Tamper-evident closure

Abstract

A closure 1 for a container comprises an annular base 2 to be fixed to the upper rim of the container, a lid adapted to cover an access opening defined by the base, and a locking tab hingeably attached to the base. The locking tab has an engagement portion 61 adapted to engage the lid and is hingeable about a hinging axis between a locking position, in which the engagement portion engages the lid and prevents movement of the lid relative to the annular base, and a releasing position, in which the locking tab is moved away from the lid allowing opening of the lid relative to the annular base. The closure furthermore comprises a tamper-evident button 8. The tamper-evident button has coupling means 81 to couple the button to the lid. The locking tab has a contour edge 64 defining a recess 63. The tamper-evident button is received at least partially in said recess. The contour edge of the recess and the tamper-evident button are connected by frangible connections 9. A part of the frangible connections is located at a different distance from the hinging axis of the locking tab as another part of the frangible connections.

Description

[0001] P37053PC00 / CHO

[0002] Title: Tamper-evident closure

[0003] The present invention relates to a closure for a container. Typically such a container has an open top side defined by an upper rim surrounding said open top side and the closure comprises an annular base to be fixed to the upper rim of the container and defining an access opening to the container. Furthermore the closure comprises a lid adapted to cover the access opening in a closed position and to be moved to an open position, in which the access opening is unblocked by the lid. Such closures are generally made from a suitable plastic material by injection moulding.

[0004] Some known closures comprise a locking tab hingeably attached to the base. The locking tab has an engagement portion adapted to engage the lid. The locking tab is hingeable between a locking position, in which the engagement portion engages the lid and prevents movement of the lid relative to the annular base, and a releasing position, in which the locking tab is moved away from the lid allowing opening of the lid relative to the annular base. In some known closures a tamper-evident button is present which has coupling means to couple the button to the lid. The tamper-evident button, before first use, blocks the locking tab from being moved from the locking position to the releasing position. After the tamper-evident button is pushed in, the locking tab is free to move to its releasing position. The pushed-in tamper-evident button shows that there has occurred a breach of the tamper-evidence means.

[0005] One example of a closure having a push button is disclosed in EP 4147989 A1. This publication discloses a closure having a latch and a “U”-shaped button. The button is arranged on an area of the lid that is in the shape of an inverted “II” such that when a user presses the button it moves vertically downwards to release a flange which enables the latch to move from a closed position to an open position. This closure does not have coupling means to hold the button permanently connected to the lid, whereby the closure is not fully tamper-proof. A person can still pull the button out of the mentioned area on the lid, and then swivel the latch to the open position. After opening the lid and reclosing it, the latch can be moved back to the closed position and the button can be replaced in the mentioned area on the lid, without showing that there has been tampered with the closure.

[0006] Another example of a closure having a tamper-evident push button is known from

[0007] WO 2020 / 182429 A1. This document discloses a closure having a button connected to one end of a hinging locking tab. The button is connected with one end to the locking tab bybreakable bridges. The button has coupling means clicked on an opposite end on a rotation axis formed in an accommodation space formed in the lid. When the button is pushed, the button rotates around the rotation axis and tilts with the end that was connected to the locking tab downwardly in the accommodation space in the lid and thereby breaking the breakable bridges. The button remains in the tilted position in the accommodation space, which together with the broken bridges shows that the locking tab has been released. A disadvantage of this known closure is that when the button is arranged for the first time in the accommodation space, and the coupling means has to be clicked on the rotation axis, there is a considerable risk that the resistance to be overcome to click the coupling means of the button on the rotational axis will cause the breakable bridges, which are on the other end of the button, to bend or break if the force is not applied exactly at the end where the coupling means are. Since this clicking action will take place in an automatic production line, this can cause a high rejection rate in the final products because the tamper-evidence is compromised.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved closure having a tamper-evident button.

[0009] This object is achieved by a closure according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the locking tab has a contour edge defining a recess, the tamper-evident button being received at least partially in said recess, wherein the contour edge of the recess and the tamper-evident button are connected by the frangible connections, and wherein a part of the frangible connections is located at a different distance from the hinging axis of the locking tab as another part of the frangible connections.

[0010] According to the invention the tamper-evident button and the locking tab are connected to each other along a contour edge, which contour edge defines a recess in which the tamper-evident button is at least partially received. Frangible connections which are provided along the contoured edge form the connection between the locking tab and the button. The contoured edge can for example be a curved edge, a polygonal edge, or another shape that forms a generally concave edge. Since the frangible connections are located at the contoured edge at different distances from the hinging axis of the locking tab, the button, when pressed, will not tilt about a line which is defined by two frangible connections. This considerably reduces the risk that the tamper-evidence of the closure is compromised when after production the closure is closed for the first time and the locking tab is moved to the closed position for the first time.In a possible embodiment the coupling means of the tamper-evident button comprises at least one snap tongue, preferably two snap tongues, extending from a rear surface of the tamper-evident button, wherein the lid includes an attachment wall portion having a front surface facing the rear surface of the tamper-evident button and wherein the attachment wall portion has at least one aperture in it, the at least one snap tongue being adapted to be inserted in the at least one aperture.

[0011] In this embodiment the aperture in the attachment wall portion forms a guiding for the snap tongue, when the tamper-evident button is pushed in. By this guiding means the button will not tilt and will move in a generally straight line. This is also the case when the snap tongue is inserted in the aperture while the closure is closed for the first time and the locking tab is moved for the first time to the closed position, whereby the frangible connections are not put under tension or deformed excessively.

[0012] In a possible embodiment the lid has a deck and a peripheral outer skirt extending from the deck, wherein the attachment wall portion lies recessed with respect to the deck. In this embodiment the front surface of the attachment wall portion will face upwardly during normal use, and the button will be arranged above the attachment wall portion.

[0013] In a further embodiment the tamper-evident button has an outer surface, wherein in a state before first-time opening of the closure, the outer surface of the tamper-evident button lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the deck.

[0014] In another embodiment the lid has a deck and a peripheral outer skirt extending from the deck, wherein the attachment wall portion lies recessed with respect to the outer skirt. In this embodiment the front surface of the attachment wall portion will face in a lateral direction (a radial direction) during normal use and the button will be arranged in front of the attachment wall portion.

[0015] In a further embodiment the tamper-evident button has an outer surface, wherein in a state before first-time opening of the closure, the outer surface of the tamper-evident button lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the skirt.

[0016] In some embodiments there is formed, seen from the tamper-evident button, at least one latching ridge behind and spaced apart from the attachment wall portion, which latching ridge is configured and arranged to cooperate with the at least one snap tongue to hold the tamper-evident button in a pushed-in state after first-time use. The snap tongue typically has a distal end with a latching protrusion, such as a bead or the like. When the button is pushed in, thesnap tongue will move with the latching protrusion beyond the latching ridge and the button will remain fixed in this position, whereby it is apparent that the first-time use of the button has taken place and the tamper-evidence is compromised.

[0017] In a practical embodiment the number of frangible connections is at least three. Preferably the number of frangible connections is at least four. With four frangible connections a symmetrical distribution of the connections can be made around the button, whereby upon first-time closing of the locking tab, but also upon first time pushing of the button, the frangible connections will be loaded evenly. An even distribution of the forces will make that the whole of the connections remains intact upon first-time closing of the closure and that upon first-time pushing of the button the rupture of the frangible connections is practically simultaneous.

[0018] In a possible embodiment the locking tab has an annular shape wherein the recess is defined by a closed contour edge. In this embodiment the tamper-evident button is surrounded entirely by the annular locking tab. An even distribution of frangible connections is truly possible in such an embodiment.

[0019] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0020] Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a closure according to the invention in a state ready for first-time use,

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure of Fig. 1,

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a top elevational view of the closure of Fig. 1 ,

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a top elevational view of the closure of Fig. 1 in a state as it is ejected from the injection mould,

[0024] Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of the closure of Fig. 1 in a state as it is ejected from the injection mould,

[0025] Fig. 6 shows an isometric view of the closure of Fig. 1 , with a tamper-evident button in a pushed-in state,

[0026] Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure of Fig. 6,Fig. 8 shows an isometric view of the closure of Fig. 1 , with the tamper-evident button in a pushed-in state and the locking tab in an open state,

[0027] Fig. 9 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of a closure according to the invention in a state ready for first-time use,

[0028] Fig. 9A shows a detail of a front view of the closure of Fig. 9,

[0029] Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure of Fig. 9,

[0030] Fig. 11 and Fig. 11 A show an isometric view and a rear elevational view, respectively, of the closure of Fig. 9 in a state as it is ejected from the injection mould,

[0031] Fig. 12 shows an isometric view of the closure of Fig. 9, with a tamper-evident button in a pushed-in state,

[0032] Fig. 13 shows a cross sectional view of the closure of Fig. 12,

[0033] Fig. 14 shows an isometric view of the closure of Fig. 9, with the tamper-evident button in a pushed-in state and the locking tab in an open state, and

[0034] Fig. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure of Fig. 14.

[0035] In Figs. 1-8 a closure 1 according to the invention is shown, which is adapted to be placed and fixed on an open top side of a container, in this case a cylindrical container such as a can. Such containers can be used for holding powdered or granular products such as for example baby formula, milk powder, food supplements, etc.

[0036] The closure 1, which is shown in Figs 1 and 2 in a state in which it is assembled in an assembly line with the container, comprises an annular base 2 which can be placed and fixed to an upper rim of the container. The annular base 2 comprises a skirt 21 which is provided with a locking rim 22 at an end remote from the lid 3, which is indicated in Fig. 2. When the closure 1 is placed on the top end of the container, the locking rim 22 moves beyond an upper rim of the container and then grips behind a ledge or another peripheral protrusion formed at the upper rim, whereby the annular base 2 is fixed to the container and cannot be removed.Furthermore the closure comprises a lid 3, which is hingeably connected to the annular base 2. In this embodiment the closure 1 is made in one piece from a suitable thermoplastic material by injection moulding. The lid 3 and the annular base 2 are interconnected by a hinge 4, for example a living hinge or film hinge, which is formed in one piece with the lid 3 and the annular base 2. In a close position, as is shown in Figs 1 and 2, the lid 3 covers an access opening 5. The lid 3 can be swivelled open about the hinging axis of the hinge 4 towards an open position, in which the access opening 5 is uncovered by the lid 3 and a user has access to the contents of the container.

[0037] The lid 3 in this embodiment has a deck 31 and a peripheral outer skirt 32 extending from the deck 31. The hinge 4 is located at the end of the skirt 32 remote from the deck 31 , during normal use in the closed state of the lid 3 this is the lower end of the skirt 32.

[0038] On the diametrically opposite side of the hinge 4 a locking tab 6 is arranged. The locking tab 6 is hingeably attached to the annular base 2 by an integral hinge 7, for example a film hinge or living hinge. In this embodiment, the hinge 7 of the locking tab 6 has a hinging axis which is parallel to the hinging axis 4 of the lid 3. This is however not strictly necessary. There are embodiments conceivable in which the hinging axis of the hinge of the locking tab is not parallel to the hinging axis of the hinge of the lid 3.

[0039] The locking tab 6 includes an engagement portion 61 adapted to engage the lid 3. The locking tab 6 is hingeable between a locking position shown in Figs 1 and 2, in which the engagement portion 61 engages the lid 3 and prevents that the lid 3 can be opened, and a releasing position, in which the locking tab 61 is swivelled away and disengaged from the lid 3 allowing opening of the lid 3 relative to the annular base 2. On the engagement portion 61 a locking lug 65 is formed. In this specific embodiment the locking tab 6 has a generally L-shaped cross-section, wherein the engagement portion 61 in the closed position of the locking tab 6 lies over a part of the deck of the lid 3. The locking tab 6 furthermore has a lever portion 62, which in the closed position lies along the skirt 32 of the lid 3, and which is connected with a proximal end 62A to the hinge 7 and with a distal end 62B to the engagement portion 61.

[0040] At an end of the engagement portion 61 facing away from the lever portion 62, the locking tab 6 has a recess 63 which is defined by a contour edge 64. This is best seen in Fig. 8.

[0041] The closure has a symmetry plane 10 which extends perpendicularly through the hinging axes of the hinges 4 and 7 as is illustrated in Fig. 3.A tamper-evident button 8 is connected to the contour edge 64 of the recess 63 by frangible connections 9. In this embodiment the tamper-evident button 8 and the contour edge are connected by four frangible connections 9 as is indicated in Fig. 3. One pair of frangible connections lies on one side of the symmetry plane 10 and another pair of frangible connections lies on the other side of the symmetry plane 10. As is visible in Fig. 3, one of the frangible connections 9 of one pair is located further away from the hinging axis of the hinge 7 of the locking tab 6 as the other frangible connection 9 of the pair.

[0042] The tamper-evident button 8 has coupling means 81 to couple the button 8 to the lid 3.

[0043] In this embodiment the coupling means 81 of the tamper-evident button 8 comprise a snap tongue 82 extending from a rear surface 80 of the tamper-evident button 8, in this case at the edge of the button 8 remote from the locking tab 6. The snap tongue 82 has a latching tooth 82A which is adapted to cooperate with a latching ridge. The snap tongue also has an integrally formed buttress portion 82B in the centre, which provides stiffness to the tongue 82 and counteracts undesired bending of the tongue 82. Furthermore the coupling means 81 comprise a guiding protrusion 83 extending from a rear surface 80 of the tamper-evident button 8. The guiding protrusion 83 is in the specific embodiment formed as a wall portion 83A with inclined lateral edges, which are tapering towards the free end of the wall portion 83A The guiding protrusion 83 furthermore comprises a buttress portion 83B formed integrally in the centre of the wall portion 83A, which buttress portion 83B is tapering towards the free end of the wall portion 83A, which is best seen in Figs 2 and 7.

[0044] The lid 3 includes an attachment wall portion 33 having a front surface 33A facing the rear surface 80 of the tamper-evident button 8. The attachment wall portion 33 in this embodiment lies recessed with respect to the deck 31 of the lid 3, as can be best seen in Fig. 2. In other words, in normal use, the attachment wall portion 33 lies at a lower level than the deck 31. The attachment wall portion 33 has an aperture 34 in it through which the snap tongue 82 can be inserted. Furthermore the attachment wall portion 33 has a further aperture 35 in it through which the guiding protrusion 83 can be inserted. In the shown embodiment the further aperture 35 has substantially a T-shape such that it corresponds to the cross section of the guiding protrusion 83. The aperture 35 could also have another suitable shape, for example a “+” shape or a “TT” shape. Before the button 8 is pushed in, the protrusion 83 is located above the aperture 35 as is shown in Fig. 2. Upon pushing the button 8 towards the attachment wall portion 33, the guiding protrusion 83 will be inserted in the aperture 35. In the fully pushed-in state (cf. Fig. 7) and the inclined edges of the wall portion 83A and the buttress portion 83B will have no or just a little clearance with respect to the end edges of the T-shaped aperture 35. Thereby the tamper-evident button 8 is held in the pushed-in state and prying loose of the button 8 is largely impeded.In the state of Fig. 2 the tamper-evident button 8 is not yet pushed in and still connected by the frangible connections 9 to the locking tab 6. The latching tooth 82A of the snap tongue is snapped behind a latching ridge 36 at the edge of the aperture 34 as can be seen in Fig. 2. This prevents that the button 8 can be retracted from this position. The tamper-evident button 8 has an outer surface. In this embodiment as shown in Figs 1 and 2 the outer surface of the tamper-evident button 8 lies flush with the outer surface of the deck 31 in the state before first-time opening of the closure.

[0045] A further latching ridge 37 is formed spaced apart from the latching ridge 36. When the push button 8 is pushed in when the closure is opened for the first-time, the latching tooth 82A of the snap tongue 82 will snap behind the latching ridge 37 as is shown in Fig. 7. Thereby the button 8 is fixed in the pushed-in position and cannot be retracted to the raised position.

[0046] The closure 1 as described in the above is manufactured by injection moulding it in one piece from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as for example PP. However also other materials or blends can be used. It is also possible to make the closure by means of 2K injection moulding.

[0047] The closure will be injection moulded in the open position as is shown in Figs 4 and 5. After sufficient curing of the thermoplastic material the closure 1 can be ejected from the mould and will be handled further in the state as is shown in Figs 4 and 5. Before the closure 1 can be assembled with a container the closure has to be closed and the tamper-evidence has to be arranged. This is done by first swivelling the lid 3 on the annular base 2 to a closed position and next swivelling the locking tab 6, with the tamper-evident button 8 attached thereto to a closed position. In the closed position of the locking tab 6 the engagement portion 61 thereof grips over the end of the lid 3 opposite the hinge 4 and the tamper-evident button 8 is positioned over the attachment wall portion. The button is moved towards the attachment wall portion 33 until the snap tongue 82 is inserted with its end into the corresponding aperture 34 in the attachment wall and the latching tooth 82A snaps behind the upper latching ridge 36. In this final state, which is shown in Figs 1-3, the closure 1 is ready for use and ready to be placed on and fixed to an open end of a container.

[0048] When placed on a container, the closure can be opened the first time by pushing the tamper-evident button 8 towards the attachment wall portion 33, thus in this embodiment pushing it downwardly during normal use in which the container is in an upright position. This state, in which the button 8 is pushed in, is shown in Figs 6 and 7. By pushing the button 8 with sufficient force the frangible connections 9 will be broken practically simultaneously, wherebythe button 8 can move downwardly. Thereby not only the tamper-evident button 8 has become detached from the locking tab 6, but also the contoured edge 64 is now reachable for a user, for example with a finger. The button 8 will snap into this “used” position by means of the latching tongue 82 and the latching rim 37 and will remain in this position, thereby clearly indicating that the tamper-evidence has been breached. The locking tab 6 can now be pulled at the contoured edge 64 and swivelled away from the lid 3 to a position that is shown in Fig.

[0049] 8. Now the lid 3 can be opened to provide access to the container through the access opening 5. After contents have been taken from the container the lid 3 can be closed again and the locking tab 6 can be swivelled back to the closed position. The lug 65 of the locking tab 6 snaps over an edge of the lid 3, thereby locking the lid 3 in the closed position, which is shown in Fig. 7.

[0050] In Figs. 9-15 another embodiment of a closure according to the invention is shown. This closure 101 is adapted to be placed and fixed on an open top side of a container, in this case a cylindrical container such as a can. Such containers can be used for holding powdered or granular products such as for example baby formula, milk powder, food supplements, etc.

[0051] The closure 101, which is shown in Figs 9 and 10 in a state in which it is assembled in an assembly line with the container, comprises an annular base 102 which can be placed over and fixed to an upper rim of the container. The annular base 102 comprises a skirt 121 which is provided with a locking rim 122 at an end remote from the lid 103, which is indicated in Fig.

[0052] 10. When the closure 101 is placed on the top end of the container, the locking rim 122 moves beyond an upper rim of the container and then grips behind a ledge or another peripheral protrusion formed at the upper rim, whereby the annular base 102 is fixedly attached to the container and cannot be removed.

[0053] Furthermore the closure comprises a lid 103, which is hingeably connected to the annular base 102. In this embodiment the closure 101 is made in one piece from a suitable thermoplastic material by injection moulding. The lid 103 and the annular base 102 are interconnected by a hinge 104, for example a living hinge or film hinge, which is formed in one piece with the lid 103 and the annular base 102. In a close position, as is shown in Figs 9 and 10, the lid 103 covers an access opening 105. The lid 103 can be swivelled open about the hinging axis of the hinge 104 towards an open position, in which the access opening 105 is uncovered by the lid 103 and a user has access to the contents of the container.The lid 103 in this embodiment has a deck 131 and a peripheral outer skirt 132 extending from the deck 131. The hinge 104 is located at the end of the skirt 132 remote from the deck 131, during normal use in the closed state of the lid 103 this is the lower end of the skirt 132.

[0054] On the diametrically opposite side of the hinge 104 a locking tab 106 is arranged. The locking tab 106 is hingeably attached to the annular base 102 by an integral hinge 107, for example a film hinge or living hinge. In the shown embodiment the hinge 107 of the locking tab 106 has a hinging axis which is parallel to the hinging axis 104 of the lid 103, although there are other embodiments conceivable in which the hinging axes are not parallel.

[0055] The locking tab 106 includes an engagement portion 161 adapted to engage the lid 103. The locking tab 106 is hingeable between a locking position shown in Figs 9, 10 and 13, in which the engagement portion 161 engages the lid 103 and prevents that the lid 103 can be opened, and a releasing position shown in Figs 14 and 15, in which the locking tab 161 is swivelled away and disengaged from the lid 103 allowing opening of the lid 103 relative to the annular base 102. On the engagement portion 161 a locking lug 165 is formed. In this specific embodiment the locking tab 106 has an annular shape. The engagement portion 161 in the closed position of the locking tab 106 snaps with the locking lug 165 over a snap rim 138 on the edge of the deck of the lid 103 as is visible in Figs 10 and 13.

[0056] The locking tab 106 is as mentioned of annular shape and has a recess 163 which is defined by a closed contour edge 164. The recess 163 and the edge 164 are best seen in Fig. 14.

[0057] The closure has a symmetry plane which extends perpendicularly through the hinging axes of the hinges 104 and 107 comparable to what is illustrated in Fig. 3. The symmetry plane 110 is shown in Fig. 9A.

[0058] A tamper-evident button 108 is connected to the contour edge 164 of the recess 163 by frangible connections 109. In this embodiment the tamper-evident button 108 and the contour edge 164 are connected by four frangible connections 109 as is indicated in Fig. 9. The frangible connections 109 are distributed over the circumference. One pair of frangible connections lies on one side of the symmetry plane 110 and another pair of frangible connections lies on the other side of the symmetry plane 110. As is visible in Fig. 9 and Fig.

[0059] 9A, one of the frangible connections 109 of one pair is located further away from the hinging axis of the hinge 107 of the locking tab 106 as the other frangible connection 109 of the pair.The tamper-evident button 108 has coupling means 181 to couple the button 108 to the lid 103. In this embodiment the coupling means 181 of the tamper-evident button 108 comprise a pair of snap tongues 182 spaced apart from each other and extending from a rear surface 180 of the tamper-evident button 108. The snap tongues 182 have a latching tooth 182A which is adapted to cooperate with a latching ridge. In the embodiment shown, the snap tongues 182 are located each on one side of the symmetry plane 110.

[0060] The lid 103 includes an attachment wall portion 133 having a front surface 133A facing the rear surface 180 of the tamper-evident button 108. The attachment wall portion 133 in this embodiment lies recessed with respect to the skirt 132 of the lid 3, as can be best seen in Fig. 11. In other words, in normal use, the attachment wall portion 133 is offset inwardly with respect to the peripheral skirt 132. The attachment wall portion 133 has a pair of apertures 134 in it, which are best visible in Fig. 11A. The snap tongues 182 can be inserted through the apertures 134. In front of the attachment wall portion 133 an annularly shaped ornament 139 is formed integrally with the skirt 132. The ornament 139 defines an opening 140. The annular locking tab 106 fits in the closed position over the ornament 139 (see Fig. 13) such that the recess 163 of the locking tab 106 and the opening defined by the ornament 139 are aligned.

[0061] In the state of Fig. 10 the tamper-evident button 108 is not yet pushed in and still connected by the frangible connections 109 to the locking tab 106. The latching tooth 182A of each of the snap tongues 182 is snapped behind a corresponding latching ridge 136 at the edge of the corresponding aperture 134. This prevents that the button 108 can be retracted from this position. The tamper-evident button 108 has an outer surface. In this embodiment as shown in Figs 9 and 10 the outer surface of the tamper-evident button 108 as well as the outer surface of the annular locking tab 106 lie practically flush with the outer surface of the skirt 132 in the state before first-time opening of the closure.

[0062] Further latching ridges 137 are formed spaced apart from the latching ridge 136, see Fig. 10. When the push button 108 is pushed in during first-time opening of the closure, the latching tooth 182A of each of the snap tongues 182 will snap behind the corresponding latching ridge 137. This state is shown in Fig. 13. Thereby the button 108 is fixed in the pushed-in position and cannot be moved backwards to the position where it was flush with the skirt 132 of the lid 103 and the annular locking tab 106.

[0063] The closure 101 as described in the above is manufactured by injection moulding it in one piece from a suitable thermoplastic material, such as for example PP. However also othermaterials or blends can be used. It is also possible to make the closure by means of 2K injection moulding.

[0064] The closure 101 will be injection moulded in the open position as is shown in Fig. 11. After sufficient curing of the thermoplastic material the closure 101 can be ejected from the mould and will be handled further in the state as is shown in Fig. 11. Before the closure 101 can be assembled with a container the closure has to be closed and the tamper-evidence has to be arranged. This is done by first swivelling the lid 103 on the annular base 102 to a closed position and next swivelling the locking tab 106, with the tamper-evident button 108 attached thereto to a closed position. In the closed position of the locking tab 106 the engagement portion 161 thereof grips over the end of the lid 103 opposite the hinge 104 (at the snap rim 138) and the tamper-evident button 108 is positioned in front of the attachment wall portion 133. The button 108 is moved towards the attachment wall portion 133 until the snap tongues 182 are inserted with their ends into the corresponding apertures 134 in the attachment wall portion 133 and the latching tooth 182A snaps behind the edge of the aperture 134 or a latching ridge formed there. In this final state, which is shown in Figs 9, 9A and 10, the closure 101 is ready for use and ready to be placed on and fixed to an open end of a container.

[0065] When placed on a container, the closure 101 can be opened the first time by pushing the tamper-evident button 108 towards the attachment wall portion 133, thus in this embodiment pushing it radially inward during normal use. This state, in which the button 108 is pushed in, is shown in Figs 12 and 13. By pushing the button 108 with sufficient force the frangible connections 109 will be broken practically simultaneously, whereby the button 108 can move inwardly. Thereby the tamper-evident button 108 has become detached from the locking tab 106. The button 108 will snap into this “used” position by means of the latching tongues 182 and the latching rims 137 and will remain in this position, thereby clearly indicating that the tamper-evidence has been breached. The locking tab 106 can now be pulled at the upper edge thereof (at the portion 161, see Fig. 12) and swivelled away from the lid 103 to a position that is shown in Figs 14 and 15. To improve the grip on the upper end of the locking tab, the deck of the lid 103 is formed with a local indent 135. Now the lid 103 can be opened to provide access to the container through the access opening 105. After contents have been taken from the container the lid 103 can be closed again and the locking tab 106 can be swivelled back to the closed position. The lug 165 of the locking tab 106 snaps over an edge of the lid 103 having a snap rim 138, thereby locking the lid 103 in the closed position, which is shown in Fig. 13.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Closure for a container, wherein said container has an open top side defined by an upper rim surrounding said open top side, the closure comprising:- an annular base to be fixed to the upper rim of the container and defining an access opening to the container,- a lid adapted to cover the access opening in a closed position and to be moved to an open position, in which the access opening is unblocked by the lid, - a locking tab hingeably attached to the base, the locking tab having an engagement portion adapted to engage the lid, the locking tab being hingeable about a hinging axis between a locking position, in which the engagement portion engages the lid and prevents movement of the lid relative to the annular base, and a releasing position, in which the locking tab is moved away from the lid allowing opening of the lid relative to the annular base,- a tamper-evident button connected to the locking tab by frangible connections, the tamper-evident button having coupling means to couple the button to the lid,characterized in thatthe locking tab has a contour edge defining a recess, the tamper-evident button being received at least partially in said recess, wherein the contour edge of the recess and the tamper-evident button are connected by the frangible connections, wherein a part of the frangible connections is located at a different distance from the hinging axis of the locking tab as another part of the frangible connections.

2. Closure according to claim 1, the coupling means of the tamper-evident button comprises at least one snap tongue extending from a rear surface of the tamper- evident button, wherein the lid includes an attachment wall portion having a front surface facing the rear surface of the tamper-evident button and wherein the attachment wall portion has at least one aperture in it, the at least one snap tongue being adapted to be inserted in the at least one aperture.

3. Closure according to claim 2, wherein the lid has a deck and, optionally, a peripheral outer skirt extending from the deck, wherein the attachment wall portion lies recessed with respect to the deck.

4. Closure according to claim 3, wherein the tamper-evident button has an outer surface and wherein in a state before first-time opening of the closure, the outer surface of the tamper-evident button lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the deck.

5. Closure according to claim 2, wherein the lid has a deck and a peripheral outer skirt extending from the deck, and wherein the attachment wall portion lies recessed with respect to the outer skirt.

6. Closure according to claim 5, wherein the tamper-evident button has an outer surface and wherein in a state before first-time opening of the closure, the outer surface of the tamper-evident button lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the skirt.

7. Closure according to any one of the claims 2-6, wherein seen from the tamper-evident button there is formed at least one latching ridge behind and spaced apart from the attachment wall portion, which latching ridge is configured and arranged to cooperate with the at least one snap tongue to hold the tamper-evident button in a pushed-in state after first- time use.

8. Closure according to any one of the claims 2-7, wherein the tamper-evident button has two or more snap tongues.

9. Closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of frangible connections is at least three, preferably at least four.

10. Closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking tab has an annular shape wherein the recess is defined by a closed contour edge.

11. Closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure is injection moulded in one piece, preferably from a thermoplastic material such as PP or PE.

12. Assembly of a container having an open top side defined by an upper rim surrounding said open top side and a closure according to any one of the preceding claims.

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