EP1048584A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper indicating closure and method of manufacture
Assignee: BPrex Healthcare Brookville Inc
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Filing: 2000-04-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2020-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A tamper-indicating closure (24) of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall (30) having a peripheral skirt (34) with an internal thread (36) for affixing the closure to the container finish (26). A tamper-indicating band (38) is connected to an edge of the skirt by frangible bridges (40). A stop flange (42) extends from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for abutment with a bead (44) on the container finish to inhibit removal of the closure absent fracture of the frangible means. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings (60) extend radially through the skirt at a position between the frangible bridges and the internal thread. These openings provide for ingress of cleansing solution during a washing operation after the closure is applied to a container to flush any residue from between the tamper-indicating band and the closure finish. Drain openings (52) are provided in the stop flange and/or the tamper-indicating band to allow drainage of the flushing solution, and also to allow drainage of any accumulated liquid in wet-finish applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul R. Graham
- 👤 Charles A. Webster
- 👤 James L. Gregory
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A tamper-indicating closure (24) of integrally molded plastic construction, which
includes a base wall (30) having a peripheral skirt (34) with internal means (36) for affixing the
closure to a container, a tamper-indicating band (38) connected by frangible means (40) to an
edge of said skirt a portion (66) of said skirt being flared radially outwardly between said base
wall and said frangible means, and a stop flange (42) extending axially and radially from an edge
of said band remote from said skirt for abutment with a container to inhibit removal of the
closure absent fracture of said frangible means, characterized in that a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings (60) extend
radially through said flared portion of said skirt at a position between said frangible means and
said base wall, and in that a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings (52) extend axially
through said band adjacent to said flange, through said flange adjacent to said band, or through
both said flange and said band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said radially extending openings (60)
extend through said skirt at a position spaced from and not intersecting said frangible means (40),
such that said openings remain peripherally bounded by said skirt upon fracture of said frangible
means and separation of said band (38) from said skirt (34).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The closure set forth in claim 2 wherein said means (36) for affixing the closure
to a container comprises an internal thread integrally molded within said skirt (34), and wherein
said radially extending openings (60) are disposed between said thread and said frangible means
(40).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The closure set forth in claim 3 wherein said radially extending openings (60) are
equal in number to said axially extending openings (52), and wherein said radial openings (60)
and said axial openings (52) are circumferentially staggered around said skirt (38).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The closure set forth in claim 4 wherein said radially extending openings (60) and
said axially extending openings (52) are substantially rectangular in geometry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The closure set forth in claim 5 wherein said axially extending openings (52) are
larger than said radially extending openings (60).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The closure set forth in claim 3 in combination with a container (22) having a
finish (26) with an external thread (28) to which said internal thread (36) is secured and an
external bead (44) engaged by said stop flange (42).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of making a tamper-indicating closure that includes the step of: integrally molding a closure (24) of plastic as-molded construction that includes
a base wall (30) having a peripheral skirt (34) with internal means (36) for affixing the closure
to a container, a tamper-indicating band (38) connected by frangible means (40) to an edge of
said skirt, a portion (66) of said skirt being flared radially outwardly between said base wall and
said frangible means, a stop flange (42) extending axially and radially from an edge of said band
remote from said skirt for abutment with a container to inhibit removal of the closure absent
fracture of said frangible means, a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings (60) extending
radially through said flared portion of said skirt at a position between said frangible means and
said base wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings (52) extending axially
through said band adjacent to said flange, through said flange adjacent to said band, or through
both said flange and said band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of molding said closure is
selected from the group consisting of injection molding said closure and compression molding
said closure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said radially extending openings extend
through said skirt at a position spaced from and not intersecting said frangible means, such that
said openings remain peripherally bounded by said skirt upon fracture of said frangible means
and separation of said band from said skirt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for affixing the closure to
a container comprises an internal thread integrally molded within said skirt, and wherein said
radially extending openings are disposed between said thread and said frangible means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said radially extending openings (60)
are equal in number to said axially extending openings (52), and wherein said radial openings
(60) and said axial openings (52) are circumferentially staggered around said skirt (38).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The closure set forth in claim 12 wherein said radially extending openings (60)
and said axially extending openings (52) are substantially rectangular in geometry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The closure set forth in claim 13 wherein said axially extending openings (52) are
larger than said radially extending openings (60).
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