# US 2004/0069738 A1 · Reduced application energy closure

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- Number: US 2004/0069738 A1
- Document ID: US20040069738A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/636,049
- Filed: 2003-08-07
- Published: 2004-04-15
- Earliest claimed: 2002-08-07
- Inventors: Kevin William Orth; Darren R. Neputy; Stephen J. Kras; Thomas R. Baranowski; Catherine D. Brady
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040069738A1

## CPC

- B65D 41/3447: {the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges}
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

Closure caps having a tamper evident band are disclosed. The tamper-evident band includes an angled top surface and an outer surface with notch therein. The closure cap allows for a reduction in the energy required for application to the container and reduced likelihood of premature bridge breakage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A closure cap comprising a shell having an end panel and a downwardly depending skirt terminating in a terminal end, said closure cap further comprising:
a cylindrical, tamper evident band attached to said terminal end of said skirt by a plurality of frangible connectors;
said band including a top surface, a bottom surface and inner and outer surfaces,
wherein said top surface is downwardly tapered in the direction of said outer surface;
said inner surface including an inwardly extending bead;
said outer surface including a notch therein, said notch being generally axially oppositely disposed relative to at least a portion of said bead.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The closure cap of claim 1 wherein said downwardly tapered top surface slopes downwardly at an angle greater than 0 degrees.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The closure cap of claim 1 wherein said downwardly tapered top surface slopes downwardly at an angle of at least approximately 6 degrees.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The closure cap of claim 3 wherein said downwardly tapered top surface slopes downwardly at an angle of at least approximately 15 degrees.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The closure cap of claim 1 wherein said frangible members are substantially uniform in width.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The closure cap of claim 1 wherein terminal skirt end and said band define a circumferential gap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The closure cap of claim 6 wherein said gap is of non-uniform height.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The closure cap of claim 7 wherein circumferential gap includes windows spaced between said downwardly tapered top surfaces.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The closure cap of claim 8 wherein said frangible members connect said band to said skirt within said windows.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The closure of claim 1 wherein said notch comprises a concave, smooth groove in said outer surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The closure of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said band between said inner and outer surfaces is non-uniform.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The closure of claim 10 wherein the thickness of said band between said inner and outer surfaces is non-uniform.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The closure cap of claim 12 wherein the thickness of said band is at a minimum in the region near the top plane of said bead.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The closure cap of claim 1 wherein at least said band is made of a plastic material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The closure cap of claim 14 is made of a thermoplastic material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The closure cap of claim 15 wherein said thermoplastic material comprises polypropylene or copolymers thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The closure cap of claim 16 wherein said thermoplastic material comprises an impact copolymer of polypropylene and at least one other polyolefin.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The closure cap of claim 17 wherein said impact copolymer has an Izod impact notched at 23 degrees C. of at least approximately 1.8 ft.-lb./in.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The closure cap of claim 17 wherein said impact copolymer has a tensile strength at yield of approximately 2,900 to 3,700 psi, and a flexural modulus of approximately 130,000 to 160,000 psi.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The closure cap of claim 16 wherein said material comprises a polypropylene homopolymer with an Izod Impact at 23° of approximately 0.6 to 2.0 ft. lb./in.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The closure cap of claim 20 wherein said polypropylene homopolymer has a tensile strength at yield of approximately 4,400 to 5,700 psi and a flexural modulus of approximately 200,000 to 300,000 psi.