US4872570A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper indicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-16
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Granted: 1989-10-10
•
Expires: 2008-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A second cylindrical element with a side wall oriented generally parallel to the first plane is telescopically interconnected with a first cylindrical element and includes an upper surface. The second cylindrical element is rotationally displaceable between, first, second and third angular positions within a second plane orthogonal to the first plane and is telescopically displaceable between compressed and expanded positions. A biasing device biases the first and second cylindrical elements into the expanded position. A locking device maintains the first and second cylindrical elements in the first angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are placed in the expanded position. The locking device enables the biasing device to displace the first and second cylindrical elements into the second angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the expanded position into the compressed position. The locking device also enables the biasing device to displace the first and second cylindrical elements into the third angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the compressed position into the expanded position.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude J. Harding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06; B65D55/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A tamper indicator comprising: a. a first cylindrical element having an upper wall and a first cylindrical chamber with a side wall oriented generally parallel to a first plane; b. a second cylindrical element with a side wall oriented generally parallel to the first plane and telescopically interconnected with the first cylindrical element and including an upper surface, the second cylindrical element being rotationally displaceable between first, second and third angular positions within a second plane orthogonal to the first plane and telescopically displaceable between a compressed position and an expanded position; c. indicator means including i. a first indicator element coupled to the upper wall of the first cylindrical element; ii. a second indicator element coupled to the upper surface of the second cylindrical element and being rotationally displaceable with the second cylindrical element, the indicator means displaying a first status when the second cylindrical element is positioned in the second angular position and displaying a second status when the second cylindrical element is positioned in the third angular position; d. means for biasing the first and second cylindrical elements into the expanded position and for rotationally biasing the first and second cylindrical elements toward the third angular position; and e. locking means for maintaining the first and second cylindrical elements in the first angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are placed in the expanded position, for enabling the biasing means to displace the first and second cylindrical elements into the second angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the expanded position into the compressed position, and for enabling the biasing means to displace the first and second cylindrical elements into the third angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the compressed position into the expanded position, whereby the indicator means display changes from the first status into the second status when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the second angular position into the third angular position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
A tamper indicator comprising: a. a first cylindrical element having an upper wall and a first cylindrical chamber with a side wall oriented generally parallel to a first plane; b. a second cylindrical element with a side wall oriented generally parallel to the first plane and telescopically interconnected with the first cylindrical element and including an upper surface, the second cylindrical element being rotationally displaceable between first, second and third angular positions within a second plane orthogonal to the first plane and telescopically displaceable between a compressed position and an expanded position; c. indicator means including i. a first indicator element coupled to the upper wall of the first cylindrical element; ii. a second indicator element coupled to the upper surface of the second cylindrical element and being rotationally displaceable with the second cylindrical element, the indicator means displaying a first status when the second cylindrical element is positioned in the second angular position and displaying a second status when the second cylindrical element is positioned in the third angular position; d. means for biasing the first and second cylindrical elements into the expanded position and for rotationally biasing the first and second cylindrical elements toward the third angular position; and e. locking means for maintaining the first and second cylindrical elements in the first angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are placed in the expanded position, for enabling the biasing means to displace the first and second cylindrical elements into the second angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the expanded position into the compressed position, and for enabling the biasing means to displace the first and second cylindrical elements into the third angular position when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the compressed position into the expanded position, whereby the indicator means display changes from the first status into the second status when the first and second cylindrical elements are displaced from the second angular position into the third angular position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The tamper indicator of claim 1 wherein the side wall of the first cylindrical element includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart trigger receptacles and wherein the locking means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart trigger elements extending outward from the side wall of the second cylindrical element, the trigger elements being configured to fit into the trigger receptacles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tamper indicator of claim 2 wherein the first cylindrical element includes four trigger receptacles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tamper indicator of claim 3 wherein the second cylindrical element includes four trigger elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tamper indicator of claim 3 wherein the side wall of the first cylindrical element includes four spring receptacles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tamper indicator of claim 5 wherein the second cylindrical element includes four spring elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The tamper indicator of claim 2 wherein the biasing means includes: a. a spring receptacle disposed in the side wall of the first cylindrical element; and b. a spring element extending outward from the side wall of the second cylindrical element into the spring receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tamper indicator of claim 2 wherein the upper wall of the first cylindrical element includes a window and wherein the window forms the first indicator element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The tamper indicator of claim 8 wherein the second indicator element includes a first indicator device alignable with the window to display the first status and a second indicator device alignable with the window to display the second status.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tamper indicator of claim 9 wherein the window includes a plurality of spaced apart window segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tamper indicator of claim 10 wherein the first and second indicator devices include a plurality of alpha/numeric characters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tamper indicator of claim 11 wherein the first indicator device displays the term "sealed" when the indicator means displays the first status.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tamper indicator of claim 12 wherein the second indicator device displays the term "opened" when the indicator means displays the second status.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tamper indicator of claims 1 or 13 wherein the first cylindrical element forms a cap for a bottle having a mouth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tamper indicator of claim 14 wherein screwing the cap onto the mouth of the bottle moves the first and second cylindrical elements from the expanded position into the compressed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tamper indicator of claim 15 wherein unscrewing the cap from the bottle moves the first and second cylindrical elements from the compressed position into the expanded position and changes the display of the indicator means from the first status to the second status.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tamper indicator of claim 16 wherein the first status displays the terms "sealed" and wherein the second status displays the term "opened."
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2939597A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-09 | 1993-04-10 | 1993-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-09 | 1997-04-10 | 1997-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-09 | 2001-04-10 | 2001-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |