IP Library Granted Patent US 11,008,143
Granted Patent B2
US 11,008,143 · App. 16/479,407 · Granted May 18, 2021

Closure for container with informational and/or anti-counterfeiting capabilities

Inventors: Simon Knight (Brigend, GB); David Pritchett (Ashby de la Zouch, GB)
Assignee: RIEKE LLC
B65D55/028B65D50/04H04W4/80B65D2203/10B65D2211/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,008,143
App. No.
16/479,407
Granted
May 18, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A “smart” closure system, apparatus, and method are contemplated. The closure includes mechanical capture and release mechanisms, electromechanical and/or optical indicators, wireless technologies, and/or web-based or remote authentication, verification, and serialization via remotely located data servers. A mobile computing device may further augment certain functions. The resulting system allows for anti-counterfeiting, authentication, serialization, and other capabilities.

Claims (20)

1. An anti-counterfeiting closure, attachable to an opening on a container, comprising:

a cap rotatably attachable to the opening, said cap having a central section with an attachment feature;

a flat disc fitted on an underside facing of the cap so as to retain the disc between the cap and the container when a closing torque is applied to attach the closure to the opening, said disc coupled to the cap by the attachment feature so as to allow for rotation of the disc relative to the cap;

a wireless communication tag embedded into the closure along at least one tab bridge formed along the planar surface defined by the disc and the cap;

wherein at least one anti-back off post is formed on the disc so that, when an opening torque is applied to release the closure from the container, the anti-back off post(s) engage the container to cause the cap to rotate in comparison to the disc so as to cause the at least one tab bridge to disconnect upon rotation of the closure and engagement of the anti-back off post(s); and

wherein the wireless communication tag is physically compromised to provide an authentication and/or anti-counterfeiting function when the tab bridge is disconnected.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature comprises a receptacle formed on the disc to receive a corresponding protrusion formed on the cap so as to snap-fit the disc and the cap when the closing torque is applied.

3. The closure of claim 2 further comprising at least one anti-rotation ribs on the underside facing of the cap so as to allow the disc to rotate in only one direction.

4. The closure of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature comprises a receptacle formed on the cap to receive a corresponding protrusion formed on the disc so as to snap-fit the disc and the cap when the closing torque is applied.

5. The closure of claim 4 further comprising at least one anti-rotation ribs on the underside facing of the cap so as to allow the disc to rotate in only one direction.

6. The closure of claim 1 wherein a conductive ink or a conductive resin is associated with the tab bridge to create an electrical flowpath between features provided proximate to the central section and features provided proximate to a peripheral outer facing of the cap, said peripheral outer facing disposed concentrically around the central section.

7. The closure of claim 6 further comprising a power source connected to at least one of: the electrical flowpath and the wireless communication tag.

8. The closure of claim 6 wherein the features provided proximate to the central section include at least one raised contact on an externally exposed surface of the closure.

9. The closure of claim 6 wherein the features provided proximate to the peripheral outer facing include at least one raised contact on an externally exposed surface of the closure.

10. The closure of claim 6 wherein the electrical flowpath is formed on the underside facing of the cap.

11. The closure of claim 1 wherein a conductive resin is provided via a two-shot molding process to create the electrical flowpath.

12. The closure of claim 1 wherein a plurality of anti-back off posts are formed along an outer most circumference of the disc.

13. The closure of claim 1 wherein anti-rotation ribs are formed within the central section to facilitate rotation of a peripheral edge of the cap in comparison to the disc.

14. The closure of claim 13 wherein the central section of the cap remains coupled to the disc when the peripheral edge of the cap rotates.

15. The closure of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication tag is embedded by way of insert molding or over-molding.

Assignments (2)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 27, 2025
From: ALLFAST FASTENING SYSTEMS, LLC; INTERTECH PLASTICS LLC; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; RAPAK, LLC; RIEKE LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 071755/0589 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2020
From: KNIGHT, SIMON; PRITCHETT, DAVID
To: RIEKE LLC
Reel/Frame 051897/0768 →