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US5022545A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tamper evident closure

Assignee: Continental White Cap Inc
•
Filing: 1990-08-03
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Granted: 1991-06-11
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Expires: 2010-08-03
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Abstract

Abstract This relates to an improvement of a conventional closure having a tamper evident feature in the form of a safety button. In accordance with the improvement, the surface of the safety button is provided with a coating in the form of a suitable binder incorporating rupturable microcapsules containing an FDA approved colorant. A relatively stiff layer of translucent material overlies an end panel of the closure in position to be engaged by the microcapsules and to effect rupture of the microcapsules when the safety button everts from a lower axial position to an upper axial position and the microcapsules strike against the underside of the layer of translucent material. In order to prevent accidental rupture of the microcapsules prior to the closure being applied to a container, there is incorporated in the coating spacers which normally prevent the rupture of the microcapsules during conditions of manufacture and handling. The colorant carried by the microcapsules will give a clear and irreversible indication of the opening of the container.

Inventors

  • 👤 Daniel M. Carson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 11:00
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06; B65D55/066

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 93 words
A tamper evident closure comprising a closure including an end panel having incorporated therein a tamper indicating button, an external coating on said button including rupturable capsules containing a colorant, said closure being improved by a layer of translucent material carried by said end panel and overlying said button, said translucent layer forming a wall against which said button will effect striking of said capsules to effect rupture of said capsules, and there being scattered among said capsules spacers of a greater height than said capsules for preventing accidental rupture of said capsules.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 93 words
A tamper evident closure comprising a closure including an end panel having incorporated therein a tamper indicating button, an external coating on said button including rupturable capsules containing a colorant, said closure being improved by a layer of translucent material carried by said end panel and overlying said button, said translucent layer forming a wall against which said button will effect striking of said capsules to effect rupture of said capsules, and there being scattered among said capsules spacers of a greater height than said capsules for preventing accidental rupture of said capsules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 wherein said spacers are incorporated in said coating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 wherein said capsules are in the form of microcapsules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 wherein said coating and said layer of translucent material are incorporated in said closure prior to application of said closure to a container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 wherein said button is a vacuum actuated botton.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 wherein said button is a vacuum actuated button having a snap action movement between a vacuum held recessed position and a normal elevated position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 wherein said colorant is an FDA approved colorant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
A tamper evident closure according to claim 1 wherein said colorant is an FDA approved colorant in the form of a liquid dye.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1808702A Cited
US3736899A Cited
US4051973A Cited
US4480760A Cited
US4519515A Cited
US4489841A Cited
US4905851A Cited
US4747497A Cited
US4765498A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-06-10 1994-12-10 1995-06-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-06-10 1998-12-10 1999-06-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-06-10 2002-12-10 2003-06-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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