STEP TWIST ZIPPED VISUAL TAMPER-EVIDENT CAP AND NECK FINISH
A tamper-evident cap is disclosed having a circular closure member, a cylindrical annular wall depending generally from the periphery of the closure member terminating with a base and having a plurality of serrations, and a tamper-evident band circumferentially positioned around the base having teeth and attached to a portion of the base. The tamper-evident band may be mounted to the base by at least one of the teeth or attached by at least one of the serrations extending below the base. The interior and/or exterior of the cylindrical wall may be stepped. The tamper-evident band may have a groove between the teeth for retaining the tamper-evident band on a neck finish. A neck finish having at least one set of teeth and optional raised portions for securing the tamper-evident band in place is also disclosed. The neck finish may be stepped to correspond with a cap having a cylindrical wall with a stepped interior. A cap and neck finish combination for a container is also disclosed.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/370,656 filed on Aug. 4, 2010 and 61/414,680 filed on Nov. 17, 2010.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to closure devices and, more particularly, to tamper-evident caps for containers.
BACKGROUNDVarious types of caps have been used for removably sealing containers, such as blow molded or injection molded bottles. One such cap has spiral threads extending along an interior surface which threads match corresponding threads along an exterior surface of a bottle neck. Such caps may also have a tamper-evident band projecting outward along a lower rim of the cap to show evidence if the cap has been removed or otherwise tampered with. The rim can be helpful for positioning the band circumferentially around the cap, but it can also add to the bulk and weight of the cap. Further, the threads along the cap interior surface can be long thus requiring significant rotation to securely apply and attach the cap to the bottle neck.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to a tamper-evident cap and a corresponding neck finish for a container. In embodiments, the cap includes a circular closure member, a cylindrical wall depending from the closure and having serrations, and a tamper-evident band. In embodiments, the interior and/or exterior of the cylindrical wall may be stepped or stacked. In other embodiments, the tamper-evident band has teeth diverted inwardly to mesh with teeth on the neck finish and is circumferentially positioned around a base of the cylindrical wall with at least one of the teeth mounted to the base. Optionally the band is attached to the base by at least one serration that extends below the base of the cylindrical wall. In further embodiments, the tamper-evident band may have a groove between the teeth to assist with retaining the tamper-evident band on the neck finish of the container. The cap may have a sealing plug or a liner on the underside. The cylindrical wall has a threaded inner surface in a manner to cooperate and removably engage with threads of a neck finish of a container. In one embodiment, at least one of the threads of the interior wall of the cap has a bulbous portion.
Other embodiments of the invention are directed to an open end portion or neck finish of a container. In embodiments, the neck finish is formed from a cylindrical wall that defines an opening therethrough. The cylindrical wall includes a first end portion that is open to the outside and adapted to fit a cap, a second end portion that terminates at the container body, and at least one set of ratchet teeth positioned around a portion of an outer surface of the cylindrical wall at the second end. The cylindrical wall of the neck finish may be stepped to correspond with a stepped interior of the cap. In one embodiment, at least one of the ratchet teeth has a raised portion either on top or adjacent to aid in retaining the tamper-evident band of the cap. In other embodiments, multiple threads are angularly positioned on the exterior of the cylindrical wall between the first end and the second end to mate with corresponding threads fondled along the interior of the cap. In embodiments, at least one of the threads of the neck finish has a bulbous or wider portion to ease positioning of the cap on the container.
In embodiments the cap and the neck finish have multiple threads and multiple leads to enable the cap to lock onto the neck finish by rotating the cap less than a full turn. In an example, the cap may be securely fit to the neck finish using less than 75 degrees rotation. The threading may also decrease the amount of resin material needed in the cap construction.
In embodiments, the tamper-evident band has a scalloped body configured to strengthen support for the cap. The strength may ease automated application of the cap to a neck finish. The scalloped body may be of a smaller overall size and, therefore, may require less resin material.
A cap and neck finish combination is also embodied herein.
Those and other details, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood or apparent from the following description and drawings showing embodiments thereof.
The accompanying drawings illustrate examples of embodiments of the present invention:
Various embodiments of the invention include a cap 30 that can be used to seal a container. See, for example,
A plurality of serrations 34 are positioned along the outer surface of the cylindrical wall 32. In examples, the serrations 34 are straight (
A tamper-evident band 35 is positioned beneath and attached to a portion of the base 33. The tamper-evident band 35 includes ratchet teeth 39 aligned along an interior surface shown for example in
The tamper-evident band 35 may also have an annular groove 40 between the ratchet teeth 39 to further retain the tamper-evident band 35 on the neck finish 50. See
Several helically spaced threads 43 are positioned on the inner surface of annular cylindrical wall 32. See
In various embodiments, the invention includes a cylindrical neck finish 50 shown for example in
Helically extending along the exterior surface of the wall 52 and generally between the first end 54 and second end 56 are threads 64. Threads 64 are helically spaced in contiguous relationship as illustrated for example in
Positioned at the second end 56 of the neck finish 50 may be at least one set of annular ratchet teeth 58 to provide a grip or cooperatively engage the corresponding teeth 39 of the tamper-evident band 35 of the cap 30 and prevent the tamper-evident band 35 from backing off. See
In another embodiment, the cap 30 may have an annular valve or sealing plug 47 depending from closure member 31, which can be press or friction fit. See
A combination of the disclosed cap 30 and the neck finish 50 is also embodied herein. See
While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that the detailed embodiments and Figures are presented for elucidation and not limitation. The invention may be otherwise varied, modified or changed within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A tamper-evident cap comprising:
- a circular closure member;
- a cylindrical annular wall depending from the closure member and having a first portion and a second portion having a base, wherein the first portion is adjacent to the closure member, an exterior surface having a plurality of serrations, and an interior surface with annular threads positioned to cooperate with threads on a neck finish; and
- a tamper-evident band circumferentially positioned around the second portion of the wall and including a plurality of teeth diverted inwardly and adapted to mesh with at least one set of teeth on the neck finish, wherein at least one of the teeth of the tamper-evident band is mounted to a portion of the base.
2. The cap as in claim 1, wherein at least one serration extends below the base, and at least one of the teeth on the tamper-evident band is attached to the cap by the at least one serration extending below the base.
3. The cap as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the annular wall threads has a bulbous portion.
4. The cap as in claim 1, wherein the exterior first portion of the cylindrical wall has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the cylindrical wall.
5. The cap as in claim 1, wherein the interior first portion of the cylindrical wall has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the cylindrical wall.
6. The cap as in claim 1, wherein the exterior cylindrical wall is straight.
7. The cap as in claim 6, further comprising a molded-in liner and a groove between the teeth and wherein the interior first portion of the cylindrical wall has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the cylindrical wall.
8. The cap as in claim 1, wherein the annular threads are thinner on the interior first portion and thicker on the interior second portion.
9. The cap as in claim 1, further comprising a sealing plug on the underside of the closure member.
10. The cap as in claim 1, further comprising a liner on the underside of the closure member.
11. The cap as in claim 10, wherein the liner comprises a poured-in-liner or a molded-in liner.
12. The cap as in claim 1, wherein the tamper-evident band has a groove between the teeth.
13. A tamper-evident cap comprising:
- a circular closure member;
- a cylindrical annular wall depending from the closure member and having a first portion and a second portion having a base, wherein the first portion is adjacent to the closure member and has a smaller interior diameter than the second portion, an exterior surface having a plurality of serrations, and an interior surface with annular threads positioned to cooperate with threads on a neck finish; and
- a tamper-evident band circumferentially positioned around and attached to the base of the cylindrical wall and including a plurality of teeth diverted inwardly and adapted to mesh with at least one set of teeth on the neck finish.
14. The cap as in claim 13, wherein at least one serration extends below the base, and at least one of the teeth on the tamper-evident band is attached to the cap by the at least one serration extending below the base.
15. The cap as in claim 13, wherein at least one of the annular wall threads has a bulbous portion.
16. The cap as in claim 13, wherein the exterior first portion of the cylindrical wall has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the cylindrical wall.
17. The cap as in claim 13, wherein the exterior cylindrical wall is straight.
18. The cap as in claim 17, further comprising a molded-in liner and a groove between the teeth and wherein at least one of the teeth of the tamper-evident band is mounted to the base.
19. The cap as in claim 13, wherein the annular threads are thinner on the interior first portion and thicker on the interior second portion.
20. The cap as in claim 13, further comprising a sealing plug on the underside of the closure member.
21. The cap as in claim 13, further comprising a liner on the underside of the closure member.
22. The cap as in claim 21, wherein the liner comprises a poured-in-liner or a molded-in liner.
23. The cap as in claim 13, wherein the tamper-evident band has a groove between the teeth.
24. The cap as in claim 13, wherein at least one of the teeth of the tamper-evident band is mounted to the base.
25. A tamper-evident cap comprising:
- a circular closure member;
- a cylindrical annular wall depending from the closure member and having a first portion and a second portion having a base, wherein the first portion is adjacent to the closure member, an exterior surface having a plurality of serrations, and an interior surface with annular threads positioned to cooperate with threads on a neck finish; and
- a tamper-evident band circumferentially positioned around and attached to the base of the cylindrical wall and having a plurality of teeth diverted inwardly and adapted to mesh with at least one set of teeth on the neck finish and a groove between the teeth.
26. The cap as in claim 25, wherein at least one serration extends below the base, and at least one of the teeth on the tamper-evident band is attached to the cap by the at least one serration extending below the base.
27. The cap as in claim 25, wherein at least one of the annular wall threads has a bulbous portion.
28. The cap as in claim 25, wherein the exterior first portion of the cylindrical wall has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the cylindrical wall.
29. The cap as in claim 25, wherein the interior first portion of the cylindrical wall has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the cylindrical wall.
30. The cap as in claim 25, wherein the exterior cylindrical wall is straight.
31. The cap as in claim 30, further comprising a molded-in liner and wherein the interior first portion of the cylindrical wall has a smaller diameter than the second portion of the cylindrical wall and at least one of the teeth of the tamper-evident band is mounted to the base.
32. The cap as in claim 25, wherein the annular threads are thinner on the interior first portion and thicker on the interior second portion.
33. The cap as in claim 25, further comprising a sealing plug on the underside of the closure member.
34. The cap as in claim 25, further comprising a liner on the underside of the closure member.
35. The cap as in claim 34, wherein the liner comprises a poured-in-liner or a molded-in liner.
36. The cap as in claim 25, wherein at least one of the teeth of the tamper-evident band is mounted to a portion of the base.
37. A neck finish for a container comprising:
- a cylindrical wall having a first end portion and second end portion, defining a cylindrical opening therethrough, and having at least one set of teeth positioned around at least a portion of the exterior cylindrical wall at the second end;
- at least one raised portion positioned around at least a portion of the exterior cylindrical wall at the second end with the teeth; and
- multiple threads angularly positioned on an exterior surface of the cylindrical wall between the first end and the second end.
38. The neck finish as in claim 37, wherein at least one of the neck finish cylindrical wall threads has a bulbous portion.
39. The neck finish as in claim 37, wherein the neck finish cylindrical wall threads have a leading edge that gradually widens into a central wider portion and relatively narrow end.
40. The neck finish as in claim 37, wherein the raised portion is scallop shaped.
41. The neck finish as in claim 37, wherein the raised portion is located adjacent the teeth.
42. The neck finish as in claim 37, wherein the raised portion is pyramid shaped.
43. The neck finish as in claim 37, wherein the raised portion is on top of the at least one set of teeth.
44. The neck finish as in claim 37, wherein the first end portion of the neck finish has a smaller diameter than the second end portion.
45. A container cap and neck finish combination comprising the cap of claim 25 and the neck finish of claim 37.
46. The container cap and neck finish combination of claim 45, wherein at least one of the teeth and the raised portion of the neck finish has a larger diameter than the teeth of the tamper-evident band of the cap.
47. The container cap and neck finish combination of claim 45, wherein the raised portion of the neck finish fits inside the groove of the tamper-evident band.
48. The container cap and neck finish combination of claim 45, wherein upon breaking of an attachment of the tamper-evident band to the base at least one of an audible sound is produced, the tamper-evident band is retained on the neck finish, and the tamper-evident band is pushed down away from the container cap when reapplying the container cap to the neck finish providing evidence of tampering.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 4, 2011
Publication Date: Feb 9, 2012
Applicant: Omega Cap Soultions LLC (New Castle, PA)
Inventors: Luca Molinaro (New Castle, PA), Robert E. Crisci (Naples, FL)
Application Number: 13/198,019
International Classification: B65D 41/34 (20060101); B65B 7/28 (20060101);