Patent Publication Number: US-2021179324-A1

Title: Tethered container closure

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application, entitled “Tethered Container Closure,” filed on Dec. 13, 2019 and having application Ser. No. 62/948,144, the entirety of said application being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of plastic bottles and preforms. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to an apparatus and methods for a container closure that includes a tether configured to keep the closure coupled with a plastic container after the closure has been unsealed to access contents within the container. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Plastic containers have been used as a replacement for glass or metal containers in the packaging of beverages for several decades. The most common plastic used in making beverage containers today is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Containers made of PET are transparent, thin walled, and have the ability to maintain their shape by withstanding the force exerted on the walls of the container by their contents. PET resins are also reasonably priced and easy to process. PET bottles are generally made by a process that includes the blow-molding of plastic preforms which have been made by injection molding of the PET resin. 
     Advantages of plastic packaging include lighter weight and decreased breakage as compared to glass, and lower costs overall when taking both production and transportation into account. Although plastic packaging is lighter in weight than glass, there is still great interest in creating the lightest possible plastic packaging so as to maximize the cost savings in both transportation and manufacturing by making and using containers that contain less plastic. 
     A plastic container for storing liquid contents typically includes a base that extends up to a grip portion suitable for affixing a label, as well as providing a location for grasping the container. The grip portion generally transitions into a shoulder, which connects to a bell. The bell has a diameter that generally decreases as the bell extends upward from the shoulder to a neck and a finish. The finish is adapted to receive a closure, such as a bottle cap, to seal the contents within the interior of the plastic container. 
     In many instances, the closure includes a tamper evidence band that is disposed around the perimeter of the finish. The tamper evidence band generally remains positioned on the finish when an end-user loosens the closure to access the contents within the container. As such, the tamper evidence band and the finish cooperate to indicate to the end-user whether or not the closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer. 
     Advantages of plastic containers include lighter weight and decreased breakage as compared to glass, and lower costs overall when taking both production and transportation into account. As such, there is a continuous interest in creating the lightest possible plastic container so as to maximize cost savings in both transportation and manufacturing by making and using containers that contain less plastic. 
     One difficulty that may be associated with closures typically installed onto plastic containers is that once the closure is removed from the container, the closure is separable from the container. This may result in the closure being misplaced or lost after being removed from the container, thus hindering resealing unfinished liquid contents within the container. In some instances, misplaced or lost closures may contribute to plastic waste littering the environment. As such, there is a desire to attach or tether closures to plastic containers so as to reduce the environmental impact of misplaced closures while maintaining the convenience and enjoyment often associated with drinking beverages by way of plastic containers. Embodiments disclosed herein provide container closures that include tethers configured to keep the closures coupled with plastic containers after the closures have been unsealed to access contents within the containers. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus and methods are provided for a container closure that includes a tether that keeps the closure coupled with a plastic container after the closure has been unsealed to access contents within the container. The container closure comprises a closure portion coupled to a tamper evidence band by a tether bridge. The closure portion is configured to threadably engage with a finish portion of the container and seal contents in an interior of the container. The tamper evidence band is adapted to remain engaged with the finish portion when the closure portion is removed from the finish portion. A multiplicity of thin connections between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion are configured to break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. The tether bridge remains unbroken and is configured to allow the closure portion to be tilted away from the finish portion by an end-user. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container and remaining coupled with the container after being unsealed from the container comprises: a closure portion for threadably engaging with a finish portion of the container; a tamper evidence band for engaging with the finish portion; and a tether bridge for keeping the closure portion attached to the tamper evidence band. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a multiplicity of thin connections attach the tamper evidence band to closure portion and are configured to break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. In another exemplary embodiment, the tamper evidence band is configured to remain engaged with the finish portion when the closure portion is removed from the finish portion, thereby causing the thin connections to break apart and allow the closure portion to separate from the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge is configured such that only the thin connections break apart during loosening of the closure portion. In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge is formed during injection-molding by allowing material comprising the closure to remain disposed between a pair of adjacent thin connections. In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge is formed after injection-molding by using a blade to create spaces between the thin connections and avoiding cutting at the location of the tether bridge. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge comprises a single piece of material that extends between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion. In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge comprises two or more portions of material joining the tamper evidence band and the closure portion. In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge is configured to keep the closure portion attached to the finish portion after the closure portion is unsealed from the finish portion. In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge is configured to flex while the closure portion is tilted with respect to the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, the tether bridge comprises a relatively thick portion of plastic that is configured to resist breaking during tilting the closure portion away from the finish portion. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method for a closure to seal contents within an interior of a container and remain coupled with the container after being unsealed from the container comprises: configuring a closure portion for threadably engaging with a finish portion of the container; configuring a tamper evidence band for engaging with the finish portion; and joining the closure portion and the tamper evidence band by way of a tether bridge. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, joining includes configuring the tether bridge to keep the closure portion attached to the finish portion after the closure portion is unsealed from the finish portion. In another exemplary embodiment, joining includes configuring the tether bridge to flex when the closure portion is tilted with respect to the tamper evidence band. In another exemplary embodiment, joining includes extending a single piece of material comprising the tether bridge between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion. In another exemplary embodiment, joining includes coupling the tamper evidence band and the closure portion by way of two or more portions of material comprising the tether bridge. In another exemplary embodiment, joining includes coupling the closure portion and the tamper evidence band by way of a multiplicity of thin connections configured to break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. In another exemplary embodiment, joining includes configuring the tether bridge such that only the thin connections break apart during loosening of the closure portion. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the tether bridge includes injection-molding such that material comprising the closure fills one or more spaces between adjacent thin connections. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method for a closure comprises: loosening a closure portion threaded onto a finish portion of the container; breaking a multiplicity of thin connections disposed between the closure portion and a tamper evidence band engaged with the finish portion; and bending a tether bridge disposed between the closure portion and a tamper evidence band by tilting the closure portion away from the finish portion. 
     These and other features of the concepts provided herein may be better understood with reference to the drawings, description, and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an exemplary container suitable for storing liquid contents, including pressurized contents; 
         FIG. 2  a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a preform suitable for being blow-molded to form a container in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a tethered closure that is configured to remain coupled with a container after the tethered closure is unsealed from the container by an end-user; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a tethered configuration of the tethered closure of  FIG. 3  that may occur upon the tethered closure being loosened from a container by an end-user; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary-use environment wherein an exemplary embodiment of a tethered closure has been installed onto a finish portion of a container and then subsequently untightened from the finish portion. 
     
    
    
     While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “first bottle,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first bottle” is different than a “second bottle.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein. 
     In general, there is a desire to attach or tether closures to plastic containers so as to reduce the environmental impact of misplaced closures while maintaining the convenience and enjoyment often associated with drinking beverages by way of plastic containers. One difficulty typically associated with closures installed onto plastic containers is that once the closure is removed from the container, the closure may be misplaced or lost. Lost closures hinder resealing unfinished liquid contents within containers and may contribute to plastic waste littering the environment. Embodiments disclosed herein provide container closures that include tethers configured to keep the closures coupled with plastic containers after the closures have been unsealed to access contents within the containers. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an exemplary container  100  typically used for storing liquid contents, such as water, juice, and particularly carbonated contents. The container  100  comprises a base  104  that extends up to a grip portion  108 . In some embodiments, the base  104  may be of the petaloid variety, although other configurations of the base may be incorporated into the container  100 , without limitation. The grip portion  108  comprises a plurality of grip portion ribs  112  (i.e., sidewall ribs). As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the plurality of grip portion ribs  112  generally vary in depth, and swirl or angulate around the grip portion  108 . A label portion  116  is connected to the grip portion  108  and comprises one or more label panel ribs (not shown). The label panel portion  116  transitions into a shoulder  124 , which connects to a bell  128 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bell  128  comprises a plurality of design features  132 . In other embodiments, however, the bell  128  may include various other design features, or may be smooth and generally unornamented. The bell  128  connects to a neck  136 , which connects to a finish  140 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bell  128  comprises a diameter that generally decreases as the bell  128  extends upward from the shoulder  124  to the neck  136  and the finish  140 . The finish  140  is adapted to receive a closure, such as by way of non-limiting example, a container cap or closure  144 , so as to seal contents within the container  100 . The finish  140  generally defines an opening that leads to an interior of the container  100  for containing a beverage, or other contents, such as any of a variety of carbonated soft drinks. The finish  140  may be of the Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) variety, or may be configured to receive closures suitable for sealing noncarbonated contents within the interior of the container  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a tamper evidence closure  144  may be threadably engaged with the finish  140  of  FIG. 3 . The closure  144  generally includes interior threads that are configured to engage with threads disposed on the finish  140 , as described herein. During tightening of the closure  144  onto the finish  140 , a plug seal of the closure  144  extends into the opening of the container  100  and enters into a pressed relationship with the finish  140  whereby contents may be sealed in the interior of the container  100 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the closure  144  includes a tamper evidence band  148  to provide an indication of whether or not the closure  144  has been loosened after being installed by a manufacturer. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band  148  may be attached to the closure  144  by a multiplicity of thin connections. The tamper evidence band  148  may include a cam that is configured to fixedly engage with a tamper evidence ledge disposed on the finished  140  during loosening of the closure  144 . Once the closure  144  is installed onto the finish  140  by a manufacturer and later an end-user loosens the closure  144 , the cam engages the tamper evidence ledge, breaking the thin connections between tamper evidence band  148  and the closure  144 . The tamper evidence band  148  remains positioned on the tamper evidence ledge after the closure  144  is removed from the container  100 . As such, the tamper evidence band  148  cooperates with the tamper evidence ledge to indicate to the end-user whether or not the closure  144  has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a preform  160  suitable for being blow-molded to form a plastic bottle, such as the container  100 , according to the present disclosure. The preform  160  preferably is made of material approved for contact with food and beverages such as virgin PET or recycled PET and can be of any of a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The preform  160  shown in  FIG. 2  is of the type which will form a 12-16 oz. beverage bottle, but as will be understood by those skilled in the art, other preform configurations may be used depending upon the desired configuration, characteristics and use of the final article. The preform  160  may be made by injection molding methods, without limitation. 
     The preform  160  includes a finish portion  164  and a body portion  168 , formed monolithically (i.e., as a single, or unitary, structure). Advantageously, the monolithic arrangement of the preform  160 , when blow-molded into a bottle, provides greater dimensional stability and improved physical properties in comparison to a preform constructed of separate neck and body portions that are bonded together. 
     The finish portion  164  begins at an opening  172  to an interior of the preform  160  and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge  176 . The finish portion  164  is further characterized by the presence of one or more threads  180  configured to provide a means to fasten the closure  144  (see  FIG. 1 ) onto the container  100  produced from the preform  160 . As such, the threads  180  are configured to rotatably engage with similar threads disposed within the closure  144  to provide a way to seal contents within the container  100 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each of the threads  180  generally extends along a section of the circumference of the finish portion  164  and approaches the tamper evidence ledge  176 . Thus, when the threads of the closure  144  are engaged with the threads  180 , and the closure  144  is rotated in a clockwise direction, the closure  144  advances toward the tamper evidence ledge  176 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , each of the one or more threads  180  begins at a thread start  184  and extends along an angular section of the finish portion  164  to a thread end  188 . The thread start  184  is configured to guide a thread comprising the closure  144  into a space, or a valley  190 , between adjacent threads  180  so as to threadably engage the closure  144  with the finish portion  164 . Further, the threads  180  generally are disposed adjacently to one another, separated by valleys  190 , and are spaced uniformly around the circumference of the finish portion  164 . In some embodiments, wherein three threads  180  are disposed around the finish portion  164 , the thread starts  184  of adjacent threads  180  are spaced at substantially 120-degree intervals around the perimeter of the finish portion  164 . As will be appreciated, however, more or less than three threads  180  may be incorporated into the finish portion  164  without deviating beyond the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, a plurality of gaps (not shown) may be disposed in the threads  180  and positioned uniformly around the perimeter of the finish portion  164 . Preferably, the gaps of adjacent threads  180  are vertically aligned so as to form channels extending longitudinally along the finish portion  164 . The channels advantageously operate to relieve pressure within the container  100  when the closure  144  is loosened. As will be appreciated, the channels may provide a direct route for gases escaping the interior of the container  100 , rather than the gases being forced to travel around the finish portion  164  between adjacent threads  180 . 
     The body portion  168  includes a neck portion  192  that extends to a tapered portion  196  of the body portion  168 . The tapered portion  196  comprises a smooth transition from a diameter of the neck portion  192  to a relatively smaller diameter of a cylindrical portion  200  of the preform  160 . The cylindrical portion  200  is a generally elongate member that culminates in an end cap  204 . In some embodiments the body portion  168  may be generally cylindrical, and the end cap  204  may be conical or frustoconical and may also be hemispherical, and the very terminus of the end cap  204  may be flattened or rounded. 
     In some embodiments, a wall thickness of the cylindrical portion  200  may be substantially uniform throughout the cylindrical portion  200  and the end cap  204 . A wall thickness of the tapered portion  196 , however, generally decreases from the wall thickness of the cylindrical portion  200  to a relatively thinner wall thickness of the neck portion  192 . As will be appreciated, the wall thickness of the cylindrical portion  200  is relatively greater than the wall thickness of the neck portion  192  so as to provide a wall thickness at the desired dimensions of a finished product after the preform  160  is blow-molded into the shape and size of a bottle. As such, the wall thickness throughout most of the body portion  168  will depend upon the overall size of the preform  160  and the wall thickness and overall size of the resulting container. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , the tamper evidence ledge  176  comprises a rounded upper portion  232  and a substantially flat lower portion  236 . As will be appreciated, the rounded upper portion  232  facilitates passing the tamper evidence band  148  of the closure  144  over the tamper evidence ledge  176  during assembly of the closure  144  onto the container  100 . The flat lower portion  236  is configured to retain the tamper evidence band  148  positioned below the tamper evidence ledge  176  during loosening of the closure  144 . For example, when the closure  144  is initially installed onto the container  100  by a manufacturer, the tamper evidence band  148  easily passes over the tamper evidence ledge  176  due to the rounded upper portion  232 . When an end-user later loosens the closure  144 , the flat lower portion  236  retains the tamper evidence band  148  below the tamper evidence ledge  176 , causing the tamper evidence band  148  to break loose from the closure  144 . Thus, the flat lower portion  236  of the tamper evidence ledge  176  and the tamper evidence band  148  of the closure  144  cooperate to indicate to the end-user that the closure  144  has not been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer. It should be understood, however, that the tamper evidence ledge  176  is not limited to being coupled with tamper evidence bands, as described above, but rather the tamper evidence ledge  176  may be configured to operate with any of various devices for indicating whether or not the container has been previously opened. 
     Disposed between the tamper evidence ledge  176  and the threads  180  is a handling valley  240  that extends circumferentially around the finish portion  164 . The handling valley  240  comprises a portion of the finish portion  164  that has a wall thickness and a diameter that are substantially similar to the wall thickness and diameter of the neck portion  192 , below the tamper evidence ledge  176 . As such, the handling valley  240  and the neck portion  192  advantageously enable gripping fingers to engage with and support the container  100  during air-conveying the container  100  along a manufacturing assembly. For example, a first pair of gripping fingers can extend into the handling valley  240  to support the container  100  at a first station of a manufacturing line. Then, upon being conveyed to a second station, a second pair of gripping fingers can extend around the neck portion  192 , below the tamper evidence ledge  176 , while the first pair of gripping fingers are removed from the handling valley  240 . Similarly, upon arriving at a third station, a third pair of gripping fingers can engage with the handling valley  240  while the second pair of gripping fingers are removed from the neck portion  192 . Thus, the container  100  can be transported along the manufacturing line by alternatingly engaging gripping fingers with the handling valley  240  and the neck portion  192 . 
     As will be appreciated, the handling valley  240  provides a separation between the tamper evidence ledge  176  and the threads  180  suitable for receiving the pair of gripping fingers, as described above. In general, the separation must be large enough to allow the gripping fingers to easily pass between the tamper evidence ledge  176  and the threads  180 . As such, any of various separations, greater than the width of the gripping fingers, may be disposed between the tamper evidence ledge  176  and the threads  180 , without limitation and without deviating beyond the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As described herein, once the preform  160  has been blow-molded to form the container  100  and then the container  100  has been filled with liquid contents, the closure  144  is installed onto the finish portion  164 , by way of suitable equipment, to seal the contents in the interior of the container  100 . In general, the threads  180  disposed around the finish portion  164  are engaged with similar threads comprising the closure  144  and then the closure  144  is rotated in a clockwise direction to advance the closure  144  toward the tamper evidence ledge  176 . The closure  144  preferably is tightened until the tamper evidence band  148  is pushed over the tamper evidence ledge  176  and a plug seal comprising the closure  144  extends into the opening  172  of the finish portion  164 , thereby sealing the liquid contents within the container  100 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a tethered closure  244  is shown. The tethered closure  244  generally is configured to remain coupled with a plastic container, such as the container  100 , after the tethered closure  244  has been unsealed from the finish portion  164  by an end-user to access contents within the container  100 . The illustrated embodiment of the tethered closure  244  includes a closure portion  248  that is coupled with a tamper evidence band  252  by way of a tether bridge  256 . Upon the closure portion  248  being removed from the container  100 , the tamper evidence band  252  remains fixed to the finish portion  164  while the tether bridge  256  couples the closure portion  248  with the tamper evidence band  252 . As such, the tether bridge  256  keeps the closure portion  248  attached to the container  100  after the closure portion  248  is unsealed from the finish portion  164  to access the contents within the container  100 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the closure portion  248  is configured to be threadably engaged with the finish portion  164  shown in  FIG. 2 . The closure portion  248  includes interior threads that are configured to engage with the threads  180  of the finish portion  164 , as described herein. As such, the threads of the closure portion  248  extend into the thread valleys  190  extending around the finish portion  164 . During tightening of the closure portion  248  onto the finish portion  164 , a plug seal disposed within the closure portion  248  extends into the opening  172  and enters into a pressed relationship with the finish portion  164  whereby contents may be sealed within the interior of the container  100 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a plurality of knurls  260  may be arranged on top of the closure portion  248  and configured to facilitate grasping the closure portion  248  during tightening and untightening the closure portion  248  on the finish portion  164 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a multiplicity of thin connections  264  attach the tamper evidence band  252  to closure portion  248 . The thin connections  264  are configured to break apart when the closure portion  248  is untightened from the finish portion  164 , such as during opening the container  100  to access the contents within the container  100 . The tamper evidence band  252  generally includes a cam, or a similar structure, disposed around an interior perimeter of the tamper evidence band  252  that interferes with the flat lower portion  236  of the tamper evidence ledge  176 . Thus, when an end-user loosens the closure portion  248 , the flat lower portion  236  retains the tamper evidence band  252  below the tamper evidence ledge  176 , causing the thin connections  264  to break apart and thus allowing the closure portion  248  to separate from the tamper evidence band  252 . 
     Once all the thin connections are broken, the tethered closure  244  assumes a tethered configuration  280  as best shown in  FIG. 4 . In the tethered configuration  280 , the tamper evidence band  252  resembles a loop of plastic coupled to the closure portion  248  solely by way of the tether bridge  256 . As will be appreciated, the tether bridge  256  flexes while the closure portion  248  is tilted with respect to the tamper evidence band  252 . It is contemplated that the tether bridge  256  comprises a relatively thick portion of plastic that is configured to resist breaking during tilting the closure portion  248  away from the finish portion  164 . 
     In general, the tether bridge  256  is configured similarly to the tamper evidence band  252 , such that only the thin connections  264  break apart during loosening of the closure portion  248 . For example, in some embodiments wherein the tethered closure  244  is formed by way of injection-molding, the tether bridge  256  may be formed by allowing the material comprising the tethered closure  244  to remain disposed between a pair of adjacent thin connections  264 . In one exemplary embodiment, a mold for injection-molding the tethered closure  244  may be configured to allow the material comprising the closure  244  to fill one or more spaces  268  (see  FIG. 3 ) between the thin connections  264 . As such, one or more protrusions comprising the mold that form the spaces  268  may be omitted in the location of the mold that forms the tether bridge  256 . Further, in some embodiments wherein a knife or other type of blade is used to form the spaces  268  after injection-molding the tethered closure  244 , the blade may be configured to avoid cutting the tethered closure  244  at the location of the tether bridge  256 . It should be understood, therefore, that the tether bridge  256  is formed generally by leaving material comprising the tethered closure  244  intact within one or more spaces  268  between the thin connections  264 , and thus the tether bridge  256  may be formed by way of various diverse techniques without limitation, and without deviating beyond the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary-use environment wherein the tethered closure  244  has been installed onto a container  272 , formed from the preform  160  of  FIG. 2 , and then subsequently untightened from the finish portion  164  of the container  272 . During installation of the tethered closure  244  onto the container  272 , the rounded upper portion  232  of the tamper evidence ledge  176  facilitates passing the tamper evidence band  252  over the tamper evidence ledge  176 . As described herein, the flat lower portion  236  of the tamper evidence ledge  176  retains the tamper evidence band  252  positioned below the tamper evidence ledge  176  during loosening of the closure portion  248 . As such, loosening the closure portion  248  on the finish portion  164  causes the thin connections  264  to break apart, thus causing the tethered closure  244  to assume the tethered configuration  280  discussed in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , upon removing the closure portion  248  from the finish portion  164 , the tether bridge  256  bends and allows the closure portion  248  to be tilted with respect to the tamper evidence band  252 . As such, the tether bridge  256  keeps the closure portion  248  attached to the container  272  after the closure portion  248  is unsealed from the finish portion  164  to access the contents within the container  272 . It is contemplated that keeping the closure portion  248  coupled with the container  272  will substantially eliminate instances of misplacing the closure portion  248 , thereby encouraging the end-user reengaging the closure portion  248  with the finish portion  164  to store unfinished contents within the container  272 , as well as preventing the closure portion  248  from contributing to plastic waste being deposited into the environment. 
     As described hereinabove, the finish portion  164  includes a handing valley  240  disposed adjacent to the rounded upper portion  232  of the tamper evidence ledge  176 . Upon comparing  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , it straightforward to see that the tamper evidence band  252  is fixated on top of the tamper evidence ledge  176 . In some embodiments, however, the tether closure  244  may be configured to position the tamper evidence band  252  entirely beneath the tamper evidence ledge  176 , as described hereinabove. Further, in some embodiments, the tamper evidence ledge  176  may be configured to fixate the tamper evidence band  252  on top of the tamper evidence ledge  176 , in lieu of being positioned below the tamper evidence ledge, without limitation. 
     Moreover, it should be understood that the tethered closure  244  is not to be limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings and described hereinabove. For example, the tether bridge  256  is not to be limited to comprising a single piece of material that extends from the tamper evidence band  252  to the closure portion  248 . In some embodiments, for example, the tether bridge  256  may comprise two or more portions of material joining the tamper evidence band  252  and the closure portion  248 . It is contemplated that in such embodiments, the two or more portions of material comprising the tether bridge  256  generally are narrower than the single piece of material comprising the tether bridge  256  shown in  FIG. 3 . It is further contemplated that the tether bridge  256  may comprise any of various structures or mechanisms that facilitate tilting the closure portion  248  relative to the finish portion  264 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . For example, in some embodiments, the tether bridge  256  may include one or more cuts that cause the tether bridge  256  to operate similarly to a scissor hinge when the closure portion  248  is removed from the finish portion  164 . As such, the tether bridge  256  may include a wide variety of different configurations and include mechanisms other than shown and discussed herein, without limitation, and without deviating beyond the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.