Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A tamper-evident cap comprising a top disk, an outer skirt depending from said top disk having internal upper and lower locking bead means and a horizontal score line extending substantially circumferentially of said outer skirt intermediate said upper and lower bead means, said outer skirt being cut away adjacent its lower edge to form a horizontally elongated tear tab, said tear tab being radially outwardly offset relative to the outer circumference of a major portion of said outer skirt to provide a space inside said tear tab for insertion of a finger or fingernail to grasp said tear tab.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A tamper-evident cap comprising a top disk, an outer skirt depending from said top disk having internal upper and lower locking bead means and a horizontal score line extending substantially circumferentially of said outer skirt intermediate said upper and lower bead means, said outer skirt being cut away adjacent its lower edge to form a horizontally elongated tear tab, said tear tab being radially outwardly offset relative to the outer circumference of a major portion of said outer skirt to provide a space inside said tear tab for insertion of a finger or fingernail to grasp said tear tab.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cap according to claim 1 in which the upper edge of said tear tab is located immediately below the level of said score line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cap according to claim 1 in which the outer surface of said tear tab is embossed with a chevron pattern to indicate proper direction to pull said tear tab and also to afford gripping ridges t facilitate the user gripping s id tear tab.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cap according to claim 1 which further comprises a frangible link connecting the end of said tear tab to a portion of said cap outside the perimeter of said tear tab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A cap according to claim 1 in which said outer skirt is also cut away adjacent its lower edge to form a second horizontally elongated tear tab spaced from and extending in a direction opposite said first mentioned tear tab, and which further comprises a lug intermediate said tear tab extending downward from the portion of said outer skirt above said score line, said lug providing means to lift said cap when the lower end of said outer skirt has been torn off.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cap according to claim 5 in which said second tear tab is offset relative to the outer circumference of a major portion of said outer skirt to provide a second space inside said second tear tab for insertion of a finger or fingernail to grasp said second tear tab.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cap according to claim 5 which comprises a first frangible link connecting the outer end of said first mentioned tear tab to said lug and a second frangible link connecting the outer end of said second tear tab to said lug, whereby lifting said lug breaks said frangible links.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cap according to claim 1 in which the upper end of the outside of said outer skirt slants outward-upward to provide means for lifting said cap when the lower end of said cap has been torn off.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cap according to claim 1 in which the outside of said outer skirt slants upward-outward above said score line to provide means for lifting said cap when the lower end of said cap has been torn off.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cap according to claim 9 in which the outside of said outer skirt is substantially vertical below said score line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cap according to claim 1 which further comprises an inner skirt depending from said disk spaced inward of said outer skirt and having inner and outer walls, said inner and outer walls of said inner skirt being formed curved inward in a large radius.