US6705479B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper evident closure
Assignee: Berry Global Inc
•
Filing: 2001-11-19
•
Granted: 2004-03-16
•
Expires: 2021-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A container closer particularly for use on screw top containers such as carbonated beverage containers, the container closure having a generally cylindrical continuous tamper evident band joined by a plurality of frangible bridges to the free edge of a skirt of the closure. The band has a segmented internal rib which engages an external retaining flange of the container when the closure is applied to the container so that on removal of the closure the tamper evident band remains on the container or is visually clearly damaged by removal of the closure from the container. The band is provided with longitudinal reinforcement by projections or other areas of thickening to provide the band with longitudinal stiffness while still permitting it to expand over the retaining flange on the container. The rib has an first annular side, the first annular side having a compound surface comprising a radially outer frusto-conical portion which assists in the molding of the rib and a radially inner substantially planar portion which increases the difficulty of removing the closure intact from the container without rupturing the bridges joining the tamper evident band from the remainder of the closure.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodney Malcolm Druitt
- 👤 Charles Martin Tansey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3442; B65D41/3447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having an upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the body portion being provided with projections or other localized areas of thickening to enhance the longitudinal stiffness of the body portion while still permitting the body portion to expand radially as the band portion is moved over the retaining flange on a container, the upper side of the rib comprising a first surface contiguous with the body portion of the band, which surface slopes inwardly and downwardly away from the top portion to an inner terminus, and a second surface which extends radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface and has a slope angle more nearly normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure than the first surface is to that longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having an upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the body portion being provided with projections or other localized areas of thickening to enhance the longitudinal stiffness of the body portion while still permitting the body portion to expand radially as the band portion is moved over the retaining flange on a container, the upper side of the rib comprising a first surface contiguous with the body portion of the band, which surface slopes inwardly and downwardly away from the top portion to an inner terminus, and a second surface which extends radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface and has a slope angle more nearly normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure than the first surface is to that longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rib is segmented into rib segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least some of the second surfaces of the upper side of the rib segments are planar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rib segments are substantially evenly spread around the inside circumference of the band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rib segments constitute at least 65% of the internal circumference of the band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A closure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the rib segments constitute at least 80% of the internal circumference of the band.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rib segments are each separated by a gap and wherein alternate ones of said projections are disposed between and below the gaps between adjacent segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A closure as defined in claim 7 wherein intermediate projections between said alternate projections extend to substantially the center of the underside of the rib segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the areas of localized thickening are of a thickness sufficient that they project radially beyond the circumference of the remainder of the closure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
199 words
A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closure is formed with means of sealingly engaging with the container to prevent leakage therefrom and wherein said means for sealingly engaging the closure with the container comprises an annular sealing rib which projects downwardly from an underside of the top portion of the closure, the rib including a first portion having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, the first portion being contiguous with the top and lying adjacent to the skirt of the closure and a second, frusto-conical, portion contiguous with an end of the first portion distal to the top and extending radially inwardly to terminate in a circular free edge, the first portion having an internal diameter at least equal to an external diameter of the neck of the container to which the closure is to be attached such that during engagement of the closure with the neck, the second, frusto-conical, portion will be engaged by a free end of the neck and folded back towards the substantially cylindrical inner surface of the first portion of the rib to form a gas-tight seal between at least an outer surface of the neck of the container and the closure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the complementary closure retention means is a screw thread.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A closure as claimed in claim 11 wherein the thread on the internal surface of the skirt is formed of a series of thread segments arranged, starting from a first thread segment distal to the top, along a helical thread locus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A closure as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of the thread segments, except the first, is formed with two substantially planar end surfaces which are each inclined to the axis of the closure and face in a direction downwardly and away from the top of the closure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A closure as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of the substantially planar ends of the thread segments are also inclined to a notional radial plane extending from the longitudinal axis of the closure to the end of the respective thread segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A closure as claimed in claim 1 the tamper evident band portion is joined to the free edge of the skirt portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A closure as claimed in claim 15 wherein the tamper evident band portion is joined to the skirt portion through a plurality of frangible bridges.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 1 comprising a step of injection molding a synthetic plastics material into a mold, the mold defining a recess corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the slope of the upper side of the rib.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 17 further comprising the step of relatively ejecting the closure from the mold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container having a screw threaded neck and a retaining flange below the threaded portion of the neck, to which is connected a closure as defined in claim 1 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
204 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having a compound upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the compound upper side of the rib comprising a first frusto-conical surface portion which extends inwardly from the body portion and is angled downwardly from the top portion to an inner terminus, and a second planar or substantially planar surface portion normal or substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure and which extends radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
204 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having a compound upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the compound upper side of the rib comprising a first frusto-conical surface portion which extends inwardly from the body portion and is angled downwardly from the top portion to an inner terminus, and a second planar or substantially planar surface portion normal or substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure and which extends radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 20 comprising a step of injection molding a synthetic plastics material into a mold, the mold defining a recess corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the slope of the compound upper side of the rib.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 21 further comprising the step of relatively ejecting the closure from the mold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container having a screw threaded neck and a retaining flange below the threaded portion of the neck, to which is connected a closure as defined in claim 20 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
248 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having a compound upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the compound upper side of the rib comprising a first frusto-conical surface portion which extends inwardly from the body portion and is angled downwardly from the top portion to an inner terminus, and a second planar or substantially planar surface portion normal or substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure and which extends radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface portion, the body portion being provided with projections or other localized areas of thickening to enhance the longitudinal stiffness of the body portion while still permitting the body portion to expand radially as the band portion is moved over the retaining flange on a container.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
248 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having a compound upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the compound upper side of the rib comprising a first frusto-conical surface portion which extends inwardly from the body portion and is angled downwardly from the top portion to an inner terminus, and a second planar or substantially planar surface portion normal or substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure and which extends radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface portion, the body portion being provided with projections or other localized areas of thickening to enhance the longitudinal stiffness of the body portion while still permitting the body portion to expand radially as the band portion is moved over the retaining flange on a container.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 24 comprising a step of injection molding a synthetic plastics material into a mold, the mold defining a recess corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the slope of the compound upper side of the rib.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 25 further comprising the step of relatively ejecting the closure from the mold.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container having a screw threaded neck and a retaining flange below the threaded portion of the neck, to which is connected a closure as defined in claim 24 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
233 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having an upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the upper side of the rib comprising a first surface contiguous with the body portion, which surface slopes inwardly and downwardly away from the top portion to an inner terminus at a first slope angle, and a second surface which is positioned radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface and has a second slope angle more nearly normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure than the first slope angle, the slope angle of the second surface being normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure or up to 10° to the normal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
233 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having an upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the upper side of the rib comprising a first surface contiguous with the body portion, which surface slopes inwardly and downwardly away from the top portion to an inner terminus at a first slope angle, and a second surface which is positioned radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface and has a second slope angle more nearly normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure than the first slope angle, the slope angle of the second surface being normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure or up to 10° to the normal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 28 comprising a step of injection molding a synthetic plastics material into a mold, the mold defining a recess corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the slope of the upper side of the rib.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 29 further comprising the step of relatively ejecting the closure from the mold.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container having a screw threaded neck and a retaining flange below the threaded portion of the neck, to which is connected a closure as defined in claim 28 .
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
273 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having an upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the upper side of the rib comprising a first surface contiguous with the body portion, which surface slopes inwardly and downwardly away from the top portion to an inner terminus at a first slope angle, and a second surface which is positioned radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface and has a second slope angle more nearly normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure than the first slope angle, the slope angle of the second surface being normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure or up to 10° to the normal, the body portion being provided with projections or other localized areas of thickening to enhance the longitudinal stiffness of the body portion while still permitting it to expand radially as it is forced over the retaining flange on a container.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
273 words
A closure suitable for mounting onto a container having closure retention means on the neck of the container, said closure being molded from a resilient material and comprising a top portion, a skirt portion depending from the underside of the top portion, which skirt portion has closure retention means complementary to the closure retention means on the container, and a tamper evident band portion joined to the skirt portion and comprising a generally cylindrical body portion and a rib extending inwardly of the body portion and adapted to provide a lip to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the neck of the container below the closure retention means thereon, the rib having an upper side facing generally towards the top portion of the closure and an under side facing generally away from the top portion, the upper side of the rib comprising a first surface contiguous with the body portion, which surface slopes inwardly and downwardly away from the top portion to an inner terminus at a first slope angle, and a second surface which is positioned radially inward from the inner terminus of the first surface and has a second slope angle more nearly normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure than the first slope angle, the slope angle of the second surface being normal to the longitudinal axis of the closure or up to 10° to the normal, the body portion being provided with projections or other localized areas of thickening to enhance the longitudinal stiffness of the body portion while still permitting it to expand radially as it is forced over the retaining flange on a container.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 32 comprising a step of injection molding a synthetic plastics material into a mold, the mold defining a recess corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the slope of the upper side of the rib.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of forming a closure as defined in claim 33 further comprising the step of relatively ejecting the closure from the mold.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container having a screw threaded neck and a retaining flange below the threaded portion of the neck, to which is connected a closure as defined in claim 32 .
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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) | 2007-03-16 | 2007-09-15 | 2008-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-16 | 2011-09-15 | 2012-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-16 | 2015-09-15 | 2016-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |