Tamper evident multiple door closure

• US 7,114,627 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J L Clarke Incorporated
• Original Assignee: J.L. CLARK, INC. (Henry Crown & Co.)
• Inventors: Solowiejko, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien M.
• Application Number:
  US11/342,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20060118556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 220/258.3, 220/258.4, 220/258.5, 220/266, 220/267, 220/265, 2202541-2549, 220/257.1, 215/901, 222/480, 222/482, 222/153.06, 222/541.1, 222/541.6
• US Class Current: 220/254.2
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0017 moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/21 said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30221 said melt initiators being point-like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/542 joining hollow covers or hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/712 Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/022 the bottom presenting projecting peripheral elements receiving or surrounding the closure or peripheral elements projecting therefrom B65D21/0222 and B65D21/0223 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/05 Tearable non-integral strips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/20 Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt tear-off strips B65D2401/25
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00101 square-like or rectangular-like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00194 square or rectangular with curved sides B65D2543/00101
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00379 hinged or articulated, i.e. made of two or more parts hinged one to another
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00481 on the inside or the outside of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00555 on both the inside and the outside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2547/06 with pouring spouts ot tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0847 located within a flat surface of the base element

Abstract

A server lid for a container with an integral tear strip tamper evident feature is presented. A tear strip for the tamper evident feature is molded as an adjunct to a base member which forms the closure. The tear strip is joined to the base by at least one frangible web, and hinges about the frangible web to overlie front edges of one or more flaps formed in the server lid. Ultrasonic welds connect the overlying tear strip to the flaps or adjacent the flaps for providing a tamper evident feature. The shape of the server lid provides stackability in that the base rim of the container will fit over the upper portion of the lid, including frangible webs to allow interfitting of one container bottom with the container closure of the next, to allow the containers to be stacked on a shelf without substantial danger of slipping or tipping.

Claims

1. A closure for a container, the closure being a single molded plastic unit and comprising in combination:

a base member having a plurality of arcuate shaped sides and constructed to overlie and fit to an associated container, the base member having a plurality of dispensing openings formed therein and a sloped platform;

a plurality of flaps joined to the base member at an elongated hinge line and positioned for closing the dispensing openings, the flaps having front edges opposite to and parallel to the hinge line, the sloped platform connected to the elongated hinge line;

a tear strip formed on an edge of the base opposite the hinge line and sloped platform and connected to the base by at least one frangible web, the tear strip hinging about the frangible web to a position overlying the front edges of the flaps; and

plastic welds for connecting the overlying edge of the tear strip to provide a tamper evident feature.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the tear strip is located along one of the plurality of arcuate shaped sides and wherein the overlying edge of the tear strip is curved such that the tear strip lies flat on the front edges of the flaps.

3. The closure of claim 2 wherein the front edges of the flaps form are sloped with respect to the flaps and the overlying edge of the tear strip lies on the sloped front edges.

4. The closure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plastic welds connects the tear strip to one of the flaps.

5. The closure of claim 4 wherein at least one of the plastic welds connects the tear strip to a portion of the base member adjacent a flap front.

6. The closure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plastic welds connects the tear strip to a portion of the base member adjacent a flap front.

7. The closure of claim 1 in which at least some of the plastic welds connect the tear strip to the flaps on the upper surface of the flaps near the front edges thereof.

8. The closure of claim 7 in which the closure provides three dispensing openings, three flaps for individually closing the dispensing openings, and wherein the tear strip has plastic welds to at least two of the flaps.

9. The closure of claim 1 wherein the frangible webs of the tear strip have an upstanding shoulder connected to a horizontal ledge such that when the tear strip is sealed over the flaps, the tear strip presents a stacking shoulder.

10. The closure of claim 1 in which the base member has a peripheral shoulder for providing a stacking ledge, and wherein the tear strip has a profile which is shouldered to provide a stacking rim.

11. The closure of claim 1 in which five frangible webs interconnect the tear strip to the base member.

12. The closure of claim 1 in which the panel has three flaps, and a plurality of welds provide a tamper evident feature for all of the flaps.

13. The closure of claim 12 wherein a plurality of projections define the position of the welds, and the welds are ultrasonic welds.

14. The closure of claim 13 wherein the plurality of projections are formed on the tear strip.

15. A closure for a container, the closure being a single molded plastic unit and comprising in combination:

a base member constructed to close an open end of an associated container, the base member having at least one dispensing opening formed therein and a sloped platform opposite the at least one dispensing opening;

a flap joined to the base member at a hinge line along one edge of the base, the flap being positioned to close the dispensing opening, and when closed, having a front edge which is opposite to and parallel to the hinge line, the sloped platform having an edge along the hinge line;

a tear strip formed on an edge of the base opposite the hinge line and connected to the base by at least one frangible web, the tear strip hinging about the frangible web to a position overlying the front edge of the flap; and

at least one plastic weld for connecting the overlying edge of the tear strip to the flap to provide a tamper evident feature.

16. The closure of claim 15 wherein at least one of the plastic welds connects the tear strip to a portion of the base member adjacent a flap front.

17. The closure of claim 15 wherein the frangible webs of the tear strip have an upstanding shoulder connected to a horizontal ledge such that when the tear strip is sealed over the flaps, the tear strip presents a stacking shoulder.

18. The closure of claim 15 wherein a plurality of projections define the position of the welds, and the welds are ultrasonic welds.

19. The closure of claim 15 wherein the base member has a plurality of curved sides and the tear strip is curved such that the tear strip hinges about the frangible web to the position overlying the front edge of the flap.

20. The closure of claim 19 wherein the flap is sloped at the front edge of the flap.