46 has an internal ledge 53. Ratchet wings integrally extend along
the inside surface of band 50 and skirt 46, and are integrally joined to ledge 53.
Ratchet wings 52 preferably do not extend all of the way to the free edge of band
50. Skirt 46 preferably is scored along the line 54 in FIGS. 1 and 8, substantially
at the location of section line 12-12 in FIG. 10, following the shell molding operation.
This score extends through the integral connection of band 50 to skirt 46, so that
band 50 is frangibly connected to skirt 46 by the several ratchet wings 52. Extension
of ratchet wings into skirt 46 enhances the stability of the ratchet wings, and the
use of the ratchet wings as the frangible connection to skirt 46 eliminates the need
for separately molded leaders. As an alternative, band 50 may be separate from skirt
46 and connected to skirt 46 by ratchet wings 52 as molded.
[0013] After molding closure shell 42, and either before or after scoring along the line
54 as preferred, a liner 56 is provided on the inside or undersurface of closure base
wall 44. Liner 56 is of flexible resilient construction, and may be provided on closure
base wall 44 in a compression molding or other suitable liner forming operation. Liner
56 has a sealing surface 58 that faces radially outwardly toward skirt 46 and axially
away from base wall 44. Surface 58 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 8 is a conical
surface, for example having an angle of about 62° to the axis of skirt 46. FIG. 9
illustrates another exemplary embodiment in which the sealing surface 58a of liner
56a is at an angle of about 86° to the axis of the closure skirt. Liner 56 (or 56a)
preferably includes a barrier material resistant to migration of gases, water vapor
and/or flavorants through the liner. Liner 56 (or 56a) may, for example, be provided
in accordance with the disclosure of
U.S. Patent 6,371,318 or
U.S. Patent 6,399,170. Liner 56 or 56a extends along the entire undersurface of closure base used 44 within
surface 58, and preferably slightly radially outward from surface 58 as shown.
[0014] Closure 22 is applied to container neck finish 24 by threading the closure onto the
container neck finish in a clockwise direction as viewed from above. Ratchet wings
52 on closure 22 engage cam surfaces 35 on ratchet teeth 34, and are resiliently flexed
by the ratchet teeth radially outwardly toward tamper band 50 and closure skirt 46
during such clockwise application of the closure to the neck finish. Whereas ratchet
wings 52 preferably are flat as molded, and preferably are at substantially identical
angles to the inside surface of tamper band 50 as molded, the ratchet wings may bend
to non-flat configurations and/or to non-identical angles to the tamper band during
application to the container neck finish. The axial spacings and dimensions between
container thread segments 28 and ratchet teeth 34, and between closure thread segments
48 and ratchet wings 52, preferably are such that the thread segments engage each
other as the closure is applied to the container before the ratchet wings engage the
ratchet teeth. This helps assemble the closure onto the container in automatic capping
equipment. Full application of the closure to the container neck finish brings trimmed
surface 40 of neck finish trim flange 38 into opposed or abutting engagement with
sealing surface 58 of liner 56 (or sealing surface 58a of liner 56a in FIG. 9). The
resiliency of liner 56 is such that trim flange 38 compresses the liner. The trim
flange 38 maybe such that the trim flange is resiliently flexed inwardly (with respect
to the container) by engagement with liner 56 during application of the closure.
[0015] When closure 22 thereafter is rotated in the counterclockwise or removal direction
with respect to container neck finish 24, ratchet wings 52 are brought into engagement
with abutment faces 36 of ratchet teeth 34, as illustrated in FIG. 2. A preferred
equal angular spacing of abutment faces 36 and ratchet wings 52 ensures that all of
the abutment faces 36 are simultaneously engaged by ratchet wings 52, as shown in
FIG. 2. This simultaneous engagement facilitates rupture or frangible separation of
tamper band 50 from closure skirt 46. In accordance with the present disclosure, the
resiliency of liner 56 (or 56a) and/or trim flange 38 is such that tamper band 50
is separated from closure skirt 46 before the loss of sealing engagement between liner
56 (or 56a) and trim flange 38.
[0016] There thus have been disclosed a tamper-indicating package, and a closure and container
for such a package, that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set
forth. The disclosure has been presented in connection with several exemplary embodiments,
and a number of additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other
modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary
skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to
embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad
scope of the appended claims.
