[0001] The invention relates to a closure suitable for use particularly, but not exclusively,
on containers for flowable solids such as salt, sugar and other granular or powdered
products whether foodstuffs or not. Herein such containers are referred to as "salt
containers".
[0002] Lids on salt containers are commonly provided with an opening through the top of
the lid that is closeable by a tab pivotably moveable between an open position and
a closed position. Such openings allow salt to be dispensed from the container without
removing the lid. They also allow salt to be dispensed from the container in a more
controlled manner than if the lid is completely removed from the container.
[0003] Such lids must be light in weight and cheap to manufacture.
[0004] A known closure for a salt container comprises a lid disc and secured thereto a wall
portion, extending generally perpendicular to the lid disc around its circumference.
In use the wall portion is secured around a neck defining an open end of a salt container,
whereby the closure member covers and hence closes the open end. An opening perforates
the lid disc and is closeable by a tab pivotably moveable between an open position
and a closed position. The tab is secured to an edge of the lid disc by a living hinge
and is provided with two planar wall members extending from opposing edges of its
underside. When the tab is open the wall members extend between the tab and the lid
portion such that the wall members and the tab define a spout. This allows salt, etc.
to be poured out of the container when required.
[0005] One or more of the wall members, and/or the tab, includes a detent engageable with
the wall portion to keep the tab closed when not required for dispensing of salt,
etc.
[0006] The wall members include a projection (eg. a bar interconnecting the wall members)
that engages the underside of an inner edge of the lid portion, when the tab member
opens a predetermined extent. This limits opening of the tab.
[0007] The known closure member suffers several disadvantages. One is that the tab is not
tamper evident. Hitherto it has not been possible to produce a satisfactory tamper
evident closure, for a salt container, that is manufacturable at low cost.
[0008] A further disadvantage is that although the tab is prevented from opening beyond
a predetermined extent, the tab is not held open at this predetermined extent, and
is not prevented from dropping shut.
[0009] According to the invention there is provided a closure for storage containers, such
as salt containers, comprising:
a lid member having secured thereto a wall portion that projects from the lid portion
for securing the closure to the neck of a said container;
an aperture, perforating the lid portion, that is closeable by a tab pivotably moveable
between respective closed and open positions; and
a lock member associated with the tab, irreversibly detachably secured to the closure
and engaging the tab, locking the tab in its closed position until the lock member
is permanently detached from the closure member.
[0010] An advantage of the invention is that once the lock member has been detached from
the closure, it cannot be reattached. This means that it is obvious to a consumer
when the tab has been opened or tampered with.
[0011] The lock member may be attached at either end to the wall portion by one or more
frangible legs.
[0012] These advantageously provide a readily tamper evident attachment that is breakable
by hand to allow dispensing of the contents of the container. Preferably the wall
portion, the legs and the lock member are formed integrally with one another.
[0013] In preferred embodiments, the lock member overlies a portion of the tab.
[0014] More specifically the tab includes a portion projecting beyond the lid member and
the lock member overlies the said projecting portion to prevent movement of the tab
away from the closure until the lock member is permanently detached from the closure.
[0015] Particularly preferred embodiments of the components arranged to accommodate the
projecting portion are claimed in Claims 6 and 7. Regardless of the precise form adopted,
covering of a projecting portion of the tab by the lock member prevents the tab from
being moved away from the lid portion of the closure member into its open position,
and also discourages or prevents manual grasping and opening of the tab.
[0016] The opening may be provided with a rim extending at least part way round the inner
periphery of the aperture. This means that when the tab is in its closed position
it abuts the rim surrounding the opening, preventing the tab from pivoting past its
closed position and passing through the opening.
[0017] Conveniently when in its closed position the tab occupies a recess in the lid member.
This means that, when closed, the tab is flush with the lid member of the closure
providing a neat appearance, and further discouraging grasping or levering of the
tab.
[0018] The closure may be as defined in Claim 10. The guide wall is advantageous because
in the open position of the tab the guide wall and the tab member define a spout.
Further, advantageous features of the co-operating detent parts are defined in Claims
11 and 12.
[0019] The aperture may optionally include a perforated grille.
[0020] Alternatively the closure may be as defined in Claim 14. This is advantageous because
the tab is then retained in its closed position until it experiences a force sufficient
to urge the tab past the projections thereby releasing the detent.
[0021] Preferably the closure is as defined in Claim 15. Hence when the tab is in its open
position, the bar engages a side of the rim, preventing travel of the tab beyond a
predetermined position.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the closure includes a plurality (eg two)
of the apertures; and a corresponding plurality of the tabs and lock members, functionally
arranged as defined herein.
[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a closure according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of Figure 1 along the line I-I showing
the tab in a closed position;
Figure 3 is a further cross-sectional view of the closure of Figure 1 along the line
I-I, showing the tab in an open position;
Figure 4 is a side view of the closure of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a section of the closure of Figure
1 along the line I-I;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a closure according to a second embodiment of
the invention; and
Figure 7 is a further cross-sectional view of the closure of Figure 6.
[0024] A closure 10, according to an embodiment of the invention, is shown in Figure 1.
The closure 10 includes a circular planar lid member 12. A wall portion 14 projects
from the lid 12. In the embodiment shown, wall portion 14 is attached around the circumference
of the lid portion 12 so that it extends generally perpendicular to the lid portion
12.
[0025] An aperture 16 perforates the lid portion 12. Aperture 16 is closeable by a planar
tab 18 that is pivotably moveable between closed and open positions. Figures 1, 3
and 4 show the tab open; Figures 2 and 5 show the tab closed.
[0026] The tab 18 is generally rectangular in shape, and is provided with a projecting end
portion 20. The tab member 18 is hingedly secured by means of living hinge 22 extending
along one of its edges, to an edge of aperture 16. The hinge 22 extends along a said
edge that lies on the opposite side of aperture 16 to the projecting end portion 20
of the tab member 18.
[0027] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a lock member 24 is irreversibly detachably
secured to the wall portion 14 of the closure member 10. Lock member 24 includes a
recess enclosing the projecting end portion of the tab 18. The lock member 24 prevents
the tab 18 from being opened.
[0028] The aperture 16 includes a perforated grille 26 in the Figure 1 embodiment.
[0029] In this embodiment, the perforated grille 26 is a similar size to the aperture 16,
and is attached around its circumference to the edge of the lid portion 12 surrounding
the aperture 16. A plurality of perforations 28 are formed in the grille 26.
[0030] As can be seen from Figure 2, the aperture 16 is recessed in the lid member 12 of
the closure 10, and in its closed position a first planar surface 18a of the tab member
18 is flush with a first planar surface 12a of the lid member 12.
[0031] A projection 19 (shown in Figure 1) is formed on each of two opposing side walls
(not shown) of the lid member 12 surrounding the aperture 16. Each projection 19 is
formed so that it projects flush with, and parallel to, the first surface 12a of the
lid member 12, towards the centre of the aperture 16. The tab 18 snap-fittingly engages
each of the projections 19 when it is in its closed position, so that it is retained
in its closed position between the projections 19 and the perforated grille 26.
[0032] The tab 18 is locked in its closed position by a locking flange 24a that partially
defines the recess in the lock member 24, as shown in Figure 5.
[0033] The locking flange 24a is attached to a first end of an elongate body portion 24b
of the lock member 24, such that it extends perpendicular to the elongate body portion
24b. A release flange 24c is attached to the other end of the elongate body portion
24b, such that it extends perpendicular to the elongate body portion 24b in an opposite
direction to the lock flange 24a.
[0034] The lock member 24 is at either end irreversibly detachably secured to the wall portion
14 of the closure 10 by narrow, frangible leg portions 26 extending between the elongate
body portion 24b and the wall portion 14.
[0035] To detach the lock member 24 from the closure member 10, a force (eg. a manual force)
may be applied to the release flange 24c in a direction parallel to the length of
the elongate body portion 24b, and towards the locking flange 24a. This in turn applies
a turning force to the elongate body portion 24b, which is resisted by the narrow
leg portions 26, so stretching the leg portions. When the leg portions 26 break, at
least one end, and more commonly both ends, of the lock member 24 detach from the
wall portion 14. This frees the end of tab 18 and permits its opening. Since detachment
of lock member 24 is, by virtue of breaking of the legs 26, irreversible, it becomes
permanently evident when the closure 10 has been unsealed.
[0036] To open the tab member 18 when the locking member 24 has been detached from the wall
portion 14 of the closure 10, a force sufficient to force the tab member 18 past the
projections 19 may be applied to the projecting end portion 20 of the tab member 18.
[0037] In Figures 3 and 4, the tab member 18 is shown in its open position, extending from
the first surface of the lid member 12.
[0038] A closure member 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in
Figures 6 and 7.
[0039] As in the Figure 1 embodiment, the closure member 10 comprises a circular planar
lid member 12 and a wall portion 14 preferably attached around the circumference of
the lid portion 12 so it that extends generally perpendicular to the lid portion 12.
An aperture 16 is provided through the lid portion 12 and is closeable by a tab 18
pivotably moveable between an open position and a closed position. Pivoting of tab
18 occurs by virtue of a living hinge similar or identical to hinge 22 of Figure 1.
[0040] The aperture 16 is recessed in the lid portion 12 so that a first surface 18a of
the tab member 18 is flush with a first surface 12a of the lid portion 12 when the
tab member 18 is in its closed position.
[0041] A rim 36 is provided around the inner circumference of the opening 16 spaced from
the first surface 12a of the lid portion 12.
[0042] The tab member 18 is locked into its closed position by a locking member 24 irreversibly
detachably secured to the wall portion 14 of the closure member 10 in substantially
the same manner as in the Figure 1 embodiment.
[0043] The tab 18 includes two wall members 30. Only one of the wall members is shown in
Figures 6 and 7. Each wall member 30 extends generally perpendicular to a second planar
surface 18b of the tab 18.
[0044] Each wall member 30 is formed with a curved first edge 32 that passes in close proximity
to a first edge 34 of a rim 36 attached around the inner circumference of the aperture
16 as the tab 18 moves between its open and closed positions.
[0045] The first edges 32 of the wall members 30 are interconnected by a bar 38 that is
attached to an end of each wall member 30, remote from the tab 18.
[0046] A first projection 40 is formed on the first edge 32 of each of the wall members
30, between the tab 18 and the bar 38, at a position proximate the bar 38. The distance
between the first projection 40 and the bar 38, along the first edge 32 of each of
the wall members 30, is generally equal to the depth D of the first edge 34 of the
rim 36.
[0047] A second projection 42 is also formed on the first edge 32 of each of the wall members
30, between the tab member 18 and the bar 38, at a position proximate to the tab 18.
The distance between the second projection 42 and the tab 18, along the first edge
32 of each of the wall members 30, is generally equal to the depth D of the first
edge 34 of the rim 36.
[0048] The tab 18 is retainable in its closed position, by snap-fitting engagement of the
second projections 42 with the first edge 34 of the rim 36. The second projections
42 and the protruding portion 20 of the tab member 18 engage opposing sides of the
first edge 34 of the rim 36.
[0049] Tab member 18 moves to its open position when the protruding portion 20 of the tab
18 experiences a force (eg. a manual force) sufficient to force the second projections
42 past the first edge 34 of the rim 36.
[0050] As the tab 18 opens, the first projections 40 meet the first edge 34 of the rim 36.
As long as the force applied to the tab member 18 is sufficient to force the first
projections 40 past the first edge 34, the first projections snap-fittingly engage
the first edge 34. The tab 18 is held in an open position at this predetermined extent
by engagement of the first projections 40 and the bar 38 on opposing sides of the
first edge 34 of the rim 36.
[0051] The length of the first edge 32 of each of the wall members 30 determines the extent
to which the tab 18 may be opened in relation to the first planar surface 12a of the
lid portion 12.
[0052] In its open position, the wall members 30 of the tab 18 extend between the tab member
18 and the lid portion 12, enclosing opposing sides of the region between the tab
member 18 and the opening 16. Hence the wall members 30, together with the tab member
18, define a spout for pouring of the contents of the container via the closure 10.
[0053] In other embodiments of the invention, the closure 10 may include two openings 16,
one according to the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, and another
according to the embodiment described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.
1. A closure for storage containers, comprising:
a lid member having secured thereto a wall portion that projects from the lid member,
for securing the closure to the neck of a said container;
an aperture, perforating the lid portion, that is closeable by a tab pivotably moveable
between respective closed and open positions; and
a lock member, associated with the tab, irreversibly detachably secured to the closure
and engaging the tab locking the tab in its closed position until the lock member
is permanently detached from the closure.
2. A closure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the lock member is attached at either end
to the wall portion, by one or more frangible legs.
3. A closure according to Claim 2 wherein the wall portion, the frangible legs and the
lock member are formed integrally with one another.
4. A closure as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the lock member overlies a portion
of the tab.
5. A closure according to Claim 4 when dependent from Claim 2, wherein the tab includes
a portion projecting beyond the lid member and the lock member overlies the said projecting
portion to prevent movement of the tab away from the closure until the lock member
is permanently detached from the closure.
6. A closure according to Claim 5 wherein the lock includes a recess for receiving the
said projecting portion.
7. A closure according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 including a shoulder engageable by the said
projecting portion to limit movement of the tab towards the closure.
8. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening includes a rim extending
at least part way round the inner periphery of the opening, to limit movement of the
tab towards the lid member.
9. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein when in its closed position the
tab occupies a recess in the lid member.
10. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 including a guide wall projecting from
the tab towards the interior of the container, to define a guide surface for flowable
material dispensed via the closure, the guide wall and the aperture including co-operating
detent parts that releasably secure the guide wall, and hence the tab, in a predetermined
position.
11. A closure according to Claim 10 wherein the co-operating detent parts are located
for releasably securing the guide wall and tab in an open position of the tab.
12. A closure according to Claim 10 wherein the co-operating detent parts are located
for releasably securing the guide wall and tab in a closed position of the tab.
13. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture includes a perforated
grille.
14. A closure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 or 13 wherein at least one edge of the
aperture includes a projection engageable with the tab to define a releasable detent
for the tab when the tab occupies its closed position.
15. A closure as claimed in Claim 10 or any claim dependent therefrom including two said
guide walls spaced from and extending parallel to one another, the said guide walls
being interconnected, at a location remote from the tab, by a bar engageable with
the closure to limit opening of the tab.
16. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim including a plurality of the apertures
and a corresponding plurality of the tabs and lock members.