EP2830969B1 - Container closure with tamper evidence - Google Patents
Container closure with tamper evidence Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2830969B1 EP2830969B1 EP13712320.4A EP13712320A EP2830969B1 EP 2830969 B1 EP2830969 B1 EP 2830969B1 EP 13712320 A EP13712320 A EP 13712320A EP 2830969 B1 EP2830969 B1 EP 2830969B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- skirt
- package
- container body
- base
- closure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 13
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 13
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc monoxide Chemical compound [Zn]=O XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000549 coloured material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005336 cracking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013350 formula milk Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
- B65D51/20—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/14—Non-removable lids or covers
- B65D43/16—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/14—Non-removable lids or covers
- B65D43/16—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
- B65D43/163—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container and the lid being made separately
- B65D43/169—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container and the lid being made separately the lid, the hinge and the element connecting them to the container being made of one piece
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/14—Non-removable lids or covers
- B65D43/22—Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
- B65D51/245—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
- B65D51/246—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with eating utensils or spatulas
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
- B65D51/246—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with eating utensils or spatulas
- B65D51/247—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with eating utensils or spatulas located between an inner and an outer closure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
- B65D2251/0018—Upper closure of the 43-type
- B65D2251/0021—Upper closure of the 43-type of the B65D43/16-type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
- B65D2251/0093—Membrane
Definitions
- the present invention relates to container closures and more specifically to a package where the container closure can be applied to a container body so that it cannot be removed without leaving evidence that the package has been tampered with.
- the present invention particular relates to large containers such as used for baby milk powder as described in WO 2011/067585 A (BAPCO CLOSURES RESEARCH LTD). 2011-06-09 and according to the preamble of appended claim 1.
- This type of package comprises a container body and a closure, the closure being a base with a lid adapted to close over the base, the base comprising a horizontal flange surrounded by a depending skirt, the base defining an opening adapted to fit over an open mouth of the container body; the container body having a side wall which terminates in a rim of the open mouth of the container body; and an induction heat sealing foil adapted to be secured to the rim of the container body and the base.
- the base in the context of such a closure is sometimes referred to as a spout particularly in relation to smaller containers where the base defines the pouring spout for delivering the contents from the container.
- a skirt of such a closure will be made with a projecting rib that engages with an overhanging recess around a neck of the container body so that the two parts latch together.
- no such mechanical engagement is required when an induction heat sealing foil provides the primary seal between the container body and the base.
- the present invention provides a package comprising a container body and a closure, the closure being a base with a lid adapted to close over the base, the base comprising a horizontal flange surrounded by a depending skirt, the base defining an opening adapted to fit over an open mouth of the container body; the container body having a side wall which terminates in a rim of an open mouth of the container body; and an induction heat sealing foil adapted to be secured to the rim of the container body and the base; characterised in that the side wall of the container body is stepped inwardly to provide a first step adjacent a terminal edge of the skirt; and in that the skirt is a non-structural thin wall having at least one weakened region to define a fracture point if the skirt is subjected to lateral movement away from the container body.
- the skirt is present purely to cover an inwardly stepped region of the side wall of the container and does not need to perform any latching engagement with the container body. It can be made relatively deep so that in combination with its reduced thickness, the leverage needed to lift it away from the container body will at least leave a mark and is liable to tear the skirt at the fracture point.
- the weakened regions are reduced wall section ribs that are moulded into an interior face of the skirt at vulnerable areas such as the corners and centres of the side walls to provide additional tamper evidence.
- a package is created from a closure 2 which is fitted to an open top of a container body 4 as shown in Figure 1 .
- the closure comprises a base 6 connected to a hinged lid 8.
- the base has a depending skirt 10, which overlies a neck formation of the container body 4, and a flat horizontal flange 12, which sits on top of a rim of the container body and defines an opening for access to the contents of the container body.
- the closure is sealed to the rim of the container body by means of an induction heat sealing foil 14 which has a coating of a compatible plastics material adhered to each surface of the foil so that it can be welded both to a rim of the container body and to the base of the closure in the manner described in PTL 0003: EP 1656306 A (BAPCO CLOSURES RESEARCH LTD). 2006-05-17.
- a removable part 16 surrounds the opening and is connected to the horizontal flange 12 by means of a frangible region 18.
- the removable part is also sealed to the induction heat sealing foil 14.
- a ring pull 20 raised above the surface of the foil is provided to enable the consumer to remove the removable part.
- the skirt 10 is thin-walled and terminates in a plain edge 22 without any inwardly projecting parts so that any leverage of the skirt will at least leave a mark and is liable to tear the skirt.
- Each of the corners 24 of the skirt is moulded so that the wall section is reduced in this area. Ribs 26 with an even further reduced wall section are moulded into these corners.
- an outer surface of the corner is smooth so that the vulnerability of the corner is not exposed to the user.
- Other reduced wall section areas 28 may be provided in the centres of the side walls of the skirt. These are formed as pairs of ribs.
- a formation 30 to engage with a latch 32 on the lid 8 is provided at a central position in the front side wall of the skirt.
- the skirt 10 is preferably made from polypropylene which has a low yield point so that at relatively low stress the skirt will begin to deform plastically and will not return to its original shape, thereby providing clear evidence that the pack has been tampered with.
- the skirt is relatively deep, preferably 8mm or more but subject to cost issues could be as deep as 20mm.
- moulding constraints for the specific plastic used which must be able to flow into all parts of the mould within a reasonable timescale, may limit the depth as may the need to be able to remove the moulded part undamaged from the mould.
- the skirt may have a maximum thickness of 0.8mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm and the reduced wall sections may be 0.2 mm thick reducing to 0.1 mm at a rib 26, 28.
- Polypropylene is very vulnerable to stress cracking and when coloured material is stretched past its yield point, it will show permanent white marking. Polypropylene has a yield strength of 12-43 MPa and for this application a material with a yield strength in the range 12 - 20 MPa is preferable.
- a chalk filled polypropylene could be used to provide a relatively brittle skirt. However, the ring pull and removable part should not be unduly brittle if they are to function correctly. It will be appreciated that co-injection could be used in order to mould the skirt from a different material from the remainder of the closure in order to benefit from the most appropriate properties of the plastic used in the various parts of the component.
- the thin wall section will retain the deflection and discolouration will appear. If too much force is applied on the thin wall sections then they will readily split either side of the instrument and peal upwards. The splitting ends of the thin wall sections prevent removal and destroy the closure so that it cannot be reused. If the prying attempt is made at the corners then the further vulnerability here created by the reduced section ribs 26 means that the skirt will even more readily split and peal upwards.
- the ultra-thin ribs act as bridges that facilitate a crisp tear of the wall.
- the reduced thickness regions 28 in the centres of the side walls target what might be considered to be the easiest portion to lift off without demonstrating damage.
- All of the thickness reduction is provided by moulding the interior surface of the skirt 10 as can be seen in Figure 3 .
- the necessary ridges and ribs can be formed in a steel face of a mould core used to create the closure.
- the relative dimensions of the parts of the skirt will be determined by the density and melt flow index (MFI) of the plastic used to mould the component. Using a lower density plastic with a high MFI will allow the finest details to be formed as the plastic will be able to flow through the narrow gaps between the mould cores.
- MFI melt flow index
- the risk of damage to the thinnest portions when the mould core is removed probably places a limit of about 0.4 mm on the overall thickness of the skirt, though this may be reduced with newer plastics and moulding techniques.
- An external surface of the skirt is completely smooth except for the latch and terminates in a fine thin edge which falls adjacent the step 44 so that the outer wall surface of the skirt 10 merges smoothly and continuously with the main body of the container leaving only the most minimal space between body and closure.
- the depth of the latch only needs to be at about 5mm deep and therefore the external surface of the skirt can be entirely smooth below that level. Keeping the external lines of the package smooth makes it even more difficult to find an entry point into which to introduce a tool to lever off the closure.
- a trough 34 of reduced wall section is also formed in the horizontal flange of the base to enable the skirt to be snapped away from the remainder of the base if a lever is applied under the skirt.
- This trough 34 acts as a hinge mechanism so that any levering force applied to the skirt results in the destruction of the skirt and leaves the base still attached to the rim of the container body.
- the skirt is relatively deep, preferably 8 or 15 to 20mm. Because the skirt has no structural role to play in sealing the package or supporting the contents, it can be made deeper than a conventional closure. In a package such as described, the skirt can come down close to the point in the package where indentations are provided to allow the container body to be gripped. The longer/deeper the skirt, the easier it is to ensure that the skirt will fracture and break either at the ribs or trough 34 because the lever length increases with the depth of the skirt. The depth of the skirt also gives an impression of overall solidity to the consumer.
- the base 12 includes an area 36 in one corner that carries formations 38 designed to receive and hold a utensil 40 for storage after it has been detached from the removable part 16.
- the container body 4 has a recessed neck formation 42 which provides a horizontal ledge 44 around the container body 4 at which a lower edge of the skirt of the base will terminate to provide a smooth and continuous outer surface for the package.
- An upper edge of the neck formation defines an in-turned rim 46 which is induction heat sealed to the foil 14 as shown in Figure 4 .
- a warning message can be embossed or printed on the recessed vertical wall of the neck formation so that, if this is visible to the consumer, they will know the pack is not as manufactured and is likely to have been tampered with.
- the neck formation is stepped further back at a second step 48. The step is preferably inclined to facilitate moulding.
- the neck formation is, apart from any recessed or embossed writing, a smooth vertical wall and does not provide any continuous recesses around the body which could be used to engage with a replacement closure that is held in position by mechanical means rather than the foil sealing.
- the container body can be filled right up to the rim 46 as it is sealed by the sealing foil 14. Therefore, the depth of the closure has no impact on the capacity of the package.
- the relative dimensions of the thin wall of the skirt and its depth will of course need to be selected in dependence on the overall dimensions of the package.
- references to a skirt which has no inwardly projecting parts is intended to refer to parts which project inwardly of a profile defined by the thickest part of the skirt wall section. It will be appreciated that where reduced wall sections to improve the vulnerability of the skirt to plastic deformation, tearing or peeling are present but do not extend the full vertical height of the skirt, the lower edge may be thicker than these reduced wall sections. However, such a ridge 60 as appears in the corners does not project inwardly of the overall profile of the skirt. It may also be necessary to produce an indented formation 30 above the edge of the skirt to provide for engagement with a latch 32.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to container closures and more specifically to a package where the container closure can be applied to a container body so that it cannot be removed without leaving evidence that the package has been tampered with.
- Those with malicious intent may wish to contaminate the contents of a filled and unopened container. The refilling of genuine containers also represents a serious risk to consumers and brand owners. While it is desirable that closures should be readily applied to the container body during the manufacturing process and also be separable for recycling and waste disposal purposes, the prevention of counterfeiting and contamination requires either that the separation be evident or result in such destruction of the closure and/or container body that it cannot be re-used.
- The present invention particular relates to large containers such as used for baby milk powder as described in
WO 2011/067585 A (BAPCO CLOSURES RESEARCH LTD). 2011-06-09 and according to the preamble of appended claim 1. - This type of package comprises a container body and a closure, the closure being a base with a lid adapted to close over the base, the base comprising a horizontal flange surrounded by a depending skirt, the base defining an opening adapted to fit over an open mouth of the container body; the container body having a side wall which terminates in a rim of the open mouth of the container body; and an induction heat sealing foil adapted to be secured to the rim of the container body and the base.
- The base in the context of such a closure is sometimes referred to as a spout particularly in relation to smaller containers where the base defines the pouring spout for delivering the contents from the container.
- The use of the BAP ( Registered Trademark ) technology as described in
WO 99/61337 A
whereby an induction heat sealed foil is bonded to both the container body and the closure and is removable by tearing out rather than peeling away, provides some intrinsic tamper evidence. That patent also describes and claims the use of a weakened recess in an upper surface of the horizontal flange of the base around the opening which causes a skirt of the base to separate if an attempt is made to lever off the base. - Typically a skirt of such a closure will be made with a projecting rib that engages with an overhanging recess around a neck of the container body so that the two parts latch together. This necessarily requires the skirt to flex as it is pushed on to the container body. This limits how thin it can be if it is not to be damaged during installation. However no such mechanical engagement is required when an induction heat sealing foil provides the primary seal between the container body and the base.
- It is standard practice when creating a neck formation on a container body to provide some sort of lateral projection, whether this is intended to act as a carriage ring for transporting the container body or as an engagement mechanism for a threaded base. Therefore, there is some sort of overhang over which a base can be latched. This facilitates the placement of a replacement base.
- The present invention provides a package comprising a container body and a closure, the closure being a base with a lid adapted to close over the base, the base comprising a horizontal flange surrounded by a depending skirt, the base defining an opening adapted to fit over an open mouth of the container body;
the container body having a side wall which terminates in a rim of an open mouth of the container body; and
an induction heat sealing foil adapted to be secured to the rim of the container body and the base;
characterised in that the side wall of the container body is stepped inwardly to provide a first step adjacent a terminal edge of the skirt; and in that the skirt is a non-structural thin wall having at least one weakened region to define a fracture point if the skirt is subjected to lateral movement away from the container body. - In this package, the skirt is present purely to cover an inwardly stepped region of the side wall of the container and does not need to perform any latching engagement with the container body. It can be made relatively deep so that in combination with its reduced thickness, the leverage needed to lift it away from the container body will at least leave a mark and is liable to tear the skirt at the fracture point. Preferably the weakened regions are reduced wall section ribs that are moulded into an interior face of the skirt at vulnerable areas such as the corners and centres of the side walls to provide additional tamper evidence.
- The use of a relatively deep skirt allows the closure to be positioned reliably on the container body during production prior to sealing without the need for any mechanical latching to prevent premature dislodgement.
- In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the package with the closure attached to the container body with the lid in an open position -
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container body; -
Figure 3 is a perspective view looking into an interior of the base of the closure; -
Figure 4 is a section through the skirt of the base taken on the line A-A inFigure 1 ; and -
Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the skirt of the base taken at one corner. - A package is created from a
closure 2 which is fitted to an open top of acontainer body 4 as shown inFigure 1 . The closure comprises a base 6 connected to a hinged lid 8. The base has a dependingskirt 10, which overlies a neck formation of thecontainer body 4, and a flathorizontal flange 12, which sits on top of a rim of the container body and defines an opening for access to the contents of the container body. - The closure is sealed to the rim of the container body by means of an induction
heat sealing foil 14 which has a coating of a compatible plastics material adhered to each surface of the foil so that it can be welded both to a rim of the container body and to the base of the closure in the manner described in
PTL 0003:EP 1656306 A (BAPCO CLOSURES RESEARCH LTD). 2006-05-17. - A
removable part 16 surrounds the opening and is connected to thehorizontal flange 12 by means of afrangible region 18. The removable part is also sealed to the inductionheat sealing foil 14. Aring pull 20 raised above the surface of the foil is provided to enable the consumer to remove the removable part. - The
skirt 10 is thin-walled and terminates in aplain edge 22 without any inwardly projecting parts so that any leverage of the skirt will at least leave a mark and is liable to tear the skirt. Each of thecorners 24 of the skirt is moulded so that the wall section is reduced in this area.Ribs 26 with an even further reduced wall section are moulded into these corners. Preferably, an outer surface of the corner is smooth so that the vulnerability of the corner is not exposed to the user. Other reducedwall section areas 28 may be provided in the centres of the side walls of the skirt. These are formed as pairs of ribs. Aformation 30 to engage with alatch 32 on the lid 8 is provided at a central position in the front side wall of the skirt. - The
skirt 10 is preferably made from polypropylene which has a low yield point so that at relatively low stress the skirt will begin to deform plastically and will not return to its original shape, thereby providing clear evidence that the pack has been tampered with. The skirt is relatively deep, preferably 8mm or more but subject to cost issues could be as deep as 20mm. However moulding constraints for the specific plastic used, which must be able to flow into all parts of the mould within a reasonable timescale, may limit the depth as may the need to be able to remove the moulded part undamaged from the mould. - The skirt may have a maximum thickness of 0.8mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm and the reduced wall sections may be 0.2 mm thick reducing to 0.1 mm at a
rib - If an attempt is made to lever off the skirt by prying under the edge with any sort of sharp instrument, the thin wall section will retain the deflection and discolouration will appear. If too much force is applied on the thin wall sections then they will readily split either side of the instrument and peal upwards. The splitting ends of the thin wall sections prevent removal and destroy the closure so that it cannot be reused. If the prying attempt is made at the corners then the further vulnerability here created by the reduced
section ribs 26 means that the skirt will even more readily split and peal upwards. The ultra-thin ribs act as bridges that facilitate a crisp tear of the wall. The reducedthickness regions 28 in the centres of the side walls target what might be considered to be the easiest portion to lift off without demonstrating damage. - All of the thickness reduction is provided by moulding the interior surface of the
skirt 10 as can be seen inFigure 3 . The necessary ridges and ribs can be formed in a steel face of a mould core used to create the closure. The relative dimensions of the parts of the skirt will be determined by the density and melt flow index (MFI) of the plastic used to mould the component. Using a lower density plastic with a high MFI will allow the finest details to be formed as the plastic will be able to flow through the narrow gaps between the mould cores. The risk of damage to the thinnest portions when the mould core is removed probably places a limit of about 0.4 mm on the overall thickness of the skirt, though this may be reduced with newer plastics and moulding techniques. An external surface of the skirt is completely smooth except for the latch and terminates in a fine thin edge which falls adjacent thestep 44 so that the outer wall surface of theskirt 10 merges smoothly and continuously with the main body of the container leaving only the most minimal space between body and closure. The depth of the latch only needs to be at about 5mm deep and therefore the external surface of the skirt can be entirely smooth below that level. Keeping the external lines of the package smooth makes it even more difficult to find an entry point into which to introduce a tool to lever off the closure. - A
trough 34 of reduced wall section is also formed in the horizontal flange of the base to enable the skirt to be snapped away from the remainder of the base if a lever is applied under the skirt. Thistrough 34 acts as a hinge mechanism so that any levering force applied to the skirt results in the destruction of the skirt and leaves the base still attached to the rim of the container body. - The skirt is relatively deep, preferably 8 or 15 to 20mm. Because the skirt has no structural role to play in sealing the package or supporting the contents, it can be made deeper than a conventional closure. In a package such as described, the skirt can come down close to the point in the package where indentations are provided to allow the container body to be gripped. The longer/deeper the skirt, the easier it is to ensure that the skirt will fracture and break either at the ribs or
trough 34 because the lever length increases with the depth of the skirt. The depth of the skirt also gives an impression of overall solidity to the consumer. - The
base 12 includes anarea 36 in one corner that carriesformations 38 designed to receive and hold autensil 40 for storage after it has been detached from theremovable part 16. - Other features of the base which enable it to be sealed together with the lid are as previously described in
PTL 0004: WOWO 99/61337 A - The
container body 4 has a recessedneck formation 42 which provides ahorizontal ledge 44 around thecontainer body 4 at which a lower edge of the skirt of the base will terminate to provide a smooth and continuous outer surface for the package. An upper edge of the neck formation defines an in-turnedrim 46 which is induction heat sealed to thefoil 14 as shown inFigure 4 . A warning message can be embossed or printed on the recessed vertical wall of the neck formation so that, if this is visible to the consumer, they will know the pack is not as manufactured and is likely to have been tampered with. The neck formation is stepped further back at asecond step 48. The step is preferably inclined to facilitate moulding. This provides additional space inside the base of the closure adjacent the mouth of the container body to receive theformation 30 which projects inwardly from an interior surface of the skirt. This creates afurther step 48 in the neck formation but there is no overhang which could be used to latch with a replacement base. Both recessedvertical portions - Preferably the neck formation is, apart from any recessed or embossed writing, a smooth vertical wall and does not provide any continuous recesses around the body which could be used to engage with a replacement closure that is held in position by mechanical means rather than the foil sealing.
- The container body can be filled right up to the
rim 46 as it is sealed by the sealingfoil 14. Therefore, the depth of the closure has no impact on the capacity of the package. - The relative dimensions of the thin wall of the skirt and its depth will of course need to be selected in dependence on the overall dimensions of the package.
- Reference to a skirt which has no inwardly projecting parts is intended to refer to parts which project inwardly of a profile defined by the thickest part of the skirt wall section. It will be appreciated that where reduced wall sections to improve the vulnerability of the skirt to plastic deformation, tearing or peeling are present but do not extend the full vertical height of the skirt, the lower edge may be thicker than these reduced wall sections. However, such a
ridge 60 as appears in the corners does not project inwardly of the overall profile of the skirt. It may also be necessary to produce anindented formation 30 above the edge of the skirt to provide for engagement with alatch 32.
Claims (11)
- A package comprising a container body (4) and a closure (2), the closure being a base (6) with a lid (8) adapted to close over the base, the base comprising a horizontal flange (12) surrounded by a depending skirt (10), the base defining an opening adapted to fit over an open mouth of the container body; and
the container body having a side wall which terminates in a rim (46) of an open mouth of the container body; and
an induction heat sealing foil (14) adapted to be secured to the rim of the container body and the base;
the side wall of the container body is stepped inwardly to provide a first step (44) adjacent a terminal edge of the skirt; characterised in that the skirt is a non- structural thin wall having at least one weakened region (24,26,28) to define a fracture point if the skirt is subjected to lateral movement away from the container body. - A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weakened region comprises a reduced wall section areas (24,26,28) moulded into an interior surface of the skirt.
- A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reduced wall section areas further include at least one reduced thickness rib (26) at a corner (40) of the skirt.
- A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the skirt wall is .8mm or less.
- A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the thickness of the skirt wall is .5 mm or less.
- A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the depth of the skirt exceeds 8 mm.
- A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is polypropylene.
- A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body is stepped to provide a second step (48) that is nearer the rim (46) than the first step (44).
- A package as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one vertical surface (50, 52) of the stepped portion of the side wall displays a warning message which is only visible when the closure is removed.
- A package as claimed in claim 7 wherein the warning message is created by embossed or recessed letters.
- A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure is manufactured as a co-injection using a different plastic material for the skirt.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB1205264.3A GB201205264D0 (en) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-03-26 | Container closure with tamper evidence |
PCT/GB2013/050647 WO2013144560A1 (en) | 2012-03-26 | 2013-03-15 | Container closure with tamper evidence |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2830969A1 EP2830969A1 (en) | 2015-02-04 |
EP2830969B1 true EP2830969B1 (en) | 2016-03-09 |
Family
ID=46087108
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13712320.4A Active EP2830969B1 (en) | 2012-03-26 | 2013-03-15 | Container closure with tamper evidence |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20160001939A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2830969B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN104114455B (en) |
BR (1) | BR112014019253A2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2566793T3 (en) |
GB (2) | GB201205264D0 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2014009421A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013144560A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9580219B2 (en) * | 2015-06-30 | 2017-02-28 | Anchor Packaging | Tamper evident plastic food container |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2201791A (en) * | 1939-01-05 | 1940-05-21 | Samburg Maurice | Bottle closure |
US3821427A (en) * | 1970-04-14 | 1974-06-28 | Gen Foods Corp | Coffee package |
US5839592A (en) * | 1995-06-09 | 1998-11-24 | Anchor Hocking Packaging Co. | Plastic closure |
GB2337740B (en) | 1998-05-26 | 2000-11-15 | Spreckelsen Mcgeough Ltd | Fluid packaging |
US6375023B1 (en) * | 2000-03-30 | 2002-04-23 | White Cap, Inc. | Press-on/pry-off composite closure with removal-assist and method of making same |
US6761283B1 (en) * | 2000-05-26 | 2004-07-13 | Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc. | Food product container with closure |
EP1656306B1 (en) | 2003-08-11 | 2007-10-17 | Bapco Closures Research Limited | Opening devices for foil closures |
US20080083758A1 (en) * | 2006-06-12 | 2008-04-10 | Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc. | Push button flip top with attached second container |
CN200964230Y (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2007-10-24 | 胡政宏 | Container |
EP2117949A4 (en) * | 2006-12-27 | 2011-01-12 | Abbott Lab | Container |
CN201530518U (en) * | 2009-05-25 | 2010-07-21 | 天津博科林药品包装技术有限公司 | Damp-proof anti-theft packaging bottle |
GB2475872B (en) | 2009-12-03 | 2011-11-16 | Bapco Closures Res Ltd | Container closure with measuring spoon |
-
2012
- 2012-03-26 GB GBGB1205264.3A patent/GB201205264D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2013
- 2013-03-15 CN CN201380009241.6A patent/CN104114455B/en active Active
- 2013-03-15 WO PCT/GB2013/050647 patent/WO2013144560A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-03-15 US US14/379,138 patent/US20160001939A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2013-03-15 MX MX2014009421A patent/MX2014009421A/en unknown
- 2013-03-15 BR BR112014019253A patent/BR112014019253A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2013-03-15 ES ES13712320.4T patent/ES2566793T3/en active Active
- 2013-03-15 EP EP13712320.4A patent/EP2830969B1/en active Active
- 2013-03-15 GB GB1414407.5A patent/GB2516175A/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB201414407D0 (en) | 2014-10-01 |
CN104114455B (en) | 2016-01-20 |
GB201205264D0 (en) | 2012-05-09 |
BR112014019253A2 (en) | 2019-09-24 |
CN104114455A (en) | 2014-10-22 |
GB2516175A (en) | 2015-01-14 |
US20160001939A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 |
MX2014009421A (en) | 2015-02-13 |
EP2830969A1 (en) | 2015-02-04 |
ES2566793T3 (en) | 2016-04-15 |
WO2013144560A1 (en) | 2013-10-03 |
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