Patent US3951145A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4190175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container and closure construction for resisting tampering
Assignee: Packaging Resources Inc
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Filing: 1976-03-25
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Granted: 1980-02-26
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Expires: 1996-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A molded plastic container and closure assembly comprises a container having an upstanding wall adapted to be embraced by the depending skirt of a closure member. To resist tampering or unauthorized removal of the closure, the container has an integrally molded wall means projecting radially outwardly therefrom forming a channel to receive the lower end of the depending skirt. Annular beads formed on the interior wall of the depending skirt cooperate with a bead formed at the free edge of the container opening and with a relatively smooth outer skirt surface to restrict closure removal until the aforementioned wall means are torn away from the container. To facilitate such tearing, the wall means are provided with finger-engageable means and with suitably located weakenings to enable a tearing removal of the wall means by manual gripping and pulling of the finger-engageable means. In a modification, the central portion of the closure is recessed so as to project into the container and brace the interior sidewall of the container against radially inwardly directed forces.
Inventors
- 👤 David O. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/0233; B65D43/00; B65D43/02; B65D43/0202; B65D43/0204; B65D43/0212; B65D2401/00; B65D2401/10; B65D2543/00; B65D2543/00009; B65D2543/00018; B65D2543/00027; B65D2543/00064; B65D2543/00074; B65D2543/00092; B65D2543/00259; B65D2543/00296; B65D2543/00444; B65D2543/00481; B65D2543/0049; B65D2543/00509; B65D2543/00527; B65D2543/00537; B65D2543/00555; B65D2543/00592; B65D2543/00601; B65D2543/00611; B65D2543/00629; B65D2543/00675; B65D2543/00685; B65D2543/00712; B65D2543/00722; B65D2543/0074; B65D2543/00787; B65D2543/00796; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S215/00; Y10S215/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
An assembly comprising: a molded one-piece plastic container having a generally upright wall portion bounding an opening thereto, a molded one-piece plastic closure having an integrally molded panel for covering said opening and a skirt surrounding said wall portion, said container and said closure having interfitting means to provide a snap fit therebetween so that a prying force must be applied to the distal edge of said closure skirt to remove said closure from said container, and closure shield means molded as part of said container projecting outwardly from and substantially surrounding said wall portion to shield said distal edge of said closure skirt sufficiently that it would be difficult to pry said closure from said container by manual manipulation without the aid of a mechanical device. said closure shield means including a tearable section immediately adjacent said wall portion for severably attaching said shield means to said wall portion constructed so that said shield means may be sufficiently detached from said wall portion to expose said distal edge for manual manipulation so that said closure may be pried from said container without the aid of a mechanical device, said shield means comprising a first wall projecting outwardly from said wall portion, said tearable section comprising a reduced thickness portion of said first wall engaging said wall portion, said shield means further comprising a second wall projecting upwardly from the outer end of said first wall and generally parallel to said wall portion, said first and second walls cooperating with said wall portion to form a channel for receipt of the lower portion of said closure skirt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
An assembly comprising: a molded one-piece plastic container having a generally upright wall portion bounding an opening thereto, a molded one-piece plastic closure having an integrally molded panel for covering said opening and a skirt surrounding said wall portion, said container and said closure having interfitting means to provide a snap fit therebetween so that a prying force must be applied to the distal edge of said closure skirt to remove said closure from said container, and closure shield means molded as part of said container projecting outwardly from and substantially surrounding said wall portion to shield said distal edge of said closure skirt sufficiently that it would be difficult to pry said closure from said container by manual manipulation without the aid of a mechanical device. said closure shield means including a tearable section immediately adjacent said wall portion for severably attaching said shield means to said wall portion constructed so that said shield means may be sufficiently detached from said wall portion to expose said distal edge for manual manipulation so that said closure may be pried from said container without the aid of a mechanical device, said shield means comprising a first wall projecting outwardly from said wall portion, said tearable section comprising a reduced thickness portion of said first wall engaging said wall portion, said shield means further comprising a second wall projecting upwardly from the outer end of said first wall and generally parallel to said wall portion, said first and second walls cooperating with said wall portion to form a channel for receipt of the lower portion of said closure skirt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said interfitting means comprises a bead on said container surrounding said opening and an inwardly directed bead on said closure skirt sealingly engaged with said container bead and wherein there is a second inwardly directed bead on said closure skirt at its distal end engaged with said wall portion, said distal end including said second bead being located in said channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein there is a recess between said closure beads to accommodate said bead on said container and to permit said lower portion of said closure skirt to enter said channel during assembly of said closure onto said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
244 words
In a molded one-piece plastic container having an opening bounded by a generally upright wall portion for use with a snap fit plastic closure having an integrally molded panel for covering said opening in said container and a skirt depending from the margin of said panel for surrounding said wall portion, the improvement wherein said container has closure shield means molded therewith substantially surrounding said wall portion and projecting outwardly from said wall portion at a spacing from said opening effective to shield the distal edge of said closure skirt sufficiently that it would be difficult to pry said closure from said container by manual manipulation without the aid of a mechanical device, said shield means having a tearable portion engaging said wall portion for severably attaching said shield means to said wall portion so that said shield means may be sufficiently detached from said wall portion to expose the distal edge of said closure skirt for manual manipulation so that said closure may be pried from said container without the aid of a mechanical device, said shield means comprising a first wall projecting outwardly from said wall portion and having said reduced thickness portion, said shield means further comprising a second wall projecting upwardly from the outer end of said first wall and generally parallel to said wall portion, said first and second walls cooperating with said wall portion to form a channel for receipt of the lower portion of said closure skirt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
244 words
In a molded one-piece plastic container having an opening bounded by a generally upright wall portion for use with a snap fit plastic closure having an integrally molded panel for covering said opening in said container and a skirt depending from the margin of said panel for surrounding said wall portion, the improvement wherein said container has closure shield means molded therewith substantially surrounding said wall portion and projecting outwardly from said wall portion at a spacing from said opening effective to shield the distal edge of said closure skirt sufficiently that it would be difficult to pry said closure from said container by manual manipulation without the aid of a mechanical device, said shield means having a tearable portion engaging said wall portion for severably attaching said shield means to said wall portion so that said shield means may be sufficiently detached from said wall portion to expose the distal edge of said closure skirt for manual manipulation so that said closure may be pried from said container without the aid of a mechanical device, said shield means comprising a first wall projecting outwardly from said wall portion and having said reduced thickness portion, said shield means further comprising a second wall projecting upwardly from the outer end of said first wall and generally parallel to said wall portion, said first and second walls cooperating with said wall portion to form a channel for receipt of the lower portion of said closure skirt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a flexible plastic container havling a relatively large open upper end for sealing with a press-on closure cap having a relatively shallow depending skirt, an improved tamperproofing means positioned adjacent to the open upper end and formed integrally with the container comprising: a tamperproofing band spaced outwardly of the outer surface of the container adjacent to the open upper end of the container; a lower portion only of said band being removably connected to the container by a frangible connecting means; and said tamperproofing band and said connecting means defining an upwardly facing channel with a fully open top for receiving at least the lower portion of a closure cap skirt whereby said band and said connecting means bar access to the lower edge of the skirt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a flexible plastic container havling a relatively large open upper end for sealing with a press-on closure cap having a relatively shallow depending skirt, an improved tamperproofing means positioned adjacent to the open upper end and formed integrally with the container comprising: a tamperproofing band spaced outwardly of the outer surface of the container adjacent to the open upper end of the container; a lower portion only of said band being removably connected to the container by a frangible connecting means; and said tamperproofing band and said connecting means defining an upwardly facing channel with a fully open top for receiving at least the lower portion of a closure cap skirt whereby said band and said connecting means bar access to the lower edge of the skirt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said band has a transverse line of weakness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said connecting means comprises a score line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said connecting means comprises a web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said container comrpises a closure engaging bead adjacent to the said open top.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said container comprises a closure engaging groove adjacent to the open top.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said container comprises polyethylene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said container comprises a thermoplastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said container comprises a molded flexible plastic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
106 words
A sealed package comprising: a flexible plastic container having an open upper end sealed with a closure cap having a relatively shallow depending skirt; a tamperproofing band spaced outwardly of the outer surface of the container adjacent to the open upper end of the container; a lower portion only of the band being removably connected to the container by a frangible connecting means; and said tamperproofing band and said connecting means defining an upwardly facing channel with a fully open top receiving the lower portion of the closure cap skirt whereby said band and said connecting means bar access to the lower edge of the skirt.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A sealed package comprising: a flexible plastic container having an open upper end sealed with a closure cap having a relatively shallow depending skirt; a tamperproofing band spaced outwardly of the outer surface of the container adjacent to the open upper end of the container; a lower portion only of the band being removably connected to the container by a frangible connecting means; and said tamperproofing band and said connecting means defining an upwardly facing channel with a fully open top receiving the lower portion of the closure cap skirt whereby said band and said connecting means bar access to the lower edge of the skirt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said band has a transverse line of weakness.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said connecting means comprises a score line.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said connecting means comprises a web.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said container comprises a closure engaging bead adjacent to the said open top.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said container comprises a closure engaging groove adjacent to the open top.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said container comprises polyethylene.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said container comprises a thermoplastic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A package as claimed in claim 14 in which said container comprises a molded flexible plastic.
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) | 1983-02-25 | 1983-08-27 | 1984-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-25 | 1987-08-27 | 1988-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-25 | 1991-08-27 | 1992-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |