Retainable closure

A closure for a container, comprising:

• a cover and a skirt depending from the cover;
• a tamper band, wherein the skirt is disposed between the cover and the tamper band;
• a first cross separation area extending around at least half of the skirt and separating the skirt from the tamper band;
• a first transverse separation area that extends transverse to the first cross separation area toward a bottom of the tamper band;
• a second transverse separation area that extends transverse to the first cross separation area toward a bottom of the tamper band;
• wherein the first transverse separation area and the second transverse separation area at least partially define a tab;
• a first hinge disposed between the first cross separation area and the first transverse separation area;
• a second hinge disposed between the first cross separation area and the second transverse separation area;
• wherein the cover is configured to rotate about a hinge axis that extends through the first hinge and the second hinge between a closed position in which the cover blocks access to the container and an open position in which the cover allows discharge of contents from the container;
• wherein the tab is configured to engage a container bead of the container when the closure is in the open position to retain the closure in the open position;
• wherein the first hinge and second hinge allow movement of the closure between the closed position and the open position and retain the skirt to the tamper band;
• wherein the tamper band includes one or more segments on a radially inward side of the tamper band, the one or more segments are connected by a segment bridge on a radially inward side of the tab, and the one or more segments cooperate with the segment bridge to form a continuous hoop of material;
• and
• a tab aperture disposed behind the tab opposite a tab outer surface, the tab aperture separating the tab from the segment bridge so the tab may invert when the closure is moved between the open position and the closed position,
• wherein the segment bridge is located directly radially behind the tab when the cover is in the closed position relative to a central axis of the closure.

A method of providing a retainable, tamper evident closure, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a closure having a cover, a skirt, and a tamper band, the skirt disposed between the cover and the tamper band;
• wherein the tamper band includes one or more segments and a segment bridge connecting the one or more segments;
• forming a first transverse separation area and a second transverse separation area in the tamper band that extend in a first axial direction to at least partially define a tab;
• forming a first cross separation area that extends transverse to the first transverse separation area and the second transverse separation area and at least partially separating the skirt and the tamper band;
• and
• forming a tab aperture below the segment bridge and that separates the tab from the segment bridge, the segment bridge provided radially inward of the tab and aligned with the tab in a radial direction relative to a central axis of the closure.