Tamper indicating package

• US 4,527,704 A
• Filed: 01/26/1984
• Issued: 07/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Owens-Illinois Incorporated (O-I Glass, Inc.)
• Inventors: Swartzbaugh, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US06/574,107
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 215/252, 215/253, 215/258
• US Class Current: 215/252
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/40 Bridges having different cross-sections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/3447 the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges

Abstract

A tamper indicating package comprising a container having a body portion and a neck portion having external threads thereon and a plastic closure having a top wall and a peripheral skirt having internal threads adapted to engage the threads on the neck of the container. A tamper indicating band extends downwardly from said skirt and is connected by a plurality of integral bridge portions to the skirt of the closure. The annular bead on the container and the radial bead on the tamper indicating band have interengaging portions which are operable during unthreading of the closure to shear the bridge portions. Some of the bridge portions are shaped to readily withstand the forces encountered in applying the closure and other of the bridge portions are shaped to be readily severed in removing the closure.

Claims

1. A tamper indicating package comprising

a container having a body portion and a neck portion,

said neck portion having external threads thereon,

said container having an annular bead spaced below the threads on the neck,

a closure having a top wall and a peripheral skirt,

said skirt having internal threads adapted to engage the threads on the neck of the container,

a tamper indicating band extending downwardly from said skirt,

a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridges including integral bridge portions interconnecting said skirt and said band,

said band having a bead extending radially inwardly adapted to engage the annular bead on the container when the closure is threaded on the container,

each of said bridge portions having a cross section such that the bridge portions have a greater width than thickness,

at least some of said bridge portions having a cross section in a circumferential direction with respect to said band and said closure which has a greater axial dimension with respect to said band and said closure than a circumferential dimension with respect to said band and said closure and others of said bridge portions having a cross section in a circumferential direction with respect to said band and said closure which has a greater circumferential dimension with respect to said band and said closure than an axial dimension with respect to said band and said closure such that at least some of the bridge portions will withstand the forces when the closure is applied to the containers and the bridge portions will be readily severed during removal of the closure.

2. The tamper indicating package set forth in claim 1 wherein some of said bridge portions extend axially with respect to said band and said closure and the others of said bridge portions extend circumferentially with respect to said band and said closure.

3. The tamper indicating package set forth in claim 1 wherein said bridge portions comprise a part of a single bridge portion.

4. The tamper indicating package set forth in claim 3 wherein said single portion includes an axially extending portion and a circumferentially extending portion.

5. The tamper indicating package set forth in claim 1 wherein a portion of at least some of said bridge portions extend beneath the lower edge of the skirt.

6. A tamper indicating package as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure includes at least some bridge portions having their greater dimension extending radially outwardly and extending at an angle to a radial plane through each portion, the radially outer end of said bridge portion trailing the radially inner end of each bridge portion with respect to the direction of the thread of the closure.

7. A tamper indicating closure for a container having a body portion and a neck portion having external threads thereon, said closure comprising

a top wall and a peripheral skirt,

said skirt having internal threads adapted to engage the threads on the neck of the container,

a tamper indicating band extending downwardly from said skirt,

a plurality of integral circumferentially spaced integral bridges including integral bridge portions interconnecting said band to said skirt,

said container having an annular bead spaced below the threads on the neck,

said band having a radially inwardly extending bead adapted to engage the annular bead on the container when the closure is threaded on the container,

each of said bridge portions having a cross section such that the bridge portions have a greater width than thickness,

at least some of said bridge portions having a cross section in a circumferential direction with respect to said band and said closure which has a greater axial dimension with respect to said band and said closure than a circumferential dimension with respect to said band and said closure and others of said bridge portions having a cross section in a circumferential direction with respect to said band and said closure which has a greater circumferential dimension with respect to said band and said closure than an axial dimension with respect to said band and said closure such that at least some of the bridge portions will withstand the forces when the closure is applied to the containers and the bridge portions will be readily severed during removal of the closure.

8. The tamper indicating closure set forth in claim 7 wherein some of said bridge portions extend axially with respect to said band and said closure and the others of said bridge portions extend circumferentially with respect to said band and said closure.

9. The tamper indicating closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said bridge portions comprise a part of a single bridge portion.

10. The tamper indicating closure set forth in claim 9 wherein said single portion includes an axially extending portion and a circumferentially extending portion.

11. The tamper indicating closure set forth in claim 7 wherein a portion of at least some of said bridge portions extends beneath the lower edge of the skirt.

12. The tamper indicating closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure includes at least some bridge portions having their greater dimension extending radially outwardly and extending at an angle to a radial plane through each portion, the radially outer end of each bridge portion trailing the radially inner end of each bridge portion with respect to the direction of the thread of the closure.

13. A tamper indicating package comprising

a container having a body portion and a neck portion,

said neck portion having external threads thereon,

said container having an annular bead spaced below the threads on the neck,

a closure having a top wall and a peripheral skirt,

said skirt having internal threads adapted to engage the threads on the neck of the container,

a tamper indicating band extending downwardly from said skirt,

a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridges including integral bridge portions interconnecting said skirt and said band,

said band having a bead extending radially inwardly adapted to engage the annular bead on the container when the closure is threaded on the container,

each of said bridge portions having a cross section such that the bridge portions have a greater width than thickness,

wherein said closure includes bridge portions having their greater dimension extending radially outwardly and extending at an angle to a radial plane through each portion, the radially outer end of each bridge portion trailing the radially inner end of each bridge portion with respect to the direction of the thread of the closure.

14. A tamper indicating closure for a container having a body portion and a neck portion having external threads thereon, said closure comprising

a top wall and a peripheral skirt,

said skirt having internal threads adapted to engage the threads on the neck of the container,

a tamper indicating band extending downwardly from said skirt,

a plurality of integral circumferentially spaced integral bridges including integral bridge portions interconnecting said band to said skirt,

said container having an annular bead spaced below the threads on the neck,

said band having a radially inwardly extending bead adapted to engage the annular bead on the container when the closure is threaded on the container,

each of said bridge portions having a cross section such that the bridge portions have a greater width than thickness,

wherein said closure includes bridge portions having their greater dimension extending radially outwardly and extending at an angle to a radial plane through each portion, the radially outer end of each bridge portion trailing the radially inner end of each bridge portion with respect to the direction of the thread of the closure.