US5035341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure cap having tamper indicating means
Assignee: Silgan Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-31
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Granted: 1991-07-30
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Expires: 2010-10-31
Abstract
Abstract This relates to a mechanically actuated closure cap which is provided with a tamper indicating feature. The closure cap includes an end panel having a centrally located button that is normally in a button down position, but when the closure cap is applied to a container, it is mechanically actuated to a button up position. A translucent panel is fixedly applied to the closure cap in overlying relation to the end panel and there is positioned between the button and the translucent panel several possibilities of devices for indicating that the closure cap has been applied to a container and either is in its original position relative to the container or has been removed therefrom. In each instance indicia is involved with the indicia either indicating that the container has not been opened with this indicia disappearing when the container is opened, or the indicia indicating that the container has been opened and the indicia not appearing until the closure cap has been applied to the container and then removed therefrom. In each instance, either the removal of the indicia or the appearance of the indicia is not reversible.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Heilman
- 👤 H. Darrell Iler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06; B65D55/066; B65D79/00; B65D79/005; B65D79/0087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A closure cap having tamper indicating means, said closure cap comprising a cap member including an end panel having incorporated therein a mechanically actuated button, said button having a normal down position, actuating means carried by said end panel for automatically moving said button to an up position when said cap member is applied to a container, said tamper indicating means including a translucent panel carried by said cap member in overlying relation to said end panel spaced from said button in said button down position and engageable by said button in said button up position, a film disposed intermediate said button and said translucent panel, and indicia forming means selectivey carried by said film and said translucent panel for indicating the status of said closure cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A closure cap having tamper indicating means, said closure cap comprising a cap member including an end panel having incorporated therein a mechanically actuated button, said button having a normal down position, actuating means carried by said end panel for automatically moving said button to an up position when said cap member is applied to a container, said tamper indicating means including a translucent panel carried by said cap member in overlying relation to said end panel spaced from said button in said button down position and engageable by said button in said button up position, a film disposed intermediate said button and said translucent panel, and indicia forming means selectivey carried by said film and said translucent panel for indicating the status of said closure cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A closure cap according to claim 1 wherein said film is formed of a colored wax coated disc having a surface opposing said translucent panel defining said indicia forming means, said indicia forming means not being visible in an unapplied condition of said cap member and becoming visible when said button in said button up position presses said indicia forming means against said translucent panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A closure cap according to claim 2 wherein at least one of opposed surfaces of said button and said film carries a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive for bonding said film to said button in a button up position and withdrawing said indicia forming means from said translucent panel in a container opened button down position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A closure cap according to claim 1 wherein said indicia forming means is in the form of indicia printed on an underside of said translucent panel, said film being loosely bonded to said translucent panel in underlying relation to said indicia and providing an indicia hiding background for said indicia in both an original button down position and an initial button up position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A closure cap according to claim 4 together with means for bonding said button to said film in an initial button up position whereby when said cap member is released from an associated container and said button moves again to said button down position, said film is withdrawn from said translucent panel and said indicia becomes visible to indicate that said cap member has been applied and removed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A closure cap according to claim 4 wherein said film is in the form of a tacky UV curable material directly initially bonded to said translucent panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A closure cap according to claim 5 wherein said film is in the form of a tacky UV curable material directly initially bonded to said translucent panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A closure cap according to claim 7 wherein said tacky UV curable material is cured when said cap member is applied to a container and said button is in said button up position with the curing of said tacky UV curable material forming said means for bonding said button to said film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A closure cap according to claim 8 wherein the curing of said tacky UV curable material prevents the bond between said film and said translucent panel from again being formed when said cap member is reapplied and said button again assumes said button up position whereby said indicia remains visible.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A closure cap according to claim 1 wherein said film is formed of an opaque material and an underside of said translucent panel having a coating of an iridescent dye wherein said indicia forming means is the selected contact between said iridescent dye coating and said opaque material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A closure cap according to claim 10 wherein at least one of opposed surfaces of said button and said film carries a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive for bonding said film to said button in a button up position and withdrawing said film from said translucent panel to destroy indicia forming contact between said film and said translucent panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A closure cap according to claim 1 wherein said end panel has a peripheral ledge on which said translucent panel is seated, said ledge being surrounded by an upstanding bead, and said bead having circumferentially spaced deformed areas in the form of radially inwardly directed detents overlying peripheral edge portions of said translucent panel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-29 | 1995-01-28 | 1995-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-29 | 1999-01-28 | 1999-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-29 | 2003-01-28 | 2003-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |