GB2123390A - Closure with child-resistant tamper-proof band - Google Patents

Abstract

A child-resistant closure, which engages an associated container finish 20, includes a tamper-proof band 34 which must be separated from the remainder of the closure for removal of the closure from the finish. A pull tab 40 and weakening grooves are provided to permit manual separation of the tamper-proof band from the remainder of the closure. A resilient shield 50 integrally formed with the tamper-proof band overlies the pull tab and normally prevents grasping thereof. Removal of the closure is possible only when the shield is manually deflected and held in position while the pull tab is grasped and the tamper-proof band torn away from the remainder of the closure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure with child-resistant tamper-proof band The invention relates to an improvement in tamperproof closures, in particular, those closures having an annular, frangible tamper-proof band depending from the lower annular edge ofthe closure skirt and including a pull tab to facilitate removal of the tamper-proof band.

Tamper-proof closures have long been in use. The typical tamper-proof closure comprises a disc shaped panel, and an annular skirt depending from the periphery thereof. An annular tamper-proof band is attached by frangible means to the lower annular edge ofthe skirt. Thetamper-proof band is adapted to engage an associated containerfinish, by any of several known means. For example, U.S. Patent No: 3,980,195to Fillmore discloses a closure including a tamper-proof band having inwardly projecting teeth engaging complementary outwardly projecting lugs on the containerfinish, to prevent rotational removal ofthe tam per-proof closure.Alternatively, the tamper- proof band may engage an outwardly projecting bead formed on the containerfinish, either by being heat-shrunkonto the bead, or by being snapped into engagement with the bead.

In onetypeoftamper-proofclosure,the band engages the containerfinish firmly enough to prevent removal of the closure whilethetamper-proof band is still intact. To remove the closure, the tamper-proof band must first be removed from the closure skirt by tearing the frangible attachment means. The condition ofthe tamper-proof band will therefore provide a clearvisual indication of whetherthe closure has been removed and reapplied,orwhetheran attempt has been madetotamperwith the container. To facilitate removal ofthe tamper-proof band, these closures include a pull tab integrally formed on thetamperproof band, by which the tamper-proof band can be grasped and removed.

Such tamper-proof closures therefore require two sequential operations by the user: firstthe removal of the tamper-proof band, then the removal ofthe closure itself, either by unscrewing or unsnapping the closure. However, these operations are not sufficient lycomplexforsuch closures to be regarded as child-resistant. Yet it is desirableto package many products in containers which have both a childresistantfeature and a tamper-proofortamper indicating feature.

It is, therefore, an object ofthe invention to provide a tamper-proof closure which is child-resistant by virtue of means which require relatively complex manipulationsto effectthe removal ofthetamper-proof band.

The closure includes resilient means which shield the pull tab and normally prevent grasping thereof to effect removal of the tamper-proof band.

Aclosure embodying the present invention comprises atop panel section, and an integral, annular skirtdepending from the peripherythereof.The inside annular surface ofthe skirt includes a circumferential groove formed therein, adapted to engage a locking bead which projects outwardlyfrom an associated containerfinish. The inside annular surface of the skirt tapers downwardly and outwardly belowthe circumferential groove, to facilitate application of the closure to the containerfinish.When the locking bead engages the circumferential groove, removal ofthe closure is normally impossible while the closure skirt remains intact.The circumferential groove provides a weakening line along which the lower portion of the skirt can be torn from the remainder of the closure.

The lower portion ofthe skirt, below the circumferential groove, therefore functions as a tearabletamperproof band, which must be separated from the closure to allow removal of the closure from the associated container.

An associated containerfinish normally includes an outwardly projecting shoulder spaced only slightly below the lower annular edge ofthe tamper-proof band of the applied closure. Hence a consumer cannot grasp the lower edge ofthe tamper-proof closure in order to tear it from the remainder ofthe closure.

Therefore, a pull tab is provided which is integral with the tamper-proof band and projects radially therefrom. An axial weakening groove is formed in the tamper-proof band adjacentthe pull tab, whereby the tamper-proof band is split when the tab is pulled. The closure is rendered child-resistant by shield means, which are provided to prevent grasping ofthe pull tab by a child. An integral bridge extends radially outwardlyfrom the tamper-proof band, beyond the end ofthe pull tab. The bridge supports a resilient, shielding flap which extends circumferentially over the end ofthe pull tab. To remove the tamper-proof band, the resilientflap must be manually deflected outwardly, and held in this position while the pull tab is grasped, and the tamper-proof band removed.

Figure lisa side elevational view of a closure embodying the present invention, shown in sealing engagement with an associated containerfinish; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the closure and container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged scale sectional elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Atamper-proofclosure 10 embodying the present invention comprises a circular top panel section 12 and an annularskirt 14 depending from the periphery thereof. An annular plug 16 depends from the inside surfaceofthe panel 12, and is constructed and arranged to sealingly engage the inside annular surface 18 of an associated containerfinish 20.

The container finish 20 includes an outwardly projecting annularsnap bead 22, formed adjacent the annular rim ofthefinish 20. A cooperating circumferential groove 24 is formed in the inside annular surface ofthe skirt 14, and is constructed and arranged to receive the outwardly projecting snap bead 22.

The inside annular surface 26 ofthe skirt 14 below the circumferential groove 24tapers downwardly and outwardly. The uppersurface 28 ofthe snap bead 22 also tapers downwardly and outwardly. During application of the closure 1 Oto the container finish 20, the sliding engagement of the tapered surfaces 26 and 28 facilitates the circumferential stretching ofthe skirt i4aroundthesnap bead 22. As the closure loins pushed into final position onthefinish 20, the snap bead 22 snaps into locking engagementwith the groove 24.In the sealing position shown in Figure 3, thedownwardlyfacing horizontal surface 30 of the bead 22 and the upwardlyfacing surface 32 of the groove 24 interefere to prevent removal ofthe closure l0fromthecontainerfinish 20 byasimpleupward force. The lower portion oftheskirt 14, belowthe circumferential groove 24, therefore functions as a tamper-proof band 34. The tamper-proof band 34 must be separated from the remainder of the skirt 14 to permit removal of the closure 10. The circumferential groove 24 provides a weakened circumferential line along which the tamper-proof band 34 can be torn.

An integral pull tab 40 is provided to facilitate removal ofthe tamper-proof band 34. The tab 40 is slightly spaced from the outside surface ofthe tamper-proof band 34, and extends circumferentially through an arc of approximately 30% One circumferential end 42 ofthe pull tab 40 is integrally and relatively rigidly attached to the tamper-proof band 34. The other end 43 is integrally attached to the tamper-proof band 34 only by a narrow, frangible bridge 44. An axial weakening groove 46 is formed in the tamper-proof band 34 adjacentthe end 42 of the pull tab 40.To removethetamper-proof band34,the pull tab 40 must begrapsedand pulledawayfromthetamper-proof band 34,thereby breaking the bridge 44 and splitting thetamper-proofband 34 along the axial line weakened bythe groove 46. The tamper-proof band 34 can then be stripped awayfrom the closure 10 along the line weakened by the circumferential groove 24.

Grasping ofthe pull tab 40 is normally prevented, however, buy a resilient, flexible, shielding flap 50. The flap 50 is integrally attached to the tamper-proof band 34 by a bridge 52. The bridge 52 is spaced circum ferentiallyfrom the end 43 ofthe tab 40 and extends radially beyond the outward extent ofthe pull tab 40.

The flap 50 extends circumferentially to overlie the end 43 ofthe pull tab 40. Therefore, the flap 50 interefereswith manipulation of the pull tab 40. To remove the tamper-proof band 34, the flap must be manually deflected while the pull tab 40 is pivoted radially outwardlyto begin the tearing operation, as illustrated in phantom line in Figure 2.

The closure 10 is preferably injection molded from a thermoplastic material. A preferred material, having appropriate resiliency, is high density polyethylene.

The invention thus provides a child-resistantfeature for closures requiring tamper-proofing means. As the child-resistantfeature is destroyed with removal of thetamper-proofband,the closure is intended for products which are consumed in a single use.

Modifications ofthe invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore intended that the scope ofthe invention be determined solely by the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. Achild-resistant,tamper-proofclosurecom- prising a panel section; an annularskirtdepending from the periphery of said panel, the lower portion of said skirt including a tamper-proof band removably attached to the remainder of said skirt; means on said tamper-proof band for engaging the finish of an associated container to prevent removal ofthe closure while thetamper-proof band is attached to the remainder ofthe closure, grasping means on said skirt to facilitate removal of said tamper-proof band; and shield means integrallyformed with said closure for normally preventing access to said grasping means, said shield means being manipulated to permit such access.

2. The closure defined in claim 1 wherein said grasping means includes a pull tab outwardly projecting from said tamper-proof band.

3. The closure as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said shield means comprises a resilientflap overlying said grasping means to prevent grasping thereof, said flap being manually deformable to expose said grasping means.

4. The closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means on said tamper-proof band for engaging the containerfinish includes a circumferential groove formed on the inside annular surface of said skirt.

5. The closure defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said shield means includes a flexible, resilientflap integral ly connected to said tam per-proof band by a radially projecting bridge spaced from said grasping means, said flap extending circumferentiallyfrom said bridge to overlie at least a portion of said grasping means.

6. Atamper-proofclosure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.