Title: Tamper-evident snap-on closure with sealing plug and liner
Abstract: A snap-on plastic closure for a container includes a top wall portion, an annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion, and a removal tab projecting forwardly from the skirt portion for manipulation of the closure during removal. A sealing plug depends from the inside surface of the top wall portion for disposition generally within the mouth of an associated container. The skirt portion of the closure includes a deformable region positioned beneath the removal tab so that during closure removal, the deformable region is permanently stretched and deformed for tamper-indication.
Patent Number: 6,981,601 Issued on 01/03/2006 to Laveault, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Laveault; Richard (Crawfordsville, IN);
Hearld; Coy (Crawfordsville, IN);
McBride; Stephen (Crawfordsville, IN)
|
| Assignee:
|
Alcoa Closure Systems International (Crawfordsville, IN)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
103683 |
| Filed:
|
March 21, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
215/253; 215/354; 215/341; 215/305; 215/DIG.1 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
B65D 41/32 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
215/250,253,295,301,305,317,320,350,341,354,DIG.1
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3292807 | Dec., 1966 | Golde.
| |
| 3331523 | Jul., 1967 | Exton.
| |
| 3653529 | Apr., 1972 | Segmuller.
| |
| 3661289 | May., 1972 | Segmuller.
| |
| 3899097 | Aug., 1975 | Aichinger.
| |
| 3985255 | Oct., 1976 | Blair.
| |
| 4003488 | Jan., 1977 | Moller.
| |
| 4128184 | Dec., 1978 | Northup.
| |
| 4346812 | Aug., 1982 | Banich, Sr.
| |
| 4351443 | Sep., 1982 | Uhlig.
| |
| 4423822 | Jan., 1984 | Powalowski.
| |
| RE31869 | Apr., 1985 | Harding.
| |
| 4522308 | Jun., 1985 | Sullivan.
| |
| 4640428 | Feb., 1987 | Chang.
| |
| 4919286 | Apr., 1990 | Agbay, Sr.
| |
| 5292017 | Mar., 1994 | Reifers.
| |
| 5341949 | Aug., 1994 | Hayes.
| |
| 5762217 | Jun., 1998 | Ohmi et al.
| |
| 5842592 | Dec., 1998 | Beck.
| |
| 5984125 | Nov., 1999 | Price et al.
| |
| 6299005 | Oct., 2001 | Higgins.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 2297711 | Aug., 1996 | GB.
| |
| PCT/WO01/68467 | Sep., 2001 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Hylton; Robin A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Beiriger; Tracey D., Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A snap-on closure for a container comprising:
a top wall portion;
an annular skirt portion depending from said top wall portion;
a removal tab projecting forwardly from said-skirt portion, said skirt portion
including a deformable portion positioned adjacent to said removal tab, and comprising
a pair of weakened regions on respective opposite sides of said removal tab;
a sealing plug depending from an inside surface of said top wall portion for
disposition generally within a mouth of an associated container; and
a sealing liner disposed on said sealing plug for sealing engagement with said
container;
wherein said sealing liner is molded in situ and is coextensive with and conforms
to inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces of said sealing plug, and includes a
central portion positioned generally within said sealing plug adjacent said top
wall portion.
2. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
one of said sealing plug and said sealing liner defines an annular retention
lip, and the other of said sealing plug and said sealing liner defines an annular
retention groove for receiving said retention lip.
3. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said annular skirt portion includes said deformable region positioned generally
beneath said removal tab.
4. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 3, wherein:
said annular skirt portion defines a gap extending above said deformable region.
5. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 4, wherein:
said annular skirt portion includes a bridge element positioned at said gap for
bearing axial loads during application of said closure to said associated container.
6. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 5, wherein:
said bridge element is positioned on said annular skirt portion above said deformable
region.
7. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 3, wherein:
said annular skirt portion includes a plurality of inwardly projecting, circumferentially
spaced retention beads, said deformable region of said skirt portion including
one of said retention beads.
8. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 7, including:
an elongated one of said retention beads on said annular skirt portion opposite
said removal tab, said elongated retention bead comprising an opening positioned
diametrically opposite said removal tab.
9. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said annular skirt portion includes at least one inwardly projecting retention
bead for retaining said closure on said container.
10. A snap-on closure for a container, comprising:
a top wall portion;
an annular skirt portion depending from said top wall portion; said skirt portion
including at least one inwardly projecting retention bead;
a removal tab projecting from said skirt portion, said annular skirt portion
comprising a pair of weakened regions positioned on respective opposite sides of
said removal tab;
a sealing plug depending from an inside surface of said top wall portion for
disposition generally within a mouth of an associated container; and
a sealing liner disposed on said sealing plug, said sealing liner being coextensive
with and conforming to inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces of said sealing plug.
11. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 10, wherein:
one of said outwardly facing surface of said sealing plug and said inwardly facing
surface of said sealing liner includes an annular retention lip, and the other
of said outwardly facing surface of said sealing plug and said inwardly facing
surface of said sealing liner comprises an annular retention groove for receiving
said retention lip.
12. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 11, wherein:
said outwardly facing surface of said sealing plug defines said retention groove,
said inwardly facing surface of said sealing liner including said retention lip.
13. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 11, wherein:
said skirt portion includes a deformable region positioned generally beneath
said removal tab, said skirt portion including a plurality of said retention beads
arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship, one of said retention beads
being positioned on said deformable region.
14. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 10, wherein:
said inwardly facing surface of said sealing liner defines an annular channel
within which is positioned a free edge of said sealing plug.
15. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 10, wherein:
said sealing liner includes an outwardly facing annular seal bead generally adjacent
a free edge of said sealing plug.
16. A snap-on closure for a container, comprising:
a top wall portion;
an annular skirt portion depending from said top wall portion, said skirt portion
including a plurality of inwardly projecting; circumferentially spaced retention
beads;
a removal tab projecting forwardly from said skirt portion,
said annular skirt portion including a deformable region positioned adjacent
to said removal tab, with one of said retention beads being positioned on said
deformable region, said skirt portion comprising a pair of weakened regions positioned
on respective opposite sides of said removal tab and said deformable region;
an annular sealing plug depending from an inside surface of said top wall portion;
and a sealing liner disposed on an outwardly facing surface of said sealing plug
for sealing engagement with an inwardly facing surface of said container, whereby
during closure removal, upward manipulation of said removal tab deforms said deformable
region of said annular skirt portion for disengagement of said one of said retention
beads positioned thereon, said weakened regions facilitating flexure of said closure,
said sealing plug and said sealing liner sliding upwardly during closure removal.
17. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 16, wherein:
said closure defines a flexure region extending across said top wall portion.
18. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 17, wherein:
said flexure region is positioned generally between the center of said top wall
portion and said removal tab.
19. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 16, said sealing liner defining
an annular channel for receiving a free edge of said sealing plug, and including
a central portion positioned generally within said sealing plug.
20. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 16, wherein:
said sealing liner is coextensive with said sealing plug.
21. A snap-on closure for a container, comprising:
a top wall portion;
an annular skirt portion depending from said top wall portion, said skirt portion
including a plurality or inwardly projecting, circumferentially spaced retention
beads;
a removal tab projecting forward from said skirt portion;
said skirt portion including a deformable region positioned adjacent to said
removal tab, with one of said retention beads being positioned on said deformable
region, said skirt portion comprising a pair of weakened regions positioned on
respective opposite sides of said removal tab and said deformable region;
an annular sealing plug depending from an inside surface of said top wall portion;
and a sealing liner disposed on said sealing plug, whereby during closure removal,
manipulation of said removal tab deforms said deformable region for disengagement
of said one of said retention beads positioned thereon, said weakened regions facilitating
flexure of said closure, said sealing plug and said sealing liner sliding upwardly
during closure removal, wherein said skirt portion includes an elongated one of
said retention beads positioned opposite said removal tab, said elongated retention
bead circumferentially extending about 180° of said skirt portion.
22. A snap-on closure in accordance with claim 21, wherein:
said elongated retention bead comprises an opening positioned diametrically opposite
said removal tab.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to closures for bottles and like containers,
and more particularly to a plastic, snap-on closure for a container which is configured
for convenient removal without openers or the like, and which provides visually
discernable tamper-evidence.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various constructions for container closures have been developed over the
years in order to provide effective closure and sealing, while permitting convenient
closure removal for consumption or use of the container contents. By way of example,
use of internally threaded, molded plastic closures has become increasingly widespread
by virtue of the sealing integrity which they provide, especially for carbonated
beverages, while facilitating convenient removal by consumers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,407,422,
4,497,765, 4,418,828, and 4,938,370, all hereby incorporated by reference, disclose
various compression-molded plastic closures which have proven to be very commercially
successful, in part due to the tamper-indicating features with which such closures
can be provided.
Internally-threaded closures of the above type have, in part,
supplanted use of metal, so-called crowns, which have been, and continue to be
employed on beverage containers. While closures of this type provide the desired
sealing integrity, such closures have typically required use of an opener or like
implement to effect their removal from an associated container. While manually-removable
"twist-off" crowns are known, such closures require a specialized container "fmish"
at the neck portion, and can still be difficult for some consumers to remove without
use of an opener or the like. Additionally, metal crown closures typically do not
include any specific tamper-indicating feature, which can be desirable to assure
consumers of a container's integrity.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a closure for a container
which can be efficiently applied, and easily removed by consumers without an associated
opener or like implement. Aside from providing the desired sealing integrity, particularly
for carbonated contents, it is desirable to provide a closure which is configured
for tamper-evidence.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The plastic closure embodying the principles of the present invention is configured
for snap-on application to an associated container, and removal by consumers without
use of an opener or like implement. Notably, the present snap-on closure is configured
to provide tamper-evidence in a manner which is clearly visually discernable by
consumers. The present closure is desirably straightforward in configuration, thus
facilitating efficient, cost-effective manufacture, and is readily adaptable to
existing container finishes, such as commonly employed with metal closure crowns.
A snap-on closure embodying the principles of the present invention includes a
top wall portion, and an annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion.
In the preferred configuration, the closure includes a removal tab which projects
forwardly from the skirt portion, and facilitates convenient removal by consumers
without a closure opening implement.
Sealing of the associated container is effected by the provision of a generally
cylindrical sealing plug which depends from an inside surface of the top wall portion
of the closure. The sealing plug is configured for disposition generally within
the mouth of an associated container. Depending on the specific application, the
present closure can be provided in a composite form, and include a sealing liner
disposed on the sealing plug for sealing engagement with the associated container.
The sealing liner may be formed separately, or molded on the sealing plug. Retention
of the sealing liner on the sealing plug is enhanced by the provision of an annular
retention lip defined by one of the sealing plugs in the sealing liner, with the
other of the plug and liner defining an annular retention groove for receiving
the retention lip. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing plug defines an annular
retention groove on its outwardly facing surface, with the sealing liner defining
an annular sealing lip disposed within an annular channel of the liner, with a
free edge of the sealing plug positioned within the annular channel.
In one illustrated embodiment, the sealing liner has an axial dimension less
than
the axial dimension of the sealing plug, with the liner including a central portion
positioned generally within the sealing plug. At least one support rib depends
from the top wall portion of the closure generally within the sealing plug for
supporting the central portion of the liner. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair
of support ribs, arranged in generally parallel relationship, are provided. In
a current embodiment, the removal tab of the closure projects outwardly from the
skirt portion perpendicularly to the one or more support ribs. In an alternate
embodiment, an in-situ molded sealing liner is coextensive with the sealing plug,
and includes a central portion positioned generally within the sealing plug adjacent
the top wall portion of the closure.
In order to provide tamper-evidence attendant to removal of the present closure
from an associated container, the annular skirt portion of the closure includes
a deformable region positioned generally beneath the removal tab. The annular skirt
defines a circumferential gap extending above the deformable region, such that
the deformable skirt portion is generally separated and distinguished from the
portion of the closure immediately thereabove. Undesired deformation of the deformable
region of the skirt portion during closure application is avoided by the provision
of a bridge element, positioned at the circumferential gap, for bearing axial loads
during application of the closure to a container.
The closure is retained on the associated container by the provision of at least
one inwardly projecting retention bead. In the preferred form, a plurality of inwardly
projecting, circumferentially spaced retention beads are provided, with the tamper-indicating
deformable region of the skirt portion having one of the retention beads thereon.
In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, an elongated one of the retention
beads is provided on the skirt portion opposite the removal tab. The elongated
retention bead preferably defines an opening positioned diametrically opposite
the removal tab to facilitate manufacture of the present closure.
During closure removal, the removal tab of the closure is urged upwardly,
with the closure defining a flexure region which extends across the top wall portion
thereof, generally between the center of the top wall portion and the removal tab.
During removal, the deformable region of the skirt portion initially retained on
the container by its retention bead, becomes separated from the top wall portion
and removal tab as the closure flexes. As opening movement is continued, the deformable
region of the skirt portion is permanently stretched and deformed before the retention
bead on the deformable region moves off of the container finish as the closure
is completely removed.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily
apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and
the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is top perspective view of a snap-on closure embodying the principles
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the present closure;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing the inside of the present
closure without a sealing liner in place;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sealing liner of the present closure;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing liner shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the inside of the present closure, without the
sealing liner;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7—7 of
FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cut-away, perspective view of the present closure;
FIG. 8
a is a view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating an alternate form of
a sealing liner of the present closure;
FIG. 9 is a finite element analysis illustration of the present closure when
applied to an associated container; and
FIG. 10 is a finite element analysis illustration of the present closure during
removal from an associated container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms,
there is shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, a presently
preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to
be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit
the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.
With reference to the drawings, therein is illustrated a snap-on closure
10
embodying the principles of the present invention. In the presently preferred form,
the closure
10 includes a separately-formed sealing liner
12 for
enhancing sealing cooperation with an associated container C. However, as will
be evident from the present disclosure, a closure configured in accordance with
the principles disclosed herein need not include the separate sealing liner
12.
Closure
10 can be fabricated in accordance with conventional manufacturing
techniques, including compression molding an injection molding.
The closure
10 includes a generally circular top wall portion
14,
and an annular skirt portion
16 which depends from the top wall portion.
In the preferred form, the closure
10 includes a lever-like removal tab
18 which projects forwardly from the skirt portion
16, and which
facilitates manipulation and removal of the closure from the container C by consumers.
In the illustrated embodiment, closure
10 is configured to effect a so-called
plug seal with the associated container C, and to this end, the closure includes
a sealing plug
20 depending from an inside surface of the top wall portion
14 for disposition generally within the mouth of the associated container.
While the sealing plug
20 may be configured for sealing engagement with
the interior of the container C, it is presently preferred that the closure
10
include the sealing liner
12 for disposition on the sealing plug, such that
the sealing liner is positioned for sealing engagement with the container. To this
end, the disc-shaped sealing liner
12 defines an annular channel
22
(FIGS. 4 and 5) within which is positioned the free edge of the sealing plug
20.
Retention of the sealing liner
12 on the sealing plug
20 is facilitated
by the provision of a retention lip on one of the outwardly facing surface of the
sealing plug and the liner, with the other of the sealing plug and liner defining
an annular retention groove for receiving the retention lip. In the illustrated
embodiment, the outwardly facing surface of the sealing plug
20 defines
an annular retention groove
24 which receives an annular retention lip
26
defined by the sealing liner
12 generally within annular groove
22.
It is presently contemplated that in one form, the sealing liner
12 be
separately formed from the remainder of closure
10, and then assembled with
the closure by disposition on sealing plug
20. Formation of the sealing
liner
12 by compression molding is presently contemplated, with the liner
formed from suitable material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or like materials
as are known in the art for such applications. As will be recognized by those familiar
with the art, these types of liner materials are relatively expensive (as opposed
to the polypropylene from which the remainder of the closure is typically formed),
and as such, it is desirable to limit the amount of material employed for manufacture
of the sealing liner
12. To this end, the sealing liner
12 is preferably
configured to have an axial dimension less than the axial dimension of the sealing
plug
20. In the preferred form, the sealing liner
12 includes a central
portion
28 positioned generally within the sealing plug
20 in spaced
relationship to the top wall portion
14. Support of the sealing liner
12
in association with the sealing plug
20 is facilitated by the provision
of at least one support rib which depends from the top wall portion
14 generally
within the sealing plug for supporting the central portion
28 of the sealing
liner. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of support ribs
30 are provided,
with the support ribs
30 arranged in parallel relationship to each other.
The one or more support ribs
30 are preferably arranged such that a removal
tab
18 projects outwardly from the skirt portion
16 perpendicularly
to the support ribs, with the closure thus configured so as to promote flexure
during removal generally along a flexure region which extends across the top wall
portion generally between the center of the top wall portion and the removal tab
18.
By the above-described configuration of the sealing plug
20 and sealing
liner
12, sealing of the closure
10 with the associated container
C is effected generally along the outside surface
32 of the sealing liner
12 where the sealing liner engages the inside surface of the mouth of container C.
FIG. 8
a illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present closure, including
a sealing liner
112 molded in situ on the associated modified sealing plug
20. The sealing liner can be formed by compression molding in position on
the sealing plug. In this embodiment, the liner
112 is coextensive with
the sealing plug
120, and includes a central portion
128 adjacent
to wall portion
14. For this embodiment, the closure is formed without support
ribs
30, with the liner preferably including an outwardly facing seal bead
113 generally adjacent a free edge of the sealing plug
120.
As noted, the present closure is preferably configured for snap-on application
to the associated container C, and is configured for retention on the container
without resort to thread formations or the like. In order to retain the closure
10 on the circumferential bead of the container C, the closure includes
at least one, and preferably a plurality of retention beads which project inwardly
from the skirt portion
16 of the closure. Notably, the retention beads of
the present closure not only effect retention of the closure on the container prior
to removal, but further are configured to cooperate with the container for providing
tamper-evidence. To this end, the skirt portion
16 of the closure
10
includes a deformable portion
32 positioned generally beneath the removal
tab
18. The deformable region
32 is separated and distinguished from
the skirt portion thereabove by a gap
34 which extends above the deformable
region
32. The deformabic region
32 is thus configured for permanent
stretching and deformation attendant to closure removal from container C for tamper-evidence,
as will be described. In the preferred form, proper seating and application of
the closure, including deformable region
32, on the container C is facilitated
by the provision of bridge element
36 positioned at the gap
34 for
bearing axial loads during application of the closure to the container. As shown,
bridge element
36 is positioned on the skirt portion
16 just above
the deformable region
32, generally at the underside of removal tab
18.
As noted, retention of closure
10 on the associated container is preferably
provided by the provision of a plurality of retention beads which are circumferentially
spaced. In the preferred form, a retention bead
38 is provided on deformable
region
32 of the skirt portion
16, with an elongated retention bead
40 provided on the skirt portion opposite the removal tab
18. In
the illustrated embodiment, retention bead
40 extends circumferentially
of the skirt portion
16 about 180°, and cooperates with retention bead
38 to retain the closure on the container prior to removal. As illustrated,
the elongated retention bead preferably defines an opening
42 positioned
diametrically opposite the removal tab, with the opening
42 facilitating
removal of mold tooling employed for manufacture of the present closure.
From the foregoing description, application and removal of the present closure
10 will be readily appreciated. With particular reference to FIG. 9, a finite
element analysis is illustrated therein, wherein the closure
10 is shown
applied to the associated container C. In this position, the sealing liner
12
disposed on sealing plug
20 sealingly engages the inside surface of the
mouth of the container C, with the present closure preferably configured to substantially
separate and isolate the loads which are created for effecting sealing engagement
from those loads which act, via the retention beads of the closure, for retaining
the closure in position on the container. The loads exerted upon the plug seal
are generally oriented in a radial direction, with the sealing plug and its liner
generally tending to slide upwardly during closure removal.
FIG. 10 is a finite element analysis illustration of the present closure during
removal from the associated container. As will be observed, the closure generally
flexes along a flexure region which extends across the top wall portion
14
generally between the center of the closure and the removal tab
18. During
closure removal, the retention bead
38 on deformable region
32 of
the skirt portion acts to retain the deformable region on the container, resulting
in permanent stretching and deformation of the deformable region as the closure
is removed from the container. As the closure is moved upwardly by manipulation
of removal tab
18, the deformable region
32 eventually stretches
and deforms sufficiently as to slip off of the container, thus permitting disengagement
of the elongated retention bead
40 from the container, and removal of the closure.
If desired, the skirt portion
16 of the closure can be configured to define
a pair of weakened regions, such as shown in phantom line at
44, positioned
on respective opposite sides of the removal tab
18 to facilitate flexure
and removal of the closure. The weakened regions
44 can be suitably molded
into the closure
10, or formed by cutting or scoring after molding, and
are positioned generally at respective opposite sides of the flexure region which
extends across top wall portion
14. As noted, support ribs
30 preferably
extend in a direction perpendicular to removal tab
18 to facilitate flexing
of the closure during removal.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations
can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept
of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect
to the specific embodiment illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.
The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications
as fall within the scope of the claims.
*
