Closure and package with RFID kernel tag and boost antenna

The present disclosure relates to placement of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in a package to identify or confirm the genuineness of the package, and more particularly to use of inexpensive UHF RFID kernel tags in closures and packages.

It has been proposed to place a high frequency (HF) RFID tag and antenna in a package to identify the package or to confirm the genuineness of the package. The RFID tag and antenna can be placed, for example, on an undersurface of a closure applied to a container to form the package. Ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID kernel tags include an RFID circuit and a low power UHF antenna. However, such UHF RFID kernel tags require a boost antenna for efficient and reliable communication with external circuitry. A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a closure and a package that address this need in the art.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A closure in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a plastic shell for securement to a container neck finish. An RFID kernel tag is disposed within the shell, and includes an RFID circuit and a low power UHF antenna coupled to the circuit. A boost antenna, electromagnetically coupled to but otherwise disconnected from the RFID kernel tag, boosts signal gain to and from the RFID kernel tag. In several exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, the RFID kernel tag is secured to an undersurface of the base wall of the closure, and the boost antenna is disposed on the undersurface of the closure base wall, on an opposing surface of a liner disk disposed within the closure shell or comprises a metal layer on an induction seal disk secured to the end of the container neck finish.

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the package in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a closure in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a package in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the portion of FIG. 4 within the area 5 .

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a package 10 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as including a closure 12 applied to the neck finish 14 of a container 16 . Container 16 , including neck finish 14 , preferably is of plastic construction and can be of any desired geometry, with the geometry illustrated in FIG. 1 being exemplary only. Closure 12 preferably includes a plastic shell having a base wall 18 and a skirt 20 for securing closure 12 to container neck finish 14 .

A UHF RFID kernel tag 22 is disposed within closure 12 . RFID kernel tag 22 includes an RFID circuit 24 ( FIG. 2 ) connected to a low power UHF antenna 26 . A boost antenna is provided in accordance with the present disclosure for boosting signal gain to and from RFID kernel tag 22 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 , the boost antenna 28 is annular and is disposed on the undersurface of closure shell base wall 18 surrounding RFID kernel tag 22 . Antenna 28 can be of any suitable configuration, and can be separately fabricated and adhered to the undersurface of closure shell base wall 18 , or more preferably is printed on the undersurface of the closure shell base wall using electrically conductive ink for example. Boost antenna 28 is electromagnetically coupled to but otherwise disconnected from RFID kernel tag 22 and boosts signal gain between the RFID kernel tag and external interrogation circuitry.

Exemplary package 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 also may include a liner disk 30 captured by the closure shell for sealing engagement with the opposing end of container neck finish 14 , and/or a sealing disk 32 induction or conduction welded to the end surface of container neck finish 14 both to seal the package prior to use and to provide indication that the package has been opened. RFID kernel tag 28 preferably is adhered or otherwise secured to the undersurface of closure shell base wall 18 within skirt. Where a liner disk 30 is employed, RFID kernel tag 28 can less preferably be loosely captured between disk 30 and base wall 18 , or can be secured to the surface of liner disk 30 opposed to base wall 18 .

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of a closure 34 in accordance with the present disclosure. The closure shell includes base wall 18 and skirt 20 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, boost antenna 28 is provided on the surface of liner disk 30 opposed in assembly to closure shell base wall 18 . RFID kernel tag 22 can be secured to the closure shell base wall as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2 , or can be secured to the opposing surface of liner disk 30 within boost antenna 28 . Inasmuch as boost antenna 28 and RFID kernel tag 22 remain with closure 12 in either of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-2 and 3 , the package can be interrogated even after the package has been opened as long as the closure is applied to the container neck finish.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate a package 36 in which RFID kernel tag 22 is secured to the undersurface of closure shell base wall 18 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2 . However, the boost antenna is formed by a metal layer 38 on the opposing surface of seal disk 32 . The seal disk includes a layer 40 such as paper and a layer 42 of meltable plastic. After seal disk 32 has been placed in engagement with the end surface of the container neck finish, electrical energy is applied through metal layer 38 to melt a portion of layer 42 and weld seal disk 32 to neck finish 14 . To obtain access to the product within container 16 , seal disk 32 must be torn or otherwise removed from the package. Thus, in this embodiment, the boost antenna provided by metal layer 38 is destroyed when the package is opened so that RFID kernel tag 22 in this embodiment no longer can be interrogated by external circuitry after the package has been opened. Package 36 can include a liner disk 30 ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) if desired.

There thus have been disclosed a closure and a package that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several exemplary embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.