U.S. patent number RE32,879 [Application Number 07/162,294] was granted by the patent office on 1989-02-28 for tamper indicating screw cap.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sunbeam Plastics Corporation. Invention is credited to Edward Luker, David M. Wright.
United States Patent |
RE32,879 |
Wright , et al. |
February 28, 1989 |
Tamper indicating screw cap
Abstract
A threaded one piece closure having a tamper indicating band
attached to the lower end of a cap skirt by frangible bridges which
fracture upon the initial opening of the closure leaving the
detached band on the container indicating the initial opening or
tampering. The bottom of the tamper indicating band is formed with
a plurality of equally spaced stop segments attached by flexible
webs. The tamper indicating band is also formed with a plurality of
rectangular windows in line with the stop segments. The flexible
webs permit the swinging of the stop segments into an operative
position engaged within the windows so that they will coact with a
flange or ratchet teeth on the container to provide a means for
fracturing the frangible bridges upon unthreading of the cap.
Inventors: |
Wright; David M. (Evansville,
IN), Luker; Edward (Evansville, IN) |
Assignee: |
Sunbeam Plastics Corporation
(Evansville, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
22585027 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/162,294 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
713327 |
Mar 18, 1985 |
04572388 |
Feb 25, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
41/3428 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D 041/34 () |
Field of
Search: |
;215/252 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Norton; Donald F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Groh; Irvin L. Patmore, Jr.; Alfred
L.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A threaded tamper indicating closure for use on a container
having a threaded neck and an outwardly projecting stop means below
said thread, said closure being molded as a one piece cap
comprising in combination: a flat top; a first annular skirt
portion depending from said top having internal threads
complementary to said container threads; a second annular skirt
portion having a larger diameter than said first cylindrical skirt
portion and depending therefrom; a tamper indicating band spaced
from the bottom of said second annular skirt portion and connected
thereto by a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially
extending frangible bridges; a plurality of circumferentially
spaced stop segments attached to the lower portion of said band by
flexible webs; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced windows
formed in said band in line with said stop segments; said flexible
webs permitting swinging of said stop segments inwardly and
upwardly to individually engage said windows for application of
said cap to said container, and upon rotation of said cap in an
unthreading direction, the engagement of said stop segments with
said container stop means resisting movement of said band causing
fracture of said frangible bridges, leaving said tamper indicating
band on said container after said cap has been removed.
2. The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said windows
are completely defined between the upper and lower edges of said
tamper indicating band.
3. The threaded tamper indicating closure of claim 2 wherein each
stop segment has a flange which engages a lower edge of an aligned
window and the inner surface of said band, and each stop segment
has an upper planar surface engaging the upper edge of said aligned
window.
4. The tamper indicating closure of claim 3 wherein said container
stop member includes an outwardly projecting bead whereby as said
cap is assembled to said container with said stop segments engaged
within said windows, said stop segments will pass over said
container bead and the radially inward portion of said upper planar
surface will snap under said container bead.
5. The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said windows
are formed with their lower edges and side edges passing through
said band with the sides intersecting the upper edge of said
band.
6. The tamper indicating closure of claim 5 wherein each stop
segment has a flange which engages a lower edge of an aligned
window and the inner surface of said band, and each stop segment
has an upper planar surface engaging the lower edge of said second
annular skirt portion.
7. The tamper indicating closure of claim 6 wherein said container
stop member includes an outwardly projecting bead whereby as said
cap is assembled to said container with said stop segments engaged
within said windows, said stop segment will pass over said
container bead and the radially inward portion of said upper planar
surface will snap under said container bead.
8. The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said stop
segments have stop surfaces in radial planes of said cap, and, as
said cap is unthreaded from said container, said stop surfaces
engage complementary radial stop surfaces of axially extending
ratchet teeth on said container.
9. The tamper indicating closure of claim 8 wherein said container
stop means includes an outwardly extending circumferential flange
below said neck thread and a plurality of circumferentially spaced
ratchet teeth below said flange, having radial stop surfaces and
each said stop segment includes an upper planar surface, whereby as
said cap is assembled to said container with said stop segment
engaged within said windows, said stop segments will pass over said
container ratchet teeth and over said container flange and said
upper planar surface of said stop segment will snap under said
bead, and as the cap is unthreaded from said container, said band
will be restrained from movement by engagement of at least one of
said container beads with planar surface and said radial stop
surface on said container ratchet teeth with said radial stop
surface on said stop segment.
10. A threaded tamper indicating closure for use on a container
having a threaded neck and an outwardly projecting bead below said
thread, said closure being molded as a one piece cap comprising, in
combination: a flat top; a first annular skirt portion depending
from said top having internal threads complementary to said
container threads; a second annular skirt portion having a large
diameter than said first cylindrical skirt portion and depending
therefrom; a tamper indicating band spaced from the bottom of said
second annular skirt portion; a plurality of circumferentially
spaced axially extending frangible bridges connecting the top of
said tamper indicating band to the bottom of said second annular
skirt portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rectangular
windows formed in said band between the upper and lower edges
thereof, a plurality of circumferentially spaced stop segments
extending radially outward from the bottom of said tamper
indicating band; and a plurality of flexible webs connecting each
of said stop segments to the bottom of said tamper indicating band
in line with one of said rectangular windows; said flexible webs
permitting the swinging of said stop segments inwardly and upwardly
to individually engage said windows whereby as said cap is
assembled to said container, said stop segments will pass over and
snap under said container bead and upon rotation of said cap in an
unthreading direction, the engagement of said stop segments with
said container bead will prevent movement of said band causing
fracture of said frangible bridges, leaving said tamper indicating
band on said container after said cap has been removed.
11. The tamper indicating closure of claim 10 wherein said
frangible bridges are in line with said stop segments.
12. The tamper indicating closure of claim 11 having eight equally
spaced circumferentially disposed windows, stop segments, flexible
webs and frangible bridges in line with each other.
13. A threaded tamper indicating closure for use on a container
having a threaded neck and an outwardly projecting bead below said
thread, said closure being molded as a one piece cap comprising, in
combination: a flat top; a first annular skirt portion depending
from said top having internal threads complementary to said
container threads; a second annular skirt portion having a larger
diameter than said first cylindrical skirt portion and depending
therefrom; a tamper indicating band spaced from the bottom of said
second annular skirt portion; a plurality of circumferentially
spaced axially extending frangible bridges connecting the top of
said tamper indicating band to the bottom of said second annular
skirt portion; a plurality of circumferentially spaced open top
rectangular windows formed in said band with a horizontal bottom
and vertical sides intersecting the upper edge of said band; a
plurality of circumferentially spaced stop segments extending from
the bottom of said tamper indicating band; and a plurality of
flexible webs connecting each of said stop segments to the bottom
of said tamper indicating band in line with one of said rectangular
windows; said flexible webs permitting the swinging of said stop
segments inwardly and upwardly to individually engage a flange
thereon with the bottom of said window and the inside of said
tamper indicating band and an upper planar surface thereof with the
lower edge of said second annular skirt portion whereby as said cap
is assembled to said container, said stop segments will pass over
said container bead and said upper planar surface will snap under
said container bead, and upon rotation of said cap in an
unthreading direction, the engagement of said stop segments with
said container bead will prevent movement of said band causing
fracture of said frangible bridges, leaving said tamper indicating
band on said container after said cap has been removed.
14. The tamper indicating closure of claim 13 wherein said
plurality of circumferentially disposed stop segments are equally
spaced and said frangible bridges are equally spaced one between
each adjoining rectangular windows.
15. A threaded tamper indicating closure for use on a container
having a threaded neck and a plurality of equally spaced outwardly
projecting ratchet teeth having radially extending stop surfaces
and ramps diverging from said neck to stop surfaces, said closure
being molded as a one piece cap comprising, in combination: a flat
top; a first annular skirt portion depending from said top having
internal threads complementary to said container threads; a second
annular skirt portion having a larger diameter than said first
cylindrical skirt portion and depending therefrom; a taper
indicating band spaced from the bottom of said second annular skirt
portion; a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending
frangible bridges connecting the top of said tamper indicating band
to the bottom of said second annular skirt portion; a plurality of
circumferentially spaced rectangular windows formed in said band
with a horizontal bottom and vertical sides; a plurality of
circumferentially spaced stop elements extending from the bottom of
said tamper indicating band; and a plurality of flexible webs
connecting each of said stop segments to the bottom of said tamper
indicating bands in line with one of said rectangular windows; said
flexible webs permitting swinging of said stop segments inwardly
and upwardly to individually engage a flange thereof with the
horizontal bottom of an aligned window and the inner surface of
said band and an upper planar surface thereof with a top of said
aligned window to retain said segments within said band whereby as
said cap is assembled to said container, said stop segments will
pass over said ramp surfaces on said ratchet teeth, and upon
rotation of said cap in an unthreading direction, said stop
segments will engage the radial stop surfaces on said container
ratchet teeth preventing rotation of said band causing fracture of
said frangible bridges, leaving said tamper indicating band on said
container after said cap has been removed.
16. The tamper indicating closure of claim 15 wherein said windows
are completely defined between upper and lower edges of said tamper
indicating band.
17. The tamper indicating closure of claim 15 wherein the sides of
said windows intersect the upper edge of said band so that as said
flexible webs are swung inwardly and upwardly, the upper planar
surfaces thereof engage the lower edge of said second annular skirt
portion which defines the top of said windows.
18. The tamper indicating closure of claim 15 wherein said
container has an outwardly extending circumferential flange between
said neck thread and said plurality of circumferentially spaced
ratchet teeth, whereby as said cap is assembled to said container,
said stop segments pass over said circumferential container flange
and said upper planar surfaces will engage the bottom of said bead,
and upon rotation of said cap in an unthreading direction, the
engagement of said planar surfaces with said container flange and
the engagement of said stop segments with the stop surfaces on said
ratchet teeth will prevent rotation of said band causing fracture
of said frangible bridges, leaving said tamper indicating band on
said container after said cap has been removed.
19. The tamper indicating closure of claim 15 wherein said stop
segments have a ramp surface so that as the cap is applied to the
container said segment ramp surfaces slide over the ramp surfaces
on said ratchet teeth. .Iadd.
20. A threaded tamper indicating closure for use on a container
having a threaded neck and an outwardly projecting stop means below
said thread, said closure being molded as a one piece cap
comprising in combination: a flat top; an annular skirt depending
from said top having internal threads complementary to said
container threads; a tamper indicating band spaced from the bottom
of said annular skirt and connected thereto by a plurality of
circumferentially spaced axially extending frangible bridges; a
plurality of circumferentially spaced stop segments attached to the
lower portion of said band by flexible webs; and a plurality of
circumferentially spaced windows formed in said band in line with
said stop segments; said flexible webs permitting swinging of said
stop segments to individually engage said windows for application
of said cap to said container, and upon rotation of said cap in an
unthreading direction, the engagement of said stop segments with
said container stop means resisting movement of said band causing
fracture of said frangible bridges, leaving said tamper indicating
band on said container after said cap has been removed. .Iaddend.
Description
This invention relates to tamper indicating closures, and, more
particularly, to closures in which a threaded cap and a tamper
indicating band are formed as a single piece and separate from each
other upon the initial opening of the container, the separated ring
remaining around the container neck as evidence that the container
has been tampered or initially opened.
Tamper indicating closures of the type having a separable ring or
band which remains on the container after the initial opening of
the container to indicate tampering have been provided in various
forms. In one form, the closure is applied in at least two steps,
one of which requires the application of heat after the closure has
been applied to a filled container to deform the lower end of a
skirt to lock the container into position. In another form of
one-piece tamper indicating closure, the closure and separable ring
must be axially aligned to transmit the capping or closing forces
to prevent premature separation of the ring or band from the
closure. Such constructions, however, are extremely difficult to
mold and require complex molds and molding procedures. In an
attempt to simplify the mold and molding procedure, the locking
mechanism which produces the separation of the band from the cap
skirt upon unthreading, has been molded as an additional band or a
plurality of spaced apart tabs which are attached to the lower
portion of the tamper indicating band, which tabs or band must be
folded upwardly inside the tamper indicating band before the
application of the closure to the container. Bending upwardly of a
unitary flange requires considerable force and when separate tabs
are used, the retention of them in the upwardly folded position
presents additional problems requiring special handling prior to
threading the cap on the container. Once the stop ring or tabs have
been folded into their used position, there remains the problem of
premature web breakage as the stop surfaces contact the container
stop surfaces during application.
It is an object of this invention to provide a threaded cap with a
separable tamper indicating band and foldable stop segments which
simplify the molding process without unduly complicating the
handling process prior to application of the cap to the
container.
It is another object of this invention to provide a threaded cap
with a separable tamper indicating band and foldable stop elements
of a design which minimizes the fracturing force on the frangible
webs during application of the cap to the container.
The objects of this invention are accomplished by a single piece
closure taking the form of a threaded cap having a flat top and a
first cylindrical skirt portion which extends from the top and has
internal threads which are complementary to the container threads.
A second annular skirt portion which has a larger diameter than the
first annular skirt portion extends downwardly therefrom. A tamper
indicating band is spaced from the bottom of the second annular
skirt portion and is joined to the bottom of the second skirt
portion by a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially
extending frangible bridges. A plurality of circumferentially
spaced rectangular windows are formed in the band between the upper
and lower edges thereof. These windows have horizontal tops and
bottoms and vertical sides. A plurality of circumferentially spaced
stop segments extend radially outward from the bottom of the tamper
indicating band and are joined to it by a plurality of flexible
webs which connect each of the stop segments to the bottom of the
tamper indicating band in line with one of the rectangular windows.
The flexible webs permit the swinging of the stop segments inwardly
and upwardly to individually engage the windows for retention of
the segments in operative position for threading of the cap onto
the container. A flange on the segment engages the bottom of the
window and the inside of the tamper indicating band while an upper
planar surface on the segment engages the top of the window. As the
cap is assembled or threaded onto the container, the stop segments
pass over the container bead and the flexible web allows the
segment to be pushed further into the window to reduce the force
needed to push it down over the bottle bead. As the segment passes
over the bead, the upper planar surface of the segment will snap
under the container bead. When the cap is rotated in an unthreading
direction, the engagement of the stop segments with the container
bead will prevent movement of the band causing fracture of the
frangible bridges leaving the tamper indicating band on the
container neck after the cap has been completely removed.
In another embodiment, the rectangular windows are formed in the
band with a horizontal bottom and vertical sides which intersect
the upper edge of the band. With this open top window structure the
lower edge of the second annular skirt portion acts as the top of
the window which the upper planar surfaces of the stop segments
engage as the segments are swung inwardly and upwardly inside the
tamper indicating band and into engagement with the windows.
The container may have a plurality of outwardly projecting ratchet
teeth below the threaded neck instead of the outwardly extending
circumferential flange. The ratchet teeth will have radially
extending stop surfaces and ramps diverging from the neck outwardly
to the stop surfaces. As the cap is assembled to the container, the
stop segments will pass over the ramp surfaces on the ratchet teeth
and when the cap is unthreaded, the stop segments will engage the
radial stop surfaces on the container ratchet teeth preventing
rotation of the band which causes the fracture of the frangible
bridges and leaves the taper indicating band on the container after
the cap has been removed. The stop segments can have ramp surfaces
which correspond to the container ratchet teeth ramp surfaces to
reduce the force required to thread the cap onto the container.
