Patent US4572389A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4572389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tamper indicating screw cap with satellite ring
Assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp
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Filing: 1984-11-05
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Granted: 1986-02-25
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Expires: 2004-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A tamper indicating closure for a container having a threaded neck includes a cup-shaped cap with internal threads and a substantially smooth exterior wall, the tamper indicating device taking the form of a satellite band which surrounds the cap and extends over a substantial portion of the height of the cap. The band is attached to the cap by a frangible connection. The satellite band covers so much of the side wall of the cap that it prevents gripping of the cap. When the cap has been sealed on a container and an attempt is made to open it, finger pressure applied to the band to reach removal torque will fracture the frangible connection between the band and cap. Also attempts to pull the band off the cap will break the frangible connection. Once the band has been removed from the cap the closure may be opened and closed in the conventional manner. The cap and band may be molded in one piece with the intermediate frangible flange or it may be molded as a separate satellite band assembly with an annular flange which will slip over the cap and snap into place by engagement with lugs formed on the cap. The satellite band may be snapped onto the cap body before or after capping. If the cap is pre-assembled, then on-drive lugs can be provided on the top of the cap to provide means for the initial closing.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter P. Gach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06; B65D55/08; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A tamper indicating closure for a container having a threaded neck, comprising, in combination: a cup-shaped cap having an annular side wall with a substantially smooth exterior wall and a threaded interior wall for engaging complementary threads on the neck of said container; a tamper indicating satellite band circumposing said cap, said band being spaced from and extending over a substantially more than half the height of said cap; and an annular flange member integrally molded with said band and connected to the exterior of said cap at a mid-point thereof and forming a frangible connection adapted to be broken by finger pressure when the cap is grasped to assert an opening force thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A tamper indicating closure for a container having a threaded neck, comprising, in combination: a cup-shaped cap having an annular side wall with a substantially smooth exterior wall and a threaded interior wall for engaging complementary threads on the neck of said container; a tamper indicating satellite band circumposing said cap, said band being spaced from and extending over a substantially more than half the height of said cap; and an annular flange member integrally molded with said band and connected to the exterior of said cap at a mid-point thereof and forming a frangible connection adapted to be broken by finger pressure when the cap is grasped to assert an opening force thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said flange member is discontinuous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 2 wherein said flange member comprises of plurality of equally spaced flanges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said flange member has a reduced cross-section which serves as a frangible connection between said tampering indicating band and said cap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 4 wherein said reduced cross-section is located adjacent the point where said flange connects to said band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 4 wherein said reduced cross-section is located adjacent the point where said flange connects to exterior of said cap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said flange member is connected to said band at a plurality of frangible connection points.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said satellite band and said annular flange member is formed integral with said cup-shaped cap to form a one piece closure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A tamper indicating closure for a container having a threaded neck, comprising, in combination: a cup-shaped cap having an annular side wall with a substantially smooth exterior wall and a threaded interior wall for engaging complementary threads on the neck of said container, said cap having a plurality of equally spaced circumferentially disposed retaining lugs on the exterior wall thereof; a tamper indicating satellite band assembly adapted to circumpose said cap, said band assembly including a tamper indicating band having a width adapted to extend over a substantial portion of a height of said cap, and an annular flange connected to said band by frangible connection means and being adapted for retention by said lugs to maintain said band in spaced relationship to said cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
A tamper indicating closure for a container having a threaded neck, comprising, in combination: a cup-shaped cap having an annular side wall with a substantially smooth exterior wall and a threaded interior wall for engaging complementary threads on the neck of said container, said cap having a plurality of equally spaced circumferentially disposed retaining lugs on the exterior wall thereof; a tamper indicating satellite band assembly adapted to circumpose said cap, said band assembly including a tamper indicating band having a width adapted to extend over a substantial portion of a height of said cap, and an annular flange connected to said band by frangible connection means and being adapted for retention by said lugs to maintain said band in spaced relationship to said cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 9 wherein said frangible connection means comprises a plurality of equally spaced bridges connecting said flange to said band.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 9 wherein said cap has means for tightening said cap on said container after said tamper indicating satellite band assembly has been assembled to said cap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 11 wherein said means for tightening said cap on said closure includes a plurality of equally spaced on-drive lugs formed integrally on the top of said cap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 11 wherein the means for tightening said cap on said container includes sufficient area on said exterior wall adjacent the top of said cap which is unobstructed by said satellite band assembly to permit engagement with a tigthening tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A tamper indicating closure for a container having a threaded neck, comprising, in combination: a cup-shaped cap having an annular side wall with a substantially smooth exterior wall and a threaded interior wall for engaging complementary threads on the neck of said container, said cap having a plurality of pairs of opposed retaining lugs equally spaced around the circumference of said exterior wall; a tamper indicating satellite band having an integrally molded annular flange member engaging said pairs of opposed retaining lugs and holding said band circumposing said cap, spaced from and extending over a substantial portion of the height thereof; and said annular flange member presenting a frangible connection between said band and exterior of said cap adapted to be broken by finger pressure when the cap is grasped to assert an opening force thereon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A tamper indicating closure for a container having a threaded neck, comprising, in combination: a cup-shaped cap having an annular side wall with a substantially smooth exterior wall and a threaded interior wall for engaging complementary threads on the neck of said container, said cap having a plurality of pairs of opposed retaining lugs equally spaced around the circumference of said exterior wall; a tamper indicating satellite band having an integrally molded annular flange member engaging said pairs of opposed retaining lugs and holding said band circumposing said cap, spaced from and extending over a substantial portion of the height thereof; and said annular flange member presenting a frangible connection between said band and exterior of said cap adapted to be broken by finger pressure when the cap is grasped to assert an opening force thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 14 wherein said opposed retaining lugs of each pair are offset circumferentially from each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 14 wherein each said pair of lugs comprises an upper and lower lug, the upper lug having a downwardly and outwardly extending ramp to facilitate assembly of said band and flange to said cap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tamper indicating closure of claim 14 wherein the top of said cap has a plurality of equally spaced on-drive lugs for tightening said cap on said container after said band and flange member have been assembled to said cap.
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) | 1989-02-24 | 1989-08-26 | 1990-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-24 | 1993-08-26 | 1994-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-24 | 1997-08-26 | 1998-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |