WO2017161410A1

WO2017161410A1 - Anti-tamper and anti-counterfeit closure for a container

Info

Publication number: WO2017161410A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Andrew Thomas SWEENEY
Original assignee: Intrinsic Management Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-24
Filing date: 2017-03-24
Publication date: 2017-09-28

Abstract

The present invention is a tamper evident closure assembly for a container that has been pre- filled with a product. The assembly includes a body portion and a cap portion. The container is manufactured to have a necked portion that defines the opening of the container, and the sidewall of the necked portion is manufactured with a specific shape, and the body portion of the assembly is adapted to be attached onto that specific shape and be non-removable from the container, once it has been attached, and the body portion includes a first portion that is adapted to sit internally with respect to the necked portion of the container, and a second portion that is adapted to sit externally with respect to the necked portion of the container, and act like a collar around it, and the closure includes at least one feature that permanently indicates any effort to remove the closure from the container.

Description

ANTI-TAMPER AND ANTI-COUNTERFEIT CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates to a closure assembly for a product container, and in particular, it relates to closure assemblies that include intrinsic features that mitigate either tampering, or counterfeiting, or both, and also provide evidence of first opening of the container.

Background of the Invention

[0002] There are a wide variety of consumer products sold in containers. Several examples of these include lubricants, detergents, industrial chemicals, pool and spa chemicals and liquid fertilizers to name just a few. These are sold to a wide variety of consumers, including professional service providers and domestic users. Dry goods such as powdered pool chlorine is an example of a non-liquid product.

[0003] One of the major problems for manufacturers and suppliers of these goods to consumers and professional service providers is to ensure that the customer is supplied with genuine goods, and that any attempt to tamper with the product is firstly resisted by the packaging, and secondly such tampering attempts resul ts in clear evidence of the tampering, so that the end user can easily see that an attempt to tamper with the product has in fact occurred. Features that provide anti tampering and evidence of tampering features to the packaging may have the undesirable effect of making the packaging hard to open by the user, and once open, more difficult to pour. An end user often struggles to open the containers, particularly when the container includes closure means that include tamper resistant, tamper evident, indication features.

[0004] Similarly, it is desirable that the packaging makes it difficult to defraud the end user by counterfeiters, who often sell inferior products in look-alike packaging, in order to pass off the good reputation of the genuine manufacturer with their cheaper and often inferior product. However, such anti-counterfeit measures are constantly under attack by counterfeits in a never-ending effort to circumvent the anti-counterfeit measure included in the packaging. It is also desirable that the anti-counterfeit features in the packaging enable the manufacturer to conveniently detect counterfeit goods as early as possible within the supply chain, so they can take the appropriate steps to protect their brand and goodwill, and to protect their customers from being defrauded. Just like the anti-tampering features, many anti -counterfeit features also make the opening, pouring and cl osure of the container more difficult.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to ameliorate at least some of the aforementioned problems.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0006] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention is a tamper evident closure assembly for a container that has been pre-filled with a product. The assembly includes a body portion and a cap portion. The container is manufactured to have a necked portion that defines the opening of the container, and the sidewall of the necked portion is manufactured with a specific shape, and the body portion of the assembly is adapted to be attached onto that specific shape and be non-removable from the container, once it has been attached, and the body portion includes a first portion that is adapted to sit internally with respect to the necked portion of the container, and a second portion that is adapted to sit externally with respect to the necked portion of the container, and act like a collar around it, and the closure includes at least one feature that permanently indicates any effort to remove the closure from the container.

[0007] Preferably, the necked portion includes a lowermost shoulder that extends circumferentially inwardly for a short distance whereat the innermost point on the shoulder includes a short wall that terminates at a flange that extends outwardly a short distance, parallel to the shoulder, wherein the combination of the shoulder, wall and flange combine to create an external circumferential slot at the base of the necked portion, and the body portion of the assembly includes a complimentary internally directed flange that is insertable within the circumferential slot, when the body portion has been properly seated upon the container.

[0008] Preferably, the necked portion has an inwardly sloping oblique sidewall feature that extends upwardly from the top of the circumferential slot, and the complimentary internally directed flange of the body portion is shaped so that it is adapted to slide down the oblique sidewall and thereby be guided towards the circumferential slot, and the shape of the internally directed flange is adapted to thereby be permanently retained within the

circumferential slot.

[0009] Preferably, the container includes stiffening means located below the necked portion of the container, and these stiffening means are adapted to act as a foundation for the necked portion and enhance the capability of the necked portion to withstand the force applied to attach the assembly to the container.

[0010] Preferably, the internally directed flange is located at the lowermost extremity of the second portion.

[001 1 ] Preferably, an external circumferential groove is located on the second portion above the internally directed flange, and the circumferential groove is firstly adapted to reduce the force required to push the internally directed flange down the oblique slope, by creating a flexure point, so that it can engage with the circumferential slot, and secondly adapted to permanently defonn and provide direct visual evidence if any attempt is made to try and lever the internally directed flange out of engagement with the circumferential slot.

[0012] Preferably, the portion of the interior sidewal l on the second portion of the body portion, below the external circumferential groove, contains a plurality of spaced apart splices and interstitial slots, so that the splices and slots are concealed when the assembly is applied to the container, and these rise sufficiently up the interior sidewall of the second portion, and are precisely dimensioned, so that at least the slots combine with the externally

circumferential groove to create a plurality of space apart perforations around the second portion, and these features combine so that any attempt to forcibly remove the assembly from the container causes the second portion to distort, tear or otherwise defonn so that it becomes permanent visual evidence that an attempt has been made to tamper with the assembly.

[0013] Preferably, there is at least one additional internally directed flange located on the internal wall of the second portion at a position above the perforations, and this additional flange interengages with a corresponding circumferential slot formed in the exterior sidewall of the neck, and this adds a second attachment point for the assembly to the container.

[0014] Preferably, the internally directed flanges combine to provide a circumferential clamping force upon the exterior wall of the neck.

[0015] Preferably, the body includes an upper internal flange that extends outwardly from the first portion to the second portion and joins the two portions of the body together, and the upper internal flange is adapted to sit above the uppermost rim of the necked opening in the container, and on the underside of the upper internal flange is located a lower gasket that is compressed by the uppermost rim of the neck when the assembly is attached to the container to thereby provide at least one permanent seal between the container and the body portion of the assembly.

[0016] Preferably, the lower gasket is adapted to accommodate a wide variety of gap distance variations between the uppermost rim of the necked opening in the container and the upper flange in the body portion caused by variations in the cut-off point of the container during manufacture of the container.

[0017] Preferably, the gap variations can range from less than 1mm up to 4mm.

[0018] Preferably, on the upper side of the internal flange is located an upper gasket that is compressed by the underside of the rim of the cap when the c ap is fully attached to the assembly, to thereby create a seal between the cap and the body portion.

[0019] Preferably, the upper internal flange is located so that the first portion of the body is located either completely above the rim of the neck opening, or also extends partway into the neck opening, or sits solely within the necked opening, or sits both upwardly above the rim of the necked opening, and extends down through the neck opening and partway into the container.

[0020] Preferably, a portion of the exterior sidewall of the first portion is shaped so that it presses against the inner sidewall of the neck portion and assists the neck portion in resisting the circumferential clamp force.

[0021] Preferably, the assembly includes a spout, and the spout is adapted to sit within the interior of the body.

[0022] Preferably, the lowermost rim of the first portion includes an internally directed circumferential slot, and the outer sidewall of the spout includes a corresponding externally directed circumferential flange, and when the spout is attached to the assembly, the flange is seated within and retained by the slot.

[0023] Preferably, the spout is adapted to extend downwardly, partway into the bottle and in contact with the stiffening means.

[0024] Preferably, the upper and lower sidewalls of the circumferential slot in the first portion include break-away points that are adapted to cause eit her of the sidewalls to snap off if any attempt is made to forcibly remove the spout from the assembly, once it has been attached.

[0025] Preferably, the lowermost rim of the spout includes a plurality of evenly spaced apart slots with interstitial splices, and the plurality of slots and splices are adapted to deform and tear if any attempt is made to use a tool from inside the bore of the spout to attempt to pull the spout out of the assembly.

[0026] Preferably, the action of the first removal of the cap from the body portion by a consumer, causes at least some of the features of the assembly to be permanently altered, and this alteration is visually evident to all subsequent users of the container, to thereby provide evidence that the container has in fact been opened.

[0027] Preferably, at least one of the permanently alterable features of the assembly includes a tear strip that has a tear line, and the action of the first removal of the cap, forces the tear strip to permanently separate from the body portion, along the tear line. [0028] Preferably, the cap portion is threadedly attached to the body portion, and the tear line of the tear strip is spiral shaped, and the pitch of the spiral; matches the pitch of the thread that attaches the cap to the body.

[0029] Preferably, the cap includes at least one cutting tooth that protrudes outwardly into the tear line of the tear strip, so that as the cap is turned, so that the cap can be removed from the body portion for the first time, the at least one cutting tooth tracks along the spiral of the tear line as the cap is rotated and rises upon its threaded attachment to the body portion, thereby severing the tear strip from the body portion.

[0030] Preferably, the tear line comprises a plurality of tabs, and each adjacent pair of tabs has an interstitial void.

[0031 ] Preferably, the at least one cutting tooth is capable of impacting against each of the tabs in sequence, as the cap is rotated so as to be removed from the body portion, and the combination of the shape of the at least one tooth, and the force of the impact against the particular tab, is sufficient to permanently sever the particular tab from the body portion.

[0032] Preferably, during the initial manufacture of the assembly, when the cap is initially screwed onto the body portion, the protrusion associated with the at least one tooth is both sufficiently flexible, and shaped, so that the at least one tooth is capable of ratcheting around the plurality of tabs in the tear line, without damaging any of the tabs, and thereby leaving the tear strip intact.

[0033] Preferably, the cap is threadedly attached to the body portion, and includes at least one abutment portion that extends at least partway around the circumference of the cap, and the tear strip also includes at least one opposing abutment that is positioned so that as the cap is first removed from the body portion, the at least one abutment portion rises up and abuts against the at least one abutment portion on the tear strip, so that the force of the unscrewing of the cap is sufficient to tear the tear strip away from the body portion, along the tear strip.

[0034] Optionally, the assembly includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) token, or a Near Field Communication (NFC) token and the token is manufactured so that it includes a removable portion, and a permanently affixed portion, and wherein at least the permanently affixed portion is concealed within the structure of the closure assembly, and wherein there is a preferential break point at the interface between the two portions, and when the token is completely intact, the token transponds one set of information, and when the token is broken at the break point, the permanently affixed portion of the token transponds a second set of information.

[0035] Preferably, at least the permanently affixed portion of the token is moulded into a suitable surface within the body portion.

[0036] Preferably, the break point is positioned so that the action of removing the cap from the body portion for the first time causes the token to be permanently broken at the break point, and wherein the second set of information permanently identifies that container has having been opened.

[0037] Preferably, after the cap has been removed from the assembly, the user must first remove the removable portion of the token from the assembly to access the contents of the container, and wherein the second set of information permanently identifies that container has been opened.

[0038] Optionally, an induction heat seal is included, and the induction heat seal is placed across the opening of the assembly through which the contents of the container can be poured, thereby sealing the opening, so that the induction heat seal must therefore first be removed from the assembly, after the cap has been removed, in order to gain access to the contents of the container.

[0039] Preferably, the token includes an aerial portion, and the aerial portion is hoop shaped and sized to fit around the rim of the opening of the assembly, under the induction heat seal, and the aerial portion is adapted so that at least a portion of the aerial is permanently removed from the assembly when the induction heat seal is removed.

[0040] Preferably, at least the aerial portion of the token is fabricated from a suitable material that is adapted to facilitate the welding of the induction heat seal to the rim of the opening of the assembly, so that the material acts both as a facilitator of the weld and also as the aerial for the token.

[0041 ] Preferably, the token includes an aerial portion that is integrated with the body of the induction heat seal, across substantially its entire area, so that any tear or puncture of the induction heat seal, permanently breaks or removes at least a portion of the aerial portion.

[0042] Preferably, the container is manufactured out of a suitable polymer.

[0043] Preferably, the container is manufactured in two stages, with the first stage being an injection moulding stage to make a pre-form, and the second stage being a blow moulding stage that blows the pre-form out to the finished shape of the container.

[0044] Preferably, all the components of the body portion, including the tear strip, are intrinsically formed in the container during the first stage of manufacture.

[0045] Preferably, the container is filled after the second stage of manufacture, and then the cap is applied to the closure assembly.

[0046] Preferably, the second stage of manufacture may take place at a separate facility to the facility that manufactures the pre-form.

[0047] Preferably, a portion of the token is adapted to be compressed by the compression of the lower gasket by the uppermost rim of the neck opening in the container, as the assembly is applied to the container, and the compressive action is adapted to activate the token.

[0048] In another form, the present invention is an anti-counterfeit closure for a paper or paperboard container including:

a sheet of suitable paper or paperboard, and

polymer lining, and

foil lining, and

a base plate, and

a spout, and a cap, and

a ring pull, and

a removable portion that has a line of weakness defining the shape of the removable portion, and

a passive electronic token,

wherein at least one of the polymer or foil lining comprises a plurality of layers, and the unfonned shape of the container is precut out of a sheet of foil and polymer lined paper or paperboard. The container is formed out of the unformed shape and is then ready for filling with a product. The polymer and foil lining is capable of sealing the container closed after the formed container has been filled, and the seal that is created is both water resistant and air tight, the base plate is pre-attached to the sheet, and the polymer and foil liner is continuous under the entire underneath area of the base plate, and bonded to the base plate. The base plate includes the removable portion that has the line of weakness defining the shape of the removable portion, and the baseplate has on its opposite side to the lining, the spout, onto which is releasably attachable, the cap, and within the spout, under the cap, is a ring pull that is integrated with the removable portion. A passive electronic token such as a Radio

Frequency Identification (RFID) or Near Field Communication (NFC) token is embedded within the layers of the polymer or foil lining, directly beneath the removable portion, so that when the cap is removed, and the ring pull is pulled with sufficient force, the force applied to the ring pull causes the removable portion and the lining that is bonded to it, to tear away from the container, thereby removing at least a portion of the token and creating an opening in in the container that can be subsequently sealed by the re-application of the cap to the spout. The removal of at least a portion of the token is a permanent indicator that the container has been opened.

[0049] Preferably, the token is positioned so that it has a larger surface area than the removable portion, and the token has a preferential break point that is positioned at the preferential tear line of the removable portion so that prior to the removal of the removable portion, the token is adapted to transmit a first data, and after the removable portion has been removed, and therefore the token has been broken at the preferential tear line, the token transmits a second set of data. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0050] Figure 1 is an isometric view of one form of the present invention.

[0051 ] Figure 2 is a sectional exploded side view of one form of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 3 is a sectional side view of one form of the present invention showing an attempt to use a tool to pry the included spout off the assembly with a tool.

[0053] Figure 4 shows a sectional side view of one form of the present invention being applied to one type of container.

[0054] Figure 5 shows further detail of how the assembly is attached to one type of container.

[0055] Figure 6 shows how the cap interacts with the tear line of the tear strip according to one form of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 7 shows an alternative form of the present invention and illustrates how the cap interacts with the tear strip.

[0057] Figures 8 and 9 show one fonn of the present invention with an RFID or NFC token incorporated into the assembly.

[0058] Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention using either an RFID or NFC token

[0059] Figures 1 1 to 13 show the inclusion of a thermoseal in the assembly.

[0060] Figures 14 and 15 show an alternative embodiment of the present inventions where the base portion of the assembly is moulded as an integral part of the container.

[0061 ] Figure 16 to 20 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention applied to a foil and polymer lined paper or papercard container. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0062] Turning firstly to Figure 1, we are shown an isometric view of one form of the present invention. The assembly is a closure for a container. In the form of the invention illustrated here, we show the invention being used in association with a polymer container. However this invention could be used on any type of container that can be manufactured with a suitable neck portion onto which the assembly can be applied, such as a glass wine bottle for example. The goal of the invention is to provide a functional openable and closable seal to a container, that is both tamper evident and indicates that the container has in fact been opened. As shown in Figure 1 , in one form of the invention, the assembly 1 includes a screw cap 3 that is threadedly attached to a body portion 5. The body portion 5 is designed to be permanently attached to a necked opening fabricated into the container. Please note that in this illustration, the container is not shown. In a first aspect of the invention, the assembly 1 has several features that show direct visual evidence if any attempt is made to remove the assembly from the container, after it has been attached. In Figure 1 we are shown that the first of these features as a plurality of spaces apart slots and interstitial splices 9. The body 5 includes an external notch 1 1 , and the splices are located on the internal face of the sidewalk This means that the splices and notches are concealed. At least some of the splices rise sufficiently up the internal side wall where they intersect with the notch 1 1 to form a plurality of perforations 12. Any attempt to place a tool, such as a screw driver under that rim and try to leverage the assembly off of the container, will cause permanent localised distortion and discolouration of the material as it buckles and yields on the slots and splices 9, thereby providing an end user with direct visual evidence that such an attempt has been made.

