US4936475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Threaded tamper indicating closure
Assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp
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Filing: 1989-07-21
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Granted: 1990-06-26
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Expires: 2009-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A tamper indicating closure and closure-container package in which a tamper indicating skirt depends from the bottom of the annular wall of a standard threaded cap. The skirt includes a plurality of equally spaced depending ribs which are joined at their extremities by a flexible ring. The ring and the skirt ribs pass over lugs on the container neck when the cap is being threaded onto the closure. When the cap is being unthreaded, the lugs engage the rings to sever them indicating tampering or prior opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary V. Montgomery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:03
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3404; B65D41/3409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A tamper indicating closure-container package comprising, in combination: a container having a threaded neck and a plurality of outwardly extending lugs below said threads; a closure cap having a top and a depending annular wall, said annular wall having threads engageable with said threaded neck; and a tamper indicating skirt including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs depending from said cap, and a ring joining each of said ribs; said ring being flexible and having a circumferential dimension substantially equal to a perimeter line passing through the radially outer portion of each of said plurality of lugs to flex and pass over said container lugs without stretching when said cap is threaded onto said container neck, said lugs projecting outwardly between said ribs to successively engage and to sever them upon unthreading of said cap to provide evidence of tampering or original opening of said package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A tamper indicating closure-container package comprising, in combination: a container having a threaded neck and a plurality of outwardly extending lugs below said threads; a closure cap having a top and a depending annular wall, said annular wall having threads engageable with said threaded neck; and a tamper indicating skirt including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs depending from said cap, and a ring joining each of said ribs; said ring being flexible and having a circumferential dimension substantially equal to a perimeter line passing through the radially outer portion of each of said plurality of lugs to flex and pass over said container lugs without stretching when said cap is threaded onto said container neck, said lugs projecting outwardly between said ribs to successively engage and to sever them upon unthreading of said cap to provide evidence of tampering or original opening of said package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of lugs includes a pair of diametrically opposed lugs extending outwardly from said container neck.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of lugs includes four equally spaced lugs circumscribing said container neck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 2 wherein said tamper indicating skirt includes at least 12 equally spaced ribs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 1 wherein said lugs are provided with a cam surface over which said flexible ring slides when said cap is being threaded onto said container neck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 5 wherein said lugs are provided with a radially extending surface at the end of the cam surface for engaging the ribs when the cap is being unthreaded causing the ribs to be severed in shear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 1 wherein said tamper indicating skirt is integrally molded with said cap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 1 wherein said ribs diverge outwardly from the bottom of said annular cap wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 8 wherein said ribs diverge outwardly from the bottom of said annular cap wall at an angle or approximately 10°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tamper indicating closure according to claim 1 wherein said ribs are equally spaced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tamper indicating closure according to claim 10 wherein said tamper indicating skirt includes at least 12 ribs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 8 wherein said ribs extend from the inner surface of said annular cap wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tamper indicating package according to claim 12 wherein said ribs become severed adjacent the inner surface of said annular wall upon unthreading of 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) | 1993-06-25 | 1993-12-25 | 1994-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-25 | 1997-12-25 | 1998-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-25 | 2001-12-25 | 2002-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |