US4461390A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper-evident plastic closure
Assignee: GENERAL KAP (PR) Corp PO BOX 560 HATO REY PUERTO RICO 00919 A CORP OF PUERTO RICO
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Filing: 1982-06-01
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Granted: 1984-07-24
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Expires: 2002-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Tamper-evident closures which are useful in conjunction with various bottles and containers are disclosed. The closures are intended to be used in connection with containers having threaded necks above an annular collar, and they comprise one-piece closures including a horizontal end wall, a cylindrical side wall including an internally threaded upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion which includes an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage the annular collar on the container, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween. The intermediate side wall portion of the closure includes an area of weakness which is designated to fracture when the closure is unthreaded from the container, thereby leaving the lower skirt portion engaged to the annular collar on the container after the end wall and internally threaded upper portion of the closure have been removed. The area of weakness includes a bridge portion which is sufficiently thin and flexible that it can collapse when the closure is being applied, whereby the faces of the intermediate side wall on either side of the bridge portion come into abutment with each other, and the bridge portions therefore do not prematurely fracture. The closure also includes stabilizers to prevent these abutting wall portions from moving relative to each other while the brige portions have collapsed.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest J. Csaszar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3442; B65D41/3447; B65D41/3452
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a threaded neck portion and an annular collar portion below said threaded neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an internally threaded upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween. said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is completely threaded onto said container, said intermediate side wall portion of said closure including a frangible portion comprising an area of weakness designed to fracture when said closure is unthreaded from said container after said internally threaded upper portion has been removed from said container, said frangible portion thereby dividing said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said frangible portion, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions having substantially identical crosssectional thicknesses, and said frangible portion comprising bridge means located circumferentially around said closure, said bridge means being sufficiently thin and flexible and having a sufficient length so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being threaded onto said container to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing said bridge means, at least a portion of said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions including juxtaposed parallel surfaces to maintain said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions in alignment with each other upon said collapse of said bridge means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a threaded neck portion and an annular collar portion below said threaded neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an internally threaded upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween. said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is completely threaded onto said container, said intermediate side wall portion of said closure including a frangible portion comprising an area of weakness designed to fracture when said closure is unthreaded from said container after said internally threaded upper portion has been removed from said container, said frangible portion thereby dividing said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said frangible portion, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions having substantially identical crosssectional thicknesses, and said frangible portion comprising bridge means located circumferentially around said closure, said bridge means being sufficiently thin and flexible and having a sufficient length so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being threaded onto said container to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing said bridge means, at least a portion of said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions including juxtaposed parallel surfaces to maintain said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions in alignment with each other upon said collapse of said bridge means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 1, including stabilizer means independent of said bridge means for preventing said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions from rotating relative to each other upon said collapse of said bridge means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 1 or 2, wherein said bridge means comprises a plurality of bridge members located circumferentially around said closure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 3, including four of said bridge members located equidistantly about said closure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 2, wherein said stabilizer means comprises interlocking male and female stabilizer means, said male stabilizer means being located on one of said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions and said female stabilizer means being located on the other of said one of said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 5, wherein said frangible portion comprises a circumferential groove formed on the outer surface of said closure whereby said groove is bounded by said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions, and wherein said male stabilizer means comprises tab means projecting into said groove and said female stabilizer means comprises slot means corresponding to said tab means whereby said tab means enters said slot means upon said collapse of said bridge means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 5, wherein said male and female stabilizer means each comprises a plurality of pairs of male and female stabilizer members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 7, whereiin said bridge means comprises a plurality of bridge members located circumferentially around said closure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 1 or 5, wherein said upper intermediate side wall portion comprises a substantially horizontal surface and said lower intermediate side wall portion comprises an inclined surface with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 9, wherein said tab means is located on said lower intermediate side wall portion and said slot means is located on said upper intermediate side wall portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 1 or 2, wherein said inwardly projecting bead includes an inclined lower surface defining a plane disposed at a first angle with respect to the horizontal, for assisting in the gradual outward bending of said depending lower skirt portion as it passes over said annular collar portion of said container upon said threading of said closure onto said container without fracturing said frangible portion, and an inclined upper portion defining a plane disposed at a second angle with respect to the horizontal for engagement with said annular collar portion of said container when said closure is competely threaded onto said container, said second angle being greater than said first angle, whereby said depending lower skirt portion cannot gradually bend outward when said closure is unthreaded from said container without causing said fracture to occur.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 1 or 2, wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly from said cylindrical side wall a distance of between about 0.015 and 0.030 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 12, wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly from said cylindrical side wall a distance of about 0.02 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 1 or 2, wherein said container has a predetermined diameter at a location immediately below said annular collar portion, and wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly a predetermined distance from said cylindrical side wall so as to create a minimum internal bead diameter, said minimum internal bead diameter substantially corresponding to said predetermined diameter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 14, wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly from said cylindrical side wall a distance of between about 0.015 and 0.030 inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 15, wherein said annular collar portion of said container extends outwardly from said location on said container having said predetermined diameter a distance of between about 0.015 and 0.25 inches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 16, wherein said annular collar portion of said container extends outwardly from said location on said container having said predetermined diameter a distance of about 0.018 inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 3, wherein said bridge members have a thickness of between about 0.003 and 0.015 inches.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
286 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a neck portion and an annular collar portion below said neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween, said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is applied to said container, said cylindrical side wall including a circumferential groove formed on the outer surface of said closure to thereby provide a frangible portion having a substantially uniform wall thickness at a predetermined location on said intermediate side wall, said predetermined location being located above said inwardly projecting bead so as to divide said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said predetermined location, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions being in substantial alignment with each other in the plane of said cylindrical side wall and having substantially identical crosssectional thicknesses, said frangible portion being sufficiently thin and flexible and having a sufficient length so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being applied to said container, to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing, said frangible portion further being designed to fracture in a substantially horizontal plane across said closure when said closure is removed from said container
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
286 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a neck portion and an annular collar portion below said neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween, said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is applied to said container, said cylindrical side wall including a circumferential groove formed on the outer surface of said closure to thereby provide a frangible portion having a substantially uniform wall thickness at a predetermined location on said intermediate side wall, said predetermined location being located above said inwardly projecting bead so as to divide said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said predetermined location, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions being in substantial alignment with each other in the plane of said cylindrical side wall and having substantially identical crosssectional thicknesses, said frangible portion being sufficiently thin and flexible and having a sufficient length so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being applied to said container, to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing, said frangible portion further being designed to fracture in a substantially horizontal plane across said closure when said closure is removed from said container
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 19 wherein said frangible portion comprises a plurality of bridge means separated by slots therebetween, whereby each of said bridge means has said substantially uniform wall thickness.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
267 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a neck portion and an annular collar portion below said neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween, said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is applied to said container, said intermediate side wall portion of said closure including a frangible portion comprising an area of weakness designed to fracture when said closure is removed from said container after said upper portion has been removed from said container, said frangible portion thereby dividing said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said frangible portion, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions having substantially identical cross-sectional thicknesses, and said frangible portion comprising bridge means located circumferentially around said closure, said bridge means being substantially vertically disposed along the inner surface of said cylindrical side wall, and being sufficiently thin and flexible and having a sufficient length so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being applied to said container to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing said bridge means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
267 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a neck portion and an annular collar portion below said neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween, said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is applied to said container, said intermediate side wall portion of said closure including a frangible portion comprising an area of weakness designed to fracture when said closure is removed from said container after said upper portion has been removed from said container, said frangible portion thereby dividing said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said frangible portion, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions having substantially identical cross-sectional thicknesses, and said frangible portion comprising bridge means located circumferentially around said closure, said bridge means being substantially vertically disposed along the inner surface of said cylindrical side wall, and being sufficiently thin and flexible and having a sufficient length so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being applied to said container to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing said bridge means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
