# US 12,109,172 B2 · Locking cover for a container having a neck, with a cap having breakable securing tabs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,172 B2 - Document ID: US12109172B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/759,000 - Filed: 2020-12-08 - Published: 2023-02-02 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-16 - Assignees: A. Raymond Et Cie - Applicants: A. Raymond Et Cie - Inventors: Gaëtan Rey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109172B2 ## CPC - A61J 1/1412: {Containers with closing means, e.g. caps} - B65D 51/002: {Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means} - B65D 51/18: Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures {(B65D51/247 takes precedence)} - B65D 55/026: {initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by a visual change using indicators other than tearable means, e.g. change of colour, pattern or opacity (B65D55/066 takes precedence)} - B67C 7/00: Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations - B65D 2251/0015: of the 41-type - B65D 2251/009: of the 51-type - B65D 2401/15: Tearable part of the closure (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS ## Abstract A locking cover for a container having a neck comprising: a cage made from plastic; a body made from plastic, which is fastened around the cage, the body comprising a central orifice; a cap configured to close the central orifice, the cap comprising a flat head to cover the orifice and fastening lugs caught between the cage and the body. Each fastening lug has a breakable zone, and the cap is made from a plastic material, different from the plastic material of the cage and from the plastic material of the body, the plastic material of the cap being chosen to have a resistance to rupture reduced by a dose of gamma irradiation for sterilizing the locking cover. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A locking cover for a container having a neck, the locking cover configured to block a stopper in the neck of the container, the locking cover comprising: a cage comprising plastic material and configured to surround the stopper and the neck and lock the stopper and the neck axially in position relative to each other; a body comprising plastic material, the body fastened around the cage, the body comprising a central orifice providing access from the outside of the locking cover to the inside of the container through the stopper, and a cap configured to close the central orifice, the cap comprising a flat head to cover the central orifice and fastening lugs retained between the cage and the body, each fastening lug having a breakable zone; wherein the cap comprises a plastic material different from the plastic material of the cage and from the plastic material of the body, the plastic material of the cap exhibiting a reduced resistance to rupture responsive to a dose of gamma irradiation sufficient to sterilize the locking cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The locking cover of claim 1, wherein the plastic material of the cap exhibits a loss of elongation greater than or equal to 25% responsive to a dose of gamma irradiation of 50 kGy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The locking cover of claim 2, wherein the plastic material of the cap comprises polypropylene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The locking cover of claim 3, wherein the breakable zone corresponds to a local thinning of the thickness of the fastening lugs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The locking cover of claim 4, wherein the breakable zone has a thickness of between 30 and 70% of a thickness of the respective fastening lug. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The locking cover of claim 5, wherein the breakable zone is located in a junction region of the fastening lug on the flat head of the cap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method of forming the locking cover according to claim 1, the method comprising: arranging the cap on the body of the locking cover, the fastening lugs of the cap extending into the central orifice of the body; inserting the cage into the body to grip the fastening lugs of the cap caught between the body and the cage, to form the assembled locking cover; and sterilizing the assembled locking cover by gamma irradiation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the dose of gamma irradiation is between 10 kGy and 20 kGy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The locking cover of claim 4, wherein the breakable zone comprises a notch or a groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The locking cover of claim 1, wherein the plastic material of the cap comprises polypropylene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The locking cover of claim 1, wherein the breakable zone corresponds to a local thinning of the thickness of the fastening lugs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The locking cover of claim 11, wherein the breakable zone comprises a notch or a groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The locking cover of claim 11, wherein the breakable zone has a thickness of between 30 and 70% of a thickness of the respective fastening lug. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The locking cover of claim 1, wherein the breakable zone is located in a junction region of the fastening lugs on the flat head of the cap.