[0063] Also visible in Figure 1 is another feature that is directed to another aspect of the invention that relates to providing direct evidence to the end user that the container is either still factory sealed, or has in fact already been opened. This feature is illustrated as tear strip 7. Tear strip 7 is integrated into the body 5. The tear strip 7 is held in place on the body by a tear line 15. In this form of the invention, the cap 3 includes a toothed extension 13. It has already been mentioned that the cap 3 is threadedly attached to the body 5. The tear line 15 is also spiral shaped, and the pitch of the spiral matches the pitch of the thread that engages with the cap 3. As the cap 3 is removed from the assembly for the first time, the tooth 13 moves around the spiral of the tear line 15. The wedged shape of the tooth 13 is able to sever the tear line. It should be noted that the tear line 15 may not completely circumvent the periphery of the body 5, so in some embodiments of the invention, the cap 3 will not need to make a complete revolution in order to completely sever the tear strip 7 away from the body 5. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tear line 15 may actually be a sequence of tabs 17 with interstitial voids 25. The tooth 13 then severs each tab in the tear line 15 as the cap 3 is unscrewed from the assembly for the first time.

[0064] Turning now to Figure 2, we are shown an exploded sectional view of the assembly that was illustrated in Figure 1. Note that in this illustration, the container is not shown. In this view, it can be seen that the internal bore of the body 5 includes the internal screw thread 23 that accommodates the external thread 21 on the cap 3. In this form of the invention, the cap 3 includes a cap flange 55 that seats upon and compresses the gasket 59 when the cap 3 is fully screwed onto the body 5. The tooth 13 protrudes out far enough so that it rests inside the tear line 15 of the tear strip 7. It is more clearly shown that the tear line 15 is made up of a plurality of spaced apart tabs 17, with each adjacent pair having an interstitial void 25.

[0065] The tooth 13 it supported by a flexible extension. The rear of the tooth is also pawl shaped so that when the cap 3 is screwed onto the body 5, for the very first time, the combination of the pawl rear shape of the tooth 13, coupled with its flexible extension, combine to enable the tooth 13 to simply ratchet around the tear line 15 without doing and damage to any of the tabs 17. However when the cap 3 is rotated in the opposite direction, in order to remove it from the body 5 for the first time, the tooth now remains engaged with the tear line 15 and severs each of the tabs 17 as the cap 3 is turned, and the tear strip 7 is then removed from the assembly.

[0066] The body 5 has two main portions. The first portion can be arranged to sit within the perimeter of the neck of the bottle, but wholly above the rim, or it can be arranged to at least partial ly sit within the neck of the bottle, or it can extend from above the rim, through the throat and partway into the container itself. The second portion is arranged to act as a collar around the outside of the neck of the container. The second portion includes at least one circumferential flange 45 that is located at the lowermost point of the second portion. The circumferential flange 45 is adapted to snap into and be retained by a corresponding circumferential slot in the container. The notch 49 helps the circumferential flange 45 to deform sufficiently to be able to reach the slot 43. Preferably there is at least one other circumferential flange on the second portion, located at a position above the notch 49. The combination of the circumferential grooves provide a plurality of hoop stress forces against the external wall of the neck portion of the container. The two portions of the body 5 are permanently connected together by the bridge 65. Bridge 65 is shown in this illustration in its most basic configuration, however it can have a plurali ty of more complex shapes and still act as a bridge between the two portions. The bridge 65 is designed to sit above the rim of the neck of the container. On the underside of the bridge is a body gasket 51. When the assembly is forced onto the neck of the container, the rim of the necked opening in the container is directed to be pushed upwardly, with respect to the body 5, and compress against the body gasket 51. Because the height of the rim of the necked portion of the container is variable, especially in blow moulded containers, and can be affected by the variation in cal ibration of trimming apparatus used to cut the finished container out of the mould, there will be a wide variety of gap distances between the underside of the bridge 65 and the rim 47 of the neck portion 35 of the container. Th e body gasket 51 is designed to accommodate gap distances from less than 1mm up to 4mm.

[0067] In this illustration, we are introduced an optional feature in the form of spout 19. The spout 19 has a substantially truncated conic shape. The purpose of the spout is to provide a preferred flow channel for the product contained within the container. Depending on the final arrangement of the assembly, the spout 19 may be connected to the body by being pushed up from the bottom of the body 5 or passed down from the top of the body 5. In this preferred embodiment, the spout 19 includes a circumferential flange 29 that is adapted to engage with, and be retained by the circumferential slot 27 in the base of the body 5. In a preferred form of the invention, the walls of slot 27 are sloped so that the flange 29 can slide down the slope and be guided into the slot 27. In some arrangements, it may be necessary to seal the exterior of the spout 19 from the cap 3. In such cases an additional circumferential flange 33 is included that engages with the interior wall of the cap 3 to provide a seal.

[0068] As best shown in Figure 3, the spout 19 has an anti-tampering feature. Firstly, the spout includes a skirted portion 31 at its base that includes a plurality of slots and splices. After the spout 19 has been attached to the body 5, any attempt to pass a tool 61 down through its bore and hook onto the base of the spout 19 causes the skirted portion 31 to locally tear and yield at 63, due to the inherent structural weakness introduced by the slots and splices. In another optional form of the present invention, the walls of the slot 27 are adapted to remain intact when subjected to the force applied to it by the flange 29 when the spout 19 is being inserted into the assembly, however at least one of the sidewalls of the slot 27 are adapted to shear away from the body 5 if there is an attempt to apply direct force to the spout 19, and pull it out of the assembly.

[0069] Turning to Figures 4 & 5 we can see that the assembly, comprising the cap 3, and the body 5, and the spout 19 are pre-assembled. The container is fabricated and filled with product prior to the application of the assembly to close the container. The finished container 37 is shown as a blow moulded polymer container in this illustration, however many other types of container, including glass bottles, can be used with the invention. The container 37 includes a neck portion 35. The sidewall of the neck portion has a specific shape that interconnects to the body portion 5 of the assembly. Firstly, in a preferred embodiment, the container includes solid section of material 41 that acts as a foundation to support the neck portion 35 during application of the assembly. The skirt 31 of the spout 19 extends down partway into the container 37 and makes contact with the solid section of material 41 once the assembly has been fully attached to the container 37.

[0070] The assembly has at least one vent feature that allows outside air to flow into the container 37 through the return air conduit 39 that is illustrated here as formed in a carry handle fabricated into the container. The air flow into the container compensates for the outflow of contents from the container and reduces the amount of glugging during the pouring process.

[0071 ] immediately above the return air conduit 39 is a circumferential slot 43.

Immediately above the circumferential slot 43 is an oblique slope 67 is adapted to engage with the circumferential flange 45 on the body 5, and allow the flange to glide down the slope and be guided into the slot 43. The external notch 49 assists in enabling the sidewall of the body 5 to flex and reach the slot. Once the slot is properly engaged with the slot, any attempt to remove it, such as trying to pry it off with a lever, will cause the region of internal slots and splices to deform, tear or discolour, thereby providing a user of the container with direct visual evidence that such an attempt has been made.

[0072] As the assembly is applied to the container, the sidewall of the neck portion 35 passes between the skirt portion and the internal portion of the body 5, and eventually the rim 47 of the neck portion 35 engages with the body gasket 51, and creates a seal between the body and the container.

[0073] A shown in Figure 5 we can see greater detail of the assembly being attached to the neck of the container. It should be noted that in a preferred embodiment, there is at least one additional flange on the body 5 that is located above the notch 49. The combination of all the flanges against the exterior wall of the neck portion 35, creates significant hoop stresses, and firmly holds the assembly in place upon the container. In a preferred embodiment, the internal portion of the body 5 provides support to the interior face of the neck portion 35.

[0074] Turning to Figure 6 we are shown the action of the first removal of the cap 3 from the body portion 5. The cap 3 includes at least one cutting tooth 13 that extends into the tear line 15 of the tear strip 7. As the cap is unscrewed, it rises up upon its thread from the body 5, and the tooth 13 rides along the spiral shape of the tear line 15. The tooth is adapted to impact with and sever each tab 17 leaving behind the severed tear line 53. It should be noted that having a tear line 15 featuring a sequence of tabs and voids is just one preferred embodiment. It could also take other suitable forms, including a single continuous tear line that the tooth 13 continuously slices through during the fi rst removal. The severance of the tear strip 7 from the assembly provides direct visual evidence that the container has been opened since it was initially factory sealed.

[0075] Turning to Figure 7, we are shown another preferred embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the tooth 13 on the cap 3 is not required. The cap 3 includes a cap flange 55 that seats down upon the cap gasket 59 when the cap 3 is fully closed upon the body 5. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the upside of the cap flange 55 is arranged to abut against a corresponding flange 57 in the tear strip 7. As the cap 3 is unscrewed from the body for the first time, the cap 3 rides upwardly upon the thread 21 in the body. This lifting action causes the cap flange 55 to lift and abut against the tear strip flange 57. In this arrangement, the turning force applied to the cap is transferred into a tensile force that is initially resisted by the tear line 15. As more force is applied, the material making up the tear line 15 begins to waist down until it eventually completely fails. This sequence is shown in the three detailed views starting at the bottom and moving up to the top view. You can see the waisting of the tear line 15 in the centre exploded vi ew.

[0076] In addition to the physical features that indicate tampering with, or first opening of the assembly, there are optional additional passive electronic features that are optionally included as well. The two most common type of passive electronic devices are either Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Near Field Communication (NFC) based devices. These types of devices may be referred to as tokens. Both types of tokens are transponder type devices. They are energized when they receive a signal, and then they can transmit specific identity information in reply. The reply signal can be received and interpreted by a wide range of suitable receiver devices, including mobile phones. Further to this, each type of token can be adapted to provide one type of information when they are unmolested, and another type of information when a portion of the token has been destroyed or severed from the main body of the token. It is this property that is utilised in one form of the present invention.

[0077] Turning to Figure 8, we are shown details on a preferred form of the present invention. In this embodiment, either an RFID or NFC token is included in the assembly. The RFID or NFC token is made up of two parts. The first part 71 is adapted to be permanently affixed to a suitable area on the body 5. The second part 73 is adapted to be permanently affixed to the tear strip 7. A preferential break point 75 is included so that the token 69 is permanently breakable at a specific point on its body. By affixing the first part 71 to the body 5, and the second part 73 to the tear strip 7, the action of unscrewing the cap 3, which thereby causes the tear strip 7 to become severed from the body 5 also causes the token 69 to break at its break point 75, as shown in Figure 9. In this configuration, the token 69 can reply with specific identity and configuration information when it is in its unmolested state, and it can be either configured to stop functioning, or otherwise transmit a second set of information, when it is in a molested state. Ideally the token 69 is concealed within the body 5, and internally upon the tear strip 7. Any suitable means may be used to attach the respective parts of the token 7 to the assembly. [0078] An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 10 where a token 69 is permanently affixed in a concealed location within the body 5. In this arrangement, the token 69 remains intact, however the two parts are separated via a connector circuit. In one preferred embodiment, the connector circuit extends under the body gasket 51 (not shown in view) and is compressed by the action of the rim 47 of the neck 35 against the gasket 51 when the assembly is attached to the container. The compressive force is sufficient to complete the circuit and thereby activate the token 69.

[0079] Another security and tamper evident feature that may be used on some installations is a thermoseal. A thermoseal is a membrane that is heat welded to the opening, and therefore must first be removed before the contents of the container can then be poured out. In the case of the present invention, a thermoseal can be affixed to the opening of the assembly under the cap. As illustrated in Figure 1 1, the token 69 may be integrated with the thermoseal. The first part 71 is configured to be concealed, and the second part is arranged in a hoop that matches the circumference of the thermoseal. When a person grabs the pull tab 81 and peels away the thermoseal 79, that action breaks away at least a portion of the second part of the token 69. In another embodiment, if the token 69 is manufactured out of a suitable material, such as aluminium, the second part 73 may be used to firstly facilitate the heat weld that bonds the thermoseal 79 to the opening.

[0080] A shown in Figure 12, there is another embodiment of the present invention where the second part 73 of the token 69 is a mesh that spans substantially the entire surface area of the thermoseal 79. In this arrangement, if a user were to pierce the membrane of the thermoseal 79 anywhere on its surface area, for example with a screw driver, then at least a portion of the second part 73 would also be damaged, and this would be registered as a change of condition of the token 69.

[0081 ] Figure 13 illustrates a thermoseal arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

[0082] It has already been mentioned that polymer is just one of the suitable materials that the container 37 can be fabricated out of. Within the long list of suitable polymers, there are types that enable a two-stage process that is perfectly adapted to the needs of the present invention. Such a polymer is Polyethylene Terephthalate, otherwise known as PET. PET enables the fabrication of the container in two broad stages. In the first stage, the PET can be extruded and moulded with hi gh precision, and the product of the first stage i s call ed a preform. In the second stage, the preform can then be blow moulded out to the finished shape of the container. The container is then filled with product, and the assembly applied to close the container. The two stages do not need to take place within the same manufacturing facility. The first stage and the second stage can occur in geographically separate locations.

[0083] As illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, in a preferred embodiment, the body portion of the assembly may be precision moulded into the preform at the time of the pre-form's manufacture, including the tear strip 7 and tear line 15, and the internal thread 23 that engages with the cap (not shown). This means that the preform then only needs to be blow moulded into the shape of the container 37, and then filled, at a relevant facility, and a cap and an optional spout is then subsequently applied, and the closure assembly is then complete.

[0084] Another popular type of container is a polymer lined paper or paperboard carton. This type of container is mostly used with food or drink products. The polymer/foil liner provides a waterproof barrier and it also improves the tear strength of the paper or paperboard. It is also able to be applied to the paper or paperboard in layers, and when the carton has been formed and filled with product, typi cally from the bottom of the carton, the final sections of the carton are folded closed, and the polymer/foil lining can then be heat sealed to provide an air/water tight seal, thereby preserving the product inside. A major advantage of this kind of packaging is that the carton can be precut from a flat sheet of lines paper or paperboard material that has been pre-printed on the exterior surface of the material with the associated product branding and information. Because the precut remains flat until it is ready to be filled, it makes bulk handling of the precuts, including the logistics of shipping them to the filling location, relatively inexpensive and compact.

[0085] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly as previously described is adapted to be attached to a polymer/foil line paper or paperboard carton. The body of the assembly is moulded into a baseplate that is integrated into the structure the carton to provide both physical and electronic means to indicate tampering or counterfeiting. [0086] In Figure 16 we are shown a typical carton 37 formed from a precut sheet of polymer/foil lined paper or paperboard material. In this preferred embodiment, a closure assembly base plate 83 is included. This provides a stiffened foundation that is adapted to withstand the forces applied with the cap 3 is attached and detached from the assembly.

[0087] As shown in Figure 17, the cap 3 is threadedly attached to a spout portion 85 that is integral in the base plate 83.

[0088] As shown in Figures 18 and 19, once the cap has been removed, the polymer/foil lining 89 is torn away by the operation of the ring pull 87. This causes the polymer/foil 89 lining to locally tear an opening, typically in a desired shape governed by having a complementary shaped opening 93 in the base plate 83, to thereby facilitate easy pouring of the contents of the container 37.

[0089] Turning to Figure 20, because the polymer/foil lining may be applied to the paper or paperboard in layers, it is therefore within the scope of this invention, to embed a token 69 into a layer. The first part 71 can be arranged to remain permanently attached to the container 37, and the second part 73 can be positioned so that the action of the ring pull, to tear away the lining at that location, also is adapted to break the two parts and remove the second part from the carton. The token 69 is then forever broken and indicates that the carton has been opened previously. Any attempt by a counterfeiter to replace the seal on the container, in an attempt to sell a non-genuine product is thereby thwarted.

[0090] The present invention thereby provides a closure assembly that is able to be applied in one form or another, on a wide variety of container types, including polymer, glass and polymer/foil lined carton s. The invention provides each with a plurality of physical and electronic anti-tampering and/or anti -counterfeit means that protect the reputation of the genuine producer of the product being sold, and protects the consumer from counterfeit or otherwise sub-standard goods.

[0091 ] While the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

[0092] It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features.

[0093] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

1. A tamper evident closure assembly for a container that has been pre-filled with a product, said assembly including a body portion and a cap portion wherein the container is manufactured to have a necked portion that defines the opening of the container, and the sidewall of the necked portion is manufactured with a specific shape, and the body portion of the assembly is adapted to be attached onto that specific shape and be non-removable from the container, once it has been attached, and the body portion includes a first portion that is adapted to sit internally with respect to the necked portion of the container, and a second portion that is adapted to sit externally with respect to the necked portion of the container, and act like a collar around it, and the closure includes at least one feature that permanently indicates any effort to remove the closure from the container.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the necked portion includes a lowermost shoulder that extends circumferentially inwardly for a short distance whereat the innermost point on the shoulder includes a short wall that terminates at a flange that extends outwardly a short distance, parallel to the shoulder, wherein the combination of the shoulder, wall and flange combine to create an external circumferential slot at the base of the necked portion, and the body portion of the assembly includes a complimentary internally directed flange that is insertable within the circumferential slot, when the body portion has been properly seated upon the container.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the necked portion has an inwardly sloping oblique sidewall feature that extends upwardly from the top of the circumferential slot, and the complimentary internally directed flange of the body portion is shaped so that it is adapted to slide down the oblique sidewall and thereby be guided towards the

circumferential slot, and the shape of the internally directed flange is adapted to thereby be permanently retained within the circumferential slot.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the container includes stiffening means located below the necked portion of the container, and these stiffening means are adapted to act as a foundation for the necked portion and enhance the capability of the necked portion to withstand the force applied to attach the assembly to the container.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the internally directed flange is located at the lowermost extremity of the second portion.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein an external circumferential groove is located on the second portion above the internally directed flange, and the circumferential groove is firstly adapted to reduce the force required to push the internally directed flange down the oblique slope, by creating a flexure point, so that it can engage with the

circumferential slot, and secondly adapted to permanently deform and provide direct visual evidence if any attempt is made to try and lever the internally directed flange out of engagement with the circumferential slot.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the portion of the interior sidewall on the second portion of the body portion, below the external circumferential groove, contains a plurality of spaced apart splices and interstitial slots, so that the splices and slots are concealed when the assembly is applied to the container, and these rise sufficiently up the interior sidewall of the second portion, and are precisely dimensioned, so that at least the slots combine with the externally circumferential groove to create a plurality of space apart perforations around the second portion, and these features combine so that any attempt to forcibly remove the assembly from the container causes the second portion to distort, tear or otherwise deform so that it becomes permanent visual evidence that an attempt has been made to tamper with the assembly.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein there is at least one additional internally directed flange located on the internal wall of the second portion at a position above the perforations, and this additional flange interengages with a corresponding circumferential slot formed in the exterior sidewall of the neck, and this adds a second attachment point for the assembly to the container.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the internally directed flanges combine to provide a circumferential clamping force upon the exterior wall of the neck.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the body includes an upper internal flange that extends outwardly from the first portion to the second portion and joins the two portions of the body together, and the upper internal flange is adapted to sit above the uppermost rim of the necked opening in the container, and on the underside of the upper internal flange is located a lower gasket that is compressed by the uppermost rim of the neck when the assembly is attached to the container to thereby provide at least one pennanent seal between the container and the body portion of the assembly.

1 1. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the lower gasket is adapted to accommodate a wide variety of gap distance variations between the uppermost rim of the necked opening in the container and the upper flange in the body portion caused by variations in the cut-off point of the container during manufacture of the container.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 1 1 wherein the gap variations can range from less than 1mm up to 4mm.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein on the upper side of the internal flange is located an upper gasket that is compressed by the underside of the rim of the cap when the cap is fully attached to the assembly, to thereby create a seal between the cap and the body portion.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the upper internal flange is located so that the first portion of the body is located either completely above the rim of the neck opening, or also extends partway into the neck opening, or sits solely within the necked opening, or sits both upwardly above the rim of the necked opening, and extends down through the neck opening and partway into the container.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein a portion of the exterior sidewall of the first portion is shaped so that it presses against the inner sidewall of the neck portion and assists the neck portion in resisting the circumferential clamp force.

16. The assembly as defined in any previous claim wherein the assembly includes a spout, and the spout is adapted to sit within the interior of the body.

17. The assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein the lowermost rim of the first portion includes an internally directed circumferential slot, and the outer sidewall of the spout includes a corresponding externally directed circumferential flange, and when the spout is attached to the assembly, the flange is seated within and retained by the slot.

18. The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein the spout is adapted to extend downwardly, partway into the bottle and in contact with the stiffening means.

19. The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein the upper and lower sidewalls of the circumferential slot in the first portion include break-away points that are adapted to cause either of the sidewalls to snap off if any attempt is made to forcibly remove the spout from the assembly, once it has been attached.

20. The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein the lowermost rim of the spout includes a plurality of evenly spaced apart slots with interstitial splices, and the plurality of slots and splices are adapted to deform and tear if any attempt is made to use a tool from inside the bore of the spout to attempt to pull the spout out of the assembly.

21. The assembly as defined in any previous claim wherein the action of the first removal of the cap from the body portion by a consumer, causes at least some of the features of the assembly to be pennanently altered, and this alteration is visually evident to all subsequent users of the container, to thereby provide evidence that the container has in fact been opened.

22. The assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein at least one of the permanently alterable features of the assembly includes a tear strip that has a tear line, and the action of the first removal of the cap, forces the tear strip to permanently separate from the body portion, along the tear line.

23. The assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein the cap portion is threadedly attached to the body portion, and the tear line of the tear strip is spiral shaped, and the pitch of the spiral ; matches the pitch of the thread that attaches the cap to the body.

24. The assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein the cap includes at least one cutting tooth that protrudes outwardly into the tear line of the tear strip, so that as the cap is turned, so that the cap can be removed from the body portion for the first time, the at least one cutting tooth tracks along the spiral of the tear line as the cap is rotated and rises upon its threaded attachment to the body portion, thereby severing the tear strip from the body portion.

25. The assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein the tear line comprises a plurality of tabs, and each adjacent pair of tabs has an interstitial void.

