US3827591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper proof secondary closure device
Assignee: VISCOSE CLOSURE Ltd A Co OF ENGLAND
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Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A tamper-proof secondary closure device and a method of applying said device to the neck of a bottle. The method comprises the steps of applying a layer of sensitive material to the neck of the nottle and then shrinking a secondary closure thereover, the arrangement being such that the sensitive material is visibly affected by the process of applying a solvent or softening agent to the secondary closure and subsequently attempting to remove it from the neck of the bottle.
Inventors
- 👤 D Spelman
- 👤 D Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/24; B65D41/62; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device, for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure, which is expansible by the application of a solvent or a softening agent, and a layer of sensitive material provided within, and visible externally of, said secondary closure, said layer being said solvent or softening agent whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device, for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure, which is expansible by the application of a solvent or a softening agent, and a layer of sensitive material provided within, and visible externally of, said secondary closure, said layer being said solvent or softening agent whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed claim 1, in which said secondary closure is provided with a transparent panel through which said layer is visible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said layer of sensitive material is water-sensitive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said layer is soluble in water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, in which a strip or disc of soluble material provides said layer and said secondary closure is insoluble in water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, in which said secondary closure is made of cellulosic material which shrinks on loss of moisture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, in which said strip or disc is soluble in hot water but insoluble in cold water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said secondary closure is made of a material which may be shrunk by the evaporation of a solvent contained in the material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, in which said layer is soluble in said solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, in which said secondary closure is fixed to said neck of said bottle by means of an adhesive unsoftened by, or insoluble in, said solvent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, in which said layer is fixed to said neck of said bottle by means of an adhesive unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, said solvent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, in which said secondary closure is fixed to said neck of said bottle by means of an adhesive unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, said solvent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said secondary closure is made of a heat-shrinkable material and said layer is soluble in a solvent capable of softening and swelling said heat-shrinkable material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 13, in which said secondary closure is attachable to said neck of said bottle by means of an adhesive unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, said solvent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 13, in which said layer is printed with an ink which is soluble in said solvent and which smudges or disappears on immersion therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed in claim 13, in which said layer is printed with an ink insoluble in said solvent but adheres to said layer by means of an adhesive softenable by, or soluble in, such a solvent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure which is expansible by the application of a solvent or softening agent and a layer of material which is insoluble in water and carries a transfer print, said layer being provided within and said print being visible externally of said secondary closure, and said print being soluble in said solvEnt or softening agent whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure which is expansible by the application of a solvent or softening agent and a layer of material which is insoluble in water and carries a transfer print, said layer being provided within and said print being visible externally of said secondary closure, and said print being soluble in said solvEnt or softening agent whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed in claim 17, in which the ink of said transfer print is insoluble in water and is bonded to said layer by means of a glue which is softenable by, or soluble in, water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device, for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure, which is expansible by the application of a solvent or a softening agent and an insoluble layer, carrying a water-sensitive transfer print, provided within, and visible externally of, said secondary closure, said transfer print being reactive with water whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded upon a subsequent attempt to remove said secondary closure from said neck of said bottle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device, for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure, which is expansible by the application of a solvent or a softening agent and an insoluble layer, carrying a water-sensitive transfer print, provided within, and visible externally of, said secondary closure, said transfer print being reactive with water whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded upon a subsequent attempt to remove said secondary closure from said neck of said bottle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device, for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure, which is expansible by the application of hot water, and a layer of sensitive material provided within, and visible externally of, said secondary closure, said secondary closure being provided internally with adhesive means for fixing said secondary closure to said neck of said bottle, said adhesive means being softenable by, or soluble in, hot water but unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, cold water, said layer being soluble in hot water whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tamper-proof secondary closure device, for application to the neck of a bottle, comprising a shrinkable secondary closure, which is expansible by the application of hot water, and a layer of sensitive material provided within, and visible externally of, said secondary closure, said secondary closure being provided internally with adhesive means for fixing said secondary closure to said neck of said bottle, said adhesive means being softenable by, or soluble in, hot water but unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, cold water, said layer being soluble in hot water whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of applying a tamper-proof secondary closure device to the neck of a bottle comprising the steps of applying a layer of sensitive material to the neck of the bottle and then shrinking a secondary closure thereover, said layer being visible externally of said secondary closure and being soluble in a solvent or softening agent which is capable of causing said secondary closure to swell, whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of applying a tamper-proof secondary closure device to the neck of a bottle comprising the steps of applying a layer of sensitive material to the neck of the bottle and then shrinking a secondary closure thereover, said layer being visible externally of said secondary closure and being soluble in a solvent or softening agent which is capable of causing said secondary closure to swell, whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, in which said secondary closure is fixed to said neck of said bottle by means of an adhesive, and is provided with a transparent panel through which said layer is visible.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, in which said adhesive is softened by, or soluble in, hot water but unsoftened by, or insoluble in, cold water.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, in which said secondary closure is fixed to said neck of said bottle by an adhesive unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, water and is provided with a transparent panel through which said layer is visible.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of applying a tamper-proof secondary closure device to the neck of a bottle comprising the steps of applying a layer of sensitive material to the neck of a bottle, shrinking a secondary closure thereover and fixing said secondary closure to said neck of said bottle by means of an adhesive which is softenable by, or soluble in, hot water but unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, cold water, said layer being visible externally of said secondary closure and being soluble in water hot enough to cause said secondary closure to swell, whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of applying a tamper-proof secondary closure device to the neck of a bottle comprising the steps of applying a layer of sensitive material to the neck of a bottle, shrinking a secondary closure thereover and fixing said secondary closure to said neck of said bottle by means of an adhesive which is softenable by, or soluble in, hot water but unsoftenable by, or insoluble in, cold water, said layer being visible externally of said secondary closure and being soluble in water hot enough to cause said secondary closure to swell, whereby a visual indication of tampering is afforded.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |