Tamper evident push pull resealable cap

• US 5,662,247 A
• Filed: 03/15/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Penn Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: West Penn Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Marino, Michael, Rapchak, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US08/616,367
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153.07, 222/153.1, 222/153.14, 222/153.06, 222/525, 222/541.6, 222/541.9, 222/568, 222/570, 215/253, 215/256
• US Class Current: 222/153.07
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0015 of the 41-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0087 of the 47-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/15 Tearable part of the closure B65D2401/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/48 non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics B65D41/47 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/243 moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/18 Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/247 takes precedence

Abstract

A tamper evident resealable cap for use on a bottle, the cap having an upstanding spout that is registerable with an opening in the center of the cap and a sealing plug of a smaller diameter positioned thereabove on multiple upstanding legs extending from the spout. An over cap extends over the spout, enclosing the spout with a tamper evident enclosure. The improvement is directed towards a detachable annular ring secured to the over cap by a plurality of frangible elements thereabout, the ring is arranged for restrictive registration with a locking shoulder that extends from the top of the cap body. The cap body has a tamper evident tear band extending from the cap with a frangible tear line therein. A tear tab extends from the tear band for selective engagement by the user to remove the tear band.

Claims

1. A tamper evident bottle cap for a bottle having a neck surrounding an opening, the neck having at least two vertical spaced annular securing flanges extending therefrom, the bottle cap comprising;

a. a lower top portion having a hole and a first annular flange extending from said lower top portion, the inside of said first annular flange having an annular retaining bead extending inwardly from said first annular flange;

b. a tear band going around said first annular flange, said tear band being connected integrally to a tear tab;

c. a spout being integrally connected to said lower top portion and being in communication with the hole in said lower top portion, said spout having an aperture therethrough;

d. a top cap being slideably movable on said spout, said top cap having an upper top portion and the upper top portion having an opening, the aperture in the spout being registerable with the opening in said upper top portion;

e. a plug extending from said spout and being registerable with the opening in the upper top portion thereby defining a closure when the top cap is in down position;

f. an over cap extending from said lower top portion in spaced vertical and horizontal relation to said spout; and

g. a plurality of frangible elements extending from said over cap connecting a tamper indicating ring, a locking shoulder on said lower top portion being in spaced relation to said pour spout, said locking shoulder holding said tamper indicating ring on the lower top portion upon removal of said over cap.

2. The bottle cap of claim 1 wherein the lower top portion further comprises an annular sealing flange and wherein said locking shoulder includes an inwardly extending locking flange.

3. The bottle cap of claim 1 wherein said locking shoulder is segmented into oppositely disposed pairs of annular spaced arcuate sections.

4. The bottle cap of claim 1 wherein said over cap has a closure body flange being in spaced relation with said spout, the closure body flange attached to said frangible elements.

5. The bottle cap of claim 1 wherein said top cap has an engageable annular flange to stop the vertical movement on said spout.

6. The bottle cap of claim 5 wherein said spout has a tubular body of a known outer diameter and said engageable annular flange of said top cap has an inner diameter which is greater than said outer diameter of said tubular body.

7. A tamper evident bottle cap for a bottle, the bottle having a neck with a spiral thread and an opening, the bottle cap comprising;

a. a lower top portion having a hole and a first annular flange extending from said lower top portion, the inside of said first annular flange having a spiral thread;

b. a first tamper evident ring being attached to the first annular flange;

c. a spout being integrally connected to said lower top portion and being in communication with the hole in said lower top portion, said spout having an aperture therethrough;

d. a top cap being slideably removable on said spout, said top cap having an upper top portion and the upper top portion having an opening, the aperture in the spout being registerable with the opening in said upper top portion;

e. a plug extending from said spout and being registerable with the opening in the upper top portion thereby defining a closure when the top cap is in a down position;

f. an over cap movably secured to said lower top portion and extending in spaced vertical and horizontal relation about said top cap; and

g. a plurality of frangible elements extending from said over cap connecting a second tamper indicating ring, a locking shoulder on said lower top portion being in spaced relation to said pour spout, the locking shoulder engageable on second tamper indicating ring.

8. The bottle cap of claim 7 wherein the lower top portion further comprises an annular sealing flange and wherein said locking shoulder includes an inwardly extending locking flange.

9. The bottle cap of claim 7 wherein said locking shoulder is segmented into oppositely disposed pairs of annularly spaced arcuate sections.

10. The bottle cap of claim 7 wherein said top cap has a closure body flange being in spaced relation to said spout.

11. The bottle cap of claim 7 wherein said top cap has an engageable annular flange to stop the vertical movement of said top cap on said spout.

12. The bottle cap of claim 11 wherein said spout has a tubular body of a known outer diameter and said engageable annular flange of said top cap has an inner diameter which is greater than said outer diameter of said tubular body.