Childproof tamper evident closure assembly
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorJohn R. Ross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for sealing bottles with a Roll-on Pilfer Proof (ROPP) closure and a childproof overcap are provided. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an overcap that can be placed onto or formed onto the ROPP closure. The overcap has a retainer that secures the overcap to the ROPP closure and allows the overcap to move relative to the ROPP closure in a longitudinal axis. The overcap moves between a first position or mode of operation where the overcap can rotate about the ROPP closure and a second position or mode of operation where the overcap engages the ROPP closure to transmit a twisting or torque force to the ROPP closure and open the bottle.
Claims16
A method of filling and assembling a container, a roll-on pilfer proof (ROPP) closure, and a safety overcap, comprising:
- filling the container with a content, wherein the container has a sidewall and a neck extending upwardly therefrom, the sidewall and the neck oriented along a longitudinal axis, and a radial direction is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein a skirt of the container extends outwardly from the neck in the radial direction;
- positioning the ROPP closure on the container, wherein a pilfer band of the ROPP closure extends inwardly in the radial direction and is positioned below the skirt of the container to secure the ROPP closure to the container and seal the content in the container, wherein a retainer band of the ROPP closure extends outwardly in the radial direction;
- and
- positioning the safety overcap on the ROPP closure, wherein a lower end of the safety overcap extends inwardly in the radial direction and is positioned proximate to the retainer band of the ROPP closure to secure the safety overcap to the ROPP closure, wherein the safety overcap is movable between a non-engaging position relative to the ROPP closure where rotation of the safety overcap is not translated to the ROPP closure and an engaging position relative to the ROPP closure where rotation of the safety overcap is translated to the ROPP closure.
An overcap for a roll-on pilfer proof (ROPP) closure having a retainer band extending outwardly in a radial direction, comprising:
- a top portion that is deflectable from an initial shape in a first mode of operation to a substantially planar shape in a second mode of operation;
- a sidewall extending downwardly from the top portion, the sidewall and the top portion defining an interior volume;
- an engagement feature connected to the top portion and positioned in the interior volume;
- a lower end of the sidewall extending inwardly in the radial direction, and the lower end configured to secure the overcap on the retainer band of the ROPP closure;
- wherein, in the first mode of operation, the engagement feature of the overcap is configured to be in a non-engaging position with the ROPP closure such that rotation of the overcap does not transmit torque to the ROPP closure;
- and
- wherein, in the second mode of operation, the engagement feature of the overcap is configured to be in an engaging position with the ROPP closure such that the overcap is configured to transmit torque to the ROPP closure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.