Tool removable tamper indicating closure

Claim 2

A tamper-indicating closure comprising a disc-shaped top with an upper skirt extending downwardly from the top; an annular upper locking bead around the inner surface of the upper skirt; a lower skirt proximate to and in center alignment with the upper skirt, the upper skirt being disposed between the top and the lower skirt; an annular retention bead around the inner surface of the lower skirt; breakable bridge means between the upper skirt and the lower skirt as the sole connection between the upper and lower skirt; and a tool aperture between the upper skirt and the lower skirt adapted to accept a tool means for breaking the bridge means so as to part the upper and lower skirts.

Claim 3

A tamper-indicating closure comprising a disc-shaped top with a cylindrical upper skirt extending downwardly from the top; an annular upper locking bead around the inner surface of the upper skirt; a cylindrical lower skirt proximate and co-axial with the upper skirt, the upper skirt being disposed between the top and and lower skirt; an annular retention bead around the inner surface of the lower skirt; breakable bridge means between the upper skirt and the lower skirt as the sole connection between the upper and lower skirt; and a tool aperture between the upper skirt and the lower skirt adapted to accept a tool means for breaking the bridge means so as to part the upper and lower skirts.

Claim 4

A tamper-indicating closure comprising a disc-shaped top with a cylindrical upper skirt extending downwardly from the top; an annular upper locking bead around the inner surface of the upper skirt; a cylindrical lower skirt proximate and co-axial with the upper skirt, the upper skirt being disposed between the top and and lower skirt; an annular retention bead around the inner surface of the lower skirt; breakable bridge means between the upper skirt and the lower skirt as the sole connection between the upper and lower skirt; and a tool aperture between the upper skirt and the lower skirt adapted to accept a tool means for breaking the bridge means so as to part the upper and lower skirts.

Claim 5

The closure of claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper skirt extends substantially perpendicularly from the top.

Claim 6

The closure of claim 1 or 2 additionally comprising an inner annular skirt concentric to the upper skirt and extending downwardly from the top.

Claim 7

The closure of claim 1 or 2 wherein there is one upper locking bead and one retention bead.

Claim 8

The closure of claim 5 wherein the upper locking bead is near the bottom periphery of the upper skirt and the retention bead is near the bottom periphery of the lower skirt.

Claim 9

The closure of claim 2 wherein the breakable bridge means comprises a plurality of bridges on the closure circumference, with adjacent bridges circumferentially separated by a series of secondary apertures.

Claim 10

The closure of claim 7, wherein the secondary apertures are longer than the bridges in the circumferential direction.

Claim 11

The closure of claim 7, wherein the secondary apertures are shorter than the bridges in the circumferential direction.

Claim 12

The closure of claim 1 or 2 wherein the bridge means has a continuous surface and the wall thickness of the bridge means is less than the wall thickness of the upper or lower skirts.

Claim 13

The closure of claim 10 wherein the bridge means is corrugated.

Claim 14

The closure of claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of bridge means with adjacent bridge means circumferentially separated by tool apertures.

Claim 15

The closure of claim 12 wherein the tool apertures are of equal size.

Claim 16

The closure of claim 12 wherein the bridge means are of equal size.

Claim 17

The closure of claim 12 wherein the tool apertures are sized longer than the bridge means in the circumferential direction.

Claim 18

The closure of claim 12 wherein the tool apertures are sized shorter than the bridge means in the circumferential direction.

Claim 19

The closure of claim 13 wherein the tool apertures are sized to receive a disc-shaped tool about 25 mm in diameter.

Claim 20

The closure of claim 2 wherein the lower skirt has a larger diameter than the upper skirt.

Claim 21

An assembly comprising (A) a closure which comprises a disc-shaped top with an upper skirt extending downwardly from the top; an annular upper locking bead around the inner surface of the upper skirt; a lower skirt proximate to and in center alignment with the upper skirt, the upper skirt being disposed between the top and lower skirt; an annular retention bead around the inner surface of the lower skirt; breakable bridge means between the upper skirt and the lower skirt as the sole connection between the upper and lower skirt; and a tool aperture between the upper skirt and the lower skirt adapted to accept a tool means for breaking the bridge means so as to part the upper and lower skirts, and (B) a container having a cooperating neck portion upon which the closure fits in center alignment, the neck portion having an upper interference surface that interlocks with the upper locking bead to provide a releasable interference to the removal of the closure when the upper and lower skirts are parted, and having a retention interference surface below the upper interference surface that interlocks with the retention bead so as to prevent removal of the closure before the upper and lower skirts are parted.

Claim 22

An assembly comprising (A) a closure which comprises a disc-shaped top with an upper skirt extending downwardly from the top; an annular upper locking bead around the inner surface of the upper skirt; a lower skirt proximate to and in center alignment with the upper skirt, the upper skirt being disposed between the top and lower skirt; an annular retention bead around the inner surface of the lower skirt; breakable bridge means between the upper skirt and the lower skirt as the sole connection between the upper and lower skirt; and a tool aperture between the upper skirt and the lower skirt adapted to accept a tool means for breaking the bridge means so as to part the upper and lower skirts, and (B) a container having a cooperating neck portion upon which the closure fits in center alignment, the neck portion having an upper interference surface that interlocks with the upper locking bead to provide a releasable interference to the removal of the closure when the upper and lower skirts are parted, and having a retention interference surface below the upper interference surface that interlocks with the retention bead so as to prevent removal of the closure before the upper and lower skirts are parted.

Claim 23

An assembly comprising (A) a closure which comprises a disc-shaped top with a cylindrical upper skirt extending downwardly from the top; an annular upper locking bead around the inner surface of the upper skirt, a cylindrical lower skirt proximate and co-axial with the upper skirt; the upper skirt being disposed between the top and and lower skirt, an annular retention bead around the inner surface of the lower skirt; breakable bridge means between the upper skirt and the lower skirt as the sole connection between the upper and lower skirt, and a tool aperture between the upper skirt and the lower skirt, adapted to accept a tool means for breaking the bridge means so as to part the upper and lower skirts, (B) a container having a cooperating cylindrical neck portion upon which the closure fits in co-axial alignment, the neck portion having an upper interference surface that interlocks with the upper locking bead to provide a releasable interference to the removal of the closure when the upper and lower skirts are parted, and having a retention interference surface below the upper interference surface that interlocks with the retention bead so as to prevent removal of the closure before the upper and lower skirts are parted.

Claim 24

An assembly comprising (A) a closure which comprises a disc-shaped top with a cylindrical upper skirt extending downwardly from the top; an annular upper locking bead around the inner surface of the upper skirt, a cylindrical lower skirt proximate and co-axial with the upper skirt; the upper skirt being disposed between the top and and lower skirt, an annular retention bead around the inner surface of the lower skirt; breakable bridge means between the upper skirt and the lower skirt as the sole connection between the upper and lower skirt, and a tool aperture between the upper skirt and the lower skirt, adapted to accept a tool means for breaking the bridge means so as to part the upper and lower skirts, (B) a container having a cooperating cylindrical neck portion upon which the closure fits in co-axial alignment, the neck portion having an upper interference surface that interlocks with the upper locking bead to provide a releasable interference to the removal of the closure when the upper and lower skirts are parted, and having a retention interference surface below the upper interference surface that interlocks with the retention bead so as to prevent removal of the closure before the upper and lower skirts are parted.

Claim 25

The assembly of claim 20 wherein the upper skirt extends substantially perpendicularly from the top.

Claim 26

The assembly of claim 19 or 20 wherein the upper interference surface is provided by a bead around the outer surface of the neck of the container.

Claim 27

The assembly of claim 19 or 20 wherein the retention interference surface is provided by a bead around the outer surface of the neck of the container.

Claim 28

The assembly of claim 20 wherein the diameter of the neck portion at the retention interference surface is greater than the diameter of the neck portion at the upper interference surface.

Claim 29

The assembly of claim 20 which additionally comprises an inner annular skirt concentric to the upper skirt and extending downwardly from the top.

Claim 30

The assembly of claim 19 or 20 wherein there is one upper locking bead and one retention bead.

Claim 31

The assembly of claim 19 or 20 wherein the upper locking bead is near the bottom periphery of the upper skirt and the retention bead is near the bottom periphery of the lower skirt.

Claim 32

The assembly of claim 20 wherein the bridge means comprises a plurality of bridges on the closure circumference, with adjacent bridges circumferentially separated by a series of secondary apertures.

Claim 33

The assembly of claim 28, wherein the secondary apertures are longer than the bridges in the circumferential direction.

Claim 34

The assembly of claim 28, wherein the secondary apertures are shorter than the bridges in the circumferential direction.

Claim 35

The assembly of claim 28 wherein the bridge means has a continuous surface and the wall thickness of the bridge means is less than the wall thickness of the upper or lower skirts.

Claim 36

The assembly of claim 31 wherein the bridge means is corrugated.

Claim 37

The assembly of claim 20 wherein there are a plurality of bridge means with adjacent bridge means circumferentially separated by tool apertures.

Claim 38

The assembly of claim 33 wherein the bridge means are of equal size.

Claim 39

The assembly of claim 33 wherein the tool apertures are of equal size.

Claim 40

The assembly of claim 33 wherein the tool apertures are sized longer than the bridge means in the circumferential direction.

Claim 41

The assembly of claim 33 wherein the tool apertures are sized shorter than the bridge means in the circumferential direction.

Claim 42

The assembly of claim 33 wherein the tool apertures are sized to receive a disc-shaped tool about 25 mm in diameter.

Claim 43

The assembly of claim 20 wherein the lower skirt has a larger diameter than the upper skirt.