AU2007231559B2

AU2007231559B2 - Closure with elliptical nozzle, overcap and tamper evident means

Info

Publication number: AU2007231559B2
Application number: AU2007231559A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Timothy Arthur Bird; Mathew Cormack; Ian Ronald Cox
Original assignee: CORMACK PACKAGING Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CORMACK PACKAGING Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-29
Filing date: 2007-03-29
Publication date: 2012-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-29
Also published as: NZ571541A; WO2007109863A1; AU2007231559A1

Abstract

A closure apparatus suitable for use with a sports drink bottle is described. The closure includes a chassis which has a skirt depending from an upper region thereof and includes a thread for engaging with a cooperating thread on a neck finish of the bottle. The chassis further includes an overcap to facilitate access to the bottle, a hinge for pivotally connecting the overcap and the chassis together and a nozzle operatively connected to the chassis and adapted to dispense fluid from the bottle to a user's mouth, the nozzle being elliptical in plan view so as to facilitate improved user comfort and fit to the user's mouth. A locking means is provided in the form of a key and corresponding keyway, one of which is associated with the nozzle and the other of which is associated with the chassis in order to lock the nozzle in a selected angular orientation about a bottle or nozzle axis, for improved user comfort when drinking. In addition, another closure apparatus suitable for use with a sports drink bottle is described, the closure including a chassis adapted to operatively engage with a neck finish of the bottle and including an overcap to facilitate access to the bottle. The overcap includes a base rim connected to the chassis by a hinge and a removable nozzle operatively connected to the chassis which is adapted to dispense fluid from the bottle to a user's mouth. The overcap includes tamper evident bridge mountings which are disposed in a region spaced from the base rim of the overcap, so that contact between the tamper evident bridge mountings and a user's face is inhibited when drinking from the bottle.

Description

WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 CLOSURE WITH ELLIPTICAL NOZZLE, OVERCAP AND TAMPER EVIDENT MEANS Field of the Invention 5 The present invention generally relates to closures for drink bottles, one particular application being sports drink bottles. The invention is applicable to single- or two-piece closure apparatus. 10 Background -to the Invention Known closure assemblies generally include a chassis with a skirt, a hinged overcap and a nozzle, the nozzle sometimes separate and bumped into the chassis. Although this invention may find application in single piece closures, multi-piece closures do have 15 certain advantages over single-piece closures because although they require a separate assembly step to bump the nozzle into engagement with the chassis, the cost of tooling required is less than the cost of the assembly step. The closures seal access to bottles generally by sealing between the nozzle and the hinged overcap, wherein a post extends from an underside of the overcap to plug an aperture in the nozzle. However, the post 20 rarely aligns with the nozzle properly during closing of the overcap, causing damage to the post and aperture, ultimately causing leaks. If the multi-piece closure assemblies have a threaded skirt, it must generally be screwed tightly onto a threaded neck finish, so as to maintain a tight seal. Under tightening, this 25 causes flaring and distortion of the chassis which sometimes forces the nozzle through the chassis, allowing leakage or catastrophic failure. When tamper-evident seals are provided, the bridges associated therewith leave sharp portions when they are broken, which may scratch the lips of a user when the user is 30 engaged in drinking from the bottle.

Received 25 January 2008 -2 Also, the hinged overcap often interferes with the user's face, interfering with drinking pleasure and effectiveness and ease of use of the closure. In addition, ergonomics of the closure and nozzle are often poor, flow and comfort are low, 5 and spillage and customer satisfaction with the drink are poor. Furthermore, during filling and capping, closure assemblies often retain fluid in various. crevices, and bacterial growth on the closure, potentially on the nozzle, ensues. 10 Additionally, orienting closures correctly onto bottles during assembly is difficult without a structural feature which is distinguishable around the circumference of the closure. The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages. 15 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure apparatus suitable for use in closing a sports drink bottle, the closure apparatus including: a closure 20 body comprising a chassis for operatively engaging with a neck finish of the bottle and including a skirt depending from an upper region of the chassis, the skirt having a thread on a peripheral wall for engaging with a cooperating thread on a neck finish of the bottle; the closure body further including an overcap connected to the chassis by a hinge which is a snap action hinge which can adopt a closed position, and an open position remote from 25 the chassis; the closure body further including a nozzle operatively connected to the chassis and adapted to direct fluid from the bottle to a user's mouth, the nozzle being elliptical when viewed in plan view so as to facilitate improved user comfort and fit to the user's mouth; and an angular looking means for looking the nozzle in an orientation about a bottle or nozzle axis wherein an extension of the major axis of the elliptical nozzle 30 intersects with a hinge line of an overcap so that when in use the overcap lies adjacent the user's cheek. Amended Sheet

PEA/AI

C.V4RPoblDCCkCABX4I77345_I DOC.27ffl2(2012 NO TEXT ON PA GE 3 C:\NRPrtbI\DCC\CABUI77345.I DOC-27/02/2012 -4 Preferably a key is provided in the form of a lug extending from a peripheral region of the nozzle and a keyway is provided, being a corresponding recess disposed in a peripheral region of the chassis, so as to interlock to facilitate locking of the nozzle in the selected angular orientation. 5 Preferably a reinforcing device is provided to inhibit distortion of the chassis, the reinforcing device including an interlock which includes one or more peripheral ridges and one or more corresponding peripheral channels, one of which is associated with the nozzle and the other of which is associated with the chassis, which interlock when the nozzle 10 operatively connects with the chassis. Preferably the one or more ridges are mounted on a peripheral flange of the nozzle and are in the form of a substantially continuous peripheral rib, in cross section shaped generally as a triangle which has an apex spaced from the peripheral flange. 15 Preferably the hinge includes a snap-action device to facilitate moving the overcap between an open position and a closed position, and retaining the overcap in each position. Preferably the overcap includes tamper evident bridge mountings which are disposed in a 20 tamper evident bridge mounting region spaced from a base rim of the overcap, so that in an open position, contact between the tamper evident bridge mounts and a user's face is inhibited when the user drinks from the bottle. Preferably the nozzle includes a drinking aperture, the aperture being disposed in a 25 depression at a nozzle outlet so as to improve closing of a seal between the aperture and a sealing post extending into the drinking aperture when in a closed position. Preferably the nozzle or the chassis includes a drain to drain fluid from the closure body. 30 Preferably the drain includes a drainage trench disposed in a base region of the nozzle.

WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 -5 Preferably the drain includes a drain outlet which is in the form of a drainage aperture in the overcap to allow fluid to drain from the trench and an overcap cavity. Preferably the drain outlet is adjacent the hinge so that in a closed position the outlet is 5 substantially covered by the hinge so as to inhibit fluid entry into the closure body. Preferably the closure body or nozzle includes tamper evident bridge guards for guarding tamper evident bridges so as to inhibit tamper evident bridge contact with a user. 10 Preferably the tamper evident bridge guards are in the form of one or more notches in a peripheral wall for receiving tamper evident bridges. Preferably one or more tamper evident bridges are mounted in a tamper evident bridge mounting zone disposed adjacent the base of the nozzle, and a plinth is provided adjacent a 15 base of the nozzle so as to elevate a nozzle boss for receiving lips of a user away from the tamper evident bridge mounting zone. Preferably in a closed position, the base region of the overcap is disposed below a parapet wall at a top of which the tamper evident bridge mounting zones are disposed so as to 20 facilitate spacing of the tamper evident bridge mounting region from the base rim of the overcap. Preferably the chassis includes a threaded skirt depending from an upper region of the chassis to engage the neck finish. 25 Preferably a detachable tamper evident body is provided which when the closure assembly is in a closed position, is mounted at least on the bridge mounting region. Preferably the detachable body is a tear-out visor. 30 Preferably the detachable tamper evident body extends between tamper evident bridges mounted on the overcap and the chassis.

C :WRortbI\DCC\CAB\4177345_ I DOC-272/2012 -6 Preferably the nozzle is elliptical when viewed in plan view for increased user comfort. Preferably the nozzle is separate from and operatively connected to the chassis. 5 Preferably an angular locking apparatus is included for locking the nozzle in a selected angular orientation about a bottle or nozzle axis, the angular locking means in the form of one or more keys and one or more corresponding keyways, one of the key and keyway being mounted on the nozzle and the other of the key and keyway being mounted on the chassis. 10 Other embodiments of the invention may include other kinds of locking means such as for example in the form of cooperating nozzles and chassis, the arrangement being such that the chassis includes an aperture or skirt which is non-circular such as an ellipse, square, rectangle, and the like, and the nozzle includes a base area which is corresponding in 15 shape, so that the boss is maintained in an orientation wherein the hinged overcap is held at the cheek of the user when opened and the major axis of the boss is disposed transversely across the user's mouth.

WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 -7 Other types of locking mechanism are contemplated such as adhesives, heat welding friction enhancers such as knurling or piercing and the like to inhibit rotation of the nozzle relative to the chassis. 5 Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the present invention facilitate a tight seal between closure assembly and bottle without distortion of the chassis, which alleviates such problems as: - extreme removal torque requirement, leakage, poor hinge operation, and misalignment of overcap post with nozzle aperture, and damage to post when closing the overcap, leading to further leakage. 10 Preferably the reinforcing means includes a tangential rib extending generally from one side of the break to the other, and into the aperture. In one form the rib is a horizontal rib so as to provide a shelf for abutment of the nozzle insert, for improved sealing against the upper rim edge of the bottle. 15 The reinforcing rib reduces distortion and therefore maintains a more even load distribution between the nozzle insert and the neck finish and/or lip. Therefore, extremes of twist force are not required to remove the chassis. Also, induction sealing is improved after filling and capping. A vertical rib may also be provided to further reduce distortion.

WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 -8 Brief Description of the Drawings In order to enable a clearer understanding of the invention, drawings illustrating example embodiments are attached, and in those drawings: 5 Figure 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a nozzle, closure body which is assembled to form a closure assembly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is the nozzle and closure body of Figure 1, shown from the above, rear and to one 10 side; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a closure body of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a closed position; 15 Figure 4 is a section view in side elevation of a closure assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a section, front elevation view of a closure assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown with an overcap in a closed position; 20 Figure 6 is a plan view of a closure assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in the open position; Figure 7 is an isometric view from in front, above, and to one side of a closure assembly in 25 the open position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is an isometric view of the closure assembly of Figure 7 shown from above, to one side and from the rear; 30 Figure 9 is a section side elevation view of closure assembly of Figures 7 and 8 shown in the open position; and WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 -9 Figure 10 is an isometric view of the closure assembly of Figures 7, 8 and 9 shown from above, on side and to the rear in closed position. 5 Description of a Preferred Embodiment The separate and various features and aspects of the present invention will now be described in combination with features of other aspects of the present invention, all within 10 a single preferred embodiment. Referring to the drawings there is shown a closure assembly generally indicated at 10, being suitable for use in closing an open neck of a sports drink bottle (not shown). The closure assembly 10 includes a closure body 12, which itself includes a chassis 14 for 15 operatively mounting the closure body 12 on the neck of the sports drink bottle, an overcap 16 and a hinge 18 to connect the overcap 16 and the chassis 14 together. The closure assembly 10 further includes a nozzle 42 for directing fluid from the bottle through an aperture 56, the nozzle including a boss 54 for engaging with a user's lips, the nozzle 42 when assembled being bumped into the chassis 14. 20 The chassis 14 includes a skirt 24 depending downwardly from an upper region 20, at which is mounted an upper parapet 22 for strengthening the chassis. The skirt 24 includes an internal peripheral wall 28 upon which a neck engaging means 30 is mounted, in the form of threads 32 for engaging corresponding neck finish threads. The upper parapet 22 25 is stepped inwards from the skirt 24 to define a peripheral land 34 and an internal chassis shoulder 36. Tamper evident features are provided, which include band 90 attached below skirt 24, and tamper evident bridges 51 mounted at a top face 11 of upper parapet 22, the latter mounted 30 on the parapet 22 so as to facilitate tamper evident bridge spacing from a user's face when in use.

WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 - 10 The hinge 18 is integrally moulded with the chassis 14 and the overcap 16 and mounted on the chassis 14 at a mounting point 44 which is disposed on the land 34, in a break 46 in the upper parapet 22. The mounting point 44 is below an upper rim of the upper parapet 22 to 5 maximise a spacing between the overcap 16 and the aperture 56 and boss 54 in an open position. The overcap 16 includes an overcap wall 57 and a base rim 55, and gripping shelves 91 to allow a thumb of a user to engage the overcap 16 to flip it open. 10 The nozzle 42 is operatively connected to an underside of the chassis 14 when assembled, using a flange 53 to facilitate retaining the flange 53 of the nozzle 42 under the internal chassis shoulder 36. A reinforcing device 52 is also provided to inhibit flaring of the chassis 14 and release of flange 53 during tightening of the skirt 14 onto the neck finish of 15 the bottle. That is, the reinforcing device 52 includes a peripheral ridge 97 extending upwardly from the flange 53 and corresponding in shape to a chassis channel 37 within shoulder 36 so as to mate therewith when assembled. The nozzle 42 includes an upper region 58 which includes the boss 54 and aperture 56. 20 The upper section 58 is mounted on an enlarged base region 59 which provides a stop for the user's lips. The enlarged base region 59 is mounted a plinth 8 which spaces the boss 54 and base region 59 from the upper parapet 22 so as to inhibit contact between tamper evident bridges 51 and a user's lips. 25 A drain 93 is provided to drain a cavity 94 between the overcap 16 and the nozzle 42. The drain 93 is in the form of a drain channel 60 which is disposed in the nozzle 42, between a peripheral locating rib 62 and a plinth wall 61. The base rim 55 of the overcap 16 seats adjacent parapet 62 and in the drain channel 60 when in the closed position so that the tamper bridges 51 connect to the overcap in a tamper evident bridge mounting region 95 30 spaced from the underside rim 55. In this way, when the tamper bridges 51 break during opening the overcap 16, even though little stubs of plastic remain in the tamper evident WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 - 11 bridge mounting region 95, the little stubs are inhibited from scratching a user's face when drinking. The drain 93 includes a drain and aeration outlet 98. The drain outlet 98 is partially 5 formed by a bight 77 in the base rim 55 of the overcap 16. The bight 77 is disposed underneath the hinge 18 when the overcap 16 is closed, in order to inhibit fluid flow into the cavity 94 up the drain. The tamper evident bridges 51 are mounted on the inner radius of the parapet 22. The 10 bridges 51 include a first mounting and a second mounting, the first mounting being on the upper parapet 22 and are stronger than the second mounting which is mounted on the overcap 16. The bridges 51 are therefore tapered from the first mounting at the upper parapet 22 to an outer face 57 of the overcap 16, so that the bridges 51 tend to, when broken off, remain on the upper parapet 22, within the guards 64, rather than the face 57 of 15 the overcap 16. This facilitates the retention of bridges 51 within the guards 64 and reduction of scratching of the user's face. The peripheral locating rib 62 includes a plurality of guards 63 in the form of notches 64 in the locating rib 62 adjacent the tamper bridges 51. This is so that the tamper bridges 51 20 may seat in the notches 64 to guard the user's lips from being scratched while drinking. Also, the low placement of the tamper bridges 51 made possible by the notches 64, keeps the tamper bridges 51 disposed a selected distance from the user's lips while drinking. Several guards 63 are provided so that one or more pairs of tamper bridges may be provided in one design or embodiment, and/or so that the position of a single tamper 25 evident bridge may be varied around the parapet 22. This provides a closure having a tunable break force, because a bridge 51 disposed rearwardly of the closure would be easier to break with one thumb movement than a bridge 51 disposed at the front. An angular locking device 38 is provided to lock the nozzle 42 in a selected angular 30 orientation about a nozzle axis 96. The locking device 38 is in the form of a lug 39 which cooperates when assembled with the notch 40 so as to inhibit rotation of the nozzle 42 WO 2007/109863 PCT/AU2007/000411 - 12 about the chassis 14. The boss 54 is shaped to facilitate user comfort and sealing around the lips and mouth, and is an ellipse 66 in plan view. The oval shape naturally or automatically suggests to the 5 user that the nozzle should be placed in the mouth with the major axis 69 of the ellipse facing laterally across the user's face. The major axis 69 of the ellipse is arranged when assembled, preferably directed at the overcap 16 when in the open position so that it is naturally suggested to the user to position the overcap 16 adjacent their cheek. Two notches, 40 and two lugs 39 are in this embodiment situated at the sides of the closure 10 body to encourage this alignment, as well as to provide symmetrical placement, and two possible nozzle positions in the assembly. The aperture 56 of the nozzle 42 is disposed in a depression 79 so as to facilitate alignment of a post 80 into the aperture for sealing during closing. During closing, the post 80 15 swings into the depression 79 and is disposed more vertically when in contact with the aperture 56, because of the depression 79. This inhibits bending of the post 80 and damage to the aperture 56. A rear reinforcing means 48 is provided in the form of a rib 50 disposed within break 46 in 20 parapet 22. Mounting the hinge 18 in the break 46 improves mouldability of the chassis. Also, it provides additional flexibility for the hinge 18 which extends the life of the hinge, as well as extending the distance from boss 54 to rim 55 in the open position for reducing contact with a cheek or face (not shown) of the user, while the rib 50 inhibits flaring and distortion during tightening of the chassis 14 on the neck finish. 25 The hinge 18 includes a snap-action device, known as a butterfly hinge. The hinge 18 has a snap action between an open position and a closed position essentially caused by two biasing wings 74 and 75 disposed adjacent ends of a hinge line 73. The snap action device helps to maintain the overcap in the open and closed positions, and also helps to move 30 them therebetween.

Received 25 January 2008 - 13 The hinge 18 is attached to the overcap 16 at a position near to the underside lip so as to facilitate maximum travel for the underside lip 55 from the cheek of the user. The bight 77 also facilitates overlap 16 clearing the plinth 8 when closing, as well as to provide some extra clearance for the user's lip and cheek when drinking. 5 The closure assembly 10 is assembled by bumping the nozzle 42 into the chassis 14 until the peripheral ridge 97 mates with the channel 37. The alignment of the major axis 69 to the hinge 18 is facilitated by locating the lug 39 into the notch 40. 10 Comfort for the user when drinking is provided by increasing the distance from the tamper bridges 51 to the lips when the latter are engaged on and sealed around the boss. Furthermore, the enlarged base 59 and plinth 8 upon which the boss 54 is mounted keeps the lips from straying onto the tamper evident bridges 51. Also, the tamper bridges 51 are designed to remain on the parapet 22 and guarded from lips by guards 63 in the form of 15 notches 64. Notches 40 and lugs 39 provide certainty of alignment so that the overcap will always be spaced from and adjacent the cheek of the user when in use, because of the natural suggestion of the oval shaped boss 54, in which the major axis 69 will be oriented toward 20 the hinge 18. This provides easy. drinking from the bottle. The looking means advantageously facilitates a fixing of the nozzle in the easy drinking position, so tht as soon as the overcap is opened, the nozzle is aligned for drinking in a comfortable position. The base rim 55 of the overcap when in the closed position is seated in the drain channel 25 60 which has an additional advantage of reinforcing the overcap walls from splaying outwards under body, which can break the frangible bridges, The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common 30 general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. Amended Sheet

IPEA/AU

Received 25 January 2008 -13a Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 5 Finally it is to be understood that the various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. Amended Sheet

IPEA/AU

Claims

1. A closure apparatus suitable for use in closing a sports drink bottle, the closure apparatus including: a closure body comprising a chassis for operatively 5 engaging with a neck finish of the bottle and including a skirt depending from an upper region of the chassis, the skirt having a thread on a peripheral wall for engaging with a cooperating thread on a neck finish of the bottle; the closure body further including an overcap connected to the chassis by a hinge which is a snap action hinge which can adopt a closed position, and an open position 10 remote from the chassis; the closure body further including a nozzle operatively connected to the chassis and adapted to direct fluid from the bottle to a user's mouth, the nozzle being elliptical when viewed in plan view so as to facilitate improved user comfort and fit to the user's mouth; and an angular looking means so that nozzle is locked or fix6d in an orientation about a bottle or nozzle 15 axis wherein an extension so that the major axis of the elliptical nozzle is directed at the overcap when in the open position so that when in use the overcap lies adjacent the user's cheek.

2. A closure apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a key is provided in the 20 form of a lug extending from a peripheral region of the nozzle and a keyway is provided, being a corresponding recess disposed in a peripheral region of the chassis, so as to interlock to facilitate looking of the nozzle in the selected angular orientation. 25 3. A closure apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein a reinforcing device is provided to inhibit distortion of the chassis, the reinforcing device including an interlock which includes one or more peripheral ridges and one or more corresponding peripheral channels, one of which is associated with the nozzle and the other of which is associated with the chassis, which interlock 30 when the nozzle operatively connects with the chassis. Amended Sheet IPEA/AU Received 25 January 2008 - 15 4. A closure apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the one or more ridges are mounted on a peripheral flange of the nozzle and are in the form of a substantially continuous peripheral rib, in cross section shaped generally as a triangle which has an apex spaced from the peripheral flange. 5

5. A closure apparatus in accordance with any one of the previous claims wherein tamper evident bridges are disposed so as to connect the hinged overcap to the chassis. 10 6. A closure apparatus in accordance with any one of the previous claims wherein the overcap includes tamper evident bridge mountings which are disposed on a peripheral wall of the overcap in a tamper evident bridge mounting region spaced from a base rim of the overcap, so that in an open position, contact between the tamper evident bridge mounts and a user's face is inhibited when 15 the user drinks from the bottle.

7. A closure apparatus in accordance with any one of the previous claims wherein the nozzle includes a drinking aperture, the aperture being disposed in a depression at a nozzle outlet so as to improve closing of a seal between the 20 aperture and a scaling post extending into the drinking aperture when in a closed position.

8. A closure apparatus in accordance with any one of the previous claims wherein the nozzle or the chassis includes a drain to drain fluid from the closure body. 25

9. A closure apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the drain includes a drainage trench disposed in a base region of the nozzle.

10. A closure apparatus in accordance with claim 8 or 9 wherein the drain includes

30. a drain outlet which is in the form of a drainage aperture in the overcap to allow fluid to drain from the trench and an overcap cavity. Amended Sheet IPEA/AU C:\NRPonbI\DCC\CAB\4177345_1 DOC-27/02/2012 -16 11. A closure apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the drain outlet is adjacent the hinge so that in a closed position the outlet is substantially covered by the hinge so as to inhibit fluid entry into the closure body. 12. A closure apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 11 wherein the closure body is moulded in the closed position. 13. A closure apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the attached drawings.