Method of joining separable components and container closure system formed by the same

Abstract

A tamper-evidencing closure for a container including a first component having a first interlocking structure and a second, plastics injection molded component having a second interlocking structure molded in situ against the first interlocking structure. The second interlocking structure is complementary in shape to the first interlocking structure and is in mechanical interlocking engagement with the first interlocking structure. The mechanical interlocking engagement is releasable without fracture of at least one of the first and second interlocking structures. A method of using the tamper-evidencing closure is also disclosed.

1 . A method of joining separable components comprising: 
 providing a first component having first interlocking structure; and    molding a second component in a plastics injection molding process within a mold utilizing a surface of said first interlocking structure of said first component as a portion of the mold, said second component being formed with second interlocking structure complementary to said first interlocking structure which mechanically interlocks said first component and said second component, said mechanical interlock being releasable without fracture of at least one of said first and second interlocking structures.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said molding step further forms said mechanical interlock to be releasable without fracture of said first and second interlocking structures.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said molding step further forms said first and second interlocking structures such that the interlocking structures cannot be reassembled after said mechanical interlock has been released.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said providing step is accomplished by providing said first interlocking structure with a recess having first trapezoidal cross-section and said forming step is accomplished by forming said second interlocking structure with a protrusion having a second trapezoidal cross-section complementary to said first trapezoidal cross-section.  
     
     
         5 . A closure for a container comprising: 
 a first component including a first interlocking structure; and    a second, plastics injection molded component having a second interlocking structure molded in situ against said first interlocking structure and complementary in shape to said first interlocking structure, said second interlocking structure being in mechanical interlocking engagement with said first interlocking structure;    said mechanical interlocking engagement being releasable without fracture of at least one of said first and second interlocking structures.    
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein said mechanical interlocking engagement is releasable without fracture of said first and second interlocking structures.  
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second interlocking structures cannot be reassembled after said mechanical interlocking engagement has been released.  
     
     
         8 . A tamper-evidencing closure for a container having a container opening, said closure comprising: 
 a closure base having a dispensing aperture adapted for mounting on the container adjacent the container opening;    a sealing member for closing said dispensing aperture and the container opening; and    a connection member releasably interconnecting said closure base and said sealing member;    wherein one of said closure base and said sealing member is formed of a first material and said connection member is formed of a second material, said second material being more pliable than said first material.    
     
     
         9 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein said closure base further comprises an annular top, a well defined by an inner skirt depending downwardly from an inner perimeter of said annular top, and an annular bottom extending radially inward from said inner skirt, said bottom having a closure aperture for accessing the container opening, said first interlocking structure including a recess located on said annular bottom.  
     
     
         10 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 9 , wherein said recess is an outwardly-extending trapezoidally-shaped recess.  
     
     
         11 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 10 , wherein said closure base further comprises a retainer for securing said closure base to the container.  
     
     
         12 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 11 , wherein said closure base further comprises an outer skirt depending downwardly from an outer periphery of said annular top, said retainer including a retaining band extending inwardly and upwardly from a lower portion of said outer skirt.  
     
     
         13 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein said sealing member comprises a pull-ring.  
     
     
         14 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein one of said sealing member and said connection member comprises a peripheral lip and the other one of said sealing member and said connection member includes a continuous ring having an engagement groove cooperating with said peripheral lip to mechanically interlock said connection member and said sealing member.  
     
     
         15 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein one of said closure base and said connection member includes a recess and the other of said closure base and said connection member includes a protrusion complementary in shape to said recess.  
     
     
         16 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 15 , wherein said protrusion and said recess have trapezoidally-shaped cross-sectional profiles.  
     
     
         17 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein said closure base is polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and/or low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         18 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein said sealing member is polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and/or low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         19 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein said connection member is low-density polyethylene and/or thermoplastic elastomer.  
     
     
         20 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein said closure is dimensioned and configured for use with a container having a container opening, a neck finish, and a locking surface on said neck finish, said closure further comprising: 
 a plurality of retaining flaps extending radially inwardly and upwardly from a lower portion of an outer skirt of said closure base, each said retaining flap including an oblique wing having a arcuate inner edge adapted to engage the locking surface of the container;    wherein each wing includes a concave lower surface dimensioned and configured to closely approximate the outer diameter of the neck finish below the locking surface allowing substantially the entire the inner edge to contact the locking surface.    
     
     
         21 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 20 , wherein the neck finish includes anti-rotation structure, said closure further comprising a vertically extending gusset extending along at least one of said flaps and being dimensioned and configured to abut against the anti-rotation structure of the neck finish.  
     
     
         22 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 20 , wherein said closure further includes a plurality of biasing ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface of said outer skirt toward a respective one of said flaps to bias said inner edges into contact with the locking surface of the container.  
     
     
         23 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 8 , wherein said closure further comprises a plurality of lines of weakness extending upwardly along a lower portion of an outer skirt of said closure base, said lines of weakness being dimensioned and configured to split upon at least partial removal of said closure from the container.  
     
     
         24 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 23 , wherein said lines of weakness extend substantially vertically along said lower portion of said outer skirt.  
     
     
         25 . A tamper-evidencing closure for a container having a container opening, a neck finish, and a locking surface on said neck finish, said closure comprising: 
 a closure base having a top and an annular outer skirt depending from a periphery of said top;    a plurality of retaining flaps extending radially inwardly and upwardly from a lower portion of said outer skirt, each said retaining flap including an oblique wing having a arcuate inner edge adapted to engage the locking surface of the container;    wherein each wing includes a concave lower surface dimensioned and configured to closely approximate the outer diameter of the neck finish below the locking surface allowing a majority of the inner edge to contact the locking surface.    
     
     
         26 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 25 , wherein the neck finish includes anti-rotation structure, said closure further comprising a vertically extending gusset extending along at least one of said flaps and being dimensioned and configured to abut against the anti-rotation structure of the neck finish.  
     
     
         27 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 25 , wherein said closure further comprises a plurality of biasing ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface of said outer skirt toward a respective one of said flaps to bias said inner edges into contact with the locking surface of the container when said closure is mounted on the container.  
     
     
         28 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 25 , wherein said closure further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced lines of weakness extending substantially vertically along said lower portion of said outer skirt, said lines of weakness being dimensioned and configured to split upon partial removal of said closure from the container.  
     
     
         29 . A tamper-evidencing closure for a container having a container opening, a neck finish, and a locking surface on said neck finish, said closure comprising: 
 a closure base having a top and an annular outer skirt depending from a periphery of said top;    a retainer extending radially inwardly and upwardly from a lower portion of said outer skirt; and    a plurality of circumferentially spaced lines of weakness extending biasing ribs extending upwardly along said lower portion of said outer skirt, said lines of weakness being dimensioned and configured to split upon partial removal of said closure from the container.    
     
     
         30 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 29 , wherein said plurality of lines of weakness extend substantially vertically along said lower portion of said outer skirt.  
     
     
         31 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 29 , wherein said plurality of lines of weakness extend substantially parallel to one another.  
     
     
         32 . The tamper-evidencing closure of  claim 29 , wherein said plurality of lines of weakness extend from a bottom edge of said lower portion of said outer skirt.