AU772977B2 - Closure - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): AMCOR PACKAGING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD A.C.N. 004 275 165 Invention Title:

CLOSURE

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2

CLOSURE

The present invention relates to a closure for a container.

The present invention relates particularly, although by no means exclusively, to a closure that is an alternative to conventional internally threaded closures that are adapted to be positioned on complementary externally threaded necks of aerated beverage containers.

The threaded necks of aerated beverage containers formed from plastics materials, such as polyethylene 15 terepthalate, account for a significant proportion, typically 10%, of the total weight of the containers. The relatively high materials requirements for the container necks is necessary to provide neck constructions that can cooperate with threaded closures to provide an adequate seal to withstand internal pressures generated when containers are filled with an aerated beverage and to enable adequate resealing of the containers after the containers have been opened and portions of the contents consumed.

It can readily be appreciated that the relatively high materials requirements for the container necks is a substantial cost component in the manufacture of the containers.

An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative closure that is suitable for use with containers for aerated beverages.

According to the present invention there is provided a closure for a container, the container having an opening, the closure comprising a cap to close the H:\Mari\Keep\AMCOR PP7929 CLOSURE.rdoc 23/12/99 3 container opening, the cap including: a top wall, (ii) a side wall, (iii)a closure member that can be moved into a closed position in which the closure member engages a reaction surface of the container and thereby resists release of the cap from the container and generates a downwardly-acting force which results in a seal being formed between the cap and the container, the closure member being integrally formed with the side wall so that the closure member can move in an overcentre action between an open position in which the closure member does not engage the reaction surface and the closed position in which the closure member engages the reaction surface.

It is preferred that the reaction surface be part of an outer surface of the container.

The reaction surface may be of any suitable configuration.

It is preferred that the reaction surface be in the form of an undercut surface in the outer surface of the container.

It is preferred that the undercut surface extend S• around the circumference of the container at that location on the container.

35 The closure member may be any suitable configuration.

\\melb-fi es\homeS\stella\Keep\Speci\AMCOR 65502-99.doc 18/03/04 4 It is preferred that the closure member be a lever.

It is preferred particularly that the lever be connected at its fulcrum to the side wall of the cap and comprises: one end for contacting the reaction surface; and (ii) an opposed end that can be manipulated by a person to move the closure member between the open and the closed positions.

The closure may include an internal circumferential bead on the side wall of the cap which contacts a section of the outer surface of the container with an interference fit when the closure member is in the open position and forms a seal between the cap and the container. Thus, with this arrangement the closure seals the container opening even in situations where the closure oo. :member is in the open position.

o. It is preferred that the bead contact the section of the outer surface of the container with the interference fit after being snap-fitted over an external bead of the container.

Preferably the external bead of the container is at a location that is closer than the reaction surface to the container opening.

o It is preferred that the closure member comprise *two webs, one on each side of the lever and that the webs o 35 connect together the side wall of the cap and one or more of sections of the lever located between the fulcrum and the said opposed end of the lever.

\\melbfiles\home$\stella\Keep\Speci\ACOR 65502-99.doc 18/03/04 5 It is preferred that the joint between each web and the side wall, as viewed in front elevation, be upwardly curved away from the lever. The applicant has found that the upward curve of the webs contributes to the overcentre action of the lever.

It is preferred that the cap be formed from a plastics material.

It is preferred that the closure further comprises a tamper evident means.

It is preferred that the closure further includes a hinge member that interconnects the band and the cap.

It is preferred that the tamper evident means comprises a band connected to the cap by frangible bridges.

According to the present invention there is also provided an assembly of a container and a closure, as described above.

0. The present invention is described further by way 25 of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one preferred embodiment of a closure in accordance with the present 30 invention located in a closed position on a container neck; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the closure/container neck assembly shown in the direction of 35 the arrow A in Figure 1; \\melb_files\home$\stella\Keep\Speci\AMCOR 65502-99.doc 18/03/04 5a Figure 3 is a side elevation of the closure/container assembly in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the closure; 0.

of 0 to o* *to \\melbfiles\home$\stella\Keep\Speci\AMCOR 65502-99.doc 18/03/04 6 Figure 5 is a side elevation of the closure/container in the orientation of Figure 1 with the closure member in a partially raised position; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the closure/container in the orientation of Figures 1 and 5 with the closure member in a fully raised (open) position; Figure 7 is a section along the line 7-7 in Figure 1; Figure 8 is section along the line 8-8 in Figure 1; S Figure 9 is a section along the line 9-9 in Figure oo o Figure 10 is a section along the line 10-10 in 20 Figure 6; Figure 11 is a side elevation of the closure/container in the direction of the arrow C in Figure Figure 12 is a side elevation on the closure/container in the direction of arrow D in Figure 6; Figure 13 is a partial cross-section, partial side elevation, of another preferred embodiment of a closure in accordance with the present invention in an asmoulded form with the closure member in a raised (open) position and the petals of the tamper-evident band extending downwardly; Figure 14 is a top plan view of the closure shown in Figure 13; H :\Mari \Keep\AMCOR PP7929 CLOSURE.doc 23/12/99 7 Figure 15 is a front elevation of the cap of the closure shown in Figures 13 and 14; Figure 16 is a rear elevation of the cap of the closure shown in Figures 13 to 15; and Figures 17 and 18 are perspective views of another preferred embodiment of a closure in accordance with the present invention with the closure member in a raised (open) position and the tamper evident band in an operative position; Figure 19 is a vertical section of the closure 15 shown in Figures 17 and 18 with the tamper evident petals in an as-moulded inoperative position; and Figures 20 to 22 are a series of detailed sections which illustrate the range of movements of the closure member of the closure shown in Figures 17 to 19 "from an open position to a closed position The preferred embodiments of the closure of the present invention shown in the figures are adapted particularly for use in conjunction with containers for aerated beverages, and the preferred embodiments are described in this context.

Nevertheless, the closure of the present invention is not limited to this application and may be used in conjunction with containers for aerated and nonaerated beverages.

The container, which is generally identified by the numeral 3, shown in the figures comprises a neck 5 that defines an opening of the container 3.

H:\Maria\Keep\AMCOR PP7929 CLOSURE.do 23/12/99 8 Figures 1, 2 and 8 illustrate one preferred embodiment of the closure 1 in a closed position on the container neck 5, ie in a position in which the closure 1 seals the container opening.

With particular reference initially to Figure 8, and as is also shown in Figures 9 and 10, the outer surface of the container neck 5 comprises a circumferential undercut 7 which, as is described hereinafter, cooperates with a closure member of the closure 1.

With further reference to Figure 8, the outer surface of the neck 5 further comprises a shoulder 9 which, as is hereinafter described, retains a tamper-evident band 15 of the closure 1 on the container 3.

With reference generally to Figures 1 to 12, the closure 1 comprises a cap, generally identified by the numeral 11, having a top wall 13 and a downwardly depending 20 side wall go o oo.

The closure 1 further comprises a tamper-evident band 17 which is connected to the lower edge of the side °o wall 15 by frangible bridges 19. The tamper-evident band oo° may be of any suitable configuration. In the arrangement shown, the diameter of the band 17 is selected to be less than that of the shoulder 9. In use, when the closure 1 is positioned initially on the container 3, the band 17 is axially below the shoulder 9 so that the wider diameter of the shoulder 9 retains the band 17 on the container 3.

The above-described arrangement is such that the closure can be released from the closed position on the container neck 5 by lifting the cap 11 upwardly. The shoulder 9 of the container neck 5 limits upward axial movement of the band 17 and, as a conseguence, sufficient lifting movement of the cap 11 severs the bridges 19 that H:\Maria\Keep\AMCOR PP7929 CLOSURE.doc 23/12/99 9 interconnect the cap 11 and the band 17.

The cap 11 and the tamper-evident band 17 are interconnected by a hinge member 21. In effect, the hinge member 21 tethers the cap 11 to the container 3 after the cap 11 is released from the container neck The cap 11 comprises a closure member in the form of a lever 25 which, when the closure is in the closed position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8, engages the undercut 7 and thereby: resists release of the cap 11 from the container; and (ii) generates a downward-acting force which positions the top wall 13 of the cap 11 firmly against the rim 71 of the container neck 5 and forms a seal between the closure 20 and the container.

*V

In order to improve the quality of this seal, a layer 73 of a suitable sealing compound is provided on the inner surface of the top wall 13 in the region of the rim 25 71 and is sandwiched between the top wall 13 and the rim 71 when the closure is in the closed position.

More particularly, the lever 25 is connected at its fulcrum 26 (Figures 8-10) to the side wall 15. An inwardly extending end of the lever 25 is shaped to conform to the profile of the undercut surface 7 and an outwardly extending end is formed as a member that can be manipulated by a person to move the lever, as required, between a raised (open) position shown in Figures 6, 10 and 12 and a lowered (closed) position shown in Figures 1, 8 and 12. An intermediate position of the lever 25 is illustrated in Figures 5, 9 and 11.

H:\Maria\Keep\AMCOR PP7929 CLOSURE.doc 23/12/99 10 In addition to the connection between the lever and the side wall 15 at the fulcrum 26 of the lever the cap 15 further comprises a pair of webs 28, one on each side of the lever 25, that connect together the lever and the side wall The effect of the webs 28 is to control the movement of the lever 25 between the r aised and lowered positions to be via an overcentre action in which the lever snaps firmly into the lowered position.

The cap 11 comprises a circumferential bead 23 :which extends inwardly from the side wall of the cap 11.

:15 The bead 23 extends substantially around the circumference of the side wall 15 and is positioned so that it contacts the undercut 7 as can best be seen in Figures 8 to The bead 23 contacts the undercut 7 with an interference fit when the lever 25 is in the raised position and, consequently, the bead 23 forms a seal between the closure and the container when the lever is in this position.

When the lever 25 is in the raised position the :cap 11 can readily be lifted clear of the container neck to allow the contents of the container 3 to be dispensed.

In this connection, with reference to Figure 10, in the raised position of the lever 25 the inwardly extending end of the lever 25 does not engage the neck 5, and in this position the bead 23 can be manipulated over the undercut 7 so that the cap 11 can easily be lifted away from the neck to allow access to the container.

With further reference to Figure 10, and with reference to Figure 8 and 9, downward movement of the lever 25 from the raised position shown in Figure 10 to the lowered position shown in Figure 8 rotates inwardly the section of the bead 23 that forms the inwardly extending H:\Maria\Keep\AICOR PP7929 cLoSUREdoc 23/12/99 11 end of the lever 25 initially against the neck 5 and then progressively upwardly and inwardly to engage the undercut 7. This engagement of the lever 25 and the undercut surface 7 has the effect of retaining the cap 11 of the container and of generating the above-described downwardly acting force which results in the seal between the top wall 13 and the container rim 71.

With particular reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7, the lever 25 comprises a pair of spaced-apart inturned flanges 61 which are adapted to frictionally engage the outer surfaces of a pair of outwardly extending projections 63 on the tamper-evident band 17 when the lever 25 is in the lowered position. The frictional engagement assists in 15 retaining the lever 25 in the lowered position.

The preferred embodiment of the closure shown in Figures 13 to 16 is similar conceptually and in detail to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 12, and the same reference numerals are used to describe the same parts/components in both embodiments.

**SSS.

One particular feature of the embodiment shown in Figures 13 to 16 is that the join between each web 28 and the side wall 15 defines an upturned curve from the lever as viewed in front elevation. The applicant has found that this feature contributes to the overcentre action of the lever 25 and brings the lever 25 closely against the side wall 15 when the lever 25 is in the closed position.

Another particular feature of the embodiment shown in Figures 13 to 16 is that the bead 23 and the bead 23 is not positioned to contact the undercut 7.

Specifically, the bead 23 is positioned above the level of the undercut 7 and is formed as a continuous bead and thereby improves the quality of the seal between the closure and the container when the lever 25 is in the H:\Mri\Kee\ACOR PP7929 CLOSURE.doc 23/12/99 12 raised position. With this arrangement the undercut 7 is provided to engage only the lever The preferred embodiment of the closure shown in Figures 17 to 22 is similar conceptually to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 16 and is similar in detail to the embodiment shown in Figures 13 to 16. One particular feature of the embodiment is that the container neck 5 is formed with an outwardly extending bead 75 which has an undercut surface 72 that is contacted by the bead 23 when the closure is positioned on the container. As a consequence, in order to initially locate the closure on the container after the container has been filled, which is done with the lever 25 in the raised position, it is 15 necessary to snap-fit the bead 23 over the bead 75. This sees snap-over interference fit of the bead 23 improves the seal formed between the bead 23 and the undercut surface 77 while the lever 25 is in the raised position.

As with the other embodiments there is a further (and primary) seal formed by contact of the top wall 13 against the rim 71 of the container neck 5 when the lever is in the closed position.

The above-described closures 1 have a number of important features.

Firstly, the closures 1 are an alternative to the conventional screw threaded arrangement and makes it possible to reduce substantially the materials requirements for container necks.

Furthermore, the levers 25 make it possible to reseal the containers 3 in a secure manner.

Furthermore, the overcentre action of the levers firmly locates the levers 25 in the closed position and H:\Maria\Keep\AMCOR PP7929 CLOSURE.doc 23/12/99 13 holds the levers 25 closely against the Bide walls 15 of the caps 11. This minimises the possibility of the levers being accidentally displaced.

Many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

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Claims (11)

1. A closure for a container, the container having an opening, the closure comprising a cap to close the container opening, the cap including: a top wall, (ii) a side wall, (iii)a closure member that can be moved into a closed position in which the closure member engages a reaction surface of the container and thereby resists release of the cap from the container and generates a downwardly- acting force which results in a seal being formed between the cap and the container, the closure member being integrally formed with the side wall so that the closure member can move in an overcentre action between an open position in which the closure member does not engage the reaction surface and the closed position in which the closure member engages the reaction surface.

2. The closure defined in claim 1 wherein the reaction surface is part of an outer surface of the container. *:so 30 3. The closure defined in claim 2 wherein the reaction surface is in the form of an undercut surface in the outer surface of the container.

4. The closure defined in claim 3 wherein the *eso: 35 undercut surface extends around the circumference of the container at that location on the container. \\melb files\homeS\stella\Keep\Speci\AMCOR 65502-99.doc 18/03/04 15 The closure defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure member is a lever.

6. The closure defined in claim 5 wherein the lever is connected at its fulcrum to the side wall of the cap and includes: one end for contacting the reaction surface; and (ii) an opposed end that can be manipulated by a person to move the closure member between the open and the closed positions.

7. The closure defined in claim 5 wherein the closure member comprise two webs, one of each side of the lever and the webs connect together the side wall of the cap and one or more sections of the lever located between the fulcrum and the said opposed end of the lever.

8. The closure defined in any one of the S preceding claims further includes an internal circumferential bead on the side wall of the cap which o: contacts a section of the outer surface of the container with an interference fit when the closure member is in the open position and forms a seal between the cap and the container.

9. The closure defined in claim 8 wherein the 30 bead contacts the section of the outer surface of the container with the interference fit after being snap- fitted over an external bead of the container. The closure defined in claim 9 wherein the external bead of the container is at a location that is closer than the reaction surface to the container opening. \\melb_files\home\stella\Keep\Speci\AMCOR 65502-99.doc 18/03/04 16

11. The closure defined in any one of the preceding claims further includes a tamper evident means.

12. The closure defined in claim 11 wherein the tamper evident means is a tamper evident band and a plurality of frangible bridges that connect the band to a lower edge of the side wall of the cap.

13. The closure defined in claim 12 further includes a hinge member that interconnects the band and the cap.

14. A closure for a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An assembly of a container and the closure defined in any one of the preceding claims. *o 20 Dated this 18th day of March 2004 AMCOR PACKAGING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD o By their Patent Attorneys S: GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia 00 oo* o* go *oooo o o \\melb-files\homeS\stella\Keep\Speci \ACOR 65502.99.doc 18/03/04