The present invention relates generally to a polymeric closure for a package. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hinged flip-top polymeric closure with a tamper-evident feature.
Polymeric closures have been used in many applications over the years in conjunction with containers. One type of polymeric closure that has been used with containers is a tamper-evident polymeric closure. Tamper-evident closures are used to prevent or inhibit tampering by providing a visible indication to a user if the closure has been opened. This visual indication typically divides the closure into two separate components after the tamper-evident feature has been broken.
Tamper-evident features have been used in polymeric closures that are flip-top closures. Some flip-top closures have an upper tamper-evident feature involving a lid and a lower tamper-evident feature on a bottom of a base. Potential drawbacks of these flip-top closures include the upper tamper-evident feature being separated from the remainder of the closure and/or having a higher likelihood of being tampered with. For example, the upper tamper-evident feature may be a “pull-away” or “break-away” feature that can be separated from the remainder of the closure and thrown away. These upper tamper-evident features are external features that have a greater likelihood of being tampered with.
If the upper tamper-evident feature is separated from the remainder of the closure and into two individual components, a portion of the flip-top closure is likely not recycled with the remainder of the closure and container. This scenario raises potential environment concerns with so many containers having tamper-evident features that can be separated into two or more individual components.
Another problem associated with flip-top closures is maintaining the opening of the closure while the user is accessing the contents of the container. This desirably needs to be performed while still having the flip-top closure not being separated into individual components.
It would be desirable to provide a flip-top closure that has tamper-evident features that address these above-noted environmental concerns, while at the same time, maintaining the opening of the closure when accessing the container contents and still performing all of the desirable properties of a closure.
According to one embodiment, a flip-flop closure includes a first closure portion and a second closure portion. The first closure portion includes a polymeric top wall portion, a sealing mechanism depending from the polymeric top wall portion, and a polymeric annular skirt portion. The second closure portion includes a polymeric tamper-evident band. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are attached by a line of weakness. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are further attached via a hinge. The hinge assists in moving the closure between the open position and the closed position. The hinge includes a polymeric locking tab, a polymeric flexible tab and a plurality of polymeric linking segments. The locking tab extends further outwardly from a center of the flip-top closure in a closed position than the flexible tab and the plurality of linking segments. During the opening of the flip-top closure, the locking tab is configured to move and pass the flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position in which the locking tab is configured to contact a finish of a container.
According to one embodiment, a package includes a container and a flip-flop closure. The container has a neck portion defining an opening. The container has an outwardly-extending projection on the neck portion. The flip-top closure is configured to be secured to the neck portion of the container. The flip-top closure includes a first closure portion and a second closure portion. The first closure portion includes a polymeric top wall portion, a sealing mechanism depending from the polymeric top wall portion, and a polymeric annular skirt portion. The second closure portion includes a polymeric tamper-evident band. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are attached by a line of weakness. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are further attached via a hinge. The hinge assists in moving the closure between the open position and the closed position. The hinge includes a polymeric locking tab, a polymeric flexible tab and a plurality of polymeric linking segments. The locking tab extends further outwardly from a center of the flip-top closure in a closed position than the flexible tab and the plurality of linking segments. During the opening of the flip-top closure, the locking tab is configured to move and pass the flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position in which the locking tab is configured to contact the neck portion of the container.
According to one embodiment, a flip-flop closure includes a first closure portion and a second closure portion. The first closure portion includes a polymeric top wall portion, a sealing mechanism depending from the polymeric top wall portion, and a polymeric annular skirt portion. The second closure portion includes a polymeric tamper-evident band. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are attached by a line of weakness. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are further attached via a hinge. The hinge assists in moving the closure between the open position and the closed position. The hinge includes a polymeric locking tab, a polymeric flexible tab and a plurality of polymeric linking segments. The locking tab extends further outwardly from a center of the flip-top closure in a closed position than the flexible tab and the plurality of linking segments. During the opening of the flip-top closure, the locking tab is configured to move and pass the flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position in which the locking tab is configured to contact the flexible tab.
According to another embodiment, a package includes a container a flip-flop closure. The container has a neck portion defining an opening. The container has an outwardly-extending projection on the neck portion. The flip-top closure is configured to be secured to the neck portion of the container. The flip-top closure includes a first closure portion and a second closure portion. The first closure portion includes a polymeric top wall portion, a sealing mechanism depending from the polymeric top wall portion, and a polymeric annular skirt portion. The second closure portion includes a polymeric tamper-evident band. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are attached by a line of weakness. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are further attached via a hinge. The hinge assists in moving the closure between the open position and the closed position. The hinge includes a polymeric locking tab, a polymeric flexible tab and a plurality of polymeric linking segments. The locking tab extends further outwardly from a center of the flip-top closure in a closed position than the flexible tab and the plurality of linking segments. During the opening of the flip-top closure, the locking tab is configured to move and pass the flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position in which the locking tab is configured to contact the flexible tab.
According to one embodiment, a flip-flop closure includes a first closure portion and a second closure portion. The first closure portion includes a polymeric top wall portion, a polymeric continuous plug seal depending from the polymeric top wall portion, a polymeric annular skirt portion, and a prying tab extending from the polymeric annular skirt portion and assisting in moving the flip-top closure between an open position and a closed position. The second closure portion includes a polymeric tamper-evident band. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are attached by a line of weakness. The first closure portion and the second closure portion are further attached via a hinge. The hinge assists in moving the closure between the open position and the closed position. The hinge includes a polymeric locking tab, a polymeric flexible tab and a plurality of polymeric linking segments. The locking tab extends further outwardly from a center of the flip-top closure in a closed position than the flexible tab and the plurality of linking segments. During the opening of the flip-top closure, the locking tab is configured to move and pass the flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position in which the locking tab is configured to contact a finish of a container.
The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. Additional features and benefits of the present invention are apparent from the detailed description and figures set forth below.
Other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring still to
As shown best in
As shown in
The polymeric top stop 26 depends from the polymeric top wall portion 22. The polymeric top stop 26 is spaced from the interior surface 30a of the polymeric annular skirt portion 30 when the flip-top closure 10 is in a closed position as shown in
The polymeric outer seal 28 depends from the polymeric top wall portion 22 and provides an outer sealing mechanism. The polymeric outer seal 28 is spaced from the interior surface 30a of the polymeric annular skirt portion 30 when the flip-top closure 10 is in a closed position as shown in
In another embodiment, the flip-top closure may include other sealing mechanisms. For example, the closure may include a polymeric lining material that provides a seal to the closure. In this embodiment, the closure would be formed from separate components, but would function as the one-piece closure discussed except with a different sealing mechanism. In another embodiment, the closure may include a polymeric outer seal with or without a continuous plug seal.
The second closure portion 14 includes the polymeric tamper-evident band 40. The polymeric tamper-evident band 40 depends from and is at least partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion 30 by a frangible connection 42 as shown best in
Referring back to
The first closure portion 12 and the second closure portion 14 are attached by the hinge 16. The hinge 16 assists in moving the flip-top closure 10 between an open position and a closed position. The hinge 16 is shown in
It is most desirable for the hinge 16 to flip or rotate at least about 200 or about 215 degrees or even more desirably at least about 225 or about 235 degrees from a closed position to an open position. The hinge 16 may flip or rotate up to about 215 or about 225 degrees. It is desirable for the hinge 16 to flip or rotate up to about 235 degrees. The hinge typically flips or rotates from about 190 to about 235 degrees and, more specifically, from about 190 to about 225 degrees.
Referring back to
The frangible connection 42 may be formed by molded-in-bridges in one embodiment. The molded-in-bridges are typically formed using a feature in the mold. In another embodiment, the frangible connection may be formed using scoring or scored lines, notches, leaders, nicks or other lines of weaknesses. The line of weakness may be formed by continuous slitting.
One non-limiting example of a flip-top closure and a container forming a package is shown and discussed in conjunction with
The closure 10 may be used with a container 108 used to form a package 100 of
The flip-top closures of the present invention may include an oxygen-scavenger material. This oxygen-scavenger material may be distributed within the closure or may be a separate layer. The oxygen-scavenger material may be any material that assists in removing oxygen within the container, while having little or no effect on the contents within the container.
Alternatively, or in addition to, the flip-top closures may include an oxygen-barrier material. The oxygen-barrier material may be added as a separate layer or may be integrated within the closure itself. The oxygen-barrier materials assist in preventing or inhibiting oxygen from entering the container through the closure. These materials may include, but are not limited to, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). It is contemplated that other oxygen-barrier materials may be used in the closure.
Additionally, it is contemplated that other features may be included in the closure described above. For example, U.S. Publication No. 2018/009979, U.S. Publication No. 2017/0349336, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,126,726, 9,085,385, 8,763,830, 8,485,374, U.S. Publication No. 2009/0045158 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,212 all include features that could be incorporated in the closures of the present invention. All of these references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
The top wall portion 22, the continuous plug seal 24, the top stop 26, the outer seal 28 and the annular skirt portion 30 are made of polymeric material. The top wall portion 22, the continuous plug seal 24, top stop 26, the outer seal 28 and the annular skirt portion 30 are typically made of an olefin (e.g., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP)), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or blends thereof. One example of a polyethylene that may be used in high density polyethylene (HDPE). It is contemplated that the top wall portion, the continuous plug seal, the top stop, the outer seal, and the annular skirt portion may be made of other polymeric materials. The tamper-evident band 40 is typically made of the same materials as the top wall portion 22, continuous plug seal 24, the top stop 36, the outer seal 28 and the annular skirt portion 30.
It is contemplated the polymeric materials may include additional ingredients such nucleating agents, lubricants, bio-based fillers (e.g., sawdust, starch) and mineral-based fillers (e.g., calcium carbonate, talc). The polymeric material may be made from post-consumer recycled resin.
The closures are typically formed by processes such as injection or compression molding, extrusion or the combination thereof.
The container 108 is also typically made of polymeric material. One non-limiting example of a material to be used in forming a polymeric container is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) or blends using the same. It is contemplated that the container may be formed of other polymeric or copolymer materials. It is also contemplated that the container may be formed of glass or other materials. The container 108 typically has an encapsulated oxygen-barrier layer or oxygen barrier material incorporated therein.
In one method to open the container 108 and gain access to the product therein, the first closure portion 12 is initially rotated or flipped with respect to the second closure portion 14, which results in breaking and separating via the frangible connection 42. The rotating or flipping is shown in
The flip-top closure 10 is moved along arrow A to flip or rotate at least about 200 or about 215 degrees or even more desirably at least about 225 or about 235 degrees from a closed position to an open position. The hinge 16 may flip or rotate up to about 215 or about 225 degrees. It is desirable for the hinge 16 to flip or rotate up to about 235 degrees. The hinge typically flips or rotates from about 190 to about 235 degrees and, more specifically, from about 190 to about 225 degrees
Referring to
The flexible tab 52 includes an inwardly-extending projection 52b configured to contact an outwardly-extending projection of the container 108 so as to secure and lock the flip-top closure 10 and the container 108. The inwardly-extending and outwardly-extending projections may be continuous or intermittent. It is contemplated that the closure and container may be secured and locked by other known methods in the art. For example, the closure and container may be secured and locked by continuous folded bands, tabs or wings.
As the flip-top closure 10 is moved from Position A to Position B (
As the flip-top closure 10 moves from Position D to Position E, the locking tab 50 clears the flexible tab 52 in which the flexible tab 52 returns back to its original or un-flexed position as shown in
It is contemplated that a lower surface of the locking tab may contact the flexible tab in a closed position according to another embodiment. For example, the neck portion 102 of the container is shown in
In another embodiment,
The polymeric closures of the present invention are especially desirable for larger closures. For example, the present invention can be used with closures having a 26 mm, 28 mm, and 38 mm diameters. Thus, the present invention is desirable using closures having between about 25 mm and about 50 mm diameters and, more specifically, from about 25 m to about 40 mm diameter.
The polymeric closures of the present invention are desirable in both low-temperature and high-temperature applications. The polymeric closures may be used in low-temperature applications such as an ambient or a cold fill. These applications include water, sports drinks, aseptic applications such as dairy products, and pressurized products such as carbonated soft drinks. It is contemplated that other low-temperature applications may be used with the polymeric closures formed by the processes of the present invention.
The polymeric closures of the present invention may be exposed to high-temperature applications such as hot-fill, pasteurization, and retort applications. A hot fill application is generally performed at temperatures around 185° F., while a hot-fill with pasteurization is generally performed at temperatures around 205° F. Retort applications are typically done at temperatures greater than 250° F. It is contemplated that the polymeric closures of the present invention can be used in other high-temperature applications.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/911,449, filed on Oct. 7, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62911449 | Oct 2019 | US |