TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT

• US 3,716,162 A
• Filed: 09/20/1971
• Issued: 02/13/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert L. Botkin
• Original Assignee: Albert L. Botkin
• Inventors: Botkin, Albert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, George T.
• Application Number:
  US05/182,073
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 215/42,9,7,31 220/27
• US Class Current: 215/316
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/023 Neck construction
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/10 Tearable part of the container B65D2401/60 takes precedence

Abstract

A tamper-proof seal that is located between a container and a cap received on a threaded open end of the container. The tamperproof seal consists of a flange integral with the container wall adjacent the open end and defining an upwardly opening recess that has a reduced mouth at the upper end. The flange is divided into a fixed portion and a flexible, frangible portion. The cap has an enlarged bead on the lower end thereof that has a dimension greater than the dimension of the mouth to cause outward deflection of the frangible portion when the cap is threaded onto the container and the enlarged bead and frangible portion cooperate to define interlocking elements when the cap is placed in sealing engagement with respect to the open end of the container.

Claims

1. In a container having an open upper end;

tamper-proof means integral with the periphery of said container below said open end and defining a recess open toward said upper end, said tamper-proof means having a frangible portion; and

a cap received on the open end of said container to seal said open upper end, said cap and tamper-proof means having interlocking elements that engage each other when said cap is placed in sealing engagement with said open upper end to prevent removAl of said cap without separating said frangible portion from said container.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said frangible portion has an upwardly and outwardly directed camming surface along the upper portion to guide the interlocking element on said cap into said recess.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said interlocking elements include an inwardly directed wall adjacent the upper end of said frangible portion defining a reduced area opening for said recess and an enlarged portion on the lower end of said cap having a dimension greater than the dimension of said opening, said frangible portion being temporarily deflected during threading of said cap onto said container to allow said enlarged portion to be received into said recess below said wall.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3, further including cooperating camming surfaces on said wall and said enlarged portion to cause outward deflection of said frangible portion when said cap is threaded on said container.

5. In combination with a plastic container having an open end with an externally threaded portion adjacent the open end and a cap having a cooperating thread defined on a depending portion;

a tamper-proof seal between said container and cap including a flange integral with the periphery of said container below said threaded portion, said flange having a first outwardly directed fixed portion, a second upwardly directed frangible portion and a third inwardly directed portion on the upper end of said second portion, said portions cooperating to define an upwardly open recess having a reduced mouth in the open end thereof; and

an enlarged bead on said cap and having a dimension greater than the dimension of said mouth so as to cause said inwardly directed third portion to be temporarily deflected outwardly upon threading of said cap into sealing engagement with the open end of said container and position said bead below said inwardly directed portion.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5, in which said bead and said inwardly directed portion have cooperating camming surfaces to produce said outward deflection during threading of said cap onto said container.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6, in which said second portion includes a plurality of spaced segments interconnecting said first and third portions of said flange.

8. The combination as defined in claim 5, in which said inwardly directed third portion has an undercut groove adjacent the free end for receiving a portion of said bead.

9. A container having an upper open end adapted to receive a cap on a periphery thereof to seal the end, and including an integral flange on the periphery of said container adjacent said open end, said flange having an outwardly directed portion, a frangible upwardly directed portion and an inwardly directed portion on the upper end that cooperate to define a recess having a reduced mouth along the periphery of said container adjacent said open end, said flange being deflectable to enlarge said mouth when a cap is received on said container and cooperating therewith to prevent removal of the cap without separating said frangible portion.