阅读说明：本技术 封闭件 (Closure member ) 是由 罗德尼·德鲁伊特 马克·史密斯 詹姆斯·迪蒙德 于 2019-07-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：根据本发明的用于液体容器的封闭件(1)包括基部(2)和顶部(8)。基部(2)包括顶板(3)和外裙部(5)。外裙部从顶板(3)的外端(6)沿向下方向延伸离开顶板(3)。外裙部(5)包括紧固装置(7),以将封闭件(1)与容器颈部互连。顶板(3)还具有嘴(4)。嘴沿向上方向延伸离开顶板(3)。顶部(8)包括可与基部(2)互连的环形基部(9)和具有外壁(11)的盖(10)。至少一个防拆元件(13)在环形基部(9)上方沿向上方向从环形基部(9)沿外壁(11)延伸,但与所述外壁(11)间隔开一定距离。防拆元件(13)最初还通过预定的断裂连杆(14)与外壁(11)互连。(The closure (1) for a liquid container according to the invention comprises a base (2) and a top (8). The base (2) comprises a top plate (3) and an outer skirt (5). The outer skirt extends away from the top plate (3) in a downward direction from an outer end (6) of the top plate (3). The outer skirt (5) comprises fastening means (7) to interconnect the closure (1) with the container neck. The top plate (3) also has a mouth (4). The spout extends away from the top panel (3) in an upward direction. The top portion (8) comprises an annular base portion (9) interconnectable with the base portion (2) and a cover (10) having an outer wall (11). At least one tamper-evident element (13) extends in an upward direction from the annular base (9) along the outer wall (11) above the annular base (9), but at a distance from said outer wall (11). The tamper-evident element (13) is also initially interconnected with the outer wall (11) by means of predetermined breaking links (14).)

1. A closure (1) for a liquid container, comprising

a. A base (2) comprising

i. A roof panel (3) having a mouth (4), the mouth (4) extending away from the roof panel (3) in an upward direction (z), an

An outer skirt (5) extending away from the top panel (3) in a downward direction from an outer end (6) of the top panel (3), the outer skirt (5) comprising fastening means (7) for interconnecting the closure (1) with a neck of the container;

b. a top part (8) comprising

i. An annular seat (9) interconnectable with the base (2), an

A lid (10) having an outer wall (11), the outer wall (11) being interconnected with the annular base (9), and

-at least one tamper-evident element (13) extending from said annular base (9) along said outer wall (11) in an upward direction (z) above said annular base (9) and at a distance from said outer wall (11) and interconnected with said outer wall (11) by means of a predetermined breaking link (14).

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the tamper-evident element (13) is interconnected with the annular base (9) by a hinge device (15), the hinge device (15) being arranged between the annular base (9) and the at least one predetermined breaking link (14) such that the tamper-evident element (13) can be bent away from the outer wall (11) after tearing open the predetermined breaking link (14).

3. The closure (1) according to claim 2, wherein the hinge means (15) provide at least one stable position in which the tamper-evident element (13) remains bent away from the cap (10).

4. A closure (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the hinge means (15) comprise a first and a second stable position.

5. The closure (1) according to claim 4, wherein in the first stable position the tamper-evident element (13) extends along an outer wall (11) of the lid (10), and in the second stable position the tamper-evident element (13) is folded up from the lid (10).

6. A closure (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the hinge means (15) comprises at least two film hinges.

7. The closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (10) comprises a pocket (16) for housing the tamper-evident element (13).

8. The closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a rib (17) extends from the outer wall (11), said rib interconnecting the cap (10) and the tamper-evident element (13).

9. The capsule (1) according to claim 8, wherein said rib (17) has a T-shaped cross-section in an upward direction.

10. The closure (1) according to claims 8 and 9, wherein said at least one predetermined breaking link (14) is arranged between said rib (17) and said tamper-evident element (13).

11. The closure (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the tamper-evident element (13) comprises an opening (18) initially closed at least partially by the rib and/or a portion of the at least one predetermined breaking link (14).

12. The capsule (1) according to claim 11, wherein said at least one predetermined breaking link (14) is a film layer.

13. The closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein frangible bridges (19) interconnect the cap (10) and the annular base (9) along the circumference of the closure (1).

14. The closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a hinge (12) interconnects the cap (10) and the annular base (9).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a closure, i.e. a closure for a container. In particular, the invention relates to closures for containers for carbonated liquids such as soft drinks, but which are well suited for sealing contents having a higher or lower than atmospheric pressure or other containers having gaseous components or requiring a hermetic seal, such as glass or PET containers.

Background

Liquid packages such as beverages are usually closed by screw caps. The screw cap may be removed prior to use and allows the package to be resealed after use, for example to pour liquid out of the liquid container. The screw cap seals the container when secured and further prevents contamination of the liquid. The outlet is usually circular, has a larger diameter, and allows high flow rates. The spout is designed primarily to dispense liquid rather than drinking directly.

However, in certain applications, such as sports drinks, it is desirable to drink directly from a beverage or liquid container. Therefore, other geometries of the closure are preferred. Such closures may include a base with a mouth that a user may place directly in the mouth, thus requiring a high standard in cleanliness. Furthermore, the valve may ensure a low flow rate for comfortable drinking. Typically, the valve may further seal the liquid container.

To ensure standards regarding the cleanliness of the mouth of the base, the mouth is usually protected by a top portion comprising a lid. Thus, such a reclosable two-piece closure may provide an additional tamper-evident seal to indicate whether the lid (or top) has been removed from the mouth (or base). It is known from conventional screw caps to use frangible elements and tamper-evident bands as tamper-evident seals. After tearing the frangible element connecting the screw cap to the tamper-evident band, the tamper-evident band falls off leaving a visible gap between the screw cap and the tamper-evident band so that it can be easily detected that the container has been opened. However, the frangible element used as a tamper evident seal between the base and top of the two-piece closure cannot be readily visually confirmed as a broken seal.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a lid with an improved tamper evident seal.

Disclosure of Invention

A closure for a liquid container according to the present invention comprises a base and a top. The base is for interconnection with the neck of the container and includes a top panel and an outer skirt. The outer skirt extends away from the top plate in a downward direction from an outer end of the top plate. The outer skirt comprises fastening means interconnecting the closure with the container neck. In addition, the top panel also has a spout extending away from the top panel in an upward direction. The top of the closure includes an annular base interconnectable with the base and a cap. The cover has an outer wall. The outer wall may be interconnected with the annular base by a hinge.

According to the invention, at least one tamper-evident element extends from the annular base in an upward direction along the outer wall of the lid above the annular base, but at a distance from said outer wall. The tamper-evident element is initially (prior to initial opening) interconnected to the outer wall by at least one predetermined breaking link. Furthermore, the tamper-evident element may be accommodated in a pocket formed in the outer wall of the lid to avoid undesired protrusion over the outer surface of the closure.

Depending on the application, ribs may extend from the outer wall of the cover to interconnect the cover with the tamper-evident element. Preferably, at least one predetermined breaking link is arranged between the rib and the tamper element, but other positions may also be suitable. In a variant of the invention, the ribs have a substantially T-shaped cross-section in the upward direction. Further, the tamper element may be formed to include an opening. The opening is initially at least partially closed by a rib and/or a portion of at least one predetermined breaking link. The rib may comprise a widening at its outer end facing away from the outer wall (this is the case for a T-shaped cross-section).

In a variant of the closure, the tamper-evident element is interconnected with the annular base by means of a hinge device, as described in greater detail below. The hinge means are preferably arranged between the annular base and the predetermined breaking link such that the tamper element can be bent away from the outer wall after tearing open the predetermined breaking link. The hinge means may provide at least one stable position. In this stable position, the tamper-evident element remains bent away from the lid so that the user can open and close the lid or drink from the mouth without hindrance. Advantageously, the hinge means comprise a first and a second stable position. In the first stable position the tamper-evident element may extend along the outer wall of the lid, while in the second stable position the tamper-evident element remains bent and folded up from the lid, as described above, reliably indicating the initial opening. Good results are obtained when the hinge means of the tamper element comprise at least two V-shaped or arcuate film hinges extending away from each other in an outward direction. The hinge means may for example comprise four film hinges in pairs. The tamper-evident element may further have additional folding means, such as one or more break points arranged in the tamper-evident element, allowing the tamper-evident element to be more easily bent.

Preferably, the hinge means fold the tamper-evident element from the cover and snap into at least one stable position once the predetermined broken link has been broken. If the tamper-evident element only has one stable position in the folded state, the tamper-evident element will not stay in the erected and unfolded position but will remain in the stable folded position once the predetermined broken link is broken. Thus, there will be clear visual evidence that the tamper-evident element has been disassembled.

Depending on the application, at least one predetermined breaking link may be designed in the form of a film layer. The film layer breaks or tears during initial opening of the closure. The membrane layer may have a strip or square shape or have a circular design. Other forms are also possible. Preferably, as mentioned above, the film layer is arranged to initially (at least partially) close the opening in the tamper-evident element. Thus, depending on the thickness of the film layer and/or the size of the opening, the film layer may serve to prevent the tamper elements from being hooked or locked back into the initial deployed position once they are bent away.

However, in another application, the ribs may be used to form undercuts at the opening of the tamper-evident element to secure the tamper-evident element to the lid after the predetermined breaking link is initially torn and the closure (or tamper-evident element) is reclosed. Thus, after the predetermined breaking link is torn, the tamper-evident element can be used as a closure to secure the lid to the annular base. For this purpose, it is advantageous to arrange the tamper-evident elements with respect to the circumference of the closure diametrically opposite the hinge. However, other locations are possible. The tamper element may for example be placed near the hinge.

The tamper-evident element makes it easy for the user to ascertain a visual impression if the liquid container is detached before opening or in any other way. However, the closure may additionally provide frangible bridges interconnecting the cap and the annular base along the circumference of the closure.

In certain applications, the top of the closure may be used with other bases or as the closure itself directly attached to the container and the lid covering the opening in the container.

Preferably, the closure is made of plastic. The closure may be manufactured by injection moulding. One or more plastic parts may be used for different parts or areas of the closure.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the disclosed concepts.

Drawings

The invention described herein will be more fully understood from the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings, which should not be taken to be limiting of the invention described in the appended claims. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a first variant of a closure 1 according to the invention in a perspective view and in a partial sectional view.

Fig. 2 is a detail a of the tamper-evident element 13 according to fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a first variant of the closure 1 according to fig. 1 in a second perspective view;

fig. 4 shows a first variant of the closure 1 according to fig. 1 in a perspective view, in which the tamper-evident element 13 is bent back;

fig. 5 is a detail B of the tamper-evident element 13 according to fig. 4;

fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the top 8 of a second variant of the cap 1 according to the invention, seen from the side;

fig. 7 is a detail of the tamper-evident element 13 according to fig. 6;

fig. 8 is a third variant of the tamper-evident element 13;

fig. 9 is a fourth variant of the tamper element 13;

fig. 10 is a fifth variant of the tamper element 13;

fig. 11 is a sixth variant of the tamper element 13;

fig. 12 is a seventh modification of the tamper element 13.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used to refer to the same components or parts.

Fig. 1 and 3 each show a first variant of a closure 1 for a liquid container (not shown) in a perspective view. In fig. 1, the closure 1 is further partially segmented. Fig. 2 shows a detail a of the tamper-evident element 13 according to fig. 1. Fig. 4 discloses a closure 1 with the tamper-evident element 13 bent back. Fig. 5 shows a further detail B of the tamper-evident element 13 according to fig. 4.

The illustrated closure 1 comprises a base 2 and a top 8. The base 2 comprises a top plate 3. The top plate 3 has a mouth 4 extending away from the top plate 3 in an upward direction z. Outer skirt 5 further extends away from top plate 3 in a downward direction from end 6 of top plate 3. The outer skirt 5 comprises fastening means 7 to interconnect the closure 1 with the neck of a container (not shown). Meanwhile, the top 8 comprises an annular base 9 and a cover 10 interconnectable with the base 2. The lid 10 has an outer wall 11. The outer wall 11 is interconnected with the annular base 9 by a hinge 12. The cap 10 includes a pocket 16. In the recess 16 a tamper element 13 is arranged. The tamper-evident element 13 extends from the annular base 9 in the upward direction z over the annular base 9 along the outer wall 11 of the pocket of the cap and at a distance from the outer wall 11.

Ribs 17 extend from the outer wall 11 (or cover) of the pocket 16 and interconnect the outer wall 11 with the tamper-evident element 13 by means of predetermined breaking links 14. The rib 17 has a T-shaped cross section in the upward direction. Tearing the predetermined breaking link 14 results in the formation of an opening 18 in the tamper element 13. The opening 18 is initially closed by the outer end of the rib and/or a predetermined broken link. The tamper-evident element 13 is also interconnected with the annular base 9 by means of a hinge device 15. The hinge means 15 are arranged between the annular base 9 and the predetermined breaking link 14. In this way, the tamper element 13 can be bent away from the outer wall 11 after tearing the predetermined breaking link 14. The hinge arrangement 15 shown provides two stable positions: a first stable position and a second stable position. In the first stable position, the tamper-evident element 13 extends along the outer wall 11 of the lid 10. In the second stable position, the element 13 is bent or folded away from the cover 10.

Fig. 6 shows a top 8 of a second variant of a closure 1 according to the invention from a side view. Fig. 7 shows a detail of the tamper-evident element 13 of fig. 6. Fig. 8 to 12 show a further variant of the tamper element 13 according to the invention. The illustrated variant of the tamper-evident element 13 may be used in combination with the base 2 and any top 8 of the lid 1, as described above. Depending on the hinge device 15, the tamper element may present only one stable position in the folded state, or alternatively a plurality of, for example two, stable positions may be used.

The tamper-evident element 13 of the top 8 of fig. 6 or 7 features a rib 17. The ribs 17 are in the form of bridges arranged behind the tamper element 13 between the outer wall 11 and the tamper element 13 and are therefore not visible in fig. 6. The tamper element 13 is interconnected with the outer wall 11 by means of predetermined breaking links 14. The ribs 17 may, for example, comprise predetermined breaking links 14. Alternatively, the predetermined breaking link 14 may be arranged between the rib 17 and the tamper element 13 or between the rib 17 and the outer wall 11. Once the predetermined breaking link 14 is broken, the tamper-evident element 13 is preferably folded from the lid 10 and snapped into a stable position. If the tamper element 13 in the folded state only has one stable position, the tamper element 13 cannot stay in the upright and unfolded position, but will remain in the stable folded position once the predetermined breaking link 14 breaks. There will thus be clear visual evidence that the tamper-evident element 13 has been detached. The tamper element 13 of fig. 8 differs from the tamper element 13 of fig. 7 only by the presence of the additional folding means 21. The folding means 21 in the form of a plurality of folding points or lines may further facilitate the process of folding the tamper-evident element 13 back and minimize the space required for the folded tamper-evident element 13. Depending on the material, further visual tamper evidence may be provided by stress whitening (stress whitening) of the material.

The ribs 17 of the tamper-evident element 13 according to fig. 9 and 10 are interconnected with the tamper-evident element 13 via predetermined breaking links 14 in the form of tearable film layers. The film layer 14 may have the shape of a square (fig. 9) or a circular design (fig. 10) arranged to initially (at least partially) close the opening 18 in the tamper-evident element 13. Other shapes are also possible. During initial opening of the closure, the film layer 14 deforms and breaks. This further helps to obtain visual tamper evidence from the front and sides. Depending on the design and thickness of the film layer, the film layer may be used to prevent the tamper-evident elements from being latched back and held in the deployed position once the film layer is broken.

Fig. 11 shows the tamper element 13 with a predetermined breaking link 14. The predetermined breaking links 14 are in the form of two tearable film layer sections extending through openings 18 of the tamper element 13 on both sides of the rib 17. These film layer portions 14 are deformed and torn when the tamper element 13 is pulled down. One advantage of this variant is that the broken link 14 is visible from both the front and the side. Furthermore, the tearable film layer again prevents the tamper element from locking back into the upright position.

The tamper-evident element 13 of figure 12 differs from the design of figure 11 in that there are a plurality of film layer portions 14 on either side of the ribs 17. In the example shown, there are four portions on each side of the rib 17. However, other numbers of multiple broken links 14 are possible. The plurality of links 14 having a smaller dimension than the link dimension of the tamper element such as that of fig. 11 may even further prevent the tamper element 13 from being locked back in place.

The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals

1 closure member

2 base part

3 Top board

4 mouth

5 outer skirt part

6 outer end

7 fastening device

8 top part

9 annular base

10 cover

11 outer wall

12 hinge

13 tamper-evident element

14 predetermined breaking link

15 hinge arrangement

16 sink

17 Rib

18 opening

19 frangible bridge

20 anti-dismantling belt

21 folding device