Hinged lid closure provided with a tamper-evident element for a container containing a free-flowing product

Abstract

A swing-lid closure ( 30; 100; 200 ) for containers, having a closure body ( 32; 214 ) which, on its top side, has an annular shoulder ( 42; 108; 212 ) and a through-passage channel ( 38 ) which opens out in an outlet opening ( 50 ), having a swing lid ( 34; 114; 208 ) with a lid shell ( 48; 112; 216 ) of a hinge ( 56 ) can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position, having a radial depression ( 58; 118; 220 ) of the lid shell ( 48; 112; 216 ), which is provided on the front side of the swing lid ( 34; 114; 208 ) and extends over part of the circumference of the swing lid ( 34; 114; 208 ), having a tamperproof securing strip ( 60; 104; 204 ) which extends in the circumferential direction on the annular shoulder ( 42; 108; 212 ) of the closure body ( 32; 214 ) and has its bottom edge fastened on the annular shoulder ( 42; 108; 212 ) via predetermined breaking points ( 64 ) and, in the original closed position of the swing lid ( 34; 114; 208 ), projects up into the depression ( 58; 118; 220 ) of the lid shell ( 48; 112; 216 ) in an arcuate manner, and, for the purpose of forming a tear-off opening ( 66 ), the circumferential length of the depression ( 58; 118; 220 ) of the lid shell ( 48; 112; 216 ) is greater, at least in a circumferential direction of the lid shell ( 48; 112; 216 ), than the circumferential length of the tamperproof securing strip ( 60; 104; 204 ). In its position which indicates the intact state, the tamperproof securing strip ( 60; 104; 204 ) is secured by a device ( 68; 70; 72; 74; 76; 78; 80; 82; 106; 108; 110; 202; 206; 210 ) by means of which the tamperproof securing strip ( 60; 104; 204 ) is connected in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner to the swing lid ( 34; 114; 208 ). This results in the tamperproof securing strip being better safeguarded against manipulation.

1 . A swing-lid closure ( 30 ;  100 ;  200 ) for containers containing free-flowing material, comprising 
 a closure body ( 32 ;  214 ) which can have its bottom, open end connected to the container via an opening of the latter and, on its top side, has an annular shoulder ( 42 ;  108 ;  212 ) and a through-passage channel ( 38 ) for the free-flowing material, the through-passage channel being connected to the interior of the container and opening out in an outlet opening ( 50 ),    a swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ) with a lid shell ( 48 ;  112 ;  216 ), which is articulated on the periphery of the top side of the closure body ( 32 ;  214 ) by a hinge ( 56 ) such that it can be swung between a position in which it partially engages over the closure body ( 32 ;  214 ) and closes the outlet opening ( 50 ) and a position in which it exposes the outlet opening ( 50 ),    a radial depression ( 58 ;  118 ;  220 ) of the lid shell ( 48 ;  112 ;  216 ), which is provided on the front side of the swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ), the front side being located opposite the hinge ( 56 ), and extends over part of the circumference of the swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ),    a tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ;  104 ;  204 ) which extends in an arcuate manner in the circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the annular shoulder ( 42 ;  108 ;  212 ) of the closure body ( 32 ;  214 ) and has its bottom edge fastened on the annular shoulder ( 42 ;  108 ;  212 ) via predetermined breaking points ( 64 ) and, in the original closed position of the swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ), projects up into the depression ( 58 ;  118 ;  220 ) of the lid shell ( 48 ;  112 ;  216 ) in an arcuate manner over part of the circumference of the closure body ( 32 ;  214 ), the depression ( 58 ;  118 ;  220 ) of the lid shell ( 48 ;  112 ;  216 ) having a circumferential length which, at least in a circumferential direction of the lid shell ( 48 ;  112 ;  216 ), is dimensioned to be greater than the circumferential length of the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ;  104 ;  204 ), for the purpose of forming a tear-off opening ( 66 ) for the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ;  104 ;  204 ),    characterized in that,    in its vertical position, which indicates the intact state and in which it is protected in the depression ( 58 ;  118 ;  220 ) of the swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ), the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ;      104 ;  204 ) is secured by a device ( 68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ;  106 ,  108 ,  110 ;  202 ,  206 ,  210 ) by means of which the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ;  104 ;  204 ) and the swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ) are connected to one another in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner.    
   
   
       2 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one snap-in hook ( 68 ) projects radially outward, in relation to the main axis (x) of the swing-lid closure ( 30 ), from the bottom edge ( 62 ) of the lid shell ( 48 ), which forms the radially inner rear wall of the depression ( 58 ), and the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ) is provided, in the region of its bottom edge ( 62 ), with at least one latching edge ( 70 ) for the snap-in hook ( 68 ).  
   
