Closure
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a closure, namely for containers. In particular, the invention relates to a closure for containers for carbonated liquids such as soft drinks, but is well adaptable to seal other containers such as glass or PET containers with contents at above or below atmospheric pressure or having gaseous compo nents or requiring a hermetic seal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Packages for liquids, such as beverages, are often closed by screw caps which can be removed before usage and allow the package to be sealed again after usage, such as pouring the liquid out of the liquid container. The crew cap seals the con tainer if attached and further prevents a contamination of the liquid. The outlet is usually circular with respective larger diameter and permits a high flow rate. The outlet is primarily designed in order to pour the liquid and not to drink directly from the beverages.
In certain applications, such as beverages for sport drinks, however, drinking di rectly from the beverage respectively the liquid container is desired. Therefore, other geometries of closures are preferred. Such closures may include a base por- tion having a spout, which the user can place directly inside the month and there fore needs to meet high standards with respect to cleanliness. Furthermore, a valve may ensure a lower flow rate for comfortable drinking. Often, the valve may further seal the liguid container. To ensure the standards in regard of the cleanliness the spout of the base portion, the spout is often protected by a top portion comprising a cover. Such re-closable two-piece closures may therefore provide an additional tamper seal to indicate if the cover, respectively the top portion, has been removed from the spout, respec tively the base portion. Using breakable elements and a tamper band as a tamper seal are known from conventional screw caps. After tearing the breakable elements connecting the screw cap to the tamper band, the tamper band falls away leaving a visual gab between the screw cap and the tamper band, such that it can easily be detected that the container has been opened. However, breakable elements used as a tamper seal between the base portion and the top portion of a two-piece-clo- sure do not provide an easy visual confirmation of a broken seal.
It is an object of the present invention to avoid at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages and to provide a closure with an improved tamper seal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A closure for a liquid container according to the invention comprises a base portion and a top portion. The base portion serves to be interconnected to a neck of the container and comprises a top deck and an outer skirt extending from an outer end of the top deck in a lower direction away from the top deck. The outer skirt com- 5 prises a fastening means to interconnect the closure to the container neck. The top deck further has a spout extending in an upper direction away from the top deck. The top portion of the closure comprises an annular base interconnectable to the base portion and a cover. The cover has an outer wall, which may be interconnected to the annular base by a hinge. o According to the invention, at least one tamper element extends from the annular base in the upper direction above the annular base along the outer wall of the cover but spaced a distance apart from said outer wall. The tamper element is initially (before initial opening) interconnected to the outer wall by at least one predeter mined breaking linkage. Furthermore, the tamper element may be accommodated5 in a pocket formed in the outer wall of the cover to avoid unwanted protrusion above the outer surface of the closure.
Depending on the application, a rib may extend from the outer wall of the cover to interconnect the cover with the tamper element. Preferably, the at least one prede termined breaking linkage is arranged between the rib and the tamper element,0 but other positions may also be suitable. In a variation of the invention, the rib has an in general T-shaped cross-section in the upper direction. Furthermore, the tam per element may be formed comprising an opening, which is initially closed at least partially by a part of the rib and/or the at least one predetermined breaking linkage. The rib may comprise a widening at its outer end facing away from the outer wall (as it is the case for a T-shaped cross section).
In a variation of the closure, the tamper element is interconnected to the annular base by a hinge arrangement as described hereinafter in more detail. The hinge 5 arrangement is preferably arranged between the annular base and the predeter mined breaking linkage, such that the tamper element can be bent away from the outer wall after tearing the predetermined breaking linkage. The hinge arrange ment may provide at least one stable position in which the tamper element remains bent away from the cover such that a user may open and close the cover or drinko from the spout without hindrance. Advantageously, the hinge arrangement com prises a first and a second stable position. In the first stable position, the tamper element may extend along the outer wall of the cover meanwhile in the second stable position the tamper element remains bend and folded away from the cover, as explained above, reliably indicating initial opening. Good results can be achieved5 when the hinge arrangement of the tamper element comprises at least two film- hinges V- or arch-shaped, extending away from each other in an outward direc tion. The hinge arrangement can e.g. comprise four film-hinges arranged in pairs to each other. The tamper element may further feature additional folding means such as one or more fold points arranged in the tamper element allowing the tam-0 per element to bend away more easily.
Preferably, once the predetermined breaking linkage has been broken, the hinge arrangement folds away the tamper element from the cover and snaps to the at least one stable position. If only one stable position of the tamper element in the folded state is present, the tamper element cannot stay in the upright and unfolded position, once the predetermined breaking linkage is damaged, and will remain in the stable folded position. Hence, there will be a clear visual evidence that the tam per element has been tampered with. Depending on the application, the at least one predetermined breaking linkage may be designed in form of a film layer, which breaks, respectively tears, during initial opening of the closure. The film layer may have the shape of a strip or a sguare or have a circular design. Other forms are also possible. Preferably, the film layer is arranged to initially close (at least partially) an opening in the tamper element, as described above. Depending on the thickness of the film layer and/or the size of the opening, the film layer may thus be used to prevent that the tamper element cannot be hooked, respectively latched, back in the initial unfolded position once the tamper element has been bend away.
In another application however, the rib may be used to form an undercut with the opening of the tamper element to secure the tamper element to the cover after initially tearing the predetermined breaking linkage and reclosing of the closure, respectively the tamper element. Thus, the tamper element may be used as a clo sure elementto secure the cover to the annular base after the predetermined break ing linkage is torn apart. For this, it is advantageous to arrange the tamper element with respect to the circumference of the closure diametrically opposite of the hinge. However, other positions are also possible. The tamper element may e.g. be posi tioned close by the hinge. The tamper element gives a user an easy to determine visual impression if the liguid container has been opened before or has been tampered with in any way. How ever, the closure may additionally provide fragile bridges interconnecting the cover and the annular base along the circumference of the closure. In certain fields of applications, the top portion of the closure can be used with other base portions or as a closure in itself being directly attached to a container and the cover covering an opening in the container.
Preferably, the closure is made of plastic. The closure may be manufactured by in jection molding. One or multiple plastic components may be used for different parts, respectively regions 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 over view or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illus trate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed de- scription given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The draw ings are showing:
Fig. 1 A first variation of the closure 1 according to the invention in a perspec tive and partly sectionized view;
5 Fig. 2 a detail A of the tamper element 1 3 according to Figure 1 ;
Fig. 3 the first variation of the closure 1 according to Figure 1 in a second per spective view;
Fig. 4 the first variation of the closure 1 according to Figure 1 in a perspective view with the tamper element 1 3 bend backwards; 0 Fig. 5 a detail B of the tamper element 1 3 according to Figure 4,
Fig. 6 a top portion 8 of a second variation of a the closure 1 according to the invention in a partly sectionized view from the side,
Fig. 7 a detail of the tamper element 1 3 according to Figure 6,
Fig. 8 a third variation of the tamper element 1 3, 5 Fig. 9 a fourth variation of the tamper element 1 3,
Fig. 1 0 a fifth variation of the tamper element 1 3,
Fig. 1 1 a sixth variation of the tamper element 1 3,
Fig. 1 2 a seventh variation of the tamper element 1 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many dif- ferent 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 reguirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.
Figure 1 and Figure 3 both show a first variation of the closure 1 for a liguid con- tainer (not shown) in a perspective view. In Figure 1 , the closure 1 is further partly sectionized. Figure 2 illustrates a detail A of the tamper element 1 3 according to Figure 1 . Figure 4 discloses the closure 1 with the tamper element 1 3 bend back wards. Figure 5 further shows the detail B of the tamper element 1 3 according to Figure 4. The illustrated closure 1 comprises a base portion 2 and a top portion 8. The base portion 2 comprises a top deck 3 with a spout 4 extending in an upper direction z away from the top deck 3. An outer skirt 5 further extends from an outer end 6 of the top deck 3 in a lower direction away from the top deck 3. The outer skirt 5 comprises a fastening means 7 to interconnect the closure 1 to a neck of the con- tainer (not shown). Meanwhile, the top portion 8 comprises an annular base 9 in- terconnectable to the base portion 2 and a cover 1 0. The cover 1 0 has an outer wall 1 1 , which is interconnected to the annular base 9 by a hinge 1 2. The cover 1 0 comprises a pocket 1 6 with a tamper element 1 3 arranged in the pocket 1 6. The tamper element 1 3 extends from the annular base 9 in the upper direction z above the annular base 9 along the outer wall 1 1 of the pocket of the cover and spaced a distance apart from the outer wall 1 1 .
