Patent US2594493A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3901403A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3901403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tear-open tamperproof closure seal
Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-15
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1993-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A bottle having a finish with a ribbed annular protrusion is provided with a molded plastic seal having internal surfaces which cooperate with the protrusion to prevent the seal from being disengaged from the bottle without being destroyed. The seal is weakened at predetermined circumferential locations, and an integral finger grip is provided for rupturing the seal at the weakened locations to separate the seal from the bottle when the finger grip is displaced circumferentially.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene W Menke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:44
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
The combination of a tear-open tamperproof closure seal and a container having a finish with an annular protrusion having locking means, said seal having a body with a transverse end wall and a skirt depending from said end wall, said depending skirt having an upper portion, a lower portion and rupturable means connecting said portions, and providing a first weakened zone, said lower skirT portion having an annular enlargement adjacent said rupturable means, inwardly-projecting latch surface means on the inner periphery of said skirt below said enlargement for engaging below said protrusion to limit axial displacement of said seal and prevent the same from disengaging said finish when mounted thereon, locking means on the interior of the enlarged portion of said skirt engageable with locking means on said annular protrusion of said finish operable to prevent rotation of said seal relative to the finish when mounted thereon, said upper portion of said skirt having a second weakened zone with a portion extending transversely to said first weakened zone, means providing a finger grip alongside said portion of said second weakened zone for rupturing said connecting means when said finger grip is displaced circumferentially about said seal to disengage the upper portion of said seal from the container finish, said lower skirt portion remaining seated on the container with the locking portion overlying the annular protrusion on said finish when the upper portion is detached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
The combination of a tear-open tamperproof closure seal and a container having a finish with an annular protrusion having locking means, said seal having a body with a transverse end wall and a skirt depending from said end wall, said depending skirt having an upper portion, a lower portion and rupturable means connecting said portions, and providing a first weakened zone, said lower skirT portion having an annular enlargement adjacent said rupturable means, inwardly-projecting latch surface means on the inner periphery of said skirt below said enlargement for engaging below said protrusion to limit axial displacement of said seal and prevent the same from disengaging said finish when mounted thereon, locking means on the interior of the enlarged portion of said skirt engageable with locking means on said annular protrusion of said finish operable to prevent rotation of said seal relative to the finish when mounted thereon, said upper portion of said skirt having a second weakened zone with a portion extending transversely to said first weakened zone, means providing a finger grip alongside said portion of said second weakened zone for rupturing said connecting means when said finger grip is displaced circumferentially about said seal to disengage the upper portion of said seal from the container finish, said lower skirt portion remaining seated on the container with the locking portion overlying the annular protrusion on said finish when the upper portion is detached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A. closure seal according to claim 1 wherein said second weakened zone has a portion extending circumferentially around said seal adjacent the juncture of said end wall and the upper portion of said skirt, said first and second weakened zones cooperating to cause the seal to tear at two spaced locations when the finger grip is displaced circumferentially to separate the seal from the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A closure seal according to claim 2 wherein said upper and lower portions are separate and said connecting means includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced gussets extending across said first weakened zone for securely connecting said upper and lower portions of said skirt while affording ready separability.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A closure seal according to claim 3 wherein said end wall has a central aperture and said finger grip extends into said aperture, said second weakened zone including a score line extending along one side of said finger grip in said end wall and continuing into said upper portion of said depending skirt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A closure seal according to claim 4 wherein said second weakened zone in said end wall includes a circumferential score line and a plurality of radially-extending score lines intersecting said aperture and said circumferential score line to facilitate separation of the upper portion of said skirt from the lower portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A closure seal according to claim 2 wherein said finger grip extends radially outward from the upper portion of said skirt and between said end wall and said rupturable connecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A closure seal according to claim 2 wherein said rotation preventing means includes a series of outwardly extending ribs on said protrusion and a plurality of complementary ribs extending inwardly around the periphery of the lower portion of said skirt for engaging selected ones of said series of protrusion-ribs when said seal is installed on said finish.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A closure seal according to claim 7 wherein said ribs on said skirt have surfaces tapering inwardly toward said end wall and spaced from said latch surface means to engage an upper side of said protrusion when said seal is installed on said finish with said latch surface means engaging a lower side of the protrusion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
188 words
A tear-open tamperproof closure seal for use in conjunction with a container having a finish with an annular protrusion, said seal having a body with a transverse end wall and a skirt depending from said wall, inwardly-extending latch surface means on the inner periphery of said skirt for engaging below said protrusion to prevent said seal from disengaging said finish when mounted thereon, means on the interior of said seal for engaging said finish to prevent said seal from rotating relative to the finish when mounted thereon, said depending skirt having an upper portion and a lower portion, rupturable means connecting said portions and providing a first weakened zone, means defining a central aperture in said end wall, said finger grip extending into said aperture, said second weakened zone including a score line extending along one side of said finger grip and continuing into said upper skirt portion and terminating adjacent said first weakened zone, a circumferential score line and a plurality of radial score lines extending from said aperture to said circumferential score line to facilitate separation of the upper skirt portion from said lower skirt portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
188 words
A tear-open tamperproof closure seal for use in conjunction with a container having a finish with an annular protrusion, said seal having a body with a transverse end wall and a skirt depending from said wall, inwardly-extending latch surface means on the inner periphery of said skirt for engaging below said protrusion to prevent said seal from disengaging said finish when mounted thereon, means on the interior of said seal for engaging said finish to prevent said seal from rotating relative to the finish when mounted thereon, said depending skirt having an upper portion and a lower portion, rupturable means connecting said portions and providing a first weakened zone, means defining a central aperture in said end wall, said finger grip extending into said aperture, said second weakened zone including a score line extending along one side of said finger grip and continuing into said upper skirt portion and terminating adjacent said first weakened zone, a circumferential score line and a plurality of radial score lines extending from said aperture to said circumferential score line to facilitate separation of the upper skirt portion from said lower skirt portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
For use in combination with a container having a finish with an annular protrusion and rib means including a plurality of pairs of ribs spaced apart on the periphery of said protrusion and disposed transversely thereof, a seal adapted to mount onto said finish, said seal having a transverse end wall and a depending tubular skirt, surface means on the interior of said skirt to prevent rotation of said seal relative to said finish and for engaging an underside of said protrusion to prevent displacement of said seal transversely to said protrusion without rupturing the seal, said surface means including diametrically-opposed arrays of rib surfaces extending on the inner periphery on said skirt a distance greater than the corresponding peripheral spacing between adjacent pairs of ribs on said protrusion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
For use in combination with a container having a finish with an annular protrusion and rib means including a plurality of pairs of ribs spaced apart on the periphery of said protrusion and disposed transversely thereof, a seal adapted to mount onto said finish, said seal having a transverse end wall and a depending tubular skirt, surface means on the interior of said skirt to prevent rotation of said seal relative to said finish and for engaging an underside of said protrusion to prevent displacement of said seal transversely to said protrusion without rupturing the seal, said surface means including diametrically-opposed arrays of rib surfaces extending on the inner periphery on said skirt a distance greater than the corresponding peripheral spacing between adjacent pairs of ribs on said protrusion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination according to claim 10 wherein said skirt has upper and lower portions with said surface means being located on said lower portion, a rupturable circumferential web connecting said portions, and finger grip means integral with said skirt for rupturing said web to effect separation of said upper portion from said lower portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A closure seal as claimed in claim 12 in combination with a container wherein the finish includes threads and a closure cap having complementary threads to facilitate application and removal from the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |