Abstract:
A two-piece tamper-evident band assembly for use with a container and closure combination, where the container has a peripheral collar and the closure has a skirt, is shown. The tamper-evident band assembly includes a breakaway band frangibly connected to a staying ring. The staying ring has decreased flexibility where it connects to the container and closure combination, which prevents the assembly from deforming in a manner that will cause the assembly to fail to indicate that the container has been opened. The tamper-evident band assembly also indicates whether the container has been compromised without requiring modification of the container or the closure and can be applied to existing container and closure combinations that lack a tamper-evident system, allowing the assembly to be used with a variety of container and closure combinations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tamper-evident band assembly used with a container and closure combination that indicates when the container has been opened. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many container and closure combinations are used to package, store, and ship a variety of commercial products, including foods and medicines. In the packaging of such products, it has become common practice to include some signal to indicate whether the closure has been opened or unsealed, providing a warning that the contents may have been tampered with or damaged by exposure to the environment outside the container. 
     Tamper-evident assemblies help manufacturers, merchants, and consumers to easily identify compromised containers. They enable consumers to avoid products that may have been exposed to the environment, tampered with, or otherwise compromised. Those skilled in the art will understand that such container and closure combinations are made with containers of various sizes with openings of various sizes and shapes and with closures of various sizes and shapes, depending on the type of product packaged within. 
     A common example of a container and closure combination includes a container having a circular opening and a peripheral collar, along with a closure having a circular top and skirt. A typical container and closure combination may have a tamper-evident assembly incorporated as a part of the container, the closure, or both. There is a need for a tamper-evident assembly that can be manufactured independently of such containers and closures, and without requiring modifications to either the container or the closure. There is also a need for tamper-evident band assemblies for use with container and closure combinations that have already been designed or manufactured without a system to indicate tampering. 
     There is also a need for tamper-evident assemblies that do not fail when exposed to the stresses placed on them when the containers are opened. If the applied stresses cause a tamper-evident assembly to stretch or otherwise deform, the tamper-evident assembly may slip over the peripheral collar of the container when the closure is removed. In this case, the closure may be re-closed and subsequent handlers of the container will remain ignorant that the container has compromised. For the consumer, even a single failure of this type may have dangerous, even deadly, consequences. 
     There is also a need for indicators of tampering that are readily apparent to casual view. Some tamper-evident indicators are visible only when the closure is removed. While a consumer may be warned of compromised products, the warning may be received too late for the consumer to select an uncompromised container. Some tamper-evident band assemblies rely on relatively subtle changes in configuration to signal tampering, changes may be easy to overlook. There is a need for a tamper-evident assembly that provides clear visual signals to indicate tampering. 
     Tamper-evident band assemblies are ineffective if they have even a low failure rate, either because the assembly fails to work or because individuals fail to recognize the indication that the container has been opened. Therefore, there is a need to develop a tamper-evident band assembly that addresses the shortcomings of present constructions that indicate tampering in container and closure combinations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to two-piece tamper-evident band assemblies used in container and closure combinations where the container has a peripheral collar and the closure has a skirt. An embodiment includes a container and closure combination coupled to a tamper-evident band assembly that includes a breakaway band that is frangibly connected by a plurality of frangible connectors to an outer periphery of a staying ring positioned laterally inward. The staying ring is defined by an inner dimension that is less than a corresponding outer dimension of the peripheral collar of the associated container, and the breakaway band is defined by an inner dimension that is greater than the corresponding outer dimension of the staying ring. 
     The tamper-evident band assembly may be molded as a unitary piece. The breakaway band may have at least one downward-angled shoulder that engages the skirt of the closure so that the closure and the tamper-evident band assembly cooperate with one another. The staying ring includes at least one upward-angled ledge that extends upward and inward from its lower periphery, the upward-angled ledge engaging the peripheral collar of the container so that the container and the tamper-evident band assembly cooperate with one another. In some embodiments, the downward-angled shoulder is continuous, and in other embodiments, the downward-angled shoulder includes breaks formed therein so that there is a plurality of discrete downward-angled tabs. In some embodiments, the upward-angled ledge is continuous, and other embodiments, the upward-angled ledge includes breaks formed therein so that there is a plurality of discrete upward-angled tabs. 
     The skirt of the closure is positioned between the downward-angled shoulder of the breakaway band and the top periphery of the staying ring, so that the closure cooperates with the tamper-evident band assembly. 
     After the tamper-evident band assembly is placed onto the container and closure combination, the removal of the closure from the container applies upward force on the breakaway band of the tamper-evident band assembly. Upward movement of the staying ring is prevented because the upward-angled ledge of the staying ring is stopped by the peripheral collar of the container. As the closure continues to move upward, the skirt applies upward force to the downward-angled shoulder of the breakaway band. The upward movement of the breakaway band causes the frangible connectors to tear away from the stationary staying ring. When sufficient upward force is applied, the breakaway band disconnects from the tamper-evident band assembly and the staying ring remains positioned on the container. This may provide one or more visual signals that the container has been opened, including a change in the composition or appearance of the tamper-evident band assembly, a change in the appearance of the closure by the increased exposure of its skirt, or a loss of some piece of the assembly. 
     In some embodiments, the container and closure are twisted off and in some embodiments, the container and closure are snap-on assemblies that are pulled off, instead of being twisted off. In some embodiments, the closure, container, and tamper-evident band assemblies can be defined by various shapes, such as, square, oval and the like. 
     Because the tamper-evident band assembly of the subject invention may be comprised of two separate pieces, larger diameter assemblies may be molded without the use of slides or other additional pieces in the mold. As a result, a larger number of assemblies may be manufactured during one molding operation. Manufacturing efficiency, therefore, is enhanced and costs are reduced. 
     Because the two-piece tamper-evident band assemblies are made separately from the containers, they may be made at different times and places and the assemblies may be added to containers or closures that have already been designed or manufactured, without requiring alterations to the containers or closures. The design of the tamper-evident band assembly may be modified to accommodate container and closure combinations of different sizes and configurations. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a top perspective of an embodiment of the tamper-evident band assembly; 
         FIG. 2  shows an assembled perspective view of an embodiment of the tamper-evident band assembly used on a container and closure combination; 
         FIG. 3  shows an assembled and enlarged side view of an embodiment of the tamper-evident band assembly used on a container and closure combination; 
         FIG. 4  shows a cut-away and enlarged side view of an embodiment of the present invention incorporating a continuous upward-angled ledge in cooperation with a container and closure combination, where the frangible connectors are disconnected; 
         FIG. 5  shows a cut-away and enlarged side view of an embodiment of the present invention incorporating a plurality of upward-angled tabs in cooperation with a container and closure combination, where the frangible connectors are attached; 
         FIG. 6  shows a cut-away and enlarged side view of an embodiment of the present invention incorporating a continuous upward-angled ledge in cooperation with a container and closure combination, where the frangible connectors are attached; 
         FIG. 7  shows a cut-away and enlarged side view of an embodiment of the present invention incorporating a plurality of upward-angled tabs in cooperation with a container and closure combination, where the frangible connectors are disconnected; 
         FIG. 8  shows a cut-away and enlarged side view of an embodiment of the present invention incorporating a continuous upward-angled ledge in cooperation with a container and closure combination, where the frangible connectors are disconnected; 
         FIG. 9  shows a top perspective of a staying ring; 
         FIG. 10  shows a top perspective of a breakaway band; 
         FIG. 11  shows a tamper-evident assembly associated with a closure; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  show cut-away and enlarged side views of embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  show cut-away and enlarged partial side views of embodiments of the present invention associated with a closure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments. 
     The features of the invention disclosed herein in the description, drawings, and claims can be significant, both individually and in any desired combinations, for the operation of the invention in its various embodiments. Features from one embodiment can be used in other embodiments of the invention. 
     It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention,” relates to a requirement of the United States Patent &amp; Trademark Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     As used herein, the term “ring” shall mean a strip that has a shape. For example, when the closure and container have circular shapes, the staying ring, likewise, has a circular shape; likewise, when the closure and container are square, so too is the staying ring. 
     As used herein, the term “band” shall mean a strip that has a shape. For example, when the closure and container have circular shapes, the breakaway band, likewise, has a circular shape; likewise, when the closure and container are square, so too is the breakaway band. 
     The present invention relates to two-piece tamper-evident band assemblies  10  used in container  20  and closure  30  combinations where the container  20  has a peripheral collar  24  and the closure  30  has a skirt  36 . 
       FIGS. 1-8 and 11-15  show preferred embodiments of the two-piece tamper-evident band assembly  10  associated with a closure  30  with a skirt  36  at its bottom periphery  34 , the two pieces cooperating with each other when applied to an associated container  20  having an opening  22 , a neck  25  which may have threads  23 , and a peripheral collar  24 .  FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of a staying ring  40  and  FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of a breakaway band  60 , the two components of a tamper-evident band assembly. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-15 , the tamper-evident band assembly  10  includes a staying ring  40 , which attaches laterally inward of a breakaway band  60 . The staying ring  40  is frangibly connected to the breakaway band  60  by a plurality of frangible connectors  80  that extend laterally and outwardly from the exterior face  41  of the staying ring  40  to an interior periphery  64  of the breakaway band  60 . In some embodiments, the plurality of frangible connectors  80  may extend laterally outward in a horizontal plane ( FIGS. 4-7 ). In some embodiments, the plurality of frangible connectors  80  may be positioned closer to the top periphery  46  than the bottom periphery  44  of the staying ring  40 . 
     At an upper periphery  62  of the breakaway band  60 , a shoulder  65  extends laterally inward and angles downward from the upper periphery  62 . The breakaway band  60  cooperates with the staying ring  40  so that the downward-angled shoulder  65  is above the staying ring  40 . 
     In some embodiments, the downward-angled shoulder  65  may be uninterrupted and continuous and extend laterally inward and downward (i.e.,  FIGS. 7, 9 ). In some embodiments, the downward-angled shoulder  65  may include a plurality of tabs  70  that extend laterally inward and downward, with breaks  71  between the tabs  70  (i.e.,  FIG. 6 ). When assembled to the staying ring  40 , the plurality of frangible connectors  80  may attach to the interior periphery  64  of the breakaway band  60  below the downward-angled shoulder  65 . The exact shape and position of the frangible connectors  80  may vary, but will attach together and function as a frangible connection between the staying ring  40  and the breakaway band  60 . 
     Because the tamper-evident band assembly  10  and the container  20  may be comprised of two separate pieces, they may be easier to mold and allow for more tamper-evident band assemblies to be molded during a single molding operation. In some embodiments, the tamper-evident band assembly  10  and the closure  30  may be made of the same material. In other embodiments, tamper-evident band assembly  10  and the closure  30  may be made of different materials. In some embodiments, the tamper-evident band assembly  10  may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin. In some embodiments, the associated closure  30  may include at least one material from the group consisting of polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, nylon, butadiene, proprionate, and acrylic polymers. 
     At the bottom periphery  44  of the staying ring  40 , an upward-angled ledge  47  may extend laterally inward and upward. As shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 4, 6, and 14-15 , the upward-angled ledge  47  may be a continuous ledge; or, as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 7 , may desirably include several breaks formed therein so that the upward-angled ledge  47  includes a plurality of upward-angled tabs  50 . The upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  is preferably positioned below the downward-angled shoulder  65  of the breakaway band  60  and may facilitate the molding of the breakaway band  60 . 
     The staying ring  40  has at least one upward-angled ledge  47  of a thickness sufficient to avoid flexure, extending upward and inward from a bottom periphery  44 . In some embodiments, the staying ring  40  may include a continuous upward-angled ledge  47  including an upper edge  48  that is positioned below a bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30 , and the staying ring  40  is positioned laterally inward of the breakaway band  60 . 
     In some embodiments, the staying ring  40  may have plurality of upward-angled tabs  50 , each upward-angled tab  50  having a thickness sufficient to avoid flexure, extending upward and inward from a bottom periphery  44 , each upward-angled tab  50  having a tip positioned below a bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30 , and the staying ring  40  positioned laterally inward of the breakaway band  60 . 
     In embodiments with a staying ring  40  with a continuous upward-angled ledge  47  ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ), the upward-angled ledge  47  may include an upper edge  48  and an inner periphery  49 . The inner periphery  49  and an interior face  42  of the staying ring  40  form an angle at the upward-angled ledge  47  designated as a ( FIG. 6 ) from about and including 1-90 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, an α angle may be from about and including 20-40 degrees, as defined where the interior face  42  of the staying ring  40 . The acute upward angle may contribute to the inflexibility of the upward-angled ledge  47  by decreasing the ability of the upward-angled ledge  47  to flex either upward or downward, thus reducing the risk that the upward-angled ledge  47  will deform and slip over the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20  when the closure  30  is removed. In turn, this may decrease the failure rate of the tamper-evident band assembly  10 . 
     In embodiments with a staying ring  40  with a plurality of upward-angled tabs  50  ( FIGS. 5 and 7 ), each of the upward-angled tabs  50  may include an inner face  52  and an outer face  54 , and may be angled inward and upward, with breaks between the upward-angled tabs  50 . The interior face  42  of the staying ring  40  and the inner faces  52  of each upward-angled tab  50  may form angles designated as β ( FIG. 7 ) from about and including 1-90 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, β angles are from about and including 20-40 degrees, as defined where the inner face  52  of each upward-angled tab  50 . Each upward-angled tab  50  may have β angles of the same size or β angles of different sizes. 
     In some embodiments, the staying ring  40  may have a minimum or maximum thickness in one or more dimensions. For example, a thickness of the staying ring  40  may be specified by the length of a first transverse line  82  defined by the line XY ( FIG. 6 ), which spans from the point where the upward-angled ledge  47  meets the interior face  42  of the staying ring  40  (point X) to the point where the bottom periphery  44  meets the exterior face  41  of the staying ring  40  (point Y). A preferred thickness of the first transverse line  82  may be 0.010-0.100 inches and a more preferred thickness of the first transverse line  82  may be 0.030-0.080 inches. 
     A thickness of the staying ring  40  may be specified by the length of a second transverse line  84  defined by the line CD (i.e.,  FIGS. 6-7 ), which is parallel to the bottom periphery  44  of the staying ring  40 , where C is a point on the exterior face  41  of the staying ring  40 , and D is a point on the outer periphery  43  of the upward-angled ledge  47 . In some embodiments, the second transverse line  84  may bisect the first transverse line  82 . A preferred thickness of the second transverse line  84  may be 0.010-0.100 inches. 
     A thickness of the staying ring  40  may also be may be specified by the length of the bottom periphery  44  of the staying ring  40  (i.e.,  FIG. 4 ). 
     The thickness of the staying ring  40 , as defined by different transverse lines ( 82  or  84 ) or the length of the bottom periphery  44  of the staying ring  40 , may also contribute to the inflexibility of the upward-angled ledge  47  sufficiently to withstand force and not flex, decreasing the ability of the upward-angled ledge  47  to flex either upward or downward and reducing the risk that the upward-angled ledge  47  will deform and slip over the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20  when the closure  30  is removed. In turn, this may decrease the failure rate of the tamper-evident band assembly  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the breakaway band  60  may include at least one bead  61  on its interior periphery  64  ( FIGS. 12-15 ). The at least one bead  61  may be in intimate contact with the bottom periphery  34  of the closure  30  when the tamper-evident band assembly  10  is installed onto the closure  30 . The at least one bead  61  may contribute to the inflexibility of the upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  sufficiently to withstand force and not flex, by decreasing the ability of the top periphery  46  of the staying ring  40  to flex either outward or inward and reducing the risk that the upward-angled ledge  47  will deform and slip over the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20  when the closure  30  is removed. In turn, this may decrease the failure rate of the tamper-evident band assembly  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the breakaway band  60  may include at least one buttress  69  on its interior periphery  64  that is in intimate contact with the bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30  when the tamper-evident band assembly  10  is installed onto the closure  30  ( FIGS. 12-15 ). The buttress  69  may be in contact with the bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36  and provide a physical barrier to prevent the top periphery  46  of the staying ring  40  from flexing against the skirt  36  of the closure  30 . The buttress  69  may contribute to the inflexibility of the upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  sufficiently to withstand force and not flex, by providing a supplemental barrier that blocks the top periphery  46  of the staying ring  40  from flexing outward and reduces the risk that the upward-angled ledge  47  will deform and slip over the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20  when the closure  30  is removed. In turn, this may decrease the failure rate of the tamper-evident band assembly  10 . 
     When the staying ring  40  and breakaway band  60  are assembled, they provide a way for individuals to visually detect whether the closure  30  of a container  20  has been opened or unsealed. In some embodiments, the tamper-evident band assembly  10  may be attached to the closure  30  before the closure  30  is attached to the container  20 . In other embodiments, the closure  30  may be attached to the container  20  before the tamper-evident band assembly  10  is attached to the container  20 . 
       FIGS. 2-8  show embodiments of a two-piece tamper-evident band assembly  10  associated with a container  20  and closure  30  combination. The closure  30  cooperates with the tamper-evident band assembly  10  and includes a top  31 . The top  31  includes a skirt  36  that depends from a top periphery  32  of the top  31  and may have threads  33  formed on an inner surface  35  thereof. Note that in other embodiments incorporating a snap-on type closure (not shown) or other type of closure, the top need not have threads formed on its inner surface. 
     The tamper-evident band assembly  10  may be placed on the closure  30  so that the skirt  36  and the downward-angled shoulder  65  of the breakaway band  60  cooperate with each other. Thus, when the tamper-evident band assembly  10  and closure  30  are positioned onto the container  20 , the upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  may slip under and beneath the peripheral collar  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-7 . The upward-angled ledge  47  may be defined by an inner dimension ID that is less than an outer dimension OD of the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20 . 
     When the tamper-evident band assembly  10  and the container  20  and closure  30  combination are assembled together, the skirt  36  of the closure  30  may be positioned above the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20 . The top periphery  46  of the staying ring  40  may be contiguous with a bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30 . In some embodiments, when assembled, the top periphery  46  of the staying ring  40  may contact the bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30 . 
     The upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  may be positioned under the bottom surface  26  of the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20 . In some embodiments, where the staying ring  40  has a plurality of upward-angled tabs  50 , the tips  56  of the plurality of upward-angled tabs  50  of the staying ring  40  may be positioned under the bottom surface  26  of the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20 . In some embodiments, where the staying ring  40  may have a continuous upward-angled ledge  47 , the upper edge  48  of the upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  may be positioned under the bottom surface  26  of the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20 . 
     The downward-angled shoulder  65  of the breakaway band  60  may be positioned above an upper surface  37  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30 . In some embodiments where the downward-angled shoulder  65  has a plurality of downward-angled tabs  70 , the tips  72  of the plurality of downward-angled tabs  70  of the breakaway band  60  may be positioned above an upper surface  37  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30 . 
     The tamper-evident band assembly  10  may be screwed or slid onto, or otherwise associated with, the container neck  25 . For example, in some embodiments, threads  33  of the closure  30  and threads  23  on the container neck  25  cooperate with one another. The tamper-evident band assembly  10  is shown cooperating with a container  20  and closure  30  combination ( FIGS. 4-8 ). The associated container  20  has an opening  22  and a peripheral collar  24 . The closure  30  has a skirt  36  and when the closure  30  is fixed to the container  20 , the skirt  36  is positioned above the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20 . In some embodiments of the invention, the opening  22  may also contain, for example, a seal between the opening  22  and the closure  30  that protects the contents of the container  20 . 
     While the container  20  remains unopened, the tamper-evident band assembly  10  remains intact. When the assembly  10  is positioned onto the container  20  and the closure  30 , the upward-angled ledge  47  may be positioned below the peripheral collar  24  of the container  20  and may be defined by an inner dimension that is smaller than an outer dimension of the peripheral collar  24 . 