1. A tamper-indicating package that includes:
a container (26) having a neck finish (24) with an open end, at least one external
tread segment (18), and first and second sets (30, 32) of angularly spaced-ratchet
teeth (34) in diametrically opposed arrays spaced from said open end, and
a closure (22) having a base wall (44) with an annular skirt (46), at least one internal
thread segment (48) on said skirt, a tamper band (50) frangibly connected to said
skirt, and a circumferential array of angularly spaced flexible resilient ratchet
wings (52) extending counterclockwise from an inner surface of said tamper band at
an angle to said inner surface,
said ratchet wings (52) being resiliently flexed by said ratchet teeth (34) radially
outwardly toward said band during clockwise application of said closure to said neck
finish and abutting clockwise-oriented abutment faces of said ratchet teeth to resist
counterclockwise unthreading of said closure from said neck finish so that removal
of said closure from said neck finish frangibly separates said band (50) from said
skirt,
said ratchet teeth (34) of said sets (30, 32) being diametrically opposed to each
other such that said ratchet wings (52) engage said abutment faces of said ratchet
teeth simultaneously, wherein
said container neck finish has a radially inwardly extending trim flange (38) at said
open end,
said closure has a flexible resilient liner (56 or 56a) on said base wall within said
skirt, said liner having an annular surface (58 or 58a) that faces radially outwardly
toward said skirt and axially away from said base wall in resilient sealing engagement
with said trim flange,
said ratchet wings (52) extend axially from said inner surface of said tamper band
onto an inner surface of said skirt and frangibly connecting said tamper band to said
skirt, and
resilient engagement of said liner surface (58 or 58a) with said trim flange (38)
is such that said tamper band (50) is separated from said skirt before loss of sealing
engagement between said liner and said trim flange.
2. The package set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible resilient liner (56 or 56a)
includes barrier material resistant to migration of gases, water vapor and/or flavorants
through said liner.
3. The package set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein axial spacings between said external
thread segments (28) and said ratchet teeth (34) on said neck finish, and between
said internal thread segment (48) and said ratchet wings (52) on said closure, are
such that said thread segments engage each other as said closure is applied to said
container before said ratchet wings engage said ratchet teeth.
1. Verpackung mit Originalitätsanzeige, umfassend:
einen Behälter (26) mit einem Halsabschluss (24) mit einem offenen Ende, mit zumindest
einem äußeren Schraubwindungssegment (28), sowie mit einer ersten und einer zweiten
Gruppe (30, 32) von winkelmäßig beabstandeten Ratschenzähnen (34) in diametral zueinander
gegenüberliegenden Anordnungen im Abstand von dem offenen Ende, und
einen Verschluss (22), der eine Basiswand (44) mit einer Ringwand (46) aufweist, mit
zumindest einem inneren Schraubwindungssegment (48) an der Ringwand, einem Originalitätsband
(50), das zerbrechlich mit der Ringwand verbunden ist, und mit einer umfänglichen
Anordnung von winkelmäßig beabstandeten, flexibel nachgiebigen Ratschenflügeln (52),
die sich entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn von einer Innenseite des Originalitätsbandes aus
in einem Winkel zu der Innenseite erstrecken,
wobei die Ratschenflügel (52) durch die Ratschenzähne (34) nachgiebig radial nach
außen zu dem Band hin abgebogen werden, wenn der Verschluss im Uhrzeigersinn auf den
Halsabschluss aufgeschraubt wird, und wobei sie an im Uhrzeigersinn ausgerichteten
Anschlagflächen der Ratschenzähne in Anlage kommen, um einem Abschrauben des Verschlusses
von dem Halsabschluss entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn einen Widerstand entgegenzusetzen,
so dass beim Entfernen des Verschlusses von dem Halsabschluss das
wobei die Ratschenzähne (34) der Gruppen (30, 32) in solcher Weise diametral zueinander
gegenüberliegend angeordnet sind, dass die Ratschenflügel (52) gleichzeitig an den
Anschlagflächen der Ratschenzähne in Anlage kommen,
wobei der Halsabschluss des Behälters an seinem offenen Ende einen sich radial nach
innen erstreckenden Ausgleichsflansch (38) aufweist,
wobei der Verschluss eine flexibel nachgiebige Einlage (56 oder 56a) auf der Basiswand
innerhalb der Ringwand aufweist, wobei die Einlage eine ringförmige Oberfläche (58
oder 58a) aufweist, die in radialer Richtung nach außen der Ringwand zugewandt ist
und in axialer Richtung von der Basiswand abgewandt ist, wobei sie nachgiebig abdichtend
an dem Ausgleichsflansch in Anlage kommt,
wobei sich die Ratschenflügel (52) in axialer Richtung von der Innenseite des Originalitätsbandes
bis zu einer Innenseite der Ringwand erstrecken und das Originalitätsband zerbrechlich
mit der Ringwand verbinden, und
wobei die nachgiebige Anlage der Oberfläche (58 oder 58a) der Einlage an dem Ausgleichsflansch
(38) derart ausgelegt ist, dass das Originalitätsband (50) von der Ringwand abgetrennt
wird, bevor die abdichtende Anlage zwischen der Einlage und dem Ausgleichsflansch
verloren geht.
2. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die flexibel nachgiebige Einlage (56 oder 56a) ein
Barrierematerial umfasst, das ein Durchwandern von Gasen, Wasserdampf und/oder Aromastoffen
durch die Einlage verhindert.
3. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die axialen Abstände zwischen den äußeren
Schraubwindungssegmenten (28) und den Ratschenzähnen (34) an dem Halsabschluss sowie
zwischen den inneren Schraubwindungssegmenten (48) und den Ratschenflügeln (52) an
dem Verschluss derart ausgelegt sind, dass die Schraubwindungssegmente aneinander
in Anlage kommen, wenn der Verschluss auf den Behälter aufgeschraubt wird, bevor die
Ratschenflügel an den Ratschenzähnen in Anlage kommen.
1. Emballage inviolable qui comprend :
un récipient (26) ayant une bague de col (24) pourvue d'une extrémité ouverte, au
moins un segment de filet externe (28), et des premier et deuxième jeux (30, 32) de
dents d'encliquetage (34) angulairement espacées dans des ensembles diamétralement
opposés, espacés de ladite extrémité ouverte, et
une fermeture (22) ayant une paroi de base (44) pourvue d'une jupe annulaire (46),
au moins un segment de filet interne (48) sur ladite jupe, une bande d'inviolabilité
(50) reliée, avec possibilité de rupture, à ladite jupe, et un ensemble circonférentiel
d'ailettes d'encliquetage (52) élastiques, flexibles, angulairement espacées, s'étendant
dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre depuis une surface interne de ladite
bande d'inviolabilité suivant un angle par rapport à ladite surface interne,
lesdites ailettes d'encliquetage (52) étant fléchies élastiquement par lesdites dents
d'encliquetage (34) radialement vers l'extérieur en direction de ladite bande durant
l'application, dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre, de ladite fermeture sur ladite
bague de col et butant contre des faces de butée, orientées dans le sens des aiguilles
d'une montre, desdites dents d'encliquetage afin de résister au dévissage, dans le
sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, de ladite fermeture de ladite bague de col
de manière que l'enlèvement de ladite fermeture de ladite bague de col sépare, par
rupture, ladite bande (50) de ladite jupe,
lesdites dents d'encliquetage (34) desdits jeux (30, 32) étant diamétralement opposées
les unes aux autres de manière que lesdites ailettes d'encliquetage (52) engagent
lesdites faces de butée desdites dents d'encliquetage simultanément,
où
ladite bague de col de récipient comporte un rebord profilé (38) s'étendant radialement
vers l'intérieur au niveau de ladite extrémité ouverte,
ladite fermeture comporte une doublure élastique et flexible (56 ou 56a) sur ladite
paroi de base au sein de ladite jupe, ladite doublure ayant une surface annulaire
(58 ou 58a) qui est tournée radialement vers l'extérieur vers ladite jupe et axialement
loin de ladite paroi de base en engagement d'étanchéité élastique avec ledit rebord
profilé,
lesdites ailettes d'encliquetage (52) s'étendent axialement depuis ladite surface
interne de ladite bande d'inviolabilité sur une surface interne de ladite jupe et
reliant, avec possibilité de rupture, ladite bande d'inviolabilité à ladite jupe,
et
un engagement élastique de ladite surface de doublure (58 ou 58a) avec ledit rebord
profilé (38) est tel que ladite bande d'inviolabilité (50) est séparée de ladite jupe
avant la perte d'engagement d'étanchéité entre ladite doublure et ledit rebord profilé.
2. Emballage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite doublure élastique et flexible
(56 ou 56a) comprend un matériau formant barrière, résistant à la migration de gaz,
vapeur d'eau et/ou arômes à travers ladite doublure.
3. Emballage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel des espacements axiaux entre
lesdits segments de filet externes (28) et lesdites dents d'encliquetage (34) sur
ladite bague de col, et entre ledit segment de filet interne (48) et lesdites ailettes
d'encliquetage (52) sur ladite fermeture, sont tels que lesdits segments de filet
s'engagent mutuellement tandis que ladite fermeture est appliquée sur ledit récipient
avant que lesdites ailettes d'encliquetage engagent lesdites dents d'encliquetage.