Patent Publication Number: US-4729488-A

Title: Tamper-evident cover for threaded neck

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a new and improved tamper-evident cover for threaded necks of cylinders of the type used in the sale of propane, butane and LP gases. More particularly, the invention relates to a cover which fits over the threaded end of a neck to protect the same against damage to the threads, unintentional accidental opening of the valve located in the neck to release gas and/or tampering. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Heretofore commercially available necks of the type used on such containers have been protected by dust covers consisting of discs having cylindrical skirts which fit over the neck and are held in place by friction. The present invention provides numerous advantages over such covers as hereinafter explained. 
     Container caps of the general type herein described are shown in such references as U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,900. The present invention has advantages over such closures as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A heavy walled, pressurized container used for supplying gas for portable stoves, lanterns, torches and the like is provided with a neck in which a dispensing valve is located. This valve is opened when the cylinder is properly connected to the device with which it is to be used. The upper end of the neck has an annular flat surface. The exterior of the neck has screw threads spaced downwardly from the outer end of the neck. Below the threads is a shoulder extending inward to a neck which projects up from the top of the cylindrical container. 
     The cap of the present invention has a top disc which fits against the outer end of the neck and a peripheral upper skirt which surrounds the portion of the neck above the threads. The lower portion of the skirt covers the threads and has an internal bead which snaps under the shoulder and normally retains the cap in place and prevents, or at least provides evidence of, tampering. To remove the cap, there is a circumferential horizontal score line formed in the lower portion of the skirt connected to a downwardly extending second score line which extends to the bottom of the skirt. Adjacent the second score line is a pull tab which may be gripped by the user and when pulled tears the cap first along the second score line and then around the first score line, removing the bottom portion of the skirt including the bead aforesaid. Thereupon the upper portion of the cap functions as a reclosure cap. The cap is so constructed that the bottom edge of the skirt rests upon the top of the cylinder and the tab is bent extending outward so that it may be conveniently grasped. 
     Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views. 
    
    
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of cap embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the cap installed upon the neck of a gas cylinder. 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modification. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 2 is shown the upper portion of a cylinder 11 in which pressurized gases of the type heretofore described are packaged. There is a horizontal ledge 12 at the top of the cylinder 11 from which projects upwardly neck 13. The lower portion 14 of neck 13 is cylindrical and extends to a larger diameter threaded portion 16, there being a horizontal shoulder 17 below the threaded portion 16. Above the threaded portion 16 is a reduced diameter cylindrical portion 18 having a rounded corner 19 at its upper end. Neck 13 has an internal throat 21 formed with a larger diameter internal bore 22 in which a dispensing valve (not shown) is installed as well understood in this art. The details of the shape of the bore 22 form no part of the present invention. On the outer end of the neck 13 is a horizontal lip 23 extending outward from the upper end of the bore 22 to the corner 19. 
     Cap 26 of the present invention has a flat top disc 27, the lower surface of which engages the lip 23. Below disc 23 is a rounded corner 30, the inner surface of which engages the corner 19 and below the corner 30 is a cylindrical upper skirt 28, the internal wall 29 of which snugly engages the portion 18 of the neck 13. Below upper skirt 28 is an S-curved transition section 32 and below that is cylindrical lower skirt 33 of larger diameter than portion 28. The bottom edge 34 of skirt 33 rests upon the ledge 12. Internal bead 36 fits under the shoulder 17. Thus when the cap is applied to the neck 13, the skirt 33 stretches until the bead 36 snaps under the shoulder 17. When thus in place, the cap cannot be removed without providing evidence of tampering. Bead 36 may be continuous around the circumference of skirt 33 or it may be interrupted, as is shown in such references as U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,455. 
     When the cap 26 is in place on the neck 13 as shown in FIG. 2, it prevents dirt from entering in the bore 32. It also prevents any object from accidentally entering the bore 32 and opening the dispensing valve which is located therein. In addition, the cap 26 prevents a dishonest person from using all or part of the contents of the container and then selling it as a full container. 
     As best shown in FIG. 1, there is a horizontal circumferential first internal score line 37 near the upper end of the lower skirt portion 33 which connects with a downwardly curved second score line 38 which extends to the bottom edge 34. As shown in FIG. 1, this score line 38 curves toward the right. It will be understood, however, that it could also be constructed so that it curves to the left. Adjacent the lower edge of score line 38 is a pull tab 41 which may be formed with gripping ribs 42. Since the bottom edge 34 rests on the shoulder 12, as best shown in FIG. 2, the tab 41 extends outwardly along the ledge 12 and because of the ribs 42, is spaced above the ledge 12 to facilitate grasping the tab. The ribs 42 also improve the grip of the user on the tab. The user, therefore, pulls the tab 41 upward, along the second score line 38 and thence around the first score line 37, removing most of the bottom skirt portion 33, including particularly the bead 36. Thereafter the upper end of the cap 26 may be removed and may subsequently be reused as a re-closure cap if this should become desirable. Since tearing the score lines 38 and 37 gives evidence of tampering, the cap is tamper-evident. 
     FIG. 3 shows a modification wherein the second score line extends downwardly to bottom edge 34a at a slant and the tab 47 also extends at a slant, the upper edge of tab 47 constituting an extension of the score line 46. Here again, although as shown in FIG. 3 the score line 46 slants downward to the right, it could also slant to the left. 
     As shown in FIG. 3 there are external flutes 49 which comprise spaced vertical external ribs in the upper skirt portion 28. Such ribs 49 facilitate gripping the reclosure cap. They also permit expansion of the upper skirt portion 28a so that, by reason of its resilient characteristics, it may tightly grip the reduced diameter portion 18. In other respects the cap of FIG. 3 denominated 26a resembles that of FIG. 1 and the same reference numerals followed by the subscript a are used to designate corresponding parts.