Container closure with ribbed enlarged grasping region

A tamper-indicating closure is used with an associated container having a finish having an external thread formation thereon, and an annular locking ring located axially under the thread formation. The closure includes a closure cap having a circular top wall portion defining an outermost edge and a top wall extension region. The closure cap includes an annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion inwardly of the outermost edge. An internal thread is formed in the skirt and defines a skirt wall plane. The closure includes a plurality of ribs extending from the top wall extension region to define an enlarged grasping region to comfortably fit a user's hand. An annular tamper-indicating band depends from the cap and is detachably connected to the cap by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, frangible connectors extending between the band and at least some of the ribs. The band includes an internal surface configured for engaging the locking ring and separates the band from the skirt portion. The band depends from the cap so that the entirety of the band is outwardly displaced from the skirt wall plane. The band is sufficiently radially spaced from the skirt wall plane such that in initial engagement of the closure with the container the band minimally, if at all, contacts the container thread formation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a container closure having an enlarged grasping 
area. More particularly, the invention relates to a tamper-indicating 
container closure having an enlarged grasping area to facilitate removing 
the closure from the container and having a tamper-evident band that is 
outwardly, radially displaced from the closure skirt. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Container closures, and more specifically, tamper-indicating or 
tamper-evident closures are well known in the art. In a typical 
arrangement, a threaded container includes a locking ring, or like annular 
projection extending from the container finish, adjacent to and below the 
container threaded portion. 
Consumers will readily recognize that such closures are used for sealing 
containers of all types, including juice containers, milk containers and 
the like. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such liquids have 
differing viscosities and may be best packaged in containers having 
different opening or dispensing sizes. In application, for example, some 
types of liquid foods may be best packaged in a container that has a 
relatively small dispensing opening that provides for directed pouring. 
A closure which is fitted to the container includes a plastic closure cap 
having a circular top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion. 
The skirt portion has an internal thread configured to threadedly engage 
the container thread. Tamper indication is provided by a separable band 
which extends and depends from the skirt portion. The band engages the 
locking ring and separates from the skirt portion as the closure is 
removed from the container. The band includes bridge-like connectors which 
extend between the skirt portion and the band that break as the closure is 
removed from the container. Exemplary of such a closure is that disclosed 
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,972 to Zemlo, which patent is commonly assigned 
herewith, and is incorporated herein by reference. 
Closures can have a wide variety of diameters. Some caps are sufficiently 
large to grasp to turn the closure to remove it from the container. Others 
could prove problematic for some individuals. This is particularly true if 
there is a relatively strong seal between the closure and the container. 
In one known tamper-indicating closure, the separable band includes a 
cam-like projection which extends inwardly from an inner surface of the 
band. The cam coacts with the locking ring and provides resistance during 
removal of the closure. As the closure is rotated off the container and 
the locking ring and cam engage one another, the bridge-like connectors 
yield and the band separates from the closure skirt portion. 
Other known tamper-indicating band configurations include wings or tabs 
formed as part of the band that are adapted to coact with the container 
locking ring. Upon commencing removal of the closure from the container, 
the wings or tabs flex and engage the locking ring. The tabs or wings 
provide sufficient resistance to overcome the yield strength of the 
connectors. 
Currently known tamper-indicating closure configurations work well to 
accomplish their intended objective, i.e., to provide visibly discernible 
evidence of tampering. However, such configurations may prove to be 
troublesome when initially applying the closure to the container. In 
particular, it has been observed that one or more of the bridge connectors 
of tamper-indicating bands of prior art closures may separate from the 
skirt portion as the closure is applied to the container. In some 
instances, this can be due to contact between the band and the container 
threads. Breaking of these connectors during application could thus place 
an otherwise untampered container in an apparent tampered condition due to 
unintentional band separation and tamper indication. 
Accordingly, there continues to be a need for a closure having an enlarged 
grasping area and including a tamper-indicating band which facilitates 
readily engaging the closure with the container without risk of the band 
separating from the closure upon such initial engagement. Such an 
arrangement permits use of the closure with a container having a 
relatively narrow neck portion to provide directed pouring. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A tamper-indicating closure for use with an associated container is 
disclosed. The associated container has a finish having an external thread 
formation thereon, and includes an annular locking ring located axially 
under the thread formation. 
The closure includes a closure cap having a circular top wall portion 
defining an outermost edge and a top wall extension region. The closure 
cap includes a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall 
portion inwardly of the outermost edge. An internal thread is formed in 
the skirt and defines a skirt wall plane. The thread is adapted to 
threadedly engage the container thread formation to engage the closure 
with the container. 
The closure includes a plurality of fin-like elements or ribs extending 
from the top wall extension region to define an enlarged grasping region. 
The ribs of the enlarged grasping region can be arcuately shaped, or 
curved, to facilitate, in part, readily grasping the closure to remove it 
from the container. The curved ribs provide a comfortable fit for a user's 
hand. Moreover, the ribbed configuration reduces the amount of material 
required to manufacture the closure and thus reduces the overall weight 
and material cost of the closure. 
In one embodiment, the ribs are parallel to one another and at least some 
of the ribs extend between the extension region and the skirt portion. 
Alternately, the ribs can be radially oriented relative to the top wall, 
and can extend between the extension region and the skirt portion. 
The closure further includes an annular tamper-indicating band depending 
from the cap. The band is detachably connected to the cap by a plurality 
of circumferentially spaced, frangible connectors extending between the 
band and at least some of the ribs. The band includes an internal surface 
configured for engaging the locking ring for separating the band from the 
skirt portion. The band depends from the cap so that the entirety of the 
band is outwardly displaced from the skirt wall plane. 
The band can include an internal camming surface having first and second 
axially spaced apart, inwardly extending camming projections. The camming 
projections can be configured so that they have successively larger 
diameters. 
The band is sufficiently radially spaced from the skirt wall plane such 
that the band minimally, if at all, contacts the container thread 
formation when the closure is initially engaged with the container. In a 
preferred embodiment, the band does not contact the container thread 
formation when the closure is initially positioned on the container. In 
this manner, the opportunity for inadvertently breaking one or more of the 
connectors upon initial engagement of the closure with the container is 
greatly reduced or eliminated. 
The closure can include an annular, inner depending plug portion depending 
from the top wall inwardly of the skirt. The plug enhances the seal 
between the container contents and the environs. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent 
from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and 
the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, 
there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently 
preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure 
is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not 
intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, there is 
shown a tamper-indicating closure 10 in accordance with the principles of 
the present invention. The closure 10 is illustrated engaged with a 
container 12 that may contain, for example, milk. Referring now to FIG. 6, 
which illustrates the closure 10 and a portion of the container 12 with 
which the closure 10 is engaged, the container 12 includes a finish 
portion 14 which is that portion of the container neck 16 that engages the 
closure 10. 
The container finish 14 includes a thread formation 18 thereon and includes 
a locking or interference ring 20 disposed on the container 12, below the 
container threads 18. As illustrated, the locking ring 20 can extend from 
a shoulder 22 formed in the container 12 below the threads 18. The ring 20 
can include a lip-like element 24 extending therefrom that is adapted to 
engage the closure 10. The container 12 can include a raised bead-like 
stop element 26 disposed below the ring 20. As will be described in more 
detail herein, the stop element 26, in part, prevents over-engagement of 
the closure 10 with the container 12. 
The closure 10 includes a cap 30 having a top wall portion 32 and a 
depending skirt portion 34 depending from the top wall portion 32. The top 
wall portion 32 is generally circular, and unlike commonly known closure 
caps, includes an over-sized or enlarged top which provides an enlarged 
grasping area as illustrated at 36. An outermost edge 38 is defined by the 
periphery of the top wall portion 32. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the depending skirt portion 34 depends from the top 
wall portion 32 inwardly of the outermost edge 38. The portion of the top 
wall 32 outward of the top wall-skirt juncture, as illustrated at 40, 
defines a top wall extension region 42. The skirt portion 34 includes an 
internal thread 44 formed therein for engaging the container threads 18. 
The inner wall 46 of the skirt 34, from which the thread formation 44 
extends, defines a skirt wall plane as indicated by the arrow at 48. The 
plane 48 extends generally perpendicular to the cap top wall 32. 
The cap 30 includes a plurality of fin-like elements or ribs 52, at least 
some of which extend between the top wall portion 32, at about the 
extension region 42, and an outer wall 54 of the depending skirt 34. The 
ribs 52 define the grasping region 36 to facilitate, in part, readily 
grasping the closure 10 for turning the closure 10 to remove it from the 
container 12. Preferably, the ribs 52 have a curved or arcuate shape as 
illustrated at 56, curving downwardly and inwardly toward the skirt 34, to 
comfortably fit a user's hand. The ribbed configuration also reduces the 
amount of material required to manufacture the closure 10, and thus 
reduces the overall weight and the material cost of the closure 10. 
In a current embodiment, the ribs 52 are parallel to one another, as 
illustrated in the closure shown in FIGS. 1-4. Alternately, the ribs 150 
can be radially oriented, as illustrated in the embodiment of the closure 
110 as shown on FIG. 7, with the extension region 142 and optionally the 
outermost edge 138 formed by a portion of the ribs 150. It will of course 
be recognized by those skilled in the art that the top wall portion 32 can 
be formed as a solid member or element extending from that portion of the 
cap over the skirt 34 as illustrated in the embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1-4, 
with the ribs radially oriented as shown in FIG. 9. That is, the closure 
10 can be formed with the ribs extending radially from the top wall 
portion, without an undercut. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, the closure 10 includes a tamper-evident or 
tamper-indicating band 62 that depends from the cap 30. The band 62 is 
configured to provide visibly discernible evidence that the closure 10 has 
been removed from the container 12, that the container 12 may have been 
opened or that the contents may have been otherwise tampered with. 
The tamper-evident band 62 depends from the cap 30 and is connected thereto 
by a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridge-like connectors 64. The 
connectors 64 have a length l.sub.b, and extend between the band 62 and at 
least some of the ribs 52. As best seen in FIGS. 5-6, the band 62 is 
connected to the cap 30 such that the entirety of the band 62 is outwardly 
displaced from the skirt wall plane 48. Essentially, the band 62 lies in a 
different plane than, and is thus non-coplanar with the skirt wall plane 
48. 
In a preferred embodiment, the thickness t.sub.b of the band 62 is 
substantially greater than the thickness t.sub.s of the skirt 34. In a 
current embodiment, the band thickness t.sub.b is about 150 percent of the 
thickness t.sub.s of the skirt wall; that is, the band 62 has a thickness 
t.sub.b of about 0.045 inches, and the skirt wall 34 has a thickness 
t.sub.s of about 0.030 inches. As is readily apparent, in this 
configuration, an innermost periphery of the band 62 has a diameter 
d.sub.b that is substantially greater than the diameter d.sub.s across the 
skirt wall plane 48. 
The radially spaced relationship between the band 62 and the skirt 34 
provides a number of advantages. For example, when the closure 10 is 
initially engaged with the container 12, as is discussed in detail herein, 
the band 62 does not contact or minimally contacts the container threads 
18, thus reducing the opportunity for inadvertently breaking any of the 
connectors 64 during initial engagement of the closure 10 and the 
container 12. In addition, the spaced relationship between the skirt wall 
plane 48 and the band 62 minimizes the dependence of band 62 design on the 
skirt wall plane 48, skirt diameter and skirt design because of the spaced 
relationship and non-coplanar relationship between the band 62 and the 
skirt 34. With the band 62 configuration minimally dependent upon the 
skirt wall diameter, more efficient, less breakage prone connections 
between the skirt 34 and band 62 can be used. 
The connectors 64, which are substantially thinner than the band 62 
adjacent thereto, are frangible connections which break or yield as the 
closure 10 is twisted or threadedly disengaged from the container 12 and 
as the band 62 is urged outwardly and downwardly from the closure 10. 
In one embodiment, the tamper-evident band 62 includes first and second 
camming projections 66, 68, respectively on an inside surface 74 thereof. 
The dual camming projections 66, 68 permit initial placement of the 
closure 10 onto the container 12, while reducing or eliminating the 
possibility that one or more of the connectors 64 will break, and that the 
band 62 will separate from the cap 30 as the closure 10 is applied to the 
container 12. The projections 66, 68 are further adapted to facilitate 
separation of the band 62 from the skirt portion 34 as the closure 10 is 
removed from the container 12, to provide tamper indication. 
As best seen in FIG. 6, the first camming projection 66 extends inwardly of 
the band 62 a distance greater than the second camming projection 68. The 
first camming projection 66 can include an inclined or ramped surface 70 
extending from about the end of the band 62, upward to about the peak 72 
of the projection 68. The inclined surface 70 facilitates initial 
application of the closure 10 to the container 12. 
The second camming projection 68 is recessed relative to the first 
projection 66. The second projection 68 extends inwardly of the band 62 a 
distance less than the first projection 66, and a distance greater than 
the inside surface 74 of the band 62. Thus, the second camming projection 
68 defines an intermediate position relative to the inside surface 74 and 
the first camming projection 66. Those skilled in the art will recognize 
that a wide variety of band 62 and projection 66, 68 arrangements can be 
used with the present closure 10. Such other band 62 and projection 66, 68 
arrangements are within the scope of the present invention. 
Each of the camming projections 66, 68 includes an upper base portion, a 
peak and a lower base portion, 76, 72, 78 and 80, 82, 84, respectively for 
the first and second projections 66, 68. The peaks 72, 82, which define 
the inwardly most extending portion of their respective projections 66, 68 
are curved or arcuate surfaces. 
The upper base portion 80 of the second projection 68 defines an angle 
.alpha. relative to the inside wall 74. As best seen in FIG. 7, the upper 
base portion 80 is at an angle .alpha. of about 131.degree. relative to 
the inside wall 74. The lower base portion 84 of the second projection 68 
and the upper base portion 76 of the first projection 66 define a 
transition region 86. In a preferred embodiment, the transition region 86 
defines an arcuate or curved surface. 
In a preferred embodiment, the second projection lower base portion 84, 
between the peak 82 and the transition region 86 is arcuate, i.e., 
concave, relative to the projections 66, 68. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 
8, the lower base portion 84 may be a planar surface formed at an angle 
.beta. relative to the inside wall 74. 
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the above-noted 
angles are exemplary only. Various cap sizes may require different angles 
between the physical features of the closure. 
As will be apparent from the figures, as the closure 10 is applied to the 
container 12, the band 62 readily passes over the container threads 18 
with minimal, if any contact therebetween. It is contemplated that a 
conventional capping method will be used to initially engage the closure 
10 to the container 12. Thus, the method would comprise screwing the 
closure 10 onto the container 12 whereby the closure threads 44 engage the 
container threads 18 while the band 62 slides down and over the locking 
ring 20. 
As the band 62 slides over the ring 20, the first camming projection 66 is 
forced over the ring 20 and urges the band 62 outwardly. As the first 
camming projection 66 passes over and beyond the ring 20, the second 
camming projection 68 precludes an excessive inward and downward snap-back 
action of the band 62 by engaging the ring 20. The snap-back effect has 
been observed to break connectors on some known closures. Thus, the second 
projection 68 dampens and reduces the snap-back effect and produces a 
two-stage return of the band 62 to its non-stressed, pre-application 
state, with the band 62 disposed below the ring 20. 
When the closure 10 is fully engaged with the container 12, the first 
camming projection 66 comes to rest on the bead-like stop element 26. 
Essentially, the stop element 26 prevents over-engagement of the closure 
10 with the container 12. As is readily apparent from FIG. 6, engagement 
of the first camming projection 66 and the stop element 26 prevent 
excessive contact, and preferably any contact, between the skirt 34 or 
ribs 52 and the interference ring 20. 
The closure 10 is then fully applied to the container 12, and the band 62 
comes to rest with the first camming projection 66 between the 
interference ring 20 and the stop element 26. 
It has been observed that the two-stage return of the band 62 to its 
non-stressed state reduces the opportunity for, and may preclude 
inadvertently breaking the connectors 64 which can otherwise result from 
the snap-back action. The snap-back action has been observed to produce 
axial and radial stresses in the connectors 64, other than the stresses 
which result from the outward urging of the band 62 relative to the cap 30 
during application. These additional axial and radial stresses could 
result in tearing the connectors 64 in either or both the radial and axial 
directions as the closure 10 is applied to the container 12. 
The dual camming projections 66, 68 reduce the opportunity for tearing of 
the connectors 64. The projections 66, 68 produce a two-step damping 
effect which reduces the stresses resulting from snap-back. The reduced 
stresses in turn reduce the opportunity for yielding of the connectors 64. 
When it is desired to access the contents of the container 12 and to remove 
the closure 10, the closure 10 is grasped about the gasping region 36 and 
the closure 10 is twisted off. As twisting torque is applied to remove the 
cap 30, the second camming projection 68 contacts and engages the 
interference ring 20, which urges the band 62 outward. Continued twisting 
of the closure 10 contacts the first camming projection 66 with the 
interference ring 20 which urges the band 62 further outward. 
As the closure 10 is rotated further along the container threads 18, the 
upward force translated from the twisting motion, along with the outward 
urging of the band 62 creates a tearing or severing force on each of the 
connectors 64, which breaks the connectors 64. The connectors 64 may break 
in a sequential manner. The tearing force is a result of the cap 30 being 
forced upward relative to the container 12, while the band 62 is 
obstructed from upward movement due to the contact between the 
interference ring 20 and the camming projections 66, 68. 
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the camming 
projections 66, 68 need not be continuous circumferential elements, but 
can be formed as a plurality or series of independent projections 
extending inwardly from the inside surface 74 of the band 62. 
As can be seen from FIG. 6, after the band 62 has been fully separated from 
the cap 30, the band 62 will rest on the container 12 between the shoulder 
22 and the stop element 26. Essentially, engagement of the first 
projection 66 with the stop element 26 prevents the band 62 from slipping 
downward along the container 12 after the band 62 is separated from the 
closure 10, i.e., after initial removal of the closure 10 from the 
container 12. Thus, the band is retained in place near the top of the 
container 12 at about the shoulder 22 and is prevented from slipping down 
the container 12 to possibly interfere with a user's handling of the 
container 12. 
As is best seen in FIG. 5, the closure 10 may also include a plug 88 that 
depends from the top wall 32, annularly disposed relative to the skirt 34. 
The plug 88 has an inner surface 90 and an outer surface 92. The outer 
surface 92 is configured to engage the container neck 16 at about the 
inner surface thereof, such that the container neck 16 is positioned 
between the plug 88 and the skirt 34 when the closure 10 is engaged with 
the container 12. The plug 88 enhances the seal between the container 12 
contents and the environs. 
From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and 
variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and 
scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be 
understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments 
illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended 
to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the 
scope of the claims.