Non-removable closure with integral RFID

• US 7,772,981 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BPRex Healthcare Packaging, Inc. (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rexam Closures and Containers (Ball Corporation)
• Inventors: Branson, Mark, Lambert, Phil
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/382,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 340/693.5, 340/693.12
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0842 consisting of a strap of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/088 located at an edge of the base element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/122 Threaded caps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/242 moving helically
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/243 moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion

Abstract

A non-removable closure having a radio frequency identification, RFID, circuit integral therein. The RFID may be active or passive and may be integral with the top wall or side wall of the closure. The non-removable closure has a closure retainer which non-removeably engages a container neck at to which it is engaged. The closure retainer may be in the form of “J” hooks depending from the bottom portion of a side wall, an adhesive between the container neck and closure, or other closure retainer known to persons having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure with a hinged lid tethered to an annular skirt comprising:

a base with an annular skirt forming a depending side wall non-removably affixable to a neck finish of a container and having a top wall, said top wall having a dispensing orifice extending through said top wall;

a flip top hingedly engaged to said base and having a top wall and depending side wall, said flip top having a sealing post for engaging said dispensing orifice, said flip top engaging said annular skirt side wall when in a closed position; and

said top wall of said base having an upper cavity wall and a lower cavity for integrally retaining an RFID device within said top wall so that said RFID is non-removable from said dispensing closure.

2. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said RFID device is molded within said base of said dispensing closure.

3. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said RFID device is of a passive type.

4. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said annular skirt top wall of said base has an inner surface with a gasket adjacent thereto.

5. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 4 wherein said gasket has a disk configuration and is comprised of a physically penetrable material.

6. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said annular skirt side wall has an inner annular surface with a helical thread depending there from.

7. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said annular skirt side wall forms a non-removable engagement with said container neck finish neck when snapped thereon.

8. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 1 wherein said RFID device is an active RFID in electrical communication with a power source.

9. A nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure with a hinged lid tethered to an annular skirt comprising:

a closure body having an annular skirt having a depending side wall non-removably affixable to a neck finish of a container and having a top wall, said top wall having a dispensing orifice extending through said top wall;

a flip top hingedly engaged to said closure body and having a top wall and depending side wall, said flip top having a sealing post for engaging said dispensing orifice, said flip top engaging said closure body side wall when in a closed position; and

said top wall of said flip top having an upper cavity wall and a lower cavity wall for integrally retaining an RFID device within said top wall so that said RFID is integral with said dispensing closure.

10. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 9 wherein said RFID device is an active RFID in electrical communication with a power source.

11. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 9 wherein said RFID device is molded within said dispensing closure.

12. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 9 wherein said RFID device is of a passive type.

13. The nonremovable flip-top dispensing closure of claim 9 wherein said closure body top wall has an inner surface with a gasket adjacent thereto.

14. A nonremovable dispensing closure comprising:

a closure body with an annular skirt having a depending side wall nonremovably affixable to a neck finish of a container and having a top wall, said top wall having a dispensing orifice extending through said top wall;

a sealing post engaging said neck finish, said sealing post operably engaging said dispensing orifice of said closure body top wall wherein said sealing post is axially positionable between a closed position sealing said dispensing orifice and an open position so that the container contents are able to be dispensed from said container; and

said closure body having a cavity for integrally retaining an RFID device within said annular skirt so that said RFID is non-removable from said dispensing closure.

15. The nonremovable dispensing closure of claim 14 further includes a threadable engagement between said closure body side wall and said container neck finish so that said dispensing closure is rotated between said closed position and said open position relative to said sealing post.

16. The nonremovable dispensing closure of claim 14 wherein said RFID device is an active RFID in electrical communication with a power source.

17. The nonremovable dispensing closure of claim 14 wherein said RFID device is molded within said dispensing closure.

18. The nonremovable dispensing closure of claim 14 wherein said RFID device is of a passive type.

19. The nonremovable dispensing closure of claim 14 wherein said RFID device is positioned integrally within said closure body side wall.

20. The nonremovable dispensing closure of claim 14 wherein said RFID device is positioned integrally within said closure body top wall.

21. The nonremovable dispensing closure of claim 14 is a single shell closure.