Tamperproof closures for containers

Claim 2

A tamperproof closure which comprises a closure cap and a separate catch ring and which is for the tamperproof closuring of a container having a screw threadEd region to which the cap may be screwed to close the container and a peripheral region adjacent the screw threaded region which has at least one abutment, said cap having means defining a support ring over which the catch ring is adapted to be placed and said catch ring having at least one inwardly directed projection which extends through the support ring so as to ride along the peripheral region of the container as the cap is being screwed thereto but to engage said abutment of the container when the cap closes same to prevent the cap from being unscrewed, and said catch ring further being adapted to be broken so that it can be removed prior to and enabling the cap to be unscrewed from the container.

Claim 3

A tamperproof closure according to claim 1, wherein the catch ring has a plurality of spaced, inwardly directed projections.

Claim 4

A tamperproof closure according to claim 2, wherein the cap has a top and a skirt portion and the means defining the support ring comprises a plurality of arcuate ledges at the edge of the skirt between which the projections of the catch ring may pass.

Claim 5

A tamperproof closure according to claim 3, wherein the closure has a flange adjacent the means defining the support ring limiting the axial position of the catch ring relative to the closure cap.

Claim 6

A tamperproof closure according to claim 4, wherein the catch ring has a circumferential, internal rib and the ledges have an external groove in which said internal rib engages.

Claim 7

A tamperproof closure according to claim 1, wherein the ring is weakened by means of transverse slots therein.

Claim 8

A tamperproof closure according to claim 6, wherein the catch ring has a finger pull tab adjacent the weakening whereby the ring may be broken at such weakening by manual pulling of the finger pull.

Claim 9

A tamperproof closure according to claim 1, wherein the catch ring is a one piece moulding in plastics material.

Claim 10

A tamperproof closure according to claim 1, wherein the cap is a one-piece moulding in plastics material.

Claim 11

The combination of a container having a cylindrical outlet neck which is closed by a tamperproof closure which comprises a screw closure cap and a separate catch ring, said cap having means defining a support ring over which the catch ring is placed, and said catch ring having at least one inwardly directed projection which extends through the support ring, the outlet neck of the container having an external threaded portion to which the closure cap is screwed, and an external peripheral region having at least one abutment which is engaged by a projection of the catch ring, preventing unscrewing of the cap, said catch ring being adapted to be broken so that it can be removed prior to and enabling the cap to be unscrewed from the container, and further being sufficiently restrained from axial movement relative to the cap and outlet that the only method of removing the ring from engagement with the abutment is by breaking the ring.

Claim 12

The combination of a container having a cylindrical outlet neck which is closed by a tamperproof closure which comprises a screw closure cap and a separate catch ring, said cap having means defining a support ring over which the catch ring is placed, and said catch ring having at least one inwardly directed projection which extends through the support ring, the outlet neck of the container having an external threaded portion to which the closure cap is screwed, and an external peripheral region having at least one abutment which is engaged by a projection of the catch ring, preventing unscrewing of the cap, said catch ring being adapted to be broken so that it can be removed prior to and enabling the cap to be unscrewed from the container, and further being sufficiently restrained from axial movement relative to the cap and outlet that the only method of removing the ring from engagement with the abutment is by breaking the ring.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 10, wherein the outlet neck has a plurality of spaced abutments defined by teeth on said peripheral region, and the catch ring has a plurality of projections each engaging one of said teeth.

Claim 14

A one-piece catch ring for a tamperproof closure which has a plurality of inwardly directed projections and which is adapted to be broken at a particular location and wherein a weakening of the ring at said location is created by two axial slots extending partially across the width of the ring, said slots being circumferentially staggered.

Claim 15

A one-piece catch ring for a tamperproof closure which has a plurality of inwardly directed projections and which is adapted to be broken at a particular location and wherein a weakening of the ring at said location is created by two axial slots extending partially across the width of the ring, said slots being circumferentially staggered.

Claim 16

A catch ring according to claim 12, wherein said ring is weakened at three equi-angularly spaced locations.

Claim 17

A catch ring according to claim 12, wherein there is an external finger tab at each weakened location.