Container having a tamper evidency system

• US 5,511,677 A
• Filed: 03/30/1995
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Oder, Reuben E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US08/413,664
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 215/252, 215/230, 215/330
• US Class Current: 215/252
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/3404 with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism between the container and the closure skirt or the tamper element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/022 with ratchet effect between relatively rotating parts B65D41/3404, B65D50/04 take precedence

Abstract

A tamper evidency system for a container having a closed body, an open ended finish portion, and a closure to close the open end of the finish portion. The closure has a top and a depending wall portion which has cam teeth extending inward toward the finish portion. A lug extends from the outer surface of the finish portion, located between the finish portion and the cam teeth when the closure installed. The lug is integrally molded to the finish portion by a shearable web. The shearable web has an orientation, which enables the lug to be rotated about the shearable web by the cam teeth without interfering with installation when the closure is installed onto the finish portion. The lug also engages one of the cam teeth when the closure is removed from the finish portion. The lug prevents the closure from being removed without first shearing the lug from the finish portion at the shearable web. The lug is unreachable for manipulation without the use of tools. In addition, the lug has a corner which contacts the outer surface of the finish portion when one of the cam teeth rotates the lug in a closure removal direction. The lug pivots about the corner upon contact with the finish portion to create a mechanical advantage for shearing the lug from the finish portion at the shearable web. The tamper evidency system may further comprise a flag extending from the lug outside the open end of the closure in order to be visible to a consumer before the lug has been sheared off. Alternatively a lug and shearable web are integrally molded with a closure, and engaging cam teeth are formed on a container finish.

Claims

1. A tamper evidency system comprising:

a) a container having a body and a finish portion, said finish portion having an outer surface and an open end;

b) a closure having a top, a wall portion depending from said top, and an open end opposite said top, said wall portion adapted to engage said finish portion of said container in order to close said open end of said finish portion, said wall portion having cam teeth extending inward toward said finish portion; and

c) a lug extending from said outer surface of said finish portion and located between said finish portion and said cam teeth of said wall portion of said closure when said closure is installed, said lug being connected to said finish portion by a shearable web, said shearable web having an orientation which enables said lug to be rotated about said shearable web by said cam teeth without interfering with installation when said closure is installed onto said finish portion, said lug engaging one of said cam teeth when said closure is removed from said finish portion, said lug preventing said closure from being removed without first shearing said lug from said finish portion at said shearable web, said lug having a corner which contacts said outer surface of said finish portion when said one of said cam teeth rotates said lug in a closure removal direction, said lug pivoting about said corner upon contact with said finish portion to create a mechanical advantage for shearing said lug from said finish portion at said shearable web.

2. The tamper evidency system of claim 1 wherein said lug is unreachable for manipulation without the use of tools in order to avoid engagement of said lug with said one of said cam teeth.

3. The tamper evidency system of claim 1 further comprising a flag extending from said lug outside said open end of said closure in order to be visible to a consumer before said lug has been sheared off.

4. The tamper evidency system of claim 1 wherein said lug and said shearable web are integrally molded with said container.

5. A tamper evidency system comprising:

a) a container having a body and a finish portion, said finish portion having an outer surface and an open end, said outer surface having finish threads;

b) a closure having a top, a cylindrical wall portion depending from said top, and an open end opposite said top, said wall portion having closure threads adapted to engage said finish threads in order to close said open end of said finish portion when said closure is screwed onto said finish portion, said wall portion having cam teeth extending inward toward said finish portion; and

c) a lug integrally molded with said container, said lug extending from said outer surface of said finish portion and located between said finish portion and said cam teeth of said wall portion of said closure when said closure is screwed onto said finish portion, said lug being connected to said finish portion by an axially oriented shearable web, which enables said lug to be rotated about said shearable web without interfering with screwing said closure onto said finish, said lug engaging one of said cam teeth when said closure is unscrewed from said finish portion, said lug preventing said closure from being unscrewed without first shearing said lug from said finish portion at said shearable web, said lug having a corner which contacts said outer surface of said finish portion when said one of said cam teeth rotates said lug in a closure unscrewing direction, said lug pivoting about said corner upon contact with said finish portion to create a mechanical advantage for shearing said lug from said finish portion at said shearable web.

6. The tamper evidency system of claim 5 wherein said lug is unreachable for manipulation without the use of tools in order to avoid engagement of said lug with said one of said cam teeth.

7. The tamper evidency system of claim 5 further comprising a flag extending from said lug outside said open end of said closure in order to be visible to a consumer before said lug has been sheared off.

8. A tamper evidency system comprising:

a) a container having a body and a finish portion, said finish portion having an outer surface and an open end, said outer surface having cam teeth extending outward;

b) a closure having a top, a wall portion depending from said top, and an open end opposite said top, said wall portion adapted to engage said finish portion of said container in order to close said open end of said finish portion; and

c) a lug extending inward from said wall portion of said closure and located between said wall portion and said cam teeth of said finish portion when said closure is installed, said lug being connected to said wall portion by a shearable web, said shearable web having an orientation which enables said lug to be rotated about said shearable web by said cam teeth without interfering with installation when said closure is installed onto said finish portion, said lug engaging one of said cam teeth when said closure is removed from said finish portion, said lug preventing said closure from being removed without first shearing said lug from said wall portion at said shearable web, said lug having a corner which contacts said inner surface of said wall portion when said one of said cam teeth rotates said lug in a direction opposite to closure removal direction, said lug pivoting about said corner upon contact with said wall portion to create a mechanical advantage for shearing said lug from said wall portion at said shearable web.

9. The tamper evidency system of claim 8 wherein said lug is unreachable for manipulation without the use of tools in order to avoid engagement of said lug with said one of said cam teeth.

10. The tamper evidency system of claim 8 further comprising a flag extending from said lug outside said open end of said closure in order to be visible to a consumer before said lug has been sheared off.

11. The tamper evidency system of claim 8 wherein said lug and said shearable web are integrally molded with said closure.