IP Library Granted Patent US 6,981,602
Granted Patent B2
US 6,981,602 · App. 10/266,091 · Granted Jan 3, 2006

Tamper evident bottle cap

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,981,602
App. No.
10/266,091
Granted
Jan 3, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A closure for sealing the opening of a container. The closure may include an angled plug. The container includes an external thread configuration and the closure includes an internal thread configuration which are adapted to pass over each other with one of the external and internal thread configurations having at least one thread lead and the other having at least twice as many thread leads. The closure includes an inwardly turned retaining rim extends at least partially upwardly. The retaining rim has an attachment boss and an upwardly extending line of weakness adjacent the attachment boss such that when the closure is removed from the container, the line of weakness tears allowing the tamper-evidencing band to remain with the closure upon removal from the container. The closure may include a top having a periphery, an annular skirt depending downwardly from the periphery and including a lower edge and a line of weakness extending upwardly from the lower edge, a tear tab extending downwardly from the skirt below the lower edge, and a tamper-evidencing locking member including an inwardly extending locking ring that extends radially inwardly from the skirt intermediate the top and the bottom edge, the retaining rim including a free edge that is adapted to engage the radially extending locking bead of the container when the closure is removed from the container neck. A method of molding a closure including a tamper-evidencing band is also disclosed.

Claims (25)

1. A closure for sealing the opening of a container having a radially extending locking bead, said closure comprising:

a top having a periphery;

an annular skirt depending downwardly from said periphery and including a lower edge and a line of weakness extending upwardly from said lower edge;

a tear tab extending downwardly from said skirt below said lower edge; and

a tamper-evidencing locking member including an inwardly extending locking ring that extends radially inwardly from said skirt intermediate said top and said bottom edge, the retaining rim including a free edge that is adapted to engage the radially extending locking bead of the container when the closure is removed from the container neck;

wherein said locking ring includes an outwardly directed pleat.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein said locking ring extends radially inwardly and axially upwardly so tat said free edge of said locking ring prevents upward movement of said locking ring with respect to the container.

3. The closure of claim 1 wherein said line of weakness is a scoreline extending vertically from said lower edge.

4. A closure for sealing the opening of a container having a radially extending locking bead, said closure comprising:

a top having a periphery;

an annular skirt depending downwardly from said periphery and including a lower edge and a line of weakness extending upwardly from said lower edge;

a tear tab extending downwardly from said skirt below said lower edge; and

a tamper-evidencing locking member including an inwardly extending locking ring that extends radially inwardly from said skirt intermediate said top and said bottom edge, the retaining rim including a free edge that is adapted to engage the radially extending locking bead of the container when the closure is removed from the container neck;

wherein said locking ring includes a plurality of outwardly directed pleats.

5. The closure of claim 4 wherein said locking ring extends radially inwardly and axially upwardly so that said free edge of said locking ring prevents upward movement of said locking ring with respect to the container.

6. The closure of claim 4 wherein said line of weakness is a scoreline extending vertically from said lower edge.

7. A closure for sealing the opening of a container having a radially extending locking bead, said closure comprising:

a top having a periphery;

an annular skirt depending downwardly from said periphery and including a lower edge and a line of weakness extending upwardly from said lower edge; and

a tamper-evidencing locking member including an inwardly extending flexible locking ring that extends radially inwardly and upwardly from said skirt intermediate said top and said bottom edge, the retaining rim including a free edge that is adapted to engage the radially extending locking bead of the container when the closure is removed from the container neck;

wherein said locking ring includes an outwardly directed pleat.

8. The closure of claim 7 wherein said line of weakness is a scoreline extending vertically from said lower edge.

9. The closure of claim 7 wherein said locking ring extends radially inwardly and axially upwardly so that said free edge of said locking ring prevents upward movement of said looking ring with respect to the container.

10. The closure of claim 7 further comprising a tear tab extending downwardly from said skirt below said lower edge.

11. The closure of claim 7 wherein said locking ring includes a plurality of outwardly directed pleats.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2013
From: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC, AS AGENT
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 031637/0520 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2013
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS U.S. AGENT AND CANADIAN AGENT
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 031510/0065 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2010
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT, (F/K/A WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, AS AGENT)
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 024933/0821 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2010
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS US AGENT AND CANADIAN AGENT
Reel/Frame 024933/0037 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 12, 2008
From: PORTOLA ALLIED TOOL, INC.
To: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC (AGENT FOR THE SUBORDINATED CREDITORS)
Reel/Frame 021965/0621 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 2, 2008
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 021912/0088 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2008
From: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 021890/0715 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2008
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 021890/0580 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 20, 2008
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC
Reel/Frame 020963/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2008
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 020783/0630 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2002
From: MA, MIKE XIAOLI; ADAMS, BRIAN M.
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 013605/0907 →