Tamper evident closure
First Claim
1. In combination, a container having a neck portion and a closure therefor, said neck portion having an outer cylindrical neck surface, exterior threads on said outer cylindrical neck surface, first engaging means extending from said outer cylindrical neck surface at a level below said exterior threads, said closure having a circular top and a cylindrical skirt depending therefrom, said cylindrical skirt having an outer skirt surface and an inner skirt surface, interior threads on said inner skirt surface for mating engagement with said exterior threads, second engaging means extending from said inner skirt surface at a level below said interior threads, said second engaging means adapted for engagement with said first engaging means upon clockwise rotation of said closure on said neck portion and for becoming interlocked against counterclockwise rotation, rupturable means on said skirt on each side of said second engaging means, an indentation on said outer skirt surface above said rupturable means, tear tab means extending from said rupturable means and along said indentation for tearing away a segment of said skirt containing said second engaging means at said rupturable means, said tearing away freeing counterclockwise rotation of said closure means and leaving a circumferential gap on said skirt, said gap providing visual evidence of tampering.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tamper evident mechanism for a bottle and closure assembly. The bottle and closure each have engaging means adapted for engagement with each other upon clockwise rotation of the closure means and for becoming interlocked against counterclockwise rotation to prevent removal of the closure. A tear tab and associated frangible strips are provided on the skirt of the closure. The tear tab is disposed within an indentation on the outer surface of the closure. Pulling off the tear tab along the frangible strips accomplishes removal of the interlocked engaging means, freeing the closure for counterclockwise rotation and removal. At the same time a gaping hole is imparted to the skirt of the cap providing visual evidence of tampering.
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Citations
40 Claims
- 1. In combination, a container having a neck portion and a closure therefor, said neck portion having an outer cylindrical neck surface, exterior threads on said outer cylindrical neck surface, first engaging means extending from said outer cylindrical neck surface at a level below said exterior threads, said closure having a circular top and a cylindrical skirt depending therefrom, said cylindrical skirt having an outer skirt surface and an inner skirt surface, interior threads on said inner skirt surface for mating engagement with said exterior threads, second engaging means extending from said inner skirt surface at a level below said interior threads, said second engaging means adapted for engagement with said first engaging means upon clockwise rotation of said closure on said neck portion and for becoming interlocked against counterclockwise rotation, rupturable means on said skirt on each side of said second engaging means, an indentation on said outer skirt surface above said rupturable means, tear tab means extending from said rupturable means and along said indentation for tearing away a segment of said skirt containing said second engaging means at said rupturable means, said tearing away freeing counterclockwise rotation of said closure means and leaving a circumferential gap on said skirt, said gap providing visual evidence of tampering.
- 15. A plastic closure cap for providing tamper evidence comprising a circular top and a cylindrical skirt depending therefrom, said cylindrical skirt having an outer skirt surface and an inner skirt surface, interior threads on said inner skirt surface for mating engagement with exterior threads on the neck of a container, first engaging means extending from said inner skirt surface at a level below said interior threads for ratchetly interlocking engagement with complementary engaging means on the neck of said container below said exterior threads, rupturable means on said skirt on each side of said first engaging means, an indentation on said outer skirt surface above said rupturable means, tear tab means extending from said rupturable means and along said indention for tearing away a segment of said skirt containing said first engaging means at said rupturable means, said tearing away leaving a circumferential gap on said skirt, said gap providing visual evidence of tampering.
- 25. In combination, a container having a neck portion and a closure therefor, said neck portion having an outer cylindrical neck surface, exterior threads on said outer cylindrical neck surface, a series of exterior teeth on said outer cylindrical neck surface at a level below said exterior threads, said closure having a circular top and a cylindrical skirt depending therefrom, said cylindrical skirt having an outer skirt surface and an inner skirt surface, interior threads on said inner skirt surface for mating engagement with said exterior threads, a series of interior teeth in said inner skirt surface at a level below said interior threads, said series of exterior teeth and said series of interior teeth adapted for engagement with each other upon clockwise rotation of said closure on said neck portion and for becoming ratchetly interlocked against counterclockwise rotation, rupturable means on said skirt on each side of said interior series of teeth, an indentation on said outer skirt surface above said rupturable means, tear tab means extending from said rupturable means and along said indentation for tearing away a segment of said skirt containing said series of interior teeth at said rupturable means, said tearing away freeing counterclockwise rotation of said closure means and leaving a circumferential gap on said skirt, said gap providing visual evidence of tampering.
- 33. A plastic closure cap for providing tamper evidence comprising a circular top and a cylindrical skirt depending therefrom, said cylindrical skirt having an outer skirt surface and an inner skirt surface, interior threads on said inner skirt surface for mating engagement with exterior threads on the neck of a container, a series of interior teeth in said inner skirt surface at a level below said interior threads for ratchetly interlocking engagement with a series of exterior teeth on the neck of said container below said exterior threads, rupturable means on said skirt on each side of said interior series of teeth, an indentation on said outer skirt surface above said rupturable means, tear tab means extending from said rupturable means and along said indention for tearing away a segment of said skirt containing said series of interior teeth at said rupturable means, said tearing away leaving a circumferential gap on said skirt, said gap providing visual evidence of tampering.
Specification