Closure having tamper band TAB extensions

Abstract

Provided is a plastic container stopper of a screw type, having a closure shell and a tamper band, the tamper band being separably connected to the closure shell through at least a weakness line. The tamper band has an upper portion and a lower portion with a plurality of tabs being interrupted and designed to be secured under a ring of a bottle neck. Each tab extends along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each tab, where the tabs have a distal wall linking a top surface and a bottom surface at the distal end, the distal wall being so dimensioned to engage under the ring of the bottle neck. The distal wall of at least one of the tabs has a tip projecting from the distal end, the tip being located on the side of the top surface to manage a locking means so dimensioned to engage between the inner wall of the tamper band and the ring of the bottle neck.

Description

[0001] CLOSURE HAVING TAMPER BAND TAB EXTENSIONS

[0002] Background of the Invention

[0003] In the field of liquid packaging, it is very common to seal the aperture of a container with a stopper, so-called “cap”.

[0004] Such container is an individual object. The container is usually made of plastic, glass or metal material. The container can be a bottle filled with a fluid or a liquid, especially of a beverage, a food or of a cosmetic product.

[0005] Moreover, such bottle comprises a neck at a top part. The bottle neck comprises a peripheral wall and at a top end an aperture through which the bottle is filled and emptied. The aperture is aimed to be sealed by a stopper.

[0006] Such stopper can be made of metal or plastic material. The stopper is made of one or several piece(s). A plastic stopper is mainly obtained through a molding process. Other parts or elements of the stopper can be created into the plastic piece through a cutting or slitting step during the manufacturing process.

[0007] Such stopper globally has a tubular or cylindrical shaped body closed at its top edge by a roof wall. The stopper body comprises a closure shell with sealing mean, such as sealing lips which downwardly extends relative to the top roof inside the stopper. Such sealing lips are designed to cooperate with the top end of the peripheral wall of the bottle neck in order to tightly close the aperture.

[0008] The closure shell is also bottomly attached to a tamper band (also called “tamper evident ring”) through at least one weakness line. Such weakness line is made of bridges, distributed around the closure shell and the tamper band. So the bridges link the closure shell and the tamper band together. Moreover the bridges are made when molding the stopper or after molding through a cutting step.

[0009] As known, according to a screw type stopper, the closure shell comprises inner thread(s) arranged on the inner side walls. In order to engage the stopper to seal the container, the peripheral wall of the neck comprises outer complementary fixation features, such as outer thread(s). The combination of outer and inner thread(s) allows the stopper to be screwed on the container neck to seal the aperture and unscrewed for container opening. During bottle opening, the consumer first unscrews the stopper and the weakness line is broken to separate the closure shell from the tamper band.

[0010] Usually the tamper band of a screw type stopper comprises tamper band feature, located at a bottom part. Such tamper band feature is designed to cooperate with an outer annular ring outwardly managed on the peripheral wall of the bottle neck, under the outer thread(s). Moreover, due to the stopper fabrication process by molding, the stopper is released from a central core of a mold and the tamper band feature downwardly extends relative to the tamper band. Then, the tamper band feature must be reverted inside the stopper, from bottom to top, to get into an inward position relative to the tamper band, where the tamper band feature will cooperate with the bottle neck outer annular ring when the stopper is engaged to seal the container.

[0011] Once the tamper band feature is in the inward position, the stopper is placed on the container neck in order to seal its aperture by screwing the stopper on the bottle neck. Such sealing operation includes a step when the tamper band and the tamper band feature must go from top to bottom through the outer annular ring of the neck. During the passage of the ring, the tamper band feature is pushed outwardly until it is blocked against the inner wall of the tamper band, the tamper band feature being folded around the bottom junction with the tamper band. Then, when going under the ring, the tamper band feature elastically comes back inwardly and secures the stopper on the bottle neck.

[0012] Then, as the tamper band feature is locked under the ring, when opening by unscrewing the stopper, the tamper band remains on the bottle neck and only the closure shell is moved up. During unscrewing, the bridges of the weakness line are torn apart from the closure shell until they break and the closure shell can be moved relative to the tamper band secured on the bottle neck.

[0013] As known, the tamper band feature comprises an inwardly folded band made of separated tabs. The tabs are interrupted and regularly spaced around the tamper band. Such tabs are usually used for stoppers having rigid material, such as polypropylene (PP).To accommodate a folding operation of the tamper band, the tabs have a trapezoidal shape, which is convergent along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal wall of each of said tab, in order to be folded from the outward position to the inward position inside the stopper. Also the number of tabs may depend on the size of the stopper. In order to allow said tabs to be inverted, their width is based upon the combination of multiple factors such as resin type, diameter of the stopper, and the number of tabs. Once the stopper is engaged on the bottle neck, when opening, the tabs are pushed up against the underside of the outer annular ring and the peripheral wall of the bottle neck, locking the tamper band. Especially, the distal wall of each of the tabs comes in contact with the underside of the ring and the peripheral wall of the bottle neck.

[0014] Moreover, as the tabs are interrupted, when unscrewing the stopper, there is a risk that some of the tabs fold back or revert, due to the pressure generated by the rotation force, so that some of the bridges would not break and the closure shell would remain attached to the tamper band. The consumer would be obliged to stretch or tuck the closure shell, to totally separate it from the tamper band, which is undesirable. In the worst case, some of adjacent tabs fold back and an entire angular portion of the tamper band goes over the bottle neck ring, which prevents the stopper from being correctly opened.

[0015] Summary of Invention

[0016] The present invention relates to a plastic stopper of a screw type, particularly a screw type closure having tabs on a tamper band that undergoes a folding operation prior to installation of the closure on a container.

[0017] An object of the present invention is to improve a plastic stopper, of a screw type, wherein the tabs are equipped at their distal end with tips extending further inside the stopper and near the top surface of the tabs, in order to engage a locking means of the tabs against the peripheral wall of the ring of the bottle neck, eventually over the ring. The tip extensions of the tabs prevent said tabs from being folded reversely when unscrewing the stopper and ensure that all the bridges are broken when unsealing.

[0018] Moreover, the tips reduce the gap between the inner wall of the stopper and the outer peripheral wall of the bottle neck, especially around the ring of the bottle neck. The tips are partially extending inside such a gap, such that the tabs have a reduced distance from the transfer ring during unscrewing because the band is squeezed between the neck and the inside of the cap so that the bridges stretch and tear sooner. In this arrangement, the consumer needs to rotate the stopper only partially in order to separate the closure shell from the tamper band.

[0019] Therefore, the invention relates to a plastic stopper of a screw type that includes a closure shell and a tamper band, where the tamper band is separably connected to the closure shell through at least a weakness line. The tamper band can have an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a plurality of tabs being interrupted and individually molded and designed to be secured under a ring of a bottle neck. Each of the plurality of tabs extends along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each of said tab, the tabs further comprising a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the top surface being orientated on the side of an inner wall of the tamper band, and also a distal wall linking the top surface and the bottom surface at the distal end, the distal wall being so dimensioned to engage under the ring of the bottle neck, wherein the distal wall of at least one of the tabs comprises a tip projecting from the distal end, the tip being located near or even with the top surface, in order to manage a locking means so dimensioned to engage between the inner wall of the tamper band and the ring of the bottle neck. The tip can have a thickness less than that of the distal wall. In some embodiments, the tip can be the same width as the distal end of the tab. In other embodiments, the tip can be narrower than the width of the distal end of the tab.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the distal wall of one in two of the plurality of tabs comprises a tip projecting from the distal end and located near or even with of the top surface.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the distal wall of each of the plurality of tabs comprises a tip projecting from the distal end and located on the side of the top surface of the tabs.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the tip has a length so that the tip extends along a peripheral wall of the ring of the bottle neck.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the tip has a length so that the tip extends over a peripheral wall of the ring of the bottle neck.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the tip has a length so that the tip extends over a top wall of the ring of the bottle neck.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the tip extends in the continuity along the top surface of the at least one tab.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the tip is offset relative to the top surface of the at least one tab.

[0027] According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of tabs has a trapezoidal shape, which is convergent along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each of said tab.

[0028] Brief description of the Drawings

[0029] The invention can be better understood on reading the following description given merely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic bottom perspective view of a stopper according to a first embodiment, especially showing each of the tabs linked with a distal tip inwardly extending;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic bottom view of a stopper of FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross section view of a stopper according to the first embodiment, especially showing a tip extending from a distal wall of a tab into a folded position of said tab;

[0033] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a stopper according to the first embodiment, especially showing a tip of a tab extending against the peripheral wall of the ring of a bottle neck;

[0034] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a stopper according to a second embodiment, especially showing a tip of a tab extending over the ring of a bottle neck; FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a stopper according to a third embodiment, especially showing a longer tip of a tab extending over the ring of a bottle neck, so that the tip folds along a curved portion at its end over and against the ring of the bottle neck;

[0035] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a tab according to a fourth embodiment, especially showing a tip extending in continuity along the top surface of a tab;

[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a tab according to a fifth embodiment, especially showing a tip offset relative to the top surface of a tab.

[0037] Detailed Description

[0038] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, for example, exemplary, and similar terms, refer expansively to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern.

[0039] In some instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0040] Phrasing such as 'configured to' perform a function, including in the claims, can include any or all of being sized, shaped, positioned in the arrangement, and comprising material to perform the function.

[0041] Terms indicating quantity, such as ‘first’ or ‘second’ are used for exemplary and explanation purposes and are not intended to dictate the specific ordering of a component with respect to other components. Terms indicating position such as ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ or ‘front’ and ‘back’ are used to indicate components relation to one another. One of skill in the art would recognize other configurations are possible.

[0042] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the claims.

[0043] Firstly, the invention relates to a stopper 1.

[0044] The stopper 1 has a global tubular or cylindrical shaped body. The stopper 1 is closed at a top end and opened at a bottom end. So the stopper 1 can be inserted, from top to bottom, onto an aperture of a container in order to seal said.

[0045] Such a container is an individual object. The container is usually made of plastic, glass or metal material. The container can be a bottle filled with a fluid or a liquid, especially a fluid or a liquid, such as a beverage, of a food or a cosmetic product. Such bottle comprises at its top part a bottle neck 100 with the aperture.

[0046] Such stopper 1 is made of a plastic material. The stopper 1 is made of one or several piece(s). A plastic stopper 1 is mainly obtained through a molding process. Other parts or elements of the stopper 1 can be created into the plastic piece(s) through a cutting or slitting step during the manufacturing process.

[0047] According to the invention, the stopper 1 comprises a closure shell 2. The closure shell 2 is located at a top part of the stopper 1.

[0048] The closure shell 2 can comprise sealing mean, such as sealing lip(s) which downwardly extends relative to the top roof inside the stopper 1. Such sealing lips are designed to cooperate with the top end of the peripheral wall of the bottle neck 100 in order to tightly close the aperture.

[0049] The stopper 1 also comprises the tamper band 4. The tamper band 4 is located at a bottom part of the stopper 1, so below the closure shell 2.

[0050] Moreover, the tamper band 4 is separably connected to the closure shell 4 through at least a weakness line 6. Such weakness line 6 is made of bridges 60, distributed around the closure shell 2 and the tamper band 4, linking the bridges 60 link the closure shell 2 and the tamper band 4 together. The bridges 60 are made when molding the stopper 1 or after molding through a cutting step.

[0051] The stopper 1 is of a screw type.

[0052] In order to engage the stopper 1 to seal the container, the bottle neck 100 comprises an outer fixation feature, such as outer thread(s). For cooperation with the outer fixation feature of the bottle neck 100, the stopper 1 comprises corresponding inner features, such as inner thread(s). The inner thread(s) are arranged inside side walls of the stopper 1 and are dimensioned relating to the outer thread(s), so that the stopper 1 can be screwed on the bottle neck 100 to seal the container, and unscrewed for opening said container.

[0053] In order to easily unscrew the stopper 1, the closure shell 2 can comprise outward knurls. Such knurls almost extend vertically along at least a portion of the peripheral wall of the closure shell 2. The knurls are also used to engage the stopper 1 on the bottle neck 100 when sealing the container.

[0054] Thus, the tamper band 4 has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is linked to the closure shell 2 through the weakness line 6. Moreover, the lower portion comprises a plurality of tabs 8. Such tabs 8 are designed to be secured under a ring 102 of the bottle neck 100. The tabs 8 are interrupted, so the tabs 8 are separated from each other. The tabs 8 are individually molded during the molding process of the stopper 1.

[0055] As aforementioned, the tabs 8 are designed to cooperate with an outer annular ring 102 outwardly managed on the peripheral wall of the bottle neck 100. Moreover, during the fabrication process, the stopper 1 can have tabs 8 that extend along an inner radial direction, especially along a horizontal or almost horizontal plane. Usually, due to the stopper 1 fabrication process by molding, when the stopper 1 is released from a central core of a mold, the tabs 8 downwardly extend relative to the tamper band 4. Then, the tabs 8 must be reverted by folding inside the stopper 1, from bottom to top, to get into an inward position relative to the tamper band 4, where the tabs 8 can cooperate with the bottle neck 100 outer annular ring 102 when the stopper 1 is engaged to seal the container.

[0056] Once the tabs 8 are in the inward position, the stopper 1 is placed on the container neck 100 in order to seal its aperture by screwing the stopper 1 on the bottle neck 100. Such sealing operation includes a step when the tamper band 4 and the tabs 8 must go from top to bottom through the outer annular ring 102 of the neck 100. During the passage of the ring, the tabs 8 are pushed outwardly until they are blocked against the inner wall of the tamper band 4, the tabs 8 being folded around the bottom junction with the tamper band 4. Then, when going under the ring, the tabs 8 elastically come back and secure the stopper 1 on the bottle neck 100.

[0057] Then, as the tabs 8 are locked under the ring, when opening by unscrewing the stopper 1, the tamper band 4 remains on the bottle neck 100 and only the closure shell 2 is moved up. During unscrewing, the bridges 60 of the weakness line 6 are torn apart from the closure shell 2 until they break and the closure shell 2 can be moved relative to the tamper band 4 secured on the bottle neck 100.

[0058] Moreover, the tabs 8 are distributed around the tamper band 4, and can be spaced at regular or irregular intervals.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the stopper 1 is made of a plastic material, such as Polyethylene (PE). In other embodiments, the stopper 1 comprises such as polypropylene (PP) which is a stronger material suitable for stoppers 1 with separated tabs 8 in order to withhold the folded position of the interrupted tabs 8.

[0060] When folded inside the stopper l, the tabs 8 make interrupted annular securing means of the tamper band 4 on the bottle neck 100. In some embodiments, the number of tabs 8 can vary depending on the size of the stopper 1, relative to the dimensions of the bottle neck 100 to be sealed. Thus, to accommodate a folding operation of the tamper band 4, the tabs 8 have a trapezoidal shape, which is convergent along a radial direction from the tamper band 4 to a distal end of each of the plurality of tabs 8, in order to be folded from the outward position to the inward position inside the stopper 1. In other words, the tabs 8 have a distal end at a free end, located at the opposite end relative to the junction with the tamper band 4.

[0061] Moreover, each of the tabs 8 have a geometrical shape, upon an appropriate lateral spacing. The tabs 8 can be rectangular or trapezoidal, convergent or divergent regarding a radial direction relative to the stopper 1. According to a particular embodiment, each of the tabs 8 have a trapezoidal shape, which is convergent along a radial direction from the tamper band 4 to a distal end of each of the plurality of tabs 8, in order to be folded from the outward position to the inward position inside the stopper 1. So, each of the tabs 8 is narrowed from outside to inside the stopper 1 (i.e. the distal end has a smaller width than the width of the junction with the tamper band 4). Regarding a tab 8, the position of the distal end is determined as “front”, while the junction with the tamper band 4 is determined as “rear” or “back”. So, relative to the front position, the tab 6 comprises a top surface 80 and an opposite bottom surface 82. The top surface 80 is orientated on the side of an inner wall 40 of the tamper band.

[0062] Likewise, the tab 8 comprises a distal wall 84 linking the top surface 80 and the bottom surface 82 at the distal end. Moreover, the distal wall 84 is so dimensioned to engage under the ring 102 of the bottle neck 100. In other words, the surface of the distal wall 84 is designed to get into contact with the lower surface of the ring 102 of the bottle neck 100.

[0063] According to an embodiment, the distal wall 84 of at least one of the tabs 8 comprises a tip 10.

[0064] According to an embodiment, the distal wall 84 of one in two of the plurality of tabs 8 comprises a tip 10. In other words, one of the tabs 8 comprises the tip 10, while the two adjacent tabs 8 have a distal end without tip 10.

[0065] According to an embodiment, the distal wall 84 of each of the plurality of tabs 8 comprises a tip 10.

[0066] In embodiments, the tip 10 is projecting from the distal end. In other words, the tip 10 is extending from the surface of the distal wall 84, along a radial direction relative to the stopper 1. So, the tip 10 is protruding relative to the distal wall 84, like a tongue at the distal end of the tab 8. In other words, when the tab is viewed from a lateral edge, the distal end of the of the tab appears notched.

[0067] Moreover, the tip 10 protrudes from the distal end near the top surface 80, in order to manage a locking means so dimensioned to engage between the inner wall 40 of the tamper band 40 and the ring 102 of the bottle neck 100. In other words, the tip 10 is located near the top surface 80 of the tab 8, so that the distal wall 84 contacts the bottle neck 100 under and against the ring 102 and the tip 10 is inserted between the inner wall 40 of the tamper band 4 and the outer ring 102. Especially the tip 10 is designed to at least get into contact with a peripheral wall 104 of the ring 102, so that the tip 10 cannot fold back as the surface of the distal wall 84 is applied under the ring 102, when unscrewing the stopper 1.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the tip 10 has a length so that the tip 10 extends along the peripheral wall 104 of the ring 102 of the bottle neck 100. In other words, the tip 10 is high enough to extend along at least a part of the height of the ring 102. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a tip 10 with a length, so that the tip 10 just extends along a portion of the height of the peripheral wall 104 of the ring102.

[0069] According to an embodiment, the tip 10 has a length so that the tip 10 extends over the peripheral wall 104 of the ring 102 of the bottle neck 100. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a longer tip 10 with a length, so that the tip 10 extends along all the height of the peripheral wall 104 of the ring 102 and also the tip 10 goes a bit over the ring 102. Such longer length is so that the tip 10 is below a chamfer 42 inwardly managed on the inner wall 40 of the tamper band 4 (i.e. does not extend over such a chamfer 42).

[0070] According to an embodiment, the tip 10 has a length so that the tip 10 extends over a top wall 106 of the ring 102 of the bottle neck 100. Especially, the length of the tip 10 can be so that the distal extremity of the tip 10 extends along the chamfer 42. In this configuration, due to the elasticity of the plastic material and the low thickness, the distal portion of the tip 10 is curved against the top wall 106, pressed by the chamfer 42, when a vertical movement is applied due to the rotation of the stopper 1 when unscrewing for unsealing the container.

[0071] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a longer tip 10 with a length, so that the tip 10 extends over the ring 102, with the distal extremity portion rounded against the top of the ring 102. According to an embodiment, the tip 10 extends in the continuity along the top surface 80 of the at least one tab 8. In other words, the top surface 80 and the top face of the tip 10 are aligned, almost in the same geometric plane. Figure 7 shows the tip 10 of a tab 8 extending along the top surface 80.

[0072] According to another embodiment, the tip 10 is offset relative to the top surface 80 of the at least one tab 8. In other words, the top surface 80 and the top face of the tip 10 are not aligned or in the same geometric plan Figure 8 shows the tip 10 of a tab 8 extending lower than the top surface 80 of the tab 8, with a dropout between the top surface 80 of the tab 8 and the top face of the tip 10.

[0073] Thus, according to the tip 10 extending at the distal end of the tabs 8, the gap between the ring 102 of the bottle neck 100 and the inner wall 40 of the tamper band 4 is partially filled, so that the stopper 1 is faster engaged when unsealing, with a lesser degree of rotation of the cap by the consumer. The reduction of the gap by the tip 10 also ensures that all the bridges 60 of the weakness line 6 are broken cleanly. The tip 10 also ensures that the tab 8 is not folded back when unsealing.

Claims

ClaimsThe invention claimed is:1 . A plastic stopper of a screw type, comprising: a closure shell and a tamper band, the tamper band being separably connected to the closure shell through at least a weakness line, the tamper band having an upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of tabs being interrupted and individually molded and designed to be secured under a ring of a bottle neck, wherein each of the plurality of tabs extends along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each of said tab; wherein the tabs further comprise: a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the top surface facing an inner wall of the tamper band, and a distal wall linking the top surface and the bottom surface at the distal end, the distal wall being dimensioned to engage under the ring of the bottle neck, wherein the distal wall of at least one of the tabs comprises a tip projecting from the distal end, the tip being located on the side of the top surface to form a locking means between the inner wall of the tamper band and the ring of the bottle neck.

2. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the distal wall of one in two of the plurality of tabs comprises a tip projecting from the distal end and located on the side of the top surface.

3. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs comprises a tip projecting from the distal end.

4. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the tip has a length so that the tip extends along a peripheral wall of the ring of the bottle neck.

5. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the tip has a length so that the tip extends over a peripheral wall of the ring of the bottle neck.

6. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the tip has a length so that the tip extends over a top wall of the ring of the bottle neck.

7. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the tip extends in continuity along the top surface of the at least one tab.

8. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the tip is offset relative to the top surface of the at least one tab.

9. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs has a trapezoidal shape, wherein the trapezoidal shape is convergent along a radial direction from the tamper band to the distal end of each tab.

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