US4545496A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic closure with mechanical pilfer band
Assignee: H-C PLASTIC Inc A DE CORP
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Filing: 1983-12-01
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Granted: 1985-10-08
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Expires: 2003-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A novel plastic closure is disclosed having a self-engaging locking pilfer band arrangement for engagement with a locking ring on the neck of the container to which the closure is applied. The pilfer band includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, inwardly extending relatively thin flexible wings or fingers which move to an out-of-the-way position during application of the closure to the container. When the closure is in place on the container, the wings are disposed such that they engage the surface of the locking ring on the container neck when the closure is moved for removal from the container. During removal, each wing engages the locking ring so that resistance to removal of the closure is created in the pilfer band, whereby areas of reduced strength fracture clearly indicating partial or complete removal of the closure from the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheldon L. Wilde
- 👤 Thomas J. McCandless
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:49
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C69/00; B29C69/02; B29C37/00; B29C37/0003; B29C37/0017; B29C57/00; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/04; B65D41/0407; B65D41/0435; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3423; B65D41/3428; B26; B26F; B26F2210/00; B26F2210/04; B29C2791/00; B29C2791/001; B29C2793/00; B29C2793/009; B29C37/0078; B29C37/0082; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/18; B29C43/183; B29C43/184; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/56; B29L2031/565; B65D2401/00; B65D2401/15; B65D2401/30; B65D2401/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A plastic closure comprising: a closure cap including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion; and pilfer band means depending from and at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion of said cap by fracturable means, said skirt portion and said pilfer band means being at least partially severed from each other by score line means extending circumferentially about at least a portion of said closure, said fracturable means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridges disposed on and extending between inwardly facing surfaces of said skirt portion and said pilfer band means in the region of said score line means, said score line means extending into at least some of said bridges whereby said ones of said bridges are partially severed and frangible so that said frangible bridges at least partially detachably connect said pilfer band means to said skirt portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A plastic closure comprising: a closure cap including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion; and pilfer band means depending from and at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion of said cap by fracturable means, said skirt portion and said pilfer band means being at least partially severed from each other by score line means extending circumferentially about at least a portion of said closure, said fracturable means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridges disposed on and extending between inwardly facing surfaces of said skirt portion and said pilfer band means in the region of said score line means, said score line means extending into at least some of said bridges whereby said ones of said bridges are partially severed and frangible so that said frangible bridges at least partially detachably connect said pilfer band means to said skirt portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 1, including connector means extending integrally between said skirt portion and said pilfer band means for connecting said pilfer band means and said skirt portion to each other after fracture of said frangible bridges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pilfer band means includes a fracturable area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pilfer band means comprises a plurality of inwardly extending projections adapted for interaction with an associated container for tamper indication.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
A plastic closure, comprising: a closure cap including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion having an internal thread formation; and pilfer band means depending from and detachably connected to said skirt portion of said cap by fracturable means, said skirt portion and said pilfer band means being severed from each other by score line means extending circumferentially about said closure, said fracturable means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridges disposed on and extending between inwardly facing surfaces of said skirt portion and said plifer band means, said score line means extending into said bridges whereby said bridges are partially severed and frangible, said frangible bridges bridging said score line means so that said frangible bridges detachably connect said pilfer band means to said skirt portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
A plastic closure, comprising: a closure cap including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion having an internal thread formation; and pilfer band means depending from and detachably connected to said skirt portion of said cap by fracturable means, said skirt portion and said pilfer band means being severed from each other by score line means extending circumferentially about said closure, said fracturable means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridges disposed on and extending between inwardly facing surfaces of said skirt portion and said plifer band means, said score line means extending into said bridges whereby said bridges are partially severed and frangible, said frangible bridges bridging said score line means so that said frangible bridges detachably connect said pilfer band means to said skirt portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 5, wherein said pilfer band means includes means for interacting with an associated container whereby during removal of the closure from the container said frangible bridges fracture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 6, wherein said interacting means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, relatively flexible projections extending inwardly from the inwardly facing surface of said pilfer band means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
A plastic closure, comprising: a closure cap including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion; and pilfer band means depending from and partially detachably connected to said skirt portion of said cap by fracturable means, said skirt portion and said pilfer band means being partially severed from each other by score line means extending circumferentially about at least a portion of said closure, said pilfer band means including means for interacting with an associated container during removal of the closure from the container for fracturing said fracturable means, said fracturable means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridges disposed on the inwardly facing surfaces of said skirt portion and said pilfer band means and extending integrally therebetween across said score line means, said score line means extending into at least some of said bridges whereby said ones of said bridges are partially severed and frangible so that said frangible bridges partially detachably connect said pilfer band means to said skirt portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
A plastic closure, comprising: a closure cap including a top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion; and pilfer band means depending from and partially detachably connected to said skirt portion of said cap by fracturable means, said skirt portion and said pilfer band means being partially severed from each other by score line means extending circumferentially about at least a portion of said closure, said pilfer band means including means for interacting with an associated container during removal of the closure from the container for fracturing said fracturable means, said fracturable means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridges disposed on the inwardly facing surfaces of said skirt portion and said pilfer band means and extending integrally therebetween across said score line means, said score line means extending into at least some of said bridges whereby said ones of said bridges are partially severed and frangible so that said frangible bridges partially detachably connect said pilfer band means to said skirt portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 8, including a connector portion extending integrally between said skirt portion and said pilfer band means for connecting said skirt portion and said pilfer band means to each other after fracture of said frangible bridges, said pilfer band means including a fracturable area of reduced strength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 9, wherein said connector portion is provided between the ends of said score line means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 10, wherein said area of reduced strength in said pilfer band means comprises a scored portion of said pilfer band means adjacent said connector portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A plastic closure in accordance with claim 8, wherein said interacting means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, inwardly extending, relatively flexible projections adapted for interaction with an associated container for fracturing said bridges during removal of the closure from the container.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-07 | 1989-04-08 | 1989-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-07 | 1993-04-08 | 1993-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-07 | 1997-04-08 | 1997-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |