Cap with a tamper evidence and a spout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10232977-B2
Application number	US-201715822842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2017
Priority date	May 20, 2010
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

A cap arranged to interact with a spout. The cap includes a top section, a side wall section attached to the top section and a tamper element attached to the side wall section in a tearing interface. The tearing interface may be provided with a weakening line that is arranged to break when the cap is unscrewed such that the tamper element is separated from the side wall section. The cap further includes at least one resilient cutting element arranged to the side wall. The at least one resilient cutting element is arranged to cut off a membrane of the spout when the cap is unscrewed. The cap is arranged such that the weakening line is arranged to break before the membrane of the spout is cut off when the cap is being unscrewed from the spout.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cap arranged to interact with a spout, said cap comprising:
a top section;
a side wall section attached to said top section;
at least one resilient cutting element fixed to said side wall, said at least one resilient cutting element being configured to cut off a membrane of said spout when said cap is unscrewed;
said at least one resilient cutting element possessing a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the side wall section of the cap and the second end being a free end configured to cut off the membrane of the spout;
between the first and second ends of the at least one resilient cutting element, the at least one resilient cutting element is devoid of structure that contacts the membrane when the second end of the resilient cutting element cuts off the membrane of the spout during unscrewing of the cap;
said at least one resilient cutting element being directed radially inwards by contacting a membrane projection, said membrane projection being formed by an end of said membrane extending radially outside of said spout; and
said second end of said at least one resilient cutting element extending towards said top section of said cap after cutting off said membrane of said spout.

2. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein said cap is molded in one piece.

3. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein said cap is made of polypropylene.

4. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient cutting element is configured to contact the membrane projection before contacting any other surface of said spout.

5. The cap according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tamper element attached to said side wall section in a tearing interface, said tearing interface being provided with a weakening line, said weakening line being arranged to break when said cap is unscrewed such that said tamper element is separated from said side wall section; and
said at least one resilient cutting element possessing a length such that said weakening line breaks before said membrane of said spout is cut off by said at least one resilient cutting element.

6. The cap according to claim 5 , wherein said tamper element is a tamper ring.

7. The cap according to claim 5 , wherein a tamper element projection is attached to said tamper element.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance
• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finances S A

Inventors

• DAHL Göran
• Håkansson Bengt

Classifications

• B65D41/3404

  with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element · CPC title

• B65D2251/0093

  Membrane · CPC title

• B65D2251/0015

  of the 41-type · CPC title

• B65D41/3423

  with flexible tabs, or elements rotated from a non-engaging to an engaging position, formed on the tamper element or in the closure skirt (B65D41/3404 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D51/228

  a major part of the inner closure being removed from the container after the opening · CPC title