IP Library Granted Patent US 8,033,419
Granted Patent B1
US 8,033,419 · App. 11/627,544 · Granted Oct 11, 2011

Closure with unitarily-molded tamper-evident feature

Assignee: Plastek Industries, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,033,419
App. No.
11/627,544
Granted
Oct 11, 2011
Kind
B1
Abstract

A bottle closure includes the unitarily-molded combination of: an internally-threaded sidewall; a tamper indicator ring; and a hinge connecting the ring to the sidewall. The hinge permits the ring to be shifted from an initial position to an installation position. The installation position is essentially coaxially aligned with the sidewall.

Claims (46)

1. A bottle closure comprising:

the unitarily-molded combination of:

an internally-threaded sidewall;

a tamper indicator ring; and

a hinge connecting the ring to the sidewall to permit the ring to be shifted from an initial position to an installation position, the installation position essentially coaxially aligned with the sidewall,

wherein:

the sidewall and the ring, in combination, comprise a mating pin and socket and mating teeth and recesses, with: the pin and socket being on opposite structures of the sidewall and the ring; and the mating teeth and recesses being on opposite structures of the sidewall and ring.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein:

the combination includes a web closing an upper end of the sidewall.

3. The closure of claim 1 wherein:

the sidewall has a circumferential array of external longitudinal gripping ribs.

4. The closure of claim 1 wherein:

the pin and the teeth are formed on the tamper indicator ring; and

the socket and the recesses are formed on the internally-threaded sidewall.

5. The closure of claim 4 wherein:

the teeth are configured to transmit torque preferentially during an installation rotation as opposed to a reverse rotation.

6. The closure of claim 4 wherein:

the recesses are formed in an interior surface of the sidewall.

7. The closure of claim 1 wherein:

the combination consists essentially of HDPE.

8. The closure of claim 1 further comprising:

a valve element movably mounted to the combination.

9. The closure of claim 8 wherein:

in an initial condition, a first of the combination and the valve element has an integrally formed tab engaged by a complementary feature of the other of the combination and the valve element, the tab and complementary feature cooperating to resist shifting from a closed condition to an open condition in the absence of severing the tab.

10. The closure of claim 8 wherein:

at least one of the valve element and the combination includes a tamper-evident feature for evidencing opening of the valve element.

11. A bottle comprising:

a bottle body having an externally threaded neck;

a bottle closure comprising the unitarily-molded combination of:

an internally-threaded sidewall;

a tamper indicator ring; and

a hinge connecting the ring to the sidewall to permit the ring to be shifted from an initial position to an installation position, the installation position essentially coaxially aligned with the sidewall,

wherein:

the sidewall and the ring, in combination, comprise a mating pin and socket and mating teeth and recesses, with: the pin and socket being on opposite structures of the sidewall and the ring; and the mating teeth and recesses being on opposite structures of the sidewall and ring;

the ring is in the installation position; and

the externally threaded neck is threadingly engaged to the internally-threaded sidewall of the combination.

12. A bottle closure comprising:

the unitarily-molded combination of:

an internally-threaded sidewall;

a tamper indicator ring; and

a hinge connecting the ring to the sidewall to permit the ring to be shifted from an initial position to an installation position, the installation position essentially coaxially aligned with the sidewall,

wherein:

the sidewall and the ring include complementary mating engagement means for transmitting torque from the sidewall to the ring during a threading installation of the closure to a bottle;

the means are configured to transmit torque preferentially during an installation rotation as opposed to a reverse rotation;

the means comprises first means merely for transmitting said torque and second means for transmitting said torque and for retaining the ring in its installation position prior to installation; and

the first means comprises mating sawtooth features and the second means comprises a mating pin and socket.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2026
From: PLASTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074946/0348 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2016
From: PNC BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: PLASTEK INDUSTRIES INC; PRESQUE ISLE TRUCKING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 038300/0614 →
RELEASE OF PATENT, TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2015
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: PLASTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.; PRESQUE ISLE TRUCKING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 035126/0667 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2011
From: PLASTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.; PRESQUE ISLE TRUCKING COMPANY
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 026708/0524 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2007
From: SZEKELY, ALEX S.
To: PLASTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 018811/0595 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 60762378 · Jan 26, 2006