     If the container  20  is opened or unsealed, the closure  30  moves away from the container  20  and moves the breakaway band  60  upward. When the closure  30  is removed from the container  20 , the closure  30  moves upward, a bottom surface  26  of the peripheral collar  24  contacts the upper edge  48  of the upward-angled ledge  47 , the peripheral collar  24  prevents the upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  from moving upward, and an upper surface  37  of the skirt  36  moves the downward-angled shoulder  65  upward, moving the breakaway band  60  upward and tearing the plurality of frangible connectors  80  apart so that the breakaway band  60  breaks away from the staying ring  40  and the staying ring  40  remains positioned under the peripheral collar  24 . 
     When the container  20  is unsealed, the upward-angled ledge  47  engages the bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36  of the closure  30 . Because of its inflexibility, the upward-angled ledge  47  resists the applied force, refrains from disengagement, and remains engaged below the bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36 . The skirt  36  blocks the upward movement of the staying ring  40  and when sufficient stress is applied, the plurality of frangible connectors  80  break. The breakaway band  60  detaches from the tamper-evident band assembly  10  and the staying ring  40  remains with the container  20  below the peripheral collar  24 , providing visual evidence that the container  20  has been opened or unsealed. In some embodiments, the breakaway band  60  may fall or move away from the closure  30 . In other embodiments, the breakaway band  60  may remain associated with the skirt  36  of the closure  30 . 
     The container  20  and closure  30  are of standard configuration. An important aspect of some embodiments of the present invention is that the tamper-evident band assembly  10  may be used with a standard container  20  and closure  30  combination without requiring modifications or adaptations being made to the container  20  and the closure  30 . Some embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunction with container  20  and closure  30  combinations that have already been designed or manufactured. 
     Prior art tamper-evident systems were subject to a risk of failure under certain circumstances. For example, some tamper-evidence assemblies had insufficiently secure contact between a container and a tamper-evident assembly due to excessive flexibility in components of the tamper-evident assembly. If components of the tamper-evident assembly flexed downward when the closure was moved upward, then the tamper-evident assembly could fail to engage the peripheral collar of the container, causing the tamper-evident assembly to remain intact after the container was opened. Alternatively, if components of the tamper-evident assembly flex upward to too great a degree, then the components of the tamper-evident assembly could also fail to engage the peripheral collar of the container, causing the tamper-evident band assembly to remain intact after the container was opened. The opened containers could be re-closed and persons subsequently handling or receiving the sealed products would remain ignorant that the containers and their contents had been compromised. Even if these failure rates are low, a single failure could have severe, even deadly effects on consumers who rely on tamper-evident systems to provide clear warnings when the container has been opened or tampered with. 
     The present invention has several features that may render the upward-angled ledge  47  of the staying ring  40  inflexible to a degree sufficient to withstand the applied force and resist flexion, thus contributing to an improved failure rate. Some embodiments may include an upward-angled ledge  47  with acute upward angles that resist upward or downward flexion when stress is applied (i.e., when the closure  30  is opened). Some embodiments may include a minimum thickness in one or more dimensions of the staying ring  40 , thus increasing its inflexibility and decreasing the likelihood of flexion either upward or downward in the upward-angled ledge  47  when the closure  30  is removed. Some embodiments may include a bead  61  on the breakaway band  60  the decreases the ability of the staying ring  40  (including its upward-angled ledge  47 ) to flex and deform. 
     The increased inflexibility of the staying ring  40  may improve the performance of the tamper-evident band assembly  10  by preventing the tamper-evident band assembly  10  from flexing enough to disengage from the bottom surface  38  of the skirt  36 , thus decreasing the risk of failure upon the opening  22  of the container  20  and closure combination  30 . 
     It should be readily apparent that the assembly can be used in a variety of orientations. As such, the reference in the application and claims to specific directions such as “top” and “bottom” are for purposes of identifying relative locations of the elements and are not intended to limit the claims to a specific orientation of the assembly. 
     Specific embodiments of a tamper-evident band assembly according to the present invention have been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention can be made and used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of this invention and its different aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that this invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. It is understood to encompass the present invention and any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein.