IP Library Granted Patent US 11,046,490
Granted Patent B2
US 11,046,490 · App. 16/305,694 · Granted Jun 29, 2021

Container cap comprising tamper evidence means

Inventor: Jean-Paul Cerveny (Vittel, FR)
Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
B65D55/026B65D41/46B65D45/16B65D55/12B65D2255/20B65D2401/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,046,490
App. No.
16/305,694
Granted
Jun 29, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cap ( 100 ) for a container comprises a disc-shaped top section ( 102 ), an annular side section ( 104 ) projecting from said disc-shaped top section ( 102 ), and a locking flange ( 111 ) disposed at an extremity of said annular side section ( 104 ) opposite said disc-shaped top section ( 102 ), and further comprises a locking flap ( 116 ) extending from said annular side section ( 104 ), which is mobile between a locked first position wherein a portion ( 114 ) of the locking flange ( 111 ) extends inwardly from the annular side section ( 104 ), and an unlocked second position wherein the locking flange ( 111 ) is at least partially recessed relative to the annular side section ( 104 ). First tamper evidence means formed as partially frangible tab ( 120 ) and second tamper evidence means ( 128 ) are proposed. A package comprising a container and proposed cap ( 100 ) is also proposed.

Claims (22)

1. A cap for a container, comprising:

a disc-shaped top section extending generally in a horizontal plane;

an annular side section projecting substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the disc-shaped top section along a vertical axis to an extremity defining a rim portion;

a locking flange disposed at an extremity of said annular side section opposite the disc-shaped top section, and comprising an immobile portion and a mobile portion;

a locking flap extending from at least a portion of the rim portion of the annular side section and being mobile between,

a locked first position wherein the mobile portion of the locking flange contiguous with the locking flap extends inwardly from an interior face of the annular side section, and

an unlocked second position in which the mobile portion of said locking flange is at least partially recessed relative to said interior face of the annular side section, and

first tamper evident member comprising tamper evidence member attached to the annular side section and to the locking flap, the locking flap being thereby immobilized in the locked first position when the tamper evidence member is in place defining thereby its functional position,

the tamper evident member is partially frangible when the cap is first opened allowing the locking flap to reach the unlocked second position and in that the tamper evidence member remains attached to one of annular side section or locking flap after the cap is first opened.

2. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident member is a partially frangible tab.

3. The cap according to claim 2 , wherein the partially frangible tab comprises a first part attached to one of annular side section or locking flap that is frangible and a second part respectively attached to one of locking flap or annular side section that is not frangible.

4. The cap according to claim 3 , wherein the second part remains attached to one of locking flap or annular side section when the cap is first opened leading the locking flap to reach the unlocked second position.

5. The cap according to claim 3 , wherein the tab is integral with the cap.

6. The cap according to claim 3 , wherein the first part of the tab that is frangible comprises at least one frangible bridge.

7. The cap according to claim 6 wherein the at least one frangible bridge is attached to the locking flap.

8. The cap according to claim 6 wherein the hinge is connected to the annular side section.

9. The cap according to claim 8 , wherein the hinge is inclined with respect to the vertical axis defined as the direction of the annular side section projecting substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the disc-shaped top section.

10. The cap according to claim 9 , wherein the hinge is inclined from 20 to 60° with respect to the vertical axis.

11. The cap according to any of claim 3 , wherein the second part of the tab that is not frangible is a hinge.

12. The cap according to claim 1 , comprising notches located at the lateral intersection of the locking flap and the annular side section and a second tamper evidence member located between two opposite internal edges of the notches.

13. The cap according to claim 12 wherein the second tamper evidence member comprises a connection conformed as a plastic bridge connection that breaks when the locking flap is moved from the first locked position to the second unlocked position.

14. A package comprising: a cap for a container, comprising a disc-shaped top section extending generally in a horizontal plane, an annular side section projecting substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter of the disc-shaped top section along a vertical axis to an extremity defining a rim portion, a locking flange disposed at an extremity of said annular side section opposite the disc-shaped top section, and comprising an immobile portion and a mobile portion, a locking flap extending from at least a portion of the rim portion of the annular side section and being mobile between, a locked first position wherein the mobile portion of the locking flange contiguous with the locking flap extends inwardly from an interior face of the annular side section, an unlocked second position in which the mobile portion of said locking flange is at least partially recessed relative to said interior face of the annular side section, first tamper evident member comprising tamper evidence member attached to the annular side section and to the locking flap, the locking flap being thereby immobilized in the locked first position when the tamper evidence member is in place defining thereby its functional position, the tamper evident member is partially frangible when the cap is first opened allowing the locking flap to reach the unlocked second position and in that the tamper evidence member remains attached to one of annular side section or locking flap after the cap is first opened; and a container comprising a mouth provided with a neck having a shoulder, the cap being located upon the mouth of the container such that the locking flange of the cap engages the shoulder of the neck of the container.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0165 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2019
From: CERVENY, JEAN-PAUL
To: NESTLE WATERS MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 049914/0575 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2019
From: NESTLE WATERS MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 049914/0593 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION TO SHOW THE FULL AND CORRECT NEW NAME IN SECTION 51. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049391 FRAME: 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jun 13, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049853/0398 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049391/0756 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,600,529