CA2592067A1 - Tamper-evident closure and bead on container neck - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to closures for containers, and more particularly to tamper-evident closures for containers. One aspect of the invention provides a container and a closure for connection to said container, said closure including: an upper wall (102); a skirt (104) formed integrally with and extending downwardly from said upper wall, said skirt adapted to engage with a neck portion of the container to secure the closure to the container; a tamper-evident band (110) frangibly connected to said skirt; the neck of a container including a tamper bead adapted to engage with tabs (122) on said tamper-evident band to facilitate separation of the band (110) from the skirt of the closure and an inwardly and downwardly sloping container neck surface beneath said tamper bead , said inwardly and downwardly sloping surface urging said separated tamper-evident band downwards away from said skirt.

Description

TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE AND BEAD ON CONTAINER NECK
FIELD OF THE INVENT[ON
The present invention relates to closures for containers, and more psrticularly to tamper-evident ciosures for containers and including tamper evident dispensing clo4ures and tamper evident child resistant closures together with Gorresponding container necks .

BACY:CROUNf> TO THE IlVVENTYON
Any discimsion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way he cor-sidered as an admission that such prior art is widely [snown or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
There exists extensive prior a.rt in relation to the design and manufacture of tamper-evident closures for containers, such as for example 1.1S, Patents Nos.
4,653,657 (Papav$silopolous), 4,807,771 (Roy), 5.660,28$ (Nyrnan), 6,551,093 ( ralia), 6,640,99R (Taha.) and Australian Patent application 43435/85 ( patent no 550978) the disclo_Gnres of which are hereby'incorporated into this specification by way of cross-reference.
One problem that exists with prior art tampe.r-evideltt closures is the loss of sealing between the closure and container opening prior to the tamper-evidence features operating and insufFicient visibility of tamper evidence- means.
A further problem is that air is often present within sealed containers and at least the oxygen and or moisture contained therein and or contained in air or oxygen which may'after scaling permeate into the container may react with and degrade the contents. There exists extensive prior art in relation to means of reducing or limiting the amount of oxygen inside a sealed container. US Patent Nos.
5,202,052, (Zenner), 5,364,555 (Zenner), 6,037,022 (Adur) and 5,811,027 (Speer) the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated into this specification by way of cross-reference_ The said prior art does not disclose oxygen or moisture reduction in sealed container using means associated with the closures disclosed hetoin.
It is an objeet oi'the present invention to overcome or orneliorate at least one 3 o. of the disadvantages of the priar art, or to provide a useful alterna.tive.

SUMMAlYY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the presen.t invention deals especially with the need for a proper relationship between sealing means and tamper-evidence means such that the tamper-evidence means operates prior to the seal being breached. This avoids the possibility apparent with tnany so-called tamper-evident closures whereby by malicious tampering or inappropriate application torque and/or relaxation of the closure causing the seal betiween closure and container neck, to bc breached without the t,amper-evidence means operating and allowing the contents to be degraded by action of atmosphere or the malicious introduction of contarninants.
A fiuther.aspect.of the present invention provides a tamper-evident closure for a container with tamper-evidennt means and means of dispensing one or more additives into the container and a tamper-proof cover to protect additive dispensing means.
A fut'ther aspeet of the present invention provides a tarnper-evident closure for a container with tamper-evident means and a dispensing means for dispensing the contents of the container in a r,.ontrolled or limited manner, and a re-usablc tamper evident cover for said dispensing means.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a tamper evident closure having a means of extracting at least oxygen and or moisture from at least the air trapped inside a container sealed with a tamper evident closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by -way of exa.mple ottXy, with referencE to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. I is a cross-sectional elevation of a tamper-evident closure according to a preferred embod.iiuent of the present invention;
F'ig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation of a prel''err-ed embodiment of a container neck;
Fig. 2A is a perspective elevation ci'f portior- of a preferred embodiment of a container neck 50 Fig. 2B shows the area 'D' in Fig. 2 circled in dotted lines and showing 3 alternate preferred embodiments of a container neck ;

Fig, 2C shows the area 'D' in Fig. 2 circled in dotted lines and showing 3 altemate preferred embodiments of a container neck;
Fig. 3 shows a tamper evident closure 100 similar to the tamper evident closure shown in Fig. 1 and having an alternate preferred arrangement of tamper evident engagement tabs 122 ;
Fig. 3A shows a tamper evident closure 100 simila.r to the tamper evident closure shown in Fig, 3 and having an Wternate preferred arrangement of tam.pe.r evident engagement tabs 122 ;
Fig. 4. Is a cross sectional elevation of area 'W' circled with interrupted line i0 (referting to Fig: 3 ) which has improved sealing arrangements for a clcasure Fig_ 4A Is a cross sectional elevation of area 'W' circled with interrupted line (referring to Fig. 3 ) which shows further embodiments of improved sealing arrangements for a closure;
Fig. 4B Is a cross sectional elevation of area 'W' circled with interrupted line (referring to Fig. 3 ) whioh shows fu.rtttor embodiments of improved sealing arrangements for a closure Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of view oFa closure and container neck in prefcrred embodiment according to an aspect of the prcsent invention;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectiona.l view of view of a closure and container neck in preferred embodiment according to an aspect of the present invention;
Fig.' 7 is a plan view of tamper evident engagement tabs of a closure as viewed from below in normal orientation in a preferred embodiment according to an aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of eonta.iner neck 50 view from direction 'K,K' taken through (referring to Fig. 2A ) dotted line 'H' 'l-I' in a preferred embodiment according to an aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a sectional-plan of a container neck 50 view from direction 'KK' and taken through (referring to Fig. 2A ) dotted line 'J' 'J' according to a further aspect of the present invention; 30 Fig. 10 is a dispensing closure 100 and tarnper evident sealing cover cap 200 according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of areas 'A' and 'B' of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a cross secfional elevation of a dispensing closure according to a fitrther aspect of the present invention ;
Fig. 13 is a an enlarged cross sectional elevation view ofth.e main elements contained in the circled section '1]' in fig. 3 showing theseaiing elements of sealing cover 200 in closure proximity to but not sealingly engaged with dispensing closure 100according to a further aspect of the present invention.;
Fig. 14 is a cross sectional elevation of a dispensing closure 7 00 with a tamper evident sealing cover 200 in seal.ing engagement and with the closure threadingly engaged on the open end of a container neck 600. The general arrangementof these io elements are similar to that shown in Fig. 10 but this embodiment contains at least one means of controlling or shutting off the dispensing flow ofprod.uct according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a sectional view of that portion of disliensing closure 100 circled and marked 'G' in Fig. 14 according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a plan sectional view from below cut through the line 'F' 'F' and viewed in direction 'Q' of that portion of dispensing closure shown in Fig. 15 showing farther means of dispensing flow control according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 17 is a plan view of (referring to Fig. 14) disc 700 having slits 705 showing fiurther means of dispensing flow control according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 18 is a plan sectional view from below of that portion of dispensing closure 100 above the dotted line E.in Fig. 12 according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 19 is a plan view from above lead in surface 128 of dispensing closure 100 (referring to Fig. 13 ) according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 20 is an enlargement of a view sinular to the view in Fig. 13 and showing a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 21 is an enlarged view of sealing assembly 300 as viewed from direction 3 o 'Q' according to a further aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 22 is showing an altemate arrangement of enlarged sectional view of the area 'D' and adjacent area shown in Fig. 12 a.CCording to a.futther aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 23 is a cross sectional view through the axis of a closure 100a.cGording to s a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 24 a cross sectiot-at view through the axis of a closure 100 having:
annular or intcrrupted annular clip means 105 according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 25 is a cross sectional elevation of closure 100 in Fig. 24 according to a lo further aspect of the present invention;
Fig- 26 is a cross sectional plan view of said moulded structure 120 in closure 100 in Fig. 23 according to a further aspect of the present invention;
Fig, 27 is a similar view to that shown-in Fig. 26 showing some a.ltemate shapes of walls 121 according to a further aspect of the present invention;
ts Fig. 28 is a cross seetional elevation through the axis of a closure and container neck according to a furklter aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 29 is a plan view from above lead in surface 128 of dispensing closure 100 (referring to Fig. 13 ) according to a fiu-ther aspect of the present invention;

) 20 ) ) ) ) .
) 25 ) ) ) ) ) 30 ) DETAILED DESCRIPTY(7N OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 illustrates a closure 100 . Typically, the closure is a one-piece construction moulded from thermoplastic. The closure 100 includes:
a top wall 102 and connected thereto a downwardly extending skirt 104 having a helically threaded section 106 located on the internal face 108 of the said skirt . Said helically threaded section ideally has more than I full turn of thread excluding lead in and washout and preferably two full turns of helical thread which is advantageous on closures for containers of c.mbonated products under high pressures. Said helical thread is adapted to engage with the corresponding helically threaded section on the external surface of the neck of a container. Said top wa11102 may be sha.ped in an arc io in the area closer to the axis of the closure than anmular sealing member.
130 and the with the lowest point of the said arc located below the depicted top wall 102 and said arc being at the axis of the closure and tliet'eby forming a partiaIly dome shaped top wall 102 projecting into the closure and said dome shape is more resistant to deformation especially in closures for use on containers of carbonated contents.
snnular seali.ng member Depending from lower surface 112 of the skirt 104 is tamper-evident means consisting of tamper band 110 which is connected to a said lower surface 112 by a frangihle section 114 formed by a series of circuinferentially spaced ribs 116 separated by slots 118 which slots may be of different length thereby allowing tamper band 110 to deform more easily adjacent to larger slots when said closure 100 is ejected from a mould and said tamper-evident baiid 110 has an annular wall 120 from which extends more than one discretely spaced tabs 122. The tabs.122 are connected to the lower surface of the annular wa(1 120 by means of a hinged section 125.
Initially, the tabs 122 extend radially inwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the annular wall 120 to facilitate removal from the mould arid are depicted in this position ' in Fig. 1. Subsequent to the moulding of the closure, the tabs 122 are moved to a perpendicular or acute angle with respect to the annular wall 120 prior to application onto a corresponding container.
Said seaLio.g member 130 has sealing contact-paittt 132 which when said elosui'e 100 is fully applied to a eorresponding container neck said sealing contact point sealingly engages ( referring to Fig. 2) an inner surface 60 of said corresponding container neck 50 and the relative positions of said sealing contact point 132 surface ~
and ( referring to Fig. 5) and free edges 124A of tamper band tabs 122 and the clearanoe distance between free edges 124A and lower engagement surface 57 on the neck of a corresponding container tamper bead 55 and the distance representing stretching deformation of frangible ribs 116 is such that upon removal rotation aad axial movement of said closure 100 free edges 124A of tamper band tabs 122 engage lower engagement surface 57 of said container tamper bead 55 causing frangible ribs 116 to be severed before loss of seal between sealing contact point 132 and inner surface 60 of said co.iiesponding container Txeck 50.

Fig. 2 is a sectio" view of a portion of a container neck 50 and said neck being of a type suitable to accept a closure of the type shown in Fig. 7 said closure having one or more of the sealing mearis and engagem,ent means as shown Fig.s 4, 4A, 5, 6 and 7 and providing advantages in the co-opcratiort between a closure tamper evidence means and correspondia.g container neck_ Said container neck having:
1=S
top of neck sealing surface 68 ;and inside arinular sealing surface 60 ;and radius or sloped or curved sealing surface 68A connecting said top of neck sealing surface 68 to outside annular sealing surface 69 ; and said outside annular sealixlg surface 691ocated adjacent to said sealing surface 68A
and extending downwards away from said sealing surface 68A for the distance necessary to provide a proper seal between conta.iner neck and correspottding, closure said annular sealing surfaces 68, 68A and 69 are typically formod without mould parting lines and annular sealing surfaces 68A and 69 are together typically at least 1.Omm in vertical. height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including other products and said annular sealing surface 69 may be inareased in height as necessary to provide extended vertical height of sealing surface to facilitate extended sealing engagement for closures of the type sbowm in Fig. 1 to enable frangible ribs 116 to be severed before loss of seal between closure and,corttainer ;and helical thread 61 ; and tampcr bead. 55 which b-as S
a lower engagement surface 57 to engage co-operatively with enga.gement surface 124 on closuxe 100 (Fig, 3. ) and neck wall surface 58 which joins engagement surface 57 and preferably immediately or at least within l.Omm of said joining point said neck wall surface 58 commences to slope or curve towards the axis of the container neck at an angle averaging along the whole surface until it returns at least to parallei to the axis of the container'neck said angle being greater than 1 degree and less than 70 degrees and preferably abbut 20 degrees.

lo Fig. 2A is perspective elevation of a portion of a container neok SO being of a type suitable to accept closures of the type shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3 said closures having one or more of the sealing means and engagement means and i:=per band means as shown Fig.s 4. 4A, 5, 6 and 7 and providing advantages as to co-operation between a container neck and corresponding closure tamper evidence means. Said neck 50 having similar features as listed in Fig. 2. above and additionally having beneath tamper bead 55 more than one engagement means 80 having:
eitgagement faces 78 which referring to the normal position of said container neck are oriented in a horizontal t-Iane at least radially and preferably at less than 90 degrees angle to the normal direction of removal engagement of tamper evident engagenient tabs 122 in Fig. 3 and said engagement faces 78 are also oriented vertically with the axis of the said container neck and sald engagement faces 78 co-operating upon removal rotation of a corresponding closure to engage with corresponding free edges 122Q (referring to Fig. 3) of tabs 122 on tamper band 110 so as to restrain rotational movement of said tamper band 110 and sever frangible ribs 116 thereby giving clear evidence of opening imtnediatelyupon removal rotation ;and joining edges 79A which are formed by the abutment said engagem.ent faces 78 with ramped and/or sloped and/or curved sunface 79. Said,joining edges 79A may be linear and/or curved but referring to the entire length of said joining edge 79A s.hall have an average angle of greater thaa I degree and preferably at least 15 degrees towards the axis of the said closure ;and z=amped surface 79 which allows free edges 124A of tamper band ta.bs 122 (referring to Fig.2 ) to pass over said engagement means $0 and said camped surfaces 79 having a shape in a vertical direction considering the normal orientation of the said closure s and indicated by the joining edges 79A sloping downwards and inwards towards the axis of the closure such that when taznper band 110 is severed from the body of closure the sloped surface following slope 79A of tamped surface 79 will promote the said tamper band 110 to move downwards away from tamper bead 55 of container neck 50 thereby ensuring the creation of a visible gap between tamper band and closure body as is described also in the description to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.

Fig. 2B shows the area 'D' in Fig. 2 circled in dotted lines and showing 3 alternate embodiments of the present invention shrrwing surfaces 78 and 79 as revealed by joinitig edge 79A. In eaCtt of these embodiments engagement face 78 and ramped and/or sloped ancUor curved surface 79 remains in the orientation to the axis of and radially to the said neck and the normal position of the said neck described in Fig. 2 A
Embodiment 1 has joining edge 79A1 as a sloped ctuved shape with a convex curve viewed from 'AA' and Embodiment 2 has joining edge 79A2 as a linear sloped surface and Embodiment 3 has joining edge 79A3 as a sloped eu.rved shape with a concave curve viewed from 'AA' and In yet another embodiment 4 curved wal158 between each engagement means 80 continues as indicated by dotted line 58A intersecting the upper surface of tamper befzd. 55 at edge 56 and creating an extension to engagement face 78 represented by hatched area 78A . Said curved wat158 may have a compound curve having a varying radius at various points In yet another embodiment said wall 58 ma.y be a linear surface not curved.

In yet another embodiment 5 the upper outer edge of engagement faces 78 may abut the lower surface 57 of said tamper bead 55 at a point rad.ially inwards towards the axis of the said container neck for example at joining point 82 and leaving at least 5 adjacent to engagement means 80 a portion of tattt,per bead lower surface 57 adjoining tamper bead upper surface 55A to engage at least with closures relying on contact between closure tamper evidence means and said lower surface 57 to promote separation of tamper evidence means from the body of said closures and for example (referring to Fig. 2C) the joining point of said outer edges of said engagement faces 78 10 with said lower surface 57 being represented by line 79A5 abutting said tamper bead lower surface 57 at said joining point 82 and the width of said portion of tamper bead lower surface 57 being represented for example by the distance between dotted lines 4X, and LY, In yet another embodiment 6 the In yet another embodiment (not shown) which relies on engagement faces 78A
which may of course be made larger by varying the radius and positioning of curved or sloped wall 58 and whereby the tamper bead 55 at least between engagement means 80 is much reduced or absent thus saving in material required to manufacture such a container neck.

Fig. 2C shows the area 'l3' in Fig. 2 circled in dotted lines and showing yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the joining surface 79A4 is a combination of curved surface 79A41 and linear surface 79A42. Such combination of surfaces may of course include variations other than that shown Fig. 3 shows a tamper evident closure 100 similar to the tamper evident closure shown in Fig. 1 and having an alternate and preferred arrangement of tamper evident engagement tabs 122 having free edges 124A aligned radially or at an acute angle to the axis of the said closure and a first engagement surface 124 to engage with a co-aperating surface 57 (referring to Fig. 2) on a GorrespQnding container and said tabs shaped to provide a second engagement surface here shown as a notch o-r gap 122R in one or more said tabs. Said notch 122R having free edges 122P and 122Q and said free edge 122Q being disposed so that upon application to a container neck such as those disclosed at Fig. 2A,2B, 2C Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 said engagement tabs122 lie between engagement faces 78 (referring to Fig. 2A ,2B, 2C and Fig. 8) and engagement faces 122Q are disposed in close proximity to said engagemeiit faces 78 on the ttecK'of a corresponding container so that upon vemoval rotation of less than 25 degrees and preferably 15 degrees said tamper band engagement faces 122Q and said closure engagement faces 78 engage whereby the tamper band. l 10 is restrained from rotating with the rest of the closure and frangible ribs 116 are severed thereby lo separating the said tamper band 110 from the body of closure 100 and one or more of said frangible ribs 116 as may be formed in moulding the said closure may after moulding be severed by a secondaty process so as to reduce the niu.mber of said frangible ribs and thus reduce the force necessary'to sever the remaining said frangible ribs 1161n another erribodiment (not shown) frangible slots 118 are formed not during moulding but in a secondary process of sliteing by known means after moulding at which time ribs 116 are formed in the required size and number. .(]ther shapes of said engagement tabs 122 (not shown) may also be formed which will achieve the same purpose of providing one or more engagement surfaces to engage co-operatively with corresponding engagement su~hces on a contai.ner neck to restrain either axial and/or -rotational movement of a closure tamper band so as to promote the severing of said frangible ribs to separate the said tamper band from the said closure body..

Fig. 3A shows a tamper evident closure 100 siniilar to the tamper evident closure shown in Fig. 3 and having _ joining elements 122T which join at least 2 adjacent engagement tabsl22 and assist in retaining said tabs 122 in (referring to Fig. 6) operating position 'C' and;
one or more spacing elements 11O>1 which (referring to Fig, 6 ) serve to keep at least one of said tabs 122 adjacent to said spaeing.element 1 l0E in operating position 'C' by preventing said tab 122 from being folded back against annular wall 120 of tamper so band 110 Fig 4. Is a cross sectional elevatian of ares. 'W' circled with interrupted line (refening to Fig. 3 ) which has improved sealing arrangements for a closure 100 having a top annular wall or disc 102 and annular inner or bore-seal 130 and bore sealing surface 132 wwhich seals against inside neck surface of a corresponding container (not shown) and sWing surface 145 which seals against the top neck surface of a corresponding cantainer_ Said sealing surface 145 may have one or more projections which as well as sealing will raise the annular seal 140 closer to the top of a corresponding container neck and skirt wall 104 depending frorn said top disc and at least one helical thread means 106 to engage with corresponding thread means on a container neck and annular seal 140 having lower surface 140A whioh is located so that when the closure is fully applied to a corresponding container said lower surface 140A is preferably above but at least in close proximity to the lower exktremity of an the annular sealing surface formed on the upper portion of the outside surface of a Garrespondin.g container neck where an outside annula*' sealing surface is generally formed without mould parting lines and which outside annular seali:ng surfa.ce is typically at least 1.0mm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated oontents but including other products and lower wall joining point 140B which is preferably formed as a r,tdius of less than 3.5mm and prefdrably 0.5mm and wall 140C which may be linear or formed as a radius or compound curve but in any case having on average and angle to the axis of the closure of between 85 degrees and 5 degrees and preferably 45 degrees and the angle formed by the dotted lines J' and 'L' where dotted line 'L' representing. the orientation of at least the major portion of said wall 140C and dotted line 'J' representing the orientation of r<It least the major portion of said lower surface 140A and where dotted line 'J' is disposed approxirnately at 90 degrees to the axis of the closure and the angle formed by the t3 intersection of dotted lines 'J' and 'T.' is therefore between 95 degrees and degrees and preferably 135 degrees and upper wall joining point 140I] which is preferably formed as a radius and if as a radius less than 3.5 mm radius but otherwise may be linear by extending walls 140D
and 140E and the various fea.ttrees of annular seal 140 which is located at a point suffieiently lower than top sealing surface 145 which when closure is fully applied to a con.tairLer said sealing surface 145 abuts top top of neck sealing surface 68 of container neck 50 ( referring to fig. 2) such that said annular sea1140 remains in 1o sealing engagement with annular sealing surface 69 (referring to Fig. 2) on a corresponding container neck 50 even in the event that the said closure 100 backs off from a fu11y applied position on said container neck"tliereby reducing losses experienced with top or wedge seal closures backing off and allowing leakage from or into said container . I4t+'ovever, preferred container neck embodiments referred to at 2A, 2B, and 2C are designed to at least restrict back off and vertice,l distance between dotted lines 'K.' and 'M' is less than the vertiral height of an the annular sealing surface 69 (referring to Fig. 2) formed on the upper portion of the outside surface of a corresponding container neck 50 where an outside annular sealing surface is generally formed without mould parting lines and which outside annular sealing surface is typically at least 1.0mm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including othc't' products and vertical distance between dotted lines 'M' and 'J' is greater than 0.2nmi and less than about 3.0mm and preferably 0.5mm and vertical distance between dotted lines 'K' and 'J' is preferably such that the sum of said vertical distance between dottedlines 'K' and 'r' + the vertical height of any sealing projections depending from sealing surface 145 is less than the vertical height of the annular sealing surface formed on the upper portion of the outside surface of a eorresponding container neck. Said outside annular sealing surface is typically formed without mould pafting lines and which outside annular sealing surface is typicalty at least 1.Omm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including other products.

Fig. 4A . Ts another embod.iment of cross sectional elevation of area 'W' circled with in.terrupted line (referring to Fig, 3) which has improved sealing arrangements whereby a clc,sure is in sealing contact at least on both the inside or the upper inside portioin of a container neck and the outside or upper ouiside portion of a container neck. for a closure 100 having a -top wall or disc 102 and annular inner orbore-seal 130 and bore sealing surface 132 which seals agai.nst inside neck surface of a corresponding container (not shown) and surface 145 which in the absence of projections 146 may slope or curve downwards to a level sealiing surface 145A (not shown) parallel to the tips of prrajectiQns 146 and sa.id sealing surface 145A seals against the top neck surface of a corresponding container thereby preserv.ing the relative positiort'of annular seal 140 in respect of (referring to Fig 2. ) outside saing surfaces 68A and 69 of neck 50_ Said surface 145 may have one or more sealing projections 146 which as well as sealing against the top neck surface of a corresponding container will preserve the relative position of annular seal 140 in respect oF(refeiring to p'ig 2. ) outside seading surfaces 68A and 69 of neck 50and lower top wall surface 147 which is disposed at approximately 9Q dogrees to the axis of the closure said lower top wall surface 1471ocatcd at a vertical distance from dotted line J1 or the extension thereof which is greater than the vet'tical distance from dotted line Jl or the extension thereto to sealing surfaces 146 or 145A such that the distance between annular sea1140 and the lower top wall surface 147 ip increased allowing a larger radi.us on the surface 148 joining said lower top wall surface 147 and upper wall 140G and allowing the angle between said upper wall 1400 and lower surface 140A to be greater than is possible in prior art closures where the lower surface of top wall 102 typically abuts the upper surface of the container neck and thereby assisting iri ejection of annular seal 140 f~'om a inould and allowinw more space into which annular seal 140 can defotni towards. said surface 147 upon application of the closure-to a container and ,~ .

skirt wall 104 depending from said top disc and at least one continuous or segmented helical thread means 106 to engage with corresponding thread means on a container neck and annular seal 140 having 5 lower surface 140A disposed or oriented to the axis of the closure as indicated by the dotted line Jl being at more than 45 degrees and less than 135 degrees and preferably 90 degrees to the axis of the closure and said lower surPace 140A adapted so that when the closure is fully applied to a corresponding container said lower surface 140A is preferably above the lower extremity of an the annular sealing surface formed on the 10 upper portion of the outside surface of a corresponding conta.iner= neck where on said container neck an outside annular sealing surface is generally formed without mould parting lines and which outside annular sealing surface is typically up to 1.0mm in vertical height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but including other products neck a'r2ingements and curved surfaoe 140F which may be linear or formed as a radius or compound curve and if as a radius less than 1:0 mm radius and preferably 0.1 rnrr- radius and ulsper wall 140G which may be linear or curved and having a surface disposed or oriented in relation to the axis of the closure as indicated by the dotted line J2 whereby the angle formed by the at the intersection of the dottcd lines J1 and 12 is less than 75 degrees and preferably approximately 20 degrees said annular seal 140 is located at a point sufficiently lower than top sealing surface 145 which when closure is fully npplied to a container said sealing surface 145 abuts top top of neck sealing strrface 6$ of container neck 50 ( referring to fig.
2) suah that said annular seal 140 remains in sealing engagement with annular sealing surface 69 (referring to Fig. 2) on a corresponding container neck 50 even in the event that the 3o said closure 100 backs off from a fully applied position on said container neck thereby reducing losses experienced with top or wedge seal closures backing off and a.llowing leakage of product from or contaminants into said container and said annular seal 140 having relationships including said 140F being located (referring to Fig.
2):
on a diameter less than the diameter of ccntainer neck outside annular.
sealing surface 69; and preferably on a diameter equal to the diameter of the distal edge of top of neck sealing surface 68. However, preferred embodiments referred to at 2A, 213, and 2C are designed to at least restrict back off and vertical distance between dotted lines 'J1' and 'J3' where 'J3' should taken to be at the closure fully applied to container position at which stage sealing projections 146 are coinpressed, is less than the vertical height of an the annular sealing surface 69 (referring to Fig. 2) formed on the upper portion of the outside surface of a corresptmding conta.iner neck 50 where an outside annular sealing surface is generally formed without mould parting lines and wlYieh outside annular sealitxg surface is typically at least I.0mrn in vetticai height at least on containers used for carbonated contents but itncluding other products and neck arrangements.

Fig. 4B . Is another embodiment of the closure 100 and closure sealing rneans shown in Fig. 4A. . In this embodiment;
annular seal 140 extends partially from skirt wall 104 and partialiy from lower top wall surface 147 or in the altetnative (not shown) said annular seal 140 extends from lower top wall surface 147 and;
surface 146A is 2u'ranged to make contact with ( referring to Fig.2 ) top of neck sealing surface 68 and said surface 146A is separate from annular seal 140 and. ;
said lower top wall surface 147 being spaced apart from sealing surface 146A
as for example shown by the space between dotted lines J4 and J4A thereby creati.ng space 148 into which aimular seal 140 may deform into. upon application of said closure to a container neck.

Fig. 5 discloses a section through a the closure 100 of the type showm. in Fig.1 and co-operating container neck 50 showing the position of the tamper evidence band 17.
after removal of the closure from the container and subsequent replacerctent of the closure to re-seal the container. The operation of removal has after bringing into engagement surfaces 124 on the tabs 122 on tamper band 110 and lower surface 57 of tamper bead 55 ort said container neck 50 and by movement of the closure 100 in S direction 'Y' whilst tamper band 110 is prevented from such movement in directiori 'Y' by said engagement between said engagement surfaces 124 and said lower surface 57 and which movement in direction 'Y' therefore causes frangible ribs 116 to separate from lower surface 112 of skirt 104 thereby opening a visible gap which may be as large as desired to provide good visual evidence of separation between tarrtper i said band 110 and said lower surface 112.
Upon separation of tamper band 110 firam skirt 104 tabs 122 which are exerting a pressure in direction 'X' against surface 58 of container neck 50 by the tendency of sald tabs 122 urged by the tendency of the joining members 123 (shown in fig 7.)and the natural tendency of a moulded plastic part to return towards its as is moulded position and or to return to a tleutral position from a compressed or sttetched position said stretched position of said joinig members 123 corresponding to position 'C' in Fig.6 arnd sa.id tabs 122 are therefore urged downwards by the sloping surface 58 of container neck 50 so that by selection of an appropriate arced or sloped shape for said surface 58 an easily disGoraed visual gap becomes apparent between closure 2n body and tamper evidence band and said visual gap is formed contemporaneously with removal of thc closure such that a person opening a container can see the opemtion of the tamper evidence means rather than rely on the feel or sound of ribs 116 separating as is the case with prior art tamper bands. The slope of surface 58 and the action of tbe tabs atlso makes difficult or impossible to replace the tamper band 25 into close proximity to simulate an un-opened contait7er. Said sloping surface 59 is formed such that the preferable initial slope represented by the dotted line 'F 1' is between 1 degree and 70 degrees and preferably about 20 dogrees relative to dotted-line 'G1' ('G1' being parallel to the axis of the closure) and when said sloping surface 58 is formed as a radius then such radius is preferably greater than 1.0 mm and 3o less than 20.0 mm: Said slQping swface 58 .m.ay be a compound slope having a varying radius at various poi:nts.

Sealing members 130 and 140 and sealing surface 145 are shown in sealing engagement with the eorresponding sealing surfaces on container neck'50 Fig. 6 is a cross sectional elevation of closure 100 and a co-operating container neck 50 showing:
various approximate positions of tabs 122 including Position 'A' being the as moulded position and position 'B' being the cou'esponding neutral position when said tabs 122 are folded towards the operating position.prior to sorting and application to a container and when at said neutral point 'B' said tabs 122 are at an acute angle to t o annular wall 120 said neutial point 'S' is aLso deftned as being the point at whieh the angle formed by dotted lines 'D' and 'E' ( dotted line 'E' being parallel to the axis of closure 100) is equal to the angle formed by dotted lines 'E' and 'F' and said neutral position 'B' is the point at which gaps 122c have parallel sides and fiap joining members 123 are in a neutral position being neither under tension or compression save for the said force exerted by the propensity of deformed hinge plastic material to return towards an as moulded position.. Position 'C' is the position of tabs 122 when fully applied to conta.iner and prior to commencement of removal. Position 'A' is the as moulded position of said tabs 122; and annular ncck projection 51 which reduces the clearance gap between tabs 122 and cantainer neck 50 and thereby assisting in prevention of tampering with tabs 122 in operating position 'C'.

Fig. 7 illusirates a means of t+vercomiiig the tendency of tabs 122 of closure shown in fig.l to return towards the as moulded position and provide another benefit 2s by urging tabs 122 to grip more tightly onto a container ncck. The view is divided by dotted line into half 'A' and half '11' and shows the arrangement of tabs 122 viewed from beneath 2 different closures in normal orientation. Said tabs 122 are joined in pairs by a small joining member 123 .Said tabs 122 in closure half 'A' are in the as moulded positiort'with adjacent sides of said tabs forming parallel sided gaps 30and said gaps 122C between unjoined tabs having an arcuate end formed by the antlu.lar surface of wall 120 adjacent hinge 125 (shown in referring to Fig.1) and an open end and said gaps 122C between joined tabs become a closed gap with 2 parallel sides an arouate end formed by the annular s,urface oFwall 120 adjacent hinge 125 and a fourth side'formed by one edge ofjoining member 123 which may be aroua.te or linear.
Said tabs 122 in a separate closure half 'B' are shown in a position at 90 degrees to the axis of the closYU'e and at this point the gaps 122C at edges of said.tabs 122 adjacent engagemment faces 124 would be narrower because engagement faces 124 are now located on a smaller diameter that the position shown in half 'A' thereby causing joining members 123 to be compres.sed and some of this compression will be relieved by the, free edges of each pair ofjoined tabs deforming radially as indicated by arrows io J' which will cause the wail 120 (shown in fig. 1) to deform (said deformation not shown) between points 'K' and V. Upon further folding of said tabs into the said closure 100 (refer to Fig. 6 position '8' ) the said joining members 123 will return to an uncompressed state when the engagement ends 124 are located on a diameter equal to the diameter shown for tabs 122 in Half 'A' ( this diameter being the referred to in Fig. 6. as diameter 'B')and said tabs 122 having reached said position 'B' (referring to Fig. 6) will tend to remaiii in this neutral position because the force exerted by the tendency of the hinge 125 to return to an as moulded position will not overcome the resistance to eoinpression in said joining members 123. IJpon application of closure to a container tabs 122 will be urged into position by the neck of the container such that the engagem.ent.ends 124 will locate on a larger dia.meter than the said diameter 'B' and joining members 123 with be placed under tension again causing deformation of at least wall 120 between points 'K' and 'L' and urging the said tabs 122 to exert a force against the neck surfaee 59 of container neck 50 greater than that force exerted by the arrangement of tabs 122 referred to in Fig.3 thereby reducing the possibility .
that tabs 122 (shown in Fig. 5 ) may be urged past lower surface 57 of tamper bead 55 on container neck 50 upon removaJ of olosure from container neck failing to break frangible ribs 116 taYtuper band 110 thereby defeating the taxttper evidenee means..
Tabs 122 when in position shown in half 'A' corresponding to positian 'B' in Fig.6 are sabject to a residual fotce exerted to urge the said tabs 122 to retum towards the as moulded position 'A' (as rnoulded position 'A" in Fig..6) this force results from the propensity of a moulded plastic part when deformed from its as moulded position to return towards the as moulded position.

Nig. 8 is a sectional plan of container neck 50 view from direction 'KK' taken through (referring to Fig. 2A ) dotted line 'H' 'H' and said dotted line 'H' 'H' passing through the joining of engagement means 80 and the lower surface 57 of tamper bead 5 55 and showing by arrow 'Q' the direction of removal rotation of a closure and also showing by arrow '0' the direction of application' rotafion of a closare which may.be affixed to said container neck 50 and said container neck having:
top sesling surfa.ce 68 ; and engagement means 80 located an the lower surface of tamper bead 55 ( shorvn with io dotted line) and having:
engagement.surfaces 7$ whioh are radially oriented to the axis of the container neck or in another embodiment aligned at an acute angle for example shown by dotted line 'R' ;and ramped surfaee 79 which nay be linear or curved and upon applicaiion rotatian of a 15 corresponding closure such as shown in Fig, 3allows free edges 124A of tabs 122 of tamper band 110 to easily pass over said ramped surfaces79; and joining edges 79A at the join between said ramped surfaces 79 and engagement surfaces 78..

2o 1''ig. 9 is a sectional plan of cotttainer neck 50 view from direction 'KTC' and taken through (referring to Fig. 2A ) dotted line 'J' 'J' passing through the joining of the neck and tamper bead 55 and showing by arrow 'Q' the direction of removal rotation and also showing by arrow 'O' the direction of application rotation of a closure which may be affixed to sai.d container neck 50. This shbws the artangement described at embodiment 4 in the description to Fig. 2B and said catitainer neck having top sealing sutface 68 ; and engagement means $01oca.ted on the lower surface of ta.mper bead 55 and having:
engagement surfaces 79 and 78A which are radially oriented at 90 degrees to the axis of the container neck and vertically oriented to the axis of the neck ;and ao ramped surface 79 which may be linear or curved and which upon application rotation of a corresponding closure such as shown in Fig. 3 allQws free edges 124A of tabs 122 of tamper band 110 to easily pass over said ramped surfaces79 and said closure when fully applied to said container neck the said free edges 124A of tabs 122 will lie in a position to engage at least with engagement faces 78A upon removal rotation of said closure. Said closure 100 being so designed that upon full application the said engagement faces 124A will lie in close proximity to said engagement faces 78A; and joining edges 79A at the join between said ramped surface 79 ;and erigagement surfaces 78, 78A ;and edge point 56 corresponding to edge point 56 in Fig. 2B. and neck surface intersection point 59 being at the lower end of curved section 58 ( referrtng to Fig. 2B) to Fig.lO discloses a dispensing closure 100 and tamper evident sealing cover cap 200.
Typically, the closure is a one-piece moulded construction.
The dispensing closure 100 includes a dispensing portion 102 having annular and/or frusto-conical wall 110 having one or more thread and/or annular projectiort or clip means 116 to co-operate with corresponding thread arid/or aautular clip means 215 on said cover cap to secure andlor reseoure said cover cap to said dispensing closure after initial removal and having annular projection 115 which co-Qperates with a corresponding projection 205 on.sai.d cover cap tamper band 220 such that upcan removal of the said cover cap the frangible connections 210 between tamper band and lower portion of cover cap wal1212 are severed allowing tamper band 220 to drop away from said lower portion of cover cap wa11212 and connected thereto a downwardly extending skirk 104 having a helicaliy threaded section 106 located on the internal face 108 of the said.
skirt which is adapted to engage with the correspondilig helically threaded section ort the e2terna l suxface of the neck of a container .

Tamper evidence may also be present on or in the dispensing closure bady su.ah as by means of foil induction removably:welded to the mouth of a cont.ain.er or by a closure tamper band frangibly connected to the lower portion of ( referring to Fig 1.
) wall 104 the dispensing closure 100. Said closure and closure tamper band is ofthe type and may be manufactured as disclosed in US Patent 6,640,988 and 6,491,175 which are by reference incosporated herein_ The tampcr evident sealing cover cap 200 includes Top wall 202 and depending therefrom annular sealing projection 225 which co-operates with annular sealing feature 120 at the orifice of the said dispensing closure to provide a seal to retain the contents of the container and annular side wa11212 and thread or annular clip means 215 and frangible connections 210 and tannper ba.nd 220 having annular or interrupted annular projection 205 Fig. 11. is 'an enlarged sectional view of areas 'A' and 'A' of Fig. 10.
Enlazged section 'A' shows Annular or interrupted annular projection 118 on closure 100 which co-operates with one or more of projections 218 on annular side wa11212 of sealing cover 200 when the said sealing cover is applied or re-applied to the said closure to provide a retention tneansn to retain the said sealing cover in a fully engaged position on the said dispensing closure. Said retention means being such that it can be easily disengaged 2o during normal removal and re-application of the said sealing cover from or to the said dispensing closure inner wall 208 of cover cap tamper band 220 is angled such tha't the said wall adjacent to frangible connections 210 is further from the axis of the cover cap than the said wall 208 at the end adjacent to projection 205. The said angle 'C' of wall 208 to the axis ofthe closure is more than I degree and less than 90 degrees and preferably 15 degrees. This arrangement allows or promotes the said tamper band 220 to move downwards after separation from frangible connections 210 opening up a visible gap between the lower extremity of said annular side wal1212 of sealing cover 200 so that 3o a person viewing the said sealing cover can easily discern that the said sealing cover has been opened In another embodiment of the present invention (not shown) there is a distinct clearance gap between said wall 208 and projection 115 on the dispensing closure body and projection 205 extends furtber from the axis of the cover -cap. The wall 208 then has a smaller angle to or is parallel to the axis of the closure. This arra.ngernent allows the said tamper band 220 to move downwards affter separation from frangible connections 210 opening up a visible gap between the lower eactremity of said annular side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 so that a person viewing the said sealing cover can easily discern that the said sealing cover has been opened In yet another embodiment of the present invention (not shown) there is interference between sa.id wal1208 and projection 115 on the dispensing closure body such that upon severing of the frangible oonneetYons 210 tamper band 220 is forced downwards by the co-operating angled surfaces of wa11208 and projection 115 opening up a visible gap between the lower extremity of said annular side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 so that a person viewing the said sealing cover c.att easily discern that the said sealing cover has been bpened.

Tn yet another embodiment or additional feature of the present invention wall 121 of 2a dispensin~ closure may have an angle 'D' in respect of the axis of the cover cap which ensures clearance between projection 205 on tamper band 220 and said wall 121 as said tamper band fal! or is driven dowmwards after severing of the said frangible connections opening up a visible gap between the lower extremity of said annulFU side wall 212 of sealing cover 200 so that a person viewing the said sealing cover can easily discern that the said sealing cover has been opened.. The said angle 'D' of wall 121 to the axis of.the closure is more than I degree and less than 45 degrees and preferably ] 0 degrees.

Section '$' shows the tamper band 220 having dropped into annular channel 119 after frangible connections 210 are severed and by the gap between the lower portion of cover cap wail 212 nu1 tamper band 220 provide clear evidence that the cover cap has been removed.
Fig. 12. is a cross sectianal elevation of a dispensing closure 100 with a tamper evident sealing cover 200 in sealing engagement and with the closure threadingly engaged on the open end of a container neck 600. The general arrangement of these elements are similar to that shawn in Fig. 1 but changes to and adjacent to the dispensing orifice bave been made in the area circled with a dotted line and marked as 'D' and more fully described in Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 is a an erila3rged cross sectional elevation view of the main elements contained in the circled section 'D' in fig. 3 showing the sealing eletnents of seali.ag cover 200 in closure proximity to but not sealingly engaged with dispensing closure 100, i5ispensing closure 100 having fiusto-conical wall 110 having a wall with lead in suxface 129 which co-operates with outside surface 225A. of to assist in directing annular sealing projection 225 into sealing engagernent with said dispensing closure 100;
2o annular or frusto conical sealing surface 120 and inner surface 110A and connected thereto dise 105 having in at least one and preferably 3 locations disc supports 105C are formed between outside wall 105A of said disc 105 and surface 110A of said wall 110 and upper surface 105B may be angled below horizontal in the normal position such that any contents which remain..undispensed on said upper surface 105B with in the area adjaccnt,to dispensing orifice 125 will be urged under gra.vity to retum to the container when the cont,ai.ner and dispensing closure is in the normal position,.

Sealing cover 200 has outside surface 225A of annular sealing projeotiotr 225 which as it is moved t.owards and enters into sealing abutment with annular sealing feature 120 of dispensing closure 100 acts to push any product remaining attached to at least portion of lead in surface 128 and said annular sealing wall 120 at least towards the upper surfaces of disc 105 and or into the container through orifice 125 or the said product being sealed from atmosphere by the said sealing cover is prevented from drying out and caking or forming a crust and the said product is therefore able to be 5 re-dispensed at the next use.
Said orifice 125 may be of any suitable shape ot' combination of sb.apes including circular and/or rectangular and/or ellipsoid and/ or curvcd or irregular. This arrangement allows the provision of dispensing closures with various dispensing orifice shapes and sizes but which can all be sealed with a common sealing overcap.
10 The arrangement of the sa.id orifice 125 includes the concept shown at Fig.

whereby at least part of disc 105 being thin a.nd having at least one and preferably 8 fine slits radially spaced outwards so that the segments formed between the radially spaced slits ma.y flex and displaced more easily so that products which may flow too freely through a larger orifice will be restrai.ned to flow less freely through the small 15 central orifice and said slits but if a larger flow is desired and the container is able to be squeezed to apply pressure to dispense product then the segments formed between the radially spaced slits may flex outwards under said presscire and cause at least the centra-1 orifice and adjacent portion of ss.id radially spaced slits to expand and allow product to flow rnore freely.

Fig. 14. is yet another embodiment of the present invention showing a cross sectional elevation of a dispensing closure 100 with a tamper evident sealing cover 200 in sealing engagernent and with the closure threadingly engaged on the open end of a container neck 600. The general arrangement of these elements are similar to that shown in Fig. 10 but this emlbodiment contains at least one means of controlling or shutting of'f the dispensing flow of product by increa,sing or decreasing the pressure applied when squeeZinl, the flexible container to dispense product.,The first of said means of controllirig or shutting off the flow is shown in the area circled with a dotted line and marked as 'G' and this is described in detail in Fig. 15.
The second of said means of controlling or shutting off the flow is an annular disc of any suitable material such as foamed plastic flexible liner 700 is inserted into the closure and upon application of the closure is c.ompressed to form a seal between closure and container neck. Said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 has one or more shaped cuts or slits 705 which upon a user squeezing or compressing waIls of the container and caGusing an increase in intern.al pressure and promoting part s of the said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 at the free edges of slirs 705 and especially at intersection point 706 to deform outward thereby creating an opening to allow product to be dispensed. Upon cessation of squeezirtg a reduction occurs in the internal pressure allowing the deformed portion of said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 to return under the influence of the propensity of l o deformed plastic to tend to return to its originai state upon removal of the deforming stress and also the influence of an increase in the volume of tltie cont.ainer as it returns to its pre compressed state lowers internal pressure relative such that the pressure is greater on the outside suwfacce of the outwardly deformed part of the said annular disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 whereby the said deformed part of the said annular 15 disc of foamed plastic flexible liner 700 is urged to return to its original undeformed posation or shape. Said shaped slits cuts 705 tarn>i.ng free edges are preferably in the form of 2 or more intersecting slits as shown in Fig. 16 Fig. 15. is a sectional view of that portion of dispensing closure 100 cireled: and 20 marked 'G' in Fig. 14. The arrangement of sealing cover 200 and dispensing closure 100 is sinail.ar to that shown in Fig. 13 but orifice 125 is'absent and instead part of disc 105 is formed as a thin flexible membrane 126 said membmne preferably having , a progressively thinner wall section and having the thinnest wa11 section at the centre , Said membrane may be also be formed with radiail slits or have said radial slits added 25 after moulding as shown in Fig. 16. Said membrane 126 maybe formed~ of the same material comprising dispensing closure 100 or be formed from anothermre suitable tnaterial by injection of said other more suitable material into a mould arrangement (not shown ) that allows moulding of one art in one material and then the moulding of the rest of the part from another material of another material_ Said membrane may be 30 of any suitable shape or arrangement including a concave or convex shape including a combinatioii curved and linear shapes as shown in Fig.9.

Fig. 16. is a plan sectional view from below cut through the line 'F' 'F' and viewed in direction 'Q' of that portion of dispensing clo$ure shown in Fig. 15 and having watl i 10 with inner surface 110A connected to mernbrane disc 126 and membrane disc supports 105C. Membrane disc 126 has slits 126A which intersect at point 126B
and whiCh arrangement operates such that upon a user squeezing or compressing walls of the container and causing an increase in intema.l pressure and promoting part of the said membrane disc 126 at the free edges of slits 126A and especially at itttersection point 126B to deform outward thereby creating an upening to allow product to be dispensed. Upon cessation of squeezing a redu.etion oGCurs in the internal pressure allowing the deformed portion of said membrane disc 126 to return under the influence of the propensity of deformed plastic to tend to return to its original state upon removal of the deforixlittg stress and also the iafluence of an increase in the volume of the container as it returns to its pre compressed state lowers internal pressure relative such that the pressure is greater on the outside surface of the outwardly deformed part of the said rnembrane disc 126 whereby the said deformed part of the said membrane disc 126 is urged to return to its original undefornned position or shape thereby shutt,ing of or at least subst.antially reducing flow of product from the dispens2ng orifice.

2o Fig. 17 is a plan view of (referring to Fig. ] 4) dise 700 having slits 705. )'mferably there are at least 2 slits creating free edges 705 intersecting at point 706.

Fig. 18. is a plan sectional view from below of that portion of dispensing elQsure 100 a~ove the dotted line E in Fig, 12. and showing wall 110 with inner surface 11 QA
connected to disc 105 and disc supports 10SC. Disc 105 has orifice 125. Said orifice 125 or (referring to Fig. 15) membratae disc 126 may be easily varied in shape and dimension by the use of interchangeable inserts in the plastic injection mould assembly (not shown) to enable a variety of dispensing closure to be produced with orifice armgements suitable for controlled dispensing of a wide t'ange of products of different viscosities'and Containing particulate matter of various sizes Fig.19. is a plan view from above lead in surface 128 of dispensing closure 100 ( referring to Fig. 13 ). and showing wall 110 connected to lead in surfam 128 connected to sealing surface 120 conneoted to disc 105 which has orifice 125.
Fig_ 20 is another enlargement of a view similar to the view in Fig. 13 and showing yet another ernbodiment of the present invention in which (i3eferri.ng to Fig.
13) disc 105 with orificel25 has been replaoed with a snap-in sealing orifice assembly having at ]east one portion similar to that shown in US Patent 6,786,363 which is by reference lo inGorporated in this application. Said sealing orifioe assembly 300 consisting of aannular body 305 having depending skirt wa11307 whiah has any knc-wn retention means such as clip/projections 31 8 and 319 said projection 318 co-operates with closure wall recess 130A and projection 130 to retain said assembly in place within closnre 100 and provide a sealing means to prevent the contents of a containei escaping between said assembly 300 and cl4sure100 and having annular recess 309 to receive a corresponding projection of annular valve insert 3] 0 which is preferably made of a flexible matet'ia.l such as silicon rubber and having at least one slit 312 (referring to Fig: 21.) which is normally closed 'but when a corresponding container (not shown) is squeezed t.he internal pressure increase causes the centre of said annular valve insert to move forward in direction 'Q and this movement together with the increased interual pressure caused by squeezing the container urges slit 312 to open at least partially and su.il=iciently to allow fluid product to be dispensed thraugh said open slits 312 in said annular valve insert 310 and valve retention disc 315 which lockingly engages with retention mews 319 to retain annular valve insert in position with said projecting portion of said annular valve insert loGazed in recess 109 Fig. 21 shows an enlarged view of sealing assembly 300 as viewed from direction 'Q' and showing annular body 305 and clip/projection 318 and annular valve insert having slits 312 said annular valve insert having a concave shape in tb.e normal position being orifice closed and when contents of a corresponding container is placed under pressure said annular valve insert changes shape and assumes a reverse shape being convex and the- free edges of said slits especially at an intersection of said slits 312 are then fnrced open thereby allowing product to be dispensed through an operung formed by the said forcing apart of the walls of the said slits 312.

Fig. 22 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention showing an alternate arrangemerit of enlarged sectional view of the area 'D' and adjacent area shown in Fig. 12. which has sealing cover 200 in sealing engagement with dispensing closure 100. This view shows invention whereby the sealing ori'fiee assembly 300 (refeiring io to Fig. 20 ) is replaced with a shaped annular valve insert 310 formed of a flexible and resilient material such a silicon n.ibber which is retained in place by annular retention projection 142 from closure wall 110. Said retention projection 142 is fanned such that point 142A is fu.rthher frorn closure wal1110 than point 142B.
Annular valve inserk 310 is formed so that it follows the shape between closure wall 110 and retention projectivn 142. Said annular valve insert may advantageously may be shaped to have curved wa11s being cQncave when viewed from outside the container and convex or a combination of convex and linear shapes as shown by linear or flat section 328 and having at least one slit 312 ( referriin.g to Fig.
21.) wh.ich is norm.ally closed but when a corresponding container (not shown) is squeezed the internal pressure increase causes the centre of said annular valve insert to move forward in direction 'Q' and this movement together with the inGreased internal pressure caused by squeezing the container urges slits 312 to open at least partiaily and sufliciently to allow fluid product to be dispensed through said open slits 312 in said aanular valve insert 310. Said linear or flat section 328 in combination with the convex and concave shapes of form.s mavable diaphragm 327 which coiitains:
said slits 312. Said combination of shapes and slits forYn.ing said movable diaphragm is arranged so as to promote the return to a normal slits closed position cutting of the flow of product upon cessation af squeezing the coritahier to dispense product.
Should additional retention means be required additional projections or annular ring projection 143 may be formed on iutrler wall 110A . The position of said project'sons 143 may be as shown to allQw (not shown) an annular disc to be inserted past said projections so that said annular disc is held in position firmly cc-mpressing and holding wall 325 of annular valve insert 310 in position. Said annular disc wauld have an orifice of diameter at least equivalent to the concave section of annular valve insert 310 so as to allow passage of product to be dispensed. Said projections or annular ring projection 143 may be of different shape and size and also be located to abut and hold 5 in position wall 325 of annular valve insert 310.
In yet another embodiment sealing cover 200 may be absent.

Fig. 23 shows a cross sectional view through the axis of a ci osure 100 having:
a top wall 102 and depending therefrom;
1 o ati integi'a1.1y moulded structure 120 consisting of one or more thin walled annular structures 121 separated by gaps 124. The walls of said thin walled annular struatures have a large surface area and contain an oxygen scavenging or moisture scavenging or scavenger of tai.nt causing contaminant material, said scavenging material including ferrous carbonate, silica dessicant materials and glucose or dextrose or dextrins or 15 their derivatives whether organic or synthetically produced.

Fig. 24 shows a cross sectional view through the axis of a closure 100 having:
annular or interrupted annular clip means 105 which act to retain within the closure for example a receptacle insert 126 cvntaining for exampte an oxygen seavec~ing 20 material in the form ofgranules o'r powder or liquid. Said receptacle may have a sealing cover (not shown) so as to retain said oxygett scavenger material.
Materials or blends of materials have been used to reduce or limit the adverse affect of oxygen or moistum or other contaminants that may spoil or contaminate the contents of a container including food contents or otherwise disaffect its flavour or shelf life of 25 food products in contaitters, Methods have been devised for reducing the amount of oxygen which is transported through the container or is contained in the unfilled head space in a container:
U.S. Pata Nos. 5,202,052 and 5,364,555 describe.polymeric material carriers containing oxygen scavenging material whereby the oxygen scaven,ging material is 30 activated by contact with water or water vapor. 14owever these materials may be ttGtivated prematurely from atmospheric moisture and oxygen surrounding the material prior to use and thus lose effectiveness.

Us Patent 6037022 which is by reference incorporated herein discloses a polymer blend especially well-suited for coating paperboard substrates used in food packaging.
US Patent 5,$11,027 which is also by reference included herein discloses a An improved method of initiating oxygen scavenging by compositions which comprise campounding oxidizable organic compounds and transition metal catalysts to form a composition suitable for forming into films or ariicles for packaging of oxygen sensitive products is disclosed. The method requires the addition of small nrttounts of a base to the oxygen scavenging composition as it is, being compounded to improve the initiation properties and subjecting the film or article formed from the composition lo to acti.nic or electron beam radiation, Limiting adverse affects of oxygen on the contents of a container may &
example be by means of a container closure having affixed to the underside of the top wall a disc or other shaped item consisting of an oxygen scavenging material combined with a polymeric material or alternntively affixing to the underside of the top wall of the said container closure a receptacle containing an oxygen scavcnging material or oxygen scavenging material blended with one .or more substances to enhance effectiveness of or initiate operation of the oxygen scavenging and said receptacle having a sealing means which retains the said oxygen sca.venging material within the reeeptacle and separate from the contents of the container but said sesling means permitting the passage of at least oxygen and/or carbon dioxide and/or moisture containing or having an acidic nature into the receptacle from the container and/or out of the receptacle into the container. The spacc inside the diameter of the walls of the plug or lsore-seal may also be utilised as a receptacla which n-ay be sealed by known sealing means, More particularly the said closare may be of a type that incorporates one or mare of, the following s,nnulat sealing means such as a wedge-seal or ring-seal respectively sealingly enga.gi.ng on the top inside edge/ top surface of the container neck openi.nl, or a plug-seal qr i3ore-seal sealingly engaging the inner scrfpce of the container neck or an outer neck ring seal sealitlgly engaging the upper outside surface of the container neck and in such closures the said disc or other shaped item is affixed to the underside of tlie top wall of the closure inside the diameter of the said annular seals.

The means of affix'ing the said disc or other shaped item is for example but not limited to by means of adhesive material such as a hot melt glue or by retairying the said disc or other shaped item into a moul.ded co-operating retention means on the closure by rneans of an interference fit between the said retention means and the said disc or otbcr shaped item. Advanta.geously the shape of and the means of affixing the said disc or other shaped item may enhance the total surface area exposed to the contents of the contaiuer and/or the air in the unfilled headspace above the level of the filled product in the container so as to enhance the oxygen scavenging or a.bsorbing process by exposing a greater surface area of the said polymeric material conWning oxygen to scavenging material, Alternatively the closure itself may be moulded from a polymer containing scavenging material thus avoiding the need for other manufacturing operations to create a disc or receptacle containing scavenger material and/or a disc/receptacle assembly, is Advan.tage:ously quantities of the closures and/or said disc or other shaped item consisting of an oxygen scavengi-ng materia.i combined with a polymeric materia] tnay when the oxygen scavenging material is active or may become active through exposure to ambient atmosphere be stored in packaging which excludes atmosphere and said packaging is only opened at about the time the closure is required to be 20 affixed to the filled contÃtiner.
The said oxygen scavenging material combined with a polymeric material for example may consist of a polymer such as low density polyethylene (LDl'E), ethylene-vinyl alr,ahot copelymer (EVt3I1) or any other polymeric material and, mixed therei , from about 0.1 /Q to about-80 !o by weight of a scavenger material such as 25 an acid-activatable oxygen scavenger such as ferrous carbonate. 'Ttae oxygen scavenger becomes activated when the polymeric material contairting the oxygen scavenger is contacted with an acid-containing liquid or foodstuf'f or an oxygen scavenging composition comprising an oxidi7able organic eompound, a transition metai catalyst, optionally a polymeric diluent, and a basic subst,aace and to a 30 method which comprises compounding the basic substance with the remaining components of the composition prior to exposing the composition to radiation, e.g.

actinic or an electron beam. Said radiation including UVA and/ or UVB promotes the activatYon of the oxygen scavenger.

Fig. 25 shows a cross sectional elevation Qf closure 100 which is similar to that shown in Fig. 24 but absent receptacle inscrt 126.
Fig. 26 is a cross sectional plan view of said moulded stnieture 120 in closure 100 in Fig. 1 taken at dotted lone AA and looking in direction X and showing annular walls 121 separated by gaps 124 Fig. 27 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 26 showing some alternate shapes of walls 121 which serve to increase surface area of said walls thereby allowing more interaction between the contents of a container or the atmosphere in the head space of a container and scavenging rnaterial conta.ined within said walls.
Fig. 28 is a cross sectional elevation through the axis of a closure and container neck.
The closure 100 having a top wall 101 and- depending therefrom an annular sealin.g ring 141 which is also connected to the skirt105 and which seals against the top and or outside of an annular container neck 200 an annular bore-seal 140 which seals on the inside wall of said contain.er neck 200 an annular or interrupted attnular retention means 151 to retain a disc or other shaped object 160 consistang of a palymeric material or a polymeric material containing nnd acid activated oxygen absorbing material a depcttding skirt 105 : The skirt having on its inner wa11106 segmented or continuous helical threads 107 which co-operate with corresponding threads on a container neck (200 in Fig.2) to secure the closure to the container. Advantageously the helical thread has at in excess of 1.625 turns o;Fthread engagement and prefeta.bly 2 full twrns of thread engagement (not shown) with the said container to ensure that the annular bore seal remains in correct orientation to the neck of the cantainer when the said container is under substantial pressure such as for earbonated contents and depending from said skirt are frangible bridges 110 conriecting tamper evidence means 115 to the said skirt. Advantageously the said bridges must be constructed to as to resist the forces involved whea folding the flaps 120 from the as moulded position into an operating position. Thickening the said fiangibie bridges to resist stress of the folding process is one solution but it has the undesirable effect of making the bridges less frangible and therefore requiring excessive force to cause operation of the tamper evidence means. A more advantageous solution is to design the frangible bridges having a taper in excess of I degree and preferably 5 degrees or greater and tapering from the smallest cross sectional area which is immediately adjaceat the lower edge of the skirt 105A and increasing according to the taper angle in cross section progressively to the largest cross sectional area which is in the area connecting to the tamper evidence means 115. Preferably the cross sectional shape is in the form approximating a semi-circular shape or at least a shape with radii between adjoining flat sides which sides are disposed to the adjoining sides at an angle exceeding 90 degrees when referring to the side disposed closest to and approximately parallel or tangent to the outside of the closure and the 2 acljoining sides.
Upon commencem.ent of the ejection movement of the bridges from the mould the shape of the bridges tends to urge the said bridges from the mould.in a more effective manner than would otherwise be the case with bridges of constant cross section.

Depending fmrn frangible bridges 110 is tamper evidence means 115 with wa7l and hinge portion 116 wbich is connected to flaps 120 (shown in an as moulded position) which when folded inwards so that inner walls 122 are in close proximity to the inner surface 113 of wall.112 the firee ends 125 are in position to engage with a tarnger bead on a container neck 205 ( Fig. 2) thus upon removal rotation causiq stress on the frangible bridges severing the said bridges and tamper band 115 from the body of the clctsure Advantageously the mould which produces the said closure is constructed so as to retain in position the lower edge (IOSA in Fig. 2.) and at least the immediately adjacent outside surface (105B in Fig. 2.) of the said skirt wa.11105 so as to prevent tkte lateral movetnent of this porlion of the ci osure during stripping of th.e closure from the mould_ Latera.l movement of this area wiff place stress on the said frangible bridges which may fracture either on ejection from the mould or later after 30cooling. Alternatively the said bridges must be increased in dimension so as to resist said streSs_ Making tbe said bridges thiGker to resist stress of the ejection process is one solution but this has the undesirable effect of making the bridges less frangi.ble and ttherefore require more force to cause operation of the tamper evidence meaus. It is important for this type of tamper evidence means using discrete flaps to engage the tamper bead on the container that a minimal force is used to sever the said frangible bridges so as to reduce the possibility of the flaps being so deformed by the force 5 required to sever the bridges that the said flaps 120 roll-over and slip past the said tamper bead. 205 on the container neck.
Fig. 29 is a partial sectional elevation of a taniper evident closure 100 and some of the mauld elements recluired to prod.uce said closure. Single piece tamper evident closures of a similar type to said closwe100 are shown in Fig.s 1, 3, 3A, 4, 4A. 4B, 5, t 0 6, 23, 24,25 and 28 and the moulds to produce said clasures are disclosed in PCT
application AU2004/001035 , US Patents 6,551,043, 6,626,310 and 6,640,988 the subject matter of which is by reference hereby incorporated herein.
The moulds to produce said tamper evident closures are expensive and although there are standard neck diameter and thread conOgurations there are many variations of 15 sealing arran gements required on container necks to meet sealing requirements of different products and eonta.iner/ closure combinations.
It is expensive to make a closure mould for each sealing configuration of closure and cpntainer neck and it is an object of the present invention remove the need t4 construct a new mould for each different sealing configuration required for the same thread 20 configuration and instead to replace a smail portion of the mould.
Typically, the said closure is a one-piece construotion moulded from thermoplastic and incl udes:
a top wall 102 and connected thereto a downwardly extending skirt 104 having a helically threaded section 106 located on the internal face 108 of the said skirt srtid.
25 helically threaded section 106 adapted to engage with the corresponding helically threaded section on the extemal surface of the neck of a container, annular seal 140 and;
annular sealing member 130 and;
sealing surface 145 which seals against the top neck surface of a corresponding 3o container. Said sealing surface 145 may have one or more projections and;
depending from lower surfn.ce 112 of the skirt 104 is tampci-evident means aotysist3ng of tamper band I 10 which is connected to a said lower surface 112 by a frangible section 114 and said tamper-evident band 110 has an annular wall 120 from which extends more than one discretely spaced tabs 122. The tabs 122 are connected to the lower surface of the annular wall 120 by means of a hinged section 125.
Initially, the tabs 122 extend radially inwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the annular wall 120 to facilitate removal from the mould and said tabs are depicted in this position:
The mouJd to produce said closore 100 includes~
mould element 800 which forms the inner surface of closure 100 including threads 106and the lower portion of annular seal 140 and;
mould element 880 wilich forms the upper surface of annular sea1140 and sealing io surface 145 and the outer surfa.ce including the sealing surface of sealing member 130 and;
interlocking threaded section 890 whereby mould elements 900 and 880 are preferably tbreo.dingly enngaged or engaged and retained together by known means whereby said mould element 880 may be removed preferably when the mould is normally fiwly open and replaced withdi.fferent mould element S80s to produce a closures having different sealin.g arran.gements to annular seals 140 and. 130.

The various aspects of the present invention described above may be combined 2o with any one or more of the following:
(i) Various cMld resistant features, such as is iiisclosed in Australian patent 43435/85 ( 550878 ) the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in this applica.tion and one of said features may be of the type whereby it is necessary to exert downward force either on the top of the closure or on the top of an over-cap which fits over the top of the closure, such that the downward force overcames resistance thereby, allowing engagement means between the aver-cap an.d the closure to enable remo'val rotation of the closure to operate the tarttper-evidEnt feature and remove the closure from the neck of the container.
(ii) chilci resistant tamper-evident closures, including a"squ.eeze dropper"
type di spensing closure.
(iii) Dispensing closures for liquids, such as oils.

(iv) Dispensing closures for particulate matters, such as granular powders and the like.
(v) The mouldin.g of the closure from more than one type of material- For example, it would assist recycling if the closure tamper-evident band s was moulded in the same material as the container. ln another example a different colour or type of material may be used to mould the tamper band promoting visual differcncc between closure body and tamper band or physical performance of the tamper band.
(vi) Various dispensing means such as, but not limited to, a perforated or partially perforated closure with flip top cover, a flexible membrane with crucifortxi or other pattern slits or openings to thereby permit the dispensing of container contents or a pump action dispemser or a push/pull valve closing/opening feature.
(vii) A closure applied by axial rather than rotational motion arid closures with more than one thread rneans.
(viii) A closure with a cooperating ratchet or engagement means between the tampec-evident band and features on the neck of the container such that cooperation between the said engagement means or any of them upon rernoval rotation of the tltresd.ed closure tends to promote severirig of the frangible ribs connecting the tamper-evident band to the skirt of the closure. Said engagement means having ramped surfaces which cooperate during application of said closure to said container neck to reduce rotata.onal force on the tamper-evident band during application reducing the possibility of severing the frangible ribs connecting the tamper-evident band to the skirt of the closure.
(ix) Various means of employing an additional foil seal to ensure freshness of the cotltents of a conta.iner and which may include a means to pierce tbe foil, (x) Closures -nade of inetal or plastic materials, or a combination of metal and plastic materials as may be useful in hot fill or retorted or vacuum seal packages.
(xi) Containers made of plastic, metal and glass materials.

Although the various aspects of this invention have been described with reference to specific examples it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodicd in many other forms.

Claims (3)

1. A container and a closure for connection to said container, said closure including:
an upper wall;
a skirt formed integrally with and extending downwardly from said upper wall, said skirt adapted to engage with a neck portion of the container to secure the closure to the container;
a tamper-evident band frangibly connected to said skirt and having at least one tab which when the closure is fully applied to said container neck said tab is oriented inwardly and upwardly said tab having a free end which upon removal rotation os said closure said free end of said tab engages with a corresponding tamper bead on a corresponding container neck to sever said frangible connections;
the neck of the container including a tamper bead adapted to engage with tabs on said tamper-evident band to facilitate separation of the band from the skirt of the closure;
an inwardly and downwardly sloping neck surface beneath said tamper bead, said neck surface, said inwardly and downwardly sloping surface urging said separated tamper-evident band downwards away from said skirt.

2. The container and closure for connection to said container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closure further includes a sealing means depending from said upper wall, said sealing means adapted to seat against the neck of the container.

3. The container enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projections include one or more ramped surfaces which engage with engagement surfaces on said tabs of said tamper-evident band to facilitate the breaking of the band from the skirt of the closure.