CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING FRANGIBLE SKIRT PORTION

• US 3,589,543 A
• Filed: 06/10/1968
• Issued: 06/29/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruno Weigand
• Original Assignee: Bruno Weigand
• Inventors: Weigand, Bruno
• Application Number:
  US04/735,786
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• US Class Current: 215/213
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/48 non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics B65D41/47 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/901 Tamper-resistant structure

Abstract

A tamperproof, safety, plastic cap for containers comprising an end wall and cylindrical skirt adapted to tightly fit onto the neck of a container, and a ring slightly larger than the skirt hinged onto said skirt at one point and joined to the skirt at a plurality of other points by bridges such that the bridges can be ruptured by finger pressure to permit removal of the cap by use of the ring.

Claims

1. A container closure formed of a material having properties of resiliency and rigidity comparable to that of polypropylene and which comprises a cylindrical skirt having an annular concavity on its inner face adapted to receive a convex ridge formed about the neck of a container in tight-fitting abutting relation therewith, a circular end wall integrally joined to an edge of said skirt defining an annular groove at the juncture of the skirt and end wall for receiving the rim of a container therein whereby an annular closed space is defined between the container rim and closure, a ring having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the skirt, a plurality of bridges formed about the skirt integral with said ring and adapted to be ruptured by finger pressure for securing said ring to the skirt until broken, and hinge means integrally joining said ring to said skirt for pivotal movement of said ring about said skirt.

2. In a container closure as claimed in claim 1, a peripheral shoulder formed about the container neck adjacent the edge of the skirt for preventing forcible removal of the closure.

3. In a container closure as claimed in claim 1, an annular ridge formed adjacent the annular groove at the juncture of the skirt and end wall for abutment with the inner surface of the rim of a container.

4. A closure of a material having properties of resilience and rigidity comparable to that of polypropylene for a container opening comprising:

a skirt and an end wall formed integral with said skirt adapted to receive the container neck therein in tight-fitting abutting relation, an annular groove formed in proximity to the juncture of the skirt and end wall for receiving the container rim therein whereby an annular closed space is defined between the container rim and closure, an external bead formed on one of said container neck and the inner surface of the skirt and a mating annular groove formed on the other of the container neck and skirt inner surface for tight-fitting interlocking engagement of the bead in the groove, a ring formed concentric with and about said skirt having at least one frangible bridge interconnecting said ring to said skirt, and a hinge joining said ring to said skirt permitting pivotal movement of the ring about the skirt upon rupture of said frangible bridge, whereby said closure can be removed from the container by a pull of predetermined force on the said ring.

5. In a container closure as claimed in claim 4, a peripheral shoulder formed about the container neck adjacent the edge of the skirt for preventing forcible removal of the closure.

6. In a container closure as claimed in claim 4, an annular ridge formed adjacent the annular groove at the juncture of the skirt and end wall for abutment with the inner surface of the rim of the container.

7. A container closure as claimed in claim 4, in which the container rim defines with the annular groove by abutment therewith the annular space which, under a partial vacuum therein, enhances the formation of a vapor seal between the closure and container opening.

8. A container closure as claimed in claim 7, in which said skirt grips the container neck sufficiently tightly to require about a 16-pound pull on the ring to pry the closure loose from the container.