Tamper indicating closure having retaining hoop with relief windows

Claim 2

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hangers and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of the container, said windows extending at least one-third the distance between said lower edge and said distal edge, the portions of said retainer which extend across or between said windows being sufficiently narrow so that they can deform in a direction which is inwardly, outwardly, or in the plane of the retainer, thereby to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position.

Claim 3

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said shirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, the portions of said retainer which extend across the respective windows being deformed, when said retainer is in said second position, in direction radially outward from said retainer, toward said band.

Claim 4

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said shirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, the portions of said retainer which extend across the respective windows being deformed, when said retainer is in said second position, in direction radially outward from said retainer, toward said band.

Claim 5

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, portions of said retainer which extend across the respective windows being deformed, when said retainer is in said second position, upwardly and away from said lower edge of said band, said deformation appearing as undulations in a direction parallel to the plane of said retainer.

Claim 6

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, portions of said retainer which extend across the respective windows being deformed, when said retainer is in said second position, upwardly and away from said lower edge of said band, said deformation appearing as undulations in a direction parallel to the plane of said retainer.

Claim 7

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, said retainer being deformed, when in said second position, by inward buckling of portions thereof between said windows and adjacent said hinges.

Claim 8

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, said retainer being deformed, when in said second position, by inward buckling of portions thereof between said windows and adjacent said hinges.

Claim 9

The closure of claim 1 wherein said windows extend at least 1/3 the distance between said lower edge and said distal edge.

Claim 10

The closure of claim 1 wherein the circumferential dimension of the hinges is less than the circumferential dimension of the windows.

Claim 11

The closure of claim 1 wherein said hinges fold along straight lines.

Claim 12

The closure of claim 1 wherein said windows have outer edges which are colinear with said hinges.

Claim 13

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bed of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, said retainer in said first position being in the form of a truncated conical hoop having a circular distal edge, and in said second position having a distal edge of polygonal shape wherein portions of said edge which are between said windows lie radially inward of portions thereof which are across said windows.

Claim 14

A tamper indicating closure for use in sealing a container of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bed of the container, said retainer deforming along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, said retainer in said first position being in the form of a truncated conical hoop having a circular distal edge, and in said second position having a distal edge of polygonal shape wherein portions of said edge which are between said windows lie radially inward of portions thereof which are across said windows.

Claim 15

The closure of claim 9 wherein said distal edge is set by said deformation when said retainer is moved from said first position to said second position.

Claim 16

The closure of claim 1 wherein said closure is molded with said retainer in said first position.

Claim 17

The closure of claim 1 wherein the width of the windows is greater than their height.

Claim 18

The closure of claim 1 wherein said retainer has a single gap along said distal edge.

Claim 19

The closure of claim 1 wherein said closure is an integral molding of plastic and has a unitary top.

Claim 20

A sealed package comprising a container and a closure secured thereon, said container being of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of a container, said windows extending at least one-third the distance between said lower edge and said distal edge, the portions of said retainer which extend across or between said windows being sufficiently narrow that they can deform in a direction which is inwardly, outwardly, or in the plane of the retainer, thereby to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position.

Claim 21

A sealed package comprising a container and a closure secured thereon, said container being of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of a container, said windows extending at least one-third the distance between said lower edge and said distal edge, the portions of said retainer which extend across or between said windows being sufficiently narrow that they can deform in a direction which is inwardly, outwardly, or in the plane of the retainer, thereby to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position.

Claim 22

A sealed package comprising a container and a closure secured thereon, said container being of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, `means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of a container, said retainer deforming in a direction along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows, to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, the portions of said retainer between said windows binding against the container more tightly than portions of said retainer across said windows and thereby facilitating release of said tamper indicating band from said closure when the closure is rotated to open the package.

Claim 23

A sealed package comprising a container and a closure secured thereon, said container being of the type having closure securing means and a locking bead below the securing means, said closure comprising, a top, a skirt depending from said top, `means on said skirt for engaging the closure securing means of the container, a tamper indicating band frangibly attached to and depending from said skirt, a retainer around a lower edge of said band for engaging the container below the locking bead thereof, a series of spaced integral hinges connecting said retainer to said band along said lower edge of said band, said retainer having an essentially continuous distal edge, a plurality of relief windows in said retainer, said windows being between said hinges and commencing adjacent said lower edge, said windows extending toward but not to said distal edge, said retainer being movable from a first position in which it projects angularly inward in a direction away from said top, to a second position in which it projects angularly inward and toward said top, for engagement with the locking bead of a container, said retainer deforming in a direction along said distal edge above said windows or adjacent the lower edge of said band between said windows, to relieve compression stress as said retainer is being moved from said first position to said second position, the portions of said retainer between said windows binding against the container more tightly than portions of said retainer across said windows and thereby facilitating release of said tamper indicating band from said closure when the closure is rotated to open the package.

Claim 24

The package of claim 15 wherein said distal edge is continuous around the entire circumference thereof.

Claim 25

The package of claim 15 wherein said distal edge is continuous around the entire circumference thereof, except for a single narrow gap in said distal edge.

Claim 26

The package of claim 15 wherein said retainer is thickest along said distal edge.

Claim 27

The package of claim 15 wherein said windows extend 1/3 the distance between said lower edge to said distal edge.

Claim 28

The package of claim 15 wherein said windows have outer edges which are colinear with said hinges.

Claim 29

The package of claim 15 wherein the circumferential dimension of said hinges is greater than the circumferential dimension of said windows.

Claim 30

The package of claim 15 wherein said hinges are in the range of 1.5-6x the width of said windows.

Claim 31

The package of claim 15 wherein the width of said windows is at least twice their height.

Claim 32

The package of claim 15 wherein said closure is an integral molding of plastic and said top is unitary with it.

Claim 33

The package of claim 15 wherein said means of the closure for engaging the closure securing means of the container is at least one screw thread.