US4771923A — Tamper evidencing cap

Claim 1

Independent Claim 80 words

A taper evidencing container cap comprising: a removeable member oriented in an opening on a lateral surface of a cap, supported by release means, said cap defining a tubular area having a closed and an open end, said removeable member having an interior surface which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient so as to cause release of said removeable member from said opening through contact with a container exterior surface during removal of said cap from the container.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 80 words

A taper evidencing container cap comprising: a removeable member oriented in an opening on a lateral surface of a cap, supported by release means, said cap defining a tubular area having a closed and an open end, said removeable member having an interior surface which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient so as to cause release of said removeable member from said opening through contact with a container exterior surface during removal of said cap from the container.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The container cap of claim 1 further including a seal oriented on an interior surface of said closed end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The container cap of claim 1 further including a ring oriented at said open end of the cap supported by frangible means, said ring adapted to separate from the cap at said frangible means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The container cap of claim 1 wherein said release means comprises a frangible supporting ring for said removable member which completely fractures as said removable member is released from said opening.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 102 words

A container cap including a tamper evidencing means comprising; a removable member oriented on a lateral surface of a container cap, said cap defining a tubular area having a closed end and an open end, said member supported within a chamber in said lateral surface, having a flexible base surface which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact a container exterior surface, said flexible base surface shaped so as to cause release of said removable member from said chamber when said base is flexed by contact with said container exterior surface during removal of said cap from a container.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 102 words

A container cap including a tamper evidencing means comprising; a removable member oriented on a lateral surface of a container cap, said cap defining a tubular area having a closed end and an open end, said member supported within a chamber in said lateral surface, having a flexible base surface which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact a container exterior surface, said flexible base surface shaped so as to cause release of said removable member from said chamber when said base is flexed by contact with said container exterior surface during removal of said cap from a container.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The container cap of claim 5 further including a ring oriented at said open end of said cap supported by frangible means, said ring adapted to separate from said cap at said frangible means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The container cap of claim 5 further including an interior flexible seal oriented on an interior surface of said closed end.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The container cap of claim 7 wherein said flexible seal is formed integrally with said cap.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 103 words

A tamper evidencing closure for a container, comprising: (a) a molded cap, which defines a tubular area having a closed end and an open end, having internal threads capable of mating with an externally threaded container opening; and (b) a removable tamper indicator releasably supported in an opening on a lateral surface of said cap, said tamper indicator including a surface extending into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact an exterior finish of the container wherein said finish on the threaded container contacts said extending surface as said cap is unthreaded, to cause said indicator to be detected from said cap.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 103 words

A tamper evidencing closure for a container, comprising: (a) a molded cap, which defines a tubular area having a closed end and an open end, having internal threads capable of mating with an externally threaded container opening; and (b) a removable tamper indicator releasably supported in an opening on a lateral surface of said cap, said tamper indicator including a surface extending into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact an exterior finish of the container wherein said finish on the threaded container contacts said extending surface as said cap is unthreaded, to cause said indicator to be detected from said cap.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

The tamper evidencing closure of claim 9 wherein said tamper indicator is supported by a frangible ring, said frangible ring fractured upon contact of said extending surface with said finish, whereby said indicator is detached from said cap.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

The tamper evidencing closure of claim 9, further including a stop and seal means oriented on an interior surface of said cap adjacent said open end, said stop and seal means adapted to contact said finish on said threaded container to prevent complete removal of said cap from said container, whereby an opening created by detachment of said tamper indicator from said cap forms a outlet for contents of said container.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The tamper evidencing closure of claim 9, further including a ring capable of surrounding the outer periphery of said container opening, and a plurality of upwardly extending breakable posts that attach said ring to said cap.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The tamper evidencing closure of claim 9, wherein said cap further includes a seal oriented on an interior surface of said closed end of said cap to contact said container upon orientation of said cap on said container.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The tamper evidencing closure of claim 13, wherein said seal is a flexible seal formed intregrally with said cap.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 108 words

A container cap which defines a tubular area having an open end and a closed end and having at least one interior thread to threadingly mate with a container neck, the cap having tamper evidencing means comprising: (a) a removable member which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact a container finish on the neck of the container, releasably fixed in a cavity on a lateral surface of said cap, and said container finish on the neck of the container to contacting said removable member so as to cause said removable member to separate from said cap upon unthreading of said cap from the container.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 108 words

A container cap which defines a tubular area having an open end and a closed end and having at least one interior thread to threadingly mate with a container neck, the cap having tamper evidencing means comprising: (a) a removable member which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact a container finish on the neck of the container, releasably fixed in a cavity on a lateral surface of said cap, and said container finish on the neck of the container to contacting said removable member so as to cause said removable member to separate from said cap upon unthreading of said cap from the container.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

The container cap of claim 15 wherein said removable member is supported by a frangible ring, said member including a rear surface which extends into said tubular area, to contact said finish of the container neck upon unthreading of the cap, thereby fracturing said frangible ring and separating said member from said cap.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 60 words

The container cap of claim 15, wherein said removable member is said plug frictionally fitted in a cavity in said cap, said cavity having a flexible base portion which extends into said tubular area such that upon unthreading of said cap from said container, said finish of said bottle deforms said flexible base thereby forcing said plug from said cavity.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 57 words

The bottle cap of claim 15 further including a ring, oriented at said open end of said cap, supported by frangible means, said ring extending to contact a container finish when said cap is threaded on said container whereby upon unthreading of said cap from said container, said ring separates from said cap at said frangible means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The container cap of claim 15 further including a seal oriented on an interior surface of said closed end of said cap to contact said container upon orientation of said cap on said container.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

The container cap of claim 19 wherein said seal is a flexible seal formed integrally with said cap.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 164 words

A container closure including a dispensing opening, for a container having an exteriorly threaded neck comprising: (a) a cap having a threaded interior surface which defines a tubular area having an open end and a closed end, to threadingly engage the container neck; (b) a ring oriented on said interior surface, adapted to contact a finish on said container neck to prevent complete removal of said cap from said container neck; (c) flexible first sealing means oriented on an interior surface of said closed end of said cap to sealingly contact said container neck when said cap is threaded onto the container; and (d) a removable member oriented in an opening on a lateral surface of said cap, supported by frangible means, having a surface extending into said tubular area a distance sufficient, to contact said finish to cause said support means to fracture and separate said member from said cap upon unthreading of said cap from said container thereby forming a discharge opening.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 164 words

A container closure including a dispensing opening, for a container having an exteriorly threaded neck comprising: (a) a cap having a threaded interior surface which defines a tubular area having an open end and a closed end, to threadingly engage the container neck; (b) a ring oriented on said interior surface, adapted to contact a finish on said container neck to prevent complete removal of said cap from said container neck; (c) flexible first sealing means oriented on an interior surface of said closed end of said cap to sealingly contact said container neck when said cap is threaded onto the container; and (d) a removable member oriented in an opening on a lateral surface of said cap, supported by frangible means, having a surface extending into said tubular area a distance sufficient, to contact said finish to cause said support means to fracture and separate said member from said cap upon unthreading of said cap from said container thereby forming a discharge opening.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 17 words

The container closure of claim 21, wherein said flexible sealing means is formed intregrally with said cap.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 34 words

The container closure of claim 21, further including a second sealing means extending from said cap into said tubular area to contact said container neck when said cap is oriented on said container neck.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 97 words

A tamper evidencing container cap comprising: (a) a cap body having a generally tubular configuration which is closed at a first end and opened at a second end to define an open interior chamber which is dimensioned to complement a container exterior during closing thereof; and (b) a tamper evidencing member, releasably oriented in a chamber on a lateral surface of said cap body between the ends thereof, having an interior surface which extends into the interior chamber a distance sufficient to cause interference with the container exterior and release said member during opening of said container.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 97 words

A tamper evidencing container cap comprising: (a) a cap body having a generally tubular configuration which is closed at a first end and opened at a second end to define an open interior chamber which is dimensioned to complement a container exterior during closing thereof; and (b) a tamper evidencing member, releasably oriented in a chamber on a lateral surface of said cap body between the ends thereof, having an interior surface which extends into the interior chamber a distance sufficient to cause interference with the container exterior and release said member during opening of said container.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The container cap of claim 24 further including a seal oriented on an interior surface of said closed end.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 37 words

The container cap of claim 24 further including a ring oriented at said opened end supported by frangible means, said ring adapted to separate from said cap at said frangible means during of opening of said container.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 105 words

A container cap which defines a tubular area having an open end and a closed end and having at least one interior thread to threadingly mate with a container neck finish, the cap having a tamper evidencing means comprising: (a) a removable plug member frictionaly fixed in a cavity on a lateral surface of said cap, said cavity having a flexible base portion which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact the container neck finish such that upon unthreading of said cap from said container, said finish of said container deforms said flexible base forcing said removable plug member from said cavity.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 105 words

A container cap which defines a tubular area having an open end and a closed end and having at least one interior thread to threadingly mate with a container neck finish, the cap having a tamper evidencing means comprising: (a) a removable plug member frictionaly fixed in a cavity on a lateral surface of said cap, said cavity having a flexible base portion which extends into said tubular area a distance sufficient to contact the container neck finish such that upon unthreading of said cap from said container, said finish of said container deforms said flexible base forcing said removable plug member from said cavity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-09-20	1992-03-21	1992-09-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-09-20	1996-03-21	1996-09-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-09-20	2000-03-21	2000-09-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tamper evidencing cap

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