Line Of Weakness Extends Circumferentially Of Receptacle Mouth Opening Patents (Class 215/256)
  • Patent number: 5285912
    Abstract: A novel snap on pull off tamper indicating cap and neck configuration for containers, the cap having a top with an annular depending wall on its peripheral edge and seven circumferentially spaced continuous spiral thread configurations on the inner surface of the annular depending wall. A removable tear skirt with continuous ratchet teeth on its inner surface depends from the outer peripheral edge of an outturned flange on said annular wall. An annular rib on said ratchet teeth, the tear skirt is joined to the flange with only the points of the ratchet teeth, a pull tab on the tear skirt with frangible lines enabling removing of the tab and tear skirt from the cap. Ratchet teeth on the container have a continuous longitudinally extending notch within for interlocking registration with the annular rib on the ratchet teeth of the tear skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Northern Engineering & Plastics, Corp.
    Inventor: Luca Molinaro
  • Patent number: 5284265
    Abstract: A snap on non-replaceable cap for a plastic school milk bottle neck finish with an external annular rib has a top with an inwardly spaced sealing flange depending therefrom, the outer surface of the sealing flange is shaped downwardly and inwardly. A tear skirt having an inturned annular flange forming the peripheral edge of the top is joined to the top by a thin semi-annular tear line. An inturned rib is formed on the inner surface of the tear skirt which locks under the external rib on the neck finish. The tear skirt, including the inturned annular flange may be completely or partially torn away from the top to permit the top to be removed. To facilitate removal, the tear skirt is formed with a second tear line from a lower edge thereof to the thin semi-annular tear line in the top. A pull tab is formed adjacent the second tear line functions as a lift tab to remove the cap. The top and its depending sealing flange prevent the same from being replaced on the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Northern Engineering & Plastics Corp.
    Inventor: Harry E. Crisci
  • Patent number: 5279605
    Abstract: A one-piece unitary frangible spike connector for insertion into solution containers includes a spike body formed with a closure on one end thereof and a tubing receptacle on the other end thereof. An internal conduit extends from the tubing receptacle through the spike body partially into the closure. The frangible spike connector is broken apart along a reduced diameter portion tapered or formed at an angle to form a spike connected to the conduit on the spike body when the closure is broken off the spike body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Karrasch, Walter Makaryk
  • Patent number: 5269429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a closure cover (V) for infusion or transfusion bottles, having a stopper (6) which is adapted to the bottle neck (3) and is extended over by a cap (8) which is anchored by undergripping on the bottle neck (3), and it proposes in order to obtain a solution which is particularly advantageous from a structural standpoint, that the undergripping of the cap (8) is obtained by resilient individual tongues (10) which are secured in the undergrip position by a sliding ring (15) surrounding them, the cap having tabs biased outward from the bottle neck for serving at the same time to secure the sliding ring (15) in its support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Finke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Clemens Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5267661
    Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has at least one first helical thread on an upper neck stretch portion, and at least one external ratchet tooth on a locking wall portion below the upper neck stretch portion. The closure has an upper skirt having at least one second helical thread mating with the first helical thread of the neck. A downward extending lower skirt portion includes an outer skirt portion and a shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion. A frangible section interconnects the shoulder and the upper skirt portion. At least one substantially vertical fin is formed upstanding from the shoulder, preventing upward deformation of the lower skirt portion without breaking the frangible section. The lower skirt portion has at least one internal ratchet tooth, and is formed with a line of weakness extending through the outer skirt portion and the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Richard E. Repp
  • Patent number: 5257705
    Abstract: An inviolable cap for a flask which provides proof when tampered with. The cap has an interconnecting wall in a region where the body and the band of the cap adjoin one another. The wall includes a plurality of cut segments aligned in a circular fashion thereabout separated by a plurality of transverse interruptions, with one of the interruptions being at least twice as long as any of the cut segments and the rest of the transverse interruptions being substantially shorter than any of the cut segments. The band further includes a vertical cut with vertical interruptions. A projection on the band fits about a collar on the flask. When the cap is unscrewed, the shorter transverse and the vertical interruptions sever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: JBO Commercial Ltda.
    Inventor: Gildete V. de Santana
  • Patent number: 5249704
    Abstract: A sealing cap, for use on the valve of a barrel having an opening with a collar and a valve sealing plate, is made of plastics and is of the type which is damaged during opening. The cap comprises a cover plate and a cylindrical guide. Locking elements are disposed on an inner side of said cylindrical guide, and, in use, engage resiliently under the collar such that the valve sealing plate covers said locking elements at the top, and said cylindrical guide covers said locking elements towards the outside. Narrow radially aligned webs are provided on one part of said cover plate, which webs frangibly connect said cover plate and said cylindrical guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: Klaus Boetzkes
  • Patent number: 5224616
    Abstract: A snap on non-replaceable cap for a plastic bottle neck has an upper skirt and an inwardly spaced sealing flange, the inner opposed surfaces of the upper skirt and the sealing flange are curved downwardly and away from one another. A tear skirt is joined to the lowermost edge of the upper skirt to form a thin circumferential tear line. An inturned rib is formed on the inner surface of the tear skirt which locks under an external rib on the neck. The tear skirt, including the inturned rib, may be completely or partially torn off to permit the cap to be removed. To facilitate removal, the tear skirt is formed with a vertical tear line from the lower edge thereof to the circumferential tear line. A tab formed adjacent the vertical tear line functions as a lift tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Northern Engineering and Plastics Corp.
    Inventor: Harry E. Crisci
  • Patent number: 5222950
    Abstract: A quick release tamper evident closure device for disposable fluid medical storage bags. The closure device comprises an outlet port section and a closure cap section sealed together. The outlet port section is sealed to the bag and includes a tubular member for discharging the fluid in the bag. The outer end of the tubular memeber extends inside a cavity formed in the cap section. A tear path is formed around the cap section for severing the cap section from the port section to provide access to the tubular member. The tear path includes opposed curved portions merging into an apex. A handle extends outward from the cap section and aligned with the apex for applying an outward force which is initially concentrated at the apex, to cause ripping of the closure cap at the apex and then along the remainder of the tear path. The handle includes an opening and is flexible for varying the dimensions of the opening to accommodate the various sized finger inserted therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventor: Melvin I. Eisenberg
  • Patent number: 5222616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metal cap, the thickness of the skirt of which is 0.06 to 0.4 mm, with at least one tearing ling which includes a cut or tear line and alternating transverse reliefs and external recesses, each recess ending in the tearing line or at least within 0.5 mm thereof, the thickness of the bottom wall of the tear line being 20 to 70% of the thickness of the skirt, and the tearing line having a bottom thickness which is at most equal to 70% of the thickness of the skirt. The invention also relates to a method of producing the cap. The invention is applicable to obtaining tearable tabs for metal caps which tabs tear entirely along the rear line provided without dangerous edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Pechiney Emballage Alimentaire
    Inventors: Guy Druesne, Joel Michaud
  • Patent number: 5217307
    Abstract: This invention provides tamper-safety labeling that can easily be applied to a container and closure means to disclose the opening of the container. This labeling is a single piece one that has a generally parallel perforated tear strip and tab formed from the face stock and that allows the tear strip and usually perforated member to be formed and laminated to a release liner having a release thereon at least commensurate with adhesive positioned in the laminate on each side of the tear strip in the face stock. Also, the tear strip may run at any angle from the horizontal plane of the container to permit the tear strip to be removed to present different arrangements of the labeling on the container and may become a product or origin identification for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Morgan Adhesives Company
    Inventor: Jack M. McClintock
  • Patent number: 5213860
    Abstract: An ampul for containing a physiologically acceptable liquid comprises a tubular body made of a non-toxic, chemically inert thermoplastic material having an elongation at break ranging from about 100% to about 200%, a tensile strength at break less than about 15,000 psi and a flexural modulus less than about 400,000 psi. The tubular body has at least one end portion of reduced cross-sectional dimension formed with a peripheral line of weakness enabling the end portion to be manually fractured. The ampul according to the invention is impact-resistant and forms a clean cut when the end portion is fractured to dispense its content, thereby eliminating dangerous shards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Confab Guy Lamarre Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Laing
  • Patent number: 5213224
    Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has double lead external threads and, below the threads, a conical wall having external ratchet teeth. The closure has an upper skirt having internal threads mating with the neck threads. A conical lower skirt is connected to the upper skirt by a plurality of frangible bridges. The lower skirt has internal ratchet teeth to mate with the neck ratchet teeth. The cap skirt threads are double pitch and slightly over 360.degree. in length. When the cap is applied to the neck it snaps on in two stages. The lower skirt has a tear tab which, when pulled, fractures the lower skirt on a vertical line. Continued pulling on the tab sequentially fractures the bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5207340
    Abstract: There is disclosed a snap-on closure for containers, such as milk and soft drink plastic bottles, which has upper and lower annular beads on the inside wall of a peripheral skirt with a tear band defined by a score line in the skirt, located between the annular beads. The score line extends towards, but not entirely to, the bottom edge of the skirt, terminating a short distance above the bottom edge of the skirt. This score line permits a tearing of the lower portion of the cap skirt from the closure, and for this purpose, the cap tears along the weakened score line, about the closure and then downwardly towards the bottom edge of the skirt so that the entire lower portion of the skirt is removed as a tear band, leaving only the reclosure on the bottle. Since the lower score line does not extend to the lower edge of the skirt, that lower edge is not weakened, but retains its full hoop strength, to resist splitting when the cap is applied to the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Cochrane
  • Patent number: 5207783
    Abstract: The present invention provides a one piece plastic closure of the type including a cap part, a tear band which is removable and an anchor band. A hinge member connects the anchor band to the cap part so that when the tear band is removed, the cap part can hinge relative to the anchor band. The anchor band is intended to be retained by the container to which the closure is applied by push fitting so that the anchor band cannot be removed from the container. The invention further provides weakened sections in the anchor band which will fracture if an attempt is made to pry the closure from the container without removal of the tear band, but which will remain intact when the closure is applied to the container by push fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Johnsen & Jorgensen Plastics Limited
    Inventor: George W. Burton
  • Patent number: 5197619
    Abstract: The end wall of a screw cap of rigid thermoplastics material is provided with a sealing ring of heat-polymerized plastisol and the cylindrical skirt of the cap has an internal multiple thread at its upper end, an intermediate opening tear-strip and a lower part with an internal annular engagement rib which snap-engages under an annular rib of triangular cross-section situated below the thread of the threaded neck of a rigid container. The annular rib of the cap is interrupted in a plurality of zones and the neck of the container has a corresponding plurality of projections which extend downwards from the base of the triangular rib and, upon completion of the first screwing on of the cap, are each positioned in one of the interrupted zones of the rib of the cap, so as to prevent both a limited accidental unscrewing of the cap and the overtightening of the cap, and thus prevent the seal of the closure from being compromised in both cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Alplast S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Margaria
  • Patent number: 5197617
    Abstract: A closure (30) for an aperture (70) with a co-operative peripheral rim profile, such as the mouth of a container, the closure incorporating a self-locking fastener element (40) which cooperates with the rim profile and locks the closure on to the aperture upon limiting engagement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Ariel Industries plc
    Inventor: Cyril K. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5190178
    Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has double lead external threads and, below the threads, external ratchet teeth arranged in two diametrically opposed quadrants. The closure has an upper skirt having internal threads mating with the neck threads. A lower skirt is connected to the upper skirt by a plurality of frangible bridges. The lower skirt has opposed quadrants having internal ratchet teeth to mate with the neck ratchet teeth. The lower skirt has a tear tab which, when pulled, fractures the lower skirt on a vertical line. Continued pulling on the tab sequentially fractures the bridges. The tear tab constitutes an orientation means to properly locate the cap on the neck so that an axial downward push on the cap engages the internal and external threads and internal and external ratchet teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co
    Inventor: Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5158192
    Abstract: A sterile packaging assembly (100) for dispensing a liquid in drops comprises a main body (101) of plastic material, having a top portion (103) with an outside thread for receiving a screw cap (104), the top portion ending in an elongate neck, constituting a dispensing portion which is surmounted by a closure head (110) that can be torn off in order to define a dispensing orifice (111) on first utilization of the packaging assembly. The invention is particularly applicable to sterile packaging of pharmaceutical substances such as eye drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Laboratoires Merck Sharp & Dohme-Chibret
    Inventor: Gilbert Lataix
  • Patent number: 5145079
    Abstract: This relates to a tamper-evident overcap for packages of the type which include a container that is sealed closed by means of a removable closure. The overcap is preformed and shaped to tightly telescope over both the skirt of the closure and an upper part of the container body and is bonded to the closure skirt in the container body utilizing an adhesive. The collar of the overcap also includes an intermediate portion joining the portions bonded to the closure and the container and the intermediate portion is provided with a circumferential weakening line to facilitate separation of the two parts of the collar when the closure is to be removed. The collar may also be provided with suitable stripes of a coating containing microcapsules in which there is packaged a suitable FDA approved dye or coloring so that when the microcapsules are ruptured, the overcap will be stained so as to indicate tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Woodrow, William J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5143235
    Abstract: Container neck finishes produced by preforming processes such as injection or compression molding can generally be made to more accurate dimensions than blow molded finishes. Blow molded bottles conventionally have had an outward slanted area below the locking beads which merges into a horizontal shoulder on which the lower edge of the cap skirt rests, the slanted areas preventing the lower portion of the skirt from being compressed or pinched-in. As a substitute for the slanted area of blow molded bottles, the present invention provides annular rings on a preformed finish which supports the skirt against compression and a larger diameter second annular ring which functions as a shoulder on which the lower edge of the cap skirt may rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventor: Richard E. Repp
  • Patent number: 5129531
    Abstract: A closure assembly for a container including a cap and an engagement member for releasably connecting the cap to the container to cover an opening in the container with the cap. A tamper evident membrane surrounds the periphery of the cap and includes a connecting member for releasably joining the membrane about the periphery of the cap in a breakaway manner. A release tab is provided, integrally formed with the membrane, in a breakaway manner on a portion of the membrane. Release of the tab from the membrane enables the same to extend outwardly from the membrane so as to be grasped and pulled by a user to sever the connecting member and peel off the remaining portion of the tamper evident membrane to enable removal of the cap from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: James M. Beck, Terry E. Kubitz
  • Patent number: 5123555
    Abstract: A plastic cap is used on containers, particularly of the type used commercially for five-gallon bottles containing liquids such as drinking water. A bead is formed on the exterior, preferably above the elevation of the horizontal tear line conventionally used in such caps. The bead is preferably flat on the outside surface and wide in a vertical sense. The bead functions to cause the cap to engage the neck of the container more securely. It also functions to retain in place a dust cap which fits over the top of the cap. It further functions as a seal for the type of cap used in certain water dispensers. Such dispensers are used without removing the cap from the container in that the top disk is opened after the container has been installed in the dispenser. The bead seals against the inside of a sleeve incorporated in such a dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5121846
    Abstract: A plastic cap for closing the neck of a conventional 5-gallon bottle or similar container is characterized by having an upper external convex bead immediately below the neck lip, a concavity below the upper bead and a lower convex bead. The cap has a top disc and a peripheral depending skirt. The skirt has an upper seal bead to engage the upper neck bead, a tensioning bead to engage the undersurface of the upper seal bead and a lower seal bead to engage the lower convex bead. Below the tensioning bead is a horizontal internal score line. Extending downwardly from the horizontal score line is a second score line curving downwardly and then in a substantially vertical stretch. A tear tab extends down from the bottom edge of the skirt. To open the bottle, the user pulls the tear tab to tear the skirt upward along the second score line, then around the horizontal score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5115934
    Abstract: A tamper resistant container lid that provides a tear away strip that cannot be easily removed without evidence of tampering. The tear away strip is comprised of a plurality of tabs joined by integral thin film links that are heat contractible. With the lid mounted on a container and the tear strip folded or pressed down beneath the rim of the container heat applied to the strip will contract or collapse the thin film links securing the lid on the container. The thin film .links are a secure method of providing evidence of tampering because the tear strip is nearly impossible to remove without rupturing one or more of these links. A second embodiment of the invention includes a latching mechanism to hold the tear strip in a closed or folded down position beneath the rim of a container while the thin film links are heated to secure the tear strip around the container. A molding apparatus and method is also described for manufacturing parts that require mold undercuts such as the latter tamper resistant lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Highland Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5111947
    Abstract: A tamper proof cap for use on container having a threaded neck. The cap includes a top portion, an annular skirt portion depending from the top portion and a separable strip depending from the bottom of the skirt portion. The boundary between the skirt portion and separable strips is defined by a line weakness. The skirt portion has internal threads that complement threads on an upper portion of the container neck. A portion of the separable strip has internal teeth that engage notches on a lower portion of the container neck. At the end of the strip is a tab which is grasped and pulled to sever the strip from the skirt along the line of weakness, thereby allowing the skirt portion to be unthreaded. The teeth of the strip and the container notches are constructed to allow the teeth to slide past the notches upon rotation of the cap in clockwise threading direction while causing the teeth to engage the notches to prevent rotation of the cap in a counterclockwise unthreading direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Inventor: Michael C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5110017
    Abstract: A one-piece closure cap for a dispensing container. The cap, which is captive on the container body, is threadedly mounted for restricted rotation on the neck of the container so that upon elevation of the cap there is established a product release passage from the mouth of the container through product discharge ports formed in a surmounting top wall of the cap. Mechanical stops are provided to limit the degree of threaded rotation of the closure cap on the neck of the container to preclude inadvertent separation of the cap from the body of the container. The container neck is also formed adjacent an upper end thereof with a radially outwardly extending annular sealing bead which engages and stressingly abuts a circumscribing facing inner wall of the cap to prevent contents of the container from contaminating the threads of the closure assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: W. Braun Company
    Inventor: Morris Braun
  • Patent number: 5103990
    Abstract: A single service container having a hollow body and a cap with a portion extending interiorly of the body. The cap is mounted to seal a wide mouth style of opening formed at the upper end of the body. Interiorly of the mouth, a portion of the cap extends downwardly so as to cooperate with the positive internal pressure of the container and assist in sealing the cap on the body. A conical ring is formed on the periphery of the dome and engages an undercut interior surface adjacent to the mouth. The container further includes means for sealingly engaging the perimeter of the mouth. To open the container, a pulling member is pulled thereby severing the sealing engagements between the cap and the mouth, releasing the internal pressure and opening the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Irwin
  • Patent number: 5103989
    Abstract: According to the invention, a metallic product of a thickness less than or equal to 1 mm is compressed between a narrow elongated relief (2, 3) and an alternating succession of reliefs (10) and hollows (11) disposed opposite this narrow relief (2, 3), the differences in level between the said alternating reliefs (10) and hollows (11) being transverse in respect of the said narrow relief (2, 3), the compression stress being such that the minimum thicknesses of the said metallic product after compression are comprised between 0.01 and 0.15 mm. This method makes it possible to obtain tearing lines which have no injurious rough portions. The invention likewise relates to the products obtained and is particularly interesting in the field of packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Cebal
    Inventors: Guy Druesne, Joel Michaud
  • Patent number: 5100011
    Abstract: A combination of a cap and tube in which a tube has an opening terminating in a tapered nozzle with an open end. The nozzle has a first diameter proximate said tube and is designed for rotational engagement with a cap. The nozzle includes a ring with a diameter which is the largest diameter of the nozzle and is located at least a band width distance from the junction of the nozzle to the tube. The cap is sized to engage the nozzle at its open end and has a closed outer terminal end. The outer end of the cap includes an axially centered locating cup for engagement with the outer open end of the nozzle. This forms a first seal in a first position and a second seal in a second position which is closer to the outer cap end by the band width distance. The cap is designed for rotational engagement with the nozzle. At its nozzle engaging end, the cap terminates with a circumferential band having an axial width defining the above mentioned band width distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: The West Company, Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael G. Maietta
  • Patent number: 5097974
    Abstract: Frangible areas of different configurations are formed between the cap and skirt portions of a unitary molded plastic closure, with an internal continuous groove formed on the inside surface of the skirt portion having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of an upper cap portion, the groove having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cap, the groove lockingly engaging in a tight-fitting manner with the outer peripheral wall of the annular collar on the neck of the container when the closure is assembled with the container, and the groove together with ribs formed proximate to the groove provide a locking engagement between the container neck and the lower skirt portion, facilitating forming an annular collar on the container neck with an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the upper cap portion so as to prevent the closure from being pried off by children during use of the contents of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Oleg Rozenberg
  • Patent number: 5092478
    Abstract: A safety device for providing clues that a capped container has been opened a first time. Frictional male female joints releasably interconnect the cap to the container. This safety device is of the tear-off type, wherein by peeling one peripheral portion of the annular wall portion of the container cap, the cap can be released from the container mouth, while at least some frictional joints remain between the cap to enable continuous efficient interconnection capability regardless of the number of cap opening/closure cycles. The peeled cap strip is then disposed of--it is not reusable. Thus, its absence about cap signals that someone has already opened the cap to access the content of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventor: Maurice La Pierre
  • Patent number: 5088613
    Abstract: A tamper evident closure integrally molded in a straight draw mold without slides or cams has a cap skirt, a tamper band radially spaced from the free end of the skirt and extending radially outward, and an anchoring member, spaced radially outward of the tamper band. The tamper band is connected to both the cap skirt and the anchoring member by tearable connections in the form of scored membranes, or preferably, discrete circumferentially spaced radially extending frangible bridges. The tamper band has a circumferentially extending gap and an integral pull tab extending radially outward from one end through a gap in the anchoring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Continental Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert V. Dutt, Thomas F. Hudak
  • Patent number: 5085333
    Abstract: A tamper evident overcap has a tear band which is offset radially from both a ring member sonically welded to a container shoulder and a cap, by generally radially extending frangible bridges. The bridges are severed by applying force to a pull tab extending radially and axially from the tear band in alignment with a gap in the ring member so that there are no undercut faces on the overcap which can consequently be molded in a straight draw mold without cams or slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Continental Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert V. Dutt, Gary L. Mengeu, Stephen F. Royal
  • Patent number: 5050754
    Abstract: A cap of the type having a top portion with a depending annular flange on its peripheral edge and an annular depending sealing flange inwardly thereof between which the neck of a container is sealingly engaged is disclosed in which the depending annular flange of the cap has a lower annular outwardly offset secondary flange for registry with a similarly shaped neck finish of the container. An upstanding tab is integrally formed on the lower annular outwardly offset secondary flange of the depending annular flange. The inner surface of the depending annular flange and the outer surface of the neck finish have cooperating upper and lower annular fastening and sealing configurations holding the cap in place until the lower annular outwardly offset secondary flange of the depending annular flange is removed by tearing along a horizontal frangible line which also removes the lower fastening and sealing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: West Penn Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Marino
  • Patent number: 5038951
    Abstract: A closure of plastic material for monodose bottles and the like, provided with a reservoir (2) with a breakable bottom (3) housed in the neck (4) of the bottle (5) and showing an annular upper edge (6) superimposed to the annular edge (7) of the bottle opening; with a cylindrical element (8) with its lower end (9) sideways cut inserted into the reservoir (2) and including further a sealing cap (10) positioned around the bottle neck (4) and covering said cylindrical element (8), a weakening line apt to allow the tearing removal being provided in said cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: Napoleone Rizzardi
  • Patent number: 5036991
    Abstract: A push on cap for engaging a container neck is formed with inturned thickened flanges on its inner surface which cooperate with matching grooves in the container neck to retain the cap in place when the skirt is intact. A circumferential groove is formed in the skirt intermediate the inturned thickened flanges joined with a second groove extending to the bottom edge of the skirt. A tab projecting beyond the skirt is gripped and pulled causing the skirt to tear upward and then circumferentially thereby removing the lower thickened flange and permitting the top of the cap to be removed and reclosed. A rigid circumferential flange on the exterior of the skirt is spaced above the level of the uppermost inturned thickened flange and below the top of the cap has an angled gusset below the flange to prevent removing the cap by prying upwards with a fingernail prior to removing the tear skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventor: Irwin Wallman
  • Patent number: 5004126
    Abstract: The specification describes a plastic closure adapted to be screwed onto the neck (1) of a plastic container, with a screw-on ring (5) and with an insert portion (11) comprising a flexible bellows (14) and a pour spout (15), with a frame cap (21) adapted to be screwed on to an external thread (19) on the spout. In order to maintain good pouring properties, e.g. by means of the flexible bellows, and to make automatic production simpler and cheaper, the invention proposes that the frame cap (21) is integral with the screw-on ring (5), and the top wall (23) of the cap (21) is moulded on so that it projects a distance (d) from the top wall (8) of the ring (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Konrad Klesius
  • Patent number: 4993571
    Abstract: An improved plastic tamper-evident cap is molded on an internal mold member. The cap is adapted for use with a container having a threaded neck portion at a radially inwardly extending shoulder disposed below the threaded neck portion and facing axially away therefrom. The cap has a top wall, a depending skirt with an internal threading for engagement with the threaded neck portion of the container and a tamper-evident ring connected to the lower end of the skirt by frangible means. The tamper-evident ring has radially inwardly extending locking means adapted to slide over the shoulder. The improvement comprises a trapazoidal frangible member having a narrow top and a wide base. The top adjoins the skirt of the cap at sharp corners. The frangible member has curved adjoining portions between the frangible member at its base and the tamper-evident ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: American Safety Closure Corp.
    Inventor: Vincent N. Conti
  • Patent number: 4984701
    Abstract: The mouth of a rigid container, particularly of glass, having a screw closure device and usable for food products intended to be subjected to heat treatment in the container to preserve them, is provided with an annular rib of triangular profile below the threading. Screwed onto the mouth is a rigid plastic capsule having a plastic mastic sealing coating on the inner surface of its top and incorporating in its peripheral skirt a tearing band for opening. The lower part of the cylindrical skirt of the capsule constitutes a security seal and has an inner annular engagement rib which snap-engages beneath the annular rib of the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Alplast S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Margaria
  • Patent number: 4984716
    Abstract: A tamper evidencing or evident closure for a container having a dispensing orifice includes separately formed cap and base sections, the base section engaging an opening of the container and including an orifice member through which contents of the container are dispensed, the cap section including a skirt to which a cap is hingedly attached and a pair of tear strips formed around a lower edge of the cap member that are frangibly connected between the cap and the skirt portion so as to prevent opening of the cap without breaking of connections between the tear strip and the cap. A pull ring concentrically formed about the cap member and attached to ends of the tear strips, but not attached to the cap member, is included so that the tear strips can be torn away from the cap and skirt by simply pulling up on the pull ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Beck
  • Patent number: 4976379
    Abstract: A container and closure assembly including a funnel attached to a closure portion thereof and specifically to facilitate emptying of the contents of the container into a given receiving opening or receptacle, such as applying motor oil to the oil fill orifice located on a motor vehicle engine, without spilling the contents. A membrane is normally positioned in sealing relation to the open end of the container and the funnel is movable between an operative and an inoperation position and is specifically structured to puncture the membrane when in the operative position to allow free flow of the contents from the container through the funnel and into the receiving opening, port, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Inventor: Daniel C. Sloan
  • Patent number: 4967941
    Abstract: An adjustable metering twist lock closure cap for dispensing the contents of a container having a central post including a top surface and a substantially cylindrical imperforate perpheral wall having an opening to the top surface for metering the contents to be dispensed. A cap body is reciprocally mounted on the central post and includes an inner periphery which cooperates with the post peripheral wall to form a variable opening between the cap body inner periphery and the post peripheral wall to provide a closure position and a plurality of dispensing positions for dispensing the contents of the container at a plurality of different rates as the cap body is moved on the post away from the closure position. A detent member is also included to provide a positive indication during movement of the cap body relative to the post that the cap body has reached at least one of the closure position and the plurality of dispensing positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventor: James M. Beck
  • Patent number: 4966292
    Abstract: A cap of the type having a top portion with a depending annular flange on its peripheral edge and a depending annular sealing flange inwardly thereof between which the neck of the container is sealingly engaged is disclosed in which an annular depending flange of the cap has a lower annular portion offset outwardly for registry with a similarly shaped neck finish of the container. An upstanding tab is integrally formed on the lower annular portion of the depending annular flange. The inner surface of the annular depending flange and the outer surface of the neck finish have cooperating upper and lower locking ribs and grooves holding the cap in place until a major portion of the depending annular flange and its lower annular offset portion are removed by tearing along a horizontal frangible line which removes the lower cap locking rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: West Penn Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Marino
  • Patent number: 4961512
    Abstract: A screw top container lid defines child-proof opening means which are especially suitable for use with container lids of large size. The container lid has a top wall and a peripheral wall with an inner surface, typically with screw threads for attachment to a container lip. The inner surface of the peripheral wall also defines a ratchet for engagement with corresponding ratchet on a container when the lid is applied to it, to permit screw-threaded rotation of the lid in a tightening direction to seal the lid on the container in a closed condition, but to prevent counterrotation of the lid to permit removal from the container. A portion of the peripheral wall defines removable tear strip means. The tear strip carries at least some of the ratchet of the peripheral wall, with the result that a container carrying the lid in its closed condition may be opened by removing the tear strip to facilitate counterrotation of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Inventor: John W. Von Holdt
  • Patent number: 4951830
    Abstract: There is disclosed a snap-on closure which has upper and lower annular beads on the inside wall of a peripheral skirt with a tear band defined by at least one score line in the skirt, located between the annular beads. The closure has a center corking skirt that is downwardly dependent from its undersurface and this corking skirt has sufficiently thin side walls to flex. The corking skirt is spaced concentrically within the outer peripheral skirt of the closure and is spaced apart from the peripheral skirt by an annulus having a width which is slightly less than the width of the inner lip found on the neck finish of conventional bottles. This ensures that the corking skirt will resiliently engage the inside mouth of the bottle and be deflected thereby, thus forming a seal in the mouth of the bottle. The corking skirt can have reinforcement gussets that project radially inwardly from its side wall and depend from the undersurface of the top disk of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Cochrane
  • Patent number: 4936474
    Abstract: This relates to an improved container tamper evident bead and neck finish arrangement which provides improved tamper evident band breakage upon removal of an associated closure. Most specifically, beneath the customary retaining bead, a container neck finish is of corrugated or scalloped configuration and is of a size whereby the tamper evident band or a retaining bead thereof is stretched across the space defined by a groove between two adjacent ribs so as to provide for a degree of interlock between the stretched tamper band and the container neck finish such that the tamper evident band is restrained against rotation with the remainder of the closure when the closure is rotated to effect removal thereof. This provides for a much quicker and more reliable breaking of the webs joining the tamper evident band to the closure skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Szczesniak, Peter A. Vercillo
  • Patent number: 4934556
    Abstract: In a sealable thermoplastic plastics material container for diagnostic test strips, the lid of the container is joined to the container wall via a tear strip and via a hinge piece formed by an extension of the tear strip. The tear strip extends round the circumference of the container apart from the width of the hinge piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Miles Inc.
    Inventor: Roland Kleissendorf
  • Patent number: 4934554
    Abstract: A tamper-evident lid for use with containers includes a surface to cover the container, and downward projections around the periphery of the surface which surrounds the mouth of said container. An interrupted ring is frangibly attached to the downward projections. A plurality of tamper-evident hooks are affixed to said ring. The hooks are visible through openings in the downward projections. The hooks engage the container, but when the lid is removed, the ring fractures away from the downward projection ring and the tampering with the package is apparent. In the preferred embodiment, a bead on the lid engages the sidewall of the container to provide a resealable, airtight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Bryant Edwards
    Inventor: Bryant Edwards
  • Patent number: RE33764
    Abstract: An improved press-on bottle cap is disclosed in which the cap comprises a top disk and a thin-walled outer skirt dependent therefrom with an annular tear band which, when separated from the cap, divides the cap into a lower ring and an upper reclosure cap. An annular lip is provided about the outside wall of the cap, approximately in the middle of the reclosure cap and the tear tab, which is integral with the tear band, extends upwardly into contact with the underside of the annular lip. Preferably, the lip is discontinuous with an open sector above the tear tab, and the cap is fabricated without the necessity to use a split-cavity mold, and a preferred mold construction is also disclosed. A compressible, plastic foam gasket is employed in the cap to seal the container contents. A foam gasket is seated on the undersurface of the cap in a position to bear against the upper end of the neck of the container which is received in the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Cochrane