GB2064493A

GB2064493A - Tamper-indicating bottle caps

Info

Publication number: GB2064493A
Application number: GB7938297A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MASSMOULD Ltd
Current assignee: MASSMOULD Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-06
Filing date: 1979-11-06
Publication date: 1981-06-17

Abstract

A tamper-indicating bottle cap moulded in plastics comprises two sections 7, 11 which are tearable apart along weakening 10 by the use of a tear tab 12 and two retaining beads 15, 16 on sections 7, 11 respectively, the lower bead 16 being interrupted as at 19, Fig. 5, adjacent tear tab 12, the interruption communicating with an aperture 18 in section 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A closure cap for a container Technical Field This invention relates to a closure cap for a container particularly a bottle.

Background Art For some years now it has been known to provide bottles, particularly glass bottles containing liquids for human consumption, with caps having tear away portions. These caps are generally formed as a single moulding in plastics material and consist of a cap portion, which closes the mouth of the bottle, and a lower skirt portion or tear band integrally formed with the cap portion and connected thereto solely by a thin annular strip of material. The lower skirt portion or tear band incorporates a tear tab.

The cap incorporates one or more internal annular beads, so as to form a seal with, and be retained on, the bottle. The lower skirt portion includes an internal annular security bead which enables the closure cap to be retained in a secure manner on the bottle during transportation and handling prior to use. When the contents of the bottle are to be used, the tear tab is gripped and torn away from the remainder of the closure cap and discarded. The cap portion still has a retaining bead so that it is retained on the bottle although the cap portion may now readily be removed from the bottle and replaced as desired.

Disclosure of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a closure cap for a container having a mouth and at least two spaced annular beads located adjacent the mouth for retention of a closure cap, said closure cap being moulded in two sections which are tearable apart and comprising a cap portion having an internal annular retaining bead and a lower skirt portion having an internal annular security bead and incorporating a tear tab, characterised in that the internal annular security bead is interrupted adjacent the tear tab and an aperture is formed in the lower skirt portion at the interruption.

Preferably, the lower skirt portion is formed so that a flat surface exists which lies in a plane tangential to the inner surface of the lower skirt portion and extends from the aperture to the outer surface of the lower skirt portion.

The invention also includes the provision, in the crown of the cap portion, of an annular channel to give radial flexibility to the cap portion and enable the cap portion to be readily removed and repositioned on a container.

Brief Description of the Drawings Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a sectional fragmentary view of a typical bottle in the area of the mouth thereof: FIGURE 2 is a sectional fragmentary view of a closure cap constructed in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the closure cap of Figure 2; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of Figure 3; and FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 2.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring first to Figure 1, a typical glass bottle 1 has a mouth 2 and, on the outside of the mouth portion, a configuration which defines annular beads 3 and 4, retaining bead channel 5 and security bead channel 6.

Figures 2 to 5 show a plastics closure cap for seaiing a bottle having the typical configuration of Figure 1. The closure cap consists of a cap portion 7 having a crown 8 and an upper skirt 9 connected by a thin strip 10 to a lower skirt portion 11 incorporating a tear tab 12.

The crown 8 is provided with an annular channel 1 3 and the upper skirt is provided with a camming off bead 14 and a retaining bead 1 5 which will lie within retaining bead channel 15.

The lower skirt portion is provided with a security bead 1 6 which will lie within security bead channel 6. The three beads 14, 15 and 1 6 are located on the inner surface of the closure cap and are annular.

As will be seen more particularly in Figures 3 and 5, the lower skirt portion 11 is provided with an aperture 17 adjacent the tear tab 1 2. From the aperture 1 7 extends a flat surface 1 8 which lies in a plane substantially tangential to the inner surface of the lower skirt portion 11 and which extends to the other surface thereof. As will be seen, particularly from Figure 5, the security bead 1 6 is interrupted at 1 9 adjacent to the tear tab 12.

The purpose of the interruption 1 9 is to enable the die which forms the closure cap to have mating surfaces, as part of a plain cylinder, which form the aperture 17, the inner mating surface reaching the aperture 1 7 by virtue of the interruption 1 9 and the external mating surface reaching the aperture 1 7 by virtue of the cut away portion formed by the flat surface 1 8. The purpose of aperture 1 7 is, of course, to facilitate commencing the tearing operation.

The annular channel 13 enables the cap portion 7 to be gripped by the fingers and squeezed so as to achieve radial compression thereby camming off bead 14 from within the inclined surface 20 of the bottle and assisting in the removal of the cap.

1. A closure cap for a container having a mouth and at least two spaced annular beads located adjacent the mouth for retention to a closure cap, said closure cap being moulded in two sections which are tearable apart and comprising a cap portion having an internal annular retaining bead and a lower skirt portion having an internal annular security bead and incorporating a tear tab, characterised in that the internal annular security bead is interrupted adjacent the tear tab and an aperture is formed in the lower skirt portion at the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A closure cap for a container Technical Field This invention relates to a closure cap for a container particularly a bottle. Background Art For some years now it has been known to provide bottles, particularly glass bottles containing liquids for human consumption, with caps having tear away portions. These caps are generally formed as a single moulding in plastics material and consist of a cap portion, which closes the mouth of the bottle, and a lower skirt portion or tear band integrally formed with the cap portion and connected thereto solely by a thin annular strip of material. The lower skirt portion or tear band incorporates a tear tab. The cap incorporates one or more internal annular beads, so as to form a seal with, and be retained on, the bottle. The lower skirt portion includes an internal annular security bead which enables the closure cap to be retained in a secure manner on the bottle during transportation and handling prior to use. When the contents of the bottle are to be used, the tear tab is gripped and torn away from the remainder of the closure cap and discarded. The cap portion still has a retaining bead so that it is retained on the bottle although the cap portion may now readily be removed from the bottle and replaced as desired. Disclosure of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a closure cap for a container having a mouth and at least two spaced annular beads located adjacent the mouth for retention of a closure cap, said closure cap being moulded in two sections which are tearable apart and comprising a cap portion having an internal annular retaining bead and a lower skirt portion having an internal annular security bead and incorporating a tear tab, characterised in that the internal annular security bead is interrupted adjacent the tear tab and an aperture is formed in the lower skirt portion at the interruption. Preferably, the lower skirt portion is formed so that a flat surface exists which lies in a plane tangential to the inner surface of the lower skirt portion and extends from the aperture to the outer surface of the lower skirt portion. The invention also includes the provision, in the crown of the cap portion, of an annular channel to give radial flexibility to the cap portion and enable the cap portion to be readily removed and repositioned on a container. Brief Description of the Drawings Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a sectional fragmentary view of a typical bottle in the area of the mouth thereof: FIGURE 2 is a sectional fragmentary view of a closure cap constructed in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the closure cap of Figure 2; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of Figure 3; and FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 2. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring first to Figure 1, a typical glass bottle 1 has a mouth 2 and, on the outside of the mouth portion, a configuration which defines annular beads 3 and 4, retaining bead channel 5 and security bead channel 6. Figures 2 to 5 show a plastics closure cap for seaiing a bottle having the typical configuration of Figure 1. The closure cap consists of a cap portion 7 having a crown 8 and an upper skirt 9 connected by a thin strip 10 to a lower skirt portion 11 incorporating a tear tab 12. The crown 8 is provided with an annular channel 1 3 and the upper skirt is provided with a camming off bead 14 and a retaining bead 1 5 which will lie within retaining bead channel 15. The lower skirt portion is provided with a security bead 1 6 which will lie within security bead channel 6. The three beads 14, 15 and 1 6 are located on the inner surface of the closure cap and are annular. As will be seen more particularly in Figures 3 and 5, the lower skirt portion 11 is provided with an aperture 17 adjacent the tear tab 1 2. From the aperture 1 7 extends a flat surface 1 8 which lies in a plane substantially tangential to the inner surface of the lower skirt portion 11 and which extends to the other surface thereof. As will be seen, particularly from Figure 5, the security bead 1 6 is interrupted at 1 9 adjacent to the tear tab 12. The purpose of the interruption 1 9 is to enable the die which forms the closure cap to have mating surfaces, as part of a plain cylinder, which form the aperture 17, the inner mating surface reaching the aperture 1 7 by virtue of the interruption 1 9 and the external mating surface reaching the aperture 1 7 by virtue of the cut away portion formed by the flat surface 1 8. The purpose of aperture 1 7 is, of course, to facilitate commencing the tearing operation. The annular channel 13 enables the cap portion 7 to be gripped by the fingers and squeezed so as to achieve radial compression thereby camming off bead 14 from within the inclined surface 20 of the bottle and assisting in the removal of the cap. CLAIMS

1. A closure cap for a container having a mouth and at least two spaced annular beads located adjacent the mouth for retention to a closure cap, said closure cap being moulded in two sections which are tearable apart and comprising a cap portion having an internal annular retaining bead and a lower skirt portion having an internal annular security bead and incorporating a tear tab, characterised in that the internal annular security bead is interrupted adjacent the tear tab and an aperture is formed in the lower skirt portion at the interruption.

2. A closure cap as claimed in Claim 1, in which the lower skirt portion is formed so that a flat surface exists which lies in a plane tangential to the inner surface of the lower skirt portion and extends from the aperture to the outer surface of the lower skirt portion.

3. A closure cap as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the cap portion includes a crown having an annular channel therein to give radial flexibility to the cap portion and enable the cap portion to be readily removed and repositioned on a container.

4. A closure cap substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

5. The combination of a container having a mouth and at least two annular beads located adjacent the mouth and a closure cap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.