Closure with tamper band and spout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10351315-B2
Application number	US-201715709417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2017
Priority date	Sep 19, 2017
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A tamper evident closure and spout are provided. The closure includes a tamper-indicating band extending from a central wall. Formed about the tamper band are one or more spout engagement structures. Also provided about the tamper band may be one or more knuckles that assist in distorting the tamper band upon initial removal of the closure from a spout so as to increase the ease with which the tamper band can be identified as having been broken upon visual inspection by a user. The spout includes a wall portion and a central channel extending through the wall portion between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Located about an outer portion of the spout are one or more tamper band engagement structures configured to engage a tamper band and which assist in breaking and distorting a tamper band upon initial removal of a closure from the spout.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spout and closure assembly comprising:
a spout comprising:
a central channel extending through a wall portion between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the channel surrounding a central axis of the spout;
an attachment portion located about a lower outer surface of the wall portion, the attachment portion configured for attaching the closure assembly to a container;
a thread located about an upper outer surface of the wall portion;
an annular flange extending about the upper outer surface of the wall portion at a location below a lower end of the thread;
a support structure extending about the upper outer surface of the wall portion at a location below a lower surface of the annular flange, the diameter of the annular flange being greater than the diameter of the support structure; and
a wall structure extending downwards from and along a portion of the lower surface of the annular flange adjacent the outer periphery of the outer flange;
at least a portion of an inner surface of the wall structure positioned opposite at least a portion of an outer surface of the support structure;
a keyway defined between the portions of the inner surface of the wall structure and the portions of the outer surface of the support structure positioned opposite one another;
wherein a width of the keyway as measured in a radial direction at a point along the wall structure located between a first end of the wall structure and a second end of the wall structure is less than a width of the keyway as measured in a radial direction at the first end of the wall structure; and

a closure configured to be attached to the spout, the closure comprising:
a central wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
a thread formed on the inner surface configured to engage the thread of the spout; and
a tamper-indicating band extending from a lower surface of the central wall, the tamper band comprising:
an outer wall portion extending downwardly from the central wall;
a frangible bridge attaching a first end of the outer wall portion to a portion of the tamper band adjacent the first end of the outer wall portion; and
an engagement wall having a bottom end and a top end extending between the first end and a second end of the outer wall portion, the bottom end of the engagement wall attached to and extending radially inward and upward from a lower portion of the outer wall portion, wherein the top end of the engagement wall defines an upper engagement surface;
wherein a width of the engagement wall as measured in a radial direction is substantially the same as the width of a narrowest portion of the keyway;

wherein, in an initial, assembled configuration, the threads of the closure engage the threads of the spout to seal the inlet opening of the spout, and the engagement wall of the tamper band is located below the annular flange and radially outwards relative to the support structure, such that the upper engagement surface of the engagement wall is spaced opposite the lower surface of the upper flange;

wherein, upon initial removal of the closure from the spout, as the closure is rotated relative to the spout a first end of the engagement wall enters into the keyway, the upper engagement surface of the engagement wall is brought into contact with the lower surface of the annular flange, and the frangible bridge is broken.

2. The spout and closure assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a container filled with contents attached to the spout along the attachment portion.

3. The spout and closure assembly of claim 1 , wherein, upon initial removal of the closure from the spout, the engagement wall encounters both radial and axial resistance to movement of the engagement wall as the closure is rotated relative to the spout.

4. The spout and closure assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge, the hinge attaching the second end of the outer wall portion to a portion of the tamper band adjacent the second end of the outer wall portion.

5. The spout and closure assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an arm element extending generally perpendicularly outwards along the lower surface of the annular flange from the outer surface of the wall portion to the outer periphery of the annular flange, an outermost end of the arm element attached to the second end of the wall structure.

Assignees

• Silgan White Cap LLC

Inventors

• Berge Gary

Classifications

• B65D2401/30

  Tamper-ring remaining connected to closure after initial removal · CPC title

• B65D2401/25

  Non-metallic tear-off strips · CPC title

• B65D75/008

  Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel" · CPC title

• B65D75/5883 Primary

  connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls · CPC title

• B65D55/022

  with ratchet effect between relatively rotating parts (B65D41/3404, B65D50/04 take precedence) · CPC title