CLOSURE WITH VERTICAL TEAR BANDS

• US 20070272647A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Plastics and Equipment Corporation (Silgan Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: International Plastics and Equipment Corporation (Silgan Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Long, Charles J., Sander, Dieter
• Application Number:
  US11/684,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20070272647A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 215/256
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/485 with integral internal sealing means

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a closure that has a cover and an annular first skirt coupled to the cover that extends downwardly in an axial direction from the cover. A plurality of vertical strips are formed in the annular first skirt. At least a vertical tear band is located between some or all of the vertical strips. Each of the at least a vertical tear band couples adjacent vertical strips together.

Claims

1. A closure comprising:

a cover;

an annular first skirt coupled to the cover that extends downwardly in an axial direction from the cover;

a plurality of vertical strips formed in the annular first skirt; and

at least a vertical tear band located between some or all of the vertical strips,

wherein each of the at least a vertical tear band couples adjacent vertical strips together.

2. The closure of claim 1 further comprising:

a tab coupled to the first skirt; and

a frangible band coupled to the tab,

wherein the frangible band is formed in the first skirt, and

wherein the frangible band is structured to be broken by applying a force on the tab.

3. The closure of claim 2 wherein the frangible band has a horizontal portion extending along the first skirt.

4. The closure of claim 1 further comprising an annular second skirt coupled to the cover that extends downwardly in an axial direction from the cover in a coaxial relationship with the first skirt.

5. The closure of claim 1 wherein an internal surface of the first skirt has a number of ribs that are structured to couple the first skirt with an outer diameter of a neck of a container.

6. The closure of claim 1 wherein each of the vertical strips has a rib coupled thereto.

7. The closure of claim 1 wherein an external surface of the cover has a dimple.

8. The closure of claim 6 wherein the rib has a lower surface and an upper surface,

wherein the lower surface extends at an angle, θ

₁ with respect to an axis that extends along an axial length of the closure,

wherein the upper surface extends at an angle, θ

₂ with respect to the axis,

wherein θ

₁ has a value from about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees, and

wherein θ

₂ has a value from about 60 degrees to about 80 degrees.

9. The closure of claim 5 wherein one of the number of ribs has a lower surface and an upper surface,

wherein the lower surface extends at an angle, θ

₃ with respect to an axis that extends along an axial length of the closure,

wherein the upper surface extends at a preselected angle with respect to the axis, and

wherein θ

₃ has a value from about 10 degrees to about 25 degrees.

10. The closure of claim 4 wherein the second skirt terminates at a lower end in a generally tapered surface.

11. The closure of claim 4 wherein the first skirt has a first wall,

wherein the second skirt has a second wall,

wherein a portion of the first wall is located in opposed relation to the second wall,

wherein a recess is defined between the first wall and the second wall, and

wherein the recess is structured to receive an open end of a container and seal the container.

12. The closure of claim 4 wherein the first skirt has a first wall that has an upper cylindrical portion extending downwardly from the cover that is coupled to a rib,

wherein the rib is coupled to a middle cylindrical portion,

wherein the middle cylindrical portion is coupled to another rib, and

wherein the another rib is coupled to a lower cylindrical portion.

13. The closure of claim 12 wherein the another rib has a lower surface that extends upwardly and inwardly from the lower cylindrical portion at an angle, θ

₁ with respect to an axis that extends along an axial length of the closure,

wherein the lower surface terminates in a rounded portion, and

wherein the rib has an upper surface that extends upwardly and outwardly from the rounded portion at an angle, θ

₂ with respect to the axis, and

wherein the upper surface terminates at the middle cylindrical portion.

14. The closure of claim 12 wherein the rib has a lower surface that extends upwardly and inwardly from the middle cylindrical portion at an angle, θ

₃ with respect to an axis that extends along an axial length of the closure,

wherein the lower surface terminates in a rounded portion, and

wherein the rib has an upper surface that extends upwardly and outwardly from the rounded portion at a preselected angle with respect to the axis, and

wherein the upper surface terminates at the upper cylindrical portion.

15. The closure of claim 10 wherein the second skirt has an upper cylindrical portion that is coupled to the generally tapered surface.

16. The closure of claim 15 wherein the generally tapered surface tapers inwardly at a preselected angle from the upper cylindrical portion, and

wherein the generally tapered surface terminates at a generally flat horizontal surface.

17. The closure of claim 1 wherein the closure is manufactured in a single piece.

18. The closure of claim 1 in combination with a container.

19. A closure in combination with a container, the combination comprising:

a cover;

an annular first skirt coupled to the cover that extends downwardly in an axial direction from the cover;

a plurality of vertical strips formed in the annular first skirt; and

at least a vertical tear band located between some or all of the vertical strips,

wherein each of the at least a vertical tear band couples adjacent vertical strips together, and

wherein the first skirt is structured to be coupled to an outer diameter of an open end of a neck of the container.