Abstract:
A tamper indicating closure includes a cap having a top and skirt portion. A frangible connection connects an anti-tamper band with the skirt. The anti-tamper band includes a main body and a foldable portion hingably connected thereto. The foldable portion is foldable so that it is disposed within the volume defined by the main body. The foldable portion further comprises an edge for engaging the shoulder of a container at a recess below the shoulder and a plurality of tabs for engaging the shoulder to prevent “tiring off” of the anti-tamper band.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/881,019 filed Jan. 18, 2007 which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Generally, the present invention relates to the field of container closures. More particularly, the present invention relates to closures having a tamper-indicating band. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Consumers rely on container closures to protect many everyday goods ranging from food to medicine. While numerous types of tamper-indicating closures exist, a particularly common type of closure comprises a closure connected to a tamper-indicating band via a frangible connection, with the closure being applied to the threaded finish of the container. This type of closure often relies on a portion of the container to restrain the tamper-indicating band when the cap is removed, causing the frangible connection to break and leaving the tamper-indicating band on the container in a retained engagement with the container finish. Thus, even if the closure is replaced back on the container, a user is able to determine that the container has been opened because the frangible connection of the closure with the tamper band has been broken. 
         [0004]    This type of tamper-indicating system relies on the frangible connection being broken and on the tamper-indicating band remaining on the container. However, conventional closures suffer from “tiring off,” where the tamper-indicating band is essentially peeled or slipped off the container. This is similar to the manner in which a tire is removed from a rim. This defect defeats or at least detracts from or reduces the tamper-indicating ability of the closure band. Thus, there is a need for an improved closure providing a frangible connection between a tamper-indicating band and a cap that is resistant to tiring off and other tamper-indication defeating mechanisms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Various embodiments of the invention relate to a closure providing a frangible connection between a tamper-indicating band and the lower end of a closure sidewall skirt, with the closure being resistant to tiring off and other tamper-indication defeating mechanisms. 
         [0006]    The closure comprises a top portion that is connected to a skirt. An anti-tamper band is frangibly connected to the skirt. The anti-tamper band comprises a main body and a foldable band connected to the main body opposite the cap, such that the band is continuous along the entire perimeter of the main body. The foldable band is connected to the main body via a hinge. The foldable band has an unfolded state, where it extends substantially linearly from the main body, and a folded state. In the folded state, the band is bent about the hinge, forming an acute angle with the main body and being substantially within the volume defined by the main body. The foldable band further comprises a plurality of flexible tabs extending from within the foldable band. The foldable band includes an end opposite the hinge for engaging a portion of the container. The tabs further engage the container to secure the anti-tamper band to the container when the cap is removed. 
         [0007]    These and other advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a cap with an attached anti-tamper band in an unfolded position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a closure applied to a container; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of an upside-down cap with an anti-tamper band having a bulbous edge for engaging the shoulder of the container; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a close-up cut-away perspective view of the foldable band and tabs of the closure of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5(   a )- 5 ( f ) depict the application and removal of the closure depicted in  FIG. 3  from a container; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of an upside-down cap with an anti-tamper band having a leading edge for engaging the shoulder of a container; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a close-up, cut-away perspective view of the foldable band and tabs of the closure of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0015]      FIGS. 8(   a )- 8 ( f ) depict the application and removal of the closure depicted in  FIG. 6  from a container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The present invention comprises a closure  100  for sealing an article and providing tamper evidence. As shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a cap  101  for the closure  100  generally includes a top portion  110 , a skirt  112 , and an anti-tamper band  114 . The top portion  110  and the skirt  112  are connected to each other and may be formed integral to each other. The skirt  112  extends substantially perpendicular from the top portion  110 , forming the cap  101 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the cap  101  engages the article or container  103  and sealing an opening  105  therein. The cap  101  is engagable with the article  103  as is known in the art. For example, an inner portion  113  of the skirt  112  may be threaded with a corresponding external thread  107  on the article  103 . In an exemplary embodiment, the skirt  112  is cylindrical. 
         [0017]    As referenced above, the closure  100  further includes an anti-tamper band  114 . The anti-tamper band  114  is removably connected to the skirt  112 . For example, the anti-tamper band  114  may be connected to the skirt via a frangible connection  116 . In an exemplary embodiment, the anti-tamper band  114  is connected to the skirt  112  at an end opposite the top portion  110 . 
         [0018]    The anti-tamper band  114  includes a main body  118  and a foldable or “J” band  120 . The main body  118  is attached via the frangible connection  116  to the skirt  112 . A foldable band  120  is attached via a hinge  121  to the main body opposite the skirt  112 . The hinge  121  may exert a bias on the foldable band  120 . The foldable band  120  is pivotable about this hinge  121 . The foldable band  120  has an unfolded state and a folded state. The closure  100  may be such that the foldable band  120  extends from the main body  118  in line with the main body  118  in an unfolded state.  FIG. 1  depicts the unfolded state, wherein the foldable band  120  extends substantially linearly from the main body  118 . In contrast, in the folded state (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 ), the foldable band  120  is positioned along the interior surface  124  of the main body  118 . In one embodiment, the hinge  121  provides a mechanism to bias the foldable band  120  to the folded state if the folded band  120  is within a degree range in relation to the main body  118 , for example a range centered about  180  degrees. As more clearly shown in  FIG. 3 , the foldable band  120  may include drainage windows  123  providing a means for liquid from the article  103  which gathers in the fold (i.e., at the hinge  121 ) between the foldable band  120  and the main body  118  to drain. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the foldable band  120  further includes a shoulder engaging end  126 . The shoulder engaging end  126  is adapted to engage a shoulder or “A” bead  128  on the finish of the article  103 . The shoulder engaging end  126  may have a shape selected to engage the shoulder  128  in a particular manner. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6-8 , the shoulder engaging edge  126  may comprise a rounded edge or bulbous projection  122  for engaging the shoulder or “A” bead  131  of the finish in  FIG. 5(   a ) and  8 ( a ). Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the shoulder engaging end may provide a leading edge  136  for engaging the shoulder  128 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the shoulder  128  is designed with a sloped upper edge  130 , a protruding edge or “A” bead  131 , and a recessed lower edge  132  ( FIGS. 5(   a ) and  8 ( a )) such that when the closure  100  is applied to the article  103  (best illustrated in  FIG. 2) , the foldable band  120  pivots about the hinge  121  towards the main body  118  as it contacts the sloped upper edge  130 , allowing it to the foldable band  120  to pass the shoulder  128  on the article  103 . Once the foldable band  120  passes the shoulder  128 , the foldable band  120  is biased back towards the shoulder  128  positioning the shoulder engaging end  126  below the lower recessed edge  132  ( FIGS. 5(   c ) and  8 ( c )) of the shoulder  128 . The foldable band rests  120  under the shoulder  128  such that when the cap  101  is removed, the foldable band  120  contacts the shoulder  128 , preventing the anti-tamper band  114  from being removed from the article  103  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 5(   d )-( e ) and  8 ( d )-( e )). The force caused by the removal of the cap  101  and the resistance of the anti-tamper band  114  results in the separation of the anti-tamper band  114  from the skirt  112  along the frangible connection  116  (as is best seen in  FIG. 5(   e ) and  8 ( e )). 
         [0021]    The foldable band  120  further includes one or more tabs  122 . In an exemplary embodiment, the tabs  122  are embedded into the structure of the foldable band  120 . The tabs  122  may be integral with the foldable band  120  such that band  120 , tabs  122 , and main body  118  comprise a single molded component (the anti-tamper band  114 ). The tabs  122  extend from the foldable band  120 , forming an extension there from. The tabs  122  are positioned substantially proximate the edge of the foldable band  120  which is farthest from the article  103  when the closure  100  is applied and the foldable band  120  is positioned in its folded state. In one embodiment, the tabs  122  flex about a pivot  127 , such as a thinned portion just above the foldable band  120 . The tabs  122  engage the protruding edge  131  of the shoulder  128  ( FIGS. 5(   a ) and  8 ( a )). This positioning of the tabs  122  assists in the prevention of undesired movement of the anti-tamper band  114 , such as “tiring off” or other such actions of the anti-tamper band  114  that result in a loss of tamper evidence. In one embodiment, the shoulder engaging edge  126  is not continuous along the foldable band  120 . Instead, a series of indentations  125  interrupt the shoulder engaging edge  126 . In an exemplary embodiment, the tabs  122  extend from the indentations  125 .  FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment having deep indentations  125 , while  FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment having shallow indentations  125 . 
         [0022]    In an exemplary embodiment, the tabs  122  are flexible such that they may bend relative to the foldable band  120 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 5(   c ) and  8 ( c ), the tabs  122 , when aligned with the foldable band  120 , prevent the shoulder engaging edge  126  of the foldable band  120  from fully engaging the recessed edge or surface  132  of the shoulder  128 . The flexing of the tabs  122  allows the foldable band  120  to more fully contact the recessed edge  132  or surface below the “A” bead  131  of the shoulder  128 . In one embodiment, this contact provides additional resistance to tiring off than if the tab  122  is rigid because substantially the full surface of the engaging end  126  is in direct bearing contact with the edge or surface  132  below the “A” bead  131 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 5(   a )-( f ) and  8 ( a )-( f ) illustrate the closure of the cap  101  to the article  103  and the removal of the cap  103  from the article.  FIGS. 3-5  illustrate an embodiment having a shoulder engaging end  126  that has a bulbous projection  138 .  FIGS. 6-8  illustrate a shoulder engaging end  126  which includes a leading edge  136 . In  FIGS. 5(   c ) and  8 ( c ), the closure  100  is applied to the article  103 . Cap threads  106  engage article threads  107  to draw the closure  100  (including cap  101  and anti-tamper band  114 ) downward onto the article  103  to secure the opening  105 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5(   a )-( c ) and  8 ( a )-( c ), the foldable band  120  passes by the shoulder  128  by pivoting about the hinge  121 . Once the foldable band  120  passes the shoulder  128 , the foldable band  120  is biased back inwardly toward the article  103 , positioned adjacent the shoulder  128 . 
         [0024]    When the cap  101  is removed, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5(   d ) and  8 ( d ), the cap  101  raises the foldable band  120  such that the shoulder engaging end  126  engages the shoulder  128  at the recessed edge  132 . At substantially the same time, the tab  122  engages the “A” bead  131  of the shoulder  128 , (such as a protruding edge of the shoulder  128 ). In combination the shoulder engaging end or surface  126  and tab  122  are serving to secure the anti-tamper band  114  against the shoulder  128 . As can be seen in the  FIGS. 5(   d )-( e ) and  8 ( d )-( e ), the tab  122  is able to flex in relation to the foldable band  120 . The tab  122  flexes exposing the full surface of the engaging end  126 , allowing the shoulder engaging end  126  to fully engage the recessed edge  132  of the shoulder  128 . While simultaneously the tabs  122  function to restrict rotation of the foldable band  120  about the hinge  121  and further under the “A” bead  131  of shoulder  128  preventing roll-out of the foldable band  120  which leads to tamper band tire-off. This functional structure provides for a more secure bracing of the anti-tamper band  114  against the shoulder  128  resisting deformation of the band  120  to the upward force produced by the cap  101  as it is removed as shown in  FIG. 5   d  and  8   d . This force on the foldable band  120  results in the frangible connection  116  breaking as depicted in  FIGS. 5(   e ) and  8 ( e ). The breaking of the frangible connection  116  allows the cap  101  to be removed while the anti-tamper band  114  remains on the article  103 . This is shown in  FIGS. 5(   f ) and  8 ( f ). Thus, the presence of the anti-tamper band  114  being separated from the cap  101  provides an indication that the article  103  has been opened. 
         [0025]    The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments, and with various modifications, as are suited to the particular use contemplated.