AU2005100040B4 - A closure assembly - Google Patents

Description

A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY t FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a closure assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to a container and to a closure assembly for the container.

SBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION OContainers for fluent materials are available in a very large range of shapes and sizes. An important aspect of such containers relates to ease of use. To date, Omany different configurations have been applied to such containers in order to 6 facilitate pouring of fluent materials from such containers.

Examples of such configurations include containers with gripping devices.

These include handles which form an integral part of the container. Integrated handles are useful, but tend to cause packaging problems and space wastage, particularly with smaller containers.

In an attempt to address this, a handle is often connected to a nozzle of the container to be displaceable into and out of a position in which a minimal amount of space is taken up by the handle. Such handles include ring grips which allow users to hold the container with a finger inserted through a ring which is fastened to the container.

A disadvantage with such handles is that they are required to be manufactured in a separate step and also positioned on the container in another step. It will be appreciated that extra steps in production can increase costs greatly, particularly when the containers are manufactured on a large scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure assembly which includes a tamper detection ring that is fastenable to a nozzle of a container; a cap fast with the detection ring and engageable with the nozzle to close the nozzle; 2 a frangible connecting means interposed between the ring and the cap to be broken when the cap is removed from the nozzle whilst leaving the tamper detection ring fastened to the container; and a handle fast with the ring to facilitate carrying of the container subsequent to removal of the cap.

The handle may be configured to permit a user to hold the container with at least one finger received through the handle. The handle may include a finger ring and a connector to connect the finger ring to the tamper detection ring.

The closure assembly may be a unitary one-piece plastics moulding.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a container which comprises a vessel that defines a nozzle; a tamper detection ring fastened to the nozzle; a cap fast with the detection ring and engageable with the nozzle to close the nozzle; a frangible connecting means interposed between the ring and the cap to be broken when the cap is removed from the nozzle whilst leaving the tamper detection ring fastened to the container; and a handle fast with the ring to facilitate carrying of the container subsequent to removal of the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side sectioned view of a nozzle of a container, in accordance with the invention, with a first embodiment of a closure assembly, also in accordance with the invention, on the nozzle.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a tamper detection ring and handle of the first embodiment of the closure assembly.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a tamper detection ring and handle of a second embodiment of the closure assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a first embodiment of a closure assembly, in accordance with the invention, for a nozzle 12 of a container, also in accordance with the invention.

Conventionally, the nozzle 12 has a circumferential channel 14 defined by a pair of radially extending lips 16. Such an arrangement can be found on many PET obottles. The nozzle 12 also has a threaded portion 18 above the channel 14.

0 The closure assembly 10 includes a tamper detection ring 20. A cap 22 is attached to the tamper detection ring 20 with a frangible connecting means in the form of a weakened zone 24 interposed between the cap 22 and the ring The cap 22 is internally threaded to be screwed onto the nozzle 12 to seal the nozzle 12. The ring 20 has a retaining formation 26 that is configured to clip into the channel 14 in a non-removable manner, which is conventional. Thus when the cap 22 is unscrewed from the nozzle 12 the weakened zone 24 parts with the ring 20 remaining in the channel 14.

The closure assembly 10 includes a handle in the form of a finger ring 28. A connector 30 connects the finger ring 28 to the tamper detection ring 20. The connector 30 is shaped so that the finger ring 28 is angled towards the container to enhance storage of a number of the containers.

In Figure 3, reference numeral 40 generally indicates a tamper detection ring a connector 30 and a finger ring 42 of a second embodiment of a closure assembly, in accordance with the invention. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

The finger ring 42 has split, overlapping portions 44. Thus, the ring 42 can be clipped into position at a convenient location.

The tamper detection ring 20, the cap 22, the finger ring 28, 42 and the 0 connector 30 are in the form of a one-piece moulding of a plastics material. It will therefore be appreciated that the closure assembly 10, 40 can be fabricated in a single moulding operation with associated cost savings.

Presently available handles for containers are attached to the container in a separate assembly step. This means that the assembly line would require a Ofurther station and associated operation to attach presently available handles.

O

This can prove to be costly, especially when the containers are mass-produced on a very large scale as is the case with, for example, beverage containers.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a means whereby a container can be provided with a handle during the capping process. This leads to a substantial saving in cost and fabrication time.

to a substantial saving in cost and fabrication time.

Claims (4)

1. A closure assembly which includes Sa tamper detection ring that is fastenable to a nozzle of a container; a cap fast with the detection ring and engageable with the nozzle to close the nozzle; a frangible connecting means interposed between the ring and the cap to Sbe broken when the cap is removed from the nozzle whilst leaving the tamper Sdetection ring fastened to the container; and a handle fast with the ring to facilitate carrying of the container subsequent to removal of the cap.

2. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the handle is configured to permit a user to hold the container with at least one finger received through the handle.

3. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the handle includes a finger ring and a connector to connect the finger ring to the tamper detection ring.

4. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, which is a unitary one-piece moulding of a plastics material. A container which comprises a vessel that defines a nozzle; a tamper detection ring fastened to the nozzle; a cap fast with the detection ring and engageable with the nozzle to close the nozzle; a frangible connecting means interposed between the ring and the cap to be broken when the cap is removed from the nozzle whilst leaving the tamper detection ring fastened to the container; and a handle fast with the ring to facilitate carrying of the container subsequent to removal of the cap. DATED THIS DAY OF BY MY PATENT ATTORNEYS, EAGAR BUCK