In still another embodiment, the container can have an outwardly
extending flange below the neck threads and outwardly projecting
ratchet teeth below the flange. In this case the stop segments will
pass over both the container flange and the ratchet teeth and be
retained by both during the unthreading of the cap from the
container.
The preferred embodiments for the invention are illustrated in the
drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the closure molded as a one piece
cap with the windows formed completely within the upper and lower
edges of the tamper indicating bands;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of
the tamper indicating band of FIG. 1 showing a window and a stop
segment as it extends radially outward from the bottom of the
tamper indicating band in the as-molded condition;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 2 taken
along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing the stop segment swung inwardly
and upwardly from its as-molded position to its position retained
within the window preparatory to assembling the cap to the
container;
FIGS. 4-6 are fragmentary elevational views showing the position of
the stop segment relative to the container bead as the closure is
being assembled to the container as follows:
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the stop segment as
it initially contacts the container bead;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the stop segment being
pushed into the window as it passes the maximum diameter of the
container flange;
FIG. 6 shows the stop segment snapped over the container flange
showing the height of the cap as viewed along line 6--6 of FIG. 1
with the container added;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the closure
in which the windows are formed with their vertical sides
intersecting the top of the tamper indicating band;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of
the tamper indicating band showing the stop segment fully engaged
with the container bead;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view in sections as viewed
along line 9--9 of FIG. 7 and also showing the container neck in
full engagement with the closure;
FIG. 10 is a top view of a container having ratchet teeth;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 8 but
showing stop segment engaged with a stop surface on one of the
ratchet teeth of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bottle having an
outwardly extending flange below the external neck threads and
ratchet teeth below the flange; and
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGS. 11 and 8
but showing engagement of a stop segment with both the flange and a
ratchet tooth of the container shown in FIG. 12.
Referring to FIG. 1, the closure 10 includes a one piece cap 12
having a flat top 14 and a first annular skirt 16 extending
downwardly from top 14 having internal threads 18 which will engage
complementary threads 20 on container neck 22--see FIG. 6. A second
annular skirt portion 24 flares outwardly from the bottom of the
first annular skirt 16, the larger diameter allowing the cap to
clear container threads 20. The tamper indicating band 26 is spaced
from the bottom of the second annular skirt and is connected
thereto by a plurality of equally spaced axially extending
frangible bridges 28 extending around the circumference of the cap.
Tamper indication is given by the fracture of frangible bridges 28
when the cap is initially unthreaded from its packaged condition,
leaving the tamper indicating band 26 on the container neck as the
cap is removed.
A plurality of equally spaced rectangular windows 30 are located
around the circumference of the band 26 having top and bottom edges
32 and 34 between the upper and lower edges of the band. Vertical
side edges 36 join the top edge 32 and bottom edge 34 of window 30
which in this embodiment is completely defined within the tamper
indicating band. The windows 30 are aligned with the frangible webs
28, and as shown in FIG. 1, there are eight equally spaced bridges
and windows although another number of equally spaced bridges and
windows can be used.
Attached to the lower end of the tamper indicating band 26 is a
plurality of outwardly extending, equally spaced stop segments 38
which are joined to the bottom of band 30 by a substantially
horizontally disposed flexible web 40 which is aligned with one of
the windows 30. Molding the stop segments 38 in an outwardly
extending position greatly simplifies the molding die and
technique. Flexible web 40 is of such a length and flexibility that
the stop segments 38 can be rotated approximately 270 degrees to
engage windows 30. That is, the flexible webs 40 permit the
swinging of the stop segments 38 inwardly and upwardly so that
flange 42 engages window 30 with flange surface 44 in contact with
window bottom 34 and flange surface 46 in contact with the inside
diameter 48 of the tamper indicating band 26 as shown in FIG. 3.
Upper planar surface 50 of stop segment 38 engages the top edge 32
of window 30, thus retaining the stop segment 38 in operative
position for the application of cap 12 to container neck 22.
As cap 12 is placed over container neck 22 the inside diameter of
second annular skirt 24 and the stop segments 38 clear the
container threads 20, and as cap threads 18 engage container
threads 20 as the cap is threaded on, the stop segments 38 will
engage the outer periphery of container flange 52 as shown in FIG.
4. Further threading will force the upper end of the stop segments
38 into the windows 30 reducing the amount of force necessary to
move the stop segments 38 past the container flange 52 as shown in
FIG. 5. As the stop segments 38 pass over the container flange 52
they will snap inwardly with the radially inward portion of upper
planar surface 50 engaging bottom surface 54 of container flange 52
as shown in FIG. 6.
Upon rotation of cap 12 in an unthreading direction, the engagement
of stop segments 38 at their upper planar surfaces 50 with the
container flange 52 at its bottom surface 54 will prevent movement
of the band 26 thus causing fracture of frangible bridges 28
leaving the tamper indicating band 26 on the container neck 22 as
cap 12 is threadingly removed.
The embodiments of FIGS. 7-9 are substantially the same as the
embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 except that the rectangular windows 30 are
not completely formed within the tamper indicating band 26. The
bottom edge 34 is formed within the band 26 and the side edges 36
of the windows 30 extend upward and intersect the upper edge of the
band 26 so that the top edge 32 of window 30 is formed by the
bottom edge of the second annular skirt 24. As can best be seen in
FIG. 8, when the stop segments 38 have been swung into operative
position, the top planar surface 50 engages the bottom surface of
the second annular skirt 24 at the top edge 32 of window 30.
In FIG. 10, the container neck shows the outwardly projecting stop
means to be in the form of equally spaced ratchet teeth 56 which
replaces the annular flange 52 shown in FIGS. 1 through 9. Ratchet
teeth 56 have radially extending stop surfaces 58 and ramp surfaces
60 which extend from the outer neck surface diverging outwardly to
the stop surfaces 58. In their operative position, the inner
surface of stop segments 38 can be formed with a ramp surface 62
which cooperates with ratchet tooth ramp surface 60 so that as the
cap 12 is being threaded onto container neck 22 the segments 38
will pass past ratchet teeth 56 with a minimum of torque required
by the interaction of ramp surfaces 60 and 62. Upon rotation of the
cap 12 in an unthreading direction, the radial stop surfaces 64 of
stop segment 38 will engage the stop surfaces 58 of container
ratchet teeth 56 preventing rotation of the tamper indicating band
26 causing fracture of the frangible bridges 28, again leaving the
tamper indicating band on the container after the cap has been
threadingly removed. The windows 30 are shown as open top windows
with the bottom of the second annular skirt providing the top
surface 32 of the window. The windows could just as well be
completely formed within the tamper indicating band 26 as shown in
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 10 shows that the container 22
has four ratchet teeth 56, and the cap 12 may have an equal number
of stop segments 38 with corresponding windows 30 or there may be
eight equally spaced stop segments 38 so as to selectively engage
the four ratchet teeth 56.
The container of FIG. 12 shows both an outwardly extending flange
52 and four equally spaced ratchet teeth 56 thereunder. Stop
segments 38 will coact with both the ratchet teeth 56 and the
annular flange 52 in the same manner as they individually coacted
with them in the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 and the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-6. That is, as the cap 12 is assembled to container 22 the
stop segments will pass over the container flange 52 with the upper
planar surfaces 50 of the segments snapping over and engaging the
bottom surfaces 54 of container flange 52 and over the ramp
surfaces 60 of ratchet teeth 56. Upon rotation of the cap in an
unthreading direction, the engagement of the planar surfaces 50
with the container flange 52 and the engagement of radial stop
surfaces 64 of the stop segments 38 with the stop surfaces 62 of
ratchet teeth 56 will prevent rotation of the band, again causing
fracture of the frangible bridges 28. The windows 30 are shown as
opening at the top edge of the tamper indicating band 26, but they
can be alternatively completely contained within the band as shown
in FIGS. 1-6.
* * * * *