Tamper-evident closure

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 6,976,607
App. No.: 10/470,469
Granted: Dec 20, 2005
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A cap comprising an upper part ( 2 ) having a dispensing orifice ( 10 ), a skirt ( 3 ) which depends from the upper part ( 2 ), a lid ( 15 ) connected to the upper part by a hinge ( 16 ) so as to be movable between open and closed positions of the orifice ( 10 ); tamper-evident band ( 25 ) joined to the upper part ( 2 ) by frangible straps ( 30, 32 ) each having a zone of least resistance for rupture, and which defines a hooking edge ( 26 ) in the closed position for receiving a hook ( 27 ) carried by the lid ( 15 ). The lid includes means ( 35 ) for retaining the band ( 25 ) in order to hold it against the lid ( 15 ) in the closed position and to prevent manipulation of the band to open the lid without rupture of the straps.

Claims (43)

1. A cap with a dispensing orifice for closing a neck ( 5 ) of a container ( 6 ), comprising:

an upper part ( 2 ) having a dispensing orifice ( 10 ) for dispensing the contents of the container;

a skirt ( 3 ) depending from the upper part ( 2 ) and having means ( 4 ) for fixing the cap onto a neck ( 5 ) of a container,

a lid ( 15 ) connected to the upper part by at least one hinge ( 16 ) in order to be movable between open and closed positions of the dispensing orifice ( 10 );

a tamper-evident band ( 25 ) which is joined to the upper part ( 2 ) of the cap by at least two frangible straps ( 30 , 32 ) each having a zone of least resistance for rupture, and which defines a hooking edge ( 26 ) in the closed position of the orifice for receiving a hook ( 27 ) carried by the lid ( 15 ),

characterised in that

the lid includes means ( 35 ) additional to and separate from the hook and cooperating with the hook for retaining and holding the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) against the lid ( 15 ) in the closed position of the orifice ( 11 ) to prevent manipulation of the band and thereby prevent opening of the lid without rupture of the straps.

2. Cap according to claim 1 , characterised in that the retaining means comprise at least one tab ( 45 ), which fits a part of the edge of the tamper-evident band.

3. Cap according to claim 1 , characterised in that the tamper-evident band ( 15 ) has a notch ( 40 ) on a level with the hooking edge ( 26 ).

4. Cap according to claim 1 , characterised in that the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) includes a window ( 47 ) one edge of which defines the hooking edge ( 26 ) for the hook ( 27 ) of the lid ( 15 ).

5. A cap with a dispensing orifice for closing a neck ( 5 ) of a container ( 6 ) comprising:

an upper part ( 2 ) having a dispensing orifice ( 10 ) for dispensing the contents of a container;

a skirt ( 3 ) depending from the upper part ( 2 ) and having means ( 4 ) for fixing the cap onto a neck ( 5 ) of a container,

a lid ( 15 ) connected to the upper part by at least one hinge ( 16 ) in order to be movable between open and closed positions of the dispensing orifice ( 10 );

characterised in that

the lid includes means ( 35 ) for retaining the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) against the lid ( 15 ) in the closed position of the orifice ( 11 ) to prevent manipulation of the band and thereby prevent opening of the lid without rupture of the straps, and the retaining means ( 35 ) is adapted to receive at least part of an edge ( 36 ) of the band ( 25 ) situated opposite the hooking edge ( 26 ) in order to retain the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) on the lid ( 15 ) after a rupture of the straps following a first opening of the lid ( 10 ).

6. Cap according to claim 5 , characterised in that the retaining means ( 35 ) comprise at least one seat ( 37 ) for receiving at least part of the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) in order, in association with the hook of the lid ( 27 ), to hold the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) on the lid after a rupture of the straps following a first opening of the cap.

7. Cap according to claim 5 , characterised in that the retaining means ( 35 ) comprise at least one groove ( 46 ) designed to receive at least part of an edge ( 36 ) of the tamper-evident band ( 25 ), situated opposite the hooking edge ( 36 ) when the hook ( 27 ) of the lid is engaged under the hooking edge ( 26 ).

8. Cap according to claim 5 , characterised in that the retaining means comprise at least one tab ( 45 ), which fits a part of the edge of the tamper-evident band.

9. A cap with a dispensing orifice for closing a neck ( 5 ) of a container ( 6 ) comprising:

an upper part ( 2 ) having a dispensing orifice ( 10 ) for dispensing the contents of a container;

a skirt ( 3 ) depending from the upper part ( 2 ) and having means ( 4 ) for fixing the cap onto a neck ( 5 ) of a container,

a lid ( 15 ) connected to the upper part by at least one hinge ( 16 ) in order to be movable between open and closed positions of the dispensing orifice ( 10 );

characterised in that

the lid includes means ( 35 ) for retaining the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) against the lid ( 15 ) in the closed position of the orifice ( 11 ) to prevent manipulation of the band and thereby prevent opening of the lid without rupture of the straps, and the retaining means ( 35 ) comprise at least one seat ( 37 ) for receiving at least part of the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) in order, in association with the hook of the lid ( 27 ), to hold the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) on the lid after a rupture of the straps following a first opening of the cap.

10. Cap according to claim 9 , characterised in that the retaining means ( 35 ) comprise two seats ( 37 , 38 ) situated on either side of the hook ( 27 ) and each designed to receive an end ( 39 ) of the tamper-evident band ( 25 ).

11. Cap according to claim 10 , characterised in that the two seats ( 37 , 38 ) each fit a part of the edge of the band situated adjacent the hooking edge and an extreme edge of the tamper-evident band.

12. A cap with a dispensing orifice for closing a neck ( 5 ) of a container ( 6 ) comprising:

an upper part ( 2 ) having a dispensing orifice ( 10 ) for dispensing the contents of a container;

a skirt ( 3 ) depending from the upper part ( 2 ) and having means ( 4 ) for fixing the cap onto a neck ( 5 ) of a container,

a lid ( 15 ) connected to the upper part by at least one hinge ( 16 ) in order to be movable between open and closed positions of the dispensing orifice ( 10 );

characterised in that

the lid includes means ( 35 ) for retaining the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) against the lid ( 15 ) in the closed position of the orifice ( 11 ) to prevent manipulation of the band and thereby prevent opening of the lid without rupture of the straps, and the retaining means ( 35 ) comprise at least one groove ( 46 ) designed to receive at least part of an edge ( 36 ) of the tamper-evident band ( 25 ), situated opposite the hooking edge ( 36 ) when the hook ( 27 ) of the lid is engaged under the hooking edge ( 26 ).

13. A cap with a dispensing orifice for closing a neck ( 5 ) of a container ( 6 ) comprising:

an upper part ( 2 ) having a dispensing orifice ( 10 ) for dispensing the contents of a container;

a skirt ( 3 ) depending from the upper part ( 2 ) and having means ( 4 ) for fixing the cap onto a neck ( 5 ) of a container,

a lid ( 15 ) connected to the upper part by at least one hinge ( 16 ) in order to be movable between open and closed positions of the dispensing orifice ( 10 );

characterised in that

the lid includes means ( 35 ) for retaining the tamper-evident band ( 25 ) against the lid ( 15 ) in the closed position of the orifice ( 11 ) to prevent manipulation of the band and thereby prevent opening of the lid without rupture of the straps, and the tamper-evident band includes a notch ( 40 ) arranged in the edge of the band situated opposite the hooking edge.