   
       3 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one locking opening ( 80 ) is provided on the underside of the gripping ridge ( 74 ) of the swing-lid ( 34 ), this at least partially enclosing the top edge of the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ).  
   
   
       4 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that at least one locking pin ( 78 ) projects up from the top edge of the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ), and at least one corresponding locking opening ( 80 ) is provided in the underside of the gripping ridge ( 74 ) of the swing lid ( 34 ).  
   
   
       5 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ) is fastened on a radially outer, axially offset, arcuate stepped portion ( 82 ) of the annular shoulder ( 42 ) of the closure body ( 32 ), the radial width of this corresponding approximately to the sum of the radial width of the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ) and of the snap-in hook ( 68 ) on the lid shell ( 48 ).  
   
   
       6 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the gripping ridge ( 74 ) extends more or less over a semicircle and, in the intact position of the swing lid ( 34 ), covers over at least the top edge of the tamperproof securing strip ( 60 ) and is aligned with the circumferential surface of the same.  
   
   
       7 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one retaining element ( 102 ) is integrally formed on the inside of the tamperproof securing strip ( 104 ), the retaining element extending radially inward and the swing lid ( 114 ) resting thereon by way of its lid shell ( 112 ) in the closed position of the swing lid ( 114 ).  
   
   
       8 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the at least one retaining element ( 102 ) is U-shaped and engages around the lid shell of the closed swing lid ( 114 ), in which case one of the two U-legs is formed by the tamperproof securing strip ( 104 ), from the bottom edge of which a U-crosspiece ( 106 ) extends radially inward as a support for the lid shell ( 112 ) and merges into the second U-leg ( 110 ), which extends parallel to the radially inner surface of the tamperproof securing strip ( 104 ).  
   
   
       9 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the at least one U-shaped retaining element ( 102 ) is arranged on both sides of the snap-in hook ( 116 ).  
   
   
       10 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one latching edge ( 202 ) of the tamperproof securing strip ( 204 ) for the at least one snap-in hook ( 206 ) of the swing lid ( 208 ) is formed by at least one latching tongue ( 210 ) which, as an integral constituent part of the tamperproof securing strip ( 204 ), extends radially inward in the direction of the annular shoulder ( 212 ) of the closure body ( 214 ) and the free end of which terminates at an axial distance from the annular shoulder ( 212 ).  
   
   
       11 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that that side of the at least one latching edge ( 202 ) which is directed toward the swing lid ( 208 ) is beveled radially inward in the direction of the annular shoulder ( 212 ) of the closure body ( 214 ) and that side of the at least one snap-in hook ( 206 ) which is directed toward the latching edge ( 202 ) is beveled correspondingly.  
   
   
       12 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that that side of the at least one snap-in hook ( 206 ) which is directed toward the latching edge ( 202 ) is arranged level with the bottom edge of the lid shell ( 216 ), the height of this bottom edge being reduced by the height of the snap-in hook ( 206 ).  
   
   
       13 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that at least one radially inwardly set-back portion of the lid shell ( 216 ) is provided, in the region of the radial depression ( 220 ) thereof, with at least one radially outer latching shoulder ( 222 ), which engages beneath the latching edge ( 202 ) of the latching tongue ( 210 ) of the tamperproof securing strip ( 204 ) in the closed position of the swing lid ( 208 ).  
   
   
       14 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the radially set-back portion ( 218 ) of the lid shell ( 216 ) is designed as an axis-parallel guide groove ( 224 ) for the latching tongue ( 210 ) of the tamperproof securing strip ( 204 ) and is offset radially inward to an extent which corresponds approximately to the sum of the radial dimensions of the tamperproof securing strip ( 204 ) with its latching tongue ( 210 ) and the snap-in hook ( 206 ) of the swing lid ( 208 ).  
   
   
       15 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the bottom edge of the latching shoulder ( 222 ), this bottom edge being directed toward the closure body ( 214 ), is aligned with the bottom edge of the lid shell ( 216 ).  
   
   
       16 . The swing-lid closure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a cap shell ( 36 ) of the closure body ( 32 ) is provided, on the inside, with fastening means ( 40 ) by way of which the closure body ( 32 ) can be fastened on a container neck enclosing the container opening, a radially inner annular shoulder ( 42 ) bounding the top end of the cap shell ( 36 ) and merging into a tubular outlet nozzle ( 44 ) which forms the through-passage channel ( 38 ), and in that the inside of the swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ) is provided with a coaxial, tubular closing nozzle ( 228 ) for sealing the outlet opening ( 50 ) when the swing lid ( 34 ;  114 ;  208 ) is closed.