Pre-Foiled Closures

Abstract

A pre-foiled closure ( 2 ) for engaging over an open end of the container has an openable section ( 18 ) that can be pivoted relative to the non-openable section ( 6 ) of the closure. The openable section carries a foil retainer ( 24 ) which is welded to the foil. The closure is intended to be induction heat sealed to the rim of a container and can be opened by pivoting the openable section ( 18 ). This lifting action tears the foil and removes a portion of the foil attached to the foil retainer. This eliminates the need for a separate ring pull to open the closure.

1 . A closure comprising a spout defining an opening and a foil membrane closing the opening, the closure having an openable section with a foil retaining formation terminating in an edge bonded to the foil membrane to define a removable portion of the foil membrane, the foil membrane also being bonded to a non-openable section of the closure before application to a container;
 characterised in that the closure has means for engaging it over an open end of a container; in that the foil membrane is held inside the closure in order to provide a border adapted to be induction heat sealed to the container; and in that the openable section is pivotable relative to the non-openable section of the closure.   
   
   
       2 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the foil membrane is bonded to a land on the non-openable section close to an edge of the opening in order to create a region of foil which is stretched between the land and an adjacent part of the foil retaining formation during the opening process to create an initial tear in that stretched region. 
   
   
       3 . A closure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the stretched region is opposite a hinge about which the openable section pivots open. 
   
   
       4 . A closure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one foil tearing tooth is provided between an edge of the opening and the land. 
   
   
       5 . A closure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a pull tab is provided on the openable section to apply an opening pressure in said stretched region. 
   
   
       6 . A closure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein an edge of the opening is pointed in said stretched region. 
   
   
       7 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an openable section is an overcap. 
   
   
       8 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the openable section is adapted to be torn from a remainder of an overcap carrying at least a part of the foil retaining formation. 
   
   
       9 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the edge of the formation is continuously welded to the foil. 
   
   
       10 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the edge is intermittently welded to the foil. 
   
   
       11 . A closure as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the edge is crenellated. 
   
   
       12 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the edge has a radius of less than 0.3 mm. 
   
   
       13 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the edge has a radius of 0.1 mm or less. 
   
   
       14 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the openable section has a peak by means of which the user can pivot it, the formation having a shape which converges to a tip aligned with the peak. 
   
   
       15 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the openable section has a peak by means of which the user can pivot it, the formation having a shape which defines tips spaced to either side of the peak. 
   
   
       16 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , made from a see through or clear or clarified plastics material. 
   
   
       17 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the overcap is attached to a container or spout by means of a breakable tab.