Patent Application
20240253867
The present disclosure relates to a closure. In particular, the disclosure relates to a closure suitable for juice containers.
Beverage containers for juice, such as orange juice, are now widely used. Closures for such containers must be suitable for sealing the container whilst also having appropriate tamper-evident capability. The present disclosure is directed to a closure that is suitable for sealing containers, such as containers for orange juice.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles, or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a closure that is attachable to a container;
In one embodiment, the flanges are configured prior to attachment to the container in a first relatively downward orientation. When in this downward orientation, the first surface is an outer surface facing outwardly and the second surface is an inner surface facing inwardly.
At some point in time prior to application to the container, the flanges of the band are pre-folded relatively upwards using their respective hinge mounting such that the at least one projection is retained underneath the retaining rim once the closure has been applied to seal the container. The pre-folding can occur hours, minutes, or seconds prior to application. The pre-folding of the flanges can be performed by a machine adapted to perform this step.
In one embodiment, the base member of the tamper evident band can be substantially cylindrical or cylindrical and have an inner surface and an outer surface. The band can extend from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end of the band can be joined at a distal end of the skirt portion. The hinge mounting of each flange can be provided by one or more hinge members. The one or more hinge members can connect the flange to the inner surface of the band at or adjacent the base member's distal end. In one embodiment, each flange is connected to the base member by two spaced hinge members defining a slot.
The plurality of flanges can extend circumferentially around the base member. In one embodiment, the flanges can be equally spaced around the base member. Each flange can be essentially identical in shape and/or dimension. In one embodiment, each flange of the closure can have said one or more projections. In a further embodiment, each flange can have two projections.
In yet another embodiment, each projection can be identical in shape and/or dimension. Each projection can have a shark-tooth shape. Whether a shark-tooth shaped projection or not, the projection can have a retaining surface that serves to abut an underside of the retaining rim of the container when the closure is in the applied position on the container.
One or more of the flanges can have at least one protrusion extending from the inner surface of that flange. In one embodiment, adjacent pairs of flanges can be provided with said at least one protrusion. Where used on a flange, each such flange can have just one protrusion. Each adjacent pair of flanges can be separated by a flange not having a protrusion. The protrusions serve to support those flanges where present and assist in the retention of those flanges underneath the retaining rim of the container.
In a still further embodiment, the closure can further comprise an inner wall extending downwardly from an underside of the top portion and spaced inwardly of the skirt portion. An inner surface of the inner wall of the closure can have an engagement member adapted to complementarily engage with a container engagement member on the neck finish of the container. The closure engagement member can comprise a screw thread adapted to complementarily engage with the container engagement member. The screw thread can be segmented. The container engagement member can also comprise a screw thread.
The underside of the top portion can be provided with one or more sealing ribs to engage and seal the opening of the container on attachment of the closure to the container. The one or more sealing ribs either alone or in combination can engage an inner surface, and/or an end surface and/or an outer surface of the opening of a container. In another embodiment, the inner wall can instead or also have a thickened region adjacent the connection with the top portion. The thickened region can have a further inner surface, that can be cylindrical, that can seal against the outer surface of the neck finish on attachment of the closure to a container.
In a further embodiment, the base member of the band is connected to a distal end of the skirt portion of the closure. The one or more frangible connections can comprise a single continuous frangible member or a structurally weakened section. The single member or weakened section can extend circumferentially partially or fully around the circumference of the closure. In another embodiment, the frangible connections can be provided by one or more frangible bridges. Where used, the frangible bridges can be uniformly or non-uniformly spaced around the circumference of the distal end of the skirt portion.
In yet a further embodiment, the skirt portion and the band can also be connected by a tether. The tether can be adapted to retain some connection between the skirt portion of the closure and the tamper evident band following unsealing of the container.
The top portion can extend outwardly beyond the skirt portion so providing an overhang. The overhang can extend outwardly equally around the circumference of the top portion. The overhang can have a downward curved portion that curves downwardly. In one embodiment, the overhang can curve downwards towards the container. An outer surface of the skirt portion can also comprise a grip structure to facilitate gripping of the closure by a user. The grip structure can be adapted to direct the user's fingers downwardly towards the distal end of the skirt portion. The grip structure can comprise a series of struts that extend downwardly from the overhang at least towards the lower end of the skirt portion. The struts can narrow in thickness towards the lower end of the skirt portion and so slope inwardly.
The closure can further comprise one or more ribs that extend downwardly from the underside of the top portion and inwardly from the inner surface of the skirt portion. A plurality of equally spaced ribs can be present in the closure and serve to relatively stiffen the skirt portion. The ribs can narrow in lateral dimension away from the top portion. The ribs can be positioned so that the flanges when folded back are not impeded by the ribs and instead pass between gaps between the flanges.
In any one or more of the embodiments, the closure can be formed in one piece. The closure can also be formed in a mold. It can be formed from a synthetic plastics material, such as a polyethylene or polypropylene.
In another aspect of this disclosure, there is a container and closure combination with the container having an opening sealed by a closure as defined herein.
In this aspect, the container can be a molded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container. The container can be adapted to contain aerated, carbonated or still beverages, including juice, such as orange juice. The container can be a re-usable and/or re-fillable container.
In yet another aspect, there is provided a mold for forming a closure as defined herein, the mold comprising a cavity shaped to form the closure.
In this aspect, the mold can be used to form the closure using injection, rotary or compression molding.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of forming a closure as defined herein comprising molding the closure.
In yet another aspect, there is provided a method of attaching a closure as described to a container, the method comprising turning the closure onto the container until the closure seals the container.
The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers, or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
By way of example only, embodiments are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
One example of a closure having features of the present invention is depicted generally as 10 in the
The closure 10 is suitable for capping or closing a container 50 (see
The closure 10 comprises an upper portion 11 that in turn comprises a top portion 12 and a skirt portion 13. As depicted, the skirt portion 13 can depend from an outer edge 14 of the top portion 12 and together define a cavity 15 that receives the opening 51 and the adjacent neck finish 52 of the container 50. In the depicted embodiment, the cavity 15 is substantially cylindrical or cylindrical.
A tamper evident band 16 is joined to the skirt portion 13 by a number of frangible connections or bridges 17. In the depicted embodiment, the band 16 is substantially cylindrical or cylindrical and comprises an inner surface 18 and an outer surface 19. The band 16 is joined at a distal end 20 of the skirt portion 13 and extends from a proximal end 21 to a distal end 22. While depicted as having a number of frangible connections 17, the closure can have a single continuous frangible member, or the one or more frangible connections can comprise a structurally weakened section that can extend circumferentially partially or fully around the circumference of the closure. The size and number of the frangible bridges may vary amongst different embodiments of the closure. For example, an embodiment of the closer may include fewer frangible connections that are larger in size. Other embodiments of the closer may include a greater number of frangible connections that are smaller in size. Where used, the frangible bridges can be uniformly or non-uniformly spaced around the circumference of the distal end of the skirt portion.
In another embodiment, the skirt portion and the band are connected by a tether (not depicted). The tether is adapted to retain some connection between the skirt portion of the closure and the tamper evident band following unsealing of the container.
The tamper evident band 16 further comprises a base member 23 and a plurality of flanges 24. The base member 23 is located at or adjacent to the distal end 22 of the band on the inner surface 18. In one embodiment, the distal end of the band may extend below the base member 23. Each flange of the plurality of flanges 24 are hingedly mounted to the base member 23. In the embodiment depicted, the hinged mounting is provided by one or more hinge members 25. The one or more hinge members 25 can connect the flange 24 to the inner surface 18 of the band 16 at the base member 23. In one embodiment, each flange 24 is connected by two spaced hinge members 25 defining a first slot 26. The two spaced hinge members are joined by a connecting member 27 that branches above the base member defining a second slot 28 between each flange 24. The second slot 28 provides a gap between each of the flanges 24 to avoid any impact between adjacent flanges that could prevent the full range of hinging. In another embodiment, each flange may be connected by one hinge that extends from one end of the flange to the opposite end of the flange.
In the depicted embodiment, the plurality of flanges 24 extend circumferentially around the base member 23 and are equally spaced around the base member 23. Each flange 24 is substantially identical in shape and/or dimensions. In another embodiment, a fewer or a greater number of flanges can be envisaged. In a further embodiment, each flange may vary in shape and/or dimensions.
Each flange 24 comprises a first outer surface 29 and a second inner surface 30. At least one or more of the flanges 24 includes at least one projection 31. In one embodiment, each flange 24 comprises one or more projections 31. In the depicted embodiment, each flange has two projections 31.
In the depicted embodiment, each projection is substantially identical in shape and/or dimension. Each projection 31 in the depicted embodiment has a shark-tooth shape that includes a retaining surface 32. The retaining surface 32 is shaped to abut an underside of the retaining rim 53 of the container 50 when the closure 10 is in the applied configuration on the container.
As depicted in
As depicted in
In the depicted embodiment, one or more flanges 24 are shown as including at least one protrusion 33 extending from the second inner surface 30 of that flange. In one embodiment, adjacent pairs of flanges can be provided with said at least one protrusion. Where used on a flange, each such flange can have just one protrusion. Each adjacent pair of flanges can be separated by a flange not having a protrusion. The protrusions provide a buffer between an inner surface of the skirt portion and the inner surface of the flanges, preventing the flange from hinging relatively too far back. As such, these protrusions serve to support those flanges where present and assist in the retention of those flanges underneath the retaining rim of the container.
In the depicted embodiment, the closure 10 can further comprise an inner wall 34 extending downwardly from an underside of the top portion 12 and spaced inwardly of the skirt portion 13. An inner surface of the inner wall 34 of the closure can have an engagement member in the form of a screw thread 35 adapted to complementarily engage with a container engagement member (which can also be in the form of a screw thread) 54 on the neck finish of the container 50. In the depicted embodiment the screw thread 35 is continuous. In another embodiment the screw thread may be segmented.
As depicted, the underside 48 of the top portion 12 is provided with one or more sealing ribs 37 to engage and seal the opening 51 of the container on attachment of the closure to the container. The one or more sealing ribs either alone or in combination can engage an inner surface 55, and/or an end surface 56 and/or an outer surface 57 of the opening of a container. In another embodiment, the inner wall can instead or also have a thickened region adjacent the connection with the top portion. The thickened region can have a further inner surface, that can be cylindrical, that can seal against the outer surface of the neck finish on attachment of the closure to a container. Other sealing rib combinations to that depicted can be envisaged.
In the depicted embodiment, the top portion can extend outwardly beyond the skirt portion providing an overhang 38 from the outer edge 14. The overhang extends equally around the circumference of the top portion. The overhang is curved downward towards the container and there is provided a free space between an inner surface 39 of the overhang and an outer surface 40 of the skirt portion. The outer surface of the skirt portion comprises a grip structure 41 to facilitate gripping of the closure by a user. The grip structure can be adapted to direct the user's fingers downwardly towards the distal end 20 of the skirt portion. The grip structure can comprise a series of struts 42 leading from the overhang 38 to the lower end of the skirt portion. The struts can extend downwardly and be sloped inwardly. As depicted in the figures, the struts include a front surface 43 that extends downward from an edge 44 of the overhang and a first 45 and a second 46 side surface that extend outwardly from the outer surface of the skirt portion towards the front surface. Other formations of struts to that depicted can be envisaged.
In the depicted embodiment the closure comprises one or more ribs 47 (e.g. see
Referring to
A mold can be used to form the closure 10. The mold can comprise a cavity shaped to form the closure 10. The mold can be used to form the closure using injection, rotary or compression molding.
A method of forming the closure 10 can include molding the closure in one piece with the tamper evident band.
The method of attaching the closure 10 to the container 50 can comprise placing and turning the closure 10 onto the container 50 until the closure 10 seals the container 50, and the retaining surface 32 of the projections 31 are positioned underneath the retaining rim 53 of the container, abutting the retaining rim.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/482,129 filed on 30 Jan. 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63482129 | Jan 2023 | US |
