Tamper-evident closure and method of making same

• US 7,413,097 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portola Packaging Incorporated (Silgan Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Portola Packaging Incorporated (Silgan Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adams, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony D
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELOSHWAY, NIKI MARINA
• Application Number:
  US10/901,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 215/252, 215/253, 215/258, 215/43, 215/44, 215/251, 220/270, 220/276, 220/268, 220/269, 220/258.2, 220/258.3, 229/125.04, 229/125.05, 229/125.14
• US Class Current: 220/268
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/325 with integral internal sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/3428 the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/3447 the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/103 Membranes with a tearing element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/746 Spouts formed separately from the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/20 Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing B65D51/185 takes precedence; co-operating with an auxiliary container for additional articles or materials B65D51/28

Abstract

A tamper-evident closure including a spout and a cap. The spout includes an upwardly extending neck defining a neck opening, an annular cap-engaging retainer extending radially outwardly from the neck, and a fulcrum interconnecting the cap-engaging retainer and the neck. The cap selectively seals the neck opening and includes a top, an annular skirt depending from the top, and a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to a lower end of the annular skirt. The tamper-evidencing band has a radially inwardly extending spout-engaging retainer. The cap-engaging retainer is adapted to engage the spout-engaging retainer when the cap is removed from the neck to limit upward movement of the tamper-evidencing band with respect to the neck. A method of using the tamper-evident closure is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident closure comprising:

a spout including an upwardly extending neck defining a neck opening, an annular cap-engaging retainer extending radially outwardly from said neck, and a fulcrum formed by a thinned section in a surface of said cap-engaging retainer interconnecting said cap-engaging retainer and said neck; and

a cap for selectively sealing said neck opening, said cap including a top, an annular skirt depending from said top, and a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to a lower end of said annular skirt, said tamper-evidencing band having a radially inwardly extending spout-engaging retainer;

wherein said cap-engaging retainer is adapted to engage said spout-engaging retainer when said cap is removed from said neck to limit upward movement of said tamper-evidencing band with respect to said neck.

2. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said closure is a fitment and said spout further comprises an annular flange adapted for attachment to a container.

3. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said cap-engaging retainer comprises a flexible retaining ring extending radially outwardly from said neck.

4. The tamper-evident closure of claim 3, wherein said retaining ring is segmented.

5. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said cap-engaging retainer is moveable between a first upwardly extending molded position and a second downwardly extending capped position.

6. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said cap-engaging retainer is moveable between a first horizontally extending molded position and a second downwardly extending capped position.

7. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said spout further comprises an upper neck wall, a lower neck wall, and a frangible membrane sealing off said neck opening, said frangible membrane interconnected to an inner wall surface of said neck intermediate said upper neck wall and said lower neck wall.

8. The tamper-evident closure of claim 7, wherein said cap-engaging retainer extends outwardly from said neck intermediate said upper neck wall and said lower neck wall.

9. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, said closure further comprising external thread on said neck and internal thread on said annular skirt, said external and internal thread cooperatively engaging for removable engagement of said cap on said neck.

10. The tamper-evident closure of claim 8, wherein said cap-engaging retainer extends outwardly from said neck below said external thread.

11. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said fulcrum has a wall thickness thinner than the wall thickness of said retaining ring.

12. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said thinned section is located proximal said neck.

13. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of frangible bridges interconnecting said tamper-evidencing band and said lower end of said annular skirt.

14. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, wherein said spout-engaging retainer comprises an annular retaining rim extending inwardly from said tamper-evidencing band.

15. In combination, a tamper-evident cap and a container, said combination comprising:

a container including an upwardly extending neck defining a neck opening, an annular cap-engaging retainer extending radially outwardly from said neck, and a fulcrum formed by a thinned section in a surface of said cap-engaging retainer interconnecting said cap-engaging retainer and said neck; and

a cap for selectively sealing said neck opening, said cap including a top, an annular skirt depending from said top, and a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to a lower end of said annular skirt, said tamper-evidencing band having a radially inwardly extending container-engaging retainer;

wherein said cap-engaging retainer is adapted to engage said container-engaging retainer when said cap is removed from said neck to limit upward movement of said tamper-evidencing band with respect to said neck.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein said cap-engaging retainer comprises an annular retaining ring extending radially outwardly from said neck.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein said cap-engaging retainer is moveable between a first upwardly extending molded position and a second downwardly extending capped position.

18. The combination of claim 15, wherein said cap-engaging retainer is moveable between a first horizontally extending molded position and a second downwardly extending capped position.

19. The combination of claim 15, said closure further comprising external thread on said neck and internal thread on said annular skirt, said external and internal thread cooperatively engaging for removable engagement of said cap on said neck.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said cap-engaging retainer extends outwardly from said neck below said external thread.

21. The combination of claim 15, wherein said fulcrum has a wall thickness thinner than the wall thickness of said retaining ring.