US4469234A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamperproof container closure
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-02-04
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Granted: 1984-09-04
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Expires: 2003-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A closure for bottles or other containers with a threaded neck comprises an internally threaded plastic cap adapted to be screwed onto that neck with the aid of a socket wrench, the rim of the cap being connected via several frangible webs with a telltale ring of like material carrying a set of peripherally spaced-apart lugs with inbent extremities elastically hooked onto a peripherally projecting flanges of the container neck to prevent an unscrewing of the cap without detachment of the telltale ring therefrom. The ring, which has notches engageable by the socket wrench for positive entrainment, is integral with a skirt spacedly surrounding the lugs and projecting beyond them to forestall any attempt at disengaging their extremities from the flange before unscrewing the cap. The flange, overhanging an annular shoulder of the container body on which the skirt comes to rest in the assembled position, has detents in the form of two diametrically opposite ramps which terminate in radial edges coacting with adjacent lugs of the ring to limit any relative backward rotation thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner Deussen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:08
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3442; B65D41/3447; B65D41/3423; B65D41/3428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A closure for a container having a body provided with a threaded neck and a radially outwardly projecting peripheral flange located between the threads thereof and said body, comprising: a substantially cylindrical cap of resiliently deformable material provided with internal threads mating with those of the container neck; a telltale ring of like material connected to the rim of said cap by frangible webs, said ring being provided with peripherally spaced-apart lugs having inwardly projecting extremities resiliently hooked onto said flange upon an initial screwing of said cap onto said neck, thereby preventing any unscrewing of said cap from said neck without forcible detachment of said ring from said rim; and a skirt on said ring spacedly surrounding said lugs and projecting beyond said extremities for protecting same against attempts to disengage them from said flange.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A closure for a container having a body provided with a threaded neck and a radially outwardly projecting peripheral flange located between the threads thereof and said body, comprising: a substantially cylindrical cap of resiliently deformable material provided with internal threads mating with those of the container neck; a telltale ring of like material connected to the rim of said cap by frangible webs, said ring being provided with peripherally spaced-apart lugs having inwardly projecting extremities resiliently hooked onto said flange upon an initial screwing of said cap onto said neck, thereby preventing any unscrewing of said cap from said neck without forcible detachment of said ring from said rim; and a skirt on said ring spacedly surrounding said lugs and projecting beyond said extremities for protecting same against attempts to disengage them from said flange.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said lugs have stems extending substantially parallel to the axis of said cap, said extremities forming inbent barbs approaching said axis at an acute angle to said stems upon said cap being screwed onto said neck.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said barbs are substantially thinner than said stems.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said barbs are biased to bear generally radially inward upon said neck while engaging said flange.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said cap and said ring are provided with formations jointly engageable by an assembling tool for concurrent rotation thereby during the initial screwing of said cap onto said neck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said lugs have stems extending substantially parallel to the axis of said cap, said extremities being enlargements of said stems forming substantially planar ledges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
In combination, a container having a body provided with a threaded neck and with a radially outwardly projecting peripheral flange located between the threads thereof and said body, and a closure for said container comprising: a substantially cylindrical cap of resiliently deformable material provided with internal threads in mating engagement with the threads of said neck; a telltale ring of like material connected to the rim of said cap by frangible webs, said ring being provided with peripherally spaced-apart lugs having inwardly projecting extremities resiliently hooked onto said flange to prevent any unscrewing of said cap from said neck without rupture of said webs and resulting forcible detachment of said ring from said rim; and a skirt on said ring spacedly surrounding said lugs and projecting toward said body beyond said extremities for protecting same against attempts to disengage them from said flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
In combination, a container having a body provided with a threaded neck and with a radially outwardly projecting peripheral flange located between the threads thereof and said body, and a closure for said container comprising: a substantially cylindrical cap of resiliently deformable material provided with internal threads in mating engagement with the threads of said neck; a telltale ring of like material connected to the rim of said cap by frangible webs, said ring being provided with peripherally spaced-apart lugs having inwardly projecting extremities resiliently hooked onto said flange to prevent any unscrewing of said cap from said neck without rupture of said webs and resulting forcible detachment of said ring from said rim; and a skirt on said ring spacedly surrounding said lugs and projecting toward said body beyond said extremities for protecting same against attempts to disengage them from said flange.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said skirt extends close to a bulging portion of said body adjoining said neck.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said lugs have stems extending substantially parallel to the axis of said cap, said extremities forming inbent barbs approaching said axis at an acute angle to said stems.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said barbs are substantially thinner than said stems.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said flange is bounded by a beveled surface remote from said threads, said barbs having end faces inclined to said axis at an angle conforming to that of said beveled surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said lugs have stems extending substantially parallel to the axis of said cap, said extremities being enlargements of said stems forming substantially flat ledges in contact with said flange.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said flange is provided with at least one radial undercut engageable with an adjoining lug of said ring for limiting any relative rotation of said ring and said neck in an unscrewing direction to a small fraction of a turn.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination defined in claim 13 wherein said cap and said ring are provided with formations jointly engageable by an assembling tool for concurrent rotation thereby during an initial screwing of said cap onto said neck.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination defined in claim 13 wherein said undercut is an edge of one of two symmetrical, diametrically opposite peripheral ramps of said flange.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said body has a stepped annular shoulder engaged by said skirt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
149 words
In combination, a container having a body provided with a threaded neck and with a radially projecting peripheral flange located between the threads thereof and said body, and a closure for said container comprising: a substantially cylindrical cap of resiliently deformable material provided with internal threads in mating engagement with the threads of said neck; a telltale ring of like material connected to the rim of said cap by frangible webs, said ring being provided by peripherally spaced-apart lugs, said flange being provided with detent means engageable with an adjoining lug of said ring for limiting any relative rotation of said ring and said neck in an unscrewing direction to a small fraction of a turn; and a skirt on said ring spacedly surrounding said lug and contacting an annular shoulder of said body for protecting said lugs against attempts to disengage any of them from said detent means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
149 words
In combination, a container having a body provided with a threaded neck and with a radially projecting peripheral flange located between the threads thereof and said body, and a closure for said container comprising: a substantially cylindrical cap of resiliently deformable material provided with internal threads in mating engagement with the threads of said neck; a telltale ring of like material connected to the rim of said cap by frangible webs, said ring being provided by peripherally spaced-apart lugs, said flange being provided with detent means engageable with an adjoining lug of said ring for limiting any relative rotation of said ring and said neck in an unscrewing direction to a small fraction of a turn; and a skirt on said ring spacedly surrounding said lug and contacting an annular shoulder of said body for protecting said lugs against attempts to disengage any of them from said detent means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination defined in claim 17 wherein said detent means comprises symmetrical, diametrically opposite peripheral ramps of said flange terminating at radially extending edges.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination defined in claim 17 wherein said cap and said ring are provided with formations jointly engageable by an assembling tool for concurrent rotation thereby during an initial screwing of said cap onto said neck.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination defined in claim 17 wherein said formations are axially extending ribs on said cap and radial notches on a flat top of said ring.
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) | 1987-09-04 | 1988-03-05 | 1988-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-04 | 1992-03-05 | 1992-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-04 | 1996-03-05 | 1996-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |