Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 90297
wo 95130S95 PCT/GB9S101061
TAMPER-EVIDENT SECURITY CLOSURE
The present invention relates to tamper-evident
6ecurity devices and has a wide variety of applications,
particularly but not solely for the closures of containers of
liquids, gases or other materials.
There are a number of situations where containers are
liable to tampering, for example in the case of unauthorised
use of the contents. Also, in the case of closures,
particularly child-resistant closures for medicine or drug
containers, it is desirable to provide a tamper-evident seal.
lO ~owever, tamper-evident seals which have been proposed to-date
are of complex construction and/or limited effectiveness.
In accordance with this invention as seen from a first
aspect, there is provided a tamper evident security device
which comprises a cap member formed with at least one window,
15 and an inner member, the cap being arranged f or screw-threaded
~n~a; -nt with the inner member or the inner member being
arranged for screw-threaded engagement with a further member
and co-operable with the cap member for rotation thereby, and
the inner member or further member carrying at least one active
20 element arranged to displace outwardly and penetrate at least
partially through said window upon rotating said cap member
through a predetermined angl- _n the direction to loosen said
screw-threaded engagement.
The window or window~ ;nay be f ormed in the top of the
25 cap member, particularly in the case of relatively large-
diameter devices. Instead, the window or windows may be formed
in the tubular or skirt portion of the cap, particularly in the
case of relatively small-diameter applications e.g. bottle caps
or child-resistant closures.
The window or windows may comprise a relatively thin
portion of the cap wall, arranged to be punctured by the active
element or elements. Instead, each window may comprise an
opening preformed in the cap wall, and a frangible member is
positioned between the inner member and the cap wall, so as to
35 be punctured by the active element or elements of the inner
member: in the latter case, the security device can be re-used
WC~9513~595 2 ~ 9 0 2 9 7 PCr/GB9slolo6l ~
once the frangible member has been replaced. In another
arrangement, a frangible membrane may be secured around its
edges to the periphery of the or each window opening in the cap
wall .
The or each window of the cap member may be f ormed with
an edge arranged to engage the or a said active element, upon
rotation of the cap member through its prP~Pt~orTninPcl angle, and
displace that active element outwardly and at least partially
through the window.
Preferably the or each active element is formed
integrally with, and is flexible relative to, the inner member
or a ' -n~nt carried by the inner member.
The inner member of the security device may be in the
form of an inner cap or otherwise comprise a tubular element
15 arranged for screw-threading onto a container neck or other
tubular structure. Alternatively the inner cap or tubular
element of the inner member may be arranged f or f ixing non-
rotatably to the neck of a container or other structure, the
outer cap being screw-threaded onto the inner member.
The security device may in particular comprise a
tamper-evident closure for a container, for example for
medicine or drugs . In another f orm the device may f orm a cap
for a container outlet, which is provided with a valve or
alternative closure, the security device preventing
25 contamination of the container outlet and/or guarding against
unauthorised use of the contents of the container.
The outer cap will require rotation through a
6ignificant angle to activate the tamper-evident feature. In
general this angle will be less than 360 and can be different
30 for different applications; often it may be desirable to
allow rotation of the outer cap through a maximum angle o~ 90
to 180; in other cases it may be re~uired that the tamper-
evident feature is activated whenever the outer cap is turned
through as little as 5 for example.
A problem often associated with child-resistant
closures is that they are too difficult for the infirm,
or elderly to open. We have now devised an
arrangement which alleviates this problem.
Thus also in accordance with this invention, there is
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W095l30s9s 2 1 9 2~ 7 P~
provided a closure for a container, the closure having a cap
which is to be turned in order to remove the closure from the
container, in combination with an adaptor engaged with or
arranged to be engaged with said cap in a retained manner, the
5 adaptor having a head portion of shape and size suited to a
particular user ' s restricted ability.
Thus, the adaptor head may be of an enlarged shape,
whether elongate or otherwise, but suited to the particular
user so that, despite his or her limitations, the user is
10 nevertheless able to unscrew the closure cap from the
container. The closure is retained by the adaptor, so that the
closure can subsequently be re-applied to the container by the
same user.
The adaptor may have a cap-shaped portion which fits
15 over the closure cap. In this case the adaptor may clip under
the lower rim of the closure cap. Instead the adaptor may have
a plurality of projections which snap-fit into sockets formed
on the top of the cap.
Typically the cap with which the adaptor engages is an
20 outer cap which drives an inner cap screw-threaded on the
container. In one arrangement, the outer cap can only spin
freely relative to the inner cap, until the adaptor is fitted
to the outer cap: preferably the adaptc~ has at least one
projection which serves to engage drive teeth or other elements
25 on the inner cap, when the adaptor is f itted .
~ I~orlir nts of this invention will now be described by
way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a
30 security device which includes a tamper-evident feature in
accordance with this invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through a portion of the
device of Figure 1, illustrating components forming the tamper-
evident feature of the device;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating an
annunciator ring forming part of the tamper-evident feature;
FIGURE 4 is a view, part in section and part in
elevation, of a child-resistant tamper-evident closure;
FIGURE 5 is a schematic view showing portions of the
wo gs/3~sss ~ 1 9 0 2 9 7 pcrlGB9slolo6l
co-operating surfaces of the inner and outer members of the
closure of Figure 4;
FIGURE 6 is a cross-section through the closure of
Figures 4 and 5, showing successive positions of a puncturing
5 profile of the tamper-evident feature as the closure is
unscrewed;
FIGURE 7 is a perspectiYe view showing parts of the
tamper-evident feature of the closure of Figures 4 to 6;
FIGURE 8 is a partial section through a modified child
10 resistant closure and adaptor for use therewith;
FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of another
t o~ child-resistant tamper-evident closure; and
FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a further
thoralir -nt of tamper-evident closure.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a security device
in diagrammatic form. The device comprises an outer cap member
32 which is screw-threaded onto an inner member 42. A tamper-
evident arrangement is included, to show if the outer cap
member is unscrewed (at least through a pr~ t~rmin~d angle).
20 Thus, the top of the inner member 42 is formed with an annular
channel 30, which received a plastics tamper annunciator ring
31. The outer cap 32 has two projecting, concentric distance
rings 33 on the underside of its top to ensure that the cap 32
will ~e screwed down to a precise position over the tamper
25 annunciator ring 31. The cap 32 may incorporate a thinning of
the plastics at its top to form a number of windows which will
be ~u~ LuLed by the operation of the tamper annunciator ring
31, in which case the cap will need to be replaced upon
recycling. Alternatively, a frangible ring 34 may be
30 positioned over the tamper annunciator ring 31 and is destroyed
upon operation of the tamper annunci2tor ring: this
arrangement allows the cap to be reused. The operation of the
tamper annunciator ring will be described below.
The annunciator ring 31 and optional frangible ring 34
35 are placed upon the inner member 42. The cap 32 is screwed
down and in so doing engages the optional frangible ring 34.
As the cap begins to bear down upon the frangible ring 34, it
is marginally deflected downwards by teeth 35, 36 (at this
stage disengaged) of both the cap 32 and the frangible ring 34
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21 902~7
WO 95130S95 ~ .,1,. _. _1061
.
(Figure 2). The cap 32 is prevented from distorting the
frangible ring 34 and annunciator ring 31 by the distance rings
33 moulded into the underside of the cap 32 and which contact
the top of the inner member 42. ~he annunciator ring 31 may
5 be rotated upon screwing up the cap 32 (by engagement of the
teeth 35,36 turning the frangible ring 34 and by inter-engaging
teeth 39 and correspon~lin~ recesses 40 of the frangible ring
34 and annunciator ring 31): if so this rotation is terminated
by hinged parts or profiles 37 of the ring 31 abutting stops
10 38 on the inner member 42 (see also Figure 3).
Unscrewing the cap 32 causes the teeth 35,36 of both
the cap 32 and frangible ring 34 to engage which in turn causes
the Annlln,-i~tor ring 31 to rotate via the teeth 39 and recesses
40 in the frangible ring and annunciator ring respectively.
15 When the Ann~ln~i~tor profiles 37 contact the stops 38, the
profiles of these cause the annunciator profile 37 to rise and
puncture the frangible ring 34 through windows 41 in the cap
32 .
If the cap 32 is not required to be recycled, then the
20 cap windows 41 may be formed as a thinning of the top of the
cap to provide a frangible area or may have a metal foil bonded
to the underside. The ~nnlln~ tor ring 31 is then made of
shapc - y plastics with the puncturing profiles 37 cast so
as to project out from the face of the ring. The leading edge
25 of each cap window 31 is then modified to form a hard catching
blade, effective in one direction only, which contacts the
puncturing profile 37 and lifts it through the frangible
window .
The construction and nature of the inner member 42 may
30 vary considerably, depending on the application of the tamper-
evident security device. For example, the inner member 42 may
comprise a tubular neck or outlet of a container. The member
42 may instead form part of or be secured to a structure shown
diagrammatically at 44; in any event the tamper-evident
35 feature provides indication if the cap 32 has been removed in
order to gain access to the inner member 42 or the :~LUULUL~
to which it is secured.
Existing child resistant, tamper evident closures
generally rely upon a 'push down' me-h:~n;~ to puncture a
WO 95/30s95 2 1 9 0 2 9 7 Pcr/GB9S/01061
frangible area of the outer cap. The cap can therefore falsely
show evidence of tamper through operation of a downf orce
although the cap may not have been rotated and theref ore
opened. Also, the frangible zone can be formed by a simple
5 thinning profile intended to lift a section of the whole cap
thickness. Often the thinning profile simply stretches 60 that
the only evidence of previous cap removal is by a slight
projection of the profiled cap section. We have now devised
~ child resistant closure which shows clear evidence of tamper
10 after the cap has been both depressed and rotated through a
predetermined angle. This closure is shown in Figures 4 and
5.
Figure 4 shows the neck 90 of a plastics container for
the containment of liquids or solids, and including an
15 encircling step 91 to prevent an annunciator ring 93 from
downwards v~ 1_. A small lip 95 on the container neck above
the annunciator ring 93 is segmented to correspond with
serrations on the annunciator ring 93 and therefore enables the
ring ' s installation upon the container . The segmented lip 95
20 also provides a location for a securing ring 94 which is
distorted over the segmented lip 95 and acts as a second step
to prevent upwards movement of the annunciator ring 93. The
Anm-nriAtor ring is constructed of shape-memory plastics.
The top of the container is screw threaded to receive
25 an inner cap which incorporates a bevelled lip 97 allowing the
outer cap to pass over, under distortion, but resist
dismantling. The outer face of the inner cap also incorporates
triangular-shaped anti-clockwise drivers 98 and semi-hinged
wedge-shaped clockwise drivers 99 which normally project
30 outwards but can be depressed into recesses formed behind them
in the inner cap surf ace .
The top of the inner cap incorporates a socket 101 for
receiving a projecting part 102 of the outer cap, arranged to
maintain centring when the outer cap is depressed, and a
35 'spring' profile 100 to resist downward movement of the outer
cap. The spring profile 100 may take the form of a raised
flange or washer for smaller diameter container openings or
spring prof ile tabs to reduce the downward f orce necessary on
larger diameter container openings.
2 1 90~97
wo ss/30sss r~
Referring to both Figures 4 and S, the outer cap has,
on its inner face, semi-triangular profiled clockwise drivers
99a which, when the cap is turned in an anti-clockwise
direction, will bear on the inner cap clockwise drivers 99 and
5 depress them into their respective recesses and pass
accordingly. The outer cap also has anti-clockwise drivers
98a, positioned such that when the cap is rotated in a
clockwise direction, but not depressed, they do not engage the
anti-clockwise drivers 98 of the inner cap: their shape also
10 ensures that positive driving in the anti-clockwise direction
is only possible at full depression of the outer cap. If the
outer cap is depressed and at the same time rotated in a
clockwise direction, the clockwise drivers 99, 99a will not
engage but the anti-clockwise drivers 98,98a will engage and
15 thereby fulf il the task o~ the clockwise drivers . This will
not activate the tamper evident annunciator ring as the window
blade will be rendered ineffec~ive by the direction of
rotation. In Figure 5, A indicates one quarter of the
circumf erence of the inner member and outer cap .
The outer cap has a segmented and bevelled lip 96
allowing the outer cap to pass over the inner cap lip 97 under
distortion as previously described. The gaps between the
segments coincide with the projections on the inner cap thereby
eliminating any obstruction when the two caps are assembled
25 together.
The bottom of the outer cap is provided with a splayed
lip 120 to facilitate the outer cap passing over and distorting
inwards the projecting profile of the annunciator ring if this
operation is carried out away from automated factory
30 conditions.
The operation of the outer cap relative to the
Annlln(-;~tor ring will now be described with reference to
Figures 6 and 7: it will however be appreciated that the
position of the outer cap before depression prevents the
35 annunciator ring from functioning whether the cap is turned in
a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction; only when the cap is
fully depressed will it activate the annunciator ring upon
rotation in the anti-clockwise direction. Thus, referring to
Figures 6 and 7, the ;lnnl~nr-j~tor ring 93 has serrations on its
W0 9sl30s9s 2 1 9 0 2 9 7 ~ L ~I ~
inner side, to engage with complementary serrations 82 formed
around the neck 90 of the container and prevent the annunciator
ring turning. When the outer cap is depressed and turned in
the loosening direction, inner edges on its windows pick up
5 integral puncturing profiles 83 on the outer face of the
annunciator ring, to force these outwards to puncture the
windows 84 in the outer cap.
Figure 8 shows a modified child resistant, or child-
proof, closure arrangement but providing easier use for the
10 infirm, disabled or elderly. This modified closure comprises
inner and outer caps generally as the closure of Figures 4 and
5 (the inner cap being omitted from the drawing~, but the outer
cap no longer has its clockwise or anti-clockwise drivers 99a,
98a. Instead, the outer cap has two diametrically-opposed
15 openings in its side wall (one shown) to receive projections
110 (one shown) carried on the inner wall of a cap-shaped
portion llZ of an adaptor. The adaptor has a head portion 114
which may be of any selected shape, suited to the particular
user according to his or her restricted ability, such that the
20 particular user is able to turn the adaptor and thus turn the
outer cap of the closure. The projections 110 are provided
with clockwise and anti-clockwise drivers lO9a, 108a
~ILL~ J~ in~ to the drivers 99a, 98a of the outer cap of the
closure shown in Figures 4 and 5. In the example shown, the
25 adaptor is a snap-f it onto the outer cap: bef ore the adaptor
is fitted onto the outer cap, the latter spins freely relative
to the inner cap; however, once the adaptor is f itted, its
drivers lO9a, 108a will engage the corresponding drivers of the
inner cap for clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the inner
30 cap relative to the container to which the closure is fitted.
In the example shown, it is not necessary to depress the outer
cap before it will turn the inner cap anti-clockwise (and thus
activate the tamper-evident feature). It will be appreciated
that once the closure has been unscrewed from the container
35 using the adaptor, the closure can be lifted free from the
container still using the adaptor, and similarly returned
subsequently to the container. Should it be desired to remove
the adaptor from the closure, this can be accomplished by
squeezing the adaptor across an enlarged diameter at right
2 1 902~7
wo95130s9s _ r~
angles to the diameter on which the two projections 110 lie,
so P--r~nrlin~ the adaptor along the latter diameter so that the
projections 110 emerge from their openings in the outer cap.
The adaptor may instead be arranged to f it onto the
5 outer cap of the closure of Figures 4 and 5, without altering
the manner in which the inner and outer caps co-operate. In
this case, the adaptor may be arranged simply to clip over the
outer cap, but with the outer cap having a pronounced knurling
on its outer periphery so that ~l~rPn~l; n~ clips of the adaptor
10 wLll engage the outer cap to cause the two to turn together.
Pref erably the adaptor is of enlarged diameter between the
clips, so again it can be squeezed to release the adaptor from
the closure when desired.
The adaptor may instead have projecting clips or claws
15 which snap-fit into sockets formed in the top of the outer cap,
to retain the adaptor to the outer cap.
Depending on the diameter of the closure, the tamper-
evident feature may be provided on the top of the outer cap (in
which case the adaptor is preferably transparent) or on the
20 side of the outer cap.
Figure 9 shows diagrammatically another form of child-
resistant closure in accordance with this invention, comprising
an inner member 10 having an internal screw-thread for engaging
the screw-threaded neck of a bottle or other container, and an
25 outer cap 12. The closure is assembled by inserting the inner
member into the open bottom of the outer cap, the external rim
on the bottom edge of the inner member snapping past the
internal rim on the bottom edge of the outer cap. An extension
on the top of the inner member 10 is formed with integral
30 puncturing profiles 11 (two in the example shown), and the
outer cap 12 is formed with windows 13 (being reduced-thickness
portions of the wall) adjacent its top. The outer surface of
the inner member skirt and the inner surface of the outer
member skirt are formed with integral, co-operating projections
35 at 15 (not shown in detail), enabling the outer cap to rotate
the inner member in the clockwise or tightening direction, and
also PnAhl ;n~ the outer cap to turn the inner member in the
loosening direction once the outer cap has been pushed down
against the bias of spring fingers (not shown) provided
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wo ss/30sss 2 1 9 ~ PCr~GB9S/
integrally on the inner member top or on the underside of the
outer cap top. This push-down action brings the two parts to
the position shown in the right-hand side of Figure 9: it is
necessary to turn the outer cap through a significant angle
5 before the co-operating projections at 15 engage for turning
the inner member in the loosening direction, but during this
rotation inner edges of the windows 13 pick up the puncturing
profiles 11 of the inner member, and cause these to puncture
through the windows.
Figure 10 shows a modif ication of the closure of Figure
9, in which the inner member 20 has an externally screw-
threaded extension 24 from the underside of its top, for
engagement within the internally screw-threaded neck of a
container. The outer cap 22 is not axially displaceable
15 relative to thé inner member, so that the closure is not child-
resistant. The outer surface of the inner member skirt and the
inner surface of the outer member skirt are formed with co-
operating projections at 25 (not shown in detail), enabling
rotation of the outer cap to turn the inner member in either
20 the clockwise or anticlockwise direction. However, once the
closure has been screwed onto the container neck, the outer cap
must be turned through a predetermined angle before the co-
operating projections at 25 engage for turning the inner
member: during this rotation, inner edges of the windows 23
25 pick up puncturing profiles 21 of the inner member, and cause
these to puncture through the windows 23.
In the examples shown in Figures 9 and 10, there are
two windows in the outer cap and two puncturing profiles on the
inner member, such that rotation of the outer cap through a
30 maximum of 180 is required in order to activate the tamper
evident feature. However, in general any number of windows and
puncturing profiles may be provided (not necessarily equal in
number), arranged for the tamper-evident feature to be
activated upon rotation of the outer cap through an angle less
35 than 360.
It will be appreciated that the closures of Figures 9
and 10 may be modified for operation by an adaptor such as
shown in Figure 8, with appropriate modif ication of that
adaptor .
2~ 90297
wO 95/305g5 r~
11
The tamper-evident security devices of this invention
may be arranged for a wide variety of different uses. In one
form, not previously mentioned, the device may forma dust cap
for the screw-threaded, valved outlet of a gas container, the
5 device having an inner member which screws onto this outlet,
and an outer cap f or driving the inner member, and the device
incorporating a tamper-evident feature as described above. The
dust cap then protects the gas container outlet against
contamination, and also protects against unauthorised use of
10 the contents of the container.