26. The assembly as defined in claim 25 wherein the at least one cutting tooth is capable of impacting against each of the tabs in sequence, as the cap is rotated so as to be removed from the body portion, and the combination of the shape of the at least one tooth, and the force of the impact against the particular tab, is sufficient to permanently sever the particular tab from the body portion.

27. The assembly as defined in claim 26 wherein during the initial manufacture of the assembly, when the cap is initially screwed onto the body portion, the protrusion associated with the at least one tooth is both sufficiently flexible, and shaped, so that the at least one tooth is capable of ratcheting around the plurality of tabs in the tear line, without damagin g any of the tabs, and thereby leaving the tear strip intact.

28. The assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein the cap is threadedly attached to the body portion, and includes at least one abutment portion that extends at least partway around the circumference of the cap, and the tear strip also includes at least one opposing abutment that is positioned so that as the cap is first removed from the body portion, the at least one abutment portion rises up and abuts against the at least one abutment portion on the tear strip, so that the force of the unscrewing of the cap is sufficient to tear the tear strip away from the body portion, along the tear strip.

29. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the assembly includes a Radio

Frequency Identification (RFID) token, or a Near Field Communication (NFC) token and the token is manufactured so that it includes a removable portion, and a permanently affixed portion, and wherein at least the pennanently affixed portion is concealed within the structure of the closure assembly, and wherein there is a preferential break point at the interface between the two portions, and when the token is completely intact, the token transponds one set of information, and when the token is broken at the break point, the permanently affixed portion of the token transponds a second set of information.

30. The assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein at least the permanently affixed portion of the token is moulded into a suitable surface within the body portion.

31. The assembly as defined in either claim 29 or 30 wherein the break point is positioned so that the action of removing the cap from the body portion for the first time causes the token to be permanently broken at the break point, and wherein the second set of information permanently identifies that container has having been opened.

32. The assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein after the cap has been removed from the assembly, the user must first remove the removable portion of the token from the assembly to access the contents of the container, and thereby the second set of information permanently identifies that container has been opened.

33. The assembly as defined in claim 32 wherein an induction heat seal is included, and the induction heat seal is placed across the opening of the assembly through which the contents of the container can be poured, thereby sealing the opening, so that the induction heat seal must therefore first be removed from the assembly, after the cap has been removed, in order to gain access to the contents of the container.

34. The assembly as defined in claim 33 wherein the token includes an aerial portion, and the aerial portion is hoop shaped and sized to fit around the rim of the opening of the assembly, under the induction heat seal, and the aerial portion is adapted so that at least a portion of the aerial is permanently removed from the assembly when the induction heat seal is removed.

35. The assembly as defined in claim 34 wherein at least the aerial portion of the token is fabricated from a suitable material that is adapted to faci litate the welding of the induction heat seal to the rim of the opening of the assembly, so that the material acts both as a facilitator of the weld and also as the aerial for the token.

36. The assembly as defined in claim 33 wherein the token includes an aerial portion that is integrated with the body of the induction heat seal, across substantially its entire area, so that any tear or puncture of the induction heat seal, permanently breaks or removes at least a portion of the aerial portion.

37. The assembly as defined in any previous claim wherein the container is manufactured out of a suitable polymer.

38. The assembly as defined in claim 37 wherein the container is manufactured in two stages, with the first stage being an injection moulding stage to make a pre-form, and the second stage being a blow moulding stage that blows the pre-form out to the finished shape of the container.

39. The assembly as defined in claim 38 wherein all the components of the body portion, including the tear strip, are intrinsically formed in the container during the first stage of manufacture.

40. The assembly as defined in claim 39 wherein the container is filled after the second stage of manufacture, and then the cap is applied to the closure assembly.

41. The assembly as defined in claim 40 wherein the second stage of manufacture may take place at a separate facility to the facility that manufactures the pre-form.

42. The assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein a portion of the token is adapted to be compressed by the compression of the lower gasket by the uppermost rim of the neck opening in the container, as the assembly is applied to the container, and the compressive action is adapted to activate the token.

43. An anti-counterfeit closure for a paper or paperboard container including:

a sheet of suitable paper or paperboard, and

polymer lining, and

foil lining, and

a base plate, and a spout, and

a cap, and

a ring pull, and

a passive electronic token,

wherein at least one of the polymer or foil lining comprises a plurality of layers, and the unformed shape of the container is precut out of a sheet of foil and polymer lined paper or paperboard, and wherein the container is formed out of the unformed shape and is then ready for filling with a product, and wherein the polymer and foil lining is capable of sealing the container closed after the formed container has been filled, and the seal that is created is both water resistant and air tight, and wherein the base plate is pre-attached to the sheet, and the polymer and foil liner is continuous under the entire underneath area of the base plate, and bonded to the base plate, and wherein the base plate includes the removable portion that has the line of weakness defining the shape of the removable portion, and said baseplate has on its opposite side to the lining, the spout, onto which is releasably attachable, the cap, and within the spout, under the cap, is a ring pull that is integrated with the removable portion, and wherein a passive electronic token such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Near Field Communication (NFC ) token is embedded within the layers of the polymer or foil lining, directly beneath the removable portion, so that when the cap is removed, and the ring pull is pulled with sufficient force, the force applied to the ring pull causes the removable portion and the lining that is bonded to it, to tear away from the container, thereby removing at least a portion of the token and creating an opening in in the container that can be subsequently sealed by the re-application of the cap to the spout, and wherein the removal of at least a portion of the token is a permanent indicator that the container has been opened.

44. The closure as defined in claim 43 wherein the token is positioned so that it has a larger surface area than the removable portion, and the token has a preferential break point that is positioned at the preferential tear line of the removable portion so that prior to the removal of the removable portion, the token is adapted to transmit a first data, and after the removable portion has been removed, and therefore the token has been broken at the preferential tear line, the token transmits a second set of data.