A rib 1 7 extends from the outer wall 1 1 of the pocket 1 6, respectively the cover, and interconnects the outer wall 1 1 to the tamper element 1 3 though a predeter- mined breaking linkage 1 4. The rib 1 7 has a T-shaped cross-section in the upper direction. Tearing the predetermined breaking linkage 1 4 results in an opening 1 8 being formed in the tamper element 1 3, which was initially closed by an outer end of the rib and/or the predetermined breaking linkage. The tamper element 1 3 is further interconnected to the annular base 9 by a hinge arrangement 1 5, which is arranged between the annular base 9 and the predetermined breaking linkage 1 4. In such a way, the tamper element 1 3 can be bent away from the outer wall 1 1 after tearing the predetermined breaking linkage 1 4. The shown hinge arrange ment 1 5 provides two stable positions: A first stable position in which the tamper element 1 3 extends along the outer wall 1 1 of the cover 1 0 and a second stable position in which the tamper element 1 3 is bent respectively folded away from the cover 1 0.
Figure 6 illustrates a top portion 8 of a second variation for a closure 1 according to the invention from a side view. Figure 7 shows a detail of the tamper element 1 3 of Figure 6. Figure 8 to Figure 12 show further variations of a tamper element 1 3 according to the invention. The shown variations of the tamper elements 1 3 may be used in combination with a base portion 2 and any top portion 8 of a closure 1 , as described above. Depending on the hinge arrangement 1 5, only one stable position of the tamper element in the folded state may be present, or multiple, such as two, stable positions can be used instead. The tamper element 1 3 of the top portion 8 of Figure 6 or Figure 7 features a rib 1 7 in form of a bridge between the outer wall 1 1 and the tamper element 1 3 ar ranged behind the tamper element 1 3 and thus not visible in Figure 6. The tamper element 1 3 is interconnected to the outer wall 1 1 by a predetermined breaking linkage 1 4. The rib 1 7 may e.g. comprises a predetermined breaking linkage 1 4. Alternatively, the predetermined breaking linkage 1 4 may be arranged between the rib 1 7 and the tamper element 1 3 or between the rib 1 7 and the outer wall 1 1 . Once the predetermined breaking linkage 1 4 has been broken, the tamper element 1 3 preferably folds away from the cover 1 0 and snaps to a stable position. If only one stable position of the tamper element 1 3 in the folded state is present, the tamper element 1 3 cannot stay in the upright and unfolded position, once the pre determined breaking linkage 1 4 is damaged, and will remain in the stable folded position. Hence, there will be a clear visual evidence that the tamper element 1 3 has been tampered with. The tamper element 1 3 of Figure 8 differs from the tam- per element 1 3 of Figure 7 only by the presence of additional folding means 21 . The folding means 21 , e.g. in form of multiple fold points or lines, can further facil itate the procedure of folding back the tamper element 1 3 and minimize the space needed for the folded tamper element 1 3. Depending on the material further visual tamper evidence may be provided by stress whitening of the material. The rib 1 7 of the tamper element 1 3 according to Figure 9 and Figure 10 is inter connected to the tamper element 1 3 via the predetermined breaking linkage 1 4 in form of a tearable film layer. The film layer 1 4 may have the shape of sguare (Figure 9) or a circular design (Figure 10) arranged to initially close (at least partially) an opening 1 8 in the tamper element 1 3. Other shapes are also possible. During initial opening of the closure, the film layer 1 4 is deformed and broken. This further aids the visual tamper evidence from the front and side. Depending on the design and thickness of the film layer, the film layer may be used to prevent that the tam per element may to be latched back and held in place in the unfolded position once the film layer has been destroyed.
Figure 1 1 shows a tamper element 1 3, with a predetermined breaking linkage 1 4 in form of two tearable film layer sections on either side of the rib 1 7 extending through an opening 1 8 of the tamper element 1 3. These film layer sections 1 4 will deform and tear when the tamper element 1 3 is pulled down. One advantage of the variation is that the broken breaking linkage 1 4 is visible from the front and side. Furthermore, the tearable film layer again prevents the tamper element to latch back in an upright position.
The tamper element 1 3 of Figure 12 differs from the design of Figure 1 1 , in that multiple film layer section 1 4 are present on either side of the rib 1 7. In the shown example, four sections on each side of the rib 1 7 can be seen. However, other num bers of multiple breaking linkages 1 4 are possible. The multiple linkages 1 4 having a smaller dimension than e.g. the linkage of the tamper element of Figure 1 1 may even further prevent the tamper element 1 3 from being latched 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 DESIGNATIONS
1 Closure 12 Hinge
2 Base portion 13 Tamper element
3 Top deck 14 Predetermined breaking
4 Spout linkage
5 Outer skirt 15 Hinge arrangement
6 Outer end 16 Pocket
7 Fastening means 17 Rib
8 Top portion 18 Opening
9 Annular base 19 Fragile bridges
10 Cover 20 Tamper band
11 Outer wall 21 Folding means