Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
1
CONTAINER-CLOS~TRE ARRANGEMENT
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tamper-evident container-
s closure arrangement, the closure being optionally
resealable.
Background of the Invention
A container-closure arrangement of the type with
which the present invention is concerned typically must
meet a number of seemingly incompatible requirements. It
should provide a container-closure seal that will be
maintained when static loads and dynamic forces, such as
arise from dropping the containers and/or from shifting
loads, tend to break the seal. However, the container-
closure seal should at the same time be sufficiently
pliant as to permit convenient removal and replacement of
the closure as and when required. Also, the container-
closure arrangement should provide for evidence of any
tampering that may occur following product containment and
prior to delivery of the contained product to an end-user.
However, the tamper evident structure should not be so
unyielding as to impede legitimate removal of the closure
from the container.
Various container-closure arrangements have been
developed in an attempt to meet these requirements.
US 5730309 discloses a container which has a beaded
rim and a closure that has a peripheral skirt. The skirt
is formed with an inwardly directed ledge that is arranged
to mate in removable interlocking engagement with the rim
bead, and the skirt incorporates a removable tear strip
which functions to prevent removal of the closure from the
container until the tear strip is removed. The
arrangement of US 5730309 provides for multiple engagement
between portions of the closure skirt and inter-engaging
portions of the container wall.
FR 2599004 discloses a container having a lateral
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
2
peripheral flange projecting outwardly therefrom, and a
closure having a peripheral skirt, with a corresponding
lateral peripheral flange extending from the skirt to
align with the container flange when the closure is fitted
to the container. The peripheral flanges can be connected
together by ultrasonic welding. In addition, a line of
detachment is provided in the closure, where the
peripheral skirt attaches to the central body portion of
the closure. This enables the closure to be removed from
the container, but the arrangement is such that the
closure cannot be resealed to the container once removed.
US 4434907, in a somewhat similar manner to
FR 2599004, discloses a container having a laterally
projecting peripheral flange, and a closure having a
corresponding laterally projecting peripheral flange, the
flanges aligning and being joined together. In this
arrangement, a line of weakening is provided in the
container lateral flange to enable detachment of the
closure from the container. However, once detached, the
closure can be remounted to the container in that a bead
on the skirt inner wall can be pressed past a remnant of
the container flange (ie remaining after the detachment of
the container at the weakening zone).
Australian Patent 682096~ to the present applicant,
discloses a container which has a beaded rim, and a
peripheral flange projecting out from the container at a
location lower than the rim. A closure is mountable to
that container that has a first peripheral skirt, with an
inwardly directed ledge on the skirt arranged to interlock
with the rim bead. A second skirt is connected to the
first skirt at a frangible connection and projects
downwardly therefrom, with a lower end sitting in a recess
formed in the container flange when the closure is mounted
to the container.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a container-closure
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
3
arrangement including:
(i) a container having a base, a peripheral wall, a
rim forming an upper margin of the wall and surrounding an
opening of the container, and a flange formed integrally
with and surrounding the wall below the rim; and
(ii) a closure having a central portion that is
arranged to overfit the opening of the container, a first
skirt portion formed integrally with the central portion
and arranged to surround the rim when the closure is
l0 fitted to the container, a second skirt portion and
optionally a third skirt portion extending in sequence
from the first skirt portion, the second skirt portion
being detachable either from the first skirt portion or,
when present, from the third skirt portion, or being
detachable from both the first and third skirt portions
the arrangement being such that, when the closure is
fitted to the container:
(a) one of the second or third skirt portions,
being that portion adjacent to the flange, can be push-
fitted in an upwardly directed opening in the flange; or
(b) the third skirt portion when present can be
bonded to the flange.
In (a), by upwardly orienting the opening, said part
of the skirt can be push-fitted into the opening
simultaneously when the closure itself is fitted to the
containers The term "push-fitted" is intended to include
an interference fit, a snap fit and a friction fit. The
resulting arrangement prevents the insertion of a thin-
bladed implement between the container and closure skirt
portions, thus preventing the container contents from
being tampered with.
In (b), by bonding the third skirt portion to the
container flange, following fitting of the closure and eg.
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
4
after filling of the container, the insertion of a thin-
bladed implement between the container and the closure
skirt portions will also be blocked thereby preventing the
container contents from being tampered with.
Preferred Features of the Invention
Preferably in (a) a remote end of the second or third
skirt portion is push-fitted in the flange opening, the
remote end being defined by a projecting rim which, in
transverse cross-section, has an enlarged distal head and
a proximal narrower neck connecting the head to the remote
end, with the opening being an upwardly facing annular
channel formed in the flange and extending around
therewith, the channel including an annular projection at
the opening thereinto and~past which the~rim head must be
pushed to be fitted into the channelo or in (b) the third
skirt portion is disposed and shaped to be secured to the
flange by a welding or adhesive bond, the flange
optionally being formed with a peripheral rebate with the
disposition and shape of the third skirt portion being
such as to locate in the rebate.
In (b) the bonding may be effected by a tack welding
process or by a continuous seam welding process, using eg.
an ultrasonic welding process.
Preferably the second skirt portion is detachable
from the first and/or third skirt portions at a relatively
narrower frangible connection between the skirt portions,
the severance along which enables the closure to be
detached from the container.
Preferably the annular channel is located in the
peripheral rebate of the flange. Preferably the
projecting rim extends downwardly from the third skirt
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
portion. Preferably the projecting rim is snap-fitted
into the annular channel.
Preferably a bead is formed integrally with and
surrounds the rim and preferably the first skirt portion
5 engages the bead at a ledge located within and formed
integrally with the first skirt portion and positioned to
locate in interlocking engagement with the bead.
The third skirt portion preferably has an inner
peripheral wall that is diametrically larger than an inner
peripheral wall of the second skirt portion. In such case,
preferably the second skirt portion has a lower marginal
edge that is shaped and disposed to locate adjacent a wall
portion of the container flange that is located radially
inwardly of the rebate.
A ledge. preferably is located within and formed
integrally with the peripheral wall of the container and,
in such case, the closure will be formed with an inner
skirt that is disposed to locate within the container rim
and to engage with the ledge when the closure is fitted to
the container and a force is applied to the closure, for
example as a result of stacking charged containers. The
inner skirt may be disposed to locate adjacent the inner
surface of the peripheral wall of the Container or the
inner skirt may be disposed obliquely with respect to the
peripheral wall of the container.
The central portion of the closure preferably is
formed with a well having a base and a peripheral wall
and, in this case, the closure may be formed with radially
extending webs that interconnect the peripheral wall of
the well and the inner skirto
The projecting rim of the second or third skirt
portion can also be bonded to the container flange in a
similar manner to the bonding of the second or third skirt
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
6
portion to the container flange in (b).
Brief Description of the Drawin s
Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within
the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the
invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first
assembled container-closure arrangement according to the
invention;
Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation view of a
portion of the arrangement as seen in the direction of
section plane 2-2 in Figure 1s
Figure 3 shows a view of a portion of the arrangement
as shown in Figure 2 but incorporating a modification of
that arrangements
Figure 4 shows a view of another portion of the
arrangement as shown in Figure 2 but incorporating another
modification of that arrangement;
Figure 5 shows a sectional view similar to Figure 2,
but of a second assembled container-closure arrangements
and
Figure 6 shows a view of a portion of the arrangement
of Figure 5, or a modification thereof.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a
first embodiment of a container-closure arrangement in
accordance with the invention comprises a container 10, a
closure 11 and a pivotable handle 12 connected to the
container. The container and closure may be moulded from
polypropylene or high density polyethylene. The handle may
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
7
be formed from steel or a plastics material. The
container may be moulded in any desired size and typically
will have a volumetric capacity in the order of 4 to 25
litres.
The container l0 has a base 13 which is sized to
locate within a well 14 of the closureo so that a number
of the container-closure arrangements may be stacked one
upon another. The container also has a peripheral wall
15, and a rim 16 forms an upper margin of the wall 15 and
surrounds an opening of the container.
A bead 17 is formed integrally with and surrounds the
rim 16. The bead has an undersurface 18 that connects
with the outer surface of the peripheral wall 15.
An annular flange 19 is formed integrally with and
surrounds the peripheral wall 15 of the container. The
flange is located vertically below the level of the bead
17 and has two wall portions 20 and 21. The wall portion
is inclined with respect to the peripheral wall 15 of
the containers and the wall portion 21 depends from the
20 outer margin of the inclined wall portion. A series of
radially extending webs 22 connect the flange 19 to the
peripheral wall 15 of the container. In accordance with
the present invention, a rebate 23 is formed in the flange
at the junction of the two wall portions 20 and 21.
A ledge 24 is located within and is formed integrally
with the peripheral wall 15 of the container. The ledge
24 is located at a level below that of the closure well
14.
The closure 11 has a central portion 25 that
incorporates the well 14 and which is arranged and sized
to overfit the opening of the container 10. A first skirt
portion 26 is formed integrally with the central portion
25 and is sized to surround and engage the container bead
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
8
17. An annular ledge 27 is located within and is formed
integrally with the first skirt portion 26, and the ledge
27 is positioned to locate in interlocking engagement with
the undersurface 18 of the container bead 17 when the
closure is fitted to the container.
The first skirt portion 26 flares outwardly from the
ledge 27 and has an internal surface 28 that is profiled
with gentle curves. The internal surface 28 is shaped to
accommodate the fingers of a person who seeks to lift the
closure from the container. The internal surface 28 is
shaped also to facilitate sliding inter-engagement of the
closure and the container when the closure is pushed onto
the container.
The container bead 17 is also shaped in a manner to
facilitate sliding engagement between the closure and the
container when the closure is pushed onto the container.
A second skirt portion 29 depends from and is
frangibly connected to the skirt portion 26 by way of an
integrally moulded thin connecting web 30. Also, in this
first embodiment, a third skirt portion 31 forms an
extension of the second skirt portion 29 and is frangibly
connected to the second skirt portion by an integrally
moulded web 32.
The third skirt portion 31 is shaped and dimensioned
to locate within the rebate 22 of the flange 19, so that
the third skirt portion 31 may be bonded to the container
flange 19 when the container has been charged with
material and the closure 11 is fitted to the container 10
for the first time.
The bond between the third skirt portion 31 and the
flange 19 may be established by injecting a sealant (not
shown) or be created by welding the third skirt portion 31
into the rebate 22. This latter approach may be achieved
by a tack welding process or by creating a continuous seam
weld. Welding may be effected in various ways, including,
for example, by rotating the container-closure arrangement
about the vertical axis of the container and directing
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
9
electrically heated air into the weld zone from a
nozzle 33.
The third skirt portion 31 has an inner peripheral
wall 34 that is larger in diameter than the inner
peripheral wall 35 of the second skirt portion 29. The
resultant lower marginal edge 36 of the second skirt
portion 29 then locates above the inclined wall portion 20
of the flange 19.
With the first embodiment as described so far, when
the third skirt portion 31 is bonded to the flange 19 it
will be impossible to insert a prising blade or other
implement between any of the skirt portions 26, 29 and 31
and the container wall 15. Thus, the closure may be
removed only by first removing the second skirt portion
29, and this will provide evidence that an attempt has
been made to remove the closure from the container.
As indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the second
skirt portion 29 may be formed as a tear strip and be
provided with a tear tab 370
Figure 3 of the drawings shows a minor variation of
the arrangement shown in Figure 2. As illustrated, the
third skirt portion 31 is formed with a ledge 38 which is
shaped and dimensioned to locate within a complementary
recess 39 in the rebate 22. This arrangement may be
provided in circumstances where it is not required to bond
the closure to the container and/or when an enhanced
mechanical connection is required to be made between the
closure and the container.
As shown in Figure 2, the closure 11 is formed
integrally with an inner skirt 40 that is disposed and
dimensioned to locate within the container rim 16 and to
bear on the container ledge 24 when the closure 11 is
fitted to the container 10 and loaded in the direction of
the ledge. The inner skirt 40 and the first (outer) skirt
portion 26 form a channel 41 in which the rim 16 locates
and the channel 41 may be occupied in part by an
elastomeric gasket-type sealant (not shown).
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
The inner skirt 40 is connected to a peripheral wall
42 of the closure well 14 by radially extending webs 43.
Figure 4 of the drawings illustrates a variation of
the arrangement shown in Figure 2, in that the inner skirt
5 40 is formed to extend in an oblique direction between the
central region 25 of the closure and the container ledge
24. In this case a second inner skirt 44 is provided to
define the inner margin of the channel 41 and to seal
against the inner surface of the peripheral wall 15 of the
10 container. Again, webs 43 (not shown in Figure 4) can
connect wall 42 to the inner skirt 40 and/or to the second
inner skirt 44.
Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, where like
reference numerals are used to denote similar or like
parts, a second embodiment of a container-closure
arrangement in accordance with the invention will now be
described.
In this embodiment, a skirt arrangement 48 comprises
a first skirt portion 26, a second skirt portion 29 and
optionally a third skirt portion 31. Either the second or
more preferably the third skirt portion 31 is modified .to
include a downwardly projecting rim 50. In addition, the
rebate 22 is modified to define an upwardly facing annular
groove 52, into which the rim 50 can be received,
typically in a push-fit arrangement such as a snap,
interference or friction fits
Referring in particular to Figure 6, it will be seen
that the projecting rim 50, in transverse cross section,
includes an enlarged distal head portion 54, and a
relatively narrower neck portion 56 that connects the head
portion to the skirt portion 31. It will also be seen
that the annular groove 52 has, in transverse cross
section, a relatively wider lower region 58, and a
relatively narrower opening caused by an inwardly
projecting annular ledge 60. The arrangement is such that
the head and neck portion 54, 56 sit snugly in the groove
52 as shown, but to insert or remove the rim 50 into or
CA 02425635 2003-04-14
WO 02/30780 PCT/AU01/01270
11
from the groove, the head portion 54 and/or the ledge 60
must deform sufficiently enough to allow insertion of the
rim 50 into groove 52. To assist with this insertion, a
bevelled face 62 is defined on a lower region of the rim,
along which the ledge 60 rides during rim insertion. The
deformation of either or both of rim 50 and ledge 60
provides a characteristic snap-fit. However, other
suitable fitting arrangements can be employed, including
interference and friction type fits.
In the second embodiment, the second and third skirt
portions can be replaced solely by a second skirt portion.
For example, the skirt arrangement 48 can simply comprise
a first skirt portion 26 and a skirt portion 31 frangibly
connected thereto (e.g. as indicated in Figure 6).
However, it is more preferable that the arrangement 48 is
comprised of three skirt portions, because the second
skirt portion 26 can then define an easily removable tear
strip.
Prior to or after locating the rim 50 in groove 52, a
bond between the third skirt portion 31 and the flange 19
can be established, including the formation of a bond
between the rim external walls and groove internal walls.
Sealants, tack welding, heat welding, ultrasonic welding
etc can be employed, as described above.
Whilst the invention has been described with
reference to a number of preferred embodiments, it should
be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many
other forms.