282 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a neck portion and an annular collar portion below said neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween, said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is completely applied to said container, said intermediate side wall portion of said closure including a frangible portion comprising an area of weakness designed to fracture when said closure is removed from said container after said upper portion has been removed from said container, said frangible portion thereby dividing said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said frangible portion, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions being in substantial alignment with each other in the plane of said cylindrical side wall, and having substantially identical cross-sectional thicknesses, said frangible portion comprising bridge means displaced inwardly with respect to the outer surface of said cylindrical side wall, extending substantially vertically between said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions, and being sufficiently thin and flexible so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being applied to said container to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing said bridge means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
282 words
A tamper-evident closure for use in connection with a container including a neck portion and an annular collar portion below said neck portion, said closure comprising a one-piece plastic closure body including a horizontal end wall and a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall including an upper portion, a depending lower skirt portion, and an intermediate side wall portion therebetween, said depending lower skirt portion including an inwardly projecting bead adapted to engage said container when said closure is completely applied to said container, said intermediate side wall portion of said closure including a frangible portion comprising an area of weakness designed to fracture when said closure is removed from said container after said upper portion has been removed from said container, said frangible portion thereby dividing said intermediate side wall portion into an upper intermediate side wall portion and a lower intermediate side wall portion above and below said frangible portion, respectively, said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions being in substantial alignment with each other in the plane of said cylindrical side wall, and having substantially identical cross-sectional thicknesses, said frangible portion comprising bridge means displaced inwardly with respect to the outer surface of said cylindrical side wall, extending substantially vertically between said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions, and being sufficiently thin and flexible so as to be capable of collapsing when said inwardly projecting bead passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is being applied to said container to thereby permit said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions to abut against each other and thereby permit said closure to be applied to said container without fracturing said bridge means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 19, 21 or 22 wherein at least a portion of said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions include juxtaposed parallel surfaces to maintain said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions in alignment with each other upon said collapse of said frangible portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 23, including stabilizer means independent of said frangible portion for preventing said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions from rotating relative to each other upon said collapse of said bridge means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 21 or 22, wherein said bridge means comprises a plurality of bridge members located circumferentially around said closure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 25, including four of said bridge members located equidistantly about said closure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 24, wherein said stabilizer means comprises interlocking male and female stabilizer means, said male stabilizer means being located on one of said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions and said female stabilizer means being located on the other of said one of said upper and lower intermediate side wall portions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
138 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 21 or 22, wherein said inwardly projecting bead includes an inclined lower surface defining a plane disposed at a first angle with respect to the horizontal, for assisting in the gradual outward bending of said depending lower skirt portion as it passes over said annular collar portion of said container as said closure is applied to said container without fracturing said frangible portion, and an inclined upper portion defining a plane disposed at a second angle with respect to the horizontal for engagement with said annular collar portion of said container when said closure has been applied to said container, said second angle being greater than said first angle, whereby said depending lower skirt portion cannot gradually bend outward when said closure is removed from said container without causing said fracture to occur.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 19, 21 or 22, wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly from said cylindrical side wall a distance of between about 0.015 and 0.030 inches.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 29, wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly from said cylindrical side wall a distance of about 0.02 inches.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
61 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 19, 21 or 22, wherein said container has a predetermined diameter at a location immediately below said annular collar portion, and wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly a predetermined distance from said cylindrical side wall so as to create a minimum internal bead diameter, said minimum internal bead diameter substantially corresponding to said predetermined diameter.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 31, wherein said inwardly projecting bead extends inwardly from said cylindrical side wall a distance of between about 0.015 and 0.030 inches.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tamper-evident closure of claim 25, wherein said bridge members have a thickness of between about 0.003 and 0.015 inches.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
57 words
The tamper-evident closure of claims 1, 19, 21 or 22 wherein said inwardly projecting bead has an internal diameter adapted to firmly engage said container below said annular collar portion of said container, so as to leave said depending lower skirt portion on said container after said internally threaded upper portion has been removed from said container.
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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) | 1987-07-24 | 1988-01-23 | 1988-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-24 | 1992-01-23 | 1992-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-24 | 1996-01-23 | 1996-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |