Abstract:
A container and closure combination according to one embodiment of the present invention includes, as part of the closure, a tamper-evident band. The container includes a neck portion defining a dispensing opening and including an A diameter stop. The tamper-evident closure includes a closure body and the tamper-evident band is connected to the closure body by a plurality of frangible elements. A plurality of locking tabs are included as part of the tamper-evident band and are constructed and arranged to abut up against the A diameter stop upon retrograde rotation of the closure body from the container neck. The tamper-evident band further includes a radially inwardly extending ridge that is constructed and arranged to prevent repositioning of a plurality of the locking tabs to an orientation wherein the plurality of locking tabs would avoid abutment with the A diameter stop.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the design of tamper-evident bands that form a part of a closure for a container. More specifically, the present invention relates to the addition of an annular ridge to a lower portion of a tamper-evident band in order to enhance or improve the ability of the band to prevent any tampering attempt without a suitable indication of that attempt being provided. As the name implies, a “tamper-evident” band is constructed and arranged to make it evident to a user or consumer if tampering with the container or its contents has been attempted. The value of such a band is directly related to how well it performs and how successfully it reveals or prevents any tampering attempts.  
         [0002]     One example of tamper-evident bands that are currently in use can be found on metal caps for carbonated beverages. The tamper-evident band is connected to the remainder of the cap by a spaced series of connecting leaders or what are called frangible elements. The container includes an annular stop, referred to as the “A” diameter, at the base of the neck, and the tamper-evident band is anchored below this “A” diameter stop by a series of projections, referred to as wings or tabs. The problem that the present invention solves pertains to those tamper-evident band designs that are constructed so as to permit a small implement or tool to be inserted between the tamper-evident band and the container neck in order to pull down the securing tabs. If these tabs are pulled down and out of the way such that they do not engage the “A” diameter stop upon removal of the cap, undetected tampering attempts are possible. In order for these tabs to be pulled out of the way a sufficient distance and into a sufficient orientation in order to clear the “A” diameter, they need to be pulled down to a near vertical position.  
         [0003]     The annular ridge of the present invention is directed to reducing the risk that the referenced small implement or tool might be inserted by reducing the radial width of the clearance space between the lower edge of the tamper-evident band and the container neck. While the annular ridge of the present invention reduces the radial width of the clearance space, it may still be possible for an individual to insert some type of tool or instrument into that reduced clearance space to try and pull down the tabs. Therefore, the primary purpose of the annular ridge is to provide an abutment surface. The annular ridge of the present invention has an axial and radial position, a geometric shape, and an inclined upper surface that serves as an abutment cooperating together so that the tabs cannot be pulled down far enough to preclude abutment with the “A” diameter. Even if it would be possible to design the annular ridge of the present invention to achieve only one of the two improvements as described, the preferred design for the present invention is to be able to achieve both improvements by a single ridge configuration, as disclosed herein as the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A tamper-evident closure for a container according to one typical embodiment of the present invention includes a closure body and a tamper-evident band connected to the closure body by a plurality of frangible elements. The tamper-evident band includes a plurality of locking tabs that are constructed and arranged to abut against a portion of the container, the tamper-evident band further including a radially inwardly extending ridge constructed and arranged to prevent repositioning of a plurality of the locking tabs to an orientation wherein the plurality of locking tabs avoid abutment with the portion of the container.  
         [0005]     One object of the present invention is to provide an improved tamper-evident closure for a container.  
         [0006]     Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a closure according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view, in partial section, of the  FIG. 1  closure.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view, in full section, of the  FIG. 1  closure.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the  FIG. 1  closure.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a partial, enlarged detail, front elevational view of a portion of the  FIG. 1  closure, in full section.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a partial, front elevational view, in full section, of the  FIG. 1  closure installed on the neck finish of a container.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a twist cap that cooperates with the  FIG. 1  closure to open and close the  FIG. 1  closure.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front elevational view, in full section, of the  FIG. 7  cap as viewed along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view, in full section, of the  FIG. 7  cap as viewed along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a front elevational view, in full section, of an alternative cap design, according to the present invention and incorporating features of the  FIG. 1  closure.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a front elevational view, in partial section, of the  FIG. 10  cap as applied to the neck finish of a container.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is illustrated a closure  20  for a container that includes a tamper-evident band  21  with, in one embodiment, an annular ridge  22  that extends radially inwardly from the lower edge  23  of band  21 . In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, what is described as an annular ridge  22  is actually formed in spaced-apart segments. While these segments extend annularly around the lower edge  23  of band  21 , the length of each ridge section and the spacing between adjacent ridge sections can vary. With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and the illustrated embodiment of the present invention where the ridge  22  is annular and continuous in form, closure  20  includes an internally-threaded body  24  including a side wall  25  and an upper wall  26 . The side wall  25  is connected to the tamper-evident band  21  by a series of frangible elements  27 . Closure  20  is constructed and arranged as part of a twist-to-open closure assembly. As will be described herein, a twist cap  50  (see  FIGS. 7, 8 , and  9 ) snaps onto closure  20  and is turned so as to cam up to open and cams down to close the closure assembly.  
         [0020]     The tamper-evident band  21  is formed with a series of tabs  31  that extend radially inwardly and are intended to provide abutment and locking for the tamper-evident band. The tabs  31  are positioned below the frangible elements  27  and above annular ridge  22 . When the closure  20  is initially threadedly advanced onto the container  32  for closing of the container immediately after filling, as part of the capping operation, the tabs  31  are ultimately positioned below the “A” diameter stop  33  (see  FIG. 6 ) that is formed as a part of the container neck  34  at the bottom of the external threads  35 . As the closure is advanced, the tabs  31  deflect upwardly as they are forced to pass over the annular stop  33 . Once the tabs are below the stop  33 , the stop  33  serves as an abutment to the tabs  31  when the closure  20  is unscrewed from the neck  34  of the container  32  for the first time after the capping operation.  
         [0021]     Until the frangible elements  27  are broken, the tamper-evident band  21  remains connected to the remainder of closure  20 , specifically to body  24  and side wall  25 . When the closure  20  is to be removed from the container neck, it is unscrewed from the externally-threaded neck  34  of the container  32  and moves in an axially upward direction. This retrograde movement causes the tabs  31  to be drawn up or pulled up into abutment against the undersurface of the annular stop  33 . As this abutment occurs, the axial movement of the tamper-evident band  21  stops. As the twisting, i.e., unscrewing, of the body  24  continues, the frangible elements  27  begin to break or fracture due to both twisting and axial movement of the cap relative to the neck and relative to the tamper-evident band  21  that is unable to move axially due to the abutment of the plurality of tabs  31  against the “A” diameter stop  33 . Once all the frangible elements  27  are broken or severed, the body  24  of the closure  20  is separated from the tamper-evident band  21 . The tamper-evident band  21  remains on the container  32 , fixed below the “A” diameter stop  33 . The body  24  of the closure  20  is thus able to be repeatedly removed and reapplied, as often as one wishes, in order to open and close container  32 .  
         [0022]     Without the presence of annular ridge  22 , it is possible that a small tool or implement can be inserted into the annular clearance space  36  between the inside diameter of the band  21  and the outside diameter of the neck  34  of container  32 . If this occurs, that small tool or implement can be manipulated to hook over and pull down each tab  31 , one at a time. With a plastic construction for closure  20 , using one of the suitable synthetic materials, it is likely that each tab  31  will remain in the new position to where it is moved, such as being pulled downwardly so that each tab has a new axial or vertical orientation. In this vertical position, or whenever the tabs  31  are pulled out of the way, they are unable to engage stop  33  and therefore do not abut up against the lower surface of stop  33 . In this near axial or vertical orientation for the various tabs  31 , they will actually clear stop  33  during unthreading or removal of the closure  20  from container  32 . Without any abutment of the tabs  31  against the stop  33 , there is nothing to cause or create separation of the tamper-evident band  21  from the body or remainder of the closure. This means that someone, after all the tabs are pulled down to a position in order to clear the stop  33 , could remove the closure from the neck of the container without any indication that this has occurred. If tampering occurs while the closure is removed and then reapplied, there is nothing structurally to provide an indication or evidence of such a tampering attempt. This is where the value of the present invention in the form of annular ridge  22  will be appreciated.  
         [0023]     Focusing now on the construction and arrangement of annular ridge  22 , it is preferred that ridge  22  have an angled or tapered upper surface  40 , inclined axially downwardly and radially inwardly. It is also preferred that innermost tip  41  be sized so as to just clear the outer surface, i.e., the outside diameter, of “A” diameter stop  33 . This outside diameter is represented by line  43  in  FIG. 5 . In this way, there is no noticeable interference between the stop  33  and ridge  22  during the initial capping operation of the container  32  by closure  20 , after initial filling. The radial width of clearance space  36  is reduced by the addition of ridge  22  and reduced to such a degree that it becomes more difficult for someone to be able to insert a tool or implement into that clearance space  36  in order to hook onto and pull down one or more of the various tabs  31 . While the radial width of clearance space  36  could be reduced even more by increasing the radial width of ridge  22 , that change would create what is considered to be an unacceptable degree of interference with stop  33  and would therefore adversely affect the initial capping operation.  
         [0024]     A second aspect of the present invention involves the design of the inclined upper surface  40 . This aspect is effective in defeating any tampering attempt by one who tries to pull down the tabs  31  so that the closure could be removed without breaking any of the frangible elements  27 . Even if there is sufficient clearance for a person intent on trying to insert a tool to be able to do so, the tabs  31  still abut against the upper surface  40  of ridge  22  before the tabs  31  are pulled sufficiently out of the way so that those tabs would clear stop  33 . Due to ridge  22  and the construction of its upper surface  40 , the tabs cannot be pulled down sufficiently close to a vertical orientation in order to clear stop  33 . In effect, the upper surface  40  serves as an abutment surface, limiting the downward travel for tabs  31 . While ridge  22  can be a continuous annular form, it can also be segmented and, if segmented, it is preferable to have a segment in alignment with each tab so as to provide the described abutment. With ridge  22  present, even if a tool is inserted and even if the tabs  31  are pulled down, the tabs cannot be pulled down a sufficient degree due to the abutment against surface  40 , and this effectively causes the tabs to abut up against stop  33  during any removal attempt of closure  20  from container  32 . With this abutment of the tabs  31  against stop  33 , and if there is a continued retrograde turning of the closure off of the container neck, this will cause the frangible elements  27  to break and thus there will be an indication of any tampering attempt.  
         [0025]     While the preferred construction for closure  20  is as a unitary, molded plastic component, the present invention involving the addition of annular ridge  22  is equally applicable to metal closures as well as plastic and can be incorporated into a metal closure with a plastic liner. The present invention can be included as part of twist-to-open or close closure designs similar to what is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9  or as part of a more simplistic closure structure, such as that illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , closure  20  has a twist-to-open design based on a cam action involving a spiral tract. Dispensing spout  45  is hollow and opens into the neck opening of whatever container is used and to which closure  20  is threadedly assembled, such as container  32 . Cylindrical top  46  is connected to cylindrical wall  47  by three triangular, webbed spokes  48 . The openings  49  between adjacent spokes  48  provide the flow paths for the contents of the container  32  to be dispensed. The twist-to-open and twist-to-close design of spout  45  works in cooperation with movable twist cap  50  (see  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9 ). Cap  50  is constructed and arranged to snap onto closure  20  and to be connected thereto.  
         [0027]     In the closed condition, tip  46  fits closely into opening  51  such that openings  49  are closed off by the upper inner surface  50 a of cap  50 . With counter clockwise twisting of cap  50  of approximately 100 degrees, cap  50  moves axially upwardly away from closure  20  by means of a camming action involving movement of a raised portion within a receiving channel. This axial movement causes opening  51  to separate axially from tip  46 . This in turn results in uncovering openings  49  and creating dispensing paths for the contents of the container. With the closure assembly (closure  20  and cap  50 ) in the open condition, inverting or tilting the container  32  enables the contents, or at least some portion of the contents, to be dispensed by pouring or assisted by squeezing the sides of the container.  
         [0028]     To close the closure assembly, the cap  50  is turned approximately 100 degrees in a clockwise direction and the cap  50  cams downwardly in the direction of closure  20 . This action brings cap  50  axially downward to close off the openings  49  as the tip  46  fits snugly into and against opening  51 .  
         [0029]     The described camming action involves the interfit of raised segments  60  on the dispensing spout  45  and cooperating channels  61  formed in the inner sleeve  62  of cap  50 . The axially depending tabs  63  that are integral with the lower edge  64  of sleeve  62  abut up against opposing stops  65  so as to limit the clockwise and counter clockwise travel of the cap  50  relative to closure  20 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , closure  70  is a conventional flat top  71 , cylindrical side wall  72  closure that is internally threaded for closing the neck opening of a container (see  FIG. 11 ). Closure  70  includes a unique liner  73  with a wave portion for securely sealing the closure-to-container interface whether the container is subjected to a hot fill process, an aseptic fill process, or a nitrogen fill process. Closure  70  is the subject of another commonly-owned, co-pending patent application filed on the same date as this application. The attorney docket number for this corresponding patent application is RKE-095/1104-855. This co-pending application is expressly incorporated by reference herein for its entire teachings. Whether this style of closure is used with the present invention or whether closure  20  is used, the construction and arrangement of tamper-evident band  21  remains the same, the design of the locking tabs  31  remains the same, the frangible elements  27  remain the same, and the annular ridge  22  of the present invention remains the same.  
         [0031]     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.